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History
of
Auglaize County
and the
Indian History of Wapakoneta, and the First
Settlement of the County.
Publ. Wapakoneta: Robert Sutton, Publisher
1880
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
- NEW KNOXVILLE
------
The first
white settler in Washington township was Shadrack Montgomery,
who settled here in 1830. He located in sec. 24, and was
one of the trustees at the organization of the township.
At a very early period he was elected justice of the peace, and
was one of the Board of Commissioners at the organization of the
county. He had previously served in this capacity in Allen
County. His son Archibald was twelve years of age
when they came to the county. He says that during the
years 1830-31-32 he had no associates save the Indian boys.
As his home bordered on the reserve he became acquainted with
their language and skilful with the bow. The first school
taught in the township was in a log cabin in sec. 24, by
Elias Horner, during the winter of 1834-35. The
equipments were very primitive, having basswood puncheons for
seats, greased paper for windows, and planks attached to the
wall for desks. Mr. M. had not the privileges of
education, as he was the main support of his father's family.
He married Julia A. Brannon, and they reared a family of
ten children, five of whom are still living. The first
sermon preached in the township was by Rev. Kemper.
Among those who came to the township about this time were
John L. Campbell, Samuel McCullough, Samuel Blakely, Wm. Spray,
and Thos. Chambers. Mr. Montgomery was noted as a
hunter. HE claimed to have killed the last deer ever seen
in the county. On one occasion he killed two deer at one
shot. He saw but one, but after the shot he found a second
one had stood in range beyond the one at which he aimed.
He also claims to have killed the last wolf ever seen in the
county.
NEW KNOXVILLE was aid out in village lots in the
year 1836, by James K. Lytle. It consisted of 102
lots. The first store started in the town was by
Cummins, Mathers & Brown (who had previously built a steam
sawmill), which was afterwards sold to James K. Lytle.
Henry Vennemann built the frame dwelling and storeroom he
now occupies in 1856, but had been selling goods at his home,
just outside the village limits, from the year 1840.
Henry Lutterbine commenced to sell goods about the same
time. Ever since there has been a gradual increase in the
business of the town, till there are at the present time two
stores of general merchandise, one boot and shoe store, three
shoe shops, one harness shop, three blacksmith shops, two wagon
shops, one bent wood manufactory, and furniture manufactories
and stores, one sawmill, one sash and blind factory, one
physician, one photograph gallery, two churches, and one public
school. The inhabitants of the town are entirely of German
descent.BIOGRAPHICAL.
HENRY FRISCHE
JOHN M. HOWELL
HENRY MILLER
JESSE ROBERTS
ZACHARIAH K. RYAN
HENRY VENNEMANN |
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
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