��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
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��ion within a few years. In 1854, the brick schoolhouse on the corner of Liberty and Cliurch streets was completed, and the first union schools organized by David Kerr, Superin- tendent. In 1869, the present large, brick school building was erected, costing over $75,000.
The First National Bank was \)rganized in 1864, and the Citizens' Bank in July, 1866.
The Gabon Weekly Times was started in 1855, by John H. Putnam, who moved the office here from Union City, Ind. The first numbers were printed in the building now owned by James Martin, on East Main street. Dr. D. Alger became a partner, and the name was changed to the G-alion Weeldij Train. It was independent in politics. In a short time, I. V. D. Moore bought out Alger. When the campaign of 1856 opened, Mr. Moore retired and Jacob Kiblet became a partner. The paper became Democratic, and was called the (lalion District Democrat. In 1857, Andrew Poe purchased Mr. Riblet's interest. Mr. Put- nam soon after left it, and it was sold out on
��execution. In 1864, it was bought by Matthias brothers, and the paper edited by P. Schnur, who was soon succeeded by H. S. Z. Matthias, and the name changed to Gallon Democrat. The paper was soon after abandoned, and the office continued as a job office until July^e, 1865, when the Weekly Review was established by Mr. Matthias as an independent sheet. In 1871, it was purchased by John C. Covert, of the Cleveland Leader, who changed it to a Re- publican paper, and its name to the Gallon Democrat. In 1872, it was purchased by G. W. De Camp, and in 1874, passed into the hands of its present proprietors, A. D. Howe and F. E. Coonrod, and given its present name, Galion Review.
October 31, 1872, the Galion Sun, an inde- pendent weekly newspaper, was established by its present editor and owner, George T. Ristine, and was soon enlarged to its present size. Steam power was introduced in December, 1875, making it the first steam printing house in Galion.
��CHAPTER LXYL
VERNON TOWNSHIP.*
Organization— Topography— Hunting Ground— First Settlers and Settlements— West Liberty— De Kalb
— Liberty (!hurch.
primitive condition, it was covered with a vig- orous growth of hard-wood timber, and the land was generally swampy, but clearing and underdraining have rendered it very pro- ductive.
It is well watered by the tributaries of the Sandusky River, one of which — Loss Creek — rises in the southeast part, and, running north- west until near the center of the township, turns southwest, entering Sandusky Township and Sandusky River through Section 19. The general course of its waters indicates a gentle inclination of its surface to the west and north.
��YE R N N T W N S H I P was organized March 9, 1825, out of the north half of Sandusky, and was, at this time, six miles square, including part of what is now Sharon Township. It remained in this shape until February 3, 1845 (the date of the erection of Crawford County), when it was reduced to its present dimensions — six miles long from north to south, and three miles wide ; belonging since 1845 to Crawford County.
It is an excellent township of farming land, being generally level or gently rolling. In its
- Now in Crawford County, formerly in Richland.
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