Bowsherville, Ohio

The first thoroughfare laid out in this township was established prior to 1821, and was known as the Columbus & Sandusky road. It extended through Sections 1, 35, 26, 27, 22, 15 and 16, and it was by this route by which the first settlers reached the Indian Mill above Upper Sandusky and the town of Delaware, where they were accustomed to go for supplies. They also went to the town of Fremont to obtain supplies and get their " milling " done. In 1839, the first saw mill run by water-power was constructed on Section 35 by Thomas Holmes, and in 1844 this same enterprising gentleman built a grist mill, run also by water-power, on the Sandusky River in Section 26. The only mill of the kind in this township is now located at Fowler, and is owned by David Harpster. Ora Bellis established the first store in Pitt in Little Sandusky as early as 1820. He died, as may have been expected, in the fall of the same year, having the honor of establishing the precedent for such transactions in this township. In 1844, the United Brethren denomination erected at Little Sandusky the first church building in the township, which now claims four of these places of worship, two in Little Sandusky, one at Fowler, and one on Section 12. The latter is owned by the German Reformed society; the others by the Methodist Episcopal denomination.* The first election held in the township was at Little Sandusky, the officers elected being one Justice, Gideon Messenger; a Constable and three Trustees, Moses Messenger, Walter Woolsey and Cornelius Wilson. They were all Whigs, the number of votes polled not exceeding twenty. As early as 1821, Cupid found his way into these wilds, and the first victims of his magic spell were Joseph Wilson and Cloy Woolsey. They were married at Little Sandusky, and in the following year, 1822, a daughter, Hannahret, was born to them, she being the first white babe in Pitt Township to mingle her cries with those of the wild papoose.

Passage source: The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County: Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools, Etc.;, published 1884.

In 1876, Morris Carnes purchased and remodeled the building formerlyused by John Kisor as a residence, and later by William Montee as a saloon, and opened a grocery store, which he is still conducting with fair success. In 1881, Frank Sabaugh erected a frame business room, 18x30 feet, onestory, and placed therein a stock of general merchandise, which he has since been engaged in handling. Charley Hornby is the proprietor of a very creditable clothing store and tailoring establishment in the village. C. R. Fowler, a prominent stock and wool dealer of the place, handles annually products in his line to the value of from $50,000 to $75,000. The village supports at present two grocery stores, one dry goods store and one clothing and tailoring establishment, the annual business of these firms aggregating about $50,000.

Passage source: The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County: Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools, Etc.;, published 1884.

Fowler Methodist Episcopal Church. - This society may be said to have been organized about 1853, as it was originally made up of members from the Bowsherville society and a few from Little Sandusky. It was first organized as the Fowler society by D. B. Rinehart in 1847 with twenty-five members, among whom were John Wood and wife, William Parker and wife, James Parker and wife, John Mawer, George Baldwin, Richard Mould and others whose names are not now remembered. The church building, a brick structure, 40x60 feet, was erected in 1878-79 at a cost of $5,000. D. B. Rinehart officiated as pastor two years from the date of organization of the society, J. W. Donan, one year; William Lucas, two years; William S. Paul, one year; and Jesse Carr is the present incumbent. The society is in a flourishing condition and numbers about seventy members. The present officers are William Parker, Richard Moulds, E. B. Lewis and John Wood.

Passage source: The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County: Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools, Etc.;, published 1884.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Pitt Township - it names this place 7 more 7 times.