Wayne Twp., Auglaize Co., OH

Brief History of Wayne Twp.

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Wayne Twp. was named in honor of Anthony Wayne, organized in 1834, and located in the northeast corner of the county, covering 27 square miles. The first township election was held at the home of Samuel Mocraft in 1834, where 13 votes were cast. The second was held at the house of Wm. Black. The surface of the land is undulating, the soil rich. The Wallace fork of the Scioto rises in the southeast part of the township. Willow branch rises in the center and empties into the Muchanippe in Goshen township. Wrestle Creek, a branch of the Auglaize River, also heads in this township. The highest land in the state and the dividing ridge between the waters of the Auglaize and Scioto Rivers is located in Wayne. The prairie land in the eastern portion was drained with miles of ditches, cut from 10 to 13 feet wide and from 4 to 7 feet deep.

Provisions for the first families had to be brought from Logan and Champaign Counties, a toilsome journey over bad roads. The first grain was carried 15 miles to Cherokee to be milled, and required at least two days travel. The first crops of wheat were hauled to Fremont and sold for 50 cents/ bushel, and the trip took 8 days. In the fall of 1836 the first school-house was built of logs. Paper oiled with coon oil was nailed across the window openings which allowed some light to filter through; its greatest hazard being birds cutting the paper. The writing desks were made of puncheons, ten feet long and laid upon pins in the wall. There were two such desks, one on each side of the schoolhouse. The seats were 10' long saplings, split in two, and legs put in the round side with the flat side up. Asa R. Mahan taught the first school for 3 months in the winter of 1836/37 for a salary of $10 per month. A.D. Berry taught the second year, followed by Wm. Gilmer in 1838/39.

Waynesfield was laid out by E. G. Atkinson, who opened the first store. The first physician was Henry Leaman. By 1880 the village had three stores, one hotel, two churches, two physicians and a steam grist and saw mill.


Early Settlers of Wayne Twp.

The following list is of the first settlers in Wayne 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:

Settler

Origin

Settled

Year
Settled

Source /
Researcher

Notes

Berry, A.D.
Wayne
ATL80, p. 35 2nd Teacher
Berry, J.C.
Wayne by 1836 ATL80, p. 35
Berry, Richard
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35 1st Twp. Trustee
Black, Wm.
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Bowdle, H.W.
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Carons, Eli E.
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Cavender, Samuel
Wayne by 1836 ATL80, p. 35
Cox, Wm.
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Dawson, Isaac
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35 Brother to Joseph, Sr.
Dawson, Jonathan Trumbull Co., OH Wayne 1836 ATL80, p. 36 Taught for 10 yrs., Justice of Peace 9 yrs.
Dawson, Joseph Trumbull Co., OH Wayne Spring, 1836 ATL80, p. 35 1st Twp. Trustee, 10 ch: John R., Joseph, Isaac, Jonathan, Newton, Lewis; d. 1856, aged 83.
Dawson, Joseph, Jr. Trumbull Co., OH Wayne 1835 ATL80, p. 36 b. 1815, lvd. 1st with his Uncle Isaac Dawson, md. 1843 to Maria Moore, 8 ch: Elisha F., Mary Ann, Chas. H.; she d. 1865.
Dawson, Nathan Trumbull Co., OH Wayne 1836 ATL80, p. 36 b. 01 Jan 1825, md. Mar 1852 to Mary Kauffman, 6 ch, she d. May 1863; md. 2nd Frances Landes in 1865, 6 ch., taught district school & farmed
Ellsworth, Daniel
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Felger, Samuel
Wayne 1836 ATL80, p. 36
Gilmer, Wm.
Wayne
ATL80, p. 35 3rd Teacher
Gilmore, Allen Allegheny Co., PA Wayne 1833 ATL80, p. 35 1st Twp. Trustee, 6 ch: Mary J., Sylvania, David, Livonia, John A., and James A. (d. CW),
Gossard, Philip
Wayne
ATL80, p. 35 md. Ellen Ross 1851, 4 ch., 183rd O.V.I., d. 1864 from wounds
Hiett, William
Wayne 1830/31 ATL80, p. 35
Hurley, Gilbert
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Hurley, John
Wayne 1830/31 ATL80, p. 35
Jett, William VA & Champaign Co. Wayne 1833/34 Deed, Auglaize Co. Recorder's Office K. JETT
Kent, Alex.
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Kent, Wm.
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Lowman, Samuel Virginia, Champaign Co., OH Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35 b. 1807, md. Mary A. Plummer of Clarke Co.
Madden, Benj.
Wayne by 1836 ATL80, p. 35
Mahan, Asa R.
Wayne by 1836 ATL80, p. 35 1st Teacher
Mahan, James, Jr.
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Mahan, James, Sr.
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35 1st Justice of the Peace
Maxon, Simon
Wayne by 1836 ATL80, p. 35
McCall, Thomas
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
McPherson, Samuel
Wayne 1836 ATL80, p. 36
Mocraft, Samuel
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Mocraft, Simon
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Myers, David Belmont & Licking Co., OH Wayne 1841 ATL80, p. 35 b. 1805, md. Susan Jordon in 1841 in Licking Co., 5 ch., she d. 1852, md. 2nd Elizabeth A. Stow in 1853, 4 ch.
Oram, Aaron
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Perry, John
Wayne 1836 ATL80, p. 36
Pratt, Lyman
Wayne by 1836 ATL80, p. 35
Richardson, ? (Fa. of Byrd)
Wayne 1830 ATL80, p. 35 died at age 110
Richardson, Byrd Montgomery Co., VA, Shelby Co., St. Johns, OH Wayne 1834 ATL80, p. 35 b. 1809, d. 1871, md. Nancy Smiles, had 7 ch. Blackhoof buried on his farm at St. Johns
Ridley, John Vermont, Licking Co., OH Wayne 1837 ATL80, p. 35 b. 1794, md. Sarah Myers in 1824, Licking Co., had 7 ch., dau. Mrs. Winegardner, he d. 1849, his widow md. Levi Mix
Ross, Ellen Ross Co., OH Wayne 1834 ATL80, p. 35 b. 1828, md. Philip Gossard in 1851, 4 ch.
Ross, Moses
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35
Turney, Lee
Wayne by 1836 ATL80, p. 35
Wells, Harris
Wayne by 1836 ATL80, p. 35
Whetstone, Henry Huntington Co., PA, Richland Co., OH Wayne 1843 ATL80, p. 35 b. 1809, md. Mary Serrels in 1837, son Mathew, wife d. 1838; md. 2nnd Margaret Flemming, Richland Co., served as Twp. trustee and treasurer
Williams, Jacob
Wayne by 1834 ATL80, p. 35


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