Auburn Township (part 2 of 2)

JOHN HILBORN, Tiro; was born Nov. 16, 1838, in Liberty Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. He is a son of Isaac and Nancy (George ) Hilborn. ( For a full record of jVIi'. Hilborn's parents and their family, see the biography of his brother.) John was raised on the farm. His education is only moderate, owing to the schools of that day being very poor as compared to what we now have. He served his country well and faithfully in the late war, enlisting in Company I, 15th O. Y. I., on the 7th of September, 1861. His discharge was dated in Texas, November, 1865. He was in quite a number of engagements, and among them Corinth, Atlanta, Liberty Gap, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost and Pickett's Mills. He was also in the running fight that extended from Chattanooga. Tenn., to Atlanta, Ga. He was a brave and efficient soldier, and had many a thi'illing experience in the army. At Pickett Mill he was severely wounded, and to-day is a victim of the traitorous leaders of our great civil war. At the conclusion of the war he retiu-ned home, and, on the 15th of June, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Emeline Clark, daughter of Martin and Nancy Clark. Mrs. Hilborn died April. 1868. Mr. Hilborn's second wife is Sai-ah J. Davis, daughter of James K. Davis, of (Crawford Co., to whom he was married on the 29th of June,

1869. Mr. Hilborn is at present engaged in the livery business. He owns between four and five acres of valuable land within the limits of the village of Tiro. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and is well known and has the well wishes and friendship of his fellow-townsmen.

WILLIAM H. HILBORN, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Tiro; was born in Sandusky Township June 25, 1831. He is a son of Isaac and Nancy (George) Hilborn, a sketch of whom is found in the biography of Robert G. Hilborn, his brother. Like his other brothers, William was reared on the farm. Two years prior to his marriage, he worked out by the month, the first season receiving $11 per month, and the next season $12.50. This was his mari'iage start. He was married Jan. 3, 1855, to Elizabeth Grouse, daughter of Abner and Harriet (Thoman) Grouse, and to them were born three children -^Ira O., born in September, 1856; Anna L., born in May, 1858, died when 4 months old; Mary A., born in May, 1861. Mrs. Hilborn was born Jan. 6, 1836. From his marriage up to 1865, Mr. Hilborn has made many changes. He at one time owned the saw-mill near where his house now stands. He now owns 80 acres of well-improved land in Western Auburn Township. IVIi-. Hilborn is a Republican in politics, and a hard worker in the cause of advancement in our public schools. He is intelligent and entertaining, and commands the resjtect of a large circle of friends.

I H. IRWIN, blacksmith. Tiro; was born in Ghester Co., Penn., Jan. 18, 1835. He is a son of Israel and Hannah (Millard) Irwin. The father and mother were natives of Pennsylvania, the former being born in 1802, and the latter in 1800. They were married in Ghester Go., Penn., April 1, 1823, and came to Aubui'n Township in 1835. The father died July 19, 1837, and the mother July 22, 1877. Mr. Irwin was a man beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. He was a local minister in the M. E. Ghurch, and lived a life full of usefulness. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin were the parents of the following family: Thomas M., Margaret A., Joseph, Sarah J., Garoline M., Elizabeth A., I. H. and Jared A. Thomas, Margaret, Joseph and Jared are dead.

Sarah is the wife of George Byers; Garoline is the widow of James Ovens, and Elizabeth is the wife of Samuel Hilborn, whose biography accompanies this work. All live in Aiiburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. The subject of this biography lived with his mother until she married Isaac Hilborn, and then he lived w^ith his step-father for about ten years. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith when about 13, with whom he lived four years, serving out his apprenticeship. Since that time he has been continually engaged in that business in Mechanicsburg, excepting one year, that being a year he farmed. He was married Dec. 20, 1854, to Margaret L., daughter of Abner and Harriet (Thoman) Grouse, and by her has one daughter - Almeda, born July l4, 1856. Almeda is the wife of John D. Michener, and by him has one daughter - Annie I., born Oct. 6, 1875. Mr. Irwin is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Ghurch. He has held various township offices and is well known and highly respected throughout Auburn Township.

D. G. JEFFREY, merchant, Tiro; was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1834. He is a son of Thomas and Lydia Ann (Chittenden) Jeffrey, who were parents of nine children - D. G., S. W., Mary, T. Alonzo, Melissa, William, Amos, G. M. and Lewis. The father was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1790. The mother was born in Vermont in 1810, and they were married in Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1833. Their son, S. Yf., is one of the prominent men of Auburn Township, and his biography accompanies this work. I^Iary is the wife of A. C. Daley, and lives in Dakota; Alonzo is in the mercantile business in Toledo, and married Susan Gibbs; Melissa married Edward Gregory, both of whom are now dead; William married Nora Munson, and is a carpenter and joiner in Toledo ; Amos died at home from disease contracted while in his country's service; Lewis is single and lives in Dakota Territory. D. G., our subject, was reared upon his father's farm. His father becoming involved in some financial trouble, young Jeffrey was kept away from school a greater share of the time to assist on the farm. He was married, Nov. 11, 1860, to Miss Laura Hutcheson, daughter of Lombard and Lucinda (Kibbey) Hutcheson, and by her has four children, all of whom are living - Fred M., born March 27, 1862; Ella A., born Nov. 6, 1865; Willie H., born Sept. 19, 1870, and John F., born Oct. 23, 1872. The mother was born Jime 14, 1811. Her parents had a family of nine - Esther, Maria, Mary, Rhoda and Rhuda (twins), Lombard, David, Laura and Hiram. Mary, Rhoda, Lombard and Hiram are dead, the latter being killed in the army. ]Mr. Jeffrey's father died April, 1860, and his mother October, 1872. ^Ixs. Jeffrey's father died in 1850, and her mother in 1872. Ml". Jeffrey started in life a poor boy, and by industry, frugality and hard labor has acquired the nice property he now owns. He is a Repul^lican in politics, and quite liberal in his religious views. He takes an active part in all educational affairs, and always uses his influence in matters tending to advance the best interests of his county. Mr. Jeffrey owns the only drug store in the rapidly increasing town of Tiro. His stock consists in a full line of the best di'ugs, medicines, etc., which is mentioned appropriately elsewhere in this work. SAMUEL W. JEFFREY, farmer, P.O. Tiro; is a son of Thomas and Lydia Ann (Chittenden) Jeffrey, who were parents of a family of nine childi'en, seven of whom are yet living. Samuel W. passed his youth on a farm. He was united in marriage with Amanda C. Aumeud, daughter of David and Clarissa (Ashley) Aumend, and by her has one child - Willai'd F., born Dec. 80, 1867. 1VL-. Aumend, the father of IVIi's. Jeffrey, was born in Pennsylvania, May 9, 1810. He was a son of Adam and Clu-istina (Allbright) Aumend, who came to Auburn Township in 1819, it then being an unexplored wilderness. Here Mr. Aumend was reared. On the 16th of August, 1833, he was married to Clarrissa Ashley, and by her had the following family: Willard H., Lucretia, Laura J., Francis M. and Amanda. The latter married Mr. S. W. Jeffrey, as stated above. Mr. Jeffrey is a Republican in politics and a member of the Church of God. He well and faithfully served his country in the late war between the North and the South., He enlisted in Co. C, 23d O. V. I., and served until the close of the war, when he was discharged, July 26, 1865. He was first under the command of Col. Rosecrans, but afterward was under Col. (now President) Hayes. JVIi". Jeffrey was in quite a number of engagements; was severely wounded in the neck, October, 1864, in Shenandoah Valley, Va. He is a young man of considerable enterprise and push, and is an intelligent citizen.

LUCY (SAWYER ) KELLOGG, Plymouth : was born in Auburn Township, in 1827. Her parents, Erastus and Sally (Snider) Sa^^yer, were both natives of New Y^ork, the former born in 1800, and tlie latter in 1802. They were married in Aubiu'n Township, Dec. 19, 1822, and were the parents of the following childi'en: Albanus, Franklin and Lucy. All are living, the former in Aubiu'n Township, and the latter in Norwalk, Ohio. The Sniders came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1820, and the Saw vers in 1821. Lucy married Delos Carlisle, Nov. 14. 1850. Mr. Carlisle was a son of David and Dorcas ('^^^iite) Carlisle. His marriage with Miss Sawyer bore the fruit of four children. The oldest died in infancy; the next, Maraldi E., boi'n Dec. 26, 1852, and died June 13, 1S55; Ella W., born April 29, 1855, and is living at home with her mother. Jay D., born Nov. 10, 1857, is at present in Kansas. Mr. Carlisle Avas born July 3, 1823, and died of consumption, Aug. 4, 1857. He is a Republican, and a member of the Baptist Church. A man of few words and temperate habits, he had the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Mrs. Carlisle is the present wife of David B. Kellogg, to whom she was married May 24, 1870. She has by him one daughter, May, born July 1, 1873. Mr. KellocTg is a son of Solomon and Margaret (Millhollen) Kellogg. He was married prior to his marriage with IVIi's. Carlisle, his wife being Helen Snider, and by her had three childi-en - Catharine, Margaret and Theodore. All are living in Wyandot Co., and all are man'ied. 'Mxs. Kellogg's brother Franklin was a Lieutenant Colonel in the army, and after the war, was commissioned Brevet General. Mrs. Kellogg owns 97 acres of good land. Further notice of her parents will be found in the history of Aubui'n Township.

Biographical Sketches

1830. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Fredline) Lash, who were parents of nine children. The father was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1808. The mother was born in Somerset Co., Penn., in 1812. They were married in Wayne Co., in about 1828. The names of their ehildi'en are George, Charity, Leah. Peter, Benjamin, Mary, Phoebe, Francis and Lucinda. These children are all living, and all are in Ohio. ]\Ir. Lash emigrated to Ohio when it was but a Territory, and from Wayne Co. he emigrated to Crawford Co. in ]8-?r"). locating in Auburn Township. He was a thrifty, hard-working farmer, and by his sterling honesty and kindness made many warin and sincere friends. He departed this life in 1851, leaving behind an honest and upright record many might profit by following. His widow still survives him. George Lash lived with his parents through youth and early manhood, assisting them in clearing and improving the place. He received a good commonschool education, and on the 16th of October, ]8r51, he was united in marriage with Sarah E. Hutson, daughter of Benjamin Hutson, of Cranberry Township. To this union were born four children - William M., born April 6, 1858; Elmer E., born Aug. 12, 18G1, died Sept. 15, 1870; Benjamin E., born June 1, 18(U, and George F., born May 9, 1866. Mrs. Lash was born April 14, 1835. William, Benjamin and George are living at home with their parents. Mr. Lash owns 80 acres of good land in Western Auburn. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Good- Will Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a prominent and influential man in his neighborhood, and he and his family are well known and highly respected throughout the neighborhood.

JOHN MORROW, farmer; P.O. Tiro; was born in Auburn Township, July 13, 1851. He is a son of James and Margaret (Ake) Morrow, and grandson of Charles Morrow, who came to Aubxirn Township in 1817. His father and mother were natives of Pennsylvania. The former was born in 1809, and the latter in 1812. They were married in Auburn Township Se])t. 9, 1830, and to them were born six ehildi'en, viz.: William, Mary A. (deceased), Charles, David (deceased), James and John. Those living are all in Auburn TovsTiship. John passed his youth and early manhood on his father's place and going to school. He was married, Dec. 10, 1874, to Susan N. Cory, daughter of Thomas Cory, and to them were born two sons - Hurry B., born Dec, 20, 1875, and Charley J., born May 18, 1878. Mr. Morrow owns 160 acres of well-improved land, and is a Democrat in politics. His father was a man of good, steady habits, and was well respected by h's friends and neighbors. He died March 8, 1875. His mother lives on the old place with him, in Auburn Township.

CHARLES McCONNELL, Tiro; was born in Richland Co., Dec. 18, 1844. He is a son of Charles and Nancy (Taggart) McConnell, who were parents of the following family: Samuel, Mary, Susan, James, John, William, Charles, Josiah and Isaac. James, John, William, Charles and Josiah served faithfully in the late war. James was killed in battle at Rocky Face Mountain, Ga. ; William died at Green Lake, Tex., from disease contracted while in the army; Josiah died at home, four days after his discharge, also from disease contracted in the army. Those in the family living, are Samuel, Mary, John, Charles and Isaac. Samuel married Charity Lash, and lives in Auburn Township; Mary lives in Auburn Township and is the wife of John Wynn ; John is single, and lives at home with his mother; Isaac is single, and lives in Van Wert Co. Charles was raised and educated in the county. He has an excellent practical education, and is a school teacher of thirteen terms' experience. His occupation is that of school teaching, and dealing in chromos, picture frames, tobaccos, toys and notions. His shop is located in the northern part of Tiro, and in it is a barber's chair, run by James Michener. The McConnell family are Republicans in politics, and too much praise cannot be given them for the heroic and gallant part they took in helping to quell the war of the great rebellion. And how much honor is due to the mother who raised seven sons from infancy to manhood, sending five to battle for the right, three of whom now sleep in soldiers' graves. All honor to such mothers, and may their names be immortal-

B. W. McKEE, M. D., physician and surgeon, Tiro; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1840. He is a son of John and Margaret (Wallace) McKee, who were the parents of eleven children - James, Margaret, Robert, B. W., Thomas B., William A., Mary, John, and three others that died in infancy without names. James is practicing medicine at Des Moines, Iowa; Margaret married a Mr. Neeley, and lives in Adair Co., Iowa; Robert died from disease contracted while in his country's service; Thomas is the present minister of the United Presbyterian Church at De Kalb; William is in Wooster; Mary is in Richland Co., Ohio, the wife of J. W. Dougal, and John is in Wayne Co. Our subject passed his youth on the farm and going to school. He commenced the study of medicine April, 1865, under the instructions of his brother James, and afterward under Prof. Firestone, who has now charge of the Insane Asylum at Columbus. He commenced attending medical lectures at Cleveland, in 18()9, where he continued steadily until his graduation, which was in 1870. On the 16th of June, 1870, he was united in marriage with Ruvilla Weirich, daughter of Christian and Adaline (Miller) Weirich, and by her had two children, the first of whom died in infancy without a name, and the one living is Cruveilhier W., born April 15, 1875. Dr. McKee first located in Northfield, and after one year moved to De- Kalb, where he remained eight years, and at the expiration of that time removed to Tiro, where he has ever since resided. His grandfather, Robert, and brother, Logan McKee, came from Ireland to America the year before the war of Independence began. Logan was among those who gave his life in defense of his adopted country. Dr. McKee and his brothers, James, Robert and Thomas, served faithfully in the war of the rebellion. Mrs. McKee was born Oct. 9, 1848. The Doctor is an excellent physician, and he has a large and lucrative practice, which keeps him busily engaged.

Morse, were natives of Massachusetts. The father was born April 17, 1791, and his wife June 26, 1794. They were married in Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 13, 1816, and moved to Huron Co., Ohio, June, 1818, and in March, 1820, came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., where he remained all his life. They were the parents of six childi-en, viz., Amos, Amanda, Joel, Joseph W., Zebediah and Malin D. Amos and Malin are the only ones in the family now living. The parents came to Auburn Township when the country was but very thinly settled. Their financial means were very small, and, coming as they did into a new country, their start depended mainly on their own phvsical exertions. The father died Oct. 11, 1872, and the mother May 26, 1873. Mr. Morse was one of the most influential men of his neighborhood, holding several offices of honor and trust in his township. Amos passed his youth with his parents, and when he reached his majority began for himself. On the 13th of May, 1849, he was married Mehetabel, daughter of David and Dorcas (White) Carlisle, and by her had three childi-en - Frank R., born May 17, 1852, and Amanda and Adelia, twins, born Sept. 5, 1854. The mother was born Jan. 8, 1819. Frank married Alvira B. Stock, in 1873; Delia married Samuel A. Stock, in 1876, and Amanda married Milton W. Griffeth, in 1877. In his earlier years, Mr. Morse was a school teacher. He is a Republican in politics, and although in a Democratic neighborhood has held the office of Justice of the Peace for the past twenty years. Owns 160 acres of land. He is a Baptist in religion, and is a man of more than ordinarv intelligence.

MRS. G. W. OVENS, Tiro; daughter of John and Maria (Staherin) Brenerd, and was born May 12, 1838, in Crawford Co., Ohio. In the fall of 1858, she was united in marriage with Aaron Daugherty, and to this union were born three children, respectively - Lucy, born Aug. 12, i860; Sherman, born Dec. 14, 1863. and Rebecca, born Feb. 15, 1865. Mr. Daiigherty was born Jan. 18, 1818, and died May 22, 1871. He was a brother of Ezekiel Daugherty, mention of whom is made in the liiography of Elizabeth Daugherty. Mr. Daugherty was a gi-eat farmer and a hard- working man. He was temperate in his habits, and affectionate in his disposition toward his family. He was a man universally respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Daugherty, on the 5th of March, 1872, was married to George W. Ovens. Mr. Ovens was born July 22, 1840, and is a son of William and Eleanor (Robinson) Ovens, and is of Irish descent. His father and mother were parents of six childi'en - James, Anna, "William, John, George and Kate. The Ovens family came to the United States from Ireland in 1842, and to Crawford Co., Ohio, ten years later. In kis father's family James is the only one dead. He was murdered for his money in Hardin Co., Ohio, in 1862. Mr. Ovens is a Democrat in politics, and a straightforward, honest and upright man. On the death of her first husband, Mrs. Ovens and her children were left a valuable farm of 240 acres, which she still retains. Mr. and Mrs. Ovens live happily together with her children on the old place left them in Aubui'n Township, and no family are more respected in Crawford Co. than this family.

R. R. ROSS, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Plymouth; was born in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, Nov. 25, 1832. He is a son of A. C. and Celia (Emmons) Ross, who were the parents of four children - Phoebe A., Melissa, one that died in infancy, and Royal R. Royal is the only one living. Mr. Ross' biography will be found in connection with the biography of A. C. Ross, in another part of this work. Mrs. Ross, mother of oui' subject, was born April 8, 1802, in New York. She died as she lived, a conscientious Christian. Her death occurred in Auburn Township in 1836. Royal R. lived on a farm until he was 23 years old, and on the 4th of October, 1860, was united in marriage with Mary A., daughter of Adam and Susanna (Harley) Aumend, and by her had five children - Emmons W., born Sept. 13, 1861; Willie B., born April 23, 1865; Amelia, born Sept. 24, 18()8, died December 11, 1868; George H., born Sept. 10, 1872, died Dec. 28, 1879, and Freddie R., born Sept. 27, 1878. Mrs. Ross was born July 6, 1840, in Auburn Township. Both of these parents are the descendants of old and honored settlers, who came into the wilderness in search of a home. The present condition of their children and grandchildren attest the success with which they were met. Mr. Ross is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They own 160 acres of highly improved land, where they live happily together, making no pretensions, but having the respect and good-will of all their friends and neighbors.

A. C. ROSS, farmer; P. O. Tiro; was born in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, June 11, 1842. His father was Abel C. Ross, who came to Auburn Township in 1825, it being then an almost unbroken wilderness. The father was married fii'st to Celia Emmons, Sept. 22, 1822, and by her had the following family: Phoebe A., Melissa A., Royal R., and one that died in infancy without being named. The wife died Feb. 23, 1837. Mr. Ross remarried March 5, 1838, his second wife being Laura (Carlisle) Ross. From the second marriage the following family were born: Byron H., Alfred C. and Celia A. The father was born April 28, 1800, and died Dec. 17, 1875. The mother is yet living, and makes her home with her son A. C. Bp'on was a member of Company H, 64th O. Y. I., in the late civil war. He is now dead. Celia is married. A. C. Ross was reared upon a farm; was married, Sept. 22, 1871, to Mary J. Hoak, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kaylor) Hoak, and bv her had one son and one daughter - Mary A., born Dec. 29, 1873, and Royal H., born May 31, 1876. The wife w^as born July 30, 1849. Mr. Ross is one of Auburn Township's best farmers. He owns 111|^ acres of well-improved land. Belongs to the United Brethren Church, and is a Republican. The death of his brother Byron and his widow left two children - Alvin E. and Bertha A. The former lives with our subject, and the latter with his half-brother. Royal R., in Aubiu-n Township.

A. C. ROBINSON, farmer; P. O. Tiro; was born in Aubm-n Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, July 21, 1846. He is a son of Barber and Mary (Morrow) Robinson, and is one of a family of nine children, their names being as follows: Charles, Campl^ell, David, Mary J., Ellen, James, Robert, William and Florence.

All of these are living, as are also his parents. The subject of this sketch passed his youth upon a farm. He received a good commonschool education, and on the 2Gth of May, 18G8, he was united in marriage with Hannah E. McNutt, daughter of Abraham and Jane (Crayton) McNutt, of Lawrence Co., Penn., and by her has one daughter - Nora, born April 14, 18G9. Mrs. Robinson was born Dec. 14, 1846. Mr. Robinson's parents were born in Ireland. Mr. Robinson is a Democrat in politics, as is also his father. He owns 100 acres of well-improved land near Tiro. He is enterprising and industrious, and takes an active part in all laudable enterprises that tend toward advancing education or building up the county.

S. B. RAUDABAUGH, carpenter and joiner, Tiro; was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1842. He is a son of Henry and Lydia (Hahn) Raudabaugh, who were the parents of the following family: William, Samuel, Catharine, David, Elizabeth, Daniel, Rebecca, John, Ellen, Henry, Nancy and Sarah. David, Elizabeth and Henry are dead. The rest are all living in Ohio except Kate, who lives in Indiana. Samuel passed his youth at home. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. I, 15th O. V. I., and was discharged in November, 1865, having passed about five years in fighting for his country. He was a participant in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Corinth and a great many others. He was in actual service about five years, and during tliat time never left his regiment or was wounded. After the war close;!, he came to Aubui'u Township, prosecuting bis trade. On the 10th of June, 1869, he was united in marriage with Martha Eckis, daughter of Jacob and INCartha (Crouse) Eckis, and to this union were born four children - Albertis. born Feb. 4, 1870, died Feb. 10, 1870; Howard L.,born Aug. 3, 1871; Vinnie, born June 28, 1876, died Aug. 19, 1876, and Ralph K., born Aug. 8, 1877. Mrs. Raudabaugh was born April 16, 18;)9. Mi*. Raudabaugh owns oi acres of land in Mechanicsbui'g. He is a Republican, and one of the best carpenters in Crawford Co. He received but a limited education, but by reading and study he is one of the best-posted men in the township.

JOHN P. SHECKLER, farmer and stockdealer; P. O. Plymouth; was bom in Auburn Township, March 3, 1829. He is a son of John and Rachel (Pettit) Sheckler. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Virginia. They were married in Richland Co., Ohio, in 1820, and were the parents of eight childi-en - Elizabeth, Catharine, David, Thomas, John P., Christina, James and George. David is dead. Thomas and George are in Indiana, Christina is in Richland Co., and the balance are in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. Mr. Sheckler died in 1860, and Mrs. Sheckler in 1835. They came to Auburn Township in 1821, and were of that class of pioneers that dangera and hardships did not daunt. Mr. Sheckler was said to have been one of the best and most respected men that are identified with Auburn Township's early history. His son John was reared on the farm. He received a good common-school education, and was married in 1862 to Lenora Ashley, a daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Ashley, and by her has the following family: Rachel E., born March 9, 1863, and died Sept. 10, 1864; Mary, born Aug. 15, 1864, and E. Blanche, born Jan. 1, 1867. Mr. Sheckler is a prominent Republican and farmer in Auburn Township. He owns 112 acres of excellent farming land, and is highly respected by his friends and neighbors.

JOHN H. TRAGO, fanner and stock-raiser; P. O. Tiro; was born in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, May 31, 1840. His parents, Daniel and Sarah (Waters) Trago came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1838, locating in Auburn Township, Crawford Co. They were the parents of ten children - Samuel W., Ann E., Elmira, Agnes, Francis M., Vincent T., John H., Alice A., Mary and Morris W. The father was born May 8, 1796, and died in Richland Co., Ohio, Jan. 3, 1876. The mother was born Jan. 1, 1806, and departed this life May 22, 1871. Mr. Trago was one of the prominent and influential men of his neigliborhood, and a Quaker of sterling honesty and upright dealings. John H was reared upon a farm. Oct. 21, 1866, he was united in marriage with Nancy A., daughter of James and Jane Mount, of Richland Co., and by her has foiir children - Fannie, born Sept. 1, 1867; Justus, bom May 28, 1S73; Andrew E., born Aug. 18, 1876, and John H., born July 9, 1879. Mr. Trago is a successful and enterprising farmer, owns 120 acres of well-improved land, and is a Republican in politics, and is highly respected by his friends and neighbors.

MARY E. TRAGO, Tiro; was bom in Holmes Co., Ohio, in 1843. Her first husband was AVesley Dull, and by him she had two children - Malin M., born in 1867, and one, E. W., who died in infancy. Mr. Dull departed this life Jan. 23, 1867. Mrs. Dull remarried May 5, 1870, her second husband being Vincent T. Trago. She bore IVIi-. Trago two sons - Marion W., bom April 9, 1872, and Harry D., born Aug. 9, 1875. Mr. Trago was First Lieutenant in the late war, and was in some of the most hotly contested battles. A few of the principal engagements he was in are Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Nashville, Columbia and others. It is said of him that he was a brave and kind officer, and a splendid soldier. Dm'ing the spring of 1880, he was sti'icken down with disease, and he died the death of a Christian, April 14 of the same year. His death was greatly deplored by his friends and neighbors, and especially by his devoted wife. JVIrs. Trago lives on the place, 160 acres, left by him. For a more detailed account of ]VIr. Trago's family connection, see the biography of his brother, John H. Trago, which will be found in another part of this work.

B. S. VAN TILBURG, merchant. Tiro. One of the most prominent business firms of Tiro is I. & B. S. Van Tilbm-g, dealers in groceries, dry goods, notions, grain, etc. The junior partner, B. S., was born in Richland Co., Ohio, Nov. 1, 1851. His parents, Vincent and C. E. (Musser) Van Tilburg, were married in Ri -hland Co., Ohio, in 1849, and to them were born the following family: B. S., F. O., M. L., J. M., Eva M., Emma E., Charlie G., Ettie and Adda, and one who died in infancy. Our subject was reared on his father's farm. He received a good commonschool education, and on the 19th of February, 1878, he was united in marriage with

Miss Elizabeth Bender, daughter of Jacob Bender, of Vernon Township, and by her has one daughter - Edith M., Ixjrn Sept. 24, 1878. Mr. Van Tilburg is a Republican, and member of the Lutheran Church. He owns a half-interest in one of the best stores in Tiro, Crawford Co., Ohio.

IRA VAN TILBURG, merchant. Tiro; was born in Richland Co., Ohio, April 15, 1839. He is a son of Peter and Hannah [Kennedy] Van Tilburg, who were parents of twelve children - William, Margaret, Eliza, Nancy, Vincent, Frank, Kate, Mary, Maria, Ira, Martha and Lovina. All of these are living except Frank, who died in California. Peter Van Tilburg was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1802. Mrs. Van Tilburg was also a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1801. They were married in Jefferson Co., Ohio. IMi-. Van Tilburg died dvu-ing the fall of 1876, but his widow still survives him and is living in Mansfield, Ohio. The subject of this biog raphy passed his youth and early manhood on a farm, and going to school. When 19 years of age, he went to California, where he engaged in the mining business, which he followed in California and Nevada for ten years. On the 5th of October, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss A. E. Ewing, daughter of J. D. Ewing, Esq., of California. To tins union was born one son - Frank, born Dec. 22, 1869. The mother was born in March, 1851. In 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Van Tilburg came to Richland Co., Ohio, Mr. Van Tilburg engaging in the mercantile business at Olivesburg. In 1873, he formed a copartnership with his nephew, B. S. Van Tilburg, at Tiro, Crawford Co., Ohio, under the fii'm name of I. & B. S. Van Tilburg. This was the first business house in Tiro. They started on a small capital, and to-day are one of the heav iest firms of any town in the coianty. Besides a general dry goods and grocery store, they run a butter and e^^ house separately, and are also the only grain-buyers at De Kalb Station. They keep a force of from fom' to five men constantly engaged. MJr. Van Tilburg is a radical Republican in politics, and is a hard and earnest worker in that cause.

Source changes here: from History of Crawford County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, by Hopley, John E. (John Edward), published 1912; 8,644 words in this source stream.

Auburn Township

Auburn township was a part of the land ceded by the Indians ,to the United States in 1805, and is the northeastern township of the county. It was surveyed by Maxfield Ludlow in 1807, and it was in the southern portion of this township his notes show that he had not been able to get a drink of water for 48 hours, while in the northern portion, the land was the most "hedeous" he had ever surveyed in his seven years' experience, and much of it was two feet under water. This northern portion was a vast swamp, very wet and unproductive except for cranberries. The township is very level, with a gradual slope to the north. In the western portion, Honey creek after rising near Tiro, goes north through the western sections, then west to the Sandusky river, while in the eastern part Coykendall run goes north to empty into a branch of the Huron river at New Haven. Both these streams have small branches, so that every section of the township is well watered. In the earlier days little streams starting in the forest wandered on their way northward to be eventually lost in the great swamp. Later an outlet to the swamp was made by which nearly all the marsh was drained into Honey creek or Coykendall run, and the worst country that the surveyor had ever gone over, became one of the most fertile and productive regions of the county. The soil of the entire township is very rich, being deep and black, with sufficient sand to furnish enough silica for strengthening the growing grain. The drift deposits are underlain in the southern portion of the township by an abundance of excellent limestone, too deep to be profitably worked, except, perhaps in the southwest part of section 28 and northwestern part of section 23, where on a little run there is a surface outcropping of very good limestone. There is a quantity of iron in the soil of the drift deposits, and in a number of wells the water is tinctured with that mineral. Abundance of water is easily found in the sand of the Waverly group of rocks at a very slight depth.

Auburn township was a part of Richland county when the latter was created in 1807, and for 13 years it was the west half of Plymouth township of that county. On April 3, 1820, Auburn township was created by the commissioners of Richland county. From its now- fertile fields of waving grain, and its level stretch of the richest of farming land under the highest state of cultivation one might today suppose it received its name from Goldsmith's lines at the head of this chapter.

But, however appropriate such an idea for the selection might seem, it was not the case. Several settlers met to discuss the affairs of the new township and among other matters to select a name. Naturally, each one had a choice, and several names were mentioned, every man supporting his own choice. Among the set- tiers were two brothers, Palmer and Daniel Hulse, who had come there from Auburn, N. Y., and as they cast two solid votes lor Auburn, that name was selected. Of the other names presented there is no record, but while the name chosen was not from the poetry of Goldsmith, the new township started on its career with one of the few poetical names in the county. The Richland commissioners followed the wishes of the citizens and named the township Auburn, and called an election for April 2, 1 821, to elect township officers. The following is the account of the first election, taken from a record book in the possession of James M. Cory :

"At an election held at the house of Palmer Hulse, in Auburn township, on the second day of April, 1821, agreeable to an order of the county commissioners, the following persons were elected township officers : Jacob Coykendall, clerk; Samuel Hanna, Levi Bodley and Michael Gisson, trustees; David Cummins, treasurer ; James Gardner and David Cummins, overseers of the poor; Adam Aumend and Charles Dewitt, fence viewers ; James C. Coykendall and Lester and Jesse Bodley, appraisers; Adam Aumend, Jr., constable; Michael Gisson, William Cole, William Laugherty and William Garrison, supervisors. The above officers were severally elected and qualified according to law. Jacob Coykendall, township clerk."

"Jacob Coykendall's commission as justice of the peace bears date July 14, 1821. He was qualified Aug. 29, same year, and gave bond Sept. 27, 182 1 ; James Coykendall and James Gardner, bondsmen."

In 182 1 the pioneers of Auburn were nearly all from New England with a few from New York, and it is probable the first election followed the town-meeting plan of New England, where all the voters met in convention and selected their officials. The residence of Palmer Hulse was in what is now Richland county, near the road which runs from Bucyrus to Plymouth. So the townshio was named by two men who never resided in what is the present Auburn township, the same as Crawford county was named after the revolutionary officer who was tortured by the Indians at a site which is not now a part of the county.

In the chapter relating to Crawford county, the names are given of those who settled there in the early days, John Pettigon and Jedidiah Morehead, who erected cabins and pursued their occupation as hunters as early as 1814 to 1815. William Green entered 160 acres and erected a log cabin on section 27 in 181 5, to which he removed with his family on Dec. 16, 1816. He had left his family in Licking county. Green was the first real settler in Auburn township and what is now Crawford county. He increased his quarter section until later he owned a full section of 640 acres, and half a century later his sons Samuel S. and Walter, were cultivating the land cleared by their father. A man named John Deardorff, settled in Auburn township in 18 16, but left before the township was organized. William Cole, in 181 7, settled on section 27; Charles, David and James Morrow, in 1817, just west of Green and Cole, on section 28; Jacob Coykendall, on section 15, two miles west of the Hulses, in 18 16; Charles Dewitt, John Bodley, David Cummins, on section 22, north of Green ; William Laugherty on section 29, a mile north of the present village of Tiro, in 1818. Among those in 1819, were Resolved, a descendant of Perigrene White, who was born on the Mayflower while it was anchored off the coast of Massachusetts. Perigrene White was the second son of William and Susanne White, who sailed from Southampton on the Mayflower with their two children, one a daughter Faith, and the other a son. Resolved, receiving that name from the fact of his birth, just at the time his father had finally resolved to accompany the Pilgrims to America. The Resolved White who settled in Auburn, was the fifth or sixth generation from William White, the Pilgrim father. He was born in Poonfred township, Windham county, Conn., on March 31, 1787, and in 1794 went with his parents to Windsor, Berkshire county, Mass. ; here his father died in 1804, and four years later his mother moved to Otsego county, N. Y., and later to Ontario county. Early in 181 8, Resolved White, in company with Rev. Asabel

And Representative Citizens

Moore and family, left in a horse and sleigh for the Connecticut reserve. A part of this way they made on the ice, along the southern shore of Lake Erie. Reaching Huron on Lake Erie, they went up the Huron river through Milan to Norwalk, which at that time consisted of two or three log cabins, Paul Benedict of Connecticut having erected the first log cabin there in 1817. White stopped here and erected the first frame building in Norwalk for a man named Forsyth. He decided to settle in this section, and went through the woods on an exploring tour, and reaching Auburn township, purchased of William Laugherty, the east half of section 29, paying $3.75 per acre. There was a small log house on the farm and a few acres cleared. He then returned to Norwalk and continued his trade as a carpenter, and in the spring of 1821, went to Ontario county, N. Y., sailing on Lake Erie on the steamboat Walk-in-the-Water, the first steamer that ever plied the waters of Erie. The event which transpired on White's return to Ontario county showed there was a reason for his securing a home in the west, and that his return had been arranged for when he left home three years previous. On May 13, 1821, he married Lucy Searl, and he purchased a horse and wagon and with his bride started for their western home, where he arrived on July 10 of that year, and remained a resident of Auburn township until his death on April 5, 1875, his wife Lucy having died a year previous. May 13, 1874. Rodolphus Morse settled on section 20, just north of White's purchase, in 1819 or 1820. He arrived with his wife Huldah and son Amos, then but a year old. Morse took a prominent position in the afifairs of Auburn township, and was followed by his son Amos, who until his death was a leading man in the control of the township. Others in 1819 were Samuel and Elizabeth Hanna, settling on land his father James had entered in 1818. John Webber and Palmer and Daniel Hulse were also early settlers. The first officers of the township show that other early settlers were Levi Bodley, Michael Gisson, James Gardner and William Garrison; besides these, the records indicate that a man named Tyndall was a resident of the township; also Jacob Byerson, section 31, and Lester Levi and Jesse Bodley; John Blair, who came in

1 82 1 from New York State, bought a half section in sections 20 and 21, where his son Ira, still lives; George Hammond and wife Sarah, who came from Connecticut in 1822, purchased 150 acres of Martin Clark, the northwest quarter of section 28, on which there was a small cabin, and a few acres already cleared. His heirs still live on the farm. John Sheckler came from Pennsylvania in 1821, settling on section 22. In 1850, 151 acres of this land was appraised at $1,000. Erastus Sawyer settled on section 21, Jesse Ladow on section 10, and Nelson S. Howe on section 16, also Aaron B. Howe ; Daniel Bunker, Jacob Bevard, Richard Tucker, Seth Hawkes, Jacob and William Snyder and Erastus Kellogg; William Johns, Thomas Cooker, Enoch Baker, and John Talford. Erastus Sawyer came in 1820. Adam Aumend, with his wife and daughter, both named Mary, came in 1819.

Jacob Coykendall was the first justice of the peace; his commission was dated July 14, 1821, and he qualified on Aug. 29, with James Coykendall and James Gardner as bondsmen. One of his first acts was the marriage of Harvey Hoadley to Elizabeth Blair in 1821. The next known marriage was Dec. 19, 1822, when Erastus Kellogg and Sally Snider became man and wife.

May 8, 1824, Jacob Coykendall and Aaron Howe were appointed justices. On April 23, 1827, Jacob Coykendall was again appointed and with him James Clements.

with Senecas and others. They gathered cranberries during the season, and shot the game that abounded in the forests. The pioneers of Auburn had located there to make homes for themselves and nearly all of them devoted their time to the clearing away of the forests and the cultivation of the soil. Some few hunted the wild game, but the majority preferred devoting their time to agriculture, purchasing game of the friendly Indians, or of some neighbor skillful with the rifle. The principal pay of the Indians was in whiskey, a gallon being sufficient for the result of one day's hunting, but when it came to the white hunter it was a matter of cash, or if in whiskey, several gallons were the price of a day's shooting.

One of the first things needed was roads. The southern half of the township by 1820, was fairly settled with perhaps a mile separating neighbors. These were reached by blazed paths through the forest. But \\hen crops were gathered a market was necessary, so the settlers cut through the woods a road extending from the southern part of the township up toward Paris (Plymouth) and into Huron county, through New Haven to Milan, then the principal town in what is now Huron county. This road was very crudely constructed, merely the trees and bushes cut away, and where the ground was low and swampy, trees were felled and a corduroy road made. Another road ran from Paris, through the township southwest to Bucyrus, while a third crossed the northeastern part of the county, running from Tiffin through where New Washington now is and on east. In Auburn township nearly the entire distance was corduroy, the only way to make the swamps passable; and each spring new logs had to be piled on the old, where the old ones had sunk into the soft mire. Deer, bear, wolves and catamounts were abundant; the deer were harmless but the three latter were a nuisance and a danger to the settlers. The killing of the deer by the Indians was at such wholesale rates that the settlers were obliged to put a stop to the killing of the does, the true white hunter only killing does out of the breeding season and for meat. The Indians killed indiscriminately for the skins of the animal, leaving the carcasses in the Avood as useless. Amos Morse tells the storv that his father, Rodolphus

Morse, had an agreement with David Byers, an expert woodsman, by which his father agreed to bring in all the deer that Byers could kill in one day. Byers made the arrangement one evening when there was a heavy snow fall, assuring the next day as an excellent one for deer. The hunter had an old flint lock rifle, which had done him service for years, and during the day killed seven deer. Six of these Morse brought in, but the seventh had only been wounded and Byers had followed it for eight miles before he killed it, and it was late in the day, and impossible for Morse to bring in the animal as per the agreement. Many of the hunters captured the fawns, which patiently stood at their dead mother's side, and were easily led home where they became the pets of the children, following them around, adorned with some bright ribbon, and when possible, with a bell so they could be found when they strayed away into the forests.

The wilder animals were a nuisance. On one occasion Enoch Baker had gone through the woods on Saturday evening to see his girl, following the trail his frequent trips had done much toward establishing between the two cabins. On his way home he was scented by the wolves, and started on a swift run for his father's cabin. He could hear the howling of the wolves as they approached nearer and nearer, finally snapping and snarling on both sides of him. Fortunately, he was near his home. He was armed only with a stout club, and threatening demonstrations with this kept the snarling animals at bay until he could reach the clearing, and when he got into the open the wolves slunk back into the forest. It was not a pleasant experience, but he did not regard it as serious enough to overcome the pleasures of his Saturday evening's visits, for they were continued until the young lady solved the problem and relieved him of all further dangerous trips by making her home with him, the young couple moving into a cabin on his father's farm.

One Sunday morning Daniel Cole, having arisen early to look after his farm duties, heard a hallooing in the woods, went into the house, and got his rifle, and started out to find the cause. Up in the crotch of a small tree sat one of his young neighbors, while at the base, a bear was patiently standing guard. Cole killed the bear, and the young man came down. He, too, was on his way home from a visit to his best girl, when he was followed by a bear and only found safety in a sapling too small for the bear to climb but large enough to support him. It had not been a long wait, as in those days when a young man started for a courting visit of several miles after doing his evening chores, he arrived there in time to find the old folks very sensibly in bed, and etiquette only demanded that he leave before daylight.

William Cole, a brother of Daniel, when about 1 6, started off with the dogs to bring in the cows which were wandering in the forest. Suddenly the dogs rushed forward and he heard a tremendous barking. He hurried forward and found them standing guard over a large hollow log, and from their actions was satisfied it was an animal of which they were afraid. He stole cautiously forward and found a small bear had sought safety in the hollow log. The boy was unarmed, but he secured a heavy club, and boldly caught the bear by the hind legs, to pull him out of the log, the dogs previously attacking the animal, their sharp teeth making the bear get out into the open as quickly as possible. Young Cole seized the club, and dealt the bear a savage blow on the head. The bear responded by a rush at Cole, who defended himself with his club, while the dogs made vicious attacks on the bear, and when the animal had to turn to defend himself from the dogs. Cole used his club to such advantage, that between him and the dogs the bear was killed. Both Cole and the dogs were badly scratched and bruised, and he returned home where he told his story to the great astonishment of his father, who refused to credit it, until he had gone out and brought in the bear.

William's brother Daniel went on a visit to a relative near West Liberty, and one morning started home at daylight his only companion being a large bull dog belonging to Enoch Baker. He had not gone far into the woods before he found a pack of wolves were on his trail. He hurried forward, but the wolves were soon on both sides of him more than a dozen of them, and one large one, the leader of the pack, was about to spring on him, when the dog seized the animal by the throat giving the boy time to climb into a small iron-wood tree. The dog had the wolf down, but the brute managed to shake himself free, and the whole pack then slunk away into the woods.

One day Seth Hawks heard the squealing of one of his hogs, and started immediately to see what the trouble was, neglecting to take his gun with him. A quarter of a mile from his cabin he came upon a large log and behind it was his hog, with two large bears attacking it. The bears saw Hawks and made a rush for him. Hawks made a run for it, and with a desperate spring caught the branches of a small tree, and swung himself over the limb, as the bears oassed beneath him. The infuriated animals endeavored to climb the tree, but it was too small. They then tried to leap high enough to get their claws on the scared man and sometimes the bear managed to strike the frail limb almost shaking him off. He called loudly for assistance and fortunately his wife heard him, and hurried for help to their nearest neighbor, who was Rodolphus Morse, and in half an hour he arrived, and on seeing him approach the bears quickly left and were lost in the woods.

The forests were swarming with squirrel; they were so plentiful that there was no excitement of the hunt in killing them, besides deer and turkeys were more plentiful for game, but- the squirrel were a nuisance. They infested the fields of the farmer, ate his planted grain and injured his crops, and frequently squirrel hunts were arranged to get rid of the troublesome little fellows. At one famous squirrel hunt, sides were chosen with Thomas Cooker captain of one team and Enoch Baker of the other. When the two parties met at night each had slain their hundreds and while they were in doubt as to which side belonged the victory, Baker added to his pile a huge catamount he had killed, and to him the victory was given.

David Cummins built a saw mill on the Honey Creek in section 17. It was a small frame structure, and run by water power, a dam being built. This was about 1827, but there was little demand for lumber, most of the_ pioneers being contented with their log cabins. Prior to its erection the few frame houses erected were built of lumber obtained a dozen miles away on the Mohican or on the Huron rivers. In 1855 the saw mill was abandoned, after passing through several hands. About 1830 Rev. Thomas Millard came to the township and settled in the northwest quarter of section 17, and on the banks of the Honey creek he erected a saw mill. One section was supplied with mill stones made of nigger heads, and wheat and corn were ground, which was a great convenience to the people, as previously they were obliged to go to New Haven to have grain ground.

The mill was a large frame one, a dam having been built to furnish the power. After running the mill for a dozen years, Mr. Millard leased it to Enoch Baker, for which he was to receive half the profits, but the arrangement proved unprofitable to Baker, ;and he quit the business and a few years later Millard sold out to Rufus Page. Although the mills turned out a good brand of flour, there was not enough business to make it profitable, and the grinding of grain was abandoned. In 1836 Coykendall & Ladow built a saw mill on Coykendall creek in section 10. At first the mill was operated by water power, but too much of the year there was not sufficient water, so steam was introduced. The mill burned down, but the business was good and it was immediately rebuilt. There now being a demand for lumber to replace the log houses about 1840 William Ewing built a mill on the Coykendall creek, further up the stream, and this was continued for twenty years before it was abandoned. Another grist mill was built by Jonathan Davis and William Crouse at Mechanicsburg, half a mile north of Tiro, but it was only run four years, when it was moved away. The usual price at the mill for sawing was 40c. per hundred feet, or one half the logs. About 1883 the citizens of Tiro and the surrounding farmers raised $4,000 and gave it to Thornberg & Haskell as an inducement fort them to start a mill in the village. A very large frame building was erected, it was furnished with all the modern machinery, and was a success from the start. It was erected just south of the railroad track, with every convenience for shipment, and here grain is either ground, or bought and shipped, and the having of a fine mill in easy access has been a

The township being largely settled by people from New England they were a Sunday observing class and as early as 18 18 services were held in the larger cabins, when some traveling minister came among^ the pioneers. The pioneers were all strict observers of the Sabbath, and generally knew when the day came around, although watches and clocks were hardly known in the township and almanacs were scarce. One Sunday morning Rodolphus Morse had had his usual family worship, and was doing the necessary feeding, when he heard the voice of Seth Hawks, his nearest neighbor, shouting to his oxen. The noise continued and Mr. Morse thought it best to go across and see what was the cause of this unseemly disturbance on the Sabbath day, Mr. Hawks being one of the strictest Presbyterians in the neighborhood. Reaching the barn of Hawks he found his neighbor very busily engaged in driving a yoke of oxen around the puncheon floor on which was a heavy spread of grain, and in this way was threshing his wheat. Mr. Morse asked him what he meant by working on the Sabbath day, and Hawks discovered he had mistaken the day, thinking it was Saturday. He promptly unhitched his oxen, retired to the house, and finished the day in fasting and prayer.

By 1 82 1 it was found necessary to erect churches and both the Methodists and Baptists that year built small log churches, organized their societies, and preaching was more regular. The Presbyterians, Winebrennarians (Church of God) and English Lutherans organized societies and held services at irregular intervals. In 1830, Avhen Rev. Thomas Millard settled on section 19 he donated two acres of land for church purposes. He was an earnest and indefatigable worker in the vineyard of the Lord. Erecting his saw mill, one of the first uses was the sawing of the lumber for the new church, and much of the work of the . building was done by him, and when completed he was chosen as the first minister of "Good Will church." The church was built in 1835, and the congregation thrived and multiplied, and in 1868 this building became too small, and a new and larger structure was erected on the same site in 1868. In the southeastern part of the township is the Pleasant Grove M. E. church, organized in 1850. It is on the old Portland road, one mile north of the township line. About 1835 an M. E. church was built in the northern part of this township, a mile west of Waynesburg on the road leading to Plymouth. It was sold to the Winebrennarians and by them was later moved to the northeastern part of the township, but the attendance gradually became less and less, and although still standing it is only used for funerals and occasional services.

The Baptists held services as early as the Methodists but they progressed more slowly, until about 1830 it had an unexpected increase of membership, and in 1840, a frame church was erected on section 16, on the farm of Deacon Howe who was one of the prominent Baptists and an earnest worker, and did much to build up the church. This building was sufificient for the congregation until in 1879 a new and larger one was erected at a cost of $2,500.

The first Presbyterian services were held as early as 1825. They were conducted by Rev. Mr. Wolf, who for years previous had been a missionary among the Indians and traveled all over Northern Ohio, establishing churches, and it was through his work and efforts a Presbyterian congregation was formed, and later a church erected.

The United Brethren held services long before they were strong enough to erect a church. ' They finally built one near Tiro, and their present large building was erected in 1878.

St. Mary's Catholic Church, at North Auburn, had its origin in the spring of 1879, when the Catholics living in the neighborhood of Waynesburg met together to devise some plan whereby Sunday services could be held and a Sunday school started nearer than New Washington. It was decided to erect a frame structure on a corner of the old Faeth farm, which was accordingly done, Father Amadeus Dambach being the first pastor. He was called away in the summer of 1881 and the church then became a mission of the New Washington church. Rev. Laurence Heiland ministering to the two congregations from 1 88 1 to 1888. The Rev. George Vogt was then assigned as pastor and during his form of service the church was frescoed and stained glass windows were substituted for the old plain glass panes. Father Vogt donating one window and Father Horstman another. In 1899 Rev. John Kunnert took charge of the church at New Washington and the mission of St. Mary's. During his term as pastor a basement was dug and the building equipped with a furnace; and the somewhat high church tower was lowered for considerations of safety. In July, 1906 Rev. G. M. Schmidz was appointed as resident priest of St. Marys, and under him various church organizations were established. These are the Christian Mother Society, which has a membership of thirty-seven; the St. Agnes Sodality and St. Aloysius Sodality, in which the young women and young men of the parish are respectively enrolled. The parish now numbers about 60 families. In connection with the parish there is a successful parochial school. Father Schmidz was ordained at Baltimore, Md. in 1904 by Cardinal Gibbons. Besides acting as pastor of St. Mary's he supplies St. Anthony's church, which he organized three years ago.

The first school house was built on the farm of Robert Cook in 182 1. It was a small log structure and built by the settlers. A schoolhouse being necessary, a day was fixed and the settlers in that section all turned out, selected the site, cut down the trees, did not stop to hew the logs, but put them in round, and by nightfall the building was up. A roof of clapboards was added and a floor; the crevices between the logs were filled with mud. It was a small cabin, and the fire place occupied almost one end of the room, while at the other was the teacher's desk, this desk and the benches being made by the pioneers. The pupils had no desks. John Talford was the first teacher, during the winter of 182 1-2, and he had about fifteen scholars. About 1823 a young lady named Mary Wilcox was the first female teacher in the township, having a school in an old abandoned cabin, in the Hammond neighborhood. It had been fitted up with benches, and the following year a school house was erected on the Hammond farm, the settlers in that section turning out to do the work. It was of logs but larger than the first sclinol linuse. Amos Morse attended this school, when a boy of five, passing through the forest daily about two miles from his father's farm to the school building. He states the benches were very uneven, having been split out of wood having a crooked grain. Unfortunately, he was so small his feet could not touch the floor, and here he was compelled to sit hour after hour to learn his letters. The early part of the day it was fairly easy to occupy the seat without slipping off, but the discomfort became torture as the day wore on. Among the first teachers in this school house were Erastus Sawyer and Daniel W. Ross. In 1824 Rodolphus Morse was the teacher and from some cause the building caught fire and was burned down, but the balance of the term was completed in an abandoned cabin near the school house, which was hurriedly fitted up with home-made benches. Everything was destroyed by the fire, most of the books of the pupils, which were generally left in the school room.

In 1824 another school building was erected on what is now the Willford farm, a mile east of Waynesburg, with a young man named John Webber as the teacher. Webber was a very lively young man, and although he was conducting the school successfully the staid old directors had their doubts, and one day William Laughertv, one of the directors, was irritated at his latest boyish prank, and went to the school house and ordered him to leave. Webber saw it was useless to argue with the irate director, so he gathered up his books, and left the school room, demonstrating that he was decidedly full of fun and entitled to his reputation as being a lively boy, by pausing at the door long enough to paralyze the horrified director with a parting blast : "Farewell schoolroom, farewell school, Farewell Laugherty, you d d old fool."

About 1825 a school house was built on the farm of Adam Aumend and another on that of Jesse Ladow, and some years later one in the northwestern part of the township, so that prior to 1830 the entire township was conveniently supplied with school houses.

laid out by John Stewart, the surveyor of Richland county, in the spring of 1833, as the plat was filed in the office of the county recorder at Mansfield, on May 16, 1833. The new town was on one of the important roads, the nearest town to the east being Plymouth and on the west Attica. It was called Waynesburg after Gen. Anthony Wayne, and was laid out on land belonging to Aaron Cory and Richard Miller. It had twenty-six lots, all facing Main street, that street being the public road from Plymouth to Sycamore and McCutchenville. The north and south street was called Market, and on both sides of each street was an alley. This constituted the town. There were two or three cabins in the neighborhood when the town was started, and several farmers bought lots, expecting to realize a handsome profit when the village prospered, but their expectations were doomed to disappointment, as later in the same year New Washington, three miles west was laid out, and eventually became the town in that section. The lots at Waynesburg were sold at auction, bringing $8 to $10 each. Enoch Baker bought one of the corner lots for $10, and shrewdly hesitated about paying the cash until the town showed symptoms of making the investment profitable. Later the town looked as if it would be a success, and he offered his $10, but the price was refused, the lot being then held at $20, and Baker declined to stand the raise. Very few shops were started in the new village. John M. Robison started a blacksmith shop a few rods west of the town in 1835, and followed the business until his death, after which it was run by his son Robert for many years. Reuben Frisbie opened a general store in 1835. He was a natviral business man. He had only $60 cash, but he borrowed $500 of his brother, and with this capital he started his store. He was a careful buyer and shrewd trader, and in eight years had paid off his original debt and had a capital of $5,000. About 1840 Frisbie had opposition when Anderson & Moore opened a store with $2,500 stock, but Frisbie still did the bulk of the business and they sold out to Rufus Page. Later Frisbie discontinued his store, and Page did a good business for eight or ten years when he sold to Baker & Sims, the firm eventually becoming Sims & Son, and finally, business constantly decreasing, the store was closed. Bear & Grafmiller also had a store, of which Bear became sole proprietor and later sold to Enoch Baker. In 1858 Joseph Kerr started a small grocery. Martin Clark started a tavern. By 1848, the village had become an important enough center to have a postoffice, and on July 13th of that year James K. Davis, who kept the principal store in the village, was appointed as postmaster. He held the office for fifteen years, and May 20, 1863, was succeeded by William D. Sims, who in turn was followed by Martin Clark, May 26, 1865. On January 24, 1876, he was succeeded by Nancy Clark, who held the office a little over a year, when it was discontinued in July 8, 1877. For years the town had been on the decline, what little business there was gradually being abandoned. The Mansfield and Coldwater road had passed to the south of it, and the Pittsburg, Akron & Western, from Carey had come straight east for over thirty miles on a direct line for Waynesburg, and when it reached New Washington, only three miles away, it bore to the north and passed by the little village and established a station a mile away called North Auburn, and here on January 17, i8gi, George S. McKee was made postmaster, succeeded May 16, 1896, by Adam P. Miller and he October 27, 1898, by A. M. Cramer. All that today remains of Waynesburg, are a few houses falling into decay, and nearly all the original twenty-six town lots are again converted into farming land. And North Auburn, the post office, is only a railroad station.

Half a mile north of the present village of Tiro, between 1845 and 1850 several mechanics settled at the point where the road running from West Liberty and DeKalb to Waynesburg crosses the angling road from Bucyrus to Plymouth. Samuel Hilborn and Israel H. Irwin had blacksmith shops there and S. B. Raudabaugh was a cabinetmaker and carpenter. A cooper shop was also located there, and later Jonathan Davis and William Grouse ran a grist mill, and for a time these enterprises were all successful, and a dozen families were located at the crossing, and it had the appearance of a little village, although it was never laid out in town lots. It was known to the people as Mechanicsburg.

As the years passed the little shops were discontinued, and when the town of Tiro was laid out with a railroad the last little shop was discontinued, and what was Mechanicsburg is now a collection of houses on the outskirts of that thriving little village.

When Rodolphus Morse settled two miles north of the present village of Tiro, he became an active citizen and Dec. 12, 1825, was appointed the first postmaster, the office being in his cabin. He was succeeded on Jan. 3, 1835, by David C. Morrow, who held the office for twenty-six years, and on July 5, 1861, Ezekiel Dougherty became postmaster, followed Feb. 14, 1870, by M. D. Morse, and on March 17, 1870, by Amos Morse, who held the office until it was moved to Tiro in 1874. In the early days the post office was called both Tiro and Auburn.

When the Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan road was built it passed through the southwestern corner of Auburn township, entering the township at what is now the village of Tiro. Half a mile south of this point was the small but very old village of De Kalb in Vernon township. Where Tiro now stands the railroad established a station and called it De Kalb. J. D. Brown laid out forty lots on the southeast quarter of section 22, and they were promptly disposed of and buildings erected. In November, 1878, John Hilborn made an addition to the land of eighty lots. The Tiro postoffice was transferred to the new town and Ira Van Tilburg was appointed postmaster on Jan. 22, 1874; he was succeeded by M. L. Callin, Dec. 15, 1884, and he by Willis A. Brown Aug. 6, 1885, and he by John O. Davis Aug. 16, 1889; Willis Brown again Aug. 18, 1893, and J. M. Van Tilburg July 23, 1897, who has held the office ever since and is a nephew of the first postmaster. In 1882 the De Kalb post office, one mile south, was discontinued, being consolidated with Tiro.

J. and B. S. Van Tilburg started the first store in the new village in 1872, the following year erecting a substantial brick for their use. In 1876 a drug store was started by William Flavin. In 1878 J. D. Brown opened a dry goods and general store; and in 1880 Davis & Mitchell started a store with general merchandise. Charles McConnell started a notion store and Misses Crall & Owens a millinery and dress making establishment. In 1883, the present large flouring mill was opened for business. In 1893 the little village was thriving and the Tiro American was started, a small weekly, which had a struggling existence for three years, and then died a natural death, and some years later a neighboring printer bought the plant and moved it away. On Aug. 3, 191 1, the field was again occupied by W. W. Davis with the Tiro Weekly World.

Tiro was incorporated as a village in 1890, and the first election was held on Dec. 12th of that year when Charles McConnell was elected mayor, C. M. Smith, clerk, and J. M. Van Tilburg, treasurer. The first councilmen were J. H. Stevens, John O. Davis, D. C. Robinson, James Hanna, J. W. Burget and A. J. Mauk.

The first meeting of the Council was held on Dec. 29th, and the first resolution passed was to borrow $300 "to defray incidental expenses that have accrued and may accrue, until such time as funds can be raised by municipal taxes." J. H. Stevens, John O. Davis and D. C. Robinson were appointed a committee to borrow the money.

The next meeting on Jan. 5th showed the credit of Tiro was good, and that the ladies were interested in the little village, as the committee reported they had borrowed the money of Miss Viola Chapman, for fourteen months at six per cent. The note was signed not only by the committee but by every councilman. The first ordinance was introduced by John O. Davis. "Ordinance No. i. An ordinance to prohibit ale, beer and porter houses, and other places where intoxicating liquors are sold at retail." Tiro is the only village in the county where saloons never existed. The puritanic views of the early settlers are largely inherited by their descendants, and it is a very law abiding communitv. Some years ago, some of the wags of the villag-e during the night put up posters, announcing a game of foot ball was to be played in Tiro, the following Sunday between teams of two neighboring towns. Every citizen left his home and was on the streets, crowds gathered everywhere, men and women in indignant protest against such an unheard of sacrilege of the sanctity of the Sabbath. "The mayor looked blue and so did the corporation, too." Backed by a practically unanimous public opinion the corporation officers stood firm; if necessary, the National Guard at Bucyrus and Gallon would be appealed to ; the sheriff of the county must preserve the law, and many of the citizens passed a sleepless night prior to the sacred day, when a foot ball game was to be played. The marshal was early abroad and on the watch; the citizens waited with anxious eye the coming of the degenerate teams, but the day passed as quietly as usual and it leaked out the bills were a pure "fake" put up as a joke. However, it demonstrated that the fourth commandment must be kept sacred in Tiro, and it is. They have three churches - the Presbyterian, Baptist and United Brethren, and all have good congregations and are in a flourishing condition.

Charles McConnell was elected as mayor until the year 1907 when he was defeated by James Cahill, but in 1909, he was again elected, and died a few months afterward, being succeeded by the President of the Council, G. O. Blair, who was elected to the office in November, 191 1.

C. M. Smith was succeeded as clerk by J. E. Clark, F. W. Carmichael, J. E. Brown, J. E. Jones, E. A. Burroughs, Frank F. Roudabaugh, W. H. Guiss, Charles McConnell, 1907 to 1909, and C. D. Schilling, the present incumbent was elected in 1909 and 191 1.

In August, 1879, Tiro Lodge No. 688 Independent Order of Odd Fellows was instituted with seven charter members, Daniel Howe, Cornelius Fox, E. E. Ashley, S. W. Jeffrey, J. R. Hall, Lewis Williams and Matthew Irwin. The first officers were S. W. Jeffrey, N. G. ; J. R. Hall, V. G. ; Cornelius Fox, Sec'y ; E. E. Ashley, Treas. The present membership of the lodge is about fifty.

In April, 1896, Willis A. Brown organized the Farmers and Citizens Bank. Among those interested in the bank with Mr. Brown were J. D. Brown, A. C. Robinson and John E. Brown; A. C. Robinson was the president, and W. A. Brown, the cashier. The capital stock was $10,000. While the bank was a great convenience to the people of that section the growing business of the village made it a profitable investment, and the capital stock was increased to $25,000. Of the original founders of the bank, W. A. Brown is the only one now connected with the institution, and he has remained its cashier since its organization. Mr. Robinson was succeeded as president by J. M. Dickson, and on his death, Sherman Daugherty became president, a position he still holds.

In 1900 Tiro had a population of 293, which was increased to 321 in 1910. It has several good stores, a number of shops, a hotel, and the principal street has a fine stone pavement extending almost its entire length, on both sides. Two physicians are located in Tiro, Dr. G. O. Blair and R. M. Guiss and the village is remarkably healthy, the principal cause of death being old age. It is well lighted and has an abundance of good water. Its town hall is conveniently located, and its people are contented, prosperous and happy. Nearly all own their own homes and many of them are men, who have worked hard in their younger days, and now in the pretty village they are passing their declining years enjoying that freedom from care and worry they have so well earned.

John Hilborn lived with his father on the road that passed north of Tiro, the road from Bucyrus to Plymouth, part of the way near his father's it crossed a swamp half a mile in width ; this had a corduroy road bed, and even with these it was sometimes almost impassable, and many a time he took his father's team to assist in extricating some wagon loaded with wheat on its way to the market at Milan.

east; in the earlier day it continued in a northeasterly direction and meandered through the Baker farm, and for half the year his land was under water, and during the wet spring his house, which was on a mound, was completely surrounded by water. At his own expense Mr. Baker cut a channel for the creek straight north so that it passed half a mile east of his house, and Honey creek today from the Waynesburg road north is almost as straight as a section line. The cost was over $1,000, exclusive of the time and labor of Mr. Baker, but the wisdom of the investment was demonstrated by the fact that the cost was paid for in a very few years by the increased crops.

In the earlier days, the entire northern part of the township was a vast marsh filled with cranberries, and the earlier settlers found it a profitable business to gather these cranberries for the market. The reclaiming of the marsh land by ditching has made much of it farming land, but still cranberries can be found and the past year Lafayette Akers gathered about three bushel in one day. In the extreme northern section is the lower part of the great Pittsburg farm, where vegetable gardening is conducted in a wholesale way. The Pittsburg company thoroughly drained the entire section. A dam was erected on the Coykendall creek, and a mud scow containing the machinery was used, and the accumulations of years taken from the bottom of the creek, sometimes at a depth of six to eight feet coming across fallen trees with trunks over a foot in diameter. This entire swamp land in the centiiries had been filled up a little each season by the decaying grass and trees which made it when drained such a wealthproducing soil. In the preparation of roads, in . later years, through the forests and swamps, traps were frequently unearthed several feet underground which had been originally placed by Pettigon, Morehead or one of the early settlers.

The Baker house in the northwestern part of the township was on a small mound, and this was once a large Indian burying-ground. Indian remains were first discovered by Mr. Baker in 1833 when he dug a well on the mound, and at a depth of about eighteen inches came upon four skeletons lying side by side, two with their heads to the east and two to the west. No hunting implements or articles of clothing were found, and on being exposed to the air the more fragile portions crumbled into dust. One of the Indians was very large, as his jaw bone was large enough to pass over the jaw of an ordinary man, and the upper bone of the arm was four inches longer than that of the average man, and had a corresponding thickness. Later in digging around the yard fifteen other skeletons have at different times been found, and in no case was any war instrument found with them as is customary in the burial of an Indian warrior. These were all buried near the surface. In 1866 when digging a cellar nine more were unearthed, these, too, having some with their heads to the east and others to the west. Since the first discovery in 1833, as many as thirty skeletons have been unearthed on the mound on which the residence stands and those last discovered show no greater signs of decomposition than the earlier ones, indicating they had lain there for several centuries.

In April, 1887, J. D. Michener, while digging a ditch for Herbert Duboise on the old Green farm in the southeastern part of the township found a number of bones of some pre-historic animal, one part of a tooth 6^ by 4 inches in length and 20 inches in circumference. It weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces. Several smaller teeth were found weighing about a pound. All other bones except these teeth had long since mouldered to decay.

About two miles northeast of Tiro is the Hanna grave yard, and as far as pioneer lore is concerned this little country grave yard goes back to the earliest days, and contains more pioneers than any other burial site in the county. The oldest stone here is that of John Snyder, who died Dec. i, 1821. He was born in 1764. Daniel Daugherty is buried here; born April 23. 1776. the year and the month "the shot was fired heard round the world." He died N'ov. 26. 1876, over a hundred years old. Here lies Seth Hawks, the pious Presb)^erian, who forgot the Sabbath day. He was born July 2, 1793, foughtin the War of 181 2, and died July 20, 1824. Another veteran of the War of 1812 was Rudolphus Morse, born April 26, 1791, and died Oct. 11, 1872. Here lies also Andrew Varnica, the hermit, born in Prussia, Jan. 24, 1768, leading his lonely life until March 23, 1847, when he passed into the presence of his maker carrying his secret with him. Here are other graves of those in this one burial spot who belong to the days of over a century ago :