Bath Township (part 3 of 3)

County, Penn., where they married. They moved to Ohio in 1820, and settled in Fairfield County, where they died, the former in December 1842, and the latter in April 1879. They were buried in Dutch Hollow cemetery. Of their family of twelve children, four are now living: David, Sylvanus, Silas, and Amos. Our subject, who is the youngest in the family, was married in this county April 2, 1865, to Miss Rebecca Crites, of German Township, daughter of Charles and Sophia (Ludwig) Crites, who still reside in German Township, and to this union were born two daughters : Aurelia and Melinda, both nowliving. The mother died June 13, 1869. Mr. Young was married November 19, 1874, to his present wife, Mrs. Catharine (Pfeifer) Borst of German Township, this. county, widow of Michael Borst, who died March 25, 1870, (by whom she jhad two children - Mary and William - latter deceased), and daughter of Nicholas and Eva (Zioer) Pfeifer, natives of Hessen Darmstadt, 'Germany, and who came to America about 1834, halting first at Springfield, Ohio, thence moving to Fairtield County, Ohio, from there coming to German Township, this county, where they died, both in November, 1871. They were parents of eleven children, all now living. To the union of our subject and wife have been born one son and one daughter : Oscar N. and Lelia M. Mr. Young did not make a permanent settlement in this county until 1868. He followed saw-milling from 1871 to 1874. He makes a specialty of breeding Spanish Merino sheep. He was township clerk from 1879 to 1883, land appraiser in 1880. In politics he is a Democrat. Both Mr. and Mrs. Young are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Source changes here: from History of Allen County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, by Miller, Charles Christian, published 1906; 4,030 words in this source stream.

Bath Township

Is full of well-cultivated farms and is as picturesque as any part of Allen County. Two streams, Hog Creek and Sugar Creek, pass through the township, and there are so many small tributaries to these streams that all parts of the township have an ample supply of water. Four railroads traverse Bath township, namely: Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton, Lake Erie & Western and Detroit, Toledo & Ironton. The total valuation of property in the township in 1904 was $1,277,076, with a tax rate of 18.4 mills.

Very early in the history of the township, its pioneer, Christopher Wood, saw in its southwestern section a beautiful site for a village and there in 1829 he located the seat of justice. In 1831 he was appointed commissioner for the sale of lots in the town of Lima, which belonged to Bath township until the establishment of Ottawa township. Bath township existed before the organization of Allen County, but neither the records of Allen nor of Mercer County show when it was organized. In 1831, however, it was a regularlv organized township with the town of Lima as a center. On June 6, 1S31, a petition for the organization of Jackson township was presented and granted. In December, 1834, the people of Jackson township petitioned to have the present township (congressional) organized under its original name, winch petition was granted and the two tiers of eastern sections of Bath, which belonged to Jackson up to this time, were detached and added to Bath.

In 1857 Bath was ordered to contribute portions of sections 29 and 32 and all of sections 30 and 31 to the new township of Ottawa. Up to the organization of Lima village in section 31, it formed a part of Bath, and its affairs were administered by the Town Board.

Pioneers. - Christopher Wood with his sons settled in Bath township in 1824. The story of their trip and settlement is told in the following extract from a biography of Christopher Wood. "From Logan County, on the Miami, where resided a man named Stewart, who had married an Indian wife, they left the borders of the white settlements, and cut a road a distance of 24 miles, camping at night in the woods until they reached the Indian town of Wapakoneta. In all this distance, except at Stewart's, they found not a trace of civilization. When they reached Shawneetown, now Hover's, in Shawnee township, where Pht the chief resided in a cabin and had about 20 acres of cleared land in good culture, they staid all night, and on leaving purchased corn and potatoes for seed. They cut a path and after two days' hard work reached their land on Sugar Creek, having been 16 days in the wilderness since quitting Logan County. They landed about the 1 6th of April, 1824. The parties at once commenced the work of erecting cabins, clearing land and planting crops, after which they returned to Champaign County and moved their families out in the fall. They were at once visited by Wyandots, who assisted them in the erection of their cabins. Captain Wood was appointed and commissioned a justice of the peace for Bath township, when it had civil jurisdiction over nearly all of Allen County. In 1829 he was appointed by the Legislature one of the commissioners to locate the county seat of Allen County and upon the erection of the county, in 1831, was appointed one of the associate judges and when Lima was platted, the first city director for the sale of lots. He removed to and resided in Lima until 1856 when, having served faithfully his day and generation, full of years he was gathered to his fathers, aged about 87 years."

Schools. - The pioneer school of Bath township was opened by Daniel Bradigan in the Crawford-Allison settlement on section 3, near where the Sugar Creek school building now stands. There is no special school district in the township. In 1884 the valuation of school property was $9,100; in 1904. $15,000. In 1884 the enrollment was 404; in 1904, 392. The township schools have township supervision in connection with Monroe township. F. R. Mason is the township superintendent. The following is the list of teachers in Bath township in 1904-05: Mittie Mack, I. W. Byerly, Nellie Michael, Lottie Roeder, Harry Mack, Viola Barton, Roy Bowersock, Lottie Bassett. C. E. Mason, Mamie Ludwig, L. W. Roberts. D. A. Wood, Mina Ross. J. L. Mumaugh and Ollie McCoy.

Churches. - There is a Methodist Episcopal Church in Bath township, called Zion Chapel, of which Rev. D. J. Kunkleman is the pastor. A German Baptist Church was organized in 1833 and a Disciples Church in 1834- 1835. An Evangelical Lutheran and a Presbyterian Church were also organized at later dates.

May be said to form the geographical center of the county. Its soil and surface are diversified and there are numerous streams. Ottawa River - the name of the lower course of Hog Creek - enters German township from Shawnee in section 33, pursues a northwesterly course by the villages of Allentown and Elida and enters Sugar Creek township. The southeastern quarter of the township forms a plateau which extends east to Elizabeth street in Lima. The river bottom is much lower than this plateau and generally from one-fourth of a mile to one mile in width.

The commissioners' act of December 6, 1831, establishing the township under the name of German, decreed that all the territory extending west from section 3, township 3, range 6, to the eastern boundary of the original town of Amanda, south to the county line, thence east to the southeast corner of section 33, township 6, range 6, thence north to section 3, township 3, range 6, should be organized as a separate township. In December, 1834, it was decreed that as much of original township 4 south, range 5 east, as previously belonged to German, should be attached to Amanda. At the same time, when the town lines of Bath and Jackson were altered, the two tiers of eastern sections of township 3, range 6, were added to German. In February, 1848, the northern tier of sections of German was attached to the south half of Sugar Creek township, leaving only 30 sections belonging to German. The area was further reduced in May, 1857, when 1,040 acres were attached to Ottawa township, still leaving German 18,160 acres.

The Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway traverses German township and has a station in the township at Elida. This road is paralleled by the Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima traction line.

The total valuation of property in German township in 1904 was $803,411, with a tax rate of 18. 1 mills; in Elida corporation, $139,469, with a tax rate of 24.4 mills; in Elida Special School District, $176,756, with a tax rate of 18. 1 mills.

Villages. - The village of Allentown was laid out by George Povenmire and William Myers in 1835. There was a grocery store, a blacksmith shop, a shoe shop and a grist-mill, besides a school and three churches. The town has never grown very rapidlv, not being on any railroad. General Blackburn lived in Allentown, and his home was a pretentious one for those days, built of solid black walnut. In 1904 it burned and for many miles the flames from that old house of seasoned wood could be seen. General Blackburn was a man of extremely fine proportions and dignified mien and a lover of military life.

Elida was platted in 1852 by Griffith John on the part of his farm used as a sugar camp. Daniel Myers is said to have erected the first building in Elida after it was laid out, except the Lutheran Church. The contract was let for $90, to be completed from . the stump at that. The siding is of the finest black walnut and is well preserved. The building was on Main street, but was moved back some yearsago to make room for Moore's Hall. Mr. Moore occupied a part of the house as a dwelling and conducted the first grocery of the village in the other part. The village was incorporated in 1878.

Pioneers. - The township records do not show that there were any township officers elected until the spring of 1833, when William Bowman, John Brand and Samuel Richards were elected trustees; Griffith John, clerk, and John Ireland, justice of the peace. John Ireland resigned as justice in the spring of 1834 and was succeeded by Asa Wright, who served until the spring of 1837, when he was succeeded by Isaac Bowyer, during whose term of office the credit system must have prevailed to an alarming extent, as the index to his old civil docket shows that over 200 judgments had been rendered in the short period of five years. Mr. Bowyer died in the fall of 1842. Charles Crites was elected to the same office in the month of January following, and did, perhaps, more business during the six years he served than any justice before or since in the same length of time.

The first settlements in German townshipwere made about 1830-31. The pioneer settlers were Peter and George Ridenour, William, George and Samuel Knittle and 1 homas Cochran, followed by Isaac Bowyer. Griffith John, William Bryan. Smith Cremean, Jacob Cremean, Michael Noll. John Brand. William Myers, David Beiler, Samuel Miller, Henry Huffier, Philip and John Herring, John Ireland, Jacob Hartman, Samuel Richards, Jolim

And Representative Citizens

Summerset and George Povenmire, who came about 1832. In 1833 came J. S. Baker, Charles Ireland, James Holland, Joseph Leaser and Richard Hughes.

Other early settlers within the original boundary of German township were : Michael Bowers, Daniel Conrad, James Johnson, George Miller, James Peltier, John Pool, John Steamen, Jacob Sawmiller and Robert Tate. From 1835 to 1849 their numbers were increased by Thomas Greer, Wesley Cochran, Arthur Statts, John Stalter, Peter Verbrycke, Jacob Richardson, William Westbay, Thomas Edwards, Jacob Haller, Charles Crites. Christian Stalter, Alexander McBride, James Luttrell and others.

Jesse John states that his father, Griffith John, settled in German township in 1831 and died in 1856, leaving 12 children, four boys - Ethan, Jesse J., Abia and Jehu, who was killed in the War of the Rebellion June 19, 1864; and eight girls - Sallie (wife of Curtis Cremean), Melissa (wife of James Baxter), Emily (Mrs. Curtis Baxter), Vienna Tamsey (Mrs. S. D. Cremean), Martha (Mrs. D. L. Crites), Louisa (Mrs. Henry Roush), and Mrs. Jesse Carr. All of these children are dead except Mrs. D. L. Crites, whose biography will be found later on in this chapter. Griffith John at his death owned 1.640 acres of land in German, Amanda and Marion townships. The homestead was owned for years by Abia John, who died in 1903. Mr. John was born in Pennsylvania and came to German township in 1831. His ancestors came from Wales about the close of the American Revolution. He was a fine business man and comprehended the advantages of the building of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway through the township. The value of his property was greatly increased during his lifetime. The members of his family reside about Elida.

The Crites family, of whom there were four brothers - Charles, Cyrus, Jacob and Elias - settled in German township, and since the organization of the township the name of Crites has been a very familiar and honored one. Jacob Crites came to Allen County in

1842 and bought 10 acres of land west of Allentown. He married Mary J. Carman and in 1859 s*ie died, leaving a family of seven children : Mary Adeline, Stephen, Emeline, Henrietta (deceased), Obed B., Cyrus D. and Daniel Hicks. Mr. Crites married a second time and one daughter (Mrs. S. A. Post) was born in 1863. Mr. Crites was a man of great industry and energy. He served two terms ascounty commissioner, one term of which was during the building of the new Court House, and by his wisdom the county was saved many dollars. He filled all the township offices and was a very public-spirited citizen. For more than 50 years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was the administrator of more estates than any man in the surrounding county. He died March 13, 1904. Of his children, Stephen D. Crites is a banker and grain merchant of Elida, and has just closed two terms of successful work as State Senator for the 32nd District ; and Cyrus D. Crites is a well-known financier, ex-county auditor, and at present cashier of the First National Bank of Lima.

Dr. Daniel L. Crites was the eldest son of Charles and Sophia (Ludwig) Crites and was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1833. He was six years of age when he came with his parents to German township. After going to the common or public schools, he studied medicine and for a time made that his profession. Soon after abandoning the practice he entered the service of his country in the War of the Rebellion and remained in the army almost three years. While in the service he contracted disease, which was the primary cause of his death in 1885. After the war he held numerous positions of public trust and was always loved and respected as a faithful public servant and enterprising citizen. Very few men of Allen County were better or more favorably known than he. Always generous and open handed, he was known far and near as the friend of the needy and unfortunate. It is related of Dr. Crites that while he was a candidate for public office 16 times he never suffered defeat. Whenever he emploved carriages to take voters to the polls, he instructed the drivers to make no difference in carrying those who were supporting him and those who were thought to be against him. This war characteristic of the generous nature and kindly disposition of the man. It has often been said of him by his old neighbors and friends that "he was generous to a fault."

Mrs. Martha Crites, widow of the late Dr. Daniel L. Crites, was born September 25, 1833, near the site of the village of Elida, to Griffith and Rachel John, and was the first white female child born in German township. "Aunt Martha," as she is almost universally known and spoken of by her many relatives and friends, has spent her long and eventful life in Allen County and, up to about 10 years ago, in German township. It was her lot to be reared under very different circumstances from what falls to the lot of most young ladies of to-day. She relates some very interesting incidents which occurred during her girlhood days. Each spring she assisted in gathering the sap in the sugar camp, which was located where the town of Elida now stands. With an ox hitched to a sled on which was a barrel, they went from tree to tree and gathered the sap and hauled it to the kettles and she and her brother, Abia John, who was next older, were work-mates in managing the ox and gathering the sap. In those early days the river was a much more formidable stream than it is to-day, and, with no bridge, it was the duty of the John family to see to carrying people across the river in a boat ; many times when strangers came upon the opposite bank and hallooed, desiring to be taken across the stream, she was the one who pushed forth with the boat to meet them and bring them across the river. Their house was situated on the west bank of the stream and near the road, or Indian trail. Very frequently bands of Indians came along on hunting and trading excursions, often stopping at their house upon one pretext or another. While the nearest trading post was at Sandusky a hundred miles away, it was nothing unusual to see quite a hand of "bucks" and squaws astride Indian ponies with children riding behind. She distinctly remembers that on one occasion quite a company of them proceeded along the trail ; some of the squaws in the party had pappooses on their backs, but one strong-appearing squaw had a white boy seven or eight years of age tied on the pony behind her. This sight was such an object lesson to her that ever afterward she was afraid of the Indians, no matter where or when she saw them. She often ran and hid before they caught sight of her, fearing lest she too might be stolen and carried away. Her father's house was the place of holding meeting, as well as the stopping place, for the early circuit riders of the Methodist- Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Crites' father was a large landowner and laid out the town of Elida, naming it in honor of his brother, Elida John. When the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway was constructed through German township, in 1854-55, he built the grade for one mile through his own land. In those days the construction of the railroad was as great an object of wonder as the building of the Panama Canal is to-day. They were a large family of themselves and besides they were scarcely ever without some strangers about their table, which was always spread with plenty of wholesome food. Mrs. Crites' girlhood days must have been very busy ones, for she helped raise the flax as well as other crops. Then they prepared the flax and wool for spinning and wove the same into cloth from which they made the clothing and bedding for the entire family.

The first Sunday-school organized at Elida was a union of all the churches in the vicinity, and was held in the old Lutheran Church, which has long been replaced by a larger and more commodious brick one.

When Mrs. Crites became 22 years of age she was married. Two daughters blessed the union, namely: Mrs. Bertha W. Pfeifer, of Elida, and Mrs. Tirzah K. Sanford, of Lima. With the latter she has always made her home.

The first taxpayers of German township, in 1834, were: Casiah Baxter, John Brand. Isaac Bowyer. William Bryan, Michael Bowers. George Coon. Jacob Cremean, S. and P. Carlin, Daniel Conrad, William Denniston,

Schools. - It is said that David Ridenour was the pioneer school teacher of German township in 1833. In *834-35 a school house was erected on the Thomas Cochran farm in which Asa Wright taught school. There is a question whether John Summerset preceded or followed Wright in this school. In 1837 John Bowman presided over a school in Section 16 and in 1838 John Custer taught in Allentown. In Elida Special School District in 1884 there were enrolled 143; in 1904, 163. In German township in 1884 there were enrolled 281 ; in 1904, 276. The valuation of school property in 1904 in Elida was $5,000; in German township, $12,000. Following is a list of the teachers of Elida village for the year 1904-05 : Bert Highlands, superintendent ; Leah Pearl Ludwig, Mina Bechtol and Rhoda Brown. The teachers of German township for the same period were: R. R. Brenneman, J. H. Baker, Charles V. Kilgore, Guy LaRue, Louie Oen, Fay Bolender and Nora Bowersock.

By Hon. S. D. Crites

The village of Elida was laid out and platted by Griffith John, its founder, in 1852. It is situated on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway and the Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima traction line. It is also situated in the heart of a prolific oil field and in the midst of a fertile agricultural district. During the year 1905, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company handled at this station 484 car-loads of freight, principally of grain and live-stock. The village has a population of about 500.

Its business houses and plants consist of four general stores, one meat market, one hardware store, one restaurant, one confectionery, two implement stores, two blacksmith shops, one sawmill, one grain elevator and one bank.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the year 1831 by Revs. Joseph Hill and Jesse Pryer. The members of this society were visited at irregular intervals by circuit preachers until 1853, when Revs. Harrison, Maltbie and N. B. C. Love reorganized the society in the house of James Kennedy situated on the identical spot now occupied by the residence of S. D. Crites. The members of this society were : James Kennedy, Malinda Kennedy, James Peltier, Jane Peltier, Henry Herring, Smith Baxter, Mary Baxter, Ethan John, Lucy John, Griffith John, Rachel John, Margaret Cremean, Jesse J. John, Elizabeth Bowyer, Fleet Clark, Mary Clark, Elizabeth Priddy and Catherine Evans. Of this number, Smith Baxter is the only survivor. Although 80 years old Mr. Baxter is still an active member of this society. In 1855 the society erected a substantial frame church sided with black walnut lumber. In thischurch they worshiped until the year 1890, when at a cost of $7,500 they erected a handsome brick structure with a seating capacity of 500. The old frame church is now used by Crites & Crites as one of their warehouses. The society now has a membership of 180. It maintains a live Sunday-school and a large and active Epworth League.

The United Brethren (Liberals). - From the best information obtained by the writer, Rev. John L. Luttrell organized this society in 1867. The first members were: John L. Luttrell, Lockey Luttrell, B. F. Sherrick and wife, Anna Sherrick, Franklin Furry, Joseph M. Blackely and wife, James G. Wisher and wife,. G. W. Quick and wife and Margaret Morris. The society had no permanent place in which to worship until 1870, when they came into possession of the old frame schoolhouse. In this house they worshiped until 1875, when they erected a substantial frame building. Thisbuilding was used until 1905, when it was enlarged and veneered with concrete blocks and modernized so that the society now has one of the most artistic and convenient churches in

United Brethren (Radicals). - This society seceded from the main church in 1886 on account of the action of the general conference,' in changing the discipline so as to admit members who belonged to fraternal societies. They have in which to worship a good substantial frame building. Some of the best citizens of the township are members of this society.

Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran Church. - The following history is taken from a copy of a sketch deposited in the corner-stone of the new church in 1876: The congregation was organized by Rev. Abraham Doner in 1837 and continued until 1852. During his ministry the old frame church building, which gave place to the present church building in 1876, was erected. Mr. Doner died in 1857. After a vacancy of two years Rev. P. J. Stirewalt was appointed pastor, and served four years, when he returned to Virginia. He was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Stirewalt, who served two years. After a vacancy of one year, Rev. T. YV. Corbett became pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. J. D. Nunemacher. At this time the membership was 38, being 13 less than at a former period. In October, 1865, Rev. A. S. Bartholomew became pastor ; the building was remodeled and meetings held every Sunday. In 1876 the congregation numbered 217. On August 19, 1876. the corner-stone of the new church was placed by Rev. A. S. Bartholomew. The tower is 1 1 5 feet high. Previous to this time the Reformed German Lutheran and Evangelical Lutherans worshiped together until the reorganization, when the form of worship of the German Evangelical faith was adopted. The church building cost about $8,000.

The Elida Village School District was first organized as a separate school district in 1 868. This district now maintains a High School of the second grade. Since 1870 the following named gentlemen served as principals of the school: S. D. Crites, 1870-82; J. V. Stewart. 1882-83; John Davidson, 1883-90; H. YV. Bowersniith, 1890-91 ; E. C. Akerman,