Crawford County, Ohio - Chapter 14: Jackson Township and Crestline, 1912

Jackson Tow-nship - Its Size and Location - Its Origin - Topographical Features - Productions - First Settlers - An Early Tragedy - The First Road - Early Schools and Teachers - Trading Points in Early Days - Taverns - Livingston Laid Out.

Crestline - Growth of the Town - Railroad Interests - First Passenger Train Through Crestline - An Early Description of the Town - First Merchants and Prominent Citizens - Destructive Fires - An Exciting Bear Story - Epidemic of Cholera - Manufacturing Interests - City Departments - Schools - Churches - Justices - Incorporation of Crestline and List of Mayors - JVater Supply - Telephone Service - Banks - Societies - Post Office and Postmasters.

This township, bearing the name of one of America's - most- famous heroes and Presidents, is the smallest in Crawford county, and probably one of the smallest in the state of Ohio. It is a fractional township, being now ten sections, or about a fourth of a Congressional township. It lies in the eastern part of the county, somewhat south of a central line, and -is bounded on the north by Vernon township, on the east by Richland county, on the south by Polk township and on the west by Jefferson township. According to documentary evidence, up to 1845 it formed a part of Richland county, and from that date to 1873 it included the territory how known as Jefferson township. The twelve western sections of what is now Jefferson formed a part of Sandusky township. In 1835, three miles wide and six deep, was taken from the southern section of Sandusky township and named Jackson in honor of the hero of New Orleans. In 1845 a four-mile strip was added to Crawford from Richland county, and Jackson township was created seven miles wide and four deep, while south of it was Polk, seven wide and three deep. The setting off of Jefferson was due to the fact that the people in the eastern part of the territory, after 1850, on account of the city of Crestline, appropriated to themselves most of the lucrative offices, as well as those conferring chiefly honor on the incumbents, the western end of the township being assigned only the leavings or crumbs of office. Accordingly proceedings were taken by the latter to change this state of things, as will be seen by the following record of official action;

The undersigned householders, residing within the bounds of Jackson township in said county, respectfully represent that it is necessary and expedient that a new township be laid off and designated, embracing the following portions of the territory of said township of Jackson, to wit :

The commissioners considered the matter on Monday, March 10, 1873 and ordered the township divided ; the new township, five miles from east to west and four miles deep, to be known as Jefferson; the remaining territory, two miles east and west and four miles deep to continue as Jackson. In 1900 by petition of nearly all the tax payers of sections 27 and 34 in Vernon township these two sections were added to Jackson.

There is very little in the way of Indian tradition connected with the history of Jackson township, though this is not the case with Jefferson, as that territory can boast of numerous Indian legends, but through both the ill-fated Crawford marched to his terrible doom. There were also several Indian trails through the present Jackson township.

In its topography Jackson township resembles closely the surrounding country. In former days it was heavily timbered, though in some places flat and swampy. The soil is naturally rich and in the last forty or fifty years, artificial or tile draining has largely reclaimed the swamps and rendered the soil suitable for cultivation, which has been brought to a high point of perfection. Its principal productions are corn, wheat and oats. The timber originally consisted of several kinds of oak, hickory, poplar, sugar maple, beech, elm, ash and some walnut, together with A-arious shrubs of the more common varieties. The only streams are a tributary of the Sandusky, passing through the northern part, Whetstone creek, and one or two little brooks, all of which are small streams, most of them not even being indicated on the map.

Jackson township may be said to play second fiddle to Jefferson, in the sense that in the latter territory the first settlements were made and most of those events took place which constitute the early history of a township. The first settler in what is now Jackson is supposed to have been Joseph Russell, who arrived, it is thought as early as 1820. He came from the vicinity of Coshocton, this state, and settled about a mile south of Crestline. He subsequently removed to Hancock county. Russell was soon followed by John Doyle, who settled near him, coming from the vicinity of Steubenville in Jefferson county. After remaining here several years he sold out and went to Indiana. About the time of the advent of Doyle, the population was still further increased by the arrival of two families which settled in the same neighborhood, whose names are now forgotten. Mr. Snyder, who some years ago was a resident of Crestline, and whose father settled in what is now Jefferson township, in 1816-17, tells a story of one of these families which reveals one of those pitiable tragedies not uncommon in pioneer history. It seems the pioneer having cleared a piece of ground, his neighbors came together and rolled his logs for him into heaps some distance from the cabin. He then fired them, together with the brush, and was in the habit of going out to attend to the fire at night, his wife sometimes coming out to assist him. But one night she was too busy with household duties to come, and on that night the tragedy happened. As he failed to come home, in the morning she went out to look for him and found him burned to death at a log heap. It seems that in mending the fire, a heavy log had fallen on his feet, knocking him to the ground and holding him so fast that he was unable to extricate himself. In that helpless position he died by slow torture, doubtless shrieking for help so long as his voice lasted, and vainly hoping that his wife or some one might hear his cries. Of the wife we have no further record. Her feelings may be imagined.

Benjamin John and Benjamin Rush are spoken of as settlers who were in the township prior to 1820. Samuel Rutan settled in the township in 1821, David Bryant in 1823, Elisha Allen and John Fate in 1824, William Minnerly in 1827, David Ogden and Edwin Manley in 1828, David Seltzer and Michael Magill in 1829, Edward Cooper, Isaac Dille and William Snodgrass in 1833, David Dewalt in 1835. Others were James Lowne, John Philip Bauer, John and Philip Eichorn and Harvey Aschbaugh.

The first settlers had to get their corn ground at Belleville, or the Heron Mill south of Mansfield, which were the nearest points. At a later date Christian Snyder put up his horse mill at Leesville, and Hibner and Hosford had their mills on the Whetstone near Gallon, which were a great convenience to the people of Jackson township. There were no grist-mills ever in Jackson township until after 1850 when Crestline became a village. It was the Snyder family who cut the first road through Jackson township, when they originally came to Crawford county in 1817, and were endeavoring to find a short cut from Mansfield to their land near Leesville. The markings of this road can still be seen south of Crestline in the Russell neighborhood.

The first schools were taught in the vicinity of Leesville and Middletown, in what is now Jefferson township. Edwin Manley, a gentleman of Scotch-Irish antecedents, was the first teacher within the present limits of Jackson, but having got into some trouble was soon obliged to leave. Another early school was taught by an old Irishman, Michael Magill, who before or afterwards taught school in various places in the county. He was in the habit of indulging in weekly sprees, lasting from Friday night to Monday morning and often opened school on Monday in a somewhat fuddled condition, at which times he was frequently made a butt of by the scholars, who indulged in many practical jokes at his expense. The first schoolhouse in Jackson was built south of town, in the creek bottom, on land later owned by Jacob ShefHer.

The accumulation of wealth, or even of a reasonable competence, by the early settlers was a practical impossibility, owing to the distance of the markets at which their surplus products could be sold, the difficulty of reaching them, and the small price offered for the produce when, after great toil and rough traveling over the worst roads, it had been transported thither. The nearest trading points were Sandusky City, Zanesville, Mansfield and Mt. Vernon, the two former being the most important. For a load of wheat thus laboriously carried to market, the farmer was frequently offered as low as I2>^ cents a bushel, while 15 cents was considered a fair price, and even then he had to take his pay in merchandise. Under such conditions it is no wonder that they often found it difficult to get enough money to pay their taxes and postage, letters costing 25 cents in coin at the office of delivery. If some of these early pioneers could but see the changes which have occurred, what would be their thoughts? However, although their descendants have done wonderful things in improving the conditions of life, it should not be forgotten that a heavy debt of gratitude is due to the early settlers for it was they who laid the foundation upon which their children builded so successfully; it was they who endured the toil and danger, with little in the way of recompense save the knowledge that their children and their children's children, thanks to their labors, would be better off than themselves, though in their most sanguine moments they never dreamed to what an extent this would come true. Even as late as 1840 the site of Crestline was covered with big woods, which were filled with deer, wolves, wild turkeys and other species of game. The first cabin or house in the locality was erected just west of the stone arch bridge on the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and was there as early as 1833, but by whom it was built is not known. Aschbaugh's cabin was built some years later, where Crestline now stands. Aschbaugh was followed by a negro family, who built a cabin at what is now the west end of Main street. About the same time Samuel Rutan built another cabin on an adjoining eighty acre lot, at what is now the east end of Main street, having purchased the land from the Government. To the east of Rutan was Benjamin Ogden's place. The earliest tavern was kept by David Seltzer. It was a double log house situated at some distance to the east of Ogden's home, on the Leesville & Mansfield road, and here humble fare was provided for the weary traveler, consisting usually of "cornpone" and venison, but as time passed, Seltzer's tavern became the best known place west of Mansfield; it was headquarters of the stages from Wooster to Bucyrus, and after the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati road was built, and the Ohio and Indiana took out its charter, that charter read that the road was to commence on the C. C. & C. at a point near Seltzer's tavern, probably the only tavern in the United States which was distinguished by being made the terminal point for a great railroad. The junction point of the two roads was made later half a mile south of the Seltzer tavern, and soon after this his tavern was discontinued and he moved to Crestline, one of the principal streets in that city being named after him.

The smallness of Jackson township in territory, and the importance and growth of Crestline have today made the history of Jackson and Crestline synonomous. The history of the one is the history of the other.

The Sandusky river has its source about two miles north of Ontario, Richland county, and in its northwest course to Lake Erie passes through a country which was so thickly timbered and abundant in game that the pioneers were at first reluctant to undertake the hard, difficult task of clearing the land and despoiling such prolific hunting grounds. But, in the westward march of civilization, even this thickly-wooded tract on the upper waters of the Sandusky had to be supplanted in part by an enterprising town through which trunk lines of railroads pass, whose trains carry much of the interstate traffic of the north.

The Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad, now known as the Big Four - was chartered in 1833, but its construction was delayed for a number of years. Even after the work was begun, it progressed so slowly that the road was not opened for traffic until 1 85 1. There was no town at that time between Shelby and Gallon, a distance of 13 miles. For the convenience of the people it was thought there should be a station between these towns, and the crossing of the Leesville road was selected as the proper place for its location. The station was established and called Vernon. Its location was where Main street crosses the Big Four, which is nearly a half mile north of the present station or junction of the Big Four and Pennsylvania lines. Soon after the erection of the station a town was founded there called Livingston, after its founder - Rensselaer Livingston.

In the summer of 1850 the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati road was being built and was completed as far north as where Main street now crosses it in the town of Crestline and it was at this point the station was established and called Vernon Station, after Vernon township. Van Rensselaer Livingston, who was an early settler in that section, bought the land around the station and had Joseph Meer, the surveyor of Crawford county, lay out a town. Just east of where the station was, was Seltzer's tavern, a leading place for travelers on the road from Mansfield to Bucyrus, near where the Ohio and Indiana was to commence by legislative enactment, and go west through Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky to the Indiana line. Livingston therefore believed he had laid out a town at the junction of what is now the C. C. & C. and the Pennsylvania road. The plat was filed in the Recorder's office at Bucyrus, on Feb. 17, 1 85 1, and the new town was called Livingston. The location given was "the west half of the southeast quarter of section No. ID, Jackson township." There were three east and west streets, the centre one to be the principal thoroughfare of the town and was called Main street. The one north of it was North street, and the one south, South street. The street through which the railroad passed was called Railroad street. It being a station on the railroad, several houses were immediately erected, and Thomas C. Hall opened a general store in 1850. The government established a post office in the new town, and Livingston was appointed postmaster. The office was in Hall's store, and was run by him, he being the deputy, and later the postmaster. The place was prospering and bid fair to become a thriving village, but when the Ohio and Indiana road was finally located in 1852, the crossing of the C. C. & C. was half a mile south of Livingston. Jesse R. Straughan, who was the civil engineer of the Ohio and Pennsylvania road, and his brother, C. J. Straughan, bought the farm of Harvey Aschcroft at the junction of the two roads, and laid out a town which they named Crest Line. They filed the plat of their new town in the Recorder's office on Dec. 21, 1852, and described the location as being on the "north half of section 15, Jackson township." There were three north and south streets, named Hall, Columbus and Thoman. Four east and west streets, named Bucyrus, Mansfield, Brown and Livingston. The one along the C. C. & C. road they named Seltzer, and the one along the Ohio and Pennsylvania road was Warehouse street. Both towns thrived from the beginning, but Crestline had the advantage of the junction with a union depot, and besides that, large railroad shops were established at the junction, and Crestline soon distanced Livingston in population and business. The post office was removed to the new town, and the name became one word instead of two. As time went on the two towns grew together and today there is no dividing line between the two, Livingston as

Prior to the laying out of Crestline, Livingston enjoyed quite a boom. T. C. Hall opened a store there in 1850 and Newman and Thoman had a store there about the same time. John Adam Thoman had purchased the 80 acres just west of Livingston's eighty acre tract, paying $600 for the property, and part of this he laid out in town lots and commenced the erecting of houses. Michael Heffelfinger built a hotel at Livingston which he called the Ohio House. A number of residences were erected and little shops started. The Ohio and Pennsylvania was nearing Crestline from the east, and a syndicate, consisting of Jesse R. Straughan, chief engineer of the Ohio and Indiana road, Thomas W. Bartley of Mansfield, and John and Joseph Lardwill of Wooster, bought the 80-acre tract south of the Livingston and Thoman tract, Joseph Larwill had been the financial promoter of the Ohio and Pennsylvania. Soon after this purchase it was found that the junction point of the roads would be on the tract owned by the syndicate, and the town of Crestline was laid out. Its growth was rapid. The plat was only filed Dec. 21, 1852. The first train of cars from the east arrived at Crestline on April II, 1853, and J. A. Crever of the Bucyrus Journal went over with Willis Merriman, president of the Ohio and Indiana, and others to welcome the first train. Writing of the town Crever says :

"Visited Crestline April nth; found many large and small houses where a few months ago it was all woods and cultivated fields. Crestline has two stores, five groceries, one tavern, two steam saw-mills, several boot and shoe shops, and numerous other mechanics' shops. The lots are being sold very fast and building timber is seen strewn on every hand. Mr. Straughan has a large eating-house nearly finished at the junction of the Ohio & Pennsylvania and the Ohio & Indiana roads. When completed it will be a fine structure. The whole appearance of the place is business-like and the inhabitants are looking forward to the time when they will have a city in full blast. The first train of passenger cars on the Ohio & Pennsylvania entered Crestline Monday evening at 7.30, with a large number

Two months later the editor made a second visit to the town which had leaped into existence practically in a day, and on June 23, 1853, he wrote of it:

"Crestline and Livingston are located at the place where the Ohio & Indiana and the Ohio & Pennsylvania roads unite with the C. C. & C. road. The two places constitute one town, so recognized. Here can be seen that great feature of American enterprise, a city in the wilderness. Houses are erecting on all sides, and hundreds of laborers and mechanics are biisily engaged in pushing the present improvements to completion. It will surprise many to learn what's doing in this clearing - for clearing it is, as, except what have been grubbed out, the stumps are still standing on all sides. The ticket office and building for the accommodation of the travelers is just finished. The building partakes somewhat of an oriental style of architecture, is 30 feet wide and 80 feet long. It contains a ticket office, a baggage-room, and a large salon for the accommodation of passengers waiting for the cars. The salon is abundantly supplied with lounges or settees, tables and chairs. It also contains a fine clock and a large water cooler.

"Another building for a similar purpose is constructing 30 feet wide and 100 feet long, and, including the basement, is three stories high. The basement is used as a kitchen. The second floor is occupied by the dining salon and refreshment hall; the third floor is divided into sleeping apartments. This building is not quite finished but is in full use. One hundred persons dine here daily and sometimes the number amounts to two hundred. At one corner of this building and with which it will be placed in connection, the foundation of an octagonal building is being laid, which, when finished, will be four stories high. The first floor of the octagonal building is to be used as a barber shop, the second floor as a readingroom and the third and fourth floors will be divided into sleeping apartments.

and 300 feet long. In this building will be several wells and reservoirs to supply the locomotives with water. The balance of the building will be used for storing wood.

"An engine-house or stable is completed which is 30 feet wide and 1 10 feet long. Next season it is contemplated to build a circular stable of brick, large enough to stand fifteen locomotives. The plan of another building is decided upon, and as soon as the title to the ground can be secured, it will be commenced. It will be 40 feet wide and 260 feet long. The use to which it is to be applied we did not learn. We presume, however, it is intended for a warehouse. Near these improvements is a steam saw-mill, owned by Miller and Langham. This will be kept running day and night. In the old division of the settlement, of Livingston, town lots are selling at $300, and in the new division, or Crestline, they sell at $400.

"There is but one thing to be apprehended, and that is that the settlement will outgrow itself. At the present time money is abundant, but this results from the large number of hands now in the employ of the Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad company, who get their money regularly and are in turn enabled to pay as they go. The present abundance will cease as soon as the railroad improvements are finished and the settlement will then have to depend upon the local and exchange trade, which, however, will always be large and abundant for a good sized town; but it has its limits."

The doubts of the editor as to Crestline's future were never realized. What was forest and farming land in 1850 was a thriving village at the first census in i860, and each successive decade the census enumerator has given Crestline a flattering growth until today it has a population of about five thousand people.

The first lots were sold at auction, and G. W. Emerson was the first purchaser, the lot later coming into the possession of Daniel Babst. On this lot was built a hotel, which was known as the Emerson House, and was the second hotel in the place. The first hotel was the Crestline House, built by Jesse R. Straughan and was run at the start by a man named Brown of Mansfield. It was opened in April, 1853, when the Ohio and Pennsylvania was completed to Crestline. It soon passed under the management of Thomas C. Hall, who disposed of his store at Livingston and came to Crestline and ran the hotel several years, making it one of the popular places along the road. An interesting incident occurred in connection with this first hotel. Mr. Hall disposed of it to Miller & Morz. Later it was kept by A. Moorhead, Thomas White and others until in 1877 the management passed into the hands of Mrs. E. Lepez. The ground and building were owned by the Larwills, descendants of one of the original owners of the town, and Mrs. Lepez arranged to sell to James Lindsey, her rights consisting of the lease, furniture and fixtures. The papers were all drawn up, and nothing remained to be done but the signing of the papers, and Mr. Lindsey, Mrs. Lepez and the agent of the Larwills left the hotel for the lawyer's office to complete the transaction. Just as they were leaving a heavy train with two engines drew up in front of the building, and almost immediately, smoke was seen coming from the roof of the hotel followed by a blaze, a spark from one of the engines having set the building on fire.' The building was of frame built many years previously; it was very dry, burned like tinder and building and contents were a total loss. The loss to Mrs Lepez was $2,000, partly covered by insurance. If the freight had been five minutes late James Lindsey would have been the loser.

Crestline's first severe fire was in September, 1859, when flames broke out in the baggage room of the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago road. It was before the town had any fire department, and the building was soon reduced to ashes, with a loss of about $11, GOD, mostly falling on the railroad company.

The most severe fire was also in September, ten years later, when the block from the Continental Hotel to Bucyrus street was practically all destroyed. It occurred about 2 o'clock on the morning of Sept. 13, the fire starting in the Franklin House, just north of the Continental Hotel. The more severe losses were the baggage room of the C. C. & C. road, the saloon of Charles Courtright, the building being owned by Daniel Babst; the Franklin House owned by Mrs. Courtright, the clothing store of Davis & Newman, Lindsey & Lovejoys' saloon, barber shop of G. A. Fisher, Robert Ralphan's saloon, Fred Schaack's bakery, Western Hotel, old Washington House owned by D. Babst and occupied by the clothing store of Stahley & Neuman; H. A. Schoeber's shoe store, the Hoffman corner, occupied by O. L. Lawson, jeweler. Dr. William Pope, drugs, and Adam Hoffman, grocer. The total loss was about $75,000. The Gallon Fire Department was hurried to the scene by special train and gave valuable assistance. Another serious fire was when the Continental Mills were burned down in 1879. These mills were erected in 1857, and were one of the large industries of Crestline for many years. They were rebuilt later.

From its start Crestline was a great railroad centre, shops were located there employing hundreds of men, and it was the end of a division on two roads, making the town the home of a large number of train crews, and this with the passenger traffic over the various roads made the hotel business one of the leading industries. The leading hotel after it was built was the Continental, run by L. G. Russell for many years, and the most popular hotel under his management between Pittsburg and Chicago, but the introduction of dining-cars, robbed it of much of its patronage. Mr. Russell had two hobbies; one was flowers, and he kept a large nursery, and the hotel was constantly supplied with beautiful blossoms. The other was his menagerie, which was just east of the hotel. Here he kept bears, wolves and foxes, eagles and other birds, and few of the thousands of passengers who went through Crestline failed to enjoy the two things for which the Continental was celebrated - an excellent meal and the menagerie.

The original Crawford county was a home for bears, and many interesting incidents are handed down in the way of bear stories, but since 1830- it is probable there were no wild bears in the county, but Crestline had a real bear story as late as 1857. A man named Caldwell had a bear which he kept chained near Parker's saloon, near the railroad track.

One summer afternoon some boys began teasing him. Bruin became very angry at their constant irritation, and his strains finally succeeded in breaking the chain by which he was confined. The scared boys promptly sought safety in flight, but the bear seized one of the boys named Hassinger, who lived near Leesville, on whom he inflicted terrible wounds with his teeth and claws. The boy's frantic screams brought the owner, who, with a heavy club, succeeded in driving away the bear and rescuing the boy. Young Hassinger was taken to the home of Rev. Mr. Barr, and Dr. William Pope sent for. An examination showed that his right thigh and leg were horribly torn, his back terribly bitten and bruised, some of the wounds made by tthe animal's teeth being an inch across. Several ribs on the right side were broken, one of them in two places. The bear in the meantime roamed the streets at will, everybody hurriedly giving him right of way. He was finally captured an hour later by the owner, but the indignant citizens insisted the town was not large enough to accommodate .both them and the bear, so the next morning poor Kruin was shot by Mr. Caldwell. The Russell bears were kept in large dens with heavy iron bars, and became great pets, the amount of cakes and even pies they were fed by an interesting public would have depleted any bakery in the village.

The cholera year of 1854 struck the little town of Crestline. It broke out in July among the people living in some shanties on the Ohio and Indiana road on the low, damp, marshy ground about half a mile west of the crossing. It started on Wednesday, and by Friday morning there were seven deaths. The matter was serious and the citizens took prompt and vigorous action. Several of the citizens purchased the shanties where the plague was raging; they removed the sick to fresh and clean quarters, and buried the seven dead. Then they applied the torch, and the shanties, with all their furniture, bedding and clothing were soon a heap of ashes. Of the dozen or more removed, all recovered excepting two. One man died that same day, and the other, a little girl, died on Saturday morning.

line some forty years ago, were the Crestline Lock Works, which were established in 1870, the people subscribing $8,000 towards erecting the buildings on condition that a certain number of men should be employed. C. A. Faulkner & Co., conducted the business for one year, and then sold to John A. Thoman & Co., who operated them until 1874, when they failed and went into bankruptcy.

The business section of Crestline, and the principal residence portion are well paved with brick, two streets, however, comprising about one mile of paving, being McAdamized. The police department consists of five men, who are under the direction of George Rhodes. The streets are well lighted.

Crestline has two fire-engine houses, the Central station being located in the City Hall building. At this station there is one handrelief engine, and two carts, with about iioo feet of hose, altogether, 500 feet of which are new hose. Several hundred feet more are to be added. At the other station, which is located on Main street, there is one truck, with ladder of 20 feet extension, and 600 feet of hose. There is a telephone alarm system with fifteen stations for calls. The department numbers altogether 23 men, some of whom are paid. Charles P. Helfrich has been fire chief for the last ten years, and has two assistants - Clarence Helfrich and Fred Bloom. The company has had no disastrous fires to contend with for a long time, the last one of any consequence being in the spring of the present year (1912) at the Pennsylvania Railroad shops, when 200 or 300 barrels of oil were destroyed.

About 300 men are employed in the engine and car shops of the Pennsylvania road at Crestline and at one time engines were built there, but today the shops are most extensively used for repairs. There is a large roundhouse, having 36 stalls for engines, a few of them, however, being otherwise occupied. A few years ago this roundhouse was enlarged by a 16-foot extension. F. M. Cairns is foreman and W. F. Beardsley, master mechanic.

old log schoolhouse situated about a mile and a half northwest of the present site of the town on the Leesville road, and school was held here by one teacher or another up to 1850. About 1853, when Crestline was increasing rapidly in population, a two-story frame schoolhouse was erected in the east part of the town, and not long afterward another one was built in the west part. These two buildings were used until 1868, at which time a union school building was erected. This building, with the two lots on which it stands, cost over $30,000 and reflected credit upon all concerned in the project. It is a brick building, with three stories and basement, 72 feet in length by 65 in greatest width and contains eleven school rooms, besides six smaller rooms used for offices. It was designed by Mr. Thomas and built by Miller, Smith & Frayer, contractors, and was opened to the children April 12, 1869. In the immediate vicinity is the School Park, planted with evergreens and shade trees and traversed by gravel walks. In the center of the grounds an elegant fountain was erected and around the base six hydrants for drinking purposes. The Board of Education under whose wise supervision the school and grounds were designed and laid out consisted of Jacob Stahley, president, D. W. Snyder, John Berry, S. P. Hesser, C. Miller and Nathan Jones - names worthy to be held in grateful remembrance by the citizens of Crestline. The rapid growth of the town made the large handsome central structure insufficient to properly care for the increasing number of school children, and ward buildings were erected, the first east of the railroad track. Last year a handsome high school building of brick was erected on the central lot, and Crestline now has. ample school facilities.

The oldest church society in Crestline was formed by the Methodists in 1844, ^^ what was then called Minnerly's schoolhouse, later known as McCulloch's. This, however, was several years before the laying out of the town. John Lovitt was the principal mover in this enterprise. The church edifice, which is still standing on Thoman street, was built in 1854. Those most active in the work were Mr. Minnerly, Francis Peppard, David Kerr. Francis Conwell, David Thrush, David White and Mr. Howland, who, with their wives and a portion of their famiUes, were among the first members. In connection with this church is a large and flourishing Sunday school.

After the Methodists came the German Lutherans, who organized their society about 185 1, the original members of which were Henry Lambert, George Hass, Michael Webber, B. Faltz, John Keller and others. Their meetings were first held in the schoolhouse, but in .1861 they erected a new church edifice at a cost of $3,000. The first minister was the Rev. Mr. Meiser. The Sunday school was established at the same time as the church and has kept pace with it in growth and efficiency. The organization is known as the Trinity German Lutheran Church.

The second German Lutheran church was an offshoot from the first Lutheran society above mentioned and resulted from a difference of opinion on the part of some of the members in regard to matters of belief or church government. These members, among whom were Charles Christman, Peter Sleenbecker, Michael Reh, C. Morkel and others, in 1879 withdrew from the parent body and founded the Second German Lutheran Society, erecting a church on E. Mansfield Street at a cost of $4,000. Their first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Shultz of Gallon and their early meetings were held in the old German Refonned Church. A Sunday school was also organized.

In 1854 a society of English Lutherans was organized by Rev. A. F. Hills and among the first members were A. W. Stine, David Mc- Cartel, William Knisely, David Keplinger, Isaac Miller, David Lichtenwalter, Elizabeth Warner, Hannah Stine, Jane McCartel and D. Minich. A church edifice was soon erected, though the early meetings were held in the residences of the members. The church now constitutes an active and flourishing society, with a large and effective Sunday school.

The German Reformed Church, situated in the northwest part of the town, was organized in 1858, by Rev. M. M. Stern of Gallon, who was followed by Rev. John Rettig, Rev. John Winter and others. A brick edifice was erected in 1862 at a cost of $2,000. Among the first members of this society were Joseph Bender, Philip Eichorn, Frederick Eichorn

Commencing about the middle of the year 1854 the Presbyterians of Crestline and the vicinity had held occasional meetings in various places, being ministered to by Rev. Luke Dorland. On Feb. 20, 1855, their society was organized into a church by Rev. I. N. Shepherd of Marion, Ohio, and Rev. Silas Johnston, of Bucyrus. The organization was effected in a schoolhouse and for some time afterwards meetings were held occasionally in the different church buildings already erected. Rev. J. P Lloyd was the first pastor and among the original members were John and Mary White, John S. and Jane Smith, Alexander, Martha J. and Margaret Patterson, Sampson Warden, P. and Mary Mansfield and John and Elizabeth Jane Banbright. The second pastor. Rev. James Shields, remained seven years and was succeeded by Rev. W. W. Macamber. The Sunday school was organized August 12, 1862.

Like the Presbyterians, the early Catholics held their first services in the houses of the members of that faith. A regular organization was effected in 1858 by Father Gallagher of Cleveland, who was pastor at Mansfield at the same time, the society taking the name of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The early meetings were held in the houses of the original members, among whom were Mike Dunn, Patrick Dunn, J. A. Barrel, Laurenz Raindl and Thaddeus Seifert. A frame church was erected on North street in 1861 at a cost of $1,000.

Both Jackson and Polk townships were a part of Richland county up to 1845, ^^'^ ^t the first election only twelve votes were cast; this was about 1821; John Williams was the first Justice of the Peace. Daniel Riblet was a Justice for eighteen years while it was a part of Richland county, and William Robinson was a Justice for nine years. Since Jackson has been a part of Crawford the following are the Justices :

Crestline was originally laid out in 1852, but its growth was so rapid that it was incorporated on March 3, 1858, and the first officers elected were David Ogden, Mayor; William Knisely, Recorder; William P. Kernahan, E. Warner, Robert Lee, M. C. Archer, William Boals, Councilmen. Following David Ogden as Mayor was Silas Durand i860, Samuel Hoyt 1861, Nathan Jones 1862-64- 65-74, Jacob Stable 1863, Dr. J. McKean 1865, William Robinson 1866, George W. Pierce 1870, A. E. Jenner 1874, Dr. Edwin Booth 1876, Daniel Babst 1879-80-82-94, P. W. Poole 1884-86-90-92-03-05, F M. Anderson 1888, Frank Miller 1896-98, J. J. Tischler 1908-10.

Crestline has the finest water supply of any town in the county. Originally the town was supplied with water by wells, but the rapid growth of the town and the demand for pure water for the use of the locomotives demanded a better system and in 1871 the necessary legislation was passed to give to Crestline an adequate water supply. It was obtained at the Palmer Springs, in Richland county, about four miles east of the city. These springs are historical, as it was here that Col. Crawford and his army went into camp on the night of June i, 1782, the night before they entered what is now Crawford county. The springs are over a hundred feet higher than Crestline, and the water is conveyed by pipes to the city. Bonds were issued to the amount of $80,000. As usual, an important and necessary enterprise like this met with much expensive litigaton, but the improvement was successfully concluded. Later the growth of the town necessitated the sinking of a number of wells near the springs, and the capacity is now arhple, and the water pure and of good quality.

The Crestline Local Telephone Company was incorporated about ten years ago by Jacob Babst and others, and has today about a thousand phones in Crestline and the surrounding country.

In 1867, Jacob Riblet and William Hays of Gallon, and John Newman of Crestline, established a bank under the firm name of Riblet, Hays & Co., which they conducted for two years, when they sold out to John A. Thoman & Co., who ran it as the Citizens Bank until the panic of 1873, when they were compelled to discontinue. In 1870 the Babst bank was organized by Daniel Babst and Jonathan Martin, the firm name being Babst, Martin & Co., Jacob Babst being the cashier, and he has been connected with the institution ever since. In June 1878, Jacob and Daniel Babst became the owners of the bank, the two sons of Daniel Babst, the original founder, and the name was changed to the Babst Banking House. In 1876 the Farmers and Mechanics Bank Avas established by Booth & Stewart, and in 1878 was owned by Stewart & Son, and after running a few years was discontinued. In 1897, the First National Bank of Crestline was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 ; William Monteith being the president.

The first secret society organized in the village was Crestline Lodge No. 237 I. O. O. F., its charter dating Feb. 23, 1854. The charter members were John I. Kert. G. W. Keplinger, W. P. Kernahan, William Knott, William Boals, M. C. Archer. Elijah Johnson, William McGraw, and Daniel Laughbaum. The first officers were : William Knott, N. G. ; W. P. Kernahan, V. G. ; G. W. Keplinger, Sec.

On June 15, 1875, Crawford Encampment No. 187 was instituted by J. W. Parch, the Most Worthy Grand High Priest. The charter members were F. C. Berger, G. G. Cruzen, F. Newman, J. W. Sanders, E. Davis, John Snyder, and J. H. Becker. The first officers ^^'ere John H. Becker, C. P. ; F. £,. Berger,

A German lodge of Odd Fellows was instituted on July 3, 1872, with the following charter members; F. Newman, Jacob Stahley, George StoU, J. P. Zimmermacher, J. H. Becker, Adam Neff, John Bauer, John Etsinger, and John Cook. The first officers were George Stoll, N. G.; Jacob Stahley, V. G.; J. H. Becker, Sec; F. Newman, Treas. In connection with the Odd Fellows is Rebecca Lodge No. 816.

The second order to organize in Crestline was the Masons. Arcana Lodge No. 272 was granted a charter Oct. 26, 1855, the charter members being J. R. Straughan, Erastus S. Spencer, Matthew Elder, J. McCluny, E. C. Gregg, J. J. Bening, George Bewson, A. P. Cann, John Newman, John Franz, John A. Thoman, J. Warden, J. Eddington, H. A. Donaldson, H Gusleman. The first officers were J. R. Straughan, W. M. ; E. S. Spencer, S. W.; Matthew Elder, J. W.

The importance of Crestline as a railroad center brought many railroad men to the place, and many of these being Masons an Encampment of Knights Templar was instituted, but after being in existence for twenty years it was removed to Mansfield.

Peter Snyder Post G. A. R., was organized Aug. 31, 1 881, and was named after Peter Snyder, a member of Co. E, loist Ohio, who died Jan. 2, 1863, from the effects of a wound received three clays previous at the battle of Stone River.

It was Aug. 26, 185 1, that Rensselaer Livingston was appointed postmaster of Livingston, followed by Thomas C. Hall and John Gates, and during the incumbency of the latter, the post office was removed to Crestline, and took the name of that town on Sept. 4, 1854. The following have been the postmasters of Crestline, with the dates of their appointment :