404 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLIII.

CASS TOWNSHIP.

ITS ERECTION, BOUNDARIES AND PHYSICAL FEATURES - SETTLEMENTS - INDIANS - FIRST METHODIST CHURCH SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS - TOWNS - OLD SALEM - LONDON - PLANKTOWN - SHILOH -ITS EARLY SETTLERS, BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES - THE SHILOH REVIEW.

CASS belongs to the northern tier of townships, with Plymouth on the west, Blooming Grove on the east, and Jackson on the south. It was named after the Democratic candidate for President in 1848. It was erected out of the east half of Plymouth Township, December 12, 1849, and the name of Cass was at that time a prominent one in political history. Its length, from north to south, is six miles; width, four miles.

It is generally level, very fertile, and an excellent fruit growing district. The southern part is well watered by the Black Fork and tributaries, and the northern part by the tributaries of the Huron River, the dividing ridge running near the village of Shiloh.

The first settlement of this township was made near the head-waters of the Black Fork, in 1815, on Sections 13 and 24. John Long, from Knox County, formerly from Pennsylvania, settled on the former, and John McCart on the latter. Both families came about the same time, but McCart built the first cabin in the township, and Long the second. Other settlements were rapidly made. Among those who came in that and the year following, may be mentioned John Morris, who settled on Section 4 ; Daniel Gonsales, Section 9 ; Asa Murphy and family, including a son, Asa, from Virginia, Section 1 ; Daniel Prosser, Section 21. Robert Greene came in 1816, from Hampshire County, Va., and Thomas McBride in 1817, settling on Section 3. The following persons settled near the present site of the village of Shiloh, from 1816 to 1825: Frank Carmichael, Levi Bodley, William Bodley, Theson Richardson, Cornelius Brink, John and Aaron Pettit, Ephraim Vail, Richard Thew, John and Isaac Murphy, Reason Barnes, Thomas James, Benjamin Young, William Cotton, Peter Hall, John Long, Jr., Thomas Hamilton and James Long. The settlement of this township began after the war of 1812, when there was a good deal of excitement about, and quite a rush for, Ohio lands; consequently, it filled up rapidly, a majority of the settlers being from Western Pennsylvania and Virginia, a few, from New Jersey and the New England States. The early history of the township is meager. It does not differ from the general history of other townships in early days, except perhaps it was more quiet, no Indians of consequence being encamped within the limits of the township, except a small band of Wyandots or Delawares (probably a part of Armstrong's band of Greentown Indians), who had a permanent camp on the head-waters of the Black Fork. The settlers were never molested by them. There is the usual supply of bear and deer hunting stories, but none of sufficient importance for preservation. The entire township was heavily timbered with beech, oak, sugar, hickory, ash, and all other varieties of hard wood. It is quite probable that none of the early settlers found sufficient room to build their cabins without first cutting away the trees and brush. Thus the pioneers hewed out the homes for those who now enjoy them. A few

PAGE 405 - PICTURE OF F. W. STRONG

PAGE 405 - BLANK

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 407

of them yet remain, grayhaired and bending with the weight of years, living monuments of days that are fast fading, and can scarcely be comprehended by the generations of to-day.

The Methodists seem to have been the pioneer religious body in this township. About 1816 or 1817, Bennajah Boardman held the first religious services, in the cabin house of John Long, on the site of the village of Planktown, or Richland. He was a missionary, and continued preaching among the settlers several years before any church was erected. Money to build churches, or for any other purpose, was scarce, and the meetings were held in private houses, barns, and in the open air. In 1828, through the Rev. Boardman's influence, a log church-the first one in the township was erected on the southeast quarter of Section 1, where a town was laid out which they called Salem, and the church received the name of Salem Church. The settlers came together and built this church by their united labors. Its first members were John, Catharine, Nancy, Betsy and Sarah Long; Asa Murphy, who was considered a leader in the congregation; Peter and Annie Maring, John and Hannah Bell. This church was of hewed logs, and about fifty feet long by forty wide, with rude puncheon benches for seats. Following Bennajah Boardman, the ministers were Erastus Felton, the Revs. Chase and Goddard. Adam Poe, a nephew of the famous Indian fighter, also preached here occasionally. Boardman was, finally, the local preacher; settled here, and died in 1858. The log church was used until 1852, when it was torn down and a frame erected which cost $1,625. When the railroad (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis) came through the township in 1850, and the town of Shiloh began to grow, the Methodists proposed building a church in that place, and the old one was neglected. It was finally sold, in 1874, to Wesley McLaughlin, for $300, who, in turn, sold it to the Dunkards, by whom it is now occupied. This is the only church in the township outside the towns.

As in other townships, the first schools were " subscription " schools, and were taught in private houses, there being no public funds for school purposes. The first schoolhouse was built in 1819, on Section 9; and the first teacher was A. D. Bodley. Bennajah Boardman, the Methodist preacher, also taught one of the first schools, before any schoolhouse was erected, in a cabin built for a dwelling, across the road, south of old Salem Church, on the land now owned by David Long. This cabin had been occupied by a family of colored people-the first in the township. In this same cabin, Boardman also preached for some time before the log church was built. John Armstrong and an Englishman by the name of Simpson, also taught in this cabin. After several years, a hewed-log schoolhouse, which must have been the second one in the township, was built on the present site of the town of Shiloh, and the old cabin at Salem was deserted, the scholars all gathering at this house. Armstrong and Bodley also taught in this house. Some of the scholars were Levi Brink, Enos, Sophia and Rebecca Dayhuff, Newton Osterhaut, Thomas Vail, Thomas James and Alexander Pettit, Caleb Boardman, Eli Murphy, and Polly and Mary James.

The site of this schoolhouse is a little east of the present Lutheran Church, and is marked by a large sycamore tree, which stretches its gaunt, white arms protectingly over the spot; and, also, by a large white-oak stump, which has been a stump more than fifty' years, and looks as if it were good for a century more, if undisturbed. William Graydon was one of the early teachers here, and it was during his time that the schoolhouse was burnt. Another log schoolhouse was built farther east, toward Old Salem, which was also burnt; and a third one built north of the present site of Shiloh. This was abandoned after a time, and a fourth

408 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

one built at Salem, which was occupied until after the railroad came through; and one was built in the town of Shiloh.

Several attempts have been made to start and build up towns in this township, but every attempt failed until after the railroad came through, and Shiloh was established: Almost as far back as the oldest inhabitant can remember, a man by the name of Powers attempted to start a town on the southwest quarter of Section 1, which he called Salem. A town was actually laid out and platted, but the plat was never recorded, and no town came into existence. The lots were vacated after a time, and belong to the farms that corner at old Salem Church. Powers brought a small stock of goods there and attempted the mercantile business, but it was a failure. The only houses built were the Methodist Church, a Lutheran Church, a log building occupied by Powers for storeroom and dwelling, and the log house before mentioned, as being occupied as a schoolhouse.

The second attempt at building a town was in the southern part of the township, on the line between Sections 33 and 34. This was laid out in 1832, by John Snyder, Abraham Fox and Michael Conrod, and called London. Snyder owned the land. Forty-seven lots were laid out. Peter Keller, Mrs. Conrod and Abraham Fox were the first residents, the latter building a dwelling and storeroom, partly brick and partly frame, on the principal corner, in which he opened a small store. John Fireoved afterward kept store in the same house. Keller started a blacksmith-shop. The place struggled for existence several years, and gathered a cluster of farmhouses at the cross roads there. At present no business is done, but half a dozen well-to-do farmers who own the land around, occupy its houses.

The third attempt at town building was on Section 13, in 1837. The cabin of John Long, the first settler, was located here, upon what afterward became an important public highway. The road was mach traveled by teams transporting grain from Knox County and other portions of the interior, to the lake, then the great and only outlet for the rapidly increasing products of Ohio. Taverns along this road were frequent, and a necessity, and Mr. Long's cabin became, without any effort on his part, a stopping-place for the early teams. Mr. Long did not wish to keep a hotel; he had started a tannery, and this . in addition to his farm was all he could attend to. He sold out his hotel to a man by the name of Rumer, and built another house for himself near his tan-yard. After a time, Rumer sold out to Mr. John Plank, who secured sufficient ground, and, in 1837, laid out a town which he first called Plymouth, but which he afterward changed to Richland ; however, the town was always better known as Planktown. In time, the old cabin was pulled down, a larger house built, and Planktown became a noted stopping-place for the great number of teams that daily traveled over the road. Mr. David Long says, as many as two hundred teams loaded with wheat from the rich valleys of the tributaries of the Muskingum were known to pass Planktown in one day, during the season immediately following harvest. Rumer had also kept a grocery in connection with his hotel, which was the first store in the place. After Planktown was laid out, it grew quite rapidly for a town in those days, and became ih time a place of perhaps two hundred people, with two stores carrying assorted stocks, and two hotels. J. Saviers kept one of the stores at an early day.

The frontier towns of those days-as of today-were cursed with a class of men known and recognized as roughs, thieves, gamblers, murderers and every species of criminals known to the law. These, escaping from justice, took up their residence on the frontier, where they felt more secure.

Planktown was more than usually infested with this kind of vermin, which continued to

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 409

feed upon its vitals until it sickened and died.

The name of one of its citizens in 1850, was Return J. M. Ward, who proved to be a desperate villain-a murderer and was hung in Toledo June 12, 1857, for the murder of his wife. After his arrest there, he confessed to the killing of a peddler and of Noah Hall, in Planktown. These murders; together with the railroad, which ran within a mile of the place. killed it. A full account of Ward's crimes will be found in another chapter. Planktown went down more rapidly than it grew up, many of its citizens deserting it and going to Shiloh.

At present, no business is carried on in the place: only seven families are living there, mostly farmers. . Many of the houses have been moved away and some torn down. A windstorm destroyed the old tavern-stand, in which the peddler was murdered.

In 1850, when the Cleveland, Columbus. Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad came through Cass, a village was laid out on Aaron Pettit's farm half a mile north of the present town of Shiloh, on the railroad, and called Salem Station. The would-be town of Salem was a mile away, and was henceforth called Old Salem, while the station was frequently called New Salem, to distinguish it from the other. A station-house, a house built by Jesse Maring and a little shanty, in which whisky and cigars were sold, were all the buildings that were erected at this Salem Station. After the station had been established and a small town laid out it was discovered that it was situated in a low, swampy place, between two country roads. and it was decided to move it south half a mile, to higher ground. This was clone; accordingly. there being nothing to move but the station-house and the aforesaid whisky-shop.

Here, in September, 1852, the permanent town was laid out by Charles R. Squires, who had purchased four acres of ground from the Pettits for that purpose. As early as 1823, Thomas Pettit came from Mifflin Township, and entered 1,200 acres of land in this vicinity, upon part of which his numerous descendants are still living.

Thomas Boorman, still living in the town, built the first dwelling. It stood on the site of the present brick block, lately erected, called Brenneman's Block, near the depot. It was a one and a half story frame, about 27x40. About the same time, a Mr. Pease built a storeroom on the opposite side of the railroad from the Boorman dwelling, and opposite the present American House. It is still standing, being used as a storeroom and dwelling by Joseph Page & Son, who keep groceries and dry goods.

Shiloh has grown rapidly, and is not through yet. It is now the only town in the township, and is surrounded by an excellent farming country. The business of the place is in a healthy condition, and steadily increasing. Many additions have been made since the first four acres were laid off into lota. John and Alexander Pettit made an addition March 30, 1859 ; Catherine Wishart February 6, 1864. In 1868, Charles Wakefield, Jacob Korber, Samuel Weirick, Thomas B. Pettit and Alexander Pettit made additions to the town. Beside these, additions have been made from time to time to the number of sixteen, the last one being made in May, 1879, by John Davis.

The town went by the name of Salem for several years, but, on account of there being two or three other Salems in the State, which made trouble with mail matters and freight, it was decided to change it. The citizens met for the purpose in 1862, about the time Grant was fighting his battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, and, in the enthusiasm of the moment, the town was named Shiloh.

Abner Tanner was one of the first settlers; he came in 1853, and started a shoe-shop and grocery on the corner east of the railroad, where the American House now stands. He

410 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

(This page includes a picture of The Brenneman Block)

afterward erected this house. Charles R. Squires bought out Pease, kept the store, and was the first railroad agent. In 1854, he sold his store to Humphry & Wright. The grocers now in the place are Korber Bros., Cunningham & Carmichael, J. C. Ward, E. C. Gregg and P. S. Gilmore.

There is a drug and hardware store kept by Turner & Prame ; a notion store by S. Hench ; saddlery, by Israel Shutt ; a boot and shoe, and hardware store, by Silas Ferrill ; two millinery shops, by Mrs. Grieas and Mrs. Black. The doctors are J. E. Roseborough, J. Q. Clowes and Dr. Francis. John E. Smith keeps the warehouse, and deals largely in grain and seeds. Wakefield owns an extensive egg-house, with a refrigerator, and engages largely in the business of egg-packing for the Eastern markets. Mr. Shupe keeps the Exchange Bank, and deals largely in butter, lumber, shingles, etc. The business of the railroad office, which is, and has been for many years, in charge of Jessie Maring is about $50,000 a year. W. H. Gilmore engages largely in cider-making; his presses, running by steam, are capable of producing 100 barrels per day. The American House is kept by C. E. Parsons, who is also Mayor of the town. W. A. Ferre keeps a bakery. The only grist-mill in the township was built here in 1872; a saw-mill was added in 1878. Taylor & Crawford built the mill, which, in 1874, was sold to Opdyke & Smith. In a few months, Opdyke bought out Smith, and, in 1877, he, in turn, sold out to the first owners, who are now running it. They make a specialty of custom-work, and are doing a safe business.

The Brenneman Block, a solid and beautiful structure, was commenced in 1873 and finished in the same year. It was erected on the site of the first dwelling-house. It is 48x75, three stories, all twelve feet in height, and a basement. The third floor is occupied by the Odd Fellows, and for a public hall; the second floor by the Shiloh Review and public offices. On the lower floor are two fine store-rooms, one of which is occupied by John Brenneman with dry-goods and clothing. The basement is occupied as a restaurant and for Shupe's butter depot. The building cost $16,000, and was designed by S. S. Hunter,. the work being under the supervision of Korber Brothers. In 1865, an independent district was created in Shiloh, and a brick schoolhouse erected in the east part of town. It was large and comfortable, but the town grew so fast that in 1878 It was found necessary to build an addition. This was done at a cost of $7,000, the addition being much larger than the original building. It will now accommodate several hundred pupils. Mr. Kinsel taught the first school in the brick.

The school is at present in a flourishing condition, with 275 pupils, under the charge of five teachers and the superintendency of A. A. Douglas. The Board of Education are

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 411

J. C. Fenner, C. L. Opdyke and James Guthrie.

Three churches are at present located within the town limits.

The Methodist Episcopal, a history of which has already been given, as it was first located at Old Salem, is a fine new brick edifice. Its Sunday- school was organized at Old Salem in 1828. James Long was the first Superintendent. Both Sunday school and church are in a flourishing condition.

The United Brethren in Christ was first organized in Planktown in 1843. A church called the Union Church had been erected by the people of Planktown in 1840. which was used by all denominations. In this, the Brethren first organized. Afterward, in 1849, they built a church at Old Salem, across the road east of the Methodist Church. It was a frame church and cost about $1,100. In 1860, it was moved to Shiloh. with additional cost of moving and repairs of $700. Michael Long, a missionary sent out by the Sandusky Conference, was influential in organizing this church. The names of some of the first members are N. S. Guthrie and wife, Robert Guthrie and wife, Peter Broehe and wife, Mr. Shupe, wife and two daughters, and Artemisse Wolf. The Pastors have been, Michael Long, Jacob Berger, William Mathers, Solomon Lindsey, John Goodwin, Enoch Bell, Alexander Biddle, C. L. Barlow, A. H. Leonard, V. Pond (Mr. Pond's wife also preached occasionally), William Newell and George Bender. The present minister is Rev. Mr. Spangler and the membership about sixty.

A Sunday school was organized about the time the church building was moved to Shiloh. N. S. Guthrie was first Superintendent. At present, the membership is about twenty.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in Planktown in 1842, in a school-house, by the Rev. P. P. Lane, Samuel Weirich and Samuel Hendrickson were elected Elders, and Alexander McBride and Emanuel Bigler, Deacons. Some time after, a frame church building was erected, about 30x40 feet, which they occupied until 1853. P. P. Lane preached until 1844, when he was succeeded by Erastus Eastman, who served until 1848. Joshua Crouse was the nest minister, and remained until the church was removed to Shiloh. In 1853, a new church building was erected in Shiloh at a cost of $2,188. The corner-stone was laid on the 9th of August of that year, and April 16, 1854, the building was dedicated by Prof F. W. Conrad, of Wittenberg College, assisted by Rev. D. Specher and Rev. S. Fenner. The building is a neat, white frame structure, 38x36, and is called Mount Hope. In the summer of 1878, it was remodeled at a cost of $1,600. The present minister is G. W. Miller, with a membership of about one hundred and fifty.

A union Sunday school for the Methodists and Lutherans was organized about the time the church was occupied. J. Fenner is present Superintendent, with a membership of about one hundred and twenty.

The Shiloh Review was started in 1872, under the name of Shiloh Times, by Barkdull & Roberts. Like most other papers before they become firmly established, it has had a checkered existence, when it had an existence at all, showing that starting a newspaper is very precarious, uncertain and difficult. It was issued from the Shelby press about a year, when Roberts left it and the issue was suspended for a few weeks. Some of the citizens of Shiloh, wishing the paper continued, formed a stock company, purchased a press, and with Barkdull as manager, published the paper another year, when they sold out to George T. Mattison, who bought it mostly on time, giving a mortgage on press and type. Mattison failed to make it pay, left in about a year, and the concern went back into the hands of the mortgagees. Two of the stockholders, J. C. Fenner and John P. Black, published the paper

412 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

about two months. when it was again sold to George W. Allen. This gentleman consolidated with Doctor Clowes. of the Rome Clear Grit, and for eighteen months more. the paper was published under the name of Clear Grit. It was not yet a success. however and passed into the bands of Foulks B: Secrist. who conducted it six months. At the end of that time, the press was taken possession of he Mr. Chew who held a mortgage on it, and the paper was again suspended for a few issues, until purchased by S. S Bloom. of Shelby, who again changed the name to Shiloh Times and published it in Shelby bringing it over to Shiloh for delivery. In February 1875. Mr. Bloom sold out to Mr. Gilmore. The latter brought the concern again to Shiloh, and in connection with Messrs. Clowes Brothers, started it anew in that place soon, charging the name to Shiloh

Review. In eighteen months, Gilmore purchased the interest of Clowes Brothers; and published the paper alone until April 1878 when he sold a half-interest to John C. Higgins. After running under the firm name of Gilmore R Higgins for eight months, Glimore again came into possession of the entire establishment and continued its publication, alone until February 27, 1879, when the concern was purchased by John C. Higgins, the present editor. After all its ups and downs, it appears at last to have reached a permanent and solid foundation and is now a financial success.

In 1874. Shiloh considered itself far enough advanced to have a Mayor and Council. The first Mayor was William Crawford. He was followed by Alfred Free William Gilmore and K. C. Parsons. There are at present from 800 to 1,000 people in Shiloh.