OTTAWA county on the north, Wood on the west, Madison township on the south, and Washington township on the east with a fraction of Ottawa county, define Woodville township. In the original division of Sandusky county into townships the territory now comprised in Woodville was embraced in Madison and Clay townships. The records of the county commissioners show that the township, as it now stands, was organized pursuant to the following order:

At a special session of the county commissioners held April 1, 1840, it was ordered that so much of original surveyed township number six, range thirteen as is within the boundaries of Sandusky county, and all that part of original surveyed township number five, range thirteen north of the centre line, running east and west through the center of sections seven, eight, nine, ten and twelve be organized and constituted a new township by the name of Woodville, and that the first election for township officers be holden at the house of Amos E, Wood in said township on the 14th day of April next, between the hours required by law.

There were at that time a great many more electors than were necessary to effect the organization. The earliest township records have not been preserved so that the exact date of the first election cannot be given. However, it is known that during the summer of 1840 the voting for the first officers took place at the old Wood tavern which stood on the land now owned by members of the Price family, just east of the present village of Woodville. This was, perhaps, the first public gathering of the members of the new community, and as the election was merely of local interest with no political significance, it was very harmonious, and everybody had a good time, such a time as only a pioneer tavern can furnish. The name of the township is in honor of Amos E. Wood, who was one of the leading citizens at the time of its organization. The election resulted as follows: David Dunham, Lester Allen, and Archibald Rice, trustees; Ira Benedict and Jared Plumb, justices of the peace; Ira Benedict, clerk. These men, who were the most substantial citizens of the new township, succeeded in their honest endeavors to further the best interests of the people, and their merit was recognized by frequent re-elections. Any one taking an interest in the local history of Woodville would be amused at some of the old records kept by the clerk, in which are carefully noted indentures, accounts of stray cattle, and the record of the marks by which hogs and sheep were recognized. Sometimes the unfortunate animal was branded, sometimes painted, but the most popular way was the rather sanguinary process of slitting and otherwise mutilating the auricular appendages of the poor animals. Happily, since the days of fences this barbarous custom is unnecessary, and the ears of the head are intact. The elections have always been held at Woodville village. The officers elected in 1881 are as follows: R. Hartman, J. H. Hurralbrink, and Henry Blausey, trustees; George Wehrung, justice of the peace; Dr. Henry Bush, treasurer; George Wehrung, clerk; Jonathan Faler and B. D. Enoch, constables.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The productive territory of Woodville township has been redeemed from the famous Black Swamp, elsewhere described in this work. It lacks six sections in the northeast corner of being six miles square. This fractional piece was incorporated into Ottawa county at its organization in 1840. The surface is a monotonous plain, and was at one time covered by the waters of Lake Erie. The Portage River traverses the township in a northeasterly course, dividing it into almost equal parts. The Tousaint Creek in the northeast corner, and Sugar Creek in the southwest, run parallel with the Portage through the township, thus making the gradual slope of the plain toward Sandusky Bay. These streams are separated by almost imperceptible limestone ridges, which are the out-crops of the underlying strata of Niagara stone,
whose western boundary is marked by a line running south from section eight, leaving the township and county in section six. Beyond this line, on the west, may be seen the out-croppings of the water-lime stone, which is very valuable for building-stone, and bids fair to rival at no far distant day, the more celebrated building-stone of southern Ohio. The Niagara stone is extensively quarried in the vicinity of Woodville village, a number of lime-kilns being located in section twenty-one, near the cemetery. In the same locality there-are several good sand-banks that were deposited here during the days of geological formation. The land along the line of these stony ridges is unproductive, and m most places is covered with a scant growth of grass, which affords pasturage to the numerous sheep and cattle annually raised in the township. The underlying strata are also apparent in the courses eroded by the streams, and in many places the exposures are many feet in thickness. Between the ridges the soil is the ordinary clay characteristic of the Black Swamp. Where there is much fallen timber and decaying vegetable matter the earth is a black loam, which gives the soil a muckish character. There are considerable areas of swamp land which, however, is being redeemed by a thorough system of drainage. Experience has demonstrated that the farmer makes most by raising mixed crops. Wheat is always good, and its production is encouraged by the ready market afforded at Woodville.

The monotony of the view is constantly broken by extensive forests on every side. The most of the township was originally covered with low-land varieties of timber. Elm, hickory, cotton-wood, beech, ash, the varieties of oak, and the like, are found.

In the early days these forests teemed with game, small and great. Bear and wolves gave place to less savage game, such as wild turkeys with their gobble, gobble, gobble, and the mischievous, barking bunnies, so destructive to the corn. There was scarcely any bottom to the mud that covered the first roads, as those who tried them will testify.

THE FIRST ROAD

was the old mud pike, which was called the Maumee and Western Reserve turn-pike. It gave way more than forty years ago to the present substantial stone pike. Bisecting the township, it was the path of the emigrants between Toledo and the far East. It was this road that opened the township to the settler, and along its course are strewn some of the pleasantest pioneer reminiscences. Imagine yourself in a road little wider than an ordinary narrow street, bordered by tall, gloomy-looking forest trees, converging east and west and shutting off the view of the country ahead and behind. The road which, from the beginning, was a thoroughfare, is memorable because of numerous mud-holes extending from one tavern to another. It was not an unfrequent sight to see a mover's wagon stuck in the mud, and many a time were the people along the way called upon to pull the loads out of the mire. In those early days help was freely given, it being an unusual thing to charge anything for service.

The building of a stone pike was the making of Woodville township, and the pike lands rapidly rose m value. To-day, with the railroad running through the township, together with other facilities for travel, it is hard to realize the situation of travellers in the early days. In 1840 there were within the confines of the township ten pleasant carriages, valued at four hundred and seventy dollars, and forty-one horses worth one thousand six hundred and forty dollars, or forty-one dollars apiece. Much of the hauling was done with ox teams. In 1840 there were one hundred and eighty cattle, valued at one thousand four hundred and forty dollars. All the land in the township was worth but forty-one thousand five hundred and eighty-seven dollars, including houses and other property. Now the real estate is valued at four hundred and sixty-three thousand three hundred and twenty dollars, and chattel property at three hundred and seven thousand and seventy-eight dollars, making a total valuation of seven hundred and seventy thousand three hundred and ninety-eight dollars.

THE OLD TAVERNS.

There were at least three public taverns along the pike in Woodville township in the early days. The necessity for their proximity to one another is more apparent when we reflect that between each there was a continuous time-consuming, patience-exhausting mud hole, so bad, in fact, that It took all day to make a journey of a few miles.

The first tavern in the township was opened where Woodville village now is, in 1826, by Thomas Miller, the first settler. This hostelrie is described as a little log cabin, always full of comfort and good cheer. The old shell is still standing back of Cronnewett's drug store, in Woodville.

There was, a few years later, a tavern just across the river, which was kept by members of the Wood family. This was the place of the first election.

About the year 1840 the old trading post, that had been occupied by C. B. Collins, fell into the hands of Lewis Jennings, who turned it into a tavern, which, for a time, was a popular resort. In the spring of 1 84 1 a peddler by the name of Smith stopped for several weeks at this place. He had a good wagon and a fine mare, and his goods were of the best quality. His stock of goods beginning to decrease the peddler one morning bid good bye to his host and started on foot to Sandusky, where he intended to take the boat for Buffalo. When the time for his return had passed he did not arrive. The country round about was searched but no trace was found. Foul play was suspected and Mr. Jennings was arrested and taken to Woodville. The preliminary trial failed to prove anything and he was released. The excitement did not abate for some time. The horse, wagon, and goods were kept by Mr. Jennings, who, shortly afterwards, moved away. Nothing was ever heard of the missing peddler.

LAND RECORD.

The names of many of the early settlers of Woodville township appear in the annexed record of land entries, which indicates the original owners. It will be observed that much of the land fell into the hands of speculators who never thought of locating on their purchases.

The first record was made, in 1826, by C. B. Collins; others quickly follow. The full list for 1826 is as follows:

The record for 1827 is:

The following records of entries were made as early as 1829:

Land was recorded in 1831 by:

 Recorded in 1833:

Recorded in 1834:

 In the year 1835 the record of land entries is:

In 1836 the record was:

In 1837 there is an account of but two entries, viz.:

The list of entries recorded in 1839 is as follows:  

In 1840's record we find more names of actual settlers than heretofore:  

SETTLEMENT.

It was not until other parts of the county had been settled for a number of years that a permanent settlement was made in the territory of Woodville township. During the Indian occupation of the county the forests in the western part, being low and swampy, were only used as hunting grounds. The settlement was finally made by a number of American families, accompanied by numerous German pioneers. The State of New York furnished Woodville with most of its American population, while nearly all of the Germans came from Hanover.

The line of immigration from New York was generally up the Erie Canal to Buffalo, thence by boat to Toledo, and then by wagon to the place of settlement. Nearly all of the first settlers made the first clearings on their new farms, and built with their own hands their log cabins, many of them being compelled to camp out during the first few days of their sojourn in the strange land. In 1825 it was ordered that the mud pike, which was little more than a corduroy road, be built, and that adjoining land be sold as "pike lands." This was the signal for settlement.

Prior to this time there may have been here and there an occasional squatter. The first clearing was made on the present site of the village of Woodville, in 1825, at which time a little log cabin was erected, and in the fall of 1826 was occupied by Thomas and Harriet Miller. After Mr. Miller's death, in 1828, Mrs. Miller continued to keep tavern until 1837, when she married Charles Seager. Tradition has it that, at an early day, there was an old Indian beating-post at section thirty-five, on Sugar Creek, on the land now owned by G. H. Damschrader. It is known that this land was bought, in 1826,
by C. B. Collins, of Sandusky, who, ten years later, superintended the grading of the road. However, it is probable he did not occupy the land until 1836.

In 1832 Ephraim Wood, a native of Vermont, and his son-in-law, George H. Price, of New York, bought land and built houses in sections twenty-eight and seven. Price's eighty acres adjoined and embraced the south part of what is now the village of Woodville. Wood's farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-seven, just across the Portage River from Price's. He put up a log-house which not long afterwards received a frame addition and became a popular tavern. Here it was that the first township election was held, in 1840. Mr. Wood was born in Vermont, in 1780. He married Hannah Doan, a native of Cape Cod. There were four children. Amos E. was born in 1811, and died in 1850, ten years before his father. Both were leading citizens and had much to do with the prosperity of the township. Mr. Price was a native of New York, having been born in Poughkeepsie, in 1783. He was married, in 1829, to Parthena, second child of Ephraim Wood. They had two children, — George E. and William W. The latter was born in Kent, Ohio, in 1831. By his wife, Louise B. Ladd, he has had three children, — Willie H., Nellie P., and Grace E.

One of the earliest settlements in the east part of the township, was that of Lester Allen who was one of the first township trustees.

In October, 1831, the Baldwin and Chaffa families settled in the Black Swamp, there being but five families in Woodville township at the time of their settlement. They came from Geauga county, having originally emigrated from Vermont. Ebenezer Baldwin died of cholera, in 1834. His son, N. J. Baldwin, married Catharine Boose, whose parents came from New York in 1850, and settled in Black Swamp.

Davis Dunham, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1789, came to Woodville township in 1833, and settled in the south part of section twenty-five. By his wife, Anna Widener (born in Pennsylvania, in 1795, died in 1867), he had_nine children, viz: Anna, Rebecca, Almon, Sarah, Phineas, Margaret, Lucy, Davis, and Samantha. Mr. Dunham is the only survivor of the earliest pioneers of his neighborhood. He has been a prominent man, having had much to do with the affairs of the township. His oldest son, Almon, was born in Erie county, Ohio, in 1824, and in 1849 married Mary Allen, who died in 1879. Two of their four children are living, viz: Oren and Mary E. In 1880 Mr. Dunham married Mary E. Miller, who was born in 1854. Mr. Dunham is at present a member of the Ohio Legislature.

John H. Scott and his brother James, who came from Southeastern Ohio in 1834, settled in the eastern part of the township, John locating on the line in section one, where the toll gate now is, and James settling on the road from Woodville to Elmore, on a farm adjoining that now owned by Michael McBride. They moved to Illinois about 1856.

May 1, 1834, John and Mary Moore, with their family of eleven children, started from Hampton, Pennsylvania, and on the 19th of May arrived at the Black Swamp, three and a half miles west of Hessville. Land was bought of a Mr. Coleman. There was a cabin on the land and two acres had been cleared though not fenced. The nearest house west was one and a half miles off, east one mile, north three, and south three miles. The old house was afterwards used as a school-house, Mr. Moore having built a larger house of his own.

In 1834 Jared Plumb emigrated from New York, coming to Woodville township via Buffalo, across the lake to Toledo and thence by wagon down the Mud pike. He bought land on Sugar Creek now owned by C. F. Klansing, in section two. So thick was the woods along the creek that he had to cut his way to where he
erected his log house. He rapidly cleared his land and made himself a comfortable home where he resided until his death, in 1864. His widow resides in Toledo.

David B. Banks emigrated from New York to Ohio as early as 1834 or 1835 and located in section twenty-nine, where he built a grist-mill and saw-mill, his being the first mills in the township. He died in 1841. His widow married again and resides in Genoa, Ottawa county. About the time of Banks' settlement Archibald Rice and James Scoville, his brother-in-law, came from New York and settled near Woodville. Mr. Scoville's sister, Mrs. Rice, is living in the village. In 1840 Samuel and Erastus Pitcher, who several years before had entered land in the Rice neighborhood, made settlement. They afterwards removed to Michigan. Ira Kelsy, of New York, came with the Pitchers and located in the same neighborhood, as did also a Mr. Thatcher.

Peter Kratzer also settled in 1840 in the southwest corner of the township, section six, his house being on the county line between Wood and Sandusky. He died a few years ago. Members of his family live on the old place.

Edward Down, another settler of 1840, bought land in the southern part of the township. He was an Englishman, and emigrated to Ohio from New York. He only lived a short time after his settlement.

In 1839 Andrew Nuhfer became a resident of Woodville, coming from Bavaria. He is the present postmaster.

Ira Benedict, a native of New' York, came to Woodville township at an early day, and bought land up the Portage River, two or three miles from Woodville village. He rented his land at first, making final settlement in 1841. He was a very prominent man until his death, which occurred ten or twelve years ago. He was considered to be an exceptionally fine scholar for his day. He has a son living in Toledo. In 1839 John Vanettan settled in the Benedict neighborhood. He was also from New York. His son Jacob is living.

Barthol Hurralbrink, a native of Hanover, Germany, came to Woodville township in 1835, and settled on the Seager place. He improved a good farm, became a leading citizen, and died in 1865, aged sixty-five years. His son, John H., survives him.

In the same year of Hurralbrink's settlement, Hiram Preston, who had formerly lived on the State line between Pennsylvania and New York, came to this township and settled in section twenty-seven, where he still is living, at the age of eighty-one years.

Frederick Myerholtz and a Mr. Frary located in the Hurralbrink neighborhood in 1835. Both are dead.

About 1836 or 1837 Henry Seabert, an emigrant from Hanover, Germany, settled in Woodville. His family still lives in the neighborhood.

In 1837 William Blank, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in the southern part of the township, on Sugar Creek, where members of his family are still living. He died in 1871, aged eighty-one years. A Mr. Burnham, from Lake Champlain, came about the same time as Mr. Blank. About this time a Mr. Solnan, a wagon-maker from Germany, located about three-quarters of a mile south of Woodville. It was he who built the first frame house after the organization of the township. John Duke, an Irishman, lived on the north side of the pike, near where the village now is, where he sold goods.

Michael McBride, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Ohio in 1837, and in 1841 bought land on Sugar Creek, in section thirty-five, where he still resides. He was contractor for the building of the stone pike. His wife, Joanna Kaily, of Ireland, died in 1876. He has four children, all living.

Dr. A. R. Ferguson, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1814, came to Sandusky county in 1839, locating in the village of Woodville, where he kept a small drug store and practiced medicine until 1862, when he removed to Fremont. He was sheriff of the county for four years, and in 1866 moved to Ballville township, where he still resides. In 1843 he married Mary E. Hart, a native of New York, who died in 1850. Two children were born of this marriage, viz: Archibald, who resides in Tiffin, and Marietta, deceased. In 1855 Dr. Ferguson married Savilla, daughter of George and Lucy Cook. Ten children are the result of this union, all of whom are living, viz: William and Edward, residing at Green Spring; Lillie B., wife of Kelley Myers, of Fremont; the others are at home — Nellie E., Lulu M., Savilla E., Frank R., Fannie G., Alice B., and John A.

William C. Hendricks, a native of Germany, came from Toledo in 1839 and settled near Woodville. He is supposed to have been the first German who settled at Toledo.

Thomas L. Truman, jr., came to Woodville township in 1840, from Ottawa county. He is the son of Thomas L. Truman, sr., who emigrated from Connecticut to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1832, and in 1838 moved to Ottawa county, and was the first settler in Benton township. The younger Mr. Truman was married in 1843 to Susannah Baldwin, a native of Geauga county, Ohio. The result of this union was five children, two of whom, Albert A. and Thomas W., are deceased. Emeline married Samuel P. Gardner and resides at home. Betsy married Albert Myers and resides in Madison township; and the third daughter, Minnie, is the wife of D. B. Brown, M. D., Pemberville, Wood county.

In 1842 C. F. Klaving, of Germany, and a Mr. Hiller settled on Sugar Creek in the southern part of the township. In the same year two brothers, H. H. and H. B. Shoemaker, and Chris Gerion located in the same neighborhood.

Rev. George Cronnewett, pastor of the Lutheran church, became a resident of Woodville in 1841, During his time he has organized thirteen churches, and also been their pastoral supply for a greater or less number of years. On the third Sunday in Advent i866 his twenty-fifth anniversary in Woodville was celebrated. At this- time he preached from "Come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God." After the sermon he made a report, from which we extract the following items: During twenty-five years he preached about twelve hundred and fifty sermons, among which were a large number of funeral sermons. He baptized nearly seventeen hundred and confirmed about twelve hundred and fifty persons. He solemnized three hundred and sixty-four marriages. To accomplish this he travelled upwards of sixty-four thousand miles. When we think of the work he has done since then we have an idea of his Christian zeal.

Elijah Kellogg was born in Canada in 1819, and settled in Woodville in 1843. His grandfather participated, under General Ethan Allen, in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga.

Sanford G. Baker came from Wood county to this township in 1845, he bought land in section twenty. He was born in Georgia, Vermont, in 1817. By his own efforts he cleared his farm which was then a vast forest, and has it now under a high state of cultivation. He is the son of Elijah and Lavina (White) Baker. His father was a native of Vermont, and his mother, who was born in New York State, was a descendant of William White, who came over in the Mayflower. The Bakers were pioneers of Wood county. Sanford Baker married Cynthia A. Webster, who died in 1857. Six children were born of this marriage, of whom two daughters and one son are living. Mr. Baker was again married to Phebe Osborn, by whom he has had eleven children, ten of whom are living. Mr. Baker held the office of county commissioner for three years, and has been treasurer of the township. Of the children by Mr. Baker's first marriage, Helen M. is the wife of Israel Morse, and resides in Clay county, Kentucky; Emily is the wife of Jason Osborn, resides in Taylor county, Iowa; and John W., Woodville township. The children by the second wife are: Edmund, Ida, George, Belle, Rose, Sanford G., jr., Katie, Willie, Arthur, and Charlie.

Herman Kruse settled in 1845, having emigrated from Germany with his wife and four children. The family was increased to eight children, all of whom are living.

In 1847 John Kline, a native of Germany, settled near the Banks' mill. His family reside on the home place.

George Brion, of Wood county, settled in Woodville township in 1848.

J. F. Camper, born in Hanover, Germany, in 1794, came to this county in 1850, and settled in the northern part of Woodville township. He died in 1873. His widow, whose maiden name was Catharine Burgomeyer, is still living with her son Charles. The family consists of five children living and one deceased, viz: John, William, and Ernest, Woodville township; Mary, deceased; Frederick, Ottawa county; and Charles, Woodville township. Ernest, who accompanied his father from Germany, was born in 1827.

In 1856 he married Catharine Kruse, who was born in 1835. Four of the five children born of this marriage are living, viz: Henry, Caroline, John and Charles. George is dead. Mr. Camper farms two hundred and fifty acres of land.

CEMETERIES.

The oldest burying ground in Woodville township is located in section thirty-five, on Sugar Creek, about two miles southeast of the village of Woodville. The land was owned originally by C. B. Collins, who came from Sandusky about the year 1834 to superintend the grading of the old mud pike. In 1836 his wife died, and her grave was made across the creek, just west of the house. Mr. Collins set apart an acre of land for burial purposes, and since that time land has been added. Many of the pioneers found their last resting place in this yard, but it has not been used for seven or eight years, and is in a dilapidated condition.

THE UNION CEMETERY,

as it is called, has a rather peculiar origin. In the summer of 1846 a three-year-old son of Stephen Brown, of Woodville, died, and it was thought best to bury him near the village. Mr. Brown accordingly started in search of a suitable spot, and, after considerable search in the woods, found it at a point one-half mile due north of Woodville, in section twenty-one. Hither the funeral cortege repaired and in this spot was the lonely little grave made. It was not long before there was another grave there, and then another, until there was quite a community as a nucleus for the growth of the silent city that was laid out. In 1847 two acres were bought, at fifteen dollars an acre, and the ground was known as a township burying ground. Lots were laid off and subscriptions from ten cents upwards to a dollar entitled one to the ownership of a lot, which was drawn for. The ground has been enlarged from time to time, and now consists of twelve acres. Fully one thousand people are buried in the cemetery, and it is now the only popular burying place in the township. In passing through we noted the names on the head stones of the more prominent pioneers. The following is the list: Jared Plumb, died in 1864, aged sixty-two years; John Duke, 1853, fifty-five years; Captain John D. Hart, 1854, sixty-seven years; Jacob Hiser, 1878, seventy-four years; Peter Koerbel, 1870, eighty years; Abner Hart, 1854, sixty-four; Chauncy Rundell, 1856, fifty-seven; Frederick Steirkamp, 1879, sixty-one; George Brim, 1873, sixty-six; Barthol Hurralbrink, 1865, sixty-five; Lester Allen, 1847, thirty-two; Ephraim Wood, i860, eighty; Amos E. Wood, 1850, thirty-nine; Elijah Baker, 1864, eighty-nine; John F. Camper, 1873, seventy-eight; John Smith, 1877, seventy-three; Herman Beose, 1873, seventy-two; John Kline, 1877, seventy-two; Jacob Enoch, 1859 fifty-five; William Geyer, 1870, seventy-one, and many others.

THE CATHOLIC CEMETERY

is situated immediately south of the Union ground and is much smaller. It was laid out by Michael McBride. The first burial was that of Bryon Fay, a native of Ireland, who died October 8, 1854. Among those that have since been buried there are Daniel Hagerty, died 1875, age sixty-one; John McBride, 1866, eighty-five; Barthol Kaley, 1861, thirty-four; Robert Dailey, 1877, fifty-seven; Thomas Bennett, 1868, seventy-seven, and John Bookey, 1878, sixty-three.

THE VILLAGE OF WOODVILLE

is the geographical and political centre of the township, to which it has given its name. It is pleasantly situated on the west bank of the Portage River, on the line of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway, fifteen miles northwest of Fremont, and seventeen miles from Toledo. The town was laid out June 13, 1836, the proprietors being Amos E. Wood and George H. Price. The original plat consisted of forty-four lots on the west side of the river. At first there was a controversy about the name of the town, one Samuel Cochran being unwilling that it be called Woodville after Mr. Wood, but the name finally prevailed. The first house on the present site was Miller's tavern, built in 1825, described elsewhere in this work. The first frame house was erected in 1833, and was destroyed by fire in 1866. It stood on the main street, where the store of George Wehrung now is. It was a little structure, and in it was kept the first store. It was also the office of Dr. Manville, the first physician in the township. The second physician. Dr. A. R. Ferguson, came to Woodville in 1839, remaining until 1862. Dr. Huffman came a number of years after Dr. Ferguson, as did also Dr. Walker and Dr. Bell, from Fremont. Dr. Fred Jager, of Germany, located in the village in 1850, remaining about eighteen years. The present physicians are Drs. Bush and Bricker. After the organization of the township the first frame building erected was enclosed in the summer of 1840 by Garrett Solman, the first wagon-maker. The building, which was six inches narrower at the foundation than at the top, still stands just east of the post office. In this same year the old Lutheran church was put up. In 1834 John Duke, an old Scotchman, kept a general store in a log house that Harmon Baker now owns, and in 1839 B. L. Capel had a store on the property now occupied by Jacob Hoof, and afterward David Day kept a store.

In 1839 Dr. Ferguson had his office in a little frame building, which stood where Brunce's brick store now stands. Charles Powers sold goods in the doctor's office in 1838, where the post office was kept. Mr. Powers, the postmaster, was succeeded by John P. Endrekin, who was in turn succeeded by J. H. Rerick in 1860. In 1869 the office fell into the hands of Andrew Nuhfer, who still holds it. From a hamlet of three houses in 1839 Woodville has become a thriving village. What is known as the Pratt addition was made in 1855. August 19, 1873, an addition was made by Jonas Keil, and a second one July 28, 1875. There are at present more than five hundred inhabitants. The streets are broad, well graded and shaded, and are lined with neat dwelling houses and well kept yards. The following is a list of the business houses:

Groceries — J. F. Basey and Benjamin Otter.

Dry goods and notions — George Wehrung and H. Reinkamp.

General store — Henry Brunce.

Hardware — Andrew Nuhfer and William Keil.

Drug store — Dr. Bush and Albert Cronnewett.

Flouring-mill — William Brunce.

Woollen-mill— W. J. Keil.

Saw-mill — Lewis Maynard.

There are two hotels, the Cosmopolitan and the Pennsylvania House.

THE WOODVILLE CHURCHES.

The Woodville churches are all, without exception, in the village, there being no other places oi worship in the township. There are at present five organizations, of which the Lutheran is the strongest. The first members of this church emigrated from Germany in the fall of 1833. In 1840 they elected trustees, deacons, and elders. Pastor Konrad, of Tiffin, who had ministered to them for a short time, dying, Rev. George Cronnewett, of Michigan, was called to the pastorate, preaching his first sermon on the third Sunday in Advent, 1841. In 1843 the church was incorporated by act of Legislature,
and named the German Lutheran Reformed Church, of Woodville. The first house of worship, a frame, thirty by forty feet, was dedicated March 8, 1843. On March 3, 1860, the name was changed to the Lutheran Solomon's Church, of Woodville. The new church edifice, a brick building, forty-five by seventy feet, was dedicated December 24, 1865. In 1841 the Lutheran society numbered thirty-three families; in 1843, sixty-seven families; in 1865, eighty families; in 1874, one hundred and fifty families. The membership has been greatly increased through the instrumentality of Pastor Cronnewett.

The German Methodists organized a society in 1843, with about twenty members. Rev. E. Reinschneider, who had preached in Woodville before the organization, presided at the meeting, and was the first pastor of the church. The first house of worship was built soon after the organization and was used until 1844, when the congregation moved into the new church, also a frame building, the old house having been sold to the United Brethren. The first trustees were: Henry Seabert, Frederick Miller, Frederick Gerke, Andrew Nuhfer, and Frederick Steirkamp. The present trustees are: Lewis Walter, Frederick Wilkie, John Frabish, Christian Gerwin, and Peter Knoepe. Lewis Gerke is superintendent of the Sunday-school. Rev. John Haneke is pastor.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1844 in the old school-house, by Rev. Mr. Norton, the first pastor. There were about thirty members. The first stewards were: Stephen Brown and Ephraim Wood. A Sunday-school was organized with the church. Meetings were held in the school-house until the
building of the Union church, since which time the services have been in that house. Regular preaching is given by the present pastor, Rev. Mr. Richards.

As early as 1843, Father Rappe, late bishop of the Catholic church, held services in Woodville. He found a goodly number of adherents to the Catholic faith, and in 185 1 he succeeded in effecting an organization. A dwelling-house was purchased and converted into a church. This was used until 1862, when the present substantial brick building was dedicated, the church receiving ministerial supplies from the neighboring town of Elmore. Rev. Father Reiken is the present pastor. The membership is now about seventy.

Twenty-five years ago the United Brethren church was organized by Rev. John Long, who preached the first sermon. The services were held in the Union church, and continued in that place until 1874, when the society purchased the old German Methodist church building. There are at present about thirty members. The present pastor is Rev. Hartzel, who resides at Elmore. In 1859 the Methodists, Presbyterians, and Evangelicals, not having any place for worship, combined, without outside help, in building a house, which is known as the Union church, each society having one representative on the board of trustees. The Methodists and Evangelicals were organized. The Presbyterians were few in number, and their society, with that of the Evangelicals, has become extinct. As has been stated, the Methodists now have a house of their own.

THK SCHOOLS.

Woodville township is not lacking in educational facilities, and is constantly increasing them. In the days of settlement, little log school-houses quickly sprang up in the several districts established. These relics of pioneer days have given way to the more tasty and substantial frame and brick buildings of the present time.

The first school-house was built at Woodville, in 1836, the same year that the village was laid out. Miss Catharine Seager was the first teacher. The daughters of Ira Benedict and Fared Plumb also taught in the several early schools in the township. In 1839 a frame building was put up in Woodville where the blacksmith-shop now is. This was at first used by the Lutherans for church purposes, but afterwards became a school-house.

In 1836, during the winter, the house of John Moore, in the southwest part of the township, was transformed into a school-house, Mr. Moore having removed to a new house. His daughter was the teacher at this place. The next winter the school was held in the ball-room of the old tavern on the present Damschrader place, on Sugar Creek; John Scott taught this school for his board. In 1837 a new building was put up near the old tavern.

The educational advantages of Woodville village increased with advancing years. In 1865 an addition of one story was put on to the brick school-house that for years had served as a miniature temple of Minerva. The crowning work was done in 1878, when the present handsome brick house was built, that is to-day the architectural pride of the village. About the year 1865 Woodville had been made a special school district and the number of children of school age justified the expenditure of nine thousand dollars. The directors at the time of the construction of the new building were: Andrew Nuhfer, William H. Brunce, and John H. Furrey. The school is under good management and is doing good work. A. T. Aller is the principal, and Miss A. Reynolds, with Miss Sacharies are his assistants.

MILLS.

The first grist-mill in Woodville township was built by David B. Banks, in 1835. It was located in section twenty-nine, on the west bank of the Portage River, a short distance from the present village of Woodville. There was also a saw-mill on the other side of the river. The flouring-mill was at first run by horse and ox power, the customers furnishing their teams to grind the grain. As the whole neighborhood depended on this mill, business was lively. It was last run by William Hendricks, who rebuilt it several years ago.

The first mill at Woodville was built by Henry Seabert, more than twenty years ago. It was doing a prosperous business when it was destroyed by fire. After it was rebuilt it fell into the hands of John P. Endrekin, and was afterwards managed by Dr. Archibald R. Ferguson. The fine brick structure that now occupies the site of the old mill is owned by William Brunce. It is run by steam and has the trade of the whole township.

There is also a saw-mill in section four, on the farm of Caleb Klink. The steam saw-mill at Woodville is owned by Lewis Maynard. Since the early days there has been a carding machine at Woodville. The woollen-mill, as it now stands, is owned by W. J. Keil.

 

Source:  History of Sandusky County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographies of Prominent Citizens and Pioneers, by H. Z. Williams & Bro., Homer Everett, (c) 1882, pp. 780-792