Riley Township

Riley Township

The organization of Riley township dates from 1834 and at that time included the present township of Richland (Allen county), in addition to its present area. The first settler, Thomas Gray (1832), was followed the next year by John Sigafoose, Adam Stout, Moses Rice, Bildad Hubbard and B. F. Dunning. The year 1834 brought in a large number of families, including those of George Bushong, Thomas Lake, James Bunn, J. D. Wamsley, William Hand, John Hand, Jacob Clover, George Eamum, Myron Rice, Isaiah Cook, N. H. Bagley, Peter Rice, William Thrapp, George Blackburn, George Alkire, Stephen Cortright and George Wilson. Jesse Hall and a few others located in the township in the following year. All of these early settlers were known as Yankees and were sturdy pioneers, well fitted to cope with the clangers and privations of frontier life such as faced them when they settled here.

Columbus Grove In 1014

These settlers were natives of Switzerland, although of German descent. Daniel Nicewander and Dorse Amstutz settled here in 1833 and were followed in the succeeding year by Christian Suter, Christian Basinger and Christian Bucher. Bucher lived to be one hundred years and seven months of age, dying in 1879. The wife of Bucher died in 1835, hers being the first death in the German settlement. In 1835 came Christian and John Shoemaker, John and Ulric Basinger, John Musser and Christian Steiner. The year 1846 brought in John Diller, Christian Amstutz, Christian Lugabill, John Geiger, John Lugabill and David Stauffer. The German settlement kept growing from year to year and was soon one of the most prosperous sections of the county. These were all Mennonites and as soon as they settled they made provisions for religious services. At first they held services in the homes of the settlers, but by 1840 they had a substantial hewed-log church. Christian Steiner was the first pastor.

The first election in Riley township was held in April, 1834, at the home of Thomas Gray, and at that time the following officers were elected : Thomas Gray, Joseph DeFord and John Stout, trustees; William Hand, clerk; Bildad Hubbard, supervisor; Thomas Gray, justice of the peace; George Farnum, constable. These appear to have been only temporary officers; at least, another election was held in April of the following year, at which the following corps of officials were selected: John Stout, Moses Rice and George Wilson, trustees; N. H. Bagley, clerk; Bildad Hubbard, supervisor; J. D. Wamsley, justice of the peace; George Farnum, constable. The township retained its original area until 1847, when the southern tier of seven sections was detached and added to Allen county, leaving the township with thirty square miles.

The first road through the township was what was known as the Williamstown road, and this was followed shortly afterward by the Findlay- Van Wert road. William J. Wilson was the first pedagogue and taught his first school in the winter of 1836-37. Another school house was built the same year, but history has not preserved the name of its first teacher.

Pandora

John Stout laid out the town of Columbia, December i, 1836. The previous year he had built a grist-mill on Riley creek, one of the first grist- mills of the county, which was a great convenience for the early settlers. This town was situated upon the Ridge road, leading from Findlay to Kalida and Delphos, and about half way between the county seats of Hancock and Putnam counties. For many years it was the stopping place of the lawyers and judges, while "traveling the circuit" in the early days before 185 1. The tavern was kept by Henry Kilheffer and travelers on their way from Findlay to Kalida spent the night here. Many stories are still told of the jolly times that were had at the old tavern.

Later, the name was changed to Pendleton, and in 1850 the first addition was laid out by Brice W. Viers. Henry Kilheffer owned the only store at this time and in 1852 he laid out East Pendleton, which was surveyed by Henry Blosser, county surveyor. -It bears the distinction of being the only town that was ever platted in Riley township.

In 1882 the narrow gauge railroad, which has since become a standard gauge road and known as the Pittsburg, Akron & Western railroad, was proposed and constructed through the town. The same year Kiene and Suter laid out their addition to the town. The name of the town was again changed, this time to Pandora, and evidently the "third time charm" worked, for it has retained that name to the present time.

Additions were laid out in 1891, by H. M. Day; 1893, by R. N. Mc- Adams; the same year S. P. Krohn laid out his addition and the following year H. M. Day laid out a second addition. It was re-surveyed by an order from the court, April 24, 1892, and incorporated on November 5th of the same year.

Situated as it was, in the center of one of the best-improved sections of the county, surrounded with rich farm land and magnificent buildings which can hardly be surpassed in any locality of the state, it took a slow deep-rooted growth, which began to show a few years later. The farms were settled principally by sturdy Mennonites, whose faith forbids quarreling and litigation.

The overall factory has been one of the greatest agents in making Pandora what it is at present. The history of this factory will appear in another paragraph. The population in 19 10 numbered five hundred and sixtytwo. It has paved streets, a modern high school, bank, and stores that rival any in the county. The Ohio & Northern railroad gives the people accommodations east and west. The Pandora Milling Company does quite an extensive business in this locality. The lumber and planing mills also employ a number of men and carry on a large business in their line. The present town officials are: Mayor, P A. Amstutz; clerk, Grover Davi'dson; treas-

Pandora Manufacturing Company

The Pandora Manufacturing Gompany, which was formerly called the Pandora Overall Company, was organized in August, 1 901, by the followmg men, who were not only the founders, but the first officers and directors: John M. Amstutz, president; John Gerber, vice-president; Jacob A. Suter, secretary and treasurer ; Albert A. Burry, Garl Gerber. It was capitalized at ten thousand dollars. Five thousand six hundred dollars of the stock was retained by the founders and the rest was sold to outsiders. In the fall of same year the plant was started, with six sewing machines. The minutes of the directors give the first purchase of raw material in October. The first overalls were made in a part of an old woolen mill, where the first six machines were installed.

The success of the business seemed assured from the start and in 1902 the capital stock was increased to twenty-five thousand dollars. A part of this stock was offered for sale to outsiders. In September of this year W. E. Caldwell, of Cincinnati, purchased stock in the company and became its secretary and manager. At this same time' four more directors were added, and it is interesting to note that one of these men was Elias Welty, the present manager. The woolen mill burned in September, 1902, before the new stock was offered for sale. This incurred a loss, as the factory was only partly insured.

\\''ork on a new building was immediately begun, which is part of the present structure. Owing to an increase of business, electric cutters were installed in 1903. Mr. Caldwell served as manager until 1905, when he was succeeded by John De Haan, who was formerly manager of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. In 1905 an addition was built, doubling the capacity of the factory. In the same year a number of Toledo men became interested in the company and purchased a controlling interest, the capital stock being increased to fifty thousand dollars. In 1906 a similar plant was started at Toledo and the main offices moved to that place, but this move proved a failure and the plant was discontinued in 1908. The following year Mr. De Haan resigned as manager and Elias Welty, who has been mentioned previously as a stockholder and director, became manager and secretary. To say that Mr. Welty was competent to fill the position would be speaking modestly, as he had been connected with the factory for eight years and served in every capacity and department from engineer up. In 1910 A. J. Welty became interested and purchased the Toledo stock, thus bringing the control back to the Pandora community.

From this time forward the success of the factory was assured and in the year 19 12 more business was done than in any two previous years and more salesmen were added. Orders were coming in so fast that it was impossible to -fill them. It was deemed advisable to add another factory, which was located at Celina, Ohio. A shirt factory was also added at Zanesville, Ohio, owing to a demand for this commodity. These factories were merely taken over by this company and placed under their competent management.

In 19 1 3 the capital stock was again increased, this time to one hundred thousand dollars. The following year the output was two hundred thousand dollars. In 191 5 the name was changed, due to the fact that it was not an overall factory alone, but a manufacturing plant. The present directors and officers are: P. B. Hilty, president; J. A. Suter, vice-president; A. J. Welty, secretary; Elias Welty, manager; W. B. Jackson, manager of the Celina plant; A. G. Bruhl, manager of the Zanesville plant; David Lichty, Cleo Neuenschwander, A. P Sandles, B. A. Unverferth and John De Haan.

This is the largest manufacturing plant in Putnam county and the present output amounts to a quarter of a million dollars a year. The stock is always in demand and the company has done a great service to the county in furnishing employment for so many men and women. The laborers are all paid by piece work and the management is so liberal in its wages that good salaries can be made by skilled and even competent labor, and no hardship is worked upon its employees.

Webster

This was a small country town, but was never platted. The postoffice for the town was called Stanley, but this later covered by a rural route and ceased to exist.

Sugar Creek township was surveyed in 1820 by James Riley and originally embraced thirty-six sections of land. In the year 1848, when Auglaize county was formed, the south half of this township was' attached to Allen county and, in order to make Sugar Creek township of an average size and also to compensate for the loss, two tiers of sections were added on the north from Union township. It then contained thirty sections of land and this was to be its permanent size. It derived its name from Sugar creek, which flows north through the center part of the township. Hog creek also runs through the township about two miles west of Sugar creek and parallel with it. This excellent drainage made it a very desirable township to settle in and, since it was not covered with swamps, as some of the northern townships were, practically the entire acreage was suitable for cultivation.

The first settlement was made on Hog creek, in the southern part, by Robert Martin and Solomon Sprague, in the year 1828. The following year Benjamin Parker and a Mr. McCoy decided to make this their permanent settlement. In 1830 William Clevenger took up his claim and he was followed, a short time later, by Benjamin, Jacob, Joseph, George and Samuel Clevenger, who made their settlement near the present village of Vaughnsville. They built the Clevenger mill in the' following year. This mill is thought by many of the early settlers who still survive to be the first grist-mill in the county. The same year saw John Ensley and Peter Rhodes casting in their lots with the scattered settlers, and, in 1832, Rhodes built the first saw-mill in the county. As there was an abundance of timber at that time, it did a great amount of business. The next settlers were James Ramsey, Selah Bennum, Obed Martin and Isaac Guffy, who came with their families in 1832. In 1833 there was a further addition of the families of Samuel Ramsey, James Nicholas, Thomas Watkins, David Roberts, Jackson Miller, Samuel McMullen, John and Joseph Tegarden and Henry Tegarden. In 1834 William Guffy, John Watkins, Henry Davis, John R. Jones, Richard Richards, David Crabill and Joseph Ford, and, in 1835, John Defifenbaugh and perhaps a few others.

The township took on a temporary organization in 1832 or 1833. This organization included what afterwards became the townships of Monroe, Pleasant, Union and Sugar Creek. The first township officers were as follows: Obed Martin, justice of the peace; James Nicholas, later served as the second justice of the peace; Samuel Ramsey, constable; George Niell, William Patrick and Jackson Miller, trustees; Benjamin Clevenger, treasurer, and James Nicholas, clerk.

At the gubernatorial election in October, 1834, Sugar Creek township polled thirty-four votes, and at the same election in 1879, just forty-five years later, there were two hundred and eighty-on votes cast.

The first town laid out in the township was Monterey, in 1847. This was platted by Eli Clevenger and took in all that part of the town lying south of what is now known as the Vaughnsville and Columbus Grove road.

That part of the town lying north of this road was platted the same year by D. C. Vaughn, who called it Vaughnsville. Eventually, the name Monterey was dropped and Vaughnsville now includes both plats. Vaughnsville has a bank, an elevator, saw-mill, and stores which carry well-selected stocks of goods. The town is beautifully located, lying on the east side of Sugar creek, and is surrounded by a prosperous and thriving farming community. The farmers are well-to-do, lands are under a high state of cultivation and fine buildings indicate prosperity. Vaughnsville has never been incorporated, as it is a good trading point for the township and does not see the need of corporate government. A consolidated high school affords excellent educational opportunities for the children of the township. The Northern Ohio railroad gives it a ready outlet to foreign markets.

Rimer

Rimer was laid out in 1881 by James W. Rimer, for D. P. Rimer, the proprietor. It is situated on the east bank of the Ottawa river, and on the Northern Ohio railroad. This town was first called Roxburg, but later the name was changed for that of the original owner. The schools of this township were consolidated and this necessitated the building of a fourteenthousand-dollar school building, was located at Rimer. This is a very prosperous little village.

Jones City

Jones City was platted in 1890, at the intersection of the Northern railroad and the Ohio Electric line. It was laid out for R. W. and Ella Jones by Evan H. Jones, surveyor, and from whom it derived its name.

Center Point Agricultural Society

The Center Point Agricultural Society was organized in 1905. In the fall of that year the farmers in Sugar Creek township had an enormous crop of clover seed to be hulled. No huller was in the community, and, as winter was coming on, it looked as though the seed was going to waste. Twenty farmers formed a partnership and bought a huller, and in this way saved the crop of clover seed. This was the beginning of the organization, and, since it worked to such good success on the first experiment, it was tried not only on harvesting the grain, but also on selling it and buying provisions. A constitution was formed and by-laws were adopted. It is not an incorporation, neither is it a secret organization, but the members are taken in by a vote of the society. Its objects at present are to promulgate a helpful, sociable and friendly feeling among its members and to promote their financial mterests by buying in large quantities and saving a needless waste. "We do not mtend to crush the dealer in the small town, but to make life easier for him by buying in large amounts, paying cash and saving him the needless worry over bad debts."

The first settlers in what is now known as Union township were Abram Sarber and family and Joseph Clevenger and family, in the year 183 1. The next year, Joseph and George Clevenger, with their families, settled here. In 1833 this little group was swelled by the addition of seven families: Adam Sarber, Jacob Clevenger, Jenkin Hughes, William Clevenger, Samuel Gander and Daniel Rimer. In 1834- there was a further addition to the township of the families of Moses Lee, Robert McCracken, WilUam Philips, Isaac McCracken, Sheldon Guthrie, Arthur E. Martin and Joseph Miller.

In 1832 the township took on a temporary organization. The officers were appointed by an order from the court, and the township was organized into one road district, with John Guffy as the first supervisor. The following were the first officers of the newly organized township: Moses Lee, William Clevenger and Adam Sarber as trustees and Abram Sarber as clerk. They held their meeting on March 2, 1835, to issue an order for the division of the township into three road districts, and the electors were notified by advertisement by the clerk "of the town meeting" for the election of township officers "as required by law." At this same meeting they issued orders of one dollar and fifty cents to each of the trustees for services; also an order to Abram Sarber for seventy-five cents for his services as clerk for the past year.

On April 2, 1835, an election was held at the home of William Philips and the following officers were elected: William Clevenger, Adam Sarber and Richard Lee, trustees; Abram Sarber, clerk; William Clevenger, treasurer; John Guffey, George Clevenger and Johnston Crawford, supervisors; Moses Lee and Winchton Risley, overseers of the poor; F. C. Fitch and Winchton Risley, fence viewers; William Clevenger and Moses Lee, justices of the peace; James Lee and Henry Guffey, constables.

The first tax was levied on March 7, 1S36, which was one mill on the dollar. The expenditures for the year 1836 were fifteen dollars and forty cents ; receipts for taxes were four dollars and forty cents.

On September 10, 1836, the trustees met and divided the township into two school districts. District number one comprised the south part of the township, two and one-half miles wide by six miles long. District number two was the north part and was three and one-half miles wide by six miles " long.

Kalida, the first town laid out in Union township, was platted in 1834. On June 24, 1834, Moses Lee purchased the first lot and built the first cabin in the village. His son, H. G. Lee, cut the first log. In the same year Sheldon Guthrie built the first frame house. This was sided with clapboards and in later years was quite a relic of the past and a monument to its builder. Sheldon Guthrie established the first store in the same year.

Putnam county was created by an act of Congress passed January 3, 1834. A provision was contained in this same act whereby a town director should be appointed, whose duty it was to select and survey one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 5, township i south, range 6 east, in Putnam county, and, under the direction of the county commissioners, lay out a town, and that the town so laid out should be the county seat.

The town director, with the commissioners, were to sell the lots and from the proceeds, less two hundred dollars, which was to be paid to the state, the county should receive money to pay the expenses of the county.

On May 5, 1834, Abram Sarber was appointed by the court of common pleas as town director and Thomas Gray, William Priddy, Samuel Myers were appointed county commissioners; F. C. Fitch, county surveyor. The town was laid out and named Kalida (The Beautiful) and became the

The town was incorporated on P'ebruary i6, 1839, by an act of the Legislature and the mayor and council were elected. In 1843 corporate powers seem to have been too heavy for the citizens to bear and on March 14 of that year they asked the Legislature to repeal the act of incorporation, retaining the council in office for one year, "to settle the business of the corporation," and at the expiration of their term of office they were again elected for three years longer, or until 1847. The next articles of incorporation were not taken out until 1857.

Such prominent men as John Morris, Alonzo Skinner, John McClure, Levi Rice, T. E. Cunningham, Wilham H. Ball, Benjamin F. Metcalf, James McKenzie, attorneys; R. W. Thrift and C. M. Godfrey, physicians; C. H. Rice, merchant, settled in Kalida between 1843 and 1848. It would be hard to find an equal number of men starting together who have made a better record.

The first court house was built in 1835, and a second brick one was completed in 1840. A fire in the recorder's office about 1862 injured and destroyed ^many of the records and in the winter of 1864-65 the court house was entirely destroyed by fire. The old records were destroyed, but the new and transcribed ones were saved.

The town grew slowly until 1840, when the increase in the number of settlers in the county and the opening of many farms caused a marked increase in the population. Its growth was steady until 1866, when the county seat was removed to Ottawa. This was a great reverse for the prosperous little village and for a time it seemed to stagnate, but the Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western and the Columbus, Lima & Milwaukee railroads were constructed and this later hel]ied to offset the loss of the county seat.

At present Kalida has one of the Odenweller elevators, a bank, newspaper, modern high school and the business houses are modern in every respect. In 1910 the population was seven hundred and seventy. Situated in a good agricultural community, this town is sure to have a steady growth. The present officers are : Mayor, Guy R. Coit ; clerk, Samuel Stevens ; treasurer, Louis Kline; marshal. Homer Davidson; councilmen, L. Vender Embse, Charles Veach, Ed Rower, A. G. Underwood, J. M. Rimer, Joseph Foltz; trustees of public affairs, Charles Veach and Guy R. Coit.

Van Buren township was not organized by the county commissioners until 1843, having been known as North Blanchard for ten years, or from the time Blanchard township was organized. It was slow in being settled, due to the extreme swampiness of much of the land, a fact which is set forth in a striking manner in the field notes of James Heaton, who surveyed it in 1821. He says: "While surveying this township, I dug five wells twenty feet deep, for water, the swamp water being unfit for use. At some future day this swamp will probably be drained, as it may be in four or five different directions. The soil in this township averages as good second rate; but at present the land is so wet and miry, and there are such masses of fallen timbers, that there appears to be nothing inviting to the agriculturist to settle m it." If this same surveyor could see the broad and well-tilled acres of today, he would doubtless be surprised at the changes which time has wrought. Practically all of the once swampy land has been reclaimed and now fields of wavuig grain may be seen, where formerly swamps and morasses reigned supreme.

The year 1835 saw the first permanent settler locate in the township and Abraham Baughman will go down in Van Buren township as the first man to brave the terrors of the malaria and ague within its limits. He was followed shortly afterward by Hiram Hull, John Broadsword,' William Killpatrick, Ludwig Hull, James Davis, Elvington Hull and James Reed. These sterling pioneers made several efforts to effect a township organization before 1843, but failed each time, because they could not muster a sufficient number of voters. It was not until Abraham Baughman, the first settler, offered his personal bond, guaranteeing the county against any probable loss, that the commissioners granted the request of the petitioners. That the township was very sparsely settled is very evident from the report of the first election, on February 18, 1843. At that time only twelve votes were cast, and, so history records, only nine of these represented actual settlers, the other three being imported for the occasion. There were barely enough voters to fill all the offices and it will be noticed that some men held more than one office. The first officers included the following : Abraham Bauo-hman, Elvington A. Hull and John Davis, trustees; Marcus Thrapp, clerk;

Elvington A. Hull, treasurer; Jacob Nemire and Adam Krites, overseers of the poor; Abraham Baughman and David Tyner, fence viewers; Lemuel Hickerson, constable. At a subsequent election, May 20, 1843, Elvington A. Hull was elected the first justice of the peace.

The trustees were anxious to provide educational facilities for the few children, as is evidenced by their meeting, on March 6, 1843, ^or the purpose of dividing the township into two school districts, No. i being the east half of the township, and No. 2, the west half. At an election held on April 3, 1843, more officers were elected and the two townships divided into two road districts, with Burdett Hull and John Davis as supervisors. The road districts coincided with the school districts.

Leipsic was laid out and platted by James E. Creighton, on January 26, 1857. The first ground platted into lots in the corporate limits of the present town was that lying east of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, and both north and south of the Nickel Plate. This village first bore the name of Creighton, in honor of its founder, but it was incorporated under the name of Leipsic. On August 29, 1859, Joseph Swartz laid out a plat of land east of the Cincinnati, Hamihon & Dayton and called it Leipsic station. The following year Mr. Swartz laid out an addition to the same plat, these two plats being recorded under the name Leipsic.

The growth of this village began in the year 1859, when the first train run over the Dayton & Michigan railroad. The first train passing over this railroad signaled the denizens of an almost impenetrable forest. By the construction of this railroad, the outlet for the timber and other products of this country was assured, and settlers began to arrive, thus opening up one of the greatest sections in the state. The growth of this section is a marvel of progress and productiveness. One of the potent factors in the prosperity of this section and the impetus which stirred early settlers was the Buckeye Stave Company and too much praise cannot be given this company for their excellent work in making Leipsic one of the foremost towns of the county.

The early settlers in this village were J. B. Swartz, Wellington Hurd, David McClung, C. W. Askam and wife and Al Tingle. In i860 S. and W. P. Young and D. G. Leffler settled here. The following year Mrs. John Foltz, G. D. Foltz, Jacob Werner and Absalom Foulk risked their fortunes with the progress of the new town. In 1863 A. F. Eastom and wife, T. J. Werner, Samuel Waters and wife, and in 1865 J. H. Askam, Andrew C.

Askam and F. LefHer, completing the list of early settlers and pioneer residents. These men of brawn and courage had placed on the map of the country a thriving little village with the strength to combat in the field of commerce.

Chief among the early industries which operated in Leipsic are: The Buckeye Stave Company ; the Leipsic flouring-mill, which was erected in the year 1872 by W. C. Miller; the Leipsic planing-mill, which was owned and operated by Messrs. O. E. Townsend and John Zahrends, and the following companies : Leipsic machine works, A. F. Eastom & Son, the Leipsic brick yard, tile yard, creamery, and two good elevators.

This town has been visited by quite a few disastrous fires, but the citizens were undaunted by these reversals of fortune and immediately set to work replacing them with bettter and larger structures. The town stands as a monument to its owns prosperity and growth.

The different business enterprises at present are: The Leffler Hotel, which was erected at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars and is an emblem of architectural progress and a monument to his memory ; the Bank of Leipsic, the Temco Company, R. T. Terry, tile manufacturer, and many other industries. The stores cater to all the wants of the citizens of the town and also to the country trade.

The present officials are: Mayor, E. V. Burns; clerk, C. J. Erickson; treasurer, Earl Andrews; marshal, Charles McKeen; councilmen, W. T Starling, W. D. Hickey, Dallas Kirk, J. B. Weber, L. D. Wendle, Joseph Faber; trustees of public afifairs, W. A. Bell, J. A. Parsons, C. W. Fogle.

The Temco Electric Motor Company

The Temco Electric Motor Company, an Ohio corporation, with its main factory and office at Leipsic, was organized and chartered in the fall of 191 1. The Temco Company was successor to the American Foundry Company, which had been doing a general foundry business up to that time.

The name, Temco, is derived from the first letters of the name "The Electric Motor Company." This company was organized for the purpose of manufacturing electric portable tools and small motors. The line ori^^- inally consisted of electric portable drills, grinders, buffers, polishers and small fractional-horse-power motors. Later, automobile accessories, such as shock absorbers, electric generators, ignitors and starters, were added to the original line of general machinery. The Temco Company has the distinction of building the first and original shock absorber for the Ford cars.

In the beginning, the equipment consisted of six or eight machines, which furnished employment to a similar number of men. It covered about twenty-five hundred feet of floor space, all on the ground floor. With the rapid increase in the business, as their products became known, more machinery and greater floor space were added, and the pay-roll was increased, also. At present it covers about thirty-two thousand scjuare feet of floor space, in a two- and three-story brick plant, using electric motors aggregating about two hundred and fifty horse power and furnishing employment for one hundred and fifty to two hundred men and women.

The power and light for the factory are furnished by electricity, each machine having an individual motor, with silent chain drive. No overhead line-shaft is used in any part of the plant. Every rec[uirement of the state is adhered to in reducing the possibility of accidents to a minimum. The plant is steam-heated throughout, from its own boiler, placed in the plant for that purpose alone. \Vash-ro(jms and coat-rooms are provided on the first and second floors. The plant has had a steady growth from the beginning, and, judging from the success which the sale of its products has met with, the Temco Electric Motor Company will soon be numbered among the leading manufacturing plants of northwestern Ohio. Their products are shipped to every part of the globe, the principal importing countries for their goods being South America, England, France, Australia, Russia, Asia and Africa.

Buckeye St.W'E Company

The Buckeye Stave Company was one of the potent factors in the advancement of Leipsic in a material way. This company has grown from a humble beginning in Leipsic to an enormous business, which extends from northern .Michigan to the Gulf states and west to the Pacific coast states, and gives employment to a large force of men.

This company was organized in 1886, with the following stockholders: John Edwards, W. \V Edwards, I. N. Bushong, J. S. Lenhart and D. L. Critten, all of whom were residents of Leipsic. At the time of its organization the company controlled tweh'e factories, located at Leipsic, Columbus Grove and Continental, and employed one hundred men.

In 1887 this company purchased the Bank of Leipsic and in 1890 they placed a stave factory in Pleasant Bend: in i8()i they built a factory at Kalida and also at Avis; in 1892 the Elm Center stave factory was puri66 chased and placed under their control, and the same year a factory was located at Mancelona, Michigan, but this was removed to Gladstone, Michigan, in 1894. The Continental Bank was organized in iSgr, and at present has responsibilities amounting to one million dollars.

The growth of this company has been very rapid, and in 1895, after only nine years' time, they employed one thousand men, with a yearly payroll of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars and a paid-up capital stock of five hundred and thirty thousand dollars. Their holdings include extensive timber and farm lands in this and other states, and the growth of the business has far exceeded the hopes of the promoters. In 1888 the interests of Lenhart were purchased, and in 1893 Joseph H. Edwards purchased a one- fourth interest. The company has grown to be the largest of its kind in the world. It has always been liberal to its employees and fair in its dealings, and has contributed liberally to public and private improvement and all works for the betterment of the community. The company owns a large amount of farm land at the present time, which it has improved and placed under cultivation, after removing the timber. This company stands today with its many business enterprises in the full confidence of the business world.

Montgomery ville was laid out and platted in 1862 by Deputy County Surveyor John Shakely, for Wesley G. Montgomery, acting under the power of attorney for Benjamin and Mary Ann Plummer as proprietors. The village is situated in the northern part of Van Bu^en township, on the Dayton & Michigan railroad. The original plat of seventeen lots was laid on the eastern side of the railroad and the town took its name from the surveyor. About the year 1868 the name was changed to Belmore, as the postoffice had given that name and two names caused quite a little confusion.

Additions to the village were laid by the following proprietors : In 1869, the Dayton & Michigan railroad, Knox and Speaker; in 1874, John H. George and Alexander Williamson. Other additions followed later. The village was incorporated in 1882, with the following officers : O. Judson, mayor ; P. L. Baker, clerk ; W. Winkler, treasurer ; Theodore Ludwig, marshal; A. J. Showers, D. Ensminger, J. H. Ensminger, W. Mull, Nimrod Speaker and I. B. Hathaway, councilmen.

Although the town has had no large manufactures or any natural resources to aid in its growth, still it is a substantial country town and the stores do a good business. The farmers in this locality are accommodated

The present officers are: Mayor, C. R. Blauvelt; clerk, Kenneth R. Casteel ; treasurer, William Glaser ; marshal, Mathias Voglepohl ; councilmen, W E. Saul, Henry Rader, L. M. Hickerson, F. E. Critchet, I. E. Blauveh and Lafe Fox.

The village of Spitzer, located on the Nickel Plate railroad, four miles east of Leipsic, was platted by Aaron Overbech, county surveyor, in 1886. The town was laid out for Howard C. Tinkham, but was named in honor of the Spitzer Brothers, of Toledo, Ohio, who were largely interested in lands adjoining the village. Owing to the fact that there was another town of the same name in Ohio, it was changed to Townwood.

Ward

Ward was the name given to a little town located on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, but was never platted and at present is only a railroad siding.

The present officials of Van Buren township are : Justices of the peace, Jacob Lefifler, T. J. Huffman, J. E. Fisher and Nimrod Speaker ; trustees, James Robinson, E. B. Limmonds and H. H. Montooth; clerk, Thomas J. Shuly; treasurer, E. C. Kuntz; constables, Joseph Butler and Daniel Butler.

The assessor of Riley township returned to the auditor the names of eight men who had volunteered from Riley township between July 2 'and August 22 1862^ These eight men were as follows: Henry Harris, James Meals, Mdton Thrap. Orville Thrap, Newton Wilson, Lewis Stakely, Philip Roulm and Elias Darling. -" i

Solomon Leffler, the assessor of Van Buren township, returned the names of sixteen men who had volunteered from his township between July 2 and August 22, 1862. The list follows : John Carter, John Drushel, Henry Drushel, Xoah Smith, Moses Stirman, Thomas Wikon, Lewis Grosser Solomon W. Hicks, Jesse Kelly, Alanson Brown, John Reading, Robert Hull' Sylvester Gook, John Wilson, Abraham Newell and William Newell Be' tween August 22 and September 13, 1862, four more enlisted from Van Buren township: Daniel G, Leffler, Daniel Leffler, Martin Van Bowman and Seth Shoemaker.

The complete roster of Putnam county officers in the Givil War is not but the following list comprises the most prominent men of the county who attained official ranking: Americus V. Rice, brigadier-eneral Fifty-seventh Regiment; Jacob L'H. Long, major, Eightv-seventh Regiment; Thomas Allen, captain; E. K. Allen, captain, Gompanv C EightV eighth Regiment; James G. Gribben, captain, Fifty-seventh Regiment- S W Drake, captain, Gompany I, One Hundred Ninety-seventh Regiment- Guy

Americus V. Rice, who came to Putnam county in 1847, has the honor of attaining a higher military rank in the Civil War than any other man from the county. He was born in Perrysville, Ohio, November 18, 1835, and came to Putnam county with his parents when he was twelve years of age. General Rice graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in i860, and at once returned to his home in Kalida to begin the study of law.

In the spring of 1861 he offered his services under the three-months call of President Lincoln and on April 29, 1861, was elected second lieutenant -of Company E, Twenty-first Regiment of Ohio Infantry. On May 16, 1861, he was elected captain of the company and served with this rank in West Virginia under Gen. J. D. Cox until the company was mustered out in the following August. He at once returned to his home in Kalida and in the following month organized a company for the three-year service and was mustered in as captain of Company A, Fifty-seventh Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On February 8, 1862, he was appointed lieutenantcolonel of his regiment upon the unanimous recommendation of all the officers of the regiment. His regiment was present at the battle of Shiloh and was in the thickest of that terrible fight. One-third of the regiment was missing, which goes to show the conspicuous part it played in the battle. During the engagement a shell burst above the head of Colonel Rice, knocking both him and his horse to the ground, but fortunately did not seriously injure either of them. It is not possible in this brief summary of his career to follow his military career in detail. Suffice it to say, that his -conduct on all occasions was such as to commend him to those above him in authority. In March, 1863, he was placed in command of the First Brigade, First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, and on April 16, of the same year, was commissioned colonel of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment. Fighting with his regiment in all of the skirmishes around Vicksburg, he won additional honor in the skillful manner in which he handled his regiment. In leading an assault on that stronghold he was struck in the leg by a minie ball and seriously injured and kept out of active service until January, 1864. In recognition of his gallant services around Vicksburg, General Grant recommended him for promotion to brigadier-general, and with this rank he served with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign. At Kenesaw Mountain he was so badly wounded in the leg that it had to be amputated above the knee. For his bravery at Resaca, May 14, 1864, he was again recommended by the general officers for promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, but the appointment was withheld until May, 1865.

On account of the loss of his leg. General Rice was unable to rejoin his command until April, 1865, when he took charge of his regiment at Newburn, North Carolina. He passed with his command in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C., on May 24, 1865, and in the following month took them to Louisville, Kentucky. There he was assigned to the command of the Third Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, which he took to Little Rock, Arkansas, arriving there June 24, 1865. He remained there in. command until his command was mustered out in August of the same year. General Rice was honorably discharged on January 15, 1866.

It is interesting to note that General Rice, after the close of the war, at once entered into peaceful pursuits with the same enthusiasm which characterized his career in the military life. He was a war Democrat and was always interested in political matters. He was a delegate to the Baltimore convention which nominated Horace Greeley. In 1874 he was elected to Congress and was re-elected in 1876. In 1894 he was appointed United States pension agent for Ohio and took possession of his office on May i of that year. He subsequently went to Washington and was connected with the pension department for a number of years. While in office, he died and was buried in the cemetery at Arlington.

Thrifty Soldiers

Many of the soldiers of Putnam county saved their money and sent it home from time to time. Among the few Civil War records found was a package of orders, thirty-three in number, which represented varying sums of money sent home by the soldiers of this county. In order that future generations may know who these thirty-three thrifty men were, their names are here given, with the sums of money which they forwarded to their loved ones on January 15, 1864: Twenty-first Regiment, Thomas Anderson, $700; J. N. Hickerson, $40; Daniel Carr, $50; Edson G. Growl, $50; Jackson Sylvis, $30; C. F. Jones, $50; J. Harris, $50; Francis Lindsey, $40; Joseph Bushong, $100; James B. Trask, $100; Daniel Fairchild, $160; Aaron Rice, $50; John Hart, $50; Edward H. Glever, $30; R. McBride, $90; Gelestin: Ghochard, $100; Elam D. Fairchild, $50; Jacob D. Vanscorder, $45; Thirtyeighth Regiment, Nicholas Quick, $30 ; Forty-ninth Regiment, Jacob N. Reed,, $30; John A. Leonard, $25; Albert Harris, $30; John M. Gartwright, $40; Francis A. Kiene, $40; Jacob Foltz, $100; WiUiam H. Dean, $25; John A. Lake, $10; Sixty-fifth Regiment, William Harris, $60; John Osborn, $25; Jacob Lindsey, $50 ; One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment, J. Taylor, $40 ; A. Kitchen, $50; N. Glevenger, $65.

Soldier Relief During The Civil War

During the progress of the Givil War the families of the soldiers were often reduced to poverty and the counties individually, as well as the state, came to their rescue. Thousands of dollars were expended for relief and before the war had progressed more than a year definite arrangements had been made to provide the necessities of life to every needy soldier's family. The following statistics have been taken from the commissioners' records and show that fifteen thousand nine hundred forty-nine dollars and ninety cents was paid out for relief from June, 1862, until March, 1866, when the last relief was paid. This money was proportioned to the townships according to their enlistments and was distributed by specially-appointed agents. The following table shows the amount of relief year by year : December, 1862, $598.92, 919 receiving relief; June, 1864, $2,415.00, 997 receiving rehef; March, 1865, $6,036.29, 997 receiving relief; September, 1865, $3,758.69, 997 receiving relief; March, 1866, $3,140.00, number receiving relief not -given.

A Civil-War Election

It is not generally known that the soldiers in the field during the Givil War were allowed to vote and although those from Putnam county must have exercised their franchise, there is a record of only one man casting his vote in the field. Among the few Givil War records saved is a certificate of election showing that Walter Huysman, a resident of Monterey township, a member of the Second Regiment of Engineers, voted in Knox county,.

Tennessee, on the second Tuesday of October, 1863. On a ticket twenty-eight inches long, the said Huysman voted for governor (John Brough), heutenant-governor (Charles Anderson), auditor of state (James H. Godman), treasurer of state (G. Volney Dorsey), judge of the supreme court (Hocking H. Hunter), member of the board of pubHc works (John M. Barriere), state representative (Cyrus Howard), judge of common pleas court (Joseph Plunket), probate judge (J. B. Jones), county clerk (Samuel D. Ayers), sheriff (Nathaniel H. Bagley), county commissioner (Elias W. Dimmock), surveyor (Seneca J. Powell). This ticket was headed "Ohio Union Ticket" -and was, of course, the regular Republican ticket.

Among the Civil War records were found the returns of the assessors of Ottawa, Jackson and Richland townships, giving the names of all the white male inhabitants above the age of twenty-one years in 1847. Ottawa township was credited with two hundred and fourteen voters, Jackson with forty-one and Richland with one hundred and thirty-five.

Up to the opening of the Mexican War in 1846 there were local militia in every county in Ohio and as soon as Putnam county was organized in 1834 steps were taken to organize the citizens of the county into companies. The first company in Ottawa township had on its roll practically every citizen ; in fact, the law provided that all able-bodied citizens, between the ages of eighteen and forty-live, should attend muster day at least twice a year. Capt. F. S. Godfrey was the head of the company in Ottawa township, which bore the bellicose title of "Black Hawk Riflemen." This name was doubtless the result of the Black Hawk War which had just closed a year or so before Putnam county was organized. The uniform of these warriors consisted of a black hunting shirt, jeans trousers and a felt hat -decorated with a long black feather. On muster days the whole county turned out to watch the maneuver and these were the biggest days of the year. More whiskey was drunk, more fights staged, more corn bread eaten and more blood spilled on this day than any other in the year. Interest in local militia companies gradually died out before the opening of the Mexican War and when preparations were made to furnish troops for that struggle, the militia laws were revised and the "corn-stalk militia" became a thing of the past. It was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that Putnam county had another local militia company and the county seat now boasts one of the finest armory buildings in the state of Ohio.

Company M, Ohio National Guard

On June 20, 1901, Colonel Adams, of Columbus, mustered in Company M of the Ohio national guard at Ottawa. Colonel Adams was assisted in this work by Colonel Ream and Major Vail, of Lima. Prof. J. W. Smith, of the Ottawa public schools, was first appointed to fill the office of captain. The following is a complete list of the men mustered in : Clive Agner, Vinza Agner, Rudolph Alt, Fred Arnold, Benjamin Griffith, Leo Harmon, LeRoy Haskell, Frank Hensel, Carl Husted, David Jenkins, George Jenkins, Carl Knettle, Paul Knettle, Harmon Bassett, Frank Fisher, Ed Ford, Charles Fowler, Ed Frey, Theodore Fuerst, Frank Fulton, Leonard Gerdeman, Jackson Ogle, Clarence Bailey, Dalby Crawfis, Earl Crawfis, Frank Cummer, Geary Day, Ed Farthing, Will Farrell, J. W. Row, Leslie Sawtelle, William Vail, Wilson Palmer, Nelson McDowell, Charles Reed, Herman Reed, Clyde Ridge, Calvin Wagner, Byron Pope, Walter Risser, Allen Robenalt, William Robenalt, Ed Shondel, Joe Shondel, J. W. Smith, William Smith, Benjamin Thompson, and Clyde Tupper. All of these members were residents of Ottawa. The followirfg were residents of Leipsic: William Baughman, William Eastman, Joseph Justice, Ed K;untz, Chester Lowry, -Dyke Nutter and Forest Nutter.

A movement was set on foot in 19 13 for a new armory. The citizens of Ottawa were behind this movement and appropriated five thousand dollars to buy a site for the new structure. The state then made an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars and the efforts of the citizens who had worked for this building were soon to be rewarded. A lot was purchased on Main street and work on the new armory was soon begun. The building was completed in September, 191 4, and the company moved into their new quarters in October of the same year.

At present there are fifty-three members, counting officers, with strong indications of an increase in enrollment. The present officers are G. M. Cartwright, captain; James O. Post, first lieutenant; Fred L. Roose, second lieutenant.

Grand Army Of The Republic

Thomas Allen Post No. 578, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Ottawa oh March 3, 1886, with twenty-six members, as follows: J. C. Light, D. R. Jenkins, Joseph Allen, J. M. Hawley, J. L'H. Long, A. V. Rice, David Donley, Philip Schweichert, J. R. Smith, B. B. Dennis, Prescott P. Wright, John J. Frey, John Shondel, A. G. Bogardus, T. B. Conn, L. L. Parker, John Ward, P. B. Radabaugh, J. C. McAdow, D. S. Blakeman, Aaron Overbeck, C. P. Bennett, H. C. Carr, C. A. Layton, F. M. Blakeman and Bernard Kreger. At the time of the application for a charter the petitioners asked that the new post be named Thomas Allen Post, in honor -of a lieutenant by that name, a resident of the county, who was killed in Virginia during the progress of the war.

The local post is not as strong as it has been in the past and each succeeding Memorial day sees fewer of the old veterans in line. It cannot be but a few years until the last will have answered the final roll call, but this oneday will always be kept in grateful rememberance of those who fought and bled that this country might remain a united nation. The complete list of all members of Thomas Allen Post, together with their companies and regiments, is as follows :

Anton Dreup, Company I, Thirty-seventh Regiment. C. H. Hathaway, Company I, Fifty-seventh Regiment. H. C. Carr, Company K, One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Regiment. J. R. Smith, Company I, Ninety-ninth Regiment. John Russett, Company G, One Hundred and First Regiment. Alexander McMonigal, Company C, One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Regiment.

When the new court house was built, a room was set aside for the Grand Army of the Republic. Here they keep their records, hold their regular meetings and gather for a social hour. The room is well equipped with furniture and presents an attractive appearance at all times. A few years ago the government presented the post with three cannon, which were placed in the court house yard. One was christened "Old Putnam" and the other "General McPherson." When the present court house was erected they were all removed. Two are now in the city park and the other is in the fair grounds.

The present officers of the post are as follow: C. M. Hathaway, post commander; E. A. McKenzie, senior vice-commander; Chris Ury, junior vice-commander; David R. Jenkins, adjutant; H. C. Carr, quartermaster sergeant; Aaron Overbeck, surgeon; T. C. Hipkins, chaplain; Isaac Thrapp, ofiicer of the day; J. J. Frey, officer of the guard; W. H. Handy, patriotic instructor. At the present time there are no Putnam county veterans in either the soldiers' home at Sandusky or in the one at Dayton, a record of which the county may well be proud. Every living soldier in the county who served ninety days or more is now drawing a pension. The county commissioners make an annual appropriation of fifteen dollars to each post for Memorial Day expenses, and allow seventy dollars for the burial expenses of old soldiers.

Other G. A. R. Posts Ix Putnam County

There have been nine other Grand Army posts in Putnam county, as follows: Columbus Grove, Oglevie, No. 64; Continental, A. V. Rice, No. 718; Continental, Henry Beemer, No. 214; Belmore; Kalida, Gibbons, No. 193; Vaughnsville, Joe Collar, No. 192; Gilboa, Lindsay, No. 75; Le'ipsic, Daniel Miller, No. 78; Dupont, Weiser, No. 93.

tinental was formerly at North Creek, but on account of so many of its members living in or near to Continental, the post was transferred to that place.

A beautiful soldiers' monument was dedicated at Columbus Grove on May 20, 191 5, and, despite the inclement weather, the occasion was the means of bringing a large crowd to the town. The Altsteatter, Delphos and Shannon bands furnished excehent music during the day, while Comrade Keirn's drum corps helped to stir up the enthusiasm of the rain-stricken crowd. There was an imposing parade, which wound up in the large tent of the Shannon Show Company, which was showing in the town that week. Mayor Poast made an appropriate welcoming, address and was followed by Cyrus E. Locher, of Cleveland, who spoke on "The Boys in Blue." M. D. Long gave such a stirring talk that the people generously gave about five hundred dollars which went towards paying for the monument. The final address was made by Gen. J. Kent Hamilton, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic of Ohio, who closed an eloquent speech with the formal unveiling of the monument.

The monument, which was made possible through the untiring efforts of the Civic League of Columbus Grove, has a total height of sixteen feet and ten inches. It is cut from gray granite and makes a truly imposing appearance. The base and pedestal have a total height of ten feet and four inches, the whole being surmounted by the standing statue of an infantryman, six feet and a half in height. The monument stands at one end of the town park, while at the other end of the park is located a beautiful new granite drinking fountain.

Soldiers Of The Revolutionary War

We have a record of but two soldiers of the Revolutionary War who are buried in Putnam county. One of these, Israel Hubbard, is buried in the old graveyard on the Mallahan farm in Riley township, while the other, William Jack, is buried on what is known as the Pearman farm, in Ottawa township.

Among those who served in the War of 1812 and who came to this county in 1834-35, we have a record of the following: Frederick Eck, Matthew Chambers, Nathaniel McClure, Andrew McCIure and William Galbreath, all of whom died many years ago.