Liberty Township

Liberty Township

From the organization of the county in 1828, until December, 1830, this township was a part of Findley township. At the session of the County Commissioners held in that month, present, Mordica Hammond, John P. Hamilton, and Charles McKinnis, it was determined that it was necessary to divide the townships of Findley and Amanda into three townships, after the following manner : Then follow the boundaries of Findley and Marion, and this order in relation to Liberty township, " and in the next place commencing at the south-east corner of section 31, in township 2 south, range 10, thence north to the north-east corner of section 3, in township 2 north, thence w'est to the northwest corner of section 6 in range 9, thence south to the south-west corner of section 31, in tow-nship 2 south, thence east to the place of beginning, in which bounds shall be made a separate township, and become a body corporate and politic, and be known and designated by the name of Liberty."

The first entry of lands in this township was made July 3d, 1821, by Vance, Neil and Cory, of the south-west quarter of the south-east quarter of section 8.

On the 20th of December of the same year, Robert Mc- Kiunis entered the east part of the north-west quarter of section 7, and Charles McKinnis entered the west half (if the north-west quarter of section 7. John Gardner entered the north half of the north-east quarter of section 10, and on the 27th day of the same month Jacob Poe entered the west half of the south-west quarter of section 8. September 5th, 1825, Thomas Wilson entered the east half of the south-east quarter of section 9, and in August 1828, R. L. Strother entered the north-east quarter of section 21, and these were followed by entries made by Alfred Hampton, John Hobbs, Richard Watson, Isaac Comer and others.

The first settlement was made in 1821, in the spring, by Jacob Poe, and in the fall by Robert McKinnis and his sons, Charles, James, Philip and John. Judge McKinnis settled on the farm now owned by Oliver P. Sliaw, James on the farm owned by Solomon Swarts, and Poe on the farm now owned by his son Nelson. The sons of Charles Mc- Kinnis now reside ou the lauds on which he first located.

These men were followed by Fishel and his sons John, Michael and Daniel, and some grown up daughters, Johnson Bonham, John Boylan, Judge Ebenezer Wilson, Richard, William and George Watson, Barna Beardsley, William Fountain, Isaac Strother, Nathan Frakes, Isaac Comer, Povenmire, John Price, the Radabaughs, Solomon Lee, Abraham Bails, and others.

This township was heavily timbered with walnut, ash'' beech, sugar, oak, cottonwood, sycamore, and the inevitable buckeye. No part of the land was clear of timber, and the immense forests of walnut which were destroyed, burned up to make way for the plow, would now be of incalculable value.

The soil of this locality is variable. Along the river it is warm and sandy, and on the ridges, sandy with a mixture of gravel. Between the ridge and the river it is a rich vegetable loam, in places partially mixed with clay. On the north of the river the prevailing soil is clay. The rich bottom lands are adapted to corn, the sandy gravelly soil to wheat, and the clay or up lands are used for grazing purposes. The principal crops are wheat, corn, oats, flax and grass.

The Blanchard River crosses this township from east to west, furnishing an abundance of water not only for stock purposes, but during a good portion of the year enough tO' propel the two flouring mills located upon it. The river bottom lands are exceedingly rich and productive, but are subject to occasional overflows, by which crops and fences are damaged more or less.

On the north side we have Watson's, Wilson's, Grassy and Worden's runs, small wet weather streams, whose channels furnish good drainage for the adjacent lands. Thereare several springs along Watson's and Wilson's runs, which keep them supplied with water the year round.

On the south side Comer's run enters^ the river on the' Dye farm, and is the only creek of any importance on that side. None of these creeks furnish water power now.. There was for a number of years a saw mill on Comer's run. on the old Povenmire farm, just south of the Findiey and Kalida State road, but that has long since been abandoned. On the farm of Nelson Poe, and some forty or fifty feet from the river is what the people in the neighborhood call a sink hole, that is the water dissappears in the ground, and is not seen again until it is emptied into the river.

Blanchard Church, on the Ewing farm, on Defiance road, built by the Presbyterians in 1850, was the first church building in the township. The congregation, however, previous to that time, held services in private houses, and in the school house in the neighborhood. The society was organized in 1832 by Rev. Peter Monfort. The first stated minister, the late Rev. Geo. YanEmon, was at the same time pastor of the church in Findley. Of the first membership we fiud the names of Judge Wilson and wife, William Coeu, wife and two daughters, Jacob Poe and wife, and Mrs. Judge Mc- Kinnis.

As a proof of the strictness of church rules, and their enforcement, in years gone by, it is related to me by a friend that the late William Taylor, of Findley, was once reported to the congregation that met at the house of Jacob Poe, as having been guilty of violating the rules regarding the keeping of the Sabbath day, which violation occurred in this wise :

At that day the means of transportation of produce and other barter to a market, was by floating it down the Blanchard, Auglaize and Maumee, to Perrysburg or Toledo. Mr. Taylor was in trade at Findley, and desiring to make a trip, had his fleet of canoes loaded, waiting for a rise in the river, and a favorable time to set out on his voyage. After waiting a few days, the favorable time to start came on Sunday, and Mr. Taylor being impatient by delays, shoved off his canoes, and silently, perhaps, floated down the peaceful

Blanchard, never inteudiug any disrespect to the day or the church. But the church dignitaries could not overlook so flagrant a breach of church regulations, and Bible commands, and Mr. Taylor was cited to appear and answer, and to show cause why he should not be visited with the penalties of his disobedience. My friend says he came, answered, confessed, and was forgiven.

In 1832 iihe first school house was built in the township, on the farm now owned by John Reed, Esq. Richard Wade was the first teacher. - There are now eight school houses in the township, the most of which are commodius buildings. The youth of school age number three hundred and seventeen.

There are one Evangelical, one United Brethren, one Christian Union, and one Presbyterian Church building, in the township. Each of these churches has a flourishing Sunday School attached, under the charge of efficient and zealous superintendents.

The first mill, or rather mills - for there were a flour, and lumber mill both - was l)utilt by John Byal, and is near the Infirmary. The flour mill was run by water. The machinery was moved by a large overshot wooden wheel, which kept plashing and creaking all day, and about which there was to us boys always a charming atmosphere of coolness? and a capital place for fishing. The water pouring over the dam, not in a rush, but slowly and at times almost noiselessly, the slow but continued movement of the old wooden wheel, the long drawn-out screech of the wooden machinery of the mill, the quiet movements of the miller, all had a lazy feeling inseparably connected with them, which I guess was contagious, for when we boys got sprawled out on the grassy bank of the river, near the old mill, we were sure to

In about 1844 Miller Johnson built a saw mill at the site of the Holden Mill, and in about 1853 Amos Hartman, now of Iowa, built a flouring mill at the same place, both of which mills are now standing.

When the township was first settled wolves were very plenty, and also very destructive, killing the sheep, hogs, and even young cattle of the settlers. Near where the Blanchard Church now stands Mr. Poe had some young cattle killed by the wolves. Numbers of wolves were killed for their scalps, for which the State paid a bounty.

In this township is the Indian Green, Plum orchard, and Indian burying gi-ound. Of the Indian Green, as it was called, is said by the early settlers, that quite a considerable tract of land on the north bank of the river, had been partially cleared up, on which the Indians had a burying ground, and perhaps a village, and certainly some kind of fortifications or earth works, of w-hich I have heretofore spoken. In addition to this there w^ere several acres of lands along the river bottoms wdiich had not only been cleared, but cultivated as every indicat^n plainly showed. Whether the presence of so many plum trees was the work of the Indians, or of that eccentric person already alluded to - Johnny Appleseed - will perhaps never be known. The fact however remains that they were here, and among them were also a number of apple trees.

The Indian burying ground was frequently visited by members of their tribe - the Ottowas - and at one time a white man by the name of Ellison, with his family, settled on this ground. Ellison dug up quite a number of skeletons, and opened graves for such trinkets as were buried with the dead. This coming to the ears of the Indians^ they visited the place, and were so emphatic in their denunciation of the vandalism, that Ellison thought it prudent tO' quit the premises, which he did. This plum orchard and burying ground covered some twelve acres or more.

Of the earliest settlers of this township, I have already spoken of the McKinnis family. Nelson Poe, a descendant of that family, resides upon the old farm of his father, Jacob Poe, who came to this part of the county with the McKinnis.' Jacob Poe was a hardy specimen of the backwoodsman. He was a relative of the celebrated Indian fighters^ Adam and Andrew Poe, and was possessed of the physical strength and courage attributed to the celebrated brothers^ He lived to a good old age, respected and honored.

John Boylan, for more than forty years a resident here^ came from near Newark, Licking County, Ohio, in 1832. He was one of the first school teachers in the county, and for many years taught "the young ideas how to shoot," and how to shout too, for that matter, for I have a very vivid recollection of the energetic manner in which he swung the birch.

Mr. Boylan was a local preacher of the Methodist Church, and one of its earliest members in the county. As a minister he was fervent and touching in his appeals, and powerful in his exhortations. After his long residence here he went west, and is now a resident of Iowa.

Richard Watson and wife are both dead, and all their living children but one are now residents of the county. Mr. Watson was a good neighbor, an enterprising citizen* and honest in all his dealings. He died, leaving to his children a fine farm, which he had reclaimed from the wilderness. Mr. Watson, though a strong partisan of the

Democratic school of politics, did not attempt to impertinently intrude his opinions on others. He held the office -of Coroner of the County for one or two terms.

Isaac Comer came to this township from Fairfield County, and located on the farm now owned by J. B. Wagner, about four miles west of Findley, on the Benton road. Mr. Comer was one of those large, jolly, good-natured men that we occasionally meet. Frank in all his sayings, kind and gen- -erous in his acts, honest and prompt in his dealings, he was iuniversally liked, aud his death was sincerely regretted.

The Rev. Geo. Van Emon, one of the purest men who ever lived, may well be claimed by this township, as nearly all his life in this county was spent here. As a minister he w^as sincere, and his words carried conviction with them. As a christian he was blameless. As a neighbor he was ikind and hospitable. As a citizen he w^as one w^hose example might be safely followed.

William Fountain, or the old man Fountain^ as he was familiarly called, came to the county in 1830, and settled in this township, on lands on which he resided for nearly fifty years, and up to the time of his death. Of an unassuming and retired disposition, attentive to his own affairs, taking little part in public matters, his acquaintance was never very extensive. But no man in his neighborhood was more highly respected, or considered more trustworthy. Mr. Fountain came from Franklin County, and lived to be almost a centenarian.

Mr. F. was born in Caroline Co., Md., January 6th, 1784. He was of Irish descent, and was the second of three brothers. In 1824 he came to Franklin Co., Ohio, and settled in Plain township. In 1809 Mr. F. w^as married to Sarah Barton, by whom he had five children. Mrs. F. died in 1821, and Mr. F. married Mrs. Rebecca Smith, with whom he lived until the time of her death, a period of more than forty years. Mr. F. sold his farm in Franklin, and came to Hancock, taking up his residence on the farm on which he died. At the time of his death he was the oldest person in the county.

Daniel Cusac

Was born in Mifflin County, Pa., in January, 1790. His parents were natives of Ireland, and were married before leaving that country. Mr. Cusac came to Perry County,. Ohio, when quite a young man, and there married ijarah Sellers, who died in October, 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, having survived her husband about fourteen years. Mr. Cusac came to this county in 1838, and took up his residence in this township, on the farm on which he died. He had ten children, nine of whom are still living. John and Mrs. Judge Cooper, two of the children, reside in Portage township. Two of them, Capt. Isaac Cusac and Mrs. Mulford. are in Pleasant township. The others, William, James, Mrs. John Reed, Mrs. James Cooper and Mrs. Robert Poe reside in Liberty township. Mr. C. had a limited common school education, but was a man of good strong common sense. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church for fifty years, and led an upright, honest life, respected by all who knew him.

Unassuming and domestic in his habits, he made no figure in public, and although his counsel and advice was sought for, it was'given with modesty and fairness, and for the best interests of those desiring it. He died at a good old age, loved and respected, and left to his children a good name,, and to his wife a good home.

Philip Mckinnis

Was the second son of Judge Robert McKinnis, one of the very earliest settlers of the county, and was born in Butler Co., Pa., January 9th, 1801. He came with his father's family to Ross Co., 0., when young. In 1822 the family came to this township, and settled on the river, near the present site of Cronninger Mills.

In 1827 he married Susan Dukes, and commenced life on the farm now owned by Conrad Renninger. He was a man of strong constitution, scarcely knowing what it was to be sick. He had a limited common school education, but was a man of good hard common sense. - He had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are living. Mr. McK., after a long residence in the county, sold out and removed to Putnam County in 1855, near Grilboa, and finally to near Leipsic, where he died in 1868, his wife surviving him some two years. Their remains now rest in Maple Grove Cemetery.

Mr. McKinnis was a fair specimen of the frontiersman. Possessed of great endurance, courage and industry, backed by the strictest honesty, he won and held the respect of all who knew him. His word was as good as his bond ; he punctually fulfilled all his engagements, redeemed all his promises, and faithfully discharged every duty. He was a member of the old School Baptist Church for over thirty years. His son William, who resides in Findley, is the only one of the family now living in the county.

Nelson Poe

Came to this township when he was but three months old, having been born in Ross Co., 0., September 4th, 1822. He was the third son of Jacob Poe. His mother was a daughter of Judge McKinnis. His paternal ancestors were of German extraction, whilst his mother's people were Scotch Irish. The father of Mr. Poe settled on the farm now owned and occupied hy the subject of this sketch. At the time of his coming here there were bnt a very few families in the county, but the Poe family was possessed of that kind of pluck which never gave way before difficulties, or became discouraged at privations.

On his father's side, Mr. Poe is distantly related to the celebrated historical fighting brothers, i\.dam and Andrew Poe, and also to the eminent divine, Rev. Adam Poe. Farming has always been the leading occupation of Mr. Poe, although during the winter seasons of thirty years, he taught a country school, lie is a man of fair education, and has always been regarded as a successful educator. He may well be termed a self-educated man, for his school privileges were very limited. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church at present, and has been a church member for the past sixteen years.

In 1846 he was married to Mary Lytle, who still lives to add to his enjoyment. They are the parents of three children. The eldest son was killed during the late war. The second son - Luther - resides in Fostoria, and the youngest, a daughter^ is at home with her parents. Mr. P.'s school days were passed in the old log school house, under the instruction of such primitive teachers as Richard Wade, Benj. Cummins and others.

Mr. Poe has resided in the county longer than any other person, with the single exception of Job Chamberlain, of Findley. He has witnessed the steady but great transformation of a wilderness into truitful fields; has seen the dense forests disappear, and in their places spring to life,

J)eauti{ul fertile fields; has lived to see an uninhabited country settled by an industrious, thrifty, wealthy, happy people, with school houses and churches in every neighborhood; to see railroads built, traversed by the iron horse -drawing the trains well laden with the pioducts of this rich -county; to see telegraph wires stretched all over the land. And in this great work he has been no idle spectator.

This township contains some of the finest farm buildino-s in the county, iimongst them is the fine brick residences of W. C. Watson, R. W. Boyd, Elijah Gowdy, Cornelius Ewing, John Hart and Samuel Mosier, and the very substantial frame dwellings of Joseph Wilson, Jacob Grubb, Wm. Renninger, C. C. Harris, all on the north side of the xiver, whilst on the south side, Crondall Watson, Henry Sherrick, Henry Rudisill, John Radabaugh, Joseph Barniiill, David Bish, J. M. Moorehead and others living on the south side have equally tasteful dwelling places. The farms are well improved, and supplied with the best of out-buildino-s.

Justices Of The Peace

Table showing the number and value of live stock, and the number of acres of grain sown, and bushels produced^ as returned by township Assessor in 1881.

Source changes here: from History of Hancock County Ohio, by Various, published 1886; 7,288 words in this source stream.

Liberty Township

anes the erection of Findlay Township as a subdivision of Wood County, in 1823, up to September 17, 1829, the territory now composing Liberty formed a part of that township; but on the latter date the following erection was made by the board of commissioners: "At a special meeting of the commissioners of Hancock County, John Long and John P. Hamilton, present, Charles McKinnis, absent, a petition being presented to said board from sundry citizens of Findlay Township, praying for a division to take place in said township in the following manner, to wit.: Making the section line between the first and second tiers of sections on the east side of Range 10 the division line, which was accordingly agreed to by said board; and ordered that all that part of Findlay Township west of the aforesaid line shall be made a separate township, and shall be designated and known by the name of Old Town." The township was so named in honor of a Wyandot village that once existed on the north bank of the Blanchard, in Section 7, traces of which were plainly visible during the early years of the county's history. Old Town extended from the section line one mile west of the Bellefontaine road to the western boundaries of the county, and from Wood County on the north to Hardin County on the south, thus embracing nearly one-half of the county. The act of erection gave offense to many of the inhabitants thus cut off from Findlay, and especially to Charles McKinnis, the absent member of the board, who, regarding the act as sharp practice, and without waiting to investigate the facts, looked up Hamilton, one of the commissioners who had passed the act, and vigorously assaulted him. His brother, Philip McKinnis, hearing of the fight, also sought Hamilton and repeated the assault. The latter, not being their equal in physical strength was a very badly whipped man. He afterward sued the McKinnis brothers for damages, and recovered $75 from Charles and $30 from Philip, together with costs. They were also indicted by the grand jury for assault and battery, pleaded guilty before the court and were each fined $1 and costs of prosecution.

In April, 1830, Joshua Hedges and others brought suit against the board of commissioners to have the act of erection set aside because of error in the proceedings, but the case was continued until the next term; and the court ordered an election for a justice of the peace for Old Town Township, to be held at the house of Ebenezer Wilson, on the last Saturday in June, 1830, which was accordingly done. June 7, 1830, John P. Hamilton, Mordecai Hammond and Charles McKinnis, then commissioners of Hancock County, made the following decision confirmatory of the original erection of Old Town: ''It is ordered by the commissioners of this session that a decision of the commissioners in the division of Findlay Township which took place in 1829, is confirmed and established.'' This, however, proved of little avail, as the court of common pleas, at the succeeding November session, reversed and annulled the acts of the commissioners in the erection and organization of Old Town Township, and it thus ceased to exjst as a subdivision of Hancock County.

On the 6th of December, 1830, all of the territory lying between the present western boundary of Findlay Township and the Putnam County line, and extending from Wood to Hardin County, was erected as Liberty Township. This was only one row of sections narrower than Old Town, and embraced the present townships of Pleasant, Portage, Blanchard, Liberty, Union, Orange, Van Buren and three-fourths of Eagle. The following March the lands now composing Blanchard, Eagle, Van Buren and the west ~ half of Madison were cut off; and on the 21st of June, 1831, the first election for justice of the peace was held in Liberty. William Wade, George Chase and Moses Predmore were the judges,and Amos Bonham and J oshua Jones, clerks, The voters were John Fishel, John Magée, John Travis, John J. Hendricks, John Fishel, Jr., William Wade, Meredith Parrish, Moses Predmore, George Chase, Nathan Frakes, J oshua Jones, James Caton, James McCormick, Amos Bonham, Addison Hampton, Zebulon Lee, John Mullen, William Wade, Alfred Hampton, Ebenezer Wilson, Charles Jones, Jacob Poe, James McKinnis, Robert WcKinnis, Charles McKinnis and Philip McKinnis, total, 26. Benjamin Cummins received every vote cast and was declared elected. Of these twenty-six voters, Zebulon Lee,. of Orange Township, and Alfred Hampton, of Findlay, are the only survivors living in this county.

In 1832 the territory embraced in Union and Orange Townships was taken off of Liberty, in 1833, Portage, andin 1834, Pleasant, leaving the boundaries of Liberty as they are to-day. It contains twenty-four sections of land, all lying in Township 1 north, Range 10, or an area of 15,360 acres. Liberty: ig bounded on the north by Portage Township, on the east by Findlay, on le, and on the west by Blanchard. In 1840 it contained a Seger 302; 1850, 874; 1869, 1,050; 1870, 1,011 and 1880, 1,101. The township is thoroughly drained by the Blanchard River and its _geveral small tributaries, the bed of the river forming a valley into which the surface waters descend, from both-the north and south. The Blanchard enters the township on the Southeast quarter of Section 10, and flowing westward, with many crooks and turns, leaves Liberty near the northwest corner of Section 18. Comer's Run, named after Isaac Comer, one of the pioneers who settled upon its banks, rises in Eagle Township, flows northwestward, and discharges its waters into the Blanchard on the northeast quarter of Section 17. A branch of this run heads in the southwest corner of. Section 31, and passing northeastward unites with Comer's in the southeast corner of Section 21. Another small run drains the western central sections of the township, and, passing into Blanchard Township, strikes the river on Section 14, of that subdivision. Four small runs flow into the Blanchard from the north: Watson's, originally called Gardner's, Wilson's, McKinnis' and Grassy. Watson's or Gardner's Run, named after John Gardner and Richard Watson, who successively occupied the same farm, heads in Portage Township, and waters the northeast corner of Liberty, emptying into the Blanthard on Section 10. Wilson's Run also rises in Portage, and flows southward a short distance west of Watson's, striking the river on Section 15. This branch was named after Judge Ebenezer Wilson, a leading pioneer who settled and lived upon it till his death. McKinnis' Run heads on Section 4 and strikes the Blanchard on Section 8. Philip McKinnis took up his residence on this run in 1827: hence the name. Grassy Run is about a mile still farther west, and was so named because of its grass-covered banks. Though Comer's Run once furnished power for a saw-mill, none of these runs are now sufficiently large to be utilized in that manner, and are only important as sources of drainage and for the use of stock, several springs along the larger ones supplying water throughout the ear. ' : Excepting the river bottoms, the surface in the north part of this township may be termed rolling, though an occasional strip of level land is seen at intervals. A narrow sand ridge crosses the township south of the Blanchard in a southwest direction, and except along Comer's Run, where it is somewhat broken, anda small branch still farther west, where the surface is rolling, the lands on each side of the ridge are generally level, and fall off toward the north and south in a gentle slope. A heavy forest once covered this whole region, but most of the valuable timber has long since disappeared before the merciless "clearing up" mania of past years. There was a small clearing, covering about twelve acres, on the north bank of the Blanchard in Section 7, when the McKinnis family settled in the township, which is believed to have been the site of an Indian village, and this was the only tract not covered by the original forest. The soil inthe lower valleys along the Blanchard is a sandy alluvial deposit, made by the overflows of the river, and is regarded 'as very valuable corn land. Back from the river on the ''second bottom" and level lands a sandy loam is found, which on reaching the highlands changes to a clay formation with a sand and gravel mixture, though north of the Blanchard a clay soil predominates. The ridge south of the river is purely a sand formation. The writer learns from Nelson Poe and William H. Fountain, that when the first settlers came into Liberty Township they found a tract of cleared land, covering about twelve acres, on the north bank of the Blanchard in Section 7, some of which had apparently been under cultivation, and was called by the pioneers ''Indian Green.'' An Indian graveyard. was located here, and also an orchard of plum trees, which supplied the neighbors with that fruit. Several pioneers have stated it was the general impression among the first settlers that an Indian village once flourished at this point. The Ottawas had two villages still farther down the river, in what is now Putnam County, and itis believed the Wyandots had a settlement at Indian Green, whence they removed, in 1818, to Big Spring Reservation. It is a well attested fact that the Indians occasionally visited the old burying-ground, and guarded the remains of their ancestors buried here with jealous care. Mr. Poe says his father told him that a pioneer named Ellison settled with his family on this tract at an early. day, and_.after building a cabin began the work of opening the graves for the purpose of obtaining the valuables supposed to be buried with the Indian dead. The Indians soon heard of this desecration, and at once visited Ellison, and so thoroughly frightened him by threats of retaliation that he deserted his cabin and ''silently stole away.'' The wagon road along the north bank of the river passes through this old Indian cemetery, no trace of which now remains.

First Settlers. - This township was one of the earliest settled portions of Hancock County. Sixty-four years ago Robert McKinnis, with his wife, Betsy, and seven children, viz.: Charles, James, Philip, John, Sarah, Rachel and Eliza, settled on the Blanchard in Section 7. Mr. McKinnis was a native of Butler County, Penn., whither his parents had emigrated from Ireland. He grew to manhood and married in his native county, thence removed to Ross County, Ohio, coming to Hancock in the spring of 1822. He built his cabin on the south bank of the Blanchard in Section 7, the farm now owned by Oliver P. Shaw. Here he began to make for himself a home in the wilderness. Charles, his only son then married, settling across the river on the same section. At the first election held in Findlay Township (then embracing the whole county), July 1, 1823, when thirteen votes were cast, he was elected justice of the peace, Wilson Vance being the other justice chosen at that election. On the 5th of April, 1824, he was elected overseer of the poor, this being the second eléction in what is now Hancock County. In March, 1828, Mr. McKinnis was chosen by the General Assembly one of the associate judges of Hancock County, and served in that capacity seven years. Judge McKinnis possessed a fair education and good executive ability, and was well qualified for such official positions as he filled in this county. On the 2d of September, 1824, his daughter, Rachel, was married, by Wilson Vance, justice of the peace, to Samuel Kepler, who lived on the Maumee, this being the first marriage in the county. His daughters Sarah and Eliza were afterward married to John Fishel and John Magee, respectively, and about 1851 removed with their husbands to Iowa. Judge Mc- Kinnis was frank, genial and generous, possessing that friendly nature so characteristic of the Irish race. His wife died in this township in 1845, and about 1851 he removed to Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying August 22, 1863, aged over eighty-six years. ;

Charles McKinnis was born in Pennsylvania, and married Miss Mary Vail, a native of Virginia, in. Ross County, Ohio. In December, 1821, he and his father entered land on Section 7, Liberty Township, and in the i 1822 settled permanently. Charles built his cabin on the west half of se northwest mnartet of Socios 7, across the river from his father, where his son, Robert, was born in the summer of 1825 - one of the earliest births in the county. On the first tax levy of Findlay Township, taken in 1824, Charles McKinnis is assessed for two horses and four head of cattle, so that he must have been in better circumstances than the average pioneer of that date. In October, 1828, Mr. McKinnis was elected county commissioner, and re-elected in 1830. His children were Robert, Thomas, John, Philip, Elizabeth and Mary, all of whom were born in the township, and here grew to maturity. Mr. McKinnis, who was known as one of the ''best men'' of his day, died November 21, 1864, upon the old homestead in this township, where the widow of his son, Philip, now resides. His widow survived him till September 11, 1869. Thomas and John live across the township line in Blanchard Township on a portion of their father's estate, while Robert died in 1858.

Philip McKinnis, also a native of Pennsylvania, was in his twenty-second year when the family settled on the Blanchard. In April, 1824, he was elected constable of Findlay Township; and on the first tax duplicate, made that year, he is assessed for one horse and six head of cattle, a fair evidence of his prosperous condition. He lived with his parents until his marriage with Miss Susannah Dukes, sister of Lewis Dukes, Sr., by Joshua Hedges, justice of the peace, December 20, 1827, when he and his wife took possession of a cabin, which he had previously erected on the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 8. He did not enter this tract, however, till April 7, 1831. To this union were born eleven children, nine of whom survive, but none are residents of this county. In 1855 Mr. McKinnis removed to Putnam County, Ohio, where he died August 18, 1866, and his widow August 3, 1868. He was a plain, uneducated pioneer, possessing a good deal of strong common sense, which carried him successfully through the many trials and hardships of forest life, but ''would fight at the drop of a hat,'' and seldom met his match. Industry, honesty and punctuality were three of the most striking traits of his character, never turning aside from the faithful performance of what he regarded as his duty.

James and John McKinnis were also single men when the family came from Ross County. The former married Lucy Wickham, daughter of John C. Wickham, a pioneer of Findlay, and settled immediately east of his father, on the farm now owned by Solomon B. Swartz. He resided here until his removal to Iowa about 1851. John married Miss Sarah Hartley, of Findlay Township, and located on a part of his father's farm, but he, too, went West, locating first in Indiana, thence removing to Kansas.

In December, 1822, Jacob Poe and his wife, Nancy, and four children, Elizabeth, John, Robert and Nelson, came from Ross County, Ohio, and settled on the west part of the southwest quarter of Section 8, on the north bank of the Blanchard, which land he had entered the previous May. Jacob Poe was of German extraction, and a distant relative of those historic characters famed in frontier story, Adam and Andrew Poe. He married Nancy, eldest daughter of Robert McKinnis, in Ross County, Ohio, and followed his father-in-law to Hancock County. Six children were born to him, after settling in this township, viz. : George L., Rachel, James, Margaret, N ancy and Jacob, and of the ten, six survive. George L., now a resident of Findlay, is believed to have been the first white child born in the township and the second male in the county, his birth occurring in November, 1824. In April, 1824, Mr. Poe was elected one of the three trustees of Findlay Township, and was also one of the judges at that election - the second held in what is now Hancock County. He was assessed in 1824 for one horse and five head of cattle. His son, Nelson, born in Ross County, September 4, 1822, occupies the old homestead, where he has lived more than sixtythree years, being only three months old when his parents settled on the Blanchard. He is thus the oldest surviving resident of the township, and there is but one other living citizen, viz., Job Chamberlin, of Findlay, who has resided longer in Hancock County, the latter having come with his parents to Findlay Township in February, 1822. Jacob Poe was one of those sturdy backwoodsmen whose industry, courage and perseverance have done so much toward converting the wild forest-covered lands of northwestern Ohio into fruitful fields studded with homes, thé abodes of intelligence, comfort and plenty. He died on the old homestead May 28, 1856, his widow surviving him till November 27, 1862, leaving behind numerous descendants to perpetuate the memory of their plain but worthy lives.

John Gardner, known to the pioneers as '' Big John'' Gardner, settled on the north bank of the Blanchard in Section 10, in 1828. He was a cousin of John Gardner, Sr., of Findlay Township, and also his son-in-law, and came to the county about the same time. In the fall of 1828 he sold out to Addison Hampton, and soon afterward went to Indiana or Michigan. Joseph White came to the township the same year as Gardner, but in 1826 moved to Findlay. In 1824 he was assessed for two head of cattle, probably a yoke of oxen. He taught the first school in Findlay, in the winter of 1826-27, and left the county some time in the latter year.

Thomas and Rachel Wilson are believed to have settled on the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 9 in the spring of 1826, which he entered September 5, 1825. He was a native of Pennsylvania, but came here from Champaign County, Ohio, and died on his farm in 1828 (doubtless the first death in the township), leaving two children, Rebecca and Jane. The former married John Reed and the latter George L. Poe. The widow became the wife of John Travis, who came to the township a single man, about 1827. The family subsequently moved into Portage Township, where she died in 1852, and Mr. Travis in 1884.

Ebenezer Wilson, a brother of Thomas, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1799, and married Sally Davis, in Champaign County, Ohio. In January, 1826, with his wife and two children, he came to Findlay, and purchased and settled on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 10, Liberty Township, entered by John Gardner in 1822. In March, 1828, he was appointed one of the associate. judges of Hancock County, and in 1835 re-appointed for a second term, serving fourteen consecutive years in that capacity. Judge Wilson reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are live ing, and two - Joseph and Mrs. Rachel Cusac - are residents of the township. The parents died upon the old farm, the Judge July 4, 1866, and his widow June 20, 1877. Both were life-long Presbyterians. Judge Wilson was one of those solid, intelligent men who leave their stamp upon the surrounding community, and are kindly remembered when they pass from the busy scenes of life. ;

John Gardner, Jr., came to Findlay with his father in 1822. The latter entered the land in Section 10 upon which William C. Watson now lives,

1822, and here John, Jr., subsequently settled. In 1824 he was as- Bee tas one horse and three head of cattle; but it is not known whether he located on his land in this township prior to his marriage with Miss Susan Moreland, daughter of William Moreland, Sr., November 1, 1827, the ceremony being performed by William Hackney, justice of the peace. Mr. Moreland lived for a time with Gardner on this farm, and it is by some believed that the latter resided here prior to his marriage, or had at least built a cabin and made a clearing thereon. In 1829 Gardner went to Michigan, and two years afterward his land was sold by Joshua Hedges to Richard Watson.

Other settlers of this period were Robert McCullough, John and Michael Fishel, William Wade, Joshua Jones, John Travis.and Addison and Alfred Hampton. McCullough was a native of Ireland, and a brother-in-law of Robert McKinnis. 'In the spring of 1826 he came from Ross County, Ohio, and ''squatted'' across the river from the latter. He was a large, muscular man, of great vitality and endurance, and, like the McKinnis boys, was regarded as one of the ''best men'' in the county. He never owned any land here, and in a few years removed to the Maumee, settling in what is now Defiance County.

John and Michael Fishel and two sisters settled on the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 9, in March, 1828, where they were joined by their father, John, and brother, Daniel, the following autumn. 'The same year John, Jr., married Sarah, daughter of Judge McKinnis, and about 1851 removed to Iowa. The father and Daniel both died in the township in 1849, the former being eighty-four years old at the time of his decease. In 1832 Michael got married, and in 1833 settled on Section 34, Blanchard Township, where he resided till 1876, when he removed to McComb, of which village he is still a resident.

William Wade and Joshua Jones, his son-in-law, settled on Section 9, in 1827, and after living here eight or ten years, sold out and removed into Union Township, where Wenman Wade resided, and afterward went to Indiana.

John Travis was a single man, and subsequently married Rachel, the widow of Thomas Wilson, for whom he had worked prior to his marriage. Her farm was the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 9, whence the family removed into Portage Township, where he died in 1884.

About this time Jeremiah Pressor, a free negro from Hardy County, Va., settled on the Blanchard. Jerry was a shiftless, good-natured old fellow, who did odd jobs of clearing for his white neighbors, but never owned any land. He finally removed with his family into Portage Township, where he passed the latter years of his simple, uneventful life.

Addison and Alfred Hampton were born in Virginia, whence they removed to Ross County, Ohio, where they respectively married Mary and Eleanor McCahan (sisters), also natives of the '"'old Dominion.'' In the fall of 1828 Addison and family came to this township, and located north of the river on Section 10. Alfred came out somewhat later, finally settling on Section 4. After a residence here of about five years, Addison removed to Fayette County, thence to Wood County, where some of his children yet reside. Alfred remained in Liberty until his removal to Findlay many years ago, where he and his wife are now spending the remaining years of their lives. They were married April 18, 1825, and in 1885 reached the

Johnson Bonham was a native of Virginia, born August 30, 1796. In August, 1828, he entered 160 acres north of the river on Section 10, and the following year began improving his land. He voted at the October election of 1829, and was doubtless living in the county a short time prior to that event. He came here with Robert L. Strother from Licking County, Ohio, into which he had removed from Muskingum 'County, and in 1834 was elected a justice of Liberty Township, and again in 1843. Mr. Bonhan died upon the old homestead, November 15, 1845. Five of his children are residents of the county - two sons and two daughters in Findlay Township, and one son in Portage.

The year 1830 brought into the township a large number of settlers. Nathan Frakes, John J. Hendricks, Amos Bonham, Zebulon B., Jonathan, Solomon, James and Stephen Lee, John Magee, Meredith Parrish, John Hubbs, Moses Predmore and James Caton, all came that year, but some of them had previously lived in other parts of the county.

Nathan Frakes settled in Allen Township in 1827, and in 1830 removed to Section 10, Liberty Township, now the site of the County Infirmary. His wife, Susannah, bore him a large family, some of whom are well remembered. In early life Frakes was a hard drinker and also a '' bruiser,'' while his wife was a very ardent Methodist, and known as ''an intelligent, earnest, praying woman.'' Nathan finally joined a temperance society and subsequently the church, and became a very worthy citizen. He died on his farm in this township early in 1835, and his widow married James Harkness. She and all the children went to Michigan many years ago. An account of Frakes' first settlement, near Van Buren, will be found in the sketch of Allen Township. igehn J. Hendricks first settled in Amanda Township in 1826, and four years afterward removed to the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 8, this township, building his cabin on the north bank of the Blanchard. He entered this tract February 5, 1830. His wife, Eleanor F., was a native of Ireland, and a sister of Joseph C. Shannon, once auditor of the county. She was a very intelligent, well-read woman, thoroughly posted in the current topics of the day. Mr. Hendricks and family, after several years' residence here, sold out and went to Indiana.

Amos Bonham, a brother of Johnson, came from Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1830, and was one of the pioneer school teachers of the county. He was a bachelor and never had any permanent residence, but spent most of his time in Liberty and Findlay Townships, at the homes of his brothers, Johnson and Robert. He possessed a very fair education and was usually called upon to act as election clerk, as good penmen were then very scarce. He finally returned to his early home and there died.

Zebulon B., Jonathan, Solomon, James and Stephen Lee, came with their widowed mother, Sarah, fram Franklin County, Ohio, in the spring of 1830, and settled in Sections 15 and 22, on the ridge road south of the Blanchard. The father, Jonathan, was a native of Wales, and the mother of Germany, and they were married in Pennsylvania, where some of the children were born. 'The family removed to Franklin County, Ohio, where the father died, and whence the widow and sons came to Hancock. The mother died at Benton, and Zebulon is the only one of the sons now residing in the county, the others having moved away many years ago. After living in Liberty Township several years, Zebulon removed into Union and thence to Orange, where he is now living at the ripe old age of ninety years.

John Magee, a step-son of Meredith Parrish, married Eliza, daughter of Judge McKinnis, and settled on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 9, which he entered June 1, 1829, and where they resided until their removal to Iowa about 1851. Meredith and Sarah Parrish located on the west half of the northeast quarter of the same section, entered August 21, 1829, and in 1834 sold out to J ohn Fletcher and went to Putnam County. John Hubbs settled on the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 5, entered November 3, 1830, which land he sold to Daniel Cusac in 1839, and then moved to Indiana. Moses Predmore settled on Section 9, and James Caton on Section 8. Both sold their farms and went to Iowa. All of the foregoing came about 1830.

George Chase came to the township in 1880, and cleared five acres on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 10, entered by him June 18, 1825, which he planted with corn. He returned to Madison County, Ohio, whither he and his wife, Elizabeth, had emigrated from New York State in 1817, and in the spring of 1831 brought out his family and settled permanently on his land. The mother died in 1832, leaving a family of five children, all of whom grew to maturity, but only three of the number are now living. The father died in 1869, and Justus now occupies the old farm on which he has lived since March, 1831; Mrs. Miles Wilson, of Portage Township, is the only member of the family, excepting Justus, living in this county. ;

William and Sarah Coen settled on Section 15, now known as the Sherrick farm, in 1830 or early the following year. Coen was one of the first active Presbyterians in the county, and assisted in organizing the first Presbyterian society in Findlay, and also the one subsequently organized in this township. His wife died here, and he was again married. The family left the county many years ago, and none of his children are now residents thereof.

Benjamin and Mary Cummins, natives of Kentucky, settled on the southwest quarter of Section 9, in 1830. In 1831 he was elected justice of the peace (being the first justice of the township), and re-elected in 1834. He soon afterward moved into Pleasant Township, where further mention of him will be found.

James McCormick came about the same time as Cummins, entering the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 9, November 24, 1830. He left the county at quite an early day.

Job Chamberlin, Sr.,settled in Findlay Township in February, 1822, where his wife, Deborah, died January 8, 1829. In 1830 he married Miss Sarah Criner, and the following year removed to this township, settling on the northeast quarter of Section 7. He resided here till his death; he died September 4, 1847, in the seventy-fifth yeer of his age. His widow survived him until December 28, 1854. Mr. Chamberlin was one of the very earliest settlers e county, and is more fully spoken of in the sketch of Findlay Town-

Henry Powell and Benjamin Mullen, and families, came into the township in 1831. Both were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ohio, the former coming here from Fairfield, and the latter from Franklin County, Ohio. Mr. Powell settled on Section 27, where his daughter, Mrs.

Ann Preble, now lives, in the southeast part of the township, which he entered November 21, 1829. He was thrice married, and died upon the old homestead. The Mullens settled on Section 22, on the ridge road south of the Blanchard, and after a residence here of many years the parents removed to Benton, and died there. John, one of the sons, who came to the township in 1830, also died at Benton, while Thomas is now a resident of Findlay. Two of the daughters were married to Zebulon Lee and one to Jonathan Lee.

Richard Watson, a natiye of Maryland, with his wife and six children, came from Fairfield County, Ohio, in the summer of 1831, and rented the farm on Section 10, north of the Blanchard, previously improved by John Gardner, Jr., and William Moreland, Sr. He voted at the following October election, and in November, 1831, Mr. Watson purchased the Gardner farm of Joshua Hedges, agent for Mr. Gardner. Three children were born after settlement, and of the nine, four are yet living, residents of Hancock County. Mr. Watson died in 1848, and his widow in 1870. Both are buried on the old homestead, where they spent the declining years of their lives. William and George Watson, brothers of Richard, came after the latter. Both married here, and spent the balance of their lives in the township. George was drowned in the Blanchard, and William died upon his farm on Section 15. Four of William's children are residents of the county.

Abraham and Rebecca Beals, former a native of Maryland and latter of Pennsylvania, came from Stark County, Ohio, and settled on the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 38, which Mr. Beals entered April 17, 1832. They reared a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are yet living. Mr. Beals, who was a bricklayer, died in Portage Township, whither they had removed from Liberty, in 1855. His widow also died there. Many of their descendants live in the county.

William Fountain was a native of Caroline County, Md., of French ancestry, born January 6, 1784. In 1809 he married Sarah Barton, also a native of Maryland, who bore him five children, only two of whom survive. Mrs. Fountain died in 1821, and he took for his second wife Mrs. Rebecca Smith. In 1824 he removed to Franklin County, Ohio, and in October, 1832, came to Hancock, settling on the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 3, Liberty Township, which he entered October 23, 1830. Here his wife died in 1862, leaving a family of two sons and three daughters, all of whom are yet living. Mr. Fountain died upon his farm J une 14, 1878, in his ninety-fifth year. This venerable patriarch was familiarly known as '(old man Fountain," from the fact that he was the oldest person in the township for a long period prior to his decease. He was of a quiet, retiring disposition, and mixed very little in public affairs, devoting his attention almost wholly to his home and family. a

John Boylan moved here from Licking County, Ohio, in 1832, and settled on Section 10. He was one of the pioneer school teachers of the township, and alsua local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was an uncle of D. B. Beardsley, Esq., a well known member of the Hancock County bar. Mr. Boylan moved into Blanchard Township, where he carried on a store for some time, and also served two terms as justice of the peace, subsequently removing to Indiana, and thence to Iowa. He was a very good man, but not a money-maker, and never accumulated much property while in this county.

Peter Treece and Isaac Comer settled here in 1832. The former was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Hancock from Pickaway County, Ohio, settling in the south part of Liberty Township. Here he resided till his death, September 9, 1848, when his widow removed to Michigan. Isaac and Hannah Comer came from Fairfield County, Ohio, and located on the northeast quarter of Section 21, which he purchased of Robert L. Strother. Mr. Comer was a large, stout man, always in a happy mood, looking on the bright side of life, and strewing his pathway with kind words and generous acts. Comer's Run was named after him, his farm lying upon that stream. He was the father of one son, David, and seven daughters. David lives in Union Township, and some of the daughters also reside in the county. Mrs. Comer died March 21, 1851, and September 3, 1852, Mr. Comer joined her in the life beyond the grave.

James Jones and Allan McCahan moved into the township in the fall of 1838. Jones was a native of Pennsylvania, and his wife, Martha, of Maryland. They came here from Perry County, Ohio, and settled on Section 4, where both died, he in 1845, and she in 1866. They reared seven children, five of whom survive. Mrs. Justice Chase, of Liberty, and Mrs. Jacob Cooper, of Portage Townships, are two of their daughters. Allan McCahan was born in Virginia, and removed with his parents to Ross County, Ohio. He first visited Hancock in 1829, coming again in 1831, but did not settle permanently till the fall of 1833, when he and his family located on Section 4, Liberty Township. After some years he moved into Findlay Township, thence to Findlay, where he is now living, at the advanced age of eightythree years.

In 1834 John Price, Samuel Powell, James Cooper and Barna Beardsley settled in the township. Mr. Price was a native of Pennsylvania but came here from Wayne County, Ohio, and located on the northwest quarter of Section 3, where both he and his wife, Sarah, died. He was a shoe maker by trade, and a straightforward, honest man, who despised trickery or meanness. His son Eli owns the old homestead, but lives across the line in Portage Township. Samuel and Sarah Powell moved here from Fairfield County, Ohio, and both died upon the homestead, the latter in 1852 and the former in 1868. They had a family of eight sons and four daughters, of whom eight survive. Andrew lives on the old home place in Section 27, entered by Mr. Powell in 1829, and George W. and Solomon across the line in Findlay Township. James Cooper, familiarly called '' Little Jim,'' accompanied his brother John, from Perry County, Ohio, and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 5. He died on this farm, and his widow still resides upon it.

Barna Beardsley, a carpenter by trade, came from Licking County, Ohio, and with his wife, Mary, and seven children located north of the Blanchard on Section 10, where three children were born. He afterward moved into Findlay Township and bought a small farm. Here his wife died in 1847. He afterward married Mrg. Malinda V. Shannon, and died in 1881 in Putnam County. Elmus W. Beardsley, of Portage Township, and Daniel B. Beardsley, Esq., a lawyer of Findlay, are two of their seven surviving children, and the only members of the family in Hancock County.

Cusac, all of whom came from 1834 to 1839. But the township was by this time pretty thickly settled, and the days of loneliness and isolation had passed away. 'These men, it is true, with many others who came with them, underwent some of the privations and hardships of pioneer life, but the hardest struggle was over ere their coming. Roads had been opened, mills and schools erected, and other concomitants of civilization had previously made their appearance in this portion of the county.

Justices. - The following citizens have filled this office since the organization of the township in 1831: Benjamin Cummins, Johnson Bonham, Levi Taylor, James H. Barr, Van Burton, Joshua Smith, William S, Burkhead, Aaron Hall, John Radebaugh, Thomas H. Taylor, Alexander Philips, John Hall, William H. Fountain, J. E. Dresbach,:J oseph Wilson, John Reed, Henry Rudisill, R. W. Boyd, D. P. Haggerty and William Taylor.

Mills. - In 1832 John Byal erected a saw-mill onhis farm in Section 11, Findlay Township, but in 1838 moved it across the line into Liberty. In 1834 he built a frame grist-mill close to the saw-mill, both standing on the south bank of the Blanchard and operated by water-power. This was one of the first frame mills erected in Hancock County, and is yet standing and in operation. A large wooden water wheel furnished the motive power during the earlier years of its history,and though the machinery was of the rudest sort in comparison with the mills of to-day, it nevertheless proved a great blessing to the struggling settlers for many miles around. Steam-power was put in a few years ago, and considerable grinding is still done in this old mill.

The next mill was built in 1844 by Miller Johnson, on Section 17, south of the river. It was first a saw-mill alone, but about ten years afterward a grist-mill was erected adjoining by Amos Hartman. These mills were finally burned down, and rebuilt by the Croningers, but were again destroyed by fire in June, 1881, and nothing but the blackened ruins now remain where they once stood. John Povenmire built a saw-mill in Section 21, on Comer's Run, which was operated several years, and no doubt other sawmills have existed from time to time.

Early Schools. - It was not till 1832 that a schoolhouse made its appearance in this part of the county. A small log building was then put up on the southwest quarter of Section 9, and the first school was taught by Richard Wade. The McKinnises, Poes, Wilsons, Wades, Hamptons, Hendrickses, Fishels, Chases and Coens were the principal scholars when it first opened, though some other families may have sent children. Benjamin Cummins taught here quite early. Another schoolhouse was built and opened in the winter of 1833-34, near-the east line of Section 10, north of the Blanchard. John Boylan was the first teacher, and the Chases, Bonhams, Watsons, Hamptons, Fountains, Hedgeses, Byals, J obnsons and Frakeses attended. A schoolhouse stood here for several years, the old round-log giving place to a hewed-log structure with plastered ceilings, which was regarded by the pioneer scholars as a very fine building - the most imposing some of them had ever seen. Other schools gradually made their appearance in different parts of the township, until all were supplied with some educational advantages. Liberty now contains seven school districts, and two parts of districts.

the earliest members were Johnsen Bonham and wife, Amos Bonham, Mrs. Meredith Parrish, Mrs. Addison Hampton, Nathan Frakes and wife, Mrs. William Fountain and Barna Beardsley and wife. The class was organized by Revs. Thomas Thompson and Elnathan C. Gavit. In 1851 this society built a frame church across the line in Findlay Township, which is still used by the Methodists of the neighborhood. :

Rev. Peter Monfort, a Presbyterian preacher, organized a society of his faith in 1832, at the house of Ebenezer Wilson. Judge Wilson and wife, Jacob Poe and wife, William Coen, wife and two daughters, and Mrs. Robert McKinnis were among the little band who met at that time. This society was a branch of the Findlay Church, and first held services in private houses and occasionally at the old log schoolhouse on Section 9. In the summer of 1841 Rev. George Van Eman reorganized the church distinct from that at Findlay, and was the first regular minister thereof. In 1854 the society erected a frame building on the northwest quarter of Section 8, where worship has ever since been held. Other denominations organized societies at a later day. The United Brethren Church have two buildings in the township, one on Section 22 and another on Section 27, the latter being the Powell Memorial Church, erected in 1883. The Evangelicals have a church on Section 15, while the Christian Union stands on Section 30. All have regular services and fair-sized congregations.

Alba Postoffice. - Liberty has never had a village laid out within its present boundaries, and its nearest approach to such a convenience was the establishment of Alba postoffice at the house of Samuel Renninger, on Section 8, in 1857. In March, 1863, Mr. Renninger removed to Findlay, and appointed J. M. Moorhead to take charge of the office; but the latter went. me he army in the spring of 1864, and the office was soon afterward abolished.

Cemeteries. - North of the Blanchard, on Section 7, is perhaps the oldest public cemetery in the township. Here, on a sloping hill overlooking the river, are buried many of the pioneers. Robert McKinnis and wife, Charles McKinnis and wife, Jacob Poe and wife, John Fishel, Sr., Job Chamberlin, Sr., and others of the very first settlers found their last resting place on this grass-covered hill. Another old graveyard is located on the ridge road in Section 21, where Isaac Comer, Peter Treece, Abraham Schoonover, John

Source changes here: from History of Hancock County, Ohio, by Spaythe, Jacob A, published 1903; 30 words in this source stream.

Van Buren

William Neil. Elnathan Cory and Joseph Vance entered the south part of the southwest quarter and the south part of the southeast quarter of section eight (8), containing 43.22 acres.