TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
pg. 115

     Blanchard township was organized in 1833, the year efore Putnam county was organized, and at that time included the territory now in Van Buren, Riley, Blanchard and Richland townships.  Richland township and the south tier of sections of Riley township were detached from Putnam county in 1848 and added to Allen county.  When Blanchard township was organized, in 1833, it was a part of Williams county, and the county seat was then located at Fort Defiance.  The order creating the township is found in the commissioners' records of Williams county.
     As far as known, there were only eight voters in the township at the time it began its career, although after the organization of the township the settlers began to come in rapidly.  Otho Crawfis and his wife, Sarah Agner,  had the honor of being the first settlers in this extensive township.  They were natives of Fairfield county, Ohio, and settled in Putnam county on Oct. 17, 1831.  The year following, came Samuel Hall, Joseph Hickerson and H. M. Crawfis.  In 1833 the population was increased by the families of Abraham Hardin, Hezekiah Bonham, William Prichett, Calvin and Alexander Morehead.  The year 1834 saw a still larger number of families casting their fortunes with the pioneers of this township.  In this eyar came William Patrick, Henry Pope, Joseph Wade, Samuel Hickerson, Joseph Bowen, George Shoemaker, Thomas McClure, Andrew McClure and Charles Guysinger.  The following year brught in the families of George Bacon, Azariah Smith and John Stewart.
     Unfortunately, the early records of Blanchard township were burned many years ago and definite data on its early history is hard to obtain.  It is known that the first election was held at the home of Otho W. Crawfis, Sr., and that the following officers were elected:  Samuel Hall, Abraham Hardin and Otho W. Crawfis, Sr., trustees; Joseph Hickerson, clerk; Otho W. Crawfis, Sr., justice of the peace.  Hickerson was selected by the voters to take the election returns to Defiance, and, while in the county seat, he was sworn in as clerk.  Upon his return he swore the other officers in and then the new county was ready for business.
     An interesting story is told of Crawfis, who had been elected justice of the peace, and the story has the unusual advantage of being true.  When he received his commission as justice of the peace for Blanchard township, Williams county, from Defiance, signed by Governor Lucas, he returned it, thinking that he lived in Putnam county.  Within a short time the commission was returned to him with the official information that it was correct and that Putnam county had not yet been formally organized.

FIRST EVENTS

     Rev. Elam Day, a Methodist, preached the first sermon in the township, at the home of Samuel Hall, of the fall of 1832.  Martin Hickerson, born in 1833, a son of Joseph Hickerson, was the first white child born in the township.  The first death was that of a Miss Killpatrick, and it occurred the same year.  The year 1833 also witnessed the first marriage, that of Samuel Myers and Margaret Hardin, the wedding taking place on Christmas day.  The first road was the Findlay-Defiance road, and was surveyed through the township in the early part of the thirties.
     Gilboa, the first town, was laid out in 1837 by Elisha Stout, who also built the first grist-mill in the township.  The first election for township trustees was held in Gilboa, Nov. 19, 1852.  Wolves were plentiful in this part of the county, also deer, wild turkeys and other game could be seen.  The first school in the township was taught by James Wade.  The schoolhouse was built of logs, with hewed benches for seats and wide boards nailed against the wall for writing desks.  It was heated by a fireplace made of mortar and sticks.  Reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic were the only branches taught.  Mr. Wade was followed, in order, by Eliza Emmons, Emeline Hubbard, William Pierman, Mrs. Susan McClish, Mary Cartwright, James Agner, Lydia Shelby, Jane McDowell, Luella Agner, Laura Higginbothan and Nettie Diviney.

PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.

     Justice of the peace, A. V. Logan, of Gilboa; trustees, Hugh Harris and L. A. Pitney, of Gilboa and John Crawfis, of Leipsic; clerk, W. H. Tobias, of Gilboa; treasurer, W. B. Bierhart, of Gilboa; constables, Henry Bowman and Richard McClure, of Gilboa.

GILBOA

     Gilboa, as was stated before, was laid out in 1837.  Nelson McCallister built the first frame house in the village, but it was only a short time until the town began to grow.  About the year 1839, a tavern was opened by Benjamin Stewart and Edward Mercer started a general store.  Blacksmiths, mechanics and men of different trades began to settle here and it became a thriving village.
     It is characteristic that Gilboa had the most rapid growth of any town in the county.  From 1840 to the early fifties it was classed as the most

M'CULLOUGHVILLE

     McCulloughville, located on the Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western railroad, was platted in 1888 by L. E. Holtz, civil engineer, for D. U. McCullough.  This town was the site of Crawfis College and a postoffice was established here for the convenience of the college and the surrounding country.  But this was later served by a mail route and the town has ceased to exist.

LIVINGSTON

     Livingston bears the distinction of being one of the few "paper towns" of the county.  It was laid out, but never materialized.
     Blanchard has within its boundaries two institutions which will be dealt with in another chapter, the county infirmary and Crawfis College.

GREENSBURG TOWNSHIP

JACKSON TOWNSHIP

JENNINGS TOWNSHIP

FT. JENNINGS

RUSHMORE

     Rushmore is situated on the Northern Ohio railroad and the southwestern part of Jennings township.  It is surrounded by rich farming lands and bids fair to become a thriving little village.  It has a church and school building for the convenience of its patrons.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP

     Liberty township was organized in April, 1837.  The first settler to locate here was Alexander Montooth, in 1835.  Later in the same year, Charles Hofstetter, Nicholas and J. R. McConnell, Samuel James, James and John Irvin, John Crebbs and O. C. Pomeroy took up their permanent residence in this township.  H. S. Ramsey, Jacob Sigler, Henry Knopp, James Woodell and Robert Lowry came a short time later and aided in the early settlement and township organization.
     At the first election, Nicholas McConnell was chosen justice of the peace, and J. R. McConnell was elected constable.  The early records have been lost and a full list of the first township officers cannot be given.
     The land in Liberty township was originally very swampy and this made it unhealthy.  The first settlements, for this reason, were made on what was then called the Ridge, which was a slightly elevated strip of land.  The growth of this township was very slow at first, as a great part of the land was unfit for cultivation. The swamps and ponds of the township were drained in 1860 and the land has been tiled, and in this way brought under cultivation.  After the swamps were drained the sickness of this locality was greatly decreased and it became a very desirable habitation.
     The first town was laid out in 1845 by the late Judge Palmer and was called Medary.  Judge Palmer kept the first store in the town and erected a combination grist- and saw-mill, which was quite a curiosity to the early settlers.  The building was a frame structure, with the grist-mill above and the saw-ill below.  The site of this once thriving village is now covered with fields of waving corn.
     The present officers of Liberty township are:  Justices of the peace, John Farley, of Leipsic; Louis Lammers and Mack Shaffer, of West Leipsic; clerk, Joseph Lammers, of West Leipsic; treasurer, P. H. Schey, of West Leipsic; constables, Jefferson Ladd and Herb Dukes, of West Leipsic.

WEST LEIPSIC
Pg. 124

     West Leipsic was lad out and platted in 1852.  In the year 1850 John W. Peckenpaugh purchased the land where the village of West Leipsic now stands and had the first survey of twenty lots made, by Samuel Parker, county surveyor.  A second and third survey was made in the following years, 1853-54, and completed the platting of all the lands now included in the town lying north of the Nickel Plate railroad.
     The first house built in the village was erected by John Shakely in 1850 and was known as the old Shakely house for a number of years.  It was long used as a hotel and drug store.
     From 1850 to 1855 the first settlers of the town came in, these including the following:  J. J. Lowry, who kept the first store in the town and, later, was elected the first justice of the peace; John Dehnert was the first blacksmith; Joseph Faber, first wagon maker; George Haskell, first cooper, and Dr. Samuel Emery was the first physician.  The first white child born in the town was Louisa M. Lowry, daughter of J. J. Lowry, born on Sept. 29, 1852.  Later, Miss Lowry became the wife of Doctor Emery, one of the leading physicians of the county.
     The town was incorporated in 1882 with the following officials:  R. Haskell, mayor; W. J. White, clerk; M. L. Pritchard, marshal; Thomas James, treasurer.  The present officers are: Mayor, S. M. Tilbrook; clerk, Earl J. Shaffer; treasurer, M. IL. Pritchard, marshal, John E. Miller; councilmen, F. M. Bennett, J. I. Smith; W. J. Woodell, Solomon Close; J. A. Montooth, Mack Shaffer.
     The population in 1910 was two hundred and fifty-three
     Elm Center is another small hamlet in this township, being but a rail-

road station on the Nickel Plate road.  A similar village in Prentiss, a rail-road station on the Dayton, Toledo & Ironton road.

MONROE TOWNSHIP
Pg. 125

     Monroe is next to the youngest township in the county, being second only to Palmer.  Cut off from Perry township in 1852, it has had a slow, but steady, growth since it started on its independent career.  Like many other townships, its settlement was retarded on account of the general swampiness of its soil, and it was not until 1849 that its first permanent settler, Adam Perrin, made his appearance here.  He seemed to have the whole township to himself for two years, or at least there is no record of any others until 1851, when John Grant risked his fortunes in the malaria-ridden district.  In the same and following years appeared John and Eli Fickle, Hiram Madden, William Moore, D. D. Barnes, James Early, Samuel Birge, D. D. Murphy and Solomon McCullough.
     At the first election, on Apr. 5, 1852, there were only twelve votes cast and six of these electors were chosen to various offices, as follows:  William Moore, John and Eli Fickle, trustees; James Early, clerk; John Grant, treasurer; Solomon McCullough, supervisor.  At that time the township consisted of one road and one school district.  The first teacher was George Krites, who taught in a small cabin on section 5.
     The following are township officers at the present time:  Justices of the peace, F. E. Treece, and E. L. Hartman; trustees, Frank Hall, J. W. Ernst and F. E. Treece, all of Continental; clerk, F. E. Moore, of Continental; treasurer, R. W. Kissell, of Continental; constables, M. G. Pese and Daniel Noe, of Continental; ditch supervisor, J. L. Carroll, of North Creek.

HARTSBURG.
Pg. 125

     Continental is the chief town in Monroe township, but its history and growth will be dealt with in another chapter.  Lying due west of Continental three miles on the Nickel Plate railroad is a small hamlet which needs honorable mention.  This aforesaid town is Hartsburg.  The date of platting of this village, if it was ever platted, cannot be ascertained.  At present Hartsburg has one church and a school building.  It is a stop on the Nickel Plate railroad.

WISTERMAN.
Pg. 126

     Wisterman is also a small hamlet in this township.  It was platted in 1883 by E. W. Dimock, for W. S. Daly, E. R. Eastman and Jane James, the proprietors.  This town failed to materialize to any great extent and at present is merely a stop on the Toledo, St. Louis & Western railroad.  RICE was once a postoffice for the convenience of country people, but at present is only an interurban stop.
     CONTINENTAL, first called MARICE CITY, was laid out and platted on March 23, 1888, by George Skinner for Gen. A. V. Rice.  It was named in honor of the General's daughter, Mary Rice.  At the time when the Nickel Plate railroad was constructed through Putnam county and land in the southeastern part of Monroe township was one vast body of unbroken wilderness and swamp.  The Rice road improvements were constructed in 1865 through the present site of Marice City and made this land productive and, with the intersection of two railroads, a very desirable location for a town.  In 1888 the Buckeye Stave Company erected their stave factory on their addition which they had laid out the same year (James Belford, surveyor).  In the same year Dr. B. D. Sparling employed A. Overbeck to lay out and plat his first addition.  In 1887 D. W. Seitz laid out and platted an addition for Gen. A. V. Rice, and the following year the same surveyor platted a second addition for Dr. B. D. Sparling.  Mr. Seitz also platted a second addition for the Buckeye Stave Company, in 1890, and the same year sub-divided outlot Nol. I of Rice's addition, for the district assessor, H. B. Pierce.  In 1895 Mr. Seitz also platted a sub-division for W. H. Miller.
     The first store was opened up in Marice City by James Sullivan.  This was followed, soon afterward, by a general store by the Buckeye Stave Company, but was later purchased by H. B. Rose and Alvin Poe.  James Bell built his present store room and opened up a general store in 1887.  Others followed soon afterward.  The town was incorporated Mar. 22, 1888, with the following officers: Polk Berbate, mayor; C. G. Ballman, clerk; James Bell, treasurer; C. S. Parish, marshal; W. B. Miller, John Hutchison, Hiram Dellinger, George Hahn, Silas Colvin and John Shamberger, councilmen.  At the time when the town was incorporated several of the citizens tried to get the name changed to Continental, but this was not accomplished until Apr. 17, 1899k, at the February term of court.
     Continental has been settled by business men who are ever striving for the betterment of the town.  New bank buildings and business houses have been constructed, which give the town its present prosperous and enterprising air.  Its business interests consist of an elevator and milling company, the Continental and the Farmers bank, the Cloverleaf hotel, the Sanitary grocery, T. Hauck & Company's drug store, general stores, produce dealers, and merchants who cater to the wants of the town and country people.
     The present population of the town is more than one thousand.  The present officers are: Mayor, H. C. Parrett; clerk, S. N. Aller; treasurer, C. B. Shinabery; marshal, M. G. Pease; councilmen, W. H. Wright, W. C. Veach, Alonzo Spitler, John Minch, B. A. Manor and D. F. Owens; trustees of public affairs, L. B. Guy, William Saegers and . P. Crawfis.

MONTEREY TOWNSHIP
Pg. 127

OTTOVILLE
Pg. 128

OTTAWA TOWNSHIP
Pg. 131

OTTAWA
Pg. 133

GLANDORF
Pg. 144

BRICKNER
Pg. 142

     New Cleveland is a small hamlet lying three miles north of Ottawa.  Its postoffice is called Brickner.  One store and a few houses make up the settlement

PALMER TOWNSHIP
Pg. 142

     Palmer township was the last one organized in the county and dates its independent existence from 1854, previous to which time it had been known as North Greensburg.  It was named in honor of Judge Palmer, an eminent jurist who had served on the bench of Putnam county with universal satisfaction to the people of the country.  The last organization of this township was due to the lack of a sufficient population to justify its creation.  By the fall of 1854 the citizens resident within the proposed township satisfied the commissioners accordingly ordered an election for Jan. 1, 1855.  The thirteen voters selected the following corps of officials:  John Frazee, John Kerns and John S. Welch, trustees; John Hamilton, treasurer; David Caldwell, clerk; John Kerns, justice of the peace; David Caldwell, constable.  This combination of Johns and Davids started the township on its independent career, and although sixty years have come and gone since they were elected, yet many men are still living in the township who can recall these excellent citizens.
     Palmer township is situated in what was then known as the "Black Swamp," a descriptive term which fitly explains the reason why the township was so slow in being settled.  The beavers threw hundreds of trees across the sluggish North and South Powell creeks and the water, thus dammed up, spread over a goodly portion of the area of the township.  Old residents can still recall how these unique dams had to be torn out before the land could be drained.  Many years elapsed before the streams were cleared of the obstructions in such a way that artificial drainage could be secured to any advantage.  At the present time nearly all of the township has been brought under cultivation and no better land is to be found in the country than that which was until a few years ago covered with from one to two feet of water.
     The present Palmer township officers are as follows:  Justices of the Peace, George A. Alt and John S. Schafer trustees, Martin Gebhardt, Laurence Seimet and James Troyer clerk, William R. Stuber; treasurer, C. C. Schafer; constables, John Seimet and William LaFountain

MILLER CITY
Pg. 143

KIEFERVILLE
Pg. 144

NORTH REEK
Pg. 144

HECTOR
Pg. 145

     Hector was platted and laid out on Dec. 26, 1882.  This town was the home of the Hector Stave Company, which was one of the largest and leading industries of this county until the timber was exhausted.  The town was platted by E.W. Dimmock, county surveyor, and named in honor of Hector Havemeyer, one of the members of the company. 
     The growth of this little village was very rapid and at the height of its prosperity it was the center of the mercantile trade of that locality.  The Hector store, through its standard methods and square dealings, was known throughout Putnam county.  The proprietors of Hector were liberal in contributing their efforts and means toward the development of the town.  The Hector Creamery and Cheese Company was organized in 1891 and first creamery in the county was thus started.  Churches, school building and a Knights of Pythias lodge hall were built through the contributions of this company.  The history and growth of the company will be taken up in another chapter.  With the exhaustion of the timber, the prosperity of the town began to wane and at the present time this once flourishing town and commercial center is nothing more than a railroad stop.

PERRY TOWNSHIP
Pg. 145

FRANCONIA
Pg. 147

     Franconia was the first town laid out in the township.  It was laid out by Amos Kendall in 1837 and the first store was kept by Parlee Carlin.  A double log cabin, which was featured by Howe as a "Home in the Wilderness," was erected by Sebastian Shroufe, and P. B. Holden later kept a tavern in the same building.  While Franconia was a flourishing little center of trade for a number of years, it has long since disappeared and nothing now remains of what was once hoped would be a substantial town.   Other towns in this township include Cloverdale (Drucilla), Dupont, Cascade and Huntstown.

DUPONT
Pg. 147

     Dupont was for many years the largest town in the township.  It was platted in 1877 and named in honor of Rear Admiral S. F. Dupont, of the United States navy, a postoffice of that name having been established in the year 1864.  The mail route at that time ran from Ottawa to Charloe, twenty-six miles, and was traveled once a week.
     In 1877 the Toledo, Delphos & Indianapolis narrow gauge railroad was built through the village; in 1888 the entire route was changed to a standard gauge and known as the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City railroad..
     Dupont was incorporated in 1888 and E. W. Dimock was chosen to serve as the first mayor.  This village began to grow and its prosperity seemed assured, but occasionally the healthiest child fails to become the strongest man.  In the height of the town's prosperity there were two stave-mills which did an extensive business, two hotels, tile-mill and saw mills, an axe-handle factory, and five general merchandise stores.  The population of the town was about seven hundred.  Then came the decline.
     The first blow which Dupont had to endure was the failure of the timber and, in consequence, the removal of the stave factories, her chief industry.  The second blow came with the building of the Nickel Plate railroad across the Clover Leaf at Continental, and the final step was the construction of the Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western through Cloverdale, just two and one-half miles south of the village.
     The present population is about three hundred.  A tile factory, a general store, grocery and hardware store represent her business interests.  The school facilities are very good.  The present officials are:  Clerk, T. R. Hart; treasurer, W. T. Etter; marshal, Allen Williams; councilmen, C. C. Etter, George Etter, Thomas McClish, Sol. Wollam, R. C. Brandt and William Spencer.
    

CASCADE
Pg. 148

     Cascade lies on the west bank of the Auglaize river and on the Findlay.  Ft. Wayne & Western railroad, a branch of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad.  It was platted in 1892 by E. W. Dimmick, for Charles Andrews.  Myers' mill, the first in the county, was located here, and its owner, Samuel Myers, was one of the most prominent citizens of the village for many years.  In fact, the place was locally known as Myers' Mill for many years and even to this day it is probably as well known by this name as that of Cascade.  At the present time nothing is left but the remains of the old mill, and it ground its last grist many years ago.  The site of the former village is picturesque and thousands of people make it a picnic ground every year. 

CLOVERDALE
Pg. 148

     Coverdale is situated at teh junction of the two railroads crossing the township and dates its existence from 1891.  It was surveyed and platted by E. W. Dimmick for W. H. and E. M. Mozier, Tunis and Nora Truax and Austin and Mary Combs, the proprietors.  The first postoffice was called Drucilla.  Although there had been a town here since the construction of the Cloverleaf railroad in 1877, which was known as Evansville, it was never platted, and when the new town was platted the name Cloverdale was given and the former name gradually disappeared.  It was incorporated on Apr. 11, 1902.
     The first officers were T. J. Ludwig, clerk; Anthony Holguve, treasurer; Peter Harris, marshal; William Struker, J. A. L. Harris, John Heitzman and Austin Combs, trustees; Austin Combs was the first squire and William Corkwell the first constable.
     Settlers who located here as early as 1877 were, Pope Burbage, who ran the first saloon; George Price, who kept the first store; Hollis Hanson, who ran the first saw-mill; Nathan Dalton, who had the first wagon and paint shop, and Austin Combs, the first postmaster.  The first house was built by Irvin Follis and the hotel by Joseph Gingrich.  In 1871 the Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western railroad was built through the town and it began a steady growth.  The tile factory, saw and hub-mill, lumber yards, elevator and other smaller industries located here in close succession.  A town hall was erected in 1913, at a cost of three thousand dollars, and the place at present has a population of three hundred.
     Two churches, grade and parochial schools, and the present general prosperous air of the town give evidence of the thrift and business ability of its settlers.  It bids fair to become a thriving little village.  The town officers are as follows:  Mayor, P. A. Scharf; clerk, O. B. Andrews; treasurer, L. B. Mason; marshal, Edward Lehmkuhle; councilmen, John Blosser, John Berhude, Theo. Horstman, R. E. Baxter, Ben Andrews, and Fred Kohl.

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
Pg. 125

     The first settlements in Pleasant township were made in 1832 by William Turner, Eckless Ney, McDonald Osborn, Osborn, Henry Morris, James Porter and William McComb.  Late in November of the following year John Featheringill came in with his family.  Mr. Featheringill secured lodging in an Indian camp until he could hew logs and erect a cabin.  John Bogart purchased a farm in the following year and moved on it in March.  Adam and James Turner were the next to cast in their lot in the early settlement.
     In 1834 the township took on a permanent organization.  There were at this time only seven voters in the township and it was through their efforts that the organization was accomplished.  Following are the names of the voters:  John B. Bogart, William and Adam Turner, Neham Smith, John Feathergill, Abe Fuller and William Casebolt.  There is no record of the first officers, but it is certain that they were divided among these early voters, though just what offices each held can not be ascertained.  In 1839 the township contained about one hundred in habitants and fifteen to twenty voters.
     The public road leading from Wapakoneta to Perrysburg, was laid out about 1835, but was not opened for public use until some time later.  The first births in the township were twins, Martha and Rebecca, daughters of William Turner, in 1833.  The first death was an infant child of McDonald Osborn, which died in December, 1833, and was the first burial in the graveyard at Truro church.
     The first log school house was erected in 1836, about half a mile northeast of Columbus grove, and here John Wamsley conducted the first school in the winter of 1836-37.  The postoffice was established in 1844, with Adam Turner as the first postmaster.
     The first manufacturing interests established here was an ashery and a clay pottery factory, by a Mr. Durfee.  A store of supplies was later opened by Sheldon Guthrie.  The trade consisted of exchanging furs for goods, as money was very scarce.  A good hunting hound was valued at one hundred dollars and the government purchased wolf scalps for three and four dollars, this furnishing the settlers with money to pay their taxes.
     The first religious services were held in a log cabin belonging to John Bogart, in 1834.  The first sermon was rendered by a young man named Cutler, of the Methodist Episcopal faith.  In the same year Rev. Mr. Morris, of the Protestant Methodist church, came to this township and held services.  Later, Michael Long, who was known as the boy preacher, of the United Brethren church, came to this settlement.  In 1836 a Rev. Poge (or Page), of the Presbyterian faith came to this township and organized the first church of that order here.  The Baptists held services at the home of James Turner at an early date.
     The present township officials are as follow:  Justices of the peace, A. Crawford, L. E. Mullin and Henry Buck; trustees, B. F. Irwin, G. W. Bowess and William Trask; clerk, F. M. Williams; treasurer, Elias Williams; constables, H. L. Irwin and G. W. Luce.

COLUMBUS GROVE.
Pg. 150

[PICTURE OF COLUMBUS GROVE IN 1851]

[PICTURE OF COLUMBUS GROVE IN 1914]

     The village of Columbus Grove was laid out and platted in December, 1842, by Capt Frederick Fruchey, the proprietor.  It was surveyed and platted for the proprietor by Benjamin Dunning.  Captain Fruchey and most of the early settlers came from Columbus, Franklin county, and the site of this town being a famous Indian sugar grove, hence the name.
     The first house built in Columbus Grove was a log dwelling, erected by John Mumea on the lot where the Lenhart block now stands.  The first frame dwelling was built by Samuel Sterlin who also erected the first brick structure in the village.  The first manufacturing establishment was an ashery and pottery, built and operated by the Durfey brothers.  They manufactured black salts and pearl ash, and, in the pottery, crocks, jugs and other earthen wares.  In 1843 Sheldon Guthrie erected a small building on a lot near the Durfeys' establishment and opened a small supply store, exchanging goods for furs, there being but little money in this new country.  Columbus Grove was incorporated in 1864 by John J. Baker and others.  The first officers were David Jones, mayor; S. B. McHenry, clerk.  The first tavern was built by James Pier.  This was a hewed-log structure, three rooms on the ground floor and two on the second.  Among the business men of the town in 1850, in addition to the ones previously mentioned were:  Leeman Woodruff, J. B. Jones, Evan R. Davis and E. W. Greene.
     Theodore Kunneke came to this village in 1853.  He built a saw-mill for Jonathan Brice, and later a mill to grind corn and buckwheat was added.  After finishing this contract, Mr. Kunneke purchased two corner lots at the junction of High and Sycamore streets, upon each of which he erected a two-story frame building for business and dwelling.  The Kunneke block now stands on one of these lots.  A. H. Day came to this village in 1860 and opened up a store.  He has contributed as much in the way of substantial buildings as any of its citizens.  The New Grove House and the Opera House block were erected by him.  Other settlers who followed a short time later and have been large contributors to the material side of the town are:  Simon Maple, David Jones, W. W. Williams, Thomas Jones, Robert and J. M. G. Patterson.
     The Dayton & Michigan railroad was built through this town in 1859 and ran the first train on July 12 of that year.  In 1882 the Pittsburg, Akron & Western was constructed, and in 1895 the Lima Northern was built.  The growth of this village is not surprising with its excellent railroad facilities and the enterprising business men at its helm.
     The officers of Columbus Grove are as follows:  Mayor, W. G. Poast; clerk, Curtis Magher; treasurer, Jay Hartman; marshal, G. J. Doty; councilmen, Benton Martz, W. M. Crawford, R. C. Deffenbaugh, C. M. Doty, Lemuel Bogart, Bert Holmes; trustees of public affairs, J. H. Eversole, Henry Light, H. R. Day.
     The following is a list of the business and professional interests of Columbus Grove:
     Industries - The Jones handle factory, Columbus Grove Tile Company, Light Lumber Company, Sarber cement block and tile factory, Kissels Poultry and Ice Company, Faze coal yards and cement block factory, McAdams Seed Company, People's Elevator, Jones harness factory, Losh laundry, Williams monument factory, Johnson's Poultry Company, Buckeye garage, Slusser garage.
     Stores - H. R. Day, dry goods and groceries; Home Industry, dry goods and groceries; Louis Mapel, clothing; C. E. Magher, grocery; A. K. Sarber, grocery; J. B. Ehrnman, grocery; R. P. Hartman, Grocery; Billingsley & Son, grocery; Bert Holmes, druggist; S. E. Lewis, druggist; Humphrey & Sterling, undertaking; Elmer E. Morris, jeweler and optician; Luce & Shinnaberry, meats and groceries; Jones & Kidd, shoes; Stan Sakemiller, shoes; A. A. Starkwether, implements; Martz & Jones, implements; M. C. Sterling, clothing; Stephens & Kraus, harness and repairing; Lena Smith, millinery; Frost & Gladfelter, meat; Williams Brothers, hardware; W. E. Pease, hardware; Levi Basinger, notion store; H. H. Hollis, pianos; Daniel book store; Daniel Slusser, feed store.
     Other Business - R. P. Killen, dentist; A. B. Hilty, dentist; Wittenburg Hotel;  L. E. Bogart, restaurant; Haller, restaurant; Charles Murhab, fruit and ice cream; Trice, livery; Bowman, livery; Norris, barber shop; Strow & Cox, barber shop; Wilbur Saunders, barber shop; George Buck, barber shop; Trask, barber shop; C. M. Doty, billiard and pool; Port Tegarden, billiard and pool; Smith & Tate, sale and feed barn; Eversole, smith and repairing; John Davis, horseshoeing.
     Banks - Peoples and Exchange.
     Doctors - E. A. Balmer, Walter C. Corns, H. H. Sink, G. H. Wilcox, W. H. Begg, Isaac Fullerton.
     Columbus Grove, being situated in a very rich agricultural community and with excellent railway facilities, is able to bear the reputation of being one of the largest shipping centers of live stock in the state.  The annual shipments of live stock are, normally, three hundred and twenty-five cars; grain, hay and straw, four hundred and fifty cars; sugar beets, two hundred cars; other shipments, including eggs, dressed poultry, wool, handles, etc., sixty-eight cars.

RILEY TOWNSHIP
Pg. 152

     The organization of Riley township dates from 1834 and at that time included the present township of Richland (Allen county), in addition to its present area.  The first settler, Thomas Gray (1832), was followed the next year by John Sigafoose, Adam Stout, Moses Rice, Bildad Hubbard and B. F. Dunning.  The year 1834 brought in a large number of families, including those of George Bushong, Thomas Lake, James Bunn, J. D. Wamsley, William Hand, John Hand, Jacob Clover, George Farnum, Myron Rice, Isaiah Cook, N. H. Bagley, Peter Rice, William Thrapp, George Blackburn, George Alkire, Stephen Cortright and George Wilson.  Jesse Hall and a few others located in the township in the following year.  All of these early settlers were known as Yankees and were sturdy pioneers, well fitted to cope with the dangers and privations of frontier life such as faced them when they settled here.
     Before 1835, however, the German migration to this township began.  These settlers were natives of Switzerland, although of German descent.  Daniel Nicewander and Dorse Amstutz settled here in 1833 and were followed in the succeeding year by Christian Suter, Christian Basinger and Christian Bucher.  Bucher lived to be one hundred years and seven months of age, dying in 1879.  The wife of Bucher died in 1835, hers being the first death in the German settlement.  In 1835 came Christian and John Shoemaker.  John and Ulric Basinger, John Musser and Christian Steiner.  The year 1846 brought in John Diller, Christian Armstutz, Christian Lugabill, John Geiger, John Lugabill and David Stauffer.  The German settlement kept growing from year to year and was soon one of the most prosperous sections of the county.  These were all Mennonites and as soon as they settled they made provisions for religious services.  At first they held services in the homes of the settlers, but by 1840 they had a substantial services in the homes of the settlers, but by 1840 they had a substantial hewed-log church.  Christian Steiner was the first pastor.
     The first election in Riley Township was held in April, 1834, at the home of Thomas Gray, and at that time the following officers were elected; Thomas Gray, Joseph DeFord and John Stout, trustees; William Hand, clerk; Bildad Hubbard, supervisor; Thomas Gray, justice of the peace; George Farnum, constable.  These appear to have been only temporary officers; at least, another election was held in April of the following year, at which the following corps of officials were selected:  John Stout, Moses Rice and George Wilson, trustees; N. H. Bagley, clerk; Bildad Hubbard, supervisor; J. D. Wamsley, justice of the peace; George Farnum, constable.  The township retained its original area until 1847, when the southern tier of seven sections was detached and added to Allen county, leaving the township with thirty square miles.
     The first road through the township was what was known as the Williamstown road, and this was followed shortly afterward by the Findlay-Van Wert road.  William J. Wilson was the first pedagogue and taught his first school in the winter of 1836-37.  Another school house was built the same year, but history has not preserved the name of its first teacher.
     The present officers of Riley township are as follows:  Justices of the peace, M. E. Krohn and Daniel Schumacher; trustees, P. P. Schumacher, W. M. Risser and C. R. Van Meter; clerk, P. A. Amstutz; treasurer, S. P. Krohn; constables, Edward Basinger and J. H. Culp.

PANDORA
Pg. 125

     John Stout laid out the town of Columbia, Dec. 1, 1836.  The previous year he had built a grist-mill on Riley creek, one of the first gristmills of the county, which was a great convenience for the early settlers.  This town was situated upon the Ridge road, leading from Findlay to Kalida and Delphos, and about half way between the county seats of Hancock and Putnam counties.  For many years it was the stopping place of the lawyers and judges, while "traveling the circuit" in the early days before 1851.  The tavern was kept by Henery Kilheffer and travelers on their way form Findlay to Kalida spent the night here.  Many stories are still told of the jolly times that were had at the old tavern.
     Later, the name was changed to Pendleton, and in 1850 the first addition was laid out by Brice W. Viers.  Henry Kilheffer owned the only store at this time and in 1852 he laid out East Pendleton, which was surveyed by Henry Blosser, county surveyor.  It ears the distinction of being the only town that was ever platted in Riley township.
     In 1882 the narrow gauge railroad, which has since become a standard gauge road and known as the Pittsburg, Akron & Western railroad, was proposed and constructed through the town.  The same year Kiene and Suter laid out their addition to the town.  The name of the town was again changed, this time to Pandora, and evidently the "third time charm" worked,  for it has retained that name to the present time.
     Additions were laid out in 1891, by H. M. Day; 1893, by R. N. McAdams; the same year S. P. Krohn laid out his addition and the following year H. M. Day laid out a second addition.  It was surveyed by an order from the court, Apr. 24, 1892 and incorporated on Nov. 5th of the same year.
     Situated as it was, in the center of one of the best-improved sections of the county, surrounded with rich farm land and magnificent buildings which can hardly be surpassed in any locality of the state, it took a slow deep-rooted growth, which began to show a few years later.  The farms were settled principally by sturdy Mennonites, whose faith forbids quarreling and litigation.
     The overall factory has been one of the greatest agents in making Pandora what it is at present.  The history of this factory will appear in another paragraph.  The population in 1910 numbered five hundred and sixty-two.  It has paved streets, a modern high school, bank, and stores that rival any in the county.  The Ohio & Northern railroad gives the people accommodations east and west.  The Pandora Milling Company does  quite an extensive business in this locality.  The lumber and planing mills also employ a number of men and carry on a large business in their line.  The present town officials are:  Mayor, P. A. Amstutz; clerk, Grover Davidson; treasurer, A. S. Hilty; marshal, John Culp; councilmen, Samuel Haas, P. D. Amstutz, C. C. Hilty, John Gerber, J. A. Suter, Adam Bixler.

PANDORA MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

     The Pandora Manufacturing Company, which was formerly called the Pandora Overall Company, was organized in August, 1901, by the following men, who were not only the founders, but the first officers and directors:  John M. Amstutz, president; John Gerber, vice-president; Jacob A. Suter, secretary and treasurer; Albert A. Burry, Carl Gerber.  It was capitalized at ten thousand dollars.  Five thousand six hundred dollars of the stock was retained by the founders and the rest was sold to outsiders.  In the fall of same year the plant was started, with six sewing machines.  The minutes of the directors give the first purchase of raw material in October.  The first overalls were made in a part of an old woolen mill, where the first six machines were installed.
     The success of the business seemed assured from the start and in 1902 the capital stock was increased to twenty-five thousand dollars.  A part of this stock was offered for sale to outsiders.  In September of this year W. E. Caldwell, of Cincinnati, purchased stock in the company and became its secretary and manager.  At this same time four more directors were added, and it is interesting to note that one of these men was Elias Welty, the present manager.  The woolen mill burned in September, 1902, before the new stock was offered for sale.  This incurred a loss, as the factory was only partly insured.
     Work on a new building was immediately begun, which is part of the present structure.  Owing to an increase of business, electric cutters were installed in 1903.  Mr. Caldwell served as manager until 1905, when he was succeeded by John De Haan, who was formerly manager of the Singer Sewing Machine Company.  In 1905 an addition was built, doubling the capacity of the factory.  In the same year a number of Toledo men became interested in the company and purchased a controlling interest, the capital stock being increased to fifty thousand dollars.  In 1906 a similar plant was started at Toledo and the main offices moved to that place, but this move proved a failure and the plant was discontinued in 1908.  The following year Mr. De Haan resigned as manager and Elias Welty, who has been mentioned previously as a stockholder and director, became manager and secretary.  To say that Mr. Welty was competent to fill the position would be speaking modestly, as he had been connected with the factory for eight years and served in every capacity and department from engineer up.  In 1919 A. J. Welty became interested and purchased the Toledo stock, thus bringing the control back to the Pandora Community.
     From this time forward the success of the factory was assured and in the year 1912 more business was done than in any two previous years and more salesmen were added.  Orders were coming in so fast that it was impossible to fill them .  It was deemed advisable to add another factory, which was located at Celina, Ohio. A shirt factory was also added at Zanesville, Ohio, owing to a demand for this commodity.  These factories were merely taken over by this company and placed under their competent management.
     In 1913 the capital stock was again increased, this time to one hundred thousand dollars.  The following year the output was two hundred thousand dollars.  In 1915 the name was changed, due to the fact that it was not an overall factory alone, but a manufacturing plant.  The present directors and officers are:  P. B. Hilty, president; J. A. Suter, vice-president; A. J. Welty, secretary; Elias Welty, manager; W. B. Jackson, manager of the Celina plant; A. G. Bruhl, manager of the Zanesville plant; David Lichty, Cleo Neunschwander, A. P. Sandles, B. A. Unverferth and John De Haan.
     This is the largest manufacturing plant in Putnam county and the present output amounts to a quarter of a million dollars a year.  The stock is always in demand and the company has done a great service to the county in furnishing employment for so many men and women.  The laborers are all paid by piece work and the management is so liberal in its wages that good salaries can be made by skilled and even competent labor, and no hardship is worked upon its employees.

WEBSTER
Pg. 125

SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP
Pg. 125

VAUGHNSVILLE
Pg. 125

RIMER
Pg. 125

JONES CITY
Pg. 125

UNION TOWNSHIP
Pg. 125

KALIDA
Pg. 125

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP
Pg. 125

LEIPSIC
Pg. 125

•      Leipsic  was laid out and platted by James E. Creighton, on Jan. 26, 1857.  The first ground platted into lots in the corporate limits of the present town was that lying east of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, and both north and south of the Nickel Plate.  This village first bore the name of Creighton, in honor of its founder, but it was incorporated under the name of Leipsic.  On Aug. 29, 1859, Joseph Swartz laid out a plat of land east of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton and called it Leipsic station.  The following year Mr. Swartz laid out an addition to the same plat, these two plats being recorded under the name of Leipsic.
       The growth of this village began in the year 1859, when the first train run over the Dayton & Michigan railroad.  The first train passing over this railroad signaled the denizens of an almost impenetrable forest.  By the construction of this railroad, the outlet for the timber and other products of this country was assured, and settlers began to arrive, thus opening up one of the greatest sections in the state.  The growth of this section is a marvel of progress and productiveness.  One of the potent factors in the prosperity of this section and the impetus which stirred early settlers was the Buckeye Stave Company and too much praise cannot be given this company for their excellent work in making Leipsic one of the foremost towns of the county.
       The early settlers in this village were J. B. Swartz, Wellington Hurd, David McClung, C. W. Askam and wife and Al Tingle.  In 1860 S. and W. P. Young and D. G. Leffler settled here.  The following year Mrs. John Foltz, G. D. Foltz, Jacob Werner and Absalom Foulk risked their fortunes with the progress of the new town.  In 1863 A. F. Eastom and wife, T. J. Werner, Samuel Waters and wife, and in 1865 J. H. Askam, Andrew C. Askam and F. Leffler, completing the list of early settlers and pioneer residents.  These men of brawn and courage had placed on the map of the country a thriving little village with the strength to combat in the field of commerce.
       Chief among the early industries which operated in Leipsic are:  The Buckeye Stave Company; the Leipsic flouring-mill, which was erected in the year 1872 by W. C. Miller; the Leipsic planing-mill, which was owned and operated by Messrs. O. E. Townsend and John Zahrends, and the following companies:  Leipsic machine works, A. F. Eastom & son, the Leipsic brick yard, tile yard, creamery, and two good elevators.
       The churches and schools of this village are ranked with the best and have been discussed to a fuller degree in another chapter.
       This town has been visited by quite a few disastrous fires, but the citizens were undaunted by these reversals of fortune and immediately set to work replacing them with bettter and larger structures.  The town stands as a monument to its owns prosperity and growth.
       The different enterprises at present are:  The Leffler Hotel, which was erected at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars and is an emblem of architectural progress and a monument to his memory; the Bank of Leipsic, the Temco Company, R. T. Terry, tile manufacturer, and many other industries.  The stores cater to all the wants of the citizens of the town and also to the country trade.
       The present officials are:  Mayor, E. V. Burns; clerk, C. J. Erickson; treasurer, Earl Andrews; marshal, Charles McKeen; councilmen, W. T. Starling, W. D. Hickey, Dallas Kirk, J. B. Weber, L. D. Wendle, Joseph Faber; trustees of public affairs, W. A. Bell, J. A. Persons, C. W. Fogle.

• THE TEMCO ELECTRIC MOTOR COMPANY

•      The Temco Electric Motor Company, an Ohio corporation, with its main factory and office at Leipsic, was organized and chartered in the fall of 1911.  The Temco Company was successor to the American Foundry Company, which had been doing a general foundry business up to that time.
       The name, Temco, is derived from the first letters of the name "The Electric Motor Company."  This company was organized for the purpose of manufacturing electric portable tools and small motors.  The line originally consisted of electric portable drills, grinders, buffers, polishers and small fractional-horse-power motors.  Later, automobile accessories, such as shock absorbers, electric generators, ignitors and starters, where added to

• 
• 

the original line of general machinery.  The Temco Company has the distinction of building the first and original shock absorber for the Ford cars.
     In the beginning, the equipment consisted of six or eight machines, which furnished employment to a similar number of men.  It covered about twenty-five hundred feet of floor space, all on the ground floor.  With the rapid increase in the business, as their products became known, more machinery and greater floor space were added, and the pay-roll was increased, also.  At present it covers about thirty-two thousand square feet of floor space, in a two- and three-story brick plant, using electric motors aggregating about two thousand and fifty horse power and furnishing employment for one hundred and fifty to two hundred men and women.
     The power and light for the factory are furnished by electricity, each machine having an individual motor, with silent chain drive.  No overhead line-shaft is used by any part of the plant.  Every requirement of the state is adhered to in reducing the possibility of accidents to a minimum.  The plant is steam-heated throughout, from its own boiler, placed in the plant for that purpose alone.  Wash-rooms and coat-rooms are provided on the first and second floors.  The plant has had a steady growth from the beginning, and, judging from the success which the sale of its products has met with, the Temco Electric Motor Company will soon be numbered among the leading manufacturing plants of northwestern Ohio.  Their products are shipped to every part of the globe, the principal importing countries for their goods being South America, England, France, Australia, Russia, Asia and Africa.

BUCKEYE STAVE COMPANY.

     The Buckeye Stave Company was one of the potent factors in the advancement of Leipsic in a material way.  This company has grown from a humble beginning in Leipsic to an enormous business, which tends from northern Michigan to the Gulf states and west to the Pacific coast states, and gives employment to a large force of men.
     This company was organized in 1886, with the following stockholders: John Edwards, W. W. Edwards, I. N. Bushong, J. S. Lenhart and D. L. Critten, all of whom were residents of Leipsic.  At the time of its organization the company controlled twelve factories, located at Leipsic, Columbus Grove and Continental, and employed one hundred men.
     In 1887 this company purchased the Bank of Leipsic and in 1890 they placed a stave factory in Pleasant Bend; in 1891 they built a factory at Kalida and also at Avis; in 1892 the Elm Center stave factory was purchased and placed under their control, and the same year a factory was located at Mancelona, Michigan, but this was removed to Gladstone, Michigan, in 1894.  The Continental Bank was organized in 1891, and at present has responsibilities amounting to one million dollars.
     The growth of this company has been very rapid, and in 1895, after only nine years' time, they employed one thousand men, with a yearly payroll of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars and a paid-up capital stock of five hundred and thirty thousand dollars and a paid up capital stock of five hundred and thirty thousand dollars.  Their holdings include extensive timber and farm lands in this and other states, and the growth of the business has far exceeded the hopes of the promoters.  In 1888 the interests of Lenhart were purchased, and in 1893 Joseph H. Edwards purchased a one-fourth interest.  The company has grown to be the largest of its kind in the world.  It has always been liberal to its employees and fair in its dealings, and has contributed liberally to public and private improvement and all works for the betterment of the community.  The company owns a large amount of farm land at the present time, which it has improved and placed under cultivation, after removing the timber.  This company stands today with its many business enterprises in the full confidence of the business world.

BELMORE

SPITZER

     The village of Spitzer, located on the Nickel Plate railroad, four miles east of Leipsic, was platted by Aaron Overbech, county surveyor, in 1886.  The town was laid out for Howard C. Tinkham, but was named in honor of the Spitzer Brothers, of Toledo, Ohio, who were largely interested in lands adjoining the village.  Owing to the fact that there was another town of the same name in Ohio, it was changed to Townwood.

WARD

     Ward was the name given to a little town located on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, but was never platted and at present is only a railroad siding.
     The present officials of Van Buren township are: Justices of the peace, Jacob Leffler, T. J. Huffman, J. E. Fisher and Nimrod Speaker; trustee4s. James Robinson, E. B. Limmonds and H. H. Montooth; clerk, Thomas J. Shuly; treasurer, E. C. Kuntz; Joseph Butler and Daniel Butler.

END OF CHAPTER VI.