Cynthian Township

Cynthian Township

Begins on the west line of the county, between sections 27 and 34, town. 11. range 4; thence east to the west line of Turtle Creek township: thence north to the county line; thence west to the northwest corner of the county; thence south to the beginning.

Record of Cynthian township, agreeable to the petition for the organization of the same : Beginning at the west line of the county, on the line between towns. 10 and 41, range 4 east; thence east to the west line of Turtle Creektownship; thence north to the county line; thence west to the northwest corner of the county ; thence south to the place of beginning.

The record of this township was found to be incorrect, and ordered by the commissioners to be corrected. All the numbers marked to be on the north line of the county are on the old Indian boundary, there being no numbers known on the north line. Still, in that case the north line of the county is to be considered the north boundary of such townships.

And Representative Citizens 159 Pioneer Conditions

In pioneer days there was not a top buggy in Shelby county and but very few spring wagons, even fifty years ago, the highways being so execrable, that the sturdiest kind of a farm wagon did service for church or market or pleasure outings or joy rides, although an alleged turnpike, thinly graveled, subject to toll, had been constructed for 20 miles north to W'apakoneta.

The rich earth, shaded by the primeval woods, were avenues of mud and the corduroying of them with logs of various sizes made it possible to travel only at the slowest pace. Grain had to be hauled to Cincinnati or Sandusky 100 miles distant and the trip took more than a week. The price obtained was very low and only the necessities of life were purchased with the scant receipts.

In 1865 a toll turnpike was built from Sidney to Palestine, eight miles east, but in the latter part of the sixties a state law was passed permitting the building of free turnpikes to be paid for by taxing lands two miles each side of the pikes to be paid in yearly installments. This started pike building and a boom in real estate. At this time there are about 300 miles in the county, costing nearly two millions, so that now joy riders, in their automobiles raise the dust at a speed of twenty miles an hour, or more, where jaded horses at a snail's pace with lumher wagons bounced over the corduroy or mired in the mud. These pikes in many instances provided outlet for farm underdrains and there are now thousands of miles of tile drainage and the swampy lands, worthless in an undrained condition are the richest in the county. Farms can not be bought under $100 an acre, some bringing $150, where buildings are good. The luxuries of civilization on a higher plane have come to stay, with high cost of living. Those who have to buy grumble, while those who have things to sell rejoice.

Since pioneer days, fever and ague, with break-bone accompaniments, has become a thing of the past, of which the present generation know nothing and mosquitoes are on the road to ultimate extinction.

There was no surplus money in Shelby county when it started on its career. The earth, by dint of labor, ministered to life's necessities but luxuries had no place on the daily bill of fare which probably inspired the poet to give birth to the immortal stanza "Bean porridge, hot, bean porridge, cold in the pot, nine days old." The wardrobe was in keeping with the homely diet, "neat, but not gaudy." Some money had to be obtained to get the country under headway, pay the officials, etc. The first financial exhibit, the debts and credits were a little more than $1,100, with a deficit of $708 in the year 1 8 19, which remained the same until June, 1820. The county treasurer's settlement for 1822 made a better showing and the sum of $769 was on each side, no surplus and no deficiency. In 1823 there was a credit surplus of $5.91 and in 1825. $128.

Land Entries

The numerous land entries prior to 1822 show that the settlers were not adventurers but came for permanent homes, and here follow the names of the loriginal proprietors:

Political Parties

The politics of Shelby county date back to the organization of the county, though for some years the voting population was small and elections were not held in all the townships as they are constituted today. About the first elective officers of the county were justices of the peace, or "squires" as they were commonly called. These officers were selected from among the most intelligent citizens; they were known as the peacemakers of their respective localities and often settled neighborhood disputes out of court. They held "court" in the largest room of their houses, and the yard was taken up with the vehicles of those who came to hear the trials. There was very little "wirepulling" for the early settlers met irrespective of party and put the best men in the field, then went to the different polls, traded horses, voted and went home. However, excitement rose to a high pitch when it came to state and national elections and Shelby county could generally be depended upon to give a whig majority.

The first real exciting campaign in this county was the presidential campaign of 1828. Partisanship became very bitter; there were Jackson and Adams meetings everywhere, the schoolhouses resounded with praise and defamations and before this campaign closed there were many bloody noses and blackened eyes.

The next great contest was that of William Henry Harrison in 1840. Harrison ,was the idol of the whig party and his name raised the greatest enthusiasm. / The county did not see another great campaign until that of 1866 when the political club came into existence. There were barbecues, torchlight procession's, turpentine balls, and the air was made melodious with the singing clubs and their political songs. But the most exciting political battle ever waged in the county took place in 1864. Meetings were held day and night; the highways were thronged with political processions and gaily decorated wagons filled with girls were a part of the parade. The following episode may give its reader an idea of the state of the times. It was during the Brough- Vallandigham campaign of 1864, when Ohio was still an October state, that Frank McKinney, of Piqua, an ardent democrat, who represented this district in congress, and C. L. Vallandigham, of Dayton, member of congress, and candidate for governor on the democratic ticket, were advertised to address

A meeting' at Sidney. Thousands were gathered to hear the speaking. A regiment of soldiers was in the town awaiting transportation to their homes in Michigan and were encamped in Poplar street. When the carriage containing Air. Vallandigham and Mr. McKinney passed by the soldiers they commenced yelling and shouting their guns over the top of the carriage which frightened the horses causing them to run down a hank and almost upset the vehicle. However, the carriage reached the hotel. Mr. Vallandigham was hurried in and the doors were closed. Mr. McKinney remained on the sidewalk and addressed a mob of soldiers who demanded the surrender of Vallandigham and attempted to enter the hotel. A riot was imminent. More than two thousand democrats, armed, surrounded the hotel waiting for the soldiers to make an attack. A message was sent to S. B. Walker, the mayor of Sidney, and he and the leading republicans were informed by Mr. McKinney that if blood was shed and property destroyed they would be held responsible. The mayor persuaded the soldiers to return to camp; they were gotten on trains and rushed out of town and the meeting was held. When the soldiers departed they took with them a cannon named the "Swamp Angel." which the democrats were using for the celebration and which was cast by Philip Smith in his own foundry for the occasion. This cannon was thrown into a pond up in Michigan and years afterwards was raised by Philip Smith himself and brought back to Sidney. The feeling against Vallandigham was caused by the fact that he was a southern sympathizer and had been sent through the rebel lines and found refuge in Canada.

This campaign represented the high-water mark of political excitement, for Shelbv county is overwhelmingly democratic and hut few times since the birth of the republican party have any members oi that faith been elected to countv offices. The instances are: Jacob S. Conklin, prosecuting attorney. 1858 to 1880; James A. Irwin, recorder, 1856, clerk, i860; J. P. For-. sythe, auditor from 1873 to 1875; G. E. Allinger. sheriff, 1887 to 1889; John P. Brown, commissioner. 1895 tn '898, and J. C. Rosser, auditor from 1905 to 1909.

The townships of Orange. Perry. Salem. Turtle Creek and Washington give reliable republican majorities, while Cynthian. Dinsmore. Green, Jackson, Loramie. McLean and Van Buren are almost unanimously democratic with Franklin and Clinton furnishing smaller majorities for the party of Jefferson.

The county is in the Fourth Congressional District composed of the counties of Auglaize, Allen, Mercer, Darke and Shelby and is now represented in congress by J. Henry Goeke, Democrat, of Auglaize, whose plurality in the district at the last election was [1,245: majority 3,029. It is in the Twelfth Senatorial District made up of Miami. Darke and Shelby counties and has just elected to the legislature Dr. I. C. Kiser. of Miami, whose plurality in the district was 3.517 for the 1912 election.

And Representative Citizens 163

Shelby county, as it exists today with its fertile farms and nearly one thousand miles of turnpike of gravel, of which there is abundance to keep them in repair, with its happy prosperous people, is in strange contrast to what it was a century ago.

From 1805 to 1812 at the advent of the first pioneers what is now within its limits was an unbroken forest, a free run-way for wild animals and the untutored Indian. Much of the surface was covered with water' in a rainytime and got dry by slow evaporation, as most of the land was level, with little natural drainage. It was a paradise for mosquitoes .and frogs and a delightful abode for the festive turtle.

The bravery, which verged on desperation, of the original settlers, may well excite wonder, for it is almost impossible to conceive of any inducement for their removal from the environment of civilization with its comforts and social pleasures. They were almost uniformly men of superior type, who had been comfortably situated, and were not men who had suffered from penury or escaped from crime, nor did they come to seek a life of ease, for their arrival here only meant fhe beginning of the most arduous toil, with little prospect of any immediate reward.

They came to carve out their own destiny - the forerunners of civilization, the pioneers of progress - with a stern determination to cope with the vigors of nature, to rear homes in the wilderness, and to dedicate temples of religion, education and justice in the midst of savagery and wildness. They subjugated the new conditions which confronted them and conformed to the better ideas and stern principles which prevailed in the communities which they had left, renouncing all their old associations. They came to build homes and that meant to plant the seeds of civilization and enjoy the benefits of organized society. Gradually the wilderness gave way to the sturdy arm and untiring frame of the pioneer, who never knew rest until the forest was made to blossom with fruit and grain. Along the stream he built his mill and in the protected valley he laid out his village - now the city with its thousands of people. He met the howling woif with defiance and dined upon venison and wild turkey. As the virgin forest yielded before his axe, cattle, sheep, hogs and horses flourished in his meadows. The meadows in turn gave place to the corn, and later to the wheat and we have the snow-white loaf superseding the "johnny cake." Their only garments were "linsey-woolsey" made by their own hands. The mothers were as untiring as the fathers - the daughters as capable as the sons for everybody worked from daylight until late in the night. The pioneer was his own manufacturer. He could build a chair or a house. He could shoe a horse or "iron" a wagon. He could make his children's shoes or a spinning-wheel and the female contingency of the household could cleanse and card the wool, hackle the flax, spin and weave the cloth for the family and make the garments without the aid of a sewing machine or any other labor saving device. These garments, if not pretty, had amazing strength and durability. The pioneers had little aesthetic or agricultural taste and but scant knowledge of hygiene, and had it not been for their huge fireplaces would have well-nigh suffocated for lack of pure air by ventilation. It was a pioneer, but perhaps not a Shelby county one, who, when his family were all sick with typhoid fever, and his doctor said the trouble was caused by a faulty drain, replied th^.t it could not be, for there wasn't any drain.

But they were men of thought, of enterprise, of resolution. Such traits of character were necessary to bring the young man of strong purpose, or the head of a family, to break up the old associations of life, and. dare the hardships and privations of a new settlement in the wild woods of the West. Of such qualities were the early pioneers of our noble state. They were the men of nerve, of intellect, and strength of purpose that led the way over the Alleghenies to the borders of our beautiful streams and teeming valleys. Nor were they ignorant or uncultured in the rudiments of a fair education. They had been brought up in a land of schools and churches, and brought with them their education and religion. The early settlers were worthy of the land, they were not Goths and Vandals seeking conquest but our own countrymen speaking our own Anglo-Saxon language. They came from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Pennsylvania. What a grand combination !

Well might General Washington in his eulogy upon our first settlement sav, "No other colony in America was ever' settled under such favorable circumstances as that which has just commenced upon the Ohio river. Information, property and strength will be its beginning."

And Representative Citizens 165

Any apparent discrepancies in the length of terms of service of the different county officers are due to changes in the law affecting the same.

State Senators

Divorces brought during the year ending June 30*, 1912, 2^; pending July 1. 191 1, 11 ; number decided during the year, 24 /number still pending, 12; cases brought by the wife, 26; by the husband, 10.

There have been 8237 civil cases filed in the common pleas court since the organization of the county in 1819; 2320 criminal cases, 6365 cases brought up from justices courts and 302 cases filed in the circuit court.

The report from the recorder's office for the year ending June 30, 1912, gave agricultural lands, deeds recorded, 166, with a valuation of $721,723.24, at an average price per acre of $60.68.

The number of mortgages recorded of agricultural lands, 208, on 15,630 acres, with a consideration of $526,807.00. The number of mortgages recorded on city, town or village lots, 324, consideration, $217,671.96.

The report from the probate judges' office for the year ending March 31. 1912, shows 198 marriages for the year; 183 by license. 15 by bans. Six persons were sent to insane asylums, 5 male, 1 female. Forty-six wills admitted to probate ; 30 letters testamentary, 24 letters of administration. About 20 cases considered by the juvenile court; all but two held as wards by the judge who keeps a watchful eye on his charges. One boy sent to the Boys Industrial School, one to the Reform Farm.

Personal Property Valuation

The following figures were taken from the abstract of personal property in Shelby county on file at the auditor's office, as returned by the different assessors for the year 1912: Horses, 10.144, value, $1,153,387: cattle, 14,425.

Cynthian township is one of the west tier of townships. It is oblong in form, contains 32 sections and extends four miles north and south and eight miles east and west. McLean township bounds it on the north, Turtle Creek on the east and Loramie on the south, while Darke county lies on its western boundary.

Cynthian has a more rolling surface than any other township in the county. Its soil varies, in some parts being clay while in others black loam and sand are found. Its fine gravel beds furnish excellent material for highway construction. Almost centrally from north to south flows Loramie creek, other streams being Buffalo run, Lawrence creek and Salt Lick. Close to and parallel with Loramie creek runs the Miami and Erie canal and Great and South Panther creeks empty into it from the east. The farms and residences throughout the township present abundant evidences df prosperity on the part of its inhabitants.

And Representative Citizens 335 Settlement

There is evidence that Cynthian township attracted settlers as early as 1815. In that year Thomas Butt, John Wise and Conrad Pouches had established themselves with their families, but it is still a question which came first. Nevertheless they soon had other neighbors for between that date and 1824 the following pioneers - some from the older states and others from countries across the sea - took up their residences in the township: Leonard and Tobias Danner, Henry Hershaw, Zachariah Hurley, John and Alexander Miller, Samuel and Benjamin Leighty, Jacob Seerfauss, John Barker, John Gates, C. Stoker, William Hicks, George Harman, William Jerome, Charles Lovell, George Moyer, Jacob, John and Andrew Wise, Robert Steen, J. Shagley, Robert Chambers and John Borden.

As in other sections, the pioneers in Cynthian township lived at first in log cabins and while these primitive dwellings were adequate to their early needs, as they grew more prosperous, frame houses were erected, which still later gave place to those of stone and brick. The first frame house in the township was erected on the present site of Newport by JosiaS Reaser but he did not, apparently, occupy it, selling it to Cyrus Reese. George Butt was the first to build a brick house, probably burning the brick on his own land. A saw mill - one of the first necessities - was built by Conrad Pouches, and a tannery - another desirable enterprise in a pioneer settlement - was started by Stephen Blanchard. William Mills was the first blacksmith and in the villages which rapidly grew, other lines of business were started so that, within the first quarter of a century from the time of settlement, civilized conditions prevailed all over the township. Very early the people began to agitate the subject of schools and the first building especially dedicated to the cause of education was built on land owned by Jacob Wise. The United Brethren appear to have been the first here in the religious field. Originally this township belonged to Loramie but was detached in 1822. The first township election was held at the house of Alexander Miller, July 4, 1822.

Towns And Villages

North Port - The plat of North Port (incorporated into Newport?) contained twenty lots and was located on the west half of northeast quarter of section 30, town. 10, range 5 east and was surveyed for Richard Short, its proprietor, in June, 1839. It was laid out with four streets: Main, North. Elm and South.

Newport was surveyed and platted in the same year as North Port, for Nicholas Wynant. It is situated in section 30, on the Miami and Erie canal and at present has about 140 inhabitants the population having decreased considerably in the last twenty-five years. The first frame house as mentioned above was located here and was used as a hotel by Cyrus Reese, who built a second one in which he conducted a grocery store. Pilliod Brothers,

C. Belt and John Link, were early business men here and E. Pilliod operated the first steam saw and grist mill. In 1881 O. O. Mathers, of Sidney, established the Newport Flax Mill, which he operated in connection with the Sidney Flax Mill. This mill is still standing but has not been operated for a number of years.

Cynthian - On September 14, 1819, a town was platted, surveyed and recorded, at the Loramie crossing, in section 30, on land which subsequently was owned by the Sweigert family. It was named Cynthian village and a fewlots were sold but not enough to make possible a village organization. In 1825 all hope of this was dissipated and the land was purchased by William Mills, who devoted it to agricultural purposes.

Basinburg - There was a time when Basinburg had prospects of becoming a considerable business and social center for the township but progress was slow and its village organization is no longer evident. It was laid out in 1839 by Herman Mier in the northwest quarter of section 18, town. 10, range 5 east, the plats showing sixty-five lots, the sixty-fifth being donated to the citizens as a site for a church edifice. Its main streets were Main, Canal, Basin, Water, East and South Lane.

Oran, formerly a postoffice, is now a settlement of about thirty-eight people, located on the line between sections 27 and 28, and receives mail through Dawson.

The people of Cynthian township are well supplied with school facilities, there being eight special school districts, the officials of these being selected from among the leading men of the township. Hopewell special school district's officers for 191 1 and 1912: S. M. Winemiller, president; F. B. Miller, clerk, William Wiley, treasurer, and Charles Snow and Nathan. Cromes, in 191 1, the only change in 1912 being that Henry Bodemiller took the place of Nathan Cromes. Grisez special school district for 191 1 had John P. Lallemand for president ; John Grisez for clerk ; Henry Achbach for treasurer, with Blaize Cardo and Philip Cardo as other members of the board. The officers and members for 1912 were: Jesse Barder, president; John Grisez, clerk ; J. P. Lallemand, treasurer, and Xavier Cardo and Henry Achbach. Turner special school district's board of education for 1912 : Henry Sherman, president; Peter Eilerman, clerk; Frank Turner, treasurer, and N. A. Paulus, William Kloeker and Jacob Batty. Basinburg special school district in 191 1 had John Swartz as president, Michael Loy, clerk, Henry Harrod, treasurer, and Joseph H. Kessler and John Martz, while in 1912 the board was as follows: J. H. Kessler, president; Michael Loy. clerk; Henry Harrod, treasurer, and Frank Lindhaus, John Lengerich and Joseph Wurtz. Short special school district board for 191 1 had Henry Eilerman for president ; Henry Holscher for clerk ; Charles Broerman for treasurer and G. W. Short and Joseph Winner, no change being made in 191 2, except that John C. Short took the place of Joseph Winner. Forest' special school district for 191 1 elected J. H. Rhodehamel as president of its board; Charles C. Sny- der, clerk, David A. McKinstry for treasurer and Robert and Leander Wright as the other members. In 1912 the officials and members were: Leander Wright, William Jelly and W. W. Widener, the same officials serving. Oran special school district's board of education for 1912 had D. W. Christman as president ; George Wyatt as treasurer ; E. J. Eny'art as clerk, with David Swab andA. Fagan as other members. Other school statistics may be found in the chapter on education.

Methodist Episcopal Church - In 1872 through the efforts of Dr. Reaner and Mrs. Henry Sweigart, a Sunday school was organized at Newport, which developed into the Methodist Episcopal church at that place. . A brick edifice was completed in the fall of 1873, the congregation then under the ministerial charge of Rev. Rauch. In spite of the decreased population of the village this church has maintained its organization and has always been active in Christian work. Rev. Parker is the present pastor.

Oran Christian Church - This church originally known as Cynthian Christian church, was founded in 1833, its first members being Samuel Penrod and wife, Isaac Short and wife, Isaac Mann, and George and Samuel Butt and their wives. A church building was erected in 1851 and the congregation is now presided over by Rev. Cain.

The Loramie German Baptist church was organized in 1848 and for a number of years the faithful gathered at stated times in private houses and in the Christian church. In 1865 the membership in the township was augmented by a number who came from other, sections and in the next year an edifice for church purposes was erected and this society was known until 1877 as the North Branch of the Covington Society. In that year they became a separate congregation, Rev. Jacob Hollinger being elected the first minister.

St. Peter's and St. Paul's Catholic church at Newport was erected in 1856, and the same structure is still standing. It has been kept in good repair, and is now a modern structure and a church of which its members should feel proud.