Benson, Dawson, Calvin and Vail erected a flouring-mill in the east part of town. Mr. Dawson is still living here and is at present head miller in the Unity Mills. The mill was subsequently removed to Bryan by J. A. Simon, and is now in operation there.

Plummer & Cline quit business in the summer of 1848, and in the fall, S. Walker, of Adrian, moved into the building vacated, and did a good business, employing two clerks—A. L. Murray and Seth Lindsley. In the spring of 1849, he put up a store building on the lot where Ritchey's buildings now stand. The first floor was divided into two rooms; the east room Mr. Walker filled with dry goods, and the west room was occupied by H. P. Sanger for a hardware store. The upper room was used for a Sons of Temperance and Masonic hall.

There was quite an interest manifested in the cause of temperance in those early days, and the interest is still kept up to the present day. In the summer of 1848, the citizens of West Unity organized a society called the Sons of Temperance. The leaders in the movement were such men as Dr. Grove, H. H. Peppard, W. Azier, H. P. Sanger, George Rockwell and others. The society held their meetings in a house on the lot now owned by David Holtzberg until the summer of 1849, when they moved into their new hall over Walker's store.

The credit of organizing the first Masonic Lodge in Williams County, from which all the Lodges, Chapters and Encampments are outgrowths, is due to West Unity. The lodge was organized in August, 1849, by W. A. Hunter, who had the honor of being first Worshipful Master, and the order has been in a flourishing condition ever since. H. H. Peppard, who still lives in West Unity, was the first man who joined the order. In 1858, the hall then occupied by the Masonic Lodge was destroyed by fire, and they moved into the room over A. J. Tressler's store, and to their own building in 1865. In the year 1881, this building was destroyed by fire, and the lodge have just erected a fine brick building, two stories high.

ADDITIONAL FACTS OF INTEREST.

There are still remaining of the old recidents of 1849, at this time, G. H. Nitchey and wife, Abner Ayers and wife, Jerry Cline and wife, H. H. Peppard and wife, Mrs. Jacob Bohner, Nathan Edwards, George Rings, D. E. Rockwell and perhaps others.

In April, 1849, W. A. Hunter, now of Oskaloosa, Iowa, commenced the publication of a newspaper called the Equal Rights, under which name it sailed till 1852, when it was changed to the Republican Standard. The paper flourished until the winter of 1855, when it was removed to Bryan.

The plank road running west of Toledo was built in 1850 and passed

through West Unity. For several years thereafter large numbers of movers' covered wagons could daily be seen going "West" over this route. The road was of great benefit to the town and to all the country through which it passed.

In the year 1850, Seth Lindsley opened a dry goods store, and in 1851 A. J. Tressler opened a store in the room now owned and occupied by Jerry Cline. Mr. Lindsley was in business only about a year when he broke up. He then removed to Stryker, where he still lives. Mr. Tressler remained here until 1859, when he removed to Bryan, having, it is said, made about $15,000 during his sojourn here.

We believe the first church organization in the town of West Unity was the Universalist. Rev. N. Crary, now, and we believe then, of Hicksville, preached here as early as 1846. He organized a small congregation, among whom were some of the best citizens of the place and vicinity, to which he preached at stated intervals. Rev. A. L. Wood, then at Bryan, was the first Presbyterian minister that ever preached in West Unity. He came here in 1851 and organized a congregation consisting of about twenty members, among whom were R. G. Ely and wife, Frank Smith and wife, W. A. Hunter and wife, and G. H. Nitchey and wife. The church services were held over Colberth & Rockwell's iron foundry. In addition to these, there were regularly organized Methodist Episcopal and United Brethren Churches, with regular circuit services. The United Brethren was the first church building erected here, and the bell in the tower the first to call the people to the house of worship. But the M. E. Church followed closely in the wake in each and all the enterprises named. The homes of some of the members of these churches were two, three, and even four miles from their places of worship, and it was no uncommon thing in that day for people to walk, or ride after an 66 ox-team" "to church, while others, more fortunate in being the possessors of horses and lumber wagons, were enabled to drive in very good style!

When the Air-Line Division of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad was completed as far as Stryker, a hack line was established at once between that place and West Unity. S. Wynn was the first hack-driver over this route. In 1864, a contract was made with D. C. Hamilton, and for sixteen years carried the United States mail between the two points. In 1880, Jacob Shultz was the successful competitor for this route and will hold it for four years. Mr. Hamilton still carries the freight from Stryker to this place.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Union Agricultural Society of Williams, Fulton and Defiance Counties was organized in this place in 1857, the first fair being held in

the fall of the same year. The officers of the association were Dr. G. W. Finch, President; Swain Pierce and John Kunkle, Vice Presidents; N. S. Snow, Secretary; Benjamin Borton, Treasurer; J. S. Prickitt, Asher Ely, John Miller and G. R. Richardson, Board of Managers; R. G. Ely, Chief Marshal; D. M. Webb and T. S. Webb, Marshals of Stock. At the time the society was organized, there had been one fair at Bryan, and every effort was made by the citizens of West Unity to surpass it. Dr. Finch and others devoted a great deal of time and money to make the new undertaking a success. The fair grounds were a part of the farm of Jacob Bohner. The fair was held three days, in the latter part of September, and the price of admission was 10 cents. Competition for trotting was extended to three States-Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. The first premium was $50. Prof. Burrows, at that time a school teacher at this place, afterward Principal of the High School at Hillsdale, Mich., and now a resident of Kansas, delivered an address the first year of the fair. In 1861, an address on agriculture was delivered before the society by Buckeye Broad-axe, and it is said the only time he touched his subject was when he brought his hand down on the head of one of the officers and said "cabbage head." On account of the war breaking out in 1861, it was thought best not to hold a fair in 1862. In 1863, the officers met to make arrangements for holding a fair the same year, but Mr. Bohner refused to allow the further use of his land for a fair ground, as his agreement was to the effect that if the association failed to hold the fair any one year, the ground reverted to him. This was a death-blow to the association, as it was not deemed advisable to procure new grounds and erect new buildings.

INCORPORATION.

West Unity was incorporated in 1866. At the election held on the 24th day of February, the following officers were elected: Mayor, H. H. Peppard; Clerk, C. W. Skinner; members of Council, Dr. G. W. Finch, Dr. J. N. Runnion, J. M. Webb, George Rings and J. Cline. The Judges of the Election were Jacob Bohner, William H. McGrew and D. M. Webb; Clerks, E. H. Derby and John Mondy. On March 29, E. S. Davies was elected Treasurer, and Alfred F. Stoner, Marshal. The first ordinance passed by the Council was for police regulations in the incorporated village, and was passed April 23, 1866.

HORSE-THIEF SOCIETY.

In 1867, the Franklin Vigilance Horse Committee was organized. The object of this association is to capture horse-thieves and, in fact, any other thieves who may steal property of any kind from its members. The first officers were Capt. John Shilling; First Lieutenant, George

Shetler; Second Lieutenant, William Geesey; Treasurer, Benjamin Borton; Secretary, Daniel McLaughlin. George Shetler was elected Captain in 1870, and held this position three years; then Dr. J. N. Runnion was elected and has held the office ever since. Mr. Borton has held the office of Treasurer ever since it was organized. The officers are elected each year. The members are from West Unity and Brady Township, with a few from Franklin Township, Fulton County. They have had to make several raids for thieves or stolen property, and have always been successful in making captures. The association has over $600 in the treasury, and it would be best for horse-thieves to keep clear of this "Neck o' Woods." But we must bring this brief sketch of the early history of Brady Township and West Unity to a close, and speak of its progress and business at the present time.

GENERAL PROGRESS.

It is the natural and laudable desire of every place, and of every man in it, to attract emigration, and in that, as in all bargains, both parties should know the points of the trade. The history of the business of a community is a mirror of the town, and we have undertaken the task of thus portraying the town of West Unity, and giving a true pen-picture of Brady Township, based upon actual observation of our industries, and our commercial as well as our professional business houses and their managers, so far as this be necessary to present to outsiders the true inwardness of the town and surrounding country. Although Lockport was the first town started, West Unity is really the only town in the township, and is surrounded by thriving and industrious farmers, who own the best land found in Northwestern Ohio. West Unity is the second largest town in the county, having a population of nearly one thousand souls, and has the reputation, far and near, of being a live business town, and for its size. cannot be equaled by any town in the State; and for energy and life is far ahead of many of larger population. The whistle of the locomotive does not disturb the citizens of the town, but they live in expectation, and hope to have a road built and in operation before many years.

POSTMASTERS OF WEST UNITY.

The different Postmasters in West Unity were John Rings, Jared C. Parker, T. S. C. Morrison, M. R. Willett, John Barnhart, William Letcher, Daniel C. Baxter and the present incumbent, Stanley Kert. Mr. Kent has had the office for fifteen years. The first money order issued was October 5, 1868, and given to Mrs. Dr. A. M. Wilber. The amount was $50.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

The township contains seven church buildings, namely, one Quaker, two Methodist, one German Methodist, one Evangelical, one United Brethren and one Church of God Bethel. These all are in a prosperous condition. The Presbyterians also have an organization, but as yet have no church edifice.

The town is not behind any of its competitors in the way of schools. The school building at West Unity is universally conceded to be the finest in the county. The style of the architecture is modern, and is a magnificent specimen of architectural skill. It is situated on a fine eminence. in the southeast part of town, and has two spacious front entrances. The building is 6 feet in length, 54 feet in breadth and 74 feet in height from the base line to the apex of the tower, and to the apex of the main roof of the building, 54 feet. The principal materials used in the composition of the building are brick and stone. The interior of the first story consists of two large school-rooms, the east room having a capacity for seating eighty persons, and the west room, seventy-two. There are two grand side halls, and elegant and massive stair-cases. The second story is divided into two large school-rooms, each with a seating capacity for seventy-five to eighty persons, and two recitation rooms. The painting is of the highest artistic excellence and was done by H. Shawley, of West Unity. The woodwork, masonry and plastering are of the highest order, and the contractor, Henry Clay, also of West Unity, performed the work with the most perfect satisfaction. The most remarkable feature is its solid construction and compact snugness with which space is utilized in its erection. Four large furnaces are used to heat the rooms and halls. The architect of this magnificent building is F. O. Fallis, of Toledo, Ohio, not only an accomplished gentleman, but one of the best-informed architects in the country. Our citizens are largely indebted to the members of our efficient school board, who have labored zealously to build one of the finest and most substantial structures of the kind to be found in Northwestern Ohio. No effort is being spared to make the school one of the best in the history of the schools, and students wishing a practical education cannot do better than by attending the West Unity Graded Schools.

MEMBERS OF BOARD OF EDUCATION, PAST AND PRESENT, OF WEST UNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Members elected on July 6, 1865-Eli Booth, one year; R. P. Hollington and E. S. Davis, two years; G. W. Finch and John Wisner, three years; John Wisner, Clerk. July 6, 1866-James Richardson and Adam Yesbera were elected for three years. January 7, 1867, Eli Booth