HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 681

CHAPTER LXXV.

NORTH BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP.*

BOUNDARIES - SURFACE - SETTLERS - VILLAGE OF BLOOMING GROVE - CHURCHES - STORES, SHOPS, ETC.-VILLAGE OF WESTPOINT-EARLY SETTLERS-CHURCHES-SCHOOL.

THIS township joins Troy on the west. It was embraced in the limits of the latter, which was then twelve miles long from east to west, and six miles wide. March 4, 1823, a tract six miles square was set off from the west and named North Bloomfield. The surface of this township is quite smooth, and the soil is free from stones. The early settlements clustered about two points, located in the extreme northeast and southwest portions of the township, West Point and Blooming Grove. The oldest pioneer now living in the vicinity of the latter place is probably Hiram Stevens, who was born in Vermont in 1800. He came to this township in 1823, when there were only eleven voters within its limits. He settled on a piece of land just south of the village, where he remained until recently, when he moved to the town. Four sons and two daughters are the surviving members of his family. James Appleman, another old and honored pioneer, lives

* Now in Morrow County, formerly in Richland.

just east of the village. He came to Bloomfield in early days, entered a quarter-section of land, embracing a portion of Sections 10 and 11, and cleared it mostly by his own labor. William Harris came to this region in 1820, and settled on the land now owned by Mr. Appleman. He removed to Indiana about 1841. Stephen Borham, who settled about four miles south of the village, came to this vicinity before 1820. His daughter, Mrs. Eckler, was perhaps the first white child born in this township. At a later period, about 1833, quite a tide of immigration visited this portion of the county, bringing Samuel Bishop and family, all of whom are now dead except Mrs. Moore; also John McCool, who settled about two miles south of the village. Thomas Chambers and several other prominent men belong to this period. A few years later, about 1840, Samuel Cummins, John Berger, George Keeler and a few others settled southwest of Blooming Grove. Prominent among the settlers who are identified with

682 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

the history of the village are J. C. Johnston and Solomon Harding. The former was born in Beaver County, Penn., in 1818, and came to Ohio in 1821, locating near Perrysville with his father. He came to Blooming Grove in 1836. He married Miss Logan in 1838, and built the first dwelling in the village, and has been engaged in business there ever since. He joined the Baptist Church in 1842, and has been an active member through a period of nearly forty years. Solomon Harding, the proprietor of the town site, came to Bloomfield about 1834. He laid out the town, and sold some of the lots, and removed to Galion in 1864, where he died in 1872. His family consisted of seven sons and two daughters. One son resided here till 1859.

The town site of the village of Blooming Grove was laid out in 1835. It was surveyed by John Steward and acknowledged before David Kilgore, who was then Justice of the Peace. This occurred March 5. The location is a, very pleasant one. The town stands upon a little eminence, the ground descending to the east and west. As already stated, the first building was a small, humble dwelling, erected by Mr. Johnston. He also built a blacksmith-shop about the same time. The house stood on Lot No. 8. The post office was established in 1845, with U. G. Baker as Postmaster. The route has often been changed, and at present they have a tri-weekly mail from Galion to Fredericktown and return. The village embraces about one hundred souls. The village school is a common district school of a single department. There are three churches in the village-Baptist, Methodist and Adventist. The Baptist Church was organized October 23, 1843, by Rev. Frederick Freeman. There were fifty-three members at the time of organization, while at present only thirty are enrolled. The meeting-house was erected in 1840. It is a frame house, forty-four feet long and thirty feet wide, costing about $400. This building was replaced, in 1870, with a substantial brick, forty-five feet long and thirty-four feet wide. Its cost was near $2,500. The ministers have been Dr. Newton, Revs. Freeman, Neff, Pearson, Motbland, Morrison and Hall. A good Sunday school of thirty or forty members is sustained. The annual contributions are about $300.

The Advent Church is a neat, frame building in the southern portion of the town. A series of meetings were held during the winter of 1878-79, which resulted in a permanent organization, consisting of twenty-seven members. An effort was soon made to build a church, and resulted in the erection of a commodious chapel, forty-sit feet long and twenty-eight feet wide. It is nicely painted, furnished and inclosed by a good board fence. The building cost about $1,600. The society was organized March 16, 1879, by Rev. A. O. Berrill.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in early days, and has varied in numerical and moral strength. The church edifice stands just opposite the Advent, and is a brick structure The village affords two stores, three blacksmith-shops, one physician-Dr. McFarland and a few artisans. A beautiful cemetery lies just west of the village. It was laid out in 1840. The first grave was made in 1823. In 1836, only three graves had been made, but at present, about four hundred and thirty bodies rest in the quiet retreat.

The village of West Point is located on the adjacent corners of Sections 31 and 32, in Bloomfield Township, and Sections 5 and 6, in Congress Township. It embraces an area of eight acres, two acres from each section. It was laid out by Mathew Boben in 1848, who sold goods a few years in the village, but was soon thereafter elected Recorder of Morrow County, and removed to Mount Gilead. Many pieces of land were entered, and various settlements made before the town was laid out. The Government patents of various parcels of land joining the town, are in the possession of the

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 683

present owner-Mr. Rule. These several parcels were entered August 6, 1836, by Isaac Barns, James Sharrock and Samuel Fryman. These patents are signed by Andrew Jackson, President, and Elijah Haywood, Commissioner of the General Land Office. Most of the early pioneers of this region have gone to their rest. Samuel Fryman, who entered the northwest part of the town site, was from Belmont County, Ohio. After making some improvements, he sold to Mr. Rule and went to Missouri. Jacob Heney. who died a few years ago at the age of ninety years, came to Bloomfield in early days, from Pennsylvania. He entered the southeast quarter of Section 23, and lived on the spot up to his death. Henry Bortner entered the northwest quarter of Section 34. He was born in York County, Penn, in 1784. He came to Ohio in 1837, and reared a family of thirteen children, of whom eleven still survive. John Warner settled on the northeast quarter of Section 33, which he entered about 1834. He also was from York County, Penn. He was born in 1807, and died on his homestead in 1874. A large family remain to honor his memory. Mr. Kennon located on the southeast quarter of Section 29. He was a native of the Isle of Man. He was of Scotch descent, and a man of more than ordinary merit. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and possessed considerable talent. His family consisted of five sons and two daughters, and all were highly respected and appreciated by their neighbors. The father died some twenty years ago; soon the mother followed, and, in consequence, the family was soon scattered. Several other families who are connected with the early history oŁ this region, have long since passed away, but have left a numerous progeny to prolong their memory and their name. The village of West Point is so located that the south half lies in Congress Township, and the north half in Bloomfield Township. In the north quarter of the village lives Isaac Rule, one of the most prominent, yet not earliest, of the settlers. He came to the county with his father in 1828, and located near Woodbury. In 1851, he bought out Mr. Roben, who was selling goods in West Point, and moved to the village. Through his industry and business tact, he has secured about six hundred acres of the best land in this region. He is now about fifty-five years of age. His wife is also an early settler of the county. The village contains one store, several shops and offices. The schoolhouse is a neat brick of one room and a single department. A neat frame church belonging to' the Baptist denomination graces the southern quarter of the town. This society was organized before 1840. Some of the original members were Daniel Eastman and Mr. Cash. The present enrollment of members reaches about sixty. Among the Pastors were Rev. T. W. Dye, who died but recently, and had served the congregation some seven years, and Rev. Mothland, of Galion, who has been the late minister. The original meeting-house was a log building and stood about a mile and a half south of the village. About 1856, the present building was erected. It is about forty feet long by thirty six feet wide. Dr. Frank Rule, a young man of brief experience, but of good parts, practices the healing art. This section of country presents the evidences of real prosperity. It is inhabited largely by industrious, energetic and hardy people, who came from Pennsylvania, Maryland and other Middle States.