landed September 13, 1837, and settled on the farm now owned by the county, and known as the "Infirmary Farm." In 1838, he was elected Township Clerk, and held that position for many years. In 1840, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and re-elected for three terms.

Albert Opdycke, another of the soldiers of 1812, with R. H. Gilson, moved from Trumbull County, Ohio, and settled in Jefferson Township. He was one of the hardy pioneers and reared a large family of boys, of whom John and Heman are still living in the county. He cleared up a large farm, was loved and respected by all, and was twice elected Commissioner of Williams County. He lived more than fourscore years, and was one of the pillars of the M. E. Church. His house was the home of wearied itinerant preachers, who were always welcome. Many yet remember the name of "Pap" Opdycke. He has passed over Jordan and his works do follow him. Jacob Boyers (now of Clinton, Mo.) moved from Crawford County, Ohio, in 1835, and settled on the farm now owned by George Arnold (and known as the Andrew Smith farm). Mr. Boyers was energetic, loved to give and take a joke, full of fun and enjoyed himself in the company of his friends. George W. Perky came from Hancock County, Ohio, and settled on the farm now owned by the heirs of Jacob Folk. He was smart, but an oddity. Once, as one of his neighbors was passing, Perky was chopping out the road in a cat swamp. He remarked that "we read that God divided the land from the water, but here is a place He forgot." Andrew Ferrier and his sons moved from Coshocton County in 1835, and erected the first mill in this township on Beaver Creek, in 1837. His wife and self built the dam of cobble stones. The building was of logs. The wheat was ground, and conveyed to the second story by hand. The miller put the unbolted flour in a hole in the floor, while the patron turned the reel with the bolt on. In this way the early settlers procured their flour. The old man was a Presbyterian minister of the Gospel. Andrew Smith (now of Bryan, Ohio) moved from Coshocton County in 1837, and erected the first saw-mill. Henry Newman erected the second saw-mill. Joseph Moudy moved from Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1835, and settled in Pulaski; thence removed to Jefferson Township, and was there at the organization of the same and was elected Township Treasurer and Justice of the Peace. For fun, jokes and satire, his equal could not be found. Ephraim Plummer came from Ross County in the fall of 1834. John Shankster and sons moved from Ross County in 1835, and settled on the lands now occupied by him. Joseph Bush (now of Florence Township) was one of the early settlers. John Snyder, John and William Barger, George Dorshimer. Jacob Andrew, Joseph Engle, Turner Thompson and Isaac Fickle were. among the first settlers of this township. Henry Miller moved from

Stark County, Ohio, and settled on the land now owned by Martin Burns, at which place he subsequently started a carding machine run by horse-power. The first settlers of this part of the county had to go to Brunersburgh for their flour and corn-meal and pirogue it up Bean Creek, making their headquarters at Daniel Colgan's, in Springfield Township. It would take from four to six days to make a trip, and when they did arrive, at times the flour made "sick bread." Many of the first settlers commenced to clear their lands and plant corn by making a hole in the ground with an ax. Jabez Jones, Andrew Smith, George W. Myers, George Dorshimer, John Shankster, Jacob Boyers and Jacob Andre are the only ones living of the old settlers. It is true that many of their children and grandchildren are still living.

PRODUCTS OF FIELD AND FOREST.

Wheat, corn, oats, rye, buckwheat, hay, clover-seed, flax-seed, potatoes, turnips, sweet potatoes are the principal crops produced in this township; horses, mules, cattle, hogs and sheep are raised in abundance; apples, peaches, pears and small fruits are generally a sure crop. Originally the lands were covered with large trees, consisting of black and white walnut, poplar, blue and gray ash, sugar-maple and red elm. The forest abounded with bear, deer, wolves, turkeys, raccoons, minks, foxes, squirrels and rabbits, and from these the tables of the early settlers were supplied with meat. One of the old settlers once informed me that Williams County could not have been settled had they been deprived of basswood bark and coonskins. The skins were traded for tea, coffee, sugar and clothing. The log-chain and bed-cord were made from the bark of the basswood. Venison, corn or johnny-cake, and rye coffee or spicewood tea were considered a good meal. Wild bees were plenty, and in the fall of the year honey was obtained in large quantities.

EFFORT FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT.

After the division of the county in 1845, there was much dissatisfaction on account of the county-seat being located at Bryan, and petitions were put in circulation for its removal-one being for its location on lands now owned by Jared Graves, of Jefferson Township.

GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT.

The financial condition of the county was poor, the indebtedness being some $20,000. The future prosperity of the township did not look favorable. But with a strong arm the early pioneers went to work with a will, emigration came into the township, and in 1850 she had doubled her population. The completion of the Air-Line Branch of the Lake

Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad through the county gave new life to the farmers, and to-day the citizens of this township feel proud that they have one of the best townships in Northern Ohio.

FIRST BIRTH, DEATH AND MARRIAGE.

Eliza Hood, daughter of Andrew Hood, was the first person born in this township. Mary Perkins, daughter of John Perkins, was the first person who died. January 1, 1837, Andrew Hood and Elizabeth Reid were married, they being the first.

EARLY MARKETS.

Before the building of the railroad through the county, the farmers had to haul their wheat to Maumee City or Defiance, and sell for 50 cents per bushel.

NEIGHBORLY KINDNESS.

No domestic difficulties ever existed among her citizens, but all seemed anxious to help one another in rollings, house and barn raisings, and would go four and five miles to help each other.

EARLY TAVERNS.

The first tavern in this township was built by Jonathan Tressler, in the year 1851, in the village of West Jefferson; it was one of the largest buildings at that time in the county, and cost $4,000 or $5,000. O. Dolph built the second in the same village, and was the landlord for several years.

VILLAGE OF WEST JEFFERSON.

West Jefferson is the only village in this township, and was laid out and platted by Jonathan Tressler, George Dorshimer, Elias R. Brown and Jonathan Gilbert. John Richart started the first store; Samuel Sharon the second; Brownwell and White the third; John Tressler started the first grocery and saloon. The annual trade was not large. The village contained one store, one grocery, one saw-mill, one blacksmith shop, one hotel, two churches, and, at different times, four physicians but at present there is but one, and there are but two in the township. The inhabitants of Jefferson Township have never been blessed or even cursed with a lawyer residing within her limits. It has been said that it is a bad place for doctors and lawyers. Durbin's Corners (now called Karle) is the only post office in the township, and is at the village of West Jefferson. John Tressler was the first Postmaster, William Brown, second, Samuel Sherran, third, and Fred White, fourth. The trade and business of the township have been done principally at

Bryan, Pulaski, West Unity, Stryker and Montpelier; this accounts for their not having any village of note within her borders.

CHURCHES.

The same may be said in regard to her churches. The Methodist and German Reform Churches are located at Pulaski Village, while many of their members live in Jefferson Township.

About twenty years ago, the Evangelical Lutheran (English) built a fine church in the village of West Jefferson, at a cost of some $3,000. They have a fine congregation, and quite a number of members. George W. Walker was their first pastor. About the same time, the German Reformers built a good church at West Jefferson at a cost of $2,000. Rev. Mr. Butt was their first pastor. The house is at present occupied by the Methodists, there being no pastor of the German Reformed connected therewith. The United Brethren in Christ built a fine church, one mile north of George Dorshimer's, at a cost of about $2,000. They have regular meetings and some good members. The Church of God built a good frame church near "Bunker Hill,” in 1858, at a cost of some $2,000. It was subsequently burnt--supposed to be the work of an incendiary. In 1874, the German Reformers built a fine brick church at Bunker Hill, at a cost of $4,000 or $5,000. Rev. Hasler, Pastor. In 1881, the German Reformers built another good brick church, on lands formerly owned by B. S. Foust, at a cost of $3,000. Rev. Hasler, Pastor.

VARIOUS PREACHERS.

Rev. Simeon H. Alderman was the first Methodist preacher. He preached at Bunker Hill Schoolhouse the winter of 1842-43. John J. Hagerman was the second, J. L. Terris the third, and W. W. Winter the fourth. William L. Smith preached at Bunker Hill Schoolhouse in the winter of 1842-43, and was the first Brethren preacher. Jonathan Thomas was the second, and preached at the same house in 1843. R. R. Saulter preached at the same place in the summer of 1844, and was the first German Reformed preacher. Andrew Ferrier was the first Presbyterian preacher.

SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.

In the winter of 1839, Joel F. Pool taught the first school in the township in an old house on the land of Thomas Reid, now owned by Jacob M. Hester. This was before the township was organized into school districts. In 1840, George W. Durbin (now of Pioneer) taught the second school in a log schoolhouse near where the Centre Schoolhouse now stands. The logs were small and the door was made of clapboards. Some time during the winter, the scholars barred the teacher out, and asked of

him to treat them to something. The teacher procured a rail, and with it broke open the door. The scholars were glad to sue for terms.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

In 1841, the Trustees divided the township into twelve school districts, but no record can be found of the amount of money or the number of scholars there were in the township. The amount of money was kept on sheets of paper, and not until the year of 1845, do we find any correct amount of money or number of scholars. In that year, the township had three hundred and five scholars, and drew, from all sources, $299.89. From that time until the present the funds have been correctly kept, always plenty, and enough to keep their schools the time required by law. The following figures show the amount of moneys drawn each year for school purposes, to wit:

In 1842, James Welsh taught the first school in District No. 5; in 1843, he taught the second school. In the summer of 1842, M. B. Plummer taught the first school in District No. 6; in the winter of 1842-43, be taught the second term; in the winter of 1843-44, he taught the third term. In the winter of 1844-45, John W. Porter taught the fourth term. Seth B. Hyatt taught the first school in District No. 7, in the winter of 1843-44. Jacob Reid taught the first school in District No. 8, in 1845. J. Engle taught the first school in District No. 9 in the winter of 1845. Miss Brundydge taught the first school in District No. 3. Henry Sheets taught the first school in District No. 4. Lewis J. Baldwin taught the first school in District No. 1. Miss Powell taught the first school in District No. 2. Annette Hart taught the first school in District No. 12. From 1840 to 1846, the population of the township was small, and frequently two districts were joined together for school purposes, and, consequently, it is very hard to ascertain who were the first teachers in some of the districts.