This area was nothing but mud, muck and mire surrounded by dense forest when it was first settled in 1850, thus it became known as the Great Black Swamp. Prior to that, the area was inhabited by Indian Tribes. The Wyandot and Ottawa Indians had left the area only a few years previously, in 1843, due to the “removal policy” presented by President James Monroe in 1825.

The first settlers of the community were Jacob Dirk, George Franks, Levi A. Tarr and Bassett L. Peters. The people have a history rich in religion and education, combined with a robust heritage typical of the early oil boom and railroading days. One of the first buildings erected served as a combination schoolhouse, church and meeting hall. The structure was built by Peters in 1860 at a cost of $550 and was located on what is now the northwest corner of Main Street and Broadway. This area is presently the site of the Municipal Building, (Fire Station/ Police Department/ Village Hall). At that time (1860), before the town had an official name, it was a small hamlet consisting of two stores, a few dwellings and the meeting hall. The latter building served as the first meeting place for the congregation of the United Brethren Church, which was chartered in 1861 as the first church in Henry Township. Today the congregation is known as The Church of The Good Shepherd United Methodist and is located at 119 West Broadway.

Peters is, unofficially, considered as the founder of the town. He not only built the first school, but was its first school teacher, foreman of the first fire department, co-founder of the town’s first newspaper, helped found the first church and was the first Sunday School Superintendent and later became the town’s first mayor.