WAYNE COUNTY OHIO 
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File Contributed for use in the Wayne County Biographies Project by
Name: John and Cordelia Hall
Email: johnh2all@earthlink.net
Date: January 2003
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"The History of Wayne County, Ohio" published in 1910 by B. E. Bowen & Co.


Chippewa Township

   This township was organized September 4, 1815, and is situated in the extreme 
northeastern portion of the county, with Medina county on its north, Summit 
county on the east, Bughman township, Wayne county, on the south, and Milton 
township on its western border.  It contains thirty-six full sections of land, 
much of which is underlaid with coal, of which further mention will be made.
   The first to effect a settlement in Chippewa township were Nicholas and Adam 
Helmick, Henry Franks, Sr., Uriah, Henry and John Franks, Thomas Fredericks, 
Henry Houts, Michael Brouse, Paul Baughman, Jacob Hatfield, William Hatfield, 
John Reichildifer, Stephen Fisher, Joseph Springer, Mr. McConkey, John Adams, 
William Doyle, Frederick Galehouse, Isaac Montgomery, Michael Huffman, James and 
Adam Shatto, Rev. George Weygandt, George Christian, the Whitmans, Michael 
Feister, Samuel Pierpont, M. D., John Rouston, James Boak, "Major" South, James 
Hutchinson, Peter Bradenbaugh, Jacob Heffleman and some others whose names are 
now unknown in the records of this part of Wayne county.  Michael Basinger came 
to the township in 1815.  Pioneer Hatfield is the authority for the statement 
that Rogue's Hollow was named by a Doctor Crosby, who owned the ground and had 
it laid out.  Daniel Slanker built the first mill, a grist mill of the early-day 
type, and to it was also attached a saw mill; it was west of Doylestown.  Mike 
Greenoe had the first, Fred Galehouse the second and after them George Wellhouse 
and Michael Brouse had distilleries.  The first graveyard was at Easton, and 
Lucindia Heckerton was the first person to be buried there.  Johathan Coleman of 
Canton a married man, was drowned in Donor's lake in 1830.
   Henry Franks, a settler of 1816, was born in Fayette county  Pennsylvania, 
and settled south of Doylestown.  Henry Franks, known as "Old Henry," with some 
others, was taken prisoner on the Ohio river by the Indians when he was a young 
man, and held in captivity by them.  He was tall, straight and powerfully built. 
 His captors immediately fancied him and by ceremonies introduced him to Indian 
citizenship.  Its first condition was to run the gauntlet, and at the end of the 
race he was, to save his life, forced to strike an Indian with his hatchet, whom 
he nearly killed.  This successful and daring act on his part ingratiated him 
with his captors, who exclaimed, "He make good Indian."  Mr. Franks receiving a 
wound in the test of his manhood, the Indians instantly took charge of him, 
nursing and treating him kindly until he thoroughly recovered.  After the 
capture of Crawford in Ohio, and during the excitement of his horrible death, 
all of which Mr. Franks witnessed, he made an effort to escape, in which he was 
successful.  He fled to the lake shore, boarded a British vessel, went by water 
as far as Montreal, crossed to the American side, and thence on foot to 
Philadelphia.  From the last city he wended his way to Pittsburg, and thence on 
to his home in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, after a captivity of five years.
   Frederick Galehouse, one of the pioneers of the township, a German by birth, 
emigrated to America in 1786, going first to Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, 
settling in Chippewa township, this county in 1823.  He resided in Wayne county 
thirty years, removing to Doylestown, where he died in 1865.  His oldest son, 
Frederick Galehouse born in New Lisbon, came to Wayne county with his father and 
was brutally murdered by a Canadian named Amos Clark, who struck him down with a 
poker, in January, 1840.  The father, Frederick, had a contract with the 
government to superintend the construction of a public road from New Lisbon to 
Lake Erie for the use of artillery, and when the news of Hull's surrender came, 
he told all to scatter,which they did.
   The village of Chippewa was surveyed for Stephen Ford by Daniel McClure in 
the month of May, 1816.  Capt. John Rouston erected the first house in the 
place.
   The village of Slangerville was laid out by Jacob Slanker, Reuben Dressler 
and John Gartner in February, 1843.  This place, since the completion of the 
railroad, is known as Eaton.
   Doylestown, the chief place of the township for many years, was platted by 
William Doyle, December 9, 1827.  August 6, 1867, the place was incorporated.  
The first house in the village was a log structure built by William Doyle, and 
in it Doyle conducted a tavern, sold whisky and permitted many dances to be held 
there.  The first physician of the place was Doctor Pierrepont. who, while on a 
visit East, stole a horse and for the crime was sent to the penitentiary.  The 
first election for the Doylestown incorporation was held in December, 1866.  the 
first officers elected were: Mayor, A. H. Pursell, recorder, William Reed; 
treasurer, Samuel H. Miller; councilmen, Elias Galehouse, James H. Seiberling, 
Henry A. Soliday, Jacob Shaffer and R. B. Wasson.
   Doylestown was supplied with a newspaper by George W. Everts in 1874, when on 
July 11th, he issued the first number of the Doylestown journal.
   William G. Foster served as postmaster at this village from 1828 to 1847.
   Among the enterprising spirits of Doylestown was Elias Galehouse, who in his 
young manhood established a hotel at Doylestown, continued proprietor for eight 
years, then engaged in the general merchandise business; built a foundry, in 
company with John Gates, and made stoves, plows and other farm implements; also 
run a carriage manufactory at the same time.  Subsequently, he went into the 
coal mining industry and built a grist and saw-mill in Doylestown.
  Doylestown has been the seat of several useful and successful factories, 
including that of reaping and mowing machinery. In the early days of such 
machinery, 1861, Peter Cline, John F. Seiberling and John H. Hower formed a 
partnership to manufacture what was known as the "Excelsior" dropping reaper and 
mower, of which John F. Seiberling was the inventor.  The works were enlarged 
from time to time until 1865 and others were associated with the works.  A part 
of the plant was moved to Akron and a part was still conducted at Doylestown.  
From 1865 to 1875 the annual output of these machines was about nine hundred.  
After 1875 they built a new design of machine known as the "Empire" reaper and 
mower, invented by the same Mr. Seiberling.  One factory was maintained at 
Doylestown and another at Akron.  Of this plant the local writer of 1878 had 
this to say:  "This firm at Doylestown is the most solid and reliable 
manufacturing institution in Wayne county, or in northern Ohio.  It has thus far 
weathered financial cyclones, monetary upheavals, and panic simoons, its 
reputation unquestioned and its credit above challenge or suspicion.  It employs 
about seventy-five workmen in its works."
   The population of Chippewa township in 1900 was two thousand nine hundred and 
thirty-seven.
   The coal mining interests of this township have been very extensive and 
valuable.  This coal measure is located in the northern, eastern and central 
parts of the county, north of Chippewa creek, but this mineral wealth is found 
here and there throughout the township. It is of the bituminous, best quality 
type, such as the Mahoning and Briar Hill grade.  More concerning these mines 
will be found elsewhere in this work in the Geological chapter.