County of Williams, Ohio, historical and biographical : with an outline sketch of the Northwest Territory, of the state, and miscellaneous matters

Preface

This volume goes forth to our patrons the result of months of arduous, unremitting and conscientious labor. None so well know as those who have been associated with us the almost insurmountable difficulties to be met with in the preparation of a work of this character. Since the inauguration of the enterprise, a large force have been employed — both local and others — in gathering material. During this time, most of the citizens of the county have been called upon to contribute from their recollections, carefully preserved letters, scraps of manuscript, printed fragments, memoranda, etc. Public records and semi-official documents have been searched, the newspaper files of the count}^ have been overhauled, and former citizens, now living out of the county, have been corresponded with, all for the purpose of making the record as complete as could be, and for the verification of the information by a conference with many. In gathering from these numerous sources, both for the historical and biographical departments, the conflicting statements, the discrepancies and the fallible and incomplete nature of public documents, were almost appalling to our historians and biographers, who were expected to weave therefrom with any degree of accuracy, in panoramic review, a record of events. Members of the same families disagree as to the spelling of the family name, contradict each other’s statements as to dates of birth, of settlement in the county, nativity and other matters of fact. In this entangled condition, we have given preference to the preponderance of authority, and while we acknowledge the existence of errors and our inability to furnish 2^ perfect history, we claim to have come up to the standard of our promises, and given as complete and accurate a work as the nature of the surroundings would permit. Whatever may be the verdict of those who do not 2,ndLwill not comprehend the difficulties to be met with, we feel assured that all just and thoughtful people will appreciate our eflforts, and recognize the importance of the undertaking and the great public benefit that has been accomplished in preserving the valuable historical matter of the county and biographies of many of its citizens, that perhaps would otherwise have passed into oblivion. To those who have given us their support and encouragement, and the}^ are many, we acknowledge our gratitude, and can assure them that as years go by the book will grow in value as a repository not only of pleasing reading matter, but of treasured information of the past that becomes a monument more enduring than marble.

October, 1882. . THE PUBLISHERS.

C0]SrTEITT8 fiISTOB.Y OF THE BfOKTMWEST TERRITOKY.

Page.

American Settlements 59

Black Hawk and the Black Hawk War 73

Discovery of the Ohio Kiver 32

Division of the Territory 65

Early Explorations

English Settlements

Geographical Position

Tecumseh and the War of 1812,

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO.

Ancient Works 174

Banking 126

Brief Mention of Prominent Ohio Generals 191

Canal System 128

Comments upon the Ordinance of 1787 204

Conclusion 200

Description of Counties 137

Early Events 137

Prench History 96

General Characteristics 177

Geology of Ohio 179

Governors of Ohio

History of Ohio

Improvements

Ohio Land Tracts

Ohio’s Bank During the War.

Ordinance of 1787, No. 32

Organizition of Counties

Some Discussed Subjects

State Boundaries

War of 1812

Page.

HISTORY OF WIEEIAMS COUXTY.

Peefatoey 211

Agricultural Society 227

Auditors and Commissioners 234

Bar of Williams County 243

Common Schools 229

County Commisioners’ Session, June 7, 1841.... 232

Court House, County 233

Early Social Conditions 212

Pair Grounds 228

Pinancial Condition 223

Pirst Court House and Jail 238

Pormation of County 221

Infirmary 244

Jail, County 232

June Prost of 1859 228

Landmarks, Destruction of. 243

Medical Society 244

Murder, Convictions for 241

Native Timber, Destruction of. 224

Post Offices. 220

Proceedings of County Commissioners 222

Railroad Conductor, The First 218

Railroad Enterprise, The First 217

Railroad Projects, Other 219

Rival Railroad Schemes 217

Settlers, First White 222

Tax on the Professions 234

Taxation, Basis of, in 1882 231

Terms of Court at Bryan 238

Then and Now 213

Geology, Politics and Press 247

Building and Road Material 250

Drainage 253

Geology, Politics and Press (Continued).

Election Statistics 257

Geological Structure 248

Journalism of the County 264

Politics of the County 253

Stryker Mineral Water 251

Timber, Native 252

Topographical Features 247

Water 250

Ohio and Michigan Wae 272

AECH.aEOLOGICAL REMAINS 275

Pipes 277

Stone Imp’ements 276

Utensils, Domestic and Other 277

Military History 278

Aid Societies 294

Calls for Troops, New 292

Cavalry, The Third 308

( avalry, The Ninth 309

Close of the Rebellion 296

Continued Enlistment of Volunteers 285-288

Draft, The First 288

Enlistment in 1862 286

Enlistment in 1863 289

First War Meetings 279

Fourth of July, 1861 282

Infantry, The Fourteenth 299

Infantry, The Thirty-eighth 300

Infantry, The Sixty-eighth 304

Infantry, The One Hundredth 305

Infantry, The One Hundred and Eleventh 306

Infantry, The One Hundred and Forty-second 307

Lincoln, Assassination of 297

Meetings, Political and War, in 1863 290

VI

CONTENTS,

Military History ( Continued). Page.

Mexican War 278

Militia Organizations 291

Militia System 279

Opposition to the War 289

Political Sentiment in 1860 279

Recruiting, Additional 291

Regiments, Sketches of : 299

Return of Three Months’ Men 282

Return of the Troops 298

Summary of Troops 298

War Measures, Further 293

Work of Aid Societies 295

Bryan, Town of 312

Benevolent and Social Institutions 336

Bryan Manufacturing Company 321

Burial Grounds 339

Cabins, First 317

Corporation 327

Dry Goods Stores. First .... 318

Establishment as County Seat 312

Fires and Fire Department 327

Fountain Grove Cemetery Association 310

Grand Army of the Republic 336

Industries, Early 318

Industries and Trade 321-326

Library, Public 324

Literary Societies.. .. 336

Manufacturing in 1882 321

Museum .324

Plat of Bryan, Additions to 313

Schoolhouse, First 317

Schools, Early 339

Adult Males, Enumeration of. 345

Christian Worship, First Places of 346

Church Buildings, First 347

Elections and Voters 341

Justices of the Peace 344

Miscellaneous Notes 347

Sunday Schools 347

Towns in Pulaski 346

Asheries 354

Bridges 353

Cemeteries 350

Church Organizations 363

Death, First i 350

Edgerton’s Public and Business Men 359

Elpctions 363

Families, First 352

Indian Trails 353

Introductory Remarks 348

n Lawyers 358

Manulactories 354

Newspapers of Edgerton .» 362

Politics 362

Post OfSces 357

Public Halls 359

Rebellion, During the 363

Retrospective 367

School Books 361

Settlements, Early 349

Spelling Schools 360

Sunday Schools 366

Taverns, Early 353

Villages and Stores 354

Wild Animals 351

Additions to Moupelier 376

Agricultural Wealth 377

Business Resources 376

Lawyers 378

Manufacturing, Early 375

Merchants, First, 375

Superior Township {Continued). Page.

Montpelier 372

Moral and Benevolent Agencies 381

Physicians, Early 378

Roads and Bridges 377

Schools 379

Sewerage Facilities 377

St. Joseph as a Highway 378

Township Government 368

Water Supply 377

Board of Education, West Unity 389

Brady Insurance Company 398

Business, Extent of Present 398

Churches and Schools 389

Death, First 383

Facts of Interest, Additional 385

First Events in West Unity 384

General Progress 388

Horse Thief Society 387

Hotels 398

Incorporation of West Unity 387

Merchants, etc 399

Miscellaneous Items 384

Name, Origin of. 382

Pioneers and Industries 382

Postmasters of West Unity. 388

Roll of Honor 395

School Districts 403

Teachers of West Unity 393

Unity Mill Company 399

West Unity 383

West Unity Cornet Band 402

Additions to Pioneer 419

Churches of Pioneer 424

Enterprises of Pioneer 416

First Election 408

First Permanent Settler 406

General Improvement 407

Incidents and Amusements 411

Incorporation of Pioneer 419

Industries of Pioneer 417

Kunkle’s Corners 414

Mound-Builbers’ Works 413

Officers of Pioneer 419

Pioneer Cornet Band 425

Pioneer Village 415

“ Podunk ” 414

Religious Societies 423

Reminiscences of Pioneer Life 411

Saw-mill, First 413

Schools of Township 421

Secret Organizations '. 418

Social Progress 413

Town Plat of Pioneer 419

Bridges, Early 434

Death, First 433

Drainage 434

Early History 426

Educational 439

Election and Other Statistics 444

General Features 425

Incorporation of Stryker.. 438

Interesting Facts 433

Oil Well Company 444

Poll Book, Early 429

Post Roads, etc 433

Production Statistics 435

Professional Men of Stryker 437

Saw and Grist Mills 4.34

Settlements, Early 431

Springfield Grange 443

Stryker, Village of. 435

Teachers, Early 439