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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP

BY SOLOMON JOHNSON.

GENERAL FEATURES.

Springfield Township occupies the southeast portion of Williams County. It is a perfect Congressional township—six miles square—and contains about twenty-three thousand acres. The surface of the township is quite level, especially in the eastern part. Tiffin River, or Bean Creek, is the largest stream that flows through the township. It traverses the western portion, from north to south. Owl Creek, a small tributary of Bean Creek, and Brush Creek, a branch of Owl Creek, flow through the eastern part of the township. Beaver Creek, which is quite

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a large western tributary of Bean Creek, crosses Section 19 and enters Bean Creek at the northwest quarter of Section 29. Coon Creek, a small tributary of Bean Creek, traverses the southeast part of the township and flows into Bean Creek, just south of the township line. The soil for the most part is a loamy clay, and is very fertile. There is but little sand or tough, yellow clay in the township. No doubt Springfield Township was one of the best-timbered townships in the county. Its forests consisted of an immense quantity of burr oak, white oak, hickory, beech, ash, black walnut, poplar, elm, etc. The township is well adapted to agriculture. Wheat, corn, oats and clover seed are raised extensively. Apples and pears are abundant.

EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP.

In treating of the early settlement and organization, it might be well to go back to the time when Springfield Township was included in Tiffin Township. The Commissioners of Williams County met at Defiance on December 6, 1831; and, upon application for a new township to be erected by striking off the north end of Defiance Township, they ordered that a new township be erected and incorporated by the name or appellation of Tiffin Township ; and, upon examining the proceedings, I find that said Tiffin Township was bounded " on the south by Township 4 north, in Range 4 east, and extended north to the north boundary of Williams County, including Range 4 east. On March 30, 1835, the Commissioners of Williams County met at Defiance for the purpose of extending the northern boundary of certain townships to the Harris line, and of erecting a new township in said county. After the Commissioners had finished some other business, I find the following On their books as a record of the proceedings at that session : " The board further ordered that, there be a new township erected and organized, as follows : Commencing at the northern boundary. of Town 5 north, of Range 4 east, and inducting all the territory within Range 4 from said north line of Town 5 to the northern boundary of said Williams County, as defined and established' by an act entitled An Act Defining the Northern Boundary of Certain, Counties within the State and for other purposes, passed February 23,, 1835. Said new township is hereby erected and organized by the name of Springfield." The Commissioners instructed. the Auditor to advertise an election to be held at the house of—, in said township, on the 16th day of May next, for the purpose of electing the necessary officers, etc The name of the person at whose house the election was to be held w. left blank, but by examining the records in the Township Clerk's office, find the following: " The township of Springfield was organized the 16t day of May, 1835. At an election held at the house of Sarah Luth

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on said 16th day of May, the following persons were elected to the respective offices set opposite their names : Jonathan B. Taylor, Clerk ; Bruce Packard, John Stubbs and Harmon Doolittle, Trustees ; Daniel Colgan and Abram Worts, Overseers of the Poor ; Joseph Stubbs, John Fields and Joseph Bates, Fence Viewers ; Joseph H. Stubbs and Calvin Gleason, Constables ; John Lindenberger and Joseph Bates, Supervisors; Thomas J. Prettyman, Treasurer. At a meeting of the Trustees—John Stubbs and Harmon Doolittle—on the 5th day of September, 1835, Daniel Colgan was appointed Treasurer. At an election held in the township of Springfield September 5, 1835, Jonathan B. Taylor and Harmon Doolittle were elected Justices of the Peace. All the above persons were qualified ; those required to give bail did so as the [law] directs. Atest J. B. Taylor, Clerk."

“At a meeting of the Trustees on the 12th day of November (present John Stubbs and Harmon Doolittle), Daniel Colgan was appointed Treasurer."

From the above it seems as if there were two meetings at which Daniel Colgan was appointed Treasurer. I mention both of them, as I desire to give the facts verbatim as I find them on the Clerk's book. Daniel Colgin must have been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas J. Prettyman, which occurred August 4, 1835.

EARLY POLL-BOOK.

By consulting the records in the County Clerk's office at Bryan, Ohio, I find the following : " Poll-book of the election held in the township of Springfield, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, the 5th day of September, in the year of our Lord 1835—John Stubbs, [and] Daniel Colgan [and] Joseph Stubbs, Judges; and Joseph H. Stubbs [and] Calvin Gleason, Clerks of said election, were severally sworn as the law directs previous to their entering on the duties of their respective offices. Number and names of electors-1, John Stubbs ; 2, Joseph Stubbs ; 3, Colgan ; 4, Joseph H. Stubbs ; 5, Calvin Gleason ; 6, John Hollinshead; 7, Jonathan B. Taylor ; 8, Harmon Doolittle ; 9, John Lindenberger; 10, Abraham Worts. Harmon Doolittle. received for the office of Justice of the Peace, 10 votes ; Jonathan B. Taylor received for of Justice of the Peace, 10 votes. It is hereby certified that the number of electors at this election amounts to ten. Attest John Stubbs, Daniel Colgan, Joseph Stubbs, Judges of Election ; Joseph H. Stubbs, David Gleason, Clerks of Election."

Without a doubt Harmon Doolittle and Jonathan B. Taylor were the first Justices ever elected in Springfield Township. The writer has seen the statement that Jacob Coy was the first Justice of the Peace elected in

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Springfield Township, but that is certainly an error, as Jacob Coy tells me that he was never elected Justice of the Peace in and for the Township of Springfield.

At an election held in Tiffin Township April 2, 1832, Jacob Coy and Ephraim Doty were elected Justices of the Peace. At that time, Tiffin Township included the territory now embraced in Springfield Township. The following is a copy of the poll book of an election held April 4, 1836: "Poll book of the election held in the township of Springfield,: in the county of Williams, on the 4th day of April, in the year of our Lord 1836—John Stubbs, Daniel Colgan and Joseph Stubbs, Judges ; and James Guthrie and Jonathan B. Taylor, Clerks of said election, were severally sworn as the law directs, previous to their entering on the duties of. their respective offices. Number and name of electors-1, Joseph Stubbs ; 2, John Hollinshead ; 3, Chauncy Clark ; 4, Harvey Clark ; 5, David Carpenter ; 6, John Stubbs ; 7, Jonathan B. Taylor ; 8, James Guthrie ; , 9, Lewis Clark ; 10, Joseph Clark ; 11, Daniel Colgan ; 12, John Lindenberger. It is hereby certified that the number of electors at this election amounts to 12. Attest James Guthrie, Jonathan B. Taylor, Clerks;' Daniel Colgan, Joseph Stubbs, John Stubbs, Judges. For Township Clerk, Jonathan B. Taylor had 10 votes 1, for Trustees—John Lindenberger had 11, and Joseph H. Stubbs and Lewis Clark 12 each ; for, Treasurer, John Stubbs had 10 ; for Overseers of the Poor, John Stubbs and Daniel Colgan had 12 votes each ; for Supervisors of Roads, Preston Barber, David Carpenter and John Fields had. each 11 votes ; for Constable, Joseph Stubbs and David Landaman had 12 each ; for Fence, Viewers, Daniel Colgan and Lyman Sanford had 12 each ; for Justice o the Peace, James Guthrie had 12 votes. James Guthrie, Jonathan 11 Taylor, Clerks ; Daniel Colgan, John Stubbs, Joseph Stubbs, Trustees." James Guthrie was elected Justice of the Peace to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of Harmon Doolittle from the township.

At an election held October 11, 1836, there were twenty-three votes cast. James Brown had 17 votes for Representative in Congress, and Patrick. G. Good had 6 votes for the same office. Joseph Vance had 6 votes for Governor, and Eli Baldwin had 17 votes for Governor. At an election held October 10, 1837, there were twenty-six votes cast. Parlee Carlin had 25 votes for Representative, and George W. Crawford had 1 vote for the same office; Curtis Bates had 22 and John Patterson 4 votes for Senator ; Jonathan B. Taylor had 26 votes for Sheriff. At a meeting of the Commissioners of Williams County, held at Defiance March 7, 1836, they " erected " a new township, " bounded as follow to wit : Commencing at the south line of Township 7 north, Range 4 east, and extend [to] the State line between Ohio and Michigan, * *

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said township to be known by the name of Bradie." Also that the citizens meet on the first Monday of April next, to organize the township and elect officers. From the above facts, it is safe to assume that Springfield Township was reduced to its present limits in the spring of 1836, and that at the election held in April of that year, none were voters in the township but those who lived within its present limits.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS

It is claimed that James Guthrie settled on Bean Creek about 1827. If such is the fact, he must have been the first settler in what is now Springfield Township, and very probably in what is now Williams County. Peter Knipe settled on the southeast corner of Section 33, in the spring of 1831. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed to Ross County, Ohio, at an early day. He left Ross County and settled on Bean Creek, near Brunersburg, in the year 1827, and from there he moved within the present limits of this township. Josiah B. Packard settled in the north part of the township at an early day. Rev. Thomas J. Prettyman settled on the north part of Section 29, in the spring of 1833. He was a Methodist local preacher, and a leading man in the community. Lewis W. Prettyman, a son of Thomas J. Prettyman, has lived in the township ever since his father settled here. He was four or five years of age at that time. No doubt he has lived longer in Springfield Township than any other person. Daniel Colgan settled on Section 20, in the year 1833. He lived there until his death, which occurred in 1867. He came from Champaign County, Ohio, to Williams County. He was a native of Kentucky. William B. Sprague, and his father, Solomon Sprague, came to Williams County, and settled in the south part of this township about 1832 or 1833. They were natives of Rhode Island, and are distant relatives of ex-Senator Sprague. James Luther settled at an early day, perhaps in 1833, near the place where Stryker now stands. I have been informed that John Hollinshead first settled on a farm on the west bank of Bean Creek, and that Daniel Colgan bought the claim in 1833, after which Mr. Hollinshead moved farther north. Among the other early settlers were John Stubbs, Joseph Stubbs, Harmon Doolittle, Jonathan B. Taylor, David Carpenter, John Lindenberger, Lewis Clark, Harvey Clark and Chauncy Clark. The Stubbses came from the State of New York. They were natives of New York, but of Welsh descent. The Clarks were natives of New England. Lewis Clark and his wife, who was one of Peter Knipe's daughters, live on the south part of Section 21 at present.

The early settlers had much to contend with, and, what made matters

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worse, the country being quite level, they were subject to fever and ague. For the first few years, they had a hard time of it in the woods, as they could scarcely raise enough for their own immediate wants. Defiance and Maumee were their nearest markets. They, no doubt, would have left the country in despair, if it had not been for the abundance of game. They kept themselves almost entirely in meat by hunting the deer and the bear, and, as coons were plenty, they could get some money out of coon-skins, which sold readily at from 75 cents to $1 each. At an early day, the nearest mills were at Maumee and Brunersburg, and, as the roads were bad, it would take three or four days to make the trip Evansport, which is just south of the Springfield Township line, was laid out shortly after the first settlements were made. It was a great aid in furnishing supplies. In the winter of 1835 and spring of 1836, John Snider, John Coy and Jacob Coy built a grist-mill at Evansport, which was considered a grand thing for the adjoining country. Although th early settlers had many hardships to overcome, yet they seemed to enjo themselves. The writer, has heard many old settlers exclaim, " Oh what good times we had when we first came to this country !" The seemed to be imbued with the spirit that " where there is a will there is way ;" in fact, if there was no way, they seemed determined to make one When we think of the immense trees that had to be felled, and the density of the forests, we are led to exclaim, " What energy and pluck our forefathers possessed !"

FIRST BIRTH.

It is claimed by some that the first birth within the present limits of Springfield Township was that of Rachel Guthrie. There seems to be some dispute as to where Rachel Guthrie was born ; but the best evidence is that she was born on Bean Creek, in the west part of the township. I can find no record of her birth. If she was not born in this township, Austin Knipe must have been the first white person born within its present limits. From the family record, I find that Frederick Austin Knipe was born on the 11th day of September, 1834. He was baptized in 1835, by James Austin, a minister of the Gospel. Mr. Knipe lives at present in Defiance County, having moved from Springfield Township about two years ago.

FIRST MARRIAGE.

Perhaps the first marriage within the present limits of the township was that of Harmon Doolittle. He married one of John Stubbs's daughters, in the spring of 1834. Jacob Coy (a Justice of the Peace for Tiffin Township, which at that time included the present territory of Springfield Township), performed the ceremony.

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FIRST DEATH.

The first death was that of Malinda Knipe, daughter of Peter Knipe, which occurred on the 1st of May, 1834. The funeral sermon was by Rev. Thomas J. Prettyman.

INTERESTING FACTS AND INCIDENTS.

Mr. William Sprague tells me that he has been lost many a time in the woods., and could not find his way home until the sun arose; but in a short time be began to learn how to travel in the woods by feeling of the trees, and " then," said he, " I could find my way, as the north side of the trees were generally covered with moss." In the summer of 1835, several different parties came up Bean Creek in canoes, and stopped for the night at Rev. Thomas J. Prettyman's. They had a pleasant, social chat until late in the evening, and then-retired for a quiet rest ; but no sooner had they done so, than Mr. Prettyman heard his hogs make a "fuss." He had twelve or fifteen fine hogs in a pen on the bank of the creek. As he looked out, he saw a large bear jump out of the pen. Mr. Prettyman, who quite sick and somewhat delirious, ran out in his bare feet, and kicked bruin on the nose. This made the bear growl, which aroused Mr. Prettyman, who ran to the house. By this time, the men who were stopping for the night, got up, took their guns and ran out after the bear, which had entered the pen again, and was just climbing out with a shoat in its arms." It let the shoat drop, and ran. The men shot at it several times, but it disappeared in the woods. No doubt their excitement, together with the darkness of the night, enabled bruin to escape. The first houses were what are commonly known as log cabins, and going to a raising was one of the enjoyments of that time. The sturdy pioneer would often go several miles to help his neighbor raise his " cabin." The next day he would attend a " rolling bee," and really enjoy it; but, as a matter we of course we of to-day would not enjoy that kind of sport. The difficulties to be encountered in a new country show that the good wives had their share of the burdens to bear. They no doubt left the older-settled counties where there were fine houses and good schools, to go to a new where there were no signs of civilization. The fact that they were willing to

help their husbands make homes in the wilderness, ought to be sufficient to convince us that they were worthy of being the mothers of the present generation. Let us not make ourselves unworthy of them.

POST ROADS, ETC.

The first mail route in the township was the one from Defiance to Evansport, and north to some town in Michigan. Asa Hight was the mail-carrier, and, as the roads were bad, he carried the mail on horseback.

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I have also been informed that there was a post office called Phalanx, on the Doolittle farm, in Section 16. The office was discontinued many years ago. When the Air-Line Division of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad (now the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern & was built, and Stryker laid out, the mail was carried from Defiance to Stryker on Tuesdays and Fridays ; but several years ago that route was discontinued, and a daily route established from Stryker to Evansport. There is also a daily mail from Stryker to West Unity. Stryker also receives mail four times a day by railroad.

EARLY BRIDGES.

Perhaps the first bridge built in Springfield Township across Tiffin River or Bean Creek, was the old one north of Evansport. There was also one built at an early day on the Bryan and Napoleon Pike. Several other bridges were built at an early day.

SAW-MILLS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.

Thomas J. Prettyman built a sawmill at the mouth of Beaver Creek. It did very little business, and was soon abandoned; About 1835, Thomas Lingle built a saw-mill on Owl Creek, in the south part of the township. It was not much of a success. At an early day, there was an attempt to build a mill on the line of Sections 17 and 18, about half mile a west of where the "Eagle Mills " now stand. The foundation was built, and a race dug, and I have been informed that a town was laid out called Williamsport. The mill was not completed, neither was the town to built. Shortly afterward, Harmon Doolittle built a saw-mill where the " Eagle Mills " now stand. In 1857, Kingsland & Chase built a grist mill in the west part of Stryker. It was the first grist-mill built within the present limits of the township. About sixteen or seventeen years ago, John C. Chappuis built what is known as the " Eagle Mills," and, as the mill built by Kingsland & Chase burned down many years ago, this is the only grist-mill in Springfield Township. There are seven saw-mills in the township, two of which are in Stryker.

DRAINAGE.

The drainage facilities of the township are excellent. There are several good ditches within its borders, the most important of which is County Ditch No. 17. That ditch is, in fact, Owl Creek from its head to the place where it receives Brush Creek. It was first made a township, and then a county ditch. The ditch and anti-ditch men had a "big time." At first the Commissioners refused to establish the ditch, but it was finally located and completed in the fall of 1878. It is

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now considered by all as one of the best improvements ever made in Springfield Township. It affords an excellent opportunity for tile drainage. When the township is well drained, it will, no doubt, be one of the best farming communities in the Northwest.

STATISTICS OF PRODUCTIONS.

 Upon examination of the work entitled. "Statistics of the United States of America," published by authority of an act of Congress June 1, 1840, I find the following items in regard to Springfield Township : horses and mules (classed together), 44 ; neat cattle, 345 ; sheep, 51 ; Swine, 711; wheat, bushels, 3,235 ; oats, bushels, 556 ; rye, bushels, 140; corn, bushels, 7,895 ; wool, pounds, 56 ; potatoes, bushels, 2,387 ; hay tons, 26 ; maple sugar, pounds, 2,628 ; dairy products, pounds, 174.

Statistics for 1881.—Wheat, acres, 2,979 ; bushels, 48,420. Oats, acres 883 ; bushels, 32,090. Barley, acres, 3 ; bushels, 100. Corn, acres, 2,059 ; bushels, 76,580. Meadow, acres, 1,176 ; hay, tons, 1,142. Clover, acres, 1,034 ; seed, bushels, 1,874. Potatoes, acres, 92 1/2 ; bushels, 4,253. Butter, pounds, 73,111. Cheese, pounds, 1,000. Eggs, dozen, 28,250. Apples, bushels, 24,430. Acres, cultivated, 12,520. Pasture, 1,223. Wood land, 5,105. Lying waste, 35. The statistics

for 1881 were taken from the Assessor's report, which was filed May, 1882, Value of property in Springfield Township, appraisement of 1880, and chattels of 1881, value as found on the duplicate of 1881: Township, except Stryker corporation and territory attached, for school purposes, $575,000 ; Stryker corporation, $135,000 ; territory attached, $117,000; total value, $827,000.

VILLAGE OF STRYKER.

Stryker is situated on the Air-Line Division of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, forty-seven miles west of Toledo. It was laid out by John A. Sargent and E. L. Barber in the fall of 1853, and named in honor of John Stryker, who was an officer of the Air-Line Railroad (by some it is claimed that he was a sub-contractor, and by : others that he was President of the road). The original town occupied the southwest part of Section 4. Blinn & Letcher (Chester Blinn and William Letcher), started a store in the village in the fall of 1853, and did business there for several years. Tingley built a hotel the same fall. I have been informed that Mr. Izzard, William Landis and Joseph Dilworth

lived in Stryker at that time. William Sheridan, Jr., moved into a house on the east side of Defiance street on the 11th of February, 1854. He used it as a dwelling and business house. In the fall of 1854, C. L. Chase built a saw-mill for Walter Haywood & Co., of Fitchburg, Mass.

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The mill burned down on the, morning of July 4, 1856. In the fall of that year, Chase built another mill for the same company. It was the best mill ever built in the county, and did an immense business. Peter Charpoit commenced the hardware business in 1856, and in the spring of 1857, Kingsland & Chase built a grist-mill, and in 1858 they attached a distillery to it. E. W. Fuller was one of the first dry goods merchants of Stryker. When the town was laid out, there was an old log schoolhouse near by that was used for school purposes until the town, with the aid of the township, built a two-story frame house in 1856-57. The town improved steadily until 1860, at which time it had become a lively little village, with quite an extensive trade in lumber, dry goods, groceries, live stock, grain, produce, etc.

William Sheridan, Jr., who was the first Postmaster at Stryker, held the office until after Mr. Lincoln became President. Since then, each of the following-named gentlemen has held the position in the order named:: C. C. Douglass, E. W. Fuller, W. R. Babcock, John Boyer, O. G. Smith, A. S. Wilson, and J. J. Fuller, the present incumbent. Mr. Fuller has been Postmaster since 1873. Perhaps the town had reached', its highest prosperity about 1865. Since then, disastrous fires and financial failures have injured it very much. Von Behren & Shoner started a tannery in Stryker in 1862, with a cash capital of $1,700. Three years later Von Behren bought Mr. Shoner's interest, and soon: after H. G. Shaffer bought a half-interest in the tannery. In the fall of 1866, they built a circular-saw mill, and the year following they com menced to manufacture oars, spokes, etc. Their business increased so that the sales of oars alone amounted to $20,000 per annum. They burn out in the spring of 1876, losing everything. They rebuilt and had everything in running order within three months. Since then, they have, kept from twenty-five to thirty-five workmen in employment. Their. prospects are good for an increasing trade. They ship oars, spokes, etc., to all parts of the United States, and also direct to Europe. Jesse Ecker. owns a saw-mill, and does quite a business. U. A. Wynn, dealer in gen. eral merchandise, came to Stryker, November 22, 1875. His sales, which amount to nearly $40,000 per' annum, show that he is a good business man. F. Louys is also engaged in the dry goods trade. He has done business in Stryker since 1863. In 1867, he formed a partner. ship with Mr. Solier, but since 1879 he has been doing business alone His annual sales amount to $16,000. Peter Charpoit, who commenced business in 1856, is yet engaged in the hardware trade. His ann sales amount to $25,000. C. Veriner & Co. are also engaged in hardware trade. They deal in agricultural implements and do quite-business. Stryker has two good drug stores, one kept by N. B. S

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& Co., and the other by F. A. Snear. The following is a list of the business men of Stryker: Blinn & Douglass, grain and stock dealers; J. A. Miles, landlord; U. A. Wynn and F. Louys, dry goods and general merchandise; Peter Charpoit and C. Vernier & Co., hardware dealers; N. B. Stubbs & Co. and F. A. Snear, drug stores ; Von Behren & Shaffer, saw-mill, oar factory, tannery, etc.; Jesse Ecker, sawyer and lumber dealer; Fissel Brothers, furniture dealers; C. A. Werum, dealer in agricultural implements; Hamilton & Fuller, W. W. Stubbs, Berrier & Lucas, John Garyman, groceries and provisions; A. Collins, O. L. Gambier livery stable; W. H. Stough, harness-maker ; Charles Schmidt, C. Durler, shoe-makers; Boothman & Haverfield, Joseph Eberle, blacksmith; Emiel Bourquin, P. Penquet, J. & A. J. Cuquel, saloons; Fred Julliard, George Mignerly, meat market; R. Howard, wagon-maker ; Charles Waggoner, barber shop; Mrs. S. A. Knauer, dress-maker ; Mrs. F. L. Van Ostrand, Mrs. A. Hamilton, millinery.

SECRET SOCIETIES

The Stryker Lodge, No. 611, I. 0. 0. F., was organized July 6, 1875, by W. C. Earl, W. G. S. of Ohio. There were fourteen charter members at the organization. The first officers were as follows : D. P. Aldrich, N. G.; A. Hamilton, V. G.; J. E. Meek, R. S. ; H. G. Grisier, P. S.; J. H. Stubbs, T. The lodge is in a prosperous condition at present. Since the organization of this lodge, the West Unity Lodge has been organized by members of this lodge. The present membership of the lodge is fifty-five with the following-named officers : W. I. Pepple, N. G.; J. G. Rumsey, V. G.; John Bancroft, R. S.; William Pengeot, P. S.; J. E. Meek, T. The Sons of Temperance instituted a lodge at Stryker in 1874. W. E. Kintigh was elected Worthy Patriarch. They met regularly for some time, and then began to decline and finally surrendered., their charter. There was also a Lodge of Good Templars organized, which had quite a large membership. The writer has no definite knowledge concerning it. It has long since ceased to exist.

PROFESSIONAL MEN.

Among the early physicians who practiced at Stryker, we find Dr. Blaker, E. P. Willard and Dr. Hubbard. Stryker has at present three doctors; D. C. Clover, N. B. Stubbs and F. A. Snear. D. C. Clover has practiced at Stryker about twenty years. N. B. Stubbs and F. A. Snear have been practicing about ten years. Stryker has had its share of the legal fraternity. Perhaps Sanders Hyke was the first attorney that lived in the town. He had quite a local practice. George De Merritt

practiced law at Stryker for several years; but soon neglected his

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business, and finally went West. In 1863, William Sheridan, Jr., was admitted to the bar, but he never made the practice of the profession his business.

INCORPORATION AND OTHER FACTS.

By consulting the records of the village, I find that it was incorporated in August, 1863. John Barnhart made oath before Lemuel Allen, a Justice of the Peace, that he " set up " notices that an election would be held on the 24th day of August, 1863, for the purpose of electing village officers. At that election there were ninety-one votes cast. William Sheridan, Jr., received forty-seven and E. D. Bradley forty-four votes for, Mayor. John S. Kingsland received forty-seven and E. P. Willard forty-two votes, for Recorder (Clerk). I also find that John Barnhart, S. N. Webb, E. P. Willard, C. E. Woodworth, C. C. Stubbs and D. C. Clover, were elected Councilmen. August 31, 1863, N. B. McGrew was sworn in as Marshal and O. G. Smith as Treasurer. They were elected by the Council. September 28, 1863, the Council appointed Peter Charpoit as Councilman, to fill the vacancy caused by C. C. Stubbs' removal outside of the corporation. February 1, 1864, C. L. Chase was appointed Coucilman in place of S. N. Webb, who removed outside of the corporation. Mr. Chase accepted the office February 29. The following-named persons have been Mayors of Stryker : William Sheridan, Jr., Lewis H. Smith, John B. Grice, W. R. Babcock, William Sheridan, Jr. (two terrms), George DeMerritt, J. A. Miles, W. E. Kintigh, A. Hamilton, J. A. Von Behren, J. B. Kimmell, John E. Meek, H. C. Thompson, W. B. Kitzmiller and Adam Fissel. The present town officers are as follows: folio Adam Fissel, Mayor ; J. M. Carens, Clerk ; N. B. Stubbs, Treasurer; N. Blair, Marshal ; W. W. Stubbs, W. H. Stough, J. A. Miles, C.. L. Gates, C. H. Elliott and W. I. Pepple, Councilmen. Since the town has been laid out, the following additions have been made to it : McArt's Addition, 97 lots, January, 1854; Tingley's Addition, 65 lots, January, 1854 ; Luther's Addition, 52 lots, September, 1857 ; Haywood & Co.’s Addition, 22 lots, October, 1857 ; Kingsland & Co.'s Addition, 190 lots, and Luther's Addition, $2 lots, January, 1858 ; Luther's Second Addition, 102 lots, March, 1860 ; Grey's Addition, 20 lots, March 1860 ; McArt's Second Addition, 1 and 6 lots May, 1861; Fuller’s Addition, 14 lots, January, 1862 ; Boyer & Evans' Addition, 37 lots, August, 1865 ; Hile's Addition, 14 lots, April, 1866 ; Werum’s Addition, 18 lots, August, 1866 ; Sheridan's Addition, 24 lots, June 1869. The limits of Stryker corporation were extended February 7, 1871, but there was no record made of it until April 28, 1871. The population of Stryker, as shown by the Secretary of State's report, for 1880, was as follows : Population in 1870, 671, and in 1880, 662.

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Stryker had, for a time, a regularly organized fire company. The Council bought a hand fire-engine several years ago, but it was a failure, and every one now says (as is usual on such occasions) " I told you so." In conclusion, I will say that Stryker is a wide-awake little town. It has one of the best grain and stock markets in the Northwest. Its fine school building is enough to convince every one that the people are awake to their true interests. They believe in the principle, " Educate the child aright, and then there will be no trouble in the management of public

EDUCATIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

School districts were first organized in Springfield Township in 1836, as the following copy of the records on file in the Township Clerk's office will show:

1. Agreeably to an arrangement entered into by the Trustees of Springfield Township, all the south part of said township lying south of the 20th, 21st, 22d, and 23d section organized into a school district, known as School District No. 1.

2. That Sections 14, 15, 16, 17, and the south part or half of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, constitute a School District No. 2.

3. And that the north half of Sections No. 7, 8, 6 and 5, constitute School District No. 3.

Entered by order of the Trustees April 3 ,1836.

Attest, J. B. TAYLOR, Township Clerk.

District No. 4 was organized May 18, 1838 ; No. 5, March 1, 1841; and No. 6 in 1844. Perhaps it would not be of interest to trace the organization of the school districts farther, as after the districts were organganization some were abandoned, others organized, etc. As the township became better settled, the districts were re-organized, and at present there are eight districts permanently established, exclusive of the Stryker District

No doubt the first schoolhouse was built in District No. 1, as the township was most thickly settled in that locality. The first houses were small log ones with few windows, and with floors made of "puncheons."

The following-named persons were among the early teachers of the township : Jonathan B. Taylor, Orin G. Greely, Mr. Carmicle, Jane Washburn, John Washburn, Elizabeth Miller, Sarah C. Jones and L. W. Prettyman. The wages of teachers at an early day were from $5 to $8 month for summer, and from $8 to $12 per month for winter schools. In addition to that they would get their board by "boarding around" with the scholars. Mrs. Ayres (formerly Miss Sarah C. Jones), of Centre Township, informs me that she taught school in Springfield Township in the winter of 1850-51, at $2 per week, of five and one-half days, which was considered a " big price," as wages had advanced. At time gentlemen received from $3 to $4 per week and board. The

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first teachers had to labor under many disadvantages. The houses were small and inconvenient ; " puncheons " were used for seats, and, upon the whole, schoolhouses were not very attractive. The "branches " taught were reading, writing, arithmetic, and, as a matter of course, spelling was not neglected.

Spelling schools were a great treat for the pupils and teacher, and almost every Friday or Saturday afternoon the pupils would engage in a "spelling match." At an early day, Mitchell's outline maps were in use everywhere, and sometimes, instead of a spelling-match, the pupils, led by the teacher, would engage in singing from the map as follows : " The face of the globe two hundred millions," " The face of the globe two hundred millions," "North America eight millions," " North America eight millions," "South America seven millions," " South America seven millions," "Europe three and half millions," " Europe three and a half millions," etc., meaning so many million square miles. The same exercise would be gone over with in regard to the bays, gulfs, etc., but as the writer was not much of a singer, he does not remember the exact form, On Christmas the pupils anticipated a "grand time," and an effort, which was generally successful, was made for some of them to get to the school house before the teacher arrived and "bar him out," and then keep look-out, and as other pupils arrived let them in, but they were careful to prevent the teacher's getting in unless he promised to "treat," which he would generally do unless he were of a " mean disposition," and then he would threaten to whip the pupils (when he got in) unless they opened the door. As a rule, however, the pupils and teachers enjoyed the day quite well, eating apples and candy and reciting a few lessons. "Barring" out" the teacher is not practiced at present. In fact, very few teachers have school on holidays.

At present, each school district has a good brick schoolhouse. The first one in the county, outside of Stryker, was built in 1871, and the last one was built two or three years ago. These houses cost from $1,000, to $1,400 each. Most of the houses have new "patent seats " and are well built, with all the modern improvements. Exclusive of Stryker District, there are 429 youths of school age in the township. The township school fund for the last year was $1,438.14. The school fund of Stryker School District amounts to about $2,000 annually. According to the report of September 1, 1881, there were 301 youths of school age in Stryker School District. The schools of the township are in good shape, and if it was not for the frequent change of teachers, they might be made a grand success. The following persons taught in the township during the past winter: William Fritzsche, District No. 1; Wilbur M. Fyke, District No. 2; Eliza Snow, District No. 3; J. D. McCord, District

No.

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4; C. A. Gurwell, District No. 5; Ettie Teeple, District No. 7; E. N. Bradley, District No. 8 ; and J. M. Cummings, ers No. 9. The wages of teachers are from $16 to $18 per month for summer and from $30 to $40 per month for winter schools, and as the practice of "boarding around" has been discontinued, the teachers pay their own board. In 1857, when the two-story frame schoolhouse was built in Stryker, the town seemed to be growing at a rapid rate, and in a few years there was a demand for a larger building. In 1867, the contract was let to F. Solier for building the present structure, but the death of Mr. Solier made it mecessary to relet the contract. The contract for building the house was relet to Wheelock, McKay & Underhill, of Fort Wayne, Ind., some time during the summer of 1868. They were to receive $11,500, exclusive of the furniture. The building committee consisted of E. D. Bradley, William Sheridan, Jr., W. H. McLyman, John Allison, C. Blinn, and O. G. Smith. Mr. Sheridan was appointed as manager for the school district. The corner-stone was laid on September 19, 1868, but the building was not completed until about the middle of October, 1869. It is a fine two-story brick, containing four rooms. The first teacher of the high school in the new building was George N. Glover, who (as I am informed) is a graduate of Yale. The writer attended school at Stryker in 1869-70, and can testify that Mr. Glover was an excellent teacher. Mr. Glover went from Stryker to Bryan, and the last heard of him he was Professor of Political Economy in the University of West Virginia. Since Mr. Glover taught at Stryker, Mr. Field, E. O. Brown, Arthur Fish, James Paul, George F. Solier and W. B. Greek have been teachers in the high school. W. B. Greek, who taught the has been engaged for the next school year. He is a gentleman of experience, having taught at West Unity and at Pioneer, in this county. The grammar department has been taught the past two years by A. D. Beggs. Mrs. Carrie Lloyd and Miss Lillian Snyder taught the intermediate and primary departments. The enrollment for the past year was as follows: High school, 57 ; grammar department, 42 ; intermediate, 58 ; primary 87. The Stryker schools were in session nine months the past year. W. B. Greek, teacher of the high school, received $700 for the year and the other teachers from $27 to $30 per month.

CHURCHES.

Perhaps the first religious meeting in the township was held at the house of Daniel Colgan, on Section 20. The writer read an article in the Christian Advocate of 1874, in regard to the death of Christi Ann Colgan, wife of Daniel Colgan, deceased, stating that forty years ago last October (that is October, 1833), Rev. James B. Austin was invited

442 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY

to preach in their log cabin. A society of five members was formed. This was the first religious meeting within the present limits of Williams County." I have been reliably informed that those five members were, Thomas J. Prettyman, Lydia Prettyman, Mary Prettyman, Daniel Colgan and Christi Ann Colgan. Peter Knipe and wife, and Wallery Coonrod and wife were also early church members. All of the above named were Methodists. David Carpenter, who settled in the " Thicket," was the first prominent United Brethren Church member in the township. The churches of the township have made rapid progress from these small beginnings of forty or forty-five years ago. There are at present three societies of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the township, with a total membership of 114. The largest society belonging to this circuit is at Evansport, just south of the township line. Of the societies in this township, the membership is as follows : Stryker, fifty ; Springfield forty-two ; Oak Grove, twenty-two. There is a Sunday school connected with each of the above-named societies. The Stryker Sunday school contains about fifty members, with W. B. Kitzmiller as Superintendent. The Sunday school at Springfield Church contains about forty or forty-five members, with Clarence Betts as Superintendent, and at Oak Grove there are about twenty-five or thirty members. The ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Stryker since 1863, were as follows: 1863 to 1865, John R. Colgan ; 1865 to 1867, S. H. Alderman ; 1867 to 1870, S. B. Maltbie ; 1870 to 1872, John Farley ; 1872 to 1874, Richard Wallace ; 1874 to 1876, S. M. Boggs ; 1876 to 1879, H. A. Brown ; 1879 to 1880, J. M. Shultz ; 1880 to 1882, W. S. Philpott. The Methodist Church at Stryker was built about 1862 or 1863. It has been repaired several times, and is a neat little frame building. The Springfield society built a small frame house about the year 1872.. The Oak Grove society put up a small frame building in 1879.

Perhaps the first religious society of United Brethren in the township, was organized in the " Thicket " about twenty-five or thirty years ago. David Carpenter, a leading member, contributed a great deal of time and money, and through his efforts a building was soon after put up on his farm, on the southeast corner of Section 15. About 1873, that house was removed to Stryker and rebuilt. The only organization of United Brethren in the township at present is at Stryker. There is a church membership of sixty-eight. There is a Sunday school connected with the church, which contains sixty or sixty-five members, with Levi Durler as Superintendent. Rev. W. 0. Butler has been the minister for the past three years.

The Universalist Church at Stryker was organized April 13, 1877, by Rev. J. F. Rice, with seventeen members. The following were

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the first officers : W. E. Kintigh, Moderator ; Philip Werum, Chester Blinn William C. Miller, Trustees ; C. C. Douglass, Clerk ; Mrs. A. Silvernai1, Treasurer ; S. P. Cameron and Chester Blinn, Stewards. This church organization is one of the most active in the township. By the efforts of their excellent minister, Rev. J. F. Rice, and by the energy of their members, they have increased their membership from seventeen of five years ago to forty-six, the present number. They fitted up the second story of the "Town Hall," and have been using it as a place of worship. They have made arrangements to build a " veneered brick " house the present summer and fall. It will cost them about $3,000, and will be one of the finest public buildings in the township. There is a Sunday school connected with the church. It was organized June 20, 1877. W. E. Kintigh was chosen Superintendent, and has held the position ever since. The average membership is fifty-two. The present officers of the Sunday school are : W. E. Kintigh, Superintendent ; Mrs. T. H. Moore, Assistant Superintendent ; Philip Werum, Treasurer ; Walter Secretary ; Miss Alice M. Kintigh, Librarian. The church officers are as follows : J. T. Heater, Moderator ; Mrs. T. H. Moore, Clerk; Philip Werum, A. Silvernail and W. E. Kintigh, Trustees ; Mrs. N. B. Stubbs, Treasurer.

The Catholics have a church organization at Stryker, consisting of about thirty families. Their church building, which is the oldest in the township, was built about 1860. They have services once every month ; Rev. Nunnen is their minister.

The Baptists have a society at Stryker, consisting of forty-three members. They have no regular minister, but F. Louys preaches for them every Sunday. As they have no place of worship, the Methodists allow use their house.

There are a few Presbyterians and German Methodists at Stryker. They have preaching occasionally.

The total value of all church property is about $8,000, distributed as follows; Methodist, $4,500 ; United Brethren, $2,000, and Catholic, $1,500.

The total membership of all denominations in the township is about 550.

SPRINGFIELD GRANGE, NO. 499

This grange was organized February 3, 1874, with twenty-six charter members. The following were the first officers : C. M. Clark, Master ; D. S. Clark, Overseer ; F. A. Smith, Lecturer ; Chester Clark, Steward; A. J. Witt, Assistant Steward; Austin Knipe, Chaplain ; J. C. Sanford, Treasurer C. L. Gates, Secretary ; Simon Johnson, Gatekeeper; Mrs. C. M. Clark, Ceres; Mrs. J. C. Sanford, Pomona ; Mrs. F. A. Smith,

444 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

Flora ; Miss Alice Clark, Lady Assistant Steward. The officers of the grange were energetic and wide-awake, and did their utmost to make it a success. The grange numbers 105 members at present, and is, perhaps, the best in the county, if not in the Northwest. The members of the grange have built a neat two-story building on Coy's farm, in Section 16. It has a wareroom below and a good lodge room above, in which they hold their meetings. C. M. Clark has been Master, and J. C. Sanford, Treasurer, ever since the grange was organized. The officers for the year 1882 are as follows: C. M. Clark, Master; S. L. Clark, Overseer; J. Maltby, Lecturer ; John Robinson, Steward; G. G. Bloom, Assistant Steward; H. T. Betts, Chaplain; J. C. Sanford, Treasurer; O. C. Rboinson, Secretary ; John Chappins, Jr., Gate-keeper ; Miss Altie Schaeffer, Ceres ; Miss Mary Schaeffer, Pomona ; Miss Elenor Sanford, Flora; Dana Bloom, Lady Assistant Steward ; Mrs. Levitt, Organist.

THE OIL WELL COMPANY.

A company known as the Stryker Oil Well Company was organized in Boston, Mass., in. 1865. In the spring of that year, the company began boring a well in search of oil at Stryker, under the management of William Sheridan, Jr. The work was continued until 1867, and then it was abandoned, as no oil of any consequence was found, although the well had reached the depth of 860 feet. At the depth of 230 feet, a vein of heavily-charged mineral water was met with, which used to flow from the well at regular intervals, but for the last few years the well has ceased to flow. In February, 1870, Prof Silas H. Douglass, of the University of Michigan, made an analysis of the water, with the following result, as shown by the Geological Survey of Ohio, Vol. I, page 564: Grains per gallon (231 cubic inches) of water,

Chloride of magnesium 118.96

Chloride of sodium 231.86

Sulphate of potassa 185.84

Carbonate of lime 68.84

Carbonate of iron 9.93

Silica 2.63

Sulphydric acid 4.49

Total 621.55

Several attempts have been made to induce parties to build a large hotel at Stryker, with bath-rooms, so that the water might be utilized for medicinal purposes, but they have all proved unsuccessful, and, no doubt, there will never be anything done in regard to the matter.

STATISTICS.

The vote of Springfield Township for President in 1880: James A.

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Garfield, 251; Winfield S. Hancock, 225 ; James B. Weaver, 10 ; total, 486. At the October election of 1880, there was a larger vote cast, which was as follows: Townsend, for Secretary of State, had 255 votes ; Lang had 229 votes, Lloyd 8 and Doan 1 vote ; total, 493. That was the largest vote ever cast in the township. The vote for Governor in 1881 was as follows: Foster, 230; Bookwalter, 206 ; Ludlow, 14 Seitz, 22; total, 472.

The present township officers are William Sheridan, Jr., and W. B. Kitzmiller, Justices of the Peace; C. Arnsberger, A. Silvernail and John G. Ramsey, Trustees ; F. Snear, Treasurer ; J. M. Carens, Clerk ; J. T. Heater Assessor ; John Winter and Esquire Umstead, Constables. The population of Springfield Township, including Stryker, was 1,981 in the and 2,117 in 1880. There were 4,466 tons of freight shipped from Stryker in 1870, against 8,530 tons in 1880, and 670 tons received in 1870, against 2,042 tons in 1880. In the year 1881, C. Blinn & Co. Shipped 51,895 pounds of oats and 2,577,575 pounds of wheat ; Peter Charpoit shipped 87,515 pounds of oats and 1,937,705 pounds of wheat, and U. A. Wynn shipped 1,276,720 pounds of wheat.

From the above, it will be seen that there were nearly one hundred thousand bushels of grain shipped from Stryker the past year.

The writer is indebted to Hon. William Sheridan, Jr., Lewis W. Prettyman, Lewis Clark, J. A. Miles and others for facts concerning the early settlement of the township, and to T. H. Moore and J. M. Carens for information regarding the freight business of Stryker Station.