Seneca County, Ohio - Chapter 27: Thoimpson Township, 1886

THIS division of the county was surveyed into quarter sections in 182(1 by Price J. Kellogg, and a year later the squatter settlers entered their lands there. In 1820 the population did not exceed twenty inhabitants; ten vears later the number increased to ;j<i2; in 1840 the census returns place the number of inhabitants at 1,404; in 1850 at l.(ir)8; in 1800 at 1,702; in 1870 at 2,070; and in 1880 the population was 1,1)01. A reference to the stati-stics at the close of this chajater will point out the township's value and predial gi'owth.

The corniferous outcrop in Thompson is of a marked character. On the northwest quarter of Section 20 it was worked years ago by John W, Paine. On the southwest quarter of Section 10, George Good and Samuel Rover quari'i(>d in fine horrizontal beds of this conformation, and so on throughout the township. . lleuben Hartman's quairies on Section 14; John M. Krauss' on Section 15; Wygart's on Section 11; Isaac Kerns on Section 10; Joseph Sherck's on Section 21; the Hoover quarry on Section 29; the old Grimes quarry on Section 2; Benjamin Bunn's on the same section^ William Clemen's, George Sheffield's and Charles Smith's old quarries in Section 1 were all good exposiu'es or so lightly covered by drift material as to rank with outcrops. In some localities within the township the corniferous rocks present many evidences of upheaval and convidsion, leaving several crevices or openings, sometimes called fissures, which are said to connect with the nether world. Sink Creek disappears in one of these fissures and it is called the "River Styx" of this part of the continent. In the ancient history of Eiu'opean countries it is a common thing to find related the fact of a river or lake springing into existence in one night; within this township, in our own times, the phenomenon has taken place on a small scale. Years ago Samuel Horner decided to dig a well, and, in prosecuting this determination he struck rock at a depth of six or seven feet, when a stream of water rushed forth, which has since continued to flow. Samuel is said to have used an iron bar and not the Scriptiu-al Mosaic rod.

In the Sandusky Clarion of August, 1844, now in possession of Mr. Waggoner of Toledo, that gentleman states the following facts : "A man well known to myself had a team of three yoke of cattle plowing in the spring. When it commenced raining he stopped his work and ttirned his cattle loose in the field. The rain proved to be a strong storm lasting several days. When it held up and the cattle looked for after, one of them was missing, supposed by the owner to have jumped the fence and strayed off, until more than three weeks afterward when the ox was found in the lot, where it had settled down through the soil into the crevice of a rock below, and nothing but his head and shoulders out. He was taken out, and lived, with no other injury than the loss of hair from the braised part; another ox was lost three weeks, and found at the bottom of a sink-hole in the woods, the sides of which he had browsed clean."

The existence of these holes, the rise and fall of the waters which appear in them, and their connection with other phenomena in northwestern Ohio, all

The township historian, writing in 1873 for D. J. Stewart's atlas, refers to another natural cimosity in this \'icinity. He says: "This township possesses a far more remarkable phenomenal ciu'iosity than these sink-holes. We refer to Thompson's Cave, which affords an interesting object to the casual visitor, or to the scientist and geologist. The entrance to this remarkable subterraneous natural structure is situated a short distance fi-om the original track of the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad, in Section 1, near the extreme northeast corner of the county. It is located on land owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Kinney, which was formerly owned by her husband. Mason Kinney, deceased, one and one-half mile from Bellevue, and not quite a mile from Lewis\'ille, in this township. The discovery of this cave is generally attributed to George and Henry Hassan, and the tu-st exploration of it to Lyman and Asa Strong. Prior to 1815 we find that it was known to exist by some of the early settlers upon the fire lands, as mention is made of it in a manuscript now in oiu- possession, written in 1814. It was then a sort of general rendezvous for rattlesnakes, and from this circumstance was yclept 'Rattlesnakes' Den. ' It was a frequent resort for hunters in those days, who delighted in killing these venomous reptiles. They were ultimately successful in exterminating them, and none have been seen in the %'icinity for many years." In 1844 the water rose to within thirty feet of the surface, or a height of 170 feet in the cave.

The soil throughout the township is of the most fertile character, the farms show the care bestowed upon them, while in everj-ihing pastoral Thompson ranks among the first agricultural districts of all Ohio.

The creek named "Sink Creek, " already noticed, and the two county di'ains are the only water courses in the township, but it is said that many creeks, such as Cold Creek, draw their supplies from subteiTanean streams here of which the geologist has little or no knowledge.

Since the removal of the old Mad River Railroad track there has not been a line of railroad running through the township. However the "Nickel Plate." running just north of the county line, and the Baltimore & Ohio, coursing through the township next south, afford reasonable facilities to the people of Thompson Township.

Organic and Official. - This township was established under authority of the commissioners of Sandusky County, given April 25, 1820. As set off at that time it included almost the whole of the present county east of the Sandiisky River, together with the district bounded as follows: Begiiming at the northeast corner of the Seneca Reservation ; thence north to the old trail from Croghansville to Strong's; thence east to intersect the fii-e lands, south with that line to the base line; thence west along base to a point whence a line due north will strike the northeast corner of the Seneca Reservation. A reference to Chapter TV (Transactions of the Commissioners' Board) and to the history of Seneca Township, will point out the changes since 1824. The first election, held at Joseph Parmenter's house May 6, 1820, resulted in the choice of officers.

There is no record of this election to be found, and, fiuiher, there is not one person in the original organized township (which comprised the present townships of Thompson, Reed and Venice, and a strip two and one-half miles in width on the east side of the present townships of Adams, Scipio and Bloom) who can relate anything respecting the first township board.

Pioneers of Thompson Township. - Although this was one of the fii'st divisions of the county to receive the honors of establishment from the commissioners of Sandusky, it was one of the last to receive a full quota of settlers. While the squatters of 1819-20 were actually on the ground prior to the land sales and for years afterward, yet the working pioneers did not come until 1829. In 1832-33 the influx of German pioneers gave a new impetus to agricultural life, and fi-om this dates the phenomenal progress which has marked this pastoral township for its own. In the following pages an effort is made io notice all the pioneers:

William Baker came here at an early date .... Francis Ball, a native of Germany, settled here in 1832 .... Reuben Bennehoff. an uncle of the popular recorder of the county, settled in Thompson Township in 1833, died February f), 1881. in his seventy-fourth year. Another branch of the Bennehoff' family came about this time .... Philip Bowers, a Pennsylvanian, was here in 1840 ....

(ieorge and ^Nlarv (Pearce) Bolin. natives of Virginia and Maryland, rpspeetivt'ly. and parents of Enoch and Jam(vs Bolin, came to this county in 1S81, (ieorge Bt)lin having entered land in 1S8(). They l)oth died in Thompson Township in far advanced life, the father in 1880. when ninety-one years old .... Harman Bolte, a native of Germany, maternal gi-andfather of Biu-tis M. Finch, was a pioneer. . . ..John and Sarah (Boyer) Borger came in 1888-34 to Thompson Townshij): the former died in 185'.), latter in 1879. Of their children, who came with them to Ohio, Williiim resides here .... John Bunn, grandfather of .Judge Bunn. of Tiffin, a native of Peinisylvania, came to Seneca County at an early ])eriod of its history, settling here. . . .Jacob and Elizabeth (Jjeiter) Buim. came to Thomj)son Township in 1888 and settled on an entirely new farm. He died in 1878, aged seventy -six years. His widow is now in her seventy-eighth vear . . . . .John Biirman, born in Jjancaster. Ohio, in 1818. came to Flat Rock in 1848.

Benjamin Clark and "William Clark are names connected with the early history of the township (18"2()), but farther than this nothing authentic can be learned of them .... William Clemens, born in Pennsylvania in 1824, came with his parents to Adams Township, this county, in 1881; then in 18f)2 moved into Thompson Township. He was killed in the railroad accident at Ashtabula in 187<>....N. P. Colwell came to Thom]>son Township in 1831. settled in Republic in 1838, and was, for eleven years, clerk of Scipio Township, and justice of the peiice for sixteen years. . . .^^'illiam Cornell, referred to in the general history, was a pioneer.

.John and .Julia Ann (Royer) Decker, parents of Hon. Jacob Decker, of Belle^^^e, came from Wayne Coimty, Ohio, to Thompson Township in 1830: John Decker died in 1854, his widow in 1875, in the eighty-seventh year of her age. . . . A. Dewald, a Pennsylvanian, is said to have settled here in 1831. . . . ..John Dillingham, who died in Porter County SeptemV)er 20, 18(')1, settled at Bloomingville in the tire lands in 1813, and moved to Indiana in 188)). .... Solomon Dimick was among the pioneers, and is said to have been here as early as 1820.

Michael and Susan (Fisher) Fauble came to Thompson Township in 1833 from Pennsylvania. . . .George Fender is classed among the old settlers.

John Glassner, a native of Prussia, came to Ohio, locating in Thompson Township in 1885; he died in 1863; his son John, born in Prussui in 1818, also came to Thompson Township at the same time .... George Good and Emanuel Good, natives of Pennsylvania, came in 1881 or 1832. .. .Samuel Grimes, born in ^'ermont in 1 780, married Mary Arnold, also a native of Vermont, bom in 17!)2; they came to Ohio in 1823, residing some months in Thompson Township: then moved into Sandusky County, and in 182S retiu'ned to this township: he died in 1868, his wife in 1858.

John Harpster, a native of Pennsylvania, entered eighty acres of land where Flat Rock Village now stands, in 1828, and is living at Clyde, Ohio. . . David Harpster came with his parents to this county in 1828, settling on the site of Flat Rock .... Frederick Harjister, a native of Pennsylvania, came in 1880 from Wayne County, Ohio, to Flat Rock, and at one time owned all the land now occupied l)y that town. He tlied in 1874. .. .Jefferson Hoover, a native of Ohio, was here in 1 847 .... Joseph and Hannah Horner came to Thomi)son Townshij) in 1885. where former earned on first tailor shop in vicinity of Flat Rock. Thc\ died in 1858. Squire Saninel Horner, their son, also came in 1835. . . ..John Heater and Ira Holmes are names connect<Ml with the «'arlv days of Thomjjson Town.ship.

vania in 1833. He died about 1852, his widow in 1855. Their son, George, born in 1821, still resides in Thompson Township .... Isaac Kern, born in Pennsylvania, was brought by his father, Jacob Kem, to Thompson Township in 1832. . . .Anthony Kern, born in Pennsylvania in 1813. came to Thompson Township with his parents, Peter and Rachel Kern, in 1831 .... Charles and Catherine Krupp came from Bavaria with then- family, in 1833, direct to Thompson Township. Anthony Krupp being one of their sons.

William McCauley was one of the projectors of Thomsontown in 1840 and one of the old settlers. . . .Benjamin Mun-ay was here at an early date. . . .Dr. Joseph Myers and Dr. Henry L. Harris were physicians at Lewisville (Thompson Township) in 1847.

Joseph Parmenter, at whose house the first election was held in 1820, was one of the th-st actual settlers of the county .... Joseph Philo settled in Thompson Townshiji at an early date .... The Pratt family and H. Piu'dy's family were also among the first settlers, coming here prior to the organization of 1820. . . .John W. Paine, born in 1820, came to Adams Township in 1829 with his parents, John and Sarah Paine. He died in 1882. His widow now resides at the family homestead.

G. W. Reaham. an Ohioan, was here in 1839 .... John Eoyer, a native of Pennsylvania, grandfather of the present mayor of Tiffin, settled in Thompson Township in 1829 .... John Royer, Jr. , born in Thompson Township, is a son of the famous pioneer, John Royer, and is said to have been the first child born to Pennsylvanian settlers in Thompson Township in 1831 ... .Samuel Royer, a resident of the county for over fifty-seven years, died in his fiftyninth year, in August, 1884; he was the father of the estimable mayor of Tiffin, and a pioneer of this township .... Isaac Royer came in 1829 .... Abram Romig, a Pennsylvanian. came here in 1 iS32.

John and Magdalena Sherck came to Thompson Township in 1834 and removed to Michigan in 18fi8. Their son, Hon. Joseph Sherck, mayor of Bellevue, Ohio, was brought by his parents here in 1834, moving to Belle\'ue in 1873. . . .Abram Sherck, with Samuel Sherck and William McCauley, founded Thompsontown in 1840. . . .George Schock, born in 1812 in Pennsylvania, and his wife, Rachael (Korner), also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1810, came to Thompson Township in 1836, accompanied by their parents, George and Margaret (Siebert) Schock (now deceased), and Andrew and Sarah (Hendricks) Korner .... The famous hunter and trapper. Snow, is supposed to have been the first white resident of the township .... The Sjionables, referred to in other pages, were early residents here. . . .Samuel and Sarah (Wilts) Stewart located on Section 2, Thompson Township, in 1829. In 1S()7 they moved into Flat Rock, where the former died in 187('; his widow now resides there .... Peter Stetler, a Pennsylvanian, came to the county in 1837.

A. H. Twiss and family came here at a very early date; it is said they were here aboxit 1819. . . .Isaac and Christina (Scothorn) Tompkins, parents of Mrs. James Bolin were early settlers in this township.

James XJnderhill, David Ilnderhill. Jasper Underhill and other members of that family were among the first permanent residents coming in December, 1819.

Levi Waggoner, a Pennsylvanian, came in 1831 . . . .Elias Weiker came from Pennsylvania to Thompson Township in 1833, with his parents. George and Susanna ^^'eiker (both deceased), and now resides in Bellevue .... Isaac

Weiker settled here in 1842. . . .John Weller settled here in 1S{4. . . .Georce Wetzell. a Penusylvaniau, came in 1854 .... John AVelsli, James Whitmore. Nathan Whitney and William "Whitney were all here about or at the time the lownshi]) was organized. . . .The Wollenschlegels settled here at an early day. . . . .Daniel and Catharine Wonder, parents of George Wonder, were born in Pennsylvania and tl.'ere man-ied and lived until 1828; then moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1830 to Thompson Township; thence to Wyandot County, wh<>r(> Mi's. Wonder died. Daniel A\'onder, now ninety-four years of age, resides with his son George, in Big Spring Township.

Benevel Yarger, a native of Pennsylvania, fatlier of George E. Yarger, of Fostoria, located at Flat Rock in 1851, and in ISfJl moved to Carey, Ohio.

Isaac Lewis, the Bowmans, Kellys, Anthony and George Zahm, Peter Schoendorf, John Host, the Hein family, the Umlors, Westrichs, Neises, Krupps, Kuhns, Knafips, Glassners, McCauleys and others were here prior to 1840, and shared with the pioneers, hitherto noticed, in their toils, their pleasures and their sorrows. Refen'ing to the earl}- settlement of Ihis division of the county, the following testimony is taken fi'om Stewart's work, published in 1874: '"The greater j)ortionof the early settlement of Thompson Township consisted of people fi-om Pennsylvania, and of immigrants direct fi-om Genuany; a good substantial class of people, naturally inclined to improve the soil and U> enrich the township and county by persevering industry and toil. In the southwestern portion of the townshiji, a large number of Germans formed a settlement. They belonged princijjally to the Roman Catholic Church, and estal)Iished a nunnery, which has greatly prospered, and has received many devout }iersons. professing the creed of the Church of Rome, within its portals. Her(> residi> those eminent Christian women kno\\n as Sisters of Charity, a title they richly deserve for the real good which they do among the poor and needy."

J^'irisn'lle was surveyed by Jonas Hershberger for Fred. Harjjster, John M'ingard, Jacob Connor and George Schoch. Jr., January 21, 1841. George Schoch's addition to Lewisville was surveyed by G. H. Heming, April 5, 1853, the streets being a continuation of a parallel to streets in the original town. Homer & McCarty's addition to Lewisville on the east half, northeast quarter of Section 11, was siu'veyed April 6, 1856. by G. H. Heming.

A postoffice was established here under the name of Flat Rock Postoffice. and by this name Lewisville is generally known. The business circle of the village is made up as follows: R. B. Hickey, hardware; John M. Terwilliger, grocer; and A\'illiam Shaffer i-ice J. M. Terwilliger, postmaster, in charge of the i)OstotKce. At one time there was a station here on the " underground railway."

Reformed Church, of Thompson Township, was organized in 1830. and in 1832 a house of worship was erected on a lot donated by John Heater. This building gave pl.tce to a larger one in 1843, and this in tm-n to the present beautiful brick church of 1873. The original members were John H<)y(>r,

Wolleusclilegel, Adam Good, Jacob Buun, John Bunn. Sr. . John Bunn, Jr., Hem-y Bunn, Isaac Lewis, Henn- Bowman. Kud.jlph Bowman and Henry Stetler. The first pastor was Rev. Stauch. The value of property is estimated at S7,000.

United Brethren Chiirch,a,i Flat Rock, founded some yeai's ago. has a small membership. The meeting-house cost $1.(KM> {ride histoiy of Fostoria).

Zion Reformed Cluirch, of Thompson Township, was organized in 1881). German Reformed Zion's Church was reorganized under State law, December 18, 18(50. John Rover. Sr., presided, with D. W. Kelley, secretary. Harrison AMlt, Levi Korner and Edward Kern were elected trustees.

St. Michael's Church dates its beginning back to 1838. when Rev. F. X. Tschenhens, C. S. S. R., came to visit the few Catholic families then in this neighborhood, and rejjeated his visits for years until Fathers Alig and Malhebouf were appointed his successors. Verj' Rev. Sales Brunuer came in 18-11. In 1847-48 the first regular chiu'ch building was begun and completed, taking the place of the first log building. In 1888 the present Gothic l)uilding was commenced. This is one of the largest country churches in Ohio, and is built on the same plan as St. Joseph's Chiu'ch at Tiffin. The congi-egation numbers about 400, the number of families belonging Iseing seventy-one. Among the first members were the late John Adam Perhard Stein. Ch. Krupp, John Host, Hein, Lei>])old Kuhn. John Westrich. A. Krupp, B. Ramsehlag, William Glassner, John Glassner and Daniel Neis. Many, if not all, of those pioneer members donated lands for chiirch, school and cemeteiy. The present congregation built the new chui'ch and school of their own means, under the direction of their building committee, Anthony Krupp. Peter Hepp, Ferd. SehoefFel, Jacob Gerber, Joe Dick. Balzer Layman, ilichael and Gerber. The tnistees are Anthony Gerhardstein. Joseph Greulich. Jacob Greulich and Anthony Ham. The chmrh is in charge <jf the jariests of the Order of the Most Precious Blood. This society was incorporated July ir>, 1848, when Rev. Francis !Maria Sales Brunner, Rev. Maria Anthony Meyer, and Rev. John Wittmer, were elected trustees. Rev. F. M. S. Brunner, superior, and Rev. M. A. Meyer, clerk. The locations named in acts of incorporation were Big Spring and Thompson Townships.

The first school in the township, known as District No. 7. was foxmded shortly after the arrival of the Bolin family, with Elisha Boliii, first teacher. He is now a resident of Wabash. Ind.

The election to decide the question of selling school lands. Section K), Thompson Township, was held April (i, 1S46. John Bunn. Jr.. John Heater and James Bolin were judges. The vote stood 127 for sale, and seven against. The record of sale of Section 16. Range 17, Township 3. which took place February 26, 1847, is as follows: Peter Stetler, east half of the southea.st quarter; Heniy Engle, west half of the southeast qiiarter: John Heater, east half of the southwest qiiarter, and west half of the southwest quarter; Henry Engle, west half of northwest quarter: John Royer, east half of the northwest quarter and west half of the northeast quarter; John Heater, Jr.. east half of the northeast quarter. The sum realized from sale was i^ll.O'.tO.

The condition of the schools of Thompson Township on August 81, 1884, is given in the following statistics: Number of male pupils em-olled, 282; of females, 226; total, 41)8. Schoolhouses, 8; value of property, §12,000; num-

Coiivi-iit (if till' Sisters of the Most Precious Blood was rounded herein 1844, when the sisters took charge of the schools that year, and established the orphanage, which institution was transferred to New Kiegel in IS")!). To Rev. Sales Bninner the credit is given for establishing this convent here. His mother was the founder of this branch of the order, and the sisters, who came from Switzerland in 1844, left the mother house at Father Brunner's request, to continue their good works of charity in the then wilds of northwestern Ohio. The new buildings, commenced in 1888, were completed in 1885. The Convent of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, in Thompson Township, claimed liftvnine sisters in 1847. The monastery of the same order in that township contained twenty- foiu' members.

St. Michael's School, dating back to 1844, claims a large number of pupils. The building is a brick structiu-e, containing two commodious school rooms.

St. Michaers Orphan Asybiin was founded, in 1844, by Rev. Sales Bninner, with the Sisters of Charity, fi'om Switzerland, Eurojje, in charge. The orphans were transferred in 1851) to the larger house at New Riegel.

Ebenezer Orphan A-fylitm. of the Evangelical Association of North America, was incorporated March lU. 1868, with George F. Spring, L. Scheiu-man, D, Strohman, Abner Niebel and William Negele, trustees. This asylum is denominational and well conducted. Its location is just on the southern border of Flat Rock Village.

The valuation and taxation of Thompson Township for 1884-85 present the following statistics: 23,8111 acres of laud, valued at $1)28.080, and personal property at $197.1(80, aggregating $1,126,010. The total taxes in 1885 amount" to $11, 814.56. with 1201 dog tax. The population in 1880 was l.KOl.

The predial statistics of Thompson Townshij) for 1884, are 6.610 acres of wheat: 1 aciv of lye. 27 bushels; 24 acres of Inickwheat. 145 bushels; 1.748 acres of oats. ])roduct about 78.624 bushels; 18 acres of barley; 2,866 acres of corn, product (shelled) about 84.000 bushels; 697 acres of meadow, 855 tons of hay; 1,854 acres of clover, 2,387 tons of hay, 1,888 bu.shels of seed and 86 acres plowed under ; 1 92 acres of potatoes, yielding 20. 935 bushels ; 62. 600 pounds home made butter: 5 acres of sorghum produced 518 gallons of syrup; mapli> syrup, !(- gallons; 155 hives, 953 pounds of honey; 65.460 dozens of eggs; 1 vineyard. 150 pounds of grapes. IMi gallons of wine; 1 acre sweet potatoes, yielding 187 bushels; 454 acres of orchards, 3,080 bushels of apjiles. 108 of peaches. 122 of pears. 10 of chenies; acres of land owned and cultivated. 13.140; in pasture. 1 . 706 : woodland, 2.539: waste land. 177; total acreage owned. 17.5(52; wool shorn in 1883, 3.567; milch cows, 595; dogs. 197; sheep killed and injured, 9; animals died of disease, 135 hogs, 95 sheep, 28 cattle and 15 horses.