Arlington Village

Arlington Village

In November. 1854, Robert Hurd, Esq., laid out the town of Arlington, on the south-west part of section 6, and the south-east part of section 1. The town originally contained seventeen lots, but since its first platting, successive additions have been made, until now it is quite a village.

Its business interests are not very extensive. There is one wagon and carriage shop, operated by Julius Dorney. Eli Bowman has a blacksmith shop, and Huff & Cramer are the proprietors of a steam saw and planing mill. There is one shoe shop ; one pump factory. Woods & Co., and Jo- seph Huff each have a dry goods and grocery store, and Dr. L. S. Lafferty keeps a drug store in connection with his practice as a physician. There are also two saloons, A tile factory is in successful operation, owned by Brothers & Son.

The Commissioners at their session on the 6th day of December, 1830, caused the following record to be made : " It appearing to this Board necessary to divide the townships of Findley and Amanda into three townships after the following manner, to-wit: Beginning at the south-west corner of section 31, in township 1 north, in range 12, running thence north to the north-west corner of section 6 in township 2, in range 12, thence west to the north-west corner of section 4, in range eleven, thence south to the south-west corner of section 33, in township one north, in range 11, thence east to the place of beginning, which boundary shall be a separate township, and become a body corporate and politic, and shall be known and designated by the name of Marion."

The township was named in honor of the dashing South Carolina Ranger, Francis Marion, of Revolutionary notoriety, and is bounded on the north by Cass township, on the east by Big Lick, on the south by Amanda and Jackson, and on the west by Findley, and comprises sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. 28, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in township 1 north, and range li east.

On the 24th day of October, 1825, Alexander Robertson -entered the south part of the north-east quarter of section 23. Jonas Hartraan, of Pickaway County, entered the south-east quarter of section 24, on the 28th of April, 1830, and on the 15th of October, of the same year, Rezin Rick- !ets, of Seneca County, entered the west half of the south- -east quarter of section 15. December 28th, 1830, Allen Wisely entered the east half of the south-west quarter of section 14.

Other entries were made by Jacob Her, of Pickaway Joseph Orwig, Daniel Egbert and Major Bright, of Fairfield, Nimrod Bright and John Leeder, of Pennsylvania, Isaac Jones, of Richland, and others.

The soil in the north part of the township is clay and sand. The river bottoms are exceedingly rich and productive, being a vegetable soil, and the south portion of the township has a soil of loam, very rich.

The township is well watered by the Blanchard River, and its tributaries, the outlet of the Prairie on the north, and Deer Creek on th^e south. On the farm of Allen Wisely are sulphur springs or deer licks, at which places the hunters of the early day laid in wait for the unsuspecting game. Good water may also be obtained by sinking wells. The river and creeks form a perfect system of drainage, and heretofore furnished water power for several mills. . Marion, though one of the smallest, is yet one, of the wealthiest agricultural townships in the county. There are very many valuable farms and farm buildings.

The first settlers were Asher Wickham, Joseph Sargeant and Othniel Wells. These parties settled near the western line of the township, Ashar Wickham on the George Burns farm, Joseph Sargeant on the T. J. Burns place, and Wells, on the Charles Thomas farm. Very shortl}^ after, Allen Wisely, Major Bright, Edward Bright, Joseph Baker, Lewis Thomas, and others commenced improvement in different parts of the township.

Major Bright became the owner of a large tract of valuable land. He at one time held the office of Associate Judge for this county. Several of his children reside in this and Big Lick townships, and are quite well off. Mr. Bright was long a resident of the township.

Lewis Thomas is still a resident of the township, owning a fine farm on the banks of the Blanchard, with good buildings and pleasant surroundings. Mr. Thomas, though well up in years, is vivacious, and loves to recount the incidents of his pioneer life. lie is an earnest christian, an honest farmer, a good neighbor, and a valuable citizen.

No man in the township perhaps is better known, or more generally respected than is Allen Wisely. He owns a very valuable farm, well improved and delightfully located. Mr. Wisely has lived in the township long enough to see it change from an unbroken wilderness to fruitful fields ; the rude log cabin replaced by the elegant frame and brick residences of the prosperous and happy farmers.

The old Baptist Church at William Davis' was the first one erected in the township. It has long since been replaced by a fine frame structure called the Union Bethel, in which any orthodox denomination have a right to worship. There are three United Brethren and one Methodist Episcopal Church buildings in the township.

The first school house was built on William Marvin's farm in 1836, and the first school was taught by Adam Robinson. There are now six good school buildings in the township, with an enumeration of three hundred and twenty -two youth of school age.

In 1837. Daniel Opp put up a frame building on the farm now owned by Edward Wiseley, and commenced tavern keeping. A Post Olfice was also established at his place, and called Crow, and Mr. Opp appointed Post Master. After about two years Mr. Opp died, and the Post Office expired with him, since which time there has not been a Post Office in the township.

William B. Miller

Mr. Miller was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, February 11th, 1825, and is the son of Martin Miller, w^ho was a farmer. Mr. M. has always followed the business of" farming. He has a good common school education, and taught school a number of terms. He is perhaps above the average farmer in intelligence, owing to his better educational advantages, and is in every sense of the word a progressive man. He keeps well up with the times, availing himself of the latest and best improvements and information in his business; keeps himself not only thoroughly posted in all that pertains to agi-iculture, but is perfectly conversant with the politics of the country, and with what interests the people in State and National affairs, and is possessed of comprehensive and at the same time conservative views on the subjects. His neighbors have the most implicit confidence in his intelligence and ability, and he has on more than one occasion been put forth as the exponent of the principles of his political party, and on every such occasion he has received a generous support.

Mr. Miller was married in 1845 to Jane Martin, and in 1847 he came to this county, and settled in this township, on the farm on which he resides. He is now, and has been for the past seventeen years, a member of the United Brethren Church. His daily life has been such that his ex- ample has gone very far towards shaping the morals, and <;ousequent prosperity of the community. His honesty is proverhial, and his counsels safe.

William Marvin, Sr

Was the son of Zera iMarvin, and was born in Luzerne County, Pa., July, 1798. Mr. Marvin's lather had a variety of occupations ; dealing in merchandise, farming a little, and preaching occasionally. He was a minister of the Baptist Church. Mr. ]\Iarvin was a carpenter by trade, and followed that nearly all his life, although he owned quite an lot of land.

In 1818 he married Mabel Roberts, who came to Ohio with him, and to this county, and died August 25th, 1852 Mr. Marvin came to Ohio in 1823, and resided in Wayne -County for eleven years. He came to Hancock County in October, 1834, and bought in this township, in the June following, on the same lands he occupied up to within a year before his death. The first winter that the family were in the county, the families of William and Mathias Marvin - seventeen persons in all - lived in one cabin, twenty feet square.

Mr. Marvin was the father of sixteen children, fourteen of whom are living, and all married and heads of families. At the tim^ of his death his children, grand-children, greatgrand-children, and great-great-grand-children numbered not less than three hundred and fifty persons. He was a man of extraordinary endurance, good constitution, stronowill, firm in his convictions, and determined in his actions He was a member of the Baptist Church for- more than sixty years. He came to Findley about a year before he died. His decease took place in May, 1880. Of industrious, fru-

William Davis

Was born in 1808, in the State of Maryland. His father was a native of Wales. Mr. Davis emigrated to Ohio in 1833. In 1830 he was married to Margaret LafFerty. Hewas one of the early settlers of the township, and owned a very large tract of land, which was improved by his industry and good management, and became very valuable. Mr. Davis was a man of untiring industry, and energy. No obstacle was so great that he did not overcome it. No labor was too severe for his performance. No duty was left undone. No promise unredeemed. He settled in the wilderness, and commenced life with a determination to succeed, if industry, economy and fair dealing would bring success,. and he did succeed, as the broad acres of rich lands under a high state of cultivation, with good farm buildings, fully attest.

Mr. Davis had a family of eleven children, seven boys and five girls. All of his children who are now living, reside in the county. Mr. Davis joined the Baptist Church in 1842,. and was a member at the time of his death. Although possessing but a limited common school education, Mr. Davis was always the friend and patron of schools and churches. His influence and his means were always in their favor.

Mr. Davis enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors for his intelligence and integrity, and by their votes he held the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of years, and was also a County Commissioner for three years, although the political party to which he belonged was greatly in the minority. He lived to see the county, in which he spent more than thirty years of his life, become prosperous and wealthy ; dotted all over with the richest of farms, and with beautiful and substantial farm buildings. He was for many years one of the largest dealers in live stock in the county^ and by his liberality in prices, and his prompt payments, he relieved many a poor family from want, if not from actual' suffering. Perhaps no man in the county had a more general acquaintance with all classes of people, or who was more respected. Mr. Davis died in 1863.

Table of .statistics, showing crops, and stock, as returned to County Auditor by the Township Assessor in 1881. Wheat, 2,797 acres. 53,449 bushels..

Source changes here: from History of Hancock County, Ohio, by Spaythe, Jacob A, published 1903; 317 words in this source stream.

Arlington Village

Arlington was laid out by Robert Hurci on the southwest part of section six (6), and the southeast part of section one (1), Madison township. The plat of said village consisting of 16 lots was acknowledged November 2, 1844, before Isaac Wohlgamuth, justice of the peace, and recorded November 4, 1844, by John Adams, recorder. Incorporated February 10, 1892.

Benton

Benton was laid out by William Mires on the east half of the northwest quarter of section thirty-five (35), Blanchard township. The plat of said village consisting of 36 lots was acknowleged before William L. Henderson, justice of the peace, November 5, 1835, and recorded November 11, 1835, by W. Vance, recorder. Incorporated March 3, 1875.

Cannon Sburg

Cannonsburg was laid out by Benjamin Marshall, William McConnell, Franklin Ballard and James C. Marshall on the east part of section thirtv five (35) and the west part of section thirty-six (36) in Union township. The piat of said village consisting of 36 lots was acknowledged December 13, 1839, bv John McKinley, justice of the peace, and recorded December 13, 1839, bv J. Barnd, recorder.

Capernaum was laid out by Abraham Huff on the west half of the northeast quarter of section three (3), Amanda township. The plat, consisting of 16 lots, was acknowledged before Joshua Hedges, a justice of the peace, March 14, 1831, and recorded by WTilson Vance, recorder. March 15. 183 1. The town was vacated December 30, 1862.

Deweyville was laid out by John B. Williams on the south part of the west part of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter and the north part of the west part of the west half of the southwest quarter of section fifteen (15), Pleasant township. The plat of said village consisting of 40 lots was acknowledged June 5. 1880, before Edwin Phifer, surveyor, and recorded July 19, 1880, by Joseph F. Gutzwiler, recorder. This village has not been incorporated.