Hancock County OhArchives History - Books .....Chapter XV, Part III 1886
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Ann Anderson ann.g.anderson@gmail.com July 17, 2005, 7:11 pm
Book Title: History Of Hancock County
CHAPTER XV. 

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.

ERECTION, SUBSEQUENT CHANGES AND AKEA—LOCATION, BOUNDARIES AND
POPULATION—TIMBER, STREAMS AND SOIL—PIONEERS—A NOTED HUNTER —FIRST MARRIAGES AND
BIRTHS—EARLY MILLS—CHURCHES—SCHOOLS-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE—MT. BLANCHARD—ITS
FIRST BUSINESS MEN-POSTMASTERS—MAYORS—RAILROAD AND TELEGRAPH FACILITIES—PRESENT
MATERIAL AND SOCIAL INTERESTS OF THE VILLAGE.

SOON after the first election of county officers was held, April 7, 1828, two
new townships, called Amanda and Welfare, were erected from Findlay Township,
which previously embraced the whole county. As the minutes of the commissioners'
journal from the organization of the county tip to April, 1829, have been
missing for some years from the record book in the auditor's office, it is not
possible to give the original boundaries of these townships; but old settlers
have stated that Amanda and Welfare then embraced the whole southeast portion of
the county. On the 1st of June, 1829, in compliance with a petition presented by
the citizens of Welfare Township, the board of commissioners changed the name of
that subdivision to Delaware. Upon the erection of Jackson Township December 7,
1829, a part of Delaware was taken into that township, leaving the latter
composed of the full congressional Township 2 south, Range 11 east. On March 4,
1834, Township 2 south, Range 12, was attached to Delaware, where it remained
till its erection as Richland Township, March 2, 1835. The next change in the
boundaries of Delaware occurred June 1, 1840, when the two western tiers of
sections were taken in the formation of Madison Township. Wyandot County was
erected February 3, 1845, and the five eastern tiers or thirty sections of
Richland Township became a part of the new county, thus wiping out Richland as a
subdivision of Hancock. The remaining tier of sections was attached by the
commissioners to Delaware Township, March 5, 1845, and no change has since
occurred in the territory of this subdivision. It contains thirty full sections
of land— twenty-four in Township 2, Range 11, and six in Range 12, or an area of
19,200 acres.

   Delaware is the southeastern township of Hancock County, and is bounded on
the north by Jackson and Amanda Townships, on the east by Wyandot County, on the
south by Hardin County, and on the west by Madison Township. In 1840, it
contained a population of 532; 1850, 1,035; 1860, 1,231; 1870, 1,280; 1880, 1,455.

   The lands of Delaware Township were originally densely covered with oak, elm,
ash, maple, walnut, beech, hickory, sycamore, cottonwood, linn, buckeye,
hackberry and several other kinds of timber, most of which has long ago
disappeared before the ringing blows of the woodman's ax. The Blanchard River
enters the township in Section 36, and meandering northward through the central
sections thereof strikes the northern boundary line in Section 2, half a mile
northwest of Mt. Blanchard. It receives, in it& course through Delaware, Potato
Creek and Hancock Run from the southeast, and from the southwest, Wolford's Kun
and Ripley's Run. Along the Blanchard the surface is rolling, while back from
that stream it is generally more level. The prevailing soil is a black, sandy
loam, very rich and productive, but on the higher lands a clay mixture
predominates, which, however, does not lessen its fertility or value.

   Pioneers.—Late in 1821, or early in the following year, Asa Lake and his
wife, Cloe, with their son, Asa M., and daughters, Lydia and Martha, removed to
this township, and built their cabin on the west half of the northwest quarter
of Section 1, which was afterward entered by Asa M., December 12, 1822. This was
the first settlement made in Hancock County south of "Chamberlin's Hill." The
Lakes, natives of Kentucky, removed from that State to Ohio and settled near the
salt works east of the Scioto River, in what is now Jackson County, whence they
came to Hancock. In. 1824 the father was assessed by Wilson Vance, assessor of
Findlay Township, for two horses and eleven head of cattle. Findlay Township
then embraced the whole county and was tinder the jurisdiction of Wood County;
and this was the first assessment made within its limits. The parents were aged
when they died at the old homestead on the Blanchard. On the 14th of September,
1826, Asa M. Lake was married to Miss Charlotte Greer, daughter of William J.
Greer, Sr. The ceremony was performed by Joshua Hedges, a pioneer justice of the
peace, who resided about two miles northwest of Findlay. This was the first
marriage in the township. Lydia Lake was subsequently married to George W.
Wolford, and Martha became the wife of Jesse Rose. Both Asa and Asa M. Lake
voted at the first county election held April 7, 1828; and upon the organization
of Welfare (now Delaware) Township, in 1828, the latter was chosen justice of
the peace, and twice re-elected to the same office. In October, 1830, Asa M.
Lake laid out the village of Mt. Blanchard, upon the farm which he settled and
improved. The family of Asa M. Lake removed to Logan County, but returned to
this township, where he died. His widow is said to be still living in Illinois,
and all of the children have removed to the West excepting William, who is yet a
resident of Delaware Township.

   Michael Burke entered the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 2,
January 22, 1823, and settled upon it the same year. In 1824 he was assessed for
two horses and two head of cattle. His name would indicate that he was an
Irishman or of Irish parentage, but where he lived ere coming to this county is
not known. Burke was a noted wolf hunter and spent the most of his time in the
pursuit of game. On the 13th of November, 1826, he sold his land to Don Alonzo
Hamlin, and with his family soon afterward left the county.

   Daniel Hamlin and family were the next to locate in this township. He was a
native of Maine, and removed to New York where he married, and about 1818
immigrated to Crawford (now Wyandot) County, Ohio. In 1824, with his wife
Keziah, sons Don Alonzo and Daniel, and daughters Lorain P. and Azuba, he
removed to this township and built his cabin on the Blanchard, in Section 2.
Miss Lorain P. Hamlin married Aquilla Gilbert, now of Vanlue, and Azuba, married
David H. Edgar, a pioneer of Hardin County, whose school she was attending at
the time of her marriage in March, 1831. Daniel and his son, Don Alonzo, voted
at the first county election in April, 1828, at which time the latter was
elected sheriff of Hancock County, defeating Reuben Hale, of Findlay, by
thirty-nine to thirty-four. He served till the following October election, when
he was chosen county assessor, which position he filled several years. In 1828
or 1829 Daniel Hamlin gave the old homestead in Section 2, to Don Alonzo, and
removed to land which he had previously entered in Jackson Township, Hardin
County, where both he and his son Daniel died in the summer of 1831. His widow,
who survived him several years, also died on the homestead in Hardin County. Don
Alonzo married Miss Elizabeth Slight, daughter of Thomas Slight, a pioneer of
Findlay, who bore him several children. About 1840, he went to Iowa, where he
passed the balance of his days. After his death some of his children returned to
Hancock County. Don Alonzo possessed a better education than the average
pioneer, and therefore wielded quite an influence among his neighbors. Many of
the first settlers could neither read nor write, and a man of even limited
education was the exception, and therefore looked upon by his less fortunate
neighbors as a scholar. Such men as Don Alonzo Hamlin were great blessings to
the scattered settlements hi molding the sentiments of the people and
encouraging the early establishment of schools.

   The Greer family were the next to cast their fortunes with the Blanchard
settlement. In the spring of 1825 William J. Greer and his wife, Sarah, natives
of Maryland, located on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 1,
immediately east of the Lakes, entered by him December 10, 1823. They had eight
children when they came to this township, viz.: William J., John H., Charlotte,
James, Fielder D., Henry and Samuel. Charlotte was married to Asa M. Lake
September 14, 1826, this being the first marriage in the settlement. William J.
was subsequently married to Miss Rosannah Elder, daughter of Robert Elder, which
was the second marriage in Delaware. Joshua Hedges, a justice of the peace, then
residing northwest of Findlay about two miles, married both couples. A recent
local publication tells an amusing story about the marriage of Mr. Greer and
Miss Elder, giving an account of their trip through the forest to Findlay for
the license, thence to Squire Hedges, where they were married, and thence back
to their home in Delaware Township, both riding the whole distance upon one
horse. Henry Greer (a brother of the groom), now a resident of Mt. Blanchard,
says: "There is not a word of truth in this story. Squire Hedges came to Robert
Elder's house, and it was there the marriage occurred. Our family and some of
the Hamlins were at the wedding." Such seems to be the fate of many similar
pioneer yarns. In the summer of 1827 another daughter, Maria, was born to
William J. Greer, Sr., she being the first white female born in the township.
The parents were Methodists, and the first class of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in this section was organized at their cabin on Potato Creek, by the
Revs. Thompson and Gavit. Both died in this township, and here, too, the four
eldest sons passed away. Henry is the only one of the children now residing in
the county.

   Reuben W. Hamlin comes next in the order of time. He was a native of Maine,
removed to New York with his parents, where he grew to manhood, served through
the war of 1812, and subsequently married Lovisa Earl, a native of the Empire
State. In 1818 he and his wife settled in Cleveland, Ohio, then a small hamlet,
where he carried on a little store, and here his first child, M. S., now a
resident of Mt. Blanchard, was born. In 1824, with his wife and three children,
he left Cleveland and took up his residence in what is now Crawford Township,
Wyandot Co., Ohio, and in the spring of 1825, arrived at the settlement on the
Blanchard, and at once began the erection of a cabin in Section 2, near the
improvement of Daniel Hamlin. He soon became familiar with the lands of Hancock
County, and throughout the pioneer days was one of the popular land hunters of
this region. He sold the first goods in Delaware Township, carrying on a small
store at his house for the Carlin Bros., of Findlay, about five years. His name
is found among the seventy-four electors who voted at the first county election
April 7, 1828. At the general October election, held that year, he and Thomas
Slight were opposing candidates for coroner, but Slight was elected. Reuben W.
Hamlin was the father of eight children, six of whom are living, but only one,
M. S., is a resident of this county, the others having removed to the West. The
mother died in 1837, and in 1838 Mr. Hamlin went to Indiana where he lived
several years. Returning to Ohio he settled in Wyandot County, there remarried,
and died in 1854.

   Godfrey Wolford also came in 1825, and settled in Section 11. He was a native
of Pennsylvania, and was married in Coshocton County, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth
Elder, daughter of Robert Elder, and she bore him five sons and three daughters,
viz.: Gideon, Robert E., John F., Mayor C., William, Catherine, Elizabeth and
Phoebe. In April, 1828, Mr. Wolford was one of the three commissioners elected
to serve until the succeeding October election, when he was again a candidate
for the same position, but was defeated. He was afterward a justice of the peace
of Delaware Township from 1834 to 1851, inclusive. In 1826 he built a hand-mill,
which was used by the struggling settlers until 1829-30, when he erected a
grist-mill on the Blanchard, which he operated for several years, and then sold
to John Hanley. It was the first mill built south of Findlay in this county, and
was of inestimable value to the pioneers of the southern part of Hancock. Mr.
Wolford was a very useful citizen, and exerted a good influence in the township.
He and his wife removed to Indiana, and there died, but two of his sons, Robert
E. and John F., reside in Madison Township.

   In the fall of 1825 Robert and Catherine Elder and five children, viz.:
Ephraim, John, Joseph, Jeremiah and Rosannah, natives of Pennsylvania, who had
previously settled in Coshoeton County, Ohio, located near the site of Mt.
Blanchard. Ephraim and John were married, while Elizabeth, the wife of Godfrey
Wolford, had come out the previous spring. The other three were single. Rosannah
subsequently married William J. Greer, Jr. In March, 1826, Mrs. Ephraim Elder,
who is a daughter of John Wolford, gave birth to a son. From the fact that the
little stranger was the first white child born in the settlement, some one
suggested "Blanchard" as an appropriate name for the boy, but the mother stoutly
refused, and named him John B. Three of the Elders—Ephraim, Josiah and John—cast
their votes at the April election in 1828. The first case on the civil docket of
the court of common pleas was brought by Robert Elder and wife, in November,
1828, against Asa M. Lake and wife for slander. The suit was decided in favor of
the defendants, the plaintiffs being ordered to pay the costs, which were $2.22,
truly not a very heavy bill; but the case goes to prove that the pioneers did
not dwell in such Christian harmony as some of the few yet living would have us
believe.

Robert Elder and wife and their four sons spent the balance of their lives in
Delaware Township, where the widows of Ephraim and Josiah still reside. Mrs.
Wolford removed from the county, and Bosannah, upon the death of Mr. Greer,
married Simeon Bansbottom, and, for her third husband, Joseph Helms, and died in
Findlay. Josiah was perhaps the most prominent and best known member of the
family, though all of them are well remembered in this township.

   No more settlers came into the township for the next three years, but in the
summer of 1828 John Wolford and sons—Absalom W., George W. and Andrew—located on
the Blanchard in Section 23, where he entered 160 acres of land June 17 of that
year. They soon afterward erected a sawmill, and subsequently began the erection
of a grist-mill, but ere the latter was completed John Wolford died; and in
August, 1832, Felix Miller purchased the property and finished the mill. Mrs.
Ephraim Elder, of Mt. Blanchard, is a daughter of Mr. Wolford, and at this
writing the only surviving member of his family.

   Among other pioneers of this period were John Rose, Nathan Williams, Warren
and Van B. Hancock and Harvey Smith. Mr. Bose entered the east half of the
northwest quarter of Section 23, December 10, 1823, but did not locate upon his
land till 1828. He was one of the first township trustees, and in 1832 was
elected county commissioner, and in 1855 justice of the peace. His wife,
Margaret, died January 6, 1863, and March 21, 1883, he too passed away. Both
were natives of Maryland. One of his sons, Aaron F. B., yet resides in the
township. Nathan Williams and wife, Nancy, who came in the summer of 1828, are
not so well remembered by the present generation. Mrs. Williams died soon after
coming here, this being the first death in the settlement. Nathan afterward
married Annie Hamlin, sister of Reuben W. Hamlin, and removed to Michigan. The
Hancocks settled in the northeast quarter of Section 14 in the summer of 1828,
and lived in the township for many years. Harvey Smith came the same summer, and
settled in Section 1. He resided in this part of the county until after the
close of the Rebellion, when he followed his brother, Cephas, to the West. All
of the foregoing, except John Rose, voted at the general election in October, 1828.

   The year 1829 ushered in Michael Casner, William Davis and Ayers Stradley.
Casner settled in Section 10, where he resided till his death, his family
afterward removing to the West. Davis entered the east half of the northwest
quarter of Section 14 in 1823, though he did not settle upon it for some six
years after that date. He and his wife died in the township, and their son,
Asariah, is now residing on the old homestead. Stradley built his cabin on
Potato Creek, and after a residence of several years here died, and the widow
removed with the family to Indiana.

   Samuel F. Treece and wife, Maria, natives of Pennsylvania, removed with their
parents to Pickaway County, Ohio, where they were married. In the fall of 1830
they came to Hancock County, and settled in the northwest corner of this
township. After a residence here of some twenty years they removed to Jackson
Township, and in the spring of 1882 to Arlington, where they are now living.

   In 1830-31 Felix Miller, Josiah Smith and Cephas Smith located in the
township. Miller, in August, 1832, became owner of the saw-mill erected by John
Wolford, in Section 23, and completed the grist-mill begun by the latter. Josiah
Smith, who is now living at Forest, Hardin County, settled in Section 1, while
his brother Darius, who came with him, built his cabin in Amanda Township.
Cephas Smith settled in Section 7, whence he removed West about 1850-51.

   The township was now pretty well settled; large clearings had been made in
the forest, and those who came later found a hearty welcome and willing hands
ready to render any assistance needed. From 1831 to 1835 Dr. A. F. Burson, John
Lafferty, William Musgrave, James Taylor, John P. Gordon, Abner Bell, Joshua
Brown, Abijah Smith, Michael Shafer, Job Phillips, Samuel R. Phillips, Robert
Wilson, George Sebastian, John Treece and a few others came into the township.
But more than a decade had then passed by since the first cabin was erected in
Delaware Township, and these later comers can scarcely be regarded as pioneers
in the true sense of that term, though many of them did their full share toward
building up and improving their adopted county.

   Early Mills.—A small hand-mill, built by Godfrey Wolford, in 1826, was the
first- mill of any kind in this portion of the county, and the pioneers came
long distances to do their grinding. Mr. Wolford was a blacksmith and therefore
a very useful man. For the convenience of the settlers he set up the mill in the
open space between the double log-cabin of Ephraim Elder, where each man did his
own grinding, and no charges were made. This rude mill served the purpose till
1829-30, when Mr. Wolford erected a grist-mill on the Blanchard in Section 11,
which was the first flouring-mill operated in the county outside of Findlay. It
was a godsend to the pioneers of this portion of Hancock, as the difficulty of
procuring bread-stuffs was one of the greatest hardships they had to undergo. In
1834 this mill was appraised by the assessor at $500. It ran constantly during
the milling seasons, and though it was often frozen up in winter, and stopped in
summer by low water, the judicious farmer tried to keep sufficient flour on hand
to bridge over these stoppages. Mr. Wolford ran the mill for several years, then
sold it to John Hanley. A saw-mill was subsequently added thereto. These mills
finally became the property of George S. Fahl, who carried them on till 1862,
when he turned them over to his son Silas, who, in 1872, added thereto a steam
planing-mill, shingle-mill and lath factory, all of which are still in full
operation.

   About 1831-32, John Wolford built a saw-mill on the Blanchard in Section 23.
After getting it in running order he began the construction of a grist-mill, but
he died before its completion; Felix Miller bought the property in August, 1832,
and finished the mill. In 1834 these mills were in full operation, and were
appraised at $600. Steam was finally substituted for water-power, but after some
years the machinery was taken out and the buildings allowed to rot down.

   Churches.—The first religious society in this township was organized in
1828-29, at the cabin of William J. Greer, Sr., by Revs. Thomas Thompson and
Elnathan C. Gavit, itinerants of the Methodist Episcopal Church then stationed
with the Indians at Upper Sandusky. William J. Greer, Sr., and wife, Robert
Elder and wife, Mrs. Mordecai Hammond, Mrs. Godfrey Wolford, Mrs. Ephraim Elder.
Mrs. John Elder and George Swigart and wife, of Hardin County, were the
organizers of this class. Mr. Greer lived immediately east of the site of Mount
Blanchard, on Potato Creek, and the society continued to meet at his house till
the erection of a hewed-log school-house, in the fall of 1833, on the corner of
his son's (William J.) farm. This was used some five years, when the society, in
1838, built a frame church in Mt. Blanchard. It was the first church erected in
the village, and served the congregation about twenty years, at which time the
erection of the present frame structure near the southern limits of the town
became a necessity. Delaware Township can boast of six church buildings, three
of which are in Mt. Blanchard, viz.: the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist
Protestant and Presbyterian, all of which have good buildings and flourishing
congregations. Outside the town the Methodist Protestants have two churches and
the Baptists one, though the latter organization is almost extinct.

   Schools.—The pioneer school of Delaware Township was opened about 1829, in a
cabin erected by Robert Elder, on Section 11, and subsequently fixed up for
school purposes. It was taught by John Wolford, and the Hamlins, Greers, Lakes,
Hammonds, Wolfords and Elders were the pupils. In 1830 a small log schoolhouse
was erected on the farm of John Rose in Section 14, which was opened and taught
that year by Joshua Corbin. This was the first building erected for school
purposes. In the fall of 1833 a hewed-log schoolhouse was put up on the farm of
William J. Greer, Jr., being the second one built in the township. With the
increase of population schoolhouses made their appearance in every portion of
the township, and these were, from time to time, succeeded by buildings more in
harmony with the age. The township now contains seven good schoolhouses outside
of Mt. Blanchard, while the one in the village is a two-storied brick structure
of three rooms, and under the graded system.

   Justices of the Peace. —The following is a complete list of the justices of
Delaware Township from its erection, as Welfare, in 1828, up to the present: Asa
M. Lake, Godfrey Wolford, John Lafferty, Harvey Smith, Benjamin Corbin, Robert
Taylor, John Rose, Thomas Miller, Robert Park, E. A. Sheffield. Jacob Bridinger,
Jacob Harris, George W. Beard, Josiah Fahl, Balser Hauman, Elias Wilson and
James C. Treece. Messrs. Fahl and Treece are the present justices of the township.

   Mt. Blanchard. —This is the only village in the township, and was laid out on
Sections 1 and 2 by Asa M. Lake, October 19, 1830, and originally embraced 53
lots; but several additions have been made to the plat. It is believed to be the
site of a Wyandot village, and lies on the high lands immediately east of the
Blanchard River, from which stream the town derived its name. James Taylor was
the first business man of the village, soon followed by John P. Gordon, James
Greer, Abner Bell, Elijah Stradley and Samuel K. Thompson. Dr. A. F. Burson came
to Mt. Blanchard in 1832. He was the first physician to locate here, where he
followed his profession about thirty years. Other early physicians were Drs. C.
R. Fairchild. Peter Stephens and Mansfield. Dr. Burson is still a resident of
the village, though retired from practice for many years.

   In 1834 a postoffice was established at Mt. Blanchard. and John P. Gordon
appointed postmaster. His successors have been Elijah Stradley, Chester Cook, W.
W. Smith. John Lafferty. Joseph Patterson. L. A. Baldwin, Henry Greer, C. H.
Stewart and J. C. Treece.

   Mt. Blanchard grew slowly with the passing years, and on the 5th of December,
1865, was incorporated. The following citizens have filled the mayoralty, in the
order named: Dr. John Foster, H. C. Pickett, J. W. Turnpaugh, J. W. Wingate, W.
W. Hughes, A. F. Nans, J. W. Pickett, Jacob Harris, E. W. McVay, Isaiah Bell and
R. W. McVay.

   The town possessed no railroad facilities until the construction of the
Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis Narrow Grange. This road was commenced in the
summer of 1881, reached Mt. Blanchard in December, 1882, and the first through
train passed over the line from Delphos to Mt. Blanchard January 1, 1883. It
crosses the northern part of the township east to Mt. Blanchard, thence diverges
northeastward to Carey, and affords a shipping outlet for this portion of the
county. Its construction infused considerable new life into Mt. Blanchard, but
some of the citizens of the village now claim that the road is of very little
advantage to them. The Cleveland, Delphos & Western Telegraph Company opened a
line from Delphos to Mt. Blanchard on the same day the road was opened, and this
is also finished to Carey, and has been a great convenience to the town and
surrounding country.

   The town now contains two dry goods stores, two general grocery stores, two
drug stores, one boot and shoe store, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, a
good steam flouring-mill, a steam saw and planing mill, a meat market, a hotel
and a saloon, and has five physicians. The Odd Fellows, Masons and Grand Army of
the Republic have each a lodge in the village. Comet Lodge, No. 344, I, O. O.
F., was instituted in 1858, and now contains nearly sixty members. The lodge
owns a hall which was erected many years ago. Mt. Blanchard Lodge, No. 519, F. &
A. M., was instituted in 1878, and has a membership of about thirty. It meets in
a rented hall. Stoughton Post, No. 386. was organized October 13, 1883, has
between forty and fifty members, and meets in the council room of the village.
The Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant and Presbyterian (organized in
1850) denominations have each a church in Mt. Blanchard. The people of the town
are particularly fond of referring to their efficient graded union school,
organized in 1868. The present commodious two-story brick building was erected
in 1873, at a total cost of about $8,000, succeeding the more modest frame,
whose predecessor was the old-fashioned log structure of "ye olden time," built
when scholars were few and money scarce. It contains three comfortable
school-rooms, fitted up with such modern conveniences as are found in all the
graded schools of Ohio, while a competent teacher has charge of each room. The
official census of 1880 gives Mt. Blanchard a population of 285, but its
citizens now claim nearly 400. It is a healthy, bustling little place,
possessing many nice homes and a well shaded street. The handsome residence of
M. S. Hamlin, in the south part of the town, will compare favorably with the
finer residences of metropolitan cities.


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