Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/620

608 Wm. Moody and Wm. B. Hammett. The present ministers are Wm. Neal und M. F. Gallagher.

The Sunday school was organized about 1864 ; is large and active for a country school, having about fifty pupils. James Black is present Superintendent.

In addition to the foregoing churches is the German Reformed, located on Section 22, near the center of the township, on the State road. This building was erected about 1847, of logs, and is still standing, though it has been weatherboarded over. This organization was effected about two years before the church was erected. They worshiped during these two years in an old log church, built in an early day, by the Dunkards. about a half mile south of the present German Reformed Church. This Dunkard Church has long since disappeared, and the organization disbanded.

Quite a settlement of Germans are found in this section of the township ; the larger part of the original stock being from Western Pennsylvania, which, however, had the effect to bring in a number of European Germans, who are excellent and thrifty farmers. Those who organized this church were Martin Toby, Peter Strader, Peter Shire, Conrad Englehart, John Strader, Christian Mull. J. W. Strader and the Kohisers.

The early preachers were Revs, Handchy, Tressel, Weiscotten, Lenshaw and Krause; the latter continuing the ministerial relation about nine years. The present Pastor is Henry Walcer; and the present membership about sixty. A Sunday school is maintained during the summer, with a membership of about fifty. At present, preparations are being made to erect a new church.

The numerous and beautiful springs and running streams furnished water-power for a number of mills. In an early day, when the township was heavily wooded, and lumber was taken from the vicinity for building purposes, quite a number of saw mills were erected in different parts of the township. Latterly, stationary saw mills do not pay; but little lumber is now made from timber grown within the limits of the township, and this little is made by portable saw mills, using steam power. The old water saw mills have therefore disappeared forever. The houses of today are generally built of brick, or else of pine lumber, purchased at the yard or lumber depots.

The first saw mill was erected about 1816. and it is a question whether it was the one erected by Solomon Culver, three miles south of Mansfield on the State road, or the one erected by Robert Crosky. John Stewart also erected one of the early saw mills, which was destroyed by fire. No stationary saw mill, at present, exists in the township. The first grist mill was erected in 1818, and it is also a question whether Mr. Phelps built the first one in the southwest corner, Section 31, or George Marshall on the southeast corner; both are claimants for this honor. The second grist mill was built in 1823, by John Stewart, and the third by Robert Bentley. The latter was erected very near the township line, and is mentioned in the history of Madison Township. All the early mills, except the Stewart mill, have disappeared, and only their ruins mark the spot where the early pioneers waited hours, and sometimes even days, for their grinding. The Stewart mill has been rebuilt and improved, but yet occupies the spot where it was first erected, and is doing good service, being now known as the "Wickert mill." It is in the northern part of the township. About twelve or fifteen years since, a small grist-mill was erected by John Strasbach (who yet owns it), on Section 31, in the southwest corner of the township, on Clear Run. A saw-mill had been in operation here for many years before.

There is no town of consequence in this township. Washington Village was laid out where the road crosses, by John Conwell. Wes- ley Barnes and James Sirpliss. These