Pioneer (Ohio)

Williams County

39-62834

Pioneer is a village in Williams County, Ohio, United States. According to the statistics of the year 2000, there were 1,460 inhabitants in the municipality.

Geography

Pioneer is located in the extreme northwest of the Ohio, directly on the border with Michigan. The border with Indiana is about 19 miles (30 kilometers) to the west and is accessible via the Ohio Turnpike Highway, which runs a few kilometers south of the village. Directly in Pioneer is the small lake Pioneer Lake, which is used by sport fishermen and as a recreational zone. North-west of Pioneer begins with Seneca Lake, Lake Diane and Mary Lake, a larger Lake area, which is accessible to tourists.

History

The town was founded in 1842-43 by Philetus Walter Norris, who later became superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, and his brother Owen McCarty. The area at that time was still deserted 1848 noted the settlers GR Joy, between Pioneer and the later capital of Bryan County there were only four houses. The settlement grew rapidly. 1850 were already 222 people in Pioneer resident. 1853, the first roads were built in the town. Joy and Norris were both ambitious businessmen and competitors. Norris built a flour mill, a saw mill and a brickyard and was postmaster of the new settlement. Joy built a second saw mill, a horse and cattle and worked as moneylenders. While Norris 1861 Pioneer left to fight in the American Civil War, Joy remained in the place where to live today his descendants.

Further expansion came in 1903 the rail link to the Toledo and Western Railway. Pioneer exported wool, flour and other goods. The economy flourished until the Great Depression, when the railway line was discontinued. However, a local businessman kept the operation to continue until 1954.

Education

The place is located at the North Central High School, the only high school of the school district North Central. The sports team at school takes the nickname Eagles.

Personalities

• Philetus Walter Norris, town founder and later the second superintendent of Yellowstone National Park