About the middle of August 1862 Rev. Slagle visited Defiance by invitation and preached for the first time, in the Presbyterian Church. It was the time when the country was blazing with excitement, on account of the war of the rebellion. Some great and bloody battles had been fought and the government was calling for troops. Enlistment were being made everywhere. Defiance county had sent companies into the 14th, 21st, 38th 48th and 68th regiments and a company was being formed for the 100th regiment, that was then in camp in Toledo. In this company the two sons of Dr. Isaac Thacker who house the Rev. B.W. Slagle stay at when he visited Defiance.
Defiance was then a village of about 1,200 people and its beautiful location between the two rivers struck Rev. Slagle most favorable. It sit for the most part between the Maumee and the Augliaze Rivers. A rather dilapidated wooden bridge connected with the the north side, where some of the warehouses stood and a lively business was done in the shipment of grain, lumber and other products of the country. Although the Wabash railroad had been completed, in 1855 it had not greatly interfered with the business of the canal. The Wabash end of the canal had streams of boats still carried corn, oats and wheat to Toledo. The ship timber men were in their glory, and great rafts of lumber were floated down the canal to be shipped to Montreal and Quebec. Adam Wilhelm on the upper lock and Barney Goreman on the lower, did as much business probably as any retail grocery does now in Defiance.
Clinton Street was then, as it is now the main business street, but it was not lined with imposing brick blocks. The Russel house and the brick store opposite the courthouse, were the only three story building. The rest were frame of one and two stories. The village did not extend much beyond Fifth street. Latty grove and Boughton's wheat field occupied that part of the first ward, where the two Lutheran churches and schoolhouse stands.
The east side was a farm owned by William Lewis and East Hopkins Street was built on one side only in the direction of Trampe's brick yard. Two flowing mills supplied the country with flour and bread stuff. One on the corner of Fourth and Perry streets, owned and ran by William A Brown and one at the upper locks by Edwin Phelps the latter the old Palamo.
The Jr. High School building was not an imposing structure like is now. It stood on Wayne street, and was a two story building with the stairway running to the second story on the outside. There were only two rooms in the building, but these two together with a frame building on the north side and another near the Catholic church were sufficient to accommodate the the children of Defiance.
The streets were not paved and the sidewalks were mostly of wood, nor were they lighted by night. Every pedestrian carried his own lantern. Defiance mud was extremely tenacious. Some of the older inhabitants tell of having seen teams stalled on Clinton Street in front of the courthouse and Rev. Slagle knew of one occasion when it was necessary to attach four horses to a hearse to enable the funeral procession to reach the grave yard.
The churches were comfortable but not imposing structures. The Catholic church was the only brick church in Defiance. The Lutheran stood on the bank of the Augaize River, which was a frame building.
Clinton Street was then, as it is now the main business street, but it was not lined with imposing brick blocks. The Russel house and the brick store opposite the courthouse, were the only three story building. The rest were frame of one and two stories. The village did not extend much beyond Fifth street. Latty grove and Boughton's wheat field occupied that part of the first ward, where the two Lutheran churches and schoolhouse stands.
The east side was a farm owned by William Lewis and East Hopkins Street was built on one side only in the direction of Trampe's brick yard. Two flowing mills supplied the country with flour and bread stuff. One on the corner of Fourth and Perry streets, owned and ran by William A Brown and one at the upper locks by Edwin Phelps the latter the old Palamo.
The Jr. High School building was not an imposing structure like is now. It stood on Wayne street, and was a two story building with the stairway running to the second story on the outside. There were only two rooms in the building, but these two together with a frame building on the north side and another near the Catholic church were sufficient to accommodate the the children of Defiance.
The streets were not paved and the sidewalks were mostly of wood, nor were they lighted by night. Every pedestrian carried his own lantern. Defiance mud was extremely tenacious. Some of the older inhabitants tell of having seen teams stalled on Clinton Street in front of the courthouse and Rev. Slagle knew of one occasion when it was necessary to attach four horses to a hearse to enable the funeral procession to reach the grave yard.
The churches were comfortable but not imposing structures. The Catholic church was the only brick church in Defiance. The Lutheran stood on the bank of the Augaize River, which was a frame building.
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