Springfield Township lies in the Central Western portion of Lucas County. It is bounded on the North by Sylvania, East by Adams and a corner of Waynesfield, South by Monclova, and West by a part of Monclova and Spencer Townships. The principal watercourses within its boundaries are Swan and Wolf Creeks, which form a junction near its Eastern border. The soil in the Southern part is clay-loam. Originally it was wet for tillage; but since the draining process has been successfully employed, it has been converted into a highly productive section of country; the Central and Northern portions of the Township are more sandy, but produce good crops of wheat, corn and fruit. Tile Township is crossed nearly centrally from East to West by the Ail' Line Division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, with a Station at Holland, near the center of the Township; which is also the place of Township business and of the Post Office.

Springfiield originally embraced the area described in the following resolution adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Lucas County, June 20, 1836:

"Resolved, By the Board, That a new civil Township be erected, to be comprehended within the following boundaries, to wit:

Commencing on the South line of Township No. 2, in the Twelve Mile Square Reserve, between Sections 32 and 33; thence North, on the Section line, to the North line of said Sections; thence East, on said Section line, to the West line of Section 27; thence North, on said West line to the North line of said Section 27; thence East, on said North line to the West line of Section 23; thence North to the North line of said Section 23; thence East on the said North line to the West line of Section 13; thence North to the Fulton line; thence East on said Fulton line to Port Lawrence Township; thence bounded on the East by Port Lawrence Township, on the North by the North line of Said Township No. 2, and West by the West of said Township No. 2; until it strikes the Fulton line from the North; thence by the East line of Townships Nos. 7 and 8, in Range nine, until it strikes the South line of Township No. 2; thence on the South by the South line of Township No. 2 to the place of beginning; and the said Township shall be known under the name of Springfield."

March 14, 1853, the Northern part of what was then Waynesfield Township, including the Northern half of River Tracts Nos. 575, 576, 579, 580 and 581, now in Adams Township, was added to Springfield Township, and on the same date the Township of Monclova was formed from Waynesfield and the Southern part of Springfield.

The Township of Springfield was reduced to its present dimensions by the detachment of a portion to Adams Township in 1856, since which its boundaries have remained unchanged.

EARLY SETTLERS.

It cannot now be learned definitely who was the first settler in Springfield Township. Dennis Sage was probably the first or among the first. He settled in the Township in 1829, and at the time &his death was the oldest living pioneer. He was for several years Treasurer of the Township. He was married with Sarah (Wood) Holloway, widow of Herbert Holloway. They had four children, two of whom are living, viz.: Ida (Mrs. A. P. Mann), and Thomas W. Sage, proprietor of an Agricultural Store at Holland. Dennis Sage died in 1887, aged 93 years.

Chloe Lees was an early settler, though it appears she did not purchase land till 1844. She had two sons, small boys, when she came to the country, viz: Edmund and Simeon P. Lees. Peter Holloway remembers distinctly that the family lived in the Township when he came in 1834; and Simeon P. Lees is authority for saying that they were settlers as early as 1830. At this date the settlers consisted of two or three families. If the Lees family came in 1830, Simeon P. would have been but six years old, for he was born in Winstead, Connecticut, August 3, 1824. He was married in Maumee City, in 1854, with Anna M. Cullmore. As a citizen and a man, few are more highly respected. He is at present Treasurer of the Township, and has held the office some 10 years.

With the exception of Dennis Sage, the oldest resident pioneer in 1884 was Ellison DeMott, who died in the last mentioned year. His son, Clark W. DeMott, was noted as a successful Bee-keeper in Springfield. He was born in the Township December 27, 1852, but moved to Maryland, in 1885.

Among the early settlers in this Township was Peter Holloway, from whom the numerous family of that name are descended. In 1666,three brothers emigrated from Somersetshire, England, to Boston. They were ship-builders, and built and owned some of the fastest sailing Vessels then in the Colonies. Subsequently, one settled in Charleston, South Carolina; one in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Michael, the ancestors of the Northern branch of the Holloways, remained in Boston. Peter Holloway, the first, a descendant of Michael of the third generation, was born in Dighton, Massachusetts, March 19, 1751; moved to Taunton, Massachusetts, about 1782; and from Taunton to York, Livingston County, New York, about 1815. He

was the inventor of a machine for cutting and heading nails, and engaged in the business before and for part of the time during, the Revolutionary War. It is said that he was not in sympathy with the Puritan Fathers, and refused to pay the Minister's tax in the established Church of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay; whereupon, they sued him and he allowed his family Bible to be sold for the tax. He had two brothers--George, Captain of a Privateer in the Colonial service, and William, Captain of a Merchant Vessel. Peter died in York in 1831. Peter Holloway, second son of the above, was born in Dighton, Massachusetts, May 21, 1778; went to Taunton with his father in 1782; and from Taunton to Canandaigua, New York, in 1798. He was engaged in blacksmithing for the Indians, who were then much more numerous than the whites. He was married with Sophia Seymour, daughter of Ira Seymour, of Victor, New York, and formerly (1804)

High Sheriff at Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He removed to West Bloomfield the year of his marriage, where he was engaged in farming, kept a hotel and carried on blacksmithing. He volunteered in the Cavalry service in the War of 1812-15, got into Buffalo when the Town was burning and the British shipping just leaving port. At the close of the War he settled in York, Livingston County. In 1833 he moved with his family to Maumee,. and the year following to the farm in Springfield Township, on which Charles B. Holloway now resides, where he died September 1, 1865, having spent 31 years on the farm. His family, consisted of five sons and three daughters--Herbert, Abigail, Eliza S., Peter, Chester S., George G., Mary Ann and Charles B.; three of whom are now living, viz.: Peter, Chester S., and Charles B. Charles B. Holloway represented Lucas County in the Ohio Legislature, 1879-81. He was born in York, Livingston County, New York, Jane 14, 1826; was married with Nancy Ann Gunn, daughter of Asman Gunn, a pioneer of Springfield Township, May 3, 1855. He took prominent part in the organization of the militia of his Township. As Captain of Company C, Fourth Regiment Ohio Militia, he was appointed by the Adjutant-General, Charles W. Hill, to take command of the Regiment till the organization was completed. At an election in Monclova in August, 1863, he was chosen Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment, and received his commission from Governor Todd, August 30, 1863. Mr. Holloway was active and efficient as a member of Assembly, and gained great credit, especially for the passage of his Telegraph bill, a measure designed to afford relief from the monopoly of the Western Union Telegraph Company by securing competition in the telegraph business. A report of the proceedings in the House says: "The Holloway telegraph bill, preventing Railroad Companies from giving the exclusive right of way to any one Telegraph Company, came up in the House this afternoon, and after a sharp fight, was passed by 80 yeas to no nays. In the authorship and enactment of the measure, Mr. Holloway has shown himself at once an able, skillful and useful Representative." The Holloway homestead, now owned and occupied by Charles B. Holloway, was entered by David Purdun in 1831, and by him transferred to John E. Hunt, of' whom Peter Holloway obtained it in 1834. The present Peter Holloway resides on the adjoining farm, in the edge of Monclova Township. The land belonged to the State or Canal lands, which were chiefly sold in 1842. These lands extended into Springfield Township a mile and a half North of the Monclova line. Settlements were considerably retarded upon the Canal lands prior to 1842, the appraisement being too high to suit purchasers. In 1837, they were first brought into market.

In 1833 David Trumbull, ancestor of the Trumbull family of this Township, settled on the West half of the Southwest quarter of Section 17--the land on which William O., I. C. and R. H. Trumbull and A. S. Hovey now reside. Part of this is the somewhat noted Cranberry Farm. In October, 1870, James Trumbull, son of David, picked from three acres on this farm 400 bushels of Cranberries, which were worth $3.80 per bushel in market, or $500 per acre for the crop. They were picked upon shares (one-fifth), 250 pickers being on the ground at one time. His son, Rufus H. Trumbull, has raised as many as 1,600 bushels of these berries in one season, and in 1887 had 12 acres in this crop.

William O. and Rufus H. Trumbull, grandsons of the original settler, were Soldiers in the Union army during the War of the Rebellion.

Harrison Wood, a son of Thomas and Matilda Wood, came with his parents to Springfield, from Orleans County, New York, in 1835. Mr. Wood served in the War of the Rebellion in Company A, Fourteenth Regiment O.V. I., and was wounded at Tallahoma, Tenn. Mr. Wood is a merchant at Holland and Clerk of the Township of Springfield. Perry, another son of Thomas and Matilda Wood, was born in Genesee County, New York, March 27, 1824, and came to this Township with his parents. He has served as Justice of the Peace.

The first Mill in the Township proper was built by John Gnagy on Wolf Creek, in 1834. John Walter built a Saw-mill on Swan Creek in the Southeast part of the Township in 1836.

The following were residents of the Township prior to 1834: Bingham D. Abbott, JacobFalk, Jacob Gnagy, Isaac Silvers, John Walter, William Beals, Abraham Walter, John Birchfield, David Purdon, Philander Noble, John Strayer, James R. Ford, William Berry, Lorenzo Abbott, John Cummins, Herrick A. Rew, Patrick Flynn, Ellison DeMott, John Wiltse, William VanHorn, James Dean, David Trumbull, Jeremiah Kimball, Dennis Sage, James S. Kitchell, Joseph Divine, Samuel Divine, Linas Frost, Chloe Lees, Selah Divine, Jonathan BarIow, John Divine, Willard Barnes. All these are dead or removed from the Township, except John Strayer, who resides in that part of Springfield set off to Monclova in 1853. (See Monclova.)

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

In accordance with the act of the Board of County Commissioners, erecting the Township of Springfield, the first election for civil officers was held at the house of William Ford, October 8, 1836. James Egnew, Thomas Wood and John Birchfield were chosen Trustees; Peter Holloway, Clerk; John Wiltse, Treasurer; William Ford, Constable; John Birchfield and John Spencer, Justices of the Peace.

March 5, 1838, the Trustees, James Egnew, John Birchfield and Patrick Flynn, settled with the Supervisors of Highways. No charges were made for services. The following were the Supervisors of the respective districts: No. 1--Wiley Hamilton; No. 2--Ephraim M. Parks; No. 3--Henry Dilgart; No. 4--John Spencer; No. 5--Samuel DeMott; No. 6-Lewis Rumsey; No. 7--James Dean; No. 8--James Egnew.

April 2, 1838, the electors of the Township held their annual election at the house of Samuel Divine. James Egnew, John Birchfield and Patrick Flynn were Judges; and Josiah Cressy and Lewis Rumsey, Clerks. The following officers were elected: Peter Holloway, Township Clerk; James Dean and Lewis Rumsey, Trustees; John Wiltse, Treasurer; Thomas Wood and Linas Frost, Constables; Dennis Sage and David Trumbull, Overseers of the Poor; John Wiltse, Wiley Hamilton and James Egnew, Fence Viewers; Samuel Divine, Selah Divine and Lewis Rumsey, School Inspectors; Solomon Salisbury, John Birchfield, Samuel Divine, John Spencer, Samuel Jay, John Wiltse and Mason Dobbins, Supervisors of Highways.

The Road tax for the Township, in 1838, was $9.38 and the Poor tax, $5.10.

February 2, 1839, John Wiltse was appointed School Director for District No. 2, vice Hiram Wiltse, removed out of the District.

In 1836, the following School Districts were set off in the Township: No. l--Commencing at the Northwest corner of the Township on Section six, and composed of the following sections: 7, 18, 19, 30, 31, 32, 29, 20, 17, 8, 5 and three-fourths of sections 4, 9, 16 and 21, and the whole of section 28. No. 2-Composed of Sections 22 and 15, with the addition of the quarter parts of Sections 16 and 21. No. 3--Composed of Sections 1, 12, 14, 11, 2, I0 and 3, with the East quarter of Sections 4 and 7 ½.

One of the earliest roads laid out in the Township was "the old County Road," running from Lewis Rumsey's to the five-mile tree. A petition was presented by Josiah Cressy and others to the Board of County Commissioners, March 7, 1837, praying for the alteration of this road so as to discontinue it from Josiah Rumsey's West to the house of Dennis Sage, making it intersect the road leading to the Maumee at the nearest point, and there terminate. It was ordered, that the road be so changed, and the Board appointed Thomas Leaming, Hezekiah Hubbell, Jarvis Gilbert and Mason Dobbin, as Viewers; and Erastus Briggs, Surveyor, “to appear at the commencement of said route on the 2d Monday in April and proceed to discharge the duties required of them by law.”

February 6, 1838, the County appropriated $140 to rebuild the bridge across Swan Greek, near Jacob Gnagy's in Springfield Township, which had been swept away by the freshet.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1836--1887.

Clerks--Peter Holloway, 1836-40; Josiah Cressy, 1840; Samuel Divine, 1841-44; Anthony L. Willard, 1844-46; Herbert Holloway, 1846; Selah Divine, 1847; Hiram Wiltse, 1848; Selah Divine, 1849-52; Charles B. Holloway, 1852-54; Selah Divine, 1854; Charles B. Holloway, 1855; II. H. G. Smith, 1856; Philo Hall, 1857; Charles B. Holloway, 1858; Hiram Wiltse, 1859; Daniel P. Brown, 1860; Charles B. Holloway, 1861.; E. L. Wood, 1862; Joseph Walker, 1863; S.W. Clark, 1864-66; Joseph Walker, 1866-68; Herbert Holloway, 1868; George W. Holloway, 1869-72; Harrison Wood, 1872; George W. Holloway, 1873-75; A. W. Files, 1875; Harrison Wood, 1876-84; Ralph McNees, 1884; David McNees, 1885; Harrison Wood, 1886-87.

TREASURER--John Wiltse, 1836-39; Lewis Rumsey, 1839; Wiley Hamilton, 1840; A. U. Hamilton, 1841; John Birchfield, 1842; Dennis Sage, 1843-45; John Birchfield, 1845-47; Dennis Sage, 1847-50; Solomon Salisbury, 1850; Dennis Sage, 1851; Solomon Salisbury, 1852; Dennis Sage, 1853; S. D. Wilcox, 1854-56; John Burdo, 1856; Robert Clark, 1857; Dennis Sage, 1858-60; James Trumbull, 1860; Robert Lees, 1861; George Wilbur, 1862-65; Theron Hamilton, 1865; Joshua Birchfield, 1866-69; Simon P. Lees, 1869-73; George W. Holloway, 1873-76; Patrick Dowling, 1876-78; David Baylis, 1878; Simeon P. Lees, 1879-84; George W. Holloway, 1885-87; Simeon P. Lees, 1887.

TRUSTEES--1836--James Egnew, John Birchfield, Thomas Wood. 1837--James Egnew, John Birchfield, Patrick Flynn. 1838--James Egnew, Lewis Rumsey, James Dean. 1839--Alfred Hamilton, James

Dean, John Patten. 1840--Alfred Hamilton, Thomas Bull, John Patten. 1841--John Birchfield, John Patten, Herbert Holloway. 1842--Herbert Holloway, John Patten, William Price. 1843--Herbert Holloway, William Price, Osman Gunn. 1844--Osman Gunn, Harvey Kellogg, James Dean. 1845--Harvey Kellogg, Solomon Salisbury, Jacob Gnagy. 1846--Jacob Gnagy, Solomon Salisbury, Ezra Holt. 1847--T. J. Dobbin. Michael Debolt, John Strayer. 1848--John Taylor, Michael Debolt, Thomas J. Dobbin. 1849-- John Taylor, James Dean, Michael Debolt. 1850- John Taylor, James Dean, Joseph Roop. 1851- James M. Sangston, George Wilbur, O. C. Wilson. 1852--James M. Sangston, George Wilbur, O. C. Wilson. 1853--James M. Sangston, Thomas Wood, Joseph G. Cass. 1854-O. C. Wilson, Jarvis Gilbert, James Dean. 1855--Jarvis Gilbert, O. C. Wilson, Hiram Wiltse. 1856--G. W. Norton, J. M. Sangston, George Wilbur. 1857--George Wilbur, Thomas Hamilton, Jacob Corsen. 1858--George Wilbur, Thomas Wood, L. R. Jerome. 1859--Thomas Wood, George Wilbur, Samuel Jay. 1860--Josiah Cressy, Hiram Hamilton, Dennis Sage. 1861--Theron Hamilton, John Burdo. 1862--Theron Hamilton, L. R. Jerome, James Jay. 1863--Charles B. Holloway, L. R. Jerome, James Trumbull. 1864--Charles B. Holloway, Perry Wood, J. W. Jerome. 1865-- C. B. Holloway, J. W. Jerome, Perry Wood. 1866--C. B. Holloway, Edwin Hamilton, Hiram Wiltse. 1867--C. B. Holloway. Edwin Hamilton, N. B. McNutt. 1868-9—James Goodrich, Samuel Rudd, Patrick Dowling. 1870--Patrick Dowling, M. S. Hubbell, William Waterbury. 1871--M. S. Hubbell, William Waterbury, Coleman J. Cowell. 1872--M. S. Hubbell, Wm. O. Trumbull, C. J. Cowell. 1873-4--M. S. Hubbell, J. R. Barbour, W. J. Cressy. 1875--J. B. Griffin, C. J. Cowell, Robert Erwin. 1876--M. S. Hubbell, Thomas Wilkinson, Albert Dean. 1877-Wm. O. Trumbull, Thos. Wilkinson, Albert Dean. 1878-- H. W. Case, Thos. Wilkinson, F. S. Hall. 1879--F. S. Hall, M. S. Hubbell, Frederick Hecht. 1880-Frederick Hecht, J. R. Barbour, R. M. Trumbull. 1881--M. S. Hubbell, James Barbour, John Shean. 1882- William Scott, N. B. McNutt, Frederick Hecht. 1883--N. B. McNutt. W. H. Scott, James Wood. 1884--C. J. Cowell, S. J. Cothrel, A. K. Rumsey. 1885--C. F. Hecht, Patrick Delany, Henry Davis. 1886--Joseph Champion, Wm. O. Trumbull, Cyrenius Hecht.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE--1836--John Birchfield, John Spencer. 1842--Harvey Kellogg, Samuel Divine. 1846--Harvey, Kellogg, Samuel Divine. 1850- Peter Holloway. 1852—Samuel Divine. 1853--Harvey Kellogg. 1855--Benjamin F. Cunningham. 1860- Hiram Wiltse. 1861~Levi Manley. 1863--Hiram

Wiltse. 1864--James Trumbull. 1866--Perrv Wood. 1867--JamesTrumbull. 1869-75--Perry Wood. 1875-

Levi Manley. 1878-81--S. D. Wilcox. 1879-82--Perry Wood. 1884-87--A. W. Files. 1882-85--Rufus H.

Trumbull.

TAX-PAYERS, 1838.

Following is a list of residents of Springfield, who were assessed for personal taxes in 1838:

HORSES AND CATTLE·

Barnes, Matthew; Badgfield (sic Birchfield?); John, Cressy; Josiah, Demott; Samuel; Demott, Ellison; Divine, Sally; Divine, Samuel; Dilgart, Henry; Drake, Hiram; Dean, James; Egnew, James; Flinn, Patrick; Frost, Lewis; Gunn, Osmond; Hill, Merchant; Hammond, James; Hubbell, Burnham; Hamilton, Wiley;

Holloway, Peter; Holloway. Herbert; Hold, Ezra; Jeanes, Thomas; Gnagy, Jacob; Kimball. Ephraim*; Kellogg, Harvey; Kinney, Asa; Lewis, George C.; McMillan, William; Mahon, Patrick; Martin, Patrick; Porter, John; Preston, David; Preston, John; Preston, Ira; Ramsey, Lewis; Salsbury, Samuel; Sage, Dennis; Smith, Peter; Trumbull, David; Wood, Thomas; Wiltse, John; Walters, Abram; Walters, Abram, Jr.

*Also taxed on merchant's capital, $200.

MILITIA ROLL, 1844.

Following is a copy of "Rank Roll of Ohio

Militia of Springfield Township, as returned by

Michael DeBolt, Assessor, June 4, 1844."

NAME AND AGE.

Ezra Holt, 37. C.M. Drummond, '2'2.

Eli Merritt, 40. James Trumbull, 30.

Calvin Trumbull, 32 Wilber Trumbull, 22

Thomas Dobbin, 40. Josiah Cressy, 37.

John Patten, 25. Josiah L. Hill, 27.

James M. Felt, 33. Daniel Divine, 30.

Joseph Debolt, 22. Michael Debolt, 21.

Edward Lees, 21. Patrick Lenehan, 31.

Matthew Byrns, 36. George Hubbell, 23.

Patrick Park, 36. Selah Divine, 35.

Levi Manley, 27. Silas Wiltse, 24.

Jacob Gnaggy, 37. Jacob Fulk, 26.

Lucius Carpenter, 40. Abraham Van Wert, 31.

John Burdo, 31. Thomas French, 26.

Chester Holloway, 20. Alfred Rumsey, 27.

James Dean, 43. Herbert Holloway, 3S.

Samuel Divine, 35. Anthony L. Willard, 24.

Andrew Patten, 30. Bartholomew Mahony, 43.

John Patten, 35. Edward M. Martin, 23.

William Flynn, 23. Michael Stover, 30.

Michael Walters, 21. Solomon Salisbury, 43.

Martin Walter, 26. John Strayer, 33.

Philip Coder, 22. Warren B. Gunn, 23.

John Taylor, 26. Osman Gunn, 44.

Peter Bateman, 27. Peter S. Bell, 30.

CHURCHES--The Free Methodist Church at Holland was erected in 1870. It is a substantial brick structure. The first minister who preached the doctrines of this Church in the vicinity was Rev. L. T. Fink. His preaching was attended by a noted revival. The Green School-house was at first occupied for services, and then the Methodist Episcopal Church, prior to the erection of their own Church edifice.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Springfield is located one mile Southwest of Holland, on part of the ground originally laid out by the Township Trustees for a Cemetery. The Church was built by Thomas Wood, who raised the subscription and erected the building. It was dedicated in 1859. The first meetings were held in Thomas Wood's Tavern, and subsequently in the "Red School-house," as it was then called. Lewis Rumsey was one of the first Class-Leaders. He died in 1845. Among the old members, living and deceased, may be named Alfred Rumsey, Thomas Wood and wife, Matilda (deceased), Mrs. Sarah Sage (deceased), Mr. and Mrs. Barnet Miller (now living in Toledo). James Jay was a Class Leader from 1859 till his death in 1885.

SCHOOLS--The Township contains five Sub-Districts, each has a substantial brick Schoolhouse. The whole population of the Township is about 800. No. of persons of school age-males, 111; females, 104; 1 colored; total, 216. Board' of Education in 1887--A. W. Files; James Dean, G. W. Holloway, Joseph Champion, John Hartzfelt.

In 1881, the amount apportioned to each district for Summer Schools was $280; total for all the districts except No. 1, $1,400. The aggregate apportionment for Winter Schools was $1,818.33.

HOLLAND.

The Village of Holland is near the center of the Township. The plat on the North side of the Main Street was made by Robert Clark, March 14, 1863. Hall's first and second Sub-Divisions constitute that part of the plat which lies South of the Railroad. The Village in 1887 contained three stores--those of Harrison Wood, Milan Perkins, and T. W. Sage & Co.-the latter agricultural implements. There is one Church (Free Methodist), a School-house, a Blacksmith Shop and Hotel. The Village was originally called Hardy, but was changed to Holland in 1867.

The Postofflce, when the mail was carried by stage, was kept by James Dean, at his hotel on the Toledo Plank Road, three miles West of Holland. Robert Clark was afterwards Postmaster, and Thomas Wood kept the office for a time at his hotel. Since its establishment at Holland, the Postmasters have been Thomas Dunn, A. W. Files, E. J. Potter, G. W. Corson and John Walker.

A local Union of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was organized at Holland July 31, 1881, with Mrs. S. A. Hovey as President; Mrs. D. Bayless, Treasurer; Mrs. Eliza J. Walker, Secretary; Vice Presidents--Mrs. S. D. Wilcox, Mrs. G. W. Corson, Miss Ellen Cressy.

History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio. Clark Waggoner. Munsell, New York and Toledo, 1888.

BACK TO HOME PAGE