TP. 1, N. R. 10, E.
AREA 15,360 ACRES

TP. 1, N. R. 11 E.
POPULATION 5,556

    From the preliminary organization of the County of Hancock in 1820, until 1823 the counties of Hancock and Wood formed one township, called Waynesfield.  The Commissioners of Wood County passed the following order at their session, May 28, 1823; "Ordered further that so much of the township of Waynesfield as is included in the unorganized county of Hancock be set off and organized into a township by the name of Findley, and that the election for township officers be held on the first day of July, A. D. 1823, at the house of Wilson Vance, in said township."
     The township so remained until after the permanent organization of the county, when in 1828, the townships of Amanda and Welfare - now Delaware - were organized from territory in the south-eastern portion of the township.  In 1829 the township of Jackson was organized out of territory then belonging to Findley township.
     At the session of the Commissioners held on the 6th day of December, 1830, we find this entry in connection with the division of the townships of Findley and Amanda, and the formation of Marion township; " * * * * and likewise in the next place commencing at the south-east corner of section 32, thence north to the north-east corner

[Pg. 255]
of section 5, in township 1 north, range 11, thence west to the north-west corner of section 2, in range 10, thence south to the south-west corner of section 35, in township 1 north, thence east to the south-east corner of section 32, to the place of beginning, which shall be the body corporate and politic, and retaining the name of Findley."  Thus by successive acts of the County Commissioners was the boundaries of this township, once co-extensive with those of the county, reduced to less than those of an original township.
     The first entry of land in this township was that of the east part of the south-east quarter of section 13, by Vance, Neil and Cory.  In September of the same year John Brown entered the north-west quarter of section 19.  The first mentioned tract is now that part of the town of Findley lying on the west side of Main street, between the river and Sandusky street.  The Brown entry is that part of the town south of Sandusky and east of Main, known as Byal's addition.  On the 4th of October, 1821, John P. Hamilton made entry of the west part of the south-west quarter of section 17, now owned by Aaron Baker.  The south-west quarter of section 30 was enter4ed by Job Chamberlain, on the 4th of October, 1821.  This land has been known in connection with that adjoining it as Chamberlain's Hill.  In the same month John Simpson entered the east half of the north-east quarter of section 25.  This is now the Ross Bennett farm, adjoining the County Fair Grounds.  On the 14th of November of the same year the east half of the north-east quarter of section 24 was entered by McIlvain and Neil.  This is now included in the town of Findley.  Thomas Slight entered the land known as the old Johnny Patterson farm on the south side of the river.  In 1822 Joshua Hedges entered about one half of the north-east quarter of section 11

[Pg. 256]
and which has ever since  been known as the Hedges' farm.  It lies along the north bank of the Blanchard, from the late Judge Strother's farm, to the Liberty township line.  George Hollenbeck in the same year took up the southeast quarter of section 12, the farm now owned by Samuel Howard, and Asa M. Lake entered the lands on which Maple Grove Cemetery is now located.  Entries of the Didway farm by Rev. James Gilruth, and of the John Heck farm by Joseph Wesernhaver, and of the Vance farm by Judge Strother, and of the Campbell Byal farm by his father, John Byal, and of the A. W. Strother farm, and of the lands on which North Findley in now located, and the Jacob Foster farm and the Jesse Whitney farm, and many others were made prior to the premanent organization of the county.
     This township takes its name from the town, and is composed of sections, 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 and 36 in township 1 north, range 10 east, and sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32 in township 1 north, range 11 east.  This township is situated almost in the center of the county, and divided almost in the center east and west by the Blanchard River.  It is bounded on the north by Allen township, on the east by Marion, on the south by Jackson and Eagle, and on the west by Liberty.  
     The soil of this township is generally of a rich quality, and varied in kind.  Along the north line the soil is generally clay, underlined with what is called a hard pan, and is adapted to growing of grass, and for grazing purposes.  Along the river and creek bottoms it is of the usual rich quality, sandy loam.  On the south side of the river the entire body of land is underlaid with limestone, and as a consequence the soil is of the most productive quality.  As an agricultural region this township is not surpassed by any

[Pg. 257]
in the county.  Being around the county seat, the improvements are perhaps more marked and more elaborate than in more distant portions of the county, and give to the surroundings of the town a most comfortable and cheerful look.
     This whole township - except the water courses - was very heavily timbered with walnut of the very best quality, ok, ash, hickory, elm, beech, and a great abundance of the sugar maple.  But at the time this timber had to be removed it was of no value, and it took no little amount of labor to remove it.
     The Blanchard River passes through this township, furnishing an abundance of stock water, and also sufficient, a portion of the year, to run the mills on its banks within the boundary of the township; the Carlin Mill at Findley, and Byal's Mill, jnst over the line in Liberty township.
     Besides the Blanchard River, we have its tributaries, Eagle Creek, Lye Creek, and Whitney's Run, all of them quite considerable streams, entering the river from the south.  All of these creek in common with the river, have limestone beds.  The stone is abundant, easily quarried, and suitable for building foundations for buildings, the stone work for bridges, and for making lime.  On the north, Strother's Run and Hedges' Run, both moderately sized water courses, enter the river.  These creeks and water courses, in connection with the river.  These creeks and water courses, in connection with the river, furnish excellent drainage in abundance.  There are no springs of any consequence in the township, but an excellent quality of water can be obtained easily by digging, in any part of the township.  In its primeval state, although situated so near the river, much of the land was very wet, not swampy, but low, deep vegetable soil, and in many places underlaid with a hard pan of clay, the water was prevented from sinking, and

[Pg. 258]
having no channels opened, the surface was necessarily wet.  But this has all disappeared under an intelligent system of drainage.
     The town of Findley occupies so much of the township, and so much of the history of the two is inseparably connected, that not much can be said of the township, which may not as well be said of the town.
     Of course the first settlement in the township was made within the limits of the town, and yet settlements were made at a very early day - almost as early as in town - by John P. Hamilton, only a short distance up the river from the town.  Job Chamberlain, sr., began opening up a farm on Chamberlain Hill, almost at the same time that improvements began in the village.  At almost as early a date, John Byal commenced on the river bank two miles west of town, to open up what is now one of the most beautiful and valuable farms in the county, and even before this time Joshua Hedges had located on his lands on the north side of the river, next to the Liberty township line.  Judge Strother began the making of his splendid farm just outside the corporation line.  George Hollenbach, Jacob Foster, Benjamin Strother, Wm. Taylor, Robert Benham, Aaron Huff, and quite a number of others came into the township prior to 1830.
     The first school house, and the first church in the township were both inside the limits of the present town of Findley.  There are now seven school houses in the township - outside of the town - with an enumeration of four hundred and forty-four youth.  There are two churches, one Methodist Episcopal, one Evangelical, one a brick, the other frame.
     The first election, in 1823, was held by order of the Com-

[Pg. 259]
missioners of Wood County for the purpose of electing two Justices of the Peace, and only thirteen votes were cast.  Job Chamberlain, sr., William Moreland and Benjamin Chandler were the Judges, Wilson Vance and Mathew Reighly, Clerks, and Robert McKinnis and Wilson Vance were elected Justices of the Peace.
     Of the men who were officers of that election, Job Chamberlain, sr., and Wilson Vance were citizens of the county up to the time of their decease.  Of Mr. Chamberlain, I have the following facts from his son Job, who is yet a resident of Findley.
     Mr. Chamberlain was born in the State of Connecticut, and was married there to a Miss Deborah Root, and with her removed to Cayuga Co., N. Y., where they lived for twenty-eight years.  They then emigrated to the west, and settled at Lawrenceburg, Ind., where after a residence at that place of two years, they came to Urbana, Ohio, and after a year's residence, they in 1822, removed to this township, and settled on what is known as Chamberlain's Hill.  At that time there were but six white families in the county, Benjamin Cox, Wilson Vance, William Moreland, -- Smith, John Simpson and George Lake, who lived at what is now Mt. Blanchard.
     When Mr. Chamberlain arrived in the township, there were no buildings on his land, and he was compelled to unload his goods on the ground, but what few settlers were here, assisted him in building a cabin, and such was their expedition that Mr. Chamberlain married a Miss Sarah Criner, and removed about six miles west of Findley,

[Pg. 260]
 in Liberty township, dividing his old farm between his two sons, Norman and Job.  Mr. Chamberlain died in 1848, and his wife in 1854.
    William Moreland came to the county in 1822, and settled on the north side of the river, on what was afterwards known as the Taylor farm, and now a part of North Findley.  Mr. Moreland entered eighty acres of this land, which he afterwards sold to William Taylor for $375, and removed to Van Buren township, and served as a Justice of the Peace for several years, when he sold out, and came back to Findley.
     Mathew Riley - or Reighly- was long a resident of the county, and held several important offices in both township and county.  He eventually removed to the west.
     Of the earliest settlers in this township, we may be permitted to speak of JOSHUA HEDGES, who was the first Treasurer of that county, and who lived on the north-east quarter of section 11, about two miles west of the town of Findley, and on the north side of the river.  Mr. Hedges was a tall, muscular man, a little stopped, of good constitution, energetic and of strict integrity.  He was a native of Virginia; hospitable in his feelings, he never allowed either white man or Indian to leave his house in want.  Politically, he was a Democrat of the strictest sort.  He was for many years a member of the Methodist Church, and was in his acts consistent with his profession.  He died in 1845.  He had a large family only to of whom are now living - Mrs. Rachael Dulin, of Portage township, and Mrs. Elizabeth Huntwork, of Kansas.
     John P. Hamilton was also one of the early settlers of the township.  He entered and cleared up the farm just east of Lye Creek, now owned by Aaron Baker.  Mr. Hamilton

[Pg. 261]
was a man of strong will, and determined in any matter he took in hand.  He was one of the first Commissioners of the county, and in his official capacity took an active part in the county, and in his official capacity took an active part in the public improvements of the county, in developing its resources, and in inaugurating those measures which have led to our present greatness.  Mr. Hamilton died about the year 1860.
     Robert Bonham came to the township at a very early day, and commenced clearing up a farm a little north-west of Findley, and upon which he resided up to the time of his death in May6, 1877.
     Mr. Bonham was an industrious, economical, and unassuming man.  As a neighbor, he was kind and accommdating, as a citizen, he was true to the best interests of the people, as he understood, them, as a Christian he was consistent.  Purely domestic in his habits, he very seldom went farther from home than the village, and was never in a railroad car until less than a year before his death.  He was a man of peculiar habits but respected by all who knew him.  Mr. Bonham was a native of Virginia, and was three times married.
     The first election held in the township, as it is now constituted, was on the 4th day of April, 1831, when the following officers were elected:  Isaac Jameson, Thomas Slight, and Isaac Baker, Trustees; William L. Henderson, Clerk; Squire Carlin, Treasurer; Supervisors, Bass Rawson and Jacob Foster, sr.; Fence Viewers, John Boyd and Leonard   ; Overseers of the Poor, James B. Moore and John Smith; Constable, John Bashore.  The important offices of Fence Viewers and Overseers of the Poor, with all their honors and emoluments, have long since been abolished.
     JOHN BYAL, one of the pioneers of the township, was born

[Pg. 262]
in the city of Baltimore, Md., on the 25th day of July, 1791, and was the second son of William Byal, who died in Findley, in 1840.  The Byal family removed from Maryland to Pennsylvania, first to Huntington, and afterwards to Westmoreland County.  In 1809, the family came to Ohio, settling in Stark County, and here in 1816 Mr. Byal was married to Elizabeth Newstutter, and commenced life on a tract of land purchased of the General Government, in Sugar Creek township, in that county.  In March, 1832, Mr. Byal sold his Stark County farm, and came to Hancock County, and settled on the Byal farm, just east of the Infirmary.  At that time it was all woods, and only by the hardest of labor, and the most rigid economy, was reclaimed, and converted into one of the handsomnest and most desirable farms in the county.
     In the same year - 1832 - Mr. Byal built a saw mill on the Blanchard, just east of the present bridge across the river at that place.  In 1834 he built what is now known as the Teatsorth Mill, being the first frame building in the county for mill purposes.  It was n old fashioned water mill, with monster water wheel, which went splashing in a lazy, continuous round, but with force and life enough to supply the neighborhood with flour and mean during the season in which it was or could run.
     Mr. Byal was the father of nine children, five of whom are living - Henry, the oldest, resides in Findley, and is quite wealthy, and for his honesty and business qualities commands the respect of his fellow citizens.  He has filled a number of offices, having been justice of the peace for three terms.  Catherine resides at Kalida, Ohio, William in Iowa, and Nancy and Rachael in Kansas.
     Mr. Byal was elected County Commissioner in 1834, and

[Pg. 263]
served two terms.  He was one of the principal movers in the building of the present Court House.  He also served as Justice of the Peace.
     Mr. Byal died July 13th, 1853, and his widow survived him about six years.

BARNA BEARDSLEY

     Was the oldest of seven sons of Daniel Beardsley, and was born in Delaware County, New York, on the 9th day of March, 1797.  His parents were from the State of Connecticut, and of course were Yankees.  In 1803 his father came to Ohio and settled near Newark, in Licking County.  When about fifteen years of age, Mr. B. left his home and went to Columbus then - and during the war of 1812-15, he served part of the time as a wagon-boy, and part of the time as clerk in the office of the Paymaster.  He was several times sent out as the bearer of important dispatches, to the officers in command of the different posts in northern Ohio.  Dispatches were sent by him to Gen. Cass at Zanesville, to Gen. Harrison at Fort Meigs, and to the commander at Forth Croghan at Fremont.
     After the close of the war, he went to the mouth of the River Rasin, and engaged in the carpenter trade.  He also assisted in the erection of the first frame buildings in Sandusky City.  After several years absence he returned to Licking County, where on the 9th day of April, 1820, he married Mary Boylan, the eldest child of Aaron and Beulah Boylan.  From that time until 1834, he followed his trade as carpenter, and operated Hollister's Distillery until September, 1834, when he came to Hancock County, his father-in-law and one sister having preceded him, and took up his

[Pg. 264]
residence with his wife and seven children in a cabin on the present Infirmary farm.  The country was then very new, and being almost without means, a struggle commenced for the support of himself and his young family.
     Fortunately his services as a carpenter were in demand in the new settlement, and steady employment was had, at what was then deemed good wages.  But as all materials for building had to be wrought out by hand, not many buildings could be erected in a year, and the work was of the most laborious kind.
     In 1840, Mr. B. and his sons having farmed quite extensively in addition to his work as a mechanic, he purchased of Aaron Hough thirty acres of land in Findley township, and he and his family at once went to work clearing it up, and in the fall of 1841 had so far succeeded as to be ale to move on it, in a cabin which had been erected.
     Here his four sons, the eldest having obtained his majority, and went out to do for himself, carried on what farming was possible on so new a tract of land, and the father worked industriously at his trade, building many of the first frame buildings in the town, as well as in the country.
     In September, 1847, the wife of Mr. B. died, and soon after the family were dispersed, the oldest son going to California in 1849, and dying there in 1850, the others beginning life for themselves at different places.
     In 1856 he sold his farm, and went to Iowa, where he remained for about fifteen years, engaged most of the time in mercantile pursuits.  He then returned to Ohio, and made his home with his children, in this and Putnam Counties, until the 4th day of April, 1881, when he died at Columbus Grove, O., in his eighty-fifth year.
     Mr. Beardsley was a man below medium size, but posse

[Pg. 265]
ssed of uncommon physical endurance, and the most robust health.  No one perhaps in the whole settlement cold perform so much hard labor with as little fatigue as he.  An almost iron constitution enabled him to endure the greatest hardships and perform the greatest labor.  Scarcely ever needing the assistance of medicine, he hardly knew what it was to be sick.  Having been a frontiersman all his life, he was inured to all the privations incident thereto.  His last years were years of great suffering, being afflicted with an incurable malady, yet they were endured without complaint.
     Mr. Beardsley united with the Methodist Church when young, and was a member for more than sixty years.  His house, in the early days of his residence here, was the home of the Methodist ministers, Conway, Hill, Allen, Heustiss, Wilson, Biggs, Tibballs, Seelay, Runnells, Breckenridge, Pope, and a host of other preachers have partaken of his hospitality.
     He was the father of ten children, five boys and five girls, seven of whom are living.  He lived long enough to see all his children married, and at his death had ten children, forty-five grand-children, and twenty great grand-children, forty-five grand-children, and twenty great grand-children.
     The citizens of this township had long felt the need of better roads.  The roads were on worse than elsewhere, only to the extent that there was more travel over them, and of course they were more worn.  An effort had been made to provide for the building of free turnpikes throughout the entire county, and to this end an act had been passed by the Ohio Legislature, submitting to a vote of the electors of the county the proposition to levy a tax for that purpose.  But the proposition was rejected by a large majority.  This township thereupon petitioned the Legislature for the passage of a special act allowing a tax to be levied for the pur

[Pg. 266]
pose of macadamizing the roads within it limits.  The act was passed with two provisions, one that the question should be first submitted to a vote of the people, the other that none of the money so raised for macadamizing should be expended within the corporate limits of the village of Findley.
     The question was duly submitted, voted on, and agreed to by a large and almost unanimous vote.  The township trustees, under whose direction the work was to be done, went to work at once, to build roads.  In the absence of gravel, stone had to be used.  The matter was vigorously pushed, and inside of the five years in which the levies were to be made, many miles of road were constructed.  At the expiration of the operation of the law, there yet being many roads not completed, another petition was sent up to the Legislature asking for a re-enactment of the law, to be in force for five years more.  The prayer was granted and the trustees are collecting and expending the money so raised for taxation, and hope to be able to complete the macadamizing of all the principal roads from the corporation line of the village to the township line.
     There are many very find farm residences in this township.  The residence of Campbell Byal, on the old John Byal farm, near the Infirmary, is a fine two-story brick structure, pleasantly located on the south bank of the river, and overlooking the rich bottom lands on the opposite side.
     The residence of Edwin R. Hay, a short distance southeast of the town is one of the finest dwelling houses in the county.  It, too, is a brick structure, tin roof, and of modern architecture.
     A. P. Byal, on the Lima road, has built a very commodious

[Pg. 267]
two-story brick, tastefully finished, with grounds well arranged, and good substantial stone walks.
     W. R. McKee, on the Tiffin road, just east of town, has quite an imposing brick dwelling, surrounded by ample grounds, and accommodated with fine farm buildings to match.
     Just north of town, we have the fine frame residences of Samuel Howard on the west side, and that of Ancel E. Morvin on the east side of the road, both beautifully located and surrounded with fine orchards and ample out-buildings.

     The persons named below were elected Justices of the Peace at the dates given, all of which are subsequent to the permanent organization of the county, and all resided within the present limits of the township.
     Joshua Hedges - 1829
     William L. Henderson - 1831, 1834.
     Elias S. Bryan - 1833
     John Byal - 1833
     John Campbell - 1836
     Price Blackford - 1837, 1840, 1843, 1846, 1849.
     A. Daughenbaugh - 1839.
     Hugh Newell - 1840.
     John Patterson - 1843
     Paul Sours - 1846, 1851
     Geo. W. Galloway - 1849
     Jesse Wheeler - 1852, 1855.
     Henry Byal - 1854, 1857, 1860
     D. B. Beardsley - 1858, 1861, 1864, 1867, 1870, 1873, 1876, 1879.
     John H. Burket - 1863
     Elijah T. Dunn - 1866
     Ezra Brown- 1869

[Pg. 268]
     A. P. Byal - 1872.
     Oren A. Ballard - 1874, 1877, 1880
     Exhibit of the acreage and production of grain, and the number and value of domestic animals, as reported in 1881.
 

FINDLEY.

     The town of Findley was first laid out in the year 1821, by Joseph Vance and Elnathan Cory, and in the autumn of the same year, Wilson Vance and family removed to the place.  Mr. Vance was soon joined by Squire Carlin, William Taylor, John Patterson, W. L. Henderson, John Boyd, Reuben Hales and Parlee Carlin, with others, so that in a few years quite a village had sprung up.
     In 1829 the town was replatted, and on the 26th day of September of that year, Joseph Vance and Elnathan Cory appeared before Judge McKinnis, one of the Associate Judges of the county, and acknowledged the platting of the town of Findley, consisting of one hundred and fifty-six lots.  The town plat was located on section thirteen, in township one north, range ten east.  The lands in this section - five hundred and ninety-eight acres in all - were entered in parcels of fifty-five acres by Vance, Neil and Cory, seventy-six acres by McIlvain and Neil, seventy-five acres by Asa M. Lake, eighty-eight acres by John Gardner, one hundred and twenty-seven acres by Elnathan Cory, seventy-nine acres by James Gilruth and eighty acres by Joseph Westenhover.
     John Gardner received a patent for his, dated June 3d, 1822, signed by President James Monroe.  He afterwards sold to Thomas and John Simpson, and they to Wilson Vance, March 14, 1828.  This tract was the west part of the south-east quarter of section thirteen, and contained

[Pg. 270]
eight acres.  The consideration by Vance to the Simpsons was three hundred dollars.
     The east part of the south-east quarter, was owned by Vance, Neil and Cory, and was that part of the section on which the town was laid out.
     The lots numbered on Main street, from north to south being numbered one, and the business room of J. S. Patterson, corner of Main and Sandusky streets, number sixteen, the then southern boundary of the town.  In these numbers, from one to sixteen, the Public Square was not counted.  There were seventy-six lots on the west side of Main street, the lot on the corner of Front and West streets, owned by Rev. M. Burkle, being the last numbered on that side.
     Crossing over to the east side of Main street, the lot now occupied by the Sherman House, is numbered seventy-seven, and south on Main street to the lot on north east corner of Main and Sandusky streets, now occupied by S. D. Fray's Drug Store, numbered ninety-six.  There were eighty lots on the east side of Main Street, ending with number one hundred and fifty-six, owned by Mrs. W. C. Cox, and on the corner of Front and East streets.  No part of the land between Front street and the river was laid out into lots at that time.
     Attached to the town plat we find the following certificate of Wilson Vance, surveyor:
     " 1st.  All streets and alleys cross at right angles due north and south."
     " 2d.   Main street is one hundred feet wide."
     " 3d.  Broadway (now Monument Park,) is one hundred and fifteen and one-half feet wide."

[Pg. 271]
     " 4th. Main Cross street is eighty-two and one-half feet wide."
     " 5th. Crawford, Putnam, Front, Back, East and West streets are each sixty-six feet wide."
     " 6th. Farmers and Mechanics alleys are each thirty-three feet wide, and all other alleys are sixteen and one-half feet wide."
     In the acknowledgement attached to the plat, the proprietors, Vance and Cory, use this language, which is now a part of the record:
     " The Public grounds, streets and alleys, are to the best of our knowledge, correctly designated by the notes attached to said plat, and are appropriated as public ways for the benefit of said town, and to no other use whatever."
     Certain lots - thirty-nine in all - were donated to the County Commissioners, in trust, to be sold, and the proceeds arising from such sale to be used in the construction of county buildings.  The ground known as the Public Square was not named as one of the lots donated for county purposes, and by the terms of the acknowledgement above alluded to, was appropriated for public use for the benefit of the town, and it so remains, unless a subsequent contract with the proprietors, or the town authorities, placed it in the hands of the County Commissioners.  I have not been able to find such a contract on record.
     The records say, however, that "on the 10th day of October, 1829, the Commissioners of Hancock County, met for the purpose of taking into their care the proportion of the town lots of Findley, which were deeded to said Commissioners, by Joseph Vance, which were deeded to said Commissioners, by Joseph Vance and Elnathan Cory, and said Charles McKinnis and John P. Hamilton, present, ordered that the aforesaid lots be offered at Public Sale, on the ninth day of

[Pg. 272]
November next.  It is further ordered, that the County Auditor advertise said sale."
     November 9th, 1829, the Commissioners, Charles McKinnis and John P. Hamilton, present, and proceed to sell the above mentioned lots, and the following sales were made:  Lots 2, 8, 9, 13, 17, 26, 29, 32, 43, 46, 51, 61, 79, 86, 89,92, 95, 98, 104, 105, 108, 111, 116, 153, 146, 148 and 156 sold for prices ranging from five dollars for No. 148, to two hundred dollars for No. 8 (the lot on the corner of Main and Main Cross street, now owned by Frank Karst, sr.).  The aggregate received was $1,025.40.
     The first frame house in the town, was built by Squire Carlin, and stood on the same lot on which his present dwelling is located.  The same building was afterwards removed to the upper end of Main street, between Hardin and Lincoln streets, and is known as the Frank Klaber property.
     William Taylor built the second frame building, which he occupied as a dwelling, hotel and dry goods store.  This building stood on the lot immediately adjoining the Davis Opera House, on the south.  A few years ago it was removed to west end of Sandusky street, and was burned down.  The building was not more than twenty-five feet square, and one-half stories in height.  A building no larger that that at the present day would be a rather close place for a dwelling, hotel and dry goods store all at the same time.  Yet it seemed to be abundantly roomy for all at that early day.
     Squire Carlin also built the first brick house in the village, which took the place of the frame.  This was used by Mr. Carlin as dwelling and store room.  In time this too, had

[Pg. 273]
to give way to a better structure, the present large and comfortable residence.
     The first tavern was kept by Benj. Cox, in a log house, near where the dwelling house of the late Wilson Vance now stands, just south of the bridge.  The town was a straggling village of log huts, without streets or alleys which were passable, and with no business, except traffic with the Indians.
     As the population increased, and buildings multiplied, more room was wanted, and additions were demanded, land holders adjoining the old town, platted and offered for sale purchase of late.
     In February, 1830, William Byal's addition of twenty lots was laid out.  This addition was on south side Sandusky street, east of Main.
     In 1837 Joseph Vance and Elnathan Cory laid out an addition of forty lots.
     In 1840, John C. Howard laid out eleven lots, Jonathan Parker eight lots.  Cory's addition of thirteen lots was laid out, and Baldwin's addition of twelve lots were laid out in 1848.  S. & P. Carlin's addition, on south side of East Sandusky street was made in 1848, and consisted of thirty-nine lots; and in 1852, they made another addition of twenty-eight lots.
     An addition of fourteen lots was made in 1854 by Nathan Miller.  A sub-division of out lots was made by J. M. Coffinberry, and Wilson Vance made an addition of one hundred and thirteen lots in 1854.  Hurd's addition of four lots, and the Western Addition were laid out in 1855.  Byal's second addition was made in 1860, and Vance's

[Pg. 274]
second addition of one hundred and eleven lots was made the same year.  Cory's addition to Vance and Cory's addition was laid out in 1863.  The continuation of Vance and Cory's of forty-four lots was made in 1866.  E. Barnd made an addition in 1868.  Another continuation of Vance and Cory's was made in 1869.  Jones and Adam's addition was laid out in 1873, and in 1875 P. Carlin made an addition of seventeen lots.
     These several additions were soon sold, and are now improved, many of them by beautiful residences or fine business houses.  Pleasant streets, substantial sidewalks, beautiful grounds, all tell of the energy and industry of the owners.  This tract of land so occupied by these additions, was at the early settlement of the place, scarcely more than a swamp or swail, worth at most no more than government price, is now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, covered as they are by the happy homes of so many of our citizens.  But the old town, and these many additions, do not comprise the whole of the town of Findley.
     East Findley - an addition to Findley - was laid out by James H. Wilson, in August, 1847, on the north part of the west half of the north-east quarter of section nineteen, and comprised but forty lots.  In 1863 the proprietor laid out an addition of thirty-five lots, and thirteen out-lots, which he designated as the continuation of East Findley.  In October of the same year, Cory's addition in East Findley, consisting of eleven lots, was laid out, and in 1866 Cory laid out nine lots more, and in 1873 he added nineteen additional lots.
     This addition, or suburb of Findley, comprises all that part of the town east of Eagle Creek.  It is pleasantly located, and the principal streets running east and west.

[Pg. 275]
correspond with like streets of the main town.  There are a number of comfortable residences here.  The streets are wide and bordered with shade trees.  There are several manufacturing establishments, here, which are noticed elsewhere in this work.  The children of this part of town attend school at the Central Building, only about two squares distant from the creek at west side. Eagle Creek, which divides this from the main town, is spanned by three bridges, one at Main Cross street, one at Sandusky street, and one at Lincoln street.
     Along the creek are numerous stone quarries, from which a very large portion of the stone used for building and other purposes is taken.  There are also several lime- kilns located along the creek.
     In this part of the town are located the "Eagle Mills," "Findley Woolen Mills, " "Findley Flax Mill," and Moore's Saw Mill, all of which are noticed elsewhere.  East Lawn, the beautiful residence of M. B. Patterson, Esq., is also located on east end of Sandusky street.  It is a most charming place.  The building, a two story frame, with basement, built in the latest style of architecture, surrounded by ample grounds, highly ornamented with shrubbery.  The grounds also contain a large green-house, filled with the rarest plants and flowers, also a beautiful island, surrounded by an ample fish pond.  The whole is being surrounded by a nicely trimmed hedge.
     Just across the street is the magnificent home of Capt. H. H. Albon, a fine three story structure, with basement, situated as it is on an eminence, it commands an extensive view of the town and surrounding country.  The grounds are new, but when entirely completed, it will be one of the handsomest homes in the county.

[Pg. 276]
     There are a number of well arranged and comfortable private residences in this part of town.  The ground on which the town is located is high, slightly rolling, with a warm sandy soil.  A great many of the business men of the town reside here, amongst whom are Uncle Ben. Huber, J. M. Huber, the Druggist, D. C. Fisher, of the Findley Planing Mill, John Altman, Builder and Contractor.  Here are also located the extensive Nurseries of Robinson and Moyer, and M. B. Patterson, also the Foundry and Machine Shops of Yocum and Hallowell, as well as the Pottery Establishment of Martin Hiersher.
     Eagle Mills, the extensive flouring establishment under the management of McConnell & Kirk, are located here, and do a very large business, in the way of merchant and custom work.  These mills have long been one of the industries of the town, and under whatever management they have been satisfactory.
     Immense amounts of wheat is here floured, and shipped to eastern markets, and has always been considered of the best brands.
     The town also has a fire engine house here, in which is kept one of the engines of the town, under the management of an efficient volunteer company.

NORTH FINDLEY.

     William Taylor, one of the first settlers of the county, and for more than forty years a resident of Findley, laid out the town of North Findley in 1854.  It is on the north side of the river, and is a part of the town of Findley, and known as the First Ward.  It never had a separate existence as a town.  The plat of the original town of North Findley is in the south-west corner of the west half of the north-west

[Pg. 277]
quarter of fractional section eighteen, and consists of forty-seven lots.
     Lot number one is on the north-east corner of Main and......

[Pg. 278]
seven lots in October, 1860, and in June, 1864, he added

[Pg. 279]
teer fire company have charge of the hand engine, one of

[Pg. 280]
     The streets of Findley, as certified in the plat, are laid out north and south, and east and west, crossing each other at right angles.  The streets running north and south beginning on the east, are named respectively, East, Merchanics Alley, Main, Farmers Alley, West, Liberty and Western Avenue.  Those running east and west, commencing on the north are Findley, Washington, Front, Main Cross, Crawford, Sandusky, Hardin, Lincoln, Lime and Hancock.  Main street is one hundred feet wide, including sidewalks on either side, of twelve feet each.  The walks in the business part of the street, are of Berea stone, and others are of brick.  The street is nicely graded, with a sewer at either side, and is substantially McAdamized with stone.  It is acknowledged to be one of the finest streets in Ohio.
     Nearly all the commercial business of the town is transacted on this street.  Its sides are lined with comfortable business rooms, the buildings being mostly two stories in heighth.  The street presents a busy sight, with its immense trade in every department of commerce.  there are very many very find buildings on the street, and the inferior ones are first disappearing, and being replaced by those of modern architecture and modern conveniences.
     We find on this street, the Sherman House, Davis Opera House, Commercial House, Court House, Masonic Hall, Presbyterian Church, and the new Lutheran Church.
     Near the First Presbyterian Church, we have the celebrated wells of "natural gas."  The old Court House, now the residence of Ex-Mayor Carr, ahs been lighted by this gas for years, and produces a light of excellent quality.  The supply seems to be unlimited.  From a small reservoir, Mr.

[Pg. 281]
Carr uses the gas in the mechanical part of his business -

[Pg. 282]
the Steam Elevators on the L. E. & W. Railway, and the

[Pg. 283]
in the city are on this street.  The sides of the street are

[Pg. 284]
surrounded by the most beautiful grounds.   South of Lima

[Pg. 285]
ceived by subscribers, and as letters were received in the

[Pg. 286]
ky street, just in the rear of his business house, and into

[Pg. 287]
was passed Mar. 13, 1843.  Why, or by what influence

[Pg. 288]

     The city owns as yet but a small amount of real estate, but sufficient for present purposes, when completed.  Having accommodations for the Fire Apparatus, and an office for Mayor Mayor's court room, police headquarters and city prison.
     In 1880 the city was divided into four Wards.  The first ward includes all of North Findley, and so much territory on the south side of the river and east of Main street, as lies between the river and Crawford street and west of Eagle Creek.
     The second ward include all the territory lying between the river and Putnam street, and west of Main street.
     The third ward includes all the territory west of Main street and south of the second ward.
     The fourth ward comprises all the territory on the east

[Pg. 289]
side of Main street, and south of the first ward, and all of Eat Findley.
     The wards are very nearly equal in population.
 

[Pg. 290]
And now by this system of drainage, cellars can be constructed in almost any part of the town.
     The health of the town has been greatly improved, and the comfort of the citizens has been immeasurably increased.
     In 1865 the city authorities arranged for the lighting of the streets by gas.  They had for a number of years previously been lighted by coal oil lamps.  There are now about one hundred and twenty-five street lamps.  There are now about one hundred and twenty-five street lamps in place, surmounted by large and beautiful globes, and lighted by gas, to the great convenience and comfort of the citizens.

[Pg. 291]

PROFESSIONAL MEN OF FINDLEY.

     The following named persons are located in and practice their profession in Findley:

ATTORNEYS.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

WILSON VANCE - 292

JONATHAN PARKER - 294

DR. BASS RAWSON - 296

CHARLES W. O'NEAL - 297

DR. W. H. BALDWIN - 298

PRICE BLACKFORD - 299

SQUIRE CARLIN - 300

HENRY LAMB - 303

JOHN H. MORRISON - 304

JAMES H. WILSON - 305

HENRY BYAL - 307

WILLIAM L. HENDERSON - 308

DR. DAVID PATTON - 308

HUGH NEWELL - 309

FREDERICK HENDERSON - 311

JUDGE DAVID J. CORY - 311

WILLIAM TAYLOR - 313

EDSON GOIT, SR. - 315

[Pg. 318]

INDUSTRIES OF FINDLEY.

FINDLEY LINSEED OIL MILL.

[Pg. 319]

FINDLEY WOOLEN MILL.

[Pg. 320]

FINDLEY FOUNDRY AND MACHINE WORKS.

[Pg. 321]
     In 1880 William L. Davis having died, the others partners bought of the heirs his interest.
     In 1873 an addition of brick, forty by one hundred feet, two stories high, was built, facing on Main Cross street, also an engine house.
     This company having buildings valued at ten thousand dollars, and machinery valued at eight thousand dollars.  They manufacture stationary and portable engines, saw ills, and mill machinery, and all kinds of castings.  They employ twenty hands.
     Vincent H. Coons, John W. Davis, James T. Adams and Newton M. Adams now compose the company.

FINDLEY FLAX MILL.

     In 1870 the Delaware Bagging Company put up a frame building on east Main Cross street, east of Eagle Creek, into which they put machinery for the purpose of manufacturing tow from flax straw.  The licensed oil mill having created a market for flax-seed, the cultivation of flax had become quite general.
     In June 1872, J. T. Adams and William Anderson purchased the mill, and in 1877 Mr. Anderson, by the purchase of the interest of Adams, became sole owner.
     The buildings are valued at three thousand dollars, and the machinery at two thousand dollars.  About seven hundred tons of straw is worked up annually.  Until the last year, the market for the tow, has been a St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky.  The entire product of last year was sold in Lima, O.

[Pg. 322]

A. W. RAY - CARRIAGE SHOP.

     In 1860 Karr & Sprau came to the place and at once commenced wagon making and blacksmithing on a small scale, on the south side of Main Cross street, wet of the Court House.  After remaining here about two years, they disposed of the business to John M. Fergeson.  Not long afterwards P. b. Morrison purchased an interest, and the business was carried on in the name of Ferguson & Morrison.
     In 1866 Morrison disposed of his interest to S. C. Moore, and he after a year sold to George Heck.  This firm of Ferguson & Heck put up a two story frame building thirty by sixty feet, fronting on Main Cross street, which was and is now used as a sales room below, and paint shop above.
     In 1870 Mr. Fertuson retired, and was succeeded by J. L. Linville, and the business was carried on by Heck & Linnville, until Mr. Heck sold to William Biggs, who in turn sold to Charles Fritcher, and he shortly after disposed of his interest to A. W. & J. K. Ray, and L. Fitzpatrick, and the new firm assumed the name of Linnville, Ray & Co.  Two years later, Mr. Linnville retired, and Ray, Fitzpatrick & Ray become the firm.
     In 1877 J. K. Ray died, and a few months afterwards A. W. Ray bought the entire establishment, and the business has ever since been conducted in his name.
     Carriages and wagons of all styles are manufactured and are unsurpassed in material and workmanship.  The business amounts to not less than $12,000 annually.  Twelve hands are employed in the different shops, and the business of Mr. Rayis steadily increasing.

[Pg. 323]

FINDLEY RAKE FACTORY.

     In May, 1873, Andrew Bushon, Horace M. Vance and C. E. Seymour built a frame building, thirty by fifty feet, and two stories high, on the west side of Main street, in North Findley.  This was the first Rake Factory, and all kinds of handles were also made.  The firm was Bushon & Seymour.  In December, 1873, an addition of fifteen by fifty feet was built.
     Mr. Bushon, retired from the firm in 1874, and the business was carried on under the name of Vance & Seymour until 1876, when Vance sold out to P. J. Sours, the firm then being Sours & Seymour until July, 1878, at which time Mr. Seymour became sole proprietor by the purchase of the interest of Mr. Sours.
     On the 21st of May, 1880, the building was burned, together with the machinery and stock, at a loss of about nine thousand dollars.
     On the 21st of May, 1880, the building was burned, together with the machinery and stock at a loss of about nine thousand dollars.
     In June, 1880, Mr. Seymour commenced the erection of a brick building, on the north side of Crawford street, on the site of the old Jackson Foundry, and completed it in November.  The building is two stories in heighth, fifty by sixty-eight feet.  It is supplied with the latest and most approved machinery, valued at six thousand dollars, the building being worth three thousand.
     This establishment manufactures nothing but hand rakes.  It gives employment to twenty-five hands, and make 15,000 dozen of rakes annually.

CARRIAGE SHOP - BUCK, REIMUND & SEYEANG.

     In 1859 Daniel Buck built a small frame building on the north side of west Main Cross street, which he occupied as a wagon and blacksmith shop.  About two years later, he

[Pg. 324]
took in a partner, Stephen Seyfang, a practical blacksmith.  The business was carried on by the two, until 1866, when Adam Reimund, a wood worker purchased an interest, and the business was carried on under the name of D. Buck & Co.  This firm in 1868 erected a frame building on the same ground, which was used as a wood and paint shop.
     In 1875, having previously purchased ground on the south side of Main Cross street, running south to Putnam street, the old buildings were removed to the new location, and a fine two story brick building, thirty-five feet wide and eighty-five feet long, facing the street, was erected.   The first floor was finished up for and is used as an office sales room, and the second floor as a paint shop.  The building presents an imposing appearance, and is commodious in its arrangements. 
     The company manufacture wagons and carriages of the most approved styles, and of all the first class materials.  They employ twenty-five hands in the various departments, and their annual sales amount to not less than $25,000.  The buildings and machinery is valued at $10,000.  The members of the firm are Daniel Buck.  Adam Reimund and Stephen Seyfang.

FINDLEY CARRIAGE BENT WORKS.

     In November, 1879, Y. Bickham and Charles Wright leased the large two story brick building on west Crawford street, known as the Novelty Works, and with a capital of $10,000, under the management of Mr. Wright, commenced the manufacture of Carriage Bent Goods, such as shafts, poles bows, felloes and sawed stock for carriages and wagons, under "Wright's Hot Form Process."  The business was conducted for about one year in this way, when in Jan.

[Pg. 325]
uary, 1881, Mr. Bickham retired from the firm, Mr. Wright purchasing his interest.
     The concern is now known as the Findley Carriage Bent Works, C. Wright, Proprietor.  The timber used in ash, oak and Hickory, of which about two hundred thousand feet are used annually.  The buildings occupied by the works are valued at $1,000, and machinery at $6,000.  Twenty-five employees are required to operate the premises.

DIETSCH'S FURNITURE ESTABLISHMENT.

FINDLEY STAVE AND HANDLE FACTORY.

[Pg. 326]
ders of the firm, in February, 1873.  Soon after this, the establishment was destroyed by fire, at a great loss to the owners, but with commendable pluck and energy, and the assistance of friends, they immediately rebuilt and enlarged the capacity of their establishment.
     In 1875 Mr. Moore disposed of his interest to Henry Hellenkamp, and in 1878 Mr. H. sold to Hamlin & Winders who have since been the sole owners.
     The machinery and grounds are worth $8,000, and oak staves, headings and all kinds of farm tool handles are made, for which a market is found throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.  The business is constantly increasing, and now the demands for their work exceeds the capacity of the establishment.  The present proprietors are John M. Hamlin and Henry F. Winders.

FINDLEY GAS LIGHT COMPANY.

[Pg. 327]
The works were sold to the new organization for $28,000, and were under the management of R. T. Coverdale until January, 1877, when they passed into the control of Y. Bickham, thence into the hands of the present company, composed of J. G. Hull, C. E. Niles, S. D. Frey, W. Anderson, G. W. Myers, Jennie E. Bickham and Y. Bickham.  The officers are J. J. Hull, President and Treasurer, Y. Bickham, Secretary, E. B. Phillips, Superintendent.
     The company have laid over seven miles of pipe, and one hundred and twelve street lamps, and about three hundred private consumers are supplied with gas.  The business of the company is generally increasing, and a good article of gas is produced.

RUHL'S SADDLERY ESTABLISHMENT.

[Pg. 328]
worth $5,000, and a large stock on hands, with a steadily increasign business.

EAGLE FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP.

RUMMEL'S CABINET AND CHAIR FACTORY.

[Pg. 329]

FINDLEY PLANING MILL.

     In 1864 D. C. Fisher and W. H. Wheeler purchased the four lots on west Crawford streets, known as the old ashery lots, and put up a two story frame building, and completed it for the purpose of manufacturing sash, blinds and doors, and dressing lumber, and removed to it the business of D. C. Fisher from East Findley.  The building cost about three thousand dollars.  The firm was Fisher & Wheeler.
     Whilst this firm was in existence, C. E. Seymour purchased a third interest and became a partner, the firm name was D. C. Fisher & Co.  Wheeler soon afterwards sold his interest to John Shull, and without change in name, this firm existed until 1867, when Fisher disposed of his inter-

[Pg. 330]
est to William Anderson, and retired from the business.  Under the new arrangement, the firm was John Shull & Co.
     In 1849 Anderson and Seymour sold to G. W. Myers and S. D. Frey the John Shull manufacturing company was incorporated.
     This company carried on the business until 1877, when D. C. Fisher and John Shull purchased the interest of Myers and Frey, since which time the firm is known as Shull & Fisher.
     During all these years, and amid all these changes, the property has been greatly improved, and the business constantly increasing.  The building now has an iron roof, a brick shaving room, and the most improved machinery ahs been introduced.  The building is worth $4,000, and the machinery about $10,000.  There is also quite an extensive lumber yard connected with the establishment, and the amount of lumber handled will amount to 2,000,000 feet annually.  The manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, and finishing of all kinds of wood building materials exceeds $60,000 in value.  Twenty men are employed in the different departments.  The members of the firm are John Shull and D. C. Fisher.

[Pg. 331]

CHURCHES.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

[Pg. 332]
Findley was made a station and Rev. Lunt was returned.
     The present........

THE ENGLISH LUTHERN CHURCH.

     In the fall of 1838 the Rev. M. Cortex, a German, was sent as a missionary to Hancock County and preached in Findley for about two years.  In 1840 the Rev. Charles Wisler came, and remained until the latter part of 1841.  He was followed in 1842 by the Rev. Barney Huffman, who labored here for three or four years, holding services in the court house.

[Pg. 333]













 

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

     The following historical sketch of this church has

[Pg. 334]
been kindly furnished by Milton Gray, Esq., long an influential member:
     "The Presbyterian Church of Findley was organized Dec. 21, 1831, by Rev. P. Monfort, at that time acting as a missionary in North Western Ohio.  The first meeting was held at the residence of Wilson Vance.  The names of the members as they appear on the records are:  William Taylor, Margaret Taylor, Phebe Henderson, Asa Lake, Chloe Lake, Ebenezer Wilson, William Coen, Sarah Coen, Mary Gibson, Wilson Vance and Sarah VAnce.  Ebenezer Wilson and William Coen were elected and ordained ruling elders.
     During the first year or two after the organization services were occasionally held at the residences of some of the members, but afterwards were held quite regularly in the court house until the year 1836, when the first house of worship was erected.
     The old church building, the first erected, was but recently torn down, it having been used for some years by J. T. Adams & Co. as a linseed oil mill.
     The present church edifice was erected in 1857,and was dedicated Dec. 27, 1857, the Rev. W. T. Finley, of Springfield, Ohio, preaching the sermon.  The cost of the building was $8,888.88, as reported by the building committee.
     The several ministers who have been pastors of this church are as follows:  Revs. P. Monfort, T. B. Clark, ____ Bellville, George Van Emon, R. H. Hollyday, J. A. Meeks, J. M. Cross, A. B. Fields, Eben Muse and R. R. Sutherland.  The congregation is now without a pastor.

[Pg. 335]

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

GERMAN LUTHERAN.

     In 1858 Charles Deitsch, Ernst Kempf, Charles Hahn, Peter Roszman, Henry Lannert, Henry Hahn, Phillip

[Pg. 336]










 

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.

     At the annual Conference of this association held in

[Pg. 337]








[Pg. 338]

CHURCH OF GOD.

[Pg. 338]

UNITED BRETHREN

ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

[Pg. 340]
now they are held regularly in accordance with the usages of the church.
     This society numbers among its members some of our best business men and most esteemed citizens.  The following named persons have officiated in the capacity of priests to this congregation:  Father Raetzer, Father Burns, Father Vattman, Father Deachan, Father Fleming, Father Pitsts, Father Young, Father Rudolph and Father Doesner.

[Pg. 341]

SCHOOLS OF FINDLEY

UNION SCHOOL.

[Pg. 342]

[Pg. 343]





 

DISTRICT NO. NINE.

     This District includes the territory included within the boundary, commencing at the Old White Corner on Main street, running thence west to West street, thence south to the old corporation line, thence east to Main street, and has an enumeration of about two hundred children.  It includes

[Pg. 344]

[Pg. 345]

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

ODD FELLOWS.

[Pg. 346]

FINDLEY LODGE, NO. 227 F. & A. M.

[Pg. 347]

FINDLEY CHAPTER, NO. 58 R. A. M.

FINDLEY COUNCIL, NO. 50 R. & S. M.

     A charter was granted Oct. 12th, 1862, by the Grand Council of Ohio, in session at Cincinnati, to James Wilson, H. D. Ballard, B. F. Kimmons, W. E. Snyder, D. B. Beardsley, J. M. Muber, William Anderson, M. B. Patterson and Isaac Bonham authorizing them to form a Council of Royal and Select Masters.  The late Dr. B. S. Brown, with R. T. Cook, C. M. Nichols and J. A. Aull, all of Bellefontaine, by direction of Grand Council, instituted the new Council under the name of Findley Council; James Wilson, First Illustrious Master; H. D. Ballard, Dep'ty Master; and B. F. Kimmons,

[Pg. 348]
Principal Conductor of Work.  The Council meets in the Lodge room, and the membership is about twenty.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR.

      On the 11th day of September, 1878, the Supreme Council of Knights of Honor, in session at Wooster, Ohio, grated a charter to D. C. Connell, H. B. Green, F. W. Entrekin, Ernst Bacherer, W. H. Shuler, H. W. Bleecher, J. M. Beelman, G. H. Wheeler, E. G. DeWolfe, Wm. Edwards, J. C. Bushan and Tim Fellers to open a Lodge at Findley.  The Lodge was instituted accordingly.  The meetings are held on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, in their hall on the south-east corner of Main and Drawford streets.  The membership is twenty-one, and one death, that of Geo. H. Wheeler, has occurred since their organization.

ROYAL ARCANUM,

     P. L. Teeple, as Deputy Supreme Regent, instituted a Council of this order in November, 1878, with thirty-four charter members.  Hancock Council, No. 187, hold their meetings in Knights of Honor Hal, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.  Two members have died, Capt. John Wescott and Dr. T. C. Ballard.  The present membership is forty, and the numbers are increasing.  The present officers are D. B. Beardsley, Regent; F. B. Lay, Secretary; A. A. Dillinger, Treasurer; and Wm. Edwards, Collector.

[Pg. 349]

AMERICAN LEGION OF HONOR.

     A Council of this order was organized in May, 1881, by T. C. Garrison, Deputy Supreme Commander, with a membership of twenty-two.  Present membership about thirty.  The Council holds its meeting on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, at Knights of Honor Hall.  There have been no deaths since its organization.  The offices are J. M. Huber, Commander; Dr. T. G. Barnhill, Vice Commander; D. B. Beardsley, Past Commander; Dr. T. F. Woodworth, Orator; C. E. Seymour, Secretary; B. F. Kimmons, Treasurer; and C. M. Humason, Collector.

ST. MICHAEL'S BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

     This society was organized in - , and has now twenty-eight members.  It is connected with St. Michael's Catholic Church, and its members must be members of that church, males between the ages of twenty-one and sixty years only being eligible.  Members are entitled to care, attention and assistance when sick or disabled, and also a stated sum of money as weekly benefits.  The society, though small in numbers, has expended quite a sum in sick benefits, and is in the prosperous condition.  Frank Karst, sr., has been President of the society ever since its organization.

[Pg. 350]

NEWSPAPERS.

HANCOCK COURIER.

[Pg. 351]
him from what he believed to be right.  He died in Findley in 1844, and was buried in the old grave yard, but his remains have since been removed to Maple Grove Cemetery.
     On the 24th of January, 1839, Mr. HENRY BISHOP purchased the Courier and published it until July 1st, 1845.  We can ascertain but little about the private life of Mr. Bishop.  He was born and raised in Franklin County, Ohio.  He received a good English education, and was a man of sound practical common sense.  He was rather an eccentric character, and when he went to take his seat as a member of the Ohio Legislature, to which he was elected in 1851, he wore a hunting shirt and leggins.  He was not a remarkable writer, his productions being rather illogical.  After disposing of the office in 1845, he removed to his farm in Eagle township, and was drowned in Eagle Creek, June 18th 1855. ¹
     On the 1st of July, 1845, MR. WILLIAM MUNGEN purchased the Courier, and conducted it until November, 1849, when he rented it to W. M. Case, (better known as "Mood Case,) for one year.  But as Mr. Case was one of those good-natured, worthless fellows, Mr. Mungen was obliged to do most of the writing during that time.   Mr. Mungen, then after control of the paper for a short time, rented it to B. F. Rosenberg, and in the spring of 1851, sold one half to Henry Brown, and shortly after sold the remaining half to A. Blackford.
     Mr. Mungen was born in Baltimore, Md., May 12th, 1821, came to Ohio in 1830, received a common school education, and studied Latin and German and physical sciences to some extent at home.  Studied and practiced law, was elected Auditor of Hancock County for two terms, and to the Senate of Ohio in 1851.  Entered the Union Army in

------------------------
Sharon Wick's Note:
     1. Henry Bishop, b. 23 Nov. 1820, Franklin Co., OH; d. 18 Jun. 1855 (ae 34 yrs) in Hancock Co., OH; buried: Bishop Cemetery, Arlington, Hancock Co., OH; Find A Grave Memorial ID. 135554876 - s/o George & Catherine Bishop - also lists family members and a newspaper article and biography from A Centennial Biographical History of Hancock County, Ohio, 1903..

[Pg. 352]
1861 as Colonel of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment of Ohio Volunteers.  During the time he has resided in Ohio he has held several local offices.  He was elected to the 40th and 41st Congresses of the United States.  Mr. Mungen was a clear forcible, logical writer.  He is at present practicing law in Findley.
     HENRY BROWN entered into partnership with Mr. Mungen in the publications of the Courier in the spring of 1851.  On the 1st day of January, 1851, Aaron Blackford purchased Mungens interst, and continued until the fall of 1854, when Mr. Brown sold to Blackford, and at the end of one year Mr. Brown assumed the entire control of the paper, and edited it until January 1857.
     Henry Brown was born in Albion, Orleans County, N. Y., and was educated at the Albion Seminary.  He came to Ohio when about seventeen years of age, and taught school for several years.  He then read law with W. P. Noble, at Tiffin, O.  He was elected Auditor of Hancock County in 1851.  He is a nervous, excitable man, and a hard worker.  He was a prolific writer, and carried conviction at his pen's point.  He has held the office of Prosecuting Attorney several terms, and is now practicing law in Findley.
     In January, 1857, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ROSENBERG purchased the Courier, and conducted it successfully until July 18th, 1861.  Mr. Rosenberg was born in Bedford, Pa., and at the age of two years came with his parents to this place, where his father, Jacob Rosenberg, established the Courier in 1836.  In 1847 "Frank" commenced an apprenticeship to the art of printing with H. K. KNAPP, in the office of the Kalida Venture, in Putnam County.  Mr. Knapp sold the Venture, and established the Standard at Ashland.  "Frank" went with him.  From there he went

[Pg. 353]
into the office of Seneca Advertiser, published by John G. Breslin, in Tiffin, O.  In the same office was W. W. Armstrong, now one of the editors of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Finishing his trade he returned to Findley and was engaged with Mr. S. A. Spear, on the Home Companion, in the capacity of foreman.  In 1854 when A. M. Hollabaugh started the North-West at Napoleon, Ohio, "Frank" went with him.  Sometime afterwards he established the Sentinel at Ottakee, the pioneer paper of Fulton County.  He then went into the office of the Shelby County Democrat, which Mr. Hollabaugh had just purchased.  He succeeded Mr. Brown in the ownership and management of the Courier, which he sold to Mr. Hollabaughin 1857.  Mr. Rosenberg died in Findley, Oct. 4th, 1869.
     On the 25th day of July, 1857, the Courier passed into the hands of Mr. Hollabaugh, who edited it until March, 1861.
     ALPHEUS M. HOLLABAUGH was born in Frederick County, Md., Oct. 16th, 1832, and came to Findley in 1837, where he received a good common school education.  He learned his trade as printer with John G. Breslin, Tiffin, O.  Before his connection with the Courier, had edited and published the North-West, Napoleon, and the Shelby County Democrat at Sidney, Ohio, and in 1865 was connected with a paper in Gallipolis, Ohio, and also at Van Wert.  He was a good printer, and possessed some ability as an editor, but was more windy than logical.  He died in Findley of consumption on the 4th day of February, 1871.
     In March, 1861, Messrs. L. Glessner & Son assumed charged of the Courier, and continued until Jan. 1st, 1865.
     LEWIS GLESSNER was born in Somerset County, Pa., Sept.

[Pg. 354]
1st, 1811, and when six years old moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, and settled in the woods, where he remained at farm work.  He learned his trade in New Lisbon, and removed to Delaware, O., in 8133.  He came to Findley in the spring of 1861.  He in connection with his son, W. L. Glessner, published the Courier until Jan. 1st, 1863, when he sold out, and removed to Newark, O., where he took charge of the Newark Advocate, which he purchased.  In May, 1866, he again took control of the Courier.
     W. L. GLESSNER was born at Delaware, O., Sept. 27th, 1840, and at the age of eighteen entered the office of the Shield and Banner at Mansfield, Ohio.  In 1861, in company with his father, L. Glessner, he entered into the business of editing and publishing the Courier.  In 1865, he took entire control of the paper, which he held until May 1866.  Shortly after disposing of the Courier, he purchased the Toledo Record, but failing in this, he went to the Wheeling (Va.) Register, and finally to New York City.  In 1868, in company with C. C. Stone, he purchased the Clinton (Ill.) Register, and is yet publishing that paper.
     In May, 1866, Mr. L. Glessner again took charge of the Courier, which he continued until his death, March 13th, 1869, since which time the Courier has been published by his widow, Mrs. Georgiana Glessner, under the editorial control of F. H. Glessner.
     Mr. L. Glessner was a strong partisan, a most estimable and genial gentleman, a fine writer, a correct business man, and scrupulously honest in all his dealings.
     When the Courier came into his hands in 1866 it was a thirty-two column paper printed on a hand press.  In 1868

[Pg. 355]
the paper was enloarged to a thirty-six column, a Campbell Power Press put in the office, to which, in a short time, steam was added.  Just previous to his death, Mr. G. had finished a fine block on east Sandusky street, into a part of which he had removed the office, and the paper has now in connection with the newspaper press, ample job rooms, where all kinds of plain and fancy job work is done neatly.  The present circulation of the Courier is about seventeen hundred copies weekly.

     The foregoing facts are extracts from an article by F. H. Glessner, at their anniversary, ten years ago, with the addition of more recent facts by the                  AUTHOR.)

WESTERN HERALD.

     On the 1st day of January, 1845, JOHN T. FORD issued the first number of this journal, of which he was editor and proprietor.  In politics the Herald was devoted to the interests of the Whig party.  The office of the Herald was in the second story of the frame building on the south-east corner of Main and Sandusky streets, now occupied by L. A. Baldwin, as a produce store.  Under Mr. Ford's management the Herald obtained a circulation of four hundred.  This was doing pretty well in a county where the Democracy had a majority of more than a thousand votes in a voting population of not much exceeding three thousand voters.  The Herald was a weekly journal, and was a rather spicy sheet.

[Pg. 356]
posed of his entire interest in the Herald to Mr. Coffinberry.  Whilst Mr. Ford was connected with the paper, William F. Gilkeson and Gideon R. Nightingale did the composition and press-work, and William L. Howell and Pat G. Duncan son of Gen. Andrew Duncan, were the first boys employed in the office.
     Mr. Ford was long a resident of Hancock County, but never engaged in the Newspaper business after he disposed of the Herald.  Mr. Ford assisted Engineer Weeden in locating the Branch Railroad; he also assisted the Contractor Beach in its construction.  A track-layer from the main line by the name of French, ironed seven miles of the road, and under the direction of Engineer Swigart, Mr. Ford completed that part of the work, and drove the last spike on its completion.  He was five years clerk in the depot at Findley, and eleven years conductor on the road, succeeding N.E. Childs who was the first who held that position.  The travelling public remember Mr. Ford as the patient, good-natured, accommodating conductor on the old "strap iron" road.  He is now residing on a farm near Chillicothe, Mo., enjoying the peaceful life of a farmer.
     In November, 1845, J. M. Coffinberry became part owner of the Herald, and the name was changed to Findley Herald about a year later.  Mr. Coffinberry purchased the interest of Mr. Ford, and conducted the paper for about three years, when he in turn sold to Dr. David Patton.  The circulation at this time was about five hundred copies.  Judge Coffinberry says that at the time he purchased the paper, and whilst Mr. Ford was connected with it, it was printed on an old wooden Ramage press, but that he subsequently purchased a second hand press of John C. Gilkeson, of Mansfield

[Pg. 357]
     Judge Coffinberry was born at Mansfield, Ohio, in 1818.  He studied law with his father, the old "Count," who at the time was located at Perrysburg, and on his admission to the bar, practiced law with his father in Maumee City.  He was elected and served as Prosecuting Attorney of Lucas County.  After he served his connection with the Herald, he resumed the practice of law in Findley.
     In 1855 he took up his residence in Cleveland, where he at once took a front rank at the bar, and such was his reputation for legal ability, that in 1861 he was elected one of the Common Pleas Judges of that city, which office he filled with credit to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of his constituency.
     As a writer and editor, he was clear, comprehensive, and incisive, as a lawyer, he was learned, eloquent and logical, as a Judge, he was upright, clear and forcible in his rulings and decisions.  As a citizen, he is held in the highest esteem, and as a business man, he has been entirely successful.
     This paper changed proprietors and name very often, and we are only enabled to give the names, without vouching for accuracy of the order in which they are given.  Dr. Patton was succeeded in his proprietorship by W. P. Reszner; then came Robert Coulter, who changed the name of the paper to the Journal.  A man by the name of Lyon - his initials I do not remember - became owner, and the paper was then called the Home Companion, and was a literary newspaper.  Mr. Samuel A. Spear became proprietor, and during his ownership the name was changed to the Jeffersonian.
     Mr. Spear was a thoroughly educated gentleman, a fine writer, firm in his convictions of right, and bold to defend

[Pg. 358]








 

THE DAILY JEFFERSONIAN.

[Pg. 359]











 

THE FINDLEY REPUBLICAN.

     The first copy of the Republican were issued as a seven column folio, Feb. 5th, 1879, by J. M. Beelman and J. E. Griswold, editors and proprietors.  On the 18th of July, 1879, Griswold retired from the firm, disposing of his interest in J. M. Beelmon, who enlarged the paper to an eight column folio.  On the 1st of January, 1881, a partnership was formed by and between J. M. Reelmon, E. G. DeWolfe, formerly 32x50 inch Campbell Press, and other material purchased, making it was one of the best equipped newspaper and job offices in the county, and the paper was issued as a nine column folio.
     On the 17th of October, 1881, Mr. Blackford wishing to devote his entire time to the profession of the law, disposed

[Pg. 360]
of his interest to his partners, who are the present proprietors.  The paper is Republican in politics, and is fast winning its way to public favor, by its fearless independence in local, as well as in State and National politics.  As an advertising medium it is already recognized.  Its circulation is increasing, and it bids fair to prove a successful newspaper venture.
     ELI G. DeWOLFE, editor of the Republican, was born in Centerville, Butler Co., Pa.  In 1850, he commenced to learn the printing business in the office of the Butler Whig, and completed his trade in the office of the Prospect Record, at Prospect, in the same county.  Owing to poor health he was compelled to relinquish the business until 1862, when he became editor of the Pike County Republican, published at Waverly, Ohio.  He, however, sold that office to accept the position of foreman in the Ohio State Journal office at Columbus, ., in 1866, and in September, 1868, he assumed editorial control of the Findley Jeffersonian.
     He disposed of the Jeffersonian office in 1868, and was appointed Post Master at Findley by President Grant, and was re-appointed by President Hayes in 1880.  In 1881 he assumed the editorship of the Findley Republican.  As a political writer Mr. DeWolfe is bold and aggressive, freely criticizing the acts of officials, and pointing out any defects in their conduct of public affairs.  His articles on all subjects are fairly written, and in ability compare with the best efforts of the average newspaper man.
     There were several other newspaper ventures in this town, amongst which was a German paper by Zwanzie, but it only lived about a year, and was then removed to Lima.  The Barnd Bros. engaged in the newspaper business, independent.

[Pg. 361]
at first, but afterwards espoused the cause of the Granger movement.  This however failed, and the paper became an advertising medium, under different names, such as Reporter, Property Journal, etc., and has finally been removed to Fostoria.

[Pg. 362]

HOTELS.

"JOY HOUSE."

[Pg. 363]

COMMERCIAL HOUSE.

SHERMAN HOUSE.

     This is the building known as the "Schwab House," in ye olden times.  It is a three story brick, situate at southeast corner of Main and Front streets.  It has changed

[Pg. 364]
hands several times since the death of Mr. Schwab, and is now owned by T. J. Stackhouse, who, after occupying it for several years, leased to it a Mr. Edmunds the present landlord.
     The hotel has always had the reputation of being a good stopping place for the hungry, who desired a good square meal.  It is very extensively patronized by the country people, and is a good stopping place for any class of people.

[Pg. 365]

BANKS.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF FINDLEY.

[Pg. 366]
     The present Directors of the bank, are E. P. Jones, C. E. Niles, J. H. Wilson, J. F. Burket and G. W. Kimmel, names which should be a sufficient guarantee that the business of the bank will continue to be carefully and safely managed.

FARMERS BANK.

[Pg. 367]

FINDLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[Pg. 368]









[Pg. 369]

MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY

     On the 25th day of December, 1854, the following named persons filed papers for the incorporation of a company to be called "The Maple Grove Cemetery Association," to-wit: D. J. Cory, William Taylor, Hugh Newell, Jesse Wheeler, A. H. Bigelow, Benj. Huber, J. B. Hull, Parlee Carlin, G. H. Crook, Henry Porch, Dr. W. H. Baldwin, H. P. Gage, John Ewing, F. Henderson, M. C. Whitely, Dr. D. Goucher, G. W. Galloway and J. H. Wilson.  The first election for officers was held at the office of M. C. Whiteley, on the 22d of June, 1855, at which time John Ewing, H. P. Gage and Parlee Carlin were elected Trustees, and William Taylor, Clerk.
     About twenty acres of land on the west bank of the river just outside the west corporation line, was bought of George Biggs, and laid out into lots.  A main avenue extends through the center of the grounds from east to west, and on either side of his avenue, there were two hundred and fifty-two lots laid out, making in all, five hundred and four lots, through which passed two other avenues, one on either side of the main one, and parallel with it.  The lots are laid out in rows, and are eight feet wide and twenty-four feet long.  August 3d, 1860, after many of these lots had been sold, the association proposed to the town and township, that if they would avail themselves of the provisions of a act of the Legislature, providing for the joint ownership, by Incorporated Villages and Townships, of cemeteries, and assume the amount still due upon the purchase of the lands, they

[Pg. 370]
would transfer the grounds to them.  This was accordingly done, and Dixon Stansberry, William Mungen and William Church, as Trustees, deeded the lands to the town of Findley and Findley Township, and the name of "Maple Grove Cemetery" was adopted.
     In 1872 the authorities purchased of Jasper Lytle, for $2,200, a tract of 22 acres adjoining their grounds on the south.  In 1865 a further addition of two hundred and eighty-six lots, was laid out in the rear of the first platting of lots.
     In 1878, under the direction of L. A. Baldwin, C. B. Hall and Henry Brown, Cemetery Trustees, a very fine and imposing Mortuary Chapel was built, at a cost of two thousand dollars.  This chapel is used for the reception and retention of bodies before burial, at the request of the friends of the deceased.  The trustees deserve much credit for the erection of so tasteful a building, in this city of the dead.
     The entire occupied part of the grounds, in profusely planted with evergreen and shade trees, whose beautiful foliage, and inviting shade, dispel much of the gloom naturally surrounding such a place.  A wide shady driveway extends the length of the grounds on both sides.  There are many very beautiful and costly monuments, marking the residing place of friends.
     The families of Jesse Wolf, W. C. Cox, Wm. Taylor and F. Henderson have very pretty vaults erected for the reception of their dead.
     The grounds are situated on the high banks of the Blanchard, and are thoroughly underdrained.  A public highway passes along the river bank, in front of and between the cemetery grounds and the river.  A beautiful iron fence is built along the entire front.  The whole is in charge of three

[Pg. 371]
trustees, elected by the village, but who are under the control and direction of the council of the village.  The village council and the trustees of the town meet in joint session in May of each year, and determine on the amount of money to be raised, and the rate of taxation.
     Maple Grove Cemetery is fast becoming one of the most beautiful burial places in the country.  The present Board of Trustees is L. A. Baldwin, J. R. Clark and J. L. Kenower.