Shelby County History

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Cynthian Township  Location & Features | First Families | Other firsts | Churches (for a larger view of the map, click here)     Cynthian Township was originally part of Loramie township, but was detached in 1822.  It is bounded on the north by McLean township, on the east by Turtle Creek township, on the south by Loramie township and on the west by Darke county.
    The surface of Cynthian Township is more rolling than any other of Shelby county's townships.  The soil throughout is clay and contains some excellent beds of gravel.    
 

First Families of Cynthian Twp. 
(this list is by no means complete - others were settled in the area that I do not have listed)

1815	Thomas Butt, John Wise, and  Conrad Pouches & their families.
Bef. 1824	Leonard & Tobias Danner, Zachariah Hurley, Samuel & Benjamin Leighty, Henry Hershaw, Jacob Seerfauss, John & Alexander Miller,Thomas Butt, John Barker, John Gates, C. Stoker, William Hicks, George Harman, William Jerome, Charles Lovell, Conrad Pouches, Jacob & John & Andrew Wise, Robert Steen, John Border, Robert Chambers, and J. Shagley.

  top     Other Firsts  

• 1st frame house was built by Josias Reaser, but was sold to (and occupied by) Curus Reese.
• 1st brick house was built by George Butt.
• 1st sawmill was built by Conrad Pouches.
• 1st tannery was built by Stephen Blanchard.
• 1st blacksmith was built by William Mills.
• 1st school house was built on land owned by Jacob Wise.
• 1st school was taught by Robert Gibson in 1816/1817.
• 1st society formed was a U.B. Church at the house of Henry Hesshaw.

top   Churches    

Methodist Episcopal Church	In 1872, steps were taken for erection of a brick church.  In 1873, the church was completed and dedicated by the Rev. Wesley G. Waters.
Cynthia Christian Church	Organized is 1833 by Caleb Worley at the home of Samuel Penrod. The meetings were held at a log school house and in private houses. In 1851, a frame church was built on Panther Creek.
Loramie German Baptist Church	This church wa known as the North Branen of the Covington Society until 1877, when they formed into their own congregation and elected their own minister.  The first meeting was held in 1848. In 1866, a church was built and dedicated by Elder Sand Mohler of Covington, Ohio.

top Information was gathered from the following sources: "History of Shelby County, Ohio" by R. Sutton & Co. 1883   Back to Shelby County OHGenWeb   ©1999 by Tina Hursh