Blanchard Township

Blanchard Township

Blanchard township was organized in 1833, the year before Putnam county was organized, and at that time included the territory now in Van Buren, Riley, Blanchard and Richland townships. Richland township and the south tier of sections of Riley township were detached from Putnam county in 1848 and added to Allen county. When Blanchard township was organized, in 1833, it was a part of Williams county aiid the county seat was then located at Fort Defiance. The order creating the township is found in the commissioners' records of Williams county.

As far as known, there were only eight voters in the township at the time it began its career, although after the organization of the township the settlers began to come in rapidly. Otho Crawfis and his wife, Sarah Agner, had the honor of being the first settlers in this extensive township. They were natives of Fairfield county, Ohio, and settled in Putnam county on October 17, 1831. The year following, came Samuel Hall, Joseph Hickerson and H. M. Crawfis. In 1833 the population was increased by the families of Abraham Hardin, Hezekiah Bonham, William Prichett, Calvin and Alexander Morehead. The year 1834 saw a still larger number of families casting their fortunes with the pioneers of this township. In this year came William Patrick, Henry Pope, Joseph Wade, Samuel Hickerson, Joseph Bowen, George Shoemaker, Thomas McClure, Andrew McClure and Charles Guysinger. The following year brought in the families of George Stewart, George Bacon, Azariah Smith and John Stewart.

Unfortunately, the early records of Blanchard township were burned many years ago and definite data on its early history is hard to obtain. It is known that the first election was held at the home of Otho W. Crawfis, Sr., and that the following officers were elected: Samuel Hall, Abraham Hardin and Otho W. Crawfis, Sr., trustees; Joseph Hickerson, clerk; Otho W. Crawfis, Sr., justice of the peace. Hickerson was selected by the voters to take the election returns to Defiance, and, while in the county seat, he

An interesting story is told of Crawfis, who had been elected justice of the peace, and the story has the unusual advantage of being true. When he received his commission as justice of the peace for Blanchard township, Williams county, from Defiance, signed by Governor Lucas, he returned it, thinking that he lived in Putnam county. Within a short time the commission was returned to him with the official information that it was correct and that Putnam county had not yet been formally organized.

First Events

Rev. Elam Day, a Methodist, preached the first sermon in the township, at the home of Samuel Hall, in the fall of 1832. Martin Hickerson, born in 1833, a son of Joseph Hickerson, was the first white child born in the township. The first death was that of a Miss Killpatrick, and it occurred the same year. The year 1833 also witnessed the first marriage, that of Samuel Myers and Margaret Hardin, the wedding taking place on Christmas day. The first road was the Findlay-Defiance road, and was surveyed through the township in the early part of the thirties.

Gilboa, the first town, was laid out in 1837 by Elisha Stout, who also built the first grist-mill in the township. The first election for township trustees was held in Gilboa, November 19, 1852. Wolves were plentiful in this part of the county, also deer, wild turkeys and other game could be seen. The first school in the township was taught by James Wade. The school house was built of logs, with hewed benches for seats and wide boards nailed against the wall for writing desks. It was heated by a fireplace made of mortar and sticks. Reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic were the only branches taught. Mr. Wade was followed, in order, by Eliza Emmons, Emeline Hubbard, William Pierman, Mrs. Susan McClish, Mary Cartwright, James Agner, Lydia Shelby, Jane McDowell, Luella Agner, Laura Higginbothan and Nettie Diviney.

Justice of the peace, A. V. Logan, of Gilboa; trustees, Hugh Harris and L. A. Pitney, of Gilboa, and John Crawfis, of J_eipsic; clerk, W. H. Tobias, of Gilboa; treasurer, W. B. Gierhart, of Gilboa; constables, Henry Bowman and Richard McClure, of Gilboa.

Gilboa, as was stated before, was laid out in 1837. Nelson McCallister built the first frame house in the village, but it was only a short time until the town began to grow. About the year 1839, a tavern was opened by Benjamin Stewart and Edward Mercer started a general store. Blacksmiths, mechanics and men of different trades began to settle here and it became a thriving village.

It is characteristic that Gilboa had the most rapid growth of any town in the county. From 1840 to the early fifties it was classed as the most thriving town in the county. At the time the early surveys were made, in 1852, for the Dayton & Michigan railroad, the citizens of Gilboa made an active and persistent contest with Findlay and Ottawa for the location of that road through their town; they failed in their efforts, and this was the first blow which the town suffered.

Among the earlier prominent and active citizens of this village were: Matthew Chambers, Sr., who built the brick hotel; Col. M. C. Ewing, who owned what was then the largest general store in the county; Dr. T. E. Paul, who settled here in the practice of medicine in 1845; William Mc- Clure, who also kept a tavern and later became county treasurer; Simon Maple, merchant, who later became county commissioner ; Stansbury Sutton, who kept a general store until he took up the duties of prosecuting attorney and, later, county treasurer; Dr. Lyman W. Moe, who took up the practice of medicine in 1847.

In 1848 an epidemic of cholera almost decimated the village. Early settlers relate the horrible sufferings and deaths of the victims of this devastating disease. For a time it seemed as though the entire village would be wiped out, but its ravages were finally checked, although the effects of this dreaded disease were felt for some time.

The town was incorporated by an act of the Legislature in 1848 and has retained its corporate life ever since. The Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western railroad was built through its limits in 1888, and gave an impetus to the growth of the town and its business, evidenced by the construction of new business buildings and residences.

Situated as it is, in the center of what was the earliest settled, and still among the best agricultural, portions of the county, surrounded by splendid farms, it has always kept a good trade, and even in the darkest years, after its failure to secure the Dayton & Michigan road, and, later, the epidemic of cholera, it has still retained its progressive air. It has not progressed as rapidly in the past twenty years as formerly, but, owing to its early bearing, it has retained its place as an agricultural center.

Its business interests at present consist of an up-to-date bank, drain-tile plant, elevator and business houses which deal in all the necessities which the farmers require. It has a very modern high school building and is one of the nine educational centers of the county.

The present officers are : Mayor, P. C. Stateler ; clerk, J. G. Knepper ; treasurer, P. C. Davis; marshal, Frank Wood; councilman, O. V. Todd, W. B. Gierhart, J. M. Reed, John Mofifit, William Clymer and Banner Perkins. The population of Gilboa in 191 5 was three hundred and forty-five.

McCulloughville, located on the Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western railroad, was platted in 1888 by L. E. Holtz, civil engineer, for D. U. McCuIlough. This town was the site of Crawfis College and a postofifice was established here for the convenience of the college and the surrounding country. But this was later served by a mail route and the town has ceased to exist.

John Rotes, Cyrus Carter, William F. Wimer, Nehemiah Hoskinson, J. M. Stout, George Tooman, W. H. H. Myers, James Meals, Isaac Thrapp, Henry Harris, George Ashenfelter, Samuel Ladd, Albert Simpson, Gilbert Radabaugh, Eugene Carter, Levi Claybaugh, William Stateler, B. P. Conn, William Lindsey, Jasper Payne, George Payne, James Clark, Elliott Clark, Moses Woodruff, Louis Woodruff, Jacob Fry, William Patrick, George Franks, Lloyd Nicewarner, James Parker, Rudolph Writh, Daniel Grafton, F. M. Harrit, Edson Crowl, John Welch, David Siders, Abram Sites and Scott Strain. This list is signed by George Bacon, assessor, who says at the end of his report that he had missed Richard Henderson and John Crawfis. The list is headed as a "List of Volunteers since the 2nd of July, 1862," but there is nothing to indicate what period of time the enlistments covered. The only other official record of Blanchard township is the militia roster taken by the assessor in May, 1863, at which time there were two hundred and thirty-three men of militia age (between the ages of eighteen and fortyfive) in the township. Evidently this was prepared in view of the draft which was then being contemplated. The names of all the men are given, but it is not stated how many of them had already enlisted, nor has any record been found which discloses how many finally enlisted from the township.