Berkshire Township (part 2 of 2)

THOMAS VANFLEET, miller, Galena ; is a son of George and Christiana (Bidlock) Vanfleet ; his father was born in 1796, in Pittston, Luzerne Co., Penn., and came to Ohio on foot in 1818, in company with G. D. Nash, when he engaged in carpentering and distilling at Galena.

In 1852, he died ; his wife was a daughter of Hileman Bidlock ; she was born in 1804, and came to Ohio in 1820 with her parents by team; she was a descendant of the Puritans. They had seven children, all of whom live in Berkshire Township except one. Mrs; Vanfleet died in 1873. Thomas Vanfleet was born Oct. 10, 1823, in Galena (then Zoar), and has spent his life at this quiet little village ; his younger days were spent in attending school and farming ; at the age of 17, he began working at the joiner's trade with Warren Allen, continuing one year ; he then worked for Sterns one year, and for John Cullison one year ; in 1846, he again worked for Sterns ; in 1847, went to Southern Illinois, and engaged in making fan-mills for Thomas Phillips, of Cincinnati ; in 1848, he went to Kentucky, and engaged in the same business at Smith's Mills, Hopkinsville, for a short time, when he went to Tennessee, and followed the same business at Port Royal, Montgomery Co. While in Kentucky, Mr. Vanfleet was quite an intimate friend of Gov. Powell. In 1849, he bought a team at Smith's Mills, Ky., and went to Springfield, Mo., where he engaged in making fanning-mills, in partnership with Thaddeus Sharpenstine, continuing until 1852, when he returned to Ohio, and on May 12, 1852, was married to Elizabeth Perfect, a daughter of William Perfect. She was born in 1825, in Trenton Township. By her he had four children - Lucy and Jay, deceased ; Kate and Charlie, living. After marriage, they went to Missouri, where he was engaged in setting up his business at fanningmills, and in May, 1853, they returned to Ohio, and bought a farm of Hill's heirs, and farmed that two years, afterward selling, and took a trip through ]\Iissouri, Iowa and Wisconsin, and then returned and engaged in the mercantile business with Ira Derthick ; also in milling, continuing near two years ; they then divided the property, Mr. Derthick taking the store and Mr. Vanfleet the mill. The wife of Mr. Vanfleet met with a terrible accident, which ended her life. She was standing near an upright shaft, when her clothes became entangled, crushing her in a manner to cause death almost immediately ; it was a melancholy occurrence, and one the community did not soon recover from. ' He was again married in 1863, to Lucy E. Carpenter, a daughter of Robert Carpenter, of Berkshire Township ; she was born in 1832 ; by her he had four children - Nellie, Frankie, Jim and Carpe. He owns a saw and grist mill at this place ; the grist-mill is so as to be run by both steam and water ; has also forty acres of land in Berkshire Township. He is a a member of the School Board ; also of Galena Lodge, No. 404, I. 0. 0. F., and has held office in same. Faithful and reliable in all the relations of life, and of robust constitution, he bids fair for many years more extended usefulness in the county and in the town where he resides.

B. WESTEEVBLT, farmer; P. .0. Galena. Prominently identified with the. leading men of Galena is Mr. Westervelt, one of the old pioneers of Delaware Co.; he is a son of Matthew and Mary (Lenington) Westervelt; his father was born in New York, and emigrated to Ohio in 1317, settling in Franklin Co., where he engaged in carpentering, working under the "old try rule;" his wife was born in New York, and ' was of English descent. The subject of these notes was born July V6, 1813, near Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and was brought by his parents to Ohio as above, settling in the forests and among wild animals. When 25, he came to Delaware Co., engaging in mercantile business at Galena, in partnership with Charles

Brown fot three years. In 1858, he began the nursery business, and continued it in connection with a vineyard until 1876, when he engaged in farming, which he still continues. Was married, in 1840, to Jane Brown, sister of E. Brown, ofi Delaware ; have four children - Mary (married Dr. Holmes, a physician in Florida) ; Martha (now Mrs. Denison, living in Delaware) ; John, at home ; Charles (deceased). Mr. Westervelt has held a number of township offices ; he has been an active worker in the temperance movement ; he and his wife are members of the M. B.' Churcb,in which he has been class leader and steward, and has been Superintendent of " Sunday schools ;" he has always given his aid to the improvement of the town.

C. W. WEBSTER, merchant, Berkshire ; is a son of C. R. and Mila (Fowler) Webster; his father was born in New York, and moved to Knox Co. with his people when 6 years old ; his mother was a daughter of Elijah Fowler ; she was born in Massachusetts ; C. W. Webster was born, Feb. 27, 1843, in Knox Co., Ohio. Sept. 11, 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 121st 0. V. I., and was in the service three years. He sdffers from the efiects of a sickness with typhoid fever ; he receives a pension. Mr. Webster engaged as clerk for J. W. Foot, of Berkshire, and also farming until 1869, when he bought Foot out, and now continues the business of dry goods, and general notions. In 1874, he took charge of the post office, and still remains the Postmaster. He is now in partnership with Gibson & Finch. He is at present Justice of the Peace and Township Clerk, and is administrator of the John Longshore estate, and guardian of the Leonard Hough heirs. Was married, Oct. 4, 1866, to Libbie Smith, daughter of John R. Smith, one of the pioneers of this county ; she was born Aug. 18, 1846 ; they have had five children, four living - Lula, Loren, Gertrude and Edna ; one deceased, Holly, who died Oct. 4, 1868. They are members of the M. B. Church, of which he is class-leader and Sunday-School Superintendent.

DAVID WEYANT, farmer ; P. 0. Sunbury ; is a son of David and Elizabeth (Baker) Weyant ; his father was born on the banks of the Hudson River in New York, and came to Ohio early ; his mother was also born in New York ; they had seven children, five of whom survive. Mr. Weyant, the subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 9, 1825, on a farm on Licking Co., where he I'emained until 1869 ; in his younger days, he and his brothers would take turns in going to school and working on the farm ; his father was in moderate circumstances, having but $80 and one horse when he came to Ohio ; in 1849, Mr. Weyant began running a thrashing machine, which he continued for five years ; he was engaged for seven years in a saw and grist' mill in Licking Co., and is at present running a thrashing machine and making it a success. Mr. Weyant was married in 1846, to Martha Denty, a daughter of John Denty ; she was born April 22, 1831, and died March 5, 1880; they had two children - Laura A., born Oct. 14, 1850; Florence, born June 10, 1854. Laura Weyant, a niece, is living with them. Mr. Weyant moved to Delaware Co. in 1869, settling where he now lives on a farm of 166 acres, which he bought of George Grist, and for which he paid 117,000, cash ; this is one of the finest and best improved farms in the county, and is well adapted to stock-raising, which he makes a specialty; on this farm now stands a barn which was the first frame barn built in the township. Mr. Weyant has been^ no office-seeker. He hired a substitute for $750 during the civil war. His wife was a member of the M. E. Church at Sunbury.

G. W. WELLS, farmer ; P. 0. Galena ; was born 'Sept. 14, 1811, in Luzerne Co., Penn., and came with his parents by ox team to Ohio, in 1818, settling in what is now Morrow Co. for two years ; they then moved to Genoa Township. His

Source changes here: from 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, by Lytle, James Robert, published 1908; 3,274 words in this source stream.

Berkshire Township

The religious history of this township is an interesting one, and dates back to the arrival of the first settlers, as they were nearly all religious people. The family of Colonel Byxbe was of the Presbyterian creed, that of Major Brown, together with the Paines, Plumbs and Curtices were members of the Episcopal Church.

With the advent of the Carpenters in the southern part of the township came the Meth- ' odist. Gilbert Carpenter was a minister in that church, and it was not long until a society was organized in that locality. There were about fourteen members, and their meetings were held in a hewed log schoolhouse. erected not far from 1813. Gilbert Carpenter and his nephew, Benjamin, Jr., with occasional visits from itinerants, supplied the society with preaching.

Two years later the Methodist organized a society in Sunbury, and held their meetings during the winter in the surrounding cabins, and in the summer in Judge Carpenter's barn. The people came from a distance of ten miles with ox-teams and barefooted in summer, and from long distances in winter to attend these meetings. The ministers were not" collegebred men, nor men marked with special gifts for the ministry. They wore the home-made clothing of the settlers, and were often compelled to endure hardships, not even known by those living in the cabins. In 1825. a frame building now standing in Galena, was erected, is well maintained, and continues to be the rallying-point for the Methodists in the southern part of the township.

At Sunbury the society used a brick schoolhouse for their services until 1839, when they erected a frame church costing $1,500. The Episcopal society helped in building this church with the understanding that they were to have the use of it part of the time. The latter organization became extinct through removal and change of membership. The church was used by the Methodists until about two years ago, when a larger and more commodious structure was erected. The first circuit was established in 1831, with Rev. James Mclntyre as presiding elder.

Another organization of the M. E.'s was effected at the Berkshire Corners in 1858, by Rev. Amos Wilson, with twenty members. This society erected a good frame church in i860, and have maintained an even course, with about sixty members to the present time.

Protestant Episcopal

The second denomination to organize in point of time was the Protestant Episcopal. The first sermon was preached in Major Brown's house in 1818, by Bishop Chase, the first bishop of the diocese, on Monday after Easter, March 23, 1818. Those of this belief met at the house of David Prince and organized a society and elected the following officers : Clerk, Carlos Curtis ; wardens, Ichabod Plumb, Zenos Ross and Aaron Strong; lay readers, David Prince and Carlos Curtis. For ten years or more services were held in private houses and Rev. Stern and others served as rectors. A brick church ' with a triple Gothic windows in front was erected. This church was considered a great achievement at this early date. This building is said to be the third Episcopal church building erected in the State. The society has been abandoned, but the building still stands at Berkshire Corners, and has been used for a number of years as a public school building.

The leading church of this denomination is at Galena, and was organized in 1875 by Rev. John Eley, with ten members. The remaining members at Berkshire Corners united with this society. In 1877, assisted by the community, a handsome brick church was erected, the plan being drawn by a Xew Jersey architect. The society still exists and is in a moderately flourishing condition.

Presbyterian Church

There were at the Corners several families, viz. : Bennett, Gregory and Paterson, who attended services at the old Court House, Delaware, conducted by Rev. Hughs, a sonin-law of Colonel Byxbe. In 181 7 Rev. Ebenezer Washburn, a Presbyterian minister, drove in the Corners in a steel-shod sled, a circumstance which gave him no little distinction at that time. He held services in the cabins, but the Presbyterians united with what is known as the Blue Church, and he moved to Genoa Township. In 1844, a church called Galena, and in 1846 another called Porter, had been organized by Rev. Ahab Jink's, and supplied by him. These churches were united in 1848 and called Union. Union was united with Sunbury in 1861. The society had but little preaching, and in 1866 was dissolved. These organizations w:ere connected with the New School branch of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1878, a society was again organized at Sunbury by Rev. Robert Wyley and others, with thirty-four members. The society was served by Rev. Wyley, but did not flourish. The services were held in the school house and hall, no house of worship being erected. The society was disbanded by Marion Presbytery at the April meeting in 1885.

Baptist Church

This denomination was represented in Berkshire as early as 1812 by Elder Henry George. He was a Welshman, spoke with 1 marked brogue, and a plain man with excellent common sense. No church was organized, however, until 1835. This occurred in District No. 2, of Trenton Township, and was called the Walnut Creek Baptist Church. They worshiped in a log school house until 1837, when the society moved to Sunbury. and in 1838 erected the structure which has been used continuously until the present time. The first pastor after coming to Sunbury was Rev. Gildersleve, followed by Rev. Roberts.

Free Will Baptist

In the winter of 1876-77, Rev. Mr. Murray of Sunbury held a series of meetings at Rome Corners, which were crowned with success, and he sought to establish a church at that place. There did not seem to be a desire for such an organization, and in a perfectly friendly spirit, the minister and people joined m inviting Rev. Mr. Whittaker to organize a Free Will Baptist society. This society in 1877 erected a substantial frame church, located at the Corners. This building still stands, but is not occupied, the society having been disbanded several years ago.

Sunday Schools

The Sunday schools, as they existed in the early settlements, were not such as we have now In many cases the rudiments of education were joined with instruction in the Scriptures. The first school of this sort was opened by Julia Strong, daughter of Major Strong, about [814. The house stood on the Gaylord property near the bridge east of Sunbury. Another school akin to this was opened about [816 by Miss Bowen, a sister-in-law of Rev. Ebenezer Washburn. Her method was to invite the little folks to her bouse on the Sabbath, and read to them a passage of Scripture, then a historical sketch calculated to interest children's minds, and then would teach them a short passage of Scripture, which they were to repeat the next Sabbath. The Hon. O. D. Hough was one of her pupils, and believes these to have been the first Sunday schools in the east part of the county, if not the first in the county.

Was third among the townships now constituting Delaware county, inhabited by a white man. Col. Moses Byxbe and his small company settling there in the fall of 1804. It was formed of United States Military land, known in the United States Military survey as Township 4, Range 17, and is now five miles square, but during the early existence of Berkshire Township its boundary lines and area were frequently changed. Prior to 1806, it was a part of Sharon Township, in Franklin County, but in that year, through the efforts of Major Thomas Brown, on petition, was organized as a separate township to include the fourth section of what is now Brown, the third section of Kingston, the east half of Berlin and Orange Townships, and the west half of Genoa and the present Berkshire Townships. This township was given the name, Berkshire, in honor of Berkshire County. Massachusetts, from whence had come Major Brown, Colonel Byxbe and other of the prominent early settlers of the community. As new townships were organized from time to time, section after section of

Berkshire was set off until, of the land originally embodied in the township, but the western half of the present Berkshire Township remained and was joined to the eastern half, which had been set off from Sunbury Township. Sunbury Township had been established at the first session of Commissioners' Court after Delaware County had been separated from Franklin in 1808, and included, originally, the present townships of Harlem, Trenton and Porter, with the east half of the townships of Kingston, Berkshire and Genoa, besides the townships of Bennington. Harmony. Peru and Lincoln, now in Morrow County. The surface of Berkshire County is rolling, lies high, and is admirably adapted to farming. It was covered with a heavy growth of timber, excepting a small prairie northeast of Berkshire Corners which in the early days was noted as a deer lick and the resort of immense flocks of wild pigeons. The land lying between the Little and Big Walnut Creeks, which afford excellent drainage for the township, was covered almost exclusively with oak, while in other parts was a variety, including maple, walnut, hickory, butternut and elm. The soil is a light clay, with the exception of the elm swamps and prairie land, which are of a rich, black loam.

The first settlers in Berkshire Township came from Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Colonel Moses Byxbe, a man of wealth and standing, kept hotel and conducted a general store in the town of Lenox, in that county, and in the course of business came into possession of a large number of soldiers' land warrants, which he located in section 2 of what is now Berkshire and section i of the present township of Berlin, 8,000 acres in all. 1 [e afterward acquired other land in Brown and Genoa Townships and was the largest landowner ever resident of Delaware County. In June, 1804, he fitted out a four-horse team with Orlando Barker as driver, a three-horse team with Witter Stewart as driver, a singlehorse wagon in charge of Solomon Smith, and, after loading with his store stock and household goods, started for his new possessions in the West, leading the way with his family in a carriage drawn by two horses. He was also accompanied by Azariah Root, a surveyor from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Edwin Potter, a nephew of Colonel Byxbe, thirteen years of age. After an adventurous journey, he arrived at Worthington in August, and. this being the nearest point to his destination, built a two-story frame house, in which he and his family lived for three months. During this time he went to his land in Berkshire, and erected cabins for his home and stables on the prairie, on the bank of the Little Walnut. He also erected a cabin for Mr. Root on the Berkshire Road, a half mile south of Berkshire Corners. In November, 1804, he moved with his household goods and his family into the new home. Berkshire Street was surveyed through his land, and farms laid out abutting it, plans being rapidly advanced to bring in new settlers. The next to join the settlement was a Mr. Curtis, a shoemaker, who came in January, 1805. followed closely by John Kilbourn, Ralph Slack, Elam Vining, Sr.. James Harper, who was a blacksmith. Adonijah Rice, and two colored women, Sarah Brandy and Polly Noko. Major Thomas Brown, who had visited the- settlement in 1805, returned to take up his residence in 1S00. being accompanied by David Prince and John Patterson. Nathaniel Hall. James Gregory, Solomon Jones. Joseph Patrick. John B. Grist. David Armstrong, Samuel and David Landon, Gideon and William Osterhaus, a Mr. Helt, George Fisher and Joseph

Prince also appear on the roster of names for that period. In 1807, came Ichabod Plumb and Dr. Reuben Lamb, with their families, from Worthington, and in 1808, Hon. Ezekiel Brown. The first white child born in the township was Albert Root, born in 1807, followed shortly by the birth of Ralph Slack. The first death recorded was that of the wife of Elam Vining, Sr., in 1806. Major Brown, in 181 1, erected the first brick house, which is still standing, in the township, made of brick manufactured near where the house stood, and in 1 816 David and Joseph Price built the first frame dwelling'. Thus it is seen brick antedates lumber as a building material in Berkshire Township, an anomalous situation due to the fact that the settlement numbered among its citizens a brickmaker and mason. The first mill in the community was that of Nathaniel Hall, built in 1808, on Alum Creek in what is now Berlin Township. Asa Scott was the first township treasurer, and David Prince, one of the first trustees, but the other officers of the township at its inception are unknown. Major Brown conducted the first store in the township, and probably the first in the county. Adonijah Rice conducted the first tavern in the township at Berkshire Corners, and was also first post master there. The early industrial enterprises of Berkshire are treated of in the chapter on manufacturing.

. Berkshire Township lays claim to two healthy, vigorous villages in Snnbury and Galena, and two settlements, Berkshire Corners and Rome, the two latter not fulfilling the promises of future greatness made by their founders. Colonel Byxbe displayed great ability in interesting a good class of citizens in Berkshire Corners, pointing out its desirable location and its prospects of becoming a county seat, possibly a state capital, but with the disposition of his property there, the deith knell of the settlement's pretentions was sounded. It was without its leader, he having diverted his zeal and energy to the development of Delaware, where he had acquired large interests. Although it was never platted, nor rose to the dignity of a village, it was nol without its prestige in the early days. Major Brown conducted his store there until his death in 1816, then was succeeded by Flavius Fuller, whose business ceased to be a paying enterprise and was discontinued when Sunbury began to boom as a business center. Mr. S. S. Bennett was an extensive stock dealer at this point, and did much to keep it alive as a center of trade for some years.

Sunbury, located in the east central part of the township, on the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railroad, was laid out by William and Lawrence Meyers on land formerly owned by a Mr. Alden, the plat bearing the date of November 9, 1816. It was well chosen as a townsite, being located on the Columbus and Mt. Vernon Road and contiguous to a large area of country without a trading point at hand. The first merchant was a Mr. Whitmore, who had established a store a year hefore the town was started, but after a short time he was succeeded by Benjamin Webb. A third store was built and conducted by Steven R. Bennett. In 1816, the first hotel was started by a Mr. Rogers, who continued until 1820, when the stage began running through the town. Increase in hotel trade brought a competitor, in the person of Lawrence Meyers, who by erecting a suitable building was able to command the patronage, and Mr. Rogers retired from the field. B. H. Taylor and B. Chase built a fulling-mill, equipped for carding and pressing, which was conducted with success for many years, drawing patronage from many miles distant, as it was without competition in that vicinity.

The following is a list of the mayors of Sunbury since its incorporation in 1882: I. A. Torts, 1882; R. D. Robinson, [883; John Roberts, 1880; I. A. Ports, 1887; P. D. Robinson, 1888; C. C. Brooks. [890; I. A. Ports, [894; C. C. Brooks, [896; \V. F. Whittier, 1898; C. C. Brooks', 1902; Miles Gregory. [906, and Samuel Hopkins [908. The names are given in the order of succession, the dates being those when the duties of the office were assumed. The present members of the Council are Dr. T. J. Williams, president ; O. F. Etling, J. A. Loar, C. L. Boyd, James Furry and J. W. Longwell. The following gentlemen are members of the Board of Educatii m : D. H. Davis, George Axline, Robert II. Larrimore, James Cockrell and Clayton W. Barton. The Board of Health is composed of the gentlemen: Dr. J. H. Gerhardt, health officer; Dr. H. B. Kistler, secretary; Dr. T. J. Williams, T. F. Blakely, James Cockrell and H. H. Herlocker.

Other township officals whose terms began in 1907, are: I. S. Sperry, justice of the peace; Leon Hough, and C. W. Barton, trustees ; W. E. Loar, clerk ; O. A. Kimball, treasurer; J. W. H. Webster, assessor Sunbury Village; E. H. Furniss, assessor Galena Precinct; John P. Hupp, Sunbury Precinct; Ansel Stanforth, Berkshire Precinct; C. E. Budd, constable.

Among the principal industrial and business enterprises of Sunbury we may mention The Sunbury Co-( )perative Creamery, The Farmers' Bank, Burrer's Flouring mill, a saw mill, a poke factory and a factory where hay-balers are made. Blakely & Williams and C. B. Morris & Co.. are general merchants; Wheaton & Cummins and Benoy & Benoy, hardware dealers; W. O. Buckingham & Sons. warehouse and dealers in lumber and farm implements ; E. E. Root, bakery and fruit dealer, and Harry Fleckner, fruit ; John P. Skeels, grocer; R. P. Anderson, druggist; Mr. Strosnider, undertaker; H. S. Cook, harness-shop; The Delaware County News Item, a live newspaper published by W. F. Whittier; hotel conducted by the present mayor, Samuel Hopkins; two livery stables kept by Hopkins Brothers and Frank Alberry, respectively.

Located between the Big and Little Walnut Creeks, near the point of junction, is the village of Galena, through the northwest corner of which passes the Cleveland, Akron and Columbus Railroad. It was platted by William Carpenter. April ,}, 181 6. and recorded on the 2T,d day of the same month. The first building erected was the little log house which served as school and church prior to the inception of Galena. Gilbert Carpenter, Sr., built a saw mill in 1809. the power being furnished by water in a race constructed by him, joining the Walnut Creek. About 1818 Benjamin Carpenter, Jr., constructed a second race, just south of the first one, and established a grist mill, which in later years was operated by George Vanfleet. The first store, started in 1810, by a man named Manter, was in a log cabin near the bridge. Soon after, Elias Murray established a store on the southwest corner of the square. The village was known by the name of Zoar until a postoifice was acquired, and was then named Galena, at the suggestion of Nathan Dustin. as there existed another town of Zoar in Ohio. The growth of the village was steady, but at no time rapid, as no effort was ever made to create a b » mi. The citizens, however, were men of enterprise, and by subscription the sum of $13,000 was raised to get the old Columbus & Alt. Vernon Railroad to pass through the town, in addition to which they donated three acres for depot purposes.

Rome was the only village of Berkshire Township incorporated, but this honor added little to its development or welfare. It was incorporated in 1838, by Almon Price, who had laid off his farm into lots, but as there was nothing to stimulate its growth, the act of incorporation was annulled on petition of the lot holders.