Prospect Township (part 3 of 5)

1880, Mr. Sells built the large brick store which he now occupies, and situated just one door north of his first stand, which he still owns. On mov ing into the new store, in 1880, he admitted Joseph Cratty as partner, under the firm name of Sells & Cratty. This continued until February 1, 1883, when he bought Cratty 's interest, and the business is conducted under the old name of P. C. Sells. The store is the largest in Prospect, and as large as any in Marion. The sales now average $25,000 and upward per year. Mr. Sells was married, in Pleasant Township, Marion Co., Ohio, October 20, 1860, to Elizabeth Landon, daughter of Cyrene Landon. Mr. S. has the following children: Molly Kate, Benjamin P., Pearl H. , Mattie Belle and Bessie. He is a Bepublican, and although in a strongly Democratic Township, has served seven years as Township Treasurer, also as one of the Village Council, etc.

S. N. SMITH, grocery merchant, was born in Prospect Township, Sep tember 19, 1846. He lived on his father's farm until 1877, when, on account of failing health caused by a sunstroke, he left the farm, came to Prospect Village, and was engaged in the butchering business until the spring of 1879, when he bought a stock of groceries and fitted up a store; since then, he has been keeping a general stock of staple and fancy groceries. The store is neatly arranged, is the best one in the village, and on account of the liberal patronage that he receives from the citizens his stock is kept fresh, being constantly replaced by new purchases. He is genial, accommodating and enterprising, and ' deserves success. His sales average about $7,000 per annum. Mr. Smith is a son of Thomas and Sophia (Transue) Smith, mentioned elsewhere. He was married, October 31, 1870. to Miss Mary E. Willauer, a daughter of J. P. "Willauer, of Thompson Township, Delaware Co., Ohio. Himself and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

THOMAS SMITH was born in Haycock Township, Bucks Co., Penn., and is one of the early settlers of this county still living. He passed his early years on the farm in Pennsylvania, and at the age of eighteen years, learned the carpenter's trade. He arrived in Prospect Township April 16, 1838. In 1838. he bought forty acres of land, at $5.62 per acre, one mile west of Prospect Village. It was covered with a heavy growth of timber, and was also considered very wet land. On this place he built a small log house, into which he moved with his wife and one child. Subsequently, he added to this farm thirty-four acres of wild land, at $6.37 per acre, and afterward another piece of twenty acres, partly improved, for which he paid $1,200. The last piece of land he afterward sold for $2,500, and still owns the home farm of seventy-four acres, which he improved principally by his own Isbor. The log cabin has finally given place to a fine frame residence and other outbuildings, and it is one of the best improved farms in the township. The horse stable on the place is forty-two feet long, and made especially for the keeping of horses. Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and has served in various local offices; was Assessor of the Township during the war; has also served as Trustee, etc. He has been a member of the Lutheran Church since eighteen years of age. which church he served as Deacon several years. He is still hale and hearty, and prepared to enjoy the fortune which he has honestly earned in a lifetime of industry; enjoying, as he passes down the pathway of life, the confidence and respect of all the people with whom he has lived so long. Hi' was m.trried, December 22, 1835, to Sophia Transue. of Williams Township. Northampton Co.. Penn., and has three children, as follows: Mary Ann, now the wife of Nathan

Moll, of St. Louis, Mo.; Lavina, the wife of J "W. Gast. of Prospect, and Samuel N. , a grocery merchant in Prospect Village. Mr. Smith has retired from active business and now resides in the village of Prospect.

CHARLES E. THOMAS, farmer and stock- dealer, was born in Prince William County, Va., August 31, 1848, the son of Benjamin F. and Sarah A. (Howison) Thomas. He lives on his farm of seventy acres, about one and a half miles east of Prospect Village, and is also a member of the firm of Thomas Brothers, buyers and shippers of stock for Eastern markets. Mr. Thomas was married, December 20, 1876, to Lettie M. Gast, a daugh ter of William Gast, of Delaware County. He is Superintendent of the gravel road between Prospect and Waldo.

B. F. THOMAS, brother of tbe above, was born in Washington. D. C, November 6, 1853, and was married, March 1, 1882, to Hattie O. Detwiler, daughter of John and Mary (Ely) Detwiler, of Thompson Township, Delaware County. They have one child - Harry Earl, born February 18, 1883. Mr. T. is a member nf the firm of Thomas Brothers, above referred to.

WILLIAM B. THOMAS, farmer, was born in Scioto Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, May 17, 1825, and is a son ef Lord and Elizabeth (Brockway) Thomas, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Virginia. William B., in his early manhood, worked at different kinds of labor. In May, 1843, *he went to Delphos, Ohio, and worked on the canal, and in the fall of 1843 went to Kenton, Hardin County, where he worked ,at brickmaking and as a brick-mason until December, 1848; from there he went to New Orleans, La., to work on the United States Custom House, then being built. Three days after his arrival, he was taken with cholera. After recovering he found himself penniless, his doctor and nurse bills having taken his last dollar. He secured employment of a man named Blunt, to work at getting out Cyprus staves, near the mouth of the Red River, at Atchafalaya Bayou, where he labored with four other men for one month, when Mr. Blunt skipped the country, with all his "blunt," if he had any, and Mr. Thomas and his comrades did not receive a cent for their month's labor. While there, a panther attacked some men in a shanty near by, killing one of the men. After this, Mr. Thomas worked at floating out cypress logs, to be rafted down the bayou. In this he had better success; and received pay for his work. Next, he went to New Orleans, and took passage for Cincinnati on a steamboat. During the trip thirteen of the passengers died of the cholera. He arrived in Marion County March 13, 1849, and just one year afterward - March 13, 1850 - with six others, started by the overland route for California. While the train of which they were a part was crossing the plains, near St. Mary's River, at the bank of the stream they camped. During the night, two mules and a mare were stolen by the Digger Indians. One night, shortly afterward, the two men on guard reported stealing Indians. When Mr. Thomas and three others went out to investigate, they went some sixty rods, keeping about twenty feet apart, till they came to the ridge of a hill, when one of the party fired at an Indian near a sage bush. Immediately some ten or fifteen Indians sprang to their feet, whooping and running. In the melee that ensued, an Indian approached very near Mr. Thomas, when he and his right-hand comrade both leveled their pieces and fired at the same time. The Indian fell dead, and this ended the tight. The rest took to their heels, and from that on the train was not molested by thieving [ndians. On his arrival in California, Mr. Thomas worked in the mines until November 15, 1851; during this time clearing about $2,000. He then returned on an ocean steamer, by the way of the

Isthmus, and arrived in New York December 20, 1801. Mr T. was married, July 15, 1852, at Marion, Ohio, to Mary Jefferson, born July 21, 1833, on the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, and a daughter of William and Phcebe (Dann) Jefferson. Her parents emigrated to the United States when she was but eighteen months old, and settled in Scott Township, Marion County. Her father died the year following, leaving a widow, three sons and one daughter. The widow died in December, 1 800, in Iowa. December 20, 1852, Mr. Thomas, accompanied by his wife, again started for California, this time by steamer, by way of the Isthmus. They arrived at Panama on New Year's Day, and were delayed there, by the sickness of Mrs. Thomas, until February 5. They then took passage by the steamer " Golden Gate" for San Francisco, where they arrived after a voyage of thirteen days. During this voyage, seventy-two passengers died of fever, eleven dying in one day. On the trip, a fellow who was working his passage affronted one of the ladies on board, when, as a punishment, one end of a pork barrel was knocked out, a hole large enough to admit his head was cut in the other eud; with this for an overcoat, his hfiad sticking out, he was obliged to walk on deck one hour each day for the rest of the trip. During Mr. Thomas' stay in California, three of his children were born; Nevada and William Jefferson both died; Angeline, born October 1, 1850, is still living. October 20, 1857, he, with his family, started on their return by steamer, and in due time arrived in Marion County, in possession of $5,000 as the reward for his few years' labor in California. He soon afterward bought an eighty-acre farm in Claridon Township, where he went to reside. He afterward increased this farm to 184 acres. He lived there until 1874. In March of this year, he bought 112 acres in Prospect Township, on the west bank of the Scioto River, where he has ever since lived. The farm is valued at $100 per acre. Mr. Thomas has been the architect of his own fortune, never having anything given to him for a start. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have three other children, born in Marion County - John H, June 10, 1859; Lincoln E., July 18," 1801, and Orrin Ellsworth, October 25, 1807.

HENRY TREESE, farmer, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Berks County (now Lehigh County), November 8, 1811. He came to Ohio as a teamster in 1833. Shortly after his arrival in the State, he located in Delaware Township, Delaware County, remaining there some two or three years, when he went to Radnor Township, same county, where he was married, September 4, 1842, to Jane Cratty. He resided in Radnor Township for a number of years, and in 1852 moved upon the farm of 125 acres where he now resides. Mrs. Treese died September 9, 1800. They had a family of children as follows: Joseph H, John Dunlap (deceased), Samuel O, Nancy Jane and Margaret Isabella. Mr. Treese' s farm, when he first bought it, was in a rough condition, the timber only having been cut over; no sign of a fruit tree cr other improvements. By his industry, ninety acres of this land has been made subject to the plow, and 100 fruit trees set out. He commenced a poor boy, and on his arrival in Ohio had but $15, and by hard work and perseverance and economy has acquired his property, which is amply sufficient to support him in comfort in his old age. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for twenty -four or twenty- five years, and in politics is a Democrat.

WASHINGTON PIKE WARD, farmer. Prospect, was born in Dela ware County, Ohio, September 17, 1858, and is a son of William Ward, a native of Shropshire, England, ;ind who died in Delaware County, Ohio, in

1861. His mother was Sarah A. (Howison) Ward, born in Prince William County, Va., February 6, 18 14. The Howisons were from Scotland, and trace their ancestry to John Howison, a burgess of the city of Edinburgh in 1450, and were of kin to Sir William Wallace. The American branch of the Howison family, of whom our subject is a descendant, settled in Prince William County, Va.. from whom numerous branches are scattered throughout the United States. The first husband of Mr. Ward's mother was Benjamin F. Thomas, to whom she was married in June, 1836, at Washington City. D. C. Mr. Thomas was also a native of Prince William County, Va. At Mr. Thomas' death she was left with eight children, with whom she came to Delaware County, Ohio, in 1856. The names of the children were Mary, Virginia, Catharine Juliette, John H. (the present Clerk of Marion County), Charles E. and Benjamin F. After their arrival in Delaware County, in 1857, Mrs. Thomas was married to William Ward, who, as before stated, died in 1861. Mrs. Ward is still living, and resides with her son, Washington P. Ward, a mile and a half east of Prospect Village. The latter was married, December 12, 1882, to Miss May Armontrout, a daughter of Abel Armontrout, of Cardington, Morrow Co., Ohio.

WATKIN WA.TKINS was the first of this family that came to America. He was a native of North Wales, where he was married to Elizabeth Evans. They, with their family of two, or possibly three, children, pmigrated to America. On the voyage all the children died from fever. This was about the year 1800, or perhaps a few years earlier. They first lived in Philadelphia, where Mr. W. worked at his trade of carpenter. They came to Ohio at an early day, locating on a farm in Kadnor Township, Delaware County, where he lived, and died in 1887. Himself and wife were Episcopalians. Bobert Watkins, son of the foregoing, and an early settler of Prospect Village, was born June 3, 1805, in Philadelphia. He learned the carpenter's trade of his father, which he followed, in connection with cabinet-making, more or less, all his life. He was married, September 15, 1830, to Miss Joan Parry, at Millville, Delaware Co., Ohio, by the Bev. Mr. Vandeman, a Presbyterian minister. She was a native of Gundthure, South Wales, and daughter of Urich and Jane (Penry) Parry, both natives of Wales, in which country, also, the father died, leaving a widow and five children - Ann, Mary, Walter, Joan and David. The three first came to America with their uncle, William Penry, who came to Badnor Township in 1819. The widow of Uriah Parry, with her two youngest children, came with her brother, Walter Penry, who emigrated in 1820, also locating in Badnor Township, Delaware County. Mrs. W. died in Columbus, Ohio, in the fall of 1823. Bobert Watkins and family came to Middletown, now Prospect, in December, 1837, moving into a log house nearly opposite where Mohr's store now is, in which they kept the pioneer hotel of Prospect. They afterward bought the lot where the Watkins House now stands. There was a frame house on this lot, which they fixed up and kept as a hotel. Afterward, they built the present brick hotel, and moved the frame to it as an addition. Here Bobert Watkins lived until his death, October 29, 1853, and he was buried in what was known as the Delhi Graveyard, in the north part of Badnor Township. Bobert Watkins was an oldtime Democrat, and served his township in various local offices. He was an early settler of Prospect. He and wife had a family of ten children - Elizabeth, born July 16, 1831; Sarah, October 25, 1834; Watkin, Novemner 2, 1837; Bobert U., October 22, 1839; Thomas P., December 28, 1841; Joan. February 2. 1844, and died June 14, 1848; Walter D., born August

25, 1847, and two infants not named; Walter D. is also deceased. The grandparents on the maternal side of Mrs. Robert Watkins were Walter Penry, who came to Radnor Township, where he died, and his wife, who died in Wales; her name was Ann Davis, and she was a sister of Bishop Davis, of South Wales.

WATKlN WATKINS, importer and dealer in horses, was born in Prospect Township, on the farm now owned by Thomas L. Penry, November 2, 1837. His parents were Robert and Joan (Parry) Watkins, who are mentioned in this volume. Mr. Watkins passed his early years in his father's hotel at Prospect, in the meantime attending school in the old log school house, the first school building erected in Prospect, and after that was torn down, in other school buildings erected on the same site. During the time he was eighteen to twenty years of age. he learned the saddler's trade, and since that period his principal business has been dealing in horses and importing horses from France, being now one of the well-known firm of Watkins Bros. His residence is located west of the Scioto River, in Prospect Village. It is surrounded by large grounds, neatly arranged. The building is of brick, and is the largest and most elaborately finished of all private residences in the village. Mr. Watkins was married to Miss Leda B. Patten, a daughter of Richard and Susan (Kennedy) Patten, of this county. They have one child, named Richard L. Watkins.

REDDEN S. AYEISEL, steam saw mill, and lumber dealer, Prospect Village. Mr. Weisel is a native of New Jersey, and born September 9, 1847, a son of Joseph and Mary (Smith) Weisel. He was brought by his parents to Prospect Township when but two years of age. At twenty years of agp, he commenced business on his own account, and the fall he was twenty-one he bought a steam saw mill in Pleasant Township, which he operated for three years, when he took in a partner. The firm also manufacturpd tile, ran a cider mill, etc. This partnership was closed out in 1879. During these years they had bought a thirty-horse power engine and saw mill, which Mr. Weisel now owns and operates at Prospect Village. The mill averages about 4,000 feet of sawed lumber per day. Mr. W. ships mostly to Cjlumbus and Cleveland. Mr. WTeisel was married, in 1877, to Miss Martha Pettey, of Green Camp Township. They reside in Prospect Village,

SOLOMON B. WELCH, pioneer farmer of Prospect, was born in the State of Vermont September 16, 1799. He bought and settled upon 122 acres of land in this township about 1830-33. He cleax'ed about ninety acres of this farm. Hie first wife was Lavina Smith, born December 27, 1803, and died December 6, 1834. By this union there were the following children: Emily, born November 17, 1821; Martha, August 16, 1823; Thomas W., January 20, 1827; Presley, April 9. 1832; Lavina, December 17, 1833. He was again married, January 6, 1836, to Mary Carnahan. born June 5, 1817, in Indiana County, Penn., and a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Lloyd) Carnahan; natives, respectively, of the North of Ireland and Wales. By Mr. Welch's last mai-riage were the following children: Uriah H, born February 2,1838; Elizabeth, July 14, 1840; Miriam D. January 29. 1842. and died August 22, 1851; John W., June 19, 1843; Corintha S. December 9, 1846; Solomon O, June 13, 1850; Mary A., November 27, 1852; Wealthy V, September 7, 1856, and died October 24. 1866; Addis A., January 18, 1861. Solomon B. Welch died at his homostead in this township October 23, 1862. His widow still resides there, and relates that when she first settled there, traveling was all done a- foot or on horseback. The meetings were held in schoolhouses or at private residences. There was scarcely any fruit except wild plums arid gooseberries; but they had plenty of maple sirup and sugar, which was used in place of fruit. Eggs sold for 3 cents per dozen, and they would receive but $1.50 per hundred weight for pork, after carrying it to Delaware. Their clothing was all made from flax and wool, spun in the family. Mrs. Welch still enjoys good health, is a pleasant, genial and worthy type of the pioneer women and long may her years be numbered among those of the living. She is a member of the Methodist Church. Uriah H. Welch, farmer, son of the above, enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at Delaware, Ohio, September 8, 1§62, to serve in the war of the rebellion. He honorably participated in many battles, and was one of Gen. Sherman's army on its famous march to the sea. He served until the close of the war in 1865.

JAMES F. WOTTRING, Assistant Cashier of the Prospect Bank, was born in this township July 21, 1852, and is a son of Louis and Rachel L. (Waters) Wottring. Until eighteen years of age, he clerked in his father's grocery store. At this age, too, he learned the painter's trade, but now, as above stated, is acting as Assistant Cashier of the Prospect Bank. In politics, Mr. W. advocates the principles as represented by the Democratic party, and has served the township and village in various offices. He is now Justice of the Peace, has been Clerk of the village si nee 1878 and Township Clerk since 1880. He has been Clerk of the Village School District for two years, and member of the Village Board of Education for three years. He is a member of Prospect Lodge, No. 483, I. O. O. F., and of the Richwood Encampment, No. 185. He was married, December 24, 1874, to Lydia D. Leist, a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Gast) Leist. Mr. W. has a family of two children - Louis Claud, born September 9, 1876, and Margaret Ethel, born January 8, 1.8S1.

L. H. WOTTRING, retired merchant and farmer, was born at Stockertown, Northampton Co., Penn., February 5, 1827, and came to this county with his parents, Jacob J. and Hannah (Mohr) Wottring, in 1839. He was married, September 3, 1848, to Rachel L. Waters, a daughter of N. B. Waters, an early settler of Prospect, and formerly of Pennsylvania. Mr. Wottring was engaged in mercantile pursuits for many years; first as a clerk in a dry goods store, then, with his brother, carried on the grocery business at Clyde, Sandusky County, for eighteen months, when he returned to Prospect, whei*e he opened and conducted a grocery store until four years ago; he then closed out, and retired to live on his farm of 109 acres, a half mile north of Prospect Village, where he occupies his time in overseeing his farm. Mr. Wottring is a member of the I. O. O. F., also member of Mizpah Encampment of Marion, and is a charter member of the lodge in Prospect Village. In politics, he is a Democrat.

JOHN B. WYATT was born October 18, 1 826, in what is now Waldo Township, but formerly Marlborough Township, Delaware County. His parents were Samuel D. and Lavina (Brundige) Wyatt, both natives of New York State and pioneers in this county. John B. remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age. Up to this time he had attended the common schools of the township. He then attended a select school at Marion for six months, and the following winter taught school. In the summer of 1850, he attended the university at Delaware, Ohio, for five months, and the next winter taught school at Prospect Village. In the summer of 1851, he formed a partnership with Stephen Curren, and they opened a dry goods store at Norton. This continued but one season, when he, with his brother David, went to La Rue, where they built a house. It was commenced in 1 8 T> 1 and finished the next year, and the second house erected in La Rue after the village plat was laid out. Mr. Wyatt had bought the lot some time before. His brother had never been there until they went to build; there was no sign of streets or any improvements; nothing but stumps and an old pasture field; his brother was vexed, and declared that the place would never amount to anything, but finally consented to go ahead and build. They sold this building the next year, 1853, and Mr. Wyatt returned to Prospect and opened a dry goods store and continued for three years, when he sold out and bought 158 acres of land four miles east of Prospect Village, in Waldo Township, for which he paid |8.25 per acre. The land was in a perfectly wild condition and unimproved, but is now in a high state of cultivation, with fine buildings and other improvements. He still owns this property. He lived there till November, 1881, when he moved to Prospect Village, where he had previously erected a fine brick residence, near the depot, in which he now resides with his family. Previou-i to moving to Prospect, he was for three years engaged in buying and shipping grain, at Prospect, for Mr. De Wolfe, of Marion. He then formed a partnership with Watkins Brothers, under the firm name of Wyatt & Watkins Bros., for the purpose of doing a general warehouse business, as noted on a preceding page. Mr. Wyatt was formerly a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church, and afterward of the United Brethren Church, but as neither of these denominations hold regular services at Prospect Village, Mr. Wyatt attends other meetings. In politics, he is a Republican. Mr. W. was married, April 1, 1852, to Elizabeth J. Watkins, who was born July 16, 1831, a daughter of Robert and Joan (Parry) Watkins. They havH three children, named as follows: David W. , born February 11, 1853; Thomas W., born September 23, 1858; Santford D., born July 10, 1865. All the boys live on the farm in Waldo Township. Mr. Wyatt is one of the most substantial and enterprising citizens of Prospect.

CHARLES WYNN, farmer, was born in Wales May 28, 1822; came to this county with his father, John Wynn, mentioned elsewhere. He owns 100 acres of land, with fine improvements. He, by his own labor, cleared fifty acres of this farm. He was married, in 1856, to Sarah Canous, daughter of Joseph Canous. They had four4children - Harvey A., died, aged fourteen years; William E., married Fannie Mayfield, and lives in Prospect Township; C. S. and Joseph F. died, aged respectively four and a half months and five years and four months. Mr. Wynn's wife died June 26, 1877, since which time he has remained a widower.

EDWARD WYNN, farmer, was born in Wales, and is a son of John Wynn, Sr., mentioned elsewhere. Mr. W. lives on and owns the old homestead of his father. He has always followed the occupation of farming, though meanwhile has worked some at carpentering, He was married, November 24, 1850, to Martha Ann Canous, who was born April 4, 1833, a daughter of Joseph Canous, who was an early settler of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and afterward of Marion County. Mr. and Mrs. Wynn have eight children - Rachel A., born October 7, 1852; Sarah Olive, July 31, 1854; Joseph H., June 13, 1857; Benjamin A., February 6, 1861; Viola M., September 12, 1863; Isaac E., July 31, 1866; Clara Iona, February 6, 1869; George Evan, July 29, 1872. Mr. Wynn is one of Prospect Township's most respected citizens.

JOHN WYNN, farmer, is a native of Wales, and is a son of John and Phoebe (Gaugh) Wynn, mentioned elsewhere, and was born March 15, 1819. When nineteen years of age, he commenced for himself, working at farm labor. Mr. Wynn moved upon the farm which he now owns and where he lives, in 1852. It consists of 180 acres of the most productive land in Prospect Township. The farm is well fenced and drained, and in the way of buildings is one of the most attractive places in the county. The house and outbuildings were built by Mr. Wynn, at an expense of about $4,000. He is one of the most substantial and enterprising farmers of Prospect Township, as the surroundings of his home would indicate. He voted as a Whig for Gen. Harrison, but since the formation of the Republican party has acted with them. Mr. Wynn has been married twice. The first time to Miss Mary Owens, October 24, 1844; she died fifteen months afterward, and he was married, March 16, 1848, to Sarah A. McCray. By the last marriage there are ten children, as follows: George, born January 23, 1849; Jennie, November 17, 1850; Joseph, August 31, 1852; Mary, Mav 9, 1854; Sarah E., January 14, 1856; Emma E., February 18, 1858; John. Jr., December 25, 1859; Walter, January 27, 1862; Wilbur E., May 28, 1865; Reuben S., October 11, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Wynn are members of the United Brethren Church.

GABRIEL M. YOUNG, harness and saddlery, Prospect Village, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, December 6, 1840, and is son of Reuben T. and Maria (Brouse) Young; the former born near Niagara Falls, Canada, and the latter in Wayne County, Ohio. G. M. Young learned his trade in the shop of his father, who was a harness-maker. Soon after he completed his trade he came to Prospect Village. He was married, in 1863, to Maggie A. Landon, daughter of Rev. P. P. Landon, of Prospect, and in the spring of 1866 he opened a harness-shop in the village on his own account. He continued business here until the fall of 1867, when he moved to Platte County, Neb. , where he took up a homestead of eighty acres, situated six miles from the Union Pacific Railroad, and seventy-five miles west of Omaha. Their habitation, into which they immediately moved, was a " dug-out," or a hole dug in the side of a hill, with a dirt floor, wall and roof; the roof was supported by poles. The family subsisted mostly upon game meat for the first three years. The first shot that Mr. Young fired at game in that region was at a six-prong buck, which he killed. From the door of his " dug-out " he shot and killed six wolves the first year, and many a night heard the wolves scratching at his door to make an entrance. In this habitation the family lived nine years, when he built a frame house. While living on this land Mr. Young still worked at his trade, doing the work in the dug-out. He bought his stock at North Bend, a town thirteen miles distant, on the Union Pacific Railroad. His only means of getting it home was by wheelbarrow power. When the work was finished, it was taken to town by him in the same way. The only mill where he could get flour or meal ground for the family was twenty-five miles away. The family Jived on this land for twelve years. He sold the homestead in June, 1879, and moved to Schuyler, Colfax Co., Neb., where he worked at his trade until September 1, when he bought the stock and harness shop of J. W. Monroe, of Schuyler, and continued in the business there for twenty-one months, when he sold out and returned to Prospect. Mr. and Mrs. Young have seven children, as follows: William P. (born in Shelby, Richland Co., Ohio), Mary Virginia (born in Prospect), Granville Penn, Simeon A., David P.. Morrison J. and Mabel Sylvania; all except the two first were born in Ne- braska; the last two are twins, the boy is of the brunette type and the girl a perfect blonde. R. T. Young (father of G. M.) and four sons were in the army, at one time, during the last war. William Perry was killed at the charge on Kenesaw Mountain June 27, 1864. At that time, Gabriel M. Young was under Gen. Grant; his boy, born the following month, July 20, 1864, he named after the fallen hero boy, the youngest of the four. The oldest - Milton - was killed in Chattanooga Creek, January 12, 1865, leaving a wife and son.

Source changes here: from The History of Marion County Ohio, by Various, published 1883; 37,499 words in this source stream.

Organic

In the year 1830, an effort seems to have been made to erect a new township from off the west part of what was then Pleasant Township, but the plan failed, as will be seen from the following entry taken from the Commissioners' record of that date:

"Tuesday, March 2, 1830. - 4 petition was presented, praying for a new township ty be laid off from the west part of Pleasant Township, which, being read, was rejected."

It was not until after the General Assembly had passed an act in February, 1848, erecting the new county of Morrow, and giving to Marion County certain portions of Delaware County, known at that time as a part of Marlborough, Thompson and Radnor Townships, that Prospect Township was organized. It was carved out of Pleasant and Green Camp Townships, and also made to include the territory of that portion of Thompson and Radnor Townships which was given by the act of the Legislature in February, 1848, to Marion County, from off of Delaware County, although the territory included in the Marion portion of Radnor Township had al. ready been incorporated into a recently organized township, designated Waldo. all of which will clearly appear from the following entry, copied from the Commissioners' record of that date:

" Auditors' and Commissioners' office, Marion, Marion Co., Ohio, June 5, 1848: This day the Commissioners of Marion County met, pursuant to the statute. Present, Henry V. Smith and John Uncapher, Commissioners, and Peter Beerbower. County Auditor. This day came George Beames, Christian Gast and others, being a majority of householders residing within the territory hereinafter described, and made application, by petition, for the erection of a new township, to be called ' Prospect,' to comprise and inclose the following territory, to wit: All those portions and parts of Radnor and Thompson Townships attached to the county of Marion by the act erecting the county of Morrow, passed February 24, 1848 (including that portion of Radnor Township incorporated in Waldo Township by the Commissioners of Marion County at their March meeting, 1848). Also Sections No. 31, 32, 33 and 34,in Township No. 6 south. Range No. 15, being in Pleasant Township, and also Fractional Section No. 36 south, Range No. 14, in said Pleasant Township, and also Fractional Township No. 7 south, Range No. 15, in said Pleasant Township. Also the following portion of Green Camp Township, to wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of Survey No. 9,928, being the northeast corner of George Cryder's land, on the Scioto River; thence west along the north line of said survey to the northwest corner thereof; thence southwardly along the west line of said survey to the northeast corner of John Sharp's 210 acres of land, in Survey No. 10,240; thence westwardly to the northwest corner of said John Sharp's land; thence southwardly along the west line of said Sharp's land to the south line of said Survey No. 10,240; thence along said line to the line between Marion and Union Counties; thence southwardly with said last-mentioned 'line to the Greenville treaty line; thence eastwardly along said Greenville treaty line to the Scioto River: thence up said river, with the meanderings thereof, to the place of begiuning. And it appearing to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, that legal notice of said application has been given, and that the erection of said township is necessary, it is ordered that the above territory be and the same is erected into a separate township, by the name and style of 'Prospect.' and thatthe boundaries thereof be recorded accordingly."

For some reason, which does not clearly appear from the record, the Commissioners were induced, on the following day, to amend their order above given, as to that portion defining the boundaries of Prospect Township, and restore to what was then Pleasant Township the east half of Section No. 33 and all of Section No. 34, and also to add to the new township a goodly portion of Virginia Military Lands from Green Camp Township, as will be seen from the following entry:

"Tuesday morning, June 6, 1848. - On application, and good cause being shown, it is ordered that the order of the Commissioners entered as of yesterday, erecting the new township of Prospect, in Marion County, be so amended that the whole of Fractional Section No. 34, and the east half of Fractional Section No. 33, Township No. 6 south, Range No. 15, be restored and attached to the township of Pleasant, from which the same was taken, and that the following additional portion of Green Camp Township be and the same is attached to and made a part of said township of Prospect, to wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of Survey No. 9,923; thence. westwardly on line of said survey to the southeast corner of William and Aaron Markel's 119% acres of land; thence westwardly along said Markel's land, and continued westwardly on the south line of said tracts of land to the west line of Marion County; thence southwardly along the line between Union and Marion Counties, to-the south line of Survey No. 10,240; thence eastwardly on said south line to the southwest corner of J ohn Sharp's 2i0 acres of land; thence northwardly, on the west line of said Sharp's land to the northwest corner thereof; thence eastwardly to the northeast corner thereof; thence northwardly on the west line of said Survey No. 9,923 to the place of beginning."

General Aspect

Prospect Township is one of the smallest, yet one of the most densely populated, as well as one of the richest and most fertile townships of Marion County. Its surface is undulating, being gently diversified by hill and dale It is traversed its entire length from north to south by the Scioto River. Although organized recently, comparatively, it was formed from territory much of which had been occupied for over twenty years by the early settlers of that portion of this and Delaware Counties. Yet, since then, wonderful changes have been wrought; extensive woodlands have been cleared away; beautiful farms of well-arranged fields have been formed, and the fertile valley of the Seioto has been made to bloom and blossom as the rose. Handsome farmhouses, with convenient and comfort. able surroundings, have taken the place of the rude structures occupied by the early settlers, and all traces of frontier life have passed away. A few hardships incident to establishing new homes in unbroken forests, have lived to see their families grow up about them, surrounded with all the luxuries and refining influences of civilized life. Churches and schoolhouses, the sure forerunners of the highest type'of Christian civilization, have spruug up in this township as if by magic, until now every locality is provided with a church of some denomination in which the people meet to worship and to return thanks to a kind and beneficent Providence for the bounteous prosperity which they enjoy at His hand. Each school district is now supplied with a good, substantial school building, where the youth are gathered together six months in every year, and given instruction in the common branches by able and competent teachers.

Settlement

The first settlement effected within the preeent limits of this township was made near the present site of the town of Prospect. Richard Tibbitt, Ephraim Markley and Evan Evans, with their families, located at a point about one mile north of Prospect, in the year 1814, the former on the west side of the river and the two latter on the east side, and were soon joined by Thomas Pugh, Phillip Thomas, James Thomas, John Diver and their families. Another settlement was made in the year 1815, by Darius Landon and his brother, Cyre Landon, and their families, along the west bank of the river, just opposite where Prospect now stands. In fact, a portion of the lands then occupied by them is now within the present corporation limits of Prospect, as now extended on that side of the river. They were joined by William Patten in the year 1818. From time to time other fainilies were added to this settlement, and among them was that of Christian Gast, in 1832. The third settlement ihat was made was commenced by Robert Cratty, in the year 1819, about one mile east of Prospect. Maley Goodwin and William Dutton located near there in 1828.

As years went by, other families were added, and erelong the three settlements were united into one. This band of hardy pioneers formed the nucleus around which, in after years, a large and prosperous community gathered. The families of Aaron Allen, William Foughty, George Clay, Thomas Phillips, John T. Williams, Elijah Adams, Benjamin C. Adams, Phillip Lawrence, John Wayne, and others were afterward, between the years 1829 and 1833, added, and this colony, after enduring many months, and even years, of toil, suffering and privation, emerged from their severe trials of hardships, and became a permanent and thrifty settlement. From these families, and from later accessions without, this township has been peopled. Pennsylvania German and the Welsh composed the greater portion of these early settlers, of whom the latter, perhaps, predominated at the time, which, doubtless, was occasioned by the extensive settlement of Welsh people in Radnor 'fownship, Delaware County, that existed there even at a much earlier period, and from which many of the first families of Prospect Township came. Other nationalities were also represented among these early pioneers, and to-day. owing to the many intermarriages, it is difficult to determine which of them have a distinctive predominance; yet many of the old Pennsylvania German and Welsh families still remain distinct, and have retained not a few of their national characteristics.

Robert Cratty was born in Chambersburg, Penn., in the year 1784, and with his family emigrated from there to Delaware County in 1817. "Three years later, they removed into the present territory of this township. Mr. Cratty is now the oldest citizen living within its borders, and he informs us that he helped build the first house that was erected in Middletown. and that he and Mr. Christian Gast, as Directors, built the first school. house within the township. It was a rude structure, consisting of hewed logs, having a rough, clapboard roof, and the windows of paper to admit the light. David Davis was the first teacher who presided therein, and swayed the scepter over the few urchins intrusted to his care, and in their youthful minds implanted the germs of education, which, under proper cultivation, have developed into the elements of the highest type of social and business training. The first church building was also a hewed.log structure, of modest appearance, and was built in the year 1825, near Mounts' residence, north of Prospect. It was of the Presbyterian denomination, and the first pastor in charge was Thomas Cratty.

The first marriage that occurred within the limits of this township was that of Mr. Simpson with Miss Duff. Elizabeth Tibbitt and Jane Tibbitt, twin daughters of Richard and Sarah Tibbitt, were the first white children born in this township. The lands of this township are composed of Congress, United States Military and Virginia Military lands, the greater portion of whieh consists of Virginia Military, which include all that portion of the township lying west of the Scioto River. The United States Military include all the lands south of the Greenville treaty line and east of the Scioto River. The Congress lands comprise that sniall remaining portion lying east of the river and north of the Greenville treaty line. The drainage of the lands of the entire township is effected by a perfect net work of brooks and rivulets, which make their debouche into the Scioto River. These runs are spring.fed, keeping a constant flow of pure and healthful water, thus affording desirable water privileges of inestimablo value. Of these numerous streams, the most important are Patten and Bat tle Runs, the latter of which derived its name from the following incident. which will be of interest:

In the early settlement of this township, and while the Greenville treaty was yet in existence, the feeling between the whites and the Indians was not always entirely pacific, and frequently the revengeful feeling of the unsubdued Wyandot broke out into open acts of hostility. In the year 1820, a local disturbance of no great magnitude convulsed the communities bordering on the Wyandot Reservation, and what was known as the * War with the Wvandots" ensued. It was noted for the absence of much blood shed, and also for being oT brief duration; but even after its close bands of organized men were kept armed and in readiness to prevent marauding bands of Indians from molesting the frontier settlements, and to summar. ily punish any attempt made by them of that kind. It was at this time that a trcop of horsemen, called the Light Horse Guards, were stationed at Big Island. This small company made frequent excursions through the settlements, and kept a vigilant watch over the property, life and interests of the settlers, and apprelended and punished any band of Indians whom they found committing depredations of any character against the whites. i

Tt was on one of these exewsions that the company, while watering their horses at a run that passes around the south side of the present site of Prospect in a semi-circle or crescent furm, camo in contact with an Indian apparently somewhat intoxicated, but who, in fact, was only feigning drunkenness, as was. subsequentiy learned. Some of the men were dismounted, and the horses were slaking their thirst trom the cool, crystal waters of the stream, when the savage was first observed approaching the group from the skirts of the woods close by. His manner and his walk gave signsof intoxication. His salutation and his subsequent effort at communication with the company was such a jumbling of broken English as to seem only the idle vaporings of an intoxicated brain. The horsemen were all soon again mounted, save one named Morgan, whom they urged to do so, as they desired to hasten on their way, and leave the apparently harm-. less Indian unmolested. But unfortunately for Morgan the amiable red man had taken a fancy to his white necktie, and upon being refused this little token of friendship assumed the aggressive, insisted and demanded that it should be given him, and so pressed Morgan, that in his efforts to evade the Indian, who was insolently following him up so closely, as he backed out of the immediate reach of the savage, that he stumbled and fell over a log. This so enraged Morgan, that upon regaining his feet he seized the aggressor's gun, wrenched it from him and dealt him a;heavy blow over the head, which felled him to the ground. No sooner had Morgan wrested the weapon from the hand of his adversary and administered the blow, than more than a hundred dusky forms instantaneously sprung from their concealment in the adjacent woods.

It was then discovered, for the first time, that a band of Indians lay in ambush, watching the proceedings, which evidently had been inaugurated by them for the express purpose of provoking the Light Horse Guards into some overt act of hostility, and create an excuse for revenging themselves upon the hated white men, who were keeping the actions of Wyandots ` under such close surveillance. In utter amazement, Morgan mounted his horse, aud soon joined his companions, who continued on to the residence of Elijah Adams, some two miles south of this point, where they spent the night. ; It was determined in the morning that a compromise must be effected and the hostile savages conciliated, in order tv prevent further molestations from them. Accordingly, they at once returned to the Indian camp. Here they fonnd the Indian, who initiated the trouble of the previous day. seated upon a flat stone with a blanket thrown about him, enjoying a course 'of steaming, a favorite method of treatment by the Wyandots for all ills that Indian flesh is heir to. Dispensing with alt ceremony usually observed on such occasions, the parties proceeded at once to effect a compromise, which was soon accomplished by the principal offenders confessing their hastiness, and Morgan agreeing to furnish the Indians with a load of pumpkins, and the wounded savage in return to furnish the whites with a saddie of venison. Thus this diffi»ulty was ended, and the pipe of peace having been smoked, all again was quiet along the valley of the Scioto.

An Anecdote Of The Chase

-A It is related that a party of four, consisting of Messrs. Landon, Davies Elijah Adams and his son, Benjamin C., one beautiful moonlight evening in the early autumn of 1836, embarked in a large log canoe and launched out upon the placid waters of the Scioto, at a point near the present site of Prospect, in anticipation of a pleasant hunting excursion. They passed up the river quietly, propelling their substantial but cumbersome barque, using long poles instead of oars, reaching the mouth of the Little Scioto about 8 o'elock. Here the party stopped and spent an hour in rest and preparation for the evening hunt. At the expiration of that time, a canoe containing four men, with their guns and ammunition, but with only one person visible could have been seen moving stealthily up the stream.

Soon a herd of deer greeted the sight of the occupants of the boat. The unsuspecting animals had come down to the. water's edge, and were slak. ing their thirst and feeding upon the long grass which at that time grew in abundance along the margin of the river. -Noiselessly the boat containing the hunters approached within two or tbree rods of where the deer were quietly feeding, and simultaneously three human forms arose to a sitting posture, and the sharp report of three rifles rang out upon the still night air, and two of that small herd of deer fell in the shallow water as the first fruits of the evening hunt. The remainder at once took fright, and bounded off into the deep wood, and were soon lost to sight.

The little party, after securing their game, again quietly proceeded down the stream, until they rounded the bend in the river and came to a poiut opposite where Wynn now lives, where they discovered another herd of deer, apparehtly in the act of crossing the river, and among them was a very large buck, that attracted the attention of Landon and Davies, both of whom fired at him at the same time. Only one ball, however, took effect, and that only to slightly wound the animal, which at first fell in the water, but soon regained his feet and was about to escape into the darkness of the adjacent woods, when his retreat was cut off by the intervening of a boat between him and the shore. Being thus prevented from escape in that direction, the animal turned his head to the opposite shore, and wus soon into the deep water, swimming toward that point, when the boat again overtook him, and one of the occupants - Benjamin C. Adams - sprang upon his back; but so sleek, strong and agile was the animal, that after carrying Adams a short distance down the stream from the boat, he made a sudden turn and left Adams in the water, which at that point was about five feet deep. The occupants of the boat had thrown a long board paddle to Adams, and it had now drifted so near to him that he seized it, and the deer still being within his reach, dealt him several severe blews, knocking off his horns, and otherwise so seriously wounding him that he was soon easily captured. After applying the hunter's knife to his throat, and his life-blood had flown away, the body of the deer was lifted into the boat and the party turned their bark in a homeward direction. On their return, four more deer were captured in a similar and as exciting a manner. Thus it will be observed that the early settlers readily combined sport and pleasure with the duty of providing for their families.

Wesley Pugh, whose parents came to that portion of Delaware County that is now included in Waldo Township, this county, in 1802, and who afterward, in 1819, removed toa place one mile north of Mr. Cratty's farm, in this township, where he was born in 1819, and where he has since resided, has witnessed much of the development and improvement of this and Waldo Townships. His early boyhood and manhood are replete with experiences incident to pioneer life. It is said that during his early manhood, while those townships were yet nothing but primeval forests, consisting of heavy timbers of massive oak, tall and graceful maple and other trees of a kindred nature, together with dense undergrowth, and while yet the raads from one settlement to another were mere paths along which a wagon could pass, or two persons could ride on horseback comfortably side by side, and where the howling of wolves and the screams of panthers were familiar sounds to all who resided within the borders of these townships. Young Pugh often had oceasion to pass over these lonely roads. One even- ing, as he was returning home on horseback from Waldo, where he had been spending the afternoon, and where he had been detained by friends until a late hour, as he was riding leisurely along, not noticing that the shades of night were gathering fast, and the sky was becoming obscured by dark and murky clouds which soon made the road and woods gloomy with impenetrable darkness, he was suddenly aroused from his reverie and pleasant thoughts of his visit with the kind friends whom he had so recently left, to the realization of the dangers that he would probably have to encounter before reaching home by the howling of wolves in the distance, whicb, although at first were few and indistinct, seemed to increase in number and volume as he advanced on his lonely road. He had now reached a point some two miles from any human habitation. Soon it became apparent to him that these hungry animals were closing in aruund him, and that he was probably the sole object of their prey. He was not, therefore, astonished, although somewhat frightened, when he discovered a number of them close upon him, and from the eagerness and swiftness with which they were pursuing him there was no longer any doubt that an attack was imminent; and that escape-from a pack of such hungry and ferocious animals was exceedingly doubtful. Young Pugh was wholly unarmed. The peril of the situation flashed upon him with overwhelming weight as, for a moment, he considered the situation. Here he was, in the heart of a dense forest, without a weapon of any kind with which to defend himself, without the hope of help from any human hand, sought, pursued and almost surrounded by a vast number of dangerous animals when taken together, and especially when driven to an attack by the desperation of hunger.

But he had no time for reflection. The wolves were now at his horse's very heels, howling, snarling, snapping and springing forward with that certainty and exultation so characteristic of animals of prey when they consider their victims within their power. Something must be done, and done quickly. Pugh, who, although he had been riding at a rapid gait, had up to this time been considering the propriety of returning to Waldo, as it was the nearest point in case of certain danger, now observed that he was intercepted, and retreat in that direction made utterly impossible, and that the only hope for him was to dash through the circle that was rapidly surrounding him, and make good his escape in the direction of his father's home. This he determined, if possible, to do; and urging his horse to greater speed than before, he was leaving the wolves in the rear, when suddenly those coming to the chase from the opposite direction sprang upon him as he was passing; and had if not been for a rough stick, in the form of a cane, which was used with the power of desperation, and with which Pugh declares he actually felled two wolves with one blow, as they sprang upon and had taken hold of him, he would certainly have been killed. 'To the vigorous use of this club and the fleetness of his horse, which continued its flight with almost unabated swiftness to the homestead, he owes the preservation of his life on that occasion.

Agricultural

The following is the annual report for 1883, giving the present agricultural status of Prospect Township: Wheat, acres sown, 2,680; bushels produced, 4,174; number of acres sown for harvest of 1883, 2,606. Oats, acres sown, 250; acres sown for crop of 1883, 91; bushels produced, 5,630. Corn, acres planted, 2,251; acres planted for crop-of 1883, 2,271; bushels produced, 94,985. Meadow, acres, 471; tons of hay, 736. Clover, acres,

Three villages have sprung up within the present borders of this township, one being called Columbia, one Centerville and the other Prospect. The first-named was laid out by Elijah Adams in 1832, about one mile north of Prospect, along the river, on the farm now owned by John Decker, and a number of lots were platted, but the place not having the natural elements and surroundings to insure prosperity, no enterprising persons invested in property or located there, and its founder soon gave up the hope : of building a town upon this site, and the place finally reverted into a field, and now there is scarcely a monument of any kind left to mark the spot.

a Centerville is a small town located on the line of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, about ten miles southwest of Marion. It was laid out in October, 1863, by George Clay, and is situated in the Virginia Military Distriet. in Survey No. 10,240, lying west of the northwest corner of alot of land owned by Joseph Tunis, and being on the northeast corner of George Clay's land. It contains one general grocery store, saw mill and a warehouse for the temporary storage of grain, a schoolhouse, and dwelling houses to the number, perhaps, of a dozen. Its growth has been neither rapid nor remarkable.

The Village Of Prospect

THE VILLAGE OF PROSPECT. Prospect is situated in the fertile valley of the Scioto River. It is some ten miles distant from Marion, and is located principally on the left bank of the river. It was first known by the name of Middletown, and was laid out by Christian Gast while that portion of Prospect Township yet belonged to 'Delaware County. The town was surveyed and laid out September 17, 1835, and originally consisted of eighty-one lots, besides one donated by the proprietor for a schoolhouse, church and burial grounds. The plat was left for record at the Recorder's office in Delaware December 25, 1835, and was there duly recorded December 28 of the same year. These eighty-one lots lay between Elm street and the river, and extended as far north as Market street. Most of these lots found ready sale, and a number of business buildings and many private residences were soon erected, Mr. Gast found it necessary, erelong, to make an addition, which he did in October, 1837. This is known as Christian Gast's First Addition to Middletown. It consists of twenty-six lots on the east side of Elm street, running the entire length of the original plat, being, however, only one lot deep. Christian Gast, whose ambition and enterprise kept pace with the village, made two additions subsequent to that date; one in 1889, which lies north of Market street, along the river, and consists of thirty-six. lots; the other in 1855, which consists of forty-six lots, running the entire length along the east side of what was then Middletown, bringing it to Hast street.

Two years prior to the date of the filing of Christian Gast's Third Addition, a small addition known as Berry & Patten's Addition was made to Middletown, which lies on the west side of the river, north of Water street as now extended, and consists of six lots. This addition was surveyed, platted and recorded in May, 1858. This is the first date that the ambitious little Middletown began to extend her limit as to take in territory on the west side of the river.

Early in January, 1876. Christian Gast, Jr, filed in the Recorder's office of Marion County a plat of sixty lots, which he had recently caused to be surveyed and laid out, about one-third of which lay on the east side of the Columbus & Toledo Railroad, which was then in process of construction, and which ran through the territory east of Middletuwn about onefifth of a mile. This was at that time entirely disconnected from Middletown, and was designated " Prospect" by the proprietor. The new town lay entirely on the south side of River street, and on it the depot and other buildings were soon erected. _

About this time, the citizens of Middletown petitioned the Court of Common Pleas to have the name of their village changed from Middletown to that of Prospect, alleging as their principal reason that there were several cther towns and post offices of that name in the State, and that it caused great inconvenience and trouble in regard to mail matters to the citizens of the village and the publie generally, and accordingly, January 31, 1876, the court granted their request, and the entire village has since been known as * Prospect."

In March, 1876, the first addition to the new town of Prospect was made by Margaret and Peter Leist. It consists of six in-lots and two outlots, and lies on the north side of River street, directly opposite the sixty lots laid out by Christian Gast, Jr. Early in January, the following year, David Gast and J. T. Davies made another addition to Prospect, which consists of seventy.one in.lots, and lies between East street and that portion of the town laid out by Christian Gast, Jr., and Leist's Addition, thus connecting the two parts of the village and making it one complete whole.

In Augusi, 1876, a petition was presented by the citizens of Prospect tothe County Commissioners. asking that certain contiguous territory should be annexed to the village, which request was granted by the Commissioners at that date, and the proceedings were duly recorded in the Recorder's office on October 28 of the same year. Of that territory on the east side of the river. forty-four and a half acres belonged to David Gast, twelve and one-fourth to Christian Gast, Jr., thirty-six anda half to Margaret Leist, forty-seven and a half to Catharine Davis, fourteen and one-fourth to J. L. Farnum, nine and three-fourths to the heirs of Philip Gast, and two acres to J. Cope. On the west side of the river, three and a half acres of the Switzer farm, thirteen and a fourth acres belonging to the Patten heirs and twenty-three and a fourth acres belonging to J. L. Farnum were included in the corporation limits thus extended. Thus it wil] be seen that the little town has gradually extended its limits until it has acquired a considerable territory, and its growth in population and business interests has been equally as steady and healthful, until now it has become a village of no little importance.

Christian Gast, the original proprietor, was born and reared in Bedford County, Penn., a mountainous and almost barren district. There he spent his boyhood and early manhood. There he was married, and there his nine children were born. But as his necessities increased, a desire to inhabit a more fertile and more productive country and to possess a goodly portion of it, prompted him to emigrate to this portion of Ohio, where he had been correctly informed of the beauty and richness of the Scioto Valley. He arrived here in April, 1832, and purchased the properly just south of the village that his son David now occupies, and also the land upon which the village now stands. A very few acres were cleared around Mr. Gast's new home at that time, but with the aid of his sons, Benjamin C. Adams and other help that was available, he soon cleared a number of acres, and among the first was the present site of Prospect. After raising two crops thereon - one of corn and one of wheat - he conceived the idea of laying out a town, and accordingly, in September, 1835, he had the town surveyed and platted as previously mentioned. As this location was about midway between Delaware and Marion, the proprietor gave it the name of "Middletown." The first house built in the town was a log cabin erected by Robert Cratty; the second was a log schoolhouse built by Robert Cratty and Christian Gast, as Directors. The first frame building in the place was erected by Dr. Samuel Gast, which was built on the southwest corner of the square, where it still stands. There the Doctor had his residence, his office, and there he also engaged in selling goods, for which he had exchanged 120 acres of land, lying east of town, to George C. Knight. The next frame building in the place was erected by Robert Watkins, Sr., and stood just north of where Watkins' brick hotel now stands. Here Mr. Watkins kept tavern for a number of years, and by supplying his table always with the best obtainable in those days, and extending to his guests that oldtime hospitality, won for himself many warm-hearted friends and an enviable reputation.

The next building erected was on the northeast corner of the square, . and was owned and occupied by Nathaniel Fields. James Pickett, from Delaware, was, perhaps, the first regular merchant that located here. He erected a frame building on the southeast corner of the square, for residence and store room, and here kept a general stock of goods, such as the wants of the people demanded at that time. He occupied the place' for a number of years. The building, though stil) standing, is removed back to the end of the brick building now on the same corner, which is occupied as a drug store. Thomas Humphrey was one among the first business men located in Middletown. He was engaged here a number of years in the sale of merchandise, and was a reliable, honorable and successful merchant.

The people of Middletown received their mail at Radnor, in Delaware County, up to 1837, at which time a post office was established here, and Jouathan P. Brookins was appointed and acted as the first Postmaster in the place, holding the office two years. The mail for a number of years was brought once a week from tne only one point, Radnor, and was so light that it could be easily carried by one man on horseback over the roughest roads in any season of the year, and the revenue of the office for the first two years was less than $5 per year. ,

Robert Watkins, Sr., who, with his wife, came to Middletown in 1886, was prominently connected with the business interests and early history of the placo. Among other industries that he set on foot and helped to carry forward, was that of establishing a foundry, which he and his brother Thomas carried on, with marked success, from the year 1845 to the year 1858, at which time Thomas Watkins died, and he being the molder and practical workman of the firm, the business was soon after abandoned and the property disposed of for other purpuses. The name of Watkins is a time-honored and respected one, and although Robert Watkins, Sr., and his brother Thomas, have long since passed away, their families remain as highly respected members of this community. '

In the year 1850, a distillery was erected in the village by Barnes & Barrickman, who carried on the business of distilling liquors for a period of five years, when the proprietors, becoming greatly involved in this and other business, were compelled to make an assignment, and the manufacture of liquors in this place was from that time discontinued.

The first grist mill erected here was built by a company of which Jacob Spade, Christian Gast, John Gast and others were members, and was located on the east bank of the river, in the northern part of town, on the site where the present mill now stands. It was built in 1852, and did a general milling and storage business. On the 3d day of July, 1858, sparks, emanating from the engine, ignited a fire in the dry and inflammable material of the mill, and when it was discovered, there being no organized fire company in the village, the flames could not be suppressed until the fire had extended into what was then considered quite a little conflagration, completely destroying the mill, the Lutheran Church, a dwelling house and a doctor's office - the last two of which belonged to Dr. Cook, and were occupied by Richard Patten and Dr. Thatcher. Insurance on property was not then so general as now, and no policy rested on the mill, the residence or the church, to bear the burden and share the loss with the owners. The mill was at once re-built, on the same old foundation, by William Gast, and was afterward sold to George and John Van Brimmer, and subsequently they sold it to Herbster & Reeser, who, some time afterward, disposed of it to Morrow Bros., its present owners.

It might be well to mention that, before the erection of any grist mill in Middletown, what was known as a "corn-cracker" was built about mid: way on the lot south of the one on which Watkins' frame tavern stood. This "corn-cracker" was run by horse-power, and served to grind corn into meal, which was used extensively at that time as the material for "corn pone," "Johnny-cake" and other "cakes," the recipes for the making of which are now seldom found in the ordinary cook book.

George C. Knight came here from the East about 1840, and engaged in selling and trading goods of almost every description that were at all. mar. ketable here. He was a shrewd speculator, and exchanged much of his goods for lands and town property. He lived in what was then termed "fine style," having at his residence many of the conveniences and comforts of an Eastern home, also keeping a colored servant, and was looked upon by the plain people as a kind of an aristocrat among them.

Mr. Knight, during his five or six years' residence in Middletown, had, by his trading, acquired much of its property, and now that he was about to leave was desirous of turning if into money. He conceived the idea of copying the plat of the town, so that he could the better display the location of his property and its surroundings to parties who might desire to purchase, but who for any reason, such as distance and expense, could not have an actual view of the premises. Accordingly, he secured the services of a skillful pencil artist, and caused the plat of the town to be drawn off in elegant style and flashy colors, with the Scioto in its full width washing the town on the wesl, and flowing majestically by. Upon its smooth surface steamers of various sizes were sketched, some lying in port while others were slowly pushing up the stream laden with the products of the place, thus giving Middletown the appearance of a thriving little city on the bank of a navigable stream, which, to all appearances, was already utilized as a means of transportation. Providing himself with this, and a copy of the act of Congress which declared the Scioto River navigable up to the mouth of the Little Scioto, he wert to Pennsylvania, among some of the good, honest:Quakers of that State, who, in their child-like faith and simplicity, thought Mr. Knight and all others as honest and conscientious as they. Mr. Knight exhibited his map, together with the act of Congress declaring the Scioto River navigable beyond this point, and talked of the growth and advantages of the place and the beauty and fertility of the country surrounding it, until he caused them to believe that here was a chance for an exceedingly good investment. The result was the sale of his entire possessions in the town to the Quakers, at what was then considered a fabulous price. The purchasers, in the course of time, came on to take possession of and improve their property and engage in the business activity of the little city; but when they arrived and found it as yet a mere hamlet in the woods, on a stream that appeared to them anything else but navigable, with but few improvements of any kind as yet discernible, they, with disgust pictured upon every lineament of their features, turned their backs upon the place and quit it forever. It is needless to say that their interest in property here was afterward secured at a mere nominal figure.

Although the picture was grossly overdrawn by Knight, who can say but that, treated as a prophecy, it may not yet be partially realized? Only about thirty-five years have since elapsed, during which time rapid strides have been made in its growth, beauty and business industries, and to-day it ranks among the thriftiest and most handsome villages in the State. It has grown from what was then a mere hamlet, of a few unpretentious houses, with only a territory of 143 lots, to an ambitious and enterprising village with its hundreds of frame and brick buildings and numerous business blocks, and possessing a territory of 207 acres of land, in addition to its 340 lots. Although the river has not yet been utilized for the transportation of freight and passengers to and from this point, much better fa. cilities for these purposes have been secured. Among them in the location of the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Railroad through the eastern portion of the village, which connects it directly with Columbus and Toledo and other important points along the line of this road; and also gives it easy communication and quick transportation to Cleveland, Dayton and Cincinnati. Almost every branch of business is now represented here, and energetic and enterprising men are: found in almost every department of trade.

There are now five dry goods establishments, two drug stores, two hardware stores, four provision stores, two clothing stores and one merchant tailoring establishment and two millinery stores. A bank was located here in 1880, and another in 1883; also a newspaper printing office. The village is in an excellent financial condition. tis

The village is well provided with religious societies and church edi. fices, there being five in number, viz., the Presbyterian, the Methodist Episcopal, the Baptist, the Lutheran and the German Reformed. There is at present one schoolhouse, and although not of sufficient capacity to accommodate all the pupils of the village, the board has rented two public halls, in which free schools are held, thus providing educational facilities for the rapidly increasing number of pupils until a new and commodious school building can be erected, which is now under contract at a cost of $10,000.

The growth of Prospect and the increase of population during the last few years have been truly wonderful. In 1876, when the village was incorporated, the census was taken, as the law requires, and the total number of inhabitants was then 355, and in 1880 - only four years afterward - at the regular decennial census, the population had increased to 600, making an average increase of sixty-one persons annually. At that rate, Prospect now contains about 725, by the extraordinary growth from immigration during 1881-82. As shown by the statistics of voters, there is now a population of nearly 800 souls.

Christian Gast and Robert Cratty, Sr., erected the first schoolhouse in Prospect Township - probably in 1833. It was made of hewed logs, and occupied the site of the present Union School building.

Reminiscences By B. C. Adams

The first settlers of what is now Prospect Township were Ephraim Markley and sous, George Rite, John Driver, Richard Jones, Richard Tibbett, Fred Huff, Cyre Landon, Darius Landon, Thomas Pugh, John A. Jones, John T. Williams, Robert Cratty, James Thomas, John Bowen, Mala Goodin, Philip Lawrence, John Clay, David Lloyd, Friend Biggerstaff, William Patten, David Cadwallader, Christian Gast and Robert Watkins. Of these, all have passed away but three, viz., Robert Cratty, now almost a centennarian, John A. Jones and Joan Watkins, widow of Robert Watkins. These were among the very first that settled in the township They came when the red man and the wild beasts of prey were the undisputed sovereigns of this then nature's wild dominion. The ax and muscle of the pioneer have cleared away the forests and opened up the beautiful farms which their posterity now enjoy. AJl honor to the memory of these brave men!

It may be of interest to some to know what we lived on in those early days. The chief articles on which we subsisted were corn dodger, hominy, mush and milk, with wild turkey and venison - the latter being the most plentiful. Corn meal was inade in the following manner: A large stump was selected, and a round hole burned in the top, large enough to hold a peck or more'of corn; then a forked pole set upright in the ground, with a pole passing over the fork for a sweep. To the end of the sweep would be attached a solid stick of timber, made the proper size to fit the mortar; then, by mounting the stump and plying the sweep we soon had meal. I have taken many a sweat at it.

The next improvement was the "hand mill," being two flat stones, the lower cne bedded on a block or trestle; a stick with a spike in one end, and a hole drilled near one edge of the upper stone, to receive the spike; the other end attached to a joist by a "whan," or strap. Thus, one or two men, by applying nerve and muscle, would soon grind out a half-bushel of corn. The next improvement was the horse mill, propelled by horse-power, a very slow and hard way of grinding meal and flour.

one of these mills, near the mouth of the Little Scioto, that is worth relat. ing. It was a rude mill, not inclosed, and hada clapboard roof for shelter. Two neighbors, each having shouldered a half-bushel of corn, went to the mill to get it ground. The water was very low, and the grinding very slow. However, they determined to wait their turn. A large, half starved hound had followed them, and laid himself down near the meal chest. One of the grists was placed in the hopper, and to pass away time the men baited their hooks for a fish. Not long after, they heard the hound howl, bow-wow! Then there was silence for a time. Then bow-wow again. This lasted for some time. Then, supposing the grist to be out, they returned; and lo, and behold, the hound had devoured the meal as fast as it left the spout, and while it was collecting stood anxiously gazing up the spout and bow-wowed for more! :

I have taken a sack of corn, on horseback, ten and fifteen miles to mill, returning home at night through an unbroken forest, the wolves howling on all sides.

I could tell of many adventures of those early days; trapping, fishing and hunting; several times being attacked by a wounded buck; then it was business, sure - though I had the fortune each time to come off victorious, only minus à good suit of home-made jeans.

Deer were very numerous in those days, and somewhat troublesome to the early settlers, large herds frequenting the wheat fields in the early spring, while the ground was soft, eating and trampling the grain to such an extent,thatif not driven off they would quite ruin it. Ihave gone out with dogs and what was called the * horse-fiddle," and given them a scare many a night, the hide and flesh being of no value at that season of the year.

_The deer and its habits have been so often described, I will not enlarge; and yet there are many young men that know hut very little about the change of color they take on as theseason changes. The question sometimes arises, does the male deer shed his antlers, or horns, once a year? Certainly they do, about the middle of February, and about the 1st of June new ones make their appearance, soft and woolly like velvet. They grow rapidly, and in a short time become hard and sharp.

The deer were slaughtered in great numbers in those days. One of the most successful, and I think the most unfair, ways, was with the canoe and light - called "light hunting." It was done in this way: A post was set upright in the bow of the boat, with two clapboards nailed orina "V" form. A large candle placed in front would throw the light from shore to shore in the front, bit behind the blind all was dark. The deer having found their way to the stream in great numbers, to feed on a moss or grass that grew very plentifully in or on the water. In those days, it required skill on the part of the steersman to keep the game in the light; aud with skill you could get within a few yards. Then, with a musket or gun well charged with buck-shot or a number of balls, there was but little chance of escape for the poor deer. The month of June being the best time for this kind of hunting, I have known a few men, too lazy to work, to follow this kind of hunting during the season just for the hides, which were worth from 6 to 12 cents a pound, and leave the meat lying for food for the wild beasts amd buzzards.

In those early days, in company with two other young men, I set out on a hunt of this kind, having poled the canoe from this place (Prospect) to the mouth of the Little Scioto, some six miles; went to shore, struck a fire and smoke to keep off the mosquitoes. When darkness had fairly set in, we lighted our candle, and commenced to move slowly and cautiously down the stream. We had not gone far until we discovered a very large buck gazing at our light. We moved with great caution until within a few yards, then fired. The buck fell, but quickly arose and made for shore. The order was, " Run the canoe on him;" but missing our aim, the word was "Spring on him." I being young and spry made the leap, landing on his head and neck, grasping his horns. We had it up and down for some time. The water being deep, the struggle was a hard one. I believe I was uppermost full half of the time. We took him in, with two others, that night and arrived home at daybreak, wet and hungry, took our breakfast, then the scythe, and went to the clover field, feeling proud of our spoil.

But few of the young men of these days have any idea what labor it took to clear up those beautiful farms that now cover the Scioto Valley. I have gone to Jog-rollings and house-raisings for twenty-one days in succession, Sundays excepted, dividing the hands and ground. Every muscle and nerve taxed to the last pound! There are only a few of those old heroes now living. i

I was asked a few days ago if I could tell what gave rise to ihe name " Battle Run." Was there a battle fought there, or not? Well, not much of a battle, I will say. The facts in the case are these: Word got out that some unfriendly Indians had been seen a few miles north of this, now called Prospect. Several of the neighbors collected on horseback and went. to investigate, finding it was a false alarm. On their return, they stopped at the little stream now called Battle Run, to let their horses drink. A man by the name of Morgan having alighted from his horse, an intoxicated Indian attacked him, demanding his necktie. Morgan refusing to give it up, the Indian drew his tomahawk. Morgan caught hold of the Indian's gun, wrenched it from him and gave him a heavy blow with the gun-barrel over the head, which bronght him to the ground. At that moment, several Indians who had been concealed behind the logs and trees, sprang out with their guns, giving chase. The horsemen put spurs to their horses: The road, at that time, led around the hill. The Indians, taking a straight cut, came into the road a short distance behind and fired several shots, some of which passed through the clothes of the fleeing white men. They made good their retreat, however, without the loss of a single man. The next thing was a compromise. Early the next morning,a company repaired to the battle-field, found the Indian that Morgan had struck sitting with a blanket over his head, over a pot with water, and every few minutes a hot rock was dropped into the kettle. He was taking a good sweat. A horrid gash was seen cut in his head. A council was called, and the following terms of peace were agreed upon: The Indian who insulted Morgan was to give Morgan a saddle of venison - the two hind quarters - and Morgan, for striking, was to deliver to the Indian a cart-load of pumpkins The pipe of peace was then smoked, each one taking a draw.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - The first Methodist preaching in the vicinity of Prospect Village was probably by an itinerant named Swazy, in 1816 or 1817, at the residence of B. C. Adams' parents, who, amony others, were converted, and soon a society was formed, consisting of the above named and Robert Perry and wife, Cyre Landon, John Hoskins, Darius Landon, Richard Tibbitts and Thomas Pugh and their wives. Mr. Adams' residence was a preaching place for many years. Some of the preachers were Revs

J. B. Finley, Thomas Pugh, Jacob Hooper, Bishop T. A. Morris, John Stuart (colored), James Gilruth, - - Mitchell, Russell Bigelow, - - Lorain, - - - Goff, William Reynolds, Samuel Shaw, John H. Powers, Leonard B. Gurley and many others. In Middletown, meetings were mostly held in a room over a store, until about 1837, when a frame church, 24x36, was built, on the lot where the present church stands. That building has been moved, and is now used for a barn. The present edifice, 30x54, with capacity for seating 450, was built in 1858 and dedicated the following year. It cost $1,650.

The pastors since 1869 have been Caleb Hill, two years; William W. Zanee, two; Frank B. Olds, two; Henry E. Pilcher, one, when a great revival was enjoyed, 105 joining the church; John Graham, one year; John W. Hill, 1877-78; Benjamin B. Powell, 1878-81; James C. Clemens since the last date.

The church now numbers 200 members, and is in a healthy and pros perous condition. Class Leaders: Emanuel Knachel, Lewis Wasser, Israel Hedges, Jacob Hoskins, John Glass, Frederick Freeman, - - Haywood and - - Howison. Stewards: George Noble, Wesley Pugh, Samuel Markley.

First Baptist Church of Prospect. - The first meetings held in Prospect by people of this denomination between 1840 and 1850, in school and pri. vate houses; the preachers being Revs. O. Owens, J. Frey, D. D. Walden and others. The church was first organized in November, 1863, in their meeting-house, by a council of pastors and delegates from other Baptist Churches; but they had been worshiping about six years as a branch of the Radnor Baptist Church. The number of members at organization was forty; S. L. and A. P. Johnson, Deacons; E. Dix, Clerk, and Rev. J. G. Tunison, Pastor. Rev. D. Pritchard preached at Prospect while this society was a branch of the Radnor Church. The first church building, 30x45 feet in size, and costing $750, was erected in 1850. The present edifice, brick, with slate roof, 40x60 feet, and costing about $6,500, was built in 1873. A fine parsonage, worth $2,500, belongs also to the church.

ears; A. J. Wiant, for the last three years. Principal revivals in 1854, 1860, 1862, 1866, 1875 and 1882, under the pastorates of Revs. Tunison, George and Wiant. Present membership, about 207. Clerk, I. M. Roberts. Deacons, Daniel Robinson, J. Q. Roads, H. Worline and Isaac Roberts. Treasurer, Adam Morrow. The missionary zeal of this church has been very marked. Rev. Mr. George, while pastor here, baptized the present President of Brownson University, Rev. R. R. Williams, D. D., whose labors during the past ten years among the 'Tulugus, in India, have greatly prospered. j ! sifas

Pisgah Presbyterian Church. - The first Presbyterian meeting in Piospect was held May 3, 1850, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, when there was preaching by Rev. Henry Van Deman, and the church was organized by Rev. H. Hess, with the following seven members: Jane Boyd, Rachel Matthews, Rachel Selanders, Thomas Johns, Mary Johns, R. G. Boyd and Rebecca Boyd. Thomas Johns and R. G. Boyd were elected Ruling Elders. Rev. Mr. Hess served as pastor three years; S. K. Hughes, one; E. Evans, two; I. N. Shepard, two; C. K. Perkins, eight; N. S. Smith, one; Mr. Anderson, one; D. D. Waugh, two; Charles Torry, one, and Thomas, the present incumbent, two. There are now forty members, with John Cellar and R. G. Boyd as Elders. Rev. Perkins was the only installed pastor, all the others being stated supplies. In connection with this church are an " Evergreen" Sunday school and a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society - the latter meeting monthly. There have been received into this church, since its organization 126 members, but the greatest number at one time was forty-one. :

The first church edifice was built in 1852, 31x37 feet, at a cost of $700, where services were held until in 1881, when an $1,800 church was erected, 30x40 feet. À

Otterbein Chapel, United Brethren in Christ.- - First meeting was held about the 1st of February, 1855, and the same year or next the church was organized, with a membership of twenty, by Revs. Atkinson Berry, P. E., and Wilson Martin, P. C. First official members: S. C. Mounts, W. B. Davis, W. H. Conkright, E. Griffith and J. B. Stoutenberg. June 5, 1856, a' lot four rods square was bought, on Survey 9,923, Prospect Township, for $20, and the same year a church was built. The first Trustees were . Michael Kurtz, S. C. Mounts and William Conkright; the present are John Wynn, R. Baxter Davis and W.: B. Patten. J. S. Mills, Elder; Rev. S. Wertz, Pastor. - Meeting every two weeks.

Christian Gast and his brother William Gast, members of the Lutheran Church, settled, in the spring of 1832, with their families, iz the vicinity of what is now Prospect Village (then Middletown). They were religious people, and, desiring to hear the Gospel preached, during the summer of 1833 secured the services of the Rev. A. Weil, then the pastor of the Lutheran congregation at Delaware, who preached for them about once in eight weeks, at the house of Christian Gast. This continued for about six months, when the pastor resigned his charge at Delaware. 'The Delaware congregation was afterward supplied by the Rev. S. S. Kline, who consented to preach regularly once in four weeks at the house of Christian Gast, and subsequently in the Middletown Schoolhouse. Several other Lutheran families having settled in the vicinity, a small congregation was organized by electing and installing Elders and Deacons, and adopting certain articles as a constitution for the order and discipline of the church. The first members of the organized church were Christian Gast, his wife Elizabeth, and daughter Margaret, William Gast and his wife Elizabeth. The first confirmation in this congregation occurred April 30, 1836, when, having been previously instructed in the catechism by the pastor, seven young people were confirmed, and the next day, being Lord's Day, they were admitted to Holy Communion with the congregation.

During the pastorate of the Rev. B. Pope, who in the year 1842 received and accepted a call from the Delaware and Middletown congregations, a house of worship was erected on a lot of ground donated for that purpose by Christian Gast, on what would be Lot No. 82 of Prospect Village plas. 1n 1845, a subscription was started for this purpose, and in 1846 the house was partially completed, so that the congregation could occupy it in pleasant weather. It was not finished until 1849, after Pastor Pope had resigned and Rev. M. Loy had taken charge of the congregation.

The services of this church were first held exclusively in the German language, but the wants of a service in the English language increasing, it became necessary, even in Pastor Pope's time, to have part of the service conducted in the English language, until at present (1888) three-fourths of the service is in the English language and one-fourth in German. For many years, including Pastor Loy's time, services were held in English and German on alternate Sundays.

In November, 1857, Pastor Loy resigned his charge of Middletown congregation, and Rev. Philip Gast became its pastor. Thenceforth, services were held every Lord's Day. The congregation lost its pastor by death October 20, 1865, and Rev. Jonas Simon was installed J uly 22, 1866. He died November 18. 1866, and was succeeded by Rev. George Long, who was installed April 28, 1867. He continued over one year, when the charge was again vacated until occupied by Rev. F. E. Harsh, who was installed February 14, 1869, and died October 27, 1869. Rev. J. Humberger became pastor June 26, 1869, and was installed November 20, 1870. He resigned January 1, 1875, and J. O. Huffman took charge until July, 1882. Jane 1, 1883, the Rev. David Simon was installed, and is the present pastor.

The congregation having grown, and desiring a larger church edifice, a subscription was taken up, and funds secured for that purpose, January, 1855. The proposed house was immediately commenced on Inlot No. 94 of the village plat. The lot was donated by Peter Leist. The work was vigorously prosecuted, and the edifice completed and dedicated in 1856. This is the present brick church house occupied by the congregation. It was built by Christian Gast, Jr., and Peter Leist for $1,250. Af. terward, other expenses were added, in furnishing steeple, etc., which increased the cost to $1,997.25. The first church edifice built by this congregation was destroyed by fire several years after their removal to the brick church. The present edifice is fitted very neatly, and supplied with a fine pipe organ, which was bought in 1879. Mr. J. Albert Davis has acted as orgauist since its purchase. The choir is supplied by twelve voices.