Jefferson Township

Bryan, Ohio 43506

Next to local vital records, the best source of genealogical data about specific individuals is the federal decennial census. At the present time there is no state-wide index to the 170 Ohio Federal Census. With this in mind the 1370 Williams County, Ohio, Federal Census including a surname index was chosen to be transcribed into manuscript form township by the Williams County Genealogical Soceity to serve as a useful tool in family research.

The 1870 federal census for Williams County, Ohio was extracted from National Archives Microfilm Roll # 1252, housed at the BryanPublic Library, Bryan, Ohio. The following information is included in the census extraction:

{, Page number written by the census taker found at the top left of each microfilm frame, the date of enumeration, the township, and the nearest post office for residents on each microfilm page.

2. Capitalized surmame preceded by an asterick * for head of household, followed by lower case first name and initial, if given, for each person residing in the household; other surmames of those living within the household are capitalized also, but only the head of household is preceded by the asterick.

3. Age, sex, occupation/trade of each person given; the color of residents in Jefferson Township was white, therefore it was decided to delete that

4. Householders possessing a valued real estate are indicated by the symbol r; householders possessing valued personal property are indicated by the symbol p; money values can be found by personal check of the microfilm itself.

6. A surname index is included with the surname of not only the heads of household but also those listed within the household whose surname is different from the head. When using this please check the entire census page as surnames are found in multiple spots.

7. An alphabetical list is included of children born in the 12 months prior to the 1570 census, the page number on which each is found, and the month of birth. This is followed by an alphabetical list of marriages which were indicated on the census form having taken place in the 12 months prior to the census enumeration.

If an individual wishes to take a personal look at the census roll, he/she can find additional information not listed here which includes: physical imnpairments, whether parents were foreign born, whether the individual attended school during the census year, and whether the enumerated males were eligible to vote. This transcription of the census is not to be considered a substitute for looking a the actual microfilm roll.

The microfilm census roll for Jefferson Township was difficult to read in spots. In all cases the surnames were checked with other sources to make sure the transcription was correct. These other sources were: list of personal property taxpayers of Jefferson Township, 1867; Williams County, Ohio Atlases, 1864 and 1874; biographical sketches within several county histories; and, Williams County, Ohio Marriages, Volumes I-III (1824-1868), There were some surnames that were obviously misspelled by the census taker; therefore, family researchers should be careful to check various surnname spellings.

Aside from the obvious family data that can be gleaned from this census, we found the following occupational statistics to be of interest in regard to Jefferson Township:

There was one person who fulfilled the occupation/trade far each of the following: broommaker, agent for shoemaker, butcher, Presbyterian minister, plasterer, lawyer, dressmaker, grocer, sawmill worker, hotel keeper, landlandy, stock buyer, and harness

Long

Mabel SHELLY, Jacob Susan Daniel George? HOFFER, John Mary J. Jacob HW, John A. Donando Amanda Martha E. Margaret Isaac W. Mary E. Sarah HESTER, John Harrison Matilda Newton RODGERS, John KOCH, Samuel? Barbara William H. Mary A, Elwood A. Clara A, Elmer Moses Sarah Dinnah

Next to local vital recoras. the pest source of genealogical data about specific indivicuais is the federai decennial census. At the present time there iS NO State-wide index to the 1870 Ohio federal census. With this in mind the :870 Williams County. Chio. Feaeral Census includina surname index was chosen to De transcribed into manuscriot form township py township by the Williams County Genealogical Society to serve 3s a useful] tool in family research.

wk 87 0 federal census for Williams County, Ohio was extracted from i ] i , housed at the Bryan Public Library. Bryan. Chio. The olvoutng pticnaation ig included in this census extraction:

{. Page number written by census taker found at the top left of each microfilm frame, the date of the enumeration. the township, and the nearest post office for residents on each microfiim page.

for head of housenolld, followed by lower case first name and initial, if given, for each person residing in the household: other surnames of those riving within the household are capitalized also, put only the head of household is preceded by the asterick *.

. Age. sex, occupation/trade of each person given; the color of residents in Madison Township was white; therefore, it was decided to delete that information which would be an unnecessary repetition; in the case of children, the census taker may have listed "at home'.

4, Householders possessing a valued real estate are indicated by the symbol r; householders possessing valued personal property are indicated by the symbol] p; money values can be found by a personal check of the microfilm itself.

6. A surname index is included with the surname of not only the heads of household but also those listed within the house whose surname is different from the head; all surnames are followed by the page number of the microfilm page within Madison Township. When using this please check the entire census page as some surnames are found in multiple spots.

7, An alphabetical list 1s Included of children born in the 12 months prior to the 1870 census, the page Number on which it is found, and the month of the birth. This is followed by an alphabetical list of marriages which were indicated on the census form

If an indiviqual wishes to take a personal look at the census coll. he/she can find additional Information not |!sted here which includes: physical impairments, whether parents were foreign born. whether the enumerated maies were eligible to vote, and whether the indivigual attendeca school during the census year. This transcription of the census is not to be considered a substitute for looking at the actual microfilm rol}.

The microfilm census rol! for Madison Township was difficult to read in spots. in all cases the surnames were checked with other sources to make sure the transcription was correct. These other sources were: iist of personai property owners of Madison township 1867; Williams County, Ohio, Atlases, 1864 & 1874; biographical sketches within several county histories; and, Williams County. Ohio Marriages, Volumes I-III (1824-1868). There were some surnames that were opviously misspelled by the census taker; therefore, family researchers should be careful to check various surname spellings.

Aside from the obvious family data that can be gleaned from this census, [| found the following occupational statistics to be of interest in regard to Madison township:

There was one person who fulfilled the occupation/trade for each of the following: cabinet maker, dry goods merchant, engineer, harnessmaker, milliner, shoemaker, and stonemason.

Bipth Marriage Data From Madison Twp.Federal Census Of 1870 End Of The 1870 Madison Twp. Census Data

BIPTH MARRIAGE DATA FROM MADISON TWP.FEDERAL CENSUS OF 1870 * INDICATES MADISON TWP.'PIONEER OHIO WHICH APPEARS AT THE END OF THE 1870 MADISON TWP. CENSUS DATA

Rs Musser. Thomas A. May

Cynthia E. 16 F Attend school OH Samantha A. 14 F Attend school OK Elisha X 12 M Attend school OH Walter A 10 M Attend schoo! OH Sidwe] | 8 M Attend school OH Ida M. 6 F At home OH Almina 4 F At home QH William # 1 M At home OH * COOK. Charies 38 M Farmer cp OH Barbara 30 F Keep house OH Sarah 6 F At nome Sh George 8/12 M At nome

* KIRK. William 39 M Farmer rp PA Rebecca 33 F Keep house IN James £ 11 M Attend school QH Elias . 9 M Attend schoo! OH Lucy G. 6 F At home OH Vioia 3 F At home OH William 6/12 M At home OH LAMBRIGHT, John 19 M Farm laborer OH * KIRK, Nathan 43 M Farmer cp OH Julia A. 40 F Keep house OH George J. {7 M Farm laborer OH Joshua {5 M Farm laborer OH Mary A. N74 Ve Attend schoo] OH

{7 F Without oc {5 F Without occu 15 M Attend school 12 F Attend school 33 M Farm laborer 26 F Keep house 23 M Run sawmill | 24 F Keep house 36 M Farmer 32 F Keep house

Andrew Olivia A. Harry A. Allen H. Amanda William A. Margaret , Henry Caroline Albert A. * BAITTEY. Samuel Elisabeth Mary Henr Harriet Martha Armeda B. KALE, Edward + MERCER, Ira Caroline Emma

Sons, 4

John E. 21 M Farm laborer Erwin V. 18 M Farm jaborer James B. 16 M Farm laborer Edgar A, 11 M Attend schoo! Al a, '2 5 M At home Henriet 3 F At home STULEAIBERGER, Alzere 14 F Domestic servan * RATHBUN, 43 M Farmer Lucy 36 F Keep house Freeman 21 M Farm laborer George 10 M Attend school Newman 8 M Attend school Corda 6 F At home Edward 3M At home GESSEMAN, George 30 M Farmer Elizabeth 49 F Keep house George W. 18 M Farm laborer William 16 M Farm laborer Martha 14 F At home John {2 M At home * DORMI, Jacob 51 M Farmer Mary 40 F Keep house Sarah 21 F Without occup. Mal inda 13 F Attend school William 12 M Attend school Mary E 3 F At home * SHULL, John 22 M Farmer Margaret 19 F prepay house Albert 2M A * RITTER' William H. 37 M Farmer Carol ine 34 F Keep house Franklin 7 M Attend school orge 5 M At home James A. 3 M At home Millard F. 4/12 M At home

Source changes here: from The County of Williams : a History of Williams County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Townships ; Also a Biographical Department, by Shinn, William Henry, published 1905; 2,981 words in this source stream.

Jefferson Township

the Board that Town seven, Range 3 east, also all the territory north to the Michigan line, is hereby set off from Beaver [Pulaski] Township, and the same is hereby erected and organized into a township by the name of Jefferson; and the Board order the Auditor to give notice for an election to be held at the house of Andrew Farrier, Junior, on the first Monday of July next, for the purpose of electing the necessary officers for the further organization of said township."

Thus it will be seen that all the territory comprised in the present township of Madison was at that time attached to Jefferson; but these boundaries were changed on the organization of Bridgewater and Millcreek townships in 1839, Raving Jefferson in its present rectangular form, bounded by four straight lines, six miles east and west, and a little more than seven miles north and south. The northern boundary is the "Fulton line," so called, and was the boundary line between Ohio and Michigan, according to the latter's contention. Brady township lies on the east and Superior on the west.

The surface of Jefferson township is unbroken and generally level. The drainage is principally toward the south, and the valleys of the small streams, with naturally higher adjoining land, are the only exceptions to the general application of the term. The territory is well watered, the principal stream being Beaver Creek, which rises in the northern part of the township and flows southward through the central portion of Jefferson to the village of Pulaski; thence through Pulaski into Springfield township, where it joins the Tiffin river. Leatherwood creek, with three branches, also has its source in Jefferson township, entering Brady, and near the southern boundary of the latter, also emptying its water into Bean creek. Little Beaver rises in the western part of the township and flows east until it empties into Beaver creek in section twenty-one. These streams are not large but they afforded water power for the early mills which were established along their banks.

Jefferson township was originally covered with all kinds of native timber, and the quality was of the best. The principal varieties were oak, hickory and maple, while black walnut, butternut, elm, sycamore, buckeye and willow were also quite plentiful.

of sand and gravel. Occasionally the sand appears upon the surface. 1 he soil is very fertile and produces heavy crops of all kinds of cereals, and all the land of the township is made to yield profitable returns to the owners. Stock raising and fruit culture receives considerable attention, and these afford good margins of profit.

John Perkins was the first permanent settler in Jefferson township. This distinction has also been accorded him in relation to Pulaski township, but the double honor is accounted for in the fact that his allegiance was changed bv the county commissioners without the necessity of his removal. He came from Brunersburg in the spring of 1833, and settled near where the village of Pulaski is now located. The same year he entered the whole of section thirty-four, in Jefferson township, and, it is said, erected his cabin in the southern, portion of it. Neither Pulaski nor Jefferson had as yet been erected as townships, and when they were finally divided the township line was found to pass between Mr. Perkins' place of residence and the little village where his hopes of a future county seat and other aspirations had an abiding place. Accordingly, at the meeting of the board of commissioners, in August, 1837, it was ordered "that the south half of the south tier of sections in Town 7 north, Range 3 east [Jefferson], be taken from said town and added to town six in said range [Pulaski].'* This arrangement only lasted for a few months when the old line was re-established, but it remained long enough to give the doughty Perkins the honor of being the first settler in two different townships without compelling him to go through the ordeal of moving his goods and chattels. Mr. Perkins was considerably interested in the boundary line, and desired to be considered a resident of Pulaski township, but it was doubtless due to county-seat reasons, and not to any feeling of prejudice against Jefferson. This relieves him of the suspicion of being actuated by motives, such as are ascribed to an old Virginia lady. Some years ago, North Carolina claimed that a re-survey of the boundary line between that state and the Old Dominion would add a strip of territory to her domain that had hitherto been considered a part of Virginia. The old lady in question happened to live on a part of the disputed strip, and was greatly concerned lest the proposed survey would make her a resident of the "Tar-heel" State. When asked the reason for her fears she replied, "I don't want to live in North Carolina, for Pve always heard that it is so awfully unhealthy there."

Mr. Perkins was born in the State of Virginia about the year 1770; came to Ross county, Ohio, and married a Miss Dawson. The fruits of said marriage were three sons and four daughters. Tsaac Perkins, one of the sons, came to Williams county with his father in 1818, and spent a long and useful life here. The family settled at Brunersburg, and John Perkins built the first mills there, but in 1833, s°ld the property to a Mr. Bruner, who subsequently laid out the village that bears his name. The settlement at Pulaski and Mr. Perkins' connection therewith are told of on other pages.

Jabez Jones was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, in June, 1792, and while young, he with his father's family, came to Ross county. He came to Jefferson township in the spring of 1834, and served as one of the first justices of the peace in Williams county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was at Upper Sandusky (now Fremont) with General Harrison.

George W. Myers was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1808. His father was an Englishman by birth, who came to this country when a small boy, and in the latter part of the Revolution served in the Colonial army, and again in 1812, rendered his adopted country effective service. George W. Myers learned the carpenter and joiner's trade in Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio, and in 1835 visited Jefferson township, Williams county, where he entered 160 acres of land, cleared three acres, sowed in wheat and put up a first rate log cabin, and in 1837 moved his family and his few household goods upon the place, and thus began life in the woods. In connection with farming he also worked at his trade and erected many substantial buildings throughout this county and Defiance. In the spring of 1855 he s°ld his property in Jefferson and removed to Bryan, with the intention of migrating further west, but after making a prospecting tour through Illinois, Iowa and Kansas, and finding nothing to suit him, he returned home and resumed his old occupations, secured a comfortable fortune, and later in life retired from active participation in affairs. The first farm owned by Mr. Myers is now owned by the county and the infirmary is located upon it. Mr. Myers was justice of the peace nine years in Jefferson township and filled various other offices.

Albert Opdycke, another of the soldiers of 1812, with R. H. Gilson, moved from Trumbull county, Ohio, and settled in Jefferson township. He was one of the hardy pioneers and reared a large family of boys, the children of some of whom are still living in the county. He cleared up a large farm, was loved and respected by all, and was twice elected commissioner of Williams county. He lived more than four score years, and was one of the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His house was the home of itinerant preachers, who were always welcome. Jacob Boyers moved from Crawford county, Ohio, in 1835, an^ settled on the farm so long owned by George Arnold, and known as the Andrew Smith farm. Mr. Boyers was energetic, loved to give and take a joke, was full of fun and enjoyed himself in the company of his friends. George W. Perky came from Hancock county, Ohio, and settled on a farm now owned by Martin V. Bible, one-half mile west of West Jefferson. He was smart but an oddity. Once, as one of his neighbors was passing, Perky was chopping out the road in a cat swamp. He remarked that, "We read that God divided the land from the water, but here is a place he forgot." Andrew Ferrier and his sons moved from Coshocton county in 1835, and erected the first grist mill in Jefferson township, on Beaver creek, in 1837.

Andrew Smith moved from Seneca county in 1835, and erected the first saw mill. He was a native of Ohio, but was descended from Irish ancestors. He was reared a farmer, and in 1834, emigrated from Coshocton to Seneca county, Ohio, and in May, 1835, removed to Williams county, then an almost impenetrable forest, and located in Jefferson township. He was among the first settlers in the county, and through years of continuous residence became a part of its history. He engaged in clearing and farming and continued the latter until the late years of his life, when he removed to Bryan and spent the remainder of his life there.

Henry Newman erected the second saw mill. Joseph Moudy moved from Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1835, and settled in Pulaski; thence removed to Jefferson township, and was there at the organization of the same, being elected township treasurer and justice of the peace. For fun, jokes and satire, his equal could not be found. Ephraim Plummer came from Ross county in the fall of 1834.

John Shankster, accompanied by his sons, moved from Ross county in 1835, and settled on the land which was occupied by him through life, southwest quarter of section twenty-eight. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1806, and in 1832 emigrated to America. He first located at Chillicothe, and in 1835 moved to Jefferson township where he entered eighty acres of land in the midst of the woods, where wild beasts abounded and the Indians far exceeded the whites in number. Through perseverance and industry, however, he succeeded in subduing the forest and securing a well cultivated farm of 160 acres, on which he in comfort passed his declining years.

Joseph Bush, later of Florence township, was one of the early settlers. John Snyder, John and William Barger, George D. Dorshimer, Jacob Andre, Joseph Engle, Turner Thompson and Isaac Fickle were among the first settlers of the township. The Bargers were natives of Portage county, Ohio. George D. Dorshimer was a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, was reared a farmer and moved to Seneca county, Ohio, about 1835. From there, in February, 1838, he removed to Jefferson township and entered 200 acres of forest land, which he cleared up and on which he lived through a long and active life.

Isaac Fickle, another of the early pioneers of Jefferson township, located in the eastern part, some time prior to 1839. This statement is made certain by a fact which deserves more than a passing mention - his father, Benjamin Fickle, a Revolutionary soldier, died in Jefferson township in October, 1839, and was buried on the farm of his son. In April, 1888, the farm having passed into other hands and the hallowed burial place being neglected, the remains were

Tcmoved and re-interred in the Fountain Grove cemetery at Bryan. In all probability Benjamin Fickle is the only Revolutionary patriot body found a resting place in the soil of Williams county; and this fact, even if no other reason is suggested, should prompt the citizens of the county to see that his grave is appropriately marked and his memory preserved for future generations. We can best exhibit our appreciation of American liberty by showing proper respect for the sainted ones who risked their lives to obtain it for us.

Thomas Reid, one of the first settlers of the township, was born in Cork, Ireland, and in early manhood came to America. He first located in Ross county, Ohio, where he followed farming for some time, and in 1835 came to Jefferson township. He settled on and cleared up the farm which is now owned by Sylvester Shiffler, and he resided there until the death of his wife, about i860. He then lived with his son, George Reid, in Jefferson township, for several years, and then removed to Illinois. He spent the remainder of his days with another son, Jeremiah Reid, who lived near Arrowsmith, that state, dying there on May 16, 1875.

Henry Miller moved from Stark county, Ohio, and settled on the land in section thirteen, which was afterward known as the property of Martin L. Burns. Upon this place Mr. Miller subsequently started a carding machine which was operated by horsepower. It is very probable that the first settlers herein named have all joined the "silent majority," but many of their children and grandchildren are numbered among the good people of Williams county.

The first justice of the peace in Jefferson township was Thomas Reid, who was chosen at the first election, held July 2, 1837. The first schoolhouse was erected on the farm of Mr. Reid in the southern part of the township. Joel F. Pool, George W. Durbin and James Welch were early teachers. As the inhabitants increased, schools were opened from time to time, and there are now eleven buildings devoted to school purposes within the bounds of the township. These are good brick or frame structures, equipped with modern appliances and conducted by a corps of well qualified and practical teachers.

The most atrocious crime that blots the annals of Williams county was committed in Jefferson township. Reference has been made to it on different pages, but a detailed account has been reserved for this particular chapter. We refer to the murder of David, little son of Peter D. Schamp - who lived in the eastern part cf the township on section twelve - by Daniel Heckerthorn and Andrew J. Tyler. The crime was committed June 20, 1847, on the farm owned by the little victim's father. Tyler was a roaming scoundrel who was temporarily stopping in this part of the country, and professed to be a fortune teller. He visited the home of Mr. Schamp, told the latter's fortune, then went to where Heckerthorn lived, and, after plying his vocation there, asked if Mr. Schamp was not a man possessed of considerable means. Receiving an affirmative answer, he told young Heckerthorn (who was only about seventeen years old and below the average in intelligence) that if he would kill David, the six-year-old son of Mr. Schamp, and hide the body in a secret place, both of them would get some money out of the affair. The proposed arrangement was that Heckerthorn was to give Tyler a description of the place where the boy's body was hidden, and then when Mr. Schamp came to the pretended seer for information concerning his child, a large sum would be exacted, out of which Heckerthorn should receive enough money to take him back to Wayne county, his former home. The proposition was accepted, and on the following Sunday morning, according to well laid plans, Heckerthorn went to the residence of Mr. Schamp, and, decoying the boy from the house, took him to the dense woods nearby and to the north of the dwelling. He gave him some candy with which arsenic had been mixed, but it seeming to be slow in its effects, Heckerthorn seized the boy by the heels and struck his head against a knot on a beech tree and killed him. He placed the body in a hollow log, covered it with rotten wood and then placed green brush over it. The boy was soon missed, and that same afternoon the search was commenced by some of the neighbors, excitement becoming general the following day. Monday night Schamp went to see Tyler to ascertain if he could tell of the whereabouts of the boy, and the conscienceless scoundrel said he was near water and under rotten wood and green brush. The excitement became greater; on Tuesday men and boys, came from considerable distance to assist in the search, and by Thursday the woods for miles were full of people. In the afternoon: of the day, however, suspicion fastened on Heckerthorn and Jacob Bohner, of Brady township, and Milton B. Plummer found Heckerthorn in hiding at his brother's house. He was taken into custody and soon made a confession, admitting the guilt of himself and Tyler. The same day, George Ely, who was then justice of the peace for Brady township, issued a warrant for the arrest of both of the men, and after a preliminary examination they were committed: to the county jail.

At the fall term of the Court of Common Pleas they were separately indicted, and Tyler, as was his privilege under the old Constitution, elected to be tried by the Supreme Court, which then sat annually in each county. The old log jail at Bryan was not considered safe, and they were taken to Maumee City and were confined there until the fall of 1848, when Tyler was tried on a charge of murder in the first degree. Joshua Dobbs, the prosecuting attorney, was assisted by Charles Case, who was afterward a representative in Congress from Indiana, and Schuyler E. Blakeslee was. the attorney for the defendant. The knot against which the littleboy's head had been dashed was cut from the tree and brought into court as evidence, an i