This township was
established on the 6th day of December, A. D. 1831, by
the Board of Commissioners, then composed of the
following members: Morgan Lippincott, James
Daniels, and Samuel Stewart, Commissioners,
and William G. Wood, Auditor, and originally
bounded as follows: "Beginning at the northwest
corner Sec. 3, T. 3, R. 6; thence west to east boundary
of Amanda township; thence south to county line; thence
east to southeast corner Sec. 33, T. 6, R. 6; thence
north to beginning."
The township records do not show that there were any
township officers elected until the spring of 1833, when
William
Bowman, John Brand, and Samuel Richards were elected
trustees, Griffith John clerk, and John
Ireland justice
of the
peace. John Ireland resigned as justice in the spring of
1834,
and was succeeded by Asa Wright, who served until the
spring
of 1837, when he was succeeded by Isaac Bowyer, during
whose term of office the credit system must have
prevailed to
an alarming extent, as the index to his old civil docket
shows
that over two hundred judgments had been rendered in the
short period of five years. Mr. Bowyer died in the fall
of
1842. Charles Crites was elected to the same office in
the
month of January following, and did, perhaps, more
business
during the six-years he served than any justice did
before or
since in the same length of time.
The first settlements in German township were made
about 1830-31. The pioneer settlers were Peter and
George
Ridenour, William, George, and Samuel Knittle, and
Thomas
Cochran, followed by Isaac Bowyer, Griffith
John,
William
Bryan, Smith Cremean, Jacob Cremean,
Michael Noll, John
Brand, William Myers, David Beiler,
Samuel Miller, Henry
Huffer, Philip and John Herring,
John Ireland, Jacob Hartman,
Samuel Richards, John Summerset, and
George Povenmire,
who came about 1532. In 1833 came J. S. Baker,
Charles
Ireland, James Holland, Joseph
Leaser, and Richard Hughes.
Other early settlers within the original boundary of
German
township were Michael Bowers, Daniel
Conrad, James Johnson, George Miller,
James Peltier, John Pool, John
Steamen,
Jacob Sakemiller, Robert Tate. From 1835 to 1840 their
numbers were augmented by Thomas Greer, Wesley Cochran,
Arthur Statts, John Stalter, Peter Verbrycke, Jacob
Richardson,
William Westbay, Thomas Edwards, Jacob Haller, Chas.
Crites, Christian Stalter, Alexander McBride,James
Luttrell,
and others. Of these, William Knittle, Thomas Cochran,
Charles Ireland, J. S. Baker, and Charles Crites are
still living
in the township, and are each pat their threescore and
ten years.
Mrs. D. L. Crites, daughter of Griffith John, born in
1832,
is probably at present the oldest person living in the
township
that was born therein.
The Crites family, now one of the oldest
as well as one of the most numerous, generally reside in
German township. Four brothers, Charles,
Cyrus, Jacob, and Elias constitute the
original stock.
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.
CHARLES CRITES was
born in Berks County, Pa., in 1809. Came to Ohio
in 1812. Purchased the land on which he still
resides in 1836, and in 1839 moved from Pickaway County
into the wilderness of German township. He is self
educated and self made, raised a large family, and has
been for many years a leading man in his community, and
servant of the people as administrator, executor, clerk,
assessor, land appraiser, and justice of the peace of
the township, captain, etc, under the old militia laws,
district land appraiser, and representative to the
General Assembly from -1853 to 1855
The people of German township have greatly honored and
patronized the Crites family, as will be
seen from a further examination of their history. Daniel
L., son of Charles, has been assessor and
land appraiser of German township, county surveyor of
Putnam County, served two and a half years as private
and lieutenant in the army, and was journal clerk of the
House in the sixty-first General Assembly of Ohio; and
in Allen County, since 1865, has been Deputy Auditor,
Auditor, Deputy Clerk, and at present is Clerk of
Courts, and if he lives to the expiration of his present
term in 1882 will have been sixteen years “a
courthouse rat.”
JACOB CRITES, brother
of Charles, was born in Salt Creek township,
Pickaway County, Ohio, on the 19th day of October, 1822.
When three years old he accidentally fell upon the
knife of a straw-cutter, which almost severed his left
foot from his leg, thereby making a cripple of him for
the remainder of his days.
At the age of fifteen he went to the blacksmith trade,
which he followed for seventeen successive years, when,
on account of health, he was obliged to abandon it for
the farm. He came to Allen County in 1843 when
twenty-one years of age, and pursued his trade near
where he now resides.
Two years later, on the 2d of October, 1845, he was
united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Cremean,
with whom he lived very agreeably until Sept. 12, 1859,
when she was called away by death, leaving him with
seven children to mourn the loss of an affectionate
Christian wife and mother.
He was again married, on the 5th day of February, 1860,
to Miss Emily Sellers.
A great many public and private trusts have been
confided in him. He has always been chosen by the
people to take a very prominent part in the official
business of his township. During the late Civil
War many of his neighbors, in fact most of them, after
volunteering and receiving a bounty, committed their
money to his care, simply taking a receipt for the
amount, and instructing him to pay to their wives as
necessity demanded.
He has administered on the estates of twelve or fifteen
of his deceased neighbors.
The most important trust, perhaps, which he has been
called upon to occupy is that of county commissioner, to
which office he was first elected in October, 1876, and
re-elected in October, 1879.
He is now in his fifty-eighth year, but bids fair for
at least another score.
He hopes, soon, to be able to retire from public
responsibilities to his farm, where he will be free from
the speculation and unmerciful criticisms of political
grumblers; free from the complicated perplexities which
accompany a public life; and free to spend his remaining
days in practical quietude.
German township is a small rural one, but seems to be
the hot-bed for county officers. There have
been elected from its limits three representatives, four
auditors, three treasurers, two clerks of courts, two
surveyors, two commissioners, and one infirmary
director. Certainly quite an honor and an
achievement for one little township! It must have
popular men!
S. D. CRITES, son of
Jacob, is superintendent of Elida Union Schools, and
one of the county school examiners.
ELIAS CRITES was born
June 25th, 1825, in Pickaway County, Ohio. Married
June 8th, 1851, to Catherine Mowery. Had
three children: Mary Celena, born June 25th,
1852; John Daniel, born Sept. 23d, 1855; and
Willison Willard, born May 3d, 1858. Mrs. Crites
died May 3d, 1862, aged thirty-one years, two months,
five days. Oct. 1st, 1862, he married
his present wife, she being the widow of Venus
Reichelderfer, formerly Leannah Mowery,
sister to his first wife. She has one son. George
S. Reichelderfer, now living in Pickaway County. Mr.
Crites settled on the farm where he now resides
Nov. 20, 1871. He gives considerable attention to
raising thoroughbred cattle, and has a fine farm, a view
of which appears in this volume.
WM. KNITTLE was born in
Pennsylvania March 19th, 1798, and came to Allen County,
Ohio, in August, 1830, the year before Lima was laid
out. He was married in 1823 to Rebecca Tester
of Fairfield County, Ohio. She was born in
Virginia. They had two children, Jacob and
Elizabeth, both now dead. The latter died
when a child. Jacob married and had a
family of seven children. He is buried in the
cemetery at Elida.
When Mr. Knittle first came to Allen
County, he cleared up and settled on the farm now
occupied by Elias Crites, north of Elida.
He sold to Crites, and bought the farm where he
now lives, on the Lima road one mile east of Elida.
He helped to cut this road through, and thinks it was
the second road in the county. Peter and
George Ridenour came about the same time.
Isaac Bowyer, John Summerset,
William Bryan, Thomas Cochran,
and Smith Cremean about a year later.
Thinks David Rideuour taught the first
school
THOMAS COCHRAN was
born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, in 1800, and moved
to German township, Allen County, Ohio, in 1831, and
located on the farm where he now resides. His
father, Simon Cochran, was a Revolutionary
soldier, and preached in the M. E. Church for
forty-seven years. He died at Thomas's
house in the ninetieth year of his age. A. W.
and John Cochran were in the war of 1812.
The first schoolhouse was built on Mr. Cochran's farm,
three or four years after his arrival, and he thinks the
first teacher was Asa Wright or John
Summerset. The M. E. congregation held
services at his brother John's house for a number
of years, their preacher then being Rev.
Kellum. The first members of the church were
John Cochran and his wife Hester,
James Hayes and wife, Mr. Ryan,
Nancy Lippincott, and Mr. Jackson.
Reverend Sullivan was their preacher.
The building burned down, and a new one was erected in
the northeast part of the township. Rev.
Spicer is the present preacher.
GEO. KESLER, son of
Abraham Kesler, was born in Fairfield County,
Ohio, June 22, 1838, and when two years of age came to
this county with his father, and settled on the farm now
owned by Samuel East. He was married
Mar. 4, 1860, to Catharine Herring, and
moved on to the farm he now owns and commenced
housekeeping. He built his present residence in
1879. It is located one mile south of Elida, and
is represented in a flue lithographic sketch in another
part of this volume.
PETER VERBRYCKE and
his wife Maria came from Warren County, and
settled in German township, Mar. 16, 1835. The old
home is now occupied by their son Ruliff, who was
born Feb. 13, 1840. He was married in 1862, to Julia
A. Foust.
SMITH BAXTER was born
Oct. 10, 1824,in Ross County, Ohio, and came to this
county with his father, Samuel, when a boy four
years of age. He grew up with the children of the
red man, and was their companion in many of their sports
and games. In shooting with the bow and arrow,
foot-racing, jumping, etc., young Baxter was
considered a full match for the Indian boys. —He relates
many incidents, and has considerable knowledge of the
characteristics of the red men then living in this
locality. —In speaking of the wonderful memory of the
Indian, Mr. Baxter tells the following
incident: Old Tu-taw was one day passing down the river
in his canoe, loaded with bark, etc., and got aground on
a bar near Baxter’s. He had to get out into the
water to get his canoe loose, and his splashing around
was sport to young Baxter, who laughed at him,
which angered old “Tut” a little. Baxter
was then a lad of six years, and did not meet the
Indian again till sixteen years afterward. Old Tu-taw
looked at him an instant, then exclaimed, “You bad boy,
you laugh at old ‘Tut’ when he got his canoe
fast." This Indian was employed by Gen.
Wayne to carry the mail from Defiance to Piqua.
Mr. Baxter was married in March, 1844, to
Mary Cremean, and they have eight
children, three sons and live daughters. He has
always been a warm friend to education, and at present
is a member of the School Board of Elida. He owns
and resides on a nice litle farm about a mile
east of the town.
JESSE JOHN
states that his father, Griffith John,
settled in German township in 1831, and died in 1856,
leaving twelve children, four boys, Ethan, Jesse J.,
Abia, and Jehu, who was killed in the war of
the rebellion, at the battle of the Kanesaw Mountain,
June 19,1864; and eight girls, Sallie, wife of
Curtis Cremean; Malissa, now Mrs.
Baxter; Emily, Mrs. Curtis Baxter;
Vienna, deceased; Tamsey, Mrs. S. D.
Cremean; Martha, Mrs. D. L. Crites;
Louisa, Mrs. Henry Roush,
deceased; and Mrs. Jesse Carr. Griffith
John, at his decease in February, 1856, owned 1640
acres of land in German, Amanda, and Marion townships.
He located in the fall of 1831, in section 1, in German
township. The homestead is now owned by Abia
John, just outside of the corporation of Elida.
Mr. John was born in Northumberland
County, Pennsylvania, and removed thence to Ross County,
Ohio, and from there to German township, Allen County,
in the fall of 1831. His ancestors came from Wales
about the close of the American Revolution. During
the construction of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and
Chicago Railroad, in 1854-55, Mr. John
graded the section that passed through his lands.
He also caused a warehouse to be erected in what is now
Elida, which was accidentally burned in 1865, and since
that period rebuilt by Jesse John.
Griffith John was a fine business man, and
comprehended the advantages of the building of the
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Road through the
township at a glance, and took an influential part in
forwarding that great enterprise. The value of his
property, as be anticipated, was greatly enhanced during
his lifetime. The members of his numerous family
generally reside in the community, and are acting well
their part in the great struggle of life.
SAMUEL EAST was born in
Pickaway County, Ohio, Dec. 2, 1830, and came with his
parents to German township, and settled on section 21,
on lands now owned by Isaac East.
His
Page 26 -
father, John East, died Sept. 20, 1862,
aged 67 years. His grandfather, Abraham
East, was a German by birth, and his services sold
to the British during the American Revolution by one of
the petty German princes, and Mr. East,
with other German soldiers, brought over the ocean and
attached to the English service. Mr.
East soon learned the true state of the case, and
determined not to contribute his services to the
subjection of the American people, and he and others, on
the first opportunity, deserted to the American side,
and when the war closed remained among the German
patriots of the “Keystone” State, and gladly assumed all
the honor of being known as Hessians. Mr.
East removed to, and died in Pickaway County,
Ohio. The mother of Samuel East died
in German township in 1871, aged 74. Mr.
East married Miss Elizabeth Mumaw, of
Knox County, Ohio. His family consists of nine
children, five of whom are living. His pioneer
experiences have been such as all the early settlers
have been compelled to pass through. The first
school-house in his part of the township was in a cabin
on section 16, in 1837, and the teacher, Mr. John
Bowman. Mr. East owns a farm of 304
acres, with a fine brick house and a large frame barn
upon it. The lands seem to be in a high state of
culture.
ISAAC EAST was born in
Pickaway County, Aug. 7, 1817, and came to German
township, Allen County, with John East,
his father, in 1833. His father died in 1862, aged
67, and his mother in 1871, aged 74 years.
Isaac says that the statement of Samuel
East concerning the ancestry of the East
family is correct. He married Miss
Barbara Berkholder, whose parents settled in
German township about 1840. He married in 1842.
Has had nine children, four are living and five are
dead. Mr. East resides upon the old
homestead, and is comfortably situated.
DANIEL MYERS born in
Fairfield County, Ohio, May 1, 1827, and came to German
township, Allen County, with his stepfather, Peter
Ridenour, when a lad of four years. He grew
up here, and was married to Rebecca Spengler,
by whom he had twelve children, seven sons and five
daughters; eight of whom are still living.
Mr. Myers built the first building in Elida
after it was laid out, except the Lutheran church.
The contract was let at $90, to be completed from the
stump at that. The siding is of the finest black
walnut and is well preserved. This building
formerly stood on Main Street, but was moved to a back
street to make room for what is now known as Moore’s
Hall. Mr. Myers occupied part
of the building as a residence, and carried on the first
grocery business in the town in the other part.
It is his opinion that the first school-house, or
cabin, was built in 1833, where Elida now stands, and
that David Ridenour was the first teacher.
His children were named respectively Levi M.,
Samuel, Sarah I., Mary A., Wm. H., Daniel C., Maria J.,
David A., Eli, and Emeline F. Two died in
infancy. Levi M., and Sarah J. are
both married, the latter being the wife of Jonathan
Reedy.
Mr. Myers is now doing a thriving mercantile
business in the prosperous town of Elida.
HENRY KIRACOFE was
born in Augusta County, Va., May 13, 1820. His
first wife was Margaret Fifer, by whom he
had two children, Robert and Mary A.
He came to Allen County in 1845, and was married Dec.
5th, 1847, to Elizabeth Metcalf. His
third and present wife, to whom he was married Sept.
8th, 1859, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1827,
and came to this county when four years of age.
Her maiden name was Delilah Huffer, her
parents being Henry and Mary Huffer. They
settled in the woods about a mile and a half from where
Elida now stands, Indians being plenty in the
neighborhood. The school-house stood on the
present site of the town, and the route to it was marked
by blazed trees.
By his present wife Mr. Kiracofe has
three children: Saloma J., now the wife of
Albert Steman, Lucinda M., and Henrietta.
He has been a successful farmer, but has now retired
from his farm, containing one hundred and sixty acres,
in the northeast part of German township, and resides in
Elida, where he has erected a neat and comfortable
residence in which to spend his remaining days, and
where he has the convenience and advantages of an
excellent school in which to educate his daughters
Lucinda M. and Henrietta.
German township
is well adapted to agricultural purposes. The
farms are in a high state of culture, with many brick
residences and fine barns. The population is quite
numerous, and there is an air of comfort and prosperity
to be seen on every side. The Pittsburgh Ft.
Wayne, and Chicago Railraod passes across the township,
and furnishes a market for all surplus products.
The farmers of German are happily situated, and
independence rewards their industry. The
population according to the Compendium of the Ninth
Census for 1870, including villages, is 1462.
There are two villages in the township, the older one
being
ALLENTOWN.
This village
was aid out by George Povernmyre and William
Myers in 1835. The first grocery store was
kept by William Myers in 1836. The first
blacksmith shop in the fall of 1838, by Merit Campbell.
The first carpenter was Christian Walters.
The first shoemaker, Michael Noll.
The first tanner, Albert
Clippinger about 1842. The first school
1838, and teacher John Custer. The
first M. E. church in 1850. The U. B. church built
in 1854. The Christian Union church built in 1876.
The churches are all frame. The school-house built
in 1862. The present business of the town consists
of one drygoods store, one grocery, two blacksmith
shops, two cabinet shops, one shoe shop, one steam grist
mill, and one steam saw mill, and one school of sixty
scholars six months each year. It has one
physician, Dr. G. R. Millhouse. The above
statement is furnished by John Westbay,
who came in 1838. He is justice of the peace, and
has been justice two terms. He says German was
organized in 1833.
ELIDA.
Elida Separate School District.
M. E. Church.
- END OF GERMAN TOWNSHIP - |
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