Union Township

Union Township

The Commissioners' record of Allen county, of March 3, 1834, reads as follows: "A petition was presented by J. C. Lusk praying to have original town five south in range seven east set off to the inhabitants therein for a new township, to be designated and known as Union. Petition granted. Bounds given and advertisements written for an election to be held at the house of Benjamin Corder on the first Monday in April next for township officers."

Pursuant to the order of the Commissioners, an election was held in April, at which time thirty votes were cast, and the following persons were elected to the respective offices: Trustees, John Schooler, John Corder; Clerk, John Balzell ; Justice of the Peace, John Morris.

This township is bounded on the north by Allen county, on the east by Wayne and Goshen townships, on the south by Clay, and on the west by Duchouquet township. It has a more undulating surface than any other township in the county. "The soil is of a mixed character, consisting of gravel* sand, and clay, and is well adapted to the culture of cereals. Springs abound, and the whole township is well watered by living streams. The Auglaize River flows across the northwest corner, while numerous smaller streams, among which are Blackhoof, Wrestle, Huffman, Virginia, and Wolf Creeks, traverse its limits. Gravel beds located in various places afford an abundant amount of material for road making."

And Auglaize Countj

"The township was settled principally by emigrants from Virginia and southern Ohio, and the lands are still largely occupied by them and their immediate descendants."

The timber is of the prevalent varieties found elsewhere in the county, such as walnut, beech, ash, poplar, oak, maple, and buckeye. The timber and vegetation throughout the township was of a very rank growth.

History Of Western Ohio

The record of township officers in the County Auditor's office is irregular and incomplete. The following is a record of the tenure of officers as near as can be ascertained :

In 1833 there were no public roads in Union township. The pioneers were compelled to clear their way through the forest to reach the lands that they had entered. In 1834 a road was opened from Union township to Logan county by way of Roundhead. This highway extended along the summits of ridges, thereby avoiding the construction of numerous bridges. Within a few years after the construction of this road, other roads along section lines were opened. But owing to the mucky nature of the soil, and deficient drainage, they were almost impassable in the winter and spring months. In 1874 the propriety of constructing a gravel pike from Wapakoneta to Waynesfield began to be agitated. In 1876 the proper measures were adopted and the road was constructed. Since that time gravel pikes have been extended to all parts of the township.

The completion of the pikes in the township was followed' by the construction of the Ohio Southern Railroad through the township in 1892. In 1902 the Sandusky Southwestern Electric Railroad, extending through the southern portion of the township, was commenced, and is now (1904) under course of construction.

The first religious society in Union township may be said tc have been formed by Rev. James B. Finley, a Methodist itinerant who preached in the homes of the people, particularly at Charles Lusk's house. The first house of worship was a log building,, located three miles southeast of Uniopolis, and known as Wesley Chapel. A church known as Poplar Hill Church was also a log building. Twenty years later both buildings were replaced by the present neat edifices.

The membership of each of these churches is about one hundred. A well managed Sabbath School in each church meets every Sabbath in the year. Mt. Lookout Tabernacle, planned by Mr. Hugh Lusk, is located on a hill in the eastern part of the township. Services are held in it once or twice a year by the Holiness people.

The early schools of Union township were primitive in their character as well as teaching. The first school was taught about 1836 by R. C. Layton. The immigration of 1833 and 1834 was so great that it became necessary to erect four school houses. At the close of 1836 all the lands in the township had been entered, except section 16. It became necessary, therefore, in 1836, to build two more school houses. Since that time educational interests have kept pace with the other developments of the township. The school statistics for 1903 give the following facts regarding the township schools: Number of pupils enrolled, three hundred and forty-three; amount expended for tuition and other expenses was five hundred and eighty-three dollars. There are nine brick school buildings in the township, each of which is supplied with all the appliances necessary for the proper conduct of the schools.

Uniopolis Village

Uniopolis was originally located in the southwest quarter of section 17, and was platted and organized by John Huffman, in September, 1837. Since its organization there have been additions as follows: No. 1, Samuel Focht's ; No. 2, John W. Howe's ; No. 3, Parlett and Stein's ; No. 4, George Blank's. This village was at a standstill until after the construction of the Ohio Southern Railroad. Since that time many buildings have been -erected and public improvements of a substantial character have been made. The population at the present time (1904) is about four hundred.

A school building of four rooms, in charge of a competent -corps of teachers, affords opportunities to the youth, equal to any of the villages of the county. The Christian denomination -owns an elegant frame church building, and the Methodist Protestant Church also has a fine frame building. A flourishing Sabbath School is attached to each.

The business of the village is quite extensive for an inland village. There are two general stores, one of them owned by Carter & Burden, and the other by Mrs. H. Taylor and Charles Taylor. These stores keep a full line of goods, and are doing a large and lucrative business. There are two hardware stores, one owned by W. R. Green, and the other by W. A. Carter. One hotel "entertains man and beast," as the old sign used to read. This hotel is conducted in such a manner as to place it above the average country house of entertainment. Two restaurants and one saloon supply the public demands on those lines. Two blacksmiths and one wagon shop are kept busy the year around. The flouring mill owned by A. P. Rinehart has no superior in the county. The lumber yard and sawmill of S. E. Blank have been a large and profitable business for several years. The tile factory of W. T. Orr supplies nearly the entire eastern portion of the county with the products of his industry. The two physi-

Biographical

John Morris was born in Virginia in 1796. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and participated in the siege of Yorktown. At the close of the Revolution he settled in Virginia and devoted his attention to the cultivation of his farm. His son John also labored during his minority in tilling his father's farm. In 1832 he married Miss Mary A. Clarkson, and the year following moved to Allen, now Auglaize, county. He entered the southwest quarter of section 30 in Union township.

When he arrived there was not an acre of cleared land in the township, except what had been cleared by the Indians, the land having only come into market the year before. The most of the Indians had been removed ; a few of them, however, remained.

He lived in an Indian cabin until he built one for himself. At that time there was not a road laid out in the township. Where St. John's is now situated there were about twelve or fifteen acres cleared, which had been done by the Indians. The only persons living there were William and Byrd Richardson and their families. Mr. Morris was the first justice of the peace in the township. He served two terms. He died September 22: 1882.

Joseph Copeland, son of Abner Copeland, was born February 5, 1818, in Green county, Ohio, and was eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Union township. He was given a fair education in the subscription schools of that period and, being trained to farm pursuits, remained under the parental roof until his twenty-third year, in the meantime aiding his father in clearing and placing under cultivation the home farm.

October 4, 1840, he married Miss Mary Ann, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Fennemore) English, natives of New Jersey, who, on coming to Ohio in 1833, made their home in Franklin county. Several years later they took up their abode in Auglaize county and located in section 22, where -they were residing at the time of their decease. Mrs. Copeland was born May 23, 1832, in New Jersey, and after her marriage located with her husband on a wild tract of land in Clay township, upon which they made their home for three years, when they removed to Union township, and located on section 27. When Mr. Copeland moved to the township, "it was new and wild, and he encountered all the difficulties and inconveniences of pioneer life. His first team was a yoke of bulls, and after the death of one of them the other was worked alone like a horse. Mr. Copeland relates the following incident concerning the bovine. "One of his neighbors, who then owned the bull, had him bridled and saddled to take a grist to mill. All went well enough until they met another bull, when both animals evinced such fury that the rider of the one soon saw fit to dismount. This he did, and removed his grist, saddle and bridle, and permitted the beasts to settle their difficulties, after which he saddled and bridled his game horse and proceeded on his way."

Hugh T. Rinehart was born in Tazewell county, Virginia. October 23, 1813, and was reared on a farm. His mother dying when he was four years of age, his father was married a second time, and he was brought up by his stepmother until he attained his seventeenth year, when he left home and apprenticed himself to learn the blacksmith's trade. Three years later he married Miss Juliana Godfrey, who was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, November 1, 1813. Three years after their marriage they emigrated to Ohio, and located on section 14 in Union township. The locality was in a wild state at that time. Mr. Rinehart -erected a log cabin on his new farm, which comprised eighty acres, and by hard work and good management cleared and improved the same. He was a resident of this place for fifty-five years, and all his children were born on the homestead with the exception of two. Mrs. Rinehart departed this life June 13. 1881. She was the mother of eleven children, four of whom are living, viz.: Arnold P., John A., Sarah C. (Mrs. Graham), and Adam F.

Mr. Rinehart received a fair education in his younger days, and taught school for several years. He was a consistent and zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having

As the following indicates, Mr. Rinehart has been prominent and popular in local affairs, having served as Justice of the Peace for fifteen years, and was a member of the first Board of County Commissioners of the county. He was also chairman of that board. Mr. Rinehart was a candidate at two different times for the State Legislature, but on both occasions was defeated by a small majority. During the years 1859 and i860, he was a member of the State Board of Equalization, and has been a trustee, clerk, and assessor of Union township for many years. He acted as land appraiser while this section was still a portion <of Allen county, and appraised the- fouUeastern towpships, [irr Auglaize.