Pioneer, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Pioneer is a village in Williams County
, Ohio
, United States
. The population was 1,369 at the 2010 census.
In 1844 Silander Johnson and Family arrived and James Rogers and family soon after P.W. Norris traveled to Fayette to claim Jane Cottrill as his bride - slashing a trail to bring her to Pioneer. In 1848, G.R. Joy moved to Pioneer from Morenci, Michigan after buying 160 acres on the west edge of the small village. He had built the first house in Morenci and remarked that there were only four houses between Pioneer and Bryan. In January 1849, Samuel Doolittle built a house in section 21. He was followed in the spring of 1850 by his father, Ebenizer Doolittle and Benson Doolittle (Brother).
The 1850 census counted 222 people living in the village of Pioneer. Many of those families are still represented. The first child born in Pioneer was either Mirelia Norris b. 1844 or Jacob Dohm. There is no record available to verify who holds that honor. Some of the local names from the 1850 census still represented in the area are Snow, Dohm, Drake, Coulon, Stiving, Rogers, Doriot, Poorman, Johnson, Bailey, Sweetman, Loomis, Young, Evers, Fenicle, Shaffer, Yoder, Durbin, Shankster, Orewiler, Dick, Fisher, Sheets (Sheats), Norris and McCarty. Other pre-1860 families included Dr. Richard Gaudern, Olin Kenyon, Warren Fulton, Jasper Best, C. VanOrsdale, Andy Irvin, Cummins and Cainfield.
Early business was spurred by the real rivalry between P.W. Norris and G.R. Joy, who were married to the Cottrell sisters. Each actively sought to make his parto f town more prosperous. P.W. managed to b e named postmaster in 1850, but could not name the town after himself, so he named it Pioneer. Pioneer was laid out into streets in 1853.
P.W. got Andy Irwin to build the Pioneer Hotel on the north side in 1854. Not to be outdone, G.R. Joy erected the Joy Hotel on the south side of the creek the following year. That building still stands next to the Laundromat mid-block of second block of first street.
Both men were ambitious businessmen, a trait that is still prevalent among the citizens of modern day Pioneer. Mr. Norris built a grist mill and saw mill along the north side of the creek. Later he had a brick yard nearby (where the "Mill Diamond" is today). Mr. Norris was a land agent and partner in a dry goods store, besides being postmaster. Later he explored Yellowstone National Park. Several sites there bear his name. G.R. Joy bred horses and cattle, built a sawmill, loaned money and bought property all around the growing village. Mr. Norris finally moved away to north of Detroit where he named a village "Norris". It now has been incorporated into Warren, Michigan.
G.R. Joy spent the remainder of his life in Pioneer and has descendants still living here today. School has been an important part of Pioneer since very early on. In 1844 school was held in Silander Johnson's cabin, with teacher Miss Rachel Baker of Amboy teaching a summer term. The first frame school was built near the old burying ground in 1847. That sight is near the water tower of today. A four room, 2 story frame school was built half way between State and Cedar facing Scott street, on the north side of town. In 1860, a fifth school, a large brick many-roomed school was built behind the four room school. This building stood until the 1970s. The last school sire on Baubice Street was chosen in 1920 and has been expanded several times since.
The Toledo and Western Railway came to Pioneer on its way to Columbia, Ohio in 1903. It never went any further, although the right of way had been purchased. The train had a yard engine and a traveling engine. All kinds of business prospered as a result of rapid delivery to Toledo, Ohio. Pioneer had a good wool market, pickle vats, stockyards, flour mill, grist mill, hoop mill and most were located along the south side of the creek in an area that now has a parking lot, bank and behind the fire hall. An old rail bridge abutment still exists where rails went to grist mill and brick yards and other businesses on that side of the creek. The rails ran across State street and down West Church street, where switching direction of the train took place. Many people remember the old "teeter and wobble" and a book was even written about it. Excursions to Fayette, Adrian, Walbridge Park and the zoo in Toledo, and into downtown Toledo for shopping and movies were common. The train met other lines that were traveling north and south.
Mr. Earl Snyder, a local hardware store co-owner, tried desperately to get the railroad up and going again after the T&W abruptly stopped service during the depression. He ended up being owner/operator and was featured in Ripley's "Believe It or Not" column and museum and was also featured on a television spot. The railroad continued until 1954, when Mr. Snyder sold the trucks he had traded for the iron rails to his son in-law John Yeager and partner, Richard Repp. Mr. Repp used the Pioneer and Fayette Railroad for his trucking company until recent years.
The Sesquicentennial Celebration was held in 1999 even though the village was actually 150 years old in 1993. The committee chose to celebrate the anniversary of the actual centennial celebration, which was held in 1949 due to World War II and the absence of so many citizens in 1943. The 125 celebration was held in 1974, twenty-five years later.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.61%) is water.
of 2010, there were 1,369 people, 593 households, and 400 families residing in the village. The population density
was 911.8 people per square mile (352.3/km²). There were 636 housing units at an average density of 397.2 per square mile (153.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.40% White, 0.34% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races
, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.99% of the population.
There were 593 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $37,153, and the median income for a family was $46,369. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $21,466 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $18,024. About 5.9% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
in Pioneer. A member of the Buckeye Border Conference
, it is the only high school in the North Central Local Schools district. The school's sports teams are nicknamed the Eagles.
Saint Patrick Catholic School, Bryan, Ohio
Williams County, Ohio
Williams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 37,642. Its county seat is Bryan and is named for David Williams, one of the captors of John André in the American Revolutionary War.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,369 at the 2010 census.
History
Earliest recorded settlers of Pioneer were P.W. Norris and Owen McCarty (brothers-in-law), who were hired to clear James A. Rogers land in 1842-3. That land was section 17 of Williams County. Pioneer is located today in 16, 17, 20 and 21.In 1844 Silander Johnson and Family arrived and James Rogers and family soon after P.W. Norris traveled to Fayette to claim Jane Cottrill as his bride - slashing a trail to bring her to Pioneer. In 1848, G.R. Joy moved to Pioneer from Morenci, Michigan after buying 160 acres on the west edge of the small village. He had built the first house in Morenci and remarked that there were only four houses between Pioneer and Bryan. In January 1849, Samuel Doolittle built a house in section 21. He was followed in the spring of 1850 by his father, Ebenizer Doolittle and Benson Doolittle (Brother).
The 1850 census counted 222 people living in the village of Pioneer. Many of those families are still represented. The first child born in Pioneer was either Mirelia Norris b. 1844 or Jacob Dohm. There is no record available to verify who holds that honor. Some of the local names from the 1850 census still represented in the area are Snow, Dohm, Drake, Coulon, Stiving, Rogers, Doriot, Poorman, Johnson, Bailey, Sweetman, Loomis, Young, Evers, Fenicle, Shaffer, Yoder, Durbin, Shankster, Orewiler, Dick, Fisher, Sheets (Sheats), Norris and McCarty. Other pre-1860 families included Dr. Richard Gaudern, Olin Kenyon, Warren Fulton, Jasper Best, C. VanOrsdale, Andy Irvin, Cummins and Cainfield.
Early business was spurred by the real rivalry between P.W. Norris and G.R. Joy, who were married to the Cottrell sisters. Each actively sought to make his parto f town more prosperous. P.W. managed to b e named postmaster in 1850, but could not name the town after himself, so he named it Pioneer. Pioneer was laid out into streets in 1853.
P.W. got Andy Irwin to build the Pioneer Hotel on the north side in 1854. Not to be outdone, G.R. Joy erected the Joy Hotel on the south side of the creek the following year. That building still stands next to the Laundromat mid-block of second block of first street.
Both men were ambitious businessmen, a trait that is still prevalent among the citizens of modern day Pioneer. Mr. Norris built a grist mill and saw mill along the north side of the creek. Later he had a brick yard nearby (where the "Mill Diamond" is today). Mr. Norris was a land agent and partner in a dry goods store, besides being postmaster. Later he explored Yellowstone National Park. Several sites there bear his name. G.R. Joy bred horses and cattle, built a sawmill, loaned money and bought property all around the growing village. Mr. Norris finally moved away to north of Detroit where he named a village "Norris". It now has been incorporated into Warren, Michigan.
G.R. Joy spent the remainder of his life in Pioneer and has descendants still living here today. School has been an important part of Pioneer since very early on. In 1844 school was held in Silander Johnson's cabin, with teacher Miss Rachel Baker of Amboy teaching a summer term. The first frame school was built near the old burying ground in 1847. That sight is near the water tower of today. A four room, 2 story frame school was built half way between State and Cedar facing Scott street, on the north side of town. In 1860, a fifth school, a large brick many-roomed school was built behind the four room school. This building stood until the 1970s. The last school sire on Baubice Street was chosen in 1920 and has been expanded several times since.
The Toledo and Western Railway came to Pioneer on its way to Columbia, Ohio in 1903. It never went any further, although the right of way had been purchased. The train had a yard engine and a traveling engine. All kinds of business prospered as a result of rapid delivery to Toledo, Ohio. Pioneer had a good wool market, pickle vats, stockyards, flour mill, grist mill, hoop mill and most were located along the south side of the creek in an area that now has a parking lot, bank and behind the fire hall. An old rail bridge abutment still exists where rails went to grist mill and brick yards and other businesses on that side of the creek. The rails ran across State street and down West Church street, where switching direction of the train took place. Many people remember the old "teeter and wobble" and a book was even written about it. Excursions to Fayette, Adrian, Walbridge Park and the zoo in Toledo, and into downtown Toledo for shopping and movies were common. The train met other lines that were traveling north and south.
Mr. Earl Snyder, a local hardware store co-owner, tried desperately to get the railroad up and going again after the T&W abruptly stopped service during the depression. He ended up being owner/operator and was featured in Ripley's "Believe It or Not" column and museum and was also featured on a television spot. The railroad continued until 1954, when Mr. Snyder sold the trucks he had traded for the iron rails to his son in-law John Yeager and partner, Richard Repp. Mr. Repp used the Pioneer and Fayette Railroad for his trucking company until recent years.
The Sesquicentennial Celebration was held in 1999 even though the village was actually 150 years old in 1993. The committee chose to celebrate the anniversary of the actual centennial celebration, which was held in 1949 due to World War II and the absence of so many citizens in 1943. The 125 celebration was held in 1974, twenty-five years later.
.
Geography
Pioneer is located at 41°40′50"N 84°33′10"W (41.680569, -84.552796).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.61%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 1,369 people, 593 households, and 400 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 911.8 people per square mile (352.3/km²). There were 636 housing units at an average density of 397.2 per square mile (153.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.40% White, 0.34% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.99% of the population.
There were 593 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $37,153, and the median income for a family was $46,369. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $21,466 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $18,024. About 5.9% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
North Central High School is a public high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Pioneer. A member of the Buckeye Border Conference
Buckeye Border Conference
The Buckeye Border Conference is a high school athletic league located in extreme northwest Ohio. The conference sponsors basketball, cross country, golf, and track and field for both boys and girls...
, it is the only high school in the North Central Local Schools district. The school's sports teams are nicknamed the Eagles.
Saint Patrick Catholic School, Bryan, Ohio