1800s Bluffton History Timeline
By Paula Pyzik Scott
With a nod to America 250 celebrations, the Bluffton Icon presents a timeline of local history nestled within those decades. We begin here with the 1800s when surveyors and settlers first called the area Deer Creek, Crogan's Corners, Shannon and, finally, Bluffton.
Much of the timeline is based on work by historian Fred Steiner and Bluffton University professor Howard Raid. Steiner created a timeline for a BlufftonForever.com railroad article. Librarian Carrie Phillips provided a "Chronology of SHANNON-CROGAN-BLUFFTON, OHIO" created in 1977 by Bluffton University Professor Howard Raid in 1977. Other sources are linked in the expanded list below.
In the attached video are photographs from articles on the Bluffton Icon and BlufftonForever.com, as well as from the archives of Musselman Library at Bluffton University and the Allen County Historical Society.
BLUFFTON HISTORY TIMELINE, PART ONE - THE 1800s
| pre-1830s |
| 1725 Estimated: Monumental oak was an acorn (Maple Grove Cemetery) |
| 1819 Surveyor Alex Holmes reports on "Deer Creek" area |
| 1820 James Riley completes final survey |
| 1830s |
| 1831 Village founded as Crogan's Corners |
| 1833 Early immigrants Michael Neuenschwander (Swiss) and Charles Dally arrive in the area |
| 1833 Joseph DeFord builds cabin on banks of the Riley; builds a grist mill |
| 1834 estimated, David Goble's store established |
| 1834 Mennonite congregation formed |
| 1834 Methodist Episcopal Church formed |
| 1838 DeFord creates plat (layout) of Shannon with Main Street |
| 1839 First grave dated in Shannon Cemetery |
| 1840s |
| 1840 approx., Log school house at Grove and Bentley/Kibler |
| 1842 First Reformed & Lutheran Society est. |
| 1849 Presbyterian Church of South Bethel est. |
| 1849 Saw mill, shingle and lathe factory est. |
| 1850s |
| 1850 Twelve families in Shannon / Bluffton |
| 1852 Siddall Mill and quarry, lime kiln in operation |
| 1853 Typhoid epidemic, 30 die in the settlement |
| 1855-1919 Brewery operated at Washington & Thurman |
| 1856 St. Mary Catholic Church est. |
| 1859 Church of Christ est. |
| 1859 Stage coach met the train at Findlay and ran to Lima through Bluffton |
| 1860s |
| 1861 Bluffton Special School District established, school erected at Jackson & Church |
| 1861 George Burget, first town marshal |
| 1861 Incorporation of Shannon and renaming of town as Bluffton |
| 1861 J.S. Powell, first Mayor of Bluffton |
| 1861-63 Smallpox epidemic |
| 1870s |
| 1872 First regular trains run through Bluffton between Findlay and Lima |
| 1872 Lutheran Church est. |
| 1874 First fire department was organized |
| 1875 Bluffton News established by N.W. Cunningham |
| 1875 Brick school built at Jackson & Church |
| 1876 Centennial block completed (Bluffton News / 2026 Basinger Law office) |
| 1877 Three-year high school established |
| 1878 Hauenstein block completed (NC Herr Jeweler / 2026 Twisted Whisk) |
| 1879-1884 Fisher Bros. Carriage Works (possibly at |
| 1880s |
| 1880 Lime kiln in operation |
| 1880 Population 1,250 |
| 1886 Defenseless Mennonite Church organized |
| 1887 Bluffton Town Hall built for $7,610 |
| 1887-1931 Commercial Bank & Savings Co. |
| 1887-1967 Bluffton Odd Fellows |
| 1887-current First Presbyterian Church of Bluffton (per OHS) |
| 1890s |
| 1890 1st oil well on Asa Stratton farm |
| 1895 or earlier Barber shop established in basement at Main and Vine |
| 1896 Townsend Mill fire |
| 1896 Waterworks established, service installed at M.M. Murray home |
| 1897 City light plant begins operation 6-10 p.m. |
| 1898 - Water pressure tested by Bluffton firefighters |
| 1898 Telephone service established |
| 1899 Depot constructed, later moved to Buckeye Park as Sportsmen's Club |
| 1899 - Central Mennonite College established |
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, November 13, 2026
- 55th annual Carol Sing at Riley Creek UMC, Dec. 6
- Next Generation 911 announced by Hancock County
- Christine Denecker appointed to Ohio Humanities Council
- Community Electric Aggregation notices are in the mail to Bluffton customers
- Nov. 13 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup
- Letter: What a fall for our Bluffton Pirates
Thursday, November 12, 2026
- Bluffton Middle School Honor Roll for 1st Quarter, 2026-2027
- Bluffton alumni to discuss lives and vocations in ministry
- Letter: Honoring 20 years of land preservation in West Central Ohio
- Prairie restoration research program on Nov. 20
- Bluffton Lions to hear presentation on humanitarian and disaster relief
- Separate the wheat from the chaff: Multi-ingredient botanicals for cholesterol
- Bluffton Council recap: $5,000 donated for Blaze lights installation
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, November 2-8
- Veterans invited to Bluffton American Legion programs on Veterans Day
- James Raymond Harrod, Jr., 64, was a PGA professional
- Nathan Ulrey, 46, served in the Navy Seabees
- Letter: Thank you, Coach Richards
- Big Brothers Big Sisters launches 2026 year-end giving campaign
- Socktober drive collected 659 pairs for local distribution
- Jeanne Previte, 80, owned and operated Jeanne's Kitchen
- Bluffton Elementary Honor Roll for 1st Quarter 2026-2027
- Lego scarecrow earns GROB top honors from voters
- Former Blufftonite is lieutenant governor-elect of South Carolina
- University to stage costume drama that mixes emotion, humor and contemporary references
- Bluffton High School Honor Roll for 1st quarter of 2026-2027
- Nov. 13 chamber program on Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Monday, November 9, 2026
- Healing and life beyond incarceration explored at Forum
- Nov. 12 opportunity to learn Mahjong
- Door hanger craft class at Pandora library, November 17
- BPL after school movie, November 16
- Hailey's Wellness and Massage provide chair massages at Senior Center
- Bluffton area Women in Business Meeting November 19