CHAPTER X

JENNINGS TOWNSHIP .

Organization—First Arrivals Names of Voters in 1841—Some of the Original Land Entries—Magill, the Wolf Hunter—The Villages of Monticello and Venedocia—The Welsh Settlement.

At a session of the commissioners of Van Wert County, held June 5, 1837, it was ordered that township 3 south, ranges 3 and 4 east, be known as Jennings township. Township 3 south, range 4 east, then was composed of 36 sections, a regular congressional township. But in 1848 the county of Auglaize was organized and in the reapportionment 18 sections were taken off the east side and attached to Allen County, and nine sections taken off of Union township, Mercer County, and attached to Jennings, thus making it nine miles north and south, and three miles east and west or only 27 sections in extent.

FIRST ARRIVALS.

In 1825 John K. Harter, William Harter, George Harter and Peter Harter settled in Jennings township. In 1830 came John Keith and Silas Mills. In the next three years came Edward Williams, Oliver Ingraham, Wm. Reed, James Reed, Quinton Reed, David Reed, Daniel Walters, John Fortney, Benjamin Griffin, Benjamin Griffin, Jr., John Duncan, Washington Mark, James Wilson, Nathaniel Griffin, Claudius Griffin, William Carter and John Brooms.

NAMES OF VOTERS IN 1841.

As shown by the poll book of an election held in Jennings township on the 12th of October, 1841, there were 14 electors whose names follow : Daniel Reed, John Frazier, Quinton Reed, James Reed, Peter Harter, Adam Wolford, George W. Griffin, Oliver Ingraham, Elisha Rigdon, John K. Harter, Washington Murk, William Reed, Edward Williams and John Keith. The clerks of the election were William Reed and Oliver Ingraham, and the judges were. Washington Mark, Quinton Reed and James Reed.

SOME OF THE ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES.

MAGILL, THE WOLF HUNTER.

Among the earlier settlers was a man by the name of Magill, a great wolf hunter. At one time he found a wolf den in a hollow tree, which was entered several feet above the ground. McGill, having seen an old wolf going away, supposed the coast to be clear and determined to go in and get the young. After he had climbed down part way, he reached reached clown with a stick, which was snapped off as smooth as if cut with a knife. McGill concluded to wait for a more convenient season. He went back later and secured his game.

He had a pet wolf that he had raised which was trained so that he could make it howl whenever he desired. In the season that the wolves had their young, he would go out into the woods, wherever he thought it likely there be a den, and about the hour that the old she wolf would be suckling her young he would have his wolf set up a howl, which would be answered by the old she. He would camp near by and in the morning would look for tile den and would seldom fail finding it. Once he was in the north part of the country and had located a den in this way. The next morning lie saw an old wolf standing by a hollow log and shot it, and then started to crawl in to get the young ones. He had taken the precaution to take his butcher knife in his hand. When he had crawled some distance, the old she wolf made a rush to get out past him an he plunged the knife into it as it crowed past. He caught five young ones and the old she died at the mouth of the log from the wound inflicted by the knife thrust. Thus he had seven wolves for that day's work. Wolf scalps were worth $4 apiece, which made a good day's haul.

His pet wolf followed him like a dog all over the country and was as kind and gentle as a common cur. But the children would scamper for their mothers when they heard that Magill was coming with his wolf.

MONTICELLO.

We find this thriving little village situated on the C., H. & D. Railway four miles west of Spencerville, Allen county. Some of the finest farms in the county are in this section, as is evidenced by the fact that they support two elevators in the village. C. Slentz, one of the old settlers of this section, owning the land where the village is located, gave the railroad the right of way through his farm, was the first postmaster, the first railroad agent and the first merchant in the village and has been identified with all the interests of the village and surrounding country. He contributed liberally of time and money for the erection of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder. But, not

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 171

confining his liberality to his own denomination he also contributed liberally to the building of the United Brethren Church. He has been an advocate of good roads and can now enjoy rides over good pikes to Mendon and Spencerville. Mr. Slentz is of German parentage and has been a resident of Van Wert County over 50 years. He purchased his present farm (80 acres) in the woods for $500. This has been cleared and improved, and could not be bought today for $1o,000. Besides, Mr. Slentz has considerable town property. After clearing tip his farm and spending 16 years in mercantile life, he has now retired.

VENEDOCIA.

Near the north end of the township line, between York and Jennings townships, is the village of Venedocia. The village and the community surrounding it for miles in each direction is a Welsh settlement of energetic and thrifty citizen, whose fine farms and hand-some buildings are monuments to their industry and good management.

The first Welsh settlers were the three families of William Bebb, Thomas Morris and Richard Jervis, who came to America from North Wales and located in Van Wert County in April, 1848. Of these three pioneer families, only two persons—Richard Jervis and Mrs. Laura Bebb Jones—are now (1906) living. The William Bebb named above was a first cousin to Governor William Bebb, which may have been the influence that caused the little colony to locate in Ohio.

Religious services were held in one of the log cabins on the very first Sunday after their arrival, and the Sunday and midweek services in the Welsh language have been constantly and faithfully maintained for 58 years. The jubilee yea: (1898) was celebrated by the dedication of a $20,000 church which is a fine church building.

As the neighbors increased in number and the borders of the settlement widened, the distance became too great for the farthest away to worship at Salem Church in Venedocia, so branch churches were established, —Zion, in York township, and Horeb, in Jennings township,-at both of which points the old churches have been replaced with fine new buildings of brick and stone, erected within this 10th century.

Counting the English Presbyterian Church that was dedicated in November, 1896, four churches have been erected in this farming community within the last years at a cost of about $41,000. These facts plainly prove that the Welshman is fond of sermon and song. One organization of which the Welsh of Venedocia are truly proud is the Venedocia Male Chorus, which has won many prizes in musical contests of other States, as well as in the larger cities of Ohio, and whose fine singing was an attractive feature of one Winona Bible Conference.

The large frame building now owned by the Venedocia Male Chorus and known as Cambrian Hall was formerly the church of the place until removed to make room for the present magnificent structure. In its day it was fully up to date. An accident occurred at the raising of this church, and the marvelous thing about the accident is that no lives were lost. When in the act of lifting the heavy roof timbers into position, the beams on, which they were standing broke and eight men, mingled with plank, pike-poles and plunder, fell 40 feet among the joists below. If the eight had been instantly killed, the surprise would have been less than to know that all recovered and some were only slightly injured. The men who had this thrilling experience were: Rev. J. P.

172 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

Morgan, D. W. Evans,. William E. Jones, Hugh E. Evans, Jonathan Jones, William Finifrock, David M. Jones and John Breese. The last two mentioned had broken ribs and a broken thigh, and life hung in the balance for many weeks.

When the bugle call sounded for volunteers, the Welsh boys were found as patriotic as any in the land, and promptly followed the flag into the field of battle.

When the 118th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., recruited in Venedocia, Moses Parry, David R. Owens, John Hughes, John Jervis Jones, Lewis Thomas and Jonathan Jones shouldered their muskets and marched to the front, the first three named never to return. Two more have since crossed the silent river, and only John Jervis Jones is now living. Other Welshmen in Van Wert County who bravely served their country in the terrible Civil War of 1861-65 are: Hugh E. Evans, Richard Lloyd, Hugh T. Thomas, W. J. Bebb, Owen Morris, Edward T. Jones, and David E. Evans, of Venedocia; James Thomas, Richard T. Hughes, William J. Hughes (the father of Hon. W. T. Hughes) and Lucius Price, of Elgin; and William Jones, Richard Breese and Evan A. Evans, of Van Wert.

The first merchants in Venedocia were Rowland J. Whittington and Evan A. Evans. A condition in the deed for the first lot in the town site shows the high moral purpose of the pioneers. They had in mind the future welfare of coming generations. Instead of taking chances on Beale laws and Brannock bills, they inserted a clause in the deed forbidding the keeping or selling of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. The deed recites that if the premises, or any part thereof, shall be used for such purposes the title reverts to the original owner. This deed is dated November 11, 1865, and signed by Jane Bebb Evans (a daughter of William Bebb) and her husband, D. W. Evans, esq. The precedent has been followed by inserting this condition in nearly all the deeds of the town ever since. It is a thoughtful precaution and wise provision, worthy of emulation and imitation.