Baughman Township

Baughman Township

This is on the east line of Wayne county and the second from the north line of the county. It derived its name from John Baughman, who was the grandfather of John W. Baughman, of Wooster, who was the first settler within the township, which civil sub-division of the county was organized March 5, 1816. In 1870 it had a population of two thousand and sixty-seven, but according to the federal census of 1900 it contained a population of two thousand four hundred and ninety-seven.

Among the earliest settlers in this township may be named the Foreman family, the Harkins family, Robert Taggart, Samuel Taggart, Lewis McKean, Sr., John Campbell, Valentine W. Ault, John Sickman, John Wilson, Benjamin Weygandt, John Douglas and others, whose sons and daughters reside in the county at this time.

This is a rich and well-developed agricultural district and the towns of the township are Marshallville and Burton, while a part of the town plat of Orrville is within the borders of this township.

This town is located in the extreme northwestern portion of Baughman township, on section 5. It was laid out by James Marshall, February 7, 1817, the same being the next village platted after that of Wooster was laid out. Mr. Marshall was an excellent man, a sturdy member of the old Seceder church of Dalton. Marshallville was named by and for Mr. Marshall and in 1834, when Martin Weimer came to the place, there were but ten bouses, and there were occupied by Elijah Dancer, Calvin Brewster, James and Joseph Hogan, Enoch Mofitt, James Marshall, John Roch and Dr. Comstock and two shoemakers named Ellingham and Scotton.

The town was legally incorporated as a municipality February 10, 1866. Its first officers were Charles Schlutt, mayor; C. L. Gehres, recorder; Martin Weimer. George Reinoehl, Benjamin Carrel, John Plunder, William Pinkley, councilmen. The population of Marshallville in 1900 was three hundred and fifty-seven.

Fairview, Or Burton City

The village of Fairview was surveyed by John Brinkerhoff, December 14, 1850. A postoffice was, however, established there, known as Burton City, first being called Baughman.

Flouring mills were erected here in 1858 by Benjamin Coe, the same having a capacity of forty barrels a day. Besides supplying a large home trade, the product of these mills was shipped to Philadelphia.

The Burton City Woolen Mills were established in i860 by Isaac Vanguilder. There were produced cloths, cassimeres, blankets, jeans, satinets, stocking yarns and a large variety of flannels.

On June 9, 1874, the steam grist-mill of C. G. Binkley was blown up, suddenly killing George W. Henshaw, of Wooster, and causing the death of Mr. Binkley within a few hours.