Crawford County, Ohio - Chapter 13: Holmes Township, 1912

Location and Erection - Drainage and Topography - Burnt Swamp - Limestone Operations - Mysterious Mounds - First Settlers - First Elections - Justices - German Immigration - An Early Tragedy - Joseph Newell's Town - Wingert's Corners - Conflict Over a Name - Brokensword Postmasters - Early Industries - Saloons and Taverns - Interesting Anecdotes - The Underground Railroad - Schools and Churches - Sunday Schools - Stone Quarries - Spore Post Office.

This township lies wholly on the northern slope of the Ohio watershed and is drained by tributaries of the Sandusky river. One of the most attractive and wealthy townships in Crawford county, it was organized by the commissioners in March, 1828, and was named after Deputy Surveyor General Samuel Holmes, who originally surgeyed this section, and who was authorized to make a resurvey of its territory in 1836 as the western sections were a part of the Indian reservation purchased about that time from the Indians. The largest stream is Brokensword Creek, which enters the township in the northeastern portion and runs in a southwesterly direction into Tod township. The banks of this stream in some places rise into a series of low bluffs, that were in early days covered with a heavy forest of poplar. Grass Run, a small branch of the Sandusky, meanders in a southwesterly direction across the southern portion. Brandywine Creek, entering Holmes from Liberty township, flows into Brokensword at a point in section 9. The southeastern part of Holmes township is the most level and in early days was wet and muddy throughout the year. The outflow of the water was retarded by fallen logs, which lay thickly scattered over this entire district, so that the settlers in traversing this portion were obliged to wade ankle-deep through mud and water. These logs and fallen trees were often used as stepping stones, being so close together that it was sometimes possible to go cpite a distance by jumping from one to another. The other parts of the township have more of a rolling character and in the northern and western parts there are small hills both long and steep.

In the western part there is an area of about fifty acres which, from the earliest times has been known as the "Burnt Swamp." It derives its name from the circvimstance that originally it was covered thickly with willows and tall weeds, and one of those fires that were often lighted by Indians or settlers to dislodge game, swept over it, destroying all the vegetation. In the southeastern part of the township the soil consists of a black alluvial earth overlaid with decaying vegetable matter, and when properly drained, as it is today, is very productive.

It was not until after 1820 that the white settlers were able to purchase land in Holmes township, and the western part remained in possession of the Wyandot Indians up to 1836, at which time the eastern side of their reservation was purchased by the government and sold at public auction, the land adjoining Holmes township becoming a part of that township. This newly acquired portion was something more than two sections wide and proved a source of wealth to some of the citizens, owing to the large and numerous beds of excellent limestone it contained. This limestone brought from $i to $2 per load and was used for the foundation of houses and barns and for the walls of wells. Among those who engaged extensively in taking out this stone were Nicholas Pool, Adam Gearhart and Christian Reiff. Lime has been burned in considerable c^uantities in this district ever since 1838 or 1840.

In the vicinity of Brokensword creek are some nearly obliterated mounds, which are regarded as relics of that mysterious aboriginal people usually denominated as the "Mound Builders," and whose origin and history have been the cause of much speculation among scientists. Many interesting works have been written upon this subject, but the entire truth about them will never be known, for they left no written records, nor have their successors, the Indians, by whom they were probably driven out or exterminated, retained any but very vague and uncertain traditions concerning them. Though they built extensive earthworks and have left behind the numerous articles of pottery inscribed with more or less picturesque designs, they were probably of no high order of civilization and were certainly inferior to the Red races in the art of self preservation, though they may possibly have been in some way related to the latter.

A man named Heaman, who is supposed to have come from some eastern township, or from Bucyrus, is said to have been the first settler in Holmes. He settled on the Pike north of Bucyrus, but little more is known about him. He was soon followed by a settler named William Flake, who built a log cabin and began a clearing on the old farm of Joseph Quaintance. This man was of a very peculiar character. He was kind and charitable and freely gave away his property, but as readily appropriated the property of others to his own uses, finally carrying his communistic tendencies so far as to break open a store in Bucyrus, for which he was sentenced to serve some years in the penitentiary. He died soon

Two years later a man named Daniel Snyder, known as "Indian Snyder," built a roundlog cabin in the eastern part of the township, into which he moved his family, consisting of a wife and some half dozen children, the latter all about the same size. He was a famous hunter, spending most of his time in the woods and was often paid $1 per day by the settlers to furnish them with venison. He understood the Indian tongue and invaded the Redrnen's lands in pursuit of game with apparent impunity. He was also often called upon to act as interpreter between the white settlers and the Indians. Many swine belonging to the pioneers were shot by the savages and found their way into an Indian stew-kettle. The swine usually ran wild in the woods and those that had no earmarks were regarded as the property of the finder. Many possessing the requisite marks, however, were stolen and shipped to the Sanduskv market.

Joseph Lones came to Holmes, township from Columbiana county in 1828, having practically no money or property at the time. He was accompanied by his father-in-law, John Boeman, who brought his family in a wagon drawn by five horses, while Lones drove the sixth horse to a small empty Dearborn wagon. The journey was rendered extremely difficult from the depth of the mud and the great quantity of fallen timber that obstructed the route ; yet in spite of this they made about ten miles a day. It was often necessary to use the axe to cut a way through the natural obstructions, and for that purpose the men preceded the wagon on foot, walking almost the entire distance with axes on their shoulders. Mr. Lones built a cabin on land adjoining the Quaintance farm and found vv^ork on the Columbus and Sandusky pike, then in process of construction. He continued thus occupied for about two years, receiving $10 per month for his services, out of which money he paid for most of his land. He lived to an advanced age and in his declining years was surrounded by the comforts of wealth, the result of his early industry and self denial.

Quaintance; of this land he cleared about ten acres. At this date there were in the township, besides those already mentioned, John Bretz, Abraham and Isaac Ditty, Henry Fralic, Christian Haish, John Hussey, Samuel Hemminger, Martin Holman, Joseph Lones, Jacob Lintner, David Moore, Joseph Newell, Daniel Potter, Michael Shupp, Isaac Williams, David Brown, Samuel Miller, William Spitzer, James Martin, Jacob Andrews, Joel Glover and Jacob King. J. P. Black owned the farm that was originally the property of Timothy Kirk. Mr. Spitzer settled on the farm later owned by Charles Lehman. Mr. Glover was on the farm where George Lapp is living. Jacob Andrews was on a farm east of the Pike, where he lived for over half a century. Eli Quaintance was on the Tiffin road, near the farm now owned by Eli Lones. Martin Holman was on the Pike, and in 1830 John McCulloch on the farm now owned by R. V. Sears. Jacob King in 1828, was living in a little log cabin on Brokensword creek, on the farm later owned by Samuel Slapp, south of Brokensword. James Martin, a sort of local minister, came to Holmes township at an early day from England and settled on the farm now known as the Gebhart farm. He was accompanied by a young man named Thomas Alsoph, a son of an English nobleman. This young man was an interesting character. He was refined and well educated but to some extent was mentally afflicted, though rational on most ordinary subjects. Some said that his mental infirmity was due to a disappointment in love, though why he came, or had been shipped so far from home to become a backwoodsman, was what nobody knew or could understand. He taught some of the early schools and became a general favorite, and after a residence in the township of quite a number of years he returned to England.

The annexing of that part of the Wyandot Reservation to which reference has already been made, gave Holmes a township of 36 square miles. The first election was held at the cabin of John Hussey, in the spring after the township had been organized and nine votes were polled. Joseph Newell was elected clerk and Jacob Andrews was the first justice of the peace. At the second election Joseph Lones was elected constable, having no competitors for this office. Indeed the office was not much sought after in early days, for the remuneration was small, and hardships and danger had sometimes to be encountered in the pursuit of fugitives from justice, the serving of writs, etc., which frequently militated against the popularity of the incumbent. Constable Lones had but one annoying experience, however, during his term of office. He was called upoft to levy on the personal property of one Thomas Williams, and while reading the warrant Williams suddenly snatched it out of his hand and refused to give it up, Mr. Lones thereupon procured another execution from the Squire and going to Williams' cabin in his absence, accompanied by a deputy with an oxsled, he seized the furniture in spite of the protests of Mrs. Williams and carried it to the cabin of Squire Andrews, who advertised it for sale. This brought the rebellious Williams to terms, and he accordingly paid the charges, about $15, and was allowed to take his property home.

The southern part of Holmes township witnessed an influx of new settlers about 1830, among those who came at this time being Samuel Shaffner, John McCulloch, William Roberts, Thomas Minich, Thomas Williams, John Hussey, Jacob Mollenkopf, Abraham Cary, Moses Spahr and John Lichtenwalter. As their names indicate, some of these settlers were German. Two distinct settlements were formed, about six miles apart, one near the present site of Brokensword, and the other in the southeastern comer, near Bucyrus. The one in the northern part was almost wholly German and included, with a few others, some eight or ten German families that had come in 1828 from Dauphin county, Pa. Among these settlers were Michael Shupp, Henry and Daniel Fralick, Isaac and Abraham Ditty, Jacob Lintner, Jacob Moore and Daniel Porter.

For a number of years the southern part of the township bore an enviable reputation due to the fact that no liquor was used at the house-raising or log-rollings, the settlers being a rarely temperate lot who used nothing stronger than coffee.

As new settlers came in, however, they brought with them the inevitable whiskey and the community in consequence lost a portion of its fair fame. The northern settlers were from the first a bibulous lot, whose evenings were largely spent in passing round the flowing bowl and in drinking each other's health to the usual detriment of same. It is said that even women were often seen lying by the roadside completely overcome by liquor. Fortunately this state of things has long since passed away. Abraham Didie, born in Dauphin county, Pa., removed to Holmes township in 1828. He died March 14, 1870.

Fisher Quaintance, previously mentioned as one of the arrivals in 1828 or 1829, was a member of the Society of Friends. He died in Holmes township March 27, 1866, at the age of 73 years. His wife Sarah came to this township with him.

Years ago a murder was committed on the Joe Quaintance farm, known as the old Flake farm. An old peddler was killed, and in order to cover all traces of the crime, his body, together with his wagon and all his belongings, were thrown into an old well and covered up. Whom the peddler was and who were the perpetrators of the deed have never been discovered to this day.

William Mateer, an early settler of Holmes township, was a great grandson of an immigrant who started for America in the year 1700 with four sons. All died on the voyage and were buried at sea. The immigrant reached America and subsequently had four

John and Barbara Peterman came to this county in October, 1827, and entered 320 acres in Liberty township on the Sandusky river. Clearing his land he erected thereon a hewed log cabin. Their son, Samuel, came to Bucyrus in 1832. He engaged in a sort of express business, hauling goods from Pittsburg, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Columbus and Sandusky with a six-horse team and also carried considerable money for others. He later took up farming in Holmes township.

1825, and entered 160 acres of government land in section No. 9, of what is now Holmes township. He was above the average in education and business ability. He early saw that with the settling up and developing of the county, especially in the north and west parts, his land would be much nearer the center of the county than the little town of Bucyrus, and there was a possibility that the county seat might be located at some point nearer the center of the county, and he selected his land for that purpose. Bucyrus then had a population of something over two hundred people; it had a post office, stores, taverns, and several shops; notwithstanding this Newell laid out a town on a part of his land, on the banks of the Brokensword, below where the Brandywine empties into it. He named the new town Crawford, and set apart several lots as donations for public buildings, and also laid out a graveyard. The first election in Crawford county after its organization was in April,

1826, at which election commissioners were to be chosen, who would meet in the town of Bucyrus, and there select the temporary county seat of the county. The greatest interest in the election was over the commissioners, the voters in the west and north supporting the commissioners who would favor Crawford for the county seat, while those in the south and east were for the commissioners who favored Bucyrus. The election resulted in favor of John Magers of Bucyrus, Thomas McClure of Liberty, and George Poe of Whetstone, who met at Bucyrus the third Monday in May and selected Bucyrus as the temporary county seat of the new county. Newell, while temporarily defeated, did not give up the fight, but continued it up to 1830, when the legislature appointed three commissioners to settle definitely the county seat question, and they came to Bucyrus, looked over the field, and decided in favor of Bucyrus. Then Newell gave up the fight and the town of Crawford became farming land. Newell himself had erected a house on the land, had sold one lot to a man named Swigart, and perhaps one or two others had located there, but today nothing remains of the town whose proprietor had hopes of making it the county seat. When Holmes township was organized Mr. Newell was one of the first officers elected and on his death was buried in the graveyard he had laid out.

About 1834 William Wingert was appointed postmaster of a country post office that was opened under the name of Lykens. The post office was in his house, on the Tiffin road just north of the Holmes township line. Several other families located in that section and in a few years it assumed the aspect of a thriving village. Here he built a shop and manufactured furniture, and in 1851 started a store. In August, 1852, fifteen years after the post office had been established, David Porter, laid out a town just south of the settlement of Wingert, and called it Portersville, in honor of himself. The two settlements were really one, as they bordered on each other, Wingert's being in Lykens township and Porter's in Holmes township. But there was the bitterest rivalry between the two for the name of the village. Wingert's claim that it be called Wingert's Comers was on the ground that his settlement ante-dated the mushroom town of Porter's by nearly twenty years. Porter's claim was that his was a town, laid out, and had a name legally, and therefore that name was the correct and only one for the new town. The post office department decided in favor of Portersville. But Wingert and his friends were so persistent, having their goods and their mail all addressed to Wingert's Corners, Crawford county, that everybody else recognized that as the name, and only the government and Porter knew there was such a place as Portersville. During the war of the rebellion the people of the county, the state, and the nation with one accord gave it a new name. Party spirit ran high, and there were some at Wingert's Corners so bitter that they were very pronounced against the Union. At this stage Petroleum V. Nasby commenced a series of burlesque, political letters, taking his characters and views from the situation as it existed at Wingert's Corners. Later these letters were dated "Confederit X Roads", and although the date line of the letter always contained the additional description, "which is in the Stait of Kentucky," the description was useless; the people still recognized it as Wingert's Corners, and through the war, and for years after, the place was best known as "Confedrit X Roads." It had a national notoriety by this name; its county and local name was Wingert's Corners, and the government carried it as Portersville. As the bitterness of the war passed away, there was a general desire to get away from the bitterness that still rankled on account of the action of lawless men and the name of the office was changed to Brokensword, after the stream that passes to the south of that village. Today no one would recognize the name of Portersville; some few allude to it as Wingert's Corners ; Confederit X Roads is but an historical allusion, and as Brokensword it is one of the villages of the county which still retain an existence.

On Feb. 14, 1906, the office was discontinued, the mail -being supplied by rural route from Bucyrus. Daniel Fralick was postmaster for 34 years, the longest service of any man in the county.

Jacob Lintner, who came at an early day to this settlement, was a blacksmith and built a shop just across the line in Lykens township. As he could not find enough work at his trade to keep him busy, he also did carpenter work, becoming self-taught through frequent practice. Jacob Moore kept a small shoe shop in one end of his cabin, and traveled from house to house plying his trade, as was an early custom in the frontier settlements generally. Although the price of shoes was small in those days as compared with the present, many peo- pie were unable to buy them and wore instead a sort of rough moccasin made from the skin of the deer or some other animal. Buckskin clothes were also largely worn.

Among other artizans of those days may be mentioned William Fralick, a carpenter, who built many of the early frame houses; and William Spitzer, a mason residing in the southeastern part of the township, who, when the construction of a better class of buildings began, built many of the foundations and chimneys. He also made bricks which he sold to the settlers, commencing this business about 1830.

Samuel Burnison, before he turned his attention to farming, tried one or two business ventures which proved unsuccessful. He owned a small copper still and in 1841 built a small distillery in the northern part of the township, operating in connection with it a small horse-mill from which he obtained his supply of ground grain. When the enterprise failed - perhaps because the whiskey was not of very good quality - he bought some cows and made arrangements to begin the manufacture of cheese, turning his distillery into a cheese factory, but for some reason he changed his mind before he had the enterprise started, and went to farming.

David Porter started an ashery about 1837, manufacturing black and scorched salts, and continued the business for some ten years, when, the supply of ashes failing, he gave it up.

About 1857 William Wingert was employed by George Quinby of Bucyrus to sell goods on commission, and was given about $300 worth to commence with. These were the first goods sold in Portersville and were quickly disposed of. After thus working for Mr. Quinby for several years, Mr. Wingert started in business for himself with an $800 stock of goods purchased personally in New York city. He continued as a merchant for about ten years before retiring to his farm, and was fairly successful. About two years before he retired another store was opened in the village, which was a branch store owned by Brinkerhoff and Wilson, of Sycamore. They put in about $3,000 worth of goods. The stock was purchased in 1854 by Daniel Fralick, who added to it considerably and carried on a successful

Liquor has been sold in Brokensword (Portersville) since 1846, at which time Scale & Hollingshead opened a saloon in the village, also occasionally entertaining travellers. The first genuine tavern keeper in the village was John Stinerock, a tailor by trade, who conducted a very orderly place and kept no bar. In 1868 Elias Shirk built another tavern in the town, which subsequently passed into the hands of his widow.

Mary Martin Hemminger, born January i, 1812, was a daughter of James and Sarah Martin, who took passage for America from England in the fall of 1822, Mary being then ten years old. On the voyage the ship's rudder became detached and the vessel was for a while in great danger, several lives being lost in the attempt to readjust it under water. It was finally secured, after a long delay, and the voyage took nearly three months to accomplish. They must have reached Crawford county from about 1824 to 1828. From the perils of the ocean wave they changed at once to the hardships of pioneer life on the frontier, which, if a trifle less dangerous, were no less hard to endure. The daughter Mary became cowboy for the family, taking care of the stock and often passing days and nights in the woods. At one time when no less than. 26 miles from home, she was overtaken by darkness and was compelled to wait for the moon to rise before she could direct her weary march homewards. In stormy weather their cabin was often resorted to for shelter by Indians, who came by the dozen or score, almost crowding the family out of doors. Mary Martin was married May 13, 1830 to a Mr. Hemminger. She died Sept. 6, 1877, at the age of 80 years.

Rebecca Sells, a lady of forceful character, at one time well known in Holmes township, was a daughter of John and Anne McBride, who came to Crawford in 1830. On Oct. 4th, she became the wife of Jacob Sells, whose parents, Peter and Barbara Sells, had come to Crawford in 1831. The young couple immediately began housekeeping in their own home on the Tiffin road. Jacob was an architect and builder and was away much of the time, not only on account of the demands of his profession, but also on account of military service during the Civil war and because of his attendance at land sales in the Osage country. Mo. During his absence she had to suffer many trials on account of her fearless advocacy of abolition, the people around her being generally in favor of secession. During the war, not having received any communication from her husband for a long time, she feared he might be dead, but had not lost all hope until one day she received word that his corpse was awaiting her at Bucyrus. She went there at once almost broken hearted. The body was identified by the family and friends, but before removing the corpse, her sorrow was changed to surprise, joy and gladness on being handed a communication from her husband, stating that he would be with her in a few hours. Thus suddenly was a scene of the deepest sadness turned into one of rejoicing.

Jacob and Mary Bash came to Bucyrus in 1829. Both died and their son Peter Bash went to the grandfather at Annapolis, who was a Dunkard preacher. Grandmother Bash was the first person buried in Annapolis cemetery. Peter later purchased a farm in Holmes township.

William and Mary Fralick and son Daniel came to Bucyrus in 1830 and settled on the Rowse farm, later known as the Monnett farm. In the fall they removed to the northern part of Holmes township, where they entered 80 acres and erected a log cabin. In 1834 Daniel came to Bucyrus and worked in the flour and saw-mill of Elias Slagel during high water, when the mill was running. During low water he worked on his father's farm. In 1853 he commenced keeping store at Wingert's Corners, and in 1855 built a new house, which he occupied until his death.

Samuel Flickinger, born in Lancaster county. Pa., May 29, 1792, moved to McConnellstown, Pa., in 1796; went from there to Stark county, Ohio, in 181 1, coming from there to Crawford county in the spring of 1833 and resided here until his death June 20, 1871 at the age of 79 years. In 1820 he married Miss Phylinda Healy, who was born in Jamaica, Wingham county, Vt., and they resided on a farm in Holmes township. Their sons, Samuel and William ran the principal saw mill in the township for many years.

John Eaton, born in Washington county. Pa., 1778, removed to Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1808 and to Crawford in 1830 or 1 83 1. He had been a soldier in the War of 1812. He died July 23, 1850, aged 72 years. Soon after Eaton came to the township, he was joined by Edmund Ferrall, who had married his daughter Mary in 1827.

About 1834 the first saw mill was built on the Brandywine by Frederick Williams. He ran it about ten years and then disposed of it to other parties. When gold was discovered in California, in 1849 Williams joined a party and crossed the country to the gold fields. About the time Williams built his mill in 1834 Jesse Quaintance built a mill on the Brokensword; it was of hewn logs, two stories, and 25 by 28 feet in size. It was originally a grist mill, but- after a few years a frame addition was added and a saw mill started, and for twenty years both departments of the mill did a large business. Both these mills were run by water power, little dams being erected across the streams. After Williams sold out his mill, the little dam was washed away, and was never rebuilt, so the mill was abandoned.

The third saw-mill was built in 1845 by Rodney Poole, at the falls on Brokensword creek. This was the best site in Holmes township for either a grist or saw-mill, as at this point there is a fall of about a foot and a half in the bed of the stream, which, together with a good dam and race, furnished abundant water power. The mill was a frame building, having a long shed at right angles to the main building, in which the sawed lumber was stored. The charge made for sawing, when not done on shares, was at the rate of 50 cents per hundred feet. The mill dams of those days were far from being as substantially built as they are at the present day, when stone can be had at a small cost. A pile of dirt, stones, brush, logs or anything that came handy, was heaped together in a line extending across the stream, and the whole held in place by logs driven into the bed of the stream in a slanting position. These loosely constructed dams often gave way, resulting in a total .suspension of milling operations for some time until they could be repaired or rebuilt. The muskrats often caused such breaks by burrowing into the dams. During heavy rains, when the dams held, they often caused the surrounding country to become flooded to a considerable depth.

A steam saw-mill was built in 1853 on Grass Run in the southern part of the township, by Joseph Lones, and was furnished with a muley saw. After being operated by Mr. Lones for three years, it was sold to other parties. Two years after Lones built his mill, Fralick and Flickinger erected a large steam saw-mill on Brokensword creek, which continued in operation until after the war. It was a large frame building and had a muley saw. Other mills were subsequently built in various parts of the township and while the timber lasted a lively business was done in this line of industry. With the gradual disappearance of the timber nearly all of these mills went out of existence.

Although previous to the Civil war a strong sentiment existed in Crawford county against assisting negroe slaves to escape to Canada, many were thus aided by that mysterious, but efifective organization, or system, known as "The Underground Railroad." A family named Jackson, living in the southern part of the township, kept one of the stations on this "road," and Isaac Jackson and his son, Stephen, were seen on more than one occasion driving rapidly northward by night with a sled or wagon load of these black fugitives, conveying them into Seneca county, where doubtless there was another station from which they were assisted farther north. In this manner - as the plan was operated all over the state of Ohio and to some extent in other states - thousands of slaves were helped to freedom. In engaging in this work the Jacksons, of course, sacrificed some of their popularity, but doubtless had their reward in the approval of their own consciences.

The first school was opened in Holmes township in the northern part during the winter of 1829-30, although the southern part had been earlier settled by almost a decade. The school was started in the cabin of David Moore, an old bachelor who had come to Holmes a year or two previous and who had left his cabin vacant to go on a visit to his old home in Pennsylvania, to bring his widowed mother to his new home. John Bretz, a Pennsylvanian of German antecedents, was the first schoolmaster and the school was well attended. Although Mr. Bretz's scholarly attainments were not above question, he was excellent in enforcing discipline - a very desirable quality for a schoolmaster in those days - for he was a man of great strength and fine physique and, it is said, "could handle any other man in the neighborhood with ease." He taught for a number of years in the German settlement and its vicinity and always had good orderly schools. The first regular schoolhouse in the township, was built on section 3, during the summer of 1833. It was first taught by Edward Porter, who during the previous winter had taught school in a log cabin in Lykins township. About nine years later it was superceded by a larger and better schoolhouse erected a short distance to the southward. This latter building was a frame made almost entirely of lumber sawed at the mills on Brokensword creek. One of the early teachers in the northern part of Holmes was Miss Margaret Cannon, who gave general satisfaction both as to maintaining discipline and imparting instruction. The first school building in the southern part of the township was erected in 1835 on or near the farm of Mr. Black, and was constructed of hewed logs. Some years later a frame building was put up on the Lones farm and school was kept in it for nearly 20 years, after which it was removed to make way for a more modern structure. About 1836 the township was divided into school districts and a schoolhouse built in each district, according to the present plan. The gospel was first preached in Holmes township by itinerant ministers from the neighboring villages, who made occasional visits, and were ordinarily designated as "circuit riders." For some time previous to 1834, meetings were held regularly in the cabins of Michael Shupp, Daniel Scale and others. In that year an Evangelical church was built in the extreme southern part of Lykens township, which was attended by a number of citizens from Holmes. A little later the Lutherans and members of the German Reformed church united in erecting a log church in the northern part of Holmes. A lack of harmony prevailed, however, in this combined society; which resulted in litigation. In 1852 the Protestant Methodists built a log meeting-house about a mile west of Portersville, which became known as the Concord Meeting-house. The pastor of this church during or at the beginning of the Civil war period was the Rev. William Brown, a strong abolitionist, who persisted against the wishes of a large part of his congregation, in preaching anti-slavery sermons. This led to such bitterness of feeling that finally, one night, a party of men assembled and leveled the church to the ground. We read also that upon another occasion a minister, of similar views and similarly outspoken, who was conducting a revival meeting near Portersville, was pelted with eggs, which had been bought for the purpose at the store of Daniel Fralick. Another outrage took place soon after when a church on the line between Holmes and Liberty townships, was burned down for the same cause.

In the southern part of the township the Quakers erected a church in 1840, which is still standing. It was built originally of logs and afterward weather-boarded with poplar lumber. It has not been used as a church for many years.

In connection with the different churches or otherwise, a number of Sunday schools have been established in Holmes township from time to time. Mission Chapel was established in 1848, the first summer had an attendance of sixty scholars and was conducted for sixteen years. James Moore was the first superintendent, he being followed by Samuel Shaffner, John Lichtenwalter and others.

The Grass Run Sunday school was organized May, 1852, with fifty-five scholars. Its early superintendents were Abraham Kniseley, D. J. Heller, John Kerstetter and Almon Ames.

Other later Sunday schools were : The Friend's Sunday school was organized in May, i860, with fifty scholars. Lavina Benedict was superintendent, followed by James Jackson and others. The Spahr Sunday school was organized in May, 1870, 115 enrolled, with William Mateer, superintendent. Wingert's Corners Sunday school in May,

1869, with an enrollment of 70, Daniel Fralick, superintendent. The Lutheran Sunday school, in May, 1870, with an enrollment of 118; G. W. Parks, superintendent. Mission Chapel was reorganized as Holmes Chapel in May, 1870, with 71 scholars, and James Moore superintendent. No. 3 Sunday school in May,

1870, with an enrollment of 60; Henry Dieffenbacher, superintendent. From 60 pupils in i860, with 12 teachers, the Sunday schools of the township now have an enrollment of over 500, with 50 officers and teachers.

All along the Brokensword is an abundance of stone, which the early pioneers found so useful that stone quarries were started, but the business developed to such an extent that capital was invested and the Brokensword Stone Company took over the business, and employed a large force of men, the quarries being fitted with all the latest machinery, the T. &, O. C. road having a spur which furnishes shipping facilities. The development of the quarries led to the establishment of a post office and a station on the railroad, called Spore, after Sidney L. Spore, one of the prominent men in that section. The first postmaster was F. D. Osborn, appointed May 22, 1888. Owing to the difficulty of securing a man to take the office it was discontinued Dec. 24, 1889, but was re-established April 9, 1892, with Rufus D. Spore as postmaster. He was succeeded July 17, 1897, by D. R. Diefenbacher, and he by G. F. Cox, on July 31, 1900. No town was started, and when rural routes were established, the postoffice was discontinued on July 30, 1904.