Brief History of St. Marys Twp. |
One of the very first white men to settle in what is now St. Marys Twp., was James Girty, who established a trading post at the head waters of the St. Marys River, which came to be called "Girty-Town." James Girty and his brother, Simon, were the notorious brothers who terrorized settlers. In 1794 Gen. Anthony Wayne's army arrived at Girty-Town and established a store house. Soon thereafter, Ft. Barbee was built at the head waters of the St. Marys River. The land is generally flat and houses the man-made Grand Lake St. Marys which was built to feed water into the Miami-Erie Canal. Due to the construction of the canal through the village of St. Marys in 1838, the town began to grow quite rapidly for the times.
St. Marys became the first seat of justice for Mercer County before Auglaize County was formed. The first court sessions were held when the presiding judge of the third judicial district (which included Montgomery, Miami, Shelby, Allen and Van Wert counties) was able to attend. Court was held in a log cabin, but the juries met outside to deliberate their assigned cases, which limited trials by jury in inclement weather. The first jail was built on the corner of Spring and Main Streets. The canal furnished a good supply of running water for milling purposes, and several mills flourished, including: the R. B. Gordon, Neitert, and Koops flour mills, the St. Marys Woolen Mill, the Reservoir Mill and the Farina Mill.
Some of the early churches were the Methodist Evangelical Society which was organized in 1825 by Rev. Jas. B. Finley. One of its founding members was C. Vincent, who came from Baltimore, MD. They held services in an old log school house until a frame church was built in 1840. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1848 with a meeting held at the court house by Rev. J. L. Belleville and L. A. Ogden of the Miami Presbytery. The German Protestant Episcopal Church was organized June 18, 1849. In 1863 the Christian Union Church was organized with five members.
Early Settlers of St. Marys Twp. |
Settler | Origin | Settled | Year Settled | Source / Researcher | Notes |
Applegate, Isaac | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Applegate, Isaac | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Armstrong, David | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Armstrong, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Armstrong, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Armstrong, Thomas A. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Armstrong, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Barbee, Colonel | St. Marys | 1813 | ATL80, p. 29 | Built Ft. Barbee | |
Barrington, R. R. | Ire>Piqua | St. Marys Twp | 1822 | ATL80, p. 30 | md. Mary Armstrong |
Barrington, R. R. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Barrington, Richard R. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Benner, Christian | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Bennet, Benjamin | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Berry, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Bigger, Robert | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Blew, John | b. Champaign Co. 1820 | St. Marys Twp | June, 1824 | ATL80, p. 31 | |
Blew, Joseph | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Blew, Joseph D. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Bodkin, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Bodkins, James | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Brandenburg, Henry L. | b. MD 1805>Mont. C. | St. Marys Twp | 1833 | ATL80, p. 31 | md. Eliz. Benner - 1837 |
Brownell, Robert P. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Brownum, Robert | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Carter, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Catterlin, David | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Catterlin, Joseph | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Catterline, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Catterline, Joseph | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Cleland, Martin | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Cleland, Martin | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Compton, Amos | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Conner, George | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Crabb, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Crabb, Stephen | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Crabb, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Crabb, William, Jun. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Dennison, Maria | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Douglass, James | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Doute, Joseph | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Doute, Picket | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Dungan, Isaiah | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Dungan, Isaiah | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Emanuel, Hiram | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Flowers, Thomas | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Gibson, James | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Giddens, Samuel R. | b. Eng 1814 | St. Marys Twp | 1839 | ATL80, p. 31 | md. Jane Kirtin in 1842 |
Girty, James | |||||
Girty, Simon | |||||
Godard, Michael | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Graber, Christopher | b. Ger 1798>US 1829 | St. Marys Twp | 1829 | ATL80, p. 31 | |
Hatfield, Samuel | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Hathaway, Nimrod | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Hawthorn, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Hawthorne, John | b. Ire 1790>PA | St. Marys Twp | 1824 | ATL80, p. 30 | d. Jan., 1877 |
Hay, James | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Health, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Heath, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Helm, Henry M. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Helm, Henry M. | b. VA 1798>KY | St. Marys Twp | Spring 1827 | ATL80, p. 31 | md. Angeline Spanklin -1819 |
Helm, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Henke, Henry | b. Hannover, 26 Sep 1812 | St. Marys Twp | 1839 | ATL80, p. 31 | md. Louisa Stroaffer - Jul, 1843 |
Hinkle, Asa | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Hinkle, Asa | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Hinkle, Henry | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Hollingsworth, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Houston, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Johns, Israel | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Johns, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Johnson, Rich. M., Col. | St. Marys | 1812 | ATL80, p.29 | War of 1812 | |
Koop, Frederick | b. Hanover 14 Jan 1801 | Sec. 33 | 1835 | ATL80, p. 31 | |
Longworth, Jonathan | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Major, Caleb | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Major, Hamilton | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Major, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Majors, Hamilton | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Majors, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Manning, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Manning, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Matson, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
McCumsey, Charles | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
McCumsey, Thomas | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
McCumsey, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
McKee, Thomas | b. 1801 | St. Marys Twp | 1824-25 | ATL80, p. 31 | md. Anna Reynolds - 1827 |
Miller, Alexander | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Miller, John, Jun. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Miller, John, Sen. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Miller, Sloan | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Mott, Samuel R., Hon. | b. 26 Jan 1818, Knox C. | St. Marys Twp | 1833 | ATL80, p. 31 | |
Muray, Charles | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Murdock, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Murdock, William | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Murray, Barney | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Murray, Charles | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Nickols, Isaac | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Opdyke, Albert | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Opdyke, Peter | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Opdyke, Peter | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Phelps, Edward M., Judge | b. CT 13 Nov 1813 | St. Marys Twp | 1836 | ATL80, p. 31 | OH Senator |
Phillips, James | b. PA 16 Sep 1811 | St. Marys Twp | 1844 | ATL80, p. 31 | md. Sarah E. Helm |
Pickeral, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Pickeral, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Reed, Martin | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Riley, James W. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Sacket, Joseph | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Sacket, Samuel | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Sawyer, Wm. Hon. | Dayton | St. Marys Twp | 1843 | ATL80, p. 31 | b. 1801, OH Congressman |
Scott, Thomas | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Smith, Charles, Sen. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Smith, Henry | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Smith, Henry | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Smith, Henry | b. DE>Ham. Co. | St. Marys Twp | 1820-21 | ATL80, p. 31 | md. Eliz. Hinkle |
Sturgeon, Thomas S. | b. PA 1803 | St. Marys Twp | Jan. 1830 | ATL80, p. 30 | md. Mary D. Ross in Miami Co. in 1829 |
Swren, Ezekiel | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Van Nuss, Jacobus J. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Van Nuss, Jacobus J. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Vanmiddleworth, Peter | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Vanosdoll, Lucas | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 29 | 1824 Taxpayer | ||
Vanosdoll, Lucas | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Vincent, C. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Warfield, Richard | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Watkins, Charles | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Williams, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Winters, William B. | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Woodruff, David | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Wyland, John | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer | ||
Wyland, Jonathan | St. Marys Twp | ATL80, p. 30 | 1830 Taxpayer |