Bryan and Pulaski Township: Andrea’s research

Research by Andrea Batteas

Brief History and Demographics on Bryan, Ohio:

Bryan, Ohio is located within Williams County. It is 5.56 square miles, with a population of less than 9,000. It was was first mapped by a John A. Bryan and made into a village by 1841. 100 years later it became a city, in 1941. It is the County Seat of William. This title has cause a bit of a long standing rivalry between Bryan and neighboring city Montpleir. Montpleir felt, and still feels that since they are located more center of WIlliams that they should have been chosen as county seat. Though several petitions have been started to change this, none have been successful.

Three large manufactures are located in Bryan Ohio. The Dum-Dum Suckers made by the Spangler Candy Company, the Etch-A-Sketch by the Ohio Art Company (though it is now made in China) and the Titan Tire Corporation: makers of Goodyear and Titan-brand off road tires.

Bryan Ohio is the home to John Ora “J.O.” Kinnaman. He was a Biblical Scholar and archeologist. Kinnaman was one of the 20 people to be on the expedition in Egypt led by Howard Carter that discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. He was the last remaining survivor of the expedition. He died September 7, 1961 in Stockton, Ca.

The city of Bryan is known as the “Fountain City”. This is because of their Artesian wells. They were first discovered in 1842. This water is known to contain, many minerals and electrolytes (potassium, salt, bicarbonates, calcium, fluoride, and silica). This water is known for its medicinal properties. It is bottled and sold by several companies within Bryan still to this today.

The city of Bryan has only had one hanging. In 1846, Andrew F. Tyler was tried and hung for the murder of 4 year old David Schamp in Jefferson Twp.

There are 42 registered sex offenders living Bryan Ohio, none of which are in the 43506 zip code. Crime rate legend in Bryan with the zip code fo 43506 falls under very high. Zero Murders within the past 10 years, more than 50 rapes or sexual assaults within the past ten years, more than 150 burglaries and thefts within the past 10 years as well.

Brief History and Demographics on Pulaski Township:

Pulaski Township is 31.5 square miles and surrounds most of Bryan Ohio. It has a population of less than 3,000. Zero murders within the past 10 years. 49 forcible rapes within the past 10 years, zero robberies within the past 10 years, 519 burglaries within the past 10 years and 173 charges of aggravated assault within the past 10 years.

It is named after a Polish Nobleman, Casmire Pulaski (March 6, 1745– October 11, 1779). He was an American Revolutionary War soldier. He is one of 8 people to be awarded Honorary United States Citizenship. He never actually stepped foot in Pulaski Township.

Native Americans of Williams County (focusing primarily on the city of Bryan and Pulaski Township):

Not many Indian Tribes resided in the land that is now known as the city of Bryan and Pulaski Township. It was more used for hunting grounds for several different tribes. These tribes were, The Ottawa, Miami, Pottawatamie, and the Wyandots. However, the Ottowa’s were the most prevalent in the area, and lived within the Great Black Swamps. Bryan falls on the outskirts of the Great Black Swamp, while the rest of the land was surrounded by thick forest. Many experienced settlers would not hunt in the black swamp because of the dangers within the Great Black Swamp.

According to wikipedia:

“The Great Black Swamp (also known simply as the Black Swamp), was a glacially fed wetland in northwest Ohio and extreme northeast Indiana, United States, that existed from the end of the Wisconsin glaciation until the late 19th century. Comprising extensive swamps and marshes, with some higher, drier ground interspersed, it occupied what was formerly the southwestern part of proglacial Lake Maumee, aholocene precursor to Lake Erie. The area was about 25 miles (40 km) wide (north to south) and 100 miles (160 km) long, covering an estimated 1,500 square miles (4,000 km²).^[3] Gradually drained and settled in the second half of the 19th century, it is now highly productive farm land. During the second half of the 20th century, efforts were undertaken to preserve and restore portions of the swamp to its pre-settlement state.”

The Ottawa’s had several creatures and spirits that they believed in and still do to this day.

• The Bgwajinini (buh-gwuh-jih-nih-nee), is a mythological little people of the forest. Thier name means “wild man”. They are portrayed as a mischievous but generally good natured creature.
• Wiindgoo (win-di-go), an evil man eating spirit
• Memengwesi (may-main-gway-see), these are small riverbank water dwelling spirits. Generally harmless, though were known for occasionally stealing food or tipping a canoe.

The Ottawa’s also believed that the Walnut trees held animal spirits within them. One of these sprits was the “Ghost Bird”. There were a few stories of the Ghost Bird haunting the city of Bryan around the 1840’s. It was known for its shrill call at night. It terrified many people including dogs.

*side note: Many experienced settlers, hunters and children were known to get lost and never found within the thick forest of the City of Bryan and Pulaski Township. There are several very sad stories of missing children in those woods.

Geographics of 165 Lakeside Circle:

Located near the intersection of of OH 2 and 127.

• Property Address is:

Pulaski Township, range 3 #6 section 16 tract 104

• Parcel number is:

06316005052000

• Land and property owner:

Gary VanCleef

152 South Beach

Marco Island, Florida

(he purchased the property in 1993)

On OH 2 less than 500 yards from the residents is a large Electrical Substation. It is near the corner of the Bryan Corporation Limit.

Soil survey of the land taken between 1967 and 1972 shows that there was nothing found out of the ordinary. It showed to be post-glacial soil full of minerals therefore making it fertile farming ground.

Cemeteries Near Lakeside Circle:

Located 4.4 miles from the home is the Schiffler Cemetery.

Brief History: The Schifflers were one of the founding settlers in Bryan Ohio. Benjamin (d. 1875) and Christine Fackler Schiffler (d.1891) built the first red brick house 1.5 miles north of laFayette (now Pulaski Township) on the present US 127. Benjamine Schiffler was a farmer and a blacksmith. He and his wife had 7 children, 4 of which are Civil War veterans. These four are, John George, Eli, Christian, and Aaron. They are all buried in the Schiffler Cemetery.

The first non family member to be buried in the cemetery is 2 month old Alpheus Moss, son of J and M Moss in April of 1849.

Located 3.6 miles from the home is another cemetery, The Fountain Grove Cemetery. This is 34 acres and was established in 1848 as a public cemetery. It is located on State Route 15 and County Road C.

Notable burial: US Congressman Melvin Morella Boothman is located in that cemetery. He was born September 16, 1846 and died March 4, 1904. After his two terms in office he came back to Bryan Ohio and where he practiced law.

Brown Cemetery is 4.5 miles from residence.

Fetters Cemetery is 6.4 miles from residence.

Williams Center Cemetery is 8.4 miles from residence.

Recent Car Accidents Near Lakeside Drive:

On August 8, 2015 on US12 of South Blosser Rd, 26 year old Bryan Shelly of Bryan Ohio slammed his motorcycle into a car trying to make a turn into a private driveway. This occurred 2,926 ft from Lakeside Circle.

On November 2, 2015 on US 127, a Christopher Smith (21) swerved left to center to avoid a stopped vehicle facing southbound. His van collided head on with a cement truck. Occupants of Christopher Smith’s minivan was, Chelsea Childers (21), Maddison Smith (3), Matthew Smith (1) and Melanie Smith (6mo old). Melanie succumbed to her injuries a few days after the car accident.

Train Wrecks in Bryan Ohio:

On January 18, 1999, two engineers were killed in a 3 train wreck.

Excerpt taken from the National Transportation Board:

Accident Synopsis:

“About 1:58 a.m. on January 17, 1999, three Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail)1 freight trains operating in fog on a multiple main track were involved in an accident near Bryan, Ohio.2 (See figure 1.) Mail-9, an intermodal3 train traveling westbound on track No. 1, struck the rear of a slower moving westbound van train, TV-7, at milepost (MP) 337.22. The collision caused the derailment of the 3 locomotive units and the first 13 cars of Mail-9 and the last 3 cars of TV-7. The derailed equipment fouled the adjacent No. 2 track area and struck the 12th car of train MGL-16, which was operating eastbound on that track. (See figure 2.) The impact caused 18 cars in the MGL-16 consist to derail. The derailed equipment from the 3 trains totaled 3 locomotives and 34 cars. The engineer and conductor of Mail-9 were killed in the accident. The crewmembers of TV-7 and MGL-16 were not injured.”

1963 Aerial

2013 Aerial (City Engineer marked the lot next to the property by accident)