Brief History of St. Marys Twp.

Go to Early Settlers ***** Go to Auglaize History Page

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.

The following list is of the first settlers in St. Marys Township. Other lists will soon be online listing first settlers for each township. For the time being, we will limit the inclusion of settlers up until about the year 1850. Once we have finished this task, we may extend the time-span. If your ancestor doesn't appear here, check the county and other township lists. If you have information about the settlement of your ancestor, please submit it for inclusion on these lists. Your submission must include reference to a source document (i.e. deed, Bible record, legal document).

Key to Source Abbreviations:

    AUH = History of Auglaize County
    D = Deed Volume/Page Number

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


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