INDEX

200	250	300	350
400	450	500	550
600	650	700	750

PREFACE. THIS volume goes forth to our patrons the result of months of arduous, un-remitting and conscientious labor. None so well know as those who have been associated with us the almost insurmountable difficulties to be met with in the preparation of a work of this character. Since the inauguration of the enterprise, a large force have been employed—both local and others—in gathering material. During this time, most of the citizens of the county have been called upon to contribute from their recollections, carefully preserved letters, scraps of manuscript, printed fragments, memoranda, etc. Public records and semi-official documents have been searched, the newspaper files of the county have been overhauled, and former citizens, now living out of the county, have been corresponded with, all for the purpose of making the record as complete as could be, and for the verification of the information by a conference with many. In gathering from these numerous sources, both for the historical and biographical departments, the conflicting statements, the discrepancies and the fallible and incomplete nature of public documents, were almost appalling to our historians and biographers, who were expected to weave therefrom with any degree of accuracy, in panoramic review, a record of events. Members of the same families disagree as to the spelling of the family name, contradict each other's statements as to dates of birth, of settlement in the county, nativity and other matters of fact. In this entangled condition, we have given preference to the preponderance of authority, and while we acknowledge the existence of errors and our inability to furnish a perfect history, we claim to have come up to the standard of our promises, and given as complete and accurate a work as the nature of the surroundings would permit. Whatever may be the verdict of those who do not and will not comprehend the difficulties to be met with, we feel assured that all just and thoughtful people will appreciate our efforts, and recognize the importance of the undertaking and the great public benefit that has been accomplished in preserving the valuable historical matter of the county and biographies of many of its citizens, that perhaps would otherwise have passed into oblivion. To those who have given us their support and encouragement, and they are many, we acknowledge our gratitude, and can assure them that as years go by the book will grow in value as a repository not only of pleasing reading matter, but of treasured information of the past that becomes a monument more enduring than marble. OCTOBER, 1882. THE PUBLISHERS. CONTENTS. HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY   PAGE Settlements Black Hawk and the Black Hawk War Discovery of the Ohio River Division of the Territory Early Explorations English Settlements Geographical Position Tecumseh and the War of 1812. 59 73 32 65 20 34 19 69 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO. Ancient Works Banking Brief Mention of Prominent Ohio Generals Canal System Comments upon the Ordinance of 1787 Conclusion Description of Counties Early Events French History General Characteristics Geology of Ohio Governors of Ohio History of Ohio Improvements Ohio Land Tracts Ohio's Rank Luring the War Ordinance of 1787, No. 32 Organization of Counties Some Discussed Subjects State Boundaries War of 1812 174 126 191 128 204 200 137 137 56 177 179 160 93 132 129 182 105 137 196 136 122 HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY. PREFATORY Agricultural Society Auditors and Commissioners Bar of Williams County Common Schools County Commissioners' Session, June 7, 1841 Court House, County Early Social Conditions Fair Grounds Fair of 1882 Financial Condition First Court House and Jail Formation of County Infirmary Jail, County June Frost of 1859 Landmarks, Destruction of Medical Society Murder, Convictions for Native Timber, Destruction of Population Post Offices Proceedings of County Commissioners.. Railroad Conductor, The First Railroad Enterprise, The First Railroad Projects, Other Recorders, 1824 to 1882 Rival Railroad Schemes Settlers, First White Tax on the Professions Taxation, Basis of, in 1882 Terms of Court at Bryan Then and Now GEOLOGY, POLITICS AND PRESS Building and Road Material Drainage. GEOLOGY, POLITICS AND PRESS (Continued). Election Statistics Geological Structure Journalism of the County Politics of the County Stryker Mineral Water Timber, Native 211 227 234 243 229 232 233 212 228 228 223 238 221 244 232 228 243 244 241 224 231 220 222 218 217 219 238 217 222 234 231 238 213 247 250 253 267 248 264 253 251 252 Topographical Features Water OHIO AND MICHIGAN WAR ARCH&AEOLOGICAL REMAINS Pipes. Stone Imp'ements Utensils, Domestic and Other MILITARY HISTORY Aid Societies Calls for Troops, New Cavalry, The Third Cavalry, The Ninth Close of the Rebellion Continued Enlistment of Volunteers Draft, The First Enlistment in 1862 Enlistment in 1863 First War Meetings Fourth of July, 1861 Infantry, The Fourteenth Infantry, The Thirty-eighth Infantry, The Sixty-eighth Infantry, The One Hundredth Infantry, The One Hundred and Eleventh Infantry, The One Hundred and Forty-second Lincoln, Assassination of Meetings, Political and War, in 1863 247 250 272 275 277 276 277 278 294 292 308 309 296 285 - 288 288 286 289 279 282 299 300 304 305 306 307 297 290 vi - CONTENTS. MILITARY HISTORY (Continued). Mexican War Militia Organizations Militia System Opposition to the War Political Sentiment in 1860 Recruiting, Additional Regiments. Sketches of Return of Three Months' Men Return of the Troops Summary of Troops. War Measures, Further Work of Aid Societies BRYAN, TOWN OF. Benevolent and Social Institutions Bryan Manufacturing Company Burial Grounds Cabins, First Churches Corporation Dry Goods Stores, First Establishment as County Seat Fires and Fire Department Fountain Grove Cemetery Association Grand Army of the Republic Hotels Industries, Early Industries and Trade Library, Public Literary Societies Manufacturing in 1882 Marriage, First Museum Plat of Bryan, Additions to Schoolhouse, First Schools, Early PULASKI TOWNSHIP Adult Males, Enumeration of Christian Worship, First Places of Church Buildings, First Elections and Voters Justices of the Peace Miscellaneous Notes OrganizationSunday Schools 278 291 279 289 279 291 299 282 298 298 293 295 312 336 321 339 317 328-336 327 318 312 327 340 336 318-324 318 321-326 324 336 321 317 324 313 317 339 341 345 346 347 341 344 347 341 Sunday Schools Towns in Pulaski St. Joseph Township Asheries Birth, First Bridges Cemeteries Church Organizations Death, First Edgerton's Public and Business Men Elections Families, First Indian Trails Introductory Remarks Lawyers Manufactories Marriage, First Newspapers of Edgerton Physicians Politics Post Offices Public Halls Rebellion, During the Retrospective School Books Schools and Teachers Secret Societies Settlements, Early Spelling Schools Sunday Schools Taverns, Early Villages and Stores Wild Animals SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP Additions to Monpelier Agricultural Wealth Business Resources Churches Lawyers Manufacturing, Early Merchants, First 347 346 348 354 350 853 350 363 350 369 363 352 353 348 358 354 350 362 358 352 357 359 363 367 361 359 358 349 360 366 353 354 351 368 376 377 376 380 378 375 375 SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP (Continued). Montpelier Moral and Benevolent Agencies Organization Physicians, Early Roads and Bridges Schools Sewerage Facilities St. Joseph as a Highway Township Government Water Supply W., St. L. & P. R. R. BRADY TOWNSHIP Birth, First Board of Education, West Unity. Brady Insurance Company Business, Extent of Present Churches and Schools Death, First Facts of Interest, Additional First Events in West Unity General Progress Horse Thief Society Hotels Incorporation of West Unity Marriage, First Merchants, etc. Miscellaneous Items Name, Origin of Pioneers and Industries Postmasters of West Unity Roll of Honor School Districts Secret Societies Teachers of West Unity Unity Mill Company West Unity West Unity Cornet Band. 372 381 368 378 377 379 377 378 368 377 376 381 383 389 398 398 389 383 365 384 388 387 398 387 383 399 384 382 382 388 395 403 393 393 399 383 402 MADISON TOWNSHIP Additions to Pioneer Birth, First Churches of Pioneer Enterprises of Pioneer First Election First Permanent Settler General Improvement Incidents and Amusements Incorporation of Pioneer Industries of Pioneer Kunkle's Corners Mound Builders' Works Officers of Pioneer Pioneer Cornet Band Pioneer Village “Podunk” Religious Societies Reminiscences of Pioneer Life Sawmill, First Schools of Township Secret Organizations Social Progress Town Plat of Pioneer 406 419 413 424 416 408 406 407 411 419 417 414 413 419 425 416 414 423 411 413 421 418 413 419 SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP Birth, First Bridges, Early Churches Death, First Drainage Early History Educational Election and Other Statistics General Features Incorporation of Stryker Interesting Facts Marriage, First Oil Well Company Poll Book, Early Post Roads, etc. Production Statistics Professional Men of Stryker Saw and Grist Hills Secret Societies Settlements, Early Springfield Grange Stryker, Village of Teachers, Early 425 432 434 441 433 434 426 439 444 425 438 433 432 444 429 433 435 437 434 437 431 443 435 439