Prospect Township (part 1 of 5)

Organic

rT^HIS is one of the most recently formed townships of Marion County. J_ In the year 1830, an effort seems to have been made to erect a new township from off tbe 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. - A petition was presented, praying for a new township to 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 already 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 tbe 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 bj 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 NTo. 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. 9,923, 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 ol beginning. 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 that the 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 denning 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 b° 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 northwpst corner of Survey No. 9,923; thence westwardly on line of said survey to the southeast corner of William and Aaron Market'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 John Sharp's 210 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 Mar ion 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 Scioto 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 of the old pioneers of this township, who have braved the dangers and the 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 sprung 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 a ad 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 families were added to this settlement, and among them was that of Christian Gast, in 1832. The third settlement that 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 Township, 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 withiu 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 schoolhouse 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 which 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 small remaining portion lying east of the river and north of the Gieeoville 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 inestimable value. Of these numerous streams, the most important are Patten and Bat tie Runs, the latter of which derived its name from tne following incident, which will be of interest:

In the early settlement of this township, and white 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 Wyandots" ensued. It was noted for the absence of much blood shed, and also for being of 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 summarily punish any attempt made by them of that kind. It was at this time that a troop 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 apprehended and punished any band of Indians whom they found committing depredations of any character ..gainst the whites.

It was on one of these excursions that the company, while watering their hcrses at a run that passes around the south side of the present site of Prospect in a semi-circle or crescent form, came in contact with an Indian apparently somewhat intoxicated, but who, in fact, was only feigning drunkenness, as was subsequently learned. Some of the men were dismounted, and the horses were slaking their thirst from 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 brokon 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 barmless 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, and 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 to prevent further molestations from them. Accordingly, they at once returned to the Indian camp. Here they found 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 all 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 si Idle of venison. Thus this difficulty 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

| 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 183f>, 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'clock. 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 corne down to the water's edge, and were slaking 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 three 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, apparently 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 was 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, be 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 blows, knocking off his, horns, and otherwise so seriously wounding him that he was soon easily captured. After applying the hunter's kuife 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 to a 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, consist ing 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 roads 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 wire familiar sounds to all who resided within the borders of these townships. Young Pugh often had occasion to pass over these lonely roads. One even- ing. as lu> was returning home on horseback from Waldo, where he ha 1 been spending the afternoon, and where he had been detained by friends until a late hour, as he was riding leisurely along, not noticing thac 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 gloo>ny 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, which, 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 around 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 bo done, and done quickly. Pugh, who, although he had been riding at a rapid ga> t. 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 it 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 1833, 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, 2,600. Oats, acres sown, 250; acres sown for crop of 1883, 91; bushels produced, 5,030. Corn, acres planted, 2,251; acres planted for crop of 1883, 2,271; bushels produced. 94,085. Meadow, acres, 471; tons of hay, 730. 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.

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 District, in Survey No. 10,240, lying west of the northwest corner of a lot 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

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 nf Middletown, and was laid out by Christian Gast while that portion of Prospect Township yet bolonged 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. Mi*. 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 Middle - town. 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 1839, 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 East 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, 1853. 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 Raih-oad, which was then in process of construction, and which ran through the territory east of Middletown 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 other 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 public 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 August, 1876, a petition was presented by the citizens of Prospect to the 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 and a 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 will 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 waB 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 still 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 reli'able, 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 Jonathan 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 the 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 1830. was prominently connected with the business interests and early history of the place. 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 1853, 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 purposes. 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 high ly 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 tbe erection of any grist mill in Middletown, what was known as a "corn-cracker" was built about midway 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. Knignt, 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 t > 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 oft* in elegant style and flashy colors, with the Scioto in its full width washing the town on the west, 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 thi-, and a copy of the act of Congress which declared the Scioto River navigable up to the mouth of the Little Scioto, he went 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 vdth 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 ambitions 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 facilities 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.

The village is well provided with religious societies and church edifices, 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 dur ing the last few years have been truly wonderful. In 1376, 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.

Early Events

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 sons, 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 Wat-kins. 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. All honor to tho 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 made 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 one 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 tbe mouth of the Little Scioto, that is worth relating. It was a rude mill, not inclosed, and had a 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 a 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, that if not driven off they would quite ruin it. I have 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 but very little about the change of color they take on as the season changes. The question sometimes arises, does the male deer shed his antlers, or horns, once a year? Certainly they do. about the middle of Februaiy, and about tbe 1st of June new ones make their appearance, soff> 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 T 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 or in a "V" form. A large candle placed in front would throw the light from shore to shore in the front, but 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; and 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 and 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 mosqui toes. "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 tired. 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 log 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 was asked a few days ago if I could tell what gave rise to the name " Battle Bun." 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 Bun, 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 brought 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 tired 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 fc> 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 vicinit) of Prospect Village was probably by an itinerant named Swazy, in 1810 or 1817, at the residence of B. C. Adams' parents, who, among 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, Bichard Tibbitts and Thomas Pugh and their wives. Mr. Adair s' residence was a preaching place fur many years. Some of the preachers were Bevs

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, 24x30, 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, 36x54, with capacity for seating 450, was built in 1858 and dedicated the following year. It cost $1,050.

The pastors since 1809 have been Caleb Hill, two years; William W. Zance, 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

First Baptist Church of Prospect. - The first meetings held in Prospect by people of this denomination between 1840 and 1850, in school and private 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, «nd costing about $6,500, was built in 1873. A fine parsonage, worth $2,500, belongs also to the church.

Pastors: J. G. Tunison, seven years; B. J. George, eight and a half years; S. F. Hull, two years; H H. Witter, three years, M. Squibb, two years; 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.

Pisgah Presbyterian Church. - The first Presbyterian meeting in Piospectwas 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 sei-ved as pastor three years: S. K. Hughes, one; E. Evans, two; I. N. Shepard, two; C.K.Perkins, eight; N. S. Smith, one; Mi*. Anderson, one; D. D. Waugh, two; Charles Torry, one, and Thorn as, 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.

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, in 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 wefks at the house of Christian Gast, and subsequently iu the Middletown Schoo [house. 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 plat. In 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 increawing, i t became necessary, ev«n in Pastor Pope's time, to have part of the service conducted in the English language, until at present (1883) 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 July 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. June 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. Afterward, other expenses were added, in furnishing steeple, etc., which increased the cost to $1,397.25. 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 organist since its purchase. The choir is supplied by twelve voices.

Zion's Reformed Church. - Of this denomination, meetings began to be held in 1845, in the Middletown Schoolhouse, Rev. H. Hess, minister The church was organized April 13, 1846, with twenty-five members, namely, J. J. Wottring, George Butz, Philip Wottring, Samuel Bachman, Abraham Bechtel, Daniel Williard, Samuel Bechtel, Jr., Jonas Bechtel, Lewis Wottring, John Moyer, Samuel Moyer, Jonathan Bechtel, Elizabeth Bech tel, Hannah Wottring, Elizabeth Wottring, Elizabeth Hess, Rosena Mover, Mary Bechtel, Nancy Seifle and Catharine Bechtel.

Prospect Cemetery

These grounds, wherein lie so many of Prospect's pioneers, are located within the corporation limits of the village, on the west bank of the Scioto River. The south end of the grouud was used as a burial -olace as early as 1836, and came to be located there in this way. Christian Gast had do- nated, when he laid out the village, land for that purpose on the east side of the river, it being the first lot north of Lot 81 of the original plat, where seven or eight bodies still (1883) lie buried. This burial ground was thought to be too near the center of the village, when Mr. Oast proposed that as the location of the burial-place was to be changed, that ground for the purpose might be selected at any other place on his land that the citizens might choose Mr. Knight and W. W. Patten also offered to donate land for the purpose, and finally the site was selected on Patten's land. It at first contained but about half an acre, but subsequently a son of Mr. Patten made an addition and laid it out into lots, which were sold to different parties. Previous to this, it had been a free burial-place. When the grounds, under the statute, became the property of the township in

1881, there was an addition made, so that the grounds now comprise seven or eio-ht acres, occupying the land from the gravel road to the river. The surface slopes to the east, and the situation generally is very beautiful, First burials: Mary Jeannette Knight, September 28, 1836; B. S. Knight, October 2, 1837.

Prospect Lodge, I. O. 0 F., No. 483. - This lodge was instituted the 18th of July, 1871. The charter was granted from the Grand Lodge of the State on the same date. The charter members were A. D. Neimeyer, J. W. Statler, L. H. Wottring, Judson N. David, Reuben M. Butz, W. A. Dill, F. C. Freeman (Noble Grand), J. V. Boyd, Austin A. Boyd, Alvin

Durward Lodge, No. 155, Knights of Pythias, was instituted January 2, 1883, by the Grand District Deputy, S. A. Court, of Marion. The members under the dispensation, which had been granted December 26,

Woman's Christian Temperance Union. - This association, auxiliary to the State Women's Christian Temperance Union, was organized at the Baptist Church in Prospect December 1, 1882, after a temperance address delivered by Rev. L. A. Belt, of Marion. The organization was superintended by Mrs. Search, of Marion, delegated for the purpose. Present number of members, seventeen, who meet alternately in the Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist Episcopal Churches the second Wednesday of each month. Mrs. A. J. Wiant, President; Mrs. E. E. Rigour, Secretary; Mrs. Sarah Jennings, Treasurer.

Brass Bands

The village supports two excellent brass bands, supplied with the best of musical instruments, and having a reputation, at home and abroad, of being equal to the best.

Van Guard Band. - This was started in April, 1872, with eleven pieces; it now has fifteen pieces. First they were under the directorship of S. E. Hull; since April, 1877, J. Albert Davis. They have silver instruments, of French manufacture, valued at $400.

Star Band. - This also was organized in 1872, with about the same number of pieces, under the directorship of S. Kenyon; since 1881, J. F. Mohr. They have brass instruments, valued at $300, American manufacture.

Each of the bands retains a majority of its original members, are all neatly uniformed and have good band-wagons, especially the Star Band, whobe cost about $700.

When the Columbus & Toledo Railroad was first surveyed, the line was run straight from Marion to Columbus, about two miles east of Prospect; and had it not been for the energetic exertions of a few of the citizens of Prospect Village, who had the foresight to appreciate the advantages it would furnish to the place, the road would have been built on the line first surveyed, as it was nearer between the two points. The first move that was made to change the line and bring the railroad to Prospect was made by David Gast, who went to Columbus, and represented so strongly to the officers of the company the advantages that would accrue to them by making a change in the line, that they finally consented to consider the matter, and appointed a meeting to be held at Prospect to discuss the question. At this meeting the officers were so favorably impressed, that they appointed a final meeting at Columbus, to further discuss the question and come to a decision. At that meeting, the following citizens of Prospect were present: David Gast, George Gast, C. L. Mohr, Watt Watkins, P. C. Sells, S. H. Gast and J. J. Wottring. At this meeting the officers decided to bring the railroad to Prospect, providing the village and township would make a donation to the road of $10,000, and also subscribe for $25,000 stock.

This ultimatum of the company was presented to Mr. David Gast. He immediately, in the name of the citizens of Prospect, promised that the money would be given and the subscription and stock raised. He, with those present at the meeting and other citizens, took energetic measures, and David and S. H. Gast were appointed as a committee to get subscrip-

But for the work and energy of the citizens named, Prospect Village would never have been, but the place would have retained the name of Middletown, and would have been two miles at least, or over, from railroad communication. Among the principal contributors of money and stock may be named David Gast, J. T. Davis, Herbster & Reeser, Christian Gast, Watkins Brothers, $1,200 each, and others.

New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad. - This railroad runs through the northwestern corner of Prospect Township, where there is a small station called Centerville.

Business Enterprises

Elevators. - There are two steam grain elevators in the village of Prospect, both owned by Wyatt & Watkins Bros. The one on the west side of the track was built in 1877, by S. E. De Wolfe, of Marion. It has a capacity of 7,000 to 8,000 bushels. The one on the east side was built by the present proprietors in 1881, at an expense of $6,000. It has a capacity of 12,000 bushels, and is fitted with all the modern improvements for cleaning, handling and shipping grain. The firm has shipped, on an average, from this elevator 200 car loads per annum.

Prospect Bank. - This, the first bank in Prospect, was organized in 1880 by B. K. Herbster and W. H. Mohr, with the former as President. It was a private bank, and proved of great advantage to the business interests of the community. March 8, 1882, it was re-organized by a stock company, comprising B. K. Herbster, President; W. H. Mohr, Cashier; David Mohr, Reuben Wottring, B. C. Adams, L. H. Wottring, J. Q. Roads, J. L. Farnum, Cook Bros., Evan' T. Jones and Jacob J. Wottring. At the election March 8, 1883, G. W. Cook was elected Cashier. They have a neat and commodious banking-room adjoining Cook's drug store, fitted with firstclass fire and burglar proof safes and all other conveniences necessary to the business.

Citizens'' Bank. - This was established April 26, 1883, by Morris Humphreys and Watkins Bros. F. C. Freeman, President, and Joseph Cratty, Cashier. Cash capital, $13,000. The stockholders are personally and individually liable for all deposits and obligations of the bank. For this institution there is now in process of erection a brick building, to be fitted with fire and burglar proof safes and all the conveniences and essentials of a first-class bank building.

Wottring Bi'os. & Co/s Satv and Planing Mill was put in operation in December, 1882, with a six-horse power Huber engine. The firm consists of W. C. and S. L. Wottring and L. C. Wasser.

Brenizer Block. - This is one of the finest business blocks of the village, and was erected through the enterprise of Brenizer Brothers, consisting of W. G. Brenizer, of Cardington, Ohio, and C. H. Brenizer, of Prospect. It was commenced in the spring of 1881, and completed in 1882 at a cost of about $12,000. The block is built of brick, three stories high. The lower floor is fitted up and occupied by stores; the second fioor has six con venient offices, while the third and upper floor was specially built for and fitted up as an one of the neatest halls for the purpose found in towns of the size of Prospect. It has a seating capacity for 800 to 1,000 people. The stage is 28x65 feet, and fitted up with tasteful and appropriate 6cenery and all the modern paraphernalia. The whole building speaks well, not only for the enterprise of the builders, but of the town. The opera house, consisting of the third floor, is now owned by C. H. and Dr. N. O. Brenizer.

Village Officers

Clerks - M. W. Pettey, 1876-77; J. F. Wottring, 1878-79: Charles A. McFarland, one month, and J. F. Wottring the rest of the year and to the present time.

Middletown was incorporated April 3, 1871, when C. L. Mohr, C. R. Thomas and Joseph Gast were elected Trustees - Mr. Gast, President, and Mr. Mohr, Secretary. Afterward, the Trustees were: 1872 - Joseph Gast, C. L. Mohr, J. T. Davis; 1873-74 - C. L. Mohr, J. T. Davis, B. K. Herbster.

Prospect Post Office

Abont 650 letters per week are delivered at this office, 1,500 papers, 400 circulars and 500 postal cards. About 550 letters per annum are registered.

Postmasters, with the date of their appointment - Jonathan P. Brookins, March 2, 1837; Chester W. Sherman, December 20, 1849; Isaac W. Taylor, October 11, 1853; Edwin S. Adams, May 24, 1861; John M. Tucker, December 26, 1879; John J. Roberts, October 3, 1881, the present incumbent.

Biographical Sketches

To complete a history it is essential that the persons who contribute to make subjects for its pages should be dealt with particularly. In local history this becomes an absolute necessity, for without personal sketches of its principal citizens, much of all that could interest and instruct would be lost. Consequently, the plan has been extended to this department of the work, as well as to the other chapters of township history, with the result, we hope, of giving perfect satisfaction.

CHRISTIAN ABEL, carriage and buggy manufacturer, Prospect Village, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 29, 1843. His parents' names were George and Gottlieben (Fiegle) Abel; the father is deceased, and the mother is still living in Germany. October 1, 1865, our subject arrived at the port of New York, then being twenty- two years of age. He immediately came to Ohio and commenced learning the blacksmith's trade with Jacob Smelzer, one mile southwest of Marion, with whom he remained three and one-half years, when he went to Bethlehem and operated a blacksmith shop for six years, shoeing horses and doing all kinds of repair work. At this period, about 1874, he commenced the manufacture of buggies, at which business he has succeeded. He remained at Bethlehem till 1881, when he came to Prospect Village, where bis factory occupies two large buildings. The paint shop and show rooms two stories high and 40x60 feet; the blacksmith and wood shop 22x95 feet. In the establishment he employs twelve hands the year round and manufactures about 100 different vehicles per annum, which sell at prices averaging from $145 to $250 each. The establishment also does a large amount of repairing. It is one of the most important business interests of Prospect, as well as one of the most prosperous. Mr. Abel is a thorough and energetic business kman, and his success is owing to his own industry and business tact. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Catharine Isler, a daughter of Samuel Isler. They have six children - Edward, Nelson, Lydia, Charles, and Flora and Cora are twins.

BENJAMIN C. ADAMS. Abraham Adams, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was probably a native of England. He afterward lived in Luzerne County, Penn.. and came with his family to Ohio in 1807 or 1808, locating on a farm in Harlan Township, Delaware County, where he and his wife both died. The father of Banjamin C. Adams was Elijah Adams, born January 2, 1778, in Luzerne County, Penn. He was married in Pennsylvania to Nancy Carey, daughter of Comfort Carey, and came to Ohio in the fall of 1810, bringing his wife and family of three children, as follows: Mercy Ann, born October 5, 1804; Simeon, born September 3, 1806, and died aged fourteen yeai's. and Julia Ann, born March 4, 1809. They came to Harlan Township, Delaware County, during the winter of 1810-11. Elijah Adams bought a farm of 200 acres in Radnor Township, two and a half miles south of what is now Prospect Village. During th itwinter, he also built a log house on this land, 18x20 feet in size; and in March, 1811, moved into it with his family. They had the following children born on this place - Benjamin O, June 24, 1811; Abraham, March 4, 1814; Susannah, May 22, 1816; Eli, Jr., March 19, 1818;. Margaret, April 19, 1820; John, March 13, 1822, died aged thirty-five years; Hosea, Feb ruary 19, 1824, and died aged seven years; James G., May 7, 1826. Eight of their children lived to have families. Elijah Adams was a Justice of the Peace for thirty years, besides serving in nearly all the offices of the township. In politics, he was a Whig, and afterward a Republican. He was a stanch member of the Methodist Church, and was a firm friend and supporter of the cause of education in the pioneer schools. He taught school for several winters in this township. His wife died in 1834 or 1835, aDd he was married again to Mary Landon, by whom he had one child; she also died before him. Elijah Adams died May 4, 1873. Benjamin C. Adams was born in the pioneer home of his father, two and a half mile« south of Prospect Village, June 24, 1811, as will be seen, only three months after his parents had moved into their log house, then located in a perfect wilderness. Here he passed his early years, assisting on the farm and also becoming an adept, when a boy, in hunting all the wild animals then abounding in the foreet The taste for hunting while a boy still adheres to him in his advanced years, and now, when making visits to his married child in distant Dakota, he invariably takes his hunting tackle, and there, in the western wilds, with his grandson, re-enacts the scenes of his boyhood and pioneer days. He learned the carpenter's and blacksmith's trades when a young man; the latter business he followed in Prospect Village for seven years; at this place he was also engaged in the mercantile business for several years. Mr. Adams was married, September 24, 1833. to Nancy Wolfley a daughter of Ludwig and Mary Wolfley, and they had two children - Mary, who grew up to womanhood and was mai-ried to Aden Fields, and died leaving one child - Newton Fields - who married, and is still living. B. C Adams' wife died September 12, 1836, and September 12, 1S42, he was married to Rachel Waters, a daughter of Samuel B. and Mary (Adams) Waters. The children by this marriage that lived to grow up were these: Spencer G., born August 7, 1844, married Nancy Williams and lives in Dell Rapids, Dak., where he acts as a Gospel minister in the missionary work, and Ida F., born December 6, 1858. married George M. Curtis, and lives in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Ohio. Benjamin C. Adams' second wife died September 27, 1863, and April 25, 1867, he married Catharine E. Williams, a daughter of John T and Kittie E. Williams; no children by this marriage. Mr. Adams commenced the battle of life in his young manhood with little of this world's goods. With his axe and hands he started even-handed with fortune, and has, by a career of industry and straightforward, honest conduct through life, been successful in not only acquiring a comfortable competence, but also in earning and holding the re spect and confidence of all who know him. Besides being engaged in blacksmithing, merchandising, carpentering, etc., at different times, he was for twenty-one yours of his life actively engaged in farming; he has now retired from business Be is b Btookholdex in tho Prospeot Bank, and occupies himself in looking after his invested interests of different kinds. He has been a mem her of tho Methodist Chnich for over tatty years, serving during that time in Dearly all the official positions of tho church and Sunday BohooL In politics, ho is a Republican. Mr. Adams has probablj resided longer in Prospect Township than an\ person now living within its borders, and interesting reminiscences from his pen will be found elsewhere,

1 ICOB \1 MEN DINGER, farmer, was born in Waldo Township, June 15, 1841, and is a son of David and Louisa C. Ahnendinger, Mr. Almondinger has lived on a farm all his life, with the exception of one year that he bpent at carpentering. He bought the farm of eighty acres on which he os in 1878 He was married in 1864 to Lydia Book, and they have had four children Louisa C, Mary A., John W. and (.'lava. His wife diod in IS75, and he n i tried rabitha Johnson, and bj this marriage there bree ohildreu, namely, Jesse IV. William D, and an infant Mr. Al mendinger lives in the north part of Prospect Pownship, and i> one of the substantial farmers of his vioinity.

and sottlod upon eigthj acres of land in Prospect Pownship in 1821. He was . native of Hampshire County, Va . b I roh 20, 1790, a son of William and Phebe BiggerstafF. He was married to Phebe Harlan, and thej had tho Following children: Rebecca, born November 18, 1817, in Alleghany County, Md -. Mary, born in Fairfield County, Ohio, February two years after Mi. Bottenfield's marriage, he lived aear Galena, Delaware Co., Ohio, where he leased land and cleared fifty aores tor other parties, taking as pay Bftji aores of unimproved land; the property is located east nf Prospect Village, and is now owned by John <,>. Roads, They lived here nix years and In £ugusi, 1852, bought the farm of I'M aores where fchej qow reside; about twenty aores of this (arm was cleared al that time; there arc now seventy aores of the homestead In ;i line state of cultivation. The} lived there just twenty eight years In a log house, and then built, at an ex pense of $1, 500, the fine frame building In whioh they now reside. Mr, and Mrs. Bottenfield have had eighl ohildren Mary Annis, born Deoember 15, 1848, and died January 24, 1861; John II., born January 19, IM-r>, died September 28, L875; Stephen J., born A.ugust ;'<", 1846; Oarey J., February 20, 1840; RozettaJ., January 8, 1851; Helen Drusella, June 6, 1854; Emma H., June 28, 1857; WilliamM., Ootober I, 1862. Mr. and Mr; Bottenfield have been members of the Baptist Church since 1847.

Al'STlN A BOYD, farmer, was born in Waldo Township, this coun ty, January 6, 1841, and was the son of Sylvester and Melindu S. (Selan ders) Boyd. Mi'. Boyd has always been engaged in farming, and is cow bought by Ids father in 1862 His father died on this farm January 81, 1871, and the widow slill resides there. Our subject was married November 2, 1871, to Marv E. Wasser, a daughter of Charles Wasser, of Prospect Township. They have three ohildren Edna May, born Deoember I, Lo74; Charles Carey, November 23, 1876; and Mart E., August IS, 1878. Mr. Boyd is a member of Prospect Lodge, No. 488, I. o. ( >. \<\, and in politics, near the I'otomac Iviver in Maryland, who came to ( )hio about I he year 1814, and located in hick i Qg < 'ounty, and in L825 Or 1826, came to Marion

County and entered eighty aores of land three miles north of Waldo. They subsquently bought L60 aores of land in Pleasant Township, Bom< three or Tour miles west of their first farm. The father died on the old farm in 1850, and his wife died at the same place four years afterward They had f our children Edwin, Sylvester, John W. and George. Previoui

Mary, all deceased. he was an old line Whig in politics, and served the township as Justice of the Peace two terms. John Wesley Boyd, the suh brother Sylvester, where he resided for the next ten or twelve years. During this time, he was married to Isabel M. I >avids, daughter of William and Mar garet Davids, of Pleasant Township. The ceremony was performed Lpril 21, 1845. From this marriage there were two children; one, C. J. Boyd, married Christina Smith, and died January 19, L888, Leaving four children; the other one is deceased. Mr. Boyd's wife died in L856 or 1857, and he was again married, January I". L861, to Mary E, Roads, daughter of John and Margaret (Winegardner) Roads; by the last marriage there were six children Mary K. Alice K., Henry H .. Louisa and Wilson G., and Frank E., who .bed m infancy, [n 1852, Mr Boyd bough! the LOO acres of Land where he resides, at $1 I per acre It is now valued al $100 per acre. It was then nearly all wild land: al present it is all improved except fifteen acres of timber. His present residence was built in 1877. It is one of the finest farm residences in the township. The farm lies two miles east of Prospect Village. Mr. Boyd is a Republican, and although this is a Democratic township, he has been elected and served as Trustee two terms; also as Judge of elections. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd and their two eldest children are members of the Baptist Church.

N. O. BRENIZER, B. S., M. D., a practicing physician at Prospect Village, was born in April, 1854, at Cardington, Morrow County, Ohio, and is the son of William Gr. and Anna (Shaw) Brenizer. The Doctor's youth was passed on his father's farm in Morrow County, in the meantime attending the common schools of the neighborhood. When nineteen years of age, he became a student at Otterbein University, of Westerville, Ohio, where, at the end of five years, he graduated in the scientific course. The last year of bis university course he applied himself to the study of medicine; after graduating, he continued his nodical studies, and in the fall of 1878, became a student at the Homoeopathic Hospital College, at Cleveland, Ohio, graduating at that institution in 1880. On completing his medical course, he located at Prospect Village, where he is still practicing his profession. The Doctor was married, December 30, 1880, to Anna Clime, a daughter of WTilliam Clime, of Columbus, Ohio; They have one child named Vivian Perses.

DR. E. R. COOK (deceased). This gentleman during his lifetime was one of the most enterprising and best esteemed citizens of Prospect Village. He had an extensive practice professionally, and for many years, in addition to his practice, carried on the drug business at Prospect Village; the drug store that he established in 1869 is still carried on by his sons under the firm name of Cook Bros. He was born in Montgomery County, N. Y.. September 12, 1816, and was the son of Eli and Elizabeth (Rider) Cook; he was married, April 6, 1845, in Mercer County, Ohio, to Mary A. Sands, a native of Lisbon, Cumberland County, Penn, and daughter of John and Hannah Sands. He studied medicine with Dr. Stimpson, of Albany, Franklin County, Ohio, and came to Marion County in 1849, locating at Latimberville, and in 1853 at Prospect Village, where he died, November 6, 1879. Thus it will be seen that the Doctor was a practitioner in this county for a period of thirty years, though about three years of this time was spent in traveling in the West. He was a Democrat in politics, and took an active and leading part in the politics of this section. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and was a charter member of Prospect Lodge, No. 444, F. & A. M. He was its first Master, and, with the exception of two years, held that position the balance of his life. He was one of the most active members of the lodge, and took a prominent part in getting stock subscribed wherewith to build the present Masonic Hall at Prospect. He was buried in the Marion Cemetery, where a fine monument marks his last resting place.

FRANK M. COOK, of Cook Bros., druggists, and son of Dr. E. R. Cook, is a native of Morrow County, Ohio, and was born February 24, 1847; until twenty-one years of age, his time was mostly passed in attending school. During this period he also took a course of study at the Commercial College in Delaware, Ohio. From there, in 1868, he entered as a clerk in the drug store of his father. In 1874, he became a partner in the drug business, under the firm name of Dr. Cook & Son; this partnership continued until the death of Dr. Cook, in November, 1879. The next month, December, 1879, G. W. Cook was admitted as a partner, and the firm name changed to Cook Brothers. F. M. Cook was married in Clinton County,

Mich., to Miss A.lice R. Myer. He is Democratic in politics, and has served the citizens as member of the Village Council and of the Board of Education.

G. W. COOK, druggist and cashier of the Prospect Bank, is a son of Dr. E.. R. Cook, and was born in Prospect Township, Marion County. October 27, 1856. His early years weve passed at school and clerking in his father's drug store in the village of Prospect. In 1879, he became a partner in the drug business with his brother, F. M., the firm being Cook Brothers, in which he is still interested. He was elected cashier of the Prospect Bank on the 8th of March, 1883, in which position he is now acting. Mr. Cook was married, May 4, 1882, to Miss May Dix, daughter of Elijah Dix. Mr. Cook has served Prospect Township as Treasurer three terms; in politics, he is a Democrat.

COOK BROTHERS, druggists. This business was established by Dr. E. R. Cook in 1869; it is the oldest drug store established in Prospect. The present business is carried on by the Doctor's sons, F. M. and G. W. Cook. They carry a full line of goods pertaining to a first-class general drug and prescription store, and command an extensive trade.

JOHN J. COURT, farmer, is a son of Joseph and Maria (Sherman) Court, and was born in Pleasant Township, this county, May 28, 1849. He lived in that township until twenty-one years of age, when he bought the farm of 133 acres in Prospect Township, in which he now resides. Mr. Court was married Septemper 5, 1872, to Miss Anna Clark, who was born August 15, 1855, and a daughter of William B. and Harriet Clark. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. A. D. Matthews, of Marion. They have three children living - Eva Maneta, born August 28, 1873; Clara Idella, September 29, 1876; and Lulu, May 11, 1881.

WILLIAM F. COURT, farmer, was born in Pleasant Township, this county, December 19, 1836. He was reared on the homestead of his parents, Joseph and Maria (Sherman) Court, in Pleasant Township, and when twenty- two years of age, bought land in Green Camp Township, which he sold two years later, and, with his brother George as partner, kept a general store; subsequently, he sold his interest to T. Cratty and bought 100 acres of land southwest of Richwood. After living on this farm eighteen months, he entered trade with his brother in the merchant tailoring business at Richwood, which continued for two years, when he bought the farm of 182 acres where he resides, in the southwest part of Prospect Township. He was married, in 1863, to Charlotte Watkins, who was born October 6, 1845, and was a daughter of Thomas Watkins, an early settler of Prospect Township; from this marriage there were six children - John F., born January 4, 1864, and died September 8, 1864; Thomas J., born December 29, 1865; Margaret M., August 4, 1867; Ida B., August 2, 1869; Joanna L., March 17, 1875; and Mary Elizabeth, November 27, 1880. Mr. Court is one of the substantial farmers of the township.

JOSEPH CRATTY is a son of Robert and Ellen (Porter) Cratty, and was born on the homestead, one mile east of Prospect Village, July 12, 1842. In March, 1861, he went to Illinois, and in September. 1861, enlisted in Company L, Third Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, for three years, to serve in the war of the great rebellion. The regiment was soon ordered into active service, and with it he participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Ark., siege of Vicksburg. Champion Hills, Carrion Crow Bayou, La. He was at Memphis when Forest made his raid, the Third Regiment taking a prominent part, and in various skirmishes in the States of Missouri, Arkansas and

Louisiana. On the expiration of his term of enlistment, he was honorably discharged at Memphis, Tenn., September 19, 1804. He then returned to Prospect, Marion County, and attended school until 1866. On leaving school, he engaged with various parties as clerk, and about the year 1870, became a partner in tbe general merchandising business at Richwood, Ohso, under the lirm name of T. P. Cratty & Co. About 1872, he bought his partner's interest; in 1874, he moved his goods and opened at Ashland, remaining three months; then to Shawnee and to Orbiston, February 19, 1S77, and from there to Prospect Village, in May, 1878; here he formed a partnership with J. M. Tucker, which continued six months. He carried on business alone until 1880, when he formed a partnership with P. C. Sells, continuing until February 1, 1883, at all the above places he was engaged in general merchandising. Mr. Cratty was married October 1, 1872, to Miss Isabella J. Hamilton, a daughter of the Rev. William Hamilton, of Licking County, Ohio. Mrs. Cratty died January 22, 1882. By this marriage there were three children - Arthur H., Robert J., who died aged four years and eleven months; and Helen M. Mr. Cratty is a member of Prospect Lodge, No. 444, F. & A. M., of which he has been Master for four years. He is a Prohibitionist Republican in politics. He is one of the most energetic and enterprising business men of Prospect Village.