Fulton Township (part 6 of 34)

Hayes' 1903 letter. William Lee, of Oak Shade, who came to Wauseon in 1854, stated in 1917 : "John Williams was building ai new hotel on the corner now known as Fulton and Beech Streets. ... At that time, E. L. Hayes was erecting a store building on the corner south of the hotel property." All authorities agree that the Estelle Llotel was built by John Williams in 1854.

It is generally supposed, and has been accepted by previous compilers of Fulton county history that the Air Line Railroad reached Wauseon station in 1854, but there is reason to believe that it did not get nearer to Wauseon than Lamb's Crossing, a mile distant, in that year. It may be taken as certain that trains did not run to Lamb's Crossing "in the fall of 1853," as stated in General Hayes' 1908 letter. The "Delta Independent Press," vol. 1, No. 10, the date of which issue was June 7, 1854, had an editorial, regarding the "new era" that had begun for Delta that week : p. m. It is a new era in our history .... The station buildings are in process of construction, and will be ready for the reception of goods

"In 1853 they commenced grading for the railroad, and in 1854 passenger cars were run to Lamb's Crossing, a mile east of Wauseon. You could not say a passenger train, for about all there was to the train was a wood-burning engine, a car for hauling the wood and water, and one passenger coach. This constituted the first passenger train to run in Fulton county. The next year the road was built on west of Wauseon, and the first passenger train coming into Wauseon was in the early spring of 1856. As these trains came into the county excitement ran high. The speed they made, about fifteen miles an hour, was wonderful.

Which was so. General Hayes stated that, by the time the railroad had reached Bryan, Wauseon had thirty-six dwellings, a school-house, a hotel, three stores, a drug store, a saw mill, and, he thought, a Methodist church. As a matter of fact, it was not until 1856 that James Hogeboom built the "Little White Schoolhouse," and it seems that it was not until 1857 that through trains were run from Toledo to Elkhart. "Time Table No. 1" took effect "on Monday, June 8, 1857." There was one train daily, each way, and to cover the about 133 miles between the terminal points meant a journey of about nine hours. The first conductor on the road, after passenger trains commenced running was James Moore. James Hogeboom, in reminiscences published about twelve years ago, stated :

"It was in the spring of 1855 when father moved his family to Wauseon, and what a wilderness it was then - earth, acres of water, forests and blue sky was about all there was to be seen here then. The Lake Shore Railroad was extended to Bryan that year, and in the fall one train a day was run between here and that place. It was a work train, but it carried passengers, and well do I remember its conductor, James Moore."

A copy of the Wauseon newspaper, the "Sentinel," of September 18, 1857, carried some interesting advertisements; which at least illumine the business section of General Hayes' above-referred to tabulation. One advertisement read: "A. T. Shanks. Fashionable barber and hairdresser. Shop opposite the Estelle House." Among the business advertisements were: jewelry and fancy goods;" "J. Antibus, saddle and harness maker; shop on the corner of Fulton and Chestnut Streets;" "D. W. Hollister, dealer in drugs, paints, oils and groceries;" "E. L. Hayes, dealer in staple and fancy dry goods, boots and shoes, hardware, etc. Pioneer Block, No. 1, Fulton Street, Wauseon."

"This house has lately been refitted and furnished in the most fashionable and improved style. The proprietors will leave nothing undone to make their guests happy and comfortable. This house is pleasantly situated on Fulton Street, near the railroad depot. Stages between this place and Adrian stop at this house." from Utica, New York. The opposite corner lot which intersecting street properly might have been called Beech Street, but which, because it led to the railway station, was named Depot Street, was offered to Charles W. Cornell, by Samuel Biddle, in 1857, for $650, at which price the small frame building then on the lot would be "thrown in." And the owner was so anxious to sell that he offered to allow the principal to remain unpaid indefinitely, Cornell merely being required to pay the interest year by year. LI ad Cornell bought, lie would have made a profit of several thousand dollars on the real estate in a decade, or so. Today the corner is probably wmrth $25,000. The old frame building built by Biddle in 1854, was used for business purposes. Biddle occupied one-half as a drug store ; the other half was used by Hunt and Company. In the fall of 1857, M. H. Dudley occupied the building with dry goods and a light line of groceries. In 1860 A. J. Knapp nut in a stock of druses, which he finally sold, in about 1867, to Masters and Company, who in turn sold to F. L. S. Darby. The next tenants were Auxter and Nachtrieb, and in 1887 the firm of Nachtrieb and Guilford. They purchased the corner in the late 'eighties, or early 'nineties, "and also one-half of the building occupied by Lorenzo- Lyon, paying $8,000." The old frame building was sold for $75, and iii its place was erected a substantial two-story brick building. So, the pioneers, as is usually the case, found "Father Time" working for them.

Wauseon might have gone into permanent record as Litchfield, Havesville, or some such ordinary appellation; and how it happened by its distinctive, unique, and poetic name is worthy of space in this record. In the bef ore-ref erred-to letter of General Hayes, he wrote:

"The proprietors of the town proposed to name the town Litchfield. 1 protested, as there was already a town of that name in the state. Several names were presented, when Mr. Leggett said to my eldest daughter, Hortensia: 'Can't you suggest a name?' She replied: 'A Mr. Howard, while dining with us a few days since, said: "On that hill (pointing to the hill in the west part of the town) was where the Maumee Indians held their last treaty (council) with the United States, by which (treaty) they conveyed all their lands in the Northwest Territory to the United States. The name of the chief was Wauseon," ' and she asked, 'why not adopt that name?' They talked the matter over for a few minutes. When they came again into the store, and said they had decided to give the town the name she had suggested, and thanked her for it."

It might not he inappropriate here to give some information regarding the Indian chief whose name is perpetuated in that of the county seat of Fulton county. And the most authentic data would be that given by Colonel D. W. IT. Howard, who lived so much of his early life among the Ottawa® and Pottawattamies. Writing to the Wauseon "Republican," on March 4, 1874, he stated: "As I have been requested many times by friends to give to the public my recollections of the history and character of the two men whose names have been given to our former and present county seats - Ottokee and Wauseon - 1 will endeavor to give a slight sketch of the men.

"Both, were noble red men, for finer and more perfect specimens of the human physique, or of natural mental ability, are seldom found anywhere. Ottokee, the older of the two brothers (or half brothers as they were) was a man six feet high, weighing about two hundred, with as fine a form as could be met with in a day's travel, and, when speaking upon the floor of the Council Lodge, was as dignified and as noble in demeanor as a Clay or a Webster, speaking with as much force and eloquence as their limited language would permit.

"Wa-se-on, which signified 'far off', was somewhat larger, not so fleshy, but had a heavy frame, and was quite as large a man as his brother, Ottokee, yet not so great an orator, but a very intelligent man, and a good speaker, and in 1888 (I think) when the last of the tribe were removed from this country, was about forty years of age .... 1 was always an attentive listener to the words that fell from the lips of these men, while portraying in eloquent language the misfortunes of their race, while being driven Hep by step from the great salt lake, 'at the rising Sun' to the 'setting sun', beyond the Mississippi. I have sat unwearied, hour after hour, listening to a speech delivered by Wa- se-on. in the most energetic and persuasive language, urging his people to go to their new homes west of the Mississippi, and begging the young men to go with him beyond the reach of the pale-face, and the accursed whisky-seller, or 'bad spirit', Mi-ji-min-a-to. The very last speech made by an Indian in the county was made by Ottokee, at a treaty, or council, with the U. S. Government agents and commissioners, for the purpose of their removal west. Their lands had all been sold, and the time had expired that they were allowed to remain on them. Ottokee told the Commissioner that his people did not want to go ; they could not leave the graves of their fathers and of their children, and their council fires, although the fires had nearly gone out, they could not leave the ashes, and it was with a great effort that they were induced to go. They were shown the necessity of removal and the advantages of a home on their own lands in the west, over a wandering life among white men, who had no sympathy or feeling for them. The Che-mo-ke-man, 'long-knife', had got all their lands here, and were ploughing up the graves of their dead, and to stay here and witness it was worse than death on the plains (in their new homes) from this country, having gone west in 1838 (spring), when the last remnant of this tribe took their final departure from this once cherished home. These chiefs lived but a few years in their new homes, and died when yet comparatively young, Wa-se-on being not over forty-five years old."

Another glimpse of the personality of Wa-se-on is seen in the reminiscences of Mr. Y. Rakestraw, a pioneer of Lucas county. He settled in Toledo in 1832, and:

He knew the famous Indian chief, Wa-se-on, and Chief Ottokee. .... He had a clear recollection of the time when the Indians were corraled on Buttonwood Island, near Maumee, preparatory to being sent to Missouri on the reservation. Wa-se-on, Ottokee, and Dresden Howard went to Missouri on horseback, to look after the interests of the Indians. . . . Before the Indians left for their new home in the spring they had a hilarious time. Two oxen were prepared for the feast, and whisky was1 drunk in great quantity. ... At Wauseon village, four miles above Waterville, the squaws raised potatoes, corn, beans, and other vegetables, while the Indians hunted for game. On section 11, on which J. L. Pray owns a farm, the squaws cultivated one patch of eleven acres and another of three acres.

Mr. Rakestraw says that Wa-se-on was a tall well-built man, intelligent, dignified, and a gentleman in every way. He was one of the most honorable men Mr. Rakestraw ever met. . . . The Indians lived in harmony, but they had their love affairs, like the whites. Two young Indians fell in love with a comely Indian maiden. The rivalry became so keen that one killed the other. . . . The slayer .

murder by an Indian court. He was adjudged guilty, and, as chief, Wa-seon was executioner. Wa-se-on took a keen-edged hunting knife and plunged it into the Indian's heart, killing him instantly.

The "History of Henry and Fulton Counties" (Aldrich, 1888), makes the following statement regarding the naming of the new town: "The first plat of the village of Wauseon was called Litchfield, it being the intention to name all the stations along the line of the new railroad each for some one of its directors. There were two Litclifields, residing in New York City, who were directors . . . and this name was given for them ... IT. L. Hosmer of Toledo was applied to when the projectors of the new town came to reconsider the name by which it should be known, and among other names, he suggested that of Wauseon ... Its spelling is said to be incorrect, and the pronunciation is slightly different from what it was in its aboriginal purity."

It has been supposed - but why, is not clear - by the authors of previous historical works of Fulton county that the official records of the incorporated village of Wauseon were consumed in the fire which destroyed the county records with the court house, at Ottokee, in 1864. Fortunately such a supposition was not well based, and the official records of the village have been available for the purposes of the present compilation. The first entry in the council records is a copy of the petition for incorporation. It reads:

The undersigned citizens of Wauseon, in said county, not embraced within the limits of any city, or incorporated village, hereby petition your Honorable body, and pray that they may be organized into an incorporated village, by the name of Wauseon, by virtue of the provisions of statutes in such cases made and provided passed May 3, 1852. Section 2. Your Petitioners pray that the following territory be embraced in said village, to wit: the east or south west of section 23, in town 7 north, of range 6 east, together with so much of the east south east of said section 23 as would lie on the west side of a line drawn parallel with Fulton street, in said town of Wauseon, 1081 feet east of the east edge of said Fulton street, according to the plat thereof, herewith submitted, and marked (A) ; and we further hereby authorize N. W. Jewell and Nathaniel Leggett to act in our behalf, in prosecuting this petition before your Honorable Body :

"We, the undersigned Commissioners of Fulton county, having had the written petition under advisement, and being fully satisfied in the Premises, do agree that said Village of Wauseon be incorporated, as named and described in said petition, and that Record be made of the same, and that the same may be organized.- Ottokee, June 13, 1857.

The first meeting of the Wauseon Council was held on September 28, 1857, "pursuant to verbal notice from the mayor". Present at the meeting were: Nathaniel Leggett, mayor; Messrs. Barber, Cornell

Hayes, Munn, and Scott. E. L. Barber was the "recorder". At a meeting of the council a week later, N. W. Jewell was elected treasurer, and J. J. Robinson, sheriff.

The first resolution of consequence passed by the new council was that of October 5, 1857, restricting the use of firearms, and stipulation "that no person shall fire any cannon, gun, rifle, pistol or fire arms of any kind . . . within the incorporated village," excepting "in the lawful defense of the family, or property of any person, or to the killing of any mad dog." Permission to discharge firearms, or fireworks, on the Fourth of July "may be given through any public paper."

Much grading and street improvements were done in 1857. "An ordinance to level and improve Depot street, between Fulton and Brunei street," October 12, A. D., 1857, assessed owners of lots and lands in that section one and one-half cents a foot front. Elm and Clinton street lot owners were assessed two cents, and those on Commercial street three cents. The councilmen seem to have contracted to do the work, or perhaps to see that the -work was done, for on November 16, 1857, the Council passed claims, as follows, for "labor and work performed, and money expended" for such improvements of streets :

The members of the Council were by no means "swivel-chair artists", and had no intention to extravagantly use public funds entrusted to them. Their first meetings were apparently held in the store of Mr. Hayes, but evidently the Council Room was not adequately furnished, for on November 30, 1857, James Cornell "was appointed a committee to provide chairs for the use of the Council". Council adjourned for two weeks, and at meeting of December 28, 1857, the meeting of December 14th, having been also adjourned, James Cornell reported "that he had procured one dozen chairs . . . the cost of

That there were sincere advocates of temperate use of liquors if not of total abstinence in Wauseon in those early days may be inferred from the petition of N. W. Jewell, and thirty other citizens of Wauseon, presented at Council meeting of February 15, 1858, said petition "praying for the suppression of all drinking establishments within the corporation". The petition might have had in view the coming election, and that certainly was well in view of the Council when, on March 1st, it passed an ordinance "To prevent the sale of Intoxicating liquors, on Sundays, and Election Days". At the same meeting an order was issued to the marshal "to give notice for an election for the election of Municipal officers of the Incorporated Village of Wauseon".

marshal; Anson Huntington, James Cornell, E. L. Barber, Thomas Scott, and E. L. Hayes, trustees; with E. W. Fuller, recorder. The Financial Statement of the Incorporated Village of Wauseon, for the first year, 1857-58, was presented, and was copied in full upon the minutes. It reads :

I hereby certify that the following is the amount of money collected by me during my official term as Treasurer of the incorporated Village of Wauseon ; also the disbursements of the same, and the amount remaining in the treasury; and the amount yet unpaid.

( Ol interest is it to compare this initial annual statement with the Treasurer s Statement for the year 1919, in which year the receipts were $72,403.06, and the expenditures $72,269.55. Some prosperity has obviously come to Wauseon during the period).

The Marshals Report tor the first year was also presented at that meeting. It showed that there had been one arrest, opposite which statistic was the notation "no fees yet." The report also recorded a "Notice to George Matheny to remove dead hog and do°-

The Lyy, for all purposes, in 1858 was three mills; and at a June meeting of Council consideration was given to the report of a "Special Committee on i treet Supervision," the report stating that N. W. Jewell (the mayor, and also a physician) "would oversee the work for 10 per cent on all expenditures," and that Anson Huntington would

Wauseon, in early state, has been described by many pioneers as "a mud hole," James Hogeboom recollecting that "in front of the Clinton House was a big swamp, where the boys on the Fourth, of July used to catch bull heads," and another pioneer stating that often "a frog would be seen. hopping out of a pail of drinking water." Mrs. Greenleaf remembers the time, in Wauseon, when people, out walking, were wont to carry under their arm "a bit of board," for use in bridging any more than usually treacherous mud-holes encountered. The Council seems to have determined, in 1858, to improve matters. On December 20, 1858, a motion was made and adopted, authorizing the Street Committee to "solicit subscriptions to aid in constructing a side walk," on the west side of the principal street, Fulton street, "commencing at the railroad, and extending equal distances north and south, as far as the money will provide." James Cornell was appointed a committee "to contract for plank and timbers necessary for the sidewalk and crossings."

Possibly with thoughts of approaching Christmas, with the festivities and increased expenses, the Council, on December 22, 1858, issued to villagers who had claims against the corporation, for improvement work done, sixty-eight orders, in various small amounts, the sixtyeight totalling to $270.95. However, owing to the limited funds of the corporation it was decided that "should there be no money in the treasury" when the orders were presented for payment: "The Treasurer shall write on the back of said order: 'not paid for want of funds,' " but it was decided that "in no case shall these orders draw interest if not paid."

An inventory of the property of the corporation could not have entailed much time in taking, in those early years. Mr. Huntington, as "a Committee on Village Property," on March 28, 1859, reported that the corporation owned, on that date; one large plow, $11.00; one small plow, $6.00; one scraper, $5.00; one grub hoe, 75 cents; and twelve chairs, $7.50.

Nathaniel Leggett became mayor again, in 1859, the first meeting of the new council being on April 11, 1859, when, to them the "business of the incorporated Village of AVauseon was transferred . for its future prosperity." Spread upon the minutes of that meeting was a resolution expressing to the outgoing mayor "the approbation of the Council ... for his courtesy, promptitude, discipline, and parliamentary dignity, in presiding over this body." Financial statement for the year just ended showed $1.47 as in the treasury, and that there was an indebtedness of $17.28, while overdue levies totalled to $87.98. A four mill levy was made in 1859.

The rental of council room was not a subject of discussion or rather of record, until April 30, 1860, when the proposition made by Mr. E. L. Hayes "that this council have the use of room now occupied by them for one year, and light the same, for twelve dollars per year" was accepted. But before the end of that year, the Council appears to have decided that the rent was exorbitant/ On April 3, 1861 "a committee of two" waited on Mr. Hayes, "to ask reduction of rent, for various reasons." The rent was reduced to $10 a year, but apparently the Council thought it advisable to further economize. The matter was the subject of further discussion at council meeting of May 20.

1861, when a "Committee on finding a room" reported that "a room could be obtained of Mr. Greenough for eight dollars a year." It was moved and carried "that the council accept Mr. Greenough's proposition, provided he furnish wood and lights." It was "moved and carried ... to close the bargain, also to procure a table with a drawer, and lock with two keys, with all stationery necessary, also to move the chairs, which belong to the Council, to said room.

The council meetings were held in Mr. Greenough's law office for several years thereafter, but for only one year did the corporation pay a rental of eight dollars. On June 2, 1862, it was recommended "that the Council accept offer of Mr. Greenough ... for the use of his office, as Council Room, for the ensuing year . . . at five dollars

Sidewalks progress was reported in 1863, when the Council decided to assess owners of lots nine dollars a lot, for cost of sidewalks to be laid, the sidewalks to be according to specification, which provided for "good sound oak planks, not less than one and one-half inches thick, and not less than six inches wide, laid on three stringers, crosswise."

The first reference made to a suggested bonded issue was in 1866, when the council decided to borrow six hundred dollars, "for purchase of hose and fixtures for fire engine," at a rate of interest not in excess of six per centum per annum.

An important transaction of the next year, 1867, was that whereby the cemetery came under the joint trusteeship of the village and the township. The history of the Wauseon Cemetery will have place some pages further on in this chapter.

It is somewhat surprising, having regard to the momentous times through which the village and the county, in common with the country in general, were passing during the veal's 1861-65, that with one exception no reference was made to the Civil War on the minutes of the council of Wauseon, notwithstanding that it must at times have been the thought uppermost in the minds of most of the members of the council, and of the people in general. The single reference was made necessary by the resignation of Gilbert Oldfield, (grandfather of the redoubtable Barney, of automobile racing fame,) from village office as marshal, so that he might "enlist in the service of the United States." Air. E. L. (subsequently General) Hayes was a councilman at that time, and in a letter to his friend Joel Brigham, under date of February 12, 1903, he describes local conditions and thought at that trying time. Rewrote:

"How well I remember all the incidents of how you, Barber, Leggett, Hunt, Livermore, and others, with myself, consulted together as to what was our duty under the pressing necessities of the times. I hardly need refer to those anxious times so vivid still in your recollection, the deep interest we all took in the future welfare of our country. It is still remembered by those still living. Fulton county responded nobly to the call of the government for men to suppress the great rebellion. How well I remember receiving a letter from the Adjutant General, by direction of Governor Dennison, asking if a company of one hundred men could be raised in Fulton county. This message was received about 11 A. M., and before 9 o'clock that night over one hundred men had signed the enlistment rolls. In less than a week Col. E. L. Barber left our little town with as brave a lot of men as ever shouldered muskets. In June following, I issued a call for one hundred more men, and in less than a week I had 151 good and true men enrolled for the Northwestern Rifle Regiment. As I could only receive one hundred men, the remaining men enlisted in other regiments being raised at the time. . . . Well you did your duty in looking after the welfare of the families of the soldiers in the field ; how well I remember your visiting us in the winter of '61 and '62. while we were encamped at Rolla, Missouri, and the letters' with many other good things for the soldiers, sent from loved ones at home."

The Civil War record of Fulton county is extensively reveiwed in a special chapter of this current work, and much is there written regarding home conditions during the period, but it is certainly singular that the great events of the time found no expression in the official minutes of the largest community of Fulton county.

An indirect reflection of the times through which the country had passed, and of its effect upon the young men of Pulton county, a great number of whom were war-hardened veterans at that time, is seen in the disposition made by the Wauseon Council, in 'anticipation of "big doings" on the Fourth of July, 1867. On July 1, 1867, fifteen additional persons were selected ... to act as constables, or deputy marshals, "on the forthcoming Fourth of July celebrations." Perhaps the Council thought that the boys who had slept with the rifle within reach for four years, and had seen so much of "fireworks - of the real kind," would be apt to give the villagers too realistic a display on the Fourth. It is gratifying to be able to record, however, that the marshal did not record any arrests made on that day.

The question of annexing certain adjoining and contiguous lands, parts of the additions of Newcomer, Barber, and Merrill, to the bounds of the incorporated village of Wauseon, was put to public vote on October 8, 1867. One hundred and nine votes were cast for annexation, and two against.

With the continued growth of the village, it was thought in 1870 that the time had come for the establishment of a police force of more than one person. On July 16, 1870, an ordinance "for the appointment of a police for the village" was read for the first time, and at that meeting the following resolution was unanimously passed: "Resolved:

By the Council of the Incorporated Village of Wauseon, Ohio, that the resignation of Orrin Buzzell, as marshal of said village, will be accepted by said Council, if tendered." The ordinance provided for a police force, "not to exceed three in number, one of whom shall be designated to act as Chief of Police." The measure was; passed, but subsequently repealed, and Orrin Buzzell continued to , constitute the police force of Wauseon. His duties were probably light, and the office was almost an honorary one, as the following account, rendered by Marshal Buzzell, covering his services for one year ending March, 1871, shows. The account reads:

It might be appropriate here to give the origin of the first jail, as recorded in the council records. The "Marshal's Report," for the year 1859-60 showed "one arrest for drunkenness, on the Fourth of July, 1859," the report conveying the further information that the prisoner was "safely stowed away in Hunt's Corn Crib (finding no better place) and there kept him until soberness returned. Expenses attending the arrest six and a half cents, for crackers and salt." There was no further reference to jailing facilities until 1864, when a petition by A. J. Knapp and others, "that the necessary steps be taken towards building a lock-up" was referred to "The Committee on Lock-up." The matter seems to have lain dormant until August 30, 1867, when $200 was appropriated "for the building of a lock-up." But that amount does not seem to have been used. The lock-up appears to have adjoined, or been part of, a pound erected in the early summer of 1867, following the passing of new pound laws. The erection of the pound cost the village $41.84, and that a lock-up was part of the pound was made clear by subsequent entries. On December 26, 1867, Sheriff Wm. F. A. Altman presented an account for:

An entry in the council minutes of 1817 records the removal of lock-up and pound to "lot 248, owned by Wm. F. A. Altman," who gave the village the use of the lot free of rent, under certain conditions. Cost, of removal was $12. On November 25, 1870, Sheriff Altman was authorized "to erect, or cause to be erected, a lounge straw bed, and two quilts for the lock-up." The account for this furniture was presented on December 7, 1870. and was:

The straying of animals within the bounds of the village constituted a nuisance in the early years of the corporate existence of Wauseon, and after the close of the Civil War measures were taken to effect an improvement. On May 11, 1867, Walter Scott and Alanson Pike, as a "Committee on arrangements for a pound'' reported "that they had procured a' suitable place for a pound, at an expense of $7.00." At the next weekly meeting of the Council, there was passed "an ordinance for restraining certain animals . . . from running at large," the measure providing for the impounding of "any horses, mules, cattle, sheep, or swine" that might be found running at large within the bounds of the village, it being provided however, that the prohibition "shall not extend to any milch cows running at large in the day time," between the months of April and November. The marshal was authorized to impound, and as soon as possible afterwards to post notices in the post-office, and at the north and south ends of Fulton street, and at the end of three days, to sell the impounded animal to the highest bidder, it being provided that the marshal, for such service could exact fifty cents for impounding, and ten cents for posting notices, the proceeds of sale, except one dollar as a penalty, to be paid to owner of the animal impounded and sold, the owner however having the privilege of redeeming his live-stock property before sale, by paying a penalty of fifteen cents, and the sheriff's fees. It is evident, however, that in the first year of the operation of the pound some of the owners of live-stock did not take kindly to the restriction, and even went so far as to refuse ' to recognize the law. That is obvious by one entry in council records of June 24, 1867, when "the account of the marshal, for keeping and impounding five hogs three days, that were stolen out of the pound" was allowed. In June, 1868, a modification of "Pound Laws" permitted all "neat" cattle and sheep to run at large within the village. In that year, the amount received for poundage was $32.65, and, hearing in mind the smallness of the amount of penalty exacted from offenders, there was just cause for the enactment of some such pound laws. A typical notice reads as follows:

Notice. On or about 1 :00 o'clock, P. M., on the 30th day of June A. D., 1868, at the Pound, in the Incorporated Village of Wauseon, Fulton county, Ohio, I shall sell at Public Vendue, the following property, - To Wit; One white sow, having a short tail, and each ear marked with a V cut out of the top, and supposed to be one and a half years old.

In general administration, all the incorporated places of Fulton county would follow a like course. That being so, it might be recording the early administrative procedure of all the villages by recording here register their ownership, and pay a tax of "one dollar for each dog, and three dollars for each bitch." The dog tax was however repealed on May 31st of same year.

On May 10, 1858, the Council drafted "An ordinance to define and prohibit nuisances," the measure ordaining that "no person shall suffer or permit any cellar, vault, private drain, pool, privy, or sewer, upon the premises belonging to or occupied by him, to become nauseous. offensive, or injurious to the public health. ' 'Section 2 provided that "no owner, or possessor, of any animal, which shall have died, shall suffer the same to lie on any public ground, street, lane, alley."

On June 21, 1867. it became unlawful for any person, "to offer for sale, or erect a stand for the sale of any drinks, or groceries, candies, or other eatables on any side-walk," without first obtaining license from the mayor, the ordinance empowering the mayor, at his discretion, to demand a fee of from one, dollar to five dollars a day, for such license.

In March of 1870 an ordinance was passed, but subsequently repealed, as was a similar ordinance in 1868, or 1869, "to provide against the evils resulting from the sale of intoxicating liquors, gambling, and drunkenness," by which ordinance rigid restrictions were placed on the sale of liquor to habitual drunkards and minors; and section five stated: "That all places where intoxicating liquors are sold in violation . . . shall be taken, held, and declared to be public nuisances, and all rooms, taverns, eating-houses, restaurants, groceries, coffee-houses, cellars, or other places of public resort where intoxicating liquors are sold in violation . . . shall be shut up."

An "ordinance to punish certain offenses" was passed on November 11, 1870, by which ordinance "any person of the age of fourteen .years, and upward, who . . . shall utter, speak, or use any obscene, or lascivious, language, or words, in the presence of any female in said village, the person so offending shall be fined , or

On June 21, 1872, "An ordinance to require each able-bodied male person to perform two days labor on the streets" in each year was read for the third time, and thus placed upon its final passage. It was ordained "that each able-bodied male person, between the ages of twenty-one and fifty-five years, resident within the corporation of Wauseon . . . Shall perform in each and every year, two days of labor upon the streets and alleys of said corporation Provided, that any person may pay to said Street Commissioner the sum of threp dollars, in money, in lieu of said two days labor."

On the council records, under date of December 15, 1862, is recorded an appropriation made, of fifty dollars, from village funds, "towards building a Fire Engine House." The establishment of a fire company in Wauseon was evidently at that time the subject of discussion among the people, and at a meeting of the citizens, held in the office of Mr. E. L. Barber, on December 29, 1862, the organization was resolved upon. Its original equipment was apparently purchased with money' subscribed by' the members of the company, or from a fund publicly subscribed by the villagers for that specific purpose, for there is nothing on record on corporation minutes of village expenditure therefor, in early 1863, save the passing for payment on February 23, 1863, of "a bill of Milo Porter, amounting to $10, for constructingone hundred, feet of fire ladders." The understated information regarding the Wauseon Fire Company was obtained from the original records of that organization. It appears that:

"At a meeting of the citizens of Wauseon, held at E. L. Barber's office December 29, 1862, a constitution governing fire companies was read, also that part of the statute of Ohio concerning fire companies.

"Constitution and by-laws, prepared by E. L. Barber, F. A. Hunt, and Wm. T. Altman were adopted January 9, 1863. On Jan. 14, 1863, officers were elected. N. W. Jewell was called to the chair; A. Hunt was chosen foreman; J. C. Cornell, first assistant foreman; H. M. Dudley, second assistant; J. Q. Riddle, secretary; and E. L. Barber, treasurer. The following citizens of Wauseon constituted the company: A. L. Ackerman, L. W. Agler, H. T. Brigham. J. Baumgardner, J. H. Brown, A. Bridge, Rufus Briggs, A. Baker, J. F. Buzzell, J. C. Cornell, B. F. Culbertson, Henry Clay, H. M. Dudley, J. Domitio, Wm. Eckerfield, Cyrus Downer, Frank Ferris, Dennie Foster, Robert Graves, W. H. Gavitt, G. E. Heath, R. I. Hough, Bart Hough, Myron Hough, G. H. Helwig, Wm. Hunt, A. Hogeboom, W. H. Highshew: Will Hall, L. F. Johnson, L. Lyon, C. B. Lyon, Benjamin Miller, Wm. Meeks, J. T. Mann, C. McClarren, Woody Newcomer, Al. Norton. John Nicely, H. D. Peck, J. Q. Riddle, C. C. Riddle, R. Richardson, Edward Springer, A. B. Smith, G. W. Stokes, Charlie Smith, M. B. Sehumbs, R. M. Scott. L. L. Sears, M. Snelbaker, H. H. Williams, J. P. Thiel, and S. Woodward.

The first fire was reported that on "Thursday, April 30, 1863, at about 2 p. m., a fire was discovered in the dwelling house of B. S. Waldron, about one hundred rods from the engine room1. The engine and company were on hand soon after the lire was discovered, but on account of the scarcity of water did but little execution. The company afterwards took the engine to the reservoir, and worked it successfully," stated the report.

Mrs. Samuel Edgar reminiscently wrote to the Delta "Atlas" some years ago, regarding "Early Days in Old Fulton," and made reference to the Wauseon Fire Company. She wrote:

"It was either in '67 or '68 that Mr. Edgar and I were coming to Wauseon from our farm, south, now known as the Clinger-Serrick farm. We did not go to start a fire, but we discovered a fire in the little old woodshed on Main street, owned by the railroad company. How well I remember the little hose cart building, and what a hose cart it was in a case of fire. Mr. Edgar and Calvin Biddle got to the front, and called for help, and somebody called: 'Fire.' 'Fire.' Everybody, merchants, clerks, and farmers, turned out. Then the hose cart stuck in the mud, in front of Eager's store. The fire was put out, and the town saved. Now a beautiful park occupies the locality of the old woodshed."

"On Saturday, May 30, 1863, the company met, and appointed a committee of three, 'to select a style of uniform, the company having voted to uniform themselves. At that meeting, a vote of thanks was unanimously given to J. Q. Riddle, and the Phoenix Insurance Company, for a beautiful silvered trumpet, having upon it the inscription 'Presented to the Wauseon Fire Co. by the 1 hoenix Ins. Co May 1863.' On June 6tli, 1863, the 'committee on Uniforms made their report, and were appointed a committee to procure the cloth for making jackets, and the belts, and the caps already made So that evidently the Fire Company was by that time well established.

The Council Records contain no further record to the lire Company, or to fire equipment, until 1866, when it was decided to borrow $600 "for purchase of hose and fixtures for fire engine. In 1868, the Wauseon Fire Company transferred its engine and hose to the village council, and soon afterwards the village fire department was formed In 1871, the village valuation was $1/1,882, and the total taxation was six mills, of which a one-half mill was apportioned to

The fir^t reference made to remuneration to the mayor lor nis services as such was in 1872, when $20 was voted to Mayor Naaman Merrill It is, of course, possible that the $4.50 shown on the financial statement of Wauseon's first treasurer, N. W. Jewell, as having been paid to Nathaniel Leggett, in 1858, was recognized as the mayoral stipend.

other than that which was almost chronic among the early settlers, who suffered much from malarial fever and ague, was an outbreak of small pox, in Wauseon, in April, 1862. Two cases were reported, and the council took prompt measures to deal with them, resolving: "that Henry Cone, and all the members of his family be required to stay closely at home, not to go out in the streets, nor in any portion of the village, and avoid coming in contact with any person or persons whatever, except those who may be sent by the proper authorities, to minister to the wants of said family"; and it was further resolved "that there be a red flag placed on the door of the residence of said Henry Cone, and kept there so long as they are afflicted with the small pox, and that there be a red flag placed on the corner of Fulton and Elm streets, as a signal to warn all persons, that the small pox exists in the locality." The Council further resolved: "That the Board of

Health be requested to urge upon the attending physician, in any case of small pox, the necessity of changing his clothes on entering a house, to see such patient, and replacing the same on leaving, keeping the clothes used in the sick room in such a manner and place that the contagion will not be spread by any carelessness."

Apparently, the outbreak was confined to the Cone family, and it is to the credit of the village authorities that it recognized its liability to care for the stricken family; Mrs. George Lindeman, who volunteered to nurse the family through the affliction, was paid one dollar a day for such services, the money coming out of village funds.

Probably the most potential happening in the history of Wauseon was that whereby it became the county seat of Fulton. That event is fully described in another chapter, but the contest waged and won by Wauseon in 1869 opened a new era for the village, which thereafter, and rightly, took premier place among the incorporated places of Fulton county. But before passing on to more recent history, it might be well to "sum up" the development effected by the pioneers of the village in the first fifteen years, or so, of its establishment; and also give some of those worthy "city fathers" - Wauseon will be a city some day, undoubtedly - brief biographical mention, before passing on.

Wauseon, from nothing we might say, had in fifteen years grown into a place of commanding importance in the county. By contrast with Ottokee, the county seat, which in 1868 had one hotel, three stores, court house, jail, and county offices Wauseon undoubtedly deserved premier place. Its taxable valuation stood at nearly $170,000; it had five churches, a large graded brick school building, several fine brick business blocks, the leading newspaper, the Northwestern Republican, and a population of nearer 2,000 than 1,500. "Brown's Gazetteer," of 1868, stated, of Wauseon: "The past seven years show a

Within the past few years, several fine brick blocks have been put up, city, public, Masonic and Good Templars' halls established, giving tone, and bespeaking enterprise." Quoting further from the "Gazetteer," it appears that in 1868 there were in Wauseon: ten grocery stores, those of: M. S. Baker; Beach & Co. (H. H. Beach and H. L. Moseley, partners) ; Bloomer and Palmer (Albert S. Bloomer and Myron T. Palmer) ; Briggs & Co. (Alanson Briggs and David J. Disbrow) ; George Lipp; M. Mattison & Co.; John J. Robinson; Serriok and Shelley; T. O. Williams & Co. (Thos. W. Williams, and Gilbert S. Waite.) Six dry goods stores, those of: Clement and Greenleaf (Geo. S. Clement and Chas. C. Greenleaf) ; Eager, Cook & Co. (Zina & Hy E. Eager, Stephen H. Cook, Jas. P. Cawley & Noah K. Green) ; Hunt & Newcomer, (Wm. W. Hunt & Jas. K. Newcomer) ; Edward Koch ; Francis A. Palmer; and Springer & Cornell (Isaac Springer and Jonathan C. Cornell) ; three furniture dealers, A. Bridge, Augustus Kaempfer, and Andrew Mikesell ; two shoe stores, that of Ferris & King, and Daniel Ritzenthaler ; two hardware dealers, John Q. Riddle and Garver Bros.; three drug stores, Read & Hollister, Andrew J. Knapp, and Melford D. Ford; several meat markets, and many tailoring and millinery establishments. Then industrial Wauseon included at that time: a flouring mills, owned by Brigham and Lyon (Joel Brigham and Marcus Lyon) ; a foundry, owned by David Andrews; four saw and planing mills, shingle mills, and sash door and blind factories, those of Beal Williams and Co., Cutshow & Co., William Meeks, Nevin & Brooks ; several smithies and carpenter shops. Anson Huntington and William B. Olcott were in business as tanners; John P. Thiel was a brewer; and L. Stowe was a showman, and also a wagonmaker and blacksmith. and a cooperage was conducted by Zina Eager, employing thirty men.

The public City Hall was listed as being on the southwest corner of Fulton and Elm streets; E. L. Barber was mayor; Lorenzo Lyon, postmaster; and Rollin Ford, justice of the peace.

The early administrators and workers for Wauseon deserve credit for having developed the village so substantially within about fifteen years of its existence, and Ottokee had no logical argument, apart from its central location, with \riiich to refute Wauseon's claim of place as the county seat.

Nathaniel Leggett was a very capable man, a pioneer of Fulton county, as well as of Wauseon. He was prominent in Swan Creek Township affairs, while it was still part of Lucas county, and was one of the leaders of the movement which culminated in the organization of Fulton county. He was the first treasurer of the county. By profession an attorney, he took active part in almost all phases of public affairs. Unfortunately, he died somewhat early in the life of the county His death on February 24, 1862, brought into establishment the Wauseon Cemetery, as will be narrated a few pages hence.

Noah W. Jewell was one of the capable physicians of Clinton Township, and gave much of his time to public affairs. His life will be reviewed in the Medical chapter.

Anson Huntington died at Garret, Indiana, December 17, 1881. aged 77 years. He suffered "a shock of palsy" four days before he died and did not recover consciousness. He came to Wauseon, from Massachusetts, in 1855, and at his request, his remains were brought back to Wauseon for burial. "He was a man of sterling qualities, strong and vigorous mind" and did "much to advocate the interests of the community."

E. F. Greenough was born in New Hampshire in 1808 ; graduated from Dartmouth College; settled in Danville, Pennsylvania, and practiced as an attorney until 1832, when he moved to Salisbury, New Hampshire, where he was a merchant. His son, Charles F., who later became so prominent a citizen of Wauseon, was born there in 1849. In 1859 E. F. Greenough retired from business and in the following year came to live in Wauseon, with the public affairs of which place he remained associated with until his death in 1875.

Col. Epaphras Lord Barber, one of the proprietors of Wauseon, and of its earliest projectors the one who remained longest a resident of it, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1830; at eighteen he joined an engineer corps, but after a few months entered private school, two years later returning to engineering, and eventually becoming a civil engineer. His coming to Fulton county and to Wauseon has been hereinbefore narrated. After the railroad had been completely laid, he, in about 1856, severed his connection with the company, and took up permanent residence in Wauseon, two years later becoming station agent. He resigned two years later. When the outbreak of civil war came in 1861, he headed the first company raised for service in Fulton county, in April. He served in a number of regiments in 1861 and 1862, but at the end of that time wyas forced to resign, and return to Wauseon, his partner, Nathaniel Leggett, having died. In 1863, he established a banking house in Wauseon, taking into part nership Naaman Merrill, in 1865. Colonel Barber was probably the most effective of all the public workers for Wauseon during the first two or three decades of its existence. He died in April, 1899, and was buried in Wauseon Cemetery.

in 1860. From 1860, through the period of war, he was postmaster, and also druggist. At one time he was in business as a grocer, but did not succeed. He was a prominent member of the Congregational Church, at Wauseon; was one of its twelve charter members, was its first clerk, and also choir leader. His death was hastened by a fall two years earlier, his hip being fractured, and the disease resulting taking a fatal course. He was much esteemed in Wauseon, as "a truly companionable man."

John H. Sargent, partner with Col. E. L. Barber in establishing Wauseon, was a resident of Cleveland, and at that time, and for the greater part of his life was a man of some prominence in that city. At one time, he was city engineer of Cleveland, and held many other important engineering appointments. He does not appear to have ever taken up residence in Wauseon.

Gen. E. L. Hayes was one of those who suffered materially by his national service during the Civil war. He was the principal merchant in Wauseon when he left in 1861 to take up arms for the nation, but he never again resumed that position. He later said: "The

Isaac Springer was one of the most enterprising merchants1 of Wauseon, and also took prominent part in county affairs. He died in 1898, near Wauseon, aged 71 years. He served two terms as county treasurer, and twice as county auditor.

Henry Stern, one of the early merchants died in 1911. He was one of the charter members of the Oddfellows lodge in Wauseon, established in 1860.

Hiram Pritchard was responsible for much of the brick building done in Wauseon, from 1865. He later became one of the leading grocers, and wras prominent in the organization of the People's Bank. He died in 1912. _

Naaman Merrill, partner with Colonel Barber in banking and real estate business in Wauseon, was the son of Levi Merrill, one of the pioneer settlers in Fulton Township, in 1838, Naaman then being thirteen years old. He, Naaman, had good part in the building of the school system, was one of the pioneer teachers, and when the county had been only a few years established was appointed clerk of the courts. He held that county office for several years, and having read law in the meantime, was admitted to the bar of Fulton county. He died in 1879, the latter part of his life having been lived in Wauseon.

Marcus Lyon, partner with Joel Brigham, in the most important enterprise of early Wauseon days, died in 1902, aged 75 years. The Wauseon Flour Mill, eventually became one of the landmarks of the village, and is still one of the principal business undertakings of that place. When Marcus Lyon came to Wauseon, it had a population of only a few hundreds. He was interested in many phases of the business life of the place, but his chief interest was in the flour mill, first in partnership with Joel Brigham, and later with Messrs. Clement and Greenleaf.

men who were early residents of Waueson. He came to Clinton Township in 1853, and to Wauseon in 1859. He was for some years a justice of the peace, was mayor of Wauseon twice, and for two terms was county commissioner. For over thirty years he was a trustee of the Wauseon Cemetery, serving in that capacity almost until his death, in 1908, at the age of ninety years.

Joel Brigham was one of the founders of the Wauseon Cemetery. Nathaniel Leggett, one of the proprietors of Wauseon, died on February 24, 1862, and ''on die day after his death James Cornell, Anson Huntington, and Joel Brigham started out to locate a suitable place for a cemetery. After looking at several places, they finally decided to locate on the present site. At that time, the land was covered with

On March 13, 1865, the following named citizens of Wauseon formed themselves into a cemetery association, under the name of the Wauseon Cemetery Association: E. F. Greenough, W. C. Williams, James Cornell, N. W. .Jewell, John Newcomer, E. L. Barber, Geo. S. Clement, L. B. Smith, Naaman Merrill, John Spillane, Anson Huntington, J. Q. Riddle, Joel Brigham, D. W. Hollister, Isaac Springer, F. J. Harper, M. D. Munn, Milo Porter, Jas. M. Gillett, R. A. Franks, D. 0. Livermore, Jas. K. Newcomer, A. J. Knapp, M. E. Blizzard, Benj. Miller, Joseph Domitio, Geo. Woodward, A. C. Hough, Alanson Pike, Rollin Ford, A. Bridge, H. IT. Beach.

A week later, in the office of E. F. Greenough, who presided, a meeting was held to pass by-laws; and at that meeting an assessment of ten dollars was made on each member. On April 6, 1865, Rollin Ford was chosen secretary, pro. tern., and by ballot the following were elected officers of the association: Isaac Springer, A. J. Knapp and

James M. Gillett, trustees; E. L. Barber, treasurer; Naaman Merrill, clerk. A year later, Joel Brigham became trustee, vice James M. Gillett.

On April 26, 1866, by unanimous consent, it was agreed that the original members of the association, "those who had borne the burden and heat of the day," should each be entitled to a lot in the cemetery at its appraised value, and that they should be entitled to make the first selection, the order of choice to be determined by the drawing of lots. Lots were drawn in the office of Mr. Greenough, and the first choice fell upon George S. Clement. On that day, the appraisement of lots was reduced, so that their value stood at $5.00, $8.00, $12.00, $15.00, $20.00 and $25.00, and the original members made selections, in the order in which their names were drawn.

interested in fitting up and preparing their final resting place, seem to be so taken up with the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things, that they can pay no attention to things of greater moment."

On May 4, 1866, James K. Newcomer filed receipt of E. L. Barber, No. 1, amounting to $24.00, for payment in full of lots 10 and 11. in block K, the $10.00 advanced being refunded.

On May 8, 1866, the trustees bought from Alanson Pike, the lot of land lying south of the cemetery, between the cemetery and the railroad, two acres in extent, for $225, payable, partly, by nine months note. And evidently this purchase had some connection with the note executed on September 5, 1866, by the trustees, for $220, in favor of Abraham Hogeboom, who loaned that sum of money "to replenish the treasury" of the association. The association was however still in financial difficulties on April 5, 1867, when a meeting was held in the office of E. F. Greenough "for the purpose of taking into consideration ways and means for improving the cemetery grounds, and liquidating the debt accruing in the purchase of land." Joel Brigham and M. D. Munn were appointed a committee "to advise with the township trustees and village council, as to taking control of the cemetery." On April 12, 1867, it was resolved: "That the trustees of the Wauseon Cemetery Association transfer the control of the Association

So, it happened that the Wauseon Cemetery passed into the control, conjointly, of Clinton Township, and the village of Wauseon, on April 27, 1865, the council and trustees agreeing to assume the debts against the association, "not to exceed $780." The lands conveyed were nine and one-half acres, "being the same land conveyed by E. L. Barber, trustee, and Sophia H. Barber, by deed, 19th December, 1865, to Isaac Springer, A. J. Knapp, and Joel Brigham, trustees of the W auseon Cemetery Association ; and also the land conveyed by Alanson Pike, by deed dated May 8, 1866, to the said and named trustees."

The care of the cemetery by the council and township officials since that year has been praiseworthy and thorough. Wauseon now has as well-kept a burial ground as there is, probably, in northwestern

Rufus Briggs writing in 1903 to the "Fulton County Tribune," stated that a school was in operation in Clinton Township, as early as 1838. He wrote: "The first school was taught by Erastus Briggs (his father) in the winter of 1838, in the log house previously occupied by Elisha Williams. The house was occupied about two or three weeks, when it burned down, and destroyed all the books, which was a great loss."

The same writer, in another article, stated that the log schoolhouse was situated on the north line, southeast quarter of section 25, and that nineteen children attended the first brief session, namely: John H., J. M., L. B., T. R., and Laura Williams; Cyrus, Calvin, and Hannah Coy; William, Rufus, and Lucia Huntington; Cornelia, Luther, and Waitman Lamb; Chester, Catherine, Rufus, Marie, and Roena Briggs. The burning of the schoolhouse ended the schooling for that year.

The next school was taught by Miss Cornelia Ives, in 1839. For the purpose a room in the log house of Erastus Briggs was used. Miss Ives taught for a session of two months, for one dollar a week.

In the winter of 1839-40, a school was conducted by Mr. West, at West Barre. Regarding this school, Charles W. Cornell, of Wauseon, recently wrote: "The first school I attended was in 1839, over on the ridge, at West Barre, then in Henry county, as the line between teacher was J. C. West, a Baptist preacher from Defiance. He received $15 a month, and his board, for his services. We wanted the county to aid us in meeting the expense of conducting our school, so the next year we moved the schoolhouse across the road into York

In 1839, according to Rufus Briggs, "a log schoolhouse was buili on the southeast quarter of section 15, known as the Losure, or Tedrow district." Lorenzo Bennett was the first teacher in that school, and he was paid a salary of $10, a month. The pupils were C. H. Losure, and five children of the Tedrow family, Rachel, Catherine, Jeremiah, Isaiah and William. That school "was not used long" stated Thomas Mikesell.

In the winter of 1840, school was held in a log cabin erected on February 21st of that year on the east line of the Elisha Williams Farm. Joseph Jewell was the teacher for the winter term, 1840-41, and was paid a monthly salary of fourteen dollars. In 1844-45, Gilbert Clark taught school in the Williams District for sixteen dollars a month, and boarded himself out of that stipend. In 1846, G. S. Barnes was the teacher. He was paid thirteen dollars a month, and was boarded by patrons of the school. Thomas W. Williams succeeded him as teacher, receiving eleven dollars a month. Miss Taft, and Michael Handy were the teachers during the next four years, the former receiving $1.50 a week, and Michael Handy $13.00 a month.

Thomas Mikesell's "History of Fulton County" (1905) refers to a schoolhouse built, in 1840, in the centre of section 14, stating that it had a chimney of brick, made by John Tigert, and in a later newspaper article, the same authority affirmed that "Long Bill" Jones taught in that school in 1840, adding that other later teachers thereat were Ben Bulger, William Fraker, Gamaliel Barnes, Betty Fleming, Elizabeth Cole, and Mrs. Amanda Pease.

was built in Clinton Township. It was erected on the east side of section 26. It was built of logs, cut out of the wood which surrounded the building. The windows were covered with paper, to let in the light, and keep out the cold, as we had no glass. The seats were puncheon, with legs driven in, while the desks were rough boards fastened to the wall It was a rough crude affair, but it was the best that those pioneers could do. It was in that building and district that the public system was started in Clinton Township. A school organization was perfected, and the district received aid from the government."

The earlier schools therefore must have been maintained by family subscription, although there is evidence that at least one other school district, the Tedrow District, received a money grant, for s.chool purposes, out of Lucas county funds in that year. Cornell further stated :

Handy, then a young man who had come from Detroit, and was formerly of New York. The first lady teacher was Mary Clough. Joseph Jewell taught in the school in its second year, and children came from a distance of six or seven miles to attend the school. Winter terms were all we had in those days, as everyone who was large enough to work had to help clear the forests and care for the crops. Arithmetic, reading, writing, geography, and a little grammar, was all that was taught. The contrast in the methods of teaching, and the text books used in those days, is no greater than between the log schoolhouse, with its puncheon seats, rough board desks, the open fireplace, any refraction of which meant the use of the birch, and the modern schoolhouse, with all the latest improvements, Out of those pioneer schools grew strong fearless men, with a big vision who laid

Charles W. Cornell, who in the early '50s was himself a teacher in Fulton county, and later became a Civil war veteran, was a worthy product of the pioneer school of Clinton Township. For almost four years he served his country, and his colonel wrote of him: "He was always conspicuous for his splendid courage, and great gallantry, on every field." And many others of the hundreds of sturdy young patriots who rallied to the Union, from Fulton county in 1861-65, passed their school years in the spartan environment of the pioneer school.

A creditable review of the history of Wauseon schools was written in 1910, by H. B. iSohn, and much of what follows is taken from that review. It appears that: "there was no school in Wauseon until the fall of 1854, when a temporary school was held in the carpenter shop of George Beal, on South Fulton street, now occupied by the Tribune Office, and then known as lot No. 3 of the newly incorporated village.

Miss Lidea Gorsucli, who later became Mrs. James Hogeboom, taught the winter term of this school, and Mrs. Zerada Leggett Waldron, taught the summer term. Provision for a public school was made immediately following the incorporation of the village, and one of the incorporators, Epaphras L. Barber, set aside ground on the northeast corner of Clinton and Elm streets, to be used exclusively for school purposes. The first schoolhouse was erected on the site in 1856, and was the plain two-story frame building, with its lower and upper room, so popularly known as the Old "White School (Little White Schoolhouse). This first schoolhouse was built by Ben Hogeboom, father of James and Abe Hogeboom."

It will be interesting here to give an extract from a reminiscent article written about fifteen years ago by James Hogeboom. The extract begins: "It was in the spring of 1855 when father moved his being here a few months, I became disgusted with the whole country, and T told father that if he wanted to stay in this mudhole, to be eaten alive by the mosquitoes, or die of ague, he should stay, but that I was going out of the place. Father was a carpenter, and I had always worked with him at his trade. It was along about this time that he was awarded the contract for building the 'Little WThite School House,' where for .half a century, or more, the babes of this little city first learned to read and write. Father wanted me to stay and help him with the building, which I did.

"The logs from which the lumber for this little schoolhouse was sawed were cut from the school lot, or from the streets of the village. Thomas Bayes had built a sawmill, and was ready to install the machinery when he sold it to William Meeks and Thomas Frazier. We hired Dora Swan to haul the logs to this mill, where they were sawed for the building, it being the first sawing done in Wauseon. On April 5, 1856, everything was ready and the 'Little White School- House' was raised. It was completed and ready for school that fall, father receiving $1,100 for it, having furnished everything, including seats. In the winter of 1856-57, John Deming and Miss Comstock taught school in this new building, being the first teachers."

"Wauseon grew very rapidly during the first few years of its settlement. and it was only a little while after the erection of the White School that more school room was needed. Accordingly, a small onestory brick schoolhouse was built on the north side of West Chestnut street, the property still standing as a residence. Children from the south end of the village attended this school, which was used for the primary grades, but this second schoolhouse was not long used, for in 1868. a special school district having been created, of which Wauseon was the larger part, there was erected on the northwest corner of Elm and Monroe streets the plain three-story brick building that, a few years ago, was remodeled for use as a county hospital. The contract for the building was given to J. Q. Riddle for $15,000, and he employed to build it a man by the name of J. N. 'Cutshaw. The building had to be condemned twenty-six years later, and for several years before that time was in a deplorable condition.

a bond issue for the erection of a normal school building, and house for boarding of out-of-town students. Local residents furnished money for the sites. A modern three-story brick and stone building was1 built for the school, between East Elm and Beech streets, costing two-thirds as much as our present high school building. From the opening of the normal school in 1388, until shortly before its discontinuance, the high school students attended classes there, the old brick school being used entirely for pupils of the grammar and intermediate grades. When the Normal was discontinued the lease was to revert to the municipality. However, some of the teachers, claiming they had lost money accommodated in the city hall. Matters were brought to a crisis in the winter of 1893-94 by the cracking of the walls of the old brick sehoolhouse, due to the action of the quicksand beneath its foundation The village immediately took possession of the normal school building for the use of the intermediate and grammar grades, the high school students waiting until the following fall, to permit part of the building to be altered. This building was the home of all the grades, with the exception of the primary, until the spring of 1908, when the new high school building was completed. The latter structure, a modern, two-storv building, of red pressed brick and stone, was erected at a cost of $35,000, in 1907-08, and today is regarded by school authorities throughout Ohio, as one of the best of its size to be found anywhere. Besides providing an assembly hall, cla&s and laboratory rooms ample for a high school of 250 students, it houses the first two primary grades, and in the basement has a gymnasium for the use of the students.

Tubbs, the first teacher in the White School, in the fall of 1856, John Spillane, a strict disciplinarian, Mis. Mary Huntington Hunt, Mrs. Ella Jewell Tubbs, Miss Deming, Mrs. Libbie Lyon, and Mrs. Nellie Bickford. The latter taught in the schools of the county for twenty-six yearn (Mrs. Libbie Durgin Lyon taught also for many years, and

J. 0. Allen, who in 1860, or 1861, had taught the upper room in the old White School. Mr. Allen's select school was situated in the old Mikesell Building, a three-story brick structure that occupied the site of the Cochrane Building, on Elm and Fulton streets. Others of the earliest teachers of the grades below the high school were Mrs. W. C. Kelley, Martha Jordan Moore, Mrs. Clay, 'Sarah A. Johnson, Hattie Herbert, Miss Allen, Mrs. Ellen Spring Anderson, Mrs. Minnie Waid Darby, Mrs. Anna Fleet Miller, Mrs. Anna Butler Brinkman, Miss E. R. Lyon, Lottie Abbott, Mrs. Alice Powers Smith and her sister Mrs. Buell, Mrs. Amanda Jones Clark, Mrs. Clara Williams Browning, and Mrs. Emma Brigham Taft The record for long service is held by Mrs. Addie DeMeritt, who, when she retired in 1909, had taught thirty-three years. Almost as remarkable is the record of Mrs. Phoebe Riddle, long teacher of the sixth grade, who taught practically a quarter of a century."

"It has fallen to the lot of few people to exert a greater influence upon the lives of the children of Wauseon and vicinity than that of Mrs. DeMerritt. For thirty-two years she taught the second-grade pupils of our public schools. It was in the 'Little White School House' where she reigned as the mother queen and teacher of those American frequent was the expression heard: 'She was one of my first teachers, and I will ever remember her for the kindness and patience shown me, and for the inspiration of the nobler and better things in life I gained from her.' No finer tribute could be paid to the worth of any life than this."

"The very first of these teachers (high school), who presided over the upper room of the 'Old White School,' teaching grammar as well as high school branches, was John Deming, who taught here in the late '50s. About 1860, or 1861, J. 0. Allen was the teacher, and in 1861 a man by the name of Delano, from Cleveland, took charge and was succeeded that year by the most distinguished of all our high school teachers, at least in name - Marquis de Lafayette Buell - - wdio held the position for two years. Miss Emma Springer was principal in 1870, another woman principal, Mary A. Curtiss succeeding her The real launching of the high school, on a farm basis probably came in 1875. On July 4th of that year, the board of education, meeting in the office of President Albert Deyo, took under contract, as superintendent, a youth fresh from Marietta College This teacher was J. E. Safer, now United States district judge at Columbus. Remaining here until the early '80s, Mr. Sater put the school on a higher grade than it had ever been before. .

But Mr. Sater was ambitious to become a lawyer, and studied for the profession while yet in Wauseon. Soon after Mr. Safer, came a superintendent by the name of Job H. Scott Then came A. G. Crouse,

Professor C. J. Bierv was superintendent for more than a decade, and a very capable one. In 1914, when, under the new school laws, all the schools of the county passed under the direct control of the county board of education, he was appointed county school superintendent, resigning that office a year later, to accept a professorship at the State Normal College, Bowling Green, Ohio. As principal of Wauseon High School, he was succeeded by M. L. Altstetter, who in 1919 asked for an extended leave of absence, his place being taken by P. S. Johnson, the present principal.

Extensive review cannot here be given to the history of the township schools. In 1888, there were twelve school districts in Clinton Township, in addition to the Wauseon district, and a special joint district at Pettisville, that sehoolhouse being located in Clinton Township, but many of its pupils being from German Township. And

The Clinton Township schools of the present (1920) consist of nine one-room elementary district schools, the aggregate value of which is $8,700. In 1919 the enrollment was 307. In addition there are the Wauseon schools, elementary and high, valued at $78,100, and serving 442 pupils in elementary grades, and 218 in high. Pettisvillc is a separate rural district, the two-room schoolhou.se there being of second grade consolidated class. It is valued at $3,530, and 63 scholars were enrolled for the 1919 sessions.

The boards of education of the three Clinton Township school districts are: Wauseon district; Dr. E. G. Cole, president; G. Scott Roos, clerk, P. M. Clingaman, A. M. Barber, and Carl F. Orth; Pettisville Special district: AV. J. Weber, president; Geo. McGuffin, clerk; A. J. Lantz, F. D. Lehman, and Adam Britsch; Clinton Township district: C. R. Shadle, president; J. F. Dimke, clerk; O. E. Meller, J. E. Crew, J. C. Barckert, and John Gorsuch.

The founding of Wauseon churches was prefaced, of course, by religious activities in Clinton Township many years before AVauseon came into existence, its members being, in great measure, drawn from those pioneer church societies of the township. The Rev. Uriel Spencer, an ordained Methodist minister was probably the first to hold religious sendees in Clinton Township. He preached in the log cabin of Elisha Huntington in October, 1836, and later in other cabins in the settlement. And a class of the Disciples, or Campbellite, church was organized early, and meetings held in Elisha AVilliams' cabin, or in the cabin used for school purposes in the Williams district. Other denominations formed societies in the settlement soon after the pioneers came in sufficient numbers. In 1840, or 1841, the Rev. J. C. West, a Baptist minister from Defiance, taught school at AA7est Barre, and held what might be termed a religious revival at that place, using the school house for his meetings. "Quite a number of persons were converted and baptized in Turkey Foot Creek, near the home of a Mr. AY ise." It is somewhat difficult to determine which denomination was the first to actually build a house set apart exclusively for church purposes. One authority states that "the first church of any denomination was erected at Pettisville, by the Baptist Society; another affirms that "the first church, or house of public worship, built in Clinton Township was erected by the Campbellites, or Disciples of Christ, on the east side of a public highway, in section. 17, near the present residence of A. R. Loveland. It was a frame building, and was erected about 1852."

Of AVauseon churches, the first to be built was the frame church which stood until 1875 on the northeast corner of Fulton and Elm streets, where now is the brick block occupied by the AVauseon "Republican." The construction of the frame church by the Methodist Society was begun in 1855, and it was dedicated in 1857. In the '70s. after the Methodists had built their larger brick church, the wooden one was purchased by the Catholic Society, and moved to the northwest corner of Clinton street, where it was for many years known as St. Caspar's Church. The Congregational Society of Wauseon was organized in 1861, and a church built in 1864. The Disciples or Christian Church was organized in 1862, but a church building was not erected until 1864, in which year the First Baptist Church, of Wauseon, was organized. The church was built in 1868. Other churches were of later establishment.

Methodist Episcopal Church. The "History of the Central Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church," published in 1914, by the Methodist Book Concern, states, regarding the Wauseon Methodist Episcopal Church :

"When the settlers came to the vicinity of what is now Wauseon, they brought their religion along with them. Among them, from 1837 on, were Methodists. The Rev. Ohas. Babcock, of Waterville Circuit, coming in 1838, was the first preacher. Their number increased

"Doubtless the first Methodist preacher in that vicinity was the Rev. Uriel Spencer, who settled a few miles east of Wauseon, in 1835 or 1836. Fie had to give up the regular ministry because of throat trouble, and came here and preached occasionally.

"The pastors who served the church here from 1838 to 1860, when the church had its first resident pastor, were as follows: Chas Babcock, Alex Campbell, Liberty Prentiss, J. W. Brakefield, Hatch and Thomas, Wm. Thatcher, and Mower, Octavius Waters, J. M. Wil- cox, Hy. Warner, John Crabb and Thompson, Ambrose ILollington, and John Fraunfclter, Martin Perkey, W. W. Winters and D. D. S. Reagh, A. B. Poe and P. Steven. In 1860 a parsonage was built in Wauseon, and it became a station. The station preachers from 1860, in order of service, were: Lewis J. Dale, F. L. Harper, P. R. Henderson, A. M. Corey, Benjamin Herbert, J. R. Colgan, C. G. Ferris, E. A. Berry, N. B. C. Love, John Wilson, G. IT. Priddy, E. S. Dunham, J. D. Simms, J. II. Fitzwater, J. W. Donnan, D. F. Helms, A. B. Leonard, M. D. Baumgardner, W. E. Hill, Wm. MoK. Brackney, F. E. Higbie, W. W. Lance, Daniel Carter, C. W. Hoffman, Geo. B. Wiltsie, and S. R. Dunham, present pastor. Early officials of the church included James Pease, John Linfoot, Wm. Mikesell, Wm. Baves, Thomas Bayes, and Daniel Ritzenthaler."

''The first church building in Wauseon was the Methodist, and was started in 1855, when the town was one year old, and dedicated in 1857, by Rev. Thomas Barkdull, a presiding elder of the early days. This was a frame building, and cost $1,300. In 1874, the construction of the present two-story brick building was begun. It cost $15,000, and was dedicated in August, or September, 1875. It was repaired and added to in 1913, at a cost of nearly $3,500.

"A parsonage was built in 1860, on the same lot with the church and was used until 1874, when it was sold, and the new church placed on part of the same ground it had occupied. Then, until 1903, there was no residence for pastors. In 1903, a house and lot were bought, for $2,000."

The Wauseon Methodist Episcopal Church is a strong and active organization. Its Sunday School is prosperous, and is much strengthened by the enthusiasm of its men's and women's Bible classes.

First Congregational Church of Wauseon. The Congregational Society of Wauseon was organized on June 11, 1861, growing out of the society founded at Lena, in 1854, and its early history Is briefly sketched in the "Manual of the Congregational Church, in Wauseon, Ohio" published in 1874. It stated:

"This church was organized June 11, 1861, by Rev. James R. Wright, assisted by J. G. W. Coles, of Bellevue, Ohio. It consisted of the following named persons: A. .J. Knapp and wife, Joel Lyon and wife, Mrs. E. F. Greenough, Mrs. Judith Dudley, Jerome IT. Shaw, and John Bates. A. J. Knapp was elected clerk, Mr. Wright engaged to preach every other Sabbath, occupying the Methodist Episcopal Church, and closed his labors July, 1862. In September, 1862, Rev. Wm. Bridgman, of Oberlin, was engaged to supply the pulpit, and remained four months. In June, 1863, Rev. Gideon Dana was called arrangements were matured for the erection of a house of worship, which was built at a cost of $2,174.85, including lot and fixtures, and was dedicated, October 7, 1864, Rev. Amzi Barber, of Geneva, Ohio, preaching the sermon. Immediately following the dedication of the house the church enjoyed a revival, the result of which was 23 were united to the church. Under Mr. Dana's leadership the membership increased by 53 In September, 1865, Rev. G. W. Walker became pastor, and continued until August 1, 1869 In July, 1869, house of worship was enlarged by 16 feet, and by a vestry, 24x18 feet, at a cost of $1,250.00 November 1, 1872, Rev. Mr. Edwards was employed In the June following the Church and

The total membership of the church in 1874 was 160. But during the next three decades, the membership outgrew the capacity of the first frame building, 'and early in the new century prominent members sought to bring the church to a unanimous- decision to rebuild. That was effected, and on Sunday, February 5, 1905, the last morning service was held in the old church, a new and beautiful stone church having been erected, on the southeast corner of Clinton and Elm streets, at a cost of more than $16,000, which figure was somewhat in excess of the estimated cost. The new church, "a model of beauty and convenience" was dedicated on February 12, 1905, by

Dr. FI. C. King, president of Oberlin College, whose text was "The Surpassing Significance of the Christian Church." The pastor of the church, Rev. F. E. Kenyon, and his building committee, had labored diligently that the passing into the new church should be attended with success, and although the cost exceeded, by several thousand dollars, the original amount set aside for the building, the cost was met soon after the building was completed, and occupied, with the exception of $1,600, which had been pledged, and was soon collected. The building has adequately met the needs of the church since that time. The total seating capacity of the auditorium and Sunday School rooms, which are separated from it by sliding doors, is about five hundred persons. The Rev. F. E. Keynon was pastor for many years. He is still resident in Wauseon, and prominent in the church, being editor and part-owner of the "Fulton County Tribune," one of the long-established newspapers of the county seat. The Rev. A. B. Eby was pastor until quite recently, resigning the pastorate, so that he might join in the work of the Survey Department, of the Interchurch World Movement. He made a religious survey of Fulton County, for that organization.

First Christian Church, of Wauseon, was organized in 1862, the principal founders being Elder L. L. Carpenter, and Brother Burnet. The Funk family, into which Elder Carpenter married, also has place among the founders of that church. Elder Carpenter was county treasurer in 1862, and had consequently to reside in Ottokee, which probably is the reason why the Rev. Elberry Smith is named as having been the first! pastor. At the end of his term as county treasurer, Elder Carpenter took up residence in Wauseon, and became pastor of the Wauseon church. A house of worship was erected in 1864, on the north side of Elm street, east of Fulton, and that has ever since been the location of the church. Forty-three years later a magnificent pressed brick and stone structure replaced the original building. It was dedicated in October 1907, by the church's principal founder, Elder L. L. Carpenter, who returned to Wauseon, from Wabash, Indiana, for the purpose. The original building, during the forty years, had many times been enlarged, but eventually it was found necessary to rebuild; and in order to adequately meet the prospective requirements of the rapidly-growing church a building with seating capacity for 800 persons was decided upon, and eventually built at a cost of more than $23,000, $9,000 of which was raised at the dedicatory services. The pastor of the church at the time of rebuilding, and for some years previous to that, was the Rev. Chas R. Oakley, and much of the credit for the successful consummation of the project is due to his energetic and forceful efforts. The church is constructed of white pressed brick, with stone trimmings, and the architectural design is very pleasing.

It is not possible to name all the pastors, but the names of a few, who were early in the charge, are on record. Following Elder Carpenter, Elder Parker became pastor; then, in chronological order, came Elders Baker, Gibbs, Terry, White, Atwater, Nesslage, Newton, and Moore. The church is now in a very prosperous condition, and has a thriving Sunday School; but very soon they will lose their pastor, C. F. Evans, who has been with them for three years. He has tendered his resignation, to take effect in August, 1920, and his successor has not yet been appointed.

The First Baptist Church, of Wauseon, dates back to 1868. The Baptist Society was organized in 1864, and it is understood that its first pastor was the Rev. George Leonard. The Baptists have the distinction of having been the first to build a brick, or stone, church in Wauseon, and the pioneer members of that church in Wauseon must have been men of broad vision, or of substantial means and liberal disposition, for their numbers were then few, yet the church was well and substantially builded, and has served the needs of the denomination to this day. Hiram L. Moseley was one of the pioneers of the church, and undoubtedly its affairs were close to his heart. He, one of the early merchants of Wauseon, lived almost opposite the church, and appears to have given much time to its affairs. His daughter states that her mother often, in the late '60s, while the church was under construction, -would, at the lunch hour "go out and look through the wroods toward town to see if Mr. Moseley was on his wav home," and that, having caught sight of him, she would hurry indoors and serve the dinner. But more than once he did not come until the dinner had become cold. He had "been over to see how things were progressing with the church building," and "he thought more of climbing the church tower than of his dinner." Another of the founders was Abraham Falconer. He and Moseley were deacons for many years. Early ministers were Homer Eddy, J. J. Davis, and Stephen F. Massett. The society has followed an even course during the almost sixty years of its existence, and has contributed much to the religious upbringing of the people of Wauseon. Church records are not available, but its progress has apparently been good. At present the church is without a pastor.

St. Caspar's Roman Catholic Church. The members of the Catholic Church, in Fulton county, were in the early days of settlement visited by missionary priests, who came from Cincinnati. There were more Catholics in German Township than in any other township, and the records consequently centre in Archbold, which was the first of the Fulton county towns to have a resident pastor. That occurred in 1875, prior to which the small groups of Catholics throughout the territory constituted missions, visited periodically by mission priests; and it was the duty of the resident pastor at Archbold to care for the spiritual needs of all the people of the church living along the "Air Line," from Swanton to Edgerton, and including missions at Swanton, Delta, Wauseon, Archbold, Stryker, and Bryan. The records go back to 1850, and the mission priests sent into the county during the next twentv-five years were: 1850, Rev. Thilieres; 1858- 65, A: Hoeffel; 1865-67, N. Kirch ; 1867-69, P. Baker; 1869-70, I. Eyler and Monsignor Rappe; 1870-73, Charles Braschler; 1873-75, L. Vogt. Father H. Delbaer was the first resident pastor, and 1877 he was succeeded by N. S. Franche. In 1881 came F. Nunan; in 1882, Father Primean; in 1884, G. C. Schoeneman; in 1886, F. H. Muehlenbeck; and in 1898, Father Peter H. Janssen.

St. Caspar's Parish, in Wauseon, may be assumed to have well begun its existence when the old Methodist Church was acquired, in 1875, and removed to the northwest corner of Clinton street, and there repaired, and made suitable for the purposes of worship, by the Catholic Society of Wauseon. It was probably during the pastorate of Father Vogt that arrangements were made to purchase the Methodist Church building. It served as St. Caspar's Church until destroyed by fire in 1894. At that time, the communicants of the Catholic Church in Wauseon numbered only about twenty families; nevertheless the destruction of their church did not dishearten them, and they made immediate plans for the erection of a larger brick church building. It was dedicated in 1895, and though simple in style has well served the Catholics of the vicinity since, as a place of worship. Father Muehlenbeck was pastor at that time, and it was mainly by his efforts that the liabilities incurred in the erection of the church were met. Rev. P. IT. Janssen succeeded Father Muehlenbeck, and served the congregation for fourteen years, until Wauseon was attached to Swanton. Fathers Berthelot, Keibel, Elder, Kennedy, and McFadden, successively, and faithfully, looked after the spiritual welfare of the parish, until the appointment of a resident pastor. The parish had for several years desired a resident pastor, and the Bishop of

The congregation is small, scarcely fifty families, but they are devout and industrious people, and are deserving of praise for having so well maintained St. Caspar's Church.

The United Brethren Church, Wauseon, was formed in 1878, according to the official records of the "Fulton Circuit, Michigan Annual Conference, of the United Brethren in Christ." The Rev. S. P. Klotz was circuit preacher in 1875-78, and in 1877 the circuit included the following named church societies: Olive Branch, Zion, Pleasant Grove, Spring Hill, Etna, and Union. The circuit preacher's annual report to the 1878 conference recorded that he had "formed a new class of forty-five at Wauseon." It is presumed that so the Wauseon church came into existence, although the compiler of the "History of Henry and Fulton Counties" (1888), made the following statement: "The United Brethren Church in Wauseon is largely the result of the efforts of an aged retired preacher of that faith, named John Miller, who, desiring a place of worship for the people living in Newcomer's Addition, built, in 1874, a small house of worship out of his own means, near the center of the addition, on land belonging to himself, and which by common consent was called Miller's Chapel. This was the neuclus for the people of that faith, and they grew in numbers and resources until, in 1879, they began, and in 1880 completed, a good brick meeting-house, on the east side of Fulton avenue, its dedication taking place in August, 1880. Bishop Weaver conducted the dedicatory services."

R. C. Skeels, of Chestnut street, Wauseon, the only surviving charter-member of the Wauseon Church, states that "in 1870 or 1877, Uncle Miller built a little house at the edge of town, and had Klotz dedicate it. There were only a few members, but he held a meeting, and had quite a revival, and so formed the Brethren," which statement harmonizes with the circuit preacher's report, in 1878, which report may have covered the activities of the previous year. Mr. Skeels, who for forty years was prominent in the church, says that the "Rev. S. P. Klotz was the preacher at Zion, Delta, Church for a couple of years, and was sent from there to organize a Wauseon class." The church opened in 1880 cost $3,000 to erect, and at the outset, and for many years thereafter, was held, jointly, by the United Brethren Church and the German Brethren, the former society eventually acquiring the share of the German society. The first pastor was G. W. Crawford. J. W. Lilley was presiding elder for several years, and the Rev. S. P. Klotz again came and held the charge for a year or so. Other well-liked pastors were Hendrickson and Williams; and the Rev. C. P. Hopkins, the present pastor, has made many friends since he took charge. The church members are now discussing the desirability, or otherwise, of building a larger church. Among prominent early laymen of the church were members of the Mikesell family, and H. W. Cherry, "Billy" Wier, and several members of the Skeels family.

ruination of the efforts of more than twenty years of gradual growth of the association. Members of the Hartman family were among those early prominent in the affairs of the Evangelical Association, and a church known as the Hartman Church, or as the Evangelical Church of the Evangelical Association was founded in 1872, and built about two miles west of the village of Wauseon. The Wauseon society, in the '80s, rented a room on Elm street, in the Cheadle block, for their services, and they grew steadily as the years passed. It has been stated that "some of their pastors have been noted for their humble piety and devotion to the cause of practical religion, and have accomplished much permanent good."

The Church of Gor>, a small association of devout and conscien- - tious citizens, was founded about thirty years ago. Mrs. Sophie Becker, Nathan Gorsuch and his wife, Fred Becker, and others of like conviction on religious matters, held meetings at Ottokee, and the movement spread to Wauseon, and meetings were for some time continued in private homes in that village. About nine years ago, in 1911, the present .church building, of cement block construction, was erected on the 500 block of North Fulton street, west. The building cost about $2,500, and was dedicated in December, 1911, by the Rev. J. L. Williams, of Stoneboro, Pennsylvania. David M. Gerrick, of Auburn, Indiana, was appointed resident pastor in 1911, and has so continued to the present. There are about thirty-five church members, and a good Sunday School is conducted.