Antrim Township (part 6 of 6)

The surface of the township is undulating and well watered by the Sandusky river and its tributaries. Broken Sword creek enters the township at the north, at a point near the northeast corner of Section 5, and flows in a south and southeast direction and enters the Sandusky near the center of Section 19. Grass Run and Gray Eye Run flow from the eastern part of the township, form a junction in Section 21, and empty into the Sandusky near the southwest corner of Section 20. . The soil of Antrim township is very fertile and well adapted to wheat raising, as well as to the culture of oats, corn and other grains. Large crops of corn from

Isaac Longwell and Sarah Winslow were the first couple joined in marriage in the township, and Rebecca Welsh, daughter of Zachariah and Hannah (Stein) Welsh, was the first white child born therein, the year of her birth being 1822. Magdalene Hite was born in 1823, probably the second white child born in the township. Abner Jurey, an infant, was the first to pass away, the date of his death being Alugust, 1821. He was buried in the Macedona graveyard.

In 1825-26, David Bibler built a 'grist mill east of Wyandot on the Sandusky river, the first mill constructed in the township. He was also the first ''tavern keeper'' in the township. John Kirby was the first merchant in Antrim township, his store being located in the village of Wyandot. Most of the early settlers were located within the village of Wyandot, south and. east of the Reservation line, but after the organization of the county, settlements were more general, and quite extensive.

The early schools of Antrim were conducted under very great difficulties, the neighbors being far apart and the facilities meager. According to the best information we are able to obtain, the first schools of the township were held in a log cabin in the dooryard of Thomas Terry, Ethan Terry being the first teacher. It is also stated that schools were held in the dwellings of Messrs. Howe and Longwell, and that Nathan Howe was, perhaps the first teacher. It is quite certain that the first schoolhouse was erected in the village of Wyandot in 1827-28. It was, of course, a cabin, and the first teacher was Thomas T. Thompson, who subsequently taught in the mission schools.

As early as 1820 the people of Wyandot and vicinity began to assemble occasionally for divine worship. 'The first meetings were held in the old log schoolhouse in the northeast part of the village, and these were continued with more or less regularity till 1835, when an organization was effected. The members were of the Methodist Episcopal persuasion and few in number, William Brown and his wife Margaret being the only members from the village. In 1838, the Methodist Episcopal church building was erected just south of the village, being the first building of the kind erected in the township.

The first white settler to locate in Antrim township was John Kirby, in 1819. He settled on land that in 1820 was entered by Col. M. H. Kirby. He was born in Halifax' county, Virginia, and came to Highland county, Ohio, in 1814, and from there to Wyandot county, where he died late in the forties, leaving a large family of children.

Jacob Coon also located in this township in the same year. He came from Pickaway county, and located in the southern part of the township in 1819, and resided on the same farm for sixty years.

Zachariah Welsh came to this county in 1821, and settled in Wyandot village. He died in 1849; his wife's demise occurred in 1857. Edmund R., his son, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1810. He.came to this county with his parents and died January 29, 1880, in Nevada, to which place he removed in 1865. He came from Fairfield county.

Jesse Jurey came from Highland county in 1820 or 1822, and settled west of the village of Wyandot, where he lived and died. Walter Woolsey came from New York state and settled in the township in 1820.

In 1820, Col. M. H. Kirby entered 640 acres where Wyandot now is situated. He made additions to this till he owned 1,200 acres, on which he moved from Columbus in 1839, remaining till 1843, when he was appointed receiver of the Northwestern Land Office. These were the principal settlers up to the date last mentioned, and, in fact, to the date of the organization of the county, 1845, after which time settlements were rapidly made. -

Isaac Longwell came from Licking county in 1821, and took up his abode in this township. William T. Howe settled here about the same time. Thomas Terry came soon after from Highland county, Ohio. He was formerly from Old Virginia. He died in Marseilles Township. His son-inlaw, Josiah Robertson, moved to the township with him. Abner Jurey located in Antrim in 1822. He was born in Virginia, and was married in this county to Priscilla Winslow. He died in 1851. Jacob Brewer moved to the township from the Darby Plains in 1824. Henry Brown, born in Penn-

A Main Street Residence, Nevada

Thomas Thompson moved from New Philadelphia to this township in 1827. He was afterward a missionary, and was employed on the Mission farm. He was also a school teacher. He died in Seneca county, Ohio, in 1884. Isaac Miller first settled here in 1836. He was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1784. John Leith came from Fairfield county in 1832 or 1833.

George W. Leith moved to Antrim in 1837. In 1845, he was appointed Associate Judge, serving seven years. He died at Nevada March 10, 1888. Lair, Isaac and Jacob Miller were also settlers of 1836-37, coming with their parents, and being then almost grown to manhood. Jacob Keller first purchased land here in 1825. He was born in Virginia in 1797. Benjamin Hite came in about 1840. He was born in Perry county in 1815. D. W. Wilson was one of the early settlers, as was also James Daughmer. Peter Brewer was born in this township in 1825.