Milan Township

By L. H. Newton Location And Boundary

Milan is located east of the center of Allen County, and is bounded as follows: North by Springfield and Cedar Creek, east by Maumee, south by Jefferson, west by St. Joseph, and contains 37.54 square miles.

Natural Features

Maumee River flows through the township in a northeast course, and Twelve Mile and Ten Mile Creeks flow through the central part, joining the Maumee. Six Mile Creek waters the southwestern part of the township. In the northwestern portion of the township the land is very fine, but the balance is low and swampy, and a thorough system of artificial drainage alone makes it fit for farming.

Organization

Milan was first organized by the County Commissioners in March, 1838, and the name was given it by Stephen Heath in honor of Milan Township, Huron Co , Ohio, his former home. He was a resident of this township, and presented the petition for its organization. The boundaries, as' first described, were as follows : Commencing on the east line of Section 30, Town 31 north, of Range 14 east, where the same strikes the Maumee River, thence due north to the line of Township 31, thence west to the line between Ranges 13 and 14, thence south to the southeast corner of Section 13, Town 31, Bange 13, thence east to the Maumee River, thence east along Maumee River to" the -place of beginning.

At the September session in the same year, it was ordered that the following j be the boundaries of Milan Township in lieu of those previously established : i Commencing at the section line between Sections 31 and 32 where the same | crosses Maumee River, on the north side thereof, thence north with said line to j the township line between Townships 31 and 32, thence west along said line one mile, thence south to the northeast corner of Section 20, thence south to Mau- j mee River, thence with said river to the place of beginning.

In September. 1840, it was reduced to its present limits by an order of the I Board of Commissioners to the effect that Milan Township should be composed | of Congressional Township 31 north, of Range 14 east.

Early Settlement

Charles Shriner, a native of New Jersey, came with his family in 1836. He purchased about one-half of Section 4, a large portion of which he cleared and improved. He is now an aged man, and lives a retired life.

Wilkes Gillct and John Heath came in the same year, and settled on Section 18, where each cleared and improved a farm. Mr. Gillet subsequently removed to St. Joseph Township, where he now resides. Mr. Heath died at his farm on Section 18.

George Foxtater settled at Fairport in 1837. He cleared a small piece of land and converted his cabin into a tavern for passengers on the canal. His trade, however, was limited. He remained in the township until his decease.

Alvin Hall came to the township and purchased a tract of land on- Section. IS, returning soon after to his home in Erie County, Ohio. In December, 1840, he came with his family to the new home, and begtltehe work of clearing it for cultivation. He has taken an active part in the development of the township, and still lives on the farm where he first settled. ^

Among the settlers who came after 1840, and prior to 1850, were William Fitzgerald, Sr., Edward Nugent, Daniel B. Strong, Joseph Douner, William Tillbury, William R. Herrick, Richard Bebee and Samuel Archer.

Early Events

Charles Shriner erected the first frame house in 1838. It was attached to the log building which he first erected, and with it has gone to decay.

Alvin Hall erected the second frame house in 1841. This is well preserved, and is his residence at present. William R. Herrick erected the first frame barn in the spring of 1S5U. It is still used by the present, owner of the premises - Mrs. Benninghoff.

The first road was surveyed in 1840 by Horace Taylor, assisted by Martin Weeks, Platt Squicr and Henry Tillbury, viewers. It was called the Ridge road, and extended from Fort Wayne to Hicksville, Ohio.

The first religious meeting was held at the schoolhouse, on the Ridge road, in 1845. Services were conducted by Rev. Trew Pattee, of the M. E. Church, who held meetings at irregular intervals thereafter, but no organization was formed. The various religious denominations have organized in comparatively recent years, and have, as yet, erected no churches. All religious meetings are now held in the district schoolhouses.

The first school was taught in the winter of 1845 by Miss Catharine Shell. In the preceding fall, a log building was erected for that purpose near the farm of Alvin Hall, and the school was sustained by subscription. In 1857, the first free school was erected on the same lot, and near the site formerly occupied by the log building. The new schoolhouse was a frame building, and was erected by Alvin Hall, who was the first carpenter in the township. At present, there are twelve schools in the township, with 539 scholars enrolled.

The first election was held at the house of George Foxtater, in April, 1842. Andrew Wakefield was elected Justice of the Peace, and John Nettle, Constable. In those days, the officers received no pay for their services, and it was difficult to find men who would consent to fill them.

The first post office was established at Fairport in 1843. John Irvin was appointed Postmaster, and kept the office until it was finally abolished. In 1856, Alvin Hall presented a petition praying for the establishment of a post office in the western part of the township, and designating its name as Chamberlain Post Office. The petition met with a favorable response, and Lorenzo D. George was appointed Postmaster. He kept the office about four years, then resigned, and was succeeded by Enoch Bacon. Four years later, he, too, resigued, and Solo¬ mon Benninghoff was appointed his successor. About 1870, the office was removed to St. Joseph Township.

The first store was kept by Stephen Heath, at his house on the Ridge road. His stock was small, but consisted of the articles most necessary at that time, and his store was regarded as a great convenience by his neighbors, who were thereby spared the necessity of making tedious trips to Fort Wayne for provisions.

George Foxtater and John Irvin were the first tavern keepers. They opened their houses for public accommodation at Fairport, and enjoyed a limited patronage from travelers on the canal. The houses of Alvin Hall and Wilkes Gillet were favorite resting-places for travelers on the Ridge road.

The Village Of Fairport

was one of the numerous towns which came into existence during canal times. The land upon which it was situated was purchased by Eastern capitalists, during the construction of the Wabash & Erie Canal. It never prospered, in spite of the efforts of its founders to make it a town. It suffered by the introduction ol railroads, and the few merchanis who had located within its borders, sought more favorable localities. Finally, the land reverted to the State, and farms are now cul¬ tivated on a part of the original town plat.

Source changes here: from Valley of the Upper Maumee River, with Historical Account of Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana, published 1889; 1,886 words in this source stream.

Milan Township

The early settlement here was mainly on the line of the ridge road which was surveyed in 1839. It passes over the best part of the township, the remainder at that early day being swampy and unattractive. In 1836 Charles Shriner, a native of New Jersey, made his home on a half of section 4, which he purchased. He erected the first frame house two years later. In the same year, Nathan Lake, of Vermont, and his family, having come in 1835, settled on section 3. John Heath settled in this vicinity, in 1836, also, and Wilkes Gillett came from Ohio in 1837. Stephen Heath made an early settlement on the ridge road, and upon the first organization of the township in 1838, he chose for it the name of Milan in remembrance of his native town in Huron county, Ohio. He opened subsequently the pioneer store at his house. In 1833, came John Nuttle, from Huron county, Ohio, whose descendants are still residents here. Alvin Hall, of Connecticut, settled on section 18 in Decern- ber, 1840, having previously visited the township. He became prominent in local affairs. His house was a favorite stopping place for travelers, and in 1856 he secured a po§toffice for his neighborhood, called Chamberlain; Lorenzo D. George became the postmaster. Subsequent!}' the office was removed to St. Joseph township, and has latel)' been kept at the store of Edson Brooks. In 1837 the settlement at Fairport was begun bj' George Foxtater. During canal times his house was in use as a tavern by the travelers. Fairport was laid out in section 24, by eastern capitalists during this period, and an attempt made to build up there a town, but with the decaj' of canal traffic the town reverted to agricultural land. The first election was held here at the house of George Foxtater, in 1842, and Andrew Wakefield was elected justice and John Nuttle, constable. In 1843 a postoffice was established at Fairport, and John Irvin, then appointed postmaster, held until the office was abolished. John Irvin also kept a hotel in canal times. Among the settlers between 1840 and 1850 were William Fitzgerald, sr., Edward Nugent, Daniel B. Strong, Joseph Donner, William Tilbury, the Lynes famity, William R. Herrick, Richard Beebe and Samuel Archer. In section 35 the town of Mosier was platted by Joseph Mosier, in 1854, ^u' i*^ ^^^ ^^^ develop.

-Ami D. Nuttle, a prominent citizen of Milan township, was born in that township July 2, 1844. His parents were one of the first three families settling in the township. His father was born in New York, November 8, 1S03, and removed first to Ohio, thence to Milan township about 1833, and died November 12, 1852. His mother was a first cousin of Hon. John Jay, one of the distinguished men of the early days of the republic. The mother, a native of Scotland, was born March 16, 1805, and came to America with her parents at the age of twelve and settled in Ohio. She died February 4, 1865. Mr. A. D. Nuttle was married August 27, 1865, to Harriet M. Platter, whose parents were also among the first settlers of the township. Her father, a native of Ohio, was born in 1810, and died August, 1852, in Milan township. The mother, a native of Ohio, was born in 1820. She is living and enjoying fair health. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nuttle: William D., born January 21, 1867; Katie C, born March 4, 1867, died August 17, 1885; John F., born November 30, 1869, died September 7, 1876; Minnie M., born October 22, 1871; Edgar A., March 6, 1875; Walter C, June 9, 1880; Wesley H.-, September 17, 1882; Toney A., February 21, 1887; Ima J., 'February 12, 1889. William was married to Miss Adehne Miller, July 16, 1887, and they have one child, Groyer. Mr. Nuttle enlisted in the Union army July 16, 1862, in the Fifth Indiana cavalry, and was discharged June 15, 1865. He assisted in the raid that led to the capture of John Morgan, and was in numerous skirmishes. In the east Tennessee campaign he lost almost the entire use of one eye. He served also in the Georgia campaign, and was at the engagements at Resaca, Allatoona Pass, Rome and before Atlanta. He is a member of the G. A. R., Sion S. Bass post.

No. 40, Fort Wayne. He has served his township as assessor for four years and as constable for two years. Mr. Nuttle took possession in 1865, of the farm of sixt3-three acres on \yhich he now has a handsome new house and barn and is prepared to enjoy the comforts of hfe.

Alvin Hall, the earl}- settler referred to above, is a native of New London, Conn., born May 11, iSto, son of George and Betsey Hall, who were natives of Connecticut, and residents of New London. In the defense of that citj' the father was killed during the war of 181 2. Alvin left home at the age of sixteen, and went to Canandaigua county, N. Y., where he remained two years, and then worked at his trade of carpenter in Erie countj^ Ohio, twelve years. Coming then to Milan township with his wife and famih^, he bought land of the government and devoted himself to pioneer work. He was married in 1833 to Betsey, daughter of John and Anna Miller. She was born in Connecticut in 1810, and died in 1847. The}- had seven children. January 7, 1848, Mr. Hall was married to Sylvia, daughter of Stephen and Hannah Heath, who was born in Ohio in 1828, and to them were born six children. Mr. Hall has served his township as a justice, assessor, treasurer, and was elected land appraiser of the county in 1876. Since he built the first frame school-house in 1857, he has been a leader in progress and good works. He made the trip to Allen count}- in December, 1840, reaching Fort Wayne about Christmas, and built his log cabin upon the land he now occupies.

Curtis C. Lake, of Milan township, was born in 1820, in Chittenden count}', Vt., one of a family of eight children, of Nathan and Jerusha Lake, natives of Connecticut. The father, who was a farmer and lumberman by occupation, when a young man moved to Vermont and located at Shelburn, where he remained until 1835, when he and family emigrated west, and took possession of the land which C. C. Lake now occupies. He was one of the earliest settlers, and cut a road through the forest for about six miles to reach the tract of land on which he settled. When he first arrived in Allen county he rented a farm near Fort Wayne, where he .could raise something to live on until he got a start in the woods. The family stored their grain at Rudisill's mill on the St. Joseph, and would get a grist as they needed it. Then they went to work to clear away the forest, and the parents lived until they and the children succeeded in creating a comfortable home. On the way here they had lost all the goods and clothing they possessed, which increased their hardships. The parents died on the homestead, the father in 1857, the mother in May, 1866. Mr. Lake helped to build, and was one of the students at the pioneer log school-house, and his children were educated in the same house. The ladv who taught the second term of school became his wife. He has a relic of old "Johnny Appleseed " in the shape of an apple tree that measures ninety-three inches in circumference, grown from the seed sown by that famous character, on the banks of the Maumee river. It was set out about 1S37, and is still a thrifty tree. His first residence was burned down but he has now a fine home which has since been built upon one of the finest locations in the township. In 1850 he was wedded to Mary E., daughter of John and Asenath Chelles. She was born in 1S33, in Rutland county, Vt. Her father was born in 17S9, at Kingston, N. H. He moved to Vermont in 1830, and thirty-five 3^ears later moved to DeKalb county, near Spencerville. He remained there until 1864, when he made his home with his daughter, until his death in 1865. The mother was born in 1798, in Chester, N. H., and is still living at the age of ninety-one years and is well and active with hearing and sight but little impaired. Mr. and Mrs. Lake have had five children: John N., Alma A., Chauncey H., Hattie A., and Benjamin who died August 6, 1887. In poHtics Mr. Lake cast his first presidential vote for W. H. Harrison, and the last for Benjamin Harrison. He is one of the venerable and venerated old settlers.

George W. Willbur, a prosperous farmer of Milan township, was born in 1840 in DeKalb count}', Ind., one of six children of Charles and Catharine Willber. His father, a native of Vermont, born in 1792, at Windsor, when a small boy moved with his parents to New York, where he remained until he was forty-two years of age, when he came to DeKalb county, where he was one of the earliest settlers. He cleared a farm and erected substantial buildings, and having passed through the hardships of pioneer life, in the spring of 185 1 he sold out and came to Milan township, locating on the ridge road, where his son now resides, and where the father died in 1S77. The mother was born in 1807, at Watertown, N. Y., and died at the old homestead in the fall of 1856. George W. received the rudiments of his education in the pioneer log school-house. As a farmer, he has flourished, and is the owner of 300 acres of fertile soil, in one of the finest locations in the county, upon which he has handsome buildings. March 25, 1869, he was wedded to Mary, daughter of James and Rebecca Vandolah. She was born in Perry township in 1S40 and died in 1880. Her only child, Catharine, died in infancy. In 18S2 he was married to Ella, daughter of Solomon and Matilda Richards, by whom he had two children, Mary M. and Goldie M., both deceased. Mrs. Willbur was born in 1852 in Wayne count3% Ohio. Mr. Willbur patriotically enlisted in Company D, Thirtieth Indiana volunteer infantry for three years or during the war, and was engaged in the following leading battles of the war: Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, Kenesaw Mountain, Lovejoy, Gainesborough, and among many others. He is a member of the G. A. R. and of the Masonic order. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church.

Gottlieb Schafer, trustee of Milan township, was born in German}-, March 21, 1846, and at the age of eight years came with his parents to America in December, 1854. They made their home first in Wayne township one year, and then removed to St. Joseph township, where they resided nine years, finally settling in Milan township in the fall of 1864. Mr. Schafer's father was born in Germany, in June, 1S06, and died Octo-