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CHESTER TWP. -- In the early days of settlement in Wayne County, the pioneers knew this area as "the chestnut region," or "Chestnut Township," due to its dense growth of chestnut trees. But when it was organized on March 6, 1816, it became known henceforth as Chester Township.
Some of the earliest settlers there were Judge James Robison, Samuel Funk, Phineas Summerton, the Hillis boys and their mother, John Lowry, Christian Rice, Samuel Vanosdall, Anthony Camp and Abraham Ecker.
One of the earliest towns established in the township was West Union, which later became Lattasburg. The town was surveyed by J.W. Hoegner for Jacob Grose on Feb. 27, 1851, with the plat recorded almost three full years later.
In 1855 the town's name was changed from West Union to Lattasburg, in honor of local businessman Ephraim Latta. The first log cabin was built on the northeast corner of the public square by John Fasig and it became both a residence and a shop. Latta bought out Fasig and began the manufacture of hand sickles.
A post office was established at Lattasburg on May 14, 1867.
Samuel Bridenstine opened the town's first dry goods store, and the first doctor to open a practice there was Henry Allspaugh.
The first person who died in the township is claimed to be a woman, who was buried in the middle of the road halfway between Lattasburg and what was then the German Baptist Church.
The other village in the township was New Pittsburg, laid out by George H. Howey on March 6, 1829, and surveyed by George Emery, with the plat recorded on May 8 of that year. At the time the village was founded, there was but one man, a Mr. Loper, living where it now stands.
His cabin stood near the creek on the west side. The first house built was constructed by John Hall, who also kept the first hotel there.
One of the township's first settlers was Thomas Pittinger, who was born in Brooks County, Va., on July 11, 1791, and moved with his father, Henry, in 1814, settling almost on the western Wayne County border between New Pittsburg and Rowsburg. Thomas was married to Kate Smith, who died Sept. 11, 1858, and with whom he had 11 children.
Wayne County historian Ben Douglass wrote that Pittinger was "one of the survivors of the War of 1812, and the only volunteer soldier of that war who carried a musket through Wayne County. Times were tough and hard when they came to the county. Fighting, drinking and quarreling were everyday affairs. A good knock-down adjusted difficulties and the whole was sealed with a dram."
Douglass wrote that Pittinger "drilled in the militia in the olden days at Blachleyville, Reedsburg, etc." and knew most of the figures from the county's earliest lore.
Source: "History of Wayne County, Ohio" by Ben Douglass
Wednesday: James Robison, entrepreneur
Reporter Paul Locher can be reached at 330-682-2055 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
Hi the kitchen renovation is going well. The log ceiling is stripped, clean and beautiful. After reading this article I just had to correct myself. I told you my husband thought the logs were hickory in error, he said they are chestnut. Thanks again for your help.