Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/577

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��Crawford County), and what is now left of it. It remained in that shape until March 9, 1845, when it was divided, and the north half called Vernon, leaving Sandusky six miles square, in which shape it should have been allowed to re- main ; but when the rage for county seats grew to an uncontrollable extent, and Crawford County was formed, February 3, 1845, four tiers of sec- tions from the west side of this township were cut off and handed over to Crawford, leaving a strip two miles wide remaining of Sandusky'. In their cutting and slashing to get the new count}', two sections immediately south of San- dusky were left unprovided for, and these were consequently attached to the southern end of it, making the township seven miles long from north to south, and two miles wide, in which condition it has ever since remained. The only town in it is East Crestline. It has three rail- roads, the Atlantic & Great Western passing through near its center, and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago, and Cleveland, Colum- bus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis, through the northern part. The land is generally gently rolling, all tillable, and very fertile. It was once densely wooded with all species of hard Avood, but now contains beautiful and well cul- tivated farms. There are no streams of size within its limits, though Clear Fork near its sources passes through the southern portion, and the headwaters of the Sandusky River, through the northern part. There is not suffi- cient water-power in these for milling purposes, consequently there were no water-mills in the township in an early day; the settlers going to Bellville for their gi'inding. Later, two horse- mills were erected, one by ]McQuade, in the southern part, and one by Snyder further north. Hominy lilocks were in general use before this.

The first election was held in Mr. IMozier's house, twelve votes being cast, and John Will- iams elected Justice of the Peace.

Several years elapsed before any school or schoolhouse was established. Jacob Dome was

��said to have been the first teacher. He taught a " subscription " school of about a dozen scholars. He was an ignorant German, and did little good. Russell's schoolhouse, south of the present village of Crestline, was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, in the township.

JMr. Snyder sa^'s the third year of their resi- dence in the woods, a terrific windstorm blew down their house and barn, and destroyed their growing crops, besides making gi'eat havoc in the timber.

Two churches have at present an organized existence within the limits of the township. The first one of these was erected by the Free-Will Baptists, about 1850, on Section 36, in the Harding settlement. It is a small frame church. Harvey Day, Samuel Nestle- rode, Mr. Reese and some others were among the first organizers and influential members. This organization went to pieces for some rea- son, and the church remained unoccupied for some years. In 1877, it was taken possession of bj' the "Albrights," who organized a church of which Jacob Lohr, Phillip Corman, John iMorton and others were the organizers. Rev. Hawks was their first minister. A Sabbath school is connected with the church, which is kept up the entire year.

The other church, called Riblet's Chapel, was erected near the old Riblet Tavern, about or before 1800. It is a Methodist Episcopal, and cost about 1800.

It was erected by the Lutherans, and during the first years of its existence was used b}- all denominations. In later years, however, it be- came exclusivel}' the property of the jMethod- ists. Rev. Coon was one of its first Pastors, and a few of its early influential members were Daniel Riblet, Jacob Haflich and John Wein. The Methodists organized about Januarj', 1876. The present Pastor is J. H. Johnson ; member- ship, about thirty. A Sunday school was or- ganized in 1 876. John Riblet is Superintendent, with a membership of fift3'.

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