Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-29
DR.. BULLS COUCH SYRUP
THE NORTHWEST
THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OHIO.
| copyrighted. Hrights reserved. !
By w.FARRAND FELcH.
CHAPTER 1x.-rHE WESTERN RESERVE.

Copyrighted. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER Ix.-rHE WESTERN RESERVE.
Judge Turhand Kirkland visited the Western
Reserve in the years of 1793 1893 and 1900,
and in fulfillment of his duty as agent of the
Connecticut Land Comnany, laid out and
opened road through the wilderness from
the Grand river. near Lake Erie. to Young
stown, in 1898: he also assisted John Young
in laying out the town of Youngstown. Judge
Young then had residence in Warren.
In 1896 the survey of the Reserve into
townships, five miles square, was commenc
ed, and in January. 1898, was COMPLETED and
the land partitioned among the stockholders
of the company by draft. Youngstown, how
ever, was not included in the draft, and the
name of John Young does not appear among
the stockholders: hence it is to be inferred
that he contracted for the purchase of the
township prior to the draft. Mr.. Young
visited his township about 1897 with Alfred
Wolcott, surveyor, and with Col. James
Hillman. of Pittsburr. erected the log house
referred to above, and began the survey of
the land. This house was one of the first
built on the Reserve.
The Western Reserve was organized under
the Territorial Government, in 1900, as
Trumbull county, with Warren MS the county
seat. The first court was held August 25,
1900. Geo. Tod was appointed Prosecuting
AIJOEuey vi tHe COuTt, anu JhiHeS I1lllIIlHIl
was appointed constable of Youngstown
The first mail route through Youngstown was
opened in October. 1901, prior to which time
the nearest postoffice was at Pittsburg.
JUDGE YOUNG.
John Young, the founder of Youngstown,
was of Scotch origin: he lived at Whitestown,
New York, until 1896, when his landed inter-
ests in Ohio attracted his attention, and in
1887 he removed thereto: in 1890 he removed
his family thither where they remained until
1903 when they returned to Whitestown.
John Young was Mason of high order and
brought back from Ohio the prefix of
"Judge." which came to him incidentally.
He died in April 1926, aged 62.
THE NORTHERN OHIO COUNTIES.
We are largely indebted TO "The History of
che Manmee Valley" by H. s. Knapp. for in
formation concerning the counties of North
western Ohio. He has arranged them accord
ing to their order and date of organization.
Wood county was formed from the old In
dian Territory, April |, 1920, and was named
from Col. Wood, distinguished officer of
engineers in the war of 1912. This part of
the Maumee valley has been noted for mill
tary operations: Wayne's victory over the
Indians, August Goth, 1884, was gained within
its borders. 1t was also the scene of many of
the important events of the war of 1912. For
was the business mark of the lower portion
of the Maumee Valley, and Wood county was
the mother of many other counties.
The commission of Amos Spafford, "oe
Miami, in Erie District. State of Ohio" as
deputy postmaster, bears date of the 9th of
june 1910, and was signed Gideon Granger,
Postmaster General. In the year 1916, the
old postoffice was at Ft. Meigs, and Almon
Gibbs was postmaster. He received the
munifcent sum of $14.2S for the years SER
vices. In 1916 Amos Spafford was appointed
agent and attorney for certain parties, and
empowered to visit Washington, and apply
to Congress for indemnity for the loss of
property destroyed in the war of 1912; he was
also collector for many years. Perrysburg
was named for Commodore Perry. The first
session of the Commissioners of Wood coun-
ty was April 12. 1920. The first court was the
May term of 1920. The county was then in
the Third Judicial District, and George Tod,
father of the late Governor David Tod, was
President Judge: Horatio Conant, Samuel
Vance, and Peter G. Oliver were Associate
Judges. The first number of the Miami of
The Lake, Jessup w. Scott, editor was issued
December IL, 1888. 1t was succeeded in 1888
by The Ohio Wing. DR.. Geo. W. Wood came
in the spring of 1928, the first physician.
OF the eminent men of the county mention
should be made of Willard V. Way, born 1907,
came to Perrysburg in 1884 having spent part
of the previous year at Painesville, Ohio,
where he finished his law studies. He has
been successful in business life, and ia a
most influential citizen of Perrysburg. Judge
William Ewing was born near Clyde, Ohio, in
May, 1912, and became one Of the most
eminent members of the bar.
The years 1884 to 1887,
NOTABLE ERA or SPECULATION
First attracted serious attention to the
Maumee valley as commercial mart. From
the mouth of the river to the foot of the
rapids the country swarmed with adven-
turers; many purchased tracts of land and
laid out towns and cities. All these towns,
some eleven in number, soon reverted back
to primeval forest, after ruining their pro-
prietors.
Mercer county was formed at the same
lime as Wood, but for judicial purposes 1t
remained with Darke county until 1924. 1t
was named after Gen. Hugh Mercer, g Vir-
ginia officer who fell at Princeton. st. Clair g
battle was fought on the line between this
county and Darke; the famous Simon Girty
once lived on the right bank of the st. Mary's,
between the river and the canal The ancient
fort built by Wayne occupied the west bank
of tho river. The earliest settlement OF
Mercer was made at Fort Recovery, in 1918,
by Mr.. Simison. The first session of the
County Commissioners was held at St
MdIy = tho ot!Btnoi oUunSy eSaH apAAs
824-Commissioners Lucas Van Ansdall
Ansel Blossom and Thomas Scott. The first
term of the Mercer county Common Pleas
Court was held at st. Mary's, in February
1926. Hon. Jos. Fl. Crane was the Presiding
Judge. The county seat was removed tc
Gelina, and the first court was held in 1910
The Mercer Co. Advocate, (Whig in politics.
was the first paper started at Celina, 1848. =
Fort Recovery was plated in 1885.
Tn 1919 ,IudOn eiOh 0f VIRGINIA pIlrRhlg
ed 5000 acres of land in this settlement fol
the freed slaves of John Randolph, of Roam
oke. They arrived in the summer of 184G, tc
the number of 400, but were forcibly prevent
ed from making a settlement by portion o.
the inhabitants of the county. Auglaizt
county, erected in 1SiS, took off some of thu
most populous and wealthy territory o.
Mercer. N
Allen county was formed at the same tim'