Pitt Township (part 2 of 2)

COL. CYRUS SEARS is a native of Delhi Township, Delaware Co., N. Y. , born March 10, 1832. His parents were Elkanah and Desiar (Phelps) Sears, whose history is elsewhere detailed. (See sketch of J. D. Sears). Cyrus Sears, the subject of this sketch, removed with his parents to a farm near Bucyrus, Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1836, where he resided till about 1852, attending the district schools during winters in the meantime. He afterward attended the Union Schools of Bucyrus one year; taught one term; took a course in book-keeping, and while waiting for a business opening, learned the art of telegraphy. He was employed one year by T. Stout & Co., of Upper Sandusky, as book-keeper, and in the spring of 1855 began the study of law with his brother J. D. Sears at Upper Sandusky, subsequently entering the Cincinnati Law School, where he graduated at the close of the first term, but attended a second course of lectures as a more thorough preparation for his work. After spending about one year in the employ of Messrs. Ferguson & Long, he located in Bucyrus one year and then formed a partnership with his brother, J. D. Sears, with whom he remained till 1861. Mr. Sears then removed to Cincinnati and engaged in the practice of his profession, but soon joined the Burnet Rifle Company, of which ex- President Hayes was first Captain, and ex-Gov. Noyes and many other since distinguished men were privates. In July, 1861, Mr. Sears began recruiting the Eleventh Ohio Independent Battery, and August 12, of the same year, was mustered into it as private, serving till March 22, 1866. He was commissioned First Lieutenant of said Battery October 12, 1861, and for gallant and meritorious conduct, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment Louisiana Volunteers, soon after known as the Forty-ninth Regiment United States Colored Infantry. Owing to the absence or disability of the Colonel, Mr. Sears was in command of this regiment during twenty- seven of the thirtyfive months of its service, and as evidence of his efficiency Gen. Rosecrans indorsed, in his own hand, the order of his brigade commander, sending him home on recruiting service after the battle of luka, and recommended that he should be permitted to go, on account of gallant conduct. This order was also indorsed favorably by Gen. U. S. Grant, who, also, in his own hand, recommended him for promotion for gallant conduct. His pi'omotion was also recommended and his general good conduct commended by several more of the most prominent officers in the service by letters and orders, which he now has in his possession, but which are too numerous and extended for insertion in this sketch. That portion of Gen. Rosecrans' order referring to the action of the Eleventh Ohio Battery, under Col. Sears, in the above battle is as follows: " The Eleventh Ohio Battery under Lieut. Sears was served with unequal ed bravery under circumstances of danger and exposure such as rarely, perhaps never, have fallen to the lot of a single batteiy during the war." Col. Sears was severely wounded in this battle by a musket ball. On May 27, 1865, he was married to Sarah

A. Harpster, daughter of David and Rachel (Hall) Harpster. (See sketch.) He took his bride to Vicksburg, Miss., from whence he was soon placed in command of the District of Yazoo City, where they spent the summer of 1865. At the close of the war, our subject returned to Upper Sandusky and resumed his legal profession, in the course of which he made the argument credited to J. D- and C Sears, in the case of Shaffer vs. McKee in the 19th Ohio State Report, which argument received the compliment of the court (see report), and attests the ability of its author. During the summer and fall of 1867, he was engaged in reporting the proceedings of the Louisiana Senate at New Orleans, and while there, reported the celebrated Pinchback speech so extensively circulated. By rigid economy , Mr. Sears was enabled to save about $6,000 of his military wages, and this with $1,000 more, was totally lost in an attempt to raise a crop of cotton near Vicksburg immediately after the close of the war. Hoping to more speedily retrieve his broken fortune, he abandoned the legal profession and purchased a halfinterest in the machine works of Upper Sandusky, where for several years a profitable business was conducted under the hrm name of Stevenson & Sears. This firm being dissolved, he established himself in the mercantile business in the new village of Fowler in 1876, where he is still engaged and where he has erected one of the finest homes in the county. He has four children - Horace H. , aged seventeen; Iva R. , fourteen; Fanny E., eleven, and Laura J. , the latter but ten months old. During his attendance at the law school, Mr. Sears boarded himself as a necessary economic measure, living so plainly as to reduce his expenses to less than $1 per week, but notwithstanding this he was one of the most athletic in the school, being one of the few chosen from about 1,500 members of the Young Men's Gymnasium, to take part in their public exhibitions, and, at his present age, is a man of remarkable physical health, strength and activity, who bids fair to reach threescore and ten years in a good stage of preservation.

DAVID SMITH (deceased), son of Daniel and Mary E. (Duddleson) Smith, was born in this county March 9, 1829. His parents were of English parentage, natives of New York. He obtained a fair education, and October 13, 1851, was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Blackburn, daughter of William and Mary (Blackburn) Blackburn, natives of Westmoreland County, Penn. She was born June 19, 1829. Her parents came to this county in 1836, and purchased land in Tyraochtee Township. Their ten children are all living, viz., Sarah A., Thomas, Ruth, Rebecca, Moses, John, Ellen, Isaac, Page and Elizabeth. The father died April 14, 1854; the mother is still living, in her eighty-fourth year, residing with her daughter Rebecca. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith - Zachariah, Mary E., Augustus and William, the latter deceased. Mr. Smith inherited the farm where Mrs. Smith now resides, and made most of the improvements thereon. He died August 24, 1861 (killed by a log rolling iTpon him), leaving his widow with three children, which she has carefully reared. She has a life lease of the estate, 280 acres, her son Augustus and daughter Mary residing with her.

ZACHARIAH T. SMITH, son of David and Rebecca (Blackburn) Smith, was born in this county September 10, 1851. His father dying while his son was yet young, the latter obtained but a limited education. He tilled the farm under the direction of his mother till he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he inherited about ninety-five acres, which he has since since cultivated, living at the old home. He makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs. Merino sheep and Plymouth Rock chickens. He was married, October 5, 1875, to Miss Sarah E. McLain, daughter of Abraham and Catharine A. (Berlein) McLain, and two children have been born to them - Jennette, August ] 1, 1876, and Paul, born November 8, 1880. Mrs. Smith was born October 30, 1857. Mr. Smith is a Republican, and has served as Justice for the past six years. He is Master of the County Grange (of which Mrs Smith is also a member) and Statistician of this county for the Agricultural Department at Washington, D. C. He is an enterprising young farmer and a good citizen.

JOHN H. SMITH, born in Richland County, Ohio, November 13, 1817, is a son of John H. and Elizabeth (Kiefer) Smith, natives of Maryland, and of German descent. His parents were married in Harrison County, and moved directly to Richland about 1815, entering 160 acres. Their children were John H. , Henry, Elizabeth, Solomon, Margaret, Maria, Sarah and Jacob. The family removed in 1865 to Wood County, where the father died in 1875, aged eighty-six years; the mother in 1866, aged seventy-four. Mr. Smith rented land several years, coming in 1849 to this county, where he purchased his present farm in 1851. This farm contains 160 acres, all well- improved, provided with a good residence erected in 1859, at a cost of $1,000. He also owns ninety-one acres in Wood County. He was married, April 22, 1841, to Miss Sarah Wirick, daughter of Henry and Catharine (Spade) Wirick, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German ancestry. Her parents settled in Richland County in 1821. Her father died January 7, 1879, aged ninety years; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, fighting in the battle of Fort McHenry. Her mother died January 9, 1878, aged seventy-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had five children - Mary E. (wife of William B. Wolsey), Franklin H., Lodemie (wife of S. P. Balliet), Samantha (wife of Samuel Suder, deceased), Almarine A. (wife of Samuel Bowman). Mrs. Smith was born March 18, 1822. In politics, Mr. Smith is a Democrat, voting first for Van Buren.

JOHN W. SNYDER, born December 17, 1837, is a native of Richland County, Ohio. His parents were Vatchel and Mary A. (Hull) Snyder, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and German nativity. His greatgrandfather came from Ireland, and was a soldier in the Revolution. His parents came to Ohio when his father was but a lad of ten or twelve years. They settled in Mansfield, and reared a family of five children - Nancy, Drusilla, Mary A., John W. and Rebecca M. The father died, aged seventy-five years; the mother passed away in 1869. Mr. John Snyder, our subject, remained at home with his parents till twenty-four years of age, farming and learning the carpenter's trade. His marriage to Eliza A. Snyder occurred April 24, 1862, she being a daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Willhelem) Snyder, natives of Pennsylvania. The children by this marriage are Mary E., born June 4, 1863; John W., Jr., September 20, 1864; Edward V., March 1, 1866; Jonas V., April 25, 1867; Ida M.. Octobor 20, 1868; William H., November 19, 1882. Mrs. Snyder was born February 3, 1844. After marriage, Mr. Snyder worked at his trade a few years; engaged in saw milling four years: farmed rented land afterward till purchasing his present farm in 1875. During the past six years he has paid some attention to grapes and other small fruits, doing a very profitable business. In politics, Mr. Snyder is a Democrat.

HIRAM STALTER was born in Frederick County, Md., December 6, 1808. He is a son of Henry and Rachel (Moler) Stalter, the former born at sea, the latter in Maryland. His father was a soldier of the Revolution. In 1818, his parents came to Perry County, where they spent the remainder of their days. Of their fourteen children, but three are living - William, Julia A. and Hiram. The father died in 1840, aged sixty-four years; the mother in 1S60, aged eighty-three years. Hiram Stalter, our subject, received but a limited education, and at sixteen learned the carpenter's trade, whicli he pursued many years. He rented land a few years, purchased a saw mill about 1834. and, three years later, traded the mill for 200 acres in Allen Coianty. This farm he sold in 1845, and purchased 120 acres where he now resides, his entire farm consisting of 305 acres, valued at $65 per acre. Mr. Stalter was married, September 24, 1828, to Anna Teler, who died tifteen years later. Their children were David, John, Julia A., Malinda, Mary M. ; Hiram and Lydia A. are deceased. Mr. Stalter married Louisa Dennison March 14, 1844, and she dying October 29, 1851, left one child living, Ann L., and three deceased - Victoria E., Emaline and Harriet. January 1, 1852, Mr. Stalter was married to Miss Catharine Brant, daughter of Christina and Anna (Ellenberger) Brant, who emigrated from Switzerland in 1845. Three children were born of this union - Mary E., Hiram T. and William B. Their mother was born September 17, 1832. In politics, Mr. Stalter is a Democrat. Himself and wife are both members of the German Reformed Church.

NOAH STONEBURNER was born in Fairtield County, Ohio, March 2, 1823. He Is a son of John and Catharine (Bretz) Stoneburner, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively, and of German and French descent. His paternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution. His father came to Ohio at the age of eighteen, and was married in Fairlield County in 1822. Their children were Noah, Elizabeth and Levi, all living, and Christina, Mary A., Catharine, Samuel, John, Melinda and Ellen, deceased. The father died in 1860, aged sixty years; the mother is still a resident of this township, in her eighty -first year. Noah Stoneburner remained at home till twenty-three. He was married, February 20, 1848, to Magdalene Hite, daughter of David Hite. She died in 1859, having borne three children - E. Agatha (wife of J. M. Purky), Frank E., Catharine (wife of Miles Lewis). He was married, September 12, 1862, to Mrs. Mary A. Boyer (widow of Jacob Boyer), daughter of W. B. and Mary (Burns) Miller. She has five children, one Sylvia (now the wife of S. E. Lewis), by her first husband; the others are Miller, Charley A., Mary M. and Minnie E. Mrs. S. was born December 8, 1837. Mr. S. purchased his first farm of eighty acres in Antrim Township, later adding eighty acres more, all forest land, where he resided most of the time till 1867. He purchased his present farm of 174 acres in 1878; built his "bank" barn in 1874; erected his large frame house in 1881, and is one of the substantial citizens of the township. In politics, Mr. Stoneburner is a Democrat.

LEWIS STRAW is a native of Vermont, born May 16, 1817. He is a son of David and Mary (Cady) Straw, natives of Maine and Connecticut respectively, and of Welsh descent. His parents came to Ohio in 1831, and located near Bowsherville, where his father became the owner of 195 acres of land; they had a family of nine children - Lewis, Elizabeth, Samuel C, Israel, David, Joel, Jason, Sally and Polly. The father died, aged eighty- two years; the mother, aged seventy-five. The children are all deceased but Lewis and Elizabeth. Lewis Sti-aw remained at home till twenty-one, and was then apprenticed as a cabinet-maker and painter. He began dealing in stock very early in life, and has conducted the business on a small scale ever since. He inherited and bought the old homestead of 195 acres, to which he has added till he now owns 1,000 acres in this county and 150 acres in Indiana. He was married, in 1S47, to Caroline Moody (daughter of David Moody), her death occurring three years later, leaving one child, Dudley, also deceased. In 1851, he married Rebecca Miller, daughter of William Miller, and eight children were born to them - Caroline, Eugene, Leander, Edith, Cannie and Kit. Lenora and Elmora (twins) are deceased. Mr. Straw began life with little help financially, and among the Indians; but by energy, industry and good management he has amassed a handsome fortune. He is a Republican, and has served as Trustee of his township near twenty years in succession.

JEREMIAH J. SWIHART was born in Stark County November 28, 1835. He is a son of Ezekiel and Rhoda (Miller) Swihart, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. They were married in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1835, settling near Canton, Stark County, Ohio, remaining there about two years, then moving to this county, near Carey, buying lOO acres of land, on which they resided till about 184:0, when they removed near Little Sandusky. They had two children - Jeremiah J. and Peter M. The father died in 1862, aged forty-nine years; the mother is still living, a resident of this township, in her seventy-sixth year. At the age of nineteen, Mr. Swihart was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade, which he has since engaged in. He located in Little Sandusky in 1856, and operated a threshing-machine and huller twenty-five seasons, having the first thresher in the township about 1848. He was married, April 19, 1858, to Sophia Vroman, daughter of David and Sally Vroman, of this county, the latter still living. Their children were Randolph, David, Francis, Launa, Peter, Henry, Bessie, Hancock and Clistia. Mr. Swihart is a Democrat; has served four years as Constable and one year as Township Clerk.

PETER M. SWIHART was born near Carey, Ohio, February 20, 1840, son of Ezekiel and Rhoda (Miller) Swihart (see sketch of J. J. Swihart). He resided at the home of his parents till his marriage to Miss Winnie Fitzgerald, November 4, 1869. Her parents, Garret and Mary (Miniharr) Fitzgerald, were natives of Ireland, coming to America about 1849, and settling in Marion County, where the father died in 1855; his widow was afterward married to Dennis Hogan, and are now residents of this township. Mrs. Swihart was born June 1, 1850. By her marriage to Mr. S., she has had seven children - Cyrus E., Mettie G., Emma C, IvieM., Nellie B., Miner R. and Millard Y. , an infant. Mr. Swihart resides on the old homestead, where his parents located in 1855. The farm contains ninetytwo acres, and was once the camping ground of the Wyandot Indians. In politics, Mr. Swihart is a Democrat, and has served several years as Trustee of the township.

JACOB SWINEHART was born in Perry County, Ohio, August 30, 1814. He is a son of John and Christina Swinehart, natives of Virginia and of German ancestry. The latter's grandfather Kelly, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and the former's father a soldier in the war of 1812. Jacob Swinehart remained, till he arrived at his majority, with his parents, and returned to assist his mother after the death of his father. He learned the carpenter's trade with his brother, and engaged in that business several years. He was married, August 30, 1838, to Mary A. Kelly, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Longwell) Kelly, natives of Ohio and of Irish extraction, and nine children were born to this union - Mary A. (wife of Aaron Cooperridei'), Sarah (wife of J. A. Smith). Joseph P., Christina A. (wife of Peter Mustachler), Emma (wife of John Wiest), John H., Eliza- beth A., Eliza J. and Lydia E. Mrs. Swinehart was boro March 1, 1816. Mr. S. located on his present farm in 1848. He owns ninety acres, all in good state of cultivation. He erected a comfortable dwelling in 1875, since which time his health has been rapidly failing. He is a Democrat; himself and wife both members of the German Reformed Church.

JOSEPH P. SWINEHART was born in this township January 13, 1852. He is a son of Jacob and Mary A. (Kelly) Swinehart, with whom he remained upon the farm till his marriage, March 6, 1879, to Miss Margaret Heininger, daughter of John and Mary (Wilt) Heininger, residents of this township also. The children born to this union are Myrtie A., January 4, 1881, and Joseph H., Januar}^ 21, 1883. Mrs. Swinehart was born January 1, 1863. Since his marriage, Mr. Swinehart has been tilling his father's farm of ninety acres, with very gratifying success. He is a Democrat; himself and wife members of the German Reformed Church, and very industrious and well-respected citizens.

CHRISTIAN STURY was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, January 15, 1828. His parents wore John and Susanna (Ringgenberg) Stury, who both died in Switzerland. Their children were Susanna, John, Christian and Riadolph. Christian Stury emigrated in 1849, and located in this county in 1850. He was married, August 23, 1852, to Magdalene Kipfer, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ellenberger) Kipfer, natives of Switzerland, who came to America in 1833, locating in Holmes County till 1846, when they removed to this township. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stury have had eight children - Henry (deceased), Susanna (wife of William Lougwell), Rosanna (wife of David Barth), Frederick William (deceased), Magdalene, Emma C. and Charles. In 1864, Mr. Stury enlisted in Company C, Thirty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and fought in the battles at Goldsboro, Sylvania, Raleigh and in many skirmishes, receiving his discharge June 5, 1865. From 1864 to 1867, Mr. Stury rented land, purchasing his present farm at the latter date. It is well improved and in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Stury is a Democrat; both himself and wife members of the Reformed Church, of which he has been Trustee and Deacon.

HENRY TROUP is a native of Perry County, Ohio, born January 31, 1840. His parents, Samuel and Eye (Foucht) Troup, were natives of the same county, where they resided till 1840, when they removed to Sandusky County, residing there thirteen years, coming to Wayndot in 1853, and settling where our subject now resides, and where the mother died in 1861, aged about thirty-nine years. The father is now, in his sixty-eighth year, a resident of Allen County, Ohio. Their children were Henry, Samuel, Adam and Levi, living; and Emaline, Aaron, Jacob and Matilda, deceased. Henry, our subject, remained with his parents till his marriage to Drusilla Lawrence, November 20, 1859. She was a daughter of Jacob and Judah (Swinehart) Lawrence, natives of Perry County, and early settlers of this township. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Troup are Christian J., Almeda A., William W., Charles P., Samuel O. and Iva E. Franklin E. is deceased. During the first seventeen years of married life, Mr. Troup rented land, purchasing his present farm of thirty-two acres in 1876. It is a pleasant home, in good repair, valued at $80 per acre. Both himself and wife are members of the Reformed Church, of which he was formerly Deacon and now Trustee.

former a machinist of considerable note, who was accidentally killed in a large cotton factory in which he was engaged. His father's death occurred when our subject was but three years old. His mother gave him a practical education, and at twelve he entei-ed the cotton factory, where he was engaged nine years. At twenty-one, he sailed for America, and subsequently learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed till 1874, when he formed a partnership with B. W. Mai-tin, of Little Sandusky, and has done a flourishing business in the dry goods and grocery trade. Mr. Whittaker was married, March 27, 1881, to Mrs. A. A. Barth, widow of Dr. Barth, of Milwaukee, Wis., a noted physician of that place. Mr. Whittaker is a strong advocate of Prohibition principles. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and a highly respected and useful citizen.

CHRISTOPHER WIEST was born in Baden, Germany, March 26, 1824, son of Christopher and Magdalene (Schrote) Wiest. He came with his parents in 1839, and located in Marion County till 1870, the cliildren of the family being Christopher, Philip, John, Christian, Caroline and Barbara. Christian, Samuel and the father are deceased, the latter dying in 1875, aged seventy-live years; the mother is still living. Our subject worked by the month a number of years, chiefly engaged in stage driving. In 1850, he purchased forty acres in Marion County, where he resided twenty years. In 1870, he pm'chased his present home of 202 acres, paying $8,900. He owned atone time 500 acres, but has given 300 acres to his children. He was married, May 29, 1850, to Mary Wilt, daughter of Henry and Mary Wilt, natives of Alsace, Germany, residents of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wiest have been the parents of twelve children - Louise (wife of William Burbach), Barbara (wife of Samuel Burbach), John, Samuel, Lena (wife of Frank Montee), Caroline, Christina, Christopher, Jr., Margaret and Charles. Mr. Wiest is a Democrat; he served as Trustee in Richland Township, Marion County, two terms, and in Pitt three terms. Himself and wife are members of the Reformed Chui'ch, and prominent citizens of the township.

BENJAMIN WILLIAMS was born in Ashford, Windom Co., Conn., September 17, 1819, and is the son of Raymond and Eunice (Eastman) Williams, natives of Connecticut, and of English and French parentage respectively - his father a lineal descendant of Roger Williams, of Puritan fame. His father was also a commissioned officer in the war of 1812; was married December 16, 1818; migrated to Ohio in 1838; purchased 160 acres at the land sales in this county in 1845, and in 1852 removed to Lake County, Ind., where he died December 80, 1876, aged eighty years. There were ten children of the family, six living - Benjamin, John, Esther, Oliver, Scott and George. The deceased are Lucinda, Fielder, Frank and Hiram. The mother died in 1845, aged forty-eight years. Benjamin Williams, onr subject, remained with his parents till twenty-three years of age: operated the Indian Saw Mill in this county in 1840-41 ; went East, and was married, June 1, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Hitchcock, daughter of John and Mary (Hosner) Hitchcock; rented land in Marion County from 1844 to 1847, purchasing his present homestead in the latter year. He now owns 245 acres, highly cultivated. He is the father of seven children, five living - Mary, Ann, Volney, John and Frank. The deceased are Frank and William. Mr. Williams has been a hard worker, having cleared 100 acres of forest land. He served as Trustee two years; as Coroner of county four terms; as Director of Agricultural Society ten years, and Vice President four years; and as School Director twenty-nine out of thirty-two years.

JOHN WOOD was born in Clark County, Ohio, December 7, 1818; his parents were Isaac and Sarah Wood, natives of New Jersey, removing to Ohio about 1815, settling in Clark County. They came to Marion County in 1821, entered 260 acres and at one time owned l.GOO. They were the parents of fourteen children, three girls. The mother died in 1818; the father in 18G1, aged sixty-six. John Wood resided with his father till twenty-two years of age; he then rented land three years and purchased 160 acres east of Scott Town. He has since increased his possessions to 900 acres, valued at |100 per acre. In 1877, he erected a fine brick residence at a cost of $4,000, one of the best houses in the township. Mr. Wood has always been a hard worker, often reaping, .binding and shocking forty dozen of wheat with a sickle, mowing two acres per day, with a scythe, and cradling 160 dozen of wheat, and helping to shock it in the same length of time; twenty tons of hay were pitched, and fifty shocks of corn were cut by him in two respective days. Mr. Wood is a " hopper from Hopperville," hopping in three successive hops forty-eight and one-half feet at the raising of the Union Church at Big Island in 1871. He was married, April 25, 1853, to Catharine Marsh, daughter of Mahlon and Mary A. Marsh, early settlers of Clark County, Ohio; her father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and came to Marion County in 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are the parents of five children, two living - Sarah and Effie; he was first a Whig and since a Republican, of the temperance persuasion; and has served as Trustee one term; both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Fowler, to the support of which he donates generously, and the church owes much to him for its present prosperity; he advocated the building of the C, H. V. & T. Railroad, and was one of the original stockholders.

' REUBEN WOOD, deceased, was born in New Jersey October 15, 1817; he is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Moss) Wood. (See sketch of John Wood.) He resided with his father till he reached his majority, at which time he, with his brother, Hampton, purchased 156 acres in Big Island Township, where he resided till he purchased his present home in 1845; he was married. May 26, 1841, to Miss Diantha Bay, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Lapham) Bay, who settled in Marion County in 1826. They were the parents of nine children, three living - Diantha, Amos and Abbey; the deceased were Marcy D., Ruth, Matilda, Jane, Laura and Thomas S. The father died in 1858, aged forty-five years; the mother is still residing in Marion in her eighty-third year. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are the parents of ten children, three living - Isaac, John and Reuben. The deceased are Thomas, Ruth, Mary, Iva, Eudora and Cora (twins), and Rudolph D. Mr Wood died in 1861, aged forty-five, leaving an estate of $25,000; his widow still survives, and resides on the old homestead. She was born October 18, 1823.

JOHN WOOD, Jk., son of Reuben and Diantha (Bay) Wood, was born September 20, 1852; he attended the common schools of his native township, and dwelt under the maternal roof till 1876, when he migrated to Utah, where he remained about fourteen months for the benefit of his health; returning home, he was married, November 20, 1878, to Miss Belle Kirk, of Lucas County, Ohio. She was a daughter of James and Lovina (Wood) Kirk, and was born July 28, 1858; her father, as a blacksmith, passed entirely through the late war, in which he contracted a disease of which he died January 1, 1866. He was the father of eight children, three living - John A., Ella L. and Belle. The deceased are Alfred, Libbie, Maria, James and an infant. The mother is still a resident of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have two children - Leo A., born September 3, 1S79, and Ross E., February 20, 1882. Mr. Wood inherited forty-five acres from his father's estate, and has since added forty-two acres by i:)urchase, all in good condition, valued at $75 per acre. In political sentiments, Mr. Wood is a Republican.

REUBEN S. WOOD, son of Reuben and Diantha (Bay) Wood, is a native of this township, born January 20, 1858. He obtained a good education, and remained at home till his marriage to Miss Leefee McLain, which event occurred April 8, 1879. Mrs. W'ood is a daughter of Abraham and Catharine (Berlein) McLain, and was born February 28, 1862. The children born of this marriage are Grace A., born October 22, 1879, and Walter S., January 6, 1882. At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Wood received as his portion of his father's estate forty-seven acres, to which he has added by subsequent purchases till he now owns 117 acres of choice land, wellimproved and valued at $80 per acre. Mr. Wood is a Republican, and an industrious, enterprising young farmer.

JACOB G. VVORLEY is a native of Somerset County, N. J., born November 2, 1833. His parents were C. V. D. and Mary A. (Gulick) Worley, natives of New Jersey, his forefathers coming from Holland. His paternal great-grandfather was also a native of that country, and his maternal greatgrandfather, Cornelius Van Dyke, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, one of Washington's body guards. He died aged ninety-one years. His grandmother's brother, Cornelius Van Dyke, Jr., was a soldier in the war of 1812. His parents came to Ohio in 1840, settling in Holmes County, removing to Wyandot in 1846, locating in Little Sandusky, where his father engaged in blacksmithing till 1865. Their children were Jane, Jacob G., Henry C, Martin N., Kate D., Sarah G. , Peter (killed in the late war), Samuel A. and John S. The father died July 13, 1877, aged sixty- eight years, having been a soldier in the late war, with four of his sons. The mother is still living, a resident of Fulton County, in her seventy -second year. Jacob G. Worley began teaching at the age of twenty-one,^which he continued at intervals ten years, later turning his entix-e attention to farming. He was married, May 10, 1863, to Cemantha V. Mount, daughter of Thomaa B. and Margaret (Thompson) Mount, natives of New Jersey, and of German parentage. Her parents came to this county about 1820, the father a. mason by trade. He died in his ninety-first year, and his wife in the fiftyseventh year of her age. Their four living children are Mary F., Thompson, Lydia D. and Mrs. Worley, the latter born September 10, 1840. The deceased are Joseph C. , George W. and Elizabeth W. Their parents both died in their ninety-first year. Mr. and Mrs. Worley are parents of three children - Mary G., born August 1], 1866; Lula A., April 18, 1868; and Margaret V. D., January 2, 1870. Mr. Worley came with his grandfather to this township in 1854, with whom he resided until the death of the latter, April 26, 1876, and from whom he inherited eighty-foar acres of land. He purchased eighty acres in Henry County in 1873, and the same amount in this county in 1881. Himself, wife and daughter Mary are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been four years a Class- Leader.

Source changes here: from Past and Present of Wyandot County Ohio, by A.j. Baughman, published 1913; 2,365 words in this source stream.

Pitt Township

and who removed here from New Jersey in 1822. This township is one of the most flourishing in Wyandot county, and the remarkable progress made in its social and material interests is well illustrated when the present prosperous condition of the township is compared with what it was at its formation.

The portion of Wyandot county designated by the above title was formed at the organization of the county in 1845. It is composed of twelve sections which formerly belonged to Salt Rock township, Marion county, and the remainder from the reservation. It is one of the southern townships of the county, being bounded on the south by Marion county, on the west by Marseilles and Mifflin townships, on the north by Crane township, and on the east by Antrim township.

Pitt is one of the most fertile townships of the county, a large portion of its area being made up of prairie land. The Sandusky river enters near the northeast corner of section 25, and flows in a tortuous, general northwest direction, leaving the township at the northwest corner of section 15, while the Little Sandusky creek enters near the center of the township on the south, and flows north, being joined by Honey Run from the east near the southern line of section 30, and uniting with ''Big'' Sandusky near the center of section 26. These streams water the eastern half of the township, which is also favored by several flowing springs. The western portion of the township is drained by several small streams.

The first thoroughfare laid out in this township was established prior to 1821, and was known as the Columbus & Sandusky road. It extended through sections 1, 35, 26, 27, 22, 15 and 16, and it was by this route the first settlers 'reached the Indian Mill above Upper Sandusky and the town of Delaware, where they were accustomed to go for supphes. They also went to the town of Fremont to obtain supplies and get their ''milling'' done. In 1889, the first sawmill run by water-power was constructed on section 35 by Thomas Holmes, and in 1844 this same enterprising gentleman built a grist mill, run also by water-power, on the Sandusky river in section 26.

There are two villages in this township - Little Sandusky and Harpster. The village of Little Sandusky was originally established by the Indians, and Harpster was formerly known as Fowler. Both of these towns will be given further notice in another chapter. The town of Bowsherville was platted in thirty-four lots at an early date in the history of the township, but it never prospered and has no place on the map today.

At this late day it is difficult to state just who the first settler in Pitt township was. John Wilson, a native of New York state, is reported to have located here in 1820, being the first white man to call the locality his home, but it is also stated that Walter Woolsey came here in the spring of the same year. The former was a married man with eight children, and the latter was a bachelor, also from York state. He built a little log cabin in Little Sandusky in 1820, but in his maturer years he married.

It is also stated that Ebenezer Roseberry, a somewhat noted hunter and frontier sportsman, located in the southern part of the township as early as 1818, though it is not quite certain that any white man ventured to raise his cabin in that locality as early as that date. For 1820, we find the names of Ora Bellis, William and Samuel Morral and Nehemiah Staley; and in 1821 there appeared re-enforcements in the persons of Jacob Snyder, David H. Bargley, George Johns and Peter Bowsher. Anthony Bowsher was also one of the first settlers. He was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1800, and grew up, so to speak, on the frontier, the family moving from Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day, and settling near Circleville, Pickaway county. Anthony was married in the fall of 1818, and in the spring of 1819 settled in this township, built a small cabin on ''Garbland,'' and with one Staley, his father-in-law began improving eighty acres of land, which was surveyed during that year. In 1828, Major Bowsher, as he was latterly called, erected a building at Bowsherville, and began keep- 'ing a hotel and a store, which occupations he continued for forty years. He had a race track and for many years Bowsherville was a favorite rendezvous for sportsmen of this and adjoining counties. Among others said to have located in Pitt township in the early twenties were Alexander Frazier, Cornelius Wilson, Michael Harmon and Jacob Brewer.

ably the first clapboard roof put up in the township. The first schools were taught in a log cabin on Section 10, the house having formerly been occupied by Anthony Bowsher as a dwelling. William Brown, of New Jersey, was the first school teacher. In 1824, the first school building in the township was erected on Michael Harmon's land, the northeast quarter of Section 11, and here Mr. Brown taught at intervals for seven or eight years. Other early teachers were William Howe and Mary Howe. Ora Bellis established the first store in Pitt township, at Little Sandusky, as early as 1820.

The German Reformed church of Pitt township is now known as Emanuel Reformed church. It was organized in 1852. The first meeting of the society was held at the home of John Kepler, on Section 12, in 1850. The church was organized with about twenty-five members. In 1854 the society built a frame building, on the southwest quarter of Section 12, the structure. being 25x35 feet in dimensions, and costing about $700. In 1872, this old church building was succeeded by a new one, a comfortable brick building, costing $2,300, with dimensions of 35x50 feet. This church is now and has been for at least a number of years served by the same pastor as the Trinity Reformed church at Upper Sandusky. It is in a prosperous condition.

The Methodist Episcopal church at Bowsherville was organized in 1853, meetings being held in school houses until 1859, when a church building was erected on the northwest quarter of Section 6. It was a frame building 30x40 feet. The society organized with about thirty or forty members.

The society known as the Fowler Methodist Episcopal church was' organized about 1853, and was originally made up of members from the Bowsherville society and a few from Little Sandusky. In 1878-79 they erected a church building, of brick, 40x60, at a cost of $5,000.

The thriving little village of Harpster is located on the Hocking Valley railroad, about seven miles south of Upper Sandusky. It was founded in 1876 by David Harpster and John Wood. The town was originally known as Fowler, the name having been changed some twenty yearsago. Its growth, while moderate and conservative, has been steady, and the population in 1910 was 239. Its business interests are alive and up to date and it possesses a splendid sytem of public schools.

The old town of Fowler derived its name from C. R. Fowler, who had lands adjoining the town. The village was located near the center of the township, just south of the old Wyandot reservation line. The first store in the village was established by David Harpster, who erected several buildings in the place.

Little Sandusky

_ Little Sandusky was an old Indian village ere the whites settled what is now Pitt township. The Indians opened a trading post here as early as 1818. The village was laid out by the whites in 1830.

Little Sandusky is situated on the banks of thé Little Sandusky creek near the Indian reservation, and was once an important trading post. Before the days of railroads, it had a daily line of stages which ran between Columbus and Detroit, and the prospects for its future greatness seemed quite flattering; but the march of time and the decree of fate gave it rivals in sister towns which taxed its vitality more than it could endure and prosper beneath, and the result has been an existence of mediocrity, both in the number of its inhabitants and the extent of its commerce.

The first house erected in the village was built by John Wilson in 1820. It was made of round logs, was eighteen feet square, and is now used for astable. In the same year, Walter Woolsey also erected a log cabin, somewhat smaller, in the village. It is stated in the beginning of this chapter that Ora Bellis conducted a store in Little Sandusky in 1820. This was while it was yet an Indian village. After the town was regularly laid out, the first business room was built by Cornelius Wilson in 1830. He kept a sort of hotel and general store, and continued in the business for fifteen years.

The first white child born in the village was Henrietta, daughter of Joseph and Clilorine Wilson, May 27, 1822, then the only white family in the place.

In the first settlement of Ridge township there were no established roads, and this was the cause of much inconvenience to the settlers. The first regular road constructed was what was called the Mount Blanchard road, as was designated by the commissioners' report. Supplies were obtained from Upper Sandusky, Findlay and Sandusky City, and the thoroughfares leading to these points constituted the chief lines of regular travel till the sectional roads were legally established.

At the organization of this county in 1845, the portion now known as Ridge township was existing under the title of Amanda, in Hancock- county. It is a fractional township containing but fifteen sections, and was annexed to this county at the above date, deriving its name from the high limestone ridge which extends across its northern part. It is bounded on the east by Crawford township, on the south by Richland, and on the west and north by Hancock county. The southern portion of the township is comparatively low, and was once covered with a heavy growth of timber - beech, sugar maple, ash and walnut - much of which still remains, though the work of improvement is going on rapidly. With the present drainage, large crops of wheat are being harvested from these lands, that at one time were supposed to be adapted to corn raising only. The northern part is of an entirely different makeup, both as to soil and surface feature. It is considerably elevated above the south half of the township, the soil consisting of a sandy loam, with clay base (white and yellow), and is especially adapted to the raising of wheat, an interest closely looked after by its inhabitants.

The first white man to locate in Ridge township was William Homan, who located here with a wife and five children in 1832-33. He was followed soon after by Andrew Bates, with a wife and three children. In 1834, Jacob Jackson came to the township. He was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, but had removed with his parents to Ohio in 1822. George Greek was one of the few struggling pioneers in 1836. He was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, but he had removed with his parents to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1816, where he grew to manhood. James Hunter came in 1836, from Fairfield county, this state. Casper Updegraff was one of the early settlers, and located in the township about 1840. He was a man of great physical power and endurance, and did much hard labor. Another pioneer was Benjamin Fickle, who came from Pennsylvania to this township in 1841. Among those coming to the township at a little later date were Solo; mon Bocher, James Wohlgamuth, Joel Chesebrough and Henry Brown.

The first grist mill was located on section 14, and was operated by Isaac Wohlgamuth. It was a horse mill, and was established in 1848. It has long since been out of commission. The first saw mill was erected by John Long, in about 1836. It was run by water, and was constructed on the old upright plan. Progress soon compelled the old mill to cease operations. The first store was established by Eli Ragon, at what at that time promised to be a prosperous village - Ridgeville - but never reached much beyond the platting of its twenty-four lots. The town of Jamestown was also platted with twenty-four lots, but never assumed the dignity of a village.

The first schools in the township were held in the dwellings of the settlers, one of these being that of George Greek, and Deby Martin was the first teacher. When the log schoolhouse near Mr. Greek's residence was erected, among the first teachers was Jacob Newman Free, then a brilliant young collegiate, later known as the 'Immortal J. N.'' Other early teachers were Benjamin Burnapp, Samuel Updegraff and Isabel Thompson.

The Methodist Episcopal church organized a society in this township as early as 1834, although meetings were held prior to this by the adherents of this faith in dwelling houses and in the log schoolhouse west of the cemetery. In 1835-36, . they erected a log church building, which later was supplanted by a frame structure, costing $1,200, and named Bethel.

A Methodist Protestant church was organized in this township in 1866-67, by the Reverend Evans, who had for a time previous held services in the ''Greek'' schoolhouse, and here it was that the organization was effected, there being at that time about thirty members enrolled. They erected a church

An organization of the Lutheran denomination was formed in this township in about 1838 or 1839. They erected a log building which was afterwards weather boarded. The members of the Reformed church gave their assistance. Some trouble later arose. In 1862-63 the Reformed society erected a frame structure at a cost of one thousand, six hundred dollars. |

Ridge is the smallest township in Wyandot, and lies in the northwest corner of the county. The southwest corner of Big Spring Indian reservation extended into this township. The Northern Ohio railroad runs through Ridge but has no station in the township.