Paulding County: An Early History (Unattributed Typescript)

A typewritten county history of unknown authorship and date, found without a title page or byline. The scan is faded and creased in places; a handful of individual words below are marked [illegible] where they couldn’t be made out with confidence, and a few uncertain readings are marked with a [?]. Page 7 of the scan appears to duplicate part of the newspaper-history paragraph that continues cleanly on page 8 — likely a page taken out of order when the original was scanned — so that overlapping fragment isn’t repeated below.

Despite the uncertain provenance, the content checks out against sources already in this archive: the courthouse completion date (May 24, 1888) matches the Sheriff’s Office history, and the Reservoir War account matches the date, participant count, and outcome given in the county engineer’s overview and Jerett Godeke’s book on the same event. This document adds real detail neither of those has: the reservoir camp’s actual nickname, “Camp Dynamite,” and Governor Foraker’s visit and recommendation afterward. On Charloe specifically, see also Charloe: “A Village by a Stream”.

This piece’s date for the county seat’s move to Paulding (1851) is one of several this archive has on record — see the note on conflicting dates in The Many Names Given to Paulding County.

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The early history of Paulding County is fraught with romance, interspersed with privations, hardships and tragedy. The County, which is comparatively new, is not as rich in specimens of pre-historic nature as are some of our neighbor counties; yet there are evidences that the Mound Builders once lived in our dark and dense forests. That there was a time in pre-historic days when huge animals of the now extinct species roamed the wilds of Paulding County, is varied by portions of their remains which are unearthed from time to time. (First found was a tooth weighing 4½ lbs, on Flat Rock by a son of John Gazat, May 1891.) Our County is rich in Indian lore and tradition. The largest Indian Village ever located in the County was at Charloe, beautifully situated upon the left bank of the Auglaize River in Brown Township. It was near the center of an Indian reserve four miles square and known as the Oquanoxas reservation. Six hundred Indians lived here until 1820, when the reservation was sold and these Indians, who were of the Ottawa tribe, took up their march toward the setting sun. There were several bands of Indians along the Auglaize and Maumee rivers. They were generally peaceable and kind to the early white settlers except when they had indulged too freely in fire water. No Indian tragedies of particular note occurred within the County. General Wayne in his pursuit of the Indians passed through the county, following the streams. During the advance of this army they came upon a party of three Indians about one mile north of Oakwood. Two of the Indians were shot and the third taken prisoner, from whom they expected to get important information. A few days later a Pottawatomie Chief was captured near Charloe. Wayne hurried on to Defiance, then down the Maumee River to Fallen Timbers, where the Indians were severely beaten. Then Wayne retraced his steps and marched to Ft. Wayne, one detachment of his army passing up Flat Rock Creek, camping a few days on what we have known as the Mossoney farm, about a mile N.W. of Paulding.

Ohio was the first state to be carved out of the great Northwest Territory. It was admitted into the Union in 1803. The Northwestern part of Ohio in which Paulding County is located was the last part of the State to be organized and settled. By an act of the State Legislature, Ohio was divided into counties in 1820; Paulding County was divided into 12 townships the same year. The work being done by Alexander and Samuel Holmes. The following year the townships were divided into sections under the direction of [surveyor’s name illegible] Riley.

Paulding County was named in honor of John Paulding, one of the captors of the brave but unfortunate Major [André], of Revolutionary [War] fame. His picture hangs in the Library.

The Maumee river and the military roads, cut by Wayne’s Army in 1794, became the routes and highway over which the first settlers came. The first settlers planted their primitive homes along the banks of the streams. The first white settlement made in the County was in Auglaize Township near Junction, by Shadrach Hudson, in 1819. Isaac Carey, a son-in-law of Mr. Hudson, came a few months later from Miami County by the route which was opened to Defiance by Gen. Wayne. From Defiance he followed the Auglaize River to his location one half mile east of the present location of Junction. Upon this farm, on Jan. 21, 1826, was born Daniel Clark Carey, who has the credit of being the first white child known to have been born within the limits of the county. The Shirleys came in 1823 and the Rominis in 1825, all settling near the present site of Junction.

Settlements along the Maumee river began in 1825 by the Hughes, Banks, Applegates, Gordons and others. The Moss brothers, natives of England, were the first to settle on the banks of Blue Creek, and Thomas Wentworth and Mrs. Crain began the Flat Rock Settlement near where Payne is located.

These early settlers were men of integrity, hardy and brave, who uncomplainingly cracked corn for food and chased the bear, deer and other wild animals for the same purpose. Their hardships were many but their wants few. Their houses were built of logs, daubed with mud, with puncheon floors, clapboard roofs, and greased paper for windows. The clothing of the first settlers was of the simplest homespun. A small patch of flax furnished materials for bed ticking and linen for shirts and trousers. The wool was carded, spun, woven and fashioned into garments by the nimble fingers of the pioneer’s wife and daughters. The early settlers were bound together with a tie of friendship best shown in their log-rollings, husking bees, house raisings and butchering days. They settled in a mighty forest with no tools save an ax and maul. They had no nails, glass, plaster, lumber, brick, or anything with which to build a shelter for their families, save forest trees. They lived in a covered wagon until huts could be erected. The money question gave no trouble, for their system of exchange required little cash money. The home furnishings were mere necessities, as much as could be brought in their covered wagon, which was often drawn by oxen with a cow tied behind. A few chickens and possibly a hog in crates fastened to the outside of the wagon was no uncommon sight.

In 1885 a Pioneers’ Association was organized in the county. They held annual meetings which were largely attended. Their programs consisted of addresses, songs, pioneer papers, talks by old settlers, a sumptuous repast and a general hand shaking. (I have had the privilege of attending some of these meetings. The impression made on me by these meetings will never be forgotten. I can still see in my mind’s eye some of the old men, sometimes leaning on his cane for support, recite his early experiences of shortages of food, toil, privations and hardships — still he was not forgetful of the joys, friendships and amusing incidents of his pioneer life.)

The first flour mill was built at Junction in 1865. It was run by water power, the water being furnished from the Miami Canal.

The first saw mill was built by Wm. Daggett in 1841. It was situated about 1 mile north of Junction and received its power from the canal. This mill was operated for 40 years.

The first school was taught by A. C. Adams in 1840. It was a log cabin, with clapboard roof, puncheon floor, seats made of split logs, and had a stick chimney. In 1854 a school house was built in Junction. The first post office was established in 1842 at Junction, the second at Arthur. The first sermon was preached by Solomon Biggs, a Methodist Minister, in the home of John Mason. An organization was effected in 1849, and a Sunday School was soon organized.

Junction as a village was laid out in 1842 by John Mason and Nathan Shirley. It is situated at the junction of the Wabash and Erie and the Miami canals. In the early days canals were the great thoroughfares of commerce, and the junction of these canals gave the new village a flattering prospect. Daily, lines of canal boats, drawn by mules, were established, and many passengers were transferred at this place. This gave a prosperous business for hotels, of which there were 3. Four dry good and grocery stores, 3 warehouses for the storage of grain, and 6 saloons, as well as many homes.

In Brown Township we find Ft. Brown, which was a small stockade that was built at the confluence of the Big Auglaize and Little Auglaize rivers in the year of 1812. It was occupied for a short time by a detachment of Gen. Harrison’s Army under the command of Col. [Brown?]. The first steam saw mill in the county was erected in 1852 at Charloe by Dwight G. Blakeslee. The first post office in Brown Township was at Ft. Brown. It was on a star route from Piqua to Defiance, and the mail was carried on horseback once a week.

The opening of the Miami Canal changed the mail route, and post offices were established at Charloe, Oakwood, and Melrose.

In 1837 Robert Barnhill cut a winding road up the banks of Blue Creek and became the first settler of the township. Two years later he was joined by Rob. [illegible], James Cunningham, and Daniel Traul. This settlement was in the heart of a dense forest, ten miles from any other settlement. They had to depend upon the fruits of the chase for subsistence until their farms could be cleared and food grown. Geo. Hakes was the first white child born in the settlement. Later Dague, Folmer and Scott became milling [men]. Benton Twp. received its first settlers in 1839; among the early settlers were the Bells, Northups, Mallots, Sugars, Brown, and others.

The village of Payne, which is in both Benton and Harrison Twp., was first called Mallottville, named from a Mr. Mallott who owned the first store in that community. Later it was called Puckerbrush. The name Payne was given to the post office after the coming of the Nickel Plate Railroad.

Carryall township was the second township organized in the County and was the most flourishing and populous. It derived its name from a large rock in the Maumee river, just above Antwerp, which was shaped like a boat used by the French voyageurs on the river. They called their boats a carryall. James Hinton was the first settler in Carryall Township, in 1827. Among other early settlers of this township were the Applegates, Banks, Hughes, Murpheys, Graves, Pococks, and Snooks. Carryall Twp. was the first to plant orchards, and many of the trees grew from seed furnished by “Johnny Appleseed.”

In Paulding Township the first settlement was made in 1842. Among the early settlers are the well known names of Kimmell, Fisher, Shafer, Barnhouse, Merchant, Savage, Latty, French, Barnes, Gregory & Hardesty. A grist mill was built at what is now the south end of Main St. in Paulding in 1855. Portions of the old dam may yet be seen. The first post office in the Twp. was at Paulding, established in 1850.

The first county seat was at New Rochester, in 1839. At this time New Rochester was the largest and most flourishing village in the County. It was situated on the south bank of the Maumee River, about one mile north of where Cecil now stands. It contained 30 or 40 families. It was on a daily stage line leading from Toledo to Ft. Wayne. From here the county seat was moved to Charloe in 1841. Charloe was laid out for the purpose of being a county seat, and was pleasantly located on a commanding bluff of the Auglaize River. Charloe received its name from an Indian chief known as Charloe Peter. It was a town of four or five hundred people. Its location was a beautiful one, its natural scenery grand and picturesque, but like New Rochester, when deprived of its county seat, its star of prosperity sank beneath the horizon never to rise again.

Paulding, the third and present county seat, was laid out by George Marsh in 1850. It became the county seat in 1851. It was in the midst of a heavy forest, without roads, save a few winding wagon tracks. The wild deer and bear roamed its uncleared streets and wolves howled in its thicket-covered alleys. Many of the County officers lived in log huts, and the first jail was made of logs. The town made but little advancement for 30 years. In 1880 its population was 483. Stimulated by the building of the Mackinaw railroad and the erection of several factories, it made rapid strides until its population reached 2,000, thereabouts to remain. There were no county buildings erected at the first county seat, New Rochester. The only term of court held there was in a room over Gen. H. W. Curtis’ store. County offices were in private buildings. Charloe had a courthouse erected by B. F. Hollister at his own expense, which he had agreed to do, providing they might secure the county seat. The building was neat for those days, being about 30 x 40 feet, and two stories high. It was built of brick with a stone foundation. It was the property of the county only as long as the seat remained at Charloe. After the removal of the county seat to Paulding, the old courthouse at Charloe became everybody’s property and nobody’s property. The court room was used for all kinds of public gatherings. The offices were used for residences, for anyone who chose to move in. Paulding’s first courthouse was built in 1852. It was a two story frame building with offices below and a court room above. It was a homely affair, and the court room was reached by an outside stairway on the rear. It burned in 1868, with but few if any tears shed over its ashes. It was replaced by a one story frame building, 30 x 40 ft. in size, and contained only a court room and 2 jury rooms. A 2-story brick building was erected for the county officials to occupy. It served the purpose for only a few years, when it was condemned as unfit for use, and a new court house was secured by the circulation of a petition asking the state legislature to grant the commissioners privilege to sell bonds to the amount of $40,000 for the erection of a court house. The petition was presented to the State Legislature by Hon. John L. Geyer, who was our representative from the Paulding-Defiance district. The bill was passed and became a law that same year, 1886. A committee visited several county seats, inspected their court houses, and finally decided to build one using the Adrian, Michigan Court House as a model. The laying of the corner stone for the new court house was a gala day for Paulding. With great pomp and ceremony, attended by a large crowd of both men and women from town and country, the corner stone was laid Dec. 21, 1886. Within the stone is a copper box containing a copy of the Holy Laws, lists of the county and village officers, members of the bar association, several pieces of coins, names of the Paulding school board, a silver masonic square, and copies of the Paulding Democrat, Paulding Gazette, and Antwerp Argus. The building was completed and accepted by the Commissioners May 24, 1888, at a total cost of building and furnishings of $42,524.29.

Paulding County’s first jail was a small brick building erected at Charloe in 1842. This jail was seldom ever occupied during these early pioneer days. The 2nd jail was built on the southeast corner of the court yard in Paulding. It was a log building made with double walls, and some of the cells were lined with heavy plates of sheet iron. In spite of the extra precautions, escapes from jail were frequent. A new and modern jail was erected in 1876 (our present jail). The first 2 sheriffs were appointed, Andrew Smith and Ephiam Burwell. A county home for our homeless was established at an early date, a log structure (a more modern building was erected in 1884), present location.

The first Rep. in our State Legislature was Hon. John W. Ayres. The first State Senator from the County was Hon. P. W. Hardesty (seven or eight counties in the Senatorial district).

[The road to] Ft. Wayne, completed [18]65, with the usual opposition. Prior to 1842, before the [canal] became operative, the mode of travel was on foot or on horseback, and the means of transporting goods and produce was by flat boats on the rivers. The roads were often impassable, yet the fight against railroad and improved highways were bitterly fought by many of the early settlers.

Although the county was new and hardships great, its citizens were not heedless to the call to arms when the country was stirred by the fall of Ft. Sumter in 1861. It aroused the pulse of the pioneer, whose pulse beat in unison with that of the patriotic North. A company known as Co. G. was organized to become a part of the 14th regiment of Ohio’s volunteer infantry. It was recruited from all parts of the county, with headquarters at Antwerp. The commissioned officers were John S. Snook, Capt.; Alfred M. Russell, 1st Lieut.; and John Corson, 2nd Lieut. All through the war Paulding Co. was not lacking in its patriotism and willingness to do its part in preserving the union.

In the spring of 1887 armed troops were sent into the county to quell a so-called lawless mob, who felt that the reservoir which supplied the Wabash & Erie Canal with water had served its purpose, and, in an effort to get rid of the so-called menace, when the State Legislature refused to grant its abandonment, bodies of men proceeded to blow up the banks and allow the escape of the water. A band of about 200 men, masked, marched on the guards, captured them, and proceeded to dynamite and dig trenches through the banks which would allow it to drain. April 25, 1887, locks were burned and the keeper’s house burned; armed reinforcements arrived and a camp of guards was established. This camp was named Camp Dynamite. Order was restored. A Gatling gun which was in possession of the guards attracted much attention. Hostilities ceased and the camp became a resort for sight seers. Troops were soon recalled, and Gov. Foraker visited the scene of the recent trouble and recommended the abandonment of the reservoir, which he said was just cause for grievances.

The early churches were served by circuit riders, the first of whom was Rev. E. C. Gavitt; meetings were held in the homes or school houses.

The first doctor known to be in the county was Dr. Richard Allison, who accompanied Gen. Wayne in his memorable march through the county. Some of our pioneer physicians were Dr. John Kingrey of Brown Township, Dr. Duval B. Cooper of Charloe, Dr. Marcellus of Junction, and Dr. Woodcock of Antwerp. Dr. Kingrey was a farmer and shoemaker as well as a physician. The following entry on his book may be of interest:

Dec. [xx]th, A.D. 1845.

Making one pr. of shoes 62½¢ — To 1 bu. of turnips, 10¢ — To 1 bu. of potatoes, 25¢. To medical attention $1.00. Total $1.97½.

Dr. H. M. Ayers located at Charloe in the early sixties, was thoroughly educated in the profession, and began a reform in medicine. He was a medical graduate. He later became a partner with his daughter, Dr. Lillie Ayres, who was a graduate of the Cincinnati Medical College. Lillie Ayres married Dr. Martin; her home remains in Paulding.

The first newspaper in the County was the Age of Progress, published by P. W. Hardesty in 1853. It was sold in a few months to the Hon. A. S. Latty, who named his paper the Democrat. After two years this paper was sold to J. D. Baker and became the Republican. The Republican lived a year. The equipment was bought by Ezra J. Smith, who began publishing the Eagle. In 1859 the Eagle folded its pinions and sank to rest. The stock was purchased by S. R. Brown, who published its valedictory number four years later. Next came the Paulding Press, which was soon renamed the Rural Ohioan. Then came the Plain Dealer, published by Wesley A. Savage, June 30, 1870. The Plain Dealer’s obituary appeared 3 years later. In 1869 Hon. Joseph Cable began publishing the Review in Antwerp. He moved his enterprise to Paulding. Three years later he sold out to Hammond & DeWitt, who published the Journal. Two years later the Journal became the property of Mr. [illegible], who founded the present Democrat paper.

What is now the Paulding Republican was founded in Antwerp, April 1886, by Willis E. Osborn. It was called the Gazette. It too had many owners and publishers. Mr. Durfey being the owner who changed the name to the Paulding Co. Republican. Mr. Durfey sold the paper to Mr. J. E. Ross, the present publisher, about 1890. It was later sold to [illegible] Miller, and then in 194[?] consolidated with the Democrat paper, called the Paulding Progress.

The first undertaker in the county was [Mr.] Schilb. He was located at Antwerp. After his death, Mrs. Schilb continued the business — our first woman undertaker in the state.

Paulding now has a million dollar sugar [beet] factory, a Carnegie Library, and has an up-to-date high school and auditorium. The new [wing] and repairs on the old building [cost] approximately $220,000.

Paulding merchants are progressive and up to date.

Paulding is well churched. There are 6 churches for white and 2 for colored people. There is an Armory, in which the National Guards are drilled and trained. All the main streets are either paved or hard surfaced. Being located in a rich farming community, it supports modern elevators for handling grain, a grist mill, and a seed store that does foreign shipping, as well as caring for home needs.

Paul Eichling, a farmer living west of the town, developed a variety of hybrid corn seed which is winning not only national but foreign recognition.