Tymochtee Township (part 2 of 2)

LEWIS M. STOKELY, deceased, was born in Pickaway Coanty, Ohio, October 24, 1821. He was a son of Robert and Hannah (Wolverton) Stokely, who were natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania I'espectively. He wa& one of the most prominent farmers of this township, owning 400 acres of land, and town property at Sycamore at the time of his death. He was married, December 31, 1849, to Sarah M. Park, who was born in New Jersey May 15, 1832. Her parents were Nathan and Achso F. (Fleming) Park, also natives of New Jersey, and of Scotch-Irish descent. By this union nine children were born - Achso A., Madison S., Hannah M. , Margaret F., Aaron L., Mary L., Hettie H., Harry V., Minnie M. Mr. Sfcokely died April 29, 1881, aged fifty- six years, and is interred in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. He was a Democrat in politics, and had served his township in various capacities. Mrs. Stokely still resides on the old homestead, in which she retains an interest, and this her son cultivates in connection with hisown share of the estate.

JOHN SWERLEIN was born in Oberbach, Bishopsheim, Bavaria, February 17, 1820. His parents were Lawrence and Margaret (Rutiger) Swerlein, natives of the same town, county and kingdom in which they were married, lived and died. Their children all died in the old country but three - Margaret, John and Elizabeth. The former is now deceased, and the latter resides in Wisconsin. At the age of nineteen years, Mr. Swerlein emigrated to America, and in 1840 he located at Tiffin, Ohio. He was married, April 29, 1842, to Theresa Kiltsch, of the same nativity, a daughter of John and Mary (Rease) Kiltsch, also a native of the same locality, and who emigrated in 1830, and settled in Tiffin. Her father died four days after his arrival, leaving a wife and four children - Elizabeth, Theresa, Mary and Eve. The mother died January 22, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Swerlein are the parents of ten children - Joseph H. , Albert, William R. , Helena, Edward, Amelia, Harmon, Mary, Loretta and Lawrence. Three of these are deceased - Mary, Helena and Amelia. Mr. Swerlein worked at the shoe-making trade two years in Tiffin and four years in Mexico. In 1847, he purchased forty acres of the " Cherokee section " of this township, where he plied his trade three years, and hired his farm cleared. In 1850, he sold out, and purchased in " old T3'mochtee," selling out at the end of three years. He then purchased forty acres, to which he added twenty-six in 1858, and which he sold in 1865, purchasing 130 acres, his present farm in 1867. He has good buildings and a valuable farm, and is a member of

ALBERT SWERLEIN was born in this township February 20, 1847. He is a son of John and Theresa (Klitsch) Swerlein, with whom he remained till his marriage September 6, 1873, to Miss Victoria Richardson, who was born in this county October 18, 1852. Her parents were Solomon and Eleanor (Lowmaster) Richardson, the former a native of England, the latter of Pennsylvania. They married in Pickaway County, Ohio, and moved to Wyandot in 1834, settling first in this township, and thence to Eden Township. Their surviving children are Ann, Tbomas, Solomon, Joel, Victoria and Canarissa. The father is deceased; the mother died May 9, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Swerlein are parents of six children - Cora, Harry, Grace, Carl, Bessie and Jessie. Two - Harry and Grace - are deceased. In 1878, Mr. Swerlein purchased fifty acres in this township, having rented land for several years pi'evious. His farm is valued at $75 to $85 per acre. He and Mrs. Swerlein are members of the German Reformed Church at Upper Sandusky. In politics, Mr. Swerlein is a Democrat.

GEORGE VAN POOL, son of George and Nancy (Hastings) Van Pool, was born in Franklin County, Penn., December 4, 1828. He is an only son, his parents being natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish and Dutch descent. They were married in Franklin County, Penn., and there his father died. With his mother Mr. Van Pool moved to Seneca County, this State, in 1847, and then to this township, where he purchased the farm of sixty- five acres, on which he now lives. He has added to his original purchase till he now owns 263 acres. He was married, June 4, 1855, to Amanda C. Freet, who was born in Loudoun County, Va., July 30, 1831, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Trammel) Freet, natives of Virginia. Her parents married in Loudoun County, Va. , and in 1834 moved to this township, where her father engaged in blacksmithing many years. The children of this family were Amanda, Mary and Eliza. The father died March 31, 1883; his widow now resides with Mr. Van Pool in her seventy-fourth year. Mr. and Mrs. Van Pool having no children of their own, adopted, at the age of three years. Flora E. Willson, whom they reared and educated, and who is now the wife of James Chamberlin, of Hoopeston, 111. Mr. Van Pool is a Democrat, and has served his township for several years, in the various offices of Clerk, Trustee and Justice of the Peace.

JOHN S. WAGNER was born in Ross County, Ohio, October 13, 1813; he is a son of Jacob and Eva (Smith) Wagner, who were natives of and married in Frederick County, Md. His parents moved into Ohio in 1808, and settled in Ross County, where they lived nineteen years. They then moved to this county, settled on the banks of Wild Run in this township, entered 320 acres, erected a log cabin of the true pioneer brand, with quilts for doors, greased paper for windows, and the ground for a floor. Of their children, Jacob, James, Elizabeth, David, and Nancy were born in Maryland, and John S. and Cynthia were born in Ohio. Of these, alone surviving, John S. and Nancy are both residents of this county. On locating in this wilderness, the parents were well nigh discouraged, but were induced to stay by their few neighbors - Mr. and Mrs. Pennington, Barney Rogers, William Caughey and another or two. The mother died about 1829-30; the father married again about 1837, and moved to Seneca County, where he died about 1840 or 1842. In 1833, at the age of twenty, John Wagner, our subject, was sent to Ross County to learn the trade of shoe-making, and remained three yaars. He then re- turned to Seneca County, made his home with Adam Pennington, set up a shop and worked for the people, sometimes going to the neighbors with his tools to work leather for them. He continued this work many years. He was married, February 17, 1837, to Charlotte Gurnee. who was born in this county May 28, 1821, the daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Nap) Gurnee, natives of N. Y. State, and early settlers of this county. By this marriage eight children were born, five of whom are yet living, namely: Cyrus. Eliza J., Hannah M., Albert and Anna. The deceased are John N., James and George. Mrs. Wagner died October 22, 1883. George W. was shot and died in the army. Mr. Wagner gave up the shoe-making trade, and in 1845 purchased nine acres in this township. He has since added to this, bought, sold and traded till he now owns 135 acres, besides what he has given to his sons. He is a Republican and a member of the Evangelical Association, though formerly a Democrat and Methodist. Mrs. Wagner was also a member of the Evangelical Church.

L. R. WALTON, one of the leading farmers and stock dealers of the county, was born near the village of Old Tymochtee, June 16, 1833. His parents, Matthew and Catharine (Shepler) Walton, were natives of Trenton, N. J. They were married in their native county, and subsequently removed to Ross County, Ohio, from which place they came to Wyandot County in 1826-27. Mr. Walton entered eighty acres of land three miles east of Old Tymochtee, and resided on that till July, 1833, when he purchased 160 acres three and a half miles southeast of Old Tymochtee. He cleared most of this farm, and remained on it till his death, which occurred June 1, 1861, at the ripe age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Walton preceded him in March, 1855, at the age of fifty. Their union was blest with ten children, five of whom are living at the present time, their names as follows: Andrew Irvin, a resident of this township; James H., on the old homestead in this township ; L. R., our subject; Casander, wife of Elijah Lake, and Matthew, a resident of Upper Sandusky. L. R. Walton, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on the homestead and educated in the common schools. September 8, 1853, he was married to Miss Catharine J. Hufford, daughter of Christopher and Catharine (Corfman) Hufford, who were early settlers in this township. Mrs. Walton, a native of this township, was born June 9, 1834. To Mr. and Mrs. Walton have been born four children; of these, two are Jiving - Barbara E., wife of Madison Stokely, and Birt. Clayton died at the age of six years and nine months; Casper at the age of nine years. In 1865, Mr. Walton bought eighty acres where he now resides. He made subsequent additions to this purchase till he owned 240 acres of land. He has since disposed of a part of his farm to his daughter, and now owns 165 acres, which is under excellent cultivation and finely improved. He has an artificial fish pond covering half an acre, which is supplied with water from a spring thirty rods away, being conveyed by an underground pipe. In May, 1883, he purchased sixty- five German carp, paying therefor $40, and has since paid considerable attention to fish culture. Mr. Walton has engaged extensively for the last fourteen years in handling stock. He ships on an average forty car loads annually, principally to Buffalo, N. Y., and East Liberty, Penn. Mr. Walton ranks as one of the leading live stock men of the county. He is a citizen of public spirit, and has always performed his part in public improvements and enterprises of the county. He served his township as Trustee three years. He owns Section F, containing half an acre, in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, and has taken great pains to improve it.

WILLIAM WALTON was born in Ross County, Ohio, December 21, 1824; he is a son of Lemar and Anna (Thompson) Walton, natives of New Jersey; his parents married in Ross County, Ohio, and moved to Wyandot about 1826, locating in this township. Six children were born to them - William, Maria, Levi, Sarah J., Lemar S. and Marshal, all living but Levi and Maria. William Walton, the subject of this notice, was married October 7, 1846, to Miss Delilah A. Parker, a resident of this township, native of Ross County, Ohio, and daughter of William and Rachel (Compton) Parker, who were born and married in Pennsylvania. They afterward came to this county, where they purchased land and reared a family of children, Joseph, Henry and Delilah are living; Charles, Chartte, John and Jane are deceased. The parents are also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Walton have five children - Alvin M. , Joel L., Olive P., Laura A. and Sarah E. Mrs. Walton, after suffering untold agony for many weeks, died of cancer of the breast, December 5, 1883. Mr. Walton rented land for several years after his marriage, but in 1852 purchased eighty acres in this township. In 1858, he obtained ninety-three acres, upon which he now lives. He deals largely in stock, especially sheep, and has added to his original purchase till he now owns 524 acres. His farm is well improved as to drainage and fences, and is provided with good buildings of all necessary kinds.

EDWIN S. WILLSON is a native of this township, and was born February 16, 1846. He is a son of Jacob and Bathsheba P. (Shotwell) Willson, who were born and married in New Jersey, and who came to Ohio in 1835 and purchased eighty acres in this township. Their children were Elizabeth E., Abner, Albert Z., Levi L., George, Edwin S. and Walter. The father died March 1, 1862; his widow still resides in this township. Our subject resided on the farm until eighteen years of age. He enlisted February 20, 1864, in Company D, Forty-ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, and participated in several battles, among which are Dallas Mountain, Ga., May 5 to 27; Atlanta, Nashville, and a great many skirmishes. He was wounded at Dallas Mountain in the right side by a gunshot wound, and lay at the hospitals of Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tenn., till August. He then joined his regiment, and was again wounded December 16, and subsequently discharged from the Louisville Hospital May 27, 1865. On his return home. Mr. Willson resumed farming. He was married, March 1, 1866, to Eliza C. Price, who was born in Eden Township, this county, July 7, 1848. She was a daughter of George B. and Anna (Manning) Price, also natives of New Jersey. Her parents married in their native State, came to Ohio in 1840, settled in Hancock County, and. in 1845, moved to Eden Township. They had ten children - Isaac, Aaron, Mary J., Sarah E., Margaret A., Warren, Hannah M., Eliza C, John M. and Laura E. The sons are all deceased. The mother died March 22, 1878. The father is still living. In 1863. Mr. Willson obtained forty acres of partially improved land from his father. He engaged in the sheep business which proved unsuccessful, and then turned his attention to general agriculture. He has made several trades in real estate, and now owns 200 acres valued at 180 to $100 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Willson are parents of six children - John L., Anna E., Abner J., Lily B., George E. and Everett P.; all living but George E. Both parents are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. AVillson is a Republican.

CHARLES L. WININGER, son of John and Catharine Wininger, was born in this township May 6, 1846. He resided with his parents till thirty years of age. Was married, September 28, 1876, to Laura V. Welsh, a resident and native of Muskingum County, born April 1, 1856, a daughter of Jobn and Herma (Gorsuch) Welsh, who were born and married in the same county. She was one of four children - Edwin B. , Joseph G. , Laura V., Kosa B. Mr. and Mrs. Wininger have three children - J. Franklin, born August 22, 1877; Herma K, July 31, 1879; Polly, December 15, 1882. In 1867, Mr. Wininger purchased 180 acres in Seneca County, where he now lives. He has a good farm well provided with buildings, including a frame dwelling built in 1878, at a cost of $3,000. Mrs. Wininger is a member of the Presbyterian Church at McCutchenville.

GEOKGE L. WININGER was born in Seneca County, Ohio, February 13, 1836. His parents, John and Catharine (Lane) Wininger, are elsewhere noticed in this work. He resided with them till his marriage to Leah E. Pennington April 1 , 1860. He worked on the farm and obtained a good common school education, attending the Heidelberg College a short period. He began teaching at the age of eighteen in what was then known as " Frog Pond District." now " Sugar Grove," and continued in this profession during winters six years. After his marriage, Mr. Wininger moved into a log cabin on an eighty-acre lot, which his father deeded to him about one year later. This farm he improved, and, in 1863, purchased forty acres more just across the line in Seneca County, Ohio. A few years later, he purchased a few acres more, giving him the benefits of the Sandusky River. He now owns 127 acres. In 1880, he erected a fine brick residence, costing $5,000, in place of the little frame cottage which had sheltered his family twenty years. In the same year he lost by fire a large grain barn well stored, valued at $1,000. Mrs. and Mrs. Wininger are parents of four children - Catharine I., born December 23, 1861; John F. . October 13, 1865; Carrie A. and Harry J., June 18, 1876. All are living but Catharine, who died October 2, 1 872. She was regarded as an exceedingly bright and intelligent child by all who know her. Mrs. Wininger was born in Eden Township, Seneca County, Ohio, March 28, 1843, and is a daughter of Adam and Cintha A. (Wagner) Pennington, natives of West Virginia and Ross County, Ohio, respectively. Her parents married in Seneca Coun ty, and four of their children yet survive - Mary A., William J., Leah E. and Thomas J. The father died in 1818, the mother in 1878. Mr. Wininger is a Democrat in politics, and served one year as Township Clerk.

JOEL WININGER, son of John and Catherine (Lane) Wininger, was born in this township January 22, 1839, and remained at home on the farm principallj'^ till his marriage. He obtained a good education, attending both the academy at Republic, and the Heidelberg College at Tiffin, Ohio. He taught several terms, farming during the summers in the meantime. He was married, March 31, 1863, to Miss ZiliaA. King, of this township, born in New York State, Genesee County, February 24, 1840, a daughter of Belah and Elizabeth (Fitch) King, natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut respectively. Her parents settled in Ashtabula in 1841, and in 1842 moved to Little Sandusky, where he pui'chased property and engaged in shoe-making. He afterward kept a hotel at Adrian, Ohio. Zilia A., Charles M. and Henry P. are the children of this family. The father died, February 13, 1849, aged forty- three; his widow married Fran cis Wood, of this county, about two years later, and she died July 30. 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Wininger have one daughter - Florence A., born August 23, 1865, now a student of the Green Springs Academy. In 1862. Mr. Wininger purchased eighty acres in this township, moved upon the same in 1863, and has since resided there. In 1874, his old dwelling was destroyed by fire, and in 1879, he erected a fine frame structure, at a cost of $4,500. In 1865, Mr. Wininger purchased forty acres of land in Seneca County. He teaches school usually in the winter season, and tills his farm during the summer. He served as Township Clerk two years ; is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Universalist Church. Mrs. Wininger is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN WININGER, born March 9, 1810, is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and son of Adam and Mary (Crow) Wininger, natives of Germany. His parents emigrated in an early day, his mother having been sold for a term of years to pay her passage over the sea. His father was previously married in Germany and reared three children, only one of whom survives - Catharine^now Mrs. Reinboit, a widow of Seneca County, in her eighty-third year. Her mother died in Philadelphia, and her father then married Mary Crow, and moved to Ohio in 1804. He settled in Fairfield County, near Lancaster and in 1815 moved to Richland County among the Indians. In 1826, he moved to this county, purchased and entered about 1,000 acres of land, mostly in Tymochtee Township, built a log cabin, cleared up his farm, and by hard work was enabled to make a living. He was sometimes compelled to go forty to fifty miles to get his grain ground, and was then often obliged to stay from five to eight days to await his turn, so many being ahead of him. There were ten children in this family, four surviving, namely: Elizabeth, John, Susan and William. The father and mother died at the ages of seventy-five and seventy years respectively^ - Our subject, John Wininger, resided with his parents till his marriage, which occurred December 29, 1832, Miss Catharine Lane, of Muskingum County, Ohio, daughter of John and Mary (Millison) Lane, being his chosen companion. She was born in Baltimore County, Md. , August 5, 1807. Her parents were born in Germany and emigrated to America and settled in Baltimore County in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Wininger have had five children - Solomon, George L. , J. A. Jackson, Joel and Charles L., all living but Jackson. Mrs. Wininger passed away in April, 1880, and od the 28th of April, 1881, Mr. Wininger was married to Mary B. Johnston, who was born in Bucks County, Penn., November 16, 1888. She was a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Beatty) Johnston, na tives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania respectively, and who were married in Bucks County, Penn. ; migrated to Ohio about 1845, and settled in Seneca County, near Melmore. They reared eight daughters - Sarah, Hettie, Maggie, Mary B., Eliza, Elten, Amanda and Emma. Sarah and Maggie are deceased. The father died in March, 1861, the mother May 6, 1864. When first married, Mr. Wininger kept tavern three years in Seneca County. In 1836, he became the owner of 125 acres in this township, where he now lives. He has since purchased from 110 to 130 acres for each of his four SODS, and has made other purchases and sales, but still retains the homestead, valued at $125 per acre. He has served his township in many offices, and is a member of the Baptist Church, of which his first wife was also a member. His present wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Wininger has been a life- long Democrat.

LESTER WOOD, born January 11, 1829, in Huron County, Ohio, is a son of Francis and Eliza (Latham) Wood, natives of New York and Connecticut respectively, of English parentage. His parents were married in Huron County, Ohio, and in 1829 moved to this township, where they purchased land and reared their children. They had five sons and three daughters - Lester, Betsey, Nelson, Silas, Horace, Huldah, Ezra and Lydia

A., only three of these now living, namely, Huldah, Nelson and Lester. The latter was married, September 27, 1860, to Rachel Clark, who was born in Seneca County June 27, 1834. She was a daughter of Mathias and Maria (Copeland) Clark, natives of Pennsylvania and of German and Irish descent. Her parents married in Huntingdon County, Penn. ; emigrated to this State in an early day, and settled in Wayne County. They had nine children - Rebecca, Sebella, Rachel, Morgan, James, Henry, Hannah C, Mary A. and Margaret E. Those yet living are Rebecca, Henry, Morgan and Rachel. The mother is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have six children - Myron, Sarah E., Elmer E., Ada, Charles and Huldah, all living but Ada. Mr. Wood was reared to farm life, and in 1861 became the owner of eighty-three acres, which he has materially improved, and now values at $80 to $90 per acre. In 1876, he added eighty acres of improved land, and eight acres by a subsequent purchase. He and Mrs. Wood are members of the United Brethren Church at Mount Zion. Mr. Wood is a Democrat, and voted for the Second Amendment in 1883.

WILLIAM YAMBERT. This gentleman is a native of Perry County, Penn., and was born November 25, 1828. He is a son of John and Catharine (Cooney) Yambert, who were married in Perry County, and reared seven children - ^John, Daniel, Samuel, Solomon, Lydia, William and Susana. Daniel was drowned in the Sandusky River. By a former wife, Mary (Glick), Mr. Yambert had four children - John H., Aaron, Sarah and Mary. After his second marriage, Mr. Yambert, in 1833, moved to Ohio, and located in Seneca County, where he died May 24, 1863. His wife passed away June 7, 1876, their respective ages being eighty-two and eighty-five years. William Yambert, the subject of this sketch, remained on the farm with his par ents till grown to manhood. He went to Iowa and entered 120 acres of land, which he sold soon after, and returned home. He was married, November 15, 1855, to Susannah Hottenstein, who was born in Lancaster County, Penn., December 21, 1835, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Grube) Hottenstein, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Her parents married in Pennsylvania, and moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1837. They moved to this township from Seneca County in 1850-51, and resided here till their death. Their children were John, Elizabeth, Susannah, Mary and Henry. The mother died in March, 1850, the father is also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Yambert are parents of seven children - Henry M., Mary E. , Rilla J., Laura J., William A., John F. and Arthur R. Three are deceased - Henry M. , Mary E. and Laura J. Mr. Yambert farmed rented land a few years, when he obtained eighty acres from his father's estate. In 1863, he purchased eighty acres in this township, and to this tract he has since added 100 acres. In 1878, he erected a fine brick residence. He is a Republican, and, with Mrs. Yambert, a member of the Evangelical Church.

Source changes here: from Past and Present of Wyandot County Ohio, by A.j. Baughman, published 1913; 8,743 words in this source stream.

Tymochtee Township

Tymochtee township comprises thirty-six sections, being a square of six miles, or full congressional township. It dates its organization from 1825, and was formerly a part of Crawford township. It commenced to fill up at an early date with | enterprising settlers, principally from the southern part of the state. Tymochtee township comprises township 1 south, range 14 east, and receives its name from Tymochtee creek. Tymochtee creek in the Wyandot language denotes ''the creek or river round the plains.'' This township. lies in the north- eastern portion of Wyandot county, and is bounded on the north by Seneca county, on the east by Sycamore township, on the south by Crane township and on the west by Crawford township.

The Wyandot reservation line on its northern boundary included the most of the southern tier of sections of this township, but about half way across the township it took a sudden detour to the north, so as to include as far north as the Cherokee Boy section, when it turned to the south again. In consideration of stipulations elsewhere treated of in this work, ''to Horonu, or the 'Cherokee Boy,' a Wyandot chief, was granted a section of land, to contain 640 acres, on the Sandusky river, to be laid off in a square form, and to include his improvements.'' This chief's section was situated on both sides of the Sandusky, old Tymochtee being on the center of its western limits. Cherokee Boy lived to be one hundred and ten years old, and died in 1834. When the Wyandots were allotted this reservation in 1817, besides Cherokee Boy, - the Whittaker boys, James and John, and other half-breeds, were allotted large tracks of land in their own right in this township. Robert Cherokee, a son of Horonu, went west with the Wyandots.

Tymochtee is one of the choicest townships in the county, and is admirably adapted for the labors of the agriculturist and stock raiser. It is truly a land of plenty, fertile in soil, well watered, with good roads and in near proximity to railways a few miles in every direction. The Sandusky river meanders gently across this township in a generally northern course, when, after traversing nearly the whole township, it turns sharply to the east and waters all the north end of the township. In addition to this river which, like the old Nile in Kgypt, is the chief factor in fertilizing the land, there comes from the west across sections 18 and 17, the historic Tymochtee creek debouching into the Sandusky about the center of the east side of the latter section. Taylor Run drains all the eastern side of the township with its long and numerous branches. Sycamore creek crosses the northeast corner of Tymochtee from the township of Sycamore, entering the Sandusky near Mexico. Beside this, numerous rivulets babble through the township in every direction, making it a land of streams.

Good substantial roads traverse the township in every direction, one of the chief of these is on the west side of the Sandusky, crossing the northern county boundary at MecCutchenville ; there it meets with a road from the southeast, crossing Belle Vernon. Another leading road enters section 34 from the south, and passing north for about a mile and a half, it meets a road from the west crossing the Sandusky, when they turn abruptly to the northeast, crossing the township toward Mexico.

There are now two railroads passing through this township - the Ohio Central and the Northern Ohio, the latter road having a station at Tymochtee. |

The first white settler was Henry Lish, who with his wife and three children settled on the southwest quarter of section 17, about 1816-17, erecting the first dwelling, a log cabin, 18x20 feet. Other early settlers were Cyprion Stevens, Joseph Chaffee, Robert Gibson, Elisha Brayton, William Hodge, Linus Cutting, James Whitehead, Doctor Dunn, Joseph Stiggerwalt and Thomas Leeper. The last named came in 1821 from Ross county, Ohio, about the same time that Samuel Harper located in Sycamore. Soon after came Peter Baum, William Combs, Levi Bunn, John Taylor and George Bogart, who settled in what is now Belle Vernon; John Morris, Alfred McCauley, and his brother Jehosaphat, Peter Hummon, Jonathan, Peter and Moses Kear, the latter a gunsmith. Henry Lish established in the earliest days of settlement a government ferry across the Tymochtee. Michael Brackley, who sat in both branches of the legislature, was also a very early settler. Ira Aikens and Joseph Chaffee opened the first taverns. Robert Gibson came with his parents to this township in 1821, being then but two years of age. He was a native of Ross county, Ohio; his parents settled one and one-half miles west of Tymochtee village. At that time very few whites were in the township, while Indians were numerous. Mr. Gibson grew up with the reputation of a nimrod, and on one occasion he killed four deer, besides wild cats and turkeys. When twenty-three years of age he began herding cattle among the Indians. In 1844, he married Margaretta, daughter of John Beam, who settled near McCutchenville in 1829, and was the first white miller at the Indian mill near Upper Sandusky.

Among the first blacksmiths was John Freet. The first to erect a saw and grist mill was Elisha Brayton, which was the property of A. Arnold. The first schoolhouse was on the land of John Berry, and the first teacher was John A. Morrison. The first white child born in the township was a son of Henry Lish, in 1820, named Ralph. The first store was opened by James Whittaker, at Tymochtee. Among other early settlers we might name Col. Joseph McCutchen, who, in 1829, had the village of McCutchenville laid out by Dr. G. W. Sampson, in which year he erected the first dwelling in that village, Doctor Sampson putting up the second in the following year. Aaron Welsh opened the first store. Still other early names are Ralph Duddleson and his sons, James, William and Christian, Daniel White and James Wright, who had a romantic history, having been captured by the Indians, for whom he worked as a silversmith. Some of his descendants are living in Richland township. The settlers coming in about 1830 were Asa Dunn, Asa, William and Peter Brayton, David Ellis, Gerhart Sheets, Joseph, Henry and Charles Parker, Michael and William Noel, and Samuel Kenan, who kept hotel in Tymochtee village from 1830 to 1851. From 1830 to 1845, settlers came in rapidly. In 1845 the township was organized as a part of Wyandot county.

This township from a very early period has been well supplied with churches, and there was no lack of religious privileges, and there are now quite a number of churches in the township. j

In the early settlement of the township a number of villages were laid out, some never reaching greater size than the number of lots given at the platting. In the early settlement of the counties in the state villages were quite numerous, but later the trend of population was to the cities, and the anticipations of the farmers of these villages were never realized, many of them now being defunct.

Perhaps the village of the most importance in Tymochtee township at the present is Mexico, a place of about two hundred inhabitants, with a church and a general store.

McCutchenville is situated on the northern boundary of Wyandot county and the northern part of the village is in Seneca county, the main street of the place being the dividing line. The village was platted in 1829 for Colonel Joseph McCutchen, by Dr. G. W. Sampson, who was a surveyor as well as a physician. In that year Colonel McCutchen erected the first dwelling house in the place, and Dr. Sampson the second in 1830. It is on the Toledo & Ohio Central railroad, and while it has never become a place of much importance, it is an ideal country village.

J. Adam Gottfried

No work could lay claim to being a veracious history of Wyandot county which would omit from its pages mention of that well-known and original character, J. Adam Gottfried, who, for many years held a prominent position in the business circles of Upper Sandusky as the head of the celebrated hardware firm of J. A. Gottfried & Bro. - 'The Dutch Hardware,''? as J. Adam himself used to love to style his business place. As the publishers wish this work to be just what it should be - an accurate chronicle - one who knew Mr. Gottfried very well was prevailed upon to furnish his recollections of him, and to recall some of the amusing events and happenings concerning that unique character, whose antics, jovial good humor, hasty flashes of high temper, quaint philosophy and spontaneous wit, furnished more laughter to his fellow citizens than did all the serious efforts of the professional humorists which came to us in the form of printed pages.

trying to picture him so truthfully that he may be brought into the minds' eyes of the thousands who knew and loved him, and who would all gladly welcome him back from the bourne where he is no doubt now spreading genuine fun and sunshine. Were it possible for him to return for only a day all business and work-a-day affairs would cease and we would have a real holiday of gaity, and J. Adam would be the real hero of the occasion. Nothing will be said here that he would not approve of himself, for he was a happy part of all the incidents, enjoyed them at the time, or at least afterwards, and the narrator feels in his heart that the truth, which never offended him while living, would arouse no protest now that he is gone, were such a thing possible. In fact our imagination pictures him grinning approval over the golden ramparts as these words are being written.

J. Adam Gottfried was a diamond in the rough - an unpolished and an unset gem. For this reason the writer must forget some of his sayings, things that would be very funny in the telling, but which could not be printed here, and he needs not ascribe the reason to anyone who knew the subject of this series of sketches, for while J. Adam was always Chesterfieldian in his efforts to be polite, his language was often more forceful than printable, so that many of the most amusing anecdotes concerning him must be handed down to posterity by word of mouth instead of in words to be read, henee, in time, some of these will pass into the oblivion of forgotten things. The writer also extremely regrets his inability to incorporate in these tales the peculiar, yet well remembered emphasis that was characteristic of J. Adam in speaking, for his speech, upon all occasions, was of an explosive character, with a peculiar dialect that made it memorable, but difficult of reproduction in any attempt to narrate it. His personal appearance, even, was unique, and his mannerisms were distinctly his own. He was short in stature and pretty well rounded at the belt line, the result of gastronomic satisfaction, for he was never penurious in providing himself with the good things of life, and he surely lived well while he lived. He was big-hearted, whole-souled and generous to the distressed and needy upon all occasions, hence if benevolence be princely, then J. Adam was one of the most royal of commoners. He generally wore good clothing, made to fit his figure to the best advantage, even if he made no attempt to dictate fashions, being sometimes partial to fancy vests, which were always decorated with a massive gold watch chain, from which dangled a mammoth crystal charm, the many facets of which scintilated all the prismatic colors that flash from a pedigreed diamond.

His face was wonderfully flexible in its ability to express and portray all the imaginable moods of feeling, and many an actor would have felt fortunate in the possession of such a physiognomy. He sported a moustache of healthy growth, in which his: vanity seemed to be centered, for when baldness came to screen the tell-tale story of advancing age, he carefully kept the moustasche dyed in order that it might not reveal the secret. To say that J. Adam looked like the pictures of ''Jeff,'' in the modern and now well-known cartoons of ''Mutt and Jeff,'' would be an exaggeration, but somehow the pictures of the little character do recall him to mind and memory. In repose, while seated, he was wont to have his knees wide apart, with a hand on each, and he would often tilt back in his chair with arms folded over his pudgy chest, and with the ankle of one foot comfortably nested upon the knee of his other leg. Standing, and engaged in conversation, he would balance himself upon his heels in a gracefully swaying motion with his arms behind his back. In meeting friends upon the street, and particularly in the store, he would often elevate his arms like a Spanish dancing girl, snap his fingers like she would click her castanets, and would end by cutting a comical pigeon wing and a sort of half-circle dance step, like a proud chanticleer, then rush behind the store counter to wait upon their wants, in which he was shrewd, discerning and skillful. He was highly proficient as a salesman and he had a habit of proclaiming every thing that he sold to be ''the finest in the world."'

When jovial - he was so most of the time - he was as balmy as a spring morning zephyr. Usually when approached by friend or customer he would arch his eyebrows, which would enlarge his eyes most comically, or he would wink most ludicrously, bring his hands together with a resounding clap, then burst into a loud and hearty guffaw of laughter, and wind up by shrilly whistling or musically yodling in true Tyrolean style favorite bars from his beloved national songs, ''Hi Le, Hi Lo,"' or ''Wenn der Geisbock ueber die Huegel springt,"' and ''Ich bin der Doktor Hisenbart, zwilly-willy-winkumboom.'' He had a habit, when shaking hands, of giving the grasped hand a sudden jerk which produced an uncomfortable shock to the arm to which it was attached, but it was not done with any malice. This habit was much more ceremonious, however, in former years, for there was a time when he would grab your right wrist with his left hand in a grip of steel, hold your hand out an instant, elevate his right arm like swinging an ax, and come down with his hand in a stinging smash and exclaim, ''Why, hello uncle,'' This-often really | hurt the hand of the one so greeted, but J. Adam was very effectively cured of this form of greeting, yet, as Kipling says, ''that's another story,'' and will be spoken of in the reminiscenses to follow.

J. Adam had a musical soul, and when this soul would become sad he would attempt to soothe it by playing the violin, but to tell the truth he was no Theodore Martin in point of artistic execution, and it was often noticed and remarked that there were more chairs occupied about the store's big stove when it was known that Adam's fiddle was coffined in its case, than when it was lying on a chair ready to be grasped. Besides, Tom O'Brien and some of the others simply could not endure Adam's tuning-up preliminaries. He would place one foot upon a chair, slap the butt of the instrument under his chin, pick the strings with such vigor that they vibrated to the very marrow of one's bones, then shift position and twist a key until it squeaked, swear a few notes, and then run the bow over two or three strings, at once, producing a chorus of wails like one reads of in certain portions of Dante. This process usually occupied a full half hour, or longer, if necessary to get the instrument just in the proper tune to play.

As before stated, J. Adam was capable of running the entire gamut of human emotions in all their varying shades, and sometimes there were causes provoking enough to make him lose his good nature and arouse his temper, when, for a few moments, the traditional March hare would have to go way back and sit down, and the muskrat pelts and coon skins would turn inside out on their curing boards, where they hung in front of the hinge and spike bins. To the great credit of J. Adam, however, it must be said that these explosions were like those of powder, hence quickly over, and bars of

High School, Harpster

The writer will only attempt to narrate a few of the hundreds of funny incidents which served to make J. Adam celebrated, and they are set forth to amuse, without the slightest thought of malice.

J. Adam was always polite and gallant, especially to the fair sex, and oftentimes his politeness and gallantry were as strenuous and as explosive as his speech. At about the time of the Civil war he had a position as clerk in the dry goods store of I. H. & A. Berry, and he could flop a bolt of muslin and wind and unwind a roll of ribbon as dexterously as anybody in the business. At about that time one of the staple fabrics for ladies wear was pronounced as though spelled Marseilles. One day a lady customer, upon whom Adam was waiting, after being shown bolt after bolt of various kinds of goods, remarked, ''Now, Mr. Gottfried, where is your Marseilles?'' Adam evidently did not hear the word ''vour"' in the question, but supposing she had inquired about the location of the village of Marseilles, danced from behind the counter, grasped the astonished lady by the arm and escorted her to the center of Sandusky avenue, in front of the store, and bowing and pointing, he said, ''Just eleven miles south, madam, but you got to go out the woolen mill road!'' Adam felt considerably chagrined when the lady replied she had asked about dress goods - not about a town.

One day a neighboring merchant caine out of his place of business and was mopping sweat from his forehead, when he met J. Adam. ''Gee, whiz, Adam,'' said the merchant, ''T have just finished taking an invoice. When are you going to take yours?'' Adam sniffed and replied, ''O! what's the use? What we've got, we've got, and what we ain't got we're out of, and we'll find out what we ain't got when somebody asks for something that we're out of, and then we'll order it!"'

An attorney, local representative of Bradstreets, entered the hardware store and addressing Adam, said: ''Adam, Bradstreets have asked me to get your rating.'"' ''Bradstreet!'' yelled Adam, '' Bradstreet! You just tell Bradstreet to go to h - l! If we owe him anything we can pay him.''

John Pausch, the jeweler, whose store was next door south of the hardware, was a noted practical joker, and he kept the Gottfried boys going some along that line. One day he nailed a dead rat to the floor under a table in the rear part of his store. He then tip-toed over to the hardware store, and mysteriously motioning and whispering as though he was afraid he might scare the animal away, asked Adam to get his flobert rifle and come over to his store and shoot a rat. Of course Adam eagerly responded, for if Adam prided himself upon anything it was his marksmanship, in which he was really very efficient, and he was wont to declare that he could shoot the eye out of a mosquito at a hundred yards. John and Adam tip-toed into the store and John pointed out the rat. Adam took careful aim, fired and apparently missed. He shot again and again and again but not until he had shot the rat to pieces did he realize that it was only one of Pausch's jokes.

One day Pausch, when he knew that there was a large crowd of loafers about the stove in the hardware store, entered and walking back, slapped Adam on the shoulder and said: ''Say, Adam, now honest, have you got any real good powder?'' Adam indignantly, yet solemnly, assured Mr. Pausch that they had the very best powder in the world, whereupon Mr.. Pausch replied that if it was that good he would take a pound. The conversation attracted the attention of the crowd about the stove and when Adam handed the package to Mr. Pausch he exhibited it to the crowd and asked those assembled to remember what Adam had said about the quality of the powder. About a half hour later Mr. Pausch again entered - the store with a package in his hand identically like the one he had just purchased. He was apparently very angry and told Adam the powder wasn't worth a darn. Adam became angry and declared that the powder was just what he said it was, the very best in the world. Pausch denied and Adam defended until the crowd became very intent over the quarrel. 'Well!' yelled Pausch, ''T'll just show you!'' whereupon he jerked the stove door open and threw the package into the fire. There was an immediate and precipitous scattering of the crowd and Adam and the clerks did not stop running until they gained the alley door, while his older brother, Jake, who was wedged in the arms of a chair, could not escape, but fell backward in the excitement among some shovels, forks and rakes., Others of the crowd followed Adam and the clerks, some rushed back of the counter and some jumped down the open cellarway. Of course the package was a fake package. 'The joke worked as Pausch had intended it should, but he kept out of the reach of the frightened crowd for seyeral hours, and it was several days before he succeeded in making his peace with the Gottfried brothers. After Jake Gottfried became reconciled to the humor of the incident it was worth a good deal to hear him describe his plight and fright, and the rush of the crowd, ending by declaring, '' Dat Pausch, he's a reg'lar ga-zoozle.''

One May morning, many years ago, a large box, filled with shiney new sickles with wood handles painted a brilliant red, stood in front of the store to attract the attention of persons needing an implement to cut grass. John Pausch saw in this an opportunity for some fun, and, as citizens and farmers passed by he would stop them, whisper something and significantly nod his head in the direction of the box of sickles. He did not do this so Adam could see him, for he was too foxy to be caught in his joke conspiracies. He whispered his idea to fully a dozen different people. Soon the scheme began to work. A man would stop-at the box, pick out a sickle, grasp it in his right hand and make motions like cutting grass. By this time Adam would step out of the door ready to make the sale. The prospective purchaser would look at the sickle in a puzzled way and then shift it to his left hand and make motions with it in a more satisfied manner. He would replace the sickle and take up another and go through all the motions again, always shifting to the left hand. In answer to Adam's question, ''Do you want to buy a sickle, gov'nor?'' he would reply, '' Yes, but I don't want a left-handed one.'' Of course Adam would declare they were O. K., right-handed, all right. but the prospective customer argued differently and moved on. Soon another approached the box, when the same testing, motioning and argument ensued. After about the tenth person that day had declared that the sickles were left-handed, Adam convinced himself by testing and motioning and by the force of the arguments advanced by men who should surely know from experience in handling sickles, that they were really left-handed, when he burst into the store and shouted to Clerk Jake Burkhart, ''Say Jake, them sand-of-gun wholesalers sent us a gross of left-handed sickles. Right away quick you nail up the whole shooting-match and ship 'em back,'' which was done. The wholesalers were too wise to quarrel over the matter. They apologized and sent on a gross

For many years a patent washing machine stood in front of the store. One day a farmer stopped and looked it over. He opened the lid and gazed at its ''innards"' and he worked the lever that operated it. Scenting a possible customer Adam danced toward the door, but by the time he reached it the farmer was walking away. Adam vigorously hailed him, exclaiming, ''Here, come back here, gov'nor, I want to sell you this machine.'' The farmer smiled and replied, ''No, Adam, T don't want it. We've got one at home,'' whereupon Adam remarked to some by-standers, ''That's the way it is, now 'em nare, washing machines are like noses - everybody's got one."'

In keeping with its policy of handling only the very best goods in the world, the firm, some years ago, placed in stock a car-load of the highest grade binder twine obtainable. It was strong and thin, hence measured many more feet to the pound than did the lumpy and heavier twines that were that same year being offered upon the market at a few cents less per pound. A little thought upon the subject should have convinced any fair-minded grain-grower that it would have been much more economical to have purchased the better grade, even at a higher price per pound. It would go much further in tying sheaves and it would have offered less sustenance to the voracious grass-hoppers, for they fattened on the cheaper twines, whereas they didn't have teeth sharp enough to bite into the kind Adam offered. He could not sell his for less than ten cents per pound, without actual loss, so he was forced to see bundle after bundle of the cheaper twine of his competitors hauled past his store in farmers' wagons, for they would purchase the cheaper grade, and the more Adam saw of this the bluer he became. Of course he expressed his opinion quite forcibly of the short-sightedness of mankind in failing to see that more feet of twine to the pound was of more real worth than an apparent few cents of difference in price, but the users could not see it that way and the neatly wrapped yellow balls remained in their burlap - sacks in the store and in the cellar, where they were heaped in long rows, and the harvest was going merrily on and the grass-hoppers were having their feast on the cheaper twines. Whenever Adam thought of the situation his face assumed a ''hefore taking'' expression and he could have kicked an un- muzzled bull-dog without thought or care of possible consequences. In other words, his binder twine grouch was poetically beautiful in its supreme completeness. One day, while in one of his most woe-begone moods of thought upon the subject, an old German friend and customer from his beloved Salem township, happened in the store:and dropped into a chair next to where Adam was seated. Adam was as silent and as solemn as an owl, staring into space - thinking, thinking of Shakespeare's wisdom in declaring, ''What fools we mortals be,'? when he happened to notice his friend. He aroused himself from his reverie with a start, grasped the farmer by the hand and said: ''Why, God bless your soul, Jake, how are you? Say, Jake, have you bought your binder twine yet?'' Jake blinked a few times and drawled out the sad information that he had already laid in his supply. ''Where did you get it?'' snapped Adam. ''Over to Carey,"'' was the slowly measured response. ''What did you pay for it?'' almost fiercely demanded Adam. ''Kight and a third cents a pound,'' replied the farmer. Adam fairly frothed at the mouth as he yelled at his clerk, Gottheb Stecher to ''go to the cellar and bring up a ball of our twine.'' This Gottlieb did with alacrity, and when he handed the ball to his employer, Adam unwound about a yard of the twine. He hitched up his chair directly in front of the farmer and he held the strand of twine before that worthy's eyes. ''Now, honest, upon your honor as a man, Jake,'' pleaded Adam, ''tell me, honor bright, is your twine as thick as this?'' The farmer slowly permitted his eyes to survey the string from one of Adam's hands to the other, and back again, as if deliberately qualifying himself for the desired truthful reply, when he settled back in his chair and slowly and emphatically drawled, '¢Ves. three times as thick,'' whereupon Adam threw the ball fiercely upon the floor, lurched forward until his face almost touched that of the farmer, and he shouted: ''You darned old fool, you; if you had horns you'd be three times dummer 'n a cow!"'

J. Adam was toasting his hands and coat tails in front of the open door of the big stove one day, when a hardware drummer appeared before him. The drummer, instead of shaking hands and greeting him with that pleasant ''I'd like to sell you a big bill of goods"' expression, suddenly looked around as if startled and said, ''Say, Adam, did you hear that noise?'' The action of the man was strange and Adam eagerly asked. ''What noise?'' whereupon the drummer laughed uproariously and slapping Adam on the back, retorted, ''Illinois.'"" Adam did not catch the humor of the pun until the drummer drew a map of it, said it over again - ''noise,'' ''Illinois,'' and that it was the latest thing on the road. Finally it dawned upon Adam and he was enjoying a hearty laugh, which he ended very abruptly, whispering to the drummer to say nothing, as Philip was coming in the front door, and he would catch Philip with it. When Philip joined them at the stove Adam suddenly emitted his wellknown warning whistle, threw up his hand and with an expression of surprise turned to Philip and said, ''Say, Philip, did you hear that racket?'' ''What racket?'' asked Philip. At this Adam slapped him upon the back and laughingly exploded, ''Illinois!'? The drummer fairly collapsed into a chair in the excess of his mirth, while Adam danced about in his glee, but Philip couldn't see what in thunder and darnation there was anything so very funny in such "'narrheit stuft.'' Noise and racket were the same to Adam, who never was poetic enough to appraise the value of rhyme or rhythm. His library shelves never sagged under the weight of bound volumes of the songs of the bards.

Years ago J. Adam used to wear a shiny silk, or plug hat, but he was effectually cured of this by big Elias Miller, of Crawfordsville, who at the same time cured him of the handhitting habit referred to in the introductory part of this series. Big Elias Miller, in his way, was as much of a character as was Adam. Elias was a giant in stature, big-boned, loosejointed and loquacious. He wore his cap just as he happened to place it on his head. Sometimes the visor was correctly over his forehead, sometimes it was at the back of the head and sometimes over an ear at the side of his head. His face wore a perpetual grin, and a falling lower lip constantly placed on exhibition a mouth full of strong broad teeth. When Elias was not talking he was laughing and his laugh was almost a roar, for it could be heard blocks away and our people always knew when Elias was in town, even though they did not see him, and he was always roughly good natured. As he entered the hardware store, upon the eventful day of this particular incident, J. Adam, proudly arrayed in his plug hat, met Elias at the door. He grabbed Elias by the right wrist with his left hand, swung his right in a complete circle and smashed down on Elias' hand and joyfully exclaimed, ''Why, hello uncle.'' Elias towered over him like a Gargantua over a pigmy. He grinned like a Billikin and then left his mighty, ham-like left hand drop upon the roof of Adam's silk hat. There was a rip, the hat band bursted and Adam's head was entirely hid from view. The rims were resting on his shoulders. Elias laughed uproariously as he turned and walked down the street. while Adam was making the air blue inside the store over this outrage to his top-piece. He never wore a silk tile thereafter, and he also amended his style of greeting and hand-shaking to a very considerable extent.

''Grandpa, I want a pocket knife,'' said a little boy to his grandfather, several years ago. The grandfather was a tall gentleman with whiskers. At first he tried to convince the lad that he was too little a boy to have a pocket knife, but the child hung at his legs and whined and pleaded and insisted. Reluctantly the old gentleman dug into his pocket, fishing out a quarter, gave it to the young hopeful and told him to go over to Adam Gottfried's and buy one. Soon the child came back and reported that he didn't know Adam Gottfried. ''What, you don't know Adam Gottfried? Come on and I['ll show him to you.'' Approaching the hardware store they found Adam on the sidewalk in front. The old gentleman, who was well known in town for his sareastic remarks, told Adam that his grandson had said that he did not know Adam Gottfried, then turning to the child and pointing to Adam, he said, ''Now, sonny, after this whenever you see a little Dutchman with a belly full of beer, that's Adam Gottfried.'' This remark aroused Adam like a flash, for he did not happen to be in the best of humor at the time, and bending toward the boy, Adam exclaimed, *' Yes, and sonny, whenever you see an old billy goat with a belly full of ice water, that's your grand-daddy!"' and he gave the astonished elder a shove that made him stagger into the gutter, and then rushed into the store and kicked over a keg, scattering lath nails all over the floor, but the appearance of a country boy with some coon skins to sell, caused him to forget the affront and he was soon whistling and yodling as though nothing had occurred.

The usual crowd was in the store, one day, a number of years ago, when a stranger entered. He stood around a while and then took a seat. He smiled when the others laughed at Adam's vivid description of a recent fishing trip when he landed a regular snolly-goster, for Adam would go through all the motions of fishing in telling a fish story, even to casting the minnow and the reeling in of the captive - the Jerking of the line and pole and all. The stranger did not look like a frowsy tramp exactly, but it was plain to be seen that he was a laborer in hard luck. After about an hour or so he got Adam's attention and asked to speak to him privately, and they walked to the back part of the store. The stranger talked German and informed Adam that he was a brickmaker by trade; that he had been working on the Stief yards at Carey, but that he had lost his job. He admitted that he was broke but he knew that if he could get to Lima he could get work again. He then produced a gold watch and asked Adam to loan him ten dollars and to hold the watch as security for one week. He made the further stipulation that if he failed to redeem the watch within the week it would be Adam's. Adam ealled Philip and they talked the matter over. ''But,'' said Adam, ''how do we know what that turnip's worth?'' The stranger told them to take it to any jeweler and find its value before they made the loan, so Adam and Philip took the time-piece next door and showed it to John Pausch, the jeweler. ''What's it worth, John?'' inquired Adam. John screwed his magnifying glass into his eye and examined the watch, front and back. ''There's no watch in this town that holds a candle to this,' replied John. ''Full jeweled, Swiss movement and heavy gold ease, and it's no filled case either. I'll give seventy-five dollars for it anytime, and at that I'd be getting it cheap,'' he continued. He handed the watch back to Adam, who said to Philip, ''We'll let him have the ten,'' and back to the store they went. They handed the stranger ten dollars, had him state the conditions of the loan to the crowd, that those assembled might be witnesses, which the stranger did, and the watch was placed in the safe. As soon as the man secured the money he became sociable as one does when a financial strain has been relieved. He invited the entire crowd to go with him and have something, and fifteen or twenty pairs of feet commenced the march to Herman Wissler's, where the rye bread had caraway seed in it, the limburger was always just ripe enough, and there could be no possible criticism of the amber fluid with its creamy crest. Besides, it was a pleasure to talk across the bar to genial Herman, whose facial features reminded one of the pictures of Gen. Ben Butler. The stranger ''set "em up"' several times, at a cost of over a dollar a round, with Adam plucking Philip's coat tails and whispering, ''let the darn fool spend the money if he wants to; he can't redeem the watch in a week.'' Finally the stranger bade the party good-bye and thanking Adam and Philip for helping him out, departed.

The next day Charley Stief, of Carey, happened in the hardware store.. He looked worried and he informed Adam and Philip that a fine gold watch of his had been stolen a few days before. He said that he had hung his vest on a fence post at his brick yard and that now his watch and a German tramp brickmaker who had worked for him, were both gone. Supposing that the fellow may have come to Upper Sandusky he thought he better come over and look around a little; maybe he could find out something. All this time cold chills were creeping up the backs of Adam and Philip, and they blurted out the fact that they had loaned a ''feller'"' ten dollars on a gold watch the day before. They exhibited the © watch and Mr. Stief claimed the propetty with such an expression of satisfaction that Adam's ire became instantly aroused, ''Yes, Charley, we and you have been old friends for a coon's age, now 'em nare, but how can you prove that this is your watch?'' ''Of course,'' replied Charley, ''that I must do. I can do that easy, for Ed. Brauns cleaned the watch for me only about ten days ago, and I'm sure he's got the number in his book,'' so Mr. Stief and Adam and Philip marched to Mr. Brauns' jewelry store. Ata glance he identified the watch as belonging to Mr. Stief, whereupon that gentleman nonchalantly restored it to his pocket, sympathetically remarking that he was sorry they had to lose ten dollars and all that. Adam boiled over and he and Philip held an explosive council of war. Adam was sure that the ''sand-of-a-gun,'' was in town yet. They would find Marshal Nick Grundtisch, hunt the ''feller'' and get him arrested. They found the marshal and they found the man, and soon the people on the streets became aware of the fact that something was seriously disturbing the peace and dignity of the village. Mr. Stief identified the man as being the fellow who had worked for him and who had disappeared. Of course he did not see him steal the watch, ''but, gentlemen, it's easy to put two and two together, ain't it.''. Sure. By the time the prisoner and the party had reached the old yellow corner, on the way to the mayor's office and calaboose, quite a crowd had congregated. Here a brilliant thought struek Adam. He halted the party and took Philip aside and whispered to him. In hurried and tearful words he told Philip that they were foolish to take the fellow before the mayor; that the ''sandof-a-gun'' didn't have a cent and that they would have the costs to pay in addition to what they had already lost; that they would go to the store with him and do something else. So Adam called to Marshal Grundtisch and said, ''Say, Nick, before we go to the mayor's office bring him up to the store.'"' They went to the store and when the marshal, the prisoner, Mr. Stief and a few followers had reached the stove, Adam and Philip gave each other a wink, whereupon one rushed to the front door and the other to the back door, locking them. They then grabbed ax-handles out of a rack and rushed with them menacingly uplifted toward the stranger, the muttered imprecations and the determined expressions of their faces indicating that they fully intended administering some law of their own devising, but before they could strike a blow Charley Stief sharply called upon them to halt. He laughingly remarked that the joke was being carried a little too far. ''Why, boys,'' he said, ''don't you know this man? He's my brother, Adam, from California - an old boyhood friend of yours. He got rich out west and came to make me a visit and he said he bet he could play a good joke on the Gottfried boys, and that they wouldn't know him.'' The ax-handles clattered to the floor and soon Adam, Philip and Adam were hugging each other in very frenzy, for they had been brickyard boys together in their youth. The extreme anger of a few moments before melted into laughter and buoyancy that was almost hysterical, and a gay time was had for the balance of that day and night. It is no libel to 'hint that the midnight closing ordinance was fractured and that ''Hi Le, Hi Lo'"' was warbled more than several times in the celebration that followed the unmasking of the watch joke, which has gone into the annals of local lore as being as clever a stunt as was ever pulled off within the limits of Wyandot county.

J. Adam was called to the Great Beyond about one month too soon for him to experience the greatest ambition of his life, for after a strenuous campaign of political endeavor he had been nominated and elected by the democrats as a member of the board of commissioners of Wyandot county, but death snatched from him the honor when it was almost within his grasp, for he departed this life just a short time before he would have been inducted into office. Several very funny incidents are related in connection with the campaign he made for votes. His personal popularity gained him many votes and the humor that went with his progress over the county won for him many more. Adam, seated in his high buggy, driving his favorite horse, ''Razorblade,'' made a tour of all of the townships of the county. In Marseilles township Adam approached a very dignified and pious looking gentleman - who proved to be a preacher who had been assigned a charge and who had moved there a short time before. Adam handed him a card announcing his candidacy. The preacher adjusted his glasses, read the card and musingly remarked: ''Ah, J. A. Gottfried, democratic candidate for county commissioner ? Glad to meet you, Mr. Gottfried. J never knew or heard of you before.'' ''You didn't?'' interrogated Adam in astonishment, ''you didn't! Why, heilig donnerwetter, I thought every sand-of-a-gun in Wyandot county knowed me."'

During the fall of 1900 the Upper Sandusky lodge of Elks staged an amateur production of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera, ''The Mikado.'' The scene of the opera is laid in Japan, hence the characters were all Japanese in representation. The committee having charge of the production knew very well if they could induce J. Adam to take a part, the mere announcement of the fact would insure a full house and make the affair a financial success. The subject was broached to him and he rejected the suggestion vehemently. There were two things he would never do - go to jail, or make a darn fool of himself on the stage, no sir, positively, no sir. The committee retired crestfallen. Finally word was sent to Adam that unless he consented to assist the Elks in their comic opera he would probably fail to receive any of their votes for county commissioner, for which office he was a candidate at the time. This caused him to think of the matter from a different standpoint. ''Why, gentlemen,"'' he said, ''I was only fooling you. Of course I will take a part. Just dress me up and tell me what to do, and I'll do it or bust wide open, but you must let me put on a little specialty - a little fishing act. I just want to show the people how me and Rev. Byers pull out the snolly-gosters when we go fishing.'"? The committee happily agreed to let him do anything from a yodel to a song and dance, and he was assigned the part of umbrella bearer to His Majesty, the Mikado. The house was packed and when the Mikado and his umbrella bearer appeared upon the stage pandemonium reigned for full five minutes. Adam, in a Japanese costume, was a comedy success - a tremendous hit. The more the audience howled and laughed the funnier became Adam's antics. He glided across the stage and whirled about with his large Japanese umbrella and nearly demolished the chorus. He had not rehearsed and the people upon the stage were as full of laughter as were the people in front. When the Mikado, in the course of the play, pronounced sentence upon Nanki-Poo, ordering that he be ''boiled in oil,'' the umbrella bearer, standing at his side, rolled his eyes and shouted, *'hot stuff.'? This was not in the words of the opera, but it broke up both the audience and the actors, and when Katisha bemoaned the fate of her lover, so cruelly sentenced, wailing, '*Oh where, oh where will I get another,'' Adam looked at her most sympathetically, shook his head, and exclaimed ''Dammed if I know!'' This was also a spontaneous interpolation, as good as any in the opera, and it also caused shrieks of laughter on the part of audience and players. At the con- . clusion of his fishing specialty, which was better than any professional effort could have been, an usher walked down the aisle and handed to Adam a large cabbage head made of paper and painted to look like the real article by the decorators working at the new courthouse. Adam reached over the footlights and gracefully accepted the cabbage head. He held it proudly aloft, turned to the audience and bowing, said, 'Thanks, ladies and gentlemen, this is better'n I expected. I expected eggs.'? Adam showed that night that he had surely missed his calling - that he would have been a scream as a comedian, had he adopted that profession.

The writer was in a hotel at Urbana some years ago. He had just placed his name and address upon the register, when a traveling man, who was standing at the counter, said, ''Pardon me, but I noticed you are from Upper Sandusky. Do you know the Gottfried brothers?''? The writer replied that he did and he asked the traveling man if he also knew them. ''No, I do not,'' he replied, ''for I have never been in Upper Sandusky, but I happened at Somerset, Pennsylvania, when Miss Mabel McKinley was married to Doctor Baer. President McKinley and the members of his cabinet were there to attend the wedding. While the president was at his brother's house, . the members of the cabinet were seated in front of the leading hotel of the town, and a former Upper Sanduskian, George Foster, who was there as the president's personal body guard, was telling stories of the Dutch Hardware, the Gottfried brothers, and I never saw a man laugh as heartily and uproariously as did the otherwise dignified secretary of state, the Hon. John Hay, and of course the other cabinet members did likewise. It seemed that they were always eager for a Dutch hardware story by Mr. Foster.'' This incident is related only for the purpose of showing that Adam was known beyond the limited confines of his own home town and county.

Some years ago a party of Upper Sandusky capitalists, including Adam and Philip, formed the Oakdale Land Company for the purpose of handling a large real-estate deal at Toledo. The company purchased a tract of land in one of the suburbs of the Maume bay city and made an allotment. They appointed a manager, whom we will call Smith, to have charge of the erection of six or eight residences and to sell lots. ''Smith'' moved to Toledo and took charge. At the next annual meeting of the board of directors ''Smith'' submitted his report and expense bill. This was minutely itemized and was rather a lengthy document, and every fourth or fifth item in the bill read ''street car tickets, fifty cents.'' The directors were intently listening to the reading of the bill, when J. Adam whispered to Philip loud enough for everybody in the room to hear, ''Say, Philip, let's buy that street car line! We'll get-richer'n h - ll if nobody rides on it but 'Smith!' "'

Index

When Ohio Became a-State.......... 5 SOG ONE MOORES 8 G-5 lords. a OO DO Oe B 12 Evolution of Ohio Counties.......... 16 Controversy Over New Counties...... 21 Division, of the Northwest Territory.. 24 The State: Formed: .. 0.0.0.0... -002.00: 25 Original State Counties...........4 27 ANigy AGO AOI EEO AIS omg bao Holo 6 ratte 28 Obiowlin dian simran sort oie ace iebargie « 34

InntGlheNies 9 Siete ae comee Cor eci & Geen pore ON 38 hes WiyandoueMissione war eran: 40 Treaties with the Indians.-........ sane 46, Purchase of Reservations.......:.... 61 Nellie) Awot Bearsic 1s Ponomaer 71 Jonny Ao aesesel . obei0 cen sootoso0r 74 Wyandot County at an Early Day.... 86 Colonel Crawford's Fate.4.....\..... 91 Colonel Crawiord's Army.....:...... 93 The Colonel Crawford Expedition..... 96 The Crawford Monument,..7 5.0... 111 Sweeping Pioneer Pictures........... 112 Amusements of the Pioneer Boy..... 116 The Matthew Brayton Mystery....... ill Execution of a Wyandot Indian...... 132 The Battle of Fallen Timbers......... 138 Raman dd. Orchian digecinen eemte aon. a iterees 142 Location of Wyandot County........ 169 Streams in Wyandot County........ 169 Karly Settlements in Wyandot County .171 Farming in Wyandot County......... 173

Indian Trails, Wagon Roads, Pikes, etc.175 The Railroads of Wyandot County...178 Wyandot County Infirmary.......... 179 Soho: ita Oline WENT so eocenonges « 181 The First Battle of the Civil War... .186 Wyandot County's Military Record. ..188

One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio National Guards Eleventh Ohio Independent Battery. . .226 Miscellaneous Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiments. . .230 Ohio National Guards, One Hundred Days' Service Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Regiments... .234 Ohio Artillery Commands, Volunteers. .235

CHGS Aco is: gekicnace. sus or ars tenses igor oer ea ate eee eae 249 Memorial Drinking Fountain......... 250 Charles Dickens at Upper Sandusky. .250 The Medical Profession.............. 252 Banks of Wyandot County........... 254 Countya Buildine sierra tate ete 257 Historic Upper Sandusky............ 258 Fort Ferree and Camp Meigs......... 260 Fort Ferree Burial Ground........... 260 Indians Council Houser... - emcee ae 261

Upper Sandusky Fire Department..... 301 AMI MERI nag dn eeo amar we CES, Ole GOW Siac 301 OalkeyHnllN Cemetery can sora ster 302 Publie Schools, High Schools, ete..... 303