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| − | == General Overview ==
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| − | In 1807 John Bever, Joseph H. Larwill and William Larwill surveyed present day Wayne County, Ohio. One year later, in 1808, Wayne County, Ohio was formed. It was named for Major General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. Anthony Wayne was born 1 January 1745 in Waynesborough, Chester County, PA. He was an ambitious officer during the American Revolution and revered as a hero by many. He never resided in Wayne County, Ohio. He died in 1796.
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| − | In 1808, the boundaries were as follows:
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| − | On the north -- present county line between Medina and Wayne Counties, OH
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| − | On the east -- present county line between Stark and Wayne Counties, OH
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| − | On the south -- the old Greenville Treaty Line, including a strip that is now Holmes Co, OH
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| − | On the west -- part of present day Lake, Mohican, Perry, and Jackson Townships, Ashland County, OH
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| − | For judicial and administrative purposes, Wayne County, OH was attached for a short while to Columbiana and Stark Counties, OH until it was officially organized under an Act of Legislature of the State of Ohio dating 4 January 1812. On 11 April 1812, the original four townships were: Sugarcreek, Wooster, Mohican, and Prairie.
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| − | == Parent County for Holmes County, Ohio ==
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| − | On 20 January 1824, Wayne County, OH lost part of its southern border to Holmes County, OH. Townships that became part of Holmes County, OH included Washington, Ripley, Prairie, Salt Creek, and Paint. On 24 February 1846, Wayne County, OH lost part of its western border to Ashland County, OH. Townships that became part of Ashland County, OH included Lake, Mohican, Perry, and Jackson.
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| − | Holmes County, OH was fully organized 4 January 1825. Parts of Holmes County were attached to Coshocton, Tuscarawas, and Wayne for administrative and judicial purposes.
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| − | == Parent County for Ashland County, Ohio ==
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| − | Ashland County, OH was fully organized 24 February 1846. It was created from Huron, Lorain, Richland, and Wayne counties. Records for “Ashland County” prior to 1846 may be found in any of the records for Huron, Lorain, Richland, or Wayne depending on which part of Ashland County the individual settled.
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| − | On the following pages, there are charts showing the date of township organization. In addition, various maps showing the changes in Wayne County boundaries are shown.
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| − | There are a few historical items of interest I will highlight. These questions come up on occasion. Much of this information has been extracted from the 1987 Wayne County, OH history book and Ben Douglass’ history book on Wayne County, OH.
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| − | * Wayne County was the 6th county formed in the Northwest Territory. It was the 3rd county formed in Ohio.
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| − | * The area that lies north of the Greenville Treaty line, including all of Wayne County, was prohibited to settlers by the Treaty of 1794. Many times, we have researchers contact our department looking for information on their ancestor who was born in Wayne County, OH in the mid to late 1700s. This is highly unlikely since the area was forbidden to the white man.
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| − | * When the area was purchased from the Indians in 1805, the Northwest Territory opened up for settlement.
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| − | * There were three Indian towns in Wayne County. They included Bever Hat’s town (inhabited by the Delaware and located where Wooster Cemetery now sits), Mohican John’s town (inhabited by the Mohican and located south of Jeromesville), and Killbuck’s town (inhabited by the Delaware and located north of Holmesville). Other tribes in the area included the Wyandots and Shawanese.
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| − | * There were three main Indian trails in Wayne County: the Great Trail from Ft. Pitt to Sandusky (now known as US 250 to Wooster and US 30 west of Wooster), the Cuyahoga War Trail (now known as SR 585), and the Killbuck Trail (now known as US 62 to Holmesville and SR 83 to Wooster). These three trails became the first roads for the white settlers.
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| − | * There was an Indian massacre on Robison’s Hill, just south of present day downtown Wooster. Sixeen Indians met their Maker prematurely. They were buried in a shallow grave where they fell (present day intersection of South Bever St. and Madison Ave.) As a note, Robison’s Hill is also referred to as Madison Hill.
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| − | * According to Ben Douglass, all Indians in the area suddenly disappeared in a single night soon after the War of 1812 was announced.
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| − | * U.S. Surveyor, John Bever with the assistance of Joseph H. and William Larwill, surveyed the area in 1807. Prior to the survey, Baptiste Jerome, Jonathan Grant, Ben Miller, Alex Crawford, and Josiah Crawford were residing in the area.
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| − | * The first train arrived in Wooster in 1852. Articles pertaining to railroads in Wayne County, OH can be found in a notebook labeled “Railroads.” It is shelved under Ohio—Wayne—Trans—Railroad. Additional discussions of the railroad and other modes of transportation are discussed in the 1987 History of Wayne County, Ohio.
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| − | * There were at least two known fires in the courthouse that destroyed some records. The first fire destroyed the courthouse in 1828. The second fire occurred on 20 May 1969 and caused substantial damage to the courthouse. Most of the damage was done by water.
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| − | * Three different courthouses have been erected in Wayne County, OH. The first courthouse was erected in 1819 and was destroyed by fire in 1828. The second courthouse was erected in 1831 and was deemed unsafe in 1877. The third courthouse was erected in 1877. Much of this courthouse still stands and is used today. In 1984, the courthouse was restored.
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| − | * Wooster was not the first county seat. The first Commissioners had selected the town of Madison, located south of the city, to be the first county seat. Much dissatisfaction occurred and Legislature appointed new Commissioners. The newly appointed Commissioners selected Wooster to be the county-seat. The town of Madison was court ordered to vacate in April 1814.
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| − | == Resources ==
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| − | The following books may proof beneficial when researching early Wayne County, Ohio.
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| − | * Commemorative Biographical Record of Wayne County, Ohio, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1889.
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| − | ** [Note: Often referred to as Beers’ history of Wayne County, OH.]
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| − | * Douglass, Ben. History of Wayne County, Ohio, from the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time. Indianapolis: Robert Douglass, 1878.
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| − | ** [Note: Often referred to as Douglass’ history of Wayne County, OH.]
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| − | * History of Wayne County, Ohio. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1910.
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| − | ** [Note: Often referred to as Bowen’s history of Wayne County, OH. This is a two volume set.]
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| − | * Picturesque Wayne: A History in Text and Engraving. Akron: The Werner Company, abt. 1900.
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| − | ** [Located near the maps and atlases.]
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| − | * Wayne County History Book Committee. A History of Wayne County, Ohio. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company, 1987.
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| − | ** [Note: Often referred to as the 1987 history of Wayne County, OH.]
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| | [[Category:Ohio counties]] | | [[Category:Ohio counties]] |
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