Stryker, Ohio

Of the early settlers of the township, jio one is more worthv of the post of honor than John Stubbs, not only because of his early residence, but because of his prominence and usefulness in the young community. He was a man of marked intelligence and strong humanitarian principles, one of the few who willingly yielded personal interest and made financial sacrifices for the sake of principle. He was born in Orange county, New York, August 12, 1784. His father, William Stubbs, who was of Welsh descent, was a soldier in the Revolutionary' War and assisted in the capture of the desperate and infamous tory, Claudius Smith, near Goshen, Orange county, New York, where he was afterwards hanged. In early life, John Stubbs removed to Tompkins county. New York. He was captain of a company of state militia during the war of 1812. In 1832 he sold his farm in Tompkins county and entered nearly 1,000 acres of land in what afterwards became Springfield township, Williams county, Ohio, and came with his family, together with his sons-in-law, Jonathan B. Taylor and Harmon Doolittle, and their families, all settling in Springfield township, the following spring. Mr. Stubbs located on Tiffin River (Bean Creek), about three miles south of the present site of Stryker, built a cabin and commenced clearing. Here he remained but a year, when he removed to another tract of land in the same township, two and a half miles west of Stryker, and built another cabin. This farm of 130 acres he soon afterwards sold to Dr. Kibbey, who contemplated building a saw-mill and surveyed a portion of the land for town lots, calling the new place Williamsport ; but becoming badly involved and unable to execute his intentions, the land reverted to Mr. Stubbs, who, in the meantime, had returned to his former place where he had begun a home, and where himself and family resided until 1861, when Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs went to live with their son, John H. Stubbs, with whom they remained until death called them. Mr. Stubbs died, January 26, 1864, and was followed by Mrs. Stubbs in 1871. Mr. Stubbs was for eighteen years justice of the peace in Tompkins county, New York, and after coming to Ohio filled continuously for many years some of the township offices, being also at one time one of the commissioners of Williams county. He was a member of no church, but was for more than half a century a prominent and leading member of the Masonic fraternity, having advanced as far in the order as was then possible in this country. He was for many years Worshipful Master of Hiram Lodge, in Tompkins county, New York, and after coming west helped to organize new lodges over northwestern Ohio. He believed Masonry to be the best organization ever instituted by man, and constantly practiced, through a long and useful life, the tenets of the order. Ever seeking to ameliorate the condition of humanity he dispensed charities with a loving heart and a bounteous hand.

Passage source: The County of Williams : a History of Williams County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Townships ; Also a Biographical Department, published 1905.

John H. Stubbs came to Williams county, in 1833, and was identified with its growth from that early period. His parents located in Springfield township on a farm, where he remained at work, and which he acquired by deed of gift from his father in 1845. In company with two brothers-in-law, he built the first saw-mill in Springfield township, on Tiffin River, which he had charge of for several years. He was peculiarly fitted for pioneer life, and, being a sure marksman, the wild turkeys and deer with which the country abounded, suffered at his hands. He was of an eminently social nature, and, with his violin, was an indispensable figure at all the primitive gatherings of that day. He served to cheer and enliven the hearts of the widely-separated neighbors and inspire courage for renewed efforts. Mr. Stubbs was a charter member of Stryker Lodge, No. 61 1, I. O. O. F., and in politics was a Republican. He was born November 26,. 1820, in Springfield, Tompkins county, New York. For more than forty years he was an extensive, close and careful reader and investigator, especially of metaphysical subjects. He did his own thinking and would not allow creed-makers to forge fetters for his mind. He believed that all material things were formed in obedience to certain immutable laws ; that both law and matter are eternal and indestructible ; that the word "create" is a misnomer and should be stricken from every language. He believed that there is a certain something called "energy," also eternal and indestructible, which overcomes resistance and does work ; that this energy is always the same, no matter under what circumstances it may be manifested. He firmly believed that what men called "mind," "intelligence" or "soul," is only a manifestation of energy. He believed in. the entity of the individual mind ; that all mental improvement is but accumulated thought or energy, and that it must go on forever. To him, the only evidence of a future existence is in the manifestation of spirits, and while he repudiated creeds, one and all, as the inventions of men, he was yet no materialist. He would not bow the knee in superstitious reverence of the Past, simply because it is the Past, but worshiped toward the Dawn. He believed in a religion of love, rather than in a religion of duty; that the whole of religion, pure and undefiled, is to deal justly, love mercy, and to endeavor to make fellow creatures happy. Mr. Stubbs departed this life at his home near Stryker, September 10, 1882.

Passage source: The County of Williams : a History of Williams County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Townships ; Also a Biographical Department, published 1905.

It is claimed that James Guthrie settled on Bean Creek, about 1827. If such is the fact he must have been the first settler in what is now Springfield township, and very probably in what is now Williams county. Peter Knipe settled on the southeast corner of section 33, in the spring of 1831. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed to Ross county, Ohio, at an early day. He left Ross county and settled on Bean Creek, near Brunersburg, in the year 1827, and from there he moved within the present limits of Springfield township. Josiah B. Packard settled in the north part of the township at an early day. Rev. Thomas J. Prettyman, as stated above, settled on the north part of section 29, in the spring of 1833, was a Methodist local preacher, and a leading man in the community. Lewis W. Prettyman, a son, was four or five years of age when his father settled in the township and spent a long and useful life there. At the time of his death, which occurred but a few years ago, he had no doubt lived longer in Springfield township than any other person. Daniel Colgan settled on section 20. in the year 1833, and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1867. He came from Champaign county, Ohio, to Williams county, but he was a native of Kentucky. William B. Sprague and his father, Solomon Sprague, came to Williams county and settled in the south part of Springfield township, about 1832 or 1833. They were natives of Rhode Island and distant relatives of former Senator Sprague of that state. James Luther settled at an early day, perhaps in 1833, near the place where Stryker now stands. It is said that John Hollinshead first settled on a farm on the west bank of Bean Creek, and that Daniel Colgan bought the claim in 1833, after which Mr. Hollinshead moved farther north. Among the other early settlers were David Carpenter, Louis Clark, Harvey Clark and Chauncey Clark.

Passage source: The County of Williams : a History of Williams County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Townships ; Also a Biographical Department, published 1905.

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 Springfield Township - it names this place 4 more 4 times.