Wood County, Ohio 1895 History

WOOD COUNTY, OHIO - 389

CHAPTER XLII.

PORTAGE TOWNSHIP.

POPULATION-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION-RECORDS-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-SCHOOLS-PIONEERS LAND BUYERS-VILLAGES; PORTAGE VILLAGE-ITS HISTORY-SCHOOLS-INCORPORATION OFFICIALS-CHURCHES-SOCIETIES.

THIS division of the county was surveyed about the time the surveyors went through Bloom and Liberty. The population, in 1840, was only 199, increased, by 1850, to 403; by 1860, to 833; by 1870, to 1,069; by 1880, to 1,434; and by 1890, to 2,328.

Township Organization.-The township, as established December 3, 1832, embraced the territory, now known as Liberty, Henry, Portage, Bloom, Montgomery and Perry townships; but, on March 3, 1833, Perry was detached. Portage was not organized until July 20, 1833, owing to the fact that the act of establishment did not give satisfaction, and that it had to be reconsidered by the commissioners. On June 3, 1833, when all that part of the organized township of Middleton, known as T. 5, N., R. 11 E., and so much of T. 5, N. R. 10 E., as lies south of the line, dividing Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 from Sections 8, 17, 16, 15, 14 and 13 (or twenty-four sections of Plain township), was set off under the name proposed in 1832. On July 20, 1833, the first election was held, John Sargent, Benjamin Cox and Thomas Slight being judges, and Joseph A. Sargent and Joseph Cox, clerks. Joseph Cox, Jacob Eberly and John Sargent received 16, 14 and 15 votes, respectively, for trustees, and were declared elected. John B. McKnight was elected clerk; Collister Haskins, treasurer; Thomas Slight, constable; Benjamin Cox and John Gallatin, overseers of the poor; George Mercer, supervisor; Adam Phillips received 6 votes for fence-viewer; Joseph A. Sargent, 9; Peter Johnson, 13; Thomas Cox, 11; and John M. Jaquis, 3. The electors, outside the men named, were George Heminger, Jacob Phillips and Charles McLain, so that all the voters, with three exceptions, were candidates for office.

Records.-The record books of the township, in possession of the clerk, date back to 1880, as minute books of trustees, and to 1873, as minute books of the school board. From the county records, however, the names of justices of the peace, from 1834 to 1895, were obtained, and, from documents in the auditor's office, the names of trustees and clerks. A thorough search in the township and village of Portage resulted in the discovery of school minutes from 1856 to 1872, and of trustees' records from. 1865 to 1872, with three miscellaneous record books. They were discovered by Mrs. Hill, while other valuable books relating to Portage and Liberty were held from the destroyer by Mrs. Norris. From all available, authentic sources the following dates and names of township officials were obtained:

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.

Trustees.-In 1841, James H. Scott and William DeWitt are named as trustees; in 1848, William Prescott, David Cook and William DeWitt; in 1849, Nathan Minard was elected, vice Cook, and with Johnson and Prescott formed the board in 1850; in 1853, John McCrory, vice

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Prescott; in 1854, John Johnson and David Cook were chosen; in 1858, John Johnson, Jacob Dauterman and William Graham; and, in 1859, Aaron S. Dresser was elected, vice Graham, while John Johnson was re-elected in 1860. The trustees, elected from 1863 to 1878, were S. L. Sargent, J. Z. Smith and J. G. Patterson, 1863; Jacob Dauterman, Lewis Long and T. J. Vosburg, 1864; James Teller, A. L. Stevens and Jacob Dauterman, 1865-66; Lewis Long, T. J. Vosburg and James Teller, 1867; Jonas Hampshire, elected vice Long, in 1868; T. J. Vosburg, James Teller and Lewis Long, 1869, 1870 and 1871; Jacob Dauterman, with Vosburg and Teller, 1871 and 1872; Teller, Long and Vosburg, in 1873-74; Teller, Long and Geo. Hampshire, in 1875-76; Andrew Welton, William Caris and S. Wilcox, in 1877; John Miller served in 1878, but, resigning in November, John Shoup was appointed, and with J. C. Eberly and Miller, re-elected, served until April, 1879. The elections since that time resulted in the choice of the following named citizens as trustees: 1879, J. C. Eberly, R. P. Hillard, G. P. Gorton; 1880-81, John Johnston, Thomas W. Knight, Sr., R. P. Hillard; 1882, Thomas W. Knight, Sr., Nathan Morse, C. Ensminger; 1883, John Johnston, Jr. Reuben Hillard, Nathan Morse; 1884, John Johnston, Jr., Wilson Solether, John Troxell, Dr. T. W. Knight, vice Solether; 1885, George W. Stearns, John Troxell, John Johnston; 1886, J. W. Cole, John Johnston, B. Odell.

In 1887, B. Odell was elected for a term of three years; in 1888, A. J. Schauweker; in 1889, Philip McCrory; Daniel Mears appointed, vice Schauweker, August 30, 1889; in 1890, Lewis Shinew, George Hampshire, William Musser; in 1891, William Musser; in 1892, Daniel Mears, Jr.; in 1893, Lewis Shinew, James Teatsworth, vice William Musser, resigned; in 1894, Jacob Spockey, and in 1895, Daniel Mears, Jr.; 1896, James Teatsworth.

Justices.-The justices were John Sargent, 1834; John Groves, 1834; John B. McKnight, 1835, resigned in 1837; John Cox, 1837; Nathan Minard, 1839-42-48-51; Joseph Cox, 1840; Francis Carothers, 1841; James B. Scott, 1846 (did not qualify); Bailey Clough, 1847-51; James McFadden, 1850 to 1859; Henry Van Schuter, 1855; Samuel Johnson, 1855; Joseph P. Bisbee, 1858 (did not qualify); N. L. Besanson, 1859 and 1889; J. P. Bisbee, 1861, 1864, to 1882; Eli Phillips, 1863; Robert McMahan, 1865; B. N. Gibson, 1866; Robert McMahan, 1868 to 1880; R. G. Palter, 1872; Daniel Mears, 1883, '86; Henry Thrailkill, 1885, 1888 (died in 1890); Philip Spackey, 1890; Thomas C. McEwen, 1890, died early in 1894; Nathan L. Besanson, 1892; Daniel Mears, Sr., 1894; W. A. Esterly, 1895; A. T. Hickerson was chosen in 1894 to serve until 1897.

Clerks.-John B. McKnight appears to have served as clerk until the fall of 1835. The next incumbent was William Mercer, who served until 1844, when Elisha Hanson was elected. A. B. Sayler served as clerk the same year; William Mercer was elected in 1846; Bailey Clough, in 1848; James McFadden, in 1851; A. Van Blarcum, in 1858; N. L. Besanson, 1860; Elliott Eberly, 1863; Robert McMahan, 1865-72; S. P. Harrison, 1873; Robert McMahan, 1874; C. C. Soule, 1875; John Halsey, 1876-80; Andrew Welton, appointed in March, 1882; Thomas W. Knight, Jr., 1882; N. L. Besanson, 1883; and John Johnston, Jr., 1894, re-elected 1896.

Treasurers. -Collister Haskins, the first treasurer, was succeeded by Jacob Eberly, who served until 1852, when John H. DeWitt was elected. Collister Haskins was re-elected in 1853, and served until 1862, when John Johnston was elected. Jacob Eberly served from 1864 to 1873; D. Housley was elected in 1873; D. S. Boyd, 1875; Jonas Hampshire, 1878; Robert Miller, 1880; L. N. Lembrich, 1886; Andrew A. Ensminger, 1888; and L. N. Lembrich, the present (1889) treasurer.

Assessors.-William Mercer, who was assessor in 1842, is said to have held the office for some years before, James H. Scott succeeding him in 1844, and William DeWitt, elected in 1848, served some years; Darwin Weaver, 1865; E. A. Wilson, 1868; Lewis Dienst, 1873; Daniel Mears, 1877-83; Erastus Musser, Wollam, 1885, William A. Esterly, 1883; J. F. 1886; William Caris, 1888; William A. Esterly, 1889 to '94; W. A. Esterly, D. C. Whitehead and Fred W. Lembrich, 1894; F. W. Lembrich, A. J. Hickerson and J. H. Kuhlman, 1895; N. W. Wirebaugh, Nathan Morse and A. J. Hickeson, 1896.

In 1872, a petition was presented to the trustees of Portage, asking them to call an election to vote for and against the appropriation of $12,500 aid to the Columbus & Toledo Railroad Co. Teller, Long and Vosburg, the trustees, granted the petition, but in the record book, found in the marshal's house, at Portage, there is no record of the vote.

School Trustees.-In 1896 the school trustees of Portage township were Nathan Morse, L. N. Lembrich, Thomas Shinew, G. W. Simmons, W. H. Plantz, William Caris, Harvey Bateson,

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A. L. Pollard, John Vosburg, William Hagamire, and George Shiple.

Schools.-From an old record book found in D. L. Hill's house, long after the first search for township books was made, it is learned that Samuel Johnson, W. C. Underwood, and Aaron S. Dresser, were members of the school board, in session at the Johnson school house, April 21, 1856. At that time a $250 building was authorized for District No. 5, while a house in District No. 1, was reported nearly complete. In July, Collister Haskins presented a deed of the lot on which the house in No. 1 was built, his school tax being canceled in recognition of his liberality. A house was erected in District No. 4, that year. In 1857, Daniel Mercer, Lewis Long, George Amos, Joseph Smith and Samuel Johnson, formed the board of education. Daniel Shoffstall and Joseph Bisbee were members in 1858; J. A. Creps, Joseph Smith, Matthias Shoup and George Tyson, in 1860, with Nathan Pickett and N. L. Besanson. In April, 1862, there were 288 children in the six districts; Jacob Dauterman was a member of the board in 186o, while Jonas Parmenter was elected in 1863. In 1870, there were eight districts, each with its school house.

The board of education in April, 1873, was presided over by J. P. Bisbee, who, with the following named clerks of Districts, was present at the Center school house-David Brown, Lewis Long, James Teller, William Musser, George Gorton, D. S. Boyd, S. J. Turner and John M. Bevard. The school directors elected in April, named in the numeral order of districts, were Sterling Wilcox, Lewis Long, John Deuel and James Teller (No. 3); George Gorton, D. S. Boyd (No. 6); A. Legron (No. 6); and C. Ensminger (No. 6) ; Elias Davidson, Jacob Esterly and S. J. Turner (No. 8); and John M. Bevard (No. 9). The funds for the nine districts, then in hand, amounted to $920, while the tax levy authorized was four mills. In 1874, there was a general change made in the directors, and this system of electing new men annually appears to have taken root. In 1877, the house in District No. 2 was built. John Johnston was president of the board in 1878, and Jonas Hampshire, treasurer, in 1879, with J. M. Bevard, president. In the last named year a building was erected in District No. 6. New buildings were the rule during the ensuing decade, such as that of District 7, in 1886-Districts 8 and 9 being given new school houses at its close. George Shaffer was then president of the board. In 1890, the school house at Mungen was built by L. H. Murray for $729; the brick house in District No. 1, was sold to the trustees of the Methodist Church for $75, a condition being that said trustees should donate a half acre adjoining, for a school building. In 1891, the house for District No. 12 was built by W. H. Plantz, for $644, and in 1892 a new house was erected in District 8, by Plantz, for $771. In 1894, N. Morse, L. N. Lembrich, J. Shinew, G. W. Simmons, Michael Durand, William Caris, Henry Adams, A. Pollard, John Vosburg, Ezra Heminger, and John T. Mitchell, represented the eleven districts. In June, 1895, Eva Pugh, Ida Gorton, Erastus Musser, Lewis Leitner, Andrew Roper, Mrs. E. E. Buzzard and Ida Mollencop, were employed as teachers, leaving Districts Nos. 1, 3 and 5 over for further consideration. John Johnston, director for many years, is now clerk of the board of education.

Pioneers.-The main body of the pioneers of Portage came in 1833-37. When the fall elections of 1833 were held, there were only seventeen voters in the original township, all of whom cast their votes for John E. Hunt, then candidate for State senator. Within the ensuing six years, many came to share in the joys and sorrows of the pioneers, so that, in the spring of 1839, there were thirty-seven adult males found within its boundaries by the assessor. The names listed are as follows: Daniel Adams, John Pizel, Daniel Booth, Victory Clark, Thomas Cox, Francis Carothers, Zadock Henry, Benjamin West, Israel Cowden, Aaron Dresser, John Davis, John Dudley, Benjamin Henry, Jacob Eberly, Daniel Stearns, Loring Faros, William Graham, Elisha S. Harrison, Henry Musser, Peter Johnson, William Lyons, Samuel Mendal, John Mercer, Samuel Musser, Daniel Pratt, Caleb Mercer, William Mercer, Michael Musser, McGaffey, Nathan Minard, John Musser, Robert Piper, Edward Palmerton, Adam Ross, Jeremiah Vangilder, Henry Van Benschoter and Preston Whitacre. John Van Blarcum came in 1840, buying Ephraim Simons' improvements.

It is said that 'Squire McKnight, who was elected a justice of the peace in 1835, died in 1837, and was buried in what is now known as the Sargent cemetery, west of Portage village, being the first adult who died in the township. Two or three children preceded him to that ground to tenant the first graves. Dewitt's wife was buried there in 1841. John Wrinklekey, a soldier of 1812, is said to have been interred

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there, but others say that he and James McMahan, a soldier of the Mexican war, were buried in the Portage cemetery.

Land-Buyers.-The early land-buyers in Portage township are named as follows, the description of purchase and date being given:

John Johnston, S. W. S. 3, Nov. 29, 1833.

John Sargent, S. S. W. S. 4, Mar. 10, 1836.

John Gallatin, N. W. N. W. S. 5, June 18, 1833.

Jacob Eberly, S. W. N. W. S. 5, Nov. 22, 1833.

Jacob Phillips, N. E. N. W. Sec. 5, May 2, 1833.

Collister Haskins, S. W. S. W. S. 6, Dec. 6, 1832.

John Cox, E. S. E. S. 6, Dec. 6, 1832.

John B. McKnight, S. E. S. W. S. 6, Oct. 7, 1833.

William Robinson, N. N. E. S. 6, Oct. 15,1833.

William Schell, S. N. W. S. 6, July 23, 1834.

Ephraim Simmons, N. S. W. S. 6, Oct. 8, 1835.

Francis Carothers, Pt. S. W. S. 7, Oct. 21, 1833.

John Wonder, E. N. W. S. 8, Mar. 15, 1836.

John Osborn, S. W. S. 10, June 9, 1834.

Adam Ross, W. S. W. & S. E. S. W. S. 18, June 18, 1833.

John Mercer, S. E. S. 18, Sep. 9, 1833.

David M. Lyons, N. E. S. 18, Oct. 25, 1833.

Caleb Mercer, N. N. E. S. 19, Nov. 11, 1834.

Daniel Minard, E. S. W. S. 25, Ap. 5, 1836.

Joseph S. Dresser, N. E. N. W. S. 25, Nov. 8, 1836.

John Snider, N. S. E. S. 26, Oct. 10, 1836.

Thomas McFadden, N. W. N. W. S. 30, Jan. 25, 1836.

Mahlon Whitacre, S. E. S. E. S. 31, Nov. 29, 1833..

Preston Whitacre, S. E. S. W. S. 32, July 14, 1834.

William St. John, Pt. N. W. S. 34, Dec. 9, 1835.

Henry Van Benchoter, S. W. S. 35, Sep. 22, 1835.

Andrew Moore, Pt. N. W. S. 36, June 12, 1835.

William Graham, S. S. E. S. 36, Nov. 12, 1834.

VILLAGES.

Jerry City, which is partly in Bloom and partly in Portage, is referred to in the history of the former township. Turner & Orr's planing mill is one of the industries on the Portage side of the line, and on that side also is the post office.

Woodbury was surveyed by Hiram Davis May 4, 1837, for John Thompson, Henry B. Gibson and Jabez B. Larwill, on the line between Ranges 10 and 11, at the corners of Townships 3 and 4. A post office was established there prior to survey, of which Joseph Madden was postmaster in 1862. The story of the old village is told in the history of Henry township, and references made to the place in the chapters on Liberty and Bloom.

Mungen was surveyed by W. H. Wood for Philander McCrory, in Sec. 30, T. 4, R. 11, in May, 1888. Twenty years before that survey, a post office was established at the old Mungen, in Liberty township, with Edwin Gorton, postmaster where the widow of James McCrory now lives. Mr. Gorton carried on the office there until about 1885, when he removed it to Trombley, where he carried it on for about two years, when P. McCrory removed it to Mungen. P. McCrory served from 1887 down to August, 1889, when J. C. France succeeded him. In June, 1892, J. F. Weisinger was appointed. P. McCrory was the first merchant, building the house which has since been used as station and store, Foster Drehr & Co., the successors of McCrory, being the merchants at that point. In 1890,. J. F. Weisinger built the store room in the village.

The great fire of October 27, 1895, which started on the edge of the village, burned a strip nearly a mile wide, extending two miles northeast from Mungen. The reporter for the Commercial of Toledo, estimated the loss at $150,000. The Sun Oil Company lost nine derricks, four tanks and a boiler-house; the Palmer Oil Company, twelve derricks, several tanks and other property; the Ohio Oil Company, four derricks and other property; Ralf Bros., several derricks and buildings, while a number of smaller operators lost in proportion.

Six Points is the capital city of the southeast quarter of the township-the center of its commercial and spiritual interests. The first business house was that of M. J. Turner, who was merchant and postmaster for a long term, and carried on business in the house now owned by J. B. Bisbee. The Frankfort store, which stood where is now the Pollard store, was the next large building. It was used down to its destruction by fire. In 1890, A. L. Pollard erected his present house, which is one of a few built within the last decade.

In 1870, the United Brethren house of worship was raised a short distance south, at Mt. Zion; eastward, across the township line, the German Baptists built another church; the division in the Mt. Zion Society led the way for a third church house, and the organization of the Portage Center Methodist class, for a fourth in 1895. All may be called Six Points churches, though the village, itself, contributes very few members to any or all of them.

The postmasters, so far as memory of old residents or the records found in the office tell, were M. J. Turner, Geo. W. Redman, J. B. Bisbee, Peter Hummel, who held the office in 1887, Adam L. Pollard in 1889, and J. R. Bateson, who was appointed in 1893.

The country tributary to Six Points is fertile, and the agriculturists thrifty and prosperous. The extension of the oil field in the direction of the village, and the activity in the field during the summer and fall of 1895, have been particularly beneficial to the villagers and farmers of the territory.

The Bethel M. E. Church, north of Six Points, in School District No. 1, was organized in 1892 with the following named members:

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Isaac Kuhn, Luther Kuhn, Nathan Morse, A. C. Walker, Fred Heminger, John Christeller and their wives, with Fannie, Gertrude and James Morse, Martha Shoup, Frank Heminger, Marion Histe, Clara Lain, William and Elizabeth Douge, and Clyde Walker. Rev. Charles Hoag may be said to have organized the Church. Rev. Linzell, of Tontogany, succeeded him; then came Mr. Winters, Mr. Shreves and Mr. Barker. Isaac Kuhn is the class-leader. The average attendance at Sunday-school is about thirty. The brick church was originally the school house of District No. 1 as told in the school records. The society added a frame tower belfry and chancel.

The Methodist Protestant Church, of Portage township, signed articles of incorporation April 15, 1882, and elected Daniel Hillard, Ishmael Bowers and L. K. Soule trustees.

Trombley, mentioned in the chapter on Bloom, is a postal village and a little oil town. In 1887 or 1888, a post office was established here, of which John W. Knight was master in February, 1888. In October, 1889, W. H. Downing was appointed and held the office until 1893, when the present postmaster was appointed.

Mermill is a village of staves, hoops, saws and wood-working machines. When the Brunings removed their works from the older village, near Bradner, they selected Mermill, and within five years cleared the district of all the trees which could be converted into staves and hoops. Just north of the village, Mackey, the pioneer trader of Bowling Green, established a store in the '' thirties, " but, removing shortly after, the immediate locality was uninhabited for many years, almost down to the time when the factory was established at Mermill.

Cloverdale is the name of a church and post office on the north line of the township. The church building is in Center township, while the post office is in Portage. A. Bateson was appointed postmaster February 19, 1892, while D. M. Kiser, the present incumbent, was appointed in August, 1893.

PORTAGE VILLAGE.

This old village, coming next to Perrysburg in its beginnings as a trading point, is to-day the center, or trading place, of a rich agricultural district. In 1829, Collister Haskins built near his cabin (just west of the present Main street, on the south bank of the river) a log house for trading purposes; stocked it with notions suitable for Indian traffic, and with such goods as would meet the simple needs of the white pioneer. For a few years his dealings were largely carried on with the Indians, but, within half a decade, Caucasian settlers located north of the river in some numbers, and Adam Ross saw the time had come to found a town in their neighborhood, though the location chosen by him, south of the present village, was far inferior to that selected by the pioneer for the first store in the wilderness. In 1833, Collister Haskins built a log cabin on the village site for his hired man, English; therein the family of Lee Moore found shelter late that fall, and there, also, the first school, south of Bowling Green, was taught, in 1835. Collister Haskins came from New Salem, Mass., in 1818, and located at Waterville, where he was married to Fannie Gunn, by the old justice of Logan county - Seneca Allen. In April, 1821, he and his wife built a cabin on Granger's Island, in the Maumee river, where they resided until 1824. In July, of that year, Haskins bought the N. E. 21 of Sec. 12, R. 10, Liberty township, and in September, 1824, built a cabin thereon, his nearest neighbors at Miltonville and Waterville, assisting. At that time the mail passed that way once every two weeks; but, in 1828, he petitioned for a post office at Portage. The petition was granted and on January 29, 1829, he was appointed postmaster, holding the position for eighteen years. In April, 1836, he had the eastern half of the present village of Portage surveyed (Sec. 6, T. 4, R. 11) by Neptune Nearing, and resided there until his death. May 7, 1872. In 1862, Samuel Johnson was postmaster. Frank Munn, N. L. Besanson and Daniel Mears held the office in later days, the last named being now (1895) postmaster. In 1842 the village was still in a very primitive condition. Beyond the little stock of goods carried by Ephraim Simmons in his tavern, there were no mercantile accommodations, so the settlers had to cross Mount Ararat to Bowling Green, and often had to go to Perrysburg for their groceries and dry goods. Simmons' tavern occupied the northeast corner of the Findlay road and Walnut street. Some years later that house was burned, and P. F. Peachon erected a tavern building on its site. That was also burned; but a third building was constructed by Hodgman, said to be the same now occupied by Dr. Fisher. John Carter's cabin was east by north of the Hodgman house; John Long's cabin stood where the widow Elizabeth Sargent now resides, while Peter Johnson had a cabin where

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stands the modern residence of Nicholas Dienst, while the log house built in 1833, adjoining what is known as the Drain dwelling, was then used for school purposes. In 1844, John H. DeWitt married Wealthy Haskins, built a frame house south of and adjoining the cabin of 1833, and then razed the first human habitation on the site of the village. In 1855 Capt. Knaggs built the " Pioneer Hotel," on the northwest corner of the Findlay road and Main street, now known as the " Bradford House." The mercantile buildings, erected about that time by Henry Haskins, on the east side of the Findlay road, a half block north of the Corners," are still in existence; and north of these buildings stands the house of Mr. Clough, who came here in 1842, and in August, 1895, related the facts about locations as here given.

Schools.-The first schoolhouse in the village, in fact, the first in Portage and' Liberty townships, is noticed in the history of Liberty township, with its pupils and teachers. Among the last pupils who called it Alma Mater were Cynthia Knaggs, E. P. Clough, Wealthy, Cressie and Henry Haskins, and, it is said, William S. and Joseph Eberly. The old building was razed in 1844 or 1845, and within a year or two the directors of District No. 1 caused a new house to be built. In October, 1848, the school board confessed judgment for the balance due Gilbert Beach for material furnished to the builders of that house-Jacob Eberly, William Prescott and Collister Haskins, with J. H. DeWitt and Jacob Dauterman, directors-elect, voting for the proposition. Jane Dubbs and Almon Pray were teachers in 1848, and Samuel Johnson in 1849. Johnson received $60 for four months' services. Joseph Clark taught the winter school of 1849-50 for $45; Nancy L. Kelly taught over two months for twelve shillings a week. Mary Pray presided over a school of eighteen male and nineteen female pupils from April to June, 1851; Joseph F. Wade taught at $17 a month in 1852. Joseph Clark, Miss C. M. Brown, E. S. Bradley, Elizabeth Elder, J. F. C. Malone and Mrs. Sarah Clark were teachers from 1853 to April, 1857, when the new school house was completed. Alex Brown received $112 for his long term as teacher, and Elenora Hannon the sum of $50. Adaline Wood and H. C. Norton taught here prior to April, 186o, when Samuel Johnson was employed at $1 a day. On June 30, 1859, District No. 1 was called " Corporation of Portage School District," of which Collister Haskins, J. K. Harrison, J. H. DeWitt, Z. F. Willison, J. L. Roller and S. Patterson were chosen directors. In 1861, E. H. Hull was employed to teach the high school at $1.25 a day and " board himself," and Jane Cook, the primary school, at fifty cents a day. In October, 1863, J. H. DeWitt resigned, giving as his reason the fact that he intended to leave the county. E. P. Clough, William Sargent, R. W. McMahan, A. G. Harrison, C. Taylor and A. Kinny were directors during the closing days of the Civil war; Mrs. Kate Besanson was employed as teacher in September, 1866, when the total annual receipts of the district did not exceed $321, and the number of pupils did not exceed forty-eight males and forty-five females. In November, 1866, Robert M. Donnelly was employed at $2 a day, and Miss Drake at $1.25, their examination being conducted by Dr. J. F. Meeks, E. B. Turner and Joseph Clark. Fannie Meeks was employed in 1867, and Addie Merriam in 1868. In April, 1870, S. P. Harrison succeeded R. M. Donnelly as teacher of the high school, the salary being $35 a month; J. Q. Pray and Mary Harrison were also employed as teachers. Dr. J. W. McCracken, William A. Sargent, E. P. Clough, H. Frank, A. Besanson and A. G. Harrison were the active members of the board for the decade ending in 1871, when the old record book closes. Collister Haskins, who may be called the father of the Portage schools, was a director down to the close of the war, when he left the school interests to younger guardians.

Incorporation.-In June, 1857, a petition signed by thirty persons, residing in and near Portage, asking that the village be incorporated, was presented. On December 7, the petition was granted, the S. W. 41 Sec. 12, T. 4, R. 10, belonging to Daniel Mercer, being omitted at his request. On December 12, 1857, an amended plat of the village was placed on record, and on the same day the petition for incorporation was granted. The records from the beginning to 1878 are either lost or destroyed, but from interviews with old residents, memoranda found at Bowling Green, and notices in the Perrysburg Bowling Green newspapers, many names of the early officials have been obtained; while from modern record books and documents in the auditor's office the names of officers, elected since April, 1878, have been taken.

Mayors.-James McFadden, 1858; E. P. Clough, 1860; S. Johnson; Robert McMahan; J. G. Patterson, 1864; E. B. Turner, 1867; S. P. Harrison, 1873; Dr. McCracken; Robert McMahan, 1882; N. L. Besanson, 1883; W. E. Hughes, 1885; J. D. Munn, 1886 (died July 11, 1886), -W. E. Hughes to fill vacancy; J. W. Tay-

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lor, 1887; L. J. Fleck, 1889; Daniel Mears, 1890; E. P. Clough, 1892; Daniel Mears, 1894; and Dr. E. W. Fisher, 1896.

Clerks.-I. N. Van Gorder, 1858; Z. F. Willison, 1859; A. C. Davis, 186o; S. Johnson, 1861; Almon Harrison; S. A. Smith, 1863; W. A. Sargent, 1864; J. G. Patterson, 1867; R. M. Donnelly, down to 1876; H. H. Wade, 1876; R. M. Donnelly, 1876; J. D. Munn, 1882; A. C. Canfield, 1884; J. D. Shoffstall, 1886; J. C. Friend, 1887; E. P. Clough, 1888; E. W. Norris, 1892, and re-elected 1896.

Treasurers. William Sargent was treasurer for eighteen or twenty years, until Dr. Merriam succeeded him late in the "seventies." H. N. Rush was elected in 1882; F. W. Stratton, 1885; H. B. Saylor, 1889; F. W. Stratton, 1891; and H. B. Saylor, 1895-97.

Marshals.-The office of marshal has been held by a large number of citizens. A. H. Drain, Joseph Close and D. L. Hill have held the position in later years, Alfred Drain being elected in 1896.

Councilmen.-The writer, though successful in finding old records. of Portage and Liberty townships, was unable to find an authentic book or document dealing with the council of Portage prior to April, 1878. The members from 1878 to 1896 are named as follows:

1878-J. W. Knaggs, Joseph England, H. N. Rush, A. A. Ensminger, A. Patterson.

1882-William Watson, C. F. Bell, J. C. Eberly, M. S. Winton, A. M. Drain.

1883--G. F. Munn, E. W. Norris, Robert McMahan and Lewis Dienst, vice Drain.

1884-J. W. Knaggs, Lewis Dienst, G. F. Munn, J. C. Eberly, Robert McMahan, E. W. Norris.

1885-R. McMahan, E. B. Turner, Amos Tribble.

1886-Daniel Mears, N. L. Besanson, J. W. Knaggs, J. C. Eberly, L. Dienst, J. W. Taylor.

1887-David Mears, G. W. Friend, W. E. Hughes.

1888--J. W. Knaggs, William Watson, William Freyman.

1889-Daniel Mears, A. C. McDonald, G. W. Friend.

1890--William Freyman, A. C. Sargent, A. C. Canfield, G.C. Munn.

1891--P. Waitz, A. C. Carfield, Thomas Carr, F. Caldwell.

1892-W. Freyman, H. B. Saylor, J. E. Floyd.

1893-Thomas Carr, P. Waitz, J. E. Floyd, F. Caldwell, W. Freyman, H. B. Saylor.

1894-William Freyman, E. P. Clough, William Amos, J. L. Orwig, Frank Bordner.

1895-E. P. Clough, W. Freyman, Frank Bordner.

1896-Worley Knaggs, Wm. Philo and Ed Munn.

The Methodist Episcopal Church is referred to in the record of the church at Tontogany. The old trustees' book, now in possession of J. W. Taylor, and an entry in the county records, show that a deed of Lots 95 and 96 in Portage, to John Sargent, James Talern, John B. Abbott, William DeWitt and Anson Sizer, trustees of the Methodist Church at Portage, was made by Collister and Fanny Haskins, May 22, 1856. The membership, at the beginning of 1895, was thirty-five. Among the old members were Lewis Dienst, the trustees named above, G. H. Wright, Thomas Fearnside, Jacob Dauterman, J. B. Tracy, Adam Ross, S. Johnson and S. L. Sargent. In 1861 the meeting house was completed and dedicated. In 1863, Rev. Good was the preacher. Later, A. B. Miller was elected trustee. Rev. J. White was here in 1866, when Daniel Housley was treasurer, and L. B. Wright, secretary. The building was repaired that year. The class had then twenty-nine members, the male members being Isaiah Miller, John Abbott, Anson Sizer, George Tooth, Josiah Roscoe, Nathan C. Stratton, William DeWitt and John Hopkins. Ten years later, the names of J. Walker and J. Carr, as trustees of Carr's Church; R. Bullis, W. Patterson, J. Walker, W. Sly, W. Leavers and J. Hartman, of Mount Pleasant Church; and G. D. Insley and F. Griffin, stewards of South Liberty Church, are found in the records of Poratge Circuit. The consolidation of Portage and Tontogany Circuits was effected in 1883, when the record closes. At that time, Sarah Collin, Martha Peaney, L. B. Wright, and the trustees named above, were active workers.

The United Brethren Church (Liberal) had, at the beginning of 1895, forty-four members. Early in the " thirties " a preacher of this denomination appeared at Collister Haskin's dwelling, but no organization was effected until the close of the war. In the records of the Church, George Buttruff is named as received in 1849, and Rev. Noah Foltz in 1854. The class-book, however, begins in 1866, when V. R. Porter and E. A. Hubbard were leaders, and John Johnston, steward. Of the original members, the following named are yet residents of the village and vicinity: Rev. Noah Foltz and wife, and Elizabeth A. Dienst, if we except George Freyman, who is not now a member. Rev. Levi Moore, who resides at Bowling Green, was here before organization, but James Long was pastor in 1866. J. W. Rhoades came in 1869; J. Powell, 1871 ; J. F. Naylor, 1872; L. J. Osborn, 1876; and G. L. Bender, 1885. The church house was erected, in 1881, on land donated by Mrs. William Sargent, at a cost of $2,000. The building committee embraced J. N. Baker, Frank Munn, R. M. Donnelly, Lewis Dienst and Rev. Noah Foltz. The membership on August 2, 1895, shows a slight increase over the membership reported in January, 1895.

Whitney Lodge, No. 589, I. 0. 0. F., was

896 - WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.

chartered May r6, 1874, with the following named members: R. W. McMahan, T. C. Reid, J. Q. Pray, A. J. Orme, R. M. Donnelly, S. P. Harrison, James F. McClure, A. M. Drain and J. C. Lincoln. The noble grand's chair has been filled by the following named members: R. W. McMahan, J. H. Sands, Daniel Mears, L. N. Lembrich, George Nurenberger, Daniel Pugh, G. D. Insley, A. J. Orme, M. Otley, L. M. McCrory, A. L. See, Sylvester Hull, W. Freyman, W. E. Hughes, A. C. McDonald, John Flanders, James Hasson, A. C. Sargent, Frank McCrory, F. W. Lembrich, C. E. Bartlett, J. Harman and A. W. Knaggs. The secretaries were T. C. Reid, George Houck, A. J. McMahan, G. W. Robinson, G. F. Munn, Daniel Mears, C. F. Bell, Lewis Lembrich, F. W. Lembrich, A. W. Knaggs, J. W. Taylor and C. E. Bartlett. There were seventy-five members reported on September 21, 1895.

A.. Besanson Post, No. 731, G. A. R., was organized January 2, 1891, with S. G. Horsey (C.), A. A. Ensminger, D. L. Hill, E. P. Clough (Adjt.), Nathan Rickett, L. C. Carothers, J. W. Knaggs, John Johnston, Jr., W. Kenney, and Samuel Shroyer, officers in Post rank; L. C. Carothers and John Johnston- served also as commanders, while E. P. Clough served as adjutant until March 18, 1893, when the last meeting was held. There were only eighteen comrades enrolled in all.

Portage Tent, No. 167, K. O. T. M., was organized August 10, 1893, with the following named members: Thomas W. Knight, Charles G. Bower, James H. Porter, H. W. Shaw, F. G. Stratton, C. E. Stahl, John H. James, Harry G. Bowers, F. H. Burns, J. B. McDonald, E. M. McDonald, J. F. Mears, D. W. Pierce, A. J. Bridges, W. P. Bowser, H. A. Abbott, E. C. Clay and S. Mears. There were forty-seven members enrolled down to September 12, 1895.

Harvest Hive, No. 98, L. O. T. M., was organized July 12, 1894, with Maud Knight, Mattie Munn, Emma Wheeler, Essie Sargent, Eva Orwig, Ida Hopkins, Allie Bowser, Nancy McDonald, Truva James, Louie Pyle, Minnie Freyman, Maggie Besanson, Lessie Winton, Anna Bayless, Emma Seeley, Lena McClure, Cora Collins, Daisy Warren, Alice Bartlett, Lottie Saylor, and Emma Lembrich. Mrs. Knight, the first commander, was succeeded by Mrs. Saylor, and she by Mrs. Besanson. Mrs. Bartlett was elected secretary in December, 1894. In September, 1895, there were twenty-three members enrolled.

Retrospect.-In the chapter on the Oil and Gas Fields, the development of the Portage field is described. Over thirty years before the inhabitants dreamt of oil reservoirs, the village was the most important place outside the old county seat. There the old-time fairs of the Agricultural Society were generally held; political meetings were not wanting in the catalogue of its holiday amusements; trade was rampant, and in every respect the old village was looked upon as the peer, if not rival, of Perrysburg. The inhabitants busied themselves about everything. In December, 1855, a meeting was held to take steps for enforcing the liquor law of May, 1854. Collister Haskins presided, with Dr. S. H. Barnes, secretary. John McCrory, A. Rogers, S. H. Barnes, C. Haskins, Henry Haskins, James McFadden and J. H. De Witt were appointed a committee .to report on violations of the law. Theological questions were discussed in store and saloon; politics in all places; internal improvements, such as roads and ditches, were subjects of daily consideration, and even the question of making Portageville the seat of justice was seriously discussed.

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