Washington Township

Washington Township

On the first day of December, 1836, the Commissioners of A.llen county, on petition of resident citizens in town six south, range five east, "Ordered that a new township be erected, to be designated and known by the name of Washington. It was further ordered that legal notices should be posted up in the new township of Washington, for the election of township officers. Said election to be held at the dwelling house of George Esperson -on the 20th day of December, 1836."

The township is bounded on the north by Moulton township, on the east by Pusheta township, on the south by Shelby county, .and on the west by St. Mary's township.

The soil of this township is generally a black sandy loam, intermixed with clay and gravel. Muddy Creek and its tributaries afford a natural drainage for the central and western portions of the township. The fertile bottom lands along the numerous lateral streams make it one of the best agricultural townships in the county. These lands - as in all other parts of the county - were heavily wooded, and the improvements that are to be seen at the present time are the results of the most arduous toil.

The timber of the township is of the usual varieties, indigenous to other sections of the county, such as hard maple, beech, dm, white and black ash, the different varieties of oak, walnut, linden, hickory, hackberry, buckeye, etc.

History Of Western Ohio

The oil and gas products of the central and western portions of the township within the last ten years has greatly increased the value of real estate.

The inhabitants are largely of German origin, and are the descendants of the pioneers who entered lands in the township. The following is a complete list of land entries :

The German Lutheran denomination built the first church in the township in 1838. It was a frame structure, and stood ofr the site of the present elegant edifice of that denomination in Knoxville. There are four churches in the township, including the two churches in Knoxville; also a Sunday School chapel located in the northern part of the township for the accommodation of the members of the Lutheran Reformed Church, in the northern and eastern portions of the township. The two branches of the United Brethren Church have elegant buildings in sections 24 and 25.

The first school houses in the township were of the then prevailing style, built of round logs, with huge fireplaces, clapboard roofs, and other peculiarities not known to builders of the present day.

There are no schools in the county under a better system of management than the schools of Washington township. The Board of Education have always been liberal in the expenditure of money for the improvement of their school. The Washington township board was the first-one in the county to pay the tuition of the advanced pupils from the district schools, and no township has sent larger numbers to the annual Boxwell examinations than this one. The nine school buildings are modern in their structure, and in most instances are surrounded by beautiful lawns, ornamented with shade trees.

New Knoxville

This beautiful village is situated in the northwest corner of section 29 and the northeast corner of section 30, and was laid out in village lots in 1836 by James K. Lytle, and consisted of one hundred and two lots. The corporate limits of the burg were extended a few years ago. At the present time it has an area of one square mile. Land around the village and within

.its corporate limits has, for many years, been selling at the rate of a hundred dollars per acre. The inhabitants of the village and township are almost entirely of German descent. The first store established in the village was owned by Cummins, Mather & Brown. Previous to the erection of the store, they built a steam .sawmill, which they afterward sold to James K. Lytle. Henry Venneman also built a frame store and. dwelling in 1850, but had been selling goods at his house, just outside of the village limits, from 1840 to that time. Henry Lutterbein commenced to sell goods about the same time. Ever since then there has been a gradual increase in the volume of business. There are two large dry goods stores in the village, one owned by Benjamin E. Cook, and the other by Herman Kuhlman. These stores keep a full line of goods, and are doing a large and lucrative business. There are also two hardware and grocery stores, one owned by W. H. Fledderjohann, and the other by William Duhma and ICopke. They, too, are doing a good business. The other forms of business in the village consist of one hotel conducted by Mrs. J. L. Headapohl, one saloon, one physician, Dr. Fledderjohann, one planing mill, two sawmills, one hoop factory, one harness shop, and one butcher.

Although organized under the Union School Law, the system of graded schools was not introduced until 1885, at which time a four room brick building was erected at a cost of five thousand dollars.

The first Lutheran Reformed Church in New Knoxville was erected in 1838. It was a log building, and was for several years the only place of worship in the township. Ten years later a commodious frame building was erected which did ser- vice until 1893, when the present handsome brick edifice was erected at a cost of twenty-eight thousand dollars. The auditorium will seat seven hundred and fifty people, and the gallery two hundred and eight. A year after the construction of the new building the members of the church contributed two thousand five hundred dollars for the installation of a grand pipe organ.

Biographical

Henry Cook was born in New Bremen, August 6th, 1835. His father, William Cook, was born in Westphalia, Germany, in 1810. He became a carpenter in his youth, and after marriage he sailed for America with his bride, to build up a home in this country, where he deemed he could better his fortunes. He landed at Baltimore, and came directly to Ohio, making his way hither on foot in company with a colony. He and his fellow travelers sought work in Cincinnati, and not being successful, continued northward along the route of the Miami and Erie canal that had just been surveyed. They finally arrived at New Bremen, and from there went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, before employment was found. Six months later, Mr. Cook returned to New Bremen, and was one of the first to locate there. He worked on the locks and did other work about the canal until it was completed. About that time he removed to Washington township, and settled on land that he purchased of his fatherin-law, who had just come over from Germany. That land was bought of the Government at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and was in the midst of a country that was all new. Deer were so plentiful that they frequently came into the yard, and sometimes were shot from an open window. Wolves were numerous, and many a night the slumbers of the tired pioneers were disturbed by their howls. Indians were frequent passers. They were remnants of tribes that went west in 1832.

Mr. Cook was a sincere Christian, who clung to the faith of his fathers, and was one of the organizers of the Lutheran Reformed society in this part of the country. Elizabeth Fledderjohann was the maiden name of his first wife, who died in 1850. leaving five children, of whom our subject is the eldest. The father married Elizabeth Burnsman for his second wife, by whom he had eight children, of whom five are living.

Henry Cook did not have very good school advantages in his younger days, as schools, which were taught on the subscription plan, were only open one or two months a year. They were held in rude log buildings, and had furniture of the roughest description, slabs serving as seats, and a board placed against the wall was the only desk for the scholars to write upon. Our subject helped his father clear his farm until he was fifteen years old, and then began to learn the carpenter trade. He worked with his father, who was a skilled mechanic, and was the only carpenter in the locality at the time. His father used to take contracts, and after our subject had thoroughly mastered the trade, he did the work. He continued thus engaged for fifteen years, during which time he put up a number of buildings in the vicinity, which are still standing.

When he abandoned carpentering, he entered the mercantile business with his father-in-law, Henry Venneman, at New Knoxville. After Mr. Venneman's death in 1882, Mr. Cook took entire control of the business, and has been carrying it on since that time. He has a general store, in which may be found dry goods of every description, besides groceries, boots and shoes, and every thing that is usually sold in such a store. In 1901, he and his son, Benjamin, erected a large brick building in which they are conducting a lucrative business at the present time. Besides this valuable property, he has a quarter section of land in Washington township and eighty acres in Van Buren township in Shelby county. He was appointed to the postmastership of the village soon after Abraham Lincoln was elected to the Presidency, and has held the office ever since, excepting when Cleveland was in the Presidential chair, and discharged the duties incumbent upon him in a manner entirely satisfactory to all concerned. He is a staunch Republican in politics. He has held responsible public offices, and was treasurer of Washington township eight years.

Both he and his wife are among the most valued members of the Lutheran Reformed Church, and they stand high in the estimation of the entire community.

Mr. Cook was married in i860 to Miss Elizabeth Venneman, who is of German birth but has passed the most of her life in this country, whither she came with her parents when eighteen months old. Her father located on a farm just north of New Knoxville ; cleared and improved his land, and he also engaged in keeping store with our subject seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have three children living: Sarah, Benjamin and

Conrad Knatz, a prominent farmer and noted stock raiser, of Washington township, was born in Germany, August nth. 1829. His father, George Knatz, who was a farmer, died at the age of fifty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna E. Ritz, survived him twenty years. In accordance with the laws of the country, he had served two years in the German army, which he left In order to take care of his parents who were old. He had three brothers who served seven years each.

Conrad Knatz was well educated, having attended the common schools of his native country until he was fourteen years of age, and afterward attended a higher school for some time. After leaving school, he became foreman on a large farm, and retained that position three years, although young for so responsible an office. He came into possession of a farm from his father's estate, which he sold, and in the fall of 1853 sailed from Bremen, Germany, with his bride to found a new home on American soil. After a voyage of nine weeks and three days, the young couple landed at New York, whence they came directly to Ohio. He found employment on a farm for a year, and then invested his money in eighty acres of his present farm in section one, Washington township. His land was heavily timbered, swampy, quite level, and most of it under water. Wild game was plentiful, as the region was only sparsely settled. Deer used to run with his cattle, being so bold that Mr. Knatz often chased them out of his wheat field.

the soil for cultivation. From a state of nature his farm gradually developed into one of the best in the township. By his persevering energy and strict economy he was able from time to time to add to his landed estate, until at the present time he has an aggregate of three hundred and fifty acres.

Mr. Knatz was married in Germany to Miss Anna E. Filling. After their arrival in America they became the parents of four sons: George, Henry, John and Ditmar. The elder and two younger are engaged in farming their father's farm, while Henry, the second son, is foreman in a large store in Milwaukee. Mr. Knatz is living a retired life, and is at the present time (1905) a resident of Wapakoneta.

Jesse Roberts was born near Xenia, Ohio, December nth, 1811. He married Catherine Meyers, and moved to Washington township in 1837. He here entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, receiving his patent from President Van Buren. His wife died in 1867, leaving eight children: Minerva A., Lavina

J., John M., Cyrus P., Cornelia S., Nancy C., and Mary M. On May 31st, 1870, Mr. Roberts married Sarah J. Rush; of this marriage one daughter was born, Ella May, who married Rufus Hastings, with whom she resides at the present time.

Mr. Roberts was an influential and respected citizen, and held numerous minor offices during his residence in the township. His death occurred March 21st, 1874, at which time he owned six hundred and forty acres of land, acquired by his industry and economy.

James Slack, a noted mechanic and an esteemed public officer of Washington township, was born in Cincinnati, July nth, 1851. His father, Benjamin Slack, and his grandfather, James Slack, were born in Pennsylvania. The father of our subject was a carpenter by trade, and labored for a time at Cincinnati and other places in the state. He died at Cincinnati in i860, at the age of thirty-four years. His wife, Christina Slack, nee Kuck, survives him.

James .Slack, our subject, is the eldest in a family of four children, and the only one living. He came to New Knoxville with his parents in 1859, and has made his home here ever since that time. He attended the. common district school at times when his health would permit. With the exception of the small' amount of elementary training received in a desultory manner, he is self-educated. He displayed a genius for mechanics at an: early date. His juvenile contrivances were noted for their excellence of mechanical construction, . and were indicative of his future success as a machinist.

Mr. Slack was married in 1875 to Miss Frances Graessle, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Philip and Julia Graessle. Of this marriage have been born, namely: Bertha, wife of Frederick' South, who resides at Cincinnati, and Cora at home. Mr. Slack and his family have been members of the Methodist church for many years, and are noted for their acts of charity. Mr. Slack is a man of fine mental and moral character, and has the esteem and confidence of all who know him. "He has been connected with the School Board for several years as clerk and treasurer; has been justice of the peace twelve years, and is a notary public, transacting considerable business for his neighbors in that capacity ; and for nineteen years has been clerk of Washington township. In politics he is a staunch Republican.

Benjamin A. Fledderjohann, Democrat, Representative from Auglaize county, was born in St. Mary's township, May 19th, 1866. His father, H. H. Fledderjohann, a carpenter by trade, was a pioneer settler long before Auglaize county was created, and built locks on the Miami and Erie canal. The elder Fledderjohann built a sawmill at lock six, which he operated for more than fifty years. At this place Mr. Fledderjohann the younger spent his days at the sawmill and farm, until eighteen years of age, when he entered the New Bremen High School. After three years of study he graduated from this school and taught a district school for two years, entering the Normal College of Angola, Indiana, thereafter. In 1890 he was appointed superintendent of the New Knoxville public schools, and held this position for ten years, resigning in the spring of 1901. In the same year he became a candidate for Representative on the Democratic primary ticket and was nominated with a large majority over two competitors. In the election of 1901 he received the largest vote on the Democratic ticket, defeating his opponent, R. B. South, on the Republican ticket by a large majority, carrying his own township which is one of the only two Republican townships in the county. Mr. Fledderjohann is secretary apd bookkeeper of the Inland Telephone Company, and manager of the Fledderjohann Hardware store. He is a member and earnest advocate of the German Reformed Church, and has taken a: prominent rank in the charitable work of that denomination.

Shadrach Montgomery was born in western Pennsylvania in 1789, and grew to manhood amid the stirring times dating from 1790 to 1812. In the latter year he enlisted in a company recruited in his neighborhood to serve during the second war of the Revolution. The company was assigned to duty under General Hull in his campaign against Detroit and Canada. The disasters of the campaign and the ignominious surrender of the army by General Hull are incidents of history that need not be recounted in this connection. After the surrender, Mr. Montgomery, along with the other captured troops, were marched' through the wilderness to Fort Niagara, where he was exchanged the following year. Upon his return home he re-enlisted and was assigned to duty on the northern frontier. In 1814 he participated in the battle of Niagara, or Lundy's Lane, as it is sometimes called. He received two wounds in this engagement, receiving a ball in a hip and another in a leg. The ball in his leg he carried during the remainder of his life. He suffered much in after years from his wounds and the severities of his march from Detroit to Niagara. His grandson states that his grandfather "could never eat raised wheaten bread after the Hull' campaign. The rations of flour and lime issued by the British commissaries so sickened him that he could never eat bread, other than unleavened bread afterwards."

Three years after his return from the army he married Miss Julia A. Brannon. Of this union there were eleven children born : Archibald, David, Charles H., Shadrach J., Elizabeth

Ryan, Jane, Isabella Howell, Mary Lintch, Samalah Howell, Susan Spray, and Hannah Spray. After his marriage he moved to Darby in Champaign county, Ohio, where the family resided until they removed to Moulton township in 1830. Mr. Montgomery has the distinction of being the first settler of the township. For the first year the Shawnee Indians were his only neighbors. His son Archibald, then twelve years of age, soon learned to speak the Shawnee language with fluency. Like the other pioneers of that time, the family were compelled to depend largely upon the chase for subsistance. Fortunately for them Mr. Montgomery was a noted hunter. "He claimed to have killed the last deer ever seen in the county. On one occasion he killed two deer at one shot. He saw but one, but after the shot he found a second one had stood in range beyond the one at which he aimed. He also claimed to have killed the last wolf ever seen in the county."

In 1831 he entered land in section twenty-four in Washington township. Within the forty-one years of his residence in the township he held many offices of trust and honor. He assisted in the organization of the township, and at different times held the offices of justice of the peace, clerk, treasurer and trustee. In 1842 he was elected commissioner of Allen county, and was re-elected in 1844. When Auglaize county was organized in 1848, he was again elected county commissioner.