Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/423

 HISTOEY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��feed upon its vitals until it sickened and died.

The name of one of its citizens, in 1850, was Return J. M. Ward, who proved to be a des- perate villain — a murderer — and was hung in Toledo June 12, 1857, for the murder of his wife. After his arrest there, he confessed to the killing of a peddler and of Noah Hall, in Planktown. These murders, together with the railroad, which ran within a mile of the place, killed it. A full account of Ward's crimes will be found in another chapter. Planktown went down more rapidly than it grew up, man}- of its citizens deserting it and going to Shiloh.

At present, no business is carried on in the place ; onl}* seven families are living there, mostly farmers. Many of the houses have been moved away and some torn down. A wind- storm destroyed the old tavern-stand, in which the peddler was murdered.

In 1850, when the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad came through Cass, a village was laid out on Aaron Pet- tit's farm, half a mile north of the present town of Shiloh, on the railroad, and called Salem Station. The would-l^e town of Salem was a mile away, and was henceforth called Old Salem, while the station was frequently called New Salem, to distinguish it from the other. A station-house, a house Ijuilt by Jesse ]\Iaring and a little shanty, in which whisky and cigars were sold, were all the Ijuildings that were erected at this Salem Station. After the station had been established and a small town laid out, it was discovered that it was situated in a low, swampy place, between two country roads, and it was decided to move it south half a mile, to higher ground. This was done, accordingly, there being nothing to move but the station-house and the aforesaid whisky- shop.

Here, in September, 1852, the permanent town was laid out by Charles R. Squires, who had purchased four acres of ground from the

��Pettits for that purpose. As early as 1823, Thomas Pettit came from Mifflin Township, and entered 1,200 acres of land in this vicinity, upon part of which his numerous descendants are still living.

Thomas Boorman, still living in the town, built the first dwelling. It stood on the site of the present brick block, lately erected, called Bren- neman's Block, near the depot. It was a one and a half story frame, about 27x40. About the same time, a Mr. Pease built a storeroom on the opposite side of the railroad from the Boorman dwelling, and opposite the present American House. It is still standing, being used as a storeroom and dwelling by Joseph Page & Son, who keep groceries and dry goods.

Shiloh has grown rapidly, and is not through yet. It is now the only town in the township, and is surrounded by an excellent farming country. The business of the place is in a healthy condition, and steadily increasing. Many additions have l^een made since the first four acres were laid off into lots. John and Alexander Pettit made an addition March 30, 1859 ; Catherine Wishart February 6, 18G4. In 1868, Charles Wakefield, Jacob Korber, Samuel Weirick, Thomas B. Pettit and Alexander Pettit made additions to the town. Beside these, additions have been made from time to time to the number of sixteen, the last one being made in May, 1879, by John Davis.

The town went by the name of Salem for several years, but, on account of there being two or three other Salems in the State, which made trouble with mail matters and freight, it was decided to change it. The citizens met for the purpose in 1862, about the time Grant was fighting his battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, and, in the enthusiasm of the moment, the town was named Shiloh.

Al)ner Tanner was one of the first settlers ; he came in 1853, and started a shoe-shop and gTOcery on the corner east of the railroad, where the American House now stands. He

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