PLEASANT TOWNSHIP - 625

CHAPTER XXIII.

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

THIS is the third division of the county which received the American pioneer, dating its settlement back to 1819, when the Seneca Indian Agency was established.

This particular neighborhood was known as the Seneca country prior to 1820, when it was surveyed into quarter sections by J. T. Worthington, and given the title of Town 3 north, Range 15 east. Under this name and that of Fort Seneca it was known to land buyers and others until 1831. The inhabitants in 1820, comprised the families of the pioneers of 1819-20, the officials at the agency and the white captives of the Indians; ten years later the number of inhabitants was placed at 700; in 1840 the population was estimated at over 1,100; in 1850 it reached 1,592; in 1860 it decreased to 1,522; in 1870 it decreased to 1,352; in 1880 the census returns give the figures 1,417, and in 1885, a conservative estimate places the entire population at 1, 592, the same as in 1850.

The Sandusky River enters the township in Section 32, flows northeast to the center of Section 28, forking in Section 29, and forming a large island in the southeast quarter of that section. From the center of Section 28 it flows in a general northwestern course to the village of Fort Seneca, and thence east to the west line of Section 22, thus forming a great bend. From this point to the extreme southwestern corner of Section 10, it observes a northerly course, thence flows generally northwest, and leaves the township and county at the northeastern quarter of Section 5.

Spicer Creek flows through Sections 33 and 28, entering the river near the center of the last named section. Sugar Creek flows from Section 25 through Sections 26, 27 and 22, where it enters the Sandusky.. Two or three spring creeks also flow into this river from the west in the township; while the eastern fork of Wolf Creek runs in a tortuous course north from a point west of the village of Fort Seneca to the northwestern corner of Section 6, where it leaves the county. Beaver Creek, which has its source in Thompson Township, flows into the lake on the northeast quarter of Section 12, thence north

626 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

west and north through Section 1. This is also called Green Creek, and the stream, rising in Sections 12 and 11., flowing north, is a fork of this creek.*

Owing to the river passing through the township the surface is much broken. A large area of bottom land is found here, while on the plateau some of the richest farm lands and most beautiful farms in the county are found.

Railroads.-Two lines traverse Pleasant Township: the "Nickel Plate" and the Indiana, Bloomington & Western. The former enters the township at Section 7, and, taking a northeasterly and easterly course, leaves at Section 1. The latter penetrates the township at Section 34, and running almost due northeast, leaves in the extreme southeast corner of Section 12.

Organic glad Official History.-A petition signed by many inhabitants of Seneca Township, of which Pleasant Township formed a part, was presented to the commissioners by Caleb Rice, June 6, 1831. This petition prayed for the establishment of a new township out of fractional Township 3 north, Range 15 east, and all that part of the Seneca Indian Reservation within the county. James Gordon, then a member of the board, proposed the name of "Pleasant," and under this name the township was organized. In March, 1833, it was established within its present boundaries.

The early records of Seneca Township, noticed in the chapter on that township, give the members of the local government board down to 1832. From this date forward to 1849, the records of Pleasant Township are defective or wanting; so that the possibility of making an authentic list of township officials for those years is too remote to attempt such a list. To the courtesy of A. L. Abbott, the present township clerk, the writer is indebted for the roll of officials from 1850 to the present time.

The trustees elected for the several years were as under:

1850.-D. V. Flumerfelt, Calvin Clark, Francis Abbott.

1851.-M. B. Fry, Francis Abbott, Calvin Clark.

1852.-Ephraim Sheets, Francis Abbott, Calvin Clark.

1853.---Ephraim Sheets, Francis Abbott, Calvin Clark.

1854.-William Holtz, S. V. Humes, Calvin Clark.

1855.-S. R. Swope, William Bonnell, Nathan Littler.

1856.-S. V. Humes, E. Sheets, William Bonnell.

1857.-N. E. Fry, S. V. Homes, P. J. Holtz.

1858.--S. R. Swope, William Smith, E. Sheets.

1859.-D. N. Brinkerhoof, William Smith, S. R. Swope.

1860.-D. V. Flumerfelt, William Smith, D. N. Brinkerhoof.

1861.-William Norton, D. V. Flumerfelt, S. V. Humes.

1862.-T. Watson, S. V. Humes, D. V. Flumerfelt.

1863.-D. L. Pence, T. Watson, S. V. Humes.

1864.-J. J. Dumond, S. V. Humes, T. W. Watson.

1865.-A. Cunning, S. V. Humes, T. W. Watson.

1866.-A. Cunning, S. V. Humes, T. W. Watson.

1867.-George Shannon, Martin Smith, J. R. Drown.

1868.-William Sneath, Martin Smith, J. R. Drown.

1869.-P. King, George Shannon, Josiah Jackman.

1870.-J. R. Drown, George Shannon, P. King.

1871.-James Gangwer, George Joseph, Philip Fry.

1872.-James Gangwer, George Joseph, Philip Fry.

1873.-John G. Bonnell, Lyman Abbott, Michael Borrough.

1874.-John G. Bonnell, Lyman Abbott, George E. Miller.

1875.--A. L. Shafer, J. S. White, Lyman Abbott.

* On the Andrew Marcha faint, on Section 8, is a pond filled with German carp.

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1876.----James Gangwer, O. P. Laine, A. L. Shafer.

1877. -George Shannon, P. King, James Gangwer.

1878.-John Myers, O. P. Laine, James Gangwer.

1879.-John Myers, O. P. Laine, James Gangwer.

1880.-John Myers, O. P. Laine, James Gangwer.

1881-.-C. Flumerfelt, O. P. Laine, James Gangwer.

1882.-John Hoover, Jacob Zimmerman, John H. Loose.

1883.-John Shannon, John Young, J. H. Loose.

1884.-Lyman Abbott, J. H. Loose, James Gangwer.

1885.-Lyman Abbott, George Lehman, Charles Flumerfelt.

In the following list the names of clerks, treasurers and justices of the peace, from 1850 to 1885, are given:

1850.-- C. Snook, clerk; Lorenzo Abbott, treasurer; Lorenzo Abbott, justice of the peace.

1851- 53.--C. Snook, clerk; Lorenzo Abbott, treasurer; Calvin Clark, justice of the peace.

1854.-C. Snook, clerk; Lorenzo Abbott, treasurer; C. Snook, justice of the peace.

1855. --C. Pool, clerk; Lorenzo Abbott, treasurer; C. Snook, justice of the peace.

1856-57.---C. Snook, clerk; Lorenzo Abbott, treasurer; William Holtz, justice of the peace.

1858. --C. Snook, clerk; Lorenzo Abbott, treasurer; William Holtz, C. Snook, justices of the peace.

1859-61.--C. Snook, clerk; Lorenzo Abbott, treasurer; William Bonnell; C. Snook, justices of the peace.

1862. -C. Snook, clerk; Lorenzo Abbott, treasurer; S. V. Humes, C. Snook, justices of the peace.

1863-66.-William Montgomery, clerk; C. Snook, treasurer; S. V. Humes, C. Snook, justices of the peace.

1867.--William Montgomery, clerk; D. V. Flumerfelt, treasurer; S. V. Humes C. Snook, justices of the peace.

1868.-----Moses Abbott, clerk; Lorenzo Abbott, treasurer; J. B. Wagner, A. L. Shafer, justices of the peace.

1869.-M. R. Fry, clerk; William Montgomery, treasurer; J. B. Wagner, A. L. Shafer, justices of the peace.

1870.-M. R. Fry, clerk; George Snyder, treasurer; D. Durfee, O. S. Watson, justices of the peace.

1871.-William Shuman, clerk; George Snyder, treasurer; D. Durfee, O. S. Watson, justices of the peace.

1872. ----William Shuman, clerk; F. J. Fry, treasurer; J. H. Davidson, O. S. Watson, justices of the peace.

1873-74.-A. L. Abbott, clerk; J. R. McDonald, treasurer; G. W. Dumond O. S. Watson, justices of the peace.

1875.----Moses Abbott, clerk; J. R. McDonald, treasurer; G. W. Dumond, O. S. Watson, justices of the peace.

1876.- William Shuman, clerk; J. R. McDonald, treasurer; J. H. Davidson, O. S. Watson, justices of the peace.

1877-78.-Moses Abbott, clerk; J. R. McDonald, treasurer; J. H. Davidson, A. L. Shafer, justices of the peace.

1879.----Moses Abbott. clerk; M. R. Fry, treasurer; J. H. Davidson, A. L. Shafer, justices of the peace.

1880.- Moses Abbott, clerk; M. R. Fry, treasurer; J. H. Davidson, O. S. Watson, justices of the peace.

628 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

1881.-John F. Blue, clerk; W. F. Shuman, treasurer; J. H. Davidson, O. S. W Watson, justices of the peace.

1882.-John F. Blue, clerk; W. F. Shuman, treasurer; A. L. Abbott, O. S. Watson, justices of the peace.

1883-84.-Moses Abbott, clerk; W: F. Shuman, treasurer; A. L. Abbott, E. Parker, justices of the peace.

The elections of April, 1885, resulted in the choice of the following named officers. Trustees, C. Flumerfelt (Dem.), George Seckman (Dem.), Lyman Abbott (Rep.); treasurer, W. F. Shuman (Dem.); clerk, Moses Abbott (Rep.)*; assessor, Lewis Shannon (Dem.); constables, P. S. Sheets (Rep.), J. Novinger (Rep.); justice, W. W. Jones (Rep.).

Pioneers anal Pioneer Events.-The first settlers in what now constitutes Pleasant Township were William Spicer, to whom the Spicer Section in Pleasant Township was granted by the treaty of Miami of Lake Erie (patented January 18, 1822), and he may be termed the first white settler here. For forty years previous to 1819 he resided among the Indians of the Sandusky, and grew in wealth among them. Benjamin and West Barney came to the county in 1818, and settled here in 1819. Benjamin B. Barney, who, in 1824, became a pioneer of Pike County, Ill., with his son, Joseph W. Barney, settled here in 1818 or 1819. When ninety-one years old, Benjamin B. Barney crossed the plains to California, but died on board ship while returning in 1854. He was a native of Savoy, Berkshire Co., Mass., and on coming here settled with his brother; West Barney, in a cabin which Spicer built in 1818. Benjamin Culver came about this time. Anson Gray, also a pioneer, moved to Illinois in 1824. In 1819 a son of Benjamin B. Barney, named Benjamin, his daughter, Annar; and Friend Orr arrived. Daniel Rice and Caleb Rice, natives of Clarendon County, Vt., came about the same time, so also did the McNutts,

The first Indian sub-agent of the Senecas, James Montgomery, settled at Camp Seneca, November 20, 1819, at a time when only five families resided between the camp and Oakley Village.

In the summer of 1820, William Harris, his wife (nee Mary Mead) and children, Samuel, John, Marshall, Minerva, Tabitha and Jane Harris, moved from Harrisburgh, Penn., and settled in this township; Samuel Harris and John Eaton, being the prospectors here late in 1819. Samuel died in Sandusky County in 1826; Augustus Harris and his family came in 1821, and in that year his wife died. This William Harris was a Revolutionary soldier, and a pensioner from 1825 until 1834, when he died. This pension was founded on representations made to the Government by Abel Rawson, Eli Downing named in the history of Clinton Township and elsewhere, was one of the first settlers, having his cabin in the valley south of what was known as Baker's Mill. Annar Barney was married to David Rice in the fall of 1820, and, in December of that year, Minerva Harris married Benjamin Barney; David Smith, the pioneer justice of the peace of Fort. Ball, officiating, with Erastus Bowe, witness. The first recorded marriage is that of West Barney and Sophronia Wilson by Justice David Rice, October 24, 1820. The Dumonds came in 1821, and built a cabin on the west bank of the Sandusky, which was in a good state of ,preservation a few years ago. The first permanent settlers on the Fort lands were Jacques Hulburt, who came from New York State in 1823, and Shepherd Patrick, who also came in 1823. They purchased the old Fort lands and farmed there for some years. Patrick sold his lands to Hulburt and returned East, while the latter moved to Fremont, and opened a store there. The Rum-

* Capt. Moses Abbott, noticed in Chapter IX, died in 1885, when A. L. Abbott was appointed clerk, and elected his successor.

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. - 629

leys built a mill on Green Creek, in 1823, and shortly after, Moore erected one on the Sandusky. The Hedges. Mill, on Beaver Creek, did not come into existence until 1838. The beginnings of settlement made by those pioneers attracted to the township a number of equally industrious men; all joined in the arduous work of olden days, and within the succeeding decade gave to the county one of its principal divisions, well worthy of the name it bears. In the following pages many if not all of the old residents are noticed.

Lorenzo Abbott, a native of Massachusetts, came with his parents to Seneca County, in 1821; was married here, in 1825, to Miss Jennette Sherwood, who came with her parents from New Jersey in 1821; the former died in 1876, the latter in 1877....William H. Anders, an early settler, came from Virginia. His wife (nee Sarah A. King), a native of Maryland, was also one of the first settlers . . . . William Astor, a native of Ohio, settled here in 1858.

Felix Beck came to this township in 1847, from Maryland . . . . William Bonnell, who died in 1885, settled here in 1838; his widow, Mrs. Anna M. (Buyter) Bonnell, is still a resident . . . . Marshall Barney came with his brothers and sisters in 1819, settled in the vicinity of Fort Seneca, and died there shortly after . . . . Annar Barney (who married David Rice), and other members of this family, were pioneers of 1819 . . . . West Barney, who settled here in 1818, moved to Missouri and died there in 1878 . . . . Gahart and Sarah (Remby) Beck, parents of Mrs. Moses Abbott, came from Pennsylvania to this county at an early date . . . . Vincent Bell, one of the founders of Fort Seneca, in 1836, was a pioneer of this township. He was one of the early justices of the peace, serving in 1836 . . . Dr. F. M. Bell was a resident physician at Fort Seneca in 1847 . . . . Abraham and Sarah (Betts) Borough, natives of Pennsylvania, parents of Michael Borough (who was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1836), came in an early day with their parents to this county from Wayne; Mrs. Borough died in 1883; Mr. Borough now resides at Fostoria ....Michael Borough settled here in 1868 . . . . Jacob and Susan (Gittinger) Bowersox, natives of Indiana, parents of Mrs. Joseph R. Drown, came here in 1838, and died in 1877.. . John and Hannah (Onan) Blue, parents of Mrs. Bartholomew Shaull (mother of Mrs. John Puffenberger, of Liberty Township), were early settlers of Pleasant Township .... Jacob E. and Anson (Ulrich) Brenneman, parents of Mrs. Reuben Sellers, a native of Ashland County, Ohio, came to this county in an early day, where they still reside.

H. Clark came from New York State in 1839 . . . . George Clark, an Ohioan, in 1842 . . . . James B. Clark in 1844 . . . . Pinckney and Edatha (Hubbard) Clark (former born in 1807, latter in 1802 in New York State), parents of Mrs. David B. Anders, came to this township in 1834, where they now reside with David B. Hume . . . . Town and Philothe (Case) Clark, natives of, New York State, parents of Mrs. Rasselus R. Titus, came here in 1835. Mr. Clark died in 18-t0, his widow in 1880 . . . . Calvin Clark is named among the old residents, He served as commissioner . . . . John Collister, a Manxman, was an early settler .... Andrew Culright, who died in 1836, owned the south part of the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 6; settled, however, south of Tiffin at an early date, and had the only cabin on the river between Fort Ball and McCutcheonville in 1820 . . . . Benjamin Culver died in 1840 . . . . James and Mary P. (Haskell) Crockett, former born in Maine in 1798, came to the county in 1828 and settled in Pleasant Township.

Solomon and Fanny (Dennis) Drown, natives of New Hampshire and Maine, respectively, parents of Joseph R. Drown (who was born in Pennsylvania), came to Adams Township in 1837. Mr. Drown died in 1857, Mrs. Drown in 1880 . . . . Andrew and John Dukes and Michael Durand were among the early

630 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

settlers . . . . Isaac I. and Sophia (Dukes) Dumond, natives of New York State and Delaware, respectively, parents of Lorenzo A. Dumond (who was born here in 1834), came with their parents to this county in 1820, and were married here in 1823. Mr. Dumond died in 1880, his widow in 1881.

John Eaton settled in the township in 1819; married Mrs. Polly Orr . . . . Uriah Egbert settled on the North Greenfield road in 1822; moved in 1823 to Pleasant Township and died there October 1, 1876; he was a native of New Jersey, while his wife (nee Susannah Williams) was a native of Maryland; she died in 1875 . . . . John D. Egbert, born in Franklin County, Ohio, in 1819, came with his parents to Seneca County in 1822; here he married Miss Ary A. Griffin . . . . Jeremiah W: and Lucy A. Egbert, natives of Ohio, parents of Norman D. Egbert, of Clinton Township (who was born in 1843), came to Pleasant Township after marriage and have since remained here.

James M. Figgins was drowned near the Pleasant Township bridge in April, 1848; Joshua Stackhouse was drowned with him . . . . Cornelius Flumerfelt settled here in May, 1826; died in August, 1871 . . . . D. V. Flumerfelt came with his parents to Pleasant Township in 1826 . . . . Phineas Frary was among the pioneers ....Milton Frary, who married Miss Sally Montgomery March 25, 1832, died in 1852 . . . . Philip H. Fry, a native of Prussia, born in 1805, came in 1833 to America and in 1834 to Tiffin, where he helped to hew out the timbers for the first courthouse in Seneca County; also built houses, churches and bridges in the county; he and his wife settled in Pleasant in 1838.

James T. Gangwor, one of the pioneers of Pleasant Township, died January 4, 1885, in his eighty-first year; he resided for years three and a half miles north of Tiffin . . . . Tilgman Gangwer came from Pennsylvania in 1851 . . . . Daniel and Jane (Dudrow) Gittinger (both deceased), parents of Mrs. John G. Bonnell, came from Maryland to this county in an early day . . . . Edward D. Griffin, a native of Virginia, came with his daughter, Ary Ann (now wife of John D. Egbert), to Adams Township in 1831, and here married his second wife, Mrs. Colena (Titus) Church; Mr. Griffin died in 1876; his widow died since that time . . . . Stephen and Christiana (Sheels) Grove, natives of Maryland, parents of William H. Grove (who was born in Maryland in 1832), came to this township in 1835. Mr. Grove died in 1876; his widow in 1877.

William Harris, a soldier of the Revolution and a gunsmith, was pensioned in 1825, and died in 1834; he settled in the township in 1820 . . . . Augustus Harris, son of William Harris, came in 1821, and the same year his wife died.. . Samuel Harris and John Eaton came in 1819, as the pioneers of the family ; Samuel died in 1826 .. . .Tabitha Harris (who married Benjamin Culver, in 1828), now Mrs. Stanley, is a resident of Tiffin, and one of the four survivors of first settlement. There are other members of this family referred to elsewhere . . . . Emmanuel Hall, a native of Ohio, settled here in 1824 . . . . Lewis and Caroline Hemminger, are named among the old settlers . . . . John and Margarot (Byers) Hoke, parents of Mrs. William Montgomery, came to this county about 1848; Mrs. Hoke died in 1857, Mr. Hoke in 1874. . . . William and Catharine Holtz, parents of Mrs. Norman D. Egbert, of Clinton Township (who was born in Pleasant Township in 1845), were early settlers here where former died in 1862, and latter now resides . . . . Jacob P. and Susannah (Huss) Holtz, came here in 1834, and still reside in this township . . . . Joseph and Catherine (Gulmire) Hoover, parents of John A. Hoover, who was born in this township in 1839, were early settlers here . . . . Jacques Hulburt came in 1823 and with Shepard Patrick, purchased the Fort Seneca Reservation. He conducted the first grammar school in the county until his removal to Lower San-

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP - 631

dusky; died December 25, 1836 . . . . Sylvia Ann Hunt and Maria Hunt, came as visitors at an early day, and married Samuel Wright and John Wright respectively. Sylvia Ann was divorced from her husband, and soon after married Rufus W. Reid, a Tiffin merchant. Mr. Reid died years ago, but his widow is still a resident of Ohio . . . . Samuel V. Humes, born in Champaign County, Ohio in 1821, settled in Pleasant Township in 1834.

Mrs. Sally (Frary nee Montgomery) Ingham, born in Champaign County, Ohio, February 4, 1811, settled at Fort Seneca with her father, Rev. James Montgomery, in November, 1819. She married Milton Frary, March 25 1832. He died in 1852. The same Mrs. Frary moved to Tiffin and resided in that city until 1869, when she married Alexander Ingham, and moved with him to Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Ingham died in April, 1870, and two years later Mrs. Ingham returned to Tiffin, where she erected her present residence on Minerva Street, about thirteen years ago. To this lady the writer is indebted for solving some historical conundrums relating to church affairs at Tifn, and early settlers and events connected with Pleasant Township. She is one of a quartette of old residents who settled here between 1818 and 1822, and still resides in the county.

David H. and Mary (Dumond) Jopp, former born in Conn., in 1791, latter in New York State in 1793, grandparents of Orson Jopp, came in 1831 to Pleasant Township. Mr. Jopp died in 1849, his widow in 1876 . . . . Luther S. and Emeline (Madison) Jopp (both deceased), parents of Orson Jopp, were also early settlers in the township . . . . . M. D. Jopp came from New York State in 1838.

David B. King, a Pennsylvanian, came to this county in 1814, and died in 1877. He was married to Sarah Robertson, now of Pleasant Township . . . . The Keeler family were among the old settlers, but, residing on the river bank in the bottom lands, they were afflicted with ague until they left the county.

Martin Lane, Indian interpreter, was an early settler here, but had no part in the industrial life of the township. Reference to him is made in the chapter on Seneca's Red Pioneers . . . .The horrible death of Newton J. Lamkins, -it Virginia City, occurred April 5, 1861 . . . . John Loose, a Pennsylvanian, settled here in 1841, and died in 1875; his widow, Sarah (Mise) Loose, resides here with her son, John H.

David Martin came from Pennsylvania and settled in Liberty Township at an early date. His death occurred in 1872; Mrs. Rachel Pope Martin, his widow, is now a resident of old Fort Seneca . . . . Lester and Emily (Shattuck) McIntire, and Smith and Catherine (Larkins) McIntyre, settled here at an early date . . . . John McGee was an early settler, but of him little else can be learned ....William S. and Sophia (Stewart) McMeen, natives of Pennsylvania, parents of Mrs. Alfred L. Shafer (who was born in 1842), came to this county in 1835 . . . . A. McNutt, who settled here in 1819, was married to Miss Dumond, about 1828. His brother, Daniel McNutt, also came in 1819, bringing with him his family . . . . George E. Miller, an Ohioan, came here in 1826. Tobias Miller, of old Fort Seneca, kept a hotel there for years, and was known as one of the most genial host; he settled here in 1825, and four years later, his first wife, Mary Young, died here; Tobias died in 1879, aged ninety-seven years . . . . John and Elizabeth (Abbott) Michaels were here at an early date . . . . John Moore, born in Pennsylvania, in 1803, settled in this township in 1836; he was married in Pennsylvania, to Eliza Kopp, and both reside here . . . . Rev. James Montgomery, first Indian agent for the Senecas, settled -it Old Fort Seneca in 1819, residing in one of the block-houses; this house, with a second log house moved near it in 1820, he fixed up, and made of it

632 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

the best house then in Seneca County. During this year his son died here, and his remains were placed in a bog made by Daniel Rice and J. Chapin, for interment. With him were Mrs. Kezia (Rouse) Montgomery, and nine children. About 1827 the family moved to the Montgomery farm near the fort, where James Montgomery died June 1, 1830. He was justice of the peace from 1827 to his death. Of the entire family, Mrs. Sally Ingham is the only one living ....William and Christianna (Plank) Montgomery (former a native of Ireland), parents of William Montgomery, who was born in Clinton Township in 1826, were early settlers of the county; former died in 1830, latter in 1873 . . . . . John and Eunice (Walker) Myers are classed among the old settlers.

The Olmstead family settled in Pleasant Township, down the river from Tiffin ....David E. Owen settled on the Huber farm in 1829. He was the first Democrat ever elected to an office in Seneca County (1832); was connected with the land office, and from 1832 to the period of his death, September, 1857, held a prominent place among politicians . . . . Mrs. Polly Orr, who married John Eaton in 1818, after the death of her husband and child, in 1819 or 1820, came with her brothers-the Barneys . . . . Friend Orr, a friend of the Barneys, settled in Pleasant in 1819, and died here a few years later; one of his children died here shortly after settlement; his widow married John Eaton.

Sedate Paddleford was a temporary resident in Pleasant Township, in 1819 . . . . Benjamin and Lovina (Walsh) Palmer, parents of Mrs. John A. Hoover, came from Maryland to Pleasant Township, in an early day . . . . Benajah Park, saloon keeper at Swope's Corners came with his brothers in June, 1826, was stabbed during a drunken orgie in 1829, and died early in 1830 . . . . Henry and Charlotte (Ros) Parker, parents of Ephraim Parker (a native of New Jersey, born in 1826), settled in Pleasant Township in 1826 and here Mr. Parker died in 1847; his widow still resides here . . . . Shepherd Patrick came in 1823, purchased Fort Seneca Reservation, in company with Jacques Hulburt, but sold his interest to Hulburt and returned to the Atlantic States . . . . Jacob Pultz, a native of Virginia, born in 1811, came to Seneca County in 1836, finally settling here.

Caleb Rice was a settler of 1819; he moved to Illinois in 1840 and died there nine years later; his daughter, Uretta, was the first white child born in the county . . . . Daniel Rice, who settled in Pleasant Township in 1819, was a soldier of 1812; he died in 1872; be was one of the first justices of the peace, and solemnized the first marriage of record in Sandusky County, viz. : " October 24, 1820, West Barney to Sophronia Wilson, by Daniel Rice." John G. Bruennert died September 11, 1885, aged seventyeight years; when forty-five years old, he left Thuringia, Germany, for the United States, and for many years resided on his farm a few miles west of Fort Seneca . . . . Eliphalet Rogers settled on the Wolf Creek farm (subsequently known as the Snook farm), and married Hannah Jackson, who settled at Tiffin as early as 1818 and worked in the Rowe Tavern.

Frederick, Jr., and Hannah (Sheidler) Sellers, former born in Germany in 1817, latter in Stark County, Ohio, in 1816, parents of Reuben Sellers, who was born in this township in 1856, were early settlers. Frederick Sellers, Sr., father of Frederick, Jr., still resides in Pleasant Township, where he came in 1833 . . . . George and Mary (Lautzenheiser) Shannon, parents of Frank M. and William (Shannon), settled in this county in 1847 and still reside here .. . .Henry and Mary E. (Myers) Shedenhelm, natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively, parents of Charles D. Shedenhelm (who was born in this township in 1855), came to this county in an early day. Mr. Shedenhelm died in 1882; his widow resides at Green Spring . . . . Bartholomew Shaull

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is a son of John and Elizabeth (Benner) Shaull who were among the earliest settlers of Pleasant Township . . . . Abram D. Shidler came in 1846 . . . . Greenberry and Marsella (Sheets) Sheets, natives of Maryland, parents of Mrs. Philip King, came to this county in 1831. Mr. Sheets was born in 1811; died in 1854. Mrs. Sheets was born in 1803; died in 1877 . . . . George Shumaker, born in Pennsylvania in 1822, settled here in 1838 . . . . Simon Shuman, who settled here in 1844, died in 1880. His widow, Mrs. Mary (Beck) Shuman, resides in Liberty Township . . . . William Siberal, a soldier of 1812, settled in Pleasant Township in 1828; died here and was buried in the Ridge Cemetery . . . . John Siberal came from Kentucky in 1824 . . . . William Sneath, reference to whom is made in the history of Clinton Township, moved here in 1846 . . . . Mrs. Margaret (Kuhn) Staub, who came with her husband, Philip Staub, died in 1874 . . . . Philip Staub, a Revolutionary soldier, settled in Pleasant Township in 1834; died in January, 1876, and was buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Tiffin . . . . Joshua Stackhouse was drowned near the Pleasant Township bridge in 1848 . . . . Joseph and Anna M. (Walt) Stoner, parents of Henry Stoner (who was born in Pennsylvania in 1817) came with their family in 1847 . . . . Lewis and Julia A. (Steinbergen) Switser, natives of Germany and Pennsylvania, respectively, parents of Mrs. William Shannon, came to this county in an early day.

Curtis Titus and family, natives of Connecticut, settled in the county in 1833, where Mr. Titus, Sr., died two years later. R. R. Titus is a son of this old settler; Mrs. Lucinda (Wilerman) Titus, his widow, died in 1846 . . . . Rasselus R. Titus, a native of Connecticut, born in 1819, came with his parents to this county in 1833, and in 1841 settled in Pleasant Township . . ..Benjamin Tomb father of Benjamin F. Tomb (who was born here in 1844), came to Pleasant Township in 1842 and here died in 1885. His widow resides in Tiffin.

Samuel Waggoner, an old settler of Pleasant Township, is referred to in the history of Tiffin as well as in the histories of Hopewell and Loudon Townships . . . . Jvsse B. Wagner, born in Pennsylvania in 1829, came to this county in 1848; his parents, George and Margaret (Carpenter) Wagner, natives of Pennsylvania came in 1849 .. ..Margaret Watchier was born in Lutzenberg, Germany, December 23, 1843, and when but three years old came to America with her parents, four brothers and four sisters, and settled near Fort Seneca, in Pleasant Township. In 1863 she was united in marriage with John S. Harrison, moved to Tiffin, and was burned to death in that city April 30, 1885 . . . .James S. and Mary (Tennis nee Saltsman) Watson, parents of Mrs. Frank M. Shannon and George W. Watson, were early settlers of this township; Mr. Watson died in 1869, his widow still resides here .. ..William and Jane (McMeen) Watson, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania respectively, parents of Thomas W. Watson (who was born in Pennsylvania in 1819), came to Seneca County in 1836; Mr. Watson was born in 1772 and died in 1856, Mrs. Watson was born in 1784 and died in 1846 . . . . Pirmin and Ursula (Hensel) Weltin, parents of Frederick Weltin (who was born in Germany in 1837), settled in Pleasant Township in 1854; Mrs. Weltin died in 1862; Mr. Weltin lives with his son Frederick . . . . John S. White came from New York State in 1849 . . . . James T. Worthington, United States surveyor, may be included among the pioneers of the county. In 1820 he surveyed several townships, making his headquarters at Fort Seneca . . . . John Wright of the old firm of Wright k Bissell, opened the first distillery in the township, and it is thought in the county.

Nelson Yeaky, is classed among the pioneers, but farther than this nothing certain has been learned regarding him.

634 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

Spicer, the Indian captive was here forty years before the Barneys or Riess looked in upon his retreat, and would, under ordinary circumstances, claim the honor of being the first white settler of the county. A chain of extraordinary circumstances brought him here, and that peculiarity in the nature of some whites which fits them to be barbarians of barbarians, belonged to Spicer and kept him here. He was an Indian of the Indians, without their natural accomplishments or spirit, rich in the acquisitions of forty years, and withal as ugly and dirty-looking an Indian as it is possible to describe. Much has been said relating to him in the Indian history, as well as in other chapter, of this work, and from a history published in 1874 we glean the following regarding him: "Spicer was captured in Pennsylvania, and to the day of his death was, as to his habits, manners, and language, a perfect Indian. When the country was first settled by the whites, he had resided upon the Sandusky forty years. Of his history but little is known. He was taken by the Wyandots to the banks of the Ohio River, and used by them as a decoy to bring boatmen to the shore that chanced to be passing upon the stream. Tying him to a tree,, near the water's edge, they would compel him to utter the most plaintive cries to be relieved from his unfortunate and perishing condition, while the savages lay in ambush, ready to fall upon the unsuspecting victims of Indian cunning and duplicity. Many thus fell a prey to savage cruelty, though it is to be presumed that Spicer was compelled to act as he did." The true pioneers of this division of the county find mention in the foregoing pages of this chapter. With the the exception of Mrs. Ingham and Mrs. Stanley (both residing at Tiffin), all who settled here prior to 1821 are resting forever after their pioneer toils and troubles.

Churches.--The establishment of the Christian Church in this county dates back to 1819, when James Montgomery came here as sub-agent of the Seneca Indians. In appointing him the Government had a two-fold object in view--to provide for the office a man who would administer its affairs honestly, and one who at the same time would teach the savages the Gospel. In the first case the Government and agent were eminently successful; but in the second, failure waited on their good Christian intentions, as the old dwellers in the wilds were willing enough to receive good things from the reverend agent's larder, but none from his store-house of Christian knowledge. Mr. Montgomery was ordained a preacher of the Methodist Church at Lebanon, Ohio, a short time after he received his appointment as sub-agent, and devoted the greater part of his time and ability to the establishment of Methodist missions throughout this and adjoining counties up to his death in 1830.

The first Methodist Protestant Church was organized in March, 1829, by Seneca Agent Montgomery, at Fort Seneca, In July, 1837, the first regular house of worship was erected at Tiffin. Rev. Alvin Coo preached Mr. Montgomery's funeral sermon in May, 1830.

The Methodist Episcopal Church here was attended by Elijah Fields, Elam Day and other circuit preachers named in the history of the Tiffin and Bettsville Churches; Fort Seneca forming a part of Bettsvillo until 1852. In August, 1852, the name of the mission was changed to Fort Seneca, and J. Brakefield appointed preacher. Subsequently the circuit was reorganized by adding new territory, and thereby increasing the membership to forty. The fourteenth session of the Northwestern Ohio Conference (1853-54) enlarged Fort Seneca Mission, established Findlay District, changed Tiffin District to Sandusky District, added Fort Seneca to the new district, with Leonard Hill and Henry Kerigan, preachers. The first quarterly meeting of Fort Seneca Mission, as now enlarged, was held in Wesley Chapel; D. B. King, A. Bowlus,

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J. C. Thompson, George Snider, E. O. Cody and A. P. Gassard were the stewards. In August, 1854, James Milligan was appointed preacher with B. F . Royce, assistant preacher. Treat, a pioneer, died in 1854, and was succeeded as steward by M. Smith. In September, 1856, W. C. Pierce was appointed presiding elder of Sandusky District, and R. Lawrence preacher at Fort Seneca. In May, 1856, the Northwestern Ohio Conference was divided and Fort Seneca attached to the Delaware Conference. The first session of the Delaware Conference held in the fall of 1856 at Lima, appointed Francis Plumb, preacher. In September, 1857, N. B. C. Love was appointed pastor at Fort Seneca, and in 1858 Bascom was annexed to the mission of Fort Seneca Love reappointed preacher, with T. W. Cozier, assistant. At this time there were only four Sunday-schools organized in the whole of Fort Seneca Circuit (called a circuit in 1859) up to the beginning of J. T. Caple's term as presiding elder, in 1859, when H. L. Nickerson was appointed preacher at Fort Seneca. In 1860 the Central Ohio Conference was formed, and the same year H. L. Nickerson and John T. Bowers were appointed to the Fort Seneca Mission. In 1861 Josiah Adams and Israel Smith were preachers. In 1862 H. S. Bradley was appointed presiding elder of Findlay District, with David Dicken local preacher at Fort Seneca.

The members of the second conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sandusky Circuit, of the Muskingum District, organized under the act of Jannary 26, 1865 , at Pleasant Grove Church June 19, 1873, when John Slosser, J. B. Rosenbcrger and M. E. Kemp were elected trustees. In June, 1875, the storm which swept away houses and bridges also demolished the Methodist Church building. A new church now holds the place of the old stormstruck one.

A Baptist society was established in old Mr. Dumond's log-cabin about 1825.

The Reformed Church of Fort Seneca was founded in 1857, by Rev. M. Keiffer, and a building erected on land donated by John Zeigler. In April, 1861 Rev. S. Shaw succeeded the organizing pastor.

The First German Reformed Church of Fort Seneca was reorganized under State law, with John Zeigler, Barney Zimmerman and Henry Stoner, trustees; Rev. Moses Keiffer, president, and August Hoke, clerk.

The Reformed Church of Fort Seneca was established in 1855.

St. Paul's Evangelical German Reformed Church of Fort Seneca was organized by Rev. J. H. Good, June 30, 1861. Felix Beck, S. Shuman, Jacob Omwake and Barney Zimmerman were elected first elders; Jacob Zeis, John Troxell, Henry Stoner and D. Riechart deacons. This society formerly belonged to the English German Reformed Church, but at this time separated, paying half the cost of church building and using it alternately.

Glade Union Reformed Church was organized December 17, 18 71. by Rev. G. AV. Williard, with William, Clara and Francesca Steckel, Jacob and Susan Bowersox, William, Ann M. and Eliza Shriver, Sophia McMean, Lester M. Koons, Susan Smith, A. L. and Rachel Shaffer and Oliver Watson. The church was erected in 1871, on a lot donated by Jacob Bowersox, at a cost of $1,000.

Schools and School Statistics.-There are no early records dealing with the schools of this township. Mrs. Sally Ingham believes that George Van Dorn was the first school teacher here. In 1825 Miss Narcissa Topping took charge of the school and about this time Jacques Hulburt opened a grammar school, the first in the county. In 1829 Miss Sally Montgomery, after studying under Hulburt, attended Edson B. Goit's school at Lower Sandusky, and returning in 1829 opened her school on the Sandusky road, two and three-quarter miles north of Tiffin, presiding there until her marriage with Milton Frary in 1832.

636 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.

Among Mrs. Ingham's scholars in 1829, while she taught. in an Indian cabin two and three-quarter miles down the river from Washington Street bridge, were Hamilton, Henry and Rebecca Crum, David, Sophia, Elizabeth and another of the Martin family, two Craun boys and Frank and Henry Abbott.

The condition of the schools of Pleasant Township in August, 1884, is shown by the following statistics: Local tag, $3,316.29; total revenue, $7,088.83; expenditures, $4,181; number of schoolhouses, 12; value of property, $4,050; number of teachers, 22; average pay, $40 and $29; male pupils, 220, female pupils, 158; total enrollment, 376.

Cemeteries.-Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, in Pleasant Township, was surveyed in August, 1865, for the cemetery association, east of Portland State road, northeast of the Ridge Church.

Pleasant Ridge Cemetery Association was organized April 24, 1877, with the following named members: George Strickling, G. Shumaker, W. Hyter J. W. Sender, E. Sherman, A. S. Bonnell, G. Holtz, C. D. Holtz, G. L. Park and A. J. Miller. The object was to acquire and hold grounds adjoining the old Pleasant Ridge Cemetery for cemetery purposes.

Ridge Cemetery. Uriah Egbert donated the land known as Ridge Cemetery, and here one soldier of the Revolution and ten of the war of 1812 lie buried. Mr. Egbert's brother-in-law, Col. Wllllams (Jeremiah Williams, one of Marion's men in the Maryland Continental Regulars), is buried, however, in one of the cemeteries of Adams Township.

There are other cemeteries in the township, each well filled with the remains of pioneers and old settlers. William Harris, a Revolutionary soldier, who died in 1834, is buried in this township.

Villages of the Township.-Fort Seneca, on the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of Section 19, was surveyed and recorded January 14, 1836, for Erastus Bowe and Vincent Bell. The name as applied to this particular location is a solecism, as there never was a fort here; the military post of 1813 being down the river. Swope's addition to Fort Seneca was surveyed by David Risdon, in March, 1847, for Samuel R. Swope. John Zeigler's addition was surveyed by G. H. Heming in October, 1850, along the continuation of Sandusky Street in the old town. Vincent Bell's addition was made August 25, 1851, opposite Zeigler's lands.

Prior to 1836 the location was known as "McNutt's," and subsequently as "Swope's Corners." Prior to 1830 Benajah Park kept a tavern here; the same in which he was wounded by Peter Pork, and in which he died in January, 1830. The place is now a pretty village, in the midst of a beautiful country, and commands a good view of the Sandusky Valley.

Town of Sulphur Springs was laid out, but the date of platting the original town cannot be ascertained. In October, 1834, Solomon Krider filed a petition for partition against Josiah Hedges, of the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 12, the northeast fractional quarter of fractional Section 32, the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 12, the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 12, the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 12, Town 3 north, Range 15 east, except in Lot 40 in the town of Sulphur Springs. Whatever prospects existed, in 1834, for the establishment of a village at this point, were destroyed during the period of depression which followed in 1837. In 1838 the Hedges Flouring-mill was built on Beaver Creek below the Pleasant Township spring, and must be considered the first of that class of mills in all this district, although the township claimed small grist-mills and even a distillery before the Hedges mill was erected.

Old Fort (or New Fort) Seneca, on the line of the "Nickel Plate" Railroad,

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was platted in June, 1882, by County Surveyor Nighswander for R. R. Titus, and a record of the plat was made October 1, 1882. The location is at the crossing of the old Seneca road, upon the farm of R. R. Titus, about two and a half miles north of Fort Seneca, and upon the site of the old earthworks of that name. The site is a beautiful one, and but for the inaccessibility by wagon road might in time become a prosperous hamlet. The location and postoffice are known as Old Fort; W. N. Jones is postmaster.

Shedenhelm's Station. Grafton Shedenhelm established a saw-mill here about thirty-five years ago, which he has carried on up to the present time. The capacity is about 5,000 feet per day. Fox & Staley's stave factory, at this point, was established in 1884.

Bridges. --Up to 1854 there was not a bridge across the Sandusky River within this township. In 1848 the want of a safe means of communication between the two parts into which the river divides the township became very apparent; for, on April 3, 1848, two men, Figgins and Stackhouse, were drowned while crossing the river in a boat, while their companions, Shannon and Watson, had a very close call, barely saving themselves. Six years after the bridge on Section 9 was constructed and called " Clark's Bridge," owing to the fact that Calvin Clark, then commissioner, cast his whole influence with his northern neighbors, against a majority who desired the location to be at or near Pool's Mill.

In 1870 the " Watson Bridge" was constructed across the river on Section 21, against the wish of a majority of the persons interested, and was used up to June, 1875, when a heavy storm carried it off and sent it floating down the river.

In 1876 the bridge at Pool's Mill, so long desired, was constructed, and as this was done. in opposition to the friends of the Watson Bridge, petition after petition was presented to the commissioners asking for the erection of a bridge on the old Watson Bridge abutments. Perseverance conquered, and through the liberality of D. V. Flumerfelt, a $3,200 bridge was given to the county for $2,500.

General Statistics.--The assessment roll of Pleasant Township for 1841 gives 22,168 acres valued at $63,567; value of town lots, $483; horses, 224, valued at $8,960; cattle, 506, valued at $4,048; mercantile capital and moneys at interest, $2,325; one pleasure carriage, valued at $35; total value, $79,418; total tax, $1,131.70; delinquencies from 1840, $95.14.

The valuation and taxation in 1884-85 are as follows: 22,425 acres of land, $884,750; personal property, $296,280; total valuation, $1,181,030 or $833.40 per capita (population of 1880, 1,417). Total tax, $13,883, and dog tax, $126.

The statistics for 1884 are: 4,592 acres of wheat; 745 acres of oats; 2,806 acres of corn; 861 acres of meadow, 1,170 tons of hay; 786 acres of clover, 785 tons of hay, 655 bushels of seed; 120 acres of potatoes, product, 11,640 bushels; 30,414 pounds of butter; 114 hives, 2,635 pounds of honey; 10,062 dozens of eggs; orchards, 323 acres, apples, 6,042 bushels, pears, 45 bushels; lands owned and cultivated, 13,652 acres; pasture, 191; woodland, 4,944; .total acreage, 18,787; wool shorn in 1883, 18,577 pounds; milch cows, 439; clogs, 130; sheep killed and injured by dogs, 85; domestic animals died from disease, 24 hogs, 13 sheep, 13 cattle and 15 horses.