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Chapter XXVI.
pg. 264
HISTORY OF
PLEASANT
TOWNSHIP
OF the early organization of this
township it appears that no written records are preserved,
but in common with many other of the county's civil
divisions, the early records have been neglected and allowed
to become destroyed or lost.
The township occupies a position in the extreme
southwestern part of the county and its territory was
formerly embraced within Flat Rock. The earliest
settlers in this locality were George A. Hofricker, Henry
Saur, Frederick Loesch, George Dirr, Andrew Gardner and
Peter Grimm, who were here in the year 1836.
They following year, 1837, there were others, some of whom
can be recalled. They were John P. Hornung, George
A. Young, Adam Minsell, John Friberger and Paul
Renolet. From this time down to 1844 there was
Casper Mangas and his sons Peter, Jacob and
Henry; Paul Eding
[pg. 265]
and his sons Gerhart (Jared)
and "Harmon; Theobod Bolley, George and Daniel
Wolfe, John Bates, John Helrich, Stephen Byal, John Wilhelm,
Daniel Desgranges, Frederick Martz, James Shasteen (the
first justice of the peace). Henry Schall and
John Diemer, all heads of families, with exception of
the sons of Magas and Eding. About 1840
Mr. Easterbrook, an Englishman, taught the first
school in the settlement and continued three or four winter
terms of three months each. While thus engaged he
wrote a pamphlet biography of his life, styling
himself David Crocket second. Among other
things it contained reminiscences of his teaching among the
"benighted beings," as he styled them of the wilds of Henry
county. James E. Scofield, the writer hereof,
followed him as teacher of the same school in 1844-5, two
winter terms, of three months each, and remembers many of
the inhabitants of that time, together with many of his
pupils, including his wife, then a school girl ten years his
junior. Here may be given the names of the younger
heads of families, some of whom have married daughters of
the first settlers: John Hofrieter, Joseph Schneider
(a shoemaker), Henry Dirr, George Dirr, John Bawman,
Charles Kesselmeyer (a wagon maker), and perhaps other
names not remembered. The following are names of
remembered pupils, now old men and women, having well
improved farms and families of grown up children, some of
whom are settled for themselves on farms and others in
villages and cities, in business; George N. Wolf, Harmon
Eding, Henry Grimm, Peter Grimm (deceased, William
Saur, John Loesch, Henry Loesch, Meni Loesch, Adam Loesch
(deceased, Andrew Loesch, Margaret Saur, Caroline
Wolf, Elizabeth Wolf, Daniel Wolf, Phillip Dorider, John M.
Young, Elizabeth Grimm (deceased), Henry Bates
(deceased), Paul Heisch and others perhaps whose
names are not remembered, children then between the ages of
four and twenty years, and attending school.
It is supposed this township was detached from Flat
Rock in the year 1843. It was then a howling
wilderness of water, frogs, wolves, bear, deer, turkeys,
coon and other animals of various kinds, all of which have
no disappeared, and this vast wilderness, by the energy of
its inhabitants, made to blossom like the rose. The
records of Flat Rock township show names of heads of
families residing in town three, north of range six, east,
now Pleasant township, then attached to Flat Rock.
Their children, that is, of the families, enumerated for the
public schools in the year 1838, were as follows:
Joseph Waddel, 1 male; Casper Mangas, 4 males;
Peter Hornung, 1 male and 1 female; Peter Hornung, jr.,
1 female: - March, 4 males; G. A. Hofrickter,
2 males, 1 female; George Dirr, 1 female; Peter
Grimm, 2 males, 1 female; Andrew Gardner, 2
males, 5 females; John Friberger, 1 male, 4 females;
David Dorider, 2 males, 2 females; John Bates, 2
males, 1 female - Helrich, 1 male, 1 female; in all
22 males and 19 females; total 41 children between the ages
of four and twenty years.
In the four original surveyed townships, three and four
north of ranges six
[pg. 266]
and seven, Flat Rock, Pleasant, Marion
and Monroe, all these included in Flat Rock, contained 56
male and 51 female school children; total 107. None of
these children were then enumerated in three and four, north
of range 7 east, now Marion and Monroe. After the
detachment of Pleasant and Marion form Flat Rock, Marion
remained in Pleasant for a time (from recollection of the
oldest inhabitants). It is known that James
Shasteen was the first justice of the peace and
officiated as such in 1844. Who were the first
trustees and clerk is not certainly known, but it is
supposed that Henry Schall was first clerk, and
continued for several terms. A few years later
Charles Hornung was clerk, and also justice of the peace
for thirty-nine years in succession. It is also
supposed that Theobold Bolley was first treasurer.
The writer well remembers that he was treasurer in 1844-5,
from the fact of drawing his wages as school teacher from
him.
The village of New Bavaria was known by that name from
the name of a post-office situated on the Ridge road
as early as 1844-5. Charles Hornung was
postmaster, who has been continued since, with the exception
of one year (1860), when he acted with the Republicans in
the Lincoln and Hamlin campaign of that year,
for which he was beheaded, and Henry Schall appointed
to fill the vacancy. Immediately after Mr. Lincoln's
inauguration Mr. Hornung was reinstated and has been
continued since.
New Bavaria was surveyed and platted in the year 1882,
a short distance west of the old post-office site, at the
crossing of the Ridge road and the Toledo, St. Louis and
Kansas City Railroad, and estimated to contain about one
hundred inhabitants. This railroad gives it an outlet
for the products of an excellent farming country surrounding
it. Messrs. Charles Hornung & Sons, for a
number of years have been engaged in merchandising, together
with farming and stock raising. Recently Charles
Hornung has retired form the mercantile business,
leaving that branch with his sons, Jacob and John H.,
but attends to his farm and stock, of which he has a find
herd. Jacob Hornung is also engaged in
extensive manufacturing, using seam power. He
manufactures heading, hoops, lumber and staves, for which he
finds a ready market. The firm of the store have a
warehouse connection, and buy all kinds of produce.
This makes a home market for the products of the farms in
the vicinity. J. Hammerer is engaged in the
manufacture and repair of boots and shoes. About two
miles south, on the same railroad, is located Pleasant Bend,
a station established at or about 1879, at the time of the
completion of said railroad, with a post office of that
name. Jacob J. Fraker is the postmaster.
The village was surveyed and platted in 1882. It is
estimated to contain about one hundred inhabitants.
Jacob J. Fraker, in connection with the post-office, is
dealer in general merchandise and grain, also all kinds of
country produce. Being only a short distance from New
Bavaria, the trade, from necessity, is divided, both places
doing a thriving business, and each having the trade of an
[pg. 267a]
CHAS. HORNUNG
[pg. 267]
excellent farming community. J. W.
Jones & Co., general merchandisers, together with
factory (steam power), manufacture lumber, hoop, and
heading. The village contains two saw-mills, owned by
Philip Burrel and William Martz, both doing a
thriving business, and will, no doubt, so long as the timber
lasts. There are no churches in either of these
villages, but in the vicinity near, erected before their
existence. The German Methodist, a fine, roomy frame
building, situated a short distance north of Pleasant Bend
and northwest of New Bavaria, near to both places, and well
attended. The German Reformed, a larger, more
expensive and commodious brick building, is located on the
Ridge wagon road, but one mile west of New Bavaria. It
is accessible from both villages and vicinity. It has
a large membership and is well attended. It has
mounted in its belfry a large, expensive bell of modern
manufacture.
Nicholas Laubenthal, the present clerk of the
township, lives about two miles east from New Bavaria, along
the Ridge wagon road. He is engaged in merchandising
and the sale of agricultural machinery and wagons; also, he
is engaged in farming and saw-milling, - the latter when
water is plenty, which is not in good supply only part of
the year. A little farther east of him is now being
erected a Catholic church edifice, of brick, at an estimated
cost of twenty-four thousand dollars. This building is
to replace the old one destroyed by fire some time ago.
The society have a large membership, many of whom come form
a long distance.
Peter Mangus, one of the
foremost farmers and stock dealers of the township,
commenced business for himself about the year 1844; then a
poor young man without any capital except his hands and
energy. Now he has one of the finest of farms, of
about one hundred and eighty acres, with good buildings and
all necessary implements for modern farming; besides this he
has other wild lands. In about 1851-2 he was united in
marriage with Miss Sarah Jackman. They have
raised a large family of boys, who have left the parental
roof, except the three younger ones, whose ages range from
fourteen to eighteen years, and are yet under the care of
kind and indulgent parents. The same may be said of
Henry Dirr and family. These gentlemen and the
writer were much together in the early days of settlement of
this township. Much might be said of many of later
date.
Pleasant township is traversed from northwest to
southeast by a beautiful ridge, which enters on the west
line of section seven, one and a half miles south of the
northwest corner; thence passing through the central part
through sections seven to seventeen, part of sixteen,
through twenty-one and twenty-two, and corners of
twenty-three and twenty-seven, through twenty-six and
twenty-five, where it passes out some distance north of
southeast corner into Marion township. At a very early
time there was a wagon road survey along this ridge for
ingress and egress, which extended from Defiance and
Independence, the latter a small village four miles east of
Defiance, - to Maderia, in Putnam
[pg. 268]
county, where was erected
a steam flouring-mill. Maderia, like Independence, is
among the things of the past. Settlement was first
made along the ridge. From this ridge and land
immediately descends into lowlands on either side, which is
of very rich soil. The ridge was crossed in many
places by swales and rivulets which are now made into
artificial creeks, thereby making an excellent drainage
outlet, thus rendering available an immense quantity of as
good farming land as is in this or any other State.
Along this road the very first settlements were made, as the
vicinity afforded very passable roads. The land had
also dry places enough for immediate farming, as fast as the
woods land had also dry places enough for immediate farming,
as fast as the woods could be cleared away, thereby giving
the settler an early crop.
HOLEGATE
This village is
situated in the northeast portion of the township, the
corporation line being on the township line between the
townships of Pleasant and Flat Rock, in sections one and
two, at the junction of the Baltimore and Ohio, and Toledo,
St. Louis and Kansas City Railroads, and crossed by the
Napoleon and Kalida Pike, a wagon road much used for many
years before Holgate was known. The village having six
directions for ingress and egress, - four by rail and two
wagon roads, makes it a desirable place for business.
It contains about thirteen hundred inhabitants, including
about three hundred school youth between the ages of six and
twenty-one years, within the school limits, which includes
something more than the corporate limits of Holgate.
It has also a large and commodious school-house, brick
structure, which is presided over by Professor William E.
Decker (editor of the Holgate Times), as
principal, together with his assistant, Miss Tillie Eager.
This school has a large attendance.
Andrew J. Weaver commenced general merchandising
here in the autumn of 1873, at the time of completion of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and layout and platting the
place. He has recently retired from business on
account of failing health, and is now erecting a fine
residence. The present business houses are those of
E. W. Poe & Co., general merchandising; Daniel
Fribley, general groceries, flour and feed;
Valentine, Kimmick and Frederick Spicer, boots
and shoes, connected with making and repairing; B. W.
Justice and Ed Swartout, barbers and hair
dressers; Isaac Sadesky, general clothing; - Roller,
tin and hardware; Newton S. Cole, General hardware,
including stoves, farming utensils a wagon, buggies and
general farming machinery of all kinds. He commenced
there in the spring of 8174, and is now erecting a large and
commodious building of brick, for the accommodation of his
extensive and increasing business. Henry H. Fast,
general hardware, farming utensils, machinery, etc. He
has only been in the business about four years, but has
recently erected a fine residence. L. Gillet,
general merchandise; Henry Voigt, meat market; F.
H. Voigt, general druggist and pharmacist. In
con-
[pg. 269]
nection with his drugs he keeps clocks, watches and
jewelry. L. M. Turney, general druggist and
pharacist; William S. Schuyler, general
merchandise in two separate buildings; Joseph Voigt,
furniture and undertaking; physicians, Dr. J. Townsend,
J. C. Becker, J. B. Archer, and James M. Stout;
Brayer Brothers, manufacturers of staves and
heading; Shelly Brothers, manufacture staves and hoops;
Jacob Laubenthal, saw and planning mill, and sash the
door factory: Gates, saw-mill, sawing only
sycamore for tobacco boxes; G. W. Walker,
general saw mill; E. L. Hartman, flouring mill;
William Kaufman, postmaster and proprietor of the
Kaufmanville portion of the city, originally known as an
ashery. In connection with his business as postmaster
he manufactures black salts. F. Buchenburg,
merchant tailor and ready made clothing; Jesse Ware
blacksmith; Harman Binger, blacksmith; Mrs. Harris,
milliner; Mrs. Mangas, milliner; Christ
Brickle and Hartwick, wagon-makers and
blacksmithing; J. M. McEwing, groceries; H.
D. Tripp, bakery and canned goods; Frank Edwards,
groceries; William Edwards, dentist; E.
E. Nothstine, Photographer. The present officers of
the corporation are as follows: Dr. James M. Stout,
mayor,; Ed. Swartout, marshal; B. T. Burrin,
William Ritz, Henry Bortz, Valentine Kimmick, Henry Meyer
and Jacob Laubenthal, councilman; William E.
Decker, clerk. The latter person, William E.
Decker, is editor of the Holgate Times, published
weekly.
The village has five livery stables and seven saloons;
E. Minsor is a paperhanger and painter. There
are two hotels, the Holgate House, L. Heacock,
proprietor, and the Forest House, S. Margrat,
proprietor; other business interests are, E. B. Linde,
dealer in organs and pianos; G. Zachreck, carpenter,
building and general contractor; William Retz, Chrisitan
Stauber and Phillip Fahrer, general carpenters
and builders; Lot Barter and Izadon Hurr,
masons and plasterers.
Hogate was surveyed and platted in the year 1873.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was completed in the same
year. The Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City Railroad,
built as a narrow gauge in 1880, but changed to standard in
1887. George W. Edwards, proprietor of one of
the liveries with his father (now deceased) settled near the
vicinity about 1836, and has resided here ever since.
The father was known as "Edwards, the bear hunter of Henry
county." Mrs. Edwards is a daughter of
Michael Hill (deceased), a settler of about the same
time, and who opened up a farm on the banks of Turkey Foot
Creek, northeast of Holgate. The writer well remembers
these families as they obtained their mail as late as 1846
at Florida, he being a clerk in the post-office and store of
that village at that time, and later was postmaster and
proprietor of a store; he also surveyed the road along
Turkey Foot Creek, through this settlement.
The progress of opening up this wilderness was, of
necessity, slow and tedious, taking many years. After
Napoleon, the beautiful county-seat, loomed
[pg. 270]
up to pretentious proportions, equal to or in excess of
Florida, this settlement, with its increasing numbers, used
Napoleon for mail and other supplies, therefore, the
acquaintance became limited, and finally ceased almost
entirely. The first settlers of Pleasant township in
1836, were of foreign birth, mostly from Bavaria, Germany,
and some from Baden, and later from France. From these
parents the present population. American born are
descendants, and are in active business, although many of
the parents are yet living. Since the early settlement
many relatives and their acquaintances have immigrated here,
and settled the vacant lands in this and adjoining
townships. They show much energy, and are law-abiding,
industrious citizens of which any township or county may
feel proud. They speak the English language equal with
any other American citizen, but retain their own, which is
handed down to their offspring. Their native tongue is
taught in their churches and Sunday-schools, and they are
also taught to read and write their own language, which is
invariable in religious worship of all denominations.
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