Dublin Township

Dublin Township

Was organized June 7, 1824. at which time it included all the northern part of the county. Other townships were struck off and organized in the succeeding years until Dublin was reduced to the size of a congressional township as it is to-day, containing 36 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Van Wert County, on the east by Union township, on the south by Hopewell township and on the west by Black Creek township. The St. Mary's River flows across the township by a winding course from the eastern side to the northwest corner. The soil is fertile and well adapted to the raising of all kinds of grain, the crop most cultivated being corn, although wheat and oats receive their share of attention. Fruit is grown in abundance. Livestock is raised on an extensive scale by the farmers of the township, who take pride in their cattle and horses, while the breeding of hogs and sheep is not neglected.

And Representative Citizens

or 15 years in the township's history have wholly disappeared and the first record that is extant is of the spring election of 1839, when the following officers were chosen: Trustees - Philip S. Hitchner, Asa J. Petro and Horatio G. Blossom; clerk, A. R. Hunter; and treasurer, David Hays. At the election of April 6\ 1840, the following were elected: Trustees - Philip S.

Hitchner, Horatio G. Blossom and Abraham Miller; clerk, G. S. Barks; treasurer, David Hays; and justice of the peace, Asa J. Petro. The present officers are: Trustees - J. C. Chivington, Albert Miller and W. B. Tingley; clerk, D. C. Kinder; treasurer, William Christian; justices of the peace - Cornelius Smith and G. M. Counterman. The population of the township in 1880 was 2,027; in 1890, 2,625; and in 1900, 2,751.

The township has two railroads. The Cincinnati Northern, which has for its southern terminus, Cincinnati and for its northern, Jackson, Michigan, passes through Rockford, which is the market for the entire northern part of the county and the only town of any importance in the township. A branch of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway passes through Mercer, a settlement in the southeastern corner of the township. This section of the county is, therefore, afforded good shipping facilities. The first railroad built in the township was the old Toledo, Delphos & Burlington Railroad, a narrow-gauge line, from Delphos to Rockford by the way of Mercer, with the main line running from Delphos to Dayton, via Celina. In a few years, however, the branch froni Mercer to Rockford was abandoned. Tbe main line at a later date was absorbed by the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway and became a standard-gauge road.

Indian Reserves

During tbe War of 1812, before this section had been opened for settlement by the whites and, indeed, before the formation of the county, there was an Indian village on the St. Mary's River in this township known as Old-town, which was near where the present village of Rockford is now located. Among the Indians having lodges here were: Anthony Shane,

Louis Godfrey, the Crescent, Labadie and Rushville. These Indians were alwavs friendly and rendered every possible service to the government. Grants of land near the present village of Rockford were made to several of these Indians. Among these was a grant of one section of land on the banks of tbe St. Mary's River, at Shane's Crossing (now Rockford) to Anthony Shane; six sections of land on the north side of the St. Mary s River, above the reservation of Shane, to Louis Godfrey ; one section on the north side of the St. Mary's River, and below the section granted to the Crescent, to the chief, Charlie; one section on the St. Mary's, below the section granted to Gharlie, to Peter Labadie; and to Alexander T. Godfrey and Richard Godfrey, adopted children of the Pottawatomie tribe, one section of the tract ceded to the United States by the Pottawatomies, Ottawas and Chippewas. At the special request of the two Godfreys, they were given the right to choose and locate said section of land within said tract after a survey should be made; they finally located it within the present limits of Dublin township. These lands have all since passed into the hands of the whites either by gift or purchase. L. G. Roebuck was given a tract of land by Godfrey on account of his being a namesake. The remainder of the Godfrey grant was purchased by William B. Hedges, one of the earliest permanent settlers of this section, who at a very early period clerked for a French trader named Anthony Madore, who had established a trading post at Shane's Crossing, which was the first store of any kind in the township. When the first settlers came, they found Anthony Shane on his reservation, occupying a double log house on the north side of the river, a short distance from the present site of Rockford. Louis Godfrey lived at this time on the north bank of the St. Mary's River in the Indian village Old-town, located about a mile and a half up the river from Shane's Crossing. Other Indians, also, at this time occupied lodges upon the reservations in the township.

The first white settlement was made in 1819 immediately after the cession of lands by the Indians under the treaty of St. Marys. Among the first settlers who came in during the years of 1819 and 1820 were: William B. and John- P. Hedges, John, Ruel and Benjamin Roebuck, Dr. Lilley, Samuel Lilley, Jonathan Antonides, Anson Goddard and sons, Michael Harner, Samuel Harrison, William and Jacob Baker, John Van Gundy, John Sutton, John Chivington, Henry Bevington, Peter Edsall, Calvin Denison, Joseph Greer and Samuel and Isaiah Duncan. They found, upon their arrival, Madore, the French trader, trading with the Indians and ready to trade with the settlers. William B. Hedges became a clerk in this trading post, for which the goods were obtained at Piqua, being transported by wagon to St. Marys and thence by water to their destination. Madore was succeeded by Mr. Hedges and he by John T. Greaves, whose daughter he later married. John P. Hedges married the daughter of an Indian chief and settled at Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In the years 1821 and 1822 David Hays, Joseph Henkle, Timothy Green and Col. A. R. Hunter moved here and settled on or near Shane's Prairie, a level tract of land about six miles in extent east and west and four miles north and south, along the St. Mary's River, within the present limits of Dublin township. Isaac Coil, John and Jesse McChristy, John K. Evans, Eli Compton and son Elihu, Philip S. Hitchner, and Messrs. Brewster, Trellis and Updyke were among the first to enter land on Shane's Prairie. William Frysinger, who was born in Virginia in 1798, settled in Dublin township in 1827 with his wife and six children. He was the second man to settle north of the river. Joseph Baltzell took up his residence in the township in 1828. Robert Wiley came here in 1835 an<l lived here until his death in 1862; he was twice elected sheriff. Other early settlers of the township, were: William Clark and his son, Smith H. Clark; David Work, John Lilley, Joel Wood, John W. Stoker, William Bonafield (who afterward moved to Center township and founded Neptune), Resin P. Webb (who later became a resident of Union township), Samuel Schlater, C. B. Whitley, John H. Dysert, Jeremiah Shingledecker, John Shellabarger, Peter Dull, G. C. Koeppel and the Schumms and the Putmans. The Sidenbender family came in at an early day and grew up with the township. The Smith family, now prominently represented at Rockford in the persons of Cornelius and H. Iv. Smith, has long been established in Dublin township. The Van Tilburg and Robinson families are also connected with the early history of the township. Of the first settlers it may be said that for the most part they came from Ross, Warren and Athens counties, Ohio, and from Kentucky. Many of them were, however, natives of New York and other Eastern States.

It is thought that the first marriage of residents of Dublin township was that of James Duncan and Sarah Roebuck, who walked all the way to Wapakoneta to be married by the missionary of the Society of Friends, Isaac Harvey, as there were no ministers in the township. The journey home was also made on foot. The first term of court held in the county was convened at Shanesville (Rockford) by Judge Nathaniel Low. The first flour mill erected on the St. Mary's River, within the bounds of Dublin township, was built by John Rhodes. John W. Stoker was one of the early mail carriers between Piqua and Fort Wayne, and often made the journey on foot, carrying the mail on his back.

Dublin township has two Methodist Episcopal churches, namely: Rockford and Mercer, both of which belong to the same charge, which has been served by the following pastors since 1879, namely: Revs. W. R. Shults,

James F. Mounts, M. M. Markwith, C. B. Hickernell, William Dunlap, Jesse Carr, William Hook, J. D. Simons, Jefferson Williams, M. M. Markwith, G. H. Priddy and W. W. Curl, pastor since 1903, who resides in the parsonage totals 319. There are 300 scholars and 40 officers and teachers in the two Sunday-schools, with an average attendance of 250. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Rockford was organized many years ago. The church has a splendid brick structure. The church at Mercer was built not a great many years ago and is a very nice, modern, brick building, whose erection was mainly due to that eminent Christian man, Jacob Counterman, who was a stanch supporter of Methodism.

The Presbyterian Church at Rockford was organized March 3, 1856, with nine charter members, by Rev. Thomas Elcock, one of the pioneer home missionaries of the Presbyterian Church in Northwestern Ohio. The congregation worshiped in the Methodist Church for many years until the fall of 1877, when a brick church building was erected at a cost of $3,000, being dedicated in the spring of 1878. In July, 1905, this building underwent a complete remodeling at a cost of $5,000. As a result of this, the congregation now worship in a modem church home and enjoy all comforts and conveniences requisite for most advanced church work. As the property now stands it is worth at least $8,000. The church has a present membership of 160, with a Sabbath-school enrollment of 130. The following have served as pastors of the church: Revs. Thomas Elcock, 1856-82; J. M. Anderson,

The String-town United Brethren Church was organized in August, 1841. at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Eichar, 12 members constituting the original class. Thomas Shell was the first leader. Rev. Abraham Shingledecker was the first pastor. A log building was erected for church purposes about 1850. This was succeeded by a more pretentious and comfortable church edifice, built at a cost of $1,600 in 1869.

Otterbein United Brethren Church, belonging to the branch called "Radical," has a membership of 80 and an average Sunday-school attendance of 50. The brick church building owned by this class was erected at a cost of $2,000 subsequent to 1892. Rev. J. L. Culbertson is pastor of this church, as well as of the Union United Brethren Church in Hopewell township. Mr. Culbertson was preceded by Revs. James Sherer, A. J. Stemen, Thomas Harvey and C. S. Johnson.

The United Brethren Church at Rockford was organized December 1, 1896, by Rev. Thomas Coats with 30 members. The church has grown and prospered and at the present time has a membership of 90, while the Sundayschool has 95 members. The church building, erected a few years ago, is a modern structure, built of veneered brick at a cost of $4,000. The following have served as pastors for this church : Revs. Thomas Coats, one year ; J.

F. Miller, one year; E. M. Burrows, three years; Charles Alexander, one year; J. P. Hight, two years; and E. G. Stover, the present pastor, who has been in charge for the past two years.

The Mercer Baptist Church was first organized in 1845, but later became extinct. During this period the church was served by Revs. J. G. Van Valkenburg, Henry Gordon and J. Jackson. The present organization was effected in 1875, in which year a meeting-house was built. The church has a present membership of 68. The church property is worth about $2,000. The following pastors have served the church from the reorganization to the present time: Revs. G. C. Graham, W. H. Gallant, J. H. Manning, H. F. Perry, B. F. Tucker, V. D. Willard, G. B. Jackson, J. F. Smith, A. W. Yale, J. F. C. Sherich and J. C. Kazee, the present pastor.

The Friends' Church at Rockford was organized in 1906, being the result of a tent meeting held at Rockford in July by Rev. A. J. Furstenberger and others. The frame church building erected at a cost of about $1,500, was dedicated on Sunday, December 16, 1906, Rev. Allen Jay, of Richmond, Indiana, preaching the dedication sermon. The society has a present membership of about 70, and an average Sunday-school attendance of about 60. Rev. A. J. Furstenberger is pastor.

The schools are the outgrowth of the old subscription system, which was the only one at command in the early days. It was not so complete, not so rounded, nor so intellectual as the system of to-day; yet if force did predominate in rude huts., we know it was because it was impossible for culture to predominate in costly buildings. So down the years the schools have moved along from subscription to State patronage, until to-day they are the creatures and care of the State. Joseph Green taught the first term of school in District No. 2, and was paid by subscription. Lovinski Circassian Ninham, an Indian, who was educated by Abraham Shingledecker, Sr., for the ministry, taught a school northeast of Shane's Crossing. District No. 1 became Rockford Village District and District No. 2 became Mercer Special District.

At the first election held in Rockford Village District, April 6, 1874, the following were elected as the first Board of Education : C. B. Whitley, Cornelius Smith, D. IT. Robinson, Henry Van Tilburg, P. F. Robinson and J. P. Dysert. The present Board of Education is constituted as follows : William Ivetcham, William Erysinger, C. S. Behymer, J. V. Sidenbender and Lewis Eckhart. The village has a two-story, eight-room, brick school building, which was erected in 1886. The building and grounds are valued at

$18,000. Eight teachers are employed. J. H. Barnett has been superintendent of the schools for the past three years. S. Cotterman, the principal of the High School, which ranks as second-grade and has 75 pupils, has been a teacher in the Rockford schools for many years.

The Mercer Special District was organized in August, 1880. At a special election held that month, the following Board of Education was elected : J. S. Keith, Abel Harden, Jackson Harris, Jacob Counterman and O. P. Phares. Alva J. Spacht is superintendent of the Mercer schools. Three teachers are employed. The High School, which ranks as third-grade, has 10 pupils. The public school building is a two-story, three-room, structure erected some years ago.

This town, the second in the county in the point of population, is not only the oldest settlement in the county but also one of the oldest in Northwestern Ohio. As a laid out town, duly platted and recorded, it is older than any of the surrounding county seats. Lima, Van Wert, Sidney, Kenton, Findlay and Ottawa - all seats of justice in their respective counties - are of more recent origin. Willshire in Van Wert County and this town were the first ones located and occupied in this part of the State after the founding of Piqua. The distinction of being the seat of justice of Mercer County once belonged to it. Shanesville (as Rockford was originally known), St. Marys and Coiltown were early contestants for this honor and when the prize subsequently passed from Shanesville to St. Marys, the former still lived, while Coiltown passed from sight and became a cultivated field.

Rockford is situated on the south bank of the St. Mary's River, a little west and north of the center of Dublin township. The old Indian village, Old-town, was located about a mile and a half further up the river. The town was settled as early as 1819 but prior to this date a trading post had been established here by Anthony Madore, a French trader, at a period too early to be discovered from the records. The memory of the Indians - Anthony Shane, the Crescent, Labadie, Charlie and the Godfreys - cluster about the town. Here too may be found the recorded statement of the ice blockade, which hemmed in the pirogues which were making a desperate effort to transport provisions from the old base of supplies at Fort Barbee to the suffering army of General Winchester.

The town of Shanesville was laid out by Anthony Shane on land on the St. Mary's River granted him by the United States government and was platted and surveyed in June, 1820, and the plat acknowledged before John Beers, a justice of the peace of Darke County, on June 23rd. Shane, who was a half-breed Indian, made something of an improvement here and re- mained until 1832, when as government agent he accompanied the Shawnees in their removal from Ohio to Kansas. The name Shanesville was applied to the town from its foundation up to its incorporation, although the postoffice name was Shane's Crossing from the first. At the incorporation of the town in 1866, the name was changed to Shane's Crossing instead of Shanesville, in order to correspond with the postoffice name. The name was both significant and appropriate, as Shane's Crossing was the old home of Anthony Shane and the place where the army of General Wayne crossed the river. Shane's Crossing continued to be the name of the village until the name was changed by decree of court to Rockford, November 10, 1890. From the first, the growth of the town was slow and marked by no particular or fictitious increase of population. In the past quarter of a century, however, the town has made a very satisfactory growth in population and general resources. In 1880 the population was 404; 10 years later it had increased to 993; and at the last census, in 1900, the population was 1,207.

The pioneer store, as has been indicated, was the one originally conducted by Anthony Shane and later by Anthony Madore, the French trader, who was engaged in trading with the Indians when the first settlers arrived. William P>. Hedges became a clerk in this store and later succeeded Madore. John T. Greaves next entered the business but only continued for a few years. David Work, one of the earliest settlers of the township', opened a tannery on his arrival and afterwards did a large business. William Baker was the pioneer blacksmith. Drs. Tipple and Budd were the earliest physicians of the town. After John T. Greaves, Dr. John H. Barks engag'ed in the mercantile business ; he introduced dry goods in connection with the usual supplies, for which the principal exchange or currency was skins and furs. Some years after his arrival in the county in 1831, C. B. Whitley took up blacksmithing at Shanesville. Among the residents of the town in 1838 the following can be recalled: William B. Hedges, a landholder and justice of the peace ; Basil Lint, a tavern-keeper ; Robert Gordon, a storekeeper ; David Work, a tanner; J. D. Ralston, a shoemaker; Samuel Drayer, a wheelwright; C. B. Whitley and Abraham Meller, blacksmiths; and Solomon Barks, a farmer. George F. Borchers, a native of Hanover, Germany, settled in the town in 1849, and opened a clothing store and tailor shop, which he conducted until 1861, when he retired from business. He was appointed postmaster of Shane's Crossing in 1853 and filled the office for 18 years. He also served as justice of the peace and as mayor many years. As early as 1854 or 1855, Jacob S. Collins and Henry Van Tilburg opened a store. Collins died about a year later and Abel Gondy entered into partnership with Van Tilburg. The firm was changed to H. F. Holbrook & Company a few years later and again, in 1869, to H. Van Tilburg & D. H. Robinson, which continued until Van Tilburg moved upon his farm adjoining the town. After continuing in business alone for some time, Mr. Robinson sold it and engaged in the banking business, in which he has continued to the present time.

The village of Shane's Crossing was incorporated on June 12, 1866. At the first election held in the incorporated village on the 24th day of September, 1866, 44 votes were cast and the following officers were elected: Mayor, P. F. Robinson; clerk, C. W. Alexander; treasurer, H. C. McGavren; marshal, H. F. Holbrook; councilmen - Henry Van Tilburg, Davis Guy, Lewis Funalnran, C. R. Bientz and Joshua Van Fleet. The present officers of Rockford, whose terms will expire in 1908, are as follows: Mayor, Cornelius Smith; clerk, F. W. Miller; treasurer, William Ketcham ; marshal, George Kimbel; councilmen - John Hoffman, George Frisinger, Jacob Ehret, Charles Blossom, James Dull and Perry Cisco. E. E. Jackson is village solicitor and U. Grant Coats is postmaster; Coats was first appointed in 1897 by President McKinley and has served ever since, having been reappointed by President McKinley and by President Roosevelt. The village has a town hall, which was built quite a while ago.

The brick flouring mill owned by the Rockford Milling Company has been operated ever since it was erected in 1880. It has a capacity of 80 barrels of flour per day. The special brand manufactured is "Baker's Pride." Some eight or nine years ago the proprietors put in a small electric light plant for their own use, which was the first plant of this nature installed in Mercer County. When the mill was erected, the company owning it was entitled T. J. Dull & Company. About 20 years ago this firm was succeeded by the Dull Milling Company, which was owned by four brothers, namely: T. J., J. M.,

F. P. and J. B. Dull. In 1893 the name of the firm was changed to the Rockford Milling Company. In May, 1896, the interests of T. J., F. P. and J. B. Dull were acquired by three sons of J. M. Dull - Arthur P., Maurice L. and Edgar M. - who with their father now own and operate the plant. They also have a grain elevator and do a great deal of shipping of grain and at Celina they carry on a branch business. Behymer Brothers also operate a grain elevator at Rockford. Included among the manufacturing plants of the village are the tile-mill and brickyard owned by William Ketcham and others, the hoop factory owned by A. J. Hawk and the plant for the manufacture of lumber planing machines, owned by Lewis Brothers. J. E. Dellinger and John Graham conduct blacksmithing establishments.

Rockford has three dry goods stores, owned respectively by L. A. Burgess, R. J. Wagers and H. Klein; two millinery stores, conducted by Mrs. H. K. Smith and Miss Pifer; two drug-stores, conducted respectively by Mr. Mallory and Mrs. Vance; the jewelry store of Frank Wisterman; the boot and shoe store of Joseph Burgess; the clothing and gents' furnishing estab- lishments of W. F. Pixler and Burgess and Burgess & Company; the grocery and notion stores of Taylor King, J. W. Dysert, Mr. Tickle and August Burgess, the last named also selling clothing; the undertaking and furniture establishment of William Keteham and the agricultural implement depots of Coppersmith & Smalley and J. F. Barks. The latter also handles buggies, as does J. E. Loyd. Rockford has two hotels - the Burnett, owned by Al. Davis; and the Putman, owned by Luther Collins; there are two livery barns, whose respective proprietors are Frank Miller and Dysert Brothers.

The Farmers & Savings Bank Company, of Rockford, was incorporated under the State banking laws on August i, 1904, being the result of a merger of the Farmers' Banking Company, of Rockford, of which D. IT. Robinson was president and Frank E. Robinson, cashier, and the Rockford Savings Bank, of which Cornelius Smith was president and J. S. Riley, cashier. The officers and directors of the present company elected upon its organization have since continued in office and are as follows : D. H. Robinson, president ; Cornelius Smith, vice-president; J. S. Riley, cashier; J. C. Van Fleet, assistant cashier; and D. H. Robinson, Cornelius Smith, J. S. Riley, C. S. Behymer and Frank E. Robinson, directors. The bank has a capital stock of $50,000 with undivided profits of $18,015.70. According to the last report of the bank's condition, the deposits were $191,802.43, while the loans and discounts aggregated $198,761.81. The bank owns the building in which it carries on its business.

The Rockford Free Press, a weekly newspaper, independent in politics, of which D. C. Kinder is publisher and proprietor, was established in 1883.

Rockford has four churches - Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, United Brethren and Friends'; a modern, brick, school building; two attorneys - -

E. E. Jackson and A. E. Stewart; six physicians - Drs. W. W. Beauchamp, W. C. Zellers, A. C. Vaughn, Downing, Symons and Hughes; and two dentists - Drs. Randolph and Smith.

377.' Free & Accepted Masons; Chapter, No. 152, Order of the Eastern Star; Shane Lodge, No. 297, Knights of Pythias; Rockford Lodge, No. 790, and a Rebekah lodge. Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Home No. 31, Home Guards of America; Dolph Graves Post, No. 429, Grand Army of the Republic; and a tent of the Improved Order of Red Men. - Shane's Lodge, No. 377,

Fleet, John Ralston, J. F. Tomlinson, Henry Clay, William Clay, P. P. Me- Kaig and Joseph Palmer, all of whom are now deceased except Henry Clay. The records of the first stated meeting, held January 5, 1867, show the following officers: Smith H. Clark, W. M. ; William Clay, S. W. ; Joshua Van

Fleet, J. W. ; Joshua Palmer, treasurer ; C. E. Alexander, secretary pro tem; H. C. McGavren, S. D. ; and Henry Clay, J. D. The present officers are: J. E. Alspaw, W. M. ; W. J. Mygrantz, S. W. ; Cale Frisinger, J. W. ; James Lloyd, treasurer; and E. E. Jackson, secretary. The lodge has a present membership of 34. - Chapter No. 152, O. E. S., at Rockford was instituted in 1901. A charter was granted this chapter by the Grand Chapter of Ohio at its 13th session, held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Cincinnati, in October, 1902. The following were the charter members, 21 in number: J. E. Alspaw, Mrs. Flora C. Alspaw, J. L. Borchers, Mrs. Florence N. Borchers, Mrs. Nettie Fishbaugh, G. W. Dysert, Mrs. Celia Dysert, Mrs. Carrie V. Kirby, Miss Ella F. Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, Mrs. Martha Borchers, Mrs. Viola Pixler, Mrs. Hattie Beauchamp, E. E. Jackson, Mrs. Minnie A. Jackson, Mrs. Amanda Dellinger, Mrs. Harriet Wisterman, Mrs. Eliza A. Ward, Mrs. Flora Downing, Fred Voltz and Mrs. Clara Voltz. Mrs. Florence N. Borchers was the first worthy matron; J. E. Alspaw, the first worthy patron; and Mrs. Hattie Beauchamp, the first secretary. The membership in 1905 was 25. - Rockford Lodge, No. 790, I. CL O. F., was instituted October 22, 1890, by J. L. McKinney, special deputy grand master, a charter having been granted May 23, 1890, to the following charter members: G. R. Hagerman, Thomas McLaughlin, J. E. Courtright, W. W. Baugher, J. F. Smith, J. H. Fahnestock, A. M. Truby, J. E. Charles, L. G. McDonald, Charles Vance, W. M. H. Hosley, W. M. N. Young, A. F. Shore, John Latimer and C. B. Thompson. At the present time, Charles E. Young is noble grand and W. M. High, vice grand. The lodge has 78 members. - The charter for a Rebekah lodge was granted May 21, 1896, to the following: E. LI. Harris, J.

E. Gilliland, J. W. Davidson, H. Klein, T. N. Hunt, C. C. Slouffer, U. Grant Coats, G. H. Dysert, W. M. H. Hosley, Sherman Yoeman, A. M. Truby, J. P. Dysert, W. W. Beauchamp, M. E. Gilliland, Josie Davidson, Maggie Hunt, Ellie Dysert, Mollie Beinz, Hattie Beauchamp, Lou Dysert, Cora Yoeman and Mary Truby. The lodge was instituted August 17, 1896, by Grand Master John C. Whitaker. The lodge has a present membership of 25. - Shane Lodge, No. 297, K. of P., was organized May 8, 1898. The first officers were : J. J. McLaughlin, C. C. ; W. F. Penn, V. C. ; and Leroy Pence, K. of R. & S. - Home No. 31, H. G. of A., was instituted February 2, 1900, with the following charter members : J. F. Smith, Lauren Loro, E. P. Revington, J. S. Shock, S. F. Pifer, C. H. Ling, Mrs. C. H. Ling, Mrs. Fannie Chivington, Hattie Clay, Mrs. Clarissa A. Tennery, R. D. Stover, T. C. Morrow, F. E. DeLong, Id. J. Cordier, Mrs. C. C. Weist, George Pond, T. R. Chivington, John McKaig, Herman Shinaberry and S. A. Clay. Tbe first officers were the following : J. F. Smith, counselor ; C. H. Ling, vice-counselor; Herman Shinaberry, past counselor; Mrs. Clarissa A. Tennery, secre- counselor; William Bartling, vice-counselor; Walter Longsworth, past counselor; and Mrs. William Bartling, chaplain. The home has a membership of 120. - Dolph Graves Post, No. 429, G. A. R., was organized in 1895. The charter members of this post, who were largely members of the 71st Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., were as follows: J. W. Smith, L. L. Dysert, Joel

Whitley, Lewis Funalman, D. H. Robinson and W. W. Shaffer. The post has a present membership of 25. - A tent of the Improved Order of Red Men was organized at Rockford in 1899 or 1900 with 22 charter members. The present officers are as follows: J. E. Gilliland, prophet; Charles Knight, sachem; Lewis Cook, senior sagamore; Lauren Loro, junior sagamore; Frank Robinson, chief of records; Willis Tester, collector of wampum; and Clarence Shaffer, keeper of wampum.

Mercer

Is located in the southeastern part of Dublin township on a branch of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway. It was laid out for Bernard Brewster, August 30, 1833, and contained 30 lots. It has never been incorporated. It is surrounded by a good farming community and is one of the oldest towns in the northern part of the county. J. W. Shively and Mrs. Alice Daugherty are proprietors of general stores and Shell. Llarden conducts a blacksmith shop. J. F. Disher conducts a grain elevator and Roetger & Fast operate a sawmill and tile-mill. Will Thompson is postmaster. The only physician is Dr. William Nuding. Mercer has two churches - the Methodist Episcopal, built of brick, and the Baptist, a frame structure; and a frame public school building of three rooms.

This township, which is the northwestern township of the county, was organized April 12, 1834, and the first election was held on April 28th at the house of Chauncey Ivnowlton. It is six miles square and is divided into sections of one mile square, except in the northeastern corner of the township where there are two small reservations, known as the Charlie and Labadie reservations. It is bounded on the north by Van Wert County, on the east by Dublin township, on the south by Liberty township and on the west by Adams County, Indiana. It is quite level except in the extreme northern part, where it is slightly undulating, but as a whole it is sufficiently rolling for ample drainage. In the western part is a small flat called Duck Creek

Prairie, which is quite low and level and has a rich alluvial soil. The township is crossed by two small streams - Big Black Creek and Little Black Creek - which flow northward and empty into the St. Mary's River at Willshire, Van Wert County. The soil varies but is principally a clay loam and above the average in productiveness. Black Creek township has long since been looked upon as one of the richest in Mercer County, the land bringing the highest price of any in the county. Crops of all kinds are grown in abundance and good markets at no great distance, at Willshire, Van Wert County, and Rockford, Mercer County, are reached over well-improved roads. The township is well provided with good schoolhouses and well-built and well-kept churches. No villages are found within its borders.

The present officials of Black Creek township are the following: Trustees - O. O. Stover, W. Kuhn and A. J. Bargahiser; clerk, John Andress; treasurer, D. T. Ruffner; justices of the peace - J. E. Piper and A. J. Dellinger. The population of the township in 1880 was 1,441; in 1890, 1,557; and in 1900, 1,438.

The township was not settled as early as was Dublin township, the heavy forest growth and wet. condition of the land retarding its settlement. Land was first taken up along the Fort Wayne road. It is thought that William Harris and a man by the name of Shaw were the first, as they were here prior to 1830. The following list comprises such settlers as established

Shaw, John Street, Charles Henderson, Jacob Harper, Joseph Harper, Jacob Stetler, Ebenezer Goddard, James Heath, Henry Hoaglin, John Rutan, Benjamin Manly, Sivey, Jesse King and Silas Jordan. In the three succeeding years came Joseph Mapes, Chauncey Knowlton and the Gauzes, Downs, Sprys, Countermans and Kennedys. Other early settlers were : David Wright, J. C. Whitney, A. P. Nott, A. Guthrie, E. J. Detmer, A. Slinks, Jacob Tickle, Jacob Bollenbaugh, Martin Winkler, Daniel D. Cross, B. Hobblet, Henry Van Tilburg, Moses Stover, John Addy, John Andrew Leistner, Levi Shock, Thomas R. Miller, Frederick Becher and the Lorees, Rutledges and Robinsons.

The first log cabin in the township was built by William Harper, while the first frame house was erected by Jesse King. The first marriage was that of Jacob Harper and Kalinda Watkins, in 1831, and the first birth was that of Alexander Harper, son of Jacob Harper, born in 1833. The first schoolhouse was built about 1840.

Black Creek township has two Methodist Episcopal churches - Duck Creek Church and Fountain Chapel. Both churches are served by the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Willshire, Van Wert County. The Duck Creek Church was the first religious society formed in the township, being organized about 1856 by Rev. Joshua Smith at the Duck Creek schoolhouse. A frame church building was erected in 1868. Among the first members were: A. M. Counterman and wife, Alonzo Cross and wife, George