Gibson Township

Gibson Township

\Vhich is located in the southwest corner of this county, was originally in Darke County, Ohio, and became a part of Mercer County in 1849. It is bounded on the "north by Recovery township, on the east by Granville township, on the south by Darke County and on the west by the Indiana State line. It is six miles long" from east to west and has an average width from north to south of three and a half miles, the only variation being on the northern line, which corresponds to that of the old Greenville treaty line, which bears northwest until it strikes the Wabash River at Fort Recovery, where it diverges to the southwest, continuing in this direction until it reaches the State line. The township has no streams of any considerable size. The Wabash River has its source in Hog Prairie, four miles south of Fort Recovery and perhaps half a mile east. From there, only a small ditch in size, it runs south and east for quite a distance and winds around to the north and west until it arrives at Fort Recovery, within four miles of its source, having traversed a space of 60 miles in its meanderings. The land is for the most part rolling, although some portions are a little hilly. There are good gravel banks in the section of the township that is near the town of Fort Recovery. Farming and stockraising are the principal pursuits of the citizens of the township. The farming lands are nearly all cleared and dense woods are a thing of the past. Groves that are left for shade and wooded pastures are all that are left to remind one of days that are gone. A thorough system of ditching and tile drainage has reclaimed all the swales and low swamp lands and converted them into fine fertile farms, and water is no longer found in pools along the roads for the greater part of the year, as was formerly the case. The mud roads of by-gone days have been macadamized. Large frame barns and granaries are now found on farms that not many years ago had old log barns and other pioneer buildings. The churches are for the most part modern structures, principally constructed of brick, and the same can also be said of the schoolhouses. There is a large German Catholic population in the eastern part of the township, while in the western part are English-speaking people, the Germans in this section being Protestants.

And Representative Citizens

Gibson township has 4.309 acres of cultivated land ; 4,494 acres of pasture land; 2,371 acres of woodland; and 515 acres of waste land, as reported to the county auditor by the assessor in 1906. The population of the township was 1,462 in 1880; 1,658 in 1890; and 1,568 in 1900. The township officials at the present time are the following: Trustees - R. E. McClung,

James Z. Mott and John Hildbold; clerk, A. A. Kolp ; treasurer, John Isenhart ; justices of the peace - William Reichard and James Sanford Watkins.

The southern and western part of Gibson township was largely settled by people from Southern Ohio and Pennsylvania, who originally came from Virginia and North and South Carollina, although a few came from Delaware. Among the early settlers in this section were the families of James -Cummins, Henry Denney, Benjamin Clark and William F. Denney, who came from Gallia County, Ohio ; the Clarks, who came from England ; Wateman Hastings and Solomon Collins, who came from the State of Delaware ; and Robert Hunter, James Alexander and David Hays who came from Fairfield County, Ohio - all of these settled in Gibson township about the same time. Nathan S. Scranton settled on a farm in Gibson township in 1849; the Scranton family, who were originally from the State of Connecticut, came to Mercer County from Medina County, Ohio. Near the town of Fort Recovery and north of the first neighborhood, Robert Travis, Edward Jones, Sylvester Schutt, Jacob Schaffer, Jacob Stuber and Joseph Clark and their families settled. In the eastern part of the township, around Sharpsburg, Aaron Rood and wife and' his sons, L. B. Rood and Alpha Rood, who were Yankees in every sense of the word; the Jones and Hall families and the families of Thomas Rockwell, Jacob and George Meyers and William Snyder - all of whom came from Butler County, Ohio - settled at an early date. In the same section of the township also settled John L. Fox, David Johnson, John Hedrick and Abraham Mott, Sr. - Abraham and James Z. Mott, sons of the lastnamed pioneer, still live in the township. The Lowry family came in at a later date and its representatives are still living in the township. Samuel Briner, Samuel Keller, David F. Blake (who went to Missouri in 1857), George Sigler, M. W. Diggs and George Painter were early settlers in the southern part of the township. Other early settlers were James Watkins, Daniel Broclc and John McDaniel.

It seems to be a settled fact that the older the country, the fewer the .country schools. This is true in Gibson township to-day: The schools out- side of the town of Fort Recovery are not as large as they were 35 years ago, when the writer had a very personal knowledge of them. Then there were six district schools, maintained on an average of eight or nine months in the year, and each one of these schools had an average attendance of not less than 50 pupils, and at least three had from 75 to 100 pupils each. At the present time it takes three of these same school districts combined to maintain oneschool, and this one with only about 30 pupils in attendance. The Board of Education think it both cheaper and better to hire a man to haul the pupils back and forth from their own district to a school in some other district than to hire teachers for each school district. Special school districts have been created that take the place of sub-districts.

Is a small place in the southeast part of Gibson township, which for many years has had a general merchandise store, formerly owned and operated by George Zenz, but now conducted by his son John. There was a postoffice here, known as Violet, until it was displaced by the introduction of the rural free delivery of mail. St. Paul's Catholic Church is located here.

With the exception of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at St. Joseph in Recovery township, St. Peter's Catholic Church at St. Peter in Recovery township, St. Paul's Catholic Church at Sharpsburg and Bethel Church of the Evangelical Church in the western part of Gibson township, all the churches in the two townships are located at Fort Recovery.

Pisgah Congregational Church at Fort Recovery was organized as a Presbyterian Church in 1851 by I. N. Taylor (founder of Liber College) and his father. Judge Taylor, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was reorganized in 1854 as Pisgah Congregational Church, which name it has since retained. The original society consisted of eight members, viz. : David Hays, Catherine Hays, Nancy Collins, Wateman Hastings, Eleanor Hastings, Samuel Briner, Elizabeth Grissom and Betsey Guy. The church has a present membership of 1 18 and an average Sunday-school attendance of 60. The church building was erected in 1883 at a cost of $4,000. The following pastors have served since the reorganization of the church in 1854: Rev. John Brice, from 1854 ganized August 8, 1869, by 14 voting members, only one of whom, Philip Augenstein, of Fort Recovery, is still among the living. The first church structure, 30 by 40 feet in dimensions, erected in 1870, finally becoming too small for the growing congregation, the present brick church was erected in 1903 at a cost of $12,000. The parsonage, also a brick building, cost $4,000. Up to about 1895 the services were conducted exclusively in German but now English is used every other Sunday. The congregation at the present time has 68 voting members, 180 communicants and about 275 souls. The Sunday-school, which is conducted in English, has 120 scholars. The following pastors have served Trinity congregation : Revs. H. Kreuter, 1869-71; Carl Benzin, 1871-78; F. W. Franke, 1878-81; A. J. Feeger, 1881-86; George Wolf, 1887-90; A. A. Dapper, 1890-1900; W. F. Benzin, 1900-04; and William Emch, who has served since 1904.

The Fort Recovery Methodist Episcopal Church was established many years ago. The present church building, located on the north side of East Broadway, on a lot that was presented to the trustees of the church by Thomas Roop, was commenced in 1874 and finished in 1875. The church is a brick structure, 36 by 54 feet in dimensions. The building committee was composed of D. J. Roop, Eli Winter, Abraham Rantz, George R. McDaniel, J. H. Johnson, D. H. Richardson and J. S. Hoyt. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Erastus and Washington Chapel, both in Washington township, are served by the same pastor as the Fort Recovery church. The following are the names of the pastors from 1879 to the present time: Revs. W. S.

For the past five or six years there have been at Fort Recovery two societies of the Church of Christ, commonly called the Disciples' Church. A division in church matters in the original society resulted in the formation of a second society and at the present time there are two church buildings used by members of this denomination. The church building of the original society was erected and dedicated in 1889. It is a frame structure, 40 by

Eckenrode, Emma Eckenrode, J. C. F. McDaniel, Fannie McDaniel, Elizabeth Hedrick, Ida M. Hedrick, Sarah Hedrick, John Bennett, Martha Bennett, Wila Clark, Emma Clark, Elizabeth Cummins, Manda Hoke, Hattie Abraham and Mr. and Mrs. John Thompson. The church has 43 members at the present time. The Sunday-school has an attendance averaging from 40 to 75. The present pastor is Rev. J. A. Persinger. He was preceded by Rev. I. N. Sutton and he by Rev. A. J. Beard. Among the other pastors of this church have been the following: Revs. Joseph Harter, Samuel Armstrong, H. H. Hill, W. W. I larsass, D. W. Campbell, J. M. Smith, J. A. Randall and D. C. Call.

Bethel Church of the Evangelical Association is located in the western part of Gibson township. This class was organized in 1858, when it was known as the Stuber class, the members at that time being the following: George Stuber and family, Leonard Holstein and wife, John Orth and family, Philip Shaffer and family, Jacob Shaffer and family, Christian May and wife, Ludwig Heis and wife and William Christopher and wife. For many years these Christians held their religious services at private homes and later on in the schoolhouse. The present church edifice, which was also the first one. is a frame structure, erected in the year 1872 at a cost of about $1,200, including the ground. At this time the church was given the name of Bethel Church. Frederick Heis is the only member of the class now living that was a member when the church was built. The preaching at the present time is wholly in English and has been for a great many years. When the class was first organized, the services were all in German. The church has a present membership of 65 and an average Sunday-school attendance of 40. Delphos Mott is superintendent of the Sunday-school. The first minister of the church was Rev. George Glouse, who remained two years. Llis successors and the period of their services were as follows : Revs. Philip Swartz, two years; Edward Evans, two years; C. Uphouse, two years; Charles Slnih, two years; Enos Troyer, two years; Carl Schamo, one year; John Schomber, under whose supervision the church was built, two years; Charles Heim, two years; Frank Dill, one year; L. S. Fisher, three years; Henry Meyers, one \ ear ; Samuel Hoffenbert, two years ; Elias Hostetter, two years ; C. Rainy, two years; S. Rilmeol, three years; J. M. Smith, two years; F. L. Snyder, three years; Charles Spangler, one year; P. L. Browns, two years; and John Rees, who is the present, pastor.

The Catholic churches of the two townships, whose history will be given in another chapter, are as follows : Church of Mary, Help of Christians, at

Fort Recovery

Lies in both Recovery and Gibson townships, the dividing line being the Greenville treaty line, which marked the southern boundary of Mercer County, and the northern boundary of Darke County until 1849.

The village .derives its namei from the fort established here, on the site of St. Clair's defeat, by Gen. Anthony Wayne, in December, 1793. "It is historic ground, and the village stands at once a monument to the defeat of St. Clair and the victory of Wayne. Small though it is, -it occupies a prominent place in American history, for with its name is associated the memory of that terrible, crushing defeat, which endangered the whole frontier, but rendered sacred the ground baptized in patriotic blood. It marks also the site of Fort Recovery, built by the army of General Wayne as a waymark along that trail, which led to crowning victory."

After Harmar's disastrous expedition into the Indian country, Congress conceived the idea of establishing a chain of posts in the Indian country between Fort Wayne and Fort Washington (Cincinnati), so as to awe and curb the Indians, as the only preventative of future hostilities. The command of the expedition was given to Gen. Arthur St. Clair, under whom was Maj.- Gen. Richard Butler. The army left Fort Washington in September, 1791, and proceeded to Ludlow's Station, six miles distant, where it remained until the 17th. when, being 2,300 strong, exclusive of militia, it moved northward and built Fort Hamilton on the Great Miami. The march was then continued to a point about 65 miles from Fort Washington, where Fort Jefferson was erected. On the 24th of October Fort Jefferson was left behind and the toilsome march through the wilderness begun. The succeeding events of this ill-starred expedition we will quote in the words of Judge Burnet, of Cincinnati :

"During this time a body of the militia, amounting to 300, deserted and returned to their homes. The supplies for the army being still in the rear, and the General entertaining fears that the deserters might meet and seize them for their own use, determined, very reluctantly, to send back the First Regiment for the double purpose of bringing up the provisions and, if possible of overtaking the arresting some of the deserters.

"Having made that arrangement, the army resumed its march, and, on the 3rd of November, arrived at a creek running to the southwest, which was supposed to be the St. Mary's, one of the principal branches of the Maumee, but was afterwards ascertained to be a branch of the Wabash. It being > then late in the afternoon, and the army much fatigued by a laborious march,

"It was the intention of the General to occupy that position till the First Regiment, with the provisions, should come up. He proposed on the next day to commence a work of defence, agreeably to a plan concerted between himself and Major Ferguson, but he was not permitted to do either; for, on the next morning, November 4th, half an hour before sunrise, the men having been just dismissed from parade, an attack was made on the militia posted in front, who gave way and rushed back into camp, throwing the army into a state of disorder, from which it could not be recovered, as the Indians followed close at their heels. They were, however, checked a short time by the fire of the first line, but immediately a very heavy fire was commenced on that line, and in a few minutes it was extended to the second.

"In each case the great weight of the fire was directed to the center, where the artillery was placed, from which the men were frequently driven with great slaughter. In that emergency resort was had to the bayonet. Colonel Darke was ordered to make the charge with a part of the second line, which order was executed with spirit. The Indians instanty gave way, and were driven back several hundred yards, but for want of a sufficient number of riflemen to preserve the advantage gained, the enemy soon renewed their attack, and the American troops in turn were forced to give way.

"At that instant the Indians entered the American camp on the left, having forced back the troops stationed at that point. Another charge was then ordered and made by the battalions of Majors Butler and Clark with great success. Several other charges were afterwards made, and always with equal effect. These attacks, however, were attended with a heavy loss of men, and particularly of officers. In the charge made by the Second Regiment Major Butler was dangerously wounded, and every officer of that regiment fell, except three, one of whom was shot through the body. The artillery being silenced, and all the officers belonging to it killed, but Captain Ford, who was dangerously wounded, and half the army having fallen, it became necessary to gain the road, if possible, and make a retreat.

"For that purpose a successful charge was made on the enemy, as if to turn their right flank, but in reality to gain the road, which was effected. The militia then commenced to retreat, followed by the United States troops, Major Clark with his battalion covering the rear. The retreat, as might be expected, soon became a flight. The camp was abandoned, and so was the artillery, for the want of horses to remove it. The men threw away their arms and accoutrements, even after the pursuit had ceased, which was not continued for more than four miles. The road was almost covered with these articles for a great distance.

"All the horses of the General were killed and he was mounted on a broken-down pack-horse that could scarcely be forced out of a walk. It was, therefore, impossible for him to get forward in person, to command a halt, till regularity could be restored, and the orders which he dispatched by others for that purpose were wholly unattended to. The rout continued to Fort Jefferson, where they arrived about dark, 27 miles from the battle-ground. The retreat began at half-past 9 in the morning, and as the battle commenced half an hour before sunrise, it must have lasted three hours, during which time, with only one exception, the troops behaved with great bravery. This fact accounts for the immense slaughter which took place.

"Among the killed were Major-General Butler, Colonel Oldham, Major Ferguson, Major Hart and Major Clark. Among the wounded were Colonel Sargeant, the adjutant-general, Colonel Darke, Colonel Gibson, Major Butler and Viscount Malartie, who served in the character of an aid. In addition to these, the list of officers killed contained the names of Captains Bradford,, Phelon, Kirkwood, Price, Van Swearingen, Tipton, Purdy, Smith, Piatt,. Gaither, Crebbs and Newman; Lieutenants Spear, Warren, Boyd, McMath, Burgess, Kelso, Read, Little, Hopper and Lickins; also, Ensigns Cobb, Balch, Chase, Turner, Wilson, Brooks, Beatty and Purdy; also, Quartermasters Reynolds and Ward, Adjt. Anderson and Doc. Grasson. And in addition to the wounded officers whose names are mentioned above the official list contains the names of Captains Doyle, Truman, Ford, Buchanan, Darke and Hough; also of Lieutenants Greaton, Davidson, DeButts, Price, Morgan, McCrea, Lysle and Thompson; also Adjutants Whistler and Crawford, and Ensign Bines.

"The only charge alleged by the General against his army was want of discipline, which they could not have acquired during the short time they had been in the service. That defect rendered it impossible, when they were thrown into confusion to restore them again to order, and is the chief reason why the loss fell so heavily on the officers. They were compelled to expose themselves in an unusual degree in their efforts to rally the men and remedy the want of discipline. In that duty the General set the example, though worn down by sickness and suffering under a painful disease. It was alleged by the officers that the Indians far outnumbered the American troops. That conclusion was drawn, in part, from the fact that they outflanked and attacked the American lines with great force, at the same time, on every side.

"When the fugitives arrived at Fort Jefferson, they found the First Regiment, which was just returning from the service on which it had been visions. The absence of that regiment at the time of battle was believed by some to be the cause of defeat. They supposed that had it been present the Indians would have been defeated, or would not have ventured an attack at the time they made it; but General St. Clair expressed great doubt on that subject. He seemed to think it uncertain, judging from the superior number of the enemy, whether he ought to consider the absence of that corps from the field of action as fortunate or otherwise. On the whole, he seemed to think it fortunate, as he very much doubted whether, if it had been in the action, the fortune of the day would have been changed; and if it had not, the triumph of the enemy would have been left destitute of the means of defence."

Another account of the battle, more graphic than the foregoing, is the one written by Major Denny, an officer of St. Clair's army, in his journal, which is as follows :

"The troops paraded this morning at the usual time, and had been dismissed from the lines but a few minutes, the sun not yet up, when the woods in front rung with the yells and fire of the savages. The poor militia, who were but 300 yards in front, had hardly time to return a shot - they lied into our camp. The troops were under arms in an instant, and a smart fire from the front line met the enemy. It was but a few minutes, however, until the men were engaged in every quarter. The enemy from the front filed off to the right and left, and completely surrounded the camp, killed and cut off nearly all the guards, and approached close to the lines. They advanced from one tree, log or stump, to another, under cover of the smoke of our fire. The artillery and musketry made a tremendous noise, but did little execution. The Indians seemed to brave everything, and when fairly fixed around us, they made no noise other than their fire, which they kept up very constant and which seldom failed to tell, although scarcely heard. Our left flank, probably from the nature of the ground, gave way first; the enemy got possession of that part of the encampment, but it being pretty clear ground, they were too much exposed and were soon repulsed. Was at this time with the General engaged toward the right ; he was on foot and led the party himself that drove the enemy and regained our ground on the left. The battalions in the rear charged several times and forced the savages from their shelter, but they always turned with the battalions and fired upon them back; indeed they seemed not to fear anything we could do. They could skip out of reach of the bayonet and return, as they pleased. They were visible only when raised by a charge. The ground was literally covered with the dead. The wounded were taken to the center, where it was thought most safe, and where a great many, who had quit their posts unhurt, had crowded together. The General, with other officers, endeavored to rally these men, and twice they were taken out to the lines. It appeared as if the officers had been singled out, a very great proportion fell, or were wounded and obliged to retire from the lines early in the action. General Butler was among the latter, as well as several others of the most experienced officers. The men, being thus left with few officers, became fearful, despaired of success, gave up the fight, and, to save themselves for the moment, abandoned entirely their duty and ground, and crowded in toward the center of the field, and no exertions could put them in any order even for defense ; perfectly ungovernable. The enemy at length got possession of the artillery, though not until the officers were all killed hut one, and he badly wounded, and the men almost all cut off, and not until the pieces were spiked. As our lines were deserted, the Indians contracted theirs until their shot centered from all points, and now meeting with little opposition, took more deliberate aim and did great execution. Exposed to a cross fire, men and officers were seen falling in every direction; the distress too of the wounded made the scene such as can scarcely he conceived ; a few minutes longer, and a retreat would have been impracticable. The only hope left was, that perhaps the savages would he so taken up with the camp as not to follow. Delay was death ; no preparation could be made ; numbers of brave men must he left at a sacrifice ; there was no alternative. It was past 9 o'clock when re- . peated orders were given to charge toward the road. The action had continued between two and three hours. Both officers and men seemed confounded, incapable of doing anything; they could not move until it was told that a retreat was intended. A few officers put themselves in front, the men followed, the enemy gave way, and perhaps not being aware of the design, we were for a few minutes left undisturbed. The stoutest and most active now took the lead, and those who were foremost in breaking the enemy's line were soon left behind. At the moment of the retreat, one of the few horses saved had been procured for the General; he was on foot until then;

I kept by him, and he delayed to see the rear. The enemy soon discovered the movement and pursued, though not for more than four or five miles, and but few so far; they turned to share the spoil. Soon after the firing ceased, I w'as directed to endeavor to gain the front, and, if possible, to cause a short halt that the rear might get up. I had been on horseback from the first alarm, and well mounted ; pushed forward, hut met with so many difficulties and interruptions from the people, that I was two hours at least laboring to leach the front. With the assistance of two or three officers 1 caused a short halt, but the men grew impatient and would move on. I got Lieutenants Seclam and Morgan, with half a dozen stout men, to fill up the road and move slowly,

I halted myself until the General came up. By this time the remains of the army had got somewhat compact, hut in the most miserable and defenseless state. The wounded who came off left their arms in the field, and one-half the others threw theirs away on the retreat. 1 he road for miles was covered with fire-locks, cartridge boxes and regimentals. How fortunate that the pursuit was discontinued ; a single Indian might have followed with safety upon either flank. Such a panic had seized the men, that I believe it would not have been possible to have brought any of them to engage again. In the afternoon Lieutenant Kearsey, with a detachment of the First Regiment, met us. This regiment, the only complete and best disciplined portion of the army, had been ordered back upon the road on the 31st of October. They were 30 miles from the battle-ground when they heard distinctly the firing of the cannon, were hastening forward and marched about nine miles, when met by some of the militia, who informed Major Hamtramck, the commanding officer, that the army was totally destroyed. The Major judged it best to send a subaltern to obtain some knowledge of things, and to return himself with the regiment to Fort Jefferson, eight miles back, and to secure at all events that post. He had made some arrangements, and as we arrived in the evening found him preparing again to meet us. Stragglers continued to come in for hours after we reached the fort."

From Fort Jefferson the retreat was continued to Fort Washington, as it was not considered possible to accommodate the army at the former place. The defeat of St. Clair drew upon his head "one loud and merciless outcry of abuse and even detestation" from all parts of the country.

In January, 1792, an expedition was sent from Fort Washington under General Wilkinson to bury the dead on the battle-ground and to bring off the valuable public property, which was reported to be still on the spot. Captain Buntin, a member of this party, afterwards addressed a letter to St. Clair, of which the following is an extract : "In my opinion those unfortunate men who fell into the enemy's hands with life were used with the greatest torture, having their limbs torn off; and the women have been treated with the most indecent cruelty, having stakes as thick as a person's arm driven through their bodies. The first I observed when burying the dead; and the latter was discovered by Colonel Sargeant and Dr. Brown. We found three whole carriages ; the other five were so much damaged that they were rendered useless. By the General's orders pits were dug in different places, and all the dead bodies that were exposed to view or could be conveniently found (the snow being very deep) were buried."

St. Clair's battle-field was next visited in December, 1793, when Gen. Anthony Wayne, who had been appointed to the command of the American troops, to retrieve the disaster of November 4, 1791, and break the power of the Indians, sent forward a detachment of troops to the battle-field from Fort Greenville, where he had arrived. The troops arrived on Christmas Day and pitched their tents on the battle-field. When the men went to lie down in their tents at night, they had to scrape the bones together and carry them out before they could make their beds. The next day holes were dug and the bones remaining above ground were buried; it is said that as many as 600 skulls were found among them. After this melancholy duty was performed, a fortification was built and named Fort Recovery. On its completion a company of artillery and one of riflemen were left as a garrison.

On the last day of June, 1794, a severe and bloody battle was fought under the walls of Fort Recovery between a detachment of American troops, consisting of 90 riflemen and 50 dragoons, under the command of Major McMahon, and a very numerous body of Indians and British, who at the same instant rushed on the detachment and assailed the fort on every side with great fury. They were repulsed with a heavy loss, but again rallied and renewed the attack, keeping up a heavy and constant fire during the whole day, which was returned with spirit and effect by the garrison. The next morning, McMahon's detachment having entered the fort after sustaining a severe loss, the enemy renewed the attack and continued it with great desperation during the day, but were ultimately compelled to retreat from the field. In this engagement, 22 officers and non-commissioned officers of the American forces were killed, while 30 were wounded. The losses of the Indians, of whom there were present from 1,500 to 2,000, were very heavy. Captain Gibson, who commanded the fort, and after whom the township of Gibson took its name, behaved with great gallantry. It was supposed that the British engaged in the attack expected to find the artillery that was lost on the fatal 4th of November, which had been hid in the ground and covered with logs by the Indians in the vicinity of the battle-field. Fortunately, most of it had been previously found by its legitimate owners, and was then employed in the defense of the fort.

All of St. Clair's cannon were subsequently recovered by Wayne but one, which was found, some 40 years after the battle, buried in the mud near the mouth of the creek. This piece, a 6-pounder, was sold to a volunteer artillery company at Cincinnati for $60.

The remains of Major McMahon and his companions, who fell at the time of the attack on the fort, were buried within its walls. In 1838, soon after the town of Fort Recovery was laid out, Robert G. Blake discovered their remains. The bones were disinterred and reburied in the villag'e ceme-

The fort stood in the northwest part of the town. All that remains of it to perpetuate its memory is a portion of the flag-staff, which was exhumed about 1880 and some years later sent to Columbus, where it now reposes in the relic room of the Capitol Building.

On July 7, 1851, John S. Rhodes and David J. Roop, while searching for bullets on the site of the old battle-field, discovered a human skull, partly covered, in one of the streets of the town, adjacent to the ground upon which the fort stood. Recent, heavy rains had washed off the earth. The discovery' induced a search, which resulted in the skeletons of some 60 persons being exhumed in a good state of preservation. The citizens of Fort Recovery held a meeting the next day, and resolved to reinter the bones, a committee being appointed to make suitable arrangements for the occasion.

This committee, consisting of William McDowell, Henry Lipps, Benjamin Cummins, Thomas Roop and David Beardslee selected Wednesday, September 10, 1851, as a suitable time and public notice of this action was duly given.

On Saturday, August 30, 1851, a mass meeting of the citizens of Mercer and adjoining counties, who felt disposed to participate in the solemnities of the reinterment of the remains of those who fell on the battle-ground of Fort Recovery, was held at the Court House in Celina, to make suitable arrangements to join their fellow-citizens of Fort Recovery on that occasion. The meeting organized by appointing Benjamin Linzee, chairman, and A. P. J. Snyder, secretary. Upon the object of the meeting being stated, F. C. Le Blond, William L. Blocher and John S. Brown were appointed a committee to draft resolutions, which in due time were reported by them and were as follows :

That the recent discovery of the remains of those brave worthies who fell in defense of their country at Fort Recovery, on the 4th of November, 1791, call loudly for some act of gratitude on the part of American citizens that will perpetuate their memory in the hearts of the present and future generations ; therefore

Resolved, That we highly approve the course pursued by our fellow-citizens of Fort Recovery in the prompt arrangements they have commenced to reinter those remains.

Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meeting, it would not only be an act of justice to the departed, but an act of duty on the part of the American Congress, to appropriate a sum of money sufficient to erect a suitable monument, in honor of the heroes of that memorable battle. 1

Resolved, That, for the purpose of carrying out the above resolutions, we hereby earnestly request our Senators and Members of Congress from this State to use their best exertions in procuring such an appropriation.

A committee of 1 1 was appointed to make suitable arrangements for the conveyance of those who wished to participate in the ceremonies at Fort Recovery.

1 he morning of the 10th of September, 1851, was clear, bright and warm and as the sun rose and cast his beams over the plain, made sacred by the blood of that brave band, every avenue leading to the village was so crowded that by 10 o'clock the concourse of citizens from Mercer, Darke, Preble and other counties in Ohio, and Jay, Adams, Wells, Randolph, and other counties in Indiana, assembled on the battle-ground was not less than 5,000.

1 he forepart of the day was occupied in placing the bones in 13 large, black walnut coffins, provided by the committee, which" had been made by Robert G. Blake and John S. Rhodes; a large box containing 10 bushels was also filled. The number of coffins was set at 13, because there were 13 States in the Union at the time the battle was fought, and in all human probability every State was represented in that battle. While the coffins were beingfilled, the people were permitted to examine the bones, many of which bore marks of the bullet and tomahawk.

Officers of the day having been appointed by the committee on arrangements, a procession was formed at 10 o'clock under the direction of the marshal, James Watson Riley, and his aids, as follows:

The procession thus formed, constituting a column a mile long, passed through the streets of the village to a grove southeast of the battle-ground, where an oration was pronounced by Hon. Bellamy Storer, of Cincinnati, who had been invited for the occasion. At the conclusion of the address, Hiram Bell, of Darke County, president of the day, spoke, being followed by Abner Haines, of Preble County, of the committee on resolutions, who reported a series of resolutions, urging Congress to appropriate money to erect a monument at Fort Recovery and one at Fort Greenville. The report was received and unanimously adopted. Committees composed of citizens of the different counties represented were appointed to solicit subscriptions for the furtherance of that object. Benjamin Linzee, James Watson Riley, PI. F. Juneman and two others were appointed on the part of Mercer County.

and moved to the burying-ground on the south side of the village, where the remains were returned to the earth with proper ceremonies, the coffins being deposited in one grave. The last act being performed, the people left the graveyard, each satisfied that he had done nothing more than his duty, willing to do more if possible. It is true they could not benefit those dry bones, but their history is the foundation of our history; their destruction kindled afresh the patriotic fire that burned in the bosoms of our fathers, and incited a Wayne to deeds of noble daring in the Northwest.

In 1891 a centennial celebration was held at Fort Recovery in commemoration of the battle of November 4, 1791. The following was invited to be present to address the people but not all* were present: Hon. John

Sherman, Hon. Calvin S. Brice, Hon. F. S. Sessions, Hon. J. E. Campbell, Hon. William McKinley, Hon. John Brown (Governor of Kentucky), Hon. C. M. Anderson, Hon. D. J. Ryan, Hon. M. D. Shaw, Hon. M. K. Gantz, Hon. Samuel F. Hunt and Gens. William Gibson, E. B. Findlay and J. P. S. Shank. Of those present, Hon. James E. Campbell, Governor of Ohio, Hon. Samuel F. Hunt, of Cincinnati and Gen. E. B. Findlay, of Bucyrus, Ohio, addressed the gathering, as well as some others. At this centennial celebration the remains of the soldiers, which had been buried in the old cemetery in the southwest part of town in 1851, were taken up and removed to a plat of ground that was purchased for the purpose of erecting a monument thereon, should Congress ever make an appropriation for such purpose. Here the bones were reinterred and a temporary wooden monument erected thereon, which stood for a number of years and was then torn down and destroyed.

The part of the town of Fort Recovery lying north of the Greenville treaty line was laid out by David Beardslee in 1836, the plat being recorded on July 30th. At a later date Larkin & McDaniel laid out the part of the town south of the treaty line. The town was incorporated June 15, 1858, under the name of Recovery, 50 citizens signing the petition for incorporation. It is the oldest village corporation in the county. The Wabash River flows through the northern part of the village, from east to west. The town has one railroad - the Lake Erie & Western.

Among the earliest residents of Fort Recovery were John Simison and family, who in the spring of 1817 came here and moved into the trading house, which had been built by David Conner. Mr. Simison farmed the ground upon which the town is built, while his sons provided meat by hunt- ing. His daughter Mary married Peter Studabaker, on February 15, 1821, at Fort Recovery. Mr. Studabaker farmed here about 12 years and then removed to Adams County, Ohio.

David and Obed Beardsley were pioneers at Fort Recovery; the former laid out the town north of the treaty line. Henry Lipps, who came to the county in 1830 and helped lay out the town, was the first hotelkeeper here and a leading light of the town; he was a member of the Ohio Legislature in 1849. John Lipps came to the county in 1832 and associated himself with the growth of the village. William McDaniel came here at an early date and with Mr. Larkin laid out that part of the town south of the treaty line. His son, George R. McDaniel, is still a resident of the town, where he has lived all his life and for many years has been engaged in the banking business. Thomas Roop took up his residence at Fort Recovery at a very early date. John Blake and family were pioneers here. The family consisted of Robert G., John G., David F., Perry W., Samuel, Rebecca, Mary Jane and Margaret Ann. Perry W. Blake, who resides in Paulding County, Ohio, is the only one of the boys now living. Margaret Ann resides at present at Celina. The Blakes were prominent in all that pertained to the early history of the town. Dr. J. S. Fair, who came here in pioneer days, was the first physician ever in practice at Fort Recovery. Dr. John Conant Richardson, one of the town's first doctors, settled here in 1843. The entire period of the practice of his profession was spent at Fort Recovery. Dr. D. Milligan came to Fort Recovery at an early day when a young man in years; he was considered one of the best physicians the town ever had; he also became interested in banking. Capt. John Stafford Rhodes came to Fort Recovery April 12, 1844, and is still a resident, being now in his 81st year. Jacob Morningstar was the town's first blacksmith; he settled here in 1848. Anthony Sonderman, the pioneer wagon-maker of the village, located here with his family about 1850; the Sondermans have ever since been identified with the town's business affairs. A tannery was established here in 1864 by William Koch, now president of the Fort Recovery Stirrup Company. John, Lewis and George Oswald were all merchants of the town in early times.

The first gas-well at Fort Recovery was struck on March 28, 1887, and was appropriately named "Mad Anthony." The bore was 510 feet deep, when the flow commenced.

John A. Hunter; clerk, B. B. Wilson; treasurer, Adam Beach; marshal, Joseph Sutherland; council - Edward Koch, George H. Lord, Edward Hoke, O E. Denny, Charles Schneider and James Hedrick; Board of Public Affairs - M. W. Birkheimer (president), William J. Reichard and Nicholas Money - James Ross, clerk. I. N. Medford is postmaster. John Clark, John Isen- hart and E. T. Hastings are the trustees of Green Mound and Spring Hill cemeteries, the last named being secretary. The Town Hall, a two-story, brick building, erected in 1879, stands near where the old fort was located. The village has a public park, set aside for this purpose some years ago. Three large cannons and a number of shells, presented to the village shortly after the late war with Spain, have been placed here. The village had a population of 802 in 1880; 1,186 in 1890; and 1,097 in 1900.

The churches of Fort Recovery have been noticed earlier in this chapter. In 1854 Robert G. Blake built the first schoolhouse; an addition to this, 25 feet square, was built in 1859. On May 28, 1868, the citizens voted an appropriation of $5,000 for building a new schoolhouse. The structure was located at Broadway and Elm streets, and cost when completed $8,000. The present public school building was erected in 1888-89 at a cost °f $-5,000. It is a two-story, eight-room brick structure. Eight teachers are employed. James Ross has been superintendent of the village schools since 1898. Mrs. J. A. Hunter is principal of the High School, which has an enrollment of 57 pupils and ranks as first grade. Fort Recovery also has an excellent Catholic parochial school.

Fort Recovery ranks as one of the most progressive towns in the county and its business interests are worthy of mention. The leading manufacturing establishment is the factory of the Fort Recovery Stirrup Company, the largest exclusive manufacturers of wood stirrups in the world. The company was organized in 1899; William Koch is president and Edward Koch, secretary and manager. Other wood-working establishments are the Rimel spoke works, the planing-mill of William E. Wilson (dealer in lumber, building materials and coal), the band sawmill of George A. Reuter and the excelsior factory of Noah P. Huntwork. The town has two gristmills - the St. Clair mill and the mill conducted by John Remanklus; the Jay grain elevator; and the flour exchange of William Heiby. Will Hull operates a brickyard. John Schindler has a large blacksmithing business and also builds wagons and carriages. The town has two livery barns, run by John Isenhart and William Lowry. Charles Schneider is proprietor of the Wayne Hotel. A. A. Kolp is publisher and editor of the Fort Recovery Journal, a weekly, independent newspaper, which was established in 1890. The private banking business conducted for many years by George P. McDaniel was incorporated January 1, 1907, as the Fort Recovery Banking Company. The Fort Recovery Building and Loan Association is a prosperous concern ; George A. Reuter is secretary. The Fort Recovery Telephone Company is ownej and controlled by Fort Recovery business men. The leading mercantile establishments are those of Russell M. Morvelius and Krenning & Son, dry goods; Frank J. Sonderman & Company, dry goods and clothing;

August Stelzer, dry goods and groceries; George Gagle (successor to W. F. Pausch), John Fisher, Roesner & Lenhart and Jacob Anthony, groceries; Joseph A. Meinerding, hardware and farming implements; Michael Velten, hardware and harness; Adam Beach, boots and shoes; Edward Floke, jewelry; John Adams, drugs; and E. T. Adams, who conducts a variety store. W. H. Lowry is an extensive buyer and shipper of live-stock, and is also engaged in road contracting. Fort Recovery has one attorney, J. A. Hunter, who is serving his second term as mayor; five physicians - Drs. J. V. Richardson, W. C. Robeson, William R. Taylor, Martyn Taylor and J. M. Buchannan; one dentist, Dr. C. A. Brown; and one veterinary surgeon, Frederick Miller.

Fort Recovery has two Masonic bodies, two Odd Fellow bodies and a G. A. R. post. Fort Recovery Lodge, No. 539, Free and Accepted Masons, was granted a charter at a session of the Grand Lodge held at Cincinnati, October 21, 1885. The charter members of the lodge were 19 in number, as follows : John S. Rhodes, J. S. Clum, Jacob Dumbauld, James Thompson, Charles L. Townsend, Samuel A. Nickerson, Joshua Armstrong, Charles Armstrong, Isaac N. Hanna, James H. Johnson, W. K. Kember, J. E. Gooding, William B. Doner, J. A. Doner, W. J. Reichard, T. J. Godfrey, D. S. Skinner, William F. McDaniel and A. G. Clark. The officers named at the time of the granting of the charter were: T. J. Godfrey, W. M. ; John S.

Medford, S. W. ; James Ross, J. W. ; Joshua Armstrong, treasurer; and C. A. Brown, secretary. The lodge has a membership of 68. - Wayne Chapter No. hi, Order of the Eastern Star, was instituted November 7, 1899, with the following charter members : E. L. McDaniel, Minnie McDaniel, O. E.

man, warden; and William E. Wilson, sentinel. The chapter has a present membership of 55. The officers for the year 1907 are as follows: Jennie

Fort Recovery Lodge, No. 458, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was established in the '70's. The first officers were Joseph Smith, N. G. ; J. S. Clum, V. G. ; J. W. Blizzard, secretary; and William Snyder, treasurer. The lodge has a present membership of 93. The officers for 1907 are as follows : Clarence Whitesell, N. G. ; Harvey Engle, V. G. ; A. E. Gilbert, treasurer; Harley Brumm, recording secretary; and Wesley Schemenaur, financial secretary. - Mystic Union Rebekah Lodge, No. 218, was organized in 1887 with the following charter members: Russell M. Morvelius, Minnie

Morvelius, L. H. Boesche, Lizzie Boesche, James Thompson, Susie Thompson, John Hedrick, Elizabeth Hedrick, Mary Hedrick, J. P. Dearworth, Abbie Dearworth, Zora Hanna, R. IT. Campbell, Lydia Campbell, Sarah J. Rhodes, W. FI. Robins, Emily Robins, Sam. W. Buck, Emma Buck, Charles H. Lord, Emma Lord, Alonzo Ford, Sol. McGriff and William L. Lundy. The lodge has .58 members at the present time. The following are the officers for 1907: Ida Howard, N. G. ; Pearl Stoner, V. G. ; Elma Rapp,

Harrod-McDaniel Post, No. 181, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized December 26, 1881, with the following members: Isaac N. Hanna, John S. Rhodes, George Hedrick, George R. McDaniel, John Jones, Theodore Scheid, James H. Johnson, Samuel A. Nickerson, J. C. Clum, John Slife, George Lipps, Eh Frazee, John McFarland, H. H. Harrison, J. E. Mc- Daniel, J. H. Adams, Sam. W. Buck, James Jenkins, William Denny, W. F. McDaniel, I. W. Isenhart, W. W. Collins, W. I. Latimer, C. P. Dearworth and I. N. O'Neal. The first commander of the post was Capt. John S. Rhodes. The officers at the present time are: I. N. Medford, commander;

Fred Holl, senior vice-commander; Theodore Scheid, junior vice-commander; Eli T. Hastings, adjutant; Daniel Kessler, quartermaster; O. S. Greene, chaplain; Frank Bushard, officer of the day; and Fred Heiss, officer of the guard. The post has 24 members.

The worst disaster that ever befell a community in Mercer County occurred at Fort Recovery at 11 o'clock A. M.,-on Wednesday, October 17, 1906, when a terrific explosion in the rear of Joseph A. Meinerding's hard- ware store caused the death of five persons, brought injuries to scores of others and inflicted a property loss of approximately $50,000. Just after the parade of the annual horse show, then being held here, took place, the whole town was shaken by a deafening explosion, which entirely wrecked the twostory building occupied by Joseph A. Meinerding as a hardware store, the Journal printing office, the Roop blacksmith shop and a dwelling in the rear of the Opera House. The wreckage soon caught fire and for a time it looked as though the entire business section would be destroyed. Only by the hardest work and with the assistance furnished from Portland, Indiana, and Coldwater were the flames subdued. Jfhe fire damaged the Schneider and Setter buildings, the Lowry livery stable, the bank building, the B. W. Roop dwelling and other surrounding property. All the glass in the business blocks, as well as in nearby dwellings, was smashed, and not a single window in the Catholic Church, two blocks away, remained unbroken. Five victims of the explosion were killed outright or died before evening, namely : Miss

Cleo Weis, Henry Lammers, Joseph Rosener, Charles Wagner and John McMillan ; the first four were employed in the hardware store and the last named, a farmer, of Monterey, was in the store with his wife, making purchases; Mrs. McMillan miraculously escaped very serious injury. A dozen or 15 received serious injuries, and many more were slightly injured or had narrow escapes. While a quantity of explosives, including 15 to 20 pounds of dynamite, was stored in the rear room of the store, it is not thought that the dynamite caused the explosion, as its force was upward instead of downward. It may have resulted from the formation of gas somewhere about the rear of the store. The funerals of the victims were held on Friday, October 19th, when all places of business were closed, the day being given over to mourning. Four views of the disaster are shown in this book.