Defiance County, Ohio - Tiii, 1883

Tiii

THIS is the only inland township in Defiance County. It is bounded on the north by Tiffin Township, on the east by Richland, on the south by .Defiance and on the west by Delaware. It is the smallest township in the county, embracing nearly all of Town 4 north, Range 4 east, which lies north of the Maumee, a little more than twenty-two sections. The Maumee forms a part of its southern boundary and the Tiffin River flows south through its territory. Brunersburg, the only village in the township, containing about 300 people, was laid out by Daniel Bruner and Henry Zeller in May, 1834. The original plat consisted of only twenty-eight lots, but five additions have since been made to it.

Personal Keminiscenoes

Brice Hilton, one of the few. remaining pionpers of Defiance County, was born March 1 3, 1808, the son of Joshua and Hepzibah (Hil'on) Hilton, both of whom were born in Starks, Somerset Co., Me., the former June 17, 1780, the latter July 2, 1785. His grandfather, Benjamin Hilton, was a resident of the same county and a miller by trade and occupation. Joshua and Hepzibah Hilton were married in Somerset County, Me., October 10, 1805. Joshua was a miller, like his father, and made milling his life pursuit. His children were Mary, born August 2, 1806, married Clark Philbrick March 15, 1827, and the same spring moved with her husband to Geauga County, Ohio; Brice, the subject of this sketch, bom March 13, 1808; Thomas H, born June 25, 18' 0, died September 6, 1826; John bom October 14, 1811, died February 9, 1838; Ezra, born June 4, 1813, died Se]/tember 28, 1846; Horace, born August 31, 1815, diei in 0.sborne County, Kan., Decomber 28, 1874; Eben, born August 21, 1818, died September 16, 1848; Benjamin and an infant daughter, deceased, born September 10, 1820; Benjamin died November 5, 1865; Richard, born September 18,

1823, died August 17, 1848. In September, 1817, Joshua Hilton with his family emigrated in a threehorse wagon from Maine to Ohio, reaching the town of Reading, Hamilton County, December 2. The following April he moved to a farm in Butler County, paying a cash rental of f 100 for one year, at the expiration of which he removed to Carthage, and in the fall of the same year (1819) moved to Miami County, where he remained till the fall of 1822. In January, 1822, he made a journey afoot to Defiance and vicinity, having with him maps of the surrounding townships, for the purpose of selecting a farm. While here he stopped at the tavern of Robert Shirley. Mr. Hilton returned home, then went to Piqua, where the land office was located, and entered 140 acres on the south side of the Maumee, immediately above the plat of West Defiance, where he removed with his family, December 3, 1822, In the spring of that year, he had come with his son Thoinas to plant a crop of corn, but having no land cleared. Judge Shirley permitted him to put out as much corn as he wished on the land opposite the old fair ground on an old Indian improvement. With his ox team he broke the blue grass sod and planted six acres, which yielded enough corn to last the family one year. Mr. Hilton erected the first log cabin between Defiance and Fort Wayne on the Maumee, except one, built by a Mr. Rodger, five miles below Fort Wayne. Mr, Hilton also biiilt the first brick house in the county, except two at Defiance, He was a Whig, and died August 15, 1835. His wife died September 24, 1850. Brice Hilton spent his youth in working for his father and attending what schools were then available. During the winter of 1820, he attended school in Cincinnati, remaining about nine months After he reached Williams County with his father, his e lucational advan tages were indeed meager, but he had already mastered Stephen Pitts' Arithmetic, Bonnicastle's Algebra and Greenleaf's Grammar. He studied surveying and pracMced it to Home extent. From 1S21 to 1830, he cleared land, boated on the river, split rails, hunted and worked on the farm. He then went to live with Dr. John Evans; read medicine with him, and after practicing it six months, abandoned the profession. In May, 1834, he went to Brunersburg with a stock of goods, having formed a partnership with Foreman Evans. At the end of twelve years, he sold out to his brother, Benjamin Hilton, andkmght a farm adjoining Brunersburg. He has ever since followed farming, liut in connection with it has l)oen engaged in other pursuits, among them stock-dealing, taking contracts for building bridges, cutting out and piking roads, building embankmonta, etc In 1850, ho purchased the Brunersburg Mill property and in 1854 erected a grist mill, which he still operates. In 1855, he built a saw mill just opposite, which he ran till recently. In 1844, he bought the Brunerebrng Tannery and operated it for thirty years in connection with a shoe shop. About 1803, ho built, on Lot J S2, Brunersburg, mostly with his own means, a Universalist Church, which now has a membership of sixty-two. Mr. Hilton was married, December 4, 1830, to Sophia Uinbenhour, who was born near Winchester, Va., July 29, 1821, and emigrated with her father's family to "Williams County in 1835. Of their two daughters and ten sons, but five sons survive - Walter, born February 12, 1845, a merchant of Defiance; Ezra, born January 7, 1847, now a merchant at Pioneer, Williams County ;'Gilmore, born August 9, 1850, now living at Brunersburg; Lyman, born January 20, 1800, at home; John, born September 2, 1802, at home, teaching school. Mr. Hilton in early life was a Clay Whig, and is now a Republican.

John Perkins was the first settler in Noble Township, and moved from near Chillicothe to the Maumee Valley as a surveyor in 1810. He assisted in surveying the lands of Northwest Ohio, under the contract taken by Gen. Riley. Ho piirchased the lands upon which the Brunersburg Mills now stand; soon moved on and commenced building a saw-mill and built a dam. In 1828. he built a grist mill at the end of the ilam opposite the saw mill and continued to run both until 1833, when he sold out, moving to La Fayette, Williams County, where he built a mill. He was one of the first Judges of Williams County. He raised the first wheat in the township in 1826.

James Pnrtee came with Perkins to help to build the mill, married a daughter of Mr. Perkins, bought lands just above Brunersburg, cleared up a farm and lived with his family thereon until his death a few years ago.

cleared up a farm. The next settlers were William Buck, W. Kibble, John Partee, John Lawrence, O. Webb, Enoch Partee, and S. Hughes, who came here as a millwright.

John Partee was born May 15, 1812, in Ross County, Ohio, and came with his parents, John and Nancy Partee, to Defiance County in 1823. Their route was by Sidney and Wapakoneta and by the Auglaize River, to old Fort Amanda and Fort Jennings; thence down the river to old Fort Defiance, which was yet partially preserved, as well as old Fort Winchester, which at that time was a " stockade," not far from the present site of the Russell House, on the west bank of the Auglaize River. He staid all night at Brunersbursr. Mr. John Perkins had a mill at that place. It is now the " Hilton" Mill. At that time there were but two houses on Bean Creek, in which the town of Brunersburg is located. These houses were occupied by John Perkins and Joseph Partee. Mr. Perkins sold the mill to Daniel Bruner in 1839. Perkins removed to Pulaski, Williams County, and built another mill. From what is now Bruner.sburg, Mr. Partee says he cut to the place where he now resides. At that time there were large numbers of Pottawatomie and Ottawa Indians in the county on what was then called " Bean Creek," now the Tiffin River. He saj's it was called that name because many French and Indians resided along itg bottoms and raised great quantities of beans and corn, which were grown in patches along the rich bottoms and eaten by the Indians and French for food. The old chief. Occonoxee, often visited him. He also became acquainted with an old Indian by the name of "Shane," who stated he was born under the " old apple tree " across the JTaumee River, opposite Defiance. There were then but few buildings. Old Fort Defiance and Fort Winchester were then used as houses. David Hull, a relation of the General, built the first ferry-boat across the Maumee River at Defiance. Mr. Partee states that large numbers of bullets were foxind on the banks of the Maumee when he first came to the county, and sometimes brass kettles were found hid in hollow trees, no doubt left by the Indians during the campaign of Wayne in 1794. Mr. Partee man-ied Miss Mercy Brown, October 10, 1839. Their family consists of Alvaro (dead), Reuben (dead), Sirena, Mahala, Frank, Clara I. and Warren A. Alvaro was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, in the war of 1861-05. The first settlers were Obadiah Webb, William Travis, Peter Blain, Thomas Carr, John Perkins, Joseph, Enoch and James Partee, Sr.. John Lawrence, Enos Partee. William Buck, William Graham, Brice Hilton, William Doty and John Whistler. Deer, bear, wolves, wild eats and smaller game were quite plenty; wild honey was abundant. Mr. Perkins found tbroe bee trees in one day. At the time of the excitement about the line of Ohio and Michigan, when the citizens of Defiance expected war, he remembers that the line was surveyed by Miller Arrowsmith and Sydney Sprague and others, and of a great charge upon them and their retreat, which proved quite a rich joke, and was told with maay exaggerations, at the time, but the excitement died out and no harmwas done. Mr. John Partee died on the old farm owned by his son John, about 1844, aged about eighty years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; James and Joseph Partee were also soldiers in the war of 1812. The first school was taught by W. W. Sellick in a double log cabin where Enoch and Joseph Partee's families lived. Mr. Brice Hilton was also an early teacher. Cannot give the number of schools taught in the township. There are two Methodist Episcopal Churches, one United Brethren and one Evangelical Church, which cost about $1,000. Eev. Bechtol is the United Brethren pastor. Mr. Partee attended school when taught by Mr. Brice Hilton.

Barnett G. Statler was born in Danville, Knox Co., Ohio, March 2, 1822, son of Mathias Statler, who was born in Hagerstown, Va., December 28, 1787. Mathias Statler, Sr., Barnott's grandfather, when a boy fourteen or fifteen years old, in 1764, ran away from his home in Berlin, Germany, and concealed himself in a vessel which sailed for America, landing at New York in November, 1764. He served during the Revolution, and for a gallant act, whereby he saved an officer's life, he was given a farm near Hagerstown, Md. He had determined to return to Germany and wed, if possible, a young woman, Katie, the playmate of his youth, but shortly before sailing, a German emigrant ship arrived with his mother and Katie on board. Mathias and Katie were married and settled on the farm near Hagerstown. Of their four children, Mathias was the eldest. At seventeen, he left home, went to Pittsburgh and there learned the blacksmith trade. At the age of twenty, he removed to Stillwater, Belmont Co., Ohio, and worked at the trade. January 1, 1811, he married Nancy Groves, a daughter of Capt. Groves, a Revolutionary oBScer. She was born April 25, 1793, the eldest of a family of thirteen children. Her father was English and her mother Irish. Mathias was drafted in the service in the fall of 1814 and left Stillwater with twenty-five others for Port Meigs. They arrived just in time to assist in burying the dead, and soon after went to Fort Defiance. When they reached it, peace was declared, and they returned home. Mathias soon after removed to Danville, Knox County, where he engaged in backsmithing and keeping tavern. Shortly after, his house was destroyed by fire and the eldest daughter, Rebecca, perished in the flames. Of their thirteen children, ten grew to manhood and womanhood. Of these, Barnett learned the blacksmith trade. He traveled about a great deal, and at Lima, Ohio, met Laura E. Slayton, whom he married December 29, 1845. She was of Scotch and English descent. After marriage, they I'emoved to Kalida, Putnam County, where he worked at his trade eight months. He' came to Defiance August 1, 1846, and blaoksmithed for William Warren a short time at $20 per month. He then built a shop on the site of P. Kettonring's machine shops, and later further down the canal near Green's printing office. He followed this trade here for thirteen years; then traded his property and removed to the farm in Noble Township where he now resides. He has since followed farming very successfully. Mr. Statler has five children, three daughters and two sons.

William Travis, one of the early settlers of Defiance County, was born in Adams County, Ohio, February 1, 1800. His parents were formerly from Kentucky, moving from there to Adams County, Ohio, and remaining until March, 1809, when they moved to the county of Delaware, remaining in this county until 1819, when Mr. Travis left his father's house and came to Fort Defiance. He returned to Delaware County the same year, remaining until the summer of 1822, and on the 23d of July, 1822, was married to Miss Mary C. Swartz, of Delaware County. Mr. Travis, his wife and one child, accompanied by David Perdue, his wife and one child, on the 1st of March, 1824, started from Delaware Couaty to come - to this county. They loaded their goods and effects belonging to both families on a big wagon which was drawn by two yoke of oxen and one horse. They came across the country through the woods, cutting their way a part of the time, the woods being thick and the roads narrow and not much traveled. The timber would fall across the road and would have to be cut away by them before they could pass on their way. Passed through the counties of Delaware, Union, Champaign and Miami, then turned to the St. Mary's River. On arriving at the river, they met with Oliver Crain, who had a large dugout, a boat made out of a large tree. He, too, was coming to this county, and they made arrangements with him to bring their families and goods on this boat down the river to Defiance; they helped manage the boat on the way down as a compensation to him for bringing their families and goods. Before they reached Defiance, they bought the lioat o£ Mr. Crain, he stopping off in Grain Township, Paulding County. They brought their goods on to Defiance, landing here on the Ist day of April, 1824. Mr. Travis then settled on the Auglaize River, south of Defiance, about one mile up the stream on the east side on what was then called the Shirley farm, where he raised a crop of corn, which he fed to stock cattle; he took them to Detroit, Mich., and there sold his cattle at $4 net weight and took his pay in leather; came home and disposed of the leather as best he could and purchased land on the river at Delaware Bend. He lived there for a few years, sold out and purchased laud below on the river in Delaware Township, now known as the Elias Bruner farm. From there he moved to Defiance, bought property and kept hotel for a short time; also bought other property in the neighborhood, then sold his property in Defiance and purchased the land in Noble Township that he afterward cleared up and made his home till his death, which occurred March 3, 1882. His wife died February 11, 1872. Their children were eleven in number, of whom the following survive: Permillia (Armstrong), William C, an attorney of Defiance, Nancy A. (Swartz), of Defiance; Foreman E., of Defiance; David, of Noble Township; and Martha E. (Williams). The deceased are John, who was lost on the ill-fated Central America, on his way home from California, in September, 1857; and Mary Harriet Gilliman first, and Gilliman second, who died young. By the fruits of his labor, Mr. Travis saved a sufficiency for himself and family during his life, and at the same time contributed to the relief of the poor whenever the necessities of the case required it, and also contributed to public improvements. He was an active business man, always prompt to meet any engagement that he would make or any demands brought against him, and was considered by all that knew him to be a straightforward and upright business man, energetic and determined in anything that he undertook to do. He was a great reader in his day, and a man of a wonderful memory and of good mind, the latter of which he retained up to the last moment of life.

I was born September 9, 1809, at South Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. My father was born in Fishkill, Dutchess Co. , N. Y. ; my mother was born in the town of Dorset, Bennington Co., Vt. My childhood was spent in going to school three months in summer and to school again next winter, to relearn what we learned the season before, and helping on the farm, except on Saturdays, where we fished for brook trout and were very successful. At the age of eighteen, I commenced teaching common school - taught for nine winters. At the age of twenty-three was married to Fannie Marie Sanford, then living in tjie same neighborhood, who was born in Bridgeport,

Addison Co., Vt. , July 7, 1811. We have had ten children, four eldest and the youngest are deceased. Those living are Lucia A., at home; Adeline A., married to J. M. Bridenbaugh, living in Toledo, Ohio, in the provision trade; Emma B. , married to J. A. Sheffield, farmer, in this (Noble) township; Ruth Almira, married to Oren A. Sisoo, of this county, now in mercantile trade in Augusta, Butler Co., Kan. ; and Grace E., married to J. W. Reid, of this county, and now in business with J. M. Bridenbaugh. In 1835, farming in Northern New York was at a low ebb; most of the farms were purchased on time, of the Harrisons and Van Renselaers, and some on Brown's tract. Settlers had all they could do to clear up the forests, make roads and build necessary buildings, extinguish the debt on their lands, and, as a consequence, they were obliged to deal with them as best they could. The proprietors were liberal, often throwing off interest, giving new contracts, many selling out their betterments, as it was called, moving West. In 1835, in company with Dr. Oney Rice (who had married Miss Lydia Barrows, a cousin), John Rice, E. Lacost, Jacob Oonkey, who then lived in Warrensville, Ohio, came to the then Williams County, for Government lands; at this time buyers had to go outside the canal reservations. We left Cleveland in October, 1835, with wagon; found dry roads through the black swamp, forded the Maumee' at Maumee City, drove around tree-tops, through ravines, up and down the bluff banks, without working, reaching Defiance, a town of about 150 inhabitants; found some of our acquaintances from St. Lawrence County. Among these were John W. Moore, Erskine Perkins, Edwin Phelps, William A. Brown, Amos Stoddard and Mr. Blaokman. Left the team and went on foot to Centertown, passing through Brunersburg (the town at that time had been purchased by Samuel Sargeant of Mr. Bruner, the proprietor), kept possession five or six years, moved the mill down below the erected dam; got it running. First, high water washed the dam away; nothing more was done with the new mill, only moving back some machinery to the old mill. In 1836 and 1837 was built a small steamboat to run on the Maumee. Lacked power, and was only used in comparatively still water. It made its way to Fort Wayne, wintered in Rochester, fourteen miles above Defiance. In the spring of 1838, it came down with the ice; it was boarded by several men who tried to save it, but of no avail; it landed several miles above Maumee City; it was gotten off and run between Maumee, Perrysburg and Toledo. We followed the road or trail, not seeing a house till we got to Centertown; there we hired Mr. Overlease and Mr. Skinner to show us land. Stayed over night; next day followed section lines and our guides. Foaud lands at Farmer Center, where we located <)ur lands, which some of the descendants now occupy. Dr. Eice and Jacob Conkey located at the center; I located south one-quarter mile, eighty acres. There were three settlers in Farmer Township at that time. We came back to Detiance, counted out our Land Office money (only certain banks and specie were receivable) and sent Mr. Jacob Conkey to the Land Office at Wapakoneta to get our certificate of entry. For several years it was customary to send packages of any amount by the mail carriers (boys). ^^'e nexev heard of lost money. How diflerent now. At that time J. AV. Moore had a store in the Parker Tavern, with E. S. Perkins, clerk. There we parted company. I took my way down the Maumee on foot, passing through Napoleon, a village of a few log houses. Stayed over night at Patrick's; next day called on our former townsman, Dr. Darius Clark (still living in Toledo), in Vistula, two miles below Port Lawrence (now Toledo). Took steamboat for home ; it took about a week from Defiance to Ogdonsburg. The next spring being cold and backward, with seven inches snow-fall on the 13th of May, accompanied by heavy freezing, I caught the Ohio fever in earnest. During the summer, I sold out my effects, and started for Defiance September 16, 1836, with horses and wagon. Had wife and one child sixteen months old . with my wife's brother, Seneca A. Sanford. Stopped two days in Eden, Erie Co., N. Y. , with friend Barnum, who afterward became an honored citizen of Defia' ce. We reached Defiance after beinfj twenty- two days on the road. We stopped with Mr. J. W. Moore a week; meantime, I went to Farmer Cen'er to make arrangements for moving. Found I could take provisions with family and live with Dr. Rice until we could build a cabin. During my travels from Farmer to Defiance, I fell in company with Payne C. Parker at Mr. Craig's, in Georgetown. I then got his terms and rented his tavern from the 2.oth da)- of January, 1837, and made arrangements accordingly. During this time, I had nnderbrushed two acres and rolled up the logs for a house. Houses were hniU in those days without nails or boards, with puncheons, clapboards, m^d hearths and stick chimneys. Then settlers were neighbors miles away, and it was customary to go fifteen or twenty miles to a raisiner. In taking charge of the hotel, I paid quarterly for two years nt the rate of 1500 per year. At that time, Horatio G. Philips and myself went on horseback to Maumee and purchased of Gen. John G. Hunt the four lots fronting on Clinton street, between Front and First streets, for |3,000. During ou^" stay in the hotel, we soon had the satisfaction oE hearing that we kept as good a tavern as any on the river, but it was hard enough. With all the improvements we were able to make, the house, the country and everything in its primitive state, some times without help, and especially during the sum mer and fall of 1838 and 1839, the most sickly time in the year, and during the making of the Erie & Wabash Canal. There were no bridges, and travelers have been delayed for weeks. Then tavern-keepers had to lay in supplies when they could. It was hard for the early settlers to get to the river over almost impassable roads for provisions and other necessaries of life. I have often heard the remark, they had rather pay than go for them. As an incident of early settlers' life, I will note of being in Dr. Rice's family with only a few acres cleared about the house; had raised a few shocks of corn. Without barn or stable or protection of any kind, horses turned loose in the inclosure. On the 18th of December, 1836, it had snowed the night previous, it commenced raining and rained steadily all day without melting the snow, which was ten inches deep. At dusk, the wind from the northwest, with a heavy black cloud and a few flakes of snow in the air. It was the lot of Mr. Osboru, of Hicksville, to go to mill on Little St. Joe River, with an ox team. Coming home, the oxen gave out, and he being wet with walking in rain and slush, ice frozen to his clothes and limbs, his cries for relief were heard and assistance lent. Both limbs had to be amputated. He was known to be an upright, honest man. On the morning of the 19th, our pity was excited to see our horses standing on balls of ice a foot high or more, with icicles hanging from their manes and tails, eyes and noses - the coldest day within the memory of the oldest inhabitant. That season, and for years after, it was common to go to sleep by the music of the wolves, I shall leave the hunting and trapping stories to those who have the bow-and-arrow blood in their veins, I can vouch for anything they will say. But to return, I can hardly pictu-e how the Maumee country looked to me with its original inhabitants, its virgin soil, its stately oaks, the river with its islands, the home of the Pottawatomies, I have in mind the assembling of the Indians at or near the rapids of Rush-to-Bean, Just below the battle ground of the fallen timbers, there were gathered together nearly 800 Indians, preparatory to moving west of the Mississippi, While going by, they were congregated at the top of the ridge and around a large bowlder on which a turkey foot is engraved, said to be where chief Turkey -Foot fell, Robert Forsyth and Isaac Hull had the contract, and our townsman, James Colby, as Surgeon. Among the business men in Defiance were, as merchants, Dr. John Evans, Forman and Albert Evans, and Benjamin Brubacher, all doing business at the foot of Jefferson street, and

John and William Seaiuans in the brick house owned by L. Davidson, Esq. E. (I Case had a small store on the corner oi' Front and Wayne streets. Had two groceries, one by George Hickox, one by Waterhouse & Goodyear on Front street. Our lawyers were Horace KcvssiouB and John and William Seamans. William 0. Holgate was studying. Justices of the Peace, Sydney S. Sprague and William Seamans. County officers were John Lewis, Treasurer; George T. Hickox, Clerk; Bishop Adams and Payne C. Parker were -County Judges. I was elected as Trustee of the township, and one of the Council in 1838; was appointed County Judge in the place of Bishop Adams, removed to Henry County. A.mong the citizens were Robert Wasson, Mr. Purcel, plasterer; AmosZellers, tailor; Walter Davis, cooper; Peter Bridenbaugh, Thomas Lewis, Jacob Kniss, shoe-maker; John Oliver, Stoddard & Blackman, keepers of the ferry, Jehu Downs, etc. The brick building now occupied by Henry Hardy was the court house and schoolhouse; a log jail on the court house square. The old fort built by Gen. Wayne and the stockade built by Gen. Wilkinson were objects of curiosity. They were then much dilapidated; the spoiler had put in his work. The timbers of the block-honses are doing service in some of the old barns, and the earthworks were plainly visible, the bastion, the moat, the entrance, the covered way to either river for water, the line of pickets, as also the stumps of the pickets of Fort Winchester. The place was admirably chosen, well built and would defy the combined attack of all foes. There must have been some belligerent practice by the citizens, fishing up shells before the fort. It is related that a shell having been brought out of the river by the old warehouse, on the bank and centei; of Jefferson street, John Lantz and several otheis, speculating on its bursting after being in the river so long, Lantz thought, with others, <hat the powder had become wet and would not burn, and in order to prove it, touched it off with his cigar, and it went. None were hurt, but one piece four inches in length went ttaough a double ]);itt.ened door and lodged in the ceiling on the opposite side of a store. While living in Defiance, wo got up a dinner on the 4th of July, 1837, and had a dancing party at C. C. Waterliouse's ia the evening. Frequently horseback parties would funl the Auglaize at the Shirley farm, pick whortleberries on the openings, or cross the Maume;i for peaches at the Hiveleys. The young people had their rides, their socials, parties and dances if in a now country. Langdon became quite a resort, as we kejst the best of boarders. The latter part of 1837, the engineers on the canal boarded with us. The canal drew paymasters to our house. At the time of holding court, the Judges and bar were at home with us, I may name some:

Hon. E. D. Potter, Higgins, Coffinberry, Young and Waite; later others. I must add, to show how the bench and bar traveled, about 1839, two-thirds or more of the business for the courts originated in De - fiance, was taken on horseback to Bryan, our new county seat, tried, brought back and settled. There were farmers and townsmen living in a few miles of each other, or else there would be no need of Justices, Judges, courts and juries, and it is to bo hoped that farmers may become so educated that all questions of difficulty may be settled among themselves. When that time comes won't it be millenium year? I will mention a few of the farmers : Five families of Shirleys, four of Hudsons, five of Evans, three of Travis, two of Branchers, Hiveleys, Warrens, Lewis Downs, Davis, Keplers, Rhons and Dunn. Travelers from the Wabash and Fort Wayne, in going east for goods and on various kinds of business, were our guests, and occasionally were prevented from traveling by running ice, freshets, etc. Mr. R. Waite, returning from Bryan, was thrown by accident off his horse tripping into one of those slashes, covering himself, horse, saddle and portmanteau with mud; he looked rather sorry. It is said that Chief Justieii Waite made his maiden speech in our old brick court house. Late in 1841, the canal was nearly completed, and travel slow. I sold my property to Samuel Rohn and C. I. Trude, and bought the farm where we are now living, of Addison Goodyear, and moved in April, 1842. Before leaving Defiance, I wish to add that leaving that place, 25th of October, 1836, with team and load of 600 pounds for Farmer, stayed at Mr. Gardenhires tavern, in Brunersburg, for an early start next morning. Had corn bread, venison and coffee, without sugar or cream, for supper and same for breakfast. Started next morning before sunrise, drove half way, seven miles. 'At noon, rummaged our victual chest for scraps for dinner, watered and fed our- horses by the side of the road, started again for Farmer, drove as fast aa we could through mud, banging over roots, around tree-tops, till 9 o'clock that night. Had to go on foot forward of team to find the trail; saw no house on that day. Mr. Boyles started with np at Brunersburg; he having a heavy load, I was forced to leave him at Kibble Run. On the third day, he drove through Farmer, lost his way, and laid oxit two nights. We could buy noither crackers, bread, nor provisions of any kind in Brunersburg. Such were some of the difficulties farmers had to contend with. We think at some seasons we have it hard now; our blood ran faster then than now. Before leaving Defiance, I learned from old Mrs. Shirley that when they came into the fort the block-house was in a good state of preservation. At that time, there was a row of apple trees on each bank of the river from the point, standing far enough back from the rivers to admit of a wagon road between them and the river. They stood thirty feet outside of the pickets to the fort. In 1836, the trees stood on the edge of the bluff of the river and were bearing fruit to-day; and for years the rivers have undermined the trees, the land has all left up to the very pickets of the fort. The fur trade was the principal part of the profi ts of the merchants. The different families of Indians, loaded down with peltries, stopped off with squaws and papoosaa, were met with deputations of boys in the interest of each merchant. The Indians were taken in the store, the skins assorted and the price agreed upon, specie paid, then the whisky passed around. Before they left, all the money was paid back, and frequently were trusted some on the nest pack. We have prepared supper and entertained the Indians over night; they were very civil. It was common for the different fur buyers to hire young men to canvass the different districts, embracing a circuit of fifty miles from home, or more, often leaving money with pioneers in advance, sometimes at a loss. The Swings of Fort Wayne and Lafayette constituted one company, the Hollisters, the American Fur Company; opposition then as now. The buyers were C. L. Noble, Mr. Brigham, of Maumee, John Fury, of Perrysburg, and a half-breed by name Clark, who was quite a gentleman and educated at the Mission on the rapids, 0. Frygine, Gen. Curtis, Daniel Ridenhauer and others. After the removal of the county seat to Bryan, the subject of a new county was agitated, and Defiance County was formed from the two south tiers of Williams County, three townships from Henry and Putnam Counties, and a half township from Paulding County. Noble Township was formed from the north part of Defiance Township, after having the ono-half township added from Paulding. In the latter part of 1849, formed a partnership with Horace Hilton in merchandising and buying produce at the north end of Maumee River bridge. Purchased an acre of ground where Joseph Ralston now lives, cleared the grounds, built a house «,nd lived in it. Sold to Mr. Ralston. Sold my interest in the store to Mr. Hilton, my partner. In 1851, moved back on the farm; built the himse I now live in, in 1852. Before the Wabash Railroad was built through Defiance County, I kept a country tavern, as all Northwest and some of Indiana and Michigan were tributary to Defiance for market. September 13, 1882, the fiftieth anniversary of our wedding was celebrated. Our relatives and friends were in attendance, numbering about eighty guests. We were the recipients of some valuable gifts to cheer us in the down-hill journey of life. With all its hardships, toils and trials, -we have managed to experience more pleasures than ills; have formed extensive acquaintances that no money could purchase. Was where all the early settlers were obliged to stop and lay in supplies. Among all the inmates of our home, hired help, travelers, and especially boarders and townsmen are remembered with esteem. We have endeavored to live on good terms with neighbors and friends, so that the world would be no worse off for our living in it. The latoh-string is always hanging out.