Crawford County, Ohio - Chapter 12: Dallas Township, 1912

Peculiar Shape of Dallas Township - Dimensions- - Fertility of the Soil - Erection of the Township - Drainage - Stock Raising - First Settlers - Taverns and Mills - Arrival of Johnston Family - Enterprise of Mr. Kerr - His Donations - The Monnetts - Roads and Stage Lines - Milk Sickness and Cholera Epidemics - Schools and Churches - The "Devil's Half Acre" - Early Marriages - Justices - The Bucyrus and Marion Electric Road.

That peculiarly shaped strip of territory which clamps, so to speak, the southwest corner of Crawford county, and which is designated on the map as Dallas township, forms part of a tract that was surveyed as far back as 1819, by Deputy Sun-eyor Gen. Sylvanus Bourne, assisted by Samuel Holmes, from whom Holmes township derives its name. It forms a part of the famous Sandusky Plains, a strip of land about 20 miles in width and stretching east and west through Clarion and A\'yandot coimties. for 40 miles, that is one of the most fertile tracts of land to be found in Ohio, and which in early days was noted for the rank luxuriance of its sedge grass and yellow blossomed weeds, but which today, laid out in fenced and cultivated fields, yields bountiful crops of a more useful nature in grains and farm produce of every description, and makes the finest of pasture land.

The peculiar shape of the township is due to the conditions brought about by the Legislature creating the county of Wyandot in 184:;. Buc}Tus, Holmes and Lykins were alreadv established townships, and when Wj^andot was erected west of these townships was a strip two miles wide, while to Crawford coimty was added on the south two miles from Clarion county. Instead of attaching this territory to adioining townships, the Crawford County Commissioners erected new townships from the strips, and one of these was Dallas, which was made up of the strip six miles long and two wide taken from Scott township, Marion coxxaty, and in the extreme southwestem corner fom- square miles taken from Grand Prairie township, Marion county, and north of this, six square miles taken from Antrim township, which had been a township of Crawford county, but the bulk of it had gone into the new coimt}- of ^^'3^ndot. This made an shaped township in the southwestern part of the coimty, two miles across. The new township was named Dallas, in honor of George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania, who the } ear previous had been elected vice president of the United States.

Dallas township is drained by two principal streams - the Sandusky or, as called by the Indians, (clear water), and the eastern branch of the Scioto, known as the Little Scioto, original AA'^yandot name "Sci-onto." The former enters the township near its northeast comer and meanders in a southwesterly direction until it enters Wyandot count)-. Its bed consists of a coarse washgravel, diversified with sand bars that make the river a favorite resort of minnows. The gravel is also much used for making road repairs. The gravelly bed and picturesque aspect of the stream made it in former days a favorite resort of the Wyandot Indians whose camps might often have been observed on its banks.

The other stream referred to - the Little Scioto - enters Dallas a quarter of a mile east of the Marion road, and, like the Sandusky, also flows in a general southwesterly direction, passing into Marion couty about a mile and a half east of the Wyandot county line. This river furnishes a constant supply of water to the stock farms that lie along its banks.

Mud Run, now a partly artificial stream cuts Dallas township close to the Whetstone township line, flowing south into Marion county, and empties into the Whetstone. During the spring freshets it is sometimes swollen to a considerable width. A small tributary of the Sandusky, which passes through the Hoover farm and is known by the somewhat imposing title of "The Outlet of the Plains," had its origin in a dug ditch, but, on account of the fall of the land, which gives it a swift current, and what man began nature has completed by cutting a gully fifteen to eighteen feet deep, giving passage to a perennial flow of water. The original ditch, man made, was there long before the first pioneer settled in this section, and it was believed to be the connecting lines between the Sandusky and the Scioto used by the French and Indians two hundred years ago on their way by boats from Lake Erie to the Ohio river.

Dallas township contains a considerable variety of timber, much of which is of recent growth, in particular the picturesque clumps of jack-oak trees. Much of the earlier timber was destroyed by the Indians - not that they were accustomed to exercise themselves by felling it, but in their "ring-hunts" they used to fire the grass in order to drive the game to a center, and in dry and windy weather the fire sometimes got beyond their control, thus destroying the young growth of timber. Upon the ridges, or so-called "islands," where the grass was not so long and rank, the timber sometimes escaped, and these spots accordingly were the best-'wooded portions of the township. One of the most common trees in the southern and western parts of Dallas was and still is the "shellbark" or nut-bearing hickory. A generation ago it was customary for large nutting parties to be formed at the proper season, large numbers of people going in wagons and picnicing in the groves. As some of these people had little regard for property rights, they trespassed where they would, broke down fences and damaged the property of the farmers generally, besides disturbing the peace and quietness of the Sabbath, Sunday being a favorite day with them for this kind of recreation. The nuisance was finally abated by legislation. Along the rivers some fine walnut timber may be found, while in the northern part the maple gives rise to family sugar camps. Timber useful for building purposes, such as the ash, also occur, while among other trees or shubbery may be mentioned hazel, ironwood, buckeye, dogwood and sassafras.

The southern part of Dallas township is favored with a deep black soil, peculiarly adapted to corn, and also, since it has been drained and tamed by cultivation, very suitable to wheat, though it was formerly too rich for that cereal. Oats and rye may also be raised in abundance. In the northern portion the soil is more of a clay loam. On the "white ridges" it is thinner and of a less rich quality, but when artificially enriched produces good wheat crops. Excellent grazing is found throughout Dallas township and the raising of cattle was formerly extensively carried on, though owing to the formidable competition of the large western ranches, it has been partly abandoned, the farmers, as in other parts of the county, still raising cattle, and the grazing remains an important industry. Sheep and hogs are raised to some extent. For many years Mr. John Monnett was a leading breeder of short-horn cattle, importing many choice animals into Crawford county from Kentucky. He removed in 1873 to Iroquois county. 111. Ephraim Monnett was also noted as a large dealer in the Durham thoroughbreds.

Sheep raising was attended with many difficulties in pioneer days, these animals being particularly liable to attacks from wolves, which made great ravages in the flocks, unless the latter were well protected. They had to be closely watched and at night were kept in high-built pens. The pork trade was also an uncertain business of doubtful profit, as the hogs usually ran wild among the timber and owing tb their roaming nature, were frequently the subject of litigation. Among those who devoted their attention largely to the sheep and hog trade in early days were David and Simon Bryant, who about 1829 took possession of what later became the Ephraim Monnett farm, Madison Welsh at an early day established a packing-house on the Marion road, on land that was later known as the George Welsh place.

The first white settlers in Dallas township were men of a low and more or less worthless if not criminal character, who squatted on land in the vicinity of the watercourses. They usually built a rude cabin and cleared a small patch of ground, on which they raised such necessary vegetables as could be cultivated with the minimum of physical exertion. Their rifles procured them plenty of game, and fish could be had in the streams for the catching. Their- instincts were predatory and in many cases, at least, their conduct was governed by the motto : "When you see what you want, take it," which they did when they were able or when they could do so undetected. With the advent of a better class of settlers, however, who came to found permanent homes, these gentry found the moral atmosphere getting uncongenial to them, and so they gradually departed to wilder scenes, turning their faces to the setting sun and following close in the wake of the retreating red man, much to the relief of the better-ordered portion of the community.

One of the earliest permanent settlers was George Walton, described as "a middle-aged man," of large family, who moved into Dallas from the Pike-Whole-Prairie, in Pickaway county, in the fall of 1820. Taking possession of an abandoned squatter cabin, located near the site of the subsequent residence of Maj. Matthew Carmean, he repaired and enlarged it and rhade it suitable for habitation. Here he reared an enterprising family the members of which became useful and industrious men and women. Here also the first Methodist meetings in the township were held, and ministers of that faith - to which he himself belonged - entertained. After having seen his children comfortably settled in life as farmers, or engaged in other vocations, he removed to the state of Iowa, where he died in 1857. Another Pickaway county man, Mr. Van Home, came to Dallas in 1821, and developed a farm consisting of two 80-acre lots. He had three sons and the family remained here until the death of the elder Van Home, after which they appear to have moved away.

Christian Hoover settled here in 1822, being accompanied by his son William, then aged six years. His daughter Hannah was married Nov. 25, 1830, by Zalmon Rowse, Esq. to Charles Wesley White, theirs being one of the fir^t weddings in Dallas.

Charles W. White was a son of Charles White, who served in the Patriot army during the Revolutionary war. The latter on the death of his father inherited a number of slaves in Virginia. He subsequently removed to Kentucky, where he liberated his slaves, and in 182 1 removed from there to Ross county, Ohio. Two sons of Charles - Samuel and George - fought in the War of 1812, Charles W. being then only ten years old. The latter came to Crawford in 1820 and was employed for some time at the old Indian mill on the Sandusky near the present town of Upper Sandusky. He was also employed by the Government as Indian agent, his assistant being Charles Garrett. He worked at the mill three years and then bought 207 acres in Dallas township. He continued his investments in land until he eventually owned 1,300 acres. His wife died in 185 1 and he never married again. His son, W. T. White, and grandson, Leo, followed him on the original farm. In his latter years he spent his winters at the home of his son-in-law, J. J. Fisher of Bucyrus.

In 1830 Christian Hoover bought out the heirs of William Johnson the land he then acquired subsequently becoming the property of Christian Hoover, Jr. In addition to the daughter Hannah, above mentioned, his son, William, who was a boy of six years when he first came to this county was one of the largest wheat growers in the township. He was a progressive man and as early as 1835 purchased a threshing machine, which, though not equal to the thrashers of the present day, was a novelty at that time and a great improvement on the flail, the implement usually used for the purpose. Mr. Hoover, Sr., died in 1849 ^t the age of 60 years. His wife survived him but a short time, passing away in the following year. The son William came to Bucyrus in the sixties, and became engaged in manufacturing, and later retired from all active business, his sons and grandsons still being prosperous farmers.

John Mason, a widower with three sons, John, Thomas and Joseph, came to America from England in 1825 and subsequently found their way to Dallas township, this county, where they followed ditching for an avoca- 'tion. They lived in a cabin on a forty-acre lot, which Mr. Mason purchased, and which subsequently came into possession of his son John, and from the latter into that of his widow. Old Mr. Mason, it seems, was an excellent cook and his skill in bread making was greatly admired by the housewives for miles around. He died in 1876. Samuel Coulter came to Dallas in 1832 from Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He first leased a piece of land from Mr. Van Home, which he afterwards purchased, and it subsequently became the property of his youngest son, George. He devoted his main energies to the raising of grain, and gradually enlarged his holdings, buying out his neighbors, John and Daniel Reecer, and acquiring other 40 and 80 acre lots until he was one of the laeaviest land holders in the township. He also put up a large barn, built in the Pennsylvania style, which was something of a novelty at that period and which is still standing. He lived to a ripe old age. His maiden sister. Miss Sarah Coulter also lived well into her eighties, being the. oldest person in Dallas at the time of her death.

One of the most successful stock dealers of Dallas in the first half of the last century was Robert Griffith, generally known as "Bob" Griffith, who came from Ross county in 1832. He first took care of some land owned by Linus Ross, a resident of that county and afterwards bought this land from Mr. Ross, adding to it 200 acres more. In 1842, seeking a still larger field for his operations, he moved to Iowa, where he prospered and became a heavy shipper of cattle to the Chicago markets.

One of the earliest taverns in Dallas which was located on the Wyandot and Bucyrus road, on the county line, was kept by David Bibler, who conducted it for many years. In 1826 Mr. Bibler took up his residence near what has since been known as the "Bibler Spring," the land having been entered a few years previously by Christian Stahley. This tavern was one of the welcome stops on the old stage road, and was doubtless the scene of many a hasty but substantial repast in old stage-coach days, of which, alas, the glory hath now departed. In connection with his tavern Mr. Bibler also ran a still-house on the south bank of the Sandusky, and, not satisfied with these activities, conducted a sawmill, cultivated a farm and dealt in live stock. The year 1856 was an unfortunate one for him, as he lost his first wife, who died in December; also a son, who committed suicide, and a daughter, Susan. He subsequently contracted a second marriage, but his second wife dying within a few years, he removed to Hardin county. The Bibler Spring near which his tavern was located was of the purest of water, and was visited from miles around, and it was this water that was used in the running of the still. The site was also historical as it was at this point Col. Crawford and his army passed their last night, before their engagement with the Indians on June 2, 1782.

In the year 1826 Thomas F. Johnston and family, accompanied by Benjamin Warner arrived in Dallas. Mr. Johnston, who subsequently became one of the foremost citizens of the township, was then a young man, having been born in Lycoming county,.Pa., in 1800. He was a cabinet maker by trade. With his wife and infant child and with Benjamin Warner, his wife and infant son, he started in the fall of 1825 for the capital of Ohio, intending to stop on their way at the home of a relative, George Walton, who had settled at Dallas a few years previous. After journeying for three weeks, the approach of winter and the badness of the roads compelled them to stop for the winter in the eastern part of the state. Resuming their journey early in the spring, they were again brought to a halt on the eastern border of the county by their wagon becoming badly mired. Leaving the wagon, the men went ahead with their rifles, the women and children following on horseback, and, being guided by a settler with torches, arrived at two o'clock in the morning at Mr. Walton's, where they found the eldest Walton daughter, Miss "Tishy" still awake, being engaged in entertaining a beau, a son of their neighbor Van Home. Naturally their unexpected arrival at that hour caused some excitement, under cover of which Miss "Tishy's" amorous beau effected a masterly retreat. Refreshments were at once the order of the day - or rather, of the night, while discussing \\hich the travelers entertained their hospitable hosts and relatives, with the story of their adventures. The next day, with the assistance of a team of oxen, the wagon was rescued, and a few days later the party were following the Claridon blazed road to Bucyrus. Near the Sandusky they found the country largely under water. Mr. Johnston took up a temporary abode at Bucyrus in a deserted cabin, but after a short stay in this neighborhood, he resolved to proceed to Columbus. Having been offered by his neighbors, however, a free gift of land in a choice of two forty-acre lots, now a part of the Jacob Herr farm, in Whetstone township, he accepted the offer on condition that wheat could be raised on the land. This condition was fulfilled, though many discouragements were met with in the swarms of birds, which devoured the grain in the ear, the distance to the nearest mill, which required a journey of two days and a night to reach, and the poor quality of the flour when ground. But a still greater drawback was the impure quality of the water in the neighborhood, and this finally induced Mr. Johnson to remove to Ft. Findlay, where he purchased a quarter section of land, and was promptly elected to a county ofiice to induce him to remain in Hancock county. But later he returned to Crawford county, where he found improved conditions, with an increased population. He accordingly bought a 40-acre lot about half a mile west of his first homestead and subsequently added to it by further purchase. Here, about 1857, he erected a handsome Gothic residence designed by Mr. CuUiston, which long continued to be one of the finest houses in the county. He was an accurate shot with the rifle - an accomplishment that counted for more in those days than it does today - and he derived the title of Major from his connection with the Marion county militia, Dallas township at that time being a part of Scott township, Marion county.

Robert Kerr, was one of the prominent land owners of Dallas. He was born in Mifflin county, Pa., Oct. 27, 1807, son of James and Betsy (Arbuckle) Kerr. Both grandparents were natives of Ireland. Robert remained with his parents until 19 years of age, receiving scarcely any educational advantages. His , father had a farm of 160 acres in Knox county.* In 1826 young Robert began learning the tanner's trade at Meartinsburg, Ohio, and completed his apprenticeship in two years and five months. At the end of this time he hired out to drive hogs through to Baltimore, Md., at three shillings a day and board, excepting dinner, which he was to furnish himself or go without. On his return to Ohio he found general work around a sawmill at $11 a month. While employed in the following harvest, he was prostrated by a fever. This sickness, with the expense of it, soon took the greater part of his earnings. On his recovery, and some time thereafter, he followed the business of clearing up land for different parties, at from $2.50 to $3.00 per acre. His part of the contract was complete when everything was cleared up within 12 inches of the ground. Over 100 acres of land was cleared up by him in this manner. While clearing this land he cut 1,000 cords of wood at 20c per cord, and many hundreds of rails at 50c per hundred. He then bought two 80 acre tracts in Dallas township (then Scott township, Marion county.) For the first 80 he paid $100, and for the second 80 he paid $200. Aug. 29, 1833, he married Matilda Swaggert, daughter of Daniel and Betsey (Coonrod) Swaggert, and at once commenced keeping house on his 160 acres. From this time on he devoted his attention to farming, the first year clearing $100. About 1836 he purchased 360 acres for $1,500, on five years' time at 6 per cent, to pay $300 each year. He stocked this land with sheep, and made enough to pay the notes as they fell due. The first year he sold his wool at 2iJ^c. He was an extensive wool grower when wool brought 80 cents a pound. When it declined to 50 cents and showed there was a constant tendency downward he disposed of his sheep. He was also a heavy dealer in cattle. He constantly added to his land, and had at one time 2,573 acres in Marion county, 1,059 ^^ Crawford, and 443 in Wyandot, making over 4,000 acres all free of encumbrance. He started banks and built hotels, the Kerr house at Marion costing $60,000 and the one at Nevada $18,000. He made various liberal donations, one of about $53,000 to Hiram college, and $23,000 to Bethany college of Virginia. He was at one time a member of the Disciple church; he remained a member for a number of years, but for what he considered unchristian conduct on the part of some of the members he withdrew from that church and never united with any other. Two of his sons, Stephen and John, became residents of Bucyrus. On January i, 1883, while walking down the street in Caledonia, which was very icy, he slipped and fell causing a fracture or dislocation of the hip joint on the left side, and he was forever after badly crippled in his walk. He lived on his original farm in Dallas township until about 1877, when he moved across the line into his new house in Marion county, and made his home at one of his hotels until his death a dozen years ago.

Another prominent stock dealer and land owner was Abraham Monnett. Abraham Monnett, Sr., moved from Virginia to near Chillicothe in 1800 with his family, of six sons and two daughters. One son, Jeremiah, returned to Virginia where he married Miss Alice Slagle. In 1814, Jeremiah Monnett who was an ordained minister, came to Pickaway, county with his family, one of the children being Abraham Monnett. The trip was attended with many difficulties and probably would not have been undertaken but for the timely assistance of a widow named Jones who accompanied them to the state. Upon arriving at his destination in Pickaway county, Mr. Jeremiah Monnett had only $5 in money, his team and some household goods. In 1835 he came to Crawford, settling on the farm on the Pike, four miles south of Bucyrus, where he lived until his death, Sept. 1863. Abraham Monnett came with his father to Crawford county in 1835. He was born in Virginia, Oct. 12, 181 1. He purchased his first 40 acres in Marion county, Scott township. In 1836 returned to Pickaway county where he married Miss Catherine Brougher, an orphan. When starting for himself his father gave him $120; on his marriage his wife brought with her $2,500. Outside of these sums the fortune accumulated by Mr. Monnett was due to his individual work. In 1838 he commenced the handling of cattle, sometimes driving them from as far as Illinois, grazing them on the plains, and then selling them to eastern purchasers, who drove them to New York for consumption. The trip from Illinois sometimes took 35 days. As Mr. Monnett increased his stock he was also increasing his land purchases, until finally he had 11,000 acres of the choicest land in Crawford and Marion counties. He went into banking, started the Farmers Bank at Marion, and the Monnett Bank at Bucyrus, practically all the stock being owned by him and his sons. Later he started the Crawford County Bank, which became the Second National. Of his twelve children, all but two made Crawford their home. Ephraim B., who settled in Dallas township, succeeded his father as president of the Monnett Bank, coming to Bucyrus; Martha married G. H. Wright, who settled on a farm south of Bucyrus, just north of the original farm of her grandfather; Wright was in the stock business for a number of years and moved to Marion ; Oliver is a farmer on Marion road in Dallas township; Augustus, a farmer in Bucyrus township; Alcy, wife of James Malcolm, a farmer in Bucyrus township, later a stock dealer, at Bucyrus; Mervin J., a farmer and stock dealer in Dallas, was later president of the Second National Bank and a mine owner, is now a banker at Los Angeles, and a millionaire; Mary J., became the wife of G. W. Hull, banker at Mt. Gilead and Findlay, then president of the Crawford county bank and Second National; Madison W,. became cashier of the Monnett Bank, and was also in the Crawford County Bank; then went west ; Amina J. married James C. Tobias, and came to Bucyrus; Kate married Linus Ross, settled on the Pike, just south of the original purchase of her grandfather. The other two children remained in Marion county, John T. in Grand Prairie township, and Melvin on the old homestead in Scott township. Mrs. Monnett died Feb. 8, 1875, and on May 30, 1877, Mr. Monnett married Mrs. Jane L.

Johnston, widow of Henry L. Johnston, a daughter of Samuel Ludwig. He was earlyidentified with the M. E. church, and gave liberally to the erection of new churches all over his section. In 1850 he made a liberal donation to the Ohio Wesleyan Female Seminary at Delaware, and in 1853 to the Ohio Wesleyan University, both of which had much to do in placing those institutions on their feet, and making the combined institution the prominent seat of learning it is today in Ohio. He died at his home in Bucyrus, March 7, 1881. John Rosencrans who came to Bucyrus in 1882, was born Oct. 14, 1808, in Luzerne county, Pa. His grandparents came from Holland, the grandfather being a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He married Margaret Fairchild, in Pennsylvania. He was elected school director of his township, and when 29 years of aee was elected Auditor of Luzerne county. His home was in Newport township. Pa., and a oostoffice was established there, he being appointed postmaster by Andrew Jackson, and served six years, the office being in his house. He was also township assessor, land appraiser, and filled any other office that needed a man who would do the work. Having held about all the offices, he concluded to give others a chance and ' came west, and in 1847 settled on 160 acres just west of Latimberville. He was too influential a man and too good a citizen to be left quietly to his farming, for the very next year, 1848, they elected him justice of the peace, a position to which he was constantly re-elected for eleven terms - 33 years - and the only reason he did not die in the office was that he removed to Bucyrus, thus comoelling them to select some one else. As justice of the peace he "filled the office with such impartiality and good judgment that he was continued in the position by the unanimous votes of the people for thirty-three years, and, what is unprecedented, only one case was ever carried up to a superior court that came before his court." Other odd jobs to fill in his time were as member of the school board thirty-five years; land appraiser two terms ; assessor two terms ; county commissioner of Marion county six years : and member of the Legislature two years - 1866 to 1868, Thomas Beer being the member from Crawford at that time. He was also postmaster at Latimberville (Kirkpatrick) under President Taylor.

The first public boarding house in Dallas was a double log building known as the Half- Way House, or "Ramey Tavern," which was located on the east side of the Marion and Bucyrus road, about half way between the two towns. Here the stage horses were exchanged and fed. Mr. Ramey dying in 1835, the tavern was afterward conducted by Mr. Knapp of Marion until 1840, when, the stage line being abandoned the building, which had been enlarged and improved by Mr. Ramey, became a private residence. This tavern always had a good reputation. On the opposite side of the same road was another hostelry, first owned by James Carmean, and afterwards by Fay Muhlinger, into whose possession it came about 1836 and who conducted it for several years on a somewhat smaller scale. The third tavern^the Bibler House on the Wyandot road. Bibler also had a sawmill there. It was a water mill, built on the Sandusky, close to the Wyandot county line. It began operation about 1827 but some ten years later was sold to Mr. Longacre. It afterwards became the property of Mr. Rumble, who converted it into a grist-mill, running two sets of buhrs. Mr. Vail, a later proprietor, repaired it and put in a steam engine. The property being attached, the machinery was sent back to Cleveland. It was then operated again as a watermill by a Mr. Rex, but gradually fell into disuse.

The first roads in Crawford county, as throughout the frontier regions generally, followed the old Indian trails, of which one of the best known and most used was that leading from Capt. Pipe's town, near Little Sandusky, in Wyandot county east toward the present site of Leesville. This was the route followed by the Wyandot and Delaware Indians southwest of Bucyrus in travfeling to and from Bucyrus. Along this trail came also the white settlers from the southwestern townships of what was then Crawford county to pay their taxes at the county seat. They often traveled in large companies of 70 or 80 in single file, both Indians and white men. Upon it doubtless there often passed the renegade Simon Girty on his way to take part in some deed of blood and slaughter with his savage allies or to carry the news of such a successful expedition to Chief Pipe. In the earliest days this route was marked by blazed trees but by 1825 it had become so well known that these mute guides were no longer needed. The main road passing through the township is the Columbus and Sandusky pike, a fuller accovmt of which may be found in the chapter on Transportation.

The first known death and funeral in Dallas township took place in the spring of 1827 and was that of a young man, who died in the cabin of Jacob Synder. The body was enclosed in a rude coffin and buried near the Mervin Monnett place, without any stone or mark of identification. In the same year the first interment was made in the White graveyard in the central part of the township, about a mile east of the village of Wyandot, the deceased being a man named McClary, who resided near the village. The second burial in this cemetery took place when Charles Parish died in 1829 on the farm west of Ephraim Monnett's. A few years later - in the fall of 1833 - a severe epidemic of "milk sickness" broke out which caused a number of deaths. This disease, which at times proved very fatal to the pioneer settlers, was caused, it is thought, by drinking the milk of cattle that had fed on a certain kind of poisonous weed, and the doctors of that day seem to have known no effective method of treatment. Among those who died at this time were three members of the Wood family - Elizabeth, Henry and James, whose deaths all took place within a few days.

At about the same time several people died from Asiatic cholera in the southern part of the township. This latter scourge again attacked the settlement in the summer of 1854, being introduced by John Norris, who, against the warnings of his wife, had gone to Marion to get some strong drink, the disease at that time being prevalent there. He was taken sick soon after his return and died August 29th, within little more than two days after he had thus rashly exposed himself to gratify a pernicious appetite. On Sept. ist Mrs. Norris was attacked and died within twenty hours. Their two adopted children fled to the woods, where they were fed by the neighbors, who left food and bed clothing for them upon a stump, and where they remained for, some days. They escaped the plague and lived for many years afterward. Doctor Fulton, of Bucyrus who had attended Mrs. Norris, also took the disease, but recovered.

In 1827 a subscription school was started in Dallas township in a log house on the Sandusky river, a short distance north of David Bibler's cabin. The first teacher was Miss Clara Drake, daughter of Capt. Drake, who taught there for two years, being paid $1.25 per week. She had about twelve pupils. Not long after, or perhaps about the same time, another school was opened opposite the location afterward occupied by Maj. Carmean's residence. This school, which was due to the enterprise of Osborn Monnett and George Walton, was later known as the "Monnett Schoolhouse." Mr. Haney was engaged as the first teacher at a salary of $10 per month. In the summer the school was taught by Miss Chapman. After the Huntly schoolhouse was established in 1830 it was discontinued and the building appropriated to other purposes. In the fall of 1838 a frame schoolhouse was erected by Rev. Jackson Doeling and John Cooper, John Bevington being the first teacher at a salary of $15 per month. The township is now well equipped with educational facilities, there being a sufficiency of commodious houses, provided with modern furniture and presided over by competent, well trained teachers.

As was customary in all the frontier settlements religious services in Dallas were at first held in schoolhouses or in the cabins of the settlers. Indeed there were no church buildings erected previous to 1875. In the summer services were often held in the open air, than which, perhaps, no better place could have been found, for what more fitting than the God of Nature should have been worshipped in His own temple. Later services were held at Winchester and "Sixteen Chapel," on the eastern boundary.

The Methodist Episcopal and Disciple churches at Latimberville, on the south, drew a part of their membership from Dallas township, likewise the Methodist and Presbyterian churches on the west. Many Dallas citizens with their families also attended the Monnett Chapel in Bucyrus township and later Scioto chapel erected just north of the township line. One of the most zealous workers in this church was Zachariah Welsh of Wyandot, at whose cabin religious exercises of prayer and praise were frequently held before the schoolhouses were utilized for that purpose. One of the most noted among the early Methodists was the Rev. James Gilruth. He was a man of powerful frame and with a voice to correspond, and a commanding air that awed even the turbulent element or "rowdies" one of whose favorite amusements it was to attend church for the express purpose of disturbing the meeting. His physical prowess was well known to this unruly class and there was little trouble from them when he occupied the pulpit. In 1823-24 he traveled a four weeks' circuit, which took in the neighboring villages of Delaware, Kenton and Bucyrus, with intermediate appoinments in the lesser villages. He often preached in Mr. Welsh's cabin and in those of some of the other settlers. In 1840 he was transferred to an Iowa conference, after having twice been returned to this circuit. He was followed in 1824 by Rev. Mr. Cadwallader. Once every three months the western part of the county was visited by Rev. James B. Finley, who, as early as 18 17 was superintendent of the Wyandot Mission. The celebrated Russell Bigelow who was stationed at the Sandusky Mission in 1827, also preached occasionally in this district, to the great edification of the settlers, who came from miles around to hear him. Dallas was then part of the Portland District, Ohio Conference, which included in its bounds the state of Michigan. In the winter of 1836-37 Rev. John Gilbert Bruce conducted revival meetings, being assisted by Rev. Jeremiah Monnett. The presiding elder of Portland District from 1826 to 1830 was Rev. James McMahon, in 1836, Rev. Adam Poe, and in 1840, Rev. William Runnels.

One of the most able divines who ministered to the spiritual needs of the early settlers was Rev. S. P. Shaw, founder of Shaw University, Tennessee. He was a highly educated man and an earnest and powerful preacher. He was ordained deacon in the Ohio conference in 1827.

this side of the Scioto, which has been the scene of many unsuccessful efforts to establish a church. A log cabin stood on the spot previous to 1830, which was used for school and church purposes, and which after that date was replaced by another log building, which stood on the site of the present school building. Here efforts were first made to establish a society by the United Brethren, but without success. The Methodists made two attempts, under the Rev. William Mathews and ethers, but succeeded in making only a few nominal converts, who soon relapsed into the ways of sin. The Presbyterians tried under Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, but also failed. The United Brethren made a second attempt and were followed by the Disciples, with like results. It was then that Amos McMullen declared that he believed the spot was in possession of the Devil, which remark, becoming known, led to its being called the "Devil's Half Acre," which name it has since retained. Prior to 1845 the eastern six miles of Dallas township were a part of Marion county, Scott township, while still another part belonged to Grand Prairie township in the same county. Among the citizens who resided in the Crawford county part, and were justices of the peace in the early days were Zachariah Welsh in 1824, Daniel Swigert in 1827, and Jacob Shaffer in 1828. The Crawford county records show many marriage ceremonies performed by Alanson Packard; he lived near Latimberville, in the Marion county part of the township, and was justice for many years. He was poetically inclined", as one of the entries on the record is as follows, the parties being in the Marion county section of the township :

"I certify - that is to say, This present March, the i8th day, Eunice Dexter, Norton Royce, As did your license authorize - An awkward, ungainly, long-legged pair - By me in marriage joined were. By sages wise, it has been said That matches all above are made. If so, these ones in heaven have been : God knows they'll never go again."

Alanson Packard, himself, married Nancy Fickle in June, 1824, and there is little doubt she was related to the Fickles who settled in the southern part of Bucyrus township in 1823, a daughter of Daniel Fickle, who came here from Marion county.

In 1892, when the Columbus, Shawnee and Hocking railroad was built it passed through the center of Dallas township, and a town was laid out by Mervin J. Monnett, and named after himself and the many representatives of the Monnett family who had been and were prominent in that section. The little village started well. A large elevator was erected by Mr. Monnett; a store was started, and on October 25, 1893, William A. Heinlen was appointed the first postmaster; he has been succeeded by the following: G. J. Feltis, November 30, 1897; D. L. Parcher, December 23, 1901 ; William Monnett, June 5, 1906; F. G. Smith, April 5, 1910; C. S. Wert, June 23, 1911.