Seneca County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 15 of those read), 1886

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 15 of those read)

THIS township was siirveyed in 1820 by J. Glasgow, outside the boundaries of the reservation, and. on the cession of the Iftdian lauds, C. W. Christmas surveyed the reservation in 1832, all forming Township 1 north, Range 13 east. The Indian Treaty of September 17, 1S18, provided that Ifi.OOO acres should be set apart for the use of the Wyandots of Solomon's Town and Blanchard's Fork, with the center of such tract at the Big Spring of Seneca County. By the treaty of January 19, 1832, all this reservation was ceded, except 320 acres kept for Roenunas. The President's proclamation, ordering the sale of the lands thus ceded, was made November 13, 1832, and the work of pioneer settlement was begun.

The spring from which the township takes its name, is near the hamlet of Springville. It is an ordinary lime spring, showing no traces of sulphur, clear, pure and invigorating.

The creeks of the township are all native, that is, finding a soiu'ce and an outlet within the township; the soil is fertile, and the 4.000 acres, still classed as forest-land, are well timbered with valuable hard wood. The drains in the southern sections have drained the great swamp.

Organic and Official - The commissioners established this township March 6, 1833. and April 4, following, the first election was held. * Richard Rej-nold and E. Bogart were elected trustees; "William Brayton. clerk; Hugh Mullholland, treasurer; Cornelius Bogart, And. Springer and Joshiia Watson, fence viewers: Elijah Brayton and Charles Henderson, overseers of the poor; and Austin Knowlton, constable. The records for 1834, 1836 and 1837 are gone where too many good records go, so that there is no certain way of supplying the names.

The officers of Big Spring Township, elected in 1885. are Paul Huss, Nicholas Kinn. A. W. Simonis, trustees; William Haines, clerk: Charles Shubert. treasurer; Peter Goshe. assessor, ^A'illiam Haines, T. M. Frink, I. W. Cline, and Charles Shubert. justices of the peace: J. Vetter. and Joseph Wullen Schneider, constables.

Schools. - The township of Big Spring was laid off in six school districts, June 22, 1838. The people of Big Spring Township voted on the question of selling the school lands of that township, June 22, 1850. Samuel Young. Theo. M. Frink and Hiram Davis were judges. There were fifteen votes cast. October 25. 1851, a sale of the west half of east half of Section 16, Town 1, Range 13 was sold to John Houck for §270. and of the we.st half of west half of Section 16, Town 1, Range 13 to Theo. Pierce for §270. These tracts were sold with Liberty Township lands. The remaining tracts were not sold owing to want of piu'chasers at appraised price. September 3. 1853, the east half of the east half of Section 16. was sold to M. Zinder for §275, and the east half of the west half to Jesse Boucher for .§264. The following statistics give the state of the schools in Big Spring Township, outside the villages, for the year ending August. 1884: Local tax. §2,362.76; total receipts, §4.513.06: expenditures, §3,373.11; number of schoolhouses. 9 ; value of jn'operty, §4,000; number of teachers, 14; average pay, §41 and §29; number of male pupils, 154; of female, 88.

Pioneers and Old Settlem. - When the first permanent settlers an-ived in the township, they literally stepped in the tracks of the original owners, who just moved out to give them place. The locality subsequently named Springville. was the only garden spot in the townshij). and around it the first settlements were made, within a year or two of the period when the township was organized. South of the township line the families of Asa Lake and Nehemiah Earls settled as early as 1819. Daniel Hodges in 1821. Christopher Baker, William Brown and John James in IS'22. John Carey in 1828. Smith Kenttield in l.S'2'") and Hiram J. Starr in 1830. Many of those pioneers of the Delaware and Wyandot country were acq\iainted with the big sjiring. coming and going over the Wyandot trail fi'om thi^ Big Spring Reservation to the Upjier or Twelve-]\lile Reservation, so that when the pioneers of this township an'ived they were within easy distance of the pioneers of what is now Wyandot County. \\'illiani Brown entered his lands, just south of the base line, in 1822, and may lie counted among the pioneers of the township. The Jenkins brothers were early traders, and, it is believed, the first white residents of Big Spring. The Bray tons, pioneers of Tymochtee Township, Wyandot County, came in 1882; the Knowltons. Bogarts. Mullhollands. Hendersons, Youngs, Springers, Peers and Reynolds were all here prior to organization.

The year 1 883 witnessed the true beginnings of settlement, and immigration then commenced and continued to fiow in for years, until the whole townshi|) was peopled with as IndTistrious and good a class of citizens as it is th& fortune of any county to possess.

Stephen Bearld. orBeardlj". pui'chasedthe west half of northeast quarter. Section 1 2, from Jacob Haser. in 1 833, and entered on its improvement .... Hiram Bogart. E. Bogart and Cornelius Bogfirt were among the very early settlers .... Elijah and Anna (Holebrook) Bray ton, parents of Peter Brayton, natives of ^'eriuout, where they married and lived for a few years thereafter, moved to Fremont, Ohio, in 1814, thence about 181 fi to Hiu'on County, and later to Wyandot County, where they remained until 1832, when they settled on what is known as the Big Spring Indian Reservation; Mrs. Brayton died here in brother of Matthew Brayton, who was lost in the woods in 1825, moved into Big Spring Township in 1832; is now in Wyandot County; Matthew was lost as mentioned when a child of eight years, while searching for cattle with his brother "William, and about 1859 a captive appeared who stated that he was captured by the Copperheads, a liand of Canadian Indians, who named him Ohwaowah-kish-me-wah. In 1851 this man man-ied Tefronia or Tame Deer, daughter of O-wash-kah-ke-naw, and by her had two chiUb-en: Tefronia and Qululee. Thirty-four years after the capture the Cleveland Herald contained an advertisement of a captive who did not know his original name. William Brayton, now living, proceeded to New York State, having with him a description of the marks on the boy, and there, in the house of one Smith, he found his alleged brother, but, on clos(>r investigation, the stranger proved to be one of the Todd family, of Michigan, who was known as William Tudd. He entered the army in 18(11 and died at Nashville. The fate of IMatthew Brayton is unknown Landelin and Elizabeth Brosemer. natives of Baden, whi-re they married, came to .\merica about 1832. and settled on the farm now occupied by their son. who was born in this township in 184(i. Mr. and Mrs. Brosemer afterward lived in New Riegel until Mrs. Brosemer's death, caused by a team of horses nmning

Anderson and Julia Ewing, natives of Pennsylvania, parents of John F. Ewing, of Adi'ian, came from Pennsylvania, in 1840, to this coiuity, where Mrs. Ewing died in 1847; Anderson Ewing subsequently manned, and removed into Wyandot County, where he died in l875.

Theodore M. and Sabrina (Torrey) Frink. natives of Massachusetts, the foi-mer born in 1804, the latter in 1808, came to this township in 1837. from Tymochtee Creek, where they spent the winter of 1836; IMi's. Frink died in 1805.

Jacob Gvrj-er was in the township in 1S3'2. but was not a settler. Many depredations were credited to this old resident of Stark County while among the lii'st settlers of Seneca Coimty. About the time of the ^Michigan conspiracy case he was aiTested on a charge of miuxler. escaped fi-om prison, and completed a bad career by suicide. . . .John and Margaret (Limbauch) Grine, natives of Belgium, came to Seneca County in 1847, and here ]\Ii-s. Grine died in 1839. . . .John and Elizabeth Guilliam (both deceased), parents of IMi-s. John Mathias, were early settlers in this county.

Joseph W. and Elizabeth (Titler) Harsh, natives of AA'ayne County, Ohio, born in 1823 and 1829. respectively, came to the township in 1848. . . .Charles Henderson was an early settler .... John Hile settled in the township at an early day; died in 1869. . . .Nicholas and Catharine Huss, and their son Paul, all natives of Germany, the latter born in 1843. came direct from the father land to this coimty in 1846, where Mrs. Huss died in 1873. Nicholas Huss and his son Paul are now residents of New Riegel.

Ben Jenkins, the trader at the Big Spring, was among the tir.st settlers of the township, and with John Jenkins caused the site of Springville to be sm-veyed into town lots .... Lewis and Margaret Jenny, natives of Em-ojie, parents of Mrs. Francis Kalmes, came in an early day to this township, where they died. . . . .Archibald Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Big Sj)ring Township about 1820: was killed by lightning in 1845; his widow died in 1879.

Francis Kalmes. a nativ(> of Belgium, born in 1822. came to this county in 1846. . . .A. J. Kinney. liorninNew Jersey in 1807. came from Wyandot County, Ohio, about 1843, and settled here. . . .Austin Knowlton. born in Massachusetts in 1809, has resided in this county since 1830, and is called the ''Father of Big Spring. ' ' Mrs. Ehoda Knowlton (widow of Timothy Knowlton. who died in Massachusetts in 1823), mother of Austin Knowlton, after her husband's death moved with her family to M'yandot County, Ohio, and after remaining there a few years settled here, where she died at age of eighty -six.

Joseph Lafontaine and his parents (Nicholas and Mary Lafontaine), all natives of Belgium, came to America in 1841. and settled in Big Sjjring Township, where the parents died .... Christian and Catharine Leiiner. natives of Bavaria, where they maiTied. came to New York in 1831 ; to Stark County. Ohio, in 1832. and in 1837 to this township, where ili-s. Lenner died in 1876; Christian Lenner lives with his son Daniel .... John Lugader. born in Boss County. Ohio, in 1814. came fi-om Wyandot County to this county in 1833.

John B. ^Martz and his parents. Hem-y and Margaret Maiiz. all natives of Belgium, came direct fi-om their native land, in 1846. to Big Spring Township, where the parents died .... Nicholas and Theresa Marks, natives of Gennany, where tlioy were maiTiod, former born in LSOO, latter in 1823, came direct from thi>ir native land to this county in ISoO, and settled in this township .... Joseph E. and Mary A. (Sneeringer) Magers, pioneers of Stark County, Ohio, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively, settled in Seneca County in LSri'i; the jn'esent clerk of Seneca County is their eldest son.... Lewis and Josejjhino Mathias, natives of Eiu'ope, settled here at an early day, and hero their son Nicholas, of New Riegel, was born in 184!); Lewis Mathias died in 1878; his widow siu-vives him ..!. Lewis and Clara Mathias (both deceased), natives of Luxemluu-g, (xermauy, came to America in 1810, and settled here. . . .Mack and Eliza McCullough, parents of Mrs. John F. Ewing, of Adi-ian, settled in this county in early times, thence moved to Wyandot County. Ohio, where they died .... John and Magdalena Miley, natives of Virginia, parents of Mrs. Jacob Black, came, about 1828, to Seneca County, where Mrs. Miley died in 1850, Mr. Miley, in 1874 .... Dr. John Montgomery, after a long and painful illness, died at Adrian, January 2U, 1885; Dr. Mont gomery had been a resident for a great many years and was widely known .... Hugh Mullholland was elected the first treasurer of the township in April, 1838.

John Peer and Philip Peer settled in the township, previous to its organiza tion .... Nichols and Elizabeth Plenz, natives of Germany, parents of Mrs. Paul Huss, of New Riegel, came here about 1848, and have ever since resided here.

Richard Reynolds was a settler prior to 1833, in Big Spring Township. Anthony Schindler, who settled on Section 12, Big Spring, in 1883, may bo considered one of the pioneers of the German colony .... Charles Schindler settled on his farm in 1835 .... Christian and Elizabeth Schlemmer (both deceased), parents of Mrs. Jacob Herbert, were early settlers in the county. . . . Adam and Kathrina (Effert) Simonis, natives of Germany, parents of Peter. Simonis, of Fostoria, were among the pioneers of this township .... Com-ad and Elizabeth Smith, natives of Germany, parents of John M. Smith, came to Seneca County in 1834, whore latter died in 1870, former in 1880. . . .Timothy and Catharine Smith, natives of New York, parents of William Smith, of Big Spring Township, who was born in 1815, in New York State, came to Seneca County in 1833, and here died, former in 1853, latter in 1883 .... Jacob SjDraw, a native of Bavaria, born in 180'J, came to Ohio in 1832, locating in Big Spring Township .... Andi'ow Springer was one of the first American pioneers.

Dr. A. S. Uboroth, one of the physicians of the township, was mangled to death by a train on the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad, IVbruary 16, 1883. His watch, umbrella and other articles were found scattered along the track. This showed that he had boon dragged by the train for some distance and met with one of the most hoiTilile deaths which it is possible to depict. George Wehrle, of New Riegel, who settled in the town.ship in 1833, was the first president of the village .... Michael Wagner, one of the oldest inhabitants of this county, died at New Riegel, September 1), 1885, aged one hundred and two years. . . .John and Elizabeth A\'ullonschneider, natives of Germany, married in Licking County, Ohio, and settled here many years ago, where former

John Young and family settled in Big Spring in 1833, and were among the first settlers in the wilderness .... Samuel and Isabella Young, natives of Pennsylvania, parents of Mrs. Jonathan A. Haines, were married in Wayne County,

Ohio, where they remained until 1833, then came to this township, wh^re Mr. Young (lied in 1859; his widow remarried and now resides in Adrian; Mrs. J. A. Haines was born in Seneca County, in 1835.

Nimrod and Mary Zender, native of Switzerland and Luxemburg, respectively, came here at an early day, where they died. Here their son Joseph was born in 1835.

Adbian Village

Oregon (now Adrian) was surveyed by R. M. Shoemaker, in February, 1844, for Erastus H. Cook and DeWitt C. Henderzon. on west half of northwest quarter of Section 30, Big Spring Township. Prior to this time the location was known as Foster's Mills, under which name it was established a postal town early in the "thirties," with "William White postmaster. He was succeeded by John Carr, who had the office in 1847. C. G. Fenn was succeeded in August, 1885, by William Haines. The town has since been extended into Section 35.

The Business Circle is made up as follows: D. F. Bascom and Adam Vetter, blacksmiths; Isaac W. Kline, grocer, business now owned by William Haines; James Curtiss, dry goods: Lewis Etchin, boots and shoes; Shober Bros., meat market; J. H. Snyder, stoves and tinware; Miss Anna Haines, milliner; Mrs. Catherine Kroll, hotel; John F. Ewiug, eai-penter. E. Slack's flouring-mill was burned in 1884. Dr. W. H. Paul left Adrian in the summer of 1884, and Dr. John Montgomery died here in February, 1885. C. G. Fenn has been postmaster for almost a quarter of a century, succeeding Lou Anderson and James Curtiss in that office, James Kline established a steam saw-mill in the winter of 1883-84.

Schools. - Adrian High School Association was incoii^orated January 13, 1809, with James C. Runneals, Frederick Hahn. Timothy B. Hawkins. James T. Ewing, James J. Zint, H. B. Cm-tiss, M. L. Knowlton, William Nease and Dr. J. A. Lutz, members. The object was to build a house and conduct a high school at Adi'ian.

The condition of the schools of Adrian, August 31, 1884, was as follows: Number of male pupils, 20, of female pujjils, 34, of whom 20 were in the high school; one house valued at $2,000; 2 teachers receiving $30 and $30, each, per month; local tax, $207.44; revenue, $800.04; expenditures, 513.07.

Societies. - Adrian Protection Horse Company was organized April 20, 1874, with the following members : James J. Zint, B. Cojjley, L. Walton, J. R. Higgins, John Baker, John Kimble, D. Wander, Martin Wenner, John Haines, and the trustees then elected George TS'ander, Levi Haines, and David Leuhr.

Adi'ian Lodge No. 494, I. O. O. F., was organized under State law, January 20, 1877, with Joseph Zint, G. W. Shober, Louis Etchen, Jacob Bloom, W. H. Slaymaker, A. Johnson, John Greer, T. B. Hawkins, Frederick Shober, John Snyder and Josiah Haines, original members.

May Flower Grange 290, was organized at Adrian, January 30, 1877, with W. H. Coply, J. R. Higgins, Daniel Lemer, John Grier, J. W. Eckleberry, G. W. Miillholland, H. Vogle, Charles Bier, D. H. Wander and Benjamin Coply, members.

Churches. - Methodist Episcopal Church. The early records of this church are not to be found; the oldest record is that of the Sunday-school, which points out that the Oregon Sunday-school was organized May 17, 1845. The subscribers were Charles Foster, L. C. Anderson, Stephen McKennie, Al Yancer, William "^'hite, Anthony Frederick, Samuel Young, William Blew, J. W. Frederick, I. C. Waggoner, W. Young, Austin Knowlton, F. Waggon-

The early preachers at Adrian were Kev. AN'arner, who was here aVjont thirtv-eight years ago with Mr. Dodge and Philij) Cole, 1850; James Milligan and Philip A. Drownd, 1854: Mi-. Close, 1850; Mr. Biggs. R. K. Good, LSHO: Jlr. Holmes, IHCt'i, and J. W. Miller, the last preacher from the Carey Circuit. In 18^)8 Adrian was detached fi'oiu Carey, and created a circuit, with Samuel L. Boggs, i)reachcr. In 1870 K. M. Ciilver came. He was followed ]>v J. W. Hill, in 1873; I. N. Kalb. 1875-78; Philip A. Drownd, 1878; John Houghtl<-y, 1880; Benjamin L. 'Rowand, 1882; Rev. M. C. Howey, the present pastor. The society has a membership of thirty-seven. The present brick church was erected in 1854, but jirior to this time, services were held in the old schoolhouse on the Knowlton farm.

The Catholic Church of St. Nicholas was founded in 1855 for the accommodation of the French poi)ulation; but. fi'om the beginning, half the membership was made up of Germans. The church, however, is known as the French Church. The jiastors who have had charge of the eongi-egation since 1855 are named as follows: Revs. L. Molon, Bally, Dolweek, Laux, Moes, Magenhann, Burkell, and the present pastor. Rev. Joseph P. Gloden. The house of worship, located on the highest point of land in the county. Section 23, Big Spring Township, was erected in 185G. The membership is about 500.

Universalist Church of Adi-ian was organized in 1870, with the followiag named members: John Slaymaker. Sr. , and wife, J. T. Ewing, I. A. Lombiird and wife, AVilliam Haines and wife, F. Hahn and wife, S. Keenan and wife. Josei)h Zint and wife. The present membership is about twenty. The chui'ch was erected prior to the regular organization in 1861). at a cost of aboul $1,000. The first pastor (1870) was Rev. N. A. Saston. He was preceded by George R. Brown, of Clyde. The pastors since Rev. Saxton's time have been varied. Rev. D. R. Biddlecomb was the last preacher, who left for Akron several years ago. The organization is observed, but no regular services have been held.

Evangelical Trinity Church of Adrian was founded in 180',), by B. Popley, John Wonder, William Brayton, Eli Gear, James Loy. John Seheirman and Rev. E. B. Crouse. The church was erected the same year at a cost of alx)ul ?2.000. Since George Wonder settled here in 1871, he has been connected officially with the society. The original society was organized years ago, but never erected a house of worship. Rev. C. M. Rinehold succeeded Rev. IMr, Wingerd in April, 1885. The congregation numbers aboitt fifty.

New Riegel Village

New Riegel was siu'veyed by G. H. Heming in January, 1850, for Anthony Schindler. ^\' alter Myers' addition to New Riegel was surveyed by Heming in April, 1855. within th(> angle formed by Tiffin and Perry Streets. John Werley's addition to New Riegel was surveyed in January, 1877.

Organic and Official. - New Riegel Village was incoiijorated December 2, 1882, 'on petition of B. J. Miu-phy and thirty-nine other residents, presented to the commissioners of the county. December 28, 1881. The local records, however, acknowledge the order of February 5, 1883, as the act of incorpora tion, because under this order, the first village elections were hold April 2, 1883.

Peter Clause, 26; John '\\"erley, 28. The first three named were elected. Andrew A^'erley was chosen president, which position he now holds; Charles H. Kloin was appointed clerk, which position he still holds in conjunction with the treasurership. Joseph Zender, elected first marshal in 1883, was succeeded by Joseph A\'ullenschneider, who is now serving (March, 1885). In June, 1884, sidewalks and street crossings were authorized, and a series of public and private improvements commenced.

Andrew Werley, the first postmaster at New Kiegel, was appointed in 1877, and served until April, 1878, when he resigned in favor of C. H. Klein, who has also been notary public since November, 1881.

Churches. - The Catholic Church. - As early as 1825 a few Catholics moved to the vicinity of New Kiegel, who were visited at intervals by the Redemptorist fathers. Ten years later Rev. Father Trehenhens, C. S. S. R., visited the neighborhood, and has been engaged ever since as a traveling missioner, journeying on foot thi'oughout Seneca and the adjoining counties. In 1845, the congregation of the Most Precious Blood established a mission at New Riegel, with Fathers Sales and M. Bnmner and five priests of the congi'egation in charge. The property of the chiu-ch at New Riegel is valued at $25,000, the chiu'ch itself is one of the finest buildings devoted to religion in northwestern Ohio, while the monasters', convent and schools are buildings equally suited to the wants of a large religious community and a great congregation. The number of the congregation is over 000, princij>ally Germans. The Catholic schools are attended by 160 scholars in charge of two sisters and one lay teacher.

Schools. - The statistics of the schools of New Riegel for the j'ear ending August 31, 1884, are as follows: local tax, $34.32; revenue, $542.74; expenditures, $245.25; one schoolhouse - value of property, 1450; two teachers, average salary,- $35; number of pupils enrolled, 23 - 18 boys and 5 gu-ls; average attendance, 1 1 . This was set off as a special district about ten years ago. The schools of St. Boniface in connection with the chiU'ch are in charge of two sisters, and the male school has been in charge of Jacob Schiffer for the last seventeen years.

Small Settlements

Springville, on the southeast half of Section 29, Town 1 north. Range 13 east, was sui-veyed in May, 1834, by D. Risdon for Benjamin and John Jenkins. Springville does not i;iow contain any business house. Mr. Cooke carried on a store there for many years, imtil the building biu'ned down.

Dr. D. Peters and Dr. George H. Scoles were resident physicians at Springville. in 1847-48; but Dr. Lang was the pioneer resident physician in 1834.

French Town is tho name given to the French settlement, west of Now Riegel, settled by the Lafountaines and others between IS H) and 1847. Comfortable homes and well cultivated farms characterize that portion of the township known under this name.

Alvadia. or Alvada, a small settlement in Section IS, was surveyed in Jannaiy, 1S70, by A. C. Tm-ner for AVilliam Smith and T. J. Anderson. The business men of Alvada are Beitler Bros., general store; James Beitler, blacksmith; Louisa Ludwig, grocer; Nicholas Schira, shoe-maker; H. J. Star & Son, gi'aiu dealers; Frank Koptier, hotel; N. Schira, Peter Nye and F. Kopfler, saloons; Benjamin L. Ludwig, postmaster.

The railroads which cross Big Spring Township are the Indiana, Bloomington & Western and the Ohio Central; the former enters the township in the northeast quarter of Section 25, takes a southwesterly course, passing through Aib'ian Village, and leaves the township at Section 35; the latter penetrates the township in the northwest quarter of Section 2, runs in a southeasterly direction, jia.ssing close to New Riegel Village, and leaves the township at Section 111

This township, now one of the richest in the county, was originally settled by native citizens. To-day it is a rare thing to meet an American born resident other than the childi-en of the German and French pioneers, who now may be called the sole possessors of the southvcestern division of Seneca County.