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In the year 1828, the territory now included
in this township was organized and named
Welfare. We find this record of the
proceedings of the County Commissioners,
under date of June 1st, 1829; "Agreeable to
the petition of sundry citizens of Welfare
township, in Hancock County, the name of
Welfare is changed to that of Delaware, and
to be known as such."
I have not been able to ascertain why the township was
originally called Welfare, nor do the
records disclose the reason for changing to
Delaware. The township no doubt owes
its present name to the fact that the
Delaware tribe of Indians made this part of
the county a favorite resort.
This township now includes sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 254,
26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, in township 2
south, range 11 east, and sections, 6, 7,
18, 19, 30 and 31 in township 2 south, range
12 east. It is located in the
south-east corner of the county, and bounded
on the north by Amanda and Jackson
townships, on the east by Wyandotte County,
on the south by Hardin County, on the west
by Madison township. It contains
thirty sections of land.
Asa M. Lake made the first entry of lands in
this township on the 12th day of December,
1822. The tract entered was the west
half of the north-west quarter of section 1.
In 1823 entries were made in the following order as to
dates;
Michael Buck, west half of the northeast
quarter of section 2,
Curtis Berry, east half of the
northeast quarter of section2.
John Brundige, the south-west quarter
of section 1,
W. J. Greer, east half of the
north-west quarter of section 1,
John Rose, east half of south-west
quarter of section 14,
William Davis, east half of
north-west quarter of section 14,
Then followed entries by David Augustus,
Marquis Lafayette Plumb, Levi Edgington
and others in 1826, and by Josiah Elder,
Godfrey Wolford and others in 1827.
The first settlement made in this township was by
Asa M. Lake in the year 1822.
Mr. Lake built a log cabin on a parcel
of ground now owned by Michael Treece,
and in the limits of the village of Mt.
Blanchard. The parcel of land had been
used by the Indians as a burying ground.
Many skeletons and relics have been dug up,
and even to the present day they are to be
found. Mr. Lake was one of the
very earliest settlers of the county.
He entered and settled on the west half of
the north-west quarter of section 1.
This tract was on the east side of the
Blanchard River, and is now occupied in part
by the village of Mt. Blanchard.
Amongst the first settlers of this township were Asa
M. Lake, Josiah Elder, the
Hamlins, one of whom - Don Alonzo
- was one of the first county officers, the
Wolfords, of whom Godfrey was one of
the first Commissioners of the county, and
the Greers.
The settlement here was perhaps the very earliest in
the county, next to that at Findley.
Don Alonzo Hamlin was the first
Sheriff of the county, and was also County
Assessor. Godfrey Wolford was
Coroner of the county, and was also County
Commissioner I believe, and Asa M. Lake
was one of the first Justices of the Peace
in the county.
The lands in this township were mostly purchased by
emigrants from the south-eastern counties of
Ohio. A few, however, were from
Pennsylvania and Virginia. This was a
full township of thirty-six sections until
the formation of Wyandotte County in 1845,
when one tier of sections on the east side
were taken to help form that county.
Asa M. Lake, who first came to the county in
1822, resided here to the time of his death.
He was a fair specimen of the class of men
who first emigrate to a new country, hardy,
industrious and honest. He succeeded
in building up for himself and children a
home in one of the richest sections of our
county, and lived long enough to see a
thriving village built up on the very lands
he had redeemed from the wilderness, and
peopled with an intelligent and energetic
population, supplied with schools and
churches and other appliances of
civilization.
The red-man, who had been his early companion, had long
since been removed westward, and herds of
domestic animals taken the place of the
wild.
Josiah Elder, whose parents came to this part of
the county almost simultaneously with the
Lakes, after spending an honest, active
lifetime, almost, in the township, died few
years ago, on the old homestead.
Mrs. Henry Helms, a sister of Mr.
Elder, related to me, a few years ago,
the incidents connected with her wedding
day, in that long ago. She was first
married to William J. Greer, of this
township. She relates that her
intended husband, and herself, travelled
from Delaware township to Findley on
horse-back - both on one horse. - though the
almost trackless wilderness, where they
obtained a license, and then in the same
manner went to the residence of Joshua
Hedges, a Justice of the Peace, three
miles west of Findley, where they were
married, and returned to their homes.
The trip occupied three days. What do
my fair readers think of that style of
wedding tour?
The soil of this township is generally a black sandy
loam, intermixed with clay in some parts.
The Blanchard River traverses the township
from south to north, and with its fertile
bottom lands, and numerous creek bottoms,
makes it one of the best agricultural
districts in the county. Many of the
most beautiful farms in the county are to be
found here. The lands - as in all
parts of the county - were heavily wooded,
and the improvements we see here are the
result of the most arduous toil. The
fruitful fields have been redeemed from the
wilderness, only by the most patient
industry and economy.
The timber here found is of the usual kinds, indigenous
to the country, such as sugar, beech, elm,
white and black ash, the different varieties
of the oak, walnut, hickory, hackberry,
buckeye, etc.
The township is well watered by the Blanchard River,
which crosses it, and by the creeks and runs
tributary to it. The most considerable
creek is in the eastern part of the
township, and called Potatoe Creek.
Good drinking water can be had in all
portions of the township, by sinking wells
from ten to thirty feet.
The first school house was built in 1830, near the
center of the township, on the farm now
owned by J. A. Rose. The first
school was taught by John Wolford.
The school population was not large at that
time, and were easily accommodated in the
log school house. The enumeration of
school age in this township, in 1880 was
355, outside the town of Mt. Blanchard.
There are now eight school houses in the
township, one graded and seven common or
ungraded.
The first church was built in 1838 by the Methodist
Episcopal denomination, in the town of Mt.
Blanchard. But it must not be supposed
that the people were without religious
services up to that time. The school
houses and private houses had been the
churches. There are now seven churches
in the township, three Methodist Protestant,
two Methodist Episcopal, one Baptist and one
Presbyterian.
Godfrey Wolford built a flouring mill on the
Blanchard River in 1830, near the center of
the township. The mill is now known as
"Fahl's Mill." And Felix Miller
built a saw mill - the first in the township
- on the Blanchard River, near the south
line of the township.
The only still-house ever in the township was built in
1833, by Abner Bell. It was run
but a short time, and was then sold to
Samuel Thornton, and removed to Jackson
township, where it was operated for several
years.
The first white child born in this township, was
John B. Elder, and it is believed to be
the first white child born in the county.
Marian Greer was the first white
female born in the township. Nancy
Williams, wife of Nathan Williams,
was the first white person who died in this
township.
The first election for township officers was held in
1832. R. W. Hamlin, Harvey
Smith and
John Rose
were elected Trustees, Godfrey Wolford,
Clerk and
D. O. Hamlin, Treasurer.
The first couple married were Asa M. Lake and
Charlotte M. Greer, and the second
couple, William J. Greer and
Rosanna Elder. Both couples were
married by Joshua Hedges, J. P. of
Findley.
Mr. Simpson Harris, log a resident of the
township, and to whom I am indebted for much
valuable formation, relates the following
incidents:
"In 1828, or 1829, as John H. Greer, M. S. Hamlin,
J. Greer and D. O. Hamlin were
out at play, they came to where a tree had
been blown out by the roots, and in falling
had left bare the skeleton of an Indian.
Upon examination they found a large amount
of jewelry, consisting of finger rings, ear
and nose rings, wristlets, breast plate,
necklace, and quiet a large nugget, which
they supposed to be copper, all engraved
with some French characters. They,
supposing the rings to be nothing but tin,
and of no particular value, divided them
equally between themselves, as near as they
could.
"There was a trading post established in what is now
Wyandotte County, the agent of which,
hearing of their finding, sent word that if
they would bring them to him he would pay
them all they were worth. M. S.
Hamlin sent his portion of the rings,
etc., for which he received seven dollars in
money. The nugget laid around for a
long time, pieces being frequently hacked
off, and it was finally lost. This was
afterwards supposed by some to have been
gold."
"In 1830, John Greer and M. S. Hamlin,
two lads, concluded they would take a hunt,
and with their guns and ammunition, on a
beautiful morning, they started on their
way. After spending some time in the
sport, and securing what game they wanted,
they started on their way homeward.
After travelling sometime, and not reaching
home, it became evident that they had lost
their way.
"After a few moments of consultation they agreed on the
direction they would take, when travelling
until late in the afternoon they came to an
opening or clearing. At this they
rejoiced to think they would soon rest their
weary limbs. But their hopes were
doomed to disappointment, for they had
landed at Upper Sandusky.
"But they did not allow this discovery to entirely
discourage them. They concluded to try
it again, but by a surer road this time.
They struck off on the old Indian trail.
To reach home that night they knew was
impossible, but determined to go as far as
they could. The afternoon being well
spent, some preparation must be made for the
night. Just as the sun was setting
they came to an Indian wigwam. The old
Indian and his squaw kindly took them in,
administered to their wants, and they had a
good night's rest. The next morning
the old Indian pointed out the old trail to
them, bade them God speed on their road
home, where they arrived the same day."
MT. BLANCHARD.
In October, 1830, Asa M. Lake, one
of the very earliest settlers of the county,
laid out a town of fifty-three lots on a
part of the west half of the northwest
quarter of section 1, and the east half of
the northeast quarter of section 2, and
called it Mt. Blanchard. It is
situated on the bluffs, or high grounds on
the east bank of the Blanchard River.
The location is a good one, surrounded by
beautiful and rich farming lands. The
town is regularly laid out in squares, the
streets and alleys crossing at right angles.
The buildings are mostly of wood, and the
dwellings are commodious and respectable.
The town was incorporated in 1865.
Dr. John Foster was the first Mayor,
since which time the following persons have
held the office: H. C. Pickett, J.
W. Turnpaugh, J. W. Wingate, W. W. Hughes,
A. F. Naus, J. W. Pickett, Jacob Harris
and R. W. McVary, present incumbent.
A Post Office was established here in 1834, with
John P. Gordon as first Post Master,
since which time Elijah Stradley, Chester
Cook, W. W. Smith, J. Lafferty J. Patterson,
L. A. Baldwin and Henry Greer,
who now holds the office have been Post
Masters.
The Methodist Episcopal denomination built the first
church in the town. It was a frame
building and built in 1838. The
Rev. Thomas Thompson and Rev. Gavit,
then Missionaries at Upper Sandusky, where
the first Methodist preachers. They
organized a Society at the residence of
Father Greer, one half a mile east of
Mt. Blanchard, on the banks of Potatoe
Creek, where they continued to worship until
a hewed log school house was built on a
corner of the Greer land, in 1833 take in
the fall, worshipped there until they built
twenty years, then moved into their present
house, south part of town.
The first school house in the town was of the then
prevailing style, built of round logs, with
huge fire place, clapboard roof and other
peculiarities to now known to builders.
The Union School of Mt. Blanchard was
organized in 1868, and their present
building was erected in 1873. It is a
commodious, two story brick structure, the
style and finish of which gives it a
commanding appearance. There are three
large school rooms, besides smaller ones for
recitations and other purposes. The
building and grounds cost $8,000. In
1880, there were 151 children of school age
in the district.
The business of the village is quite extensive for an
inland town, with no railroad, or other
transportation facility. There are two
large dry goods stores, one by J. H.
Biddle, and the other by W. S.
Shoemaker & Co. These stores keep
a full line of goods, and are doing a large
and lucrative business. By keeping an
assortment of standard articles, they are
able to control the trade of the surrounding
country for many miles.
The drug business is successfully carried on by Dr.
W. M. Yost, and Henry Greer.
Both of these gentlemen carry a full line in
trade, and by fair dealing, and attention to
business have been enabled to command a very
fair trade. Both being experience
druggists, they have and deserve the
confidence of they entire community.
Two family groceries supply the inhabitants with such
articles as are needed in that line.
One saloon supplies that want. The
hotel "entertains man and beast, " as the
old signs used to read. This hotel is
kept and conducted in such a manner as
places it above the average of country
hotels. Three blacksmiths are kept
busy at their work, and two wagon shops
supply the town and surrounding country with
work in their line, built of the best
materials, and in the best style of
workmanship. There are two boot and
shoe stores well stocked and well
patronized. One butcher shop supplies
the people with fresh meats. Such is
the business of this thriving village.
The Odd Fellows organized a lodge here in 1858, and
have a healthy membership of fifty. A
Masonic lodge was organized here in 1878,
and now numbers twenty.
The following is a list of persons who have held the
office of Justice of Peace, with the date of
their election.
Asa M. Lake - 1828, 1831, 1834.
Godfrey Wolford - 1834, 1837, 1840, 1843, 1846,
1849.
John Lafferty - 1835, 1838, 1841, 1844, 1847,
1850, 1853, 1856, 1859, 1862, 1865.
Benjamin Corbin - 1847.
Robert Taylor - 1865.
John Rose- 1856
Thomas Miller - 1859
Harvey Smith - 1841
Robert Park - 1862, 1865, 1868
E. A. Sheffield - 1868
Jacob Bridinger - 1870
Jacob Harris - 1870, 1873, 1876, 1879
Geo. W. Beard - 1871, 1874.
Josiah Fahl - 1877, 1880
Balser, Hauman - 1880
An exhibit of the number of acres, and number of
bushels of grain, and number and value of
live stock in this township, as returned to
the Auditor in 1881.
| Wheat, |
3,771 |
acres. |
70,073 |
bushels. |
| Oats,
|
286 |
" |
7,949 |
" |
| Corn, |
2,547 |
" |
104,570 |
" |
| Flax, |
114 |
" |
1,069 |
" |
| Hay, |
568 |
" |
624 |
tons. |
| Horses, |
574 |
number. |
$30,070 |
value |
| Cattle, |
1,223 |
" |
14,270 |
" |
| Sheep, |
3,676 |
" |
7,500 |
" |
|
Swine, |
2,435 |
" |
5,670 |
" |
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