Brief History of Union Twp. |
Go to Early Settlers ***** Go to Auglaize History Page
Union Twp. is located in the northeastern portion of Auglaize Co. and borders Allen County. The land has a more undulating surface than any other township in the county. Springs abound and the whole section is well watered by living streams. The Auglaize River flows across the northwest corner, while Blackhoof, Wrestle, Huffman, Virginia and Wolf creeks traverse throughout. The township was organized in 1836. Elections were held at the home of Joseph Lusk for a number of years. During the first 15 years the township officers received no compensation for their duties. The first school was taught by R. C. Layton about 1836. In 1840 the township was organized into four school districts, a log schoolhouse built in each one. Wesley Chapel was the first log church built in the township, which was later replaced with a modern frame structure.
It was settled principally by settlers from Virginia and southern Ohio. The first piece of land entered in the township was in Section 3 by Jacobs. In 1880 the township had two gravel pikes, and two villages, Uniopolis and part of St. Johns. Uniopolis was the only village wholly within the township, situated in Section 17, on the Wapakoneta and Waynesfield gravel road. It was a pleasant little village of about 200 inhabitants in 1880 and contained two stores of general merchandise, one school-house, one grocery store, one steam saw mill, one hotel and two churches.
Early Settlers of Union Twp. |
The following list is of the first settlers in Union 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:
ATL80 = 1880 Atlas of Auglaize County, compiled by H.G. Howland, published 1880 by Robert Sutton
AUH = History of Auglaize County, by William McMurray, 1898
C = Census
P&B ALS = The Portrait and Biographical Record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties
D = Deed Volume/Page Number
Settler |
Origin |
Settled |
Year |
Source / |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bacome, Lemuel | Champaign Co., OH | Union | 1832/33 | ATL80, p. 36 | b. 1809, md. Margaret Watt in 1833 and settled on his land |
Balzell, John | |
Union | by 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | 1st township clerk |
Carter, John | |
Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Copeland, Abner | Virginia | Union | 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | Son, Joseph md. in 1849 Mary Ann English, had 5 ch. |
Corder, John | Union | 1832 | ATL80, p. 36 | 1st trustee | |
Faler, Benjamin | PA, Clay Twp. in 1837 | Union | 1871 | ATL80, p. 36 | b. 1812, md. Margaret Hall in 1835 |
Focht, Adam, Sr. or Jr. | Schuylkill Co., PA | Union | 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | Adam Sr. had sons: Daniel, John, Samuel & Adam Jr. |
Focht, Daniel | Schuylkill Co., PA | Union | 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 AUH; C |
9 ch: Samuel, Daniel md. Maria Justice in 1855, Lewis, Adam, John, William, Jacob, Susan, Mary; d. 1853 |
Focht, John | Schuylkill Co., PA | Union | |
ATL80, p. 36 | b. 1824, md. Mary Mertz in 1847, 3 sons & 7 daus. |
Focht, Samuel | Schuylkill Co., PA | Union | 1838 | ATL80, p. 36 | b. 1812, 2nd J.P., Infirmary Dir. 12 yrs., md. Mary Beathers, md. 2nd Louisa Justice, 8 ch. |
Graham, Wm. | |
Union | 1833 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Golden, Jesse | |
Union | 1833 | Land Records; Aug. Co. Hist.; D. Parlette | Wf. Susanna BURKE; Land located at S.R. 67 & Townline Road; Farm listed as Century Ancestral Farm in 1933; Dau. Margaret Melissa md. Reuben Parlett. |
Harden, John | Somerset Co., PA | Union | 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | md. twice, 1st wife d. 1833, 2nd in 1845, 8 ch. living, Joseph, Mark, Jesse |
Harrod, Alex | Knox Co., OH | Union | 1845 | ATL80, p. 36 | b. 1824, md. Elizabeth Nauss in 1858, 4 ch. |
Harrod, Levi | |
Union | 1835 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Hodges, M. | |
Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Hoffman, John | |
Union | 1833 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Howell, Aaron | |
Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Jacobs, John | |
Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Justice, Allen | Tazewell Co., VA | Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 P&B ALS; C |
Born near the head of the Blue Stone, Tazewell Co., VA; md. Eleanor FLUMMER |
Layton R. C. | |
Union | by 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | Taught the 1st school |
Lusk, Benj. | |
Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Lusk, Charles | |
Union | 1832 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Lusk, James C. | |
Union | 1832 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Lusk, John | |
Union | 1832 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Lusk, Joseph | |
Union | by 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | 1st elections held at his home |
McCormic, John | |
Union | 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | wife died Feb 1879, dau. Mrs. Richard Sproul |
Mix, Levi | Knox Co., OH | Union | 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | d. 1875, age 84, son Uri Mix md. Margaret Bayliff. |
Morris, John | Virginia | Union | 1833 | ATL80, p. 36 | b. 1798, md. Mary A. Clarkson in 1832, 1st white child born in the township was his son, John; 1st J.P. |
Patterson, Wm. | |
Union | 1833 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Perkins, Lewis Y. | Richland Co., OH | Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 | Son, Elias Perkins |
Porter, Moses | Virginia | Union | 1835 | ATL80, p. 36 | b. 1799, md. Alice Watt in 1825, 5 ch. |
Richardson, Byrd | |
Union | 1832 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Richardson, Wm. | |
Union | 1832 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Rinehart, H. F. | |
Union | 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Rinehart, Hugh T. | Virginia | Union | |
ATL80, p. 36 | b. 1813, md. Julia Godfrey in 1833, 10 ch; Co. Comm., J.P. for 12 years. |
Schooler, John | |
Union | |
ATL80, p. 36 | 1st trustee |
Schooler, John | |
Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Speece, John A. | |
Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Spees, Andrew | Ross Co. | Union | 1834 | ATL80, p. 36 | Came with his father, Matthias Spees |
Stiles, Jonathan | Vermont, NY, OH | Union | 1835 | ATL80, p. 36 | d. 1857, sons George & Elias |
Walton, John B. | |
Union | 1836 | ATL80, p. 36 | |
Watt, James | |
Union | 1832 | ATL80, p. 36 | d. 1840 |
Wolery, Casper | |
Union | by 1850 | Dan Woolary | 1850 Census; Farmer |
Wolery, John | |
Union | by 1850 | Dan Woolary | 1850 Census; Farmer |
Wolery, Elizabeth | |
Union | by 1850 | Dan Woolary | 1850 Census; Head of Household; Mother of John & Casper; Wife of Henry |