THIS subdivision was named Blanchard at the suggestion of Richard Dukes, one of its pioneers, in honor of the stream which crosses it form east to west.  Col. John Johnston, for about half a century an Indian agent, says, in Howe's "Historical Collections," the Shawnees called this stream Sha-po-qua-te-sepe, or "Tailor's River," while by the Wyandots it was called Quegh-tu-wa,or "Claws in the water."  According to Col. Johnston, a Frenchman, named Blanchard, a tailor by trade, married a Shawnee squaw and lived upon the river, before the occupation of the country by the whites, and the real meaning of hits Shawnee name is "one who sewed garments." When the whites took possession of Ohio the surveyors named the steam Blanchard's Fork of the Auglaize, in memory of this Frenchman, and so it has since remained.  Thus Blanchard Township has an historic name, one that goes back into the fading traditions of the past.

     It was erected Mar. 7, 1831, from territory previously included in Liberty Township, and has always embraced the full Congressional Township 1 north, Range 9, or 23,040 acres.  Mar. 4, 1834, Township 2 north, Range 9, was attached to Blanchard for judicial purposes, but Mar. 2, 1835, it was erected into a new township named Pleasant, leaving Blanchard as originally formed.  It lies in the western range of townships, with Pleasant Township on the north, Liberty on the east, Union on the south and Putnam County on the west.  In 1840 Blanchard had a population of 629; 1850, 1,051; 1860, 1161; 1870, 1,304, and 1880, 1,286.

     This is one of the best watered portions of Hancock County.  The Blanchard River enters the township in the northeast corner of Section 13, and winding in a southwest course across the township strikes the Putnam County line near the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of Section 19.  It is here a very crooked stream, and in its marked sinuosity much resembles a huge snake.  Though often becoming very low during dry weather, it sometimes leaps its banks and spreads over the adjacent lands.  There is always sufficient water in its bed, even in the driest season, for stock purpose.  Several small runs drain the north part of Blanchard into the river,

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while the main branch of Pickens Run heads on Section 3, whence it takes a northwest course into Pleasant.  From the south the Blanchard is fed by two or three tributaries, Ottawa Creek being the most important.  The head-waters of this stream are located in Van Buren Township, and consist of two main forks, which unite on Section 36, Union Township; thence passing in a general northerly direction through Union and the southeastern portion of this township discharges its waters into the Blanchard in the southwest corner of Section 14.  These streams and runs have been of great utility tot he inhabitants of Blanchard, furnishing good drainage facilities and an abundant water supply.  In early days fish were very plentiful in the Blanchard and Ottawa Creek.

     When the first settlers built their cabins along the Blanchard a heavy forest covered the land.  But the clearing up process, as a matter of stern necessity, went on so ruthlessly that very little of the most valuable woods, such as walnut and poplar, now remain.  What was not cut down and burned, or converted into rails and lumber, has nearly all been sold long ago to dealers and manufacturers.  But the fertility of the lands has largely repaid their owners for the mistake made in the destruction of the valuable timber which grew thereon, as those gigantic trees were evidences of the strength of the virgin soil.  Along each side of the Blanchard we find a deep sandy vegetable loam that cannot be excelled in the production of corn.  South of the river, except on Ottawa Creek, where the lands are somewhat diversified, the country is generally very level and requires considerable ditching, but the soil is also a vegetable loam with here and there a mixture of clay and sand, which properly drained is very rich and productive.  Upon reaching the rolling uplands north of the Blanchard a strong clay soil predominates, though mixed in places with sandy deposits, the soil on the flatter lands being locally termed a muck.  A sand ridge crosses the southeast corner of the township, along which the lands are highly prized.  Benton lies upon this ridge.  West of Benton to the county line the country is exceedingly level, and much of it was originally very wet.  Prudent ditching and tiling, however, soon render these lands among the most valuable in the county. 
     There is perhaps no enterprise in the township that has done so much toward its prosperity as the tile factory established some twelve or fifteen years ago by Lewis Dukes, Sr., on his farm in Section 10.  He subsequently sold the ground and buildings, and this factory has ever since supplied the whole surrounding country with draining tile.  The greater portion of the flat lands has been brought under a high state of cultivation by a plentiful use of the tile made in this factory, and thus the wealth of the township has been annually increased and multiplied.  No portion of Hancock County can compare in improvements with the Dukes, Davis and Moffitt settlement, and we very much doubt that it is excelled by any country neighborhood in Ohio.  The productiveness of the lands here is largely due to the judicious use of tiles, and this factory has therefore been of inestimable value to the farmers of Blanchard Township.

     Pioneers. - The first settlers of Blanchard came principally from the older counties of Ohio, though most of the heads of families were natives of other States or countries.  In the spring of 1823 JOHN HUNTER and BENJAMIN CHANDLER came from Fairfield County, Ohio, and built their cabins in the southwest quarter of Section 15.  Hunter's stood on the south bank of

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the Blanchard, and Chandler's immediately north of the former and on the same side of the river.  They were brothers-in-law, and about 60 acres of land were here entered by Hunter in September, 1825.  At the first election held in Findlay Township, July 1, 1823, Chandler was one of the judges of election; and at the second election, Apr. 5, 1824, Hunter was elected one of the two fence viewers of Findlay Township.  On the first tax levy, taken by Wilson Vance in 1824, Hunter is assessed with one horse and eight head of cattle.  In April, 1831, they sold out to George Shaw and Selden Blodget, and removed to Michigan.  They were the first settlers to locate in this township, but left the county at such an early day that few remember them only by tradition, though their names are frequently met with in early records.

     GEORGE SHAW

     LEWIS DUKES, SR.

     In November, 1828, RICHARD AND JOHN DUKES joined the settlement.

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     THOMAS AND ADALINE GROVES

     In the fall of 1828 JEREMIAH COLCLO, with his mother and son, William M.,

     In the Spring of 1820 GEORGE EPLEY and JOSEPH BOWEN

     The year 1830 brought into the township Thomas Moffitt, Mordecai, Enoch and Eli Haddox, Henry Epley and William Downing, all of whom settled permanently at that time.  Thomas Moffitt and family came from Ross County, Ohio, in the spring of the year, and located in Section 17,

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north of Blanchard.  In 1831 he was .....
 

     SELDEN BLODGET

     SOLOMON FOGLESONG, WILLIAM and JOHN MIRES, and RICHARD and JOHN L. CARSON all settled in the southeast corner of the township in 1831.  Mr. Foglesong entered the southwest quarter of Section 36, Apr. 23, 1831, and with his wife, Catherine, at once settled upon it, erecting his cabin on the east bank of Ottawa Creek.  Here he resided for more than half a century.  His wife died Feb. 20, 1872, and he survived her till Jan. 9, 1883, leaving no descendants to perpetuate his name.  William and John Mires located on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 35 in the summer of 1831.  In November, 1835, William laid out the village of Benton, and in June, 1836, they sold their land to David M. Baldwin, afterward purchasing land southwest of Benton in Union Township, but after some years they again disposed of their property, and went West.  The Carsons came from Franklin County, Ohio, in the fall of 1831, and also located on Section 35.  In 1834 John L. was elected county commissioner and justice of the peace in 1836.  Dick Carson was known as the champion fighter of the township.  He was a large muscular man, and, though for the times rather peaceably inclined, was ever ready to resent an insult or accept a challenge to a "rough-and-tumble" encounter.  An old settler in speaking

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of him to the writer said, "Dick, when a little full, would fight at the drop of a hat, and never found his match in this county."  Fighting was not then frowned upon as it is to-day, in fact such pleasures (?)) were rather encouraged, and thus became a part of the festivities at nearly every public gathering.  Many years ago the Carsons removed with their families to the West.

     JOHN DOWNING

     DAVID MILLHAM and NIMROD SMITH

     JOHN C. WICKHAM

     In October, 1829, PHILIP POWELL, a native of Pennsylvania, and a previous settler of Fairfield County, Ohio, came to Hancock County, and entered two .....

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SAMUEL KEEL

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southeast of Benton, Daniel's home being across the line in Union Township.  All of the sons were born and reared in Fairfield County, Ohio, and the parents resided there till death.

      MICHAEL FISHEL, JOHN KNEPPER and OWEN HUGHES all settled

     In 1834 MRS. LYDIA DAVIS nee DUKES (sister of ....

     SAMUEL EDWARDS settled

     Two other settlers of 1834 were SEYMOUR HASTINGS and JOHN MATHEWS.  The former located in Section 14, south of the Blanchard; in June, 1836, he wold his farm to William Smeltzer, and moved to Section 19, where he resided till his death.  Mathews came from Pike County, Ohio, and settled north of the river.  It is said that he never owned any land here, and died in the township.

     In the fall of 1835 Charles, William and John Moffitt, Joel Pendleton, John Speaker and Thomas Downing came into the township.  The Moffitt

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brothers, with their mother, Sarah, located south ........

     A large number of settlers came to the township in 1835-36 among whom were Alpheus, Edwards, Joseph Horner, David Braucht, David M. Baldwin, William Smeltzer, Phineas Mapes, Samuel Smith and James McClish.  Mr. Edward was born in Connecticut in 1808, immigrated to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1819, there married Leah Shriner, and in March, 1835, with his wife and four children, settled on the east half of the north-west quarter of Section 32, where he has ever since resided.  He reared nine children, eight of whom are living.  His wife died in 1879, and per haps before this meets the reader's eye he, too, shall have passed away, as he is now quite old and feeble.  Joseph Horner and family came the same time as Mr. Edwards and settled in Section 31, where he lived until his removal to Indiana a few years ago.  David Braucht and family were from Stark County, Ohio.  He entered a large tract of land south of the Blanchard, May 17, 1834, and, doubtless, settled in Section 13, the following year.  Both he and his wife died on the old homestead, and Mrs. L. C. Groves is the only one of their children now living in the county.  David M. Baldwin, of Fairfield County, Ohio, purchased the farm of John and William Mires, in Section 35, June 13, 1836, and; with his wife, Sarah, and family, at once took possession.  Mr. Baldwin afterward opened a tavern, which he carried on for many years.  He died on his farm near Benton, Feb. 20, 1875, and his widow still occupies the old home, while five sons and three daughters reside in the neighborhood.  William Smeltzer was a Pennsylvanian, who had lived in the county previous to his purchase, in June, 1836, of Seymour Hastings' farm in Section 14, where he resided until his death.  Phineas Mapes located in Section 19, and here both he and his wife died.  Stephen Smith settled in the southeast quarter of section 28, whence he moved into Union Township, and there spent the balance of his life.

     JAMES McCLISH

     Of other settlers, PETER FOLTZ and JACOB ENGLE are kindly remembered.  Mr. Foltz and his wife, Elizabeth, came from Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1836, and settled on Ottawa Creek in Section 25, where both died.  Mrs. Foltz

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died Aug. 9, 1850, and he was again married, and reared a large family by his second wife.  On the 11th of March, 1874, he, too, passed away and was laid beside his first wife in a little private cemetery southeast of Benton, on the west bank of Ottawa creek.  Several of his children are residents of the county.  Jacob Engle was a German, who came here from Somerset County, Penn., about 1837, and settled near the site of Benton, where he died in 1859, his family afterward removing to Iowa.  Others might be mentioned who came into Blanchard Township about this period, among whom were John M. Radebaugh, Charles Frost and Samuel Rudesill; but the names of the real pioneers have been given, the only object in view.

     JAMES McCLISH, a native of Maryland, married Patience Bishop, of New Jersey.  She bore him eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity.  He settled on the farm now owned by his son N. B. where he died a few days after reaching his destination.  While the headstone over his grave says he died Oct. 6, 1835, the family now claim that his death occurred in 1836, and that the date on the stone is incorrect.  Seven children came with the parents to this township, but N. B. is the only one now living here, the mother having died Jan. 21, 1867, in her eighty-first year.

     Of the other settlers, Peter Foltz and Jacob Engle are kindly remembered.  Mr. Foltz and his wife, Elizabeth, came from Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1836, and settled on Ottawa Creek in Section 25, where both died.  Mrs. Foltz

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died Aug. 9, 1850, and he was again married, and reared a large family by his second wife.  On the 11th of March, 1874, he, too, passed away and was laid beside his first wife in a little private cemetery southeast of Benton, on the west bank of Ottawa Creek.  Several of his children are resident of the county.  Jacob Engle was a German, who came here from Somerset County, Penn., about 1837, and settled near the site of Benton, where he died in 1859, his family afterward removing to Iowa.  Others might be mentioned who came into Blanchard Township about this period, among whom were John M. Radebaugh, Charles Frost and Samuel Rudesill; but the names of the real pioneers have been given, the only object in view.

     Justices -

     Churches. -

     Education. -

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schoolhouse made its appearance in other sections of the township until all were supplied.  Blanchard can now boast of ten schoolhouses, wherein school is held during the full legal year.

     Villages. -
     Benton was laid out Nov. 5, 1835, on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section35, by William Mires, and named in honor of Hon. Thomas Benton, the great Democratic statesman of Missouri.  It originally contained thirty-six lots, but several additions have since been laid out.  Benton lies about nine miles southwest of Findlay, on the same ridge which here crosses the county, and has always been a small country town with a limited local business.  In 1840 a postoffice, named Benton Ridge, was established here, with David M. Baldwin as postmaster.  His successors have been William Miller, Philip Ballard, Isaac Sperow, Michael Merchant, David M. Baldwin, T. J. Saunders, J. G. Saunders, J. H. Saunders, J. G. Saunders, H. W. Hughes, John C. Wickham, T. J. Saunders and R. N. Cherry.  In March, 1875, the village was incorporated for special purposes, and has since had two mayors:  R. S. Palmer and Amos Wittemeyer.  Its present business interests consist of one dry goods and grocery store, a dry goods, grocery and hardware store, a grocery store, a druggist, a steam gristmill, a steam saw-mill, two general blacksmith shops, one of which manufactures plows, a cabinet-maker and undertaker, a shoe shop, a saloon, a good hotel and one physician.  Benton Lodge, No. 418, F. & A. M., was instituted Oct. 21, 1868, with twenty-one charter members.  This lodge has recently been removed to Rawson.  The Methodist Episcopals and Evangelical Association have each a church in the village, and there is also a schoolhouse located here.  In 1880 the town had a population of 179, and now claims over 200, which indicates a slight growth.
     Lewisville was laid out by William H. Powell, David Millham and Michael Shearer, in April, 1851, on the north part of the northeast quarter of Section 14, and the southeast quarter of Section 11.  A general country store was opened, a schoolhouse built, and three or four residences erected, but that is as far as its growth ever reached.  The store was carried on by John Boylan for a few years, and then abandoned, and the village site was gradually returned to the uses of agriculture.

     Oak Ridge Postoffice was established in 1848 at the house of William Downing, with Mr. Downing as postmaster.  The office has always been in the same neighborhood, and Mr. Downing's successors have been as follows:  Robert Marshall, Daniel Morris, Mrs. William Downing, Rezin Cook, David Downing, Eli Dukes, L. C. Groves and Thomas McKinnis.  Oak Ridge, though of little importance, has nevertheless been a great accommodation to the people in this section of the county, and is therefore regarded with much favor.

      Cemeteries - The Dukes Cemetery north of the Blanchard is the oldest in the township, as two of George Shaw's children were interred there in 1828 and 1829, and also the wife of John Dukes in the latter year.  George Shaw, Richard Dukes, Mordecai and Enoch Haddox, Henry Epley, William Downing, William Moffitt and James McClish, with their wives, also Mrs. Lydia Davis and many other pioneers are buried in this graveyard. It is located on a sand hill in Sections 15 and 16, lying partly in both, is decorated with evergreens, and contains quite a number of nice monuments.  The Benton Ridge Cemetery is also a neat little ground, and was opened at an early day.  It lies immediately west of that village on the Sand Ridge,

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and is naturally well adapted for a cemetery.  Here Thomas Groves, Jacob Powell, Owen Hughes, David M. Baldwin, Jacob Engle and others of the pioneer fathers were laid to rest.  The Braucht Cemetery, in Section 13, is quite an early public burial place, not at present much used.