E. N. SMITH & PORTRAIT

SETTLEMENT.

INITIAL FACTS

ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES

TRANSFERS OF REAL ESTATE

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS

CHURCHES.

SCHOOLS.

TEMPERANCE

THE VILLAGE OF WATERVILLE.

NATURAL GAS AND OIL

THE VILLAGE OF WHITEHOUSE.

JAMES M. BRIGHAM. & PORTRAIT

     LORENZO LEWIS MOREHOUSE

PERSONAL MENTION.

     More special mention than has been given seems due to the memory of Waterville's chief pioneer.  John Pray was born in Rhode Island, Oct. 6, 1783.  He was third son of Reverend John Pray.  When 12 years of age he went to Saratoga, New York; and at 21, with his brother James, he engaged in the manufacture of potash.  In May, 1817, with his brother James and five others, he sat out for the West in search of a site for a Colony, traveling by stage to Buffalo, and by a small sloop to Detroit; thence by pack-horses, they proceeded to the point of destination - the Maumee Valley.  Following the River up to Fort Defiance, they found no resident white man between Fort Meigs and that place.  From there they went to Dayton, Ohio, and thence to Cleveland.  At that point, not having found a satisfactory site for the purposed settlement, all of the party, save John Pray, returned to New York, while he, not disposed to abandon his pursuit of a Western home, came back to the Maumee Valley, and soon determined to settle at Waterville.  In such decision he was greatly aided by the prospective water power at that point.  Returning to New York, he remained there until May, 1818, when he sat out on his return, with his wife, four children and a nephew.  They travelled in a wagon to buffalo, and there took a 15 ton Schooner, Captain Charter, for the Maumee.  So scant was the supply of sails, that the passengers were repaired to use their clothes for such.  A passage of nine days took them to Waterville, where they found temporary quarters in an unfinished log-cabin of Mr. Adams, who was among the few settlers who had arrived since Mr. Pray's visit the previous year, all whom gave cordial welcome to the recruits.  There was then no Grist-Mill nearer than Monroe, Michigan (some 40 miles).  Mr. Pray at once sat about a change in conditions, and in 1821 he built on Granger Island, the first Grist-Mill on the Lower Maumee.  For several years it had customers for a distance and 45 miles, (Defiance included).  Ere long Mr. Pray added machinery for carding wool, a Hemp machine and a Distillery.  In 1831, he laid out the Village of Waterville; and in 1832 removed his mills to the main land; and in 1837 built the Columbian House then the best hotel in that section.  He purchased large quantities of lands, in what are now Lucas, Wood and Fulton Counties.  As elsewhere stated, he was of the first Board of Commissioners of Wood County, in 1820; was for nine years a Justice of the Peace and was the first Postmaster at Waterville.  The "latch-string" of his home was always "ont" to travelers, great numbers of whom gladly accepted the hospitalities thus extended.  He was well educated, and thus specially fitted to promote both the moral and material interests of the community.  Until 47 years old, he adhered to the religious belief of the Universalists: but in 1840, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and became an active member of the same.  In his 90th year, he closed his long, active and honorable life, dying at Waterville, Oct. 18, 1872.  Mr. Pray was married Mar. 21, 1809, with Miss Lucy Dunham, of Smithfield, Madison County, New York, who was born at Fort Edwards, New York, Oct. 28, 1789.  They lived together in happy marital relations for the extraordinary period of 63 years, of which 54 were spent at Waterville.  Their children were as follows:  Harriet, born Oct. 9, 1810; John L., born Jan. 25, 1812; Mary, Jan. 19, 1814; James R., Feb. 21, 1817; Paris H., May 5, 1849; William K., Nov. 26, 1821; Ozro D., Mar. 4, 1824; Thomas, Apr.  9, 1828; Lucy, Oct. 13, 1831; and Caroline, Mar. 18, 1835.  Of these the following are now (1888) living: Paris H., at Whitehouse; Ozro D., at Grizzly Flats, California; and Thomas, at Waterville.
     Among the more prominent business men of Waterville Township for several years past, has been John Lancing Pray, of Whitehouse.  He was born Feb. 17, 1839, at the Pray homestead farm, near Waterville.  His father was John Lansing Pray, a son of John Pray, the pioneer.  His mother was Lucina (Cross) Pray, a daughter of Salmon Cross, a pioneer and prominent citizen of Waterville.  She is now the widow of Whitcomb Haskins, one of the first settlers of Waterville.  The son was educated at the Waterville Public Schools.  During the Winter of 1858-59, he taught a School in Illinois, and the following Winter in Wood County.  He enlisted in Battery H, First Ohio Light Artillery, Sept. 28, 1861, and served until the end of the War.  He was appointed Bugler for the Battery, and served as such until February, 1864, when he was transferred to the United States Signal Service, where he remained to the close.  He gained special recognition in the  latter capacity, having been, as Sergeant, placed in charge of the Signal party accompanying the Fifth Army Corps.  Since the War, few Soldiers have done more than has he toward cultivating and maintaining among the country's defenders the true spirit of patriotism and social relations. Upon his return from the field of War, he taught School for one year at Waterville, and afterwards engaged in trade at Waterville with Joseph E. Hall.  Subsequently the firm decided to develop the valuable Stone deposits near Whitehouse, and for that purpose opened quarries and established a store, their operations in such connection being referred to elsewhere.  Mr. Pray, from early life, has been actively identified with interests concerning his fellow-citizens, and by act of influence has contributed much to their moral and material welfare.  He was married with Miss Pamelia C. Hall, daughter of J. E. Hall, of Waterville, Mar. 28, 1866.  Their children are John Emmons, Mable C., and Pamelia D., of Whitehouse.  The mother died Apr. 4, 1881.  Mr. Pray was married May 21, 1884, with Miss Mary E. Singer, a native of Waterville.  They have one child, Carrie Louise.
     Henry Reed, Sen., was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Mar. 31, 1784, and died in Toledo, July 27, 1864.  He removed to Sharon, Connecticut, in 1804, and to Waterville in 1833.  Mrs. Reed died at Waterville in 1857, where Mr. Reed remained until 1859.  From his advent at Waterville, Mr. Reed took an active interest in the moral and religious interests of the community.  On the first Sabbath after his arrival he gave out notice that religious services would be held at a given place, and he took charge of the same, led in the usual exercises, and maintained such appointments until a Church was established, in which he always was an active member.  In the Temperance cause he was also prominent, and in different ways contibuted to the moulding of a sound sentiment among the settlers, the effects of which have been enjoyed there ever since.  He was for several years Associate Judge of the County, and served in other public capacities.  Notwithstanding the embarrasments attending the charge of a large family in a country so new, Mr. Reed was enabled to rear his family to a degree of intelligence, usefulness and influence rarely seen even under more favorable circumstances.  It is quite safe to state, that no other family of settlers in the Maumee Valley constituted as liberal and addition in numbers to the population, as did Mr. Reed.  It included the parents and 12 children.  The names of the latter now living, are as follows:  Henry, at San Francisco, California; Samuel R., Cincinnati; Frederick, New York City; George, Forest, Florida; Alexander, Walla Walla, Washington Territory; and Mrs. w. P. Gregory, Omaha, Nebraska.  Those who died were - Elizabeth, wife of Abner L. Backus, Toledo; Abraham P., Elias, Mrs. Frances Lamb, Louis, and Mrs. Temperance Tucker.  One son, Frank, born at Waterville is also dead.
     Oscar W. Ballou is a son of Orson and Emily (Underwood) Ballou.  He was born in Waterville, Oct. 1, 1836.  His parents both dated their residence in Waterville back to 1818 - the very start of settlement at that point.  His father held a leading position in the Township for many years.  He was a Major in the Ohio forces during the "Toledo War" of 1835.  Oscar W. served in Company I, 14th Ohio Infantry, at the outbreak of the Rebellion in 1861.  His brother, Orson G., Lieutenant, Company F, 100th Ohio Infantry, was captured and died from starvation in Libby Prison.  Mr. Ballou's political views and action have always been with the Democratic party.  He has for many years been actively identified with public affairs at Waterville, having held nearly every office in the Town, being at this time President of the Board of Education and a member of the Council, with both of which bodies he has been connected since their organization.  As elsewhere stated, he took the leading part in the development of natural gas, which now promises so much for the future, not of Waterville alone, but of Maumee, Toledo and other points whose interest therein is yet to be shown.  Mr. Ballou was married Sept. 20, 1863, with Miss Lina, daughter of Lewis and Amanda (Hall) Eastwood, who was born in Waterville, Sept. 25, 1843.  Her parents came to that Township in 1831, the father now being the oldest man there.  Mr. Ballou has two children - Clifford G., born Sept. 10, 1864, who was graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, with highest honors, in 1888, and is the only College graduate of Waterville; and Minnie O., born Oct. 31, 1870.
     Hiram P. Barlow came to the Maumee Valley in 1816, settling at Orleans (Fort Meigs).  Subsequently he took a farm at Presque Isle, on the North side of the River, and near to Turkey Foot Rock, where he built a house.  He taught School at Orleans during the winter of 1816-17, and is believed to have been the first School teacher in the Maumee Valley.  He  was married with a daughter of Victory Jennison, one of the early settlers at the Foot of the Rapids.  Mr. Barlow, near Waterville, built (for John Pray) the first Distillery, and one of the first Grist Mills, in the Valley.  The Mill was driven by ox-power.  The first water-power Mill was built at Brunersburgh, now Henry County, by Mr. Perkins.  The first Saw-Mill was that of Leaming, father of Thos. Leaming, at Monclova, in 1812.  Driven away by the Indians as the Mill was nearly completed, Mr. Leaming returned to find it in ashes.  Subsequently he rebuilt, a short distance from the former site, and where a Mill now stands.

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