BLACHLEYVILLE - This is a history of Blachleyville from the History of Wayne County, Ohio. Ive included some photos I took yesterday. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLACHLEYVILLE Carl and Leona Schmid Published in the History of Wayne County, Ohio 1987 Situated in west central Plain Township, Wayne County, where CR 149 intersects SR 95, lies a village that was laid out December 1833 by Dr. William Blachly and sons Drs. William and Miller Blachly. Surveyed by George Emery, with the plat and certificate recorded 12 March 1834, page 210 Vol II County Records. The original plat was presented to the Wooster Museum (now the Wayne County Historical Society). Dr.W.B. Blachlys ancestry traces back to Thomas Blachly who at the age of 20 sailed from London, England, arriving in Boston, Mass, in 1635. Dr. W.B. Blachly was born in 1771 in New Jersey and came to Wayne County in 1816. In 1835 he moved to Indiana where he died in 1845. He was twice married, and the father of 19 children. So far as it is known, only two children , Maria and William remained in the Blachleyville area. William practiced medicine here until his death in 1881. He and wife and 10 children are buried in the village cemetery. Since its founding Blachleyville was never without a doctor until the death of Dr. T.A. Weaver, in 1937. Dr. Abraham Hunt married a daughter of Dr. Blachly and practiced medicine for some years. Others were Dr. C.A. Lerch, Dr. Cole, Dr. John Adams, Dr. Yeater, Dr. H.M. Yoder and Dr. T.A. Weaver. In earlier years there were two blacksmiths, a tannery , a post office, usually two general stores, a cobbler, carpet weaver, barber shop, and hotel-tavern. At one time there were two churches, Church of Christ and a Lutheran church. Church of Christ founded 2 July 1864 is still ministering. The Lutheran Church was abandoned years ago and is used for a garage on the Wharton property. The Blachleyville homecoming, held at the church, and bringing back many persons who formerly attended the church, school or lived in the community, was a highlight in the communitys social life for many years. The first two settlers in the area were John Collier and William Meeks, their settlements were the first in Plain Township. Dan Miller who lived on what was later the Nirode farm, operated a saw mill as early as 1815. He also built the first house on the site which was later the town. In earlier years, there were at times two general stores. Men who operated them included Charles Hoffer, William McKee, Roy Baird, LC Tyler, Walter Fickes, Harvey Priest, Perry Swart, Harry Griffith and Milan Bell. The latter was store keeper when the building burned. Some years later E.G. Zones rebuilt the building. Following storekeepers were Mencer, Hershberger, Guenther, Plant and Briggs. For a long time there were two blacksmith shops with the following persons: George Rhamy, Charles Hiltner, Oscar Martin, George Heffelfinger, James Leedy, and Howard Eberhart. The town shoemaker was Henry Hoelzel. He was an expert cobbler, came from Germany and refused offers to become identified with city shoe stores. Perry Swart was born and lived all his life in Blachleyville, except for ten months spent in Wadsworth. He was the villages last Postmaster in 1900. Perry Swart was a grandson of Henry Swart one of the early residents of the community. Henrys son was Casper Swart, who operated a farm at the west edge of the village, where Perry grew up. This farm is now in the Schmid family. Mr. Swart attended the one-room school at a time when the teacher was Sam G. Gill of Wooster, and when 92 pupils were enrolled. There were so many classes that it would be dark when the days sessions ended. The room was heated with a pot-belly stove, and in cold weather the younger pupils, seated near the stove almost roasted while the bigger ones out along the walls nearly froze. In later years a new school building was erected, which served until it was abandoned for consolidation. The Grange purchased the building, dug out the basement and added on a stage. It is used for grange and community center activities. The Grange purchased the school building in 1950. Blachleyville Grange #1868 was organized November 8, 1912, with a membership of 83. They held their meetings in the Township House in Blachleyville. dues were 50C. The Grange was organized by C.E. Beekley. First master was S.G. Soliday. On September 17, 1914, they decided to make an exhibit at the Wayne County Fair. Entry fee was $1.00. Expenses for the exhibit were $1.30. In 1976 John Canankamp was honored for 60 years as a charter member. Some of the former school teachers were M.D. Overholt, R.K. Springer, RE Heffelfinger, Virgil Yoder, Hershel Siegfried, Mr. Stauffer, Mrs. Tompson and Gertrude Strock. The Township Building where the Township Trustees conducted their business was used as a precinct for voting. This building hosted a High School for a few years in the early 1920s. It was used for Grange meetings until they purchased the school building. A new Township Building was built and the old one demolished in 1968. John Dyke , Henry Swain and the Housers are remembered among those who operated a hotel and tavern. In 1849 William Sidle, a pioneer, organized and financed a company of 12 men and set off for the California gold fields. Some men found gold and returned, but Sidle perished in the attempt. Some older family names identified with the area are Schmid, Wharton, Harpster, McKee, McClure, Wile, Vanziles, Long, Hershberger, Rickabaugh, Guenther and Davis. Families living in the Blachleyville area today (1987) are Kaser, Bowersock, Martin, Lozier, Lelley, Shaffer, Yacopraro, Rose, Wharton, Lint, Beasley, Varnes, Sigler, Newman, Root, Schmid, Spade, Nirode, Briand, Harris, Burnison, Leighty, Flanagan, Marshall, Firebaugh, Ladrach, Fischer, Bolic and Siegfried. One of the better character building influences for young people are the 4-H clubs. Blachleyville has always had one, and sometimes two, since the mid-30s.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 17:50:47 +0000
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