Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/665

 HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

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��stood on Vermillion River, about a mile north- west of Savannah. A second grist-mill was erected in 1827, by Thomas Haney, on Mulhol- len's Run, near town.

For many years the first settlers, though relig- iously inclined, were not able to erect a church building, meetings being held in private houses. The house of Thomas Ford was a prominent place of public worship for many years ; the pioneers — men, women and children — often traveling six or eight miles on foot to attend religious services ; lighting their way through the woods with torches of hickor}- bark. A church was finally erected near Mr. Ford's house, in 1830. It was called " Ford's meeting- house." It was a very good church, and would seat about four hundred people. The first meeting held in it was on the occasion of Thomas Ford's funeral. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Elmer Yocum. Rev. James Hanej' was the first minister, and for many years a prominent man, serving several terms in the Ohio Legislature. The first relig- ious meeting was held in his house, near the present village of Savannah.

The first school in the township was taught by Mrs. Patrick Elliott in her own house, in the winter of 1817-18. Rev. Haney, William Shaw and John Hendricks were among her pupils. It was many years before an}^ school building was erected, the first one being erected on the site of Savannah about 1818. Another was erected in 1820, in the southern part of the township, on the land of Abraham Huffman. The first teacher here was Robert Nelson, and his scholars were Abraham Huffman, Isaac Van Meter, Peter Vanostrand, Sr., Robert Ralston, An- drew Stevenson, Mrs. Treckle and David Mc- Kinney. One of the earliest schoolhouses was also erected near Ford's mill.

The first physician is Dr. Cliff, who came to Vermillion (Savannah) in 1823.

The township was a famous hunting-ground for the Seneca and Wyandot tribes of Indians ;

��they were generally inclined to peace, and did not disturb the settlers.

The first election was held at the house of John P'reeborn.

Savannah, the only town, was laid out in 1818, b}^ John Haney, son of Rev. James Haney, on the latter's land. It was first called Vermillion, but more frequently went b}' the name of " Haneytown," after its founder. Its first settler was Joseph Fast, a carpenter. The first schoolhouse was a log building, erected on the northeast corner of the town plat. Jacob McLain was the first brickmaker and hatter in the town and township ; Garnett Whitelock, the first blacksmith. Some of its first settlers were John Downer, a cabinet-maker ; Eliphalet Downer, hatter ; William Bryan and Joseph Marshall, blacksmiths, and James Duff, weaver ; they all lived in log houses. In 1836 or 1837, the names of town and post office was changed to Savannah; and from this time until 1840 the town was at the zenith of its prosperitj'- ; there were three stores, two public houses, and a supply of mechanics, all doing a fair busi- ness. It was a leading stopping place between the productive country south and the market on the lake, north. Several efforts were made between the j^ears 1830 and 1840, to erect a new county, with Savannah as the count}^ seat ; this failing, the town declined for several years. In 1858, an institution of learning called the " Savannah Male and Felliale Academ}- " was started, which seemed to put new life into the town.

There are several churches in the town : The Presbyterian, established in 1833, b}' Rev. Robert Lee ; the Free Presb^'terian, organized in 1851, by Rev. F. M. Finney ; the United Presbyterian, organized in 1858, by ReA^ J. Y. Ashenhurst ; the Associate Reformed Congregation, organized in 1831, by Rev. James Johnson, and the Disciple, organized in 1830, b}' Elders David Bryte and Joseph Harvout.

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