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LogSettler Pioneered AreaWhich Became Village Of Van BurenTown Was LaidOut In 1833By Two MenThe village ot Van Buren, located oo old U.S. Route 25, seven miles north of Findlay in Allen Township, was laid out Dee. 28, 1833, by John Trout and George Ensminger.John Trout came to Hancock Co. in the summer of 1328, and erected a double log cabin on the pres*ent site of Van Buren. He returnedto Perry Co. for his family, arriving back in December of 1828. A daughter, Eliza, later married Elisha Beeson and their marriage was the first in the settlement.In 1831 Christian and Rebecca Bard and family arrived in the area and took possession of a cabin previously occupied by Isaac Miller. They were followed byJohn Bamd, George Ensminger, Michael Ensminger, Charles Baker and Hugh GilchristTwo Features ViewedVan Buren has two peculiarities which can't be found in any other Hancock County village. The original plat is a part of four sections of land, and it contains avillage square.The original plat is a part of the southeast quarter of section 12; the northeast quarter of section 13, the southwest quarter of section seven and the northwest quarter of section 18. The original plat, laid out by Trout and Ensminger. contained 58 lots and five streets.The streets were named Main,Market, Elm, Wood and Walnut, j The public square forms the cen-; ter of the village. !The village, named in honor of Martin Van Buren, one of the nation's public figures at that time, was incorporated in 1866. The firstmayor was Daniel Frick and he has been followed by C. S. Wilkinson, J. H, IiOehr; Dr. E. C. Wells, Dr. Edward George, A. Me-mert, L. P. McCune, Jacob l/ehr. James Huntington, James Grubb,D. H. Heistand, N. H. McGauchey, W. M. Bowersox, 0. Robbins, F. M. Say, James Poole, J. E. Huntington, L. B. Corbin, Frank Nee-land, R. E. Teatsorth, T. R. De-Long, W. R. Russell, Clyde L. Taylor, M. R. Powell. Marcus Hanna, Harold Neeland, Robert DeBouver, Cliff Clements, A. E. Gallant andF. Clark Roberts, present incumbent.Post Office Opened in 1837The post office in Van Buren was established in 1837 while the mail was being carried weekly on horseback between Beliefontaine and Maumee over the old H u I 1 Trace.The present post office building was erected in 1927 with money left to the village by the will ofGienna Trout Day, great-granddaughter of the village founder.The first postmaster was Dr. George Springer. He was followed by John Zarbaugh, S. M. Heller, C. S. Wilkiraon, Lewis Michaels, Dr. E. C. Wells, Daniel Frick, L. J. Hissong, Solomon Zarbaugh, H. C. Hartman, John Lee, Mrs. Elizabeth Wells, E. C. Showman, C.E. Hanna, Charles S. Roberts,G. S. Brushwood, Frank Van-Eman, Arby Barnd, C. A. Alexander, Mrs. Etta Doffield and Mrs. Bina Dayringer, present postmaster.Historic Landmark Stands The hotel, formerly known as the Van Buren House, was established about four years after the platting of the village, and isstill standing.The building was erected by David Ensminger and it operated under the name Ensminger Houseuntil 1837. Following the sale of the hotel by Mr. Ensminger, it was under many different managements for many years.The building was remodeled approximately 20 years ago and since that time has been used as apartments.CLARK ROBERTSTom Gavin, Tom Wesley and Hugh Holland. 'The village was piped for gas about 1385417.1133 Was Centennial YearBy 1333, the year Van Buren celebrated its centennial, tba pop* uiailan had reached 300, Approximately so families lived in the village, three-fourths of them owning homes. The businessmen st that time were C. W. DeRodes, operator of general store; Paul Lautr. owner of restaurant: Hess and Connell, hatchery owners: M. R. Hess, blacksmith; Glen Coons, barber; B, C. Griffith, barber; Tom Tedrow, operator of service statioo; Dick Wright, Unco gas station; and Gerald Price, owner of gas station and garage.During World War I a branch of the Red Cross was established in Van Buren, Mrs. L. B. Corbin was elected chairman and Ardinell Poe served as secretary. The group was organized by Mrs. W A. MacGeorge, Mrs. L, M. Cra* mer, Mrs. P. G. Poole, Miss Bina McMurray and Mrs. S. D. Spitler.Today Van Buren has a population of about 366. Although the business establishments have dwindled considerably in the last50 years, the residents claim they | AI still have the “bare necessities:**.mill in Van Buren in the late 1880’s. It burned down in 1889 and was never rebuilt.During the oil boom in 1886-88, a sucker rod factory was opened inWright’s Filling Station, Arlington Gas Co., DeBouve Grocery, Gillespie's restaurant and tavern and Hess's Blacksmith Shop.Ik* present village officials areVan Buren. It was owned and op-j £1® ^erated by philip Rupert and ~ ~~~ “ ‘ m*“* *r ,,‘lAdam English.Hand-Made CoffinsClemans, clerk; Mrs. Naomi Hock, treasurer; Welby Stahl, council president; Ray Cramner, John Kline, Harold Mericle, Roy Kes-Van Buren also had its share of i singer and A. A. Patterson, coun-early !8fl0*s. A tannery shop was cil members, located where the E.U.B. Church —-now stands. It was first owned and operated by Joe Ostheimer.John Zarbaugh owned a cabinet shop arid undertaking establishment. His coffins were hand-made and when his old building was tom down, the rafters in the attic were full of measuring sticks for coffins.About 1863 the village directory was as follows; Van Buren House, operated by Joseph Oestheimer; grocery store, owned by L, Michaels; grocery store, owned by K. Scott; physician and surgeon, D. H. Pugh; physician, G. Chaffin; farmers, S. Spitler; blacksmith shop and justice of the peace, P. Burman: Van Buren steam mill, Frank and Cramer; cabinet shop, J. Zarbaugh; boots and shoes, H, Kissebeth; stock dealer, W. J. Dorsey; blacksmith, A. Mummert,wagon maker, Peter May; andcarpenter and joiner, N. V.Fanble.Van Buren EUBHad Early StartHistory Is ToldOf DenominationVan Buren had a populationV ««170 and the following businessesIn the winter of 1867-68, the Rev. Peter, Flack of Willgrove circuit, assisted by the Rev. L. J. Osborn and the Rev. Temple, held a meeting in the Presbyterian Church, Van Buren. The meeting lasted for eight weeks and resulted in the organization of a United Brethren Church.Although the church was later incorporated as Trinity E.U.B. Church, it has always been called Van Buren E.U.B. Church.In the fall of 1868, at the annual conference, Van Buren was placed(Beof1heOhSaiJCoithein*NeamLotECoitheJtyoffarfiv(BeinDa(anlt;Jeiye.Iby 1870: Two general dry goods and grocery stores, a shoe shop, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, a steam mill, one hotel, a saloon and one physician, Dr. Edward George.About 1830 the Beliefontaine and Perrysburg Road was surveyed and constructed. It ran through the public square of Van Buren. This road, now old U.S. Route 25, was for many years a corduroy road made of logs and dirt. In 1832 the ridge road was laid out from Ridson, now Fostoria, to Van Buren.Railroad Followed HighwayThe old T. and O. C. Railroad, now owned by the New York Central, is located near the east edgean\W2sortheIcoianthiPeanthe Van Buren Circuit. The following comprised the circuit; VanBuren; Peters (now North Baltimore) Bethel, (now Ten Mtfe andSmiths, near Denver, west ofNorth Baltimore.The new Van Buren congregation made immediate plans for a new church building. The lot on which the present church stands was donated by John Franks. A large part of the work and material was donated.The material for the steeple and the large bell was donated by George Baker. The new church was dedicated in August, 1868. j * The first Sunday School was or- ■ £° ganized in the spring of 1869 with Isaac W. Whetstone as superintendent.In 1886 the charge was changed]1PeofIWlt;paWiof Van Buren and the first tram and caIIed North Baltimore andran across those tracks Feb. 7, 1883. At that time it opened shipping facilities from Van Buren to other areas of the state and country. The construction was supervised by Mr. Brown and the crew boarded at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hanna.An electric line, or interurban, ran through the village for approx-imately 30 years. The tracks were laid about 1902 and the line was abandoned about 1933-34.Van Buren was wired for elec-trifitv in 1Q13Van Buren Mission Station. By 1891 Van Buren was made an individual station. In September,1892, Bairdstown was placed onVan Buren’s charge.The first Christian Endeavor Society was established in the spring of 1894 with D. F. Nelson as president.During 1895 the Ladies Aid Society was formed with Mrs. EinoraShaffer as president. This organization is still very active in the church.PeanRilt;yeYcchianIpcIs
Newspaper Details
Findlay Republican Courier
Findlay, Ohio, US
Sat, Jul 21, 1962
Page 156
Full Page
Clipped by
Christina W.
NA, NA 22 Apr 2023
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