Hardin County OhArchives History - Books .....Hale Township 1883
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ann Anderson ann.g.anderson@gmail.com May 5, 2006, 11:04 pm

Book Title: The History Of Hardin County, Ohio

HALE TOWNSHIP.

   It appears that most of the townships of Hardin County were organized from
1833 to 1836, and from the burning of the court house in 1853, by which all the
Commissioners' records were destroyed, it makes it quite difficult, and in most
instances impossible, to give the exact day or month on which the official act
was performed constituting the townships respectively, but from the election
records of the townships and from the recollections of the oldest citizens, we
are able to designate the year with a good degree of precision. It appears
evident that Hale Township was erected at the meeting of the Commissioners early
in 1835. The territory of which it is composed was formerly a part of Taylor
Creek Township. It is about nine and one-half miles long from east to west and
four miles wide from north to south, and contains thirty-eight square) miles, or
24,320 acres. It is located, geographically, in the southeast corner of the
county and bounded as follows: On the north by Buck and Dudley Townships, on the
east by Dudley Township and Marion County, on the south by Union and Logan
Counties, and on the west by Taylor Creek Township. It is composed entirely of
Virginia military lands.

   The old Indian trail spoken of in the history of Dudley Township passed
through the northwest part of Halo Township, leading from the Indian towns in
Logan County to their village at Upper Sandusky, and upon this route, Simon
Kenton, while a prisoner of their tribe, was taken to Sandusky, and on their way
passed through a small Indian village which was said to be the residence of the
celebrated chief Logan, and this village, it is believed, was near what is known
as "Grassy Point." It is said that when the first settlers came to this section
they found a portion of ground at this place cleared of timber, having been
cultivated, but which at that tune was thickly covered with grass, and hence
came its name, "Grassy Point." Another interesting point in the history of Hale
Township was first brought to the knowledge of this community while constructing
the Bellefontaine & Indiana Railroad through this township. This consisted of a
"double mound," or burial place of some prehistoric race, and is located nearly
midway between Mount Victory and Ridgeway, which was opened for the purpose of
obtaining gravel for ballasting a part of said road, But we only intend to
allude here to this point of Great interest as it will be found fully discussed
of in the chapter upon the Mound-Builders, in the general history of the county.

SURFACE STREAMS, SOIL, TIMBER, ROADS, ETC.

   The surface of this township is considerably varied. Some of the southern and
eastern portions, especially east of Panther Creek, is mostly level, except
along the Wild Cat Creeks, where it is undulating, and in some few places
slightly hilly. The western and northwestern portion is quite undulating, and
some places on Panther and Wolf Creeks are really hilly.

   The principal streams of the township all flow in a northeast course and are
tributaries of the Scioto River. In the central-eastern portion of the township
are the South and North Wild Cat, which take their rise near the south boundary
line of the township and flow northeast into Dudley Township, where they unite
and form one stream. The North Wild Cat flows through the south and east part of
the village of Mount Victory. Panther Creek rises near Ridgeway by two branches,
flowing in a northeast direction and converging into one stream near the center
of the township, on the farm of E. S. Butler, thence, continuing its same
general course, it flows into Dudley Township. A small stream called Lick Run
enters the southwest corner of Hale Township and becomes a tributary of the West
Branch of Panther Creek, emptying into the latter on the farm of Moses Kennedy.
In the northwest part of the township is Wolf Run, which rises in the Ansley
neighborhood, and flows northeast, passing Grassy Point, into Buck Township.
These are all small streams, furnishing no water-power, but good water for
stock. The soil of the greater portion of the township is of clay and loam
formation, with a limestone gravel subsoil, very rich and productive, yet from
its capacity to hold water it is naturally very wet and requires thorough
draining to be easy of cultivation, and to bring out its full power of
productiveness. It is excellent grass land, and hence a fine country for stock.
It also produces very large yields of corn, wheat and oats, the land that is
well tiled and drained yielding probably as large an amount and as fine a
quality of grain as any township in the county. This township has labored under
considerable disadvantage, through large tracts of land in the central and
eastern parts of the township being owned by non-residents, which, of course,
are but little improved, and hence produce but little; and not only this, but to
some extent the improvement of surrounding farms, the building of pikes and the
general progress of the country are hindered. This condition of things is also
against the growth and prosperity of its towns and villages, limiting the trade
and business of the merchants, and, in fact, is generally detrimental to the
public good and welfare of the people.

   This township was originally very heavily timbered, and the first settlers
had hard and long continued labors to perform to bare it of its mighty forests
and bring it into a condition for plowing and cultivation. The predominating
varieties of timber were beech, ash, oak, elm, maple and hickory. Thousands of
feet of beautiful lumber in the log were rolled into log heaps and burned to get
them off of the land. But of late years, since the days of saw mills, great
quantities of lumber have been sawed for home consumption and for shipping; and
especially since the building of the railroad through there, lumber dealers have
carried on quite an active trade.

   One advantage this township possesses over the more northerly townships of
this county is its abundant supply of gravel for building pikes and constructing
good roads Although this township has as yet many bad roads, still it has
several excellent pikes, viz., the Mount Victory & Kenton, the Kenton &
Ridgeway, Mount Victory & Dudley Township and Mount Victory & Taylor Creek
Townships pikes, besides some few cross and connecting pikes, now built and in
process of construction. In addition to the fine pikes, this township has one
good railroad-the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis. It was first
incorporated, February 25, 1848, as the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis Railroad
Company. The road was completed in 1852. This township subscribed $15,000 to the
capital stock of the company. The road passes through the center of the township
in a diagonal course, northeast and southwest, abort seven and one-half miles of
the road being in this township. Situated as this township is, in the extreme
southeast corner of the county and remote from the county seat or other
railroads, this road has been of great value to the progress and business
interests of the people.

PIONEERS.

   The first settlers of this township, as well as in many other localities of
the surrounding country, were terribly afflicted with milk sickness and malarial
diseases; sometimes in the space of a few months whole families were stricken
down with this fell destroyer, and death, which soon followed in many instances,
was their greatest alleviation and blessing. These afflictions, in conjunction
with the deprivations and hardships necessarily devolving upon them in the
mighty forests of this wilderness, tried to the utmost the courage and fortitude
of these brave pioneers, and the soul that is so dead to sympathy and reverence
as not to cherish in fond remembrance these worthy sires, the benefits of whose
labors and sufferings the rising generations are now enjoying, is unworthy to be
called one of their descendants or to inherit the least of these blessings.

   The first settled portion of this township was its western part, near Grassy
Point. This is probably to be accounted for, in part at least, from the fact
that through this portion passed the old Indian trail, and along its course was
cut out the first road through these unbroken forests by the soldiers in the war
of 1812.

   The first white man to locate here was Levi D. Tharp, who lived in a cabin in
the west part of Hale Township, near Grassy Point, and although he owned no
property, yet he resided here several years and then moved away. It is believed
he settled here in 1828, and, in the spring of 1833, the first election in
Taylor Township was held at his cabin.

   James Andrews was the first permanent settler who purchased land and located
to stay, in October, 1829. He was born in Washington County, Penn., August 8,
1805. His parents were .Tames and Anna Andrews, natives of New Jersey, of German
descent. The grandfather, Robert Andrews, emigrated to America in an early day,
while a young single man. He first stopped on Long Island, thence removed to New
Jersey, where he married Heziah Blackford, an English lady. In 1794, he removed
to Washington County, Penn., where he was one of the earliest settlers and where
he died in 1811. He had four sons - James, Samuel, Lemuel and Robert-and two
daughters-Nancy and Temperance. James, the eldest, was born June 12, 1769; he
married in New Jersey and removed to Washington County with his father, where he
resided till his death in June, 1820. His wife died December 23, 1843. Their
children were John, born in 1796; Ruth and Deborah (twins), born in 1797, the
latter died in infancy; Peter, born in 1799; William B., born in 1801; James, in
1805; Anna, in 1807; Robert, in 1812; and Peggy, in 1813. Of these, William died
in 1850; John died in 1830 (in Hale Township), and Anna is also deceased. On May
21, 1881, the balance of the children all met in a family re-union at the old
homestead in Pennsylvania, their ages ranging from sixty-five to eighty-four
years, a rare circumstance. The old homestead place is still the residence of
the youngest son, while the balance are all settled in the West. James, the
pioneer of Hale Township, married Polly Hathaway, in his native county, October
25,1827. Mr. Andrews opened out right in the woods and experienced the full
force of pioneer life. In the organization of the civil and religious
ministrations of this township, he has been a leading, active spirit. In the
spring of 1831, at a log-rolling for Cyrus Dille, among those present being
James and Lewis Andrews and Samuel Dille, at the conclusion, as they were all
seated on a log, Cyrus Dille suddenly arose and proposed that as they had all
witnessed the evil effects of intemperance, if those present would pledge
themselves not to attend any more log-rollings or raisings where whisky was
used, he would be one of them They all sprang to their feet in approval, and it
is said all the parties have sacredly kept their pledge. This was the first
temperance society formed in Hale Township, and probably in Hardin County. Mr.
Andrews is now the only surviving one of that society. In February, 1832, he,
with three others, constituted the first religious organization in Hale
Township, and has been a devoted member ever since -a period of over half a
century. In 1844, Mr. Andrews, with Cyrus Dille, Culberson, Elder and William
Paxton, withdrew politically from the Whig party and established themselves
firmly on abolition principles, believing and declaring slavery an evil and a
curse to a free and Republican government and they all adhered strictly to these
principles ever afterward, and although all have passed away from the stage of
action, except Mr. Andrews, yet he has lived to see those principles triumph,
and the terrible scourge of slavery swept from the face of our noble country.
Mr. Andrews is the father of the following children -Milton, George, Henry,
Anna, Mary Jane, and two who died in infancy; all are deceased except the two
daughters. Mr. Andrews has lived a long life, devoted to the good of his country
and the church, and the general character of the community, in which he lives,
has, to a great degree, been molded and made what it is by his firm principles
and those of his worthy contemporaries.

   John Andrews, brother of the above James Andrews, settled here about the same
time or in the following winter He married Miss Rhoda Jennings, but his life was
short; he died in March, 1830.

   Lewis Andrews, a cousin to the above, settled here on land now owned by
William Rule, in 1830. He was married in Pennsylvania to Polly Concklin; she
died, and he subsequently married Mrs. Margaret Osborn. He resided where he
first settled a short time, and moved further down the creek, where he died. His
children were Betsey. Isaac, Phebe, Samuel, Lavinia, Sarah Jane, Mary, Ann and
Lewis.

   Isaac Jennings and his son Cornelius, with their families, came here from
Pennsylvania in the fall of 1829 and settled in the west part of Hale Township.
But disease and sickness soon visited their families, several being taken away
by death, and soon after the surviving ones moved away.

   Jonathan Williams settled here a little later on land now owned by Mr.
Butler. He came here from Logan County,but it is believed be never owned any land.

   Four brothers-Amos, Cyrus, Abraham and Samuel Dille-sons of Isaac and Sarah
Dille, of Washington County, Penn., who had a family of fourteen children, and
became residents of Richland County, Ohio, where the parents died, settled in
Hale Township as follows: Cyrus came here in November, 1830, and located on and
purchased the land upon which the village of Mount Victory is now built. He
married Susan Blair, a native of Greene County, Penn., by whom he had the
following children: Ezra, Blair, Deborah, David, William, Cyrus, John, Isaac,
Margaret J., Nolan P. and Susannah. Mr. Dille was one of the leading active men
of that day, and in the civil affairs of the county and township filled many
important offices, and was one of the first Commissioners of the county, and in
September, 1833, was one of the grand jurors and foreman of the jury. Their
session was held under some trees on the bank of the Scioto River, at which they
returned seven indictments for selling liquor and were discharged. Mr. Dille was
a man of more than ordinary ability, quick of thought and ready in action, kind
and congenial as a neighbor and a most valued citizen. He died April 21, 1849,
aged fifty-three years. His widow still survives and resides upon the old
homestead at Mount Victory. Samuel, the youngest brother, came here a single man
at the same time as Cyrus, and subsequently returned to Richland County and
married Rachel Hall, and then settled on the place where Thomas McCall now
lives; but resided here only a short time and removed to Iowa, where he died in
1881. They had but one child, a daughter-Mary. Abraham was the next of these
brothers to settle in this township. He settled on the land now owned by Mr. A.
Beard in 1834. He was married in Pennsylvania to Deborah Post. He remained a
resident of this community through life, and died at his residence in Mount
Victory, March 31, 1883, aged eighty-three years. He was the father of the
following children: Cyrus J., Munson, Asher, Wade, Emily, Isaac, Marion, Phebe,
Jane and Stephen. Amos was the last of the four brothers to settle here. Soon
after his brother Abram came here, he influenced Amos to come, and in 1834-35,
he settled here on the Thomas McCall place, but remained only a few years and
moved away, and died in Logan County August 3, 1845. His children were Martha
Newton, Cephas, Sarah, Hannah, Amy Jane and Zenas.

   Samuel Leonard settled here on land now owned by John Wagner, about 1834 or
1835, but resided here only a short time and moved away.

   Thomas Dunson, a native of Logan County, Ohio, settled on the place where he
still resides, in 1835. Here he opened out right in the woods, and has now a
fine cultivated farm, with good buildings and improvements. Mr. Dunson is a
quiet, unassuming man, a good neighbor and a worthy citizen. He was been twice
married; first to :Miss Beulah Tharp, of Logan County; she died April 19, 1856,
aged fifty-four years. By her he had nine children -Lewis. Eliza, Nancy, Anna,
Lenora, Joseph, Emanuel, Mary and Temperance. He married, for his second wife,
Mary Haney, by whom he has two children-William and Jonathan.

   Abner Snoddy, a native of Kentucky, became an early settler of Logan County,
Ohio, where he married Hannah King. He served in that county as an Associate
Judge for several years About 1840, he became a resident of Hale Township,
settling in the southwest part on land now owned by E. S. Butler, where he
resided till his death, which occurred October 9, 1865, aged eighty-two years.
His wife died October 21, 1860, aged sixty-five years. Mr. Snoddy was a
prominent and useful citizen. He served as Treasurer for many years, and as
Trustee and in other offices of trust and usefulness. His children were Jacob,
John, William, Abner, David, George. James, Joseph, Hannah and Priscilla.

   Harvey Buckmister was born in Stratford County, Vt., November 13, 1800. He
emigrated to Tioga County, Penn., where he married, and, in February, 1828, came
to Hardin County and located in a cabin south of Judge P. Wheeler's farm, near
the Scioto River, in Dudley Township. He drove stage five years over the old
Sandusky road, which was then the chief route of travel from Cincinnati to
Sandusky City. There were then but three cabins between Judge Wheeler's farm and
Bellefontaine, the whole route being through a dense forest. In 1838, he removed
to Hale Township and opened a hotel at Grassy Point, where he continued for
three year: then he purchased a farm in Buck Township, where he carried on the
hotel business for thirteen years. After some years' residence here, he sold his
farm and removed to Kenton, where he now resides. On July 7, 1868, his wife was
taken sick, and on July 14, just seven days after, she died, having been a
faithful and devoted wife through forty years of married life, the greater
portion of that time being spent in the wilds of this new country, sharing with
her husband all the hardships and privations of pioneer lie. She bore him three
children. Mr. Buckmister is now eighty-three years of age, and still quite
sprightly and robust, and seems to enjoy life well.

   Daniel Baldwin, a native of Tennessee, emigrated to Champaign County, Ohio,
while a young single man, and there married Hannah Williams. Subsequently he
removed to Logan County, and in April, 1835, came to this township and settled
on land now owned by Charles Allen, where he resided thirty-six years, when he
sold out and removed back to Logan County, where he died. He served as Associate
Judge several years, and filled most of the offices of his township. He was a
Justice of the Peace for many years.

   Jonathan Marsh, a native of Maryland, emigrated to Ohio, a young, single man,
first locating in Harrison County; thence he went to Fairfield County, where he
married Eleanor Pugh; thence he removed to Champaign County, then to Logan
County, and, about 1835, he came to Hale Township and settled northeast of Mount
Victory, on land now owned by J. W. Price, on Survey 6,440. Subsequently he
purchased land south of Mount Victory, where he resided several years; thence he
moved to Iowa, where he died, February 12, 1869, aged sixty-eight years. His
wife died February 23, 1858, aged fifty-six years. Mr. .Jones' body was brought
back to this county and interred at Mount Victory in the Dille Cemetery beside
that of his wife. Their children were Ananias, Ezerias, Margaret, Daniel,
Michael, Thomas, Isaiah, Martha, Louisa and Almira. Peter Marsh carne here from
near Tiffin, Ohio. and settled in the eastern part of this township about 1842.
He was a good citizen, and served as County Commissioner from 1859 to 1865
inclusive.

   Among others who came here from 1835 to 1845, we mention Harrison Lake, Simon
Schurtzer, Christopher Richardson, John Richardson, Barnet Richardson, John
Robinson, Uriah Baldwin and C. Copp.

   Moses Kennedy was born in Adams County, Penn, in 1822: carne to Wyandot
County in 1838, and in 1842, marred Nancy Kendrick. In 1844, he settled in this
township at his present place of residence on Panther Creek. He has been an
active citizen in promoting the growth and improvements of this county, and has
been closely identified with the civil and religious institutions thereof. He
has filled most of the important offices of his township, has been serving as
County Commissioner for several years, and is one of the prominent and
trustworthy citizens of Hale Township.

   Thomas McCall was born in Washington County, Penn., December 10, 1811, and is
a son of William and Elizabeth McCall. The grandfather, John McCall, was one of
the pioneers of said Washington County, and served as teamster, being pressed
into the service of Braddock's army. and was with that General when he was
defeated by the British and Indians. At this time, John McCall was a lad of
sixteen years, and subsequently married Sarah Hutton. He settled on a farm about
twenty miles from the place of Braddock's defeat, where he resided through life.
He raised four sons-Thomas, Joseph, William and John, and four daughters-Ruth.
Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth. Of these, William married Elizabeth Elliott and
settled in his native county, where he resided till 1827. He removed to Portage
County, Ohio, where he died about 1840, aged fifty-six years; subsequently his
widow, with her family, removed to Logan County, where she died, aged sixty-six
years. Thomas married Judith Bloomfield, a native of Crawford County, Penn.,
and, in January, 1842, settled in Hale Township on the place where he still
lives and has resided for a period of forty-one years. At the time he settled
here, there was not a settler or improvement on the road from Mount Victory to
Kenton. Here he performed a large share of pioneer work; has cleared over 150
acres right from the heavy forests, and now owns 311 acres of good land with
good improvements. He started in life with very little capital, but by his own
labor and industry has accumulated little by little, until now he is possessed
of a competency, and is one of the independent and reliable farmers of Hardin
County, and a much esteemed and respected citizen. He is the father of fifteen
children; eight of whom now survive-Malissa, Lucinda, Susan, Lewis B., William,
Thomas M., Matilda Jane and Salmon P. Chase.

MILLS

   Moses Kennedy erected a saw-mill Panther Creek, just above where Lick Run
empties into it, about 1838 or 1840, which, it is said, was the first mill ever
in Hale Township. This mill sawed the lumber for the first frame buildings of
this neighborhood. Soon after. Mr. Kennedy attached a "corn cracker," which was
the first mill for grinding corn in the township. This mill ran for several
years, but as the steam mills came into use, his went out of use. Another early
mill was erected by James Smith, on the South Branch of Panther Creek, about
1849, which continued to do business for about twelve or fourteen years. About
1864, F. W. Miller erected a steam saw-mill on his farm in the southeast part of
the township, which continued to do quite a large business until about 1879,
since which time it has remained out of use. There have been several portable
mills in various portions of the township, located temporarily, and moved from
one locality to another as demand required. In the villages of Ridgeway and
Mount Victory there have been several mills erected, the history of which will
be given respectively in the histories of those, towns.

SCHOOLS.

   The first school in this township was held in a cabin near James Andrews',
which was opened December 1, 1839. by Enos Baldwin. Not more than two or three
years later, a round-log house was built where the cattle pens are now located
at Mount Victory, and the first teacher was either John Elder or Enos Baldwin.
These were the real, rough, primitive schoolhouses, so often described in other
pages of this work. From this time, as the settlements increased, more schools
were established, and as the country improved, better buildings were erected for
school purposes, and an abundance of wealth enabled them to have better
teacher's and more comfort and convenience, until the report of the Board of
Education, in September, 1882, rendered to the Auditor of the county the
following statistics: Total receipts for school purposes, $4,183.22: total
expenditure.; $4,180.05 balance on hand September 1, 1882, $3.17; total number
of sub-school districts, 9; number of schoolhouses, 9; number of schoolrooms.
12: number of teachers necessary to supply the schools, 12; average wages paid
per month, males, $36, females, $24; average number of weeks the schools were in
session, 30; total valuation of school property, $10,000; total enrollment of
scholars, boys, 257, girls, 202: total, 459.

   A further report of the schools of Ridgeway and Mount Victory will be given
in the history of those towns respectively.

CEMETERIES.

   In every new country, one of the earliest necessities is a burial place for
the dead. and here it was no exception to that rule, for, in a very few months
after the first settlers located in the west part of this township, sickness and
death visited them and several of their number, from the infant to those of more
mature years. The first one who died in Hale Township was a Mrs. Jennings, about
the first of February, 1832. On the 4th of February, her oldest child died. On
the 4th of March, of the same year, Isaac Jennings, the husband and father of
the above, died; and on the 27th of the same month, his brother, Cornelius
Jennings. died. Oh, how ruthless was death to those two families! Only about
four months previous to the death of the last mentioned, those families had
entered this then wilderness with strong arms and radiant hopes. happy hearts,
animated with the pleasant prospects of future homes and a competency, with the
comforts and conveniences that such can produce. Alas, in so short a time four
of the loved ones were consigned to their graves! Also in March of the same year
(1830), John Andrews, a brother of the well-known old pioneer, James Andrews,
died and was buried. These all passed away before any cemetery or burial place
was established, and were interred upon their own private lands, with probably
now nothing to mark their quiet resting places. John Wolf is said to have made
the first coffins. It is believed that the Eddy Cemetery was the first
established burial place, and was first dedicated to use by the reception of the
body of a child of James McConnel, about 1837, since which time, about one acre
of ground was donated and set apart for this purpose, and in which many of the
dead of this neighborhood have since been interred. And what appeared sad to the
writer, as he walked among their silent graves, a large portion of them had no
"head-stone" to tell one word as to who rests beneath the sod.

   The second burial ground established was the Dille Cemetery at Mount Victory,
which was donated for that purpose by Cyrus Dille, and the first body deposited
here was a child of the donor. The first adult person interred here was a Mr.
Monjar, and the second Christopher Richardson. The latter died February 1, 1841,
aged seventy-five years. This cemetery probably contains a little more than one
acre of ground, and is now nearly filled with the remains of the departed.
Ridgeway Cemetery consists of two and one-half acres of ground, situated about
one and one-quarter miles northeast of the town, on the South Branch of Panther
Creek, and was donated for the purpose by Samuel McCulloch about 1850, and for
which, in 1860, a deed was duly made and executed, conveying tile same to the
incorporated village of West Ridgeway. In the east part of the township, by the
Church of God, is a burial place, consisting of one-half acre, which was deeded
by Hannah Schertzer to the "West Ohio Eldership of the Church of God," as a
permanent burying ground. The last, established cemetery is located west of
Mount Victory, on the south side of the pike, near the West Branch of Panther
Creek. and was purchased, in 1881, by the Township Trustees, and duly fenced in
and laid out into lots, walks and driveways, as a public burial place for the
township. This is centrally located, and will doubtless become the general
burial place of the township. The Ridgeway Cemetery above mentioned is
beantifully located on an elevated piece of ground, and is a very suitable and
appropriate resting place for the dead.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

   Ridgeway is located on the Logan County line, near the southwest corner of
the township, the extreme south part of the village lying in Logan County; the
latter is located in about the geographical center of the township, both
villages being situated on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis
Railroad. Ridgeway was surveyed and laid out into lots, streets and alleys by R.
D. Millar, County Surveyor, for William Boggs and Samuel McCulloch, proprietors,
May 20, 1851. In August and September of the same year, an extension was made of
outlots. On December 7, 1858, on petition of forty-eight resident voters, the
village was incorporated under the name of West Ridgeway. This village received
its name in honor of the Ridgeway Company, from whom Samuel McCulloch purchased
the land. When the town was laid out, there was one log cabin standing on the
lot where Dr. Crow's residence now stands, which had been erected by Judge A.
Snoddy. After the town was laid out, Gorham Bunker erected the first house, a
small frame, which is now occupied by Alonzo Bailey. W. P. Hews opened the first
store and Robert Stevenson the first hotel and first blacksmith shop in 1852.
Dr. D. C. Wooley was the first physician. The post office was established in
1851 or 1852, with Michael Printz as Postmaster. The first improvement, however,
that was made in Ridgeway was the erection of a saw mill by William Callahan, on
property now owned by R. P. Lukens, in the west part of the town, just south of
the railroad. Mr. Callahan purchased four acres of land from Samuel McCulloch
and erected the above mentioned mill in the spring of 1851, and soon after built
himself a house. Subsequently he purchased three acres more of land adjoining
his first purchases. This mill was run for several years and sawed all the
lumber for the first houses of the town and vicinity, then went out of use. In
1859, Mr. Callahan purchased a saw mill which lead been erected by Van Deuser &
Headly a short time previous. Soon after, Mr. Callahan put in two run of buhrs
and machinery for a grist mill and took in a partner in the person of William R.
Watson. This was a good mill and did good work. About 1863, Messrs. Campbell &
Howe erected a third saw mill and a stave factory combined, which was located on
the ground where the present saw mill stands, and Mr. Callahan went in as a
partner. This mill and factory did a large business several years, but finally
went out of use; subsequently the property was purchased by Jacob Rumer, who
rebuilt the saw mill, which is still in use, and is doing a good business. The
grist mill above mentioned is now owned by Charles Rush, and although it is now
old and quite dilapidated, yet it still does some business. The public school
was organized and a small frame house built for school purposes in 1853. This
was succeeded, in 1866-67, by a new union school brick building, consisting of
two departments, which served the purpose until the increase of scholars
demanded more room, and, in 1880, the present large and fine brick building was
erected, containing four rooms, at a cost of about $5,000. The Board of
Education of West Ridgeway returned to the County Auditor the following report:
Total receipts for school purposes, $2,451.06; total expenditures, $1,756;
balance on hand September 1, 1832, $695.06; number of school rooms, 2; number of
teachers employed, 2; average wages per month, male, $45, female, $25; number of
weeks the schools were in session, 28; number of scholars enrolled, primary,
boys, 28, girls, 26, high, boys, 15, girls, 24; total 93. The town now embraces
the following businesses: Two general stores, one by R. McElhaney and one by
Moffat & Fisher; one grocery, by John Limes; one hardware, by Sarah Davis; one
drug store, by A. D. Bailey; one bakery, by James Lake; one saddlery and harness
shop, by R. J. Williams; one millinery store, by Mrs. Davis; one livery, by C.
M. Kennedy; four blacksmiths, M. Ormsby, John Printz, L. Stevenson and J. L.
Rumer; and four physicians, Drs. E. B. Crow, R. Edwards, W. C. Hodges and J. H.
Crow; also one hotel, by Mrs. Culbertson.

   Mount Victory.-This town was surveyed and laid out by R. D. Millar, for Ezra
Dille, August 23, 1851. In May, 1856, an addition of outlots was made by M.
Converse. Abner Snoddy made an addition April 3, 1868, and on June 10, 1872,
Peter S. Howe made an addition. The name of the town came in this manner: The
land upon which the town was laid out belonged to the estate of Cyrus Dille, and
was soon to be sold at administrator's sale. Samuel McCulloch had just laid out
the town of Ridgeway, and for the interests of that village, he desired to
prevent the starting of another town here; therefore he made an effort at the
public sale of said land to outbid all others, purchase the land and turn it
into a pasture. But Ezra Dille was on the alert; he bid off the land and
returned home rejoicing. He was met by Thomas McCall, who inquired who succeeded
in buying the land? Mr. Dille replied, "We did," and Mr. McCall immediately
exclaimed "Victory! Victory! its name shall be Mount Victory." And the name was
adopted by the proprietor of the town, and by that name it has ever since been
known. Before the town was laid out, a cabin had bean built on the ground where
the Mount Victory Hotel now stands, by Thomas Manley. He moved away, and the
cabin was occupied by Stephen Strickland; then Ezra Dille, the proprietor of the
town, occupied it for a tine. After the town was laid out, the first building
erected was a small frame, built close by the above-mentioned cabin by Daniel
Stone, which was occupied by Frank Seaman, who put in a small stock of goods.
which was the first store for the new town: this was in the fall of 1851. In
1852, Seaman and Dille erected the long frame building, just south of the
railroad, now occupied as a billiard room and a residence. In this building, Mr.
Seaman and his brother George, put in a general stock of merchandise, and for
several years carried quite an extensive trade. The next store was opened by
David Ellis and Elihu Curl, and about this time (1853-54), the post office was
established, with David Ellis as Postmaster. Russell & Elliott were the first
blacksmiths. The first, physician was Dr. Converse. The first hotel was kept by
Jefferson Babcock, who was succeeded by Lewis Cowgill, and this was a part of
the building now known as the Mount Victory Hotel. In 1852-53, Ezra Dille
erected the large warehouse by the railroad, which is now a warehouse and grist
mill. The first child born in Mount Victory was Lafayette W. Dille, and the
first born in the township was Blair Dille, in the spring of 1832. The first saw
mill in the village was erected by Jeremiah Elliot, about 1851; it was run by
steam power and sawed large quantities of ties for the railroad, whose track was
then being laid through the place. He was succeeded in the ownership of the
mill, about 1854, by Joseph and Eli James, who continued to run it many years,
but it went into decay and out of use. The grist mill was erected in the
warehouse, in 1851, by Carter & Howe. The present population of the town is
about 500, and has the following business interests now represented: Five
general stores, Peter S. Howe, M. S. Elder & Co., Henry Williams, Shepherd
Humphrey and J. W. Gregg; two groceries, William Bloomer (died in March, 1883),
and Adam Allen; one drug store, R. L. Titsworth; one harness shop, Jefferson
Boyd; one dealer in agricultural implements, Smithston & Co.; three boot and
shoe shops, W. H. H. Fleck, T. B. Sampson and James McDonald; one wagon maker.
Frank Schmidt; one livery, Rosebrook & Bro.; three blacksmiths, S. T Reams,
Wooley & Son and Gustavus Garwood, one grist mill and warehouse, Burke,
Greathouse & Monegar; one saw mill and handle factory, Boyd Bros. & Co.; one
tile factory, Stewart Bros.; two millinery and fancy stores, M. C. Allen and
Mrs. Euseba Overshiner; one hotel, L. M. Beebe; one attorney at law, Brice
Williams; two physicians, Drs. D. H. Le Van and C. W. Morrow, and one veterinary
surgeon, Dr. Robert Stewart. The schools of Mount Victory should, perhaps,
receive a special notice. The first schoolhouse was a small frame, erected soon
after the laying-out of the town, on a lot now owned by William Boyd. This was
succeeded by a large frame building with two rooms, which is now occupied as a
drug store. This house served for school purposes till 1875, when the present
large and commodious brick house was erected, with four rooms, at a cost of
$5,200. In 1876, through a desire of many citizens and some members of the Board
of Directors, by earnest and diligent efforts of one or two of the Directors
especially, the high school department of the school was made a township school.
open and free to all in Hale Township. This gives a privilege to large and more
a advanced scholars throughout the township, which cannot but be appreciated
more and more from year to year. The Board have also manifested great taste, and
desire to render the school not only efficient and beneficial, but to make it
"home-like" and pleasant for the scholars by grading the play grounds, setting
out shade trees, and otherwise beautifying the premises.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

   Coleman Asbury Post, No. 257, G. A. R., was instituted August 25, 1882, by
Col. W. P. Anderson, of Marysville, Union Co., Ohio, with the following charter
members, viz.: J. W. Jones, W. H. H. Fleck, John H. Kemper, Levi E. Hager,
Horton Park, George W. Peaver, E. L. Seabring, J. D. Henson. J. N. Richardson,
John H. Shirk, William S. Carson, S. G. Humphrey, W. W. McFadden, W. Montz, Eli
M. Golden, Milton Southard, Aaron Koplin, Henry Williams, C. W. Morrow and Adam
Allen, and officered as follows: P. C., Henry Williams; S. V. C., W. W.
Williamson; J. V. C., Aaron Koplin; Adjt., W. H. H. Fleck; Q. M., J. N.
Richardson; Surg., C. W. Morrow; Chap., Levi E. Hager; O. D., John H. Shirk: O.
G., J. W. Jones; S. M., E. L. Seabing; Q. M. S., William S. Carson. Present
membership is twenty-eight. and officered as follows: P. C., Henry Williams, S.
V. C., W. W. McFadden; J. V. C., R. A Powelson; Adjt., W. H. H. Fleck; Q. M., S.
G. Humphrey; Surg., C. W. Morrow: Chap., Milton Southard; O. D., William Montz;
O. G.. Isaac H. Wilson; S. M., J. W. Jones: Q. M. S., William D. F. Matthews.
The post meets every first and third Friday evenings, in Howe's Hall, at Mount
Victory,

   Grassy Point Grange, No. 165, was instituted November 16, 1872, by Deputy
Swinnerton, of Marion County, Ohio, in the schoolhouse at Grassy Point,
consisting of the following charter members: John Robinson, Ira Baker, Munson
Dille, Park Snodgrass, Alfred Snodgrass, George Frame, Rebecca Robinson, Rebecca
Baker, Nancy Ann Dille, Mary Robinson, Thomas Dunson, Mary Dunson, Isaiah
Brugler, Nancy Brugler, George McDonald and W. H. Baldwin, with John Robinson.
M. and Ira Baker, O. The present membership is sixty-five, with officers as
follows: Walter Baldwin, M.; Brinton Peditt, O.; John C. Johnson, Chap.; W. H.
Baldwin, L.; Daniel Baldwin, Secretary; and William Rule, Treasurer. Soon after
its institution, they purchased the old schoolhouse property and erected an
addition to said building, so that the house consists of three rooms-anteroom.
hall and store room-at a cost of about $200.

   Victory Lodge, No. 583, I. O. O. F., at Mount Victory, was instituted July
10, 1874, by M. Denel, M. W. G. M., of Urbana, Ohio, with the following charter
members, viz.: Horton Park, Peter S. Howe, F. L. Denman, W. A. Rinehart, J. N.
Richardson, A. Thompson, W. M. Titsworth, A. J. Stouffer, D. B. Rinehart, D. H.
Le Van, E. W. Riley, C. W. Morrow, T. J. Boyd and Daniel Butler. Elective
officers: Horton Park, N: G.; Daniel Butler, V. G.; W. N. Titsworth, R. S.; F.
L. Denmon, P. S.; and D. H. Le Van, Treasurer. Present membership, thirty-four,
with the following officers: Peter S. Howe, N. G.; John McDonald, V. G.; T. P.
Willaur, R. S.; L. Winders, P. S.; and Daniel Butler, Treasurer. The lodge
meetings are every Saturday eve, at Odd Fellows Hall.

   Ridgeway Lodge, No. 6.93, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 29, 1880, by H. P.
Gravatt, M. W. G. M., with the following charter members, viz.: O. V. Fisher, A.
Williams, M. M. Cottrell, J. A. Rumer, A. Baldwin, R. P. Lukens, Joseph Miner.
E. W. Riley, A. Koplin, J. H. Dickison, J. Davis, R. McElhaney, T. J. Cottrell.
D. H. Keech and O. C. Hutchison, with the following officers: D. H. Keech, N.
G.; John Davis, V. G.; M. M. Cottrell, R. S.; E. W. Riley, P. S.; and R. P.
Lukens, Treasurer. Present membership of the lodge is forty-one, with officer,
as follows: A. Baldwin, N. G.; Jacob Vasser, V. G.; James Gardner, R. S.; J. D.
Corwin, P. S.; and T, G. Vasser, Treasurer. The meetings of the lodge are every
Wednesday evening at Odd Fellows Hall. Ridgeway, Ohio.

CHURCHES.

   The first sermon ever preached in Hale Township was by Thomas V. Green, a
local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the house of Lewis Andrews,
in February, 1832, from the following test: Mark, xvi, 15th verse, "Go preach
the Gospel to every nation." The first hymn sung. "Jesus, the name high
overall." Second hymn, "How beauteous are their feet." At this meeting a class
was organized of the following four members: James Andrews and wife Mary, and
Lewis Andrews and wife Mary. The first circuit preacher was Rev. Thomas Simms.
This was then a part of the Bellefontaine Circuit. The first family Bible and
hymn book were bought by James Andrews, costing $4 - half a month's wages in
that, day. Preaching continued to be held at his house for about ten years,
Lewis and James Andrews serving as class leaders. Then meetings were held in the
schoolhouse till the organization of churches at Mount Victory and Ridgeway,
when the members here mostly united with those societies, and this organization
ceased.

   The Methodist Episcopal Church of Ridgeway was first organized in the
schoolhouse, about 1851-52, and erected a frame church building in 1852-53,
which served as a place of worship till the summer of 1873, when they erected
their present church edifice at a cost of about $2,500, and the house was
dedicated to service in December of the same year, Rev. Thomas Harvey Wilson
preaching the dedicatory sermon. Some of the first ministers on this circuit
were Revs. William S. Morrow, D. D. Davidson and Mr. Day. Since 1856, they have
been as follows: Revs. Lemuel Herbert, A. J. Frisbee, Joshua M. Longfellow,
Samuel Boggs, H. J. Bigley, Hiram Shaffer, P. Webster, Leonard Richards, David
Rinehart, L. O. Cook, Henry Boyer, J. W. Morrisson, Caleb Hill, Mr. Douglass, V.
Pond, William Shultz, J. S. G. Reeder, J. W. Whiting, T. J. Jagger, and John
Parlett, who is the present pastor in charge. Class Leaders, Moses Kennedy,
George Rule, William Rumer, Charles Rush, and the present one now serving is
Moses Kennedy. The present membership of the church is about thirty-six. A
Sabbath school was organized at an early day, and has been kept in good
prosperous condition most of the time. The average attendance at present is
about forty-five, with Harper Willis as Superintendent.

   After the organization of the society of Methodists ceased in the Andrews
neighborhood, spoken of above, and about the same time the church at Ridgeway
was organized, a class was formed at Mount Victory, some of whom were as
follows: Dr. Blair and wife, Timothy Meers, Jonathan Jones, Mary Asbury and
James Boyd. They held their meetings first in the schoolhouse, then in the
United Brethren Church, till about 1858, when they purchased of Isaac W. Pennock
the unfinished Baptist Church, which he had bought at Sheriff's sale, then
completed and soon after duly dedicated for service. This house served the
people until the erection of the present large and substantial brick church in
1879, at a cost of $3,100. The church now has a membership of 110, with B. W.
Day as pastor, and W. I. Witcraft, E. A. Chapin, F. M. List, Elias Converse and
George W. Wooley as Class Leaders. The Trustees are W. I. Witcraft, Elias
Converse, E. A. Chapin, J. M. Boyd, Harris Williams, S. G. Humphrey and William
Bloomer (the latter died in March, 1883). They have a large and flourishing
Sabbath school, average attendance 125, with E. A. Chapin as Superintendent.

   Baptist Church, Mount Victory.-About 1852 or 1853. Elder Lyons organized a
Baptist society. some of whom were as follows: Thomas Garwood and wife, Joseph
Elliott and wife, William McClerin and wife, and Artimacy Elliott. In 1857, they
commenced to erect a frame church, but were unable to completely finish the
building, and becoming involved debt, the house was finally sold at Sheriff's
sale and purchased by I. W. Pennock, who sold it to the Methodists as above
stated. From this time the society ceased to exist as an organization, and no
church of that denomination has ever been organized here since.

   United Brethren Church, Mount Victory, was organized at the schoolhouse,
one-half mile south of the village, in January, 1852, by Rev. Henry Snell,
consisting of the following members: John Garwood and wife, Thomas Garwood and
wife, William McCall and wife, George Seaman and wife, David Williams and wife,
Samuel Jones and wife, Anninias Jones and wife, Joshua James and wife, Isaac
Andrews and wife. Rachel Dille, Hopy Garwood, Jonathan Jones, E. C. Wright and
wife, James Wright and wife, and others whose names are not now obtainable, to
the number of fifty-five in all. They erected the present frame church building
the following summer, so as to be occupied for services, and subsequently
finished the fitting up, and the house was dedicated in the summer of 1855, Rev.
John Hill preaching the dedicatory sermon. The church has been served by the
following ministers: Revs. Henry Snell, F. B. Hendricks, William Miller, James
M. Ley, Thomas Downey, Hobert Wilgus, Mr. Bodey, Jacob Kiracoffe, Mr. Johnson,
James Wilkison, R. Moore, J. B. Kiracoffe, Mr. Parthemore, and Mr. Montgomery,
who is the present pastor. The first Class Leader was John Garwood, and Rev.
Henry Snell is the present leader. In building the church, a great amount of
work was done by the members without any charge, so that when the church was
completed it had not cost, in actual money paid out, over $500, The church
prospered for many years, and at one time contained a 1arge membership, but from
time to time many died and others moved away, until the membership became very
small, so that at present there are only about twelve members. The house has
become old and dilapidated, and unless the Grace of God moves the hearts of the
people to more earnestness in behalf of the interests of the church, it is in
great danger of becoming extinct. They had a Sabbath school connected with the
church until a few years ago, when it ceased for want of sufficient interest to
keep it up.

   Church of God -This church was organized in February, 1872, by Elders D. S.
Warner and Burchard, in the Schertzer Schoolhouse. with the following members:
Simon Schertzer and wife Bell, T. C. Bonham and wife Elizabeth, Milton Marsh and
wife Louisa, J. W. Wade and wife Malinda, Silas Schertzer and wife Catharine,
Solomon Schertzer and wife Lucinda, J. N. Haines and wife Charlotte, Allen
Haines and wife Malissa, Edward Haines, Iowa Haines, Nancy Schertzer, John James
and wife, James Ellison and wife, Thomas Thompson and wife Sarah, Mrs. Susan
Harger, Charles Harger, Hannah Schertzer, Sarah Minshall, Ellis Minsball, Rees
Minshall, Elizabeth Minshall and Henry Leadman, with Simon Schertzer and Milton
Marsh as Elders, and J. W. Wade and Silas Schertzer as Deacons. In the summer of
the same year, they erected their present frame church, 30x35 feet, at a cost of
about $1,200, and the house, was dedicated in the following December by a sermon
by Elder J. C. Seabrooks, of Pennsylvania. The following ministers have served
the church; Elders W. P. Small, Solomon Kline, J. W. Cassel and Aaron McNutt.
The present membership is about thirty, with Samuel D. Young and T C. Bonham as
Elders, and Charles Melvin and Edward Buff as Deacons, the latter deceased March
8, 1883. Trustees. T. C. Bonham, Nathan Haines and Solomon Schertzer. The church
has a small cemetery of its own, which is mentioned under the heading of
cemeteries, Emanuel Schertzer, who died July 9, 1844, being the first person
interred there. A good Sunday school has existed in connection with the church
since its organization, with an average attendance of about thirty: present
Superintendent, Charles Melvin.

  Grassy Point Methodist Protestant Church was organized in the old schoolhouse
at Grassy Point, it is believed, by Elder Plummer, consisting of the following
members: Ira Baker and wife Rebecca, Benjamin Curl and wife Mary, Isaiah
Oglesbee and wife Sarah, and Mrs. Oglesbee's father, James Paxton and wife, and
probably a few others. They held their services in the old schoolhouse until the
building of the new one, since which they have held services in it up to the
present time. They have been administered to by the following pastors viz.,
Elders Plummer. John Lawson, Mr. Senter, Mr. Mulvain, Mr. Shepherd (the latter
died while on this charge), A. Munson, Mr. Knox, and Mr. Smith, who is now
serving as the pastor of this people. Ira Baker was the first Class Leader, and
served many years. The present membership is about forty, with Enos Baldwin as
Leader.

   Pleasant Grove Christian Church was organized April 3, 1872, at the Pleasant
Grove Schoolhouse, by Elder William Webb, of Licking County. with the following
members: Sarah A. Marshall, Thomas Dunson, Mary Dunson, Peter W. Lane, Matilda
Lane, Harrison Lake, Mrs. Lake, Joseph E. Wood, Ruth A. Wood, Robert Hopkins,
Andrew Thompson and Ann R. Thompson. Trustees, Robert Hopkins, Peter W. Lane and
Joseph E. Wood; Treasurer, Harrison Lake; Clerk, Anderson Thompson. The first
who served as Deacons were Peter W. Lane, Alexander McCulloch and Christian
Copp. Services were held in the schoolhouse until the fall of 1878, when they
erected their present frame church at a cost of about $1;000, and the same was
dedicated on the second Sabbath in October of the same year, Dr. N. Summerbelle
preaching the dedicatory sermon. He was from Yellow Springs, and was assisted by
Elders C. T. Emmons, William Webb, Thomas Hestings and N. McCloud. The following
ministers have served the church as pastors: Elders William Webb, for four
years, N. McCloud, one year; C. T. Emmons, two years; L. D. Brown, two years,
and A. C. Williams is now serving as their pastor. The present membership of the
church is about ninety-six, with Peter W. Lane, F. Wayne Sommers and G. L.
Thompson filling the office of Deacons. A good Sunday school is conducted in
connection with the church, with an average attendance of fifty scholars, with
Zane M. Hiatt as Superintendent.

   Presbyterian Church of Ridgeway was organized by Rev. Mr. Kalb at the White
Swan Schoolhouse, in May, 1875, consisting of the following persons: Alexander
Denison, W. J. Early, Nancy Early and Amy Hill, with Alexander Denison and W. J.
Early as Elders. They held services in the above-mentioned schoolhouse and in
the Methodist Church until in 1879, when they erected their present church
edifice, at a cost of about $1,600, and the same was dedicated to service in
December of that year, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. Robinson,
Rev. J. Alexander has served this society as its pastor ever since its
organization, and William Irwin, William J. Early and Alexander Denison have
filled the office of Elders, the last two now serving in that office. The
present membership is thirty. The present Trustees are William J. Early, R. J.
Williams, Alexander Denison and William Swysgood.

   Catholic Mission, Mount Victory.* - At Mount Victory, the Catholic priests of
Kenton, ever since the year 1866, would frequently collect a little band of
worshipers in some private house. There the people would assist at holy mass,
receive the sacraments and hear the word of God. Only two Catholic families
remain in the village at present, although formerly there were more, but when
all the members from the neighborhood and from Ridgeway are collected together
it makes still a little congregation of eight families.

* By A. S. Siebenfoercher 


Additional Comments:
Excerpt from

"The History of Hardin County, Ohio"
           containing
A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; ITS TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS, CHURCHES,
 SCHOOLS, ETC.; GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS; MILITARY
   RECORD; PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT
         MEN; HISTORY OF NORTHWEST TERRITORY;
             HISTORY OF OHIO; MISCELLANEOUS
                  MATTERS, ETC., ETC.

              CHICAGO: WARNER, BEERS & CO.
                          1883

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/hardin/history/1883/hardinco/haletown21gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ohfiles/

File size: 53.8 Kb