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SURFACE STREAMS, SOIL, TIMBER, ROADS, ETC.

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PIONEERS.

     The first settlers of this township, as well as in many other localities of  the surrounding country, were terribly afflicted with milk sickness and malarial diseases; sometimes in the space of a few months whole families were stricken down with this fell destroyer, and death, which soon followed in many instances, was their greatest alleviation and blessing.  These afflictions, in conjunction with the deprivations and hardships necessarily devolving upon them in the mighty forests of this wilderness, tried to the utmost the courage and fortitude of these brave pioneers, and the soul that is so dead to sympathy and reverence as not to cherish in fond remembrance these worthy sires, the benefits of whose labors and sufferings the rising genera-

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ELIAS CONVERSE

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tions are now enjoying, is unworthy to be called one of their descendants or to inherit the least of these blessings.
     The first settled portion of this township was its western part, near Grassy Point.  This is probably to be accounted for, in part at least, from the fact that through this portion passed the old Indian trail, and along its course was cutout the first road through these unbroken forests by the soldiers in the war of 1812.

     The first white man to locate here was Levi D. Tharp, who lived in a cabin in the west part of Hale Township, near Grassy Point, and although he owned no property, yet he resided here several years and then moved away.  It is believed he settled here in 1828, and, in the spring of 1833, the first election in Taylor Creek Township was held at his cabin.

     James Andrews was the first permanent settler who purchased land and located to stay, in October, 1820.  He was born in Washington County, Penn. Aug. 8, 1805.  His parents were James and Anna Andrews, natives of New Jersey, of German descent.  The grandfather, Robert Andrews, emigrated to America in an early day, while a young single man.  He first stopped on Long Island, thence removed to New Jersey, where he married Heziah Blackford, an English lady.  In 1794, he removed to Washington County, Penn, where he was one of the earliest settlers and where he died in 1811.  He had four sons - James, Samuel, Lemuel and Robert - and two daughters - Nancy and Temperance.  James, the eldest, was born June 12, 1769; he married in New Jersey and removed to Washington County with his father, where he resided till his death in June, 1820.  His wife died Dec. 23, 1843.  Their children were John, born in 1796; Ruth and Deborah (twins), born in 1797, the latter died in infancy; Peter, born in 1799; William B., born in 1801; James, in 1805; Anna, in 1807: Robert, in 1812, and Peggy, in 1813.  Of these, William died in 1850; John died in 1830 (in Hale Township), and Anna is also deceased.  On May 21, 1881, the balance of the children all met in a family reunion at the old homestead in Pennsylvania, their ages ranging from sixty-five to eighty-four years, a rare circumstance.  The old homestead place is still the residence of the youngest son, while the balance are all settled in the West.  James, the pioneer of Hale Township, married Polly Hathaway, in his native county, Oct. 25,1827.  Mr. Andrews opened out right in the woods and experienced the full force of pioneer life.  In the organization of the civil and religious ministrations of this township, he has been a leading, active spirit.  In the spring of 1831. at a log-rolling for Cyrus Dille, among those present being James and Lewis Andrews and Samuel Dille, at the conclusion, as they were all seated on a log, Cyrus Dille suddenly arose and proposed that as they had all witnessed the evil effects of intemperance, it those present would pledge themselves not to. attend any more log-rollings or raisings where whisky was used, he would be one of them.  They all sprang to their feet in approval, and it is said all the parties have sacredly kept their pledge.  This was the first temperance society formed in Hale Township, and probably in Hardin County.  Mr. Andrews is now the only surviving one of that society.  In February, 1832, he, with three others, constituted the first religious organization in Hale Township, and has been a devoted member ever since  - a period of over half a century.  In 1814, Mr. Andrews, with Cyrus Dille, Culbertson, Elder and William Paxton, withdrew politically from the Whig party and established themselves firmly on abolition principles, believing and declaring slavery an evil and a curse to a free and Republican government and they all adhered

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strictly to these principles ever afterward, and although all have passed away from the stage of action, except Mr. Andrews, yet he has lived to see those principles triumph, and the terrible scourge of slavery swept from the face of our noble country.  Mr. Andrews is the father of the following children - Milton, George, Henry, Anna, Mary Jane, and two who died in infancy; all are deceased except the two daughters.  Mr. Andrews has lived a long life, devoted to the good of his country and the church, and the general character of the community, in which he lives, has, to a great degree, been molded and made what it is by his firm principles and those of his worthy cotemporaries.

     John Andrews, brother of the above James Andrews, settled here about the same time or in the following winter.  He married Miss Rhoda Jennings, but his life was short; he died in March, 1830.

     Lewis Andrews, a cousin to the above, settled here on land now owned by William Rule, in 1830.  He was married in Pennsylvania to Polly Concklin; she died, and he subsequently married Mrs. Margaret Osborn.  He resided where he first settled a short time, and moved further down the creek, where he died.  His children were Betsey, Isaac, Phebe, Samuel, Lavinia, Sarah Jane, Mary, Ann and Lewis.

     Isaac Jennings and his son Cornelius, with their families, came here from Pennsylvania in the fall of 1829 and settled in the west part of Hale Township.  But disease and sickness soon visited their families, several being taken away by death, and soon after the surviving ones moved away.

     Jonathan Williams settled here a little later on land now owned by Mr. Butler.  He came here from Logan County, but it is believed he never owned any land.

     Four brothers—Amos, Cyrus, Abraham and Samuel Dille - sons of Isaac and Sarah Dille, of Washington County, Penn, who had a family of fourteen children, and became residents of Richland County, Ohio, where the parents died, settled in Hale Township as follows: Cyrus came here in November, 1830, and located on and purchased the land upon which the village of Mount Victory is now built.  He married Susan Blair, a native of Greene County, Penn, by whom he had the following children: Ezra, Blair, Deborah, David, William, Cyrus, John, Isaac, Margaret J., Nolan P. and Susannah.  Mr. Dille was one of the leading active men of that day, and in the civil affairs of the county and township filled many important offices, and was one of the first Commissioners of the county, and in September, 1833, was one of the grand jurors and foreman of the jury.  Their session was held under some trees on the bank of the Scioto River, at which they returned seven indictments for selling liquor and were discharged. Mr. Dille was a man of more than ordinary ability, quick of thought and ready in action, kind and congenial as a neighbor and a most valued citizen.  He died Apr. 21, 1849, aged fifty-three years.  His widow still survives and resides upon the old homestead at Mount Victory.  Samuel, the youngest brother, came here a single man at the same time as Cyrus, and subsequently returned to Richland County and married Rachel Hall, and then settled on the place where Thomas McCall now lives; but resided here only a short time and removed to Iowa, where he died in 1881.  They had but one child, a daughter - Mary, Abraham was the next of these brothers to settle in this township.  He settled on the land now owned by Mr. A. Beard in 1834.  He was married in Pennsylvania to Deborah Post.  He remained a resident of this community through life, and died at his residence in Mount Victory, Mar. 31, 1883, aged eighty-three

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years.  He was the father of the following children: Cyrus J., Munson, Asher, Wade, Emily, Isaac, Marion, Phebe, Jane and Stephen.  Amos was the last of the four brothers to settle here.  Soon after his brother Abram came here, he influenced Amos to come, and in 1834-35, he settled here on the Thomas McCall place, but remained only a few years and moved away, and died in Logan County Aug. 3, 1845.  His children were Martha Newton, Cephas, Sarah, Hannah, Amy Jane and Zenas.

     Samuel Leonard settled here on land now owned by John Wagner, about 1834 or 1835, but resided here only a short time and moved away.

     Thomas Dunson, a native of Logan County, Ohio, settled on the place where he still resides, in 1835.  Here he opened out right in the woods, and has now a fine cultivated farm, with good buildings and improvements.  Mr. Dunson is a quiet, unassuming man, a good neighbor and a worthy citizen.  He was been twice married; first to Miss Beulah Tharp, of Logan County; she died Apr. 19, 1856, aged fifty-four years.  By her he had nine children - Lewis, Eliza, Nancy, Anna, Lenora, Joseph, Emanuel, Mary and Temperance.  He married, for his second wife, Mary Haney, by whom he has two children - William and Jonathan.

     Abner Snoddy, a native of Kentucky, became an early settler of Logan County, Ohio, where he married Hannah King.  He served in that county as an Associate Judge for several years.  About 1840, he became a resident of Hale Township. settling in the southwest part on land now owned by E. S. Butler, where he resided till his death, which occurred Oct. 9, 1865, aged eighty-two years.  His wife died Oct. 21, 1860, aged sixty-five years.  Mr. Snoddy was a prominent and useful citizen.  He served as Treasurer for many years, and as Trustee and in other offices of trust and usefulness.  His children were Jacob, John, William, Abner, David, George, James, Joseph, Hannah and Priscilla.

     Harvey Buckmister was born in Stratford County, Vt., Nov. 13, 1800.  He emigrated to Tioga County, Penn, where he married. and, in February, 1828, came to Hardin County and located in a cabin south of Judge P. Wheeler’s farm, near the Scioto River, in Dudley Township.  He drove stage five years over the old Sandusky road, which was then the chief route of travel from Cincinnati to Sandusky City.  There were then but three cabins between Judge Wheeler’s farm and Bellefontaine, the whole route being through a dense forest.  In 1838, he removed to Hale Township and opened a hotel at Grassy Point, where he continued for three years; then he purchased a farm in Buck Township, where he carried on the hotel business for thirteen years.  After some years' residence here, he sold his farm and removed to Kenton, where he now resides.  On July 7, 1868, his wife was taken sick, and on July 14, just seven days after, she died, having been a faithful and devoted wife through forty years of married life, the greater portion of that time being spent in the wilds of this new country, sharing with her husband all the hardships and privations of pioneer life.  She bore him three children.  Mr. Buckmister is now eighty three years of age, and still quite sprightly and robust, and seems to enjoy life well.

     Daniel Baldwin, a native of Tennessee, emigrated to Champaign County, Ohio, while a young single man, and there married Hannah Williams.  Subsequently he removed to Logan County, and in April, 1835, came to this township and settled on land now owned by Charles Allen, where he resided thirty-six years, when he sold out and removed back to Logan County, where he died.  He served as Associate Judge several years, and

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filled most of the offices of his township.  He was a Justice of the Peace for many years.

     Jonathan Marsh, a native of Maryland, emigrated to Ohio, a young, single man, first locating in Harrison County; thence he went to Fairfield County, Where he married Eleanor Pugh; thence he removed to Champaign County, then to Logan County, and, about 1835, he came to Hale Township and settled northeast of Mount Victory, on land now owned by J. W. Price, on Survey 6,440.  Subsequently he purchased land south of Mount Victory, where he resided several years; thence he moved to Iowa, where he died, Feb. 12, 1869, aged sixty-eight years.  His wife died Feb. 23, 1858, aged fifty-six years.  Mr. Jones’ body was brought back to this county and interred at Mount Victory in the Dille Cemetery beside that of his wife.  Their children were Ananias, Ezerias, Margaret, Daniel, Michael, Thomas, Isaiah, Martha, Louisa and Almira.  Peter Marsh came here from near Tiffin, Ohio, and settled in the eastern part of this township about 1842.  He was a good citizen, and served as County Commissioner from 1859 to 1865, inclusive.

     Among others who came here from 1835 to 1845, we mention Harrison Lake, Simon Schurtzer, Christopher Richardson, John Richardson, Barnet Richardson, John Robinson, Uriah Baldwin and C. Copp.

     Moses Kennedy was born in Adams County, Penn., in 1822; came to Wyandot County in_1838, and, in 1842, married Nancy Kendrick.  In 1844, he settled in this township at his present place of residence on Panther Creek.  He has been an active citizen in promoting the growth and improvements of this county, and has been closely identified with the civil and religious institutions thereof.  He has filled most of the important offices of his township, has been serving as County Commissioner for several years, and is one of the prominent and trustworthy citizens of Hale Township.

     Thomas McCall was born in Washington County, Penn., Dec. 10, 1811, and is a son of William and Elizabeth McCall.  The grandfather, John McCall, was one of the pioneers of said Washington County, and served as teamster, being pressed into the service of Braddock’s army, and was with that General when he was defeated by the British and Indians.  At this time, John McCall was a lad of sixteen years, and. subsequently married Sarah Hutton.  He settled on a farm about twenty miles from the place of Braddock’s defeat. where he resided through life.  He raised four sons - Thomas, Joseph, William and John, and four daughters - Ruth, Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth.  Of these, William married Elizabeth Elliott and settled in his native county. where he resided till 1827.  He removed to Portage County, Ohio, where he died about 1840, aged fifty-six years; subsequently his widow, with her family, removed to Logan County, where she died, aged sixty-six years.  Thomas married Judith Bloomfield, a native of Crawford County, Penn., and, in January, 1812, settled in Hale Township on the place where he still lives and has resided for a period of forty-one years.  At the time he settled here, there was not a settler or improvement on the road from Mount Victory to Kenton.  Here he performed a large share of pioneer work; has cleared over 150 acres right from the heavy forests, and now owns 311 acres of good land with good improvements.  He started in life with very little capital, but by his own labor and industry has accumulated little by little, until now he is possessed of a competency, and is one of the independent and reliable farmers of Hardin County, and a much esteemed and respected citizen.  He is the father of fifteen

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children; eight of whom now survive - Malissa, Lucinda, Susan, Lewis B., William, Thomas M., Matilda Jane and Salmon P. Chase.

MILLS.

SCHOOLS.

CEMETERIES.

     In every new country, one of the earliest necessities is a burial place for the dead, and here it was no exception to that rule, for, in a very few months after the first settlers located in the west part of this township, sickness and death visited them and several of their number, from the infant to those of more mature years.  The first one who died in Hale Township was a Mrs. Jennings, about the first of February, 1832.  On the 4th of February, her oldest child died.  On the 4th of March, of the same year, Isaac Jennings, the husband and father of the above, died; and on the 27th of the same month, his brother,

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Cornelius Jennings, died.  Oh, how ruthless was death to those two families!  Only about four months previous to the death of the last  mentioned, those families had entered this then wilderness with strong arms and radiant hopes, happy hearts, animated with the pleasant prospects of future
homes and a competency, with the comforts and conveniences that such can produce.  Alas, in so short a time four of the loved ones were consigned to their graves! Also in March of the same year (1830), John Andrews, a brother of the well-known old pioneer, James Andrews, died and was buried.  These all passed away before any cemetery or burial place was established, and were interred upon their own private lands, with probably now nothing to mark their quiet resting places.  John Wolf is said to have made the first coffins.  It is believed that the Eddy Cemetery was the first established burial place, and was first dedicated to use by the reception of the body of a child of James McConnel, about 1837, since which time, about one acre of ground was donated and set apart for this purpose, and in which many of the dead of this neighborhood have since been interred.  And what appeared sad to the writer, as he walked among their silent graves, a large portion of them had no “head-stone” to tell one word as to who rests beneath the sod.
     The second burial ground established was the Dille Cemetery at Mount Victory, which was donated for that purpose by Cyrus Dille, and the first body deposited here was a child of the donor.  The first adult person interred here was a Mr. Monjar, and the second, Christopher Richardson.  The latter died Feb. 1, 1841, aged seventy-five years.  This cemetery probably contains a little more than one acre of ground, and is now nearly filled with the remains of the departed.  Ridgeway Cemetery consists of two and one-half acres of ground, situated about one and one-quarter miles northeast of the town, on the South Branch of Panther Creek, and was donated for the purpose by Samuel McCulloch about 1850, and for which, in 1860, a deed was duly made and executed, conveying the same to the incorporated village of West Ridgeway.  In the east part of the township, by the Church of God, is a burial place, consisting of one-half acre, which was deeded by Hannah Schertzer to the “West Ohio Eldership of the Church of God,” as a permanent burying ground.  The last established cemetery is located west of Mount Victory, on the south side of the pike, near the West Branch of Panther Creek, and was purchased, in 1881, by the Township Trustees, and duly fenced in and laid out into lots, walks and driveways, as a public burial place for the township.  This is centrally located, and will doubtless become the general burial place of the township.  The Ridgeway Cemetery above mentioned is beautifully located on an elevated piece of ground, and is a very suitable and appropriate resting place for the dead.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

     Ridgeway is located on the Logan County line, near the southwest corner of the township, the extreme south part of the village lying in Logan County; the latter is located in about the geographical center of the township, both villages, being situated on the Cleveland, Columbia, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad.  Ridgeway was surveyed and laid out into lots, streets and alleys by R. D. Millar, County Surveyor, for William Boggs and Samuel McCulloch, proprietors, May 20, 1851.  In August and September of the same year, an extension was made of outlots.  On Dec. 7, 1858, on petition of forty-eight resident voters, the village was incorporated under the name of West Ridgeway.  This village received its name

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in honor of the Ridgeway Company, from whom Samuel McCulloch purchased the land.  When the town was laid out, there was one log cabin standing on the lot where Dr. Crow’s residence now stands, which had been erected by Judge A. Snoddy.  After the town was laid out, Gorham Bunker erected the first house, a small frame. which is now occupied by Alonzo Bailey.  W. P. Hews opened the first store and Robert Stevenson the first hotel and first blacksmith shop in 1852.  Dr. D. C. Wooley was the first physician.  The post Office was established in 1851 or 1852, with Michael Printz as Postmaster.  The first improvement, however, that was made in Ridgeway was the erection of a saw mill by William Callahan, on property now owned by R. P. Lukens, in the west part of the town, just south of the railroad.  Mr. Callahan purchased four acres of land from Samuel McCulloch and erected the above mentioned mill in the spring of 1851, and soon after built himself a house.  Subsequently he purchased three acres more of land adjoining his first purchases.  This mill was run for several years and sawed all the lumber for the first houses of the town and vicinity, then went out of use.  In 1859, Mr. Callahan purchased a saw mill which had been erected by Van Deuser & Headly a short time previous.  Soon after, Mr. Callahan put in two run of buhrs and machinery for a grist mill and took in a partner in the person of William R. Watson.  This was a good mill and did good work.  About 1863, Messrs. Campbell & Howe erected a third saw mill and a stave factory combined, which was located on the ground where the present saw mill stands, and Mr. Callahan went in as a partner. This mill and factory did a large business several years, but finally went out of use; subsequently the property was purchased by Jacob Rumor, who rebuilt the saw mill, which is still in use, and is doing a good business.  The grist mill above mentioned is now owned by Charles Rush, and although it is now old and quite dilapidated, yet it still does some business.  The public school was organized and a small frame house built for school purposes in 1853.  This was succeeded, in 1866-67, by a new union school brick building, consisting of two departments, which served the purpose until the increase of scholars demanded more mom, and, in 1880, the present large and fine brick building was erected, containing four rooms, at a cost of about $5,000.  The Board of Education of West Ridgeway returned to the County Auditor the following report: Total receipts for school purposes, $2,451.06; total expenditures, $1,756; balance on hand Sept. 1, 1882, $695.06; number of school rooms, 2: number of teachers employed, 2; average wages per month, male, $45, female, $25; number of weeks the schools were in session, 28; number of scholars enrolled, primary, boys, 28, girls, 26; high, boys, 15, girls, 24; total 93.  The town now embraces the following businesses: Two general stores, one by R. McElhaney and one by Moffat & Fisher; one grocery, by John Limes; one hardware, by Sarah Davis; one drug store, by A. D. Bailey; one bakery, by James Lake; one saddlery and harness shop, by R. J. Williams; one millinery store, by Mrs. Davis; one livery, by C. M. Kennedy; four blacksmiths, M. Ormsby, John Printz, L. Stevenson and J. L. Humor; and four physicians, Drs. E. B. Crow, R. Edwards, W. C. Hodges and J. H. Crow; also one hotel, by Mrs. Culbertson.
     Mount Victory. - This town was surveyed and laid out by R. D. Millar, for Ezra Dille, Aug. 23, 1851.  In May, 1856, an addition of outlets was made by M. Converse.  Abner Snoddy made an addition Apr. 3, 1868, and on June 10, 1872, Peter S. Howe made an addition.  The name of the town came in this manner: The land upon which the town was laid out

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belonged to the estate of Cyrus Dille, and was soon to be sold at administrator’s sale.  Samuel McCulloch had just laid out the town of Ridge way, and for the interests of that village, he desired to prevent the starting of another town here; therefore he made an effort at the public sale of said land to outbid all others, purchase the land and turn it into a pasture.  But Ezra Dille was on the alert; he bid off the land and returned home rejoicing.  He was met by Thomas McCall, who inquired who succeeded in buy ing the land?  Mr. Dille replied, “We did,” and Mr. McCall immediately exclaimed “Victory! Victory! its name shall be Mount Victory.”  And the name was adopted by the proprietor of the town, and by that name it has ever since been known.  Before the town was laid out, a cabin had been built on the ground where the Mount Victory Hotel now stands, by Thomas Manley.  He moved away, and the cabin was occupied by Stephen Strickland; then Ezra Dille, the proprietor of the town, occupied it for a time.  After the town was laid out, the first building erected was a small frame, built close by the above-mentioned cabin by Daniel Stone, which was occupied by Frank Seaman, who put in a small stock of goods, which was the first store for the new town; this was in the fall of 1851.  In 1852, Seaman and Dille erected the long frame building, just south of the rail road, now occupied as a billiard room and a residence. In this building, Mr. Seaman and his brother George, put in a general stock of merchandise, and for several years carried quite an extensive trade.  The next store was opened by David Ellis and Elihu Curl, and about this time (1853-54), the post office was established, with David Ellis as Postmaster.  Russell & Elliott were the first blacksmiths.  The first physician was Dr. Converse.  The first hotel was kept by Jefferson Babcock, who was succeeded by Lewis Cowgill, and this was a part of the building now known as the Mount Victory Hotel.  In 1852-53, Ezra Dille erected the large warehouse by the railroad, which is now a warehouse and grist mill. The first child born in Mount Victory was Lafayette W. Dille, and the first born in the township was Blair Dille, in the spring of 1832.  The first saw mill in the village was erected by Jeremiah Elliot, about 1851; it was run by steam power and sawed large quantities of ties for the railroad, whose track was then being laid through the place.  He was succeeded in the ownership of the mill, about 1854, by Joseph and Eli James, who continued to run it many years, but it went into decay and out of use.  The grist mill was erected in the warehouse, in 1881, by Carter & Howe.  The present population of the town is about 500, and has the following business interests now represented: Five general stores, Peter S. Howe, M. S. Elder & Co., Henry Williams, Shepherd Humphrey and J. W. Gregg; two groceries, William Bloomer (died in March, 1883), and Adam Allen; one drug store, R. L. Titsworth; one harness shop, Jefferson Boyd; one dealer in agricultural implements, Smithston & Co.; three boot and shoe shops, W. H. H. Fleck, T. B. Sampson and James McDonald; one wagon maker, FrankSchmidt; one livery, Rosebrook & Bro.; three blacksmiths, S. T Beams, Wooley & Son and Gustavus Garwood; one grist mill and warehouse, Burke, Greathouse & Monegar; one saw mill and handle factory, Boyd Bros. & Co.; one tile factory, Stewart Bros; two millinery and fancy stores, M. C. Allen and Mrs. Euseba Overshiner; one hotel, L. M. Beebe; one attorney at law, Brice Williams; two physicians, Drs. D. H. Le Van and C. W. Morrow, and one veterinary surgeon, Dr. Robert Stewart.  The schools of Mount Victory should, perhaps, receive a special notice.  The first schoolhouse was a small frame, erected soon after the laying-out of

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SAMUEL WILSON
 

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the town, on a lot now owned by William Boyd.  This was succeeded by a large frame building with two rooms, which is now occupied as a drug store.  This house served for school purposes till 1875, when the present large and commodious brick house was erected, with four rooms. at a cost of $5,200.  In 1876, through a desire of many citizens and some members of the Board of Directors, by earnest and diligent efforts of one or two of the Directors especially, the high school department of the school was made a township school, open and free to all in Hale Township.  This gives a privilege to large and more advanced scholars throughout the township, which cannot but be appreciated more and more from year to year.  The Board have also manifested great taste, and desire to render the school not only efficient and beneficial, but to make it “home-like” and pleasant for the scholars by grading the play grounds, setting out shade trees, and other wise beautifying the premises.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

     Coleman Asbury Post, No. 257, G. A. R., was instituted Aug. 25, 1882, by Col. W. P. Anderson, of Marysville, Union Co., Ohio, with the following charger members, viz.: J. W. Jones, W. H. H. Fleck, John H. Kemper, Levi E. Hager, Horton Park, George W. Peaver, e. L. Seabring, J. D. Henson, J. N. Richardson, John H. Shirk, William S. Carson, S. G. Humphrey, W. W. McFadden, W. Montz, Eli M. Golden, Milton Southard, Aaron Koplin, Henry Williams, C. W. Morrow and Adam Allen, and officered as follows:  P. C., Henry Williams, S. V. C., W. W. Williamson; J. V. C., Aaron Koplin;Adjt., W. H. H. Fleck; Q. M., J. N. Richardson; Surg., C. W. Morrow; Chap., Levi E. Hager; O. D., John H. Shirk; O. G., J. W. Jones; S. M., E. L. Seabing; Q. M. S., William S. Carson.  Present membership is twenty-eight, and officered as follows:  P. C., Henry Williams; S. V. C., W. W. McFadden; J. V. C., R. A. Powelson; Adjt., W. H. H. Fleck; Q. M., S. G. Humphrey; Surg., C. W. Morrow; Chap., Milton Southard; O. D., William Montz; O. G., Isaac H. Wilson; S. M., J. W. Jones; Q. M. S., William D. F. Matthews  The post meets every first and third Friday evenings, in Howe's Hall, at Mount Victory.

     Grassy Point Grange, No. 165, was instituted Nov. 16, 1872, by Deputy Swinnerton, of Marion County, Ohio, in the schoolhouse at Grassy Point, consisting of the following charter members: John Robinson, Ira Baker, Manson Dille, Park Snodgrass, Alfred Snodgrass, George Frame, Rebecca Robinson, Rebecca Baker, Nancy Ann Dille, Mary Robinson, Thomas Dunson, Mary Dunson, Isaiah Brugler, Nancy Brugler, George McDonald and W. H. Baldwin, with John Robinson, M. and Ira Baker, O.  The present membership is sixty-five, with officers as follows: Walter Baldwin; M.; Brinton Peditt, O.; John C. Johnson, Chap; W. H. Baldwin, L.; Daniel Baldwin, Secretary; and William Rule, Treasurer.  Soon after its institution, they purchased the old schoolhouse property and erected an
addition to said building, so that the house consists of three rooms - ante-room. hall and store room - at a cost of about $200.

     Victory Lodge, No. 583, I. O. O. F., at Mount Victory, was instituted July 10, 1874, by M. Denel, M. W. G. M., of Urbana, Ohio, with the following charter members, viz.: Horton Park, Peter S. Howe, F. L. Denman, W. A. Rinehart. J. N. Richardson, A. Thompson, W. M. Titsworth, A. J. Stouffer, D. B. Rinehart, D. H. Le Van. E. W. Riley. C. W. Morrow, T. J. Boyd and Daniel Butler. Elective officers: Horton Park, N. G.; Daniel Butler, V. G.; W. N. Titsworth, R. S.; F. L. Denmon, P.

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S.; and D. H. Le Van, Treasurer.  Present membership, thirty-four, with the following oflicers: Peter S. Howe, N. G.; John McDonald, V. G.; T. P. Willaur, R. S.; L. Winders, P. S.; and Daniel Butler, Treasurer.  The lodge meetings are every Saturday eve, at Odd Fellows Hall.

     Ridgeway Lodge, No. 693, I. O. O. F., was was instituted June 29, 1880, by H. P. Gravatt, M. W. G. M., with the following charter members, viz.:  O. V. Fisher, A. Williams, M. M. Cottrell, J. A. Rumer, A. Baldwin, B. P. Lukens, Joseph Miner, E. W. Riley, A. Koplin, J. H. Dickison, J. Davis, R. McElhaney, T. J. Cottrell. D. H. Keech and O. C. Hutchison, with the following officers: D. H. Keech, N. G., John Davis, V. G.; M. M. Cottrell, R. S.; E. W. Riley, P. S.; and R. P. Lukens, Treasurer.  Present membership of the lodge is forty-one, with officers as follows: A. Baldwin, N. G.; Jacob Vassar, V. G., James Gardner, R. S ; J. D. Corwin, P. S.; and T. G. Vasser, Treasurer.  The meetings of the lodge are every Wednesday evening at Odd Fellows Hall, Ridgeway, Ohio.

CHURCHES.

     The Methodist Episcopal Church of Ridgeway

Page 659 -

     Baptist Church, Mount Victory. -

     United Brethren Church, Mount Victory,

     Church of God -

Page 660 -

     Grassy Point Methodist Protestant Church was organized in the old

     Pleasant Grove Christian Church

Page 661 -
 

     Presbyterian Church of Ridgeway

    Catholic Mission, Mount Victory.* - At Mount Victory, the Catholic priests of Kenton, ever since the year 1866, would frequently collect a little band of worshippers in some private house.  There are people would assist at holy mass, receive the sacraments and hear the word of God.  Only two Catholic families remain in the village at present, although formerly there were more, but when all the members from the neighborhood and from Ridgeway are collected together it makes still a little congregation of eight families.
 

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     *By A. S. Siebenfoercher.