Spencer Township (part 2 of 2)

JAMES NICHOLAS, retired farmer, P. O. Gomer, was born in Builer County, Ohio, September 6, 1810, youngest son of James and Mary (Morris) Nicholas, natives of Carmarthenshire, Wales, where they were married; they came to America during President Washington's administration, and settled in Cambria County, Penn., where they remained five years, and then moved to Butler County, Ohio, where Mr. Nicholas continued his trade (blacksmithing) for many years. Our subject, who is the only survivor of a family of six children, was married February 1, 1832, to Mary Jones, of Butler County, Ohio, a native of Montgomeryshire, Wales, born July 6, 1810, daughter of Richard and Jane (Evans) Jones, also natives of Montgomeryshire, and who came to America in 1818, settling in Butler County, Ohio; they were parents of three daughters, two now living: Elizabeth and Mary. To Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas five children have been born: Jane E., James, Richard J., David D., and Martha A., all now living except Richard J. All three sons went through the late war of the Rebellion. David D. served twelve years as county surveyor. Our subject came with his family to this county in 1833, and has given his time principally to farming and improvement of land, etc, and of late years to the sale of agricultural implements. He has served as justice of the peace since 1834, also in almost all the other township offices. He taught singing schoo] in this community for about twenty years. In politics he is a Democrat.

PETER OARD, farmer, P. O. West Cairo. is a native of Licking County, Ohio, born November 21, 1821: son of Peter and Anna (Alberry) Oard, who came with their family of eleven children to this county in 1833, settling in Sugar Creek Township and entered land, of which they cleared many acres; of their family three are now living! Peter and two daughters. Onr subject was married May 14, 1546, to Lydia A. Rison, of this county, and to them have been born eleven children: Mary, Sarah (deceased), Diana (deceased), Jane, Noah (deceased), Eli, Peter (deceased), Rawley, William, Andrew J. and Joseph T. Mr. Oard has been an active man in his day, and a prominent citizen in his township. He has a wide reputation as an auctioneer and sale crier, to which business he has given considerable attention. He is a stanch Democrat, and is a candidate for office of sheriff of Allen County.

GEORGE M. RIDENOUR (deceased) was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, March 6, 1826, son of Michael and Hannah (Shotts) Ridenour (deceased), natives of Westmoreland County, Penn., and who came to this county in a very early day. They were parents of fourteen children, of whom only Daniel and Isabella survive. Our subject was reared to farming, an occupation he followed all through life. He was married, December 31, 1848, to Miss Eleanor P. Lipsett of Sugar Creek Township, this county, a native of Burlington County, N. J., born August 6, 1828, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Peacock) Lipsett, also natives of New Jersey, who married in Burlington County, N. J., and moved to Warren County, Ohio, in 1833. Sarah (Peacock) Lipsett was born November 28, 1792, died in 1834 in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, and Joseph Lipsett married his second wife (nee Mary Shim), in Warren County, Ohio, and they afterward came to this county where they passed the remainder of their days; he was born June 30, 1799, died in 1864. Joseph and Sarah Lipsett were the parents of five children, of whom Eleanor P. is the only survivor. Mr. Lipsett had three children, all now living, by his second wife. To the union of George M. and Eleanor P. Ridenour, were born seven children: Eliza J., Martha L., William J., Mary L., John E., Joshua A. and Emma, the sons all deceased. Our subject died December 13, 1873, and since then his widow has operated the farm which was left her by her father and husband. She is a member of the United Brethren Church.

JOHN G. RIDENOUR, farmer, P. O. Elida, was born in Fairtield County, Ohio, February 14, 1827, son of George and Mary (Conrad) Ridenour, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively, and who were married in Fairfield County, Ohio, came to this county in 1829, and settled in Sugar Creek Township on land which the former had entered the previous year; they reared a family of five children: Catherine, Christena, Dorothea (deceased), John G., and Joseph. George Ridenour being one of the first settlers of this county endured many hardships and privations, and the circumstances of the times gave to his employments a somewhat versatile complexion, as he was a cooper, a maker of coffins, tooth extractor, setter of broken bones, etc., etc.; he died at the age of eighty-four; his widow still resides on the home farm, and is now in her eighty-fourth year. Our subject was never married. He became owner of land by the death of his father. He had taught school for about nineteen quarters, was elected in 1858 (on Democratic ticket) to the office of county recorder, in which he served six years, then followed merchandising in Elida, Ohio,,for several years, finally returning to the farm, where he now resides. He also gives some attention to the manufacture of baskets and brooms. Mr. Ridenour is a member of the Lutheran Church at Elida, Ohio.

HENRY SHERRICK, farmer, P. O. Elida, is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born August 25, 1811, son of John and Mary (Stalter) Sberrick, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent, and who came to this county in 1841. Our subject, who came with his parents to this county, was married, June 4, 1835, to Margaret Stemen, also a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, daughter of Rev. Henry and Mary (Beery) Stemen, and sister of Samuel Stemen. To this union have been born eleven children, five of whom are now living: John, Henry, Wiliiam, Andrew and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Sherrick are the only survivors of thé eighteen pioneers who organized the society of Mennonites; in Sugar Creek Township, this county. This denomination first worshiped from house to house, then built a log church, and a few years later erected a smal] frame one, and in 1883 a fine iarge frame church.

BENJAMIN F. SHERRICK, farmer and carpenter, P. O. Elida, is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born December 26, 1836, son of Christian and Anna (Meyers) Sherrick, of German descent, who married in Fairfield County, Ohio, and came to this county about 1843, locating in Marion Township for a time, thence moving to Sugar Creek Township, where they lived until the death of the former, May 25, 1865; the widow, who now resides with our subject, is in her seventy-sixth year: they

. had tw8& sons and five daughters, of whom Mary, Sarah, Anna, Betty, Samuel S. and Benjamin F. are now living. Our subject, who received a common school education, began the carpenter trade at the age of fourteen. He was married, October 25, 1860, to Miss Lydia A. Stemen, a native of Sugar Creek Township, this county, born April 14, 1838, daughter of Christian and Margaret (Moyer) Stemen, of German descent, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, and who married in Perry County, Ohio, came to this county in 1835, settling in Sugar Creek Township, where they both died. To our subject and wife have been born five children: Edmund O., Lola D., Minnie I., Isaac A. and Orvin E., ail now living. Mr. Sherrick served from the fall of 1862 to close of war of the Rebellion in Company G, Highty-first Regiment O. V. L; is a member of the U. B. Church; in politics a Republican.

CHARLES M. SHOEMAKER, farmer, P. O. Elida, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 8, 1824; son of Daniel R. and Sophia (Martz) Shoemaker, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, of Swiss and Scotch descent respectively, and who were married in Pickaway County, Ohio, and reared a family of five children. The mother dying in 1833, the father then married in Fairfield County, Ohio, Mrs. Elizabeth (Baker) Walter, by whom he had seven children; he died in 1860; his widow still resides in Wells County, Ind. aged eighty-two. Charles M. came to this county in 1846 and purchased land, but gave most of his time to the carpenter trade for several years, in connection with undertaking, which still continues his principal business. He has given some attention to saw-milling since 1875, his son operating the farm. Our subject was married, October 8, 1848, to Miss Rebecca Sake- miller, of this county. a native of Fairfield County, Ohio. born September 4, 1829, daughter of Jacob and Rachel! (I*'ry) Sakemiller, who settled in this county in 1831, where they died at the ages of seventy-two and ninety-two years respectively: of their family of thirteen. seven survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have been born three sons aud _ five daughters, five of whom are now living: Rachel C., Phebe, Charles 8.. Rebecca O. and Emily I. Mrs. Shoemaker is a member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Shoemaker has served in several of the township offices. In polities he is a Democrat.

SAMUEL STEMEN, farmer, P. O. Elida, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, September 21, 1821; son of Henry and Mary (Beery) Stemen, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, and who came to Allen County, Ohio, in 1841, where they both died. Our subject was married, October 3, 1841, to Magdalena Hilyard, of Fairfield County. Ohio, a native of Fayette County, Penn., born May 3, 1820, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth A. (Haught) Hilyard, who were natives of Fayette County, Penn., where they married; they moved to Fairtield County, Ohio, in an early day and there died. To our subject and wife have been born twelve children: Elizabeth, Isaac B., Mary, Henry S., Anna, George W., Magdalena, Samuel H., Jane, Catharine, Jessie J., and Charles A., all now living except Elizabeth, Anna and George. Mr. Stemen has served in some of the township offices. In politics he is a Democrat. Mrs. Stemen is a member of the Mennonite Church.

ANDREW STEMEN, farmer, P. O. Elida, is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born in 1825, son of Peter and Mary (Blosser) Stemer. who were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvannia respectively; they were married in Fairfield County, Ohio, and came to Marion Township, this county, in 1838, where they lived and died. Our subject, who is the eldest in their family, was married, January 27,1848, to Miss Jane Sakewiller of Sugar Creek Township, born in 1827 in Fairfield County, Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Rachael (Fry) Sakemiller (both now deceased), natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent, and who came to this county in 1831. To our subject and wife have been born twelve children: Isaac, Mary, Rachel, Jacob, Peter (deceased), Andrew, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Anna, Samson, Simeon and Noah. Mr. and Mrs. Stemen are members of the Mennonite Church.

RICHARD TEEGARDIN, farmer, P. O. Lima, was born in Sugar Creek Township, this county, July 24,1847, and there reared; son of John and Diana (Oard) Teegardin (both deceased), natives of Pickaway County and this county respectively, and who were married in this county; they reared a family of seven children, of whom two are now living: Richard and Walter, who have a half brother, Silas, by their father's second wife. Our subject was married January 21, 1871, to Miss Martha L. Ridenour of Sugar Creek Township, this county, born June 15, 1852, daughter of George M. and Eleanor P. (Lipsett) Ridenour of this county, who hada family of seven children, four now living: Eliza J., Martha L., Mary L. and Emma. George M. Ridenour died, December 13. 1873. 'To Mr. and Mrs. Teegardin have been born five children: Franklin G.. John H., Iva, Myrtle and Allen C., all now living except FranklinG. Our subject in addition to farming operates a threshing-machine in the season. In politics he is a Democrat.

Source changes here: from History of Allen County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, by Miller, Charles Christian, published 1906; 5,651 words in this source stream.

Spencer Township

This township is the smallest township in Allen County, containing only about 23 square miles. It is fractional, having been taken from Mercer and Van Wert counties. It is about 14 miles from the great reservoir in Mercer County which contains 25,000 acres of land. The Miami and Erie Canal forms the eastern boundary of the township.

Jennings Creek is the principal stream and it enters Marion township in section 12, township 3, range 4. In the northern part of the township the rocky conformation furnishes good stone for burning, so the manufacture of lime has become an important industry. There are a few stone quarries. The principal occupation is farming and the production of oil. Spencer township in 1905 led the townships of Allen County in oil production. It was the scene of the early production and the last few years have seen renewed operations.

Under the organic act of 1848 the northeastern quarter of Salem township in Mercer County and the eastern half of Jennings township in Van Wert County were added to Allen County under the name of Spencer township. Sections 7 and 18 of Amanda were added to the new township.

Jennings township as originally laid off June 2, 1834, comprised township 3, range 3, and township 3, range 4 east. Salem township was established in December, 1836, and organized in January, 1837. The survey was made in 1819 by Captain Beardsley, government surveyor, and its settlement was begun in 1825. The new township was named "Spencer" after Col. William Spencer, of Newark, Ohio, who was a member of the State Board of Public Works in 1848 and who was an ardent supporter of canal building. Charles C. Marshall was justice of the

And Representative Citizens

Pioneers. - Previous to 1833 there were no permanent settlements in this part of the county. In 1834 the first land buyers came in. The first village was Hartford, but this place ceased to exist when Spencerville was founded. The two Fultons practiced medicine in Hartford as early as 1836. Drs. Price, Gray and Wyatt preceded Dr. Campbell at Spencerville. In 1856 Dr. Harbison arrived, but instead of practicing medicine he became one of the pioneer merchants.

The late Charles C. Marshall, having located in Salem township upon the erection of Spencer township, continued to reside there until 1846, and in 1847 was elected justice of the peace, his time of service extending until 1853, having filled the office two terms. In 1857 he was elected Representative from Allen County to the Ohio Legislature, and having served two years declined a second nomination by his party. In 1861 he was nominated and elected to the State Senate, and again having served two years declined a renomination. After the expiration of his term as Senator, he removed to the growing town of Delphos, where in 1865 he was elected justice of the peace; thenceforward until his death he continued to serve, being reelected every three years. In the early history of this section of Ohio, his father, Samuel Marshall, and himself were the mail carriers between Piqua and Defiance. Letters for the first settlers were brought to Fort Amanda by them, and left there for distribution

The first settlers in the township, as shown by the original entries of land from 1834 to 1850. were as follows: 1834 - Jacob Peterbaugh. T. B. Van Horn, Benjamin P. Southworth. George Young, Joseph Brown. Solomon K. Brown, James Mark and Samuel I-'orver: 1835 - Henry S. Wykoff, Frederick Marcjuand, Dennis Davenport, Simon Perkins and Isaac N. Ski 11 man ; 1836 - E. W.

Schon ; 1843 - William Tyler; 1845 - John Hockenberry, Guilford D. Coleman and Jacob Hittell; 1846 - Casper Smith and John Mitgen ; 1847 - Lewen Davis, Andrew Coil and Peter Kephart ; 1848 - Joseph Osborne,

Churches. - In Spencer township there is one Methodist Episcopal Church in the Spencerville circuit - Olive Chapel, with Rev. W. S. Worthington as pastor - and Zion Chapel in the Elida circuit.

Schools. - The schools of Spencer township were slow in being organized. At an early day there were schools along the borders of the township, both subscription and common schools. The pupils enrolled in 1884 were 212; in 1904. 164. Following were the teachers in 1904-05: C. Z. Morey, Elmer

Was platted in 1845-46 by Conover, McConnell & Tyler, of Dayton, who bought a tract of 350 acres of land and built their first mill at the lower lock. In 1880 the population was 532, and in 1884, 800; in 1890, 1100 and in 1905 more than 2,000, so the growth lias been steady and substantial. In the last 15 years the oil industry has been constantly growing.

The act of incorporation was passed in 1867 and the first election was held that year, at which J. C. Campbell was elected mayor ; Merritt Harvey, recorder; Jacob Dehart, treasurer; W. H. Orcutt, marshal; William Moorman, Henry Staub, W. P. Dehart, J. M. Watts and A. C. Harter, councilmen.

The Miami and Erie Canal was the first means of communication Spencerville had with the surrounding country. In 1878 the narrow gauge Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad was built and in 1882 the Chicago & Erie, a trunk line, and now the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton, from Dayton to Delphos, runs through Spencerville.

In 1881-82, J. H. Dunathan, ex-commissioner of Auglaize County, moved his general store from Deep Cut to the present site of Tracy & Wolford's store opposite the Keeth House. John H. Taft, a leading merchant, bought Dunathan out and he now has the largest store in Spencerville with branches at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Parkersburg, West Virginia, all of them the outgrowth of the Dunathan store.

Spencerville has long had excellent schools. The buildings are well kept, and the people are much interested in the advancement of education. At commencement time the entire town is alive with enthusiasm, and every one seems ready to lend a helping hand to the cause.

Spencerville And Its Varied Interests

Spencerville is a thriving town of over 2,000 inhabitants, located in the southwestern part of Allen County in Spencer township on the Miami and Erie Canal. A trading post was first established here at the time the canal was being built (1843). It kept up a slow and steady growth with the establishment of schools and churches and other business enterprises, such as the needs of the community demanded, until about 1890 when the population had reached about 1,100. At about this time natural gas and oil were found in paying quantities and with the development of the oil field, which has been one of the best in Allen, or any adjoining county, the town has doubled in population and in business interests.

Educational interests have been well looked after by those who have had the management of the schools in charge. The school building (a view of which appears elsewhere in this work) is a large 14-room brick building in which was installed recently a modern hot-water heating apparatus and much valuable scientific equipment for up-to-date teaching. The following is a list of the superintendents since 1876, viz. : E. D. Haines, Gideon Ditto, H. F. Hooper, N. Coghlan, C. Z. Morey, Israel Williams, C. R. Carlo, D. C. Henderson, N. H. Stull, I. M. Cochrun, C. J. Foster, C. A. Graham, and at the present time (1906) Thomas J. Class, with the following corps of assistants, viz. : E. S. Holton, G. C.

Sheetz, William Carolus', Charles Henderson, Ella Bolton, Minnie Henderson, Mae Hover, Bertha Carolus, Ida Diehl, Hazel Kephart, Grace Schemp and Jeannette Cochrun. A four-year course of study for the High School was adopted beginning with this year, also a nine-month term.

Methodist Episcopal Church, Spencer Ville

Episcopal Church, Rev. C. B. Cramer; Christian Church, Rev. C. C. Ryan ; Baptist Church, Rev. W. H. Gallant ; German Reformed Church, Rev. Philip Steinhage ; German Methodist Church, Rev. Ernest Werner; St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Rev. J. J. Beucler, of Van Wert; and one mission, with J. Thomas, as pastor.

The financial concerns are <the Citizens' Bank and the Farmers' Bank. Both are copartnership concerns with a combined wealth back of each of at least $300,000. The Citizens' Bank is capitalized at $12,000 with deposits of $200,000. The stockholders are I. B. Post, president; H. S. Smith, Dr. J. R. Welch, J. R. Cochrun, George Becker, Silas

Jacobs, W. A. Reynolds, Martin Monfort and Ira B. Post, cashier. The Farmers' Bank is capitalized at $10,000 with deposits of $140,- 000. The stockholders are John N. Bailey,, president and cashier; A. N. Bailey, assistant cashier; Michael Dietsch, A. D. Akin,. John Lauer and William Bailey.

The dry goods merchants are Lambert Y. Cochrun, John H. Taft & Brother, and Tracy & Wolford. The clothiers are Philip Goldberg and Carr Brothers, both of whom carry an exclusive line of up-to-date gents' furnishing goods.

There are seven groceries in all, owned and conducted by A. L. Gamble, E. L. Halter, P. E. Neidhart, Harter Brothers, John Whyman & Son, F. E. Dixon and Tracy & Wolford, who carry a line in connection with their dry goods department. In the hardware line the town has two of the finest and most complete stores in Northwestern Ohio, owned and run by Wolford & Berry and Hart & Henry. Charles Pohlman conducts a large tin-shopand carries a large stock of stoves. Theo. Eysenbach & Son carry a large stock of furniture, stoves, tinware and musical instruments of all kinds. The grain dealers are Robert Kolter, who runs a grist-mill and sells his product in all the adjoining towns and counties; and Clutter, Long & Weth'erill, who have a grain elevator at the junction of the C. & E. and the C., H. & D. railroads, which is conducted by J. F. Wetherill, a member of the firm.

S. W. Kemp, the hay merchant, has large sheds here with a capacity of at least 200 carloads and this only represents a small part of the business which is carried on in about 16 counties in Northwestern Ohio. He devotes his entire attention to the work and is the largest buyer and shipper direct from the farmer to Ire found in the State. We have two excellent Ixrot and shoe stores that carry large and exclusive stocks. They are owned and run by Louth & Sisler and Wein & Wetherill. J. M. Beard and H. C. Richardson each conduct fine drug-stores with extensive stocks of goods, including wall paper, books, etc. W. A. Reynolds, the lumber merchant, runs a sawmill and has one of the largest and most extensive lumber sheds and yards in this section of the State. Messrs. J. F. Hosier and Sheets have recently located a sawmill here and are doing a large business in buying timber and shipping lumber. They have already purchased timber enough for two years regular work. James Cochran and J. E. Wilson each handles coal, fuel, cement, etc. The Oil Well Supply Company and the National Supply Company both have good stores at this place. The combined sales of the two stores during the past year amounted to about $100,000.

In addition to the above we have two good hotels, three restaurants, four barber shops, two millinery stores, two good livery barns, one machine shop, three blacksmith's shops, two bicycle repair shops, two jewelry stores, two attorneys, J. N. Bailey and R. R. Kennedy; four doctors, J. R. Welch, William Roush, L. R. Pence and I. C. Stayner ; and, last but not least, C. B. Miller, the undertaker, who has an excellent business.

I might add, as a matter of general interest to our town, that the tax duplicate of our corporation is about $325,000; that our total indebtedness is about $8,000, which is on bonds sold for school and electric light purposes. The town owns its own electric light plant and it is giving service equal to any other in the State, and at the lowest rate of any city or village in Ohio, so far as we know.

This division of the county takes its name from the number and productiveness of the sugar-maple groves of early days. Here the Indians of Charloe and of Shawnee made their spring encampments, and from this district they obtained their year's supply of maple syrup and sugar.

The Ottawa River flows north through the western sections of the township. Sugar Creek waters the eastern part of the township, while the streams known as Pike Run, Rabbit Run, Taway Run, Beaver Run, Dog Run, Toad Run, and Honey Run afford water to all parts of the township.

The township was set off in 1831 as a division of Putnam County. At that time it was known as congressional township 2 south, range 6 east. James Porter, Daniel Gray and William Turner were the first trustees; Abram Sarber, clerk; Benjamin Clevenger, treasurer, and Obed Martin, justice of the peace. Under the reorganization of 1848, the north tier of sections belonging to original township 3 south, range 6 east, or German, were added to the south half of township 2 south, range 6 east, or Sugar Creek, and organized under the name "Sugar Creek.''

Sections 1 to 18 inclusive, which formed the north half of the original township of Sugar Creek, still belong to the township of that name in Putnam County.

There was a little mill built on Sugar Creek by Benjamin Clevenger about 1832, the second by Peter Rhodes on Hog Creek in 1837. Some of the early settlers went to Cherokee, some to Piqua and some to Wapakoneta for their milling. The first carding was clone at the machine of John East, in German township. For leather and salt they went to Lower Sandusky or Fremont.

Until within a very few years there was no railroad in the township; now the Columbus & Lake Michigan Railroad, the road built by B. C. Faurot, traverses the township and there is a railway station at Gomer. There is a postoffice there, though the rural route from Lima delivers mail to most parts of the township.

attended by 15 pupils. In 1884 the school property was valued at $4,000; in 1904, at $1 1,000. In 1884 there were enrolled 343 pupils; in 1904, 233. The 'following is the list of teachers for the township for 1904-05 : Oscar Hoitzapple, Thomas G. Humphreys, Effie Sidner, Homer Nihiser, Roy YVilkerson, Clyde Ludwig, Adam Brenneman and George W. Craig.

(For this article we are indebted to J. R. Jones, who has translated the history of the settlement, dating from 1832 to 1867, which was written in Welsh by the late Josiah Jones, and has added a history of the settlement from 1867 to January, 1906.)

It is very important for the first settlers and pioneers of all townships and churches to keep a chronological account of all things that transpired in the early days of the old pioneers of every settlement in the county, as well as the history of the churches in the early days.

The first settlers of Corner were Thomas Watkins, James Nicholas and David Roberts, who came here in the fall of the year 1833. They came in wagons from Paddy's Run (now called Shandon), Butler County, Ohio, and settled near where the village of Corner now stands. They built themselves log cabins and like all pioneers suffered much hardship and privation. There was no road at that time, only the trials of the Indian running zigzag through the woods. Their chief paths were where they crossed the Ottawa where Pike Run enters the river. Their camp was close to where the residence of Joseph Watkins now stands. There was no canal, or railroad, in the country. Delphos was not in existence and there were but a few small houses in Lima.

In the year 1834 and the following year, John Watkins, Evan Jones, John R. Jones and their families came here and there soon followed Joseph Griffiths. Thomas G. Jones, John D. Jones, David Evans. Rowland Jones, David Morgans, John Evans and John Stephens and their families.

In the year 1835 the first public religious services were held in the neighborhood in the Welsh language and the number attending was only seven. In this meeting it was resolved to meet and hold prayer, meetings in Thomas Watkins' log house and Sundayschool in Rowland Jones' log house - prayer meeting in the morning and Sunday-school in the afternoon. Meetings were held regularly this way for four years. Beginning in the year 1839, John Thomas, of Lima, formerly of Llanidloes, North Wales, would occasionally preach for, the Welsh church at Gomer.

Mr. Thomas was for many years a school teacher at Lima and served two terms as auditor of Allen County. His preaching and services were considered very valuable to the few members that were here at that time and his memory is very dear to the old pioneers that are living, as Mr. Thomas was the first preacher of the Welsh settlement.

The first log church was built in the year 1839. Joseph Griffiths, his wife, his son Thomas, his two daughters - Mrs. Thomas G. Jones and Mrs. John Watkins - and Mrs. Thomas Watkins and Mrs. John Stephens were very faithful in starting religious services at that time.

Joseph Griffiths, Sr., and John Stephens were chosen deacons or elders of the church. In a short time Mr. Stephens left for Pittsburg and Thomas Griffiths, who was an excellent young man full of religious zeal, was appointed to fill his place. He loved the Lord and the church, but when everything looked prosperous for the little church, he was found dead in the woods under a tree that he had been cutting down.

Soon after this Rev. B. W. Chidlaw came to the neighborhood. The greater part of Mr. Chidlaw's life was spent in organizing Sunday-schools in Ohio and other States of the Union. He traveled thousands of miles on horseback through the wilderness of Ohio. Mr. Chidlaw preached in Thomas Watkins' barn. The few old settlers that are now living remember with pleasure that time and the sermons that were preached in the barn. His visit to Gomer was a great blessing. Mr. Chidlaw was an excellent preacher in Welsh and English, and was one of the most faithful and powerful Sunday-school organizers in the United States.

In the year 1839, the two brothers, Revs. John and Rees Powell, visited the neighborhood and also Rev. Morris M. Jones, of Radnor, Delaware County, Ohio, come to Gomer and held services. Mr. Jones' visit proved to be of great benefit to the church. His preaching revived it and put more life into its members. The church at this time gave a call to Rev. John Powell and he consented to become their pastor but he was taken very sick at this time and was unable to accept the call.

In the year 1841 a log church was built in Gomer. The land was given by James Nicholas on very liberal terms and the old pioneers worked faithfully to complete the log church and it was considered a well-finished building at that time.

The members of the church were increasing by this time, newcomers arriving from Cincinnati, Pittsburg and Wales. William and Thomas Roberts, John D. Jones and their families, came at this time, making 15 members in the church and about 30 in the Sundayschool.

In the year 1844 Rev. D. W. Jones was installed as minister of the church. Mr. Jones had to labor under a good many disadvantages. The church was small, with not many members and they had to work hard to clear their lands and to pay for their holdings. They had to live very savingly but through all disadvantages Mr. Jones was very faithful and diligent. The church prospered under his ministry. It suffered a great loss in the year 1844 by the death of Mrs. Joseph Griffiths (mother of Thomas Griffiths, who was mentioned before). It could be said of her that the success of the church was her greatest delight. She prayed much for the success of the church in the village and the pouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gomer church. She was a great help to her husband, who was one of the deacons of the church. The following

In the year 1848, William Jones (father of Dr. R. E. Jones) and his family from Tawelfan, North Wales, and Richard Breese and his family from North Wales, came to the neighborhood and bought farms. The following year Robert Griffiths came, and these families were faithful, diligent workers in the Lord's vineyard. The addresses and prayers of these newcomers were very affective. Before this time they had classes in the study of the English Bible, but after these families came the children studied the Word of God in the Welsh language.

At this time, Rees Griffiths, of Delphos, assisted in the religious services on Sundays, and his labor and faithfulness proved a blessing to the church, especially in the service of song and in the Sabbath-school. Mr. Griffiths died at Spencerville, Ohio, about the year 1850.

About the middle of the year 1850, Rev. D. W. Jones gave up charge of this church and left the neighborhood, leaving the church in a better condition than it was when he took charge of it.

The church was without a pastor for two years and during this time several new settlers came into the neighborhood and amongst them came in October, 1850, Josiah Jones. (Josiah Brynmair) and his family from North Wales, father of Thomas Henry Jones (the present treasurer of the county) and Llewellyn and Martha Jones, of Gomer. Mr. Jones was a man of many talents and a good Welsh scholar. He was a literary man and a fine poet. Many of his poems and hymns are found in the Welsh hymn books and are sung in the Welsh churches everywhere at the present time. It was as natural for him to compose a hymn as it is for water to run down hill. His fervent addresses and prayers proved to be a great help in different ways to the church of Gomer. He was the secretary of the church for many years and his careful records of the church preserve the history for future time. He was the author of a very complete "History of the Welsh Church and Settlement" (written in the Welsh language) from the first settlers down to the time of his death in the year 1887 and it is from his history that the facts and dates contained in this sketch have been copied. He also was deacon in the church.

During the years 1850 and 1851 the church increased in numbers rapidly so that at the end of the latter year there were 130 members. In this year the church appointed Josiah Jones, Joseph Griffiths and Richard Tudor, deacons as the other two deacons, William Jones and Joseph Griffiths, Sr., were getting along in years.

In the year 1852 the church gave a call to Rev. James Davies, of Cincinnati, Ohio, to be their pastor and he began his ministry in June, 1852. He labored faithfully and diligently for eight years and in his time a brick church was built - in 1854. During his ministry 50 new members were added to the church by confession and 84 by letter.

In this year (1852) a Sunday-school was started in Leatherwood about three and a half miles west of Gomer, a branch of the Gomer church. This was kept in Samuel Roberts' residence till a new school was built and the trustees of the township gave them permission to hold their meetings in it.

In the year 1854 Joseph Griffith, Sr., one of the old deacons and a strong pillar of the church, died ; his good and religious wife having died 10 years prior. He had done much service for his church and the Redeemer.

Richard Breese were appointed deacons, and in the year 1857 Gwylim Williams and his family came here from North Wales. Very soon after he settled in Gomer, he was appointed deacon, as one of the old deacons, William Jones, was getting along in years. Mr. Williams was an able and very religious man, being very faithful to his church and taking part in all religious meetings.

In the year i860 Rev. James Davies surrendered the church and in 1861 the church gave a call to Rev. John Parry, of Big Rock, Illinois, and he accepted. In this year a new frame church 'was built at Leatherwood.

Mr. Parry was very successful in his two years' ministry and well thought of throughout the community. The church increased in numbers ; in two years 42 new members, seven "backsliders" and 18 by letter were added. But Mr. Parry was cut down in the prime of his life, after a few days' sickness, by lockjaw caused by stepping on a rusty nail. It was a great shock to the church and the community to lose him so suddenly.

Leatherwood, was appointed a deacon, as the cares of the deacons were increasing. After Rev. John Parry's death, the church had supplies for about two years and in 1865 the church gave a call to Rev. John M. Thomas, of Paddy's Run, Ohio, and Mr. Thomas accepted, commencing his ministry in April, 1865. Mr. Thomas' ministry brought increased life to the church. Two new Sundayschools were organized during the first year of his ministry - one in the eastern part of the settlement and one north of Gomer - and 90 members were added to the church. The church had 300 members in 1868.

Ebenezer Davis' services were very valuable to the church and his earnest and enthusiastic addresses at church service and prayer meetings were always greatly appreciated, especially in the service of song. He was often called on to officiate on funeral occasions, but his part in the service of song was pre-eminent. He was a fine leader and an able composer. The young people of the church, through his efforts and instructions,

His sons - Dr. John Davis, of Gomer and E. F. Davis, of Lima - inherited the musical talent of their father. Dr. John Davis (deceased) was a man of fine musical talent. He was leader of the Gomer church choir for many years and was considered among the best conductors of choral singing in the country. The Gomer choir under his leadership captured the first prizes at the Welsh Eisteddfods for many years. Dr. Davis was a faithful worker and supporter of the Welsh church. He was a master in the musical profession as well as in the medical.

A good many others could be named as useful men in the church and community, such as Thomas Owens, John Evans, Thomas Roberts, David Thomas, Ellis Francis and many others. W. W. Williams was a very useful man to the church in many ways and was very liberal of his means in supporting it and many other good institutions. There are hundreds of good men and women of the Welsh Congregational Church of Gomer resting from their labors in Tawelfan Cemetery - men that were useful to society, church and all good causes. "May they rest in peace."

The Welsh Congregational Church of Gomer has had many eminent and noted men since it was organized. Rev. John Jones, of Shrewsbury, England, minister for about two years. Rev. David Jones, D. D., was at the head of the church for about eight years. During his ministry (in 1S73) a large new edifice of stone and brick was built, with a large lecture room where the Sunday-school and the weekly meetings are held. This edifice cost over $15,000, and it was at a time when material and wages were low. Our next minister was Rev. Mawddwy Jones, from North Wales. He served for about seven years and the next minister was Rev. William Meirion Davies, of Caermarthen, South Wales. After Mr. Davies' ministry of nearly eight years Rev. R. Lloyd Roberts, D. D., became pastor and served for about three years. During the ministry of Mr. Roberts (in 1902), the Gomer church was remodeled, the floor elevated and the seats arranged in circular form. The church is lighted with acetylene gas and heated with hot-air furnace. The improvement cost over $4,000. In 1904 a new church was built in Leatberwood (a branch of the Gomer church), which is modern in all respects. This church is lighted with acetylene gas and heated with hot-air furnace and cost $8,000, all paid for at the time of dedication.

The present minister is Rev. William Surdival, who is an excellent preacher and a fine scholar. He is a hard worker in the Lord's vineyard and very proficient in Welsh as well as in English. The services Sunday mornings are in Welsh; for the sake of the young people of the church the services on Sunday evenings are in English, as many of the young people cannot take part in the Christian Endeavor Society and the Y. M. C. A. in the Welsh language. By all appearances, when the old Welsh pioneers are gone to their rest, the services of the church will be all in English. The land in Sugar Creek township is so valuable that the Welsh immigrants cannot purchase improved farms, and the tide of the Welsh immigration must go West where, in the future, they can buy homes for less money.

In one way it is a sorrowful thought that the pure Welsh language has to die in this country. It is a fine, original, poetic language, as old as Gomer of the Old Testament; every word has its own meaning and there is no n£ed of hunting lexicons for words as one has to do with the English language and I am glad that the colleges and universities of Wales are studying the old, pure, sweet language. Far be the day when the old Welsh language will be forgotten!

There are a good many other persons that were faithful through their life to the Welsh Congregational Church that died during the last five or ten years or more, such as Cadwalder Jones, William J. Jones, Richard W. Jones, Richard Price, Edward Peate, Sr., Joseph Watkins, Edward Jones, Richard I. Morgans, John P. Morgans. Evan Williams, Zachariah Evans, Daniel Evans, Evan J.

Davis, William J. Williams, Humphrey Tudor, John Bebb, Rowland Whittington, Thomas R. Jones, John E. Jones, Evan W. Jones, Israel Jones and many others who were valuable members of the church and liberal with their means in supporting and in building the new church and parsonage.

Also in the Leatherwood church have been such useful men as Evan Humphreys, Sr., Evan P. Humphreys, Jr., John B. Davies, David Evans and his sons, John and William Evans, Lewis Hughes, Richard Evans, John Humphrey, Richard Breese, Richard Arthur, John Bebb, David Robinson, Richard Roberts and Samuel Roberts, William Peate, Richard Paul, John Richards, Thomas Williams and many more, all of them faithful workers in the Lord's vineyard. Hoping that the present and future generations may follow the example of the old pioneers as good citizens of the United States and in religious work, let the motto of the young people be "Excelsior !"

In 1901, the Methodist church called "Hedding" was moved to Gomer and remodeled ; there they have preaching every other Sunday. It cost after it was remodeled about $3,000.

In 1902 the Presbyterians bought a lot and built a neat frame church at a cost of about $5,000. It is furnished in the modern style, is heated by a furnace and is lighted with acetylene gas. Rev. John Roberts (Welsh) is their pastor. Mr. Roberts, who is in the prime of life, is an energetic man, and works diligently to build up the church. They have good congregations every Sunday and they have purchased a parsonage for the minister.

worship and the residences are all comparatively new and well finished in modern style. It is considered by travelers that, according to its population, Gomer is one of the finest and best kept villages in the State. Long may the village of Gomer keep that good name!

The following persons have been faithful in sustaining and building up the Welsh church to its present state : David J. Roberts (deceased) and his wife, who was one of the first white persons born in the township; Thomas J. Edwards and his faithful wife; Thomas. W. Evans and W. L. Jones and their families; Llewelyn Jones and his sister, Martha E. Jones; Thomas J. Griffith and his faithful wife; Jeremiah Jones and his wife and musical daughters; William J. Edwards; John, David and Richard Price, sons of Jacob Price; Mrs. Margaret Thomas and Evan D. Thomas ; the family of Lewis Griffiths ; Edward Peate, Jr., his talented sister Anne, and their mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Peate, now past her 90th year ; John G. Roberts, present leader of the church music and his family, all of whom are fine singers. The present deacons of the church are : Evan Thomas, Josiah Edwards,

Isaac Jones, Owen A. Jones, Thomas J. Watkins, W. W. Roberts, John Price and Thomas W. Jones, who is also church secretary. Dr. R. E. Jones, since his coming to this place in 1848 has been always faithful and in the lead in all that would help to build up the church and for the welfare of the community. A sketch of his life appears in another part of this volume. There are many others whom memory fails to recall. The Welsh people are located in all parts of Allen County, and wherever found they are good citizens and prosperous in their business or calling.