THE commissioners of Seneca county, on the 5th day of March, 1832, organized township  2, N. R. 13, into a legal township, to be known by the name of Loudon.  The first election was held at the house of Benjamin Hartley, on the 2d day of April thereafter, and the following named persons were elected to their respective offices, as follows:

     Justice of the Peace - Abner Wade.
     Clerk - John Tennis
     Trustees - Benjamin Stevens, Peter T. King, John Rickets
     Constable - Samuel Carbaugh
     Supervisor - Benjamin Hartley
     Overseers of the Poor - Abner Wade, Nathan Shippy
     Treasurer - Benjamin Stevens
     Fence Viewers - Nathan Shippy, John Reese, John Shiller

     In 1840 the population of Loudon numbered 763; in 1870 it was 1,400; in 1880 it is 1,277, exclusive of Fostoria.
     Besides the officers above named there were also Samuel Bear, Jacob Rumple, Martin Adams, Philip Hennessy, Robert Rainey, Jacob Fruth, George Heming, Peter Ebersole, Henry Sheller, David Young, Conrad Rumple, Jacob Kaiser, John Good, John Reinbolt, Jacob Dillon, Thos. Dillon, the Peter families, Jacob Mergenthaler, the Fishers, and others scattered over the township.
     On the 31st of August, 1832, Roswell Crocker caused to be surveyed on section six, of this township, a town that he called Rome.  David Risdon was the surveyor.  In 1840 it had a population of 80; in 1850 about 300.  It is located on the Fort Findlay and Lower Sandusky state road, and upon the Defiance and Tiffin state road, where it crosses with the Bucyrus and Perrysburg road.  It is twenty-two miles from Fremont, fourteen and one-half miles from Findlay, fourteen miles from

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Tiffin, thirty-six miles from Bucyrus, twenty-five miles from Upper Sandusky, and close to the Hancock county line.
     A few days after the platting of Rome, on the 6th day of September, 1832, J. Gorsuch caused to be surveyed on section one, T. 2, N. R. 12, in Hancock county, and on section six, in Loudon, another town, which he named after the old surveyor, and called it Risdon.
     Mr. Risdon was a distinguished pioneer, and it is to be regretted that some spot in Seneca county could not have been selected to perpetuate his honored name.  This town was intended to accomplish this, but failed, as we shall soon see.  Mr. Risdon was a surveyor by profession, but otherwise useful in life.  He was a tall, slender man, had a bushy head of gray hair, a large blue eye, well proportioned features; stood about six feet high; spoke slow, with a deep, sonorous voice.  With his pants in his high top boots, in his Indian hunting shirt, fringed all around, he was a very picture of a pioneer surveyor.
     Mr. Risdon, however, did not survey this town alone; he was assisted by William L. Henderson, of Hancock county.
     Henry Welch, Jeremiah Mickey and John P. Gordon were the first settlers here.
     In 1848 it contained thirty dwellings, one church, one tavern, three stores, one carding machine propelled by steam, one foundry, one tannery, one steam saw-mill, one cabinet shop, one wagon shop, two shoe shops, two saddle shops and three blacksmith shops.  In 1850 its population was about 200.  It was a post town also, William Thomas being postmaster.
     Dr. Marcus Dana and Dr. R. C. Caples were among its inhabitants.  The town was platted on the east branch of Portage river.
     These two towns of Rome and Risdon, thus adjoining, became rival towns, and it was wise when, in 1854, they became consolidated into one town, and named in honor of one of its most distinguished early settlers - Charles W. Foster, the merchant - and called Fostoria.
     The country surrounding Fostoria is rich in agricultural resources, but withal, it is astonishing how this town has sprung up into its present magnificent condition.  Fostoria is rapidly becoming the rival of all its neighboring towns.  Its large and numerous business blocks, its splendid school buildings and churches, its beautiful and numerous private dwellings, exhibiting both taste and comfort, its railroads and other general improvements, denote a most remarkable degree of business life, and prove and energy, industry and the mental and financial capacity of its citizens.  Numerous additions have been made to Fostoria from time to time, so that now the corporate limits embrace

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nearly all of section six, extend into section seven, into section thirty-one in Jackson township, and into Hancock county, covering about one thousand acres of land.
     The manufacturing enterprises are constantly increasing, and Fostoria is decidedly the best railroad center in northwestern Ohio, except Toledo.
     The Baltimore & Ohio road, the Lake Erie & Louisville road, the Columbus & Toledo road, and the Ohio Central, formerly called the Atlantic & Lake Erie railroad, pass through Fostoria.  The Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan railroad had been finished to this place also but for some reason the iron was taken up again and the track abandoned.
     The town of Rome was incorporated by an act of the legislature passed February 19th, 1851.
     John F. Morse was then speaker of the house of representatives, and Charles C. Converse speaker of the senate.
     On the 2d day of September, 1853, a petition was signed by William Braden, Thomas Brian, H. I. Vosburgh, W. Weaver, A. S. Bement, E. F. Robinson, Ch. Bonnell, John O. Albert, Reuben Brian, I. M. Coe, John Wilson, George George, Lyman Kittel, Daniel Free, Abr. Metz, Robert Doke, E. Bement, E. W. Thomas, D. D. Miller, H. W. Cole, James Lewis, Umphrey England and John M. Stewart, who appointed William Braden to act in their behalf, directed to the commissioners of Seneca county, praying that the west half of the northwest quarter of section six, in Loudon township, may be attached to Rome.  The order was granted on the 2d day of January, 1854, and Rome and Risdon thereby became one town.
     Mr. Stewart, in his atlas of Seneca county, speaking of Rome, says the consolidation took place in 1856, and in his biographical sketch of Mr. C. W. Foster, says it took place in 1852.  If he had guessed half way between the two dates he would have been nearer right.
     The act of incorporation of Rome by the legislature had twenty-nine long sections, and gave the town all sorts of municipal power.  The town would have been ruined by taxation had these powers all been exercised.
     Joel W. Wilson was then in the senate, and Jacob Decker in the house of representatives.
     The early settlers in Loudon were men of great sagacity.  They saw in the near future the wealth that this township must necessarily develop from the richness of its soil, being well watered and timbered.
     In 1840 the population of the township was 763; in 1850 it was 1,781;

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in 1860 it had increased to 2,465; in 1870 it was 3,133, out of which 2,736 were native born; in 1880 it is 1,277, exclusive of Fostoria.
     Fostoria proper, in 1870, had a population of 1,733.  My old friend Jacob C. Millhime, Esq., who has just finished his work as census enumerator of Fostoria, makes the population of Fostoria for 1880 to umber 3, 045, exclusive of the portion in Jackson township, Hancock county, which, being added makes Fostoria proper number 4,111.

CHARLES W. FOSTER.

It is not only a remarkable fact that here in America the best men are the self-made men, but, but the act seems to be the result of our peculiar form of government and the fruit of her free institutions.  It requires no hereditary here to become distinguished among men.  A goodly share of common sense, good health proper deportment, industry, energy, integrity, all well combined and backed by a reasonable unity of will power, have enabled thousands of men in all avenues of human life to outstrip their fellows and reach the goal of both fame and fortune.  Our beautiful school system and our higher institutions of learning are truly the pride of our state; but for success in life, an ounce of sound, mother wit is worth more than a pound of book learning.  The great contributors to the sciences; the plotting calculators and thinkers and searchers, generally die poor.
     The subject of this sketch belongs to that class of men who, when they know that their plans are right, depend upon perseverance for success.
     He was born in Brookfield, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 21st of November, 1800.  His father moved with his family to western New York, then sparsely settled, and located near Rochester, in 1820.
     A gentleman by the name of John Crocker moved to Seneca township, in this county of Seneca, in 1824.  Two years thereafter, in 1826, Mr. Foster also came to Seneca township to see Mr. Crocker's family, and especially his beautiful daughter, Laura.  It seems that there had been some understanding between the young people before Mr. Crocker left New York.
     When Mr. Foster arrived here, he found Miss Laura in bad health and took her to the Saratoga Springs, in New York, where she remained some time and was restored to good health.  She then visited her uncle, James Richardson, who lived some thirty miles from the springs, and here the young people were married on the 7th of June, 1827.  They then came to Seneca and lived with the Crocker family.  Here Mr. Foster worked on teh farm of his father-in-law two years, when he

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moved to Wolf creek, three miles north of Tiffin, where he had 160 acres in section eleven, in Hopewell, and which he afterwards sold to George Shedenhelm, by whose name it is known to this day.  It was then all in the woods and required work to clear it and found a home.  Mr. Foster had also another eighty-acre lot at that time.  He sold all his land, and with the proceeds of these sales, he and his father-in-law, who had more means, opened a stock of goods in a cabin in Rome, on the same spot where the Foster block now stands.  This was in 1832.  The business of the firm was carried on in the firm name of Foster & Crocker.  Ten years thereafter, when the concern had already assumed large proportions, Mr. Crocker withdrew from it, taking away merely the amount he had put in, and leaving Mr. Foster alone in the possession and control of the constantly increasing business.  Thus he continued until his son, Charles, had grown up to nearly man's estate, and who, in his youth, developed a remarkable faculty for business.  This feature in the nature of young Charles was inherited and then improved by education, experience and practice.  It sustained him in his successes when he became ambitious and turned politician, for in the management of a political campaign, from a business standpoint, Governor Foster has no superior anywhere.
     In 1848, when his son was about twenty years of age, Mr. Foster took him as a partner in business, and the firm of Foster & Son increased the growing fame of the house which continued thus six years, when another accession was made, and Mr. Olmsted became a partner.  It was then Foster, Olmsted & Co., and continues so still as a grain firm.  The store proper is conducted in the firm name of Foster & Snyder Brothers.
     Mrs. Crocker died in 1850, and John Crocker in 1854.  They lie buried in the Fostoria cemetery.  Roswell Crocker, a brother of Mrs. C. W. Foster, is still living in Fostoria, as is also his wife, Sarah Ann, who is a daughter of John Cooper, Esq.
     Mr. and Mrs. Foster were the parents of five children, of whom their son, Charles, is the only one living.
     When Mr. Foster started here in the woods, forty-eight years ago, his and Mr. Crocker's combined capital in trade did not exceed $2,000 and their annual sales not $3,000.  The trade was principally barter for skins and furs.  The house now has a stock of about $80,000, and their annual sales reach near $150,000.  Including the outside business of the firm in wool, grain, lumber, etc., they handle over a million of cash annually.
     Mr. Foster's manner of business was of that pleasant and manly

[PORTRAIT OF CHAS FOSTER]

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character that won him friends who constantly increased in number.  He kept out of litigation and lived up promptly to his contracts.  All this tended to secure him the confidence of the community.  Any person who was able to secure Mr. Foster's good opinion, could get credit with him, and at times men owed him more money than they were worth.  He could have sold out hundreds of them for debts they owned him at the time, had he so willed, and utterly ruined the, very many of them are now among the substantial men in the country.
     The house of Foster has contributed largely to every enterprise that was calculated to build up the town and country.  Their sagacity, foresight and promptitude in business have not only stamped their own in individualities upon the community, but have also inspired others to enterprise and practical business life, so that now, while the Foster house enjoys its great wealth, the community at large is greatly benefited and in about the same proportions to its constant increase in wealth and business.
     Mr. Foster, now nearly four score years, is still enjoying the society of his wife and a host of friends.  His health is good and he promises fair to become a centennarian.  It is a pleasure to see him on the street every day engaged in familiar, friendly conversation, cracking his old jokes and having a kind word for everybody.  And it is still more pleasant to notice the kind, friendly and almost filial affection the people of Fostoria, young and old, seem to entertain for him.  There is something besides wealth that creates happiness.  A man who has nothing but money is poor, indeed.

CHARLES FOSTER.

Was born on the old Crocker place, at his grandfather's house, in Seneca township, on the 12th day of April, 1828.  In 1854 he was married to Annie, a daugter of Judge Olmsted, of Fremont, Sandusky county, Ohio.  Their union was blessed with two daughters, Jessie and Annie.  He entered into business with his father when he was but a boy, and is still associated with, and is the new life of, the concern.
     In 1870 Mr. Foster was elected a member of the 42d congress, from the 10th district.  He was re-elected in 1872.  His attack upon the Sanborn contract and his conflict with General Butler in debate, brought him very popularly before the country.  He was re-elected in1874; and again in 1876.  He was nominated again in 1878, but the district having been changed and made to overwhelmingly Democratic, that he was defeated.  In October, 1879, he was elected governor of the state.  If, at the Chicago convention that nominated General Garfield

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for the presidency, Mr. Blaine had been nominated, Mr. Foster would, undoubtedly, have been nominated for vice-president.  The Republican party would thus have put into the field a ticket more formidable than that of Garfield and Arthur, to say the least of it.
     It is a fact worth recording that while the city of Tiffin is named after the first governor of Ohio, the city of Fostoria is named after the last governor of Ohio, and a native of old Seneca.  Excellent likenesses in fine steel engravings of both these illustrious gentlemen adorn the pages of this book.  Let me say, without vanity, that I am proud of the co-incident.  The like of this fact will never be written again.
     Tiffin is the only county seat in Ohio named after its first governor, and while this history of Seneca county is being written, a native of Seneca and one of its most honored sons is the chief executive of the state; presiding over three millions of freeman, forming a state whose resources for wealth and human happiness are inexhaustible; whose climate is unsurpassible; whose intelligence and system of education are the admiration of the age in which we live.

MARTIN KINGSEED.

     Among the distinguished business men of Fostoria is also my esteemed old friend, Martin, the subject of this sketch, and I am only conferring a great pleasure upon my self when writing a short story of his life.  We were boys, frequently meeting each other in Germany, and before  we were boys, frequently meeting each other in Germany, and before we had grown up to be men, found ourselves in the woods of Seneca county, where we have fought battles of life, each his own way, as best we could.  Here we have spent the morning, noon-tide and afternoon of our manhood days in friendship and mutual regard that grows warmer as the evening begins to draw long shadows on the wayside.
     Martin was about seventeen years old when his father settled in the woods of Seneca in 1834.  He took hold of the work necessary to open up a clearing and starting a home in the woods, with a will.  Being endowed by nature with a strong, healthy body and a head of his own, he soon made himself useful all around and worked at home until he was 25 years old.  After the death of his mother he started to work for Henry St. John, at a saw mill on the river.  Here he remained six years in succession.  In 1847 he came very near losing his life; a large log was being rolled into the mill; he fell in front of it, when the log rolled onto him from his feet to his breast and back again.  He was carried out of the mill, apparently lifeless, by John Kerr and Mr. McAllister, who happened to be near.  Mr. Kerr was a Thompsonian physician at that time, and applying his skill, restored his patient in a short time.

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This was on the 2d of January, and on the 6th of May following, he was found under another log at 1 o'clock A. M., which laid him up or some time, and the effects of which he fells to this day.  He quit a saw mill and looked for lighter work, being now disqualified to do hard work; he assisted in the survey of the railroad from Bellefontaine to Union City for nine months.
     On Sept. 17, 1850, he was married to Elmira Emily Noel (who was born June 19, 1826, in Frederick county, Maryland) and located in Tiffin, where he bought a house near the railroad, on Clay street.  Here he entered the store of John G. Gross as clerk, selling hardware and studying the laws of trade in that line for six years.  Then he traded his property in Tiffin to Mr. Gross for a stock of hardware he then had in Rome, and moved there in October, 1855.  His is now the oldest unchanged mercantile establishment in Fostoria.
     Martin was born Nov. 19, 1817.
     He is the father of eight children, four sons and four daughters, seven of whom are living.  Charles Edwin is traveling for Messrs. McIntosh, Good & Co., Cleveland, Ohio.  Francis Dorwin is clerk in his father's store.  Some of the daughters are keeping house for their father, and the younger children are going to school.  Mr. Kingseed lived very happily with his family until on the 7th day of February, 1877, when Mrs. Kingseed died after a short illness of a few days.  The oldest daughters are young ladies now and seek to make the life of their honored father as happy as it is in their power to do, but there is that vacant chair, and the absence of that mother's smile, which always cheered the whole household.
     During the twenty-five years that Mr. Kingseed has prosecuted his business here, Fostoria has made a great change and made more rapid progress than any other inland town in Ohio.
     Michael Noel, the father of Mrs. Kingseed, died Apr. 11, 1870, and Mr. Noel Apr. 17, 1878.
     In conclusion, I wish to add, that no citizen in Fostoria is more generally esteemed than Martin Kingseed.

RESIDENT LAWYERS IN FOSTORIA, BEING MEMBERS OF THE TIFFIN BAR.

JUNIUS V. JONES.

Was born Jan. 23, 1823, in Gallia county, Ohio.  His father moved with his family to Wood county, Ohio, in 1832, where Junius was raised to manhood.  In 1846 he came to Fostoria, where he held the office of justice of the peace fifteen years.  He read law and was admitted to

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practice in1868 in Tiffin, and opened an office in Fostoria.  He was also admitted to practice in the courts of the United States in 1878.
     He was married in 1846, and had seven children, six boys and one girl; all living.
     It seems that sometimes the muses take possession of the thoughts of the Squire, and in one of these spells the following poetical effusion of an Indian legend on the Maumee was produced.  I give it here with friend Jones' note:

                                     FOSTORIA, OHIO March 4, 1880.
DEAR JUDGE:  In reading this week's installment of your History of Seneca County, I found you had got General Wayne to Defiance, where, in fancy, I suggested the theme for my poem, written some years ago, entitled.

THE INDIAN MAIDEN.
------
A LEGEND.
By J. V. Jones
 

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     Squire Jones (as he is familiarly called) once said to the writer: "All the schooling I ever had was attending the school taught by the Hon. Warren P. Noble."

WILLIAM J. SCHAUFELBERGER.

Was born Jan. 29, 1853, at Fostoria, Ohio; graduated from Heidelberg college in the class of 1875; studied law in the office of Judge Seney; was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1877 and located here in January, 1878.

ALEXANDER BROWN.

(Brown & Guernsey) was born in Perry county, Ohio, May 27, 1832; admitted to the bar in 1864, located first at Perrysburg, Wood, county, Ohio, and then in Fostoria in the fall of 1872.

WILLIAM J. RIGBY.

(Rigby & Bever) was born at Fairfield county, Ohio, May 22, 1815; was admitted to the bar in 1860; located in Fostoria in 1867 and is at present the mayor of the city.

CHARLES GUERNSEY

(Brown & Guernsey) was born in Wood county, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1858; admitted to the bar July 11, 1879; located at Fostoria immediately thereafter.  On the 31st of January, 1880, he was married to Miss Mina G. Brown, of Fostoria.

J. M. BEVER

(Rigby & Bever) was born Dec. 9, 1853, in Eden township, in this county; graduated at Otterbin University of Westerville, Ohio; he was admitted to practice law Apr. 11, 1878, and immediately located in Fostoria.  He was married July 10, 1878, to Miss S. J. Rugg.

DAVID H. EVERITT

Was born in Franklin county, Ohio, Feb. 6, 1849; was admitted to the bar in October, 1871; located first in Kenton Ohio, then in Fostoria in 1874.  He was elected justice of the peace in 1878.

JOHN B. BARNES

Was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, June 20, 1846; admitted to the bar May 3, 1870; located first at Letonia, Columbiana county, Ohio, Dec. 1, 1870 and in Fostoria Oct. 18, 1877.

JOHN A. BRADNER

Was born at Niagara Falls, New York, Aug. 13, 1833.  He came to Ohio in 1849, and located in Fostoria in 1863.  He was admitted to the bar in 1879.  During the past twelve years he held the office of justice of the peace.

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DAVID HAYS

Was born Dec. 19, 1819, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania; admitted to the bar in 1860 and located in Fostoria in 1837.

FOSTORIA ACADEMY.

     This institution is in charge of the conference of the United Brethren in Christ, in northwestern Ohio.  At their conference, held in 1878, the subject of locating an academy somewhere in northwestern Ohio was suggested, and the Rev. Isaac Crouse a minister of the order, residing in Fostoria, urged the propriety of, and succeeded in having the Academy located at this place, on condition that Fostoria will subscribe and pay $20,000, or furnish suitable buildings and grounds for such purposes to the value of $20,000.  The people subscribed the required sum, Governor Foster assuming one-fifth of the whole subscription.  Thereupon the conference met and appointed the following boards, viz.:

TRUSTEES.

     President - Rev. L. Moore.
     Vice-President - Rev. D. R. Miller
     Secretary - Rev. Isaac Crouse.
     Rev. A. Rose, Rev. A Powell, Rev. S. J. Harbaugh, Governor Foster, M. Saltzman, J. M. Bever, R. C. Bennett, Jesse Bower and J. G. Oberholtzer.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

     Rev. A. Rose, Capt. F. R. Stewart, M. Saltzman, J. M. Bever and Jesse Bower.

BUILDING COMMITTEE

     Rev. A. Rose, Captain, F. R. Stewart, Rev. R. French, N. Saltzman and J. M. Bever.
     The architectural design of the academy is very creditable, in fact, beautiful, and a great accession to Fostoria, indeed.  The board of trustees, at their late meeting, commended the executive and building committees for their good management and economy.
     The school was begun in the fall of 1879, with about sixty students.  Pending the completion of the academy building, the executive committee rented the old Union school house, where their school was continued for one year.  The next session will open the academy august 31, 1880, and promises to be well attended.

FACULTY.

     Principal - Rev. W. T. Jackson, Ph. D. - Language and Higher Mathematics.
     History and English - E. L. Shuey, A. B.
     Science and Mathematics - Mrs. L. A. Macklin, B. S.
     Principal Commercial Department - Rev. I. Crouse.
     Vocal and Instrumental Music - A. W. Kelley, M. A.
     Librarian - E. L. Shuey, A. B.

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THE UNION SCHOOL BUILDING

Is a beauty in its appearance outside, situated on most eligible and delightful grounds, and the inside arrangement is said to be one of the best of any school house in northern Ohio.  The Union schools of Fostoria are under the care of an efficient board of directors and the superintendent is one of the distinguished educators of Ohio.

     The school grounds embrace five acres on the north side of High street, and were purchased at a cost of $7,500.  The building was put up at an expense of $22,500.  The heating apparatus and furniture cost about $5,000 - $35,000 in all.
     The following gentlemen constitute the present school board:
     President - R. C. Caples
     Secretary - Simpson JOnes
     Treasurer - John E. Wilkison
     William H. Grapes, A. S. Williams and J. F. Richart.

INSTRUCTORS.
 

SECOND PRIMARY

THE OPERA HOUSE.

In Fostoria adds very much to the appearance of the town and helps to give it the air of a young, growing city.  It was put up at a cost of $30,000.  Its large hall, 66x100 feet, is lit by gas.  The lower story is occupied by three splendid stores.  The second and third stories form the opera house proper.

Page 564 -
     Mr. John Andes, the owner and builder, is a native of Seigelbach, near Kaiserslautern, in the Palatinate of Germany, where he was born Aug. 14, 1835.  He came to Tiffin in 1852 and established himself in the carriage business in Fostoria, in 1860.  In 1862 he was married to Miss Philipina Reis.  He is a fair specimen of a self-made man.

OTHER INDUSTRIES OF FOSTORIA.

     Dry goods - Foster & Snyder, Weaver & Adams, L. J. Hissong, C. D. Scott & Co., B. F. Fosty.
     Clothing - John Waner, J. F. Ensminger
     Hardware - M. Kingseed, N. Poits & Co.  N. Ports & Co. *
     Stoves and tinware - F. R. Stewart, D. S. Boyd & Co., R. Alcott, Schatzell & Faulkhaber.
     Groceries and provisions - R. Crocker, N. Burtcher, James Quinn, S. Starn & Son, I. N. Mickey, John Lenhart, S. O. Slosser, G. A. Fall, D. M. Snyder, G. A. Shrey, M. E. Morgan, Wilson Brothers, Wm. Fisher, John Godfrey, Beamish & McCarthy, Weisbaugh & Guernsey, J. G. Strawman.
     Bakeries - G. A. Fall, James Quinn, Wm. Fisher.
     Drug stores - Eshelman & Harbaugh, Charles Hays & Co., Fritcher & Shaufelberger, Mussetter & Wolfe.
     There are also 12 saloons, 3 billiard rooms, 4 meat markets, 2 flouring mills, 2 saw mills, 2 planing mills, 1 spoke factory.
     Cunningham & Co. employ 25 men.
     The Fostoria Stave and Barrel Co. employ 35 men.
     Foundaries and machine works - Ports, Manecka & Co., T. B. Jacobs, Doe, Evenbeck  Co.
     Wagon and carriage works - B. M. Myers, John Andes, Wm. Mergunthaler, Billyard & Huth, Ernest & Dale, A. T. McDonel, Doke & Ersig.
     Fostoria Novelty Works - Tingle & Bower, proprietors.
     Cigar manufacturers - F. J. Kinnaman, Fred Schultz.
     Restaurants - Lou. Cunningham, F. H. Gibbons, R. Cooper.
     Dentists - Dr. C. E. Davis, Howell & O'Brien
     Banks - Foster & Co. (C. W. Foster, C. Foster, J. E. Wilkinson).
     Elevators - Foster, Olmsted & Co., Brown, Nichols & Co.)
     Livery stables - Daniel W. Musser, T. C. Heilman, S. J. Kintz.
     Hack lines - R. E. Smith, Doke & Ersig.
     Andes Opera House - F. D. Kingseed & Co., lessees; 750 seats; folding opera chairs; size of stage, 30x66 feet.
     Liberty Hall - Seats 400
     Stone quarries - Bradner & Williams, D. P. Lloyd
     Fire Department - C. E. Davis, chief engineer.
     Fostoria Tile Works - Overholt & Co., proprietors
     Jewelry stores - Smith & Schaufelberger, E. Fisher, M. Mueller, Samuel Ewing.
     Boots and shoes - Yunt & Norris, L. J. Hissong, Foster & Snyder, Weaver & adams, J. (. Albert, T. C. Simmons.
     There are also 8 millinery shops, 7 insurance agencies, 6 tailoring establishments, 1 marble works, 1 brass band, 1 company Light Guards, A. M. Dildine, captain.

-----
 * Sharon Wick's Note:   I am not sure where this goes or what it is supposed to replace.  It appeared to be a mistake and should be line 10 from the top.

Page 565 -

LODGES.

     Masonic, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, Grand Army of the Republic.

HOTELS.

     Hays House - W. H. Grapes, proprietor
     Fostoria House - Jacob Bick, proprietor
     Central Hotel - Monroe Isenhart, proprietor
     American House - Peter Simonis, proprietor
     Hale House - Randall Hale, proprietor

NEWSPAPERS.

     Fostoria Review, Republican - O. J. & J. P. DeWolf, proprietors
     Fostoria Democrat, Democratic - Frank Hays, proprietors.

CHURCHES

     M. E. Church - Rev. S. L. Beiler, pastor
     First Presbyterian - Rev. Joseph A. Hughes, pastor.
     St. Wendlinus, Catholic - Rev. M. Arnoldi, pastor.
     United Brethren - Rev. E. A. Starkey, pastor
     English Reformed - Rev. L. Casselman, pastor.
     German Lutheran - Rev. C. A. J. Cramer, pastor.
     Protestant Methodist - Rev. E. H. Scott, pastor.

FOSTORIA LODGE NUMBER 288, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS,

     First communication July 30th, 1856.  Charter members working under dispensation:

Page 566 -

     The lodge is in a flourishing condition, with a present membership of ninety-eight.
     The following is the calendar and list of present officers of teh lodge:

CALENDAR

     Stated communications in Masonic Hall on the first and third Mondays in each month, as follows:

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     P. - William H. H. Williams
     K. of R. and S. - Charles E. Ruben
     M. of E. - William D. Robbins
     M of F. - N. P. Robbins
     M. at A. - Peter Dennis
     I. G. - John True
     O. G. - T. L. Brown
     Trustees - John J. Worman, Alonzo Emerine, Frank Caples.
     Meeting nights Tuesday of each week.

FOSTORIA LODGE NUMBER 305, I. O. O. F.

     Instituted June 6th, 1856.  Number of charter members, five.
     Names of officers when instituted:

     P. G. - Samuel Gee
     N. G. - D. S. Luce
     V. G. - Simon Bricker
     Recording Secretary - O. Welsh
     Treasurer - Joseph Haines
     Present number of members (July 1st, 1880), 100.

     Names of present officers: 

     P. G. - Jno. Y. Calahan
     N. G. - L. J. Eshelman
     V. G. - D. Gelmore
     Recording Secretary - Daniel Hunsecker
     Per. Secretary - Martin Adams
     Treasurer - John Wagner

LOUDON ENCAMPMENT NUMBER 167.

     Instituted June 16th, 1873.  Charter members:
 

     The following officers were then installed:
     C. P. - S. E. Hale,
     S. W. - S. G. Malony,
     H. P. - Samuel Ewing,
     J. W. - Robert Adams,
     Scribe - J. Newhouse,
     Treasurer - J. Wiseman.

     Present officers:
     C. P. - D. W. Snyder,
     S. W. - L. J. Eshelman,
     H. P. - Martin Adams,
     J. W. - ________(blank)

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     Scribe - G. A. Knight
     Treasurer - John Wagner.

FOSTORIA COUNCIL NUMBER 68, ROYAL ARCANUN.

     Instituted March 29th, 1878.  Twenty-four charter members.

     First officers:
     Regent - George L. Hoege.
     Vice Regent - L. D. Mussetter.
     Past Regent - C. E. Davis.
     Orator - J. W. Schaufelberger.
     Collector - T. M. Garrison.
     Secretary - D. R. Stiner.
     Chaplain - A. T. McDonel
     Guide - L. G. Williams.
     Warden - D. Asire.
     Sentry - M. Smith.
     Trustees - J. A. Woolf, P. T. Norris, W. H. Bannister.
     Present membership, twenty-eight.
     Meets the first and third Wednesday evening of each month.

SENECA COUNCIL NUMBER 172, AMERICAN LEGION OF HONOR.

     Instituted April 27th, 1880, with twenty-two charter members.
     Following is a list of officers for present year:
     Commander - A. Weaver.
     Vice Commander - W. D. Robbins
     Secretary - J. T. Yunt.
     Past Commander - R. Alcott.
     Collector - T. M. Garrison.
     Orator - G. L. Hoege
     Chaplain - S. L. Beiler.
     Treasurer - T. S. Green.
     Guide - J. J. Breining.
     Warden - Daniel Hunsecker.
     Sentry - Randall Hale.
     Trustees - J. F. Richart, John Noble, John F. Heilman.
     Present membership, twenty-three.

     Among the German pioneers of Loudon were also

JACOB FRUTH.

     He was from Beindersheim, in the Palatinate, and settled here in 1833.  He died in 1872, at the age of eighty-two years.  He was a man highly esteemed for his good sense and good morals.

CHRISTIAN SCHLEMMER.

Was in the army of the great Napoleon.  He came to Ohio in 1832, and died here in 1874, at the age of eighty-four years.

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ABRAHAM PETER

Was born in 1786; located in London in 1840, and died here at the age of eighty years.

JACOB PETER.

Was also over eighty years of age when he died.

JOHN GEORGE FRUTH.

Was also one of the principal German settler, and sixty-eight years old when he died.

JACOB MERGENTHALER

Came here from Wurtenberg in 1833, and was high in the seventies when he died.

MELCHIOR HEISSERMAN

Also came in 1833 and lived to be seventy-eight years of age.

- END OF CHAPTER XXXVII - LOUDON TOWNSHIP -