Paulding County, Ohio - Chapter 4: Township History, Organization, Early Settlers, Etc, 1892 (part 1 of 2)

to be found in the county. Tenderly, eagerly and carefully will our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren peruse it, Age will but add to its value, and the dust of time will only make it more precious.

The smaller the territory covered by any history the more extensive are its details. Every incident and minute particle is gathered up and transmitted to its pages. Therefore, the township history will form a most interesting feature of this work. The township lines were established in 1820, but the townships were not organized until a much later date. Three of the townships, Crane, Carryall and Brown, were organized before the county. Crane was organized in 1825; Carryall, in 1829; and Brown, in 1830. Prior to the organization of the county, the citizens of the above mentioned townships paid their taxes, attended court, etc., at Defiance, which was then the county seat of Williams county. Here, with the kind permission of the reader, we will digress a little from our subject to insert a few scraps of history taken from Harper's Magazine for July, 1863. We do this because the history referred to has a direct bearing upon the territory of which we write. The extracts are incidents of the war of 1812, and are as follows:

* "From Fort Wayne Harrison sent out detachments to smite the Indian villages in various directions, and spread terror through their country. These were successful; and a forward movement down the Maumee was about to be commenced when General Winchester arrived at Fort Wayne, assumed command, to the great dissatisfaction of the soldiers, and Harrison returnedto Piqua, where he intended to collect the mounted men from Kentucky and prepare for an expedition against Detroit. There he received a dispatch from the secretary of war, saying:

"¢The President is pleased to assign to you the command of the northwestern army, which, in addition to the regular troops and rangers in that quarter, will consist of the volunteers and militia of Kentucky, Ohio, and three thousand from Virginia and Pennsylvania. He was promised artillery from Pittsburgh, and was invested with extraordinary powers. 'Exercise your own discretion, said the secretary, 'and act in all cases according to your own judgment.' great satisfaction to the army, and the soldiery expressed their willingness to go wherever Harrison might lead them: Winchester acquiesced in the change, and with two thousand men left Fort Wayne on the morning of September 23d, 1812, for the rapids of the Maumee, about seventy miles distant, to co-operate with the division under Harrison in the intended operations against Detroit and Malden. He advanced cautiously down the river, had some bloody skirmishes with the Indians in the van of a large force of white' and red men under Major Muir and Colonel Elliott, a notorious Indian agent, and at the close of the month arrived at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee rivers, where Wayne built a fort in 1794, and where the city of Defiance now stands. Muir and Elliott, taking counsel of prudence and their fears, had fled at his approach, and were then at the Maumee rapids, a point of great strategic importance, the possession of which would be essential to the Americans in successfully prosecuting their designs against Malden and Detroit."

As this detachment of troops passed down the Maumee from Fort Wayne to Defiance, it must have traversed in its march through what is now Carryall, Crane and Emerald townships, and, it is said, that one of the bloody skirmishes mentioned took place at the deep defile just below the present residence of John Musselman, Sr., in Emerald township; and in fact it is highly presumable that all of them took place within the limits of the county, as it is about the distance that an advance would be stationed, from the main body, to watch the movements and resist the approach of an invaling army; and the main body of Muir and Elliott's forces were at Defiance. Again we quote from the same article: "While Winchester was making his way toward Fort Defiance, Harrison was pushing on through the wilderness from St. Mary's, in the present county of Auglaize, Ohio, toward the Maumee rapids. The difficulties in the way of transportation of supplies over that swampy region, with inadequate means, were enormous. The base of operations, having the rapids for the first object to be possessed, was a line drawn along the margin of the swampy region from St. Marys to Upper Sandusky, the former to be the principal deposit for provisions, and the latter for artillery and military stores. The army was to march in three divisions, the right column to ba composed of the Virginia and Pennsylvania troops, to rendezvous at Wooster, and proceed from there by Upper Sandusky to the rapids. The center column, to consist of twelve hundred Ohio militia, was to march from Urbana to Fort McArthur, and follow Hull's road to the rapids. The left column, to be composed of the regulars under the command of Colonel Samuel Wells and four regiments pf Kentucky volunteers,was to proceed down the Auglaize to the Maumee from St. Mary's, join Winchester, and from thence proceed to the rapids."

As this left column marched down the Auglaize river from St. Mary's to Defiance, it must have passed through the present townships of Washington, Brown and Auglaize, and traces of the roads cut by these troops were plainly visible to the first settlers of those townships. Upon these routes were constructed the first roads of the pioneers. Further, the historian says:

"The plan was well arranged, but supplies lingered. Winchester's troops, composing the left wing of the army, were made a corps of observation, and Fort Defiance was designated as an important deposit for provisions, preparatory to the grand advance upon the rapids."

Wayne in 1794. It had four block-houses, connected by a continuous wall of pickets about twelve feet high, composed of logs hewn so as to stand closely together. The block-houses were considerably higher than the pickets, with an upper story extending over the lower about three feet. Port-holes and loop-holes were arranged at regular distances, both in the block-houses and stockade. The block-houses were roofed over with logs and covered with earth to prevent the bullets from passing through. There was an underground passage-way, extending from the inside of the fort to the Auglaize river, built for the purpose of escape and for obtaining water without being exposed to the shots of the Indians. The fort faced eastward toward the Auglaize river, and as late as 1822 two of the block-houses and two store-houses, built inside the fort, were yet standing in very good repair and occupied by families. In one of these resided, about one year, Judge Robert Shirley and family, before his removal to Brown township, near the present site of Charloe. With these few sketches of interesting general history, we will now proceed to the township histories direct, giving the same in alphabetical order :

Auglaize Township: - This township was attached to Brown until the year of 1840, at which time its own organization was effected. An election was called, and John Mason, Sr., and Nathan Shirley were elected the first justices of the peace; Adam Hall was elected the first constable, and A C. Adams the first clerk. The first actual settler in the township was Shadrach Hudson. He came from Miami county, Ohio, in the year of 1819, and built a log house on section 19, on the right bank of the Auglaize river, about one-half a mile east of the present village of Junction. This house is known as "the oldest house in the county," is still standing, and until recently has been occupied by dwellers. The following description of it was given in June, 1890, by a correspondent of the Oakwood Sentinel : x "Tt was built by Shadrach Hudson in 1822 or 23. It is of square logs, is two stories in height, and has a huge fire-place in each end. There are two rooms on the first story. The house stands on and commands a fine view, both up and down the Auglaize river. It is a pity the old house was not engraved for the county history. It will soon be a thing of the past and forgotten. I wish that some artist would take a sketch of the building and its surroundings, which are very picturesque" (Photographs were made of the building shortly after the above was written and sold throughout the county.)

"The house is situated on what is known as the Potter farm, one mile northeast of Junction. Near by is the cemetery where sleep the Hudsons, the Careys, the Shirleys, the Romaines, the Potters, and many other deceased pioneers. Its builder, Mr. Hudson, was a soldier with St. Clair, was at the battle where that general was defeated by the Indians ; also in the war of 1812, during which he visited the Maumee valley, where, being impressed with its fertility and natural beauties, he afterward settled. At one time he was a teamster employed in hauling supplies for the army. One night he arose in his sleep, harnessed his fourhorse team, hitched them to the wagon, and was about to start on his tedious journey, when he awoke. Mr. Hudson and his wife lived a life of piety, and daily gathered their large family around the family altar. They were very hospitable and entertained many a stranger who chanced to pass that way. What huge roasts of bear meat, venison and wild turkey they used to make before those old fire-places ! Their fumes seemed to fill the very air with their appetizing flavors. I wonder if departed ones ever come back to visit their abodes while in the flesh! If they do, what a host of them come back to that old house. In former days I often visited friends there and used to think what stories its old walls could tell if they could speak. But all are gone!

" 'Moved out of the old house up into the new, Even unto a heavenly mansion. Thou dear, old house! Thou canst not feel nor see ; Inanimate I know, but still a dear, old house to me."

The township originally consisted of thirty-six sections, but upon the construction of Defiance county, in 1845, its northern half was stuck off and added to Defiance township, of that county, the sections preserving the number of the original survey. This territory was taken from Paulding county in order to make Defiance, which was to be the county seat of the newly formed county, nearer its geographical center. To increase the size of Auglaize township, after its half had been cut off, sections 13, 24, 25 and 36 were taken from Emerald township and added to it on the west. The township is, therefore, seven miles in length from east to west, and three miles wide from north to south, excepting on the west tier of sections, where it is four miles in width. Owing to this addition, this township has two sections numbered 24, two, 25, and two 36; these | are distinguished from each other by the ranges, those taken from Emerald township being in range 3, and those in Auglaize proper, being in range 4. Through the carelessness of some county officials, serious mistakes are sometimes made in consequence of this arrangement of sections. For instance: A few years ago the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 36, town north, range 4 east, was advertised to be sold at sheriff's sale, much to the surprise of the owner, as he knew nothing of the debt for which the sale of the land had been ordered. Upon inquiry into the matter, it was found that the land which should have been advertised was of the same description as the above, excepting the range, which should have been 3 instead of 4. This mistake in the substitution of one figure for another, slight as it was, made a difference of just six miles in the location of the two pieces of land. ` The largest stream in the the township is the Big Auglaize river. It flows through the western part from south to north. Flat Rock enters the township from the south, and Little Flat Rock and Six Mile from the west; all three flow eastward and empty into the Big Auglaize. Bull Ron enters from the south and empties into Big Flat Rock. Eagle creek has its source in the eastern part of the township, flows westward and _ discharges its waters into the Auglaize. There are several stone quarries in the township. On the farm of Samuel M. Doyle, one-half mile east fof Junction, is a quarry of blue lime, and furnished stone for the construction of many aqueducts and culverts along the line of the Miami canal, when that thoroughfare of commerce was being built; also stone for the large iron bridge across the Auglaize river, near the location of the quarry. It has been idle for some years, but is being worked at present. Another quarry, on the farm of Jacob Davis, consists of blue, ` gray and white lime, and furnishes many parts of the county with stone for building and other purposes. Frederick Ruffner built the first and only flouring mill in the township in 1865. It is located in the village of Junction, is a frame, with _ two run of buhrs, turbine water-wheel, and is furnished power from the Miami canal. Owing to the complicated condition of its ownership, the mill has not been in operation for several years. The first saw mill erected in the township was built by William K. Daggett, in the year of 1841. It was situated about one mile north of Junction, and was furnished power by water from the canal. This mill was in operation for nearly forty years. A.C. Yencer, Hubert Naveau, Jr.,and John Varner now operate steam saw mills in the township. The first school taught in the township was by A. C. Adams, in 1840. It was in a log cabin which stood on section 25, range 3, a small building with clapboard roof, puncheon floor, and stick chimney. | Ten or twelve pupils were in attendance at this school. The first schoolhouse built in the township was in the village of Junction in 1854. It _ was a one-story frame, 28x30 feet in dimensions; a part of it is yet standing and is used as a dwelling. Upon the organization of the other subdistricts, which occurred between the years of 1854 and 1860, they were at first furnished buildings of hewn logs, but are now all supplied with good, substantial frames, excepting the one in Junction, which is a twostory brick, built in the summer of 1876, at a cost of $2,500. In sub-district number 4 (known as the Bethel school), is a large one-story frame. with two rooms on ground floor, built in 1878, by John Q. Gray, contractor, at a cost of about $1,000. The Bethel and Junction schools each employ a principal and assistant teacher; the remaining four subdistricts employ but one teacher each. About 600 pupils receive instruction at these schools. The resident teachers of the township are the Misses Emma and Katie Dotterer, Mr. Henry Schildt, Mr. Englebert Link and Miss Fronia Stover.

The first postoffice established in the township was in the village of Junction, in 1842. It was called the same as the village, and John Mason, Sr., was the first postmaster. The office still exists, and J. G. Dotterer is the present postmaster. One other office was established in 1882. named Arthur, in honor of Chester A. Arthur, who was then president of the United States. John Moore was the first postmaster at this office, and A. J. Kinnear is the present. It is located in the eastern part the township. Junction postoffice is situated on a mail route, ex-

' tending from Delphos to Defiance, and has a tri-weekly mail - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; Arthur is on a star route leading only from that point to Defiance, and receives a bi-weekly mail - Tuesdays and Saturdays.

| The first sermon preached in the township was in the cabin home of John Mason, Sr., by a Methodist minister named Solomon Biggs. The first church organization effected in the township was at Junction, in 1849, by a Methodist Episcopal minister named Adams, and the first Sabbath-school was opened the same year by that reverend gentleman. There are now five religious organizations in the township - the Christian, the Methodist, the United Brethren, the German Reform, and Catholic - all of which have church edifices, the last four named being in the Junction and the first named at Arthur, five miles east of the Junction.

The only village in the township is Juncton. It was laid out in 1842 by John Mason, Sr., and Nathan Shirley. It is situated in the western part of the township at the junction of the Wabash & Erie and Miami canals. In its early days it was a flourishing and enterprising place, so much so, that Capt. Dana Columbia sold his property on Columbia street in the now busy city of Fort Wayne, and located at the Junction, believing that he would better his chances for gaining wealth by so doing. In those days canals were the great thoroughfares for commerce, and the opening of the Wabash & Erie and Miami extension canals gave to Junction its flattering prospects. Daily lines of packets ran on both canals, and many passengers were transferred at this place. This gave a prosperous business for hotels, of which there were two or three. There were three or four large, well-filled dry goods stores and groceries; three large warehouses for the storage of grain; canal collector's office and residence, and half a dozen saloons. The wharves were lined with canal boats, loading and unloading grain and other freight, giving to the village the semblance of an embryo city, which many of its citizens believed it tobe. But commerce found other channels than the canals through which to discharge its weaith; and for many years the dust of decay has been settling upon the once thriving village. The warehouses have all burned, and many of the other buildings have rotted down. The streets have a forlorn and wo-begone appearance, so much so, that if Goldsmith had traversed them he might have been inspired to improve upon his celebrated poem, " The Deserted Village," if improvement was possible. In common parlance, the place has been going "down hill" for several years, and farmers in that vicinity remark that " its site will make a good cornfield when its rubbish is moved away." H. Naveau, Sr., William Dotterer and John Shawver have three small general stores for the accommodation of a few customers, but depend on their farms for a living, and S. M. Doyle is the proprietor of the only hotel in the place.

About one mile north of Junction is the fine farm of F. W. Le Sueur, upon which is kept a fine herd of Hereford cattle. There are several fine country residences in the township, among which may be mentioned that of H. Naveau, Sr.; John G. Dotterer and Andrew Ott, of brick; and the frame residences of E. M. Wade, Isaac Hardesty and Nathan Varner. The number of voters May 18, 1891, was 258. The population of the township in 1880 was 1,068; in 1890 it was only 1,027, a decrease of 41, if the figures in both instances be correct.

Brown Township. - This township was the third to be organized in the county, which event occurred in 1830. It received its name from Fort Brown, a small stockade that was built at the confluence of the Big Auglaize and Little Auglaize rivers in the year of 1812, and occupied for a short time by a detachment of Gen. Harrison's army, commanded by Col. Brown. The stockade was soon abandoned and all traces of its fortifications are now obliterated. The township, when first organized, included Auglaize, Washington, Latty, Jackson and Blue Creek townships. Christian Shroufe was the first white man and actual settler in the township. His rude cabin and pioneer home was erected about one mile south of where now stands the thriving little village of Oakwood, on the Litchenberg farm. Mr. Shroufe settled in the township in the year of 1826. He was shortly after followed by Dr. John Kinery, Robert Shirley, John Hudson, Pierce Taylor, John Kimmell and " Grand-pap " Jeffrey. In 1837 came John W. Ayres and the Hawkins family; in 1845, Dr. Royal B. Cooper; and later, about the years of 1849-50, the flow of immigration became quite extensive and the township received a number of settlers. Among them the writer remembers the following: James M. Russell, Harrison Hanville, Jacob Keck, Andrew Linnaberry, Webster Jones, Chester Sackett, Jacob Switzer, James Mather, John and William Stair, A. L. Darling, E. W. Gleason, Dwight G. Blakeslee, Rodney Young, the Bidlack family, Daniel and Jacob May, the Robinson and Lighthill families, C. J. Freede, Sr., Eli Budd, Samuel, Andrew, Jesse and Robert Caskey, Joseph Williams, John Kretzinger and Josiah Hoover. A few years later came the Fuller and Burt families. These may all be justly classed with the pioneers of Brown township. Some of them, happy in old age, are yet living to enjoy the fruits of their early struggles; a few have found homes in other lands; but many are dead - gone to that bourne whence none return - and their descendants, now themselves whitening with the snow of age, live to honor and perpetuate the memory of their fathers by telling the story of their struggles and hardships as pioneers. The first election held in the township was at Fort Brown, in 1830, at which there were about forty-five votes cast, the voters coming from what are now Auglaize, Washington and Brown townships. The first justice of the peace elected was Dr. John Kingery. The other first officers are unkuown. There thirtysix sections in the township, none of which are fractional. The principal stream is the Big Auglaize, It enters the township near the southeast corner, flows westerly and northerly and leaves it near the northwest corner. The Little Auglaize and Blue Creek are small western affluents of the Big Auglaize.

An extensive stone quarry was worked, between the years of 1855-60, by Hon. C. L. Noble, one mile south of Charloe, also a stone mill for sawing stone, at Canal Port, near by. Neither is operated at present. The first grist mill in the township was built by Pierce Evans, in 1834. It was located on the Little Auglaize, near its mouth, and was soon washed away by high water. A saw mill was run in connection with this mill, and was the first in the township. A few rods above the former site of this mill, on the same stream, stands a flouring mill, owned by Alexander Brown. It was erected in 1849-50, by Jacob Switzer, and was for many years the only flouring mill in the township. The first steam saw mill in the township, also in the county, was erected in 1852, at Charloe, by Dwight G. Blakeslee. It is yet owned and operated by him, being quite a curiosity; the old form of upright saw is still used. Other saw mills in the township are owned by Weible & Bell, Fuller & Burt, Budd & Varner, Willis Fuller and Josiah Hoover. The first school taught in the township, was by John D. Carlton, inthe year of 1834. It was taught in an unoccupied cabin on the farm lately owned by D. C, Carey, near Charloe, and fifteen or twenty pupils were in attendance. The first school-house in the township was erected at Charloe, in 1835. It was a log cabin, 20x24 feet in size. There now ten school buildings in the township, all good substantial frames, excepting the two-story brick at Oakwood, erected in 1884, at a cost of about 52,600. The buildings at Oakwood, Charloe and Melrose, have two rooms and employ two teachers; the other districts, but one. The first postoffice in the township was at Ft. Brown. It was on the route from Piqua to Defiance, and the mail was carried on horseback once a week. On the opening of the Miami canal the route was changed and the office became extinct. The present offices are at Charloe, Oakwood and Melrose. The first sermon preached in the township was by an Methodist Episcopal divine, named J. J. Hill, in 1830. He established a church about that date near Charloe. Among its first members were Rhoda Hudson and Robert Shirley and wife. There are now seven church edifices in the township; two at Melrose, Methodist Episcopal and Disciple; two at Oakwood, the old and new Methodist Episcopal (the old one will be abandoned upon the completion of the new); Prairie Run chapel, U. B, one mile east from Oakwood; Centenary chapel, U. B., in the north part of the township, and the Lutheran, near Charloe, The first Sabbath school in the township was organized at Charloe, by C. B. West, in 1841. Regarding this pioneer Sunday-school, the Paulding Republican, of July 23, 1891, has the following: "What is at present known as the Charloe Union Sunday-school, was the first, and consequently is the oldest Sunday school in Paulding county. It was organized in 1841, by C. B. West, who held the superintendency until he moved away in 1850. David C. Carey was then chosen superintendent, and held the office until 1870, when he was elected probate judge, which necessitated his moving to Paulding. Dwight G. Blakeslee was next chosen, and remained superintendent until 1878. Mr. Carey, having returned, was again superintendent for one year, when, upon his moving to Oakwood, Mr. Blakeslee was reinstated, and has filled the office up to the present time. The school is in a flourishing condition, last year's daily average being forty-nine; for the quarter just closed it has reached fifty-three, the highest average in the school's existence - 41 - 91! Fifty years! Fifty annual elections of officers and yet only three different superintendents, excepting Eli Day and Martin Myres, who each held the office three or four months, Is there a Sunday-school in this state that can excel this record?"

Canal Port St. Andrews and Newbergh are now extinct villages of the township - all three having been absorbed by Melrose. St. Andrews was laid out May 31, 1850, by James M. and Alexander Mather, two gentlemen of Scottish descent, from New Brunswick, and was named after the patron saint of Scotland. Newbergh (Royal Oak postoffice) was laid out May 7, 1851, by David Shriver and Leonard Kimmel. A, L. Darling opened the first place of business in this place in 1850. It was a small grocery store kept in the front room of a small cabin in which he resided. On a small white oak tree in front of this house, he nailed a piece of a store box, upon which was traced, in rude charcoal characters, the words, " Royal Oak Grocery." From this fact came the name which the place always bore. Canal Port, on the canal, one mile north of Charloe, was known as Exchange bridge. (The towing path changed sides of canal at this place.) It was never but little more than a " paper town," although Mr, J. A. Boyd, an enterprising timber dealer of the county, for many years did an extensive mercantile business at this point, and yet resides here, in what is known as the "seven-gabled house." At Canal Port was also formerly located a stone mill, for sawing stone obtained from the Noble quarry, with which it was connected by a tramway about one-half a mile in length. At this mill for several years, between 1858 and 1868, large blocks of magnesian limestone were sawn into handsome building blocks and largely exported. The stone was a beautiful buff color, containing nodules of chert, and was found in the quarry in layers about four feet in thickness. The mill and tramway have gone to decay, and the quarry is no longer worked, although it is thought that large quantities of excellent stone could yet be obtained from it. It lies just above the mouth of Blue creek, on the west side of the Auglaize river, one mile south of Charloe, Charloe is the oldest village in the township, and will be described under the head of " County Seats," further on in the work. Oakwood was laid out as a village, September 17, 1872, by William C. Hedges, and the surveying done by L. E. Holtz, of Ottawa. As early, however, as 1851, goods were sold by John Crosson, who owned the farm upon which much of the village stands. In 1854, when the Tiffin & Fort Wayne railroad (now Nickel Plate) was being built, a general store was opened by a contractor named Hazen, and run until the road collapsed. Shortly after the war, S. S. Schiller and N.C. Whiting opened small country stores in the place, and Mr. Whiting established a ferry for the transportation of teams and passengers across the Auglaize. A postoffice was established some yéars before the town was laid out, a mail route leading from Ottawa to Charloe. This route was maintained until the opening of the Nickel Plate, in 1881. The place received a boom in 1871-72, while the " Continental railway" was in process of construction, but it was not until some ten years later, on the completion of the New York, Chicago, St. Louis & Pacific railway, that it began to show signs of permanent thrift, upon which has been built a prosperous and enterprising village. It now contains the large and well conducted grocery houses of A. N. Wiseley, and Levi C. Kech; the dry goods and clothing house of Hlectius Wiseley; an excellent drug store, by I. L. Ackley; large hardware store, by S. S. Schisler; several restaurants; the Nickel Plate hotel, John Rumele, proprietor; Garland house, by F. Andrews; good depot building, two-story brick schoolhouse, steam flouring mill; saw mill and planing mill, Josiah Hoover, proprietor; two physicians; the Oakwood Sentinel, a weekly paper, published by C. TCarey. The village is incorporated, and has a population of about 400,

Melrose, a rival of Oakwood in commercial importance, is located at the crossing of the Nickel Plate railroad and Miami canal, two miles west of the above described village. It was laid out, about the year 1854, by Messrs. Gibson & Pennington, but had only one house, and used only as a banking ground for ship timber until about the year of 1872, when Amos Rathburn erected a building and began business, The town remained only a small packet landing until 1881, when, upon the opening of the Nickel Plate, several large business buildings were immediately erected, among the first being that of Alex. Brown, a general store and hotel. He was followed by George W. Bentley, dry goods and groceries; the general store of J. G. Patterson & Co.; Grant & Edwards, hardware merchants; J. H. Myres, hotel; J. H. Shirley, grocery house, and several other places of business. Of the manufacturing interests of the place, the large stave works of Wheeler, Fuller & Co. are the most extensive; Messrs, Boyd & Freede have an office and lumber yard in this place, and conduct from here the largest business in the county, receiving pine and poplar lumber direct from mills owned by themin Mississippi. Melrose has good schools, good churches, is incorporated and has a population about equal to that of its only rival in the township - Oakwood. Its facilities for transportation are the best in the county, having both a railroad and canal. The canal packet " Willie," during the season of navigation, plies between this place and Defiance on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and between Delphos and Melrose on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

A few years ago the township was divided into the Melrose and Oakwood voting precincts. The number of voters in the Oakwood precinct May 18, 1891, was 376; in the Melrose precinct, 209; total number in township, 585. The population of the township in 1830 was 1,459; in 1890 it was 2,418.

winding road up the forest-covered banks of Blue Creek, built a log cabin on the southwest quarter of section 14, and became the first actual settler of the township. He was followed in 1839 by Robert Hakes, James Cunningham and Daniel Traul, who with their families may be said to be the first settlers of the township. The settlement made by them was on sections 14 and 15, then in the heart of a dense forest, ten miles from any other settlement. These hardy pioneers, like most others, were hunters and depended largely upon the fruits of the chase for subsistence until their farms could be cleared and the cereals grown. Upon the site of this first settlement now some of the finest farms in the county. The first white child born in the township was George Hakes, son of Robert and Caroline Hakes. He yrew up to manhood, entered the Union army in the early days of the Civil war, and became one of its victims, dying of disease at Nashville, Tenn. Robert Hakes remained a few years in Blue Creek township, then became a citizen of Brown township, settling near Oakwood, where he live until happy old age, and then found rest beneath the silent clay. The descriptive location of the township is town 1, range 2 north. It was organized in 1846, but was not attached to 'Brown until April 6, 1857, when an election was held at the Reed schoolhouse, in sub-district number 1. At this election, the first in the township, eleven voters cast their ballots, named as follows: I. N. Glover, Joseph Reed, Hiram Davis, Alanson McCombs, John Eller, James Barnhill, Lewis Place, Samuel R. Glover, Joseph Bowyer and R. W. Haskins. The first officers elected were Joseph Bowyer, Hiram Davis and Roswell Haskins, trustees; Joseph Reed, treasurer; I. N. Glover, clerk; Alanson McCombs, assessor, and Hiram Davis, constable. There are thirty-six sections in the township, of which sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31 are fractional. Robert McDaniel and Maria Barnhill were the first couple to be united in the holy bonds of matrimony in the township. This marriage contract was solemnized October 19, 1839. Blue creek, 'after which the township was named, is the only stream in the township, and flows through it from southeast 'to northwest. The soil is a rich, black loam, from one to two feet in depth. The surface is low and level, | and covered with a heavy growth of ash, elm, oak, hickory, cottonwood 'and sycamore timber; yellow poplar, hard maple and beech are found | along the creek. There no flouring mills in the township. The first -saw-mill was erected in the eastern part of the township in the winter of 1870-71; there now several. Robinson's lumber works at Dague, and a hoop and stave factory at Scott, are the most extensive manufacturing industries of the township. The manufactory at Scott was founded {about the year of 1884. Hoops and staves are manufactured. It is owned and operated by the Leeson Cooperage Company, John Leeson being the principal proprietor. J. M. Smith is the general manager. The first school taught in the township was by Marie Smith in the year of 1850. It was in a log house on the Reed farm. Seven pupils were in attendance. There are now nine districts in the township, all supplied with good houses. Dague and Scott have special districts and graded 'schools, The first sermon preached in the township was al the residence of Joseph Reed, in 1848, by Rev. Luther, a Free Will Baptist minister. At the same place, in 1850, Rev. Abram Shingledecker, of the U. B. denomination, organized the first church, of which the following were the first 'members: Joseph, Mary and Lucinda Reed, and John, Nancy, William, Hannah and Edmund Barker. The second church organized was in the winter of 1871-72, at the Reed school house, by Rev. Graham, a United Brethren minister. There are now four church societies in the township : United Brethren, Methodist, Baptist and Christian. All have church edifices. The first Sabbath-school organized in the township was at the Reed school house, in 1851, by Samuel Stone. The first postoffice was established in the township in 1872. It was located on the Paulding and Van Wert pike, and named Point Pleasant. Upon the opening of the Mackinaw railroad the office was moved to Dague. There are: now four offices in the township, as follows: Dague, Folmer, Scott and Tipton | The villages of the township are Dague, Folmer and Scott. One-half 'of the latter is located in Van Wert county. The number of voters in the township on May 18, 1891, were, north precinct, 362; south precinct, 126; total, 488. Population in 1880, 2,406; in 1890, 2,243.

Benton Township. - This township, town 1, range 1, is the southwest corner township of the county. It received, for its first settlers, Jonathan, David and George Ball, John Northup, Daniel Malott, Henry Shugars, Jacob Henry, John Ricks, Deliverance Brown, James M. Anderson, and David Malott. The first settlement was made about the year of 1839, on section 17. The first cabin was built by Jonathan Ball, who, with his family, ventured in the forest wilds and commenced the building up of a beautiful home. Phebe E. Ball was the first white child born in the township; her parents were George and Bethena Ball. The first marriage solemnized in the township was that of David Malott and Nancy Ball,in the year of 1840. Death waved its dark wand, and Nancy, wife of Jonathan Ball, was its first victim in the township. This sad event occurred in August, 1843. Death is ever surrounded with its terrors, but among our pioneers its stern relentlessness fell with apparently a heavier stroke than in a more populous country. The solemnity of a burial among the early settlers, where a wife, mother and friend, was laid away to her lonely rest beneath the somber shade of the oak or the elm, left its sad impression for many months. The organization of the township took place in 1843, and the first election was held on the first Monday of April of that year, by order of A. H. Palmer, clerk of the board of commissioners, at the residence of John Northup, a building which stood about twenty feet north of where old Mr. Jordon now lives in the village of Payne. Thomas Wentworth, Jonathan Ball and David Malott, were judges, and Theodore G. Merchant and Daniel Malott, were clerks. The township at that time embraced within its limits what are now Harrison and Paulding townships. Six of the voters, Daniel and David Malott, William, David and Jonathan Ball, and John Northup, were residents of Benton proper; B. B. Woodcock, Niram Strout and Thomas Wentworth, lived in what is now Harrison, and John Fisher and Theodore G. Merchant, in what is now Paulding township.

The officers elected at this election were: Daniel Malott, clerk; Theodore G. Merchant, treasurer; Thomas Wentworth, John Shepard and David Malott, trustees; Niram Strout, assessor; David Malott, constable; and William Ball, B. B. Woodcock and David Malott, fence viewers. An incident is related of one of the first elections of this township which is worthy of note in this work, if not worthy of imitation. It is illustrative of the honesty of purpose of the first voters of the county and is as follows: An election was held at the house of John Northup, the ballot-box being Mr. Northup's old opossum skin cap. Dana Columbia, of Junction, was a candidate for the office of county commissioner ; but after the balloting had proceeded for some length of time, a horseman arrived post-haste, and by speaking so derogatorily of the character of Mr. Columbia, and by so emphatically declaring that he was not a suitable person for the office, he so influenced several of the voters as to cause them to want to change their votes. After some parleying with the judges and clerks, it was decided to begin the election over again. Accordingly the old "'possum" skin cap was turned upside down, the tickets already cast emptied out and thrown away, and a nêw ballot taken. This was certainly a wide departure from the Australian system of balloting, but it resulted in the defeat of Mr. Columbia, and the illegality of the proceeding was never tested. There are thirty-six sections in the township, none fractional. Flat Rock creek is the largest stream in the township, flowing from southeast to northwest. Blue creek and Paulding run are also streams in the township. The first school in the township was a select school taught by John Zimmerman, in the year of 1843; ten pupils were in attendance. The first public school was taught by W. H. Kilpatrick in 1854, in a log cabin on section 16. The first frame school house in the township was erected in the autumn of 1863. It was located on section 20, and was 20x20 feet in size. Its cost of building was 8375. There are now six school houses in the township, all frame, 24x30 feet in size, and erected at an average cost of $500 each. They were all furnished with improved school furniture in 1881. The first postoffice in the township was located on section 9, and named McGill. W. H. Kilpatrick was first postmaster. The office has been removed to Payne. The only postoffice in the township at present is Batson, established in July, 1891, and located near the center of the township. It received its name from Andrew Batson, its first postmaster. The first sermon in the township was preached at the house of Bernard B. Woodcock, July 4th, 1843. The first church society was organized in 1850. It was of the United Brethren denomination, and held meetings at the residence of Deliverance Brown. A Catholic church was organized in 1865, with nine members. Services were held at the residence of John Finan until a church was erected at Payne. The population, as returned by the census of 1880, was 2,798; in 1890, it was 2,145. The township is divided into two voting precincts, viz.: Payne precinct and south precinct. At the quadrennial enumeration of 1891, Payne precinct enrolled 175 voters ; south precinct, 359; total number in township, 534.

Crane Township.- - This township, the first to be organized in the county, received its name from Oliver Crane, one of its early settlers. Its organization took place in 1825, and at its first election Gen. Horatio N. Curtis was elected justice of the peace. A record of the other first officers has not been preserved and their names are unknown. The first settlements were made about the year 1822. The first settlers were: Oliver Crane, Ephraim Seeley, Samuel Hughes, Ephraim Burwell, Samuel Jordan and Dennison Hughes. There were no roads: at that time, and the pioneers reached the township by means of pirogues on the Maumee. There were many Indians camped along the river then, but they were generally peaceable and kind to the settlers, excepting when under the influence of whisky, at which time they were sullen and quarrelsome, Mrs. Lattimore relates an incident of an Indian named Ant. Wayne, who was cruel to his wife. One day he came home in a state of beastly intoxication, when his squaw, concluding that she would get even with her copper-colored lord, gave him a severe chastisement, which entirely cured him of his cruelty to her. At the time of the first settlement the forests of the township abounded with game, and fish was plentiful and easily obtained. It is related that the fish were so thick on the fords of the Maumee as to frighten and impede the progress of horses, The first postoffice established in the township was Cranesville, located near the site of New Rochester. There are now two offices within the township limits - Cecil and Knoxdale. The first marriage in the township was that of Mr. Young and Miss Sherry, in 1825, and was solemnized by Oliver Crane. The first school in the township was taught in 1827, in a small log house which stood on the north bank of the Maumee, about two miles northeast of Cecil. The first school house was built in the village of New Rochester, in the year of 1836. It was a log cabin 20x24 feet in size, and untila few years ago its moldering remains yet stood and were pointed out to the writer as the last house standing in the once enterprising and bustling village. All the rest had been battered down by the storms of time, and now this one, too, is gone. There are eight school districts in the township at present, all supplied with good houses. The only grist mill éver built in the township was erected on the Marie-DeLarme, in 1850. It was a small frame and was built by Zachariah Ashton. It was in operation for only a few years and has long since rotted down. The early settlers got their grain converted into flour and meal at a mill in Brunersburg, Defiance county, erected by a Mr. Perkins, in 1828-29, and was one of the first flouring mills built in the Maumee valley. Up to the erection of this mill, the nearest one to the settlers of Crane township was at Waterville, about fifty miles down the Maumee. In those early days transportation was generally done by means of pirogues on the river; but sometimes by ox teams, and the journey to and from often occupied several days and was full of hardships and danger. During these milling excursions, the wife and little ones of the pioneer remained at home alone, often with scanty fare, and with anxious hearts awaited his return. A story is told of an instance where the team of a pioneer perished in one of these trips, and he, himself, only escaped with feet and hands so badly frozen as to maim and cripple him for life. Such were the trials and hardships of the early settlers. Well may we pay to their memory that reverence which is their due. The first village of the township was New Rochester. It was located on section 11, and was laid out in 1835. It was the first county seat of Paulding county, and a more extensive history of the place will be given elsewhere in this work. Cecil and Knoxdale are the present villages of the township.

Cecil, located at the crossing of the Wabash and Mackinaw railroads, was laid out April 1, 1871, by Martin N. Utley, and is now a thriving place of about four hundred inhabitants. It has a fine two-story brick school house, built in 1879; a two-story town hall, also of brick ; three churches, Methodist, United Brethren and Catholic; all frame structures; fine hotel, two depot buildings, saw mill and tile factory, large stave factory, owned and operated by Beugnot Bros.; and several business houses, the principal of which may be mentioned is the large general store of M. N. Utley. Knoxdale is only a small station on the Wabash railroad, five miles west of Cecil. The population of the township in 1880 was 1,202; in 1890, it was 1,417. The number of voters May 18, 1891, was 355. Carryall Township. - This township occupies a position in the northwest corner of the county. It was the second to be organized, and for many years was the most flourishing and populous. It derived its name from a large rock in the Maumee river, just above Antwerp, which was shaped like a boat used by the French voyagers in navigating the river, and called by them a "carrryall." James Hinton settled in the township as a "squatter " in the spring of 1827. In the autumn of the same year David Applegate built the first log cabin and became the first actual settler. He was followed in 1828 by Brasier Campbell, William Banks, Reason V. Spurrier, Thomas Runyan, Robert Murphy, Sr., Zachariah Graves, Dennison Hughesand Samuel Holton. Among other early settlers are A. J. Smith, who came from New York state in 1830; Wilson H. Snook, Sr., and William N. Snook, who came from Warren county, Ohio, in 1834; Jesse Pocock and Joseph Cole, in 1844; Henry Oswalt, in 1847, and John L. Chaney, in 1850. The township was organized in 1829, and the first election was held ina log cabin which stood about onehalf a mile north of the present limits of Antwerp. Twelve votes were cast at this election - - the names of some of the voters being as follows: David Applegate, Richard Banks, William Banks, Thomas C. Banks, Sr., Robert Murphy, Sr., Thomas Runyan, Hugh E. Runyan, William Rodgers and A.J. Smith. The first township officers elected were: Reason V. Spurrier, treasurer; Robert Murphy, clerk; Richard Banks, William Rodgers and A. J. Smith, trustees. Many of the representative men of the township at present are descendants of the above named families. Wilson H. Snook was county commissioner nine years, and a member of the Ohio state legislature one term. He erected the first frame barn in the township, and in the orchard he planted are yet to be found trees grown from seed furnished by that famous follower of Swedenborg, generally known as "Johnny Appleseed." This eccentric individual was born in Massachusetts in 1775. His real name was Jonathan Chapman, but from the fact that he always carried a load of apple seeds with him he derived the cognomen of "Johnny Appleseed." He was a harmless old man, whose hobby was to travel from\place to place along streams in the wilderness, and plant apple seeds. He traveled throughout Ohio, and even as far west as Illinois. The first orchard he planted in Ohio was on the present farm of Isaac Stodden, in Licking county. He died in Allen county, Indiana, near Fort Wayne. Several of the first settlers of the county remember of having seen him. Judge Carey has an article regarding him in the Oul:wood Sentinel, of August 6, 1891, of which the following is an extract:

" He lived for others solely, so far as I remember him, denying himself all the comforts of life, unless it was the comfort of knowing that he was doing great and lasting good. 'He seemed proof against peril and empowered with ubiquity.' The Indians considered him crazy, fed and warmed him, but never molested him as he traveled through their wilds and up and down their streams; I may not be able to relate much that is new or old in regard to Johnny. When I was quite young, four or five years old, I remember he stayed at my father's house [Isaac Carey], clothed in rags, and shoes bound on his feet by strings to hold them on his feet and the pieces of shoes from parting company. He seemed as happy as a lark, and I might as well say here that he was full of exhortation and good words, a good supply of religious tracts that he distributed with a liberal hand in every cabin where they could read. Johnny was a follower and believer in Emanuel Swedenborg, and a member of the New Jerusalem church. Johnny, I remember, was not a believer in fire and brimstone combined and burning forever; for he said that he thought that the worst part of hades would not be worse than smoky houses and scolding women. But Johnny was a bachelor, and that may account for a part of that fling at the scolding women. My father, on one occasion, asked Johnny why he never married; he turned the subject by saying that in the world to come he should have a wife, 'not of flesh and blood as ye see me have,' but a spiritual wife. He would not wear good clothes. My father at one time made him a present of a pair of shoes about as good as new, expecting he would put them on; but no; he packed them away in his bundle of valuables and packed them on, saying they were too good to wear, but they would make a fine present for some needy person. Johnny not only peidled apple seeds, but catnip, pennyroyal and hoarhound, and in that way these streams in an early day had these useful herbs. Johnny, if crazy, and I do not think he was, knew where to place his nurseries at the head of streams, and then, with a canoe loaded with apple trees, float down stream with a light pot or tin pail on his head, stopping at the cabins and giving out seeds and selling, or pretending to sell, trees, as I think he but seldom, if ever, got much value for the same."

The first white child born in the township was William R. Banks, December 28, 1828. He is yet living, is justly proud of the notoriety which his birth has given him, and often furnishes pioneer reminiscences to the county papers. His parents' names were William and Hester Banks. The first marital vows that were plighted in the township were those of David P. Murphy and Nancy P. Runyan. They were married, in 1829, by H. N. Curtis, Esq. Mr. Murphy died in 1834, and his wife, after living a widow thirty-seven years, took for her second husband Dr. B. B. Woodcock. She was born in Butler county, Ohio, December 30, 1808, her parents being Thomas and Hannah Runyan, who came to the Maumee country in 1824. There are thirty-six sections in the township, none of which are fractional. The Maumee is the principal stream of the township. It enters near the southwest corner and flows northeasterly through it. Along this stream are many large tracts of bottom lands, and many fine farms. The Marie-de-Larme is a small creek which flows easterly through the northern part of thetownship. It has a north and south fork. Six Mile creek crosses the southern portion of the township. A reservoir, which serves as a feeder to the Wabash & Erie canal, laid partly in this township and partly in Crane. It was formed by throwing up an embankment and cutting off the waters of Six Mile creek. The reservoir was abandoned by an act of legislature in 1888, and the channel of the creek again opened as originally. A stone quarry of blue lime was formerly opened in the bed of the Maumee river a short distance below Antwerp, but is not worked at present. A man named William Roberts taught the first school in the township, in 1833. It was a select school, taught in a log cabin, and numbered about fifteen pupils. The building stood on the north bank of the Maumee, about two miles northeast of Antwerp, near the present residence of Conrad Slough. About one-half of the ground upon which the house stood has been the township, all good frame structures, excepting the Union school building at Antwerp, which is a fine two-story brick, containing six rooms. 'The first and only flouring mill ever in the township was erected by Peter Snook and James W. Johnson, in the year of 1872. It is located in the village of Antwerp, is run by steam power, and is now owned and operated by the firm of Carr & Smith. The first saw mill was erected in 1854, by Alexander Comparet. It was run by steam power. There are now several steam saw mills in the township.

The first postoffice in the township was located about two miles east of Antwerp. It was named Paulding-Williams office. The first postmaster was Reason V. Spurrier. The first mail-carrier was John Owens. He traveled on horseback on the route lying between Fort Wayne and Defiance. The only office in the township at present is Antwerp. P. F. Harris is postmaster. The first sermon preached in this township was at

Shakespeare's sentence, " He stole the livery of Heaven to serve the devil in," is certainly applicable to this erring divine. Was he a sheep in a wolf's clothing, or vice versa? Let us hope for him that he repented of his larcenic act and was forgiven. The first members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Carryall were William and Hester Banks, Reason and Mary Spurrier, Dennison and Hannah Hughes, Joel and Marie Munson, John and Mary Banks, Hugh E. and Sophia Runyan, W. H. Snooks and wife.

A United Brethren church was organized, in 1846, by David Landis, in a log school-house, near what was then called Clark's Corners. Some of its first members were, Rachel, Chase and Rebecca Wentworth, John and Harriet Collins, and Sophia Brown. A third church organization took place September 20, 1847, near McCormick's Corners. Richard Banks and wife, Mr. and Mrs. John Banks, Joseph Clark and wife, Jesse Brown and wife, and Susan Brown, were some of the first members. There are seven church buildings in the township - one Catholic, one

The first Sunday-school in the township was organized, in 1850, by John Lincoln and Henry A. Brown. The only village in the township is Antwerp, of which a special history will be found in another chapter of this work. The number of voters as returned by the quadrennial enumeration of 1891, was 687. The poputation of the township in 1880 was 2,506; in 1890 it was 2,638.

Emerald Township. - This township, although settled as early as 1826, was not organized until 1852. Prior to that time it was attached to Crane township. The first actual settler was William Gordon, who, in the spring of 1826, built a small cabin on the bank of the Maumee, in the northwest corner of the township, and moved his family therein. In the following year the settlement begun by Mr. Gordon received an addition by the settling of George Plattor, Guy Hamilton and John Musselman, who also built cabins along the Maumee, and commenced battling with the frowning forest. Of these first settlers, John Musselman yet lives on the farm which he cleared up, and at the advanced age of ninety years is one of the best preserved specimens of pioneer life in the county. He the county papers, and is thoroughly posted on all the leading topics of the day. Among other early settlers who became residents of the township may be mentioned John Fahy, who came in 1838, and Lyal Tate and Richard Carle, in 1840. These last named pioneers settled along the line of the Wabash & Erie canal, which was then in process of construction. Mr. Carle was a stone-cutter, and assisted in stone work along the canal.

on the canal, and became one of the first and most successful merchants of the township. In 1887, fifty years after his emigration to America, and Queen Victoria's jubilee year, he visited the home of his birth, in the north of Ireland, accompanied by his only son, Samuel J., and returned after an absence of six weeks. He died in Paulding in 1890, aged sixty-nine years. Mr. Fahy became a farmer near Tate's Landing, and died in the spring of 1891, aged eighty-nine years. The first election in the township was held in 1852, at the residence of Lina Parrish, on Six Mile creek. The first officers elected were: John Musselman, justice of the peace; Abraham Latty, clerk; Anthony Whippart, treasurer; and Lina Parrish, Thomas Whalen, Sr., and Richard L. Carle, trustees. The township received its name from the fact that a number of the noble "sons of Erin" had settled within its limits. The first school in the township was taught by Isaac McCowan, in a cabin belonging to David Hughes, and situated on section 5. It had a clap-board roof, stick chimney, mud fire-place, and a soating capacity of about twenty, which number of pupils attended. The first school house was located on section 6. It was built by John Musselman for a residence, but was sold by him to the township for a school house. There are now eight schools in the township (one especially for colored pupils). Three of the sub-districts have good brick buildings, and the township board of education has arranged to erect brick buildings in each of the remaining districts whenever new houses are needed. The township has two postoffices - Reid's and Emmett. Reid's was the first to be established and was so called in honor of Captain Robert M. Reid, who was largely instrumental in securing its establishment. It is located on the defunct Wabash & Erie canal, in the western part of the township. Daily mails are carried between this office and Emmett, on the Wabash railroad, two and onehalf miles north of Reids.

The first religious society organized in the township was at the residence of Thomas E. Jones, in the year of 1866. Its denomination was United Brethren, and the first preacher was Michael Johnson. There are now four church organizations in the township and two church buildings. The colored U. B. church hold their m2etings at the school house in sub-district No. 1. The Evangelical Lutherans held their meetings at the residences of members until the year of 1870, when the society erected a hewed log building, two miles east of Tate's landing. It is called Mt. Zion church, and is supplied by Rev. J. E. Wesner, of Paulding. The present membership is about fifty. The old school house in the Scott district was purchased by the Christian society and fitted up for a church. The first saw mill in the township was built at Tate's landing, in the year of 1859, by Francis Reiniche and his father-in-law, Theibault Didier. It has steam power, and is now owned by Francis Reiniche, who, in 1880, put in machinery for cutting staves and is now doing a flourishing business. There are no flouring mills in the township. The Maumeeriver is the principal stream of the township, and crosses its northwestern part. Six Mile, Gordon creek, and big and little Flat Rock creeks are its other streams. Tate's landing and Emerald are small villages in the township. Neither is incorporated. Emerald, at one time, was quite a flourishing place. For many years it was the nearest railroad station to the town of Paulding, and much of the freight and passenger traffic for that village was transferred here. It contained a telegraph and express office, hotel, two general stores, and was connected with Paulding by a daily hack line. On the opening of the Paulding & Cecil railroad, in 1880, the fate of Emerald was decided. Since that date it has been on the decline. The telegraph and express office has been removed to Cecil and the hack line to Paulding has been discontinued. Only one small grocery store is now kept in the place, and the two principal merchants of Emerald in its palmy days - Pat Haley and Peter Schehr - have become tillers of the soil. The nucleus around which gathers the mercantile business of Tate's landing is the stave factory of Francis Reiniche. He has a general store, and his son, Joseph Reiniche, and Conrad Kinkle are the proprietors of groceries and restaurants. James Powers owns and operates a tile mill and brick kiln in the southern part of the township. Peter Bakel, John W. Wortman, D. C. Thompson, John Kinzer, E. Chemin, John Powers, William Hanenkratt, P. L. Anderson and Alex. Scott, are among the prominent farmers of the township. Judge A. S. Latty, a resident of Defiance, has a fine farm and country residence one mile south of Emerald; also Judge S. T. Sutphen, of Defiance, has a fine farm and residence in the township. The township contains only thirtytwo sections ; sections 13, 24,25 and 36 having been added to Auglaize township. The population of Emerald township in 1880 was 1,000; in 1890 it was 1,123. The number of voters, as returned by the assessor, May 18, 1891, was 268.

Harrison Township. - To Thomas Wentworth is accredited the honor of being the first actual settler of this township. He erected a log cabin in the year of 1837, and, with his wife and little ones, soon after occupied the same. This little forest-surrounded home was located on section 36, about two miles east of where now stands the stirring village of Payne, and was, at the time of building, ten miles from any other human habitation. Mr. Wentworth, having opened up a pathway into this wild and primitive region, was shortly after followed by Phineas Russell, Theodore G. Merchant, Fielding A. Hughes, Niram Strout, John Shep- and Adam and Jonathan Snellenberger, who built cabins near that of Mr. Wentworth, thus forming what was known for many years as the "Flat Rock settlement." A few years afterward came other pioneers, who settled in various parts of the township ; among these may be mentioned, David Malott, Edward Rice, Thos. Lamb, Francis Quince, John Ryel and Job Pugh. The first white child born in the township was John Russell in 1843. His parents names were Phineas S. and Louise Russell. The first couple married in the township was John Lincoln and Harriet E. Wentworth. The father of the bride, Thomas Wentworth, performed the ceremony. This couple settled in Carryall township and reared a highly respectable family of one son and two daughters. The son removed to Utah and became an eminent Methodist Episcopal minister, and the girls became successful teachers in graded schools. Mrs. Lincoln lived many years after the death of her husband, and died in 1887, respected by all who knew her. The township was organized in 1844, and the first election was held at the residence of Dr. B. B. Woodcock, on the first Monday of April, same year. Paulding township was then included in the voting precinct. The number of ballots cast was twelve. The names of voters residing in Harrison, proper, were B. B. Woodcock, Thomas Wentworth, James Wentworth, Theodore G. Merchant, Niram Strout, John Sheppard, James Lattimore and Charles C. Anderson. Those residing in Paulding township were A. F. Hughes, Daniel Sevengood, John Fisher and Joel Culver. B. B. Woodcock was the first township clerk. There are thirty-six sections in the township. All bordering on the north and west lines are fractional; the remaining ones are full sections. There are four streams in the township. The principalone is Flat Rock, which flows through the southeast corner of the township. Six Mile creek flows through the northwest corner of the township. Much of the land along this creek was injured by the back water from the reservoir, and, it is said that this township sent several volunteers to the famous " Reservoir War," which led to the abandonment of the great nuisance and reclaimed the land from the watery element. A small branch of Six Mile rises in section 18 and leaves township in section 1. Wild Cat creek is a small tributary of Flat Rock. There are no grist mills in the township. The first saw mill in the township was erected by Adam Snellenberger in 1858. It was located on the northéast quarter of section 36, and was run by water-power. There are now several steam saw mills in the township.

The first step taken toward the education of the youth was in a select school taught by Mrs. Caroline Merchant, in 1844, at the residence of her husband, Theodore G. Merchant. The building was located on section 36, and about fifteen pupils were in attendance. The school was taught more for the purpose of disseminating knowledge than for the paltry remuneration received, and proved in after years to have been seed sown upon good ground. This estimable Christian lady, then a young wife, but now for many years a widow, resides at the little city of Westerville, Ohio; and often, no doubt, as she sits at eventide by the window of her residence, and looks out upon the towering walls of Otterbein University, her thoughts wander away through the dim vistas of the past to the pioneer days of her youth when she taught a little class of backwoods pupils in the wilds of Paulding county. All honor to this first teacher of Harrison township. Let the pedagogues of to-day pay to the memory of this primitive teacher that tribute which she so richly deserves. The first school house in the township was built in the year of 1850. It wasa log cabin, 16x20 feet in size, and situated on the northwest quarter of section thirty-six. There are at present eight school houses in the township ; all good frame structures and supplied with modern furniture. Payne has a graded school and employs four teachers. The first postoffice was located at the house of Adam Snellenberger in the year of 1858. Mr. Snellenberger was the first postmaster. The office was on a route leading from Paulding to Monroeville, Ind. It was called Payne. It was moved to Malottville in 1872, but still retained its former name ; and in 1881, the name of the village of Malottville was changed to Payne, the same as the office. There is one other office in the township. It is called Smiley, and is located on the Nickel Plate railway, three miles west of Payne. The first sermon preached in the township was at the residence of Theodore G. Merchant, in the year of 1843, by Rev. Joseph Miller, a United Brethren minister. The first church society was organized at the same place, the same year, by Rev. Joseph Miller, assisted by Rev. Charles B. Gardner. It was of the O.B. denomination, and its first members were as follows: Theodore G. Merchant and wife, Niram Strout and wife, John Northup and wife; William and Sarah Sheppard, Harriet E. Wentworth, Thomas Wentworth, Jr., B. L. Wentworth, and Mrs. H. J. Woodcock. The second church was organized, in 1864, by Rev. John Brakefield, and was of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Louis Stillwell was first class leader. The first members of this society were Louis Stillwell and wife, P. W. Hardesty and wife, A. F. Hardesty and wife, Anna Hardesty, Jonathan Snellenberger and Caroline Christopher. The Flat Rock society of the Disciple church was organized March 18, 1877, with fifteen members, Elder E. Leavitt minister in charge. The first officers appointed were Samuel Wiltzie, elder, and James Bainbridge and Hiram Underwood, deacons. The first members were Samuel Wiltzie James Bainbridge, Hiram Underwood}. Samuel H. Wiltzie, Jonas Fry, A. D. Underwood, Evans Weod, Silas Brattain, H. K. Gaut, Mary Wiltzie, Emma Underwood, Rachel Underwood, Alice K. Wood, Mary Bainbridge and Rachel Brattain. The first Sunday-school organized in the township was in 1854, at the Merchant school house, by Adam Hardesty. About twenty pupils were in attendance. There are now several in the township, attended by four or five hundred pupils. Such are the changes wrought out by the hand of time. The church buildings of the township are located in the village of Payne, and will be described in the Payne "write-up." Part of Payne and Smiley are the only villages of the township. The former will be given a special history, and the latter is a small station on the Nickel Plate, in the extreme southwest corner of the township. It contains a small store, postoffice, saw mill and three or four dwellings. The numbers of voters in the township, as returned May 18, 1891, was, north precinct, 166; south precinct, 327; total, 493. The population in 1880, was 772; in 1890, it was 2,252, including the part of Payne village which is in the township.

Jackson Township. - John and William Moss, two brothers, natives of England, purchased lands from the government, built a small cabin on the banks of Blue creek, in section 26, and in 1836 became the first actual settlers of Jackson township. Jesse Fox and Edmund Barker also date their coming into the township at about the same year. Among other early settlersw, ho came afterward, the names of Edward McQuestion, Deliverance Brown, John Anderson, Abram Bennett, Jacob Myers, Jotham Rollins, John Loar, William Hays and Henry Barchus may be mentioned. The township was organized in 1851 Prior to that date it was attached to Brown. The first election was held at the residence of Edward McQuestion, on what was afterward known as the Dague farm, in the spring of 1851. Ten ballots were cast at this election. The names of the voters were: Deliverance Brown, John Anderson, William Moss, William Stillwell, David Barnhill, William Hoover, Edmund Barker, Robert Barnhill, Joseph Reed, Sr. and John Barker. Deliverance Brown, John Anderson and William Barker were elected the first trustees ; William Moss, clerk ; Joseph Reed, treasurer; William Moss and John Anderson, justices of the peace, and John Barker, constable. The farm settled by the Moss brothers is now owned by John Bowholtz. The first white child born in the township was George Moss, son of John Moss. He grew to manhood in the county, married Miss Anna Stair, settled in Charloe as a merchant, and afterward moved to Pawnee City, Pawnee county, Nebraska, where he yet resides, a wealthy and influential citizen. His eldest son traveled in Europe, became an eminent artist and now has a studio in New York city. The first marriage contract legalized in the township was that of Edward McQuestion and Jane Barker. There are thirty-six sections in the township, none of which are fractional. The principal stream of the township is Flat Rock, flowing through the northern part. Blue creek flows through the southern part. The soil of the township is generally a black loam and very fertile ; along the streams clay formations to be found. There no stone quarries in the township. The principal timber is oak, ash, sycamore, cottonwood, elm, maple and beech. Some poplar and black walnut was found in early days. No flouring mills were ever built in the township; and no saw mills until. within the past few years, when several were built along the line of the Nickel Plate railroad. The first school taught in the township was by John D. Carlton, in 1852, in what is known as the Keck district. The building was a log cabin and seven pupils were in attendance. It was the first school house erected in the township, and stood on the north bank of Blue creek, in section 26. There are now seven sub-districts in the township, and the special district of Hedges and Broughton. All the districts. have good frame houses excepting the building in the Hedges and Broughton district, which is a large two-story brick. The villages are situated about three-fourths of a mile apart, and this building is located about. equi-distant between the two. It has four departments, but only three teachers have as yet been employed. The first sermon preached in the township was by a U. B. divine named Abraham Miller, in the year of 1840. He held meetings at the cabins of the settlers. The first. church society was organized by him about the year of 1850. The names of the first members are Deliverance and Julia Ann Brown, John and Rebecca Anderson, Joseph and Mary Jane Crosby, Ward Dart, Mrs. Ann Dart, Mrs. Henry Barchus, William Barker and wife, John Barker and wife, Edmund Barker and wife, Elizabeth Fry, William Stillwell and John Owens. For many years this society was the largest in the township. 'Meetings were held in the Anderson school house, and often in summer,

'actuated by the sentiment that "The groves were God's first temples," its members gathered beneath the umbrageous shade of the forest trees, and poured forth their souls in pious prayer, or sang their songs of praise and thanksgiving to the Most High. In 1875 the society erected the first frame church in the township, on the bank of Blue creek, in section 26. It is yet standing and is the largest church building in the township.

The first church erected in the township was of hewed logs and was on the south bank of Flat Rock, in the northern part of the township. It 'yet stands and is known as " Elm Chapel." A neat frame church was erected at Hedges in the year of 1888. These constitute the churches of the township. The first Sunday-school was organized by Rev. Abraham Miller, assisted by John Anderson, in the year 1854. There are now four in the township. There are two villages in the township - Hedges and | Broughton. They are both situated in the south part of the township, on the Nickel Plate railroad. Hedges was located in 1872 by W.C. Hedges, and named by him. It contains a good hotel, the Parrish house ; three or four business houses, the principal of which is the mercantile establishment of W.S. Hipkins ; church, depot, Bell & Co.'s hoop factory, saw mill and _ several residences. Broughton was laid out in 1881 by the Washington, afterward the Vanderbilt Stave and Lumber Co., of Washington, D. C., who located a large factory at this place. It was sold in 1888 to the firm of Edwin Bell & Sons, who yet control it. Connected with the factory is a large general store, now under the charge of M. E. Heller, and is the principal mercantile enterprise of the place. The village contains a fine depot building and several residences and business rooms. Axel White 'is the proprietor of the only drug store of the village. Prior to 1881 there were no postoffices in the township, the citizens receiving their mail at the Paulding, Junction and Charloe offices. The present offices of the township are located at Hedges and Broughton, and named the same as the villages. The county infirmary is located in the northern part of this township, two miles northeast. of Paulding. By an act of the legislature, in 1889, the township was divided into two voting precincts, respectively : the north precinct and the south precinct. In May, 1891, the number of voters in the township was returned as follows: North precinct, 215; south precinct, 300; total, 515. The census of 1880 gave the township a population of 976; in 1890 it was returned as 2,266, an increase of over 132 per cent. during that decade.

Latty Township. - This township, the last to be organized in the county, occupies a place in the southern tier of townships, south of Jackson, west of Washington, east of Blue Creek, and extends on the south to Hoaglin township, Van Wert county. The township was named Latty in henor of Judge Alexander Sankey Latty, who was a resident of the county and in an official position at the time of its organization. Its first settlement began in the year of 1853. In the autumn of that year 'Edward Leonard Kimmell built the first cabin, on section 36, and became the first actual settler. The township was organized in 1855, and prior to this date Edward McQuestion, Lydia Kohn, Mark Pease, Lee Kohn, William Eaton and a few others had planted homes within its limits. The first election held in the township was at the cabin of Lemuel Tucker, in 1856. Nine votes were cast at this election, the names of voters being as follows: Lemuel Tucker, William Eaton, Edward McQuestion, J. Bennett, William Grove, Lee Kohn, Mark Pease, William Priest, Wilson Kohn and Adam Weimer. The first officers elected were: Justice of the peace, Adam Weimer ; trustees, William Eaton, Lemuel 'Tucker and Fred Bennett ; clerk, Edward McQuestion. The soil of the 'township is exceedingly fertile and is destined to become one of the best agricultural townships in the county. Within the past few years great improvements have been made in the way of ditching, building roads and clearing up farms. The ditching of Prairie creek, alone, which extends entirely across the township, cost the county about $13,000. The first school taught in the township was in a small log house which stood on the corner of William Eaton's farm. The name of the first teacher has been forgotten. Fifteen or twenty pupils were enrolled. The first school house in the township was built in 1857. It was located on the northwest corner of section 36. There are now eight school buildings, all good, commodious frames. The first saw mill erected in the township was in the year of 1872, by Philander Gilbert. The first postoffice was named Gilbert's Mills and was established in 1873, Philander Gilbert was the first postmaster. The office has been transferred to Grover Hill, a small village one and a half miles north of its former location. It is the only office in the township and bears the name of the village in which it is located. The first sermon preached in the township was at the school house in section 36, by a Methodist minister named Emanuel Kauffman. He also organized the first church society the following year. Rev. Kauffman enlisted in the late war. became a captain of Company I, One Hundredth O.V. I., and served gallantly on the tented field. His widow yet resides in the village of Antwerp. The names of some of the members of the first religious society were Hannah Kohn, A. T. and Margaret McClure, James McClure and Lucinda McClure. The second church organization was effected in 1877, by the Christian denomination. The Methodist Episcopal chapel is a neat frame structure, 32x50 feet in dimensions. The first Sunday-school was organized in 1860 by a Methodist minister named Miller. Grover Hill is the only village in the township. It was laid out, in 1887, on the prospective line of the American Midland railway, which was then being graded through the county. It was named in honor of ex-President Grover Cleveland, and ex-Congressman W. D. Hill. It isquite a busy little place, being the location of Lenhart's stave factory, and containing some good business houses and several residences. The number of voters in the township in May, 1891, was 447. Its population in 1880 was only 617; it 1890 it was 2, 010.

Paulding Township. - This township occupies a central position in the county and is the most populous. It is bounded on the north by Crane ; on the east by Jackson; onthe south by Blue creek, and on the west by Harrison townships. The first settlement was made in the year of 1842, on Flat Rock, about four miles southeast of Paulding, by a squatter named Michael Kimmell. The first cabin was built in the spring of 1843, by John Fisher, who was really the first actual settler of the township. The first white child born in the township was Almira Fisher. Her parents names were John and Rachel Fisher. Other early settlers of the township were William Haney, Elias Shafer, Eber Barnhouse, Fielding Hughes, Theodore G. Merchant, Byron Norton, Bennett Savage, A. S. Latty, Joseph Cable, T. W. French, Nepthalian Gregory, Jacob Long, Philip W. Hardesty, Isaiah Richards, Amos F. Hardesty, Daniel Kauffman and Levi M. Barnes. The township was organized in 1851 and the first election held the same year in the town of Paulding. Seventeen ballots were cast at this election, the names of some of the voters being as follows: John Fisher, Ethan Burwell. A. S. Latty, Elias Shafer, James Chaney, Theodore Merchant and William Haney. There are thirtysix sections in the township - none fractional. The largest stream is Flat Rock. The Indians called this stream Crooked creek, and it is so named on some maps. It enters the township in section 30, and flows in a northeasterly direction entirely throughout. Big south run is a southern affluent of Flat Rock, and Big run and Opossum run are northern tributaries of the same stream. Little Flat Rock has its source in section 4, of this township, flows an easterly course, and discharges its waters into the Big Auglaize river at Junction. The first grist mill in the township was built by Elias Shafer in 1855. It was located on Flat Rock, at the foot of what is now South Main street in Paulding. It was a small frame, with one run of buhrs ; was operated only for a few years and then went to decay. Portions of the old dam and frame of the building are yet to be seen, and are pointed out to the visitor as pioneer relics of a now thriving and bustling village. A steam flouring mill was erected in Paulding, in 1876, by Eugene Linn. It was never regarded as a successful enterprise and is no longer in operation. A third, and now the only flouring mill in the township, was completed in 1890, by the large manufacturing firm of Paul Weidmann & Co. It hasa capacity of one hundred barrels a day, and is the best mill in the county. A further mention of it will be given in thespecial history of Paulding, the village in which it is located. The first saw mill put in operation in the township was a small frame, located on the left bank of Flat Rock, and furnished power by that stream. It was erected by the firm of Campbell & Forney in the year of 1852. There are now numerous steam saw mills located in different parts of the township. The manufacturing industries of the township consist mostly of staves, lumber and heading. The factories are located at the villages of Paulding, Latty, Briceton, Worstville and Holcombe, and on section 8, four miles west of Paulding. The first school taught in the township was by James M. Russell, in 1853, in a small frame school house which stood on the southwest corner of what is now the court house yard. The township is now well supplied with schools and school buildings. The first postoffice established in the township was Paulding, in the year of 1850. The name of the first postmaster was Mr. Hickerson ; the present one is C. E. Cooke. There are now five offices in the township, located at Paulding, Latty, Briceton, Worstvilleand Holcombe. All bear the name of their respective villages, excepting the one at Holcombe, it being called Morrison, and so named in honor of the late Chief Justice of the United States, Morrison R. Waite. The first sermon preached in the township was by a United Brethren minister named John Shingledecker, about the year of 1848. A society of that denomination was organized, in 1853, by Rev. Dowing. Its first members were Sampson and Emily Merchant, and Ezra J. and Emily Smith. A Methodist Episcopal church class was organized in Paulding in 1855, with but a few members. It has now a large and flourishing congregation, with Rev. A. C. Gascoigne as pastor in charge. The third religious society organized in the township was by Rev. Allcock, a Presbyterian minister. Mrs. Jane Cable, apa Dr. and Mrs. S. Kerr were its first members. The Lutheran denomination have a large class and a fine church building four miles southwest of Paulding. The Disciples organized a class in 1887 and built a church in Paulding. Latty has a Catholic congregation ; also one of the United Brethren denomination. There are seven church edifices in the township, four in Paulding, two in Latty, and the Lutheran church in the western part. They are all frame structures.. There are six villages in the township, viz.: Paulding, Latty, Briceton, Worstville, Holcombe and Section Eight. Paulding will be described under a special heading. Latty, located at the crossing of the Mackinaw and Nickel Plate railroads, was laid out in 1882, by Judge A. S. Latty and Wrexham Lewis, each of whom owned lands upon which the plat was made. That portion of the town upon Mr. Lewis' land was called Wrexham, and for a time the place was called by that name. The lots laid out upon Mr. Latty's land was called Latty, and under that name the village was incorporated. At Latty is located the Eagle Stave works, owned and operated by George Marsh, a wealthy manufacturer of Van Wert. The factory employs about one hundred men, and has a capacity of 30,000 or 40,000 staves per day: The Keystone Hub works are also located here. The village contains two hotels, several dry goods and grocery stores, depot building, two churches, a two-story frame school house, and has a population, as given by the census of 1890, of 594. Briceton is a small village on the Nickel Plate, two miles west of Latty. The large stave factory of John McGee (formerly McGee & Baynes), is located here. The village contains a large dry goods store, a grocery, hotel and several residences. Worstville, on the Nickel Plate, in the southwest part of the township, is the location of Joseph Tauralt's extensive stave and lumber works. The place is supplied with dry goods stores, groceries, hotels, etc.,.and has a population of about 200. Mr. Tauralt's factory has twice been burned, the last time, in May, 1891. Pheenix-like it always rises from its ashes and the industry is resumed. Holcombe is a factory town, situated on the Mackinaw railroad, one mile and a half northwest of Paulding. is located the extensive manufacturing plant of Major A. B. Holcombe & Co., known as the Holcombe Stave and Lumber Mills. A large general storeis run in connection with the factory. The place contains a boarding house and several residences, generally the homes of employes in the factory. Thrift and prosperity hover around the village, and the sweet hum of industry pervades its streets. Similar to Holcombe is Section Eight. There is located one of the large stave factories owned by Mr. Paul Weidmann, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Holcombe and Section Eight have never been regularly laid out as villages, but may be regarded as purely factory towns. The population of Paulding township in 1880 was 1,065; in 1890 it was (including all its villages), 4,492. The number of voters, as returned by the quadrennial enrollment of 1891, was, Paulding precinct, 846; Briceton precinct, 357; total, 1,203.

Washington Township. - This township, the last in alphabetical order, occupies a position in the souteast corner of the county. Its descriptive location is town 1, range 4. It is bounded on the north by Brown township; on the east by Perry and Jackson townships, Putnam county; on the south by Monterey township, Putnam county, and Jackson township, Van Wert county ; and on the west by Latty township. Its first settloment was begun, in 1826, by a hardy poineer named Joseph Mellinger, who built a cabin on section 22, and became the first actual settler. In 1827 came William Harrell, Dimmitt Mackerel, John Curtis, Benjamin

Kniss and Daniel Ridenour, who built cabins on section 10, and commenced clearing away the forest. The first white child born in the township was Martha Harrell. Her parents names were William and Martha Harrell. Mary Curtis, daughter of John Curtis, was also born the same year. The first marriage solemnized in the township was that of John Andrews and Ella Crossley, in the year of 1830. The township was organized in 1840, and the first election held in the spring of that year, at the house of William Harrell. At this election eleven voters exercised the right of suffrage, named as follows: Abel Crossley, Henry Myers, Joseph Mellinger, John Curtis, Jesse Harrell, Daniel Ridenour, Dimmitt Mackerel, Harrison Mellinger, David Mellinger, David Harrell and Benjamin Kniss. John Curtis was elected the first justice of the peace; and Joseph Mellinger, William Harrell and Abel Crossley the first trustees. The first grist mill erected in the township was by William Harrell, in the year of 1842, on the Little Auglaize river, near the present site of Murat. It was a small frame, with one run of buhrs, and was furnished power by the water of the stream upon which it was located. A saw mill was connected with it. -For many years John J. Hipp owned and operated a flouring mill and saw mill at Hipp's lock, power furnished by water from the Miami canal. There are now several steam saw mills in the township. The first school house erected in the township was in 1843. It was asmall log cabin and in it Lydia Harrell taught the first school, with an enrollment of twelve pupils. The house was located on section 15, There are now eleven schools in the township, two of which are for the education of colored youth, and taught by colored teachers. The school buildings are all neat, commodious frames.