1832.
James Gordon, Sec. 5 John Copeland, Sec. 5 Henry Stoddard, Sec. 5		David Henry, Sec. 6 Henry Stoddard, Sec. 6
1833.
Byrd Richardson, Sec. 5 Wm. Richardson, Sec. 6 Scott Casper, Sec. 7. Abraham Skillman, Sec. 9. Wm. Rockland J. Dunlap, Sec. 24. George Delong, Sec. 30.		John Shelbey Sec. 5. James Coleman Sec. 6. Isaac Coyl, Sec. 8. Wm. Reed, Sec. 19. Alfred Purcell, Sec. 25. Samuel Henry, Sec. 30.
1834.
George Bishop, Sec. 4 John Dellenbaugh, . Sec. 4 Richard Henry, Sec. 7. John Tobias, Sec. 7 Nehemiah Broderic, Sec. 8. Joel Bayliff, Sec. 12. Charles Martin, Sec. 18 Joseph Bush, Sec. 18. George Newman, Sec. 18. George Elsas, Sec. 20. Henry Yost, Sec. 29.		William Bitler, Sec. 4. Daniel Bitler, Sec. 4. Joel Bayless, Sec. 7. Peter Brokhart, Sec. 7. David Henry, Sec. 8. Joseph Bush, Sec. 18. George Linder, Sec. 18. Charles Hawkinson, Sec. 18. Lewis Helmberger, Sec. 20. Ferd. Hahn, Sec. 29. Christian Klienaught, Sec. 29.
1835.
William Copeland, Sec. 3 Evander T. Hodges, Sec. 5. Daniel Apple, Sec. 7. Margaret Bayliff, Sec. 7 Jacob Snider, Sec. 8. Edward Williams, Sec. 8. David W. Barber, Sec. 15. Abraham Bilger, Sec. 20. Julian Shepherd, . Sec. 25 John Foreman, Sec. 27. John Tong, Sec. 27. Joseph Schlichtig, Sec. 28. Lewis Helminger, Sec. 28. Philip Keller, Sec. 29 Blazy Setler, Sec. 29. William Staley, Sec. 30 George Snyder, Sec. 30		John Copeland, Sec. 5 Enos Stevens Oxley, Sec. 5 David Bier, Sec. 7 Enos S. Oxley, Sec. 8. Ebenezer Hathaway, Sec. 8. William Leist, Sec. 8. Joseph Wright, Sec. 15 Peter Pheneger, Sec. 25 David McKnight, Sec. 25 John Collier, Sec. 27 Andrew Welch, Sec. 28 Matthias Glasier, Sec. 28 John Collier, Sec. 28 Jacob Bundenthal, Sec. 29 Joseph King, Sec. 29 Thomas Powell, Sec. 30 Joseph Wright, Sec. 14
1836.
Sinthy Harrod, Sec. 1. James A. Morris, Sec. 1 Hugh T. Rinehart, Sec. 2. Henry Baughman, Sec. 3. George Swickard, Sec. 3. John Lacard, Sec. 4. John Rogers, Sec. 5. James Bier, Sec. 7. George Mink, Sec. 8. James Manning, Sec. 9 John Corder, Sec. 10. James Manning, Sec. 10. John Bailey, Sec. 11. George Runkle, Sec. 14 Aaron Hartley, Sec. 15 John D. Mifford, Sec. 15. Valentine Flegel, Sec. 17 Matthias Babcock, Sec. 17 Leonard West, Sec. 18. Joel Babcock, Sec. 19. Germsey Leiter, Sec. 20. Joseph C. Wilson, Sec. 21 Nicholas Gross, Sec. 21. Jaocb Chambers, Sec. 22. John Smith, Sec. 22. Gerhart Thersticker, Sec. 23. Amos Arthur, Sec. 23. Amos Hunter, Sec. 24. Charles Reed, Sec. 25. Benjamin Stiles, Rec. 26. James Ellison, Sec. 27. Bartlett Elrod, Sec. 27. John Foreman, Sec. 28. Robert Reed, Sec. 28. John Bierlein, Sec. 30.		Simon Biggs, Sec. 1. George P. Williams, Sec. 1. Jonathan Swickard, Sec. 2 Davis Trumbo, Sec. 3. Henry Baughman, . Sec. 4 David Eversole, Sec. 4. William Brackney, Sec. 6. Casper Brodenbender, Sec. 8. Andrew Herbst, Sec. 8. Henry Coleman, Sec. 10. David Eversole, Sec. 10. Julian Rinehart, Sec. 11. William Runyan, Sec. 12. Benjamin Faler, Sec. 14 David Eversole, Sec. 15. Daniel Beery, Sec. 15. Andrew Herbst, Sec. 17 Elizabeth Miller, Sec. 17. Joel Babcock, Sec. 18 Michael Nipgen, Sec. 19 Joseph Graham, Sec. 21 George Gier, Sec. 21 David Reed, Sec. 21 David Reed, Sec. 22 Aaron Hartley, Sec. 22. James Hamilton, Sec. 23. Philip Fetters, Sec. 23 Henry Seffers, Sec. 24 Warren Hays, Sec. 25 Thomas Moore, Sec. 27 James Conners, Sec. 27. Jacob Michard, Sec. 27 John Wiss, Sec. 28 Stephen Hurling, Sec. 29 John Johster, Sec. 30.
1837.
Uri Mix, Sec. 1 William Copeland, Sec. 3 John Strickler, Sec. 8. William Crumeller, . Sec. 10 Richard Bodkin and Jno. Gray, Sec. 14 Jacob Rock, Sec. 17 David W. Barber, Sec. 17 John Weimert, Sec. 25 George Thresher, Sec. 26		William Brackney, Sec. 3. Daniel Bitler, Sec. 4. Thomas Brier, Sec. 9. Jacob Whetstone, . Sec. 12 Barbara Rock, Sec. 17. John Cunningham, Sec. 17. Stephen Bull, Sec. 25. John Nipgen, Sec. 25. Rebecca Bilger, Sec. 26.
1838.
George M. Martin Sec. 2 Amos Copeland, Sec. 3 Abner Copeland, Sec. 11 Madison Copeland Sec. 12 Samuel Dunlap, Sec. 25		William H. Hurley, Sec. 2 Hamilton Davison, Sec. 9 Joseph Copeland, Sec. 12 Benjamin Strausbaugh, Sec. 25 Henry Crowell, Sec. 21
1839.
Hamilton Davison, Sec. 3 Thomas Oakley, Sec. 11 Christopher F. Hahn, Sec. 17 William Miller, Sec. 24 Henry Crowell, Sec. 24		Jeremiah Furrow, Sec. 3 William Miller, Sec. 12 Christopher Kramer, Sec. 17 Barzillai F. Moore, Sec. 12
1840.
Joseph Gibson, Sec. 1		Micajah Lane Sec. 2
1841.
Hamilton Davison Sec. 10 William Miller, Sec. 12		Daniel Caldwell, Sec. 12 Hamilton Dawson, Sec. 15
1842.
Peter Rott, Sec. 16. Michael Leatherman, Sec. 16 Nicholas Gross, Sec. 16 Michael Gross, Sec. 16.		John Rott, Sec. 16 John Watt, Sec. 16 John Norst, Sec. 16 Jno. H. F. Yosting,  Sec. 27.
1843.
George Grier, Sec. 16
1847.
Stephen Werling, Sec. 29. Henry Bay, Sec. 30.		Godfrey Kailzel, Sec. 30. John Burlain, Sec. 30.
1848.
Michael Rinehart, Sec. 30.		James Whetstone Sec. 30
1851.
John Lusk Sec. 2 Jacob Harvey, Sec. 12		John Shaw, Sec. 11 Jacob Leopley, Sec. 12
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.      The following tabulated list of township officers is as nearly complete as can be ascertained from the county records:
1853. 1855. 1858. 1859. 1861. 1862. 1863. 1865.	Daniel Bitler John Rogers Daniel McKercher George M. Rogers. John M. Shaw James H. Coleman J. M. Shaw. William Lusk.	1865. 1867. 1873-1902 1882. 1884 1885. 1901-1903 1903	George M. Rogers. J. M. Shaw. Wm. Bush J. A. Dobie William Barber W. L. Bailey. F. E. Bailey. W. J. Coleman.
CLERKS.
1862. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867-1875. 1876. 1878. 1880. 1882.	William Bitler. William Bush. William Bush. John M. Shaw William Bush A. Welshhance. William Marsh. Joseph Chambers. Jacob Runkle Enoch Rithman.	1883. 1884. 1885. 1888. 1889. 1891. 1892. 1896. 1898. 1903.	Jacob George J. M. Snider. J. W. Bailey George Bailey J. W. Bailey A. J. Lusk E. S. Lusk. J. W. Brackney Frank A. Runkle James Killian
TREASURERS.
1862 Allen Bitler 1863-1867 Christian Bitler 1867 to 1889 John Martin 1869 to 1872 Lewis Myers 1872 to 1877 Christian Bitler 1877 A. Welshhance 1879 W. A. Perkins 1884 George L. Limbert 1885 Jacob Gnagi		1887. Reuben Brackney 1890 Jacob Gnagi 1891. F. E. Bailey 1894. M. D. Thrush 1896 J. M. Copeland 1900. Jedediah Allen 1901. Frank Martin 1903. J. R. Cordrey

SCHOOLS.

     There are now ten sub-district schools in the township, nearly all of which are provided with substantial brick buildings.  The enumeration of youth of school age is three hundred and sixty-eight.  John Corder, James H. Coleman, Samuel Bitler, and Arthur Bitler were the pioneer teachers of the township.

CHURCHES.

     There are seven churches in the township, which certainly speaks well for the morals of the inhabitants.  They are as follows:  Methodist Episcopal one, Protestant Methodist one, German Lutheran one, Christian one and German Methodist one.

ST. JOHN'S VILLAGE.

     This beautiful village occupies the site of the former noted Shawnee town, known in history as Blackhoof town.  After the

Page 718 -
expulsion of the Shawnee Indians from the Piqua towns in 1780, Blackhoof, the chief of all the tribes and clans of that Indian nation, moved to this locality and erected his tepee on the larger gravel mound in the south part of what is now the village of St. Johns.  After the establishment of the Quaker mission at Wapakoneta, by directon of Henry Harvey, a two story cabin, eighteen by twenty-four feet was erected on what is now lot number twenty-nine in St. Johns.  The great chief resided in this log house from 1822, until his death, which occurred in the summer of 1831.  (For further particulars concerning Blackhoof see Chapter XI.)
     The cabins vacated by the Indians in 1832, were soon occupied by the early pioneers of the township.  John Corder lived in Blackhoof's house until he purchased what is known as the Tam farm in Duchouquet township.  A number of Indian huts were occupied by pioneers as late as 1838.
     The village of St. Johns was platted by Daniel Bitler and John Rogers in the summer of 1835, and was named St. Johns.  There was some contention between the proprietors as to name.  From tradition we learn that the question was settled by casting lots.
     The village site is on the line of Union and Clay townships, chiefly in the latter.  The original plat of 1835 comprised fifty-six lots.  Since that date three additions have been made.  Number one by Emma Loony, number two by John Rogers, and number three by Samuel Tobias.
     The first religious society of the village was organized by Rev. James B. Finley at the house of Charles Lusk, with twelve members in 1835.  Charles Lusk was appointed leader of this class, and its meetings were conducted at his house for an indefinite period.  During this time this class was one of several organized along a line extending into Allen county.  Revs. J. B. Finley and John Alexander were the pioneers in the work of organization.  "In 1835, Revs. David Burns and Wesley J. Wells were assigned to this field."
     "The Christians have an old organization in St. Johns, which is among the very first in this territory.  They have a very comfortable frame house of worship.

Page 719 -

GUYER VILLAGE

     Guyer was regularly laid out by George Geyer in 1893, and occupies a part of the farm that he entered in 1840.  Soon after the construction of the Ohio Southern railroad a store and warehouse were erected which have done a thriving business since that time.  The village is located in the midst of a rich agricultural region.  The business is confined to the supply of the surrounding country with the most necessary articles of trade.
     The business of the town is represented by two quite respectable dry goods stores, one hotel, two saloons, one grain elevator, one stave mill and saw-mill and one agricultural implement store.

SANTA FE.

     This village is located in section twenty-five on the line between Logan and Auglaize counties.  The place has not assumed very large proportions, and its business is mainly local, being confined to the trade of the immediate neighborhood.
     Its business is confined to two dry goods stores, one grocery store, one blacksmith shop, and one hotel.  There are two churches, one school building and one physician.  The town so far as improvements in the way of new buildings is concerned, is at a stand still.  The population in 1900 was about one hundred and fifty.

GUTMAN.

     Gutman Station on the Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad, is a place of commercial importance, near the center of the township.  A dry goods store owned by John G. Gutman and his mother, Mrs. Mary E. Gutman, si largely patronized by the surrounding country.  The Gutman brothers also buy grain, and their new elevator is one of the best on the line of the T. and O. C. railroad.

BIOGRAHICAL.

WILLIAM BITLER
WILLIAM BUSH
JAMES H. COLEMAN
AMOS COPELAND
WILLIAM LUSK
ASA MARTIN
JOHN ROGERS

< CLICK HERE to RETURN to TABLE of CONTENTS >