SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP
Source: County of Williams, Ohio.
Historical & Biographical
1882
pg. 368

By Horace S. Knapp

ORGANIZATION.

     At a session of the Commissioners of Williams County, held at Defiance June 3, 1839, the following proceedings were had:  "Upon the petition of George Bible and others, the board order that there be a new township formed composed of the following-described territory, viz.:  All of original surveyed Township 7 north, of Range 2 east, and Fractional Township 8 north, of Range 2 east, to be known and distinguished by the name of Superior, and order the Auditor to give notice to the electors in said township to meet at the house of Jacob Sholl in said township on Saturday, June 22, 1839, and proceed according to law to choose the necessary officers to organize said township.

TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT.

     Election April 1, 1844 - Trustees, Adam Bechtol, James Allman and Daniel Scholl; Clerk, Thomas Miller; Constables, Henry Ferguson and Charles Duvall; Assessor, George Bible; Treasurer, George W. Bible.
     In 1846, David Scholl, James Allman and William Dunlap were elected Trustees; Thomas Miller, Clerk; George Bible, Treasurer, and Robert Ogle, Assessor.
     1847 - Trustees, Daniel Scholl, William Dunlap and Levi Colby; Clerk, Thomas Miller; Treasurer, George Bible, Assessor, Robert Ogle.
     1848 - Trustees, Daniel Scholl, William Dunlap and James Anspaugh; Clerk, Thomas Miller; Treasurer, George Bible, Assessor, Edgar Hubbard
     1849 - Trustees, William Dunlap, John Cameron and John Barcelow; Clerk, Levi Colby; Treasurer, George Bible; Assessor, Adam Bechtol.
     1850 - Trustees, William Dunlap, John Barcelow and John W. Brannon; Clerk, Levi Colby; Treasurer, George Bible; Assessor, Adam Bechtol.
     1851 - Trustees, William Dunlap, John Barcelow and John W. Brannon; Clerk, Levi Colby; Treasurer, George Bible; Assessor, William Dunlap.
     1852 - Trustees, William Dunlap, George W. Bible and George W. Brannon; Clerk, Levi Colby; Treasurer, George Bible.
     1853 - Same as preceding year, except James Kollar was elected Trustee in place of William Dunlap, and John G. DeWolf, Clerk, in place of Levi Colby.
     1854 - Trustees, Hiram Opdyke, George W. Bible and Richard Pew Clerk, Richard Simon; Treasurer, George Bible.
     1855 - Trustees, Hiram Opdyke, Joshua Schall and James Anspaugh; Clerk, Richard Simon; Treasurer, George Bible.
     1856 - Trustees, Hiram Opdyke, James Anspaugh and John C. Kollar; Clerk, Reason Spake; Treasurer, George Bible.
     1856 - Trustees, Hiram Opdyke, James Anspaugh and John C. Kollar; Clerk, Reason Spake; Treasurer, George Bible.
     1857 - All township officers re-elected.
     1858 - Trustees, James Anspaugh, Levi Canaga and Jacob Knepper; Clerk, Amos Briner; Treasurer, Amos Kint.
     1859 - Trustees, Jacob Knepper, William H. Scholl and William E. Page; Clerk, John W. Brannon.
     1860 - Trustees, Jacob Knepper, J. S. Beard and William H. Scholl; Clerk, Amos Briner
     1861 - Same officers re-elected.
     1862 - Trustees, William H. Scholl, I. L. Beard and C. Brannon; Clerk, B. L. Griffith.
     1863 - Trustees, William H. Scholl, B. Allman and H. J. Rhees; Clerk, Richard Sisson.
     1864 - Trustees, William H. Scholl, H. J. Rhees and Alfred Riley; Clerk, B. L. Griffith; Treasurer, Daniel Kint.
     1865 - Trustees, Christopher Brannon, George W. Bible and N. E. Fry; Clerk, B. L. Griffith.
     1866 - Trustees, G. W. Bible, D. M. Reeder and W. J. Reas; Clerk, B. F. Cannan; Treasurer, John C. Kollar.
     1867 - Trustees, G. W. Bible, D. M. Reeder and H. J. Reese, Clerk, B. L. Griffith; Treasurer, George Bible; Assessor, Robert Ogle.
     At the election April 6, 1868, the following township officers were elected namely:  Trustees, William Teats, George W. Bible and Jacob Knepper; Clerk, William H. Knepper; Treasurer, John C. Kollar; Assessor, John C. Brannon; Constables, John Clum, T. S. Brown. 
     At the election of 1869, the township made choice of, for Trustees:  Robert Ogle, H. J. Reese and G. W. Bible; for Clerk, A. M. Knepper, and for Treasurer, John C. Kollar
     1870 - Trustees, Solomon Myers, J. B. Grim and Elias Kine; Clerk, J. D. Kreibel; Treasurer, J. C. Kollar.  And from the last date forward until that which follows, no record exists.  The books are supposed to have been destroyed in some of several fires that visited Montpelier. 
     1881 - Trustees, G. W. Bible, Robert Ogle and William Knepper; Clerk, Judson Foust; Treasurer, John Allen.
     1882 - Trustees, G. W. Bible, Solomon Myers and J. D. Williams; Clerk, George Allen; Treasurer, John Allen.
     Names of those who voted in Superior Township at an election held November 18, 1840: George Wisman, Wesley Burgoyne and Asa U. Smith, Judges, and George Bible and Joseph H. White, Clerks.
     Names of electors - Henry Ferguson, Thomas Ogle, Joseph H. White, Asa U. Smith, George Bible, George Wisman, Jacob School, Charles Bible, Wesley Burgoyne and Philip Umbenhaur, 10 votes.
     At the October election, 1840, Superior Township cast 28 votes - 12 for Wilson Shannon for Governor, and 16 for Thomas Corwin, his Whig competitor.  Those who voted were:

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

     Following are the names of those who have served as Justices of the Peace of Superior Township and dates of their several commissions:

WHITE MALE ADULTS.

     Below will be found a list of white male inhabitants over the age of twenty-one years in the township of Superior, Williams County, Ohio, on the 1st day of May, 1843, as returned by George Bible, Township Assessor:

THE FIRST WHITE SETTLERS.

     The venerable widow of the late George Bible, now residing at Montpelier, at the advanced age of ninety-four years, says that when her husband came to the township, which was in about 1834, there were no white settlers in the township.  Her husband's land, on which he built his first cabin, was situated two and one-half miles southeast of Montpelier, and his son, George W. Bible, now occupies the old homestead.  The Indians had a large camp on the St. Joseph's, and within the  present corporation limits of Montpelier  The forests abounded with wild animals, among the most dreaded of which were bears and wolves, which would often kill and destroy domestic animals, but she never heard of a wolf making an attack upon persons, nor of a bear or deer, except when wounded by a shot from a hunter, and in all such instances the knife of the backwoodsman would soon terminate the conflict.  Mr. Bible is represented, by those who have recollections of him, as a remarkably good shot, who scarcely ever missed his mark.  One year, he had a contest with Frederick Miser, of Centre Township, as to which would kill the larger number of deer within a space of two months, the match resulting in Bible's killing ninety-nine and his opponent sixty-five.  Mr. B. was much fretted, it is said, because he failed to bring down one more deer, the task he had imposed upon himself at the outset being a round 100.
     According to Mrs. Loudon's best recollection, although the infirmities of age will not permit her to be positive, the second cabin was built by Robert McDaniels, the third by George Wisman, who settled in 1836, and whose land adjoined Mr. Bible's, and the fourth by Joseph Pugh, who bought land in the immediate neighborhood of those above named.  It was several years after Pugh came before a schoolhouse was built.  Charles Brundydge settled in Superior Township in December, 1839, and at that date he was the only settler in the township located on the bottom lands of the river.  In the township, and located on the uplands, were Robert Ogle, Horatio Clark, George Wisman and Joseph White.  The neighbors nearest to him were Mr. Bible and Mr. Ogle.  There was neither church nor school building in the township, and no blacksmith shop hearer than Williams Centre.

MONTPELIER.

     This is the only incorporated town in Superior Township.  The name is of French origin, and there are two noted places in the united States - one the capital of Vermont, and the other in Virginia, famous as the residence and burial place of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States; and it may be assumed as probable that it was from one or the other of these that the name of the capital town of Superior Township was suggested.
     The survey of the original town was made and platted by Thomas Ogle, May 25, 1845, and, after remaining only nominally a town during thirty years, it  has attained sufficient population and business in 1875 to render a municipal government necessary; and at the first election, held April 5 in that year, the following officers were chosen: Mayor J. D. Kriebel; Clerk, Jacob Leu; Treasurer, John Allen; Marshal, Jesse Blue.  The officers who attest the election of the above are:  F. L. Speaker, N. E. Fry and W. M. Gillis, Judges, and J. D. Kriebel and T. E. Lamb, Clerks.
     Election of 1876 - Clerk, Jacob Leu; Street Commissioner, Jesse Blue; Marshal, Eli Isenhart.  
     Election of 1877 - Mayor, Jacob Dorshimer; Clerk, Jacob Leu; Street Commissioner, Jesse Blue; Treasurer, John Allen.
     Election of 1878 - Clerk, Jacob Leu; Street Commissioner, J. J. Blue; Marshal, Jacob Hoffer.
     Election of 1879 - Mayor, Eli T. Wisman; Clerk, Jacob Leu; Treasurer, S. W. Mercer; Marshall, Eli Isenhart.
     Election of 1880 - Clerk, Jacob Leu; Street Commissioner, Daniel Blue. 
     Election of 1881 - Mayor, E. T. Wisman; Clerk, George Strayer; Treasurer, Jacob Leu; Marshal, D. M. Kent.
     Election of 1882 - Mayor, J. D. Kriebel; Clerk, F. M. Ford; Street Commissioner, Stephen Davis.
     So unimportant by the United States census takers had the town been considered that, since it was named, its population had always been merged in that of the township until 1880, when, for the first time in its history, it has an independent place in the United States Census figures,

Yours Truly, R. Gaudern

and an official return of 405 inhabitants.  It would not be exaggeration to state that, within two years after taking its first federal census, Montpelier has more than trebeled its population, and that its industrial wealth has fully kept pace with its increase in numbers.  To make proper estimate of the present number of its inhabitants, the candid investigator will make note of the fact that the floors above nearly every store in the town are occupied by families, while into many dwelling houses, that would only comfortably accommodate one family, are crowded two and sometime three.  Dwelling structures, which appear to be uninterrupted in progress, are occupied as soon as the walls are sufficiently dried out to make them safe places for habitation.  The history of no city or town in Northwestern Ohio or Northeastern Indiana furnishes a parallel to Montpelier since the date of entering upon a career of growth; and the new structures are of a substantial character.

EARLY MANUFACTURING.

     The development of Montpelier in manufacturing has also been remarkable.  It is found difficult to ascertain clearly the date of the establishment of the first industrial shop in the town; but when Louis Wingert located in the place in 1865, and who, from a condition of penury, has built up a moderate fortune in manufacturing, there were the following:  One steam saw-mill, one grist-mill operated by water-power, one ashery, two blacksmith shops, one shoe, one furniture and one wagon shop.  There had been a tannery built as early as 1848, but it had been abandoned.  Mr. Loudon says that in 1844, the places where Montpelier now is contained only a saw-mill operated by water-power, and owned by Tucker & Hueston; and this one mill was then the only manufacturing establishment in the town.

FIRST MERCHANTS.

     Upon some points there exists considerable diversity of opinion, but by common consent it is conceded that C. W. Mallery opened the first general merchandise store of goods in the place now known as Montpelier, in 1845.  Following him in the trade were Brown & Crissey and James T. Platt.  Prior, however, to Mr. Mallory's engagement in business, Jacob Snyder and William Crissey had a small store and ashery west of town, on the farm now occupied by Charles Brundydge and his son.  In its day, this place was known as "Tuckertown."  Mr. Mallory continued business until 1852, when he sold at auction his merchandise stock, and now resides near Bryan.  He was a pioneer, having located in Superior Township in 1841.

BUSINESS RESOURCES OF 1882

     Two grist and one saw mill; one stave, one oar and one wheelbarrow factory; one foundry and machine shop; one ashery; one cabinet factory and undertaker; one merchant tailor; one machine and repair shop; a printing office; three boot and shoe shops; two wagon shops; one grain elevator, having a storage capacity of 10,000 bushels; one lumber yard, and two establishments that manufacture copper, sheet iron, tinware and roofing.  Three dry goods and general merchandise stores; three grocery and provision, two drug, two jewelry, one ready-made clothing and three millinery stores; one bank; one photograph gallery; one agricultural machine establishment; two hotels and several boarding houses; four physicians, one lawyer and two dentists.

WABASH, ST. LOUIS & PACIFIC RAILWAY.

     It is obvious to all interested, that the extraordinary commercial advancement of Montpelier dates from the opening of the Detroit Division of this road, which was opened for passenger and freight traffic in August, 1881.  It at once opened a market for the surplus farm and garden productions of the rich agricultural region of which Montpelier is the center, and by the increased value it has given to all agricultural productions by establishing a new market, it has conferred as substantial benefits upon the farmer as it has upon the manufacturer and the merchant.  As a grain, wool and live-stock market, and counting the value of merchandise received and of manufactured goods shipped, it is now the most important town on the line of the Detroit Division of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway, Butler possibly excepted.

ADDITIONS.

     Anticipating that it might and would become a town of importance, sanguine people made additions to the original plat as follows:
     South Montpelier,
     Leonard Merry and Samuel S. Bryant, April 18, 1851;
     Bechtol's Addition, August 1, 1872;
     Snyder's Addition, December, 26, 1872;
     Kriebel's First Addition, July 18, 1873;
     Snyder's Second Addition, July 21, 1873;
     Kriebel's Second Addition, August 2, 1876;
     Daniel's and Snyder's Addition, November 16, 1877;
     Joseph Deibly and others, November 6, 1877;
     Harrison Louden's First Addition, January 11, 1881;
     Harrison Louden's Second Addition, February 14, 1881;
     J. M Snyder's three Additions, June 20, 1881;
     Joy and Nelson's, November 26, 1881; and the founder of the town, although many years his grave with nearly all his cotemporaries, could scarcely have realized the results now witnessed in the marvelous growth of their work.

ROADS AND BRIDGES.

     Within the corporation are four substantial bridges, one of iron, and all above high-water mark.  For considerable distances each side of some of these, roadways are made of a maximum height of from ten to twelve feet above the bottom surface, and about three feet above high-water mark.  the only objection to these pikes is, that they are too narrow, not being of sufficient width to permit the passing of teams, though turn-outs are made at short distances.  This objection, however, will doubtless soon be removed.  The main roads communicating with the country are in better condition than the average roads upon which other towns in this section of Ohio depend for cheap and easy communication with the farmers who seek their places as markets.

WATER SUPPLY.

     The water of the wells of Montpelier is of the purest quality, and apparently inexhaustible; supplies are obtained at a depth of from twelve to fifteen feet below the surface.  Upon the banks of the St. Joseph and Cranberry are several springs that have never been known to fail in seasons of the greatest drought to yield abundantly, and their waters are of nearly even temperature during all seasons.

TILE AND SEWERAGE FACILITIES.

     The town is situated upon as beautiful banks of the St. Joseph as may be found in all the course of that delightful and historical stream from its source to the place where it loses its name and mingles its waters with those of the St. Mary's at Fort Wayne.  for health as well as for business, no town or city could have been more favorably chosen, by reason of its having been so highly favored by nature.  No town in the county is so advantageously located for purposes of cheap and thorough sewerage and drainage, the river and Cranberry Creek affording for these  essential purposes unsurpassed facilities.  There is no cellar in the corporation limits, and for any considerable distances beyond them, that after a judicious system of sewerage is perfected would not be as dry as the floors above them, and no street or garden would ever be deluged except in cases of extraordinary storms.

AGRICULTURAL WEALTH.

     A large area of country extending on the north a considerable distance beyond the State line, and on the west embracing some sections of Indiana, find their natural and best market at Montpelier, and the region, naturally making choice of this town as a market, is one not yet used for purposes of tillage by reason of the timber wealth that occupies the soil; but the forests are rapidly disappearing, and new farms continually being opened.  As a class, the farmers of the region that make Montpelier that market are intelligent and enterprising, and apply the best approved methods of culture.

EARLY PHYSICIANS.

     It was many years after white settlers appeared before a physician located in the township.  In cases of emergency, Dr. Jonas Colby, of Defiance, or Dr. Thomas Kent or Dr. John Paul, of La Fayette, would be summoned.  Dr. A. L. Snyder, now of Bryan, commenced medical practice in Montpelier in June, 1854, and his immediate predecessor in the practice there, at that time, were, in order of time, Drs. Levi Colby, Draper, De Wolf, A. P. Meng and Barkdol; but excepting Dr. Colby, the stay of all these was brief.  Then followed, in July, 1859, Dr. Isaiah M. Snyder, when the two physicians of the same name, though not united by kindred ties, formed in partnership, which continued until the removal of the senior partner to Bryan.  There are now five physicians in the place - Drs. I. M. Snyder, S. W. Mercer, Blair Hagerty, J. W. Williams and J. W. Starr.

LAWYERS.

     It is only within about eighteen months that law offices were opened in Montpelier - the first by George Strayer, who was soon followed by Col. W. O. Johnston, the first now being Prosecuting Attorney of the county, and the latter now Mayor of Bryan.  Recently, John B. White removed to Montpelier from Bryan, and commenced law practice.  Thus far, there has not been sufficient litigation to sustain a lawyer at Montpelier.

THE ST. JOSEPH AS A COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY.

     Although a little outside the record, it may not be out of place here to recur to the fact that these great interior States, from 1787 down to the dates of their several admissions into the Union, were under a common Territorial Government, under an ordinance of Congress, which was the supreme law for the whole territory ceded by Virginia.  The last clause in the ordinance of 1787, Article III, reads as follows:

     The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying-places between the same, shall be common highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said territory as to the citizens of the United States, and those of any other States that may be admitted into the confederacy, without any tax, impost or duty therefor.

     Though this clause in the ordinance mentioned might appear to have no relevancy in these pages, yet it has in this:  That the waters of the St. Joseph were included among the rivers leading into the St. Lawrence, and made "a common highway," and under its terms even mill-dams could not have been constructed, had they been objected to as interfering with the free navigation of pirogues or flat-boats; but the early settlers on the river, while they availed themselves of the use of its navigable waters to float down to Fort Wayne their peltries and furs, and obtain in return necessary household goods for family use, did not for many years, object to the construction of mill-dams, because the mills conferred upon them blessing that overshadowed all damage.  The nearest mills at which the early settlers of Superior Township could be accommodated were distant and inconvenient of access - either on the River Raisin, Mich., Brunersburgh, on Bean Creek, near Defiance, or at Fort Wayne; hence, every possible encouragement was offered those who would engage in mill enterprises by use of the St. Joseph, although, in low stages of water, they did seriously interfere with the movement of water craft.  It may be added here that the river, from its navigable source to Montpelier, has been of as much importance to the town as now.  Without its use, the large manufacturing establishments would find it difficult and expensive to obtain the raw material necessary to keep their works in motion; but now, timber in abundance is floated down at cheap rates, and in quantities ample to meet the demands of the mills; thus, by obtaining cheap raw material, and having convenient facilities for shipment of their mill products, the Montpelier manufacturers possess unusual advantages.

THE SCHOOLS.

     The first schoolhouse was of logs, built in 1841, and known as the "Bible Schoolhouse," and located near the east line of the township, on George Wiseman's farm.  The second was built in 1845, and situated near the central part of the township; the walls of this were also of logs, and in the midst of the place known as the Scholl settlement.

SCHOOLS AT MONTPELIER

     During two or three months of the summer of 1849, a young woman taught a school of youths in a shanty, and this was the first school undertaking on the ground where Montpelier is now located, according to the recollection of the earliest settlers.  Jacob Leu, merchant, and Dr. Mercer, a practicing physician, both of whom located in Montpelier in 1863, and both of whom have honorably served as members of the Board of Education, state that when they made their first appearance in the town there was only one schoolhouse, kept in a room 24x30 feet, by a Miss Morris, and that she had ample room for more pupils.  The old schoolhouse was purchased jointly by the township and town, as a place for holding township and town elections and official meetings, and removed to the more central place in the town, where it now stands.  In 1874, a new house, about 30x40 feet, was built, having two stories, and a school-room on each floor.  Mr. Collister, a young lawyer, had management of this school, but only one of the school rooms was required to accommodate himself and pupils.  In the years 1875 to 1878, inclusive, W. Dustin had management, and one assistant, and both floors were occupied.  In 1878 and 1879, H. H. Calvin, now a lawyer in Bryan, was Superintendent and graded the schools, and in 1879 and 1880, E. E. Bechtol, now Clerk of the District and Common Pleas Courts, had superintendence.  Population had so increased that, in 1881, it became necessary to erect another and larger building, and W. A. Saunders was made Superintendent and Principal.  Those interested believe him an able educator, and he has been fortunate in securing a competent corps of teachers.

CHURCHES IN THEIR TOWNSHIP AND TOWN.

     There are nine church buildings in the township, three of which are in Montpelier.  The first regular house of worship was built in 1849, known as the Eagle Creek Church, and the denomination that built it were Methodist Episcopalians.  The walls of the building were of hewn logs, and its location near the northwest corner of the township.
     The second was built by the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and situated two miles north of the south line of the township, and one mile from the east line.  The house was a frame, and built in 1850, its dimensions being 30x50 feet.  The location is near the center of what is known as the Brannon settlement.  In 1873, the congregation not having adequate seating room, built another and larger one upon ground nearly adjacent, and made sale of the vacated building to parties who removed it.  The grounds upon which both buildings were placed donated by James Martin, who also gave a liberal quantity of land for a graveyard, in which his own body, after his decease, was buried.  The last building cost $2,000, and church is known as "Bethesda."
     The Disciple Church, on the south line of the township, and one mile west of the east line, was built in 1850.
     Union Chapel is situated two miles north of the south line, and one and three fourths miles of the west line of the township.  Denomination, Untied Brethren.
     The Lutheran Reformed, or Zion's Church, situated about one and a half miles from the west line of the township, was built in a year not  ascertained; but this and the Disciple are the only congregations that have church edifices constructed of brick.
     The German Lutheran, in Montpelier, was built in 1880, at a cost of $1,700.
     The United Brethren Church, at Montpelier, was built about 1869, according to the memory of some of the members  The United Brethren Church, on the southwest line of the township, has a large congregation and well-attended Sunday school.
     The Methodist Episcopalians, at Montpelier, have a commodious church building, and a Sunday school that is held regularly every Sunday.
     Much difficulty was encountered in obtaining the statistics of the churches of the township and town, arising chiefly from the fact that there are no resident pastors of any of them as yet, and, in most cases, official records are utterly unattainable.  The time in doubtless near at hand when all the above churches will have resident ministers.

MORAL AND BENEVOLENT AGENCIES.

     In addition to her churches and efficient school system, Montpelier has a large force of Good Templars, who are active workers, and the Masons and Odd fellows have each completed arrangements for the organization of lodges representing their respective orders.  Louden Post of the G. A. R. has very recently been established, but promises to become a strong organization.

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