Fulton Township (part 12 of 34)

"Next in line is the G. A. R., instituted soon after the war. No. 108 in the roster, old but tried and true. The charter membership consists now of just three of the original boys, C. L. Allen, G. W. Heckman, and H. B. Donaldson. Death removes our comrades, and we may not recruit from non-soldiers. The total membership is now twenty-two, and they are, as a rule, white-haired, and wear a cane. The W. R. C. are their right hand supporters, and having the advantage of recruiting from the ranks of all loyal women, old and young, they are the backbone of the G. A. R.

"The Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen, the Maccabees, the Eagles, are grand and helpful institutions, having flourishing lodges in Fayette, and add their influence to the pleasures of living in a live, up-to-date town.

"In conclusion, it may be well to say that there are among the old timers still living, a feeling of reverence for the Old Tavern. You live over again the years of change that have intervened, and in your mind you conjure up the structure as a marvel of architecture; a something that seemed a revelation of the 'good times coming.' And so it was, for it is safe to say that the 'Old Tavern' was, in the hearts of the people of Fayette and vicinity, a 'joy forever.'- They date its advent, in their book of memories, as the opening day for Fayette supremacy; and is it not a fact that now, fifty years after, Fayette adopts, as her slogan, the proud ensign: 'Best Yet-Fayette.' And so make it be."

Regarding early times in Fayette, Captain Allen recently added to his reminiscent writings. He said that Frank Ford "who was more of a hunter than a chopper, used to keep the community well supplied with ' venison, turkey, and other game, which at that time was plentiful." Regarding the hotel, he said that "people came from far and near, to trip the light fantastic, and sample Uncle Bill's wet goods; sometime there would be from 150 to 200 couples; and upon such occasions 'straight goods' would be dealt out until 1 o'clock, but that from that time forward the well furnished a large portion of the wet, so that very few arrived at their homes showing indications of over-indulgence." But, he adds, "the country was new, the whisky pure, and the imbibers strong and poison-proof'." He says that "the early merchants of Fayette were Caldwell and Thompson, who succeeded Boyd, Wightman, Jared Parker and Son, and Allen Bros., all of whom kept what is known as 'General Stores' - that is, they kept everything from cambric needles to plows, drags and cultivators, with a fine line of dry goods, notions, clothing and boots, drugs and medicines included."

Captain Allen lists the volunteers who went into military service from among the residents of Gorham Township and Fayette, his list being as follows: B. F. Mattern, J. L. Brink, G. W. Hickman, Henry Donaldson, J. P. Mattern, Martin Ivuney, Hiram Tator, William Westfall, Ansel B. Ford, Austin F. Fdrd, Jos. G. Rice, Lorenzo Gamber,

Fayette has always been whole-heartely patriotic. During the Spanish-American war, it had its representatives in service, and during the recent world war its young men went forth in numbers that compare with those of the 'sixties. And those at home supported the boys in service and the nation at war with a full one-hundred-per-cent patriotism. Gorham Township was the first to go "over the top" in the war chest drive; and Fayette was the first of Fulton county towns to win an honor flag in at least two of the campaigns for the subscribing of the Liberty loans - in the fourth and fifth. And Fayette showed its true feeling on the night of April 13, 1918, when noteworthy incidents attended its Honor Flag raising. It is said that "thousands attended the celebrations," and on that night "all the German textbooks were gathered from the public schools and burned on the public square" to signify that "henceforth America must be for Americans." According to Verity, Fayette was known by that name as early as 1852, although Captain Allen, writing of Fayette of some years later, refers to it as Gorham Center. Mikesell writing in 1916 stated that the first postoffice - that located in the home of Erastus Cottrell, near Fayette, was named Forham, although Verity writes of it as Gorham Post-Office, stating that its name was changed to Fayette, when it was removed to that place. Fayette was incorporated in 1872. July 4th of that year was a memorable day for Fayette, for it was on that day that the Chicago and Canada Southern Railway Company completed the construction of its line to Fayette, and ran the first train over it. The Toledo and Western electric system also passes through Fayette, and within a mile and a half, north, of the village is North Fayette Station, and the Wabash system; consequently, in railroad facilities, Fayette is fairly-well served. In 1887, its business' establishments included the general stores of A. P. Grisier, Howard and Company, Huffman and Company; groceries of John F. Shaw, F. Vernier; clothing stores of L. A. Purcell and Acker and Sons ; drug stores of Rorick and Cawley and Andrew L. Kendall; hardware store, Perry and Allen's; one bank, the Bank of Fayette; the flour and saw mills; three blacksmithing and wagon-making shops; a good newspaper; a higher grade school, and several churches, and many fine residences made Fayette a well-balanced self-contained community center.

The Fayette "Review," summarizing the town in 19(18, stated that it then had "three churches, a superior public school, an opera house, three banks, two hotels, a flouring mill, two saw mills, stave mill, canning factory, creamery, elevator, handle factory, planing mill, lumber yard, telephone system, a good bank, two good orchestras and a strong and well edited newspaper." There are now only two banks reference to which has been made in an earlier chapter, but, substantially, Fayette is the same as in 1908. It is a pretty village, and an ideal home center.

There are many strong fraternal organizations in Fayette. The Gorham Lodge, No. 381, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized on March 5, 1867, with eighteen charter members. The first worshipful master was William Sutton; the present is C. W. Westmore. Its present strength is ninety-two members. The Fayette Chapter, No. 77, Order of Eastern Stax, was organized on October 13, 1897, with Stella Amsburgh, worthy matron. It now has ninety members, with Mary Gunsaulus as chief officer. The Fayette Lodge, No. 431, of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, was organized on May 14, 1869, with fifty-eight members, the first Noble Grand being G. D. Snow. It has ninety-five members, Chair Ford being Noble Grand. The sister organization of Oddfellows, Rebecca, No. 322, was organized on May - 22, 1891, with fifty-two members, J. Keller being the supreme of the first officers. The Knights of Pythias order is represented in Fayette strongly, having ninety-four members, with N. M. Owens, chief officer. The lodge was formed on May 24. 1895, with forty-eight charter members. W. J. Connell led the first officers. The Pythian Sisters, of Fayette, has been established for thirteen years, the Charter being dated April 15, 1907. There were thirty-eight charter members. The local Woodman Lodge, No. 1035, is also strong. It was formed on January 17, 1902, with forty-nine members. M. Sebring is the present chief officer. The G. A. R. and the W. R. C. bodies are referred to elsewhere. The above lodge statistics were contributed by Captain C. L. Allen, who has ever been ready to undertake any work of public interest, or import, to the place of his adoption.

Former county historians have stated that the first organized school district in the township of Gorham was in the Cottrell settlement, in the year 1836. The first school may have been in that settlement; it probably was ; but family records of the Coffin and Cottrell families show that it was not until 1838 that the first sehoolhouse in that district was built. From these old records, a descendant some years ago wrote a historical article, which was published in the Fayette "Record." The article stated that "in the spring of 1838, the first sehoolhouse in the township was completed. It was built of hewn logs, and located on the northeast corner one mile east of Fayette, on Obadiah Coffin's farm, now the Landis Ford. The first teacher was Lucinda Rodgers, afterwards Mrs. Alanson Briggs, of Chesterfield. The teacher for next and several successive terms was Marie Lloyd, afterwards Mrs. Joseph Cottrell, who came here from her father's home, near Bryan, some forty miles through the woods, on horseback. Among the scholars were the children of Ephraim Sergeant, George Sayles, Aaron Price, and Elijah Snow." Incidental to those early school days, the record states "that after Erastus Cottrell was appointed postmaster of Gorham, or Forham, Post-office, in 1839, that office was situated a few rods south of the schoolhouse, on the farm now owned by Elbert Cottrell. The mail route extended from Defiance to Adrian, and the mail was brought every Thursday by a man on horseback (young John S. Butler of Chesterfield, a boy of thirteen, was the mail carrier over the route in 1838 and for many years thereafter) who blew a horn as he came near the post-office, greatly to the delight of the little people in the schoolhouse. There were no postage stamps in those days, and each and every one who received a letter must pay twenty-five cents postage upon it before he could get it from the office." The Cottrell Settlement schoolhouse was used for about fifteen years, for both school and church purposes, and was standing as late as 1862. It was, however, not used for church purposes after 1850, for in that year the Methodists built a frame structure "across the road from the corner opposite the schoolhouse", on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 20, town 9 south, range 1 east." It was the first church building in the township.

The first frame schoolhouse to be built in Gorham Township was erected by Renssalaer S. Humphrey in what was called the Snow Settlement, in 1842. Soon afterwards, another district was organized in the eastern part of the township, and a log house raised. In that school, in 1844-45, Oliver B. AYrity taught for fourteen dollars a month.

A log schoolhouse was built, in 1842, or earlier, in the southeastern corner of section 26, and was known as the Severance schoolhouse. It had no legal organization, and was supported by subscription. Elizabeth Freeman, who later married Waldron Severance, was the teacher of the summer school of 1842. In 1845, a frame schoolhouse was built on the northwestern corner of section 35. It was truly a "little red schoolhouse", being thus distinctively painted. Minerva Cottrell, daughter of Asa Cottrell, was the first teacher. Its location was later changed to the south side of section twenty-six.

"Fayette grew and prospered, and soon the villagers began to think it would be a good place to start a school, with better facilities for the education of the colony of youngsters, who were accumulating very rapidly. Our district school was overcrowded, and another building was erected. Air. E. P. Ewers came here, and with Air. John Ogden began the work of soliciting funds for the erection of a commodious building - with boarding-house attachments - to be known as the Fayette Normal, Music, and Business College. This enterprise continued for several years, with a fair degree of prosperity, when the management, for a reason never ascertained, transferred their interests to Wauseon. The Normal College building was vacated, and remained so for a few years. Finally, it was separated from its foundations and sold for junk. This roused the citizens of Fayette from their long sleep, and soon a fine building, now known as the Fayette High School, was erected. This, under the management of the Dodds Bros., was from its inception a success, and at this writing the school is sustaining its reputation of being among the very best of its class in the county."

The Normal College was first opened in 1881, and in 1888 was closed, and eventually demolished. Regarding this phase of Fayette school history, Thomas Mikesell wrote, in 1905:

"Appreciating the value of such an educational institution, the people of Fayette immediately set about securing another school of like nature; and, in September, 1888, the Fayette Normal University was opened to students. The school flourished exceedingly for a number of years but, finally, the citizens of Fayette became convinced that its presence in their midst militated against the complete success of their graded schools. Consequently, they withdrew the necessary support

Professor C. D. Perry, the present superintendent of schools of Fulton county, states that "the second Normal first opened in the old Normal Building, which for a few years after the construction of the brick schoolhouse was used as a commercial college." Whether the commercial college was a private and separate enterprise is not clear; it is known that all the departments of the Normal University were eventually, and without much delay, housed in the new building; and it therefore seems that the business college of that time had no connection with the commercial department of the University. J. E. Dodds was the first president of the Nornjal University. He was succeeded by P. C. Palmer; and for the last two sessions George Tripp was president. The university closed its doors in 1905, and a high school, maintained by public funds, took its place, and building. The first superintendent of the Fayette High School was Prof. C. D. Perry, who in 1915 was appointed county school superintendent. The present superintendent at Fayette is T. P. Charles.

In addition to the higher Fayette school, there are at present ten district rural schools in Gorham Township, the ten being valued at $14,300, with the requisite appurtenances of such establishments. The registers of the ten schools show that 215 scholars attended for the school year of 1919.

Probably the most prominent members of the Methodist Church Society in early Gorham belonged to the little settlement near Fayette. The Coffin family early sought a place for worship, and in the absence of other facilities permitted their log house to be used for devotional purposes, being sufficiently broad-minded to allow it to be used by settlers of the United Brethren sect, and also to participate in their services. However, the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Society in Gorham Township may be considered to have had its beginningin the work of the Rev. David Grey, an itinerant minister of a Lucas county circuit of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Soon after the building of the first log schoolliouse in the Cottrell Settlement, the Rev. David Grey was invited to visit the settlement. and hold religious services in the schoolliouse ; and, it appears that, in 1838, or 1839, lie came, and organized a Methodist society, which consisted, at first, of four members, namely, Freeman and Hannah Coffin, and Shubael and Ann Worden. "This was the beginning of the church organization now located at Fayette," stated a family record. Miss Ellen Coffin published "Reminiscences," in the Favette "Review," of August 26, 1909, issue and, regarding Methodist Church history, stated: "In the winter of 1850, probably in December, our new church at Gorham, now Fayette, was ready for dedication. It was dedicated by the Rev. J. V. Watson." That, obviously, was the building referred to in the Coffin family records, which read: "The first (church) building in the township was a plain white frame building, across the road from the corner, opposite the schoolhouse, and was erected by the Methodists in the year 1850." And, undoubtedly, it was the one of which Verity wrote in 1888, when compiling Gorham Township history. He stated: "In 1853 was built the first church of the township, and dedicated by the Methodist Episcopal denomination; it was originally located in the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 20, town 9 south, range 1 east, at what has been called 'Cottrell's Corners,' and stood there for a number of years, when the center of the Methodist population shifted to Fayette, to which place the church was removed. The building was destroyed by fire in 1859, or 1860, and a substantial brick structure was erected in the place of the old one." George W. Griffin, of Fayette, who has been a prominent church worker, identified with the Methodist body, for many years, states that it was in 1880 that the frame church building was destroyed. The brick building was demolished in 1905, and the beautiful new structure now standing on same site was erected, and dedicated by Bishop Moore. The Fayette M. E. Church Society is a strong one, drawing its members from a wide area. The present pastor is Rev. Sheridan T. Walker. The Sunday school is particularly active, under superintendents W. A. Britsch and Harry Baldwin.

The United Brethren Church Society dates back to the beginning of settlement in Gorham; in fact, that church was in all probability the first to hold devotional services, other than family, in the township. The Coffin records state: "Soon after the early settlers arrived (in 1835) religious services were instituted, and the first sermon was preached in Freeman Coffin's house, by Mr. Lillibridge, of the United Brethren Church, from the text: 'I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.' " Mr. Coffin, however, as has been previously noted, was not a member of the U. B. Church.

The U. B. Society is active throughout the township ; and at present the Rev. C. L. Snyder has two charges, i. e., the Fayette church and the Fountain church. There are' strong Sunday schools at each place, Elmer Lester being superintendent of the former and G. M. Ziegler of the latter. Then there is the United Brethren Church at Munson, the present pastor of which is Rev. H. Stimmel. Mr. Ben Allion has, for many years, been one of the most earnest workers for the U. B. Church at Fayette.

There was at one time a local society of the Christian Union denomination, and Verity states that that organization was the next, after the Methodists, to erect a church edifice, in Fayette, building near the schoolliouse building, on Gorham Street, in about 1874.

The Church of Christ, at Fayette, is a strong organization, -and owns a beautifully decorated church building. According to Frank Gray (of the firm of Gray and Gray, implement dealers and express agents at Fayette) the church society was organized in about 1880. Mr. Gray has been a member of the church for a longer period than any member now living, but he was not one of the pioneer members. The organizers of the local body were, he says, Mervin Burns, E. P. Ewers, Talcott Bates, and Euclid Hubbard, who were the first elders. At the outset the society met for devotional services in the chapel of the old Normal Building. About a year later they acquired the church building which had been erected in 1874, on Gorham Street, by the Christian Union. The first pastor was Mr. Atwater, and there were probably about fifty charter members. In 1886, states Verity (in 1882, states Mr. Gray), "the denomination of Disciples, or Church of need of a place of worship, erected a fine brick edifice on Cemetery Street." It was dedicated by the Rev. L. L. Carpenter, and was used until 1898, when it was burned to the ground, a very serious loss to the Fayette society, it having cost $10,000, and the insurance only making good the material loss to the extent of $3,300. However, a supreme effort was soon afterwards made to raise the necessary funds for the building of another church, adequate for their purposes, and in that work the strength of the society soon became evident, as did also the broadmindedness of the people of Fayette in general, for people of all denominations subscribed to the building fund, a Presbyterian minister even contributing a substantial amount, so that when the beautiful new church building was ready for dedication, it was possible to announce that the church was even then clear of debt, notwithstanding that its construction had entailed an outlay of more than $14,000. The dedicatory services were under the direction of Minor Lee Bates, then president of Hiram College. The church is spacious, having seating capacity for five hundred people, and it is exquisitely decorated. Since the year of its building the Church of Christ Society at Fayette has grown somewhat, the present membership numbering about 140 people. The Rev. Edwin Coller has been pastor for three years, but has recently resigned.

The first cemetery in the township was in the Snow Settlement District. Its exact location, in 1848, when it was first used, was on the northeast corner of section 17, town 9 south, range 1 east. Some years later, a cemetery was laid out on the land of the Coffin family. And, probably, in the late '50s or in the '60s, a cemetery was laid out in Fayette itself, and is still the principal cemetery of the township.

The population of Gorham Township, as recorded by the Federal Census-takers, can be given for the five decades from 1870. Prior to that, the records are not available. In 1870 the population was 1055 (including that of Fayette) ; in 18.80, 2029; in 1890, 2144; in 1900, 2218; in 1910, 2174; and in 1920, 2070. The population of Fulton county is slowly increasing, but many of the purely agricultural sections have begun a retrograde movement, attributable, probably, to the modern "drift" of young people to the cities and industrial centers. Fayette of course cannot, properly, be classed as an industrial center, and it has a lesser population today than it had thirty year's ago. In 1887, Verity estimated the population of Fayette to be about one thousands persons; in 1920, its population, according to the preliminary announcement of population made by the Bureau of Census, is 936. Statistics can be given for four periods, the population of Fayette in 1890 being, by official figures, 890; in 1900, 886; in 1910, 915 ; in 1920, 936.

However, if Fayette is not a thriving industrial center, it undoubtedly has charm as a home center; and it has some energetic and capable residents, who, if opportunity presents itself, will not be found wanting, in capability or desire, to send Fayette forward to greater importance.

Chapter Xx

Franklin Township, as now constituted, includes territory which formerly was in German and Gorham Townships of Lucas county, and Mill Creek and Brady Townships of Williams county. It was organized on March 1, 1841, at a commissioners' meeting held at Maumee, Lucas county, and was erected by taking "all of town ten south, ranee one east, excepting one mile off of the west end of town ten south, range one east" from Gorham Township, and "all of towns eight north, range five east, and one tier of sections off of the north side of town seven north, range five east" from German Township. So constituted, the township remained until February 28, 1850, when, the Legislature of Ohio, in erecting the. new county of Fulton, caused Williams county to cede to it a portion of its eastern territory. That part of Williams county territory so ceded, which came within the boundaries of Franklin Township was formerly in the townships of Brady and Mill Creek. Specifically, Franklin Township took from Brady "sections one and two of town seven north, range four east;" and from Mill Creek, "sections thirty-five and thirty-six, town eight north, range four east, and the west tier of fractional sections one mile wide off of town ten south, range one east, and two tiers of sections, to-wit: One and two, and fractional sections eleven and twelve, off of the west side of town ten south, range one west." So that the area of Franklin township became 18,213 acres. A study of the maps and of the general chapters on early jurisdiction and settlement and organization, and also of the chapters regarding contiguous townships will probably supply the seeker with all of the Franklin Township organization and boundary data that it has been deemed unnecessary to embody in this chapter.

The Tiffin River, or Bean Creek, follows a southwesterly course across the township, which in the extreme east and in the southeast corner has a sandy, or gravelly soil, being really a continuation of what were known as the "Oak Openings", i. e., spots which were covered by oak trees of smaller growth and underbrush in the days anterior to, and in those of, the first settlement. The greater part of Franklin however was heavily wooded; in fact, it appears that the township "in its early days was covered with' an almost impenetrable forest of giant growth." In these days the black walnut, oak, cherry, and other timbers would have made the landowners rich in the immediate profits that would accrue from the clearing of the land, but in the 'thirties and 'forties, when the greater part of the clearing was accomplished the timber was valueless, save as fertilizer; and the great part of that immense tract of, now valuable, timber was reduced to ashes. Even in the fifties, _ and much later, it hardly paid the settler to convert his standing timber into lumber, except such as could be used locally. The 'Wauseon Sentinel" of September 18, 1857, gave some market quotations, among them: black walnut timber, at $16.00 per 1,000 feet, oak and ash, $8.50, and white wood, $9.00. However, the ash from the burned logs had its agricultural value, helping to enrich the already rich virgin soil of the greater part of the township, and to add thei necessary properties to bring fertility to the bare spots.

Regarding these "Oak Openings," James Grisier of Fayette, who traveled the county extensively and continuously, as an insurance agent, fifty years ago, wrote:

"The country that has surprised me most is that along the Angola Road in Franklin Township, the land around Spring Hill, and the 'openings' north of Wauseon, along the Fair Ground road. Forty-five years ago I would not have taken this land as a gift and paid the taxes on it. It was then counted as the Bean Creek Swamp, or the sand land where the crow carried a haversack to keep from starving to death, as it made its trips across that forsaken country. But what a happy change has taken place. These 'openings' are becoming the choice dairy farms of the county, and the despised Bean Creek marsh is recognized as one of the garden spots of the county. I have watched this gradual change and have been surprised that land which was once so worthless could be made the best in the county.

Franklin Township, however, was in most parts swampy, or at the best very wet, and until drainage was properly undertaken was difficult ground to cultivate. However, all difficulties eventually were conquered by the indomitable will and the indefatigable labor of the stalwart pioneers.

The pioneer in Franklin Township was, undoubtedly, Joseph Bates, who was either the first, or the second, white man to take up residence, with intent to settle, in territory now embraced in Fulton county. The year of his coming cannot be authentically determined, but it undoubtedly was before 1835, and while there is reason to believe that he was a comparatively old settler in 1834 (for at that time he was widely known among settlers up and down the Maumee Valley, and had created a reputation as a hunter in Franklin Township and the hinterland), he was generally accredited as having settled in February of 1833. His daughter, as has been noted in the Settlement and Organization Chapter of this work, asserted that he settled in 1832. However, settlement in 1833 would make him the first of legitimate settlers in Fulton county, and for that distinctive place of honor his name has been bracketed with that of / Eli Phillips who came to Royalton Township also in that year.

Joseph Bates is entitled to be so bracketed, for although it is true that he settled in what was then Williams county, Eli Phillips settled in what he recognized as part of Michigan territory, going even so far as to take up arms for Michigan when the boundary dispute between Michigan and Ohio got to such a heated state that both administrations mobilized its militia. Verity writes that during the period from first settlement to the creation of Fulton county (from 1833 to 1850) "Joseph Bates is by all acknowledged to be the first settler in the present area of Franklin Township" adding that "for quite a period of time he alone endured the hardship of early pioneer life, which never will be sufficiently elucidated to the succeeding generations; the severe hominy made from corn pounded in wooden mortars, and such wild meats as might be obtained by the rifle from the woods, caught in the intervals of labor, and often without milk or butter, or any of the articles of luxury."

The Rev. Jacob Binder, one of the pioneer settlers in German Township, stated his pioneer experiences to John W. Roseborough in 1896. He stated that when he and three others returned to Defiance in 1834, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, whither they had journeyed on foot, in an unsuccessful search for suitable land upon which to settle, "they heard of one Joseph Bates, eighteen miles north, a noted hunter, and a man of broad and accurate knowledge of the country." He further explained that "Mr. Bates then lived on what is now (1896) known as the John Shilling farm, in the southwestern part of Franklin Township." To him they went, and Joseph Bates took them six miles east of his own land to what is now known as Lauber's Hill. There they settled, and there, with the aid of Joseph Bates "and his hired man," they raised a log cabin, 20x24 feet. Another version of this pioneer log-raising in German Township states that Joseph "and three men, two of whom were Abner and William Ayers, who were boarders with Bates" helped to see the newcomers comfortably housed. It would therefore seem that in 1834 Joseph Bates had at least three companions, or neighbors, in Franklin Township, although most records assert that he was alone in that township for two years. Verity says that "in the summer and winter of 1830 and 1831, Joseph Bates, with his gun, dogs, bear and wolf traps, came from the East to Hardin County, 0., where he hunted and trapped until the coming spring, and during the time lived on muskrats and other game caught in traps, or shot. He sold his furs and skins, the product of his fall and winter labor, and came to then Williams County, and purchased the southeast quarter of section two, town seven north, range four east, now Franklin Township, and had of that winter's labor $130 left. He went back to his home, and in the winter of 1833, started with his family for his new purchase in Williams County, cutting his own road through an unbroken forest from Ottawa to Defiance. When arriving at his new home, he lived for three days in a wagon, until he could erect a log cabin, with simply his own and his family's help. There was no neighbor nearer than twelve miles. He then cleared some land, and raised that year the first grain in Franklin Township, or the western part of Fulton County. A large part of his life here was spent in hunting and trapping, of which he was ever fond."

It appears that Joseph Bates was horn in Vermont in 1787, and went into Canada in early manhood, there marrying Harriet Dodge, by whom he had eight children, four being sons, Truman, Thomas, Joseph, and James, who were stated to have all come with their parents, when the family settled in Fulton, or rather Williams, county. Not one of the sons, however, lived long in Ohio. The daughters were: Harriet, who married Theron Landon ; Belinda, who married Warren Hancock ; Mary, who married Cyrus Barrett ; and Elizabeth, who married Hiram Alvord. From Canada, the Bates family came originally

Joseph Bates "at an early day" was an inn-keeper in Franklin Township, his hotel being known as "J. Bates's Inn". This he sold, in 1861, to William Ayers, soon afterwards moving to Iowa, where he died five years later, aged seventy-nine years.

Members of the Ayers family were evidently in Franklin Township in 1834, or earlier, but probably neither Abner nor William Ayers in that early day had entered any land, and are therefore not considered, by Verity and other historians, as having been the second and third settlers, respectively, of Franklin Township. Samuel Ayers came into the township in 1835, and took land in section two, town seven north, range four east; and the members of his family came, apparently, in the winter of 1837. They were originally from Perry county, Pennsylvania, although their home, prior to their coming to Franklin Township, was in Richland county, Ohio.

Settlers in Franklin Township in 1835 were: John Shaffer, Adam Poorman, John McLaughlin, Samuel Ayers; in 1837, Samuel B. Darby, Asher Bird, Joseph Ely, Martin Pike, William Young, James Baxter, Jabez Jones, and Albert Chatfield; in 1838, Jacob Shaffer, Sr., Michael Shaffer, Thomas Walters. John Bowser, Leonard Whitmore, David Meriolett, and George Miller; 1839, Peter Minich, -Peter Andre, Benjamin Borton, George McFarlane, Asher Ely, John Sparks; in 1840, John Wooster, Chauncey Loveland; in 1841, Nathan Borton, Isaac Borton, John Borton, John Jones, and P. S. Vanortriek; in 1841, or 1842, John Kendall, and Christian Swartzentruver ; in 1843, John Dennis and Orrin G. Greely; in possibly 1839, or not later than 1844, Dorsey Barnes, Ozias Barnes, John J. Clark, Jacob ITanshv, Moses Kirtz, Noah Specht ; in 1844, John Jacoby, John Fisher, Bethuel Borton, and Peter Hagerman; in 1845, James S. Riddle, Adam Andre, Nathan Oliver, Phillip R. Fisher, John Mason, Josiah Mason, Reuben Mason, J. C. Mason, John Arch, Ezekiel Masters, Jacob Cox, Benjamin Pershing, and Lucius N. Chatfield; in 1846, John McGowen, George Kibler, David Carr, and Daniel Thomas; in 1847, John Gype and William Ely; in 1848, John Hardin, Gideon Long, Joshua Conoway, Obadiah Borton, and Chockley Harlan ; in 1849, Richard Rider and Harvey Miller. The majority of these settlers were men of family, so that by 1850 the township had become moderately well peopled; and of those families that are now considered among the old families of Franklin Township, but were of settlement later than 1850, might be mentioned: the Ely, Martzolf, Crumrine, Baum, Shilling, Randall, Kump, Garrison, Burns, Stevens, Snyder, Shipman, Koon, Doriot, Winzler, Dunaharger, Sloan, Russell, Hittle, Shank, Priekett, Roth, Shoffner. Leu, Dickson, Wentz, Brahme, Dennis, Roop, Bixton, Seiler, and Gigax families.

John Shaffer and Adam Poorman came together, entering the Bean Creek Valley in March, 1835. At dusk they approached Bean Creek, but had to camp in the snow until morning, when they "felled two trees across the creek, cut poles and split what they could, and made a bridge across the turbid creek, and moved over with their goods and families" their land being on the opposite side. They encamped for that night on a rising piece of land, but the next morning found that they were surrounded by water, as deep as five feet in places, the melting snow and heavy rain combining to make a flood. Eventually, however, the water subsided, and they were able to put up log cabins. John Shaffer was of hospitable nature, and if he did not keep a hotel, his home received many a traveler. In 1851, he sold his farm to Lyman Morrison, and eventually moved into Michigan. The Shaffer farm in Franklin Township was in section thirty-two, town eight north, range five east; and that of Adam Poorman on section five, town seven north, range five east.

Adam Poorman did not stay many years in Franklin Township. In 1846, he moved into Dover Township, selling his Franklin Township farm to Daniel Thomas. His daughter Alice Ann, who became the wife of Royal C. Stevens, and eventually died in Tedrow, May 2, 1910, is believed to have been the first 'white child born in Franklin Township. She was born on September 28, 1836.

The McLaughlin family was represented in Franklin Township in 1835, when John McLaughlin, presumably brother of Daniel, came with Samuel Ayers into the township from Richland county, Ohio. They passed over the same route as Shaffer and Poorman, finding the bridge over Bean Creek, which they crossed with difficulty, eventually locating land and then returning to their Richland county homes. On May 11, 1836, Joseph McLaughlin, who was then but a boy of fifteen years, came with his mother, Isabelle (Drum) widow of Daniel McLaughlin, from Richland county, and settled on section 1, town 7 north, range 4 east, Ohio survey, that being the same section upon which was the tract John McLaughlin had entered. John McLaughlin came at the same time, or earlier. Elizabeth McLaughlin, sister of John, married Adna Reynolds. She, herself, was evidently imbued with the spirit of the pioneer, for it has been stated that upon the day of her wedding, she "did a washing in the morning, for the family; shelled that morning also one-half bushel of corn, gnd that afternoon carried it on her shoulder, through the woods, to Bird's mill, located on Mill Creek, north, got it ground, again reshouldered and carried it home; baked the wedding cake; and was married the same evening. She had carried the half bushel for five miles, over a difficult road, but evidently needed the flour for the wedding cake, and with the typical pioneer spirit set resolutely about accomplishing the task, with a light heart. Joseph McLaughlin became the head of a very large family. He married Mary Beaty in 1845, and they reared ten of their eleven children.

Samuel Ayers settled on section 2, town 7 north, range 4 east. It is not known whether he was related to the family of same name that settled in Dover Township.

Asher Bird, who came in 1837, and settled on section 8, town 10 south, range 1 east, was a man of enterprise, and his coming materially improved the condition of the settlers in the neighboring country, enabling them to get their corn and other grain ground without the necessity of having to give as much time in. journeying to and from the mill as the flour they returned with was worth. That was the disheartening experience of the earliest settlers, who would take five or six days to make the journey to and from the nearest mill. Asher Bird's grist mill was the first to be built in that part of Fulton county.

His water mill was located on Mill Creek, and early records of German Township show that settlers in that township also patronized Bird's mill. Tie was not, however, very successful in the enterprise, states one chronicler.

The Ely family has been prominent in Franklin Township. Joseph Ely came in 1837, and George Ely in 1835, or 1837, with his wife, Elizabeth (Folck) Ely, and their child, La Fayette G. Ely, who was then an infant, having been born in 1834 ; and Asher Ely, father of George, came in 1839. Asher was a veteran of the AVar of 1812, and his son, George, became a worthy pioneer of Franklin, while the infant, La Fayette G., was destined to become quite a prominent man in Fulton county affairs, thrice auditor of the county, and twice its representative in the State Legislature, besides . which he held many responsible township offices, and was justice of the peace for many years. David Ely, in 1838, settled on section 2, town 7 north, range 5 east.

The Shaffer family is among the old families of Fulton county, and of prominence in more than one township. One pioneer branch settled in Pike Township, and Franklin Township had many representatives. Jacob Shaffer, Sr., settled on section 12, town 10 south, range 1 east, and Michael on section 35, town 8 north, range 5 east. Another branch settled in Clinton Township, and Dover, and included Alfred F. Shaffer, who became sheriff of Fulton county, and later president of the Board of State Fair Managers, and president of the County Fair. Another was Dr. Henry Shaffer, who was born in Franklin Township March 26, 1851, and practiced the greater part of his professional life in Dover Township, dying at his home in Tedrow in 1914.

Joseph Ely, Martin Pike, William Young, James Baxter, Jabez Jones, and Albert Chatfield settled along the creek, the last-named on the east bank, and the others on the west,

John Bowser, a settler of early 1838, came from Fairfield county, Ohio. He was of German birth, and of characteristically simple and religious life. He settled on section 34, town 8 north, range 5 east, and was a comparatively old man when he came, having six sons, some of whom were full-grown. The family had an extensive acreage in Franklin, the father having purchased 120 acres for each son, the whole tract apparently adjoining. They seem to have combined their efforts, and to have centered their efforts upon the clearing of the homestead farm, before beginning the development of their respective tracts. John Bowser was a local preacher of the United Brethren denomination, and was quite active and zealous in religious work among the early settlers, and the early church societies in Fulton county. His youngest son. Noah, was the father of Noah AV. Bowser, who died in Wauseon in 1910. The last-named inherited the homestead farm, and cultivated it for some years, later buying eighty acres in section five, of Franklin Township. Tie was prominent in local affairs, as township trustee and treasurer.

The Rev. John Bowser was much esteemed, and it is sxipposed that his coming influenced others of his faith to come also from Fairfield county. At all events', within a few years quite a strong society of United Brethren had settled in Franklin Township, among them relatives and old neighbors of John Bowser, including Dorsey Barnes, hit son-in-law; Ozias Barnes, John J. Clark, Jacob JIanshy, Moses Kirtz, Noah Specht. Mr. Bowser, however, died in 1844, although the name continued to come into early church annals, through the work of his son, Aaron, who became an able preacher, serving as presiding elder in the district for several terms.

Samuel B. Darby, who settled in Franklin Township in 1837, is referred to in many connections in this work. He was one of the most capable and active of the pioneer administrators of Franklin, and comes into county record. Verity says that he was for "many years the foremost leader in affairs of the county." He was one of the pioneer school teachers - the first of male sex - in Franklin; conducted what was probably the first store in the township ; and several other pioneer distinctions are his, as has been noted elsewhere. He died in Franklin Township in 1881, aged seventy-seven years. His widow, Sepharna Guilford, however, lived to be nearly one hundred years old. She was in her ninety-ninth year when she died, in Wauseon, in 1909. She was a quiet, unassuming, and venerable old lady, devoted to her home and home interests, and was known affectionately to a wide circle of friends as "Grandma" Darby. She and her husband were the parents of nine children, and from February 22, 1838, her home was upon the farm they owned on the bank of Bean Creek. From 1884, until her death, she lived in Wauseon, where some of her descendants still live. She was a woman of strong steadfast Christian faith, and was a member of the Baptist Church for seventy- two years, was a charter member of the Mill Creek Baptist Church, and later became a member of the Wauseon Church, of that denomination. F. L. S. Darby, of Wauseon,

Peter, Anthony and John Minich, sons of Henry Minich, of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, were early settlers in Fulton county. Peter came into Franklin Township, with his wife Catherine, in 1839, taking land in section 1 of town 7 north, range 5 east. He became a successful farmer, and died in 1881. John Minich first came in 1844, and 1854 returned and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Franklin, for which he then had to pay $3,100.

Peter Andre came in 1839, settling on section 2 of town 7 north, range 5 east, but he only stayed a few years. His brother, Adam, settled in Franklin Township in 1845, paying $450 for eighty acres. He lived in the township for the remainder of his life, taking good part in township affairs, having at some time been elected to almost all of the township offices. He was justice of the peace for some years also.

The Borton family first settled in German Township. Nathan Burton died in New Jersey in 1831, leaving a widow and nine children. Nathan W., with his mother and four of the children, settled in German Township, Fulton county, Ohio, five years later. Nathan W. Borton was the first treasurer of German Township; Adam Borton was one of the first overseers; and Joseph Borton was one of the first constables of German Township ; and, it has been stated, that Nathan was the first justice of the peace of German Township. He married in 1839 Mary T. Ayers, and in 1841, or 1845 (probably the latter, for he was a trustee of German Township as late as 1843) he bought a farm of 100 acres in Franklin Township, paying $300 therefor; and upon that homestead he lived for the remainder of his life. The Borton family were Quakers, and Nathan seems to have been gifted with good oratorical powers. Benjamin Borton is recorded as of Franklin Township

Many of the pioneers of Franklin Township come, and rightly, into the early records of German Township; some into those of Gorham; it would therefore be advisable for interested readers to read those chapters of this work also, in undertaking research regarding early settlers in Franklin.

James S. Riddle, who settled in Franklin in 1845, upon a tract of eighty acres, for which he paid $2.50 an acre, was a man of strong purpose and succeeded well in life. It is stated that when he first came into the township, he had a family of five children, and only a York shilling in his pocket, his other wealth being eighty acres of wild land, for which it is possible he had not at that time paid the whole of the purchase price. Yet, he lived to be comparatively well circumstanced, financially, and to enjoy much esteem as an able public worker and servant. He was prominent in . the early administrative affairs of Fulton county; was justice of the peace for many years, and closely identified with the direction of the County Infirmary for many years. He compiled many statistics of value regarding the early administration of Fulton county, and it is to such men as he that thanks should be given for making it possible to preserve local history for posterity with a reasonable assurance of accuracy.

Mention should be made of one worthy Franklin Township family - a family of noteworthy Civil War record. William W. and Armenia (Morrison) Stevens came into Franklin Township, from Richland county, Ohio, in 1850. They had six sons and one daughter; and when the test came in the '60's, every one of the six sons went into the Union Army. The sons were Royal C., Charles L., Daniel L., Sylvanius . M., William LI., and John S. Three enlisted in the Sixty-Seventh Ohio, and three in the Forty-Fourth Illinois. Royal C-, Charles L. and William IT. were wounded, the last-named losing an arm ; and Daniel L. gave his life to the nation, dying in service in 1863. Charles L. rose to the grade of captain, and later, in civil life, proved himself to be an efficient public servant, holding by election many responsible offices. He died in 1912. Royal C., who was dischai*ged because of wounds, in June, 1865, also served later as township trustee, and became a useful resident in Franklin. William IT. ( ''Billy" ) Stevens comes into county record, having for three terms been county recorder. He died in 1901. Sylvanius M. reached the age of eighty years, his death not occurring until December 27, 1919. He was a prisoner-of-war in Andersonville for ten months, and after being released and discharged, settled in Dover Township, where he held township office for many years. He was treasurer for fourteen years. Truly William IT. and Armenia Stevens had good cause to be proud of their sons.

Levi W. Brown, who was born in Franklin Township in 1841, eventually became probate judge of Fulton county, and was twice reelected and afterwards appointed United States Consul, at Glasgow, Scotland, bv President Benjamin Harrison. Samuel Ayers became treasurer. Ezekial Masters, who settled in 1845, became a county commissioner, serving for twelve years; he was also state representative for two terms. Sylvester Baum has also been commissioner.

Official township records are not available, and nothing is on record as to the pioneer elections of Franklin. The township is essentially an agricultural one, well-drained, and rich, with excellent roads, and fine -farms. No such conditions as were stated to have existed in the '60's and '70's could now be imagined by a person passing through Franklin Township. Regarding the old times, James Grisier, before quoted, wrote :

"My experience in travelling over the country in those days of long ago sound to the present generation like fairy tales. I did all my travelling then on horseback, and many and many .a time has my horse become exhausted before night, from wading through the mud, and I was compelled to leave him and make the rest of the journey on foot through the woods. No horse could travel twenty miles a day over those roads and keep it up day after day. There were few ditches then, and ofttimes I have gone for miles over bluff and through swale during the spring. On many occasions have I left my horse at some farmer's barn, and walked ten or twelve miles that I might enjoy Sunday at home with my family, my horse being unable to make the journey. You talk about bad roads these days, but you do not know what they are."

There are no incorporated, or even moderate-sized communities within the borders of Franklin Township. The nearest it has been to owning a city was when, in the very early days, an unscrupulous speculator, named Heffenstine, entered some land on Bean Creek, at the Fulton line, platted it, and gave it the name of the City of New Amsterdam, marking steamboat landing, public square, public park, and other fictitious but attractive civic improvements. He went to Cincinnati, representing New Amsterdam to be "almost the garden of the world," and he apparently made some money by his schemings in real estate. Not one of the persons he sold lots to, however, ever settled in the township, and the tax title to the whole city eventually passed to Samuel B. Darby, the land being sold for the taxes due upon it. Later, Darby offered to sell the property for the tax money he had paid, the land was then under from one to ten feet of water.

There was a private school in Franklin Township in 1836. It was taught by Samantha Crandall, in the log cabin of Joseph Bates, on section 2, and it was with difficulty that she got to and from school, having to cross Bean Creek on a felled log that straddled it. In addition, she "had to wade through swales and water." Her mother conducted the school in the next year, Jane Brundridge succeeding her.

At about that time a log schoolhouse was erected by Samuel B. Darby, on the east bank of Bean Creek, near Darby's land. He was the first teacher, conducting the school for the winter term of 1839-40, when twelve pupils were enrolled. In 1842, a frame house displaced the log cabin.

Another school district, known as the Ascher Ely District, was organized in 1845, a log cabin having been raised for the purpose. Augustus Porter was the first teacher. As the population increased, other school districts were organized ; in 1888 there were seven school districts under the administration of the Franklin Township School Board, and one fractional district serving pupils of German and Franklin Townships.

One of the most prominent and capable of the pioneer teachers of Franklin Township was Jonathan Long; he will be remembered, respectfully, by those people in Fulton County, who in their young days were guided into an intelligent understanding of academic subjects by him.

There has not been much change in the schools of Franklin Township during the hist twenty-five years, excepting in the expansion of curricula, and the extension of the school term, which now is thirtytwo weeks yearly. There are still only seven school districts, although there are eight sehoolhouses, one lying idle. The school property is valued at $8,850; and during 1919, they enrolled one hundred and ninety scholars. The present Board of Education of Franklin Township is constituted as follows: Jay J. Funk, president; Geo. K. Russell, clerk; Harry Stowell, Chas. F. Shaffner, George M. Ziegler, and W. G. Russell, directors.

The United Brethren denomination was, probably, the first to organize a strong church society in Franklin Township, although the death of John Bowser in 1844, deprived them of one of their most capable workers and preachers.

The first church building erected in the township seems to have been that built for the Methodist Episcopal Society. It was erected in 1849, near Master's Corners. Prior to that Methodists, and other denominations used the schoolhouse in the Aseher Ely District for devotional purposes.

Many churches were built near Master's Corners, the Presbyterians building a church there in 1852, that being the second Presbyterian Church erected in Fulton County, the first having been built in Etna, Pike Township, and in 1852, or 1853, the Baptists also built near the Corners, where the church remained for some years, eventually however being removed to section 2, town 10 south, range 1 east.

The Disciples, or the Church of the Disciples of Christ, bad a strong organization in the southwestern part . of Franklin, and in 1861 built a church on section 2, town 7 north, range 4 east, the Rev. L. L. Carpenter, who at that time was county treasurer and the most ardent and effective worker for the Disciples Church in Fulton County, is stated to have been the man under whose labors the church was organized, in Franklin. It was dedicated on February 20, 1862. For further information, see Chapter XXV, Church History.

The Lutherans early had a church society in the township, and in course of time adapted a schoolhouse, on section 34, town 8 north, range 5 east, for the purposes of a church; and therein for many years sendees by that sect were regularly held.

John Borton, in 1841, distilled oils from peppermint, spearmint, sassafras, and butterweed, and continued in that business for many decades. Asher Ely erected a similar still in 1844. Nathan Borton conducted a similar business for many years from 1846; and in about the same year John Mason built a still on section 1, running it for twenty years.

George Kibbler was the first, and only, man to erect a whisky still in Franklin Township; indeed, in Fulton County. He ran it in connection with a grist-mill, from 1852 to 1864, when he sold the whole business to a man named Gigax. The place was1 abandoned a couple of years later, after damage done by water when the dam broke. The plant was on Mill Creek.

Another grist mill, on Mill Creek, was that of Asher Bird. It was located on section 8, town 10 south, range 1 east, and was the first to be erected in that part of Fulton County. Bird ran the mill from 1837, until he died in 1842. It was continued in operation by others until 1849 or 1850. Verity says "it was without doubt the first regular grist mill in Fulton County." Albert S. Fleet, in his history of German Township, wrote the following regarding milling conditions in the county in the first decade of settlement: "Mills were far away, with the exception of Mr. Bird's, in the northwest corner of German, and was taken with the territory from German to make Franklin; but the mill was the same, and never have we had a better one for good work than when Mr. Bird was miller himself. But the water failed in dry weather. Mr. Bird built his mill sometime before the organization of the township."

The first cider mill was built by Chockley Harlan, in 1856. Some years later, John Gype and his brother erected a more modern press, which continued in operation for very many years.

In 1850, the first cane mill to be erected in the township was put on section 12, on P. R. Fisher's farm, by Obadiah Borton, who was responsible for the making of the first sorghum syrup manufactured in Franklin, possibly in Fulton county. In 1858, John Mason built a mill for grinding cane, and ran it for fifteen years. Another mill, a large one, was built in 1865 by Joshua Conoway, who ran it for six or seven years.

The first saw-mill was probably that erected by Albert Chatfield, on the banks of Bean Creek, in 1837, or 1838. A grist-mill was built near it in later years, but was only worked for a few years, fire then destroying the plant. The first steam sawmill was erected in 1856, by John Borton, near the south side of section 35, town 7 north, range 4 east, of the Ohio survey. Later, lath and shingle mills were added to the plant, but both were destroyed in 1879, by fire. The brothers Gype entered the saw-milling business later, having a mill in the eastern part of the township. The mill was built "at an early date" by Michael Shaffer.

Jacob Shadle was one of the enterprising men of the township, and at one time had a large brick and tile yard, "near Angola and Toledo Road, west of the creek." There were two other brick manufacturing plants in the township, but that industry has not been

The first shoemaker in Franklin was Benjamin Persing; the next, John Hardin; the next, Joshua Conoway, who later moved into Dover Township. He was a man of many trades, millwright, wheelwright, carpenter, plasterer, painter, mason, blacksmith, wagonmaker, shoemaker, tailor, and, last but not least, was a good farmer.

The first storekeeper, probably, was a man named Hastings, who, in 1838, opened a store just west of Bean Creek, on the Maumee and Angola Road, and west of Samuel B. Darby's home, upon the south side of section 32, town 8.north, range 5 east. The store was abandoned a few years later. Leonard Whitmore kept a store for five or six years, from 1838, on section 10, town 10 south, range 1 east; and Samuel B. Darby did some trading, either at his home, or in the store originally opened by Hastings, and tradition has it that the early settlers, in the first thaws and heavy rains of Spring, would have to approach the store in boats. Reuben Mason opened a store at his residence in 1850. It was he who laid out the villiage of Trenton, which developed no further than to be the place of the store conducted by himself for nearly ten years, from 1852. He was potsmaster of the Blanc office for eleven years; in fact, until that office was abandoned. The first postmaster was Jabez Jones, the office being located in latter's home, in Franklin Township, in 1850. Of the people of Franklin Township, however, Samuel B. Darby was the first to hold the office of postmaster, and that office was stated to have been the first to be established in the county, the mail route being from Defiance to Michigan. The Blanc postoffice of later date was served by the mounted mail carrier, who travelled the greater part of the route from Toledo to Angola. The first mail carrier was John S. Butler, but at the time Jabez Jones had the Blanc office, the mailman was probably Benjamin Skeels, of York. The establishment of the rural free delivery routes rendered most of the rural postoffices unnecessary.

Ira Smith was the pioneer physician of Franklin Township, but in length of residence and extent of practice, Dr. John Kendall deserves place as the pioneer medical man of Franklin Township. He came from Gorham Township in 1839, or 1841, settling on section 35, town 8 north, range 5 east, and practiced for practically twenty years. His son, Dr. Amos, also practiced in Franklin Township, for some years in the late forties, then, however, returning to Gorham, in which township Dr. Amos Kendall practiced for the remainder of his life. Dr. Ira Smith was only in Franklin for about three years.

A child born to Mrs. Irene Holt, a sister of Isaac and John Reynolds, of Franklin, was, it has been asserted, the first to be 'born in Franklin Township, or in German Township as it then was. But this child died soon after birth. Also, there is doubt whether the Reynolds family came into German Township before 1837. Whereas, it has been authenticated that Alice Ann Poorman, who is also claimed to have been the first white child born in the township, was born on September 28, 1836. She married Royal Stevens and lived in the county for almost seventy-four years.

marriage is claimed to have been the first solemnized in Franklin Township. The second was that of Elizabeth McLaughlin, beforementioned, to Adna Reynolds.

The Census statistics for Franklin Township since 1870 are available. Then the population was one short of one thousand persons; in 1880, it had increased to 1,201; in 1890, there were 1,119; in 1900, 1,138; in 1910, only 964; and in the current year, 1920, the "preliminary annoucement of population" published by the Bureau of the Census before the final recount had been made, gave the count as 926, thus showing that, in point of population, Franklin Township has been falling back during the last forty years. In general prosperity, however, it has substantially advanced.

Chapter Xxi

A portion of the territory now within the bounds of Fulton Township was within the strip of land regarding which Michigan and Ohio were at loggerheads for many years, and almost at war in 1835. It has been extensively written of in other chapters, therefore the reader is probably well conversant with the fact that north of what is called the Fulton Line, meaning the line surveyed by a man named Fulton, the territory now included in Fulton County was, prior to

1835, considered by the Territory of Michigan to be within its jurisdiction and boundaries. At that time, Michigan asserted its authority over the territory and the settlers seem to have recognized it, and to have done their legal business in Adrian, Lenawee County. Also, possibly, they recognized Michigan's right to levy taxes, although with dispute between the state authorities in such a pregnant state in the first years of settlement, it is more than probable that few settlers actually paid taxes to either Michigan or Ohio until after 1835, or

Township was, in 1836 included in the bounds of York; Township, soon, however, to be transferred to the jurisdiction of Swan Creek Township, and part of it, in 1837, re- transferred to Amboy Township. At the time of the settlement of the Michigan-Ohio dispute, there were, it has been estimated, about twenty-five families resident within that part of the disputed strip now included within the boundaries of Fulton Township, and some of them had unpleasant experiences during the inter-state strife.

Fulton Township came into existence on March 1, 1841, when the Commissioners of Lucas County met at Maumee City, and formed the township by taking "from Amboy Township fractional township number 10 south, range 4 east, and from Swan Creek Township fractional township 8 north, range 8 east, and the north tier of sections from township 7 north, range 8 east." A further change came on June 2, 1846, when the Commissioners of Lucas County met at Maumee, and ordered that the south tier of sections in township 9 south, range 4 east, be taken from Amboy Township, and attached to Fulton Township." So, its boundaries have remained to the present. Fulton was the tenth township of Fulton County to be organized, although its settlement began within a year or two of the opening of settlement in the first of the townships to which the pioneer came.

It was not a locality in which settlers could expect to find comfort without unusual effort; "it was said that the land was too low, or the water to high, and there was no way for drainage." The level land was heavily timbered, and required much labor to fit a small piece for cultivation, stated the same writer, adding that "when the crops commenced to appear, wild animals and birds were early to gather their share." Again, the roads through the woods "seemed to have no bottom, and long pieces had to be covered with logs, rails and brush, in order to make them passable." The streams had of course to be forded, and "they went to mill, to church, and to visit each other, with ox teams and lumber wagons, and some of them of the rudest kind." Many wild animals were in the forest, and probably a gun was oftener than not, carried by the pioneer.

The soil, as one would expect in that swampy district, is in most parts of the township heavy clay, or with a clay subsoil very near the surface. Under-drainage, however, has brought very satisfactory results, and the yield from Fulton Township land compares satisfactorily with that from agricultural land of other townships in Fulton County. Swan ton lies partly in Fulton Township, and Ai, which once was of greater importance than now, is also in Fulton Township.

The place of honor, as the pioneer settler of Fulton Township must be given to John W. Harter, who, with his wife and three children, came into the forest in May, 1834, and settled on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 35, town 8 north, range 8 east. They came from Huron County, Ohio, travelling in a canvas-covered wagon, drawn by oxen. He reached to within two miles of his land in the Six Mile Woods by what was termed a road, but from that point had to clear the standing timber from his path before he could proceed. Four weeks elapsed before he could build a log cabin, and during that time his family lived, as well as they could, in their covered wagon, having as near neighbor a tribe of Indians, an Indian villiage, or camp, being at that time on the west bank of Swan Creek. The Harters were probably not disturbed, or perturbed, by the proximity of the red men, who, from most accounts, were peaceably inclined; yet, with the knowledge that they were comparatively defenseless, being far from neighbors, and that the Indians occasionally became uncontrollable, and in that state of frenzy brought torture and death to white people, John W. Harter and his brave wife must have had moments of uneasiness. Still, they would not have been pioneers if they were not possessed of stout hearts, inured to peril, and strong enough to endure all the hardships encountered. The pioneer settlers, as a rule, manifested an intrepidity as notworthy as that of great soldiers of history. They literally carried their lives in their hands, went alone into hostile territory, for all Indian territory was hostile, and "burned their bridges behind them." Few of their descendants realize the extent of the dangers that were before their forbears in carrying white civilization across this continent. The Indian opposition was an ever-present danger ; the wild beasts, and poisonous reptiles, of the wilderness caused them to be ever alert ; and the great adventure in risking life, without provender, in the Great Unknown, the wilderness, was one that must have taxed the stoutest heart. This generation is not so tested, fortunately. The brunt of the struggle was borne by their resolute pioneer ancestors.

The Harters were not destined long to be the only white inhabitants of Fulton Township ; many other settlers came in the same year ; and it is difficult to compile a complete list of all who came during the first decade of settlement. As far as records available go, the settling families were : in 1834, that of J. J. Teachworth, Henry Lake, Alexander Boyd, Isaac Day, John Viers, Charles Welch, Africa Spaulding, Daniel Q. Berry, John Shaw, George Black, Judge Thatcher, Peter Broadsword, Gideon W. Raymond ; in 1835, Ezra and Abraham Willcox, Alexander Vaughn, Joseph Dennis, Jacob Hamp, Jacob Haynes and his father, John Nobbs, William H. Harris, John Day, Hiram Clark, Cyrus Clark, Shubal Nixon, Joseph Babcock, William Stair; in 1836, Ami Richards, David Springer, Robert Pennel, Robert Watkins, George W. Thompson; in 1837, Samuel Durgin, Charles V. Merrill; in 1838, Samuel Dowling, Jonathan Wood, Levi Merrill, Clement Canfield, Hartman Canfield, Luther Dodge; Isaac Fauble came in 1842 ; Martin and Emery Wilson in 1843 ; Josiah W. Bartlett, in the same year; Elijah Herrick in 1845; Horatio Witt in 1844; and James and John Fenton, in 1847. Also, it is known that the following were residents in the territory while it was still part of Swan Creek Township: Charles Gunn, J. Thresher, S. Fox, H. Chamberlin, Flomen Chamberlin, Samuel Cable and Eli J. Reed.

Alexander Boyd, a settler of '34, died, in 1837, and his was the first body interred in the Ai Cemetery. He was survived by widow and three children.

Charles Welch was the head of a large family, one well fitted for such pioneer work as was before them. His many sons cleared a large acreage, and Charles Welch in old age was well-circumstanced, because of his and their labor. He eventually moved into Amboy Township, where he died in 1878.

Daniel Q. Berry was one of the physically strong men of early Fulton. He came with his wife and their seven sons in 1834, the family settling in town 10 south, range 4 east, where he died in 1844, and his widow in 1860. His sons were also men of abnormal strength. They constructed a horse mill for Mr. Harter in 1835, Thomas C., Nicholas Q. and William Berry doing the greater part of the work, and it was said that Nicholas and William sawed all the lumber for the mill with a whip-saw, rolling a log on to a skidway, high enough for one man to stand under the log to manage the lower end of the saw. The other man stood on the top of the log, to guide the upper end of the saw. It "required great muscular power to run this kind of a saw-mill," but the Berry boys were expert sawyers. Soon afterwards Nicholas Q. Berry built a saw-mill for himself, and pos-ibly his brothers, on Swan Creek, which ran through the Berry tract. It was the first saw-mill erected in Fulton Township.

The Rev. John Shaw settled on the eastern half of the northeast quarter of section 10, town 10 south, range 4 east, in 1834, but within a year left the neighborhood.

Judge Thatcher, who came in 1834, lived in the township for more than thirty years, and took part in township affairs, as trustee, and in other capacities. He removed to Conencticut in 1866, shortly before he died.

Peter Broadsword was a settler of '34, entering land on section 10, town 10 south, range 4 east. He was subjected to singular treatment by the Ohio authorities during the time of heated contention with. Michigan, regarding the boundary. It appears that "Peter Broadsword went from this disputed territory to Waterville, south on the Maumee River, to mill, and on his return was taken prisoner-of-war, near old Swanton, on the Ohio side, and was detained with his grist of corn meal until his captors became convinced that he was not in any manner aiding the 'Wolverines;' and upon fair promises made by Peter, he was permitted to return to his family with the provisions, for which they had become very much in want."

Isaac Day came alone, in 1834, having lost by death his wife and infant son, in Utica, New York State. He settled on section fifteen of Swan Creek Township, and built a log cabin. In the following year, he was joined by his only child, a daughter, whom he had left with the Nobbs family, when leaving New York State in the previous year. John Day, with wife and four children, three of whom were sons, also came in 1835, accompanying John Nobbs and family. They all settled upon section 33, town 9 south, range 4 east, Isaac Day having decided to abandon his first holding and cabin. They set to work, as one family, and built a log cabin for John Day and his family, after which one was built for the Nobbs family, Isaac Day and his daughter moving into that house with them on January 25, 1836. John Day died in 1837, and Isaac became, morally, the head of the family; and with his assistance, or moral support, the widow, with her three young boys, was able to tackle and to conquer the poverty in which they were thus placed, and eventually to develop a property which yielded them sufficient sustenance. Isaac Day had one unpleasant experience in 1835, while returning to his farm, or tract of wild land which it then was, from the Land Office, whither he had gone probably to enter the land in section thirty-three, upon which they afterwards settled. It appears that he followed "the road or trail, as best he could by the aid of blazed trees" but that darkness overtook him when he had reached a desolate spot near Delta, in York Township. The report states that "darkness overtook him in the old windfall south of that place," the effects of the tornado experienced by William King and his family in June, 1834, when the storm left a track "two miles wide and thirty miles long," through the dense forest. Isaac Day might well have had difficulty in passing over this maize of torn and distorted fallen timber, and to have been delayed in consequence.. The narrative goes on to state that "the howling of the wolves soon admonished him to seek a place of safety. This he did by climbing the nearest tree, where, standing with one foot at a time on a limb of a tree, all that night, with the howling of the disappointed wolves, he waited patiently for daylight." He reached his cabin in safety next day.

John and Jane (Mason) Nobbs, who were both born, and in fact married, in England, lived in Fulton Township for the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of nine children, and they passed through much privation during the first year in Fulton Township. Their son William died a month or so before their log cabin was ready, and at that time they either lived in their wagon (the month was November), or in the small cabin erected by Isaac Day in Swan Creek; and they had moved into their new cabin only a few months before another child was born To them, their son, James H., who was born on June 2, 1S36, and eventually became one of the successful and progressive farmers of the township, active in school and township administrations. John Nobbs reached the age of seventyfour years, and then was killed in a runaway accident. His wife reached the age of seventy-nine years.

James Nobbs, who was one of the first children if not actually the first white child, born in Fulton Township, lived a long and useful life, and in 1907, narrated some of his reminiscences to Mr. Reighard, editor of the "Fulton County Tribune." The article stated that:

"He well remembers the time when the Indians roamed through the forests of the county, when deer and wild turkey were plentiful, and when it was not an uncommon occurrence to run across a big bear, or a wild cat, in going from one settlement to another.

"In his boyhood days, the public highways were only trails blazed through the woods along the ridges. There were no public improvements in those days, said Mr. Nobbs, for it was all that those early settlers could do to provide for the necessities of life, let alone looking after public improvements. With the exception of the little settlement around Ai, our nearest neighbors were several miles away. Delta was then a little settlement, where J. T. Gates kept a small store. The most of the business in those times was transacted at Maumee. I remember well seeing a settler starting for Maumee with his yoke of oxen, and with two or three neighbors' grist piled on his wagon. Sometimes, two or three settlers would go together, and take along enough grist for each family in the settlement. It required three or

"During the '40s, Ai was an important trade center of the county. The Toledo and Angola Road was the main route of travel east and west then, as there was not a railroad in the county. It was located about a day's journey out of Toledo, and many a weary traveler was glad to find a welcome, and a place to stay all night, at the tavern at Ai. Many of the smaller Indian traders would come there to secure their stock of goods. With the building of the Lake Shore Railroad, the business at Ai began to decline."

Gideon W. Raymond, one of the pioneer school teachers of Fulton and Swan Creek Townships, came in 1834, and settled on section 32, town 8 north, range 8 east. It has been stated that he "taught school in the first schoolhouse in the Clark District in 1837." That was not possible for the official record for that pioneer school district shows that the log schoolhouse was not raised until November 29, 1838, and there is no record of the appointment of any teacher, or of the holding of school during 1838, in that schoolhouse. The first reference to a teacher, and to a session of school, was on June 8, 1839, when "the householders of School District No. 3, Swan Creek" met, under the chairmanship of Cyrus Clark, and voted: "that we have three months school, to commence during the month of August next, to be taught by a female." It is possible that there was a winter term of school in 1838, and that Gideon W. Raymond was the teacher, but from another record it seems more than probable that that schoolhouse, although built in November of 1838, was allowed to remain idle until the Autumn of next year. One record states that "in November 1837 (it must have been 1838), the pioneers built a log schoolhouse in the district. Isaac Day, wishing his daughter to learn to write, put in a writing desk for her use. Gideon W. Raymond taught the district school that winter." Possibly, Gideon Raymond had Isaac Day's daughter as his sole pupil that winter. Gideon Raymond was appointed a director of that school district in 1840, other directors being John Nobbs and George Black. Raymond was also appointed clerk and treasurer of that district, and "qualified" by Nathaniel Leggett, who then was clerk of Swan Creek Township. Raymond on December 2, 1840, was also "employed to following March, he agreed to accept forty-four dollars for the three months of teaching. A "female" succeeded him, agreeing to teach for a remuneration of $1.50 a week. But Raymond for several years thereafter taught in the larger Ai school, and for many years was prominent in school affairs. For some years he was also a justice of the peace.

John Viers settled with his family on section 5, town 7 north, range 8 east (Ohio survey), in 1834, and lived for more than forty years in the township. He was one of the pioneer school directors, being "appointed, and authorized, and required to perform the several duties of school director" by William Meeker, town clerk, in 1839; and he was also appointed clerk and treasurer of the same district in that year. He raised a family of thirteen children, nine of whom were boys. Five of these saw military service during the Civil war, and were of good civil record afterwards.

Africa Spaulding, also of settlement in 1834, lived in Fulton Township for almost a half-century. He died in 1881, having during his residence developed a good property in section 2, town 7 north, range 8 east.

The brothers Ezra and Abraham Willcox came into Fulton in 1835, from Connecticut. Ezra was a typical "Connecticut Yankee"; he peddled clocks of Connecticut make throughout the township and county. Abraham settled in township 10 south, range 4 east (Michigan survey), where he lived until his death, in 1852.

The Dennis familv has' held connection with Fulton Township since the beginning, Joseph Dennis having settled on section 1, town 10 south, range 4 east, in 1835. Four generations of the family have had residence in Fulton Township, Joseph and Mary (King) Dennis becoming the parents of nine children, including six sons, some of whom remained in Fulton. Joseph Dennis died in Amboy, in 1885. His son Isaac purchased a property in Fulton Township, adjoining that of his father, and had made it a fine farm when the Civil war began. He enlisted, and met death in national service, at Fort Pow- liatan, A irginia, in 1864, a calamitous ending to a worthy patriotic purpose, . which set the national cause before personal interests and family ties. He left a widow and eight children, seven of whom were boys. The eldest son followed the father into the Union Army, and was more or less incapacitated for the remainder of his life, in consequence of the hardships he had had to endure while campaigning. Andrew J. purchased the parental farm from his co-heirs, and took active interest in township affairs, undertaking trusteeship and other township responsibilities. His mother lived a widowhood of more than thirty years.

Alexander Vaughan came from Holmes county, Ohio, in the spring of 1835. settling on section 3, town 10 south, range 4 east. They were of Irish origin, and before coming to Ohio had lived in Pennsylvania. Alexander Vaughan married Rebecca Jones in 1827, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. He only lived in Fulton Township for twelve years, death coming in 1847, at the age of forty-seven years; but he was a useful organizer, and took active interest in township work. Ten children were born to him and his wife, who afterwards married Thomas C. Berry. Two of his sons were soldiers in the Union Army; and, it is claimed, that one of them, James was the first white child born within the present boundaries of Fulton Township. The date of his birth was August 30, 1835. He was prominently identified with Fulton Township and Swanton affairs for many decades, and at one time held county office, as county commissioner. He was one of the leading republicans of the Swanton district, and one of the oldest Masons of that place. His agricultural property was about four miles distant from Swanton ; part of it eventually passed to his son.

Jacob Hamp, who came from Holmes county, Ohio, also in 1835, also gave two sons to the nation during the Civil war. Jacob's family consisted of five boys, and he was quite elderly at the time of settling. He died in 1850, but his widow lived with her son, John, at Ai, for a further twenty-nine years, and attained the extreme age, it is said, of one hundred and seven years. She was a woman of extraordinary endurance, and "was quite a good physician and nurse." It was stated that "on many a night she rode from two to six miles on horseback, at the calls of these pioneers, often through storms and muddy roads, to render relief to the sick."

William and Sarah (Miller) Stair settled on section 35, in 1835 or 1836, coming from Richland county. He cleared, by "herculean labor," 120 acres before he died in 1848. Of his children, two -were sons, and both became soldiers during the war, John being twice taken prisoner, and incarcerated, first, in the historic and dreaded Libby Prison, at Richmond. Virginia, and, after parole and recapture, in An demon ville Prison, Georgia, which was worse. John, later, took a farm in Amboy, but Josiah tilled the parental acres in Fulton Township until he died. He was township trustee for some years, and held other offices, and both were classed with the worthy pioneers of the county.

Shubal Nixon came in 1835, but later moved into Michigan. The Haynes family is now in its fifth generation of residence in Fulton county. Jacob Hayes and his father came to Fulton Township in

1835, or 1836. The father died five or six years later, but Jacob settled near Luke's Corners, and reared a good family. His son George H. became a resident of Swanton ; and his son, Edgar E., also lived most of his life in Swanton.

Joseph Babcock, a pioneer of 1835, was a pioneer school teacher, and a most capable one. He died in 1868, leaving a widow and six children. One son, Robert J., was justice of the peace for some years.

William H. Harris, who lived on section 4, town 7 north, range 8 east, from 1835 to 1837, was supposed to have been murdered. His death was a sensational happening in that settlement,- where every house was open, and the latch string ever out. His wife died in 1836, and was the first person to be buried in the Yiers Cemetery.

David Born, who came from Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1853, paid $400 for forty acres of land which either was part of, or adjoined, that which William H. Harris had owned sixteen years earlier; and he paid another $100 for a contiguous acre upon which a log cabin had already been built. That, presumably, was the former home of Mr. Harris. Born used it as a wagon shop, being a wheelwright. He also was a skilful carpenter, and erected many of the frame houses and barns in the township. He was a township trustee during the years of the Civil war, and with Wells Watkins is said to have organized the first Sunday School in the township. One of his sons, Albert, met his death, while campaigning during the Civil war. Another son, James J., eventually purchased the homestead farm, and took part in the pioneer effort to centralize the schools of Fulton Township. David Born was somewhat gifted in mechanics, and got appreciable financial return from the sale of one of his inventions.

Hiram and Cyrus Clark settled in Fulton in 1835, and the name is frequently encountered in pioneer school history of Fulton Township. Hiram was one of the first school directors appointed by the town clerk of Swan Creek, and the first meeting, to organize the school district, wa- held in his house. Their property passed to members of the Watkins family eventually.

Ami (or Ammi) Richards, and his wife, Percia Pease, came from the East to Medina county, Ohio, in 1835, and in the next year to Lucas county, settling in what became Fulton Township, on section 9, town 10 south, range 4 east. He lived there for almost fifty years, death coming in 1884, he being then seventy-nine years old. Five years later his widow died. Mr. Richards was of studious inclination, and known as a bibliophile; and he was much respected in the township, for many years serving as township treasurer. They had six children, two of whom were sons. Both served in the army during the Civil war. Henry O., later became a prominent man in the township, was a successful building contractor, and farmer, and held several township offices. He succeeded to his father's farm.

David Springer came with his wife and children from West Sullivan, Maine, to the village of Maumee in 1836, and seem to have settled on section 4, town 10 south, range 4 east, of Swan Creek, in the same year. That was his home until his death, in 1866. Two of his sons became prominent in county affairs, Stephen in the Lucas county administration, and Isaac in Fulton county. Isaac Springer's life has been reviewed in the Clinton Township chapter of this volume. He

The Watkins family is of record in many townships of Fulton county. Four brothers, two of whom were Christopher and Robert, came into the region in "the early '30s," and entered 1,000 acres of land in Pike and Fulton townships. Robert settled on section 3, town 7 north, range 8 east, of Fulton in 1836; and Christopher also seems to have settled in the township. George W., son of Wesley, and grandson of Christopher Watkins, was born in Fulton Township in 1846, and maintained possession of Fulton Township land throughout his life. And many other men of that patronymic have creditable record in Fulton and neighboring townships' history.

Samuel Durgin, one of the most prominent and capable of the early settlers of Fulton Township, came from New Hampshire in 1837, and settled on section 6, town 10 south, range 4 east. As the years went by and he took part in public affairs, he proved himself to be a sincere, capable, and strong man. He was one of the pioneer school teachers; one of the first school examiners; a conscientious and impartial justice for many years; and a man who exercised strong influence among his fellows throughout his life. He held county office for some years, and in consequence removed to Wauseon, where he died, in 1872 or 1873. His widow, Louisa (Chamberlain) Durgin, lived until January, 1900, being then in her eighty-eighth year. She had lived in Wauseon for twenty-eight years and was lovingly known to very many as "Grandma" Durgin. She was married to Samuel Durgin in 1833, and in the same year they came from New Hampshire to Trumbull county, Ohio, and from there, in the spring of 1837, to Maumee. In 1838, an obituary states, the Durgins "came in 1841, moving into Fulton Township." As a matter of fact, they located on land which was taken from Amboy and made part of Fulton, when the latter township was erected in 1841. "In 1872" states the obituary, "their last change of residence was made - to the village of Wauseon. Ten days after their arrival in their new home Mr. Durgin departed this life." ,

The Merrill family is another which has prominent place in Fulton county records. Levi Merrill, with his family, came from Wellington, Maine, in May, 1838, settling on section 4, town 10 south, range 4 east, which was his home for the greater part of his life. He died, of paralysis, at the home of his son-in-law, John Bracken, in Fulton Township, in 1881. being then seventy-nine years old. His wife, Lucy, died in 1872. Their sons Naaman and Ozias were both of notable record in pioneer Fulton - in the county as well as the township record. Naaman's life has been reviewed hereinbefore; Ozias, who died on October 24, 1901, aged seventy-four years, lived a useful life; his public record included six years as county auditor; and in 1873 he was elected to represent Fulton county in the Constitutional Convention, which constitution however was not accepted by the state. His first wife was Jane Vaughan, and one of their children was Frank C., who took over the parental farm, and became a useful public worker in Fulton Township. J. E. Merrill, son of Ozias Merrill, was county auditor for two terms in Fulton county, and Horace Merrill, another son, was probate judge of Lucas county. The Merrill family certainly is deserving of good place among the builders of Fulton county.

Jonathan Wood is a name frequently encountered in the records of early Fulton. He was one of the pioneer school teachers; was the first clerk of Fulton Township; and was one of the charter members of the Presbyterian Church. He was a sincere and active Christian, organizing the first Sabbath school of the Presbyterian' denomination in Fulton Township, and for many years he was its superintendent. He settled in the township in 1838, and died in 1879. During the Civil war he was a nurse in a military hospital.

The Canfield family also comes prominently into Fulton Township and county records. Of good colonial Connecticut stock, the Canfield family had several representatives in early Fulton, part settling in Chesterfield and Clement and Hartman in Fulton Township, in 1838. Arthur B. Canfield, son of Clement, was treasurer of Fulton county, in the '60s, and several of the family saw service during the Civil war, keeping up the record of that family, which contributed members to the army of Washington, and the forces of 1812. The name also appears in the list of Fulton county soldiers of the World war.

H. A. Canfield's great work in developing the county, by reclaiming the Black Swamp of Bean Creek, in Gorham Township, is worthy of record here. A local quip, which in reality is a serious tribute to his work, states that, "God Almighty made the earth, but Herman Canfield reclaimed the Black Swamp."

Luther Dodge, who was early in Fulton Township, probably in, or before, 1838, settled on section 11, town 10 south, range 4 east. He was one of the early school teachers, and upon his farm he conducted a store, probably the first in the township, between the years 1839 and 1844. He then went to Maumee, the county seat, having been elected sheriff of Lucas county. He was a man of good business ability. It was either during his time, or soon after the place had passed into the possession of the Witt family, that a very palatial residence was built upon that homestead. A family record states that the residence "which at the time was looked upon as a veritable mansion" was "erected prior to their removal here." After a half-century it stood practically intact, as "one of the stately old homes of the county." It was probably built by Luther Dodge, who succeeded well in his early merchandising enterprises. Horatio Witt went to California in 1851, and returned in 1854, having succeeded in gold-mining ventures. Afterwards, he added to his farming acreage, and made his property "one of the model farms of Fulton Township."