Wooster, Ohio

An 1826 map of Wooster.

History

Wooster, Ohio became the county seat of Wayne County, Ohio.

An 1808 map of Wooster.

on 30 May 1811. The town was laid out in 1808 by John Beaver, William Henry and Joseph J. Larwill. Joseph H. Larwill named the town in honor of Major General David Wooster, a Revolutionary patriot.

Wooster was not the first designated county seat for Wayne County, Ohio. Bazaleel Wells, John Shorb and Joseph Dorsey were original proprietors of the town of Madison, Ohio, just southeast of present day downtown Wooster. The original commissioners desired the county seat to be the town of Madison. Dissatisfaction grew and the Legislature appointed new Commissioners who chose the county seat to be Wooster. In the April 1814 session of Court, the town plat of Madison was ordered to be vacated.

Wooster Firsts

On pages 284-287 In the History of Wayne County, Ohio from the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time author Ben Douglass lists many firsts in Wooster.

• First settlers were William, Joseph and John Larwill, brothers
• First house erected was a "log-temple" located on E. Liberty Street.
• First married man to settle in Wooster was Benjamin Miller.
• First tavern operated by Benjamin Miller.
• First store started by William Larwill.
• First brick house built was erected by John Bever. It was located on the corner occupied by J. S. Bissell Bro., dry goods merchants, in 1878.
• First grist mill was opened in 1809 by Joseph Stibbs, a resident of Canton, Ohio at the time.
• First white man who died in Wooster was Alexander Crawford in 1808.
• First resident lawyer was Mr. Raymond.
• First physician was Thomas Townsend in 1813.
• First (Baptist) minister was Thomas Griffith 'Priest' Jones who arrived in 1812.
• First denomination to build a church was the Baptist in 1814.
• First school teacher was Carlos Mather. He was a young lawyer from New Haven, Connecticut and taught in 1814.
• First Postmaster was 'Priest' Jones.
• First fire company was established in 1827.
• First election held on Monday April 2, 1810.

Growth of a Town

• Laid out in the fall of 1808
• In 1808, the 1st road was opened in the county, traveling from Massillon to Wooster.
• In 1810, the 1st State road was laid out in the county, traveling from Canton to Wooster.
• Incorporated 13 Oct 1817
• Advanced to 2nd class city 9 Sep 1868
• Divided into 4 wards 24 Feb 1869
• 1870 population approximately 5,400 individuals

Departments

Townships

Mayor Canaan Chester Chippewa Clinton

Congress East Union Franklin Green Killbuck

Milton Paint Plain Rittman Tp

Salt Creek Sugar Creek Wayne Wooster

Maps

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  An 1808 map of Wooster
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  An 1826 map of Wooster

1873 Caldwell's Atlas of Wayne County, Ohio

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  Wooster

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  Ward Map for the City of Wooster

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  First Ward Wooster, Part 1

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  First Ward Wooster, Part 2

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  Second Ward Wooster, Part 2

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  Second Ward Wooster, Part 3

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  Third Ward Wooster, Part 1

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  Third Ward Wooster, Part 2

• 4th Ward, Wooster, Ohio.jpg

  Fourth Ward Wooster, Part 1

• 4th Ward, Wooster, Ohio, Part 2.jpg

  Fourth Ward Wooster, Part 2

1897 Caldwell's Atlas of Wayne County, Ohio

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  Ward map for the City of Wooster

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  Wooster

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  First & Fifth Ward of Wooster, Part 1

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  First & Fifth Ward of Wooster, Part 2

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  Second Ward of Wooster West, Part 1

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  Second Ward of Wooster West, Part 2

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  Third Ward of Wooster, Part 1

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  Third Ward of Wooster, Part 2

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  Fourth Ward of Wooster, Part 1

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  Fourth Ward of Wooster, Part 2

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  West Wooster

See also

• Wooster Township, Wayne County, Ohio