f m CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ALBERT & CHARLES HULL MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT fORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 077T0I 735 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924077101735 HI8TOEY CRAWFORD County OHIO. Containing a History of the State of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, embracing its topography, geological, physical and climatic features; its agricultural, stock-growing, rail- road interests, etc.; a History of Crawford County , giving an account of its aboriginal inhabitants, early settlement by the whites, pioneer incidents, its growth, its improvements, organization of the County, its judicial and political history, its business and industries, churches, schools, etc.; Biographical Sketches ; Portraits of some of the Early Settlers and Prominent Men, etc. , etc. inLrjUsa?i^A.TEr). CHICAGO : BASKIN & BATTEY, HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, 1 86 Dearborn Street. 1881. ^ 6 r- y/ @ w_ :±=fk PREFACE 'T^HE work is now closed, which for the past three months, has engaged the efforts of our historians, W. H. Perrin, J. H. Battle and W. A. Goodspeed. Upon these pages they have traced the journey of the pioneer from homes of comfort and refinement to the unbroken wilds of the West ; they have noticed the rearing of cabins, the felling of the forests, the privations of the early settlements, the heroic fortitude with which the pioneer surmounted these obstacles, and the patient toil that has " made the wilderness to rejoice and blossom as the rose." They have marked the coming of the schoolmaster, and that greater teacher, the minister of the Gospel ; the rise of the schoolhouse and church, and their influence in mold- ing society. This work we have undertaken in the belief that there is a demand that the events which relate to the early times should find a permanent record, and with what fidelity to facts and with what patience of research the task has been accomplished, we shall leave to the judgment of our patrons, in whose keeping the traditions of that day remain, and for whom the work was undertaken. Our historians have availed themselves of such manuscripts and publica- tions as exist, but the chief source of information has been the traditions which have come down from the original pioneers. These have generally been verified from other sources, but' in some non-essential particulars, their dependence has been upon tradition alone, and some errors may thus have been sanctioned. Before closing our work, we desire to thank the citizens everywhere in the county who have so cordially aided our historians in gathering the materials for this volume, and to express our special indebtedness to the public spirit of the county press. To their interest in the early history of the county, and to their judgment and enterprise in securing a perma- nent record of the pioneer days, is due much of the matter which will be found in these pages. In this respect, we desire to express our obligations to Mr. John Hopley, of the Journal, to the editor of the Forum, and to the other gentlemen of the county press, for their cordial aid in "this direction. In this connection, we would express our indebtedness to the gentlemen who have been associated with our historians in the various parts of the work ; to Franklin Adams, Esq., to Dr. Geoeqe Keller, and to others whose names appear with their contributions. January, 1881. THE PUBLISHERS. >C S ^" ~T |) ^ — ^ lii^ CONTENTS. PART I. HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO. PAGE. CHAPTER I.— Introductory— Topography— Geology— Primitive Races— Antiquities— Indian Tribes 11 CHAPTER II.— Explorations in the West 19 CHAPTER III.— English Explorations— Traders— French and Indian War in the West — ^English Possession..^ 37 CHAPTER IV.— Pontiac's Conspiracy— Its Failure— Bouquet's Expedition— Occupation by the English 48 CHAPTER V. — American Exploration — Duamore'a War — Cam- paign of George Rogers Clarke — Land Troubles — Spain in the Revolution — Murder of the Moravian Indians 52 CHAPTER VI. — American Occupation — Indian Claims- Early Land Companies — Compact of 1787 — Organization of the Territory — Early American Settlements in the Ohio Val- ley — ^First Territorial OfBcera — Organization of Counties... 60 CHAPTER Vn.— Indian War of 1795— Harmar's Campaign— St. Clair's Campaign — Wayne's Campaign — Close of the War 73 CHAPTER VIII.— Jay's Treaty— The Question of State Rights and National Supremacy — Extension of Ohio Settlements — Land Claims — Spanish Boundary Question 79 CHAPTER IX. — First Territorial Representatives in Congress — Division of the Territory — Formaiion of States — Mari- etta Settlement— Other Settlements — Settlements in the Western Reserve — Settlement of the Central Valleys — Further Settlements in the Reserve and Elsewhere 85 CHAPTER X.— Formation of the State Government— Ohio a State — The State Capitals — Legislation — The " Sweeping" Resolutions 121 CHAPTER XI.— The War of 1812--Growth of the State— Canal, Railroads and other Improvements — Development of State Resources 127 CHAPTER XIT. — Mexican War— Continued Growth of the State —War of the Rebellion— Ohio's Part in the Conflict 132 CHAPTER XIII.— Ohio in the Centennial— Address of Edward D. Mansfield, L.L D., Philadelphia, August 9, 1876 138 CHAPTER XIV.— Education— Early School Laws— Notes— In- stitutions and Educational Journals — School System — School Funds — Colleges and Universities 148 CHAPTER XV.— Agriculture— Area of the State — Early Agri- culture in the West — Markets— Live Stock — Nurseries, Fruits, etc. — Cereals, Root and Cucurbitaceous Crops — Agricultural Implements — Agricultural Societies — Pomo- logical and Horticultural Societies 151 CHAPTER XVI.— Climatology — Outline — Variation in Obio— Estimate in Degrees — Amount of Variability 163 PART II. CHAPTER I. — Introductory— Physical Features — Forests— Story of the Rocks— Different Shales — Water Supply — Material Resources— The Weather and the Temperature 166 PAGE. CHAPTER II.— Prehistoric Races — Relics of the Mound Build- ers—The Bed Men— Their Occupation of the Country — Troubles with the Whites — Incidents and Sufferings — A Noted Character 184 CHAPTER III.— The Pioneers— Organization of the County — Changes of Boundary — Early Beginnings in County Affairs — Social and Commercial Progress — County Buildings — A Frontier Philanthropist 205 CHAPTER IV.— The Professions— The First Courts of the County — Pioneer Practitioners — Modern Lawyers — The First Physicians — Thompsonian Doctors — The Dutch Den- tist — Present Practice 223 CHAPTER v.— Religious History- Churches Organized — Pio- neer Ministers — Christianity at Present — Early Schools — Primitive Schoolhouses — Educational Statistics — The County Press — Railroads 251 CHAPTER VI.— Agriculture— Eariy Practices of the Farmers — Later Methods — Improvements in Stock— Wool Grow- ing — Early Markets and Early Roads — The Fairs 273 CHAPTER VII.— War Record of the County— The Struggle for Independence — Indian Skirmishes and the Troubles of 1812— Mexican War— The War between the States — Sketches of Regiments — Incidents 294 CHAPTER VIIL— Bucyrus Township — Descriptive and Physi- cal (Features —Early Pioneera — Some of the " First Families" — Roads and other Improvements — Indian Incidents — Education and Religion 320 CHAPTER TX.— City of Bucyrus— Its Birth— Col. Kilbourne- The name Bucyrus — Sale of Lots- Pioneer Song — A Mam- moth Skeleton — Manufactories, etc.— Societies. 344 CHAPTER X.— City of Bucyrus- Christianity— Its Progress in the Settlement — Organizntion of Societies — Young Men's Christian Association — Early Schools' — Academies — School Boards, etc 379 CHAPTER XI.— Polk Township— Its Ori;iinal Boundaries- Description — Early Settlement — First Township Officers — Pioneer Improvements — Indian Incidents — Murdera— Religion — Schools... 417 CHAPTER XII.— City of Gallon- First Plat and Additions- Some of its Business Men — Growth and Business — Hotels, Banks, Mills, etc. — Incorporation — Fire Department — Cemeteries 444 CHAPTER XIII.— City of Galion—Religions— Eariy Ministers — Different Church Societies— Charitable Institutions — Masonry— Educational — Pioneer Teachers — SchoolhouBes..4G5 CHAPTER XIV.— Jackson Township— Descriptive and Physical Features — The Township as it Was — Early Settlement — Coming of the Ridlroads — Laying-Out of Crestline, etc .487 CHAPTER XV.— City of Crestline- Growth of the Town— Edu- cational— Railruad Shops — Religious History — Secret So- cieties—General Improvements— The"Pre88 499 CHAPTER XVI.— Auburn Township— Description— Settlement by the Whites— Topographical — Early Privations — Pionr-er Industries — Towns Laid Out — Schools — Churches, etc 508 ^ ^ ^-^1 CONTEISTTS. CHAPTER XVri.—SaaduBky Township— Deacription and Topo- graphy—Township Organized— The Whites — The Ked Men — Pioneer Improvemeats — Keligious and Educational 526 CHAPTER XVIII. — Whetstone Township — Topographical — Settlement by White People— Pioneer Notes — Early In- dustries —VillageB— Christianity and Early Preachers — Educational, etc 640 CHAPTER XIX.— Liberty Township— Its Physical Features— The Pioneers — Frontier Life — Improvements — Educa- tional — Early Teachers — Churches — Sulphur Springs 556 CHAPTER XX.— Holmes Township— ;Topogr»phical and De- scriptive — The Burnt Swamps — The Whites — Pioneer Im- provements — Nasby's Cross-Roads — Religious and School History 579 CHAPTER XXI.— Vernon Township— Descriptive— Topography — Pioneer Occupation — Early -Improvements — Villages — Their Growth — Christianity — Educational, etc 595 CHAPTER XXII.— Todd Township— General Features— Configu- ration — Township Officers — The Whites— Indian Incidents — The Village — Religious and Educational 607 CHAPTER XXIII.— Cranberry Township- Introduction and Topography — Coming of the Whites — Notice of Indians- Cranberry Picking— Hunting— The Village— Educational..623 CHAPTER XXIV.— Jefferson Township- Its Physical Features — The Pioneers — Incidents of Frontier Life — Industries — Villages — The " Windfall " — Educational and Religious 636 CHAPTER XXV.— Chatfield Township— Descripfion— Topo- graphical — The . Pioneers— Indian History — Pioneer Im- provements—Trapping and Hunting— Villages— Educa- tional, etc 649 CHAPTER XXVI.— Texas Township— Introductory— Topograph- ical — Occupation by the Whites- Pioneer Progress — Vil- lages—Religion and Early Preachers — Educational 665 CHAPTER XXVII.— Dallas Township— Its Description and Physical Features— Organization — Early Settlement- Pioneer Hardships— Incidents— Churches and Early Preachers — Schools, etc 674 CHAPTER XXVIIL— Lykena Township- Topographical Feat- ures—First Elections- Pioneer Occupation — Incidents- Progress and Development— Towns— Schools and Churches,696 PABT III. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES Auburn Township 861 Bucyrus Township 709 Chatfield Township 1008 Cranberry Township'. 984 Dallas Township 1024 Holmes Township 955 Jackson Township ; 852 Jefferson Township 1001 Liberty Township 906 Lykens Township 1032 Polk Township 836 Sandusky Township .' 377 PAOB. Todd Township 978 Texas Township 1014 Vernon Township 974 Whetstone Township 883 ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTRAITS. Adams, Franklin (Biography on page 232) 225 Brause, Rudolph fBiography on page 1032) 697 Campbell, John 549 Cahill, R. W. (Biography on page 974) 603 Deardorff, Emanuel (Biography on page 725) 747 Deardorff, Elizabeth (Biography on page 726) 765 Gormly, J. A. (Biography on page 742)..' 189 Hopley, John (Biography on page 743) 261 Hetich, Charles (Biography on page 746) 279 Hosford, Asa (Biography on page 843) .423 Holmes, J. W. (Biography on page 843) 441 Jones, A. M, (Biography on page 754) 361 Jones, Elizabeth (Biography on page 755) 369 Johnston, T. F. (Biography on page 1026) 675 Johnston, Martha L. (Biography on page 1026) 685 Kerr, James (Biography on page 896) 477 Kerr, Nancy (Biography on page 896) 495 Klink, J. A. (Biography on page 920) 567 Keplinger, Charles (Biography on page 929) 577 Ludwigi Samuel (Biography on page ^68) 171 Lemert, Lewis (Biography on page 1019) 621 Monnett, A. (Biography on page 772) 207 Monnett, T. J. (Biography on page 774) 405 Monnett, William (Biography on page 772) 711 Monnett, Elizabeth (Biography on page 772) ....1 729 Musgrave, R, W. (Biography on page 934) 661 Miller, W. W. (Biography on page 777) 783 Miller, Catharine (Biography on page 777) 801 Norton, Samuel (Biography on page 321) '. 333 Norton, Mary (Biography on page 321) 339 Plants, Josiah (Biography on page 794) 153 Rowse,Zalmon (Biography on page 796) 297 Robinson, James (Biography on page 1005) 639 Scott, Josiah (Biography on page 808) 135 Swingly, P. (Biography on page 808) 243 Shaw, J. A. (Biography on page 812) 315 Shunk, Adam (Biography on page 813) ^ 375 Sweney, George (Biography on page 822) 387 Stewart, Joseph (Biography on page 814) 513 Stewart, Jane (Biography on page 814) 531 ShuU, John (Biography on page 809) 657 Trimble, John (Biography on page 904) 459 VIEWS. Bucyrus Schoolhouse 416 Crawford County Court House 165 Gallon Schoolhouse 416 Marble Works of. W. H. Houpt 819 Mastodon 35^ ERRATA. Biography of Thomas P. Hopley 1047 Biography of W. H. Houpt 1047 ^^^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 1^ CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY —TOPOGRAPHY -GEOLOGY —PRIMITIVE -RACES —ANTIQUITIES —INDIAN TRIBES. THE present State of Ohio, comprising an extent of country 210 miles north and south, 220 miles east and west, in length and breadth — 25,576,969 acres — is a part of the Old Northwest Territory. This Territory embraced all of the present States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and so much of Minnesota as lies east of the ^Mississippi River. It became a corporate existence soon after the formation of the Virginia Colony, and when that colony took on the dignity of State government it became a county thereof, whose exact outline was unknown. The county embraced in its limits more territory than is com- prised in all the New England and Middle States, and was the largest county ever known in the United States. It is watered by the finest system of rivers on the globe ; while its inland seas are without a parallel. Its entire southern boundary is traversed by the beautiful Ohio, its western by the majestic Mississippi, and its northern and a part of its eastern are bounded by the fresh-water lakes, whose clear waters preserve an even temper- ature over its entire surface. Into these reservoirs of commerce flow innumerable streams of limpid water, which come from glen and dale, from mountain and valley, from forest and prairie — all avenues of health, commerce and prosperity. Ohio is in the best part of. this territory — south of its river are tropical heats ; north of Lake Erie are polar snows and a polar climate. The territory comprised in Ohio has always re- mained the same. Ohio's history differs somewhat from other States, in that it was never undrr Ter- ritorial government. When it was created, it was made a State, and did not pass through the stage incident to the most of other States, ■/. e., exist as a Territory before being advanced to the powers of a State. Such was not the case with the other States of the West ; all were Territories, with Terri- torial forms of government, ere they became States. Ohio's boundaries are, on the north, Lakes Erie and Michigan ; on the west, Indiana ; on the south, the Ohio River, separating it from Kentucky; and, on the east, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It is situated between 38° 25' and 42° north latitude ; and 80° 30' and 84° 50' west longitude from Greenwich, or 3° 30' and 7° 50' west from Washington. Its greatest length, from north to south, is 210 miles; the extreme width, from east to west, 220 miles. Were this an exact out- line, the area of the State would be 46,200 square mUes, or 29,568,000 acres ; as the outlines of the State are, however, rather irregular, the area is estimated at 39,964 square miles, or 25,576,960 acres. In the last census — 1870 — the total num- ber of acres in Ohio is given as 21,712,420, of which 14,469,132 acres are improved, and 6,883,- 575 acres are woodland. By the last statistical report of the State Auditor, 20,965,371f acres are reported as taxable lands. This omits many acres untaxable for various reasons, which would make the estimate,. 25, 576, 960, nearly con-ect. The face of the country, in Ohio, taken as a whole, presents the appearance of an extensive monotonous plain. It is moderately undulating but not mouufainous, and is excavated in places by the streams coursing over its surface, whose waters have forced a way for themselves through cliffs of sandstone rock, leaving abutments of this material in bold outline. There are no mountain ranges, geological uplifts or peaks. A low ridge enters the State, near the northeast corner, and crosses it in a southwesterly direction, emerging near the inter- section of the 40th degree of north latitude with :^ ^- the westerD boundary of the State. This ' ' divide separates the lake and Ohio River waters, and main- tains an elevation of a little more than thirteen hundred feet above the level of the ocean. The highest part is in Logan County, where the elevar tion is 1,550 feet. North of this ridge the surface is generally level, with a gentle inclination toward the lake, the ine- qualities of the surface being caused by the streams which empty into the lake. The central part of Ohio is almost, in general, a level plain, about one thousand feet above the level of the sea, slightly inclining southward. The Southern part of the State is rather hilly, the valleys growing deeper as they incline toward the great valley of the Ohio, which is several hundred feet below the general level of the State. In the southern counties, the surface is generally diversified by the inequalities produced by the excavating power of the Ohio River and its tributaries, exercised through long periods of time. There are a few prairies, or plains, in the central and northwestern parts of the State, but over its greater portion originally existed im- mense growths of timber. The " divide," or water-shed, referred to, between the waters of Lake Erie and the Ohio River, is less elevated in Ohio than in New York and Penn- sylvania, though the diiFerence is small. To a per- son passing over the State in a balloon, its surface presents an unvarying plain, while, to one sailing down the Ohio River, it appears mountainous. On this river are bluiFs ranging from two hundred and fifty to sis hundred feet in height. As one ascends the tributaries of the river, these bluffs diminish in height until they become gentle undu- lations, while toward the sources of the streams, in the central part of the State, the banks often become low and marshy. The principal rivers are the Ohio, Muskingum, Scioto and Miami, on the southern slope, emptying into the Ohio ; on the northern, the Maumee, Sandusky, Huron and Cuyahoga, emptying into Lake Erie, and, all but the first named, entirely in Ohio. The Ohio, the chief river of the State, and from which it derives its name, with its tributaries, drains a country whose area is over two hundred thousand square miles in extent, and extending from the water-shed to Alabama. The river was first dis- covered by La Salle in 1669, and was by him nav- igated as far as the Falls, at Louisville, Ky. It is formed by the junction of the x\lleghany and Monongahela rivers, in Pennsylvania, whose waters unite at Pittsburgh. The entire length of the river, froto its source to its mouth, is 950 miles, though by a straight Une from Pittsburgh to Cairo, it is only 615 miles. Its current is very gentle, hardly three miles per hour, the descent being only five inches per mile. At high stages, the rate of the current increases, and at low stages decreases. Sometimes it is barely two miles per hour. The average range between high and low water mark is fifty feet, although several times the river has risen more than sixty feet above low water mark. At the lowest stage of the river, it is fordable many places between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The river abounds in islands, some of which are exceed- ingly fertile, and noted in the history of the West. Others, known as " tow-heads," are simply deposits of sand. The Scioto is one of the largest inland streams in the State, and is one of the most beautiful riv- ers. It rises in Hardin County, flows southeast- erly to Columbus, where it receives its largest afSuent, the Olentangy er Whetstone, after which its direction is southerly until it enters the Ohio at Portsmouth. It flows through one of the rich- est valleys in the State, and has for its compan- ion the Ohio and Erie Canal, for a distance of ninety miles. Its tributaries are, besides the Whet- stone, the Darby, Walnut and Paint Creeks. The Muskingum River is. formed by the junc- tion of the Tuscarawas and Waldhoning Rivers, which rise in the northern part of the State and unite at Coshocton. From the junction, the river flows in a southeastern course about one hundred miles, through a rich and populous valley, to the Ohio, at Marietta, the oldest settlement in the State. At its outlet, the Muskingum is over two hundred yards wide. By improvements, it has been made navigable ninety-five miles above Mari- etta, as far as Dresden, where a side cut, three miles long, unites its waters with those of the Ohio Canal. AH along this stream exist, in abundant profusion, the remains of an ancient civiliza- tion, whose history is lost in the twilight of antiq- uity. Extensive mounds, earthworks and various fortifications, are everywhere to be found, inclosing a mute history as silent as the race that dwelt here and left these traces of their evistence. The same may be said of all the other valleys in Ohio. The Miami River — the scenes of many exploits in pioneer days — rises in Hardin County, near the headwaters of the Scioto, and runs southwesterly, to the Ohio, passing Troy, Dayton and Hamilton. 1 It is a beautiful and rapid stream, flowing through ^^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 13 a highly productive and populous valley, in wliich limestxjne and hard timber are abundant. Its total length is about one hunared and fifty miles. The Maumee is the largest river in the northern part of Ohio. It rises in Indiana and flows north- easterly, into Lake Erie. About eighty miles of its course are in Ohio. It is navigable lu far as Perrysburg, eighteen miles from its mouth. The other rivers north of the divide are all small, rapid-running streams, affording a large amount of good water-power, much utilized by mills and man- ufactories. A remarkable feature of the topography of Ohio is its almost total absence of natural lakes or ponds. A few very small ones are found near the water-shed, but all too small to be of any practical value save as watering-places for stock. Lake Erie, which forms nearly all the northern boundary of the State, is next to the last or lowest of America's " inland seas." It is 290 miles long, and 57 miles wide at its greatest part. There are no islands, except in the shallow water at the west end, and very few bays. The greatest depth of the lake is off Long Point, where the water is 312 feet deep. The shores are principally drift-clay or hard-pan, upon which the waves are continually encroaching. At Cleveland, from the first sur- vey, in 1796, to 1842, the encroachment was 218 feet along the entire city front. The entire coast is low, seldom rising above fifty feet at the water's edge. Lake Erie, like the others, has a variable sur- face, rising and falling with the seasons, like great rivers, called the " annual fluctuation," and a gen- eral one, embracing a series of years, due to mete- orological causes, known as the " secular fluctua- tion." Its lowest known level was in February, 1819, rising more or less each year, until June, 1838, in the extreme, to six feet eight inches. Lake Erie has several excellent harbors in Ohio, among which are Cleveland, Toledo, Sandusky, Port Clinton and Ashtabula. Valuable improve- ments have been made in some of these, at the expense of the General Government. In 1818, the first steamboat was launched on the lake. Owing to the Falls of Niagara, it could go no farther east than the outlet of Niagara River. Since then, however, the opening of the Welland Canal, in Canada, allows vessels drawing nut more than ten feet of water to pass from one lake to the other, greatly facilitating navigation. As early as 1836, Dr. S. P. HiJdreth, Dr. John Locke, Prof. J. H. Riddle and Mr. I. A. Lapham, were appointed a committee by the Legislature of Ohio to report the " best method of obtaining a complete geological survey of the State, and an estimate of the probable cost of the same." In the preparation of their report, Dr. Hildreth examined the coal-measures in the southeastern part of the State, Prof. Riddle and Mr. Lapham made exam- inations in the western and northern counties, while Dr. Locke devoted his attention to chemical analyses. These investigatinns resulted in the presentation of much valuable information con- cerning the mineral resources of the State and in a plan for a geological survey. In accordance with the recommendation of this Committee, the Legislature, in 1837, passed a bill appropriating $lli,000 for the prosecution of the work during the next year. The Geological Corps appointed consisted of W. W. Mather, State Geologist, with Dr. Hildreth, Dr. Locke, Prof. J. P.Kirtland, J. W. Foster, Charles Whittlesey and Charles Brijrgs, Jr., Assistants. The results of the first year's work appeared in 1838, in an octavo volume of 134 pages, with contributions from Mather, Hildreth, Briggs, Kirtland and Whittlesey. In 1838, the Legislature ordered the continuance of the work, and, at the close of the year, a second report, of 286 pages, octavo, was issued, containing contribu- tions from all the members of the survey. Succeeding Legislatures failed to provide for a continuance of the work, and, save that done by private means, nothing was accomplished till 1869, when the Legislature again took up the work. In the interim, individual enterprise had done much. In 1841, Prof. James Hall passed through the State, and, by his indentification of several of the formations with those of New York, for the first time fixed their geological age. The next year, he issued the first map of the geology of the State, in common with the geological maps of all the region between the Alleghanies and the Jlississippi. Similar maps were published by Sir Charles Lyell, in 1845 ; Prof. Sldward Hitchcock, in 1853, and by J. Mareon, in 1856. The first individual map of the geology of Ohio was a very small one, published by Col. Whittlesey, in 1848, in Howe's History. In 1856, he published a larger map, and, in 1865, another was issued by Prof Nelson Sayler. In 18(i7, Dr. J. S. Newberry published a geological map and sketch of Ohio in the Atlas of the State issued by H. S. Stebbins. Up to this time, the geological knowledge was very general in its character, and, consequently, errone- ous in many of i's details. Other States had been f^-^ I l3 ■^ 14 HISTOKY or OHIO. accurately surveyed, yet Ohio remained a kind of terra incognita, of which the geology was less known than any part of the surrounding area. In 1869, the Legislature appropriated, for a new survey, $13,900 for its support during one year, and appointed Dr. Newberry Chief Geologist ; E. B. Andrews, Edward Orton and J. H. Klippart were appointed Assistants, and T. Gr. "Wormley, Chemist. The result of the first year's work was a volume of 164 pages, octavo, published in 1870. This report, accompanied by maps and charts, for the first time accurately defined the geological formations as to age and area. Evidence was given which set at rest questions of nearly thirty years' standing, and established the fact that Ohio in- cludes nearly double the number of formations be- fore supposed to exist. Since that date, the sur- veys have been regularly made. Each county is being surveyed by itself, and its formation ac- curately determined. Elsewhere in these pages, these results are given, and to them the reader is referred for the specific geology of the county. Only general results can be noted here. On the general geological map of the State, are two sections of the State, taken at each northern and southern extremity. These show, with the map, the general outline of the geological features of Ohio, and are all that can be given here. Both sections show the general arrangements of the formation, and prove that they lie in sheets resting one upon another, but not horizontally, as a great arch traverses the State from Cincinnati to the lake shore, between Toledo and Sandusky. Along this line, which extends southward to Nashville, Tenn., all the rocks are raised in a ridge or fold, once a low mountain chain. In the lapse of ages, it has, however, been extensively worn away, and now, along a large part of its course, the strata which once arched over it are re- moved from its summit, and are found resting in regular order on either side, dipping away from its axis. Where the ridge was highest, the erosion has been greatest, that being the reason why the oldest rocks are exposed in the region about Cin- cinnati. By following the hne of this great arch from Cincinnati northward, it will be seen that the Helderberg limestone (No. 4), midway of the State, is still unbroken, and stretches from side to side ; while the Oriskany, the Corniferous, the Hamilton and the Huron formations, though generally re- moved from the crown of the arch, still remain over a limited area near Bellefontaine, where they form an island, which proves the former continuity of the strata which compose it. On the east side of the great anticlinal axis, the rocks dip down into a basin, which, for several hundred miles north and south, occupies the inter- val between the Nashville and Cincinnati ridge and the first fold of the Alleghany Mountains. In this basin, all the strata form trough-like layers, their edges outcropping eastward on the flanks of the Alleghanies, and westward along the anti- clinal axis. As they dip from this margin east- ward toward the center of the trough, near its middle, on the eastern border of the State, the older rocks are deeply buried, and the surface is here underlaid by the highest and most recent of our rock formations, the coal measures. In the northwestern corner of the State, the strata dip northwest from the anticlinal and pass under the Michigan coal basin, precisely as the same formar tions east of the anticlinal dip beneath the Alle- ghany coal-field, of which Ohio's coal area forms a part. The rocks underlying the State all belong to three of the great groups which geologists have termed " systems," namely, the Silurian, Devonian and Carboniferous. Each of these are again sub- divided, for convenience, and numbered. Thug the Silurian system includes the Cincinnati group, the Medina and Clinton groups, the Niagara group, and the Salina and Water-Line groups. The Devonian system includes the Oriskany sand- stone, the Carboniferous limestone, the Hamilton group, the Huron shale and the Erie shales. The Carboniferous system includes the Waverly group, the Carboniferous Conglomerate, the Coal Meas- ures and the Drift. This last includes the surface, and has been divided into six parts, numbering from the lowest, viz.: A glacialed surface, the Gla- cial Drift, the Erie Clays, the Forest Bed, the Ice- berg Drift and the Terraces or Beaches, which mark intervals of stability in the gradual recession of the water surface to its present level. " The history we may learn from these forma- tions," says the geologist, "is something as fol- lows: " First. Subsequent to the Tertiary was a period of continual elevation, during which the topog- raphy of the country was much the same as now, the draining streams following the lines they now do, but cutting down their beds until they flowed sometimes two hundred feet lower than they do at present. In the latter part of this period of ele- vation, glaciers, descending from the Canadian 1^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 15 islands, excavated and occupied the valleys of the great lakes, and covered the lowlands down nearly to the Ohio. "Second. By a depression of the land and ele- vation of temperature, the glaciers retreated north- ward, leaving, in the interior of the continent, a great basin of fresh water, in which the Erie clays were deposited. " Third. This water was drained away until a broad land surface was exposed within the drift area. Upon this surface grew forests, largely of red and white cedar, inhabited by the elephant, mastodon, giant beaver and other large, now ex- tinct, animals. ^'Fourth. The submergence of this ancient land and the spreading over it, by iceberg agency, of gravel, sand and bowlders, distributed just as ice- bergs now spread their loads broadcast over the sea bottom on the banks of Newfoundland. "Fifth. The gradual draining-off of the waters, leaving the land now as we find it, smoothly cov- ered with all the layers of the drift, and well pre- pared for human occupation." " In six days, the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and rested the seventh day," records the Scriptures, and, when all was done. He looked upon the work of His own hands and pronounced it "good." Surely none but a divine, omnipotent hand could have done all this, and none can study the "work of His hands" and not marvel at its completeness. The ancient dwellers of the Mississippi Valley will always be a subject of great interest to the antiquarian. Who they were, and whence they came, are stiU unanswered questions, and may remain so for ages. All over this valley, and, in fact, in all parts of the New World, evidences of an ancient civilization exist, whose remains are now a wonder to all. The aboriginal races could throw no light on these questions. They had always seen the remains, and know not whence they came. Explorations aid but little in the solu- tion of the problem, and only conjecture can be entertained. The remains found in Ohio equal any in the Valley. Indeed, some of them are vast in extent, and consist of forts, fortifications, moats, ditches, elevations and mounds, embracing many acres in extent. "It is not yet determined," says Col. Charles Whittlesey, "whether we have discovered the first or the original people who occupied the soil of Ohio. Modern investigations are bringing to light evidences of earlier races. Since the presence of man has been established in Europe as a cotempor- ary of the fossil elephant, mastodon, rhinoceros and the horse, of the later drift or glacial period, we may reasonably anticipate the presence of man in America in that era. Such proofs are already known, but they are not of that conclusive charac- ter which amounts to a demonstration. It is, how- ever, known that an ancient people inhabited Ohio in advance of the red men who were found here, three centuries since, by the Spanish and French explorers. " Five and six hundred years before the arrival of Columbus," says Col. Charles Whittlesey, "the Northmen sailed from Norway, Iceland and Green- land along the Atlantic coast as far as Long Island. They found Indian tribes, in what is now New En- gland, closely resembling those who lived upon the coast and the St. Lawrence when the French and English came to possess these regions. " These red Indians had no traditions of a prior people ; but over a large part of the lake country and the valley of the Mississippi, earth-works, mounds, pyramids, ditches and forts were discov- ered — the work of a more ancient race, and a peo- ple far in advance of the Indian. If they were not civilized, they were not barbarians. They were not mere hunters, but had fixed habitations, ' cultivated the soil and were possessed of consider- able mechanical skill. We know them as the Hound- Builders, because they erected over the mortal remains of their principal men and women memorial mounds of earth or unhewn stone — ^of which hundreds remain to our own day, so large and high that they give rise to an impression of the numbers and energy of their builders, such as we receive from the pyramids of Egypt." Might they not have been of the same race and the same civilization ? Many competent authori- ties conjecture they are the work of the lost tribes of Israel ; but the best they or any one can do is only conjecture. " In the burial-mounds," continues Col. Whit^ tlesey, " there are always portions of one or more human skeletons, generally partly consumed by fire, with ornaments of stone, bone, shells, mica and copper. The largest mound in Ohio is near Miamisburg, Montgomery County. It is the second largest in the West, being nearly seventy feet high, originally, and about eight hundred feet in circumference. This would give a superficial area of nearly four acres. In 1864, the citizens of Miamisburg sunk a shaft from the summit to the natural surface, without finding the bones ^1 :t 16 HISTORY OF OHIO. or ashes of the great man for whom it was intended. The exploration has considerably lowered the mound, it being now about sixty feet in height. " Fort Ancient, on the Little Miami, is a good specimen of the military defenses of the Mound- Builders. It is well located on a long, high, nar- row, precipitous ridge. The parapets are now from ten to eighteen feet high, and its perimeter is sufficient to hold twenty thousand fighting men. Another prominent example of their works exists near Newark, Licking County. This collection presents a great variety of figures, circles, rectan- gles, octagons and parallel banks, or highways, covering more than a thousand acres. The county fair-ground is permanently located within an ancient circle, a quarter of a mile in diameter, with an embankment and interior ditch. Its high- est place was over twenty feet from the top of the moat to the bottom of the ditch." One of the most curious-shaped works in this county is known as the "Alligator," fi'om its sup- posed resemblance to that creature. When meas- ured, several years ago, while in a good state of preservation, its dimensions were two hundred and ten feet in length, average width over sixty feet, and height, at the highest point, seven feet. It appears to be mainly composed of clay, and is overgrown with grass. Speaking of the writing of these people. Col. Whittlesey says : " There is no evidence that they had alphabetical characters, picture-writing or hieroglyphics, though they must have had some mode of recording events. Neither is there any proof that they used domestic animals for tilling the soil, or for the purpose of erecting the imposing earth- works they have left. A very coarse cloth of hemp, flax or nettles has been found on their burial-hearths and around skeletons not consumed by fire. " The most extensive earthworks occupy many of the sites of modern towns, and are always in the vicinity of excellent land. Those about the lakes are generally irregular earth forts, while those about the rivers in the southern part of the State are generally altars, pyramids, circles, cones and rectangles of earth, among which fortresses or strongholds are exceptions. " Those on the north may not have been cotem- porary or have been built by the same people. They are far less prominent or extensive, which indicates a people less in numbers as well as indus- try, and whose principal occupation was war among themselves or against their neighbors. This style of works extends eastward along the south shore of Lake Ontario, through New York. In Ohio, there is a space along the water-shed, between the lake and the Ohio, where there are few, if any, ancient earthworks. It appears to have been a vacant or neutral ground between different nations. " The Indians of the North, dressed in skins, cultivated the soil very sparingly, and manufactured no woven clfJth. On Lake Superior, there are ancient copper mines wrought by the Mound- Builders over fifteen hundred years ago." Copper tools are occasionally found tempered sufficiently hard to cut the hardest rocks. No knowledge of such tempering exists now. The Indians can give no more knowledge of the ancient mines than they can of the mounds on the river bottoms. " The Indians did not occupy the ancient earth- works, nor did they construct such. They were found as they are now — a hunter race, wholly averse to labor. Their abodes were in rock shel- ters, in caves, or in temporary sheds of bark and boughs, or skins, easily moved from place to place. Like most savage races, their habits are unchange- able ; at least, the example of white men, and their efibrts during three centuries, have made little, if any, impression." When white men came to the territory now em- braced in the State of Ohio, they found dwelling here the Iroquois, Delawares, Shawanees, Miamis, Wyandots and Ottawas. Each nation was com- posed of several tribes or clans, and each was often at war with the others. The first mentioned of these occupied that part of the State whose northern boundary was Lake Erie, as far west as the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, where the city of Cleveland now is ; thence the boundary turned southward in an irregular line, until it touched the Ohio Biver, up which stream it continued to the Pennsylvania State line, and thence northward to the lake. This nation were the implacable foes of the French, owing to the fact that Champlain, in 1609, made war against them. They occupied a large part of New York and Pennsylvania, and were the most insatiate conquerors among the aborigines. When the French first came to the lakes, these monsters of the wilderness were engaged in a war against their neighbors, a war that ended in their conquering them, possessing their terri- tory, and absorbing the remnants of the tribes into their own nation. At the date of Champlain's visit, the southern shore of Lake Erie was occupied by the Eries, or, as the orthography of the word is HISTOEY OF OHIO. 17 sometimes given, Erigos, or Errienous * About forty years afterward, the Iroquois (Five Nations) fell upon them with such fury and in such force that the nation was annihilated. Those who escaped the slaughter were absorbed among their conquerors, but allowed to live on their own lands, paying a sort of tribute to the Iroquois. This was the policy of that nation in all its conquests. A few years after the conquest of the Eries, the Iroquois again took to the war-path, and swept through Ohio, Indiana and Ilhnois,, even attacking the Mississippi tribes. But for the intervention and aid of the French, these tribes would have shared the fate of the Hurons and Eries. Until the year 1700, the Iroquois held the south shore of Lake Erie so firmly that the French dared not trade or travel along that side of the lake. Their missionaries and traders penetrated this part of Ohio as early as 1650, but generally suifered death for their zeal. Having completed the conquest of the Hurons or Wyandots, about Lake Huron, and murdered the Jesuit missionaries by modes of torture which only they could devise, they permitted the residue of the Hurons to settle around the west end of Lake Erie. Here, with the Ottawas, they resided when the whites came to the State. Their country was bounded on the south by a Une running through the central part of Wayne, Ashland, Richland, Crawford and Wyandot Counties. At the western boundary of this county, the line di- verged northwesterly, leaving the State near the northwest corner of Fulton County. Their north- ern boundary was the lake ; the eastern, the Iro- quois. The Delawares, or " Lenni Lenapes," whom the Iroquois had subjugated on the Susquehanna, were assigned by their conquerors hunting-grounds on the Muskingum. Their eastern boundary was the country of the Iroquois (before defined), and their northern, that of the Hurons. On the west, they * Father Louie Hennepin, in his work published in 1684, thus alludes to the Eriea: •* These good fathers," referring to the friests, " were great friends of the Hurons, who told them that the roqnois went to war beyond Virginia, or New Sweden, near a lake which they called ^Erige,'' or * Erie,^ which signifies 'the cat,^ or * vaiion of the cat,^ and because these savages brought captives from this nation in returning to their cantons along this lake, the Hurons named it, in their language, ' Erige,' or 'Erike,^ 'the lahe of the cat,^ and which our Canadians, in softening the word, have called ' Lake Erie.' " Charlevoix, writing in 1721, says: "The name it b^ars is that of an Indian nation of the Huron (Wyandot) language, which was formerly seated on its banks, and who have been entirely destroyed by the Iroquois. Erie, in that language, signifies 'cat, and, in some acounte, this nation is called the ' cat nation.* This name, probably, comes from the large numbers of that animal found in this region." extended as far as a line drawn from the central part of Richland County, in a semi-circular direc- tion, south to the mouth of Leading Creek. Their southern boundary was the Ohio River. West of the Delawares, dwelt the Shawanees, a troublesome people as neighbors, whether to whites or Indians. Their country was bounded on the north by the Hurons, on the east, by the Dela- wares ; on the south, by the Ohio River. On the west, their boundary was determined by a line drawn southwesterly, and again southeasterly — semi-circular — from a point on the southern boundary of the Hurons, near the southwest corner of Wyandot County, till it intersected the Ohio River. All the remainder of the State — all its western part from the Ohio River to the Michigan line — was occupied by the Miamis, Mineamis, Twigtwees, or Tawixtawes, a powerfiil nation, whom the Iro- quois were never fully able to subdue. These nations ^occupied the State, partly by per- mit of the Five Nations, and partly by inheritance, and, though composed of many tribes, were about all the savages to be found in this part of the Northwest. No sooner had the Americans obtained control of this country, than they began, by treaty and purchase, to acquire the lands of the natives. They could not stem the tide of emigration ; peo- ple, then as now, would go West, and hence the necessity of peacefully and rightfully acquiring the land. " The true basis of title to Indian territory is the right of civilized men to the soil for pur- poses of cultivation." The same maxim may be applied to all uncivilized nations. When acquired by such a right, either by treaty, purchase or con- quest, the right to hold the same rests with the power and development of the nation thus possess- ing the land. The English derived title to the territory between the Alleghanies and the Mississippi partly by the claim that, in discovering the Atlantic coast, they had possession of the land from " ocean to ocean," and partly by the treaty of Paris, in Feb- ruary, 1763. Long before this treaty took place, however, she had granted, to individuals and colo- nies, extensive tracts of land in that part of Amer- ica, based on the right of discovery. The French had done better, and had acquired title to the land by discovering the land itself and by consent of the Indians dwelling thereon. The right to pos- sess this country led to the French and Indian - war, ending in the supremacy of the English. '-^ 18 HISTORY or OHIO. The Five Nations claimed the territory in ques- tion by right of conquest, and, though professing friendship to the English, watched them with jeal- ous eyes. In 1684, and again in 1726, that con- federacy made cessions of lands to the English, and these treaties and cessions of lands were re- garded as sufficient title by the English, and were insisted on in all subsequent treaties with the Western Nations. The following statements were collected by Col. Charles Whittlesey, which show the principal treaties made with the red men wherein land in Ohio was ceded by them to the whites : In September, 1726, the Iroquois, or Six Na- tions, at Albany, ceded all their claims west of Lake Erie and sixty miles in width along the south shore of Lakes Erie and Ontario, from "the Cuyahoga to the Oswego River. In 1744, this same nation made a treaty at Lancaster, Penn., and ceded to the English all their lands "that may be within the colony of Virginia." In 1752, this nation and other Western tribes made a treaty at Logstown, Penn., wherein they confirmed the Lancaster treaty and consented to the settlements south of the Ohio River. February 13, 1763, a treaty was made at Paris, France, between the French and English, when Canada and the eastern half of the Mississippi Valley were ceded to the English. In 1783, all the territory south of the Lakes, and east of the Mississippi, was ceded by England to America — ^the latter country then obtaining its independence — by which means the country was gained by America. October 24, 1784, the Six Nations made a treaty, at Fort Stanwix, N. Y., with the Ameri- cans, and ceded to them all the country claimed by the tribe, west of Pennsylvania. In 1785, the Chippewas, Delawares, Ottawas, and Wyandots ceded to the United States, at Fort Mcintosh, at the mouth of the Big Beaver, all their claims east and south of the " Cayahaga," the Portage Path, and the Tuscarawas, to Fort Laurens (Bolivar), thence to Loramie's Fort (in Shelby County) ; thence along the Portage Path to the St. Mary's River and down it to the " Omee," or Maumee, and along the lake shore to the " Cayahaga." January 3, 1786, the Shawanees, at Fort Fin- ney, near the mouth of the Great Miami (not owning the land on the Scioto occupied by them), were allotted a tract at the heads of the two Miamis and the Wabash, west of the Chippewas, Delawares and Wyandots. February 9, 1789, the Iroquois made a treaty at Fort Harmar, wherein they confirmed the Fort Stanwix treaty. At the same time, the Chippewas, Ottawas, Delawares, and Wyandots — to which the Sauks and Pottawatomies assented — confirmed the treaty made at Fort Mcintosh. Period of war now existed till 1795. August 3, 1795, Gen. Anthony Wayne, on behalf of the United States, made a treaty with twelve tribes, confirming the boundaries estab- lished by the Fort Harmar and Fort Mcintosh treaties, and extended the boundary to Fort Re- covery and the mouth of the Kentucky River. In June, 1796, the Senecas, represented by Brant, ceded to the Connecticut Land Company their rights east of the Cuyahoga. In 1805, at Fort Industry, on the Maumee, the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas, Shawar nees, Menses, and Pottawatomies relinquished all their lands west of the Cuyahoga, as far west as the western line of the Reserve, and south of the line from Fort Laurens to Loramie's Fort. July 4, 1807, the Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyan- dots, and Pottawatomies, at Detroit, ceded all that part of Ohio north of the Maumee River, with part of Michigan. November 25, 1808, the same tribes with the Shawanees, at Brownstown, Mich., granted the Government a tract of land two miles wide, from the west line of the Reserve to the rapids of the Maumee, for the purpose of a road through the Black Swamp. September 18, 1815, at Springwells, near De- troit, the Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Wy- andots, Delawares, Senecas and Miamis, having been engaged in the war of 1812 on the British side, were confined in the grants made at Fort Mcintosh and Greenville in 1785 and 1795. September 29, 1817, at the rapids of the Maumee, the Wyandots ceded theur lands west of the line of 1805, as far as Loramie's and the St. Mary's River and north of the Maumee. The Pottawatomies, Chippewas, and Ottawas ceded the territory west of the Detroit line of 1807, and north of the Maumee. October 6, 1818, the Miamis, at St. Mary's, made a treaty in which they surrendered the re- maining Indian territory in Ohio, north of the Greenville treaty lineand west of St. Mary's River. The numerous treaties of peace with the West- em Indians for the delivery of prisoners were *C ^ ^- liL. HISTORY OF OHIO. 19 one by Gen. Forbes, at Fort Du Quesne (Pitts- burgh), in 1758 ; one by Col. Bradstreet, at Erie, in August, 1764 ; one by Col. Boquet, at the mouth of the Walhonding, in November, 1764 ; in May, 1765, at Johnson's, on the Mohawk, and at Philadelphia, the same year ; in 1774, by Lord Dunmore, at Camp Charlotte, Pickaway County. By the treaty at the Maumee Rapids, in 1817, reservations were conveyed by the United States to all the tribes, with a view to induce them to cultivate the soil and cease to be hunters. These were, from time to time, as the impracticability of the plan became manifest, purchased by the Gov- ernment, the last of these being the "V\^andot Reserve, of twelve miles square, around Upper Sandusky, in 1842, closing out all claims and com- posing aU the Indian difficulties in Ohio. The open war had ceased in 1815, with the treaty of Ghent. " It is estimated that, from the French war of 1754 to the battle of the Maumee Rapids, in 1794, a period of forty years, there had been at least 5,000 people killed or captured west of the Alleghany Mountains. Eleven organized military expeditions had been carried on against the West- ern Indians prior to the war of 1812, seven regu- lar engagements fought and about twelve hundred men killed. More whites were slain in battle than there were Indian braves killed in military expedi- tions, and by private raids and murders ; yet, in 1811, all the Ohio tribes combined could not mus- ter 2,000 warriors." Attempts to determine the number of persons comprising the Indian tribes in Ohio, and their location, have resulted in nothing better than estimates. It is supposed that, at the commence- ment of the Revolution, there were about six thousand Indians in the present confines of the State, but their villages were little more than movable camps. Savage men, like savage beasts, are engaged in continual migrations. Now, none are left. ' The white man occupies the home of the red man. Now "The verdant hills Are covered o'er with growing grain, And white men till the soil, Where once the red man used to reign." CHAPTER II. EARLY EXPLORATIONS IN THE WEST. WHEN war, when ambition, when avarice fail, religion pushes onward and succeeds. In the discovery of the New World, wherever man's aggrandizement was the paramount aim, failure was sure to follow. When this gave way, the followers of the Cross, whether Catholic or Protestant, came on the field, and the result before attempted soon appeared, though in a different way and through difierent means than those supposed. The first permanent efibrts of the white race to penetrate the Western wilds of the New World preceded any permanent English settlement north of the Potomac. Years before the Pilgrims anchored their bark on the cheerless shores of Cape Cod, " the Roman Catholic Church had been plant- ed by missionaries from France in the Eastern moiety of Maine; and LeCaron, an ambitious Franciscan, the companion of Champlain, had passed into the hunting-grounds of the Wyandots, and, bound by the vows of his life, had, on foot or pad- dling a bark canoe, gone onward, taking alms of the savages until he reached the rivers of Lake Huron." This was in 1615 or 1616, and only eight years after Champlain had sailed up the wa- ters of the St. Lawrence, and on the foot of a bold cliff laid the foundation of the present City of Quebec. From this place, founded to hold the country, and to perpetuate the religion of his King, went forth those emissaries of the Cross, whose zeal has been the admiration of the world. The French Colony in Canada was suppressed so(m after its es- tablishment, and for five years, until 1622, its im- munities were enjoyed by the colonists. A grant of New France, as the country was then known, was made by Louis XIII to Richelieu, Champlain, Raailly and others, who, immediately after the res- toration of Quebec by ite English conquerors, entered upon the control and government of their province. Its limits embraced the whole basin of the St. Lawrence and of such other rivers in New France as flowed directly into the sea. While away to the south on the Gulf coast, was also included a country rich in foliage and claimed in virtue of the unsuccessful efforts of Coligny. « - 'r rf==±>^ 20 HISTOKY OF OHIO. Religious zeal as mucli as commercial prosperity- had influenced France to obtain and retain the de- pendency of Canada. The commercial monopoly of a privileged company could not foster a colony ; the climate was too vigorous for agricult^ ure, and, at first there was little else except relig- ious enthusiasm to give vitality to the province. Champlain had been touched by the simplicity of the Order of St. Francis, and had selected its priests to aid him in his work. But another order, more in favor at the Court, was interested, and succeed- ed in excluding the mendicant order from the New World, established themselves in the new domain and, by thus enlarging the borders of the French King, it became entrusted to the Jesuits. This "Society of Jesus," founded by Loyola when Calvin's Institutes first saw the light, saw an unequaled opportunity in the conversion of the heathen in the Western wilds ; and, as its mem- bers, pledged to obtain power only by influence of mind over mind, sought the honors of opening the way, there was no lack of men ready for the work. Through them, the motive power in opening the wilds of the Northwest was religion. " Religious enthusiasm," says Banorofl, "colonized New Eng- land, and religious enthusiasm founded Montreal, made a conquest of the wilderness about the upper lakes, and explored the Mississippi." Through these priests — increased in a few years to fifteen — a way was made across the West from Quebec, above the regions of the lakes, below which they dared not go for the relentless Mohawks. To the northwest of Toronto, near the Lake Iro- quois, a bay of Lake Huron, in September, 1634, they raised the first humble house of the Society of Jesus among the Hurons. Through them they learned of the great lakes beyond, and resolved one day to explore them and carry the Gospel of peace to the heathen on their shores. Before this could be done, many of them were called upon to give up their lives at the martyr's stake and re- ceive a martyr's crown. But one by one they went on in their good work. If one fell by hun- ger, cold, cruelty, or a terrible death, others stood ready, and carrying their lives in their hands, established other missions about the eastern shores of Lake Huron and its adjacent waters. The Five Nations were for many years hostile toward the French and murdered them and their red allies whenever opportunity presented. For a quarter of century, they retarded the advance of the missionaries, and then only after wearied with a long struggle, in which they began to see their power declining, did they relinquish their warlike propensities, and allow the Jesuits entrance to their country. While this was going on, the traders and Jesuits had penetrated farther and farther westward, until, when peace was declared, they had seen the southwestern shores of Lake Superior and the northern shores of Lake Michigan, called by them Lake Illinois.* In August, 1654, two young adventurers penetrated the wilds bordering on these western lakes in company with a band of Ottawas. Returning, they tpll of the wonderful country they have seen, of its vast forests, its abundance of game, its mines of copper, and ex- cite in»their comrades a desire to see and explore such a country. They tell of a vast expanse of land before them, of the powerful Indian tribes dwelling there, and of their anxiety to become an- nexed to the Frenchman, of whom they have heard. The request is at once granted. Two missionaries, Gabriel . Dreuillettes and Leonard Gareau, were selected as envoys, but on their way the fleet, propelled by tawny rowers, is met by a wandering band of Mohawks and by them is dis- persed. Not daunted, others stood ready to go. The lot fell to Ren^ Mesnard. He is charged to visit the wilderness, select a suitable place for a dwelling, and found a mission. With only a short warning he is ready, "trusting," he says, "in the Providence which feeds the little birds of the desert and clothes the wild flowers of the forest." In October, 1660, he reached a bay, which he called St. Theresa, on the south shore of Lake Superior. After a residence of eight months, he yielded to the invitation of the Hurons who had taken refuge on the Island of St. Michael, and bidding adieu to his neophytes and the French, he departed. While on the way to the Bay of Che- goi-me-gon, probably at a portage, he became separated from his companion and was never after- ward heard of. Long after, his cassock and his breviary were kept as amulets among the Sioux. Difficulties now arose in the management of the colony, and for awhile it was on the verge of dis- solution. The King sent a regiment under com- mand of the aged Tracy, as a safeguard against the Iroquois, now proving themselves enemies to *Mr. C. W. Bntterfleld, author of CrairforiTs Campaign, and good authority, says : "John Nicholet, a Frenchman, h-tt Quebec and Three Rivera in the summer of 1G34, and visited the Hurons on Georgian Bay, the Cliippewas at tlie Sault Ste. Marie, and the WiD- nebagoes in Wisconsin, returning to Quebec in the summer of 1635. This was the first white man to see any part of the Northwest Territory. In 1641, two Jesuit priests were at the Sault Ste. Marie for a brief time. Then two French traders reached Lake Superior and after them came that tide of emigration on which the French based their claim to the country." *7c t±^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 21 the French. Accompanying him were Courcelles, as Governor, and M. Talon, who subsequently fig- ures in Northwestern history. By 1665, affairs were settled and new attempts to found a mission among the lake tribes were projected. "With better hopes — undismayed by the sad fate of their predecessors" in August, Claude AUouez embarked on a mission by way of Ottawa to the Far West. Early in. September he reached the rapids "through which rush the waters of the lakes to Huron. Sailing by lofty sculptured rocks and over waters of crystal purity, he reached the Chippewa village just as the young warriors were bent on organizing a war expedition against the Sioux. Comiaanding peace in the name of his King, he called a council and offered the commerce and protection of his nation. He was obeyed, and soon a chapel arose on the shore of the bay, to which admiring crowds from the south and west gathered to listen to the story of the Cross. The scattered Hurons -and Ottawas north of Lake Superior ; the Pottawatomies from Lake Mich- igan ; the Sacs and Foxes from the Far West ; the Illinois from the prairies, all came to hear him, and all besought him to go with them. To the last nation Allouez desired to go. They told him of a " gTeat river that flowed to the sea, "and of "their vast prairies, where herds of buffalo, deer and other animals grazed on the tall grass." "Their country," said the missionary, "is the best field for the Gospel. Had I had leisure, I would have gone to their dwellings to see with my own eyes air the good that was told me of them." He remained two years, teaching the natives, studying their language and habits, and then returned to Quebec. Such was the account that he gave, that in two days he was joined by Louis Nicholas and was on his way back to his mission. Peace being now established, more missionaries came from France. Among them were Claude Dablon and Jacques Marquette, both of whom went on to the mission among the Chippewas at the Sault. They reached there in 1668 and found Allouez busy. The mission was now a reality and given the name of St. Mary. It is often written " Sault Ste. Marie," after the French method, and is the oldest settlement by white men in the bounds of the Northwest Territory. It has been founded over two hundred years. Here on the inhospitable northern shores, hundreds of miles away from friends, did this triumvirate employ themselves in extending their religion and the influence of their King. Traversing the shores of the great lakes near them, they pass down the western bank of Lake Michigan as far as Green Bay, along the southern shore of Lake Superior to its western ex- tremity, everywhere preaching the story of Jesus. " Though suffering be their lot and martyrdom their crown," they went on, only conscious that they were laboring for their Master and would, in the end, win the crown. The great river away to the West of which they heard so much was yet unknown to them. To ex- plore it, to visit the tribes on its banks and preach to them the Go.spel and secure their trade, became the aim of Marquette, who originated the idea of its discovery. While engaged at the mission at the Sault, he resolved to attempt it in the autumn of 1669. Delay, however, intervened — for Allouez had exchanged the mission at Che-goi-me-gon for one at Green Bay, whither Marquette was sent. While here he employed a young Illinois Indian to teach him the language of that nation, and there- by prepare himself for the enterprise. Continued commerce with the Western Indians gave protection and confirmed their attachment. Talon, the intendant of the colony of New France, to further spread its power and to learn more of the country and its inhabitants, convened a congress of the Indians at the Falls of St. Mary, to which he sent St. Lusson on his behalf Nicholas Perrot sent invitations in every direction for more than a hundred leagues round about, and fourteen nations, among them Sacs, Foxes and Miamis, agreed to be present by their embassadors. The congress met on the fourth day of June, 1671. St. Lusson, through Allouez, his interpre- ter, announced to the assembled natives that they, and through them their nations, were placed under the protection of the French King, and to him were their furs and peltries to be traded. A cross of cedar was raised, and amidst the gToves of ma- ple and of pine, of elm and hemlock that are so strangely intermingled on the banks of the St. Mary, the whole company of the French, bowing before the emblem of man's redemption, chanted to its glory a hymn of the seventh century : "The banners of heaven's King advance; The mysteries of the Cross shines forth."* A cedar column was planted by the cross and marked with the lilies of the Bourbons. The power of France, thus uplifted in the West of which Ohio is now a part, was, however, not destined * Bancroft. 'V 23 HISTORY OF OHIO. to endure, and the ambition of its monarchs was to have only a partial fulfillment. The same year that the congress was held, Mar- quette had founded a mission among the Hurons at Point St. Ignace, on the continent north of the peninsula of Michigan. Although the climate was severe, and vegetation scarce, yet fish abounded, and at this establishment, long maintained as a key to further explorations, prayer and praise were heard daily for many years. Here, also, Marquette gained a footing among the founders of Michigan. While he was doing this, AUouez and Dablon were exploring countries south and west, going as far as the Mascoutins and Kickapoos on the Milwaukee, and the Miamis at the head of Lake Michigan. AUouez continued even as far as the Sacs and Poxes on the river which bears their name. The discovery of the Mississippi, heightened by these explorations, was now at hand. The enter- prise, projected by - Marquette, was received with favor by M. Talon, who desired thus to perpetuate his rule in New France, now drawing to a close. He was joined by Joliet, of Quebec, an emissary of his King, commissioned by royal magnate to take possession of the country in the name of the French. Of him but httle else is known. This one excursion, however, gives him immortality, and as long as time shall last his name and that of Marquette will endure. When Marquette made known his intention to the Pottawatomies, they were filled with wonder, and endeavored to dis- suade him from his purpose. "Those distant na- tions," said they, " never spare the strangers; the Great River abounds in monsters, ready to swal- low both men and canoes; there are great cataracts and rapids, over which you will be dashed to pieces; the excessive heats will cause your death." "I shall gladly lay down my life for the salvation of souls," replied the good man; and the docile nation joined him. On the 9th day of June, 1673, they reached the village on Fox River, where were Kickapoos, Mascoutins and Miamis dwelling together on an expanse of lovely prairie, dotted here and there by groves of magnificent trees, and where was a cross garlanded by wild fiowers, and bows and ar- rows, and skins and belts, offerings to the Great Manitou. AUouez had been here in one of his wanderings, and, as was his wont, had left this emblem of his faith. Assembling the natives, Marquette said, " My companion is an envoy of France to discover new countries ; and I am an embassador from God to enlighten them with the Gospel." Offering pres- ents, he begged two guides for the morrow. The Indians answered courteously, and gave in return a mat to serve as a couch during the long voyage. Early in the morning of the next day, the 10th of June, with all nature in her brightest robes, these two men, with five Frenchmen and two Al- gbnquin guides, set out on their journey. Lifting two canoes to 'their shoulders, they quickly cross the narrow portage dividing the Fox from the Wisconsin River, and prepare to embark on its clear waters. "Uttering a special prayer to the Immaculate Virgin, they leave the stream, that, flowing onward, could have borne their greetings to the castle of Quebec. 'The guides returned,' says the gentle Marquette, 'leaving us alone in this unknown land, in the hand of Providence.' France and Christianity stood alone in the valley of the Mississippi. Embarking on the broad Wisconsin, the discoverers, as they sailed west, went solitarily down the stream between alternate prairies and hUlsides, beholding neither man nor the wonted beasts of the forests ; no sound broke the silence but the ripple of the canoe and the lowing of the bufialo. In seven days, ' they en- tered happily the Great River, with a joy that could not be expressed ; ' and the two birchbark canoes, raising their happy sails under new skies and to unknown breezes, floated down the calm magnificence of the ocean stream, over the broad, clear sand-bars, the resort of innumerable water- fowl — gliding past islets that swelled from the bosom of the stream, with their tufts of massive thickets, and between the wild plains of lUinois and Iowa, all garlanded with majestic forests, or checkered by island groves and the open vastness of the prairie."* Continuing on down the mighty stream, they saw no signs of human life until the 25th of June, when they discovered a small foot-path on the west bank of the river, leading away into the prairie. Leaving their companions in the canoes, Marquette and Joliet foUowed the path, resolved to brave a meeting alone with the savages. After a walk of six miles they came in sight of a village on the banks of a river, while not far away they discovered two others. The river was the " Mou- in-gou-e-na," or Moingona, now corrupted into Des Moines. These two men, the first of their race who ever trod the soil west of the Great l^ ^^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 33 River, commended themselves to God, and, uttering a loud cry, advanced to the nearest village. The Indians hear, and thinking their visitors celestial beings, four old men advance with rever- ential mien, and offer the pipe of peace. " We are Illinois," said they, and they offered the calu- met. They had heard of the Frenchmen, and •welcomed them to their wigwams, followed by the devouring gaze of an astonished crowd. At a great council held soon after, Marquette published to them the true God, their Author. He also spoke of his nation and of his King, who had chastised the Five Nations and commanded peace. He questioned them concerning the Great* River and its tributaries, and the tribes dwelling on its banks. A magnificent feast was spread before them, and the conference continued several days. At the close of the sixth day, the chieftains of the tribes, with numerous trains of warriors, attended the visitors to their canoes, and selecting a peaee- pipe, gayly caparisoned, they hung the sacred calumet, emblem of peace to all and a safeguard among the nations, about the good Father's neck, and bid the strangers good speed. "I did not fear death," writes Marquette; "I should have esteemed it the greatest happiness to have died for the glory of God." On their journey, they passed the perpendicular rocks, whose sculptured sides showed them the monsters they should meet. Farther down, they pass the turgid flood of the Missouri, known to them by its Algonquin name, Pekitanoni. Resolving in his heart to one day explore its flood, Marquette rejoiced in the new world it evidently could open to him. A little farther down, they pass the bluffs where now is a mighty emporium, then sOent as when created. In a little less than forty leagues, they pass the clear waters of the beautiful Ohio, then, and long after- ward, known as the "Wabash. Its banks were in- habited by numerous villages of the peaceftil Shawanees, who then quailed under the incursions of the dreadful Iroquois. As they go on down the mighty stream, the canes become thicker, the insects more fierce, the heat more intolerable. The prairies and their cool breezes vanish, and forests of white- wood, admirable for their vastness and height, crowd close upon the pebbly shore. It is observed that the Chickasaws have guns, and have learned how to use them. Near the latitude of 33 degrees, they encounter a great village, whose inhabitants pre- sent an inhospitable and warlike front. The pipe of peace is held aloft, and instantly the savage foe drops his arms and extends a friendly greeting. Remaining hero till the next day, they are escorted for eight or ten leagues to the village of Akansea. They are now at the limit of their voyage. The Indians speak a dialect unknown to them. The natives show furs and axes of steel, the latter prov- ing they have traded with Europeans. The two travelers now learn that the Father of Wa- ters went neither to the Western sea nor to the Florida coast, but straight south, and conclude not to encounter the burning heats of a tropical clime, but return and find the outlet again. They had done enough now, and must report their dis- covery. On the 17th day of July, 1673, one hundred and thirty-two years after the disastrous journey of De Soto, which led to no permanent results, Marquette and Joliet left the village of Akansea on their way back. At the 38th degree, they en- counter the waters of the Illinois which they had before noticed, and which the natives told them afforded a much shorter route to the lakes. Pad- dling up its limpid waters, they see a country un- surpassed in beauty. Broad prairies, beautiful up- lands, luxuriant groves, all mingled in excellent harmony as they ascend the river. Near the head of the river, they pause at a great village of the Illinois, and across the river behold a rooky prom- ontory standing boldly out against the landscape. The Indians entreat the gentle missionary to re- main among them, and teach them the way of life. He cannot do this, but promises to return when he can and instruct them. The town was on a plain near the present village of Utica, in La Salle County, 111., and the rock was Starved Rock, afterward noted in the annals of the Northwest. One of the chiefs and some young men conduct the party to the Chicago River, where the present mighty city is, from where, continuing their jour- ney along the western shores of the lake, they reach Green Bay early in September. The great valley of the West was now open. The "Messippi" rolled its mighty flood to a south- ern sea, and must be sully explored. Marquette's health had keenly suffered by the voyage and he concluded to remain here and rest. Joliet hasten- ed on to Quebec to report his discoveries. During the journey, each had preserved a description of the route they had passed over, as well as the country and its inhabitants. While on the way to Quebec, at the foot of the rapids near Montreal, by some means one of Joliet's canoes became cap- sized, and by it he lost his box of papers and two of his men. A greater calamity could have 24 HISTORY OF OHIO. hardly happened him. In a letter to Gov. Frontenac, Joliet says ; " I had escaped every peril from the Indians ; I had passed forty-two rapids, and was on the point of diiembarkiug, frill of joy at the success of so long and difficult an enterprise, when my canoe capsized after all the danger seemed over. I lost my two men and box of papers within sight of the French settlements, which I had left almost two years before. Nothing remains now to me but my life, and the ardent desire to employ it in any service you may please to direct." When Joliet made known his discoveries, a Te Deum was chanted in the Cathedral at Quebec, and all Canada was filled with joy. The news crossed the ocean, and the French saw in the vista of coming years a vast dependency arise in the val- ley, partially explored, which was to extend her domain and enrich her treasury. Fearing En- gland might profit by the discovery and claim the country, she attempted as far as possible to prevent the news from becoming general. Joliet was re- warded by the gift of the Island of Anticosti, in the St. Lawrence, while Marquette, conscious of his service to his Master, was content with the salvation of souls. Marquette, left at Green Bay, suffered long with his malady, and was not permitted, until the au- tumn of the following year (1674j, to return and teach the Illinois Indians. With this purpose in view, he left Green Bay on the 25th of October with two Frenchmen and a number of lUinois and Pottawatomie Indians for the villages on the Chicago and Illinois Rivers. Entering Lake Michigan, they encountered adverse winds and waves and were more than a month on the way. Going some distance up the Chicago River, they found Marquette too weak to proceed farther, his malady having assumed a violent form, and land- ing, they erected two huts and prepared to pass the winter. The good missionary taught the na- tives here daily, in spite of his aflSictions, while his companions supplied him and themselves with food by fishing and hunting. Thus the winter wore away, and ilarquette, renewing his vows, pre- pared to go on to the village at the foot of the rocky citadel, where he had been two years before. On the 13th of March, 1675, they left their huts and, rowing on up the Chicago to the portage be- tween that and the Desplaines, embarked on their way. Amid the incessant rains of spring, they were rapidly borne down that stream to the Illi- nois, on whose rushing flood they floated to the object of their destination. At the great town the missionary was received as a heavenly messenger, and as he preached to them of heaven and hell, of angels and demons, of good and bad deeds, they regarded him as divine and besought him to remain among them. The town then contained an immense concourse of natives, drawn hither by the reports they heard, and assembling them before him on the plain near their village, where now are pros- perous farms, he held before their astonished gaze four large pictures of the Holy Virgin, and daily harangued them on the duties of Christianity and the neeessity of conforming their conduct to the words they heard. His strength was fast declining and warned him he could not long remain. Find- ing he must go, the Indians furnished him an escort as far as the lake, on whose turbulent waters he embarked with his two faithful attendanls. They turned their canoes for the Mackinaw Mis- sion, which the afflicted missionary hoped to reach before death came. As they coasted along the eastern shores of the lake, the vernal hue of May began to cover the hillsides with robes of green, now dimmed to the eye of the departing Father, who became too weak to view them. By the 19th of the month, he could go no farther, and requested his men to land and build him a hut in which he might pass away. That done, he gave, with great composure, directions concerning his burial, and thanked God that he was permitted to die in the wilderness in the midst of his work, an unshaken believer in the faith he had so earnestly preached. As twilight came on, he told his weary attendants to rest, promising that when death should come he would call them. At an early hour, on the morn- ing of the 20th of May, 1675, they heard a feeble voice, and hastening to his side found that the gen- tle spirit of the good missionary had gone to heav- en. His hand grasped the crucifix, and his lips bore as their last sound the name of the Virgin. They dug a grave near the banks of the stream and buried him as he had requested. There in a lonely wilderness the peaceful soul of Marquette had at last found a rest, and his weary labors closed. His companions went on to the mission, where the news of his death caused great sorrow, for he was one beloved by all. Tliree years after his burial, the Ottawas, hunting in the vicinity of his grave, determined to carry his bones to the mission at their home, in accor- dance with an ancient custom of their tribe. Hav- ing opened the grave, at whose head a cross had been planted, they carefully removed the bones and r^ l^ HISTORY OF. OHIO. 25 cleaning them, a funciul procession of thirty canoes bore them to the Mackinaw Mission, singing the songs he had taught them. At the shores of the mission the bones were received by the priests, and, with great ceremony, buried under the floor of the rude chapel. While Marquette and Joliet were exploring the head-waters of the "Great River," another man, fearless in purpose, pious in heart, and loyal to his country, was living in Canada and watching the operations of his fellow countrymen with keen eyes. When the French first saw the in- hospitable shores of the St. Lawrence, in 1535, under the lead of Jacques Cartier, and had opened a new country to their crown, men were not lacking to further extend the discovery. In 1608, Champlain came, and at the foot of a cliiF on that river founded Quebec. Seven years after, he brought four Recollet monks ; and through them and the Jesuits the discoveries already narrated occurred. Champlain died in 1635, one hundred years after Cartier's first visit, but not until he had explored the northern lakes as far as Lake Huron, on whose rocky shores he, as the progenitor of a mighty race to follow, set his feet. He, with others, held to the idea that somewhere across the country, a river highway extended to the Western ocean. The reports from the missions whose history has been given aided this belief; and not until Marquette and Joliet returned was the delu- sion in any way dispelled. Before this was done, however, the man to whom reference has been made, Robert Cavalier, better known as La Salle, had endeavored to solve the mystery, and, while living on his grant of land eight miles above Montreal, had indeed effected important discoveries. La Salle, the next actor in the field of explor- ation after Champlain, was born in 1643. His father's family was among the old and wealthy burghers of Rouen, France, and its members were frequently entrusted with important govern- mental positions. He early exhibited such traits of character as to mark him among his associates. Coming from a wealthy family, he enjoyed all the advantages of his day, and received, for the times, an excellent education. He was a Catholic, though his subsequent life does not prove him to have been a religious enthusiast. From some cause, he joined the Order of Loyola, but the cir- cumscribed sphere of action set for him in the order illy concurred with his independent dis- position, and led to his separation from it. This was effected, however, in a good spirit, as they considered him fit for a different field of action than any presented by the order. Having a brother in Canada, a member of the order of St. Sulpice, he determined to join him. By his connection with the Jesuits he had lost his share of his father's estate, but, by some means, on his death, which occurred about this time, he was given a small share; and with this, in 1666, he arrived in Montreal. All Canada was alive with the news of the explorations; and La Salle's mind, actively grasping the ideas he afl:erward carried out, began to mature plans for their perfection. At Montreal he found a semi- nary of prieste of the St. Sulpice Order who were encouraging settlers by grants of land on easy terms, hoping to establish a barrier of settlements between themselves and the Indians, made ene- mies to the French by Champlain's actions when founding Quebec. The Superior of the seminary, learning of LaSalle's arrival, gratuitously offered him a grant of land on the St. Lawrence, eight miles above Montreal. The grant, though danger- ously near the hostile Indians, was accepted, and La Salle soon enjoyed an excellent trade in furs. While employed in developing his claim, lie learned of the great unknown route, and burned "with a desire to solve its existence. He applied himself closely to the study of Indian dialects, and in three years is said to have made great progress in their language. While on his farm his thoughts often turned to the unknown land away to the west, and, like all men of his day, he desired to explore the route to the Western sea, and thence obtain an easy trade with China and Japan. The " Great River, which flowed to the sea," must, thought they, find an outlet in the Gulf of California. While musing on these things, Marquette and Joliet were preparing to descend the Wisconsin; and La Salle himself learned from a wandering band of Senecas that a river, called the Ohio, arose in their country and flowed to the sea, but at such a distance that it would require eight months to reach its mouth. This must be the Great River, or a part of it: for all geographers of the day considered the Mississippi and its tributary as one stream. Plac- ing great confidence on this hypothesis, La Salle repaired to Quebec to obtain the sanction of Gov. Courcelles. His plausible statements soon won him the Governor and M. Talon, and letters patent were issued granting the exploration. No pecuniary aid was offered, and La Salle, hav- ing expended all his means in improving his ^7 'V -^ 26 HISTOEY OF OHIO. estate, was obliged to sell it to procure the necessary outfit. The Superior of the seminary being favorably disposed toward him, purchased the greater part of his improvement, and realiz- ing 2,800 livres, he purchased four canoes and the necessary supplies for the expedition. The semi- nary was, at the same time, preparing for a similar exploration. The priests of this order, emulating the Jesuits, had established missions on the north- ern shore of Lake Ontario. Hearing of populous tribes still fiirther west, they resolved to attempt their conversion, and deputized two of their number for the purpose. On going to Quebec to procure the necessary supplies, they were advised of La Salle's expedition down the Ohio, and resolved to unite themselves with it. La Salle did not alto- gether favor their attempt, as he believed the Jesuits already had the field, and would not care to have any aid from a rival order. His dispo- sition also would not well brook the part they assumed, of asking him to be a co-laborer rather than a leader. However, the expeditions, merged into one body, left the mission on the St. Law- rence on the 6th of July, 1669, in seven canoes. The party numbered twenty-four persons, who were accompanied by two canoes filled with Indians who had visited La Salle, and who now , acted as guides. Their guides led them up the St. Lawrence, over the expanse of Lake Ontario, to their village on the banks of the Genesee, where they expected to find guides to lead them on to the Ohio. As La Salle only partially under- stood their language, he was compelled to confer with them by means of a Jesuit stationed at the vOlage. The Indians refused to furnish him the expected aid, and even burned before his eyes a prisoner, the only one who could give him any knowledge he desired. He surmised the Jesuits were at the bottom of the matter, fearful lest the disciples of St. Sulpice should gain a foothold in the west. He lingered here a month, with the hope of accomplishing his object, when, by chance, there came by an Iroquois Indian, who assured them that at his colony, near the head of the lake, they could find guides; and oiFered to conduct them thither. Coming along the southern shore of the lake, they passed, at its western extremity, the mouth of the Niagara Eiver, where they heard for the first time the thunder of the mighty cata- ract between the two lakes. At the ^^llage of the Iroquois they met a friendly reception, and were informed by a Shawanese prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks' time, and that he would guide them there. While preparing to commence the journey, they heard of the missions to the northwest, and the priests resolved to go there and convert the natives, and find the river by that route. It appears that Louis Joliet met them here, on his return from visiting the copper mines of Lake Superior, under command of M. Talon. He gave the priests a map of the country, and informed them that the Indians of those regions were in 'great need of spiritual advisers. This strengthened their intention, though warned by La Salle, that the Jesuits were undoubtedly there. The authority for Joliet's visit to them here is not clearly given, and may not be true, but the same letter which gives the account of the discovery of the Ohio at this time by La Salle, states it as a fact, and it is hence inserted. The missionaries and La Salle separated, the former to find, as he had predicted, the followers of Loyola already in the field, and not wanting their aid. Hence they return from a finiitless tour. La Salle, now left to himself and just recovering from a violent fever, went on his journey. From the paper from which these statements are taken, it appears he went on to Onondaga, where he pro- cured guides to a tributary of the Ohio, down which he proceeded to the principal stream, on whose bosom he continued his way till he came to the falls at the present city of Louisville, Ky. It has been asserted that he went on down to its mouth, but that is not well authenticated and is hardly true. The statement that he went as far as the falls is, doubtless, correct. He states, in a letter to Count Frontenac in 1677, that he discovered the Ohio, and that he descended it to the falls, ^loreover, Joliet, in a measure his rival, for he was now preparing to go to the northern lakes and from them search the river, made two maps repre- senting the lakes and the Mississippi, on both of which he states that La Salle had discovered the Ohio. Of its course beyond the falls, La Salle does not seem to have learned anything definite, hence his discovery did not in any way settle the great question, and elicited but little comment. Still, it stimulated La Salle to more efibrt, and while musing on his plans, Joliet and Marquette push on from Green Bay, and discover the river and ascertain the general course of its outlet. On Joliet's return in 1673, he seems to drop from further notice. Other and more venturesome souls were ready to finish the work begun by himself and the zealous Blarquette, who, left among the far-away nations, laid down his life. The spirit of ;^ l±^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 29 La Salle was equal to tte enterprise, and as he now had returned from one voyage of discovery, he stood ready to solve the mystery, and gain the country for his King. Before this could be ac- complished, however, he saw other things must be done, and made preparations on a scale, for the lime, truly marvelous. Count Frontenac, the new Governor, had no sooner established himself in power than he gave a seiirehing glance over the new realm to see if any undeveloped resources lay yet unnoticed, and what country yet remained open. He learned from the exploits of La Salle on the Ohio, and from Joliet, now returned from the West, of that immense country, and resolving in his mind on some plan whereby it could be formally taken, entered heartily into the plan.s of La Salle, who, anxious to solve the mystery concerning the outlet of the Great River, gave him the outline of a plan, saga- cious in its conception and grand in its compre- hension. La Salle had also informed him of the endeavors of the English on the Atlantic coast to divert the trade with the Indians, and partly to counteract this, were the plans of La Salle adopted. They were, briefly, to build a chain of forts from Canada, or New France, along the lakes to the Mis.sissippi, and on down that river, thereby hold- ing the country by power as well as by discovery. A fort was to be built on the Ohio as soon as the means could be obtained, and thereby hold that country by the same policy. Thus to La Salle aJone may be ascribed the bold plan of gaining the whole West, a plan only thwarted by the force of arms. Through the aid of Frontenac, he was given a proprietary and the rank of nobility, and on his proprietary was erected a fort, which he, in honor of his Governor, called Fort Frontenac. It stood on the site of the pre.sent city of Kingston, Canada. Through it he obtained the trade of the Five Nations, and his fortune was so far assured. He next repaired to France, to perfect his arrange- ments, secure his title and obtain means. On his return he built the fort alluded to, and prepared to go on in the prosecution of his plan. A civil discord arose, however, which for three years prevailed, and seriously threatened his projects. As soon as he could extricate himself, he again repaired to France, receiving additional encouragement in money, grants, and the exclusive privilege of a trade in buffalo skins, then consid- ered a source of great wealth. On his return, he was accompanied by Henry Tonti, son of an illus- trious Italian nobleman, who had fled from his own country during one of its political revolutions. Coming to France, he made himself famous as the founder of Tontine Life Insurance. Henry Tonti possessed an indomitable will, and though ho had suflfered the loss of one of his hands by the ex- plosion of a grenade in one of the Sicilian wars, his courage was undaunted, and his ardor un- dimmed. La Salle also brought recruit.s, mechanics, sailors, cordage and saiis lor rigging a ship, and merchandise for traffic with the natives. At Montreal, he secured the services of M. LaJIotte, a person of much energy and integrity of character. He also secured several missionaries before he reached Fort Frontenac. Among them were Louis Hennepin, Gabriel Ribourde and Zenabe jMembre. All these were Flemings, all Recollets. Hennepin, of all of them, proved the best assist- ant. They arrived at the fort early in the autumn of 1G78, and preparations were at once made to erect a vessel in which to navigate the lakes, and a fort at the mouth of the Niagara River. The Senecas were rather adverse to the latter proposals when La Motte and Hennepin came, but by the eloquence of the latter, they were pacified and rendered friendly. After a number of vexa- tious delays, the vessel, the Grifi&n, the first on the lakes, was built, and on the 7th of August, a year after La Salle came here, it was launched, passed over the waters of the northern lakes, and, after a tempestuous voyage, landed at Green Bay. It was soon after stored with ftirs and sent back, while La Salle and his men awaited its return. It was never afterward heard of La SaUe, becoming impatient, erected a fort, pushed on with a part of his men, leaving part at the fort, and passed over the St. Joseph and Kankakee Rivers, and thence to the Illinois, down whoise flood they proceeded to Peoria Lake, where he was obliged to halt, and return to Canada for more men and supplies. He left Tonti and several men to complete a fort, called Fort " Crevecoeur " — broken-hearted. The Indians drove the French away, the men mutinied, and Tonti was obliged to flee. When La Salle returned, he found no one there, and cuing down as far as the mouth of the Illinois, he retraced his steps, to find some trace of his garrison. Tonti was found safe among the Pottawatomies at Green Bay, and Hennepin and his two followers, sent to explore the head-waters of the Mississippi, were again home, after a captivity among the Sioux. La Salle renewed his force of men, and the third time set out for the outlet of the Great River. ^1 — ^ 30 HISTORY OF OHIO. He left Canada early in December, 1681, and by February 6, 1682, reached the majestic flood of the mighty stream. On the 24th, they ascended the .Chickasaw Bluffs, and, while waiting to find a sailor who had strayed away, erected Fort Prud- homme. They passed several Indian villages fur- ther down the river, in some of which they met with no little opposition. Proceeding onward, ere- long they encountered the tide of the sea, and April 6, they emerged on the broad bosom of the Grulf, "tossing its restless billows, limitless, voice- less and lonely as when born of chaos, without a sign of life." Coasting about a short time on the shores of the Grulf, the party returned until a sufficiently dry place was reached to effect a landing. Here another cross was raised, also a column, on which was inscribed these words: " Louis le Grand, Roi de France et db Navarke, Begne; Le Neuvieme, Aveil, 1682." * " The whole party," says a "proces verbal," in the archives of France, " chanted the Te Beum, the Exaudiat and the Domine salvuin fac Regem, and then after a salute of fire-arms and cries of Vive le Roi, La Salle, standing near the column, said in a loud voice in French : "In the name of the most high, mighty, invin- cible and victorious Prince, Louis the Great, by the grace of God, King of France and of Navarre, Fourteenth of that name, this ninth day of April, one thousand six hundred and eighty two, I, in virtue of the commission of His Majesty, which I hold in my hand, and which may be seen by all whom it may concern, have taken, and do now take, in the name of His Majesty and of his suc- cessors to the crown, possession of this country of Louisiana, the seas, harbor, ports, bays, adjacent straights, and all the nations, people, provinces, cities, towns, villages, mines, minerals, fisheries, streams andrivers, comprised in the extent of said Louisiana, from the north of the great river St. Louis, other- wise called the Ohio, Alighin, Sipore or Chukago- na, and this with the consent of the Chavunons, Chickachaws, and other people dwelling therein, with whom we have made alliance ; as also along the river Colbert or Mississippi, and rivers which discharge themselves therein from its source beyond the Kious or Nadouessious, and this with their consent, and with the consent of the Illinois, Mes- igameas, Natchez, Koroas, which are the most con- siderable nations dwelling therein, with whom also * liOniB the Great, King of France and of Navarre, reigning the ninth day of April, 1682. we have made alliance, either by ourselves or others in our behalf, as far as its mouth at the sea or Gulf of Mexico, about the twenty-seventh degree of its elevation of the North Pole, and also to the mouth of the River of Palms ; upon the assurance which we have received from all these nations that we are the first Europeans who have descended or ascended the river Colbert, hereby protesting against all those who may in future undertake to invade any or all of these countries, peoples or lands, to the prejudice ofthe right of His Majesty, acquired by the consent of the nations herein named." The whole assembly responded with shouts and the salutes of fire-arms. The Sieur de La Salle caused to be planted at the foot of the column a plate of lead, on one side of which was inscribed the arms of ]?rance and the following Latin inscrip- tion: Robertvs Cavellier, cvm Domino de Tonly, Legato, R. P. Zenobi Membro, RecoUeoto, et, Viginti Gallis Primes Hoc Flvmen inde ab ilineorvm Pago, enavigavit, ejvsqve ostivm fecit Pervivvm, nono Aprilis cio ioc LXXXIL The whole proceedings were acknowledged he- fore La Metaire, a notary, and the conquest was considered complete. Thus was the foundation of France laid in the new republic, and thus did she lay claim to the Northwest, which now includes Ohio, and the county, whose history this book perpetuates. La Salle and his party returned to Canada soon aft«r, and again that country, and France itself, rang with anthems of exultation. He went on to Prance, where he received the highest honors. He was given a fleet, and sailors as well as colon- ists to return to the New World by way of a south- ern voyage, expecting to find the mouth of the Mississippi by an ocean course. Sailing past the outlets, he was wrecked on the coast of Texas, and in his vain endeavors to find the river or return to Canada, he became lost on the plains of Arkansas, where he, in 1687, was basely murdered by one of his followers. " You are down now, Grand Bashaw," exclaimed his slayer, and despoiling his remains, they left them to be devoured by wild beasts. To such an ignominious end came this daring, bold adven- turer. Alone in the wilderness, he was left, with no monument but the vast realm he had discov- ered, on whose bosom he was left without cover- ing and without protection. " For force of will and vast conception ; for va- rious knowledge, and quick adaptation of his genius '71 -,^ L^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 31 to untried circumstances; for a sublime magnani- mity, that resigned itself to the ■will of Heaven, and yet triumphed over aiBiction by energy of purpose and unfaltering hope — he had no superior among his countrymen. He had won the affec- tions of the governor of Canada, the esteem of Colbert, the confidence of Seignelay, the favor of Louis XIV. After the beginning of the coloniza- tion of Upper Canada, he perfected the discovery of the Mississippi from the Falls of St. Anthony to its mouth ; and he will be remembered through all time as the father of colonization in the great central valley of the West."* Avarice, passion and jealousywere not calmed by the blood of La Salle. All of his conspirators per- ished by ignoble deaths, while only seven of the six- teen succeeded in continuing the journey until they reached Canada, and thence found their way to Prance. Tonti, who had been lefl at Fort St. Louis, on " Starved Rock" on the Illinois, went down in search of his beloved commander. Failing to find him, he returned and remained here until 1700, thousands of miles away from friends. Then he went down the Mississippi to join D' Iberville, who had made the discovery of the mouth of the Mis- sissippi by an ocean voyage. Two years later, he went on a mission to the Chickasaws, but of his subsequent history nothing is known. The West was now in possession of the French. La Salle's plans were yet feasible. The period of exploration was now over. The great river and its outlet was known, and it only remained for that nation to enter in and occupy what to many a Frenchman was the " Promised Land." Only eighteen years had elapsed since Marquette and Joliet had descended the river and shown the course of its outlet. A spirit, less bold than La Salle's would never in so short a time have pene- trated for more than a thousand miles an unknown wilderness, and solved the mystery of the world. When Joutel and his companions reached France in 1688, all Europe was on the eve of war. Other nations than the French wanted part of the New World, and when they saw that nation greedily and rapidly accumulating territory there, they en- deavored to'stay its progress. The league of Augs- burg wa.s formed in 1687 by the princes of the Em- pire to restrain the ambition of Louis XIV, and in 1688, he began hostilities by the capture of Philipsburg. The next year, England, under the lead of William III, joined the alliance, aud Louis found himself compelled, with only the aid of the Turks, to contend against the uuitcd forces of the Empires of England, Spain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Yet the tide of battle wa- vered. In 1689, the French were defeated at Walcourt, and the Turks at Widin; but in 1690, the French were victorious at Charleroy, and the Turks at Belgrade. The next year, and also the next, victory inclined to the French, but in 1693, Louvois and Luxemberg were dead and Namur surrendered to the allies. The war extended to the New World, where it was maintained with more than equal success by the French, though the En- glish population exceeded it more than twenty to one. In 1688, the French were estimated at about twelve thousand souls in North America, while the English were more than two huidred thousand. At first the war was prosecuted vigorously. In 1689, De. Ste. Helene and D' Iberville, two of the sons of Charles le Morne, crossed the wilderness and reduced the English forts on Hudson's Bay. But in August of the same year, the Iroquois, the hereditary foes of the French, captured and burned Montreal. Frontenac, who had gone on an ex- pedition against New York by sea, was recalled. Fort Frontenac was abandoned, and no French posts left in the West between Trois Rivieres and Mackinaw, and were it not for the Jesuits the en- tire West would now have been abandoned. To recover their influence, the French planned three expeditions. One resulted in the destruction of Schenectady, another, Salmon Falls, and the third, Casco Bay. On the other hand. Nova Scotia was reduced by the colonies, and an expedition against Montreal went as far as to Lake Champlain, where it failed, owing to the dissensions of the leaders. Another expedition, consisting of twenty-four ves- sels, arrived before Quebec, which also failed through the incompetency of Sir William Phipps. During the succeeding years, various border con- flicts occurred, in all of which border scenes of savage cruelty and savage ferocity were enacted. The peace of Ryswick, in 1697, closed the war. France retained Hudson's Bay, and all the places of which she was in possession in 1688; but the boundaries of the English and French claims in the New World were still unsettled. The conclusion of the conflict left the French at liberty to pursue their scheme of colonizaticn in the Mississippi Valley. In 1698, D'Iberville was sent to the lower province, which, erelong, was made a separate independency, called Louisiana. :V- ^1 LA 33 HISTORY OF OHIO. Forts were erected on Mobile Bay, and the division of the territory between the French and the Spaniards was settled. Trouble existed between the French and the Chickasaws, ending in the cruel deaths of many of the leaders, in the fruitless endeavors of the Canadian and Louisi- anian forces combining against the Chickasaws. For many years the conflict raged, with unequal successes, until the Indian power gave way before superior military tactics. In the end. New Orleans was founded, in 1718, and the French power secured. Before this was consummated, however, France became entangled in another war against the allied powers, ending in her defeat and the loss of Nova Scotia, Hudson's Bay and Newfound- land. The peace of Utrecht closed the war in 1713. The French, weary with prolonged strife, adopted the plan, more peaceful in its nature, of giving out to distinguished men the monopoly of certain districts in the fur trade, the most pros- perous of any avocation then. Crozat and Cadillac^the latter the founder of Detroit, in 1701 — were the chief ones concerned in this. The founding of the villages of Kaskaskia, Ca- hokia, Vincennes, and others in the Mississippi and Wabash Valleys, led to the rapid develop- ment, according to the French custom of all these parts of the West, while along all the chief water-courses, other trading posts and forts were established, rapidly fulfilling the hopes of La Salle, broached so many years before. The French had, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, four principal routes to their western towns, two of which passed over the soil of Ohio. The first of these was the one followed by Marquette and Joliet, by way of the Lakes to Green Bay, in Wisconsin; thence across a portage to the Wisconsin River, down which they floated to the Mississippi. On their return they came up the Illinois River, to the site of Chicago, whence Joliet returned to Quebec by the Lakes. La Salle's route was first by the Lakes to the St. Joseph's River, which he followed to the portage to the Kankakee, and thence downward to the Mississippi. On his second and third attempt, he crossed the lower peninsula of Michigan to the Kankakee, and again traversed its waters to the Illinois. The third route was established about 1716. It followed the southern shores of Lake Erie to the mouth of the Maumee River; following this stream, the voyagers went on to the junction between it and the St. Mary's, which they followed to the " Oubache " — Wabash — and then to the French villages in Vigo and Knox Counties, in Indiana. Vincennes was the oldest and most important one here. It had been founded in 1702 by a French trader, and was, at the date of the establishment of the third route, in a prosperous condition. For many years, the traders crossed the plains of Southern Illinois to the French towns on the bottoms opposite St. Louis. They were afraid to go on down the "Waba" to the Ohio, as the Indians had fright- ened them with accounts of the great monsters below. Finally, some adventurous spirit went down the river, found it emptied into the Ohio, and solved the problem of the true outlet of the Ohio, heretofore supposed to be a tributary of the Wabash. The fourth route was from the southern shore of Lake Erie, at Presqueville, over a portage of fifteen miles to the head of French Creek, at Waterford, Penn. ; thence down that stream to the Ohio, and on to the Mississippi. Along all these routes, ports and posts were carefully maintained. Many were on the soil of Ohio, and were the first attempts of the white race to possess its domain. Many of the ruins of these posts are yet found on the southern shore of Lake Erie, and at the outlets of streams flowing into the lake and the Ohio River. The principal forts were at Mackinaw, at Presqueville, at the mouth of the St. Joseph's, on Starved Rock, and along the Father of Waters. Yet another power was encroaching on them; a sturdy race, clinging to the inhospitable Atlantic shores, were coming over the mountains. The murmurs of a conflict were already heard — a con- flict that would change the fate of a nation. The French were extending their explorations beyond the Mississippi; they were also forming a political organization, and increasing their influence over the natives. Of a passive nature, however, their power and their influence could not with- stand a more aggressive nature, and they were obliged, finally, to give way. They had the fruitful valleys of the West more than a century; yet they developed no resources, opened no mines of wealth, and left the country as passive as they found it. Of the growth of the West under French rule, but little else remains to be said. The sturdy Anglo-Saxon race on the Atlantic coast, and their progenitors in England, began, now, to turn their attention to this vast country. The voluptuousness ^c f) Vy 'A HISTORY OF OHIO. 33 of tlie French court, their neglect of the true basis of wealth, agriculture, and the repressive tendencies laid on the colonists, led the latter to adopt a hunter's life, and leave the country unde- veloped and ready for the people who claimed the country from "sea to sea." Their explorers were now at work. The change was at hand. Occasional mention has been made in the his- tory of the State, in preceding pages, of settle- ments and trading-posts of the French traders, explorers and missionaries, within the limits of Ohio. The French were the first white men to occupy the northwestern part of the New World, and though their stay was brief, yet it opened the way to a sinewy race, living on the shores of the Atlantic, who in time came, saw, and conquered that part of America, making it what the people of to-day enjoy. As early as 1669, four years before the discov- ery of the Mississippi by Joliet and Marquette, La Salle, the famous explorer, discovered the Ohio Kiver, and paddled down its gentle current as far as the falls at the present city of Louisville, but he, like others of the day, made no settlement on its banks, only claiming the country for his King by virtue of this discovery. Early in the beginning of the eighteenth cent^ ury, French traders and voyagers passed along the southern shores of Lake Erie, to the' mouth of the JIaumee, up whose waters the}' rowed their bark canoes, on their way to their outposts in the AVa- bash and Illinois Valleys, established between 1675 and 1700. As soon as they could, without danger from their inveterate enemies, the Iroquois, masters of all the lower lake country, erect a trading-post at the mouth of this river, they did so. It was made a depot of considerable note, and was, probably, the first permanent habitation of white men in (Jhio. It remained until after the peace of 17(J3, the termination of the French and Indian war, and the occupancy of this country by the English. On the site of the French trading- post, the British, in 1794, erected Fort IMiami, which they garrisoned until the country came under the control of Americans. Now, Maumee City covers the ground. The French had a trading-post at the mouth of the Huron River, in what is now Erie County. When it was built is not now known. It was, how- ever, probably one of their early outposts, and may have been built before 1750. They had an- other on the shore of the bay, on or near the site of Sandusky City. Both this and the one at the mouth of the Huron River were abandoned before the war of the Revolution. On Lewis Evan's map of the British Middle Colonies, pubUshed in 1755, a French fort, called "Fort Junandat, built in 1754," is marked on the east bank of the San- dusky River, several miles below its mouth. Fort Sandusky, on the western bank, is also noted. Several Wyandot towns are likewise marked. But very little is known concerning any of these trading-posts. They were, evidently, only tempo- rary, and were abandoned when the English came into possession of the country. The mouth of the Cuyahoga River was another important place. On Evan's map there is marked on the west bank of the Cuyahoga, some distance from its mouth, the words "French House" doubt- less, the station of a French trader. The ruins of a house, found about five miles from the mouth of the river, on the west bank, are supposed to be those of the trader's station. In 1786, the Moravian missionary, Zeisberger, with his Indian converts, left Detroit in a vessel called the Mackinaw, and sailed to the mouth of the Cuyahoga. From there they went up the river about ten miles, and settled in an abandoned Ottawa village, where Independence now is, which place they called " Saint's Rest." Their stay was brief, for the following April, they left for the Huron River, and settled near the site of Milan, Erie County, at a locality they called New Salem. There are but few records of settlements made' by the French until after 1750. Even these can hardly be called settlements, as they were simply trading-posts. The French easily afilliated with the Indians, and had little energy beyond trading. They never cultivated fields, laid low forests, and subjugated the country. They were a half-Indian race, so to speak, and hence did little if anything in developing the West. About 1749, some English traders came to a place in what is now Shelby County, on the banks of a creek since known as Loramie's Creek, and established a trading-station with the Indians. This was the first English trading-place or attempt at settlement in the State. It was here but a short time, however, when the French, hear- ing of its existence, sent a party of soldiers to the Twigtwees, among whom it was founded, and de- manded the traders as intruders upon French ter- ritory. The Twigtwees refusing to deliver up their friends, the French, assisted by a large party of Ottawas and Chippewas, attacked the trading- house, probably a block-house, and, after a severe 'C ^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 61 the adventurous settlers were pouring into the country at a rapid rate, only retarded by the rifle and scalping-knile of the savage — a temporary check. The policy of allowing any parties to obtain land from the Indians was strongly discouraged by Washington. He advocated the idea that only the General Government could do that, and, in a letter to James Duane, in Congress, he strongly urged such a course, and pointed out the danger of a border war, unless some such measure was stringently followed. Under the circumstances. Congress pressed the claims of cession upon Virginia, and finally in- duced the Dominion to modify the terms proposed two years before. On the 20th of December, 1783, Virginia accepted the proposal of Congress, and authorized her delegates to make a deed to the United States of all her right in the territory northwest of the Ohio. The Old Dominion stipulated in her deed of cession, that the territory should be divided into States, to be admitted into the Union as any other State, and. to bear a proportionate share in the maintenance of that Union; that Virginia should be re-imbursed for the expense incurred in subduing the British posts in the territory; that the French and Canadian inhabitants should beprotectedin their rights ; that the grant to Gen. George Rogers Clarke and his men, as well as all other similar grants, should be confirmed, and that the lands should be considered as the common property of the United States, the proceeds to be applied to the use of the whole country. Congress accepted these condi- tions, and the deed was made March 1, 1784. Thus the country came from under the dominion of Virginia, and became common property. A serious difficulty arose about this time, that threatened for awhile to involve England and America anew in war. Virginia and several other States refused to abide by that part of the treaty relating to the payment of debts, especially so, when the British carried away quite a number df negroes claimed by the Americans. This re- fusal on the part of the Old Dominion and her abettors, caused the English to retain her North- western outposts, Detroit, Mackinaw, etc. She held these till 178G, when the questions were finally settled, and then readily abandoned them. The return of peace greatly augmented emigra- tion to the AVest, especially to Kentucky. When the war closed, the population of that county (the three counties having been made one judicial dis- trict, and Danville designated as the seat of gov- ernment) was estimated to be about twelve thousand. In one year, after the close of the war, it increased to 30,0U0, and steps for a State government were taken. Owing to the divided sentiment among its citizens, its perplexing questions of land titles and proprietary rights, nine conventions were held before a definite course of action could be reached. This prolonged the time till 1792, when, in De- cember of that year, the election for persons to forni'a State constitution was held, and the vexed and complicated questions settled. In 1783, the first wagons bearing merchandise came across the mountains. Their contents were received on flat- boats at Pittsburgh, and taken down the Ohio to Louisville, which that spring boasted of a store, opened by Daniel Broadhead. The next year, James Wilkinson opened one at Lexington. Pittsburgh was now the principal town in the West. It occupied the same position regarding the outposts that Omaha has done for several years to Nebraska. The town of Pittsburgh was laid out immediately after the war of 1764, by Col. Campbell. It then consisted of four squares about the fort, and received its name fi'om that citadel. The treaty with the Six Nations in 1768, con- veyed to the proprietaries of Pennsylvania all the lands of the Alleghany below Kittanning, and all the country south of the Ohio, within the limits of Penn's charter. This deed of cession was recog- nized when the line between Pennsylvania and Virginia was fixed, and gave the post to the Key- stone State. In accordance with this deed, the manor of Pittsburgh was withdrawn from market in 1769, and was held as the property of the Penn family. When Washington visited it in 1770, it seems to have declined in consequence of the afore-mentioned act. He mentions it as a " town of about twenty log houses, on the Monongahela, about three hundred yards from the fort." The Penn's remained true to the King, and hence all their land that had not been surveyed and returned to the land office, was confiscated by the common- wealth. Pittsburgh, having been surveyed, was still left to them. In the spring of 1784, Tench Francis, the agent of the Penns, was induced to lay out the manor into lots and offer them for sale. Though, for many years, the place was rather un- promising, it eventually became the chief town in that part of the West, a position it yet holds. In 1786, John Scull and Joseph Hall started the Pittsburgh Gazette, the first paper published west of the mountains. In the initial number, appeared a lengthy article from the pen of H. H. Brackenridge, ^-^ i \i ■^ 62 HISTORY OF OHIO. afterward one of the most prominent members of the Pennsylvania bar. He had located in Pittsburgh in 1781. His letter gives a most hope- ful prospect in . store for the future city, and is a highly descriptive article of the Western country. It is yet preserved in the "Western Annals," and is well worth a perusal. Under the act of peace in 1783, no provision was made by the British for their allies, especially the Six Nations. The question was ignored by the English, and was made a handle by the Americans in gaining them to their cause before the war had fully closed. . The treaties made were regarded by the Indians as alliances only, and when the En- glish left the country the Indians began to assume rather a hostile bearing. This excited the whites, and for a while a war with that formidable con- federacy was imminent. Better councils prevailed, and Congress wisely adopted the policy of acquiring their lands by purchase. In accordance with this policy, a treaty was made at Fort Stanwix with the Six Nations, in October, 1784. By this treaty, all lands west of a line drawn from the mouth of Oswego Creek, about four miles east of Niagara, to the mouth of Buffalo Creek, and on to the northern boundary of Pennsylvania, thence west along that boundary to its western extremity, thence south to the Ohio River, should be ceded to the United States. (They claimed west of this line by conquest.) The Six Nations were to be secured in the lands they inhabited, reserving only six miles square around Oswego fort for the support of the same. By this treaty, the indefinite claim of the Six Nations to the West was extinguished, and the question of its ownership settled. It was now occupied by other Western tribes, who did not recognize the Iroquois claim, and who would not yield without a purchase. Especially was this the case with those Indians living in the northern part. To get possession of that country by the same process, the United States, through its commissioners, held a treaty at Fort Mcintosh on the 21st of January, 1785. The Wyandot, Delaware, Chippewa and Ottawa tribes were pres- ent, and, through their chiefs, sold their lands to the Government. The Wyandot and Delaware nations were given a reservation in the north part of Ohio, where they were to be protected. The others were allotted reservations in Michigan. To all was given complete control of their lands, allow- ing them to punish any white man attempting to settle thereon, and guaranteeing them in their rights. By such means Congress gained Indian titles to the vast realms north of the Ohio, and, a few months later, that legislation was commenced that should determine the mode of its disposal and the plan of its settlements. To facilitate the settlement of lands thus acquired. Congress, on May 20, 1785, passed an act for dispos- ing of lands in the Northwest Territory. Its main provisions were : A surveyor or surveyors should be appointed from the States ; and a geographer, and his assistants to act with them. The surveyors were to divide the territory into townships of six miles square, by lines running due north and south, and east and west. The starting-place was to be on the Ohio River, at a point where the western boundary of Pennsylvania crossed it. This would give the first range, and the first township. As soon as seven townships were surveyed, the maps and plats of the same were to be sent to the Board of the Treasury, who would record them and proceed to place the land in the market, and so on with all the townships as fast as they could be prepared ready for sale. Each town- ship was to be divided into thirty-six sections, or lots. Out of these sections, numbers 8, 11, 26 and 29 were reserved for the use of the Government, and lot No. 16, for the establishment of a common- school fund. One-third of all mines and minerals was also reservedfor the United States. Three townships on Lake Erie were reserved for the use of officers, men and others, refugees from Canada and from Nova Scotia, who were entitled to grants of land. The Moravian Indians were also exempt from molestation, and guaranteed in their homes. Sol- diers' claims, and all others of a like nature, were also recognized, and land reserved for them. Without waiting for the act of Congress, settlers had been pouring into the country, and, when or- dered by Congress to leave undisturbed Indian lands, refused to do so. They went into the In- dian country at their peril, however, and when driven out by the Indians could get no redress from the Government, even when life was lost. The Indians on the Wabash made a treat;^at Fort Finney, on the Miami, January 31, 1786, promising allegiance to the United States, and were allowed a reservation. Thistreaty did not include the Piankeshaws, as was at first intended. These, refusing to live peaceably, stirred up the Shawa- nees, who began a series of predatory excursions against the settlements. This led to an expedition against them and other restless tribes. Gen. Clarke commanded part of the army on that expedition. s^ n HISTORY OF OHIO. 65 but got no farther than Vincennes, when, owing to the discontent of his Kentucky troops, he was obUged to return. Col. Benjamin Logan, how- ever, marched, at the head of four or five hundred mounted riflemen, into the Indian country, pene- trating as far as the head-waters of Mad River. He destroyed several towns, much corn, and took about eighty prisoners. Among these, was the chief of the nation, who was wantonly slain, greatly to Logan's regret, who could not restrain his men. His expedition taught the Indians sub- mission, and that they must adhere to their con- tracts. Meanwhile, the difficulties of the navigation of the Mississippi arose. Spain would not relinquish the right to control the entire southern part of the river, allowing no free navigation. She was secretly hoping to cause a revolt of the Western provinces, especially Kentucky, and openly favored such a move. She also claimed, by conquest, much of the land on the east side of the river. The slow move- ments of Congress; the failure of Virginia to properly protect Kentucky, and the inherent rest- lessness in some of the Western men, well-nigh precipitated matters, and, for a while, serious results were imminent. The Kentuckians, and, indeed, all the people of the West, were determined the river should be free, and even went so far as to raise a regiment, and forcibly seize Spanish prop- erty in the West. Great Britain stood ready, too, to aid the West should it succeed, providing it would make an alliance with her. But while the excitement was at its height, Washington coun- seled better ways and patience. The decisive tone of the new republic, though almost overwhelmed with a burden of debt, and with no credit, debarred the Spanish from too forcible measures to assert their claims, and held back the disloyal ones from attempting a revolt. New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut ceded their lands, and now the United States were ready to fulfill their promises of land grants, to the sol- diers who had preserved the nation. This did much to heal the breach in the West, and restore confidence there ; so that the Mississippi question was overlooked for a time, and Kentucky forgot her animosities. The cession of their claims was the signal for the formation of land companies in the East ; com- panies whose object was to settle the Western coun- try, and, at the same time, enrich the founders of the companies. Some of these companies had been formed in the old colonial days, but the recent war had put a stop to all their proceedings. Congress would not recognize their claims, and new com- panies, under old names, were the result. By such means, the Ohio Company emerged from the past, and, in 1786, took an active existence. Benjamin Tupper, a Revolutionary soldier, and since then a government surveyor, who had been west as far as Pittsburgh, revived the question. He was prevented from prosecuting his surveys by hostile Indians, and returned to Massachusetts. He broached a plan to Gen. Rufus Putnam, as to the renewal of their memorial of 1783, which re- sulted in the publication of a plan, and inviting all those interested, to meet in February in their re- spective counties, and choose delegates to a con- vention to be held at the " Bunch-of-grapes Tav- ern." in Boston, on the first of March, 1786. On the day appointed, eleven persons appeared, and by the 3d of March an outline was drawn up, and subscriptions under it began at once. The leading features of the plan were : "A fund of $1 ,000,000, mainly in Continental certificates, was to be raised for the purpose of purchasing lands in the Western country; there were to be 1,000 shares of $1,000 each, and upon each share f 10 in specie were to be paid for contingent expenses. One year's inter- est was to be appropriated to the charges of making a settlement, and assisting those unable to move without aid. The owners of every twenty shares were to choose an agent to represent them and attend to their interests, and the agents were to choose the directors. The plan was approved, and in a year's time from that date, the Company was organized."* By the time this Company was organized, all claims of the colonies in the coveted territory were done away with by their deeds of cession, Connect- icut being the last. While troubles were still existing south of the Ohio River, regarding the navigation of the Mis- sissippi, and many urged the formation of a sepa- rate, independent State, and while Congress and Washington were doing what they could to allay the feeling north of the Ohio, the New England associates were busily engaged, now that a Com- pany was formed, to obtain the land they wished to purchase. On the 8th of March, 1787, a meet- ing of the agents chose Gen. Parsons, Gen. Put- nam and the Rev. Mannasseh Cutler, Directors for the Company. The last selection was quite a fitting one for such an enterprise. Dr. Cutler was * Historical Collections, :'k: 66 HISTOKY OF OHIO. an aecomplislied scholar, an excellent gentleman', and a firm believer in freedom. In the choice of him as the agent of the Company, lies the fact, though unforeseen, of the beginning of anti-slavery in America. Through him the famous " compact of 1787," the true corner-stone of the Northwest, originated, and by him was safely passed. He was a good "wire-puller," too, and in this had an advantage. Mr. Hutchins was at this time the geographer for the United States, and was, prob- ably, the best-posted man in America regarding the West. Dr. Cutler learned from him that the most desirable portions were on the Muskingum Eiver, north of the Ohio, and was advised by him to buy there if he couW. Congress wanted money badly, and many of the members favored the plan. The Southern mem- bers, generally, were hostile to it, as the Doctor would listen to no grant which did not embody the New England ideas in the charter. These members were finally won over, some bribery be- ing used, and some of their favorites made officers of the Territory, whose formation was now going on. This took time, however, and Dr. Cutler, be- coming impatient, declared they would purchase from some of the States, who held small tracts in various parts of the West. This intimation brought the tardy ones to time, and, on the 23d of July, Congress authorized the Treasury Board to make the contract. On the 26th, Messrs. Cutler and Sargent, on behalf of the Company, stated in writing their conditions; and on the 27th, Con- gress referred their letter to the Board, and an order of the same date was obtained. Of this Dr. Cutler's journal says: " By this grant we obtained near five milhons of acres of land, amounting to $3,500,000; 1,500,- 000 acres for the Ohio Company, and the remainder for a private speculation, in which many of the principal characters of America are concerned. Without connecting this peculation, similar terms and advantages for the Ohio Company could not have been obtained." Messrs. Cutler and Sargent at once closed a ver- bal contract with the Treasury Board, which was executed in form on the 27th of the next Octo- ber.* By this contract, the vast region bounded on the south by the Ohio, west by the Scioto, east by the seventh range of townships then surveying, and north by a due west line, drawn from the north * Land Laws. boundary of the tenth township from the Ohio, direct to the Scioto, was sold to the Ohio associ- ates and their secret copartners, for $1 per acre, subject to a deduction of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies. The whole tract was not, however, paid for nor taken by the Company — even their own portion of a million and a half acres, and extending west to the eighteenth range of townships, was not taken ; and in 1792, the boundaries of the purchase proper were fixed as follows : the Ohio on the south, the seventh range of townships on the east, the six- teenth range on the west, and a line on the north so drawn as to make the grant 750,000 acres, be- sides reservations ; this grant being the portion which it was originally agreed the Company might enter into at once. In addition to this, 214,285 acres were granted as army bounties, under the resolutions of 1779 and 1780, and 100,000 acres as bounties to actual settlers; both of the latter tracts being within the original grant of 1787, and adjoining the purchase as before mentioned. While these things were progressing. Congress was bringing into form an ordinance for the gov- ernment and social organization of the North- west Territory. Virginia made her cession in March, 1784, and during the month following the plan for the temporary government of the newly acquired territory came under discussion. On the 19th of April, Mr. Spaight, of North Carolina, moved to strike from the plan reported by Mr. Jefferson, the emancipationist of his day, a provis- ion for the prohibition of slavery north of the Ohio afler the year 1800. The motion prevailed. From that day till the 23d, the plan was discussed and altered, and finally passed unanimously with the ex- ception of South Carolina. The South would have slavery, or defeat every measure. Thus this hide- ous monster early began to assert himself. By the proposed plan, the Territory was to have been divided into States by parallels of latitude and merid- ian lines. This division, it was thought, would make ten States, whose names were as follows, beginning at the northwest corner, and going southwardly : Sylvania, Michigania, Cheresonisus, Assenispia, Metropotamia, Illinoia, Saratoga, Washington, Polypotamia and Pelisipia.* A more serious difficulty existed, however, to this plan, than its catalogue of names — ^the number of States and their boundaries. The root of the evil was in the resolution passed by Congress in October, * Spark's Washington. ;%* l^ HISTORY or OHIO. 67 1780, -whicli fixed the size of the States to be foi-med from the ceded lands, at one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles square. The terms of that resolu- tion being called up both by Virginia and Massa- chusetts, further legislation was deemed necessary to change them. July 7, 1786, this subject came up in Congress, and a resolution passed in favor of a division into not less than three nor more than five States. Virginia, at the close of 1788, assented to this proposition, which became the basis upon which the division should be made. On the 29th of September, Congress having thus changed the plan for dividing the Northwestern Territory into ten States, proceeded again to consider the terms of an ordinance for the government of that region. At this juncture, the genius of Dr. Cutler displayed itself A graduate in medicine, law and divinity ; an ardent lover of liberty ; a celebrated scientist, and an accomplished, portly gentleman, of whom the Southern senators said they had never before seen so fine a specimen from the New England colo- nies, no man was better prepared to form a govern- ment for the new Territory, than he. The Ohio Company was his real object. He was backed by them, and enough Continental money to purchase more than a million acres of land. This was aug- mented by other parties until, as has been noticed, he represented over five million acres. This would largely reduce the public debt. Jefferson and Vir- ginia were regarded as authority concerning the land Virginia had just ceded to the General Gov- ernment. Jefferson's policy was to provide for the national credit, and still check the growth of slavery. Here was a good opportunity. Massachusetts owned the Territory of Maine, which she was crowd- ing into market. She opposed the opening of the Northwest. This stirred Virginia. The South caught the inspiration and rallied around the Old Dominion and Dr. Cutler. Thereby he gained the credit and good will of the South, an auxiliary he used to good purpose. Massachusetts could not vote against him, because many of the constituents of her members were interested in the Ohio Com- pany. Thus the Doctor, using all the arts of the lobbyist, was enabled to hold the situation. True to deeper convictions, he dictated one of the most com- pact and finished documents of wise statesmanship that has ever adorned any statute-book. Jefferson gave it the term, "Articles of Compact," and rendered him valuable aid in its construction. This " Compact" preceded the Federal Constitution, in both of which are seen Jefferson's master-mind. Dr. Cutler followed closely the constitution of Mas- sachusetts, adopted three years before. The prom- inent features were : The exclusion of slavery from the Territory forever. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a seminary, and every six- teenth section. (That gave one thirty-sixth of all the land for public education. j A provision pro- hibiting the adoption of any constitution or the enactment of any law that would nullify pre-exist- ing contracts. The compact further declared that " Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall always be en- couraged." The Doctor planted himself firmly on this plat- form, and would not yield. It was that or nothing. Unless they could make the land desirable , it was not wanted, and, taking his horse and buggy, he started for the Constitutional Convention in Phil- adelphia. His influence succeeded. On the 13th of July, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage and was unanimously adopted. Every member from the South voted for it ; only one man, Mr. Yates, of New York, voted against the measure ; but as the vote was made by States, his vote was lost, and the " Compact of 1787 " was beyond re- peal. Thus the great States of the Northwest Territory were consecrated to freedom, intelligence and morality. This act was the opening step for freedom in America. Soon the South saw their blunder, and endeavored, by all their power, to re- peal the compact. In 1803, Congress referred it to a committee, of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported the ordinance was a com- pact and could not be repealed. Thus it stood, like a rock, in the way of slavery, which still, in spite of these provisions, endeavored to plant that infernal institution in the West. Witness the early days of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. But the compact could not be violated ; New England ideas could not be put down, and her sons stood ready to defend the soil of the West from that curse. The passage of the ordinance and the grant of land to Dr. Cutler and his associates, were soon fol- lowed by a request from John Cleve Symmes, of New Jersey, for the country between the Miamis. Symmes had visited that part of the West in 1786, and, being pleased with the valleys of the Miamis, had applied to the Board of the Treasury for their purchase, as soon as they were open to set- tlement. The Board was empowered to act by Congress, and, in 1788, a contract was signed, giv- ing him the country he desired. The terms of his <^ i a '\j ^1 _@ ^ 68 HISTORY OF OHIO. purchase were similar to those of the Ohio Com- pany. His appHoation was followed by others, whose success or failure will appear in the narrative. The New England or Ohio Company was all this time busily engaged perfecting its arrange- ments to occupy its lands. The Directors agreed to reserve 5,Y60 acres near the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum for a city and commons, for the old ideas of the English plan of settling a country yet prevailed. A meeting of the Direct- ors was held at Bracket's tavern, in Boston, No- vember 23, 1787, when four surveyors, and twen- ty-two attendants, boat-builders, carpenters, black- smiths and common workmen, numbering in all forty persons, were engaged. Their tools were purchased, and wagons were obtained to transport them across the mountains. Gen. Rufus Putnam was made superintendent of the company, and Ebenezer Sproat, of Rhode Island, Anselm Tup- per and John Matthews, from Massachusetts, and R. J. Meigs, from Connecticut, as surveyors. At the same meeting, a suitable person to instruct them in religion, and prepare the way to open a school when needed, was selected. This was Rev. Daniel Storey, who became the first New England minis- ter in the Northwest. The Indians were watching this outgrowth of affairs, and felt, from what they could learn in Ken- tucky, that they would be gradually surrounded by the whites. This they did not relish, by any means, and gave the settlements south of the Ohio no little uneasiness. It was thought best to hold another treaty with them. In the mean time, to insure peace, the Governor of Virginia, and Con- • gress, placed troops at Venango, Forts Pitt and Mcintosh, and at Miami, Vincennes, Louisville, and Muskingum, and the militia of Kentucky were held in readiness should a sudden outbreak occur. These measures produced no results, save insuring the safety of the whites, and not until January, 1789, was Clarke able to carry out his plans. During that month, he held a meeting at Fort Harmar,* at the mouth of the Muskingum, where the New England Colony expected to locate. The hostile character of the Indians did not deter the Ohio Company from carrying out its plans. In the winter of 1787, Gen. Rufus Put- * Fort Harmar was built in 1785, by a detacbment of United States Boldien, under command of Maj, Jobn Doughty. It waa named in honor of Col, Josiah Harmar, to "wboBe regiment Maj. Doughty was attached. It waa the first military post erected by the Americana within the limits of Ohio, except Fort Laurens, a temporary struct- ure built in 1778. When Marietta was founded it was the military post of that part of the country, and was for many years an impor- tant station. nam and forty-seven pioneers advanced to the mouth of the Youghiogheny River, and began building a boat for transportation down the Ohio in the spring. The boat was the largest craft that had ever descended the river, and, in allusion to their Pilgrim Fathers, it was called the Mayflower. It was 45 feet long and 12 feet wide, and esti- mated at 50 tons burden. Truly a formidable affair for the time. The bows were raking and curved like a galley, and were strongly timbered. The sides were made bullet-proof, and it was covered with a deck roof Capt. Devol, the first ship- builder in the West, was placed in command. On the 2d of April, the Mayflower was launched, and for five days the little band of pioneers sailed down the Monongahela and the Ohio, and, on the 7th, landed at the mouth of the Muskingum. There, opposite Fort Harmar, they chose a loca- tion, moored their boat for a temporary shelter, and began to erect houses for their occupation. Thus was begun the first English settlement -in the Ohio Valley. About the 1st of July, they were re-enforced by the arrival of a colony from Massachusetts. It had been nine weeks on the way. It had hauled its wagons and driven its stock to Wheeling, where, constructing flat-boats, it had floated down the river to the settlement. In October preceding this occurrence, Arthur St. Clair had been appointed Governor of the Ter- ritory by Congress, which body also appointed Winthrop Sargent, Secretary, and Samuel H. Parsons, James M. Vamum and John Armstrong Judges. Subsequently Mr. Armstrong declined the appointment, and Mr. Symmes was given the vacancy. None of these were on the ground when the first settlement was made, though the Judges came soon after. One of the first things the colony found necessary to do was to organize some form of government, whereby difiiculties might be settled, though to the credit of the colony it may be said, that during the first three months of its existence but one difference arose, and that was settled by a compromise.* Indeed, hardly a better set of men for the purpose could have been selected. Washington wrote concerning this colony : "No colony in America was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which has com- menced at the Muskingum. Information, prop- erty and strength will be its characteristics. I know many of the settlers personally, and there ♦"Western Monthly Magazine." -f: :f* .^ HISTORY or OHIO. 69 never were men better calculated to promote the welfare of such a community." On the 2d of July, a meeting of the Directors and agents was held on the banks of the Mus- kingum for the purpose of naming the newborn city and its squares. As yet, the settlement had been merely "The Muskingum;" but the name Marietta was now formally given it, in honor of Marie Antoinette. The square upon which the blockhouses stood was called Campus Martins; Square No. 19, Capitolmm; Square No. 61, Ce- cilia, and the great road running through the covert^way, Sacra Via.* Surely, classical scholars were not scarce in the colony. On the Fourth, an oration was delivered by James M. Varnum, one of the Judges, and a public demonstration held. Five days after, the Governor arrived, and the colony began to assume form. The ordinance of 1787 provided two dis- tinct grades of government, under the first of which the whole power was under the Grovernor and the three Judges. This form was at once recognized on the arrival of St. Clair. The first law established by this court was passed on the 25th of July. It established and regulated the mUitia of the Territory. The next day after its publication, appeared the Governor's proclamation erecting all the country that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto River, into the county of Washington. Marietta was, of course, the county seat, and, from that day, went on prosperously. On September 2, the first court was held with becoming ceremonies. It is thus related in the American Pioneer: "The procession was formed at the Point (where the most of the settlers resided), in the following order: The High Sheriff, with his drawn sword; the citizens; the ofl&oers of the garrison at Fort Harmar; the members of the bar ; the Supreme Judges ; the Governor and clergyman ; the newly appointed Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, Gens. Rufus Putnam and Benjamin Tupper. "They marched up the path that had been cleared through the forest to Campus Martius Hall (stockade), where the whole countermarched, and the Judges (Putnam and Tupper) took their seats. The clergyman, Rev. Dr. Cutler, then invoked the divine blessing. The Sheriff, Col. Ebenezer Sproat, proclaimed with his solemn ' Oh yes ! ' that a court is open for the administration of * " Carey's Museum," Vol. 4. even-handed justice, to the poor and to the rich, to the guilty and to the innocent, without respect of persons; none to be punished without a trial of their peers, and then in pursuance of the laws and evidence in the case. " Although this scene was exhibited thus early in the settlement of the West, few ever equaled it in the dignity and exalted character of its princi- pal participators. Many of them belonged to the history of our country in the darkest, as well as the most splendid, period of the Revolutionary war." Many Indians were gathered at the same time to witness the (to them) strange spectacle, and for the purpose of forming a treaty, though how far they carried this out, the Pioneer does not relate. The progress of the settlement was quite satis- factory during the year. Some one writing a letter from the town says : "The progress of the settlement is sufficiently rapid for the first year. We are continually erect- ing houses, but arrivals are constantly coming faster than we can possibly provide convenient covering. Our first ball was opened about the middle of December, at which were fifteen ladies, as well accomplished in the manner of polite circles as any I have ever seen in the older States. I mention this to show the progress of society in this new world, where, I believe, we shall vie with, if not excel, the old States in every accom- plishment necessary to render life agreeable and happy." The emigration westward at this time was, indeed, exceedingly large. The commander at Fort Harmar reported 4,500 persons as having passed that post between February and June, 1788, many of whom would have stopped there, had the associates been prepared to receive them. The settlement was free from Indian depredations until January, 1791, during which interval it daily increased in numbers and strength. Symmes and his friends were not idle during this time. He had secured his contract in October, 1787, and, soon after, issued a pamphlet stating the terms of his purchase and the mode he intended to follow in the disposal of the lands. His plan was, to issue warrants for not less than one-quarter section, which might be located anywhere, save on reservations, or on land previously entered. The locator could enter an entire section should he de- sire to do so. The price was to be 60f cents per acre till May, 1788 ; then, till November, $1 ; and "~® V^ :^=^iL 70 HISTOEY OF OHIO. after that time to be regulated by the demand for land. Each purchaser was bound to begin im- provements within two years, or forfeit one-sixth of the land to whoever would settle thereon and remain seven years. Military bounties might be taken in this, as in the purchase of the associates. For himself, Symmes I'eserved one township near the mouth of the Miami. On this he intended to build a great city, rivaling any Eastern port. He offered any one a lot on which to build a house, providing he would remain three years. Conti- nental certificates were rising, owing to the demand for land created by these two purchases, and Con- gress found the burden of debt correspondingly lessened. Symmes soon began to experience diffi- culty in procuring enough to meet his payments. He had also some trouble in arranging his boundary with the Board of the Treasury. These, and other causes, laid the foundation for another city, which is now what Symmes hoped his city would one day be. In January, 1788, Mathias Denman, of New Jersey, took an interest in Symmes' purchase, and located, among other tracts, the sections upon which Cincinnati has since been built. Retaining one-third of this purchase, he sold the balance to Robert Patterson and John Filson, each getting the same share. These three, about August, agreed to lay out a town on their land. It was designated as opposite the mouth of the Licking River, to which place it was intended to open a road from Lexington, Ky. These men little thought of the great emporium that now covers the modest site of this town they laid out that summer. Mr. Filson, who had been a schoolmaster, and was of a some- what poetic nature, was appointed to name the town. In respect to its situation, and as if with a prophetic perception of the mixed races that were in after years to dwell there, he named it Los- antiville,* " which, being interpreted," says the " Western Annals," " means toZ^, the town ; anti, opposite to ; os, the mouth ; L, of Licking. This may well put to the blush the Campus Martins of the Marietta scholars, and the Fort Solon of the Spaniards." Meanwhile, Symmes was busy in the East, and, by July, got thirty people and eight four-horse wagons under way for the West. These reached Limestone by September, where they met Mr. Stites, with several persons from Redstone. All * Judge Burnett, in his notes, disputes the above account of the origin of the city of Cincinnati. He Bays the name " LosantiTiile " was determined on, but not adopted, when the town was laid out. This version is probably the correct one, and will be found fully given in the detailed history of the settlements. came to Symmes' purchase, and began to look for homes. Symmes' mind was, however, ill at rest. He could not meet his first payment on so vast a realm, and there also arose a difference of opinion be- tween him and the Treasury Board regarding the Ohio boundary. Symmes wanted all the land be- tween the two Miamis, bordering on the Ohio, while the Boaird wished him confined to no more than twenty miles of the river. To this proposal he would not agree, as he had made sales all along the river. Leaving the bargain in an unsettled state. Congress considered itself released from all its obligations, and, but for the representations of many of Symmes' friends, he would have lost all his money and labor. His appointment as Judge was not favorably received by many, as they thought that by it he would acquire unlimited power. Some of his associates also complained of him, and, for awhile, it surely seemed that ruin only awaited him. But he was brave and hope- ful, and determined to succeed. On his return from a visit to his purchase in September, 1788, he wrote Jonathan Dayton, of New Jersey, one of his best friends and associates, that he thought some of the land near the Great Miami " positively worth a silver dollar the acre in its present state." A good many changes were made in his original contract, growing out of his inability to meet his payments. At first, he was to have not less than a million acres, under an act of Congress passed in October, 1787, authorizing the Treasury Board to contract with any one who could pay for such tracts, on the Ohio and Wabash Rivers, whose fronts should not exceed one-third of their depth. Dayton and Marsh, Symmes' agents, contracted with the Board for one tract on the Ohio, begin- ning twenty miles up the Ohio fi-om the mouth of the Great Miami, and to run back for quantity be- tween the Miami and a line drawn fi'om the Ohio, parallel to the general course of that river. In 1791, three years after Dayton and Blarsh made the contract, Symmes found this would throw the purchase too far back from the Ohio, and appUed to Congress to let him have all between the Mi- amies, running back so as to include 1,000,000 acres, which that body, on April 12, 1792, agreed to do. When the lands were surveyed, however, it was found that a line drawn from the head of the Little Miami due west to the Great Miami, would include south of it less than six hundred thousand acres. Even this Sjrmmes could not pay for, and when his patent was issued in September, 1794, it .^ HISTOKY or OHIO. 71 gave him and his associates 248,540 acres, exclu- sive of reservations which amounted to 63,142 acres. This tract was bounded by the Ohio, the two Miamis and a due east and west line run so as to include the desired quantity. Symmes, how- ever, made no further payments, and the rest of his purchase reverted to the United States, who gave those who had bought under him ample pre- emption rights. The Government was able, also, to give him and his colonists but little aid, and as danger from hos- tile Indians was in a measure imminent (though all the natives were friendly to Symmes), settlers were slow to come. However, the band led by Mr. Stites arrived before the 1st of January, 1789, and locating themselves near the mouth of the Little Miami, on a tract of 10,000 acres which Mr. Stites had purchased from Symmes, formed the second settlement in Ohio. They were soon afterward joined by a colony of twenty-six persons, who assisted them to erect a block-house, and gather their com. The town was named Columbia. While here, the great flood of January, 1789, oc- curred, which did much to ensure the future growth of Losantiville, or more properly, Cincin- nati. Symmes City, which was laid out near the mouth of the Great Miami, and which he vainly strove to make the city of the future. Marietta and Columbia, all suffered severely by this flood, the greatest, the Indians said, ever known. The site of Cincinnati was not overflowed, and hence attracted the attention of the settlers. Denman's warrants had designated his purchase as opposite the mouth of the Licking; and that point escap- ing the overflow, late in December the place was visited by Israel Ludlow, Symmes' surveyor, Mr. Patterson and Mr. Denman, and about fourteen oth- ers, who left Maysville to "form a station and lay ofi' a town opposite the Licking." The river was filled with ice "from shore to shore;" but, says Symmes in May, 1789, "Perseverance triumphing over difficulty, and they landed safe on a most de- lightful bank of the Ohio, where they founded the town of Losantiville, which populates consid- erably." The settlers of Losantiville built a few log huts and block-houses, and proceeded to im- prove the town. Symmes, noticing the location, says: "Though they placed their dwellings in the most marked position, yet they suffered nothing from the freshet." This would seem to give cre- dence to Judge Burnett's notes regarding the origin of Cincinnati, who states the settlement was made at this time, and not at the time mentioned when Mr. Filson named the town. It is further to be noticed, that, before the town was located by Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Patterson, Mr. Filson had been killed by the Miami Indians, and, as he had not paid for his one-third of the site, the claim was sold to Mr. Ludlow, who thereby became one of the origi- nal owners of the place. Just what day the town was laid out is not recorded. All the evidence tends to show it must have been late in 1788, or early in 1789. While the settlements on the north side of the Ohio were thus progressing, south of it fears of the Indians prevailed, and the separation sore was kept open. The country was, however, so torn by internal factions that no plan was likely to suc- ceed, and to this fact, in a large measure, may be credited the reason it did not secede, or join the Spanish or French faction, both of which were intriguing to get the commonwealth. During this year the treasonable acts of James Wilkinson came into view. For a while he thought success was in his grasp, but the two governments were at peace with America, and discountenanced any such efforts. Wilkinson, like all traitors, relapsed into nonentity, and became mistrusted by the govern- ments he attempted to befriend. Treason is al- ways odious. It will be borne in mind, that in 1778 prepa- rations had been made for a treaty with the Indi- ans, to secure peaceful possession of the lands owned in the West. Though the whites held these by purchase and treaty, yet many Indians, especially the Wabash and some of the Miami In- dians, objected to their oecujsation, claiming the Ohio boundary as the original division line. Clarke endeavored to obtain, by treaty at Fort Harmar, in 1778, a confirmation of these grants, but was not able to do so till January, 9, 1789. Rep- resentatives of the Six Nations, and of the Wyan- dots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawato- mies and Sacs, met him at this date, and confirmed and extended the treaties of Fort Stanwix and Fort BIcIntosh, the one in 1784, the other in 1785. This secured peace with the most of them, save a few of the Wabash Indians, whom they were compelled to conquer by arms. When this was accomphshed, the borders were thought safe, and Virginia proposed to withdraw her aid in sup- port of Kentucky. This opened old troubles, and the separation dogma came out afresh. Virginia offered to allow the erection of a separate State, providing Kentucky would assume part of the old debts. This the young commonwealth would not it^ 73 HISTORY OF OHIO. do, and sent a remonstrance. Virginia withdrew the proposal, and ordered a ninth convention, which succeeded in evolving a plan whereby Ken- tucky took her place among the free States of the Union. North of the Ohio, the prosperity continued. In 1789, Rev. Daniel Story, who had been ap- pointed missionary to the West, came out as a teacher of the youth and a preacher of the Gospel. Dr. Cutler had preceded him, not in the capacity of a minister, though he had preached ; hence Mr. Story is truly the first missionary from the Prot^ estant Church who came to the Ohio Valley in that capacity. When he came, in 1789, he found nine associations on the Ohio Company's purchase, comprising two hundred and fifby persons in all ; and, by the close of 1790, eight settlements had been made: two at Belpre (belle prairie), one at Newbury, one at Wolf Creek, one at Duck Creek, one at the mouth of Meigs' Creek, one at Ander- son's Bottom, and one at Big Bottom. An ex- tended sketch of all these settlements will be found farther on in this volume. Symmes had, all this time, strenuously endeav- ored to get his city — called Cleves City — favorably noticed, and filled with people. He saw a rival in Cincinnati. That place, if made military head- quarters to protect the Miami Valley, would ou(> rival his town, situated near the bend of the Miami, near its mouth. On the 15th of June, Judge Symmes received news that the Wabash Indians threatened the Miami settlements, and as he had received only nineteen men for defense, he applied for more. Before July, Maj. Doughty arrived at the "Slaughter House " — as the Miami was sometimes called, owing to previous murders that had, at former times, occurred therein. Through the influence of Symmes, the detach- ment landed at the North Bend, and, for awhile, it was thought the fort would be erected there. This was what Symmes wanted, as it would secure him the headquarters of the military, and aid in getting the headquarters of the civil gov- ernment. The truth was, however, that neither the proposed city on the Miami — North Bend, as it afterward became known, from its location — or South Bend, could compete, in point of natural advantages, with the plain on which Cincinnati is built. Had Fort Washington been buUt elsewhere, after the close of the Indian war, nature would have asserted her advantages, and insured the growth of a city, where even the ancient and mys- terious dwellers of the Ohio had reared the earthen walls of one of their vast temples. Another fact is given in relation to the erection of Fort Wash- ington at Losantiville, which partakes somewhat of romance. The Major, while waiting to decide at which place the fort should be built, happened to make the acquaintance of a black-eyed beauty, the wife of one of the residents. Her husband, notic- ing the afiair, removed her to Losantiville. The Major followed; he told Symmes he wished to see how a fort wouM do there, but promised to give his city the preference. He found the beauty there, and on his return Symmes could not prevail on him to remain. If the story be true, then the importance of Cincinnati owes its existence to a trivial circum- stance, and the old story of the ten years' war which terminated in the downfall of Troy, which is said to have originated owing to the beauty of a Spartan dame, was re-enacted here. Troy and North Bend fell because of the beauty of a wo- man ; Cincinnati was the result of the downfall of the latter place. About the first of January, 1790, Governor St. Clair, with his oflS^cers, descended the Ohio River from Marietta to Fort Washington. There he es- tablished the county of Hamilton, comprising the immense region of country contiguous to the Ohio, from the Hocking River . to the Great Miami; appointed a corps of civil and military officers, and established a Court of Quarter Ses- sions. Some state that at this time, he changed the name of the village of Losantiville to Cin- cinnati, in allusion to a society of that name which had recently been formed among the officers of the Revolutionary army, and established it as the seat of justice for Hamilton. This latter fact is certain; but as regards changing the name of the village, there is no good authority for it. With this importance attached to it, Cincinnati began at once an active growth, and firom that day Cleves' city declined. The next summer, frame houses began to appear in Cincinnati, while at the same time forty new log cabins appeared about the fort. On the 8th of January, the Governor arrived at the falls of the Ohio, on his way to establish a government at Vincennes and Kaskaskia. From Clarkesville, he dispatched a messenger to Major Hamtramck, commander at Vincennes, with speeches to the various Indian tribes in this part of the Northwest, who had not fully agreed to the treaties. St. Clair and Sargent foUowed in a few days, along an Indian trail to Vincennes, where he organized the county of Knox, comprising all the ^^ 1^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 73 country along the Ohio, from the Miami to the Wabash, and made Vincennes the county seat. Then they proceeded across the lower part of Illi- nois to Kaskaskia, where he established the county of St. Clair (so named by Sargent), comprising all the country from the Wabash to the Mississippi. Thus the Northwest was divided into three coun- ties, and courts established therein. St. Clair called upon the Freach inhabitants at Vincennes and in the Illinois country, to show the titles to their lands, and also to defray the expense of a survey. To this latter demand they replied through their priest, Pierre Gibault, showing their poverty, and inability to comply. They were confirmed in their grants, and, as they had been good friends to the patriot cause, were relieved from the expense of the survey. While the Governor was managing these afiairs. Major Hamtramck was engaged in an effort to con- ciliate the Wabash Indians. For this purpose, he sent Antoine Gamelin, an intelligent French mer- chant, and a true friend of America, among them to carry messages sent by St. Clair and the Govern- ment, and to learn their sentiments and dispositions. Gamelin performed this important mission in the spring of 1790 with much sagacity, and, as the French were good fiends of the natives, he did much to conciliate these half-hostile tribes. He visited the towns of these tribes along the Wabash and as far north and east as the Miami village, Ke-ki-ong-ga — St. Mary's — at the junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Elvers (Fort Wayne). Gamelin's report, and the intelligence brought by some traders fi-om the Upper Wabash, were con- veyed to the Governor at Kaskaskia. The reports convinced him that the Indians of that part of the Northwest were preparing for a war on the settle- ments north of the Ohio, intending, if possible, to drive them south of it; that river being still considr ered by them as the true boundary. St. Clair left the administration of affairs in the Western counties to Sargent, and returned at once to Fort Washing- ton to provide for the defense of the frontier. The Indians had begun their predatory incur- sions into the country settled by the whites, and had committed some depredations. The Kentuck- ians were enlisted in an attack against the Scioto Indians. April 18, Gen. Harmar, with 100 regulars, and Gen. Scott, with 230 volunteers, marched from Limestone, by a circuitous route, to the Scioto, accomplishing but little. The savages had fled. CHAPTER VII. THE INDIAN WAR OF 1795 — HAEMAR'S CAMPAIGN— ST. CLAIR'S CAMPAIGN— WAYNE'S CAMPAIGN— CLOSE OF THE WAR. A GREAT deal of the hostility at this period was directly traceable to the British. They yet held Detroit and several posts on the lakes, in violation of the treaty of 1783. They alleged as a reason for not abandoning them, that the Ameri- cans had not fulfilled the conditions of the treaty regarding the collection of debts. Moreover, they did all they could to remain at the frontier and en- joy the emoluments derived from the fur trade. That they aided the Indians in the conflict at this time, is undeniable. Just how, it is difiicult to say. But it is well known the savages had all the ammunition and fire-arms they wanted, more than they could have obtained from American and French renegade traders. They were also well supplied with clothing, and were able to prolong the war some time. A great confederation was on the eve of formation. The leading spirits were Cornplanter, Brant, Little Turtle and other noted chiefs, and had not the British, as Brant said, " encouraged us to the war, and promised us aid, and then, when we were driven away by the Amer- icans, shut the doors of their fortresses against us and refused us food, when they saw us nearly con- quered, we would have effected our object." McKee, Elliott and Girty were also actively en- gaged in aiding the natives. All of them were in the interest of the British, a fact clearly proven by the Indians themselves, and by other traders. St. Clair and Gen. Harmar determined to send an expedition against the Maumee towns, and se- cure that part of the country. Letters were sent to the militia officers of Western Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky, calling on them for militia to co-operate with the regular troops in the cam- paign. According to the plan of the campaign, '>?". 74 HISTORY or OHIO. 300 militia were to rendezvous at Fort Steuben (Jeffersonville), march thence to Fort Knox, at Vincennes, and join Maj. Hamtramck in an expe- dition up the Wabash ; 700 were to rendezvous at Fort Washington to join the regular army against the Maumee towns. While St. Clair was forming his army and ar- ranging for the campaign, three expeditions were sent out against the Miami towns. One against the Miami villages, not far from the Wabash, was led by Gen. Harmar. He had in his army about fourteen hundred men, regulars and militia. These two parts of the army could not be made to affili- ate, and, as a consequence, the expedition did little beyond burning the villages and destroying corn. The militia would not submit to discipline, and would not serve under regular officers. It will be seen what this spirit led to when St. Clair went on his march soon after. The Indians, emboldened by the meager success of Harmar's - command, continued their depreda- dations against the Ohio settlements, destroying the community at Big Bottom. To hold them in check, and also punish them, an army under Charles Scott went against the Wabash Indians. Little was done here but destroy towns and the standing corn. In July, another army, under Col. Wilkin- son, was sent against the Eel River Indians. Be- coming entangled in extensive morasses on the river, the army became endangered, but was finally extricated, and accomplished no more than either the other armies before it. As it was, however, the three expeditions directed against the Miamis and Shawanees, served only to exasperate them. The burning of their towns, the destruction of their corn, and the captivity of their women and chil- dren, only aroused them to more desperate effiarts to defend their country and to harass their in- vaders. To accomplish this, the chiefs of the Miamis, Shawanees and the Delawares, Little Turtle, Blue Jacket and Buckongahelas, were en- gaged in forming a confederacy of all the tribes of the Northwest, strong enough to drive the whites beyond the Ohio. Pontiac had tried that before, even when he had open allies among the French. The Indians now had secret allies among the Brit- ish, yet, in the end, they did not succeed. While they were preparing for the contest, St. Clair was gathering his forces, intending to erect a chain of forts from the Ohio, by way of the Miami and Maumee valleys, to the lakes, and thereby effect- ually hold the savages in check. Washington warmly seconded this plan, and designated the junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Rivers as an important post. This had been a fortification almost from the time the English held the valley, and only needed little work to make it a formid- able fortress. Gen. Knox, the Secretary of War, also favored the plan, and gave instructions con- cerning it. Under these instructions, St. Clair organized his forces as rapidly as he could, although the numerous drawbacks almest, at times, threat- ened the defeat of the campaign. Through the summer the arms and accouterments of the army were put in readiness at Fort Washington. Many were found to be of the poorest quality, and to be badly out of repair. The militia came poorly armed, under the impression they were to be pro- vided with arms. While waiting in camp, habits of idleness engendered themselves, and drunken- ness followed. They continued their accustomed freedom, disdaining to drill, and refused to submit to the regular officers. A bitter spirit broke out between the regular troops and the militia, which none could heal. The insubordination of the mi- litia and their officers, caused them a defeat after- ward, which they in vain attempted to fasten on the busy General, and the regular troops. The army was not ready to move till September lY. It was then 2,300 strong. It then moved to a point upon the Great Miami, where they erected Fort Hamilton, the first in the proposed chain of fortresses. After its completion, they moved on forty-four miles farther, and, on the 12th of October, began the erection of Fort Jefferson, about six miles south of the present town of Green- ville, Darke County. On the 24th, the army again took up its line of march, through a wilderness, marshy and boggy, and full of savage foes. The army rapidly declined under the hot sun ; even the commander was suffering from an indisposition. The militia deserted, in companies at a time, leav- ing the bulk of the work to the regular troops. By the 3d of November, the army reached a stream twelve yards wide, which St. Clair sup- posed to be a branch of the St. Mary of the Mau- mee, but which in reality was a tributary of the Wabash. Upon the banks of that stream, the army, now about fourteen hundred strong, en- camped in two lines. A slight protection was thrown up as a safeguard against the Indians, who were known to be in the neighborhood. The Gen- eral intended to attack them next day, but, about half an hour before sunrise, just after the militia had been dismissed from parade, a sudden attack was made upon them. The militia were thrown ^%^ ■4^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 75 into con&sion, and disregarded the command of the officers. They had not been sufficiently drilled, and now was seen, too late and too plainly, the evil effects of their insubordination. Through the morning the battle waged furiously, the men falling by scores. About nine o'clock the retreat began, covered by Maj. Cook and his troops. The re- treat was a disgraceful, precipitate flight, though, after four miles had been passed, the enemy re- turned to the work of scalping the dead and wounded, and of pillaging the camp. Through the day and the night their dreadful work con- tinued, one squaw afterward declaring " her arm was weary scalping the white men." The army reached Port Jefferson a little after sunset, having thrown away much of its arms and baggage, though the act was entirely unnecessary. After remain- ing here a short time, it was decided by the officers to move on toward Fort Hamilton, and thence to Fort Washington. The defeat of St. Clair was the most terrible re- verse the Americans ever suffered from the Indi- ans. It was greater than even Braddock's defeat. His army consisted of 1,200 men and 86 officers, of whom 714 men and 63 officers were killed or wounded. St. Clair's army consisted of 1,400 men and 86 officers, of whom 890 men and 16 officers were killed or wounded. The comparative effects of the two engagements very inadequately represent the crushing effect of St. Clair's defeat. An unprotected frontier of more than a thousand miles in extent was now thrown open to a foe made merciless, and anxious to drive the whites from the north side of the Ohio. Now, settlors were scat- tered along all the streams, and in all the forests, ex- posed to the cruel enemy, who stealthily approached the homes of the pioneer, to murder him and his family. Loud calls arose from the people to defend and protect them. St. Clair was covered with abuse for his defeat, when he really was not alone to blame for it. The militia would not be controlled. Had Clarke been at their head, or Wayne, who succeeded St. Clair, the result migbt have been different. As it was, St. Clair resigned ; though ever after he en- joyed the confidence of Washington and Congress. Four days after the defeat of St. Clair, the army, in its straggling condition, reached Fort Washing- ton, and paused to rest. On the 9th, St. Clair wrote fully to the Secretary of War. On the 12th, Gen. Knox communicated the information to Con- gress, and on the 26th, he laid before the Presi- dent two reports, the second containing sugges- tions regarding future operations. His sugges- tions urged the establishment of a strong United States Army, as it was plain the States could not control the matter. He also urged a thorough drill of the soldiers. No more insubordination could be tolerated. Greneral Wayne was selected by Washington as the commander, and at once pro- ceeded to the task assigned to him. In June, 1792, he went to Pittsburgh to organize the army now gathering, which was to be the ultimate argu- ment with the Indian confederation. Through the summer he waa steadily at work. "Train and dis- cipline them for the work they are meant for," wrote Washington, "and do not spare powder and lead, so the men be made good marksmen." In December, the forces, now recruited and trained, gathered at a point twenty-two miles below Pitts- burgh, on the Ohio, called Legionville, the army itself being denominated the Legion of the United States, divided into four sub-legions, and provided with the proper officers. Meantime, Col. Wilkinson succeeded St. Clair as commander at Fort Wash- ington, and sent out a force to examine the field of defeat, and bury the dead. A shocking sight met their view, revealing the deeds of cruelty enacted upon their comrades by the savage enemy. While Wayne's army was drilling, peace meas- ures were pressed forward by the United States with equal perseverance. The Iroquois were in- duced to visit Philadelphia, and partially secured from the general confederacy. They were wary, however, and, expecting aid from the British, held aloof. Brant did not come, as was hoped, and it was plain there was intrigue somewhere. Five independent embassies were sent among the West- ern tribes, to endeavor to prevent a war, and win over the inimical tribes. But the victories they had won, and the favorable whispers of the British agents, closed the ears of the red men, and all propositions were rejected in some form or other. All the embassadors, save Putnam, suffered death. He alone was able to reach his goal — the Wabash Indians — and effect any treaty. On the 27th of December, in company with Heokewelder, the Mo- ravian missionary, he reached Vincennes, and met thirty-one chiefs, representing the Weas, Pianke- shaws, Kaskaskias, Peorias, Illinois, Pottawatomies, Masooutins, Kickapoos and Eel River Indians, and concluded a treaty of peace with them. The fourth article of this treaty, however, con- tained a provision guaranteeing to the Indians their lands, and when the treaty was laid before Congress, February 13, 1793, that body, after much discussion, refused on that account to ratify it. !, Vj, -^ 76 HISTORY OF OHIO. A great council of the Indians was to be teld at Auglaize during the autumn of 1792, when the assembled nations were to discuss fully their means of defense, and determine their future line of action. The council met in October, and was the largest Indian gathering of the time. The chiefs of all the tribes of the Northwest were there. The representatives of the seven nations of Canada, were in attendance. Cornplanter and forty-eight chiefs of the New York (Six Nations) Indians re- paired thither. " Besides these," said Cornplanter, "there were so many nations we cannot tell the names of them. There were three men from the Gora nation ; it took them a whole season to come ; and," continued he, "twenty-seven nations from beyond Canada were there." The question of peace or war was long and earnestly debated. Their future was solemnly discussed, and around the council fire native eloquence and native zeal shone in all their simple strength. One nation after another, through their chiefs, presented their views. The deputies of the Six Nations, who had been at Philadelphia to consult the "Thirteen Fires," made their report. The Western bound- ary was the principal question. The natives, with one accord, declared it must be the Ohio River. An address was prepared, and sent to the President, wherein their views were stated, and agreeing to abstain from all hostilities, until they could meet again in the spring at the rapids of the Maumee, and there consult with their white brothers. They desired the President to send agents, "who are men of honesty, not proud land-jobbers, but men who love and desire peace." The good work of Penn was evidenced here, as they desired that the embassadors " be accompanied by some Friend or Quaker." The armistice they had promised was not, how- ever, faithfully kept. On the 6th of November, a detachment of Kentucky cavalry at Fort St. Clair, about twenty-five miles above Fort Hamil- ton, was attacked. The commander, Maj. Adair, was an excellent officer, well versed in Indian tac- tics, and defeated the savages. This infraction of their promises did not deter the United States from taking measures to meet the Indians at the rapids of the Maumee " when the leaves were fully out." For that purpose, the President selected as commissioners, Charles Car- roll and Charles Thompson, but, as they decUned the nomination, he appointed Benjamin Lincoln, Beverly Randolph and Timothy Pickering, the 1st of March, 1793, to attend the convention, which, it was thought best, should be held at the San- dusky outpost. About the last of April, these commissioners left Philadelphia, and, late in May, reached Niagara, where they remained guests of Lieut. Gov. Simcoe, of the British Government. This officer gave them all the aid he could, yet it was soon made plain to them that he would not object to the confederation, nay, even rather fav- ored it. They speak of his kindness to them, in grateful terms.' Gov. Simcoe advised the Indians to make peace, but not to give up any of their lands. That was the pith of the whole matter. The British rather claimed land in New York, under the treaty of 1783, alleging the Americans had not fully complied with the terms of that treaty, hence they were not as anxious for peace and a peaceful settlement of the difficult boundary question as they sometimes represented. By July, "the leaves were ftilly out," the con- ferences among the tribes were over, and, on the 15th of that month, the commissioners met Brant and some fifty natives. In a strong speech, Brant set forth their wishes, and invited them to accom- pany him to the place of holding the council. The Indians were rather jealous of Wayne's continued preparations for war, hence, just before setting out for the Maumee, the commissioners sent a letter to the Secretary of War, asking that all warlike demonstrations cease until the result of their mis- sion be known. On 21st of July, the embassy reached the head of the Detroit River, where their advance was checked by the British authorities at Detroit, com- pelling them to take up their abode at the house of Andrew Elliott, the famous renegade, then a British agent under Alexander McKee. McKee was attending the council, and the commissioners addressed him a note, borne by Elliott, to inform him of their arrival, and asking when they could be received. Elliott returned on the 29th, bring- ing with him a deputation of twenty chiefs from the council. The next day, a conference was held, and the chief of the Wyandots, Sa-wagh-da-wunk, presented to the commissioners, in writing, their explicit demand in regard to the boundary, and their purposes and powers. " The Ohio must be the boundary," said he, " or blood will flow." The commissioners returned an answer to the proposition brought by the chiefs, recapitulating the treaties already made, and denying the Ohio as the boundary line. On the 16th of August, the council sent them, by two Wyandot runners, a final answer, in which they recapitulated their -.%' liL^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 77 former assertions, and exhibited great powers of reasoning and clear logic in defense of their po- sition. The commissioners reply that it is impos- ble to accept the Ohio as the boundary, and declare the negotiation at an end. This closed the efforts of the Government to ne- gotiate with the Indians, and there remained of necessity no other mode of settling the dispute but war. Liberal terms had been offered them, but nothing but the boundaiy of the Ohio River would suffice. It was the only condition upon which the confederation would lay down its arms. " Among the rude statesmen of the wilderness, there was exhibited as pure patriotism and as lofty devotion to the good of their race, as ever won ap- plause among civilized men. The white man had, ever since he came into the country, been encroach- ing on their lands. He had long occupied the regions beyond the mountains. He had crushed the conspiracy formed by Pontiac, thirty years be- fore. He had taken possession of the common hunting-ground of all the tribes, on the faith of treaties they did not acknowledge. He was now laying out settlements and building forts in the heart of the country to which all the tribes had been driven, and which now was all they could call their own. And now they asked that it should be guaranteed to them, that the boundary which they had so long asked for should be drawn, and a final end be made to the continual aggressions of the whites ; or, if not, they solemnly determined to stake their all, against fearful odds, in defense of their homes, their couijJ;ry and the inheritance of their children. Nothing Could be more patriotic than the position they occupied, and nothing could be more noble than the declarations of their council."* They did not know the strength of the whites, and based their success on the victories already gained. They hoped, nay, were promised, aid from the British, and even the Spanish had held out to them assurances of help when the hour of conflict came. The Americans were not disposed to yield even to the confederacy of the tribes backed by the two rival nations, forming, as Wayne characterized it, a " hydra of British, Spanish and Indian hostility." On the 16th of August, the commissioners re- ceived the final answer of the council. The 17th, they left the mouth of the Detroit River, and the 23d, arrived at Fort Erie, where they immediately * Annals of the West. dispatched messengers to Gen. Wayne to inform him of the issue of the negotiation. Wayne had spent the winter of 1792-98, at Legionville, in col- lecting and organizing his army. April 30, 1793, the army moved down the river and encamped at a point, called by the soldiers "Hobson's choice," because from the extreme height of the river they were prevented from landing elsewhere. Here Wayne was engaged, during the negotiations for peace, in drilling his soldiers, in cutting roads, and collecting supplies for the army. He was ready for an immediate campaign in case the council failed in its object. While here, he sent a letter to the Secretary of War, detailing the circumstances, and suggesting the probable course he should follow. He re- mained here during the summer, and, when apprised of the issue, say it was too late to attempt the campaign then. He sent the Kentucky militia home, and, with his regular soldiers, went into winter quarters at a fort he built on a tributary of the Great Miami. He called the fort Green- ville. The present town of Greenville is near the site of the fort. During the winter, he sent a de- tachment to visit the scene of St. Clair's defeat. They found more than six hundred skulls, and were obliged to "scrape the bones together and carry them out to get a place to make their beds." They buried all they could find. Wayne was steadily preparing his forces, so as to have every- thing ready for a sure blow when the time came. All his information showed the faith in the British which still animated the doomed red men, and gave them a hope that could end only in defeat. The conduct of the Indians fully corroborated the statements received by Gen. Wayne. On the 30th of June, an escort of ninety riflemen and fifty dragoons, under command of Maj . McMahon, was attacked under the walls of Fort Recovery by a force of more than one thousand Indians under charge of Little Turtle. They were repulsed and badly defeated, and, the next day, driven away. Their mode of action, their arms and ammunition, all told plainly of British aid. They also ex- pected to find the cannon lost by St. Clair Novem- ber 4, 1791, but which the Americans had secured. The 26th of July, Gen. Scott, with 1,600 mounted men from Kentucky, joined Gen. Wayne at Fort Greenville, and, two days after, the legion moved forward. The 8th of August, the army reached the junction of the Auglaize and Mau- mee, and at once proceeded to erect Fort Defiance, where the waters meet. The Indians had abandoned s "V 78 HISTOEY OF OHIO. their towns on the approach of the army, and were congregating further northward. While engaged on Port Defiance, Wayne received continual and full reports of the Indians — of their aid from Detroit and elsewhere ; of the nature of the ground, and the circumstances, favorable or unfavorable. From all he could learn, and considering the spirits of his army, now thoroughly disciplined, he determined to march forward and settle matters at once. Yet, true to his own instincts, and to the measures of peace so forcibly taught by Washington, he sent Christopher Miller, who had been naturalized among the Shawanees, and taken prisoner by Wayne's spies, as a messenger of peace, offering terms of friendship. Unwilling to waste time, the troops began to move forward the 15th of August, and the next day met Miller with the message that if the Amer- icans would wait ten days at Auglaize the Indians would decide for peace or war. Wayne knew too well the Indian character, and answered the mes- sage by simply marching on. The 18th, the legion had advanced forty-one miles from Auglaize, and, being near the long-looked-for foe, began to take some measures for protection, should they be at- tacked. A slight breastwork, called Port Deposit, was erected, wherein most of their heavy baggage was placed. They remained here, building their works, until the 20th, when, storing their baggage, the army began again its march. After advancing about five miles, they met a large force of the ene- my, two thousand strong, who fiercely attacked them. Wayne was, however, prepared, and in the short battle that ensued they were routed, and large numbers slain. The American loss was very slight. The horde of savages were put to flight, leaving the Americans victorious almost under the walls of the British garrison, under Maj. Campbell. This ofiicer sent a letter to Gen. Wayne, asking an explanation of his conduct in fighting so near, and in such evident hostility to the British. Wayne replied, telKng him he was in a country that did not belong to him, and one he was not authorized to hold, and also charginn- him with aiding the Indians. A spirited corre° spondence followed, which ended in the American commander marching on, and devastating the In- dian country, even burning McKee's house and stores under the muzzles of the English guns. The Mth of September, the army marched from Port Defiance for the Miami village at the junc- tion of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph Elvers. It reached there on the 17th, and the next day Gen. Wayne selected a site for a fort. The 22d of Oc- tober, the fort was completed, and garrisoned by a detachment under Maj. Hamtramck, who gave to it the name of Port Wayne. The 14th of October, the mounted Kentucky volunteers, who had be- come dissatisfied and mutinous, were started to Fort Washington, where they were immediately mustered out of service and discharged. The 28th of October, the legion marched from Port Wayne to Fort Greenville, where Gen. Wayne at once established his headquarters. The campaign had been decisive and short, and had taught the Indians a severe lesson. The Brifr ish, too, had failed them in their hour of need, and now they began to see they had a foe to contend whose resources were exhaustless. Under these circumstances, losing faith in the English, and at last impressed with a respect for American power, after the defeat experienced at the hands of the "Black Snake," the various tribes made up their minds, by degrees, to ask for peace. During the winter and spring, they exchanged prisoners, and made ready to meet Gen. Wayne at Greenville, in June, for the purpose of forming a definite treaty, as it had been agreed should be done by the pre- liminaries of January 24. During the month of June, 1795, representa- tives of the Northwestern tribes began to gather at Greenville, and, the 16th of the month. Gen. Wayne met in council the Delawares, Ottawas, Pottawato- mies and Eel Biver Indians, and the conferences, which lasted till August, 10, began. The 21st of June, Buckongahelas arrived ; the 23d, Little Turtle and other Miamis ; the 13th of July, Tarhe and other Wyandot chiefs ; and the 18th, Blue Jacket, and thirteen Shawanees and Massas with twenty Chippewas. Most of these, as it appeared by their statements, had been tampered with by the English' especially by McKee, Girty and Brant, even after the pre- liminaries of January 24, and while Mr. Jay was perfecting his treaty. They had, however, all de- termined to make peace with the "Thirteen Fires," and although some difficulty as to the ownership of the lands to be ceded, at one time seemed likely to arise, the good sense of Wayne and the leading chiefs prevented it, and, the 30th of July, the treaty was agreed to which should bury the hatchet for- ever. Between that day and the 3d of August, it was engrossed, and, having been signed by the various nations upon the day last named, it was finally acted upon the 7th, and the presents from -X 'A HISTOEY OF OHIO. 79 tlie United States distributed. The basis of tbis treaty was the previous one made at Fort Harmar. The boundaries made at that time were re-aflBirmed ; the whites were secured on the lands now occu- pied by them or secured by former treaties ; and among all the assembled nations, presents, in value not less than one thousand pounds, were distributed to each through its representatives, many thousands in all. The Indians were allowed to remove and punish intruders on their lands, and were permitted to hunt on the ceded lands. " This great and abiding peace document was signed by the various tribes, and dated August 3, 1795. It was laid before the Senate December 9, and ratified the 22d. So closed the old Indian wars in the West." * * Annals of the West." CHAPTER VIII. JAY'S TREATY— THE QUESTION OF STATE RIGHTS AND NATIONAL SUPREMACY— EXTENSION OF OHIO SETTLEMENTS— LAND CLAIMS— SPANISH BOUNDARY QUESTION. WHILE these six years of Indian wars were in progress, Kentucky was admitted as a State, and Pinckney's treaty with Spain was com- pleted. This last occurrence was of vital impor- tance to the West, as it secured the free navigation of the Mississippi, charging only a fair price for the storage of goods at Spanish ports. This, though not all that the Americans wished, was a great gain in their favor, and did much to stop those agitations regarding a separation on the part of Kentucky. It also quieted affairs further south than Kentucky, in the Georgia and South Carolina Territory, and put an end to French and Spanish intrigue for the Western Territory. The treaty was signed November 24, 1794. Another treaty was concluded by Mr. John Jay between the two governments. Lord Greenville representing the English, and Mr. Jay, the Ameri- cans. The negotiations lasted from April to November 19, 1795, when, on that day, the treaty was signed and duly recognized. It decided effectually all the questions at issue, and was the signal for the removal of the British troops from the Northwestern outposts. This was effected as soon as the proper transfers could be made. The second article of the treaty provided that, "His Majesty will withdraw all his troops and garrisons from all posts and places within the boundary lines assigned by the treaty of peace to the United States. This evacuation shall take place on or before the 1st day of June, 1796, and all the proper measures shall be taken, in the interval, by concert, between the Government of the United States and His Majesty's Governor General in America, for settling the previous arrangements which may be necessary respecting the delivery of the said posts ; the United States, in the mean time, at their discretion, extending their settle- ments to any part within the said boundary line, except within the precincts or jurisdiction of any of the said posts. "All settlers and all traders within the precincts or jurisdiction of the said posts shall continue to enjoy, unmolested, all their property of every kind, and shall be protected therein. They shall be at full liberty to remain there or to remove with all, or any part, of their effects, or retain the property thereof at their discretion ; such of them as shall continue to reside within the said boundary lines, shall not be compelled to become citizens of the United States, or take any oath of allegiance to the Government thereof; but they shall be at full liberty so to do, if they think proper ; they shall make or declare their election one year after the evacuation aforesaid. And all persons who shall continue therein after the expiration of the said year, without having declared their intention of remaining subjects to His Britannic Majesty, shall be considered as having elected to become citizens of the United States." The Indian war had settled all fears from that source ; the treaty with Great Britain had estab- lished the boundaries between the two countries and secured peace, and the treaty with Spain had secured the privilege of navigating the Mississippi, by paying only a nominal sum. It had also bound the people of the West together, and ended the old separation question. There was no danger from that now. Another difficulty arose, however, relating to the home rule, and the organization of } fy ■^ 80 HISTORY OF OHIO. the home government. There were two parties in the country, known as Federalist and Anti-Federal- ist. One favored a central government, whose au- thority should he supreme ; the other, only a compact, leaving the States supreme. The worth- lessness of the old colonial system became, daily, more apparent. While it existed no one felt safe. There was no prospect of paying the debt, and, hence, no credit. When Mr. Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, offered his financial plan to the country, favoring centralization, it met, in many places, violent opposition. Washington was strong enough to carry it out, and gave evidence that he would do so. When, therefore, the excise law passed, and taxes on whisky were collected, an open revolt occurred in Pennsylvania, known as the " Whisky Insurrection." It was put down, finally, by military power, and the malcontents made to know that the United States was a gov- ernment, not a compact liable to rupture at any time, and by any of its members. It taught the entire nation a lesson. Centralization meant pres- ervation. Should a " compact " form of government prevail, then anarchy and ruin, and ultimate sub- jection to some foreign power, met their view. That they had just fought to dispel, and must it all go for naught ? The people saw the rulers were right, and gradually, over the West, spread a spirit antagonistic to State supremacy. It did not revive till Jackson's time, when he, with an iron hand and iron will, crushed out the evil doctrine of State supremacy. It revived again in the late war, again to be crushed. It is to be hoped that ever thus will be its fate. " The Union is insepa- rable," said the Government, and the people echoed the words. During the war, and while all these events had been transpiring, settlements had been taking place upon the Ohio, which, in their influence upon the Northwest, and especially upon the State, as soon as it was created, were deeply felt. The Virginia and the Connecticut Keserves were at this time peopled, and, also, that part of the Miami Valley about Dayton, which city dates its origin from that period. As early as 1787, the reserved lands of the Old Dominion north of the Ohio were examined, and, in August of that year, entries were made. As no good title could be obtained from Congress at this time, the settlement practically ceased until 1790, when the prohibition to enter them was withdrawn. As soon as that was done, surveying began again. Nathaniel Massie was among the foremost men in the survey of this tract, and lo- cating the lands, laid oflf a town about twelve miles above Maysville. The place was called Manchester, and yet exists. From this point, Massie continued through all the Indian war, despite the danger, to survey the surrounding country, and prepare it for settlers. Connecticut had, as has been stated, ceded her lands, save a tract extending one hundred and twenty miles Feyond the western boundary of Pennsylvania. Of this Connecticut Reserve, so far as the Indian title was extinguished, a survey was ordered in October, 1786, and an office opened for its disposal. Part was soon sold, and, in 1792, half a million of acres were given to those citizens of Connecticut who had lost property by the acts of the British troops during the Revolutionary war at New London, New Haven and elsewhere. These lands thereby became known as " Fire lands " and the "Sufi"erer's lands," and were located in the western part of the Reserve. In May, 1795, the Connecticut Legislature authorized a committee to dispose of the remainder of the Reserve. Before autumn the committee sold it to a company known as the Connecticut Land Company for $1,200,000, and about the 5th of September quit^claimed the land to the Company. The same day the Company received it, it sold 3,000,000 acres to John Mor- gan, John Caldwell and Jonathan Brace, in trust. Upon these quit-claim titles of the land all deeds in the Reserve are based. Surveys were com- menced in 1796, and, by the close of the next year, all the land east of the Cuyahoga was divided into townships five miles square. The agent of the Connecticut Land Company was Gen. Moses Cleve- land, and in his honor the leading city of the Re- serve was named. That township and five others were reserved for private sale; the balance were disposed of by lottery, the first drawing occurring in February, 1798. Dayton resulted from the treaty made by Wayne. It came out of the boundary ascribed to Symmes, and for a while all such lands were not recognized as sold by Congress, owing to the failure of Symmes and his associates in paying for them. Thereby there existed, for a time, considerable un- easiness regai-ding the title to these lands. In 1799, Congress was induced to issue patents to the actual settlers, and thus secure them in their pre- emption. Seventeen days after Wayne's treaty, St. Clairs Wilkinson, Jonathan Dayton and Israel Ludlow contracted with Symmes for the seventh and eighth ;^ 'A HISTORY OF OHIO. 83 ranges, between Mad River and the Little Miami. Three settlements were to be made: one at the mouth of Mad River, one on the Little Miami, in the seventh range, and another on Mad River. On the 21st of September, 1795, Daniel C. Cooper started to survey and mark out a road in the pur- chase, and John Dunlap to run its boundaries, which was completed before October 4. On No- vember 4, Mr. Ludlow laid off the town of Day- ton, which, like land in the Connecticut Reserve, was sold by lottery. A gigantic scheme to purchase eighteen or twenty million acres in Michigan, and then pro- cure a good title from the G-overnment — who alone had such a right to procure land — by giving mem- bers of Congress an interest in the investment, appeared shortly after Wayne's treaty. When some of the members were approached, however, the real spirit of the scheme appeared, and, instead of gaining ground, led to the exposure, resulting io the reprimanding severely of Robert Randall, the principal mover in the whole plan, and in its speedy disappearance. Another enterprise, equally gigantic, also ap- peared. It was, however, legitimate, and hence successful. On the 20th of February, 1795, the North American Land Company was formed in Philadelphia, under the management of such pat- riots as Robert Morris, John Nicholson and James Greenleaf. This Company purchased large tracts in the West, which it disposed of to actual settlers, and thereby aided greatly in populating that part of the country. Before the close of 1795, the Governor of the Territory, and his Judges, published sixty-four statutes. Thirty-four of these were adopted at Cincinnati during June, July and August of that year. They were known as the Maxwell code, from the name of the publisher, but jwere passed by Governor St. Clair and Judges Symmes and Turner. Among them was that which provided that the common law of England, and all its stat- utes, made previous to the fourth year of James the First, should be in full force within the Terri- tory. " Of the system as a whole," says IMr. Case, " with its many imperfections, it may be doubted that any colony, at so early a period after its first establishment, ever had one so good and applicable to all." The Union had now safely passed through its most critical period after the close of the war of independence. The danger from an irruption of its own members ; of a war or alliance of its West- ern portion with France and Spain, and many other perplexing questions, were now effectually settled, and the population of the Territory began rapidly to increase. Before the close of the year 1796, the Northwest contained over five thousand inhabitants, the requisite number to entitle it to one representative in the national Congress. Western Pennsylvania also, despite the various conflicting claims regarding the land titles in that part of the State, began rapidly to fill with emigrants. The "Triangle" and the " Struck District " were surveyed and put upon the market under the act of 1792. Treaties and purchases from the various Indian tribes, obtained control of the remainder of the lands in that part of the State, and, by 1796, the State owned all the land within its boundaries. Towns were laid off, land put upon the market, so that by the year 1800, the western part of the Keystone State was divided into eight counties, viz., Beaver, Butler, fiercer, Crawford,- Erie, Warren, Venango and Armstrong. The ordinance relative to the survey and dis- posal of lands in the Northwest Territory has already been given. It was adhered to, save in minor cases, where necessity required a slight change. The reservations were recognized by Congress, and the titles to them all confirmed to the grantees. Thus, Clarke and his men, the Connecticut Reserve, the Refugee lands, the French inhabitants, and all others holding patents to land from colonial or foreign governments, were all confirmed in their rights and protected in their titles. Before the close of 1796, the upper North- western posts were all vacated by the British, under the terms of Mr. Jay's treaty. Wayne at once transferred his headquarters to Detroit, where a county was named for him, including the north- western part of Ohio, the northeast of Indiana, and the whole of Michigan. The occupation of the Territory by the Ameri- cans gave additional impulse to emigration, and a better feeling of security to emigrants, who fol- lowed closely upon the path of the army. Na- thaniel Masfie, who has already been noticed as the founder of Manchester, laid out the town of Chillicothe, on the Scioto, in 1706. Before the close of the year, it contained several stores, shops, a tavern, and was well populated. With the increase of settlement and the security guar- anteed by the treaty of Greenville, the arts of civilized life began to appear, and their influence upon pioneers, especially those born on the frontier, ■^ 84 HISTOKT or OHIO. began to manifest itself. Better dwellings, schools, cliurches, dress and manners prevailed. Life began to assume a reality, and lost mucb of that recklessness engendered by the habits of a frontier life. Cleveland, Cincinnati, the Miami, the Mus- kingum and the Scioto Valleys were filling with people. Cincinnati had more than one hundred log cabins, twelve or fifteen frame houses and a population of more than six hundred persons. In 1796, the first house of worship for the Presby- terians in that city was built. Before the close of the same year, Manchester contained over thirty families ; emigrants from Virginia were going up all the valleys from the Ohio; and Ebenezer Zane had opened a bridle- path from the Ohio River, at Wheeling, across the country, by ChUlicothe, to Limestone, Ky. The next year, the United States mail, for the first time, traversed this route to the West. Zane was given a section of land for his path. The popu- lation of the Territory, estimated at from five to eight thousand, was chiefly distributed in lower valleys, bordering on the Ohio River. The French still occupied the Illinois country, and were the principal inhabitants about Detroit. South of the Ohio River, Kentucky was pro- gressing favorably, while the " Southwestern Ter- ritory," ceded to the United States by North Carolina in 1790, had so rapidly populated that, in 1793, a Territorial form of government was allowed. The ordinance of 1787, save the clause prohibiting slavery, was adopted, and the Territory named Tennessee. On June 6, 1796, the Teni- tory contained more than seventy-five thousand inhabitants, and was admitted into the Union as a State. Four years after, the census showed a population of 105,602 souls, including 13,584 slaves and persons of color. The same year Tennessee became a State, Samuel Jackson and Jonathan Sharpless erected the Redstone Paper MUl, four miles east of Brownsville, it being the first manufactory of the kind west of the AUe- ghanies. In the month of December, 1796, Gen. Wayne, who had done so much for the development of the West, while on his way from Detroit to Philadel- phia, was attacked with sickness and died in a cabin near Brie, in the north part of Pennsylvania. He was nearly fifty-one years old, and was one of the bravest ofiicers in the Revolutionary war, and one of America's truest patriots. In 1809, his remains were removed from Erie, by his sou, Col. Isaac Wayne, to the Radnor churchyard, near the place of his birth, and an elegant monument erected on his tomb by the Pennsylvania Cincinnati So- ciety. After the death of Wayne, Gen. Wilkinson was appointed to the command of the Western army. While he was in command, Carondelet, the Spanish governor of West Florida and Louisiana, made one more eiFort to separate the Union, and set up either an independent government in the West, or, what was more in accord with his wishes, effect a union with the Spanish nation. In June, 1797, he sent Power again into the Northwest and into Kentucky to sound the existing feeling. Now, however, they were not easily won over. The home government was a certainty, the breaches had been healed, and Power was compelled to abandon the mission , not, however, until he had received a severe reprimand from many who saw through his plan, and openly exposed it. His mission closed the efforts of the Spanish authorities to attempt the dismemberment of the Union, and showed them the coming downfall of their power in Amer- ica. They were obliged to surrender the posts claimed by the United States under the treaty of 1795, and not many years after, sold their Amer- ican possessions to the United States, rather than see a rival European power attain control over them. On the 7th of April, 1798, Congress passed an act, appointing Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of the Northwest Territory, Governor of the Territory of the Mississippi, formed the same day. In 1801, the boundary between America and the Spanish pos- sessions was definitely fixed. The Spanish retired fi'om the disputed territory, and henceforward their attempts to dissolve the American Union ceased. The seat of the Mississippi Territory was fixed at Loftus Heights, six miles north of the thirty-first degree of latitude. The appointment of Sargent to the charge of the Southwest Territory, led to the choice of William Henry Harrison, who had been aid-de-camp to Gen. Wayne in 1794, and whose character stood very high among the people of the West, to the Secretaryship of the Northwest, which place he held until appointed to represent that Territory in Con- ^r @ 4-_ .^ s HISTOKY OF OHIO. 85 CHAPTER IX. FIEST TERRITORIAL REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS— DIVISION OF THE TERRITORY— FORMA- TION OF STATES— MARIETTA SETTLEM ENT— OTHER SETTLEMENTS— SETTLEMENTS IN THE WESTERN RESERVE — SETTLEMENT OF THE CENTRAL VALLEYS- FURTHER bETTLEMENTS IN THE RESERVE AND ELSEWHERE. THE ordinance of 178Y provided that as soon as there were 5,000 persons in the Territory, it was entitled to a representative assembly. On October 29, 1798, Governor St. Clair gave notice by proclamation, that the required population ex- isted, and directed that an election be held on the third Monday in December, to choose representa- tives. These representatives were required, when assembled, to nominate ten persons, whose names were sent to the President of the United States, who selected five, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointed them for the legislative council. In this mode the Northwest passed into the second grade of a Territorial government. The representatives, elected under the proclama- tion of St. Clair, met in Cincinnati, January 22, 1799, and under the provisions of the ordinance of 1787, nominated ten persons, whose names were sent to the President. On the 2d of March, he selected from the list of candidates, the names of Jacob Burnet, James Findlay, Henry Vander- burgh, Robert Oliver and David Vance. The next day the Senate confirmed their nomination, and the first legislative council of the Northwest Territory was a reality. The Territorial Legislature met again at Cincin- nati, September 16, but, for want of a quorum, was not organized until the 24th of that month. The House of Representatives consisted of nine- teen members, of whom seven were from Hamilton County, four from Ross — erected by St. Clair in 1798; three from "Wayne — erected in 1796; two from Adams — erected in 1797; one from Jeffer- son — erected in 1797 ; one from Washington — erected in 1788; and one from Knox — Indiana Territory. None seem to have been present from St. Clair County (Illinois Territory). After the organization of the Legislature, Gov- ernor St. Clair addressed the two houses in the Rep- resentatives' Chamber, recommending such meas- ures as, in his judgment, were suited to the con- dition of the country and would advance the safety and prosperity of the people. The LegisLiture continued in session till the 19th of December, when, having finished their business, they were prorogued by the Governor, by their own request, till the first Monday in November, 1800. This being the first session, there was, of necessity, a great deal of business to do. The transition from a colonial to a semi-independent form of government, called for a general revision as well as a considerable enlargement of the stat- ute-book. Some of the adopted laws were re- pealed, many others altered and amended, and a long list of new ones added to the code. New ofBces were to be created and filled, the duties at- tached to them prescribed, and a plan of ways and means devised to meet the increased expenditures, occasioned by the change which had now occurred. As Mr. Burnet was the principal lawyer in the Council, much of the revision, and putting the laws into proper legal form, devolved upon him. He seems to have been well fitted for the place, and to have performed the laborious task in an excel- lent manner. The whole number of acts passed and approved by the Governor, was thirty-seven. The most im- portant related to the militia, the administration of justice, and to taxation. During the session, a bill authorizing a lottery was passed by the council, but rejected by the Legislature, thus interdicting this demoralizing feature of the disposal of lands or for other purposes. The example has always been followed by subsequent legislatures, thus honorably characterizing the Assembly of Ohio, in this re- spect, an example Kentucky and several other States might well emulate. Before the Assembly adjourned, they issued a congratulatory address to the people, enjoining them to "Inculcate the principles of humanity, benevolence, honesty and punctuality in dealing, sincerity and charity, and all the social affections." At the same time, they issued an address to the President, expressing entire confidence in the wis- dom and purity of his government, and their warm attachment to the American Constitution. ~^\ V 86 HISTOKY OF OHIO. The vote on this address proved, however, that the differences of opinion agitating the Eastern States had penetrated the West. Eleven Representatives voted for it, and five against it. One of the important duties that devolved on this Legislature, was the election of a delegate to Congress. As soon as the Governor's proclama- tion made its appearance, the election of a person to fill that position excited general attention. Be- fore the meeting of the Legislature public opinion had settled down on William Henry Harrison, and Arthur St. Clair, Jr., who eventually were the only candidates. On the 3d of October, the two houses met and proceeded to a choice. Eleven votes were cast for Harrison, and ten for St. Clair. The Leg- islature prescribed the form of a certificate of the election, which was given to Harrison, who at once resigned his office as Secretary of the Territory, proceeded to Philadelphia, and took his seat. Con- gress being then in session. " Though he represented the Territory but one year, " says Judge Burnett, in his notes, " he ob- tained some important advantages for his constitu- ents. He introduced a resolution to sub-divide the surveys of the pubUc lands, and to offer them for sale in smaller tracts ; he succeeded in getting that measure through both houses, in opposition to the interest of speculators, who were, and who wished to be, the retailers of the land to the poorer classes of the community. His proposition be- came a law, and was hailed as the most beneficent act that Congress had ever done for the Territory. It put in the power of every industrious man, how- ever poor, to become a freeholder, and to lay a foundation for the future support and comfort of his family. At the same session, he obtained a liberal extension of time for the pre-emptioners in the northern part of the Miami purchase, which enabled them to secure their farms, and eventually to become independent, and even wealthy." The first session, as has been noticed, closed December 19. Gov. St. Clair took occasion to enumerate in his speech at the close of the session, eleven acts, to which he saw fit to apply his veto. These he had not, however, returned to the Assem- bly, and thereby saved a long struggle between the executive and legislative branches of the Ten-itory. Of the eleven acts enumerated, six related to the formation of new counties. These were mainly disproved by St Clair, as he always sturdily main- tained that the power to erect new counties was vested alone in the Executive. This free exercise of the veto power, especially in relation to new counties, and his controversy with the Legislature, tended only to strengthen the popular discontent regarding the Governor, who was never fully able to regain the standing he held before his in- glorious defeat in his campaign against the Indians. While this was being agitated, another question , came into prominence. Ultimately, it settled the powers of the two branches of the government, and caused the removal of St. Clair, then very distasteful to the people. The opening of the present century brought it fully before the people, who began to agitate it in all their assemblies. The great extent of the Territory made the operations of government extremely uncertain, and the power of the courts practically worthless. Its division was, therefore, deemed best, and a committee was appointed by Congress to inquire into the matter. This committee, the 3d of March, 1800, reported upon the subject that, "In the three western counties, there has been but one court having cognizance of crimes in five years. The immunity which offenders experience, attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and aban- doned criminals, and, at the same time, deters useful and virtuous citizens from making settle- ments in such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assistance is experienced in civil as well as criminal cases. The supplying to vacant places such necessary officers as may be wanted, such as clerks, recorders and others of like kind, is, from the impossibility of correct notice and information, utterly, neglected. This Territory is exposed as a frontier to foreign nations, whose agents can find sufficient interest in exciting or fomenting insurrection and discontent, as thereby they can more easily divert a valuable trade in furs from the United States, and also have a part thereof on which they border, which feels so little the cherishing hand of their proper gov- ernment, or so little dreads its energy, as to render their attachment perfectly uncertain and am- biguous. " The committee would further suggest, that the law of the 3d of March, 1791, granting land to certain persons in the western part of said Ter- ritory, and directing the laying-out of the same, remains unexecuted; that gi'eat discontent, in consequence of such neglect, is excited in those who are interested in the provisions of said laws, which require the immediate attention of this Legislature. To minister a remedy to these evils, it occurs to this committee, that it is expedient \ ^i ■^ HISTORY OP OHIO. 87 that a division of said Territory into two distinct and separate governments should be made ; and that such division be made by a line beginning at the mouth of the great Miami River, running directly north until it intersects the boundary between the United States and Canada." * The recommendations of the committee were favorably received by CongTess, and, the 7 th of May, an act was passed dividing the Ter- ritory. The main provisions of the act are as follows: " That, from and after the 4th of July next, all that part of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward of a line beginning at the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north until it intersects the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of tem- porary government, constitute a separate Territory, and be called the Indiana Territory. "There shall be established within the said Ter- ritory a government, in all respects similar to that provided by the ordinance of Congress passed July 13, 1797." t The act fiirther provided for representatives, and for the establishment of an assembly, on the same plan as that in force in the Northwest, stipulating that until the number of inhabitants reached five thousand, the whole number of representatives to the General Assembly should not be less than seven, nor more than nine ; apportioned by the Governor among the several counties in the new Terri- tory. The act further provided that " nothing in the act should be so construed, so as in any manner to aiFect the government now in force in the terri- tory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River, further than to prohibit the exercise thereof within the Indiana Territory, from and after the aforesaid 4th of July next. " Whenever that part of the territory of the United States, which lies to the eastward of a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, and running thence due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall be erected into an independent State, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the orig- inal States ; thenceforth said line shall become and remain permanently, the boundary line between such State and the Indiana Territory." ♦Ampriran State Papers, f Land Laws. It was further enacted, " that, until it shall be otherwise enacted by the legislatures of the said territories, respectively, Chillicothe, on the Scioto River, shall be the seat of government of the ter- ritory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River; and that St. Vincent's, on the Wabash River, shall be the seat of government for the Indiana Territory." * St. Clair was continued as Governor of the old Territory, and William Henry Harrison appointed Governor of the new. Connecticut, in ceding her territory in the West to the General Government, reserved a portion, known as the Connecticut Reserve. When she afterward disposed of her claim in the manner narrated, the citizens found themselves without any government on which to lean for support. At that time, settlements had begun in thirty-five of the townships into which the Reserve had been divided ; one thousand persons had estabUshed homes there ; mills had been built, and over seven hundred miles of roads opened. In 1800, the settlers petitioned for acceptance into the Union, as a part of the Northwest ; and, the mother State releasing her j udi- ciary claims. Congress accepted the trust, and granted the request. In December, of that year, the population had so increased that the county of Trumbull was erected, including the Reserve. Soon after, a large number of settlers came from Pennsylvania, from which State they had been driven by the dispute concerning land titles in its western part. Unwilling to cultivate land to which they could only get a doubtful deed, they abandoned it, and came where the titles were sure. Congress having made Chillicothe the capital of the Northwest Territory, as it now existed, on the 3d of November the General Assembly met at that place. Gov. St. Clair had been made to feel the odium cast upon his previous acts, and, at the open- ing of this session, expressed, in strong terms, his disapprobation of the censure cast upon him. He had endeavored to do his duty in all cases, he said, and yet held the confidence of the President and Congress. He still held the office, notwithstanding the strong dislike against him. At the second session of the Assembly, at Chil- licothe, held in the autumn of 1801, so much out- spoken enmity was expressed, and so much abuse heaped upon the Governor and the Assembly, that a law was passed, removing the capital to Cincinnati * Land Laws. HISTOKY OF OHIO. again. It was not destined, however, that the Territorial Assembly should meet again anywhere. The unpopularity of the Governor caused many to long for a State government, where they could choose their own rulers. The unpopularity of St. Clair arose partly from the feeling connected with his defeat ; in part from his being connected with the Federal party, fast falling into disrepute; and, in part, from his assuming powers which most thought he had no right to exercise, especially the power of subdividing the counties of the Terri- tory. The opposition, though powerful out of the Assembly, was in the minority there. During the month of December, 1801, it was forced to protest against a measure brought forward in the Council, for changing the ordinance of 1787 in such a man- ner as to make the Scioto, and a line drawn from the intersection of that river and the Indian boundary to the western extremity of the Reserve, the limits of the most eastern State, to be formed from the Territory. Had this change been made, the formation of a State government beyond the Ohio would have been long delayed. Against it. Representatives Worthington,Langham, Darlington, Massie, Dunlavy and Morrow, recorded their pro- test. Not content with this, they sent Thomas Worthington, who obtained a leave of absence, to the seat of government, on behalf of the objectors, there to protest, before Congress, against the pro- posed boundary. While Worthington was on his way, Massie presented, the 4th of January, 1802, a resolution for choosing a committee to address Congress in respect to the proposed State govern- ment. This, the next day, the House refused to do, by a vote of twelve to five. An attempt was next made to procure a census of the Ter- ritory, and an act for that purpose passed the House, but the Council postponed the considera- tion of it until the next session, which would com- mence at Cincinnati, the fourth Monday of No- vember. Meanwhile, Worthington pursued the ends of his mission, using his influence to effect that organ- ization, "which, terminating the influence of tyr- anny," was to "meliorate the circumstances of thou- sands, by freeing them from the domination of a despotic chief" His eiforts were successful, and, the 4th of March, a report was made to the House in favor of authorizing a State convention. This report was based on the assumption that there were now over sixty thousand inhabitants in the proposed boundaries, estimating that emigration had increased the census of 1800, which gave the Ter- ritory forty-five thousand inhabitants, to that num- ber. The convention was to ascertain whether it were expedient to form such a government, and to prepare a constitution if such organization were deemed best. In the formation of the State, a change in the boundaries was proposed, by which all the territory north of a line drawn due east from the head of Lake Michigan to Lake Erie was to be excluded from the new government about to be called into existence. The committee appointed by Congress to report upon the feasibility of forming the State, suggested that Congress reserve out of every township sections numbered 8, 11, 26 and 29, for their own use, and that Section 16 be reserved for the maintenance of schools. The committee also suggested, that, "religion, education and morality being necessary to the good government and happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged." Various other recomrnendations were given by the committee, in accordance with which. Congress, April 30, passed the resolution authorizing the calling of a convention. As this accorded with the feelings of the majority of the inhabitants of the Northwest, no opposition was experienced ; even the Legislature giving way to this embryo gov- ernment, and failing to assemble according to ad- journment. The convention met the 1st of November. Its members were generally Jeffersonian in their na- tional politics, and had been opposed to the change of boundaries proposed the year before. Before proceeding to business. Gov. St. Clair proposed to address them in his oflGicial character. This propo- sition was resisted by several of the members ; but, after a motion, it was agreed to allow him to speak to them as a citizen. St. Clair did so, advising the postponement of a State government until the people of the original eastern division were plainly entitled to demand it, and were not subject to be bound by conditions. This advice, given as it was, caused JeiFerson instantly to remove St. Clair, at which time his ofiice ceased.* "When the vote was taken," says Judge Burnet, "upon doing what * After thin, St. Clair returned to his old home in the Ligonier Vallpy, Pennsylvania, where he lived vv'ith hia children in almost abject poverty. He had lost money in his public life, as he gave closeattentiou to public affairs, to the detriment of hia own buainesB. He presented a claim to Congress, afterward, for auppliea furniphed to the army, but the claim was outlawed. After trying in rain to get the claim allowed, he returned to his home. Pennsylvania, learning of hia distress, granted him an annuity of $350, afterward raised to 8600. He lived to enjoy this but a abort time, his death occurring August 31, 1818. He was eighty-four years of age. ;^ ■^ HISTOEY OF OHIO. he advised them not to do, but one of thirty-three (Ephraim Cutler, of Washington County) voted with the Grovernor." On one point only were the proposed boundaries of the new State altered. " To every person who has attended to this sub- ject, and who has consulted the maps of the West- ern country extant at the time the ordinance of 1787 was passed. Lake Michigan was believed to be, and was represented by all the maps of that day as being, very far north of the position which it has since been ascertained to occupy. I have seen the map in the Department of State which was before the committee of Congress who framed and reported the ordinance for the government of the Territory. On that map, the southern bound- ary of Michigan was represented as being above the forty-second degree of north latitude. And there was a pencil line, said to have been made by the committee, passing through the southern bend of the lake to the Canada line, which struck the strait not far below the town of Detroit. The line was manifestly intended by the committee and by Congress to be the northern boundary of our State; and, on the principles by which courts of chancery construe contracts, accompanied by plats, it would seem that the map, and the line referred to, should be conclusive evidence of our boundary, without reference to the real position of the lakes. "When the convention sat, in 1802, the under- derstanding was, that the old maps were nearly correct, and that the line, as defined in the ordi- nance, would terminate at some point on the strait above the Maumee Bay. While the convention was in session, a man who had hunted many years on Lake Michigan, and was well acquainted with its position, happened to be in Chillicothe, and, in conversation with one of the members, told him that the lake extended much farther south than was generally supposed, and that a map of the country which he had seen, placed its southern bend many miles north of its true position. This information excited some uneasiness, and induced the convention to modify the clause describing the north boundary of the new Sta.te, so as to guard against its being depressed below the most north- ern cape of the Maumee Bay."* With this change and some extension of the school and road donations, the convention agreed to the proposal of Congress, and, November 29, * Historical Transactions of Ohio,— Jddoe Burnett. their agreement was ratified and signed, as was also the constitution of the State of Ohio — so named from its river, called by the Shawanees Ohio, meaning beautiful — forming its southern bound- ary. Of this nothing need be said, save that it bore the marks of true democratic feeling — of full faith in the people. By them, however, it was never voted for. It stood firm until 1852, when it was superseded by the present one, made neces- sary by the advance of time. The General Assembly was required to meet at Chillicothe, the first Tuesday of March, 1803. This change left the territory northwest of the Ohio River, not included in the new State, in the Territories of Indiana and Michigan. Subse- quently, in 1816, Indiana was made a State, and confined to her present limits. Illinois was made a Territory then, including Wisconsin. In 1818, it became a State, and Wisconsin a Territory at- tached to Michigan. This latter was made a State in 1837, and Wisconsin a separate Territory, which, in 184Y, was made a State. Minnesota was made a Territory the same year, and a State in 1857, and the five contemplated States of the territory were complete. Preceding pages have shown how the territory north of the Ohio River was peopled by the French and English, and how it came ulider the rule of the American people. The war of the Revolution closed in 1783, and left all America in the hands of a new nation. That nation brought a change. Before the war, various attempts had been made by residents in New England to people the country west of the Alleghanies. Land com- panies were formed, principal among which were the Ohio Company, and the company of which John Cleves Symmes was the agent and chief owner. Large tracts of land on the Scioto and on the Ohio were entered. The Ohio Company were the first to make a settlement. It was or- ganized in the autumn of 1787, November 27. They made arrangements for a party of forty-seven men to set out for the West under the supervision of Gen. Rufus Putnam, Superintendent of the Com- pany. Early in the winter they advanced to the Youghiogheny River, and there built a strong boat, which they named "Mayflower." It was built by Capt. Jonathan Devol, the first ship-builder in the West, and, when completed, was placed under his command. The boat was launched April 2, 1788, and the band of pioneers, like the Pilgrim Fathers, began their voyage. The 7th of the month, they arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum, tiL 90 HISTOEY or OHIO. their destination, opposite Fort Harmar,* erected in the autumn of 1785, by a detachment of United States troops, under command of Maj. John Doughty, and, at the date of the Mayflower's arrival in possession of a company of soldiers. Under the protection of these troops, the little band of men began their labor of laying out a town, and commenced to erect houses for their own and subsequent emigrants' occupation. The names of these pioneers of Ohio, as far as can now be learned, are as follows: Gen. Putnam, Return Jonathan Meigs, Win- throp Sargeant (Secretary of the Territory), Judges Parsons and Varnum, Capt. Dana, Capt. Jonathan Devol, Joseph Barker, Col. Battelle, Maj. Tyler, Dr. True, Capt. Wm. Gray, Capt. Lunt, the Bridges, Ebenezer and Thomas Cory, Andrew Mc- Clure, Wm. Mason, Thomas Lord, Wm. Gridley, Gilbert Devol, Moody Eussels, Deavens, Oakes, Wright, Clough, Green, Shipman, Dorance, the Masons, and others, whose names are now be- yond recall. On the 19th of July, the first boat of families arrived, after a nine- weeks journey on the way. They had traveled in their wagons as far as Wheel- ing, where they built large flat-boats, into which they loaded their effects, including theii- cattle, and thence passed down the Ohio to their destination. The families were those of Gen. Tupper, Col. Ichabod Nye, Col. Cushing, Maj. Coburn, and Maj. Goodale'. In these titles the reader will ob- serve the preponderance of military distinction. Many of the founders of the colony had served with much valor in the war for freedom, and were well prepared for a life in the wilderness. They began at once the construction of houses from the forests about the confluence of the rivers, guarding their stock by day and penning it by night. Wolves, bears and Indians were all about them, and, here in the remote wilderness, they were obliged to always be on their guard. From the ground where they obtained the timber to erect their houses, they soon produced a few vegetables, and when the families arrived in August, they were able to set before them food raised for the *The outlines of Fort Harmar formed a regular pentagon, embracing within the area about three-fourths of an acre. Its walls were formed of large horizontal timbers, and the bastions of large upright timbers aboutfourteen feet in height, fastened to each other by strips of timber, tree-nailed into each picket. In the rear of the fort Maj. Doughty laid out fine gardens. It continued to be occupied by United States troops until September 1790, when they were ordered to Cincinnati. A company, under Capt. Haslsell, continued to make the fort their headquarters during the Indian war, occasionally assisting the colonists at Marietta, Belpre and Waterford against the Indians. When not needed by the troops, the fort was used by the people of Marietta. first time by the hand of American citizens in the Ohio Valley. One of those who came in August, was Mr. Thomas Guthrie, a settler in one of the western counties of Pennsylvania, who brought a bushel of wheat, which he sowed on a plat of ground cleared by himself, and from which that fall he procured a small crop of wheat, the first grown in the State of Ohio. The Marietta settlement was the only one made that summer in the Territory. From their arrival until October, when Governor St. Clair came, they were busily employed making houses, and prepar- ing for the winter. The little colony, of which Washington wrote so favorably, met on the 2d day of July, to name their newborn city and its pub- lic sqares. Until now it had been known as " The Muskingum" simply, but on that day the name Marietta was formally given to it, in honor of Ma- rie Antoinette. The 4th of July, an ovation was held, and an oration delivered by James M. Var- num, who, vrith S. H. Parsons and John Arm- strong, had been appointed Judges of the Terri- tory. Thus, in the heart of the wilderness, miles away from any kindred post, in the forests of the Great West, was the Tree of Liberty watered and given a hearty growth. On the morning of the 9th of July, Governor St. Clair arrived, and the colony began to assume form. The ordinance of 1787 had provided for a form of government under the . Governor and the three Judges, and this form was at once put into force. The 25th, the first law relating to the militia was published, and the next day the Gov- ernor's proclamation appeared, creating all the country that had been ceded by the Indians, east of the Scioto River, into the county of Washing- ton, and the civil machinery was in motion. From that time forward, this, the pioneer settlement in Ohio, went on prosperously. The 2d of Septem- ber, the first court in the Territory was held, but as it related to the Territory, a narrative of its pro- ceedings will be found in the history of that part of the country, and need not be repeated here. The 15th of July, Gov. St. Clair had published the ordinance of 1787, and the commissions of himself and the three Judges. He also assembled the people of the settlement, and explained to them the ordinance in a speech of considerable length. Three days after, he sent a notice to the Judges, calling their attention to the subject of organizing the militia. Instead of attending to this important matter, and thus providing for their safety should trouble with the Indians arise, the ^i= ^^ HISTORY or OHIO. 91 Judges did not even reply to the Governor's letter, but sent him what they called a "project" of a law for dividing real estate. The bill was so loosely drawn that St. Clair immediately rejected it, and set about organizing the militia himself. He divided the militia into two classes, " Senior" and "Junior," and organized them by appointing their officers. In the Senior Class, Nathan Cushing was ap- pointed Captain; George Ingersol, Lieutenant, and James Backus, Ensign. In the Junior Class, Nathan Goodale and Charles Knowls were made Captains ; Watson Casey and Samuel Stebbins, Lieutenants, and Joseph Lincoln and Arnold Colt, Ensigns. The Governor next erected the Courts of Pro- bate and Quarter Sessions, and proceeded to ap- point civil officers. Rufus Putnam, Benjamin Tupper and Winthrop Sargeant were made Jus- tices of the Peace. The 30th of August, the day the Court of Quarter Sessions was appointed, Archibald Cary, Isaac Pierce and Thomas Lord were also appointed Justices, and given power to hold this court. They were, in fact. Judges of a Court of Common Pleas. Return Jonathan Meigs was appointed Clerk of this Court of Quarter Sessions. Ebenezer Sproat was appointed Sheriff of Washington County, and also Colonel of the militia; William Callis, Clerk of the Supreme Court; Rufus Putnam, Judge of the Probate Court, and R. J. Meigs, Jr., Clerk. Following these appoint- ments, setting the machinery of government in motion, St. Clair ordered that the 25th of Decem- ber be kept as a day of thanksgiving by the infant colony for its safe and propitious beginning. During the fall and winter, the settlement was daily increased by emigrants, so much so, that the greatest difficulty was experienced in iinding them lodging. During the coldest part of the winter, when ice covered the river, and prevented navi- gation, a delay in arrivals was experienced, only to be broken as soon as the river opened to the beams of a spring sun. While locked in the winter's embrace, the colonists amused themselves in vari- ous ways, dancing being one of the most promi- nent. At Christmas, a grand ball was held, at which there were fifteen ladies, "whose grace," says a narrator, "equaled any in the East." Though isolated in the wilderness, they knew a brilliant prospect lay before them, and lived on in a joyous hope for the future. Soon after their arrival, the settlers began the erection of a stockade fort (Campus Martius), which occupied their time until the winter of 1791. During the interval, fortunately, no hos- tilities from the Indians were experienced, though they were abundant, and were frequent visitors to the settlement. Prom a communication in the American Pioneer, by Dr. S. P. Hildreth, the following description of Campus Martius is derived. As it will apply, in a measure, to many early structures for defense in the West, it is given entire : " The fort was made in the form of a regular parallelogram, the sides of each being 180 feet. At each corner was erected a strong block-house, surmounted by a tower, and a sentry box. These houses were twenty feet square below and twenty- four feet square above, and projected six feet be- yond the walls of the fort. The intermediate walls were made up with dwelling-houses, made of wood, whose ends were whip-sawed into timbers four inches thick, and of the requisite width and length. These were laid up similar to the structure of log houses, with the ends nicely dove-tailed together. The whole were two stories high, and covered with shingle roofs. Convenient chimneys were erected of bricks, for cooking, and warming the rooms. A number of the dwellings were built and owned by individuals who had families. In the west and south fronts were strong gateways ; and over the one in the center of the front looking to the Mus- kingum River, was a belfry. The chamber beneath was occupied by Winthrop Sargeant, as an office, he being Secretary to the Governor, and perform- ing the duties of the office during St. Clair's ab- sence. This room projected over the gateway, like a block-house, and was intended for the protection of the gate beneath, in time of an assault. At the outer corner of each block-house was erected a bastion, standing on four stout timbers. The floor of the bastion was a little above the lower story of the block-house. They were square, and built up to the height of a man's head, so that, when he looked over, he stepped on a narrow platform or " banquet " running around the sides of the bulwark. Port-holes were made, for musketry as well as for artillery, a single piece of which was mounted in the southwest and northeast bastions. In these, the sentries were regularly posted every night, as more convenient than the towers ; a door leading into them from the upper story of the block-houses. The lower room of the southwest block-house was occupied as a guard-house. " Running from corner to corner of the block- houses was a row of palisades, sloping outward. ^ « 93 HISTORY OF OHIO. and resting on stout rails. Twenty feet in advance of these, was a row of very strong and large pick- ets, set upright in the earth. Gateways through these, admitted the inmates of the garrison. A few feet beyond the row of outer palisades was placed a row of abattis, made from the tops and branches of trees, sharpened and pointing outward, so that it would have been very difficult for an enemy to have penetrated within their outworks. The dwelUng-houses occupied a space from fifteen to thirty feet each, and were sufficient for the ac- commodation of forty or fifty families, and did actually contain from two hundred to three hun- dred persons during the Indian war. " Before the Indians commenced hostilities, the block-houses were occupied as follows : The south- west one, by the family of Gov. St. Clair; the northeast one as an office for the Directors of the Company. The area , within the walls was one hundred and forty-four feet square, and afibrded a fine parade ground. In the center, was a well eighty feet in depth, for the supply of water to the inhabitants, in ease of a siege. A large sun-dial stood for many years in the square, placed on a handsome post, and gave note of the march of time. " After the war commenced, a regular mOitary corps was organized, and a guard constantly kept night and day. The whole establishment formed a very strong work, and reflected great credit on the head that planned it. It was in a manner im- pregnable to the attacks of Indians, and none but a regular army with cannon could have reduced it. The Indians possessed no such an armament. "The garrison stood on the verge of that beauti- ful plain overlooking the Muskingum, on which are seated those celebrated remains of antiquity, erected probably for a similar purpose — the defense of the inhabitants. The ground descends into shal- low ravines on the north and south sides ; on the west is an abrupt descent to the river bottoms or alluvium, and the east passed out to a level plain. On this, the ground was cleared of trees beyond the reach of rifle shots, so as to afford no shelter to a hidden foe. Extensive fields of corn were grown in the midst of the standing girdled trees be- yond, in after years. The front wall of palisades was about one hundred and fifty yards from the Muskingum Kiver. The appearance of the fort from without was imposing, at a little distance re- sembling the military castles of the feudal ages. Between the outer palisades and the river were laid out neat gardens for the use of Gov. St. Clair and his Secretary, with the officers of the Com- pany. " Opposite the fort, on the shore of the river, was built a substantial timber wharf, at which was moored a fine cedar barge for twelve rowers, built by Capt. Jonathan Devol, for Gen. Putnam ; a number of pirogues, and the light canoes of the country ; and last, not least, the Mayflower, or ' Adventure Galley,' in which the first detach- ments of colonisft; were transported from the shores of the ' Yohiogany'to the banks of the Muskingum. In these, especially the canoes, during the war, most of the communications were carried on between the settlements of the Company and the more re- mote towns above on the Ohio River. Traveling by land was very hazardous to any but the rangers or spies. There were no roads, nor bridges across the creeks, and, for many years after the war had ceased, the traveling was nearly all done by canoes on the river." Thus the first settlement of Ohio provided for its safety and comfort, and provided also for that of emigrants who came to share the toils of the wilderness. The next spring, the influx of emigration was so great that other settlements were determined, and hence arose the colonies of Belpre, Waterfofd and Duck Creek, where they began to clear land, sow and plant crops, and build houses and stockades. At Belpre (French for "beautiful meadow"), were built three stockades, the upper, lower and middle, the last of which was called " Farmers' Castle," and stood on the banks of the Ohio, nearly oppo- site an island, afterward famous in Western history as Blennerhasset's Island, the scene of Burr's con- spiracy. Among the persons settling at the upper stockade, were Capts. Dana and Stone, Col. Bent, WilUam Browning, Judge Foster, John Bowse, Israel Stone and a Mr. Keppel. At the Farmers' Castle, were Cols. Gushing and Fisher, Maj. Has- kell, Aaron Waldo Putnam, Mr. Sparhawk, and, it is believed, George and Israel Putnam, Jr. At the lower, were Maj. Goodale, Col. Rice, Esquire Pierce, Judge Israel Loring, Deacon Miles, Maj. Bradford and Mr. Goodenow. In the summer of 1789, Col. Ichabod Nye and some others, built a block-house at Newberry, below Belpre. Col. Nye sold his lot there to Aaron W. Clough, who, with Stephen Guthrie, Joseph Leavins, Joel Oakes, Eleazer Curtis, Mr. Denham J. Littleton and Mr. Brown, was located at that place. "Every exertion possible," says Dr. Hildreth, who has preserved the above names and incidents, ;^ liL^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 93 " for men in these circumstances, was made to se- cure food for future difficulties. Col. Oliver, IMaj. Hatfield White and John Dodge, of the Water- ford settlement, began mills on Wolf Creek, about three miles from the fort, aad got them running; and these, the first mills in Ohio, were never de- stroyed during the subsequent Indian war, though the proprietors removed their familes to the fort at Marietta. Col. E. Sproat and Enoch Shep- herd began mills on Duck Creek, three miles from Marietta, from the completion of which they were driven by the Indian war. Thomas Stanley be- gan mills farther up, near the Duck Creek settle- ment. These were likewise unfinished. The Ohio Company built a large horse mill near Campus Martins, and soon after a floating mill." The autumn before the settlements at Belpre, Duck Creek and Waterford, were made, a colony was planted near the mouth of the Little Miami River, on a tract of ten thousand acres, purchased fromSymmes by Maj. Benjamin Stites. Inthepro- ceding pages may be found a history of Symmes' purchase. This colony may be counted the second settlement in the State. Soon after the colony at JMarietta was founded, steps were taken to occupy separate portions of Judge Symmes' purchase, be- tween the Miami Rivers. Three parties were formed for this purpose, but, owing to various delays, chiefly in getting the present colony stead- fast and safe from future encroachments by the savages, they did not get started till late in the fall. The flrst of these parties, consisting of fifteen or twenty men, led by Maj. Stites, landed at the mouth of the Little Miami in November, 1788, and, constructing a log fort, began to lay out a village, called by them Columbia. It soon grew into prominence, and, before winter had thoroughly set in, they were well prepared for a frontier life. In the party were Cols. Spencer and Brown, Majs. Gano and Kibbey, Judges Goforth and Foster, Rev. John Smith, Francis Dunlavy, Capt. Flinn, Jacob White, John Riley, and Mr. Hubbell. All these were men of energy and enterprise, and, with their comrades, were more numerous than either of the other parties, who commenced their settlements below them on the Ohio. This village was also, at first, more flourishing; and, for two or three years, contained more inhabitants than any other in the Miami purchase. The second ]Miami party was formed at Lime- stone, under Matthias Denham and Robert Pat- terson, and consisted of twelve or fift.een persons. They landed on the north bank of the Ohio, oppo- site the moutli of the Licking River, the 24th of December, 1788. They intended to establish a station and lay out a town on a plan prepared at Limestone. Some statements affirm that the town was to be called " L-os-anti-villc," by a romantic school-teacher named Filson. However, be this as it may, Mr. Filson was, unfortunately for himself, not long after, slain by the Indians, and, with him probably, the name disappeared. He was to have one-third interest in the proposed city, which, when his death occurred, was transferred to Israel Ludlow, and a new plan of a city adopted. Israel Ludlow surveyed the proposed town , whose lots were principally donated to settlers upon certain condi- tions as to settlement and improvement, and the embryo city named Cincinnati. Gov. St. Clair very likely had something to do with the naming of the village, and, by some, it is asserted that he changed the name fi'om Losantiville to Cincinnati, when he created the county of Hamilton the en- suing winter. Tlie original purchase of the city's site was made by Mr. Denham. It included about eight hundred acres, for which he paid 5 shillings per acre in Continental certificates, then worth, in specie, about 5 shillings per pound, gross weight. Evidently, the original site was a good investment, could Mr. Denham have lived long enough to see its present condition. The third party of settlers for the Miami pur- chase, were under the care of Judge Symmes, himself They left Limestone, January 29, 1789, and were much delayed on their downward jour- ney by the ice in the river. They reached the 'Bend," as it was then known, early in February. The Judge had intended to found a city here, which, in time, would be the rival of the Atlantic cities. As each of the three settlements aspired to the same position, no little rivalry soon mani- fested itself The Judge named his proposed city North Bend, from the fact that it was the most northern bend in the Ohio below the mouth of the Great Kanawha. These three .settlements ante- dated, a few months, those made near Marietta, already described. They arose so soon after, partly from the extreme desire of Judge Symmes to settle his purchase, and induce emigration here instead of on the Ohio Company's purchase. The Judge labored earnestly for this purpose and to further secure him in his title to the land he had acquired, all of which he had so far been unable to retain, owing to his inability to meet his payments. All these emigrants came down the river in the flat-boats of the day, rude afiairs, sometimes called t, ly 94 HISTOKT OF OHIO. " Arks,'' and then the only safe mode of travel in the West. Judge Symmes found he must provide for the safety of the settlers on his purchase, and, after earnestly soliciting Gen. Harmar, commander of the Western posts, succeeded in obtaining a de- tachment of forty-eight men, under Capt. Kearsey, to protect the improvements just commencing on the Miami. This detachment reached Limestone in December, 1788. Part was at once sent for- ward to guard Maj. Stites and his pioneers. Judge Symmes and his party started in January, and, about February 2, reached Columbia, where the Captain expected to find a fort erected for his use and shelter. The flood on the river, however, de- feated his purpose, and, as he was unprepared to erect another, he determined to go on down to the garrison at the falls at Louisville. Judge Symmes was strenuously opposed to his conduct, as it left the colonies unguarded, but, all to no purpose ; the Captain and his command, went to Louisville early in March, and left the Judge and his settlement to protect themselves. Judge Symmes immedi- ately sent a strong letter to Maj. Willis, command- ing at the Falls, complaining of the conduct of Capt. Kearsey, representing the exposed situ- ation of the Miami settlements, stating the indi- cations of hostility manifested by the Indians, and requesting a guard to be sent to the Bend. This request was at once granted, and Ensign Luce, with seventeen or eighteen soldiers, sent. They were at the settlement but a short time, when they were attacked by Indians, and one of their number killed, and four or five wounded. They repulsed the savages and saved the set- tlers. The site of Symmes City, for such he designed it should ultimately be called, was above the reach of water, and sufficiently level to admit of a conven- ient settlement. The city laid out by Symmes was truly magnificent on paper, and promised in the future to fulfill his most ardent hopes. The plat included the village, and extended across the peninsula between the Ohio and Miami Rivers. Each settler on this plat was promised a lot if he would improve it, and in conformity to the stipu- lation. Judge Symmes soon found a large number of persons applying for residence. As the number of these adventurers increased, in consequence of this provision and the protection of the military, the Judge was induced to lay out another village six or seven miles up the river, which he called South Bend, where he disposed of some donation lots, but the project failing, the village site was de- serted, and converted into a farm. During all the time these various events were transpiring, but little trouble was experienced with the Indians. They were not yet disposed to evince hostile feelings. This would have been their time, but, not realizing the true intent of the whites until it was too late to conquer them, they allowed them to become prepared to withstand a warfare, and in the end were obliged to suffer their hunting-grounds to be taken from them, and made the homes of a race destined to entirely supersede them in the New World. By the means sketched in the foregoing pages, were the three settlements on the Miami made. By the time those adjacent to Marietta were well estab- lished, these were firmly fixed, each one striving to become the rival city all felt sure was to arise. For a time it was a matter of doubt which of the rivals, Columbia, North Bend or Cincinnati, would event- ually become the chief seat of business. In the beginning, Columbia, the eldest of the three, took the lead, both in number of its in- habitants and the convenience and appearance of its dwellings. For a time it was a flourishing place, and many believed it would become the great busi- ness town of the Miami country. That apparent fact, however, lasted but a short time. The garri- son was moved to Cincinnati, Fort Washington built there, and in spite of all that Maj. Stites, or Judge Symmes could do, that place became the metropolis. Fort Washington, the most extensive garrison in the West, was built by Maj. Doughty, in the summer of 1789, and from that time the growth and future greatness of Cincinnati were assured. The first house in the city was built on Front street, east of and near Main street. It was simply a strong log cabin, and was erected of the forest trees cleared away from the ground on which it stood. The lower part of the town was covered with sycamore and maple trees, and the upper with beech and oak. Through this dense forest the streets were laid out, and their corners marked on the trees. The settlements on the Miami had become sufficiently numerous to warrant a separate county, and, in January, 1790, Gov. St. Clair and his Secretary arrived in Cincinnati, and organized the county of Hamilton, so named in honor of the illustrious statesman by that name. It included all the country north of the Ohio, between the Miamis, as far as a line running " due east from the in. HISTOEY OF OHIO. 95 Standing Stone forks " of Big Miami to its inter- section with the Little Miami. The erection of the new county, and the appointment of Cincin- nati to be the seat of justice, gave the town a fresh impulse, and aided greatly in its growth. Through the summer, but little interruption in the growth of the settlements occurred. The Indians had permitted the erection of defensive works in their midst, and could not now destroy them. They were also engaged in traffic with the whites, and, though they evinced signs of discon- tent at their settlement and occupation of the country, yet did not openly attack them. The truth was, they saw plainly the whites were always prepared, and no opportunity was given them to plunder and destroy. The Indian would not attack unless success was almost sure. An oppor- tunity, unfortunately, came, and with it the hor- rors of an Indian war. In the autumn of 1Y90, a company of thirty- six men went from Marietta to a place on the Muskingum known as the Big Bottom. Here they built a block-house, on the east bank of the river, four miles above the mouth of Meigs Creek. They were chiefly young, single men, but little acquainted with Indian warfare or military rules. The savages had given signs that an attack on the settlement was meditated, and several of the know- ing ones at the strongholds strenuously opposed any new settlements that fall, advising their post^ ponement until the next spring, when the question of peace or war would probably be settled. Even Gen. Putnam and the Directors of the Ohio Com- pany advised the postponement of the settlement until the next spring. The young men were impatient and restless, and declared themselves able to protect their fort against any number of assailants. They might have easily done so, had they taken the necessary precautions ; but, after they had erected a rude block-house of unchinked lugs, they began to pass the time in various pursuits; setting no guard, and taking no precautionary measures, they left them- selves an easy prey to any hostile savages that might choose to come and attack them. About twenty rods from the block-house, and a little back from the bank of the river, two men, Francis and Isaac Choate, members of the com- pany, had erected a cabin, and commenced clearing lots. Thomas Shaw, a hired laborer, and James Patten, another of the associates, lived with them. About the same distance below the block-house was an old "Tomahawk Improvement" and a small cabin, which two men, Asa and Eleazur Bullard, had fitted up and occupied. The Indian war-path, from Sandusky to the mouth of the Muskingum, passed along the opposite shore of the river. " The Indians, who, during the summer,'' says Dr. Hildreth, " had been hunting and loitering about the Wolf Creek and Plainfield settlements, holding frequent and friendly intercourse with the settlers, selling them venison and bear's meat in ex- change for green corn and vegetables, had with- drawn and gone up the river, early in the au- tumn, to their towns, preparatory to going into winter quarters. They very seldom entered on any warlike expeditions during the cold weather. But they had watched the gradual encroach- ment of the whites and planned an expedition against them. They saw them in fancied security in their cabins, and thought their capture an easy task. It is said they were not aware of the Big Bottom settlement until they came in sight of it, on the opposite shore of the river, in the afternoon. From a high hill opposite the garrison, they had a view of all that part of the bottom, and could see how the men were occupied and what was doing about the block-house. It was not proiected with palisades or pickets, and none of the men were aware or prepared for an attack. Having laid their plans, about twilight they crossed the river above the garrison, on the ice, and divided their men into two parties — the larger one to attack the block-house, the smaller one to capture the cabins. As the Indians cautiously approached the cabin they found the inmates at supper. Part entered, addressed the whites in a friendly manner, but soon manifesting their designs, made them all pris- oners, tieing tbem with leather thongs they found in the cabin." At the block-house the attack was far different. A stout Mohawk suddenly burst open the door, the first intimation the inmates had of the pres- ence of the foe, and while he held it open his comrades shot down those that were within. Rush- ing in, the deadly tomahawk completed the on- slaught. In the assault, one of the savages was struck by the wife of Isaac Woods, with an ax, but only slightly injured. The heroic woman was immediately slain. All the men but two were slain before they had time to secure their arms, thereby paying for their failure to properly secure themselves, with their lives. The two excepted were John Stacy and his brother Philip, a lad six- teen years of age. John escaped to the roof, HISTOEY OF OHIO. where he was shot by the Indians, while begging for his life. The firing at the block-house alarmed the BuUards in their cabin, and hastily barring the door, and securing their arms and ammunition, they fled to the woods, and escaped. After the slaughter was over, the Indians began to collect the plunder, and in doing so discovered the lad Philip Stacy. They were about to dispatch him, but his entrea- ties softened the heart of one of the chiefs, who took him as a captive with the intention of adopt- ing him into his family. The savages then piled the dead bodies on the floor, covered them with other portions of it not needed for that purpose, and set fire to the whole. The building, being made of green logs, did not burn, the flames con- suming only the floors and roof, leaving the walls standing. There were twelve persons killed in this attack, all of whom were in the prime of life, and valuable aid to the settlements. They were well provided with arms, and had they taken the necessary pre- cautions, always pressed upon them when visited by the older ones from Marietta, they need not have suffered so terrible a fate. The Indians, exultant over their horrible victory, went on to Wolf's mills, but here they found the people prepared, and, after reconnoitering the place, made their retreat, at early dawn, to the great re- lief of the inhabitants. Their number was never definitely known. The news reached Marietta and its adjacent settlements soon after the massacre occurred, and struck terror and dismay into the hearts of all. Many had brothers and sons in the ill-fated party, and mourned their loss. Neither did they know what place would fall next. The Indian hostilities had begun, and they could only hope for peace when the savages were efiectually conquered. The next day, Capt. Rogers led a party of men over to the Big Bottom. It was, indeed, a melan- choly sight to the poor borderers, as they knew not now how soon the same fate might befall them- selves. The fire had so disfigured their comrades that but two, Ezra Putnam and William Jones, were recognized. As the ground was frozen out- side, a hole was dug in the earth underneath the block-house floor, and the bodies consigned to one grave. No further attempt was made to settle here till after the peace of 1795. The outbreak of Indian hostilities put a check on further settlements. Those that were estab- lished were put in a more active state of defense, and every preparation made that could be made for the impending crisis all felt sure must come. Either the Indians must go, or the whites must retreat. A few hardy and adventurous persons ventured out into the woods and made settle- ments, but even these were at the imminent risk of their lives, many of them perishing in the attempt. The Indian war that followed is given fully in preceding paggs. It may be briefly sketched by stating that the first campaign, under Gen Har- mar, ended in the defeat of his army at the Indian villages on the Miami of the lake, and the rapid retreat to Fort Washington. St. Clair was next commissioned to lead an army of nearly three thou- sand men, but these were furiously attacked at break of day, on the morning of November 4, 1791, and utterly defeated. Indian outrages sprung out anew after each defeat, and the borders were in a continual state of alarm. The most ter- rible sufierings were endured by prisoners in the hands of the savage foe, who thought to annihilate the whites. The army was at once re-organized. Gen. An- thony Wayne put in command by Washington, and a vigorous campaign inaugurated. Though the savages had been given great aid by the Brit- ish, in direct violation of the treaty of 1783, Gen. Wayne pursued them so vigorously that they could not withstand his army, and, the 20th of August, 1794, defeated them, and utterly annihilated their forces, breaking up their camps, and laying waste their country, in some places under the guns of the British forts. The victory showed them the hopelessness of contending against the whites, and led their chiefs to sue for peace. The British, as at former times, deserted them, and they were again alone, contending against an invincible foe. A grand council was held at Greenville the 3d day of August, 1795, where eleven of the most power- fiil chiefs made peace with Gen. Wayne on terms of his own dictation. The boundary established by the old treaty of Fort Mcintosh was confirmed, and extended westward from Loramie's to Fort Recovery, and thence southwest, to the mouth of the Kentucky River. He also purchased all the territory not before ceded, within certain limits, comprehending, in all, about four-fifths of the State of Ohio. The line was long kuown as " The Green- ville Treaty line." Upon these, and a few other minor conditions, the United States received the Indians under their protection, gave them a large number of presents, and practically closed the war with the savages. >? (• =ip HISTORY OF OHIO. 97 Theonly settlement of any consequence made dur- ing the Indian war, was that on the plat of Hamilton, laid out by Israel Ludlow in December, 1794. Soon after, Darius C. Orcutt, John Green, William Mo- Clennan, John Sutherland, John Torrence, Benjamin P. Randolph, Benjamin Davis, Isaac Wiles, Andrew Christy and William Hubert, located here. The town was laid out under the name of Fairfield, but was known only a short time by that name. Until 1801, all the lands on the west side of the Great Miami were owned by the General Government ; hence, until after that date, no improvements were made there. A single log cabin stood there until the sale of lands in April, 1801, when a company purchased the site of Eossville, and, in March, 1804, laid out that town, and, before a year had passed, the town and country about it was well settled. The close of the war, in 1795, insured peace, and, from that date, Hamilton and that part of the Miami Valley grew remarkably fast. In 1803, Butler County was formed, and Hamilton made the county seat. On the site of Hamilton, St. Clair built Fort Hamilton in 1791. For some time it was under the command of Maj. Rudolph, a cruel, arbitrary man, who was displaced by Gen. Wayne, and who, it is said, perished ignobly on the high seas, at the hands of some Algerine pirates, a fitting end to a man who caused, more than once, the death of men under his control for minor offenses. ^ On the return of peace, no part of Ohio grew more rapidly than the Miami Valley, especially that part comprised in Butler County. While the war with the Indians continued, but little extension of settlements was made in the State. It was too perilous, and the settlers pre- ferred the security of the block-house or to engage with the army. Still, however, a few bold spirits ventured away from the settled parts of the Terri- tory, and began life in the wilderness. In tracing the histories of these settlements, attention will be paid to the order in which they were made. They will be given somewhat in detail until the war of 1812, after which time they become too numerous tu follow. The settlements made in Washington — ^Marietta and adjacent colonies — and Hamilton Counties have already been given. The settlement at Gal- lia is also noted, hence, the narration can be re- sumed where it ends prior to the Indian war of 1795. Before this war occurred, there were three small settlements made, however, in addition to those in Washington and Hamilton Counties. They were in what are now Adams, Belmont and Morgan Counties. They were block-house settle- ments, and were in a continual state of defense. The first of these, Adams, was settled in the winter of 1790-91 by Gen. Nathaniel Massie, near where Manchester now is. Gen. Massie determined to settle here in the Virginia Military Tract — in the winter of 1790, and sent notice throughout Ken- tucky and other Western settlements that he would give to each of the first twenty-five families who would settle in the town he proposed laying out, one in-lot, one out-lot and one hundred acres of land. Such liberal terms were soon accepted, and in a short time thirty families were ready to go with him. After various consultations with his friends, the bottom on the Ohio River, opposite the lower of the Three Islands, was selected as the most eligible spot. Here Massie fixed his sta- tion, and laid oiF into lots a town, now called Manchester. The little confederacy, with Massie at the helm, went to work with spirit. Cabins were raised, and by the middle of March, 1791, the whole town was inclosed with strong pickets, with block-houses at each angle for de- fense. This was the first settlement in the bounds of the Virginia District, and the fourth one in the State. Although in the midst of a savage foe, now inflamed with war, and in the midst of a cruel conflict, the settlement at Manchester suf- fered less than any of its cotemporaries. This was, no doubt, due to the watchful care of its in- habitants, who were inured to the rigors of a front- ier life, and who well knew the danger about them. " These were the Beasleys, Stouts, Washburns, Ledoms, Edgingtons, Denings, Ellisons, Utts, McKenzies, Wades, and others, who were fully equal to the Indians in all the savage arts and stratagems of border war." As soon as they had completed preparations for defense, the whole population went to work and cleared the lowest of the Three Islands, and planted it in corn. The soil of the island was very rich, and produced abundantly. The woods supplied an abundance of game, while the river furnished a variety of excellent fish. The inhabitants thus found their simple wants fully supplied. Their nearest neighbors in the new Territory were at Columbia, and at the French settlement at Gallip- olis ; but with these, owing to the state of the country and the Indian war, they could hold little, if any, intercourse. -V -3 ^ HISTORY or OHIO. The station being established, Massie continued to make locations and surveys. Great precautions were necessary to avoid the Indians, and even the closest vigilance did not always avail, as the ever- watchftd foe vras always ready to spring upon the settlement, could an unguarded moment be ob- served. During one of the spring months, Gen. Massie, Israel Donalson, William Lytle and James Little, while out on a survey, were surprised, and Mr. Donalson captured, the others escaping at great peril. Mr. Donalson escaped during the march to the Indian town, and made his way to the town of Cincinnati, after suffering great hard- ships, and almost perishing from hunger. In the spring of 1793, the settlers at Manchester com- menced clearing the out-lots of the town. While doing so, an incident occurred, which shows the danger to which they were daily exposed. It is thus related in Howe's Collections : " Mr. Andrew Ellison, one of the settlers, cleared an out-lot immediately adjoining the fort. He had completed the cutting of the timber, rolled the logs together, and set them on fire. The next morning, before daybreak, Mr. Ellison opened one of the gates of the fort, and went out to throw his logs together. By the time he had finished the job, a number of the heaps blazed up brightly, and, as he was passing from one to the other, he ob- served, by the light of the fires, three men walking briskly toward him. This did not alarm him in the least, although, he said, they were dark-skinned fellows ; yet he concluded they were the Wades, whose complexions were very dark, going early to hunt. He continued to right his log-heaps, until one of the fellows seized him by the arms, calling out, in broken English, ' How do ? how do ? ' He instantly looked in their faces, and, to his surprise and horrw, found himself in the clutches of three Indians. To resist was useless. " The Indians quickly moved off with him in the direction of Paint Creek. When breakfast was ready, Mrs. Ellison sent one of her children to ask its father home ; but he could not be found at the log-heaps. His absence created no immedi- ate alarm, as it was thought he might have started to hunt, after completing his work. Dinner-time arrived, and, Ellison not returning, the family became uneasy, and began to suspect some acci- dent had happened to him. His gun-rack was examined, and there hung his rifles and his pouch. Gen. Massie raised a party, made a circuit around the place, finding, after some search, the trails of four men, one of whom had on shoes; and the fact that Mr. Ellison was a prisoner now became apparent. As it was almost night at the time the trail was discovered, the party returned to the station. Early the next morning, preparations were made by Gen. Massie and his friends to con- tinue the search. In doing this, they found great difliculty, as it was so early in the spring that the vegetation was not gro^rn sufficiently to show plainly the trail made by the savages, who took the precaution to keep on high and dry ground, where their feet would make litfie or no impres- sion. The party were, however, as unerring as a pack of hounds, and followed the trail to Paint Creek, when they found the Indians gained so fast on them that pursuit was useless. "The Indians took their prisoner to Upper Sandusky, where he was compelled to run the gantlet. As he was a large, and not very active, man, he received a severe flogging. He was then taken to Lower Sandusky, and again compelled to run the gantlet. He was then taken to Detroit, where he was ransomed by a British officer for 8100. The officer proved a good friend to him. He sent him to Montreal, whence he returned home before the close of the summer, much to the joy of his family and friends, whose feelings can only be imagined." "Another incident occurred about this time," says the same volume, "which so aptly illustrates the danger of frontier life, that it well deserves a place in the history of the settlements in Ohio. John and Asahel Edgington, with a comrade, started out on a hunting expedition toward Brush Creek. They camped out sis miles in a northeast direction from where West Union now stands, and near the site of Treber's tavern, on the road from Chillicothe to Jlaysville. They bad good success in hunting, killing a number of deer and bears. Of the deer killed, they saved the skins and hams alone. They fleeced the bears; that is, they cut off all the meat which adhered to the hide, with- out skinning, and left the bones as a skeleton. They hung up the proceeds of their hunt, on a scaf- fold out of the reach of wolves and other wild ani- mals, and returned to Manchester for pack-horses. No one returned to the camp with the Edgingtons. As it was late in December, few apprehended dan- ger, as the winter season was usually a time of re- pose from Indian incursions. When the Edgingtons arrived at their camp, they alighted from their horses and were preparing to start a fire, when a platoon of Indians fired upon them at a distance of not more than twenty paces. They had ^ ^1 ±iL^ HISTORY or OHIO. 101 evidently found the results of the white men's labor, and expected they would return for it, and pre- pared to waylay them. Asahel Edgington fell dead. John was more fortunate. The sharp crack of the rifles, and the horrible yells of the savages as they leaped from their place of ambush, frightened the horses, who took the track for home at full speed. John was very active on foot, and now an opportunity offered which required his utmost speed. The moment the Indians leaped from their hiding-place, they threw down their guns and took after him, yelling with all their power. Edgington did not run a booty race. For about a mile, the savages stepped in his tracks al- most before the bending grass could rise. The uplifted tomahawk was frequently so near his head that he thought he felt its edge. He exerted himself to his utmost, while the Indians strove with all their might to catch him. Finally, he be- gan to gain on his pursuers, and, after a long race, distanced them and made his escape, safely reach- ing home. This, truly, was a most fearful and well-contested race. The big Shawanee chief, Capt. John, who headed the Indians on this occasion, after peace was made, in narrating the particulars, said, "The white man who ran away was a smart fellow. The white man run ; and I run. He run and run ; at last, the white man run clear off from me." The settlement, despite its dangers, prospered, and after the close of the war continued to grow rapidly. In two years after peace was declared, Adams County was erected by proclamation of Gov. St. Clair, the next year court was held, and in 1804, West Union was made the county seat. During the war, a settlement was commenced near the present town of Bridgeport, in Belmont County, by Capt. Joseph Belmont, a noted Dela- ware Revolutionary officer, who, because his State could fiimish only one company, could rise no higher than Captain of that company, and hence always maintained that grade. He settled on a beautiftil knoll near the present county seat, but erelong suffered from a night attack by the In- dians, who, though unable to drive him and his companions from the cabin or conquer them, wounded some of them badly, one or two mortally, and caused the Captain to leave the frontier and return to Newark, Del. The attack was made in the spring of 1791, and a short time after, the Captain, having provided for the safety of his family, accepted a commission in St. Clair's army, and lost his life at the defeat of the General in November. Shortly after the Captain settled, a fort, called Dillie's Fort, was built on the Ohio, opposite the mouth of Grave Creek. About two hundred and fifty yards below this fort, an old man, named Tato, was shot down at his cabin door by the Indians, just as he was in the act of entering the house. His body was pulled in by his daugh- ter-in-law and grandson, who made an heroic de- fense. They were overpowered, the woman slain, and the boy badly wounded. He, however, man- aged to secrete himself and afterward escaped to the fort. The Indians, twelve or thirteen in num- ber, went off unmolested, though the men in the fort saw the whole transaction and could have punished them. Why they did not was never known. On Captina Creek in this same county, occurred, in May, 1794, the "battle of Captina," a fa- mous local skirmish between some Virginians from Fort Baker, and a party of Indians. Though the Indians largely outnumbered the whites, they were severely punished, and compelled to abandon the contest, losing several of their bravest warriors. These were the only settlements made until 1795, the close of the war. Even these, as it will be observed from the foregoing pages, were tem- porary in all cases save one, and were maintained at a great risk, and the loss of many valuable lives. They were made in the beginning of the war,and such were their experiences that ftirther attempts were abandoned until the treaty of Greenville was made, or until the prospects for peace and safety were assured. No sooner, however, had the prospect of quiet been established, than a revival of emigration be- . gan. Before the war it had been large, now it was largely increased. Wayne's treaty of peace with the Indians was made at Greenville, in what is now Darke County, the 3d of August, 1795. The number of Indians present was estimated at 1,300, divided among the principal nations as follows: 180 Wyandots, 381 Delawares, 143 Shawanees, 45 Ottawas, 46 Chip- pewas, 240 Pottawatomies, 73 Miamis and Eel River, 12 Weas and Piankeshaws, and 10 Kicka- poos and Kaskaskias. The principal chiefs were Tarhe, Buckongahelas, Black Hoof, Blue Jacket and Little Turtle. Most of them had been tam- pered with by the British agents and traders, but all had been so thoroughly chastised by Wayne, and found that the British only used them as tools, that they were quite anxious to make peace with the " Thirteen Fires." By the treaty, former ones j) >y _s t 103 HISTORY OF OHIO. were established, the boundary lines confirmed and enlarged, an exchange and delivery of prisoners effected, and permanent peace assured. In the latter part of September, after the treaty of Greenville, Mr. Bedell, from New Jersey, selected a site for a home in what is now Warren County, at a place since known as " Bedell's Sta^ tion," about a mile south of Union Village. Here he erected a block-house, as a defense against the Indians, among whom were many renegades as among the whites, who would not respect the terms of the treaty. Whether Mr. BedeU was alone that fall, or whether he was joined by others, is not now accurately known. However that may be, he was not long left to himself; for, ere a year had elapsed, quite a number of settlements were made in this part of the Territory. Soon after his settlement was made, Gen. David Sutton, Capt. Nathan Kelley and others began pioneer life at Deerfield, in the same locality, and, before three years had gone by, a large number of New Jersey people were established in their homes; and, in 1803, the county was formed from Hamilton. Among the early settlers at Deerfield, was Capt. Robert Benham, who, with a companion, in 1779, sustained themselves many days when the Captain had lost the use of his legs, and his companion his arms, from musket-balls fired by the hands of the Indians. They were with a large party com- manded by Maj. Rodgers, and were furiously attacked by an immense number of savages, and all but a few slain. The event happened during the war of the Revolution, before any attempt was made to settle the Northwest Territory. The party were going down the Ohio, probably to the falls, and were attacked when near the site of Cincinnati. As mentioned, these two men sus- tained each other many days, the one having per- fect legs doing the necessary walking, carrying his comrade to water, driving up game for him to shoot, and any other duties necessary ; while the one who had the use of his arms could dress his companion's and his own wounds, kill and cook the game, and perform his share. They were rescued, finally, by a flat-boat, whose occupants, for awhile, passed them, fearing a decoy, but, becoming convinced that such was not the case, took them on down to LouisviUe, where they were nursed into perfect health. A settlement was made near the present town of Lebanon, the county seat of Warren County, in the spring of 1796, by Henry Taylor, who built a mill one mile west of the town site, on Turtle Creek. Soon after, he was joined by Ichabod Corwin, John Osbourn, Jacob Vorhees, Samuel Shaw, Daniel Bonte and a Mr. Manning. When Lebanon was laid out, in 1803, the two-story log house built in 1797 by Ichabod Corwin was the only building on the plat. It was occupied by Ephraim Hathaway as a tavern. He had a black horse painted on an immense board for a sign, and continued in business here till 1810. The same year the town was laid out, a store was opened by John Huston, and, from that date, the growth of the county was very prosperous. Three years after, the Western Star was established by Judge John McLain, and the current news of the day given in weekly editions. It was one of the first newspapers established in the Territory, outside of Cincinnati. As has been mentioned, the opening of naviga- tion in the spring of 1796 brought a great flood of emigration to the Territory. The little settle- ment made by Mr. Bedell, in the autumn of 1795, was about the only one made that fall ; others made preparations, and many selected sites, but did not settle till the following spring. That spring, colo- nies were planted in what are now Montgomery, Ross, Madison, Mahoning, TrumbuU, Ashtabula and Cuyahoga Counties, while preparations were in turn made to occupy additional territory that will hereafter be noticed. The settlement made in Montgomery County was begun early in the spring of 1796. As early as 1788, the land on which Dayton now stands was selected by some gentlemen, who designed laying out a town to be named Venice. They agreed with Judge Symmes, whose contract covered the place, for the purchase of the lands. The Indian war which broke out at this time prevented an extension of settlements from the immediate neighborhood of the parent colonies, and the proj- ect was abandoned by the purchasers. Soon after the treaty of 1795, a new company, composed of Gens. Jonathan Dayton, Arthur St. Clair, James Wilkinson, and Col. Israel Ludlow, purchased the land between the Miamis, around the mouth of Mad River, of Judge Symmes, and, the 4th of November, laid out the town. Arrangements were made for its settlement the ensuing spring, and donations of lots, with other privileges, were offered to actual settlers. Forty-six persons entered into engagements to remove from Cincinnati to Day- ton, but during the winter most of them scat- tered in different directions, and only nineteen ful- filled their contracts. The first families who -X HISTOEY OF OHIO. 103 made a permanent residence here, arrived on the first day of April, 1796, and at once set about establishing homes. Judge Symmes, however, becoming unable soon after to pay for his purchase, the land reverted to the United States, and the set- tlers in and about Dayton found themselves 'with- out titles to their lands. Congress, however, came to the aid of all such persons, wherever they had purchased land of Symmes, and passed a pre-emp- tion law, under which they could enter their lands at the regular government price. Some of the set- tlers entered their lands, and obtained titles directly from the United States ; others made arrangements with Daniel C. Cooper to receive their deeds from him, and he entered the residue of the town lands. He had been the surveyor and agent of the first company of proprietors, and they assigned to him certain of their rights of pre-emption, by which he became the titular owner of the land. When the State government was organized in 1803, Dayton was made the seat of justice for Montgomery County, erected the same year. At that time, owing to the title question, only five families resided in the place, the other settlers hav- ing gone to farms in the vicinity, or to other parts of the country. The increase of the town was gradual until the war of 1812, when its growth was more rapid until 1820, when it was again checked by the general depression of busi- ness. It revived in 1827, at the commencement of the Miami Canal, and since then its growth has always been prosperous. It is now one of the best cities in Ohio. The first canal boats from Cincinnati arrived at Dayton January 25, 1829, and the first one from Lake Erie the 24th of June, 1845. In 1825, a weekly line of stages was established between Columbus and Cincinnati, via Dayton. One day was occupied in coming from Cincinnati to Dayton. On the 18th of September, 1808, the Dayton Repertory was established by William McClureand George Smith. It was printed on a foolscap sheet. Soon after, it was enlarged and changed from a weekly to a daily, and, ere long, found a number of competitors in the field. In the lower part of Miamisburg,inthis county, are the remains of ancient works, scattered about over the bottom. About a mile and a quarter southeast of the village, on an elevation more than one hundred feet above the level of the Miami, is the largest mound in the Northern States, ex- cepting the mammoth mound at Grave Creek, on the Ohio, below Wheeling, which it nearly equals in dimensions. It is about eight hundred feet around the base, and rises to a height of nearly seventy feet. When first known it was covered with forest trees, whoso size evidenced great age. The Indians could give no account of the mound. Excavations revealed bones and charred earth, but what was its use, will always remain a con- jecture. One of the most important early settlements was made cotemporary with that of Dayton, in what is now Ross County. The same spring, 1796, quite a colony came to the banks of the Scioto River, and, near the mouth of Paint Creek, began to plant a crop of corn on the bottom. The site had been selected as early as 1792, by Col. Nathaniel Massie* and others, who were so de- lighted with the country, and gave such glowing descriptions of it on their return — which accounts soon circulated through Kentucky — that portions of the Presbyterian congregations of Caneridge and Concord, in Bourbon County, under Rev. Robert W. Finley, determined to emigrate thither in a body. They were, in a measure, induced to take this step by their dislike to slavery, and a desire for freedom from its baleful influences and the un- certainty that existed regarding the validity of the land titles in that State. The Rev. Finley, as a preUminary step, liberated his slaves, and addressed to Col. Massie a letter of inquiry, in December, 1794, regarding the land on the Scioto, of which he and his people had heard such glovring ac- counts. " The letter induced Col. Massie to visit Mr. Finley in the ensuing March. A large concourse of people, who wished to engage in the enterprise, assembled on the occasion, and fixed on a day to meet at the Three Islands, in Manchester, and proceed on an exploring expedition. Mr. Finley also wrote to his friends in Western Pennsylvania * Nathaniel Massie was born in Goochland County, Va., Decem- ber 28, 1763. In 1780, he engaged, for a short time, in the Revolu- tionary war. In 1783, he left for Kentucky, where he acted as a surveyor. He was afterward made a Government surveyor, and labored much in that capacity for early Ohio proprietors, being paid in lands, the amounts graded by the danger attached to the survey. In 1791, he established the settlement at Manchester, and a year or two after, continued his surveys up the Scioto. Here he was con- tinually in great danger from the Indians, but knew well how to guard against them, and thus preserved himself. In 1796, he estab- lished the Chillicothe settlement, and made his home in the Scioto Valley, being now an extensive land owner by reason of his long surveying service. In 1807, he and Return J. Meigs were compet- itors for the office of Governor of Ohio. Meigs was elected, but Massie contested his eligibility to the office, on the grounds of his absence from the State and insufficiency of time as a resident, as required by the Constitution. Meigs was declared inelieible by the General Assembly, and Massie declared Governor. He, however, resigned the office at once, not desiring it. He was often Repre- sentative afterward. He died November 13, 1813. 8) — ) fy -d s 4^ 104 HISTORY OF OHIO. informing them of the time and place of rendez- vous. "About sixty men met, according to appoint- ment, who were divided into three companies, under Massie, Finley and Falenash. They pro- ceeded on their route, without interruption, until they struck the falls of Paint Creek. Proceeding a short distance down that stream, they suddenly found themselves in the vicinity of some Indians who had encamped at a place, since called Reeve's Crossing, near the present town of Bainbridge. The Indians were of those who had refused to attend Wayne's treaty, and it was determined to give them battle, it being too late to retreat with safety. The Indians, on being attacked, soon fled with the loss of two killed and several wounded. One of the whites only, Joshua Robinson, was mortally wounded, and, during the action, a Mr. Armstrong, a prisoner among the savages, escaped to his own people. The whites gathered all their plunder and retreated as far as Scioto Brush Creek, where they were, according to expectation, attacked early the next morning. Again the In- dians were defeated. Only one man among the whites, Allen Gilfillan, was wounded. The party of whites continued their retreat, th'e next day reached Manchester, and separated for their homes. "After Wayne's treaty, Col. Massie and several of the old explorers again met at the house of Rev. Finley, formed a company, and agreed to make a settlement in the ensuing spring (1796), and raise a crop of corn at the mouth of Paint Creek. According to agreement, they met at Man- chester about the first of April, to the number of forty and upward, from Mason and Bourbon Counties. Among them were Joseph McCoy, Benjamin and William Rodgers, David Shelby, James Harrod, Henry, Bazil and Reuben Abrams, William Jamison, James Crawford, Samuel, An- thony and Robert Smith, Thomas Dick, William and James Kerr, George and James Kilgrove, John Brown, Samuel and Robert Templeton, Fer- guson Moore, William Nicholson and James B. Finley, later a prominent local Methodist minister. On starting, they divided into two companies, one of which struck across the country, while the other came on in pirogues. The first arrived earliest on the spot of their intended settlement, and had commensed erecting log huts above the mouth of Paint Creek, at the 'Prairie Station,' before the others had come on by water. About three hundred acres of the prairie were cultivated in corn that season. " In August, of this year — 1796 — Chillicothe* was laid out by Col. Massie in a dense forest. He gave a lot to each of the first settlers, and, by the beginning of winter, about twenty cabins were erected. Not long after, a ferry was established across the Scioto, at the north end of Walnut street. The opening of Zane's trace produced a great change in travel westward, it having pre- viously been along the Ohio in keel-boats or canoes, or by land, over the Cumberland Mountains, through Crab Orchard, in Kentucky. " The emigrants brought corn-meal in their pi- rogues, and after that was gone, their principal meal, until the next summer, was that pounded in hominy mortars, which meal, when made into bread, and anointed with bear's-oil, was quite pal- atable. "When the settlers first came, whisky was $4.50 per gallon; but, in the spring of 1797, when the keel-boats began to run, the Monongahela whisky- makers, having found a good market for their fire- water, rushed it in, in such quantities, that the cabins were crowded with it, and it soon fell to 50 cents. Men, women and children, with some excep- tions, drank it freely, and many who had been respectable and temperate became inebriates. Many of Wayne's soldiers and camp-women settled in the town, so that, for a time, it became a town of drunkards and a sink of corruption. There was, however, a little leaven, which, in a few months, began to develop itself " In the spring of 1797, one Brannon stole a great coat, handkerchief and shirt. He and his wife absconded, were pursued, caught and brought back. Samuel Smith was appointed Judge, a jury impanneled, one attorney appointed by the Judge to manage the prosecution, and another the defense ; witnesses were examined, the case argued, and the evidence summed up by the Judge. The jury, having retired a few moments, returned with a verdict of guilty, and that the culprit be sen- tenced according to the discretion of the Judge. The Judge soon announced that the criminal should have ten lashes on his naked back, or that he should sit on a bare pack-saddle on his pony, and that his wife, who was supposed to have had some agency in the theft, should lead the pony to every house in the village, and proclaim, ' This is *rhniicothe appears to have been a favorite name among the Indians, as many localities were known by that name. Col. John Johnston says : "Chillicothe is the name of one of the principal tribes of the Shawanees. They would B&y y Cfiil-i-cothe-otany, i. e., Chillicothe town. The Wyandots would say, for Chillicothe town, Tat-a-ra-ra, Do-tia, or town at the leaning of the bank." ;%" ^1 '.^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 105 Brannon, who stole the great coat, handkerchief and shirt;' and that James B., Finley, afterward Chaplain in the State Penitentiary, should see the sentence faithfully carried out. Brannon chose the latter sentence, and the ceremony was faith- fully performed by his wife in the presence of every cabin, under Mr. Finley's care, after which the couple made off. This was rather rude, but effective jurisprudence. " Dr. Edward Tiffin and Jlr. Thomas Worth- ington, of Berkley County ,Va., were brothers-in-law, and being moved by abolition principles, liberated their slaves, intending to remove into the Ter- ritory. For this purpose, Mr. Worthington visited ChUlicothe in the autumn of 1797, and purchased several in and out lots of the town. On one of the former, he erected a two-story frame house, the first of the kind in the village. On his return, having purchased a part of a farm, on which his family long afterward resided, and another at the north fork of Paint Creek, he contracted with Mr. Joseph Yates, a millwright, and Mr. George Haines, a blacksmith, to come out with him the following winter or spring, and erect for him a grist and saw mill on his north-fork tract. The summer, fall and following winter of that year were marked by a rush of emigration, which spead over the high bank prairie. Pea-pea, Westfall and a few miles up Paint and Deer Creeks. " Nearly all the first settlers were either regular members, or had been raised in the Presbyterian Church. Toward the fall of 1797, the leaven of piety retained by a portion of the first settlers be- gan to difiuse itself through the mass, and a large log meeting-house was erected near the old grave- yard, and Rev. William Speer, from Pennsylvania, took charge. The sleepers at first served as seats for hearers, and a split-log table was used as a pulpit. Mr. Speer was a gentlemanly, moral man, tall and cadaverous in person, and wore the cocked hat of the Revolutionary era. " Thomas Jones arrived in February, 1798, bringing with him the first load of bar-iron in the Scioto Valley, and about the same time Maj. Elias Langham, an officer of the Revolution, arrived. Dr. Tiffin, and his brother, Joseph, arrived the same month from, Virginia and opened a store not far from the log meeting-house. A store had been opened previously by John McDougal. The 17th of April, the families of Col. Worthington and Dr. Tiffin arrived, at which time the first marriage in the Scioto Valley was celebrated. The parties were George Kilgore and Elizabeth Cochran. The ponies of the attendants were hitched to the trees along the streets, which were not then cleared out, nearly the whole town being a wilderness. Joseph Yates, George Haines, and two or three others, arrived with the families of Tiffin and Worthing- ton. On their arrival there were but four shingled roofs in town, on one of which the shingles were fastened with pegs. Col. Worthington's house was the only one having glass windows. The sash of the hotel windows was filled with greased paper. " Col. Worthington was appointed by Gen. Ru- fiis Putnam, Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory, surveyor of a large district of Congress lands, on the east side of the Scioto, and Maj. Langham and a Mr. Matthews, were appointed to survey the residue of the lands which afterward composed the Chillicothe land district. "The same season, settlements were made about the Walnut Plains by Samuel McCulloh and others; Springer, Osbourn, Dyer, and Thomas and Elijah Chenowith, on Darly Creek; Lamberts and others on Sippo; on Foster's Bottom, the Fosters, Samuel Davis and others, while the following fam- ilies settled in and about Chillicothe: John Grouse, William Keys, William Lamb, John Carlisle, John McLanberg, William Chandless, the Stoctons, Greggs, Bates and some others. " Dr. Tiffin and his wife were the first Metho- dists in the Scioto Valley. He was a local preacher. In the fall, Worthington's grist and saw mills on the north fork of Paint Creek were finished, the first mills worthy the name in the valley. " Chillicothe was the point from which the set^ dements diverged. In May, 1799, a post office was established here, and Joseph Tiffin made Post- master. Mr. Tiffin and Thomas Gregg opened taverns ; the first, under the sign of Gen. Anthony Wayne, was at the corner of Water and Walnut streets; and the last, under the sign of the 'Green Tree,' was on the corner of Paint and Water streets. In 1801, Nathaniel Willis moved in and established the Scioto Gazette, probably, the sec- ond paper in the Territory."* In 1800, the seat of government of the North- west Territory was removed, by law of Congress, from Cincinnati to Chillicothe. The sessions of the Territorial Assembly for that and the next year were held in a small two-story, hewed-log house, erected in 1798, by Bazil Abrams. A wing was added to the main part, of two stories in * Recollections of Hon. Thomaa Scott, of Chillicothe — Howe'a Annals of Ohio. i, ^ ^1 '-ii. 106 HISTOEY OF OHIO. height. In the lower room of this wing, Col. Thomas Gibson, Auditor of the Territory, kept his oflBce, and in the upper room a small family lived. In the upper room of the main building a billiard table was kept. It was also made a re- sort of gamblers and disreputable characters. The lower room was used by the Legislature, and as a court room, a church or a school. In the war of 1812, the building was a rendezvous and barracks for soldiers, and, in 1840, was pulled down. The old State House was commenced in 1800, and finished the next year for the accommodation of the Legislature and the courts. It is said to be the first public stone edifice erected in the Ter- ritory. Maj. William Rutledge, a Revolutionary soldier, did the mason work, and William Guthrie, the carpenter. In 1801, the Territorial Legislature held their first session in it. In it was also held the Constitutional Convention of Ohio, which be- gan its sessions the first Monday in November, 1802. In March, 1803, the first State Legislature met in the house, and continued their sessions here until 1810. The sessions of 1810-11, and 1811- 12, were held in Zanesville, and from there re- moved back to Chillicothe and held in the old State House till 1816, when Columbus became the permanent capital of the State. Making Chillicothe the State capital did much to enhance its growth. It was incorporated in 1802, and a town council elected. In 1807, the town had fourteen stores, six hotels, two newspa- pers, two churches — both brick buildings — and over two hundred dwellings. The removal of the capital to Columbus checked its growth a little, still, being in an excellent country, rapidly filling with settlers, the town has always remained a prominent trading center. During the war of 1812, Chillicothe was made a rendezvous for United States soldiers, and a prison established, in which many British prison- ers were confined. At one time, a conspiracy for escape was discovered just in time to prevent it. The plan was for the prisoners to disarm the guard, proceed to jail, release the officers, burn the town, and escape to Canada. The plot was fortu- nately disclosed by two senior British officers, upon which, as a measure of security, the officers and chief conspirators were sent to the penitentiary at Frankfort, Kentucky. Two or three miles northwest of Chillicothe, on a beautiful elevation, commanding an extensive view of the valley of the Scioto, Thomas Worth- ington,* one of the most prominent and influential men of his day, afterward Governor of the State, in 1806, erected a large stone mansion, the wonder of the valley in its time. It was the most elegant mansion in the West, crowds coming to see it when it was completed. Gov. Worthington named the place Adena, " Paradise " — a name not then considered hyperbolical. The large panes of glass, and the novelty of papered walls especially attracted attention. Its architect was the elder Latrobe, of Washington City, from which place most of the workmen came. The glass was made in Pitts- burgh, and the fireplace fronts in Philadelphia, the latter costing seven dollars per hundred pounds for transportation. The mansion, built as it was, cost nearly double the expense of such structures now. Adena was the home of the Governor till his death, in 1827. Near Adena, in a beautiful situation, is Fruit Hill, the seat of Gen. Duncan McArthur,f and later of ex-Gov. William Allen. Like Adena, Fruit Hill is one of the noted places in the Scioto Val- ley. Many of Ohio's best men dwelt in the valley ; men who have been an honor and ornament to the State and nation. Another settlement, begun soon after the treaty of peace in 1795, was that made on the Licking River, about four miles below the present city of Newark, in Licking County. In the fall of 1798, John Ratliff and Elias Hughes, while prospecting on this stream, found some old Indian cornfields, and determined to locate. They were from West- ern Virginia, and were true pioneers, living mainly by hunting, leaving the cultivation of their small cornfields to their wives, much after the style of * Gov. Worthington waa born in Jefferaon County, Va., about the year 1769. He settled in Ohio in 1798. He was a firm believer in liberty and came to the Territory after liberating his slaves. He was one of the most efScient men of his day ; ^vas a member of the Constitutional Convention, and was sent on an important mission to Congress relative to the admission of Ohio to the Union. He was afterward a Senator to Congress, and then Governor. On the expiration of his gubernatorial term, he was appointed a mem- ber of the Board of Public Works, in which capacity he did much to advance the canals and railroads, and other public improve- ments. He remained in this ofQce till bis death. t Gen. McArthur was horn in Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1772. When eight years of age, his father removed to Western Pennsyl- vania. When eighteen years of age, he served in Harmar'a campaign. In 1792, he was a very efRcient soldier among the front- iersmen, and gained their approbation by his bravery. In 1793, he was connected with Gen. Massie, and afterward- was engaged la land speculations and became very wealthy. He was made a mem- ber of the Legislature, in 1805 ; in 1800, a Colonel, and in 1808, a Major General of the militia. In this capacity he was in Hull's Burrpnderat Detroit. On his return he was elected to Congress, and in 1813 commissioned Brigadier General. He was one of the most efficient otEcers ia the war of 1812, and held many important posts. After the war, he was again sent to the Legislature ; in 1822 to Congress, and in 1830 elected Governor of the State. By an un- fortunate accident in I83G, he was maimed for life, and gradually declined till death came a few years after. ^ S~ — ® 'V ^^ HISTOEY OF OHIO. 107 their dusky neighbors. They were both inveterate Indian-haters, and never allowed an opportunity to pass without carrying out their hatred. For this, they were apprehended after the treaty; but, though it was clearly proven they had murdered some inofiFensive Indians, the state of feeling was such that they were allowed to go unpunished. A short time after their settlement, others joined them, and, in a few years, quite a colony had gathered on the banks of the Licking. In 1802, Newark was laid out, and, in three or four years, there were twenty or thirty families, several stores and one or two hotels. The settlement of Granville Township, in this county, is rather an important epoch in the history of this part of the State. From a sketch pub- lished by Rev. Jacob Little in 1848, in Howe's Collections, the subjoined statements are taken: "In 1804, a company was formed at Granville, Mass., with the intention of making a settlement in Ohio. This, called the Scioto Company, was the third of that name which effected settlements in Ohio. The project met with great favor, and much enthusiasm was elicited, in illustration of which a song was composed and sung to the tune of ' Pleasant Ohio ' by the young people in the house and at labor in the field. We annex two stanzas, which are more curious than poetical : "'When rambling o'er these mountains And rocks where ivies grow Thick as the hairs upon your head, 'Mongst which you cannot go — Great storms of snow, cold winds that blow, We scarce can undergo — Says I, my boys, we'll leave this place For the pleasant Ohio. " 'Our precious friends that stay behind, We're sorry now to leave; But if they'll stay and break their shins, For them we'll never grieve. Adieu, my friends! — Come on, my dears, This journey we'll forego, And settle Licking Creek, In yonder Ohio.' " " The Scioto Company consisted of one hundred and fourteen proprietors, who made a purchase of twenty-eight thousand acres. In the autumn of 1805, two hundred and thirty-four persons, mostly from East Granville, Mass., came on to the pur- chase. Although they had been forty-two days on the road, their first business, on their arrival, hav- ing organized a church before they left the East, was to hear a sermon. The first tree out was that by which public worship was held, which stood just in front of the Presbyterian church. On the first Sabbath, November 16, although only about a dozen trees had been felled, they held divine service, both forenoon and afternoon, on that spot. The novelty of worshiping in the woods, the forest extending hundreds of miles each way ; the hardships of the journey, the winter set- ting in, the thoughts of home, with all the friends and privileges left behind, and the impression that such must be the accommodations of anew country, all rushed on their minds, and made thk a day of varied interest. When they began to sing, the echo of their voices among the trees was so differ- ent from what it was in the beautifiil meeting- house they had left, that they could no longer restrain their tears. They wept when they remem- bered Zion. The voices of part of the choir were, for a season, suppressed with emotion. "An incident occurred, which many said Mrs. Sigourney should have put into verse. Deacon Theophilus Reese, a Welsh Baptist, had, two or three years before, built a cabin, a mile and a half north, and lived all this time without public wor- ship. He had lost his cattle, and, hearing a low- ing of the oxen belonging to the Company, set out toward them. As he ascended the hills overlook- ing the town plot, he heard the singing of the choir. The reverberation of the sound from hill- tops and trees, threw the good man into a serious dilemma. The music at first seemed to be behind, then in the tree-tops, or in the clouds. He stopped, till, by accurate listening, he caught the direction of the sound ; went on and passing the brow of the hill, he saw the audience sitting on the level below. He went home and told his wife that ' the promise of God is a bond ' ; a Welsh proverb, signifying that we have security, equal to a bond, that religion will prevail everywhere. He said : ' These must be good people. I am not afraid to go among them.' Though he could not under- stand English, he constantly attended the reading meeting. Hearing the music on that occasion made such an impression on his mind that, when he became old and met the first settlers, he would always tell over this story. The first cabin built was that in which they worshiped succeeding Sabbaths, and, before the close of the winter, they had a schoolhouse and a school. That church, in forty years, received more than one thousand per- sons into its membership. "Elder Jones, in 1806, preached the first ser- mon in the log church. The Welsh Baptist 5 1^ -^ 108 HISTORY OF OHIO. Churcli was organized in the cabin of David Thomas, September 4, 1808. April 21, 1827, the Granville members were organized into the Granville Church, and the corner-stone of their house of worship laid September 21, 1829. In the fall of 1810, the first Methodist sermon was preached here, and, soon after, a class organized. In 1824, a church was built. An Episcopal church was organized in May, 1827, and a church consecrated in 1838. In 1849, there were in this township 405 families, of whom 214 sustain family worship ; 1431 persons over four- teen years of age, of whom over 800 belong to church. The town had 1 50 families, of whom 80 have family worship. In 1846, the township furnished 70 school teachers, of whom 62 prayed in school. In 1846, the township took 621 peri- odical papers, besides three small monthlies. The first temperance society west of the mountains was organized July 15, 1828, in this township; and, in 1831, the Congregational Church passed a by- law to accept no member who trafficked in or used ardent spirits." It is said, not a settlement in the entire West could present so moral and upright a view as that of Granville Township; and nowhere could so perfect and orderly a set of people be found. Surely, the fact is argument enough in favor of the rehgion of Jesus. The narrative of Mr. Little also states that, when Granville was first settled, it was supposed that Worthington would be the capital of Ohio, between which and Zanesville, Granville would make a great half-way town. At this time, wild animals, snakes and Indians abounded, and many are the marvelous stories preserved regarding the destruction of the animals and reptiles — the Indians being bound by their treaty to remain peaceful. Space forbids their repetition here. Suffice it to say that, as th^ whites increased, the Indians, animals and snakes disappeared, until now one is as much a curiosity as the other. The remaining settlement in the southwest- ern parts of Ohio, made immediately after the treaty — fall of 1795 or year of 1796 — was in what is now Madison County, about a mile north of where the village of Amity now stands, on the banks of the Big Darby. This stream received its name from the Indians, from a Wyandot chief, named Darby, who for a long time resided upon it, near the Union County line. In the fall of 1795, Benj amin Springer came from Kentucky and selected some land on the banks of the Big Darby, cleared the ground, built a cabin, and returned for his famfly. The next spring, he brought them out, and began his life here. The same summer he was joined by William Lapin, Joshua and James Ew- ing and one or two others. When Springer came, he found a white man named Jonathan Alder, who for fifteen years had been a captive among the Indians, and who could not speak a word of English, living with an Indian woman on the Ibanks of Big Darby. He had been exchanged at Wayne's treaty, and, neglecting to profit by the treaty, was still living in the Indian style. When the whites became numerous about him his desire to find his relatives, and adopt the ways of the whites, led him to discard his squaw — giving her an unusual allowance — learn the English language, engage in agricultural pursuits, and be- come again civilized. Fortunately, he could remem- ber enough of the names of some of his parents' neighbors, so that the identity of his relatives and friends was easily established, and Alder became a most useful citizen. He was very influential with the Indians, and induced many of them to remain neutral during the war of 1812. It is stated that in 1800, Mr. Ewing brought four sheep into the com- munity. They were strange animals to the Indians. One day when an Indian hunter and his dog were passing, the latter caught a sheep, and was shot by Mr. Ewing. The Indian would have shot Ewing in retaliation, had not Alder, who was fortunately present, with much difficulty prevailed upon him to refrain. While the southern and southwestern parts of the State were filling with settlers, assured of safety by Wayne's victories, the northern and eastern parts became likewise the theater of activities. Ever since the French had explored the southern shores of the lake, and English traders had car- ried goods thither, it was expected one day to be a valuable part of the West. It will be remem- bered that Connecticut had ceded a large tract of land to the General Government, and as soon as the cession was confirmed, and land titles became assured, settlers flocked thither. Even before that time, hardy adventurers had explored some of the country, and pronounced it a "goodly land," ready for the hand of enterprise. The first settlement in the Western Keserve, and, indeed, in the northern part of the State, was made at the mouth of Conneaut* Creek, in Ash- tabula County, on the '4th of July, 1796. That * Conneaut, in the Seneca language, signifies "many fish." :^ l>^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 109 day, the first surveying party landed at the mouth of this creek, and, on its eastern bank, near the lake shore, in tin cups, pledged — as they drank the limpid waters of the lake — their country's welfare, with the ordnance accompaniment of two or three fowling-pieces, discharging the required national salute. The whole party, on this occasion, numbered fifty-two persons, of whom two were females (^Mrs. Stiles and Mrs. Guna) and a child, and all deserve a lasting place in the history of the State. The next day, they began the erection of a large log building on the sandy beach on the east side of the stream. When done, it was named " Stow Castle," after one of the party. It was the dwell- ing, storehouse and general habitation of all the pioneers. The party made this their headquar- ters part of the summer, and continued busily engaged in the survey of the Reserve. James Kingsbury, afterward Judge, arrived soon after the party began work, and, with his family, was the first to remain here during the winter follow- ing, the rest returning to the East, or going south- ward. Through the winter, Mr. Kingsbury's family sufiered greatly for provisions, so much so, that, during the absence of the head of the family in New York for provisions, one chOd, born in his absence, died, and the mother, reduced by her suf- ferings and solitude, was only saved by the timely arrival of the husband and father with a sack of flour he had carried, many weary miles, on his back. He remained here but a short time, re- moving to Cleveland, which was laid out that same fall. In the spring of 1798, Alexander Harper, WilHam MoFarland and Ezra Gregory, with their families, started from Harpersfield, Delaware Co., N. Y., and arrived the last of June, at their new homes in the Far West. The whole population on the Reserve then amounted to less than one hun- dred and fifty persons. These were at Cleveland, Youngstown and at Mentor. During the summer, three families came to Burton, and Judge Hudson settled at Hudson. All these pioneers sufiered severely for food, and from the fever induced by chills. It took several years to become accli- mated. Sometimes the entire neighborhood ' would be down, and only one or two, who could wait on the rest "between chills," were able to do anything. Time and courage overcame, finally. It was not until 1798, that a permanent settle- ment was made at the mouth of Conneaut Creek. Those who came there in 1796 went on with their surveys, part remaining in Cleveland, laid out that summer. Judge Kingsbury could not remain at Conneaut, and went nearer the settlements made about the Cuyahoga. Inthespring of 1798, Thomas Montgomery and Aaron Wright settled here and remained. Up the stream they found some thirty Indian cabins, or huts, in a good state of preserva- tion, which they occupied until they could erect their own. Soon after, they were joined by others, and, in a year or two, the settlement was permanent and prosperous. The site of the present town of Austinburg in Ashtabula County was settled in the year 1799, by two families from Connecticut, who were in- duced to come thither, by Judge Austin. The Judge preceded them a short time, driving, in company with a hired man, some cattle about one hundred and fifty miles through the woods, follow- ing an old Indian trail, while the rest of the party came in a boat across the lake. When they ar- rived, there were a few families at Harpersburg ; one or two families at Windsor, twenty miles southwest; also a few families at Elk Creek, forty miles northeast, and at Vernon, the same distance southeast. All these were in a destitute condition for provisions. In 1800, another family moved from Norfolk, Conn. In the spring of 1801, sev- eral famDies came from the same place. Part came by land, and part by water. During that season, wheat was carried to an old mill on Elk Creek, forty miles away, and in some instances, half was given for carrying it to mill and returning it in flour. Wednesday, October 21, 1801, a church of six- teen members was constituted in Austinburg. This was the first church on the Reserve, and was founded by Rev. Joseph Badger, the first mission- ary there. It is a fact worthy of note, that in 1802, Mr. Badger moved his family from Buff'alo to this town, in the first wagon that ever came from that place to the Reserve. In 1803, noted revivals occurred in this part of the West, attended by the peculiar bodOy phenomenon known as the " shakes " or "jerks." The surveying party which landed at the mouth of Conneaut Creek, July 4, 1796, soon completed their labors in this part of the Reserve, and ex- tended them westward. By the first of September, they had explored the lake coast as far west as the outlet of the Cuyahoga* River, then considered * Cuyahoga, in the Indian language, signifies "crooked." — Howe's Collections. "The Indians called the river ' Cuyahoghan-uk,' 'Lake Kiver ' It is, emphatically, a Lahe river. It rises in lakes and empties into a lake." — Atwater's History o/ Ohio. 5 ""V ■^ no HISTORY OF OHIO. by all an important Western place, and one des- tined to be a great commercial mart. Time has verified the prophecies, as now the city of Cleve- land covers the site. As early as 1755, the mouth of the Cuyahoga River was laid down on the maps, and the French had a station here. It was also considered an im- portant post during the war of the Revolution, and later, of 1812. The British, who, after the Revolution, refused to abandon the lake country west of the Cuyahoga, occupied its shores until 1790. Their traders had a house in Ohio City, north of the Detroit road, on the point of the hill near the river, when the surveyors arrived in 1796. Washington, Jefferson, and all statesmen of that day, regarded the outlet of the Cuyahoga as an important place, and hence the early at- tempt of the surveyors to reach and lay out a town here. The corps of surveyors arrived early in Septem- ber, 1796, and at once proceeded to lay out a town. It was named Cleveland, in honor of G-en. Moses Cleveland, the Land Company's agent, and for years a very prominent man in Connecticut, where he lived and died. By the 18th of October, the surveyors had completed the survey and left the place, leaving only Job V. StOes and family, and Edward Paine, who were the only persons that passed the succeeding winter in this place. Their residence was a log cabin that stood on a spot of ground long afterward occupied by the Commercial Bank. Their nearest neighbors were at Conne- aut, where Judge Kingsbury lived; at Fort Mcintosh, on the south or east, at the mouth of Big Beaver, and at the mouth of the river Raisin, on the west. The next season, the surveying party came again to Cleveland, which they made their headquarters. Early in the spring, Judge Kingsbury came over from Conneaut, bringing with him Elijah Gunn, who had a short time before joined him. Soon after, Maj. Lorenzo Carter and Ezekiel Hawley came with their famiHes. These were about all who are known to have settled in this place that summer. The next year, 1798, Rodolphus Ed- wards and Nathaniel Doane and their families set- tled in Cleveland. Mr. Doane had been ninety- two days on his journey from Chatham, Conn. In the latter part of the summer and fall, nearly every person in the settlement was down with the bil- ious fever or with the ague. Mr. Doane's family consisted of nine persons, of whom Seth, a lad six- teen years of age, was the only one able to care for them. Such was the severity of the fever, that any one having only the ague was deemed quite fortunate. Much suffering for proper food and medicines followed. The only way the Doane family was supplied for two months or more, was through the exertions of this boy, who went daily, after having had one attack of the chills, to Judge Kingsbury's in Newburg — five miles away, where the Judge now lived — got a peck of corn, mashed it in a hand-mill, waited until a second attack of the chills passed over, and then returned. At one time, for several days, he was too ill to make the trip, during which turnips comprised the chief article of diet. Fortunately, Maj. Carter, having only the ague, was enabled with his trusty rifle and dogs to procure an abundance of venison and other wild game. His family, being somewhat acclimated, suffered less than many others. Their situation can hardly now be realized. " Destitute of a physician, and with few medicines, necessity taught them to use such means as nature had placed within their reach. They substituted pills from the extract of the bitternut bark for calomel, and dogwood and cherry bark for quinine." In November, four men, who had so far recov- ered as to have ague attacks no oftener than once in two or three days, started in the only boat for Walnut Creek, Penn., to obtain a winter's supply of flour. When below Euclid Creek, a storm drove them ashore, broke their boat, and compelled their return. During the winter and summer fol- lowing, the settlers had no flour, except that ground in hand and coffee mills, which was, how- ever, considered very good. Not all had even that. During the summer, the Connecticut Land Com- pany opened the first road on the Reserve, which commenced about ten miles south of the lake shore, on the Pennsylvania State line, and extended to Cleveland. In January, 1799, Mr. Doane moved to Doane's Corners, leaving only Maj. Car- ter's family in Cleveland, all the rest leaving as soon as they were well enough. For fifteen months, the Major and his family were the only white per- sons left on the town site. During the spring, Wheeler W. Williams and Maj. Wyatt built the first grist-mill on the Reserve, on the site of New- burg. It was looked upon as a very valuable acces- sion to the neighborhood. Prior to this, each fam- ily had its own hand-mill in one of the corners of the cabin. The old mill is thus described by a pioneer : " The stones were of the common grindstone grit, about four inches thick, and twenty in diame- ;^ HISTORY OF OHIO. Ill ter. The runner, or upper, was turned by hand, by a pole set in the top of it, near the outer edge. The upper end of the pole was inserted into a hole in a board fastened above to the joists, immedi- ately over the hole in the verge of the runner. One person fed the corn into the eye — a hole in the center of the runner — while another turned. It was very hard work to grind, and the operators alternately exchanged places." In 1800, several settlers came to the town and a more active life was the result. From this time, Cleveland began to progress. The -Ith of July, 1801, the first ball in town was held at Major Carter's log cabin, on the hill-side. John and Benjamin Wood, and R. H. Blinn were managers; and Maj. Samuel Jones, musician and master of ceremonies. The company numbered about thirty, very evenly divided, for the times, between the sexes. " Notwithstanding the dancers had a rough puncheon floor, and no better beverage to enliven their spirits than sweetened whisky, yet it is doubt- ful if the anniversary of American independence was ever celebrated in Cleveland by a more joyful and harmonious company than those who danced the scamper-down, double-shuffle, western-swing and half-moon, that day, in Maj. Carter's cabin." The growth of the town, from this period on, re- mained prosperous. The usual visits of the Indi- ans were made, ending in their drunken carousals and fights. Deer and other wild animals furnished abundant meat. The settlement was constantly augmented by new arrivals, so that, by 1814, Cleve- land was incorporated as a town, and, in 1836, as a city. Its harbor is one of the best on the lakes, and hence the merchandise of the lakes has always been attracted thither. Like Cincinnati and Chil- lieothe, it became the nucleus of settlements in this part of the State, and now is the largest city in Northern Ohio. One of the earUest settlements made in the Western Reserve, and by some claimed as the first therein, was made on the site of Youngstown, Ma- honing County, by a Mr. Young, afterward a Judge, in the summer of 1796. During this summer, before the settlements at Cuyahoga and Conneaut were made, Mr. Young and Mr. Wilcott, proprie- tors of a township of land in Northeastern Ohio, came to their possessions and began the survey of their land. Just when they came is not known. They were found here by Col. James Hillman, then a trader in the employ of Duncan & Wilson, of Pittsburgh, " who had been forwarding goods across the country by pack-saddle horses since 1786, to the mouth of the Cuyahoga, thence to be shipped on the schooner Mackinaw to Detroit. Col. Hillman generally had charge of all these caravans, consisting sometimes of ninety horses and ten men. They commonly crossed the Big Beaver four miles below the mouth of the She- nango, thence up the left bank of the Mahoning — called by the Indians " Mahoni" or " Mahonick" signifying the "lick" or " at the lick" — crossing it about three miles below the site of Youngstown, thence by way of the Salt Springs, over the sites of Milton and Ravenna, crossing the Cuyahoga at the mouth of Breakneck and again at the mouth of Tinker's Creek, thence down the river to its mouth, where they had a log hut in which to store their goods. This hut was there when the surveyors came, but at the time unoccupied. At the mouth of Tinker's Creek were a few log huts built by Moravian Missionaries. These were used only one year, as the Indians had gone to the Tus- carawas River. These and three or four cabins at the Salt Springs were the only buildings erected by the whites prior to 1796, in Northeastern Ohio. Those at the Salt Springs were built at an early day for the accommodation of whites who came from Western Pennsylvania to make salt. The tenants were dispossessed in 1785 by Gen. Harmar. A short time after, one or two white men were killed by the Indians here. In 1788, Col. Hill- man settled at Beavertown, where Duncan & Wilson had a store for the purpose of trading with the Indians. He went back to Pittsburgh soon after, however, owing to the Indian war, and remained there till its close, continuing in his busi- ness whenever opportunity offered. In 1796, when returning from one of his trading expeditions alone in his canoe down the Mahoning River, he discovered a smoke on the bank near the present town of Youngstown, and on going to the spot found Mr. Young and Mr. Wolcott, as before men- tioned. A part of Col. Hillman 's cargo consisted of whisky, a gallon or so of which he still had. The price of " fire-water " then was $1 per quart in the currency of the country, a deerskin being legal tender for $1, and a doeskin for 50 cents. Mr. Young proposed purchasing a quart, and having a frolic on its contents during the even- ing, and insisted on paying Hillman his cus- tomary price. Hillman urged that inasmuch as they were strangers in the country, civility re- quired him to furnish the means for the entertain- ment. Young, however, insisted, and taking the deerskin used for his bed — ^the only one he had — ^0 \> v 113 HISTOKT OF OHIO. and no check in the emigration paid for his quart of whisky, and an evening's frolic was the result. " Hillman remained a few days, when they ac- companied him to Beaver Town to celebrate the 4th, and then all returned, and Hillman erected a cabin on the site of Youngstown. It is not cer- tain that they remained here at this time, and hence' the priority of actual settlement is generally conceded to Conneaut and Cleveland. The next year, in the fall, a Mr. Brown and one other per- son came to the banks of the Mahoning and made a permanent settlement. The same season Uriah Holmes and Titus Hayes came to the same locality, and before winter quite a settlement was to be seen here. It proceeded quite prosperously until the wanton murder of two Indians occurred, which, for a time, greatly excited the whites, lest the In- dians should retaliate. Through the efforts of Col. Hillman, who had great influence with the natives, they agreed to let the murderers stand a trial. They were acquitted upon some technicality. The trial, however, pacified the Indians, and no trouble came from the unwarranted and unfortu- nate circumstance, or prosperity of the colony occurred."* As soon as an efiective settlement had been es- tablished at Youngstown, others were made in the surrounding country. One of these was begun by William Fenton in 1798, on the site of the pres- ent town of Warren, in Trumbull County. He remained here alone one year, when he was joined by Capt. Ephraim Quimby. By the last of Sep- tember, the next year, the colony had increased to sixteen, and from that date on continued prosper- ously. Once or twice they stood in fear of the Indians, as the result of quarrels induced by whisky. Sagacious persons generally saved any serious outbreak and pacified the natives. Mr. Badger, the first missionary on the Reserve, came to the settlement here and on the Mahoning, as soon as each was made, and, by his earnest labors, succeeded in forming churches and schools at an early day. He was one of the most efficient men on the Reserve, and throughout his long and busy life, was well known and greatly respected. He died in 1846, aged eighty-nine years. The settlements given are about all that were made before the close of 1797. In following the narrative of these settlements, attention is paid to the chronological order, as far as this can be done. Like those settlements already made, many which * BecoliectiODS of Col. Hillmaa. — Howr's Annah. are given as occurring in the next year, 1798, were actually begun earlier, but were only tem- porary preparations, and were not considered as made until the next year. Turning again to the southern portion of Ohio, the Scioto, Muskingum and Miami Valleys come prominently into notice. Throughout the entire Eastern States they were still attracting attention, and an increased emigration, busily occupying their verdant fields, was the result. All about Chilli- cothe was now well settled, and, up the banks of that stream, prospectors were selecting sites for their future homes. In 1797, Robert Armstrong, George Skidmore, Lucas SuUivant, William Domigan, James Mar- shall, John Dill, Jacob Grubb, Jacob Overdier, Arthur O'Hara, John Brickell, Col. Culbertson, the Deardorfs, McElvains, Selles and others, came to what is now Franklin County, and, in August, Mr. SuUivant and some others laid out the town of Franklinton, on the west bank of the Scioto, oppo- site the site of Columbus. The country about this locality had long been the residence of the Wyan- dotSj who had a large town on the city's site, and cultivated extensive fields of corn on the river bot- toms. The locality had been visited by the whites as early as 1780, in some of their expeditions, and the fertility of the land noticed. As soon as peace was assured, the whites came and began a settle- ment, as has been noted. Soon after Franklinton was established, a Mr. Springer and his son-in-law, Osborn, settled on the Big Darby, and, in the sum- mer of 1798, a scattering settlement was made on Alum Creek. About the same time settlers came to the mouth of the Gahannah, and along other water-courses. Franklinton was the point to which emigrants came, and from which they always made their permanent location. For several years there was no mill, nor any such commodity, nearer than Chillicothe. A hand-mill was constructed in Franklinton, which was commonly used, unless the settlers made a trip to Chillicothe in a canoe. Next, a horse-mill was tried ; but not till 1805, when Col. Kilbourne built a mill at Worthington, settled in 1803, could any efficient grinding be done. In 1789, a small store was openedin Frank- linton, by James Scott, but, for seven or eight years, Chillicothe was the nearest post office. Often, when the neighbors wanted mail, one of their number was furnished money to pay the postage on any letters that might be waiting, and sent for the mail. At first, as in all new localities, a great deal of sickness, fever and ague, prevailed. -* S ^ iii^ HISTOET OF OHIO. 113 As the people became acclimated, this, however, disappeared. The township of Sharon in this county has a history similar to that of Granville Township in Licking County. It was settled by a " Scioto Company," formed in Grranby, Conn., in the winter of 1801-02, consisting at first of eight associates. They drew up articles of association, among which was one limiting their number to forty, each of whom must be unanimously chosen by ballot, a single negative beingsufficienttopreventan election. Col. James Kilbourne was sent out the succeeding spring to explore the country and select and pur- chase a township for settlement. He returned in the fall without making any purchase, through fear that the State Constitution, then about to be formed, would tolerate slavery, in which case the project would have been abandoned. While on this visit, Col. Kilbourne compiled from a variety of sources the first map made of Ohio. Although much of it was conjectured, and hence inaccurate, it was very valuable, being correct as far as the State was then known. "As soon as information was received that the constitution of Ohio prohibited slavery. Col. Kil- bourne purchased the township he had previously selected, within the United States military land district, and, in the spring of 1803, returned to Ohio, and began improvements. By the succeed- ing December, one hundred settlers, mainly from Hartford County, Conn., and Hampshire County, Mass., arrived at their new home. Obeying to the letter the agreement made in the East, the first cabin erected was used for a schoolhouse and a church of the Protestant Episcopal denomination ; the first Sabbath after the arrival of the colony, divine service was held therein, and on the arrival of the eleventh family a school was opened. This early attention to education and religion has left its favorable impress upon the people until this day. The first 4th of July was uniquely and appropri- ately celebrated. Seventeen gigantic trees, em- blematical of the seventeen States forming the Union, were cut, so that a few blows of the ax, at sunrise on the 4th, prostrated each successively with a tremendous crash, forming a national salute novel in the world's history."* The growth of this part of Ohio continued without interruption until the establishment of the State capital at Columbus, in 1816. The town was laid out in 1812, but, as that date is considered re- ♦Howe's Collections. mote in the early American settlements, its history will be left to succeeding pages, and there traced when the history of the State capital and State government is given. The site of Zanesville, in Muskingum County, was early looked upon as an excellent place to form a settlement, and, had not hostilities opened in 1Y91, with the Indians, the place would have been one of the earliest settled in Ohio. As it was, the war so disarranged matters, that it was not till 1797 that a permanent settlement was efi'ected. The Muskingum country was principally occu- pied, in aboriginal times, by the Wyandots, Dela- wares, and a few Senecas and Shawanees. An In- dian town once stood, years before the settlement of the country, in the vicinity of Duncan's Falls, in Muskingum County, from which circumstance the place is often called " Old Town." Near Dres- den, was a large Shawanee town, called Wakato- maca. The graveyard was qilite large, and, when the whites first settled here, remains of the town were abundant. It was in this vicinity that the venerable Maj. Cass, father of Lewis Cass, lived and died. He owned 4,000 acres, given him for his military services. The first settlers on the site of Zanesville were WiUiam BlcCuUoh and Henry Crooks. The lo- cality was given to Ebenezer Zane, who had been allowed three sections of land on the Scioto, Mus- kingum and Hockhocking, wherever the road crossed these rivers, provided other prior claims did not interfere, for opening "Zane's trace." When he located the road across the Muskingum, he selected the place where Zanesville now stands, being attracted there by the excellent water privi- leges. He gave the section of land here to his brother Jonathan Zane, and J. Mclntire, who leased the ferry, established on the road over the Muskingum, to William McCulloh and Henry Crooks, who became thereby the first settlers. The ferry was kept about where the old upper bridge was afterward placed. The ferry-boat was made by fastening two canoes together with a stick. Soon after a flat-boat was used. It was brought from Wheeling, by Mr. Mclntire, in 1797, the year after the ferry was established. The road out out through Ohio, ran from Wheeling, Va., to Maysville, Ky. Over this road the mail was car- ried, and, in 1798, the first mail ever carried wholly in Ohio was brought up from Marietta to McCuUoh's cabin by Daniel Convers, where, by arrangement of the Postmaster General, it met a mail from Wheeling and one from Maysville. ~s ^ ■^ 114 HISTOEY OF OHIO. McCuUoh, who could hardly read, was authorized to assort the mails and send each package in its proper direction. For this service he received 130 per annum ; but owing to his inability to read well, Mr. Convers generally performed the duty. At that time, the mails met here once a week. Four years after, the settlement had so increased that a regular post office was opened, and Thomas Dowden appointed Postmaster. He kept his office in a wooden building near the river bank. Messrs. Zane and Mclntire laid out a town in 1799, which they called Westbourn. When the post office was established, it was named Zanesville, and in a short time the village took the same name. A few families settled on the west side of the river, soon after McCuUoh arrived, and as this locality grew well, not long after a store and tavern was opened here. Mr. Mclntire built a double log cabin, which was uged as a hotel, and in which Louis Philippe, King of France, was once enter- tained. Although the fare and accommodations were of the pioneer period, the honorable guestseems to have enjoyed' his.yisit, if the statements of Lewis Cass in his " Camp and Court of Louis Philippe" may be believed. In 1804, Muskingum County was formed by the Legislature, and, for a while, strenuous effiarts made to secure the State capital by the citizens of Zanes- ville. They even erected buildings for the use of the Legislature and Governor, and during the ses- sion of 1810—11, the temporary seat of govern- ment was fixed here. When the permanent State capital was chosen in 1816, Zanesville was passed by, and gave up the hope. It is now one of the most enterprising towns in the Muskingum Valley. During the summer of 1797, John Knoop, then living four mOes above Cincinnati, made several expeditions up the Miami Valley and selected the land on which he afterward located. The next spring Mr. Knoop, his brother Benjamin, Henry G-arard, Benjamin Hamlet and John Tildus estab- lished a station in what is now Miami County, near the present town of Staunton Village. That sum- mer, Mrs. Knoop planted the first apple-tree in the Miami * country. They all lived together for greater safety for two years, during which time they were occupied clearing their farms and erect- ing dwellings. During the summer, the site of Piqua was settled, and three young men located at a place known as " Freeman's Prairie." Those who *The word Miami in the Indian tongue signified mother. The Miamis were the original owners of the valley by that name, and affirmed they were created there. settled at Piqua were Samuel Hilliard, Job Garard, Shadrac Hudson, Jonah Rollins, I)aniel Cox, Thomas Eich, and a Mr. Hunter. The last named came to the site of Piqua first in 1797, and selected his home. Until 1799, these named were the only ones in this locality ; but that year emi- gration set in, and very shortly occupied almost all the bottom land in Miami County. With the increase of emigration, came the comforts of life, and mills, stores and other necessary aids to civil- ization, were ere long to be seen. The site of Piqua is quite historic, being the theater of many important Indian occurrences, and the old home of the Shawanees, of which tribe Tecumseh was a chief. During the Indian war, a fort called Fort Piqua was built, near the residence of Col. John Johnston, so long the faith- ful Indian Agent. The fort was abandoned at the close of hostilities. When the Miami Canal was opened through this part of the State, the country began rapidly to improve, and is now probably one of the best por- tions of Ohio. About the same time the Miami was settled, a company of people from Pennsylvania and Vir- ginia, who were principally of German and Irish descent, located in Lawrence County, near the iron region. As soon as that ore was made available, that part of the State rapidly filled with settlers, most of whom engaged in the mining and working of iron ore. Now it is very prosperous. Another settlement was made the same season, 1797, on the Ohio side of the river, in Columbiana County. The settlement progressed slowly for a while, owing to a few difficulties with the Indians. The celebrated Adam Poe had been here as early as 1782, and several localities are made locally famous by his and his brother's adventures. In this county, on Little Beaver Creek, near its mouth, the second paper-mill west of the AUe- ghanies was erected in 1805-6. It was the pioneer enterprise of the kind in Ohio, and was named the Ohio Paper-Mill. Its proprietors were John Bever and John Coulter. One of the most noted localities in the State is comprised in Greene County. The Shawanee town, " Old Chillicothe," was on the Little Miami, in this county, about three miles north of the site of Xenia. This old Indian town was, in the an- nals of the West, a noted place, and is frequently noticed. It is first mentioned in 1773, by Capt. Thomas Bullitt, of Virginia, who boldly advanced alone into the town and obtained the consent of ^r HISTOKY or OHIO. 115 the Indians to go on to Kentucky and make his settlement at the falls of the Ohio. His audacious bravery gained his request. Daniel Boone was taken prisoner early in 1778, with twenty-seven others, and kept for a time at Old Chillicothe. Through the influence of the British Governor, Hamilton, who had taken a great fancy to Boone, he and ten others were sent to Detroit. The In- dians, however, had an equal fancy for the brave frontiersman, and took him back to Chillicothe, and adopted him into their tribe. About the 1st of June he escaped from them, and made his way back to Kentucky, in time to prevent a universal massacre of the whites. In July, 1779, the town was destroyed by Col. John Bowman and one hundred and sixty Kentuokians, and the Indians dispersed. The Americans made a permanent settlement in this county in 1797 or 1798. This latter year, a mill was erected in the confines of the county, which implies the settlement was made a short time previously. A short distance east of the mill two block-houses were erected, and it was in- tended, should it become necessary, to surround them and the mill with pickets. The mill was used by the settlers at " Dutch Station," in Miami County, fully thirty miles distant. The richness of the country in this part of the State attracted a great number of settlers, so that by 1803 the county was established, and Xenia laid out, and des- ignated as the county seat. Its first court house, a primitive log structure, was long preserved as a curiosity. It would indeed be a curiosity now. Zane's trace, passing from Wheeling to Mays- ville, crossed the Hockhocking* River, in Fairfield County, where Lancaster is now built. Mr. Zane located one of his three sections on this river, covering the site of Lancaster. Following this trace in 1797, many individuals noted the desira- bleness of the locality, some of whom determined to return and settle. " The site of the city had in former times been the home of the Wyandots, who had a town here, that, in 1790, contained over 500 wigwams and more than 1 ,000 souls. Their town was called Tarliee, or, in English, the Orane-town, and derived its name from the princi- * The word Hock-hocli-ing in the Delaware language signifies aholtle: the Shawanees have it Wea^ihi-ka^h-qvLa Bepe, ie ; hotlle river. John White in the American Pioneer says: "About seven miles northwest of Lancaster, there is a fall in the Hockhocking of about twenty feet. Above the fall for a short distance, the creek is very narrow and straight forming a neck, while at the falls it suddenly widens on each side and swells into the appearance of the body of a bottle. The whole, when seen from above, appears exactly in the shape of a bottle, and from this fact the Indians called the river Hock-hock-ing.*' — ifoice's CoUeclions, pal chief of that tribe. Another portion of the tribe then lived at Tuby-town, nine miles west of Tarhe-town (now Royaltown), and was governed by an inferior chief called Toby. The chief's wig- wam in Tarhe stood on the bank of the prairie, near a beautiful and abundant spring of water, whose outlet was the river. The wigwams of the Indians were built of the bark of trees, set on poles, in the form of a sugar-camp, with one square open, fronting a fiire, and about the height of a man. The Wyandot tribe that day numbered about 500 warriors. By the treaty of Greenville, they ceded all their territory, and the majority, un- der their chief, removed to Upper Sandusky. The remainder lingered awhile, loath to leave the home of their ancestors, but as game became scarce, they, too, left for better hunting-grounds."* In April, 1798, Capt. Joseph Hunter, a bold, enterprising man, settled on Zane's trace, on the bank of the prairie, west of the crossings, at a place since known as "Hunter's settlement." For a time, he had no neighbors nearer than the set- tlers on the Muskingum and Scioto Rivers. He lived to see the country he had found a wilderness, full of the homes of industry. His wife was the first white woman that settled in the valley, and shared with him all the privations of a pioneer life. Mr. Hunter had not been long in the valley till he was joined by Nathaniel Wilson, John and Al- len Green, John and Joseph McMullen, Robert Cooper, Isaac Shaefer, and a few others, who erected cabins and planted corn. The next year, the tide of emigration came in with great force. In the spring, two settlements were made in Green- field Township, each settlement containing twenty or more families. One was called the Forks of the Hockhocking, the other, Yankeetowu. Se(> tlements were also made along the river below Hunter's, on Rush Creek, Raccoon and Indian Creeks, Pleasant Run, Felter's Run, at Tobeytown, Muddy Prairie, andon Clear Creek. In the fall, — 1799 — Joseph Loveland and Hezekiah Smith built a log grist-mill at the Upper Falls of the Hockhocking, afterward known as Rock Mill. This was the first mill on this river. In the latter part of the year, a mail route was established over the trace. The mail was carried through on horse- back, and, in the settlements in this locality, was left at the cabin of Samuel Coates, who lived on the prairie at the crossings of the river. * Lecture of George Sanderson. — Hoiot'n CoUections. ■^ 116 HISTOKY or OHIO. In the fall of the next year, Ebenezer Zane laid out Lancaster, which, until 1805, was known as New Lancaster. The lots sold very rapidly, at $50 each, and, in less than one year, quite a vil- lage appeared. December 9, the Governor and Judges of the Northwest Territory organized Fairfield County, and made Lancaster the county seat. The year following, the Rev. John Wright, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, came, and from that time on schools and churches were estab- lished and thereafter regularly maintained at this place. Not far from Lancaster are immense mural es- carpments of sandstone formation. They were noted among the aborigines, and were, probably, used by them as places of outlook and defense. The same summer Fairfield County was settled, the towns of Bethel and Williamsburg, in Cler- mont County, were settled and laid out, and in 1800, the county was erected. A settlement was also made immediately south of Fairfield County, in Hocking County, by Chris- tian Westenhaver, a German, from near Hagers- town, Md. He came in the spring of 1798, and was soon joined by several families, who formed quite a settlement. The territory included in the county remained a part of Ross, Athens and Fairfield, until 1818, when Hocking County was erected, and Logan, which had been laid out in 1816, was made the county scat. The country comprised in the county is rather broken, especially along the Hockhocking River. This broken country was a favorite resort of the Wyandot Indians, who could easily hide in the numerous grottoes and ravines made by the river and its affluents as the water cut its way through the sandstone rocks. In 1798, soon after Zane's trace was cut through the country, a Mr. Graham located on the site of Cambridge, in Guernsey County. His was then the only dwelling between Wheeling and Zanes- ville, on the trace. He remajned here alone, about two years, when he was succeeded by George Bey- mer, from Somerset, Penn. Both these persons kept a tavern and ferry over Will's Creek. In April, 1803, Mr. Beymer was succeeded by John Beatty, who came from Loudon, Va. His family consisted of eleven persons. The Indians hunted in this vicinity, and were frequent visitors at the tavern. In June, 1806, Cambridge was laid out, and on the day the lots were offered for sale, sev- eral families from the British Isle of Guernsey, near the coast of France, stopped here on their way to the West. They were satisfied with the location and purchased many of the lots, and some land in the vicinity. They were soon followed by other families from the same place, aU of whom settling in this locaUty gave the name to the county when it was erected in 1810. A settlement was made in the central part of the State, on Darby Creek, in Union County, in the summer of 1798, by James and Joshua Ewing. The next year, they were joined by Samuel and David Mitchell, Samuel Mitchell, Jr., Samuel Kirkpatrick and Samuel McCullough,and, in 1800, by George and Samuel Reed, Robert Snodgrass and Paul Hodgson. " James Ewing's farm was the site of an an- cient and noted Mingo town, which was deserted at the time the Mingo towns, in what is now Logan County, were destroyed by Gen. Logan, of Ken- tucky, in 1786. When Mr. Ewing took posses- sion of his farm, the cabins were still standing, and, among others, the remains of a blacksmith's ghop, with coal, cinders, iron-dross, etc. Jonathan Alder, formerly a prisoner among the Indians, says the shop was carried on by a renegade white man, named Butler, who lived among the Mingoes. Extensive fields had formerly been cultivated in the vicinity of the town."* Soon after the settlement was established, Col. James Curry located here. He was quite an influ- ential man, and, in 1820, succeeded in getting the county formed from portions of Delaware, Frank- lin, Madison and Logan, and a part of the old In- dian Territory. Marysville was made the county seat. During the year 1789, a fort, called Fort Steu- ben, was built on the site of Steubenville, but was dismantled at the conclusion of hostilities in 1795. Three years after. Bezaleel Williams and Hon. James Ross, for whom Ross County was named, located the town of Steubenville about the old fort, and, by liberal offers of lots, soon attracted quite a number of settlers. In 1805, the town was incorporated, and then had a population of several hundred persons. Jefferson County was created by Gov. St. Clair, July 29, 1797, the year before Steubenville was laid out. It then included the large scope of country west of Pennsylvania ; east and north of a line from the mouth of the Cuyahoga ; southwardly to the Muskingum, and east to the Ohio ; including, in its territories, the cities of Cleveland, Canton, Steubenville and War- * Howe's Collections. '\ m^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 119 ren. Only a short time, however, was it allowed to retain this size, as the increase in emigration rendered it necessary to erect new counties, which was rapidly done, especially on the adoption c " the State government. The county is rich in early history, prior to its settlement by the Americans. It was the homt of the celebrated Mingo chief, Logan, who resid id awhile at an old Mingo town, a few miles below t le site of Steubenville, the place where the troo )s under Col. Williamson rendezvoused on their i i- famous raid against the Moravian Indiana ; ar d also where Col. Crawford and his men met, whf n starting on their unfortunate expedition. In the Reserve, settlements were often made remote from populous localities, in accordance with the wish of a proprietor, who might own a tract of country twenty or thirty miles in the interior. In the present county of Geauga, three families located at Burton in 1798. They lived at a considerable distance from any other settlement for some time, and were greatly inconvenienced for the want of mills or shops. As time progressed, however, these were brought nearer, or built in their midst, and, ere long, almost all parts of the Reserve could show some settlement, even if isolated. The next year, 1799, settlements were made at Ravenna, Deerfield and Palmyra, in Portage County. Hon. Benjamin Tappan came to the site of Ravenna in June, at which time he found one white man, a Mr. Honey, living there. At this date, a solitary log cabin occupied the sites of BuiFalo and Cleveland. On his journey from New England, Mr. Tappan fell in with David Hudson, the founder of the Hudson settlement in Summit County. After many days of travel, they landed at a prairie in Summit County. Mr. Tappan left his goods in a cabin, built for the purpose, under the care of a hired man, and went on his way, cutting a road to the site of Ravenna, where his land lay. On his return for a second load of goods, they found the cabin deserted, and evidences of its plunder by the In- dians. Not long after, it was learned that the man left in charge had gone to Mr. Hudson's settle- ment, he having set out immediately on his arrival, for his own land. Mr. Tappan gathered the re- mainder of his goods, and started back for Ravenna. On his way one of his oxen died, and he found himself in a vast forest, away from any habitation, and with one dollar in money. He did not falter a moment, but sent his hired man, a faithful fellow, to Erie, Penn., a distance of one hundred miles through the wilderness, with the compass for his guide, requesting from Capt. Lyman, the com- mander at the fort there, a loan of money. At the same time, he followed the township lines to Youngstown, where he became acquainted with Col. James Hillman, who did not hesitate to sell him an ox on credit, at a fair price. He returned to his load in a few days, found his ox all right, hitched the two together and went on. He was soon joined by his hired man, with the money, and together they spent the winter in a log cabin. He gave his man one hundred acres of land as a reward, and paid Col. Hillman for the ox. In a year or two he had a prosperous settlement, and when the county was erected in 1807, Ravenna was made the seat of justice. About the same time Mr. Tappan began his settlement, others were commenced in other locali- ties in this county. Early in May, 1799, Lewis Day and his son Horatio, of Granby, Conn., and Moses Tibbals and Green Frost, of Granville, Mass., left their homes in a one-horse wagon, and, the 29th of May, arrived in what is now Deerfield Township. Theirs was the first wagon that had ever penetrated farther westward in this region than Canfield. The country west of that place had been an unbroken wilderness until within a few days. Capt. Caleb Atwater, of Wallingford, Conn., had hired some men to open a road to Township No. 1, in the Seventh Range, of which he was the owner. This road passed through Deerfield, and was completed to that place when the party arrived at the point of their destination. These emigrants selected sites, and commenced clearing the land. In July, Lewis Ely arrived from Granville, and wintered here, while those who came first, and had made their improvements, returned East. The 4th of March, 1800, Alva Day (son of Lewis Day), John Campbell and Joel Thrall arrived. In April, George and Rob- ert Taylor and James Laughlin, from Pennsylvania, with their families, came. Mr. Laughlin built a grist-mill, which was of great convenience to the settlers. July 29, Lewis Day returned with his famOy and his brother-in-law, Maj. Rogers, who, the next year, also brought his family. "Much suffering was experienced at first on account of the scarcity of provisions. They were chiefly supplied from the settlements east of the Ohio River, the nearest of which was Georgetown, forty miles away. The provisions were brought on pack-horses through the wilderness. August 22, Mrs. Alva Day gave birth to a child — a fe- male — the first child born in the township. 3) "V J^l tl^ 120 HISTORY or OHIO. November 7, the first wedding took place. John Campbell and Sarah Ely were joined in wedlock by Calvin Austin, Esq., of Warren. He was accompanied from Warren, a distance of twenty- seven miles, by Mr. Pease, then a lawyer, after- ward a well-known Judge. They came on foot, there being no road ; and, as they threaded their way through the woods, young Pease taught the Justice the marriage ceremony by oft repetition. "In 1802, Franklin Township was organized, em- bracing all of Portage and parte of Trumbull and Summit Counties. About this time the settlement received accessions from all parts of the East. In February, 1801, Rev. Badger came and began his labors, and two years later Dr. Shadrac Bostwick organized a Methodist Episcopal church.* The remaining settlement in this county, Pahnyra, was begun about the same time as the others, by David Daniels, from Salisbury, Conn. The next year he brought out his family. Soon after he was joined by E. N. and W. Bacon, E. Cutler, A. Thurber, A. Preston, N. Bois, J. T. Baldwin, T. and C. Gilbert, D. A. and S. Waller, N. Smith, Joseph Fisher, J. Tuttle and others. " When this region was first settled, there was an Indian trail commencing at Fort Mcintosh (Beaver, Penn.), and extending westward to San- dusky and Detroit. The trail followed the highest ground. Along the trail, parties of Indians were frequently seen passing, for several years after the whites came. It seemed to be the great aboriginal thoroughfare from Sandusky to the Ohio River. There were several large piles of stones on the trail in this locality, under which human skeletons have been discovered. These are supposed to be the remains of Indians slain in war, or murdered by their enemies, as tradition says it is an Indian custom for each one to cast a stone on the grave of an enemy, whenever he passes by. These stones appear to have been picked up along the trail, and cast upon the heaps at different times. "At the point where this trail crosses Silver Creek, Fredrick Daniels and others, in 1814, dis- covered, painted on several trees, various devices, evidently the work of Indians. The bark was carefully shaved off two-thirds of the way around, and figures cut upon the wood. On one of these was delineated seven Indians, equipped in a par- ticular manner, one of whom was without a head. This was supposed to have been made by a party on their return westward, to give intelligence to * Howe's Collections. their friends behind, of the loss of one of their party at this place ; and, on making search, a hu- man skeleton was discovered near by." * The celebrated Indian hunter, Brady, made his remarkable leap across the Cuyahoga, in this county. The county also contains Brady's Pond, a large sheet of water, in which he once made his escape from the Indians, from which circumstance it received its name. The locality comprised in Clark County was settled the same summer as those in Summit County. John Humphries came to this part of the State with Gen. Simon Kenton, in 1799. With them came six families from Kentucky, who settled north of the site of Springfield. A fort was erected on Mad River, for security against the In- dians. Fourteen cabins were soon built near it, all being surrounded by a strong picket fence. David Lowery, one of the pioneers here, built the first flat>boat, to operate on the Great Miami, and, in 1800, made the first trip on that river, coming down from Dayton. He took his boat and cargo on down to New Orleans, where he disposed of his load of " five hundred venison hams and bacon." Springfield was laid out in March, 1801. Griffith Foos, who came that spring, built a tavern, which he completed and opened in June, remaining in this place till 1814. He often stated that when emigrating West, his party were four days and a half getting from Franklinton, on the Scioto, to Springfield, a distance of forty-two miles. When crossing the Big Darby, they were obliged to carry all their goods over on horseback, and then drag their wagons across with ropes, while some of the party swam by the side of the wagon, to prevent its upsetting. The site of the town was of such practical beauty and utility, that it soon attracted a large number of settlers, and, in a few years, Springfield was incorporated. In 1811, a church was built by the residents for the use of all denom- inations. Clark County is made famous in aboriginal history, as the birthplace and childhood home of the noted Indian, Tecumseh.f He was born in * Howe's Collections. f Tecumseh, or Tecumshe, was a son of Puckesbinwa, a member of the Kiscopoke tribe, and Methoataske, of the Turtle tribe of tbe Shawanee nation. They removed from Florida to Ohio soon after their marriage. The father, Puckesbinwa, rose to the rank of a chief, and fell at the battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. After his death, tbe mother, Methoataske, returned to the south, where she died at an advanced age. Tecumpeh was born about the year 1768. He early showed a passion for war, and, when only 27 years of age, was made a chief. The next year he removed to Deer Creek, in the vicinity of Urbana, and from there to the site of Piqua, on the Great Miami. In 1798 he accepted the invitation of the Delawares in tbe vicinity of White River, Indiana, and from that time made -i- the old Indian town of Piqua, the ancient Piqua of the Shawanees, on the north side of Mad River, about five miles west of Springfield. The town was destroyed by the Kentucky Rangers under Gen. George Rogers Clarke in 1780, at the same time he destroyed " Old Chillicothe." Immense fields of standing corn about both towns were cut down, compelling the Indians to resort to the hunt with more than ordinary vigor, to sustain them- selves and their wives and children. This search insured safety for some time on the borders. The site of Cadiz, in Harrison County, was settled in April, 1799, by Alexander Henderson and his family, from Washington County, Penn. When they arrived, they found neighbors in the persons of Daniel Peterson and his family, who lived near the forks of Short Creek, and who had preceded them but a very short time. The next year, emi- grants began to cross the Ohio in great numbers, and in five or six years large settlements could be seen in this part of the State. The county was erected in 1814, and Cadiz, laid out in 1803, made the county seat. While the settlers were locating in and about Cadiz, a few families came to what is now Monroe County, and settled near the present town of Beallsville. Shortly after, a few persons settled on the Clear Pork of the Little Muskingum, and a few others on the east fork of Duck Creek. The next season all these settlements received addi- tions and a few other localities were also occupied. Before long the town of Beallsville was laid out, and in time became quite populous. The county was not erected until 1813, and in 1815 Woodsfield was laid out and made the seat of justice. The opening of the season of 1800 — the dawn of a new century — saw a vast emigration west- ward. Old settlements in Ohio received immense increase of emigrants, while, branching out in all directions like the radii of a circle, other settle- ments were constantly formeduntil, in a few years, all parts of the State knew the presence of the white man. Towns sprang into existence here and there ; mills and factories were erected; post offices and post-routes were established, and the comforts and conveniences of life began to appear. With this came the desire, so potent to the mind of all American citizens, to rule themselves through representatives chosen by their own votes. Hith- erto, they had been ruled by a Governor and Judges appointed by the President, who, in turn, appointed county and judicial officers. The arbitrary rulings of the Governor, St. Clair, had arrayed the mass of the people against him, and made the desire for the second grade of government stronger, and finally led to its creation. CHAPTER X. FORMATION OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT— OHIO A STATE— THE STATE CAPITALS— LEGIS- LATION— THE "SWEEPING RESOLUTIONS "—TERRITORIAL AND STATE GOVERNORS. SETTLEMENTS increased so rapidly in that part of the Northwest Territory included in Ohio, during the decade from 1788 to 1798, despite the Indian war, that the demand for an election of a Territorial Assembly could not be ignored by Gov. St. Clair, who, having ascertained that 5,000 free males resided within the limits of the Territory, issued his proclamation October 29, 1798, directing the electors to elect representatives to a General Assembly. He ordered the election his home with them. He was most active in the war of 1812 against the Americans, and from the time he began his worlc to unite the tribes, his history is so closely identified therewith that the reader is referred to the history of that war in succeeding pages. It may notbe amiss to say that all stories regarding the manner of his death are considered erroneous. He was undoubtedly killed in the outset of the battle of the Thames in Canada in 1814, and his body secretly buried by the Indians. to be held on the third Monday in December, and directed the representatives to meet in Cincinnati January 22, 1799. On the day designated, the representatives * assembled at Cincinnati, nominated ten persons, whose names were sent to the President, who selected five to constitute the Legislative Council, ♦Those elected were: from Washington County, Return Jona- than Meigs and Paul Fearing; from Hamilton County, William Goforth, William McMillan, John Smith, John Ludlow, Robert Benham, Aaron Caldwell and Isaac Martin; from St. Clair County (Illinois), Shadrach Bond; from Knox County (Indiana), John Small; from Randolph County (Illinois), John Edgar; from Wayne Clounty, Solomon Sibley, Jacob Visgar and Charles F. ( habert de Joncaire; from Adam's County, Joseph Darlington and Nathaniel Massie; fromJefferson Co'.nty, James Pritclianl; from Uoss County, Thomas Worthington, Elias Langhain, Samuel Findley and Edward TiSQn. The five gentlemen, except Vanderburgh, chosen as the Upper House were all from counties afterward included in Ohio. 1>L 132 HISTOEY OF OHIO. or Upper House. These five were Jacob Burnet, James Findley, Henry Vanderburgh, Kobert Oliver and David Vance. On the 3d of March, the Senate confirmed their nomination, and the Territorial Government of Ohio* — or, more prop- erly, the Northwest — was complete. As this comprised the essential business of this body, it was prorogued by the Governor, and the Assembly directed to meet at the same place September 16, 1799, and proceed to the enactment of laws for the Territory. That day, the Territorial Legislature met again at Cincinnati, but, for want of a quorum, did not organize until the 24th. The House consisted of nineteen members, seven of whom were from Ham- ilton County, four from Ross, three from Wayne, two from Adams, one from Jefferson, one from Washington and one from Knox. Assembling both branches of the Legislature, Gov. St. Clair addressed them, recommending such measures to their consideration as, in his judgment, were suited to the condition of the country. The Council then organized, electing Henry Vanderburgh, Presi- dent; William C. Schenck, Secretary; George Howard, Doorkeeper, and Abraham Carey, Ser- geant-at-aims. The House also organized, electing Edward Tif- fin, Speaker ; John Reilly, Clerk ; Joshua Row- land, Doorkeeper, and Abraham Carey, Sergean1> at-arms. This was the first legislature elected in the old Northwestern Territory. During its first session, it passed thirty bills, of which the Governor vetoed eleven. They also elected William Henry Harri- son, then Secretary of the Territory, delegate to Congress. The Legislature continued in session till December 1 9, having much to do in forming new laws, when they were prorogued by the Gov- ernor, until the first Monday in November, 1800. The second session was held in Chillicothe, which had been designated as the seat of government by Congress, until a permanent capital should be selected. May 7, 1800, Congress passed an act establish- ing Indiana Territory, including all the country west of the Great Miami River to the Mississippi, and appointed William Henry Harrison its Gov- ernor. At the autumn session of the Legislature * Ohio never existed as a Territory proper. It was known, both before and after the division of the Northwest Territory, as the "Territory northwest of the Ohio River." Still, as the country comprised in its limits was the principal theater of action, the short rfsume given here is made necessary in the logical course of events. Ohio, as Ohio, never existed until the creation of the State in March, 1803. of the eastern, or old part of the Territory, Will- iam McMillan was elected to the vacancy caused by this act. By the organization of this Territory, the counties of Knox, St. Clair and Randolph, were taken out of the jurisdiction of the old Ter- ritory, and with them the representatives, Henry Vandenburgh, Shadrach Bond, John Small and John Edgar. Before the time for the next Assembly came, a new election had occurred, and a few changes were the result. Robert Oliver, of Marietta, was cho- sen Speaker in the place of Henry Vanderburgh. There was considerable business at this session ; several new counties were to be erected ; the coun- try was rapidly filling with people, and where the scruples of the Governor could be overcome, some organization was made. He was very tenacious of his power, and arbitrary in his rulings, affirming that he, alone, had the power to create new coun- ties. This dogmatic exercise of his veto power, his rights as ruler, and his defeat by the Indians, all tended against him, resulting in his displace- ment by the President. This was done, however, just at the time the Territory came from the second grade of government, and the State was created. The third session of the Territorial Legislature continued from November 24, 1801, to January 23, 1802, when it adjourned to meet in Cincin- nati, the fourth Monday in November, but owing to reasons made obvious by subsequent events, was never held, and the third session marks the decline of the Territorial government. April 30, 1802, Congress passed an act "to enable the people of the eastern division of the territory northwest of the Ohio River, to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such States into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, and for other purposes." In pursuance of this act, an election had been held in this part of the Territory, and members of a constitutional convention cho- sen, who were to meet at Chillicothe, November 1, to perform the duty assigned them. The people throughout the country contemplat- ed in the new State were anxious for the adoption of a State government. The arbitrary acts of the Territorial Governor had heightened this feeling ; the census of the Territory gave it the lawful number of inhabitants, and nothing stood in its way. The convention met the day designated and proceeded at once to its duties. When the time arrived for the opening of the Fourth Territorial rf t^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 133 Legislature, the convention was in session and had evidently about completed its labors. The mem- bers of the Legislature (eight of whom were mem- bers of the convention) seeing that a speedy termination of the Territorial government was inev- itable, wisely concluded it was inexpedient and unnecessary to hold the proposed session. The convention concluded its labors the 29th of November. The Constitution adopted at that time, though rather crude in some of its details, was an excellent organic instrument, and remained almost entire until 1851, when the present one was adopted. Either is too long for insertion here, but either will well pay a perusal. The one adopted by the convention in 1802 was never submitted to the people, owing to the circumstances of the times ; but it was submitted to Congress February 19, 1803, and by that body accepted, and an act passed admitting Ohio to the Union. The Territorial government ended March 3, 1803, by the organization, that day, of the State government, which organization defined the pres- ent limits of the State. " We, the people of the Eastern Division of the Ter- ritory 01 the United States, Northwest of the River Ohio, having the right of admission into the General Government as a member of the Union, consistent with the Constitution of the United States, the Ordinance of Congress of one thousand seven hundred and eighty- seven, and of the law of Congress, entitled ' An act to enable the people of the Eastern Division of the Terri- tory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio, to form a Constitution and a State Government, and for the admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, and for other purpo- ses ;' in order to establish justice, promote the well- fare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish the follow- ing Constitution or form of government; and do mu- tually agree with each other to form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the name of the State of Ohio."* — Preamble, Constitution of 180S. When the convention forming the Constitution, completed its labors and presented the results to Congress, and that body passed the act forming * The name of the State is derived from the river forming its southern boundai-y. Its origin is somewhat obscure, I'ut is cona- monly ascribed to the Indians. On this point, Col. Johnston says: "The Sliawanoese called the Ohio River 'ifi«-fce-;)i-^, Sf^f, i. e., 'E HISTORY OF OHIO. 129 their stores, and fled, -wMle the Americans, under their gallant commander, followed them in Perry's vessel to the Canada shore, overtaking them on the Kiver Thames, October 5. In the battle that ensued, Teoumseh was slain, and the British Army routed. The war was now practically closed in the West. Ohio troops had done nobly in defending their northern frontier, and in regaining the Northwest- ern country. Gen. Harrison was soon after elected to Congress by the Cincinnati district, and Gen. Duncan McArthur was appointed a Brigadier General in the regular army, and assigned to the command in his place. Gen. McArthur made an expedition into Upper Canada in the spring of 1814, destroying considerable property, and driv- ing the British farther into their own dominions. Peace was declared early in 1815, and that spring, the troops were mustered out of service at Chilli- cothe, and peace with England reigned supreme. The results of the war in Ohio were, for awhile, similar to the Indian war of 1Y95. It brought many people into the State, and opened new por- tions, before unknown. Many of the soldiers im- mediately invested their money in lands, and became citizens. The war drove many people from the Atlantic Coast west, and as a result much money, for awhile, circulated. Labor and provisions rose, which enabled both workmen and tradesmen to enter tracts of land, and aided emigration. At the conclusion of Wayne's war in 1795, probably not more than five thousand people dwelt in the limits of the State ; at the close of the war of 1812, that number was largely increased, even with the odds of war against them. After the last war, the emigration was constant and gradual, building up the State in a manner that betokened a healthful life. As soon as the effects of the war had worn off, a period of depression set in, as a result of too free speculation indulged in at its close. Gradu- ally a stagnation of business ensued, and many who found themselves unable to meet contracts made in "flush" times, found no alternative but to fail. To relieve the pressure in all parts of the West, Congress, about 1815, reduced the price of public lands from |2 to $1.25 per acre. This measure worked no little hardship on those who owned large tracts of lands, for portions of which they had not fully paid, and as a consequence, these lands, as well as all others of this class, reverted to the Government. The general market was in New Orleans, whither goods were transported in flat- boats buUt especially for this pupose. This com- merce, though small and poorly repaid, was the main avenue of trade, and did much for the slow prosperity prevalent. The few banks in the State found their bills at a discount abroad, and gradu- ally becoming drained of their specie, either closed business or failed, the major part of them adopt- ing the latter course. The steamboat began to be an important factor in the river navigation of the West about this period. The first boat to descend the Ohio was the Orleans, built at Pittsburg in 1812, and in December of that year, while the fortunes of war hung over the land, she made her first trip from the Iron City to New Orleans, being just twelve days on the way. The second, built by Samuel Smith, was called the Comet, and made a trip as far south as Louisville, in the summer of 1813. The third, the V&suvius, was buUt by Fulton, and went to New Orleans in 1814. The fourth, built by Daniel French at Brownsville, Penn., made two trips to Louisville in the summer of 1814. The next vessel, the iEtna, was built by Fulton & Company in 1815. So fast did the business increase, that, four years after, more than forty steamers floated on the Western waters. Improvements in machinery kept pace with the building, until, in 1838, a competent writer stated there were no less than four hundred steamers in the West. Since then, the erection of railways has greatly retarded ship-building, and it is alto- gether probable the number has increased but little. The question of canals began to agitate the Western country during the decade succeeding the war. They had been and were being constructed in older countries, and presaged good and prosper- ous times. If only the waters of the lakes and the Ohio River could be united by a canal run- ning through the midst of the State, thought the people, prosperous cities and towns would arise on its banks, and commerce flow through the land. One of the firmest fiiends of such improvements was De Witt Clinton, who had been the chief man in forwarding the " Clinton Canal," in New York. He was among the first to advocate the feasibility of a canal connecting Lake Erie and the Ohio River, and, by the success of the New York canals, did much to bring it about. Popular writers of the day all urged the scheme, so that when the Assem- bly met, early in December, 1821, the resolution, offered by Micajah T. Williams, of Cincinnati, r^ ^1 130 HISTORY OF OHIO. for the appointment of a committee of five mem- bers to take into consideration so much of the Governor's message as related to canals, and see if some feasible plan could not be adopted whereby a beginning could be made, was quickly adopted. The report of the committee, advising a survey and examination of routes, met with the approval of the Assembly, and commissioners were ap- pointed who were to employ an engineer, examine the country and report on the practicability of a canal between the lakes and the river. The com- missioners employed James Geddes, of Onondaga County, N. Y., as an engineer. He arrived in Columbus in June, 1822, and, before eight months, the' corps of engineers, under his direction, had examined one route. During the next two sum- mers, the examinations continued. A niunber of routes were examined and surveyed, and one, from Cleveland on the lake, to Portsmouth on the Ohio, was recommended. Another canal, from Cincin- nati to Dayton, on the Miami, was determined on, and preparations to commence work made. A Board of Canal Fund Commissioners was created, money was borrowed, and the morning of July 4, 1825, the first shovelful of earth was dug near Newark, with imposing ceremonies, in the presence of De Witt Clinton, Governor of New York, and a mighty concourse of people assembled to witness the auspicious event. Gov. Clinton was escorted all over the State to aid in developing the energy everywhere apparent. The events were important ones in the history of the State, and, though they led to the creation of a vast debt, yet, in the end, the canals were a benefit. The main canal — the Ohio and Erie Canal — was not completed till 1832. The Maumee Canal, from Dayton to Cincinnati, was finished in 1834. They cost the State about $6,000,000. Each of the main canals had branches leading to important towns, where their construction could be made without too much expense. The Miami and Mau- mee Canal, from Cincinnati northward along the Miami River to Piqua, thence to the Maumee and on to the lake, was the largest canal made, and, for many years, was one of the most important in the State. It joined the Wabash Canal on the eastern boundary of Indiana, and thereby saved the construction of many miles by joining this great canal from Toledo to Evansville. The largest artificial lake in the world, it is said, was built to supply water to the Miami Canal. It exists yet, though the canal is not much used. It is in the eastern part of Mercer County, and is about nine miles long by from two to four wide. It was formed by raising two walls of earth from ten to thirty feet high, called respectively the east and west embankments ; the first of which is about two miles in length ; the second, about four. These walls, with the elevation of the ground to the north and south, formed a huge basin, to retain the water. The reservoir was commenced in 1837, and finished' in 1845, at an expense of several hundred thousand dollars. When first built, dur- ing the accumulation of water, much malarial disease prevailed in the surrounding country, owing to the stagnant condition of the water. The citi- zens, enraged at what they considered an innovar tion of their rights, met, and, during a dark night, tore out a portion of the lower wall, letting the water flow out. The damage cost thousands of dollars to repair. All who participated in the proceedings were liable to a severe imprisonment, but the state of feehng was such, in Mercer County, where the ofiense was committed, that no jury could be found that would try them, and the afiiair gradually died out. The canals, so efiicacious in their day, were, however, superseded by the railroads rapidly find- ing their way into the West. From England, where they were early used in the coUieries, the transition to America was easy. The first railroad in the United States was built in the summer of 1826, from the granite quarry belonging to the Bunker Hill Monument Associa- tion to the wharf landing, three miles distant. The road was a slight decline from the quarry to the wharf, hence the loaded cars were pro- pelled by their own gravity. On their return, when empty, they were drawn up by a single horse. Other roads, or tramways, quickly followed this. They were built at the Pennsylvania coal mines, in South Carolina, at New Orleans, and at Baltimore. Steam motive power was used in 1831 or 1832, first in America on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and in Chailestown, on a railroad there. To transfer these highways to the West was the question of but a few years' time. The prairies of Illinois and Indiana ofiered superior inducements to such enterprises, and, early in 1835, they began to be agitated there. In 1838, the first rail was laid in Illinois, at Meredosia, a little town on the Illinois River, on what is now the Wabash Railway. " The first railroad made in Ohio," writes Caleb Atwater, in his "History of Ohio," in 1838, "was finished in 1836 by the people of Toledo, a town ^ '-^ HISTOKY OF OHIO. 131 some two years old then, situated near the mouth of Maumee River. The road extends westward in- to Michigan and is some thirty miles in length. There is a road about to be made from Cincinnati to Springfield. This road follows the Ohio River up to the Little Miami River, and there turns northwardly up its valley to Xenia, and, passing the Yellow Springs, reaches Springfield. Its length must be about ninety miles. The State will own one-half of the road, individuals and the city of Cincinnati the other half. This road will, no doubt, be extended to Lake Erie, at Sandusky City, within a few short years." "There is a railroad," continues Mr. Atwater, " about to be made from PainesvUle to the Ohio River. There are many charters for other roads, which will never be made." Mr. Atwater notes also, the various turnpikes as well as the famous National road from Baltimore westward, then completed only to the mountains. This latter did as much as any enterprise ever en- acted in building up and populating the West. It gave a national thoroughfare, which, for many years, was the principal wagon-way from the At- lantic to the Mississippi Valley. The railroad to which Mr. Atwater refers as about to be built from Cincinnati to Springfield, was what was known as the Mad River Railroad. It is commonly conceded to be the first one built in Ohio.* Its history shows that it was chartered March 11, 1836, that work began in 1837; that it was completed and opened for business from Cincinnati to Milford, in December, 1842; to Xe- nia, in August, 1845, and to Springfield, in Au- gust, 1846. It was laid with strap rails until about 1848, when the present form of rail was adopted. One of the earliest roads in Ohio was what was known as the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Rail- road. It was chartered at first as the Monroeville & Sandusky City Railroad, March 9, 1835. March 12, 1836, the Mansfield & New Haven road was chartered; the Columbus & Lake Erie, March 12, 1845, and the Huron & Oxford, February 27, 1846; At first it ran only from Sandusky to Monroeville, then from Mansfield to Huron. These *Hon. E D. MaDafield states, in 1873, that the "first actual piece of railroad laid in Ohio, was made on the Cincinnati & Sandnsk}' Bailroad; hut, about the same time we have the Little Miami Bail- road, which was surveyed in 1836 and 1837, If this, the generally accepted opinion, is correct, then Mr. Atwater's statement as given, is wrong. His history is, however, generally conceded to be correct. Written in 1838, he surely ought to know whereof he was writing, as the railroads were then only in construction ; but few, if any, in operation. two were connected and consolidated, and then ex- tended to Newark, and finally, by connections, to Columbus. It is unnecessary to follow closely the history of these improvements through the years succeeding their introduction. At first the State owned a share in nearly all railroads and canals, but finally finding itself in debt about $15,000,000 for such improvements, and learning by its own and neigh- bors' experiences, that such policy was detrimental to the best interests of the people, abandoned the plan, and allowed private parties entire control of all such works. After the close of the Mexican war, and the return to solid values in 1 854 or there- abouts, the increase of railroads in all parts of Ohio, as well as all parts of the West, was simply marvel- ous. At this date there are more than ten thou- sand miles of railroads in Ohio, alongside of which stretch innumerable lines of telegraph, a system of swift messages invented by Prof. Morse, and adopted in the United States about 1851. About the time railroad building began to as- sume a tangible shape, in 1840, occurred the cele- brated political campaign known in history as the " Hard Cider Campaign." The gradual encroach- ments of the slave power in the West, its arrogant attitude in the Congress of the United States and in several State legislatures : its forcible seizure of slaves in the free States, and the enactment and attempted enforcement of the "fugitive slave" law all tended to awaken in the minds of the Northern people an antagonism, terminating only in the late war and the abolishment of that hideous system in the United States. The " Whig Party" strenuously urged the abridgment or confinement of slavery in the Southern States, and in the contest the party took a most active part, and elected William Henry Harrison President of the United States. As he had been one of the foremost leaders in the war of 1812, a resident of Ohio, and one of its most pop- ular citizens, a log cabin and a barrel of cider were adopted as his exponents of popular opinion, as expressive of the rule of the common people repre- sented in the cabin and cider, in turn representing their primitive and simple habits of life. He lived but thirty days after his inauguration, dying on the 9th of April, 1841, when John Tyler, the Vice President, succeeded him as Chief Executive of the nation. The building of railroads ; the extension of com- merce ; the settlement of all parts of the State ; its growth in commerce, education, religion and ■v^ 11^ 133 HISTOEY or OHIO. population, are the chief events from 1841 to the Mexican war. Hard times occurred about as often as they do now, preceded by " flush " times, when speculation ran rife, the people all infatuated with an insane idea that something could be had for nothing. The bubble burst as often as inflated, ruining many people, but seemingly teaching few MEXICAN WAR- CHAPTER XII. -CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE STATE— WAR OF THE REBELLION— OHIO'S PART IN THE CONFLICT. THE Mexican War grew out of the question of the annexation of Texas, then a province of Mexico, whose territory extended to the Indian Territory on the north, and on up to the Oregon Territory on the Pacific Coast. Texas had been settled largely by Americans, who saw the condi- tion of affairs that would inevitably ensue did the country remain under Mexican rule. They first took steps to secede from Mexico, and then asked the aid of America to sustain them, and annex the country to itself. The Whig party and many others opposed this, chiefly on the grounds of the extension of slave territory. But to no avail. The war came on, Mexico was conquered, the war lasting from April 20, 1846, to May 30, 1848. >Fifty thousand vol- unteers were called for the war by the Congress, and $10,000,000 placed at the disposal of the President, James K. Polk, to sustain the army and prosecute the war. The part that Ohio took in the war may be briefly summed up as follows : She had five vol- unteer regiments, five companies in the Fifteenth Infantry, and several independent companies, with her full proportion among the regulars. When war was declared, it was something of a crusade to many; full of romance to others; hence, many more were offered than could be received. It was a campaign of romance to some, yet one of reality, ending in death, to many. When the first call for troops came, the First, Second and Third Regiments of infantry responded at once. Alexander Mitchell was made Colonel of the First; John B. Wellerits Lieutenant Colonel ; and L. Hamer Griddings, of Dayton, its Major. Thomas Hanna, one of the ablest lawyers in Ohio, started with the First as its Major, but, before the regiment left the State, he was made a Brigadier General of Volunteers, and, at the battle of Mon- terey, distinguished himself; and there contracted disease and laid down his life. The regiment's Colonel, who had been wounded at Monterey, came home, removed to Minnesota, and there died. Lieut. Col. Weller went to California after the close of the war. He was United States Senator from that State in the halls of Congress, and, at last, died at New Orleans. The Second Regiment was commanded by Col. George W. Morgan, now of Mount Vernon ; Lieut. Col. WiUiam Irwin, of Lancaster, and Maj. Will- iam Wall. After the war closed, Irwin settled in Texas, and remained there till he died. Wall lived out his days in Ohio. The regiment was never in active field service, but was a credit to the State. The ofiicers of the Third Regiment were. Col. Samuel R. Curtis; Lieut. Col. G. W.'McCookand Maj. John Love. The first two are now dead ; the Major lives in McConnellsville. At the close of the first year of the war, these regiments (First, Second and Third) were mustered out of service, as their term of enlistment had expired. When the second year of the war began, the call for more troops on the part of the Government induced the Second Ohio Infantry to re-organize, and again enter the service. William Irwin, of the former organization, was chosen Colonel; William Latham, of Columbus, Lieutenant Colonel, and William H. Link, of Circleville, Major. Nearly all of them are now dead. The regular army was increased by eight Ohio companies of infantry, the Third Dragoons, and the Voltigeurs — ^light-armed soldiers. In the Fif- teenth Regiment of the United States Army, there were five Ohio companies. The others were three from Michigan, and two from Wisconsin. Col. Morgan, of the old Second, was made Colonel of the Fifteenth, and John Howard, of Detroit, an old artillery officer in the regular army, Lieutenant Colonel. Samuel Wood, a captain in the Sixth ^ & »v liL^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 133 United States Infantry, was made Major ; but was afterward succeeded by Mill, of Vermont. The Fifteenth was in a number of skirmishes at first, and later in the battles of Contreras, Cherubusco and Chapultepec. At the battle of Cherubusco, the Colonel was severely wounded, and Maj. Mill, with several officers, and a large number of men, killed. For gallant service at Contreras, Col. Mor- gan, though only twenty-seven years old, was made a Brevet Brigadier General in the United States Army. Since the war he has delivered a number of addresses in Ohio, on the campaigns in Mex- ico. The survivors of the war are now few. Though seventy-five thousand men from the United States went into that conflict, less than ten thousand now survive. They are now veterans, and as such de- light to recount their reminiscences on the fields of Mexico. They are all in the decline of life, and ere a generation passes away, few, if any, wiU be left. After the war, the continual growth of Ohio, the change in all its relations, necessitated a new organic law. The Constitution of 1852 was the result. It re-affirmed the political principles of the "ordinance of 1787 " and the Constitution of 1802, and made a few changes necessitated by the advance made in the interim. It created the office of Lieutenant Governor, fixing the term of service at two years. This Constitution yet stands notwithstanding the prolonged attempt in 1873-74 to create a new one. It is now the organic law of Ohio. From this time on to the opening of the late war, the prosperity of the State received no check. Towns and cities grew ; railroads multiplied ; com- merce was extended; the vacant lands were rapidly filled by settlers, and everything tending to the advancement of the people was well prosecuted. Banks, after much tribulation, had become in a measure somewhat secure, their only and serious drawback being their isolation or the confinement of their circulation to their immediate localities. But signs of a mighty contest were apparent. A contest almost without a parallel in the annals of history ; a contest between freedom and slavery ; between wrong and right ; a contest that could only end in defeat to the wrong. The Republican party came into existence at the close of President Pierce's term, in 1855. Its object then was, prin- cipally, the restriction of the slave power ; ultimately its extinction. One of the chief exponents and sup- porters of this growing partyin Ohio, was Salmon P. Chase ; one who never faltered nor lost faith ; and who was at the helm of State; in the halls of Con- gress ; chief of one the most important bureaus of the Government, and, finally. Chief Justice of the United States. When war came, after the election of Abraham Lincoln by the Republican party, Ohio was one of the first to answer to the call for troops. Mr. Chase, while Governor, had re-organized the militia on a sensible basis, and rescued it from the ignominy into which it had fallen. When Mr. Lincoln asked for . seventy-five thousand men, Ohio's quota was thirteen regiments. The various chaotic regiments and militia troops in the State did not exceed 1,500 men. The call was issued April 15, 1861 ; by the 18th, two regiments were organized in Columbus, whither these companies had gathered; before sunrise of the 19th the first and second regiments were on their way to Wash- ington City. The President had only asked for thirteen regiments ; thirt?/ were gathering ; the Government, not yet fully comprehending the nature of the rebellion, refused the surplus troops, but Gov. Dennison was authorized to put ten additional regiments in the field, as a defensive measure, and was also authorized to act on the defensive as well as on the oflensive. The immense extent of southern border made this necessary, as all the loyal people in West Virginia and Ken- tucky asked for help. In the limits of this history, it is impossible to trace all the steps Ohio took in the war. One of her most talented sons, now at the head of one of the greatest newspapers of the world, says, regard- ing the action of the people and their Legislature : " In one part of the nation there existed a grad- ual growth of sentiment against the Union, ending in open hostility against its integrity and its Con- stitutional law ; on the other side stood a resolute, and determined people, though divided in minor matters, firmly united on the question of national supremacy. The people of Ohio stood squarely on this side. Before this her people had been di- vided up to the hour when — "'That fierce and sudden flash across the rugged black- ness broke, And, with a voice that shook the land, the guns of Sum- ter spoke ; ********* And whereso'er the summons came, there rose the angry din, As when, upon a rocky coast, a stormy tide sets in.' " All waverings then ceased among the people and in the Ohio Legislature. The Union must be •? s r- :^ t^ 134 HISTORY OF OHIO. preserved. The white heat of patriotism and fe- alty to the flag that had been victorious in three wars, and had never met but temporary defeat then melted all parties, and dissolved all hesitation, and, April 18, 1861, by a unanimous vote of ninety-nine Representatives in its favor, there was passed a bill appropriating $500,000 to carry into eifect the requisition of the President, to protect the National Government, of which sum $450,000 were to purchase arms and equipments for the troops required by that requisition as the quota of Ohio, and $50,000 as an extraordinary contingent fund for the Governor. The commissioners of the State Sinking Fund were authorized, by the same bill, to borrow this money, on the 6 per cent bonds of the State, and to issue for the same certificates, freeing such bonds from taxation. Then followed other such legislation that declared the property of volunteers free from execution for debt during their term of service; that declared any resident of the State, who gave aid and comfort to the enemies of the Union, guilty of treason against the State, to be punished by imprisonment at hard labor for life ; and, as it had become already evi- dent that thousands of militia, beyond Ohio's quota of the President's call, would volunteer, the Legislature, adopting the sagacious suggestion of Gov. Dennison, resolved that all excess of volunteers should be retained and paid for service, under direction of the Governor. Thereupon a bill was passed, authorizing the acceptance of volunteers to form ten regiments, and providing $500,000 for their arms and equipments, and $1,500,000 more to be disbursed for troops in case of an in- vasion of the State. Then other legislation was enacted, looking to and providing against the ship- ment from or through the State of arms or mu- nitions of war, to States either assuming to be neutral or in open rebellion; organizing the whole body of the State militia; providing suitable offi- cers for duty on the staff of the Governor ; re- quiring contracts for subsistence of volunteers to be let to the lowest bidder, and authorizing the appointment of additional general oflScers. " Before the adjournment of that Legislature, the Speaker of the House had resigned to take command of one of the regiments then about to start for Washington City ; two leading Senators had been appointed Brigadier Generals, and many, in fact nearly all, of the other members of both houses had, in one capacity or another, entered the military service. It was the first war legislature ever elected in Ohio, and, under sudden pressure. nobly met the first shock, and enacted the first measures of law for war. Laboring under difficul- ties inseparable from a condition so unexpected, and in the performance of duties so novel, it may be historically stated that for patriotism, zeal and ability, the Ohio Legislature of 1861 was the equal of any of its successors ; while in that exu- berance of patriotism which obliterated party lines and united all in a common effort to meet the threatened integrity of the United States as a nation, it surpassed them both. " The war was fought, the slave power forever destroyed, and under additional amendments to her organic law, the United States wiped the stain of human slavery from her escutcheon, liberating over four million human beings, nineteen-twentieths of whom were native-bom residents. " When Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court Hoiise, Ohio had two hundred regiments of all arms in the National service. In the course of the war, she had furnished two hundred and thirty regiments, besides twenty-six independent batteries of artillery, five independent companies of cavalry, several companies of sharpshooters, large parts of five regiments credited to the West Virginia con- tingent, two regiments credited to the Kentucky contingent, two transferred to the United States colored troops, and a large proportion of the rank and file of the Fifty-fourth and Sixty-fifth Massa- chusetts Regiments, also colored men. Of these or- ganizations, twenty-three were infantry regiments furnished on the first call of the President, an ex- cess of nearly one-half over the State's quota ; one hundred and ninety-one were infantry regiments, furnished on subsequent calls of the President — one hundred and seventeen for three years, twenty- seven for one year, two for six months, two for three months, and forty-two for one hundred days. Thirteen were cavalry, and three artillery for three years. Of these three-years troops, over twenty thousand re-enlisted, as veterans, at the end of their long term of service, to fight till the war would end." As original members of these organizations, Ohio ftirnished to the National service the magnificent army of 310,654 actual soldiers, omitting from the above number all those who paid commuta- tion money, veteran enlistments, and citizens who enlisted as soldiers or sailors in other States. The count is made from the reports of the Provost Marshal General to the War Department. Penn- sylvania gave not quite 28,000 more, while Illinois fell 48,000 behind; Indiana, 116,000 less; ;t Sf^ i^'^fav*- 'iH^^c^^cJ^ Jc^€0 ® s_ liL^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 137 Kentucky, 235,000, and Massachusetts, 164,000. Thus Ohio more than maintained, in the National army, the rank among her sisters which her popu- lation supported. Ohio furnished more troops than the President ever required of her ; and at the end of the war, with more than a thousand men in the camp of the State who were never mustered into the service, she still had a credit on the rolls of the War Department for 4,332 soldiers, beyond the aggregate of all quotas ever assigned to her; and, besides all these, 6,479 citizens had, in lieu of personal service, paid the commutation ; while In- diana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and New York were all from five to one hundred thousand behind their quotas. So ably, through all those years of trial and death, did she keep the promise of the memorable dispatch from her first war Governor : " If Kentucky refuses to fill her quota, Ohio will fill it for her." "Of these troops 11,237 were killed or mor- tally wounded in action, and of these 6,563 were left dead on the field of battle. They fought on well-nigh every battle-field of the war. Within forty-eight hours after the first call was made for troops, two regiments were on the way to Wash- ington. An Ohio brigade covered the retreat from the first battle of Bull Run. Ohio troops formed the bulk of army that saved to the Union the territory afterward erected into West Virginia ; the bulk of the army that kept Kentucky from seceding ; a large part of the army that captured Fort Donelson and Island No. 10 ; a great part of the army that from Stone River and Chiokamauga, and Mission Ridge and Atlanta, swept to the sea and captured Fort McAllister, and north through the Carolinas to Virginia." When Sherman started on his famous march to the sea, some one said to President Lincoln, "T hey will never get through ; they will all be captured, and the Union will be lost." " It is impossible," replied the President ; " it cannot be done. There is a mighty sight of fight in one hundred thou- sand Western men." Ohio troops fought at Pea Ridge. They charged at Wagner. They helped redeem North Carolina. They were in the sieges of Vicksburg, Charleston, Mobile and Richmond. At Pittsburg Landing, at Antietam, Gettysburg and Corinth, in the Wilderness, at Five Forks, before Nashville and Appomattox Court House ; " their bones, reposing on the fields they won and in the graves they fill, are a perpetual pledge that no flag shall ever wave over their graves but that flag they died to maintain." Ohio's soil gave birth to, or furnished, a Grant, a Sherman, a Sheridan, a McPherson, a Rosecrans, a McClellan, a McDowell, a Mitchell, a Gilmore, a Hazen, a Sill, a Stanley, a Steadman, and others — all but one, children of the country , reared at West Point for such emergencies. Ohio's war record shows one General, one Lieutenant General, twenty Major Generals, twenty-seven Brevet Major Generals, and thirty Brigadier Generals, and one hundred and fifty Brevet Brigadier Generals. Her three war Governors were William Dennison, David Todd, and John Brough. She furnished, at the same time, one Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, and one Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase. Her Senators were Benjamin F. Wade and John Sherman. At least three out of five of Ohio's able-bodied men stood in the line of battle. On the head stone of one of these soldiers, who gave his life for the country, and who now lies in a National Cemetery, is inscribed these words: " We charge the living to preserve that Constitution we have died to defend." The close of the war and return of peace brought a period of fictitious values on the country, occa- sioned by the immense amount of currency afloat. Property rose to unheard-of values, and everything with it. Ere long, however, the decline came, and with it " hard times." The climax broke over the country in 1873, and for awhile it seemed as if the country was on the verge of ruin. People found again, as preceding generations had found, that real value was the only basis of true prosper- ity, and gradually began to work to the fact. The Government established the specie basis by gradual means, and on the 1st day of January, 1879, began to redeem its outstanding obligations in coin. The efiect was felt everywhere. Busi- ness of all kinds sprang anew into life. A feeling of confidence grew as the times went on, and now, on the threshold of the year 1880, the State is en- tering on an era of steadfast prosperity ; one which has a sure and certain foundation. Nearly four years have elaped since the gTeat Centennial Exhibition was held in Philadelphia ; an exhibition that brought from every State in the Union the best products of her soil, factories, and all industries. In that exhibit Ohio made an ex- cellent display. Her stone, iron, coal, cereals, woods and everything pertaining to her welfare were all represented. Ohio, occupying the middle ground of the Union, was expected to show to foreign na- tions what the valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio -^ 138 HISTORY OF OHIO. could produce. The State nobly stood the test and ranked foremost among all others. Her cen- tennial building was among the first completed and among the neatest and best on the grounds. During the summer, the Centennial Commission extended invitations to the Governors of the several States to appoint an orator and name a day for his delivery of an address on the history, progress and resources of his State. Gov. Hayes named the Hon. Edward D. Mansfield for this purpose, and August 9th, that gentleman delivered an address so valuable for the matter which it contains, that we here give a synopsis of it. CHAPTER XIII. OHIO IN THE CENTENNIAL— ADDRESS OF EDWARD D. MANSTIELD, LL. D., PHILADELPHIA, AUGUST 9, 1876. ONE hundred years ago, the whole territory, from the Alleghany to the Rooky Mountains was a wilderness, inhabited only by wild beasts and Indians. The Jesuit and Moravian missionaries were the only white men who had penetrated the wilderness or beheld its mighty lakes and rivers. While the thirteen old colonies were declaring their independence, the thirteen new States, which now lie in the western interior, had no existence, and gave no sign of the future. The solitude of nature was unbroken by the steps of civilization. The wisest statesman had not contemplated the probability of the coming States, and the boldest patriot did not dream that this interior wilderness should soon contain a greater population than the thirteen old States, with all the added growth of one hundred years. Ten years after that, the old States had ceded their Western lands to the General Government, and the Congress of the United States had passed the ordinance of 1785, for the survey of the pub- lic territory, and, in 1787,the celebrated ordinance which organized the Northwestern Territory, and dedicated it to freedom and intelligence. Fifteen years after that, and more than a quarter of a century after the Declaration of Independ- ence, the State of Ohio was admitted into the Union, being the seventeenth which accepted the Constitution of the United States. It has since grown up to be great, populous and prosperous under the influence of those ordinances. At her admittance, in 1803, the tide of emigration had begun to flow over the Alleghanies into the Valley of the Mississippi, and, although no steamboat, no railroad then existed, nor even a stage coach helped the immigrant, yet the wooden " ark " on the Ohio, and the heavy wagon, slowly winding over the mountains, bore these tens of thousands to the wilds of Kentucky and the plains of Ohio. In the spring of 1788 — the first year of settlement — four thousand five hundred persons passed the mouth of the Muskingum in three months, and the tide continued to pour on for half a century in a widening stream, mingled with all the races of Europe and America, until now, in the hundredth year of America'sindependence, the five States of the Northwestern Territory, in the wilderness of 1776, contain ten millions of people, enjoying all the blessings which peace and prosperity, freedom and Christianity, can confer upon any people. Of these five States, born under the ordinance of 1787, Ohio is the first, oldest, and, in many things, the greatest. In some things it is the greatest State in the Union. Let us, then, attempt, in the briefest terms, to draw an outline portrait of this great and remark- able commonwealth. Let us observe its physical aspects. Ohio is just one-sixth part of the Northwestern Territory — 40,000 square miles. It lies between Lake Erie and the Ohio River, having 200 miles of navigable waters, on one side flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, and on the other into the Gulf of Mexico. Through the lakes, its vessels touch on 6,000 miles of interior coast, and, through the Mississippi, on 36,000 miles of river coast; so that a citizen of Ohio may pursue his navigation through 42,000 miles, all in his own country, and all within naviga- ble reach of his own State. He who has circumnavi- gated the globe, has gone but little more than half the distance which the citizen of Ohio finds within his natural reach in this vast interior. Looking upon the surface of this State, we find no mountains, no barren sands, no marshy wastes, no lava^covered plains, but one broad, compact Vs ^1 l^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 139 body of arable land, intersected with rivers and streams and running waters, while the beautiful Ohio flows tranquilly by its side. More than three times the surface of Belgium, and one-third of the whole of Italy, it has more natural resources in proportion than either, and is capable of ultimately supporting a larger population than any equal sur- face in Europe. Looking from this great arable surface, where upon the very hills the grass and the forest trees now grow exuberant and abundant, we find that underneath this surface, and easily accessible, lie 10,000 square miles of coal, and 4,000 square miles of iron — coal and iron enough to supply the basis of manufacture for a world ! All this vast deposit of metal and fuel does not in- terrupt or take from that arable surface at all. There you may find in one place the same machine bringing up coal and salt water from below, while the wheat and the corn grow upon the surface above. The immense masses of coal, iron, salt and freestone deposited below have not in any way diminished the fertility and production of the soil. It has been said by some writer that the char- acter of a people is shaped or modified by the character of the country in which they live. If the people of Switzerland have acquired a certain air of liberty and independence from the rugged mountains around which they live ; if the people of Southern Italy, or beautifiil France, have ac- quired a tone of ease and politeness from their mild and genial clime, so the people of Ohio, placed amidst such a wealth of nature, in the tem- perate zone, should show the best fruits of peace- ful industry and the best culture of Christian civilization. Have they done so? Have their own labor and arts and culture come up to the ad- vantages of their natural situation? Let us exam- ine this growth and their product. The first settlement of Ohio was made by a colony from New England, at the mouth of the Muskingum. It was literally a remnant of the ofiicers of the Revolution. Of this colony no praise of the historian can be as competent, or as strong, as the language of Washington. He says, in answer to inquiries addressed to him: "No col- ony in America was ever settled under such favor- able auspices as that which has just commenced at the Muskingum. Information, prosperity and strength will be its characteristics. I know many of the settlers personally, and there never were men better calculated to promote the welfare of such a community;" and he adds that if he were a young man, he knows no country in which he would sooner settle than in this Western region." This colony, left alone for a time, made its own government and nailed its laws to a tree in the vil- lage, an early indication of that law-abiding and peaceful spirit which has since made Ohio a just and well-ordered community. The subsequent settlements on the Miami and Scioto were made by citizens of New Jersey and Virginia, and it is cer- tainly remarkable that among all the early immi- gration, there were no ignorant people. In the language of Washington, they came with " infor- mation," qualified to promote the welfare of the community. Soon after the settlement on the Muskingum and the Miami, the great wave of migration flowed on to the plains and, valleys of Ohio and Ken- tucky. Kentucky had been settled earlier, but the main body of emigrants in subsequent years went into Ohio, influenced partly by the great ordinance of 1787, securing freedom and schools forever, and partly by the greater security of titles under the survey and guarantee of the United States G-overnment. Soon the new State grew up, with a rapidity which, until then, was unknown in the history of civilization. On the Muskingum, where the buffalo had roamed ; on the Scioto, where the Shawanees had built their towns ; on the Miami, where the great chiefs of the Miamis had reigned ; on the plains of San- dusky, yet red with the blood of the white man ; on the Maumee, where Wayne, by the victory of the " Fallen Timbers," had broken the power of the Indian confederacy — the emigrants from the old States and from Europe came in to cultivate the fields, to build up towns, and to rear the insti- tutions of Christian civilization, until the single State of Ohio is greater in numbers, wealth, and education, than was the whole American Union when the Declaration of Independence was made. Let us now look at the statistics of this growth and magnitude, as they are exhibited in the cen- sus of the United States. Taking intervals of twenty years, Ohio had: In 1810, 230,760; in 1830, 937,903 ; in 1850, 1,980,329 ; in 1870, 2,665,260. Add to this the increase of population in the last six years, and Ohio now has, in round numbers, 3,000,000 of people — half a million more than the thirteen States in 1776 ; and her cities and towns have to-day six times the population of all the cities of America one hund- red years ago. This State is now the third in numbers and wealth, and the first in some of .those institutions which mark the progress of ,^ (j T' l±^ 140 HISTORY OF OHIO. mankind. That a small part of the wilderness of 1776 should be more populous than the whole Union was then, and that it should hare made a social and moral advance greater than that of any nation in the same time, must be regarded as one of the most startling and instructive facts which attend this year of commemoration. If such has been the social growth of Ohio, let us look at its physical development ; this is best expressed by the aggregate productions of the labor and arts of a people applied to the earth. In the census statistics of the United States these are expressed in the aggregate results of agriculture, mining, manufact- ures, and commerce. Let us simplify these statis- tics, by comparing the aggregate and ratios as between several States, and between Ohio and some countries of Europe. The aggregate amount of grain and potatoes — farinaceous food, produced in Ohio in 1870 was 134,938,413 bushels, and in 1874, there were 157,- 323,597 bushels, being the largest aggregate amount raised in any State but one, Illinois, and larger per square mile than Illinois or any other State ^ in the country. The promises of nature were thus vindicated by the labor of man ; and the industry of Ohio has fulfilled its whole duty to the sustenance of the country and the world. She has raised more grain than ten of the old States together, and more than half raised by Great Britain or by France. I have not the recent statistics of Europe, but McGregor, in his statistics of nations for 1832 — a period of pro- found peace — gives the following ratios for the leading countries of Europe : Great Britain, area 120,324 miles; amount of grain, 262,500,000 bushels; rate per square mile, 2,190 to 1; Austria — area 258,603 miles ; amount of grain, 366,800, 000 bushels;. rate per square mile, 1,422 to 1; France — area 215,858 miles; amount of grain, 233,847,300 bushels ; rate per square mile, 1,080 to 1. The State of Ohio — area per square miles, 40,000 ; amount of grain, 150,000,000 bushels ; rate per square mile, 3,750. Combining the great countries of Great Britain, Austria, and France, we find that they had 594,785 square miles and produced 863,147 ,300 bushels of grain, which was, at the time these statistics were taken, 1 ,450 bushels per square mile, and ten bushels to each one of the population. Ohio, on the other hand, had 3,750 bushels per square mile, and fifty bushels to each one of the population ; that is, there was five times as much grain raised in Ohio, in proportion to the people, as in these great countries of Europe. As letters make words, and words express ideas, so these dry figures of statistics express facts, and these facts make the whole history of civilization. Let us now look at the statistics of domestic animals. These are always indicative of the state of society in regard to the physical comforts. The horse must furnish domestic 'conveyances; the cattle must furnish the products of the dairy, as well as meat, and the sheep must furnish wool. Let us see how Ohio compares with other States and with Europe : In 1870, Ohio had 8,818,000 domestic animals ; Illinois, 6,925,000 ; New York, 5,283,000; Pennsylvania, 4,493,000; and other States less. The proportion to population in these States was, in Ohio, to each person, 3.3 ; Illinois, 2.7; New York, 1.2; Pennsylvania, 1.2. Let us now see the proportion of domestic ani- mals in Europe. The results given by McGregor's statistics are : In Great Britain, to each person, 2.44; Kussia, 2.00; France, 1.50 ; Prussia, 1.02; Austria, 1.00. It will be seen that the proportion in Great Britain is only two-thirds that of Ohio ; in France, only one-half; and in Austria and Prussia only one-third. It may be said that, in the course of civilization, the number of animals diminishes as the density of population increases ; and, therefore, this result might have been ex- pected in the old countries of Europe. But this does not apply to Russia or Germany, still less to other States in this country. Russia in Europe has not more than half the density of population now in Ohio. Austria and Prussia have less than 150 to the square mile. The whole of the north of Europe has not so dense a population as the State of Ohio, still less have the States of Illinois and Missouri, west of Ohio. Then, therefore, Ohio showing a larger proportion of domestic ani- mals than the north of Europe, or States west of her, with a population not so dense, we see at once there must be other causes to produce such a phenomenon. Looking to some of the incidental results of this vast agricultural production, we see that the United States exports to Europe immense amounts of grain and provisions ; and that there is manufact- ured in this country an immense amount of woolen goods. Then, taking these statistics of the raw material, we find that Ohio produces one-fifth of all the wool ; one-seventh of all the cheese ; one- eighth of all the corn, and one-tenth of all the wheat ; and yet Ohio has but a fourteenth part of the population, and one-eightieth part of the sur- face of this country. ti^ HISTOEY OF OHIO. 141 Let us take another — a commercial view of this matter. We have seen that Ohio raises five times as much grain per square mile as is raised per square mile in the empires of Great Britain, France and Austria, taken together. After making allow- ance for the differences of living, in the working classes of this country, at least two-thirds of the food and grain of Ohio are a surplus beyond the necessities of life, and, therefore, so much in the commercial balance of exports. This corresponds with the fact, that, in the shape of grain, meat, liquors and dairy products, this vast surplus is con- stantly moved to the Atlantic States and to Europe. The money value of this exported product is equal to $100,000,000 per annum, and to a solid capital of $1,500,000,000, after all the sustenance of the people has been taken out of the annual crop. We are speaking of agriculture alone. We are speaking of a State which began its career more than a quarter of a century after the Declaration of Independence was made. And now, it may be asked, what is the real cause of this extraordinary result, which, without saying anything invidious of other States, we may safely say has never been surpassed in any country? We have already stated two of the advantages possessed by Ohio. The first is that it is a compact, unbroken body of arable land, surrounded and intersected by water- courses, equal to all the demands of commerce and navigation. Next, that it was secured forever to freedom and intelhgence by the ordinance of 1787. The intelligence of its future people was secured by immense grants of public lands for the purpose of education ; but neither the blessings of nature, nor the wisdom of laws, could obtain such results without the continuous labor of an intelligent people. Such it had, and we have only to take the testimony of Washington, already quoted, and the statistical results I have given, to prove that no people has exhibited more steady industry, nor has any people directed their labor with more in- telligence. Aft«r the agricultural capacity and production of a country, its most important physical feature is its mineral products; its capacity for coal and iron, the two great elements of material civiliza- tion. If we were to take away from Great Britain her capacity to produce coal in such vast quanti- ties, we should reduce her to a third-rate position, no longer numbered among the great nations of the earth. Coal has smelted her iron, run her steam engines, and is the basis of her manufactures. But when we compare the coal fields of Great Britain with those of this country, they are insig- nificant. The coal fields of all Europe are small compared with those of the central United States. The coal district of Durham and Northumberland, in England, is only 880 square miles. There are other districts of smaller extent, making in the whole probably one-half the extent of that in Ohio. The English coal-beds are represented as more important, in reference to extent, on account of their thickness. There is a small coal district in Lancashire, where the workable coal-beds are in all 150 feet in thickness. But this involves, as is well known, the necessity of going to immense depths and incurring immense expense. On the other hand, the workable coal-beds of Ohio are near the surface, and some of them require no ex- cavating, except that of the horizontal lead from the mine to the river or the railroad. In one county of Ohio there are three beds of twelve, six and four feet each, within fifty feet of the surface. At some of the mines having the best coal, the lead from the mines is nearly horizontal, and just high enough to dump the coal into the railroad oars. These coals are of all qualities, from that adapted to the domestic fire to the very best qual- ity for smelting or manufacturing iron. Recollect- ing these facts, let us try to get an idea of the coal district of Ohio. The bituminous coal region de- escending the western slopes of the AUeghanies, occupies large portions of Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. I suppose that this coal field is not less than fifty thousand square miles, exclusive of Western Mary- land and the southern terminations of that field in Georgia and Alabama. Of this vast field of coal, exceeding anything found in Europe, about one- fifth part lies in Ohio. Prof Mather, in his report on the geology of the State (first Geologi- cal Report of the State) says: " The coal-measures within Ohio occupy a space of about one hundred and eighty miles in length by eighty in breadth at the widest part, with an area of about ten thousand square miles, extending along the Ohio from Trumbull County in the north to near the mouth of the Scioto in the south. The regularity in the dip, and the moderate incli- nation of the strata, afford facilities to the mines not known to those of most other countries, espe- cially Great Britain, where the strata in which the coal is imbedded have been broken and thrown out of place since its deposit, occasioning many slips and faults, and causing much labor and expense in again recovering the bed. In Ohio there is very ^ — "K, 143 HISTOEY OF OHIO. little difficulty of this kind, the feults being small and seldom found." Now, taking into consideration these geological facts, let us look at the extent of the Ohio coal field. It occupies, wholly or in part, thirty-six counties, including, geographically, 14,000 square miles ; but leaving out fractions, and reducing the Ohio coal field within its narrowest limits, it is 10,000 square miles in extent, lies near the surface, and has on an average twenty feet thickness of work- able coal-beds. Let us compare this with the coal mines of Durham and Northumberland (England), the largest and best coal mines there. That coal district is estimated at 850 square miles, twelve feet thick, and is calculated to contain 9,000,000,- 000 tons of coal. The coal field of Ohio is twelve times larger and one-third thicker. Estimated by that standard, the coal field of Ohio contains 180,- 000,000,000 tons of coal. Marketed at only $2 per ton, this coal is worth $360,000,000,000, or, in other words, ten times as much as the whole valuation of the United States at the present time. But we need not undertake to estimate either its quantity or value. It is enough to say that it is a quantity which we can scarcely imagine, which is tenfold that of England, and which is enough to supply the entire continent for ages to come. After coal, iron is beyond doubt the most val- uable mineral product of a State. As the mate- rial of manufacture, it is the most important. What are called the " precious metals " are not to be compared with it as an element of industry or profit. But since no manufactures can be success- fully carried on without fuel, coal becomes the first material element of the arts. Iron is unquestion- ably the next. Ohio has an iron district extending from the mouth of the Scioto River to some point north of the Mahoning River, in Trumbull County. The whole length is nearly two hundred miles, and the breadth twenty miles, making, as near as we can ascertain, 4,000 square miles. The iron in this dis- trict is of various qualities, and is manufactured largely into bars and castings. In this iron dis- trict are one hundred furnaces, forty-four rolling- mills, and fifteen rail-mills, being the largest num- ber of either in any State in the Union, except only Pennsylvania. Although only the seventeenth State in its admis- sion, I find that, by the census statistics of 1870, itisthe third State in the production of ironandiron manufactures. Already, and within the life of one man, this State begins to show what must in future time be the vast results of coal and iron, applied to the arts and manufactures. In the year 1874, there were 420,000 tons of pig iron produced in Ohio, which is larger than the prod- uct of any State, except Pennsylvania. The product and the manufacture of iron in Ohio have increased so rapidly, and the basis for increase is so great, that we may not doubt that Ohio will continue to be the greatest producer of iron and iron fabrics, except only Pennsylvania. At Cincinnati," the iron manufacture of the Ohio Valley is concentrating, and at Cleveland the ores of Lake Superior are being smelted. After coal and iron, we may place salt among the necessaries of life. In connection with the coal region west of the AUeghanies, there lies in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, a large space of country underlaid by the salt rock, which already produces immense amounts of salt. Of this, Ohio has its full proportion. In a large section of the southeastern portion of the State, salt is produced without any known limitation. At Pomeroy and other points, the salt rock lies about one thousand feet below the surface, but salt water is brought easily to the surface by the steam engine. There, the salt rock, the coal seam, and the noble sandstone lie in successive strata, while the green corn and the yellow wheat bloom on the surface above. The State of Ohio produced, in 1874, 3,500,000 bushels of salt, being one-fifth of all produced in the United States. The salt section of Ohio is exceeded only by that of Syracuse, New York, and of Saginaw, Michigan. There is no definite limit to the underlying salt rock of Ohio, and, therefore, the production will be proportioned only to the extent of the demand. Having now considered the resources and the products of the soil and the mines of Ohio, we may properly ask how far the people have employed their resources in the increase of art and manu- facture. We have two modes of comparison, the rate of increase within the State, and the ratio they bear to other States. The aggregate value of the products of manufacture, exclusive of mining, in the last three censuses were : in 1850, $62,692,000; in 1860, $121,691,000; in 1870, $269,713,000. The ratio of increase was over 100 per cent in each ten years, a rate far beyond that of the in- crease of population, and much beyond the ratio of increase in the whole country. In 1850, the man- ufactures of Ohio were one-sixteenth part of the aggregate in the country; in 1860, one-fifteenth ^^ -^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 143 part; in 18Y0, one-twelfth part. In addition to this, we find, from the returns of Cincinnati and Cleveland, that the value of the manufactured prod- ucts of Ohio in 18Y5, must have reached $400,- 000,000, and, by reference to the census tables, it will be seen that the ratio of increase exceeded that of the great manufacturing States of New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Of all the States admitted into the Union prior to Ohio, Pennsylvania alone has kept pace in the progress of manufacture. Some little reference to the manufacture of leading articles may throw some light on the cause of this. In the production of agricultural machinery and implements, Ohio is the first State ; in animal and vegetable oils and in pig iron, the second ; in cast iron and in tobacco, the third ; in salt, in machinery and in leather, the fourth. These facts show how largely the resources of coal, iron and agriculture have entered into the manufactures of the State. This great advance in the manufactures of Ohio, when we consider that this State is, relatively to its surface, the first agricultural State in the country, leads to the inevitable inference that its people are remarkably industrious. When, on forty thousand square miles of surface, three mill- ions of people raise one hundred and fifty million bushels of grain, and produce manufactures to the amount of $269,000,000 (which is fifty bushels of breadstuff to each man, woman and chUd, and $133 of manufacture), it will be difificult to find any community surpassing such results. It is a testimony, not only to the State of Ohio, but to the industry, sagacity and energy of the American people. Looking now to the commerce of the State, we have said there are six hundred miles of coast line, which embraces some of the principal internal ports of the Ohio and the lakes, such as Cincinnati, Cleve- land, Toledo and Portsmouth, but whose commerce is most wholly inland. Of course, no comparison can be made with the foreign commerce of the ocean ports. On the other hand, it is well known that the inland trade of the country far exceeds that of all its foreign commerce, and that the larg- est part of this interior trade is carried on its rivers and lakes. The materials for the vast con- sumption of the interior must be conveyed in its vessels, whether of sail or steam, adapted to these waters. Let us take, then, the ship-building, the navigation, and the exchange trades of Ohio, as elements in determining the position of this State in reference to the commerce of the country. At the ports of Cleveland, Toledo, Sandusky and Cin- cinnati, there have been built one thousand sail and steam vessels in the last twenty years, making an average of fifty each year. The number of sail, steam and all kinds of vessels in Ohio is eleven hundred and ninety, which is equal to the number in all the other States in the Ohio Valley and the Upper Mississippi. When we look to the navigable points to which these vessels are destined, we find them on all this vast coast line, which extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Yellowstone, and from Duluth to the St. Lawrence. Looking again to see the extent of this vast in- terior trade which is handled by Ohio alone, we find that the imports and exports of the principal articles of Cincinnati, aAount in value to $500,- 000,000 ; and when we look at the great trade of Cleveland and Toledo, we shall find that the an- nual trade of Ohio exceeds $700,000,000. The lines of railroad which connect with its ports, are more than four thousand miles in length, or rather more than one mile in length to each ten square miles of surface. This great amount of railroads is engaged not merely in transporting to the Atlantic and thence to Europe, the immense surplus grain and meat in Ohio, but in carrying the largest part of that greater surplus, which exists in the States west of Ohio, the granary of the West. Ohio holds the gateway of every railroad north of the Ohio, from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, and hence it is that the great transit lines of the coun- try pass through Ohio. Let us now turn from the progress of the arts to the progress of ideas ; from material to intellect ual development. It is said that a State consists of men, and history shows that no art or science, wealth or power, will compensate for the want of moral or intellectual stability in the minds of a nation. Hence, it is admitted that the strength and perpetuity of our republic must consist in the intelligence and morality of the people. A re- public can last only when the people are enlight- ened. This was an axiom with the early legislators of this country. Hence it was that when Vir- ginia, Connecticut and the original colonies ceded to the G-eneral Government that vast and then un- known wilderness which lay west of the AUegha- nies, in the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi, they took care that its future inhabitants should be an educated people. The Constitution was not formed when the celebrated ordinance of 1787 was passed. That ordinance provided that, " Religion, mor- ality, and knowledge being necessary to good ^c r *^ ■4* 144 HISTOKT OF OHIO. government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever en- couraged;" and by the ordinance of 1785 for the survey of public lands in the Northwestern Terri- tory, Section 16 in each township, that is, one thirty-sixth part, was reserved for the maintenance of public schools in said townships. As the State of Ohio contained a little more than twenty-five millions of acres, this, together with two special grants of three townships to universities, amounted to the dedication of 740,000 acres of land to the maintenance of schools and colleges. It was a splendid endowment, but it was many years before it became available. It was sixteen years after the passage of this ordinance (in 1803), when Ohio entered the Union, and legislation upon this grant became possible. The Constitution of the State pursued the language of the ordinance, and de- clared that "schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged by legislative provision." The Governors of Ohio, in successive messages, urged attention to this subject upon the people; but the thinness of settlement, making it impossi- ble, except in few districts, to collect youth in suf- ficient numbers, and impossible to sell or lease lands to advantage, caused the delay of efficient school system for many years. In 1825, however, a general law establishing a school system, and levy- ing a tax for its support, was passed. This was again enlarged and increased by new legislation in 1836 and 1846. From that time to this, Ohio has had a broad, liberal and efficient sys- tem of public instruction. The taxation for schools, and the number enrolled in them at difierent pe- riods, will best show what has been done. In 1855 the total taxation for school purposes was $2,672,827. The proportion of youth of school- able age enrolled was 67 per cent. In 1874 the amount raised by taxation was $7,425,135. The number enrolled of schoolable age was 70 per cent, or 707,943. As the schoolable age extends to twenty-one years, and as there are very few youth in school after fifteen years of age, it follows that the 70 per cent of schoolable youths enrolled in the pub- lic schools must comprehend nearly the whole number between four and fifteen years. It is im- portant to observe this fact, because it has been inferred that, as the whole number of youth be- tween five and twenty-one have not been enrolled, therefore they are not educated. This is a mistake ; nearly all over fifteen years of age have been in the public schools, and all the native youth of the State, and all foreign born, young enough, have had the benefit of the public schools. But in consequence of the large number who have come from other States and from foreign countries, there are still a few who are classed by the census statistics among the "illiterate;" the proportion of this class, however, is less in propor- tion than in twenty-eight other States, and less in proportion than in Connecticut and Massachusetts, two of the oldest States most noted for popular education. In fact, every youth in Ohio, under twenty-one years of age, may have the benefit of a public education ; and, since the system of graded and high schools has been adopted, may obtain a common knowledge from the alphabet to the classics. The enumerated branches of study in the pub- lic schools of Ohio are thirty-four, including mathematics and astronomy, French, German and the classics. Thus the State which was in the heart of the wilderness in 1776, and was not a State until the nineteenth century had begun, now presents to the world, not merely an unrivaled de- velopment of material prosperity, but an unsur- passed system of popular education. In what is called the higher education, in the colleges and universities, embracing the classics and sciences taught in regular classes, it is the pop- ular idea, and one which few dare to question, that we must look to the Eastern States for superiority and excellence ; but that also is becoming an as- sumption without proof; a proposition difficult to sustain. The facts in regard to the education of universities and colleges, their faculties, students and course of instruction, are all set forth, in the complete statistics of the Bureau of Education for 1874. They show that the State of Ohio had the largest number of such institutions; the largest number of instructors in their faculties, except one State, New York ; and the largest number of stu- dents in regular college classes, in proportion to their population, except the two States of Connect- icut and Massachusetts. Perhaps, if we look at the statistics of classical students in the colleges, disregarding preparatory and irregular courses, we shall get a more accurate idea of the progress of the higher education in those States which claim the best. In Ohio, 36 colleges, 258 teachers, 2,139 students, proportion, 1 in 124; in Penn- sylvania, 27 colleges, 239 teachers, 2,359 students, proportion, 1 in 150; in New York, 26 colleges, 343 teachers, 2,764 students, proportion, 1 in 176; in thesix NewEngland States, 17 colleges, 252 teach- ers, 3,341 students, proportion, 1 in 105 ; in Illi- ±±^ HISTOEY OF OHIO. 145 nois, 24 colleges, 219 teachers, 1,701 students, proportion, 1 in 140. This shows there are more collegiate institutions in Ohio than in all New England ; a greater num- ber of college teachers, and only a little smaller ratio of students to the population ; a greater number of such students than either in New York or Pennsyl- vania, and, as a broad, general fact, Ohio has made more progress in education than either of the old States which formed the American Union. Such a fact is a higher testimony to the strength and the beneficent influence of the American Government than any which the statistician or the historian can advance. Let us now turn to the moral aspects of the people of Ohio. No human society is found with- out its poor and dependent classes, whether made so by the defects of nature, by acts of Providence, or by the accidents of fortune. Since no society is exempt from these classes, it must be judged not so much by the fact of their existence, as by the manner in which it treats them. In the civil- ized nations of antiquity, such as Greece and Rome, hospitals, infirmaries, orphan homes, and asylums for the infirm, were unknown. These are the creations of Christianity, and that must be esteemed practically the most Christian Stat« which most practices this Christian beneficence. In Ohio, as in all the States of this country, and of all Christian countries, there is a large number of the infirm and dependent classes; but, although Ohio is the third State in population, she is only the fourteenth in the proportion of dependent classes. The more important point, however, was, how does she treat them? Is there wanting any of all the varied institutions of benevolence? How does she compare with other States and countries in this respect? It is believed that no State or coun- try can present a larger proportion of all these institutions which the benevolence of the wise and good have suggested for the alleviation of suffer- ing and misfortune, than the State of Ohio. With 3,500 of the insane within her borders, she has five great lunatic asylums, capable of accommodat- ing them all. She has asylums for the deaf and dumb, the idiotic, and the blind. She has the best hospitals in the country. She has schools of reform and houses of refuge. She has "homes" for the boys and girls, to the number of 800, who are children of soldiers. She has penitentiaries and jails, orphan asylums and infirmaries. In every county there is an infirmary, and in every public institution, except the penitentiary, there is a school. So that the State has used every human means to relieve the suffering, to instruct the igno- rant, and to reform the criminal. There are in the State 80,000 who come under all the various forms of the infirm, the poor, the sick and the criminal, who, in a greater or less degree, make the dependent class. For these the State has made every provision which humanity or justice or intelligence can require. A young State, de- veloped in the wilderness, she challenges, without any invidious comparison, both Europe and Amer- ica, to show her superior in the development of humanity manifested in the benefaction of pubhc institutions. Intimately connected- with public morals and with charitable institutions, is the religion of a people. The people of the United States are a Christian people. The people of Ohio have man- ifested their ze^ by the erection of churches, of Sunday schools, and of religious institutions. So far as these are outwardly manifested, they are made known by the social statistics of the census. The number of church organizations in the leading States were: In the State of Ohio, 6,488; in the State of New York, 5,627 : in the State of Pennsylvania, 5,984 ; in the State of Illinois, 4,298. It thus appears that Ohio had a larger number of churches than any State of the Union. The number of sittings, however, was not quite as large as those in New York and Pennsylvania. The denominations are of all the sects known in this country, about thirty in number, the majority of the whole being Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists. Long before the American Independ- ence, the Moravians had settled on the Mahoning and Tuscarawas Eivers, but only to be destroyed ; and when the peace with Great Britain was made, not a vestige of Christianity remained on the soil of Ohio ; yet we see that within ninety years from that time the State of Ohio was, in the num- ber of its churches, the first of this great Union. In the beginning of this address, I said that Ohio was the oldest and first of these great States, carved out of the Northwestern Territory, and that it was in some things the greatest State of the American Union. I have now traced the physi- cal, commercial, intellectual and moral features of the State during the seventy-five years of its constitutional history. The result is to establish fully the propositions with which I began. These facts have brought out : 1. That Ohio is, in reference to the square miles of its surface, the first State in agriculture •^ s ■^ 1^ 146 HISTORY OF OHIO. of the American Union ; this, too, notwithstand- ing it has 800,000 in cities and towns, and a large development of capital and products in manu- factures. 2. That Ohio has raised more grain per square mUe than either France, Austria, or Great Britain. They raised 1,450 bushels per square mile, and 10 bushels to each person. Ohio raised 3,750 bushels per square mile, and 50 bushels to each one of the population ; or, in other words, five times the proportion of grain raised in Europe. 3. Ohio was the first State of the Union in the production of domestic animals, being far in advance of either New York, Pennsylvania or Illi- nois. The proportion of. domestic animals to each person in Ohio was three and one-third, and in New York and Pennsylvania less than half that. The largest proportion of domestic animals pro- duced in Europe was in Great Britain and Russia, neither of which come near that of Ohio. 4. The coal-field of Ohio is vastly greater than that of Great Britain, and we need make no com- parison with other States in regard to coal or iron ; for the 10,000 square miles of coal, and 4,000 square miles of iron in Ohio, are enough to supply the whole American continent for ages to come. 5. Neither need we compare the results of commerce and navigation, since, from the ports of Cleveland and Cincinnati, the vessels of Ohio touch on 42,000 miles of coast, and her 5,000 miles of railroad carry her products to every part of the American continent. 6. Notwithstanding the immense proportion and products of agriculture in Ohio, yet she has more than kept pace with New York and New England in the progress of manufactures during the last twenty years. Her coal and iron are pro- ducing their legitimate results in making her a great manufacturing State. 7. Ohio is the first State in the Union as to the proportion of youth attending school ; and the States west of the AUeghanies and north of the Ohio have more youth in school, proportionably, than New England and New York. The facts on this subject are so extraordinary that I may be excused for giving them a little in detail. The proportion of youth in Ohio attending school to the population, is 1 in 4.2; in Illinois, 1 in 4.3; in Pennsylvania, 1 in 4.8; in New York, 1 in 5.2 ; in Connecticut and Massachusetts, 1 in 8.7. These proportions show that it is in the West, and not in the East, that education is now advanc- ing; and it is here that we see the stimulus given by the ordinance of 1787, is working out its great and beneficent results. The land grant for educa- tion was a great one, but, at last, its chief effort was in stimulating popular education ; for the State of Ohio has taxed itself tenjs of millions of dollars beyond the utmost value of the land grant, to found and maintain a system of public education which the world has not surpassed. We have seen that above and beyond all this material and intellectual development, Ohio has provided a vast benefaction of asylums, hospitals, and infirmaries, and special schools for the support and instruction of the dependent classes. There is not within all her borders a single one of the deaf, dumb, and bhnd, of the poor, sick, and insane, not an orphan or a vagrant, who is not provided for by the broad and generous liberality of the State and her people. A charity which the classic ages knew nothing of, a beneficence which the splendid hierarchies and aristocracies of Europe cannot equal, has been exhibited in this young State, whose name was unknown one hundred years ago, whose people, from Europe to the Atlantic, and from the Atlantic to the Ohio, were, like Adam and Eve, cast out — " the world before them where to choose." Lastly, we see that, although the third in pop- ulation, and the seventeenth in admission to the Union, Ohio had, in 1870, 6,400 churches, the largest number in any one State, and numbering among them every form of Christian worship. The people, whose fields were rich with grain, whose mines were boundless in wealth, and whose commerce extended through thousands of miles of lakes and rivers, came here, as they came to New England's rock-bound coast — " With freedom to worship God." The church and the schoolhouse rose beside the green fields, and the morning bells rang forth to cheerful children going to school, and to a Chris- tian people going to the church of God. Let us now look at the possibilities of Ohio in the future development of the American Repub- lican Republic. The two most populous parts of Europe, because the most food-producing, are the Netherlands and Italy, or, more precisely, Belgium and ancient Lombardy ; to the present time, their population is, in round numbers, three hundred to the square mile. The density of population in England proper is about the same. We may assume, therefore, that three hundred to the square tt^ HISTOEY OF OHIO. 147 mile is, in round numbers, the limit of comfortable subsistence under modern civilization. It is true that modern improvements in agricultural machin- ery and fertilization have greatly increased the capacity of production, on a given amount of land, with a given amount of labor. It is true, also, that the old countries of Europe do not possess an equal amount of arable land with Ohio in proportion to the same surface. It would seem, therefore, that the density of population in Ohio might exceed that of any part of Europe. On the other hand, it may be said with truth that the American people will not become so dense as in Europe while they have new lands in the West to occupy. This is true ; but lands such as those in the valley of the Ohio are now becoming scarce in the West, and we think that, with her great capacity for the production of grain on one hand, and of illimitable quantities of coal and iron to manufacture with on the other, that Ohio wUl, at no remote period, reach nearly the density of Belgium, which will give her 10,000,000 of people. This seems extravagant, but the tide of migration, which flowed so fast to the West, is beginning to ebb, while the manufactures of the interior offer greater inducements. With population comes wealth, the material for education, the development of the arts, advance in all the material elements of civiUzation, and the still grander advancements in the strength and elevation of the human mind, conquering to itself new realms of material and intellectual power, acquiring in the future what we have seen in the past, a wealth of resources unknown and undreamed of when, a hundred years ago, the fathers of the republic declared their independence. I know how easy it is to treat this statement with easy incredulity, but statistics is a certain science ; the elements of civilization are now measured, and we know the progress of the human race as we know that of a cultivated plant. We know the resources of the country, its food-producing capacity, its art processes, its power of education, and the unde- fined and illimitable power of the human mind for new inventions and unimagined progress. With this knowledge, it is not difl&cult nor unsafe to say that the fiiture will produce more, and in a far greater ratio, than the past. The pictured scenes of the prophets have already been more than ful- filled, and the visions of beauty and glory, which their imagination failed fully to describe, will be more than realized in the bloom of that garden which republican America will present to the eyes of astonished mankind. Long before another century shall have passed by, the single State of Ohio will present fourfold the population with which the thirteen States began their independence, more wealth than the entire Union now has ; greater universities than any now in the country, and a development of arts and manufacture which the world now knows nothing of You have seen more than that since the Constitution was adopted, and what right have you to say the future shall not equal the past ? I have aimed, in this address, to give an exact picture of what Ohio is, not more for the sake of Ohio than as a representation of the products which the American Republic has given to the world. A State which began long after the Declaration of Independence, in the then unknown wilderness of North America, presents to-day the fairest example of what a republican govern- ment with Christian civilization can do. Look upon this picture and upon those of Assyria, of Greece or Rome, or of Europe in her best estate, and say where is the civilization of the earth which can equal this. If a Roman citizen could say with pride, " Oivis Romanus sum," with far greater pride can you say this day, "I am an American citizen." -^ ® V -^ e ^ 148 HISTORY OF OHIO. CHAPTER XIV. EDUCATION* — EAKLY SCHOOL LAWS — NOTES — INSTITUTES AND EDUCATIONAL JOURNALS- SCHOOL SYSTEM — SCHOOL FUNDS— COLLEGES A.ND UNIVERSITIES. WHEN the survey of the Northwest Terri- tory was ordered by Congress, March 20, 1785, it was decreed that every sixteenth section of land should be reserved for the "maintenance of public schools within each township." The ordinance of 1787 — thanks to the New England Associates — proclaimed that, " religion, morality and knowledge being essential to good government, schools and the means of education should forever be encouraged." The State Constitution of 1802 declared that " schools and the means of instruc- tion should be encouraged by legislative provision, not inconsistent with the rights of conscience." In 1825, through the persevering efforts of Nathan Guilford, Senator from Hamilton County, Ephraim Cutler, Representative from Washington County, and other friends of education, a bill was passed, " laying the foundation for a general system of common schools." This bill provided a tax of one- half mill, to be levied by the County Commis- sioners for school purposes ; provided for school examiners, and made Township Clerks and County Auditors school officers. In 1829, this county tax was raised to three-fourths of a mill ; in 1834 to one mill, and, in 1836, to one and a half mills. In March, 1837, Samuel Lewis, of Hamilton County, was appointed State Superintendent of Com- mon Schools. He was a very energetic worker, trav- eling on horseback all over the State, delivering ad- dresses and encouraging school officers and teachers. Through his efforts much good was done, and * From the School Commissioners' Reports, principally those of Thomas W. Harvey, A. M. Note 1. — The first school taught in Ohio, or in the Northwestern Territory, was in 1791. The first teacher was Maj. Austin Tupper, eldestson of Gen. Benjamin Tupper, both Eevolutionnry oflficera. The room occupied was the same as that in which the first Court was held, and was situated in the northwest block -house of the garrison, called the stockade, at Marietta. During the Indian war school was also taught at Fort Harmar. Point Marietta, and at other set- tlements. A meeting was held in Marietta, April 29, 1797, to con- sider the erection of a school building suitable for the instruction of the youth, and for conducting religious services. Resolutions were adopted which led to the erection of a building called the Muskingum Academy. The building was of frame, forty feet long and twenty-four feet wide, and is yet(1878)8tanfling. Thebuilding was twelve fpet high, with an arched ceiling. It stood upon a stone foundation, three steps from the ground. There were two chimneys and a lobby projection. There was a cellar under the whole build- ing. It stood upon a beautirul lot, fronting the Muskingum River, and about sixty feet back from the street. Some large trees were many important features engrafted on the school system. He resigned in 1839, when the office was abolished, and its duties imposed on the Secretary of State. The most important adjunct in early education in the State was the college of teachers organized in Cincinnati in 1831. Albert Pickett, Dr. Joseph Ray, William H. McGuffey — so largely known by his Readers — and Milo Gr. Williams, were at its head. Leading men in all parts of the West at- tended its meetings. Their published deliberations did much for the advancement of education among the people. Through the efforts of the college, the first convention held in Ohio for educational purposes was called at Columbus, January 13, 1836. Two years after, in December, the first convention in which the different sections of the State were represented, was held. At both these conventions, all the needs of the schools, both com- mon and higher, were ably and fully discussed, and appeals made to the people for a more cordial support of the law. No successful attempts were made to organize a permanent educational society until December, 1847, when the Ohio State Teach- ers' Association was formed at Akron, Summit County, with Samuel Galloway as President; T. W. Harvey, Recording Secretary; M. D. Leggett, Corresponding Secretary ; William Bowen, Treas- urer, and M. F. Cowdrey, Chairman of the Executive Committee. This Association entered upon its work with commendable earnestness, and has since upon the lot and on the street iu front. Across the street was an open common, and beyond that the river. Immediately opposite the door, on entering, was a broad aisle, and, at the end of the aisle, against the wall, was a desk or pulpit. On the right and left of the pulpit, against the wall, and fronting the pulpit, was a row of slips. On each sideof the door, facing the pulpit, were two slips, and, at each end of the room, one slip. These slips were stationary, and were fitted with desks that could be let down, and there were boxes in the desks for holding books and papers. In the center of the room was an open space, which could be filled with movable seats. The first school was opened here in 1800." — LeUer of A. T. Nye, Note 2. — Another evidence of the character of the New England Associates is the founding of a public library as early as 1796, or before. Another was also established at Belpre about the same time. Abundant evidence proves the existence of these libraries, all tend- ing to the fact that the early settlers, though conquering a wilder- ni-s3 and a savage foe, would not allow their mental faculties to lack for food. The character of the books shows that "solid" reading predominated. ;f* L>^ HISTOEY OF OHIO. 149 never abated its zeal. Semi-annual meetings were at first held, but, since 1858, only annual meetings occur. They are always largely attended, and al- ways by the best and most energetic teachers. The Association has given tone to the educational interests of the State, and has done a vast amount of good in popularizing education. In the spring of 1851, Lorin Andrews, then Superintendent of the Massillon school, resigned his place, and be- came a common-school missionary. In July, the Association, at Cleveland, made him its agent, and instituted measures to sustain him. He remained zealously at work in this relation until 1853, when he resigned to accept the presidency of Kenyon College, at G-ambier. Dr. A. Lord was then chosen general agent and resident editor of the Journal of Education, which positions he filled two years, with eminent ability. The year that Dr. Lord resigned, the ex officio relation of the Secretary of State to the common schools was abolished, and the office of school com- missioner again created. H. H. Barney was elected to the place in October, 1853. The office has since been held by Rev. Anson Smyth, elected in 1856, and re-elected in 1859 ; E. E. White, appointed by the G-overnor, November 11, 1863, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of C. W. H. Cathcart, who was elected in 1862 ; John A. Norris, in 1865; W. D. Henkle, in 1868; Thomas W. Harvey, in 1871; C. S. Smart, in 1875, and the present incumbent, J. J. Bums, elected in 1878, his term expiring in 1881. The first teachers' institute in Northern Ohio was held at Sandusky, in September, 1845, con- ducted by Salem Town, of New York, A. D. Lord and M. P. Cowdrey. The second was held at Char- don, Geauga Co., in November of the same year. The first institute in the southern part of the State was held at Cincinnati, in February, 1837; the first in the central part at Newark, in March, 1848. Since then these meetings of teachers have occurred annually, and have been the means of great good in elevating the teacher and the public in educational interests. In 1848,, on petition of forty teachers, county commissioners were author- ized to pay lecturers from surplus revenue, and the next year, to appropriate $100 for institute pur- poses, upon pledge of teachers to raise half that amount. By the statutes of 1864, applicants for teachers were required to pay 50 cents each as an examination fee. One-third of the amount thus raised was allowed the use of examiners as trav- eling expenses, the remainder to be applied to in- stitute instruction. For the year 1871, sixty-eight teachers' institutes were held in the State, at which 308 instructors and lecturers were employed, and 7,158 teachers in attendance. The expense incurred was $16,361.99, of which $10,127.13 was taken from the institute fund; $2,730.34, was contrib- uted by members; $680, by county commis- sioners, and the balance, $1,371.50, was ob- tained from other sources. The last report of the State Commissioners — 1878 — shows that eighty- five county institutes were held in the State, con- tinuing in session 748 days; 416 instructors were employed; 11,466 teachers attended; $22,531.47 were received from all sources, and that the ex- penses were $19,587.51, or $1.71 per member. There was a balance on hand of $9,460.74 to com- mence the next year, just now closed, whose work has been as progressive and thorough as any former year. The State Association now comprises three sections; the general association, the superintend- ents' section and the ungraded school section. All have done a good work, and all report progress. The old State Constitution, adopted by a con- vention in 1802, was supplemented in 1851 by the present one, under which the General Assem- bly, elected under it, met in 1852. Harvey Rice, a Senator from Cuyahoga County, Chairman of Senate Committee on " Common Schools and School Lands," reported a bill the 29th of March, to provide "for the re-organization, supervision and maintenance of common schools." This bill, amended in a few particulars, became a law March 14, 1853. The prominent features of the new law were : The substitution of a State school tax for the county tax ; creation of the office of the State School Commissioner; the creation of a Township Board of Education, consisting of repre- sentatives from the subdistriots ; the abolition of rate-bills, making education free to all the youth of the State ; the raising of a fund, by a tax of one- tenth of a mill yearly, " for the purpose of fur- nishing school libraries and apparatus to all the common schools." This "library tax" was abol- ished in 1860, otherwise the law has remained practically unchanged. School journals, like the popular press, have been a potent agency in the educational history of the State. As early as 1838, the Ohio ScJiool Director was issued by Samuel Lewis, by legisla- tive authority, though after six months' continu- ance, it ceased for want of support. The same year the Pestalozzian, by E. L. Sawtell and H. K. Smith, of Akron, and the Common School s^ i -^ f ^ 150 HISTOEY OF OHIO. Advocate, of Cincinnati, were issued. In 1846, the School Journal began to be published by A. D. Lord, of Kirtland. The same year saw the Free School Clarion, by W. Bowen, of Massillon, and the School Friend, by W. B. Smith & Co., of Cincinnati. The next year, W. H. Moore & Co., of Cincinnati, started the Western School Journal. In 1851, the Ohio Teacher, by Thomas Rainey, appeared ; the News and Edu- cator, in 1863, and the Educational Times, in 1866. In 1850, Dr. Lord's Journal of Educa- tion was united with the School Friend, and became the recognized organ of the teachers in Ohio. The Doctor remained its principal editor until 1856, when he was succeeded by Anson Smyth, who edited the journal one year. In 1857, it was edited by John D. Caldwell ; in 1858 and and 1859, by W. T. Coggeshall; in 1860, by Anson Smyth again, when it passed into the hands of E. E. White, who yet controls it. It has an immense circulation among Ohio teachers, and, though competed by other journals, since started, it maintains its place. The school system of the State may be briefly explained as follows: Cities and incorporated vil- lages are independent of township and county con- trol, in the management of schools, having boards of education and examiners of their own. Some of them are organized for school purposes, under special acts. Each township has a board of edu- cation, composed of one member from each sub- district. The township clerk is clerk of this board, but has no vote. Each subdistrict has a local board of trustees, which manages its school affairs, subject to the advice and control of the township board. These officers are elected on the first Monday in April, and hold their offices three years. An enumeration of all the youth between the ages of five and twenty-one is made yearly. All public schools are required to be in session at least twenty-four weeks each year. The township clerk reports annually such facts concerning school affairs as the law requires, to the county auditor, who in turn reports to the State Commissioner, who collects these reports in a general report to the Legislature each year. A board of examiners is appointed in each county by the Probate Judge. This board has power to grant certificates for a term not exceed- ing two years, and good only in the county in which they are executed; they may be revoked on sufficient cause. In 1864, a State Board of Examiners was created, with power to issue life cer- tificates, valid in all parts of the State. Since then, up to January 1, 1879, there have been 188 of these issued. They are considered an excellent test of scholarship and ability, and are very credit- able to the holder. The school funds, in 1865, amounted to $3,271,- 275.66. They were the proceeds of appropriations of land by Congress for school purposes, upon which the State pays an annual interest of 6 per cent. The funds are known as the Virginia Mili- tary School Fund, the proceeds of eighteen quar- ter-townships and three sections of land, selected by lot from lands lying in the United States Military Reserve, appropriated for the use of schools in the Virginia Military Reservation ; the United States Military School Fund, the proceeds of one thirty-sixth part of the land in the United States Military District, appropriated " for the use of schools within the same ;" the Western Reserve School Fund, the proceeds from fourteen quarter- townships, situated in the United States Military District, and 37,758 acres, most of which was lo- cated in Defiance, Williams, Paulding, Van Wert and Putnam Counties, appropriated for the use of the schools in the Western Reserve; Section 16, the proceeds from the sixteenth section of each township in that part of the State in which the Indian title was not extinguished in 1803; the Moravian School Fund, the proceeds from one thirty-sixth part of each of three tracts of 4,000 acres situated in Tuscarawas County, orig- inally granted by Congress to the Society of United Brethren, and reconveyed by this Society to the United States in 1824. The income of these funds is not distributed by any uniform rule, owing to defects in the granting of the funds. The territo- rial divisions designated receive the income in proportion to the whole number of youth therein, while in the remainder of the State, the rent of Section 16, or the interest on the proceeds arising from its sale, is paid to the inhabitants of the originally surveyed townships. In these terri- torial divisions, an increase or decrease of popula- tion must necessarily increase or diminish the amount each youth is entitled to receive ; and the fortunate location or judicious sale of the sixteenth section may entitle one township to receive a large sum, while an adjacent township receives a mere pittance. This inequality of benefit may be good for localities, but it is certainly a detriment to the State at large. There seems to be no legal remedy for it. In addition to the income from the before- mentioned ftinds, a variable revenue is received ^f* :±. HISTORY OF OHIO. 151 from certain fines and licenses paid to either county or township treasurers for the use of schools; from the sale of swamp lands ($25,720.07 allotted to the State in 1850), and from personal property escheated to the State. ' Aside from the funds, a State school tax is fixed by statute. Local taxes vary with the needs of localities, are limited by law, and are contingent on the liberality and public spirit of difierent com- munities. The State contains more than twenty colleges and universities, more than the same number of female seminaries, and about thirty normal schools and academies. The amount of property invested in these is more than $6,000,000. The Ohio University is the oldest college in the State. In addition to the regular colleges, the State controls the Ohio State University, formerly the Agricultural and Mechanical College, established from the proceeds of the land scrip voted by Con- gress to Ohio for such purposes. The amount realized from the sale was nearly $500,000. This is to constitute a permanent fund, the interest only to be used. In addition, the sum of $300,000 was voted by the citizens of FrankHn County, in consideration of the location of the college in that county. Of this sum $111,000 was paid for three hundred and fifteen acres of land near the city of Columbus, and $112,000 for a college building. the balance being expended as circumstances re- quired, for additional buildings, laboratory, appa- ratus, etc. Thorough instruction is given in all branches relating to agriculture and the mechanical arts. Already excellent results are attained. By the provisions of the act of March 14, 1853, township boards are made bodies politic and cor- porate in law, and are invested with the title, care and custody of all school property belonging to the school district or township. They have control of the central or high schools of their townships ; prescribe rules for the district schools ; may appoint one of their number manager of the schools of the township, and allow him reasonable pay for his services ; determine the text-books to be used ; fix the boundaries of districts and locate schoolhouse sites ; make estimates of the amount of money re- quired ; apportion the money among the districts, and are required to make an annual report to the County Auditor, who incorporates the same in his report to the State Commissioner, by whom it reaches the Legislature. Local directors control the subdistricts. They enumerate the children of school age, employ and dismiss teachers, make contracts for building and furnishing sehoolhouses, and make all necessary provision for the convenience of the district schools. Practically, the entire management rests with them. CHAPTER XV. AGRICULTURE— AREA OF THE STATE— EARLY AGRICULTURE IN THE WEST— MARKETS— LIVE STOCK — NURSERIES, FRUITS, ETC. — CEREALS — ROOT AND CUCURBITACEOUS CROPS— AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS— AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES— POMOLOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. " Oft did the harvest to their sickles yield, Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke ; How jocund did they drive their teams afield ! How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke." THE majority of the readers of these pages are farmers, hence a resume of agriculture in the State, would not only be appropriate, but valuable as a matter of history. It is the true basis of national prosperity, and, therefore, justly occupies a foremost place. In the year 1800, the Territory of Ohio con- tained a population of 45,365 inhabitants, or a little more than one person to the square mile. At this date, the admission of the Territory into the Union as a State began to be agitated. When the census was made to ascertain the legality of the act, in conformity to the "Compact of 1787," no endeavor was made to ascertain additional statis- tics, as now ; hence, the cultivated land was not returned, and no account remains to tell how much existed. In 1805, three years after the ad- mission of the State into the Union, 7,252,856 acres had been purchased from the G-eneral Gov- ernment. Still no returns of the cultivated lands were made. In 1810, the population of Ohio was 230,760, and the land purchased from the Gov- «^ a r'v :l. 153 HISTOEY OF OHIO. ernment amounted to 9,933,150 acres, of which amount, however, 3,569,314 acres, or more than one-third, was held by non-residents. Of the lands occupied by resident land-owners, there appear to have been 100,968 acres of first-rate, 1,929,600 of second, and 1,538,745 acres of third rate lands. At this period there were very few exports from the farm, loom or shop. The people still needed all they produced to sustain themselves, and were yet in that pioneer period where they were obliged to produce all they wanted, and yet were opening new farms, and bringing the old ones to a productive state. Kentucky, and the country on the Monongahela, lying along the western slopes of the Alleghany Mountains, having been much longer settled, had begun, as early as 1795, to send considerable quan- tities of flour, whisky, bacon and tobacco to the lower towns on the Mississippi, at that time in the possession of the Spaniards. At the French set- tlements on the Illinois, and at Detroit, were being raised much more than could be used, and these were exporting also large quantities of these materials, as well as peltries and such commodities as their nomadic lives furnished. As the Missis- sippi was the natural outlet of the West, any at- tempt to impede its free navigation by the various powers at times controlling its outlet, would lead at once to violent outbreaks among the Western settlers, some of whom were aided by unscrupulous persons, who thought to form an independent Western country. Providence seems to have had a watchful eye over all these events, and to have so guided them that the attempts with such objects in view, invariably ended in disgrace to their per- petrators. This outlet to the West was thought to be the only one that could carry their produce to market, for none of the Westerners then dreamed of the immense system of railways now covering that part of the Union. As soon as ship-building commenced at Marietta, in the year 1800, the farmers along the borders of the Ohio and Musk- ingum Kivers turned their attention to the culti- vation of hemp , in addition to their other crops. I n a few years sufiicient was raised, not only to furnish cordage to the ships in the West, but large quan- tities were worked up in the various rope-walks and sent to the Atlantic cities. Iron had been discovered, and forges on the Juniata were busy converting that necessary and valued material into implements of industry. By the year 1805, two ships, seven brigs and three schooners had been built and rigged by the citizens of Marietta. Their construction gave a fresh impetus to agriculture, as by means of them the surplus products could be carried away to a foreign market, where, if it did not bring money, it could be exchanged foi* merchandise equally valuable. Captain David Devoll was one of the earliest of Ohio's shipwrights. He settled on the fertile Muskingum bottom, about five miles above Marietta, soon after the Indian war. Here he built a "floatiSg mill," for making flour, and, in 1801, a ship of two hundred and fifty tons, called the Muskingum, and the brig Eliza Greene, of one hundred and fifty tons. In 1804, he built a schooner on his own account, and in the spring of the next year, it was finished and loaded for a voyage down the Mississippi. It was small, only of seventy tons burden, of a light draft, and intended to run on the lakes east of New Orleans. In shape and model, it fully sustained its name, Nonpa- reil. Its complement of sails, small at first, was completed when it arrived in New Orleans. It had a large cabin to accommodate passengers, was well and finely painted, and sat gracefully on the water. Its load was of assorted articles, and shows very well the nature of exports of the day. It con- sisted of two hundred barrels of flour, fifty barrels of kiln-dried corn meal, four thousand pounds of cheese, six thousand of bacon, one hundred sets of rum puncheon shocks, and a few grindstones. The flour and meal were made at Captain DevoU's floating mill, and the cheese made in Belpre, at that date one of Ohio's most flourishing agricultural dis- tricts. The Captain and others carried on boating as well as the circumstances ofthedays permitted, fear- ing only the hostility of the Indians, and the duty the Spaniards were liable to levy on boats going down to New Orleans, even if they did not take it into their erratic heads to stop the entire navi- gation of the great river by vessels other than their own. By such means, merchandise was car- ried on almost entirely until the construction of canals, and even then, until modern times, the flat-boat was the main-stay of the shipper inhabit- ing the country adjoining the upper Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Commonly, very little stock was kept beyond what was necessary for the use of the family and to perform the labor on the farm. The Scioto Valley was perhaps the only exception in Ohio to thisgeneral condition. Horses were brought by the emigrants from the East and were characteristic of that region. In the French settlements in Illi- nois and about Detroit, French ponies, marvels of y ^ ■^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 155 endurance, were chiefly used. They were impractic- able in hauling the immense emigrant wagons over the mountains, and hence were comparatively unknown in Ohio. Until 1828, draft horses were chiefly used here, the best strains being brought by the "Tunkers," " Mennonites," and " Ormish," — ^three religious sects, whose members were invariably agriculturists. In Stark, Wayne, Holmes, and Richland Counties, as a general thing, they congregated in communities, where the neat- ness of their farms, the excellent condition of their stock, and the primitive simplicity of their manners, made them conspicuous. In 1828, the French began to settle in Stark County, where they introduced the stock of horses known as " Selim," "Plorizel," "Post Boy" and " Timolen." These, crossed upon the descents of the Norman and Conestoga, produced an excellent stock of farm horses, now largely used. In the Western Reserve, blooded horses were in- troduced as early as 1825. John I. Van Meter brought fine horses into the Scioto Valley in 1815, or thereabouts. Soon after, fine horses were brought to Steubenville from Virginia and Penn- sylvania. In Northern Ohio the stock was more miscellaneous, untU the introduction of improved breeds from 1815 to 1835. By the latter date the strains of horses had greatly improved. The same could be said of other parts of the State. Until after 1825, only farm and road horses were required. That year a race-course — the first in the State — was established in Cincinnati, shortly followed by others at Chillicothe, Dayton and Ham- ilton. From that date the race-horse steadily im- proved. Until 1838, however, all race-courses were rather irregular, and, of those named, it is difficult to determine which one has priority of date over the others. To Cincinnati, the prece- dence is, however, generally given. In 1838, the Buckeye Course was established in Cincinnati, and before a year had elapsed, it is stated, there were fifteen regular race-courses in Ohio. The eflFect of these courses was to greatly stimulate the stock of racers, and rather detract from draft and road horses. The organization of companies to import blooded horses has again revived the interest in this class, and now, at annual stock sales, these strains of horses are eagerly sought after by those having occasion to use them. Cattle were brought over the mountains, and, for several years, were kept entirely for domestic uses. By 1805, the country had so far settled that the surplus stock was fattened on corn and fodder, and a drove was driven to Baltimore. The drove was owned by George Renick, of Chillicothe, and the feat was looked upon as one of great im- portance. The drove arrived in Baltimore in ex- cellent condition. The impetus given by this movement of Mr. Renick stimulated greatly the feeding of cattle, and led to the improvement of the breed, heretofore only of an ordinary kind. Until the advent of railroads and the shipment of cattle thereon, the number of cattle driven to eastern markets from Ohio alone, was estimated at over fifteen thousand annually, whose value was placed at $600,000. Besides this, large numbers were driven from Indiana and Illinois, whose boundless prairies gave free scope to the herding of cattle. Improved breeds, "Short Horns," "Long Horns" and others, were introduced into Ohio as early as 1810 and 1815. Since then the stock has been gradually improved and acclimated, until now Ohio produces as fine cattle as any State in the Union. In some localities, especially in the Western Reserve, cheesemaking and dairy interests are the chief occupations of whole neighborhoods, where may be found men who have grown wealthy in this business. Sheep were kept by almost every family, in pio- neer times, in order to be supplied with wool for clothing. The wool was carded by hand, spun in the cabin, and frequently dyed and woven as well as shaped into garments there, too. All emigrants brought the best household and farming imple- ments their limited means would allow, so also did they bring the best strains of horses, cattle and sheep they could obtain. About the year 1809, Mr. Thomas Rotch, a Quaker, emigrated to Stark County, and brought with him a small flock of Merino sheep. They were good, and a part of them were from the original flock brought over from Spain, in 1801, by Col. Humphrey, United States Minister to that country. He had brought 200 of these sheep, and hoped, in time, to see every part of the United States stocked with Me- rinos. In this he partially succeeded only, owing to the prejudice against them. In 1816, Blessrs. Wells & Dickenson, who were, for the day, exten- sive woolen manufacturers in Steubenville, drove their fine flocks out on the Stark County Plains for the summer, and brought them back for the winter. This course was pursued for several years, until farms were prepared, when they were per- manently kept in Stark County. This flock was originally derived from the Humphrey importation. The failure of Wells & Dickenson, in 1824, placed 'iL 156 HISTORY OF OHIO. a good portion of this flock in the hands of Adam Hildebrand, and became the basis of his celebrated flock. Mr. T. S. Humrickhouse, of Coshocton, in a communication regarding sheep, writes as fol- lows: " The first merinos brought to Ohio were doubt- less by Seth Adams, of Zanesville. They were Humphrey's Merinos — undoubtedly the best ever imported into the United States, by whatever name called. He kept them part of the time in Washington, and afterward in Muskingum County. He had a sort of partnership agency from Gen. Humphrey for keeping and selling them. They were scattered, and, had they been taken care of and appreciated, would have laid a better found- ation of flocks in Ohio than any sheep brought into it from that time till 1852. The precise date at which Adams brought them cannot now be as- certained; but it was prior to 1813, perhaps as early as 1804." "The first Southdowns," continues Mr. Hum- rickhouse," " New Leicester, Lincolnshire and Cots- wold sheep I ever saw, were brought into Coshocton County from England by Isaac Maynard, nephew of the famous Sir John, in 1834. There were about ten Southdowns and a trio of each of the other kinds. He was ofiered $500 for his Lin- colnshire ram, in Buffalo, as he passed through, but refused. He was selfish, and unwilKng to put them into other hands when he went on a farm, all in the woods, and, in about three years, most of them had perished." The raising and improvement of sheep has kept steady tread with the growth of the State, and now Ohio wool is known the world over. In quan- tity it is equal to any State in America, while its quality is unequaled. The first stock of hogs brought to Ohio were rather poor, scrawny creatures, and, in a short time, when left to themselves to pick a livelihood from the beech mast and other nuts in the woods, degenerated into a wild condition, almost akin to their originators. As the country settled, however, they were gathered from their lairA, and, by feed- ing them corn, the farmers soon brought them out of their semi-barbarous state. Improved breeds were introduced. The laws for their protection and guarding were made, and now the hog of to- day shows what improvement and civilization can do for any wild animal. The chief city of the State has become famous as a slaughtering place ; her bacon and sides being known in all the civil- ized world. Other domestic animals, mules, asses, etc., have been brought to the State as occasion required. Wherever their use has been demanded, they have been obtained, until the State has her complement of all animals her citizens can use in their daily labors. Most of the early emigrants brought with them young fruit trees or grafte of some favorite variety from the " old homestead." Hence, on the West- ern Reserve are to be found chiefly — especially in old orchards — New England varieties, while, in the localities immediately south of the Reserve, Penn- sylvania and Maryland varieties predominate ; but at Marietta, New England fruits are again found, as well as throughout Southeastern Ohio. One of the oldest of these orchards was on a Mr. Dana's farm, near Cincinnati, on the Ohio River bank. It consisted of five acres, in which apple seeds and seedlings were planted as early as 1790. Part of the old orchard is yet to be seen, though the trees are almost past their usefulness. Peaches, pears, cherries and apples were planted by all the pioneers in their gardens. As soon as the seed produced seedlings, these were transplanted to some hillside, and the orchard, in a few years, was a productive unit in the life of the settler. The first fruit brought, was, like everything else of the pioneers, rather inferior, and admitted of much cultivation. Soon steps were taken by the more enterprising settlers to obtain better varieties. Israel Putnam, as early as 1796, returned to the East, partly to get scions of the choicest apples, and, partly, on other business. He obtained quite a quantity of choice apples, of some forty or fifty varieties, and set them out. A portion of them were distrib- uted to the settlers who had trees, to ingraft. From these old grafts are yet to be traced some of the best orchards in Ohio. Israel Putnam was one of the most prominent men in early Ohio days. He was always active in promoting the interests of the settlers. Among his eai-liest efforts, that of improving the fruit may well be mentioned. He and his brother, Aaron W. Putnam, living at Bel- pre, opposite Blennerhasset's Island, began the nursery business soon after their arrival in the West. The apples brought by them from their Connecticut home were used to commence the busi- ness. These, and the apples obtained from trees planted in their gardens, gave them a beginning. They were the only two men in Ohio engaged in the business till 1817. In early times, in the central part of Ohio, there existed a curious character known as "Johnny '^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 157 Appleseed." His real name was John Chapman. He received his name from his habit of planting, along all the streams in that part of the State, apple-seeds from which sprang many of the old orchards. He did this as a religious duty, think- ing it to be his especial mission. He had, it is said, been disappointed in his youth in a love affair, and came West about 1800, and ever after followed his singular life. He was extensively known, was quite harmless, very patient, and did, without doubt, much good. He died in 1847, at the house of a Mr. Worth, near Fort Wayne, Indiana, who had long known him, and often befriended him. He was a minister in the Swed- enborgian Church, and, in his own way, a zealous worker. The settlers of the Western Reserve, coming from New England, chiefly from Connecticut, brought all varieties of fruit known in their old homes. These, whether seeds or grafts, were planted in gardens, and as soon as an orchard could be cleared on some favorable hillside, the young trees were transplanted there, and in time an orchard was the result. Much confusion regarding the kinds of fruits thus produced arose, partly from the fact that the trees grown from seeds did not always prove to be of the same qual- ity as the seeds. Climate, soil and surroundings often change the character of such fruits. Many new varieties, unknown to the growers, were the result. The fruit thus produced was often of an inferior growth, and when grafts were brought from the old New England home and grafted into the Ohio trees, an improvement as well as the old home fruit was the result. After the orchards in the Reserve began to bear, the fruit was very often taken to the Ohio River for shipment, and thence found its way to the South- ern and Eastern seaboard cities. Among the individuals prominent in introducing fruits into the State, were Mr. Dille, of Euclid, Judge Fuller, Judge Whittlesey, and Mr. Lindley. George Hoadly was also very prominent and ener- getic in the matter, and was, perhaps, the first to introduce the pear to any extent. He was one of the most persistent and enthusiastic amateurs in horticulture and pomology in the West. About the year 1810, Dr. Jared Kirtland, father of Prof J. P. Kirtland, so favorably known among horticulturists and pomologists, came from Connecticut and settled in Poland, Mahoning County, with his family. This family has done more than any other in the State, perhaps, to advance fruit culture. About the year 1824, Prof. J. P. Kirtland, in connection with his brother, established a nursery at Poland, then in Trumbull County, and brought on from New England above a hundred of their best varieties of apples, cherries, peaches, pears, and smaller fruits, and a year or two afler brought from New Jersey a hundred of the best varieties of that State ; others were ob- tained in New York, so that they possessed the larg- est and most varied stock in the Western country. These two men gave a great impetus to fruit cult- ure in the West, and did more than any others of that day to introduce improved kinds of all fruits in that part of the United States. Another prominent man in this branch of indus- try was Mr. Andrew H. Ernst, of Cincinnati. Although not so early a settler as the Kirtlands, he was, like them, an ardent student and propa- gator of fine fruits. He introduced more than six hundred varieties of apples and seven hun- dred of pears, both native and foreign. His object was to test by actual experience the most valuable sorts for the diversified soil and climate of the Western country. The name of Nicholas Longworth, also of Cin- cinnati, is one of the most extensively known of any in the science of horticulture and pomology. For more than fifty years he made these his especial delight. Having a large tract of land in the lower part of Cincinnati, he established nurseries, and planted and disseminated every variety of fruits that could be found in the United States — East or West — making occasional importations from European countries of such varieties as were thought to be adapted to the Western climate. His success has been variable, governed by the season, and in a measure by his numerous experi- ments. His vineyards, cultivated by tenants, gen- erally Germans, on the European plan, during the latter years of his experience paid him a hand- some revenue. He introduced the famous Catawba grape, the standard grape of the West. It is stated that Mr. Longworth bears the same relation to vineyard culture that Fulton did to steam navi- gation. Others made earlier effort, but he was the first to establish it on a permaneut basis. He has also been eminently successful in the cultivation of the strawberry, and was the first to firmly establish it on Western soil. He also brought the Ohio Ever- bearing Raspberry into notice in the State, and widely disseminated it throughout the country. Other smaller fruits were brought out to the West like those mentioned. In some cases fruits -V -4v 158 HISTORY OF OHIO. indigenous to the soil were cultivated and improved, and as improved fruits, are known favorably where- ever used. In chronology and importance, of all the cereals, corn stands foremost. During the early pioneer period, it was the staple article of food for both man and beast. It could be made into a variety of forms of food, and as such was not only palatar ble but highly nutritious and strengthening. It is very difficult to determine whether corn originated in America or in the Old World. Many prominent botanists assert it is a native of Turkey, and originally was known as " Turkey wheat." Still others claimed to have found mention of maize in Chinese writings antedating the Turkish discovery. Grains of maize were found in an Egyptian mum- my, which goes to prove to many the cereal was known in Africa since the earliest times. Maize was found in America when first visited by white men, but of its origin Indians could give no ac- count. It had always been known among them, and constituted their chief article of vegetable diet. It was cultivated exclusively by their squaws, the men considering it beneath their dignity to engage in any manual labor. It is altogether probable corn was known in the Old World long before the New was discovered. The Arabs or Crusaders probably introduced it into Europe. How it was introduced into America will, in all probability, remain un- known. It may have been an indigenous plant, like many others. Its introduction into Ohio dates with the settlement of the whites, especially its cultivation and use as an article of trade. True, the Indians had cultivated it in small quantities ; each lodge a little for itself, but no effort to make of it a national support began until the civilization of the white race became established. From that time on, the increase in crops has grown with the State, and, excepting the great corn States of the West, Ohio produces an amount equal to any State in the Union. The statistical tables printed in agricultural reports show the acres planted, and bushels grown. Figures speak an unanswerable logic. Wheat is probably the next in importance of the cereals in the State. Its origin, like corn, is lost in the mists of antiquity. Its berry was no doubt used as food by the ancients for ages anterior to any historical records. It is often called corn in old writings, and under that name is frequently mentioned in the Bible. "As far back in the vistas of ages as human records go, we find that wheat has been cultivated. and, with corn, aside from animal food, has formed one of the chief alimentary articles of all nations ; but as the wheat plant has nowhere been found wild, or in a state of nature, the inference has been drawn by men of unquestioned scientific abihty, that the original plant from which wheat has been derived was either totally annihilated, or else cul- tivation has wrought so great a change, that the original is by no means obvious, or manifest to bot- anists." It is supposed by many, wheat originated in Persia. Others affirm it was known and cultivated in Egypt long ere it found its way into Persia. It was certainly grown on the Nile ages ago, and among the tombs are found grains of wheat in a perfectly sound condition, that unquestionably have been buried thousands of years. It may be, however, that wheat was grown in Persia first, and thence found its way into Egypt and Africa, or, vice versa. It grew first in Egypt and Africa and thence crossed into Persia, and from there found its way into India and all parts of Asia. It is also claimed that wheat is indigenous to the island of Sicily, and that from there it spread along the shores of the Mediterranean into Asia Minor and Egypt, and, as communities advanced, it was cultivated, not only to a greater extent, but with greater success. The goddess of agriculture, more especially of grains, who, by the Greeks, was called Demeter, and, by the Romans, Ceres — hence the name ce- reals — was said to have her home at Enna, a fertile region of that island, thus indicating the source from which the Greeks and Eomans derived their Ceralia. Homer mentions wheat and spelt as bread; also corn and barley, and describes his heroes as using them as fodder for their horses, as the people in the South of Europe do at present. Rye was introduced into Greece from Thrace, or by way of Thrace, in the time of Galen. In Caesar's time the Romans grew a species of wheat enveloped in a husk, like barley, and by them called "Par." During the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii, wheat, in an excellent state of preserva- tion, was frequently found. Dr. Anson Hart, Superintendent, at one time, of Indian Affairs in Oregon, states that he found numerous patches of wheat and flax growing wild in the Yackemas country, in Upper Oregon. There is but little doubt that both cereals were intro- duced into Oregon at an early period by the Hud- son Bay, or other fur companies. Wheat was also ;^ 1^. HISTORY OF OHIO. 159 found by Dr. Boyle, of Columbus, Ohio, growing in a similar state in the Carson Valley. It was, doubtless, brought there by the early Spaniards. In 1530, one of Cortez's slaves found several grains of wheat accidentally mixed with the rice. The careful negro planted the handful of grains, and succeeding years saw a wheat crop in Mexico, which found its way northward, probably into California. Turn where we may, wherever the foot of civil- ization has trod, there will we find this wheat plant, which, like a monument, has perpetuated the memory of the event; but nowhere do we find the plant wild. It is the result of cultivation in bygone ages, and has been produced by "progress- ive development." It is beyond the limit and province of these pages to discuss the composition of this important cereal ; only its historic properties can be noticed. With the advent of the white men in America, wheat, like corn, came to be one of the staple prod- ucts of life. It followed the pioneer over the mountains westward, where, in the rich Missis- sippi and Illinois bottoms, it has been cultivated by the French since 1690. When the hardy New Englanders came to the alluvial lands adjoining the Ohio, Muskingum or Miami Rivers, they brought with them this " Etas' of life," and forth- with began its cultivation. Who sowed the first wheat in Ohio, is a question Mr. A. S. Guthrie answers, in a letter published in the Agricultural Report of 185Y, as follows: " My father, Thomas Guthrie, emigrated to the Northwest Territory in the year 1788, and arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum in July, about three months after Gen. Putnam had arrived with the first pioneers of Ohio. My father brought a bushel of wheat with him from one of the frontier counties of Pennsylvania, which he sowed on a lot of land in Marietta, which he cleared for that purpose, on the second bottom or plain, in the neighborhood of where the Court House now stands." Mr. Guthrie's opinion is corroborated by Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth, in his "Pioneer Settlers of Ohio," and is, no doubt, correct. From that date on down through the years of Ohio's growth, the crops of wheat have kept pace with the advance and growth of civilization. The soil is admirably adapted to the growth of this ce- real, a large number of varieties being grown, and an excellent quality produced. It is firm in body, and, in many cases, is a successful rival of wheat produced in the great wheat-producing regions of the United States — Minnesota, and the farther Northwest. Oats, rye, barley, and other grains were also brought to Ohio from the Atlantic Coast, though some of them had been cultivated by the French in Illinois and about Detroit. They were at first used only as food for home consumption, and, until the successful attempts at river and canal naviga- tion were brought about, but little was ever sent to market. Of all the root crops known to man, the potato is probably the most valuable. Next to wheat, it is claimed by many as the stafi" of life. In some localities, this assumption is undoubtedly true. What would Ireland have done in her fam- ines but for this simple vegetable? The potato is a native of the mountainous districts of tropical and subtropical America, probably from Chili to Mexico ; but there is considerable diflBculty in deciding where it is really indigenous, and where it has spread after being introduced by man. Humboldt, the learned savant, doubted if it had ever been found wild, but scholars no less famous, and of late date, have expressed an opposite opinion. In the wild plant, as in all others, the tubers are smaller than in the cultivated. The potato had been cultivated in America, and its tubers used for food, long before the advent of the Europeans. It seems to have been first brought to Europe by the Spaniards, from the neighbor- hood of Quito, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and spread through Spain, the Netherlands, Burgundy and Italy, cultivated in gardens as an ornament only and not for an article of food. It long received through European countries the same name with the batatas — sweet potato, which is the plant meant by all English writers down to the seventeenth century. It appears that the potato was brought from Virginia to Ireland by Hawkins, a slave-trader, in 1565, and to England by Sir Francis Drake, twenty years later. It did not at first attract much notice, and not until it was a third time imported from America, in 1623, by Sir Walter Raleigh, did the Europeans make a practical use of it. Even then it was a long time before it was exten- sively cultivated. It is noticed in agricuHural journals as food for cattle only as late as 1719. Poor people began using it, however, and finding it highly nutritious, the Royal Geographical Society, in 1663, adopted measures for its propagation. About this time it began to be used in Ireland as tiL 160 HISTOET or OHIO. food, and from thebeginningofthe eighteenth cent- ury, its use has never declined. It is now known in every quarter of the world, and has, by cultiva- tion, been greatly improved. The inhabitants of America learned its use from the Indians, who cultivated it and other root crops — rutabagas, radishes, etc., and taught the whites their value. When the pioneers of Ohio came to its fertile valleys, they brought improved species with them, which by cultiva^ tion and soil, are now greatly increased, and are among the standard crops of the State. The cucurbitaceous plants, squashes, etc., were, like the potato and similar root crops, indigenous to America — others, like the melons, to Asia — and were among the staple foods of the original inhabitants. The early French missionaries of the West speak of both root crops and cucurbi- taceous plants as in use among the aboriginal inhab- itants. "They are very sweet and wholesome," wrote Marquette. Others speak in the same terms, though some of the plants in this order had found their way to these valleys through the Spaniards and others through early Atlantic Coast and Mex- ican inhabitants. Their use by the settlers of the West, especially Ohio, is traced to New England, as the first settlers came from that portion of the Union. They grow well in all parts of the State, and by cultivation have been greatly improved in quality and variety. All cucurbitaceous plants require a rich, porous soil, and by proper atten- tion to their cultivation, excellent results can be attained. Probably the earliest and most important imple- ment of husbandry known is the plow. Grain, plants and roots will not grow well unless the soil in which they are planted be properly stirred, hence the first requirement was an instrument that would fulfill such conditions. The first implements were rude indeed ; gener- ally, stout wooden sticks, drawn through the earth by thongs attached to rude ox-yokes, or fastened to the animal's horns. Such plows were in use among the ancient Egyptians, and may yet be found among uncivilized nations. The Old Testa^ ment furnishes numerous instances of the use of the plow, while, on the ruins of ancient cities and among the pyramids of Egypt, and on the buried walls of Babylon, and other extinct cities, are rude drawings of this useful implement. As the use of iron became apparent and general, it was util- ized for plow-points, where the wood alone would not penetrate the earth. They got their plow- shares sharpened in Old Testament days, also coulters, which shows, beyond a doubt, that iron- pointed plows were then in use. From times mentioned in the Bible, on heathen tombs, and ancient catacombs, the improvement of the plow, like other farming tools, went on, as the race of man grew in intelligence. Extensive manors in the old country required increased means of turning the ground, and, to meet these demands, ingenious mechanics, froiSa time to time, invented improved plows. Strange to say, however, no improvement was ever made by the farmer himself. This is ac- counted for in his habits of life, and, too often, the disposition to "take things as they are." When America was settled, the plow had become an im- plement capable of turning two or three acres per day. Still, and for many years, and even until lately, the mold-board was entirely wooden, the point only iron. Later developments changed the wood for steel, which now alone is used. Still later, especially in prairie States, riding plows are used. Like all other improvements, they were obliged to combat an obtuse public mind among the ruralists, who surely combat almost every move made to better their condition. In many places in America, wooden plows, straight ax handles, and a stone in one end of the bag, to bal- ance the grist in the other, are the rule, and for no other reason in the world are they maintained than the laconic answer: " My father did so, and why should not I? Am I better than he? " After the plow comes the harrow, but little changed, save in lightness and beauty. Formerly, a log of wood, or a brush harrow, supplied its place, but in the State of Ohio, the toothed instru- ment has nearly always been used. The hoe is lighter made than formerly, and is now made of steel. At first, the common iron hoe, sharpened by the blacksmith, was in constant use. Now, it is rarely seen outside of the South- ern States, where it has long been the chief imple- ment in agriculture. The various small plows for the cultivation of corn and such other crops as necessitated their use are all the result of modern civilization. Now, their number is large, and, in many places, there are two or more attached to one carriage, whose operator rides. These kinds are much used in the Western States, whose rootless and stoneless soil is admirably adapted to such machinery. When the grain became ripe, implements to cut it were in demand. In ancient times, the sickle li' ±>t^ HISTOKY OF OHIO. 161 was tlie only instrument used. It was a short, curved iron, whose inner edge was sharpened and serrated. In its most ancient form, it is doubtful if the edge was but little, if any, serrated. It is mentioned in all ancient works, and in the Bible is frequently referred to. " Thrust in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe," wrote the sacred New Testament, while the Old chronicles as early as the time of Moses : "As thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn." In more modern times, the handle of the sickle was lengthened, then the blade, which in time led to the scythe. Both are yet in use in many parts of the world. The use of the scythe led some thinking person to add a " finger " or two, and to change the shape of the handle. The old cradle was the result. At first it met considerable oppo- sition from the laborers, who brought forward the old-time argument of ignorance, that it would cheapen labor. Whether the cradle is a native of America or Europe is not accurately decided; probably of the mother country. It came into common use about 1818, and in a few years had found its way into the wheat>producing regions of the West. Where small crops are raised, the cradle is yet much used. A man can cut from two to four acres per day, hence, it is much cheaper than a reaper, where the crop is small. The mower and reaper are comparatively mod- ern inventions. A rude reaping machine is men- tioned by Pliny in the first century. It was pushed by an ox through the standing grain. On its front was a sharp edge, which cut the grain. It was, however, impracticable, as it cut only a por- tion of the grain, and the peasantry preferred the sickle. Other and later attempts to make reapers do not seem to have been successful, and not till the present century was a machine made that would do the work required. In 1826, Mr. Bell, of Scotland, constructed a machine which is yet used in many parts of that country. In America, Mr. Hussey and Mr. McCormick took out patents for reaping machines of superior character in 1833 and 1834. At first the cutters of these machines were various contrivances, but both manufacturers soon adopted a serrated knife, triangular shaped, at- tached to a bar, and driven through " finger guards " attached to it, by a forward and backward motion. These are the common ones now in use, save that all do not use serrated knives. Sincf, these pioneer machines were introduced into the harvest fields they have been greatly improved and changed. Of late years they have been constructed so as to bind the sheaves, and now a good stout boy, and a team with a " harvester," will do as much as many men could do a few years ago, and with much greater ease. As was expected by the inventors of reapers, they met with a determined resistance from those who in former times made their living by harvest- ing. It was again absurdly argued that they would cheapen labor, and hence were an injury to the laboring man. Indeed, when the first machines were brought into Ohio, many of them were torn to pieces by the ignorant hands. Others left fields in a body when the proprietor brought a reaper to his farm. Like all such fallacies, these, in time, passed away, leaving only their stain. Following the reaper came the thresher. As the country filled with inhabitants, and men in- creased their possessions, more rapid means than the old flail or roller method were demanded. At first the grain was trodden out by horses driven over the bundles, which were laid in a circular inclosure. The old flail, the tramping-out by horses, and the cleaning by the sheet, or throwing the grain up against a current of air, were too slow, and machines were the result of the demand. In Ohio the manufacture of threshers began in 1846, in the southwestern part. Isaac Tobias, who came to Hamilton from Miamisburg that year, com- menced building the threshers then in use. They were without the cleaning attachment, and simply hulled the grain. Two years later, he began manufacturing the combined thresher and cleaner, which were then coming into use. He continued in business till 1851. Four years after, the in- creased demand for such machines, consequent upon the increased agricultural products, induced the flrm of Owens, Lane & Dyer to fit their estab- lishment for the manufacture of threshers. They afterward added the manufacture of steam engines to be used in the place of horse power. Since then the manufacture of these machines, as well as that of all other agricultural machinery, has greatly multiplied and improved, until now it seems as though but little room for improvement remains. One of the largest firms engaged in the manufact- ure of threshers and their component machinery is located at Mansfield — the Aultman & Taylor Co. Others are at Massillon, and at other cities in the West. Modern times and modern enterprise have devel- oped a marvelous variety of agricultural implements -V* ■^ 162 HISTORY OP OHIO. ■ — too many to be mentioned in a volume like this. Under special subjects they will occasionally be found. The farmer's life, so cheerless in pioneer times, and so full of weary labor, is daily becom- ing less laborious, until, if they as a class profit by the advances, they can find a life of ease in farm pursuits, not attainable in any other profession. Now machines do almost all the work. They sow, cultivate, cut, bind, thresh, winnow and carry the grain. They, cut, rake, load, mow and dry the hay. They husk, shell and clean the corn. They cut and split the wood. They do al- most all ; until it seems as though the day may come when the farmer can sit in his house and simply guide the affairs of his farm. Any occupation prospers in proportion to the interest taken in it by its members. This interest is always heightened by an exchange of views, hence societies and periodicals exercise an influence at first hardy reahzed. This feeling among prominent agriculturists led to the formation of agricultural societies, at first by counties, then districts, then by States, and lastly by associations of States. The day may come when a national agricul- tural fair may be one of the annual attractions of America. Without noticing the early attempts to found such societies in Europe or America, the narrative will begin with those of Ohio. The first agricul- tural society organized in the Buckeye State was the Hamilton County Agricultural Society. Its exact date of organization is not now preserved, but to a certainty it is known that the Society held public exhibitions as a County Society prior to 1823. Previous to that date there were, doubt- less, small, private exhibitions held in older local- ities, probably at Marietta, but no regular organi- zation seems to have been maintained. The Hamilton County Society held its fairs annually, with marked success. Its successor, the present Society, is now one of the largest county societies in the Union. During the legislative session of 1832-33, the subject of agriculture seems to have agitated the minds of the people through their representatives, for the records of that session show the first laws passed for their benefit. The acts of that body seem to have been productive of some good, for, though no records of the number of societies or- ganized at that date exist, yet the record shows that " many societies have been organized in con- formity to this act," etc. No doubt many societies held fairs from this time, for a greater or less number of years. Agricultural journals* were, at this period, rare in the State, and the subject of agricultural improvement did not receive that at- tention from the press it does at this time ; and, for wamt of public spirit and attention to sustain these fairs, they were gradually discontinued until the new act respecting their organization was passed in 1846. However, records of several county societies of the years between 1832 and 1846 yet exist,^howing that in some parts of the State, the interest in these fairs was by no means diminished. The Delaware County Society re- ports for the year 1833 — ^itwas organized in June of that year — good progress for a beginning, and that much interest was manifested by the citizens of the county. Ross County held its first exhibition in the autumn of that year, and the report of the mana- gers is quite cheerful. Nearly all of the exhibited articles were sold at auction, at greatly advanced prices from the current ones of the day. The en- try seems to have been free, in an open inclosure, and but little revenue was derived. Little was ex- pected, hence no one was disappointed. Washington County reports an excellent cattle show for that year, and a number of premiums awarded to the successful exhibitors. This same year the Ohio Importation Company was organ- ized at the Ross County fair. The Company began the next season the importation of fine cattle from England, and, in a few years, did incalculable good in this respect, as well as make considerable money in the enterprise. These societies were re-organized when the law of 1846 went into efiect, and, with those that had gone down and the new ones started, gave an im- petus to agriculture that to this day is felt. Now every county has a society, while district. State and inter-State societies are annually held; all promotive in their tendency, and all a benefit to every one. The Ohio State Board of Agriculture was organ- ized by an act of the Legislature, passed February 27, 1846. Since then various amendments to the organic law have been passed from time to time as * The Western Tiller was published in Cincinnati, in 1 826. It wa« " miscellaneous,^' but contained many excellent articles on agri- culture. The Farmers^ Record was published in Cincinnati, in 1831, and continued for several years. The Ohio Farmer was published at Batavia, Clermont County, in 1833, by Hon. Samuel Medary. These were the early agricultural journals, some of which yet survive, though in new names, and under new management. Others have, also, since been added, some of which have an exceedingly large circulation, and are an influence for much good in the State. ^ ,^ HISTORY OF OHIO. 163 the necessities of the Board and of agriculture in the State demanded. The same day that the act was passed creating the State Board, an act was also passed providing for the erection of county and district societies, under which law, with subsequent amendments, the present county 'and district agri- cultural societies are managed. During the years from 1846 down to the present time, great improve- ments have been made in the manner of conduct- ing these societies, resulting in exhibitions unsur- passed in any other State. Pomology and horticulture are branches of in- dustry so closely allied with agriculture that a brief resume of their operations in Ohio will be eminently adapted to these pages. The early planting and care of fruit in Ohio has already been noticed. Among the earliest pioneers were men of fine tastes, who not only desired to benefit them- selves and their country, but who were possessed with a laudable ambition to produce the best fruits and vegetables the State could raise. For this end they studied carefully the topography of the coun- try, its soil, climate, and various influences upon such culture, and by careful experiments with fruit and vegetables, produced the excellent varieties now in use. Mention has been made of Mr. Longworth and Mr. Ernst, of Cincinnati ; and Israel and Aaron W. Putnam, on the Muskingum River ; Mr. DHle, Judges Puller and Whittlesey, Dr. Jared Kirtland and his sons, and others — all practical enthusiasts in these departments. At first, individual efforts alone, owing to the condition of the country, could be made. As the State filled with settlers, and means of communication became better, a desire for an in- terchange of views became apparent, resulting in the establishment of periodicals devoted to these subjects, and societies where different ones could meet and discuss these things. A Horticultural and Pomological Society was organized in Ohio in 1866. Before the organiza- tion of State societies, however, several distinct or independent societies existed ; in fact, out of these grew the State Society, which in turn produced good by stimulating the creation of county societies. AH these societies, aids to agriculture, have pro- gressed as the State developed, and have done much in advancing fine fruit, and a taste for aesthetic cul- ture. In all parts of the West, their influence is seen in better and improved fruit ; its culture and its demand. To-day, Ohio stands in the van of the Western States in agriculture and all its kindred associa- tions. It only needs the active energy of her citizens to keep her in this place, advancing as time advances, until the goal of her ambition is reached. CHAPTER XVI. CLIMATOLOGY— OUTLINE— VARIATION IN OHIO— ESTIMATE IN DEGREES— RAINFALL— AMOUNT —VARIABILITY. THE climate of Ohio varies about four degrees. Though originally liable to malaria in many districts when first settled, in consequence of a dense vegetation induced by summer heats and rains, it has became very healthful, owing to clear- ing away this vegetation, and proper drainage. The State is as favorable in its sanitary char- acteristics as any other in its locality. Ohio is re- markable for its high productive capacity, almost every thing grown in the temperate climates being within its range. Its extremes of heat and cold are less than almost any other State in or near the same latitude, hence Ohio suffers less from the ex- treme dry or wet seasons which affect all adjoining States. These modifications are mainly due to the influence of the Lake Erie waters. These not only modify the heat of summer and the cold of winter, but apparently reduce the profusion of rainfall in summer, and favor moisture in dry pe- riods. No finer climate exists, all conditions consid- ered, for delicate vegetable growths, than that por- tion of Ohio bordering on Lake Erie. This is abundantly attested by the recent extensive devel- opment there of grape culture. Mr. Lorin Blodget, author of "American Clima- tology," in the agricultural report of 1853, says ; "A district bordering on the Southern and West- ern portions of Lake Erie is more favorable in this respect (grape cultivation) than any other on the Atlantic side of the Rocky Mountains, and it will ultimately prove capable of a very liberal extension of vine culture." -^ -^ 164 HISTOKY or OHIO. Experience has proven Mr. Blodget correct in his theory. Now extensive fields of grapes are everywhere found on the Lake Erie Slope, while other small fruits find a sure footing on its soil. " Considering the climate of Ohio by isother- mal lines and rain shadings, it must be borne in mind," says Mr. Blodget, in his description of Ohio's climate, from which these facts are drawn, " that local influences often require to be considered. At the South, from Cincinnati to Steubenville, the deep river valleys are two degrees warmer than the hilly districts of the same vicinity. The lines are drawn intermediate between the two extremes. Thus, Cincinnati, on the plain, is 2° warmer than at the Observatory, and 4° warmer for each year than Hillsboro, Highland County — the one being 500, the other 1,000, feet above sea-level. The immediate valley of the Ohio, from Cincinnati to Gallipolis, is about 75° for the summer, and 54° for the year; while the adjacent hilly districts, 300 to 500 feet higher, are not above 73° and 52° respectively. For the summer, generally, the river valleys are 73° to 75° ; the level and central portions 72° to 73°, and the lake border 70° to 72° A peculiar mildness of climate belongs to the vicinity of Kelley'a Island, Sandusky and Toledo. Here, both winter and summer, the cli- mate is 2° warmer than on the highland ridge ex- tending from Norwalk and Oberlin to Hudson and the northeastern border. This ridge varies from 500 to 750 feet above the lake, or 850 to 1,200 feet above sea level. This high belt has a summer temperature of 70°, 27° for the winter, and 49° for the year ; while at Sandusky and Kelley's Island the summer is 72°, the winter 29°, and the year 50°. In the central and eastern parts of the State, the winters are comparatively cold, the average falling to 32° over the more level districts, and to 29° on the highlands. The Ohio River valley is about 35°, but the highlands near it fall to 31° and 32° for the winter." As early as 1824, several persons in the State began taking the temperature in their respective localities, for the spring, summer, autumn and win- ter, averaging them for the entire year. From time to time, these were gathered and published, inducing others to take a step in the same direction. Not long since, a general table, from about forty local- ities, was gathered and compiled, covering a period of more than a quarter of a century. This table, when averaged, showed an average temperature of 52.4°, an evenness of temperature not equaled in many bordering States. Very imperfect observations have been made of the amount of rainfall in the State. Until lately, only an individual here and there through- out the State took enough interest in this matter to faithfully observe and record the averages of several years in succession. In consequence of this fact, the illustration of that feature of Ohio's climate is less satisfactory than that of the temperature. "The actual rainfall of diiferent months and years varies greatly," says Mr. Blod- get. "There may be more in a month, and, again, the quantity may rise to 12 or 15 inches in a single month. For a year, the variation may be from a minimum of 22 or 25 inches, to a maxi- mum of 50 or even 60 inches in the southern part of the State, and 45 to 48 inches along the lake border. The average is a fixed quantity, and, although requiring a period of twenty or twenty- five years to fix it absolutely, it is entirely certain and unchangeable when known. On charts, these average quantities are represented by depths of shading. At Cincinnati, the last fifteen years of observation somewhat reduce the average of 48 inches, of former years, to 46 or 47 inches." Spring and summer generally give the most rain, there being, in general, 10 to 12 inches in the spring, 10 to 14 inches in the summer, and 8 to 10 inches in the autumn. The winter is the most variable of all the seasons, the southern part of the State having 10 inches, and the northern part 7 inches or less — an average of 8 or 9 inches. The charts of rainfall, compiled for the State, show a fall of 30 inches on the lake, and 46 inches at the Ohio River. Between these two points, the fall is marked, beginning at the north, 32, 34, 36 and 38 inches, all near the lake. Farther down, in the latitude of Tuscarawas, Monroe and Mercer Counties, the fall is 40 inches, while the south- western part is 42 and 44 inches. The clearing away of forests, the drainage of the land, and other causes, have lessened the rain- fall, making considerable difierence since the days of the aborigines. ;v CRAWFORD COUNTY COURT HOUSE. ±=±Il^ PAET II. HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. CHAPTER I. PRIMITIVE GEOLOGY — PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTY — GEOLOGICAL CAUSES AND CON- DITIONS— TOPUGRAPHY—MEIEOROLOGY, THERE is nothing within the scope of hu- man attainments more beneficial and en- chanting to manliind, than to look back through the mists and shadows of past years to the morning of creation, and to trace through the lapse of time the numberless achievements of the genius of man. How strangely real and ominous have been the quiet whispers of prophecy from departed years, and how the radiant figure of the Future has ever stood beckoning with fairy hands to the world from the fleeting shadows of coming years, with the glad promise of " Peace on earth, good will to- ward men ! " Out from the gloom of the past, troop the sorrowing specters of desolate and utterly ruined lives, and wander away in lone- liness before the visions of the mind, like the shadows of a dream. From the dark depths of ages, long since dead, there comes the warn- ing voice of a sad experience, directing human life and endeavor to fountains of joy far sweet- er than ambrosial streams in the happy islands of the West. Thrice blessed is the man whose depth and purity of heart and mind enable him to see and enjoy the beautiful in nature, literature or art. The archaeologist wanders with patient step through storm and sunshine in distant lands, searching with mingled pleas- ure and toil for crumbling mementoes of pre- historic man. The soldier, following his flag on the red field of war, recalls the courage of the Trojan during the Heroic Age, and emu- lates his daring in the heat of battle. The orator, glowing with the inspiration of elo- quence, loves to dwell upon the gi'andeur of Oriental nations. The tireless sculptor meets his conception of artistic genius in the sublime marble of Phidias or Praxiteles. The genius of the mathematician is delighted, though baffled, by the profound problems of Euclid and Archimedes. The Christian looks back with joy over the toiling years to the pensive vales and winding streams of Judea, and the simple story of the lowly Nazarene cheers many a weary heart with the glad promise of eternal life. The gray-haired philosopher looks with mingled awe and pleasure upon the pro- found logic of the Peripatetics. The song of the poet, immeasurably beautiful and sweet, is but the glad refrain of the divine measure sung by the bards in Eastern climes, long years before the earth was vexed with the sub- lime spectacle of a crucified Savior, looking in pity upon the world He was dying to redeem. There is not a legend or poetic tale coming to us from the distant shore of the Dead Sea t\^ 166 HISTOET OF CEAWTOED COUNTY. Past that does not bear to the children of men some sweet lesson of social or moral excel- lence. It is the province of history to gather and record the events from which these beauti- ful lessons and morals are derived. Since the dawn of intelligence, no field of research has been more fruitful in affording bountiful evidences of the origin of animate and inanimate creation than the testimony of the rocky structure of the earth and the knowl- edge of the natural laws which control the movements of the universe. Written indelibly on the bright page of nature, is the wonderful progress of evolution from the simplest combi- nation of effects to the sublime mechanism that guides the circling spheres. The heavenly bodies are everywhere found to be moving under the guidance and control of immutable laws, many of which have been discovered by the efforts of astronomers and mathematicians. It seems proper, before entering upon the de- tailed geology of Crawford County, to give a brief explanation of what is known as the nebular hypothesis, a beautiful theory framed by Laplace, and one that is now generally accepted. This theory supposes the substance composing all the heavenly bodies, including the earth, to have been diffused in a gaseous or nebular state throughout all space, and that, in revolving and cooling through periods of time, whose length cannot be computed, it gradually threw off vast portions, in obedience to universal physical laws. These vast portions, intenselj' hot and revolving with frightful rapidity, slowly cooled and contr9,cted, throwiug off, in turn, other vast portions, which, by a similar process, formed the present solar systems. So many circum- stances connected with the movements of the celestial bodies point to the truth of the hypothesis, that but few scientific men at present question its correctness. To harmonize with the prevailing theory, there must be found the logical effects inevitably resulting from the relations of matter and law, as laid down in the terms of the hypothesis. According to the theory, the sun was once an incandescent sphere whose radius extended from the sun's center to an indefinite distance beyond the planet Neptune. The earth was a portion of this inconceivably vast body, and all the com- posing elements — liquids and solids — were in the form of nebulce, and were heated to a degree unknown to pfesent physicists. As this pon- derous body, sweeping onward through space with inconceivable velocity, and on an orbit whose measurement bewilders thought, slowly cooled, there was thrown off, from the outer surface of its equatorial region, a belt, which finally broke, and gathered itself into a ball, still retaining its circular motion around the central body, and gaining a new one on its axis. This body was Neptune, and, in a similar man- ner, all the planets of our solar system, except the satellites, are supposed to have been cast off from the great central body. The planets, when first cast off, were immensely large and in an incandescent state. They, there- fore, in turn, while cooling, threw off other portions, which formed the satellites or moons of the planets. The earth, though first extending beyond the orbit of the moon, sub- sequently threw off that body, and after- ward cooled to its present size and condition of temperature. It is interesting to know at what stage of the cooling process the condi- tions of the constituent elements became such as to form the various compounds, such as air, water, minerals, animal and vegetable life, etc. A crust of rocks glowing with heat was formed upon the surface of the earth. Air and water appeared, and oxygen and hydrogen began forming their wonderful combinations. The earth must have presented a beautiful scene when the sixty-five simple elements began to unite. The thin, rocky crust was broken by incessant volcanic eruptions, and storms of fiery lava lighted the darkness of primeval night with lurid flame. Water, rising in the form of -P ?k^ HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 167 vapor to vast heights, became condensed, and was swept in great storms of wind and light- ning along the surface of the earth, and precip- itated on the red-hot rocks beneath, onlj' to hiss and boil, and again rise as vapor to lofty aerial heights. Slowly the rocks cooled, and the water could finally rest upon the surface without boil- ing. The air was saturated with vapor, which continued to rise under the combined heat of the sun above and the earth beneath. After a time, though the air was hot and poisonous, the water became fitted for the simpler forms of animal and vegetable life. Geologists have bestowed the name Azoic upon those rocks which were formed prior to the appearance of life upon the earth, except, perhaps, the lowest forms. From the Azoic Age to the present, innumerable species of animals and plants have sprung into existence, and lived as long as the conditions under which life was possible re- mained, after which they became extinct, new and improved varieties taking their place. The casts of fossiliferous plants taken from the rocks indicate that vegetable life began with the sim- plest forms, such as algse and lichens. Afterward, at different periods, came liver-worts, mosses, ferns, ground-pines, conifers, cycads, sigillarias, endogens and finally angiosperms. Vegetation reached its greatest perfection during the Car- boniferous Age, when the conditions of heat and moisture were suitable for the luxuriant growth of timber, which was afterward trans- formed into inexhaustible beds of coal. Fos- siliferous casts indicate that animal life began with the lowest protozoans. Afterward came radiates, mollusks, articulates and vertebrates, ending with man, the highest type of all earthly life. These facts are reasonably conclusive from the language written indelibly on the rocky formations of the earth. If the surface were level, it would be covered with water ; but since, among other causes, lateral pressure and volcanic eruptions have elevated portions and lowered others, the area of water is confined to the low land. That almost or quite all the surface was at some time or times under water, is not disclaimed by any man familiar with geological evidences. The soil, wherever exam- ined and at whatever depth, is found to exhibit unmistakable indications of having been covered with water. There is scarcely a square yard of earth, stratified or unstratified, that does not contain the casts of vegetation and of animals whose life was possible only beneath the water. By carefully comparing the casts found in strata of rocks in different parts of the globe, reason- ably accurate conclusions are reached regarding the time when the different species of animals and plants existed, and when the various strata were formed. Strata of rock were formed by layers of the heated interior of the earth becoming cooled and cohering to the under surface of the solid crust, by streams of melted lava which overspread the country in the neigh- borhood of volcanoes, and bj' the more universal process of deposition while covered with water. During the irregular and comparatively frequent upheavals and subsidences, the surface became covered with alternate growths of vegetation and strata of sand, clay or solid rock. Thus it is that, in digging wells or other deep excava- tions, those materials are passed through in strata which vary in thickness and relative po- sition.* The lower strata of earth in Ohio were first formed, as shown b}' excavations in different parts of the State, near the commencement of the Lower Silurian, but it was subsequently, during the Devonian and Carboniferous Ages that almost all the valuable beds of limestone sandstone and coal, were deposited. Near tlie close of the Carboniferous Age, the Alleghany Mountains were raised from the ocean, and all the area of country lying between the Mississippi and the Atlantic was raised above the water, and was never afterward submerged. This ac- *Th6 historian is indebted to Prof. N. H. Winchell, in the Geo- logical Survey of Ohio, for much of the material contaiued in the following pages. i) \ " ^? li\ 168 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. counts for the fact that, with the exception of a small area in the southern part of the State, no representative formations of the Permian, Tri- assic, Cretaceous or Tertiary systems, appear in Ohio. During the Quaternary Age, large quan- tities of sand, gravel, clay and bowlders, were transported from Northern localities, and de- posited over almost the entire surface of the State, often hundreds of feet in depth. Since that period, the only changes made in the sur- face soil have been constant erosion and disin- tegration through the agency of alternate heat and cold and varying degrees of moisture, to- gether with the change made by the addition of large quantities of vegetation in various stages of decay. This is the condition of the present soil. " Crawford County lies north from the center of the State, and about midway between that point and Lake Erie. It is bounded north by Seneca and Huron, east by Richland, south by Morrow and Marion, and west by Wyandot, and has an area of about eleven Congressional towns, situated so as to give it nearly the form of a square. Its total area of taxable land is 250,- 491 acres, of which 123,649 are arable ; 59,871 meadow and pasture lands, and 66,971 uncul- tivated or woodland. The average value, ex- clusive of buildings, is $31.15 per acre, and the valuation of real propertj', exempt from taxation, is $454,213. " The county lies on the summit of the great water-shed, embracing the head- waters of some of the principal rivers of the State, that leave it in opposite directions. In the northeastern corner of the county are a few small tributaries, that join the Huron River in a northerly direc- tion. Those of the Scioto and Olentangy, have a general southwesterly direction, until they are well off the water-shed and on the southern slope. The upper waters of the Sandusky River, including its tributaries, the Sycamore Creek, Cass Run and Broken Sword Creek, have a noticeable flow southwestwardly and westwardly, along the direction of the general water-shed, until they are outside of the limits of the county ; they then turn nearly at right angles northwesterly and unite with that river. The streams are generally^ small, yet large enough to afford, in favorable situations, ample water-power for flouring and manufactures. The flatness of the county, generally, except in the eastern tier of towns, is unfavorable for the production of water-powers. The rivers rarely strike the bed-rock, and hence, rarely have water-falls or rapids, that can be so utilized. " A general division of the county may be made into three nearly equal belts, running north and south. The most easterly of these belts may be described as rolling and stony, with frequent gravel beds and bowlders ; yet in the townships of Yernon and Jackson, the sur- face is decidedly flat. The streams throughout this belt have greatly increased the original un- evenness of the drift surface, and in some cases their channels are dug, not only through the drift, but also into the rock, to the depth of forty or sixty feet. At the quarry of James Morrow, Jackson Township, the banks of the Sandusky have a height of sixty-eight feet, six inches, rising abruptly from the water with a further ascent of ten feet, within a few rods. Thirty-five feet of this excavation is in the Berea grit of the Waverly sandstone. Under this stone is a shale, probabl^^ belonging to the Bedford, which is not bituminous. The second, or middle belt, affords a strong contrast to the last, being usually quite flat. It is very dis- tinctly marked off by a series of knobs or gravelly hills pertaining to the Drift. East of this rolling upland, the surface is apt to con- tinue more or less broken, producing the fea- tures already describsd, while toward the west, the surface becomes very soon a monotonous flat, with a tough and heavy clay soil. This distinction is very marked in the central and southern portions of the county. In the north- ern, its uniformity is disturbed by the influence ^'1 ?t^ HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 169 of a series of ridges which intersect it ; and the whole northern portion of the second belt, as in the vicinity of New Washington and Annapo- lis, is undulating, with a gravelly clay soil. This middle belt is underlain by the blacli slaie and the shale beds above and below it. The streams in this middle belt, though deeply cut in the drift, very rarely expose the underlying rock. The third belt lies along the west side of the county, and is about co-exteusive with the area underlain by the upper member of the corniferous limestone. The surface here varies from flat to undulating. In the southern part of the county, it is flat and marshy. Extensive prairies prevail in Dallas and Whetstone Town- ships. But the northern portion of this belt is more broken, and characterized by broad surface swells or ridges, which cross the belt obliquely. The features of these three belts seem to be coin- cident with, and doubtless are dependent on the nature of, the underlying rock. They are all confined to the surface deposits. If these de- posits were brought about by a uniform force, acting equally on all parts of the county, such as submergence beneath the ocean, the charac- ter of the underlying rock would produce no ef- fect on the distribution and character of the drift, especially in a county so level as Craw- ford is. The force, whatever it was, must hence have been something that came some way in contact with the rock, in order to receive different impressions from it. "As has already been remarked, the uni- formity of the characters of these belts is inter- rupted bj' a series of ridges, equally pertaining to the Drift, which cross them in a direction northeast and southwest. A very prominent ridge of drift materials enters the county from Wyandot County, in Section 1, Todd Town- ship, and runs along the north side of Broken Sword Creek, ser\ing in Crawford Countj-, as in Wyandot, as a barrier to the westward flow of that stream to the valley of the Sandusky, driving it far to the southwest before it is able to pass it. The farm and residence of J. A. Klink, Section 6, Liberty Township, are located upon it. This ridge of drift can be traced, with some interruptions, as far as the Indiana State line. It has been named the Wabash Ridge, from the Wabash River, which is diverted over forty miles from its course. In Crawford County, the drift accumulations belonging to this ridge are not always heaped up in one ridge, but are spread out into a succession of ridges, having the same direction and made up of similar ma- terials. This is particularly noticeable north from Bucyrus, in the township of Chatfield. This series of parallel ridges crosses the north- ern portion of Todd and Holmes Townships. In Cranberry Township, as it enters upon the rolHng tract due to the underlying Waverly sandstone, it becomes confused, and cannot cer- tainly be identified. It lies on the north side of the water-shed of the State, and pertains to the Lake Erie Valley. " The soil of Crawford County varies accord- ing to the prevalence of one or the other of the foregoing varieties of surface. In the eastern belt, it is generally gravelly, with some patches of tough clay. In the central belt, it is gener- ally clayey, and needs artificial drainage. In the western belt, it is a clayey soil, but shows more gravel than in the central. The soil of the ridges above described is sufficiently grav- elly, and the surface is sufficiently sloping, to admit of perfect natural drainage. The prairie patches, situated in diflferent parts of the county, are sometimes unti liable by reason of poor drainage. The soil is here made up largelj- of organic matters in process of decay. The county originall}' was mostly covered with a deciduous forest. The prairies, even in Dallas and Whetstone Townships, have some small oaks and hickories scattered through them on knolls of coarser drift that rise above the com- mon plat. The following-named varieties of timber were observed in the county, altliough the list cannot be regarded as complete . White a fy a «- -I^ 170 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. oak, pin oak, swamp white oak, chestnut oak, chinquapin, red oak, beech, cottonwood, sugar maple, black cherry, butternut, black walnut, shagbark hickory, tulip tree, pepperidge, buck- eye, white ash, swamp maple, sassafras, bass- wood, sycamore, ironwood, blue beech, honey locust, elm, aspen, willow, thorn, chestnut, mul- berry, papaw, wild apple, wild plum, sumac, flow- ering dogwood, wahoo, hackberry, prickly ash and black haw. " The strike of the rock formations is north and south across the county, the dip being toward the east. The rocks of the county per- tain to the Devonian and Carboniferous ages, and may be enumerated as follows, in descend- ing order : Approximate thickness, Cuyahoga shale and sandstone 80 feet Berea grit 35 feet Bedford shale 20 feet CleTeland shale -50 feet Erie shale 30 feet Huron shale 200 feet Olentangy shale 30 feet Upper Corniferous (TuUy and Hamilton lime- stones) 35 feet Lower Corniferous (Corniferous and Onondaga limestones) 75 feet Total approximate thickness 525 feet Of these the upper four belong to the Car- boniferous system and the remainder to the Devonian. "The Cuyahoga shale and sandstone have not been certainly identified by outcrops in Crawford. County, but most probably underlie the flat land in the eastern part of Vernon, Jackson and Polk Townships. " The Berea grit is the most important mem- ber of the Waverly group. Its line of out- crop is marked by a series of quarries which crosses the eastern tier of townships, the most important of which are located in Jackson and Polk Townships. Beginning in Auburn Town- ship, the most northerly outcrop of the Berea within Crawford County is on Section 28, where it is found along a little creek on Sam- uel Hilburn's land and at the highway bridge. It also occurs near De Kalb, in Vernon Town- ship, on the land of James Cornthers. Slight exposures occur also on Section 19, along a small creek on the land of Barnet Cole and Adam Freeze. It may also be seen on the land of James Campbell and Jacob Myers. In Section 36, Sandusky Township, it is ex- posed in a ravine on the farms of David Wirtz and Fred Beech. In Jackson Township, north- east quarter of Section 1, is James Morrow's quarry, a section of which is as follows : Feet. Inches. No. 1. Thin-bedded sandstone 8 No. 2. Heavy-bedded sandstone 27 No. 3. Shale (Bedford and CleTeland) not well seen 33 6 Total thie'iness 68 6 This quarry is one of the oldest in the county. The quarries at Leesville are about a mile north of the railroad station, and in the blufiis of the Sandusky. Those of John Bippus have been constantly worked for thirty or forty 3ears. Others at Leesville are owned bj' John Haller and John Newman. J. W. Shumaker has also opened a quarry on his land. Mr. Bippus' quarry, near the highway bridge at Leesville, is on the same horizon as that of James Morrow. The exposure is something less, and as follows, in descending order : No. 1. Thin beds, or flags, 1 to 3 inches 10 feel No. 2. Heavy-bedded sjuidstone 16 feet The beds have a slight dip eastward. Mr. Haller's quarry has about twelve feet exposed. The upper six feet are in beds of six or eight inches. Tiie rest is like the upper part of Bippus', and on the same horizon. Mr. New- man's quarry is in stone about the same as Bippus', without exposing the heavy beds. On the southeast quarter of Section 2, Polk Town- ship, Thomas Park's quarry is located just at the point where the river, the two railroads and \p|s ^ •1 1 CAT7^U^^-^e^'-- ■^J^.A^ ihL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 173 the highway all cross each other. The exposed section here is as follows : No. 1. Hard-pan drift 12 to 15 feet No. 2. Thin, loose beds of sandstone 15 feet No. 3. Thick beds of sandstone 12 feet No. 4. Blue shale, seen 10 in. " The quarry of Asa Hosford is situated on the northwest quarter of Section 1, PoUi Town- ship, and shows about twenty -five feet of sand- stone on the same horizon as Mr. Parli's. Be- low the sandstone, Mr. Park encounters, accird- ing to his description, a loose, sandy bed, of a few feet in thickness, and of a blue color, before reaching the Bedford shale. Some of the quar- ries in the Berea, in Crawford County, show a conglomeratic, or even a coarse-grained, com- position. The stone is rather a homogeneous and moderatelj' fine-grained sandstone. Its thickness seems to be no more than thirty-five or fort}' feet. It graduates upward into a shaly and thin-bedded sandstone, that probably be- longs to the Cuj^ahoga division of the Waverl}'. " At Leesville, the Berea grit is underlain by a copper-colored and bluish shale, the colors of which vary in their positions. The copper- colored, or red shale, lies first under the sand- stone, the horizontality of which is not dis- turbed, and the color is gray, or light blue, weathering to an ashen blue. This shale maj^ be seen a few rods above Mr. Bippus' quarrj', on the left bank of the Sandusky, exposing about fourteen feet. The shale appears to pro- trude upward. Tbo exact manner of superpo- sition of the sandstone cannot be seen, but, judging from the horizontality of the sandstone beds, where they re-appear a few rods higher up the river, and also on the other bank, nearlj' op- posite, the shale looks like an isolated or lentic- ular mass — at least, that its upper side is unconformable with the sandstone beds. The thickness of the Bedford shale cannot be stated. Its Identity [with the shale at Mr. Bippus' quar- ry is also somewhat doubtful, although its hori- zon is exactly that of the Bippus shale. This fact, taken in connection with the occurrence of red shale below the stone at Mr. Morrow's quarry. Section 1, Jackson, is strong presump- tive evidence of the continuance of the Bedford as far, at least, as Crawford County. It is also slightly exposed on the creek, on the northeast quarter of Section 2, Polk Township, near the highway bridge. "The identification of that member of the Waverlj' group, known as the Cleveland shale, is not as satisfactory as desirable. Yet there are two exposures of a black, or purplish-black, shale in the county, that cannot, apparently, be referred to the great black slate of the Devo- nian. At James Morrow's quarry, the sand- stone is underlain by thirty-three and one-half feet of shale. Near the bottom of the sand- stone, this shale is red. In .the bed of the river, thirty feet lower, it is a bluish black. It is supposed that about twenty feet of this be- longs to the Bedford, and the remainder to the Cleveland, although the junction of the two has not been seen. Similar shale is exposed on the farm of Mrs. Steinbach, on the southeast quarter of Section 12, Jackson Township, in the bank of the Sandusky, When it is wet it is black, but when dry it becomes slate-colored. It crumbles under the weather into pieces no larger than an inch across, and usually less than half an inch, and a quarter of an inch or less in thickness. It shows here a very slight dip east, and is exposed to the amount of twenty feet. This must be slightly below the horizon, exposed in the river at Mr. Morrow's, and will give as the observed thickness of the Cleveland in the county, about thirty- three feet. Careful search for fossils in the outcrop on Mrs. Stein- bach's farm afibrded none. " Below the Cleveland shale there is a con- siderable thickness of gray material that has been named Erie shale. Although this shale has not been observed in outcrop at but one place in the county, it is believed to occupy a belt of flat land, intervening between the out- ^^=ir^ f^ 174 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. cropping edge of the Cleveland shale and that of the black slate. It was struck in a well at twenty-eight feet, by John Shumaker, on the northeast quarter of Section 26, Polk Township. Pieces thrown out of this well have a somewhat firm and rock-like aspect. It glitters in the sun as if with minute scales of mica, and is speckled as if with coal. " The Huron shale occupies a belt about six or eight miles wide, running north and south across the center of the county. The city of Bucyrus is just within its western edge. It underlies portions of Chatfield and Cranberry and all of Liberty and Whetstone Townships. Although it may be called a conspicuous geological hori- zon, yet not an exposure of it is known to occur in Crawford County. It is met with sometimes within the area mentioned in drill- ing wells, and its presence is then evinced by the offensive odor of the water obtained, or hj the escape of inflammable gas. In general, wherever the Huron shale underlies the drift, there is a belt of sulphur springs and gas wells. Such sulphur springs occur at Annapolis, and in the vicinity of New Washington. At the latter place wells dug to the rock emitted a gas, which accidentally took fire and caused consid- erable alarm by the violence of the flame. They were immediately filled by the owners. On Joseph Knisely's land. Section 26, Sandusky Township, is an unusual assemblage of natural gas springs. The gas accompanies the rising water, and is sufficient to serve for illumination, for which it was used for some years. The gas is also continually escaping into the air from areas of ground having an extent of several rods square, giving the soil the appearance of having passed through fire, and preventing grass and other vegetation from growing. An elaborate description of the Knisely Springs will be found in the history of Sandusky Township, accompanying this work. "Below the Huron shale, which is black, tough, and bituminous, is a thickness of about thirty feet of a bluish and more sectile shale, containing less bituminous matter. It some- times is inter-stratified through its whole per- pendicular extent with bituminous beds, like those of the Huron shale. It has afforded no fossils, but holds occasional thin beds of im- pure blue limestone. It lies on the top of the blue limestone quarried in the western part of the county. It is not visible in Crawford County. " The name corniferous limestone has been applied to the limestone intervening between the foregoing shales and the Oriskany stone that forms the base of the Devonian. It is dis- tinctly divisible, on palaeontological and lith- ological differences, into two parts, the upper part embracing the ' blue limestone,' which shows some relation to the Hamilton, and the lower part embracing the lighter-colored and dolomitic limestones of the Upper Helderberg of the Mississippi basin. They are both well rep- resented and favorably exposed in the western part of Crawford County. The former is about thirty-five feet thick. In Crawford County, the exposures of the limestones are mostly confined to the Broken Sword Creek. Beginning in Section 18, Holmes Township, the upper cornif- erous appears first on the land of S. ¥. Sawyer, where it has been worked a little. It makes a floor-like bed to the creek, rising but few inches above the water along the banks. Beds are three to five inches thick, containing casts of shells and numerous crinoidal stems. C. K. Stevens has opened a quarry on the next ' eighty ' south. About four feet of hard blue limestone can here be made out, although much of the quarry is subject to inundations by the creek, showing a decided dip to the northeast. The stone is in beds of about four inches, vary- ing below that thickness, making a good flag- stone. Some of it is harsh on weathering, al- though plainly argillaceous and sometimes with vermicular or fucoidal markings. It is also liable to be shaly, or slaty, irregularly ; dIV ^^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 175 lenticular flakes cleave off. It has distinct purely calcareous bands of sedimentation. It contains Cj'rtia Hamiltonensis and a species of Tentaculites. It also holds casts of large coiled cephalopods. Its general facies is that of a firm limestone, nearly free from magnesia, but containing irony, bituminous and argillaceous impurities. The next quarry in descending the stream is that of Christian Beiff, in beds of the Upper Corniferous, stone undistinguishable from the foregoing. The quarry of Perry Wil- son is opposite that of Nicholas Poole, on the southeast quarter of Section 24. The stone here is the same, essentiallj', as that at Stevens' ; but is undoubtedly in a lower horizon, exposed six or eight feet. The Bucyrus corporation owns a quarry here in the same beds of the Upper Corniferous. The Upper Corniferous also occurs on Edward Cooper's land on the northwest quarter of Section 33, Liberty Town- ship. It is but little opened and cannot be seen in situ, although there is no doiibt of its being so. The pieces that have been taken out are thin and fossiliferous, spirifer mucrona- tus being the most noticeable fossil. Although the stone so far as explored here, appears rather slaty, it would probablj' become thicker and very useful for common building, on reach- ing the undisturbed bedding. The situation of this outcrop demonstrates either a wide detour westward of the boundary line separating the geographical areas of the Corniferous and over- lying shale, or an isolated area of Corniferous surrounded by the shale, since it is sufficiently certain that the black slate underlies the city of Bucyrus, On the other hand, the Bucyrus area of black slate may be an outlier only, sur- rounded on all sides by the underlying lime- stone. Besides the places above mentioned, there are many indications of the occurrence of the Upper Corniferous in the bank of the San- dusky, on the southeast quarter of Section 24, in Dallas Township, on the land of Mr. McNeal. A little below Mr. McNeal's, in the same section. flat stone, answering to the Upper Corniferous, was taken out of the bed of the Sandusky in small quantities, about twelve years since, on land now owned by James Echart. The Lower Corniferous is also exposed in the Broken Sword Creek, and at Benton, in the Sycamore Creek. At the latter place it is worked a little by Benjamin Kuntzman and Slartin Stoertzer. It may be seen, more or less, in the bed of the creek between Benton and the countj' line. Throughout this distance the exposures are so meager, owing to the prevalence of the drift, that the rock cannot be seen except where the water actually runs, and no reliable section can be obtained. It is a coarse-grained, dirtj^ fos- siliferous and magnesian limestone, with consid- erable bituminous matter, in beds varying from six to twenty inches in thickness, suitable for abutments and heavy walls. Near Osceola the Lower Corniferous is considerably exposed, and is quarried for general building stone and for quiclsJime. The following quarries are in the Lower Corniferous at this place : Those of John Schnaveljf, David Schnavely, Widow Schnavely, Luther M. Myers, Dennis Coder, G-otleib Doer- er and Joseph B. Christie. Of these, John Schnavelj^'s and Mrs. Schnavelj^'s are in the upper portion of the Lower Corniferous, the principal fossils of which are brachiopods. The stone is light colored and crystalline, appearing somewhat saccharoidal, in beds of about three inches. The lime made is nearly whiie, but slightly creamj-. The quarries of jMessrs. Myers, Coder, Doerer and Christie, are in lower beds. The stone of these quarries, when fossil- iferous, is characterized by a profusion of corals, with very few brachiopods. It is bituminous, and also magnesian, harsh to the touch, ap- pearing often much like a sandstone. It is a much darker colored stone than that of Schnavel3''s quarry, but the lime made from it is equally white. Large portions of the stone are perfectly free from bituminous impurities. Such are especially the compact coral masses which .p J^f l^ 176 HISTORY OF CRA.WFORD COUNTY. make a purely white lime. At Mr. Myers, quarry these corals are especially displayed, making the stone very irregular, both as to color and bedding. Although the thickness of the beds is usually from two to four inches, they are quite loose and often lenticular. Thick films and scales of black bituminous matter spread through it, giving rise to various local designations for the different portions of the quarry. In some places the bituminous matter is evenly disseminated through the beds, making the whole appear darker, even to a brown ; in others, it is gathered into scales, films and pockets, which, combined with the occurrence of the different corals, produces a very uneven and unattractive stone. " The most common aspect of the Drift depos- its in the county is that of a gravelly clay, else- where designated hard-pan. This clay not only embraces gravel-stones, but also bowlders of all sizes, and has an average thickness of thirty to fifty feet. Along streams, and in all valleys of erosion, even where no streams now exist, the bowlders belonging in this hard-pan are made to appear superficial by the removal by running water of the clayey ingredients. Occasional exposures of the drift in fresh sec- tions reveal, not only a confused mingling of clay, stones and bowlders, but also, in some portions, an oblique stratification and perfect assortment of gravel and sand. Such stratified beds pertain, for the most part, to the upper portion of the drift, and specially prevail in the eastern or sandstone district; they give rise to springs of ferriferous water, and fur- nish that of a great many wells. As has already been remarked, the drift of Crawford County lies in ridges crossing the northern and central portions of the county. These are be- lieved to be due to the temporary halting of the margin of the ice-field, when it occupied successively those positions. These ridges are all situated so near each other, and sometimes become so involved with each other, that they seem to pertain to one system, or to one greater moraine ridge. Indeed, they are not generally separable, but are heaped together in one ridge, that which lies along the northwest side of Broken Sword Creek. The color of the drift is blue, except where it is oxidized or stained by iron. The blue color may be seen in railroad cuts, as on Sections 3 and 4, Vernon, and near New Washington ; but generally it is replaced by a yellowish-brown, or rarely, by a reddish or irony brown, as in the northeastern part of Auburn Township, to the depth of about fifteen feet, depending on its porosity or facility for absorbing water and air. No glacial marks have been seen in the county. At Leesville, in the southern part of Section 7, Jackson Town- ship, is a long and prominent ridge of gravel, popularly denominated a "hog's back." The- gravel ridge has been in use for about twenty •years, during which time thousands of car- loads have been taken away for the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad ; but the part which still remains rises forty feet above the surrounding level. A former spur from this, known as the "Cleveland Hill," rose twenty feet higher, but it has been entirely removed. This gravel ridge is a little over half a mile long, and runs nearly north and south, or a trifle east of south. The "Cleveland Hill" tended more easterly along the southern ex- tremity. The main line lies on the observed line of super-position of the Berea grit over the Bedford shale. The soft shale is in out- crop along the banks of the Sandusky River, on Section 12, within a quarter of a mile of the ridge, and the sandstone is extensively wrought about half a mile east of the ridge. This ridge is not bordered on both sides by low, swampy belts, as several others have been observed to be, at least it is not on the eastern side. On the west side there is more low ground, but the Sandusky River and a ravine tributary to it, have somewhat broken up its a) n? 4^ HISTOBY OF CRAWFORD COUxVTY. 177 original surroundings in that respect. Tlie country about is flat, or nearly so, and the drift is made up of the common hard-pan clay. '' The gravel of the ridge embraces a great many bowlders about the size of eighteen inches in diameter, some also much larger. The con- junction of a gravel ridge pertaining to the Drift with the line of outcrop of two forma- tions, the one hard and the other soft, seems to indicate that, whatever the cause was, it was susceptible of being influenced by the charac- ter of the underlying rock. " The following list of wells will give some idea, both of the thickness of the Drift deposit, and of the quality of water found in different parts of the county. The list is selected from different parts of the county, in order that the character of water maj' be known, and to show the soluble chemical elements that prevail in the three principal geological belts extending north and south across the county. OWNER'S NAME. Luther M. Myers.. Luther M. Myers.. Fodd Tp., Sec. 25.. Todd Tp., Sec. 25., George Heiby Western House Kudolph Heiply Paul Miller Catholic Church Jacob Stoutenour Jacob Stoutenour *John A. Sheetz *Abram Ouiss Jacob Hofsaetz Wensel Mohr William Lahman Jacob Bender Louis Weller John Warner Public Pump J. A. Klink A. V. Moffit Jacob Miller Phillip Moffit George Haupt T. H. B. Clutter, M. U. John Hahn J. H. Brokan B. Heckard Samuel Stuck Franklin Stuck Widow Bishop..., J. Hainla J. Hainla J. J. Shumaker.. Sim's Stable LOCATION. Liberty Tp., Sec. 14.... Bucyrus New Washington New Washington New Washington New Washington New Washington Cranberry Tp., Sec. 14 Cranberry Tp., Sec. 14 Waynesburg Waynesburg Waynesburg Vernon Tp., Sec. 5 West Liberty West Liberty West Liberty Liberty Tp., Sec. 6 Chatfield Tp., Sec. 31.. New Washington Chatfield Tp., Sec. 31.. Chatfield Tp., Sec. 19.. Leesville LeesvlUe LeesviUe Leesville Bucyriis Tp., Sec. 30, Bucyrus Tp., Sec. 30... Dallas Tp., Sec. 26.. New Winchester .... New Winchester Polk Tp., Sec. 26.... Bucyrus 22 40 28 18 34 65 15 14J 30 30 21 18 32 13 16 15 22 40 26 40 26 37 10 17 6 14 47 17 14 22 10 40 28 18 34 65 15 30 30 21 18 32 13 16 15 22 40 26 40 26 37 19 17 23 14 47 38 15 43 19 42 20 GraTel, sand and blue clay.. All coarse gravel Clay, then hard-pan... To the rock Brown loam and sand. Clay Brown and blue clay.. THROUGH WHAT. Blue clay. Clay and gravel . Clay, sand and gravel.. Stony clay. Stony clay. Clay and gravel. Clay and sand.... Clay and sand Blue clay nnd gravel. BEMAEKS. Good water; well, situated thirteen rods of the creek. Good water; well in creek bottoms. Good water. Sulphurous water. Good water. Good water. Good water. Good water. Good water. Gas ; filled again. Gas and water ; filled again. Good water; in gravel. Good water. Good water. Good water. Good water. Artesian. Slightly sulphurous. Slightly irony ; on the ridge. In gravel. Slightly irony. Slightly sulphurous. Slightly sulphurous. Sulphurous. Good water. Not good for cookinf ; makes food bitter ; cannot be used lor tea or coffee. Good water. Good water. Bitter water, like Stuck's. Slightly sulphurous. Good water. *TheBe gaa well3 burned with violence, throwing a flame tea or fifteen feet above the surface of the ground. ;r$* ,> 178 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. " Crawford County is also well supplied with building-stone, and with limestone for quick- lime. The quarries in the townships of Holmes and Todd not only furnish stone for building throughout a wide circuit of country, but also produce a large quantity of quicklime, which is shipped from Nevada, in Wyandot County, by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail- road. The following proximate statements of the annual product of these quarries in quick- lime were obtained from the owners : Bushels. J. B. Christie 20,000 Dennis Coder 4,000 Luther M. Myers 15,750 Mary Sehn.ively 4,000 Schnavely Ijrolhers 6,000 John Schnavely 20,000 Bushels. Nicholas Poole 10,000 Perry Wilson 20,000 Total proximate annual product 99,750 " The retail price on the ground is about 20 cents per bushel. It is delivered in wholesale quantity at Nevada for 18 cents. If the ag- gregate production sells for 18 cents, the rev- enue amounts to about $18,000 per year. All the kilns used at Osceola are of the old style, requiring to be empted entirely before second use. By this method, there is a loss of wood and of labor. The following tabular view shows the amount of wood required per hun- dred bushels, at some of the quarries, and the weight of the lime per bushel, as nearly as can be ascertained : NAME. rOEMATION. Hours of Burning. Cords per 100 Bushels. Pays fjr Wood. Weight per Bushel. Perry WilsoB Upper Corniferous 60 60 60 Nearly 3 Nearly 3 Nearly 2J ?1 7-') 1 75 1 75 65 to 70 John Sch navelv Lower Corniferous 65 " In the southeastern part of the county, the quarries in the Berea grit have been wrought for about forty years, and have become cele- brated throughout a wide extent of country for the excellence of the building-stone which they afford. Stone from Berea is, on close compar- ison, seen to be of a coarser grain and less firm than that taken from beds of the same horizon in the central counties of the State. The lime- stone sold at the quarries in the western part of the county brings about $1 a perch, or $5 a cord. The sandstone taken out in the eastern part of the county brings a better price. The best sells for $2 a perch, while other grades bring but $1.50 aud $1. A cheaper quality is sold for 50 cents per load. Flagging sells for from 6 to 20 cents per square foot ; a thin kind of walling stone for 50 cents per load. " For brick and common red ijottery, the Drift clays are considerably used. These clays afford in all places a very fine material for these uses. There is probably not a square mile within the counter where such clay could not be obtained. In the progress of examination, the claj' has been' found peculiarly suitable for tile and brick, of which large quantities are manufac- tured in almost every township in the county. Large quantities are made at Bucyrus, from a light clay loam, which contains no gravel, and of which inexhaustible supplies are found in the creek bottoms. The brick made are of a dark red color, showing no evidence of lime when broken. " The eastern portion of the county, espe- cially the rolling strip of land that characterizes the line of junction between the Berea grit and the Bedford shale, is well supplied with gravel and sand. These knolls are largelj- made up of stratified gravel and sand, mingled with Northern bowlders. One of the oldest gravel pits in the county is that near Leesville. Hun- dreds of car and wagon loads are taken from it ;rr ^:^! HISTOKY or CRAWFOKD COUNTY. 179 annually, and the supply will not fail for many years to come. The pit also aflTords large num- bers of Northern bowlders of all sizes, averaging about eighteen inches in diameter. Large quan- tities of excellent sand, deposited in beds, or banks, on the Sandusky, in the southern part of Liberty Township, furnish Bucyrus and all the surrounding country with an abundant supply for building purposes. Several deposits of sand and gravel were also noted in the flat and more clayey portions of the county ; but here they are much more rare and also more valuable. One occurs on Nathan Cooper's land, in the bank of the Sandusky, on the southwest quarter of Section 32, Liberty Township. Scattered at , irregular intervals over the county, are found these gravel beds, many of which graduate into a fine sand, not only suitable for rough walls, but for the finer portions of masonic work. The county is well supplied with sandstone, lime- stone, sand, clay and gravel." There are, within the limits of the county, several depressed portions of land, or^ basins, which, before clearings were made or sluices dug, were covered with water during the year. Having been in that damp condition, very likely for centuries, they became covered to the depth of several feet with a vegetable mixture of leaves, twigs, and the root and stock of the marsh-moss, Sphagnum, in an imperfect state of decomposition. Peat beds are usually largely composed of this moss, which has the property of slowly dying at the extremities of the roots. It grows in the mud and muck of wet land, and finally accumulates a deep bed of its decaying roots. The peat or other basins also contain large quantities of decaying vege- tation, washed in by periodical floods, and con- tributing to the peat accumulation. In the large marsh in Cranberry Township there are found, in some places, beds of decomposing vegetation to the depth of several feet, although the peat thus formed is impure, and contains large quantities of earthy ingredients. Within the memory of middle-aged people, the marsh was almost impenetrable, except when frozen, on account of the water and mud, and, although many portions are yet wet and impassable, ex- tensive and costly systems of drainage promise a speedj' preparation of these rich alluvial basins for cultivation. The peat in this marsh when dry will readily burn, and occasionally catches fire, burning until extinguished by rain or otherwise. Owing to its impurity and meagerness, however, and an abundance of cheaper and better fuel, the peat is not likely to become utilized in this respect. The principal feature of this marsh in early years was the prevalence of cranberries, which grew there in great abundance. The berry is a member of the Heath Family, and is known to botanists as Oxycoccus macrocarpus. The plant is a "creeper, or trailer, with slender, hardy, woody stems, and small evergreen leaves, more or less white underneath, with single flowers, borne on slender, erect pedicles, and having a pale rose corolla. The berries, which get ripe in autumn, are red, with some yellow, and are very acid. The stems are from one to three feet long, and the flowers are lateral, rendering easy the gathering of the berries. Hundreds of bushels grew annually in this marsh when the county was first settled, and from informa- tion obtained from the Indian tribes, they gath- ered the berries for many years before the ap- pearance of white men, conveying them on ponies to cities in Eastern and Northern Ohio, and even to those in Pennsylvania and New York. Cranberry gathering was an important industry to the earlj' settler, as it furnished him an annual revenue, proportioned to his energy. With the price of $3 or $4 per bushel, a cranberry marsh could be made profitable at present, as it is done in several localities farther east. But the conditions for the possi- ble life of the plant have been removed, or al- tered, and cranberries, with insignificant excep- tions, no longer grow in the county. They also T l\^ 180 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. previously grew in the Bear Marsh, in northern Sandusky, on the wet land in Southern Vernon, and on other low lands in the county, but not in sufficient quantity to become available or valuable to the citizens. In Southern Huron County was an extensive cranberry marsh, a portion of which, comprising about 300 acres, lay in northern Auburn Township. This fur- nished large quantities of berries, and was vis- ited annually by scores of citizens for miles around. The marsh also contained peat, al- though not as pure nor as deep as that in Cran- berry Township. Sluices and trenches have been dug to convey the standing water into Honey Creels: or its branches, and the marsh is now quite dry, and in a few years will be culti- vated. In the margins of these marshes and other depressions in the county is found an im- pure bog iron ore, although not in sufficient quantity to become of economic value. While no effort has been made to extract the iron, yet the ore has been dug and used for roads and private walks. It is in Crawford County that the vast prai- ries prevailing in Western States are first made manifest. A large one, about thirty miles long, and having an average width of five or six miles, begins in northeastern Whetstone Town- ship, extending southwestwardly across Bucy- rus and Dallas Townships, far down into Ma- rion County. This large section of country was named " Sandusky Plains " by the Indians, from its proximity to the river of that name. Why this land was not covered with a heavy forest like the country surrounding it, is difficult to explain. The cliaracter of the soil seems to indicate that the plains were covered with wa- ter, or were at least wet, after the surrounding country had become dry. This is shown bj^ the fact, among others, that the soil contains more decaying vegetation, and is more largely alluvial than in other townships in the count}'. These facts also imply that the plains were somewhat depressed, and were silt basins, in which were collected the washings of the sur- rounding soil. So far as examined, the drift and washed soil of the plains is deeper than in other portions of the county. The drift is not found distributed at about the same depth over the plains, but occurs in knolls and embank- ments, scattered at irregular intervals over the surface. These knolls were about the only por- tions covered* with timber when the settlers first appeared. The other portions, notwithstanding their exposure to the heat of the sun, were quite wetj and covered with a rank growth of weeds, sedges and coarse grass. The growth of the timber in comparatively late years, was no doubt prevented, in a measure, by destructive fires, which swept over the plains annually, destroying the young trees, and extending far enough into the surrounding timber to prevent its encroachment on the prairie. It is likely, also, that the character of the soil had some- thing to do with the non-appearance of the timber. The plains are frequently crossed with uneven belts of woodland, dividing their extent into a succession of prairies. Since the coun- try has become well settled, and the surrounding timber has been largely cut away to make room for the farms, and since rapidly-growing varie- ties of trees have been planted in groves upon every farm, the prairie can be scarcely distin- guished from other portions of the county. The soil of the plains is well adapted for the growth of corn ; much better than other portions of the county less alluvial in nature. A dearth of bowlders and other surface stones on the plains is noticeable, and the gravel and sand beds occur less frequently than in surround- ing localities. Its elevated situation and proximity to Lake Erie give to Crawford County a fine, healthy climate. The rigor of winter is modified, as is also the heat of summer. From meteorological tables, it is ascertained that the isothermal line passing through Crawford County reaches one of its points of highest latitude in the county, ^T^ J- HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. showing a temperature corresponding to that In other localities about 100 miles south. A great difference is noticed in the Michigan Pen- insula, where the temperature in the center of the State corresponds with that in Northern In- diana. Palmetto, and other timber growing in the warm climate of the Southern States, has been found in Northern Ohio, near Lalie Erie, and far up into Michigan, giving unmistakable proof of the mildness of the climate, even if other proof were lacking. The climate near these bodies of water is less subject to great and sudden extremes of heat and cold than country farther removed from such water. The mildness and salubrity are undoubtedly due to the proximity of the lakes, which temper the cold of winter and the heat of summer. Phys- icists account for this phenomenon by the state- ment that large bodies of water during the summer absorb the heat poured by radiation into the atmosphere from the heated land near the water, and that, during the winter, the water -fe> 181 slowly parts with its latent heat accumulated in hot weather. Crawford County shares, in a measure, the mildness of climate due to the modifying influence of the lakes. Although the county is somewhat removed from the lake shore, yet thermometers show a comparatively equable temperature. The uniformity of the climate, however, is not so perfect as in counties bordering on the lake. A failure to record meteorological phenomena in the county pre- vents an accurate knowledge of the state of the weather in past years. The mean temperature for the winter months at Urbana is 28.75°, while that for the summer is 71.11°, giving a mean for the whole time, with observations taken during six months of each j^ear, of 50^. It will also be seen that the greatest cold recorded was 17° below zero, and the greatest heat 95° above the same point. The following table is taken from the report of the Secretary of State for 1877 :* JANUARY, FEBRUARY. DECEMBER. TBAB. a a "5 a p s 1 a a a s a 'i i 8 .1 a 1 s 1 1835 4 5 14 5 6 11 5 4 14 51 46 57 55 61 57 42 54 41 31.69 22.53 33.97 33.81 29.55 29.11 18.56 29.90 19.08 17 10 9 16 5 2 7 16 46 62 63 66 52 66 50 56 64 20.06 41.10 36.36 32.61 2^.53 30.61 30.08 29.07 19.04 10 5 4 9 6 5 1 12 53 52 46 56 50 43 64 63 69 29.66 29.91 23.94 31.29 28.77 26.23 31.30 26.93 38.78 27 14 1840 31 18 1845 31 42 1850 32.57 26 95 1865 1860 28 65 1865 27 11 1870 28 63 1876 25 63 27.58 29.05 29.65 28 78 It will be observed from the above table that the means, except in the last column, are for the entire month during the year at the left ; and also, that those in the last column are for the three winter months during each year, while the figures below each column of means give the total for the whole time from a quinquen- nial statement. The following table for the summer months during the same years is ob- tained from the same report as the above :f *Prom records kept by Jud^e Keynolds and others. fFrom the records of Milo Q. Williams. ^3* ^ 182 HISTOET OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 1835., 1840., 1845., 1850., 1855. 1860. 1865. 1870. 1875., Mean? 69.64 80 84 88 85 94 90 45 45 48 45 41 46 50 51 44 S 67.98 67.23 70.02 70.75 67.12 69.77 74.50 70.79 68.60 84 90 95 90 94 94 92 44 48 49 57 55 48 48 53 55 S 68.81 69.94 71.69 76.56 75.08, 72.73 71.81 76.26 73.37 82 90 85 87 92 92 88 95 85 72.92 70; 49 48 54 50 46 44 44 50 49 S 66.64 68.58 74.32 72 68 72.50 71.68 69.70 73.13 67.81 67.81 68.58 72.01 73.33 71.57 71.39 72.00 73.39 69.98 71.11 The observations for both of the above tables were made at Urbana, Ohio, with an or- dinary thermometer. It will be noticed that the mean temperature for each month during the nine years given is quite uniform, varying but little through the lapse of nearly half a century. The uniformity of the temperature nearer the laljes is more noticeable, and does not show as great a divergence between winter and summer as is shown by the tables above. The elevated situation of the county, on the " backbone " of Ohio, is favorable for an ob- servance of the direction, force and velocity of the wind. The healthfulness of any locality is largely dependent upon the purity and force of the wind ; and, since observations have estab- lished the fact that the motion of the air may be ascertained for from six to fortj^-eight hours in advance, the knowledge becomes of great value in serving to prevent loss 6f life and property in all parts of the country, and espe- cially so on the lakes and oceans. Hence it is that extensive signal systems have been de- vised and put in operation on the shores of all the great lakes and on every sea coast. From measurements made by different railroad com- panies in the county, Bucyrus is found to be elevated 434 feet above Lake Erie and 1,009 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. It is not the highest point in the county, however, Crestline being 1,176 feet above the ocean, and G-alion 1,171. Subtracting from these figures 575 feet, the assumed elevation of the lake above the ocean, will give the elevation of the last two cities above Lake Erie. From observations made at eight points in Ohio, it is ascertained that the prevailing direction of the wind is from the southwest and west, although during the past year, as shown by the report of the Secretarjf of State, it has been from the south- east at Cincinnati. The approximate move- ment of the atmosphere per annum is about 50,000 miles, with a mean hourly velocity of 6 miles. Blarch is found to be the windiest month, while August is the quietest. The humidity of the air varies with the direction and character of the wind. The majority of heavy storms of wind and rain come from the southwest, and the height of mercury in the barometer varies about two inches, but the an- nual variation is usually less than this. The mean height during the last j-ear was 30.063 inches. Winds from across Lal^e Erie usually contain a large percentage of moisture, varying with the season and the slant of the wind. Except in times of unusual storms, the veloc- ity of the wind rarely exceeds thirty miles per hour. It is probable that the county is too far removed from the lake shore to be swept by what are known as " sea breezes.'' Winds thus created by a relative change in the temperature of the atmosphere covering large bodies of nf* i\^ HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 183 water and the neighboring land, made by une- qual powers of radiation during the day and night, are usually laden with moisturei, and are extremely icy and cold. These winds from the north sweep over Crawford County oftener and with greater velocity during the winter and spring months than at other seasons of the j^ear. The county has been visited by several tornadoes during past years. One of these swept across the northern tier of town- ships about the beginning of the present cen- tury'. It must have swept everything before it, as, when the first settlers arrived, in about 1820, no large trees were standing in its course, and the ground was strewn with de- caying timber that had been torn asunder and broken off by the fury of the wind. The ground was covered with a heavy growth of young timber. Another storm of later occur- rence passed across Whetstone Township, and was seen by several old settlers yet living. A description of this storm will be found in the history of the above township. Both of these storms came from the southwest. Other winds of less intensity have visited the county with a greater or less loss of property, and the future will likely bring many others. Every citizen should provide himself with a good barometer in order to avoid the unexpected appearance of great storms of wind and rain. The winds most likely to be followed by a precipitation of rain or snow are those varying from southeast to southwest. The annual range of the barometer at Cincinnati during the past j'ear was 1.318 inches. The barome- ter rarely fails to give warning of the approach of storms, and, if its language was always heeded, thousands of dollars could be saved annually to the citizens throughout the coun- try. Localities .with telegraphic communica- tion can readily receive the knowledge of an approaching change of weather as soon as such knowledge becomes known ; but other sections lack the means of obtaining such information, and consequently are the oftenest to lose prop- erty and life because of their inability to learn of coming storms. A barometer, costing but a few dollars, would give the desired informa- tion, and, in the aggregate, prevent the loss of valuable property. A singular occurrence connected with the fall of rain and snow during the year is, that the quantity falling each year at any locality is about the same. The amount varies but few inches from year to year, and it is noticed that in almost every case heavy and continuous rains during a portion of the year are followed by a lack of rain during the remainder. If the spring is unusuallj' wet, one of the other seasons will be correspondingly dry. This uniformity of rain in any given locality is difficult to explain. When the air is motionless, and saturated with moisture, the evaporation from the earth under- neath is decreased. ThS greater the amount of water in the soil and on the surface, the greater will be the quantity evaporated, other things being equal. It follows that, after the soil is soaked with water by incessant rains, the atmos- phere above becomes thoroughlj^ saturated, and) consequently, much cooler, owing to the absorp- tion of heat during the process of evaporation. It also follows from these facts that the presence of so much moisture abo^^e prevents the wind from setting in toward that localit}-, and, conse- quently, prevents the further fall of rain. On the contrary, the winds charged with rain-clouds blow from that locality to others where the atmosphere is lighter, and where the season has been dry. This leaves the localitj^ above men- tioned without rain until the temperature has become warm, and the relative humidity between that and surrounding sections of country has become reversed, when rain clouds again appear, and the same phenomena are repeated. This will account, in a measure, for the uniformity of the fall of rain at any locality during the j-ear. Other circumstances, no doubt, influence and ^A 184 HISTORY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY. vary the causes referred to, although the latter may be regarded as primary. No record of the annual fall of rain, so far as known, has been kept in Crawford County. That at Urbana, Ohio, for the past twenty-eight years, including melted snow, has been 39f inches. This will give the proximate fall in the county, although the mean fall may vary several inches from that figure. No figures can be given as to the prob- able fall during any season of the year, the quantity being subject to variation from local causes. The following comparative table, show- ing the annual amount of water from rain and melted snow, in inches, at several stations in Ohio, for ten years, was prepared by Milo G. Williams, of Urbana, Ohio : STATIONS. 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1878 1874 1875 1876 28.91 45.01 46.70 31.86 32 83 22.08 3106 40.90 34.93 41.60 4-5,09 50.03 46.31 36.03 20.16 42 94 46.21 40.92 39.84 41.85 42.86 42.71 39 02 37.44 42.25 49.14 41.89 28.03 40.86 40.18 32.30 46.96 35.64 31.11 29.02 30.64 32.78 32 54 31.13 32.36 28.53 37.74 32.78 45.49 47.98 37.17 41.40 42.23 35.38 47.20 41.20 33.38 38.32 39.57 34.03 38.43 34.74 25.81 44.45 36.09 41.04 45.71 46.05 43.16 39.78 29.40 41.22 Marietta 48.19 4193 45.22 36.45 Toledo 32.84 60 28 40.22 28.72 36.60 32.07 28.53 30.35 31.60 60 45 43.66 48.08 Mean 43.52 CHAPTER II. THE MOUND BUILDERS — WYANDOT AND OTHER INDIAN TRIBES — THE BORDER WARS- FORD'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST SANDUSKY— PERSONAL ADVENTURE— JOHN ROSE. -CRAW- "Lo! the poor Indian, whose untutored mind, Sees God in clouds and hears Him in the wind." ry^HE lack of mounds and other evidences JL of the presence of a semi-barbarous race in Crawford County, before the Indian first lighted his camp-fires on the prairie, or in the forest of the Western Continent, has led archae- ologists and antiquarians to the conclusion that the county was a portion of the neutral ground which separated the hosts of two or more hostile nations of Mound Builders. That a strange and partially uncivilized people re- sided throughout all the countrj', in times which ante-date the Indian's occupancy of the soil, is established by conclusive evidence, aside from the denial of the Indian races, of their having had any participation in the erection of the approximate 10,000 mounds scattered throughout the continent. In several places in Crawford County, the early settlers found ob- scure and imperfect artificial earth embank- ments, which, in all probabilitj', were thrown up by the Indians and not the ]Mound Build- ers. One of these is located on Broken Sword Creek, in Holmes Township, although nothing now remains but an irregular and barely noticea- ble ridge. If the county was between two opposing tribes at war, it was, undoubtedly, the scene of frequent battles, where the fate of primitive nations was decided. The soil gives no word of encouragement to such a thought, which is purely speculative. The mounds and their contents, however, speak plainly as to the characteristics of this strange people, although nothing is suggested to lead . the mind to a knowledge of their origin or final destiny. Some authorities have suggested that the Mound Builders ultimately deteriorated into ;i^ ^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUXTY. 185 the ancestors of the Indian races ; but the ma- jority of intelligent writers on the subject dis- courage such a view, and present facts going to show that an interval of many centuries elapsed after the disappearance of the Mound Builders, and before the appearance of the Indian. There is no evidence showing that the Mound Builders ever had a written language ; and the only testimony of their presence and attainments is found in the various mounds, which are fast disappearing before the march of Time, the infinite iconoclast. From their works must be derived the solution of their history, habits, customs, their mode of life and degree of civilization, their knowledge of the arts of peace and war, and their ultimate fate, whether by extinction through war, famine or pestilence, or whether they became the ances- tors of the succeeding Indian races. Although Crawford County contains no mounds, or other works of the Mound Builders, yet, since research has thrown so much light upon their lives and customs and aroused so much interest among scientists, a brief state- ment will be given of the progress that has been made in this branch of archaeological re- search. The mounds have been divided into mounds proper, efHgies and inclosures. Mounds proper are subdivided into sepulchral, temple, sacrificial, memorial and observatory. Effigies are divided into animal, emblematic and sym- bolical. Inclosures are military, covered or sa- cred.* The most of the above works were con- structed of earth, a few of stone, and a fewer still of earth and stone combined. Sepulchral mounds are usually conical, and some of them are seventy feet in height. They are more numerous than any other kind, and, beyond doubt, were used as memorials over the dead. Within these mounds, implements and orna- ments are often found, supposed to have been placed there when the individual was buried, for use in the Spirit Land. Ashes and charcoal *lsaac Smucker, in Ohio Statistics. are often found in proximity to the skeleton under conditions which render it probable that fires were used in the burial ceremony. With the skeletons are often found specimens of mica, pottery, bone and copper beads and bones. The skeletons found in each mound are usually limited in number, although a mound in Lick- ing County contained fifteen, and one in Har- din County contained three hundred. Colonel Whittlesey and others entertain the opinion, however, that the skeletons belonged to the In- dians, who had used the mounds for burial pur- poses. Temple mounds are few in number, and are ordinarily circular. The}' are invariably truncated, and are often surrounded with em- bankments, inclined planes, or spiral pathways or steps, leading to the summit. It is supposed that these elevations were surmounted with wooden temples, all traces of which have been removed by the ravages of time. These mounds and the buildings at their summits are thought to have been erected for religious purposes. Sacrificial mounds are ordinarily stratified, with convex layers of clay and loam above a stratum of sand. They contain ashes, charcoal, igneous stones, calcined animal bones, beads, stone implements, pottery and specimens of rude sculpture. Altars of igneous clay or stone are often found. Evidences of fire upon the altars yet remain, showing that various ani- mals and probably human beings were im- molated to secure the favor of the Great Spirit. These mounds infrequentlj' contain skeletons, together with implements of war ; mica from the Alleghanies ; shells from the Gulf of Mex- ico; obsidian of diflferent colors, red, purple and green varieties of porphyry, and silver, copper and other metallic ornaments and uten- sils. Mounds of observation were apparently designed for alarm-towers or signal stations. Some writers have fancied that they " occur in chains, or regular systems, and that many of them still bear traces of the beacon fires that were once burning upon them.'' They are often -^ 9 ^ 186 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUXTY. found built like towers from the summits of embankments surrounding inclosures. One of the latter, in Licking County, has a height of twenty -five feet. "Along the Miami River," says Judge Force, " are dotted small mounds or projecting highlands, which seems to have been built to carry intelligence by signals along the valley." Memorial mounds are of that class of tumuli intended to commemorate some impor- tant event, or to perpetuate the memory of some distinguished character. Most of the stone mounds belong to this clas3, and usually contain no bones, for the supposed reason that the mounds were erected to perpetuate great events, and not to be used as sepulcherS. They are thought to be coincident in design with the Bunker Hill Monument, and with the beautiful marble column on the field of Gettysburg. Effigies are elevations of earth in the form of men, beasts, birds, reptiles, and, occasionally, of inanimate objects, varying in height from one foot to six feet above the surrounding surface, and often covering many acres of land. Mr. Schoolcraft expresses the belief that this class of mounds was designed for " totems " or tribu- lar symbols ; while Prof Daniel Wilson and other writers of distinction entertain the opin- ion that they were erected in accordance with the religious belief of the various tribes of Mound Builders who worshiped, or in some way venerated, the animals or objects repre- sented by the elevations. A large mound near Newark represents a bird of enormous size, with its wings outspread, in the act of flight. Its length is about 200 feet. An excavation in this efflgy disclosed a clay and stone altar, upon which were evidences of fire, together with ashes and charcoal. The surroundings indicated that the altar had been used for sacrificial of- ferings. Another mound near Newark repre- sents a huge alligator having a total length of 200 feet. Prof Daniel Wilson believes that it " symbolizes some object of special awe and veneration, thus reared on one of the chief ' high places ' of the nation, with its accompany- ing altar, upon which these ancient people of the valley could witness the celebration of the rites of their worship, its site having been obviously selected as the most prominent fea- ture in a populous district, abounding with military, civic and religious structures." The most remarkable mound in Ohio is in Adams County. Its form is that of an enormous ser- pent, more than a thousand feet in length, with body in graceful, anfractuous folds, and tail ending in triple coils. The greatest width of the body is thirty feet, and the effigy is elevated about five feet above the surrounding soil. " The neck of the figure,'' says the American Cyclopoedia, "is stretched out and slightly curved, and the mouth is opened wide, as if in the act of swallowing or ejecting an oval figure, which rests partly within the distended jaws. The combined figure has been regarded by some as a representation of the oriental cosmo- logical idea of the serpent and the egg." Defensive inclosures are irregular in form, and are always on high ground, in positions difficult to approach by a savage foe. " The ■ walls," says the American C^'clopoedia, " gener- ally wind around the borders of the elevations they occupy, and, when the nature of the ground renders some points more accessible than others, the height of the wall and the depth of the ditch at those weak points are proportionally increased. The gateways are narrow and few in number, and well guarded by embankments of earth, placed a few yards inside of the open- ings or gateways, and parallel with them, and projecting somewhat beyond them at each end, thus fully covering the entrances, which, in some cases, are still further protected \>^ projecting walls on either side of them. These works are somewhat numerous, and indicate a clear appre- ciation of the elements, at least, of fortification, and unmistakably point out the purpose for which they were constructed. A large number of these defensive works consist of a line of .|^ l\^ HISTORY OF CRAWFOKD COUNTY. 187 _ ditches and embankments, or several lines car- ried across the neck of peninsulas or bluff headlands, formed within the bends of streams — an easy and obvious mode of fortificatioDj common to all rude peoples.'' Many defensive mounds are found in Ohio, and the most notice- able one is in Warren County. The embank- ments are nearly four miles in length, varying in height from ten to twenty feet, to accord with the locality to be protected, and inclose several hundred acres. Covered waj'S, or parallel walls, are often found, either connecting different in- closures, or portions of the same. They were undoubtedly designed to protect those passing back and forth within. There are large num- bers of sacred inclosures of almost every con- ceivable shape, and many of them were de- signed with surprising geometrical accuracy. Some arehseologists maintain that many of the so-called sacred inclosures were intended and used for national games and celebrations, and it is probable that those without the altar were used as such. The mounds and their contents afford abun- dant opportunity to speculate as to the character and customs of the ancient people, of whom nothing is left save their crumbling habitations. They were unknown to the Indians, whose traditions reveal nothing of the Mound Build- ers' history, which will forever remain unwrit- ten and unknown. They were a numerous people, as is clearly proved by the magnitude and elaboration of their works. The}' were unquestionably subservient to rulers, or supe- riors, who had power to enforce the erection of gigantic structures, which, considering the semi-barbarous condition of the people, their lack of suitable implements of labor, and their imperfect and insufficient knowledge of me- chanical principles, are surprisingly vast in ex- tent and ingenious in design. Their works in- dicate that the people were war-like ; that they were familiar with many mathematical and me- chanical rules ; that they were religious and probably idolatrous, as the effigies and sacred structures imply ; that they were skilled in the manufacture of bone and metallic ornaments and pottery ; that they had attained no little degree of perfection in the working of metals ; and that they were essentially homogeneous in customs, pursuits, religion and government. They were unquestionably well advanced in many of the arts of civilization. They of ne- cessity were an agricultural people, being too numerous to live by the chase alone. Super- stitious and uninformed, they offered burnt and other sacrifices and oblations to both good and bad spirits. Dr. Poster said that they wor- shiped the elements, such as fire, air and water — that they worshiped the sun, moon and stars, and offered human sacrifices to the gods they worshiped. Their origin and ulti- mate fate are enveloped in obscurity. It is thought by many intelligent writers that they were the progenitors of the Aztecs and Peru- vians, found upon the shores of the New World when first visited bj' white men from Europe. It is thought that they were members of the same great family. However, authorities are widely at variance in their opinions regarding the origin of this strange people. But little can ever be known of their history ; yet throughout all the future, the civilized world will look with awe upon the decaying remnants of their works, and weave the bright fabric of romance about their mysterious lives. When the Indian first appeared upon the Western Continent is unknown ; and his origin, like that of the Mound Builder, lies largely within the province of speculation. When Europeans first came to the country, the In- dians were found in possession of the soil, and their rude camp fires were burning on every stream. The most of their villages were tem- porary, depending for location upon the preva- lence of game, upon which the people largely subsisted. Sometimes their towns remained unchanged for scores of years, becoming popu- ^^ K !k^ 188 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. lous and opulent. During the latter half of the last century, or about the time of Col. Bouquet's expedition to their towns in Ohio, among others there were found the following tribes of Indians living in what afterward became the State of Ohio : The Wyandots (called Hurons by the French), the Delawares and Shawanese (both of the Algonquin group), the Miamis (also called Twigtwees), the Mingoes (a branch of the Iro- quois or Six Nations), and the Ottawas and Chippewas. The Wykndots occupied the country in the vicinity of the Sandusky Eiver. The Delawares were established on the Mus- kingum and Tuscarawas Rivers, and a few other places. The Shawanese were chiefly found on the Scioto and Mad Rivers, and at few other points. The Miamis were on the Great and Little Miami Rivers. The Mingoes were in great force at Mingo Bottom, on the Ohio River, and at sev- eral other points in Ohio. The Ottawas occu- pied the valleys of the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers, and the Chippewas, few in number, were confined to the southern shore of Lake Erie. By the provisions of the treaty at Fort Mcin- tosh in 1785, the Ottawas, Wyandots and Dela- wares were assigned territory in Northern Ohio, west of the Cuyahoga River. The Wyandots, as indicated by the idioms and other characteristics of their languase, were related to the Iroquois or Six Nations ;• but, about the middle of the seventeenth cen- tury, they embraced the religious faith of the Roman Catholics, and for some reason unknown severed their connection with their relatives, the Iroquois, and cast their lot with the power- ful Algonquins.* Their original residence was in Canada, some authorities fixing their loca- tion on Georgian Bay, and others, as Mr. Schoolcraft, on Montreal Island. Their num- ber is estimated to have been about 40,000 souls. Some time after this they became in- volved in a war with the Iroquois, by whom they were nearly exterminated, after which, ♦American Cyclopedia. they removed first to Charity Island, and after- ward to Quebec. They were found south of the Great Lakes in 1660, by some French traders, and ten years later, having become in- volved in a war with the powerful Sioux, they removed to Michilimackinac, and were accom- panied by Father Marquette. Afterward they established themselves at Detroit, their hunting- grounds extending into Northern Ohio. Rem- nants of the tribe were yet in Canada, while that at Detroit, in 1778, was estimated to con- tain about 180 warriors. In 1829, a small band of the tribe was located in Michigan. They numbered about forty, and were provided with annuities by the Government. Immedi- ately after the war of 1812, the principal por- tion of the Wyandots, numbering about 600, was established on the Sandusky River on a tract of land eighteen miles long east and west, and twelve miles wide. In 1835, the Wyan- dots decided to sell a strip of land five miles wide on the eastern border of their Reservation, and the land was accordingly thrown into mar- ket, very likelj' through the influence of the whites, who coveted the possessions of the Indian. la 1843, the Wj'andots were trans- ferred to Kansas, where they have since resided, and the land of their Reservation was annexed to the adjoining counties. When the white settlers first came to the county, and for many years afterward, the Wyandot Indians were established on their Reservation, wlijch, until 1835, included a por- tion of Crawford County. Each year the Indi- ans were the recipients of an annuity of $10 per capita, paid to them by the agent of the Government located at their Reservation. The white settlers invaded the lands of the W3'an- dots to trade and converse with them, and to learn more of their habits. . The Indians, in turn, mingled freely with the whites at their settlements, buying ammunition, tobacco, orna- ments, etc., and disposing of valuable furs and other products of the chase. The Indians ^^ If^ % ^Ll HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 191 traded largely at Bucyrus ; but their usual dealing with the settlers was carried on in their villages, or at the store in their Reservation, where their creditors came to adjust their accounts, and where avaricious and unscrupu- lous men came to obtain, bj' artifice or impos- ture, the annuity paid the natives by the Gov- ernment. Each Indian came forward with his family, and the money belonging to him was counted out, placed upon the counter by the agent, and was conveyed to the buckskin pouch of the Indian, or quite often was turned over by the agent, at the Indian's suggestion, to the settler who held an unsettled claim against the Indian, and who was aware of the importance of being present when the agent distributed the annuities, if he desired a speedy settlement. White hunters and trappers invaded the Reser- vation without authority, killing and trapping large numbers of valuable animals. The Indi- ans also roamed far and wide over the country adjoining their lands, in small detachments, locating temporarily where hunting and trap- ping were good, and changing their camps as game became scarce or failed altogether. Mills were built on the streams in the Reservation ; blacksmith and carpenter shops were erected, trading posts were established, and the various Christian denominations in surrounding settle- ments sent ministers to preach to the Indians. Among the ministers who labored faithfully in the Reservation, were Revs. Daniel and James Hooker, Russell Bigelow, H. 0. Sheldon, Mr. Finlej'^, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Wheeler, all of whom were Methodists. Notwithstanding the cessation of war and the permanent establish- ment of peace between the Wyandots and the settlers, all the war-like customs were still re- tained by the Indians, who were unable and unwilling to forget so soon the time-honored ceremonies of their tribe. War and scalp dances were held annually at their villages of Sandusky, Pipe Town and Broken Sword, the latter being situated about a mile west of the present village of Nevada, Wyandot County, the location afterward falling within the bounda- ries of Crawford County. Here the settlers often assembled, sometimes to participate in the wild ceremonies, but more frequently to look on the strange pantomimes with increasing and thrilling interest. Large fires were built, and the savages, armed and painted as if for the war-path, surrounded them in circles, and then with a wild, monotonous song accompani- ment; they began their dance around the fire, springing up and down, first on one foot and then on the other, chanting in the meantime a gutteral "he, he, he; haw, haw, haw!" which signified " me big Indian ! " interspersing the song with wild whoops, made to quaver at first by the motion of the hand on the lips, but end- ing with a clearness and force that made the forest ring. Their annuities were largely spent for "eockhoosjf" or " Sandusky water ;" and, when under its influence, the savage nature was predominant and asserted itself in fre- quent brawls and fights. The chiefs were elected by a vote of the tribe, the qualifications for that high office being honor, courage, and achievements in the chase and on the war-path. Some of the Indians were remarkable for strength and endurance, though they met their match in many of the white hunters. Their intercourse with the settlers was freely con- tinued until they were removed by the Gov- ernment to Kansas. There are many interesting incidents and circumstances connected with the Wyandot Indians which occurred long before the settlers arrived, and which have never been made pub- lic save in miscellaneous newspaper articles. A few of these will be narrated. The facts from which they are derived were disclosed by Judge G. W. Leith, of Nevada, Ohio, whose grandfather, John Leith, was for twentj'-nine years, beginning in 1763, a captive and a trad- er among the Wyandots. John Leith, when a boy of about sixteen, was emplo3-ed by an ex- ^P ^. 192 HISTORY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. perienced trader to go into the Indian country to traffic with the natives. They built a rude store in an Indian village, where Lancaster, Ohio, now stands, and began trading cloth, ammunition, firearms and ornaments for furs of all kinds. After a time, Leith was left in charge of the store while his employer returned to Fort Pitt with a cargo of furs. While he was gone, an Indian war broke out all along the border settlements, and the Indians, fear- ing the destruction of their village, made immediate preparations to retire farther into the wilderness. Young Leith was summoned before Capt. Pipe, the chief of the tribe, who savagely informed him that his people were marching into the Indians' country, destroying and laying waste their villages and crops, and murdering their families. The boy was told to stand up, which he did, expecting to be in- stantly tomahawked, but he was told that he must either become a member of the tribe or be put to death. The ceremony of adoption was gone through with, greatly to the boy's relief, and the Indians bestowed upon him the name "John Tit." He went West with the tribe, and, several years afterward, the Indians having become the allies of the British, he was employed by the latter to open a store at San- dusky and trade with the Indians. Here he remained throughout the Eevolution and the bloody Indian wars which followed it, a power- less and horrified spectator of the cruelty and fiendish atrocity of the Indian tribes. Here he became acquainted with and often met the no- torious outlaws Matthew EUiott, Alexander McKee and the three brothers, Simon, George and James Grirty. His store became the head- quarters where these noted renegades came for supplies of various kinds, and where they assembled both before and after their bloody raids on the defenseless settlements. He mar- ried a captive white girl, named Sally Lowry, under romantic circumstances, and, finally, in 1791, after having waited anxiously for many years, he succeeded in escaping with his wife and two children to the white settlements, closely pursued by the infuriated Indians. Soon after his store was established at San- dusky, he saw for the first time a white man run the gauntlet. The following is a narrative of that event, written by his biographer and grandson, Judge Leith: "One fine day in early summer, a band of warriors came in from the south with a captive, a powerful young Virginian. He had been overpowered and captured in a hand-to-hand struggle. I saw him stripped for the race, and thought him as fine a specimen of a man as I ever saw. His action was unimpaired, the only wound per- ceivable being a long gash on the fleshy part of his thigh, which, although considerably swelled, did not impede his motion. He was stripped naked and painted black for the race at my store. Two lines of Indians were formed, ex- tending back from the store about two hundred yards. He was marched back through the lines in a southerly direction, the savages pant- ing and yelling for the onset. Poor fellow ! he stepped with the elasticity of a race-horse, confidently believing that if he succeeded in the race his life would be spared. But his doom was sealed, and this was but the opening scene in the horrible tragedy. The warriors were armed with guns loaded with powder to be shot into his naked body, the boys were armed with bows and arrows, and the squaws and children with clubs and switches. No one was allowed to strike or shoot until the victim was opposite to where he stood, so that the speed of the runner might not be impeded or checked by a front fire. The word was given, ' All ready, go ! ' and simultaneously a yell went up all along the, line from the savages, who were eager to inflict the severest punish- ment upon the helpless captive. The young fellow came through the lines with astonishing swiftness, and ran into the store where I was. He was covered with ragged and gaping ;^ !K HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 193 wounds made by the discharges of powder and the tomahawks, and the arrows stuck out from his blackened body like the shafts of a clothes- rack. He gave me a most imploring look, as if he expected me to help him, and suddenly sprang high in the air as if in terrible agony. He turned and went out at the door, when he was brained with a tomahawk and fell to the ground with his last despairing groan. They cut off his head and raised it some twelve or fifteen feet in the air on a pole, and left his body Ij'ing in the yard. I asked the privilege of the warriors to take the head down and bury the body out of sight. They told me haughtily, ' Your people do not bury our dead, and we will not bury yours.' I told them that unless I could have the privilege of burj'ing the corpse out of my sight I would move my store over to the 'Tymochtee.' They then said I might do as I pleased. I took the head down, placed it on the body, washed both and wrapped them in a clean blanket and buried them The Indians drove stakes down through the body, eager to glut their vengeance to the very last. This was one of the results of the march of the Virginians into the Indian country." Leith and his wife were members of different tribes, and, despite their wishes to the contrary, they were necessarily separated the greater por- tion of the time. Every argument and induce- ment were offered the wife's captors to permit her to go and live with her husband, and finally they concluded to do so. The Indians at first concluded to tattoo her boy by pricking powder and vermilion into the skin with a needle ; but this procedure was abandoned, and the Indians, in council, decided that they should be stripped of all their clothing and allowed to go. This was done, and the Indians said to her : " Now, if you want to go to Sandusky, go." " She shouldered her boy, waded the ' Walholding,' the 'Tuscarawas,' passed through the wilder- ness, slept in the leaves by a log, contending with briars, nettles, flies, mosquitos, and living on June berries, wild onions, wild peas, elm bark, roots, etc. She came to a squaw, who was tending a small piece of corn and taking care of several Indian children, while the war- rior was abroad. The squaw said ': ' Where you go ? ' She replied : ' Sandusky — my husband.' ' Where clothes ? ' ' They took them ' (point- ing from whence she came). ■ You hungry ? ' 'Yes.' 'Me get meat.' The squaw told her to remain until the warrior returned ; but she con- cluded to journey on. The squaw gave her a piece of blanket and some deer meat, and she started. I was at the time busily engaged in handling pelts, revolving in mj' mind what I should do. I was whipping the pelts and throw- ing them on a pile, and had just stepped in to get another supply, when I saw my wife approaching. She threw the child down on the skins, dropping there herself, saying : ' Here, John, I have brought your boy.' The fatigue of the journey and the joy of the meeting over- whelmed her for a time. There have been many happy meetings under far more favorable cir- cumstances, but at no time or place was there ever a meeting that filled the parties with more triumphant joy."* For the purpose of subjugating and punish- ing the hostile .Wyandots, Delawares, Shaw- anese and other Indian tribes that refused to enter into peace treaties with the G-overnment, and that were outraging humanity by repeated acts of savage barbarity toward the settlers, several expeditions were fitted out and sent against them in 1764. Col. Bouquet marched against them with an army of 1,500 men ; where- upon the Indians sued for peace in the most abject manner, and over 300 white captives were surrendered to the victorious army. Compara- tive peace was thus secured until 1774, when another border conflict, known as Lord Dun- more's War, was begun. Various expeditions were sent against the savages, many of whom ♦Leith'a Narrative. ir^ ?K 194 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. were slaughtered, and their fields and villages pillaged and burned. The Indians, who, when the Colonies rebelled, became allies of the Brit- ish, began, under the leadership of various chiefs and the white renegades, a bloody border war, and conducted it with such malignant ferocity as to cast gloom and terror over the frontier settlements. "War parties of infuriated savages traversed the forests of Eastern Ohio under the command of G-irty, Elliott and others of their stripe. The Wyandots became so re- vengeful and troublesome that, in 1782, it was resolved to organize an expedition to be sent out for the reduction of Sandusky, their princi- pal village. The force consisted wholly of vol- unteers ; yet it was understood by each man that all were to be governed by miUtary rules, and, in all cases, were expected to obey the commands of their officers. The rendezvous was to take place on the 20th of May, 1782, at Mingo Bottom, a beautiful plateau of about 250 acres, on the Ohio River, a few miles below Steubenville. Each man furnished his own equipments, not doubting that his State would make good any loss resulting from the expedi- tion. By the 24th of May, 480 men had assem- bled at Mingo Bottom, mounted and armed for the journey. " For some time," says John Leith, by his biographer, " the Wyandots and other hostile tribes in Ohio had become aware, through their spies on the border, of an unusual commotion in the white settlements on the frontier. Reports of a pending invasion of their country swept rapidly from one Indian village to another, and scouts were dispatched to ascer- tain the cause of the commotion in the white settlements.'' John Leith was employed by the British to traffic with the Indians, and had at Sandusky, the objective point of the military expedition, about $8,000 worth of goods. When the indications began to point to a contemplated invasion of the Indian country by the Ameri- cans, Mr. Leith, foreseeing the probability of the destruction of Sandusky, in which case the goods in his care would fall into the hands of the invaders, dispatched several Indian runners to watch the movements of the congregating borderers at Mingo Bottom.* Scarcely a day passed that did not bring some Indian runner to Sandusky and other villages with informa- tion regarding the number and strength of the advancing army and its probable course and design. The volunteers met at one o'clock on the 24th to elect their officers and perfect their organi- zation. It was deemed best to divide the force into eighteen companies, each of which was to elect its captain by vote. There were chosen one Colonel, four Field Majors, and one Brigade Major. William Crawford was chosen Colonel; Daniel Williamson, John McClelland, Major Brinton, and Thomas Gaddis, Majors; Daniel Leet, Brigade Major; John Knight, Surgeon; John Slover and Jonathan Zane, Gruides. John Rose was detailed to act as aid to the com- manding officer. Each man was provided with thirty days' provisions, and early in the morn- ing of May 25, 1782, the army, in four columns, began its march through the woods for San- dusky, distance 150 miles. " The route lay through what is now the counties of Jeflferson, Harrison, Tuscarawas, Holmes, Ashland, Rich- land and Crawford — nearly to the center of Wyandot County, Ohio. The whole distance, except about thirty miles at the end of the route, was through an unbroken forest. But little worthy of note transpired on the journey until after reaching what is now Wyandot County. Every precaution was employed to guard against surprises, and the army marched on as rapidly as could be done through the deep forest. While at their third encampment, several of the men lost their horses. These men were thus forced to return to Mingo Bot- tom, which they did reluctantly. On the fourth day of the march the army reached the Mus- kingum River. During the evening two In- *Jadge George W. Leith, Nevada, Ohio. =ir^ !k> HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 195 dians were seen watching the army. They were pursued and fired at, but without effect. This had the effect of hastening the movements of the army, which up to this time had advanced but about fifteen miles a day. One of the men died and was buried in Holmes County. By the evening of the 1st of June, the army had reached a point in Richland County, eight miles almost due east of Crestline, Crawford County. The army crossed into what is now Crawford County at one o'clock in the afternoon of the 2d, and about an hour afterward reached the Sandusky River at a point immediately east of what is now the village of Leesville, at the mouth of a small creek called Allen's run, when a halt was called, and the volunteers took a half-hour's rest on the banks of the stream, for which they had been for some time anxiously looking.* The army had traveled in the last five days about eighty-five miles. They were now fairly in the enemy's country, due east from the point of destination only twenty-five miles. Slover announced to the commander that the open country — the Sandusky Plains — was but a few miles away in a southwest direc- tion. Following along the southern margin of the stream until it suddenly swept around to the north, the army then struck off from it through a somewhat broken country for two miles, and encamped a short distance beyond, where the surface was quite level. They were still in what is now Jefferson Township, but very near the eastern edge of the plains. Early on the morning of the 3d of June, the army moved out into the sunlight of the open coun- try. It was at a point not very far west of a small stream flowing south into the Whetstone Creek, in what is now Whetstone Township — a memorable spot, as will be seen hereafter. Many of the volunteers had never before seen *It hM long been a tradition among the citizens of Jefferson Township, Crawford County, Ohio, that, many years ago when a large tree was cut down on the banks of the stream where this en- campment had been, Col. Crawford's name and the date of his stop- ping there were found cut deeply into the wood, and covered with many concentric layers of growth. prairie land, and gave vent to exclamations of delight at the novel scene. The route of the army was through the present townships of Bucyrus and Dallas, in Crawford County — pass- ing a little over three miles south of what is now the town of Bucyrus — thence into what is now Antrim Township, Wyandot County. Here the army encamped near the site of the present village of Wyandot, within ten miles of their point of destination. The next morning — the 4th of June — at 7 o'clock, after care- ful preparations for an emergency, the army began its march in nearly a northwest direction. After about six miles' travel, the mouth of the Little Sandusky was reached. The spot was a familiar one to Slover, who had been there be- fore. Crossing the river, Crawford's course was along the east bank of the stream, follow- ing the Indian trace in a direction a little west of north, in what is now Pitt Township. The army moved with great caution. Not an In- dian, however, was seen. Crawford was assured by Slover that .the Wyandot town was close at hand. As yet there had not been discovered any indications of an Indian settlement, except a sugar-camp, where maple sugar had evi- dently been made the previous spring. Pass- ing a bluff bank, the river made a sudden turn, flowing almost directly west. The movement of the army was now rapid. A little farther on, just where the river enters what Is now Crane Township, suddenly an opening in the woods before them was discernible — the Wyandot town was reached. To the utter astonishment of the whole army it was found uninhabited. AU was a solitude ! The log huts had, apparently, been deserted for some time. Here was a di- lemma!"* It is now well to learn the cause of the dis- appearance of the Indians. The village which the American army had reached was in reality the old town of Sandusky, which had been deserted a year or two before, the Indians ♦Crawford's campaign against Sanduslsy. — Buttebfield. ir^ A^ ■^ — "t^ 196 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. establishing themselves about three miles north of the present town of Upper Sandusky, on the river. This was really the point upon which the blow was designed to fall, although Slover and Zane were unaware of the removal of the Indians to the new town of Sandusky, which was called Half King's Town, from its being the residence of the Wyandots' head chief, Pomoacan, or Half King. Leith's store was at Half King's Town. He was in the employ- ment of British traders, five of whom had placed their goods in his charge for disposal. His spies brought tidings every day of the progress and probable designs of Crawford's army. Information was brought in by swift runners as soon as the men began to assemble at Mingo Bottom, and messengers were instantly dis- patched by the apprehensive Indians for assist- ance to De Peyster, the commandant at Detroit, and to all the Indian villages likely to be attacked. In response to the call, a consider- able force of mounted troops, consisting of Butler's Kangers, was ordered from Detroit to the valley of the Sandusky, to assist the dusky allies of G-reat Britain in repelling the invaders. Captain Pipe, or Kogieschquanoheel, the Dela- ware war-chief, with the same object in view, started south with about two hundred warriors from Pipe Town, a Delaware village onTymoch- tee Creek, about five miles from its mouth. Two hundred warriors from the Shawanese towns in Logan County were also dispatched to assist the W3''andots, against whom the army of Crawford was now seen to be marching. Leith, to prevent his goods from falling into the hands of the enemy, packed them on horses and started for Lower Sandusky, driving his cattle before him. He started in great haste on the morning of the 4th, and met, during the forenoon, Matthew EUictt, and, soon afterward, " the whole British army, composed of Butler's Kangers," all of whom were hurrying forward to assist in opposing the progress of Crawford's command. The troops took Leith's cattle, but permitted him to proceed with his goods. The squaws and children of the Delawares and Wyandots were hidden away in a deep ravine on Tymochtee Creek, about a mile from its mouth. The allied forces that were to resist the encroachment of the American army rapidly assembled at a spot nearly two miles southwest of Half King's Town. Here about four hun- dred Wyandofwarriors, under their war-chief Zhaus-sho-toh, and two hundred Delawares under Captain Pipe, were lying in ambush, anxiously awaiting the approach of both the enemy and re-enforcements. This was the sit- uation of the hosts of Great Britain on the morning of the 4th of June, 1782. " The American army halted half an hour on the site of the deserted Wyandot town, discuss- ing in council the best course to be pursued. All were satisfied of the presence of another village at no great distance down the river, and, full of hope for the result, the army was or- dered to advance. It reached the springs where Upper Sandusky is now located, and soon after- ward several of the men expressed a desire to return, alleging they had but five days' provis- ions in reserve. The command was halted, and a council of war was called. Zane and others advised an immediate return. They were of the opinion that the Indians would bring an overwhelming force against them. They argued that the Indians were concentrat- ing at some point not far distant, preparing for a determined resistance. Crawford thought likewise, and it was finally determined by the council that the arm}' should continue its march that day, but no longer. Crawford had previ- ously formed a company of light-horse to act as scouts in advance of the army. They fol- lowed along the Indian trail, and saw, to their left, on the prairie, a beautiful island or grove, which seemed to beckon them from the fierce heat of the sun. They halted here a few mo- ments to enjoy the cool shade. The spot was somewhat elevated above the surrounding ^1 ?k^ HISTOET OF CBAWFOED COUNTY. 197 country, and notwithstanding the trees, was thickly covered with tall, wild grass. They were surrounded with prairie, which was dotted here and there with small, island-like groves. The scouts moved on to the north, and, having gone about a mile, suddenly came in full view of the enemy, having unsuspectingly approached near the rendezvous of the latter. The Indians were running directly toward them, and the scouts immediately dispatched one of their number to inform Crawford of the appearance of the savages, and then slowly retired as the foe advanced. The warriors in advance were the Delawares, under Capt. Pipe, in whose com- pany were Wingenund, a distinguished Delaware chief, and the notorious renegade, Simon Girty. The Wyandots, under Zhaus-sho-toh, were held back for the time by Matthew Elliott, another renegade. Just as the council of the army had ended, the scout from the north came riding up at full speed, announcing the discovery and advance of the enemy. The news was received with evident satisfaction by the whole army. The volunteers rapidly mounted and fell into line, ready to meet the foe for whom they had so long been anxiously looking. An advance was ordered, and obeyed with alacrity, and the army soon joined the retiring scouts, who re- ported the savages ahead in considerable force, prepared for battle. It was now that the splen- did genius of John Rose began to exhibit it- self His cool eye flashed with fire, as he gal- loped along the line, carrying the orders of his commander, and cheering the men by his daunt- less demeanor. The army had advanced scarcely a mile, when the enemy was discovered in front, taking possession of the grove already men- tioned. Crawford ordered his men to dismount, and a quick charge soon drove the Indians from the grove into the open prairie. The Wyandots held in reserve at this moment came up. Elli- ott, who commanded the entire force of the enemy, ordered Capt. Pipe to flank to the right, and attack Crawford in the rear, which was quickly done, and the action at once became general. The firing was very close and hot. The Americans were outnumbered, but they had the advantage in position. Grirty rode a white horse, and his shouts were frequently heard above the reports of the rifles, although he carefully kept beyond gunshot. The battle continued until dark, decreasing in intensity as the Indians slowly retired before the murderous fire of the frontiersmen. The afternoon had been intensely hot, and the men had sufiered severely from thirst. No water was in the grove except a small, stagnant pool, which, bad as it was, was used by the men. The victory was clearly with the Americans, although their savage foe was far from being dispirited. Re- enforcements for the enemy were hourly ex- pected. The Americans had lost five men killed and nineteen wounded, and the enemy had undoubtedly suffered a greater loss, as they were more exposed. The savages skulked in the tall grass of the prairie, while the borderers from tree-tops poured a deadly fire upon them, as their heads rose above the grass. One of the men from his high position saw the dauntless Rose pursued by a party of mounted Indians. They were so close to him as to throw their tomahawks, but were finally baffled by his re- markable coolness and superior horsemanship. One of the Indians in the battle was " Big Captain Johnny," who was seven feet in height, and as frightfully ugly as he was large. The enemy drew ofi' at dark, and Crawford was left in possession of the field. Both parties lay on their arms during the night, and both adopted the precaution of kindling large fires, and then retiring some distance in the rear of them, to guard against a night attack. The Wyandots were encamped north of the grove, and the Delawares south. The action took place on what is now the southeast quarter of Section 17, Township 2 south. Range 14 east, of the Government survey. " The battle began again on the morning of if ^^ iUl 198 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. the 5th, and continued during the day, but was little better than a skirmish, as the firing was done at long range, with frequent cessations. Four men were wounded during the day. The enemy were expecting re-enforcements and did not care for a general engagement, and Craw- ford formed obstacles in the way of a general attack until nightfall. As the afternoon wore away, the army was astonished by the informa- tion that the enemy were receiving re-enforce- ments. Mounted troops were seen advancing, and to the surprise and dismay of the Ameri- cans,they were seen to be white men. In fact, they were Butler's Rangers. A council of war was called, and, while the officers were deliberating, a large re-enforcement of Indians — two hundred strong — was seen advancing to the assistance of the enemy. Other small squads arrived, and the ' enemy kept pouring in hourly from all quarters,' are the words of Rose. Crawford instantly saw that the army must assume the defensive, and the council of war unanimously resolved upon a night retreat. The enemy out- numbered them more than two to one, and, in the language of Rose, 'Prudence, therefore, dic- tated a retreat' The volunteers killed were now buried, and fires burned over their graves. The wounded were mounted on horses, and soon after dark the entire army, in four divi- sions, with Crawford at the head, began its re- treat. Just as this moment, they were discov- ered by the enemy, who opened a hot fire in the rear. This created much confusion, many of the men hurrjang oflf without orders, leaving seven dangerously wounded men behind. All but two, however, were removed by their com- rades. McClelland' s division was in front and was hotly engaged with the Delawares and Shawan- ese. The army started back over the route it had come, keeping together as well as could be done in the darkness. Although the enemy were a;roused, yet, not knowing whether the Ameri- cans intended a retreat or a night attack, they made no concerted eflfort to pursue them. Mc- Clelland was badly wounded and left to the in- furiated savages, and his division suffered the loss of several men. The other divisions de- scribed a circle to the west, and finally arrived at the deserted Indian Village, when a halt was called. Detached parties continued to arrive until the command numbered about 300. It was now discovered that Col. Crawford, Dr. John Knight, 'John Slover and other prominent officers and men were missing. Daniel Will- iamson took command of the army, and began to create order out of the confusion, receiving great assistance from the intrepid Rose. Under their new commander the soldiers took up their retreat. Men, separated during the night from the main body, continued to arrive, among whom was John Sherrard,who told a melancholy story. In company with John Harbaugh, he had become separated from his division, and while making his way through the woods after daylight, suddenly saw an Indian off to the left. He called to his companion, who was not quick enough to screen himself, and who was instantly shot by the savage, exclaiming as he fell: ' Lord have mercy upon me, I'm a dead man !" and immediately expired. The Indian ran away, and Sherrard, taking his dead companion's saddle and bridle, hurried off. He soon discov- ered that he had left his provisions, and turned back to secure them. He found that the Indi- an had been before him, and had scalped the lifeless soldier, and taken his horse, gun and provisions. Harbaugh had been shot through the breast. " Not long after the army had reached the open country southeast of the mouth of the Lit- tle Sandusky Creek, and was well on its way in the plains, a large body of the enemy was dis- covered a considerable distance in the rear. It consisted of mounted Indians and the British light cavalry. At noon, the army had reached a point on the trail, due south of the present site of Bucyrus. ' The enemy,' aays Rose, ' hung on our rear through the plains ;' and they now f ^ HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. 199 began to press the Americans. The eastern verge of the prairie was not very far ahead. By 2 o'clock the woodland had almost been reached, when the enemy crowded hard upon their rear, and began a flanh: movement of the Americans both right and left. 'It was evi- dently their design,' says Rose, to retard our march until they could possess themselves of some advantageous ground in our front, and so cut off our retreat, or oblige us to fight at a dis- advantage. Although it was best to avoid a general engagement on the plains, on account of the numbers of the enemy, yet they pressed our rear so hard that we concluded on a gene- ral and vigorous attack, while our light-horse secured the entrance of the woods.' " Here it was that the battle of Olentangy took place about 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the 6th of June, 1782. The spot is on the north- west quarter of Section 22, Township 3 south, Range 17 east, of the Government survey, in what is now Whetstone Township, Crawford County, Ohio. While the battle was in prog- ress, clouds began to obscure the sun, and the change of the temperature from intense heat to comparative coolness indicated an approaching storm, and was a great relief to the exhausted men. Williamson exerted himself to encourage his men, and was greatlj' assisted by Rose, whose spirit, cheerfulness and coolness were only surpassed by his wonderful skill and in- trepidity. He was a foreigner, and but little was known of him, except that he was highly cultured and a perfect gentleman. His martial bearing and astonishing coolness at the moment of extreme danger aroused the admiration of the whole army. He was a natural leader, and was of invaluable aid in encouraging and di- recting the men. " Stand to your ranks, boys," said he, "fire low, and do not throw away a single shot. Remember, everything depends upon your steadiness." The battle was con- ducted with great spirit on both sides for about an hour, when the enemy, who had fought fu- riously, " attacking the Americans on the front, left flank, and rear,'' gave way on all sides, and withdrew beyond gunshot. " We had three killed and eight wounded," is the language of Rose. The loss of the enemy is not known, al- though probably much severer than that of the Americans. It is said that a Frenchman, dis- guised as an Indian, and fighting for the enemy at this battle, had painted a large red spot upon his breast, remarking as he did so : " Here is a mark for the Virginia riflemen.'' He was killed instantly by a ball which struck the spot with which he had decorated his person. Just as the battle ended, a furious rain-storm swept across the plains, drenching the men to the skin, and rendering the firearms almost useless. The dead were hastily buried, the wounded cared for, and the troops again continued their retreat. The enemj"^ followed them in consider- able force, harassing them with a desultory fire, but keeping at a respectful distance. The shots at last became so galling that, in shifting the various companies to new positions, and thus exposing some divisions to a sudden fire, the men hurried forward in confusion, which was almost precipitated into a panic and a rout. It was only through the almost superhuman ef- forts of Williamson and Rose that the waver- ing companies were reduced to order. The army pressed rapidly forward, and at dark had reached the spot in Crawford County, near LeesvUle, where it had stopped on its way out. The army halted and camped for the night, as did also the enemy a short distance away. Every precaution was adopted by both parties against a night surprise and attack. The night passed without incident, and at daybreak the retreat was renewed. The enemy immediately advanced and opened fire. " Two of the bor- derers were, at this juncture, unfortunately cap- tured, and, it is supposed, immediately toma- hawked. Now, however, to the great relief of the army, the pursuit was abandoned. 'The Indians,' says Dunlevy, 'pursued the main body ^1^ '^ 200 HISTORY OF CEAWFOED COUNTY. no longer.' The last hostile shot was fired near where the village of Crestline now stands. Here the Americans had their last view of the foe ; it was a welcome adieu. Not a single savage or British ranger was afterward seen by the army." The retreat was rapidly continued, and the vigilance and discipline of the army were con- siderably relaxed, though not entirely aban- doned. Many of the men had consumed their last provisions, and naturally all were anxious to get home. A large portion of the men were on foot ; and, as the army moved along, it was often joined by comrades who had been sepa- rated from it on the night the retreat com- menced, and who were greeted with loud hur- rahs as they appeared. Not a word was learned, however, of Crawford. The troops reached Mingo Bottom on the 13th of June, just twenty days from the time they'had left the same spot, so full of hope and expectancy. Here they found several of the missing men, who had arrived before them. Great excitement was created on the border when the news of the failure of the expedition became known. Strag- glers from the main body, who had reached the settlements in advance, gave exaggerated ac- counts of the disaster. Reports were circulated and currently believed that the savages were pursuing the volunteers even to the Ohio River, and, in a panic, the settlers fled to the forts for protection. The appearance of the army, how- ever, quieted all apprehension'' of sudden and serious danger. The army crossed the Ohio River, opposite Mingo Bottom on the 13th, and encamped for the last time. On the morrow, the men were discharged and returned to their homes. The total loss in killed, those dying from wounds and those who afterward suflered death in the wilderness, together with a few whose fate never became known, was less than seventy men. The States whence the volunteers had marched made good all losses of prop- erty, and many of them received pensions for services, of which the Sandusky campaign was the basis. On the night when the army began its retreat, the confusion was so great that many of the men became separated from the main body, and, being unable to recover the trace, were com- pelled to make the efibrt to reach home alone. Among the number thus bewildered were John Slover, James PauU and five others, all on foot. They marched north until they reached Ty- mochtee Creek, when they turned south and finally crossed into Crawford County. They came very near being discovered several times by bands of Indians. They traveled all day, and the next night were at a point about five miles eastof Bucyrus. They crossed Sandusky and Vernon Townships and journeyed on until they came to Wayne County, when they were attacked by a party of Shawanese that had fol- lowed them. Two of the men were shot dead, Paull ran and escaped, and the others, includ- ing Slover, were taken prisoners. The Indians immediately started for the Shawanese towns on Mad River, in what is now Logan County, Ohio. Arriving there, the prisoners were set upon by the inhabitants, who beat them with clubs and tomahawks. The oldest man was seized, stripped naked and painted black with charcoal and water. All except Slover were compelled to run the gauntlet, but the Indians inflicted the most of the punishment upon the man who had been painted black. He was cut with tomahawks, beaten with clubs, and his naked body was shot full of powder. Holes were blown into his flesh by the discharges. The savages were a long time beating, wounding, pursuing and kill- ing him. He was afterward cut in pieces, and his head, limbs and body were raised on poles on the outside of the town. The other com- panions of Slover were sent to other towns, where they shared the same awful fate. Slover was at Wapatomica, and while there saw three bodies lying on the ground — black, bloody, mu- tilated and burnt with powder. He recognized fT ^1 d^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 201 them as belonging to William Crawford, a nephew of the Colonel, and William Harrison, the Colonel's son-in-law. He believed the third body to be that of Maj. McClelland, but was not certain. The bodies were frightful to look at. The next day the heads were raised on poles and the corpses given to the dogs. What an awful fate ! All these men had been members of Crawford's army, and had been captured while endeavoring to make their way to the settlements. " What a gorge of infernal revelry did these unfortunate prisoners afford the infu- riated savages." Slover had been a captive among the Indians many years before, receiv- ing the name Mannucothe. The Indians knew him, and, having summoned him to a council held for the purpose, interrogated him concern- ing the state of the war. He told them, among other things, that Cornwallis had surrendered. The next day, Matthew Elliott and James Girty came to the Council. They assured the Indians that Slover had lied. Slover was looked upon with suspicion by the savages, who were aware of his having been with Crawford's army ; and, notwithstanding the fact that he had once been adopted by them, but had afterward gone to the white settlements, the Indians began to enter- tain misgivings that he was their foe. Their belief in his enmity was firmly established by the statements of Elliott and Grirty, and they resolved to put him to death by the most cruel tortures. He was allowed to go freely among the Indians, but was closely watched, and was kept in suspense several days as to his fate. It was about this time that twelve white men were brought in captives from Kentucky, three of whom were tortured to death with fire at Wapa- tomica. The remainder were sent to other towns, where they shared a like fate. About forty warriors, among whom was George Girty, finally took Slover, stripped him naked, painted him blacJc, tied his arms securely behind him, and fastened a rope around his neck. In this condition he was driven to a village seven miles distant, the Indians beating him terribly on the way, and, when there, he was tied to a post and a fire builded around him. While it was burn- ing, a sudden rain-storm came on and extin- guished the fire, and the Indians, after some discussion, resolved to put oflF his death until the morrow. They kept beating, kicking and wounding him until long after midnight, when finally they tied him securely in a block-house, with three warriors to watch. These at last lay down to sleep. Slover then, knowing it to be his last and only chance, began to make des- perate efforts to free himself He tore at the cords for a long time, and at last thought he must give it up. It was now daybreak. He made a last desperate effort, when, to his great surprise and joy, the cord came untied, and he was free. He stepped over the sleeping bodies and ran rapidly out into the woods. He caught a horse that was feeding near, and, using the rope with which he had been tied as a halter, he mounted and rode rapidly away. He was entirely naked, and covered with wounds and black paint. His horse was a good one ; and, knowing that he would be swiftly pursued by the blood-thirsty savages, he urged it to its best pace. The animal finally' gave out, and Slover pushed forward rapidly on foot. Finally, after four days of intense suffering and hardship, having had nothing to eat save a few berries and crawfishes, he arrived, on the 10th of July, at Wheeling — the last of Crawford's army to return. On the night of the retreat, Crawford, like others of his command, became separated from his comrades. He called aloud, but received no reply. After a time, he was joined by Dr. Knight, who said he thought the army was in advance. They started on, and were soon joined by two other men. Neither knew which way to go. They first started southwest, but finally turned north, and, after traveling two miles, they turned due east, keeping fifteen yards apart, as a precaution against surprise. e \ 4 202 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. At daylight, they passed into Crawford County at a point about two miles northwest of Osce- ola. Several of their horses failed here and were left. They turned somewhat to the south- east, and, about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, fell in with Capt. Biggs, who had heroically taken charge of Lieut. Ashley, the latter hav- ing been dangerously wounded. The rain- storm, already mentioned, came on at this time with great fury. The party encamped for the night in Holmes Township, about two miles almost due north of Bucyrus. The next morning they passed across the southern part of Liberty Township, crossed the Sandusky River, and traveled on into northern Whet- stone Township. Here they were joined by another straggler, who increased the party to seven. About 2 o'clock, they (iame upon the path made by the army on its journey out. They were now in Jefferson Township, on the Sandusky River, about a mile and a half down the stream from Leesville, at the same point where the army, in marching out, had left the river, bearing off southwesterly. They marched on toward the east, following the trail made by the army. All were mounted except Crawford and Knight, and, while marching along a short distance east of where the army first reached the river, they suddenly ran into an ambuscade of Delaware Indians. These were members of the band under Wingenund, a celebrated Dela- ware chief, whose camp was located three- fourths of a mile northeast of Leesville. The army, in marching out, had passed within a mile of this camp without discovering it. Crawford and Knight were immediately made prisoners, but the others, who were on horses, escaped for the time. In the meantime, great rejoicings, wild dances and fierce exultation were transpiring at the Half King's town. The savages had returned from pursuing the American army, and were laden with spoils and scalps. The squaws and children came forth from their hiding-place to join the wild revelry, and hear the exultant braves boast of their exploits. As soon as the news of Crawford's capture reached the Wyan- dot and Delaware villages, on Sanduskj' River, orders were sent by Capt. Pipe and Wingenund to have him brought to Pipe Town, on Ty- mochtee Creek. Crawford and Knight were captives of the Delawares, who, in order to burn them, as desired, must obtain the consent of the Half King of the Wyandots, to whom the Delawares were subject, and among whom the custom of burning prisoners was obsolete. The request was granted, and the infuriated savages — old and young — made preparations to enjoy the tortures of the unfortunate men. Crawford and Knight were at first taken to Wingenund Camp, near LeesvUle, where they found nine other men, aU of whom had been taken prisoners from Crawford's army. On the morning of the 10th of June, all the pris- oners were marched to Half King's Town, Crawford in charge of two Indian guards, marching separate from the others. He here requested, and obtained, an interview with Si- mon Girty, and offered him $1,000 to save his life, and the white savage promised to make the effort, with no intention of keeping his promise. On the morning of the 11th, the faces of all the eleven prisoners were painted black. Crawford and Knight were separated from the others, four of whom they afterward saw lying by the roadside, tomahawked and scalped. Crawford and Knight were marched toward Pipe Town, and, when within a mile of the place, overtook their remaining five com- panions, who, soon afterward, were set upon by a number of infuriated squaws and boys, and all five were tomahawked and scalped. Craw- ford and Knight saw Girty at this place, but the savage renegade did not make an effort to save their lives. They were marched on to- ward Pipe Town, and, when within three-fourths of a mile of the place, were halted on Xhe banks of the Tymochtee. This was about the ^s r^ H>>, HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 203 middle of the afternoon. That night the Doc- tor was securely guarded at the Delaware vil- lage, and the next morning — the 12th of June — was taken out by Tutelu, the savage who had him in charge, and again painted hlaelc. Tutelu then mounted a horse, and, ordering Knight, who was on foot, to proceed, the two struck westward for the Shawanese towns, about fotry miles distant. They traveled twenty-five miles, and encamped for the night. Early the next morning, the Doctor, under a pretense to drive off the mosquitoes, took a heavy dogwood stick, the end of which was on Are, and, wheeling suddenly, struck his captor a terrible blow across the head, knocking him into the fire. Knight seized the Indian's gun, and the latter, howling with pain, ran swiftly off through the woods. The savage was pur- sued, but the Doctor, who had broken the mainspring in his efforts to cock the gun, was unable to fire, though he continued to run aft- er the savage, who was soon out of sight. This occurred in Hardin County. Knight im- mediately started east toward the settlements, passing in a northeast direction across Craw- ford County, near where Gallon now stands. After almost incredible sufferings from hunger and exposure, having nothing to eat save wild berries and an occasional bird, which was de- voured raw, he arrived on the 4th of July at Fort Pitt. The afternoon previous to Knight's confine- ment in Pipe Town — the afternoon of the 11th of June — he witnessed the awful death of the unfortunate Crawford, on the bank of Tymoch- tee Creek. The latter had made every effort for his life, but all his offers were rejected. The night of the 1 0th he had been confined in the store of John Leith, at Half King's Town, the latter having returned with his goods when the army retreated. Crawford appealed to Leith to shoot him in case the savages made prepa- rations to bum him on the morrow, but Leith signified his inability to do so, alleging that the infuriated savages would brook no inter- ference.* It was about 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 11th that Crawford's punish- ment began. There were present about forty warriors and sixty or seventy squaws and boys. Simon Gerty, Dr. Knight, Samuel Wells (a negro boy). Christian Fast (a captive white boy about seventeen years of age), and, very prob- ably, Matthew Elliott, the British Captain, were also present at times during the torture. " Crawford was stripped naked and ordered to sit down. It is a tradition that his clothes, especially his hat, which was made of leather, were long after in the keeping of the Del- awares. The Indians"now beat him with sticks and their fists, and, immediately after. Knight was treated in the same manner. A post about fifteen feet high had been set in the ground. Crawford's hands were bound behind his back, and one end of a strong rope was tied to the ligature between his wrists, the other end being fastened to the post. The rope was long enough for him to sit down or walk around the post once or twice and return the same way. Crawford then called to Girty and asked if they intended to burn him. Girtj- answered, ' Yes.' He then replied he would take it all patiently. Upon this, Captain Pipe made a speech to the Indians, who, at its conclusion, yelled a hideous and hearty assent to what had been said. The spot where Crawford was now to be immolated was in what is now Crawford Township, Wyan- dot County, a short distance northeast of the town of Crawfordsville. The Indian men now took up their guns and shot powder into Craw- ford's naked body, fi'om his feet as far up as his neck. It was the opinion of Knight that not less than seventy loads were discharged upon him ! They then crowded about him, and, to the best of Knight's observation, cut off both his ears; for, when the throng dis- persed, he saw blood running from both sides of his head. The fire was about six yards from *Judg6 Leith, Nevada, Obio. 1^ k. 204 HISTORY OF CEAWrOED COUKTY. the post. It was made of small hickory poles about six feet in length. Three or four Indians, by turns, would take up, individually, one of these barning pieces of wood and apply it to his naked bodj^, already burnt black with pow- der. These tormentors presented themselves on every side of him, so that, whichever way he ran around the post, they met him with the burning fagots. Some of the squaws took broad boards, upon which they would carry a quantity of burning coals and hot embers and throw on him, so that, in a short time, he had nothing but coals of fire and hot ashes to walk on. In the midst of these extreme tortures, Crawford called to Girty and begged to be shot, but, the white savage making no answer, he called again. Grirty then, by way of derision, told Crawford he had no gun, at the same time turning to an Indian and laughing at the horrid scene. Crawford then besought the Almighty to have mercy on his soul, spoke very low, and bore his torments with the most manly forti- tude. He continued in all the extremities of pain for about two hours longer, when, at last, being almost spent, he lay down upon his stomach. The savages then scalped him, and repeatedly threw the scalp into the face of Knight, telling him that was his ' Great Cap- tain.' An old squaw, whose appearance. Knight thought, every way answered the ideas people entertain of the devil, got a board, took a parcel of coals and ashes, and laid them on his back and head. He then raised himself upon his feet and began to walk around the post. They next put burning sticks at him, as usual, but he seemed more insensible to pain than before. Knight, whose recital has been followed, was now taken away from the dreadful scene. It was a tradition among the Indians that Craw- ford breathed his last just at the going down of the sun. After he died — so runneth tra- dition — the fagots were heaped together, his body placed upon them, and around his smoking and charred remains danced the delighted sav- ages for many hours. Crawford's melancholy death fell like a knell upon the settlements. Heart-rending was the anguish of his lonely wife at his calDin on the banks of the Youghio- gheny." The aid of Col. Crawford in the Sandusky campaign — John Eose — ^was a foreigner, who had come to the United States some years be- fore. His story was that, sympathizing with the colonies in their struggle with the mother country, he had resolved to volunteer his serv- ices in the cause of liberty. He was fine looking, spoke the French language fluently, was highly educated, and was undoubtedly a man of high rank. He made many warm per- sonal friends, among whom was Gen. William Irvine, the Commander of the Western Depart- ment, at whose house he was always a welcome visitor. His polished and agreeable manners made him conspicuous wherever he moved. He was sent by Gen. Irvine to act as Crawford's aid in the Sandusky campaign. In 1784, he returned to the old world, and, soon afterward, wrote to Irvine, giving his true history. His name was not John Eose, but Gustavus E. de Rosenthal, of Livonia, Eussia — a Baron of the Empire. He left his country because of having killed a nobleman in a duel, caused by a blow the latter had inflicted on an aged uncle in his presence. Thus, the gallant soldier on the Sandusky Plains, the hero of Olentangy and Battle Island, was none other than BaronEosen- thal, of Eussia, ■^ -.i^ ihL^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 205 CHAPTER III. EARLY SETTLEMENT BY THE WHITES— ORIGIN TERRITORIAL CHANGES— COUNTY THE pioneers who made the early white set- tlements of Ohio, came from the south and east, following close upon the steps of the re- treating savages. The hardy sons of toil, who had wrested the fair lands of Western Pennsyl- vania and Kentucky from the Indian, turned their backs upon this, and pressed forward to the Ohio River, eager to cross and possess the lands beyond. Here, for a time, the savage defense of the natives delayed the fatal tide, until at last, overwhelmed and beaten from the south, they withdrew to the Maumee Valley. By a treaty made at G-?eenville, August 3, 1795, the Indians ceded the whole of the State, save that portion included within a line drawn from the mouth of the Cuyahoga River to Fort Lau- rens, the present site of Bolivar, in Tuscarawas County, and thence west, with the line known as the G-reenville Treaty Line or Indian Bound- ary. It was not many years before the vast wilderness, thus thrown open to peaceable settle- ment, was everywhere dotted with the cabin of the pioneer, and the squatter, the advance guard of the pioneer hosts, was again upon the Indian border. In 1807, a further cession was made by the Indians of that part of their territories, which was included between the line of the Cuyahoga River and a new one, drawn from a point on the southern shore of Lake Erie, be- tween the mouth of Sandusky Bay and Portage River, to a point due south on the Boundary line, a point just a little east of the village of Cardington, in Morrow County. This line passed through what is now Crawford County on the western boundary of the Three Mile Strip, represented in its width in this county by Sandusky Township. In 1813, the army, under Gen. Crook, starting from Pittsburgh to AND ORGANIZATION OF CRAWFORD COUNTY -- BUILDINGS— JOHNNY APPLESEED. join the forces of Gen. Harrison at Fort Meigs, traversed this territory from Wooster through Mansfield, Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky, thence northerly to their destination. This was the first road made through the' country west of Mansfield, and this event, not only served to open up the territory, but brought it to the ob- servation of many who were not slow to sound the praises of this country through which the army passed. Richland County, which extended to the eastern border of Three Mile Strip, was rapidly settling up, and that restless portion of her population, which is found in every pioneer community, longing for newer scenes and plen- tier game, began to move over into the newly opened territory. On September 29, 1817, by a treaty made at the foot of the Maumee Rapids, the whole of the remaining portion of the State, under Indian domination, was ceded to the United States, and immigration, greatly stimu- lated by the news of the " New Purchase," be- gan to pour in. On the 20th of February, 1 820, the General Assembly of the State passed an act for the " erection of certain counties " out of the vast tract of wilderness thus acquired, and Crawford was the seventh in order out of fourteen thus created. The countrj-, which thus invited immigration, presented every variety of surface. In the lower part of the county, south and west of the Sandusky River, though seldom touching its banks, stretched out the great Sandusky Plains ; north of the river, extended an immense cran- berry marsh, that furnished the natives their principal stock in trade with the whites. In the northern and eastern parts of the territory, marshes of greater or less extent were every- where found. In the northern part of Cran- ^rr A r, ^ 206 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. berry and Auburn Townships, the Grovernment Surveyor planted his stakes from a canoe, and describes the country in his notes as the most " abandoned and God-forsaken " of any he had met with in a long surveying experience. But in all parts of the county, save on the plains, the land was covered with a dense growth of heavy timber, "Where the rude ax with heaved stroke Was never heard the nymphs to daunt.' The character of this country in 1821 is thus described by an early settler : " The Indians had been accustomed to bring cranber- ries East, when we first came to Richland County. We could often see ten to twenty horses, loaded with cranberries put in bark boxes, which were tied together and swung over the horses' backs, following each other east, each horse led by an Indian in single file. Our curiosity was, of course, raised to know where these cranberries grew. So in the fall of the year 1821, my father-iii-law, John Brown, Michael Brown, myself and a Mr. Jacob Miller, who had moved in our neighborhood from Pennsylvania, started on a trip to see whether we could find out where the cranberries grew. We took our horses, horse feed, etc., and started in a southwesterly direction, until we struck the Pennsylvania army road, then followed the route, which we could clearly distinguish. After passing along said route for several miles, we thought we were not getting far enough to the north, and, therefore, turning further north, struck the Sandusky River east of Bucyrus. As we came to the stream, we heard a man chopping wood a little further up the river. I told the men that there were Indians around, or else some white man had got in here. We rode up the river and found Daniel McMichael, a man whom I had seen before. He looked rather scared, but knew me as soon as I came close to him. He had come there in the spring and put up a little cabin, where he and his family resided. He gave us directions and accompanied us a little distance, showing us the old Indian trail, which would lead to the cranberry marsh. We followed it until we reached our destination about sunset. After tying and feeding our horses, we started into the marsh for cranberries, Mr. Miller walking behind, with his head up, expecting to find the fruit on bushes. An incautious step plunged him into a hole up to his waist, while he screamed for help, declaring that the bottom of the marsh had fallen out. We camped out that night. We saw several Indian camp-fires dur- ing the night, and heard several screaming, but were not molested. The next morning we gath- ered as many cranberries as our horses could carry, in a short time, the ground being literally covered trith them. We left, perhaps, at 9 o'clock in the morning, passing back to Mr McMichael's, and then home, where we arrived late in the night. During this trip we saw no living man, except McMichael and his family, and no sign of any -settlement from the time we started until our return. As long as we followed the army road, the weeds were as high as the horses' heads, and from there the country was heavily timbered. We concluded this country would never be settled."* As in the early settlement of almost every new country, there were two classes of pioneers that left a more or less durable impress upon the earlier settlements of Crawford County. Held back from settlement by treaties with the natives until the tide of population beat against the barriers, this section was peculiarly fitted for the occupation of the squatter element, that knew no law but its own convenience, and feared no danger that freed it of the irksome restraint of civilization. "The improvements of a back-woodsman (squatter) were usually confined to building a rude log cabin, clearing and fencing a small piece of ground for raising ♦Personal RecoUectionB of James Nail, in Bucyrus Forum, January 24,1874. if ^C-rT-^^^L^ePft' !W HISTORY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. 209 Indian corn; a horse, a cow, a few hogs and some poultry, comprise his live stool?; ; and his further operations are performed with his rifle. The formation of a settlement in his neighbor- hood is hurtful to the success of his favorite pursuit, and is the signal for his removing into more remote parts of the wilderness. In case of his owning the land on which he is settled, he is content to sell at a low price, and his establishment, though trifling, adds much to the comfort of his successor. The next class of settlers diflfers from the former, in having considerabl}^ less dependence on the killing of game, in remaining in tiie midst of a growing population, and in devoting themselves more to agriculture. A man of this class proceeds on small capital ; he either enlarges the clearings begun in the woods b3'' his back-woodsman pre- decessor, or establishes himself on a new site. On his arrival in a settlement, the neighbors unite in assisting him to erect a cabin for the reception of his family ; some of them cut down the trees, others drag them to the spot with oxen, and the rest build up the logs. In this way a house is commonly reared in a day. For this well-timed assistance, no payment is made, and he acquits himself by working for his neighbors. It is not in his power to hire laborers, and he must depend, therefore, on his own exertions. If his family is numerous and industrious, his progress is greatly accelerated. He does not clear away the forest by dint of labor, but girdles the trees. By the second summer after this operation is performed, the foliage is completely destroyed, and his crops are not injured by the shade. He plants an orchard, which thrives abundantlj- under every sort of neglect. His live stock soon becomes much more numerous than that of his back- woods predecessor ; but, as his cattle have to sliift for themselves in the woods, where gi-ass is scant}', they are small and lean. He c'oes not sow grass seed to succeed his crops, so that his land, which ought to be pasturage, is over- grown with weeds. The neglect of sowing grass seeds deprives him of hay ; and he has no fodder laid up, except the blades of Indian corn, which are much withered, and do not ap- pear to be nutritious food. The poor animals are forced to range the forests in winter, where they can scarcely procure anything which is green, except the buds of the underwood, on which they browse. These are sometimes cut down that the cattle maj' eat the buds. Want of shelter in the winter completes the sum of misery. Hogs suflfer famine during the droughts of summer, and the frosts and snows of winter ; but they become fat by feeding on the acorns and beech-nuts which strew the ground in autumn. Horses are not exempted from their share in these common sufferings, with the addition of labor, which most of them are not very able to undergo. * * * * The set- tler, of the grade under consideration, is only able to bring a small portion of his land into cultivation; his success, therefore, does not so much depend upon the quantitj' of produce which he raises, as on the gradual increase in the value of his property.- When the neigh- borhood becomes more populous, he, in general, has it in his power to sell his propertj' at a high price, and to remove to a new settlement, where he can purchase a more extensive tract of land, or commence farming on a larger scale than formerly. The next occupier is a capitalist, who immediately builds a larger barn than the former, and then a brick or frame house. He either pulls doWn the dwelling of his predeces- sor, or converts it into a stable. He erects better fences, and enlarges the quantity of cul- tivated land, sows down pasture fields, intro- duces an improved breed of horses, cattle, sheep, and these, probably, of the merino breed ; he fattens cattle for the market, and perhaps erects a flour-mill, or a saw-mill, or a distiller}-. Farmers of this description are frequently part- ners in the banks, members of the State Assem- bly, or of Congress, or Justices of the Peace. |\ ^K 310 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. The condition of the people has, necessarily, some relation to the age and prosperity of the settlements in which they live. In the earliest settlements of Ohio, the first and second rate farmers are most numerous, and are mixed to- gether. The three conditions of settlers de- scribed, are not to he understood as uniformly distinct, for there are intermediate stages, from ■which individuals of one class pass, as it were, into another. The first invaders of the forest frequently become farmers of the second order ; and there are examples of individuals, acting their parts in all the three gradations."* This general picture of the early settlements of Ohio, is borne out by the first twenty-five years of history in every township in Crawford County. The Ohio fever took strong hold of many of the communities in the older States, and no sooner was the " New Purchase " heard of, than hundreds, anxious to secure a home with plenty of land, flocked to the new country. The eastern tier of townships formerly belong- ing to Kichland, Auburn, Vernon, Jackson and Polk, were surveyed by Maxwell Ludlow, in 1807. The remaining territory was surveyed in 1819, by Deputy Surveyor G-eneral Sylvanus Bourne. The early pioneers came close after the surveyors, and in many places found the bark still fresh upon the stakes that marked the different sections. The first actual settler, however, was more bold, and, braving the dan- gers and inconveniences of frontier isolation, penetrated the dense forest, and took up a claim on the border of the Sandusky Plains, eight miles from the nearest cabin, and twice that many miles from what might be called a com- munity. He is represented as a man of large athletic proportions, standing six feet high, of strong determination, keen intelligence, and full of the true spirit of enterprise. This was Samuel Norton, the founder of the village of Bucyrus. He came from Susquehanna County, Penn., and, after selecting his quarter-section * Flint's Letters from America, 1818. on the present site of the county seat, he re- turned to his native State for his family. The land was not yet surveyed, nor offered for sale ; but here he erected his pole cabin, and pro- ceeded to make a clearing, trusting that he would have no difficulty in securing the land by purchase, when put on the market. In this cabin, located near the site of the present rail- road bridge, Jiis daughter, Sophronia, was born ; the first white child, probably, within the origi- nal limits of the county. "At this time his only neighbors were David Beadle, and his sons, Mishel and David, Daniel McMichael, and Joseph Young. Col. Kilburn's 'Song of Bu- cyrus ' has it : " ' First Norton and the Beadles came With friends, an enterprising band ; Toung and McMichael, men of fame, Soon joined the others hand in hand.' " Of these, Daniel McMichael settled on a quar- ter-section, two miles east on the river ; Young settled on the farm now owned by John A. Gormly ; Mishel Beadle, on the farm now owned by L. Converse, and David Beadle, just southwest of the village of Bucyrus. Of the settlers who came into the various parts of the county about this time, were Resolved White, a descendant of the child born on the May- flower ; Rudolph Morse and David Cummins, in the present limits of Auburn Township ; Ja- cob Snyder, near Leesville ; David Anderson and Andrew Dixson and sons, in Vernon Town- ship ; John Brown and his son, Michael Brown, on the farm owned by the late Mr. Beltz, of Polk Township ; David Reid and two men named Pletcher, a little south of that point ; in Sandusky Township, there were Westel, Ridge- ly and J. S. Griswell, near where the Bucyrus and Leesville road crosses the Sandusky River ; a little sputh was Peter Bebout; Samuel Knisely, at Knisely's Springs, and his brother Joseph, and John B. French, just north of him. Near the Bear Marsh, were Isaac Matthews ■,^ !lA HISTOfiY OF CEAWrORD COUNTY. 311 William Handley, Nelson Tustason, two fami- lies of Mclntyres, and John Davis. "* " *The great avenue of travel at this early period was along the route followed by Gen. Crook's army in 1813, and rendered this section of country particularly accessible to immigra- tion from Pennsylvania. Another feature of the early settlement of the county, will be ob- served in the fact that there was no common center in this territory, from which the increas- ing population seemed to disperse over the county. This country had filled the eye of many in the older settlements, who were pre- pared to move forward so soon as the way should be opened, and, when once the treaty barriers were removed, there was a general rush for the various points that had already been canvassed. The settlement in what is now Au- burn Township, was largely made up of New Englanders, and received its first white inhab- itants in 1815. These facts, somewhat at va- riance with the history of the greater part of the countj', have their explanation in the loca- tion of this township adjoining the ' fire lands ' of the Western Reserve. These lands, appro- priated for the use of certain citizens of Con- necticut, who suffered by the devastation of the English during the Revolutionary war, were early settled by these beneficiaries, and naturally attracted others of their friends to the same vi- cinity. Although miich of the land in Auburn at an early date was occupied by marshes, it still presented attractions enough in its near- ness to old friends, to induce John Pettigon and William Green to settle here as early as 1815. Two years later, Charles Morrow joined the little settlement ; in 1819, the little colony from New York, named above ; John Blair, in 1821, and A. T. Eoss in 1825. Vernon was principally settled by New Englanders, many of them locating Revolutionary war land warrants. The land was not the most inviting, a large part of it being covered with marshes. *Jobn Moderweirs letters in Bucynis JoumcU^ 1868. The first settler was George Byers, in 1818. He occupied a squatter's claim, and was noto- rious in the early times as a trapper. Coming soon after him was James Richards, in 1821, and George Dickson from Pennsylvania, in 1822. The settlement in the southeast corner of the county was an early and important one. This whole corner of the county was known as Sandusky Township, in Richland County. Ben- jamin Leveredge and his sons James and Na- thaniel, together with George Wood and David, came in 1817, and were the first to settle on the present site of Gallon. Benjamin Sharrock came in 1818 and Asa Hosford in 1819. These hardy, stalwart men were followed, in 1820, by Father Ketteridge, a great tragper and hunter, by Rev. James Dunlap, in 1822, and Nathan Jlerriman in 1824. James Nail, in his printed recollections, saj^s : " In 1819, 1 left my father's farm and came to what was then called San- dusky Township, Richland County, and bought 160 acres of Congress land, about two miles from Gallon, on the road to Leesville. All the settlers then heard of, in what is now Crawford County, were three brothers b^^ the name of Lev- eredge, living a little west of where Gallon is, and my brother-in-law, Lewis Leiberger, who settled on a piece of land adjoining me. Living with Leiberger, I put up a cabin on my land, and commenced clearing it. In the fall of 1821, 1 married, and settled on mj- piece of land. By this time, some other settlers came into the community, such as John Brown, Benjamin Sharrock, Nehemiah Story and others." Whet- stone was first settled about 1820, and num- bered among its earliest pioneers, Esi Norton, Frederick Garver, Ileman Rowse, Christopher Bair, John Kent and others. The communitj' here grew rapidly, and by 1827 numbered some thirty families, princlpall}^ from Pennsyl- vania and the Xew England States. Liberty was first invaded by Daniel McJIichael, who was followed by Ralph Bacon in 1821, from Mentor, Ohio. In the same j'ear, the families ^r^ 'k^ 213 HISTORY OF CEAWrORD COUNTY. of John Maxfield, a native of Vermont, and John 0. Blowers, from Wayne County, Ohio, were added to the population of the township. In 1822, William Blowers, Calvin Squier and Nehemiah Squier, came from New York, and in 1823, some sixteen families were added to this settlement, principally from the far Eastern States. The settlement of Chatfield was not quite so rapid as some of the southern and eastern parts, but had a nucleus about which a settle- ment gathered as earlj' as 1820. An early character was Jacob Whetstone, who spent his time hunting and trapping. The more impor- tant family was represented by Silas and Oliver Chatfield, whose name has been perpetuated in that of the township. Holmes township labored under some disadvantages at this period. The western portion was still reserved to the In- dians, and along its southern border an exten- sive cranberry marsh made it undesirable for settlement. Mr. Hearman was the first resident of the township, who was followed in a short time by William Flake. The growth of the set- tlement here was slow, and it was probably 1825, before it could aspire to the title of com- munity. " The difficulty and trials of the early set- tlers of Crawford County, although not so great as those encountered by the first settlers west of the AUeghani^s, were yet such as would be considered by their descendants of the present day as almost insurmountable. Nearly all the land within the present limits of the county was covered by heavy timber, which almost entirely prevented the sun's rays from reaching the ground. This, in connection with the formation of the country and the nature of the soil, necessarily made very muddy roads, even with the little travel theii passing on them, and mud, and the fever and ague pro- duced by the same causes, were the great drawbacks to the rapid development of this country. The distance from mills and from other settlements was also among the serious difficulties they had to contend with. For sev- eral years, nearly all the flour used had to be brought from the mills on Mohican Creek and its tributaries, in Richland County, thirty and forty miles distant. The practice then was to make a trip in an ox wagon to the vicinity of one of these mills, purchase a small quantity of wheat from some of the settlers there, have it ground, and carry the flour back to Bucyrus — the voyage consuming from a week to ten days' time. " Blost of the pioneers were men of small means. Their stock of cash being generally ex- hausted upon paying the Government price for eighty, or, at most, one hundred and sixty acres of land, many became discouraged at the hardships they had to encounter and returned to their old homes. Others would have done so could they have raised the wherewith to carry them there. This, however, did not last long, most of them becoming entirely satisfied after a few years' residence, the improvement of the country each year making it more toler- able to live in, and giving increasing promise of its future prosperity. " The total change in the appearance of the country' to one who can look back forty-five years (written in 1868) seems almost mirac- ulous. Could one of the residents here in 1825, after an absence of forty years, now re- turn, he would find it difficult to recognize a single familiar landmark or half a dozen famil- iar faces, and one who has not a correct record of his age is inclined to think he has been here a century instead of less than half of one."* It will be observed that quite a large pro- portion of these early settlers were of New England origin. This fact of late years has been entirely changed, and the German element in most parts of the county has assumed the ascendency. This change began about 1832. In this year and succeeding ones, there was a *Uoderweira Letters, 1S68. n^ iiv liL HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 213 large accession of German population coming direct from Europe. Coming by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and thence to Cleveland or Sandusky, the Maumee Valley presented the most available place for settlement at that time, and this fact undoubtedly determined the destination of scores of persons who have since made this once marshy and unheal thful country to become a strong competitor with localities far more highly favored by nature. In 1848, the political troubles of Germany brought another considerable addition to the Teutonic element of Crawford, and many a German " agitator " is to-day among the county's most reliable citizens. The origin of Crawford County as a distinct political division of the State dates back to February 20, 1820. At this time, the whole Maumee Valley was opened to settlement, and was divided up into counties for judicial and governmental purposes. Townships 1, 2 and 3 south, in Ranges 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 east, and all the land east of these townships up to what was then the western limits of Richland County, was named Crawford County, in honor of the gallant soldier who ended, in 1782, a brave and praiseworthy career on the plains within these boundaries. This division did not at that time have any political significance or power, but was simply attached to Delaware County, an association that did not even have the merit of an equalitj' in the disadvan- tages. Fortunately, the matter of law or taxa- tion did not enter very largely into the experiences of the pioneer settlements until a nearer county seat was provided. December 15, 1823, the county of Marion, roughly blocked out at the time Crawford was named, was regularly organized, and became the guardian of her younger sister, as the act reads, "for judicial purposes.'' Save that some of its townships had received a name and something of a start toward civilization, Craw- ford was the same insignificant figure in affairs of state as before. On the 17th of February in the following year, the increase of popula- tion having become so great as to make it inconvenient for the more remote settlers to go to Marion to transact their business, that part of Crawford which was situated north of the Wyandot reservation, "including one tier of townships lying east and west," was attached to Seneca Countj' for judicial purposes. This continued until January 31, 1826. Crawford County was independently organized and intro- duced into the sisterhood of counties by the following act : Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., that the county of Crawford be, and the same is hereby, organized into a separate and distinct county. Sec. 2. That all Juslioes of the Peace residing within the county of Crawford shall continue to dis- charge the duties of their respective offices until their commissions shall expire and their successors are chosen and qualified. Sec. 3. That the qualified electors residing in the county of Crawford shall meet in their respective townships on the first Monday of April next, and elect their several county officers, who shall hold their re- spective offices until the next annual election, and until others are chosen and qualified according to law. Sec. 4. That all suits and actions, whether of a civil or criminal nature, which shall have been commenced, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and execution, and all taxes, fines and penalties which shall have become due shall be collected in the same manner as if this act had not been passed. Sec. 5. That Zalmou Kowse is hereby appointed Assessor for said county of Crawford, who shall, on or before the first day of April next, give bond, as is pro- vided in the fourth section of the " act establishing an equitable mode of taxation," to the acceptance of Enoch B. Merryman, who is hereby authorized to re- ceive said bond, and deposit the same with the County Auditor of said county forthwith after such Auditor shall have been elected and qualified ; and the Asses- sor herein appointed shall be required to perform the same duties, hold his office for the same time and in the same manner as if he had been appointed by a court of common pleas for said county of Crawford ; and the Auditor of State is hereby required to trans- mit to said Assessor a schedule of all lands subject to ■^ tht^. 214 HISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. taxation within said county, which schedule said As- sessor shall return with his other returns to the County Auditor. Sec. 6. That the Commissioners elected according to the provisions contained in the third section of this act shall meet on the first Monday in May next, at the town of Buoyrua, and then and there determine at what place in said county of Crawford the judicial courts shall be held till the permanent seat of justice shall be established in said county. Sec. 7. That those townships and fractional town- ships in Crawford County which have heretofore been aiiached to and formed a part of any township in Marion or Seneca Counties respectively, are hereby attached to, and declared to be a part of,- Crawford Township, in said Crawford County, till the same shall be otherwise provided for by the Commissioners of said county. The county thus organized included a scope of territory three Congressional townships in width, and extending from the eastern bound- ary of Sandusky and Cranberry Townships to the western boundary of Crawford, Salem and Mifflin Townships, in Wyandot County. The larger part of what is now Wyandot County, and three miles of the western portion of Holmes and Bucyrus townships, was covered by the Wyandot Indian reservation. In 1835, the In- dians sold to the government a strip seven miles off the east end of their reservation, which was sold by the government publicly in Marion, Ohio. This tract extended in what is now Wyandot County, some two miles. A considerable part of this land located around the present village of Osceola, was bought by a company who laid out this town and sold a good many lots in the belief that the county seat would eventually be removed there, as it was near the center of the county as then con- structed. This speculation was defeated on February 3, 1845, by the erection of Wyandot County. In the general re-organization of the counties that then took place, Crawford lost all ^the territory west of the middle line of town- ships in Kange 15 east, and gained from Marion County a strip of territory two miles while extending to the Richland County line, and from the latter county on the east a tract four miles wide, extending the whole length of Craw- ford from north to south, some twenty miles. In 1848, a tier of fractional sections were taken off in the erection of Morrow County, leaving Craw- ford in its present outlines. In the matter of township lines the information is not so accu- rate. The early records of this county having, unfortunately, been burned, the only clew is to be found by a tedious search in the early records of Delaware and Marion Counties. Bucyrus, Liberty and Whetstone were probably erected by the Commissioners of Delaware County, but with what boundaries is not known. During the three years this county was attached to Marion, a number of townships north, east and ■ west of the Indian reserve were erected. Syca- more, Tymochtee, Pitt and Antrim Towpships were among these. "Tymochtee Township," says Blr. Bloderwell, " lay directly west of Syca- more, and probably contained more inhabitants forty [now fifty -two] years ago, than any town- ship in the county, and contributed its full share to the business of our courts." What was done before the latter part of 1831, by the Commis- sioners of Crawford is open to conjecture only. In 1 845, there were the following sixteen town- ships, of which none of those located within the present limits of Crawford, were erected subse- quent to 1831 : Antrim, Bucyrus, Center, Chatfield, Cranberry, Crawford, Holmes, Jack- son, Liberty, Lykens, Mifflin, Pitt, Sandusky, Sycamore, Tymochtee, and Whetstone. On the 6th of March, 1845, the commissioners of Crawford Countj- took the following action in regard to the fractional townships and territory added : This day, it was resolved by the Commissioners of Crawford County, that the following fractional town- ships taken fiom the counties of Kichland and Marion, and those lying on the west side of said county of Craw- ford, according to an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, passed February 3, 1845, to erect the *? S r- IV ^ HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 215 new county of Wyandot, and alter the boundaries of Crawford, be organized into separate townships, to wit : All that part talien from the county of Richland, and being in Township twenty-two (22) north, Range twen- ty (20) west, be, and the same is hereby, organized into a separate township, and shall be known by the name of Adburn : All that part taken from the county of Richland , and being in Township twenty-one (21) north, Range twenty (20) west, be, and the same is hereby, organized into a separate township, and shall be known by the name of Vernon. All that part taken from the county of Richland, and being in Township twenty (20) north. Range twenty (20) west ; and all that part taken from Township nineteen (19) north. Range twenty (20) ; and all that part taken from the county of Marion, and being in Township fifteen (15) north, Range twenty-one (21), be, and the same is hereby, organized into a separate township, and shall be known by the name ot Polk : All that part taken from the county of Marion, and being in township four (4) south, Range sixteen (16) east ; and all that part taken from the county of Marion, and being in Township four (4) south. Range fifteen (15) east ; and all that part taken from Township three (3) south. Range fifteen east, except six sections off the north end of said fractional township, be, and the same is hereby, organized into a separate township, and shall be known by the name of Dalias : All that part taken from Township two (2) south. Range fifteen (15) east, and six sections off the north end of fractional Township three (3) south. Range fif- teen (15) east be, and the same is hereby, organized into a separate township, and shall be known by the name of Todd : All that part taken from Township one (1) south, Range fifteen (15) east, be, and the same is hereby, or- ganized into an independent township, and shall be known by the name of Texas : All that part taken from the county] of Marion, and being in Township four (4) south. Range seventeen (17) east, be, and the same is hereby, attached to Whet- stone : All that part of fractional Section thirty-one (31), thirty-two (32), in Township three (3) south. Range sixteen east, be, and the same is hereby, attached to Bucyrus. It will be observed that the township of Polk, as thus constructed, occupied the southeast corner of the county as Dallas does the southwest. To this arrange- ment the citizens objected, and in the following June the line of division between Jackson and Polk Town- ships was run from the "northeast corner of Sec- tion twenty-seven (27), in Polk Township, and thence west on the section line to the southwest corner of Sec- tion twenty-two (22), in Jackson Township.'' On the 10th of March, 1873, Jefferson Town- ship was erected out of the twenty sections in the western part of Jackson Township. There had been two polling precincts for some time, and, a jealousy springing up in regard to the division of officers, a division was made, cut- ting Jackson Township off with but eight sec- tions. With these changes, Crawford County stands as at present, divided into sixteen town- ships. Three of these have thirty-six sections, one has forty full sections besides eight frac- tional sections, two have thirty sections, and two eighteen sections, and the others have re- spectively twenty-eight, twenty-six, twenty- four, twenty-two, twenty-one, twenty, twelve and eight sections. The first election provided for by the act erecting the county, was contested with consid- erable spirit. By a provision of the act, the first Commissioners were empowered to fix the place for holding the courts, until permanently fixed by commissioners appointed by the State. The result of the election, therefore, practi- cally decided this interesting question, and this fact constituted the point on which the factions joined issue. The western part of the population considered the village of Crawford, located on the Broken Sword Creek, the more generally accessible, and the southern part pre- ferred Bucyrus as the site for the county seat. The result was a victory for the partisans of Bucyrus, in the election of Thomas McClure, John Magers and George Poe, who established the county seat, temporarily, at Bucyrus. In 1830, Judge Williams, of Delaware; R. S. Dickenson, of Fremont, and J. S. Glassgo, of Holmes County, Commissioners appointed by the Legislature for the purpose, confirmed this action of the County Commissioners, and es- ^ [[t. 216 HISTOBY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. tablished the county seat permanently at Bucy- rus. A Mr. Beardsley received the first ap- pointment as Clerk, but shortly afterward resigned, and was succeeded by Col. Eowse, who held the office for a number of years, and at the same time discharged the duties of County Recorder. He was succeeded as Clerk by J. B. Larwill, D. W. Swigart, Alexander P. Widman, J. E. Clymer, Thomas Coughlin, David C. Cahill and A. A. Ruhl ; and as Re- corder, by Jacob Howenstine, James Robinson, Frank M. Bowyer, "William Stremmel and D. 0. Castle. Hugh McCracken was the first Sher- iff, and was succeeded by John Miller, John Moderwell, David Holm, John ShuU, Samuel Andrews, James L. Harper, John Cald- well, James Clements, Jonathan Kissinger, William C. Beal, John Franz, Joseph Worden, Daniel Keplinger, James Worden, Henry J. Row and John A. Schaber. James Martin was first elected Auditor, and was succeeded in this office by Charles Merriman, Edward Billips, John Caldwell, Jacob Howenstein, George Sinn, Owen Williams, John Pitman, A. M. Jack- son, E. R. Kearsley, A. A. Ruhl, Samuel Hoyt, William Scroggs, Frederick M. Swingley, J. H. Robinson. The first County Treasurer, John H. Morrison, was succeeded by Gen. Samuel Myers, George Lauck, Charles Hetich, Otto Fieldner, George Donnenwirth, Joseph Roop, John Franz, J. B. Franz, John G. Birk, C. H. Shoner and W. Riblet. The first Probate Judge was Harvey Eaton, who was succeeded by George Wiley, P. S. Marshall, J. S. Elliott, Abram Summers, James Clements, Robert Lee and Shannon Clements. The delay in permanently locating the coun- ty seat, caused a delay in erecting public build- ings. The Commissioners provided for the first sessions of the courts in private houses, but feeling the need of a jail, contracted with Z. Rowse, in 1827, to build one of squared tim- ber. This served to accommodate the county as a place for the archives of the county as well as the rogues, but was destroyed by fire about 1831, destroying all the records of the Com- missioners up to October 31, 1831. When, in 1830, the question of the location of the seat of justice was settled, the proprietors of Bucy- rus donated Lots 89, 90 and 92, and the citi- zens made liberal contributions to erect the public buildings. In this year the first court house was built and finished, in 1832, though not finally accepted by the Commissioners un- til June 4, 1833. Col. Kilbourne was archi- tect, and Nicholas Cronebaugh, Abraham Holm, Sr., and William Early, contractors. There is no clew to the specifications, but from later records it is ascertained that it was built with a cupola, and the whole was painted white on the outside. The inside was painted a light blue. In 1837, a bell was added, at a cost of about $100. In this year, a proposition to build a new jail was submitted to the people, which was indorsed, and, on February 4, 1839, Z. Eowse received a contract for the building. The records give no inkling of specifications, but it was built of brick, on the court-house yard, and was finally accepted by the county in July, 1840, and fenced around at a cost of $58, in 1844. In 1854, the building of a new brick court house was agitated, and, in 1856, was completed at a cost of about $18,000. 0. S. Kinney, of Cleveland, was the architect, and Auld & Miller, of Mount Gilead, Ohio, the contractors. In the fall of this year, a proposition to spend $12,000, in buying a farm and build- ing an Infirmary building, was submitted to the people and lost, but in the following spring, April, 1857, the people voted for a new jail. Accordingly, on August 3, 1858, a contract was entered into with E. Jacobs & Co., of Cincin- nati, to build the whole of the prison part, at a cost of $5,500, and with George B. Terwilleger, of Bucyrus, for all the work, save the prison part, for $3,076.98. This was placed on Lot 88, which was donated to the county for this pur- pose by Samuel Norton. Finally, in 1867, the i^ ^^ ^kn HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 217 building of an Infirmary was undertaken, at a cost of $33,000, David Siianli being tlie con- tractor. Tliis building is a large two-story rectangular brick building, with basement, with an addition in the rear, and is finely situated on the farm in Whetstone Township. The style of construction is plain, verging on unsightli- ness. A recently erected building for the in- sane is much more presentable, though showing oflf the main building at a disadvantage. The farm is composed of 300 acres of good farming land, and is provided with good barns and out- buildings. ' At the time the town of Bucyrus was laid out, the only outlet to the lake with teams was by waj' of New Haven, and the time required to make the trip with an ox team was usually from ten days to two weeks. Directly north was an almost unbroken wilderness to the Hu- ron Plains, and very few settlers between this and Sandusky City. The citizens here raised, by subscription, funds to open a wagon track through to Honey Creek. Any person that ever passed over it found it a hard road to travel. At this time, we had a weekly mail from Marion and Sandusky City. At times in the winter, when the ground was not sufllciently frozen in the woods to bear a horse, the carrier would leave his horse here, take the mail on his shoulders, and carry it afoot to Sandusky and back. One of the first, and probably the most important public improvement, and one that did more for the interest of the town and the opening-up and settlement of the county, was the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike road. " In 1826, an act was passed by the General Assembly incorporating seven gentlemen of Franklin County, Judge Merriman and Col. Rowse, of Bucyrus, and seventeen others named in the act, and residing along the line of road, and their associates, by the name of the Colum- bus and Sandusky Turnpike Company, with a capital of $100,000, the stock divided into shares of $100 each, and the company to be governed by a board of nine directors. The charter was accepted by the company, and, by an act of Congress, passed in 1827, there were about 32,000 acres of land given to the State of Ohio in trust for the use of said company, to aid them in the construction of the road. Soon after, the incorporators met in the brick school- house in Bucyrus, and completed the organiza- tion of the company. Col. Kilbourne was sur- veyor, and Orange Johnson was one of the locating Commissioners and the principal agent as long as the road was under the control of the company. It was some seven years in building, and was finished in 1834, and was 106 miles in length from Columbus to Sandusky. The aver- age cost was a little more than $700 per mile. It was a splendid road when dry, but being only a clay or mud pike, in the spring or wet season of the year, it was in places almost impassable. This finally wore out the patience of those who were obliged to pay toll for the use of the road, and an attack was made upon the toll gates by an armed mob, which started out from Colum- bus and leveled every gate to the northern part of Delaware County. This brought the question before the Legislature of 1843, which repealed the act incorporating the company. The case was brought before the Legislature again for a re-hearing, but was passed over from time to time, until the session of 1856, when the Senate passed a bill authorizing the company to bring suit against the State, but this was lost in the House, which seems to have ended the matter. " The citizens, from the time the building of this turnpike was determined upon, took a lively interest in having it pass through Bucy- rus. For some years, it was the great thorough- fare of the State from the river to the lakes, and was the principal road to market for the coun- ties of Delaware, Union and Marion. Seventy- five wagons loaded with wheat were counted passing through Bucyrus in one day, all of which would return loaded with goods, and the constant traffic incident to so much transporta- B- "V l]^ 318 HISTOKT OP CRAWFORD COUNTY. tion, created business, and was an active stimu- lus in developing the town and county. " For the iirst ten years after the settlement of the county, it ujay be truly said of the in- habitants that thej'' were poor, having but little to sell, and no market for that little, except what supplied the wants of new-comers, and some cattle and hogs which had to be driven mostly to the East on foot, and there sold at barely living prices. One steer or cow would bring about as much now as four did at that time, and other products were equally low. After the New York Canal was completed, there was quite a change for the better ; prices of store goods came down, and many articles of produce, particularly wheat, found a ready market at the lake. " About 1828-29, there was a very marked improvement in times. Emigrants, in large numbers, were arriving, many of them substan- tial men with considerable means, who bought out many of the first settlers, enabling such as were in debt to pay up with cash, thus gradu- ally substituting a money currency for our old system of barter. About this time, the Ger- mans commenced settling rapidly in the county, some of them locating on low, wet land, which they have since brought into a fine state of cultivation. " At this time a better class of houses was being put up than heretofore. In' 1831, BIr. Hahn got into his new brick hotel in Bucyrus, now the Sims House. The following summer, Mr. Norton built his brick house at the north end of the town. In this year, 1832, the United States Land Office was removed to Bucyrus, from Tiffln. Thomas Gillipsie was Register, and Joseph H. Larwill, Receiver. Lands were now rapidly entered ; frequently, on Monday morning (or if the office had been closed for a day or two), from twenty to forty persons have been seen gathered around the office of the Register, waiting for the door to open, each fearful some other person was after the same land he wished to obtain. This was the com- mencement of the days of wild speculation that apparently pervaded the whole country. Crawford County, being comparatively new and less wealthy, did not partake of this spirit so fully as the older sections. The removal of the Government deposits from the United States Bank to local banks gave an impetus in this direction, whidi resulted in the opening of a large number of banks and the flooding of the countrj^ with paper money. Produce and real estate, both in town and country, ran up to fabulous prices. A kind of mania for land appeared to possess the people. This continued until 1837, when the bubble burst, and Craw- ford County suflfered keenly with the rest of the nation for its folly. The recovery was slow, and it was not before 1845 that the effects of the panic of '37 could be said to have lost their power. The establishment of the State Bank in this j'ear had a salutary effect upon the business of the county. The Irish famine, occurring directly after this, creating a demand for our produce, which brought coin principally in return, added to the improved feeling here. The Mexican war, closely following this event, resulting in large expenditure by the Govern- ment, was of great benefit to a new country like Crawford, that needed nothing so nmch as a good market. Then followed the discovery of gold in California. These causes together furnished the county, with the rest of the coun- try, an abundance of money and an excellent currency. The county now improved rapidly ; towns were flourishing, and the farming inter- ests were never more flourishing.'' The growth of the county in point of popula- tion has been regular and healthful, as will appear from the accompanying table. In the census of 1830, it has been found impossible to ascertain the proper division of the total among all the townships. So far as given, the information has been derived from reliable sources. i) Vy iJi ,J^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 319 Auljurn Antrim < BucyruB Bucyrus Village... Center Chatfleld Cranberry , Crawford Pallas HolmeB... Jackson Crestline Village.. ♦Jotferson Liberty Lykens Blifflin Pitt Polk Gaiioa Village Sandusky Sycamore Texas Todd Tymochtee Vernon Whetstone 679 334 961 26l' 1664! 2315 132 878; 1351 68U 1042 812, 400 744 l-i!3 636 1711 1409 1782 742 1186 316 423 , 1 1318 822 679, 968 I 64.5 , 678 1659 1276 1124' 1657 Totals I 4778' 13167 18177 23881' 25656 30575 1551 2180 1430 1339 407 1639 1813 1487 1718 3066 1176 1238 3848 1247 1281 370 1670 1742 2279 1788 1697 1266 1140 944 1967 792 666 1093 1224 1624 836 3523 665 660 1160 lyos 1824 600 16110 386 2787 1218 1685 1247 883 6638 668 683 1100 1038 1840 In bringing this chapter to a close, the name of Johnny Appleseed, whose kindly charity and generous philanthropy -wrought so much for every frontier community in Central Ohio, should not be forgotten. The scene of his early ac- ti^'ity in this State was in Richland County, and Crawford, which profited so largely by its close neighborhood to this section, certainly owes him the tribute of a good word. He was fre- quently seen here by the earliest settlers, and nine out of ten of the early orchards here are said to have originated from his nurseries. " He was born in the State of Massachusetts. As early as 1780, he was seen in the autumn, for two or three successive years, along the banlvs of the Potomac River in Eastern Virginia. He attended the cider-mills when the farmers made their cider, and picked the seeds from the pom- ace after the juice had been expressed. This occupation procured for him the sobriquet of Johnny Appleseed. After he had procured a safflcient quantity of seeds for his purpose, amounting to about a half bushel at one visit, he started westward with his sack of seeds upon his back, on foot and alone, to cross the Alle- ghanies, and to penetrate the wilderness west *Brectedial873. of the mountains, embracing what was then known as the ' New Purchase,' and which is now a part of the State of Ohio. " Years afterward, when the hardy pioneers from Western Virginia and Pennsylvania, scaled the Alleghany Mountains and sought homes in the valleys of the Ohio, they found the little nurseries of seedling apple trees on Braddock's Field, at Wheeling Creek, the Flats of Grave Greek, Holiday's Cove, and at other places along the Ohio Vallej'. " The eccentric, but ever amiable Chapman,* was also found here, ready to sell his seedlings to the settlers at a ' flppennybit ' apiece. His habits of life were then as they remained until his decease. He would spend a week or ten days among the white settlers, or borderers, then penetrate to his nurseries on the banks of the Tuscarawas, or, as that river was then called in the language of the aborgines, Ne-tusta-raws. At length the fertile soil of Richland County in- vited this enterprise and industry farther west. Here were traced the foot-prints of Johnny Appleseed. On the banks of the Mohican Creek, at Mansfield, near the present site of the depot of the Pittsburgh & ChicagaRailroad, was found one of his seedling nurseries. For years he remained in the vicinity of Mansfield, as his home or headquarters, whence he would make trips of two or three months length, farther west into the wilderness, to attend to his nur- series. "Near his plantations, which were remote from any habitation, he provided comfortable shelters from the inclemency of the weather. Hollow trees and hollow logs, provided with a deep nest of drj' leaves served this purpose in some cases. At his nursery in Sandusky Township, near the present location of Leesville in Crawford County, he erected a shelter by rearing large sections of the bark of an elm tree against a log. Under this he had a home. From this nursery was obtained many of the *His real name was John Chapman. *$lo ?k^ 220 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. orchards of Springfleld Township, Richland County. The father of the writer, Mordecai Hartley, Joseph Welch, Richard Congdon, Matthew Curran and Jonathan Beach, went to this nursery in company, spent the night with Johnny and packed their trees home the nest day on horses. They supped and broke their fast in the morning with the recluse, both meals consisting of mush made of Indian meal. The culinary utensils of the household consisted of a camp kettle, a plate, and a spoon. "The residence of Chapman at Mansfield covered the period of the war of 1812 and sev- eral years following it. During the dangers and alarms of this period, Johnny Appleseed was regarded in the light of a protecting angel. On the night of the massacre of Seymour's family on the Black Fork, within a few miles of Mansfield, he left the house of Seymour on foot and entered Clinton, one mile north of Mount Vernon, by sunrise, pausing everywhere on his way to give the alarm. Although I was then but a mere child, I can remember, as if it were yesterday, the warning cry of Johnny Apple- seed, as he stood before my father's log cabin door on that night. I remember the precise language, the clear, loud voice, the deliberate exclamation, and the fearfal thrill it awakened in my bosom. ' Fly I fly for your lives ! the Indians are murdering and scalping Seymours and Copuses.' My father sprang to the door, but the messenger was gone, and midnight, silence reigned without. Many other circum- stances incident to the exposed frontier settle- ments in days of danger which tried men's souls, manifested the cool courage, the discreet fore- sight, and the mature and deliberate judgment, as well as the fidelity, patience and abnega- tion of this frontier philanthropist. " John Chapman was a small man, wiry and thin in habit. His cheeks were hollow, and his face and neck dark and skinny from exposure to the weather. His mouth was small ; his nose small, and turned up so much as apparently to raise his upper lip. His eye was dark and deeply set in his head, but searching and penetrating. His hair, black and straight, was parted in the middle and permitted to fall about his neck. His hair withal, was thin, fine and glossy. He never wore a full beard, but shaved all clean, except a thin roach at the bottom of his throat. His beard was lightly set, and very black. This was his appearance in 1 840, when the writer last saw him in Mansfield, and at that time he had changed but little, if any, in general appearance during the twenty-five years preceding. The dress of the man was unique. The writer assumes to say that he never wore a coffee sack as a part of his ap- parel. He may have worn the off-cast clothing of others ; he probably did so. Although often in rags and tatters, and at best in the most plain and simple wardrobe, he was always clean, and, in his most desolate rags, comfort- able, and never repulsive. He generally, when the weather would permit, wore no clothing on his feet, which were consequently dark, hard and hornj'. He was frequently seen with shirt, pantaloons, and a long-tailed coat of the tow- linen then much worn by the farmers. This coat was a device of his own ingenuity, and in itself was a curiosity. It consisted of one width of the coarse fabric, which descended from his neck to his heels. It was without collar. In this robe were cut two arm-holes, into which were placed two straight sleeves. The mother of the writer made it up for him under his im- mediate direction and supervision. " John Chapman was a regularly constituted minister of the Church of the New Jerusalem, according to the revelations of Emanuel Swe- denborg. He was also a constitued missionary of that faith, under the authority of the regu- lar association of that faith in the city of Bos- ton, Mass. The writer has seen and examined his credentials as to the latter of these. This strange man was a beautiful reader, and never traveled without several of the Swedenborgian l^ ^Ll^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 221 pamphlets with him, which he generally carried in his bosom, and which he was ever ready to produce and read upon request. He never at- tempted to preach or to address public audiences. In private consultations, he often became en- thusiastic, when he would frequently arise to expound the philosophy of his faith. On such occasions, his eyes would flash, his wiry little form would swell, his voice expand, and his clear thought would burst into a startling in- spiration of eloquence,' complete and consum- mate, exalted, beautiful, forcible and replete with chaste figures and argumentative deduc- tions. His diction was pure and chaste, and his language simple but grammatical. " The year of the erection of the old court house in Mansfield, while the blocks of founda- tion stone and the timber lay scattered upon the public square, a wandering street preacher, of the name of Paine, a man with a long, white beard, who called himself ' The Pilgrim,' entered the town. After blowing a long tin horn which he carried with him, he assembled an audience on the stone and timbers of the court house. In the course of his sermon, he pointed to where Johnny Appleseed lay upon the ground, with his feet resting upon the top of one of the stones, and exclaimed : ' See yon ragged, old, barefooted sinner, and be warned of the paths of sin by his example.' Johnny arose to his feet, folded his hands behind him, under his tow-linen coat, and slowly approached the speaker. As the speaker paused a space, John- ny commenced in this wise : ' I presume you thank God that you are not as other men ? ' 'I thank God that I am not as you are, ' returned Paine. ' I am not a hj^pocrite, nor am I of the generation of vipers. I am a regularly ap- pointed minister, whether you are or not. ' ' Lord be merciful unto me a sinner, ' said Chapman, and walked away. "In the character of John Chapman there was nothing light or frivolous. He was free from all affectation. He never affected the style or language of the sacred Scriptures. His lan- guage was plain, simple and graphic — his man- ner earnest and impressive. His utterances always commanded respect, and awakened deep and thoughtful consideration from those who heard him. His deportment was uniformly chaste and respectable, and marked by a pas- sive dignity. In his method of thought, he was analytical, and in his line of argument, varying between the inductive and logical. He spoke apparently without eflbrt, in a natural and sim- ple, j^et elegant flow of language, to express a deep current of metaphysical reasoning and ethical thought. He penetrated his auditors, apparently without intending to do so, and moved them without knowing it. " Physicalljf, he was indolent and fond of ease. The writer once watched him, undiscovered, as he was working in his nursery, near the Big Bend in the creek near Blansfleld. He lay in the shade of a spreading thorn tree in the cen- ter of his nursery, and there, lying on his side, he reached out with his hoe and extirpated only such weeds as were within his reach. He preferred sleeping upon the floors of the farmers, as, he said that the indulgence in the luxurj^ of soft beds would soon beget a bad habit which he could not hope to indulge in his varied method of living. "This man cherished the kindest feelings toward all living things. His every act and step in life manifested this attribute as the per- \'afling trait of his nature. He was as tender and innocent as a child, and as easily moved to tears by the sorrows of others, or e^'en the suf- ferings of animals. He has been known to pay the full value of horses, take them from the harness, and, with a blessing, turn them loose to the luxurious pastures of the wilderness, to become their own masters. He was never without monej', and frequently furnished the housewives with a pound or two of tea, a great expense at that time, although he held that the indulgence in that aromatic luxur}' was a dissi- 223 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. pation. At one time he bought six breakfast plates at a Mansfield store, and, upon being asked what use he had for them, he replied that he ■would save dishwashing by having so many ; that by eating his meats upon a fresh plate each day he need not wash dishes more than once a week. The truth was, he carried the plates to a poor family near Spring Mills, Eichland County, who had a few days before had the misfortune of losing the most of their table furniture by an accident. "In 1838 — thirty-seven years after his ap- pearance on Licking Cre& — Johnny noticed that civilization, wealth and population were pressing into the wilderness of Ohio. Hither- to he had easily kept just in advance of the wave of settlement ; but now towns and churches were making their appearance, and, at long intervals, the stage-driver's horn broke the silence of the grand old forest, and he felt that his work was done in the region in which he had labored so long. In 1840, he resided near Fort Wayne, in the State of Indi- ana, where he had a sister living, and probably made that his headquarters during the nine years that he pursued his eccentric avocation on the western border of Ohio and in Indiana. In the summer of 1847, when his labors had literally borne fruit over a hundred thousand miles of territory, at the close of a warm day after traveling twenty miles, he entered the house of a settler in Allen County, Ind., and was warmly welcomed. He declined to eat with the family, but accepted some bread and milk, which he partook of sitting on the door- step and gazing on the setting sun. Later, he delivered his ■ news right fresh from heaven ' by reading the Beatitudes. Declining other accommodations, he slept as usual on the floor, and in the early morning he was found with his features all aglow with a supernal light and his body so near death that his tongue refused its office. The phj^sician, who was hastily sum- moned, pronounced him dying, but added that he had never seen a man in so placid a state at the approach of death. At seventy-two years of age, forty-six of which had been devoted to his self-imposed mission, he ripened into death as naturally and beautifully as the seeds of his own planting had grown into fiber and bud and blossom and the matured fruit."* " He had full many a story to tell, And goodly hymns that he sung right well; He tossed up the babies, and joined the boys In many a game full of fun and noise. " And he seemed so hearty, in work or play, Men, women and boys all urged him to stay." Thus passed from earth one of the memo- rable characters of pioneer days,but his memory will linger in the hearts of succeeding genera- tions for years to come, and their children will learn to revere the decaying monuments of his industry and benevolence, as the memorials of one whose character, though unbalanced, swayed to the brighter side of human nature. * Bartley, in the Mansfield Shield and Banner, '^ S \ ^ ^ ® \iu HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUKTY. 323 CHAPTER IV. THE PROFESSIONS— RESIDENT LAWYERS— THE PRESENT BAI^-EARLY PRACTICE OF MEDICINE- DIFFERENT SYSTEMS— THE MODERN PHYSICIANS. Indian title to the balance was extinguished by THE professions exert a wide influence in a community, and the history of Crawford County would be incomplete without a history of the legal and medical professions. The fol- lowing sketch of the bar of the county is by Franklin Adams, Esq., and was prepared at our special request for this work : Crawford County was erected and attached to Delaware County April 1, 1820. In Febru- ary, 1824, the northern tier of townships was attached to Seneca County for judicial pur- poses, and on May 1, 1824, the remainder to Marion County. The county was organized April 1, 1826, and soon after Bucyrus was selected as the county seat. The general surface of the county was a clay soil, covered with rich vegetable mold, and so level that the fallen and decaying timber of the forests and the grasses and rank growths of the prairies were sufficient to obstruct drainage) and present, upon a large proportion of the ter- ritory, a series of swails, marshes and sluggish water-courses. Bridges and culverts were few, and mostly of the corduroy style. The houses and barns were constructed of logs, and in the most economical manner. The property of the inhabitants consisted of their lands, and scarceh' anything else. Until after the public lands in this part of the country were taken up, the mar- ket value of unimproved land was $1.25 per acre, the Government price. The Wyandot and the Cherokee Boy reser- vations, containing about 147,000 acres, were within the original limits of Crawford, and were occupied by the aboriginal inhabitants, about 700 in number, until July, 1843. Thirty-eight thousand four hundred acres of these lands were ceded to the General Government in 1836. The a treaty made at Upper Sandusky, March 17, 1842. The first term of the Common Pleas Court of the county was held at Bucj'rus, in the dwelling- house of Lewis Cary, on the south bank of Sandusky River, at the site of the present resi- dence of C. H. Shonert. Ebenezer Lane, of Norwalk, was Presiding Judge. He was ap- pointed in 1824, his circuit including all the northwestern part of the State. Upon its organ- ization, Crawford County was attached to it. He continued to discharge the duties of Com- mon Pleas Judge until the fall of 1830. He was then appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, a position he held until the close of the session of the Court in Banc, in the winter of 1844-45, when he resigned. Judge Lane was born at Northampton, Mass., September 17, 1793, and died at Sandusky, Ohio, June 12, 1866. He graduated at Harvard Uni- versity in 1811. He studied law with Judge Matthew Griswold, at Lyme, Conn., and in 1814 was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice at Norwich, Conn. In March, 1817 he came to Elyria, Ohio. In May, 1819, he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Huron County, and in October of the same j'ear re- moved to Norwalk. After his resignation as Judge of the Supreme Court, he accepted the presidency of the Mad River & Lake Erie Rail- road Company, and devoted the next ten years to the management of railroads in Ohio. In November, 1855, he was appointed counsel and resident director of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, a position he held, with his residence at Chicago, until March 16, 1859, when he resigned and retired to private life. He was a w ,k 224 HISTOET or CRAWFORD COUNTY. close student of law, science and general litera- ture, and was prompt and indefatigable in meeting every engagement and discharging every duty. On the circuit, he would patronize the most retired and orderly hotel within a mile or two of the court house, and devote all his leisure time to reading and study. He possessed in an eminent degree the confidence and esteem of the bar and the people. His opinions con- tained in the Ohio Supreme Coart Reports are monuments of his scholarship, integrity and abilities. In the winter of 1830-31, Judge Lane was succeeded in the Common Pleas Court by David Higgins, of Norwalk, who held the office of President Judge seven years — a full term. His last appearance on the bench in Crawford County was at the September term, 1837. He was a dignified gentleman, of good abilities and intentions, and of fine personal appearance. He was, however, rather unfortunate in securing the deference to which he was entitled, and in comprehending the motives of others, and in mailing his own properly understood. This led to frequent unpleasant collisions with members of the bar. Upon the whole, his term was a stormy one, at the close of which he retired to private life. In the winter of 1837-38, Judge Higgins was succeeded by Ozias Bowen, of Marion, who held the office of President Judge for two terms — fourteen years — ^until the judi- cial system under the Constitution of 1802 was superseded by that of the Constitution of 1851. Judge Bowen possessed much shrewdness and ability, and excelled as a chancellor. He dis- charged his duties honestly and faithfullj' and to the general satisfaction of the public and the bar. He was born at Augusta, Oneida Co., N. Y., July 1, 1805, and died at Marion, Ohio, September 26, 1871. He studied law with Grregorj- Powers at Canton, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar, at that place, September 23, 1828, and soon after com- menced practice at Clarion. In 1856, he was, bj- Gov. Chase, appointed a Judge of the State Su- preme Court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resig- nation of Judge C. C. Converse, and," in October of the same year, was elected to fill the un- expired term. In 1860, he was one of the Ohio Electors for President of the United States. From the organization of the county until February', 1852, the offices of Associate Judges of the Common Pleas Court have been filled by the following persons : John Cary, Enoch B. Meriman, John B. French, Jacob Smith, Abel Cary, Josiah Robertson, G-eorge Poe, Hugh Welch, Samuel Knisely, Andrew Failor, Robert W. Musgrave, Robert Lee and James Stewart. These were all gentlemen of character and standing in the community, and discharged their duties well and conscientiously. The earlier records and files of the courts are lost. Once they were partially destroyed by fire ; at a later date, the most that remained were taken away in the night by parties against whom, in- dictments were pending. There are no records or files extant of an earlier date than 1831. The Common Pleas journal opens with the March term, 1834. The first resident members of the bar being young men, without experience or confidence in themselves, the most important business of the courts was conducted by older and more experienced lawyers, residing in neighboring counties, and accustomed to following the cir- cuit, sometimes on foot and sometimes on horse- back, with about the regularity of the Judges. Among those of this class whose names appear most frequently marked as counsel upon the earlier court dockets are Andrew Cofflnberry, James Pnrdy and John M. Jlay, of Mansfield ; Orris Parrish, of Delaware ; Ozias Bowen and James H. Godman, of Marion ; and Charles L. Boalt, of Norwalk. All of them were earnest, active men, and distinguished nid prius lawj-ers. John H. Morrison resided at Bucyrus, and was engaged in the practice of law at the organ- -f c^^a^-^ ^^ 'i^i't'Oc^ -4^ HISTOEY or CRAWFOED COUKTY. 327 ization of the county, in 1826, and was the first County Treasurer elected. He was considered a brilliant man, but lacking in the steadiness and perseverance necessary for success and distinction in his profession. He removed to Pindlay, Ohio, in 1837, where he died a few years ago. Isaac H. Allen, M. Flick and a Sir. Stan- berg located at Bucyrus and practiced law between the _years 1826 and 1830. Allen died here in 1828. The others left the place prior to 1830. Josiah Scott was born in Washington County, Penn., December 1, 1803, and died at Bucyrus, Ohio, June 15, 1879. He graduated with high honors at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1821, taught a classical school at Richmond, Va., and became a tutor at Jefferson College and studied law and was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania. He located at Bucyrus and commenced the practice of law in 1829. He represented Crawford, Marion and Delaware Counties in the Ohio Legislature in 1840. In 1850, he removed to Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, and continued practice. In 1856, he was appointed by Gov. Chase a Judge of the Su- preme Court, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Ranney, and in October of the same year was elected to a full term of five years, and was re-elected in 1861 and 1866. His services as Judge commenced at December term, 1856, and ended February 9, 1872. He removed to Bucyrus in 1870, and at the close of his last term resumed practice. In 1876, he was appointed, by Gov. Hayes, upon the Supreme Court Commission, a body of five members, created in 1875, by Amend- atory Section 22, Article 4, of the Constitution of Ohio, to dispose of a part of the business then on the dockets of the Supreme Court, with the same jurisdiction and power in respect to such business as the Supreme Court. Upon the organization of the Commission, February 2, 1876, he was elected, by his associates. Chief Judge for one year thereafter. He con- tinued a member of the Commission until Feb- ruary' 1, 1879, the close of its term. His active business life covers a period of fifty years, the greater portion of which was spent in this community. Nearly all the wit- nesses of his earlier efforts passed away before him, leaving a succeeding generation the spec- tators of his later and more mature labors. He was endowed by nature with a fine presence, a genial disposition and sparkling wit, and intellectual faculties and powers of analysis of a very high order. He was thoroughly hon- est and upright in his dealings and intercourse with others ; a Christian gentleman, a scholar, excelling specially in mathematics and the classics ; an eloquent advocate and an able and learned lawyer and jurist. No man was ever more thoroughly understood and appreciated at home, and few, indeed, have been so de- serving. George Sweney was born near Gettysburg, Penn., November 1, 1796, and died at Bucyrus, Ohio, October 10, 1877. He graduated at Dick- inson College, Pennsj'lvania ; studied law and was admitted to the bar. About the year 1820, he commenced practice at Gettysburg and con- tinued it for ten years. The Gettysburg bar was then distinguished for the abilities and brilliance of its members. In 1830, he removed to Bucyrus and continued practice. "While holding the office of Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County, in 1838, he was elected a member of Congress from the Fourteenth Ohio District, and was re-elected in 1840. In 1853, he removed to Geneseo, 111., but returned to Bucyrus in 1856, and, after serving another term as Prosecuting Attorney, retired from the bar. He was of fine personal appearance, intellectual, dignified, engaging in manners, a good public speaker, amiable, honorable and upright, and plain and domestic in his habits. His cases at bar were well managed, but the practice was distasteful to him. He was an excellent scholar and close student of science, !A 228 HISTOEY OF CBAWFORD COUNTY. and always preferred the retirement and comforts of home, and a life of literary ease, to the turmoil and controversies of politics and active practice at the bar. John M. Armstrong was educated at Nor- walk Seminary, read law with Judge James Stewart, of Mansfield, was admitted to the bar, and located in practice at Bucyrus in 1838. In 1843, he moved west with the Wyandot In- dians, at the junction of the Kaw and Missouri Rivers, where the town of Wyandotte, Kan., now stands. He died several years afterward, at Mansfield, on his way home from a visit at Washington on business connected with the af- fairs of the Wyandot Indians. Robert Arm- strong, his father, had been taken prisoner by the Indians, and lived among them and married a half-blood Wyandot woman, and acquired a a tract of land at Fort Ball by the treaty of 1817. John M. Armstrong, the son, was mar- ried to a daughter of Rev. Russell Bigelow, a distinguished preacher. He had good business capacities, and was well educated and accom- plished. Ebenezer A. Wood removed from Norton, Ohio, to Bucyrus, in the spring of 1841, and entered upon the practice of law. After re- maining about two j^ears, he went to Missouri. William Fisher, of Marion County, came to Bucyrus in June 1841, and went into practice in partnership with Josiah Scott. He returned to Marion in a year, and continued practice there until his death. Lawrence W. Hall came to Bucyrus from Cuyahoga County in the spring of 1844 and commenced the practice of law. He held the office of prosecuting attorney of Crawford County, by successive elections, from October, 1845, to October 1851. At the fall election of 1851, the first under the present constitution, he was elected a Judge of the Common Pleas Court, which he held until February, 1857. In 1856, he was elected a member of the House of Rep- resentatives of the Thirty -fifth Congress, for the term closing in March, 1857, and continued practice until his death, which occurred at Bu- cyrus, January 18, 1863. He was kind and genial in disposition, popular in manners, able and successful as a practioner, and a model of urbanity on the bench, and was more a politi- cian and partisan leader than lawyer. The op- position to the war of the rebellion, developed in this locality, attracted the attention of the Government, and, in 1862, Judge Hall was ar- rested and nominally held for several weeks a political prisoner, at Camp Mansfield, and final- ly discharged without further action. In con- sequence of ill health, he was on parole, and re- quired to report, only as it suited his conven- ience. Josiah S. Plants was born in Pennsylvania m 1820, and died in Bucyrus, August 23, 1863, of wounds received by the accidental discharge of a gun. He was educated at Ashland Acad- emy, studied law under instruction of Judge Josiah Scott, and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bucyrus, in 1844. In the fall of 1858, he was elected a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for a five years' term, commencing in February, 1859. He was dis- tinguished for industry, honesty of purpose, de- votion to his friends, fidelity to his clients and earnestness and force as a public speaker. His career at the bar and on the bench, was such as to justify the highest expectations of his friends had his life been prolonged. Joseph E. Jewett came from Wayne County, opened a law office, at Bucyrus, in 1844, and contiuued i'n practice until the fall of 1848, when he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he has since died. John Clark, from Richland County, com- menced practice at the bar in Bucyrus, in the the spring of 1845. He removed to Ashland in 1846, and afterward to Iowa City, where he died. Enoch W. Meriman was bom in Bucyrus, November 17, 1830, and died at Grafton, W. r 'fe. HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. 339 Va., August 12, 1861. He was admittetl to the bar in 1853, and continued in practice until the spring of 1861. He volunteered un- der the President's first call for troops, was elected First Lieutenant of his company and died in camp before the expiration of his enlistment. Henry C. Rowse was born in Bucyrus in 1835, and died at Rockford, 111., October 17, 1862. He was admitted to the bar and com- menced practice at Bucyrus in 1857, and con- tinued in business about three years. At the time of his death, he held an appointment as clerk in the Interior Department at Washing- ton. Burr Morris was born September 9, 1829, in Stark County, and died in November, 1866, at Albanjr, Linn Co., Oreg. He went with his par- ents to Hancock County in 1834, and was edu- cated in the Common Schools and at Findlay Academy. He read law with Henry Brown, of Findlay, and graduated at Cincinnati Law School in 1855. In 1856, he was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bucyrus. In October, 1861, he was elected Prosecuting At- torney of Crawford County, and re-elected in 1863. In April, 1864, he resigned and removed to Albany, Or., and commenced the prac- tice of law. In June, 1866, he was elected County Judge of Linn County, and died while in office. William S. Fitzsimmons was born in Craw- ford Count}' March 8, 1841, and died at Bucy- rus, July 11, 1870. He read law with D. W. 'Swigart, at Bucyrus, and was admitted to the bar March 16, 1868. In March, 1861, he en- listed in Company C, Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went into active service. He was in many skirmishes and engagements, including the first battle of Winchester, Va., and the bat- tle of Autietam, Md. He was severely wounded at Antietam, and finally died from the effects of his wounds. Samuel J. Elliott was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bucyrus in August, 1857. In August, 1858, he was appointed by the Governor Probate Judge of Crawford County to the vacancj' occasioned by the resig- nation of Patterson S. Marshall, and held the of fice until October 18, 1858, when his successor was elected and qualified. In 1859, he removed to Wapakoneta, where he has since died. William iM. Beer studied law with his brother, Judge Beer, and was admitted to the bar about 1866. He had enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infan- trj', serving during the war, and by regular gradation rising to the rank of Captain. Af- ter graduating in the law, he engaged for a time iu the book business, but finally removed to Humboldt, Iowa, where he practiced law, un- til his death in 1874. Robert M. Kelly was born in Lancaster County, Penn., April 8, 1815, and came to Knox County, Ohio, in 1834. He was admitted to the bar July 1, 1842, and removed to Bucjtus and commenced practice August 1, 1842. In 1845, he received from President Polk the ap- pointment of Register of the Land Office at Upper Sandusky, and removed to that place in June of that year. He had charge of the sales of the lands of the Wj^andot Reservation, and held the office until its removal from Upper Sanduskj'. In 1852, he was appointed bj^ Gov- ernor Wood, the first Probate Judge of Wyan- dot County, holding the office from January to October of that j'ear. He was elected a Di- rector of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad Com- panj', in January, 1854, and was its President the last year of its separate organization. He originated in its Board of Directors the move- ment for the consolidation of the three com- panies owning the continuous line of railroad between Pittsburgh and Chicago, resulting in the organization of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway Company. He was also, for several years, a Director, and Solicitor of the latter company. He was a member of the Ohio Sen.ate for Crawford, Seneca and Wy- 1^ ^bt 230 HISTOEY OF CEAWFOKD COUNTY. andot Counties, from January 1, 1858, to Jan- uary 1, 1860. Cyrus Linn remoyed from Cambridge, Ohio, to Bucyrus in . 1853, and entered upon the practice of law. After continuing in practice about three years he returned to Cambridge. James W. Smith came to Bucyrus from Ashland, in 1842, and after continuing in prac- tice at the bar about two years, returned to Ashland. John D. Sears read law with Judge Josiah Scott, at Bucyrus. On his admission to the bar in 1844, he entered into partnership with his preceptor, and removed to Upper Sandusky in 1845, and continued the practice. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1873, for Wyandot County. Abraham Summers, Jr., commenced the practice of law at Bucyrus, in 1850. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County in 1855, and re-elected in 1857. In 1860, he was elected Probate Judge of Craw- ford County, and re-elected in 1863. He re- moved to Hicksville, Ohio. I. P. Price commenced the practice of law in Bucyrus in November, 1851, and after con- tinuing about two years, removed to Fremont, Ohio. Conrad "W. Butterfleld commenced the prac- tice of law at Bucyrus, in 1853. In 1860, he removed to Lima, Ohio, and returned to Bucy- rus in 1863. In 1876, he removed to Madison, Wis. He is the author of a " History of Sen- eca County, Ohio ;" a " History of Col. Craw- ford's Expedition against the Indians in 1782 " (which has had a wide circulation), and some other works. Abner M. Jackson was admitted to the bar in September, 1854, and commenced practice at Bucyrus. He was Auditor of Crawford County from March 3, 1851, to March 1, 1855, and was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Craw- ford County in October, 1859. In 1871, he was elected a Judge of the Fourth Subdivision of the Third District of the Common Pleas Court, composed of Crawford, Hancock, Mar- ion, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot Counties. He resigned in 1874, and went into practice at Cleveland, Ohio. Cyrus Sears was born March 10, 1832, in Delaware County, N. Y., and came with his father's family, in January, 1836, to Crawford County, where he remained on a farm until of age. He graduated at the Cincinnati Law School April, 14, 1856, and> in June of the same year, was admitted to the bar at Upper Sandusky. He commenced practice at Bucy- rus, April 1, 1857, and continued until June 15, 1859, when he removed to Upper Sandusky and continued practice. August 12; 1861, he was enrolled a private, at Cincinnati, in the Eleventh Ohio Independent Battery of Light Artillery, and was promoted to Lieutenant October 12, 1861. He participated in the siege of New Madrid and Island No. 10, and com- manded the battery during the siege of Cor- inth, and also at the battle of luka, where his battery lost fifty-six men, and he was severely wounded. In his ofHcial order on this battle. Gen. Rosecrans states that "The Eleventh Ohio Battery, under Lieut. Sears, was served with unequaled bravery, under circumstances of danger and exposure, such as rarely, per- haps never, have fallen to the lot of a single battery during the war." In April, 1863, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment of Louisiana Yolunteers, afterward named the Forty -ninth U. S. Colored Infantry, and commanded . this regiment at the battle of Milliken's Bend, June 7, 1863. In a letter to his superior oflScer, dated March 25, 1866, Col. Van E. Young, commanding the post of Yicksburg, says : "Lieut. Col. Sears was specially mentioned in official reports of the battle of luka, and recommended for pro- motion for gallant conduct, by Gens. Hamilton, Rosecrans and Grant. He was also conspic- uously gallant at the battle of MiUiken's Bend, ^f^ ^f thL^ HISTORY OF CRAWrORD COUNTY. 231 commanding his regiment. Tlie present very efficient condition of this regiment is largely attributable to Lieut. Col. Sears. I trust his services may be properly recognized by the Government." Charles M. Dodson came to Bueyrus from Wheeling, Va., in 1880, and commenced the practice of law. In 1862, he returned to Vir- ginia. Christopher Elliott was admitted to the bar at Bueyrus, August 31, 1858, and, after con- tinuing in practice for some years, removed to Mansfield. Matthias Buchman read law with Judge A. M. Jackson, and was admitted to the bar in 1860. He was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County, on the resignation of Burr Morris, in April, 1864, and held the office until October, 1865. He now resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Archibald McGregor came to Bueyrus from Canton, Ohio, in 1858, and commenced the practice of law and the publication of the Craw- ford County Forum, and continued until April, 1860, when he returned to Canton. J. A. Estill came to Bueyrus from Millers- burg, Ohio, and commenced the practice of law, in July, 1858, and discontinued practice the following year. He returned to Millersburg. John B. Scroggs was admitted to the bar June 27, 1861, and commenced practice at Bucj-rus. He continued in practice until April, 1863, when he removed to Wyandotte, Kan. Stephen D. Young came to Bueyrus from New Haven, Huron County, in 1875, and prac- ticed law until 1877, when he removed to Nor- walk, Ohio. Joseph R. Swigart was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bueyrus in 1859. He went into the army in 1861, and served on the staff of Gen. Milroy, and continued in the service until 1864. He removed to Toledo and served eight years as a Register in Bankruptcy and Collector of Internal Revenue, and is now in practice at Bowling Green, Ohio. Walter B. Richie was admitted to the bar in 1874, and commenced practice at Lima, Ohio, as junior member in the firm of Ballard, Richie & Richie. In October, 1876, he came to Buey- rus, and went into practice as a member of the firm of Richie & Eaton. In May, 1879, he re- turned to Lima. Robert Lee was born April 20, 1805, in But- ler County, Penn. In 1823, he removed with his father's family to Richland, now a part of Crawford County, and located where Leesville is now situated. In the earlier part of his life, he was engaged in the business of farming, and was part owner of a steam flouring-mill, saw- mill, carding machine and fulling-mill, and was also a merchant. In 1836, he was elected a member of the Ohio Legislature for Richland County, and was re-elected in 1837. In 1839, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, and held the office continuously for ten j^ears. He was elected by the Legislature an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford in 1849, and held the office until February, 1832, when it was abolished by the present Constitu- tion of the State. In 1853, he was elected State Senator for Crawford, Seneca and Wyandot Counties, and was chosen President pro tern, of the Senate, May 1, 1854, and, as such, was pre- siding officer of that body during the illness of Lieut. Gov. Myers. On March 3, 1854, he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Franklin County, and was for a term Mayor of Crestline. In 1869, he was elected Probate Judge of Crawford County, and re- elected in 1872. He is at present a member of the Board of Education of Bueyrus Union Schools. He has acquitted himself well and ably in every situation in which he has been placed, and now, with good health and unim- paired mental faculties, is enjoying the respect and esteem of his fellow- citizens, and the fruits of an active, blameless and well-spent life. -^ .^ 232 HISTOKY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. Wilson C. Lemert was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bucja-us about the year 1858, and continued until 1862, since •which time he has been engaged in other pursuits. John Hopley came to Bucyrus in 1856, as Superintendent of the Union Schools. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, and commenced practice in partnership with A. M. Jackson. In 1862, he visited England on professional business. On his return in the fall of the same year, he accepted a clerkship in the Treasury Department at Washington, requiring service in the office of Secretary Chase and especial attention to the subject of finance. He was afterward transferred to the Currency Bureau, and had charge of the statistical division. In 186-1, he resigned, and engaged in a New York City banking establishment. In 1866, he was appointed Examiner of National Banks for the Southern States and Kansas. In September, 1867, he purchased an interest in the Bucj^rus Journal, and became editor. The following May, he became sole proprietor of the office. He was appointed Postmaster at Bucyrus, in August, 1870, and held the place until January, 1879. His devotion to the interests of his paper, makes his return to the practice of law a remote possibility. The following are the present members of the Bucyrus Bar : Franklin Adams was admitted to the bar in 1836, and commenced practice at Bucyrus in August, 1837. He was Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County from 1838 to. 1845. Stephen K. Harris was born in Stark County, Ohio, May 22, 1824. He was a student of the preparatory department of Washington Col- lege, Pennsj'lvania, in 1842, and of Nor walk Seminary, in 1844, and finished his collegiate education at Western Kcserve College in 1846. He read law with his uncle, John Harris, at Canton, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1849. In June of that year, he opened a law office at Bucyrus, and became a partner in business with the late Judge Scott, which was continued up to the time of the decease of the latter, except during the time that Judge Scott was on the bench of the Supreme Court, and a member of the Supreme Court Commission. David W. Swigart was born in Franklin County, Penn., December 12, 1824. He came to Crawford County in November, 1846, and was Deputy Clerk of the courts until April, 1848. He was then appointed Clerk, and held the office until February, 1852. He graduated at the Cincinnati Law School, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1852, and immediately, commenced practice at Bucyrus. He served in the Quartermaster's Department during the war of 1861, headquarters at Cincinnati, and was President of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway Company, from September, 1869, to August, 1873. [P. S. — Since the foregoing sketch of Mr. Swigart was penned, his family and friends have been called upon to mourn his sudden and untimely death. On the 25th of Novem- ber (1880), after having enjoyed a period of unusually good health, he died very suddenly of paralysis of the nerve centers, after an ill- ness of but a few minutes. — Historian.] Jacob Scroggs was born at Canton, Ohio, August 11, 1827, of Scotch and German de- scent. He came to Bucyrus, with his father's family, in 1839 ; attended the common schools and worked at the hatter's trade until 1848. From that time until 1852, he was engaged as a school-teacher and clerk in a store. He studied law, and in May, 1854, graduated at the Cincin- nati Law School and was admitted to the bar by the District Court of Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1855, he commenced the practice of law at Bucyrus. The following year he was elected Maj'or, and served in that capacity four years. From 1862 until the close of the war of the rebellion, he was Chairman of the Crawford County Military Committee, and enjoyed the con- *?ts r- Ai ^A, HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 283 fldence of Govs. Tod and Brough. In 1864, he was Presidential Elector for this district, and cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln. James Clements was admitted to the bar August 28, 1854. He was elected Sheriff of Crawford County in 1845 and re-elected in 1847, and held the office of Probate Judge of Crawford County from February, 1864, to Feb- ruary, 1870. David C. Cahill was admitted to the bar De- cember 20, 1860, and continued in practice at Bucyrus until April, 1865. The next two years he spent in California and Oregon, returning to Bucyrus and resuming practice in June, 1867. In the fall of 1873, he was elected Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County, and held the position from February, 1874, until February, 1880, and then returned to the prac- tice of law. Ebenezer B. Finley was bom at Orville Wayne County, Ohio, July 31, 1833, and was educated in the common schools. Of his early manhood, he spent five years in Illinois and Kansas and two years in the Rocky Mountain region. In 1859, he located at Bucyrus ; studied law with Stephen R. Harris, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1861. In the fall of 1861, he recruited a military company, was elected First Lieutenant, and in October of that year went into the service as part of the Sixty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, serving in Ken- tucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, and was pres- ent at the battle of Shiloh. He was disabled by an accident and retired from the service in September, 1862, and resumed the practice of his profession at Bucyrus. In 1876, he was elected a member of Congress, and re-elected in 1878, his last term expiring in March, 1881. He is at this time Chairman of the Committee on Public Expenditures, and has distinguished himself in the House of Representatives by speeches on the subjects of the silver bill, the equalization of bounties to soldiers, the use of United States Marshals at elections, and by his committee reports, and especially that upon the affairs of Grovernment printing. Thomas Beer read law with J. C. Tidball, of Coshocton, Ohio ; edited the Crawford County Forum from April, 1860, to April, 1862, and was admitted to the bar and went into practice at Bucyrus in 1862. In 1863. he was elected a member of the Legislature, and re-elected in 1865. He represented Crawford County in the Constitutional Convention of 1873, in which he took a prominent part, and as a member of the two most important committees in that body — that of the Judiciary and on Municipal Corpo- rations — found an ample field for the exercise of his sagacity and abilities as a lawj'er. In August, 1874, he was appointed by G-ov. Allen a Judge of the Fourth Subdivision of the Third District of the Common Pleas Court, com- posed of Crawford, Hancock, Marion, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot Counties, to fill a vacancy until the next election, occasioned by the resig- nation of Judge A. M. Jackson. In October of the same year, he was elected by the people to the remainder of the term expiring in February, 1877. In the fall of 1876, he was elected to a full term of five years. He has proved a suc- cess as a Judge, as well as a lawyer. The urbanity of his deportment and the accuracy of his opinions command the respect and esteem of the public and the bar. Anson Wickham was admitted to the bar at Kenton, Ohio, September 14, 1875. John A. Eaton was born in Crawford County, Ohio, November 17, 1853, and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio, October 3, 1876, and was a member of the firm of Richie & Eaton until Blay 14, 1879. Isaac Cahill read law with Jacob Scroggs, and was admitted to the bar April 4, 1877. John R. Clymer was born in Franklin County, Ohio, January 23, 1834, and was educated at Otterbein University, Ohio. In 1835, he gradu- ated at Granger's Commercial College. He had charge of the High School from 1856 to 1859, ^' i^ ^ 234 HISTORY OP GEAWFORD COUNTY. and was Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County, Ohio, from 1860 to 1868, and editor and proprietor of the Crawford County Forum from 1868 to 1877. He was admitted to the bar, at Tiffin, April 9, 1878, and commenced practice at Bucyrus. Theodore F. Shotwell was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Bucyrus, March, 1878. Daniel W. Lock was educated at "Wooster University, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1879. George Keller was admitted to the bar in 1876. The former members of the Gralion bar were G-eorge Crawford, Andrew Poe, M. Virgil Payne, Lewis Bartow and W. A. Hall. The present members are Abraham Underwood, admitted to the bar in 1855. He was Mayor of the city in 1878, and a Justice of the Peace from 1845 to the present time, with the exception of about eighteen months. James H. Marshman. We have been unable to obtain any data of Mr. Marshman's legal life. Henry C. Carhart was born in Richland (now Ashland) County, August 16, 1827, and was ed- ucated in the common schools of the neighbor- hood, and at Vermillion Institute, at Hayesville, Ohio. He read law with Judges Brinkerhoff & Geddes, at Mansfield, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar July 12, 1852. His committee of exam- ination were Jacob Brinkerhoflf, a member of Congress, and fifteen years a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio ; Samuel J. Kirkwood late Governor and now United States Senator of Iowa, and John Sherman, late United States Senator of Ohio, and now Secretary of the Treasury. He was in practice a year at Mans- field after his admission, and in October, 1853, removed to Gallon. He was Mayor of Gallon three years, from April, 1854, and Postmaster from May, 1861, until August, 1864. He was also a member of the Gallon Union School Board for two years, from April, 1872, and a delegate to the Republican National Conven- tion, at Cincinnati, in 1876. James W. Coulter was born July 4, 1846, at West Bedford, Coshocton County, Ohio. He obtained his education at Spring Mountain, Coshocton County, and read law with Judge Thomas Beer, at Bucyrus, and was admitted to the bar August 16, 1865, and immediately there- after commenced practice at Gallon. In 1869, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Craw- ford County, and was re-elected in 1871. He has served as a member of the County Board of School Examiners, and of the Board of Educa- tion of the Gallon Union Schools. Seth G. Cummings. He has served as Pros- ecuting Attorney of Crawford County from 1873 to 1877. Jacob Meuser, admitted to the bar about the year 1874. He was a member of the Legisla- ture from January, 1876, to January, 1880, and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. John De Golley was admitted to the bar at Chambersburg, Penn., in 1871. He removed to Gallon in 1874, and commenced practice in 1876. In 1879, he was elected Corporation At- torney, the first to serve under the City Charter. George W. Ziegler was admitted to the bar in 1876, and elected Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County in 1877, and re-elected in 1879. Alexander E. Anderson was admitted to the bar in 1869, and located first at Findlay, then at Carey, and removed to Gallon in October, 1878. Of George W. Johnson we have no data. The former members of the bar at Crestline were Lemuel R. Moss, from 1852 to 1854 ; James W. Paramore, John W. Jenner, Samuel E. Jenner and 0. B. Cruzen. The present members are Nathan Jones, ad- mitted to the bar at Norwalk, April 13, 1855, commenced practice at Crestline in 1856. In 1866, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Crawford County and re-elected in 1868. In May, 1876, he was elected Grand Master of the -1^ -el V l^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 235 Grand Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Ohio, and in December, 1877, was elected a representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States. Daniel Babst, Jr., was admitted to the bar at Columbus in 1871 ; P. W. Poole, admitted at Bucyrus, in September, 1865 ; Frederick New- man, admitted at Mount Gilead in 1867 ; L. C. Hinman, we have no particulars ; G. B. Cruzur, admitted at Bucyrus in 1869. The following history of the medical profes- sion of Crawford County was written by Dr. George Keller, of Bucyrus, expressly for this work, and will be found of interest to the mem- bers of the profession : Li our effort toward writing up the history of the medical profession of Crawford County, we necessarily begin about the year 1820, at which time the county was very sparsely settled, hav- ing few or no doctors and few requiring the services of a doctor. Nearlj' aU. of the earliest physicians were im- ported from Eastern Ohio, and other Eastern States, since it could scarcely be presumed that there were, at that time, any parties engaged in the study of medicine, preparatory to the practice of it. It might be proper, under these circumstances, to give a brief resume of the condition of the profession in those States east of us, in order that we may become better acquainted with the history of the pioneer doctors of the country. At and previous to the year before mentioned, the greater number of physicians in the east, were what is called regulars — those who bled, blistered, gave mercury, antimony, etc., etc., secundum artem. Homeopathy was scarcely known this side of the Atlantic ; Thomsonian- ism was in its infancy, and hydropathy, phy- siopathy, eclecticism, chrono-thermalism, etc., had not been born into the world. In the year 1 822, the celebrated Dr. Samuel Thomson, having already invented a system of medicine, had it patented, as the following doc- ument will show : No. 2866. . (Eagle, etc.) Sixth Edition. THOMSON'S PATENT. this mat oektxft that we have keceived of Thomas M. Sargent, Twenty Dollars in full for the right of preparing and using for himself and family, the medicine and system of practice, secured to Samuel Thomson, by letters patent from the President of the United States, dated January ^, 1823, and that he is thereby constituted a member of the Friendly Botanic Society, and is en- titled to an enjoyment of all the privileges attached to membership therein. Dated at Locust Grove, this 27th day of August, 1834. Pike, Platt & Co., Agents for Samuel Thomson. The fortunate Individual who, for the con- sideration of $20, became possessor of the above document, further agreed " in the spirit of mutual interest and honor, not to re- veal any part of said information to any per- son, except those who purchase the right, to the injury of the proprietor, under the penalty of forfeiting their word and honor, and all right to use the medicine." Accompanying the letters patent was a 24mo. book of 168 pages of texts, and a sup- plement of twenty-eight more, which was sup- posed to contain all that was necessary to know in the departments of anatomy, physiology, mate:rta medica, practice, surgery, midwifery and chemistry. While Hippocrates, the "father of medicine," wrote many " aphorisms,'' Thomson had but one : " Heat is life, and cold is death;" and as a result, all that was necessary in order to treat a case was to keep the patient warm — hot in fact. This was accomplished mainly hj pepper, lobelia and steam. Thomson and his confreres, used in particular six preparations which were applicable to al- most any form of disease, and in any stage of it. No. 1, lobelia ; No. 2, cayenne pepper ; No. 3, bayberry root bark, white pond lily root and i) "V i>t 236 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUKTY. inner bark of hemlock ; No. 4, bitters made of bitter herb, baj'berry and poplar bark, one ounce of each to a pint of hot water and a half a pint of spirit ; No. 5, cough syrup ; No. 6, tincture of myrrh and cayenne pepper. These six preparations, with a steaming, were supposed to be competent to cure almost any form of disease, curable or incurable. The following case, " selected at random,'' will serve to illustrate treatment of rheumatism. The Doctor ordered a large iron kettle to' be filled with water and brought to boiling point. The kettle being removed from the fire, the patient was divested of most of his clothing, a couple of sticks placed across the kettle for him to sit on, and a blanket thrown about him to retain the steam. Either from lightness of the sticks or too great weight of the patient, the sticks gave way and the unhappy subject of treatment found himself a posteriori at the bottom of the kettle. This sudden, excessive, and untimely applica- tion of the principle of health — heat — as might naturally be inferred, aroused all the evil pas- sions of the patient, and the fears of the Doctor who beat a precipitate retreat, fol- lowed by the victim, and the race was only concluded when a fortunate stream of water separated the pursuer and pursued. It need hardly be remarked that the treatment was a success. As time progressed other vegetables were added to the materia medica, until it became much more extensive. These worthies went about the country, abusing the " calomel" doc- tors, who were killing people, as they said, by blisters, bleeding, opium, tartar-emetic, etc. Dr. Thomson believed, with the ancient philosophers, that there were only four elements, fire, air, earth and water, as the following lines, taken from one of his poems, will show. " My system's founded on the truth, Man's Air and Water, Fire and Earth, And death is cold, and life is heat. These, tempered well, your health's complete." The Doctor, of course, condemned nearly all the medicines used by the " regulars," especially saltpeter, which he says " has the most certain and deadly effects upon the human system of any drug that is used as medicine. Being in its nature cold, there cannot be any other ef- fects produced by it than to increase the power of that enemy to heat." In our Ijoyhood days, we heard a celebrated professor of this system boast that he never graduated a young man in less than six weeks, but even this was seemingly asking too much, since the " average " boy of twelve years might make himself thoroughly familiar with the sys- tem in a few hours. This aged doctor was also a preacher, and was thought at times to be given somewhat to exaggeration in his state- ments. On being talked to on that subject, he said he had always been aware of his tendency to that weakness, and had shed barrels of tears on account of it. This class of doctors has be- come extinct. Another system of medicine in fuU blast forty -five years ago, was the uroscopian or wa- ter doctor. These gentlemen did not subject the urine to a chemical test or anything of that nature, but pretended to diagnose all kinds of disease, without seeing the patient — requiring only a sample of the water. This they shook up smelled — wormed out of the messenger all they could, and guessed at the remainder. It need hardly be remarked that thej' were frequently terribly victimized by pretended bearers of "samples.'' The great panacea with many of this school, was the celebrated " blood physic," made up of juniper berries, epsom salts, senna leaves, etc. An ordinary dose of this, properly prepared, would nearly fill a gallon pot. Many years ago, we were attending a patient suffering from a lingering form of fever, and on making a visit found a pot full of this mixture ready for ad- ministration, it having been prescribed by the uroscopian.- Two days afterward the poor pa- ^^ ^ -i,^ ?w HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 237 tient ceased to require the services of anj' doc- tor, having gone, in the words of the New Jer- sej' poet, to that place, " Where few physicians go." This class of doctors has also become extinct, or nearly so. In the early settlement of the country, and for many years afterward, there was a tribe of doctors called par excellence, the " Indian doc- tors." Many persons supposed that the red man — the untutored child of nature — because he did not know anything else, ought to be, and really was, a first-class doctor. It was often remarked that while the edu- cated phj-sician might be good enough for or- dinary cases of disease, the obstinate, obscure, and really difficult cases could be most success- fully managed by the Indian doctor. White men who had lived for awhile among the In- dians, or had even been chased by one, was supposed to have imbibed their peculiar skill, and ranked among the first physicians of the land. It need scarcelj' be remarked that the Indian knows nothing of disease or remedies for it, and that their prescriptions, as a general rule, have in them no more medical virtues than can be found in a decoction of oat straw. The Indian doctor is far from being extinct, as the current literature of patent medicine al- manacs abundantly demonstrates. Before concluding this part of our subject, we must make mention of a certain kind of " reg- ular doctors," who were verj' common in the early settlement of the country. Many young men, thinking they might as well be doctors, would spend a few days, weeks or months in the office of some physician and then " go out West " to practice. Fifty years ago, almost any point west of Mansfield was " out West." The only requisites in this system of practice, was a horse, a few drugs and a respectable amount of what the Arkansas doctor called the three « I's " — ignorance, impudence and independence. During our boyhood, two young men brought up in Wayne County, happened to meet in one of the western counties of the State. Mutually recognizing each other, one of them cried out, " For God's sake, H , don't tell on me, for I can purge 'em and puke 'em as good as any- body." Many of them relied largelj' on their experi- ence — that is — the}' had taken during their lives an occasional dose of pink and senna, cal- omel and jalap, castor oil, had been bled and blistered and had not forgotten the effects of them, or why they had taken them. Happily for the people, " out West " has no longer any existence, and this kind of doctors are found more rarely. Fifty j'ears ago, the countrj' was new, people suffered much and often from the malarious influences almost universally preva- lent, and in pain and distress were ready to ac- cept the services of any one calling himself doctor, without stopping to inquire as to his antecedents. Some of these doctors began business with a self-constituted diploma, resembling very much the one which maj"^ be found in the comedy of Moliere, entitled "Le Malade Imaginaire, or the Hypochondriac," which reads thus : Ego cum is to boneto Venerabile et docto Bono tibi et concede, Virtutem et puisanciam : Medicandi Purgandi Seignandi Percundi Taillandi Coupandi et Decidendi Impune per totam tcrram. A liberal translation of this mongrel Latin and French would seem to declare that the newlj^ fledged doctor is duly empowered to dose, purge, bleed, cut and kill with impunity, throughout the entire earth. When these doctors encountered severe forms of disease they were about as successful >V^ B ^ 338 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. as the celebrated firm of Sangrado and Gil Bias, the latter remarking that when a malignant form of fever made its appearance in one of the cities of Spain, under their treatment it was never necessary to visit a patient but once, for on the second one he was either dead or mori- bund, and that they made more widows and orphans in six weeks than were made during the siege of Troy. One of our early acquaintances who went West was called to see a boy who was drunk. Not understanding precisely the nature of the case, he informed the parents that it was a case of Asiatic cholora. Thus far we have been showing up the un- pleasant and farcical side of the picture — now let us turn to a more pleasing one. During the times we have been speaking of there were numbers of young men in the East who obtained as good an education as their re- sources permitted, studied medicine two or three years in the office of some practitioner, and starting from home on horseback, with all their worldly effects, traveled in many in- stances hundreds of miles, in order to come West for the purpose of really practicing medi- cine — meaning faithfully and honestly to re- lieve, as far as possible, suffering humanity. When time permitted, they read such books as they had, procured others as soon as prac- ticable, took such periodicals as were within reach, and gave their lives to the duties of their profession, each day endeavoring to learn more and more of its mysteries. They sacri- ficed home, early friendships and associations, forsook the comforts of civilization and refine- ment and came to an almost howling wilder- ness, with all its lack of comforts, for the pur- pose of practicing what they believed to be a noble and honorable profession, and for all this hoping only to secure for themselves future homes and an honorable place in society. The few surviving pioneers hold these men in grateful remembrance, and are ready to accord to them their justly deserved measure of praise, and thank them for many an act of mercy and kindness extended to them in their hours of affliction, pain and death. With these prefatory remarks, we commence our list of the doctors of Crawford County, at the same time thanking many of the pro- fession and others for the aid they have so kindly extended to us in the work. Bucyrus. — Dr. Rhodes, most probably the first physician of the place, came here in the latter part of the year 1822, a few months after the village was laid out. He remained but a short time, and we have been able to gather but little of his history during his stay, and do not know what became of him after he left. While here, he partially extracted a tooth for an aunt of Dr. Squiers, of Sulphur Springs. When the tooth was nearly out of the socket, he pushed it back in place, remarking that it would never ache again — a statement which was verified by the after-history of the tooth, which remained in situ many years afterward, but never ached. We need scarcely remark that there were no dentists in those days, and when teeth became troublesome, the doctor was called upon to extract them. Doctors, for this purpose, did not use the various kinds of forceps now in use, but an instrument called very often a pullicon. This operated on the principle of the cant-hooh, having a point d'appui, or fulcrum, and a hook. The fulcrum was placed on the tooth and gum, on the inside, usually, while the hook passed over it and caught it as low down as possible. By a simple " turn of the wrist," the tooth came out or was broken off — frequently the latter, leav- ing the patient in a worse condition than before, since the doctor was not usually pro- vided with the necessary instruments to remove the remaining portion. We are not acquainted with the etymology of the name "pullicon," but suppose it had reference to the fact that it frequently pulled the tooth in a great variety 5) \ -^4- ^k^ HISTORY OF CRAWFOKD COUNTY. 339 of directions before pulling it out. No fee was paid the doctor for tooth-extracting, the patient usuallj' remarking that "it hurt bad enough without paying anything for it." A few years later some of the doctors occasionally ven- tured to charge a " shilling " for such services. Dr. McComb (or McCombs) came here in 1823. He was quite a popular physician,- and had the confidence of the few settlers who were then here. He was a man of pleasant address; was well calculated to make friends ; had good common-sense ; was " well read," as the expres- sion goes, and was a man of much experience. His usefulness during his latter years was much impaired by a too great fondness for strong drink. He died, about 1836, at the residence of the parents of Dr. Fitzsimmons, about three miles southeast of Bucyrus. The immediate cause of death was a fall from his horse, death ensuing a few hours afterward. His wife also died here. Dr. Hobbs came here about 1824 or 1825, and remamed until about 1832. His wife, in 1830, taught what was among the first schools of the village. Dr. Hobbs, after leaving here, wentto Indiana ; remained there some time, then came back to Mount Vernon, Ohio, at which place he died two or three years since, at the age of eighty-three or eighty -four years. A number of the early physicians of Crawford remained but a short time, since the practicre of medicine in those early days required a great deal of physical and moral energy. The country was sparsely settled. Instead of roads, there were mere trails, almost impassable the greater part of the year, on account of mud and water ; frequently not even these, but simply paths leading from one lonely cabin to another. South of town, on the' "plains," some of the natural grasses attained a height of six or eight feet, and one of the earlier physicians (Dr. Merriman) informed us that in riding along these paths, flanked by the long grass, his clothing would be completely wetted through by the dews in his nightly rides. Besides, as nearly all the settlers were poor and frequently sick, the Doctor was not in the habit of getting much ready pay, and had, as a matter of course, to await the time when his patrons would be able to settle their bills — usually a long way in the future, and often never. People sick nearly all the working months of the year were illy prepared to pay doctors' bills. Under these discouraging surroundings, the Doctor, as far as his physical wants were concerned, fared about as badly as his patrons. Dr. Pierce came here from the State of New York, about the year 1825. He was then a widower, with two children, and soon after- ward married Miss Mary Carey. In addition to practicing medicine, he kept a " tavern," in a building across the street from Mrs. Rogers', on the lot now occupied by Mr. Christian Shonert. He remained here seven or eight 3'ears, and then " went West." The old settlers speak of him as a man of fair attainments and a good citizen. Dr. Willis Merriman was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1801, and came to Ohio in 1817, studied medicine in Norwalk, Ohio, in the years 1822 and 1823, practiced there for some time, coming to Bucyrus in 1827. He con- tinued in practice here until the death of his first wife in 1834. (Her maiden name was Lois Cook, of Mansfield.) Dr. Merriman, in 1835, entered into the mercantile business, which he followed until 1853. He gave us the following anecdote, connected with his early mercantile life : In those days, it was customary for mer- chants to have on their counters a bottle of whisky for the entertainment of all those who wished to partake. As some of the Wyandot Indians were in the habit of visiting the town, especially on Saturdays, he placed on his coun- ter, on a certain Saturday morning, a bottle of tincture of cayenne pepper, instead of whisky, for their especial benefit. Pretty soon a red man came in, took a drink, and as soon as he i^ 5 ^r 4fc 240 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. was able to speak, slyly remarked to the Doc- tor — " Leave him be, more Injun outside." Dr. Merriman was, for several years, one of the Directors of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad Company, and its first President. He retired from this position January 1, 1855, on the consolidation of the railroad companies into the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail- road, becoming at the same time one of the Directors of the new organization, which posi- tion he held until 1868. He was also Deputy U. S. Collector from 1863 to 1865. Dr. Merriman was a man of sterling integ- rity, noted for his real goodness of heart, and always a gentleman — traits of character which won for him the respect and esteem of all. His mental powers were vigorous, and his knowl- edge varied and extensive. He died in Bucy- rus August 30, 1873. Dr. Sinclair came here about 1830, and re- mained until 1836. He went from here to Maumee City, where he did a very successful business, pecuniarily and otherwise. He was a popular physician, and had the confidence of the people generally. Dr. Douglas came here in 1835, and remained until October 1850, when he went back to New York. He was a man of fine professional and literary attainments, and in every sense of the word a gentleman. Every act and every word of his was well considered, and under no circumstances did he ever permit himself to be vulgar, or anything approaching thereto. Dr. Andrew Hetich was born and brought up in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Penn. ; re- ceived a liberal education for those times, studied medicine and located in Bucyrus, in 1835. His wife not liking the place, he re- turned to Chambersburg, but flnall3^ came back in 1839, resumed practice, which he continued until a short time before his death in 1860. Dr. Hetich was a gentleman of respectable pro- fessional attainments, pleasant and affable in his manners, acquainted with nearly every person in the community, and generally re- spected. Dr. G-. A. Hetich, a cousin of Dr. Andrew Hetich, was also born and reared in Chambers- burg, Penn. ; came to Ohio in 1835, located in Bucyrus, and practiced his profession until his death in 1844. Dr. Gr. A. Hetich, both in a literary and professional sense, was a gentle- man of more than ordinary attainments, had the confidence of the general public, but almost uninterrupted bad health prevented him from doing a very large amount of general practice, which in those times implied a vast amount of physical exertion. Buggies and carriages were almost unknown, and nearly impractica- ble, on account of the generally new and bad state of the roads, consequently the country doc- tor was compelled to go on horseback or on foot. Dr. A. M. Jones was born in Berkshire County, Mass., and came with his parents to Ohio in 1817, settling in Lorain County. He came to Bucyrus in December, 1835, and prac- ticed medicine for ten years ; after which he became associated with Samuel Clapper in the woolen-mill business, which partnership lasted three years, he then selling out to Clapper. He has not given any attention to the practice of medicine for the past thirty years, having turned his attention largely to the real estate business, in which he has been remarkably suc- cessful. Dr. Boehler (a German) came here in 1837, and remained until 1841 or 1842, when he went to Tiffin, and some time afterward died there. He belonged to the uroscopians, a class of doctors which we have already attempted to describe. Dr. William Geller came here in 1840, and remained until 1844, going to Mount Grilead on the erection of the new county of Morrow. While here, he was elected County Treasurer, and soon after went to California. He is well spoken of by such of our old citizens as were acquainted with him. f liL^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 241 Dr. Jacob Augenstein read medicine with Dr. Boehler, alread3' mentioned, began practicing about 1842, and continued in the business until about 1862. He resides at present in Napoleon, Ohio. He also belonged to the uroscopian or water doctor system of practice. Dr. Hauck, a compound doctor, made up of homeopathy and uroscopy, came here in 1843, and remained until his death a few years after. Dr. Frederick Swingley was born in Mary- land ; came to Ohio, and commenced practice in Chesterville, in 1835. He remained at the lat- ter place until December, 1844, when he loca- ted in Bueyrus, and has been in continuous practice since. He served several years as sur- geon during the rebellion. During the years, especially 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, we remember that Dr. Swingley did quite a large amount of surgical practice in and about Bueyrus. Dr. Haas, a German Jew, came here in 1845, pretending to be a dentist, and was the first one offering himself in that capacity to the people of the place. That he was not always a doctor we learn from a poem purporting to have been written b}' him, a verse or two of which is as follows : " A Jew pettier once I vas, And pettled round my Tares, But now a doctor man I pes, Vich makes the peoples stares. Ten first on Bueyrus I vas vent, I pe' est not corned dere long. Until I see a pooty cal, Vich makes me write dis song." The Doctor wore expensive clothing, sported considerable jewelry, and had really a magnifi- cent set of dental instruments, for those times, at least, but which, unfortunately, he did not know how to use, and soon left the place. Dr. Cochran Fulton was bom in Westmore- land County, Penn., February 22, 1819, and when quite a young man came with his parents to Ohio. He read medicine in Stark County, and came here to engage in practice in 1845. G-raduated in Eclectic Medical Institute in Cin- cinnati in 1848, and has been engaged in prac- tice since. During a period of thirty-five years' practice, he has always enjoyed a fair share of the public patronage. The drug and book store opened by him in 1861 is the oldest es- tablishment of the kind in the town, and prob- ably in the county. Dr. Robert T. Johnson also came here in 1845, from Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, prac- ticed a short time, but soon engaged in the drug and book business, which business he still carries on. Dr. Potter, belonging to the " lobelia, pepper and steam ' system, came here in 1847, and re- mained several years. When questioned as to the particular system of medicine which he practiced, his answer usually was " Anti-poison, if you please." This he repeated so frequently that the boys about town dubbed him, "Dr. Anti-poison, if you please." He engaged board- ing in town by the meal, and when he had a patient in the country, usually managed to "happen round" about meal-time, and bj' this dodge lived quite economically. We have not been able to learn of anything redounding much to his reputation in any direction. Dr. Robert Sweeny read medicine here, and began practicing in 1847. He remained here until the spring of 1851, when he went to Ma- rion, where he has since resided, and where he has always enjoyed the public confidence. Dr. Applebaugh came here in 1848, stayed three or four years, and then went to Philadel- phia, Penn., and engaged in the commission business. We have heard that he received consignments from parties here, the returns of which were not considered very satisfactory. He is said to have been very fond of fishing, etc., and was a good performer on the violin. Dr. Samuel Long came here in 1849, and re- mained two years. He was well educated, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, of fine literary tastes, and being in easy circum- stances did not give much attention to the — \s At ^ 243 HISTORY or CRAWFOED COUNTY. practice of his profession. We have learned that during the rebellion he held an important place in the Medical Department of the army, at Washington. Dr. Barsham, a homeopathist, came here in 1850, and remained two j'ears. Dr. James Milott came in 1851, and died here in 18.53. He was an eclectic. Dr. Francis Meyer was born in Frankfort, Germany ; attended the schools of the city, and received his medical education at the universi- ties of Tubingen, Heidelberg and Halle. After graduation, he passed what might be called the State Board of Examiners, and served for sev- eral years as surgeon in the Schleswig-Holstein war. He came here in 1851, and continued in the practice of medicine until broken in health, about five years ago. Dr. Meyer, receiving a classical education in his early life, has, by con- stant reading of the best authors, added largely to his original stock of knowledge, and has al- ways had the confidence of a large portion of the citizens of Bucyrus and vicinity. Being a gentleman of fine literary and artistic tastes, his office and rooms have always been the re- pository of many articles of virtu, rare and valuable. Dr. W. R. S. Clark came here in 1852,' prac- ticed until 1 857, when he became a partner of Dr. Fulton in the drug business. He bought the interest of Dr. F. in this business in 1860, and carried it on until about 1867, when he sold out and removed to Indiana. He served as surgeon for several years during the rebellion. Dr. Rogers, an eclectic, came here in 1853, and went to Hlinois in 1855. Dr. M. C. Cuykendall was born in Cayuga County, N. Y.; came to Ohio when a young man, read medicine in Plymouth, Ohio, and be- gan practicing in Ganges, Ohio, in 1854. He came to Bucyrus in 1857, and remained in practice until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he entered the military service as surgeon, and before the close of the war reached the posi- tion of Medical Director. Since 1865, he has devoted his attention largely to the practice of surgery, in which department he has the confi- dence both of the profession and the public at large. He has held for several years past the position of Professor of Gynecology in the Med- ical College of Columbus. His failing health, caused by disease of the bowels, contracted during the term of his military service, has pre- vented him to a certain extent from doing much active work during the past two or three years. The following persons, in addition to those already mentioned, are practicing in Bucyrus at present : Dr. E. P. Penfield, homeopathist, came in 1861. Dr. Fitzsimmons, in 1871. Dr. Kissner, 1871. Dr. Carson, 1876. Dr. Krider, 1877. Dr. Chesney, in drug business since 1874. Dr. Georgia Merriman, since 1879. Dr. Bonar, came present season (1880). Dr. Atwood, present season. Dr. McNutt, has resided here for past seven or eight 3^ears. Dr. Price, a botanic, located on the Johnson farm, seven miles south of Bucyrus, about the year 1837 ; remained in the neighborhood about fifteen years, and then went to Illinois. Oceola. — Dr. J. N. Richie read medicine with Dr. Leander Firestone, of Wayne County, Ohio, and Dr. Henry Houtz, of Canal Fulton, Stark County ; graduated at Willoughby Medical Col- lege, and commenced the practice of medicine at this place in 1847, and has been in active practice ever since. He is a gentleman, pleas- ant in address, affable at all times and to all persons, familiar with the details of his profes- sion, energetic in business, and consequently obtained and has always retained the confi- dence of his many patrons. During his professional life here, many phy- sicians, at diflferent times, have located, but ;^ a (Ui iy A •ii^ HISTOBY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 345 soon finding the field unprofitable, sought loca- tions elsewhere. In the spring of 1874, he en- tered into partnership with Dr. William 0. Han- by, a young man of great promise, which part- nership was abruptly broken up by the un- timely death of the latter in October, 1879. He has recently taken as a partner Dr. John Ches- ney, son of Dr. Chesney, of Bucyrus. Dr. Richie received a kick from a horse, about a year since, which caused the loss of one eye, and has otherwise so much affected his health, that he is scarcely able, much of the time, to endure the fatigue attendant on a country practice. Dr. Hahn, now of Three Locusts, began prac- ticing here in 1852, but remained only eight months, going then to New Winchester, where he remained until 1867. Dr. Fruth located here in autumn of 1879, and still remains. This has ^ways been a good field for the practice of medicine, since that portion of the county west of it was settled, many years after the other portions, on account of its being part of the Wyandot Keservation. From this circumstance, malarious diseases are still much more prevalent here, than in that part of the county east of it. Sulphur Springs, or Annapolis. — The first phy- sician that came to this place, as far as we can learn, was a Dr. KelleJ^ He located here in 1836 or 1837, but remained only a short time. He was succeeded hy Drs. Barnitz, Smith, Palmer, Chapman and Griffith, none of whom remained any considerable length of time. Dr. Geo. Zeigler located here in 1840, and remained until his death in Februarj-, 1872. Dr. Zeigler had a good practice during his entire professional life. He acquired the habit of making long professional rides, for the purpose of visiting patients scattered over quite an ex- tent of territory, frequently being from home for two or three days, often sleeping on the floor in preference to going to bed. All this told on his general health, which was much impaired during his latter years. His neighbor. Dr. Squiers, advised him to give up his night riding and hard work gener- ally, but he replied that he " might as well die at his post," and finally did so, being overtaken by a severe attack of lung disease, when about two miles from home, stopped at the nearest farm-house and remained until death, which oc- curred two or three days after. Dr. John B. Squiers was born in Washington County, N. Y., May, 1818. Came with his par- ents to Liberty Township, Crawford Countj', Ohio, in the autumn of 1822. In 1835, he at- tended school at Norwalk, Ohio, one term of three months, began the study of medicine with Dr. Zeigler in 1845, and commenced practice with him in 1848, after having attended a course of lectures in Cincinnati, and graduated at the latter-named city in 1853. Since that time, although much crippled, and frequently really unfitted for the laborious duties of a country practitioner, he has constantlj' been at his post. He is emphatically a self-made man, and, al- though ne^er receiving the advantages of a lit- erary education at any college or other institu- tion of learning, has been a diligent student for the past forty -five years ; has read general lit- erature quite extensively, and has always been a reader of the serial medical literature of the day. As far as we know, he has deservedly the entire confidence of the people with whom he has been so long associated. We have never heard him speak unkindly of a brother practitioner, nor have we ever heard any one accusing him of the commission of any act derogatorj^ to the dignity of the profession. About the year 184^, there was in the place, for a short time, a doctor usually styling himself C. Turley, M. D., of whom we have never heard any one speak very kindly. He was thought to have in his composition a more than ordi- nary amount of impudence, as the following i) Vy a, ^^ 246 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. anecdotes will show : When practicing in West Liberty, he called an old gentleman across the street, as he wished to see him. The victim waded the deep mud, in order to reach him, when the Doctor wished to know whether he could give him change for a dollar bill ! When in Sulphur Springs, he sent his boy to Dr. Squiers' office with a message that he wished to see him. Dr. Squiers left his business and repaired to the Doctor's office as hastily as possible, and on his arrival was asked whether he could lend him an ounce of quinine. On a certain occasion, the Doctor went into the old- fashioned "bar-room" of the old-fashioned "tavern,'' and at once placed himself between a facetious old gentleman and the stove, com- pletely cutting off his supply of heat and dis- turbing his range of vision. The old gentle- man at once cried out, " Cramps, cramps ! " and, raising both legs and throwing forward his hands, precipitated the Doctor on the hot stove. The latter soon righted himself, but, a second attack of convulsions coming on, he was again thrown against the stove. The convulsive attack then ceasing, the Doctor was permitted to make his escape. Drs. Zimro and Patterson practiced here about 1370, but neither remained long. Dr. M. M. Carothes has been located here since 1872. Dr. H. S. Bevington has been practicing and carrying on the drug business since 1872. Richville. — Dr. Fairbanks located here in 1848 and remained until 1858. He was suc- ceeded by Dr. Peitzel, who remained until 1863. He died in Missouri a few years ago. He was succeeded by Dr. Urias Tupps, who remained until his death, in 1873. Dr. Zeigler, son of the late Dr. Zeigler, of Sulphur Springs, has been here since 1871. West Liberty, or Liberty Corners. — Dr. Wood commenced practicing here about 1843, and died of typhoid fever in 1847. He was a gentleman of fine attainments, and his death was universally regretted. Dr. Thomas C. Aiken succeeded him, and practiced here until the autumn of 1851. The writer of this sketch was here from May, 1851, to May, I860.* There were several other phy- sicians here between 1851 and 1865, but none remained any length of time. The place has been without a doctor for the past fifteen years. De Kalb. — Dr. Carleton came to this place in 1831 or 1832, and remained for several years. In addition to practicing medicine, he sold dry goods in a log building standing on the lot afterward occupied by David Anderson and others, at the junction of the Plymouth road and the one running north through Vernon Township. He is remembered by a number of the early settlers, who speak of him as a man of considerable ability. Dr. R. A. N. Be was born in the State of Rhode Island about the year 1798. He received a tolerably liberal education, and graduated at one of the medical colleges of J'hiladelphia. He came West about 1830, and aT first located in Southeastern Indiana, but, not being satis- fled with the country, came back to Ohio and located at this place in the year 1836. He continued to practice here until 1854, when he went to Van Wert County, Ohio, and remained there about ten years, coming back to De Kalb in 1864. In December, 1865, he had an apoplec- tic attack, which very considerably impaired his mental powers, and he resided with the writer from February, 1866, to SmIj, 1867, when he visited his brother in Gralesburg, 111., dying there the following December. Although quite eccentric in many particulars, and peculiarly reticent in everything pertaining to his early life, he was a man of much more than ordinary ability and attainments. *I)r. Keller, the author of this excellent sketch of the medical profeasion, is too modest to say anything of himself, but the hia- torian deems it due to him that he should have a place with the other physicians of the county, and feels it his duty to add this notice. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Harley. In 184647, he attended the Cleveland Medical College, and, in the winter of 1852-53, graduated at Cincinnati. After several years at West Liberty, he located in Bucyrus, in the fall of 1861, where, with the exception of two years, he has ever since remained, rank- ing among the leading physicians of the town. -^c ^ l^L HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 347 He devoted his time, when not professionally engaged, to reading, both professional and oth- erwise, and in his ofiice there might always be found rare medical works not usually found in the office of the country practitioner, with the best serial medical and other literature. He was a good practitioner, a reliable friend and a strictly honest man. The following points con- nected with his early history, not known dur- ing his life in De Kalb, will explain many things in his private life, which were regarded, gener- ally, as eccentricities. When reading medicine, he was thrown from a horse, fracturing his skull, and otherwise injuring him, the result of which was the impairment of his intellectual faculties to a considerable extent and for some length of time. While in this state, he was sent by his preceptor to visit a patient. The mother was highly incensed at the doctor for sending a crazy man (as she expressed herself) to visit her daughter, and so informed the young man. The Doctor, on hearing himself thus spoken of, determined to leave the country at once, go West, change his name, and forever cut loose from his then friends and relatives, arguing that if he kept up any correspondence with them, that his history woiMd soon follow him wherever he might go, and destroy his future prospects. He accordingl}- went to Indiana, as we have stated, changed his name from Roman Babcock to Rom A. N. Be, bj' which name he was known until his death. During the long, weary years from 1830 to 1866, he never once communicated directly or indirectly with mother, brothers, sisters, or other relatives — completely dead to every friend and associate of his youthful days. His many surviving friends will now understand why he was always so reticent in reference to his early life and family. Dr. R. Cahill, from Wayne County, Ohio, ' practiced here from April, 1846, to April, 1848, when he returned to Wayne Count}', afterward went to Bluffton, Allen County, Ohio, at which place he died a few years ago. Dr. Henrj' Mack practiced here during the summer of 1846 ; also the writer. Dr. Thos. A. Mitchell practiced here from 1850 to 1872 or 1873. Dr. H. S. Bevington, now of Sulphur Springs, from 1855 to 1861. Dr. Benjamin McKee has been practicing here for the past seven or eight years. Leesville. — As far as we have been able to learn, Dr. John McKean located at this point in the year 1834. The road known as the Colum- bus and Sandusky State road had been cut out but for a short time, and was, at best, little, short of a succession of " corduroys,'' while a large part of the country north and northeast of the place was little better than a swamp. Un- der these unfavorable circumstances Dr. Mc- Kean, to use a familiar expression, " grew up with the country," and had no competitor, as far as we have been able to learn until 1 847, when Dr. Peter Rupp began practicing, and remained until 1853 or 1854, when he went to South Bend, Ind., where he still resides and is en- gaged in the drug business. In 1853, Dr. Adrian located here and re- mained about a year. We have heard him spoken of as a gentleman of considerable abil- ity. Dr. McNutt practiced here from 1857 to 1859, went thence to Caroline, remained there a short time, then located in Xew Washington, at which place he remained until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he entered the armj'. Dr. Clutter has been practicing here for past seven or eight years. Bentoi), or Poplar. — As far as we have been able to learn, Dr. Peitzel was the first phj'si- cian of the place, coming here about 1844 or 1845, and remaining until 1858, when he went to Ric'hville (see Richville). Dr. Bissel came iiliout the same time, but did not remain long. Dr. John Atwood practiced here from 1840 to 1849, going then to Gabon and afterward to MeCuchenville. ;r^ _s K 248 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. Dr. Yates came here soon after Dr. Atwood, and remained three years. Dr. D. Alvord came here in 184Y and re- mained until 1873, when he removed to Bloom- ville, at which place he still resides. Dr. Al- vord, soon after his arrival here, engaged in an active and laborious practice, which he kept up until 1863, when bad health compelled him to give up active practice to a very great extent. Although entirely unassuming, he is a gentleman of marked abilitj', both in a pro- fessional and literary sense, and always had the confidence of the people of Benton and vicinity. Dr. Jones, now of Nevada, located here in 1863, and remained until 1865. Dr. Porter came in 1865, and left in 1866, go- ing to Michigan. Dr. Beiler came here shortly after Dr. Por- ter, remained two years, and then went back to Europe. Dr. Jacob practiced here from 1871 to 1877, then went to Bucyrus. Dr. Jerome Bland has been here since 1868. Dr. Schwan came here in 1877, and still re- mains. Dr. Schwan graduated in 1867, practiced in Peoria, 111., and afterward in Dubuque, Iowa, where he held the position of lecturer on Chemistry, Physiology and Hygiene in the Zwingle Normal Institute. New Washington. — Dr. Andrews located here in 1840, when the village was made up of a very few log cabins, but remained only about one year. During his short stay he lost two children, which apparently disheartened him so much that he returned East. Dr. Main came here in 1842, and remained two years. Dr. Stoutenour came about 1845, and left in 1851. Dr. Wandt succeeded Dr. Stoutenour, but after a short time committed suicide. Dr. A. B. Heshizer practiced here in 1855 and 1856. Dr. John S. Heshizer located here in 1857 and still remains. Dr. McNutt practiced here from 1860 to 1862. Dr. Benner has been here for past two or three years. Dr. Heinz, a young man, practiced here a short time in 1878. When we visited this place first, in 1841, it did not offer a pleasant or profitable field for the medical profession. There were then a few scattered rough log cabins — the roads (?) lead- ing to the place did not deserve the name — " corduroys" as a general rule — and some of these made on a most gigantic scale — logs one or two feet in diameter being put across the track instead of the ordinary small timbers about the size of fence rails. During part of the year, there was enough water in the line of the road to float even these large logs in some places, which rendered the route over them en- tirely impracticable except to a person on foot, and it required some care on his part to pre- vent his slipping off and between these moving, rolling logs. South and southeast of the place, there was a succession of marshes and swails covered with water or ice nearly all the year, and during the lattej; summer months so covered with decaying vegetable matter, and the pro- verbial green scum, as not to tell well for the health of the neighborhood. The owners of the lands had but recently pur- chased them from the Government ; and, when health permitted, had in a few places, scattered far and wide through the neighborhood, cleared up a small patch of ground, erected a primitive cabin, many of these structures not having an ounce of iron or other metal in their composi- tion. One end served as a huge fire-place, the bare earth constituted the floor, and an open- ing, frequentlj' covered by an old quilt, served as a door. Malarious diseases were, of course, ver}^ prevalent ; but the greatest scourge of the country was " sick stomach," or " milk sick- ness." This disease was attended with very ;r ^- ^K HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 349 distressing symptoms, the patient suffering from intense burning pain in the stomach, great thirst, with incessant nausea, retching, vomiting and obstinate constipation, which frequentlj' only ceased with his life. 'Sluch time has been spent in the endeavor to get at the origin of this poison, but all efforts have as yet proved una- vailing. Some persons have been very certain that it is of mineral origin, and dissolved in the water ; others equally certain that it has its existence in some plant. It is usually conceded that, when suspected places are cleared up and grass growing on them, that the disease is not propagated. Young cattle, sheep, hogs, dogs and horses become frequent victims. Milch- cows never suffer to any extent, the poison being thrown off from the system through that secretion. Man and animals using the milk almost invariably suffered from it. In the lower animals, the most marked symptoms were, apparently, those of extreme nervous prostra- tion. In animals, it was often called "the trembles,'' since they usually exhibited that symptom prominently until convalescence or death. Milk sickness, in its^ habitat, closel}' resem- bles the mirage of the desert. You can always hear of it in the neighborhood where it exists, but never reach the actual place, there being few land-owners who will admit its existence on their own premises ; but, of course, are satisfied that it exists on the lands of some one else. George Keller, uncle of the writer, who set- tled here very early, was the onlj^ man we ever met who admitted that the cause of the disease was on his own farm. Since there were no pasture-lands in the earl}' times, it became nec- essary to have cattle run at large ; but after the country became so far improved that pasture could be furnished domestic animals, the dis- ease has disappeared, or nearlj' so. The worst districts were the northern and central portions of Cranberry and Auburn Townships and two or three points in the northern part of Vernon. Crestline. — This place not being regularly laid out until 1850 or 1851, has not a very old medical history. Dr. W. P. Carnyham located here in 1852, and remained until his death — about ten years later. Dr. Pope came here in the spring of 1855 and practiced until about 1870, when he became connected with the Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Works, a historj' of which will be found in another part of this work. Dr. Edwin Borth came here about 1860 and remained until his death in 1870. Dr. Alex Jenner began practicing here in 1854, but went to Dayton a few years ago. Dr. Young has been practicing here since 1865. Dr. John McKean, formerly of Leesville, has been here since 1867. He has been practichig medicine longer than anj' other physician of the county. Dr. Charles Jenner has been practicing here for about ten j^ears. The other physicians of the place at present are Drs. Gibson, G, A. l^^riierj', James Borth, and Bennett, a Homeopathist. Dr. C. W. G. Ott has been practicing in New Winchester for nearly a year, and Dr. Sheckler in North Robinson for past three years. Dr. Lea has been practicing for several years at Wingert's Corner, or Broken Sword. Gidioii. — Since Gallon was a comparatively small village until the building of the Cleve- land, Columbus & Cincinnati and Bellefontaine & Indiana Railroads, we do not have the op- portunitj' of giving the history of as man}- pio- neer phj'sicians here as at some other points in the county. As far as we have been able to learn, a Dr. Johnson was among the first physi- cians of the place, coming here about 183- and remaining a few years. His wife assisted b}- another lady of the village were instrumental in establishing the first Sunday school. Shortly after he came, Dr. Bleymeyer, now of Delaware, V2J lit 250 HISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. Ohio, located here, and in 1838, sold out to John S. Reisinger, who practiced here until his death in 1866. Dr. Reisinger was a real practitioner of medi- cine — practiced his profession for the sake of suffering humanity rather than for the money he might obtain for his services. During the building of the Cleveland, Colum- bus & Cincinnati Railroad, cholera visited this portion of the State, and many of the employes of the contractors were stricken down with the disease. As might be expected, many of these men weie badly provided with the ordinary comforts of a sick room, and lacked proper nursing. Under these circumstances. Dr. Reis- inger himself supplied these wants as far as he could, gave his patients all the attention he could, supplied their wants to the extent of his ability, and,at their death, dug their graves and buried them. In 1 866, he received a telegram stating that his son, a student of medicine in Cincinnati, had been attacked by cholera. Hastening there as rapidlj'^ as possible, he was himself attacked by the disease and died eight hours before his son. Their bodies were brought to Gallon and interred in the village cemetery. Dr. Reisinger, during a residence of nearly thirty years in this place had deservedly the confidence of the community, both as a citizen and as a practitioner of medicine. Dr. Reisinger was born in York County, Penn., and came to Ohio in the 3'ear 18 — . There were several physicians here between the years 1840 and 1850, but they generally remained but a short time. Dr. E. Stieflfel was born in Warburg, Ger- many, educated at the university of that place, and came to the United States in 1850. He remained in New York until 1852, and then located here. With one or two brief interrup- tions, has been practicing here since that time. Dr. N. E. Hackedorn was born in Juniata County, Penn., studied medicine there, and came to Ohio in 1847, locating for a time in Delaware County and Morrow County, com- ing to Gallon in 1854, and has been practicing here since that time. During nineteen years of this time, he was connected with the drug trade. Dr. McBeth came here in 1857, and left for Denver, Colo., in 1872. Dr. H. M. Duflf located here in 1858 or 1859, and remained until his death in 1876. Dr. Prank Duflf, died here about four years ago. Dr. Kellj' has been practicing here since 1 868. Dr. Campbell, since 1872. Dr. Barber (homeopath), since 1864. Dr. Coyle, since 1865. Dr. Ridgeway, since 1878. Dr. J. Will Kelly, a few months. Dr. McUvaine, about eighteen months. Dr. Brown (homeopath), about same time. Dr. Griffin, about six months (Dr. Griflftn had for several years been located at Lykens). Dr. Chase, four or five months. Gallon has always been rather an unhealthy place, especially when compared with Bucyrus, but certain improvements in a sanitary direc- tion, recentljr made, have added much to the healthfulness of the place. We might remark, in conclusion, that several eflforts have been made during the past thirty years to organize a county medical society, but thus far they have always proved decided fail- ures. We have learned that an effort in that direction is now being put forth, with what re- sult the future will determine. In conclusion, permit us to remark that we have endeavored to fairlj' present a history of the early physicians of the county. These sketches are, of necessity, brief, since we were, in the onset, restricted to a limited amount of space, and we again thank those physicians and others for the aid they have rendered us. The diseases of the county were, for the first thirty or forty years, principally malarial. For reasons which are obvious to the profession. ^K HISTORY or CKAWFORD COUNTY. 251 but which we cannot here explain, those forms of pulmonary disease like consumption, were comparatively rare. With the decrease of malarial disease, lung diseases such as we have just mentioned, will, no doubt, increase in numbers and fatality. Diphtheria, which, during the past twenty years, has been preva- lent in different portions of the United States and elsewhere, has never shown itself to a very great extent in the county. Around and in Bucyrus, there have not probably been a half- dozen cases of the disease in the past seven- teen years. As far as I can remember, there have been only two seasons attended with much dysentery, since year 1854. As regards the profession, it is, of course, in a greatly ad- vanced state from the days of lobelia, pepper and steam. RELIGIOUS HISTORY - CHAPTER V. -EARLY PREACHERS — EDUCATIONAL — SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT— THE NEWSPAPERS— RAILROADS. C^^OTEMPORANEOUSLY with the howling ^ of the wolf and the yelling of the savage came the preacher as " one crying in the wil- derness," and proclaiming to the scattered pio- neer families the " glad tidings of great joy" given to the shepherds that blessed morn on the plains of Bethlehem. On the wild frontier, far beyond the borders of civilization, " Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey, Or men as fierce and wild as they," , the pioneer preacher was found, fulfilling his mission of preaching " salvation without money and without price." With no companion but the faithful horse he rode, and with no guide but his knowledge of the cardinal points, he traveled over the country, and thus reaching the desired settlement, he presented to the as- sembled hearers the claims of the Gospel. Then, after a night's rest in the humble cabin, and partaking of the simple meal, he entered upon the day's journey to preach again at a dis- tant point at night. It was thus that the circuit of hundreds of miles was traveled, month after month, by these faithful ministers of Christ, and to them do we owe the planting of churches and the Christianizing influences seen and felt everywhere. That holy religion which is at last the only sure basis of permanent social or political improve- ment, was introduced into Crawford County with its first settlers, who were God-fearing men. Upon the almost burning embers of the war-fire round which some barbarous chief but yesterday, as it were, recounted to his listening tribe, with horrid exultation, his deeds of hero- ism, we, to-day, find temples dedicated to that religion which announces " peace on earth, and good will toward men." Yes, all over this land, once the home of the red savage, now side by side with the schoolhouse, stand those " Steeple towers And spires, whose silent fingers point to Heaven." Among the first preachers in this county, of whom we have any reliable account, was an old Presbyterian by the name of Matthews, and the renowned Methodist evangelist, Russell Bigelow. The following sketch is given of the Rev. Mr. Matthews ; " He stopped at Daniel Cooper's to stay overnight, and proposed to preach to the people of the place that night, if they could get together. Mr. Cooper imme- diately sent out word, and by early candle-liglit had gathered in some fifteen or twenty men, women and children, to hear the glad tidings of ^1 ^1 ^ 353 HISTOKY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY. salvation from the man of God, as he was the first of the kind that had ever been through on that errand." This old minister left an appointment four weeks hence, and agreed to preach once a month during the year for $15. Think of this, ye high-salaried, stall-fed pastors, who roll in luxury, and " fare sumptuously every day. " Even this small pittance he traded for dressed deer-skins, which he said his good lady could use to "face the boys pantaloons before and behind," as seems to have been a common cus- tom in those days in the backwoods. The Methodists formed a circuit, embracing the larger part of Crawford County, in 1828, and made Galion a station. Russell Bigelow was the preacher. " Preaching." says a writer of the time, " was heard for the sake of the "Word. Denominational prejudices did not then exist, and the houses of all the settlers were thrown open to Rev. Bigelow." The following de- scription by one who knew him, is given of this able pioneer missionary : " He was a good speaker ; an eloquent man, mighty in the Scrip- tures. He was a very large, muscular man ; had a voice like a lion ; sharp, piercing eyes, that when he became excited seemed almost to flash fire. He preached a great deal of heU-flre ; was a very successful preacher, and an exemplary Christian in his deportment. His influence with the people was such, that he got many namesakes, the old ladies readily believing it would have a good influence over their sons to be called after such a powerful man as Russell Bigelow." Rev. Aaron Cary located in Cranberry Town- ship as early as 1826, and was a local preacher of the Methodist Church. In Vernon Town- ship, church societies were organized in 1827. The first religious services were held in Whet- stone Township, at the settlers cabins as early as 1824. Rev. Solomon Mynheer was an early Methodist circuit rider in this part of the county. The fine grove of maples, which grew where now stands the town of Gallon, was once a famous camp-meeting ground. Bishop Harris of the M. E. Church, and who was born and raised in Morrow County, Ohio, was converted at a camp-meeting at this place. He is repre- sented as having been a very bad boy, and that he grew to manhood with little improve- ment for the better. He went to this meeting, it is said, on purpose to raise a disturbance, but the Spirit smote him, and he was converted to God. Afterward he became a professor in the Ohio Wesleyan University, and is now a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. But we will not dwell further upon the churches and pioneer preachers here. In the township histories which follow, ample space will be given to the subject, and all the par- ticulars of interest will be fully written up. The schools of the county deserve more than a passing notice. To the excellent school sys- tem of our country are we indebted, more than to anything else, for our prosperity as a nation. No other country on the face of the earth has the facilities for educating their people that the United States have. As early as 1647, the New England colonies made a move looking to the establishment of common schools. It was enacted hj them in that early day, that " every town or district having fifty householders should have a common school, and every town or dis- trict having 100 families, should have a gram- mar school, taught by teachers competent to prepare youth for college." A modern writer, commenting upon this movement, says : " It was the first instance in Christendom, in which a civil government took measures to confer upon its youth the blessings of education. There had been, indeed, parish schools con- nected with individual churches, and founda- tions for universities, but never before was em- bodied in practice a principle so comprehensive in its nature, and so fruitful in good results as that of training a nation of intelligent people by educating all its youth." One hundred and ;t^ ^1 9 i> HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 353 forty years later, when our forefathers declared, in their ordinance of 1787, that knowledge with religion and moralitj' " was necessary to the good government and happiness of mankind," and that " schools and the means of education should forever be encouraged," they suggested the very bulwark of American liberty. In the early development of Ohio, there was a great varietj' of influences in the way of general education. The settlements were sparse, and monej' or other means of remunerating teachers was scarce, as the pioneers of new countries are nearlj' always poor. There were no schoolhouses erected, nor was there any public school fund, either State or count}'. All persons, of both sexes, who had physical strength enough to labor, were compelled to take their part in the work of securing a support — the labor of the female being as heavy and im- portant as that of the men ; and this continued so for years. In the last place, both teachers and books were extremely scarce. Taking all these facts together, it is a great wonder that they had any schools whatever. But the pioneers of Ohio deserve the highest honors for their prompt and energetic efforts in the cause of education. Just so soon as the settlements would at all justify, schools were begun at each one. The teacher or pupil of the present day, comfortably situated in their pleasant schoolhouses, has no conception of the difficulties under which an education was ob- tained right here in Ohio sixtj' or seventy years ago. It may be of some interest to the rising generation to read a description of the pioneer schoolhouse. A description of one will suffice for all, as there was but one style of architecture observed in building them. They were erected, not by subscription, but by labor given. The neighbors would meet together at some point previouslj' agreed upon, and, with ax in hand, the work was soon done. Logs were cut, sixteen or eighteen feet in length, and of these the walls were constructed. Broad boards composed the roof, and a rude fire-place and clapboard door, a puncheon floor, and the cracks filled with " chinks," and these daubed over with mud, completed the schoolhouse, with the exception of the windows and furniture. The window, if any, was made by cutting out a log the full length of the building, and over the opening, in winter, paper saturated with grease served to admit the light. Under this window, two or three strong pins were driven into the log in a slanting direction. On these pins a long puncheon was fastened, and this was the writing-desk for the whole school. For seats, they used benches made from small trees, cut in lengths of ten or twelve feet, split open, and in the round sides, two large holes were bored at each end, and in each a stout pin, fif- teen inches long, was driven. These pins formed the legs. On the uneven floors, these rude benches were hardly ever seen to have more than three legs on the floor at one time. And the books ! They were quite as primitive as the houses. The New Testament, when it could be had, was the most popular reader, though occa- sionally a copy of the old " English Reader " was found, and very rarely, the "Columbian Orator " was in a family. Pike's and Smiley's Arithmetics, Webster's Speller was the first used, and after awhile the " Elementary Spell- ier " came in. Grammar was scarcely ever taught ; when it was, the text-books used were Murray's and Kirkham's Grammars. The schools were made by subscription, the terms be- ng from $1 to $2.50 per scholar for a term of three months, the schools usually being taught in midwinter, to give the boys a chance to attend, as at that season there was but little work to do on the farm. But enough ! Those who know only the perfect school system of the present day, with comfortable schoolhouses, elegantly furnished and well-lighted and ventilated, can form but a slight idea of the system and its limited capacity half a centurj^ ago. There are ^ 4. 254 HISTORY OF CEAWrOED COUNTY. many, however, still living in Crawford County, who can testify to the truthful picture drawn of the pioneer schoolhouse. Who taught the first school in Crawford County, and where and when, are questions not easily answered at this time. Schools were established, however, as soon as there was a suf- ficient number of children in the different com- munities to compose schools. The first school in the town of Bucyrus, it is said, was taught by a man named William Blowers, though in what year we could not learn. He charged 50 cents a month for each pupil, and " boarded around." The house in which he taught was a log shanty on the river-bank and near the end of Spring street. The first building erected for school purposes in Bucyrus was of round logs, of the regular pioneer pattern, and stood near the present Catholic Church. Some of the early teachers in this house were Zalmon Kowse, Horace Pratt, Sallie Davis and others. The first schoolhouse was built in G-alion in 1822, and stood near the residence of C. S. Crim, on West Main street, and was a log structure. David Gill was the first teacher in this building. The first teacher remembered in Holmes Township was John Pretz, who taught in an unoccupied cabin in 1829. The first school in Sandusky Township was taught in a cabin built of round logs, in 1826-27, by Miss Jane Hogan. Phares Jackson was an early teacher in the county, and taught as early as 1825. James Dunlap taught in 1826, in a house built for the pur- pose, 12x14 feet in dimension. A schoolhouse was built in Whetstone Township in 1828 ; Elizabeth Bear taught the first school in it. The first school in Chatfield Township was taught by Elizabeth Thompson in 1834. Thus, we see, schools were formed. in every settle- ment as soon as the population would justify. We append the following statistics, from the last report of the Commissioner of Common Schools, which will be found of interest to the friends of education in the county : AMOUNT OF SCHOOL MONEYS RECEIVED WITHIN THE TEAR. Balance on hand Sept. 1, 1878 $55,388 00 State tax 14 404 50 Irreducible school fund 2,426 69 Local tax for school and schoolhouse pur- poses 51,099 24 Fines, licenses and other sources 868 81 Total $124,179 26 AMOUNT OF SCHOOL MONEYS EXPENDED WITHIN THE YEAR. Paid teachers — Primary $38 167 01 High 2,405 00 Total $40,572 01 Managing and superintending.... 3,635 00 Sites and buildings 17,190 43 Interest on redemption of bonds.. 3,347 07 Fuel and other contingent ex- penses 16,429 44 Total $81,173 95 Payments to county $14,386 50 Received from county 15,267 09 Excess of Receipts $ 880 59 Number of youth between 6 and 21 years — White males 4,996 " females 4,726 Total 9J22 Colored males 17 " females 15 Total 32 Grand total of enumeration 9,754 Population of county 25,500 Per cent of enumeration 38 Number of townships in county 16 Number of subdiyisious 107 Number of separate districts 6 Sohoolhouseg erected within the year 8 Cost of same $22,291 00 Whole number of schoolhouses 114 Value of school property $334,2011 00 Teachers employed — Primary — Males 116 Females 9") Total 211 -.%- l^ HISTORY OP CRAWFORD COUKTY. 255 Separate districts: Primary — Males 8 Females 37 High — Males 6 Females 1 Total 52 Grand total 263 Average wages of teachers per month — Primary— Males $38 00 Females 21 00 Separate districts: Primary — Males 48 00 Females 34 00 High— Males 62 00 Females 75 00 Pupils enrolled — Township : Primary — Males 2,560 Females 2,094 Total 4,654 Separate districts: Primary — Males 1,222 Females 1,206 High— Males 112 Females 154 Total 2,694 Grand total 7,348 Average daily attendance — Townships : Primary — Males 1,477 Females 1,298 Total 2,775 Separate districts : Primary — Males 823 Females 811 High— Males 77 Females 116 Total 1,827 Grand total 4,602 The following is the report of the Auditor of the County to the State Commissioner of Schools : " It affords me pleasure to report an increased interest in the schools of Crawford Count3'. It seems that every effort is being made through- out the county to procure the best talent for teachers that can be had. The County Board of School Examiners have exercised care in the examination of applicants in theory and practice, as well as the branches of education. " The union schools in Gallon, Crestline and Bucyrus are managed by careful and attentive school boards, with competent and efficient superintendents and a good corps of teachers. The schools are rapidly improving. Especially is this the case with the Bucyrus Union Schools, under the able management of Prof F. M. Ham- ilton, who has brought our schools up to a stand- ard that will compare favorably with the best schools in the State. The Teachers' Institute, which is always well attended, is producing an influence in promoting the interest and welfare of our common school system." A few extracts from the annual report of Hon. J. J. Burns, the State Commissioner of Common Schools, are appropriate, and are given for the benefit of those who feel an inter- est in the proper education of the rising gene- ration. He says : " How shall we cause our pupils to make the largest possible attainments in these founda- tion branches, and also have them, when they leave school, thirsting for more knowledge, and possessing trained mental faculties, so that thej' may acquire it ; the organ of these faculties to be contained in a healthy body, while mind and body are under the guidance of correct moral principles? To avoid waste of time and labor is to be able to better do the work in hand, and to apply the savings to something beyond. A search for wastage is a highly practical thing, and economy here a moral duty. " I have often asserted that there is a wast- age in having pupils spend time in learning to spell hundreds, jes, thousands of words, which they never have occasion to use outside of the spelling class, while probably the dictionary, which should be in constant use, rests in pen- sive quietness on the teacher's desk, if, indeed, there is one in the room. The meaning of words and their pronunciation are of far more moment than their spelling. The best text books from which to learn these are the reader and diction- ary ; the best proofs of progress are correct Vil TT t±^ 256 HISTOEY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. oral reading and written compositions. In pen- manship, we want more drill in writing from dictation, in having the pupils put their thoughts or recollections upon paper rapidly and neatly. Copying that beautiful line at the top of the page with care and patience is a good exercise, but some better gymnastic is required to fit the writer for hours of real work. In one way or another, language rightly claims a large share of the attention of the teacher. It is the grand characteristic which distinguishes man from the other animals, the most direct product of his inner consciousness. " The child has begun the study of language before his school-life commences. Learning to talk seems as natural as learning to laugh or cry or play. But so much of knowledge and the world is hidden in books, that a kej' must be found to unlock these treasures, and that kej'' is reading — the power to translate the writ- ten word ; to recognize it as the graphic symbol of an idea before in possession, so that the ability to reverse the process will follow, and printed words become the source of ideas. As the pupil masters words and their meanings, he is getting into his possession the tools with which he may dig in books for further knowl- edge, make his own knowledge more useful to him as a social being, and secure a body for his thoughts, without which incarnation they are as little subject to control as the weird fancies of a dream. The art of silent reading deserves more attention in school — practice in grasping the meaning of a passage in the shortest possible time, and reproducing it with pen or tongue. But along with this, in its- earlier stages, and for a short time preceding it, is the oral reading exercise, wherein the reader must serve as eyes to the listener, so that they ma}"-, through his voice, see the printed page. " The translation of a written sentence into a spoken sentence is much more than the mere translation, in their right order, of the words of the written sentence ; and, to do this well, re- quires, besides the names of the written charac- ters, culture of voice, training of eye, quicken- ing of emotion. To serve as medium through which others may know the printed page, catching the syllables upon the ear, is not low art. To breathe life into dead words, and send them into the depths of the moral and intel- lectual nature of the hearer, and that with power to convince, to arouse, to subdue, greater than if the hearer had been his own interpreter, is high art indeed. ******* " One very good result of increased attention to .literature in the schools is the marked increase in the amount of wholesome reading — history, biography, travels, poetry, popular science, and the lessened demand for dime novels and other low Action. Few questions are, in their bear- ings upon the future of our country, more important than this : What are the boys and girls reading? I would not, then, have less time spent in our schools upon language, but teachers may well look into the subject, and see whether that time is spent to the best ad- vantage. " The public regard arithmetic, par excellence, as the practical study. It is the practical educator's strong tower, and we have it taught in season and out. Measured by any definition of the practical, as a means either to fit one directly for bread-getting in the common busi- ness of life, or as a means of mental culture and discipline, a large part of arithmetic, as found in our books and taught from them, falls short. Instead of introducing at an early stage the science of geometry, we fritter away valuable time upon annuities and allegations and progressions ; and as for interest, one would think that mankind in general made a living by shaving each other's notes. Children begin early to develop the idea of numbers. It concerns matter of their daily life. The elemental steps of writing and reading numbers naturally fol- low, and usually are not difficult of acquire- •^ « ^ ik^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 357 ment. But there is such a gap between the conditions needed for the ready learning of these things, and the more mature judgment and that knowledge of business and the world demanded in the intelligent solution of ordinarily difficult problems in discount and certain other branches of applied arithmetic. Back and forth across this stretch the bo3''s mind must swing like a pendulum, repelled by what it cannot compre- hend and by what it has grown tired of He marks time when he could so readily oblique into some other study and march forward. Then, by and by, if these advanced parts of arithmetical science are needed, their acquisi- tion would be easy. Meanwhile the child may give increased attention to literature and be learning interesting and profitable lessons about this world into which he has come, and in what body he came, and how to take care of it. While these priceless practical lessons are in progress, one can fancy that the arithmetic itself would enjoy the rest. "In the time which can be saved, also a few short steps could be taken in some other branches now much neglected. The reason for, and the practical mode of doing, many things which are to be done in real life by the citizen, the man of business, the manager of a household, might be taught in the schools. Something of the nature of the materials which we eat, drink and wear, and economy in the buying and using, would be excellent lessons. If he is a benefactor of manlrind who causes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before, the language does not furnish a name for him or her, who shall cause the laboring man to know how to make one dollar produce the good results of which he must now expend two. No matter whether we regard the school as established primarily for the good of the children, or for the preservation of the State, we must admit that the most valuable result of all education, is the building of good charac- ters. This, to speak definitely, is to instill cor- rect principles and train in right habits. Citi- zens with these, 'constitute a State.' Men and women with these are in possession of what best assures rational happiness, the end and aim of human life. " I am not forgetting that we grade for ' de- portment,' and that deportment is a sort of outside view of character. But our sight is very short, even when we attempt to trace actions back to their causes, and we are entirely blind to the evil intention which never met its opportunity, to the fierce but quiet combat against wrong impulses, when nothing marks the victory but a continued walk in the path of right. Yet, in every properly conducted school, these lessons are being given. The faithful teacher is following an unwritten curriculum, and training his pupils in truthfulness, honesty, obedience to law, neatness, cheerfulness, kind- ness, in that divine summing up of active vir- tues, the Golden Eule. He is acting lectures on these theories, and constantly, by his own example, pleading at the door of the child's moral nature for all that is true, beautiful and good. Pure sentiments, generous promptings, love for God and man, should be the fruits of a liberal education. If this child grows into this inheritance, he has riches which he can keep and yet give away, which he will carry out of the world, yet leave behind to build his noblest monument." The newspaper of the present age, is one of the most important features in the history of the country, and possesses as much interest, and as accurately measures the progress of social de- velopment, as any other influence that can be brought to bear ; perhaps, more. It is the faithful chronicler of passing events, which, as time rolls on, become historical facts. With- out the newspaper, the country would be a benighted wilderness. And the county press is no weak part of the vast newspaper influence of the country. Its power is felt at home, and in its own immediate circle it wields a greater >rr ±=^t^ 258 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. influence, perhaps, than the great cosmopolitan journal does in the country at large. We shall devote considerable space in this chapter to the press of Crawford County. The history which follows, of the Bucyrus press, is by Thos. P. Hopley, and is compiled in an able manner : If the county newspaper of 1880 be com- pared with those published in Bucyrus from thirty to fifty years ago, it will become apparent that the press of Crawford County has kept pace with the progress of the last half-century. Fifty year ago, the Bucyrus editor had, seem- ingly, no use for a pen. The scissors were the brains of the establishment, and his publication each successive week was filled with advertise- ments and such news items, political articles and miscellaneous matter as could be gleaned from the exchanges. Occasionally a marriage notice was published, or a three or four-line announcement that some prominent citizen of the county was dead. The editor published columns of second-hand political news ; but never seemed to consider that his readers might take an interest in events occurring within their own county and neighborhood. After the year 1840, original political editorials became fre- quent ; but the dearth of local news continued until several years after 1850. It is doubtful if the entire amount of local news published in all the Bucyrus papers previous to the year 1850 exceeded what can be found in either the Jiinrnal or Forum during any three months of the year 1880. The first printing press brought to Bucyrus, or Crawford County, was the property of William Y. jMcGill. It was an old Kamage press, and about 1829 (Moderwell), he contem- plated publishing a Jackson paper, but after the first number appeared the publication was dis- continued. McGill must have been a man of excellent financial judgment, for he had discre- tion enough to foresee that, even in that day, running a newspaper in Crawford County would not be an easy road to financial prosperity, and he promptly suspended the new enterprise. He continued as a resident of Bucyrus and vicinity for many years, occasionally teaching school in the village and surrounding country. April 1, 1833, he acted as election clerk in Liberty Township ; and, at the same time, his fellow- citizens having implicit confidence in his integ- rity, elected him to the lucrative oflflce of " Fence Viewer." This is the only office received by the man who introduced the printing press into Crawford County. When war was declared with Mexico, McGill left for the seat of hostil- ities, deeming, no doubt, that the success he had failed to obtain by his pen might be gained with the sword, but misfortune was still his lot, for while on the way home he took sick aud died at Newport, Ky. It is doubtful if any copies of this first newspaper published in Crawford are preserved at the present time. The second attempt at journalism was made by William Crosby, who obtained possession of McGill's press and materials and, about Septem- ber 1, 1831, commenced publishing a newspaper advocating Democratic principles. He must have been more successful than his predeces- sor, if the number of issues published be taken as proof for the statement. The oldest copy known to be in existence is at the Bucyrus Jour- nal oflflce, and dated March 9, 1833. Crosby's pa- per was then known as the Western Journal and Bucyrus Adiyrtiser, and was " printed and pub- lished on Sandusky avenue a few doors north of the post office." The post office was then kept at St. Johns' store where Malice & Gloyd's establishment is at the present time. This issue of March 9, 1833, is No. 80 and in Vol. II. If the newspaper appeared regularly each week for the preceding seventy-nine weeks, then it must have been established about September 1, 1831, but it is doubtful if the publication was issued regularly every Sat- urday, and consequently the Western Journal might have been started several months pre" vious to September, 1831. The only local ^ ^1 IH^ HISTORY OF CRA.WFOED COUNTY. 259 news contained in No. 80, is two marriage notices; the issues being filled with miscella- neous reading matter and advertisements, from which many historical facts in regard to the the early history of Bucyrus can be proved if necessary. In those days, money being scarce, the publisher notifies his patrons that their subscriptions can be paid in " county orders, bacon, wheat, sugar and other articles." No. 80 does not present a fine tj'pographical appearance, and in these later days any tenth- rate pressman would not take pride in show- ing this issue as a specimen of his work- manship. It would seem that Crosby's print- ing ink ran out and he supplied the deficiency by " opening a crock of apple butter." The pub- lisher continued the paper for about three 3'ears ; the issue of July 12, 1834, No. 32, of Vol. Ill, whole number, 136, being still in existence. It was then called the Bucj^rus Journal. Crosby sold the printing office to Charles P. West, who published for about one year the People's Press, which aimed to be neutral in politics. In 1845, President Polk appointed Crosby Consul of the Port at Talcahuano, Chili, in South America. IModerwell saj's in regard to Crosby's later his- tory : " Finding the office was not a very lucra- tive one, he resigned and engaged in the whale fishery, which proved to be much more profita- ble, and in which he is still engaged. He vis- ited Bucj'rus in October, 1867." David R. Lightner was employed in the People's Press office before the publication was discontinued, and, when "West sold the establish- ment to Joseph Newell, arrangements were made for a new paper, to be published by New- ell & Lightner. Mrs. Newell, however, opposed this new move on her husband's part, and, in order to " keep peace in the family," Newell turned the enterprise over to John Reeder, and gave him ten bushels of wheat for " taking the bargain oflF his hands." Reeder and his son, Jonathan, and his nephew, Lightner, then started the Ohio Intelligencer. The first num- ber appeared about January 1, 1836, for the twenty-first number was issued July 23, and the forty-second December 30, 1836. This paper was neutral in politics, the issue of July 23 publishing both Presidential electoral tick- ets. The name of the firm was then D. R. Lightner & Co. ; but, after fifty-two numbers had been published, John Reeder retired and his son Jonathan, continued in partnership with his cousin Lightner, for several more numbers of Volume II. Young Reeder also became discouraged and sold his interest to John Caldwell. The Ohio Intelligencer was then discontinued, and Caldwell & Lightner started the Vraicford Republican about August 1, 1837, with Caldwell as editor, and D. R. Lightner as publisher. The office was then on the corner now occupied by Prank Blickes' store. In the eighth number, dated November 4, 1837, on the first page, and November 28 on the third, the proprietors make the following announcement ; " The experiment we have commenced in publishing a Democratic paper, is now in full tide of operation, and with the result so far we have no reason to complain. In addition to the old list of subscribers, we have obtained about one hundred and twenty- five new ones, and are daily receiving more. We want two hundred more immediately, and no labor or expense will be spared to make our paper interesting. An interesting and impor- tant crisis is now approaching in both our State and-National affairs, with which every man in the county should make himself ac- quainted, and which we will endeavor to lay before our readers faithfully as they transpire." This number was issued during the panic of 1837, and, money being verj^ scarce, the pro- prietor, in order to secure patronage, published on the fourth page, in sale-bill type, the follow- ing notice : " Wheat, corn, buckwheat, oats, pork, beef, butter and candles will be received on subscription at this office." After fifty -two numbers of the Crawford Republican had been 'C ® "JUL 260 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. published, Caldwell retired from the firm, and Lightner continued the paper another year, or rather for another volume of fifty-two numbers, the last appearing about January 1, 1840. The Democratic party were not satisfied with the management of the paper under Lightner, who says that '' some declared I was not a good Democrat for publishing a communication from Bishop Tuttle, in which the people were ad- vised to examine both sides." Lightner was not sorry to be relieved, and the office was transferred to Caldwell, and the paper discon- tinued for about three months. Mr. Lightner was afterward elected Mayor of Bucyrus in April, 1842, and re-elected in 1843. He is at present a resident of the town. Caldwell, for many years a resident of Crawford Countj', re- moved to California, and was murdered while carrying mail. In the summer or fall of 1838, a new Whig paper, the Bucyrus Democrat, was established by John Shrenck. Number 52, of Volume I, was issued October 2, 1839. An exam- ination of this issue would prove that if it be a specimen of the political newspapers pub- lished in 1839, the character of Bucyrus news- papers has improved verj^ much during the past forty years. It would seem that the sole idea for which Shrenck published the Democrat was to abuse the Democratic candidate for Prose- cuting Attorney. This gentleman was re- elected by a larger majority than ever, and is still an honored and respected citizen of the town, .while the Democrat "yielded up the ghost " nearly forty years ago. Shrenck con- tinued the paper several years ; No. 47, of Vol. Ill, was issued May 4, 1842, and it was pub- lished during a political campaign of that j'ear. After a precarious existence of four years, he removed the press and materials to Upper San- dusky, and from there to Fremont, Ohio, where he died a few years afterward. This Bucyrus Denwcrat was the first paper published in the county in opposition to the Democratic party. The Democracy of Crawford were anxious to have an organ at Bucyrus, and the publishers of the Ohio Statesman, at Columbus, recommended Thomas J. Orr and John White as two printers who could conduct a paper to suit the party. About April 23, 1840, these young men, having obtained possession of the printing material formerly owned by Caldwell & Lightner, started the Democratic Republican, the fourth number of which appeared May 14, 1840. White then retired from the establishment ; it is generally reported that the partnership was dissolved by Orr kicking White out of the office for being intoxicated. Considering the present partisan meaning attached to the words Demo- cratic and Republican, it appears strange that, in 1840, the organ of Crawford County Democ- racy should be named the Democratic Repub- lican, while the Whig paper, opposed to the De- mocracy, should be called the Bucyrus Demo- 1 crat. Orr continued in the newspaper business at Bucyrus for several years, and was supported ■ by the Democratic party. The first volume of the Democratic Republican was completed May 28, 1841, and, shortly after this, Orr commenced issuing the paper very irregularly, for although the second volume was started June 4, 1841, it had onlj'' reached the thirty-eighth number by July 23, 1842. The other fourteen numbers were possibly issued during the next eight months, but on Saturday, April 15, 1843, the second number in Volume I, of the Bucyrus Republican was published. In the next twelve months the paper was generally regularly is- sued, the fifty-second number appearing June 8, 1844. When the Presidential campaign was over, the Republican was published so irregu- larly that the patrons became disgusted with Orr's management, and the Peoples Forum, es- tablished in the spring of 1845, received the patronage of many who had formerly supported the Republican. No. 27, of Vol. II, was issued March 22, 1845, and soon after this the paper was discontinued. Orr was elected Clerk of ^ V' 5 J^' l^ \ X L^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 263 the Court in 1851, and re-elected in 1854. In 1859, he was chosen to represent Seneca, Craw- ford and Wj'andot Counties in the State Sen- ate. During the second session, the war brolce out, and Orr supported the measures adopted by the Legislature, for the preservation of the Union. For doing this, he was bitterly de- nounced by many Democrats, and, when he sought a re-nomination at the next primary election, received only 782 votes in Crawford County, while Judge Lang, of Tiffin, received 760. Orr afterward removed to Calhoun County, Iowa, where he died July 2, 1874. Many leading Democrats in Crawford County were not satisfied with Orr's irregularly issued publication, and J. E. Knapp, Jr., who had for several years been connected with the Marion Mirror, was induced to establish another Dem- ocratic paper at Bucyrus. The first num- ber of this, the Peoples Forum, appeared April 12, 1845, and for more than thirty-five years the Forum has been regularly published by dif- ferent proprietors. Knapp's office, for a few weeks was opposite the court house, then a few doors east, near the Methodist Episcopal Church. In .April, 1848, the printing material was removed to the room over Lauck & Failor's store ; April, 1850, to the Anderson Block, now the residence of C. K. Ward and George C. Gormly ; in the spring of 1855, to the Sims House corner, Knapp sold the paper to Mor- decai P. Bean, in 1847, and he was proprietor for ten j'ears. During the latter part of this decade, Philip Dombaugh was associated with him, but never owned an interest, although con- sidered publisher for several years. They finally dissolved business relations April 24, 1857, and shortly afterward Bean sold the Fo- rum to J. A. Estill, now editor of the Holmes County Farmer. The office was removed to Quinby Block April 1, 1859, and, in a few weeks, passed into the hands of A. McG-regor, present editor of the Stark County Democrat, who re- mained until April 20, 1860, and then trans- ferred the paper to Thomas Beer, now a Judge of the Common Pleas Court. The office was removed to Burkhart's Block, now the property of J. Gr. Mader, Jr., January 1, 1862, and April 25, Henry Barnes and Thomas Coughlin pur- chased Beer's interest in the paper. After five months, Barnes retired from the partnership, but Coughlin continued as proprietor until April, 1868. In October, 1867, he was elected County Clerk, and re-elected in 1870, Before entering upon the duties of this position, he sold the office to John K, Clymer, Clerk for the previous seven j'ears. About this time, the office, which had been improved bj' the addition of a fine Cincinnati cylinder press and other new printing material, was removed from Blair's Hall to the second story of No, 8 Quinby Block, August, 1867, Coughlin employed, as associate editor of the paper, William Hubbard, who con- tinued with the Forum until April, 1869, This gentleman was an unusually earnest and forci- ble writer, who had attained, as editor of the Logan County Gazette, a national reputation. When he retired from the Forum, the partner- ship of Hubbard & Coughlin was formed, and they bought the Democratic Northwest, at Na- poleon, Ohio, which the gifted Hubbard edited until he died. May 11, 1872. J. B,. Clymer con- tinued as publisher of the Forum for nine years, until April 20, 1877, when he sold the office to Maj. J. H. Williston. In February, 1871, an engine was purchased, and the paper printed by steam. For over twenty-seven j'ears, the paper was folio inform until, in October, 1871, it was changed to a quarto, and subscribers who desired it semi-weekly were furnished four pages on Tuesday, and four pages on Friday, This system was continued until the four-page form was resumed November 17, 1876. During the nine years Mr. Clymer was publisher, the office occuijied, at different times, each floor of No. 8 Quinby Block. In December, 1878, the establishment was removed to the basement of the Deal Block, where it has continued since ^rr 'J^ 264 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. that time. An attempt was made to establish a daily Forum during the past year. The first number appeared July 12, 1880, but, after con- tinuing regularly for four months, the daily was discontinued November 3. In June, 1851, the name of the publication was changed from the People's Forum, to the Crawford County Forum. It is well known that Crawford County has always been strongly Democratic, and dur- ing the past thirty-five years the Forum has been regarded as the party organ. Its course on the many questions at issue before the na- tion have met with the hearty approval, and the firm stand it has always taken in the inter- ests of the party have been enthusiastically in- dorsed by the Crawford County Democracy. After Shrenck's Bueyrus Democrat had been discontinued, the Whigs of Crawford were without an organ for nearly ten years. Near the close of 1852, subscription papers were cir- culated throughout the county, and, as enough subscribers were guaranteed to warrant J. A. Crevier in publishing a new Whig paper, Janu- ary 6, 1853, the first number of the Bueyrus Journal was issued. Soon after this, the Re- publican party was organized, and the Journal, under Crevier, warmly espoused the doctrines advocated by its leaders. Since then, the pa- per, under different proprietors, has faithfully labored in the interests of the Republican party. With the exception of eleven eight- page numbers, printed during the first three months of 1856, it has always been folio in form. For two years, the office was located " at the comer of Main street and Pill alley ; " then on Main street, north side of square ; May 1, 1856, it was removed to near where Ritz & Van Voorhis' restaurant is at the pres- ent time ; February 22, 1858, to McCoy's build- ing, opposite the court house ; January 1, 1859, to the second story of Rowse's new block, where the paper was published for seventeen years. In the year 1853, a strike occurred among the printers at work on the Pittsburgh daily papers ; two of them, David R. Locke and James G. Robinson, started on a Western trip. They reached Plymouth, Ohio, and were induced by citizens to revive the Advertiser, which they sold in 1855, and, with Rudolph BrinkerhoflT, purchased the Mansfield Herald. Soon after, Locke sold his interest in this pa- per, and March 20, 1856, purchased of Crevier, the Bueyrus Journal. For several months his brother, D. W. Locke, was associated with him, but they dissolved partnership July 15. Shortly afterward, Locke prevailed upon his former partner to take an interest in the Jour- nal, and, in April, 1857, the two friends were again united in their business interests. The office was improved by the addition of a Rob- inson Princeton power press, which was the first cylinder press brought to Bueyrus. These two enterprising men cordially worked together, and advocated in the Journal many new enter- prises needed by the community. Among the many public and private improvements which were the result of their persistent agitation, are the gas-works, the cemetery, the many shade trees, the well-paved sidewalks, and many buildings. In April, 1861, Mr. Robinson was appointed Postmaster of Bueyrus, by Pres- ident Lincoln, which position he held until re- moved, for political reasons, by President John- son in 1866. Mr. Locke retired from the Jour- nal, November 13, 1861, and purchased the Fremont Journal, and afterward an interest in the Toledo Ba-ily Blade, vfith which paper he is connected at the present time. While editor of the Fremont Journal, he commenced writing the noted Nashy Letters, which obtained for him a national reputation. September 2, 1867, Mr. Robinson sold his interest in the Journal to J. Hopley for $2,000. April 1, 1862, Ralph Robinson became associated with his brother in publishing the paper, and continued with Mr. Hopley until May 20, 1868, when he also sold his interest to his partner. After leaving the printing ofllce, James G. Robinson em- ^f i\iL^ HISTORY OF CRAWFOKD COUNTY. 265 barked in the drug business with Dr. M. C. Cuykendall, and continued at this until he died, April 14, 1872. Ralph Robinson removed to Iowa, and has since been connected with the Fairfield Ledger, Clarinda Herald and Newton Journal, of which he is now sole proprietor. In October, 1875, a new Cottrell & Babcock improved drum cylinder press was added to the printing material of the Journal, and shortly afterward, December 30, the office was removed to the Converse Block, and fitted up with steam power. [For many years the pres- ent editor of the Journal has been engaged collecting files of Bucyrus newspapers, and he has secured many copies of publications printed in the village during the earlj^ settlement of this county. All of his files were kindly placed at the disposal of the gentlemen engaged on this county history, and these papers have proved, in many cases, a valuable aid to the historian, and furnished many historical facts that otherwise would have been over-looked. — Historian.] Two German papers have been published in Bucyrus, during the past three decades. The first number of the Crawford Coiuiti/ Bemo- krat was issued September, 15, 1855, by Moi-- decai P. Bean, proprietor of the Forum. This German paper was continued for several years ; a portion of this time it was under the charge of Bernhardt Roch, who was killed by the cars at Dayton, Ohio, April 10, 1863, and shortly afterward the Demokrat was discontinued. The first number of the Beutscher Conr!er was pub- lished in January, 1875, by Joseph Killian, proprietor of the Mansfield Courier. In about a year the office was removed to Mansfield, but for some time after this, a Bucyrus edition of the paper was published. The Independent Democrat was started by Dr. A. E. Jenner, of Crestline, in February, 1873. The office was first located in that town; the paper was folio in form until Ma\- 14, 1875, when it was changed to eight pages, and the name to the Cirar/onl Cntnty Demorrat. For two years it was in charge of A. N. Jenner, son of the proprietor, who continued in the office until July 15, 187."). Some months previous to his retirement, J. E. D. Ward purchased an in- terest in the office, and, when young Jenner left, continued sole publisher until Charles Wright became associated with him in Novem- ber, 187(5. About this time the office was re- moved to Bucj'rus, but, some months previous to this change, a Bucyrus edition of the Demo- ei-at had been printed at Crestline. Wright re- tired after several weeks' experience, and Frank Plants took his place. When Major Williston purchased the Forum in April, 1877, the pub- lishers of the Di iiiiicriif soon found they could not successfully compete with him for the pat- ronage of the Crawford County Democracj^, and their paper was discontinued about July 1, 1877. Since the first printing press was brought to Bucyrus, several attempts have been made by Vliflferent parties to establish other miscella- neous publications. In 1838, William Robbins issued the first number of a semi-monthly pub- lication called the Bnekci/e. It was printed at the Repnhli(-. HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 269 ferent parts of the State, and, as the years went by, culminated in the perfect system we have to-day. The first road to intersect Crawford County was the Mad River road, above referred to, which passes through the northwestern part of Wyandot County, then a part of Crawford County. In 1851, the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad, now known as the Cleveland, Colum- bus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis, or " Bee Line," Railroad, was built through the eastern part of the county. The question of building this road was agitated as early as 1835-36. But, as railroad-building was then in its infancy, it was not until 1851 that the line from Cleve- land to Columbus was completed, an event that was celebrated by a great banquet at Cleveland, to which everj'body was invited. An effort was made to secure it to Bucyrns, but sufficient inducements financially were not made to the company, and a route further east was chosen. According to an act of the Leg- islature then in force, on a majority vote of the electors of any county through which a rail- road might pass, the County Commissioners were allowed to subscribe to the capital stock. In the spring of 1846, a proposition to sub- scribe $50,000 to the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad was submitted to the people of Craw- ford County, and defeated by a vote of 1,507 to 361. In January, 1862, the Cleveland & Columbus road purchased the Springfield, Del- aware & Mount Vernon Railroad for $134,000, by which more direct connection was made with Cincinnati. Some years later, this road purchased the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis Railroad, which forms the Indianapolis Divi- sion of the Bee Line, one of the great railroad corporations of the country. But the main road of Crawford County is the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad, passing from east to west almost through the center of the county. Prom the most reliable facts to be obtained, the history of this road may be thus briefly given : In February, 1848, the Legislature of Ohio passed an act incorpo- rating the "Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad Company." On the 11th of April of the same year, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed a similar act, making the company a corporation of that State. The act of incorporation of the Ohio Legislature gave the company power to construct a railroad from Mansfield, in Rich- land County, eastward by way of Wooster, Massillon and Canton, to some point on the east line of the State, within the county of Columbiana, and thence to the city of Pitts- burgh ; and from Mansfield westwardly by way of Bucyrus to the west line of the State. The work on this road was commenced in July, 1849, and the entire track was laid and the road was opened for travel from Pittsburgh to Crestline on the 11th of April, 1853. The Board of Directors had determined in 1850 to make Crestline the terminus of the Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad. This made further action necessary b}'^ the citizens of Crawford County and of the people west in order to se- cure a continuation of the line through Bucy- rus westward. The subject was warmly dis- cussed for some time, and eflSorts in this direc- tion were finally successful. On the 20th of March, 1851, the Ohio Legis- lature granted a charter to the "Ohio & In- diana Railroad Company," for the purpose of making a road from a point on the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad, through Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky to the west line of the State, and thence to Port Wayne, in Indiana. Liberal subscriptions were made to the stock of this company by the citizens of Crawford County, and the County Commissioners, after a vote by the people, which determined their authority to act, took, in the name of the count}', $100,000 of the stock. The organization of the com- pany was completed at Bucyrus on the 4th of July, by electing a board of Directors, which met soon after and selected Dr. Willis Merriman '3 ■ ^ 370 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. President. On the 10th of the same month, J. E. Straughn was elected Chief Engineer, who at once commenced making the necessary surveys for the location of the road. In Sep- tember following, the Directors fixed the east- ern terminus of the road at Crestline, and in January, 1852, awarded the contract to William Mitchel & Co., for building the entire road from Crestline to Fort Wayne, a distance of 131 miles, the company to furnish the rails. The contractors prosecuted the work with energy, and had it ready for passing trains over the whole road on the 1st of November, 1854 ; the contractors receiving in part payment for work, stock in the road. Stock was also paid for in wild lands, farms, town lots, right of way and farm products ; but little cash was paid into the treasury by the stockholders. The people in the counties between Fort Wayne and Chicago, determined to make a strong effort to build the last link in the chain between Phila- delphia and Chicago. A convention was called at Warsaw, Ind., in September, 1852, for devis- ing ways and means for accomplishing the object. This meeting was largely attended by those interested in the enterprise, and the ob- ject in view proved successful ; inasmuch as that in 1856, the work was so nearly completed on this new line, that, by using a portion of the Cincinnati, Peru & Chicago Railroad, a continuous ,line was opened on the 10th of November, 1856, from Pittsburgh to Chicago. On the 1st of August, 1856, the three corpora- tions were consolidated under the name and title of the " Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad," by which name it has ever since been known. Such is the history, in brief, of this great railroad thoroughfare, one of the best roads in the United States. It belongs to the Pennsylvania system, and is the direct source of its communication with the great West. Says a local historian of the county : "Where was an isolated wilderness is now a thriving garden, connected with all parts of the continent. Less than a generation ago, the necessary supplies of life could be secured only by tedious journeys through almost trackless forests ; now we take the cars and speed away to the best markets in the world in less time than the pioneers went forty miles to mill on horseback, with a bushel of grain divided be- tween the two ends of the sack." The Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway, a road now known as the Ohio Central, is one in which the people of Crawford County have taken an active interest from the first inception of the enterprise, up to the completion of the road. This project was agitated as early as 1868-69, and meetings held in the different counties and towns through which the road was designed to pass. At these meetings, the idea of a railroad through the county, running from northwest to southeast, was discussed, and in the summer of 1869, the route from Toledo to Pomeroy, began to assume a tangible form. A number of meet- ings were held in towns along the proposed line, and much enthusiasm manifested for a road that had already been incorporated as the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway. In the fall of 1869, a survey of the route was commenced, and the county papers announced the fact "that the work had actually commenced ; that a corps of engineers had been employed at each end of the route ; one corps leading south from Chaiin- oey, and the other north from Newark to Toledo, and our citizens will know within sixty days, weather permitting, where the road will run." The Columbus Journal, in May, 1870, pub- lished the following : " Our local columns yes- terday morning, contained a notice of the letting of a contract for the construction of 118 miles of the Atlantic & Lake Brie Railway, being so much of the line as lies north of Trimble Town- ship, Athens County, and south of Bucyrus, Crawford County, passing through or near Millerstown, Oakfield, New Lexington, Reho- both and Mount Perry, in Perry County ; New- ark, Greenville, Alexandria, Johnstown and ^ s ^1^ Ll^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 271 Hartford, in Licking County ; Sparta and Mount Grilead, in Morrow County, and Bucyrus and other points, in Crawford County." A contract was made with A. M. Huston & Co. for the construction of that part of the road lying be- tween the Athens line and Bucyrus. By this contract the road was to be finished, and ready for trains from Newark to Bucj'rus bj* April 1873. In February, 1872, a contract was let to Michael Moran and W. V & A. M. McCracken, of Bucyrus, to grade the road from the latter place to Toledo. A contract was awarded in July of the same j'ear, to B. B. McDonald & Co., of Bucyrus, to put iron on two sections of the road from Pomeroy north. A contract was made about the same time for the bridge across the river at Bucyrus. With varying progress, the work on the road moved along through the summer and fall. The following extract is from a letter written by the President to a gen- tleman in Toledo, under date of December 6, 1872: "A carefullj' revised estimate of the cost of construction, made with more than one- half of the road-bed between Toledo and Ferrara, in the very heart of the ' Great Vein ' coal-field completed, shows an excess of reliable stock subscription, applicable to that portion of the work, of more than 8200,000 over-esti- mated cost. That stock subscriptions have not been more rapidl}' collected, and the wr)rk vigorously prosecuted during the past summer, is the result of a well-considered conclusion, arrived at in the early part of the season, that, with the prevailing price of iron and equipment, the interest of the company would not be sub- served therebj'. It has now been determined by the board, to collect the subscriptions and push forward the work as fast as possible, with a view to its completion the coming sum- mer." But with all the favorable circumstances at- tending the enterprise, the first year or two after it was inaugurated, it dragged along rather slowly, and in September, 1875, a meet- ing was held at Bucvrus, when the following points in the history of the road were brought to light : " That the road was in imminent danger ; that it had been proposed to sell portions of it, and this would virtually sacrifice Wyandot, Crawford and other counties ; that this propo- sition was defeated in the board, for the pres- ent ; that the road was in debt, and that, if something was not done in thirty days, the project would have to be abandoned." In view of this, it was proposed to organize a new com- pany to finish the road upon terms similar, though not quite so favorable, to those secured by the Ohio Construction Company ; that this Company be formed by a subscription of $450,- 000, to be apportioned among the counties along the line ; the sum allotted to Crawford being $50,000. The terms of the subscription were, that it was to be paid in installments of ten per cent a month, and no installment pay- able until $400,000 of reliable subscriptions should be made. In March, 1876, the county papers mention the fact that two locomotives have been bought and arrangements made for the third, for " our new railroad." Fifty miles of the road was to be completed and the cars to be running over it by June. The 1st of September it was an- nounced that fifteen cars were being painted and finislied at the Bucyrus Machine Works, to be used for the purpose of delivering rails on the road, and that the rails for the division from Moxahala to New Lexington would all be delivered in two weeks. With all these cheer- ing prospects, however, it was not until the latter part of the summer of 1880 that trains ran through Crawford County on this road. During the winter of 1879-80, it took a new lease of life, after a Rip Van Winkle sleep of a couple of years, and during the spring and sum- mer was prosecuted to completion. In March, 1878, the road was sold, and bid ofi' for $106,668, in trust for certain bond- i) fy 372 HISTOBY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. holders. A short time previous to its sale, the name and title of the road had been changed from " Atlantic & Lake Erie Eailway," to the "Ohio Central Railroad." This change of name was made for the purpose of selling the bonds to better advantage than could be done under the old name. In the Ohio Central, Crawford County has another outlet, which will prove of incalculable beneiit to the county seat and the county generally. It gives direct com- munication with the vast coal-fields of South- eastern Ohio, and with the city of Toledo, one of the best markets in the State. The Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad, or, as now known, the " Northwestern Ohio Railway,'' also passes through a corner of Crawford County, but is of no special benefit except to the northeastern part of the county. The first efforts made toward building the Mansfield & Coldwater road were about the year 1867. Parties in Toledo, acting in con- junction with the citizens of New Washington and vicinity, made strong endeavors to engi neer the project through, and have the road to run directly from Toledo to Crestline, passing through New Washington and Annapolis. This was the original intention of the parties inter- ested, and of the two towns, Annapolis and New Washington, the one subscribing the larg- est amount of stock, was to have the depot. Annapolis won the depot by the most liberal subscription, but the road was not built through the town, on account of the indifference to the matter of the citizens of Crestline declining to take sutiScient interest or stock to obtain it through their town. The citizens of New Washington then conferred with the interested parties in Toledo and Mansfield, and finally suc- ceeded in getting the road from Toledo to Mans- field, under the name and title of " Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad." Work commenced on the road in the spring of 1872, and, by October of the same year,enough of the track was laid to allow construction trains to pass back and forth between Toledo and New Washington. On the 1st of May, 1873, regu- lar trains first began running over the road. In June, 1878, through some financial trouble or embarrassment, the road passed into the control of the Pennsylvania Company, and its name was changed to '' Northwestern Ohio Railway." It now forms an important division of that companj'. The road merely touches the northeastern part of the county, passing through two townships, and having'two stations in the countj^, viz. : New Washington, in Cran- berrj^ Township, and DeKalb, in Auburn Town- ship. There was about $30,000 of stock sub- scribed to the road in the two townships named above. Shares were $50 each, so as to enable any farmer in ordinary circumstances to take a share or two. The amount was made up by subscriptions of from one to five shares. The road is now completed, and, as stated in the beginning of this sketch, is of no particular benefit to the coantj' at large, but merely to a verj^ small corner of it. The Atlantic & Great Western Railway has one station in Crawford County. Gallon is the headquarters of the third and fourth divisions of this road. The Atlantic & Great Western was put through the county, or a little corner of it, in the summer of 1863, and, in June, 1864, the last rail was laid at Dayton, with consider- able ceremony. Shortly after its completion, the shops of the third and fourth divisions were built at Gallon. In 1874, the large brick shops were erected, which added greatly to the pros- perity of the town. Gallon is also the eastern terminus of the Indiana Division of the Cleve- land, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad, and its junction with the main line. This requires shops also of this company at Gal- ion. These two roads, with their immense shops and hundreds of employes, constitute the life and vitality of the place. It is estimated that at least 65 per cent, of the population of Gallon is railroad men and their families. *^r ;^ 4 'i^ HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 273 From the foregoing pages, it will be seen that Crawford County is well supplied with railroads and lacks neither modes of travel or transpor- tation, but is in direct and easy communica- tion with all the best markets both East and West. CHAPTER VI. TH1-: .AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM — EXTENT OF CLEA GRAINS— MINOR PRODUCTS- STOr"K-R fTHHE great resource of a country in its early -L history, and the true secret of its independ- ence in its later years, is found in its agriculture. Here are found the elements that make up the distinctive characteristics of the national life — the secret enginery that carries on the nation to its appointed destiny. Upon this the national policy is based, and whatever there may be of manufactures, of science or of art, finds its alma mater in the prod uctive labor of the farmer. No historical survey, therefore, can be complete that neglects to trace the rise and progress of the agricultural system, and to none of the great factors of a nation's progress can intelli- gent effort be placed to greater advantage than when applied to this root of all industries. In a recent address to an assembly of busi- ness men, one of Ohio's greatest leaders said : " You are living illustrations of the first chil- dren of the pioneers who planted Ohio. When your fathers were born, Ohio was unknown, ex- cept as a trackless wilderness, and yet, where the smoke from not a dozen white men's cabins ascended to the sky in all this territory, now three and a quarter millions of happy people, prosperous, honorable and successful, are living and guiding the destinies of a people as great in numbers and wealth, as all who inhabited the thirteen colonies when our fathers won their independence. What a spectacle is that ! And all this prosperity was won by the simple, plain, straightforward process of downright hard work — that is what did it — labor first laid out on the raw material that God made, and then capital, INGS — STVLE OF CULTIVATION — ({RASS CROP— AISING— AGRK "L'LTURAL SOCIETIES. which is only another name for crystallized labor, saved ujj, protected and saved by the strong arm of equal and just and honest law. Now this is Ohio." In a restricted sense, it might be just as truly said, " This is Crawford County." Authentic data by which to determine the earlier practices of the farmers, and their re- sults, are difficult to obtain, and the letters of Flint, an English traveler, written from the Miami, Scioto and Maumee Valleys in 1818, may give, perhaps, as correct a picture of that interesting period of agriculture as can be ob- tained. He says; "I saw some people threshing buckwheat ; they had dug a hollow in a field, about twenty feet in' diameter, and six or eight inches in depth. In this the grain was threshed by the fiail, and the straw thrown aside in the field to rot. The wheat is cleared of the chaff by two persons fanning it with a sheet, while a third lets it fall before the wind." On his way to Chillicothe, he stopped some daj's at a cabin, and writes of his host, a farmer, as follows: " He told us that Indian corn sells for 25 cents per bushel, and that he could procure twenty-thousand bushels of it within three miles of his house. This appeared to be some- what surprising, on considering that the cleared grounds form only small detached parcels when compared with the intervening woods. Wheat sells at 75 cents per bushel. This sort of crop is at present more profitable than Indian corn, as in most cases it yields more than a third part by measure ; it does not require to - e- ft^ 274 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. be cleared of weeds, and is more easily carried to market. The predominance of crops of In- dian corn is occasioned by the ease with which it is disposed of in feeding hogs and other stock, and, perhaps in some degree, by prejudice. Farming establishments are small. Most cul- tivators do everything for themselves, even to the fabrication of their agricultural implements. Few hire others permanently, it being difficult and expensive to keep laborers for any great length of time. They are not servants, all are hired hands. Females are averse to menial employments. The daughters of the most numerous families continue with their parents. There is only one way of removing them. * * * The utensils used in agriculture are not numerous. The plow is short, clumsy, and not calculated to make either deep or neat fur- rows ; the harrow is triangular, and is yoked with one of its angles forward, that it may be less apt to take hold of the stumps of trees in its way ; light articles are carried on horseback, heavy ones by a coarse sledge, by a cart or by a wagon. The smaller implements are the ax, the pick-ax, and the cradle, scythe — by far the most commendable of backwoods apparatus. The lands of Ohio are understood to be more fertile than those of Pennsylvania. With good culture, from 60 to 100 bushels of maize per acre are produced. On an acre of land near the mouth of the little Miami, one of the first settlers raised the extraordinary quantity of 114 bushels. The advanced state of population in the southern part of the State, has withdrawn the most choice tracts of ground from the land office ; good lots, however, may still be bought from private individuals at a moderate price. The higher country, lying nearly equidistant from the Eiver Ohio and Lake Erie, is under- stood to be healthy, fertile, abounding in springs of water, and possessing a good navigation downward in wet seasons of the year, by means of the Elvers Muskingum, Scioto and Miamis. The northern part of the State is described as having many large prairies, of a rich quality, but unhealthy." This picture, though of gen- eral application, presents in vivid colors the crude beginnings of sixty years ago, in Craw- ford County , as truly as of the spot where he wrote. The experience of every agricultural community in the State passed through all these stages, but, before even such advancement could be noted, there was a work to be done, of which the' curious Englishman could give but little account. The first white settlers here found, for the most part, a country thickly covered with a heavy growth of timber, and the land shielded from the piercing rays of the sun by the dense for- est foliage, saturated with the moisture which the character of the country favored. To erect here a home and render the land subject to an annual tribute for the sustenance of his family, tasked the powers of the pioneer to their ut- most. It was an even-handed struggle for subsistence, and anything accomplished might safely be set down as an improvement. This was practically true of the first twenty years in the history of a settlement. An average of five years were consumed before the frontier could be relied upon to furnish a support, and, in the meanwhile, the fare supplied by the abun- dance of game and wild fruits was eked out with economical purchases of corn from the older settlements. After erecting a cabin with the aid of hospitable neighbors, from five to ten acres were felled. It was then " chopped over," i. e., the trees cut into suitable lengths for rolling into piles for burning. After the universal bee for rolling, came the burning, which was not the least exacting of the fron- tier farmer's labor. When the amount of labor performed, and the dearth of labor-sav- ing conveniences are considered, it will appear that, in accomplishing so much, labor was not less effectively applied than now, but in such a consideration the methods must not be lost sight of On a single claim, this much was i^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 375 frequently done in three months, and a small crop of corn harvested in the first year, but the average results were not so favorable. The point to be gained was to get in readiness for the " bee " as early as possible, for when the " rolling season " began, there was an uninter- rupted demand upon the settler for from six to eight months in the fields of his neighbors. Many were called upon when they could least afford the time, but, from the necessities of the situation, there was no refusal possible, and, large as this demand appears, it will not be considered exorbitant when it is remembered that neighborhoods covered an area of from ten to fifteen miles square. Under such cir- cumstances, the prevailing tendency is to un- derrate the value of timber, and to carry the work of clearing to the very verge of denud- ing the land of this important aid to agricult- ure. This tendency has not been so marked in Crawford County as in many of the older counties of Northern and Northeastern Ohio. While the clearing has been carried to the far- thest extent consistent with ordinary prudence ■ in some parts, there are other parts, especially in the western portions of the county, where the proportion of timber lands is considered by the farmers too large, and the timber is marketed very freely. Another fact which has a tendency to bring up the proportion of wood- land is found in the prairie districts of the county. Here, forty years ago, the timber was kept back by the frequent burnings of the Indians ; but, since the land has fallen into the hands of the whites, this timber has grown to a serviceable size, and almost obliterated the dis- tinctive characteristics of the plains. Wood is still the principal article in use for fuel, selling at moderate prices save where the bad roads of spring and winter make its delivery more ex- pensive than the timber itself. Coal found its way into the larger villages of the county as fuel but comparatively a few years ago, and is even now used as much on account of its con- venience as because a cheaper material than wood. Its introduction was not marked, per- haps, until 1868, and it has not yet found its way into the public buildings of the county. The prevailing system of agriculture in Craw- ford County may properly be termed that of mixed husbandry. Specialties find little favor with the farmers. The practice is to cultivate the various kinds of grain and grasses, and to raise, keep and fatten stock, the latter business being the leading pursuit of about one-tenth* of the farmers. The mode of cultivating the farm- ing lands has not been of the highest. Provided with a rich and varied soil, the average farmer has not felt the need of studying the principles of such branches of learning as relate to agri- culture, and has frequently hesitated to receive, or rejected, the teachings of science. A few persons, however, were found at a comparatively earty day who brought to the business of farm- ing that amount of patient investigation which the greatest industry of this country demands. Farmers are becoming less and less unwilling to learn from others, and the husbandry of the count}' is attaining a commendable thorough- ness, and is improving in every respect. Owing to the productiveness of the soil, the subject of fertilizers has not received the atten- tion which it has obtained m many other parts of the State. Phosphates and plaster are sel- dom used, and many have scarcely exercised the customary care in preserving the ordinary accumulations of the barnyard, much less to add to this store by artificial means. Barn- yards are arranged to carry off the drainage of the stables, rather than retain it for use on lands, and straw and other feeding refuse is left to the disposal of stock, without a consideration as to the best means of converting it into the best medium for restoring the vitality of the crop lands. There are many fields to be found in the county that have been cropped with wheat or corn for years without renewing or * Agricultural Report of 1876. ^ -_9 ^^ 376 HUSTORY OF CRAWFORD COUJ^TY. fertilizing, and others have only been relieved by a rotation of grain crops. This practice has, in most cases, borne its legitimate result, and is awakening a decided interest among the most progressive farmers in this vital subject. Ro- tation of crops, on a more or less extended scale, is now being gradually introduced, corn being the first crop planted on sod ground, fol- lowed by a second crop of corn, or oats, or flax, and then wheat. With the latter crop the ma- nure is used, as it is thought it shows largest results in this crop, and leaves a better soil for the grass which follows. Deep plowing has never been popular with the mass of Crawford County farmers. Some experiments were made with the Michigan double plow, but its great draft, with the general lack of appreciation of the value of deep plowing, soon caused it to fall into disuse. The objection that the upper soil was buried so deep by the Michigan plow that several seasons were required to effect the proper mixture of the soils, was remedied by a later experiment. This consisted of two plows, be- tween which the team was divided. A shallow soil-plow turned over the surface, which was followed by a long steel-plow without a turning- board. This proved, in many places, a vast improvement upon the old plan, furnishing the requisite depth without burjnng the upper soil, and loosening the subsoil, thus furnishing a natural escape for the excessive moisture, which the character of the hard-pan too often resists, allowing it to escape onl}' by evaporation. But the prejudice against subsoiling was too firmly rooted to allow the experiment to spread, and it is now considered impracticable, or even in- jurious to the land. Artificial drainage has been necessarj- from the first in many parts of the county. In a large portion of the eastern part of the county, at an early date, marshes occupied almost the whole country, and pioneer life was little more than a hopeless struggle against the miasma of the air and the miry con- dition of the earth. Speaking of the 3Iaumee Valley, in which this county is situated. Secre- tary Klippart says : " Every acre, almost, of the entire Northwest requires thorough underdraining, because there is nowhere a porous or gravelly subsoil, but, on the contrarj-, I have everywhere found a stifi' clay subsoil. Even in places where the soil was very sandj-. the subsoil was an almost im- pervious clay. Without thorough underdrain- ing, the actual fertility of the soil cannot be developed."* Surface draining, by county ditching, has been carried to a considerable extent, the State Report of 1876 placing the number of public ditches at forty, with an aggregate length of 195 miles. The longest of these ditches extends twenty-four miles, and four of them connecting with ditches of adjoining counties. Less atten- tion has been given to tile training. According to the report referred to, there were but two tile manufactories in the county at that time. There has been a marked increase of interest in this subject of late years, however, and many are learning the \'alue of tile even in meadow lands. The demand has increased, so that the manu-' factories of these goods are driven to supply the demaiul. The increased value which tliese efforts have added to the lands of the county, would be difficult to determine. Low lands that were an entire waste are being reclaimed, so that there are not more than 300 acres of what can be properly called waste land in over 2512,000 acres in the whole couhty. The land thus underdrained produces the finest crops^ and, it is claimed, can be cultivated much sooner after a rain, or from eight to ten days earlier in the spring. The subject of grass lands has always been an important one in Crawford Countj', from the fact that a majority of the farmers are more or less interested in grazing stock, though forming a more prominent feature in the southern part of the count}. In this part of the county, * In Report of 1ST6. ^f^ (5 \^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 377 grain is raised principally for home consump- tion, and the system of husbandry, so far as any has prevailed, has been directed mainly to secure the best results for the grass crop. Timothy grass, with a mixture of clover, is mainly relied upon for the supply of hay, meadows being turned over about once in iive years. Meadows are generally pastured and are turned out frequently as pasture lots, after serving in their prime as meadows. Of late, some attention is being paid to under-draining this class of grass lands, and some attention is paid to top-dressing with barnyard manures. Orchard and blue-grass, though introduced in a limited way, have not taken any strong hold upon the interests of the farmers. There is considerable hesitation manifested in experi- menting with blue-grass, as it is claimed by many — among them some scientific agricultur- ists — that the June grass, poa pratensis, is the same thing, modified by the difference of soil and climate. Millet and Hungarian grass sup- plied a want in the agricultural economy of twenty years ago, but are not now used at all. In the matter of clover lands, the prevailing policy is to grow it for the seed, which is a cash article, and finds a ready sale. For this pur- pose, the seed is very sparingl}' sown, in order to secure a large stalk, and a consequent large yield of seed. Three bushels is a verj' large yield and two bushels is considerably larger than the average yield. It is generally sowed in combination with timothy, for the purpose of producing a quality of hay highly esteemed for milch cows and sheep. It is largely used as pasturage, but the predominant purpose is for seed. The acreage turned under has been very small in past years, but this short-sighted policy is being remedied of late, and more value is being placed upon it as a means of renewing exhausted lands. In the cultivation of the cereals, the dis- tinctive features of the husbandry of Crawford County are plainly marked. The aim of the early settlers was, obviously, to derive from their lands, their only resource, a simple but sure subsistence, and, to this end, a system of mixed husbandry was a necessitj^ Their descendants, hedged about by the results of their fathers' experience, and aiming to sell their surplus product in such form as would take from the land the smallest amount of its fertility, have, from the nature of the case, fol- lowed in their footsteps. The Maumee Valley, while not rivaling the Miami or the Muskingum Valleys, as a wheat country, is, nevertheless, well adapted to its cultivation. Of this divi- sion of the State, Crawford County's average for nine years, immediately subsequent to 1849, 14,781 acres, producing 187,980 bushels, was third in the list of counties. This showing would, doubtless, have been greatly- changed, had not so large a proportion of her territory been devoted to stock-raising. In 1876, though the acreage had increased to 23,281 acres, with a product of 232,075 bushels, it had been out- stripped by Sandusky County, which had in- creased from an acreage of some 12,000 to over 30,000 acres in 1876, and stood fourth in the list. In the report of 1879, Crawford County still retained its position of 1876, with a breadth sown of 29,880 acres, and a product of 617,786 bushels. In the early culture of wheat, a great many discouragements were met. The first settlers found the blackbirds an almost insuperable obstacle, and, when rid of this pest, found it of so rank a growth as to be unfit for use, which gained it the name of "sick wheat." Later, the weevil destroyed it year after year, and, when no particular excep- tion could be taken to the season, the crop seemed to fail because it was in an uncongenial climate. During the period succeeding 1849. the yield, it will be observed, was less than thirteen bushels. In 1876, the yield was still lower, being less than ten bushels to the acre, but for the last four years, the product per acre has rapidly increased, as it was, in 1878, over "711 ±t^ 278 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. twenty bushels per acre. During later years, and especially during the past four prosperous years, there has been a marked improvement in the results of wheat culture. The grain seems to have become acclimated ; and farmers, gain- ing more confidence in its stability, have sown during the present season — fall of 1880 — a larger breadth than any year previous. The favorite seed in early years, was the old blue- stem. This, however, was late in maturing, and proved objectionable on that account. This was supplanted by the Mediterranean, which matured some ten days earlier, and is still cul- tivated to a considerable extent. Under con- tinued cultivation, it has lost much of its " rye appearance," to which many had objections. The Fultz wheat was introduced by Dr. George Keller, by seed from the Agricultural Depart- ment at Washington, about 1872. This is get- ting to be a favorite with the farmers, and larger quantities are being sowed. Experi- ments have been made with the Genesee, white Mediterranean and Amber. No particular sys- tem has been adopted in the cultivation of this grain. At an early date, the practice of plow- ing -'bare fallows" during the summer, and then re-plowing the same, before sowing in wheat, was occasionally practiced, but it is now resorted to in scarcely a single instance. The object seems to be to put no work into the cultivation of the grain, that can be possibl}- avoided, and get passable results. There seems to exist, also, a feeling among a large class of the farmers, that improved methods are an in- jury to the soil, and that the old way is the only safe way. Corn ground is sometimes used for growing wheat, but generally it is sown on oat or flax stubble lands. After plowing, manure is spread upon the surface ; and, when the seed is sown broad-cast, the wheat and manure are harrowed in together. When the drill is em- ployed, as in a majority of cases, the manure is well harrowed in in the first place. The practice of sowing wheat upon the same ground for several successive j^ears, does not obtain to any great extent, save where occasionally the soil seems weU-nigh exhausted. The breadth ; of land sown is quite uniform, with a gradual increase from an average of 14,000 acres up to '. 1858, to 23,000 in 1876, and some 30,000 acres ] in the present year. The difficulty experienced in commanding anything like a complete file of I the State Repcft-ts, renders anything like a com- parative statement impossible, and we shall be I obliged in this chapter to forego any attempt I at tabulated statement. The grain is threshed in the barn or barnj^ard, the straw being piled, with little effort at stacking, in the yard adjoin- ing. Horse machines were introduced about 1840, which, with the various improvements, held the ground until late years, since when, the steam thresher has been the favorite. Trac- tion engines are used considerably, as the level character of the land is quite suitable to this mode of locomotion. Eye and barley are but little cultivated. The former is cultivated almost exclusively for the straw, which finds a ready sale in limited quantities for binding stalks, and, when chopped up, as packing for eggs. The average yield of the grain is about fifteen bushels per acre. Barley is occasionally raised to some extent and, where the soil is fitted for it, proves a valuable crop. Its cultivation, however, has received verj' little local encouragement. Though there are several brewing establish- ments in the county, there is very little local demand, as they use corn principally in their manufactures. The crop for 1878 was 4,658 bushels from 232 acres — an average of a trifle over twenty bushels per acre. This is a considerable falling-off from the earlier years. In the early history of the county, buck- wheat was sown considerably, as a substitute for wheat, but, as the culture of the latter grain prospered, the former has become less promi- nent, and the acreage has shrunk from an aver- ^ \ „3 '■.if. ^\|s »^ in. IIISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 281 age of 867 acres in 1850-58, to 169 acres in 1876, and 40 acres in 1878. Oats are extensively grown, but find a home demand nearly equal to the supply. It is a reasonably sure crop, and, though occasionally affected by droughts, it is relied upon with con- siderable confidence. Rust has at times proved a serious drawback in the earlj"^ years, but it has not been a subject of serious complaint in later years. The breadth sown is quite uniform, and does not vary materially, save to gradually increase in extent. The crop in 1878, was 617,- 968 bushels from 17,283 acres, which was an average crop for the past five years. The corn crop, while not grown to the exclu- sion of the others, is one upon which the farm- ers most confidently rely, and the land devoted to its culture, especially in the southern part of the county, is only limited by the necessities of the situation. It is far more stable in its jdeld, less liable to disease, and may be slighted in its cultivation with greater impunity, than any other crop. The soft varieties of seed are gen- erally preferred, and are usually planted on sod ground, though a second crop off the same field is not an uncommon occurrence. It is usually well put in, the ground being prepared with considerable care, and worked until it " tassels out." The old rule of -'going through" the field a certain number of times before " laying by " the crop, has long since been abandoned by the better farmers. The last plowing, after the corn has reached the height of five or six feet, is considered the most effective in its cul- tivation, but the exigencies of the season often prevent the farmer's bestowing this crowning attention. The majority of the farms in the northern part of the county being small and worked principally by the owners alone, the wheat and clover cutting coming close together, frequently obliges the small farmer to slight his corn. When, however, the farmer is able to hire help, or has boys who can be trusted to do the work, the plow is kept going through the corn, an expense that is amply repaid by the increased yield. The manner of harvesting the crop differs materially in the different sections of the county. Among the small farmers of the north part of the county, the crop is usu- ally cut and husked in the field, and the stalks either stacked or hauled to the barn for use during the winter. In the other section of the county, when large farms are the rule, and feed- ing stock the leading occupation, the crop is frequently not cut or husked at all. The gen- eral practice is to husk enough to supplj- horses with feed, and the rest left standing for the cat- tle and hogs that are turned in to feed indis- criminately. Husking from the standing stalk is practiced occasionally, but it is generallj'^ considered wasteful of time and material. The Maumee Valley for years was greatly retarded in its development on account of the lack of natural drainage, which converted a vast terri- tory into what is generally known as the Black Swamp, and by the Indian reservation, which held large tracts of land out of the market. Since 1850, however, there has been a rapid ad- vance in the cultivation of cereals, and this di- vision is rapidly gaining upon the Scioto and Miami Valleys, which have so long constituted the corn-fields of Ohio. Among the eighteen counties that make up this division — the north- west part of the State — Crawford stands third in her corn product, with an average yield of 615,370 bushels from 18,943 acres in 1850-58, 1,159,259 bushels from 29,777 acres in 1876, and 1,531,111 bushels from 32,048 acres in 1878. But a comparatively small proportion of this is exported, the greater part of the product be- ing consumed by stock fed in all parts of the county. Some of the largest results shown )>y farmers in raising this crop were by Linus Ross, in 1852, one acre, with a yield of 126 bushels ; by E. Barritt, in 1853, three acres, with an av- erage yield of 129.2 bushels per acre ; by S. S. Caldwell, in the same year, three acres, with an average of 124.25 per acre, and in 1859, by Jo- D \ 282 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. seph Kerr, from one acre, 128 bushels, Abel Dewalt, from one acre, 117.29 bushels, and Abram Bckart, from one acre, 117 bushels. The other crops that occupy or have occupied a more or less prominent place among the agri- cultural products of the county, are potatoes, flax or sorghum. The quality of this soil is well adapted to the raising of potatoes, and farmers who have given considerable attention to the proper cultivation of this highly prized and indispensable esculent, have always been well rewarded for their labor and painstaking. It is a staple vegetable, universally used, always commands a fair price, and its general cultiva- tion for exportation would undoubtedly prove highly remunerative. The fact, howeA'er, seems to have been overlooked or the obstacles greatly exaggerated, and no more are produced than are needed for the home supply. The leading varieties are the Early Rose, Early Ohio, with the Peerless and Peachblow cultivated in con- siderable quantities as a winter potato. The Triumph is highly prized and cultivated by some, while the Prairie Seedling and White Peachblow are being cultivated as experiments. The Neshannoek, Early Climax, Brownell's Beauty, Beauty of Hebron, Dunsmore Seedlings, are among those that have strong friends among the farmers. The average yield of this crop is good, and is not often seriously affected by disease or insects. Flax, although grown in this county to some extent every year, is subject to violent fluctua- tions in the acreage devoted to its culture. It is now raised exclusively for the seed, which has become an important article of commerce, large amounts being purchased annually by the warehousemen at the villages of the county. It is an exacting crop, and the fiber is only in- cidentally valuable, owing to the unsalable con- dition in which it has to be sold ; an amount of discouragement which is only overbalanced by the fact that the seed frequently commands a high price, and is always a cash article. It is not relied upon to any great extent, however, as a source of revenue. Some years ago, a flax- mill at G-alion, made a market for the fiber, but the usual fate of these institutions overtook it ; it was burned down, and the promise of busi- ness did not warrant its rebuilding. The history of the cultivation of sorghum cane in Crawford County, is similar to that of • most other parts of the State. The first intro- duction of this cane in the United States, was by D. J. Brown, of the United States Patent OflBce. He procured the seed in France, and left it at the Patent Office in November, 1854, whence it was distributed through the States of Greorgia and South Carolina. Here it was thoroughly experimented with, and a good sirup manufac- tured and exhibited at the fair of the United States Agricultural Society in 1857. Experi- ments were early made in Crawford, by William Cox, of Sandusky Township, but it did not take any strong hold in the county until 1862. In the early part of this year, the papers of the county took up the subject and urged upon the farmers the necessity of cultivating sorghum to suppl}' the deficiency of shipments from the South. This advice was quite generally heeded, and the first introduction of the seed was re- ceived by the farmers with great enthusiasm. The first seed, perhaps, was brought in about 1857, and small bags containing about half a pint, sold readily for a dollar each. The exper- imenters, however, were not over-sanguine, and, though the aggregate acreage reached a consid- erable extent, the largest amount under culti- vation on a single farm, was not more than two acres. The requisites for the successful culti- vation of this crop, as given by the most eminent authority upon the subject, R. 6. Peters, of Georgia, are "First, appropriate soil : a warm, dry soil, and, where it is practicable, sandy loams or those of a limy nature ; rich upland rolls are better than bottoms ; sandy loams with clay subsoil are good ; any soil good for winter wheat will do ; the rich, black «^ i ^ 4" — ^ Ik. HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 283 com lands produce as large or larger stalks, but the juice is not so rich, nor the flavor of the sirup so good. Second, pure seed : Much of the cane of this country has become mixed with broom corn ; it will not pay to raise such ; the pure sorgo and one or two kinds of the im- phee will pay. One pound of good seed is enough for an acre. Third, proper culture : Plow deep, and let the ground be stirred afresh just before planting, that weeds may not get a start ; the largest yield may be had by drilling one way ; four feet one way by two the other, does very well ; most persons plant as they do corn ; cover not over half an inch with fine dirt ; don't plant until the ground is warm — from the 15th to the last of May, according to the season. Fourth, prepare the seed : Put the seed into a vessel, and pour boiling water on it ; after about a minute, turn it into a basket for the water to drain off, and cover it with a wet paper, and let it stand for about twenty-four hours in a warm place ; this will crack the hull, and cause it to start some seven or eight days sooner than if started dry, thereby causing it to get the start of the weeds and ripen earlier in the fall ; stir the ground from the time j'ou can see the plant, until three feet high ; about six seeds in a hill is the correct quantitj-." The experience of the farmers here is summed up in an article by J. H. Cox, who took an active part in this project as follows : " Here comes a man with a load of cane, and the question is, how much cane did you plant ? ' Well, I planted about an eighth or a quarter of an acre (as the case may be), and after a long time it came up. I hadn't the ground in very good order ; and when it did come, I thought it was so small it wouldn't come to anything, so I just run through it a couple of times with the shovel plow, and let it go. I did not go to see it until after harvest, or until I went to cut up mj' corn, and I found it had done pretty well after all, considering the chance, so I cut it up, and brought it down to get it worked.' Here is another : He has done a lit- tle like the first, only he sowed buckwheat on his cane patch, and harrowed it over, but the cane would grow, and he got five gallons of ex- cellent molasses. We have made over 150 gal- lons of sirup from the cane grown on half an acre. * * * We have in our possession a gallon of sirup that we will put up in competi- tion with anything that anybody has made, and it WHS made from (jircn friiir. * * * My ex- perience is, that it will stand more cold than corn. * * * It will stand drought better than corn, for the reason that the roots grow deeper than corn. Wet weather will work out its destruction."* The papers were full of discussion of this sort, but with a unanimous conclusion in its favor. Mills, both iron and wooden, though the former were considered preferable, were secured and put into operation, and hundreds of gallons of the sirup manufact- ured. The first produced in most cases, owing to the lack of information on the subject, and the carelessness with which its manufacture was conducted, was sorry stuff. To the skeptical part of the community, this result strength- ened the prejudice formed against the under- taking and greatly discouraged many of the experimenters. Another cause which contrib- uted to this result, which is suggested in the foregoing quotations, was the exercise of a ruinous economy on the part of the majoritj' of farmers. Instead of purchasing new seed, and sparing no pains to make a fair trial of this new crop, the majority of those who planted it borrowed seed of their neighbors and allowed the work of the farm to seriously interfere with the cultivation of the cane. The result was that the cane deteriorated in quantit}' and qual- it}', and the whole thing was voted a failure. A few, however, were not so easih' discouraged, and kept up the experiment until a reall3' fine molasses was obtained. Experiments involv- ing considerable expense were made to pro- *BucyrnB Juumal, March 28, 1802. i) ">y ^± 284 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. duce sugar from this cane, but its manufacture was found to be so expensive that it had to be abandoned. A poor grade of sugar was made much cheaper, but it was of no commercial value, and but little interest is now manifested in the enterprise. Some four or five establish- ments do a limited business in this line, and, by careful and intelligent handling of the cane produce a first-class article, which has attained a considerable local reputation. In 1878, some seventy acres were planted, and sixty-one pounds of sugar and 5,878 gallons of sirup man- ufactured. Tobacco has been cultivated to a very limited extent, simply for the private use of the grower, and it may well be hoped that its culture may not be farther extended. It is an exacting crop upon the land, and sooner or later the exhaustive process will work the deterioration of any neighborhood or farming district where its culture is a prominent part of the farming operations. The forests of Crawford County are well sup- piled with the sugar-maple, and the people have not been slow to utilize them in the way of making sugar. It was a practice at an early date to make the product of the maple into sugar, as in this shape it answered the needs of the household to better advantage, and this prac- tice continued down until more recent 3-ears, when cheaper cane sugar made maple sugar no longer a necessity. The product is now about equally divided between cake-sugar and sirup, the demand, however, considerably exceeding the supply. A survey of this branch of Crawford County's agriculture would hardly be complete without some reference to the famous June frost of 1859, which operated so disastrously all over the State. It occurred on a Saturday night. On the preceding night it rained, and Satur- day morning opened warm and bright as usual ; but before evening it grew unaccountably chilly, and as night closed in the weather was decidedly cold. -With this change of temperature came a " killing frost " that left scarcely a ves- tige of the growing crops alive. Corn was about eight or ten inches high, and potatoes had reached the growth that made the effect of the frost most damaging. All grain was ruined, and the people suddenly found themselves brought face to face with the prospect of al- most starvation. On the following day, the churches in many places were almost deserted. The farmers wandered aimlessly about their stricken iields, while the villagers thronged the country ways, anxious to measure the extent of the disaster, which had involved town and farm alike. Fortunately, there were some late crops that had not come on far enough to be hopelessly crippled by the frost, and the less fortunate farmers set about repairing the mis- fortune so far as possible. The corn and pota- toes were replanted, buckwheat was sowed in place of wheat, and, thanks to an unusually long season, these crops were fairly matured. The wheat was a total loss. The straw, if it had been cut at once, and well cured would, at least, have proved a feed for cattle, but by standing a short time the sap which would have filled out the ear, exuded upon the stalk and rendered it finally unfit for fodder. There was a large proportion of soft corn in the fall hun- dreds of bushels of which molded and proved a complete loss. This blow was severely felt by the agricultural community, and, through them, scarcely less bj' the whole county in all branches of business. Fruit culture may be safely said to be yet in its infancy in Crawford County. The first set- tlers, deprived for a time of its use, and realiz- ing the great demand in every family for this important article of food, early set about plant- ing orchards. But little care was exercised, in the majority of cases, in the selection of varie- ties, or in their care of orchards after once well set ; and, taking into consideration the value of good fruit as a substantial element of food, as a valuable agent in preserving and promoting ■-> e r !k^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 385 health, and as a luxury which all classes may enjoy, this subject has not received the atten- tion which its importance merits at the hands of the careful agriculturist. The orchard cult- ure of apples has only of comparatively late years begun to command the serious attention of farmers. The old orchards have been pro- lific producers, and in favorable seasons, large quantities marketed. Before the railroads made the markets accessible, large quantities of fruit were dried and hauled to market, and frequently large quantities were fed to stock. This abundance of fruit, and for many provided without their thought or effort, has made farm- ers careless of the subject, but many arc now awakening to the fact that, unless something is done to renew these orchards, there will be an interregnum when there will be a scarcity of this fruit in the county. The result of this awakening is to be seen in many parts of the county in the numerous young orchards coming on, and the nurserymen, both at home and abroad, are finding this county a profitable field for their goods. Among the varieties now found here, are the Baldwins, Bellflower, Belmonts, Ben Davis, Fall Pippins, Fall Wines, Rambos, Rhode Island Greenings, Roxbury Russets, King of Tompkins County, etc. The latter variety is a favorite for a large apple, some of the fruit measuring fourteen and one-half inches in circumference, and at the same time retaining its fine flavor and smooth grain. The apple is the hardiest and most reliable of all the fruits of this region, and there are probably more acres in apple orchards than in all other fruits combined. Peaches, by reason of the unfavorableness of the climate, are, of late years, exceedingly un- certain in Crawford County. In the early his- tory of the county, this kind of fruit did well, but the severe winter of 1856, and the succeed- ing year or two killed most of the trees then planted, and since then have never been a suc- cess. These trees are periodically renewed, but late frosts in the spring usuallj' cut off the crops, either in the blossom or when the young fruit is just formed, or there occurs, every few winters, a season of such severity that the trees themselves are seriously injured, or de- stroyed. Another enemy to the peach-tree here, which works fatal results when not pre- vented, is the borer. This is a small, white grub which gnaws into the bark just at or a little below the top of the ground. Thej^ pene- trate the bark and work between the inner bark and wood, and gnaw out as much of this as they wish for food, soiretimes encircling the tree completelj', and generally working a little downward as thej^ progress, but taking gen- erally irregular courses. Their presence can be detected by examining at the root of the tree. If the borer is there, you can notice the gnm of the tree in small or large quantities at this poind. They are sometimes numerous, say twenty to fifty worliing at one tree. Some- times you maj' find but one. They are some- times as small in diameter as a common pin, and from three-eighths to a half-inch long, some- times a half-inch through and three-fourths of an inch long. The effect upon the peach-tree is to lessen its vitality, and, if the borer encir- cles it in its ravages, the peach-tree dies, and may die if not full}^ encircled, as the least in- jury of this portion of the tree tends to kill it."* Another enemj' that is as old as the peach-tree itself is the plant lice or aphides. Their pres- ence is indicated by the curling of the leaves. This never kills the trees, however, though not contributing to their healthful development. This curling is observable most after sudden changes of temperature, and is explained by the fact that the aphides seek the under side of the leaves as a protection against the sudden changes of temperature, where they may be ob- served in the middle of a warm sunny daj' or in the early part of a chilly CA^ening. The reme- dies suggested for the extermination of the * J. Soule, in BucyruB Journal, July 4, 1862. ^ i rt* ^^ 286 HISTORY or CKxVAVrORD COUI^TY. borer are to use the knife, cutting away the out- er barlj from the channel made by the insect, and killing the insect. Another remedy, which is largely used and found efficacious, is to ap- ply boiling water. The amount to be applied to a tree varies with its size. For a tree a year old, a quart would be sufficient, while a pailful would do no harm to one of full size, as the earth would absorb the heat before it would penetrate the thick bark so as to injure. The best time to apply hot water is about the 1st of June, and, if then neglected, about the 1st of September. Dig a narrow basin around the tree, as deep and as high as the borers are working, fill it with boiling water, and a cure is effected. Ashes as a preventive, should, when the Iree is young, be placed in contact with the bark in a narrow, deep circle, as a little will then answer the purpose. The case of cherries of the finer varieties is very similar to that of peaches, as the trees are somewhat tender and the blossoms are liable to be destroyed by late frosts. Sweet cherries are little grown, on account of these drawbacks and the tendency of the fruit to rot at the time of ripening. The hardier kinds, such as the Early Eichmond, the Morellos, and such as the Early May, are reliable and considerably grown for private use. Pears are planted in a small waj', principally in gardens, no extensive pear orchards existing in the county. The first trees of this sort were seedlings, which, of late years, have been entirely supplanted by dwarfs or their outgrowth of half-standards. The tend- ency to " lire blight," which the pear-tree shows in the larger part of the State, has not been so marked in this countj^ of late years, but confi- dence in the stability of this fruit has not been so far restored as to increase the planting of these trees. The yield is, however, less varia- ble than of apples. Failures are not apt to occur, it is said, from winter killing of the buds, but the trees are so injured by the cold as to die the following year of blight. An unusually warm fall affects the fruit at times unfavorably, causing the late varieties to ripen too early, and to deoskj before they can be secured. Some of the leading varieties found here are the Bart- lett, Flemish Beauty, Vicar of Wakefield, Louise Bonn de Jersey, Beurre d'Anjou, etc. Plums are scarcely grown at all, owing to the preva- lence of the curculio insect. Some little inter- est was taken in this class of fruit a few years ago and some planting done, but the outcome has been the same, and but little attention is paid to this kind of fruit in the county. ' In the culture of^ orchard-fruits in Crawford County, the great demand is for more care and attention to the trees already planted. There is a growing interest in this subject, how- ever, which promises good results in the near future. New orchards are being planted, the best variety of fruit selected and more care taken of the growing trees. The most reliable apple orchards, however, have fallen into the unfortunate habit of bearing full crops every alternate year, with scant ones or failures be- tween. The effect of these alternations upon the grower are disastrous ; the prices are de- pressed, and bushels of fruit are left on the ground to rot or to be fed to stock, the prices not warranting the cost of marketing the sur- plus product. This habit, it is thought by emi- nent horticulturists, may be remedied by patient care and study. Grape culture in the interior counties of the State, though securing some attention in a small way, has never been considered successful. This is particularly true in Crawford County. A few winters ago, the vines were badly injured, and a fatal rot destroys the fruit more or less every year, es- pecially where hot, damp, sultry weather occurs in July. Another discouragement to grape growing here is the nearness of Ottawa and Erie Counties, the great grape-producing counties of the State. G-rapes are shipped from points on the lake and sold here at 2 cents per pound, which has the eff"ect to discourage any ^ A 3^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 387 attempt at the cultivation of grapes on an ex- tended scale. In the matter of small fruits or berries, there is a far greater interest mani- fested. The important villages of Bucyrus, Gallon and Crestline furnish a good market for all that can be supplied, and quite a number in the county devote their attention to furnishing berries, though not in quantities to supply the demand. The persevering, patient care and investiga- tion which seemed to be wanting in the culti- vation of crops, does not appear to have been lacking in the raising of stock. It would seem that the earty settlers had a predilection for fine stock, and stamped this characteristic upon the agriculture of the county. There has been a constant effort to improve breeds, until Craw- ford Countj' now boasts of as good an average in stock as almost any other county in the State. In this department, the prevailing dis- position of the farming community is apparent, and no class of the domestic animals is de- veloped to the exclusion of the other, unless we make an exception in the case of the mule. The history of the early horses in Crawford is not definitely known, if it can be said to have a his- tory. It was some years before horses were needed or introduced to any extent. Oxen were better suited to the work of clearing, were easier kept, and not so liable to accident and disease, and these qualifications were all that were demanded of the early teams. In later years, as the demand for traveling purposes be- gan to be felt, horses began to supersede the ox, until now one would scarcely meet an ox team upon the road in a nionth's travel through the county. There was nothing to distinguish the original stock of horses. Each settler com- ing in brought such animals as chance or their pecuniary circumstances dictated, and were the ordinary stock of the localities from which they emigrated. Among the first efforts to improve this stock was the importation of " Old Blue Buck," by David Cummings. This horse was raised in Knox County, and was a strongly made horse, admirably calculated for farm work. At that time, there was no great choice as to different strains, this being about the only horse offered for breeding purposes: This was the class of horse especially desired at that time, however, as no demand for speed had been de- veloped. About 1830, a small running horse called " Backus," was introduced by a Mr. Cone. It was an imported animal, and created quite a stir among the farmers, but the final outcome to his owner put something of a damper on this class of horses, though his descendants are yet to be found in the country. A match was made up between Cone and the owner of a Kentucky running horse for a race at Sandusky City. In the trial, " Backus " outstripped the Kentucky horse, when the owner of the latter grew abusive, and, without the slightest provocation, it is said, shot Cone dead on the ground. His last words to his son was to take the horse home and not to run horses any more. His murderer mounted his horse and escaped unmolested. The horse succeeding " Backus " was " Sir Dudley," an animal of admirable qualities, and one that made a lasting impression upon the early stock of horses. He was brought from the Bast about 1837, was of medium size, carried his head well up, and was a stylish roadster. His stock was remarkable for their great vitality, being es- pecially long-lived. In 1840, " Sheik " or " Sher- rock," an Arabian horse, was brought here by Abram Holmes. He was somewhat advanced in years when brought into the county, and had faded to a nearly pure white color. He was kept here until he was thirt3'-one years old, and was in active demand most of that time. His stock was iron or dappled gray, and ran from eleven and a half to twelve hundred in weight. They were especially admired as fine carriage horses, and commanded a good price from dealers for this purpose. This strain, it is said, made a marked and valuable addition to the stock of the eount\'. " Gray Eagle," an 1^ A^ -fe 288 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. imported horse, brought here from Kentucky, again excited the interest of farmers in running horses. His pedigree took his line back to the imported " Messenger " stock, but he failed to create any great amount of enthusiasm. The " Messenger " stock was brought to the county very early, but little is remembered of them. About 1840, or very soon after, the Black Hawk Morgan strain was introduced, " Plying Cloud " being the favorite representative of this stock of horses. Three horses of this stock were brought from Rhode Island at the same time, the sires of " Long Mane " and " Joe Hooker " being the other two, but whose names have been forgotten. These horses were fast trotters for that time, and " Fl3dng Cloud " was looked upon as a marvel when he could trot a mile in 2.40. His stock were excellent roadsters, and some have shown 2.30 and 2.20 speed. They were very much sought after, and his descend- ants are still prized by judges of good horses. " Bellfounder " was brought into the county from Columbus, by James Clements, in 1851. This was a medium-sized, dark brown, spirited horse, and was very favorably received by horse- men all over the county. He was in the county but four or five years, when he was bought by the original owners and returned to Columbus. His spirit lasted to the very end of his life, and, when thirty years old, within a month or two of his death, he was handled with great difficulty by his groom. The Norman breed of horses was introduced in the eastern part of the county several years ago. Henry Krim, interested with others, imported several of this breed direct from France. These horses are what is strictly classified as the Percheron, but are known in the books and by dealers as the Percheron- Norman. " Nonesuch," " Louis Napoleon," or " Old Bob," as he was variously known, was the first horse of the kind ever brought west of the Alleghany Mountains. He was bought by Charles Fullington, and brought to Union County in 1851, and some time after became the property of Louis Lee, of Delaware, Ohio, by whom he was exhibited in this part of the State, exciting a considerable interest among stockmen in this class of horses. They orig- inate in La Perche and Normandy, in Prance, and are noted for their docility, excellent health, and a hardy, elastic temperament. They are possessed of great bone, muscle, ten- don and hoof, which gives them immense strength as draft horses. Their color is a fine silver gray, the best adapted to withstand the burning rays of the sun in the field or on the highway. The horse imported to this county, " Pulo," is now owned in Gallon, and is in active demand by breeders in the county. These horses mature early, command a good price, and are always in demand. Indeed, so much is this the case that one is scarcely seen in any of the farm teams of the county. They in- volve too much capital and command cash too readily to be used on the farm, and it may reasonably be doubted whether there is much preference for this class of horses for use on the farm here. The average horse of the county is estimated to stand fifteen and one- half hands high, weigh eleven and a half hun- dred weight, and bring |125 when in good order for shipping. Mules have never been received with favor by the general mass of farmers. Their appear- ance is not prepossessing, and those conditions to which these animals are supposed to be best fitted have never existed in the county, and the mule, therefore, has never secured a foot- hold. This is a good field for buyers, and Crawford County contributes a considerable number of horses each year to the Eastern markets. The introduction of cattle into the county was as early as the coming of the first settler. Cows were a necessary part of the pioneer's outfit, without which his chances for obtaining a reasonably comfortable existence were very poor indeed, and few families were without lliL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 289 them. But, once here, it required all the care and diligence of the settler to protect them against the ravages of wild beasts and disease. The wolves took off the yearlings and frequent- ly made successful attacks upon cows ; the murrain, a little later, took off scores of these animals, and journeys of a hundred miles were frequently undertaken to replace the animals thus lost. Then the marshes and the rank vegetation took their quota, so that, in spite of the employment of all the available children of the settlement as herders, and the dosing of cattle with soot, alum and soft soap, hundreds fell victims to the snares of a new country. Under such circumstances, the effort was nar- rowed down to a struggle to maintain rather than improve the breed. Among the early settlers of the county were many progressive farmers, and. as soon as the pressure of the first years in a new country was removed, they began to look about for means to improve the cattle of their new homes. The southern part of the county was then distinctively prairie land, and stock-raising soon became an impor- tant feature of agricultural activity in that part of the countj'. In 1834, the Ohio Importing Company made their first importation of the Short-Horn Durhams and exhibited them at the State Fair of that year. This set the whole farming community of this part of the State agog to improve their stock, and nothing but the Short-Horn Durham was to be thought of The first of this breed was probably introduced in this county by |Robert Kerr, who bought some animals of Wilson, in Licking County, Ohio. John Monnett also bought, at an early date, several head of young thoroughbreds, of Michael Sullivan, of Pickaway County. John Ross, another breeder, brought some of this class of cattle from Kentucky. The interest, however, in thoroughbreds may be said to be on the wane. Though bred to a considerable extent by a number of farmers in Crawford, there is no longer the ready sale at high prices that once characterized the business. Another feature which perhaps contributed to this re- sult was the fact that many of the large farm- ers in the southern part of the county began breeding the ordinary stock for beef purposes. Some of them kept as many as fifty cows sim- ply for breeding purposes, and annually sold off a large number of bullocks for market pur- poses. This feature of cattle-raising has en- tirely passed away during the past five years. Since the general decline in the price of beef, it has been found too expensive to keep a cow just for the va.lue of a calf, and it has been demonstrated that cattle may be bought for feeding purposes much cheaper in the West than they can be raised here as a specialty. Several fine herds of Short-Horns are found in Crawford County, the largest of which is proba- bly the one owned by Mr. Carlisle. Others of more or less importance are owned by Jared A. G. Lederer, Horace Eaton, Dexter Bacon, J. A. Klink, Jackson Ross, R. B. MeCammon and E. W. Cooper. The Devon breed was represented at the last county fair by animals owned by J. H. Keller. " This is a strikingly distinct breed in form and quality, medium in size, uniformly red in color, comely in appear- ance, and of decided excellence ; the ox for labor, as his agile form indicates ; the cow for milk, when cultivated for that object, and the uniform excellence of their flesh when properly fed and matured."* They can hardly be said to have much of a following in this county, though generally admired when exhibited. The Alderneys are exhibited by Judge Thomas Beer and George Donnerworth, Jr. "This breed, having a common origin with the Jer- seys and Guernse3'S, owe their present distinct- ive qualities in appearance to their manner of breeding, and the tastes and preferences of their long-time propagators. In size, they are smaller than our native cows, delicate in form, unique in shape, diversified in color, and blooded in appearance. The prime quality claimed for the s, \, A^ ^^ 290 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. cow is the exceedincr yellow color and rich qual- ity of her milk, cream and butter, in all which she stands without a rival, although her quan- tity of milk is moderate compared with the weight of butter which it yields."* The Ayr- shires are also represented in the county, but are much less popular than the Alderneys- They are a native of Scotland, and in size are about equal to our common cattle. They are usually red or brown, more or less mixed with white ; are shaped more like the Short-Horn than any others, though lacking their fair con- tour and comeliness of appearance. They are claimed as a dairy or milking breed. Sheep were introduced into the county as early as 1819, but the rank vegetation and the number and boldness of the wolves made sheep-raising a burden upon the resources of the early set- tlers. The earliest were probably brought to Sandusky Township, where they soon died from eating some poisonous weed. Another scourge in the early history of sheep-raising in this county was the number of villainous dogs that infested the country. These animals seemed a necessity to the earliest settlers, and there were few families that did not possess one or more of them. As the countrj' began to be cleared up, and game and wild animals of all sorts became scarce, the demand for these animals to a large extent ceased, but the sup- ply, unfortunately, seemed to be little affected b}' this change. Many of these animals were crossed with the common wolf, and soon showed the traces of their origin by attacking the few flocks that were kept in the new community. The damage in this way was a great burden, and an indiscriminate slaughter was begun against all dogs found running loose. Gen. Myers relates that out of a flock of one hundred Merino lambs that he brought into the county one year, forty were killed or seri- ously wounded in a single night. The first ♦Address before the National Agricultural Congress, Philadel- phia, 1876, by S. F. Allen. attempt at introducing an improved quality of sheep was about 1833, when Col. William Rob- inson brought in some sixty head of the Wells and Dickenson stock, of Washington County, Penn. This celebrated stock was derived from the Humphrey importation of Spanish Meri- nos, but were bred with a view of securing fine wool but small fleeces. The habit of the best wool-growers of that time was to dip the sheep in water, and then let them run on grass for a few days. They were then washed, sheared, and each fleece wrapped in paper be- fore shipping to market. For such wool, the producer got 85 cents per pound and a suit of broadcloth. Col. Robinson's flock was divided up and sold in parcels of eight or ten in vari- ous parts of the county. This class of sheep prevailed for some years, and were known gen- erally as Saxon sheep, though undoubtedly of the early Spanish Merino origin. They were of long, lean carcass, light-limbed, and light, fine fleeces. Mr. Lewis sheared a flock of 400 that averaged only two pounds and four- teen ounces of wool per head. Succeeding these sheep, came the French Merinos, from Vermont. These were larger sheep, with heavy fleeces of light-colored wool. These sheep were soon found to be ill suited to this loeaUty. The Vermont breeders had so forced their growth that, when brought out to the West and left unsheltered, they at once broke down, and many died, proving a serious loss to the experimenters. Gen. Samuel Myers was one of the earliest to experiment with this breed of sheep. He found the yield of wool large, but many fleeces remarkably oily. To satisfy him- self, he determined to thoroughly wash an unusually large fleece. Before washing, it weighed twenty-four and one-half pounds, and afterward, it weighed just four and a half pounds. The sheep from which the fleece was taken had been carefully housed, and the wool was neat and ordinarily clean, and this result convinced him that the breed was not a profit- ^^ s ly ^f HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 291 44V able oue to keep. The Spanish Merino, or rather the American improvement of the Span- ish importation, was introduced here about 1855. This breed of sheep at once grew into favor, and has increased in numbers steadily down to the present. Nor is the interest in this breed coniined to the dealers in thorough- bred stock. Crosses with the common stock have been made until perhaps one-half of the sheep are more or less high grades of ^Merino. The improvements upon the native stock are plainly marked. The sixty or seventy-five pound carcass of earlj' j'ears has been in- creased to ninety and one hundred pounds, and fleeces from three to four pounds to those weighing from five to six pounds, washed on the sheep. A few Cotswolds, Leicester and Southdowus have been introduced, and have their friends and admirers. They are prized particularly for the quality of the mutton and the long fiber of their wool. Some crosses with the Merino sheep have produced a delaine wool which commands a ready sale with good prices. The early stock of hogs were little less than wild animals. Some were brought in by the early settlers, but large numbers were found in the woods, that had evidently been wild for years, and had probably escaped from other settlements. This class of stock was consid- ered almost as common property, and it was considered no gi-eat crime to appropriate any that came to hand, without closely scrutinizing its ownership. Subsequently, a system of ear marks was adopted, and each owner recorded his own particular mark with the Township Clerk. Even after this, the line of ownership was not closely observed. It is said that one of the earlj- settlers came to this count}- owing a considerable debt in the East, for which he had given his notes. One of his creditors, anxious to realize on his account, rode out here on horseback, to get the payment of his note. Of course there was no money here, but, desir- ous to satisfy his urgent creditor, the settler proposed to pay him in hogs, though not pos- sessing a shoat to his name. The time came when the hogs were to be collected, and the notes having been canceled, they set out to drive the hogs to market. They had not passed the confines of the county when an unfortunate plunge of a dog (which seemed to show method in his madness) stampeded the whole drove, which, taking to the woods, was irreparably- lost. The woods breed of hogs is now extinct in this countj', and where it used to take two years to make a two-hundred-pound hog, a three and four hundred-pound hog can be made in nine to twelve months. The principal breeds are the Sufifolk, Chester White, Magies, Poland-China and Berkshire. The latter were first introduced about 1850, but they were at that time a rough, coarse-boned hog, and were soon abandoned. A few years later, the Suffolk was introduced. They were fine, smooth animals, ea&ilj- fattened at anj^ age, but did not possess sufficient strength of limb, and were in every way too delicate to meet the wants of this locality. The Chester White succeeded the Suffolks. The}'' are a large, white hog, mature early, and are considered large eaters. A cross between these and the Suffolk has been tried, and the result highly prized for market purposes. The Magie and Poland- China crosses, and the mod- ern Berkshire are taking the lead of late. The latter is probablj' taking the lead, and is fast achieving a national reputation, a herd-book be- ing issued by an association of breeders, in Illinois, in which the pedigree of thorough- bred animals of this breed is to be chronicled. Dairying is but little known in Crawford County. The farmers appreciate the luxury of fresh milk and butter, and sell their surplus prod- uct in the villages to their less fortunate neigh- bors, but any organized enterprise for this pur- pose has never found a permanent location in the county. A year or two ago, a cheese-factory was ^ '-\^ 292 HISTORY OF CRA.WrOED COUNTY. started by John Pease, about two miles south of Bucyrus, which, it is said, paid the proprietor well for his trouble and investment, but was not continued a second year. The conditions in the southern part of the county seem favorable for such an enterprise. A large number of cows are kept. It is flue grazing country, and good water is generally accessible. The only thing that seems to be lacking is the man who has sufficient experience in the business and enter- prise and capital to push the matter through to success. The last report (1878) gives the dairy products at 609,354 pounds of butter, and 2,831 pounds of cheese. A noticeable and favorable feature of the agriculture of the county is the moderate size of the average farm. In the southern part of the county there are several large landholders, one person owning some 3,500 acres, but the average in the county is put at not over eighty acres. These farms are well tilled, the buildings well improved, and a general well-to-do air of neatness and comfort prevails everywhere throughout the farming community. Farming implements of the most approved pattern are being introduced, and generally by the farmers. In the matter of markets, Crawford County is well provided. Bucyrus in the center, Galion in the southeast corner, and Crestline on the eastern side, are points generally easily acces- sible to all parts of the county. The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago, the Cleveland, Colum- bus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis, New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio, and the Ohio Central Kailroads all touch or pass through the coun- ty, affording the amplest shipping facihties for all parts of the country. The only drawback in this direction is the character of the public highways. These are as unreliable as dirt roads can be, and the whole farming community is frequently travel-bound for months at a time during the inclement season of the year. What is more unfortunate there seems to be no prac- tical remedy for this state of things. There are no considerable gravel deposits and no easily accessible quarries of stone that can be cheaply applied. The western part of the county is underlaid with limestone, but to what extent it is available or practicable for the pur- pose of macadamizing the public roads has not yet been developed. The village of Gallon is this year (1880) making improvements in her streets and sidewalks with imported stone, and it is hoped by the citizens that a suggestion has been made that will be profitably applied to the country ways. The first movement toward the organization of a county fair was made early in 1848. Dur- ing the legislative session of 1832-33, an act was passed for the encouragement of agricult- ure, through the organization of agricultural societies. Under this act, a number of socie- ties were organized and fairs held, but, from lack of interest, most of them were discontinued in a few years. In ] 846, a new act^ was passed re- viving the old societies and resulting in the or- ganization of many new ones. The one in Craw- ford County was one of the number of new ones that sprang into existence. Among the leading spirits in this enterprise were Stephen Kelley, Samuel Colwell, Gen. Samuel flyers. Judge Musgrave, George and William Cummings, Will- iam Cox and Abel Dewalt. The first officers were ; Zalmon Bowse, President ; Jacob Mul- lenkopf. Vice President ; J. B. Larwill, Secre- tary ; and A. Pailor, Treasurer. The first fair was held in the old court house yard on the 19th of October, 1848. The exhibition was con- fined to some nineteen entries, all of which re- ceived awards. Of course there was no such thing as a fee for admittance. Indeed, the fence was so dilapidated that it had to be patched up to keep the sow and pigs, which were one of the attractions of the exhibition, from getting away. Domestic manufactures were shown in the court house, and it is related that the chief subject of remark was a certain patchwork quilt that had been pieced in Pittsburgh and •"^ 8 I^ ^,4' — ^ ^ ® ^ HISTORY OF CBAWFORD COUNTY. 393 exhibited liere. The ladies of Crawford seemed to be unanimous in their disapproval of its gen- eral style and execution, and was the chief topic of conversation for the time. The follow- ing report, taken from the Bucyrus Journal of September 20, 1872, was published originally in the People's Forum of March 24, 1849 : M. P. Bean, Esq.— &>; Will you please Insert in your paper the following list of premiums awarded by the Crawford County Agricultural Society, at the fair held October 19, 1848, a notice of which I should have sent you some time since, but have been prevented by other engagements. I was confined by sickness at the time of the fair, and, therefore, cannot speak from personal observation ; but I have understood that the fair was much more nu- merously attended than was expected, owing to the bad state of the roads, the unfavorableness of the weather, and the fact that this was merely an experiment, being the first held in the county ; and from the fact that but very little interest has heretofore been manifested by the farmers and others in relation to affairs of the so- ciety. Those who were present state that, although but few articles were presented, and in several cases where pre- miums were awarded there was no competition, yet that there was much spirit manifested by those present, in reference to the importance of such exhibitions, and a determination to have a much more interesting fair next year. J. B. Lakwill, Sec'y. The following is a list of premiums awarded : HOKSES. To Frederick Wadams, for best blooded stallion.. $5 00 To David Decker, for second best blooded stallion.. .3 00 To David Decker, for best two-year-old colt 1 00 To Zalmon Rowse, for best blooded mare (not brood) 3 00 To John Moderwell, for best gelding 2 00 CATTLE. To Andrew Worling, for best blooded bull 4 00 To Zalmon Rowse, for best cow 3 00 To Alfred Magers, for best calf. 2 00 SHEEP. To Samuel Andrews, for best buck 3 00 To Samuel Andrews, for second best buck 2 00 To Samuel Andrews, for best lot of ewes 3 00 SWINE. To John Moderwell, for best sow 2 00 AOmOUlTUKAL IMPLEMENTS. To David P. Norton, fur best wind-mill 3 00 MANUFACTURED ARTICLES. To Samuel Andrews, for best flannel 2 00 To Jacob MuUenkopf, for best thread 1 00 To John Sims, for best single harness 2 00 To William Mallory, for best sample of butter... 2 00 To William Mallory, for best sample of cheese... 1 00 FRUIT. To J. B. Larwill, for best grapes 1 00 In the following year, the fair was held on the 24th of October, in the court house yard again. This year the display was more varied, the domestic manufactures and fancy articles being shown in the court house. Pens were also provided for the stock, of which a part was shown on the ground now occupied by the Quinby Block. A total premium list of $103 was advertised. In 1850, another day was added, and the exhibition made on the 17th and 18th of October. This was then called a "cattle show," and was held on six acres of ground, at the end of what is now Galen street, which terminated then at Norton's Grove, just north of the Monnett House. Stock pens were put up here, and opinion is divided as to whether the domestic manufactures were ex- hibited in a tent or at the court house. " In 1851," to quote from the Journal, "the fair was again held for two days, on the 23d and 24th of October. This year the fair was re- moved to the grounds out near the cemetery, owned at the time by Henry Minnich, who gave the society the use of the land each year, on condition that they would fence it. This, the society was unable to do in a single year, but fully inclosed it the second year, after which, it is to be presumed, the society com- menced to charge an admission fee. Floral Hall and Domestic Hall were poor buildings at best, the former only partially inclosed, the latter consisting merely of a roof covered with clapboards and supported by poles, while the sides were wholly uninclosed. ^± ^t^ 294 HISTORY OF CRAWFOKD COUNTY. Floral Hall, in particular, jvill be remembered as a rough frame, which was annually covered with muslin. This, after each fair, was taken down and folded away until the next season. The track also at this time was a little better than a circus ring, and was surrounded by a rope. In 1857, it was greatly extended and approached a half-mile track." In 1859, a third day was added to the exhibition, and annual fairs maintained until the beginning of 1862, when the organization was abandoned. No more exhibitions were held until 1867. In this year, Josiah Koler, D. C. Boyer, Barber Robinson, James Robinson, C. S. Crim, William Cox, Adam KKnk, John Bremen, Maj. E. R. Kearsley, James Orr, H. J. Thompson and Lu- ther Myers formed a joint-stock company^ called the Crawford County Agricultural Asso- ciation. They proposed to issue 17,000 worth of stock for the purchase of land and to fit it up for the purpose of holding fairs. But $6,100 worth of stock was disposed of, and, with this, nineteen acres of land was bought on the site of the present grounds. Two years later, nine acres more were purchased, and, in 1871, four and a half acres more were added, making a total of thirty-two and a half acres. This was inclosed with the proper fencing, a Floral Hall, Domestic Hall, offices, eating-house, pens for stock, and stalls, and a good half-mile con- structed at a total cost of about $13,000. A natural ampljitheater commands the ring, and some three acres of it are covered with the natural growth of timber. The stock has changed hands considerably, and generally at from thirty to fifty per cent discount. Upon grounds thus provided, the re-organ- ized agricultural society held their fifteenth annual fair on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th days of October, 1867. This organization is perfectly distinct from the stock company, and rent the grounds, paying whatever surplus there may be in the treasury after the season is closed. The payments have been from $500 to $800 per annum. Since the re-organization, the annual exhibitions have been kept up, and, in 1872, continuing five days. It has since been reduced to four days. CHAPTER VII WAR HISTORY— THE REVOLUTION AND •• And ye shall hear of wars and ruranrs of wars." IN the early history of the Ohio Territory, a large tract of land was reserved within the limits, and designated " United States Military Land." This land had been set apart by the Federal Grovernment for the purpose of reward- ing its soldiers of the Revolutionary war. These old soldiers had spent their best years fighting for the independence of their country, and peace found them broken down in health, and many of them in fortune, so that, when a grateful but impoverished Government offered them homes in the distant West, they gladly 1812— INDIAN AND MEXICAN WARS— THE LATE REBELLION —AID SOCIETIES. accepted the offer. This was the means of bringing many of these old Revolutionary heroes to the Ohio Territory, and to the State of Ohio after its admission into the Federal Union. These war-worn veterans had often faced the British legions on hard-fought fields, as well as fought the Indian in his own fashion. Hence they felt themselves fully competent to contest with the red man his right to the hunt- ing-grounds of Ohio. It cannot be said that Ohio took part in the Revolutionary war, yet many of her early settlers took an active part in it, previously, however. ^7 -,? y j^i ^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 295 to theii- coming to the Territory, as the war was over long before a white settlement was made in what is now the great State of Ohio. After their settlement here, they were often called upon to defend their homes and families against Indian attacks and incursions, and long famil- iarity with savage warfare well fitted them for such scenes. But, as the Indian wars and Indian history pertaining to Crawford Count}" are given more fully in another chapter, we merely allude to them here by way of preface to a chapter that is devoted chiefly to " wars and rumors of wars." How many of the pioneers of Crawford County served in the war of the Revolution, is not now known. But, as settlements were made here little more than a quarter of a century after the close of the war for independence, it is altogether probable that a number of these old heroes were among the early settlers. It is impossible, however, to learn the facts at this date; and we will pass to later struggles in which the people in this section were more par- ticularly interested. In the war of 1812, when the British lion was again unchained and turned loose upon this free country, Crawford County was then unformed and unsettled ; it was as yet in the Indian country, and near the theater of some of the stirring events of 1812-15. After the close of this war, a large scope of country was opened in this portion of the State to the white people, who were not slow to take possession. Among the first settlers were manj' soldiers of the last war with Great Britain. These, like the Revo- lutionary soldiers, found their way here for the purpose of obtaining cheap homes for them- selves and their children. In another portion of this work will be found many biographical sketches of these soldiers of 1812. The Mexican war, after the Indian wars mentioned elsewhere, was the next call to arms of the American people. They had enjoyed a long peace and a long season of prosperity." If " Red Battle," with his " blood-red tresses deepening in the sun," had raged to and fro in lands beyond the great deep, the " thunder of his goings " came to us but as the " dying cadence " of the voice of a distant cloud, whose lightnings could harm us not. We moved on undisturbed until 1846 — the commencement of the Mexican war. All readers of American history are familiar with the facts which re- sulted in a collision between the United States and Mexico. Briefly, the causes of the war grew out of the admission of Texas into the Federal Union. The "Lone Star," as it was called, had been a province of Mexico, but, some years previous to its annexation to the United States, it had thrown off the rotten yoke of the Spaniard. In the battle of San Jacinto, which occurred in 1836, the Texans captured Santa Anna, then Dictator of Mexico, together with the larger part of his army, and succeeded in forcing from him an acknowledgment of their independence. Mexico, however, refused to recognize this treaty, and continued to treat Texas and her people as she had previously done. From this time forth, petitions were frequentlj^ presented to the United States by the Texans, praj'ing for admission into the Union. There was a strong element in the country opposed to the admission of Texas, while Mexico constantly declared that such an event would be regarded as sufficient cause for a declaration of war on her part. In the Presi- dential canvass of 1844, between Clay and Polk, the annexation of Texas was one of the leading issues before the people, and Mr. Polk, whose party favored the admission of Texas, being elected, this was taken as a public declar- ation on the subject. After this, Congress had no hesitancy in granting the petition of Texas, and on the 1st of March, 1845, formally received her into the sisterhood of States. Mexico at once broke off all diplomatic relations with the United States, calling home her minister imme- diately, which was a clear declaration of war r?la ±iL^ HISTORY or CBAWFORD COUNTY. — and war soon followed. Congress passed an act authorizing the President to accept the services of 50,000 volunteers, and appropriating $10,000,000 for the prosecution of the war. As the war feeling, like an epidemic, swept over the country, the people caught the spirit of enthusiasm and their patriotism was aroused to the highest pitch of excitement. The old State Militia was then in force, requiring the enrollment of every able-bodied man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years for military duty. In these old militia organi- zations, were found the nucleus of the regiments called for by the President in the coming war. A local correspondent, writing to the Forum some years later, thus humorously refers to the matter, and the opening of the war : " I remem- ber well, that a meeting of the best men was assembled at the court house, then a four- cornered, mansard-roofed institution. The pa- per Generals, Colonels, Majors, Captains, etc., were on hand, and made high-toned and top- loftical speeches. Patriotism fairly oozed out at the ends of their fingers. They were willing to allow their bones to bleach on the plains of San Jacinto — provided it was necessary ! In a few brief weelis, the time came for our stalwart sons to enroll themselves under that banner which floats ' over every land and sea,' to kiss a gentle good-bye to home and friends, and be off to the wars." In the President's call for 50,000 men, Ohio was required to furnish three regiments. With her characteristic patriotism, she filled her quota in a few weeks. The troops rendezvoused at Cincinnati, and, upon the organization of the three regiments, there were nearly trooiJs enough left to form another regiment. These were furnished transportation to their homes at the expense of the Government. The regiments, as organized, were officered as follows: First Regiment — A. M. Mitchell, of Cincinnati, Colonel ; John B. Weller, of Butler County, Lieutenant Colonel; T. L. Hamer, of Brown County, Major. Second Regiment — G. W. Morgan, of Knox County, Colonel ; William Irvin, of Fairfield, Lieutenant Colonel ; William Hall, of Athens, Major. Third Regiment— S. R. Curtis, of Wayne County, Colonel ; G. W. McCook, of Jefferson, Lieutenant Colonel ; and J. T. Love, of Morgan, Major. Crawford County was well represented in these regiments, as it was, also, in the next call, which was known as the " Ten Regiments Bill," and made at a later day, for the "prosecution of the war." The names of those participating in this war, so far as we have been able to obtain them, will be found in the biographical department of this work. To go into the details of the war, and the battles fought during its continuation, is but to repeat what is familiar to all. Suffice it to say, that the entire war was a series of triumphs to the American arms — triumphs such as rarely fall to any nation in a long and sanguinary war. From the opening battle of Palo Alto until the Stars and Stripes waved in triumph over the " halls of the Montezumas," not one single vic- tory was lost by the Americfin Army. This is glor}' enough. The war of the rsbellion next claims our attention. We do not design, in this connec- tion, to write a history of the war between the States, but a history of Crawford County that did not contain its war record, would not be considered much of a history. Nothing wiU be of a greater interest to coming generations in our country than a true and faithful account of the events of those four long and gloomy years. It is a duty we owe to the soldiers that took part in the bloody struggle, to record and preserve the leading facts. Especially do we owe this to the long list of the dead, who laid down their lives for their country's honor and pres- ervation ; we owe it to the maimed and man- gled cripples who were lacerated and torn by shot and shell; and last, but by no means least, we owe it to the widows and orphans of ;r^ ***'' i ■, t ;^; ^^^<^ ±iL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 299 the brave soldiers, who, for love of country, for- sook home with all its endearments, and whose bodies lie rotting in the far distant South. The people of Crawford County require no facts to remind them of those exciting times, or to recall the names of those who served their country by fighting the battles of the Union. Their names will live in characters as bright and imperishable as Austerlitz's sun, Manj' who went from this county to fight for their country came back shrined in glory ; many left limbs upon the distant battle-fields ; and many still bear the marks of the strife that raged atGrettys- burg, Shenandoah, Chickamauga, Stone Eiver, on the heights of Lookout Mountain, where, in the language of Prentice, " they burst, Like spirits of destruction, through the clouds, And, 'mid a thousand hurtling mis?iles, swept Their fies before them, as the whirlwind sweeps The strong oaks of the forest." But there were many who came not back. They fell by the wayside, or, from the prison and battle-field, crossed over and mingled in the ranks of that grand army beyond the river ; their memory is held in sacred keeping. And there are others, whose systems, poisoned by disease, came home to die, and now sleep be- side their ancestors in the village church-yard. Tliere the violets on their mounds speak in ten- der accents of womanly sweetness, and womanly devotion and afteetion. Their memory, too, is immortal. Beautiful as a crown of gold, the rays of the sunset lie upon the little hillocks above them. Others still, sleep in unknown graves in the land of " cotton and cane." But the same trees which shelter the sepulchers of their foemen, shade their tombs also ; the same birds carol their matins to both ; the same flow- ers sweeten the air with their fragrance, and the same daisies caress the graves of both as the breezes toss them into rippling eddies. But, while we weave a laurel crown for our own dead heroes, let us twine a few sad cypress leaves and wreathe them about the memory of those who fell on the other side, and who, though arrayed against us and their country, were — OUR BROTHERS. Terribly mistaken as they were, we remember hundreds of them over whose moldering dust we would gladly plant flowers with our own hands. Now that the war is long over, and the issues that caused it are buried past resurrection, let us exteud to those upon whom the fortunes of war frowned, the hand of charity, and, knowing no " Solid South " or " Solid North,'' again become, what we should ever have been, " brothers all." The President's first call for troops, in the spring of 1861, for three months, was responded to with the utmost promptness. That the Union was in danger, was sufficient cause, and the requisite number of volunteers (76,000) was soon furnished. The country, however, was not long in discovering that the " breakfast spell," as many termed it, was likely to prove more than had been anticipated. Another call for troops was soon made, and this time for .300,- 000, to serve for tliree years, and was filled al- most as promptly as the first call — quite so, perhaps, but, being for a larger number of men it took a little more time to fill the quota. Under the President's first call for troops, a company was raised in Crawford County, which became a part of the Eighth Ohio Infantrj', and was mustered into the service for three mouths. It was known as Company C, and was officered as follows at its organization : P. W. Butter- field, Captain ; E. W. Merriman, First Lieuten- ant ; and David Lewis, Second Lieutenant. Capt. Butterfield served faithfully until the ex- piration of the term of service of the regiment, when he assisted in i lising the One Hundred and Ninety -second Infantry, for one year's serv- ice, and was made its Colonel. This regiment he commanded until it was mustered out of the service. As this was the first company from Crawford County, before it left for the front, the boys com- ■^ ^1 k. 300 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. posing it were invited to churcii, and a sermon by the Pastor preaclied to them, and many God- speeds tendered by the friends of the Union, who offered up prayers for their protection and preservation. This company served out its three years, and perhaps saw as much hard service as any troops during the war. A report made of Company C, from Falmouth, Va., Dec. 31, 1862, will show something of its hard service. It is as follows : Killed in battle 10 Discharged of wounds received in battle 6 Wounded and now in hospital 8 Wounded in battle and now recovered 12 Died of disease 1 Sick of disease and now in hospital 9 Discharged on account of ill health 10 Deserted 1 Enlisted in U. S. Cavalry 10 On duty Dec. 31, 1862— Commissioned officers 3 Non-commissioned officers 8 Privates 16 ■ Total fit for duty 27 Number of miles marched 1,739 Number of battles fought 17 Falmouth, V» , December 31, 1862. The Eighth Infantry, to which Capt. Butter- field's Company C belonged, was originally en- listed for three months, as we have stated, under the President's call for 75,000 men. It was assembled at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, where the regiment was organized, and, on the 2d of May, 1861, sent to Camp Dennison, where it at once commenced drill, preparatory to going to the field. It soon became apparent however, that the soldiers at this camp would not be sent to the front, and efforts were at once inaugurated to re-enlist the regiment for three j^ears. To this proposition. Company C heartily responded, as did every company in the regiment except Company I, and the regi- ment, nine companies strong, was mustered into the United States service for three years. Company I, however, reconsidered its action, and, in the following September, joined the regiment at Grafton, Va., the other companies having been sworn into the service in June. Leaving Camp Dennison for Virginia on the 9th of July, 1861, the first service of the Eighth was along the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road, protecting it from bands of rebels prowl- ing in its vicinity. On the 24th of September, it participated in an attack on Romney, and was again engaged at the same place on the 24th of October. In January, 1862, the regi- ment was in an engagement at Blue Gap, and, on the 14th of February, it took part in a severe skirmish at Bloomery Gap, where Col. Baldwin, his staff, and a part of his command, were captured. In March, the division to which the Eighth belonged moved to the Shen- andoah Valley, where, on the 18th and 19th, sharp engagements took place at Cedar Creek and Strasburg. In these actions the regiment acted as skirmishers, a branch of duty in which it established an excellent reputation. In the severe battle of Winchester, which took place on the 23d of March, the Eighth was deployed as skirmishers, both the evening be- fore and on the morning of the battle, and lost in killed and wounded over one-fourth of the number engaged. The companies engaged were C, E, D and H, all of which suffered severely. During the months of March and April, the regiment followed the enemy up the valley, and engaged in skirmishes at Woodstock, Mount Jackson, Bdinburg and New Market. At the latter place. Col. Kimball, who had been for some time in command of the brigade, received his commission as Brigadier General, and be- came commander of the brigade to which the Eighth belonged. It joined McDowell's corps on the 22d of May at Fredericksburg, and, on the 25th, was ordered back with its division to the valley to confront Stonewall Jackson, who had driven hence Gen. Banks. On the SOthi Front Royal was recaptured. The Eighth skirmished all the way from Rectortown, a dis- ■^l® ^(^ ^1 ihL HISTORY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. 301 tance of eighteen miles, capturing among other prisoners the famous Belle Boyd. Shields' division was soon after broken up, and, on the 3d and 4th of July, the Eighth was thrown out toward the swamps of the Chickahominy, hav- ing several severe skirmishes, in which it lost a number of men. While the army lay at Harrison's Landing, the Eighth was united with the Second Corps, French's division and Kimball's brigade, with which force it contin- ued during the remainder of its service. The Second Corps acted as rear gaard to the army in its retreat until after it crossed tbe Chicka- hominy. It then proceeded to Alexandria via Yorktown and Newport News, arriving on the 28th of July. On this march, until the troops arrived at Chain Bridge, the Eighth was under fire but once, and that at Germantown, a few miles north of Fairfax Court House. Soon after this, the battles of South Mountain and Antietam took place. In the first, the corps to which the eighth belonged was not actively en- gaged, but crossed the mountain and skir- mished with the enemy at Boonesboro and Keedysville, where a heavj' artillery duel com- menced on the morning of the 16th of Septem- ber. In almost the first discharge of the enemy's guns, W. W. Parmer, a Color Sergeant of the Eighth, was killed. In the battle of Antietam, on the following daj-, the regiment particularlj' distinguished itself, changing front together with the Fourteenth Indiana, a move- ment executed in fine style and at an oppor- tune moment, thereby saving the brigade from rout, and winning for it the title of the " Gib- raltar Brigade ' from Gen. Sumner, who com- manded the Second Corps. After this battle, the regiment moved to Bolivar Heights, then to Falmouth, participating in a number of skirmishes by the way. On the 13th of December, at the battle of Fredericksburg, the Eighth formed the right wing of the forlorn hope, and in the movement lost twenty-eight killed and wounded. The army remained in camp here until the 28th of April, 1863, when it crossed over the river and fought the battle of Chaucellorsville, in which engagement the Eighth lost two men killed and eleven wounded. This was the last battle in which the gallant Eighth took part, until that of Gettysburg. In this hard-fought and brave- ly contested fight, it took an honorable part, and lost one hundred and two in killed and wounded. It followed in the pursuit of Gen. Lee's armj' across the Potomac, participating in several skirmishes, and moved with the nation- al forces to the Rapidan. It was sent to New York City in August to quell the riots conse- quent upon the draft, after which it returned to the field and joined the army at Culpepper, on the 10th of October, where it again fronted the enemy. In November, it took part in the battle of Robinson's Cross Roads, Locust Grove and Mine Run, acting most of the time as skirmishers. It, with the troops, crossed the Rapidan, February 6, 1864, and fought the battle of Morton's Ford, having several ofHcers and men wounded. The campaign of 1864 opened on the 3d of May, and, in the battles which followed, the Eighth bore its accustomed part, and was under fire for two days, at one time. In these several engagements its loss was upward of sixty killed and wounded. In the numerous skirmishes from Spottsylvania to Petersburg, and in the battles of North Anna, Cold Harbor, and in front of Petersburg, it was actively engaged. The term of service of the gallant Eighth expired on the 25th of June, and it was relieved from dutj-, being at the time in the trenches before Petersburg. With a handful of war- worn veterans, comprising but sevent3--two officers and men tit for duty, of the ten compa- nies, which had entered it three years before, the Eighth started for home. The little band was frequently greeted with tokens of respect on the way, especially at Zanesvillo where a collation was spread for them. It arrived at ^ a "fv ±k^ 303 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. Cleveland on the morning of July 3, and was cordially received by the Mayor and Military Committee. On the 13th of July, 1864, the regiment was paid off, and formally mustered out of the United States service. The Twenty-third Ohio Infantry is the next regiment in which Crawford County was repre- sented by an organized body of men. Compa- ny C was raised in and around Gallon, and was known originally as the " Gallon Guards.'' They were, many of them, railroad men, were a fine-looking body, and as good soldiers as went from the county during the war. The commis- sioned officers were John W. Skiles, Captain ; J. R. McMullin, First Lieutenant and T. P. Harding, Second Lieutenant. Capt. Skiles was an old soldier of the Mexican war, and an efHcient officer. " He was wounded," says the Bucyrus Journal, " at Middletown, Md., which resulted in the loss of an arm at the elbow." He was promoted to Major of the Eighty- eighth Ohio Infantry on the 29th of July, 1863, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. Lieut. McMullin was originally Captain of the old " Mansfield Artillery Com- pany," a position he creditably filled. He was early promoted to Quartermaster of the Twentj'- third. Further information of the commis- sioned officers of Company C, we have been un- able to obtain. The Twenty-third was a regiment that turned out many gallant officers during the late war ; in fact, it was sometimes called " the regi- ment of Brigadier Generals." Among its first officers, several became noted Generals. Its first Colonel, Gen. Rosecrans, became one of the ablest Generals of the armj'. Scammon, Haj'es (now President) and Stanley Matthews were also gallant officers. Several others be- came Brigadiers. The regiment was organ- ized at Camp Chase in June, 1861, and before leaving for the field Col. Rosecrans, its Com- mander, was promoted- to Brigadier General, and Col. Scammon succeeded to the command of the Twenty-third. On the 25th of July, the regiment was ordered to West Virginia, where it arrived on the 27th, and the next day proceeded to Weston. For some time after its arrival in West Virginia, it operated principally against scattered bands of the enemy, being divided up into squads. On the 1st of Septem- ber, the regiment was united, and moved with the main body of Gen. Rosecrans' army, but participated in no particular engagement- During the winter its time was devoted chiefly to discipline and drill. Orders were received on the 17th of April, 1862, to quit winter quar- ters, and, accordingly, on the 22d the army moved in the direction of Princeton, the Twenty- third being in the advance. Princeton was reached May 1, but until the 8th the time was spent mostly in foraging and in slight skirmish- ing with the enemy. On the 8th, the Twenty- third was attacked by the rebel Gen. Heath, with an overwhelming force, and compelled to fall back, which it did in good order. During this expedition, the regiment suffered extreme hardships, owing to the enemy having cut off all sources of supplies. It was ordered to Green Meadows on the 13th of July, and on the 15th of August orders were received to hasten to Camp Piatt, on the Great Kanawha, where it arrived on the morning of the 18th, having marched one hundred and four miles in a little more than three days — a march, claimed by its officers to be the fastest on record made by any considerable force. The regiment embarked for Parkersburg, where it took cars for Washington City, from whence it proceeded with Gen. McClellan's army to Frederick City. It reached Middletown, Md., on the 12th, where was commenced the battle of South Mountain, which culminated in the great battle of Antie- tam, on the 17th of September, in both of which engagements the Twenty-third took an active part. At South Mountain, it was the first Infantry engaged, being under command, ii^ HISTORY OF CRAWrOKD COUNTY. H03 at the time, of Lieut. Col. Haj'es. In this en- gagement, Col. Hayes, Capt. Skiles (of Company C), Lieuts. Hood, Ritter and Smith, were badly wounded. Capt. Skiles was shot through the elbow and had his arm amputated. Additional to these, over one hundred were killed and wounded, out of three hundred aud fifty who went into action. During the entire day, the regiment lost nearly two hundred men, of whom one-fourth were killed on the field, or after- ward died from their wounds. The regimental colors were riddled, and the blue field almost completely carried away by shells and bullets. In the battle of Antietam which followed, the Twenty-third fought with the Kanawha Divi- sion, and, though for a time fully exposed, es- caped without very great loss. It returned with the Kanawha Division to West Virginia, where it arrived on the 10th of October. After considerable marching and counter-marching in the Kanawha Valley, the regiment went into winter quarters at the falls of the Great Ka- nawha. In the early part of 1863, it was ordered to Charleston, Va.,when March, April, Jlay, June and a part of July were spent in light duties. In the latter part of July, it participated in the Morgan raid, and did good ser\'ice in heading off Morgan's band on the line of the Ohio Eiver, atBulHngton Bar and near Hockingport. It then returned to Charleston, Va., where it remained inactive until April 29, 1864, when it joined Gen. Crook for a raid on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. This was a long and toilsome march over the mountains, but was cheerfully performed. On the 9th of May, the battle of Cloyd Mountain was fought. In this engagement, Capt. Hunter, of Company K, and Lieut. Seaman, commanding Company D, were killed ; Capt. Rice, Company A, was slightly wounded, and Lieut. Abbott, of Com- pany I, severely, while a large number of pri- vates were killed and wounded. Another en- gagement took place next day at New River Bridge, in which artillery was mostly used. The march was continued for many days, and the troops suffered accordingly. The Twentj^- third arrived at Staunton, Va., on the 8th of June, where it joined Gen. Hunter's command. The three-years term of the regiment expired on the 11th of June, when those not re-enlisting were sent home, also the old colors, which were no longer in a condition for service. The troops continued skirmishing in the country, and June 11 reached Lexington. Here Gen. Hunter did an act unworthy of glorJ^ By his order, the Military Academy, Washington Col- lege and Gov. Letcher's residence were burned. Says Whitelaw Reid : " Good discipline only secured the execution of this order, which was protested against, formally, by Gens. Crook and Averill, and, tacitly, by nearly every officer and man of the entire command." Skirmishing and fighting and marching continuouslj^ was tlie regular routine for some time, and culmi- nated in the retreat of the National forces from Lynchburg. The hardships endured may be fitly illustrated by the following extract from the diary of an officer of the Twenty-third : " June 19. — Marched all day, dragging along very slowly. The men had nothing to eat, the trains having been sent in advance. It is al- most incredible that men should have been able to endure so much, but they never faltered, and not a murmur escaped them. Often men would drop out silentlj-, exhausted, but not a word of complaint was spoken. Shortly after dark, at Liberty, had a brisk little fight with the enemj^'s advance ; reached Buford's Gap about 10 A. M. of the 20th. Gen. Crook remained here with Hayes' Brigade, holding the Gap until dark, inviting an attack. The army was, how- ever, too cautious to do more than skirmish. After dark we withdrew and marched all night to overtake the command in the advance. Reached Salem about 9 A. M. Hunter had passed through Salem, and a body of the enemy's Cavalry had fallen upon his train and captured the greater part of his artillery. >r^ !ku 304 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. About the same time Crook was attacked in front and rear, and, after a sliarp fight, pushed through, losing nothing. Heavy skirmishing all day, and nothing to eat, and no sleep. Continued the march until about 10 P. M., when we reached the foot of North Mountain and slept. At 4 A. M. next morning (22d), left in the ad^'ance, the first time since the re- treat commenced. By a mistake, a march of eight miles was made for nothing. Thus we toiled on, suflFering intensely with exhaustion, want of food, clothing, etc. On the 27th, a supply train was met on Big Sewell Mountain. Men all crazy. Stopped and ate ; marched and ate ; camped about dark, and ate rdJ night. Marched 180 miles in the last nine days, fighting nearly all the time, and with very little to eat." On the 1st of July, the column reached Charleston, where it took a rest until the 10th, when the Twenty-third embarked for Parkersburg. The command reached Martins- burg on the 14th, and on the 18th, moved to Cabletown, beyond Harper's Ferry. Hayes' brigade, including the Twenty-third, was sent to attack Early's army of 20,000 men in flank. The enemy had already whipped the First Di- vision, with the whole Sixth Corps to back them. After some heavy skirmishing, the Twenty-third and Twenty-sixth Ohio were sur- rounded by two divisions of the enemy's cav- alry, but fought their way out and returned to camp. In the battle of Winchester, on the 24th of July, the National forces were defeated after a well-contested fight. The Twenty -third lost in the engagement one hundred and fifty-three men, ten of whom were commissioned officers. A series of marches and counter-marches were made, and continued until the 14th of August, when Duval's brigade had quite a battle with a large rebel force. The Twenty-third was in a hard fight at Berryville on the 3d of September, which took place after dark, in which it lost Capts. Austin and Gillis, both brave and gallant officers. The battle of Opequan fol- lowed on the 19th, and was one of the most se- vere fights of the war. The regiment suffered heavily. It also took part in the battle of North Mountain on the 20th, suffering but a slight loss. The troops now enjoyed a rest un- til the 19th of October, when the battle of Cedar Creek occurred, in which the Twenty- third participated with its accustomed bravery. It was to this battle, that Sheridan made his famous ride from Winchester, which is thus de- scribed I13' a chronicler of the time : " Suddenly there is a dust in the' rear, on the Winchester pike ; and almost before they are aware, a young man in full Major General's uniform, and riding furiously a magnificent black horse, lit- erally ' flecked with foam,' reins up and springs off by Gen. Crook's side. There is a perfect roar as everybody recognized Sheridan ! He talks with Crook a little while, cutting away at the top of the weeds with his riding-whip. Gen. Crook speaks half a dozen sentences that sound a great deal like the crack of the whip ; and by that time some of the staff are up. They are soon sent flying in all directions, etc." The regiment saw little more hard fighting after this, but was engaged mostly during the fall of 1864, as train guard, and on the 1st of January, 1866, proceeded to Cumberland, and on the 12th to Grafton. Here it was detailed to protect the railroad until the 19th, when it returned to Cumberland, and there remained in drill and discipline until March 1. After the surrender of Gen. Lee, the regiment laj' in idleness until July 26, when the welcome order was received to " go home." The Twenty-third was mus- tered out at Cumberland, and took the cars for Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, when it was paid off and discharged. The Thirty-fourth Infantry drew a company from Crawford County. Company E was from this county, and was organized with the following officers : J. W. Shaw, Captain; F. B. Helwig, First Lieutenant, and W. H. Carpenter, Second Lieutenant. l^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 805 Capt. Shaw was promoted to Major, October 10, 1862, to Lieutenant Colonel, July 18, 1863, and was killed July 24, 1864, at the battle of Winchester. First Lieut. Helwig was promoted to Captain, July 17, 1862, and mustered out with regiment. Second Lieut. Carpenter was discharged August 1, 186.3. Isaac P. Grover was promoted to Second Lieutenant, December 3, 1862, to First Lieutenant, March 2, 1864. and to Captain. September 30, 1864. Isaiah C. Lindsey was promoted to Second Lieutenant March 16, 1864, and as such mustered out. N. P. Marvell was promoted to Second Lieutenant, September 30, 1864, to First Lieutenant, No- vember 26, 1864, and mustered out April 4, 1865. The Thirty-fourth Regiment was organized at Camp Lucas in July and August, 1861, and on the 1st of September it moved to Camp Dennison. It was there prepared for the field, and adopted as its uniform (a license allowable at that early period of the war) a light blue Zouave dress. In compliment to their Colonel, A. S. Piatt, of Logan County, the name " Piatt Zouaves " was adopted. The regiment left Camp Dennison for Western Virginia on the 15th of September, 1861, with full ranks, and on the 20th arrived at Camp Enyart, on the Kanawha River. Its first battle was fought at Chapmansville, on the 25th, where it lost one man killed and eight wounded. During the re- mainder of autumn and winter, it was kept pretty busy in guarding the rear of Gen. Rose- crans' army. In March, 1862, it was ordered to Gauley Bridge to join Gen. Cox in his dem- onstrations on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. It participated in the battle of Princeton on the 17ch and 18th of May, losing several men, and having Lieuts. Peck and Peters wounded, and Capt. 0. P. Evans taken prisoner. In August, 1862, Gen. Cox was or- dered to join Gen. McClellan, when there were but six regiments left to guard the Kanawha Valley. The Thirty-fourth and Thirty-seventh were attacked at Payetteville, on the morning of September 10, by a rebel force 10,000 strong, under Gen. Loriug. By the aid of breastworks previously constructed, and a few pieces of ar- tillery, they were enabled to hold the place un- til midnight, when they evacuated it. The Thirty-fourth fought for a part of the time in an open field against odds, and necessarily lost heavily. Of six companies engaged (the other four being absent on a scout) the loss was 130, or fully one-third engaged. One-half of the ofB- cers were either killed or wounded. Cutting their way out, they fell back to the Kanawha River, made a stand at Cotton Mountain the next day, and at Charleston on the 12th, where a severe engagement took place. From this point the National forces fell back to Point Pleasant, leaving the entire valley in the hands of the enemy. Gen. Cox returned, in October, with his command, and the valley was regained. Nothing of moment occurred from this time until in May, 1863, when the regiment was sup- plied with horses, and became "Mounted Rifies." An expedition, on the 13th of July, consisting of the Thirty-fourth, two companies of the First, and seven companies of the Second Virginia Cavalry, under command of Col. Toland, made a descent on the Virginia & Ten- nessee Railroad, and had a severe engagement at Wytheville, in which they were victorious, but lost heavily. Among the killed of the Thirty-fourth was Col. Toland. With his dying breath, he requested his horse and sword to be sent his mother. The brigade left Camp Piatt with nearly one thousand men, marched six hundred and fifty-two miles in eleven days, traversing some of the highest mountains in Western Virginia. Over two hundred and fifty horses were captured, together with three hun- dred and sixty prisoners, two pieces of artillery, and a large amount of commissary stores. Upon the fall of Col. Toland, the command de- volved on Lieut. Col. Franklin, who attempted "Tr, TV- ^ « k^ 306 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. a retrograde movement, but found it diflficult to perform from the great numbers of the enemy in the vicinity. For several days the command was moving aimlessly in the mountains, desti- tute of food for themselves or horses, and con- tinuously harassed by the rebel cavalry. The command finally reached Wytheville considera- bly worn out and exhausted. Several short expeditions under Gen. Duffle, who had as- sumed command of the Kanawha cavalry, closed the year's campaign. About two-thirds of the Thirty-fourth re-en- listed as veterans in January, 1864. Another expedition in May, against the Virginia & Ten- nessee Railroad, was inaugurated, in which the Thirty-fourth participated, but without any se- vere loss. It left Meadow Bluffs, where it had been some time stationed, to join Gen. Hunter in the Shenandoah Valley, and at Panther Gap Mountain had a slight skirmish. On the 5th of June, it reached Goshen, where another slight skirmish took place with a body of the enemy's cavalry. Staunton was reached on the 8th of June, where the regiment joined Gen. Hunter in his disastrous raid to Lynchburg. The com- mand passed through Brownsburg, Lexington, Buckhannon, and, crossing the Blue Ridge at the Peaks of Otter, reached the town of Lib- erty on the 16th, where another skirmish oc- curred. The attack was made on Lynchburg in the afternoon of the 18th, and was partially suc- cessful, but a re-enforcement of twenty thou- sand men from Richmond, under the rebel Gen. Early, so strengthened the town, that the national forces found it advisable to fall back. The Thirty-fourth suffered severely. The re- treat commenced at dark on the evening of the 19th, the rear being heavily pressed by the enemy. A second skirmish took place at Lib- erty. At Salem, Gen. Hunter lost most of his artillery, but the mounted portion of the Thir- ty-fourth, being a few miles in the rear, hurried to the scene of action, and, under Lieut. Col. Shaw, succeeded in recapturing it. The retreat continued, and on the 1st of July, the exhausted, ragged and starved troops reached Charleston, and were permitted to rest. The constant skirmishing, the starved bodies and blistered feet of those who took part in it, made " Hun- ter's retreat from Lynchburg " an event long to be remembered. While lying at Charleston, the regiment was dismounted, and its horses and equipments turned over to the cavalry. On the 10th of July, it embarked for Parkers- burg. The regiment was now in the Shenan- doah Valley. On the 20th of July a fight oc- curred near Winchester, in which the Thirty- fourth lost ten men kiUed and twenty wounded. Four days later occurred the fourth battle of Winchester, in which Gen. Early, taking advan- tage of the absence of the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps, overwhelmed Gen. Crook ; the latter, however, effected a retreat with the loss of only a few wagons. In this battle, Gen. Duval's Brigade (of which the Thirty -fourth was a part) had the honor of bringing up the rear, and the Thirty -fourth suffered severely, losing their commander, Lieut. Col. Shaw, a cool and de- termined soldier and officer. Capt. G. W. Mc- Kay was severely wounded, and died at Sandy Hook, Md., where he was taken by his com- rades. The command of the regiment now de- volved on Capt. West, who sustained well his reputation as a brave and gallant officer. Several months were now spent in skirmish- ing, marching and counter-marching, and, ou the 1st of September, the Thirty-fourth again occupied Charleston, where the regimental oflB- cers were busily engaged in making up the nec- essary papers for the discharge of the non-vet- erans, who, on the morning of the 3d of Sep- tember, proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, in charge of Capt. West. The Thirty -fourth, during the few months previous to this, had been receiving new recruits, and now numbered between four and five hundred men, present and absent, be- sides the non- veterans. The regiment marched to Summit Point, where it lay in camp until the . f ^1 ^ht^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 307 19th of September, the day on which occurred Sheridan's famous battle of Wlaohester, it be- ing the third time the regiment had fought over nearly the same ground. It suffered terribly that day, the color-guard having no less than six men, in quick succession, killed and wound- ed while carrying the flag. It was finally brought through safely by George Kynals, of Company A. On the 22d occurred the battle of Fisher's Hill. The loss of the Thirty-fourth in these two engagements was sixty-one killed. It participated in the battle of Middletown, where it behaved with its accustomed braver)'. Its loss was two killed, twelve wounded and eight- een prisoners, among the latter Lieut. Col. Fur- nej', who escaped at Mount Jackson a few days thereafter and rejoined his command. On the 11th of January, 1865, the Thirty-fourth and a part of the Eighth Cavalry were attacked at Beverley by the rebel Gen. Eosser. So secret was the attack that nearly the entire force was captured, though many afterward escaped. The survivors fell back to Fhilippi, and from there were ordered to Cumberland, Md., where they were consolidated with the Thirty -sixth Ohio. This union dates from February 22, 1865, in which the old Thirty-fourth lost its identity, the new organization being known as the Thirty- sixth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. The Forty-ninth Infantry contained a com- pany of Crawford County men, viz.. Company B. It was organized with the following com- missioned officers : Amos Keller, Captain ; A. fl. Keller, First Lieutenant ; and J. N. Biddle, Second Lieutenant. Capt. and Lieut. Keller were killed in the battle of. Stone River. The Bucyrus Journal says; "February 15, 1863, the funeral of Capt. Amos Keller and Lieut. A. H. Keller took place in Bucyrus, the largest ever in the town. They were of Company B, of the Forty-ninth Regiment. Both were born in the same month, ten years apart, and both sleep in the same grave in Oakwood Cemetery. Both were wounded at Stone River, December 31, 1862. Amos lived thirty-six hours, and A. H. lived until January 25, 1863." This regiment was organized at Tiffin, under special authority from the Secretary of War. It moved to Camp Dennison on the 10th of Sep- tember, 1861, received its equipments on the 21st, and proceeded to Louisville, Ky., where it arrived next day, and reported to Gen. Robert Anderson, who had just assumed command at that place. It was the first organized regiment to enter Kentucky. Its reception was cordial in the extreme. A magnificent dinner was given them at the Louisville Hotel, and the members of the regiment had a good time generally. In the evening, it took the cars for Lebanon Junc- tion, with orders to report to Gen. Sherman, in command at that point. The next morning, it crossed Rolling Fork and marched to Elizabeth- town, and went into Camp Nevin. When the Second Division of the Army of Ohio was or- ganized later, the Forty-ninth was assigned to the Sixth Brigade, Gen. R. W. Johnson com- manding. From the 17th of December to the 14th of February, 1862, the regiment lay in camp, perfecting drill and discipline. It left camp for Nashville, where it arrived on the 3d of March, and established Camp Andrew John- son. On the 16th, it moved with Buell's army to join Grant's forces at Pittsburg Landing, where it arrived on the morning of the 6th of April, and went into battle with its brigade. During the battle, it twice performed the haz- ardous movement of changing front under fire. In the succeeding operations against Cor- inth, the Forty-ninth took part, having a sharp fight at Bridge's Creek, and at other points on the way, entering Corinth on the 30th of May. It participated in the great race of Bragg and Buell to Louisville, Ky., arriving at the latter place on the 29th of September. Resting but a few days, it resumed the march in pursuit of the enemy. Though not in the battle of Perry- ville, yet it was engaged in skirmishing all the way from Louisville to Crab Orchard. It Si^ 308 HISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. marched from Crab Orchard to Bowling Green, and then to Nashville. On the 26th of Decem- ber, Gen. Rosecrans, then commanding the Army of the Cumberland, commenced his movement against Murfreesboro. In these operations the Forty -ninth took an active part and suffered se- verely. When the great battle opened, the en- tire field and staflf of the Forty-ninth were pres- ent ; at its close, the regiment was in command of the Junior Captain, S. F. Gray. It was in this battle that Capt. and Lieut. Keller, of Com- pany B, were wounded, from which both after- ward died. By the capture of Gen. Willich, Col. Gibson, of the Forty-ninth, succeeded to the command of the brigade ; Lieut. Col. Drake was killed while bravely cheering on his men ; Maj. Porter was wounded, and all the Senior Captains either killed or wounded. June 24, 1863, the regiment moved from Murfreesboro and had a severe engagement at Liberty Gap, where it lost several men. July 1, it reached Tullahoma and went into camp. The Forty- ninth, in the battle of Chickamauga, under com- mand of Maj. Gray, did some hard fighting and suffered severe loss. In the second day's fight, it is claimed that the Forty-ninth, in connection with Goodspeed's' battery, the Fifteenth Ohio and other troops, saved Thomas' Corps from being utterly swept from the field. When the National forces withdrew at night, the Forty- ninth, with its brigade, was the last to retire. On the 24th of November, it took part in the fight at Mission Ridge, and was among the first to plant its colors upon the summit. Soon after this, it moved with Granger's corps to the re- lief of Burnside, at Knoxville. This was one of the hardest campaigns of the war, and, in the midst of it, the gallant Forty-ninth, almost to a man, re-enlisted, and then came home to Ohio on a furlough, where it was received with great honor. The regiment, at the expiration of its fur- lough, reported at the headquarters of the Fourth Corps at Cleveland, Tenn., where the National forces were then concentrating and re-organizing for the Atlanta campaign. In this arduous campaign, the history of the regi- ment was that of the Fourth Army Corps. It took part in the engagements of Dalton, Re- saca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoo- chie River and Atlanta, exhibiting in every emergencj' its qualities of courage and disci- pline, and suffering severely in the loss of men killed and wounded. When the army was di- vided and Sherman commenced his march to the Sea, the Forty -ninth remained with the Army of the Cumberland, under Gen. Thomas, and participated in all the skirmishes, and the bat- tles of Franklin and Nashville. Before Nash- ville, on the 15th and 16th of December, 1864, it took part in several brilliant charges made by the Fourth Army Corps, and suffered severely in killed and wounded. After the pursuit of Hood's army ceased, it returned and went into camp at Huntsville, Ala., and remained there until the middle of March, 1865. On the 15th of June, it was sent to Texas. Four months it endured the hard service of that section, and was mustered out of the service at Victoria on the 30th of November, 1865. The following statistics will show something of the hard service of the Forty-ninth: "The whole number of names upon its rolls is one thousand five hundred and fifty-two ; eight of fieers were killed in battle, and twenty wounded, six mortallj^ Of the privates, one hundred and twenty-seven were killed in battle, seventy-one were mortally wounded, one hundred and sixty- five died from hardships or disease, and seven perished in rebel prisons at Andersonville and Danville. Six hundred and sixteen were dis- charged on account of wounds or other disabil- ity. Five survive with the loss of an arm, and two with the loss of a leg. The men of the reg- iment suffered nine hundred and forty-two gun- shot wounds. The Sixty-fourth Infantry comes next in the calendar, and drew from Crawford County Com- ^ ^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 309 pany H, and furnished, also, recruits to Company K. Company H was organized with E. B. Pinley, Captain ; William Starr, of Crestline, First Lieu- tenant, and Pinknej' Lewis, Second Lieutenant. Of other commissioned oflBcers of either Com- pany H, or Company K, we have been unable to learn anj'thing definite or of special impor- tance. This regiment was . organized at Mansfield, November 9, 1861, and was a part of what was known as the " Sherman Brigade." About the middle of December, it moved to Cincinnati, thence to Louisville, Kj'. December 26, it pro- ceeded to Bardstown, Kj'., and was there bri- gaded, after which it moved to Hall's Gap. After the battle of Mill Springs, it was ordered to Bowling Green, where it joined the national forces, and then proceeded to Nashville, Tenn. It remained at Nash^^lle but a few days, when it was ordered to Pittsburg Landing, but did not arrive on the battle-field until 11 o'clock of the 7th of April, and then the brunt of the great battle was over. One Company of the regiment, however (Company A, Capt. Mcll- vaine) succeeded in getting into action. The Sixty-fourth participated in the siege of Corinth, and afterward was sent to luka, Tus- eumbia, Decatur, Huntsville and Stevenson. Here it erected Fort Harker, in honor of its brave Brigade Commander. About the 1st of August, 1862, it moved with its brigade to Nashville, and from there with the national forces pushed on after Gen. Bragg to Louis- ville. The regiment remained at Louisville about ten days, when it marched toward Perry- ville, and had the mortification of witnessing that battle without permission to help their hard-pressed comrades. Following the enemy beyond Wild Cat, the national forces then re- turned, and proceeded to Nashville, and went into camp three miles from the city. The next battle in which the Sixty-fourth participated was that of Stone Kiver. In this battle, it did some hard fighting, and of about three hun- dred engaged, it lost seventy-five killed and wounded. At Murfreesboro and the fighting and skirmishing incident thereto the Sixty-fourth bore its part. In the battle of Chickamauga (19th and 20th of September) it lost in killed wounded and missing over one hundred men. Falling back to Chattanooga, it was mostly em- ployed on picket duty until the movement of the national forces, under Hooker. It took part in the battle of Mission Ridge, and lost Capt. King, killed, and several men. In Jan- uary', 1864, about three-fourths of the regiment re-enlisted, and was sent home on furlough for thirtj' daj-s. Thej^ were warmly received at Mansfield, and given a grand supper. At the expiration of its furlough, the regiment left for the front, arriving at Chattanooga on the 1st of April. The movements commenced now against Atlanta, and at the battle of Rocky Face Ridge, Col. Alexander Mcllvaine then in command of the Sixty-fourth, and Lieut. Thomas H. Ehlers, with nineteen men were killed and sixty -five were wounded. At Resaca, on the 14th of June, the regiment lost several men killed and wounded, and on the IStli, at Muddy Creek, it again participated, but with slight loss. Dur- ing the whole campaign, it was almost con- stantly engaged in skirmishing, and, at the bat- tle of Peach-Tree Creek, on the 20th of July, Among its loss, was Sergt. Marion Trage, of Company H., who was shot through the head. Prom the date its brigade and division moved in front of Atlanta, until the 26th of August, the Sixty-fourth was almost hourly under fire. At Jonesboro, on the 3d of September, and at Lovejoy Station, on the 6th, it was engaged with but slight loss. After the fall of Atlanta, it went into camp there, until dispatched with the Fourth Army Corps in pursuit of Hood to Chattanooga ; while there, it received four hundred new re- cruits from Ohio. It now went on a recon- naissance in pursuit of Hood to Alpine, Ga., after which it returned to Chattanooga. At the Vjs ^ t \> J^l -^ 310 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. battle of Spring Hill, the regiment was engaged, but its loss was slight. From that place, it proceeded to Frankiin, and took part in that battle, with a very severe loss, in killed, wounded and missing. Tliis was the last struggle in this part of the country. The Sixty -fourth was sent to New Orleans, in June, where it remained three months, and was then sent to Victoria, Tex. Here, it performed garrison duty until December 3, 1865, when it was mustered out of the service and sent home. The Eighty-sixth Infantry also drew a com- pany from this county, together with some of its field officers, of whom W. C. Lemert was Major, and afterward, when the regiment was re-organized, was its Colonel. Company K was officered as follows : E. C. Moderwell, Captain ; Samuel Smalley, First Lieutenant, and Horace Potter, Second Lieutenant ; J. M. McCracken was Orderly Sergeant ; J. B. Scroggs, Sergeant Major ; B. F. Lauck, Quartermaster's Sergeant, and H. V. Potter, Regimental Postmaster. The Eighty-sixth was a three months' regi- ment, raised under the President's call for seventy-five thousand men, in May, 1862. There were two organizations, numbered as the Eighty-sixth Infantry, the one for three months ; the other for twenty -four months. The first, or three months' regiment, left Camp Chase for Western Virginia, on the 16th of June, 1862, and operated in that section of the country during its term of service. It was engaged mostly at Clarksburg and Parkersburg, in skirmishing with prowling bands of rebels, and in garrison duty. After its three months had expired, it returned to Camp Delaware, where it was paid off and discharged. The rebels, however, still manifesting a pur- pose to invade the northern border States, some of the old officers conceived the idea of re-or- ganizing the Eighty-sixth for six months. Maj. Lemert, of Bucyrus, received permission from Gov. Tod, and completed the organization of the regiment at Camp Cleveland, becoming its Colonel. About the time the regiment was completelj'' organized, the rebel Gen. Morgan was making his raid through Indiana and Ohio, and by orders of Gov. Tod, the Eighty-sixth was ordered to join in his pursuit, and, accord- ingly, it participated in that short but intensely lively campaign. After the capture of Mor- gan, the regiment returned to Camp Tod, and on the 8th of August, 1863, was ordered to Camp Nelson, Kentucky, there to join in an expedition against Cumberland Gap. After the capture of the Gap, the Eighty-sixth re- mained as a part of the garrison, until its term of service expired. On the 16th of January, 1864, it started for home, arriving at Cleveland on the 26th, and on the 10th of February, it was mustered out of the United States service. The One Hundred and First Infantry con- tained two companies from Crawford County, viz., Companies C and E. The first was or- ganized with the following officers : B. B. Mc- Donald, Captain ; Isaac Anderson, First Lieu- tenant, and J. B. Biddle, Second Lieutenant. Capt. McDonald was promoted to Major Decem- ber 26, 1863, and to Lieutenant Colonel Feb- ruary 18, 1864, in which position he was mus- tered out with the regiment. Lieut. Anderson resigned January 2, 1863, on account of disa- bility ; Second Lieut. Biddle was killed Decem- ber 31, 1862. W. N. Beer was promoted from Sergeant Major to First Lieutenant on the 2d of January, 1863, and to Captain March 19, 1864, and, as such, mustered out with the regi- ment. J. M. Roberts was promoted to Second Lieutenant for bravery at the battle of Murfrees- boro, December, 31, 1862 ; to First Lieutenant March 19, 1864, and to Captain February 10, 1865, and was transferred to Company K. The almost romantic story of the capture of Capt. McDonald and a number of his com- rades and the Captain's escape from Libby Prison is well-known to the people of Crawford County. He was captured September 20, 1863, during the Chattanooga campaign, and re- ^TT? f ihL^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 311 mained in that "Black Hole of Calcutta," Libby Prison, until the spring of 1864, when he, with a few fellow-ofHcers, escaped bj' tun- neling underneath the prison-walls. There is in possession of his family, a large photograph of Libby Prison, in which his own quarters, while a prisoner within its somber walls, is marked. His daughters in Buc3'rus have care- fully preserved, as a relic, the chisel which he used in tunneling out of prison. It is a relic they highly prize as the instrument which assisted their father, a gallant officer, to liberty. Company E was organized with the follow- ing commissioned officers : William C. Par- sous, Captain ; Lyman Parcher, First Lieuten- ant, and Robert D. Lord, Second Lieutenant. Capt. Parsons died November 15, 1862 ; Lieut. Parcher was promoted to Captain, November 15, 1862; and resigned February 26, 1863. Second Lieut. Lord was promoted to First Lieutenant, November 15, 1862 ; to Captain, February 26, 1863, and was honorablj' dis- charged August 12, 1863. Samuel S. Blowers was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and re- signed January 9, 1864. Of other promotions and commissioned officers in Company E, we have been unable to learn an^ything definite. The One Hundred and First was one of that series of patriotic regiments raised in the dark days of 1862, when the national cause seemed to be drifting into final defeat. It was organ- ized and mustered into the service at Monroe- ville, on the 30th day of August, 1862. On the 4th of September, it was hurried off to Cincinnati, though scarcely ready for fleld-serv- ice, and thence to Covington, to assist in repel- ling a threatened attack of Gen. Kirby Smith. September 24, it proceeded to Louisville, Ky., and was incorporated into Gen. Buells army, then lying at that place, after its forced march after Gen. Bragg. It was placed in the brigade commanded by Gen. Carlin, and in the division of Gen. Robert B. Mitchell. October 1, it marched with the national forces in pursuit of Gen. Bragg, and took part in the battle of Per- ryville, on the 8th of October. This was the initial battle of the One Hundred and First, and it bore itself bravely during the entire en- gagement, meriting and receiving the praises of both its brigade and division commanders, and losing several men. It followed in pursuit of the Rebels, and, at Lancaster, Ky., had a pretty severe skirmish with their rear-guard. Its march was continued through Crab Orchard, Danville, Lebanon and Bowling Green, and thence to Nashville, Tenn. At Nashville, Gen. Jeff C. Davis took command of the division, and on the 26th of December it marched with the army of the Cumberland, under Gen. Rose- crans. On the same evening, a force of tlie enemy was met by the Second Brigade, of Gen. Davis' division, of which the One Hundred and First was a part, and a severe skirmish took place. During the engagement, the One Hun- dred and First carried the crest of a hill under a heavy fire, and captured two bronze field- pieces. The regiment, being a new one, be- haved like veterans, particularly signalizing itself One of the guns captured had on it the word "Shiloh," and belonged to Georgia troops. On the 30th of December, the brigade to which the One Hundred and First belonged, was the first to arrive on the battle-field of Stone River. It engaged the enemy's outposts that evening, and drove them in with quite a severe skirmish. The regiment lay down on its arms at night, to dream of home, and many to sleep their last. With its brigade it stood firm, and was the first troops to receive the shock of battle, which came at daylight on the memorable 31st of December. During the en- tire fight, the One Hundred and First continued in the hottest, taking up six different positions and stubbornly maintaining them during the day. Col. Stern and Lieut. Col. Wooster were both killed on the front line of the army, and both died leading on their men to deeds of daring. The regiment continued in the front 9 ^ ^a \^ 312 HISTORY OF CRAWrORD COUNTY, %f< a of the battle until its close, and lost seven offi- cers and two hundred and twelve men killed and wounded. During the remainder of the winter, the One Hundred and First was engaged on expeditions around Murfreesboro, suffering very much from fatigue and exposure. Says a publication of that day ; " It was no imcommon thing to see as many as fifty men of the regi- ment marching without shoes on their feet, and so ragged as to excite both the sympathies and risibilities of their companions. This march- ing up and down the country — the purposes of utility of which were oftentimes wholly un- known — lasted until April 1863, when the regi- ment was allowed to go into camp at Murfrees- boro for rest, and for the purpose of perfecting its drill." The TuUahoma campaign was inaugurated the 24th of June, and the One Hundred and First moved with that portion of the army which operated at Liberty Gap. Here they were en- gaged with the enemy for two days, and lost a number of men. It followed the fortunes of the army up to Chattanooga, and at the close of that campaign was with Gen. Davis' division at Winchester, Tenn. It marched on the Chatta- nooga campaign, August 17, and crossed the Tennessee River at Caperton's Ferry. From there it marched over Sand and Lookout Mountain, to near Alpine, Ga.; counter-march- ing, it recrossed Lookout Mountain to the field of Chickamauga, where it engaged in that bat- tle on the 19th and 20th of August, displaying great coolness and gallantry. During the sec- ond day's battle, the One Hundred and First re- took a National battery from the enemy, fighting over the guns with clubbed muskets. At Chat- tanooga, the army was re-organized, and the One Hundred and First Ohio became a part of the First Brigade, First Division, of the Fourth Army Corps, and on the 28th of Octo- ber this brigade marched to Bridgeport, Ala., where it remained in camp until January 16, 1864, and then marched to Ooltewah, Tenn. May 3, it moved with its brigade on the At- lanta campaign, and bore its part in all the hard fighting, until the fall of Atlanta changed the theater of war to another section. Its loss was heavy in the several battles and skirmishes of that arduous campaign. It marched from Atlanta to Pulaski, Tenn., and from there to Nashville. At, the battle of Franklin, the One Hundred and First was^ ordered tb retake an angle in the works held by the enemy. This it succeeded in doing, and held them until 10 o'clock P. M., although the enemy was withiu bayonet reach. In the battle of Nashville, on the 15th and 16th of December, the One Hundred and First participated in the assault upon the enemy's works. After the battle and rout of Hood, it followed in pursuit as far as Lexington, Ala., and then marched to Huntsville, where it went into camp. It remained here until June 12, 1865, when with other regiments it was mus- tered out of the service. It at once started for home, and at Cleveland, Ohio, was paid off and discharged. The following, from the Bucyrus Journal of June 24, 1 865, is a fitting finale to the history of this gallant regiment : " The One Hundred and First regiment has been mus- tered out, and the members belonging to this county arrived at home during the past week. This regiment was recruited in Erie, Huron, Seneca, Wyandot and Crawford Counties, and left for the front on the 4th of September, 1862, nine hundred and eighty strong, under command of Col. Leander Stern, a prominent citizen of TiflSn. He fell at the battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862. The following is the pres- ent roster of the regiment : Colonel, I. M. Kirby ; Lieutenant Colonel, B. B. McDonald ; Major, J. M. Latimer ; Chaplain, Rev. E. M. Cravath ; Adjutant, James L. Nefl'; Surgeon, T. M. Cook ; Assistant Surgeon, H. H. Russell ; Quartermaster, 0. J. Benham. Company A— Lieutenant, B. F. Bryant. Company B — Cap- tain, J. C. Butler ; Lieutenant, Charles Mor- 'A HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 313 foot. Company C — Captain, D. Smith ; Lieu- tenant, J. E.. Homer. Company D — Captain, J. M. Latimer. Company E — Lieutenant, J. M. Williamson. Company P — Captain, G. W. Hale. Company G — Captain, J. P. Fleming ; Lieutenant, J. P. Webster, Company H — Captain, W. N. Beer. Company I — Lieutenant, J. C. Smith. Company K — Captain, James M. Roberts ; Lieutenant, W. R. Davis. Col. Kirby is a Brevet Brigadier General. He went into the field as Captain of Company P, and has won his star by brave deeds, and wears his well-earned honors with becoming dignity. The regiment is under command of Lieut. Col. McDonald, and returns with two hundred and thirty-five men and twenty officers. The record of the One Hundred and First has been a glorious one, having participated in every important battle from Perryville to Atlanta, and always in the hottest of the fight. It took a very active part in saving the day at the bloody battle of Franklin." The One Hundred and Twenty-third Infan- try was represented by a company from Craw- ford County, together with quite a number of scattering recruits in other companies of the same regiment. When orders were received to raise this regiment, this county obtained per- mission to recruit three of the ten companies. But one full company, however (Company H), was raised and mustered into the One Hundred and Twenty-third. This company was officered as follows ; John Newman, Captain ; David S. Caldwell, First Lieutenant, and H. S. Beving- ton. Second Lieutenant. Capt. Newman re- signed February 3, 1863. Lieut. Caldwell was promoted to Captain February 3, 1863, and honorably discharged July 24, 1864. Lieut. Bevington was promoted to First Lieutenant February 3, 1863, to Captain January 5, 1865, and honorably discharged February 1, 1865. William A. Williams was promoted from Or- derly Sergeant to Second Lieutenant February 3, 1863, and honorably discharged July 29, 1864. This regiment was organized at Monroeville, in Huron County, and mustered into the United States service for three years. This process was completed on the 16th of October, 1862, and on the same day the regiment proceeded to Zanesville, and from thence to Marietta. From Marietta it proceeded direct to Clarksburg, Va., where it arrived on the 20th, and on the 27th, left for Buckhannon. The fall and winter were spent in continual marching and counter- marching, until January 10, 1863, when it pro- ceeded to Romney, where it .arrived on the 12th. Here six weeks were spent in scouting and, guarding the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road. On the 1st of March the regiment was sent to Winchester, and made several raids up the Shenandoah Valley. On the evening of June 13, the One Hundred and Twenty-third with its brigade, had an engagement with Gen. Early's corps, in which it lost nearly one hun- dred men killed and wounded. On the 14th the national forces were driven into their forti- fications and hardly pressed by overwhelming numbers of the enemy. It was finally decided to evacuate the place, and the troops marched out of the works in silence, at 2 o'clock in the morning, leaving the heavy artillery in position, but spiked. On the Martinsburg road the enemy was found in a strong position, and, in attempting to cut its way through, the One Hundred and Twenty-third lost fifty men killed and wounded. During this time, Col. Ely, of the Eighteenth Connecticut, who was tempora- rily in command of the brigade, without appar- ent cause, surrendered to the enemy ; the whole brigade, except Company D, of the One Hun- dred and Twenty-third, were made prisoners of war and sent to Richmond, where the officers of the One Hundred and Twenty-third remained in Libby Prison about eleven months. Capt D. S. Caldwell and Lieut. William D. Williams made, their escape. Maj. Kellogg, who was wounded and made his escape at Winchester, I collected the stragglers of the regiment at Mar- 314 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. tinsburg, where the paroled men" after exchange, joined him, about the 1st of September, 1863. At this place the regiment was newly armed and equipped, but, being deficient in ofBcers, it was engaged mainlj^ in provost and picket duty, until March 1, 1864, when it was distributed as guards along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Kailroad, between Harper's Perry and Monocacy Junction. The regiment was collected about the 1 st of April, at Martinsburg, and from thence moved to Winchester. Under command of Gen. Sigel, it made a raid up the valley, and, after a sharp fight on the 15th of May, at New Market, in which the One Hundred and Twenty-third lost seventy men in killed and wounded. Gen. Sigel was forced to fall back to Cedar Creek. In a short time he was superseded by Gen. Hunter, who made preparations at once for the memora- ble Lynchburg raid. Thiis ill-fated expedition has already been described in the history of some of the other regiments representing Craw- ford County. The history of the One Hundred and Twenty-third, in the expedition, was the history of those already given. Hard marching, almost constant skirmishing, exposure and fatigue were some of its hardships, with loss of a number of men killed, wounded and missing. On the last of June, the worn-out and famished troops reached Gauley Bridge, where supplies were met and distributed to the starving troops. For two months, the troops were marching from one place to another, scouting and foraging, and finally reached Martinsburg again, where they had a brief rest. Prom Martinsburg they proceeded to Harper's Perry, and moved on to Loudoun Valley, east of the Blue Ridge, for the purpose of intercepting Early's retreat to the Shenandoah Valley. After numerous defeats and losses, the command of the national army, in the valley, was given to Gen. Sheridan, who soon changed the aspect of affairs. The rebels were defeated at Berryville and at "Winchester, in both of which engagements the One Hundred and Twenty-third participated. Its loss was five ofBcers and about fifty men. After these operations the national troops remained at Cedar Creek until the 19th of October, watching the enemy and building fortifications. These fortifications were destined to fall into the hands of the enemy. The battle followed in which Sheridan made his famous ride from "Win- chester, twenty miles away.'' The One Hundred and Twenty-third bore an active part in it and lost several men. After this battle the One Hundred and Twenty-third was engaged for one month guarding the Harper's Ferry & Winchester Railroad, after which it was attached to the Twenty-fourth Army Corps (Gen. Ord's), in the department then com- manded by Gen. Butler. It arrived at Deep Bottom on the 27th of December, 1864, where it lay until the 25th of March, 1865, at which time it broke camp and moved to the Chicka- hominy. On the 30th of March, an advance was made on the rebel works, and skirmishing continued until the morning of the 2d of April, when the rebel works were carried. The One Hundred and Twenty-third, during this time, was three days on the skirmish line without relief, and their provisions had to be carried to them by the Regimental Quartermaster. The loss of the regiment was quite severe while on this long skirmish. On the 3d of April, the whole national army marched in pursuit of Gen. Lee, toward Danville. The One Hundred and Twenty-third was sent with other troops to burn High Bridge, and was unexpectedly sur- rounded by Gen. Lee's cavalry, and the entire force captured, and carried along, as prisoners of war, to Appomattox Court House, where the rebel army some time afterward surrendered, an event that virtually closed the war. Soon after this, the regiment proceeded to Annapolis, Md., and from thence went home to Camp Chase, where, on the 12th of June, it was mus- tered out of the United States service. The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Infantry, It^ a>. oyj/^^^^^j^^ ^.^^ iL> HISTOEY OF CEAWFOKD COUNTY. 317 for one hundred days' service, had two Com- panies from Crawford County. This one hun- dred daj's' service was designated " National Guard " service. The two companies of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth, were Com- panies A and C. The first was officered as fol- lows : Samuel Smalley, Captain ; George W. Myers, First Lieutenant, and James W. Fulker- son, Second Lieutenant. Company C was oflBcered — W. A. Mitchell, Captain ; Ira M. Corj% First Lieutenant, and E. Paul, Second Lieutenant. The regiment reported at Camp Chase May 12, 1864 ; was mustered, uniformed, armed, equipped, and shipped to Washington City. It remained on garrison duty in and around Washington daring its entire term of service, which expired August 20, 1864, when it was mustered out and discharged. The One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Infan- try drew a company from Crawford County, Company B, which was mustered into the serv- ice with the following commissioned officers : Lyman Parcher, Captain ; Thomas A. Patter- son, First Lieutenant, and Isaac Z. Bryant, Second Lieutenant. These officers were all mustered out with the regiment at the close of its term of service. The One Hundred and Seventj'-ninth was organized for one j'ear's service, and was mus- tered in at Camp Chase on the 2Sth of Sep- tember, 1864. It was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., when it was assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps. It was present at the battle of Nash- ville, but was onl^' partlj' engaged. The regi- ment remained on duty at Nashville until June 18, 1865, when, its services being no longer needed, it was sent home to Columbus, paid off, and discharged on the 27th of June. When mus- tered out, its rolls bore the names of 38 officers and 698 men. This comprises the infantry regiments that drew anj'thing like an organized body of men from the county. There were, however, a great many other regiments, in which the county was represented by scattering recruits. The Forty- fifth, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, Sixty-fifth, and several others, contained more or less men from Crawford County. Also several batteries and Cavalry regiments contained representatives. The Twelfth Cavalry, perhaps, was more strongly represented than any other organiza- tion. Company A of this regiment contained ma,nj Crawford County men. Capt. E. C. Moderwell and Lieut. D. A. Newell, of Com- pany A, were also of this county. Capt. Mod- erwell, was promoted to Major, and in that po- sition was mustered out with the regiment. Lieut. Newell was promoted from Second to First Lieutenant November 24, 1863, and was honorably discharged May 20, 1865. The Twelfth Cavalry was recruited in the fall of 1863 and contained men from nearly every county in the State. It was organized at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, when it was mustered into the service on the 24th of No- vember, 1863, and, while a portion of it re- mained on dut}' at Johnson's Island during the winter, the remainder was equipped and mount- ed at Camp Dennison, and on the 29th of November, left for Louisville, and from thence was ordered to Lexington and Mount Sterling. It served principally in Kentucky until Feb- ruary, 1865, when it was ordered to Nashville. From thence it moved to Murfreesboro, and then to Knoxville. It accompanied Gen. Stone- man in his raid into North Carolina. It par- ticipated in the capture of Jefferson Davis and of Gens. Bragg and Wheeler. The Twelfth remained on duty in Tennessee and Alabama until the 14th of November, 1865, when it was mustered out at Nashville, and sent home to Columbus, paid ofl'and discharged. The Third and Tenth Cavalry regiments also contained men from Crawford County, but just how man3' we were unable to ascertain. Capt. E. K. Brink was from this county. He entered the regiment as First Lieutenant at its organi- A^ 318 HISTOBT OF CEAWrORD COUNTY. zation, was promoted to Captain, and resigned May 9, 1865. Of other representatives in the Third Cavalry, we have no definite informa- tion. In compiling the war history of the county, we have drawn pretty freely on Whitelaw Reid's history of " Ohio in the War." As it is claimed to be not wholly without errors, we have taken pains to consult members of the different regi- ments, so far as practicable, and have them compare it with their own recollections. By this means we have been enabled to detect and correct some errors that existed, and think that, as now given, the history of the regiments in which Crawford County was represented is sub- stantially correct. There may be omissions of regiments that should have mention, but, if so, it is not our fault. We have used the greatest exertions to obtain full information of the county's military history, but, in many cases have found the facilities for obtaining infornra- tion meager. The county was twice drafted, but neither time for a very large number of men. The first took place the last of September, 1862, and was for the following numbers of men, by town- ships : Polk, 69 ; Jackson, 102 ; Whetstone, 45 ; Chatfleld, 59 ; Sandusky, 33 ; Cranberry, 42 ; Texas, 2 ; Vernon, 30 ; Lykens, 40 ; Lib- erty, 56 ; Auburn, 22 ; Holmes, 55 ; Bucyrus, 22 ; Dallas, 0. The latter, it will be seen, had filled its quota and was not drafted, and it is said to be the only township in the county that had no draft during the war. There was some trouble at the time in regard to the draft, as to forcing the recruits thus obtained into the serv- ice. Some of the drafted men resisted, and, backed by a numerous party in the county op- posed to the war, there were, for a time, indica- tions and strong fears of a riot. It was by great exertions on the part of the lovers of peace and good order that a collision was pre- vented and serious consequences avoided. As it was, there were a few little scenes occurred that did not redound to the credit of all parties concerned. Another draft took place on the 16th of May, 1864, for a smaller number of men than the previous one. It was as follows, by townships : Bucyrus, 16 ; Auburn, 9 ; Holmes, 11 ; Texas, 2 ; Chatfield, 2 ; Cranberry, 1 ; Todd, 23 ; Polk, 24; Liberty, 8 ; Jackson, 5. These, however, we believe, were mostly filled up by voluntary enlistment before the day set for the drafted men to report at headquarters. Poets and painters have, by common accord, agreed to represent the angel of pity and sym- pathj' in a female form — a tribute that is in no wise unmerited. Prom the earliest periods of the world's history, the kindest feelings of women have been excited by the woes of suffer- ing humanity, and her warmest sympathies aroused in alleviating trouble and alHiction, and in the exercise of her kind and generous minis- trations. The most notable instance on record of woman's love and affection occurred over eighteen hundred years ago, at the home of Martha and Mary, at Bethany, and atthesepul- cher at the foot of Mount Calvary. And from that day to this, like an angel of mercy, woman has ever been found in the midst of woe and misery and suffering and sorrow. In sickness, there is no hand like hers to smooth the pil- low, moisten the fevered lips, and wipe the cold, damp dews of agony from the throbbing brow, This angelic spirit of the sex was beautifully exemplified during the late war. How many thousands of noble-hearted women left all the comforts and luxuries of home, and, braving the dangers of field and hospital, spent those four long, gloomy 3'ears in administering to the wants of suffering soldiers ! They went forth to the post of duty, expressing the conviction that, if they fell, their loss would not be felt. Heroic but mistaken souls ! The world sus- tains its heaviest loss when such spirits fall. But all the good accomplished during the war by female hands was not due alone to those l^ it^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 319 who went forth to nurse and take care of the sick and wounded. Those who remained be- hind performed a work for good, the half of which has not 3'et been told, and which can scarcely be realized by the outside world. The Soldiers' Ladies' Aid Society was an or- ganization of broad and liberal beneficence, and one to which manj- a poor and wounded soldier was indebted for his very life. The following extract is from a soldier's letter, published in the Bucyrus Journal inan early period of the war, and illustrates the good work of these societies. " It was about 5 o'clock in the aft- ernoon when I arrived in the hospital. Soon after my entrance I was stripped and bathed in a large tub of tepid water, shown to bed, and a nice clean white shirt and a pair of drawers were given me. I soon encased xs\y tired limbs in my new wardrobe, and while doing so, my eyes caught sight of the words, ' From the Woman's Aid Societj',' stamped in black ink on each garment. I lay down, pulled the blanket over my head and thought of mj' situation. Here I am in a hospital, prostrated with disease, worn out in bodj' and mind, over eight hundred miles from any spot I can call home. My own mother and sister long since dead ; but the no- ble-hearted women of the North — those angels of mercj- — are supplying the place of mother and sister, not only to me, but to thousands of suf- fering soldiers from every State. Presentlj- I felt two large tears coursing down my cheeks, and running into my mustache, followed )_>y myriads of others dropping on the sheet under my chin, forming innumerable little salt-water pools. When well I am a strong man, and it requires some sudden and deep grief to bring me to tears ; but tears of gratitude flowed from me that evening, as freelj' as drops of rain from an April cloud ; and, like a spoiled child I cried myself to sleep." This is but one in- stance of the good accomplished by these soci- eties, originated and maintained by the noble ladies of the land. A soldiers' aid society was one of the earliest organizations inaugurated in the State, for the benefit of the sick and wounded in camp and hospital. This organization found a ready response among the ladies of Crawford County. A society, auxiliary to that of the State, was formed in Bucj'rus, with branches in the different townships, which was instrumental in accomplishing a great and no- ble work. The first organization of the society in Bucy- rus took place on the 14th of October, 1861. Mrs. Dr. Merriman was elected President ; Mrs. William Bowse, Secretary, and JMrs. Howbert, Treasurer. Large donations were made to the society, and 10 cents constituted the fee for membership. For some time the society met regularly in Quinby Block, but eventually be- come lukewarm, then dropped off into a Rip A'an Winkle nap, from which it was aroused in the fall of 1862. It was re-organized and Mrs. J. Scroggs was elected President, and Blrs. Howbert, Secretary'. But it seems to have be- come dormant again in a short time, in which state it remained until June, 1863, when it was re-organized a second time, and Jlrs. I. C. Kingsley elected President ; Mrs. R. T. John- ston, Vice President ; Mrs. J. G-. Robinson, Secretary, and [Mrs. H. M. Rowse, Treasurer. Under this last organization, it continued in operation until the close of the war. and the return of the troops, no longer required its good work. The great number of boxes of clothing for the well and dainties and sweet- meats for the sick, sent off by the society and its township branches, made glad the heart of many a brave and gallant soldier. During the progress of the war, a movement was set on foot, having for its object the erec- tion of a monument to the memory of the sol- diers of Crawford County, who had fallen, or might fall, in battle. In January, 1863, a prop- osition was made l)y the members of Oakwood Cemetery to donate a lot, valued at :i?125, pro- vided the citizens of the county would subscribe J^l -^ 330 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. a sufficient amount ($2,000) to erect a suitable monument. An organization, or association, was formed, known as the " Crawford County, Oliio, Monumental Association ; by-laws and a constitution were adopted, and officers elected. For a time, great interest was manifested, and the strongest hopes were entertained of an early accomplishment of the laudable undertakino'. But the zeal of those entrusted with the work died out, and the county's soldier dead still sleep with no other monument than that raised by their brave deeds in defense of their country. CHAPTER yill.* BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP— TOPOGRAPHICAL— SOME OF THE EARLY DRAWBACKS— SETTLEMENT— WILD GAME AND PIONEER SPORTS- THE NORTON FAMILY— TOWNSHIP ORGANI- ZATION—SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC. southwest, while flowing in Bucyrus Township, and winds along nearlj^ parallel with the San- dusky Eiver, and some two miles southeast ; consequently Lhe water-shed between the St. Lawrence Basin and the Mississippi Valley ex- tends across Bucyrus Township from northeast to southwest. There are several buildings locat- ed on this water-shed, of which it is asserted the rain falling on one roof assists in forming the broad Mississippi, while that descending upon the other finds its way into Lake Erie. The land in Bucj'rus Township is generally very level, but near the Sandusky River it is more irregular, and the line of small blufis along this small stream are sometimes called hills by the inhabitants. The soil is very fer- tile and well adapted to farming, which is the principal occupation of the inhabitants, nOt residents of the town. However, many of the farmers on the plains derive most of their in- come by raising cattle. When the country was first settled, these plains were covered with tall, rank grass of luxuriant growth, and numerous swamps abounded. Many old settlers assert that these plains were, fifty years ago, so low and wet during the greater portion of the year as to render them unfit for farming. Most of the township was originally covered by a forest of very heavy timber, which almost entirely prevented the sun's rays from reaching the BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP is situated in the southwestern part of Crawford County. It is bounded on the north by Holmes Town- ship, on the east by Whetstone, on the south by Dallas, and on the west b}' Dallas and Todd. Bucyrus Township was known in the original Government survey as Township 3, of Range 16. At the present time, this division is of regular legal size, six miles square, consisting of thirty-six full sections or square miles, but, when first organized, it was considered a frac- tional township, for the reason that about one- third of the present territory was then a part of the Wyandot Indian reservation. The town- ship was named after the village located during the spring of 1822, in the northeastern corner. Two small streams form the water-course of this division of Crawford County, the Sandusky River, and the head-waters of one branch of the Scioto. The Sandusky enters the township at the northeastern corner, and winds along for nearly ten miles toward the southwest, until it leaves Bucyrus Township two miles north of the southwestern corner. The Scioto is formed by several rivulets, which drain the farms just south of Bucyrus corporation. For many miles this stream is a mere brook, which is fre- quentlj^ dr}- during the summer time. The general course of the Scioto is also toward the *Oontribute(i by Thomas P. Hopley. ^r A ?k, HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 331 ground ; this, in connection with the formation of the country and the nature of the soil, nec- essarily made very muddy roads, even with the little travel then passing on them. The general dampness of the country at that time produced fever and ague, which were also gi-eat drawbacks to rapid improvement. The total change in the appearance of the country to one who can look back half a century, seems almost miraculous, and, could one of the early residents return, after an absence of fifty years, he would find it diSicult to recognize a single familiar landmark or half a dozen familiar faces. Most of the pioneers were men of small means ; their stock of cash being generally ex- hausted upon paying the Grovernment price for eight}-, or, at most, one hundred and sixty acres of land. The distance from grist-mills and other settlements, where necessary supplies could be obtained, was about the most serious difflcultj' with which they had to contend. For several j'ears, nearlj' all the flour used had to be brought from the mills, on Mohican Creek, and its tributaries in Richland Count}', thirty or forty miles distant. The earliest practice of the settlers was to make a trip in an ox-wagon, and in the vicinity of these mills purchase a small quantit}- of wheat ; then have it ground, and carr}' the flour back to Bue3'rus Township, the " voyage " consuming at times from a week to ten daj's. IMauy became discouraged at the hardships they had to encounter, and returned to their former homes in the Bast. Otliers would have followed their example could they have raised the wherewith to take them there. This state of affairs, however, did not last long, most of the settlers becoming entirely satisfied after a few years' residence, the improvements of the early country each j-ear making it more tolerable to live in, and giving increased prom- ise of its future prosperity. Samuel Norton, the first settler of Bucyrus Township, was born within one mile of Con- gress Spring, near Saratoga, N. Y., JIarch 3, 1780. His father was of Scotch descent, and, many years previous to the birth of Samuel, had emigrated from Scotland and settled in Connecticut. Samuel Norton was married, Jan- uary 1, 1804, to Miss Mary Bucklin, who was born in Coventry, Kent Co., R. I., October 31, 1785. The Bucklins were of English descent, and Mary Bucklin's parents moved from Rhode Island to Little Falls, N. Y., when she was about six j'cars of age, and some twelve j'ears afterward to what is now Susquehanna County, Penn., where she was married to Samuel Nor- ton. The young couple settled near Elk Hill, then in Luzerne but now in Susquehanna County. This district is situated in the mount- ain regions of that State ; the land is poor, and even at that time the country was verj' wild. It is said that at one time, while Norton was still a resident of Elk Hill, he shot a pan- ther which measured eleven feet and three inches. These wild beasts have never been seen in Crawford County since it was first set- tled by white men, and, although the first settlers of Bucyrus Township emigrated to a newer country', they did not, in some respects, find a wilder one. Norton was dissatisfied with this wild, rocky Penn.sylvunia land, and, after re- siding there with his wife for over fifteen j-ears, determined to seek a more congenial countrj'. He took the Western fever and finally decided that his destination should be the land ob- tained by the New Purchase. His wife was op- posed to this movement of the Norton family, and refused to go unless her Ijrother Albijence Bucklin would go along. Norton finally suc- ceeded in inducing Bucklin to accompany him with his family, by promising him flftj- acres of land. Very late in the spring of 1819, the pioneers left their home in Pennsj-lvania, and, alter jour- neying about GOO miles in a big " schooner " wagon, reached the present site of Bucyrus some time in October, 1819. The partj- consisted of the following eighteen persons — Samuel Norton ^ -"— -"1^^ 323 IIISTOKY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. and his wife, Maiy Norton, their three daugh- ters, Louisa (now Mrs. H. Garton, of Todd Township), Catharine (now Mrs. J. Shull, of Bu- ej-rus), and Elizabeth (now Mrs. A. ^I. Jones, of Bucyrus), their three sons, Rensellaer, War- ren (now a resident of Missouri) and Waldo Norton ; Albijence Bucklin and wife, their six children — Esther, Cynthia, Austris, Elizabeth, Almeda and Pitt ; also Polly, an adopted daughter of the Bucklins, and Seth Holmes. The latter was a Captain of teamsters during the war of 1812, and he always reported that the division he was in, which was commanded by Col. Morrison, passed over the land upon which Bucj'rus is now located, and encamped for the night near where the Bucyrus Machine Works now stand. Holmes directed Norton and Bucklin to this sec- tion of the State, but, before they had Bnallj' determined upon a peiTQanent location, the two families were left for a few days at the Harding settlement, near what is now the citj' of Gallon, and the three men visited different portions of the New Purchase. Of the eighteen members of this first settlement, seven are still alive — Jlrs. H. Garton, of Todd Township ; Mrs. J. Shull and Mrs. A. M. Jones, of Bucyrus ; War- ren Norton, of Kirksville, Adair Co., Mo; Esther and Cynthia, two of Bucklin's daughters,- and Polly, the adopted child. The three latter are residents of Western States. After reaching their destination, the two fam- ilies lived for three days in an Indian wigwam, which stood near the present site of the court house, and, during this brief period, the three men constructed a more durable residence. This first rude home was built of small round logs and erected upon the bins' of the Sandusky River, near the site now occupied bj' the resi- dence of Mr. Christian Shonert. The two fam- ilies moved into this log cabin, and, shortly afterward, another was constructed near where Thomas Hall's barn is at the present time, and this was the first home of the Bucklin family. When these settlers constructed their first cabin, the nearest white neighbors were eight miles off, on the banks of the Olentangy, and that settlement consisted onlj' of a few squatters, who were generally as nomadic in habit as they were transient in location. It is reported, how- ever, that, at this time, Daniel McMiehael and family, who afterward occupied eighty acres north of Bucyrus, were residents of this same settlement on the Olentangy. In October, 1819, there was not a single white man within what are now the limits of Crawford County, north and west of Norton's, but a few white families lived at Tymochtee, then in Crawford, but now Wyandot County. The Norton family occupied their first log-cabin home during one winter and until July, 1820. In this cabin was born, on Februarj' 11, 1819, Sophronia Norton (now Mrs. M. M. Johnson, of Chicago), who was the first white child born on what is now the town of Bucyrus, or probably the first in the present limits of Crawford County. When a new sur- V03' of the land occupied by these first settlers had been made, it was discovered that Norton's cabin (on the site of the present Shonert resi- dence) was just north of his land, and so he built another log cabin on the site now occu- pied by 3Ir. W. H. Drought's residence. This cabin was modeled after an improved style of architecture ; it was known in those days as a " double cabin " house, and had " stick chim- neys," or, chimneys with a foundation of stone, and then built of sticks and plastered with mud. In this cabin, it is related by some of the in- mates who are still living, the bark from bass- wood-trees was used for bed-cord, which was woven like chair-bottoms ; but the family had plenty to eat, and were happy. At one time, they had a barrel and a half of strained honey in the house, obtained from the wild bees of the woods. The physical privations which many of these early families suffered, and the straits to which they were sometimes reduced, are hard to real- ;^ :^^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 333 ize by citizens who, in the present day, have all the necessities, many of the conveniences and comforts, and a few of the luxuries, of life. In those days, many domestic articles designed for daily use about the household and farm were very rude and unhandy. Those early pioneer settlers could not always visit the market when they needed useful implements, and, conse- quently, they pressed into service much mate- rial obtained from Nature's great storehouse. The fires, if permitted to go out, were relighted with punk and flint. Window-panes were made of oiled paper. When the Nortons arrived, in 1819, the nearest fl'ouring-mills were at Lexing- ton, Richland Co., and the Herron Mills, near Fredericksburg. The man or boy who visited these mills walked the entire distance and led a horse loaded with two or three sacks of wheat. Sometimes there were many waiting, and some customers could not secure a grist for two or three days. These mills were run by water- power, and when the season was dry they were compelled to grind by hand. When the Norton family could not visit these mills, they secured flour and meal by pounding the wheat or corn in a mortar, with a wooden pestle. The mortar used was a log, hollowed out by burning a hole with fire until the cavity was large enough to hold half a bushel of grain. The meal was sifted with sieves of three different sizes, and three grades of flour were obtained. The finest was baked into bread ; the coarsest was boiled, and it sometimes required a whole day over the fire to soften it. When the wheat flour was all gone, the family subsisted on food prepared from corn meal, but frequently there was none of this in the cabin, and the mother of a family, busy with other household duties, was expected to provide a supper without even flour, corn meal, vegetables or meat. The father is away at work and will shortly appear, tired and hun- gry. The pioneer women were full of resources ; they had an instrument they called a grater, made by taking one side of an old tin bucket. punching small holes close together all over it, and, nailing it on a board in such a manner that the middle is curved upward two or three inches from the board. Meal could be made by industriouslj' rubbing ears of corn along its surface; and this must be done till sufHcient meal is obtained to furnish food for supper, and breakfast next morning. The mother, then, having nothing in the house for supper, says to her children : " Here, Louisa, you and Warren take this basket and go out to the corn-patch and bring in enough corn to grate for supper and breakfast." When the children return, the grater is taken down, and, after considerable hard labor, the meal was provided. If the corn meal was mixed and baked in a Dutch oven, it was called " pone ; " if baked on a board, near or over the fire, it was called " Johnny cake ; " and if it was made into round balls and baked in the oven, they then called these balls " corn dodgers." A very common way was to boil the meal into mush and eat it with milk. But some- times flour and corn meal could not be either pounded with a pestle or grated with their rude instrument, for the reason that no grains of this description were in the cabin, and the Nortons could not secure of their few neighbors either grain, flour or meal. It is reported by Norton's daughters that they frequently lived for weeks without bread, during which time the family subsisted upon honey, pork, potatoes, and game from the woods. Wild turkeys were frequently shot ; they were cooked on a hook in the fire- place, with a pan underneath to catch the drip- pings, and these were poured over the suspended carcass with a spoon. The forests were for many years full of smaller game, upon which a meal could be made when other expedients failed. One winter, Mr. Norton killed five deer near the present site of T. C. Hall's barn. A deer-lick was situated near the river in this vi- cinity, and, when these animals visited this lick, they fell victims to the unerring shot of the first pioneer settler. Deer continued plentj^ in ^^ ^iL 324 HISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. the vicinity of Bucj^rus until after 1830. In consequence of the industry of many swarms of bees, Crawford, at an early day, was literally a land abounding with honey, if not milk. The Indians, depending on nature to provide food, never wasted what they found in the for- est, and, in obtaining honey, never secured at one time more than they wished to supply their temporal wants. Norton found, in one daj', twenty-three bee-trees, and the honey secured from the woods was alwaj'S a rich treat to the children, and more especially when the family larder was not filled with those articles which, at this daj', every family considers a necessity. Norton also secured his first swarm of bees from the wild bees found in the woods. The hardships suffered by the Norton family were not onlj' in consequence of a scarcity of food. It was necessary for the familj' to be clothed, and in 1820, Mose Emrich could not close out regardless of cost his entire stock of winter clothing to the few settlers of Crawford County. Sixty years ago, the county was without a clothing store, shoe store, dry-goods store or millinery establishment. Then the Norton familj' had to provide their own clothing and not only that but also make the cloth before the garment could be cut and sewed ; nor was this all, for they frequently were compelled to spin the j-arn with which they wove this cloth. The Nortons brought from Pennsylvania both looms and spinning-wheels ; in those earlj- days every young lady was taught to spin, and many added weaving to their skill as industrious and expert house-keepers ; mothers frequently were expected to cook, wash, scrub, bake, sew, spin and weave for a large family of small children without any assistance. Mrs. Norton's elder children were valuable aid in providing cloth- ing for their younger brothers and sisters. After the girls learned the art of spinning, they were made to finish so much each day. Mrs. Jones reports that, in order to encourage her, Mr. Norton cut the legs of the wheel and made it more convenient ; that she soon acquired great skill and became an expert. At first she was quite proud of her handiwork, but soon found, to her sorrow, they appreciated the skill of the best spinner in the Norton famil}', for they in- creased her " stint " or task, and she had then less time for play. She relates that in her youthful days, she frequently regretted ever learning how to spin because it was such tedi- ous work. Shortly after Mr. Norton settled in Crawford County, he visited the Quaker settle- ment near Mount Gilead, and procured ten pounds of wool ; this aided for some time in providing linsey-^woolsej^ for winter garments. Flax was procured before many months, and linen garments were made for summer wear. Norton finally purchased forty sheep from set- tlers in Marion County, and brought these val- uable domestic animals to his pioneer home, but in a few weeks they were all devoured by wolves. For many years, the settlers were not able to keep sheep in consequence of these same mutton-loving beasts. The early settlers were not fond of these ravenous animals ; their howling and yelping made many a night hide- ous, and for this and many other reasons it was soon decided that in order to civilize the county the wolves should be exterminated. A bounty was paid by the State for the scalp of each wolf, not that these scalps were valuable, but because each new scalp secured furnished addi- tional proof that the mutton-crop of the future looked more promising. The latest statistics prove that Crawford County has at the present time over fifty thousand sheep, but then, for over forty years, the County Commissioners for satisfactory reasons have stopped purchasing wolf-scalps. The only bears killed in Crawford since the Norton family removed to the town- ship were an old she-bear and two cubs that wandered into Whetstone Township some forty- five years ago from their former haunts in what is now Morrow County. The weather during ^-< -ij, « ll^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 335 the winter of 1819-20 was very mild, and Nor- ton sowed his first crop io February, 1820 ; which yielded a bountiful harvest. Norton said in after years he never had a finer crop than the first one raised upon the soil of Bu- cyrus Township. In order to provide his family with shoes, Mr. Norton started a private tannery and for several years tanned all the leather necessary for family use ; it was also necessar}- for him to manufacture home-made shoes, and consequently he was the first tanner and shoemaker that settled in the countj' ; when other men arrived, however, who were skillful at these trades, he retired from busi- ness and patronized them. Norton brought the seed, from which his first fruit trees were raised, from his old home in Pennsylvania. Within a few days after the Norton family arrived at their new home, thej- were \isited by a band of Indians from the Wyandot Keser- vation, near Upper Sandusky. These sa-\'age neighbors were alwaj's peaceable, and never committed anj' acts of depredation upon the person of any of the earlj- settlers. Thej' sometimes visited Norton's cabin when the men were absent, and at such times took great pleasure in frightening the unprotected in- mates. At first, Mrs. Norton could not con- ceal her terror during these visits. The smaller children would gather anjund her skirts for protection, but the appearance of the good lady was not encouraging to her elder children, who were as much frightened as their mother. The savages always enjo3'ed these scenes, and, when they discovered the effect their verj' presence inspired, they gave vent to their feel- ings by numerous whoops and yells, which conduct on their part was not calculated to assure the frightened famih' that they were only the innocent victims for the harmless sav- age amusement which their unwelcome visitors were having. The Sandusky River was navi- gable for Indian canoes only at high water, but it is reported that numerous Indian trails trav- ersed the woods, which were being constantly used by the red man. These primitive high- ways were generally worn deep into the soil, for the reason that in traveling the savages walked single file, and each member of the band stepped in the spot his predecessor's foot had been. One of these trails crossed over the site now occupied by the Bucj'rus Machine Works, and during a fine day the Norton chil- dren were playing "hide and go seek" in this vicinity ; one young lady concealed herself be- hind a log, and, while in this position, a com- pany of the savages came along the trail. Charley Elliott, an Indian well known to many early settlers, was with this band at the time. When the natives saw the child, they raised a whoop, which caused the little girl suddenly to feel that the play for the time being might be postponed, and she made haste to vacate her place of concealment. The children all ran screaming toward home, and the savages, noticing the effect caused by their sudden ap- pearance, gave vent to their satisfaction by numerous whoops, yells and grunts, which caused the children to make still better time in their endeavors to reach the cabin, although the delighted natives did not attempt to follow the frightened innocents. The spring after Mr. Norton's family removed to their new home, the Indians appeared in force at their sugar-camp, which was theu situated on and near the present site of the public square. Many maple-trees were in this vicinity, and it had been the custom of these natives to visit this locality each spring for the purpose of boiling the maple sap down into sugar. At such times, they brought large brass "kettles, which were furnished them among other sup- plies which they received each year from the Government, in accordance with the stipula- tions of a previous treaty. Most of these Wy- andot Indians were great beggars. Each year, the United States distributed among this tribe a certain amount of goods, consisting of food, i> ^> ^ a i^ 326 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. clothing, and also many valuable utensils, ■which latter articles were furnished in order to induce the natives to adopt civilized customs. These annual supplies destroyed what little in- dustry the tribe might have cultivated for several centuries, for it made them dependent upon the .generosity of others ; and, naturally, if any additional articles were needed by them, they endeavored to secure these also from the whites by plaintive appeals. If their efforts proved fruitless, they sometimes brought dried venison, which they endeavored to trade to the settlers for pork, and they frequently appeared with bark baskets filled with cranberries, which they desired to trade for bread and pork. The Indians considered all the game in the forests their propert}-, and, when they found the coun- try was being rapidly settled by the whites, they frequentlj' came into the neighborhood to hunt, in order that the game would not fall into the hands of white settlers. When the lands of the New Purchase were offered for sale by the Government, Mr. Norton visited the land office at Delaware and entered four hundred acres, upon two hundred and forty of which the principal part of Bucyrus now stands. This tract of two hundred and forty acres extended from a line running along Perry street on the north, to a line along the Middle- town road on the south, and from the section line a short distance west of Spring street on the west to a parallel line three-fourths of a mile east, or one-fourth of a mile west of the Whetstone Township line. It is reported by Mr. Norton's daughters that a party of Quakers desired this same land, and,, when Mr. Norton visited the Government land office to secure his certificate, these Quakers tried to deceive him, endeavoring to persuade him that the lands he was about to enter, did not correspond with the tract he desired, but they were not successful. Mr. Norton gave Bucklin fifty acres off from the east of this two hundred and forty for coming West with him, and after a few years Bucklin sold it to Mr. Harris Garton, son-in-law of Mr. Norton, and moved with his family to Michigan. The town of Bucyrus was survej'cd on another fifty acres of Mr. Norton's land during the early part of 1822, and shortly after this Mr. Norton returned to Lakeville, Livingston Co., N. Y., and brought out to Bucy- rus, his mother-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Bucklin and her daughter Elizabeth. Mrs. Bucklin was an educated lady, and had practiced medicine for forty years in Rhode Island. When she reached this new country she did not wish to continue her practice, but the settlers, when ill, would send for her, and, as it was hard to re- fuse, she had an extensive reputation, if not a lucrative business. But the effect of a change at her time of life was not beneficial, and, sev- eral j'ears after she arrived in the new country, she took sick and died. Her daughter Eliza- beth married Louis Stephenson, a hatter, who worked at his trade for some years in Bucyrus. The Norton family lived in their double-cabin house until 1823, when another residence was erected on what is now a vacant corner between the Blain Street Mills and Perry street. This new building was an improvement on the round-log double-cabin house; it was two stories high ; was built of hewn logs and occu- pied by the family for about eight years, until thej' removed to the brick house now occupied by the Main Street Mills ; this building was erected in 1831, and used as a private residence about four years, but in December, 1835, he started a hotel in this block, at which time he gave a grand opening that was attended by many old settlers. Col. Kilbourne was present and amused the company with many favorite songs. Mr. Norton, as landlord, entertained many prominent public men who visited the village, among whom was Gen. Harrison, when he passed through the place during the cam- paign of 1840. Samuel Norton was an Old School Baptist, and in the early days of the town. Elder Pharez Jackson, from near Gallon, nv fe HISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 327 visited Bucyrus once a month and preactied at Mr. Norton's home. Mr. Jackson also preached at the houses of Joseph S. Morris, southeast of Bucyrus, and James Scott's cabin. Eider Kaufman also occasionally held services at Mr. Norton's residence. Samuel Norton died April 18, 1856, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. From an obituary notice published in the Buc3'rus Journal, the following extract is taken : " The death of Mr. Norton has left a vacancy among our citizens, as well as in his family, which cannot be filled. Being the first settler, he was justlj- entitled to the name of the 'Father of Bucyrus.' In the autumn of 1819, when the country around was in a state of nature, and the dark glens of the forest re- echoed the hoarse howlings of the wild beasts and the dread war-whoop of the Indians, this hardy pioneer left his quiet liome in Pennsyl- vania to seek his fortune in the West. Attracted by the beauty of the surrounding country, he erected a tent of poles, in which he spent the winter. His life for many years afterward was but a series of severe toil and exposure, which none but the most hardy and persevering could endure. For fifty years, he was an exemplary member of the Baptist Church, and, through all the vicissitudes of his pioneer life, his spirits were kept buoyant by the hope of a future re- ward in the mansions of eternal glory. A large concourse of citizens attended his funeral, and all expressed their regret for their much- esteemed citizen, and sympathy for his afflicted relatives.'' His wife, Mary Norton, lived three years after her husband's death, and finally passed away, April 29, 1859, and was laid be- side her companion of fifty-two years of wedded life, in the graveyard northwest of Bucyrus. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Norton were the par- ents of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, viz. : Rensellaer, Louisa, Manford, Warren, Waldo, Catharine, Elizabeth, Sophro- nia, Harris P., Charles, Jefferson and William B. Many of these became the parents of large families, and the descendants of the first settler are very numerous. Although the families of Messrs. Norton and Bucklin were the first settlers of Bucyrus Town- ship, they did not remain very long alone. The next spring, a man by the name of Sears came and squatted on the land which lies just west of Oakwood Cemetery. Mr. Norton's daughters relate that " One Sunday morning we were awakened by the crowing of several roosters in the southwest, and our ears were saluted by the welcome ring of another pioneer's ax, which sounds seemed to us, who had so often listened to the barking and howling of wolves, the sweetest music' The lonely pioneers were glad to have neighbors, and the Sears family were visited by Mr. and Mrs. Norton early in the morning, and were assisted in the first task of building a log cabin ; until this building was erected, the familj' slept in their wagon. The Sears family did not like the new country, and, after remaining a short time, removed to another locality. But other settlers arrived who did remain, and before many months the neighbors were David Beadle and his sons Mishael and David, Daniel McMichael and Joseph Young, and these were followed by numerous other families. Col. Kilbourne, in his " Song of Bu- cyrus," saj's : " First Norton and the Beadles came With friends, an enterprising band ; Young and McMichael, men of fame, Soon joined the others, hand in hand." The Beadles were the second settlers to pur- chase land in Bucyrus Township. They lo- cated, about the spring of 1820, upon the eighty acres west of Norton's land. Previous to this they were residents of the Quaker set- tlement near Mount Gilead ; it is reported by some that they were natives of New York State. The family consisted of David Beadle and his two sons, Mishael and David ; also his son-in- law, John Ensley, who married Ann Beadle. It is reported hy Mr. Norton's daughters ■' that at - ■ y, 328 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. first Mishael Beadle occupied the north forty of their first eighty-acre tract, aud lived in a cabin which stood on the lot now owned by Mr. Silas Bowers, on West Mansfield street. David Beadle and his son David, aged about seven- teen, occupied the south forty acres, and resided in a cabin situated a short distance southwest of the present end of Warren street. The Bea- dles did not remain in Crawford County,, but, several years after they came into possession of this land, sold out to Samuel Mj'ers and moved West." During the brief period these families resided in Crawford County, they occupied sev- eral different log cabins. Mrs. Rogers reports that at one time Mishael resided over the river a little south of where Joe Henry lives at the present time ; old David Beadle then lived in the cabin formerly- occupied by his son Mishael, and John Ensley over the river near Mishael. During the summer of 1822, Daniel, the little son of jNIishael Beadle, died ; this is the first death of which any satisfactory proof can be obtained that occurred in Bucyras Town- ship. The little fellow was buried on Norton's land ; the exact site of this first burying-grouud is the lot now owned by Hiram Fisher, at the cor- ner of Walnut street and the Jliddletown Road. During the winter of 1822-23, Clarinda Beadle married a man some seven years older than herself ; David Beadle was also married shortly after this, but did not live with his wife very long. Mishael Beadle also entered the Pettitt place now owned by Lorin Converse, which he resided on for several j'ears, and John Ensley afterward located east of this on what was aft- erward known as the ^linich estate. The entire Beadle family was of a restless, roving disposi- tion ; they spent considerable time hunting, and disliked hard labor. Samuel Myers, who purchased from them the eighty acres they first entered, at $6 per acre, reports that only eight or ten acres of the land had been cleared, notwithstanding it had been owned by the Bea- dle family for some six or eight years. The Beadles claimed to be Quakers, and the old man adopted the dress and language of this sect, but was never an honor to the Friends. It is related that he visited Zanesville for the purpose of buying a plow ; the store-keeper did not wish to sell plows on credit so far from home, but Beadle talked so honestly that the plow-dealer finallj^ consented. When the old fellow returned-to Bucyrus, he made his boasts that his broad-brimmed hat had secured a fine plow ; he never paid for this agricultural imple- ment, and several years after he moved West, the Zanesville merchant visited Bucyrus for the purpose of collecting this bad debt ; as he never succeeded, it is likely he never, after this experience with Beadle, trusted a Quaker who lived 100 miles from Zanesville. The Young family, who, according to Kil- bouuie's song, " soon joined the others hand in hand," first settled in Section 5, Whetstone Township, on the farm now owned by William Holmes, in the Stewart neighborhood. The Young family, however, were large land-holders in Bucyrus Township at an early day. It is reported that the old gentleman, William Young, gave each of his children 160 acres of land ; that George Black, who settled in Bucyrus at an earljr day, and married a Miss Young, re- ceived for his portion the fourth section, upon which the Sinn Mill is now situated. Previous to transferring this to Black, however, ilr. Young built a fiouring-mill at this point ; for some time it was a horse mill, and customers could not secure a grist without they took their own horses, and were sometimes compelled to wait many hours before their turn arrived. The tax duplicate of 1830 proves that George Young owned this fourth section at that time, and John and Jacob Young each had 160 acres southwest of George Young's farm ; they were all residents of the township at that time, and a few of the present citizens of Crawford County are descended from the Young family. Daniel McMichael settled in Crawford County ^ s b^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 329 with his family about the j'ear 1819. When Samuel Norton explored different portions of the county during the early fall of that year, the McMichaels were living near the Olentangy, some eight miles from the present site of Bucy- rus. The McMichaels then moved into what is now Liberty Township, and were the first set- tlers in that division of Crawford County. Mr. McMichael resided in Liberty for some two years, during which time he erected the first grist-mill built in Crawford. He then removed to the vicinity of Bucyrus and put up a log- house on the site now occupied b}"^ Hon. E. B. Finley's residence. He purchased from the Government the eighty acres upon which his cabin was erected ; also eighty acres east of Norton's land, and the eighty acres south of the Middletown road and east of Walnut street. For a few months he engaged in distilling whisk}', the location of this establishment being the present site of the Bucyrus Gas Works. After residing north of Bucyrus for some two yeai's he died, about the year 1825. McMichael was of Scotch-Irish descent, and it is reported he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. jMrs. IMary, or Polly JlcJIichael, as she was usually called, lived many years after her first husband's death. December 9,1832, she was mar- ried by Rev. John C. Havens to John Shults. but she did not live a happy life with Shults, and they separated after several years. Two incidents are related of Aunt Polly ; it is said by some of her grandchildren, that about the year 1825, she rode on horseback to Pennsyl- vania, her former home, the sole companion be- ing her youngest son Allen, then about six years of age. She then prevailed upon her mother, an aged widow lady, to accompany her to the new settlement. The old lady rode on one horse, and Aunt Polly occupied another with her child, and also a feather bed strapped on the horse behind her. It is also reported by Mr. Norton's daughter, that, when Gen. Har- rison was in Bucyrus during the year 1840, Aunt Polly, then an old lady, visited him and reminded the General how she had cooked a meal for him some years previous. She told the General that he consented to hold her son David while she prepared the meal. The Gen- eral recognized her and admitted the occur- rence. This incident is reported to have oc- curred at the fort in Mansfield ; but it, like the fort, was situated at some point in Pennsylvania. Daniel McMichael and Aunt Polly were the parents of the following seven children : David, Matthew, William, Martha, Mary, Daniel and Allen. During the year 1821, Zalmon Bowse re- moved to Crawford County with his familj' and settled in Whetstone Township, but he be- came identified with the public business of the citizens at a very early day, and moved his family to Bucyrus Township. Mr. Rowse was a man well fitted for public trusts, and the citi- zens appreciated his natural abilities by elect- ing him to many important positions. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace in Bu- cyrus Township, and served in this capacity for nearly twenty years. In 1825, he was commis- sioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Fourth Regi- ment of Ohio Militia. During the latter part of 1 825 and until Crawford County was organized in 1826, Col. Rowse served as one of the Commissioners of Marion Countj'. When the new county was formed, Mr. Beardslej' was appointed Clerk, but shortlj' afterward he re- signed, and Col. Rowse was his successor. He served the people faithfullj' in this position for many j'ears ; at this time the recording of deeds and mortgages was part of the duties of Mr. Rowse, and the fine records prepared by him, which are on file at the Court House, are to this day a lasting proof that the confidence which the citizens frequently reposed in him was never misplaced, and it is not surprising that for the public interests he was re-elected many terms to the various positions he occu- pied. In 1826, Col. Rowse was one of the ^ s i, \, zfk 330 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. charter members of the Columbus and Sandus- ky Turnpike ; he assisted also in 1846, when the Bucyrus Lodge of Freemasons was organ- ized, of which society he was also a charter member. He purchased from the Government the farm now owned by Col. William Monnett, southeast of town, and erected upon it the brick residence now occupied by the owner. Col. Rowse also erected, in 1831, the American Hotel, situated on the northwest corner of Main and Warren streets. In early life, he was addicted to the excessive use of liquor ; this vice was then a more general custom among the leading citizens of the county than at the present time. Many humorous incidents are related by early settlers in regard to the pranks played by Col. Rowse and his boon companion, Col. Scott, when these fun-loving men started out to have a " good time." About the year 1835, they both reformed under the preaching of the late Rev. L. G. Gurley, D. D. Col. Rowse united with the M. E. Church, and Col. Scott with the Presbyterian ; during the remainder of their lives, both men were ex- emplary citizens and ornaments to the churches with which they were connected. Col. Rowse died August 15, 1854, having been a resident of Bucj^rus Township over thirty years, during which time no one citizen had a greater influ- ence than he in shaping the early interests of Crawford Countj'. The 3'ear after Col. Rowse removed to this county, his brother, Heman Rowse, settled in Whetstone Township, and shortly afterward purchased from the Govern- ment eighty acres on the pike one mile south of Bucyrus ; he continued a resident until about the year 1831, when he was killed while assisting at a barn-raising just southwest of the village. Seth Holmes, who came with the Nortons in 1819, was an old bachelor, and, after living in the town for several years, died, pre- vious to 1827. His brother Truman was also an early settler, who moved to Bucyrus Town- ship with his family. Truman had four sons — Lyman, Harry, Elisha and Zalmon ; some of these removed to Holmes Township, which re- ceived its name from this family. Truman Holmes' daughter married Rensellaer Norton. Elisha, Thaddeus, David and John Kent were early residents of the township. Elisha en- tered the eighty acres immediately north of Bucklin's land ; this farm is now owned by James Kerr, of Pennsylvania; formerly a resi- dent of Bucyrus Township. Able Cary, also an early .settler, was a man full of oddities. He put up the first grist-mill erected in the township as early as 1821. Lewis Cary was another early settler of Bucyrus Township, who reached the present site of the cit}- with his wife and family, con- sisting of six sons and three daughters, during the spring of 1822. Cary was born in New Jersey, near Morristown, October 19, 1783 ; he was early apprenticed to a tanner, and, having learned the trade and also attained his majority, he removed to Smithfield, Jefferson Co., Ohio, where he established himself in business and married Jliss Rachael Kirk, of that place. Their nine children were Susan, Abel, William, Aaron, Edmond, Isabel, Sarah, George and Benjamin. All of these grew to maturity ; but at the present time onlj^ one, Isabel, now Mrs. Alex. Caldwell, \Sr., is a resident of Crawford County. The Cary family removed from Jef- ferson County in " schooner wagons," and, when they arrived at Bucj-rus, moved into an old building until a log cabin could be erected ; this first home occupied one of the lots upon which Christian Shonert's residence is at the present time. Cary put up the first hewed-log house, with a shingle roof and grooved floor, that was built in Bucyrus : all the other cabins were made of round logs with a puncheon floor. Cary visited the grist-mill in Knox County, for flour, and often the supply of food in the house was so limited that an allowance was made for each child of their large family. A few months after reaching Bucyrus, Cary Tf* ^1^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 331 started the first tanner}' established in Craw- ford County, and for nearly sixty years the tanning business has been conducted at this same location. It is now owned bj- Messrs. Shonert & Haller. Carj- provided vats by sink- ing some large troughs in the ground, and it was necessary for him to pound his bark, as he had no facilitj' for grinding it. His work was traded to other settlers for home-spun cloth, and he tanned some leather for the Indians, which they made into moccasins. He ■ was, also, a good shoemaker, and the Indians were great admirers of the work he produced ; for, when they discovered that many of his shoes " squeaked," they were very anxious to secure a pair of this kind, always asking him to make for them " a shoe that talked." Car}' was a member of the societj- of Friends, and pos- sessed the good-will of all the Indians ; other settlers were troubled by these natives, occa- sionally, but the savages never molested any property belonging to their Qjaaker friend. It is related, by Mrs. Alex. Caldwell, that Susie Williams, an Indian squaw who carried wood to burn Col. Crawford some fortj' j'ears pre- vious, was frequently in the vMRige, and related her personal knowledge of this sad tragedy to many early settlers ; Carj' purchased from the Government the 160 acres comprising the northeast quarter of Section 2 ; most of this land is now owned by Joseph Henry. About the }'ear 1823, James ^lonroe appointed Carj- first Postmaster of the village of Bucyrus. He served in this capacity during the administra- tion of John Quinc}- Adams, and was removed by President Jackson for political reasons Cary continued the tannery until iibforton shall make and deliver to the said Kilbourne, his heirs or assigns, a good and suffi- cient warrantee deed of the said one-fourth part of the town plat aforesaid, provided he shall so soon receive the patent from the President for the tract of which the said town plat will be a part ; and, if the patent should not be so soon received, then and in that case the deed shall be made and delivered so soon as the said patent shall be received as aforesaid. In witness whereof, we ^rv i) L>V HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 347 have hereunto set our hands and seals, at Crawford County, this fourth day of October, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one. In presence of James Kilbouknk [seal]. Seth Holmes, Jr., "I Samuel Nokton [seal]. BiRON Kilbourne. j The plat of the within described town, now named Bucyrus, is so changed to the west in laying off by mu- tual agreement as to leave but twenty-four, instead of forty-four, rods between said plat and the sectional line ; and the reserve of Samuel Norton is extended on the plat to twenty-four, instead of twelve rods ; there will, of course, remain but seventy-six, instead of eighty-eight, rods, or acres, of said plat east of Samuel Norton's reserve, of which seventy rods, containing seventy-six acres, James Kilbourne shall receive his proportion of the town, in amount twenty-five acres, instead of the eighty-eight acres, as within contracted. Said Norton shall have to his own use all the mill priv- ileges, with no other consideration than that of the contents of the ground contained therein, toward his part of the outlets of the plat ; and the ground bought of Mr. Holmes, if retained, shall be laid off into lots by said Kilbourne and added to the town, on the same prin- ciples and proportions of mutual advantage as the hun- dred acres contained in the foregoing contract. December 15, 1821. Samuel Norton. James Kilbourne. The foregoing contract is this day so changed by mu- tual consent that the part of the town of Bucyrus which is laid upon the lands of Samuel Norton is con- fined to such limits as to contain only the numbered in- lots, outlets and public grounds, with the avenue, streets and alleys, containing fifty acres, more or less ; and the projector and surveyor of the town, James Kil- bourne, his heirs and assigns, shall have and receive the one equal half part thereof, instead of the one- fourth part of the hundred acres, as previously stipu- lated in this contract. Witness our hands and seals, at said Bucyrus, this 12th day of February, 1822. Samuel Norton [seal]. James Kilbourne [seal]. The above contract occupies three pages of a sheet of foolscap. On the fourth page is in- dorsed the following language : " The within article of agreement, with the two modifications of the original contract herein contained, being complied with by the parties, is fully canceled and of no further eflfect. Bucj'rus, April 22, 1830. Samuel Norton, James Kilbourne." The original town plat, as surveyed by Kil- bourne, included, also, a portion of the land lying north of what is now Perry street and south of the river. This land, at that time, be- longed to Abel and Lewis Cary, Seth Holmes and Daniel McMichael. The date of the origi- nal town plat by the records in the Recorder's office at Delaware, is February 11, 1822. The land embraced in it, is at the present day within the following limits : It is bounded on the north by the Sandusky River ; on the east by a line drawn from a point on the Sandusky River, nearly due south to the center of the Middletown road ; this line would pass along the west side of the woolen mills lot at the east end of Perry street, and down the alley which lies just east of the Methodist Episcopal Church, D. W. Swigart's residence, the Lutheran Churchj'ard and the residence of Daniel Van Voorhis ; it would, also, pass just east of the lots now occupied by John Howald's carriage-shop, and Hiram Fisher's residence ; the southern boundary line extends from the point where the eastern line intersects the center of the Middle- town road, due west to the alley which is pa- rallel with Main street and just west of it. The western boundary line extends nearly due north along this allej' until the southeast corner of Lot 176 (now occupied bj' the residence of Daniel Picking), thence west to the center of Poplar street, then north to the center of Ren- sellaer street, then west until the end of said street, then north to the southeast corner of Lot 157 (now occupied by the residence of M. Bmrich), then west to the southwest corner of Lot 163 (now occupied by Dr. A. C. McNutt), then north across Mansfield street to the north- west corner of Lot 164 (now occupied by W. T. McDonald), then east across Spring and Poplar streets to the alley just west of Main, and then north along this alley to the river. This origi- nal town plat contained 176 lots ; eleven streets If^ lliL 348 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. were laid out, also two allej-s and the public square. Five of these streets were named after various members of Samuel Norton's family-, viz, : Mary street, after his wife ; Kensellaer, Warren and Charles streets, after three of his sons ; Perry street, after his first grandson. Perry Garton. Mansfield street was so called because the road to Mansfield originally started from the eastern end of the street ; Walnut and Poplar streets were so named because trees of these varieties weie found along their borders ; Spring street receives its name from a spring at the northern end, near the river ; Main street was the principal avenue of the village ; it was afterward called Sandusky avenue, because the State road from Columbus to Sandusky Citj'^ extended over this street ; Galen street was possibly named after some member of the Nor- ton family. These eleven streets are, with the following exceptions, each sixty-six feet wide ; Main is 82|- feet, and Warren 57-| feet ; West alley extended north and south just west of Main street, and East alley was parallel to the same avenue and just east of it. \ The ne; town was christene d Bu cyrus, byMHol. Kil-' bourne. There has been much speculation in regard to the origin of this word, and many persons have wondered why the town received this name. The word is so classical in sound that it is not surprising its meaning should not be universally understood unless its true origin is known. Doubtless manj' a classical scholar has examined his Latin dictionary and Greek lexicon to obtain a satisfactory derivation of the word, and during the past sixty years many plausible theories have been advanced. An ex- amination of the original contract between Messrs. Norton and Kilbourne will prove that the town was named Bucjtus between the time the agreement was made (October 4, 1821), and the date it was first altered (December 15, 1821) ; it also proves that the name of the town was spelled in the first legal papers of the village, as at the present time. Of all the theories advanced in regard to the origin of this word Bucyrus, only two refer to Col. Kilbourne as authority, and, as it is beyond a doubt that this gentleman created and then adopted this name, these theories are both given. It is claimed by both authorities that Kilbourne desired to have a name for this town diflferent from that of an}- burg ever inhabited by man since the world was created. He succeeded. The daughters of Samuel Norton, the original proprietor of the land, assert that one of Kil- bourne's favorite historical characters was Cyrus, the Persian General who conquered the City of Babylon, and that the town was named by the Colonel in honor of this distinguished soldier. The country in the vicinity of the town was verj' beautiful at an early day, and the name Cyrus being rather short (possibly too much so to suit the meter of his early Songs), Kilbourne prefixed to the celebrated Persian's name the syllable '' bu," the sound of the first part of the word beautiful, and the old survej'or declared that the name should always mean "beautiful Cj'rus.f^ This theory is a very "plausible oneTaSdr'wTn be satisfactory to many citizens whose knowledge of the classics is even more limited than some who have prepared his- torical sketches for this work. But there are those who solemnl}' assert that a classical scholar would smile at the formation of a word in this manner ; these persons declare that, as Col. Kilbourne was a very highly educated man, he would never attempt to coin a word in defiance of the rules laid down bj' Noah Web- ster and other distinguished men of letters who preceded him. The other authority, however, is also based upon Col. Kilbourne's statement- F. Adams, Esq., of Bucyrus, who was well acquainted with the old surveyor, says that Mr. Kilbourne told him in after j'ears that it was his desire the town should have a name of its own, and be the only town of that name — that the African town " Busiris" (in ancient Egjpt, near the River Nile) pleased his fancy. J^l ".^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUKTY. and he changed it into Bucyrus as a good sounding name. These two statements are both from responsible and reliable sources ; it may be the dutj' of an unbiased historian to draw conclusions from these facts presented, and endeavor to settle the disputed point, but in this case we will not undertake the task but will refer the matter to the patrons of this work. However, this name Buc3'rus did not suit some of the early settlers in the village, who were ill-natured enough to object to the Colonel's ideas about a queer name ; it has frequentl}' been, in later years, a stumbling block to many non-residents, who invariably mispronounce the word. But these early residents who objected to the name are nearlj- all dead, and those who fail to speak the word like a native of the city are not firm believers in the future destiny of the place, and conse- quently should not be consulted in regard to the name ; undoubtedly all of the present in- habitants are satisfied, and many are proud of the name Bucyrus. The town having been named and surveyed by Kilbourne, during the winter and early spring of 1822. a public sale of lots was adver- tised and held. By this time, quite a small set- tlement had moved into the vicinity, and some of these persons were occupying lots which they contemplated purchasing after all the necessary surveys had been perfected. Mod- erwell writes, in regard to this early sale : " The lots brought from $30 to $45 each ; and those disposed of at this sale were all on Saa -^ 358 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. who were in business at Biicyrns during those early years of the village were the following persons : Joe Umpstead made the first chair In the town; Lewis Stephenson was a hatter in 1821 ; Lewis Gary started the first public tan- nery in 1822 ; he continued this business until 1839, when he transferred the establishment to his son Aaron, who conducted the business un- til he sold out to Richard Plummer, about 1855 ; Christian Shonert learned the trade un- der Aaron Oarj', and purchased the tannery of Plummer about 1856. Aaron Gary was a sad- dler and harness-maker as earh' as 1823. Rus- sell Peck was a blacksmith near the present site of the American House as earlj- as 1823. Bowen burnt the fii'st brick near the present schoolhouse lot to erect a brick blacksmith- shop for himself; the building occupied the present site of the Blair and Picking Blocks. McMichael and Rogers ran a distillery located near the river in 1823. John Moderwell was a cabinet-maker as early as 1827, and Harrjr Miller also followed this same trade at an earlj' day. David Holm ran a tannerj^ near the pres- ent site of G. G. Malic's residence in 1831, and at the same time Henry Minich had a tan- yard on the opposite side of the road. Brick yards were started at an earlj' day near the site of A. W. Diller's present residence, J. R. Miller's butcher shop, and G. G. Malic's residence. William Bratton was a hatter during 1826, and had a shop in a round-log cabin which stood on the lot now occupied by Quinby Block. Ellas Slagle was a proprietor of the old Gary mill at an early daJ^ He was also interested in a pot- tery near this mill site at an early day, and after 1830 ran an oil-mill with a large circular tramp-wheel on the same lot. Jourdan Jones ran a wagon shop east of Rogers' tavern after 1830. Jesse Quaintance put up a mill on the river bank, southwest of the village, after 1830. In these early days, when many of the settlers spun their own yarn and wove their own cloth, several carding mills were estab- lished in the county. Among those started in Bucyrus are the following : Jourdan Jones ran a carding machine by tramp wheel-power near the present site of YoUrath's Flouring Mill, and sold his establishment to Lautenheiser, who put in a steam engine. Old man Kirk also ran a carding mill at an early day. Samuel Clapper induced Dr. A. M. Jones to establish him in this business,* and Jones bought out Kirk, and the business was conducted b)- these men for several years just west of the southwest corner of Walnut and Perry streets. In the spring of 1813, Dr. Jones visited Sandusky City and pur- chased a steam engine, and for some time they run their carding machine with this engine, both night and day, in consequence of the large amount of their business, and in the spring of 1844, Jones & Clapper bought a double ma- chine. Dr. Jones asserts that this steam en- gine purchased by him was the second one brought into Crawford County, the first engine being the one used at the old fiouring-mill run by James Kelty. The first store opened in the village was started on the lot just south of the gas works, by E. B. Merriman, who was known also as " Judge '' and " Bishop " Merriman. Moder- well saj-s, in regard to the early stores of the village : " Judge E. B. Merriman had the monop- oly, for some time, of exchanging goods with the red and white people for deer skins, furs, beeswax, honey, ginseng, cranberries and other articles, but he finally divided the trade with S. Bailej'. from Pittsburgh, who soon concluded that the country was too new for a man so re- cently from the Emerald Isle, and he sold out to French & Bowers and returned to Pittsburgh, and thejr to Judge John Nimmons. About this time, additions had been made, and continued to be made, to the trade, in the persons of Henry St. John, Coleman & Kenis, Caldwell & McFarlan, D. S. Norton & Co., Martin Barr, Jones & Butler, B. Jleeker, 0. & D. Williams, James Quinby, Babcock & Ranney, Smith & ;t -^1- Lki^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 859 Moderwell, J. A. Gormly, Musgrave & Merri- man, John Beaver, Nye & Majors, Quinby & Grant, Phillips & Anderson, Henry Converse, Loring Converse, and others." The first store, started in the village by IMerriman as early as 1823, was not an extensive establishment. James Nail relates the following incident in re- gard to it : "I now remember that the first goods I bought in a store at Bucyrus were from Bishop ?Ierriman. As I was getting a few ar- ticles, a BIr. Peter Clinger took his pencil and paper and commenced writing. Merriman asked him what he was doing. He said he was taking an invoice of his goods, and that the amount of his stock was S37.41. Merriman said he was not far out of the waj^" These early stores could not sell a large amount of goods, for the few inhabitants in the village and vicinity were very poor, and, considering the great distance from the Eastern market and the poor facilities for transportation, the traffic in produce with the settlers was necessarily limit- ed. Moderwell says : " For the first ten years after the settlement of the country, it may be truly said of the inhabitants that they were poor ; having but little to sell, and no market for that little except what supplied the wants of new-comers." The few hogs and cattle raised had to be driven to the East on foot, and sold there at barelj' living prices. One steer or cow would now bring about as much as four did at that time, and other products were equally low. A price current at that time would have given about the following quotations : Wheat, per bushel, 40 to 50 cents ; corn, 15 to 25 cents ; oats, 12 to 18 cents ; potatoes, 12 to 25 cents ; cranberries, 50 cents ; honej-, per gallon, 50 cents ; pork, per pound, 1^ to 2 cents ; butter, 5 to 6 cents ; maple sugar, 5 to 6 cents. After the New York Canal was completed, the Bucyrus merchants offered the settlers better prices for what was raised in the country, and they were also able to sell them store goods on more reasonable terms ; consequently, the set- tlers were in much better circumstances. Mer- riman purchased some hogs at an early day, and it is reported that some of these animals were so wild from running loose in the woods that they had to be trained before they could be driven East, and then it generallj' took the whole town to start the drove. E. B. Merri- man, the first store-keeper of Bucyrus, was elected one of the County Commissioners when Marion Countj' was organized, and was ap- pointed, February 4, 1825, one of the Associate Judges for the Common Pleas Court for the same county. He afterward held the same of- fice in the new countj'' of Crawford. The loca- tion occupied by some of these earlj' mercan- tile establishments of the village was as fol- lows : Martin Barr occupied the lot north of the northeast corner of Main and Galen ; Ben- jamin Meeker kept store on Emrich's corner ; Henry St. John, on the Kaler corner ; John Nimmon, in the fall of 1827, built the frame store which was torn down when the Fisher Block was erected on the same corner ; Babcock & Ranney, near John Myers' present site, north of the railroad ; thej' afterward built and occu- pied the brick storeroom which was torn down when the Bowman Block was erected ; Musgrave & Merriman occupied the present site of John- son & Son's drug store ; Daniel & Owen Will- iams, on the Rowse Block corner. Among the best customers of the earl^- merchants and other business men of the village were the Indians, who came from the Wyandot Reservation to buy articles in the village. The names of some of these warriors were Walpole, Hicks, Summon- dewat, Gray-Eyes, Sandstone, Barnett, Between- the-Logs, Sirehus, Joceo, Curly-Head, Big Tur- tle, Johnny-Cake, Lewis Coon, Tom Enos, Char- ley Elliott and others. Sixty years ago, the occasional traveler pass- ing through this section of country, generally found when he needed entertainment for the night that the " latch-string" of the rude log cabins always '' hung out," it was rare that a ■^; ^r^ 'Ml 860 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. man was turned away to seek lodging farther on his journey. The first regular inn kept in the village of Bucyrus was started by Abel Gary. It was a rude log cabin with a very low door, and occupied the lot at the northwest corner of Perry and Main streets. Gary did not continue at this business very long. Some two years afterward, Eobert More built a public house on the lot now owned by Mrs. Lucy Rogers. More opened the first public bar or saloon started in the village ; his daughter married Hugh McCracken. Squire S. Roth, generally pronounced Rhoades, by the early settlers, then opened an inn near Gary's old stand, and in a few months transferred the busi- ness to Dr. Pearce who was a regular physician and also pulled teeth for those early settlers, if they required the services of a dentist. Ichabod Rogers bought out Robert More's inn, and after several years built the present residence of Mrs. Lucy Rogers on the northeastern cor- ner of Main and Perry streets. Many interest- ing incidents are related in regard to the busi- ness conducted at this stand. The Government did not permit the white settlers to sell the Indians any intoxicating drinks, but the laws on this subject were evaded ; the Indians always called for " Sandusky water." When the red man was under the influence of this " Sandusky water," he was just as reckless in his manners as many white settlers who became intoxicated with the same liquor which was sold to them as whisky. An Indian once stole a black silk handkerchief from Mrs. Rogers, and then went up street, and, before returning, threw it over into a lot. Mrs. Rogers suspected him and concealed his gun ; she then snatched the knife he carried in his belt, and, taking a large raw-hide, gave him a severe thrashing. The Indians were sometimes without money ; they then brought venison and cranberries which they wished to exchange for " Sandusky water,'' flour and other articles. Mrs. Rogers relates that at one time she had fifty bushels of cranberries in the house. Sometimes the Indians brought their silver trinkets and exchanged them for the articles they wished to purchase. One brave warrior appeared late one evening and ordered supper ; he was very badly intoxicated, but asked a blessing before he commenced his repast. Very many noisy times were experienced in this old building by the proprietors with drunken Indians. It was necessary that the brave warriors should receive threshings occasionally to make them quiet and orderly. When in a fight with an Indian, if he said " woah," it was an acknowledgment on his part that he had been vanquished, and the brave was then ready to quit. But many white settlers also had very noisjr times at the Rogers bar. It is related of one early promi- nent settler, that his favorite amusement when intoxicated was to hire some person to haul him in a wheelbarrow from one saloon to an- other. Mrs. Rogers states "that the hotel business in Bucyrus was always profitable in those early days, in consequence of so many persons visiting the village to enter land at the land office ; that she has frequently admitted travelers at midnight who had journeyed all day to reach the village at nightfall." Among those who also conducted taverns or inns at an early day were Gapt. Miller, Mr. Punk, George Lauck, Abraham Hahn, Abraham Holm, Mr. Golrick, Samuel Norton, Jacob Poundstoue, W. W. Miller, Samuel Picking and others. The sites occupied by some of these parties were as follows ; Lauck's tavern was inaugu- rated in 1826, at the present site of Henry Willers residence, on the northwest corner of Main and Mary streets. Abraham Hahn built the present Sims House and kept hotel there in 1830. Samuel Norton erected his building as a private residence, but opened it as a hotel in 1836. W. W. Miller occupied the present Western House stand, and in the year 1840 dug the famous sulphur pump well. Samuel Picking kept the " Spread Eagle" House north •? s~ ^ Uii^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 361 of the Square, and afterward at Hahn's old stand. During the first winter Samuel Norton was a resident of Crawford County , his family was increased by the appearance of the first native white inhabitant of Bucyrus Township, and pos- sibly the first within the present limits of Craw- ford County ; this new citizen was Sophronia Norton (now Mrs. jM. M. Johnson, of Chicago), who was born February 11, 1820. Among those born in the village at an early day were Jane Rogers, in 1822 ; Harris P. Norton, Au- gust 9, 1822 ; and Lucy Ann Stephenson, a short time afterward. It is reported, the first couple married in the village were Marj^ Inman and Samuel Carl. The young lady posted the required notice, or banns, to a tree, but some one tore it down. At one early marriage, it is asserted of the Squire who performed the cere- mony, that he was so intoxicated he did not know what to say, as he had forgotten the usual form of speech ; but a schoolmaster was pres- ent who did know, and he told the Justice, who repeated the words over after the schoolmaster. The first death in the village was little Daniel, a four-year-old son of Mishael Beadle, who died about September 1, 1822, and was buried on the lot now occupied by Hiram Fisher's resi- dence, at the corner of Walnut street and the Middletown road. Several other persons were interred on this lot at an earlj' day, among whom were the child of a Mr. Kel- logg, John Deardorflf, and his daughter, aged some four or five years. But this first spot used as a burying-ground was not afterward held sacred to the memory of these departed ones ; the lot was plowed over and buildings erected upon it. Some twenty years ago, in digging a cellar drain, the coffins of two chil- dren were uncovered, which event created con- siderable excitement in the neighborhood at that time. When Mrs. Lewis Cary died, she was buried on her husband's land ; the site of her grave is now in Joseph Henry's apple or- chard. Several others were interred on this piece of ground, among whom were John Rodgers, Daniel McMichael, Mrs. Kirk, Eliza- beth Bucklin, Lewis Gary's old colored servant and others. The graveyard on the opposite side of the TiflSn road was established about the year 1828, upon land donated by Amos Clark. It is reported that Samuel Yost, the little son of Abraham Yost, was the first person interred. The Lutheran graveyard, called also the " Southern Graveyard," was established about 1830, and it is said Henry Myers, son of Abraham Myers, was the first .person buried in this piece of sacred ground. These two ceme- teries were the onlj' public graveyards started in the village, until Oakwood Cemetery was laid out, in the year 1859. The land was purchased of Watson Moderwell, in the fall of 1858, by gentlemen who afterward formed the Oakwood Cemetery Association, which society was or- ganized Tuesday evening, March 8, 1859, with the following ofBcers : President, George Quin- by ; Secretary, Gerard Reynolds ; Treasurer, C. W. Fisher ; Trustees, A. M. Jones, John A^ Gormly, R. T. Johnson, Hiram Fenner and J, H. Keller. B. F. Hathaway was the engineer who formed the plan of the grounds, and laid off the walks and drives in the spring of 1859. The cemetery was dedicated with appropriate exercises June 22, 1859. The first interment, however, was made over six months previous, and was Lillie Ann Craig, daughter of J. A. and S. S. Craig, who died November 19, 1858, aged five years nine months and five days. One of the first, and probably the most im- portant, public improvements which enlisted the attention of the early citizens of Bucyrus, was the Columbus & Sandusky Turnpike road. This great highway of trade and travel was of untold benefit to the town, and did much in securing settlers for the county. The citizens, from the time the building of this road was de- termined upon, took active measures to have it pass through Bucyrus. It required consid- ^. z±iL^ 363 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. erable effort to raise the amount of stock the company expected each county to take. Some of the citizens subscribed, and paid for more stock than all their real estate would have sold for in cash. As an evidence of the importance attached to the enterprise, one item may be given : At a meeting held for the purpose of getting stock taken, Abel Cary remarked, " If we succeed in getting the road, we may yet see a dailj' line of stages through Bucyrus." In less than ten years from that time, two daily lines, and frequently one or two extra coaches each day passed through the village. This highway was originally built as a toll-road, and the United States Government gave the State of Ohio, in trust for the corporation that built it, a large grant of land, the onl)' stipulation be- ing that in case of war the Grovernment troops had the right to use the road. The first stage line was started in 1827, before the road was fairl}' under headway. For some years, the turnpike was the great thoroughfare of the State, from the river to the lake, and was the principal road to the market, at Sandusky City, for the counties of Delaware, Union and Ma- rion. Seventy-five wagons, loaded with wheat, were counted passing through town in one day, over fort^' years ago. All of these would of course return, and the constant traffic incident to so much transportation created business, and was an active stimulus toward developing the town. The early settlers of Bucyrus and this sec- tion of Crawford were for several years without convenient post-office accommodations, and it was necessary for them to receive their mail through the Delaware oflSce. Mrs. Lucy Rogers asserts that for a year after she removed to the village (in 1822) with her husband, their horse was frequentlj^ loaned to persons who wished to visit Delaware for the purpose of se- curing the mail for this neighborhood. In the year 1823, an office was established at Bucyrus. The first mail route through the village was a weekly mail from Marion to Sandusky City, and it was carried on horseback. Occasion- ally in the winter when the ground was not frozen sufficient to bear a horse, the mail-car- rier would leave his beast at Bucyrus, and make the rest of the trip to Sandusky City and back on foot. Lewis Cary was the first Post- master ; he kept the office at his tannery shop, on the lot now occupied by Messrs. Shonert & Haller. In those days, the rate of postage was 25 cents each letter, and the postal business transacted by Mr. Cary was not extensive, not- withstanding most of the settlers in Crawford County received their letters at the Bucyrus Post Office. Until 1826, only four offices were established in the territorj' then embraced in Crawford County ; these were Bucyrus, Little Sandusky, Tymochtee and Upper Sandusky, the latter three being in that part of Crawford which is now Wyandot County. The settlers of Liberty Township received their mail at Bucyrus until several years after 1840. Cary continued as Postmaster until the administra- tion of President Jackson, when Henry St John, a merchant, was appointed. This was the first practical illustration in Crawford County of the political war-cry, " To the victors belong the spoils." Since this time, whenever the polit- ical character of the White House was changed, Bucyrus has received a new Postmaster. St John kept the office from 1829 to 1837, at his store on the corner now occupied by Malic & Gloj'd, and was succeeded by John Forbes, a harness-maker. The office was removed to Forbes' shop, near the present site of the Raiser Block. The following list of mails, taken from the Crawford RejmhJicaii of November 4, 1837, is an interesting relic of the postal business over forty years ago : The Mails. — The following is a list of the Mails to this place, the hour of their arrival and departure: The Tiffin Mail leaves Bucyrus every Friday morning at 7 o'clock A. M., and arrives at this office on Saturday at 5 P. M. The Mount Vernon Mail departs every ^. r -^ -^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 363 Friday at 6 A. M., and arrives on Saturday at 7 P. M. Tlie Fredericktown Mail arrives at this office every Wednesday by 6 P. M., and departs on Thursday at 6 P. M. The Perrysburg Mail leaves this office every Monday by 5 A. M., and arrives here on Thursdays at 6 P. M. The Kenton Mail arrives every Wednesday by 12 M., and departs the same day at 1 P. M. The New Haven Mail arri?es every Tuesday by 12 M., and de- parts at 1 P. M of same day. The Eastern Mail through Mansfield to Pittsburgh, arrives at this office every other day by 6 P. M., and departs the following morning by 4 A. M., closes at 8 P. .\I. The Northern Mail from Sandusky City arrives at this office every other day between 1 and 4 P. M. (closes at 1), and de- parts in 20 minutes for Columbus. The Great Southern Mail arrives every other day (same day of the North- ern] between 9 P. M., and 12 M., and departs in about 30 minutes for Sandusky City (closes at 8 P. M.J. John Forbes, P. M. Post Office BucYRUs, August oO, 1837. The salaiy paid Forbes in 1840 was $293.47, and the net proceeds of the office for the Grov- ernment were ;ii!417,54. Since 1840, the follow- ing persons have held the office ; James Mc- Cracken from 1841 to 1845, near the present site of Mader's Block ; Alex Widman. same place for some eighteen months ; R. T. Johnston, for about thirty months, at H. H. Moderwell's pres- ent stand ; Henr}' Converse from 1849 to 1853, in the frame building located on the present site of Miller's block ; Alex Ruhl, from 1853tolS57, near the present site of Picking's Block, and then at the northwestern part of public square ; C. D. Ward, from 18.j7 to 18G1, at Ruhl's last room ; J. (i. Robinson from 18(J1 to Novem- ber 1, 1866, in the western part of Rowse's Block ; Isaac Bryant, from November 1866, to about April 1, 1867, at same room ; W. C. Lemert from April 1867 to about September 1, 1867, at same room ; James P. Rader, from Sep- tember, 1867, to August 7, 1870, first in Rowse's Block, and then opposite Court House ; J. Hop ley, from August 7, 1870, to February 1, 1879, opposite court house ; C. W. Fisher, present incumbent, from February 1, 1879, at same room. The first house erected on the present site of Buc^^rus was the first round-log cabin of Nor- ton's ; the second was Bucklin's home, which was followed shortly afterward by the, habita- tions of the Beadle family. ^Vhen Lewis Cary came in the spring of 1822, he built the first hewn-log cabin with shingled roof and grooved floor. The Joninal, of December 13, 1861, con- tains the following item : ' A friend who de- lights in antiquarian researches informs us that the first frame building in town was erected in the j'ear 1823. It stood on the lot now occu- pied bj- George Raiser's building ; then it was removed to the west end of Mansfield street and from there to the lot of A. M. Jackson (corner Middletown and Gallon roads), where, disguised hy a new roof and weather-boarding, it makes a very fine looking stable." If this be true, it still remains on this lot, and is now used as a wood-shed. Moderwell saj's . ■' The first frame building erected in the town was about fifteen feet square and stood on the ground now occu- pied bj' Mr. G. Jahn's property, north of the railroad. The first brick on the lot where Blair's and Picking's blocks now stand." This building was used as a blacksmith-shop, and shortly after it was erected the little brick schoolhouse was built on the present Monnett House lot. These first buildings were followed in a few years bj' more substantial structures. Among the earlj' buildings erected, many of which remain at the present time, are the fol- lowing : Henry St. John built the Kaler corner in 1828 ; this same building has since been remodeled and improved. Gilmore built the old brick on the northeast corner of Main and Warren streets previous to 1830, and the Ore- gon House, one square south,was erected shortly' afterward. Hahn built the Sims House in 1830, but this block was enlarged and improved in 1859. Norton erected the Main street Mills Block in 1831, and the same year Col. Zalmou Rowse put up the American House building on the northwest corner of Main and Warren streets. jvf It. 364 HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. Dr. Willis Merriman erected the two-story frame north of Shaeflfer's block, about 1833. Thomas Shawke put up the Trimble House on the south- east corner of Mansfield and Walnut streets in 1836. The Drackert House, on Main street, south of the Square, was built by Jacob Bright for Mrs. Martha I. Hetich, about the year 1838, and used by her as a private residence for manj' years. Merriman's brick corner was erected by Robert Johnson for Dr. Willis Merriman dur- ing the year 1840. J. P. Bowman's former residence, now owned by the G-ormlys, was built shortly afterward. The buildings now occupied by the Crawford County Bank, R. I. Johnson & Son's drug store and Correll's shoe store, were put up after the big fire of August 30, 1848; the Anderson Block, now, the resi- dence of Messrs. Ward and George Gormly, previous to 1850, and the brick now occupied by Scott & Adams, after 1850. Among the more imposing structures of later years are : The Raiser Block, north of the railroad, in 1857 ; Stoll's planing mills, in the fall of 1858 ; Wool- en Mills building, on East Perry street, in 1858 and 1859 ; Rowse's Block in 1858 ; Ritz, now Gormly, Block in 1859; Bowman Block in 1861 ; Picking's Block in 1861 ; Burkhart's Block, now one-half of Mader's, about 1861, and the north half by Mader, about 1870; Blair's Block, commenced in 1864, finished in 1865 ; Birk's Block, about 1872 ; the Converse and Weber Blocks in 1873 ; Jerry Niman's Block, rear in 1873, front in 1874 ; Fisher Block in 1876 ; JPicking Block, now occupied by Al Lewis, in 1877 ; Deal Block in 1878 ; Miller Block in 1 877 ; the largest block ever erected in Bucy- rus commenced by George Quinby in 1858 and completed in 1859, the five eastern business rooms being finished in the former year, and the three western rooms in the latter. The Journal, of January 14, 1860, said of this build- ing : " It is the largest and best block on the line of the railroad between Pittsburgh and Chi- cago ; having a frontage on the square of 166 feet. It is now occupied by the following firms : Room on the corner by Exchange Bank ; No. 2, Hall & Juilliard, dry goods ; No. 3, Graham & Tranger, dry goods ; No. 4, Fulton & Clark, drugs ; No. 5, Zwisler & Howbert, dry goods ; No. 6, Jones & Co., stoves and tinware ; No. 7, Cuykendall & Weber, groceries ; No. 8, Potter & Craig, hardware." Within a sfiort time after Bucyrus was laid out, Norton and Kilbourne interested them- selves in making their new town a county seat. The village was then located in the southeast- ern corner of the territory named Crawford County, and, in those daj'S, stood in great dan- ger of having a successful rival for county-seat honors. Crawford County was then unorgan- ized, and the inhabitants were temporarily attached to Delaware County for judicial pur- poses. Possiblj^ the first attempt made to secure the county seat at Bucyrus was in the fall of 1823, when- the citizens were active in securing the formation of a new county, to be stj'led Bucj'rus. The proprietor of the land was ver}' anxious that the proposed scheme should be successful, and he made the follow- ing agreement with a committee of citizens : To all whom it may concern : Know ye that I, Sam- uel Norton, of Bucyrus, in Crawford County and State of Ohio, have agreed, and do agree, as this in- strument witnesseth, that, in case the county of Bucy- rus should be established by law at the approaching session of the Legislature, for which petitions will be presented, and the seat of justice of said county per- manently established in the town of Bucyrus, then, and in that case, I will give, and, by a warranty deed free and clear of all incumbrances, convey unto such agent or agents as may be appointed to the trust, for the use of said new county in defraying the expenses of erecting a court house and offices in said town of Bucyrus, one equal third part in number and value of all the numbered inlots and outlets of said town, or that may be numbered within the present year, which remain to me as original proprietor thereof; that is to say, one-third of all the lots numbered on the recorded plat of said town, or that may be numbered as afore- said, excepting those which have been bargained and '^V iht. HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 365 sold, or that may be sold to individuals, by deeds or title bonds prior to the acceptance of this offer, and excepting also the fractional parts of said town origi- nally belonging to Abel Gary and Daniel McMichael. On a plat of said town accompanying this obligation are distinctly marked the lots by their numbers and situations composing the said third part intended to be given for the public uses aforesaid, and the foregoing agreement and the just fulfillment thereof I bind myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents. In witness whereof, I have here- unto set my hand and seal at said Bucyrus this 20th day of November, 1823. Samuel Norton. In presence of A. I. Shover. This project to secure a countj' named Bucy- rus was not successful, but, December 15, 1823, the General Assembly of Ohio passed an act organizing Marion County, and, for two j^ears, from April, 1824, to April, 1826, the southern portion of Crawford was attached to Marion. The population in the vicinity of Bucyrus increased rapidly, and, after considerable agita- tion and petitioning, the Legislature, on Janu- ary 31, 1826, passed another act, organizing Crawford Countj% which " authorized the Com- missioners elected in accordance with the third section of the act " to " meet on the first Mon- day in Maj' next, at the town of Bucyrus, and then and there determine at what place in said county of Crawford the judicial courts shall be held till the permanent seat of justice shall be established in said county." This duty of these commissioners, to be elected in April, 1826, was the great issue discussed at the first election for county offices. The people in the southern part of the county were in favor of Bucyrus as the county seat, and those living in the western part insisted upon its being located at a town called Crawford, laid out by Joseph Newell, on the Broken Sword Creek, in Holmes Township. The friends of Bucyrus were suc- cessful, and Thomas McClure, John Magers and George Poe, their candidates, were suc- cessful, and the county seat was temporarily established in the village. The first court was held in Lewis Cary's front room, and, after the brick schoolhouse was erected, occupied tem- porary quarters in that building. For several years, the new county was without a court house. In the meantime, the Auditor, Clerk of the Court and Kecorder occupied " quarters in the north end of Bucyrus. A man named Fleck was convicted for some crime, and, about the year 1831, his friends set fire to the build- ings in which the records were kept, and the early papers of the new county were all de- stroyed. The county seat was not permanent- ly located at Bucj'rus until 1830, when the Legislature appointed a commission, consisting of Judge Williams, of Delaware ; R. S. Dick- enson, of Fremont, and J. S. Glassgo, of Holmes County, to visit Crawford County and decide the troublesome question. The report made by these gentlemen was favorable to Bucyrus, and this was accepted by the Legisla- ture. Samuel Norton then donated a large number of town lots, and other citizens made liberal contributions for the erection of public buildings. The first jail was erected about the year 1827, on the site now occupied bj- the Monnett House, which lot was donated by Samuel Norton. Zalmon Rowse was the con- tractor, and the building was made of squared timber, and contained two apartments. This jail was destroyed by fire, and when the next one was built it occupied the lot immediately south. The present jail was erected in 1859. The first court house was commenced and fin- ished in 1832. Col. Kilbourne was the archi- tect, and Nicholas Cronebaugh, Abraham Holm, Sr., and William Early were contractors. While this building was being erected, a serious acci- dent occurred, which resulted in the death of Eli Cronebaugh and a Mr. Seigler. The present court house was commenced in 1855, by Will- iam Miller, J. Jennings and David Auld, con- tractors. The building was finished by April 30, 1857, at which time a " court house warm- ing " was held. ^^ a 1^ 'K^ 866 HISTORY OF CRA.WFORD COUXTY. The town of Bucyms was incorporated by the Legislature February 21, 1833. It is not certain who the first Mayor of the town was, as the records have all been destroyed, but it is generally supposed to be James McCracken. Since the year 1837, however, the following persons have been elected to this office : 1837, John Moderwell; 1840, Peter Worst; 1841, Nicholas Failor; 1842 and 1843, David R. Lightner; 1844 and 1845, James Marshal; 1846, James McCracken ; 1847 and 1848, James H.Hutchinson; 1850 and 1851, William M. Scroggs, who resigned in November, 1851, and Stephen R. Harris was elected to fill the va- cancy ; Mr. Harris was also re-elected in 1852 and 1854. In 1853, George P. Seal was chosen ; 1855, 1856, 1857, Jacob Scroggs ; 1858, S. J. Elliott, who resigned in November, and Jacob Scroggs was appointed by the council, and re- elected in 1859 ; in 1860, Henry C. Rowse ; 1861, S. R, Harris; 1862, William M. Scroggs ; 1863 and 1864, E. B. Pinley ; 1865, C. D. Ward ; 1866 and 1867, Wilson Stewart; 1868 and 1869, George Donnenwirth, Sr. ; 1870, William M. Reid was elected, but counted out, and Donnenwirth sworn in (Gen. Samuel Myers, C. G. Malic and William Rowland, three mem- bers of the Council elected at the same time denounced the proceeding, refused to serve and resigned. The case was tried and carried before the Supreme Court of Ohio, who decided in favor of Reid, when the term of office had nearly expired) ; 1872 and 1874. James Van Voorhis; 1876 and 1878. Chapman D. Ward; 1880, Allen Campbell, the present incumbent. The population of the village since 1830, was as follows: 1830, 500 estimated; 1840, 704; 1850, 1,100 estimated ; 1860, by United States census, 2,207; 1870, by census, 3,066 ; 1880, by census, 3,848. Among the many interesting historical events which have occurred in Bucyrus was the dis- covery, bj' Abraham Hahn, of the perfect skele- ton of a mastodon, during the year 1838. Mr. Hahn, having erected a saw-mill just north of the site now occupied by G. W. Hull's barn, on West Warren street, conceived the idea of con- structing a mill-race which would furnish suffi- cient water-power to run the establishment, and this water-course was finished by a considera- ble outlay of time and money. The source of this race was the swamps in Col. Zalmon Rowse's fields, now owned by William Monnett, and the line it followed to the mill would have, at the present time, about the following route : It crossed the Gallon Road near the southwest- ern corner of the fair ground ; then extended nearly due north along the east side of the Ohio Central, making a slight bend, and pass- ing east of the roundhouse and machine shops ; then nearly due west to S. R. Harris' land ; then northwest through the northeastern corner of the schoolhouse yard, and, after con- tinuing in the same direction for a short dis- tance, changed to nearlj' due west, crossing Walnut street, near Dr. Cuykendall's office, Main street, near IMrs. Thomas Johnson's, and Poplar street, near the German Lutheran Church. While making the excavations for this mill-race, the skeleton was found in the swamp just east of the present site of the Ohio Central shops. This land for many years afterward was very low and swampy ; a consid- erable portion in this immediate vicinity was covered by Mr. Hahn's mill-pond. A full ac- count of this discovery was printed in the Crawford Republican extra, of August 14, 1838, and reprinted in the Forum, January 9, 1 880, from which the following is taken : BucTnns, August 14, 1838. Mr. Abraham Hahn, while engaged with his work hands in excavaling a mill-race, about three-fourths of a mile east of Bucyrus, on yesterday, at the distance of from five to seven feet below the surface of the grouDd, discovered the skeleton of a mastodon, in a reclined position. The history of this genus of animals is in- volved in mystery. No tradition or human record fur- nishes evidences of its existence .it any period. But that it once lived and walked upon the earlh, the prince ^ V ifT tit: HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 367 of the quadruped kingdom, is abundantly proven by the numerous and almost entire specimens of its or- ganic remains, that have been discovered in various parts of North America; and which have excited the wonder and astonishment of the naturalist and anti- quarian. From the peculiar structure, and the im- mense size of its bones, it must have been an animal far exceeding in size and strength any species of the quadruped races now in existence. The place where this skeleton was found is very near the dividing ridge between the northern and southern waters of the State, in a wet, spongy soil. The bones, so far as dis- covered, are in a fine state of preservation. The upper jaw and skull bones are perfect in all their parts, as formed by nature. The under jaw was accidentally divided in removing it from the earth. This is the only instance in which the skull of the mastodon has been found in a state of preservation ; and it furnishes the only specimen from which correct ideas can be ob- tained respecting that massive, and singularly shaped organ. Some idea may be formed of the rank this monster held among the beasts of the forest, when clothed with skin and iiesh, and nerved with life, from the following dimensions of some portions of it, which have been rescued from oblivion : THE SKULL AND UPPER JAW. Horizontal length 39 inches. Length following curvature of skull 42J " Breadth across the eyes 2BJ " Breadth at back of hea' 25^ " Vertical height 22 " Height occipital bone 16 " Diameter of both nostrils llj " Diameter of each measuring the other way.. 5 " Diameter of tusk socliets -53 to 6 " Depth of tusk sockets 22 " Diameter of eye sockets 6 " Weight of skull and upper jaw 160 pounds THE UNDEK JAW. Horizontal length following outside curva- ture 31 J inches Height to junction with upper jaw 16J " Weight 69 pounds. Front molars 6J inches apart Back " 5J ■' Length back molar "^ inches. Breadth back molar 4 " Length front molar 4J " PEMUR OR THIGH BONE. Length 37 inches. Largest circumference 30 •' Smallest circumference 15J " TIBIA ^LAI^GEST BONE BETWEEN THIGH AND HOOF). Length 22 J inches. Largest circumference 24J " Smallest circumference 11 " FIBULA (smaller BONE BETWEEN THIGH AND HOOF). Length 20 J inches. Largest circumference 12^ " Smallest circumference 4^ " HUMERUS (BONE FROM SHOULDER TO KNEE). Length 30 inches. Largest circumference 34J " Smallest circumference 14| " fits. Length outer curve 43J " Smallest circumference 5J " The following is a design of the skeleton of this monster, as drawn by the description given above, and engraved by Baniel Kanzleiter, of Buoyrus : Hahn soon found the enterprise in which he had become involved would not be a financial success, and after several years the business was abandoned. When the town was extended and improved toward the southeast, the mill- pond was drained and the water-course gradu- ally filled up with earth, but during the past twenty j'ears, in making excavations for sewers •^ s ^ ^'^— ^ .1^ 368 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. and cellars, the remains of this race have fre- quently been found. At first, Mr. Hahn exhib- ited the bones of this mastodon, but finally sold them, and the proceeds derived from the sale served to repay him for the immense finan- cial outlay he had made in building the race. He died at Mount Gilead, Ohio, January 19, 1 867, and in his obituary notice the following was published in regard to the latter history of the skeleton : " He afterward sold the skeleton to a man in Columbus for |1,800, and it was again resold to a Cincinnati, man for $2,800 ; was afterward taken to New York and put in Barnum's Museum, and probably consumed by the fire there a few years since." For many years the village was without any regularly organized fire department, and the only protection in case of fire was the volun- teer bucket-brigade temporarily formed at each successive conflagration. The propriety of organizing a regular fire company was dis- cussed during the summer of 1848, and Friday evening, August 4, a large and respectable meeting of citizens assembled at the court house for this purpose ; J. H. Hutchinson was Chairman, and J. Scroggs, Secretary. J. E. Jewett, N. C. McFarland and J. Simms were appointed to prepare a constitution, and the meeting adjourned until August 11, 1848, at which time, or shortly afterward, the organiza- tion of the company was perfected. J. E. Jewett was Captain of the organization. Within a short time the members had a fine opportunity to show their mettle, for at mid- night on October 26, Howenstein & Sheokler's cabinet-shop was discovered to be on fire, and, before the confiagration was quenched, several other buildings in the immediate vicinity were destroyed. The People s Foi-um, published the next day, said : "M' ' redit is due the firemen and other citizens f . •■ exertions to stop the progress of the flame The first fire engine purchased, " Kescue design. It was r iry was of a very rude to pour the water into the engine with buckets ; then shut down the lid of the tank, and the liquid was forced into the hose bj^ turning a crank. For nearly ten years this was the only fire engine used in the community. In March, 1858, the Town Council purchased the present " Water Cloud," at a cost of $1,282.50, and the fire department was re-organized. The officers of " Water Cloud No. 2," were F. W. Butterfield, Foreman ; D. M. Lindsay, Assistant Foreman ; M. Buch- man. Secretary, and John G. Birk, Treasurer. D. Shanks was Foreman of Mazeppa Hose Company. The first engine, " Rescue No. 1," was placed in charge of a junior companj' composed of many young men residing in the village, who elected Gains C. Worst as their Foreman, and for several years " Let 'er Rip No. 1," ably managed by these young men, performed effi- cient work when needed. Possibly the first Chief Engineer of the Fire Department was E. R. Kearsley, who occupied that position July 2, 1859. The Buckeye Hook and Ladder Com- pany was first organized during 1859 with the following officers : Foreman, . A. E. Walker ; First Assistant, G. B. Terwileger ; Second Assistant, D. R. Locke (now proprietor of the Toledo Blade) ; Secretary, J. W. Keller ; and Treasurer, P. E. Bush. During the winter of 1859-60, the Town Council erected the pres- ent engine house ; it was to be " 32x40 feet, two stories high, with a hall above fitted up for the use of the fire companies and Town Coun- cil." This building was dedicated Monday evening, April 30, 1860, with appropriate exer- cises. In July, 1869, the Steam Fire Engine was purchased by the Council from Sibley & Co., of Seneca Falls, N. Y. The price paid for the engine was $5,100, and an addition, $2,400, was given for brakes, seats, two hose carts and 1,000 feet of rubber hose. The engine was received in Bucyrus, Tuesday September 7, and the next day threw water the following distances ; With 1,000 feet of hose and 1^-inoh nozzle, 147 feet ; with 1,000 feet l^ (Pl4_a Ciy'lroih '3' 'a. 1 vytyt^ IbL^ HISTORY OF CRAWrORD COUNTY ■sn of hose and 1-inch nozzle, 181 feet ; with 100 feet of hose and 1-inch nozzle, 236 feet. The engine weighs 3,600 pounds and will dis- charge from -too to 450 gallons of water per minute. The first officers elected for the Steamer Fire Engine Companj', were : Foreman, B. F. Lauck ; Engineer, Wilson Stewart ; As- sistant Engineer and Fireman, William P. Kowland ; Foreman Hose Company, John Gouts ; Secretary, M. Fulton ; Treasurer, J. G. Birk. During the fall of 1859, a company was formed, composed of many public-spirited bus- iness men of Bucjtus, for the purpose of build- ing and operating the Bucyrus Gas Works. The stockholders met at C. Elliott's office, Tues- day evening, November 22, and elected George Quinby, S. R. Harris, Horace Rowse, J. J. Boe- man and J. H. Keller, Trustees, until the works were completed. The Trustees perfected the organization of the company by electing Hor- ace Rowse President ; S. R. Harris, Secretary ; and George Quinbj', Treasurer. The building was commenced during the fall of 1859, and completed in 1860, by B. B. McDonald & Co. After many annoying delays, the works were started, and the town was first lighted bj- gas Tuesday evening, October 23, 1860. The Bu- cyrus Journal, during that year, published the following description of the works : " The buildings are 32x68 feet in size, slate-roofed, and are well and substantially built. The gas- ometer contains 9,000 cubic feet. There are two benches of retorts, capable of generating 20,000 cubic feet of gas per day, with extra benches to provide against accidents." Satur- day evening, November 3, the stockholders elected the following Directors to conduct the business : Horace Rowse, George Quinby, John Keller, John H. Hofman and B. B. McDonald ; Rowse was then re-elected President, and J. H. Hofman, Secretary. The stock was finally- pur- chased by a few members, and Messrs. Quinby and McDonald became owners of the works. They sold out to Monnett, Frazer & Co., about January 1, 1873, and the establishment is now owned by J. G. Frazer and Rev. T. J. Monnett. While Bucyrus can scarcelj' be called a man- ufacturing city, 3'et there are several institu- tions located within its limits that make some pretensions toward manufacturing, and deserve some mention as such. Prominent among these are the Eagle JMachine Works. These works have grown out of an establishment of very limited dimensions, which was started here more than twenty-five years ago. At the be- ginning, the work was done mostly by hand, in a small shop which it occupied, and, as a man- ufacturing enterprise, amounted to but little. The following, from an article upon the subject of " Manufactories in Buc3'rus," published in the Forum, of February 10, 1872, does justice to the Eagle Machine Works : " Messrs. Frey & Sheckler, two of the present partners, be- came workmen in the establishment, remaining in that capacity until 1862, when they bought the concern, the former proprietors changing places with them. In 1867, the entire works were destroyed by fire, but, in 1868, the present firm — which, besides Frej' and Sheckler, com- prises G. Quinby — was formed, and the works were rebuilt upon a much larger scale, and fur- nished throughout with the best of machinery and conveniences. The works are of brick, the machine-shop being 75x55 feet, and two stories ; the foundry, 35x50, besides cupola, and a wareroom (frame) nearlj' 160 feet in length." Since this article was penned, other buildings have been put up, and the works have now altogether six buildings, viz.: Foundry, machine-shops, blacksmith-shops, engine-house, coke and sand house, office and pattern room, etc. Eighteen hands are employed regularl3', and engines, horse-powers, saw-mills, brick ma- chines, together with a general foundry busi- ness, are some of the kinds of work turned out by the establishment. Of late years, the " Ea- gle Portable Engine " has been made by these i^a J^.t 372 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. works. Their brick machines are the best made — capable of making 15,000 brick per day, and are in use all over the country, even as far west as Wyoming and Indian Territories. The firm changed in 1875, Mr. Sheckler retir- ing ; and, in 1877, William Hoover purchased an interest, but Sheckler again became inter- ested, and the firm is now Frey, Sheckler & Hoover. All three of the partners are energetic business men, who believe that what is worth doing, is worth doing well, and the business, under their management, has become a promi- nent one, and is of a character that reflects credit upon the city and upon themselves. The Bucyrus Machine Works were started originally by William Burkhart, James Throupe and J. Moultrop about 1861. In the spring and summer of that year they put , up a shop 40x60 feet, two stories high, on Bast Mansfield street. These works at one time were quite an enterprise and did a large business, but of late years have retrograded somewhat, and at the present time do not amount to much. They commenced work in a little blacksmith shop, and made a few " Excelsior " Machines, when Mr. Burkhart invented the " Bucyrus Machine." The old company continued in operation until the 1st of January, 1869, when its assets were transferred to a stock company, of which B. B. McDanald was Superintendent, and W. T. Mc- Donald, Treasurer, with a capital stock of $100,- 000. A portion of the works were destroyed by fire, in May, following this change, resulting in a loss of about $21 ,000. They were rebuilt with- out any unnecessary delay, and comprise at pres- ent several excellent buildings ; the main build- ing is of brick 200x40 feet, and three stories high ; blacksmith-shop 55x30, and foundry 40x- 60 feet. At one time the works gave employ- ment to a force of near 100 men, and manufact- ured as high as 700 machines in one year. The larger part of their trade was West, mostly in Missouri, Iowa and Kansas, the people of those sections showing a preference for the Bucj'rus Machine. Some idea of the good to the city, and the magnitude of the works when in the zenith of their glory, may be drawn from the fact that as much as $25,000 were disbursed to their employes in one year, and in the con- struction of machines 200 tons of pig metal were used. Preparations were made at one time for the building of railway cars, and a switch was built from the works to the railroad. The company finally began to decline, and eventually passed into the hands of J M. Bid- die. In a few years, it made another assignment, and was then purchased by A. Monnett & Co., who, after operating it for a time, leased it to Stuckey & Diller, who are at present operat- ing it. But the establishment has not been manufacturing the Bucyrus Machine for some time, and is not doing the business it did a few years ago. The Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Com- pany is destined to become as familiar through- out the country as the Wheeler & Wilson, Howe, Singer, and others of that kind now. In 1868, William Franz and Dr. W. Pope com- menced the inventing of a knitting machine for both domestic and manufacturing purposes. They succeeded and obtained a patent, and have patented eight improvements since, and bought six others, making fourteen improvements and patents now owned by them, until their ma- chine is almost perfect. The Forum, in 1872, said : " In 1870, a company was formed here called the Bucyrus Knitting Machine Company, which commenced operations, but was dis- banded in 1871, and the present joint-stock company was formed." This company was composed of Dr. William Pope, Dr. 0. Pulton, James Clements, John Franz, Thomas Beer, George Quinby, George Donnenwirth and Will- iam Franz. Of this company, George Quinby was President ; William Franz, Secretary, and Dr. W. Pope, General Agent. Says the Forum : " Last year 1,500 machines were made — this year the number will reach 2,500 ; the ice is f HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 373 reallj' just being broken, and the demand in the future will be enormous. The variety of work: it is capable of producing is wonderful, being adapted to all manner of crotcheting — making tidies or afghans, as well as common hosiery. It knits a stocking, heel and toe com- plete, without taking it off the hooks, in seven minutes, with but little hand finishing required." In 1878, a Hosiery Department was added to the establishment, in which some thirty young ladies are employed constantly. The following are the present officers : Dr. William Pope, President ; James Clements, Secretarj' ; William McCutcheon, Treasurer and Book-keeper ; John R. Perrot, Foreman, a position he has held since the formation of the present company. The works are doing a good business, and have ma- chines in G-erman}-, England, Japan, and other foreign countries, in addition to the sales in our own country. The Forum, in its sketch of this enterprise, from which we have already quoted, draws this fanciful and prophetic pic- ture of its future : " The readers of the Forum will have no difficulty in recalling to mind a familiar picture — a pleasant room made doubly pleasant by a genial fire on the hearth At hand is a corner sacred to ' Grandma,' and here she sits, hour after hour, knitting, knitting, weaving into common-place stockings a thou- sand pleasant memories of the past or visions of the future — this is her favorite emploj'ment. Gaze upon it while you may, reader, for soon grandma's occupation, like Othello's, will be gone. In place of the loved old lady, whose eye is fast growing dim, and whose hands trem- ble with age, will be seen a younger generation — in place of the bright needles that ' click ' and glisten as the stocking is slowly fashioned, will be a little machine labeled ' Franz & Pope's Pa- tent ' — the good wife or daughter seats herself, hastily turns a crank for a few minutes, and, presto ! here is a complete stocking.'' Finally the Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Company will find their time fully employed in the fu- ture, and it is no difficult matter to predict a continuation of the present prosperitj' of this valuable industry. The Bucyrus Plow Works was originally es- tablished by A. Shunk, Sr., more than twenty years ago. His capital was limited ; the busi- ness was somewhat of an experiment, and was of small proportions, employing but four men and doing the work all by hand-power. As the years went by, the business was increased, com- pelling the introduction of steam-power and magnificent buildings, occupying a large space ; a wood shop, 30x50 feet, brick, two stories high ; smith shop 50x18 feet ; grinding room, 25 feet square ; lumber room of the same dimensions ; engine room 20x20 feet, and foundry 40x60 feet. Persistent energy has worked these changes and improvements. The works have a capacity of 1,000 plows per year, of nine differ- ent varieties. The sale of these plows is chiefly in Ohio and the Western States, and so rapidly has their fame spread that every plow is sold before it leaves the shop, and even afh-ance or- ders can scarcely be filled, the demand for them is so great. In May, 1870, a firm was formed consisting of A. Shunk, Jr., F. R, and N. T., all brothers. Several changes have taken place, and the firm now is A. Shunk, Sr., alone. He, as we have said, was the originator of the es- tablishment, and still supervises the work. He is a man of genius, makes his patterns himself, and a plow, also, that has no superior in the market. One of the large and enterprising establish- ments of Bucyrus is the planing-mill of the Vollrath Brothers. Gottlieb VoUrath came to the town in 1849, and, in 1855. he started a planing-mill under the firm of (1. YoUrath & Co., the firm comprising Mr. Vollrath and two sons — Albert and Charles. In 1867, William, another son, Ijought out his father, and the firm became, as now, A^ollrath Brothers, com- prising Albert, Charles and William, In 1868, their present brick building was erected, three .^ 374 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. stories, 78x45 feet, besides the engine and boiler room, which is also of brick, and is 19x54 feet. In its arrangement, a view was had to conven- ience, the best possible machinery was obtained, and every preparation made for conducting business upon a large scale. Now, an average of from fifteen to twenty men is employed, and large quantities of sash, doors, blinds, mold- ings, etc., and also a general planing-mill busi- ness is done. In addition to this, a large business is carried on in dressed and undressed lumber, their yards and mill occupying over an acre of ground. All of the brothers are prac- tical business men, and pay strict attention to the business. The Bucyrus Flouring Mill Company is also an enterprise of the Vollrath Brothers. In 1870, they fitted up a part of their planing-mill building, and commenced this line of business. In 1872, it was bought by F. A. Vollrath, a brother to those engaged in the planing-mill who has run it ever since. It is provided with three runs of buhrs — two for wheat and one for corn. . It is supplied with a separate engine from that of the planing-mill, and is a first-class in- stitution in every respect. Mr. Vollrath is well known in town and county, and his pleasant face is familiar to all. The Buckeye State Wood Works was estab- lished in 1866, by A. M. Jones & Company. Their line of manufacturing is confined prin- cipally to the making of spokes, hubs and bent work. The grounds embrace an area of an acre and a half, the buildings being — main work- shop, 100x40 feet ; engine-room, 50x20 feet ; warehouses, 22x156 and 18x40 feet. The orig- inal members of firm were A. M. Jones, W. C. Lennert, Lyman Parcher and John Jones. Nicholas Reel was afterward admitted, and, shortly after, John Jones and Lyman Parcher sold out to the other three partners, and the firm is still A. M. Jones & Co. The busi- ness has proved a success, and gives employ- ment to a large number of hands continually, the average being about thirty, requiring an an- nual disbursement of over $30,000 for wages and other expenses. The business was at first an experiment, but, under careful management, has grown volumious, and is one of the most important manufacturing interests of the town. The Donnenwirth Brewery ranks among the large manufacturing establishments of Bucyrus. It was origiHully established in 1858, by Henry Anthony. In the following spring Gr. Donnen- wirth, Jr., became a partner, and in the fall the firm became G. Donnenwirth & Son, his father taking an interest in the business with him. A large business is done in manufacturing " der lager," consuming yearly thousands of pounds of hops and thousands of bushels of barley in the manufacture of this drink that does not in- ebriate. We have the word of a good old G-erman, who said, when asked if lager would make a man drunk, that he had often drank as many as sixty or seventy glasses a daj' with- out becoming intoxicated, but if a man was to make a hog of himself, he didn't know what the eflfect might be. We don't either. The Sandusky Valley Mills were built in 1860, by S. A. Bowers and J. W. Delaney near the site of the Deardorfif steam saw-mill. In 1861, Mr. Delaney retired, and Bowers con- tinued in the business until 1872, when he sold out to C. T. Miller. Mr. Miller failed shortly after, when Mr. Bowers took them back, and lately Mr. Delaney has again taken an interest in them, and the old firm of Bowers & Delaney are now operating them. Their building is 40x50 feet and three stories high, containing three run of buhrs and ample steam-power, furnished by two engines. These mills are doing a good business and are justly celebrated for the ex- cellence of their flour. Keller, Stoll & Co., erected a planing-mill in 1859. Subsequently it changed to the manage- ment of Stoll & Bro., and in 1869, the firm of Stoll, Bro. & Co., was formed. The mill is a large one ; the main building is 70x40 feet, with r v: am ^/uir/^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 375 an engine room 40x18 feet, and the entire es- tablishment is supplied with the best of ma- chinery. A large number of men are employed, and an extensive business is done in sash, doors, blinds, etc., also in lumber of all liinds. R. C. Roer is now a member of the firm, and is one of the energetic business men of Bucj'rus. Their market is both at home and abroad, and, whenever good work is required, there is a demand for their goods, and their trade is in- creasing. The Smutter Factory of M. Deal is one of the important industries of Bucyrus. J\Ir. Deal be- gan the manufacture of these machines in 1868, then Imown as the California Smutter. It is a machine for taking smut out of wheat, and is of incalculable value to wheat growers and dealers. Mr, D. has added sis new improvements to the machine since he commenced the business, and now manufactures thirt3'-six different styles of machines for cleaning wheat. His present fac- tory, which is in one of the most pretentious buildings in the town, employs some twenty-five men the year round, and has a capacity for put- ting up 500 machines per j'ear. Tliere are now over six hundred local agencies in the United States, Canada, South America and England, and from 860,000 to $75,000 worth of machines are shipped annually. The Main Street Mills were established by Zeigler, Gross & Co., and in October, 1871, the firm of P. & J. Gross was formed, succeeding the old one, and in the following Jlay, they built the present mills. The building is of brick, 48x50 feet, two stories besides basement, and engine-room. It had originally three run of buhrs and a capacity for manufacturing more than fifty barrels of flour every twelve hours. In 1876, Mr. Zeigler returned to Bucy- rus, after an absence of some years, and became the proprietor of these mills, which he has operated successfully ever since. He has made some improvements ; has added another run of buhrs, and is doing a fine custom and merchant business. Mr. Zeigler has about twenty-seven years' experience in milling, and perfectly understands it in all of its details. An enterprise of some considerable interest to the town of Buc'yrus is the shops of the Ohio Central Railroad Company, which are now in the course of building here. The shops and buildings comprise a roundhouse, designed for fortj' stalls, of which ten are to be completed for immediate use ; a machine and smith shop, 150x70 feet ; an engine and boiler house, 50x36 feet ; car shops, 100x70 feet, and an office and storeroom, 40x30 feet. All of these are being now built, and are of brick upon stone foundations, and are to be surmounted by a self-supporting metal roof Some of the contractors in this work are as follows : The Union Planing Mills have a con- tract to furnish the door and window frames, flooring, etc. ; the Eagle Machine Works sup- plies the cast-iron work, and Stuckey & Diller the wrought-iron work. The local contractor, J. G. Fraj'er, under whose eye the work is being done, is pushing it rapidly forward, and is a contractor of great experience. These shops will be of great benefit to Bucyrus, and make it quite a railroad town. It is estimated that not less than one million of brick will be used, and that the cost of buildings and machinery will not be far from $100,000 at completion, and will continually increase in value as improvements are made and new machinery added. E. Blair's establishment should be mentioned among the manufacturing industries of Bucy- rus. The most important article of his manu- facture is "swine jewelry,'' as it is facetiously termed, though other articles are, and have been for some time, made extensively by him. His wire work is well known. But in his " swine jewelr}' ' he has a large trade. It con- sists of a ring, or something of that sort, which, when placed in a pig's "snoot," effectu- ally stops him from following his legitimate IV '^ 376 PIISTOBY OF CBAWFOEl) COUNTY. calling rooting. Mr. Blair manufactures these useful articles extensively, and has a large sale for them. The first secret society organized in the vil- lage of Bucyrus on a permanent basis was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Peo- ple's Fortin, published September 20, 1845, contains the following advertisement ; I. 0. 0. F. The installation of La Salle Lodge will take place in Bucyrus Monday evening, September 22, 1845. La Salle Lodge, after continuing for nearly ten years, surrendered their charter October 2, 1854, but, in about eighteen months, the char- ter was restored on February 26, 1856. The names of the members on the restored charter are Franklin Adams, W. E. S. Clark, William M. Scroggs, Benjamin Pallor, C. W. Butterfield, Hiram Fenner and J. E. Zook. La Salle Lodge, No. 51, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is in a better financial condition than any other secret society in Bucyrus. A short time after the first permanaiit secret, society had been organized in Bucyrus by the Odd Fellows, gentlemen who were members of the Masonic fraternity were prevailed upon to establish a lodge of their order in the village. Bucyrus Lodge, No. 139, of Free and Accept- ed Masons, was chartered October 20, 1846, with the following members : Col. Zalmon Kowse, Hibbard P. Ward (Pastor M. E. Church), Joseph E. Jewett, Benjamin Warner, Madison W. Welsh, Amos L. Westover, John Caldwell and Jonas Stough. These charter members are all dead. Those of the first officers elected were : First Master, Joseph E. Jewett ; first Senior Warden, Amos L. Westover ; first Jun- ior Warden, Benjamin Warner. The early records of this societj'^ are all lost, and it is impossible to obtain any satisfactory informa- tion in regard to the other first officers. Some forty persons are at the present time connected with this lodge, the officers of which are as follows ; Worshipful Master, Henrj' Stuckey ; Senior Warden, Dr. W. B. Carson ; Junior Warden, C. D. Ward ; Treasurer, William Voll- rath ; Secretary, Lewis Stremmel ; Senior Dea- con, Dr. M. C. Cuykendall ; Junior Deacon, A. W. Diller ; Tiler, Jacob Haller. Crawford Lodge, No. 443, of Free and Ac- cepted Masons, was organized Jlay 4, 1870, with the following charter members ; Kobert Lee, George F. Seiser, John A. Schaber, George Donnenwirth, Jr., Samuel Hoyt, William Frantz, George C. Gormly, A. J. High and Joseph A. Shepard. The officers of Crawford Lodge at the present time are : Wilson Stew- art, P. M.; R. Lee, W. M.; A. J. High, S. W.; John Schaber, J. W.; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer; William McCutchen, Secretary; George Didie, S. D.; Charles Muntz, J. D.; Frank Donnenwirth, Steward ; Stephen Bry- mier, Tiler. Ivanhoe Chapter, No. 117, Royal Arch Ma- sons, was instituted January 13, 1869, at the Bucyrus lodge-room, by Charles C. Keifer, Grand High Priest, with the following charter members and officers : E. B. Finley, H. P.; Cochran Fulton, K.; E. R. Kearsley, S.; Samuel Hoyt, C. H.; George McNeal, G. M. 1st V.; William Vollrath, G. M., 2d V.; Moses Emrich, G. M. 3d v.; J. R. Clymer, S.; D. F. Welsh, G.; John A. Schaber, R. A. C; James Arm- strong, P. S., and Joshua Crouse. About thirty-five persons are connected with Ivanhoe Chapter at the present time, and the following persons are officers ; Wilson Stewart, H. P.; M. C. Cuykendall, K.; C. D. Ward, S.; William Frantz, C. H,; Henry Stuckey, P. S.; John Schaber, R. A. C; George W. Didie, G. M. 3d v.; William Vollrath, G. M. 2d V.; Nathaniel Steen, G. M. 1st V.; J. H. Robinson, Secretary ; F. A. Vollrath, Treasurer ; C. Muntz, Guard. Bucyrus Council, No. 57, Royal and Select Masons, was organized February 10, 1870, at the Bucyrus lodge-room, at which time the following ofiflcers were installed : Samuel Hoyt, ^ 4- HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 377 Thrice Illustrious Grand Master ; Cochran Ful- ton, First Deputy Grand Master ; John A. Schaber, First P. C. W.; A. J. High, Recorder; George F. Seiser, Captain of the Guard ; Joseph Goldsmith, Sentinel, and E. B. Finley, Treas- urer. These gentlemen, with E. R. Kearsley and William M. Scroggs, were the charter mem- bers of Bucyrus Council. The officers of this lodge at the present time are Cochran Pulton, T. I. G. M.; John A. Schaber, Deputy I. G. M.; Dr. Stensil, P. C. W.; A. J. High, Captain of the Guard ; F. A. VoUrath, Recorder ; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer ; C. D. Ward, C. of Council ; H. Anthony, Warden ; J. G. Ott, Sentinel. Demas Lodge, No. 108, Knights of Pythias; was instituted on Tuesday afternoon and even- ing, September 11, 1877, by Leroy S. Dungan, of London, Ohio., Grand Chancellor of the State, with the following twenty-four charter members : Walter B. Ritchie, J. H. Robinson, Fred. M. Swingley, William Frantz, 0. E. Gravelle, Henry J. Deal, P. A. Vollrath, J. B. Kreider, Frank L. Plants, Jacob Haller, Jacob Broese, Theoren A. Rowse, Frank P. Kaler, Allen Campbell, G. K. Zeigler, Peter Weller, Ferdinand Weichold, Moses Emrich, B. M. Moore, William Trounstine, N. K. Zeigler, G. W. Harris, C. H. Shonert and Jefferson Didie. The first officers elected for Demas Lodge were J. H. Robinson, P. C; P. .M. Swingley, C. C; William Frantz, V. C; 0. E. Gravelle, P.; H. J. Deal, K. R. S.; P. A. Vollrath, M. P.; Frank L. Plants, M. A.; Jacob Haller, I. G.; Jacob Broese, 0. G.; F. M. Swingley and William Frantz, Trustees ; E. M. Moore, Clerk. This lodge held their meetings in the third story of the Bowman Block for about one year, and then removed to their present quarters in the Miller Block. The society is in good financial con- dition. Section No. 119, Endowment Rank, Knights of Pythias, was instituted in Castle Hall of Demas Lodge, March 6, 1878, with the follow- ing sixteen charter members : David Price, Moses Emrich, Allen Campbell, Garrett K. Zeigler, William Frantz, P. A. Vollrath, Prank P. Kaler, Fernand Weichold, Lee Rothschild, Joseph Boure, Charles C. Scott, 0. E. Gravelle, W. B. Ritchie, Theoren A. Rowse, J. H. Robin- son and H. J. Deal. The following is a list of the first officers elected : William Frantz, Presi- dent ; J. H. Robinson, Vice President ; Allen Campbell, Secretary' and Treasurer ; 0. E. Gra- velle, Chaplain ; H. J. Deal, Sentinel ; Charles C. Scott, Guard ; Frank P. Kaler, Guide. The object of this lodge is to provide financial assistance to the heirs of deceased members ; the amount of the insurance policy is $2,000. Frank L. Plants, who died Tuesday, February 18, 1879, is the only member of the lodge removed by death since it was organized. Howard Lodge, No. 109, of the Knights of Honor, was organized May 3, 1875, at the rooms of the Y. M. C. A., in Birk's Block, with the following charter members : William Reid, C. W. Fisher, E. P. Penfleld, M. Emrich, J. M. Black, W. H. Drought, Allen Campbell, L. C. Caldwell, George Lauck, William Boure, W, B. Bennett, George Caswell, Jacob Deardorff, D. E. Fisher, H. H. Moderwell and S. D. Welsh. The first officers were C. W. Fisher, Dictator ; William M. Reid, Past Dictator ; M. Emrich, Vice Dictator ; B. P. Penfield, Assistant Dicta- tor ; J. M. Black, Guide ; George A. Lauck, Reporter ; Allen Campbell, Treasurer ; L. C. Caldwell, Sentinel; Jacob Deardorff, D. E. Fisher and H. H. Moderwell, Trustees. This lodge held their meetings for two years in the third story of the Bowman Block, and, in May, 1877, they removed to their present quarters, in the third story of Fisher's Block. The object of the Knights of Honor is to provide financial assistance to the families of deceased members, and $2,000 is the amount of the insurance pol- icy. Ninety-four persons are at present con- nected with Howard Lodge, and, since it was organized, three members have died, viz.: A. C. ^7 ±1 378 HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. Monnett, April 17, 1879 ; C. W. Timanus, May 8, 1879 ; Joseph Goodwin, May 3, 1880. Crawford Council, No. 15, of the Royal Ar- canum, was instituted September 12, 1877, at the lodge-room of the Knights of Honor, by Deputy Supreme Regent P. L. Teeple, with the following charter members : C. D. Ward, John A. Schaber, A. G. Rosino, G. W. Myers, S. B. Mills, William Vollrath, Nicholas Reehl, J. P. Fitzsimmons, G. W. Stewart, W. H. Drought, Charles Roehr, L. E. Jones, E. P. Penfield, J. H. Sherrard, S. D.Welsh, Charles Vollrath, V/. M. Reid,W. B. Bennett, George A. Lauck, H. F. Har- ris, H. H. Moderwell and P. Bessinger. The first officers were E. P. Penfield, Regent ; W. M. Reid, Past Regent ; G. A. Lauck, Vice Regent ; J. H. Sherrard, Orator ; H. F. Harris, Secre- tary ; John A. Schaber, Collector ; S. D. Welsh, Chaplain ; S. B. Mills, Guide ; P. Bessinger, Warden ; A. G. Rosino, Sentry ; C. Vollrath, Treasurer ; William Vollrath, L. E. Jones and George A. Lauck, Trustees. The meetings of the Crawford Council are held every Friday evening, in the third story of Fisher & Bros.' Block, which story this society occupies jointly with the Knights of Honor. Three thousand dollars are paid to the families of deceased members. Fifty-two persons are at present connected with this lodge, which has lost but one member by death since it was organized, and this member — Quincey A. Rowse, who died February 17, 1878 — was the second from the lodges of the Royal Arcanum in Ohio to be re- moved by death. The German Aid Association (^Deutsche Un- terstutzungs Gesellschaft) was organized March 23, 1874, at Mader's Hall, with 120 members. At the second meeting, held March 25, the fol- lowing officers were chosen : John Schaber, President; F. A. Vollrath, Vice President; Charles F. Welp, Secretary ; F. Weichold, As- sistant Secretary ; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer ; George Mader, David Sheeley and Charles Metzger, Trustees. The object of this association is to provide financial assistance to its members in time of need. Three dollars each week is paid during sickness, and, upon the death of a member, his family receives $10 from the society funds and $1 from each mem- ber of the order. The initiation fee is |4, be- tween the ages of eighteen and thirty-five ; $5, from thirty-five to fortj'-five ; $6, from forty-five to fifty ; $7, from fifty to fifty -five. The quar- terly dues are 75 cents from each member. This association was incorporated under the laws of Ohio, July 14, 1874, with the following officers : John Schaber, President ; F. A. Voll- rath, Vice President ; Ferdinand Weichold, Sec- retary ; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer ; J. G. Mader, H. Faerber and George Donnen- wirth, Trustees. The first loss by death was Robert Wagner, who died in May, 1875. At the present time, eighty-five of the industrious citizens of Bucyrus and vicinity are members of the Gesellschaft. During the past sixty years, many attempts have been made to establish other orders in Bucyrus for various purposes. Possibly the first society of anj' kind started in the village was the True American Society, of which order many prominent citizens of the place were members. The objects of this organization are now unknown, but the members signed the fol- lowing agreement : " We, whose names are un- dersigned, having conferred together upon the objects proposed and designed by the True American Society, and believing the same to be of great importance, and worthy the aid and support of every true American citizen, we have resolved, and do resolve, ourselves into a branch of said society, to meet monthly, in the town of Bucyrus, on the Saturday next before every full moon in the year, and have therefore here- unto subscribed our names, in presence of each other. First signed at Bucyrus, July 31, 1823." The objects of this order may have been similar to those of the American, or " Know-Nothing," societies, which wielded considerable political ^f HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 379 'k. power some three decades afterward. Among those who signed the agreement and became True Americans were Samuel Norton, Lewis Stevinson, Amoz Clarli, David Beadle, Ishi Norton and others. The secret society which created the greatest furor of any organized in the history of the town, was Lopez Lodge, No. 85, of the Independent Order of Sons of Malta, which was formed about July 1, 1859. The Forum, of July 16, 1859, said: " A division of the Sons of Malta was organized the other night in this place. Quite a number of our most re- spectable citizens became members. The order is spreading rapidly.'' Mathias Buchman was chosen Secretarj-, and it is reported many poor families received liberal donations during the short time this order flourished in the town. The Sons held a grand midnight parade at Bu- cyrus on the night of October 13, 1859, which was attended by many members of the order from neighboring towns. In preparing the history of an important and active community which has existed for sixty years, of a prescribed length, very many events are necessarily omitted which should have re- ceived some notice. If, in perusing this brief sketch of Bucyrus, the reader has failed to find some mention of an event which he considers should have been written up, it is to be hoped he will deal charitably with the historj'. CHAPTER X.* CITY OF Brrvurs— ns religiolts history— the different churches— Sunday schools- EDrrATIOX^L — PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS— THE UNION SGHDOLHOUSE. THE first ministers of the Gospel who visited the pioneer settlements in the vicinity of Bucyrus for the purpose of organizing the relig- ious element, were missionaries sent out by the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is probable that the first person to preach the word of God at what is now Bucyrus was a Rev. Mr. Bacon, who visited the place several times during the year 1821, and conducted religious services at the houses of various settlers. It is doubtful if he traveled a circuit regularlj' organized by the denomination to which he belonged, but, as a missionary, visited in a roving manner many neighborhoods. His appointments were about once every four weeks, but were verj^ irregular- ly filled, The early Methodists of Bucyrus, when first organized as a station, were attached to the Scioto Circuit. Rev. Jacob Hooper, who was appointed to take charge of this work by the M. E. Conference in the fall of 1821, preached occasionally at Bucyrus. His circuit *Contribuled by Thomas P. Hopley. was about seven hundred miles around, and services were held at each place about once every eight weeks bj' the regular minister in charge. Stephen D. Rowse states that, in after years, Rev. Hooper told him that he preached the first sermon ever delivered in Bucyrus under a big oak-tree which stood near the present railroad depot. This minister was un- doubtedly assisted by others, and it is likely the settlers had religious services more fre- quently than once every two months. Rev. Hooper was succeeded on the circuit in the fall of 1822 by the Rev. Thomas McCleary. The next year, the M. E. Conference marked out another smaller district for itinerant preachers to travel over, in order to give other new settle- ments regular circuit preaching. Revs. Thomas McCleary and James Roe traveled this new circuit, and these men were assisted at times by Rev. William Blowers, of Liberty Township. (Revs. John 0. and William Blowers were the first licentiates of the M. E. Church in Craw- ^. l^ 380 HLSTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. ford County.) The labors of these early cir- cuit riders were almost herculean. Mansfield, Plymouth, Bucyrus, Marion and Delaware were points of their district, with numerous inter- mediate appointments, all to be visited bj' each preacher once in four weeks, occupying nearly every day of the time to make preaching regu- lar once in two weeks at every appointment on the circuit. At that early day, there were scarcely any bridges over streams. Some of the way no roads, only Indian trails to follow, and oftentimes the sun, moon and stars, or a pocket compass, were the only guides through the pathless forest. But the unselfish labors of these early circuit riders were fully appreci- ated by the sturdy pioneers, among whom universal friendship and unbounded hospitalitj' prevailed. When the weather was fine, the ministers preached in the woods ; but, if other- wise, the services were conducted at the log . cabins or schoolhouses. The old brick school- house, erected about 1826, was used for many years as a meeting-house by the M, E. Church. Occasionally an unfinished building answered the same purpose. About 1830, a large revival meeting was held in what is now the Sims House, which building was then in the process of erection. The early Bucyrus Church held several very interesting camp-meetings in the large barn of Samuel Shaflfner, who resided where Daniel Boyer lives at the present time. The first M. E. Church in Bucyrus was erected about 1832. This was the first building dedi- cated to the worship of God in the village. In those early days of the M. E. Church in Crawford County, the "quarterly conference and love feast " created a much greater impres- sion upon the community than at the present time. The members anticipated these meet- ings for weeks, and great preparations were made in order to provide food and lodging for those who attended from a distance. Some families, who possessed suflBcient accommoda- tions, would entertain on these occasions sev- eral dozen guests. It is reported that at times the crowd was so large that tickets were issued on the occasion of love feast, and a doorkeeper appointed for the house of the Lord. These tickets were given to the various Class-Lead- ers, and bj' them distributed to church mem- bers. This system was necessary in order that those who desired to attend for their spiritual edification could gain admission to the church, and not be crowded out bj- some of the im- pious multitude who only assembled out of curiosity'. This ticket system also served to keep out the ungodly who came occasionally to have fun by creating a disturbance. For many j'ears, the Bucj'rus Church was a station on the Delaware Circuit, and the various con- gregations contributed to build a parsonage at that place. About the year 1832, the circuit was changed, and funds were then raised for a parsonage at Marion. After 1840, the Bucy- rus Circuit was formed, and the parsonage built about 1841. Every fall, the Conference appointed two ministers to supplj' the stations on each circuit with regular religious services. These men were called senior and junior preachers, and generally the one who served in the latter capacity was appointed to the same circuit the next year as senior preacher, with some new man under him, but this was not always the case. The Methodists of Bucyrus were supplied with regular preaching by this system until September, 1855, when the Con- ference made the congregation a special sta- tion. Some diflSculty then arose in regard to whether the parsonage was the property of the Bucyrus Methodists or of the other congrega- tions who had also contributed to erect it. The appointments for the circuits of which Bucyrus and Delaware formed two stations for many years were as follows : 1821, Jacob Hooper; 1822, Thomas McCleary ; 1823, Thomas McCleary and James Roe ; 1824, Jacob Dixon ; 1825, James Gilruth ; 1826, Ab- ner Goflf ; 1827, James Gilruth and Cyrus Car- -.^ '-^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY, 381 penter; 1828, James Gilruth and William Runnels ; 1829, Bavid Lewis and Samuel P. Shaw ; 1830, Samuel P. Shaw and Alfred M. Lorain; 1831, Alfred M. Lorain and David Cadwallader. These ministers commenced their labors in each of the years above men- tioned about September 1. During this period, the following ministers were Presiding Elders : 1821 and 1822, Jacob Young, of the Scioto District: 1825 to 1828, James McMahon, of the Sandusky District ; 1828 to 1831. Russell Bigelow and Greenberry R. Jones, of the Port- land District. Among the ministers who preached regularly to the Bucyrus churches from 1832 to 1854 were the following persons : David Cadwallader, Zephaniah Bell, Erastus Felton, Harvey Camp, John Kinnear, James Wilson, Adam Poe (son of the great Indian fighter), Thomas Thompson, Samuel P. Shaw, Peter Sharp. — Conoway, Oren ^Mitchell, — Hazzard, Hibbard P. Ward, George W. Breck- enridge, Samuel B. Giberson, Liberty Prentice, Henry Warner, Hobert Dubois and others ; 1849, David Gray, Gabriel Williams and Jesse Durbin ; 1850, David Gray and assistant; 1851, N. Taylor and M. K. Hard ; 1852, Ste- phen Fant and assistant ; 1853, Stephen Fant and George Moore ; 1854, 0. Burgess and E. B. Morrison. Since Bucyrus was made a spe- cial station, the following appointments have been made by the Conference, the pastorate commencing after the regular annual session in September: 1855, Uri Richards; 1856, H. S. Bradley; 1858, Dr. H. M. Shaffer; 1860, Dr. L. B. Gurley ; 1861, 0. Kennedy; 1862, Isaac Newton ; 1865, A. Harmount ; 1867, Gershon Lease; 1869, D. D. T. Mattison'; 1871, G. W. Ball ; 1874, Dr. A. Nelson ; 1877, J. J. Henry (died in March, 1878, and J. H. Barron sent as a supply) ; 1878, O. Badgley. The want of space forbids a more extended reference to the many ministers who, during the past sixty years, have preached to the Bucyrus charge. Not a few of these were eminent for their piety, and during their lives exerted much in- fluence in shaping the destiny of the early M. E. Church. It is, however, no disparagement to the rest to briefly tell of one who labored with the church in later years, and, just as he commenced to bring rich harvests to his Mas- ter's feet, was called to his reward. Joseph J. Henry was born at Ironton, Ohio, January 9, 1853. He ^as converted in his eighth year, and, July 11, 1871, licensed to preach the Gos- pel by the North Indiana Conference. Desir- ing to qualify himself for the work, he entered the college at Delaware. Before he had com- pleted the course, he was induced tc> take charge of the Olive Green Circuit, and, in. his twentieth year, commenced his short but event- ful ministerial course. God blessed his labors, and the membership of both congregations was doubled the first year. He was returned, and the conversions were more numerous than be- fore. In 1874, he was appointed to take charge of the M. E. Church at Cardington, where in three years large revival meetings were conducted by him, which yielded rich harvests of Christians hopefully converted. In the fall of 1877, he was appointed as the successor of Dr. Nelson in the work at Bucy- rus. A large revival meeting was held, lasting from January 6 to February 17, 1878, which was blessed by the Spirit. Over two hundred conversions were reported, and one hundred and eighty-three of these admitted to the church. After remaining at the church until 10 o'clock, Rev. Henry would frequently go home and stud}- until past midnight in the preparation of sermons for the next day and evening. The intense mental exertion conse- quent upon this series of protracted meetings brought on brain fever, and, after sufi'ering for some two or three weeks, he died March 16, 1878. The M. B. congregation of Bucyrus continued to worship in their first brick church until the year 1851, when the present edifice was erected on the same site. It was dedicat- 4— «- ^ fe 394 PIISTORY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. was tendered, but for reasons refused, and Quiuby Hall rented, in which regular meetings were held. During the three-j-ears pastorate of Rev. S. D. Bowker, several revival meetings were held, and many united with the church, which numbered, when he resigned July 6, 1867, nearly one hundred members. After a vacancj' of several months, on December 19, 1867, a call was tendered Rev. J. Huntington, of Sardinia, N. Y., who remained until July 2, 1871, when he removed to Niles, Mich. During his stay with the congregation, they removed from Qainby Hall to their present church edifice. This building, originally erected by the Con- gregationalists, was purchased from the Board of Education for .$2,750, and fitted up by the Baptists at an additional cost of $2,000. The church was re-dedicated for religious purposes September 27, 1868. Rev. Walter N. Wyeth was Pastor from November 4, 1871, to Maj-, 1872, when he resigned to take a position on the editorial corps of the Journal and 31<'ssenger, of Cincinnati. Ma}' 4, 1872, Rev. L. G. Leonard, the present Pastor, received a call, and since that time he has been with the congregation. In the spring of 1876, he resigned, and Rev. J. S. Covert was employed, but, after remaining about one year, difficulties arose, and Dr. Leon- ard resumed the pastorate. Since the church was organized, in 1838, the following persons have been elected to the office of Clerk : William White, 1838 ; James Quinby, June 3, 1839 ; John Shull, October 2, 1841 ; George Quinby, December 31, 1842 ; John Shull, February 6, 1847 ; James H. Reichenecker, July 3, 1847 ; George Quinby, August 31, 1850 ; M. V. Long- worth, January 4, 1808 ; Clark Ludwig, Janu- ary, 1873 ; M. V. Longworth, the present incum- bent, January, 1874. The number connected with the congregation at the present time is seventy-nine. The Baptist Sabbath school was re-organized in 1864, and William P. Rowland served as Superintendent ; his successor, W. B. Bennett, held the office nine years, and M. V. Longworth has had cljarge of the school during the past six years. The first Roman Catholic services in Bucyrus were held about the year 1837, at the residence of Dr. Joseph Beohler, who lived north of the Sandusky River, on the lot now occupied by Christian Wingert, and formerly the site of his brewery. Rex. V. X. Tschenheus, C.S S.R., the first priest who visited Bucyras, came about 1837, for the purpose of gathering the few Catholic families in this section of the county, and mass was said at Dr. Beohler's for several years at irregular intervals, once in two or three months, until he removed to Tiffin, Ohio. The services at Bucyrus were then discontinued until about the year 1849, when, Catholic fam- ilies becoming more numerous, the fathers of this society made the town one of their missions. During the next eleven years, until 1860, mass was said in private houses. These services were not always held at stated times, but generally at irregular intervals, and the priests did not re- side in the place, but came from Norwalk, Huron County, and New Reigel, in Thompson Town- ship, Seneca Count}-. Among those who visited the town during this period were Revs. Amathias Dombaugh, (1. Arnold, J. Albrecht, August Reichert, Peter Kreusch, JIathieus Kreusch, — Jacolj, — Grebhart and Barnhart Gwinn. In 1860, the old Presbyterian meeting-house was purchased for i<200, and removed by A. Kron- enberger, Sr., at an additional cost of $100, to their present lot on Bast Mary street. The building was re-dedicated by Bishop Rappe, May 26, 1861. The deed for the real estate, worth ipSSO, was made out in A. Kronenberger's name, but afterward transferred to Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe. Rev. Uerhart Kleck celebrated the first mass and preached the first sermon in their new church. In 1863, a successful mis- sion was held by the Redemptorist Fathers Giessen and Jacobs, and some time afterward another was conducted by Revs. Neithard and Seelus ; each mission lasted about one week. l^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 395 The congregation was then attended until the j'ear 1865, bj- Rev. S. Falk and V. Arnould, Pastors of the Shelby Settlement, and also Rev. J. F. Gallagher, of Wooster. From 1865 to 1869, the congTegation was attached to Upper Sandusky as a monthly mission. During this time the Pastors were : Rev. A. Spierings, from November, 1865, to May, 1867 ; Rev. Joseph Reinhardt, until February 2, 1868, and Rev. G. Peter until 1869. Rev. Reinhart was killed, how, or by whom, was never known, while on his way from Upper Sanduskj' to meet Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe, who had visited Bucyrus to give confirmation. From 1869 to 1871, the congre- gation was without a priest, except once about Easter time, on account of difficulties arising between the German and Irish portions of the church. Finally, peace was restored, and Maj^ 5, 1871, Rev. D. Zinsmayer was appointed to the Bucyrus charge. He was the first resident Pastor, and during his staj' with the congTega- tion many improvements were made. The church was thoroughly renovated, frescoed, pro- vided with furniture, and a fine bell, weighing 1;000 pounds, placed in the belfry. Rev. G. Peter had purchased for §1,000 the lot east of the church, but, during his Pastorate, only $600 were paid upon this real estate. The congrega- tion, under Father Zinsmayer, raised sufficient funds to settle the debt, and also erected upon this lot a very fine parsonage. Several fairs were held, and, although the congregation num- bered about thirty -two paying families and forty-five in all — the people, though mostly poor, assisted their Pastor by liberal subscrip- tions. April 27, 1877, Father Zinsmayer was appointed to take charge of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at Shelby, and Rev. H. D. Best, the present Pastor, was sent to Bucy- rus. During the past three jears, the debt left by his predecessor has been paid. The church has received, at diflferent times, about $1,300 from the " Ludwig Missionsverein " of Munich, Bavaria. May 19, 1878, Rev. H. D. Best pur- chased of Florian Loew, for $200, one and three- fourths acres of land, situated one mile east of Bucyrus, and this has been laid out for a ceme- tery. The first person interred in it was Mrs. Martha Doerfler, who died August 17, 1878. This cemetery was consecrated by Bishop Gil- more, of Cleveland, Tuesday afternoon, October 19, 1880. It is the custom of this church to establish independent schools, and this wiU, undoubtedly be the next project of those in charge of the congregation. Two attempts have already been made in the past — the first under Father Spierings, and afterward for four months under Father Zinsmayer — but for lack of means, these schools were discontinued. Considering the limited financial resources of most members of the Bucj'rus charge, the con- gregation is in a flourishing condition. Success has crowned their labors in the past, and the future looks bright. The Disciples, or Church of Christ, erected their church edifice in Bucyrus during the summer of 1876, and organized the congrega- tion in November of that j'ear. Many promi- nent members of this church, however, were formerly connected with the Disciple Church, organized over fortj' years previous in Whet- stone Township. About the year 1828, Oliver and Isaiah Jones, then residents of Whetstone, having heard the doctrines of the church taught in Wayne County, invited Disciple preachers to their neighborhood. At that time there were no members of this denomination in Crawford County, and the ministers who accepted the invitation, were the first to sow the seed of their religious faith in this county. The two men who extended this invitation, were for many years the strongest supporters of the Whet- stone Church , they were in no way related to each other, notwithstanding they both removed from Wayne County, bore the same name, and professed the same religious faith. Harrison Jones, son of Isaiah, and also one of the early members, is still living and an eminent minister ^-. ^^ -^ 396 HISTOEY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. among the Disciples. The first services held in Whetstone Township by Disciple ministers was about the year 1828, at the log cabin of Oliver Jones, by Elders Comer and John Secrist. After the first meeting. Elder Comer went on to Michigan and Elder Secrist returned to Stark County, where he Had been preaching. Secrist had formerly been a resident of Kentucky , and several years after 1828, he again visited Crawford County and preached in the Camp- bell Schoolhouse, which was located at that time on the southern part of what is now the farm of W. L. Ferall. In those days members of this denomination were known as Camp- bellite Baptists. Elder Secrist was a very able man, and continued to preach the doctrines of his faith in the township at stated periods for some five years. When he left, Elders A. Burns and Millison came occasionally and preached in the neighborhood ; this was after the year 1840. Elder Burns is a brother of Hon. Barney Burns, of Mansfield ; he is now minister of the church at Shelbj'. Elders Burns and Millison conducted services at the school- houses or private residences in the neighbor- hood, and sometimes at the barn of John Campbell, who was a prominent member of the church. Campbell represented Crawford County in the Ohio Legislature during the winter of 1833, 1835 and 1840. The Disciple meeting- house in Whetstone was built about the year 1845, and during the next thirteen years Dr. Lucy, John and Thomas Rigdon and Jonas Hartzell were elders of the congregation ; serv- ices were conducted during this period at very irregular intervals. Hartzell it still living at an advanced age in Iowa. About the year 1858, Elder Belton preached at stated periods and continued to do so until shortly after the war broke out ; since that time. Elders Richard Winbigler and Hathaway, have had charge of the church at different times ; services were also conducted occasionally by Charles B. Van Voorhis, who was raised in Whetstone Township, and has for many years been an active Disciple minister ; he is at present living in Knox County. John Cornell also went out from the Whetstone Church, and is now a Dis- ciple minister in Iowa. Forty years ago the Whetstone Disciple Church was a very strong and infiuential congregation, but the losses by death and removal reduced the membership to such an extent that for many years religions services were held very irregularly.' Finally about December 5, 1875, eight persons met at the residence of Jeremiah Correll, in Bucyrus, and resolved under God to build a house of worship in the town and to re-organize the church. These seven persons were James Kerr, J. W. Bogan, Samuel Keiflfer, B. F. Keifl'er, Edward Ferrell, Edward Campbell, William Arbuckle and Jeremiah Correll. A few days afterward the lot on the southeast corner of Lane and Warren streets was purchased, and Edward Campbell, Jeremiah Correll and B. P. Keiffer appointed a building committee. The foundation of the edifice was laid in the spring of 1876, and the basement completed by No- vember of that year, at which time thirty-three persons assembled and resolved to form them- selves into a church of Christ, " taking no creed but the Bible, and no name unknown to the Scriptures." A Sabbath school was organized; Elder George T. Smith was called to preach, and has continued with the congregation since that date. His labors have been blessed, and, during the past four years, 100 additional mem- bers have united with the church. The upper room of their church edifice was completed during the summer of 1877, and the building dedicated to the ser\'ice of Almighty God Sep- tember 2, 1877, Elder Isaac Errett ofllciating. This house of worship is designed after the Gothic style of architecture. The building is sixty-five feet long, forty feet wide, and two stories high. The basement is eleven feet, and the audience room above has an arched ceihng nineteen feet above the floor at the sides, and ^1 ±iL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 397 twenty-seven feet in the center of the room. This is the only arched ceiling in town. The church is surmounted with a tower and spire which reach 120 feet from the ground. The cost of the entire building was about $11,000, and the entire amount was raised by the mem- bers by the time the church was dedicated. The United Brethren in Christ congregation was organized about August 15, 1879, with the following members : John Carson and wife, Anna, Charles and Robert Carson, Edward Sheckler and wife, Nettie Sheckler, Mrs. Eliza Monnett and daughters Lulu and Vertie, H. A. Raub, Lillie Raub, Henry Couts and wife, Jacob Yeagle and wife, J. 0-. Hull, John Slagle, Miss Kate Steelsmith, J. G. Wert and wife, Mary and Joseph Wert. These persons were all connected with the " Holiness Movement," which had, previous to this time, received its support in Bucyrus from members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. During the pastorate of Rev. Gr. W. Ball, this movement in the inter- est of " Christian Holiness,'' was organized, and most of the active members of the Methodist Episcopal congregation showed their sympathy by their presence and influence at the special "Holiness" meetings. After a few months some withdrew, declaring they could not ac- quiesce in all that was said and done by those who professed to believe the doctrines taught ; other prominent members were removed bj' death, and. after Mr. Ball left the advocates of " Christian Holiness " in the Methodist Episco- pal Church, they were not so numerous and in- fluential. Their special Tuesday evening prayer meeting, however, was continued for man}' months under Dr. Nelson's pastorate, and the venerable gentleman kindly attended and led many meetings, although he could not coincide with all that was said at them. But the mem- bers of the " Holiness Band" were afterward denied the right to have the church basement for their special meetings, because a few re- fused to subscribe to the general church fund. and, after suffering for some time what they considered other persecutions, quietly withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church, and formed a United Brethren in Christ Congrega- tion, which denomination contains more mem- bers professing their views on " Christian Holi- ness." The first trustees were John Carson, Jacob Yeagley, Henry Couts, J. Gr. Hull, and Barney Saylor. The store-room on the south- west corner of Main and Warren streets was rented and fitted up for a meeting-house. In the fall of 1879, the United Brethren Conference appointed Rev. Moses B. Spahr, Pastor of the Bucyrus charge, which is at the present time attached to Bucyrus Circuit. Rev. 0. H. Ram- sey was placed on this circuit in the fall of 1880. August 25, 1879, a United Brethren in Christ Sabbath School was organized with the following oflScers : John Carson, Superintend- ent ; Jlrs. J. G. Wert, Assistant ; Charles Car- son, Secretary ; H. A. Raub, Treasurer ; An- netta Sheckler, Librarian. A lot has been pur- chased at the corner of Walnut and Lucas streets, and the congregation contemplate erect- ing a church building in the near future. During the past sixty years, several attempts have been made to establish other denomina- tions in Bucyrus, and the religious services held by two of these churches were continued many years. Rev. John Pettitt, a Congregationalist minister, removed to Bucyrus about 1840, and for many years preached in various neighbor- hoods of Crawford County. Through his ef- forts, mainly, a society of this denomination was organized in the village. For some years their services were held at the Protestant Methodist Church. In the spring and summer of 1855, the brick church, which is now owned by the Baptists, was erected by the Congregational Society. The building was dedicated September 28, 1855, and about this time Rev. Oliver Bur- gess, who had been pastor of the Methodist Epis- copal Church for the preceding year, was em- ployed to preach in the new edifice. Burgess re- n^ 398 PIISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. mained one year, and then Eev. Pettitt supplied the pulpit until July, 1859, when the society ex- tended a call to Rev. Gideon Dana, formerly of Oberlin ; this gentleman remained two years ; during his pastorate the church purchased^ December, 1859, the first pipe organ ever brought to Bucyrus. Rev. Robert McCune was the immediate successor of Mr. Dana. He continued as Pastor from July, 1861, to July 1862, and then resigned to accept the position of Chaplain at the National Military Hospital, on Johnson's Island, near Sandusky City. Rev. I. C. Kingsley received a call in July, 1862, and remained until about January 1, 1864. Several ministers came occasionallj- and preached, but after a few months the church was sold to the Board of Education for !S3,000. The organ was afterward sold to the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Rev. John Pettitt, the founder of the church, and the most a(!tive member of the congregation during the many years it continued, removed, about 1806, to the northern part of Michigan. During the many years he was a citizen of Crawford County, he always took an active part in building up the moral interests of the community. For the last five years of his life, he rode regularly through summer's beat and winter's snows to his appointment five miles distant, and, when the weather did not render the frontier school- houses untenable, he had from two to three ap- pointments each Sabbath. On the last day of his life, Sunday, May 11, 1879, he rode on horse- back to his appointment, but, upon his return, complained of being sick, and in half an hour passed from his labors to his reward, in the eightieth year of his age, after laboring as an active minister of Christ for more than half a century. Some forty years ago, ministers of the Prot- estant Methodist Church visited Bucyrus and conducted religious services ; possibly the first member of this denomination to preach in the village was Rev. Seeley Bloomer. Aliout 1845, Rev. Dalbj' organized a congregation at the house of John Morfoot, who resided at that time on the lot now occupied by Mrs. Doll, just north of the northeast corner of Walnut street and the Middletown road. Among the early members of this church ■ were John Morfoot and wife, now Mrs. John Boyer, John Kelly and wife, John Fralic and wife, David Holma and wife, Matthew Fulloon and wife. Shortly after the congregation was organized, the lot on the northwest corner of Rensellaer and Walnut streets was purchased, and a meeting-house erected. Rev. Bamford was the first Pastor. Services were conducted once every two weeks. The congregation in the village was a station on Bucyrus Circuit, which included the neighbor- hoods of Wingert's Corners, Bear Marsh and Grass Run. Among those who had charge of this circuit during the decade from 1845 to 1855, were Revs. John W. Case, Jeremiah Jack, Aaron D. Abbott, Samuel Catlin and James Dufi'y. It is possible that other ministers preached regularly to the Bucyrus church dur- ing this period. Rev. I. C. Thrapp was Pastor in 1856, and, after he left, services were discon- tinued in the Bucyrus church. The building was removed, several years afterward, to the site now occupied by the Eagle Foundry, and used as a work-shop until destroyed by fire in August, 1867. During the latter part of 1869, Rev. Alexan- der M. Cowan, a minister connected with the Southern Presbyterian Church, visited Bucyrus for the purpose of establishing a congregation of that denomination. Among those who aided and encouraged this minister during his labors in the place, by attendmg his services, were Dr. C. Fulton and wife. Judge James Clemens and wife. Judge Thomas Beer and wife, G-eorge L. Saulsbury and wife, Hon. C. D. Ward, Hon. William M. Scroggs, Hon. William Larwill, Samuel Hoyt, Dr. George Keller and others. The first sermon was preached in the court house, October 31, 1869, and shortly afterward 4i 'M- HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 399 Quinby Hall was rented, in which meetings were held eveiy Sabbath, morning and evening, for several months, biit the outlook for a strong and prosperous congregation was not flattering, and the meetings were discontinued. Through the efforts, mainlj', of Robert Mac- Leod, civil engineer of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railroad, certain Episcopal ministers were induced to conduct services at Bucj-rus during the year 1874. The first meeting was held May 3, by Rev. J. M. Hillyar, of Mansfield, and Rector of the church at G-alion. This gen- tleman continued the services during the sum- mer. He was assisted oecasionallj' by other ministers. The meetings were held at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, and among those Episcopalians who gave Mr. Hillj'ar aid and encouragement during the summer, in his efforts, were Robert MacLeod and family, William Eccleston and familj', W. T. McDonald, J. Hopley and others. The Sunday school cause early enlisted the attention of those pioneer settlers who desired to improve the morals of the community. James McCracken, Esq., for many years a prominent citizen of the village and township, is authority for the following statement : " In the year 1827 or 1828, at the instance of an Episcopal missionary from Mt. Vernon, the first Sabbath school started in Bucyrus was or- ganized at the little brick schoolhouse. Abel Gary was elected President, and Dr. Hobbs, Secretary. There were also four Directors chosen, John Moderwell being one of them. These oflBcers constituted an executive com- mittee for the government of the school. They appointed James McCracken Superintendent." Although most of the working members in this school were connected with the early Presby- terian Church, yet it was not established in the interest of that denomination, but as a union school ; and it was attended and supported b}' members of the Methodist, Lutheran and Pres- byterian Churches. This moral agency was continued several j^ears, but, after the Method- ists erected their church, they organized a sep- arate school, about 1834, in the interest of their congregation. The Presbyterians organized their school in 1835, and the Lutherans in 1838. Since then, the other denominations have established Sabbath schools, in the following order : Baptist, in 1844, and re-organized in 1864; German Lutheran, about 1844; Re- formed, about 1850 ; German Methodist, about 1854; Disciple, 1876; United Brethren in Christ, 1879. During the latter part of 1869, a Young Men's Christian Association was organized at Buc} rus. The first meeting held for this purpose assembled at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Tuesday evening, November 2. The audience was addressed bj^ Christian gentlemen from jMansfield. The Association was organized at the 31. E. Church, Fridaj- evening, November 5, 1869, with the following officers : President, William M. Reid ; Vice Presidents, W. B. Ben- nett and B. P. Lauck ; Corresponding Secretarjr, M. Deal ; Recording Secretary, George C. Gorm- ley ; Treasurer, James B. Gormley ; Board of Managers, E. P. Penfield, G. W. Myers, 31. V. Longvvorth and J. J. Fisher. A daily prayer meeting was established, which continued for some months ; the association rented the sec- ond storj' of No. 8 Quinby Block, and fitted it up with a librarj' and entertaining newspapers, and, for several years after, the praj^er meeting was discontinued ; the organization maintained a special hall for the general use of all accepta- ble public meetings. For some three years, the Y. M. C. A. Hall was in the second story of Birk's Block. Although the pioneer settlers of Bucyrus and surrounding countrj^ sufiered many hardships, and often sighed for the comforts and luxuries of their former Eastern homes, they did not forget that the minds of their children needed instruc- tion, and at an early daj' the cause of education enlisted their attention. Unfortunately, a pio- ^1. i ^ 4^ 400 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. neer settlement, sixty years ago, did not possess, and could not obtain, the many modern educa- tional improvements. It is not surprising, then, that, in a community deprived of many conven- iences of life, the early schoolhouses were rude buildings, poorly furnished and illy adapted to the purpose for which they were used. But, in these rude log school buildings in those early pioneer days, many children, who afterward be- came good, substantial citizens of the country, received the only school instruction they ever obtained. And some, who, in after years, be- came distinguished citizens of the nation, not only for their high moral worth, but also for their intellectual attainments, received the foundation of their education in these pioneer schoolhouses. The first school taught on the site now occu- pied bj' the town of Bucyrus. was held in a lit- tle log cabin situated on the south bank of the Sandusky River, just north of the lot occupied by Silas Bower's residence. This cabin was erected by the Beadle family on their land, and had formerly been occupied by them as a res- idence. It has long since passed away, but at that time was west of the town plat, laid out on Norton's land after this cabin was built. Will- iam Blowers taught the school held in this rude building during the winter of 1822-23. He was fully competent to take charge of it, as he pos- sessed a very good education. The attendance was not large, and nearly all those who were pupils in this first school at Bucyrus are dead and gone ; however, Horace Rowse and Mrs. A. M. Jones, two of them, still remain citizens of Bucyrus. Blowers charged a tuition fee of $1.50 per pupil, for a term of three months and " boarded around." His text-books were Pike's Arithmetic, Dillworth's Spelling-book and the Columbian Orator. The next winter. Blowers taught a school in Liberty Township : he was one of the first two licentiates of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Crawford County, and for many years an active minister of that denomi- nation. Butterfleld, in his history, relates the following in regard to this first school : "An incident of this school is remembered, the hero- ine of which is now one of the most respected matrons of our town — then a sprightly lass of half a dozen summers. Once upon a time, this ' pretty, winsome, wee thing ' made her appear- ance in the school-room promptly at 9 o'clock, A. M., with a pair of new shoes upon her feet, an event calculated to produc a • profound sen- sation ' in those pioneer times ; but in preparing the leather for these shoes, the blacking of the tanner gave out, and, as there was none to be had nearer than Zanesville, the consequence was, that, rather than send so many miles for an additional supply, only one shoe was black ; the other was quite red. In those days, ' despotic fashion ' had not swayed her scepter over the heads of the mothers of Bucyrus.'' Shortly after this first school, Altie Kent taught another near where Samuel Ludwig now lives, and some of her pupils resided in the new town. Miss Elizabeth Norton, now Mrs. A. M. Jones, one of her scholars, relates that the teacher fur- nished her good pupils with " rewards of merit." These tokens were home-made ; designed by the instructor, and highly colored with golden- seal and blood-root. Joseph Newell also taught in the same building after Miss Kent. The first public schoolhouse built in Bucyrus was erected soon after the passage of the act of 1824, establishing free schools in Ohio. The site occupied by this building was at the east end of the lot, on the northeast corner of Walnut and Mary streets. This lot is now owned and occupied by Charles VoUrath. The schoolhouse stood on the spot just west of where the Roman Catholic Church now stands. " The building was of logs. The builders had no need of an architect ; hence there was no plan and specifi- cations. It was ' to be of logs, and twenty feet square ;' a suminary understood by all without the aid of an elevation." — Butterfleld. " It was furnished in the cheapest and most simple style. 51 "^ ^1 -^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 401 All the children of the district who could be ' spared from work ' attended. A Board of Directors controlled or managed the school ; that is, they hired the teacher and drew orders on the Treasurer of the township for the pay- ment of his salary, which was $15 per month. Zalmon Rowse was the first teacher in the first schoolhouse, and, though not a professional teacher, his labors were entirely satisfactorj' to his neighbors. When the public fund, which at that time was small, became exhausted, the school was dismissed ; this generally occurred after a three-months term. During the summer months, a school was opened for the j'ounger children hj some one who charged a small tuition fee." — Scroggs. Rowse continued his school during the summer one time, his neigh- bors agreeing to do his harvesting rather than have the school stop during that season. Jonas Scott and Horace Pratt also taught in this first log schoolhouse. Butterfield says of Pratt : " He is remembered as a good teacher ; but, notwithstanding his fine chirography, made his mark, as a few of the boys, now our old and re- spected citizens, have still a striking and vivid recollection. Like the memory of joys that are past, a recollection of him is pleasant, but a little mournful. Debating societies and teachers' institutes had never, at that day, discussed the question as to whether corporal punishment ought to be abolished from schools." In this old log schoolhouse the benches were placed around the sides ; windows were formed by sawing an aperture through the logs at the side, and the fire-place at the end furnished heat dur- ing the winter. The population of Bucyrus was soon increased by new settlers to such an extent that all the scholars could not be accommodated in the twenty-foot-square log schoolhouse, and arrangements were made by the citizens to con- struct a more suitable building. Samuel Norton deeded to the district for school purposes the lot now occupied by the Monnett House, and upon this was erected a brick schoolhouse. 18x36 feet in extent, and one story high. Al- gebertus Bucklin burnt the brick for this build- ing about the year 1826. His brick-kiln was situated near where Thomas Hall's barn now stands, northeast of the present railroad junc- tion. This building was not only used for school purposes, but served in those early days as a court house, town hall and meeting-house for the difierent religious societies. When used as a court house the jury had to be accommo- dated in shops or vacant buildings in other parts of the town. It was used as a meeting- house by the Methodists, both Protestant and Episcopal, the Lutherans, both English and German, the Presbyterians, Old School and Se- ceders. Reformed Baptists and possibly other congregations. In this schoolhouse were taught orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic and geography, and, when the teacher was qualified, a few of the larger boys and girls were taught English G-rammer and Natural Philosophy. Among those who taught in this building at an early day were Horace Pratt, Sallie Davis, Dr. Horton, Mrs. Espy and two daughters, Maggie and Elmira, Mr. White and others. After several years, this brick schoolhouse could not contain all the children of the town, which received each year additional accessions, and schools were established in other parts of the village. The public school fund was not sufficient to employ teachers all the year round, and, consequently', between 1826-50, many private schools were started at different times. While the American House, erected about 1830, and now occupied by William Shaw, was in an unfinished condition, a school was taught in what is now the hotel office. A frame building on the northeast corner of Perrj- and Walnut streets, torn down several years since, a log house on Main street, south of what is now Blicke's store, and other build- ings, were used for school purposes. The old log district schoolhouse, erected as early as 1833, at the west end of Warren street, and now occupied as a wood-house, on the same lot, was >f^ ■4* 403 HISTORY OF CEAWrORD COUNTY. the building which many scholars of the town attended. The progressive citizens, knowing that the interests of their children demanded more and better accommodations, made arrangements for a larger building. ^Ir. Scroggs says in his historical sketch : "In 1839, the brick school- house, which was then too small to hold all the pupils, had to give way to a more imposing structure. A frame building, 50x30 feet, two stories high, divided into four rooms, with closets and suitable stairs, was erected upon the school lot near where the old brick had stood. The house was finished in good stjde, and was furnished with the best kind of school- house furniture then in use, made of black walnut plank, the value of which at this time would be a small fortune in itself The house was provided with a belfrj' and fine bell, and, when entirely finished, it was painted white with green blinds, and was the best and most imposing public schoolhouse in this part of the State. School was first opened in this building, October, 1840, and was, in a qualified sense, a graded school. The first teachers were S. Fry, J. B. Squier, Misses Marshall, Cary and Espy. Mr. Pry taught the more advanced boys and had a general supervision of all the schools though he spent no part of his school hours in supervising, and never taught in a place other than the room under his immediate charge. Mr. Squier taught the smaller boys. Miss Mar- shall the more advanced girls, Miss Cary and Miss Espy the younger girls. All of these teachers, unless it be Miss Marshall, are still living, honored and respected members of societj'. There was no regular course of study prescribed. The common English branches were taught, and, when boys or girls desired instruction in Natural Philosophy and Algebra, they could be accommodated ; but, if they became extravagant in their desires, and wanted to get still higher, they had to be sent from home. The text books then used were : Webster's Elementary Speller, McGuflTey's First, Second, Third and Fourth Reader, Porter's Rhetorical Reader, Colburn's Mental Arithme- tic, Adams' Practical Arithmetic, Olney's Geographj-, Kirkham's (jrammar, and Com- stock's Natural Philosophy. Declamations and compositions were in order each week. Some of our most substantial citizens received all their school education in the old brick and frame schoolbouses." In those early days, it was seldom that the village school, supported by the public school fund, oflfered facilities to those scholars who wished to obtain a knowledge of the higher branches usually taught in normal schools and academies. In order to supply this want, experienced teachers would occasionally estab- lish a higher school and charge tuition. The PeiipWx Forum, of March 23, 1849, contains a card from E. G. Chambers, announcing " that he had permanently located in the place and is prepared to teach, in the most thoroughly scientific manner, the various branches of science usually taught in high schools and colleges." Mr. Chambers occupied for some months, one of the four rooms in the old frame schoolhouse, now the Monnett House. He did permanently locate in the county, for he is at present a resident of Whetstone Township. Some eighteen months previous to this, Joseph R. Whitham conducted a high school in the village. The Pmples Forum, of October 29, 1847, contained the following notice, which is given as a specimen of the educational system as it was just before the union schools were organized : High School. — The undersigned, a graduate of Jef- ferson College, Pennsylvania, would respectfully inform the citizens of Bucyrus and vicinity, that he proposes to commence a High School in the town of Bucyrus. Having had considerable experience in teaching, he flatters himself that he nill not prove unacceptable to those who may see proper to lend him their patronage. 1%^ Mt HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 403 Terms of Tuition per Session of Five Months. — The lower English branches, including English Grammar, Geography and Arithmetic $ 6 00 Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, History, etc 8 00 Latin and Greek Languages, with the higher branches of Mathematics, including Alge- bra, Geometry, i*urveying, etc 10 00 The Session will commence November 15. Pupils commencing at any time before the middle, of the ses- sion, will be charged a full term ; those not commenc- ing until the middle, or after the middle, of the session, will be charged half a term. Joseph R. Whitham. ' BucYRus, October 25, 1847. This gentleman taught in the frame building, and vfas emploj'ed several times to teach the reg- ular school, which he did as long as the public funds lasted, and then charged tuition of those scholars who desired to continue. It is reported of him that he possessed a good education, and liked the company of 3'oung ladies, but was somewhat "green."' His admiration for one who is now the wife of a distinguished citizen of the town, and still admired bj' all her friends, was not disguised. One evening he called to see her and spend the evening. About 9 o'clock, the old folks, sensible, good old souls as they were, bid the young people good-night and retired. But Whitman very foolishly could not appreciate their kindness, and did not take advantage of this delightful well, hour (we fear the lady if we should say a longer time) tendered him, and left for home. He ap- peared uneasy, and his mind must have troubled him, for, after going a very short distance, he returned, and when the young lady again an- swered his knock at the door, he was so pro- fuse in his apologies " for keeping her up so late, and for stayhig so long after the time at which she usually retired," that she told her most intimate friends how " green " he acted ; these intimate friends would not keep still, and told it as a " good joke ' on Whitham. During the twenty-five years in the educa- tional history of Bacyrus, between 1825 and 1850, many different persons taught public and private schools in the village. It would be a difficult task to secure the names of all these teachers, and a much greater one to describe the many particular incidents \vhich occurred during the administration of each. Among those who taught during this period, and not previously mentioned are : Of the gentlemen, Messrs. McMuUen, McGill, Wallace, Jacob Hof- man, Yost, Myers, Lee, Camp, Davis, Plants, Kiskaden, Eowse, Sears, Squier, Fry, Needham, Everson and JIartin ; of the ladies, Emily Eowse, the Misses Cary, Margaretta Williams, the Misses Davis, Ann JlcCracken and Hannah J. Dunn. Manj- of these names will doubtless recall to the memory of old settlers, pleasing recollections of the times that are past. Of all those who were teachers in Bucyrus, previous to 1850, only one is at the present time a resi- dent of the town. This is Mr. Horace Rowse, who was also a scholar in the first school taught in Bucyrus Township. " Many of the rest have long since been piloted over the river by the grim ferryman." Until the year 1849, the common schools of Ohio with but few exceptions, were conducted upon the general plan of district schools. The General Assembly of the State on February 21 of that year, passed an act " for the better reg- ulation of the public schools in cities, towns and villages " which permitted the organization of graded or union schools. Many towns throughout the State immediately took advan- tage of this law, and the citizens in Bucyrus were not slow to avail themselves of the oppor- tunity to seeure a better school system, which was then offered by this act of 1849. But all public improvements, however necessary and beneficial to a community, are opposed by many citizens, and, when the question of graded schools was submitted to the qualified electors of the village in April, 1849, they rejected the new system. The friends of education were not discouraged, but continued to agitate the matter, and, after the new plan had been ex- ^c V .^ 404 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD .COUNTY. plained to the " intelligent voter," the question was again submitted some weeks later, about July, 1849. The result of this election was a victory for the present graded school system by a fair majoritj'. Jacob Scroggs, Esq., says, in his Centennial History : " The persons most active in securing this plan were Hon. Josiah Scott, late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Dr. Willis Merriman, Aaron Cary, Dr. Jacob Augenstein, Hon. L. W. Hall, J. B. Lar- will, Rev. John Pettitt, John Anderson, John Moderwell, M. P. Bean, editor of the Forum, and Col. Zalmon Rowse. There were no doubt others who were active and efficient in produc- ing the desired result, but the above named are at this time prominent in the mind of the writer. The most serious and obstinate oppo- sition came from a few men of wealth, who had no children to educate, or who cared but little for anj' education beyond what was necessary to compute interest at 12 per cent." Shortlj' after this system had been adopted, the citizens assembled and elected the following persons as the first Board of Education of the Bucyrus Union Schools : Rev. John Pettitt, John Anderson, Aaron Cary, Dr. Jacob Augenstein, Dr. Willis Merriman and John Moderwell. These were all active and zealous friends of education and of the new plan, and the union school was in the hands of its friends. The board was organized bj' the election of Dr. Merriman as President, Aaron Cary as Secre- tary, and Dr. Jacob Augenstein as Treasurer. For some reason, the board was delayed in get- ting everything arranged, and the organization of the schools was not completed until the spring of 1850. The board then published in the Peoples Forum of April 26, 1850, the fol- lowing announcement : School Notice. — The Bucyrus Public Schools will commence on the first Monday in May, under the Su- perintendence of I. Booth, Principal. He will be assisted by Miss Taylor, of Syracuse, N. Y., assistant to the Principal in the High School ; Mr. Bowles, of Ashland, to take charge of the Secondary or Grammar School; Mr. Schepf, of this place, to conduct the Ger- man department, and Miss MoCracken and Miss Fitz- simmons the primary scholars not entitled to admission to the school under the law, will be received on the following terms, viz. : For tuition in Primary Department, per quarter of eleven weeks $2 00 For tuition in Secondary Department or Grammar, per quarter of eleven weeks 3 00 For tuition in High School, per quarter of eleven weeks 5 00 By order of the Board of Education of Bucyrus. A. Cart, Secretary. In the above notice, the name of N. P. Tarr, teacher of the Junior Grammar, was for some reason omitted, and the grading during the first term was not as advertised by the Secre- tary, but as follows : High School, Senior Grammar, Junior Grammar, Secondary and Primary. Miss Diana Taylor, the first High School teacher, was employed at $25 per month ; T. C. Bowles received the same amount for teaching the Senior Grammar ; N. P. Tarr, taught the Junior Grammar for a short time, but he took sick, and the board employed Jacob Scroggs to take his place at S20 per month. Misses Ann McCracken and Maria Pitzsimmons (now Mrs. Dr. Byron, of Upper Sandusky) had charge of the Secondary and Primary Depart- ments and received $13 per month. Prof Israel Booth, the first Superintendent, was employed at a salary of $t)OiJ psr annum. A special tax was levied by the board sufficient in amount, when added to the State fund, to pay these teachers and current expenses. Prof Booth had a difficult task to perform. It was necessary for him to organize and re- duce to a system the adverse elements of the old district schools. Butterfleld says: "His fault was eccentricity and forgetfulness, but he succeeded and succeeded well." In the Cen- tennial sketch, it is stated : " He was a pains- taking and conscientious gentleman, who taught about one-half his time and had his regular r ■''^*%* X /t^^ iliL^ HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 407 classes ; the remainder of the time was spent in supervising the subordinate teachers and in instructing them in the best way to teach." Booth conducted for some months an educa- tional department in the People's Fomm, and this was greatly instrumental in enlisting the attention of citizens to the worlj being per- formed. The Board adopted rules for the regu- lation of all departments ; eiglit to guide the Superintendent, nine for the teachers, and six special and twenty-five short general rules for the pupils. The lower departments were held at the frame schoolhouse, and in them the com- mon branches were taught. The High School, during the first year occupied the Odd Fellows' Hall, situated in the second story of Ander- son's Block, now the residence of C. K. Ward and George C. Gormly. Their room was not provided with any school furniture, and the facilities for teaching and the convenience of the temporary occupants were not first-class. But in this lodge-room were taught Algebra, Natural Philosophy Latin, French, Drawing and all the common branches. After the first term, public examinations were held and exhi- bitions given for two nights, October 10 and 11, in the Lutheran Church. The school grew rapidly in favor with the people, and after the first year all open opposition died out. Satur- day, October 26, 1850, the citizens voted to levy a tax of $4,000 for the purpose of building a new schoolhouse. The new building erected soon after was made to accommodate the high school and grammar schools, as the old frame was barely sufficient to accommodate the pri- mary and secondary grades. As the number of pupils increased, such changes were made in the grading and classification as the exigencies of the time appeared to demand. For several years only two terms were held each year ; the spring term, continuing during the summer, and the fall term, which extended through the winter. Miss Taylor, the first high school teacher, left after the first term, and Miss Carrie Thayer was her successor. Prof Booth remained two years and was succeeded by H. S. Martin, for one term, at the rate of $500 per annum. Booth removed to Indiana and engaged in the prac- tice of law at Sullivan, where he died in 1860. The sixth session of the Union Schools com- menced Monday, November 8, 1852, with Prof J. M. Hill as Superintendent. He was a gradu- ate of Jefferson College, possessed a fine edu- cation and had great experience. He remained one year and received $600 for his services. The new brick building was first occupied in the fall of 1852 ; when he commenced, previous to this, the high school was held at the M. E. Church. David Kerr was then employed by the board, and took charge of the schools in the fall of 1853. For a short time previous to this, he had practiced law in Bucyrus. He re- ceived $600 per annum, remained two years, and " his kindness to the scholars will long be remembered by those whose good fortune it was to be cared for by him." His successor in the fall of 1855, was J. K. Mason, a graduate of Yale College — a young man of fine scholas- tic attainments, but with little experience as a teacher. He only remained six months, at the rate of $600 per year. [The following pages, upon Mr. Hopley's ad- ministration and management of the Bucyrus schools, we deem of interest, and have had it prepared carefully for this special department. — Historian.] At the opening of the spring term, in April, 1856, Mr. J. Hopley entered upon his duties as Superintendent, and his labors constitute an era in the history of the schools. At that time, the union school S3'stem was in its infancy, and that a system or series of schools should be found in disorder was not so serious, nor so un- usual, as such a condition of affairs would be in the present day. Mr. Hopley was intro- duced to his new duties by Kev. A. Howbert, President of the Board, with the remark, " We s ^V ^ 408 HISTOEY OF CRAWFOKD COUNTY. cannot tell you anything about the schools, ex- cept that they are completely run down." The whole corps of teachers was new, and there were neither the registers of the past term nor any official reports to guide him. But the heart of the new Superintendent was in his work. He had been educated at the Royal Na- val College, located at Camberwell, a suburb of London, England. This naval school was con- ducted mainly upon the Bell S3'stem, and, as pupil and as monitor under this plan, Mr. Hop- ley had been trained in the art of instructing large classes. He was. moreover, a good sys- tematizer. and he soon brought order out of chaos. The citizens recognized this, and gave him their cordial support. To what extent he succeeded, two extracts from the Bucyrus pa- pers will show. The following notice of a con- test among the pupils of the high school is taken from a communication by Dr. W. R. S. Clark, and published in the Journal December 27, 1856. The portions complimentary to the Superintendent and teachers are omitted as un- necessary in a history of the Bucyrus schools : Not less than fifty scholars were at one time on the floor, each intently engaged in spelling and defining the words pronounced to them from McGuffey's Fourth Reader. After three hours, twelve of the two contend- ing parties still retained their position on the floor, having neither spelled nor defined a single word incor- rectly, although 600 had been given to them. The finale was exceedingly spirited. The generality of the pupils retained their position until 995, 969, 936, 920 and 900 words had been pronounced. One young lady maintained her position against an opposition of ten, spelling down in succession nine of them, when the exercises were closed from the simple fact that the book had been exhausted. Altogether, this young lady must have spelled and defined over 250 words. The young lady to whom reference is made in so complimentary a manner was Miss Vir- ginia Swingly, now Mrs. J. B. Gormly ; and her sister, Miss Marcella Swingly, was the only per- son left on the other side. From the Journal, of December 3, 1857, the following is taken from a report of a similar contest, involving, this time, however, the three highest schools. This extract has an added in- terest, because it recalls the names of many who have since grown to be honored and respected citizens, and themselves heads of families : The multitude which crowded the spacious room was indicative of the deep interest which parents are taking in relation to the schools. * * * * I have taken some pains in procuring the names of those scholars that did so great credit to themselves, and am proud to publish them to the readers of the Journal, and feel confident that they cannot be excelled by any school in the country. The following are the names of those pupils who spelled through a book of over one thousand words : In the high school, Misses Mary E. Moderwell, Georgianna Merriman, Elizabeth Moder- well, Amanda Kimmel, Jane Sims, Melinda Lightner, Ophelia Didie, Elizabeth Rexroth and Sarah Kexroth, and Master Hiram Moderwell; in the senior grammar school, Misses Helen Van Tyne, Fidelia Howenstein, Mary Gormly, Lydia Rexroth, Elizabeth Rowse, Mar- garet Fulton, Anna T. Fulton, Elizabeth Bradley, Mas- ters A. Van Tyne, D. Hall, J. Moderwell, Eugene Sims, D. Kanzleiter, Rufus Kuhn and Leroy Henthorn. Miss Emma Shaw, from the j unior grammar school, retained her place on the floor during the pronunciation of over 900 words, and Miss Mary Howenstein, from the same department, kept up until after 800 words had been de- livered, spelled and defined. These results were not produced by any un- usual effort, as Mr. Hopley afterward explained in a communication to the paper ; they were the result of steady perseverance, a few minutes only each day, and of encouraging mutual competition in large classes. In consequence of complaints wholly factious, a committee was appointed by the Board of Education to visit the schools to make a careful examination of their condition. This committee consisted of S. R. Harris, Esq., John A. Gormly, Esq., and Rev. J. Crouse, and the following extract taken from their report, illustrates the system upon which the schools were being so thoroughly taught and so rapidly elevated : In all the schools except the High School, there are but two classes in each department, and all the pupils 1 te ^^ ^k. HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUXTY. 409 in each class are employed at the same time on the same lesson, and as a general thing each must not only perform his own part in the recitation, but must watch the mistakes or correctness of his classmates, and by correcting the mistakes or omissions of the others ad- vance himself in his class; and by the accuracy of his acquirements he maintains his own position in the class, and thus they are all kept at work at the same time. For example, and to illustrate our meaning, the committee obserTcd a recitation of arithmetic in the Junior Intermediate Department. There was a class of about thirty small pupils reciting their lesson in sim- ple multiplication. They stood in order on the floor, each provided with a slate, and they all wrote on their slates the multiplicand and multiplier as announced by the teacher; the first one in the class numerated the figures in the example, the next multiplied the first figures announcing the product, at which the whole class wrote the same on their slates, the third continued the operation for the next figure, and so on through the whole class, and if any one made a mistake it was corrected by the next one below who could correct if, and the lower one who made the correction advanced above. When the multiplication was completed, there- fore, the entire class had the same on their slates, and each several pupil had performed all the mental labor which was required to perform the entire multiplica- tion. In the Senior Grammar School, the whole room, amounting on that day to some fifty pupils, during the visit of the committee, performed an example in reduc- tion, both ascending and descending reduction, in the same manner, and the committee were pleased to see the readiness of their answers and the neatness of their work, as it appeared when completed on their slates. The pupils in all the departments appear to be judi- ciously classed in a similiar manner in all the other branches. The plan, therefore, appears to have the ef- fect to create an ambition and laudable emulation among the pupils, and fits the intellectual and indus- trious ones for proper advancement to the higher de- partments. Mr. Hopley's connection with the schools con- tinued for two years, and it is a striking proof of the value of his labors, that the organization that he then effected has remained substan- tially the same ever since. After retiring from the schools, he formed a partnership with A. M. Jackson, Esq., in the practice of the law. From a report made December 30, 1857, the following facts are taken : " Number of pupils enrolled during the past four months — males, 205 ; females, 193 ; total 398 ; being an in- crease of 44 over the same term of 1856 and 1876, since April 1, 1856 ; average daily at- tendance 258.5." The number in each of the different grades was : High School, 33 ; Senior G-rammar, 56 ; Junior G-rammar, 64 ; Senior Intermediate, 61 ; Junior Intermediate, 54; Senior Primary, 66 ; Junior Primary, 64. In April, 1858, Prof. Alexander IMiller took charge of the schools, and remained until June, 1861, receiving a yearly salary of $800. But- terfield said in regard to this gentleman : " The superior qualities of Prof Miller as a teacher are well known in Ohio. His ripe scholarship, gentlemanly bearing, his high-toned morality and Christian character shed a bright luster on the position he occupied. He was appreciated by his employers and respected by all." Dur- ing his administration the enrollment increased to such an extent that the board rented at dif- ferent times the M. E. Church basement, the old Baptist Church, and finally the Congrega- tional Church basement, in which a second junior grammar school was organized. B. B. McVey was then emploj^ed by the board at 1800 a year. He commenced in September, 1861, and remained until April, 1864. Butter- field says : " His indomitable energy, affability and zeal made him a very popular Superin- tendent. The standard of our schools was elevated by him." Prof Samuel J. Kirkwood was his successor, and continued for one 3'ear and three months, receiving $1,000 per year. At the end of the June term, 1865, he resigned to take charge of the public schools in Tiffin, Ohio. He is at the present time Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in the university at Wooster, Ohio. In September, 1865, J. 0. Harper com- menced his long term of five years. The salary paid him was increased several times. D^ 410 HISTOET or CBAWFORD COUNTY. and for the last twelve months' service he re- ceived $1,600, Daring the half decade he was ia charge, the grading of the schools was more tlioroughly systematized than at any other period, and the first class completed the course and graduated March 25, 1870. In the six months preceding this date, the number of pupils enrolled was as follows : High school, 38 ; four grammar schools, 182 ; five interme- diate schools, 266 ; four primary schools, 299 ; total, 785. The crowning work of Mr. Har- per's administration was the building of the new union schoolhouse, the most important event in the history of the Bucyrus Union Schools. Since the public schools of the town have been organized, there may have been men in charge of them who possessed a better edu- cation than this gentleman, but no Superinten- dent has excelled him in the natural ability to govern the scholars. It is doubtful if, in the five years he was in charge, he personally used the rod upon refractory pupils more than half a dozen times. He will long be remembered by those scholars who attended the higher grades during his long term of service, for the many instructive and entertaining talks in which he imparted to them much valuable in- formation not found in the text books. Miss Marcella Swingly, teacher of the high school for nearly all the preceding six years, was, in September, 1870, promoted to the su- perintendency, and received a salary of .f 1,100 during her third year. The idea of having a lady Superintendent was declared to be an " experiment " by the board that employed her. It proved in most things to be a successful one, and, during the three years of her admin- istration, the pupils advanced in scholarship, and most citizens were satisfied. Occasionally, when diflioulties arose in regard to government, she did not receive from the Board of Educa- tion that hearty support which should have been extended to a lady in charge of so many refractory pupils, and consequently at times the position she occupied was particularly try- ing and embarrassing. She was also opposed by citizens who did not believe the doctrines taught by those who are endeavoring to secure the adoption of their Sixteenth Amendment to the National Constitution. However, she had many warm friends, who have always admired her many sterling qualities as a Christian lady. It is worthy of historical note that she is the only person who has occupied in the Bucyrus Union Schools the diflerent stations of a pupil in several grades, a teacher of several grades and finally Greneral Superintendent over aU departments. In the summer of 1873, the board succeeded in obtaining the services of Prof P. M. Hamil- ton, a graduate from the University of Michi- gan, located in Ann Arbor, at a salary of $1,700 per year. Since 1873, the schools have been under his fostering care, and during this period, seven classes have completed the high school course and graduated. He is a polished gentleman, possessing a fine classical education, and the fact that he is now serving his eighth year as Superintendent of the Bucyrus schools, is sufficient proof that his labors are appre- ciated by an unusually censorious public. Al- though Mr. Hamilton teaches over half his time^ there has never been a better general supervis- ion than during his administration. Teachers' meetings are held each week, conducted by the Superintendent. Examinations of teachers are conducted by examiners appointed by the board ; they are both oral and written. The pupils in the various grades are examined twice each term, and these tests of scholarship are also both oral and written. At the present time, the schools are graded and classified as follows : A, B, C, D and B Primary ; A, B and Intermediate ; A, B and C Grammar ; the Ger- man-English School and the High School. The namber of scholars enrolled in these depart- ments during the school year ending June 11, 1880, was as follows : ■?i; i^ ^1^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 411 BOTS. GIRLS. TOTAL. High school 31 64 85 Grammar schools 72 70 142 Intermediate schools 79 104 183 Primary schools 219 208 427 German-English school 64 48 112 Total 465 484 949 Miss Diana Taylor, the first high school teacher, remained one term, and resigned Oc- tober, 1850, to accept a more desirable position. Since this time, the following persons have had charge of the high school in the order named : Carrie Thayer, Harriet Weight, Julia Brown, Delia Galusha, Julia Dustin, Emma McGregor, Martha Stewart, until Julj^, 1856 ; Julia C. Breclienridge, until July, 1857 ; Julia A. Wal- work (now Mrs. Jacob Scroggs), until June, 1862 ; Jennie E. Jackson, until April, 1864 ; Marcella Swingley, until April, 1868 ; Sallie Freman, from January until June, 1869 ; Mar- cella Swingley, second term, until July, 1870 ; J. C. Shumaker, until July, 1871 ; Sarah Rex- roth (now Mrs. T. J. Monnett), until July, 1872 ; Anna Sigler, until July, 1873 ; A. G. Gumaer, until July, 1871: ; H. B. Kratz, until July, 1875 ; William Thomas, until July, 1876 ; D. C. Porter, until July, 1877, and J. W. Spindler, the present incumbent. Of these persons. Miss Walwork, now Mrs. Jacob Scroggs, had charge five years, the longest continuous term, and Miss Marcella Swingly, four years at one time, and one year at another. The persons who have successively taught the high school, have, in nearly every instance, fully met the expec- tation of those who employed them. Many ex- celled as thorough and accomplished instruct- ors, and not a little of the prosperity and progress of the schools is due to their wisdom and energy. The want of space prevents a more extended reference to each. From 1866 until July, 1873, an assistant high-school teacher, was employed, and among those who have served in this capacity are : Miss Anna McDonald (now Mrs. Shannon Clemens), until April, 1868 ; Anna R. Cary, from January until June, 1869 ; Alice Codding, until July, 1872 ; Lizzie Baltzly, until July, 1873. Since the graded-school system has been adopted in Bueyrus, many differeut persons have taught in the lower grades. It would be a difficult task to secure the names of all these teachers who have been employed during the past thirty years. At the present time the fol- lowing persons have charge of the several de- partments : High School, J. W. Spindler ; Grammar Schools — A, Miss Lizzie McCracken ; B, Miss Sarah Sheckler ; C, Mrs. C. P. Wiley ; Intermediate Schools — A, Mrs. Mary Beer ; B, Miss Mattie Messner ; C, Miss Prankie Scroggs. Primary Schools — A, Miss Lizzie Stauffer ; B, Mrs. Emma Dalzell ; C, Miss Maud Keller ; D, Miss Dillie Clymer ; E, Miss Mary iMcCon- nell. German-English School, Mr. Carl P. Preuss and Miss A. M. McCracken. Of these teachers, Miss Mary BlcConnell has been em- ployed by the board for eight years ; Miss Sa- rah Sheckler, sixteen j'ears ; and Mrs. C. P. Wiley, twenty-four years. Henry Wingert, the present janitor, has occupied that position since the erection of the new building. The frame schoolhouse, built in 1839, and the brick building, finished in 1852, furnished ample accommodation for several years. When the number of pupils increased, the board pro- vided more room by renting, at different times, the Methodist Episcopal Church basement, the old Baptist Church, and, about 1860, the base- ment of the Congregational Church, which was occupied for several years. But the different grades became crowded to such an extent that the question of erecting an additional building was agitated. At a special election, held May 18, 1863, it was decided to sell the old frame schoolhouse, to purchase additional ground east of the brick building, and to levy a tax of $2,000 for improvements. Three weeks later, on June 9, at another special election, the cit- izens voted unanimously to build an addition *F s f- t^ 413 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. to the brick schoolhouse, and to levy a tax of $9,000 for this purpose.' The two and one-half acre lot east of the brick building was pur- chased of John A. Gormly for $1,650, and $6,- 000 of the tax voted was levied, but the other propositions voted by the citizens were not carried into effect. Two years afterward, April 25, 1865, the Congregational Church was pur- chased for $3,000, and fitted up with four schoolrooms, and these for a time relieved the crowded departments. In January, 1866, the territorj'' of District No. 2 was added to Bucy- rus Special School District, and shortly after this, the Senior Grammar Department was as- signed quarters in the old district schoolhouse, at the western end of Warren street. The proposition to levy a tax of .$40,000, and build a large edifice, was submitted at a special elec- tion held February 24, 1866, but the citizens rejected this by a majority of 104 in a vote of over four hundred. It was generallj' admitted, however, that the interests of the children de- manded more and better school accommoda- tions ; and, after the question had been dis- cussed for another year, the board submitted, at a special election, held April 13, 1867, two other propositions, asking for either S10,000 or $20,000. Both of these were carried bj' large majorities. The board employed A. Koehler, a Cleveland architect, to elaborate their design, and furnish the necessary maps, elevations and specifications. The contract for building the edifice was let to the Bucyrus Machine Works at $46,900. Excavations for the cellar were commenced in the fall of 1867, and, in April, 1868, the old brick building was torn down. The corner-stone was laid Thursday, Julj- 30, 1868, by the Masonic fraternity, in the pres- ence of about five thousand persons. In the cavity of this stone was fastened an oblong tin box, and within this they ijlaced the following articles : " A parchment roll of the scliools, beautifully written in India ink, bj^ Fred M. Swingly, showing the scholarship and deport- ment of every scholar belonging to the union schools, a copy of the Holy Bible, copies of the Crawford County Forum and Bucyrus Jour- nal, a fine specimen of printing, a certificate of the County Clerk, to which was attached the official seal, a marriage certificate by Probate Judge, with official seal, specimen of nickel coins, specimen of fractional currency, several pieces of curious coin, copy of the State School Commissioners' report, and various other ar- ticles." After the Masonic ceremonies, the crowd adjourned to the grove, where addresses were delivered by Rev. Joshua Crouse, John R. Clymer, editor of the Forum, and Rev. Ja- cob Grraessle, Pastor of the German Lutheran Church. The stone foundation was completed during the summer of 1868, and the brick walls were rapidly pushed forward during the fall and early winter, so that by February 1, 1869, the immense structure was under roof. For nine months succeeding April 1, 1868, the schools were discontinued. Monday, Jan- uary' 4, 1869, six departments were opened — the High School in Blair's hall, the Senior Grammar in the district schoolhouse, the Jun- ior Grammar and Intermediates in the old frame building. The new building was com- pleted during the summer of 1869, and dedi- cated on the evening of September 28, at which time a large and intelligent audience assembled at Chapel Hall, where the following exercises were held : A masterlj' poem of dedication, written by William Hubbard, was read by J. R. Clymer ; addresses were delivered bj^ Rev. A. S. MilhoUand, C. W. Butterfleld, Hon. D. W. Henkle, State School Commissioner, Prof J. C. Hartzler, 3Iiss Sarah Frantz, and others. The ceremonies were then concluded with a public dance. The Bucyrus Union School building stands at the south end of Lane street. It is con- structed of stone and brick, in the most sub- stantial manner, and finished in a plain, but neat and durable stjie. In the creation of this F1c5- V ^l^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 413 edilSce, ttie board had several designs in view — ^to provide enough large, commodious, well-lighted, healthfully ventilated schoolrooms for the youth, not only of the present, but for future generations. The building, which is three stories in height, with a nine-foot basement, and surmounted by a large dome, presents a massive, elegant and majestic ap- pearance. There is a breadth and spacious- ness about the entire structure, inside as well as outside, that pleases all who have compared it with other public buildings. The entire length is 208 feet ; depth of center or main building, 120 feet; depth of wing, 45 feet. There are twenty-one large rooms, besides a fine hall for exhibitions, which is capable of seating 500 persons. The building also con- tains wide, air}' halls with convenient closets for clothes ; numerous doors for entrance and exit, so that the larger and smaller pupils are separated and all are secure in case of fire or other casualty. The edifice is situated in the midst of a fine schoolj'ard, four acres in extent, one-half of which is composed of one of those beautiful oak groves so frequently found upon the Sandusky Plains. The total amount paid the Bucyrus Machine Company on tlieir contract, was $50,415.69. The furniture, bell, furnaces, stone pavements, fences, gas-pipe, cisterns, wells, drains, out- buildings and other improvements cost over $25,000, making the entire cost of tlie edifice upward of $75,000. The citizens voted a tax of $20,000, April 13, 1867, and an additional $20,000 on November 28, 1868. The old buildings were sold for about $5,000. These levies were not sufficient to defray the entire expense of the new schoolhouse, and the board, desiring an additional $12,000, called a public meeting, which assembled at the court house, January 22, 1870. They submitted a report to the citizens, who appointed a committee to examine the school accounts during the preced- inff four years. This committee made an elabo- rate report to the public, in which was included an itemized account of the expenses incurred by the board during the period covered by the investigation. Although it was generally con- ceded that the board had made some mistakes, no evidence was found which proved them to be guilty of fraud or official dishonesty. During the preceding four years, they had expended over. $120,000 of school funds. The citizens, who were laboring under a heavy tax levied to raise this amount, naturally supposed the ex- penses incurred were too high, and, when the special election was held, Blarch 2, 1870, they refused the additional $12,000, by a vote of 292 to 151. The school treasury was empty, and funds were necessary in order to conduct the schools ; the board applied to a friendly- Legislature, which, hy a special act, granted what the citizens had refused. But the citizens would not forgive the members of the board, who had outwitted them, and, when their term of office expired, they were not re-elected. The board of 1867, the original projectors of the union school building, was composed of the following gentlemen ; Dr. C. Fulton, Presi- dent ; John K. Clj'mer, Secretarj' ; John Franz, Treasurer ; Judge James Clements, George Donnenwirth, Sr., and Samuel Hoyt. Had this board asked for a levy to commence a $75,000 schoolhouse, the money would have been re- fused — the $40,000 proposition had been re- jected by a large majority when submitted to the citizens the previous year. So they asked for $20,000, and, having secured authority for this amount, adopted the plan for a new build- ing, which cost, before completed, nearly four times the sum originally authorized by the citizens. While the schoolhouse was well under headwaj', they were openl}- condemned by manj' citizens for their actions, and, after the structure had been completed, they were more bitterly denounced by the majority. Ten years have elapsed since the edifice was finished ; it is now all paid for, and everj' public-spirited s \ 414 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. citizen is satisfied the money has been expended for this wortliy purpose. Bucyrus has now a school building of which all are proud, and, if special credit be due to any persons for this fact, it belongs to those gentlemen, who, in 1867, over-ruling the economical wishes of a wealthy community, succeeded in planning and furnishing for the public good, the largest and finest schoolhouse in Ohio. In 1870, during the administration of Prof. J. C. Harper, the first class completed the high-school course and graduated, and each year since this date a class has been prepared for commencement day. Through the efforts mainly of Charles J. Scroggs, an Alumni Asso- ciation was formed during the summer of 1878. It is worthy of record in the history of Bucyrus schools that this young man, a member of the Class of 1 877, completed the course before he had attained his fourteenth birthday. This Alumni Association, which includes all those who have completed the Bucj'rus High School course, was formed with the following members : 1870 — Misses Anna Sears, JIary Howenstein (now Manlej-), Kate Swingley (now Fulton), Sallie Sims (now Spencer), Emma Summers (now Pero), and Sally Prantz (now Kerr). 1871 — Misses Millie Howenstein, Prankie Scroggs and Minnie Wright (now Bowse). 1872 — Misses Mary Lewis, Bell Johnston, Alice Sears, Joanna ilyers (now Henthorn), Mary Scott (now Chalfant), Althea Quaintance (now Dier), and Hattie Summers (now Stamets), Charles Picking and Thomas P. Hopley. 1873 — Loran Jordan, S. Webster Van Wiukle, Lewis Haman, Misses Mary Kirkland, Ida Buhl, Anna Beilhartz (now Ingman), and Irena Shaw (now Haman). 1874 — Misses Minnie Sears, Mary Jones, Bessie Wise, Kate Hopley, Annetta Sheckler and Nettie McCracken (now Colmery), Harry Howenstein, Charles Albright and Hamilton Ott. 1875 — Miss Ida Hofman, Charles Fisher, Pinkney Fisher, Frank Mon- nett, James Albright and Charles Penfield. 1876 — Misses Lizzie Deardorflf and Clara Bid- die ; Hiram Penner, James D. Beer and Edward M. Biddle. 1877— Misses Mary McKibben, Emma Lommason and Ida Messner ; Charles J. Scroggs. 1878 — Misses Sallie Harris, Blanche Ward, Ella Fuhrman, Sue McDonald, Dillie Clymer and Hattie E. Hopley; Roy Chesney, Herbert Blair, Frank Ruhl, Edward VoUrath and Rufus Sears. All the Class of 1873, except Loran Jordan, refused to pass a special examination insisted upon by the Board of Education, claiming it to be unjust. Jordan received a diploma duly signed, the rest re- ceived certificates that the}' had completed the high-school course, which certificates were signed by the Superintendent, high-school teachers and three members of the board. The entire class were, after considerable discussion, made members of the Alumni Association. The first officers of this society were Thomas P. Hopley, President ; Mrs. Kate Fulton and Miss Dillie Clymer, Vice Presidents ; Miss Frank Scroggs, Secretary ; Roy Chesney, Cor- responding Secretary ; Harry Howenstein, Treasurer. Since the association was formed, the following classes have been received into full membership at the annual re-unions : 1879 — Misses Anna Drought, Anna Reid, Ella Gormly, May Frey, Lydia Streib, Fannie Pogtte, Ida Bennett and Ida M. Pope ; Smith Bennett, William Beer and Edward Kern. 1 880 — Misses Carrie Blair, Kate Van Voorhis, Mattie Jour- dan, Allie Yost, Delia Hull, Emma Munson, Kittle Everett and Allie McDonald; Otto VoU- rath and Jay Robinson. At the present time the Board of Education . is composed of the following citizens : Jacob Scroggs, President ; Rev. Jacob Graessle, Sec- retary ; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer ; Judge Robert Lee, E. R. Kearsley, and C. H. Shonert. These gentlemen have faithfully labored many j'ears for the public good, and, under their management the schools are in a flourishing condition. The President of the 4-— *— i ^ !i^ HISTOEY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY. 415 Board was a scholar in the Bucjtus schools over forty years ago, and a teacher in the Junior Grammar Department, when the graded school system was first adopted in 1850. He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of education, and much of the present efficiency of the schools is due to his valuable eflfdrts. In his Centeimial History, Mr. Scroggs sums up the present policy of the board in the fol- lowing language: "In the spring of 1873, the board resolved that pupils should not graduate from the schools, until, in addition to the usual class examination b}^ the teachers and Superin- tendent, they should pass a satisfactory exam- ination in all the branches taught in the entire course, commencing with orthography ; this ex- amination to be conducted by a committee of cit- izens appointed Ijy the board. This resolution has been adhered to ever since, and, while it may have reduced the number of graduates, it has insured a higher scholarship. Review classes are organized in the high school, in which all branches taught in the lower grades are thor- oughly reviewed by members of the A or Senior Class. The necessitj' of this resolution above named, was made apparent when it was found that members of the A Class, who could pass an excellent examination in the studies of Senior year, could not conjugate a common irregular verb, or cast the interest on a plain English note of hand, upon which several pay- ments had been paid. The people are well pleased with the change, as they can see that the system of reviews can but tend to make more thorough scholars, and they know now that a graduate of our schools can, without trouble, procure a certificate to teach a common country school. The schools are firmly fixed in the hearts of the people ; they take a deep interest in, and are proud of them. A note- worthy feature of the Bucyrus schools is, that the colored children of the village have always been received in the schools with the white, and treated, not as outcasts, but as human beings, with minds to educate and souls to save. The motto of Bucyrus is, ' Education for all, with- out regard to sex, color, or previous condition.' " Some twenty years ago a Normal School was established at Bucyrus, and continued for sev- eral years. The Normal School Association was organized Jlay 28, 1860, with the following officers: President, ' 31. Deal; Vice President, W. R. S. Clark; Treasurer, George Quinby; Secretary, Girard Reynolds ; CoiTesponding Secretary, C. W. Butterfield. Prof Isaac F. Bangs, a graduate of the New York State Nor- mal School, was employed to act as principal, and Jliss Harriet M. Angel, of Akron, Ohio, as assistant. The first term commenced Mon- day, August 13, 1860, and extended through twentj'-two weeks. The sessions were held in Quinby Hall, and upon the top of the block, the sign, "Ohio State Normal School," was painted in large letters. These letters con- tinued manj' years after the school had been discontinued, and some of them are still visi- ble. The school was divided into four classes, Sub-Junior, Junior, Sub-Senior, Senior ; sixty- eight scholars were in attendance the first term. At the commencement of the second term, in Februaiy 1861, J. H. Adams, of Albany, New York, was employed as an additional assistant. The second year the school was in charge of Rev. Alexander Miller, JI. A., formerly Super- intendent of the public schools in Bucyrus. He was assisted by E. C. S. Miller, M. A., for- merly Superintendent of the Tiffin schools. This institute continued during the fall term of 1861, the winter term of 1862, and on Monday, September 2, 1862, the fall term of 1862 was commenced under the same management, but after a few months, the normal school was dis- continued on account of the poor attendance.* *NoTE. — The hiatorian has been greatly aided in preparing this history of the Bucyrus Schools, by the historical address delivered by C. W. Butterfield, at the dedication of the new school building; also, by the paper prepared by Hon. Jacob Scroggs, for the Cente)>nial hhetches of the Public Schoola of Ohio, published by the State School Commissioner in 1876. >^ - trick offered the resolution, but Mr. Cary, repre- senting the citizens of this southern strip, ob- jected on the ground that his constituents did not ask for it. This ended the matter. Previous to the formation of Polk Town- ship, the elections were held south of Crest- line nearly two miles, on Section 16, at the house of Mr. Fate. It was here that Maj. Robinson cast his maiden vote for Daniel Riblet, who was a candidate for Justice of the Peace. The Major was not quite twenty- one years of age; but this election, like all others, was of vast importance, and politics ran high. Gallon was the center of interest in the new township, and for many miles around. The narrowness of the township placed Gallon so near the line that, in many cases, those who did much for her prosperity and were interested in her growth, resided outside of Polk Township.* In an old book in the County Clerk's OfSce at Bucyrus, there was one allusion to Polk Tovmship, which is given as a resolution by the County Comissioners : Makoh 6, 1845. — Board met pursuant to adjourn- ment. Present, full Board. Resolution. — This day it was resolved, by the Commissioners of Crawford County, that the following fractional townships, taken from the counties of Richland and Marion, and those lying on the west side of said county of Crawford, accord- ing to an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, passed February third (3d), 1845, to * In writing this history, we are compelled to depend much upon old settlers' and newspaper accounts. —S ® ^ ^,f ^ki^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 419 erect the new county of Wyandot, and alter the bound- aries of Crawford, was organized into separate town- ships, to wit : All that part taken from the county of Richland, and being in Township twenty (20) north^ Range twenty (20) west, and all that part taken from Township nineteen (19), with Range (20), and all that part taken from the county of Marion, and being in Township fifteen (15) with Range twenty-one (21) be, and the same is hereby, organized into a separate town- ship by the name of Polk, and that the County Auditor be and is hereby authorized to cause notice to be given to the said township of the foregoing organization and alteration, according to the statute of Ohio in such case made and proyided. John Clements, Hamilton Kerr, Samuel Lee. Attest : 0. Williams, County Auditor. In selecting a name for this township, the first choice was for Jackson; it was Dan- iel Hoover's desire to so name it; but it was discovered in time that one of the new town- ships on the north had preceded them in the selection of the name Jackson. Mr. Polk be- ing President at this time, his name was pro- posed and accepted. According to the resolu- tion and orders of the Supervisor, Mr. James Eobinson was ordered to post, in three con- spicuous places within the township, notices, setting forth a list of offices then vacant, and ordering the time and place of election. The officers for Sandusky Township had already- been elected, and when the election in Polk took place, soon after, it was only to fill vacan- cies caused by the separation, those having been elected in Sandusky and residing in Polk were to hold over till the next annual election. A. Underwood was one of them, having been elected Justice of the Peace. The record of the first election is in the pos- session of F. A. Keen, and is as follows: At an election held in the Township of Polk, in the county of Crawford, State of Ohio, on the 7th day of AprU, in the year of our Lord 1845, Isaac Criley, Joshua Canon and Pharas Jackson, Judges, and Solo- mon P. Naye and Samuel R. Canon, Clerks. The fol- lowing officers were duly elected and qualified : Trustees — Asa Hosford, Samuel P. Lee, Bartholo- mew Reed, Jr. ; Clerk — Peter Cress ; Treasurer — John S. Davis ; Assessor — Samuel R. Canon ; Constables — John A. Loneus, Joseph Kimmel ; Supervisors — Eri Hosford, Joseph Diddy, Edward Cooper, David Thrush, William White, A. C. Jackson, Frederic Taylor, Jacob Stine- baugh, John Ashcroft, William L. Dille, Bart Reed, Sr., Andrew Reed, A. S. Caton, Phillip Ichorn, Phillip Zimmermaker, Isaac Nayer. At a meeting of the Trustees of Polk Township, held on the 26th day of April, 1845, among other business transacted was the sale of James Sutton, a town pauper. He was sold to the lowest bidder for his keeping for one year from above date. He was taken by Jacob Steinbaugh, at $100, clothing and doctor bills excepted. They proceeded also to levy a tax, for poor purposes, of 2 mills on the dollar, and J of a mill for Township purposes. At a meeting held on the 6th day of Sep- tember, 1845, present, Asa Hosford and Bartholomew Reed, they appointed the place of holding elections to be at the schoolhouse, in the borough of Gallon, in said township. Peter Cress, Township Clerk. To those who do not understand what is meant by the sale of paupers, we give in full a copy of a handbill found among the rec- ords. It must be remembered no county house existed at the time, and it was neces- sary to provide in some way for the poor; hence they were sold: Sale of Paupers. — There will be sold, on Wednesday, May 16, 1866, Mary Houk and Delia Hengst, paupers of Polk Township, Crawford County, Ohio, to the low- est responsible bidders, for one year. Terms of pay for keeping said paupers, half in six months from day of sale, and the remainder at the expiration of the year. Proposals will be received from 1 to 4 o'clock, p. M. Samuel Shusk, Daniel Hoover, John Lemon, May 1, 1866. Trustees. There are twenty-one sections in Polk Town- ship, of as fine land as exists in Northern Ohio. The timber was very heavy, and con- sisted mostly of beech, maple, oak, hickory, elm, black walnut and ash. The land, be- fore clearing, has the appearance of being swampy and wet. This is caused by the high and generally level condition, there be- •^ ® ?k 430 HISTORY OF CEAWFOED COUNTY. ing no general slope to the land by whicli tlie water can run off at once. All over the town- ship, there is evidence of immense deposits of drift; gravel-beds, mixed with iron and clay, with strata above or below it of fine and coarse sand, are abundant. The geological forma- tion is such that, in the primeval days, the land in this vicinity formed shoals, and one can easily conceive that the great mountain glaciers coming from the icy North, freighted with their load of stone, gravel and clay, were wrecked in the shallow sea over this township, grinding and pulverizing the primitive rock that formed this rich soil. The Olentangy Eiver meanders throughout the whole length of the township. It enters in the northeast portion, winds round in broad sweeps toward the south and passes out on the west side, on the farm of J. K. Sherer. All along its valley there are outcroppings of sandstone, of the Waverly group. There are at present, as far as we know, but two quar- ries in operation — ^Miose of John Flowers, and Dr. Coyle and James Green. The Olentangy waters the bottom lands of the whole town- ship, and springs abound in profusion; this might seem, contrary to the genaral expecta- tion, or to any one not a practical geologist, wh3n it is remembered that Polk Township occupies a part of the dividing ridge or crest that separates the slope to the lakes on the north, and the valley of the Ohio that slopes to the south; but so it is. Within the town- ship are two springs but a few rods apart; the one on the north contributes its mite to Lake Erie, thunders with its waters over the ponderous Niagara, and wends its romantic way around and among the " Thousand Isles," and thence to the sea. The spring on the south side lingers slowly, clinging gently to its birthplace, as if in doubt as to which course it shall take. It finally takes its course toward sunny lands, and on through populous countries, rich meadows, gradually down to the " Father of waters," and thence to the Gulf • of Mexico. Thus it can be seen that we are high upon a billow of land, and upon the very summit of the crest. When the first settlers came to Polk or Sandusky Township, the Olentangy was a beautiful s^eam; luxuriant groves existed on each side of it, and its banks were lined with a profusion of flowers and grasses ; countless herds of deer drank of its sweet waters, and the red man loved and venerated the stream. Before the land was cleared up, the banks were tolerably full, and the stream never shrunk to its present proportions; year by year, numerous mills were erected upon its banks, and the falling waters turned the wheel of industry to the owners' profit and the great convenience of the settlers. Probably the first men who cleared any land within the present limits of Polk were Benjamin Leveredge a&d his two sons, James and Nathaniel. Most of the early settlers were from New York and Pennsylvania. No biography of this first family can be obtained, and very little is known of them previous to their arrival in this vicinity. They came in the year 1817, cutting their way to their land. The father built his cabin near the springs on Atwood street. Gallon, on the quarter-section he had entered. James Leveredge erected his cabin on the ground now occupied by David Mackey's residence, and Nathaniel built his primitive dwelling near the center of the public square in Galion. The two former had water in abundance from the numerous springs in their vicinity, but Nathaniel dug a well near his cabin door. This was the well that was filled up about ten years ago, and traces of which were found within the pres- ent year (1880) by workmen while engaged in grading the square. In the year 1818, George Wood and David Gill arrived; they ^^ t^L HISTORY OF CKAAVFORD COUNTY. 431 settled north of the Olentangy, near the old military roai, cut out by soldiers in 1812. These two families were from Pennsylvania, Wood and Gill being brothers-in-law; Wood was a carpenter, and Gill followed school- teaching, mostly; he was well educated for the time, and the general business man in the community. James Gill was a son of David, and his widow still lives on the site of the farm owned by the former, llrs. Fanny Bry- fogle, Mrs. Catharine Monnett, Mrs. Nelson Casey and the wife of Samuel Mosher were daughters of David Gill. George Wood had one son, George, Jr. ; the two families removed to Missom'i, where the older members died, and some of the younger returned to Gallon. It was also in the year 1818 that Benjamin Sharrock came to Polk Township ; he erected a temporary shelter near the Eeisinger Corners for his family, while he made progress with his ax and saw on the farm south. On Saturday, September 19, 1819, Mr. Asa Hosf ord trudged afoot into Polk Township ; he ,topped over Sunday with Benjamin Lever- oi'-e. From the date of his arrival, IVIr. Hos- ford became a leading citizen and was inter- ested from that time on with the concerns of the township requiring tact and ability. In 1820 came Nathaniel Story and Father Kit- teridge, the latter living with the former, who was by occupation a hunter and trapper. Mr. Siory erected his cabin near the crossing of Main street and the Olentangy, west of town. In the year 1822 came the Eev. James Dun- lap, who went to farming, but afterward en- tered the ministry and taught school. In 1824 came Nathan Merriman, who, in the year following his arrival, erected a whisky distillery at the springs, near where the Lev- eredo-es lived. This was the first distillery in thj township, and was known far and wide, and familiarly designated as " the still." Thus far we have given the date of arrival and the order of their coming of all that are known. There were others taking up land and settling throughout the township, but those above named formed the nucleus around which clustered the new settlement. The first grist-mill in Polk Township was erected by Mr. Hibner, on the banks of the Olentangy, near the railroad bridge, on the farm now owned by Mr. Burgener. A saw- mill was built north of Gallon; Hosford's and Park's grist-mills and Sharrock's grist and saw mill were all within a few miles of each other, and run by the waters of the Olentangy, which is not now a romantic-looking stream. The lands which it drained have been cleared, and many of the springs which fed it have become dry. Immense ditches, with the modern system of draining, with its miles of tiling, have all tended toward the destruction of the stream, and its banks are full only aft- er the heavy rains or melting of accumulated snow; but a small rivulet carries the water from pool to pool ; the waters are dark, filthy and putrid. The wash from the city of Gallon, with the washes of gas-making and dyeing, together with slaughter-houses, have contrib- uted to the general nastiness. In some portions of the township, there is an approach to the formation of plains, but not extensively so ; the soil is generally a gravelly loam; at a slight depth there is found a clean-washed gravel, and under the gravel a dense hard-pan. This gravel is saturated with healthy water, and is the cause of the numerous springs where this gravel crops out to the sm'face. Among the topographical features of the township, there is one thing that deserves es- pecial notice. About sixty years ago, a terri- bly severe wind-storm swept over the north- west pM'tion; the atorm entered the western portion of the township on what is now known as the Belts farm, passing in a northeast di- ^1 ,}- 423 HISTOBY OF CEAWFOKD COUXTY. rection, and out of tile township near the farm of Hon. James Eobinson. Its track was about one mile in width; every tree, almost without exception, was uprooted or twisted off, and prostrated in the most unimaginable con- fusion. The trees went down like grass before the sickle. Peter Snyder, now of Crestline, was at the time a boy, plowing in the field. Hearing the roar of the approaching storm, he made haste to find security; he entered an old-fashioned Pennsylvania log barn, set on a cobble-stone foundation; he repaired to the mow for safety, but hardly had he arrived there when the whole structure was raised three or four feet from the foundation. While suspended in the air, the roof gave way and flew across the field, and the barn settled back to its foundation. Debris of all kinds was scattered over the ground, and among them were found numetpus boughs and twigs of pine, which must have been brought from great distances. Deer and wild turkeys were killed and crushed and fearfully mangled, as were also many cattle belonging to the set- tlers. Disberry Johnson had five head of cat- tle in the woods that were penned in by the fallen timber, but, strange to say, uninjured. It required five days of chopping and clear- ing to release them from their strange captiv- ity. The year following this storm, fire broke out among the dried leaves and twigs in this windfall, and swept the whole length of it. The crops and buildings within close prox- imity were destroyed; for days the smoke was so dense that one could not see ten feet before him. Many times people would be obliged to prostrate themselves upon the ground to prevent suffocation. The settlers despaired of retrieving anything from the general wreck; many of them became despondent, and had they possessed the means, or any facili- ties, would have moved away from the black- ened and charred ruins. The track of this windfall can at this day be traced in its course ; where the trees were allowed to grow again, they are generally smaller; the trees going down and burning in the manner they did saved much logging and clearing; but on some farms it took every acre of timber from them. The soil of Polk Township is eminently adapted to the raising of com, although excellent wheat crops are harvested. The farther west in the township the more it is adapted to grazing and crops of grasses; stock can be kept better nowhere than on the plains and prairies which commence in Polk Township and extend for miles westward. In the year 1822, William Murray, Maj. Jeffrey and James Dunlap rigged up a one- horse wagon with a pole in it for two horses. This was in what was called Ohio County, and is now in Western Virginia. They had rifles, ammunition, cross-cut saw, axes and several old quilts. They covered the wagon with a linen cover and started for the West. They crossed the Ohio at the mouth of Short Creek, above Wheeling, passed through New Phila- delphia, in Tuscarawas County, through Wooster, on to Mansfield, a town then having three stores, two taverns and a blacksmith- shop. On, west, they continued to a place they heard of as " Spangtown," " Moccasin," or " Goshen." There were five families be- tween Gallon and Mansfield, as follows : Judge Patterson, Alfred Atwood's mother, a widow lady, old John Edgington, John Marshall and John Hibner. Just ae they came to where the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad crosses Main street, Mr. Dunlap told his com- panions that he thought they were coming to a settlement, as he discovered sheep tracks. They laughed at him and said they were deer tracks, which they proved to be. They came on through the woods up to the square where there were two log cabins, in one of which ^r cy^ ^^^y .£> W HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 435 lived Mr. Leveredge. At the foot of the hill, where Mrs. J. Gill now lives, was a cabin, where J. Dickerson then lived. Farther west, where J. K. Clymer's brick house now is, there was a double log cabin, owned by Will- iam Hosford, Asa Hosford's father; Horace Hosford had a blacksmith-shop on the Reis- inger Corners, where he lived; Grandfather Kitteridge lived on the other corner. They went southwest to Benjamin Sharrock's house. They were twelve days making the trip of 150 miles; sometimes the mud was up to the wagon-bed. The next day, Mrs. Sharrook baked them some bread, and they went to their land to erect a cabin. On the land were twelve or fourteen Indians, who had been on a big drunk the day before; one of them had been stabbed through the left side with 'a scalp- ing-knif e. The Indian bragged over it and said, "Me berry stout Injun — stick big knife through — no kill — wooh!" The emigrants were much annoyed through the night by the howling of wolves. In a few days, they finished their cabin and returned for their fam- ilies. This Mr. Dunlap afterward entered the ministry, and, within ten years, has written a number of papers entitled, " Recollections of Crawford County." The settlers would espy a covered wagon coming, and cry out, "There comes another settler; " and start to meet him, and give him a hearty welcome, take axes and help to cut out a trail to his land and help him to select a good site for his cabin; all being agreed upon, they would chop and roll two logs together, kindle a fire between for the good woman to cook and provide something to eat, while they went to work clearing off a spot on which to erect a eabin. In two or three days, sufficient logs would be cut, and the cabin erected, and a hole cut in one side for a door. Then the household furniture would be unloaded, con- sisting, generally, of two beds and bedding, a table, bureau, some chairs and kitchen furni- ture, piling them with the family, in the cabin, on the grou.nd floor. A young married couple generally started in the same way, being as- sisted by their parents. A necessary piece of furniture in the pioneer's cabin was a hominy- block, which was made by taking a log twenty inches thick and three feet long, chopping it in from each end and shaping it like a goblet; then setting it on end, kindle a fire under it and burn it out like a druggist's mortar ; then they take a small pole, with an iron ring on one end, put an iron wedge into it to pound the corn, put the corn in, pour on hot water to loosen the hulls, and pound with the wedge until cracked into hominy. "While the hus- band is pounding his hominy at night, the wife is spinning flax-tow or wool for clothing for the family. The following pioneer remin- iscence is pertinent to the subject: " I have seen a whole family, consisling of father, mother, children, pet pigs, young ducks and chickens, all occupying the same room at the same time, truly equal to Barnum's happy family. Although some endured hardships almost beyond endurance — having large fam- ilies to support and no money — meat could be obtained from the woods. The writer of these lines has seen the times when he has brought home a sack of meal and did not know where the next was to come from; yet, trusting in God, and working day and night, has at length obtained a competency for himself and family, as many others have done. When I look back fifty years and see this country a howl- ing wilderness, thronged with wild beasts of various kinds, hardly a white inhabitant from here to the Rocky Mountains, I am struck with wonder and surprise at the progress of our nation. In 1825, we had a manufactur- ing establishment in Gallon, Polk Township, erected, I think, by old Nathan or Bishop Merriman, of Bucyrus, to make whisky of our ^ i D 'V -l4* 426 HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. spare com and rye. About the same time, there was a horse-mill put up by old Mr. Sny- der (I think his given name was Christopher), at Middletown, north of Gallon two or three miles, where we could get grinding done. The farmers for miles around would put a bag of corn or wheat on a horse with harness on, take another, if he had it, and go to mill. If his turn came before night, all right; if not, he would hitch up in the night and keep himself awake by traveling around aft^tr his horse. If it was wheat, he could turn a crank attached to a bolting cloth, and get his flour bolted by hand, and when his flour was ground would come home whistling and singing as happy as a lark. Perhaps his wife would tell him they were out of meat; taking his gun and dog, he would go out and shoot down a fat deer, as a farmer now goes out to his field to kill a fat sheep." Soon after the war of 1812 James Nail, Esq., was in Kichland County ; his father's was the seventh family in the county. Mr. Nail was bom in Somerset County, Penn., Novem- ber 9, 1797; he left his father in 1819 and came to Sandusky Tovmship, and bought 160 acres of land (called Congress land), two miles north of Gallon. In 1821, he married and set- tled on his land. When he first came, he knew of no neighbors but the Leveredges and his brother-in-law, Lewis Leiberger, with whom he lived till married. The next year, Leiber- ger moved away. Bee-trees were plenty at this time, and Mjr. Nail and his brother-in-law started one morning on a bee hunt, taking a southwest .course. They camped the first night on Sandusky Plains, half-way between Gallon and Bucyrus, at a small stream; the next day they hunted till evening, and camped on Sandusky Eiver, two miles west of Bucy- rus; they saw many deer and turkeys, many bee-trees, but not a human being or a settle- ment. By the year 1821, John Brown, Benjar min Sharrock, Nathaniel Story and Mr. Hos- f ord had moved into the neighborhood. For a long time, the Indians had been in the habit of taking large quantities of cranberries to Eichland County; they would sometimes be seen with eight or ten horses loaded down with bark boxes filled with cranberries ; these boxes were slung over the backs of the horses, and each one led by an Indian, single file. They traded the cranberries for meal, etc. ; the Indians kept secret the place of their growth, but Mr. Nail, his father-in-law, Samuel Brown, Michael Brown and Jacob Miller, determined to find the place where they were procured. They went southwest till they struck the Penn- sylvania army road, and followed it for several miles, which was easily distinguished; after going some distance, they thought they had better go farther north ; this they did till they struck the Sandusky Eiver, east of Bucyrus. As they came to the stream, they heard a man chopping a little above; Mr. Nail told his companions that Indians were around, or else some white man had got in; they rode up and found MJr. Daniel McMichael, a man they had never seen before; he seemed much alarmed, but was re-assured when Mr. Nail rode up close to him. This man gave them directions, and went with them a distance, showing them the Indian trail that led to the cranberry marsh. They camped out that night, and saw the camp-fires of several parties of Indians, but were not molested. The next morning, they gathered as many cranberries as their horses could carry. They reached home that evening ; in passing over the military road, the weeds were as high as their horses' heads. They saw but one man during the trip. Mr. Nail states that their food, when he was young, consisted of bear's meat, venison, turkey, corn-meal, pota- toes and hominy. Their clothing was geneiv ally buckskin and linsey-woolsey; the chil- dren mostly went bareheaded and barefooted # A l\i\ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 437 nearly all the year. They made some kind of linen from the nettles. Some time after Mr Nail and his brother-in-law had hunted and marked their bee-trees, they went after the honey. After it was all collected, they lacked a little of two barrels; Mr. Christian Snyder had moved to the neighborhood a little while before, and was about going back for his goods; he offered to take the honey to Jeffer- son County for nothing, saying it would there sell for $1 a gallon. In 1822, Mr. Nail sold his land and bought eighty acres on a branch of the Whetstone, or Olentangy, southwest of Gallon. Michael Brown, John Dunmeier and James Lever- edge assisted him in putting up his cabin; about this time, he had occasion to go to Mansfield on foot, which was twenty-two miles the way he was obliged to go; he got back at 10 at night; but as he reached the house his dog barked violently. The wife drew the blanket that covered the door to one side, when the dog ran in the cabin followed by a wolf, who, seeing a large fire, ran back. Mr. Nail found his wife prepared for emergencies, sitting near the fire, the dog at her feet and the ax in her hand. About this time, Mr. Alexander McGrew came to Mr. Nail's, fi-om Tuscarawas County, and solicited the contract for erecting a mill which Mr. Nail contem- plated erecting. A dam was made, and in six weeks' time, the frame and running gear were in order. The farm and mill were sold that fall to Mr. John Hauck, who was looking for a site for a carding-machine and fulling-mill. The settlers were too sparse, and the project was given up. Mr. Nail reserved the right to live in the cabin and use the mill for one year, which he did, furnishing lumber to the settlers. In 1822, he moved one-half mile be- low his saw-mill and in 1824 erected a grist- mill. The mill-stones were made of " nigger- heads " by Mr. Buckland, of Bucyrus. The market prices at this time were as follows Coffee, 50 cents a pound; salt, 6 cents a j)ound powder $2 a pound; lead, 50 cents a pound chewing tobacco, 50 cents a pound; whisky 50 cents a gallon ; and the two latter articles, Mr. Nail says, no family could get along without. Mr. Nathaniel Story was a native of Oxford County, Me., and came with his father's fam- ily to Ohio in 1818. They stopped a short time at the Williamson settlement, east of Gallon ; they intended to buy some of the Vir- ginia military school lands, but failed in their object, and passed the winter of 1818-19 in a cabin of John Leveredge, situated southeast of the public square of Gallon. Mr. Lever- edge had been killed but a short time previous to this, by a log falling upon him at the rais- ing of John Williamson's new hewed-log cabin. When they came into the settlement, that hewed-log cabin stood up near the square without a roof, and exactly as it was left when Leveredge was killed. In the spring of 1819, they moved into the house of Mr. Sturges, sit- uated northwest of Gallon, on the brow of the hill across from John G. Kraft's brewery, and where the residence of Jesse Purkey now stands. They lived there for four years. Mr. Story writes of the Indians as follows : "I was acquainted with most of the Wyandots and Delawares, among them the Walkers, Will- iams, Armstrongs, Dowdys, Johnny Cake, etc. Johnny Cake was a full-blood.ed Indian of much note. He was a well-developed man, of fine physical proportions, supple, athletic, and he possessed in an imusual degree the respect and confidence of all the white settlers of that day. His wife was three-fourths white, and an excellent woman for the opportunities that she had. There is a bit of romance connected with her history, which may be interesting to readers, as it has never been published except in the Bucyrus Forum. The mother of Johnny Cake's wife had been captured from her white •^ <■ it. 428 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. parents, somewhere in the eastern part of Ohio, by the Indians, probably during the war with Great Britain in 1812-15, and adopted into one of the Indian families on the Sandusky. Here she was courted and married in Indian fash- ion, by Abraham Williams, a half-breed In- dian. The fruit of the union between this half-breed and white girl, was a beautiful daughter, who was courted and married by Johnny Cake. Johnny went with an exploring expedition in 1823, or thereabout, to the Great West beyond the Mississippi. He was a marked man in council or courage, and so re- garded by all who came in contact with him. When his tribe removed from the Wyandot reservation in 1846, he and his wife went with them, and, when last heard from, in 1874, were living in wealth and good position among the Walkers, to whom he is related." The last time that Mr. Story saw Johnny Cake was in 1845 or 1846. His father, Nehemiah Story, and himself, were working on the frame of a house where the widow of James W. Gill, Esq., now lives, on Main street, west side of Gallon. He stopped and talked with them a long time as he was passing through; he said that the Indians' hunting-grounds had been sadly interfered with by the white settlers, who killed or drove away the game, and for that reason he seldom came that way of late years. He seemed overjoyed to see and talk with them and revived many reminiscences of the past that had for years slumbered in their memories. At this time he weighed nearly two hundred pounds, and was a splendid specimen of a wild Indian of the woods, who was keenly alive to the great facts of " manifest destiny." Clearly foreseeing the future, he spoke in rapturous terms of the white man, who brought with him the all-conqueiung forces of a superior and higher civilization, but grievously mourned, in broken accents, the decay of his own Indian race, whose doom was "written in the setting sun of the West." Says Mr. Story: "We shall never forget the appearance and expression of this man — this thoughtful but untutored child of the forest — as he affec- tionately and tearfully bade us good-bye. He wheeled the head of his pony toward the Sandusky Plains, and was soon lost to our gaze forever." Mr. Story remembers the exciting attempt of Tom Dowdy, a keen, small but sharp Indian, to murder a Canadian Indian. They were both in liquor, obtained at a tavern near where Galion now stands. A quarrel ensued over the whisky bottle (as it does now sometimes among white people), and Tom took out his scalping-knife and stabbed his Indian companion, with a terrible stroke, in the side. The two Indians were afterward seen at an encampment on Shaw's Creek, south of Iberia. The whisky was gone, and the two Indians sat on opposite sides of the fire, smok- ing in peace. Dowdy once brought informa- tion to the Storys, that there was a certain white-oak tree that had in it five raccoons and a porcupine. This was business for Story, and exactly in his line. They went with Dowdy and his squaw, who was an excellent chopper, and soon had the tree down and the game se- cured. Dowdy and his wife took three of the coons, and the Storys took two. The skins were purchased by James Nail. This Indian, Dowdy, died at Pipetown some time afterward, in the severity of winter, and, in accordance with the custom of the Indians, his body, with his clothing and hunting implements, was laid upon a scaffold, at a safe height from the ground. Here it remained until the warm sun in the spring had softened the soil, when his remains were deposited in the earth. The Indians had a burying-ground just north of where the Gill farm is, on the banks of the Olentangy. Here the dead from the Indian village were buried. The graves were generally quite shallow; they made some dis- ^1^ -14^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 439 tinction in the graves, according to the social status of the person; some of the graves had forks erected at each end, with a pole across; on this were laid strips of bark and twigs, but it soon gave way and was not renewed. How long this spot had been consecrated by the Indians, is not known, but they continued to use it up to their departure from this vicin- ity. In an early day, young men opened the graves, with the vain hope of obtaining treas- ures. Some of the early doctors secured fur- niture from this ground for their offices. The graveyard had little reverence shown it, and it was only when the field was cultivated, and the graves plowed level, that it became safe from molestation. In the year 1825, Mr. Nail added a distillery to his grist-mill and continued grinding and distilling till the year 1835. Before mills were built in Polk Township the settlers went long distances to get grinding done. In 1822, they were going to Spring Mill, southeast of Ontario ; and, even after mills were built along the Olentangy, some were obliged to go below Belleville, by reason of the scarcity of water in Polk Township. Corn-meal was more plentiful than flour. It was generally cooked in four different ways : A very com m on way of using it was to make mush and eat it with milk; when it was baked in a Dutch oven, it was called pone; when baked on a board, it was called johnny-cake; and when made into round balls and baked in the oven, it was called corn-dodgers. Mr. Nail relates that a family lived three miles southeast of Gallon, by the name of Jackson; a little fellow of this family would often come to mill with a bag of com to be ground; after the com was groxmd, he would lift the little fellow on top of the bag, of meal on the horse and start him for home. He generally had meal in one end of the bag, and a jug of whisky in the other end. Mr. Nail had no thought at that time that little Abner M. Jackson would be the port'y man he afterward became, much less that he would become the Presiding Judge of our court. In 1835, Mr. Nail sold his grist-mill and distillery to Mr. Parks, who came from Beaver County, Penn. Mr. Dunlap stated that after he retm-ned from Virginia, where he had been for his fam- ily, the settlers had increased in numbers from twelve to twenty-five. About the time of his return, there was a double log cabin one mile southwest of Gallon, in which lived two fam- ilies, one by the name of Erysman, and one by the name of Dun, or Doormise, who had a lit- tle daughter about four years of age. The mother was boiling sugar-water in the woods near by, and had the little girl by her. Think- ing it time the little one was in the house, she went with her to the fence, lifted her over the inclosure and told her to amuse herself until the mother arrived. Nothing was .ever seen of the little girl after that day. A number of strange Indians (called Canadians, because they belonged near the lakes where the set- tlers were French), had been roving around the settlements, and but a few hours before the child was missed. A party of four or five had been to Mr. Hosford's to purchase some whisky. But a few days before a party of Indians, supposed to be the same, had been to the house of Benjamin Sharrock, and attempted to negotiate for a young girl which they wanted to raise in their tribe, and be adopted as one of them. When the poor mother came in from her work and found that the little daughter had not come in the house, she knew almost intuitively that the little one was lost. She was frenzied with horror, and a strange terror crept over her; in a frantic manner, she roved up and down through the woods, one moment calling in endearing accents the name of her little child, and the next the woods would ring with her piercing shrieks, her cries and i ^ ^^ J^ 430 IlISTOEY or CRAWFOED COUNTY. appeals to heaven. Word had been sent to Mr. Asa Hosf ord, and he came with men as promptly as possible; for three days and nights the woods were searched; parties of men were sent with information in every direction, but all of no use. The frantic mother suffered so much, that all the good-hearted old pioneers tried to think of some new expedient; finally, they ceased their search in the woods and began to drag the creek. Men, women and children, with poles, rakes, grapnels, and every imple- ment that could possibly be of use, were brought out for the purpose. But hopes of the lost one died within them, and the search was gradually given up, and the bright little one was lost forever. The strange Indians were never seen in the vicinity thereafter. It was the theory of those most thoroughly versed in Indian affairs that some chief was desirous of bringing up in his tribe a white squaw that should in time be the wife of one of his favorite sons, or his legitimate successor. The only mitigation of this horrible destiny was the fact that nearly all remembrance of her parents and her innocent childhood joys would be obliterated from her memory. Near the same place, a family by the name of Bashf ord ^had taken a little girl to raise. She went out to find the cows, which, by the ringing of a bell, she soon discovered; but she was confused about the route to be taken for the house ; she kept cool, and determined to stay with the cows, knowing that when they were found she would be all right. She followed them around until they lay down; she crawled up and laid as near the back of an old cow as she could, for the sake of the warmth. In the morning, she was found rambling around with the ca1> tie and her feet somewhat frost-bitten. She was much alarmed by the howling of the wolves through the night. There were hardly any roads, except Indian trails, and women and children were often lost in passing from place to place, and in some instances men were lost. A man by the name of Samuel Dany went into the woods to shoot a deer; he soon became lost, and wandered round and round un- til he was perfectly confused. At last he came in sight of a cabin, and a woman standing in the door; he walked up to the fence, and in- quired of her where Samuel Dany lived. She laughingly told him he might come in and see. He was overjoyed to discover that it was his ovm wife and his own home. Mr. Dunlap, Owen Tuttle and James Auten went to the southeast corner of Polk one time, and in less than two hours killed five deer on two acres of ground. In an early day, a gentleman trav- eling on his way west, passed through Gallon on a fine gray Canadian stallion. Some days after, the horse was found tied to a sapling on the Beltz farm; he had the appearance of having been there for several days, but no ovmer was ever found for horse, saddle or bri- dle; the traveler could never be traced beyond that place. A few years ago, while the roads were being worked, some human bones were turned up by a scraper on the hill at the end of the bridge over "Whetstone Creek, just be- low Mr. Hosford's mill. This spot was not far from the trail traveled between Bucyrus and Gralion at the time of the supposed mur- der. In connection with this supposed murder, we will give an account of one that did occur, and one that chilled the hearts of early set- tlers with horror. With all the hardihood of the white men in Polk Township, miu^der never entered their thoughts, and this occur- rence cast a gloom over the settlement that was evident for years after. Mr. John Hammer and his brother-in-law. Bender, walked from Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn., across the Alleghany Mountains, and journeyed on foot to Wooster, Ohio, which, at that day (1836), was considered near the border. Ham- f JVJ. ^L^ HISTORY or CEAWTORD COUNTY. 431 mer had with him |200 to buy land, besides spending-money. Bender had from $30 to 140 also, but no money for land, as he went along only for company and to see the West. They went to the bank in Wooster and had the cashier examine their money, to see if it was all good; here they were discovered by two robbers, who followed them at a distance and unobserved. At Gallon, they entered a grocery store, where Hammer and Bender were, and made their acquaintance; they cas- ually asked them where they were bound for, when the men, suspecting nothing, replied that they were out looking over the Western country for some land to buy for a farm. The strangers stated that they were going that way, too, and could bear them company. They went on west together, till near the western boundary of Polk; one of the robbers secured a stout stick, and soon after they all sat on a log and talked awhile; when they arose. Bender and Hammer took separate paths, running parallel, and the robbers each followed one of the men. One then placed his pistol to the back of Bender's head and shot him; Hammer heard the crack of the pistol, but, before he could turn, he was struck over the head by a heavy green stick. He was terribly bruised and beaten, and but for the splintered condi- tion of the club, would certainly have been killed. While Hammer was being pounded so unmercifully, his comrade was having his pockets rifled; his handkerchief was torn from his neck and his watch taken, but his money was securely hid in his vest. Col. Sweeny was at that time very near, getting out logs for a saw-mill. Just after the crack of the pistol, one of the men employed yelled in a loud man- ner to the oxen. This frightened the robbers and they fled through the woods. Nothing reliable was ever heard from them after. A stranger coming from Gallon the next day, on horseback, discovered the dead man lying on his back in the mud, and yelled at the top of his voice for help. Mr. Sweeny and his men heard him, and irmnediately came up to the scene of the murder. Hammer was terrified, and ran in a southwesterly direction, until he came upon a man plowing in a field, whose name was Goodale; Hammer could speak no English, but the farmer saw plainly that the man had been badly injured. He begged to have his brother-in-law brought to him before burial, which was done. An in- quest was held in the woods where the mur- der was committed. Abraham Hahn was the Coroner. The next day the body was buried in the Campbell graveyard. Mr. Hammer re- covered, and in a couple of months, bought a farm near Bucyrus, and paid down his $200. He returned to Pennsylvania, sold out his in- terests there, and, in two years' time, moved on to his farm. Many years after, the papers had an account of the execution of a murderer, who at the last moment confessed that he had killed Bender near the Olentangy, in Craw- ford County, Ohio, and also a man in the Sherer neighborhood. While searching the records in the different offices in Bucyrus, we came across a book, in w;hich were recorded a great many descrip- tions of "marks." Mr. Asa Hosford informed us that these books were kept in each township by the Clerk, and that each owner of stock was obliged to lay claim to some mark for his cattle, and have it recorded in this book. The cattle were marked in accordance with the rec- ord, and was prima facie evidence of his prop- erty. There were left crops, right crops, long crops and short crops, whole crops and half crops, and dumb-bells in profusion and con- fusion. Besides the natural game in the woods, many hogs had a proclivity for going deep into the woods for mast, on which they fattened readily. Eventually they would breed in the forest, and the woods became full ••C s" & ly ^k^ 433 HISTOKT OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. of wild hogs without a mark upon them. In many places, the hunters would shoot these down with impunity, and without fear of be- ing called to account. The great number of hogs in the forest was always a temptation to bears. These animals have a special liking for honey and pork. As bee-trees and wild hogs were generally to be found in the vicinity of settlers, so the bear was seen, perhaps, more often about settlements than deeper in the for- est. Bruin would sometimes make bold to at- tack a pig in his own domicile ; the peculiar cry made by the hog was generally recognized by the settlers, and they rushed out at once to "save their bacon." Sometimes men would steal to the woods and mark young cattle be- fore the owner had an opportunity, and these were the pests of settlers. It was in these times that those who had no need of whole- some laws and legal restrictions, were neces- sarily often annoyed by lawless and disorderly persons. There was no absolute security for persons and property; personal courage and independent action were the greatest safe- guards, and the moral law was predominant in its sway over the masses. The plea of self- defense was more often heard than would be consistent in these times with a law-abiding people. As the settlers cleared up the lands, they began to sow some wheat. They had no near market, and there was not much induce- ment to raise more than was needed for home consumption. Up to 1825, there was much of the produce hauled to Mansfield; for wheat at this time, they generally received 25 cents per bushel, in goods. Common sheeting or calico, was worth by the yard a bushel of wheat. The women would often go to market with a crock of butter in each end of a bag, thrown across a horse, and a basket of eggs on her lap. There they received 6 cents a pound for the butter, and 3 cents a dozen for the eggs. Hearing that a better market existed at the lake, some of the settlers made the venture of hauling some grain there. The neighbors, hearing of the return of the adventurers, iiocked in to inquire about the facilities of trading at Sandusky, market prices, roads, etc. At the new market they received 55 cents per bushel for their wheat, purchased salt for $5 a barrel, and other articles in proportion. The news soon spread, and the market was turned to the north. Asa Hosford was influ- ential in getting the Columbus and Portland road to pass through Gallon, which became the highway for all traffic to the lake for many years after. He came into Polk Township on the 19th day of September, 1819, on foot, in company with his brother Horace. This was on Saturday, and Mr. Hosford determined to pass the Sabbath in quiet, and rest himself from his weary journey. He stopped with Benjamin Leveredge, for there was no hotel in all that country, and the settlers were glad to receive any one who could bring them news and talk to them of the outside world. On Sunday forenoon, Mr. Hosford observed the arrival at the cabin of ten or twelve men and a few women; they took seats in the cabin, and he conversed with them concerning the land and such topics as bore upon the times and place; finally a tall, rawboned man appeared, dressed in linsey-woolsey shirt, wamus and pantaloons, moccasins on his feet, over his shoulder powder-horn and bullet-pouch, and around his waist a belt with a large knife sus- pended by his side. On his arm he carried a long rifle. Mr. Hosford was passing his first Sabbath in a frontier town; he had no con- ception of what would happen; he asked no questions and quietly awaited developments. The tall man deposited his accouterments in a comer and took a seat; all was hushed for a few moments, when Benjamin Sharrock, for he it was, arose, and sung an old hyron; then -<——«- 4^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 433 he knelt and prayed, after which he stood up and exhorted after the Methodist fashion. Mr. Hosford was agreeably surprised, and this meeting made a lasting impression upon his mind. Mr. Sharrock had bought out the Mr. Hauck who had come from Cincinnati to start a mill, in 1822. He erected a saw and grist mill on the Olentangy. Many of his old ac- coutermenta are in the possession of his de- scendants, who value them highly, and prize them as worthy of preservation among the ar- chives of the family. Mr. Sharrock remained on his farm for many years, until his death, within the present year (1880). This remark- able man was as old, if not older, than our republic, for he believed himself to be one hundred and five years old at the time of his death. He has numerous descendants through- out the county, and his name will ever be prominent among the pioneers of Polk Town- ship and vicinity. When the first settlers came to Polk, they found a village of Wyandot Indians on the south side of the Olentangy, on ground that now forms the northern part of Gallon. They were peaceful and well disposed toward the white settlers, and rendered them valuable assistance in the erection of their cabins, and at log-rollings. At one time, Mr. Hosford had employed a number of them to assist in a log-rolling; in the evening, when the day's work was done, they all assembled in Mr. Hosford's kitchen; being slightly intoxicated, they were in humor for some demonstration of their pent-up spirits. Mr. Hosford, think- ing to amuse all present, and desiring to wit- ness some of their ceremonies, proposed that the Indians should give an exhibition of their war-dance. They readily acceded to his re- quest, and immediately placed one of their number, by name "Buckwheat," in the center of the room, and commenced a horrible dance around him. Hideous as they were of them- selves, they added to their repulsiveness con- tortions of body and countenance. They whooped and yelled and grew fiercer in their actions, till finally they dragged Buckwheat roughly from his seat and threw him violently upon the floor. One of the braves placed his foot upon Buckwheat's neck and went through the pantomime of scalping him; while others represented themselves as plunging their knives into the quivering victim. Buckwheat played his part well; he was personifying a white man in captivity; so realistic was this tableau, that a white man present became enraged at the apparent fear and trembling of Buck- wheat, and it almost required the personal re- straint of Mr. Hosford to prevent Buckwheat being killed. Mr. Hosford had reason to con- gratulate himself that before the exhibition commenced all arms and weapons had been concealed. This mimic dance and death of a white man at this period, made a lasting im- pression on those who saw it, and it brought vividly to their memories the horrible atroci- ties perpetrated in this near neighborhood but a comparatively few years before. As we have before stated, from Mi. Hos- ford's first appearance in the township, new life and energy were infused into the settle- ment. He at once became the leading spirit of progress and advancement; he was intrust- ed with many positions of responsibility, and engaged in many projects that were of per manent benefit to both Polk Township and Gallon; he circulated petitions for, and was influential in, obtaining the two roads that cross at the Reisinger Corners. The importance of these roads, in the development of the town- ship at that time, can hardly be estimated; comparatively it could only be equaled by the crossing of railroads in modern times. The first road opened was from Mansfield to Upper Sandusky; Main street in Gallon was formed of that portion which passes through the cor- ^ « ■(^ 'K^ 484 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. poration. The road has been changed some- what from its former course; originally, it angled northeast at the intersection of Main and Columbus streets, and followed the mean- derings of the Whetstone. This change was made over fifty years ago, which gives to Main street a due east-and-west bearing. This road was a stage route, and hotels soon lined the wayside. After this came the road from Columbus to Sandusky; this road was surveyed by Col. Kilborne, of Bucyrus, and was origi- nally known as the Columbus and Portland road, and many old deeds of land whose bound- aries touched this road will be found to bear the above name. The tendency of a market on the lake was to make this road one of importance. The trip could be made in from five to seven days. Unless loaded coming back, the return trip was shortened. The farmers from the south, one hundred miles from the lake, all about Delaware and surrounding country, used this road as a highway for their produce. Hotels sprang up every three or four miles along the route, and some of them have kept a hun- dred and fifty teams and men over night. A tavern, on the farm of Hon. James Robinson, frequently kept forty, and yet a majority of the farmers carried along their bread and food for themselves and horses, sleeping in their wagons. When they had passed over half the journey, they would hang up in a tree a por- tion of the horse-feed to be consumed on their return. Wheat was seldom more than 50 cents a bushel, and they were obliged to econo- mize, or their produce would be absorbed by their expenses. We know of two men in Polk Tovmship who marketed their grain in San- dusky and returned home at an expense of 6 cents each. These 6 cents purchased whisky, which was 3 cents a drink. Besides the traffic on these roads, the county began to be full of strangers; many men were hunting up lands, some for the purpose of settling and some for the purpose of speculation. So numerous were these travelers that hotel-keeping became one of the most honorable and lucrative occu- pations that one could engage in. So great was this spirit of speculation, so wild and reck- less were the people, that it was almost univers ally indulged in by those who were capable. Poverty was all that debarred any one from the privileges. Polk Township being com- paratively poor, but few were caught in the ruins of the crash; many plunged deeply in debt for land, supposing that the great num- ber of broad acres they carried could, in the near future, be unloaded with immense profit. With 1837 came the inevitable ruin that fol- lows speculation and high prices; business of all kinds was stagnated, manufacturing ceased, and markets were almost closed. The Ohio Legislature went promptly at work, enacted measures of relief and stay-laws; the United States had a surplus of money idle in the Treasury; this was divided among the States and subdivided in the counties according to population; it was then loaned otit to farmers and others in sums of $100, taking as security a mortgage on real estate for five or ten years, with 8 per cent interest. This humane act was the means of averting hardship and suf- fering from many homes, and was of the ut- most good to those who were really poor. Mr. Hosford, seeing the travel that was likely to exist on the two roads that crossed west of Gallon — one road of which was a stage route, and the other a highway to the nearest market — opened a double log tavern at the Corners. The settlement had never been regularly christened, but was known as " Moe- casion," " Hardscrabble, " " Spangtown," " Go- shen," etc. In 1824, in answer to a petition by the citizens, for a post office by the name of Goshen, the Postmaster General replied that there already existed more than one town ;i^ liL, HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 435 by that name, and suggested the name of Gallon. This was accepted, and Horace Hos- ford became the Postmaster of the Comers. James Nail says that he never heard any preaching In his life till long after his arrival In Polk Township. The fii-st sermon he heard was preached south of his mill, in a house belonging to a Mr. Straw, by Elder Jackson, the grandfather of Judge Jackson. There was a great turn-out of the settlers for miles in every direction. In 1S26, the Methodists formed a circuit through the neighborhood, and Kussel Blgelow appeared to preach the word of life, without money or without price. He was a good speaker, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures. He was large and muscular, had a voice like a lion, sharp, piercing eyes that when they became excited, seemed almost to bum like fire. All things combined to make him a very successful preacher; he was also a very exemplary Christian in his deportment, and had great influence with the people gen- erally. An old minister preached in the neigh- borhood of Polk Township many years ago. His name was John Ehinehart, and was bom in the glades of Pennsylvania; he moved to Ohio when it was a Territory; his home was in what is now Jefferson County; it is not known at exactly what period he was here, but it is stated that John Khinehart, of Bloom- ing Grove, and his twin sister, the widow Winn, of Cleveland, were bom while he was preaching in this vicinity in the log cabins of the settlers. He entered, at the land office in Wooster, the land now owned by Thomas Ehinehart and Peter Zimmerman. This early pioneer is the father of Mrs. Dr. Coyle, of Gallon. Many of his descendants are living in this vicinity. Mr. Hibner, as we have stated, erected the first grist-mill in the township; the mill was located east of town, where the old timbers may yet be seen jutting out from the bank at the railroad bridge on John Burgener's farm. Mr. Hibner had entered considerable land in the neighborhood. The buhr-stone of to-day was not procurable, and "nigger-heads" were substituted. It may easily be conceived that these primitive mills had no great capacity, and yet the settlers were very thankful to have their grain ground for domestic use. There is a story, handed down by the Hibners, of an occiUTence that took place while this family was living on the farm upon which the mill was located. Their log cabin was like all others at the time, and had the usual wall of stones back of the fire-place, with the huge chimney occupying one end of the cabin. Mr. Hibner was away from the cabin, attending his work, and Mrs. Hibner was quietly attend- ing to her household duties ; but a short time before, she had placed the baby on a blanket on the floor, near the fire-place. Some time before, one of the stones forming the back wall of the fire-place, had been loosened, and jostled from its place. Hearing some unusual noise, she looked up hastily and saw with hor- ror that a great black bear had thrust his paw through the crevice, and was making desperate efforts to reach the baby. Happily, the bear could not reach the child, and the mother quickly removed the little one from the vicinity of the fire-place, when the bear hastily betook himself to the woods. Among those who should not be forgotten was Mrs. Brown, the wife of Samuel Brovni, who had owned the northeast quarter of land that Mr. Ruhl had bought, and which now forms the northeast portion of Gallon. The land was entered by Mr. Cracraft and sold to Samuel Brown. Mrs. Brovm was known and beloved by all the families in the settlement. She spun and wove, and helped many families with their supplies of cloths, linen and yarn; many families never wove any, nor even pos- ^' i ^ 'k* 436 HISTOKT OF CEAWFOED COUNTY. sessed the machinery. Mrs. Brown generally took in such work for many miles around, and had an enviable reputation for good, clean work. She is reputed to have done the first weaving in Polk Township, and for many years the only weaving. Buckskin was a common article of wear; wool was very scarce, and cot- ton high. It was very difficult to keep sheep, on account of the wolves, and in many old accounts the article of wolves' scalps appears, for which the State paid a generous bounty. This bounty figures in accounts up to near the year 1840. Many other old settlers than we have named cleared land in Polk, and labored to conquer the wilderness, but we have given something of each one, as far as we could learn, and shall finish with Disberry Johnson. He was from Vir- ginia, and was born about the year 1764. He was twelve years old at the breaking-out of the war of the Revolution, and remembered many incidents connected therewith that he was fond of relating during his latter days. He started with his family to Kentucky, about the year 1812, but was obliged to take refuge near Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh. During the year, he went dovsTi the Ohio River, and took refuge in the block-house at Booneville till the war was over and peace declared. As soon as he was safe in doing so, he removed to Harrison County, Ohio; here his first wife died, and he married a widow lady by the name by Cooper. Mr. Johnson had six children by his first wife, the widow had six by her first- husband, and the couple were blessed by six more. As near as can be ascertained, Mr. Johnson removed to Polk Township in the year 1817. He took up the northwest quarter of Section 26, where he lived for many years. He was a Justice of the Peace in early days, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. His second wife was the grandmother of James P. Throckmorton, of Gralion, and a numerous progeny have descended from their eighteen children. The old windfall, already spoken of, destroyed all the timber on their farm, and it was upon Johnson's land that five head of cattle were imprisoned among the fallen tim- bers. Mr. Johnson had two brothers captured by the Indians while lads, but by their own bravery they made their escape by quietly arising at mght and tomahawking their two captors. Mr. Johnson died in the year 1868, and was buried in the cemetery at Galion. Many families throughout the country are de- scended from this old Virginia stock. A large bear was caught in a trap by Sam- uel Johnson; he found the trap dovm, and pieces of hair and fur attached to splinters of the trap, as also such evidence of scratching and clawing as only a bear could do. It was a mystery as to what had become of the bear, until one day soon after, while Asa Hosford, Mr. Johnson, Nat Story, James Nail and some others were working at a building, the subject was brought up. Mr. Hosford at once told the men present that, for several days, some Indians had been carrying bears' meat along a trail near his house. He had noticed that they had a bear's head, but no pelt. It was proposed that the whole party shoidd start from the Corners that night, follow the trail till they came to where the Indians were en- camped, and secure the bear's pelt. James Nail was elected Captain of the squad, and they agreed to stand by his orders. The first adventure that they met with was just east of the Corners, where the water from the springs crossed Main street. In the center of the road the water was three feet deep, and Nail ex- claimed that, as he had been elected captain, they must follow and obey him. He plunged through the water, while the rest followed after. It was quite dark, and they were wet on the first start, but this did not dampen their ardor, as they had already taken an antidote ?^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 437 against the dew. They suspected that the Indians were encamped a few miles east of Gallon. They fired off their guns, and as they approached the Indian camp, they heard a general scrambling and also heard the dogs barking from the bushes in the woods, whither the Indians had fled in their fear and conster- nation. The party entered the cabin and dis- covered by the crackling of the coals that the Indians had taken the precaution to pour water over their fire before they took flight, hoping thereby that the intruders might think the cabin unoccupied and pass it by immolested. Some of the men thought that the Indians might have taken the pelt with them; Mr. Hosford, however, took down a pole which hung across the cabin, covered with numerous deer hides, coon-sMns, mink, etc., and, rapidly throwing them aside, he soon came to a fresh bear-skin, which he knew by the long shaggy hair ; they took the bear-skin and returned home in triumph. They shot several volleys, whooped and yelled much after the Indian fashion, thereby creating considerable alarm along the route. They disposed of the pelt for about $5 worth of whisky; this beverage cost, gen- erally, 25 cents per gallon. Just north of Gallon, where David Gill and George Wood settled, there can be seen the remains of their orchard; the young trees for this orchard were taken from one of Johnny Appleseed's nurseries. The west orchard, on the Clymer land, was raised from seedlings planted by the same man, as was also the orchard on the Sharrock homestead. Many more such instances could be made known of settlers availing themselves of these fruit- trees, but enough have been mentioned to show the usefulness of this strange man. He brought with him numerous varieties of seeds (to be sown through the settlements), mostly of a medicinal character; altogether, he was a strange, simple, good man, and worthy of all the praise that has been given in his memory. Asa Hosford came from Richfield, Mass. At the age of twenty-one, he left New York (where his father had emigrated) with his brother Horace; they arrived at Cleveland in the first boat that ever sailed on Lake Erie. They started afoot for the interior, and arrived at Gallon September 19, 1819, on Saturday evening ; they rested over Sabbath at the house of Benjamin Leveredge; they passed the win- ter in Huron County, and in the spring were met by their father's family; who were on their way to Gallon; near the Corners, before any road was opened, and before any general travel was expected, the father erected a double log cabin. As settlers came in and travelers became numerous, Mr. Hosford, like all other settlers, was importuned for meals and lodging. All this while Asa Hosford was single, and working wherever he could find employment; he worked for some time with his brother Horace, who had a blacksmith-shop near his father's dwelling. He worked along several years before he had saved $100, with which to procure a piece of land; the father never kept a hotel, but merely entertained those who could not find accommodation elsewhere, or had not facilities for camping out. Finally, Mr. Hosford sold the property to his son-in-law, but he never occupied it or used it for any purpose. In 1824:, Asa Hosford opened a tavern in the double log house which he had bought from his brother-in-law; he was not yet married and he contracted with his sister to act as landlady; these duties she performed with success. Mr. Hosford was a year finding a landlady that would promise to remain with him for all time; he married Miss Alta Kent, of Bucyrus. He prospered in this tavern for eight years, at which time they sold out to John Euhl; they have three children living — ■ Eebeoca, Eri and Stephen. In the year 1824, the Corners was known as Gallon; it had a ;k^ ft^ 488 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. commodious hotel. Here two roads crossed, one of which was a stage route, and the other was a highway to market for a hundred miles south of the lake. The settlement of Gallon had a post office, a store with assorted goods, a blacksmith-shop, a schoolhouse, and a grist- mill in the Yicinity. George Wood was a car- penter and ready to put up such work as was wanted. Soon followed the distillery at the springs on Atwood street, which consumed some of the grain, and enabled the people to enjoy their whisky at 18 to 25 cents a gallon. Nathaniel Story was hunting and working "time-about;" hunters abounded all over the country, and some trapping was done. Three or four old beaver dams exist in the vicinity of Gallon, but have never been inhabited since white men settled in the vicinity. It is quite probable that some of the old British fur companies had their trappers at work here years before; they certainly got large quanti- ties of fur; these furs were, doubtless, traded to China for the very tea for which the Ameri- cans were taxed before the Revolution. Many persons at an early date engaged in bee-hunting. A Mr. Schauber sold enough honey to secure the purchase money on what is known as the Schauber farm. The beautiful forests abounded in bee-trees ; it is surprising to see the countless swarms that spread over the West. The Indians considered them the harbinger of the white man, as the whites do buffalo and deer of the Indian, and note that as the larger game retires the bee advances. The Indians with surprise found the moldering trees of their forests suddenly teeming with ambrosial sweets, and nothing can exceed the greedy relish with which they banquet for the first time upon this unbought luxury of the wilderness. The honey-bee swarms in myriads in the noble groves and forests that skirt and intersect the prairies, and along the alluvial bottoms of the creeks and rivers. The hunters generally place a piece of comb on a tree, and await the arrival of workers. As soon as the bees have loaded themselves with honey, they take their flight straight for their own tree with their load. The hunters run after them with head erect and eyes aloft, frequently stumbling over obstacles at their feet; in this manner they track the bees to their individual colonies, mark the trees, and seek for more. They dare not cut down the trees until fully prepared to take away the honey, for the bears, skunks, raccoons and possTims have sweet teeth and would soon devour any honey within their reach. The bear will gnaw for days together until they make a hole in the trunk, big enough to insert their paws, and then draw out honey, bees and all. Mr. Story states that in an early day, Doudy, an Indian, with his squaw, cut down a bee-tree. The grandfather of Story was along; the honey was very fine, and the Indian, who was very fond of Mr. Story, sent him a large piece of comb on a piece of shellbark. Story was quite overcome by the generosity of the Indian, who, he says, was gentle in peace, while desperate and brave in war. Altogether, this was a prosperous communi- ty. Farms were being cleared in every direc- tion, and there were no more doubts about the prosperity of the country. We have spoken somewhat of the attention the settlers paid to religion, and will now devote some space to education. Mr. Phous Jackson is credited by Mr. Dunlap as the first teacher in the township of Polk. This may be true, outside of Gallon, but David Gill was certainly the first teacher in Gallon. However, we give Mr. Dunlap's statement, and when we write of Gallon we will give the school history from beginning to end. He says that Phous Jack- son, a cousin of Judge Jackson, had taught two months in the winter of 1825, in a private house, the first and only school that had ever ^ HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 439 been taugM in the township. In the fall of the next year, Mr. Dunlap concluded to teach ; he held school for three months, at $1.25 per pupil. The people soon put up a log cabin, 12x14, seven logs high to the eaves, for a schoolhouse ; they split some slabs or puncheons for a floor, spread some clapboards overhead for a loft, had foolscap paper greased for win- dov?s, had slabs for seats, and a board for writing desk. Among the first scholars who attended that school now living, are Dr. Story, of Iowa, a Free-"\Vill Baptist minister ; James Reeves, a preacher, and Gen. George Row, of Marion, a lawyer. We cannot find the date of organization of school districts in the county, nor of subdistricts in Sandusky Township ; at the first division. Gallon formed Subdistrict No. 9, and it remained so some time. Gallon was advanced to a borough in 1840, and elected her first Mayor, Joel Todd, but the school re- mained in the same order. The law under which school districts are formed is such that opportunities are ever present for making new districts or changing their form, adding to or taking from. Not even an attempt can be made to give the boundaries of old or new dis- tricts and their changes ; their outline might present a geometrical figure, whose area a Newton would be puzzled to compute. The township was not settled in its different por- tions with the same rapidity, and while a " dis- trict " would be imperative in one part, perhaps the same area would have but a few families in some other portion of the township. However, they got along with their primitive schools and primitive teachers, and at this time have seven school districts and seven good brick school- houses. Nothing could be more prosperous than this conditon of things. The reports of these schools show prosperity, and a full and realiz- ing sense of the importance of education. The names of the schoolhouses in the several districts are as follows: Dice's, Rhinehart's, Hillgrove Klopfenstein, Jackson's, Williams', Bergner's. These schoolhouses have each good fm-niture, and in every respect are models of neatness and comfort, and each district is strenuous in its efforts to secure good and efficient teachers. Certainly the youth of Polk Township have no reason to complain of a lack of educational facilities, as they will compare favorably with those of any other State. The earliest record of the schools of the township are dated 1843. There were at that time nine districts. Gallon forming Subdistrict No. 9. The whole num- ber of school children for the year was 397. The following is the annual report of the enumeration of youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years in Polk Township, Craw- ford County, taken and returned to the under- signed township Clerk of said township, by the Local Directors, between the first and third Mondays in September, 1863 : J3 NO. or YOUTH. d § 1 O i 3 and 4 5 and 6 2 and 3 26, 27, 34, 35. 36,1,25,26 2<) and 30 27, 2i, 29, 33, 34. a 1 II 1 a 1 19 1.7 23 29 41 9 44 19 18 39 36 33 18 43 38 45 SR 2 45 3 62 { 62 4 64 74 >" 6 I 6 27 87 27 7 { }87 Total 192 205 The trade of Polk continued for many years along the Columbus and Sandusky City road. Small lots of goods were brought back by the farmers, such as salt, groceries, etc. ; but many of the stores throughout the county brought their stock from Philadelphia and Baltimore, over the mountains. This was expensive and tedious, but paid better than to buy goods at the lake that had passed through so many hands. In the year 1840, a strap railroad was built from Sandusky to Monroeville; the cars were drawn by horses. After this, the D >y -t^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. farmers of Polk and vicinity took their prod- uce to Monroeville, thereby saving three or four days of time, this trip consuming on an average not more than three days. Eventually the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark road was built; as soon as it was finished to Mansfield and Shelby, the latter place became the market for Polk Township, as Mansfield had been in the beginning. There it continued until the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati road was brought to Gallon. Then the era of taverns and long roads to market was ended forever in Polk TovTnship. The reason that the Colum- bus & Sandusky road was not a stage route, was the fact that a north-and-south road, east and west of it, passed through the county seats, and those routes were selected for stage travel. The building of the railroad was an era in the growth and development of Polk Township as well as that of Gallon; she took rapid strides in growth; for many years, the popu- lation of Polk and Gallon was far behind Bucy- rus and its township, but ere many years Gallon and Polk led their rivals by a large majority. The census of 1880 gives to Polk Township, outside of Gallon, a population of 883. This is a gain of only 37 during the last decade. We can hardly expect the population of Polk Township to ever rise to a very high figure. From the present geographical location of Polk, it is evident that no other town will ever exist within its limits other than Gallon. The whole township is given to agriculture, with almost no waste of untillable land, and no great interest can exist here. At the time the lands were mostly taken up, there was peace throughout the territory, and everybody felt secure in making large purchases and invest- ing all their means. The natural result of this method of buying has been to create large farms. Thus, from year to year, the forests have been cut away, swampy and wet land has been drained, and nearly all of what was once considered poor land has been reclaimed. Tear by year the acreage has increased; each farmer has widened out his domain of tillable land, while labor-saving machinery has lessened the demand for working hands. The gain of thirty-seven inhabitants in the last decade, bears no relation whatever to the increase of productiveness and large gains of marketable produce. Two miles east of Gallon are the tile works of Messrs. Weaver & Eeed. This factory was started in May, 1879; they have a dry-kihi, 148 feet in length, with a commodious engine- house; there is a capacity for burning 2,500 tile at one time. They have five men constantly employed, who average 7,000 tile per day. There is a large and increasing demand for tile throughout this and adjoining townships; the draining of lands, by means of a system of tiling, has passed from the domain of experi- ment to that of an assured and valued success. There are on the Infirmary grounds, or county farm of Crawford County, about two and one- half miles of tiling. Nearly every farmer in the tovraiship is acquainted with the system, and is well informed as to its value, where needed. There is no doubt but that a permanent de- mand will be made for these tile, that will in- sure their constant manufacture. The con- venience of the factory to the farmers of Polk is a matter of congratulation, as it always is when the requirements of the farm can be produced in the near vicinity of their consump- tion. There is but one church in Polk Township, outside of Gallon. This is what is known as the old Baptist Church, just east of Gallon. A short trip through Polk Township in the spring of the year will reveal the fact that most of the wheat has been drilled in, and not sown broadcast. Good fences inclose all the farms, and the buildings are models of beauty ^ ^'. ?w HISTORY OF CRAAVFORD COUNTY. 443 and utility. "When the grass is cut, you do not hear the continual whet, whet, of the back- breaking scythe; but you do hear the rattle of machinery, and see the farmer comfortably seated on his mowing machine, driving his sleek and well-conditioned horses across the meadows ; and, when the hay is cured and be- ing collected for housing away, you see the horse-rake gathering in the scattered hay in a rapid and cleanly manner. Then, at the barn or stack comes in the horse-fork, which per- forms the work that has always been laborious and tedious to the farmer. This same fork, in combination with an improved hay-knife, enables the farmer to load his ricks with ease, and haul to market with a great saving of time and labor. Then comes the grain. It was thought to be the acme of perfection, a few years ago, when wheat and grain were cut down rapidly enough to keep two rakers and binders busy behind a machine. Now, with the driver comfortably seated on the machine the grain is rapidly swept down, gathered up in bundles and tied, and when a sufficient number are accumulated can be dropped in one spot for putting up in shocks; and, suppose, under unavoidable circumstances, the grain be too dry to cut in this manner. They have only to take another machine, called the header, that will cut off the heads only from the straw, and the grain can be taken to the bam in tight wagon boxes. During the early days, wheat was threshed with a flail, or by tramping of horses and cattle ; men went from farm to farm and contracted to do their threshing for them, generally at the price of one-tenth of the yield. The horse-power threshing machine involved considerable work and many hands and teams, yet it was a great advance over hand-flailing and tramping. Now, after harvest, can be seen all over the country, vTreaths of smoke curling upward, which mark the spot where some little engine, run by steam, threshes the grain much more perfectly than was ever done by hand All hands are not obliged to stop and give the horses a rest; the motive power in a steam- thresher never gets tired. What a compari- son! The farmers of Polk ride in carriages every week, that, sixty years ago, would have stamped them at once as aristocratic in the extreme. Polk Township as it now exists (1880) is a model of what may be accomplished by pa- tience and well-directed industry. The early pioneers who have labored over sixty years to make of this a vineyard, to transmute the howl- ing wilderness into a blooming garden, are worthy of praise, honor and emulation. They have received the reward of their daring en- terprise, as far as material interests are con- cerned. The heavy timber and thick under- growth have been cleared away ; their orchards are abundant, and they blossom and bear fruit; broad acres of ripening grain redeem the promises of a full yield; an abundance of fine horses, cattle and sheep, with all kinds of stock, show well the luxuriousness of their rich meadows; the large and well-filled barns, the beautiful country homes, with a thousand comforts and luxuries, above all attest that a bountiful harvest has succeeded from the first sowings of civilization sixty years ago. The experiences and necessities of successive generations have brought their legitimate results. Prom the first rude log cabin and bam, we can now see many beautiful mansions of frame and of brick, with spacious barns and outbuildings of the finest work. Prom the first rude schoolhouse, that was a wonder when it was built, we can now see seven well- appointed brick sohoolhouses. Not only these opportiinities are ever present, but it is rapidly becoming a custom for the farmers to send their sons and daughters to a higher grade of schools when they have done with their own, and the barrier between the country and city bred, is \eMs 31 ik^ 444 I-IISTOET OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. fast disappearing. Now it is a common cus- tom for the wealthy and retired merchant to have his country seat, and the farmer, after years of toil and accumulation, bethinks him- self of a city residence with its advantages of school and cultivation for his children. CHAPTER XII.* CITY OP GALION— FIRST PLAT AND ADDITIONS— SOME OF ITS BUSINESS MEN— GROWTH AND BUSINESS— HOTELS, BANKS, MILLS, ETC— INCORPORATION— FIRE DEPARTMENT— CEMETERIES. GAIjION was laid out September 10, 1831, by Michael and Jacob Euhl. At this time, it was in Sandusky Township, Eichland County. The original plat consisted of thirty-five lots, and extended from Lot No. 1, on which the Eistine Block stands, to the second alley on West Main street. The first addition was made by the same parties December 14, 1833, and consisted of thirty-three lots. Over sixty separate and distinct additions have since been made. The nearest towns to Gralion, when it first made its appearance as a geographical location, were Mansfield, Upper Sandusky, New Haven and Mount Gilead, and by calling them towns at that time they received a dignity that would hardly be accorded them now. Galion was the natural inheritor of what little business and enterprise existed at the Corners. About the public square was higher ground and a more desirable location in every respect for a village; the Corners were built upon low, swampy ground; they were in close proximity to the sluggish head-waters of the Olentangy, and the land rose higher on every side of the settlement; nothing but the crossing of the roads ever gave that spot any prestige over any other locality. The business was not long in being transferred to the vicinity of the square, and the plat of the old settlement was taken up. It was, as we have intimated, knovra. by numerous names; but when a post ofiice was ♦Gontibuted by Dr. J. 0. McBvaine. established in 1824, it began to curtail some of the titles, and select one upon which there could be some unanimity. The petition signed by the residents, named Goshen as the most euphonious, but the Postmaster General in- formed the good people of the burg that there was already more than one Goshen, and with their permission he named the new post office Galion. The name can be found no- where else in the world. "What suggested it or whether it was arbitrary upon his part, is unknown. John Euhl, the father of Michael and Jacob Euhl, had entered several quarter sections in the vicinity of Galion. He came from York County, Penn., direct to Galion and moved into a log cabin at the Corners. The cabin was without a floor, except the earth; the fam ily consisted of father, mother, Michael, Jacob, Levi, Henry, Peter and Eebecca; the daughter, Eebecca, was married to MJr. J. Criley, who lived on a farm, which now forms the southeast portion of the city; the west line of this farm is now South street, on the corner of which stands the residence of Samuel Myers. Mr. Criley had a carding machine and fulling mill; the motive power of this machinery was a steam engine, the first that ever did service in Galion. Mr. Euhl, Sr., was possessed of considerable means in lands and money; he purchased and sold to Jacob, his son, the northeast quarter of Section 81, and to Michael the southeast quar- ter of the same section. Henry Euhl owned 9 "V ^! HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 445 the Gill farm, and Levi owned the land that was known as the Brewery land, on the State road, and Petar Ruhl owned a farm east of Asa Hos- ford's mill. Jacob Enhl was an active member and a zealous worker in the Lutheran Church, and gave much of his time and influence toward the erection of the first public edifice that was dedicated to God in Galion. He erected the first saw-mill in Polk Township or near vicinity of Galion. James Nail had erected a saw-mill at a much earlier date, but, as near as can be determined, it was just without the present south line of Polk Township. Mr. Euhl's saw-mill was on North Market street, at the creek; traces of the old race and dam are yet remaining east of the street. Michael Ruhl kept a store on the square in a frame house; Jacob Ruhl kept a tavern where the Sponhauer Block is. This was the first frame house erected in Galion or Polk Township. It had been built by Asa Hosford, who, some time before, had erected a frame bam near the old Comers, which was also the first frame barn in the township. This bam was entitled to special recognition, as its walls and rafters had been witness to the word of God and hymns and prayer long before any building had been specially consecrated to Him. Michael Ruhl kept a varied stock in his store south of the square ; goods of all descrip- tions that could be wanted in a frontier town were there. It has been said of him, however, that he inclined to drugs, and that he carried quite a stock of medicines, patent and other- wise; also that he possessed as much medical skill as was possible without a special prepara • tion for the practice, and was always proud to be able to assist in alleviating suffering and pain. John Ruhl, the father, died in Galion. Jacob and Michael are both dead, and Peter yet resides in Galion. Jacob has three daughters living in Galion — Mrs. O. T. Hart, Mrs. Seth Cummings and Miss Mary Ruhl. The latter lady has her home with her sister, Mrs. Seth Cummings. Mrs. O. T. Hart, while a young girl, went to school at the old log schoolhouse on Main street. One day, while they were conning over their les- sons and deep in the mysteries of Webster's old speller, a man on horseback came riding from the west, at a breakneck speed; his hair was disheveled, his clothing hung in the wind, and his countenance had an appearance of abject terror. He shouted and gesticulated in a loud and excited manner, saying that the Indians were coming in force, and bidding each one seek safety in flight. School was promptly dismissed, and the little ones fled with unabated spead to their homes for safe- ty. No Indians came, and the excitement died away. No one has ever accounted for the ori- gin of the alarm. Soon after the arrival of the Ruhls, they began to plan the work, which they afterward accomplished. They already possessed a manifest advantage in the great quantity of valuable land they possessed, and it was soon known that they were in posses- sion of money with which they could pm-ehase more; and they determined to possess more ; they bought of others such pieces as they would need to carry out their enterprise, or that would sell at a good advance after their improvements were made. They were considered good men, of an enterprising na- ture, and valuable additions to the little com- munitj^. There were others in the settlement who had hoped to do much, and contemplated the very work that the Ruhls were evidently engaged in. But they knew they could not compete with the new-comers and their wealth. The result was that they com- bined their labor with the Ruhls and hon- estly aided them in the furtherance of their plans. It is not known that any of the Ruhl family ever took advantage of any man's pov- erty or flnancial embarrassments when they •? a ^ i\^ 446 HISTOEY OF ORA.WFORD COUNTY. bid for their lands. When Col. Kilbourne was surveying his road from Columbus to Port- land, he tried hard to get the road through James Leveredge's land, so the two roads would cross considerably east of where the crossing now is. Leveredge positively refused to allow it. It had been whispered around that Col. Kilbourne intended to lay out a vil- lage about half way between Columbus and the lake, and Leveredge was bound that his farm should not be out up into lots. In this he showed the childish fear of a surveyor that pertains to the Indians, for the latter have a superstitious dread of surveyors. The Col- onel wanted to avoid the swamp, and talked up the matter of a village to Mr. Hosford. This gentleman had not the means to do anything, but became the warm friend of Col. Kilbourne. The latter had stopped a few nights with Leveredge, who charged him a high price for his entertainment. Col. Kilbourne was a little soured, and, perhaps, justly incensed against the indifference of Gallon, and when his com- pass came to the last sight before reaching Gallon, it pointed farther west, and the road took its present location. Col. Kilbourne was bound to have his town. Soon after, he ran the road from Columbus through where Bucy- rus now is, and there he planted his town. It has done well, and perhaps but for the rail- road interest here, would have been much ahead of Gallon, as, in fact, she was for many years. By his influence, the road became a stage route to the lake. Thus it was that the Euhls took up the work that Col. Kilbourne had planned, and that Asa Hosford had afterward contemplated. In nearly every instance they (the Euhls) paid the price asked, and closed the bargain with ready cash or its equivalent. We are unable to find any of the deeds, or any records of their transfers, with the exception of one, which is in the possession of Hon. 0. T. Hart, of Gallon, a son-in-law of Jacob Euhl. It is a curious article of agreement between Samuel Brown and John Ruhl. At the time of the transfer, the land in question was in Sandusky Township, Eichland County, the western line of the township of Sandusky being located on the west line of J. E. Clymer's orchard, and the west line of the farm in question, was the north and south quarter line, on the east line of Gill's farm. The land had been entered by Cracraft and sold to Samuel Brown. The document reads as follows : Article of agreement, made and entered into this first day of August, A. D. 1831, between Samuel Brown, of Sandusky Township, Richland Co., Ohio, yeoman, of the one part, and John Ruhl, of Sandusky Township, and Crawford County and State aforesaid, yeoman, of the other part ; WITNESSETH, That the said Samuel Brown, for the consideration hereinafter mentioned, doth grant, bar- gain and sell unto the said John Ruhl, a certain tract of laud, with all thereunto belonging (excepting one acre in the southeast corner of it, which being sold for a church yard), situated in Sandusky Township, Eich- land County, aforesaid, being the northeast quarter of Section 31, Township 20, Range 20, and containing — acres, and adjoining the public road leading from Mansfield to Bucyrus, Frederick Dickson and others, for which the said John Ruhl is to pay unto the said Samuel Brown, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, in the manner following, viz.: Eight hundred dollars in hand on the first day of September next, and seven hundred dollars on the first day of September, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty-three. The said John Ruhl is to have six geese, six hens and one rooster, to be delivered up to the said Ruhl when said Brown gives full possession, and the said Ruhl is to have liberty to cut timber, dig, etc., on said land from the date hereof, and the said Brown is to give the said Ruhl a good right and title for said tract of land when he pays the hand money. But the said Brown is to have the crops now on the ground, and have privilege to live on the said land until the first day of April next; then he is to deliver up all unto the said John Ruhl, excepting the house now on the State road (now occupied as a sohoolhouse), which, in case said Brown would not move on the first day of April next, he is to have the privilege of living in two B \ ?i^ HISTORY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. 447 months after, and Sarah Brown is to have stuff for a new frock when she signs the writing. The said Brown is to haye the privilege of sugar camp next to the house, and all the pasture on the farm, excepting the six-acre meadow. But Ruhl is to have privilege to plow the fields. For the true performance of the above agree- ments, both parties bind themselves, their heirs, exec- utors or administrators, one to each other, in the sum of thirty hundred dollars. In witness whereof, both have hereunto set their hands and seals, the day and the year first above written. Witnesses: Samhel Brown, [seal.] Asa HosFOBD, John Ruhl. [seal.] Ben J. Grove. The biirying-grouiid referred to is the old one east of the German Reformed Church; the schoolhouse named above was the second one built and referred to before. It was a cus- tom in former days, that holds good now in some communities, to present the wife stuff for a new frock whenever called upon to sign a deed. From this piece of land, and a corre- sponding piece on the south, was laid out the public square, and the first thirty-five lots of Gallon. It will not be imfair to say that the Ruhls had no idea nor full conception of the extent to which their new tovra. would prosper. They could have had no knowledge of the coming of railroads, for it was not till the year 1844 or 1845 that Mr. Hosford was intrusted with the developing of an interest in railroads in favor of Gallon. They could not have known that the Columbus and Portland wagon road would cease to be the highway to market, for the railroad from Sandusky to Mansfield had not been built. After all, they must have had ujidaunted courage, and strong faith in the future. At this very time, one could look around and see but few houses about the square, and fewer people, while, looking down "West Main street toward, the Corners, there could be seen on the north-and-south road and about the hotel and little cluster of buildings there, an almost unceasing stream of wagons, fairly blocking the roads at times. The bustle and activity of the roads crossing here had, of course, made it an excellent tavern stand and location for post office and blacksmith- shop. Otherwise, it was a poor site for a grow- ing town or city. Any one having a proper idea of the development of our cotmtry and the growth of the State, would never have laid out a town at the Corners; but this could be known to no one. The first railroad would stop the travel to market on the wagon road, and travelers would at once have better egress and ingress at a less cost than by staging over rough roads and deep mud. Mansfield was growing; surrounding towns gave evi- dence of advancement; foreigners were arriv- ing in great numbers, and the land was being rapidly taken up; travelers were numerous everywhere, and the stages and hotels were crowded with men, whose purpose and busi- ness it was to put their shoulder to the wheel, and, with mighty efforts, crowd the line of the frontier on to the west — through forest and prairie and over river and mountain. This spot where Gallon now stands has grown beyond all former expectations, and the whole State now occupies a position among her sister States that is enviable in the extreme. Nor is the end yet. The city of Gallon has an inherent property pertaining to its potential powers and possibilities that few realize. There are large opportunities here for manufacture and whole- sale and shipping facilities that should be util- ized to a far greater extent than they are at the present time. We believe that a few more years of time will give to moneyed men a realizing sense of their golden opportunities. However, returning to the Kuhls, they found their lots were having a fair sale, and quite a little business began to exist, which made some stir around the square. The business was gradually transferred from the Corners to the new plat, although it is a mistake to think that any of the buildings were removed. In ^T^ ±\l^ 448 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. the winter of 1833, the Euhls put on another addition of thirty-three lots, and they were much pleased with the prosperity of their young city. In the year 1836, Jacob Euhl erected a saw-mill at the creek on North Mar- ket street. The timber was heavy, and the ground wet and swampy; the handling of the timber was an herculean task, yet paid well for the investment. It was the only saw-mill in the near vicinity, and furnished most of the sawed timber for the early buildings on the first and second plats. The panic of 1837 had little bad effect in Gallon. The Euhls had paid, and paid well, for all they got; they had bought out Asa Hosford's hotel and nine acres; they had bought the southwest corner of the square and the frame building that was the first erected in Galion. East of the square, Samuel Brown owned on the north side, and Asa Hosford had piuchased south and east of the square. Mr. Hosford had his own idea of about what he intended to do, but had no idea that any other person contemplated doing just the same thing. He had had a talk with Samuel Brown, and the two had agreed that they together would lay out a plat and become the proprietors of a village. Hosford was full of this plan and was feeling quite posi- tive of success. Imagine his chaorin when he found that Mr. Brown had sold to the Euhls, and the latter were at his door in a quiet, gentle and most apologetic manner in the world, begging to know how much Mi-. Hosford desired for this last piece of ground. Mr. Hosford would like to have founded a town; but he was yet comparatively young and other opportunities might present themselves more favorably than the present. He accord- ingly asked a good high price for the land. Mr. Euhl paid the price, and the platting went on. Thus, when the panic of 1837 came, the Euhls were out of debt. The farmers were mostly out of debt, and the city passed through the panic with colors flying, as she did during the panic of 1873. As far as manufacturing is concerned, there was almost none in 1837. Produce brought a very low price, but it could be consumed or stored at home, and there was no crash by banks, for we had none in Gallon; and what cash was in tjie county was in the hands of the people. As, a matter of course, some lost by reason of bills that became bad while in their possession, but that was a minor evil compared with the distress in some communi- ties. We know of one man in the West who has one room papered with bills of banks that were broken while in his possession. Directly after the war of 1812, settlers coming to Ohio paid $2 a bushel for wheat, |1 for com. Every- body sowed as much as they could, and put no restrictions upon the amount they would raise. In two years wheat was 25 cents a bushel, and could not be marketed when raised any distance from navigable streams, not even could the produce be traded for store goods. The result of this was that farmers raised no more than was sufficient for home consump- tion. Many of these men emigrated to Ohio, and some to this vicinity. They knew well from experience or tradition the results of the panic in 1815 or 1816, and treasured up wis- dom for what they had anticipated. One of the duties intrusted to Asa Hosford during the session of the Legislature in the winter of 1844-45 — -during his visit to the State capital — was that of securing an opening through the township and city by means of a railroad. Mr. Hosford worked earnestly for this road. As first proposed, it was to end on the south at Columbus and strike the old San- dusky, Mansfield & Newark Eailroad at some convenient point near Shelby. Now, to fully realize the condition of affairs, it must be re- membered that Polk Township and all the farming country that was nearer to Mansfield r i]^ HISTORY or CEAWFORD COUNTY. 449 than Sandusky, were having their trade and selling their prodnq^^t Mansfield and Shelby, Eichland County, which was the most powerful county in Northern Ohio. She had brilliant men in her courts and legislative halls, among whom might be mentioned Gov. Bartley, Thomas Ford, Judge Brinkerhoof, Judge Stuart, Barnabas Bums, and hosts of others. At this time, Thomas Bartley was President of the Senate, and Hettrick was Eepresenta- tive. Hettrick had secured an enactment whereby that portion of Eichland County that had passed into Crawford was released from taxation for public buildings for all time. But in regard to the railroad, Mansfield was the market town, and her people knew that a railroad through GI<|lion would destroy their trade with us; and on the west at Bucyrus, they were making a desperate struggle for the county seat against Gallon. Mr. Hosf ord suc- ceeded in putting by the permanent location for two years, and it has been said that Gallon came within one vote of securing the location here. With this opposition, Mr. Hosf ord had a large and formidable array of opponents and a perfect galaxy of talent against him. The Eepresentatives from the two north and south extremes of the State were indifferent about the road, for neither extremes of the road affected them. Eventually, the Repre- sentatives of Cleveland and Cincinnati con- ceived the idea of projecting the proposed road from the lake at Cleveland to Cincinnati, on the Ohio River. They at once interested themselves in the project, and went to work with Mr. Hosford. They found an old charter bearing date of 1836. This charter was re- vived on the 15th day of March, 1845, and the road was completed in 1851, and known as the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Rail- road. It is a fact little known that Mr. Hosford never put forth any urgent claims to this honor, and has never made any clamorous demands for recognition in this respect. It is fitting in this place, to give him the credit he deserves, and recognize in him the chief worker in the interests of Gallon for this rail- road. The success following this enterprise was great; it took Gallon from the woods and gave her a highway to the markets of the world. A great boon was this railroad to Gal- ion; her greatest era must date from its com- pletion; the natural growth and prosperity of Gallon were immediately advanced ; there were no valuable water privileges ; there were no rich veins of mineral wealth hidden beneath the soil. Gallon had heretofore existed as a mere convenient center for agricultural interests; there was now a road that brought foreign produce and articles of home consumption to their doors, and which took in return the wheat and corn and pork of their own pro- duction. For years, Polk and Gallon had gone abroad with their products in search of a market. Now there was a reversal of condi- tions — Gallon was now a market, and others came to her to trade. Sandusky, Milan, Mon- roeville and Mansfield were only casually men- tioned, and but few interests remained to call the citizens of Gallon to these places. New settlers could reach the township and village with greater ease; goods and household fur- niture could be brought cheaper than by the long roads with cumbersome wagons across the mountains, through swamps and long reaches of wilderness. Gradually the property left the possession of the Ruhls, but they yet retained an influ- ence and had considerable power in shaping the destiny of Gallon. The lands changed hands rapidly; new buildings were erected, of a more modern style ; new interests arose ; the occupations of a large number of the citizens were changed, and from a country town Gallon rapidly assumed the habits and manners of a railroad center. In the year 1840, Gallon }, ^ .u 450 HISTOKY OF CBAWFOBD COUNTY. was advanced to the dignity of a borough, the definite date of which is not known. At this time, the population of Sandusky Town- ship was 679, and as near as can be determined, the population of Galion within its present limits, was, in 1849, but 379. Surely there must have been a sparse settlement in 1840; however, as small as it was, she elected Joel Todd for her first Mayor. The first brick block in the village was erected in 1839, by Davis & Bloomer, on the northeast comer of the square, where for many years they carried on the dry-goods business. It was generally known as the " village store." This building is yet standing, and is occupied. The brick which forms it were made by Dr. Beard on the ground where now stands the Capitol Hotel. The Doctor found ample time between epidemics to manufacture brick. The first brick building for a residence was built by John Kuhl, on the property at the Comers, and is the little brick on what is known as the J. R. Clynyr property. This was followed by the brick, in the east part of the city, now known as the Harding property. Thus it will be seen that there were but three brick buildings within the present limits of the city of Galion in 1839, and each of them put on quite an aristocratic appearance. This can be readily understood when we know that the first frame building in the township was erected by Asa Hosford on the public square in the year 1832. The charter for the Bellefontaine & Indiana Eailroad was issued February 25, 1848; it was completed in 1859, and consolidated with the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis Railroad, forming what is now called the Indianapolis Division of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cin- cinnati Railroad; strips of land, 180 feet wide, extending from Main street to Atlantic & Great Western crossing, and from South Mar- ket street to the old junction of the Indian- apolis branch with the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati road, were donated to the com- pany by Alpheus Atwood. The old Bellefon- taine & Indianapolis shops were finished in 1854. Thomas Quigley was the first master mechanic; he took the first engine, " "Wash- ington," over the road. The roundhouse was destroyed by fire in 1866, but was immediately rebuilt. When the road was completed from Galion to Marion in 1852, the shops were located at the latter place. A. M. Stewart, of Galion, was one of the first workmen employed. He afterward, in 1863, with Mr. Duck, built the cattle yards and sheds in Galion. H. S. Camp, also a resident of Galion, was employed by the company for many years at this point as agent; he sold the first ticket at Marion, using a box car for an office; the money and tickets were carried home with him every night in a tin box. Previous to the completion of this road to Galion and the location of its shops here, there were no resi- dences south of J. U. Bloomer's residence on South Market street. Many persons, at that time, desiring to take a walk into the country, would go no farther than the residence of J. U. Bloomer's, and the present site of the Ohio & Pennsylvania Eailroad depot was well into the suburbs. The Atlantic & Ghreat Western was finished through Galion in 1863, and the shops built shortly after the completion of the road. In 1871-72, the large brick shops were erected, and a new impetus was given to the building interests of Galion. These railroads, •with their immense shops, constitute the life and vitality of Galion. It has been estimated that not less than 65 per cent of our present population is composed of railroad men and their families, and the average monthly sum paid out to the employes residing in Galion was, five years ago, over $45,000. Since then the amount has increased to a much greater extent. The men from the shops of the Cleve- -if* !i^ HISTORY OF CKAWFOKD COUNTY. 451 land, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Eailroad, were removed to the new shops at Brightwood some few years ago ; they retained some hands here, and tlie blacksmith departs ment is of greater extent than at the time of removal; there are upward of a hundred men in the old shops. There are at present twenty- two day-men in engine house, and twenty- three night-men; there are thirty-five helpers and forgers; twenty-three in machine shop, and twenty-two in car department. There are ninety-eight engineers and firemen, anA the whole number of men in the employ of this company and residing in Gallon is very near four hundred. Among the old and well- tri ed engineers, running now on these divisions, are A. B. Quigley, who commenced in 1852 ; John Brunton, 18.55; William Smith, 1853; Jerry Myers, Samuel Rule, Samuel Alleman, 1860. The Ohio & Pennsylvania shops are now in a prosperous condition ; the men are working over hours. The immense undertaking of nar- rowing the gauge of the road from 6 feet to the standard of 4 feet 8J- inches, has caused the narrowing of all the engines, and shorten- ing the trucks on all the cars. Before the large shops were built, a portion of the roundhouse was utilized as a shop. There are accommoda- tions for twenty-two engines in the round- house. All the water used about the works comes from the creek, where the company have a pump. This is about a quarter of a mile north on Edward street. The first super- intendent of the third and fourth divisions was H. D. Chapin, who remained for about one and a half years. Mr. T. A. Phillipps succeeded Mr. Chapin, and has retained the position ever since. On the 6th day of Jan- uary, 1880, the Atlantic & Great Western was sold by the foreclosure of mortgages, and passed into the hands of the Ohio & Pennsyl- vania Company. No sooner had they taken possession than they began to plan for the narrowing of the gauge, and the general im- provement of the road. All being ready, on the 22d day of June, 1S80, the signal was given, and from end to end of the road, men labored with might and main. This work had been so skillfully planned, every difiiculty anticipated, and all preparations so accurately made, that the road was narrowed in less than half a day. Very few trains were delayed, and hardly a break occurred in the great business of this road. The work of narrowing engines is yet going on, the average cost being $1,600. If a new boiler and fire-box are re- quired, the expense runs upward of $3,000. The machine shop proper contains the loco- motive works, the smith-shop and carpenter- shop. Just west of the roundhouse, there is a building occupied as rail-shop. The cost of all the buildings connected with local work has been estimated at nearly 1100,000. The first master mechanic of these shops was James ' Ball; the date at which Ball took possession was 1864; H. M. Sprague succeeded Mr. Ball in 1866; Mr. Sprague remained till 1869, when Allen Cook succeeded him; in 1873, C. W. Butts succeeded Cook; it was during the stay of Mr. Butts that a large portion of the machinery was put in place; on the 1st of July, William Hill became the master me- chanic, and has retained his position ever since. Mr. Hill made large additions to the tools, and successively introduced new ma- chinery. In the same office with Mr. Hill are Mr. P. H. Martin, locomotive clerk for third and fourth divisions, and Samuel Parsons, assistant locomotive clerk for third and fourth divisions. Both these gentlemen have been long connected with the shops here, and are well acquainted with all the minutiae and de- tails of their history. A. M. Brown is fore- man of the machine shop; William Price, foreman of blacksmith-shop; Robert Laird, K* -1^ 452 HISTOKY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. %. foreman of boiler-sliop; James Spittle, forem.an of coppersmith-shop; A. M. Ball is engine dispatcher and foreman of roundhouse, and is the oldest man on the road; Ed Schrock is store-keeper; A. N. Monroe is foreman of carpenter-shop; C. H. Newell, foreman paint- shop; Hugh Ross has charge of the rail-shop, and Col. J. W. Holmes is superintendent of car repairs. Among some of the oldest en- gineers connected with the road are L. N. Harriman, J. T. Pinckney, J. T. Wright, J.C. Bull, J. M. Dando and E. A. Grurley. For several months the average number of men employed in the shops has been 362, including engineers and firemen of third and fourth divisions. The average pay to each man by the day is $1.93, excluding those employed by the month, whose pay monthly amounts to $710. The average monthly pay to the shop department is $21,500. All this does not include the superintendent's office. There the pay-rolls are made up of the conductors, brake- men, and the monthly men in their depart- ment. For some considerable time, the subject of making Galion a city of the second class had been in contemplation. A number of times a vote was taken and the people declined to favor it. Finally, in 1878, a charter was se- cured, and an election ordered. The city is divided into four wards, each of which was entitled to two Councilmen. Abraham Under- wood was elected Mayor the last election before the charter was received. James R. Homer was elected Mayor; John D. De Golley, Solic- itor; H. C. Sponhauer, Treasurer. Members of Council — First Ward, M. Wisler and C. R. Miller; Second Ward, H. Helfrich and D. Hoover; Third Ward, Samuel Myers and A. Long; Fourth Ward, David Mackey and P. Daily. D. T. Price, Marshal. The names and the date of the election of each Mayor, from the advance of Gallon to a borough, up to the time of the charter election, are given below with as much accuracy as is possible. Joel Todd, 1840, Daniel Hoover, 1846 (Mr. Hoover resigned one year after election, to take the post office under President Polk); Alpheus Atwood, unknown; George Downer, unknown; Andrew Poe, 1858; W. C. Parsons, 1860 and 1862; Charles Quigley, 1864; Peter Cress, 1866; M. V. Payne, 1868; O. T. Hart, 1870; M. Burns, 1872 (resigned, and Samuel Myers elected to finish the term) ; Jacob Meu- ser, 1874 (resigned, and Wilson Armstrong elected to serve out the term) ; W. I. Goshom, 1876; Abraham Underwood, 1878; charter election was in 1879, and J. R. Homer elected first Mayor of the city. Part of the time while Gallon was a borough, the term of office for mayor was two years, the balance of the time being but for one year. The assessed valuation of Gallon was, in 1860, $374,757; in 1870, $759,578; in 1879, it was $1,500,330, and in 1880, about $2,120,- 000. There was no separate census of Galion prior to 1860, at which time the population was 1,965. In 1870, the population had in- creased to 3,523. At the present census (1880) there is a population of 5,634. Since 1874, the population has increased over 2,000, and the valuation has increased about $1,250,- 000. In 1874, the city and school debt of Galion was $74,792. In October, 1880, the debt is about $17,000, and provisions are made for liquidating the last cent of indebt- edness in 1873. By that time, Galion will be ready for new enterprises and projects for advancement toward her destiny. Of the various industries of the city of Galion, we may mention " The Galion Machine Works " as entitled to notice, as they deserve a much greater consideration than is generally accorded them. The immense railroad-shops in the near vicinity overshade them in impor- ^r thL^ HISTORY or CEAWFORD COUNTY. 453 tance, but, when we examine into the business of these works, it will be disoovered that good work has been done. They were established in 1854, and at the time of starting, the works consisted of one frame btiilding, which was devoted to the casting of small articles used mostly by the Baltimore & Ohio Eailroad. In 1856, the foundry was destroyed by fire, but by the energy of the proprietors, Messrs Squier & Homer, it was soon rebuilt, and in one month from the fire was at work in the new quarters. In 1858, the machine shop was added by a Mr. Holms, who was the owner of the same for eight years, at the expiration of which time he was succeeded by J. B. Mc- Clinton, who shortly afterward associated his brother with him as a partner, under the firm name of McClinton & Brother. This was the style for three years, when the firm was known as McClinton & Co., and remained as such until July, 1875, when the present owners (the latter going into the firm in 1867) took sole charge of the machine shop. The machine shop and main building is a two story brick, 30x50 feet; the engine-room, 20x25 feet; the foundiy-room, 40x60 feet; core-room, 12x20 feet. There are, in addition to these different departments, a paint and blacksmith shop and a pattern and storage room. All of these buildings occupy on the ground a surface of 132x150 feet. Constant employment is given to fifteen men, all of whom are experts in the different departments wherein they work. The engine has a power of twenty-five horse, and the machinery is of the best and most approved patterns and fully adequate to the purposes intended. Both members of the firm are prac- tical molders and have worked for wages. They are the kind of men that lead in their trades, and whose word and integrity are un- questioned. The senior member of the firm had charge of Woodruff & Beach's machine shop, at Hartford, Conn., for a number of years. J. R. Homer has held the of&ce of United States Ganger for the Eighteenth Dis- trict; he has also been member of the Board of Education. Mr. Homer landed in Gallon with 50 cents in his pocket. This, with his honorable character and integrity, has made him one of the most respected citizens in the city. He was elected Mayor (although a Re- publican in principle) in a largely Democratic city, at the first charter elected in Gallon. His 50 cents, with the other requisites, have brought him a fine residence, with other real estate, and a good paying business. His part- ner, Mr. A. C. Squier, is also a man of in- domitable will and perseverance. He is a master mechanic, and was connected with the machine works of Welch, Gray & Co., Bristol, Conn. This firm is manufacturing largely portable and stationary steam engines. Star feed cutters, saw-mills, wood-saws, etc. They also do all kinds of foundry work, and are prepared to repair engines, threshers, mowers and farming implements. The shops are lo- cated on Washington street, east of Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Eail- road Freight Office. One of the most important considerations in the advantages of a city is its banking facili- ties. Much of the prosperity of a city may depend upon the integrity of these institu- tions. Like all other powers, with capabili- ties of working good, they may, when misused, be the instrument of great harm. When badly managed or dishonestly conducted, they may plunge a city into distress, paralyze man- ufactures, and bring disaster and ruin to almost every industry. During the last financial panic, when neighboring cities were so sud_ denly plunged into debt and bankruptcy, and the whole county suffered so severely, the banks of Gallon stood firm and true to the interests of all trusts reposed in them. There are now in operation two national banks. 9 ^ % 454 HISTOBY OF CBAWFOED COUNTY. Their career, from the first beginning to the present, has been one of prosperity. They both enjoy the confidence of the community, and their credit is enviable. So it has ever been in the whole history of the banking busi- ness of Gralion. Not one cent has ever been lost to a depositor, nor has any one ever suf- fered from bad credit. The first bank estab- lished in Galion was a private institution, owned and conducted by John S. Davis and John U. Bloomer. They commenced opera- tions in the year 1852. It was not a bank of issue, nor has there ever been such a one in Galion. This bank was located in the room now occupied by C. Fox as a clothing store, on East Main street. For seven or eight years, these gentlemen conducted their busi- ness with profit to themselves and convenience to the people. On the 22d day of February, 1864, the First National Bank was organized. It ab- sorbed within itself the private bank of Davis & Bloomer, these gentlemen entering prom- inently into the new organization. The First National Bank of Galion has a capital stock of $50,000, divided into 500 shares of $100 each. The first President of the concern was 0. S. Orimm; J. TJ. Bloomer was Cashier, and Miles Hosf ord. Teller. Orimm remains Presi- dent; O. L. Hays is Oashier, and W. P. Stentz, Assistant Cashier. The banking-rooms are conveniently and pleasantly located in the First National Bank Building, on the north- west corner of the public square. The Citizens' Bank was organized July 25, 1866. There was invested a capital stock of $20,000. The first officers were John Beatty, President, and J. H. Green, Cashier. The bank was conducted under the above title for about six years. The rooms were in the building on South Market street, now owned by Dr. 0. S. Ooyle. On the 2d day of June 1872, it was incorporated as a national bank, at the same time the capital stock being in- creased to $60,000. About the year 1872, the association bought ground on the southeast corner of the square, and erected a brick block, and removed the bank to this place. The President is I. H. Pennock; Vice President, A. Long; Cashier, J. H. Green, and Assistant Cashier, Austin Lowe. The Citizens' Building Association, of Gal- ion, was organized the 3d of August, 1872. The authority upon which this association is founded is as follows: We, the undersigned residents and citizens of the incorporated Tillage of Galion, Ohio, to wit, James H. Green, J. G. Meuser, S. G. Cummings, Henry Nau and C. Ernst Klopp, desiring to organize a company for the purpose of raising moneys to be loaned among the members of such company for use in buying lots, or houses, or building or repairing houses, agree to be- come a body corporate, under the act of the Legisla- ture of the State of Ohio, passed May 5, 1868, and the amendments thereto, and upon the terms and con- ditions following, to wit; The name and style of the company shall be "The Citizens' Building Association of Galion, Ohio," and its place of doing business at Galion, in Crawford County. The capital stock of the company shall be three hundred thousand dollars, divided into fifteen hundred shares of two hundred dollars each. In testimony whereof, the parties afore- said have hereunto subscribed their names and affixed their seals this 3d day of August, A. D. 1872. J. H. Green, J. G. Meuseb, S. G. CUMMINQS, H. Nau, C. Eknst Klopp. The officers, at the time of organization, were David Mackey, President; J. G. Meuser, Secretary; Citizens National Bank, Treasurer. Directors — David Mackey, S. G. Cummings, C. Ernst Klopp, A. M. Brown, F. A. Keen, James Marshman, J. Jacob Schaefer. The shares have been reduced to about 1,000, the limit being between 500 and 1,500. This association is a solid concern, and is of real benefit in assisting worthy persons to build, ^f liL HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 155 buy or repair homes for themselves. The terms upon which its members receive assist- ance are easy and just. The association is doing a good, safe and prosperous business. The mercantile business of Gallon is similar to that of cities generally of the same size. There is some considerable jobbing of hard- ware, oils, etc. There are the usual number and quality of stores, and in no wise does Gallon differ from other towns in dry goods, grocer- ies, hardware, furniture, clothing, etc. Proper advantage has not been taken of all the facili- ties for trade as should have been done. Every enterprise in Gallon, and every business that has been well and properly conducted, has suc- ceeded, and this argues well that the railroad facilities might well be utilized in building up more than one good trade. A good woolen mill was once in operation in the city, but did not survive its trial. There is no doubt but this, as well as many other enterprises, will, within a few years, be in successful oper- ation. The character of a city is known by its hotels, and in this respect Gallon presents a good showing. The Capitol Hotel was first opened by John Tracey in 1853. He did not run it long before he was succeeded by Terry Harding. Mr. Harding was succeeded by Oliver Euck, who, in 1870, was succeeded by C. E. Pratt, now of the Miltenberger House of Bellefontaine. Mr. Pratt enlarged, improved and refurnished the building. J. E. Mohen bought out Mr. Pratt, and ran the hotel the month of October, 1880, when it was bought by H. H. Elliot, of the Simms House, Bucyrus, and Will J. Eyan, of Gallon. Fred Ticknor, of Bucyrus, and formerly of Weddel Strubur- ger's House, of Cleveland, will represent Mr. Elliot. There are fifty rooms furnished in a superior and comfortable style. The hotel is located at Nos. 107, 109 and 111 East Main street, and has a frontage of 99 feet, while it extends back 198 feet. It is a handsome three-story brick structure, with some show of Gothic in its architecture, while a Mansard roof surmounts the building. Its capacity is for seventy-five persons, and the dining-room will seat fifty people. It is well conducted and is excellent in all its appointments. The Central House was built by Joel and David Eiblet in 1851. They occupied it as a dry goods store and dwelling. At this time, the little hotel opposite, where Jacob Euhl had kept tavern, was occupied by Michael Matthius. David and Joel Eiblet had kept the same hotel in 1848. In 1852, Brown & McMillan opened a hotel in the brick build- ing, and called it the Western. It was ex- tended back by the Eiblets, but the third story was added after it left their possession. It has changed hands, and now several parties have an interest in the building. One of the present proprietors took possession of the hotel (now called Central) in 1874, by virtue of having purchased the interest of Mr. W. W. Eeed; October 9, 1878, George H. String- ham became a full partner. The house is centrally located, as regards the business and residences of the city. It has a frontage of 99 feet on Main street, and extends back 198 feet. There are sixty-six sleeping rooms, three large sample rooms and a dining-room with a capacity of sixty seats. There are thirteen servants employed. The Gallon House is situated on South Market street, just over the Ohio & Pennsyl- vania depot. This hotel has, within a year, been repaired and refurnished by J. Garver. It is convenient to the depot and shops. It is a frame building without any pretentious look, but it is popular among the railroad men and enjoys its full share of patronage. A large number of the houses in Gallon have boarders. Every building, every room, is utilized. The number of mechanics makes •r 4^ 4 456 HISTOEY OF CRAWFOKD COUNTY. it necessary to have these boarding-houses or more taverns. Five times the votes of any district gen- erally amounts to the same as the popula- tion. But five times the number of voters in Galion would give us a population of nearly 7,000. Thus it can be seen that there is quite an excess of uiimarried men, for the popula- tion is actually only 5,300 in round numbers. Nothing so accurately measures the social condition of a community as the amount and kind of literary matter that is read. The newspaper business commenced early in the history of Galion. The changes in politics and names of proprietors of newspapers, and the names of the papers themselves, would constitute a lengthy sketch of itself. A full history of the press of Galion can be found in another chapter of this work, devoted to the press of the county, and hence will not be repeated here. The National Mills, one of the solid con- cerns of Galion, were established by David & Parson over twenty years ago. They have passed through various hands, were successively improved, until purchased by 0. & P. Nachtrieb, twelve or fourteen years ago, from Snyder & Brothers. When the Nach- triebs took hold of these mills their capacity was not very great. They put in a new boiler and machinery and enlarged the building. About one year after the new boiler had been put in, it exploded, and caused a damage of 13,000 to $4,000. In 1877, the mills were overhauled again, and machinery put in of a later pattern. Later, other improvements were made. These mills have a capacity for 100 barrels of flour per day. They do both cus- tom and merchant work. Their trade is mostly in Pennsylvania and New York. The com- pany are manufacturing their own barrels, and employ eight to ten men night and day ; . a switch running to the mills connects with the Cleveland, Columbus, Ciacinnati & In- dianapolis Eailroad. Charles and Frederick Nachtrieb, the proprietors, are both natives of Germany. In 1865, F. W. Johnson and "William Patrick entered into the lumber and coal business. This forms a very important in- terest in this part of Ohio. Much capital has been invested by the present firm, Johnson, Linsley & Co., and the business requires con- siderable skill in keeping up with the trade and studying the new demands constantly made. The firm has two branch lumber- yards in other towns, which will show at once their ability in building up such a trade. They carry a stock of 1,250,000 feet of lum- ber, and do an annual business of over $150,- 000. On the pay-rolls there are forty names. There are two foremen, and T. H. Linsley acts as book-keeper. In 1854, John Kraft erected a brewery, west of Galion. He is a German, and early learned the practical part of the business of brewing. He was succeeded in the business by his son, John Kraft, Jr., in 1866, who en- larged and improved the business. The main building is brick, 40x60 feet, and three stories high. The capacity of this brewery is 8,000 barrels per annum. Galion consumes of this product about 2,400 barrels. The brewery is now conducted by Daniel Roth. The Tyler Organ Company was established in April, 1879, with its place of business on the northeast corner of the square, in the old brick. In June of the same year, the com- pany was re-organized and the name changed to that of the "Empire Organ Company." The quarters were removed to the old planing- mill on South Market street, near Pennsyl- vania & Ohio Eailroad depot. This building was remodeled to meet the requirements of the company, and a dry-kiln erected on the grounds, by means of which they are assured ;r i^ HISTORY OF CEAWrORD COUNTY. 457 of the perfect seasoning of the lumber used. Two gentlemen of this company, Mr. Tyler and Mr. Whitney, have been employed as master mechanics in many of the largest es- tablishments in the United States. They have agents throughout Ohio and adjoining States. The company employs constantly about fifteen men, and sales have progressed steadily from one organ per week up to seven. They are at this time putting in nearly $1,000 worth of new machinery, and intend enlarging the capacity of the building. The amount of sales, when compared with the length of time the works have been established, is sufficient evidence of the quality of their wares. Mr. Tyler has added to these organs certain im- provements of his own invention. Mr. "Whit- ney and Mr. Tyler are both fine musicians, and their personal supervision over the whole establishment, and their inspection of each piece in detail, as well as of the instruments complete, makes a double guarantee of their perfection. It was in the year 1824 that Gallon received a post office. As stated in the preceding chapter, it was at the old Corners, and Horace Hosford, a brother of Asa Hosford, was the first Postmaster. It can easily be imagined that the duties pertaining to postal matters were not arduous. Mr. Hosford relates that an average of one letter per day, as long as he was the public functionary, was consid- ered evidence of a flourishing condition of that department. Letters could be sent with- out prepayment of postage. If a young man in Gallon corresponded with his ladylove, and she resided over 500 miles from him, it cost him 50 cents a month to pay for her letters and his own, providing each wrote once a month. This was a fearful drain on the pocket of a lover, and the flame would neces- sarily be warm and ardent when it consumed such precious fuel. The amount of postage at that time was regulated by the distance the mail matter was carried. The mail came by stage from Bucyrus and Mansfield, and was carried by the Ohio stage line, running originally from Pittsbm-gh to Mansfield. The line was extended afterward to Bucyrus, and mail was taken every "Wednesday to the latter place. As the county settled up, the stages were increased and the number of post offices multiplied. The stages were the old style rockaway, on strap springs, painted a wine and bright red color. They were generally drawn by four horses in winter, and when the roads were good in summer they got along with two horses. There were two boots on the stage, one behind and one in front under the driver's feet. These stages were intended to carry fifteen persons, twelve in- side and three outside, including the driver. There was a seat at each end, and a double one in the middle, each seat capable of hold- ing three persons. Straps were placed across the stage in front of each seat, on which the passenger leaned or held on with his hands. But for these protecting straps, the lurching and swaying of the stage in chuck-holes would throw the passengers about indiscriminately. The horses, and generally the driver, were changed at Eiblet's hotel. There was a stage arrival every day, one from Mansfield, and the next day its return from Bucyrus. Among the drivers of this old set of Jehus were Eri Hosford, Samuel Casey, Joel Riblet, John Snyder, Benjamin Hoover, John Hoover, Joe Hoover, and, occasionally, Dunk Mitchell. At a later day, Thomas Holton and Peter Acker- man. Once "William Hoover, in driving from Gallon to Kiblet's Corners, became a little anx- ious about not seeing some feature of the gen- eral muster which was then going on in the fields near the hotel. On the way, a linch-pin was lost from a hind axle, and in going down a hill the wheel ran off and upset the coach. No ^^ 'A 458 HISTOBY OF CEAWFOED COUNTY. one was hurt, and all f passengers took the back track to search for the linch-pin, which was found after an hour's delay, half a mile back. Mr. Eiblet gave up the tavern business to his son-in-law, Mr. Samuel Shunk, and then built for himself a fine brick residence on East Main street, and removed to Gallon in the year 1854. Under Pierce's administra- tion, Mr. Eiblet was made Postmaster of Gal- ion, and served up to the administration of President Lincoln. Mr. Eiblet occupied a prominent position, and was identified with many of the interests of Gallon after his re- moval. He had been a Justice of the Peace for eighteen years. He was elected to serve as State Eepresentative for two terms — from 1840 to 1844. He was also, in 1852, elected a member of the State Senate. He died in 1865, and was buried in the cemetery that he donated and named. The Postmasters of Gallon, as far as is known, were Horace Hos- f ord, who, in 1824, kept the ofiice in connection with his store at the old Corners; Jonathan Ayers was Postmaster, but for how long a time or where he kept the office we have been unable to ascertain; Solomon Nave kept the office in a small frame building near the square, where Anthony Long now lives; Ean Hoover, as Postmaster, occupied a hewed-log building on the lot opposite the Capitol House, where he carried on the business of wheel- wright and' chair-making; Mr. Hoover was Postmaster for four years; Jacob Bryfugle kept the office on the Anthony Long property, where Solomon Nave had occupied; John S. Davis, in Davis & Bloomer's brick block, where the latter carried on the business of dry goods ; Dan Eiblet first kept the office in the dry goods store of Joel and Jacob Eiblet, where George Snyder's grocery now is; afffcward, Mr. Eiblet erected a small frame building for the purpose, where Burgest & Deitrich's tin and stove store now is, and back of the Central Hotel. Mr. Carhert was appointed Postmaster at the beginning of President Lin- coln's administration. His brother, E. Y. Smith, was deputized to conduct the business of the office. As soon as Mr. Smith had pos- session, he removed the office to a frame building where Kesselmier's Block now stands. During the service of B. Y. Smith, which was sixteen years and nine months, the office was located in quite a number of different places. Once it was where Mackey's Block now stands; for a time in Howard's Block; once on North Market street, and the last time in Keene's Block; Eobert Cowden became Postmaster January 29, 1878, and is still in the ofiice. Mr. Cowden removed the ofiice to the north part of the First National Bank building, where it has remained ever since. Gallon Post Office became a money-order office while Mr. Smith was acting as Postmaster, on the 21st day of July, 1871. As the city and township business increased, the authorities began to agitate the question of building a public edifice for the use of officers, court-room, etc. In 1873, the authori- ties of Polk Township and the corporation of Galion entered into an agreement to erect jointly a building for the above purpose. It wa;s agreed that the township should pay one- third and own an undivided interest of one^ third the building, and the corporation to pay two-thirds and own a two-thirds interest. There was much discussion in regard to the location of the building. Long remonstrances were signed and presented to the Council, and, before the site was selected, this question be- came an issue in the elections. Eventually, a part of Lot 48, original plat of Galion, was selected. The size of the building was to be 66x75 feet, three stories high, to be built of brick and stone. Plans and specifications were agreed upon, and the contract awarded to George Wimmie in 1875, and it was fin- i^ ^S^ lL^ HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 461 isted the following year. At the time the plan wag completed, Sam Myers was Mayor; M. Doty, clerk of corporation, and J. G. Mexi- ser, clerk of township. The lower story of the building has one storeroom, two election rooms (one for city and one for township), one room for Star steamer and hose cart, and one jail-room. The second story has six rooms, Mayor's and Justice's court-room, Coimcil room, firemen's room, one room to be used temporarily as infirmary, and one that is open for rent. In the third story is the opera hall, a good room with stage complete, and twenty- sis changes of scenery. It is so arranged that the township receives two-thirds of all rents from opera house, and one-third from the rents below. The ground ujDon which the building stands was purchased at a cost of $3,500. The building cost $20,336.22, and is a good one and well worth the money ex- pended upon it; yet many of the citizens re- main dissatisfied with the location. Especially is this the case as regards the opera hall. During the last year. Dr. H. E. Kelly, David Stout and John Biblet, who own the building, have fitted up the hall in the upper story of the Sponhauer Block. The stage has been enlarged, new scenery painted, and the hall generally remodeled. For convenience of lo- cation, this is an excellent improvement, and the manner in which the hall is patronized gives evidence of its appreciation. Gallon has been one of the muddiest cities in the State. No one can conceive of any worse condition of roads than those in this vicinity. About the first sidewalk put down in the town was a walk around the square. A double row of logs extended around and were slightly raised from the ground. The upper surfaces of the logs were hewn flat, and answered the purpose very well. The- Supervisors annually worked the streets and eirtended the poll-tax, but Market and Main streets refused to be dry. During the winter of 1879-80, there was so much open weather that the streets were in a semi-liquid condi- tion most of the time. So terribly bad was the condition of the city at this time, that the people became in earnest in demanding that something be done. It is not difficult to grade th« streets of Gallon, but they are little better when graded than before. In the spring a petition, signed by a majority of the resident property-holders, was sent to the City Council, demanding that Market and Main streets be graded and paved in some manner. There were many suggestions, and consid- erable investigation into the best method and the best material. F. L. Krouse, civil en- gineer, was called to Gallon, elected City Engineer, and proceeded to advise and assist. Piking was decided upon, and was to extend from about one and one-half blocks west of the square on Main street over the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Eail- road on the east, and from the square on south to the depot on Market street. Plans and specifications were made, and an invita- tion to bid for the work published. The con- tract was awarded to Gray & Co., of Cleveland. The whole design of the work, including all the details, is excellent. It will not fail to enhance the value of property in the city, and those two streets will serve as a model that we think many other streets will copy more or less from. The amount of money spent on these two streets will amount to upward of 130,000. It was during the year of 1859 that Gallon came from darkness into light. Before this time, her citizens waded mud, fell into chuck- holes, and stranded themselves generally over dry goods boxes, hogsheads, and such things as usually give evidence of prosperity and home consiunption. The location of the gas manufactory was near the railroad on Main ^! %. 462 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUKTY. street. The construction of tne works was intrusted to William Stephenson. About two miles of wooden pipe was put down, which served their purpose for twelve years. The stockholders in this company lost all they put in it. The stock was all absorbed; there never was a dividend, and every one had assess- ments. Principal among the stockholders were Dr. John Eeisinger, Martin Sponhauer, William Hays, Joel Eiblet, David Kiblet, Jacob Eiblet and others. The old gas fac- tory was removed to its present location about eight years ago. The old factory was sold at Sheriff's sale, and bid in by W. Hays. :Mr. Hays sold to Miller & Kuhn, of Pennsylvania. They kept the factory at the old place for a short time, and removed the wooden pipes and replaced them with iron. They also laid down considerable more pipe, and increased the works to a greater extent. In 1872, they built the works where they are now located, on Bast Church street. Their contract price with the city is $1.75 per thousand foot for gas. It was made a stock company a few years ago, but Miller & Kuhn retain a con- trolling interest. We are informed that in the early times of Gallon, each available citizen was a self-con- stituted member of the fire department. As soon as the alarm was given, each one seized a pail and rushed to the scene of action. It was seldom that much order existed, and each one worked with a will, but independent of all others. Later in the history of the town, a brigade was formed, which was capable of doing much good. Two rows of men were formed, extending from the water sxtpply to the conflagration. The pails full of water were passed hastily along one line and re- turned empty along the other. Afterward, when the small rectangular boxes, with pumps in them, came into use, the brigade emptied the water into the box. These boxes held from one to three barrels of water, and were set on low trucks. A pumpwas placed in the box, but there was no suction, however, and the lids of the box had to be kept shut while pumping. From four to six men could work at the levers. A tongue was attached to the forward trucks, by which the whole apparatus was drawn. About the first fire that occurred after this box had been purchased, the citi- zens made a great discovery. It was foiind that it was just as well to pour the water from the pails on»the fire as to pump it after it had been carried to the vicinity of the conflagra- tion. Immediately upon this discovery, the crowd began to jeer and make merry over the fire department, and so ashamed and disgusted were some present that the innocent little piece of mechanism very narrowly escaped being thrown into the burning building. It was called the "Protection," and was pur- chased by the Council in 1852, at the instiga- tion of Dr. John Eeisinger and Jacob Eiblet, who were both members of the Council. Jacob Eiblet lent the village $100 with which to purchase it. It was soon sold as a garden sprinkler. In 1853, the Council deemed it best to pro- vide some more efficient method of combating fire. Much discussion and many disagree- ments eventuated in the purchase of the "Phoenix" hand fire engine. This was a great advance in the utility and importance of the fii-e department, yet the growing burg must needs learn by experience that which she could leam in no other way. The Phoe- nix was an excellently made engine, tremen- dously heavy and low built. She had been intended for Cleveland, for use upon paved streets, but about that time steam fire engines were coming into use, and Cleveland did not want her. Andrew Poe was the first foreman. It had considerable effect upon the fun-loving portion of the community to see this valiant fore- .1 HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. 463 man at the end of the rope — his pants tucked into his stockings, with himself and the engine stuck in the mud. The engine could throw a considerable voliune of water to a good height. Soon after her purchase, Jacob Eiblet, who had opposed the purchase on the ground of her heaviness, made a bet of a keg of beer to the company that they could not throw water to the top of "Wimmie's Block. The bet was accepted, and Jacob ascended the roof with an umbrella. The company won the beer and thus demonstrated the capabilities of the PhcE- nix on dry land. But when Gallon assumed her lacustrine condition, the Phcenix would sink to the bottom. She was housed, with her hose-cart, in a little tumble-down brick on the northwest corner of Atwood and South Market streets. The village there owned sev- enty-one feet front, running back to the alley ; a small building in front was used for jail and engine house. The building was con- demned as unsafe and was torn down, and a new and substantial brick building was erected farther back on the lot, which is now used for engine house, jail and firemen's room. The building faces Atwood street. The reason of setting it back was, that a market- house had been contemplated on the portion facing Market street ; but the east front was sold, and the project of a market-house failed. In the year 1856, the Phoenix engine was traded to Button & Blake, of Cincinnati, for the " Niagara," now in use and housed in the engine-house on Atwood street. The authori- ties paid to the Cincinnati firm |800 as the difference between the two engines. The first of&cers of the Niagara were Dick Watkins, Foreman, and A.M. Brown, Assistant Foreman. After piurchasing the Niagara, it was found one hose-cart was unable to carry all the hose required, and in order to overcome this diffi- culty, a second hose-cart was purchased. The present Foreman of Niagara Fire Company is E. Fissel. The fire apparatus, etc., are in the com- fortable rooms in the brick building on At- wood street. The firemen are well uniformed and properly disciplined, and know well what is expected of them, and, undoubtedly, are well aware of the many responsibilities rest- ing upon them. They are well worthy of the esteem bestowed upon them by the people, and no fear need be entertained but that they will be as brave and daring in danger as the occasion may require. October 10, 1872, the corporation purchased the Star Steam Fire Engine of Ahrens & Co., Cincinnati. The cost was $4,500. The hose- cart was purchased at Akron, Ohio. The steamer and hose are housed in the City Hall building. Jacob Lamb is Foreman of Star Company, and H. McFarqu er, engineer. Their room is on the second floor of the city hall building. The whole fire department of Gal- ion belongs to the " Firemen's Volunteer Asso- ciation of Northern Ohio." Two of their annual tournaments have been held in Gallon, the last one September, 1880. Wherever men live or dwell, whether on sea or on land, and no matter what cares or other sorrows burden them dovm, there is al- ways one awful and solemn duty that must be prepared for and performed. Every na- tion, every tribe, are bound to certain and various customary rites and ceremonies and methods of disposing of the departed dead. "We have before alluded to the Indian burying- ground on the Gill farm, with some few of their methods of sepulture. It is the oldest city of the dead in the township. We give what James Nail, an old settler, says of our oldest burying-ground, used by early settlers. It was embodied in a communication written by him to the Crawford Co anty Farmer: " In earlj pioneer days, before any graveyard was -T- IK -4. 464 HISTOEY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. started in the eastern part of the county, it was the custom of the people to bury their dead in favorable localities on their newly cleared farms. As the neighborhood im- proved, the settlers conceived the necessity of purchasing a site for a burying-ground, when John Williamson, James Nail and others se- lected an acre of ground out of the corner of the northeast quarter of Section 31, Township 20, Eange 20, in what was then Sandusky Township, Richland County, but is now Polk Township, Crawford County, in the present limits of Gallon, situated on Main street, immediately east of the German Eeformed Chui-ch. This land belonged to Samuel Brown, and, being in the woods, covered with timber, such as beech, maple and underbrush, was bought for $5. They paid for it, and the deed was written in the name of John Will- iamson and others, to be used for burial pur- poses forever. This deed was left in Squire Williamson's hands, and unfortunately was never recorded. These men then employed a man by the name Sedorus, for $14, who chopped off and cleared away the timber, and made the ground fit for use. This was before Gallon was laid out. In every transfer of the farm from that day to this, we are in- formed that this acre, consecrated to the dead, has been reservea tor that purpose. The first or second grave was for a child of James Nail, who has eight members of his family sleeping there — ^two wives and sis children. One of the original purchasers — Mr. William Neal — has been one of the men to keep this graveyard under fence and repair, from the time of its purchase to the present time, at an expense to him of more than $100. The last payment, $25, was made some fourteen years ago, to H. C. Carhart and James W. Gill, for the present fence. Many suppose that the graves lying in the street belong to the grave- yard. This is a mistake. These graves were made on the corner of the farm owned by Benjamin Leveredge, Esq., which Joined Mr. Brown's farm." The last person buried in this graveyard was Mr. John Williamson. It was done by his request, as he desired to lie by the side of his family, who had previously been buried there. Good old Benjamin Leveredge lies beneath Main street, opposite this old grave- yard. When Main street was laid out, it fol- lowed the quarter line and lapped over the edge of Mr. Leveredge's farm, and covered the spot consecrated by him as a private bury- ing-ground. Another old burying-ground lies in the northeast quarter of what is now known as Union Green Cemetery. The ground was donated for the purpose by Jacob Ruhl. Ad- ditions were made to this gift sometime after- ward by the Lutherans. The last addition was made by Daniel Eiblet, who, in 1861, gave a strip of land on the south side of the original grounds, inclosed the whole of it and laid it out. To the whole piece he gave the name of Union Green Cemetery, under which name it has been used ever since. North of Union Green Cemetery, and adjoin- ing it is the Catholic Cemetery. This was opened for burial purposes at a later date, and has been in use only since the establish- ment of Catholic societies in Gallon. No dead are interred here but those having mem- bership in the church of the Catholic faith. It does not bear the crowded appearance of the other cemeteries, and is kept in very good repair. All of these cemeteries are located almost in the midst of the city, and are strangely out of place. The city has im- proved so rapidly in population and growth, that some of her institutions, adapted to the village only, have fallen behind in compara- tive worth. Nothing connected with a city, growing as Gallon is, can be more worthy of attention than the cemeteries. It would be ^ .Qg i>. HISTOilY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. folly to expend much on these old cemeteries, and it is with great pleasure that th« citizens notice a recent act of the Common Council and Trustees of the Township, whereby a tax of one-fourth of a mill is to be levied on all taxable property in township and city for the purpose of obtaining a new cemetery. A fine gravel knoll is to be selected, if possible, within a mile of the city, and improved with drives and walks, with beautiful designs in land- scape gardening. Such a place as this, in some sightly location, away from the hum of industry and the busy scenes of the city, would give that peace and quiet that should pertain to the city of the dead. Such a place ll^ 465 is to be selected with no thoughts of tempo- rary use, but with the full idea of perma- nence. Then we can ornament and beautify with no fears of removal or dread of over- crowding, but with hopes of a perpetual rest for the remains of our friends and kin. There is no question but that this work will soon be done, and thus save much labor in the future, of removing bodies to the new site which are now almost daily being deposited in the old grounds. When the new cemetery is ready and the bodies removed from the old one, the city of Gallon will have ample room in the latter place for the park which has been in contemplation so long. CITY OF GALION — CHRISTIANITY ORDERS - CHAPTER XIII.* -ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES — SECRET AND BENEVOLENT -EDUCATIONAL — SCHOOL BUILDINGS. A T an early day in the history of Gallon, -^--^ the people, in their humble way, gave to God a portion of their time and money and influence. During the times of hardship, and almost unendurable poverty, when they lacked most of the comforts that are now enjoyed by the poorest, when dangers threatened from want, sickness and privation, the early settlers found time to sow the seeds of religion and education. How unselfish were the motives of pioneer missionaries, and Christians of every denomination, when they wandered from set- tlement to settlement, preaching and praying with those who only needed to know of re- ligion to embrace its tenets. They had no hope of reward on earth, foregoing the com- forts of home and the pleasure of the family, facing the bitter storm or drenching rain. Alone and companionless, but for the omni- presence of the Master they served, what a * Contributed by Dr. J. 0. McIlvaiDe. work was theirs, erecting in the wilderness, from station to station, in the wondering pres- ence of the red man, altars at which the pio- neers might gather, and perpetuate to all time, tidings of salvation. Across streams, on foot or horseback, through swamps, over corduroy road, north, south, east, west, in every direction, these men pushed their way, and preached their doctrine. To these men and their earnestness, do we owe the pleni- tude of churches that grace our city, and the religious influence that stamps the character- istics that belong to it upon our people. Rightly considered, we should never look upon our spacious edifices in which we wor- ship at this day, without fervently giving thanks and asking a blessing upon all the pio- neers of religion. We should consider the magnificent piles dedicated to God and His service as in some sense great monuments which mark and perpetuate the works of these men. IK 466 HISTOEY OF CBAWFOED COUNTY. •1^ "We have before spoken of Russell Bigelow, Mr. Matthews, and Mr. Ehinehart. There were many others whose names cannot be recalled; and nothing is known of them except the fact that they preached and worked in the cause. One by the name of Erret was a great laborer, as well as the father of Eev. Francis Clymer. Eev. John Smith, now living west of Gallon, was one among the pioneer ministers. Eev. Mr. Mathews was the first pioneer minister who received any pay. His first year's pay was a subscription list of $15, and the peo- ple took great pride in their Presbyterian minister. In 1826 or 1828, Gallon was made a station on a Methodist Circuit, and Eussell Bigelow appeared as the minister for this cir- cuit. Father Stough was the first Lutheran minister who preached in the brick Lutheran Church. He was a man much beloved by all who knew him. Previous to the building of churches, the schoolhouses and private build- ings were much used for the purpose of church service. Where bams were large and commodious, they furnished a convenient place for assemblage. Mr. Hosford's frame barn, being the first in the township, was many times utilized for church service. Father Fellows was a stanch member of the Meth- odist Church, and donated the land for the first Methodist Church in Gallon. Father Stough used to relate some sad experiences of the early days. He said that once, in another county, he started out to collect some money that was imperative, to his needs. He went with his horse, but nowhere did he receive any money ; everywhere they gave him bacon. Finally the poor horse became loaded down with side meat, and they could not proceed. He received no money and could not dispose of the bacon. He silently prayed" to Heaven that his children might never be obliged to endure the hardships and scant pay that he suffered from in his pioneer work. Not only were schoolhouses, private build- ings, and barns witnesses of the piety of early days, but the beautiful maple groves of Polk many times resounded with the earnest prayers and hymns of pioneer camp-meetings. Not unfrequently the wondering red men caught the spirit, and there was awakened in their breasts the keen promptings of a higher and holier life. There was at one time a camp-meeting east of Gallon, held under the auspices of the United Brethren. During service, an Indian rode into the grounds, hitched his horse to a limb and took a seat. After service a class-meeting was held. This Indian desired to give his experience. Aris- ing, in his untutored way, he acknowledged to have been a very hard-drinking man. He took from his pocket a pint whisky flask and declared that he had known the devil to re- side in it. Every time he drank from the flask, the devil got into him. He finally bought a pint of whisky and had the cork tightly fastened in. This is what saved him. The devil had entered the flask and had hoped to enter his body when he drank the whisky. The Indian said he never drank any more, and the devil ceased troubling him. As far as was ever knovm of this Indian, he led a Christian life. The last camp-meeting held within the present limits of Gallon was in a beautiful maple grove where Johnson and Linsley's lumber-yard now is. Some of the older citi- zens will remember a young lad by the name of Harris (whose mother lived in what is now Troy Township, Morrow County), who was converted at this time. This Mr. Harris afterward became a professor in the Ohio Wesleyan University, and is now a Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The first Sabbath school in Gallon was or- ganized before a church building was erected. The date of this organization cannot be deter- f -^ A HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 4.67 mined. The Sunday school services were held in the old schoolhouse, the last of the kind, on the present site of Joel Kiblet's residence. The credit Of this organization belongs to the Lutherans. At this time, church service vpas held in the same building by the above- named congregation. Mrs. Sarah Euhl and Mrs. Dr. Johnson v?ere most active in the en- terprise, and should be credited with its suc- cess. It being the only Sabbath school in Galion, it received patronage from persons of all denominations, and they all urged tlieir childi-en with willingness to attend. In the year 1840, work was commenced on the first church building in Galion, which was finished within the year. The building was of brick, and located on the corner of North Union and West Church streets. The building was beautifully located, and was surrounded by numerous shade-trees. It was at this time greatly admired by all, and to-day many of the old citizens speak of it as though very pleasant and happy associations were con- nected with it. It was built by the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations. The venerable pioneer missionary. Rev. P. J. Ruth, officiated at the laying of the corner-stone; Rev. John Stough was the first Pastor. At this time the English and German Lutherans had no distinctive organizations. During the same year that the Lutheran Church was built, work was commenced upon the old Methodist meeting-house, yet standing on West Main street. Although not commenced until after the one previously mentioned, it was first to be completed and ready for services. The land upon which it stands was donated by Father Fellows, who was a zealous worker in the cause, and a pillar of strength in the Meth- odist Church for many years. Father Fellows had purchased the farm on which this build- ing stood, from Benjamin Leveredge. It was already well improved when it came into his possession. A portion of it afterward went to make what is called Fellows' Addition to Galion. Before the building of this church edifice, the barn of this gentleman had been the place for holding many an interesting meeting, where pioneer preachers were earnest in presenting the precious truth as laid down in God's Holy Book. This church was a frame building, and is now used as a dwell- ing-house. A short biographical sketch of Rev. F. J. Ruth, the oldest pioneer worker in this vicin- ity, is not out of place in this connection. His life has been one of toil and hardships in the cause he represents; but for fifty years he has gone on with unabated zeal and fidelity. This reverend gentleman was born in Frederick City, Md., on the 9th day of January, 1805. He had fair advantages for education, study- ing four years with Rev. Dr. Schaefer, un- der whose tutorship he was taught Latin, Greek, and the classics generally, and who also prepared him for the ministry. He was licensed by the Lutheran Synod of Maryland, in October, 1830, and was by them soon after sent as a missionary to Ohio. He preached in the vicinity of Galion about two months during the year 1831. This same year he located at Ashland, having charge of several stations, among which was Mansfield, where he established a church. In April, 1835, he received an invitation to go to Bucyrus, where in 1832 he organized a church. During his stay there he had charge of Sulphur Springs, Spring Mill, London and Mount Zion congregations, besides preaching occa- sionally in Galion. Mr. Ruth relates that the first time he visited Galion was in 1881. Starting from Mansfield he inquired, when near Shelby, the road to Galion. No one in the vicinity knew of such a place; they had heard of a place called "Moccasin," and per- haps that was the place. Between Shelby t) 1^ •k 468 HISTOEY OF CRAWFOBD COUNTY. and West Liberty, he met a man of whom he asked the road to Moccasin. The man replied that he had never heard of Moccasin, but that there was a small place near Leesville called " Horseshoe " which was probably the point he wished to reach. When he arrived at Gallon he stopped at a log hotel on West Main street, which is now a portion of Mrs. Gill's residence.- He inquired of the clerk for the names of some Lutheran families. There were five drunken men in the room, and one of them asked Mr. Ruth if he could preach in German. He answered him by saying, " I anL not eloquent in German, but I can exhort in that language." They then asked if he could preach in English; he re- plied that he could, after which they told him that he was not wanted, as they would prefer to hear a hog grunt rather than to listen to an English sermon. Mr. Kuth im- mediately returned to Mansfield with feelings of disgust. A few weeks after this, the wives of Michael and Levi Euhl came to Mansfield to hear Mr. Ruth preach. They were well satisfied with him, and gave him a strong in- vitation to come to Gallon. He accepted the invitation, and preached his opening sermon to a large audience in the frame barn belong- ing to John Ruhl. He was so kindly received and welcomed that his poor opinion of the Gallon people was considerably modified. He preached occasionally in Gallon until the spring of 1852, when he was called as the regular pastor of the church, at the same time accepting the charge of the congregations at Leesville, Newcastle and Lost Creek. He had ofiiciated in the laying of the corner-stone of the Lutheran Chiu-ch, which was built in 1840. He resided at that time in Bucyrus. He re- moved to Gallon in 1854, yet continuing to preach to the former congregations till the spring of 1862. He then took charge of four congregations in Richland County, for three years, viz., Mount Zion, Lucas, Saint John's and Petersburg. He was then recalled to Gallon, Lost Creek, Leesville and Sherer congregations, remaining until 1870, at which time the Gallon Lutheran Church separated from the rest of the charge while he continued with the remaining three for about five years, when, owing to impaired health, he was obliged to rest for twb years, since which time he has been serving a congregation at Spring Mills, Richland County. To him it must be with joy and thankfulness that he sees all over this country the bountiful yield of his early sowing. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Gal- ion* was organized A. D. 1831, by Rev. John Stough; a man of eminent piety, and much beloved by all who knew him. His zeal in the work of the Master was invincible, and he was instrumental in laying a good foundation for much of the good work done in after years. He continued his labors with this church for about ten years. During his pastorate (in the year 1840), the first Lutheran Church building was erected, on the corner of North Union and West Church streets. The corner-stone was laid the year previous, at which time he was assisted by the now venerable Rev. F. J. Ruth. He was succeeded by Revs. H. W. Lawer, J. B. Hoffman, A. Kuhn, S. Ritz, J. Crouse and I. Culler, who successively served the church with great acceptance until the year 1852. Prominent among the original members of this church, and who took an active part in its organization, were Michael Ruhl, Jacob Ruhl, John Ruhl, Thomas Rinehart, John Rinehart, John Shawber, and Samuel Ger- brecht. About the year 1843, the German portion of the congregation withdrew from this church, to effect an organization of its own. This so weakened the English portion which remained, that ofttimes it seemed a struggle between life and death, and at times ♦Contributed by Kev. B. W. Souders. If HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 469 it was a question whether they could perpet- uate their organization or not. On or about April 1, 1852, Kev. F. J. Ruth received and accepted a call to become its pas- tor, and continued such until April 1, 1861. Of his labors I need not here speak, as a brief biography of this venerable father in Israel occurs elsewhere in this work. Suffice it to say, that his labors have been abundantly blessed in this and many other churches he organized in this and adjoining counties. Upon Father Euth's resignation, in April, 1861, Kev. M. J. Stover took charge of the congregation, together with an organization at Leesville. He continued in charge one year and six months. Quite a number of members were added; but, owing to another year and six months' vacancy, many losses were sustained. April 1, 1864, Rev. F. J. Ruth was recalled to again become Pastor of the congregation, which relation he sus- tained until September 18, 1870. During this time, in 1867, the present church edifice, on South Columbus street, was erected. Shortly after taking charge, in 1864, two other con- gregations were added to the charge, that of Lost Creek and Sherer's, which, together with the one at Leesville, added during Rev. Sto- ver's administration, constituted a charge of four congregations. In the summer of 1870, the congregation, deeming more freijuent preaching necessary for its welfare than could be given it in connection with three other con- gregations, petitioned the Wittenburg Synod, then in session at Mansfield, Ohio, of which the charge was a member, to separate it from the other three congregations, and constitute it a charge by itself. This being done. Rev. F. J. Ruth resigned the Gallon congregation, as above stated, September 18, 1870, to con- tinue as Pastor of the remaining three con- gregations. January 1, 1871, Rev. H. B. Miller was called to become the Pastor of this congregation. In the spring of the same year, the members deemed it wise to dissolve the existing organization, and organize anew. They at once proceeded to draw up an article of organization and incorporation. This was passed upon and met with approval, and an organization with thirty-five members was ef- fected, a record of which can be found in the office of the Probate Court of the county. The new organization, being weak numer- ically and financially, found it impossible to afford its pastor an adequate support. It now became a mission, tmder the supervision of the Board of Home Missions of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Thus it became prepared for the work of the Master, and to husband the blessings of God, soon to be given it. In the winter of 1872-73, the general revival that visited the country at large, came in refresh- ing waves to the Gallon congregation. Dur- ing a six weeks' meeting held in the Lutheran Church, about seventy souls were converted to God, sixty of whom united with this church. As a result of this ingathering, the congrega- tion relieved the Board of Home Missions from any further aid, and became self-sus- taining. It now became a fixture, taking its place alongside of the other churches of Gallon. In November, 1875, Rev. H. B. Miller re- signed the charge of the congregation, and it was again without a regular pastor eight months. During the winter of 1875-76, Rev. G. M. Heindel preached for it as a supply. But, being without a regular pastor, the " love of many waxed cold," and the church suffered many losses. On the 25th day of June, 1876, the present Pastor, Rev. E. W.- Souders, received and accepted a call from this congregation, and entered regularly upon the duties of the pastorate, July 2, 1876. The roll showed an active membership of ninety. ^ « ^ .^- ±±^ 470 HISTOKT OF CBAWFORD COUNTY. During the spring of 1878 and 1879, quite a number of accessions were made, the church enjoying two seasons of precious refreshing from the Lord. Notwithstanding the numer- ous losses, mostly by removal and death, the church has been making steady progress under the present administration, having grown from 90 to 160 in membership. Its experi- ence, as a congregation, is a varied one. The changes through which it has passed, tended in no small degree to retard its progress for years. But now it has an interesting and effi- cient Sunday school, under the superintend- ency of S. Gr. Cummings, and a membership that will compare favorably with her sister churches, in benevolence and spirituality, and the graces that characterize the true church of God upon earth. There were quite a number of Luther- an families among the early settlers in Polk Township. There is much that is known by tradition of these old families in connection with their religious procliv- ities, but recorded facts are not to be found bearing a very old date. We are now writ- ing of " The German Evangelical Lutheran Frudens Geminde of Gallon." This Luther- an Church is not governed by the same synod, nor does it bear any similarity in doc- trine to the English Lutheran. Of course there were German and English Lutherans united in the early days to secure services and build the old brick church on the corner of North Union and West Church streets. Their first meeting was in an old log cabin, a little north of the public square, which was at that time used for a schoolhouse. Among the early members were Christian Biihler and Henry Buhler, Ludwig Bohl, Henry Bohl, Daniel Eiblet. They had serv- ice at intervals, but no regular organization existed. Eev. Father Stough officiated as traveling missionary. As soon as the German element became strong enough they deter- mined to make an effort to organize separately from the English Lutheran. Many German settlers were arriving, who could not converse in English, much less comprehend an abstruse discourse on theology. Altogether, it was deemed best, and the Germans sold to the English people their interest in the old brick church. They then organized under the above name, and in the same year built jointly with the German Eeformed congregation, a brick church on South Market Street. There was no union of the two congregations in any other sense than that of a business association for the purpose of economy. Each congrega- tion used the church and had certain privi- leges and uses, but, as far as the church organ- ization was concerned, they were separate and distinct. Eventually the German Lutherans bought out the interest of the German Ee- formed congregation. Li the year 1874, the front part of the old church building was taken down, and in the front of the remain- ing part was erected a new church. This building is a model of architectural beauty and a standing witness of well-expended means. This church edifice is the finest in the city of Gallon; and, for the amount it cost ($18,000), can hardly be excelled in beauty and propor- tion. A Sunday school was organized about the year 1852, which has continued in suc- cessful operation up to the present. It has always been well attended and has wrought a good work. Many of the members of the church now becoming gray, gained their first light of God's promise in the. Sabbath school. In the fall of 1878, a parochial school was organized, and school opened in the rear of the church. English and German branches are taught. The school has been conducted since its organization by Mr. A. Krueger. Mr. Krueger is also the organist for the con- gregation. The school has now an enrollment VI ^F=^r ,4 « — '^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 471 of seventy-two pupils. The first regular min- ister who preached for this congregation was Eev. J. Krauss. The congregation has been served in regular succession by J. Schlader- munt, M. F. Dethlefs, Q. T. H. Meiser, H. Kleinegus, C. Wernle, C. Lilye, and J. A. Schultze, who is the present Pastor, and has been since April, 1875. The congregation num- bers 400 communing members, or 605, includ- ing children. This congregation is eminently prosperous, as is all its interest. The history of the Reformed German Church is about the same as that of the German Lutheran. They were associated together and worshiped in common until the year 1847. At this date a regular or- ganization was made. Prominent among the members of this first organization, were Jonas Shumaker, Adam and Daniel Eichhorn, Dr. John Reisinger, Henry Althaus, John Burgner, Rudolphus Bessinger. Altogether, there were about twenty families in the new organization. They were supplied by visit- ing pastors of the Reformed Church, until 1850, at which time Rev. Abraham Keller took charge of the interests of the church, and preached every other Sabbath. He was a man of great zeal and piety, and his memory is yet cherished by all who knew him. He died in Bucyrus during the year 1852, while yet in the prime of life. In the spring of 1853, Rev. Dr. M. Steam took charge of the field and served the church with great success and ability, up to the year 1860. Rev. John Rettig succeeded Dr. Steam, serving the church for two years. The next Pastor was Rev. John Bippus, who remained until 1868, when Rev. Martin Miller took charge, who, by rea- son of failing health, was obliged to retire from ministerial labor altogether, which he did in 1871. The congregation then called their former Pastor, Dr. Steam; he only served one year, when he was stricken with paraly- sis, and retired. In 1872, Rev. J. H. P. Dickman was called, and served till 1878. At this time. Rev. Dr. J. H. Kline, of Louisville, Ky., was called and is yet serving the church. The Reformed German congregation and the German Lutheran congregation owned jointly a brick church building on South Market street. In 1858, the German Lutherans bought out the interest of the Reformed Church. They immediately purchased an acre of ground, of James Gill, on West Main street, at the foot of Boston, and at once be- gan to erect the church edifice that now stands on the grovmd. This church was dedicated in May, 1859, by Rev. J. Joerris and J. G. Ruhl. The cost of the building was |4,143. They have a basement for Sabbath school and an audience-room. The church is out of debt, and expends for all purposes, annually, $1,- 500. In 1868, the congregation purchased a lot on Boston street, near Main street, and erected a building for a parsonage. The super- intendent of the Sabbath school is Jacob Schaffner. The school numbers about 300 members. The church roll shows a member- ship of 425 communicants. The following regarding the Methodist Episcopal Church of Gallon, is contributed: At the annual session of the North Ohio Conference, held at Medina, Ohio, August 7, 1850, the Gallon Methodist Episcopal Chiirch was combined with the Methodist Churches of Leesville, West Point, Iberia, Ebenezer and West Liberty, and the combination was known as Gallon Circuit. At this time, there were fifty-eight members in the church at Gallon, and the following names we find on the offi- cial roll: Randall Smith, Jonathan Fellows, John Rinehart, John Gilliland, Thomas B. Casner and S. P. Nave. A few of these offi- cers remain, the rest have fallen asleep in Christ. The Rev. William Thatcher was Pas- tor during the year. The following year Rev. /•*—»— r^" ■V tk^ 473 HISTOBT OF CRAWTORD COUKTY. John Orr was Pastor, and Rev. Alonzo Eodgers assistant. In the fall of 1852, Eev. B. H. Bush was appointed Pastor, and Alonzo Eodg- ers assistant. In 1853, Eev. William Hudson was appointed Pastor, and Eev. James W. Fribley assistant. During this year, the name of Dr. N. E. Hackedorn appeared on the offi- cial roll. Eev. Z. C. Norton was appointed Pastor, and Eev. E. J. McClelland assistant, in the fall of 1854. These ministers sustained their pastoral relation to the Gallon Circuit for two years, the longest pastorate that as yet any of the ministers had sustained to this circuit. At the General Conference of 1856, the North Ohio Conference was divided and a new conference organized, called the Central Ohio; and at the first session of this new con- ference Delaware District was formed, and Gallon Circuit became a part of this district. Through the earnest labors of the pastors and the people, the church in Gallon had steadily increased in numbers and strength, and it was now thought that with the aid of Union Chapel, situated two and one-half miles west of Gallon, a pastor could be sustained without the aid of the other congregation, so Gallon and Union Chapel were set off as a pastoral charge, and Rev. A. J. Lyon ap- pointed Pastor. In 1857, Eev. S. H. Alder- man was Pastor. During this year the Lord greatly blessed the labors of His people, and many souls were converted and added to the church ; of these quite a number became use- ful workers in the vineyard of the Master. In 1858, Eev. "William S. Paul was appointed Pastor. During this year the church, under the leadership of this faithful servant of God, resolved to build a new house of worship. A meeting of the members and friends of the church was called for consultation, at which time a conditional subscription was started — subscription to be binding when $3,500 was subscribed. The church now decided to pur- chase the old parsonage property, comer of Walnut and Columbus streets, which had been sold to Mr. James Braden, and there locate the new edifice. The purchase was made; and, on the 12th day of February, 1859, at a meet- ing of the congregation, it was reported that the desired amount of subscription was se- cured. This gave great encouragement to the friends of the enterprise, and they determined to push the work of building as rapidly as possible. The old church on West Main street was sold to the Disciples; a building committee, composed of Loyd Lowe, William Hays and Eev. W. S. Paul, was appointed, contracts were soon let, and the work com- menced. Rev. W. S. Paul was returned to the charge in 1860, and in the good provi- dence of God was enabled to carry through, by the help of the noble band of workers at his side, the work of church building to com- pletion; and on the 16th day of September, 1860, the new church was dedicated to the worship of God. In the fall of 1800, Eev. Amos Wilson was appointed Pastor. This was a year of great spiritual prosperity. The people had given of their substance to build the Lord a house. Now the Lord came and filled it with His glory, and blessed the people. In this revival many, old and young, were con- verted; heads of families were saved and be- came grateful helpers in the church of Christ. This year. Union Chapel was transferred to Caledonia Circuit, and Gallon became self-sus- taining. Before the pastoral year closed. Rev. Mr. Wilson resigned the charge and accepted the chaplaincy of the Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Rev. W. S. Paul filled the unexpired pastoral term. He was succeeded by Rev. L. B. Gui'ley, D. D., a man innocent as a child, pure as an angel, and as eloquent as ApoUos. He filled tbe pulpit for two years with great ability, and to the delight and profit of his auditors. f ^l^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 473 Dxiring his pastorate an addition was built to the parsonage. Eev. F. Mamott succeeded Dr. Gurley as Pastor; he sustained this rela- tion but one year, having been taken by the authorities of the church and placed on Lima District, as Presiding Elder. Rev. Mr. Ma- mott was succeeded by Rev. W. W. Winters, who remained with this church two years, the full length of the pastorate allowed by the law of the church. He was followed in the fall of 1866, by Rev. A. Nelson, D. D. He also remained full length of pastoral term, and his services were greatly enjoyed by the congregation, and blessed by the Lord in the spiritual culture of the worshipers. The General Conference held at Chicago in May, 1868, so changed the boundaries of the North Ohio and Central Ohio Conferences that Gallon became a point in the North Ohio Conference; and, at the following session of the conference, Rev. H. Dubois was appointed Pastor. He remained but one year with this church, and through his labors a number of important additions were made to the mem- bership. He was followed by Eev. S. Mc- Burney, who remained two years and was successful in the temporal and spiritual work of the church. He improved the church property to the amount of $3,700. He was succeeded by Rev. John W. Baxton, who at the close of one year was appointed Presiding Elder of Mansfield District. In 1872, Rev. George W. Pepper was appointed Pastor, and sustained this relation three years, the longest pastorate in the history of this church. God blessed his labors with a gracious revival, and many who united with the church in the re- vival are faithful to the present. He was fol- lowed by Rev. Lorenzo Warner, who after seven months of service was transferred to the church triumphant which is before the throne. Rev. S. Mower, D. D., filled the unexpired term and at the close of the year was appointed Presiding Elder of the district, and Eev. John Whitworth was appointed Pastor. He re- mained but one year, and was instrumental in the hand of God in saving many souls, some of whom are filling official positions in the church and Sabbath school. He was followed by Rev. E. Y. Warner, who occupied the pul- pit two years, and, tlu'ough the assistance of Mrs. L. O. Robison, of Greencastle, Ind.. quite a number were added to the church dur- ing his second year. In the fall of 1879, Rev. S. A. Thomson, present incumbent, succeeded Mr. Warner. Thus we nave seen this little vine, from a small beginning, grow to be a strong church. Its present membership num- bers 325. " What hath God wrought !" The German Methodist Episcopal Church differs in no wise from the English Methodist Episcopal Church, except in language. The church in Gallon separated from the Zoar Station, which was an old and large associa- tion, having a church edifice west of Gallon about three miles. There had been in this vicinity a missionary by the name of Chris- tian Nast, sent by the Central Ohio Confer- ence, in 1842. In the year 1844, another missionary was sent here, by the name of Rev. Nuhfer, who preached in the old log school- house then existing. This minister went to work in earnest, and in a short time had or- ganized a German society. Among some of the first members at this organization were Ludwig Gerth, Antoine Young, Louis Quant, Louis Gugler, Jacob Self, Michael Self, Peter Brick. The first regular minister of this church was John Bier. The services were held in the log schoolhouse until that was sold by the village. They then, in common with other cjiurches, held services in the old Brick Lutheran Church, near the cemetery. When the English Methodist Church was built, the German Church had preaching in the basement. In 1864, the frame building. W l\^ 474 HISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. the first built by the Methodists, on West Main street, was purchased. Here they remained until 1873, at which time they sold their property to Richard Atkinson, and bought a lot corner of Atwood and South Market streets. Here they erected a fine brick edifice at a cost of $12,000, and which they yet occupy. The pres- ent Presiding Elder is Rev. George Schwim, and the Pastor, Eey. P. J. Grassle. -There are about seventy full members, besides proba- tioners. The Sabbath school has an enroll- ment of about seventy members. The first Sabbath school of this church was organized in 1860, with Ludwig Gerth as Superintendent. The first Presbyterian organization in Gallon was effected in 1851. Before this time, a scattered few were zealous in their efforts to keep up the interest in their faith. They had not been selfish in their work, and with lib- eral minds they added fuel to the flame that burned upon God's altar, and were gratified at the success of Christianity through repre- sentatives of all faiths. In 1851, the Marion Presbytery (O. S.) gave ear to the petition of Mr. John Young and his wife, Mr. Joseph Lee and his wife, Mr. John McClelland and his wife, Mrs. Ann Rankin and Mrs. Barton. In response to this petition, they sent to Gallon a committee con- sisting of Rev. J. B. Blaney, Silas Johnston and J. P. Lloyd for the purpose of organizing a church. These were the nuclei — small, but firm as the Rock of Ages — which have year by year assimilated and grown to the fair proportions that church now assumes. From this little band of pioneers, there has devel- oped a church that is a power for good, and a worthy representative of God's instrumen- tality. Of this number, but few remain on earth. The rest have gone to join that larger congregation above. Joseph Lee, John Young, and Ezra Day were the first Elders, followed by others in regular succession, viz., Abraham De Haven, David Kerr, T. H. B. Beale, James Bryant, F. W. Johnson, William Dickey, J. M. Snodgrass, Elah D. Shaler, etc., many of whom are yet here, working with faith and love in the cause of the Lord. The infant church held frequent and earnest prayer meet- ings at the house of Mr. J. McClelland. Un- doubtedly a large portion of success was attrib- utable to these zealous gatherings. Gallon, at this time, had but 400 inhabitants, and several other churches were in operation. No house of worship, no resident minister, there was much to discourage them, and but little to cheer. Services were held every second Sabbath in summer and every fourth Sabbath in winter, and this in the afternoons, yet the small congregation struggled against these obstacles nobly. A serious blow to the church was the removal of Rev. J. P. Lloyd to Mt. Gilead, and the vacancy thus created was difficult to fill. On the completion of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianap- olis Railroad the town rapidly increased in population, and the other churches kept pace with it. The Presbyterian Church remained stationary, with occasional preaching in a borrowed or hired house. From this time there was a vacancy, which lasted for three years and six months. This was nearly fatal to the organization. Added to vacancy was debt, with its crushing weight and other at- tendant evils. All of these causes had a fair share of disaster to account for, yet the organ- ization prevailed, and in 1858 Rev. Mr. Lloyd returned from Mt. Gilead and resumed charge of the struggling church, jointly with the church of Crestline. Each communion there- after witnessed new accessions of members, and in two years more the subject of build- ing a house for the Lord was broached. Dif- ferences were settled and unity prevailed sufficiently to conunence the building. A site was selected on South Market street, and work ^s ;(f ^^ ^t^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 475 eoinmenced. It had not progressed far when the civil war broke out, and the building ceased. It stood still for a few years, and was finished in 1863. Now a heavy debt was incurred, and the church had yet to struggle against these earthly fetters. The year 1862 was an era in the history of the church. Then the nursery of the church was organized, in the form of the Sabbath school. In 1866, the Rev. Mr. Lloyd removed to Crestline, and another short vacancy occurred, which was filled by Kev. A. E. Thompson. During his stay, immense efforts were made to do away with the debt. The enterprise of liquidating a large portion of the debt was particularly due to F. W. Johnson, aided by labor and prayer by T. H. B. Beale, James Bryant, David Kerr and Dr. J. M. Snodgrass. In 1868, Eev. Thompson's removal caused another va- cancy of nearly a year. In 1869 Kev. Kingery served the church as stated supply for one year. Another short vacancy was filled by Hugh B. Price, who remained from 1871 to 1871. Rev. Mr. Price was possessed of winning manners, and gained friends from every side, especially among the nonnjhurch-going classes. Although far up in years, and suffering much pain from the infirmity which ended his life, he was truly " the old man eloquent." After Rev. Mr. Price's removal, some time elapsed before he was succeeded by Rev. Mil- ton McMillin. " Although not a great preacher, he was a man of great spiritual power, a devoted Pastor, and successful in his work. Some of the good seed sown by Rev. McMillin has come up and borne fruit, and much we trust, yet remains." "With his assistance the Sabbath school increased in numbers and interest. The church was stirred up to work and prayers." Mr. McMillin ceased his la- bors here, April, 1875. Four months after, came Rev. Edward P. Elcock, who is yet serv- ing the church. The Presbyterians are out of debt, and own a fine brick church, and are in a prosperous condition. The Regular Associated Baptist Church of Gralion, Ohio, was organized on the 14th day of January, 1859. There was no regular pastor for the church until the month of April, 1861. At this time. Rev. J. B. Sutton became the Pastor of the young church. Prior to this, and on the 29th day of December, 1859, the Regular Baptist Church of Gallon met, and while so convened entered into the follow- ing agreements: "We, the undersigned, mem- bers of the Regular Baptist Church, in the Mohican Association, for our mutual good and the promotion of the cause of 'Christ, do cov- enant and agree with each other, in chiu-ch capacity, and as a branch in Galion of the Bloomfield Church, in the Mohican Baptist Association, to maintain the apostolic order of the church in its primitive purity. " First. We believe the Bible to ba given by inspiration from God; we believe the New Testament to be a complete rule of faith and practice for the church. Signed, John Will- iams, J. A. Mann, Sarah Williams, Martha Mann, W. B. Cloak, Charlotte Ricker, Nancy Ruhl, Savezilia Peterson, Emma Stout, Orlan- do Steward, Emily Steward, B. G. Schrock." In the spring of 1862, the church began to build the brick house of worship they now occupy. As soon as the foundation was laid, Elder J. B. Sutton mounted the scaffold, with his trowel in hand, and worked assiduously at the brick-laying until the walls were completed. He did much other work on the building, and labored hard, by physical and mental means, till the building was completed, which was dxu-ing the year. On the 3d of August, soon after completion, the building was dedicated by Eev. J. W. Osborn, then of Mansfield. El- der J. B. Sutton occupied the new pulpit until August, 1864. At this time Elder S. Whitney occupied the pulpit alternately till April, 'V '476 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUXTY. 1866. A. D. Abbott then preached for the congregation for one year, but from April, 1 867, to April, 1872, this church had no pas^r. Their church building was occupied a portion of this time by the English Lutheran Church, while they (Lutherans) were erecting their own building. In April, 1872, Elder B. M. Morrison was called, who faithfully and ably served the church until early in the winter of the same year he died. In January, 1873, O. H. Betts was called, and ordained as Pastor of the church. He occupied the pulpit until July, 1874, when Elder T. Yarnell was called, who remained till October, 1876. Next in order came Elder John Hawker, who remained three and one-half years. During Elder Haw- ker's stay, the church increased in membership more than 100 per cent. Elder Hawker re- signed his pastorate and removed to Ports- mouth. His place was immediately filled by Elder H. B Pemald, who now occupies the pulpit with ability and faithfulness. The membership of this church is eighty-six com- municants. There is a good Sabbath school, conducted by Mr. Willen, with a membership of eighty. The church of the United Brethren in Christ of Gallon was organized in 1852. Previous to this date, a number of meetings, as well as of cam.p-meetings, had been held in the vicin- ity. Among the earlier itinerant ministers of this church were Rev. W. R. Rhinehart and Rev. Peter Flack. The first efforts toward organization were made after the arrival of Rev. Francis Clymer, who preached his first sermon in the old Lutheran Church. He at this time instituted a protracted meeting, and, in company with the Lutheran Church, suc- ceeded in arousing a spirit of revival. About fifty souls were converted, of which number about one-half united with the Brethren Church. At the time of the organization, three trustees were elected: Rev. F. Clymer, Daniel Hoover, and Jesse Puskeypile, who were instructed to purchase ground and pre pare for building a church. The west half of the lot on northeast corner of East "Wakiut and South Market streets was purchased, and building commenced. The church was finished during the year, at a cost of upward of $4,- OOjP. This was the first church erected in Gallon after the completion of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Rail- road. Prominent among the members at the organization were Daniel Hoover and wife, Jonathan Besline and wife, Jesse Puskeypile and wife, Mrs. Mary Wertz, Mrs. Sarah Un- derwood, John Moreice and wife, Hemy Dice and wife. At this time a class was formed, of several members, with Daniel Hoover as Class-leader. At the same time Daniel Hoover organized a Sabbath school, of which he was Superintendent. The congregation rented the Lutheran Church for one year, after which, they held their services in the old Methodist frame .church till their own build- ing was finished. The first regular minister who preached after the church was built was Rev. Ai'kinson Berry, who remained for two years. The minister now preaching for the congregation is Rev. Mr. Ramsey. The pres- ent Superintendent of Sabbath school is S. K. Traul. There are enrolled upon the books upward of 200 names, and a membership of the Sabbath school of nearly 250 scholars. In January, 1854, there came to Gallon a Catholic missionary by the name of Matthias Kreusch. The religious order to which he belonged was designated as the C. P. P. S. He came here with an earnest purpose, and lost no time in beginning the work that he had in contemplation. He brought together the little band of Catholics, and by his earnest preaching he succeeded in organizing them into a congregation. The first services that he held were in a private house, a frame dwell- n^ is Ja if. ^* ; mi 3^ <^^^ 1 / -J^-j V^i ^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 479 ing belonging to Mr. Eudiger, and situated near the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad depot. The next year, they built a small frame church building on East Main street, near the railroad. After some time the congregation bought the proi> erty on South Union street, and north of the union school building. Here they erected a neat and tidy brick chm'ch. It was small, but of sufiS.cient size to accommodate the grow- ing congregation. The parsonage was on the same ground. In 1865, the church was erected, and a parochial school was commenced at the same time. The priest at this time was Father John P. Pitts. He, in addition to church duties, took charge of the parochial school. In 1867, St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's con- gregations separated, and each society con- ducted a parochial school. In 1873, St. Pat- rick's society erected the fine brick church in the eastern part of Galion. At this time. Father Girardin conducted the church and school. In 1877, St. Joseph's congregation purchased the property on the corner of Lib- erty and Church streets. This is the block of three lots, and the first brick schoolhouse in Polk Township. The congregation have remodeled the building, so that it now con- stitutes the parsonage, parochial school and church. Father Girardin left, by orders from Bishop Gilmore, and was replaced by Father Ksempker, who at present has charge. It is the intention of St. Joseph's Society to erect, in 1881, a fine brick church on one of their vacant lots south of the present building In October, 1869, the Eev. George S. Da- vis commenced missionary work in Galion, in the interests of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He performed the service, and preached on alternate Sabbaths. His minis- trations were continued for about six months. Early in December, preliminary steps were taken for the organization of a parish, and the name of " Grace " was selected for the mission. No application was made at this time for admission to the convention. The first vestry were then elected, and were as fol- lows: Mr. Ball, Senior Warden; Horace Hard- ing, Junior Warden and Clerk of Vestry. T. A. Phillips, Charles Horn, Vestrymen. Commu- nicants — Mr. Ball, C. Horn, H. Harding and wife, E. M. Sibley and wife, Mrs. A. W. Ball, Mrs. George Stowell, Mrs. T. H. Bancroft, Mrs. W. Smith. Services were then held in the Baptist Church building, on Walnut street. After Mr. Davis ceased his labors in Galion, the service was occasionally read by Messrs. Trimble, Doolittle and others. At length, however, all service ceased, and the church remained quiet and inactive for the space of three years. On Saturday, July 5, 1873, Mr. Hillyar came to take charge of the church. No preparation being made for serv- ices, he spent his first Sabbath in visiting members and families. He found them hope- ful and in earnest spirits, with a fair amount of church attachment. On July 14, service was held in the chapel of the schoolhouse, after which the use of the hall of Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers was solicited and secured. In the afternoon after the first service in this hall, committees were appointed, and Bible and Sunday-school classes were formed. In the year 1874, a piece of ground was purchased on South Union street, of Mr. Fisher, for $650. Ground was soon broken, and a church edifice erected after a plan sub- mitted by the Bishop and designed by Lloyd & Pearce, of Detroit, Michigan. The first services in the new church were held on June 27, 1875, fifth Sunday after Trinity. On December 19, 1875, the Rev. Marcellus Kar- cher, from the diocese of Central Pennsylva- nia, took charge of the mission, and entered upon his duties. He remained till October 1, 1876. During his stay, the ladies of the ^r^ .u 480 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. chiu-ch reduced the debt of $1,100 to $300. On May 25, 1876, the Festival of the Ascen- sion, the church was consecrated. Much was due to T. A. Phillips, who personally assumed the debt of $300, that the church might have consecration. This church building is a model of neat- ness and excellent arrangement. Its dimen- sions are ample, its proportions handsome, tte appointments are elegant and complete. The entrance is on the northeast, facing east, the aisle running north and south. The en- trance to the vestry is on the southeast corner, on the right of the chancel. To the left of the chancel is the organ, which is one of the finest in the city. The woodwork and fur- nishings are of late design and richest finish. This little gem is well worthy of the pride taken in it by the members of " Grace " Chiu-ch. The present Eector of Grace Church is Eev. Samuel T. Street, who took charge in Febru- ary, 1880. There are twenty-nine communi- cants in the church, and a well-conducted Sabbath school of about fifty members. Galion has among her citizens a large num- ber of young men, who work hard and faith- fully in the shops, or on the road, or wherever their business calls them. A large portion of these men are single, or have but one room where they board. In consequence (as it is in all manufacturing towns) secret societies are in favor, and are generally well patronized. Some of these societies are merely specula- tive, but there is a constant danger of death and mangling in the particular work that engages a large proportion of the citizens, and a species of insurance is united with the advantages of a club-room. There are no less than five of the latter societies, consisting of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, Knights of Honor, Royal Arcanum, American Legion of Honor. Among speculative secret societies are three of Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, two Blue Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons, and one Chapter of Royal Arch Ma- sons. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi- neers, Division No. 16, meets every Monday evening in Engineers' Hall, East Main street, A. G. Bryan, C. E. ; Robert Boyd, F. A. E. ; J. R. Belton Corresponding Secretary and In- surance Agent. The Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Firemen, Union Lodge No. 5, meets on Sunday afternoon of each week in B. of L. E. Hall, A. N. Jenkinson, M., Theo. WooUey, R. S. Knights of Honor, Mutual Lodge No. 82, meets on the second Monday and fourth Tuesday of each month, in Long's Block, southeast side of public square; E. J. Harm, D.; A. E. Reed, R. Royal Arcanum, Galion Council No. 20, meets in the hall of the K. of H., first Thursday and third Friday of each month ; J. R. Homer, R. M. ; J. T. Ryone, Sec- retary. Eureka Lodge, No. 138, American Legion of Honor, meets in Odd Fellows' Hall, on second Wednesday and fourth Saturday of each month ; J. T. Ryone, C. ; A. Lewis, Sec- retary. Beside these named, there are many societies formed for mutual relief, social ad- vantages, and literary entertainment. All deaths in this community of members of insur- ance societies have been promptly paid, and all of the above associations are respected. But little difference exists in the principle upon which each is founded. The American Legion of Honor differs from the others chiefly in admitting ladies to full member- ship. The charter of Fidelity Lodge, F. & A. M., bears date of Oct. 17, 1860. (A. L. 5860.) The petitioners to the Grand Lodge were, Jo- seph Hildreth, H. 0. Carhart, William S.Paul, S. Stieger, P. W. Webber, C. Hostetter, A. C. Allen, H. S. Camp, H. M.. Duff, J. Sedick, O. Lam, John C. Snyder, James S. Potter, Z. E. Barrett, 0. D. Fullington, A. S. Skilton, William Smith, A. S. Caton, M. M. Camp, ?fc> HISTORY or CRAWrORD COUNTY. 481 Israel Belton, A. Berry, D. L. Dye, E. A. Brown, T. P. Harding, A. Poe, Albert Wal- ter, H. L. Fostney. These petitioners had been working successfully under a dispensa- tion, and, having a room properly furnished, the charter was granted, and signed by Horace M. Stokes, M. W. G. M., and J. D. Caldwell, Grand Secretary. Fidelity Lodge has well-furnished and am- ple rooms in the third story of Hackadorn's Block. The first officers were: Joseph Hil- dreth, W. M.; H. C. Carhart, S. W.; and Henry M. Duff, J. W. The oflacers for the present year (1880) are as follows: J. E. Homer, W. M.; A. W. Lewis, S. W.; J. R. Belton, J. W.; W. R. Davis, Treasm-er; T. G. Barlow, Secretary; J. G. Mamott, S. D.; J. E. Miles, J. D.; and S. B. Nute, Tiler. Masonry took a deep hold upon the affec- tions of the people, and the number of its votaries increased. Li the year 1868, it was decided to create a new Lodge. The follow- ing-named brethren had been working under a dispensation from Grand Master Matthius, and petitioned the Grand Lodge on the 21st of October, 1868, as follows: " To the Grand Lodge of the most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Ac- cepted Masons of the State of Ohio, convened and assembled at the city of Dayton, Ohio, greeting. L. H. York, G. W. Barker, Y. C. Case, Jerry Wemple, H. L. Gordon, A. W. Ball, C. H. Home, John Swisher, J. C. Hart- zler. Brock Quigley, having heretofore assem- bled under dispensation from Grand Master Matthius, now pray for a charter under title of Gallon Lodge No. 414. Brother J. W. Holmes, Master; M. P. McGregor, Senior War- den; James A. Larnerd, Junior Warden. City of Dayton, Oct. 21, A. D. 1868, Era of Ma- sonry 5868." The charter was granted, and both lodges worked in their lodge rooms in Hockadorn's Block, southwest corner of the square, until the winter of 1879. During the spring of 1878 a dispensation for a charter was secured, in accordance with a petition from J. W. Holmes, H. A. Cooper, H. R. Kelly, Samuel Wagner, G. W. Burt, 0. L. Hays, J. Campbell, William Smith, A. B. Quigley, M. B. Mann, W. H. Raymond, John Swisher, Jeremiah Wemple, Brock Quigley, H. L. English, J. S. Graham, Albert Cook, C. J. Home, George W. James, John Blythe, J. R. Homer, A. S. Caton, T. H. Lindsley. This dispensation was granted, and the Chapter worked under it till Oct. 11, 1878, Year of Discovery 2408, at which time a char- ter was granted by the Grand Chapter of Ohio, convened at Columbus. J. W. TJnderhill, Grand High Priest; J. B. Hovey, Deputy Grand High Priest; Daniel A. Scott, Grand King; J. H. Chamberlain, Grand Scribe. Attest: James Nesbitt, Grand Secretary. First officers of Crawford Chapter No. 142, were George W. Burt, High Priest; Otho L. Hays, King; William H. Raymond, Scribe. These three lodges were prosperous, and were con- stantly gaining in wealth and numbers. Soon after the formation of the Chapter, many of the Masons conceived the idea of furnishing a new lodge-room. David Mackey was about building a fine three-story block on South Market street. The new lodge, No. 414, and the Chapter, secured the upper story of this block, and had it finished under their own supervision. Every convenience of modern lodge-rooms was provided, and the room was divided with such accuracy as regards con- venience and utility that it is practically per- fect. It is furnished in a beautiful manner, with all the taste that refinement could sug- gest and money procure. They removed to the new lodge room in the winter of 1879. The main room is of fine proportions; the floor covered by a fine Brussels carpet, and the windows secured by inside shutters. A i) Vy ^4 ^ — ^ ^>^ HISTORY OF CRAWTORD COUNTY. magnificent secretary's desk in one corner is harmonized by a fine imitation pipe organ in the opposite corner. The chairs are all of black walnut, those in the lodge-room of a dif- ferent pattern from those in the banquet-room. A library and banquet room are separated by sliding doors, and can be easily made into one. A kitchen, with a fine cooking range, with all the kitchen furniture, connects with the ban- quet-room. An ample pantry has its shelves full of table-ware. In short, this lodge-room and its accompaniments is well worthy of the pride taken in it, and a seat among the breth- ren is an honor of which one may feel proud. The present officers of Gallon Lodge No. 414, are as follows : John Blythe, W. M. ; L. H. York, S. W. ; D. S. Quigley, J. W. ; M. L. Hack- adorn, Treasurer; H. A. Cooper, Secretary; J. E. "Williams, S. D.; T. M. Miller, J. D.; William Smith, Tiler. Officers of Crawford Chapter No. 142: G-. W. Burt, H. P.; J. E. Homer, King; J. Blythe, Scribe; J.W.Holmes, Captain Host; H. A. Cooper, P. S.; T>. S. Quigley, E. A. C; G. M. 3d V.; A. S. Caton, G. M. 2d V.; A. Cloak, G.M. 1st v.; W. H. Eaymond, Treasurer; L. H York, Secretary; William Smith, Guard. The first subordinate lodge of the I. O. O. r. was instituted on the 9th day of March, 1853. The charter members of Gallon Lodge No. 215, are as follows: The Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, by authority of a charter from the Grand Lodge of the United States, do hereby grant this warrant or dispensation to U. S. Baker, D. M. Barton, D. W. Eoberts, P. D. Connell, A. S. Caton, David Hiltabital, M. B. Payne, F. Ashbaugh, John P. Wisterman, John Crawford, Edward Kenyon, Charles Eoberts, J. C. McQuaid, J. B. McQuaid, J. P. Smith, C. I. Hutchinson, D. L. Dye, and Sig- mund Baker. Done at Dayton, Ohio, the 20th day of January, 1858. Instituted March 9, 1853. This lodge met in several localities before they secured a permanent location. They built the third story to the brick block erected by Mr. Hostetter, and now owned by H. C. Carhart. The large German population in Gallon induced them to organize the Ober Eheia Lodge I. O. O. P., No. 604. They were granted a charter or dispensation by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, the 12th day of May, 1875. It was instituted June 16, 1875. The charter mem- bers are Charles Slapp, Heinrich Eeusch, Wilhelm Biehl, John Lorsch, Wilhelm Hol- lander, Heinrich Straub, Jacob Gugler, Freid- rich Koppe, John J. Sang, John Gaushorn, Jacob Schupp, Carl Storck, Hermann Mann- hardt. This lodge also met in difterent places before they were permanently located. Aug. 4, 1869, the Lebonah Encampment of Patriarchs No. 123, was instituted. The date of their charter was May 5, 1869. The char- ter members are William Eogers, W. W. Schaffer, J. J. Eick, Hugh Eoss, Henry Ogden, C. J. Slater, and A. M. Brown The two subordinate lodges and the Encampment are now located in the third story of Kesselmier's Block. Their lodge-room is beautifully pro- portioned jand handsomely finished. The walls are of artificial granite, and the em- blems of the order are hung around in beau- tiful order, and have a striking effect. They have their lodge excellently furnished, and the furniture is good. The ceiling is lavishly decorated in stucco work, and the beautiful chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, give, at night, a beautiful effect. The officers of Gallon Lodge are: Alex Bookwalter, N. G.; J. W. Coulter, V. G.; John Hart, Secretary. The officers of Ober Ehein Lodge are: Sam- uel Myers, N. G.; Jesse Emmenigger, V. G.; Jacob Eitzhaupt, Secretary. The officers of Lebonah Encampment are, W. G. Goshorn, C. T.; Samuel Dice, J. W.; W. W. Shaeffer, Treasurer ; Simon Bookwalter, Scribe. r?t ^^ LlA HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 483 The older members of a family, emigrating from well-settled districts and wealthy com- munities, had advap^tages of education that pertain to sucli places; but, in bringing their children to a new country, not the least bless- ing left in the old home is the privilege of education. First, cabins must be built, land cleared, roads made, clothing provided, and each hand must assist in bringing about them the necessities of life. Generally, for a few years there are not families enough in the community to support a teacher. Some few endeavor to impart a little instruction, in a rudimentary manner, at home. Finally the time arrives when families enough, by com- bined efforts, can support a school. The first schoolhouse erected in Galion was located in the near vicinity of C. Scrim's resi- dence, on West Main street, in 1822. There was no district formed. No parliamentary point obstructed the progress. No red tape or circumlocution hampered the completion of the work. This was a commTinity of primi- tive ways and simple habits. There was a sudden awakening to the necessity of educar tion, and of having a sphoolhouse, and an instinctive impression that it could be built and a school supported. Acting upon this spontaneous impulse, the citizens came to- gether with their teams, axes, and all the tools and apparatus required. It was a round-log schoolhouse, with a clapboard roof. Poles were crossed on the ceiling and stuffed with moss; oyer this was plastered clay. Sections of logs were cut out for windows, of which there were three. Frames were made for these windows by Mr. George Wood, who was a carpenter ; and, that the force of this remark may not be lost, we will merely state that the frames were an advance upon the ordinary form of window, which was generally a hole in the cabin, with greased paper covering it in the winter. A large fire-place, opening into a chimney of sticks and clay, occupied one end of the building. The seats were of split logs, or slabs with the flat side up, holes bored slanting near the ends, and long pegs driven in to form benches. The most difficult of all feats to perform was to keep all four legs on the floor at one time. A few boards were se- cured, which were attached to the walls around the building, to be utilized as writing desks. The building, when finished, was rude and uncouth in appearance, somewhat dark in the interior, but warm; but it was the beginning of school. The germ of education was planted in the midst of the settlement; how well it took root, and grew from year to year; how it was carefully nurtured and oared for, and the grand result, the perfection of the school system, till now there seems little more to do — is evident to all. Mr. David Gill possessed an education, and a knowledge of business forms, in advance of his associates in Galion. It was conceded by all that he should first have the honor of teaching the youth of Gal- ion. Accordingly, we find him duly installed, with full authority at once with the book and the birch. The pay for the teacher and sup- port of the school did not come from assess- ments, but by subscription. No regular set of books were studied. The Bible was fre- quently the reader, and Webster's old spelling- book was in requisition. The settlement increased in population, new families arrived each year, and younger chil- dren became old enough to go to school. The child six years of age studied by the side of the boy sixteen years old. The necessities of education made a new demand upon the peo- ple. Not only was a larger building needed, but pride stepped in and demanded that the new building should be better, neater and finer in every respect possible. The old grave- yard on West Main street was selected as the site of the new schoolhouse. Here a "scutched" ?P ,u 484 HISTOKY OF CEAWFOKD COUNTY. log schoolhouse was erected. The logs were lightly hewed on the outside after the build- ing was erected. This sohoolhouse was used for religious worship, and was the first public building used for that purpose. In the year 1834, this building burned down. The next building erected for school purposes was a hewed-log building, on what is now Joel Eib- let's property, on North Market street. The gable ends were sided up and painted red; the roof was of shaved oak shingles ; the walls .were chinked with clay, mud, and stone. Here, in the third schoolhouse built in Gallon, we find the slab seats are yet predominant. An improvement existed, however, by the innovation of desks. These were made some- thing in the shape of a bos, with poplar boards. A feature of this school was a piece of furniture called the dunce block. It was separated from the other seats, and generally placed in the aisle or near the teacher's desk. More than one father and mother of Gallon can now bring to recollection the shame and confusion they experienced when occupying this lowly seat. But nothing could be added to the shame, when, occupying the dunce block, the " fool's cap " was placed on the head. These modes of punishment were in full vogue during the long time Mr. John Stauffer taught, and were generally not con- sidered inappropriate. "We doubt very much that a teacher would be sustained for a sino-le day in such a course at this time. This old building outlived its usefulness as a hall of learning, and now does duty on the lot north as a wagon shop, owned by Jacob Henenom. Most of the middle-aged citizens of Gallon, who obtained their rudimentary education here, have attended school in this building. It was in this building that the first Sabbath school was organized, by Sarah Euhl and Mrs. Dr. Johnson. It was while this build- ing was in use that the township had been divided into districts. The town of Gallon was made a separate district or subdistrict, and was called No. 9. In 1845, the enumer- ation of school children for this district was 124. As we have stated, the last log schoolhouse had yet slab seats ; but, as soon as Polk Town- ship was organized, the officers of School Dis- trict No. 9 began to make improvements. Among the first innovations was a change in the pattern of the seats. We give below a contract between the directors and George Eensch, for this improvement: "Article of agreement made and entered into this 20th day of October, 1846. The Direct- ors of District No. 9 of the first part, and George Eensch, of the second part, of Gallon, Polk Township, Crawford County, and State of Ohio. Whereas, the said George Eensch does agree to make fifteen seats and fifteen desks, four feet long; desks eighteen inches wide, seats ten inches broad; one double desk and two seats eight feet long, with a division board in the south, a seat to be made at the end of every desk, and a platform four feet square, raised six inches from the floor, with a desk on it four feet long, eighteen inches wide, to be placed down the back to the seat that is to be put in front, with a seat to be placed behind the desk; likewise one batten door and hung, glass put in the windows, and patch the plastering, and furnish all the ma- terial. The work to be finished on or before the fifteenth of November, next, and done in a workmanlike manner. All of the work to be nailed together. And the aforesaid direct- ors doth agree to pay the said George Eensch the sum of §20, when the work is done as described above. Signed and sealed in pres- ence of vratnesses. Witness, J. V. Bloomer, G. C. Wrenn. Directors, Isaac Wiley, Peter Cross, George Eensch." This third and last log school building was erected in 1834. -.^ ^k^ HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. 485 The old system of select school teaching continued for some time after the Akron school law was enacted. Select schools were taught side by side with the public system, until the comparison became odious. It was not strange that all could not see the grand possibilities of the new system; neither was the law, or its execution perfected, as it now is. Schools were opened and taught as an educational factory, exactly as one would open a door or shop, depending upon the patronage of the people. Education was doled out at so much per month, by teachers who were their own censors. If a scholar was sick, or from any cause likely to be detained from school, a brother or sister could attend, and fill up the lost time. Thus the deficiency was made good, and all were satisfied. There were always a number of teachers who would solicit pupils for each term; these teachers supplied a want in the earlier days that was very necessary to the settlers. In many cases, where the people could not afford a schoolhouse, these teachers would rent a room, and thus enable the school to go on. They generally went from house to house and solic- ited pupils. They would set forth the pe- culiar advantages of their system, and dilate upon their marvelous facilities for discipline. They charged a certain sum for each pupil, and agreed to teach a definite length of time. These teachers were their own censors. No board of examiners made them tremble and • fear and grow sick with the dread of a failure. Their authority was complete. No laws of State or town interfered with them. Many of these old style -teachers were faithful in their work, and taught good schools. Among some of them were David Gill, Phares Jack- son, John Morrison, Joel Todd, James Dun- lap. Later on, before the building of the first brick schoolhouse in Gallon, a select school was taught in the old frame Methodist Church, on West Main street, by Miss Rebecca Hosford, now Mrs. Maxfield. Soon after this school. Miss White, now the wife of Mr. H. 0. Carhart, taught a select school in the old hotel building, near the northwest corner of the square, now occupied as a barber shop. In the earlier times, the teacher often boarded around from house to house, visiting the home of each pupil. In many respects, this was a good custom, as it brought the parents and teacher in closer relation, and developed a greater interest in the progress of their chil- dren. Finally, came the Akron school law, in 1847. This was the basis upon which our present perfected school system was founded. When this law came into force. Gallon had grown and increased in population to that extent that new schools and a broader system was needed. To meet the requirements of this law, the schoolhouse now occupied by St. Joseph's Catholic society, was built. It was a large building for the times, and furnished abun- dant room. The first brick schoolhouse in the township, it was a matter of pride with the inhabitants. This was the first graded school also, which was a feature unknown in the an- nals of school history of this vicinity. This building was erected in the year 1854, on the corner of Liberty and Church streets. Mr. Lowe was appointed a committee of one to purchase the property. It belonged to Jacob Ruhl, who had owned the whole quarter-sec- tion. The whole block was purchased, in which there were three lots. It was some time after the new school system was inaugurated, before the receipts from taxation were suffi- cient to keep a school for more than three months. In this case, school would be kept as long as the money held out, and then the citizens continued by subscription to keep the school going for the usual length of time. There were four grades in this first organiza- 5 fy 'A 486 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. tion. No. 1, primary ,wassocrowded with pupils that extra benches were placed around the room for the scholars. It was taught by Mrs. Hackadorn and Mrs. C. S. Grimm. No. 2 was taught by Hugh Williams; No. 3, by John Clymer, who afterward edited the Bucyrus Forum; No. 4 was taught by David Kerr, who was the first Superintendent of Schools. The seats were arranged in single rows. They consisted of wooden chairs, set upon a wooden pedestal adjusted to the center of the seat and screwed to the floor ; the back of the chair or slat was also screwed to the desk behind it. The desks were of wood and iron. The cast- ing was done in Galion, and the desks were m.ade here. The blackboards were plastered into the walls. The building soon became crowded, and, to gain more room, the basement was finished off into two apartments, and a German school taught in one of them. This was a new element in the population of Gal- ion, that, from its numbers, demanded recog- nition. Abraham Underwood sold to a Ger- man the first land ever owned in Galion by one of that nationality; but foreigners were arriving rapidly, and they were so niunerous at this time that they demanded and obtained a German department in connection with the public system. This schoolhouse was sold just about the time of the erection of the union school building. It was afterward fit- ted with machinery, and a stock company ran a woolen-mill in it. This failed, and eventu- ally the building was purchased by the Cath- olic society, and is now used for a church and parochial school by the St. Joseph's Society. Mr. J. C. Hartzler was Superintendent of schools while the Union School building was erected. On the 21st of March, 1868; the last piece of ground required for school grounds was purchased. From this time on, the school board met frequently, and were chiefly occu- pied with the building. Many changes were made from the first plans, and improvements were suggested and carried out until the build- ing was completed. The architect of the building was J. W. Thomas, who was also Superintendent of the erection of the building. The contract was taken by Bird & Woodward, at ^31,000. Numerous committees were ap- pointed to visit different parts of the country for the purpose of ascertaining the best mate- rials, and the most successful furnaces and ventilators, and pains were taken to copy from the best in all the parts of the building. It was said to be built in 1869, but the work was a long time being completed. Bonds were issued as a means of obtaining money for the building. In January of 1872, at the urgent demand of the tax-payers, J. G. Meuser and S. G. Cummings were appointed a committee to report the cost of the schoolhouse, grounds, and all matters wherein expenses were incurred in the improving of the grounds. Their re- port shows that the whole cost up to that date was 187,571. The grounds cost over §0,000; the item of fence alone was §2,371.60. This building occupies ground between Boston street on the west to South Union on the east, and from Walnut street on the north to a dis- tance about one-half across the block on the south. Fine walks are laid in the grounds; fine maples almost surround the block, and line the sidewalks; the grounds have been filled up and graded till they are perfect. It is the intention in the near future to ornament and adorn the grounds by landscape garden-. ing. The present Superintendent, M. Manly, has occupied this position for six years, and has been elected for a term of three years more. In the year 1879, the brick schoolhouse in the eastern part of the city was built. This is a very neat and tastily designed piece of archi- tecture. It answers to something in the nature of a ward school, although, from the pecuUar outlines of the different wards, no schoolhouse ^f^ ihL^ HISTORY OF CEAWTORD COUNTY. 487 can be erected with strict reference to them. This last schoolhouse is located north of East Main street, on the comer of Church and East streets. This building is in great favor with many of the citizens, who object to the large size of the union school building. In the east schoolhouse, there are three teachers employed. In the high school building, there are fourteen teachers, J. L. Lasley, teacher of high school, and A. "W. Lewis, teacher of grammar school. The first graduating class from the high school was in 1871, and consisted of only two — ^Willis Stentz, of the First National Bank, and S. S. Pague, who afterward graduated at West Point, and is now Lieut. Pague, U. S. A. There have been in all six schoolhouses erected in Gallon, three of which were log buildings, and three of brick. There are but two buildings used for school purposes at this time, and both of them are an honor to the city, both as regards their architectural beauty, and the perfect manner in which they are conducted. CHAPTER XIV. JACKSON TOWNSHIP— INTRODUCTOEY— TOPOGRAPHY— ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES— THE WHITES- RAILROADS AND TOWNS — THE EARLY LIFE OF CRESTLINE — RELIGIONS, ETC. TN the eastern part of Crawford County, -'- lies Jackson Township, the smallest of its civil divisions. Like the little Eepublic of San Marino, situated amid the lesser ranges of the Apennines, and the smallest republic in the world, embracing but twenty-one square miles, Jackson Township is not only the smallest division of Crawford County, but probably the smallest township in the State of Ohio. Erom one of the largest townships, it has been whittled off and cut down, until it now comprises but eight square miles. In its original dimensions it included Jefferson Township, together with other portions of ter- ritory, and it was not until 1873, as shown in another chapter, that Jefferson was set off from Jackson. These two townships are hon- ored with good old Democratic names; the one for the hero of New Orleans, and the other for the great apostle of American De- mocracy. The latter name (Jefferson) was doubtless bestowed upon the township at the time of its creation, in consequence of the source from which its territory was taken. Being made of a " rib" from " Old Hickory," otherwise taken from the township of Jackson, it was not deemed advisable or prudent to offend the memory of the old iron-souled war- rior-President, by calling it by any other than a good, sound Democratic name. The history of the two townships is interwoven, they being one until so recent a date that it is difficult to separate them, and to give a distinct sketch of each, without " mixing things " almost un- intelligibly. The early settlement of the town- ship is noticed principally in the chapter devoted to Jefferson, as that portion now known as Jefferson was settled first. Hence, but little will be given in this connection upon that subject. This little township, this little San Marino of Crawford Coimty, has experienced wonder- ful changes in the last sixty years. There are but few American readers who are not familiar with the romantic story of Eip Van Winkle, as told by Washington Irving. This story recites the strange adventures that befell the long sleeper in the Catskill Mountains, ;fv ±^ 48S HISTORY OF CKAWrORD COUNTY. which served but as a prelude to the surprise that awaited him when he awoke, no longer the loyal subject of George III, or the crony of Nick Vedder, the tapster, and the some- time boon companion of Van Brummel, the Dutch schoolmaster, but the free and sov- ereign citizen of this great Eepublic, then for a decade of years or more, piloting its way in " the full tide of successful experiment." Were "one to rise from the dead" who saw this country sixty years ago, in all its original wild- ness, or some of the "noble red men," whose hunting-grounds it once was, come back from the land of the Great Spirit, they would doubtless be as much bewildered at the change inwrought in these three-score years as was Eip Van Winkle when he awoke from his little nap in the Catskill Mountains. The pioneer found here an unbroken forest, miry swamps, the Wyandot Indians, and a profu- sion of game of all kinds. The visitor of to- day finds flourishing farms, palace homes, trunk-line railroads, and those concomitants of civilization — the church and schoolhouse. The patient ox, the old Gary plow, the reap- ing-hook and the scythe and cradle have given place to the improved machinery of to-day, so that the tilling of the soil is no longer a drudgery, but one of the sciences of the age in which we live. All this, the sixty years that have come and gone since the pioneer wan- dered here, have witnessed. The giant trees that have withstood the storms for ages, and in whose tops " The century-living crow Had his birth, then grew old and died Among their branches," have almost disappeared before the advancing tide of immigration, until now, a more flour- ishing or highly favored locality than the eight square miles of Jackson Township is scarcely to be found in the State. The land is rich, well improved, and has every facility, both natural and artificial, to render it valu- able to the husbandman. The surface features of Jackson Township are not dissimilar to the surrounding country. In its original state, it was heavily timbered, and in many places flat and, swampy, but with a soil of almost unexampled richness. It was a section not unlike the " Black Swamp " in the western part of the State, or the " Black For- est" of Germany, where " Der Schwarzwald steht der finstrer Tannen," and when cleared of the timber, drained and properly cultivated, was very valuable. Ar- tificial or tile draining has done much to re- claim this swampy land, and reduce it to the fine state of cultivation we find it in at the present time. Its principal productions are corn, wheat and oats; also the more common of the smaller crops are grown to some extent. The timber is that indigenous to this section, and consists mainly of several kinds of oak, hickory, poplar, sugar maple, beech, elm, ash, and some walnut, and some of the common shrubs. It has but few water-courses or streams of running water, even of the smallest dimensions. One of the tributaries forming the Sandusky River, passes through the north part of the township. This, with Whetstone Creek, and one or two small brooks which are nameless on the maps, constitutes its natural drainage system. Geographically, Jackson Township, as we have - said, lies in the eastern part of the county, and is bounded north by Vernon Township, east by Eichland County, south by Polk Township, west by Jefferson Town- ship, and is situated in Range 20 west, of Township 20, and is fractional, being one sec- tion short of the fourth of a regular Con- gressional township. As nearly as the facts can be definitely ascertained, the eight sec- tions now comprising Jackson Township, were 5) ""V fe^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 489 originally in Richland County, and the twelve western sections, a part of Sandusky Township, in this county. In 1835, a petition was pre- sented to the County Commissioners, praying for a new township, and fifteen sections were stricken off from Sandusky, and called Jack- son, as already related, for the hero of New Orleans. In 1842, a four-mile strip was added to Crawford from Eichland County, and eight new sections were added to Jackson, making in all twenty-eight sections. At that time, it embraced within its limits Jefferson Town- ship, which, as we have seen, remained a part of Jackson until 1873, when the citizens liv- ing in the western part petitioned the County Commissioners to be created a separate and distinct township, in order that they might enjoy some of the emoluments of office, Crestline being in the habit of capturing the majority of them, thus leaving the west end of the township out in the cold. In 1822, we learn that an election was held at the resi- dence of one of the prominent settlers, in what is now Jackson Township, and officers elected, but their names we were unable to obtain. This, then, may properly be termed the organization of Sandusky, now Jackson Township. In 1840, the township had a pop- ulation of 636; in 1870, it had, including Crestline, increased to 4,021, and in 1880, its present territory, exclusive of Crestline, con- tained 386 inhabitants; thus showing a grad- ual increase in population, taking into con- sideration the different extent of territory at the date of census. There are no towns or villages in Jackson except Crestline; indeed, there is no room for any others; for, by the time Crestline has grown to be as large as Cincinnati, it will cover the entire township, from end to end. Two trunk-line railroads cross almost at right angles, near the center, thus affording to the good people the most ample means of both travel and transportation. This portion of Crawford County was a fa- vorite hunting-ground of the Indian, long before the appearance of the white man. We have no record of Indian towns and villages in the present township of Jackson, but, in that portion now known as Jefferson, many facts of history pertaining to the red men are intimately connected and associated. Through it, Crawford moved upon his ill-fated cam- paign against the Indians, and within its bor- ders he encamped one night, as he marched on to his destruction. Indeed, nearly every square mile of Jefferson has some Indian in- cident or legend attached to it. In its forests, he chased the bounding deer, or howled be- hind his flying prey, and in the glare of the "wigwam fire" he "wooed his dusky mate." And in the thick forests of Jackson, as at present limited, he is only associated through that portion lately stricken off. These forests were an attractive spot to the savage in an early day, and a favorite place of hunting. But, as the tide of civilization pressed on, the poor Indian was forced backward, and the spot where he had roamed as undisputed monarch, was destined to know him no more forever. "Well might he have said: "The stranger came, a timid suppliant — few and feeble, and asked to lie down on the red man's bear-skin, and warm himself at the red man's fire, and have a little piece of land to raise corn for his women and children; and now he has become strong and mighty and bold, and spreads out his parchments over the whole, and says, 'It is mine.' Stranger, there is not room for us both. The Great Spirit has not made us to live together. There is poison in the white man's cup ; the white man's dog barks at the red man's heels. If I should leave the land of my fathers, whither shall I fly? ShaU I go to the south, and dwell among the graves of the Pequots? Shall I wander to the West, the fierce Mohawk — the man- *n^ w (51 '^ 490 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. eater — is my foe. Shall I fly to the East, the great water is before me. No, stranger, here I have lived, and here will I die, and if here thou abidest, there is eternal war between me and thee." But as it always turns out, the strong trampled upon the weak; the red man was driven back, and upon the smoldering embers of his camp-fire the pale-face erected his cabin. He came to this part of the county close in the wake of the retreating savages, or really before the savages had left for distant reservations. The story of his life is one thrilling with border romance. It rests upon the mind like enchantment, and warms the heart with tender ties of sympathy. The old gray-haired man and the trembling grand- mother spend many a pleasant hour in dream- ing of the past, and tell the tale of early suf- fering and privation to the eager-listening child, who never tires of listening. All are eager to hear it, and all keenly enjoy it. To these good old people it revives the record of a life that has been one of toil and self- sacrifice. The early history of Jackson Township be- longs mostly to that portion now forming Jefferson, as already stated. There the first settlements were made, and there occurred many of those pioneer events which constitute the early history of a township, such as the building of mills, schoolhouses, the formation of church societies, and the first birth, death and marriage — events of great importance in all pioneer communities. The present town- ship holds a kind of secondary place in pioneer history, and its settlement is of more modem date. The original pioneer of this immediate section is supposed to have been Joseph Rus- sell. Mr. Snyder, who now lives in Crestline, but whose father settled in what is Jefferson TovTnship at present, in 1816-17, thinks that Russell came here as early as 1820. He located about one mile south of Crestline, where Mr. Stine now lives, and was from this State, somewhere in the vicinity of Coshocton. He moved from here to Hancock County, and was living there last knovm of him. John Doyle came soon after Russell, and settled adjoining to him. He came from Jefferson County, near Steubenville, and, after remaining some years, sold out and moved to Indiana, where he died. Two other families moved into the same neigh- borhood about the same time of Doyle, or very soon afterward, whose names are utterly forgotten. Mr. Snyder tells a sad story of one of them. The gentleman, whose name he does not remember, cleared a piece of ground, and the neighbors came in and rolled his logs for him. He set fire to the log-heaps, and was in the habit of attending to the burning of them and the brush on the cleared ground at night, his wife often going out to assist him. Upon a certain night, his wife remained in the cabin to do some of her household work, and he went out alone to his clearing, which was some distance from the cabin. His wife finished her work, and, as he had not come in, thinking nothing wrong with him, however, she went to bed. In the morning, he still had not come, when she went to look for him, and found him burned to death at a log-heap. From appearances, it seemed that, in attempt- ing to "mend up" the heap, it had rolled down, and a large log had caught his feet under it, knocking him down, and, unable to extricate himself, he died in that position by slow torture, both legs being burned off above the knees. These four families were the first to settle in the township of Jackson, as now bounded, and for several years they were the only set- tlers in this little division. After them came David Ogden, James Lowne, William Snod- grass, Philip and Fred Eichem, John Fate, Edward Cooper, Samuel Rutan, David Selt- zer, John Adam Thoman, Rensellaer Living- ^^ i^ 'Ji^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 491 ston, a negro family, Harvey Asohbaugh, Jesse B. Straughan, Daniel Babst, Jr., Isaac Dille and others. Many of these are still living in and around Crestline. Straughan was an engineer of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and one of the original proprietors of the town. Thoman and Livingston were from New York; the lat- ter laid out the town of Livingston. Babst was from Stark County. Some of these gen- tlemen will be recognized as among the lead- ing business men of Crestline. There are no mills in Jackson Township, nor have there ever been any in the present tovmship, outside of Crestline. The first set- tlers went to mill at Belleville. Later, Mr. Snyder, over near Leesville, put up a horse- mill, which was a great convenience to the people for many miles around. The first road through Jackson Township was cut out by the Snyder family, as they moved to their new possessions in the present township of Jefferson. They cut out this road from four miles east of Crestline, in Richland County, to where Leesville now stands. The present road from Mansfield to Bucyrus runs over the greater part of that old road; the main street of Crestline is also on the same old road. Li the pioneer days, when everybody within a radius of twenty miles were neighbors, no invitation was necessary to get help to roll logs or raise a cabin. The mere fact that a man was ready to " log " or build, was suffi- cient invitation to his neighbors, who would often go twelve or fifteen miles to render this kind of friendly assistance The Indians also were very accommodating in this respect, and would always go to the assistance of their white brethren, and work faithfully all day. The "fire-water" that the white man usually provided on such occasions was doubtless a strong incentive to the Indian to lend his val- uable assistance in strengthening the white men's foothold in their hunting-grounds, thus providing the weapons for their own extermi- nation. When this part of the country was first set- tled, the nearest trading-points of importance were Sandusky City and Zanesville, while Mansfield and Mount Vernon were places of lesser notes aid to these marts of trade the settlers in this vicinity hauled the most of their produce. With markets at such a dis- tance, there could be little incentive to extend the productions of the community beyond the demands of home consumption, which was principally regulated by the amount each man raised upon his own premises. But in this endeavor, they often had more wheat than was needed to supply their own wants, when it was loaded into wagons and hauled to Mansfield, or most generally to Sandusky, where it commanded a better price. Said an early settler to us recently: "I took a load of wheat to Mount Vernon, where I was offered 12^ cents a bushel in trade for it, by Gilman Bryant; but I resolved to feed it to my hogs rather than to take that price for it, so I hauled it to Zanesville, where I got 15 cents a bushel, and had to take my pay in sugar, rice, leather and salt." Thus it was, what little surplus produce the settlers had to sell was worth but little, while such things as they were compelled to buy were as high in proportion as their produce was low. It was with great difficulty that they could manage, by the strictest economy, to raise money enough to pay their taxes and postage; the latter being 25 cents on a letter at the office of delivery, and payable in coin at that. The early settlers of Jackson were a God- fearing people, and, as soon as a few scatter- ing cabins denoted the white man in posses- sion of the territory, efforts were made look- ing to church organization. Societies were formed and meetings and preaching had at -ft* i) fy ^' i ^ 492 HISTOBT or CRAWFOED COUNTY. the settlers' cabins until time and opportu- nity permitted the building of temples of worship. But the church history of the present township is principally confined to the town of Crestline, and will be given in that chapter. Early in the settlement of Jackson Town- ship, the schoolhouse found a place. The people entertained great respect for education, and the elevating influence it exerted in every community. The first school taught in the present limits of the township was by Edwin Mainley, a Scotch-Irish gentleman. Owing to a little trouble he got into with one of his female pupils, he abruptly closed his school and left the community. Another of the early schools was taught by an old gentleman of the name of Magill, who is still remembered by many of the older citizens as one of the early teachers, and who, in his day, taught in nearly every neighborhood in the county. He was a teacher of the olden type — one of that class who were wont to place the accent of such words as geography and philosophy on the third syllable, and pronounce . Michi- gan, Mi-shag-in. He was, withal, particu- larly fond of a " dhrap of the crayther," and, after closing his school on Friday evening, was in the habit of indulging in a little spree until the taking-up of school again. Hence, Monday morning often found him still in a muddled condition from his Saturday and Sunday potations. It is told of him that upon a certain Monday morning, after taking up school, and still feeling considerably ele- vated from his recent indulgence, he stopped one of his scholars in the midst of his reading lesson, with a lordly wave of his hand, and, " Stop, Mr. Larwill; stop, sir! You will never make a reader in the world, Mr. Larwill! Eead on, Mr. Larwill." Many pranks were played upon him by his larger scholars. Schoolhouses then were not such as we have at the present day, but built of logs, and sometimes large cracks ventilated the build- ings. Through these cracks the boys would often poke their fun at poor Magill in ways more forcible than elegant. The first school- house built in the township was on the farm now owned by Jacob Sheffler, south of town, in the creek bottom, near the " old orchard." As with the religious history, the first schools were taught in the vicinity of Leesville and Middletown, and, at a later period in the his- tory of the township, the school history has centered in Crestline. The following statis- tics from the last report of the Auditor, shows the flourishing state of the schools of the township at present: Balance on hand, September 1, 1879 $1,963.61 State tax 382.62 Irreducible fund 3.40 Local tax for school and schoolhouse pur- poses 758.23 Total $3,107.86 Amount paid teachers $831.65 Other expenditures 119.77 Total expenditures for the year 951.42 Balance on hand September 1, 1880 $2,156.44 Number of schoolhouses in township 3 Value of school property $2,800.00 Total number of teachers employed 6 Average wages paid male teachers $46.00 Average wages paid female teachers 21.00 Number of pupils enrolled — Male 69 Female 45 Total 11* Average daily attendance — Male 60 Female 33 Total 93 By these figures, it will be seen that the schools are in a healthy condition. Comfort- able schoolhouses are provided in each dis- trict, efficient teachers are employed, and every means used by the board for the ad- vancement of the cause of education. The great wind-storm of 1820 is an event remembered vividly by all who were in the ^ jvjf lii^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 493 county at the time of its occurrence. On the 17th of May it broke upon the community with but little warning, and the destruction left in its wake almost beggars description. It came from the southwest, and houses were blown down and scattered promiscuously, forest trees uprooted, fences sent flying in all directions, a great deal of stock killed, and destruction and confusion generally followed its course. It will be more fully described in the chapter devoted to Jefferson Township, where considerable loss of property and much suffering were experienced. Since the separation of Jefferson from Jackson Township, the history of Jackson has centered almost wholly in the town of Crest- line, and, even before the separation of the two, the principal part of the history was con- fined to this flourishing village. It was laid out in 1851, by Bensellaer Livingston, and originally bore his name, and by his name was platted and recorded. The first plat was filed in the Recorder's office, February 17, 1851, and shows the location of the town of Livingston to have been on the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 10, Township 20, and Range 20 west. Several additions were made to the town under this name by different individuals. On the 17th of Decem- ber, 1852, the plat of the original town of Crestline was filed for record. This plat was made by Jesse R. Straughan, and occupied the northwest quarter of Section 15, Township 20, and Range 20 west. The following ab- stract of these two sections, on which the town is located, may be of interest to some of our readers: Southwest quarter of Section 15, Township 20, Range 20, was entered in 1814, and patent issued in 1818 to Benjamin Rush; northwest quarter of same section was entered December 12, 1823, and patent issued April 12, 1824, to Elias Allen; northeast quarter of same section was entered December 8, 1814; and patent issued June 15, 1823, to David Bryant. The north half of Section 10, of same township and range, was entered Jime 4, 1816, and patent issued July 3, 1817, to Benjamin Johns ; southwest quarter of same section was entered June 4, 1816, and patented July 3, 1817 ; southeast quarter of same section was entered December 8, 1820, and patent issued on 18th of same month and year. Since the laying-out of the original town of Livingston, there have been some twenty or thirty additions made to it; and, in the later town of Crestline, Livingston has been absorbed, and doubtless few at the present day remember that there was ever a town in Jackson Township known by the name of Livingston, or Vernon Station. Crestline is situated at the crossing of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago, and the I Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianap- ' olis Railways, and is about thirteen miles from Bucyrus, the county-seat. It is a railroad town, and comparatively a new place, and in 1860, had a population of 1,458; in 1870, it had increased to 2,279, and in 1880, to 2,787 inhabitants. The railroads have made Crest- line what it is. Before their day, a town, on this spot was unthought of, nor, until after the iron horse, with his bustle and clatter, had passed, did it rise from the mud of the surrounding swamps. Men who are still in the prime of life, " remember when the site was a good place to hunt deer." The follow- j ing description is given: "It is generally flat I about Crestline, and it has something of the I appearance of a frontier railroad town, being i very muddy, when muddy anywhere, though j its general elevation is about the average; I indeed, when laid out, it was thought to be the highest point above sea-level in the State, hence the name — Crestline." As a proof of the modem history of the place, John New- man, who lived in the village of Leesville in 1840, says he was in the habit of coming ^. :i^ ^± fk^ 494 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUXTY. dowB into the "big woods," where Crestline now stands, to hunt deer, which were plenty, even at that late day ; also wolves, wild tur- keys, etc. Verily, it may be said, that here " the rank thistle nodded in the wind, and the wild fox dug his hole unscared." The first house or cabin built in Crestline, or immedi- ate vicinity, was erected just west of the " stone-arch bridge," on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Eailroad, near a spring which is to be seen yet. Who built this cabin and when, is not known, but it was there as early as 1833. Just above it, and near the street-bridge, at a later day, was operated a saw-mill, by a water-power afforded by the head-waters of the Sandusky. Years later, a man named Harvey Aschbaugh, a Dutchman from " over the Rhine," who owned eighty acres of land in the neighborhood, including the present site of Crestline, built a cabin. All that appeared to the Dutchman valuable on this tract was the game, the timber and a fine sulphur spring, which is at present within the corporate limits (the spring, not the game and the timber) of the town. A negro family owned eighty acres adjoining Aschbaugh's on the north. Where these "American citizens of African descent " came from, what was their name, and what became of them, no one now seems to know or care. Their cabin stood at what is now the west end of Main street, and was erected some time after Asch- baugh's. About the time the negro cabin was built, a man named Samuel Rutan built another cabin on an- adjoining "eighty," at what is now the east end of Main street. He had purchased the land from the Government. Still further east of Rutan was the " palace " of Benjamin Ogden, while still further east, on the Leesville and Mansfield road, stood the old log house called " Seltzer's Tavern," " in which, for many years, while all was a wil- derness around, one Seltzer kept weary travel- ers in his rude loft, and fed them on ' com pone ' and venison." This was about the situ- ation when the iron horse dashed through the thick forest of Jackson Township. From a published chronicle of Crestline, we extract the following historical facts: "John Adam Thoman — a well-known name in Crestline — ^first saw the locomotive coming. He could see the headlight through the dense woods in the direction of Cleveland, and knew it would strike that wilderness, and scatter the wolves, deer and timber, like chaff before a hurricane, and immediately began his prep- arations to meet it and accept the inevitable. He purchased the eighty acres belonging to the negro family, paying what was then a high price, $600, and immediately began lay- ing out a town in the woods. The road, how- ever, struck the farm of Rutan, at the east end of Main street, where the company erected a little shanty for a depot, and called it Ver- non Station. Rutan sold his place to a man named Conwell, who erected the first house near the station. It was on Mam street, west of the railroad. Conwell afterward sold out to Rensellaer Livingston, who laid out a town around the station. Here, then, the present town had its beginning, and many houses were erected around Vernon Station before Crestline was thought of. The Livingston and Thoman Additions, as they are called (though really Crestline is the addition), are now the larger part of the town." This was the first beginning of the tovm of Crestline, and is what we have already mentioned as the town of Livingston. Aschbaugh, the owner of the eighty acres of land already noticed as including the tovm of Crestline, did not re- main long in the vicinity of the embryo city, but ^Id out, and moved over into Richland County, where he died. T. C. Hall, Esq., now of Bucyrus, claims to have built the first house in the town of Liv- nf IS 1* \'^r "fl^ A \ /' it' ^ricA/ ;h ^s^C^^ '\^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 497 ingston, and to have opened the first store. It was erected on what was called the Mansfield road, and was a storehouse and residence com- bined. In this building he opened a store in the fall of 1850, and continued in business there until the fall of 1852, or the spring of 1853, when he moved over on to the original plat of Crestline, it having, in the meantime, been laid out as a tovsm. He also claims to have been the first merchant in business in the new town, as well as in the old. He built the first brick house in Crestline, which, like the one built in Livingston, was both store and resi- dence. The brick were burned by Samuel Craig, who burned the first brick kiln in the town. This was the second house, and the first brick put up in Crestline. Jesse R. Straughan built the first house, which was a frame, and was put up for a hotel or eating- house. It stands just south of the Gibson House, across the passenger track of the Pitts- burgh, Forti Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and is now called the " Crestline House." Upon its completion it was opened by Jacob Brown, as a hotel — the first place of entertainment opened in Crestline. The second store was opened by John Adam Thoman, and the next by E. "Warner, and about the same time Will- iam Knisely commenced selling goods. The first post ofS.ce was opened in Livingston in 1850. Livingston was appointed Postmaster, but Hall, who was sworn in as deputy, opened the first mail-bag in the town. He soon suc- ceeded to the office, which he held four years. After him, A. E. Jenner was appointed Postmas- ter. John Adam Thoman was the first black- smith. These, with the usual number of mechan- ics, constituted about all there was of the tovsm of Livingston, or Vernon Station. Mr. Living- ston, the original proprietor of the place, died here about 1859-60. He was originally from the State of New York, and was an enterpris- ing man. We again quote from the publication we have several times alluded to : " The Cleve- land, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad has the honor of establishing Crestline. The charter for this road was granted in 1836, but it was not until 1851 that the road was ojiened for traffic. In 1850, however, trains were running as far as Shelby and Crestline. At that time the road was a wooden one, com- paratively speaking, the improved ' T ' rail not having been invented. For three years Ver- non Station had an opportunity to spread itself, before it was interfered with by another railroad. It grew to be something of a place. A post ofdce was established there; a hotel was erected, called the 'Ohio House,' kept by Michael Heffelfinger; Messrs. Newman & Thoman started the first store, and kept a general stock, such as is usually kept in a country store. A grocery and provision store was also established about the same time, by Thomas Hall, who was a contractor, and en- gaged in building a section of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, then being rapidly pushed forward, and who established the provision store partly for the pui-pose of supplying his employes. Thoman and Liv- ingston were busy during these years selling their lots, advertising the town, and erectino- dwelling-houses for the accommodation of new residents and the numerous employes of the different contractors on the two roads. In April, 1853, the Pittsbui-gh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad was opened for traffic from Allegheny City to Crestline, a distance of 187 miles. Unfortunately for Vernon Station, it was, for some reason, ignored by this road, which crossed the Cleveland & Columbus road half a mile or more south of it, and im- mediately there was a rush for the junction. Thereafter, Vernon Station was ' left out in the cold.' "Previous to this, a party of gentlemen V ^'1 .1 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. concluded that money could be made out of this point on the road by laying out a new town. The names of these gentlemen were Jesse K. Straughan, the chief engineer of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, Thomas W. Bartley, of Mansfield, and John and Joseph Larwill, of Wooster — the latter gentlemen being well known in the early his- tory of Mansfield and this county as surveyors. Whether these gentlemen exerted sufficient influence to change the direction of the road slightly, so that it should strike the other road at a point so far from Vernon Station as to give room to plat a new town, is not cer- tainly known, but may be reasonably inferred, from the fact that the Chief Engineer was interested in the project, and that these gen- tlemen were connected with each other by marriage, if not by blood relationship. Be this as it may, it was perfectly legitimate. They purchased the eighty acres of Harvey Aschbaugh, across which it was determined to run the Pittsburgh, Fort "VVayne & Chicago Railroad, and laid out a town at the junction, which they called Crestline, and thereupon Vernon Station was abandoned. It, however, made little diliarence to the latter, as the two towns soon grew together, and the line be- tween the two plats was obliterated. The two railroads built a frame union depot, which stood there in the mud, a squatty, ugly-lookinc thing, for years." This published record of the two places does not agree in every particular with the facts as given us, but varies so little as to be scarcely noticeable. Mr. Hall claims to have opened the first store, while this publication credits Newman & Thoman as the first merchants, and a few other little discrepancies of a like character occur. As we have stated, the first hotel was built by Jesse Straughan, and opened as such by Jacob Brown, and is now known as the Crestline House. Brown kept it eight months. when Hall took charge of it for one year, when Miller & Mertz became the proprietors. They ran it for twelve or fifteen years, since which time it has changed hands frequently. The first lots in Crestline were sold at auc- tion, and the first one sold was purchased by G. W. Emerson, who afterward sold it to Mr. Babst. » He erected upon it a hotel, which was called the Emerson House — the second hotel built in the town. Mr. Emerson kept this hotel many years. " In March, 1854, an addition was made to the town, called East Crestline, which is in the present limits of Richland County, the main part of the town being now in Crawford County, though when platted Crawford County had not been formed, and the territory was included within the limits of Richland — the line of Richland being about four miles west of CrestHne." This information is, according to our under- standing of the history of this section of the county, not altogether correct. The county of Crawford was created originally in 1820, and formally organized, by act of the Legislature, passed January 31, 1826. Hence, when the town of Crestline was platted, in 1854, as above stated, "Crawford had not been formed," cannot be correct, but doubtless allusion is made to a strip that was added to Crawford from Richland County years after the forma- tion of Crawford. Thus, a town was laid out, or, perhaps, more properly speaking, two towns were laid out, and the different classes of business nec- essary for the building-up of towns and cities were inaugurated, and bustling activity was the order of the day around the railroad crossing. P.eople came in rapidly; stores were opened, as the demand for them in- creased; mechanics located in the young and growing town; shops were established, and prosperity seemed to crown all efforts. The mercantile business, which to many of the ^\s- A K^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 499 pioneer towns of Ohio, was an arduous under- taking, in view of the fact that most of the goods had to be hauled in wagons from Phil- adelphia and Baltimore, was no drawback to Crestline, as from its birth it had the advan- tages of railroad transportation. By experi- ence, it knew nothing of these old-fashioned ways, in which towns like Manslield and Bucyrus were brought up. Like the boy who was bom at the age of fifteen, Crestline may almost be said to have been bom in the full vigor of manhood. Its railroad, or two rail- roads, brought markets to its very doors, instead of having to make long, weary trips to Sandusky, Zanesville and Philadelphia by teams, as so many others had to do before them. In this chapter, after a sketch of the township, we have briefly alluded to the lay- ing-out of the village, and the beginning of its prosperity and business, the railroads, which created a demand for a town, and the early history generally of the town and sur- rounding community. We have followed its history from a dense and gloomy forest, where the red man was wont to hunt the deer, to a flourishing and rapidly growing town, and here we take leave of it, to resume its history in another chapter. There we shall chronicle its progress in business, education and Christianity; its increase in wealth, its growth and extension and general prosperity. Crestline, as we have shown, is a railroad town, and, in the following chapter, together vnth other matters, the railroad interest will be noticed at some length, and also the estab- lishment of railroad shops, and the men em- ployed by the two roads. CHAPTER XV. CITT OF CRESTLINE— ITS GEOWTH AND BUSINESS— SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES— CHURCHES— THE WATER WORKS— OTHER INTERESTS. A CITY that is set on an hill cannot be hid, and the original proprietors of Crestline seem to have acted upon this Scrip- tural text in the location of their town, as, at the time of its laying out, it was supposed to be the highest point in the State. Notwith- standing it was a flat, swampy country, cov- ered with a dense forest, it is so far above the level of Lake Erie that no fears are enter- tained, by even the most timid of its inhabit- ants, of another "Drift Period," or overflow from that inland sea. Crestline is highly favored as to its geographical location, and possesses all the advantages necessary for becoming a prosperous little city. It is in the midst of as rich a farming community as " a crow ever flew over," its citizens are intelli- gent, enterprising and industrious, and its railroad facilities are unsurpassed in the whole country. When all this is taken into consideration, there appears no visible reason for Crestline remaining down in the mud and swamps of the "Black Forest." A healthy, rousing business " boom " is all that is re- quired to waft it on to wealth and prosperity. Some suggestions might be made as to im- proving and beautifying the city, and acted on with considerable advantage to its general appearance. Its architectural achievements, so far, fire not above the average to be found in towns of its size and attainments, and, as to buildings of merit, there are but few, perhaps none, deserving of special notice, except its union schoolhouse. Sidewalks might be im- 'A 500 HISTORY or CEAWFORD COUNTY. proved as to appearances, and with some safety to pedestrians, streets graded, and a few of the old wooden buildings replaced with substantial bricks. These old wooden build- ings, sooner or later, will terminate in a huge bonfire, and, as often occurs in such cases, destroy perhaps thousands of dollars' worth of valuable property. As shown in the preceding chapter, Crest- line is thoroughly and decidedly a railroad town. It is these great modern thoroughfares that gave it birth, and to these it is indebted for its existence and growth. Although it is situated in a rich farming country, yet, with Gallon, Bucyrus and Shelby but a few miles distant, there was no special necessity for Crestline, except the railroads, and, take these away, it would soon become another edition of Goldsmith's Deserted Village. Its farming commimity, though prosperous and rich, is scarcely sufELcient to save it from a linger- ing death. The location at this point of the shops of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chi- cago Eailroad, and the hands employed in these shops, have been the life of Crestline. The Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad, which was chartered in 1848, as early as 1850 deter- mined to make Crestline the western terminus of their road. During the same year, the Ohio & Indiana Railroad was chartered, and, in September, 1852, the Directors of this road fixed their eastern terminus at Crestline. The consolidation of these two roads and one ex- tending from Fort Wayne to Chicago, in 1856, formed the present Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and Crestline still re- mained the terminus of two divisions of this road, as it had been before the consolidation. This caused the erection of large shops at Crestline, and at present these shops employ several hundred men, under the superintend- ence of George W. Lowe. These shops and men have been the means of bringing in other lines of business, establishing other shops and foundries, and adding largely to the building-up of the place. Of these may be mentioned the Crestline Lock Works, which were established in 1870. A subscription of $8,000 was made by the people for the purpose of putting up the necessary buildings, on con- dition that a certain number of men be em- ployed. An excellent building was erected, and the works opened under the charge of C. A. Faulkner & Co., who ran them one year. John A. Thoman & Co. then bought them, and operated them until 1874, when they failed and went into bankruptcy. A brass foundry was established in 1871, by G. W. Dyar, and is still in operation, doing quite a large business. The Continental Mills, the only institution of the kind ever in Crestline, were built orig- inally in 1856-57, by Matthew Reed. These mills were improved at different times, remodeled, and new machinery put in, until they ranked among the best mills in the State. In June of the present year (1880), they were burned to the ground. The loss to the pro- prietors, L. G. Russell & Co., was heavy, but, nothing daunted, preparations are being made to rebuild them, and doubtless work ia that direction will soon be begun. Since the little stores were established by Newman, Hall and Thoman, the mercantile business has grown to be rather voluminous. Several very large dry goods and general stores are now in oper- ation upon a sound business basis, while other lines of trade, cormnon to a town of the com- mercial standing of Crestline, are well repre- sented by stirring and energetic men. A large and growing business is successfully carried on, and, to the casual visitor, there seems absolutely nothing in the way of Crest- line's future commercial prosperity. A bank was established in the town in 1867, by Eiblet, Hayes & Co., the gentlemen com- if A'- '.hL^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 501 prising the firm being Jacob Riblet, William Hayes and John Newman, with E. Davis as cashier. In 1869, they sold out to John A. Thoman & Co., who organized the Citizens, Bank, an institution that continued in opera- tion until 1873, when it failed. In 1870, a bank was organized by Daniel Babst and Jon- athan Martin, under the firm name of Babst, Martin & Co., J. Babst, Cashier. In June, 1878, they sold to Daniel Babst, Jr., and Jacob Babst, who have since operated it as "Babst's Banking House," J. Babst, Cashier. In 1876, the Farmers & Mechanics' Bank was established by Booth & Stewart. It was carried on by these parties until 1878, when they sold to Stewart & Son, who continue still under the same name. In addition to its biisi- ness men, the place may boast'of a number of professional characters, who did, and do still, rank high in their respective callings. Of the medical profession. Dr. William P. Kerna- han is mentioned as the first physician to locate in Crestline. He came about 1851, and practiced medicine u^til his death, which took place in 1859-60. Dr. A. E. Jenner was the next physician. But, as both the medical and legal professions are appropriately written up in a preceding chapter of this work, we will not go into details here. Among the gentlemen composing the bar of Crestline, Daniel Babst, Jr., is ranked as one of the ablest lawyers. He is Mayor of the town, and a downright good fellow generally. To him we are indebted for the principal part of the information and historical data from which these chapters on Crestline are vsritten, and whatever the reader finds to be wrong or incorrect in them, he will attribute to Dan; whatever is correct and good, we claim as our own undisputed property. As Crestline grew in population, wealth and importance, it began to dawn upon the good people that they displayed sufficient style and greatness to allow of their village being incorporated. This movement was effected March 3, 1858, and the town was incorporated under the law regulating such matters. Un- der this new phase of affairs, David Ogden was elected the first Mayor, and William Knisely the first Recorder; William P. Kern- ahan, E. Warner, Robert Lee, M. 0. Archer and William Boals, the first Board of Trustees. The following is a list of the Mayors who have served, in the order named: Next after Ogden, Silas Durand, Samuel Hoyt, Jacob Staley, Dr. J. MoKean, George W. Pierce, Na- than Jones, A. E. Jenner, Nathan Jones, Dr. Edwin Booth and Dan Babst, Jr., the present (1880) incumbent. P. D. Meister is the pres- ent Clerk. The first school taught in the town of Crestline was by a man named Edgerton, it is believed, and was taught in the old log school- house. We quote the following on educa- tional matters from a published article fur- nished us by Mr. Babst: "In education, the town has not been neglected. Before the arrival of railroads, a district log schoolhouse stood about one and a half miles northwest of the present site of the town, on the Leesville road. This had been sufficient for educational purposes for many years, and a school was taught there as late as 1850. In 1853, when Crestline b^an to grow, a two-story frame school-building was erected in the east part of the town, and, shortly aftreward, a similar one was erected in the west part. These two buildings served the purpose until 1868, when the present union-school building was erected. This building, which is an honor and an ornament to the place, was designed by Mr. Thomas, and built by Miller, Smith & Frayer, contractors. The Board of Education, under whose supervision it was erected, were: Jacob Staley, President, D. W. Snyder, John Berry, S. P. Hesser, C. Miller, and Nathan Jones. l^ % 503 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. As an evidence that the people were satisfied ■with the manner in which the board was conducting the work, the two members whose terms of service expired before the building was completed, were re-elected. The cost of the building and furniture, together with the two lots upon which it stands, was $30,000; and seldom, if ever, was there a better job done for this amount of money. It is located on Columbus, between Union and Cross streets ; is of brick, three stories above the basement; seventy-two feet in length by sixty-five in greatest breadth; contains eleven schoolrooms, besides six smaller rooms, used for offices, library, etc., and will accommodate 500 pupils. This is the third house of the kind, as to size, in the county, and the fu'st in point of archi- tectural beauty. The children, proud of this gift, were admitted within its walls, without formal ceremony, April 12, 1869. Adjoining the lots on which the building stands, is the school park, which consists of six tovm lots, and is beautifully diversified by gravel walks, evergreens and shade-trees. In the center of these grounds, an elegant fountain, topped with reactionary wheels, which scatter refresh- ing showers, forming miniature rainbows, affords illustrative lessons in natural philoso- phy, as well as a cooler atmosphere on sultry days. Around the base of the fountain are six hydi'ants for drinking purposes. The biiilding and its smToundings are, indeed, well calculated, with an efficient corps of teachers, to improve the mental faculties of its pupils in a superior manner. The members of the Crestline School Board fm-nished a very important factor to the problem of mental culture when they laid out these beautiful grounds; and for this, the generation that is now entering on school life will 'rise up and call them blessed.' " The following are the nardes of the teachers now employed in the Crestline schools, accord- ing to grade: Mrs. Anna M. Mills, Superin- tendent; Joseph H. Snyder, High School De- partment; John M. Talbott, Senior Grammar; Nancy Jane McWhirter, Junior Grammar; Isabella Love joy. Intermediate; Emma Scott and Laura Stable, Secondary; Lillie Kuhn, Ina Eoger, Melissa Culver, Mattie S. Eobin- son, Primary; J. J. Beichler, Languages, prin- cipally German. The present Board of Edu- cation of the town: "William Kobinson, Pres- ident; F. M. Anderson, Secretary; Benjamin Heffelfinger, Treasurer, and Eeuben Stahle, George StoU and Louis Holcher. In concluding the school history of Crest- line, we append the following statistics of this special district: Balance on hand September 1, 1879 $3,761 04 State Tax .' 1,314 84 Irreducible Fund H 68 Local tax for schools and schoolhouse pur- poses 4,447 78 Fines, etc 168 91 Total 19,704 30 Amount paid teachers $3,249 00 Managing and Superintending 810 00 Sites and buildings 314 75 Fuel, etc 1,152 75 Total Expenditures $5,526 50 Balance on hand September 1, 1880 $4,177 80 Not only has the intellectual training of the children been well provided for, but the spiritual needs of the older people of Crest- line have been well attended to, there being at this time no less than seven churches in the town, occupied by as many different denominations. The Gospel was introduced into the community by those pioneer Chris- tians, the Methodists. They have the oldest organization in the town. In 1844, a society of the Methodist Episcopal denomination was formed in what was then called Minnerly's Schoolhouse (now McCulloch's), and, as will be seen, some years before the laying-out of ^r ^^ ihL^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 503 Crestline. The moving spirit in this relig- ious enterprise was John Lovitt, and, owing principally to his influence, was the organiza- tion of a society effected. The church which is standing on Thoman street was the first one erected by this denomination. It was built in 1854, through the personal exertions of Mr. Minnerly, David Thrush, David Kerr, Francis Conwell, Mr. Howland, Francis Peppard and David White, who, with their wives and por- tions of their families, were a few of the first members. The present membership is about 250. The Sunday school connected with this church is one of the largest and most active in the town, with an average attendance of over 200. The Trinity German Lutheran Church was the next in chronological order in formation. It is located on Main street, and was organ- ized about the year 1851, in the schoolhouse. The original members of this society were Michael Webber, Henry Lambert, George Hass, B. Faltz, John Keller and others. In 1861, they erected the present church edifice, at a cost of |3,O0O. The first minister was the Eev. Mr. Meiser, who was followed by Eev. Hatsberger, H. Smith, Haley and Martin Berkley, in the order named. The latter, Eev. Mr. Berkley, is the present Pastor, and his society comprises about seventy members. An active Sunday school is connected with the church, conducted by the ofiioers, with a mem- bership of about sixty. Its organization as a Sunday school is coeval with that of the church. Eecently, a division occurred in this church, on the ground of a difference of opinion in some matters of belief or usage. This re- sulted in the formation of a new church. In 1879, Peter Sleenbecker, Michael Eeh, Charles Christman, C. Morkel and others, becoming dissatisfied regarding some matters, we be- lieve, of church government, withdrew from Trinity Church, and organized a second Ger- man Lutheran society, and erected a church on East Mansfield street, at a cost of $4,000. Their first meetings, before the erection of their new church, were held in the old Ger- man Eeformed Church, which kept its doors open for them. Eev. Mr. Shultz, of Gallon, was their first minister, and was followed by Eev. Mr. Voegele, their present Pastor. Their Sunday-school was organized about the same time as their church, its present membership being about thirty. Numerically, the church is not strong. The English Lutherans were the next in the field. In 1854, a society of this denomination was organized by the Eev. A. F. Hills. The original members of this organization were David Lichtenwalter, A. W. Stine, William Knisely, David Keplinger, E. Warner, David McCartel, D. Minich, Jane McCartel, Hannah Stine, Elizabeth Warner and Isaac Miller. Their early meetings were held in the private residences of the members, though the pres- ent frame church was erected about the same year the organization of the society occurred. Eev. Mr. Hills was the first Pastor, followed by Eevs. A. B. Kirtland, D. I. Foust, H. K. Fenner and B. F. Crouse, the present minister. The membership at this time is about 170. The Sunday school is large and active, num- bering about 160 pupils, under the superin- tendence of Henry Eskley. The German Eeformed Church was organ- ized in 1858, by Eev. M. Stern, of Gallon. It is situated in the northwest part of town, is of brick, and was built in 1862, at a cost of $1,900. Of the original members, we may mention David Bluem, Philip and Frederick Eichorn, and Joseph Bender. Their meetings were held in the English Lutheran Church until the erection of their own building, in 1862. Their first minister after Eev. Stern was Eev. John Eettig, followed by Eev. John r A —^ 504 HISTORY or CKAWTOED COUNTY. "Winter. The present Pastor is Eev. F. W. Marcus, and his flock consists of about 130 members. The organization of the Sunday school was cotemporaneous with that of the church, and now numbers 125 pupils, under the superintendence of "VMlliam Lampert. The Presbyterian Church of Crestline was organized February 20, 1855, in a small schoolhouse, by Rev. I. N. Shepherd, of Mar- ion, Ohio, and Eev. Silas Johnston, of Bucyrus. Previous to this, however, Eev. Luke Dor- land had collected the Presbyterians of the place, and preached to them at various times and places for six or eight months. After the organization, meetings were occasionally held in the different church buildings already erected. The principal original members were JcAm S. and Jane Smith, Alexander, Martha J. and Margaret Patterson, John and Mary "White, Sampson "Warden, John and Eliza Jane Banbright, P. and Mary Mansfield, and- Samuel E. and Isabella Graham. The present chtu'ch was erected in 1866-67. Eev. J. P. Lloyd was the first minister after the organization was effected, and continued in charge thirteen years. He was succeeded by Eev. James Shields, who remained seven years. The present Pastor, Eev. "W. "W. Macamber, succeeded Eev. Shields, November 18, 1879. The church at this time has a membership of about 200. A. M. Patterson is Superintend- ent of the Sunday school, which is a large and active one, embracing 175 pupils, and was organized August 12, 1862. The St. Joseph's Catholic Church is located on North street, and dates its organization back to 1858, though services were held by diiferent ministers of the church many years before this organization, in the houses of Catholic members. The few Catholics scat- tered among the early settlers of this place were frequently visited in this way, meetings held, and their spiritual wants administered to before they were gathered into a church. The church was organized by Father Galla- gher, of Cleveland, who was Pastor at Mans- field at the same time. The early meetings were held principally in the houses of Mike Dunn, Laurenz Eaindl, who, with Patrick Dunn, Ml-. McNamara, J. A. Barrel and Thad- deus Seifert, were the original members. The present frame church was erected in 1861, at a cost of S1,000. The membership numbers about 100 families, and the Sunday school about 200 children. There is a day school in connection with the church, with 170 pupils in daily attendance. Those secret and benevolent orders which exert so great an influence for good on society, are fully represented in Crestline. Freema- sonry, the oldest of all the benevolent institu- tions, originated so long ago that no history tells of its beginning, is highly moral in its teachings, its main constituents being, a " belief in God, hope in immortality, and charity to all mankind." It is represented in Crestline by Arcana Lodge No. 272, and Crest- line Chapter, No. 88. The former was organ- ized under its charter October 26, A. L. 5855. This instrument of authority from the Grand Lodge of Masons of Ohio, was issued by M. "W. William B. Dodds, Grand Master, and John D. Caldwell, Grand Secretary. The following are the charter members: J. K. Straughan, Erastus S. Spencer, Matthew El- der, J. McCluny, E. C. Gregg, J. J. Bening, George Bewson, A. P. Cann, John Newman, John Franz, John A. Thoman, J. "Warden, J. Eldington, H. A. Donaldson and H. Gusle- man. The first officers were, J. E. Straughan, "Worshipful Master; E. S. Spencer, Senior Warden; and Matthew Elder, Junior Warden. The lodge now numbers sixty-one members, and is officered by J .C. Williams, Worshipful Master; John Donnelly, Senior Warden; Hugh Harrop, Junior Warden; E. T. Cox, HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 505 Treasurer; David Ogden, Secretary; and J. J. Kirtland, Tiler. Crestline Chapter, No. 88, was chartered October 15, 1864, by M. E. Thomas J. Larsh, Grand High Priest, and John D. Caldwell, Grand Secretary. The charter members were, M. C. Archer, David Ogden, John H. Berry William Boals, Benjamin Eaton, K. Lee, John McGraw, William McGraw, Thomas Boorman, J. S. Potter, W. H. Shamp, H. W. Stocking and J. H. Brewster. The first offi- cers were: M. C. Archer, High Priest; David Ogden, King; J. H. Berry, Scribe; and Robert Lee, Secretary. The Chapter has, in connec- tion with Arcana Lodge, an excellent hall, well appointed* and furnished. The present officers are: David Ogden, High Priest; Nathan Jones, King; T. B. Fowler, Scribe; and D. W. Snyder, Secretary. There was a Commandery of Knights Templar in Crestline at one time, but this body has been removed to Mansfield. Amici Lodge, No. 279, Knights of Honor, was chartered on the 5th of September, 1876, with the following charter members: S. E. Graham, C. W. Jenner, G. B. Edwards, H. A. White, D. L. Zink, W. H. Carlisle, E.-S. Bag- ley, D. H. Cafifell, Daniel Babst, Jr., O. S. Campbell, E. M. Freese, G. W. Zint, Truemen Daily, B. F. Miller, J. J. Kirtland, C. A. Spencer, C. F. Frank, William Jones and E. M. Games. Odd Fellowship, although far more modern in its origin than Freemasomy, made its appearance in Crestline some time before it. Crestline Lodge, No. 237, was instituted under charter February 23, 1854 The charter members were, John I. Kert, G. W. Keplinger, W. P. Kernahan, William Knott, William Boals, M. C. Archer, Elijah Johnson, William McGraw and Daniel Laugham. The first officers were: William Knott, N. G. ; W. P. Kernahan, V. G., and G. W. Keplinger, Sec- retary. There are now seventy members in good standing on the books, and the officers are: David Brandt, N. G.; F. Delp, V. G.; George StoU, Treasurer; W. Ladd, Eecord- ing Secretary, and H. Ogden, Permanent Sec- retary. Crawford Encampment, No. 187, I. O. 0. F., was instituted June 15, 1875, by J. W. Parch, Most Worthy Grand High Priest. The charter members were F. C. Berger, G. G. Cruizen, F. Newman, J. W. Sanders, E. Davis, John Snyder and J. H. Becker. The first officers were: John H. Becker, C. P.; F. C. Berger, H. P.; George G. Cruizen, S. W.; E. Davis, S. ; John Snyder, Treasurer. There are on the rolls the names of twenty members, and the following is the list of officers at present: D. W. Brant, C. P.; M. Shumaker, H. P.; J. P.'Sheelrud, S. W.; J. Taggart, S.; J. H. Becker, T., and P. Delp, J. W. Jackson Lodge, No. 516, I. O. O. F. (Ger- man), was instituted July .3, 1872, by Henry Lindenberg, Grand Eepresentative. The charter members -were F. Newman, Jacob Staley, George Stoll, J. P. Zimmermacher, J. H. Becker, Adam Neff, John Bauer, John Eoinger and John Cook. The first officers were : George Stoll, N. G. ; Jacob Staly, V. G. ; J. H. Becker, Secretary, and F. Newman, Treasurer. The present officers are: John Schart, N. G. ; John Herbertshauser, V. G. ; Philip Grinenstein, Secretary, and J. H. Becker, Treasurer. The people of Crestline take great pride in their water-works, and, indeed, it is an enter- prise to be proud of. There is nothing like a bountiful supply of good, pure water. No poison bubbles on its surface, no blood stains it, nor does its foam bring madness and mur- der. Pale widows and starving orphans weep not burning tears in its depths. But every- where it is a thing of beauty, and gleams in the dew-drop, sings in the summer rain, and shines in the free ice gems, until they seem _ >a If J^ k 'i\ 506 HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. turned to living jewels. And always it is beautiful — that beverage of life, health-giving water. The tomb of Moses is unknown, but the weary traveler slakes his thirst at the well of Jacob. The gorgeous palace of the wisest and wealthiest of monarchs, with cedar and gold and ivory, and even the great temple of Jerusalem, hallowed by the visible glory of the Deity himself, are gone, and of the archi- tecture of the Holy City not one stone is left upon another. But Solomon's reservoirs are as perfect as ever, and the pool of Beth- saida commands the pilgrim's respect at the present day. The columns of Persepolis are moldering into dust, but its cisterns and aque- ducts remain to challenge our admiration. And if any work of art shall still rise and flourish, we may well believe that it will be neither a palace nor a temple, but some vast aqueduct or reservoir, built for the benefit of of human kind. And, if any name is deserving who, ineverlasting honor, it is that of the man, his day, sought the happiness of his fellow-men rather than their glory, and linked his name to some great work of utility and benevolence. In 1871, the necessary legislation was ob- tained to enable the town to issue bonds for the construction of the works. In September of the same year, the work was commenced by constructing a dam at the springs from which the water is brought. These springs are in Eichland County, of the very purest water, and in sufficient volume to afford a supply to a much larger city than Crestline, the actual discharge of the springs being ninety gal- lons of water per minute. The water is brought a distance of about f om- miles from the springs, through wooden pipes, into a reservoir, and supplied by mains laid through the city. The springs are at an elevation of about 170 feet above the level of the tovm, which gives sufficient power and pressure to carry into the highest buildings, or throw a stream over them, through hose attached to hydrants. The total cost of construction, in round numbers, was little short of 1100,000. There were bonds issued to the amount of $80,000, which, with three years' interest, increased the cost to very nearly the sum first mentioned. The enterprise of furnishing Crestline with pure water was due mainly to G. H. Lee, Henry Shoman and G. W. Pierce, and to their energy and exertions the work stands an en- during monument. The average expense per annum of furnishing this water supply is $450, while the income amounts to about $1,- 600. Not the least of the benefits accruing from this public-spirited enterprise, is the advantage afforded in case of fires, when all that is necessary is to attach hose to the hy- drants, and a stream of water can be thrown far enough and high enough for all practical purposes. One of the beauties, if it is no special benefit, of the reservoir, is that it is well stocked with goldfish. The spring that supplies the water to the city, as already stated, is in Eichland County. It is mentioned at some length in Howe's " His- torical Collection of Ohio," and also in Butter- field's "History of Crawford's Campaign against Sandusky." The latter work, in de- scribing the march of Crawford's army, thus re- fers to it: "Thence they passed near the spot where was afterward the Indian village of Greentown, in what is now Ashland County. From this point they struck across the Eocky Fork of the Mohican, up which stream they traveled until a spring was reached, near where the city of Mansfield now stands, in Eichland County; thence a little north of west, to a fine spring five miles further on, in what is Springfield Township — a place now known as Spring Mills, on the line of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Eailroad, east of the town of Crestline, in Crawford County — n^ ^k HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 501 where, on the evening of the 1st day of June (1782), the army halted and encamped for the night." Thus, to sum up in a word the Crest- line water-works, there are few cities, perhaps, in the State, as well supplied with water — pure water — as the thriving and energetic lit- tle city of Crestline. It is not the water from some lazy river, reeking with the filth of a hundred towns and cities upon its banks, and filtered through charcoal and sand to purify it, but it is brought pure and fresh from the fountain head, as it were, from a flowing spring, bursting fresh from -the ground. The most destructive fire that Crestline has ever known occurred in September, 1867. The entire block from the Continental Hotel to Bucyrus street was burned out, and a heavy loss entailed upon the property-owners of the district burned, though the full extent of the loss we could not learn. There have been numerous other fires, but none so destructive as the one just mentioned. The burning of the Continental Mills, last summer, was quite a blow to the town, as well as to their owners. The city has a regularly organized fire depart- ment, two engines, with a full supply of hose, etc., but, since the building of the water-works, the engines are not used, the force of the water being sufficient to throw a stream, when hose is attached, 120 feet high. The hotel business has been overdone, and some of them are standing idle, or have been converted to other uses. The Con- tinental, kept by Eussell & Co., is a first- class house. It is heated by steam, lighted by gas, manufactured on the premises, has every convenience for the comfort of its guests, and charges accordingly. One excellent feature is the establishment in the building, above the gentlemen's waiting-room, of a read- ing-room, where the waiting passengers may while away a pleasant hour, among the latest magazines and papers, in a comfortable room. "At present, there are five dry goods stores, three drug, one book, three jewelry, and a large number of grocery stores and saloons; two banlcs, one publishing-house, an iron-foundry, employing half a dozen hands, two wagon and carriage shops, one planing-mill, five lawyers, six physicians, besides the usual number of mechanics in every department of labor. The Continental Flouring-mill was erected in 1860 (now burned). Two saw-mills were erected in an early day (between 1850 and 1856), one by Lang & Miller, the other by S. B. Coe; both were within the limits of the present corpora- tion ; both have disappeared. From these observations, it will be seen that the town is a live and energetic business place.'' The press of Crestline, the " art preservative of all arts," is at present represented by the Crestline Advocate. Several other newspapers have been established in the town, which flour- ished for a season and then died. The fii-st newspaper of Crestline was the Express, a weekly paper, and was started in 1853, and edited by C. M. Kenton. The office was over Brewer's store, and the publication of the paper was continued for about six months, when for some cause, most probably a lack, either of appreciation or financial support, it "gave up the ghost." The Crestline Advocate issued its first num- ber in July, 1869. Its size was 16x20, and it was folio in form, edited and published by Adam Billow. About six months after the establishment of the Adcocate, it was enlarged to six columns to a page, and from that to eight columns — its present size. It was fii-st published in Billow's dwelling, and then re- moved to its present quarters, in the second story of the Masonic hall building. Adam Billow died. May 20, 1876, since which time the paper has been owned and conducted by D. C. Billow. The press is operated by power if* 508 HISTOKY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY. received from the water-works. The Advocate is independent in politics, has a good pat- ronage, is ably managed and conducted, and may be termed a flourishing country news- paper. About the year 1875 or 1876, a Demo- cratic paper was established by A. E. Jenner, called the Crawford County Democrat. It continued about three years, when it followed the Express to that " bourne from whence no traveler returns." We believe there have been one or two other eiforts in the newspaper line. in Crestline, but we have no facts of a definite character in regard to them. The burial of the dead is a sacred duty, and in all ages and all countries more or less re- spect is shown the memory of the departed. Abraham said, " Let us bury the dead out of our sight." A cemetery was laid out a few years after the laying out of the town. Efforts have been made by a few persons to have the grounds beautified, but so far, they have failed, and only slight improvements have been made by private individuals. CHAPTER XVI. AUBURN TOWNSHIP— DESCRIPTION — SETTLEMENT BY THE WHITES— TOPOGRAPHICAL— EARLY PRIVATIONS— PIONEER INDUSTRIES- TOWNS LAID OUT— SCHOOLS— CHURCHES, ETC. f I ■'HE historical investigator, with tireless -"- thought, surveys the dusty memorials of forgotten years, and endeavors to select from tije strange commingling of facts and fancy those beautiful life-lessons which exemplify the noblest type of hiunan character. There is a strange pleasure in rummaging over the relics and records of former generations, and in scanning the brief period of those lives that will be green forever in the memory of the world. It affords abundant opportunity for the derivation of useful morals, from the motives which animate the hearts of the hu- man race. The evolution of society and civi- lization from primitive man to the present time, presents a wonderful volume of instruc- tion for human inspection and guidance. The rise and fall of nations and the causes, the remorseless deeds of an inordinate ambition, brothers engaged in fratricidal warfare, in- nocence and purity trampled under the iron feet of cruelty — all are strangely interesting, and stir the heart to its profoundest depths. Countless lessons and morals of usefulness are found among the dusty archives of human progress, from a benighted barbarism to the present imperfect state of civilization. This gives to history a value and dignity beyond any other study within the scope of intellect, and presents the human race with ideal lives of excellence, well worthy of imitation. It often occurs in a neighborhood, that, when the question of early settlement is broached, different families present rival claims as to the first cabin built, the first birth, marriage, or death; and numerous instances are met with where the descendants of early settlers endeavor to surpass each other in narrating deeds of peril or hardship through which their forefathers passed when the forest was filled with wild animals, or when crafty In- dians, in war-paint and feathers, watched the pioneer's cabin with the eye of a hawk, ready, when darkness concealed their move- ments, to swoop down upon the unsuspecting inmates, who were deemed intruders and deadly enemies, to carry them off into hope- less captivity, or for purposes of torture more -^ tr HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 509 heart-rending than those of the Spanish Inqui- sition. It thus occurs that numerous interest- ing incidents that transpired in the neighbor- hood many years before, are wrested from falling into the fathomless depths of forget- fulness, becoming bright and ever-living me- mentoes among the heroic deeds of the past, perpetual testimonials of the adventurous spirit of pioneers, placed upon the page of history through the mediiun of tradition. There is no neighborhood without its inter- esting legend — no section of country without its curious or mysterious incidents, which, under the masterly hand of Genius, would become as fascinating as the strange myths of pre-historic times. On yonder elevation, the swift wheel of a busy mill once told the passers-by of the presence of the enterprising pioneer. That deep ravine, with precipitous sides thickly overspread with heavy foliage, was once the scene of a mysterious murder, that has persistently baffled the truth of the maxim, " Murder will out." " This is the spot," says an old settler, " where a pack of hungry wolves once came mighty near eating me up." "Do you see that big tree there?" asks an- other; "that's where I was treed by a bear, when that tree was a little sapling." This illustrates the common experience of those whose lot it is to gather incidents and events of early years. Every family that came into the wilderness, prepared for any and every emergency, has handed down- through the generations tales of privation and danger — trials of courage and hardihood, undergone by its members, that have become imperishable portions of the family history In this man- ner, the more interesting events occurring in a neighborhood are preserved and given to future generations, that will read of them with thrilling interest and wonder as they read. There are found those traditions relat- ing to social, domestic, or hunting customs, to family characteristics, to individual pecu- liarities, to personal danger, and to innumer- able events that combine to form an attractive family or township record. Auburn Tovraiship, from its being one of the first, if not the first, settled in the county, presents a very attractive early history. Its earliest settlers, English from the Eastern States, Hollanders from New York, and Scotch- Irish from Pennsylvania, were almost wholly soldiers in the war of 1812, many of whom, in the military expeditions across Ohio, had seen the land which they afterward purchased. As soon as the war had closed, large numbers of pioneers arrived and settled in northern Eiohland County, of which, at that time, Au- burn Township formed a part, purchased their farms, and began to clear them, and to sur- round themselves as rapidly as possible with schools, churches, and other auxiliaries of settled localities. The township was early the home of those wandering hunters, the advance-guard of settlement, whose greatest annoyance seemed to be the approach of pio- neers. Their wives and families seemed proof against privation and starvation, and cheer- fully followed the husband and father into the deepest woods, where no white foot had yet pressed, and where Indians and savage beasts were every-day sights. John Pettigon, one of these roving hunters, and the first set tier in the township — the first resident land holder — built a small cabin as early as 1814, and began supporting his family almost wholly by means of his rifle, in the use of which he had but few equals and no superiors. He was a very successful hunter and trapper, and made no little money in the sale of furs. It is probable that he lived in Vernon Town- ship for a few years. He was an eccentric character, and seemed uneasy when in the presence of other settlers, and apparently much preferred the companionship of the Indians '^^ 9 ^ ^ liL 510 HISTOBT OF CEAWTORD COUNTY. and wild animals or solitude. He liad been a soldier in the war of 1812, and at its close had purchased a small tract of land in Auburn. He cared nothing, however, for real estate, as long as the forests were filled with an abun- dance of wild animals. It was no trouble for him to stalk a deer, and one of his favorite " deer licks " was on the farm now owned by Capt. Cummins. He killed scores of deer at this "lick,'' the most of them being shot soon after dark, when they came to drink. He remained in the township until six or eight families had settled within as many miles of him, when, thinking that the country began to look too much like a city, he moved farther out into the wilds of the forest. Jedediah Morehead was another of these hunters, who located for a time in Auburn and adjoining tovmships. He was a squatter, and roamed over vast tracts of country in search of game, often being absent from home for weeks at a time. He had a large family, and lived a few years in Northern Vernon, devoting all his time to hunting and trapping, a portion of it being spent in the swamps and cranberry marshes, within a radius of fifteen miles of his cabin. His cabin, if such it could be properly called, was located on a narrow neck of land which extended into the large cran- berry marsh lying partly in the township and partly in Huron County. His cabin was built of brush and bark, being in reality nothing more nor less than an Indian wigwam, except, perhaps, a few artistical finishes of his own device, and unknown to the natives, after whose habitations the main features of his cabin had been copied. The point of land where his cabin stood became known as "Morehead's Point," a name it yet retains, in memory of the old hunter. It is thought by some of the old settlers that Morehead lived in the township during the war of 1812, and that his cabin was erected just at its cora- mencement. This, however, is not definitely known, although it is quite certain that he built the first cabin in the township. Among the early residents of the township were two singular old bachelors, named Var- nica and Wadsworth. They were hermits, and lived lonely and solitary lives in rude caves dug by themselves in the side of em- bankments, the roof being supported by up- right posts, standing at intervals within the caves. People called them crazy, and the eccentricity of the two gave abundant cre- dence to the report. They shunned all associ- ates except their faithful dogs, and were never seen in the neighboring settlements, unless called there for supplies or to dispose of provisions. Varnica was a German, and could handle the glib idioms of his native language with a grace and fluency that proved his education to be of unusual excellence. It became current, and was universally believed, that Jie had been an officer in one of the Eu- ropean armies, possibly in that of NapoleOn Bonaparte. His language and manners inili- cated that he was familiar with military tac- tics, and his inability to speak English proved that he had not resided long in America. Although he lived in poverty, and went dressed in insufficient and even ragged clothing, he seemed to have an abundance of money, which he kept hid in out-of-the-way places. He entered a quarter-section of land, upon which he resided until his death. But little money was found after this event, until a will was found among his papers, bequeathing his land, and a few hundred dollars in money, to a young man named James Wilson, with whom he had lived at the time of his death. The secret of this strange man's life was buried with him. He was always silent and melan- choly, and seemed to have a deep-rooted sor- row preying upon his mind, robbing it of joys that make life endurable. By the provisions ^ ^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD OOUN^TY. 511 of the will, Wilson was made executor, and was enjoined to distribute the balance of the money among poor and friendless females. This provision was a denouement to some, who had noticed that Varnica shunned the oppo- site sex as he would tbe plagues of Egypt, his conduct giving rise to the report that his life had been blighted by a woman. The will disclosed the hiding-place of |2,200 in gold, which had been concealed in a gate-post, into which a hole had been bored and the gold dropped in, after which the hole had been closed with a pin of the same wood as the post. He died in 1840, and Wilson faithfully exe- cuted the provisions of the will. Wadsworth was a graduate of Tale College, and had evidently fitted himself for the ministerial profession. He lived in a cave on his land, and, though bent almost double from unknown circumstances, was possessed of enormous strength. He carried his melons, potatoes, and other provisions, in a sack on his back from house to house, or to some of the sur- rounding villages. He was a recluse, and seemed contented only when he could brood without molestation over his mysterious life. He had rich relatives living in Boston, who occasionally visited him and tried to induce him to abandon his life of poverty and lone- liness, but without avail. A happy smile was never seen upon his sad face, and, wh«n he at last died, in about 1838, his property was claimed by his Eastern relatives. The territory comprising Auburn Tovm- ship, like all the land in Western Richland County, wassurveyed in 1807, by Maxfield Lud- low. It was almost universally the case, when the country was first settled, that township organizations first extended over large tracts of land, one set of oificers being elected to administer the public affairs of several town- ships. Until April 3, 1820, Auburn was part of Plymouth Township, which, at that time. comprised two full townships, one of them being Auburn. In 1820, Auburn was granted the right of self-government, and the first officers were then elected. However, while the township was yet a part of Plymouth, several settlers in Auburn served as officers of the combined townships. After 1820, the tovmship remained six miles square, until changes were made in the boundaries of sur- rounding counties by the creation of Wyan- dot County. The four tiers of sections on the west were then severed from the remain- der, and annexed to Crawford County, consti- tuting Auburn as it is at present. When the township was created, several settlers met to decide, among other matters, what it should be named. Various titles were suggested, among them being Auburn, presented by two brothers. Palmer and Daniel Hulse, then resid- ing in the township, the name being taken from a township in New York, where the brothers formerly lived After some discus- sion, the name was adopted and bestowed upon the township. No tract of land in the State is more highly fitted for agricultural purposes than Auburn. The soil is deep and black, and contains sufficient sand to furnish abundant silica for strengthening wheat and oat straw, the want of which is experienced in Western States, where a dearth of silica in the rich alluvial soil prevents a firm growth of the straw, and causes the stalk to break before the grain is ripe. The surface is com- paratively level, although there is a sufficient number of streams to furnish ample drainage. The township lies wholly within the Lake Erie basin, and its surface, therefore, slopes gently toward the north. Ooykendall Eun, a small stream named after an early settler, rises in the southeastern corner, and takes a zigzag course, flowing north across the eastern tier of sections; and it and its small branches drain almost the eastern half of the township. f^ IK 513 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. Honey Creek rises in a low tract of land, formerly a swamp, lying on the boundary between Auburn and Vernon Townships. It flows north, the greater part of its course lying on the western tier of sections. These streams give the surface excellent drainage, although they have not sufficient slope to carry oif the water so rapidly as to leave the soil without the proper degree of moisture in times of drought. These streams are branches of Huron Eiver. A tract of land comprising several thousand acres, two or three hundred of which lie on the northern tier of sections, was, in early years, an extensive cranberry marsh, being very wet and unproductive, except for the berries which grew there in great abundance, and remained thus until a score or more of years ago, when proper sluices were dug to carry the water into Honey Creek. Berries no longer grow there, the marsh being too dry for them. The drift deposits which cover the surface are under- lain, in the southern part, by an abundance of excellent limestone, which lies too deep ever to be profitably worked, except perhaps, on the southwest quarter of Section 28, where it outcrops on a small stream on the land of Samuel Hilborn. The surface, in the south- ern part, is quite thickly covered with frag- ments of granite bowlders and other stones containing a large percentage of quartz, often beautifully colored with iron oxides. The large quantity of iron in the soil of the drift deposits gives rise to many wells of ferriferous water. This water is ordinarily found in great abundance in the sand of the Waverly group of rocks. No township in the county has a greater number of interesting incidents of personal adventure in early years than Auburn, evi- dently from the fact that there are found a greater number of the old settlers living who participated in those events, and whose recol- lection is good, notwithstanding the lapse of time. When the first settlers appeared, the forests were yet filled with wild beasts, and the Indians were found in large numbers, camped in small detachments on almost every stream. They were mostly Wyandots, though Delawares, Senecas and members of other tribes were often seen. It frequently happened that Indians, who had been reared in the woods, and whose life-long education was a succession of hunting maneuvers, wherein the crafty experience of ancestors, which had been handed down through a long period of years, had been exemplified and imitated, were less skillful and successful in their hunting expedi- tions than the white hunters, many of whom had passed their early life where hunting was scarcely known, and whose education in wood- craft and the tactics of the chase had been extremely brief. Many of the settlers, how- ever, knowing that the time would be unprofit- ably spent, because the rapid settlement and improvement of the country was destined to cut short the brief period when wild game of the larger varieties abounded, did not endeavor to obtain a profound knowledge of hunting tactics. It thus occurred that nine out of every ten of the settlers paid no heed to the exciting adventures with wild animals going on around them, except, perhaps, for pastime, but devoted their time and labor to the clear- ing and CTiltivation of their farms. Deer were occasionally killed by the most unskill- ful; but, when venison was wanted, it was customary to employ a hunter of known skill — often an Indian- — ^to hunt for a few days, paying him for his trouble, and taking the game he killed. Indian hunters could be employed for lower wages than white hunters, a small bottle of whisky being considered by them as an ample reward for an all day's tramp through the woods, whereas a white hunter was dissatisfied with less than several ^r -^i '^uufrivl HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 515 gallons. For the first few years after the set- tlers had become established, the slaughter of deer was carried on so wantonly that the more thoughtful and prudent settlers saw that those animals were soon destined to be- come unknown in the country, unless some means could be devised to end the useless slaughter. The Indians, who camped on the small streams throughout the country, killed hundreds of them for nothing but their skins, leaving the flesh for the wolves and buzzards. During the season when the fawns were young, the Indians, in order to kill as many deer as possible, were in the habit of what was called "bawling up a deer." They imi- tated the bleating of a fawn in distress, when the instinct of the doe to protect her young was on the alert and paramount; and when she ran to protect her offspring, she was shot by the Indians. In this manner, large numbers of does were slaughtered. After a few years, the settlers forbade the Indians coming to the neighborhood to kill deer; and on one occa- sion, when they disobeyed the command and killed a fine doe by the "bawling" process, several settlers, among whom were one of the' Chilcotes, of Cranberry Township, and Enoch Baker, informed them emphatically, with a significant tap on the rifle, that if the act was repeated the Indians doing it would be shot. This put a stop to the destruction in that direction, and the settlers were requested not to slaughter the animals unnecessarily. Ira Blair, on one occasion, remained in the woods for three days, killing during that time, eight deer. It is related by Amos Morse, that, in about 1821, Jacob Byers made a contract with Eodolphus Morse, the father of Amos, to the effect that he could kill more deer the next day than Mr. Morse could bring in. The bargain was m.ade one evening, during a heavy fall of snow. Byers knew that the following day would be an excellent one for the hunt, so early the next morning he started out. He had an old flint-lock rifle, that had evidently seen any amount of service, as the parts were tied together in many places with bands of tow. But the gun proved very efifective in the hands of the experienced Byers, who, during that eventful day, killed seven deer, all of which were brought in, according to agree- ment, by Mr. Morse, except one, which had been mortally wounded, and had been followed and killed about eight miles east of the town- ship. The approach of darkness prevented Mr. Morse from brinffing' this animal in, and he therefore failed to live up to his part of the agreement. Fawns were often captured alive, and after a few days had elapsed they would follow members of the family around like dogs. Almost every cabin had its pet deer or fawn. Bells were hung about their necks to prevent them from getting lost in the woods. Mr. Baker owned one of these pets, which was prized very highly by the members of his family. One day, while it was feeding near the cabin, Mr. Tyndal, who was hunting in the woods, possibly thinking it was a wild one, shot and killed it. He also killed several others about the neighborhood, when the in- dignant owners came to the conclusion that it was preposterous to look any longer upon the act as a mistake. Enoch Baker became quite an expert hunter, and is yet living in the township, on the farm purchased by his father in 1826. On one occasion, when returning late at night, or rather early in the morning, from " sparking " a neighbor's daughter, he barely escaped being devoured by wolves. He had left the cabin of his sweetheart and was walking along through the forest, swinging his cane and whistling, as boys do yet when return- ing on similar occasions, when the distant howl of a wolf was borne to his ears. The howl was repeated, and soon the woods were filled with a chorus of the terrifying sounds. 3 >^ !k. 516 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. The boy was terribly frightened, and, as he had several miles to go before reaching home, he started rapidly on the run, hoping to reach his father's cabin before the wolves closed upon him. He ran on as swiftly as his feet would carry him; but soon the foremost wolves were seen bounding along at his right and left. He swung his club aloft and shouted; and the wolves fell back a short distance, only to again approach nearer than before. But the panting boy was almost home. He strug- gled on, with the wolves about him, and finally ran into the clearing aroTind his father's cabin, when the animals fell back, and were soon out of sight in the dark forest. This was a lesson to the youth; but it did no good, for the next Sunday night he was out late again for the same reason. On another occasion, William Johns, a neighbor, having lost several pigs through the agency of some wild animal that carried them off one by one on successive nights, offered Mr. Baker a dollar, if he would kill the ani- mal. Baker accordingly established himself with his dog in the cabin of Johns, to watch for the animal during the night. About 12 o'clock, the swine were heard squealing, and Baker opened the door and told the eager dog to go. Away it went after some large animal, that bounded off into the woods and ran up a tree. Baker followed, and saw by the light of the moon a catamount crouched on a large limb above his head. He fired, and the ani- mal fell to the ground dead. The death of the catamount stoppai the destruction of the swine; but Baker refused to take the dollar he had earned, being satisfied with the skin of the animal. At another time, when return- ing from a neighbor's, his dogs treed two catamounts. After a lively skirmish, during which he experienced considerable personal danger, he succeeded in killing them both. The woods were filled with squirrels, which came by the hundreds into corn-fields, and dug up and destroyed the growing grain. Hunts were frequently organized to rid the forest of these pests, and, often, on such occa- sions, hundreds were killed, and for days afterward the hunter's families were provided with an abundant supply of choice meat. A hunt of this character was projected one day by a party of the settlers, among whom were Thomas Cooker and Enoch Baker. When night came, and the hunters assembled to see who had been most successful, it was found that almost 200 squirrels had been killed. As each hunter brought into the room the squir- rels he had killed. Baker, to the astonishment of all, lugged in a large catamount as the result of his day's hunt. It was conceded by all that he had done the best day's work. Mr. Baker is among the oldest and most respected citizens in the township. He lives upon the old farm, and the rise of ground where his dwelling stands is the site of an extensive Indian cemetery. Indian remains were first- discovered in 1833, when Mr. Baker, in dig- ging a well, having reached a depth of about eighteen inches, came upon four skeletons, lying side by side, two with heads toward the east and two toward the west, the heads of each couple lying near the lower extremities of the other couple. No articles of clothing or implements of war were found, and the more fragile portions of the skeletons soon crumbled into dust. One of the Indians must have been a Hercules, as the inferior maxil- lary, or jaw-bone, was large enough to pass entirely over the jaw of an ordinary man; and the upper bone of the arm, the humerus, was four inches longer than in the average man, and had a corresponding thickness. Subse- quently, more than fifteen skeletons have been plowed up near the house, all of them being buried within from a foot to eighteen inches of the surface, and all being in an *%i r k. HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 517 advanced state of decomposition. No war or other implements have been found with any of the skeletons, a very unusual circumstance where Indian remains are unearthed. In 1866, while digging a cellar, Mr. Baker and his workmen disclosed nine of these skeletons, reposing side by side, some of the skulls to the east, and some to the west. As many as thirty skeletons have been unearthed on the farm since 1833, and those discovered in late years have been apparently no further decom- posed than those found in early years, proving that the bodies were buried scores of years before the coming of the pioneer. The future vdll reveal many more of these skeletons. At another time, William Cole, then a boy about sixteen years old, called the dogs one evening, and started in search of the cows. The dogs left his side, and he soon heard them barking furiously at some animal that had turned at bay. He hurried forward, and saw them standing guard over a large hollow log, and, from their cautious movements, he knew they were confronted by an animal of which they were afraid. He stole cautiously for- ward from the rear, and, peering under the log, saw the huge paws of a bear. The boy was without a gun; but, determining to attack the bear at all hazards, he armed himself witJi a heavy club, and resolutely approached the log. While the attention of the bear was diverted to the dogs, which, emboldened by the approach of the boy, had renewed the attack with great fury, he seized it by the hind leg and pulled it from the log. Before the animal could recover its feet, the boy dealt it a terrible blow across the head, repeat- ing the act again and again until life was ex- tinct. When the excited boy returned home without the cows and related his adventure, his story was not believed until the dead bear was seen. William's brother Daniel re- mained one night at the cabin of a relative near West Liberty, and early the next morn- ing, before daybreak, started for home. He was accompanied by a large bull-dog, belong- ing to Enoch Baker, and, after going a short distance, he was startled by seeing several wolves running along in the woods on either side of and behind him. He started forward, but had not gone ten paces before a pack of eleven wolves, with open mouths, bounded toward him from behind. A large one, the leader of the pack, was almost upon him, when it was seized by the throat by the dog, and pinned to the ground. The others fell back, giving the boy time to ascend a small iron-wood tree, and, after a short fight, the wolf escaped the hold of the dog, and together the whole pack turned and disappeared in the woods. The boy had been saved by the dog from a horrible death. One day, Seth Hawks, hearing one of his hogs squealing loudly in the woods about a quarter of a mile from his cabin, hastened out to see what could be the matter. A large log lay upon the ground between him and the squealing hog, and noth- ing could be seen by the settler until he reached the log and peered over. There lay his swine upon the ground, while, standing over it, with their sharp teeth and claws in its flesh, were two large bears. The animals instantly perceived the intruder, and turned upon him furiously; but he ran to a small tree, and, exerting himself, sprang into the lower branches just in time to escape the claws of the larger bear, which had swiftly pursued him. The furious animal began making des- perate efforts to reach the settler. It at first endeavored to climb the tree; but, failing in this, it retired a short distance, and, turning, ran toward the tree with the apparent inten- tion of leaping into the lower branches. The terrified Mr. Hawks sat on a limb above, and regarded with no little concern the efforts of the bear. He began hallooing loudly for assist- . '3 ^ tk^ 518 HISTOEY OF CBAWFOED COUNTY. ance, and the bear increased its efforts to reach its enemy. It soon wore quite a path in running to the tree, and would leap high enough to seize one of the limbs in its teeth. After about half an hour, Eodolphus Morse, who had been apprised by Mrs. Hawks of the dangerous situation of her husband, appeared upon the scene; whereupon the bears, whose fury had spent itself, apparently realizing that it was no longer wise to dispute against such odds about the ownership of the hog, shambled off through the woods as fast as their feet could carry them. Many other in- teresting anecdotes of a similar nature are related by the old settlers. As was previously stated, immediately after the war of 1812, the first settlers began to appear in Auburn Township. William Green, a native of Massachusetts, came in 1815, and piu-chased 160 acres of land in the southeast- ern part. After clearing a few acres and erecf> ing a rude log cabin, he returned to Licking County, Ohio, where he had left his family, remaining there until December, 1816, when he moved out to the farm. He was the first substantial settler, and with his coming began the rapid growth and improvement of the township. Subsequently, he increased his farm until he owned a section of fine land. His sons, Samuel S. and Walter, are yet liv- inc in Auburn at advanced ages. Samuel Hanna entered a quarter-section of land in 1815, but did not locate thereon until 1819. A man named Deardorff entered a quarter-sec- tion of land in 1815, upon which he lived two or three years, after which he sold out and moved to some other locality. In 1817, Charles Morrow and William Cole came to the town- ship. But little is remembered of Charles Morrow, who remained in the township a few years, and then sold out and moved away. William Cole, however, remained in Auburn until his death. He was an intelligent man, and did much in early years to render the township a desirable place in which to locate. His descendants are among the prominent citizens. In 1818, there came in James Coy- kendall, Charles Dewitt, John Bodley, David Cummins, and possibly three or four others. Nothing, comparatively, is known of the lives of these men, although many of their descend- ants are scattered throughout Northern Ohio. Coykendall became quite an expert hunter, and, like his brother Nimrods, avoided, as far as practicable, the irksome duties of clearing up and improving his farm, preferring to rove the forest in qtiest of adventure. He killed several bears and catamounts, and his advice and skill were in demand when hunting top- ics were discussed, or when hunts were on the tapis. In 1819, there came Eodolphus Morse, Samuel Hanna, Adam Aumend, Eesolved White, John Webber, and several others. Mr. Morse became one of the most prominent of the early settlers. He took an active part in educational advancement, was instrumental in organizing many of the early schools, a number of which he taught, and did perhaps as much as any other man to hasten the tardy move- ments of education. It was due to his influence, more than to any other, that the establishment of a post office was secured in the township as early as 1824, and perhaps earlier. This was one of the first, if not the first, post offices of the kind in the county. Mr. Morse received the appointment as Postmaster, and the .office was established in his cabin, where it remained many years. He was a native of Berkshire County, Mass., and first came to Huron, Ohio, in June, 1818. He had served with distinction in the war of 1812, and after coming to the township was elected Clerk for many successive terms. His son Amos has for years been one of the most influential of Auburn's citizens. He has served twenty-four terms as Justice of the Peace, and was also "7^ -■^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 5] 9 Postmaster for a number of years before the location of the office at Tiro. Mr. Morrow served many years as Postmaster, succeeding the elder Morse. It is no longer remembered who were the first township officers, except that James Coykendall was the first Justice of the Peace. While holding this office, he married, as early as 1821, Harvey Hoadley to Elizabeth Blair, the marriage being one of the first in the township. The early settlers, almost without exception, were of English de- scent, many of whom came from the Bay State immediately after the war of 1812, first locating in one of the Eastern counties. The most of them had served in the war, and Au- burn Township was settled by a greater num- ber of these ex-soldiers than any other town- ship in the county. Resolved White, a lineal descendant of Peregrine White, the child born in the Mayflower on its journey across the Atlantic, purchased a quarter-section in 1819 of a Mr. Laugherty, who had located on the land the year previously, and had erected a small log cabin and made some improvements. Mr. White returned to New York, where he married, and, in 1821, came with his wife to their wilderness home. His daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth (White) Daugherty, is yet living in the township. Adam Aumend was a shoe- maker by trade, an occupation he followed to some extent after coming to the township. He purchased 320 acres in the northern part, near the cranberry marsh, of Henry Rief , pay- ing 12.50 per acre. How long Mr. Rief had lived there is unknown or forgotten. Mr. Aumend's son Adam v/as the first Assessor in the township, assessing Vernon, and perhaps other townships at the same time. Within two or three years after 1819, there came in John Blair, George Hammond, John Sheckler, Erastus Sawyer, Jesse Ladow, Nelson S. Howe, Daniel Bunker, Jacob Bevard, Richard Tuck- er, Seth Hawks and several others. Abel C. Ross arrived in 1825, and Joseph Baker came the following year. George Hammond was a native of the Nutmeg State, and came to Axi- burn early in 1822. He purchased a quarter- section of a man named Clark, there being a small cabin upon the place and a few acres cleared. His son is yet living on the same farm. John Sheckler came from Pennsylva- nia in 1821, and became a prominent citizen. He was skillful with the rifle, and on one occasion, in company with Mr. Pettigon, he killed three wild-cats, remaining all night in the woods. Joseph Baker, a native of the Old Dominion, arrived in 1826. He also was one of the brave soldiers in the war of 1812. His son Enoch gathered cranberries in the neighboring marshes for sixteen consecutive years. This pursuit was largely followed by almost all the early settlers, many of whom made sufficient money thereby to purchase the fine farms their descendants now own. Many interesting anecdotes are related concerning adventures in these marshes. The men who finally purchased the marshes experienced great difficulty in preventing their neighbors from gathering berries without due authority. Personal encounters occasionally took place, and several law-suits were instituted to compel the trespasser to make proper return for the berries he had unlawfully taken. John Blair came from New York in 1821, entered a small tract of land, and erected thereon a round-log cabin, which at first had no floor, but which, after a few years, was furnished with one made of puncheons. He brought with him two horses, two cows and eight sheep, seven of the latter being subsequently killed by the wolves. His son Ira lives on the old place. The early settlers of the township were tem- perate for that day, drunken men being rarely seen. No liquor, except wine from grapes, has ever been manufactured in the township. The settlers usually observed Sunday, although s, ^ .]> 520 HISTORY OF CKAWrORD COUNTY. an instance is related by Mr. Morse where the Scriptural injunction of one of the Ten Com- mandments was disobeyed. One Sunday, Eodolphus Morse heard Seth Hawks, who was a strict Presbyterian, repeatedly shouting to his oxen, which he seemed to be driving; and, not understanding the meaning of such bois- terous conduct from such a source on the Sab- bath, he went across to his neighbor's to see what it meant. There was Mr. Hawks busily engaged in driving his oxen round and round upon a puncheon floor, laid down in the open air, upon which was a heavy spread of grain yet in the stalk. He was threshing his wheat, and was so intent on his business as to be unaware of the approach of Mr. Morse. He was asked what he meant by working on Sun- day, to which he replied that the day was Sat- urday. Thereupon explanations followed, much to the discomfiture of Mr. Hawks, who became convinced that he had violated the commandment, " Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.'' The oxen were unhitched, and Mr. Hawks retired to the seclu-sion of his cabin to meditate at leisure over his mistake. In about 1827, David Cummins built a saw-mill on Honey Creek, near the center of the township. It was a small fi-ame structui'e, and was run by water-power, the water being secured in the usual manner by means of a race. It was run until about 1855, having a change of owners, among whom were a !Mr. Irving and a Mr. Brown. The former pur chased it of Cummins in about 1845, and, after a few years, sold it to the latter, under whose management it stopped. This was the first mill of the kind in the township. Prior to its erection, sawed lumber was obtained east toward Mansfield, or north on the Huron River. There was no great demand for lum- ber, as the early dwellings were built of logs, and many of the floors were of puncheons. Nothing of the kind was required for fences. bams or outhouses, and even after the lapse of twenty years the demand had not increased to any great extent, from the fact that many dwellings were constructed of nicely hewed logs, which were considered peculiarly fitted to make as fine a dwelling as need be desired. Two or three years after the erection of the Cixmmins mill, Thomas Millard built another a short distance below on the same creek. This was also frame, and was run by water- power. It became a valuable mill in after years, and ftmiished large quantities of lum- ber for the citizens. The building was large, and in one apartment was placed a set of "nigger-head" stones, for the purpose of grinding wheat, corn, rye, etc. Mr. Millard operated the combined mills for about twelve years, when both were rented to Enoch Baker, with the understanding that the latter was to have half the profits. But the frequent break- ing of the dam prevented steady and profita- ble work, and, at the end of a year, Mr. Baker concluded to sever his connection with the mills. It is said that the grist-mill furnished an excellent article of flour. Shortly after this, Rufus Page purchased the mills of Mr. Millard; but, while they were under his own- ership, the grist-mill was abandoned as un- profitable, though the saw-mill was operated with renewed vigor. A short distance above the site of these mills, the water of Honey Creek has been changed for more than a mile from the original channel. This was done by Mr. Baker, on his farm, at a cost of more than §1,000, exclusive of his own labor and time. The object was to prevent the fre- quent overflowing of the land, and to reclaim the valley of the creek, which, from the zigzag course of the stream across the farm and the shallowness of the bed, was covered a large portion of the year with water. Since the construction of this artificial channel, the increase in the crops raised in the valley has iiL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 531 returned the outlay several times. Extensive systems of drainage for the cranberry marshes have been adopted, and ere many years these rich alluvial basins vrill be reclaimed. They are so dry at present that the peat which they contain in great quantity often catches fire, causing much trouble before the fire is extin- guished. The peat is not of sufficient purity, however, to be utilized as fuel, even if wood and coal did not abound. The village of Waynesburg, named in honor of Gen. Anthony "VVayne, was laid out and platted in 1833, Aaron Cory and Richard Millar being the owners and proprietors. Twenty-six lots were surveyed, to which no additions have been made. The lots were offered for sale at public auction, and several of the citizens invested, paying some $8 or $10 per lot. Enoch Baker, possibly thinking that the village was destined to become metr ropolitan, bid $10 for a choice corner lot, which was " knocked down " to him at that price. Nothing further was done, however, to complete the purchase, and, after several years had elapsed, Mr. Baker signified his readiness to pay the $10 for the lot. But Mr. Cory refused to take the money, saying that the lots had risen in value, and that the comer one was worth $20. Baker refused to pay the price demanded, and hence failed to buy the lot. This was the only effort Mr. Baker ever made to own real estate in a town, and his aspirations in that line died out with the failure. Soon after the sale of the lots, Eeuben Frisbee brought a small stock of goods to the town. He placed in a small room, built for the purpose, $560 worth of a general assort- ment of merchandise, and also began dealing in provisions. He was a close, shrewd finan- cier, and at the end of eight years was worth $6,000. He had borrowed $500 of his orig- inal capital of his brother. This was returned, with interest, at the end of the eight years, leaving Mr. Frisbee a balance of over $5,000 as a return for his $60 of invested capital. He was extremely close in all his business transactions, and always carefully scrutinized butter, eggs, etc., before venturing to pur- chase. It is said that he had a small hole bored in the counter, and that he ate only those eggs which could pass through. This story was intended to convey the idea that Mr. Frisbee ate but few eggs. One day he went coon-hunting with Enoch Baker to the cran- berry marsh. The hunters intended to be gone three days, and took enough provisions with them to last that length of time. In order that nothing might be wasted, Frisbee coiinted the meals required by the two while away, and then carefully measured and cut off the necessary slices of ham, of equal size and thickness, to last until their return. The bread and provisions were measured in a sim- ilar manner, and, when all was ready, they started. But, for some cause, the hunters remained away but one night, catching four coons in the meantime. It soon became ap- parent that Frisbee was in trouble. He looked dejected, and sorrowfully remarked to Baker that the food so carefully prepared was des- tined to become stale before it could be con- sumed. Baker tendered his sympathy, but it afforded no relief. The pelts of the coons were equally divided, and Mr. Baker sold his two for $1 each. Three or four years after Frisbee opened his store, Anderson & Moore placed $2,500 worth of goods in another building. They made considerable money during a period of about four years, when, finding that Frisbee was rapidly gaining the advantage in trade, they sold their stock to Eufus Page. Shortly afterward, Frisbee went out of business, leaving a clear field to build up an excellent country trade. After continuing eight or ten years. Page sold his stock to Baker & Sims. At the expiration of ^^ -RT' Ll^ 522 HISTOKT or CEAWFOED COUNTY. eighteen months, Baker sold his interest to his partner, whereupon the partnership of Sims & Son was formed. This firm continued for about four years, when the trade became so . reduced that it was thought best to retire from the business, which was accordingly done. It was about this time that Bear & Grraffmiller ventured to engage in the mercantile pursuit in the village, and soon afterward Enoch Baker began selling goods on commission. After about a year, Baker deemed it advisable to purchase the stock he was selling; and he also soon afterward bought out Bear, who was then alone, having purchased his partner's interest. Baker closed out his stock at the end of a year, having cleared, during that period, §1,200. Joseph Kerr kept a small grocery for a few years, beginning about 1858. Sev- eral others have engaged for short periods in the mercantile pursuit in the village. Soon after the town was laid out, a petition was circulated for signers, praying for the location of a post office at Waynesbiirg. The office was secured, and James K. Davis received the appointment as first Eostmaster. "Wellers- burg was the name bestowed upon the new office. Martin Clark erected a small tavern, which was thrown open for public reception in 1850. The village, in early years, was a lively trading-point; but, after the advent of railroads in the county, and the subsequent growth of villages along its line, the business prosperity of Waynesburg steadily declined, until the present finds it almost " without a habitation and a name." After much inquiry and search, the writer of this chapter has recovered from old records, in the possession of Hon. J. E. Cory, the fol- lowing, which is received too late to insert in its proper connection, and which explains itself: "At an election held at the house of Palmer Hulse, in Auburn Township, on the 2d day of April, 1821, agreeable to an order of the County Commissioners, the following persons were elected township officers: Jacob Coyken- dall, Clerk; Samuel Hanna, Levi Bodley and Michael Gisson, Trustees; David Cummins, Treasurer; James Gardner and David Cum- mins, Overseers of the Poor; Adam Aumend and Charles Dewitt, Fence Viewers; James C. CoykendaU and Lester and Jesse Bodley, Appraisers; Adam Aumend, Jr., Constable; Michael Gisson, William Cole, William Laugh- erty and William Garrison, Supervisors. The above officers were severally elected and qual- ified according to law. Jacob CoykendaU, Township Clerk." A reasonable inference from this is that these officers were the first elected, as the elec- tion was held pursuant to an order of the County Commissioners. From the same rec- ords is also taken the following: " Jacob Coykendall's commission as Justice of the Peace bears date July 14, 1821. He was qualified Aug. 29, same year, and gave bond September 7, 1821; James CoykendaU and James Gardner, bondsmen." The second township election was held at the house of Jacob CoykendaU, on the 1st of April, 1822 ; the third, at the house of Aaron B. Howe, April 7, 1823. AVhen the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad was established in the county, a station called De Kalb was located in Auburn Township. J. D. Brown secured the services of the County Surveyor, and laid out forty lots on his land where the station was located, from the central part of the west part of the southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 22, Range 20 west. In November, 1878, John Hilbom made an addition of eight lots to the town. The post office at De Kalb, in Vernon Township, was transferred to the station, and Ira Van Tilburg was appointed Postmaster, an office he vet holds. I. and B. ^R- ^^=^ l\^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 533 S. Van Tilburg were the first to bring a stock of goods to the town. They began in 1872; and, the following year, erected the building they now occupy, moving their stock of goods in as soon as the room was completed. They have a general assortment of goods, valued at about $10,000. They ' are also engaged in buying grain, at the rate of over $100,000 worth per annum. William Flavin began vnth a general assortment of drugs in 1876; but two years later he sold his stock to D. G. Jeffrey, who, at present, has drugs valued at $1,600. J. D. Brown began in 1878 with a stock of groceries worth $8,000, and two years later Davis & Mitchell engaged in the same occupation, with goods valued at $5,000. C. McOonnell has a notion store, and Misses Crall & Owens supply the neighborhood with female apparel. In August, 1879, E. E. Wilcox, Grand Master of the State Lodge of Odd-FeUows organized Tiro Lodge, No. 688, in the vil lage, thsre being but seven charter mem- bers, as follows: Daniel Howe, Cornelius Fox, E. E. Ashley, S. W. Jeffi-ey, J. E. Hall, Lewis WiUiams and Matthew L-win. The first ofii- cers elected were: S. W. Jeffrey, N. G.; J. E. Hall, V. G.; Cornelius Fox, Secretary; E. E. Ashley, Treasurer. The lodge is doing well, and has a present membership of thirty. The members have a comfortable hall, and the present officers are: E. E. Ashley, N. G. ; Lewis Wing, V. G. ; J. O. Davis, Eecording Secre- tary; Daniel Howe, Corresponding Secretary; G. M. Jeffrey, Treasurer. Although the village is yet in its infancy, it is doing a livelier and more extensive business than any other town in the county of equal or less population, and its energy and trade are permanent. About a quarter of a mile north of Tiro, a half-dozen or more families began to congre- gate in about 1845. A blacksmith located there, and, soon afterward, a carpenter and a cooper. No lots were laid out, and yet, to all appearances, a village was beginning to spring up. People soon began to speak of the loca- tion as Mechanicsburg, a name suggested by the occupation of the people. In 1856, Jon- athan Davis and William Crouse built a frame grist-mill in the village (if the term may be indulged in), which, after running about four years, was taken to another locality. The village is not a village, and yet it is a village. No stores have honored it with their presence. Coykendall & Ladow built a saw-mill in the southeastern part, on Coykendall Creek, as early as 1836. After a few years, it was burned down, but was immediately rebuilt, and the miU continued in operation until a few years ago, having changed hands many times. Though first operated by water-power, steam was afterward employed, and the mill, in its time, was one of the best ever in the township. William Ewing also built and operated a saw-mill on the same creek, begin- ning about 1840, and continuing nearly twenty years, when the mill was abandoned. Each of these miUs sawed for either forty cents per hundred feet, or one-half the logs delivered in good order at the mill. According to the best accounts, the first schoolhouse was built on Eobert Cook's farm, in 1821. It was a round-log structure, with clapboard roof, door, floor, desks and seats, and its external appearance was not inviting to the ragged pioneer children. A large fire- place, capable of taking in a log of almost any dimensions, occupied one end of the room ; and a small table was provided at the other to establish for the teacher a permanent position, from which to pronounce decrees, issue com- mands, and administer condign punishment to offending pupils. The clapboard ceiling was so low that a tall man's head was sure to get severely bumped unless care was taken to stoop low when walking about in the room. «? S" V .u 524 HISTORT OF CBAWFORD COHNTTY. A large, quaint chimney, built of a combina- tion of innumerable and mysterious materials, graced the exterior of one end of the build- ing; and the four insignificant apertures slanderously denominated " windows " admit- ted half-sufficient light for a judicious use of the pupils' eyes. A man named Talford was the first teacher. He taught during the win- ter of 1821-22, and had some fifteen scholars. There was nothing in the external appearance of ilr. Talford to excite curiosity or appre- hension, and yet, when he spoke, his voice is said to have been like distant thunder. He had a fair education, was a good disciplina- rian and a competent instructor. He taught what was known as a "loud school," which may be understood as one where the scholars studied at the pitch best suited to their voices. Notwithstanding the din and confusion pre- vailing in the room at all times, the stentorian voice of the teacher could be easily heard, imparting instruction and issuing orders. A year or two after the erection of the Cook Schoolhouse, another was built on the Ham- mond farm. It resembled the other in both external and internal appearance. The year before its erection, school had been taught by a young lady named Mary TVilcox, in a rude cabin that had been designed for a dwelling. The seats in the schoolhouse were of clap- boards that had been split out of wood having a crooked grain, ilr. Morse, then a boy of about five years of age, was assigned a seat at the end of one of the long benches, where the plank was turned up at an angle of about twenty degrees from the horizontal line. Here he was compelled to sit hour after hour, undergoing excruciating tortures, while learn- ing his letters. It was easy enough to occupy the seat for a short time without discomfort; but, when day after day brought no relief from the position, it became tiresome and distress- ing. Erastus Sawyer and Daniel W. Eoss were early teachers in this house. Eodol- phus Morse was teaching in 1824, when the house caught fire and burned to the ground, consuming the scholars' books and slates. The remainder of the term was taught in a cabin standing near the school building. Mr. Morse was a good teacher, and taught many of the early schools. A school building was erected on the farm of J. Willford, as early as 1824:, a young man named John "Webber being the first teacher. Webber was a wild, reckless young fellow, and many thought him incapable of imparting proper instruction to the scholars. He h^d conducted the school with success for about a month, when Mr. Laugherty, the Director, provoked beyond, endurance by some act of the teacher, went to the schoolhouse while school was in session, and ordered TTebber to leave the room and not come back, as his services would no longer be required. The teacher instantly saw that it was useless to attempt to argue the point, as the fiat of the Director was omnipotent; so, controlling his disappointment and anger as best he could, he made preparations to obey the command, and, having reached the door, turned, and, it is said, relieved his pent-up passion and bade adieu to the school, as fol- lows: " Farewell schoolroom, farewell school; Farewell Laugherty, you d — d old fooL" Two other schoolhouses were buUt prior to 1S25, one located on the farm' of Adam Au- mend, and the other on that of Jesse Ladow. A number of years afterward one was built in the northwest corner, and soon the township was supplied with abundant schoolhouses. The citizens have taken a strong interest in educational advancement. This becomes ap- parent from the fact, among others, that there are nine schoolhouses in the township at pres- ent. These are found to be too many for the attendance of scholars. It is proper to notice ■Mr ^w HISTOEY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 535 in this connection that the citizens have a commodious town hall, which is located near the center of the township. It was built before the last war. The early church history of the township is almost whoUy lost in the shadows of the past, and many interesting incidents and dates relating thereto have faded from the memory of the oldest settlers. The Methodists and Baptists were the first to organize religious societies. Meetings began to be held in the cabins, and the services of local ministers, from Northern Eichland County and elsewhere, and of circuit-riders, were secured, as early as 1818. It was not long ere the propriety of building log churches was freely discussed by members of the above denominations. As was desired, this led to the erection of two round- log churches, one for the Methodists and one for the Baptists, the churches being built as early as 1821. The buildings were both low, tininviting structvires, judging from their external appearance, although the interior was commodious and cheerful when the great fire-places were glowing with heat, and the settlers assembled to renew their devotions. These buildings were used but a few years, as the members soon became too numerous to be comfortably accommodated, and, moreover, the members desired a more imposing temple in which to worship. However, before these denominations erected new churches, the Pres- byterians, Winebrennarians, English Luther- ans, and, perhaps, others, organized societies and began to worship God in their character- istic way. No churches were built by these denominations until after 1830. The Meth- odist society mentioned above continued to thrive until about 1830, when Eev. Thomas Millard came to the township from Pennsylva- nia, and entered a tract of land, upon a por- tion of which the "Good-Will" Methodist Church stands. He was a strong churchman. with a resolution for the advancement of Christianity that c(?uld not be diverted nor checked. He at once took the lead of the Methodist Church, and did more than any other man in early years to increase the mem- bership and interest. He gave two acres of his land to the church, with the understanding that a building was to be erected thereon. A frame church was accordingly erected, in about 1835, on the two acres, and Mr. Millard, who expended as much labor and money as any other man, was employed as the first o£&oiating minister. Under this good shep- herd the flock multiplied, and did much good. The old church was vacated in 1868, when the present building was erected on the same two acres, at a cost of about $1,500. The early organization of the Baptist society was not as perfect as the Methodist organization. It almost ceased to exist in 1830, but an unex- pected increase in the membership gave it additional impetus, and, in about 1840, they erected a small frame church on Section 16, which was occupied until 1879, when a new one, costing $2,500, was erected. Deacon Howe was one of the leading spirits in this church in early years, and much of its pros- perity in after years was due to his influence and guidance. The Eev. Mr. "VVolf was the foLinder of the Presbyterian organization in the township. This good man had come into the wilderness years before the first settle- ment, as a missionary among the Indians. He had dedicated his life to the cause of relig- ion, and his wiU in his course in life was as inflexible as iron. He becamo '^he founder of many of the Presbyterian Churches in North- ern Ohio, and was a man whose purity of life was unquestioned. His ultimate fate is unknown. The Methodists have a church in the southern part called "Pleasant Grove Church." The society was not organized until about 1850. Soon afterward, their church ^.^ 526 HISTOKT OF CEAWTORD COUNTY. was built, at a cost of about |1,500. A Methodist Church was built in the northern part as early as 1835, which building was afterward sold to the Winebrennarians. This denomination, known as the Church of God, has since owned the building. The United Brethren have a neat little church in the southern part, near Tiro. Their present church was built in 1878, at a cost of about $1,600; but, many years before the building of their church, these humble people were found worshiping in the township. A few years ago, when the German Catholics at New "Washington divided their congregation, those living in Auburn Township and vicinity, erected a large, fine church, a half-mile north of Waynesbxirg. It is the largest church building in the tovmship, and cost about $4,- 000 (including the parsonage). The church is frame, and was completed in 1879. The school and church systems of Auburn are not surpassed by any other country township in the county, and the citizens are almost whoUy of English descent. CHAPTER XVII. SANDUSKY TOWNSHIP— EARLY ORGANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT— INDIAN AND OTHER INCTDENTS —INDUSTRIES AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS- CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. n^HE territory comprising this township -•- was surveyed in 1807 by Maxfield Lud- low. It was part of that extensive tract of land lying south of the Connecticut Eeserve, and east of the land known, after 1820, as the New Purchase. When this tract of land was surveyed, a narrow strip, three miles wide, was left over, lying next east of the New Purchase, and was called the "Three Mile Strip." It was properly surveyed into frac- tional townships, six miles long north and south, by three miles wide. Years before the land of the New Purchase was thrown into market, scores of brave pioneers, regardless of threatened hostilities from the Indians, had " squatted " along its eastern border, design- ing to perfect their title to their farms when the land became marketable, as sooner or later it must. This was a wanton encroach- ment upon the rights of the Indian tribes, and a violation of treaties by subjects of the United States. But the pioneers had no apparent sympathy for the red man, seemingly believing that he had no rights which the pale-face was bound to respect. Large num bers poured into the Indian reserves, and, afterward, before the land had been ceded to the Government by the Indians, when com- plaints were made of Indian depredations, no redress could be obtained, as the settlers were trespassers upon the Indian lands. In 1820, when the country was thrown open to settlement, hundreds of "squatters" flocked to the land offices to secure the farms upon which they had been living, in many cases, ten or twelve years. Endless disputes arose regarding titles, which were only settled by the lapse of time, or by Territorial courts, authorized to adjudicate disputed questions. Barely a case occurred where the " squatter,'' delaying to enter his land for several years after 1820, found himself supplanted by another pioneer, who had secured the land which the former had endured so much to im- prove. This was a serious hardship, and the " squatter " had no recourse but to give up the land and locate elsewhere. Sandusky Township derives its name from *^^=^ ;r HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 537 the Sandusky River, which takes a serpentine course across the southwestern corner. This river enters Section 36, coming from the south, and takes a northwestern course through Sections 36, 35, 26 and 27, flowing, when leaving the township, in a southwestern direc- tion. Lost Creek, flowing from Vernon Town- ship, enters Section 24, and unites with San- dusky River near the center of Section 26. These streams, together with several small tributaries, form a complete drainage of the southern half of the township. Broken Sword Creek, a winding branch of the San- dusky River, flows from Vernon into the north- ern part, entering Section 1, thence crossing Sections 12, 11, 10, and finally leaving the township from Section 3. Its tributaries drain all the northern half except the extreme northern line, where branches of Honey Creek convey the water to Lake Erie by way of the Huron River. The drainage of this division of the county is excellent, although there is one depressed portion, comprising about three hundred acres, lying in Section 1. This swampy tract of land, known as " Bear Marsh," is noticeably depressed below the sur- rounding country, and, in early times, when shaded by heavy woods, was covered with water the year round. Since the forest has been removed, and the streams draining the marsh have been cleared of fallen timber, the water has been evaporated, or conveyed into Broken Sword Creek; and, although the marsh is yet wet and unproductive, it affords fine pasture land, and is thus used. The surface of the whole township is beautiful and roll- ing, especially so along the incline which forms the valley of Broken Sword Creek. The northern elevations are gentle, while along the valley of the Sandusky the hills are often precipitous, rendering cultivation on the sides impossible. Considerable coarse gravel and fragmentary bowlders, belonging to the drift deposits, are found on the surface. There have been no extensive quarries in the township, although an abundance of Waverly sandstone may be found underlying the heavy beds of d*ift in the southern part, and has been taken out in small quantities on the farms of David Wert and Frederick Beech. Con- siderable dark brown slate, or shale, is ex- posed on Sandusky River, but to which form- ation it belongs is uncertain. The date of the original creation of San- dusky Township has been lost. The township was, at first, much larger than it is at present; but, on the 2d of June, 1835, a division was made, as is shown by the following extract, taken from the County Commissioner's report of that date: "This day came David Reed and filed a petition, praying that some relief may be given to the inhabitants of Sandusky Town- ship, stating that the township is twelve miles in length and three in breadth, and requesting the Com m issioners to divide and alter said township and the adjoining townships, so that it may be more convenient. Whereupon the Commissioners ordered that all the original surveyed fractional Township 16, Range 21, commonly called the south end of Sandusky Township, and the east tier of fractional sec- tions in Township 3, Range 17 (Whetstone Township), viz.. Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36, and Sections 34, 35 and 36, Township 17, Range 21, are hereby organized into a sepa- rate township, to be designated and known by the name of Jackson. And it is further ordered, that all the original surveyed frac- tional Township 17, Range 21, except Sections 34, 35 and 36, called the northern end of Sandusky Township, and the east tier of sec- tions of Township 2, Range 17 (Liberty Town- ship), viz.. Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36, and Sections 34, 35 and 36, Township 18, Range 21 (Cranberry Township), shall consti- i) ly^ V ^^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 555 afterward each could boast of the historical log schoolhouse. The most important school in Whetstone at present is the one at New Winchester. The first school in the village, like all the early schools, was taught in a log schoolhouse. The building was erected in 1835, near the northern hmits, and was used for about fifteen years, when another was built in the eastern part. ■ The latter was a frame structure, having a shin- gle roof, and was sided with poplar lumber, ob- tained at the saw-mill in Osceola. This build- ing was used about ten years, when another took its place, the latter lasting until two years ago, when the present fine, brick structure was erected at a cost of $1,700. The school is graded, and has an average attendance of about ninety- five scholars. It is one of the largest school edifices in the county outside the three largest towns, and reflects great credit on the citizens of southern Whetstone for interest in educa- tional aflTairs. The citizens of Whetstone early felt the need of churches, and, as early as 1824, meetings were held around at the cabins by the more prominent church denominations. The churches of the county were many years a part of what was known as the Richland Circuit, and many of the earlier ministers came from the vicinity of Mansfield, where churches had been founded several years before the war of 1812. It is dif- ficult to realize the trials under which the early church people labored. The circuit-rider has passed into history in Ohio, although farther west on the frontier, where the first settlements are being made, that well-known character meets with a hearty welcome at the fireside, where the Bible is often read, and where its precepts are taught and followed. Crawford County remained for many years a part of the Richland Circuit, and hence the preachers who first appeared in Whetstone Township came from Mansfield. John 0. Blowers and his brother William, residents of Liberty Town- ship, became known throughout the county as preachers of considerable power. They were Methodists, and were full of magnetic force, and were among the most successful of the early revivalists. They were the first to con- duct meetings in Whetstone. Solomon Mj^neer was a prominent Methodist circuit-rider, who traveled for months at a time. A circnit-rider that could collect from his congregations $40, during a year of incessant traveling and preach- ing, was deemed lucky by his less fortunate fellow-ministers. Having preached in a cabin or a schoolhouse one night, the rider would travel the following day to another neighbor- hood, where he would again preach. Rev. Myneer traveled over Delaware, Monroe, Craw- ford, Richland, Hardin and Morrow Counties, and was almost two months in making the round. The Campbell Schoolhouse was used as a church, or, rather, it was built as a com- bined church and schoolhouse. It was used by different denominations, and, while it was thus used, conflicting opinions often arose as to what denominations should or should not occupy it. In about 1852, the Whetstone Disciple Church was built, at a cost of $500. The society soon became quite strong, but the members soon found that Bucyrus, with its fine churches, was too near, many of the citizens who would other- wise have joined it preferring to attend those in the town. This fact became a serious draw- back to the growth of the society. The build- ing was- occupied, however, until four years ago, when it was abandoned, and, during the past year, has been sold to private parties. The Methodists built a church in the northern part as early as 1832. Cornwallis Reece was a prominent man in this society for many years, and was one of the men to organize it. Robert Reed was the Class-leader through a long series of years. The German Reformers organized a church in the vicinity of New Winchester at an early day. No church was built, however, until 7'-. ij^ -^ 556 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 1847, when a building was erected about thirty rods west of the village at a cost of some $900. Rev. James Keller was the first oflSciat- ing minister. He did more than any other man to arouse enthusiasm in the church, and to increase its membership by the addition of intelligent Christian people. He was a fine scholar, and preached in either the German or the English language. The church soon had a strong membership ; Sunday schools were or- ganized, and much interest was manifested. Two years ago, the church was remodeled and improved. The building is at present owned by the United Brethren, and the minister in charge is Rev. J. V. Potts. The German Re- formers, living about a mile and a half north of the village, built a church as early as 1835, in the yard of which they began burying their dead. Many costly monuments are standing in memoriam of loved ones. The building was used until 1859, when a large brick structure was erected to take its place. This church is called "The Reformed St. John's Church." There is but one finer church in the township. The most of the Reformers, living in the vicinity of New Winchester, who formerly belonged to the church there, are at present members of the St. John's Church. A United Brethren Church society was organized quite early in the vicinity of North Robinson. A church was built about half a mile south of the village ; but, after the town was laid out, the building was moved there. The finest church in the township, one that would be no discredit to a city, was built a few years ago in the village by the English Lutherans. The building cost several thousand dollars, and its arrangement on the interior is elegant and costly. It has a large congrega- tion, and is among the best churches in the county. CHAPTER XIX.* LIBERTY TOWNSHIP— DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRAPHY— EARLY SETTLEMENTS— EARLY PRIVA- TIONS AND INDUSTRIES— SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLIIOUSES— CHURCHES— THE VILLAGE. LIBERTY TOWNSHIP is situated in the center of Crawford County, and the geo- graphical center of the county lies in Liberty Township, about one mile southwest of the township center. In the survey made bj' the Government, Liberty is known as Township 2, of Range 17 east, and its limits at the present time are the same as when it was laid off by the Government surveyors. In 1835, the County Commissioners, at their June session, formed two townships from the territory em- braced at that time within the limits of San- dusky, and to the northern township, which bore the original name, they attached the eastern fractional sections of Liberty, viz., 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36. These fractional sec- *Contributed by Thomas Hopley. tions continued as a part of Sandusky several years, when they were again permanently at- tached to Liberty Township, which is at the present time six miles in extent from north to south, and nearly five and one-half miles from east to west ; containing a few acres less than thirty-two and three-fourths square miles of territory. Liberty is bounded on the north by Chatfleld and Cranberry, on the east by a small portion of Cranberry and Sandusky, on the south by Whetstone, and on the west by Holmes. The Sandusky River enters the township near the southeastern corner, and winds along toward the west, bearing to the south until it leaves Liberty at the southwest- ern corner. The Broken Sword Creek, which rises in this township, flows through the north- ;f V^" — " ' i\ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 557 ern portion. Bull Run, a smaller stream, which aids in forming the Broken Sword, is the natural water-course of the eastern and central lands of Liberty, while many of the farms of the western part are drained by Bran- dywine Creek before it enters Holmes Town- ship. The Sandusky Eiver and these small creeks form the water-course by which the township is drained. When Liberty was first settled, the lands were covered by a dense for- est, which contained a luxuriant growth of underbrush, weeds and wUd grass, and the lands were wet most of the year. The indus- trious and energetic race who have occupied the township during the past sixty years, and cleared away the forests, cut down the under- brush and improved the farms, have also perfected the natural water-course by construct- ing numerous ditches, and, at the present time. Liberty is one of the best-tilled and most productive townships of Ohio. The eastern boundary of Liberty is the boundary line of the New Purchase, and the lands embraced in the township comprise a small portion of the immense tract purchased by the United States Government from the Indians in 1817. Thousands of the early set- tlers of the New Purchase, in journeying to their new homes, passed through Crawford County, and, of the vast multitude, a number turned aside and visited the forests and glades and glens of Liberty. It is not surprising then that many of these remained, and, in a few years, all the G-overnment land in the township was entered, and most of it by actual settlers. The first families were generally from New England and the Western Reserve, and they entered land along the Sandusky River bottom. Shortly afterward came the descend- ants of the Pennsylvania Dutch and emigrants from Germany. These settled upon the lands in the central and northern portions of the township. Some of these pioneer settlers who first entered the lands at the Government office sold out and left for the West, but the greater portion of them remained, and their descendants are to-day occupying these same farms, and reap- ing the harvest their ancestors sowed a half-cent- ury ago in toil and hardship. Liberty, in 1820 an unbroken forest, without a single white in- habitant, contained, in 1830, by the United States census, 655 persons. The population of the township at each decade since that time was as foUows: 1840,1,469; 1850,1,782; 1860, il,788; 1870, 1,597; 1880, 1,685. These fig- ures prove that there are less people in Liberty at the present time than in 1850 or 1860. The reason for this decrease in population is, that, from 1860 to several years after 1870, many of the smaller land-holders sold out to their more fortunate neighbors and moved to the West. Dr. J. B. Squires, in his pioneer sketch, makes the following statements in regard to the char- acter of the country' and the hardships of the early settlers : " Sixty years ago the territory of which this township is composed, was one unbroken wilderness, traversed by roving bands of red men who used it as an occasional hunt- ing-ground, though they had no fixed habita- tions here. No Indian village or cluster of wigwams relieve the unbroken density of the forest. The deer, the wild turkey and other species of game, was abundant then. Numer- ous packs of wolves made night hideous with their discordant howls, and an occasional black bear was seen by the Indian hunter and early settler. The whole land was covered by a forest of huge trees, so dense and similar every- where in appearance that the early settler was obliged to mark his excursions from home by blazing trees, that is, cutting a strip of bark ofi" the opposite sides of a tree and in sight of that tree blaze another, and so on, to mark his course in order to find his waj' home, or be able to travel in the same direction at another time. In physical comforts, the pioneers suffered pri- vations of which those who know nothing of them can form no adequate conception. Fre- rj5v -4^ 558 HISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. quently, when the corn-meal was all gone, the mother would be compelled to grate enough for the supper she wished to prepare for her family. Occasionally there was a little wheat flour in the house, and then short-cake would be made for breakfast on Sunday morning. Nevertheless, they were quite often treated to luxuries which would be enjoyed in this day. A lucky shot brought down a fat deer or wild turkey, and they feasted thereon and pro- nounced it good, and especially after the cutj ting down of a bee-tree the fare was deemed excellent for a few days. Mortars were con- structed for bruising corn into coarse meal, and hand-mills were built. When the McMichael mill got to grinding, it was a great accommoda- tion to the settlers, yet the river was so low that it was impossible to grind with it much of the year, and horse-mills were constructed in various parts of the country. Isaac Rise, a comparatively early settler, built one of these on the farm where he now resides, which was often thronged both night and day by people waiting their turn to hitch on their teams, some times a yoke of oxen, and grind their grists, for they were all anxious to get started for home. There were mills running at Mansfield and on the Mohican, but these were too far off to visit frequently at that early day when there were no roads. However some of the settlers would occasionally patronize them, but it gen- erally took two whole days to go to and return from the Mansfield mills. The grist was placed on the back of a horse, and the man or boy walked and led the faithful animal. Fruit- trees were early planted, and soon peaches be- came abundant, but apple-trees took a longer time to come into bearing. Sheep and cattle became plenty after a few years, and milk, but- ter, beef and mutton, as well as fruit, were added to the material comforts of life." Several years previous to the settlement of Liberty Township, Johnny Appleseed had visited the southwestern portion, and planted one of his numerous nursersies on the farm afterward entered by the first settler ; but the first cabin built in Liberty as a home for the white man, the nucleus of civilization, the first breaking of ground in that savage wilder- ness of nature, was in 1820 by Daniel Mc- Michael, who settled upon the 160 acres of land comprising the southwest quarter of Sec- tion 32. This farm is now owned and occupied by Nathan Cooper. Daniel McMichael was born in Ireland, and near the close of the eighteenth century, when he was sixteen years old, his parents emigrated to America and settled in Westmoreland County, Penn. In a few years, McMichael formed the acquaintance of a " Scotch lassie," and they were married. The following seven children were the result of their union : David, born November 30, 1806 ; Mathew, November, 1808; William, December 17, 1810 ; Martha, January 23, 1813 ; Mary, February 22, 1815 ; Daniel, March 18, 1817 ; Allen, July 14, 1819. In 1820, McMichael removed with his wife and family to Crawford County, and settled for a few weeks on what is now the northern part of Bucyrus corporation. He desired to engage in the milling business, and finding a more suita- ble location about four miles up the Sandusky River, removed his family to the land he first entered in Liberty Township. In a few months, he commenced work on this new enterprise, which was the first miU erected in what was then Crawford County. Until it was built, the settlers in the neighborhood were compelled to visit the Hosford Mill, near what is now Gallon — ^that is, if they desired grinding without going over a score of miles. McMichael soon found he could not depend upon the Sandusky River for water-power to keep the machinery run- ning twelve months each year ; the outlook was not promising, and, about 1823, he rented the establishment to Nehemiah Squires and re- moved to Bucyrus, where he died some two years afterward, in 1825. V s []^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 559 In the fall of 1820, Ralph Bacon arrived in the new country with his wife and nine chil^ dren. Bacon was of Massachusetts descent, and had formerly resided in that portion of Geauga County which is at the present time within the limits of Lake. The family removed from Northeastern Ohio to their new home in wagons drawn by oxen, and on November 13, 1820, they arrived at what is now Bucyrus, The first night they stayed with Marshall Bea- dle, who lived at that time on the land now oc- cupied by the residence of Silas Bowers. The next day the Bacons moved into a vacant shanty, which had been erected upon the land now owned by Thomas Hall, in the northeast- ern part of Bucyrus, and they occupied this un- til Bacon had constructed a round-log cabin upon his land in Liberty Township. In about two weeks, their rude home was finished, and early in December they removed to it. " The exact site of this cabin is now unoccupied by any building to mark the spot where it stood. In going west from the present residence of James H. Kemmis till you cross a bridge and ascend a long hill, the first level ground on the top of the hill, at the left hand side road of the may be recognized as its location." The land entered by Bacon was the eighty acres com- prised in the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 33, of Liberty Township, and this farm is at present owned by his son Martin. Mr. Bacon also purchased from the Government at the same time 160 acres in Whetstone Town- ship, and many years later he erected upon this a more satisfactory residence than a log cabin, which he occupied until he died, on June 14, 1850, having been a resident of Crawford County a few months less than thirty years. He was the father of thirteen children, viz., Charles, Sarah, Mary, Martin, Emeline, Minerva, Clarissa, Emily, Ralph, Dexter, Caroline, Eliza and William. Ralph, the ninth child, was only four months old when the family removed to the township, and about seventeen months aft- erward Dexter, the tenth child, was born, on May 6, 1822. He was the first white male child born in Liberty, and is living at the present time on the land just west of the eighty acres purchased by his father in 1820. In September, 1822, Sarah Bacon married Phil- ander Odell, and they were the first Qouple married in the township. Bacon's thirteen children all lived until they reached maturity ; most of them were married and raised large families, and the second settler of Liberty was the ancestor of many of the enterprising and energetic citizens of this township and Craw- ford County. The third settler to purchase land and erect a cabin was Auer Umberfleld, who came with the Bacons in 1820. He drove one of their ox teams from Geauga County, and brought with him flOO in gold. Land was worth only $1.25 per acre, and the amount he had was sufficient to purchase eighty acres. The tract he entered lies west of the present home of Dexter Bacon, and it is now owned by Mrs. Diana Blowers. During the winter, Umberfleld boarded with the Bacons, but he soon grew tired of being the only bachelor of the neighborhood, and married one of the daughters of James Scott, who re- sided at that time in Whetstone Township. This was possibly the first marriage ceremony performed in Crawford County. Umberfield did not remain in the township many years, but. in 1835, sold out to Samuel Plants, and left for the West. Plants was the father of Judge Jo- siah S. Plants, who resided in Liberty a few years while he was a young man. In the spring of 1821, Thomas McClure settled upon the 160 acres now owned by George Donnenwirth, and built a cabin just south of the Sandusky River, but he only lived in the township a few years, and, in 1833, sold out to Michael Nigh, and re- moved to Richland County. John Maxfield also settled in Liberty during the spring or summer of 1821. He purchased 160 acres of land, eighty between Umberfield's and McClure's A -i* 560 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. land, and eighty just east of Umberfield's. Maxfleld was a Vermont Yankee, but he had resided a short time at the Harding settlement, some five miles southeast of what is now Gallon, previous to his removal to Crawford County. Maxfleld built a cabin on his east eighty, just south, of the river, upon the bluff ; but being ignorant of the exact location of his northern boundary line, he unfortunately got his cabin upon the land north of his eighty. Shortly afterward, a peddler by the name of Richard Spicer, came into the neighborhood, and dis- covered Maxfleld's mistake. Spicer hastened to Delaware and entered the eighty acres upon which the cabin was standing when he left. The actions of the peddler aroused the suspicions of the Vermont Yankee, and deciding that, as he did not care to lose the improvements he had made, the cabin must be quickly removed to his own land. He gathered his neighbors to- gether, explained the matter to them, and, with their assistance, the removal was made in a few hours. When the peddler returned to take possession, he was chagrined to find that he had been outwitted by his Yankee neighbor. After residing in Liberty about twenty years, Maxfield sold out to Dexter Bacon, and re- moved to Illinois. About the year 1833, Max- field built the brick residence which is still standing, and occupied by Bacon. This was the first brick house erected in Liberty Town- ship. Machinery for manufacturing brick had not, in those days, reached the present state of perfection, and, unfortunately, brick-makers could not secure one of the Eagle Foundry Im- proved Tiffany Machines. Cattle were driven in from the woods and yoked to a " sweep," which was attached to an upright. The oxen and sweep moved around in a circle. Water was poured on the ground upon which the beasts were constantly treading, and soon a large mud- hole was formed. When this mud reached the right consistency, it was molded into brick. The cattle were not particular in regard to the character of this mud, and frequently other mat- ter than mud was mixed up and manufactured into brick. Shortly after Maxfield's house was finished, Michael Nigh employed men to build him a brick residence. In laying the founda- tion, the workmen used so much mud for mor- tar that Nigh became angry, and turned them off, declaring that he wanted a brick house and not a mud house. Unfortunately, he built his brick wall upon this riskj' foundation, and the result was, when the rain moistened the mud it crumbled, the foundation gave way, the brick wall tumbled town, and " great was the fall thereof;" but greater still was the anger of Nigh at the bad workmanship of his unskillful or dishonest masons. Nigh afterward removed to Missouri, and was drowned in the Missouri River. Henry Couts, of Bucyrus Township, states that Christian Couts, his father, moved into Liberty, April 11, 1821, with his wife and family, composed of three boys and two girls. Henrj^ was, at this time, twelve years old. His father entered land about one mile south of what is now Sulphur Springs, and this farm was afterward owrfed by Pharoh Bell, and upon it the Bell Schoolhouse was erected. Mr. Couts says that William Huff was the only resident in that neighborhood when they arrived. John 0. JBlowers first visited the township in 1821, and purchased 160 acres of land one- half mile east of Ralph Bacon. His deed for this was dated at Washington, October 8, 1821. This land is owned at the present time by Capt. S. S. Blowers, son of the man who entered it at the land office. Although Mr. Blowers was not the first person to settle in the township, he undoubtedly deserves the chief place in the history of Liberty, if it is proper to accord to any of those old pioneer heroes a chief place. From the time he removed here in 1822, until he died in 1844, he was the acknowledged leader in the manj' movements for the advance- ment of the intellectual and moral interests of it -A 'Ml ^ ■'''(!.. td:^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 561 the community. For many years, the township was the home of very many families, who did not remain, and many of the men and boys of these families were lawless and disorderly. They were always dissatisfied with their condi- tion and prospects, and although they were occupying some of the richest lands of the country, they soon became restless, and one by one these families left for that boundless West, in the hopes of finding a country better suited to their hopes and aims. Not that all who went West had been lawless in Liberty, but of many who did leave it can be truly said, " they left the township for the township's good." A community containing many citizens of this character, needed men, who not only had the boldness to denounce the evil deeds of the law- less and desperate, but who possessed the moral force to guide, encourage and organize the better efforts of the many families who desired to do right. Although there were others in the township who always rendered all the aid they could, to the efforts of their ac- knowledged leader, yet John 0. Blowers was that leader — the moral hero most needed by the community to mold the character and shape the destiny of the citizens. His high moral worth and courage, which comes from a consciousness of correct motives, made him a terror to those who were disposed to evil, and a leader of the many who wished the township governed by the better elements of their crude society. Mr. Blowers urged and assisted in the construction of the first schoolhouse. At his cabin was held the first public religious services in the township. He gathered together and instructed the first Methodist class of the county, which, in a few months, became strong enough to be organized into the first church of Liberty Township. He encouraged the weak and timid to "stand firm in the faith." He assisted in the organization, and became the first Superintendent, of the first Sabbath school of Crawford County. As a strict Method- ist, his home was the resting-place of all the pioneer circuit riders, and itinerant ministers of that church who visited the neighborhood, but as a Christian he gave as hearty a welcome to the missionaries of other sects, and" the knowledge that one was engaged in a good work was a sufficient pass-word, not only to his hospitality, but it was the key that unlocked his heart, and those who applied for his assist- ance to aid a good cause were never disap- pointed, but always obtained riot onlj' encour- agement, but more satisfactory assistance. The Blowers family originally came from Vermont, and were descended from the old Puritanic stock. John 0. Blowers was born in Vermont December 5, 1782. He was married May 21, 1810, to Sylvinia Chadsey. When war was declared between the United States and Great Britain in 1812, Blowers was living in Canada, having purchased 200 acres of land some twenty miles from Kingston, with the in- tention of making a temporarj' home in that country. The authorities desired to press him into the English service, and he was twice drafted, but he refused to bear arms against his native land, and after suffering persecution on account of his loyalty to the Stars and Stripes, he forsook the accumulated wealth of many years hard work, and with his family sought a refuge in his native land, settling at Salt Creek, Wayne Co., Ohio, where they remained until they removed to Crawford County. In 1821, Blowers left his family at Salt Creek and visited Liberty Township. Being favorably impressed with the country, he purchased 160 acres of land, upon which he erected a log cabin, and until this was finished he boarded with Ralph Bacon. In order to secure sufHcient help to raise the logs, it was necessary for him to visit the settlers for ten and twelve miles. He ob- tained assistance as far south as what is now Latimberville, as far north as Chatfield Town- ship, and several miles east. The pioneer settlers were always very neighborly, and H Vy ^'- li. 563 HISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. thought nothing of going ten and fifteen miles to assist at a " logging " or log-cabin " raising." Blowers told his son in after years that one year he put in thirty-one days of his time helping his neighbors in this manner. When the new homestead of the Blowers family was finished, the owner returned to Wayne County for his family, and in the spring of 1822 they permanently settled in Liberty Township. Blowers cleared a patch of ground and raised a crop of corn and vegetables during the first summer. February 23, 1823, James C Blow- ers was born, but died the same day, and this infant was the first person buried in the town- ship. Some foar months afterward, on July 8, 1823, James M. Maxfleld, son of John and Joana Maxfleld, died, aged two years, eleven months and twenty days, and this was the second death in Liberty. Blowers was the father of sixteen children, eleven boys and five girls ; most of these children died when they were quite young — only six, five boys and one girl, grew to ma- turity and were married, viz. : Rufus L., Lemuel L., John C, Sylvia Ann, Samuel S. and Russell Bigelow Blowers. The first four came to Lib- erty with their parents in 1822, the fourth being a mere infant at the time. Blowers lived in the township for nearly twenty-three years, and died September 29, 1844, aged sixty-one years nine months and twenty -four days. In April, 1822, Robert Foster moved into Liberty Township, and purchased the 160 acres now owned by the heirs of John Crall. Foster left Ireland with his wife "Peggy'' and four children, during the war of 1812. The ship they sailed in was an English vessel, and, dur- ing the voyage, it was overhauled by one of the frigates of the United States Navy. The American captain, considering that the cargo of the English ship, emigrants, would in a short time be patriotic citizens, permitted the English vessel to continue her voyage. Foster resided in Richland County for several years, until he removed to Crawford. When this jolly Irish- man was journeying through the woods with his family to their Western home, he discovered a walnut lying among the leaves. Knowing his wife was very fond of lemons, he presented it to her, explaining to his innocent helpmeet that it was her favorite fruit. Not suspecting her roguish husband, she took an immense bite, and the result was — a bitter disappointment. " Peggy " couldn't see the humor of the joke. She took after Robert, and, after chasing him through the woods some distance, succeeded in capturing him, and he then received from her the trouncing he justly deserved for fooling his innocent wife. The aggressive character of "Peggy " was inherited by several of her im- mediate descendants, and these became known as the "fighting Fosters," who were prominent in political quarrels during the war of the re- bellion. Robert Foster died August 9, 1835, and was buried in the graveyard northwest of Bucyrus. The family of six which left Ireland, was increased by numerous additions, and, when the census was taken in 1830, the enu- merators must have found at least a dozen young Fosters. Most of these removed to the West, and were the parents of large families. In future years, many of the energetic and en- terprising citizens of the Great West wiU be numbered among Foster's descendants. One of his daughters (Miss Sarah), who was bom May 22, 1822, was the first female child bomm Liberty Township. She is now the wife of Robert Andrews, Esq. Another daughter (Ann) became the wife of Rev. Robert Reid and the mother of Hon. William M. Reid, of Bucyrus. In the faU of 1822, William Blowers left the town of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., and, in thirty days, on November 5, arrived in Liberty Township, and settled on his brother's farm. He brought with him two of his sisters and their husbands, Calvin and Nehemiah Squires. The latter was the father of Dr. J. B. Squires, of Sulphur Springs. In November, 1823, Sam- uel Smalley arrived with his wife, also a sister tff i — ^w HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 563 of William Blowers. Smalley and his wife came from Vermont, and, in order to reach their new home, they journeyed 600 miles in a wagon. Smalley worked for his brother-in-law a short time, and then moved to the Ludwig farm, east of Bucyrus. About 1830, he pur- chased of Nicholas Singely what is now the Crum farm. Singely never lived in Liberty, but Smalley and his wife are at the present time (August, 1880), residing in the township, at Sulphur Springs, having lived in Crawford County fifty-seven years, and together as man and wife for sixty -two years. Dr. Squires, in his pioneer sketch, says : " The year 1823 was marked by numerous accessions to the early settlers, among whom may be men- tioned Ichabod Smith, James McCurdy, Asa Cobb, Simeon Parcher, Calvin Stone, Garrett Borland, with his sons James, Isaac and Luke, Jacob Grurwell, Mathias Markley, Thomas Smith, Benjamin Manwell, Thomas Scott, Sam- uel Smalley, Joseph Chandler, John Chandler, Charles Doney and Edward Hartford. In 1824, the sparse settlement received increasing ac- cessions. Horatio Markley, Noble McKinster, John G. Stough, John Kroft, and, I think, Rob- ert Poster and many others, were added to their number." These settlers generally purchased from the Government the lands upon which they settled, and these lands were exempt from tax- ation for five years. The tax duplicate of Crawford County for 1830 proves that the lands owned at that date by the following additional persons must have been entered previous to April, 1825 : John Anderson, John Bear, John Clingan, James Clingan, John H. Pry, WiUiam Huff, Daniel Ketchum, Philip Klinger, Richard King, Daniel Kimball, William Little, Richard Spicer, Daniel Shelhammer, John Slifer, Asa Wetherby, Anthony Walker and Mary Wood. Land speculators are not included in the above list of seventeen persons, who were actual set- tlers of Liberty at an early day. It is possi- ble, however, that a few entered their lands several years previous to the time they removed to the township. Death early visited the homes of the pioneers, and, February 3, 1823, James, the infant son of John 0. Blowers, died just as he commenced to live. Pive months later, James Monroe Max- field passed away, aged nearly three years. These children were buried on the Blowers farm ; others were interred beside them, and the spot of ground became known as the Blow- ers graveyard, the first started in the township. It was, in after years, dedicated and deeded to the Methodist Episcopal Church. A short time afterward, death visited the settlers in northern Liberty, but when, and who were the first victims, will forever remain unknown. As the northeast corner of Jacob L. Gurwell's farm was first used to bury the dead, it might have been one of his children. About one dozen bodies were interred here, but no tomb- stones were ever erected — only wooden boxes were placed around the top of several graves. When other regular graveyards were estab- lished, many of these bodies were removed ; but the friends of the balance were in the West, and when a road was located across this cor- ner, years afterward, their last resting-place was desecrated, and, years from now, if in dig- ging in this road human bones are found, it is to be hoped they will receive a kinder treat- ment than these graves did two generations ago. When David Simmons died, November 8, 1829, he was buried on the southwest corner of John G. Stough's land, and Thomas Smith, who died April 22, 1833, was interred on the northeast corner of his own land (the opposite corner). Others of the neighborhood were laid beside these two when they died, and this land has since been set apart as sacred to the mem- ory of these departed ones. This is now known as the Crall United Brethren graveyard, but, in later years, other land, on the other side of the road, has also been dedicated for a ceme- tery. About the year 1830, one of Peter 9 \ !k. 564 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. Whetstone's children died, and the body was buried on his farm — now owned by Michael Charlton. Since then, about six Charltons, nine members of the Chambers family, thirteen Conleys and others have been interred in this Whetstone burying-ground. The Eoop grave- yard, one mile southwest of the Conley Church, was also started at an early day. The Ger- mans of the northern part of Libeity estab- lished the cemetery at the Reformed Church as early as 1832, and the one at the Lutheran Church was started about the time the building was erected in 1852. It is said that Waugne, a tinner of Sulphur Springs, was the first per- son interred here. Previous to 1830, a man named Wood, father-in-law of Asa Cobb, was buried on his own farm, and the Wood-Cobb burying-ground was started. Many who died in the vicinity of Sulphur Springs were buried about one-half mile southwest of the village. This little cemeterj^, on the edge of the woods, was started about 1835, when John Slifer owned the land. The graveyard on Henry Fry's land, near the Union Church, was started about the same time. The child of a Mr. An- derson died about 1848. and was buried on what is now John Adam Klink's farm. A cem- etery was afterward regularly established here, which is owned by the farmers in that neigh- borhood. The population of Liberty soon became nu- merous enough to secure for the township a civil organization under the laws of the State. For about four j'ears. Liberty was temporarily attached to Sandusky Township. This state- ment is made for the following reason : Westell Ridgley and Joseph Young were commissioned Justices of the Peace for Sandusky Township, April 15, 1821, and, when their terms expired, on election was held May 15, 1824, with the following result : Mathias Markley, 22 ; Icha- bod Smith, 22 ; Westell Ridgley, 17 ; Dezberry Johnson, 5 ; Michael Brown, 4. Markley and Smith, the successful candidates, were after- ward the first Justices of the Peace of Liberty Township, but they were both commissioned May 31, 1824, as Justices of the Peace of San- dusky, and sworn in as such by Zalmon Rowse, Justice of the Peace of Bucyrus Township. The Commissioners of Marion County, at their March session in 1825, passed the following order : " That surveyed Township No. 2, in Range 17 south of the base line in the district of Delaware be, and the same is hereby organ- ized into a new township, b}' the name of Lib- erty." At this time Crawford was temporarily attached to Marion County, and Justices of the Peace had been commissioned for only four townships. For some reason, Smith received another commission, dated June 18, 1825, as Justice of the Peace for Liberty, but Markley still continued to hold the office by virtue of the former election. He was re-elected in 1827, and again in 1830, but, after serving for over eight years, resigned, and removed to Illinois. James S. Gorwell was elected to succeed him in November, 1832, and, since this date, the following persons have been elected as success- ors of Markley, one of the first Justices of the Peace of the township : John Slifer, founder of Annapolis, in 1835 ; William Woodside, in 1841 ; William Snyder, in 1847 (resigned after six months) ; Horace Rowse, in 1848 ; Robert Johnson, in 1851 : Jonathan N. Harmon, in 1854 ; William H. Hise, in 1863 ; Clark Bacon, in 1872, but he refused the office, and A. R. Briggs was elected the same year. After serv- ing for two terms, Briggs was succeeded bj- Squire Hise, the preseut incumbent, who is serving his fourth term. Ichabod Smith was re-elected in 1828, but, before his second term expired, resigned the office to take a contract on the Columbus & Sandusky pike. He after- ward removed to Chatfleld Township, and was honored with the same office. Asa Wetherby succeeded Smith, but he also resigned, and, in April, 1831, Asa Cobb was elected to succeed him. Cobb served fifteen years, for five con- ^1 5 > HISTOEY OF CEAWPORD COUNTY. 565 secutive terms, and the following were his suc- cessors : Charles Keplinger, in 1846 ; Asa Cobb, in 1849, for the sixth term ; Joseph Roop, in 1852, who served twelve j'ears ; Henry Pry, in 1864 ; Thomas Milliard, in April, 1873, who resigned after six months, and S. A. McKeehen, the present incumbent, was elected in Novem- ber, 1873, and is serving his third term. Dr. Squires, in his pioneer sketch, gives the following incidents in regard to the early courts and lawsuits of the township : " Lawsuits and litigations were more frequent in those early days, when there were few inhabitants, than at the present time, notwithstanding the vast in- crease in population and the more widely di- versified interests of the people. So we con- clude that the confidence with which man re- gards his fellow-man, and the intention among men to treat each other rightfully, has grown with the growth of the country. If not quite so fast as the country has improved in other respects, yet there has been a very manifest improvement. Previous to the election of Jus- tices for Liberty, a legal process was served on John 0. Blowers, who, in 1822, was summoned to appear before a Justice of the Peace in Bu- cyrus, to answer for indebtedness to one Schultz, of Bucyrus, from whom the said Blowers had obtained some shot for killing squirrels in his corn-field. The defendant appeared, and pleaded that the plaintiff had boarded at his house some length of time, and that defendant's wife had washed his (plaintiff's) clothes and mended them during the time for which defendant had received no compensation except the shot, and thereupon the defendant was discharged and judgment rendered against plaintiff for costs of suit. Probably the first lawsuit ever tried in Liberty Township was before Ichabod Smith, Justice of the Peace, on a complaint against Asa Wetherby for running his saw-mill on the Sab- bath day. The defendant brought in testimony showing the uncertain nature of the stream ; that the water-power was an important item of his property ; that it would be wasted and lost if not used ; whereupon the defendant was dis- charged and the costs taxed up to the com- plainant, who, however, appealed to the court and had the judgment for costs set aside, it be- ing a State case. Another trial of those earlj' days took place before Squire Mathias Markley. A man by the name of Smith sued Charles Dony for paj' for grain. The account had stood over months, and the defendant refused to let plaintiff testifj^ to his account, and defendant, on an account against plaintiff, obtained judg- ment for $8. But defendant refused to accept all of this judgment, saying it was too much ; that plaintiff owed him only $2." Liberty was undoubtedly fully organized, and township officers chosen at the spring election in 1825, but there is no positive proof who filled the various offices from the date of or- ganization until the year 1831, for, if the Clerk kept any record of business transacted by the Trustees, the books containing the minutes have all been lost or destroyed. From the year 1831, the records are nearly complete. John G. Stough thinks that John Kroft was the first Clerk, as he held this oflBce for manj- years when the township was first organized. Stough says he attended the election in the spring of 1827, and was chosen one of the three Trustees, and James McCurdy was another. Stough also served as Treasurer for one or two terms pre- vious to 1830. The first elections were held at private houses, near the center of the township, until the Center Schoolhouse was constructed. Isaac Rise states that they voted for Gen. Jack- son, when he ran for President, at the cabin of James McMannes, who entered the eighty acres now owned by Henry Crall, and that Jackson received most of the votes cast in the town- ship. This was in November, 1828. We learn from the records, that, on July 2, 1831, the Trustees, Isaac Rise, Elias Chambers and Rob- ert Poster, took an enumeration of the house- holders of the township, and, at the same time. l\^ 566 HISTOEY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. appointed John Gr. Stough Treasurer. In those days, men were not anxious to serve as town- ship oflflcers, and many paid the fine which se- cured a release. Stough refused to fill this ap- pointment, claiming that Thomas Smith, who had been regularly elected to the office, had not received from the Trustees the proper summons to appear before them and take the oath of of- fice. The Trustees then served the required notice upon Smith, and he consented and acted as Treasurer. This was the first business trans- acted, as shown by the records. March 5, 1832, the Trustees met and divided the township into road districts, and this was possibly the first division of the township for road purposes. The first election on record was held at the house of Leven Conley, near the center, April 2, 1832. The Judges were the three Trustees previously mentioned, and the Election Clerks were John Kroft and Dudley Cobb. The fol- lowing persons were chosen to fill the various offices : Trustees, Isaac Rise, Eobert Foster and Jacob Mollenkopf ; Constables, Isaac Slater and Frederick Beard ; Clerk, John Kroft ; Treasurer, John G. Stough ; Overseers of the Poor, Eobert Foster and Mathias Markley ; Fence Viewers, Samuel Cover, Henry Charlton and Frederick Williams. In examining the early records of Liberty, evidence is found which proves that fifty years ago several queer old-fashioned customs were practiced which now appear amusing, and it is also evident that some of the laws enforced in those days, have either been repealed or have become obsolete. Among the many in- dustrious families who settled in the township were a few who, being idle and shiftless, could not or would not manage successfully, and the result was these frequently became a charge upon the community. In order to protect set- tlers from roving families of this character, laws were enacted, and every year two persons were chosen in the township, styled " Overseers of the Poor," whose duty it was to examine into the cases, and render assistance to citizens who were unfortunate enough to need the aid of the township. They were also required to warn any idle or shiftless persons to leave before they had remained a sufficient length of time to gain a residence. Many notices of this char- acter are found upon the records, the first being in 1832. Having learned that Thomas Alsoph, a roving character, had appeared in the town- ship, the overseers issued the following notice : The State of Ohio, Crawford County, S. S. To Isaac Slator, Constable of Liberty Township, greeting : Whereas, information hath been given to us, Ma- thias Markley and Robert Foster, Overseers of the Poor for said township, that Thomas Alsoph has come within the limits of the township to be sick, who will be likely to become a township charge; you are hereby com- manded forthwith to warn said Thomas Alsoph to de- part the said township and of this writ make legal serv- ice, and duly return it, according to law given under our hands this 12th day of March, A. D. 1832. Mathias Mabklet, Robert Foster, Overseers of the Poor. A copy of the above notice was left the next day at the house where Alsoph was staying- It is seldom that force was used under this law, in ridding the community of the poor and shift- less, but the warning given was a mere matter of form, and, having once been notified in this manner, a person could not claim the assistance of the township in case he became unfortunate enough to need aid. Many times this law was abused, and thrifty citizens who settled in the community were warned because some joker furnished the Overseers the required informa- tion. A few did not appreciate the humor of the act but deemed the " summons to depart " an insult, and they were very mad and indig- nant when the notice was served upon them. As a general thing, men did not wish to serve as Overseers of the Poor, and some paid their fine and refused to serve, but it was generally conceded by the best citizens of the township that it was the duty of each to take his turn ;^ 3 -l^:* HISTORY OF CRAWFOBD COUNTY. 569 at serving in this disagreeable position. Occa- sionally the sportive elements of the community combined and elected some man to this office ■who was in every way unfitted for it. Quite a number of these warnings are copied upon the records of the township. John B. Morrison was notified to leave in August, 1833, and again in March, 1836, but in April, 1837, he was elected one of the school-examiners for Liberty. Either the warnings were an insult or his elec- tion as examiner a joke. Frequently in the early days of the township, poor and shiftless parents would bind their children out for a term of years until they be- came of age, and many notices of these bind- iilgs are found upon the records kept by the Clerks of Liberty. The first one is dated Decem- ber 31, 1834, and the agreement is between Moses Coberly, who binds his son Eobert, to Cornelius Borland for a term of seven years. During this time Dorland is to " teach the young man arithmetic to the rule of three, and keep him in wearing apparel." At the end of the seven years, Robert was to receive from Dorland "one horse, saddle and bridle worth $75, also one suit of broadcloth clothes and one suit of home-made or common wearing ap- parel." The bond given is .15,000. January 10, 1835, Moses Coberly also bound his eight- year old daughter, Margaret, to William Clin- gan for a period of nine years and ten months. Clingan was to give the young lady "one year's schooling ; furnish her a good bed and board- ing, and at the end of the time supply her with one Bible, one bed and bedding of a good qual- ity, and also a new spinning wheel and a new suit of clothes of good quality." The bond in this case was only fixed at $1,000. During the same month, Coberly bound a third child, Elijah, to John Noise. This old gentlemen, who got rid of three children in about thirty days, lived in the northern part of the township on the Loyer farm. The notes in his case are defect- ive. It would have been a pleasure for an un- biased historian to pen the statement that " this old fellow, having given into the care of others all his children, yielded up the ghost and was buried with his fathers." Although it is a satisfaction to learn that the old German after- ward moved West, yet it is surprising that the records do not show how this "old codger" was warned to leave the township under the supposition that he might at some future time be in danger of becoming a charge upon the communitj'. The language of these contracts is not always the same, for occasionally prom- ises were made in them which could not be so easily fulfilled. In 1843, the Trustees bound Lucy Wilhelmgriner, an orphan, to Frederick and Elizabeth Williams for a term of five years and four months. This young lady was to be taught the " art, mystery and occupation of common labor " and they were to train her in " habits of obedience, industry and morality." During her term of service, she was to be al- lowed " meat, drink and wearing apparel both for summer and winter," and at the end of time she was to receive " two suits of common wear- ing apparel and a new Bible." Most of these young folks who were " bound out " did not suffer by changing their homes if they faith- fully performed the new duties devolving upon them ; frequently the bond between the child and the family was as tender as that of parent and child. This old custom, however, is not American, and has fallen into disuse, but the examples given above will show that it was practiced in Liberty Township at one time. The first school taught in the township was in a vacant cabin on the farm of Daniel Mc- Michael during the winter of 1821-22. The teacher was John McClure, afterward the first surveyor of Crawford County. The attendance was not large, a few families united in support- ing the school, and the only person now living in Crawford County who was a pupil of McClure that winter is Martin Bacon, Esq., of Whetstone Township. Dr. Squires makes the following D \ ' ^ '^ 570 HISTOEY OF CRAWTORD COUNTY. statements in regard to the early schools of Liberty : " Educational matters interested the settlers at an early day, but, not having the advantages of our present school law, every- thing devolved upon the individual. Neigh- borhoods would join together and build a log sehoolhouse — chink and daub it, build a stick and mud chimney, oil some paper to make it translucent and paste it over a hole in the wall for a window, and thus secure light enough for a beginning. But soon glass could be obtained, and low, long windows put in by cutting out a log from the cabin and inserting a sash with glass to fill the aperture. Such a sehoolhouse, the first one in this township, was built on the northeast corner of John Maxfield's land, north of the road, during the fall of 1823. Nehe- miah Squire made the window sash for it out of a linn-wood puncheon, that had constituted part of the chamber floor of an aristocratic log cabin the previous winter.'' This log building was known as the Maxfield Sehoolhouse, and the land upon which it was- located is now the property of Dexter Bacon. The exact site was near the big tree north of the road, about half way between Bacon's residence and the brow of the hill. Rev. WOliam Blowers taught the first school here in the winter of 1823-24. Cary Tilbury taught one or two winters at an early day, and also Samuel Magers and a Mr. Orton. During the fall of 1827, another log sehoolhouse was built just southeast of the present site occupied by the Crall United Brethren Church. Sallie Smith taught the first school here, and the building was known as the Smith Sehoolhouse. J. G. Stough says : "This building was erected by six families, myself, Thos. Smith, Benjamin Manwell, Thos. Scott, Samuel Smalley and Prez Hillard. At this time no sehoolhouse had been erected in the northern part of the township." The dis- tricts were not laid out as at the present time, but there might have been a sehoolhouse in the Poster- Andrews neighborhood, near Bueyrus. When the inhabitants of other settlements in Liberty became numerous enough to support schools, the same kind of rough, round-log houses were erected. Sometimes a vacant cabin was used for school purposes, but, when a special building had to be constructed, the entire neighborhood would turn out and devote a day to the interests of education by building their log sehoolhouse. The tuition was raised by a subscription from each family interested, or so much each month or term would be charged by the teacher for every scholar. After the lapse of half a century, it is difficult to ob- tain the Bxact dates at which schools were established, or these first buildings erected in the various neighborhoods. The Maxfield and Smith Sehoolhouses were both in what is now the Second District, and the Blowers Church, in the same territory, was used for school purposes many years. In the Foster- Andrews neighbor- hood, now the First District, a special building was erected as early as 1830. Robert Andrews, who came with his father, Samuel, September 15, 1832, says : " There was a log sehoolhouse stand- ing when we came, which had been there two or three years." In the Third District, the " Sim- mons " Sehoolhouse was buUt before 1833 ; the Bell Sehoolhouse, in what is now the Fourth Dis- trict, several years previous ; and schools were taught there possibly as early as 1827, for there were many settlers in the neighborhood at that time. The lands of the Fifth or Center District were not entered until other neighborhoods had many settlers. In 1825, only 240 acres of this territory had been purchased from the Govern- ment. The township records state that the election held April 7, 1834, was at the Center Sehoolhouse, and April 7, 1845, at the Conley Sehoolhouse. The poUs were generally kept at private houses when the Center District was without a sehoolhouse, and the first one, erected about 1833, was destroyed by fire after standing two winters. The children of the settlers were then sent to the Smith District for several years ^Pv Ajf lii^ HISTOEY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 571 until their second building was erected. In what is now the Sixth District, a schoolhouse was erected about 1838. Thomas Williams, of the Seventh District, says : " Frederick Will- iams, Asa Cobb and other early settlers of northwestern Liberty, the Smiths, of Holmes Township, and Samuel Chatfield, of Chatfield Township, united in putting up a round-log schoolhouse, with a chimney built of sticks, during the fall of 1830. This building was erected near the former site of the German Methodist Church, which was destroyed by fire during the war. At this time, no other school- house had been built in the northwestern part of Liberty, or the northeastern part of Holmes ; neither at the Center District, or the district north of Liberty Center. The only one between us and the town was at the Quaker Church Set- tlement, in Holmes Township." The Kroft Schoolhouse, in the Eighth District, was erected before the year 1832. The settlers in the Ninth District were not numerous, and possibly the last to organize. In the Tenth or Sulphur Springs special district, a log building was erected for school purposes in 1837, on land donated by John Slifer. When these districts became better organized, and the country more improved, these rough log schoolhouses gave place to finer frame buildings, and these in turn are now being superseded by brick structures. The first of these more durable edifices was con- structed for the Seventh or Keplinger District in 1876, at a cost of $1,200. The next year, the Fifth or Center District expended over $1,000 on a similar structure. Both of these were the work of R. H. Bender. In 1878, the Second District erected a brick house, which cost over $1,200. This was the sixth building erected for school purposes, in what is now the Second District, since the Maxfield Schoolhouse was put up by those early pioneers in the fall of 1823. Ministers of the Gospel closely followed up the new settlements with that religious instruc- tion which had much influence in molding the character of the early settlers and their de- scendants. The Methodists, as a church, were the first to occupy the field in Crawford County, and missionaries of this denomination were the first who preached in Liberty Township. Dur- ing the year 1821, the pioneer missionaries of Delaware Circuit had pressed into the new country as far north as what is now Bucyrus, and were filling regular monthly appointments. When John 0. Blowers arrived with his family, in the spring of 1822, he immediately sought out those who could be induced to enlist in religious enterprises. Blowers, having learned that religious services were being held at Bucyrus, visited the place with his wife, at the time appointed, but for some reason the minis- ter failed to appear. The next month the ap- pointment was fulfilled, and Blowers prevailed upon the missionary to appoint services at his cabin on the next trip, and, when he again ap- peared. Blowers presented him a class of five, composed of himself and wife, William Cooper and wife, of Whetstone Township, and a German named Schultz. This was the first Methodist Episcopal class organized in Liberty Township, and it was the nucleus of the first M. E. Chvirch of Liberty. This minister, who first preached at Blowers' cabin, was a man named Bacon. (This statement is made on the authority of John G,. Stough, Rufus L. Blowers and Dr. J. B. Squires.) Bacon was the right man for such a mission. He was social, genial and big-hearted. He carried his pockets full of lettuce seed for the women, and fishing-tackle for the boys. Regular monthly appointments were kept up during the summer of 1822, and the next win- ter, preaching being held on Sunday at Bucyrus, and on Monday at the cabin of Blowers. When this pioneer settled in the township, he brought with him a very fine library of religious works, including most of the standard publications of the M. E. Church of that day. He studied these volumes of religious instruction, and be- came very well read in theology. These books s ^» ^ 572 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. were loaned throughout the neighborhood to other pioneer settlers, many of whom had very little reading matter, and they were the means of accomplishing much good, as the works laid the foundation of thorough religious instruc- tion in the mind of many pioneer settlers who were anxious to obtain this knowledge. In the fall of 1822, Kev. James Monroe was sent to this section of the country bj' the M. E. Con- ference, and in the spring of 1823, John 0. Blowers and his brother William were licensed to preach the Gospel. They were the first licentiates of the M. E. Church in Crawford County. In the fall of 1823, the M. E. Confer- ence marked out a district for itinerant preach- ers of their denomination to travel over, and give the new settlements regular circuit preaching. It is generally believed by those who should know, that Rev. James Monroe and Rev. William Blowers were the first preachers to travel this circuit, but Capt. S. 8. Blowers states that his uncle William told him in 1868, that Rev. James St. Clair rode the first circuit with him. Among the early Methodist ministers who preached to the pioneers of Lib- erty, were Rev. James Gilruth in 1825, Rev. Abner Goff in 1826, Rev. Russell Bigelow in 1829, and Revs. Eenneland, Rennels and S. P. Shaw. When the Maxfield Schoolhouse, the first erected in the township, was built in the fall of 1823, religious services were held there, and this building was occupied until the Blowers Church and schoolhouse were built about 1830. The M. E. Church of Liberty Township was for many years in a more flour- ishing condition than at the present time. In 1840, over one hundred persons were subject to the discipline of this religious denomination, who were divided into two large classes, one at Sulphur Springs and one in the Blowers neigh- borhood, and also one small class in the McDon- ald neighborhood, in the northwestern part of the township. TheM. E. Church edifice at Sulphur Springs was erected in 1848, and dedicated in August of that year. Robert Johnston was the carpenter who constructed it. When the Sulphur Springs congregation was first organ- ized, there were over eighty members connected with the Blowers class. Many of these re- moved to the great West, and most of the bal- ance passed away one by one, until finally the Sulphur Springs class became the stronger of the two and the minister would hold services at ^that place, but for many years services were held at the Blowers Church in the afternoon. The Blowers brothers, who were the acknowl- edged leaders in the early religious movements of Liberty, lie side by side in the Blowers graveyard. John 0. died in 1844, but Will- iam lived many years afterward, doing good service for the M. E. Church, of which denom- ination he was an active minister for nearly forty years. As the years passed by, this faith- ful preacher of God's truth became old ; when his locks were silvered, the active generation which controlled the churches demanded younger men with modern ideas, and the man who, in 1823, traveled the first regular M. B. Circuit of this section was retired from active service in the church. Feeling that there was still some work for him to do, he, in the darkest hour of the rebellion— the fall of 1862— enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Fifty- first New York Infantry, and it is thrilling to relate that this old pioneer hero, at the advanced age of sixty-six, did active duty for his country in the camp and field near Washington City. But they prevailed upon him to take another position, and he was detailed for hospital duty at Baltimore, where he was placed in charge of the Seventh Ward in Jarvis Hospital. A min- ister at sixty-six enlisting in the army to defend his country — such was the character of those early pioneer heroes of Liberty Township. William Blowers died January 28, 1868. A few months after the religious services held by the Methodist Episcopal circuit riders had been removed from Blowers' cabin to the Max- ;^ J^ ik HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 573 field Schoolhouse, the settlers organized in this building the first Sunday-school of Liberty. This was started in the spring of 1824, and was also the first Sunday-school established in Crawford County. John 0. Blowers was the leading man of this school, and possibly the first Superintendent, but Thomas Scott, Jonas Scott, Samuel Smalley, Sr., and others also filled the same position during the early years of the school, the sessions of which were held at the Maxfield Schoolhouse until the Blowers Metho- dist Episcopal Church was built, in 1830. Al- though most of the active workers of the Sun- day-school were connected with this church, j'et it continued as a union school, supported bj' members of other denominations until the United Brethren Church started one in con- nection with their religious work. The school at the Blowers Church was then discontinued, but many of the workers united with the new school, and the United Brethren Church reaped the harvest sown by the labors of those early settlers, who for many years continued the first Sunday-school of Crawford County. The second denomination to send missionaries into Liberty were the United Brethren in Christ. Ministers of this sect visited the pio- neer settlements at a very early da}', and, by the authority of some, preached in Liberty about 1827. John Stough says that previous to 1830, Revs. Smith and Erit conducted religious serv- ices at the cabins of John Shong and Lawrence Simmons, and that the congregation was organ- ized in the winter of 1830, by Rev. John Cly- mer, grandfather of John R. Clymer, Esq., of Bucyrus. Among the first members were John Shong and wife ; Lawrence Simmons and wife ; Betsy Simmons, his sister ; Anselm Ful- mer and wife, also a sister of Simmons ; Abra- ham Grogg and wife, Anna Grogg. Services were held for many years in the old Simmons Schoolhouse. Their present church building, commonly known as the Crall Church, was erected in the fall of 1848, by Charles Perse and Thomas Smith, carpenters. This edifice was enlarged in 1854, repaired about 1870, and is at the present time one of the finest country churches in the county. The first Trustees were Simon Crall, Henry Crall and Abraham Grogg. Many ministers have been regular Pastors of this charge, among whom are Revs. Benjamin Moore, in 1836, Alexander Biddle, Francis Clymer, Jacob Newman, Jacob Berger, G. Spracklin, M. Bulger, Gideon Hoover, C. L. Barlow, — Hubbard, I. T. Kiggins, William Neville, John V. Potts, D. F. Cender, Levi Moore, S. H. Randebaugh and M. Long. About 100 persons are at the present time subject to the discipline of the church, and Rev. 0. H. Ramsey has charge of the work. German ministers of the Evangelical Luther- an Church were the next to occupy the field and establish a church in Liberty. Previous to the year 1830, ministers of this denomination held religious services at the log cabins of sev- eral early settlers — the first sermon being preached by Rev. David Shue, at the home of . John Stough. The congregation was regularly organized by Rev. John Stough, about the year 1830. At this date, Lutheran services were ' being held regularly at both Bucyrus and Ben- ton by Rev. D. Shue. Rev. John Stough, the man who organized the church in Liberty, was the first Lutheran minister who crossed the Alleghany Mountains. He was born in York County, Penn., January 25, 1762, and about the year 1828, purchased eighty acres just west of the quarter-section owned by his son. He was then nearly seventy years of age, had labored forty years as a minister, and desired to retire from active service, but the German settlers who were moving into the township prevailed upon him to conduct religious services in the German language, and he was frequently per- suaded to fill appointments when he should have remained at home. After living in the town- ship upward of fifteen years, he died July 25, 1845, aged eighty-three years, and in the fifty- -i-. !> (^ 574 HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUXTY. sixth year of his ministry. Rev. Stough held services frequently at the old Bell Schoolhouse and at the cabins of John G-eorge Klink, John Kroft, Jacob Mentzer, George Mollenkopf and others. About the year 1836, members of the Reformed and Lutheran congi-egations united in building a hewn-log church, which stood near the present site of the Reformed Church, and was occupied by both sects for many years. In 1852, the German Lutherans purchased a a lot about one and one-half miles east of this Union Church, and erected their present church edifice, which was the work of a carpenter called Gen. Taylor. Some seventy families are at the present time, connected with this con- gregation, which is in a flourishing condition under the charge of Rev. Charles Klessler. The Lutheran Church (English) of Annapo- lis was organized about the year 1833, by Rev. F. J. Ruth, who was the first Pastor, and, at the same time, Pastor of the church at Bucy- rus. Rev. J. Crouse preached to this congre- gation many times during the early history of the church. The ordinance of baptism was administered the first time on August 17, 1833, at which time the following persons were baptized : Lawrence Simmons, an adult ; Eliza- beth, daughter of Michael and Sarah Peter- man, and Jacob, son of Benjamin and Louisa Sinn. Services were held at private cabins until the schoolhouse was built in the village of Annapolis. The congregation then occu- pied this schoolhouse until their first church was erected, in 1848. This building, the work of Gen. Taylor, mentioned above, was dedicat- ed in June, 1 848, and Rev. Ruth was still Pas- tor of the charge. This denomination has the finest church in the township — a brick edifice, built in 1 876, at a cost of nearly $5,000. Over one hundred persons are at the present time members of the congregation, which is under the charge of Rev. W. H. Dolbeer. When the Lutherans of Liberty erected their first hewn-log meeting-house, about the year 1836, thej- were assisted by a few citizens who believed the doctrines taugh^ by the Reformed Church. A covenant was made between these two sects which provided that this building should be always open for the religious serv- ices of either denomination. Possibly the first ministers of the Reformed Church who preached in the township were Revs. Frederick Gottleib Maschop and J. Miller, who were Pas- tors of the congregation at Bucyrus from the year 1835 to about 1845. The organization of a congregation in Libertj' was perfected under Rev. Wendel Wasnich, about the year 1848. Rev. Abraham Keller succeeded Wasnich, and continued as Pastor until he died of cholera, in in the fall of 1852. After several months^ Rev. Max Stern was placed in charge of the Reformed Churches of Crawford County, and, about the same time, their present church edi- fice was erected. Rev. Stern was succeeded by Rev. Eli Keller in 1856, who continued until the fall of 1861. Since Rev. Keller left, several Pastors have been employed who were not connected with the Bucjtus congregation, and, at the present time, the church consists of some sevent}' members, under the pastorate of Rev. W. Gilpin. The German Methodist congregation, in the northwestern part of Liberty Township, was organized previous to 1850, by ministers con- nected with the church at Bucyrus. Services for several years were generallj' held in the little red schoolhouse erected some years pre- vious on the Van Duzzen farm. About the year 1854, their first church edifice was erected on land donated by a Mr. Plummer. During the war, while the church was under the charge of Rev. Phillip B. Weber, this building was almost completely destroyed in October, 1862, by a mob, who were opposed to the draft. The and altar were torn down and windows benches smashed because the preacher advised the peo- ple from his pulpit the previous Sabbath to obey the laws, and drafted men to peaceably r^ ^iL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 575 report themselves to the United States Com- missioner. Notwithstanding these outrages, the Pastor continued his work during the next winter, and the drunken roughs in the neigh- borhood, who were guilty of the crime, could not force him to discontinue preaching until, on the night of May 20, 1863, they set fire to the building and it was totally destroyed. After the lapse of over twelve months, another church edifice was erected one-half mile south of the old site. The congregation now num- bers about ninety persons, and Rev. John Haas is Pastor. The Zion Church edifice, commonly known as the Conley Church, near the center of Lib- erty Township, was built about the year 1856. It is a union church, and owned jointly by the Evangelical Association and the Church of Grod, or Winebrennarians. Rev. William Adams, of Plymouth, was the first minister of the lat- ter denomination who preached in the town- ship, and their services were held several years previous to the year their church was erected. The first society of the Evangelical Association was organized about the year 1846, by Rev. D. Swartz, officiating minister. David Pfleiderer was the first Class-leader. In 1852, Revs. G-. Haley and B. Keler perfected the organization of this congregation, and, in a few years, Zion Church was built. In the year 1879, the United Brethren Church, through the labors of Rev. Moses Spahr, organized a small congrega- tion and erected a neat chapel, near the center of School District No. 6. About the year 1842, a small Baptist Conference was organ- ized at Sulphur Springs, which held services irregularly for several years. In the early days of the township many pio- neer settlers could not be induced to lead a religious life, and it was difficult to obtain from many a promise to lead even a moral one. In order to accomplish as much good as possible, John 0. Blowers inaugurated at the Maxfield Schoolhouse a society called the "Moral Society." The members of this association pledged themselves to abstain from certain practices, and the society was greatly instru- mental in checking the spoliation of the timber on the Government lands, which crime had been carried on to a great extent in the neigh- borhood. The first efibrts in the interest of temperance reform were made about the year 1835. The movement was aided and encour- aged by John 0. Blowers, John G. Stough, William McCurdj' and others. The Parcher Distillery had just been started in Whetstone Township, and efforts were made to persuade Parcher to quit the business. This establish- ment did not run very long, but it is doubtful whether it stopped on account of the great work of the movement. Temperance meetings were held in the Blowers Church, and a society formed composed of citizens, from both AVhet- stone and Liberty Township. Drunkenness and fighting were much more common and fre- quent in those days than at the present time. Log-cabin "raisings " were held every few days, and at these all the men and boj'S of the neigh- borhood would assemble. An abundance of liquor was generally provided by the host, and by the time they had raised all the logs, many men and boys were under the influence of liquor. Numerous fights would then follow. If no other reason could be found for a quarrel, they fought to see " which was the best man," and the fame of the victors of these drunken brawls would extend for many miles to other settlements. These heroes, so-called, would visit the*" raisings" for miles, accompanied by their friends in order to have a trial of strength with the general victor of each respective neighborhood. These drunken strifes were not only settled at "raisings," but on all great days — when the settlers turned out to a Fourth of July celebration or general muster. When the influence of the temperance movement com- menced to affect the best class in the township, many settlers refused to provide liquor at rais- ^ IV fe. 576 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. ings, and it was also banished from the harvest fields and tables. Some substituted, on these occasions, a beverage called " metheglin," made of honey and water, boiled and fermented, and often enriched with spices. When one listens to stories told by those early pioneers, he is forced to believe that the Temperance move- ment has improved the farmers, if it has failed to stop the traflSc in the cities, towns and vil- lages of the nation. The anti-slavery senti- ment of Liberty was never organized into a society, but there were a few Abolitionists even at an early day. A very large portion of the wealth obtained by the inhabitants of Libert}-, since 1820, has been the direct result of the many bountiful crops gathered from the soil. A few citizens have engaged in other enterprises. Hoping to find an easier and quicker way to financial prosperity. Mr. McMichael, the first settler, erected a grist-mill a few months after he arrived, but the proprietor soon found that, owing to the scarcity of the motive-power, water, his dreams would not be realized, and he rented the establishment, which, during the next score of years, passed into the hands of "many others who, each in turn, hoped to realize from the investment what his predecessor did not. This old mill, a great accommodation to many pioneer settlers, was finally destroyed after many years' valuable service. During the summer of 1824, Calvin and Nehemiah Squier, built a saw-mill on the Sandusky River for John 0. Blowers, at the northwest corner of his farm. After running this nriU a few months, he sold it to Eli Odell, of Whetstone Township, and in 1825, Odell took in Asa Wetherby as partner. In a short time, Mr. Wetherby purchased the mill, and, after con- tinuing the business until 1829, sold out to a man named Ball, who, in a few years, trans- ferred the establishment to George Fleck. Many of these early proprietors persisted in running the mill on Sunday, notwithstanding the admonitions of John 0. Blowers, who finally, in 1834, re-purchased the concern, in order to stop Sunday milling. He sold it to his brother-in-law, Nehemiah Squier. Previous to 1830, a grist-mill was added to the establish- ment. Mr. Squier conducted the business many years, and then, during the next two decades, many other men were proprietors. Finally, in 1867, J. B. Squier and W. S. Bacon, the own- ers, having erected a new steam mill with im- proved machinery at Sulphur Springs, removed the business from the banks of the Sandusky to their new building. Mr. Bacon sold out to his partner in 1874, and the business at the present time is being conducted by the Doctor's sons, Edgar A. and Oscar W. Squier. Thus, three generations have been interested in this, the only mill of Liberty Township. A little distillery was started by a man named Wood, about the year 1826, upon land belonging to Edward Hartford. The distillery was just east of the Blowers Mill. Wood, the proprietor, got into trouble, left the township, and the business was discontinued. A tannery was started by David Hawk and Jacob L. Grur- well, previous to the year 1830, near tne present site of the Union Church, northeast of Annapo- lis. In those days bark was plenty, and any person having sufficient capital to prepare vats could engage in the tanning buisness. David Kinter ran one a short distance west of Annap. olis, previous to the year 1840, but he did not have much business. Several years after, Blowers erected the first saw-mill in the Town- ship ; other men erected mills. The tax dupli- cate of 1832, proves the following parties were engaged in the business during that year : Cronebaugh & Shafner, George Fleck, Jr., and John Slagle. By 1836, six other saw-mUls, owned by Jas. Decker, Frederick Decker, Aaron Decker, John H. Fry, John Kroft and Andrew Wingert had been erected. Three of these were owned by the Decker family, and Aaron had a grist-mill in connection with his establishment. -^ ®~ ;^ ■' ~ H>-<- * '■■^^O,^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 577 The village of Annapolis, or Sulphur Springs Post Office, was originally laid out, in the year 1833, by John Slifer, formerly of Maryland, who named the town to honor the capital of his native State, but in the early days many people in the neighborhood called it Slifertown, as a nick- name. The original town plat contained twenty acres, comprising the " southern portion of the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 14." This was part of the 160 acres which Slifer purchased from the Government, previous to the year 1825. In the year 1841, he sold his farm to Judge R. W. Musgrave. Through bad management he was soon very much reduced in circumstances, and in a fit of despondency committed suicide, during the summer of 1842, by shooting himself When he was buried his body was disinterred by the doctors. Slifer, during his life, held several minor township offices and was Justice of the Peace from 1835 to 1841. He was a good scholar, a fine, but exceedingly careless, pen- man. The following anecdote is related of him : On one occasion, he sent up to the Court of Common Pleas a transcript from his docket, that was so illegible that Judge Ozias Bowen, who then presided, was unable to read it. Whereupon the Judge, in a tone of mingled dignity and austerity, exclaimed, " The people must be fools to elect such ignorant men as Justices of the Peace." Hon. Josiah Scott, then a practitioner at the Crawford County' bar, quietly remarked to Judge Bowen, " How would it be. Judge, if this ignorant Justice knew more and could write a better hand than any of us?" Whereupon Slifer, who was in the court room at the time, came forward and called upon Zalmon Rowse, Clerk of the Court for a pen and sheet of paper, which he promptly paid for on the spot. Then he copied the transcript in a bold, beautiful round hand, almost equaling the celebrated signature of John Hancock to the Declaration of Independ- ence, and handed it to the Court, who was thunderstruck with astonishment. "Why,'' exclaimed the Judge, " didn't you write it that way before ? " " Because," answered Slifer, with quiet dignity, " Because, sir, I supposed I was writing it for the perusal of men and not of About forty lots were formed from the real estate comprised in the original village plat. These were listed on the tax-duplicate of 1834 at 1125, and at $550 in 1835. During the first year, houses were erected by James L. Grurwell, John Bolinger, Jacob Peterman, Peter Stuckman, Nicholas Bolinger [and Ben- jamin Sinn. In the fall of 1834, ex-Judge Enoch B. Merriman opened a stock of dry goods in the village, and Daniel Young, his clerk, sold the first pound of coflfee. In about two years, Merriman transferred the store to his nephew, G. N. Davis, who continued the business about two years, when Merriman again took possession of what was left, and in a few months transferred them to Pomeroy A. Blanch- ard. another nephew. Blanchard remained in Sulphur Springs several years. In the fall of 1836 or early in 1837, Cornelius and James F. Dorland started another store in the village. Cornelius soon sold out to his brother, who con- tinued the business some months afterward. For a few months in 1840 and during the year 1841, the place was without a store until ex-Judge R. W. Musgrave established one, which he sold to Horace Rowse, of Bucyrus, in 1844. The latter was a merchant of Annapolis until autumn of 1851 ; his brother Stephen was a partner mpst of the time. Musgrave also started an ashery, and shortly afterward another store, which he transferred to his brother-in-law, Thomas Gil- lespie. About the time Annapolis was laid out, Frederick Beard kept a blacksmith-shop a short distance west of the place. Winebar, another blacksmith, was a character of the village for many years. A linseed oil mill was started by James Gurwell and Jacob Peterman about 1839, who transferred it to William Souder, ^^ a If^ ^4> 578 HISTORY OF CRAWFOKD COUNTY. and he conducted the business many years. A few months after this enterprise was established, an attempt was made to run a little distillery on the same lot, but this was a failure. A small pottery establishment was conducted at the same time by the same parties with no bet- ter success. John Birk, a hatter, was in busi- ness as early as 1838, and John L. Dawson started a cabinet-shop in 1837. William Dicks was a shoemaker, and his brother, James Dicks, a harness-maker, about 184], James McKee built a saw-mill about 1839, and David Hawk started a tannery north of the site now occupied by Zarbe's Hotel. John Grogg put up a log house and kept the first tavern about 1836, and shortly afterward Cornelius Dorland and Robert McKee erected a hotel on the lot now occupied by Fry's store. Dr. Turley put up a fine building for the same purpose on the lot now occupied by the Sexauer Brothers' carriage establishment. This building was destroyed by fire in 1847. Dr. Daniel L. Kelly was the first physician to locate in the place. It is very doubtful if he knew much about medicine, as he started a saloon and neglected what little practice he might have obtained. Dr. George L. Zeigler moved to the village in 1842, and Dr. J. B. Squier in 1848. Dr. Turley also prac- ticed medicine at an early daj^. The physi- cians at the present time are Dr. J. B. Squier, Dr. H. S. Bevington and Dr. M. M. Carrothers. George Heiby, who removed to Liberty in 1836, has been a citizen of the village for many years, and served as Assessor of Liberty Township twenty-four terms. Although the place was quite a business center, it had no post office until about 1843. It is difficult to obtain the exact order of those who served as Postmaster from that date until 1860. In a small village, every one is his own clerk, and so long as he secures his mail matter from the stock on hand, it does not matter to him who pockets the meager stipend paid by the Government. G. W. Teel, however, is authority for the following order : Horace Kowse, Thomas Gillespie, R. W. Musgrave, Dr. George L. Zeigler, George Heiby, J. N. Biddle, who was appointed in 1861 and served until his successor, Al Fry, the present incumbent, took the office in 1868. Jonas Harmon was Dr. Zeigler's Deputy, and for several years the office was kept in Har- mon's gun5|Shop. Many different firms have been engaged in business at Annapolis during the past forty years. The following is a list of the principal establishments at the present time : Sexauer Brothers, carriage-factory ; J. B. Squier & Sons, steam flouring-mill ; George Hummiston, steam saw-mill ; Klopfenstein & Co., dry ffoods and general store ; Scott & Keller, dry goods and general store ; J. H. Fry, Jr., hardware ; Dr. H. S. Bevington, drugs ; Charles Heibert- hausen, boots and shoes ; F. Obendroth, boots and shoes ; G. Seits, magon-maker ; A. Young, undertaker and cabinet-maker ; William Haffner, saddler ; John Zarbe, hotel and grocery ; Capt. S. S. Smalley, shoemaker ; Jonas Harmon, gun- smith. The most important manufacturing interest in Liberty Township is the carriage establishment of the Sexauer Brothers, located at Sulphur Springs. These young men were born in Bucy- rus, and removed to Annapolis manj' years since, where their step-father, Mr. Kinninger, followed his trade as a wagon-maker. In 1862, the Sex- auers started their present establishment. The character of their work was sufficient to guar- antee a ready sale, and they soon established a reputation which extended not only throughout Crawford but into neighboring counties. These young men, Louis, William, Frederick and Lewis, succeeded in a very short time in having a larger trade in farm wagons than any other firm in the county. Many years since, thej- commenced manufacturing carriages, buggies and light spring wagons. The reputation obtained by building first-class heavj' farm wagons has not suffered by the many light, strong, neat and rv* A HISTORY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. 579 stylish vehicles which they have made and sold since commencing this finer branch of manu- facturing. Their work exhibited at county fairs has frequently obtained premiums, and carried off the first prizes against strong competition. The first schoolhouse in the village was erected in 1837, on land donated by John Slifer. Pre- vious to the construction of this building, the children attended the schools taught at the Bell Schoolhouse, situated at that time about one- half mile south of Annapolis. For some years, the citizens of the village and neighboring terri- tory had many discussions in regard to the lo- cation of their school building, and, in thirty- five years, several different special districts were formed ; the lines of those adjacent being changed frequently, in order to satisfy, if pos- sible, all persons interested. Finally, on Octo- ber 2, 1872, the citizens assembled, and, by a vote of fifty to two, created the present special district, embracing " all the fractional Section 13, Section 14, the northeast quarter of Section 22, and the east-half of the east quarter of Section 15 in Liberty Township." The voters then elected the following Directors : C. W. Perse for one year, William Sexauer for two years and Dr. H. S. Bevington for three years. December 14, 1872, it was decided, by a unani- mous vote of the citizens, to levy a tax of $3,000 for the purpose of building and furnishing a new schoolhouse, which was erected in 1873 by James H. Kemmis, who received $3,316 for his services. The building was furnished and pro- vided with a bell, at an additional cost of some $700, so that the citizens have expended about $4,000 for educational purposes, and have pro- vided for their children an edifice which is an ornament to their little village. It is in very striking contrast to the first building erected for school purposes in the township. The first enumeration taken in the new district showed 53 boys and 69 girls; total, 122. Robert McKee and Jennie Birch taught the first schools in the new building during the winter of 1873-74. The only secret society in the village, at the present time, is a lodge of the Knights of Honor, which is composed of many prominent citizens residing in the town and on neighboring farms. This lodge was organized January 2, 1878, with the following thirteen charter members : Dic- tator, H. S. Bevington ; Assistant Dictator, Charles Heiberthausen ; A^ice Dictator, C. F. Sexauer ; Reporter, J. H. Wert ; Financial Re- porter, W. K. Evans ; Past Dictator, A. Fry ; Chaplain, J. B. Wert ; Sentinel, Henry Heibert- hausen ; Guardian, J. H. Fry ; Treasurer, Will- iam Sexauer ; Guide, Thomas Laux, John Guiss, Jr., and William Heffner. The last two and William Sexauer were the first Trustees. CHAPTER XX. HOLMES TOWNSHIP— ORIGINAL BOUNDARY— PIONEER SETTLEMENTS— EARLY INDUSTRIES- FEDERATE X ROADS— UNDERGROUND RAILROAD— CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS ^T^HE generations of to-day can scarcely r.eal- -L ize the hardships passed through by their parents and grandparents more than half a cen- tury ago. Surrounded as they are with the loving endearments of home, and with all the pleasures that riches can bestow, they are apt to forget at what a cost their enjoyments were -CON- purchased by their ancestors, who cleared up the forests, and, from primeval wildness, cre- ated the bright habitations of civilization. The dear old father and mother, who are stand- ing, as it were, on the brink of the grave, are the only ones who love to live over the wild ex- periences of pioneer life. To them the remem- ti^ a ■g ^ ^ ^]^ 580 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. branees are sweet ; and they love to tell of the privation and adventure through which they passed while the red man was yet an inhabit- ant of the woods, and animals of ferocity roamed unmolested and unscared. They have no need to desire a draught of the waters of Lethe's stream to drown in forgetfulness the miseries of a wrecked and ruined life. No remorse can pierce their hearts " like a tooth of fire," with sad recollections of kind acts omit- ted or left wholly undone. Though their lives have been checkered with sunshine and shade, and though their lot has been humble and ob- scure, j'et they have left memorials, more last- ing than monumental marble, in the beautiful homes reared by their endeavors. It is difficult to realize that the township of Holmes was once, and but a short time ago, the unmolested home of wild animals and wild In- dians, and that its pleasant slopes were once the sporting grounds of the Mound Builders, who followed their peculiar occupations in un- known centuries before either white or red man became their successors. These strange people have left a few evidences of their presence in the form of nearly obliterated earthworks along the course of Broken Sword Creek, though to the passer-by nothing would appear to lead him to suspect that the mysterious race, whose origin and fate are so perplexing to the archae- ologist and chronologist, once lighted his camp- fires on the banks of the winding stream, or, with war implements of stone or copper, wan- dered the forest paths in pursuit of game. They have passed away, with almost all the evidences of their presence, and in their place the Indian has reigned for his allotted time, and has been succeeded by the white race, whose steady advancements by superior skill and intelligence, have driven back the aborig- ines, until but a remnant remains, scattered throughout the country, to tell of the once happy and warlike race of native Americans. WUl the white race also have its day, and pass from the stage of action, giving place to some more highly developed order of humanity ? Nothing but time can tell the decrees of fate, or solve the problem of human destiny. The early records of Holmes, like those in the other townships in Crawford County, have been lost or destroyed, and there is but little left to guide the historical investigator to the numerous items of interest of this division of the county, save the traditions handed down by the generations of the past to those of the present. The memories of the old settlers are fiUed to overflowing with neighboring traditions, and, though in matters of detail they cannot always be trusted, yet in general their accuracy may be depended upon. None of the land in Holmes could be purchased by the settlers until after 1820, and the western part of the township was owned by the Wyandot Indians prior to 1836, at which date a strip of land on the east- ern side of the reservation was purchased of the Indians by the Grovernment, and was sold at public auction at the date last mentioned. That portion of the Wyandot sale that after- ward became a part of Holmes Township, was something more than two sections wide, and, on account of the numerous and inexhaustible beds of excellent limestone, has proved of greater value to the citizens than any other portion of the township. The stone has been taken out in large quantities by Nicholas Pool, Adam G-earhart and Christian Reiff', and much of it has been sold to the citizens for the foun- dations of their houses and barns, and the walls of their wells, at the rate of from $1 to $2 per load. A number of years ago, the town of Bucyrus purchased one of the best quarries on Broken Sword Creek, consisting of two acres, underlaid with deep, large beds of fine stone ; but this quarry has not been worked to any extent worth mentioning. Lime has been burned since 1838 or 1840, sufficient in amount to supply the large demand. The township, one of the most attractive and D "V 9 ^ HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 581 wealthy in the county, received its name from Deputy Surveyor Greneral Samuel Holmes, who was authorized to make a re-survey of its terri- tory in 1836. It lies wholly on the northern slope of the Ohio water-shed, and its entire sur- face is drained by tributaries of Sandusk)"^ Eiver. The principal stream is Broken Sword Creek, which enters the township, coming from the east and flowing across Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 8, 7, 18 and 19, southwestwardly into Todd Township. It has a small valley fifteen or twenty rods wide, which in some places ap- proaches one side of the stream, thus forming a series of low bluffs, that in early times were covered with a heavy forest of poplar. This timber has been highly prized because of its lightness and durability, and has been exten- sively used in the construction of houses and barns. Brandywine Creek, the largest branch of Broken Sword in Holmes, flows from Liberty Township across Sections 12, 11, 10 and 9, uniting on the latter section with the larger stream. A small branch of the Sandusky Kiver, called Grass Kun, flows angling across the lower two tiers of sections in a southwest- em direction. These streams, with a few small branches, afford ampl§ drainage to the township. While the land was yet covered with heavy woods, the southeastern third, which is almost as level as a floor, was wet and muddy the whole year. Having but little or no slope, and being thickly covered with fallen logs, which lay strewn in promiscuous confusion, the flat land retained the water, and even in sum- "mer time, as related by Joseph Lones, the trip to Bucyrus could not be made without walking ankle deep in water and mud a large part of the way. Sometimes the fallen trees lay so thickly upon the ground, that, by skipping from one to another, miles could be traveled without once having |to step into the water. The northern and western parts of the town- ship are abundantly rolling, and in some places the hills are quite long and steep. The surface soil has a large proportion of clay, especially along the banks of Broken Sword Creek, though farther away from the stream ; on the flat land in the southeastern part, it contains much de- caying vegetable matter, underneath which is found a black alluvial earth, very productive when properly drained. In the western part is an area of about flfty acres, known, since the earliest times, as the "Burnt Swamp," from the circumstance that, when the first settlers came in, the swamp was thickly covered with willows and tall weeds, growing from a bed of vegeta- tion of about a foot in thickness, and a fire, having been lighted by the Indians or settlers to dislodge game, swept over the swamp, con- ' tinning to burn for about a week before the de- caying vegetation was consumed. This cir- cumstance gave rise to the name by which the swamp has since been known. Tradition says that a man named Heaman was the first settler in the township, having located about two miles and a half from the southern boundary on what afterward became known as the Columbus and Sandusky Pike. Quite an extensive settlement had been formed in the eastern part of Liberty Township sev- eral years before Heaman located in Holmes, and it is probable that this man came originally to either that village or to Bucyrus. The boundaries of settlements were gradually in- creased, as settlers came in, who purchased land on the outskirts, as by thus doing they could have a choice of farms. It is more than likely that Heaman pushed westward from An- napolis, and selected his farm. When he came in, how long he remained and what finally be- came of him are unrecorded and unknown items. Soon after he appeared, William Flake built a log cabin on the old Quaintance farm, and began clearing his land, preparatory to farming. This man was well known and be- came quite prominent in early years. He was kind-hearted and charitable to a fault, as nat- ural inclination of his heart led him into the ^ ;f ^1 n 582 HISTORY or CEAWrORD COUNTY. communistic plan of bestowing his property upon others, without expecting or desiring any- thing in return. This peculiar characteristic caused him to be as free with property not his own, which procedure finally led him to break open a store in Bucyrus, for which he was ar- rested, tried, convicted and sentenced to serve a number of years in the penitentiary. He died soon after his release, and it has been many years since any of his descendants lived in the county. It was as late as 1823 before any set- tler located in Holmes Township. That por- tion of the township nearest Bucyrus was flat and covered with water, and was not the land selected by the first settlers. The western and northern parts were rolling, but were not se- lected because they were too remote from the " base of supplies" — in other words, the villages; and, besides, a portion of the land belonged to the Wyandot Keservation. Notwithstanding the remoteness of his land from towns, Daniel Snyder, or "Indian" Snyder, as he was popu- larly known, built a small round-log cabin in the northeastern part of the township in about 1825, into which he moved his family, consist- ing of a wife and half a dozen children, appa,r- ently of about the same size. He was called "Indian" Snyder from the fact that almost his whole time was spent in traversing the woods , in pursuit of deer and other varieties of game. He was very skillful and successful in his hunt- ing excursions, and was often employed by his less expert neighbors to furnish them with ven- ison, for which services he was paid $1 per day, whether he succeeded in getting anything or not. He was gone from home for days together, leaving his wife and family to bear the burden of loneliness as best they might. He was the most expert hunter in the township in early years, and his services led him to hunt over large tracts of land. He had no regard for the Indian's reserved rights, and invaded their land without any conscientious scruples, or without any apparent fear of danger to himself for so doing. He understood the language of the Indians quite well, and could converse with them. Often when disputes arose between the Indians and settlers, Snyder was called upon to act as interpreter. Joseph Lones had four pigs, which were turned into the woods in the spring of 1829, after having been carefuUj- marked. They continued to run at large all summer, and when fall came, the owner began to inquire as to their whereabouts. Daniel Snyder reported that he had seen them near the " Burnt Swamp," where Mr. Lones went in search of them. Three were there, but the fourth could not be found, and the owner began to mistrust that it had been boiled in an Indian stew-kettle. He sent Snyder as a spy into the Indian camp on their reservation to discover, if possible, what had become of his lost sus scrofa. Nothing at the time was found, but a few years afterward one of the Indians con- fessed of having shot the pig in the woods, and of having taken it to " Indian Town," where it was devoured. ,Many swine of the settlers were shoffead eaten by the Indians ; but the red men were not the only ones who violated ^he commandmeiit which says, "Thou shalt not steal." Swinejbat had no ear-mark and that could not be identified were considered public property, and became the propertj' of the pos- sessor; but^ usually they were marked when turned fntofthe woods, and yet, notwithstand- ing this precaution, large numbers were driven off and sold to buyers, who " shipped " them to Sandusky City. Mr. Lones' thr^e pigs, men- tioned above, were shot as soon as found, and^ were conveyed on sleds to the cabin, where they were dressed, cut up and salted down for winter use. The pigs were a gift to Lones from Flake- The latter told the former to come over and re- ceive a present in a sack. The present proved to be the pigs, which were then about three weeks old, and which were carried home in a sack by Lones. This is an instance of the charitable acts of Flake, for, though to-day ■^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 583 Lones is surrounded with the comforts of wealth, he came to the township in 1828 with scarcely a dollar's worth of property of his own. He came frf)m Columbiana County, Ohio, with his father-in-law, John Boeman, and was over eleven daj-s on the route between New Lisbon, Ohio, and Crawford Countj'. !Mr. Boeman came with his family in a wagon drawn by five horses, while Lones drove the sixth horse to a small empty Dearborn wagon. It was in March, 1828, and the route lay through a wild country that was almost impassable from the fallen timber that \a.y scattered upon it, and from the muddj' condition of the entire route. They traveled at the rate of about ten miles per day, surmounting almost incredible obstacles in the shape of mud and fallen timber, cutting their way through the deep woods. They were unable to follow the comparatively good roads which led to the west farther south, and the men were obliged to walk almost the entire distance leading the way with axes on their shoulders, ready to cut away any obstriMJtion that could be removed with the ax. "^^inallj', after a tedious journey, and the usuar number of iiti i- dents to men, beasts and wagons, they 0).i>ed safe at their destination. Lones built 4 . .in on land adjoining the Quaintance farm, .^i -Ne- gan work on the Columbus and San'dusJ-'RP'ktf,- in process of construction at th#tiihe. - , ;* ■ x^- ceived -SIO per month for his services, r T mtt- ^ued laboring on the road for al. \4o years, paying for the bulk of his land from the wages thus received. Not one cent wrc -ipent foolishly during the whole time, but uii were carefully hoarded to be used in paying for the land, and the members of the family were re- qmred to forego many of the necessities of life, having in view the ownership of a home. Mr. Lones is yet living in the township, and is one of the few old settlers left to tell the tale of hardships and privations endured bj' the pio- neers. So far as can be learned, the following men were in the township in the year 1828 : Will- iam Flake, Fisher Quaintance, Isaac Williams, William Spitzer, Samuel Miller, David Brown, Jonas Martin, Jacob Andrews, Joel Glover, Jacob King, Eli Quaintance, Joseph Newell and Timothj- Kirk. Mr. Flake had cleared, by 1828, about ten acres, and lived in a round-log cabin on the farm now owned by the descend- ants of Eli Quaintance. Mr. Black now owns the farm where Timothy Kirk located. Kirk died at an early day, about 1828, and his death was probably the first in the township. Joseph Newell, who arrived in about 1826, purchased a fine rolling farm on Broken Sword Creek, his land then joining the Wyandot Reservation. He was an intelligent man, and saw, from the rapid settlement of the country, that numerous villages were destined to spring up, and that county-seats were soon to be established in the newly laid laid-out counties of the New Pur- chase. A portion of his farm was laid out into a town,which Mr.Newell designed would some day become the county seat of Crawford County. The lots were offered for sale ; but, so far as known, none were sold, and Mr. Newell soon saw that he had made a mistake and that Bucjrus was the town to be honored. He also laid off half an acre of land, fenced it with rails, designing it for a cemetery. It may be stated that his cemetery was a success, if his county seat was not. About the time Newell appeared, a Mr. Spitzer settled on the farm now owned by Charles Laman. Jacob King was, in a few years later, living in a little log cabin on Broken Sword Creek, on the farm owned at present by Samuel Slapp. James JIartin was in at an early day. He was a sort of a local minister, and preached in the cabins of the set- tlers, and was probably the first one to preach the word of God in the township. There came with him from England a young man, named Thomas Alsoph, whose father was one of the English nobility. The son's mental horizon was somewhat clouded, or, in other words, he ^ :f>c .I^ 584 HISTORY OF CBAWFORD COUNTY. was non compos mentis. Just why he was sent from England and plenty to the backwoods of Ohio and privation, is an unsolved mystery. Some thought he was a monomaniac, because of his being perfectly rational and sensible on all ordinary subjects. This is probably the correct view. His manners were refined, and, in all his intercourse with the settlers, he was as genteel and polished as was customary in the polite society of European aristocracy. He soon became a favorite with every one. The first Sunday schools in the township were or- ganized by him, and it was perhaps for the best that he became a backwoodsman, thou- sands of miles from home and friends. It became current, and was believed by many, that he became mad by brooding over disap- pointments in love. If this be not true, it proves that the reporters, Adam-like, were in- clined to lay the sin of wrecking the young man's life to woman. He taught many of the early schools, and, after living in the township quite a number of years, returned to England. Prior to 1836, the township of Holmes was fractional, but, at that date, a portion of the land belonging to the Wyandot Reservation was annexed to the western side, giving the township its present size and shape. The fol- lowing, from the records of the County Com- missioners, shows the change that was made : Resolved, by the Commissioners, that they pro- ceed to attach the Wyandot Reservation to the different townships adjoining said Reservation, agreeably to the provisions of an act of the Ohio Legislature, made for that purpose, and said territory shall be attached as follows: «**»**# All that part of Township 2, Range 16, as lies within said Reservation, shall be attached to Holmes, and shall constitute a part of said township. This gave to the tovraship thirty-six square miles of territory. The names of a few of the first officers are remembered, and were as follows : Jacob Andrews was the first Justice of the Peace, and Joseph Newell was elected Clerk. The spring after the township was organized and named, at an election held in the cabin of John Hussey, an early settler, a total of nine votes was polled. At the second township election, Joseph Lones was elected Constable — lo ! without a dissenting voice. Soon after his term of office began, an execu- tion was placed in his hands, to, be levied upon the personal property of Thomas Williams. The execution was duly issued by " Squire " Andrews, and, when Lones presented himself in the presence of Williams, announcing that he had come to serve an execution, Williams asked to have it read, which was accordingly done. During the reading, Williams ap- proached and looked over the shoulder of the Constable, and, with a sudden movement, snatched the legal document and put it in his pocket. Lones stormed and threatened, but, finding that Williams could not be scared by threats of lawful punishment, went for advice to the " Squire," who issued another execution, and, also, a wateant for the arrest of the rebel- lious Williams. •« It was winter, snow being upon the ground, and Lones again went to the cabin of Williams with the warrant and execu- tion, accompanied by a Mr. McMichael, who drov^n ox team hitched to a sled. Williams Was away from home, and without any ceremo- ny, Lones and his deputy took a sled-load of personal property from the cabin, against the violent protests of Mrs. Williams, and conveyed them to the cabin of Andrews, who announced that they should be sold after a certain date, unless Williams paid the execution and costs. Williams appeared the next day, paid all the charges, which amounted to about SI 5, and was then permitted to take his property home. This was the only official business required of Lones during his term of office. The southern half of the township, in early years, was noted from the circumstance that no liquor was used at the house-raisings or log-rollings. All parties, with few exceptions. ^ J^f tiL HISTORY OF CRAWrORD COUNTY. 587 abstained from all drinks, except strong coffee. This was a very desirable state of things, and was greatly appreciated by lovers of temper- ance ; but, after a number of years, when many settlers had appeared, the neighborhood fell from grace, and whisky was used at the roll- ings, as in other localities. In about the year 1830, Moses Spahr, John Lichtenwalter, Thomas Minich, Jacob MoUen- kopf, Samuel Shaffner, John McCulloch, Wil- liam Roberts, Thomas Williams, John Hus- sey, Abraham Gary and several others, settled in the southern part of the township. The earlj population was about half German and half English ; but, in 1828, when the settle- ment of the township became quite rapid, the German element prevailed. Two distinct set- tlements were formed, one in the southeastern corner, and the other near the present site of Portersville, and the two were made about six years apart. The one formed in the northern part was almost wholly German, eight or ten families coming together from Jiauphin Coun- ty, Penn., in wagons drawn \Ty horses, in the year 1828. Among those that settled in the northern part were the families of Michael Shupp, Isaac and Abraham Ditty, Henry Fra- lick, Jacob Lintner, Jacob Moore, Daniel jjPor- ter, Daniel Fralick and three or four others. These families settled near each other in -the northern part, on or near Broken Sword Creek, built their little log cabins, some of which are yet standing, and began to clear up and im- prove the country. Various industries began to spring up to furnish articles only obtained by long and toilsome journeys through almost bottomless roads to some of the neighboring villages. It is hard to believe some of the " mud and water " stories told by the early set- tlers relative to the condition of pioneer roads. Who would imagine to-day, in traveling over the Bucyrus & Tiffin road, which is almost as hard as pavement, that it formerly took a harassing journey of two days to go by wag- on from the northern part of the township to Bucyrus and back ? And yet the story bears all the evidences of truth. A journey of ten miles through the swamps and marshes and fallen timber was a day's work for man and beasts. Land which is now cultivated year after year without the least difficulty from dampness, was slush in early times, and wag- ons sank into it from six inches to the hub, and were only pried out after half an hour of hard and disagreeable work. And then the long journeys to some distant mill, often con- suming a week, were multiplied journeys to Bucyrus. The early settlers in the northern part, as a whole, were not willing to relinquish liquor drinking, and often went to Bucyrus for sup- plies of whisky. If they remained in the vil- lage all night, their evenings were spent reveling in bacchanalian enjoyments, drinking and toasting each other's health, and singing " Oh ! landlord, fill the flowing bowl Until it has run over. Oh ! landlord fill the flowing bowl Until it has run over. For to-night we'll merry be, For to-night we'll merry be, For to-night we'll merry be, And to-morrow we'll be sober." The Indians from the reservations were in the habit of joining the revelers, and were very fond of what they called " Sandusky water." When under the influence of liquor, they be- came quarrelsome, and it was safest to leave them alone until they were sober. Several women in the northern part were inveterate and disgraceful drinkers, and were frequently seen beastly drunk, lying by the roadside. But this state of things passed away, and the citizens have learned to leave liquor alone. Probably the flrst saw-mill in the township was built in 1833, on Broken Sword Creek, by Jesse Quaintance. It was an " up and down " mill, operated by water-power, and continued 4^- n. 588 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. to do good work for nearly twenty years. The building was frame, being sided with poplar boards, obtained after the saw had been in op- eration a few months, and was divided by a partition into two apartments, into one of which was placed the sawing machinery, and into the other the machinery necessary for grinding grain. Notwithstanding the creek had but little fall where the mill was located, excellent water- power was secured by extending the race across the narrow neck of a large bend in the stream. This advantage, together with a large, strong brush-dam, gave sufficient fall to the water to furnish ample power for the operation of saw and stones. Both departments of the mill were well patronized as long as they continued to do good work. Two years later, Frederick Williams built a saw-mill on Brandy wine Creek. This was also a frame building, and an " up and down " saw, and, though he was unable to secure as fine water-power as Quaintance did, yet he did good work. This mill necessarily ran slower than the other, and was continued in operation ten years, when Williams sold it to other parties, and, four years afterward, joined a party of men en route for the gold mines in California. The parties who purchased the mill, carelessly permitted the dam to break) which ended the career of the mill. In the year 1845, Rodney Poole built the third saw-mill, at the " Falls," on Broken Sword Creek. The bed of the stream, at this point, has an irregular fall of about a foot and a half. This, together with a strong dam and race, furnished abundant power for the rapid running of the saw, and was the best site for either a grist or saw mill in the township. This mill, like the others, was frame, having a long shed, extending out at right angles to the main building, in which was piled the lumber when sawed. The sawing was done either on shares, or at the rate of 50 cents per 100 feet. In early years, the mill-dams were not as strongly constructed as they are at the present day, when large quantities of stone can be had at but little cost. They were usually built of dirt, stones, brush, logs, etc., piled in promiscuous confusion into the bed of the stream, the work being done in times of low water, and the whole dam being braced from the lower side by logs driven into the ground in a slanting position. These rude dams were subject to continual breakage, the owner being uncertain upon going to bed, whether he was destined to have water-power the next morning or not. The streams were full of muskrats, which burrowed into the dams, and were the cause of many a breakage. On the occasion of heavy rains, the water was held in check by the large amount of fallen timber, which often resulted in flooding the whole country in the neighborhood of the streams. Samuel Shaflner recollects of being compelled to swim his horse, on one occasion, across the Brandywine Creek, which now, in times of the greatest rains, does not acquire a depth greater than two or three feet. In 1853, Joseph Lones built a steam saw- mill on the plank road in the southern partj near a small stream called Grass Run. A muley saw was placed in the mill, which was operated three years and then sold to other parties. The mill is yet running, and, since its construction, has done a large amount of good work. It has been operated by several diflerent owners. Two years after the Lones mill was buUt, another was erected in the northern part, on Broken Sword Creek, by Fralick & Flickinger, and was continued in operation until a short time after the war. It was a large frame mill, having a muley saw, and was operated by steam while it continued running. Several other mills have been built in the township at diflerent times, furnishing an abundant supply of sawed lumber from the various varieties of wood, at a reasonable flgure. The little village of PortersviUe lies partly in Holmes Township and partly in Lykens, and its creation and growth, regardless of the location ^lA HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 589 of the various industries and dwellings, will be given in this sub-division of the county history. There are circumstances connected with the vil- lage to be detailed in coming pages, rendering the annals of the town universall}' interesting, and a matter of wide public interest. In about the year 1830, as has been stated, about ten families of Grerman emigrants established them- selves in the woods in the vicinity of Porters- vUle. In .addition to those families already mentioned, which located in the northern part, were those of Robert Knott, John and William Shultz, John, Peter and Jacob Shupp, Samuel Fralick, Samuel Flickinger, David Seale and others. It was more than twenty years after this settlement was formed, that the village of Portersville was laid out, and the country around had become qiiite thickly populated with emi- grants of different nationalities from the East, and various industries and improvements had arisen, here and there, before that event tran- spired. Jacob Lintner, one of the earliest in this settlement, erected a blacksmith-shop just across the line in Lykens Township, shortly after his arrival, though he did not receive suf- ficient work to make it advisable to drop all other labor, except in the line of his trade. He was quite ingenious, and worked considerably at the carpenter's trade, acquiring, by practice, what little he knew of that business. When the log cabins were reared, he was called upon to prepare the door and window casings, and to do the work requiring greater skill. Jacob Moore was a shoemaker, and had a small shop in one end of his cabin. His leather was largely ob- tained at Bucyrus, and, during the winter time, he was in the habit of traveling from house to house to ply his trade. Notwithstanding his shop furnished coarse shoes at a very low figure, many, too poor to buy, were compelled to manu- facture a rough moccasin from deer or other skin, and to wear the same the whole year. It was no uncommon thing to see whole suits of buck- skin, and many amusing tales are told of the efforts made to get into buckskin breeches that had been thoroughly soaked in water and then dried. It is related that the custom was to stand the breeches on the floor near the bed (for they were abundantly able to stand alone) and to take a flying jump from the couch, care being taken to alight in the proper place and position, or the effort was abortive, and dire dis- aster followed. Whether this is true or not, the reader is left to determine. William Fralick was a carpenter, and was emplo^'ed to build many of the early frame houses. Any man with average ingenuitj' could design and construct the log cabins ; but, after a few years, when the settlers were in better circumstances, carpenters were called for and better houses were built. William Spitzer, who lived in the southeastern part, was a mason by trade, and, when the better class of dwellings began to go up, his services were required in lay- ing the foundations and chimneys. He burned several small kilns of brick, obtaining his sup- plies of clay from large banks in the neighbor- hood of his cabin. These bricks were sold to the settlers, and were used in building chim- neys, etc. Oxen were used to mix the clay and sand composing the bricks. The first were made in about 1830. Samuel Burnison erected a small building in the northern part in 1841, designing it for a distillery. He owned a small copper still, and operated a small horse-mill at the same time, to furnish him supplies of ground grain, from which an inferior article of whisky was made. The enterprise did not pay, and Burnison en- deavored to change the business to that of cheese making. He purchased a few good cows and made preliminary arrangements to begin the manufacture, but for some reason unknown dropped the enterprise at the beginning, dis- posed of his cows, tubs, vats, etc., and turned his attention to farming. His was the first, last and only distillery ever in Holmes Town- ship, which remark is also true of his cheese- ■Vja t±^ 590 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. factory. David Porter owned an ashery in about the year 1837, and manufactured black and scorched salts from ashes obtained from the surrounding settlers. Ashes could be ob- tained in quantities from the large heaps of logs burned soon after the rollings. They were hauled loose in the wagons or often in sacks to the ashery, where they were made into potash, frequently on shares. The supply of ashes from the surrounding country, failed to such an extent within the next ten years, that the ashery was no longer profitable and was discontinued. The village of Portersville was not in exist- ence when the German settlement was formed, and it was a number of years before the first cabin was built on its present site. John Brant erected the first building. It was a large frame and is yet standing. Cyrus Fralick built the second, which is also standing, though additions have since been made to it. The third was erected across the line in Lykens Township by Benjamin Fawcett. The town was laid out in 1852 by the County Surveyor, George M. Wiley. Sixteen lots, wholly on the western side of the Bucyrus and Tiffin Road, were laid out from the northeastern corner of the eastern half of the northeastern quarter of Section 4, Township 2, Range 16. David Porter was the founder and owner, and the village was named Porters- ville in his honor. Porter did not enter into business in his village, but turned his attention to his farm near by. William Wingart lived just across the line in Lykens Township, and was a chair and cabinet maker. He made large numbers of very durable chairs from poplar and other kinds of wood, and scores of them can be seen in the dwellings at Portersville, as sound and serviceable as the day they were made. He also, though less extensively, made cupboards and bureaus, besides other useful articles of furniture. About five years after the town was laid out, he was emploj'ed by George Quinby, of Bucyrus, to sell goods on commis- sion, and was given about $300 worth to com- mence with. These were the first goods sold in the town, and the rapidity with which they disappeared from the shelves, proved that quite an extensive business could be profitably car- ried on in the village. Wingart continued to sell two or three years for Quinby, and then went to New York City, where he purchased goods of his own valued at about 1800. He followed the mercantile pursuit for about ten years, when he closed out his stock and, retir- ing to his farm, began the peaceful occupation of tilling the soil. Two years before Wingart retired, Brinkerhoff & Wilson, then doing busi- ness in Sycamore with a general assortment of goods, established a branch store in Porters- ville, and offered for sale about $3,000 worth of goods. Daniel Fralick purchased the stock in 1854, which then invoiced at $2,740, and has continued the business from that time until the present, sometimes carrying $6,000 worth of stock, consisting of a general assortment. Occa- sionally, as during the war, considerable money was made ; but at other times the sales have been small and the business unprofitable. Country stores are burdened with the re- quirements of competition, and it is only through large sales that they are rendered profitable. Mr. Fralick has in store at present about $900 worth of goods. Shook & Ditty have also been engaged in mercantile pursuits in the village. In 1846, Seale & Hollingshead opened a saloon in the village. They sold considerable liquor, and, it is said, could perform the miraculous feat of selling a half-dozen different kinds of liquor at the same time from one bottle. One day, several young men, in order to secure a public exhibition of the wonderful performance, posted one of their number behind the door of the saloon unknown to the proprietor, and the others retired, and, after a time, came in singly asking for liquor not called for by the others. The first one called for whisky, and obtained it from the big brown bottle ; the second called for ale, and received it from the same brown « .. ^ ' i\ HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 591 bottle ; the third asked for gin ; the fourth for wine and so on, and all received their potations from the same mysterious brown bottle. The per- formance became noised about and excited no little sport and comment ; but for some reason, after the event narrated above, the different va- rieties of liquors were sold from as many bottles. This partnership continued for a number of years, and, while in the business, also began en- tertaining the public, though they did not pre- tend to keep tavern. John Stinerock, a tailor by trade, was the first genuine tavern-keeper in the village. He kept no bar, and his tavern is spoken of as the best and most orderly ever opened in the town. No bummers nor loafers were permitted to lounge round the premises. He was a tailor and worked some at his trade, cutting and making suits according to the pre- vailing fashions. The building is yet standing, and is still under the management of a tavern- keeper. In 1868, Elias Shirk built another tavern in the town, which is at present owned and managed by his widow. Liquor has been sold in the village since 1846. In 1834, long before the town was laid out, William Wingart circulated a petition, which was signed by every one, praying for the estab- lishment of a post office in the settlement. The petition was granted by the authorities, and Wingart was appointed Postmaster. The postal route established at the same time lay from Bucyrus to Tiffin, with intermediate offices at Portersville, Benton and Melmore. Daniel Pralick is the Postmaster at present, and has officiated in that capacity for many years. Two years after the village was surveyed and named, an addition was made by Shupp & Company. The addition was on the eastern side of the Bu- cyrus & Tiffiin road, and across the line in Ly- kens Township, and comprised some forty lots. This addition gave great impetus to the growth of the town, and the citizens became impressed with the thought that some railroad company should honor their town with its presence. But the years have glided by without bringing the desired road, and the citizens are now in despair of ever seeing their hopes realized. The Ohio Central Railroad has just been built across the lower part of the township, but this, instead of increasing the population of the town, has les- sened it, and has turned the attention of the villagers to the more favorable locations along the new road. Portersville gained national notoriety during and since the last war, by being the celebrated X Cross Roads, where the fictitious personage. Petroleum V. Nasby, first began to chronicle his experiences, and to send communications to the Toledo Blade and other well-known newspapers. Many of the incidents and circumstances nar- rated by him, though given with partisan partial- ity, actually transpired ; and all the principal characters, such as Nasby, Bascom, Bigler, Po- gram and others, were taken from fancied resem- blances to individuals residing in the village at that time. The inquisitorial eyes of the nation became centered upon the little town ; and the characters drawn have become almost as well known to the citizens of the United States as those of Dickens or Shakespeare. They have become permanent characters in standard American literature. It was not long before the renowned Nasby sold out at Portersville (if the figure may be indulged in), and established himself at the " Confedrit X Roads, wich is in the State of Kentucky." Several of the originals from which the principal characters were drawn are yet living in the village, or in other parts of the county. The legend of Nasby's trials in the political world, like that of the fanciful Don Quixote, will ever remain connected with the unpretentious little village, and will afford abundant material for gossip for scores of years lo come. When the village was first laid out and named, William Wingart strenuously objected to its being called Portersville, and suggested Wingart's Corners, as being, in his opinion, a V iiL 592 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. much more euphonious title. David Porter, after whom the town was named, positively re- fused to have any other name bestowed upon his protege, except the one selected by himself But Wingart, determining not to be out- witted, spread abroad the report that the real title of the village was Wingart's Corners, and a few years afterward, when he went to New York for his goods, he had them shipped to Wingart's Corner's, Ohio, via Bucyrus, thus in- troducing the town to the attention of the citi- zens, at the county seat, under his favorite name. He continued this practice and other skillful maneuvers, until the village became quite universally known as Wingart's Corners, a name yet bestowed upon it by the majority of the citizens in the county. Of late years, it has also been known as "The Confedrit X Roads," but this name is not countenanced by the villagers, who much prefer either of the others. Various physicians have lived in the town since its organization, among whom were Poutz, Rousch, Zander and the present one, C. D. Lea. It is not considered a good point for doctors, because the town and surrounding country are quite free from sickness. Ohio was traversed more than any other State between 1840 and 1850, by large num- bers of slaves from the Southern States, espe- cially from the large cotton plantations on the Red River, on their way to Canada. The runa- ways were always welcomed by some one in every county in the State, although, perhaps, the Quaker settlements afforded the surest pro- tection against capture by pursuing owners. After the enactment of laws making it the duty of public officers in the Northern States to ap- prehend negroes, found under suspicious cir- cumstances, who could not give a satisfactorj- account of themselves, it became necessary for the escaping slaves, in order to avoid detection and arrest, to travel wholly in the night, and to lie concealed in out-of-the-waj' places during the day. This procedure gave rise to what is known as the Underground Railroad, as the runawaj' slaves were not seen publicly, until they had reached Canada. For a decade before the last war, many of the citizens of Ohio were so bitterly opposed to the efforts made by some of their neighbors to assist the slaves in escap- ing North, that they began a system of espion- age to discover those violating the laws referred to above. This often occasioned extreme bit- terness between neighbors, and even resulted in family estrangements. Although Crawford County was largely populated with citizens who were disposed to prevent the escape of the slave, and to even apprehend him, when it be- came certain that he was running away ; yet, quite a number of the farmers in different parts of the county were engaged quite extensively, at times, in feeding the slaves, and in convey- ing them farther North. A family named Jackson, living in the southern part of Holmes Township, were known to harbor the runaways, and to convey scores of them to some other friend in Seneca County. The slaves were alwaj'S brought to Jackson's cabin during the night, and usually after 10 o'clock ; but who brought them is a mystery not yet solved. The Columbus and Sandusky Pike, one of the finest highways in the State running north and south, was extensively traveled by slaves with- out guides, as the road was so plain that no mistake could be made. But the traveling was usually done between 10 o'clock at night and daylight the next morning. Isaac Jackson and his son Stephen have been seen to carry sled-loads of them north into Seneca County. At one time, about 1853, they were seen to have six or eight negro women and children in a sled, which was driven rapidly north, while five or six negro men, unable to get into the sled, ran at the side or behind. The night was bitterly cold, though the moon shone brightly upon the scene, revealing the runaways to the people along the road, who were willing to jump from their beds in the cold and look from ;p Al l^ HISTORY OF CRAWrORD COUNTY. 593 the window or door. The Jacksons are the only ones in the township who are remembered to have been connected with the Underground Railroad. It was the custom, for a decade after Bucyrus was laid out, for the settlers within a radius of three or four miles from that town to refrain from erecting school buildings, and to send their children to the village schools. The larger scholars could walk the distance, even in winter, and the smaller ones, if they were proof against the sticking qualities of the spring and summer mud, could attend during the warmer months. These advantages, such as they were, obviated the necessity of building schoolhouses near Bucyrus until the surrounding country became, so thickly populated as to render such a course advisable. The result was that schoolhouses were built in settlements five or more miles from Bucyrus, a number of years before those nearer the town. Although the southern part of Holmes Township was first settled almost a decade before the northern part, the latter division erected a log schoolhouse several years before the former, and also had several terms taught before the school building was erected. David Moore, one of the early settlers in north- ern Holmes, was an old bachelor, who had come into the wilderness of Ohio to secure a home for his widowed mother and himself His land was purchased in 1828, and during the follow- ing year his cabin was built, four or five acres cleared, and a small crop of corn and potatoes raised. Everything was then in readiness for his mother, who was to preside over this rude home. During the succeeding winter (1829 and 1830), he returned to Pennsylvania, and, while he was gone, the neighbors converted his cabin into a schoolhouse, and the first term in the township was taught here by John Bretz, a native of the Keystone State, who had come in with the German emigration. The attendance was quite large, owing in a measure, no doubt, to the novelty incident upon attending the first school. The following winter, Bretz taught in the southern part of Lykens Township, in a cabin designed for a dwelling, but into which no family had yet moved. He continued to teach for a number of years in the German settlement and its vicinity, always having good, orderly schools ; indeed, he prided himself on being able to govern any school, and from his personal appearance his scholars and all others were willing to admit, the statement without cavil. He was over six feet in height, and as wiry as a panther, and could handle any other man in the neighborhood with ease. His com- mands were implicitly obeyed, but he had one serious drawback in teaching, as his knowledge of mathematics, and, indeed, of all the other branches required to be taught, was sadly defi- cient. He therefore resorted to artifice and procrastination when called upon to work "sums" beyond his capacity. It is probable that the first schoolhouse in the township was built on Section 3, during the summer of 1833. The first term in this build- ing was taught by Edward Porter, who had taught one or two terms in the neighborhood previously. During the winter of 1832-33, he had taught in a log cabin in Lykens Township, about a mile and a half northeast of the pres- ent village of Portersville. In early years it was customary, and was the supreme delight of the pupils (and they greatly relish it yet), to reach the schoolhouse before the teacher on the first day of the term, and to bolt the door and bar that dignitary out for an hour or two, or for a half-day, just as the scholars were in- clined. Porter, anticipating such a maneuver on the part of his scholars, on the first day of the term taught the winter of 1832-33, deter- mined to outwit them ; so he took Daniel Pra- lick into his confidence, and instructed him to raise the window at the proper moment, into which the teacher would leap with a bound, to the dismay of the scholars. As was antici- pated, upon reaching the schoolhouse the first ^ isr ^^ L 594 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. morning, the teacher found the door securely bolted, and, from the suppressed titter within, knew that the scholars were expecting any amount of sport. The teacher began pounding loudly on the door, and, when sure that the at- tention of all the scholars was riveted to the entrance, he darted to the rear of the building ; the window was quickly raised by the watchful Fralick, and, ere the guilty students were aware of his presence, their teacher stood in their midst. The utmost consternation prevailed. The door was thrown open, and the fright- ened scholars poured from the room into the yard, like sheep before a wolf They scattered in all directions; and many of them, fearing dire chastisement, did not return un- til the next day. The teacher was master of the situation, and the scholars were no little chagrined at being so completely out- flanked. The treacherous Fralick, who was to blame for the rout, was thenceforth tabooed from the confidence of his fellow-students. After the schoolhous^ on Section 3 had been used about nine years, a much better and larger one was erected, a short distance south, to take its place. This building was a frame, and was almost wholly built of lumber sawed at the mills on Broken Sword Creek. It is yet used for school purposes. A Miss Margaret Cannon taught many of the earlier schools in the north- ern part. She attempted many of the winter schools, which were attended by large, rough boys, but usually succeeded in giving satisfac- tion to the patrons in both government and in- struction. The larger boys in the early schools were required to cut the wood, which was usually done while the school was in session. When one was tired or was called upon to re- cite or get his lesson, another took his place, and this excellent respite from study was nec- essarily continued a greater part of the day, as the fire-places in the old log schoolhouse were noted for the consumption of wood. It was not until 1835, that a school-building was erected in southern Holmes. It was built on or near the farm of Mr. Black, and was con- structed of hewed logs. A few years later, a frame building was erected on the Lones farm, which, after being used for school purposes for nearly twenty years, was removed, and the present one was built at a cost of about $350. The township was divided into school districts as early as 1836, or thereabouts, and, soon after, each was furnished with a school-building. No schoolhouse has been built in Portersville. As is usual in a new country, early church societies were established in Holmes Township a number of years before the settlers deemed it advisable to build churches. Local preachers visited the township from the neighboring vil- lages. Itinerant ministers, known as " circuit riders," of all the various orthodox denomina- tions, stopped in the neighborhood periodically, and, as is usual in the history of the human race, wherever there are leaders in the cause of Christ, there are also followers. Meetings be- gan to be held regularly in the cabins of Mi- chael Shupp, Daniel Seats and others, until in about 1834, an Evangelical Church was built in the extreme southern part of Lykens Town- ship. Soon after this, the Lutherans and Ger- man Reformers erected a log church in the northern part of Holmes. Considerable antag- onism was developed from the start, between the two denominations, growing out of certain assumed privileges denied to each sect by the other. Much bitterness was manifested for several years, until the matter culminated by being adjusted in the courts. In 1852, a log meeting-house was erected onff mile west of -Por- tersville, by the Protestant Methodists. This building became known as the Concord Meet- ing-house. Rev. William Brown was the oflflci- ating minister during the last war, and, being a strong Abolitionist, he incautiousl}' incorpo- rated his political views in his sermons, in opposition to the protests of many of the mem- bers, who, as might have been expected, posi- ^ HISTOKY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. 595 tively refused to tolerate any such procedure. But the minister persisted in the course begun, until finally, one night, a party of men went to the church and leveled it with the ground. Much the same proceeding was enacted in other localities. One night, a man with blackened face, went to the store of Daniel Fralick, in Portersville, and bought six dozen eggs. That same evening, a minister, conducting a revival in one of the churches near the village, was severely pelted with eggs — evidently the ones purchased at the store. Soon after, a church on the line between Holmes and Liberty Town- ships was burned one night — the result of an effort to unite political and religious views. It is proper, though unnecessary, to state that the better class of citizens had nothing to do in perpetrating these outrages. The southern part of the township was not without its early church organizations. ■ Meetings were held in the cabins, until, in about 1840, the Quakers erected their church, which is yet standing. It is a large, low building, built originally of logs, and afterward weather-boarded with poplar lumber. It was used continuously until 1879, when the building was deserted, and it yet re- mains unoccupied. CHAPTER XXI. VERNON TOWNSHIP— GEOLOGICAL— FIRST SETTLEMENT— PIONEER INDUSTRIES- GROWTH OF VIL LAGES— CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS— SEMINARY. THIS is one of the most attractive and beautiful portions of Crawford County. It is found within the broad area stretching north and south across Ohio, where the Waverly group of rocks lies next underneath the drift deposits. In almost all cases where wells or other excavations have reached a depth of from ten to fifty feec, passing through the surface deposits, the Berea grit of the "Waverly group has been reached. In the northwestern corner, on Bear Marsh Kun, where the channel of the stream is worn through the surface deposits, is found a slate, or shale, which has a bluish cast when exposed to the air, but which, under water, is dark brown, or almost black. It evi- dently belongs to the Huron shale, and lies on the eastern edge of that formation, which passes in a broad belt across the county, a little east of north. West of De Kalb, on the land of James Caruthers, the Berea grit outcrops ; but, on account of deep beds of overlying drift, has never been quarried in any paying quantity. It is also exposed on the land of James Campbell and Jacob Myers, and may be seen on a small creek in Section 19, and in sev- eral other localities. The working of these quarries has proved unprofitable in the past, yet the future will develop rich beds of valua- ble stone. The township lies on the northern slope of the Ohio water-shed, and is, therefore, drained by streams which flow into Lake Erie. The principal one is Loss Creek, the name being a corruption of " Lost Creek,'' which, tradition says, was thus named because its source, like that of the Nile, cannot be found, or, as other reports say, because the mind becomes bewil- dered and lost in trying to discover the head. Which report is correct will be left to the reader to determine. This stream is a tributary of Sandusky Kiver, and has its source in the extensive flat lands found in the southern part of the township. It takes a winding northwesterly course until it reaches the center of the town- ship, and then turns toward the southwest and flows into Sandusky Eiver. The slopes along V^ il !> ^'. 596 HISTORY OF CRAWrOED COUNTY. its course are beautiful and rolling. Broken Sword Creek, one of the principal streams in the county, drains the northwestern corner, and Honey Creek, one of the head branches of the Huron River, drains the northeastern corner. The township is bounded on the north by Auburn, on the west by Sandusky, on the south by Jefferson and Jackson, and on the east by Richland County. The southern and east- ern portions are flat, and, in early times, were covered with water during the entire year ; but, as the sun's heat became unobstructed by the clearing of the land, and extensive drainage was resorted to, the marshy land became suita- ble for unlimited production. The soil in the southern part is rich, deep and black, and, in the western and northern parts, is a light, sandy loam with some clay. This clay is yellow and tenacious, and is suitable for brick, tile and common red pottery. The western part is bil- lowj', being quite precipitous in some localities. The township is six miles long by four wide, and was created March 9, 1825. Prior to Feb- ruary 3, 1845, it was six miles square, and formed part of Richland County ; but, at that date, four tiers of sections on the west were annexed to Crawford County, and now form the present Vernon Township. It was situated in the western part of the Old Purchase — a strip of land called the "Three Mile Strip," lying be- tween it and the New Purchase. The territory composing the township was surveyed, in 1807, by Maxfield Ludlow, and was then an almost impassable forest, covered with swales and marshes, and crossed by numerous Indian trails. The almost impenetrable swamps in the south- eastern third of the township were the retreat of many species of wild animals, which fled there for safety when pursued by bands of In- dian hunters, or by the more skillful pioneer. The first settler in the township, so far as known, was G-eorge Byers, who, in 1820, lived in a small log cabin, or " hen coop,'' located on Section 17. The exact date of his settling there is unknown or forgotten, but was, proba- bly, 1818. He had several acres cleared in 1820, but from the fact that he spent his time in hunting and trapping, seeming to despise farm labor as a much less dignified pursuit, many think his land was cleared by an earlier settler of whom he bought. He was a success- ful hunter^and trapper, roaming the forest and swamps for miles around in search of adven- ture, or joining the circular hunts of the Indians. He became familiar with every path in the cranberry marsh northwest of his cabin, and was about the only hunter who dared, in the night-time, to brave the perils from snakes and from the wolves, panthers and bears which infested that dreary region. H* made large wooden traps for wolves and foxes, baiting them with deer or other meat attached to sharpened sticks which formed the triggers of the traps. His traps for fur-bearing animals were thoroughly rubbed with asafetida to remove any suspicious smell. He is said to have caught more than a hundred mink in one winter, together with coon, beaver and a few otter. Mink skins sold for $4 ; fox for from 75 cents to $3 ; beaver for $5 ; otter for as high as $8. After many years, Byers died and was buried in the township. James Richards ap- peared in 1821. He was the second settler and the first blacksmith, and, shortly after the erection of his cabin, built a small round-log shop. He made cow bells, prepared iron points for plows, hammered out and tempered axes, obtaining his supplies of iron from Sandusky City. He found much to do in repairing set- tlers' wagons that had become disordered in the long journeys to the West. At this time, there were two roads in the township (if they deserve that name). The Columbus and San- dusky road, running north and south through the township, had been first cut out about the year 1818, and was simply a blazed path through the forest, from which undergrowth and fallen trees had been removed. It was ^" — ^ 0!^ HISTOKY OF CEAWFOED COUNTY. 597 located on the site of an old Indian trail, and was one of the routes traveled by settlers living in the central part of the State, on their jour- neys to the cities on Lake Brie. The other was the Bucyrus and De Kalb road, that had been blazed in 1821. Pioneers in their jour- neys to the West would follow, as far as prac- ticable, Indian trails to avoid the serious delay and annoyance of having to cut a wagon road. These trails afterward became fixed highways, and are now among the best roads in the State. • George Dickson, a young unmarried man, arrived, in 1822, and entered the land upon which he yet lives. After clearing a few acres and making some improvements he returned to the Keystone State, where he married, and, in 1823. brought his wife to their wilderness home. He has ever since been one of the most promi- nent citizens in the township. The fourth settler was Conrad Walters, who arrived in 1824, and began working at the cooper's trade. Several old settlers are yet in posession of kegs, tubs and barrels made by him. Mr. Walters was well educated, and well-bred, and his case was one of those where men of culture left the attractions of settled localities for the soli- tude and hardships of pioneer life. He was apt and courageous, and soon became an expert hunter and trapper, learning much from his associations with Byers and from the Indians. One night, just at dark, while hunt- ing in the swamps in the southern part of the township, he shot and wounded a large buck, which was standing knee-deep in mud and water. It fell, and Walters, thinking it was dying, rushed in to cut its throat. He seized it by the horns and drew his knife ; but the deer had only been stunned, and began to struggle desperately to get up. It knocked the knife from his hand into the water, and Walters, to prevent the enraged animal from goring him to death, seized him by the antlers, and exerted all his strength to prevent it from rising. He clung to it until it was thoroughly exhausted. when throwing his whole weight on its head, he plunged its nose into the mud and water. The animal was too much exhausted to raise its head and, in a few minutes, was strangled to death. Walters' clothing was cut to ribbons by the sharp horns and hoofs, and his bod}' was covered with bruises and wounds. He was ever afterward careful to avoid a hand-to- hand struggle with a wounded deer. He recovered his knife and, having bled the deer, swung its body into a sapling for safe keep- ing from the wolves until morning. Levi Arnold, R. W. Cahill, William Cleland, James Dickson, Charles Warner, Jonathan Dickson, Samuel Tarr, David Anderson, Bar- net and James Cole, Andrew Dickson, Dennis Orton, Thomas Grill, Samuel Dean and a few others settled in the northern part prior to 1830. These settlers were mostly New En- glanders, and many of them were the descend- ants of Revolutionary soldiers. There were probably twenty cabins erected in northern Vernon prior to 1830, and the forests began to disappear. Various industries arose to supply articles which otherwise were only obtained by long and tiresome journeys to Sandusky or some other city. Arnold located where the village of West Liberty now stands. He was a carpenter, probablj' the first in the township, and began working at his trade. Richards planted the first orchard, in 1825. In 1826, two births occurred — Andrew Dickson and William Cleland. These were likely the first. David Holstein died in northern Vernon in 1833, and Mrs. Akerman in southern Vernon same year. These, so far as known, were the first deaths. Prior to 1830, no settler had made his appearance in the southern part of the township ; but, between 1830 and 1835, as many as twenty families of German emigrants . came in and erected cabins in the swamps and marshes. They were induced to come there because the land was cheap, and because their finances were impoverished by the traveling s> \ '' -^ 598 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. expenses from the old country. They immedi- ately began to clear and drain their land, and ■were frugal and industrious. The surface was covered with water, and the prospect for any- thing except frogs and ague was gloomy and disheartening. The marshes were filled with snakes and other reptiles, many of them being large and venomous. Near the center of a swampy section of land, comprising about two hundred acres, was a small knob of earth, about twenty feet across and two or three feet above the surrounding flats, where large num- bers of snakes made their dens, and where, on sunny days, they would lie and bask in the sun. One day, several German settlers wit- nessed a furious battle. While they were look- ing at the bank, two rattlesnakes, each about six feet long, came quickly out of an opening, and, throwing themselves into coil about three feet apart, raised their heads about a foot high, and began swaying their bodies from side to side, watching for a chance to strike. Finally, one of them struck the other with its sharp teeth on the neck. The glistening bodies were instantly lashed together like whips, writhing and twisting on the ground for some time, until at last one freed itself from the hold of the other, and, with a rapid movement, darted into its den, leaving its antagonist surprised at its sudden departure. Large numbers of rat- tlesnakes were afterward killed there. Mr. Tempy was the first settler in the southern part, coming in 1831. Jacob Clahn, George Amspaugh, Christian Makerly, Leanderline Gosser, Gotleib Schneider and Conrad Ebner came in 1832, and John B. Yetser, John Weaver, John J. Rubly, John Baumgartner, Jacob Reichlin, Jacob Shibly, Fredolin Gosser, John Heimgartner, Phillip Akerman and oth- ers in 1833. Among those who came in 1834 were Bowers, Beach, Feik, Keller and Reiter- Tempy was a blacksmith, but did not work at his trade. Gosser was a shoemaker, and had a small shop in one end of his log cabin. He did a small amount of tanning, but only enough to supply himself with rough leather for patching shoes. He planted a few apple- trees in 1832, the first in the German settle- ment. Yetser also set out a small orchard in 1834, and many of the trees are yet standing. This man had received an excellent education in Germany, and he soon became a leader in the settlement. He led in all public enter- prises and educational undertakings, and is to-day one of the most prominent men in the eastern part of the county. Makerly was a" cooper, and began making pails, tubs, barrels, etc., an occupation he followed to a limited ex- tent for many years. Jacob Clahn had previ- ously settled a few miles east. When he moved to Vernon, it is related that his wife, having a pailful of excellent swill, determined not to lose it ; so, taking the pail in her hand, she started on foot to carry it two miles to her new home. She got lost in the woods, and, after traveling nearly five miles, reached her destination, and was repaid for her eflTort when the swiU was placed before a large family of hungry pigs. The wonder is that she did not empty the swill on the ground before starting, but the German characteristic to save was paramount. Beach was a carpenter, and erect- ed the first frame houses in Southern Vernon, beginning in 1835. Bower worked at cabinet- making, although he had not learned the trade. He made rough tables, stands, chairs, coffins, etc. The inability of the Germans to speak English almost severed their intercourse with neighboring settlements except those of their own tongue. This resulted in bringing for- ward many industries, which made the settle- ment an almost independent colony. However, the journeys after fiour, whisky, powder and shot had to be made. Mansfield was the prin- cipal trading-point, although liquor was usually obtained at the extensive distilleries in Mon- roe viUe. In 1840, one bushel of corn was worth seven quarts of whisky ; sheep sold at 1%" l^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 599 $2.25 per head ; cows at from $12 to $15 ; pork at $2 per hundred ; horses at $50. By this time, all the larger varieties of wild animals had disappeared, except an occasional wander- er, and even deer and wolves were scattering and shy, and could be trapped or shot only with difficulty by experienced hunters. Cata- mounts occasionally wandered in, and then all the neighborhood turned out with dogs to hunt them down. These hunts afforded great sport and excitement, often coupled with no little danger, before the animal was killed. Coons and the Ohio species of porcupine were yet abundant, especially the former, which could be found in the woods at any time, and which were accustomed in the night to feed exten- sively in the settlers' corn-fields. The woods were also filled with large flocks of wild tur- keys. For several years, about 1840, much consternation had prevailed in the southern part among sheep owners. A few wolves had established themselves in the heavy woods on Lost Creek, and, when the shades of night fell, would steal into a neighboring sheep-fold, and, when the morning dawned, the indignant own- er would find eight or ten of his flock killed and mangled. Large losses occurred to several citizens, and a grand circular hunt was organ- ized to rid the neighborhood of the marauders. After several trials and a great amount of sport, two or three wolves were killed, and the others were dispersed to distant localities. The first saw-mill in the township was started by Samuel Reed in 1836, and was located about two miles east of West Liberty. It was at first run by a sweep, but afterward by tread-power, and for ten years did a good business. The most extensive saw-mill ever in Vernon was built on Loss Creek, in 1837, by Isaac Vanhorn. It was a water mill, and was enabled to run nine months of the year — a very unusual thing for mills on small streams. This was possible by reason of the vast quantity of water ob- structed in its flow from the flats by a large amount of fallen timber. The sawing was mostly done on shares. A Mr, Kilgore afterward owned it, as did Walters and Charles Warner ; the lat- ter tore the mill down. Several other mills have been run at different times, the most im- portant one being a steam muley mill, built by Nicholas Fetter, in the eastern part in 1862. Previous to 1833, the settlers obtained their flour and meal at the large grist-mills on San- dusky River, or at Mansfield ; but, at that date, Conrad Walters erected a frame grist-mill near West Liberty. It at first received the patronage of the citizens, but finally lost support, and was permitted to run down. Samuel Reed built the second grist-mill two miles east of Liberty, in 1836, in which were placed two sets of stone — one, made from " nigger-heads,'' for grinding corn, and the other, a first-class set of French buhrs, for wheat. It was run by tread-power, in connection with his saw-mill, and for ten years did a prosperous business ; but, having lost much of its custom, the business was discontinued, and the stones removed. These were the only grist-mills ever in the township. Conrad Wal- ters began making potash in 1834, and Dimmick & Gibbs in 1844, the latter firm making as high as seven or eight tons per annum. Jacob Kemp began burning brick in 1838, and about this time brick buildings began to go up. The village of West Libertj^ was laid out May 28, 1835, by John Stewart, Surveyor of Richland County, and Thomas Dean, projector and pro- prietor. It was located on Section 17, and was laid out into twenty-eight lots, to which no ad- ditions have since been made. The lots sold originally for $25, a higher price than has pre- vailed at many periods since. The little village was ambitious in early years, and apparently stood as good chance of becoming populous and opulent as its neighbors ; but its dearth of manufacturing facilities, and its lack of capital, were serious drawbacks to its pretensions, men of wealth preferring to invest their means where county seats were likely to be located, or on ^1 ±±^ 600 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. large streams where ample water-power insured a permanent future revenue. The town fell into the hands of poor men, who began improving it as rapidly as circumstances permitted. At the expiration of a decade, the outlook was promis- ing, and, in 1850, the town reached the pinnacle of its fame. A Mr. Gillespie built the first dwell- ing, in what is now West Liberty, in 1830. It was a double log cabin, and was constructed by Eli Arnold, a carpenter by trade. The building was peculiarly constructed, and people spoke of it as " stylish." It was probably the most elegant (if that is the word) dwelling in the township up to that time. Thomas Dean, the proprietor of the town, failing in business, trans- ferred his interest to Jacob Kemp and Andrew Miller, each of whom built a log cabin, obtain- ing the material from a large log barn erected a few years before by Dean. These were built about the same time, and, like the Ark, had but one window each. Jacob Kemp, Andrew Mil- ler and Samuel Dean, each began with a sepa- rate stock of goods in West Liberty in 1838, and thereby hangs a tale. In the fall of 1838, when there were but four or five dwellings and no store in the town, a peddler arrived with about $500 worth of goods in one of the old- fashioned box wagons. He was a boy about twenty years of age, and, to all appearances, was as green as grass. In his awkward way, the " Green Irish Boy," as he was called, began praising the town, quietly insisting that its lo- cation was a sufficient guaranty of its becom- ing an important trading-point. The citizens listened and commented, and the three men- tioned above, possibly thinking there were " mill- ions in it," determined to embark on the mer- cantile sea. He sold his entire stock of goods to the three men, neither of whom knew that the others had bought. When they discovered the truth, they were staggered ; but, determining not to be outdone by each other, the stock of each was increased to the value of several thou- sand dollars. But the surrounding country could not furnish the trade necessary for the success of the stores, and, after much contention and disappointment, they were closed. The " Green Irish Boy " took possession of the sfoek, and considerable land, pledged as security for the goods, fell into his hands. This, for a time, dampened the ardor of mercantile pursuits in West Liberty, and the citizens began to suspect that the " Green Irish Boy " was a " Tartar '' and had outwitted them. Pry & Kaler ventured to begin about 1845, with a general assortment of goods, valued at $5,000. The goods were purchased in New York City, and, in 1850, the stock invoiced at $8,000. Six years after be- ginning, Mr. Fry sold to Mr. Malic, and five years afterward Mr. Kaler, having been elected County Treasurer, also sold out to Mr. Malic, who continued the business alone for about five years. Brown & Guiss succeeded him, and soon afterward Mr. Gloyd took Mr. Guiss's place in the partnership. Brown & Gloyd failed, and made an assignment of their goods to J. J. Bowers, who yet has a grocery and notion store in the town. This has been the extent of mer- cantile pursuits in West Liberty. Mr. Wallace was the first blacksmith, but the date of his location is forgotten. Thomas Gill opened a cooper-shop in 1844. He was well educated, and taught many of the neighboring schools. Jacob Kemp built a large two-story frame tavern as early as 1833 ; it was one of the first buildings erected in the town. It is yet stand- ing and has been converted into a barn. Charles Warner was the first cabinet-maker in the town, beginning in 1830, and continuing about sixteen years. He was succeeded by Henry Balsor, who, soon afterward, sold to George Parsons. In 1844, Gibbs & Main erected a distillery, into which they placed a small copper still, having a capacity of fifteen gallons. The grain was ground in a small cast-iron crusher, run by horses. About two barrels of whisky were made each week. It is said that the whisky was im- bibed as fast as it was made. Notwithstanding ;f^ Al^ ^ii, HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 601 this very satisfactory condition of the business, it was discontinued at the expiration of about a year. A few years before this, a Mr. Kile tried the experiment of having a raising without whisky ; not a man came to assist him. Dr. J C. Wood, an allopathic physician, located in the village in 1842, but died five years afterward. He was followed by Dr. Hutchinson, who flour- ished for a short time, and by Dr. James Aikens, who appeared in 1852. Afterward, in 1873, came Dr. Bevier, who left for more fruitful fields at the end of two years. The town has no physician at present. The village of De Kalb was laid out Novem- ber 20, 1835, by David Anderson, projector and proprietor, the surveying being done by Chris- tian Wise. The town consisted originally of sixteen lots, and to these Anderson added twelve more October 15, 1838. The town was located on Section 5, and, since the establish- ment of the station at Tiro, business has been suspended altogether, or transferred to the sta- tion. West Liberty and De Kalb were rivals in early years, each striving to surpass the other in improvements and industries. In 1838, Dr. Peter Carlton, a physician of the old school, located in De Kalb. He brought with him about $2,000 worth of goods, consist- ing largely of drugs, and began selling his stock, practicing his profession at the same time. David Anderson bought his stock in 1840, but, after continuing in business for five years, sold to G-abriel and Cornelius Fox, who disposed of the goods and retired from the bus- iness. George Cummings kept a small stock about 1840. Elias Cramer opened a grocery there soon afterward. To him belongs the questionable honor of having kept the only saloon ever in the township. Phillip Artz brought a stock of groceries to the town in 1871 ; his widow is still continuing the bus- iness. Samuel Hagarman erected a blacksmith- shop in 1833. He was succeded by John Hanna. The present smith is Christopher Norris. Drs. Henry Mack and B. W. Mc- Kee succeeded Dr. Carlton. In 1837, Thomas Mahan and Samuel Wiggins erected a wool- carding and cloth-dressing mill in De Kalb, the building being a large, two-story frame edifice. Several assistants were employed, and large quantities of wool were carded during the first few years of its existence. The business be- came depressed, and, after fluctuating for sev- eral years, died out. John Fulton sunk five vats for dressing skins at De Kalb, in 1835 ; he continued the business but a short time. Charles G-owan also dressed skins there for a short time. R. W. Cahill succeeded in getting a post office established at De Kalb in 1834. The office was called De Kalb, and was first located at Mr. Cahill's residence, he being the first Postmaster. The office was removed to the village in 1839, and David Anderson suc- ceeded Cahill as Postmaster. Between 1840 and 1850, the two villages in the township were at the height of their business prosperity. All industries were active and thriving, and those who had invested capital realized hand- some revenues. Before the establishment of railroads in the county, all villages on well- traveled routes seemingly stood an equal chance of becoming populous and wealthy. Villages located at the intersection of well- traveled highways or on large streams, could boast of superior advantages, and could offer greater inducements to men of capital. De Kalb and West Liberty were situated on the route connecting Columbus and the center of the State with Sandusky and other cities on Lake Brie. This route was extensively trav- eled by settlers Westward bound, many of whom were induced to purchase land and settle in the township. Industry and sobriety are are marked characteristics of the citizens. Ed- ucation and religion received an early impetus, and have steadily kept pace with the progress of the township. Although covered with stag- nant water in early years, and subject to ague ^? ^ k. 602 HISTORY or CRAWrOKD COUNTY. and various types of malarial diseases, the township slowly arose from the subsiding waters ; rich, dry land appeared ; forests dis- appeared ; bountiful crops were grown, where erst the songs of batrachians resounded ; im- provements multiplied; toil brought rich re- wards to the husbandman ; good health took the place of burning fever, and happiness and contentment prevailed. The long years have developed a superior soil, and the citizens are proud of their township — one of the most pro- ductive in the State. An Underground Railroad, running north and south through the State, established two or three stations in the township between 1840 and 1850. The road was exclusively traveled by dark men on dark nights, and many a happy African, now in Canada or in the Northern States, will remember with gratitude the hospi- tality and humanity of several citizens of Vernon Township. Samuel and David Anderson often entertained ebony runaways aiming for the North Star. These were guided to the citizens' dwellings under cover of the night, and, if brought there near morning, were kept con- cealed, and feasted during the day, and were then conveyed to some station nearer Canada and Freedom. Concealment was necessary, because, in harboring runaway slaves, the law was violated, and many whose sympathies were with the slaveholder would not scruple, and even rejoiced, to reveal the name of the law- breaker. This resulted in concealment, and nocturnal pilgrimages by runaways. In 1862, Mr. Bowers, having dug a well, dis- covered some days afterward that the surface of the water was covered with oil. About this time, great excitement broke out in Pennsyl- vania, on account of the discovery of large quantities of coal oil. Vast fortunes were real- ized in a few days by lucky individuals, and the oil mania spread far and wide. Mr. Bowers began to think that Ohio, as well as Pennsyl- vania, might be rich in coal oil deposits, and began to examine his well and the oil therefrom. It was certainly coal-oil, and as fast as it was removed from the surface of the water, another film quickly took its place. The supply, though limited in quantity, seemed inexhaustible, and exaggerated reports of the discovery spread rapidly over the neighborhood. The citizens swarmed ia to examine the well, and test the oil, and all pronounced the discovery valuable, and warmly congratulated the lucky Bowers. A stock company was formed, pledged for the payment of $10,000, should that amount be necessary to develop the resources of the well. One man bought one-twentieth of the stock, paying $500 for it. About $2,000 were paid to begin with, and men of experience were em- ployed to assume control of the business,- which the stockholders ardently hoped would soon afford abundant returns for the investment. But they were doomed to bitter disappointment. The supply of oil, instead of increasing, slowly decreased, and boring was soon abandoned as unprofitable ; oil was there, but not in paying quantities. Itinerant ministers began to appear in the township as early as 1827, and to hold meet- ings at the cabins of the settlers. They trav- eled over large sections of country, and always stopped to preach where a few were ready to listen. At the close of the services, a collec- tion would be taken for the preacher. Many of these early preachers were eccentric characters, singularly gifted with a rude eloquence that fired the hearts of the pioneers. Many had re- nounced all social ties, except such as bound them to the house of praise and prayer. With hearts overflowing with love for God and humanit}', they had come into the wilderness to preach " peace on earth ; good will to men." They were instrumental in laying the founda- tion of countless church societies, which sprang up in the fastnesses of the forest. Church so- cieties were organized in Vernon Township as early as 1827. In 1833, the Dutch Lutherans fk^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 605 and the German Reformers united means and built a hewed-Iog church about a mile south of West Liberty. This answered their purpose for forty years, and the two sects, differing from each other in essential particulars, worshiped God together in harmony. A few years ago, when the congregation became too large for the church, they saw proper to divide the member- ship and to build two churches, one for each sect. The cost of each of the churches was about $1,200, and they were located near each other, about a mile south of West Liberty. The Methodists organized a society in the north- ern part of the township as early as 1828, but the followers of Wesley were few, and the soci- ety only became strong after many years. A society of United Presbyterians sprang up near De Kalb in 1830, which, at first, was the strong- est society in the township. It began with a membership of about thirty. Its early pros- perity was, in a measure, due to the energy and eloquence of Rev. Mr. Thompson, who soon afterward became President of the " Boys and Girls' Seminary,'' an institution which flourished for a short time, between 1830 and 1840, at De Kalb. The membership in these early churches was greatly increased by memorable reviv- als, which continued for months during the long winters. Some years before the German emigration into southern Vernon had ceased, a Catholic Church societj^ was organized in the township. Forty acres of land on one of the sections — which, in 1845, when the township was divided, was retained by Richland County — were purchased, and a large hewed-log church erected thereon. This society, though beset with numerous difficulties at first, finall}' be- came the strongest country society in the county. The church was early visited by the Bishop, who gave it a strong impetus, and its commencement really began then. The first priest to locate there was Tschenhaus, who re- mained some five or six years, placing the soci- ety on firm footing. About twenty years ago. the old church building was removed, and a large, fine, brick edifice erected in its place. It is one of the costliest and most imposing coun- try churches in the State, and has a member- ship of about one hundred, largely from south- ern Vernon. The church, though previously in Vernon, is now in Richland County. Many citizens of the township are members of it. The society has had a Sunday school for about forty years. In 1850, Elder William Adams organized a society, called the '' Church of God," in the northeastern part of the township. The early meetings of the society were held in schoolhouses. Ten years after its organization, it was sufficiently prosperous to warrant its building a church, which was done at a cost of $800. William Adams, William Shaffer and David Shriner were among the early Pastors. The church is in good condition, and has a membership of about thirty. A Sunday school was organized in 1852, and Samuel Dean be- came the first Superintendent. He was suc- ceeded by Solomon Goss, who was re-elected to serve in the same capacity for many successive terms. The other church societies, soon after their organization, established Sunday schools, and have maintained them with but little cessa- tion until the present time. Great eflforts were made in early years, by the united churches of the townships, to end, as far as possible, the al- most unlimited use of liquor by the settlers, and to inaugurate an era in which intemper- ance should be unknown. Several melancholy deaths from exposure during severe winter weather having occurred while the unfortunate debauchee was under the infiuence of alcohol, prepared the way for a vigorous onslaught against the traffic. People began to learn the true nature of alcohol. They learned that, though it might be a valuable re-agent in pharmacy, yet its abuse was cursing the world with wrecked and ruined lives, that had begun in innocence at the mother's knee. They saw it enter their midst — saw the dark form of In- •^ S" b1"V ^1 ±i^ 606 HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. ebriety come in at the open door with smiling face, and remembered, with a shudder, that 'Vice is a monster of sucli frightful mien, As, to be hated, needs but to be seen; But, seen too oft, familiar with her face. We first endure, then pity, then embrace.'' A temperance society was organized in about 1838, and much zeal was manifested ; but King Alcohol's domain was too strong to be taken, and the little party was disbanded, retiring quietly from the contest. The first school building in Vernon was built of round logs, in 1831, and located about half a mile south of West Liberty. It was sixteen feet square, and had a large, conspicuous chim- ney, built of flat stones, picked up at random in the woods, and held in their place by clay mortar. It stood back a short distance from the Columbus & Sandusky road, and for many years was the seat of learning for the bare- headed, bare-footed children of the pioneers. Many of the gray-haired citizens of the town- ship remember this as " The school-boy spot They ne'er forget, though there they are forgot." It was here they learned their A B C's, and acquired what little education Dame Fortune allotted pioneer children. Mr. Gill was the first teacher, and was one of the best instructors ever in the township. He was severe in his administration of school discipline, but his uni- form kindness and sympathy won the hearts of his pupils. It was his habit to discard text- books during recitations, and to avoid those topics of no practical value to the student. He anticipated many of the present improved methods of instruction. Miss Eichards, now Mrs. R W. Cahill, and Mr. Orton were early teachers in this sehoolhouse. In 1835, a school cabin, built of hewed logs, was erected about a mile north of West Liberty. Maria Swan "kept" school there the first, teaching three months during the summer of 1835. John FarreH taught the succeeding winter, but was turned out of the house the first day by the large boys, and went for consolation and advice to R. W. Cahill, who was one of the Board of Directors. But Mr. Cahill refused to interfere with the programme of the boys, who, after hav- ing their sport with the " new teacher," became docile and obedient. Another school cabin was erected a mile and a half east of West Lib- erty, in about 1838. Emanuel Warner was probably the first teacher. Between 1830 and 1845, as many as seven or eight school build- ings — some log and others frame — were located in this division of the county. The southern part was behind the northern in aU educational enterprises, not because the Germans had less interest in public improvements, but because the northern part was earlier settled, and had the start by a decade. They were slower, but, as the years passed by, various school build- ings arose from the bogs and marshes, and am- ple opportunities were given German boys and girls to secure the rudiments of an education. The German language was taught almost ex- clusively at first, and even at the present time it is taught in connection with English. No teacher is employed who cannot give instruc- tion in German, and the rich mother-tongue is wisely retained. A frame school building was erected in De Kalb in 1841, Mr. Phillips being the earliest teacher. This was supplanted a few years later by a much more commodious one, built near the town, and the old one was de- voted to other uses. At an early day, when the town was prosperous and ambitious, several citi- zens conceived the idea of adding to the attrac- tions of the town by the establishment there of a seminary. An organization was effected, and funds raised by subscription sufficient to de- fray the expense of erecting suitable buildings. A Board of Trustees was elected, and a Presi- dent and other instructors employed, and, as far as could be seen, the enterprise was destined to become highly successful. The permanent and unquestionable value of such an institu- ^ HISTOEY OF CKAWrOBD COUNTY. 607 tion in the town could not be denied. Several, however, shook their heads and looked wisely down their noses — thinking, no doubt, a great deal, but saying nothing. Arrangements were completed, students were enrolled, classes were formed, and for two or three years the citizens pointed with pride to the spacious building with its efficient corps of instructors. The school was under the management of the United Presbyterian Church, and students of both sexes were enrolled, which gained for the institution the jocular term of the " Boys and Girls' Seminary." But the school was destined to die early. A misunderstanding arose, which soon widened a gulf between two opposing par- ties ; earnest endeavors were made to re-unite the opposing elements without success ; mu- tual recriminations followed. No one seemed to blame, and, as is natural with the majority of the human race, each insisted on having his own way. No doubt the division arose from the looseness of the articles by which the in- stitution was organized and managed. It was found that views widely differed as to the na- ture of the enterprise. Some thought the school was designed for both sexes ; others insisted that it was established exclusively for girls. Important questions arose as to when subscribed funds were to be paid. No ill-will was displayed, and yet each party insisted in ruling, or in quietly abandoning the project. It was thought best to follow the latter course, which was accordingly done. It is to be la- mented that the school, which began under such auspicious circumstances, should have had such an unexpected and premature death. The village was nicely located in one of the the most fertile regions in Ohio, and the set- tlers who clustered around it were intelligent, ambitious and moral, and keenly alive to any enterprise to insure their advancement and happiness. This was a most desirable state of things. There were over sixty scholars en- rolled at the beginning, more than many of the most imposing colleges in the country could at first exhibit. The President, Eev. Mr. Thompson, was a fine classical scholar, but he lacked executive ability, and the management became unsatisfactory to its Board of Trustees. The institution was closed, to the regret of all. These facts have long since faded from the minds of the people, many of whom know nothing of the efforts made to establish the " Boys and Girls' Seminary " in the township nearly fifty years ago. It remains for the his- torian to recover the dates and incidents from the dustj' records of forgotten years. Many of these records have been destroyed or lost, leav- ing an almost barren field to be worked over by the "searcher after truth.'' CHAPTER XXIL* TODD TOWNSHIP- -TOPOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE— ORGANIZATION— FIRST OFFICERS- MENT— SOCIAL LIFE— OSCEOLA— RELIGIOUS— SCHOOLS, ETC. -SETTLE- n^HE township of Todd has a local history so J- intimately blended with State and national annals that the territory will ever be looked upon with an increasing interest by lovers of historic lore. The streams, streets, roads and village will be suggestive to coming genera- tions of some hero or heroic deed of the past. * Contributed by F. S. Monnett. The principal stream is the Broken Sword, deriving its name, as usually given, from the following circumstances : When Col. Craw- ford had made good his escape from the In- dians, after the engagement, he missed his nephew, and, retracing his steps, in company with Knight and others in search of him, he was captured by the Delawares, who conducted (^ t±^ 608 HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. him to Upper Sandusky, and, in coining to this stream, the Colonel drew his sword and broke it over a rock on the bank ; hence its name. Another tradition is that a broken sword that had been dropped bj' the retreating army of Craw- ford was found by the Indians upon the bank, from which it received its name. This stream is put down on some of the early maps of Ohio as " Crooked-knife-creek." This stream has its most distant source in the southeast of San- dusky Township, and, following a southeasterly course, cutting Todd Township diagonally through the center. Its entire bed in this ter- ritory consists of a shaly limestone rock. There are two other streams — Indian Eun and Grass Run. The former rises in the northeast part of the township, flowing to the southwest, crossed by the Benton road, two miles north of Osceola. Nothing of general interest is con- nected with this or Grass Run, which is in the south part of the township. The undula- ting surface and claj' soil of this entire strip of land, in comparison with the level plains skirt- ing it on the south, present a striking con- trast. But a very small per cent of the sur- face of the township consists of black soil. The body is of a pale clay loam, enriched by the mulch of many crops of forest leaves. The soil is filled with stone, mostly bowlders and their fragments, belonging to the Glacial period. The bed of the Broken Sword and its banks are composed of loosely stratified limestone, abounding in well-preserved fossils — fragmen- tary corals, and shell indentures distinctly out- lining several species of the brachiopods. Of the articulates, a small variety of the trilobite are frequently discovered by the workmen. Messrs. Snavely Bros., the principal workers of the quarries in the township, have found many of the above specimens. This calcareous soil and rolling upland has been exceptionally pro- lific in producing a rank growth of timber. The rapid advance that the woodman has made is astonishing to the early settlers, who still live to see the sudden change take place. Says James Winstead, the first settler of this domain : " There was not a spot in the entire township that you could have driven a wagon over, so dense was the forest and thick the un- derbrush.'' Now, arable meadows present themselves to view at every corner, green pas- ture lands, and stock grazing upon the hillsides, with an occasional wood-field, making an ideal grazing and grain farm. The timber consists principally of beech, maple, several varieties of oak, sycamore, butternut, poplar. The shell- bark hickory and the hazel-bush, so common upon the plains, are not found in this near neighboring township. Formerly the black walnut was abundant. Daniel Tuttle says, that many thousand feet of this lumber were sold and delivered at Upper Sandusky for $1.25 per hundred feet. The present Territory of Todd was, previous to 1836, included within the Wyandot Reserva- tion. In the year 1836, the General Government obtained from the Wyandots, by treaty, a tract of land known as the " Three-mile strip " off of the eastern border of the reservation. In the spring of 1837, at a land sale held in Marion, the United States sold to private individuals this land, which was afterward attached to Crawford County, making the full townships, range 15, within her borders. The present township of Eden, Wj'andot County, and the territory of Todd, comprised one town- ship, at the first survey, and named Leith, by Judge G. W. Leith, of Nevada, Ohio, and others, in honor of his grandfather, John Leith, a cap- tive of the W3'andot Indians for twenty-nine years. The principal productions of Todd are grain, lumber and lime. The pursuit of her citizens has been changing from the wood and lumber business to wheat-raising and wool-growing, and developing the business of lime-burning. The great amount of waste timber and burning -X ^L^ HISTOEY OF CKAWFOED COUNTY. 609 of logs in earlier years, led to the manufacture of potash. William Sigler constructed such an establishment in 1841, manufacturing the black salts, which were shipped to Kepublic. This trade was carried on for ten or twelve years at some profit, as long as the ashes could be ob- tained at a trivial price. The manufacture of lumber has been a source of considerable revenue to this section. " Bishop " Tuttle built a water- mill in 1840, which was run in times of high water at full capacity for several years. After it was purchased by William Sigler, he repaired and improved it by new machinery and steam-power. In addition to coarse lumber, building-laths, shoe-lasts, butter-bowls, " household and kitchen furniture too numerous to mention," were manu- factured. In later years a carding-machine and fulling-mill were attached. The chairs manu- factured by Mr. Swinford were delivered at Upper Sandusky to Daniel Tuttle, who put on the finishing stroke with his paint-brush and varnish-cup. Their farming and stock-raising is run upon a much smaller scale, than their neighbors at the south and west, but their farms of eighty to 160 acres are under excellent cultivation and fine drainage. Their thickly settled farmhouses give the citizens manj' of the social advantages of village life. At the center of Todd is situated her only village, Osceola — a hamlet of 300 in- habitants. There is another town upon the Ohio Central Kailroad, that is the town Lemert, so prominently marked upon the county map, which has yet a few unoccupied lots. But, as the demand for produce rises, they will be rapidly taken up for potato patches. The citi- zens dwelling near this embryo burgh enjoy many of the social advantages of rural life. The first officers of the township were James Winstead and Z. P. Lea, installed and sworn in, under bond of $500, as Trustees of the township of Leith, by James Griffith, Justice of the Peace of Sycamore Township, April 8, 1839. April 9, Jacob Yost was installed as the third Trustee ; G. W. Leith, Justice of the Peace. Stephen White, after a few hours' service as Clerk, re- signed, and the new Trustees appointed Ozro N. Kellogg, who took the oath of office April 12, 1839. April 13, the Trustees met and ap- pointed the following officers : Abram Shaffer, Constable ; Mordecai McCauley and Z. P. Lea, Supervisors ; Adam Bair, G. W. Leith and Lewis Longwell, Pence Viewers ; David Kisor, Treasurer. G. W. Leith and David Kisor, also. Overseers of the Poor, each under bond of $500. The first official business was transacted at the cabin of James Winstead May 4, 1839, at which time the township was divided into road dis- tricts. About this date a dissatisfaction arose among the German settlers and others in the naming of the township. A petition was presented to the Trustees, claiming that the pronouncing of the word " Leith " was a difficult matter for the Germans. In addition, the citizens were not satisfied with John Leith's supposed alliance with the British soldiery. Mr. Winstead, for the plaintiff and G. W. Leith for the defendant, proceeded to Bucyrus to represent the case be- fore the County Commissioners. The defend- ant lost his case, and the Township Trustees were delegated power to make a change in the name. In their next meeting of June 23, 1839, the name " Center " was substituted for " Leith," as the geographical center of Crawford at that time lay within this township. The first election was held at the house of Mordecai McCauley. Tfte first officers of Center were John Horrick, James Winstead, John Cronebaugh, Trustees ; David Kisor, Treasurer ; and James B. Robin- son, Clerk. At the re-division of the county in 1845, the boundary lines of Center were so changed that the original name would no longer be appropriate, and this territory received the name of Eden, on the west and the eastern strip, embracing Sections 1, 2, 11 — 14, 23 — 26, 35 and 36, of Township 2 ; 1, 2, 11 and 14 of Township 3, Range 15, was named Todd. •^fe '■■ i) fy^ »^ 610 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. This embraced a strip of territory nine miles in length and two in breadth, at the west central of Crawford ; bounded on the north by Texas ; east, Holmes and Bucyrus ; south, Dallas ; and west, Eden Township, of Wyandot County. The first officers of Todd were James Win- stead, Isaac Miller, Daniel Tuttle, Trustees ; John Porster, Clerk. (Isaac Miller was also sworn in as Treasurer April 7, 1845). F. G. Hesche, Assessor ; Franklin Rapenow, Consta- ble ; John Forster, Clerk of the board ; William Andrews, Judge of the Election. The first business of Todd was transacted at the house of Isaac Miller, of Osceola, which was to levy a special tax of five mills for school, road and " poor ' purposes. The following are the list of Justices of the Peace : G. W. Leith, com- missioned by Wilson Shannon, Governor of Ohio, May 20, 1839 ; William Brown, commis- sioned b}' same on the same day ; Daniel Tuttle, commissioned by Gov. Thomas Corwin April 30,1842-43-44 and '45 ; Robert Andrews, 1846 ; Cyrus F. Jaqurth, 1847 ; John Gorden, 1849 ; Jacob Steiner, 1850 ; B. M. HuU, Clerk ; Horace Martin, 1851 ; James Clegard, Samuel Swisher, by Gov. Wood, 1852 ; John Dome, Clerk ; O. W. Johnston, 1854 ; Horace Martin, 1857-58 ; Seneca Leonard, Clerk ; Fred Wise, 1857 ; G. W. Willoughby, 1860. Sold, as was the land of this township, at public sale, and all the neighboring land to the east having been improved, for ten or twelve years, it met with a ready market, both from agents representing Eastern capitalists, local syndicates, and private parties. Mr. Howland, the principal foreign purchaser, was a son-in-law of Humphrey Howland, of Cayuga, X. Y. His purchases were 1 ,400 acres, a part of which laj- in the present territory of Todd. The choice and central tract was purchased by the Osceola Company, composed of Bucyrus and Marion capitalists ; Messrs. Zalmon Bowse, Gen. My- ers, Abram Holm, Jacob Shafl'er, of Bucyrus ; Cox and Young, of Clarion County. This syn- dicate was supposed to have been formed at Marion, on the day of the sale, in April, 1837 ; but, from subsequent planning and development, it was undoubtedly planned and organized pre- vious to the sale. The first and principal pri- vate buyers were Judge G. W. Leith, James Winstead, Daniel Tuttle and Jacob Shafl'er, of Fairfield .County. It is a matter of dispute be- tween Judge Leith and the Hon. James Win- stead, which were the first to take up their abode in this almost trackless forest. We believe, however, that it is generally conceded that Winstead was on the spot with intentions of re- siding one day earlier than any other " pale- face." Perhaps there were no three parties more intimately connected with the oflBcial proceedings, social customs, and other inci- dents of the first settlement of Todd than were James Winstead, Judge Leith and Daniel Tuttle. These venerable gentlemen still dwell in our midst to counsel and advise. Mr. Win- stead, the eldest, is the best-preserved phys- ically, and his mind is still as active and vigorous as a middle-aged man. He and his aged companion, his senior by two years, at present reside in a comfortable frame cottage^ in W3'andot County, four miles northwest of the village of Osceola. Mr. Winstead was bom in Shenandoah County, Va., in the year 1801. Being of an adventurous turn of mind, he started for the new State of Ohio in 1816, and took up his abode in Fairfield County that same year. Two j'ears afterward, he was married to his present bride — he at the age of nineteen, and she twenty-two years. These octogenarian? have traveled down the lane of life together for sixty-two years, twelve years beyond their golden wedding. Mr. Win- stead removed from Fairfield County to Bow- serville, now in Wyandot County, in 1826- Here he built a small cabin upon the edge of the reservation, and followed his trade of silver and copper smith. His principal patronage came from the Wyandot Indians, who had in -.^ ^^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 611 their possession much ore that they obtained from the Micliigan mines. They paid liberally to have the silver and copper manufactured into rings, bracelets and anklets, beads for the chiefs, and many other attractive ornaments that would please their fancy. The greatest demand was for silver and copper crosses, that those of the Catholic faith would have made for themselves and their papooses. Those crosses, made of copper, would frequently weigh five or six oimces, which they wore suspended from their necks. His fame as a worker in sil- ver and copper spread among the Indians, and his trade increased. The Indians wished him to move upon their reservation to some more central point. This he at first refused to do, but they continued to offer inducements, prom- ising him a double log-cabin that had been built by some white trader, east of Upper San- dusky, with an orchard, all the clear ground he wished to cultivate ; in addition, they would furnish him meats and give him all the labor he could do at his trade. The offer was finally ac- cepted, and, in 1829, he moved into their midst, and found them strict in keeping their word, and treated him with all, the civilities that an enlightened nation would. Perhaps there is no one citizen living that has a better knowledge of the Wyandot Indians than Mr. Winstead. He traveled with them in their hunting excur- sions, sat around their camp fires, traded with them, mingled in their religious exercises, took part in their social sports, listened to their tra- ditions, and it is his testimony that they re- spected their words, pledges, and trading agree- ments, and less deception and lying was used to one another than it has been his fortune to experience among the "pale faces.'' The story of Mother Cherokee, one of the most intelligent of the old squaws, was related to Mr. Winstead, concerning Col. Crawford's death. Mother Cherokee had been an eye- witness to the horrible torture, and frequently related it to the younger generation. Her story of the engagement and capture does not differ materially from that of Walker and others, but her story of the execution was " that but one white man and Simon Grirty were present ; that Col. Crawford was not tied to a stake, but his hands were bound by a withe over a limb of a tree above his head, and left in that position all night and the next forenoon, until other war- riors could arrive to witness the burning. Quite a number slept the night before around the same fire, near by that used to torture him. All having arrived by noon on the following day, they began by taking brands from the fire, and touched him first on the toes, his leaping causing great amusement for the bystanders. When the feet and toes were no longer sensible to the fire-brands, they would apply them a little above, benumbing the limbs by inches, so that the torture might be prolonged and life pre- served as long as possible. When this process had been pursued until the numbness was ap- proaching rapidljr his vitals, they cut the withe, and Crawford fell forward upon his face. A squaw, with a piece of bark, scooped up some coals and hot embers, piling them between his shoulders, which caused him to immediately throw himself over, but he was unable to rise, as his legs and hips were entirely benumbed." The substance of the above was so often re- lated, and with such accuracy, by '' Mrs. Chero- kee," that Mr. Winstead thinks it the nearest correct account of this horrible execution. Mr. Winstead removed from his Sandusky home to a quarter of Section 11, in the northern part of Todd Township. In the late spring of 1837, a rough cabin was erected from the near- est logs, which had puncheon floors, but his first house was ornamented with glass window panes. So thick were the woods that he was obliged to cut a wagon road to the present site of Osceola, before he could get to his farm with oxen and wagon. This led to the Perrysburg road, which gave him access to Upper San- dusky. In the following year, Mr. Tuttle built ^^ .k 612 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. a water-mill upon the Broken Sword, which fur- nished them lumber for further improvement ; the first lumber, however, was obtained at the old Indian mill, at Upper Sandusky. In the same year, a number of families settled at Osceola, among whom were Mordecai McCau- ley, Jacob Yost, Adam Bair, Daniel Tuttle, Z. P. Lea, David Kisor and others. Mr. Winstead wished to have a clearer road between his farm and the village, so that, in the following year, a wood-chopping bee was given by him. Says he : "I got two miles of road cleared fur a gallon o' whisky," a drink that it will be ob- served the primitive settlers of this forest were partial to. Edward and Ozro N. Kellogg were his first near neighbors, who purchased farms at the same date as Mr. Winstead, but did not move upon the land until 1838. The dense for- est and thick underbrush, together with the miry ravines, made traveling, other than on foot, almost an impossibility for a greater part of the year. These few families were obliged to be satisfied with the usual fare of pioneers for several years after their neighbors to the east and south were comfortably fixed. The improvements and enterprise on every side of them was a great advantage to them in furnish- ing them supplies. The stock from the plains and other settlements, especially the hogs, would wander into these unfenced woods, for mast and browsing, which supplied them with a change of diet in the fall of the year. From these settled districts, this forest be- came so supplied with the wild hog that it was dangerous traveling without a rifle to protect one's self A narrow escape is related by Mr. Winstead, concerning Zach Lea. Mr. Lea, in company with Mr. Porster, his son-in-law, were in search of their winter's meat, in the fall of 1841. After a short journey, in the northern part of this wood, Mr. Forster spied his game, leveled his fusee at a swine industriously plying her art of cultivating the soil. The ball was not fatal, and her unprecedented squealing caused Mr. Lea to make his retreat to a neigh- boring log, but he was not secure, for her grim, bristly mate, being warned of danger, by the yells, came dashing through the under-brush, with all the rage of an infuriated lion, and with a bound, knocked Mr. Lea headlong from the log. The timely presence of their bull dog turned the foaming boar from his victim to self-defense. Had it not been for this, Mr. Lea said he could not have escaped with his life. Their principal supply of meat came from the deer and turkey. Deer were frequently met with as late as 1850, and, in recent years, the neighboring forests contained flocks of the wild turkey. Their ammunition was too ex- pensive to waste upon squirrel and quail, so that this game became very plentiful. G-eorge W. Leith, of Nevada, the history of whose grandparents, John Leith and Sally (Lowry) Leith, are so intimately connected with the Indian history, that it need not be recorded here. The name of Judge Leith occurs in all the official proceedings, in the formation of the township. The fruit of his labor and brains may be observed in almost every enterprise of the township. His intimate acquaintance with the Indians for many years gave him a knowl- edge o£ their customs and habits, quite ex- tended and varied. "In aU their proceedings in public assemblies," says the Judge, "they were courteous and obedient to their speaker and chiefs ; never, in all their public transac- tions, did I see two attempting to speak at a time." This same courtesy was observed in their business transactions and social relation, and even in their quarrels," as the following anecdote will illustrate : " Seated one autumn day at the village of Osceola, where the Indi- ans were constantly loafing, my eye fell upon a very interesting and comical sight. Two Indians, having some misunderstanding over the ownership of a pair of fine turkeys, fell to quarreling ; the one was a large, raw-boned, surly fellow with down-cast eyes, would not t^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 613 move a muscle ; the other one was of small stature, having one leg all drawn out of shape. The little lame Indian would bob around his adversary like a blue-jay, gesticulating most wildly, abusing his opponent with the strongest language at his command. When he would cease, absolute silence would prevail for several minutes, then the large one would reply with- out stirring, in equally opprobrious terms. Silence again for several minutes, and the lame one would commence his bobbing and hopping." The great contrast in the two characters, and the courtesy of silence between the speeches of each, almost convulsed the by-standers with laughter. No other citizen, perhaps, did as much personal work at the village of Osceola, in her different business transactions in the first six years, as Daniel Tuttle, better known as "Bishop Tuttle," at present, a resident of Texas Township. Mr. Tuttle came to Osceola late in 1840. He was attracted to this location under the county-seat " boom," an account of which will be given in connection with the village history. Mr. Tuttle's life has been one of great activity and wide observation. He was born at South- bury, Conn., in 1801 ; was left an orphan at three years old. After a schooling of four winters, he was bound out to a clock manufact- uring company, Jones & Darrow. At twenty- six years of age, he became their traveling agent in the Bast, and afterward through the Central and Southern States. Between the years 1827 and 1840, he had traveled from Portland, Me., to New Orleans, being a " Yankee clock-peddler " at many inter- mediate points. He came first to the intended county seat in 1840, when the Osceola road was an Indian trail from Bucyrus to McCutch- insville. Mr. Tuttle, being in Bucyrus, ob- served at what cost her citizens were obtaining their lime, hauling it forty miles, determined on his return to test the calcareous quality of the Broken Sword shale. He stated to his friends at Bucyrus that this was the quality of stone from which to manufacture lime, but was jeeringly contradicted. He succeeded in pro- curing some fine quality of lime from his first trial, and immediately contracted with Bucy- rus builders to furnish them lime at 12 cents per bushel. In 1841, he constructed a rude kiln and employed Lyman King to do the burning. At the residence of Daniel Tuttle, which stood opposite the present dwelling of Mr. Wilson, in Osceola, quite a strange incident occurred, that would be remembered by almost any Eastern-bred family of later day. In their first cabin, they were unprovided with locks, and scarcely did they ever attach any addi- tional fastening to the outer door. One night, shortly after they moved to their new village home, Mrs. Tuttle was awakened by some strange noise in the house. As it consisted only of one room, and that well lighted by the flickering blaze from a huge fire-place, it was only necessary in order to search the house to lift her head out from under the "cover," and inspect matters. On doing so, she was ex- tremely frightened at seeing the floor filled with sleeping, snoring Indians, none of whom had registered "to be called for the early train." The involuntary landlord left his easi- ly accommodated guests to "sweetly sleep till morn." They had been to Bucyrus, indulging too freely in their " national beverage," and the six-mile trip to Osceola had worn off the ex- hilarating effects so that they had taken this means of getting a comfortable place in which to sober up. This trick was frequently re- peated in after years, not only with Mr. Tuttle, but other of the early settlers. They were so sly and quiet in their nocturnal intrusions that it was a rare occurrence for them to be detect- ed. After the further opening up of the Per- rysburg road, there was some general travel that made a demand for a public inn. Mr. Tuttle built a small addition to his house, V3 iiL 614 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUKTY. •whicli was afterward enlarged into a two-story frame tavern, in which he presided as " mine host" for several years. He was the enter- tainer of the Osceola Company that met in this village quite frequently in the first few years of its existence to arrange their fiscal matters. Mr. Tuttle engaged in the fur trade in 1842, and did other trafficking with the In- dians. In the years 1842^3, he was offered by his Indian customers a fine lot of venison hams, which he purchased and sledged to San- dusky City, receiving but 6 cents per pound. Mr. Tuttle was the first Postmaster, and re- ceived his commission from Postmaster Gen- eral Amos Kendall for the years 1841^2^3. His remuneration came from the postage, the price of a letter ranging from 5 to 25 cents, be- ing regulated by the distance transported. The mail in those years was necessarily limited at rural points, but the paucity of mail matters at this post was very marked, there being on an average about three letters and two papers at each mail, which came once a week from the East and West. Another of the early settlers possessing business enterprise was Samuel Swineford, who moved to the Broken Sword in 1841 and en gaged in the chair manufactory. After three years of this business he moved upon a farm two miles northeast of Osceola, from there to Van Wert, where he is at present engaged in the grocery business. John Horrick bought eighty acres southwest of Osceola, at the sales, and made great improvement in clearing and farming his land, at the same time exercising his talents in presenting the political issues of the day to his neighbors, being especially earnest in the Harrison campaign. Mr. Hor- rick raised a family of two sons and three daughters, some of whom are still citizens of Todd. He removed to Indiana in 1870. Eev. Samuel P. Shaw was one of the most noted citizens that dwelt in the land of Todd. His education and public labors, together with his financial success, have given him a reputation beyond his neighborhood and State. He was admitted into the Ohio Conference in 1825, discharging his pastoral duties for thirteen years. In 1839, he moved upon his farm in southern Dallas and traveled the neighboring circuit in connection with his business. In 1855, he moved to this present township, where he resided, four miles south of Osceola, until his death in 1875. The remains of Rev. Shaw were interred in the Monnett cemetery, in Bucyrus Township. It is not definitely remembered wjio has the honor of being the " first-born " of this township. It is generally conceded to Mr. William Hartman as being the father of the first " bouncing boy. weighing eight pounds," August 1838. The whereabouts of this hon- ored personage, we were unable to learn. The first marriages celebrated in the north- ern part of Todd, were Isaac Miller and Miss Jane Lea, and Stephen White and Miss Mary Lea, 1838, by Zalmon Rowse. One of the first altars erected to Hymen in the village, was at the residence of William B. Brown. William W. Norton, of Big Island, Marion County, and Mary Brown, of Osceola, were here sacrificed to appease that deity's ire, January 8, 1841, by J. C. Stein, Justice of the Peace for Bucyrus Township. This ceremony is vividly remembered by the latter official, who relates some of the circumstances con- nected therewith as follows : " I was called upon to perform this ceremony at a time of year when the most miserable of all roads were at their worst. There was sufficient frost to make the walking uncertain and the ice on the streams unsupportable. It was an impossibil- ity to drive from Bucyrus to Osceola in a bug- gy, could one have been procured. Allowing myself plenty of time, I concluded to make the trip on foot. After a circuitous meandering through the woods, over logs and through mud-holes, I arrived at Grass Run, which was r^ J^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 615 quite swollen and bridgeless. The lateness of the hour forced me to a hasty decision, which was to attempt to cross on rather an insecure limb ; but, like a friend in need, it failed to furnish its support at the most critical mo- ment, giving me an opportunity to rehearse the oath before the evening ceremony, in water up to my neck, at freezing point. I arrived a little late at the village and coolly walked to a friend's to brush up a little for the festive occasion. The ceremony was performed with- out referring to the incident." It was not an uncommon thing for the mer- chants to transport their goods by pack-horses, so miserable was this quagmire between Bucy- rus and Osceola, pseudonymously called a road. The risk of injury to goods transported over such a bog was often equal to the price of the mer- chandise, as the following incident will prove : Previous to the removal of the Wyandot In- dians to their Kansas reservation, Osceola was one of their favorite loafing places ; especiallj^ would they frequent this locality on the Sab- bath Day. Jacob Yost, who kept a supply of " goods " on hand that was notoriously in de- mand with the Indians, wished to supplement his limited supply for the coming Sabbath's trade. Himself, Mordecai McCauley and Adam Bair started, on foot, for Bucyrus, with two jugs apiece, and were making excellent time until they arrived on their return at the Broken Sword. McCauley, who was already feeling the ground arise before him, ventured first upon the ice, and unceremoniously sat down between two broken jugs of the " sup- plies." His maudlin companions upon the bank quoted him several chapters of profane history as a reprimand for his carelessness, and the proprietor, with an exemplary stride, led the way with his precious freight, when sud- denly he saw something at the surface of the ice, he wanted to mark with his thumb, and, in his rush, with his foot, called the attention of his comrade, Bair, to the same object. Here they remained eyeing one another, while the contents of six jugs of " old rye " was running around them on the frozen surface, unable to get away. They began picking holes in the ice with their knives, to collect the valued com- modity. As fast as these reservoirs would fill, the economical artificers would imbibe the contents. They soon became so lushy that they unconsciously fell over and lay there until they were dragged to the bank and taken to their cabins for repairs. Another incident of a biba- cious character occurred under the observa- tion of Mr. Winstead. It illustrates, however, much more wit than the above occurrence. Schierhess, an Indian of some note among the Wyandots, came to the village with a limited amount of collateral security to procure some stimulant for his squaw, who was quite weakly and had the care of a papoose. Schierhess in- vested all his purse in whisky, but before he left had made an inward application of the tonic for the strengthening of his own system. The bar-tender doing strictly a cash business and the Indian's funds exhausted, it became necessary to obtain some medium of exchange to procure the stimulant. Schierhess addressed Jimmy McKane, a white settler, who stood near, and asked him to purchase a bee-tree. The bar- gain was stated and accepted by McKane, who paid 50 cents, the price asked for the bee-tree. Schi^hess purchased his liquor and went his way with it, and McKane, with buckets, ax and assistance, started to the spot described, and found a hickory sapling, blazed by a tomahawk, and, at a distance, a poplar sapling, with a similar blazed spot, and, between the two, a large oak, all of which had been definitely pic- tured out by the Indian. But, upon felling the oak, not a sign of bees or honey was to be found. A few days after, he met the Indian, whom he immediately accused of lying to him. Schier- hess looked sternly at McKane, and asked if he did not " find the two saplings, blazed by a tomahawk, and the oak between them," to 4^ 616 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. which McKane assented. " Well," said the In- dian, " there were two truths to one lie, heap dam better than a white man do,'' and pulled out some money and repaid McKane. Among the early industries that have not been men- tioned, was the tannery, in 1847, at the southwest corner of the village of Osceola. Amos Souder " hung out a calf-tail" and offered to pay " cash for hides and pelts." Mr. Souder continued this business some twelve years, converting the local supply into leather for the Sandusky City market. The tan-yard has never been re- paired, and at present the township " sports " no tan-vats. Another enterprise that has ceased to be carried on is the saleratus manu- factory. In 1858, R. Gr. Perry launched forth his capital and started to manufacture the car- bonated pearl-ash for the many matrons in the bread-baking business. The fiscal returns were too meager to warrant a continuation, and this business was followed no more in Todd, at the end of four years' trial. The most lucrative pursuit for the capital employed, as well as the principal source of revenue to the village, is the manufacturing of lime. This trade, that was opened up by Bishop Tuttle's ex- perimental burning, has been continually en- gaged in until the present date. William Miller and the three sons of S. D. Suavely are the principal parties now engaged in the traffic ; David, Joseph and Moses Snavely, each run- ning kilns, which, with Mr. Miller's, makes in all from 200 to 250 kilns that are annually burned, realizing, on the average, $50 per kiln. They supply the neighboring towns for build- ing and gas purposes at $18 per bushel, deliv- ered. The only grist-mill of any special note, is the present Limestone Island Mill, situated in the easten edge of the village, upon what was for- merly an island in the Broken Sword. It was built as a water-mill, in 1854, by David Neely, the dam was destroyed in 1860, and the race is now " run " out. Mr. Neely sold the property in 1862, to A. N. Stonebreaker. After five years, it again changed hands, Judd and Deck being the purchasers. In 1867, Garrett Zeigler invested in the property, and was the sole proprietor for four ji^ears, when it was again sold, Mr. Stull being the buyer. After owning it from 1871 to 1873, he took, as a partner, Mr. A. N. Phillips, who is at present running the mill at its full capacity, both for local custom and general trade. Enough has incidentally been mentioned already, concern- ing the roads of Todd, to give the general reader some idea of their former condition. Be- ing so densely covered with timber as was this township, the roads when once hewn for wagon passengers, were scarcely exposed to the sun's rays an hour per day, and, when cut into ruts, with the exception of the month of August, they were not free from water and mud the entire year. Various expedients were re- sorted to, but the wealth of the township has not warranted making any permanent improve- ment as yet. The- plank road, leading from Bucyrus to Osceola, was only temporarily of any value. The boards, exposed to sun and water, were soon warped and loosened, making the board track impassable for vehicles after a few years' usage. By an efficient system of drainage and grading, the roads for most of the j'ear are as passable as those of the neighbor- ing townships of greater age and wealth. If the couplet, now so trite, of J. G. Whittier, " Of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these, it might have been." ever fell with force upon the ears of mortal, it was doubly emphatic to the early settlers and organizers of the village of Osceola. That which Irving has written concerning the pris- tine appearance of a spot, now far more famous in history than the stream and surro«ndings of this village, but certainly not more romantie, with some modification, would be applicable to Osceola. '' Wildness and savage majesty reigned on the borders of her stream. The hand of IfT f) > HISTORY OF CBAWFORD COUNTY. 617 cultivation had not yet laid down the dark for- est and tamed the features of the landscape, nor had the echoes of civilized commerce broken in upon the profound solitude of the ages. Now and then would break forth from the banks of the Broken Sword, the notes of an innumerable variety of insects which filled the air with a strange, but not inharmonious concert ; while ever and anon was heard the melancholy plaint of the whip-poor-will, who, perched on some lone tree, wearied the ear of night with his incessant meanings. The mind of the pioneer, soothed into a hallowed melan- choly, listened with pensive stillness to catch and distinguish each sound that vaguely echoed from the lonely wood, now and then startled, perchance, by the whoop of some straggling savage, or the dreary howl of a wolf stealing forth upon his nightly prowlings." This beauti- ful description is not too highly colored to be an appropriate , one for the scenes and sur- roundings of Osceola within less than a half- century past. The capitalists of the surround- ing country, attracted by the wild and romantic scenery of the Broken Sword, looked with a covetous eye upon the possessions of their un- civiUzed neighbors. The original plat of Osceola was one of the first sections purchased in 1837, as above men- tioned; by the Osceola Company, composed of Bucyrus and Marion capitalists. Early in the following year, a portion of the forest upon the north bank of the Broken Sword, in central Todd, was measured by the agents of the com- pany for the laying-out of a new county seat, making the main street east and west, ninety feet ; and, at the crossing of the north and south road, of same width, was left a square, the lat- ter deriving its name from the stream it crosses, is designated Broken Sword avenue. There are six streets running parallel with the avenue, beginning at the third one west, as First street. The one running with the stream and parallel with Main, was christened Water street, and the one at the north of Main as High street. The village derived its euphonious and poetical sounding name from the chivalrous and in- domitable chief of the Seminoles — Osceola. Dr. Andrew Hetich, Sr., of Bucyrus, being an admirer of this valiant chief, and a sym- pathizer with him in his tragical death, sug- gested his as a very suitable name for the em- bryonic city. In latter years, through an inexcusable carelessness, the orthography has been changed to "Oceola," omitting the s. The Postal Department having written to Mr. Garrigus, the present Postmaster, for the way it was most commonly spelled, he was obliged to give preference to the corruption. Although the two orthographies are still used, business men and others from a distance use the origi- nal spelling, which should be preserved. The company employed Mr. Adam Bair, Mc- Cauley and others to clear off the underbrush, and mark out more distinctly the streets, and put up some cabins previous to the public sale of lots in 1838. The rise and growth of the village can be best understood by listening to the story of Messrs. Winstead, Tuttle, Leith and others who participated in constructing the " citadel and building the outer walls,'' which, in substance, is as follows : " The Osceola Company had spared no pains to advertise ex- tensively the intended change of the county seat to the new and centrally located village of Osce- ola, upon the Broken Sword. Young men of enterprise and old men with capital were eager to invest in the choice lots. It became a matter of exciting interest to the neighboring farmer who thought himself so fortunate as to be an owner of the suburbs of the county seat, so that, by the day of sale, anxious bidders, with wise looks, hung close to the auction block to be first to get corner lots." Some had the num- bered lots drawn upon a plat of the village, which they would slyly consult. As the crier would call out the lucky numbers they would rush up and invest their all. Lots in suburbs vTi 618 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. sold from $18 to $20, while the corner lots reached $195, a sum that would have purchased half that many acres within a mile of the site before the county-seat boorn was let loose. " The gulled and inexperienced real-estate dealer would urge his less credulous neighbor over logs and underbrush to the coveted spot of his possession, and expatiate upon his blocks and laden store-rooms about to be. Upon the square was a well only six feet deep, brimful of water, that the future business men and citizens would frequent, and discuss the excellent qualities and the purity of the liquid as ' sweet as spring water.' " Under the excitement the lots were all disposed of, the only strange matter being that the company did not reserve any real estate for future speculation. The Bucyrus capitalists were found to have changed their mind shortly afterward, and a bill was presented to the Gen- eral Assembly to have the counties of Crawford and Marion so divided as to throw Bucyrus in a more central point, that she might retain the county seat, and erect the new county of Wyan- dot. This was consummated in 1845, which punctured the bubble that the Osceoleans so credulously believed a reality. The Hon. Mc- Cutcheon, then elected to the State Senate, with the understanding among his constituents at the new village that he would advocate the locating of the county seat at their city, was found to have voted upon and advocated the opposite side of the question. The contents of the well in the square, so prominent a feature in the new town at the day of the sale, were soon exhausted. Or investigation, it was found to have been dug the day previous by Adam Bair and filled with water carried in buckets from the Broken Sword by Bair and Turner. When it was verified that " there is nothing covered that shall not be re- vealed ; neither hid that shall not be known ;" and no further hope of obtaining the " capital," Mr. Tuttle, then- first merchant and manufact- urer, among others, withdrew to Upper San- dusky and other points of more promise, to en- gage in business. John Turner was engaged in miscellaneous merchandizing until the Mexican war, in which he enlisted, and nothing more was heard of him. Jacob Yost remained, and con- tinued his trading with the Indians. Mr. Yost has the credit of having built the first frame dwelling-house, which stood upon the lot join- ing Mr. Grrubb's store lot. Previous to the building of the present town hall, a plain square frame building at north central of the town, the public business was conducted in dwelling- houses and the village schoolhouse. The town, having failed to secure the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, evidently can never be a commercial center of any prominence, al- though at present, with her mral wealth and lime traffic, she does a thriving local trade. Her principal merchants at present are Mr. Grubb, who purchased his store building of Rodney Pool; the builder and owner of the first store building of the village. Ricj^rd T. Garrigus owns one of the principal miscellaneous stores, at present dealing in dry goods, groceries and hardware. Mr. Garrigus has also the postal department connected with his store-room, of which he is the Postmaster. Samuel Tetreech is engaged in the dry goods and grocery busi- ness. The first and only drug store of the town is the present room at the northwest comer of the square, fitted up in the summer of 1880 for that business by Thomas Kelly, the present pro- prietor. The first divine services in this village were held in the cabins of the devotees of their faith soon after the organization of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Zach Lea, residents of the northern part of the township, led these cottage meetings as early as 1838, through whose labors the Methodist Episcopal society was established, which afterward built the first Methodist Epis- copal Church in Benton. Edward and Ezra Kellogg, neighbors of Mr. Lea, were Universal- ists. But no organization of thts faith was es- tablished in the immediate vicinity, their ^iV u±^ HISTORY OF CBAWrOJRD COUNTY. 619 principal place of worship being at Osceola. There being no churches in the rural portions of Todd, her church history is mostly connected with that of the village, which is so complex and limited that an accurate analysis would be of as little interest as profit to the writer or the reader. In brief, it is as follows : The early history of the denominations, which in- cluded, between the years 1838 and 1845, Methodist, Campbellite, Brethren, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Universalists, with an occasional Quaker, shows that thej'^ believed more in " fu- sion " at this corner of the "moral heritage " than is customary for such a variety of '' isms ' differing so widely in doctrinal dogmas. Coming from so many sections of the country as did these first dwellers, it was not strange that their religious views were equally as va- rious. But the daily race they had, in common, for "bread and butter," rapidly broke down inbred prejudices, and mollified their feelings of hostility usually harbored against all creeds but their own. No single denomination hav- ing the resources to build an ecclesiastical edi- fice, they all worshiped for the first ten years in the schoolhouse situated upon the site of the present brick school building, which, as the citizens say, " Never was allowed to grow cold from September till May." School through the day, and every night some denomination would conduct services therein, and upon the Sabbath, as late as 1853-54, two ministers of different denominations would hold union services, preaching to the same chosen seed. The first work wrought in their midst by laborers from abroad, was the establishment of a Bible society in 1832-40, by Rev. George Reid and J. B. Robinson, both of Bucyrus. The first minister receiving any salary came from Bucyrus, the Rev. Mathews, of the Presbyterian faith. He began evangelizing this people at stated inter- vals in 1845-46. Jacob Suavely and William Gordon were the official " pillars ' of this or- ganization. In the same year, the Methodist Episcopal denomination was organized into a distinct body, under the preaching of Rev. Royce the leading workers being Jesse Jaquith, M. Hough, John Welsh. It was incorporated at this date into Melmore Circuit, North Ohio Con- ference. The following ai-e among the early ministers : Rev. Henry Warner, preacher in charge, and Rev. G. W. Collier his colleague, 1850-51 ; Rev. Henry Warner, P. C, Rev. T. J. Monnett, Col., 1852-53 ; Rev. Luke S. Johnson, P. C, Rev. William R. Kistler, Col., 1853-54 ; Rev. Thomas Thompson (supply) ; Rev. William C. Heustiss, P. C, Rev. William Spafford, 1854-55 ; Rev. Ralph Wilcox, P. C, Rev. Uri Richards, Col., 1855-56. This Methodist Episcopal preaching point was never recognized as a charge, until the organization effected by the present pastor. Rev. Stephen Fant, under whom the circuit has been definitely limited and a parsonage pur- chased, and other improvements that give it more prestige than at any previous time in its history. About the time of the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the United Breth- ren Society became a separate body of worship- ers, M. L. Simons and Samuel Swisher hav- ing organized a class which received preach- ing for several years at the frame schoolhouse. The early ministers were Revs. Tablor, Wicks and Downing. Rev. Long is their present Pastor. This society at present is perhaps the wealthiest, and has the largest congregation. The Campbellites were one of the strongest organizations of the village from 1850 to 1860, numbering at that time thirty or more members. The patriotism of their disciples drew so upon the society that they were not re-organized subsequent to the war. Their first minister and organizer was the talented and educated Rev. Andrew Burns, brother of Hon. B. Burns, of Mansfield. Among the others that are remembered as ^^ ;^ ^ ^^ 620 HISTOBY OF CEAWFOBD COUNTY. prominent is Rev. Doeling, of Marion. The members of this faith at present are united with congregations in neighboring villages. The Sunday-school work of the township and village has been conducted in unison for a greater period, and more harmoniously, than the other theopneustic labors in the church, the first regular Sunday-school having been organ- ized and conducted under the leadership of Capt. J. Wert in the summer of 1846. For seven years this union Sunday-school was con- ducted in the day-school house, with an attend- ance varying from seventy to eighty pupils. In the summer of 1854, the union school was transferred to the United Brethren Church, shortly after which the Methodist Episcopal portion of the school withdrew, and organized, with Eli Evans as Superintendent, enrolling, on an average, thirty scholars. In the winter season, the two denominations would conduct union schools, until 1860 ; since that date, both denominations have held yearly sessions, with an enrollment of thirty to fifty pupils each. One of the ablest apostles of ab- stinence, who has left an impress upon the minds of the early settlers of this section, was Mrs. Trimble, of Bucyrus, mother of W. C. Trimble, now of Mansfield. Her individual efforts resulted in some immediate fruits, and left a lasting impression upon the minds of her hearers. The first schoolhouse was situated southwest of the village, about one-quarter of a mile from the square. The structure had all the pioneer provisions and improvements that were then attainable ; a roomy fire-place, stick chimney, doors and windows, with the true Ruskin arch, benches and writing-desks made from original designs. The first school was opened up and conducted by Miss Jane Suavely in the summer of 1839, receiving $10 per month. She was succeeded in the winter term by her brother, at $15 per month. The first building used for school pur- poses within the city limits of Osceola, was a log cabin, a former domicile of the red man. This was used but two short terms, when a neat, square-log building was erected, especially for school purposes, on the site of the present brick school building. This last cabin was re- placed, in 1846, by a frame edifice, which served for academic purposes until 1855, when the Methodist Church purchased the property, and another frame building, consisting of two sto- ries and three rooms, built by John Dome and R. T. G-arrigus, contractors, on the same spot. The fine brick structure, with, at present, two departments, immediately succeeded the second frame. The contractors were Messrs. Kimmis & Powers, at a bid of $3,400. The A divis- ion enrolls, at present, fifteen males and twenty females — Mr. E. N. Jump, teacher. Room B enrolls twenty-one males and twenty-one fe- males — Miss Mary Jones, of Bucyrus, teacher. The interest manifested by the citizens in school matters is sufficiently evinced by the fine buUd- ing, considering the limited number of pupils ; and the choice of such competent instructors as the present corps. r 'rym SuJ^ ^JAI^^^ ^- (2 S^ ^ ® HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 623 l^ CHAPTER XXIII. CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP — DESCRIPTIVE— EARLY SETTLEMENT — INDIANS — CRANBERRY MARSH- INDUSTRIES— NEW WASHINGTON— SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES, Andrew Jackson was elected President of the THIS township derives its name from the extensive cranberry marsh lying in the southwestern part. As far as can be learned, the date of its creation was irrevocably lost when the court house was burned, soon after the organization of the county. The township is peculiarly situated, comprising land lying on ei- ther side of the eastern boundary of an extensive tract of land, known after 1820, as the New Pur- chase. The three tiers of sections on the east belonged to the " Three- ]Mile Strip,'' a narrow tract of land lying next east of the boundary mentioned above, and the tier of sections on the west and the fractional tier lying next east of the western tier, were portions of the New Purchase. That portion of the township lying east of the eastern boundary of the New Pur- chase, was surveyed in 1807, by Maxiield Lud- low, but it was not until after 1820 that the remainder of the township was laid out into sections. In February, 1820, the Ohio Legis- lature passed an act to organize a number of counties out of the eastern side of the New Purchase, and Crawford County was among the number organized. These new counties were surveyed and laid off into townships and sections, but the townships were at first known only by their numbers and ranges. Afterward, when settlers began to come in, the townships were christened, so to speak, and the necessary officers elected. The boundaries of Cranberry have been frequently changed, and, in early times, were not as they are at present. When it first received its name is indeterminate, but it is quite certain that, in 1827, it was known as Cranberry, and, at that time, in- cluded the present Chatfield Township, and perhaps others. This is true, because, when United States for his first term, the few settlers in Chatfield came to the cabin of Joshua Chil- cote, in Cranberry, to poll their votes, render- ing it certain that the latter township had been created a year or two previously, and that its officers had been duly elected. There were some fifteen or sixteen votes cast at the time, seven of them coming from Cranberry, and the remainder from Chatfield or other townships. In the year 1835, when Sandusk}' Township was divided and Jackson Township created, Sections 34, 35 and 36 were annexed to Cran- berry, and, as near as can be learned, the township at that time took its present size and shape. It lies wholly on the northern slope of the Ohio water-shed, and is drained on the northern and eastern sides by several leading tributaries of Huron River, and on the western side by Sycamore Creek, a winding branch of Sandusky River. This creek has its source in the cranberry marsh. The surface of the township is generally flat, though in the north- ern half it becomes gently undulating. Here are seen evidences of those glacial ridges which run east and west across Northern Ohio, although they are broken and irregular. The soil is deep and black, and largely alluvial in the southern half, while in the northern portion it assumes a lighter color, and contains quite a percentage of course sand and heavy, tenacious clay. This clay is excellent for brick, tile and pottery, and has been thus used. The soil has great strength, and year after year the same crop can be raised on one piece of land, with- out any appreciable decrease in the quantity or quality produced. The drift deposits are deep, and no stream has yet cut through them ^i= 5) Vy " ll>L 624 HISTORY or CRAWTORD COUNTY. far enough to expose the underlying rock. No quarries have yet been opened. A few sulphur springs and wells are found, though there are none of any great value or note. The soil, from the earliest times, has sadly needed artificial drainage, and it has only been comparatively late that the large ponds of stag- nant water have been turned into some of the neighboring streams. Until about twenty-five years ago, the cranberry marsh (or " mash," as it was called by the old settlers) was never wholly dry, and, during wet seasons, the water, in many places, was two feet deep. This is the largest and almost the only cranberry marsh in the county. It comprises about two thousand acres, and was known far and near by trappers and hunters in early years. All the varieties of game, whien pursued by the hunter or his dogs, would " take a bee line " for this marsh, as its impassable and intricate mazes, Uke those of the Cretan labyrinth, became an exasper- ating perplexity to those wishing to get out. It was here that many an exciting hunt took place in winter time, while yet the Indians roamed the forest aisles. This marsh was well known to all the early settlers in neighboring townships, who came, when the water was cov- ered with ice, to trap wolves, foxes, mink and other fur-bearing animals. Prior to 1820, the larger varieties of animals abounded, and the enterprising hunter, if he had the necessary courage and skill, could penetrate the marsh and kill a panther or bear. But the rapid set- tlement of the surrounding country, and the in- crease in the number of skillful hunters, soon drove these animals into regions farther re- moved from human habitations. The Indians also soon found that they had no interests in common with the white race, and they, too, turned toward the setting sun, no doubt sor- rowfully thinking — " Oh, why does the white man follow my path, Like a hound on a tiger's track ? Does the flush on my cheek awaken his wrath ? Does he covet the bow at my back ? " There were extensive camps of nomadic Wy- andots in the northern part of Cranberry as late as 1825, but after that their visits became less frequent, and, in 1835, had ceased alto- gether. A large band of them had, for many years prior to 1825, camped, during the hunt- ing season, on a small stream in the northern part. The Ipcation was quite valuable, as, dur- ing the winter, the frozen swamps were easily penetrated, and afforded excellent trapping and hunting ground. There was an enchantment about the circular hunts that was irresistible ; and it must have been wildly exciting to see several hundred Indian hunters surround half a township, and then begin to move toward a common center, hallooing and beating up the bushes, driving the frightehed animals before them. Often scores of animals of different va- rieties were inclosed within the " magic circle," and, greatly frightened by the whooping and noise, ran wildly from side to side until com- pletely tired out, when they were shot. In the winter of 1824^25, about seventy-five Indians organized a big hunt, just after a deep snow of about fifteen inches. It had thawed some the day before, and the surface of the snow was covered with a thick crust. There had been bitterly cold weather for several weeks, and the swamps and marshes were frozen solid, and upon this came the deep snow. The Indians had foreseen that it would be an excel- lent day for the hunt. In order to secure as much game as possible, the hunters surrounded a section of country about five miles in diame- ter, the center of which was the cranberry marsh. Five or six white settlers were present — Charles Doney, George Byers, possibly one of the Chilcotes, and one or two from Auburn Township. The march began about 9 o'clock in the morning, and was purposely slow to give the frightened animals abundant opportunity to become tired by constant running. About 11 o'clock, the lines were closed enough to make it advisable to begin the slaughter, as r Al ^^ HISTOBY OF CBAWFORD COUNTY. 635 otherwise the animals might break through the line and escape. A small herd of deer, seven or eight in number, were killed. Several red foxes, wolves and wild-cats shared the same fate. The hunt was barren of anticipated re- sults, and the hunters, one and all, were sadly disappointed. Expressions of mortification came in guttural tones from all sides. One old Indian, the chief of the band, scowled and said, " Ugh ! no bear ; hunt no good." The hunters had felt sure of several bears and panthers. At the time of the hunt, there were only three or four families in the township ; but, in 1833, the settlement began in earnest. The land was wet and unproductive, and the earliest settlers who desired farms passed on to drier localities. It thus came to pass that adjacent townships were settled earlier than Cranberry. But it was soon seen that, on account of the rapid settle- ment of the country, the low land was destined to be reclaimed, and the pioneers began " buying for a song " large tracts of swampy land. Even the cranberry marsh, which no one at that day imagined would ever be dry and finally culti- vated, has been cleared and drained, and in a few years more will be turned up with the plow. The first settler who purchased the marsh (and his name is forgotten) came to the conclusion, as he naturally might, that the cranberries that grew therein were rightfully his, and that whoever came in to gather them, without his sanction, was a trespasser and could be summarily dealt with. He therefore announced that no more berries were to be gathered without his permission. As might be expected, no one paid the least heed to his wishes, but continued to gather even more ex- tensively than before. This led to numerous quarrels, that only ceased when the berries grew no longer in paying quantities in the marsh. The name of the first settler is so uncertain, that conjecture is presumptuous. Even the early traditions throw no light on the subject. The probability is that no cabin was built until after 1820. A Mr. Bergin settled on the old Cory farm as early as 1824, and very likelj^ the year be- fore. He built a small log cabin, which was raised by several settlers from Auburn Town- ship, who were his nearest neighbors. By 1826, he had cleared a number of acres, and fenced them with rails. Aaron Coryj who came to the township in 1826, and who became one of its most enterprising and respected citizens, was of Scotch descent, and was an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He pos- sessed great personal magnetism and an iron will, and did a vast amount of good in founding and encouraging church and school organiza- tions. He came from New Jersey to Tuscara- was County, Ohio, in 1802, and, after remaining there a number of j^ears, changed his residence to Kichland and Wayne Counties. He remained in Cranberry Township until his death in 1834, at the age of sixty years. Since 1826, the Corj'S have been among the most distinguished and far-seeing citizens in the northeastern part of Crawford County. Thomas, the son of Aaron Cory, was a man of great natural prac- tical ability, and served with singular fidelity in various positions of honor and trust. Nor have the present generations of the family de- teriorated in intellectual vigor or moral and social usefulness. One of the county's repre- sentatives in the Ohio Legislature is James E. Cory, who was the author of several legislative enactments, and who is just beginning his ca- reer of utility to the county. The family are distinguished for intelligence and uprightness of character. In the year 1825, Charles Doney built a log cabin near the cranberry marsh. He was a skillful hunter and trapper, and very likely came to that locality for the purpose of trap- ping the fur-bearing animals in the marsh. There was a long, narrow, winding ridge ex- tending out into the center of the marsh. This ridge was first brought to the notice of ^ i Ll>> 626 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. trappers by Mr. Doney, and soon became known as Doney's Point, a name it yet retains. K the Indians knew of its existence, they never communicated their knowledge to the settlers, perhaps for the reason that they did not care to have their trapping-grounds in- vaded by the white men. Doney had come from the Nutmeg State a few years previously, and had first located in northern Richland County ; but, having to depend largely upon his rifle for a living, and the game having be- come scarce and shy in his neighborhood, he sold his land and hired a neighbor to convey himself and family to his newly erected cabin in Cranberry Township. He cleared suflScient land to furnish a garden, abundantly large enough to satisfy his ambition to labor ; but, after it had been fenced, his time was spent in trapping, hunting and preparing the skins for market. He became well known to the In- dians, who did not like the idea of so skillful a hunter settling near the marsh. His remain- ing there could but result in loss to them- selves, and they began to destroy his traps and steal the animals caught therein. They con- tinued to annoy him for some time, stealing many valuable furs from him, and, though he began to exercise vigilance and to watch care- fully, he was unsuccessful until one morning, having visited one of his traps, he discovered that an Indian had preceded him, had torn the log trap down, and had stolen the animal it contained. He started rapidly in pursuit, knowing that the thief could not be far away, and hoping to catch him before he reached the reservation. He was fortunate enough to sur- prise the Indian, who turned quickly around to see the rifle aimed at his head. The Indian made a movement as if about to leap behind a tree, but Doney sternly commanded him to stand still or be shot. He ordered the Indian to cast his rifle and tomahawk upon the ground, and the crestfallen redskin reluctantly obeyed. Doney was much the larger and stronger man, and he determined to give the thief a thrashing that would not soon be for- gotten. He took the ramrod from his gun, and, stepping up, began laying it with all his strength across the back of the astonished brave. The Indian did not utter a whimper dur- ing the whole flagellation, although the blood flowed freely from his back. Finally, Doney told him to " G-o ! " a command that was obeyed with greater haste than dignity. The traps were not molested after that event. The chastisement had wrought a radical cure. About the time Aaron Cory located in the township, George Myers and Joshua Chilcote also came in and built their cabins. Myers purchased the land where New Washington now stands, and afterward became closely identified with the early history of that village. Chilcote located about a mile and a half south- east of New Washington. He had come from one of the Eastern States a few years before, and had settled in Columbiana County, Ohio ; but, when his land there arose considerably in value, he sold out and came farther into the unsettled forest in order to purchase a larger tract of land with the money at his disposal. He had five sons — John, Nicodemus, James, Joshua and Heathcote — and two or three daughters. These children married and settled in the neighborhood of their father's farm, and afterward became prominent citizens. The father was a man of great energy and decision of character. He served at diflerent times in nearly all the township offices, and was influ- ential in opening up many of the early roads. His descendants are yet living in neighboring counties. A young man named "Oak" Tyn- dal married one of his daughters in about 1827. This was probably the first marriage in the township. Two years later, a young Teu- ton named Zipsie came to Squire Boner and asked for explicit directions as to the modus operandi of getting married. Boner informed him of the legal steps necessary, and, about ihL^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 627 two days afterward, early in the morning, be- fore the Squire had left his bed, the young fel- low again presented himself, accompanied by his '' future happiness," and said he had come to get married. The Squire " tied the knot," and the happy couple departed. About a week afterward, as Boner was weeding his garden, Zipsie appeared and came up to him with face wreathed in smiles. He shook the Squire cordiallj- b}' the hand, and exclaimed, "Wie gehts, Mishter Boner, wie gehts ! you did got me a firsh shtratewife dot time." The Squire congratulated the happy fellow, and in- formed him that married life was always the happier, to which Zipsie warmly assented. James Boner, who served man}' years as Jus- tice of the Peace, settled in southern Cranberrj' about 1828. He was an intelligent man, and did much in after years to render the township an inviting locality for settlers. Jacob Shafer, Jacob Boyer, Christopher Faulk and one or two others established themselves near New "Wash- ington in 1830. Three years later, a large German emigration arrived and located in dif- ferent parts of the township. Among those who came were George Donneuwirth, George Klein, Warner Raug, Joseph Worst, John, William and Armstrong Irwin, William and Arthur Tiklou, William Scott, William Hoover, Henry Koehler, George Seifert, George Soiter, Jacob Sangloff, Fred Weaver, Timothy McCarty, George Strohacker, Michael Hartneck, Adam High, Jofin Robinson and many others. Nearlj^ all these settlers came diret^tl}- from (Germany to Cranberry Township. As far as possible, they chose the higher lands, but many of them built their cabins on the ridges that rose almost like islands from the swamps. They seemed to have a reckless disregard for ague and the various types of malarial diseases. With no hope of seeing the land drained for twenty or thirtj' years, they went to work to let in the sunlight, and to let out the stagnant water. After many years, this course brought the desired result, but not without all the accompanying hardships and self-denials. The settlers were quiet, un- obtrusive and industrious. The cranberry marsh furnished an abundant harvest of berries, and it also famished to those of sufficient skill valuable returns in the way of furs. The cran- berries grew on short stems on the under side of long, wiry vines that crept over the mosses and sedges growing in profusion in the marsh. The vines did not grow on the dry ridges, but sought the wet grounds, often growing out of the mud, which was covered with several inches of water. Cranberry picking was extensively en- gaged in by all the neighboring settlers, many of whom made no little money in the business. In 1824, the berries sold for 20 and 25 cents per bushel. They steadily increased in value, the market for them always being active. In 183.5, they were worth 75 cents per bushel, and, in 1850, had arisen to about $2. Those gathering the berries — men and women — wore long- legged boots to keep out the water, and as a precaution against snake-bites. A section of plank, from a foot and a half to two feet long, and about a foot wide, was taken, and around one end was bound a tough band of hickory bark, forming a sort of box. The other end of the plank was serrated, the teeth being about eight inches long. Two handles were attached, and the rude implement thus com- pleted was used in gathering cranberries. The teeth were placed over one of the long, slender vines, and the implement was held so that, when it was pushed along, the berries were scooped into the box at the other end. Fifteen or twenty bushels were often gathered in one day with this implement. The cranbeny season began the latter part of September and lasted nearlj' two months ; or, rather, it lasted all winter and the next spring. But few were gathered in the winter, however, owing to their being frozen in the ice. As soon as the ice had thawed in the spring, the gathering began again, and the berries obtained at this season iiL 628 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. were considered better than those gathered in the fall, as less sugar was required to prepare them for the table. Whole families turned out during the cranberry season, and the marsh swarmed with settlers, some of whom came many miles and remained several days, camp- ing in their wagons. When a sulBcient quantity of berries was gathered to fill the wagon-bed, thej' were taken to Sandusky, or some other city, and sold. Some families, desiring to make the most of the marsh, picked day and night while the season lasted. The berries were heaped on some dry mound near by, and a member of the family was detailed to guard and clean them, while the remaining members picked as fast as they could. Although hun- dreds of bushels grew in the marsh, they were usually all gathered long before the season had closed. Several incidents are related where the gatherers were severely bitten by rattlesnakes, though no cases are recollected where death re- sulted from the bite, except, perhaps, the death of the snake, an inevitable result of the reptile's indiscretion. Joseph Smith and Robert Hilburn were one day picking in the marsh, when they were startled by a piercing scream near them, and, glancing quickly around, saw a woman, dis- tant about twenty rods, throw her arms wildly in the air and sink fainting upon the ground. They ran to her assistance, and, as there happened to be no water near, Robert plunged his arm down into the mud, forming a well after a small pat- tern, which was quickly filled with muddy water. This was dashed copiously in the face of the unconscious woman, who soon revived. She said she had been bitten by a rattlesnake, and showed a small wound just above the ankle. The flesh had already begun to swell, and Smith took from his pocket quite a quan- tity of "dogleg" tobacco, and, having moist- ened a moderately large " quid," applied it to the wound. After a few minutes, this was re- moved and another portion applied, and the operation was repeated until all the tobacco had been used. The woman recovered from her nervous shock and arose to her feet. She had had enough of cranberry picking that day, and started for home. Her name has been for- gotten. After she left, a large rattlesnake was killed about a rod from where she had fallen. It was evidently the same one that had bitten her. In 1855, the marsh had become so dry that cranberries no longer grew there in pajing quantities. It must be remembered that cranberries, when first gathered, were fuU of leaves, moss and grass, and had to be cleaned before they were taken to market. A sort of ladder was made, having the cross pieces about an inch apart. When emptied upon this rude seive, the berries fell through the slits, and the grass, etc., was collected on the slats. Large quantities of berries were cleaned in a few hours bj' means of this rude screen. Nothing in the way of saw or grist-miUsi tanneries, manufactories, schools, villages, or churches, was established until after 1830. Prior to that time, flour and meal were obtained about twenty miles north on the Huron River, except, perhaps, small quantities, which were obtained at the horse-mills — two or three — ^in Auburn Township. Household suppUes were obtained at stores in Huron and Richland Counties, or, after 1823, at Bucyrus. Some where about the year 1836, Nicodemus Chil- cote built a log grist-mill on Broken Knife Creek, in the northwestern part. Quite a sub- stantial dam was made by piling logs and brush into the bed of the stream in the fall of the year, when but little water was flowing. Upon the brush and logs, large quantities of earth, as stony as could be found, were heaped, and the whole dam was strongly braced by logs being driven in a standing position in the ground and resting against the lower frame- work of the structure. Large quantities of water were collected and used economically as fast as grain was brought to be ground. ;v ii:^ HISTORY or CBAWPORD COUNTY. 639 The usual "nigger-head" stones were used, and it is said that quite a superior article of flour was furnished. How long the mill remained in operation is uncertain. It proba- bly ran six or seven years. Mr. Chilcote also operated a saw-mill at the same time. The two mills were on opposite sides of the race, and both were built of logs, although the grist- mill was quite a large building. Both stopped running about the same time. Jeflferson Wal- lace began making cabinet- ware in the southern part, as early as 1842. Man}' of the citizens procured useful articles of household furniture from him. The furniture was usually made of the best walnut timber, and was substantially, rather than artistically, made. But little in the way of mechanical work was done outside of New Washington. The earliest settlers went to meeting, and sent their children to school, in Auburn Township. It is difficult to realize the trials under which the early settlers labored. When a husband and wife, having a large family of almost helpless children, leave the enjoy- ments and protection of settled localities and branch out into the forests for a home, where no white foot has yet pressed, and, from the unending swamps and heavy woods, endeavor to make a living, an heroic courage is shown which is rarely seen in the present age of " sickly sentimentality." Such a course requires a superior courage — a courage that is repaid in nothing but self-sacrifice and self-denial. And yet settlers were happy. They became inured to poverty and kindred hardships, and the mobile characteristic of human nature to derive pleasure from any and all surroundings asserted itself Abundant venison was obtained at first, but, after a time, this became scarce, and often the cabins contained no food for da3fs together. Flour and meal were obtained by pilgrimages to mill on horseback, and, when thus obtained, were necessarily in such limited quantities that three or four bakings for a large family used the whole of it, and the jour- ney had to be repeated, or the family must go without bread. The central figure in the township, since 1833, has been the village of New Washington, which had its creation at the time of the Ger- man emigration into the township, and since then has been the principal emporium for the citizens. As previously stated, George Myers, in about 1826, purchased the land upon which the village now stands. His cabin stood near the present site of the grist-mill, and was a small, unpretentious building, constructed of round logs. He was industrious, and instead of trj'ing to earn a living by roving the woods in quest of game, or by spending his time in endeavoring to outwit his neighbors in the cranberry business, he began to clear the tim- ber from his land, and to cut channels and trenches to convey the stagnant water into the neighboring streams. He was a short, chubby man, with heavy whiskers which stood straight out from his face, giving him the appearance, as some said, of a "chipmunk.'' This fancied resemblance procured for him the appellation of " Chipmunk " Myers, a name by which he was familiarly and universallj^ known. He was very energetic, and, in time, broke himself down with hard work. By 1833, he had about thirty acres cleared, fenced and under cultiva- tion, part of which is now the business center of New Washington. On the 3d of September, 1833, he secured the services of T. C. Sweney, the surveyor of Crawford County, and laid out thirty-one lots from a portion of his cleared land. He named the village New Washington, possibly appending the adjective to prevent the world from confounding his protege with a town of the same name on the Potomac. The sale of lots immediately began, but the growth of the town at first was slow. It was sufficient- ly removed from any extensive business center to insure quite a lively trade, and the result is that the town has been blessed from the first 1j? ul^ 630 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. with merchants who were well patronized. Thus, business men found it to their advantage to keep on hand large stocks of flrst-class goods. Jacob Hoover was likely the next one to erect a dwelling in the town. His cabin was located near the northern limits, and, like that of Myers, was built of round logs. Hoover's hab- its differed materially from those of Myers. He was a great hunter, and, like his brother Nimrod, looked down upon work as degrading in its tendencj'. He probably came to the township a short time before 1830. In 1835 or 1836, a Mr. Hussey erected a double log cabin, and brought the first stock of goods to the town. His first stock, valued at about $800, was purchased in Sandusky Cit3'. He kept a gen- eral assortment of goods, including whisky, one of the supposed "necessities of life.'' In 1842, he traveled north, and, while sailing in a vessel on Lake Erie, a heavy gale arose. After sev- eral hours of struggling with the mad waters, the vessel was wrecked, and !Mr. Hussey was drowned. His body was never recovered, and yet lies entombed in the silent waters of the lake. His widow continued the mercantile business after his death, and, a number of years afterward, became the wife of John A. Sheets. These old people are yet living in the town. After his marriage, Mr. Sheets increased the stock of goods left by Mr. Hussey until it was worth several thousand dollars. He filled his store with excellent goods and soon had an ex- tensive trade. He retired a number of years ago, and left his sons in charge of the business. They now have about .$7,000 worth of goods. Volney Powers brought the second stock of merchandise to the town. His trade was not so extensive as that of Sheets, though he did a thriving business. His store was secondary to his ashery, which was one of the most extensive in the county. He paid cash for ashes, or gave goods from his store in exchange for them. He made it worth while for the citizens to save their ashes, which were brought to his ashery in sacks, or loose in wagons. He continued making excellent "pearl ash" for about eight years, turning out an average of nearly fifteen tons per annum. A large farm near the town was owned by him, and men were employed to cut and burn the timber, preserving the ashes for use at the ashery. Store-keepers, in earlj' times, could not de- pend wholly upon their trade for a living. They were usually compelled to engage in a variety of pursuits, while conducting their stores. They had their tanneries, asheries or farms, running them conjointly with the mer- cantile business. They ordinarily dealt in furs, often buj-ing large quantities during the winter and shipping them to the East. Manj- specu- lated in wool, and, as time went on, increased their dealings, realizing failures or fortunes. These were the early conditions of affairs in Xew Washington. The names of many of the earliest settlers in the town have faded from the minds of the present generation. As near as can be ascertained, however, there were in 1836, about seven families living in rude log- cabins of divers patterns and sizes. Adam High was one of the early residents. He was an old man when he arrived and had considera- ble money, which was partly invested in real estate, and partly put out at interest. His cabin was probably built in 1834, and some say it was the second in the town. His son Valentine opened a blacksmith-shop in about 1837, and worked at the trade many years. He did not confine his whole time to this trade, however, but erected suitable buildings, sunk five or six vats, and began dressing skins, an occupation he followed for about eight years. The village had a population in 1840 of nearly fifty, to which scarcely no increase was made for twenty years. Though small, it was lively and prosperous. Robert Robinson was another early resident. He was a cobbler, and probably built his cabin the summer before the village was laid out. He began to manufacture shoes ^ ^1 !i^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 631 in 1834, emploj'ing three men and keeping sev- eral hundred dollars' worth of stock on hand. He was a tanner, preparing his own leather at a small building a few rods from his shoe shop. He sank five or six vats, and turned out more leather than was required in his shop, and sold the surplus in BucjTus. In about 1845, Mat- thias Kibler bought Robinson's tannery, to- gether with all the apparatus used in running it. This man remained in the town until his death, a few 3-ears ago. He did as much as any other man to build up the village and peo- ple it with sober and intelligent citizens. The tannery, under his management, became the most extensive ever in the township. He had begun the business about ten years before, a mile or two south of New Washington, in a small round-log building, beginning with four vats. He steadil}- increased the scope of his occupation, after locating in the town, until he became widely known as a first-class tanner, and his leather commanded the highest market price in Bucyrus and neighboring towns. He took an active part in hurrying up the early school interests, and it was greatly due to his influence that the citizens arose from their lethargy in educational affairs, and erected commodious and comfortable log schoolhouses in the town, and in neighboring school districts. He served in manj' of the township offices, always with credit to himself It was largely owing to his efibrts that the township was early divided into school districts — eight in number — and the citizens induced to furnish their children with ample school privileges. At the time of his location in New Washington, he purchased a tract of land adjoining the town, and, in subsequent j'ears, made an addition of lots to the original village. One of the princi- pal streets bears his name. When the addition was made, and how many lots it contained, are not remembered. Mr. Kibler was also the first Mayor. His death, a number of years ago, was greatly lamented by his friends. His son Jef- ferson has charge of the tannery, which has about twenty vats at present, and is doing an excellent work. In the 3'ear 1844, William H. Pratt and family came to New Washington. This man was a skillful carpenter and millwright, and has been a prominent resident of the town ever since. He erected a large work shop and be- came an extensive building contractor. Evi- dences of his design and skill are seen through- out Cranberry and adjacent townships. He was not contented with the idea of plodding through life as an ordinary workman ; and, imbued with the enviable conceit of believing himself made of " sterner stufl^','' te brought intelligence and natural genius to the aid of his hands. He has the reputation of having been one of the best building contractors in the county. Fifteen men were employed to work in his shops, and, for about eight years, the business was carried on extensively. At the expiration of that time, he sold out and soon afterward opened a provision store and saloon. He began dealing in furs, buying all he could obtain. In 1859, he invested over $2,500 in skins, which were shipped to Eastern cities, and large profits were realized in their sale. The business proving very profitable, he purchased several well-trained fox and coon dogs, and began an active crusade against all animals whose skins were worth taking. In the winter of 1859, by means of his dogs and traps, he caught twenty-seven mink, twenty-two red foxes, over a hundred coons and several wolves. The mink skins sold for $4 and $5 each ; coon skins for from 75 cents to $1.50 ; fox skins for from $1 to $2 ; wolf skins for about .$1, exclusive of the bounty, which was several dollars. So extensively was the hunt carried on that, in a few years, skins could no longer be obtained in paying quanti- ties. A few years after opening his provision store, Mr. Pratt sold out that branch of his stock, substituting in its place about $2,000 ±iL 633 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD CQUNTY. worth of drugs. He continued the drug store and saloon for many years, and, in his own language, " made lots of money at it." He owned and ran a steam muley saw-mill for about four years, soon after 1850. The mill was afterward owned by Cuykendal, Delancy, Lance, Pifer, Bacon and at present by George Hildebrand. In 1871, Mr. Pratt erected a large planing-mill, making all the machinery and apparatus himself After running ten years (until the spring of 1880) it was sold to Anthony Harman, who now owns and man- ages it. Mr. Pratt is yet living in the town. In 1850, a number of men with considerable capital at their command, concluded to build a foundry in New Washington. This intention met the warm approval of all the townspeople. All were interested in the success of the enter- prise, and looked anxiously for its completion. Carpenters were employed, quite a large build- ing was erected, and the furnace and all neces- sary implements were placed therein. Every- thing looked bright and promising. But alas ! to the disappointment and sorrow of all, the en- terprise collapsed ; not a stroke of work was done ; the furnace and implements were re- moved ; the owners, like the prodigal son, " wasted their substance with riotous living," and the building, once so full of promise, was devoted to other uses. The failure produced no lasting impression on the townspeople, ex- cept, perhaps, to steel their hearts against intemperance and debauchery in any form. Various industries have arisen from time to time, and it has occasionally happened that they proved unprofitable, and the proprietors have been compelled to suspend business ; yet not one of them has failed so ingloriously as the foundry undertaking. The little city, like all public marts, has met numerous disasters, and has had its " ups and downs." At first, its growth was slow — almost at a stand-still — ^and it was not until after the township was weU settled and improved, and the farmers in pros- perous circumstances, that the village began to increase in population to any noticeable extent. Soon after 1850, quite a number of new houses were erected ; several new industries arose ; tradesmen began to appear, and business inter- ests^ generally underwent a revival. This was not suddenly, but slowly, during a period of about ten years. It was not long before the census enumerator discovered that the village had over 100 inhabitants, and ten or twelve years afterward. 200 were announced. All town characteristics had increased in a corre- sponding degree, except, perhaps, the liquor traffic, which seemed to have taken the lead of other business in early years, and meant to keep it indefinitely. There has been no time since 1835, that liquor could not be had — for the money. And yet, those who imbibed were usu- ally orderly, .taking their potations silently and enjoying (?) them silently. The population, not only of the town but of the township, has been largely German. Thus, this division of the county was blessed with a quiet, steady, in- telligent class of citizens. For a number of years, the townspeople have felt the need of a grist-mill nearer than the Huron and Sandusky Rivers ; so, in 1854, a man named Johnson was induced to build the present mill, which he did at a cost of about $4,000. The necessary steam apparatus and three sets of stone were placed in the building. Since its erection, the mill has had all the grinding it could do. It furnished excellent flour, especially of late years, and soon commanded a large patronage from the surrounding country. It is running actively at present, and considerable flour is shipped to other localities. The village has a large, commodious town-hall, the upper story being used by the Odd Fellows. It also has a jail that is said to be superior, in point of strength, to the one at Bucyrus. So far as can be remembered, the first doctor was Dr. Stouteneour. He was succeeded by Mainey, Wandt, Hershiser and Benner. One «? i i?r , 4^—^ ^i^ HISTORY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. 633 lawyer, J. H. C. Elder, has lately made his ap- pearance. All the different city occupations are represented, and the village has a present population of 701, and is yet growing. The village received its greatest impetus, when it became certain that the Mansfield, Cold- water & Lake Michigan Railroad would pass through the township, and that New Washing- ton was sure of a station. Dozens of build- ings, both public and private, began to go up from all quarters, and some of them costly and even elegant. Business interests of every kind multiplied. The population soon tripled. In- creased activity was manifest in all undertak- ings. Property rose rapidly in value. Since its creation, the town has been increased in area, by the addition of more than 250 lots. Additions have been made by Mclntifer ; Rob- inson; Pratt and Guiss; Rossman; Sharf; Guiss, Ailer and Hilburn ; Miller and Kibler. At the March session of the County Commissioners in 1874, a petition was presented, properly signed, praying for the incorporation of New Washing- ton, and, on the 4th day of the same month, the following action relative thereto was taken, as shown by the records : "The County Commissioners, after hearing said petition and being satisfied that at least fifty qualified voters actually reside within the limits described in the petition, and that said petition has been signed by a majority of them ; that said limits have been accurately described, and an accurate map or plat thereof has been made and filed ; that the name proposed for said incorporated village is proper, and suffi- cient to distinguish it from others of a like kind in the State, and that, moreover, it is deemed right and proper, in the judgment and discretion of this board, that said petition be granted, and they hereby make and indorse on said petition, an order to the effect that the in- corporated village, so named and described in the petition, be organized." Immediately after the incorporation of the village, the following oflScers were elected : Matthias Kibler, Mayor; Lewis Donnenwirth, Clerk; John Miller, Treasurer; Lewis Feith, Marshal ; J. H. Miller, Jacob Stouteneour, William Aschbaugh, Jacob Sheets, William Donnenwirth and John Tribolet, Councilmen. The village is numerically the fourth in the county. As far as can be learned, no school was taught in the township until after 1833. Prior to that time, no settler had deemed it advisa- ble to go to the expense of erecting buildings so little needed and so little thought of The earliest settlers had no time to devote to mat- ters that could be postponed. They were isolated from any settlement, or rather were on the outskirts of the Auburn settlement and, as a consequence, they were fated to endure loneliness, as well as privation and lack of edu- cational and religious privileges. If their children went to school, it was to the rude buildings in Auburn Township. In the winter of 1833-34, school was taught in a small, for- bidding structure in New Washington. The building had been built for other uses, but had been opened for school purposes. The few parents had seen with concern that their chil- dren were growing up around them with no school advantages, and with but little, if any, moral training. So they rented the building referred to, and employed some person, whose name is forgotten to teach the first school in town, and, perhaps, in the township. After that term, school was taught there every win- ter, until 1839, when a large log schoolhouse was built about a mile southeast of the village. This was attended by the town children until about 1842, when a log schoolhouse was built in the town. This building served the pur- pose until 1855, when the present schoolhouse was built at a cost of nearly $2,000. The names of the first teachers of these schools have been forgotten. At the time of the rapid growth of the village, when the railroad was 7c !) ""V [^ 634 HISTOET OF CRAWrORD COUNTY. established, and when the great increase in population filled the small schoolhouse to over- flowing with children, a new school building much larger and finer, suited to the populous condition of the town, was planned, but, for some reason, its erection has been postponed until the present. A tax has been levied, and arrangements are being perfected, looking to the early erection of this much-needed build- ing. At the time of the erection of the school- house in the village, several others were built in different parts of the township. So far as known, all the earliest ones were constructed of round or hewed logs. One was built near the present Tabor Church in 1840, and another in the northern part about the same time. Two or three years later, one was built near the eastern limits. These early buildings were used usually about twenty-five years, when the present ones were erected. The First Lutheran Church society in Cran- berry Township was organized in the spring of 1834, by the Rev. 3Ir. Stanch, who afterward visited the society and preached to it six times per year. His periodical visits were anxiously looked for by the little society, which counted the days until his appearance. Among the first members were the families of Adam High, John Seifert, George Donnenwirth, Conrad Seiter, Phillip G-angloof and 'Sirs. Hesse. They met for worship in the cabin of Adam High, who was probablj' the first Lutheran to locate in the township. At the expiration of two years, Rev. 3Ir. Maschop succeeded the first min- ister, and the members of the society deemed themselves fortunate in being able to secure the attendance of their minister once per month. That was much better than to be visited only once in two months. Rev. John Krauss was the third minister, visiting the society from 1839 until 1845. During the summer of 1840, a log church was built in the eastern part of New Washington ; but, prior to its erection, church was held in schoolhouses, and in the cabins of the members. After the erection of the church, which, though rude and small, was sufficiently large to contain the little congrega- tion, the society was placed upon firm footing, and it soon began to gain accessions to its membership. During the first few years of Mr. Krauss' ministration, he preached to the society once per month ; but soon after the church was built he began visiting it every alternate Sun- day. This state of things was very satisfactory to the membership. Rev. Mr. Graetz took charge of the organization from 1845 until 1850, preaching every Sunday and occasionally on week days. This aroused such an interest in the society, which had become large and en- thusiastic, that, in 1853, the members resolved to erect a new and larger church, which was ac- cordingly done at a cost of $2,700, including the bell and organ. Prior to 1852. the society was known as a union of the two denominations, German Lutherans and German Reformers ; but after that date the Lutheran branch of the organization became so strong, that the title, " German Evangelical Lutheran Church,'' was bestowed upon the society. At the time of the erection of the new church, the membership consisted of about sixty families, mostly of German descent, many of whom had come from Alsace and Wurtemberg. The church was dedicated in October, 1854, and, at that time, the councilmen were George Donnenwirth, Val- entine High, Jacob Utz, George Leonhardt, John P. Walter, Jacob Weil, Michael, Margaret and John A. Sheetz. Since 1854. W. Schmo- grow, H. F. Belzer, Charles Clessler and E. A. Boehme have been the presiding ministers, the Rev. ^Ir. Belzer officiating from 1859 until 1875. In October, 1879, the society celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the dedication of the church, and the following statistics were read on that occasion : Xumber of bapiisms since 183-5 892 Number confirmed since 1837 507 Number partaking of the sacrament since 1835, 10,202 w liL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 635 Number of couples married since 1855 112 Number buried since 1845 289 Present number of communicants 366 Present congregation 640 Male membership over 21 years 115 This is oue of the strongest church organiza- tions in the county, and the membership is on the increase. The Catholics did not organize a church in the township for many years. There were many of this denomination, however, among the early settlers, but they belonged to a church located on the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike, in southern Seneca County. This church was distant but about six miles, and the settlers preferred attending it rather than undergoing the expense of establishing a sepa- rate society and building a separate church. The Catholics in Cranberry had increased to such a number in 1844, that it was deemed ad- visable to sever their connection with the Seneca County church for the purpose of organizing one of their own, which was accordingly done. There were sixteen families that first organized themselves into the society, among which were those of Peter Young, John Alt, Peter Gulong, Paul Miller, Jacob Streiger, John Delaver, John Buger and Timothy McCarthy. A small frame building was erected just east of where Hil- bum's Tavern stands, at a cost of about $600. This building was used until 1868, when the present imposing structure was built at a cost of $25,000, exclusive of the gratuitous labor of the members. The church is brick, with a large square spire that rises in the air almost a hundred feet. The interior is very beautiful and costly, the walls being painted in imita- tion of mottled marble, and arranged in the form of an arcade, with a background of hard cement, relieved by groups of triple columns, crowned with capitals after the Corinthian order of architecture. The marble altar, over which stands the life-sized statue of the Virgin Mary and her child, cost almost $1,500, and fairly represents the costliness and elegance of the interior. The church is yet incomplete. A brick parsonage was erected on an adjacent lot in 1875, at a cost of $4,000. The church has had a membership of one hundred and forty families. At present there are about eighty families belonging. A few years ago a divi- sion was made in the congregation, those fami- lies living east erecting a large frame church in Auburn Township. Rev. P. P. S. Bruner or- ganized the society in 1844, since which time more than a dozen priests have had charge of the organization at different times. Rev. Michael Baker is the officiating priest at pres- ent, receiving his appointment in 1 865. The Protestant Methodists organized a so- ciety as early as 1850, and, for a number of years, met at schoolhouses to worship. Jacob Johnson was a prominent member. Finally, in 1854, a frame church was built on Section 27, where before they had assembled in a log cabin. The church was built bj' subscription, and cost about $1,400. Services are held every three weeks, and the present minister is Rev. Mr. Grimes. In about 1844, the United Brethren began holding class meetings at the residence of George Keller and others. The society was organized and began to grow. Between 1848 and 1852, the members met in a log schoolhouse near where their church stands. During this period, a large increase was made to the membership ; so much so, that it was thought best to build a church, which was ac- cordingly done during the year last mentioned, at a cost of about $800, including individual labor gratuitously given. Among the first members were the families of Peter Lash, Nicholas Whittle, Conrad Cragle, Charles Ha- german, George Keller and others. Rev. John Smith was one of the first ministers. The church is located on Section 24, and has a congregation, which, if not large, is doing much good in the township. The present minister. Rev. Mr. Ramsey, holds services every ^i ) V ^1 :>_ 636 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. alternate Sabbath. A Methodist Episcopal Church has just been built in the northern part, in the Pugh settlement, at a cost of $1,200. The membership is rapidly increasing. CHAPTER XXIV.* JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — DESCRIPTION — TOPOGRAPHY — SETTLEMENT — SOCIAL LIFE — PIONEER INDUSTRIES— INCIDENTS— SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES— VILLAGES. Townships, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Polk, and on the west by Whetstone Town- ship. It is composed of eight sections of Town- ship 20, Range 20 west, and twenty sections of Township 16, Range 21 west. The land comprising this division is well drained by the Sandusky River and its numer- ous tributaries. This river rises in the borders of Richland County, and flows through this town- ship in a northwesterly direction. Spring Run, a tributary, so called because of the springs forming it, takes its rise south of Middletown, and flows north, emptying into the Sandusky near Leesville. Allen's Run has its source in the eastern portion of the township, and enters the Sandusky east of Leesville. Another small stream rises on the Snyder farm, and, flowing north, also empties into the Sandusky. Other small streams there are in different parts of the township, and form a very complete natural system of drainage, and were all in early days utilized for water power by the pioneer. The surface of a portion of the township is such as requires artificial drainage to a limited extent ; but the eastern part is naturally rolling, though not what could be termed hilly. In the vicinity of Leesville there is an abrupt rise of land comprising an extensive ridge of gravel, com- monly called the " Hog's Back," and here are also frequent knolls of varying height, made up of gravel and stone, and continuing along the banks of the Sandusky and Spring Run. The channels of these streams are in many places dug through solid masses of rock. At the quarry of James Morrow, in Section 1, the JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP is a recently or- ganized portion of Crawford County, and lies near its eastern borders. The land which comprises it was surveyed in 1807 by Maxfleld Ludlow, and, at one time, prior to 1842, the eight eastern sections were a part of Richland County. Twelve sections west were a part of what was then known as Sandusky Township, which was twelve miles long by six miles wide. In 1835, a petition was presented to the Com- missioners of Crawford County, praying that the township of Sandusky be divided on account of the great inconvenience attendant upon its length. The petition was granted, and, accord- ingly, fifteen sections were formed into a new township, bearing the name of Jackson. When, in 1842, a four-mile strip was added to Craw- ford from Richland County, eight new sections were added to Jackson Township, thus giving it an area of twenty-eight square miles. How- ever, in 1873, the residents of the twenty western sections manifested their dissatisfaction regard- ing the unequal distribution of offices by the township as those of the eastern sections, in- cluding Crestline, controlled the matter, and gobbled the " loaves and fishes " of oflfice. On a petition being presented, a division was made, converting twenty sections of the old township into a new organization, which was named Jef- ferson, in honor of the great apostle of the American Democracy. By this division but eight sections were left of the old township of Jackson. The present township of Jeflerson is bounded on the north by Sandusky and Vernon * ContriLuted by F. B. Gossiftr. ^- 4^ HISTOEY OF CRAWrOED COUNTY. 637 banks of the river take a precipitous rise of sixty-eigtit feet six inclies from tlie surface of the water. Thirty-five feet of this ascent is composed of solid rock, belonging to the Wa- verly sandstone group. This gravel ridge is situated in the eastern part of the township, extending a trifle east of north and south for about a half-mile. This has been in use for over twenty years, during which time thousands of car-loads of gravel have been taken out by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail- road, and the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad, in the construction and repair of their respective roadbeds. That portion which still remains, rises full forty feet above the level of the surrounding countr3^ The soil of the township is good, being a clay, mingled in some places with gravel and sand. On the whole, it is well adapted for farming purposes, being excellent for both wheat and corn, and has been brought by its owners into a high state of cultivation. There was in early day a heavy growth of timber covering most of the land, comprising the usual varieties common to this section of the State, such as oak, beech, maple, elm, wal- nut and ash. Through the southwestern part of the township, the timber is not of such heavy growth as in the northern part. This is owing to the effect produced by a cyclone which passed through this section in 1820, com- pletelj' destroying the forests in its pathway. This section has ever since been known as the "windfall," and since the occurrence a new growth has come up which nearly equals the surrounding forests in size. The township of Jefferson is admirably situ- ated for farming or commerce, but there are no manufacturing establishments within its boundaries. The majority of its citizens are honest tillers of the soil, and there is some attention paid to the raising of stock. The stone quarries at Leesville are the most impor- tant commercial interest, a number of the citi- zens of Leesville and vicinity finding employ- ment here. The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway passes through it east and west and is of great value, owing to the splen- did shipping facilities it afibrds. Leesville is the largest village in the township limits, while the old village of Middletown is situated just below it. A portion of North Robinson is also in this township, lying on the western boundary line. With this preliminary description of the township, its topography and configuration, we will turn now to other matters connected with its history. Westell Ridgely was one of the first settlers in what is now Jeflerson Township. He squat- ted where the Leesville & Buc3'rus road crosses the Sandusky, about the year 1816 or 1817. A large family, consisting of four sons and a like number of daughters, accompanied him. These fair daughters, as the country settled up, became a great attraction to the young men for miles around. The marriage of Lucy Ridgely was the second marriage solemnized in the township, and was a great social event A man named Ferguson and J. S. Griswell were almost cotemporary with Ridgely, and Peter Bebout settled some time after, immediately be- low them. Thomas Ferguson was quite a char- acter among the Indians, who called him Gov- ernor, and evinced for him considerable rever- ence. He was often called upon to settle disputes and diflferences that arose among them, and between them and the whites. Jacob Fisher, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Ohio in 1816. He settled in what was then Richland County but is now Jefferson Town- ship, at a point immediately south of the gravel ridge, on land which now belongs to Daniel Welder. He purchased considerable land, pay- ing for it $1.25 per acre. He came here in a two-horse wagon, bringing his household effects and a family of eight children. He built a rude cabin of round logs, 18x20 feet, which was probably the first structure erected by a white ^ i) "^ 638 HISTOEY OF CBAWFORD COUNTY. man in the present limits of Jefferson Town- ship. Fisher lived here until 1860, when he went to Missouri, where he has since died. Kegarding him, the early settlers do not speak in high terms. He was hard-working and in- dustrious, but, at times, very dissipated, and always malignant in disposition. It is related of him that, in an early day, when other families moved in, he would engender strife among the women, the wives of his brother pioneers. To do this, he would present one woman with a pound of tea, and then tell a neighbor woman that if she would fight and whip the other, he would give her a pound of tea also. This often brought on encounters in the neighborhood, that were not altogether pleasant. Fisher would watch this unfeminine sport with the greatest pleasure. Several depredations were ascribed to his hand ; one, that he girdled a young or- chard ; and that he burned a year's crop of wheat for Daniel Krieder. He picked a quar- rel with William Mitchell, an Englishman, and during the fight which ensued, bit a piece out of Mitchell's cheek, leaving a scar which the latter carried to his grave. Ridgely, who had a distillery on his farm, also became an object of Fisher's enmity, and his grist-mill and dis- tillery were both burned one night, and a large copper kettle stolen and hid in the forest. Fifteen years afterward, it was plowed up by Kreider, and returned to Ridgely. Fisher re- marked that he, too, could have plowed it up if he had been so inclined. Christian Snyder came to the township in 1817, and settled near the eastern boundary line, in Section 17, buying 160 acres of land of Jacob Fisher, and paying for it $3 per acre. Snyder's family comprised himself and wife and eleven children. He came from Westmore- land County, Penn., in a two-horse wagon, also bringing along with him some twenty head of cattle, a drove of swine, a yoke of oxen and an extra team of horses. They were compelled to cut a road through from Mansfield to their destination, and this occupied almost a month. Jacob Snyder had been sent on ahead to erect a cabin for their accommodation. Persevering and pushing onward in the midst of difficulties, they at last arrived at their future home, ex- pecting to enter a cabin and be comfortably installed at once. Their disappointment can be imagined when, instead, they found on their arrival that only the foundation had been laid, and a rude puncheon floor constructed. Ac- cordingly, tired out with the long journey, the whole family lay down to sleep upon the bare floor, with no other covering than the clouds. They awoke in the morning to flnd themselves covered with six inches of snow, which was not in the least conducive to their comfort. They went bravely to work, however, and soon had their cabin completed. It was constructed of round logs, and stood on the site of the brick house on the present Snyder farm. The Wy- andot and Seneca Indians, who were their immediate neighbors, aided them in their work and also kept them well supplied with game and necessary food. The family grew up within the township, and several of Mr. Snyder's descend- ants are still living in the county. Among them is Peter Snyder, an old and respected citizen of Crestline, and for many years a resident of Jef- ferson. To him we are indebted for many facts concerning the early history of the township. John Adrian was a very early settler, and came soon after Snyder. He lived on what is now the Samuel Freese farm for a number of years, and here he operated a rude distillery. He came from France ; raised quite a family of children, who are scattered far and wide. Of this Adrian, it is reported that his strength was such that he could pick up a whisky barrel nearly full, and drink from the bung-hole, as others would drink from a jug. This being either true or mj'thical, one thing is maintained, that he was a man of wonderful strength, but very dissipated. He did not continue his dis- tillery long, and what whisky he did make was ^ i ;^ m-^H fti^ JtS^-TT-ZC^ (Tle-^^y^^rJ.^,:^^ ^^ HISTORY OF CBAWFORD COUNTY. 641 of a very inferior quality. Many of the bibu- lous settlers of that day often remarked that they would rather go to Adrian's for their whisky, as it was so weak that they could drink a great deal of it without becoming drunk. As a rule, however, the liquor of that day was a good article, and sold as low as $7 per barrel. Nearlj' every one was inclined more or less to its use, and it was a common accompaniment to all social gatherings. Jacob Snyder, already mentioned, was for many years a resident of the township, and at one time owned the land on which Leesville now stands. He constructed the first house in the town after it was founded, and also started a blacksmith shop, the first in the township. After 1820, the immigi-ation was rapid. Disbree Johnston and his famil}' came from Virginia and settled in the southern part. His sons are still living in Polk Town- ship. Daniel Miller came from Pennsylvania in 1822, and settled on what is now the Simon Snyder farm. This man Miller was a great hunter, and had an Indian's instinct and love for the forest. Many stories are related con- cerning him by many of the old settlers which prove that he was quite a character. He died in the township about ten years ago. In about 1825, came Henry Hershner, from Westmore- land County, Peon., and settled near Middle- town. He was a man of considerable intelli- gence, and his whole life was actuated by Chris- tian principles. He was the founder of Middle- town, and opened the first store there. After continuins it for some time, his son John came from Pennsylvania and took charge of it. He was also the organizer of the United Brethren Church, one of the first, if not the very first church, organized in the township. In 1828, Rev. Robert Lee, Sr., came to the township and bought 160 acres of Jacob Sny- der, and, the following year, laid out the town of Leesville, justly named after its founder. This gentleman is deserving of especial men- tion. He was the son of Thomas Lee, and was born in Donegal, Ireland, February 9, 1770. He emigrated to this country in 1787, and settled in Washington County, Penn. He received his education at Cannonsburg Semi- nary, and was licensed to preach. His minis- terial career was mostly confined to the State of Pennsylvania, he being one of the original members of the Presbytery of Erie. After coming to this township, he was instrumental in the progress of the town which bore his name, and also for the cause of religion. He died February 9, 1842, and his remains lie in the cemetery at Leesville. His last words were, "If it be Thy will, Lord Jesus, come quickly, that I may be at rest." A life-long friend writes thus concerning him : " As a preacher, and in his address and manner, he was a fair model specimen of the preacher of the West. In this county, he assisted in the organization of many of the early churches, and, before the erection of church buildings, his voice was lifted up in the barns and cab- ins of the pioneers, atid often in God's first temples — the groves of the surrounding coun- try." After the birth of Leesville, a tide of emi- gration fiowed steadily into the present limits of Jefferson Township, and especially in the vicinitj' of the town itself Hon. Robert Lee, Jr., came to the place with his father, and erected the first business house in the new vil- lage. He commenced in business here and continued for several years with good success. He did much to promote the welfare of the vil- lage and surrounding country, and has been a prominent man in the State and countj'. He was twice elected Probate Judge, and served with efficiency. He is now living in retire- ment at Bucyrus, an honored and respected Christian gentleman. Newton Ashcroft, living south of Middletown, came to the township in 1828, with his father's family, and settled on the present Ashcroft property. The father was a native of England, and had emigrated to 'Til J^l 643 HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. Westmoreland County, Penn. He was an early school teacher, and a man of good education, being one of the best mathematicians ever in the county, having a natural aptitude for that branch of study. In about 1830, Joseph Grledhill and family from England, settled about a mile south of Leesville, on the south side of the gravel ridge, which at one time was his propert}^ and was sold by him to the rail- road company. Here he built a rude log cabin and commenced farming, and continued until his death, several years ago. His son Joseph is still living in Middletown, and is a successful farmer and respected citizen. Col. William Robinson came in 1 830, and purchased the land on which North Robinson now stands, paying $1.25 per acre. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and a soldier of the war of 1812, in which struggle he received the title of Colonel. He was a tall, portly and fine-look- ing gentleman, and well versed in military matters. He lived in the neighborhood of the town which bears his name, until his death. He was throughout life a man universally es- teemed. For eighteen years, he was Justice of the Peace, and during all that time he never had a case tried before him, it being his rule to effect a compromise between the parties whenever possible. His son James is a resi- dent of the southeast portion of the township, and is an able and distinguished gentleman. He has held several county offices, and has represented the county in the Legislature. Another son, J. P. Robinson, lives in the vicin- ity of the village (Robinson), and is an intelli- gent and respected citizen. After 1830, sev- eral families came into the township, among whom was Dr. John McKean, who is now a resident of Crestline, but was for many years a citizen and physician in Leesville. Alexan- der Cannon came about this time, as did also Rickson Lewis. Samuel Porter Lee, a brother of Judge Lee, came with his father's family, and for many years lived in the town, but is now a resident of Jackson Township. Igna- tius Shonebaugh, Robert Parks, Elisha Castle and Peter Wert were others who came in about the same time and settled in Leesville, which, at that time, was a better trading-point than Gallon. Abraham Littler bought the Ridgely farm in 1832, and removed on it with his fam- ily. He was a native of Hardy County, Va., where he was born, June 24, 1780. He lived in Jefferson Township until his death, which occurred August 10, 1844. His son Lewis is a respected citizen of Sandusky Township, and has been a prominent official in the affairs of the count}'. In about 1835, a number of Ger- man families came into the township, many from Pennsylvania, and a number from the Fatherland, and at present a considerable por- tion of the population is German. Charles Kunkle came in that year, and settled in Sec- tion 19, where he still lives. Adam Shumaker came about the same time, as did also the Beck family. Morrison came at a compara- tively early day, and is living on the borders of the township. The Laughbaums were early settlers and settled in Jefferson, but are now residents of Sandusky. "Man is a sociable animal," says Byron, and, indeed, it behooved the early settlers to be sociable and friendly. There existed between them a bond of union and sympathy which made them brethren in the wilderness. To relieve the monotony of every-day life and toil, social gatherings were often held in the rude homes of the pioneers. When the darkness of evening set in, the floor would be cleared and the tuning of the fiddles gave warning of what was to follow. Many a merry set was danced on the rough puncheon floor of the primitive cabins, and a feeling of greater and more genuine pleasure prevailed than is com- mon now at our modern parties. Corn-huskings and log-rollings usually wound up with a mer- ry dance in the evening. Mr. James Nail, one of the oldest settlers now living in the county, # l;^ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 643 was often a fiddler for these social gatherings in the vicinity of Leesville and Gallon. The domestic life of those days was plain and prac- tical, but none the less dear to the people. The first birth in the township occurred in 1819, in the family of Jacob Fisher. The hand of death was firs laid on Jacob Snyder in 1820, who died of diphtheria. In the year following the first marriage was solemnized and was an affair of great social importance to the whole community for miles around. Eli Foglesang, of Pennsylvania, was joined in holy wedlock to Hannah Snyder, and the event was celebrated with considerable demonstration. In early days, rattlesnakes and other reptiles were very common, and were also troublesome and dangerous. "Snake stories " are generally received with little credulity, but the following can be vouched for : Blrs. Jacob Synder dispatched a large rattlesnake one morning be- fore breakfast, using an iron poker, and no sooner had she done so than others appeared on the scene of action and shared the fate of the first, until nine had been dispatched. The past history of Jefierson does not show that it was ever destined to become noted in national affairs, or to be the scene of any famous occurrence. Yet withiu its borders quite a century ago, there were enacted several scenes in the drama of Crawford's memorable campaign against Sandusky, that give it a place in history. About 2 P. M. of June 2, 1782, the American army under Crawford halted in their march to the Wyandot town, for half an hour on the banks of the Sandusky, where Leesville now stands. They then continued on their course in a south- westerly direction, and encamped for the night in Jefferson Township, near to the eastern border of the Sandusky Plains. After the battles of Sandusky and Olentangy and the capture and death of Col. Crawford, the American armj- under Williamson retreated in much the same path. By nightfall, after the battle of Olentangy, the command reached the same spot on the Sandusky where they had halted on first enter- ing the county. Here they encamped for the night. The Indians and British rangers had followed them from the last battle, and con- stantly harassed the rear. However, at night- fall, the two forces encamped within a mile of each other, the Americans taking every precau- tion to guard against surprise. In the morning the retreat was renewed, and the enemy soon commenced a fire on the rear. Two soldiers were here captured and immediately toma- hawked. Directly north of Leesville was, at the time of this memorable campaign, a camp of Delaware Indians, it being the temporary abode of a noted war chief called Wingenund, and a few of his tribe. It was on the land now owned by Joseph Brown and John Newman. Strange to say, this camp was not noticed by either Crawford or Williamson, they both passing to the south of it in their march. Another important event occurring from nat- ural causes, the scene of which was in Jeffer- son, was what is commonly called the Windfall, a fierce and destructive cyclone which passed over a portion of the township May 17, 1820. Peter Snyder, of Crestline, was a boy of six- teen at the time it occurred, and from his statement we have gained the facts concerning it. On the day of this event, Mr. Snyder was in the field plowing, when he beheld a heavy black cloud in the west, which threatened com- ing danger. He unhitched the team and put them in the barn, daring which time the roar of the whirlwind was increasing. Much fright- ened, he clambered upon the joists of the barn, but was there but a short time when the roof was carried away. Letting himself down to the fioor, he had no sooner reached it than he was struck on the back with a falling beam, infiicting a painful wound, the scar of which he carries to-day. A sudden darkness had spread over everything, and when Mr. Snyder had extricated himself from the fallen timbers of the barn, and it had become lighter, he ;f^ d^ .> 644 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. looked in the direction of the house, but saw that it too was in ruins. Rain and hail accom- panied the storm, which continued for fully half an hour. The remainder of the family were also in a drenched condition. Other fam- ilies living on the tract, however, fared no bet- ter, and a scene of desolation took the place of what was before a picture of industry and prosperity. The settlers were glad to escape even with their lives and lose all else, as many of them did. The provisions were all destroyed or unfit for use. Starvation stared them in the face. Potatoes which had been planted a few days previous were dug up and eaten. The nearest towns and settlements afforded no corn, and Mr. Snyder relates that he went as far as Coshocton in search of food, and there he was fortunately able to buj' two bushels of corn at $4 per bushel. On returning with this, the greater part of it was made into meal and hominy for food, and a portion of it planted. The forests passed over by this terrible storm were leveled to the ground, and the eflfects can still be seen in the new growth of timber in the district still known as the " Windfall." Cabins and barns were blown down ; horses and cows were swept away and killed. A great amount of misery and privation was en- tailed upon many living in the township by this unusual occurrence. Still another affair, which caused considera- ble excitement at the time, was the supposed murder of a man named Weaver, by Ridgely, who employed him as stiller in his whisky es- tablishment. There had been a quarrel be- tween Weaver and his employer, and it was supposed that he became engaged in a broil with Ridgely, and, during the melee. Weaver was killed. Nothing, however, was certainly known concerning it, although many of the early settlers considered Ridgelj' the criminal. Several of them pretended, or actually believed, that Weaver's ghost had appeared to them, and had told in detail the whole affair. From these mythical stories it appears that Weaver was in the still-house with Ridgely one evening after dark, and that in some manner their quarrel was renewed, when angry words followed and Ridgely became greatly incensed. In his hasty madness, he seized a heavy club and struck Weaver over the head a fatal blow. He then, horrified to see what he had done, dragged the body to an out-of-the-way place, and, covering it with leaves, left it, and told it around that Weaver had quit his employ. The body of the murdered man was found, but every attempt to find the criminal was futile, and no one was ever brought to justice. In the days before the war, the abolition of slavery had a hearty supporter in the person of Peter Wert, a wagon-maker of Leesville. He was commonly known as " Black Pete," and his house was one of the depots of the underground railroad. He aided the cause to a considera- ble extent, and many an escaped black had cause to remember old " Black Pete," of Lees- ville Cross Roads. He moved to Missouri sev- eral years ago, and, when last heard of, was still living. As the country became more thickly settled, industries began to spring up in various places. Taverns for the accommodation of travelers, saw-mills, grist-mills, tanneries and distilleries were soon put in operation. The first tavern in the present township limits was kept at Lees- ville, by Robert Lee, Jr., then a young man of twenty-four. It was built in 1829, and was the first house erected in the place. Mr. Lee did not long continue the business, but soon sold it to Elisha Allen, who carried it on for several years. Henry Hershner, at Middletown, also gave accommodations to the traveling public for a number of years. These " wayside inns " were great places of resort in early days, and were also welcome places of rest to the emi- grants traveling further westward. The corn which the pioneer farmer raised on his few acres of cleared land, must be ground ^^ - V f ■K HISTORY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY. 645 for food, and, as a necessity, among the earliest of pioneer industries was the grist-mill. At first, horse-mills came into vogue and were soon followed by water power, the brooks being valuable aids to this industry. The first horse-mill was owned by Christian Snyder and was located just east of Middletown. The old millstones of this rude institution are now lying at the gateway of Joseph Gledhill's yard, in the village, and are suggestive of the days when they were revolved by the sturdy strength of some farmer's horse, and when almost the life of the settlers around depended on them for sustenance. This mill of Snyder's did an ex- tensive business. People came for miles with their loads of grain, and were often compelled to wait two and three days before they could obtain their "grinding," and go on their waj' re- joicing. Oftentimes when the horses gave out or were not to be had, a yoke of oxen would turn the sweep. The mill was kept in motion, when business demanded it, day and night. The flour made was coarse and uninviting in appearance, the settlers being compelled to bolt it by hand. Westell Ridgely erected a grist- mill in connection with his distillery at a very early date, and, it may be, a short time before Snyder, but the fact is not established. This was on the banks of the Sanduskj', on land now owned by John Long, of Mansfield. It was burned in early days, however, as was sup- posed by Fisher. Jacob Snyder also built a saw-mill just east of Leesville, but did not long continue as its owner. It was bought by Robert Lee, Sr., who added a grist-mill, also a fulling-mill and carding machine. He con- tinued in this for many years, assisted by his sons, Robert, Jr., Porter and Joseph. Henry Hershner erected a saw-mill on the banks of Spring Run, near Middletown, and did consid- erable sawing. These industries continued for several years and were a source of profit, but the water dwindled in the channels of the streams, until they were no more available. As stated heretofore, Westell Ridgely and John Adrian were the early distillers of the "ardent" in this township, and the first named made a fair article, and whisky had a good sale. Jonas Hassinger started the first tannery in the township, near Leesville. These early industries, from small beginnings, have grown into larger corporations of wealth. Roads were one of the necessities of early settlement, and a blazed road winding in and out among the trees of the forest was very common. There were m an early day, two Indian traces or trails, passing through this township, one leading from near the present site of New Phil- adelphia, in Tuscarawas County, to the Indian town in Wyandot. This passed through the camp of the Delaware War Chieftain Winge- nund about the time of Crawford's Campaign. Later than this an Indian trail passed through the village of Middletown, east and west, and led from Mansfield to near Bucyrus. After the settlement by the whites, however, roads were laid out as most convenienced the pio- neer, and they were necessarily crooked, being constructed on the high places to avoid the building of bridges. Evidences of this fact still exist in the crookedness of many of the present roads in JeflTerson Township. In about 1830, the first State highway, called the Colum- bus and Cleveland road, was laid out through Middletown and Leesville, and nine miles of it was cleared and constructed bj'' the citizens as an encouragement to the enterprise and an aid to their own convenience. Another State road and mail route was from Mansfield to Bucyrus and passed through Middletown. In the course of time, other local and county roads were laid out, and to-day the roads of the town- ship are convenient, but there is not a single pike here nor elsewhere in the county, and in the winter the travel is well-nigh impossible. Fords then, instead of bridges, were common, and it was some time before bridges were con- structed. The first was over the Sandusky at ^ n r^ 4?= -'—^t^ G46 HISTORY OF CKAWPOKD COUNTY. Leesville, and was built by the citizens of the surrounding country. It was made of logs crossed and fastened down for abutments and heavy trunks of trees were thrown across. This rude structure has been replaced by a magnificent stone arch bridge, and many others of this kind are in the township. As already stated, the first village within the borders of the present township of Jefferson was laid out by Rev. Robert Lee, Sr., and called in his honor, Leesville. It was located on a quarter-section of land, bought of Jacob Snyder, and was laid off in lots which sold for S25 to S50 at private sale. Soon after the village was founded, which was in 1829, by the eflforts of Mr. Lee, several mechanics were induced to come and settle here and engage in their re- spective pursuits. Robert Lee, Jr., was the first business man in the town, and was for many years proprietor of a general store. Alexander Cannon came early and started a chair-factory on a small scale, and emplo3'ed Rickson Lewis as a painter. Dr. John McKean came in about 1830, and remained for many j-ears. Of late years, however, he has made his home at Crest- line. He was a physician of merit and was very popular and highly esteemed by all who knew him. John Lewis kept public house here, succeeding Robert Lee, Jr. Elisha Castle was the first shoemaker in the community, and Peter Wert was the first wagon-maker and blacksmith. John Teel was another early blacksmith of the township, and also started the first saloon. The first merchants were Robert and Porter Lee, who kept a general store for a number of years and were very successful. Nearly every branch of industry was repre- sented here in a short time, and the town bid fair to become a place of some commercial con- sequence, and was for some time a better trad- ing-point than any of its sister towns. The railroad, however, changed the channels of trade. Leesville has lost ground of late years. Judge Lee was the first Postmaster, and re- ceived the appointment from Gen. Jackson. He held this office for several years. William DeWalt is the present incumbent of the office, having a provision store in connection with it. Upon the opening of the stone quarries, a new branch of industry sprung up, and new houses were built in the village. These valuable quarries are on land originally owned by John Newman, and are now owned and worked by Heckert, Rupp and others, who are engaged in quarrying and shipping vast quantities of stone. The products of these quarries are said to be equal to the celebrated Berea sandstone. A number of men are employed, and make their homes in Leesville. This is the most valua- ble branch of industry connected with Lees- ville, and bids fair to increase in importance. At present the village contains a blacksmith-shop, a cabinet and shoe shop, three saloons, two gro- ceries and one general store. It has about 300 inhabitants, and has grown but little in the last few years. There are two churches — the United Brethren, organized in 1835, and the Lutheran, organized somewhat later. A new schoolhouse is in process of erection, and when completed will be an ornament and honor to the community. Middletown has become indeed a '■ deserted village," recalling to mind the lines of Goldsmith : " Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn, Thy sports are fled and all thy charms withdrawn. Amidst thy bowers the Tyrant's hand is seen, And desolation saddens all thy green." The village was laid out in about 1835, by Henry Hershner, on land belonging to the Ash- crofts, the Sn3fders and Hershner himself It was intended that this village should some day become quite a metropolis, and one of the oldest houses in the place, now occupied by Joseph Gledhill, was built without windows on its south side, as the intention was to build a large block some time in the near future. Lots were disposed of at good prices, and Henry Hershner himself opened the first store, and was \J^ r. ^r ^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 647 succeeded by his son John. Washington Modie opened a blacksmith-shop, and Jacob Hershner, a cabinet-maker, followed his trade, both with good success. For awhile it seemed as if there would soon be quite a village, but grad- ually it went down, its mechanics left for better towns, and now not a business house is in op- eration. There are two church buildings, the Methodist Protestant and the United Brethren. A portion of North Robinson lies on the bor- der line of this township, and comprises the store of Morrison Brothers, the saw-mill of Worden & Fetter, the restaurant of D. C. Spitzer, the Village Hotel of W. P. Deam, and the tile-factory of Sickman & Fate. An ex- tended history of North Robinson will be found in the chapter on Whetstone Township. Much, indeed, can be told of a township and of its people, by their church buildings and schoolhouses. These are alwaj's indices of its morals and intelligence, and convey to the stranger an idea as to the class of citizens. Wherever rises a modest church spire, one may find evidences of Christian culture that speak for themselves. Schoolhouses, well kept up, also denote the intelligence and enterprise of a community, and, considering Jefferson Town- ship from this standpoint, she is in many re- spects a favored township. After the early pioneers had built themselves cabins, the mat- ter of Christianity and religion was not neg- lected. Early after his settlement, Henry Hersh- ner organized a congregation of the United Brethren, and for many years the services were held at his own house, after which a church was erected in Middletown, which is still standing, and of which Rev. Potts, of North Robinson, is Pastor. The church was one of the earliest, if not the earliest organization in the county. There was a church erected in about 1835, on the land now belonging to John Smith. It was for many years known as the " Smith Church," but has long been torn down,and naught remains now but a small cemetery. The United Breth- ren Church of LeesviUe is the oldest church or- ganization in the village, and is in charge of Rev. Aunmiller, of Bucyrus. The English Lutheran Church was organized a short time after the - first mentioned, and is in charge of Rev. Mil- ler, of Gralion. Both churches are strong and self-supporting. In about 1860, the Methodist Protestant Church was organized at Middle- town, by the efforts of Mr. Newton Ashcroft and others, and a neat, substantial edifice erect- ed. Rev. G-rimes is the present Pastor. The German Reformed organization have a church in the southern part of the township, under the Pastorate of Rev. Lober, of Galion. Thus there is a church for every four miles of territory in Jefferson Township, while a num- ber of the citizens are connected with the churches at Crestline, Galion and Robinson. In early days. Rev. Joseph Van Deman, of Delaware, a Presbyterian preacher, was well known throughout this section, and was instru- mental in the organization of several churches in the county. Rev. Robert Lee, Sr., though he held no Pastorate after his removal here, yet did considerable in the cause of his Master, as did also his sons, who have always been devot- ed Christian workers. Jacob Newman was an early preacher, most of his services being held in the homes of the settlers. The first Sunday school held in Crawford County was organized near the northern boundary line of Jefferson Township, by David Wert, one of the pioneers of that section. One of the earliest Sunday schools in Jefierson was held at the home of a man named Worden, in about 1832. Soon after, like organizations were made in Leesville and Middletown, and have been continued ever since. "Education is the hope of a Republic,'' is the motto of some truthful writer, and when we survey the substantial school buildings in the different parts of the State, and mark what progress is being made in education, we are ready to subscribe to the same motto. The ^ ^ fe^ 848 HISTOKY OF CKAWFOED COUNTY. early pioneers of Jefferson were men of fore- sight, and deemed education necessary to pro- gression. But few families had settled in the township, when a rude schoolhoiise was built about 1824, south of Lees^^lle, near the " Hog's Back." It was constructed of round logs, and was in size about 20x24 feet. There was a large fire-place in one end, and oiled paper served as windows. The floor was a rude puncheon affair, and the seats were hewed slabs with four legs. For a writing desk, a slab was placed against the wall in a slanting position and supported by wooden pins driven into the logs. In this rude structure taught and ruled the first schoolmaster of the town- ship, David Dorn, of Pennsylvania. He was of limited education, and his pronunciation was none of the best, but rather broken. He had at first an attendance of nine pupils, for which he received 75 cents apiece per month, thus making his salary .$6.75 per month, the term continuing four months. Soon after this, a schoolhouse was erected on the Tracht place, and this was taught by David Grill. Leesville erected a schoolhouse some time after, and soon there were several in the township. A very early school was held on the farm of John McClure, in his own house. It was taught first one week by himself and another by Mr. Akers, thus continuing alternately to the end of an ordinary term. The father of Newton Ashcroft was an early teacher, and had taught considerable in Pennsylvania before coming to Ohio. He came in 1828, and spent several years teaching, and was a mathematician ex- celled by few. It was customary in those days for the teacher to "board around" with the families whose children made up his little kingdom, governed by that most righteous scepter, the ferule. As a rule, the school- masters of that day were strict and severe in their government, using the ferule extensively, with full faith in the Scripture doctrine, that " sparing the rod wUl spoil the child." Many a large pupil was pummeled promiscuously when he became a transgressor of the law. It was customary at Christmas for the teacher to " treat," and, if not so inclined, he was " barred out" of the schoolhouse. Oftentimes the larger boys made it rather lively for him, and were often encouraged by their sires. Old Mr. Ashcroft was once teaching a school where the pupils were determined that he should treat or stay out of the schoolroom. Accordingly, they barricaded the door, and upon his arrival he was refused admittance unless he would ac- cede to their demands. He was a man of great determination, and made up his mind not to be balked by a set of unruly boys. So, clambering on the roof, with several clapboards, he placed them over the chimney, a large fire being in progress in the fire-place below. In a few seconds, the whole school came out like a swarm of bees, and with tearful eyes. They were "treated" enough and resigned them- selves to their usual work. Since those days, with the progress in farming and the general improvement in the township, the old rude buildings where education was dispensed to the rising generation have given place to new, substantial and convenient structures, which are creditable to the community. These schools are the outgrowth of intelli- gence and prosperity, and, as such are the bul- warks and defenses of our Kepublic. Jefferson Township may well be proud of her schools and churches. The first, the guardians of knowledge ; the last, the guardians of morality, two elements that aid each other in the ad- vancement of the human race. •^ ®~ IW ^t HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 649 CHAPTER XXV. CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP— IXTRODUCTORY — FIRST SETTLEMENT — INCIDENTS OF THE INDUNS- INDUSTRIES— GROWTH OF VILLAGES— SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. THE charms that cluster like gems around the mysteries of the silent past, do not cease with the beginning of authentic his- tory, but linger with multiplied beauty arouud the strange myths and fairy tales that come to us through the lapse of unknown centuries. Ethnology, arohsology and philology reveal to the present age, that, thousands of years before the Christian era — unknown centuries before a means of recording human events had been in- vented — the human race lived a quiet, nomadic, pastoral life in Central Asia. Their homes and haunts became the source of many a legend or poetic tale, which reveals that primitive man was beset with the same temptations that have infested the existence of every succeeding gen- eration. Every knowa field has been care- fully searched to clear up the darkness that antedates recorded history ; but the sacrifice of time and labor by the historical investigator, has been almost wholly fruitless, and has met with but little reward except disappointment and defeat, and the early mythical traditions are yet believed to be an imperfect account of what actually transpired in pre-historic times. Since the origin of writing and printing — the most valuable invention ever given to the human race — remarkable strides have been made in intellectual and moral advancement, notwithstanding the countless events of vital importance that have been left unrecorded. History is but a record of human experience, which fact renders it of the highest importance to the race, because the probable events of the future can only be foreknown by an accurate knowledge of the detailed affairs of humanity in the past. Men or nations are wise only as they can look into the future and anticipate coming events which cast their shadows before, and this can only be done from analogy with what has taken place in the past. " The proper study of mankind is man," and history is such a study. This places the historian in the light of a public benefactor to succeeding generations ; but a prophet — one that can anticipate the future — labors on without the respect or honor of his own country and age. It might, at first glance, appear that the his- torian has an easy time in rummaging through dusty memorials or following some Jack-with- the-lantern tradition that constantly eludes him ; but he knows that the weight of the re- sponsibility of recording the truth, giving to each item its appropriate and comparative degree of importance, leaving no path partially neglected or wholly unsearched, resisting the demands of bigots who insist in having their names enrolled high on the page of honor, rests upon his shoulders like the sphere of Atlas. Nothing but patient labor brings the desired information. It thus occurs that, in looking over Chatfield Township, much diffi- culty is experienced in accumulating its past history. Traditions are vague and unsatisfac- tor}', and an accurate knowledge of all the facts is out of the question. It often occurs that no two men who are questioned give a similar account of the same event, thus adding much to the perplexity of the historian, or passing altogether beyond a successful solu- tion. A cheerful readiness to tell everything known, and to volunteer much information of events of doubtful occurrence, is met with everywhere. Men yet living, who were in the township at the time of its creation, cannot re- call such time nor the incidents connected ■>^ !±, 650 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. therewith. It is not accurately remembered who were the first township officers, and in- numerable events of great interest and impor- tance which occurred in early years have passed beyond the recollection of the oldest settlers. Among the earliest settlers were Si- las and Oliver Chatfield, after whom the town- ship was probably named, although this is not definitely known. These brothers, like all the earliest settlers, erected their cabins on the Columbus & Sandusky Turnpike, as early as 1827. They were intelligent men, of English descent, and, during their stay in the township, occupied its different offices. Silas Chatfield was elected one of the Trustees in 1833, and Oliver was elected Treasurer. After a number of years, they sold their farms and moved into some of tlie counties in the State farther west. It is likely that Jacob Whetstone, a very suc- cessful hunter, who also worked by the day for the settlers, assisting in clearing their farms, was the first to build a cabin in the township. He had a wife and family, who were supported at first almost wholly by the rifle ; but, after game became scarce and day laborers were in great demand, he worked a number of j^ears for the neighboring settlers. But this life did not suit his acquired inclination to roam in the forest, which soon caused him to sell his acre of land and journey farther into the wilder- ness, where an abundance of game was yet to be found. He was one of those wandering hunters who swept over Ohio in advance of the earliest white settlers. He had been raised in the solitude of the woods, and found greater pleasure and profit in hunting and trapping than in those pursuits at which he was a nov- ice. He often said to the settlers that came in after himself that he wa* the first man to build a cabin in the township and to live therein with his family. He was in the township several years before its creation, and he is remembered to have said on several occasions that the town- ship would have been named Whetstone in his honor, but for the fact that there was one Whet- stone Township in the county already. He lived about a mile and a half northwest of Richville until about 1838, when he moved West, and what finally became of him is unknown to the citi- zens of the township. George Stuckman must have located in the township soon after Whet- stone. He was also a professional hunter, and was often employed by the early settlers to hunt deer for them. The majority of the earliest settlers were directly from the East, and had been reared in localities where deer and other wild animals were rarely seen. They knew nothing of stalking a deer, and many of them did not know how to properly keep and load a gun. They must have deer meat, however, and hence they were accustomed to employ hunters of known skill and experience, often paying them as high as $2 per day for their services, and often receiving, by way of return for such outlay, five or six fat deer, besides a large num- ber of squirrels and other small game. Stuck- man was a squatter, and did not own a foot of land, and yet his family lived well, as far as food and clothes were concerned, and were quite intelligent people. He made a great deal of money out of furs, which were usually sold at Sandusky City, where a much better market was found than at Bucyrus. He also lived a mile or two northwest of Richville, until the popula- tion became too dense to suit him, when he moved farther west. John Henry was an early hunter, who had come to Eastern Ohio about the beginning of the nineteenth century. He lived there for several years, and afterward, at different times, kept moving westward, until he finally located in Crawford County. This must have been as early as 1824, at which time Whet- stone and Stuckman must have also appeared. He was a tireless hunter, and gained gteat no- toriety, not only as to his ability to bring in large quantities of fur and game, but also be- cause of his inordinate propensity of appropri- ating swine and other domestic animals of his ;^ A ^ HISTORY or CRAWFOED COUNTY. 651 neighbors. The enormity of the crime, at that period and under the existing circumstances, was not as great as it is at present, because hundreds of hogs wandered in the woods with- out any ear-mark or linown owner, and were slaughtered by whomever wanted fresh pork. Henry, however, was accustomed to overstep these bounds and to take hogs with or without ear-marlis, often pursuing them to the cabins of the owners. He salted down considerable pork, which was kept for sale to the settlers. It very likely often happened as was observed one day by Richard Davidson to his wife. He had purchased a barrel of pork from Henry, after whose departure Davidson remarked, '' We are buying back our own pork." Henrj' lived many j'ears in the township, but finally moved farther west. In about 1828 or 1830, there came in Richard Davidson, David Tipton, John Robinson, John Hamilton, David Clute, Ichabod Smith, John Armitage, Luther C. Flint, David Kimbal, George Champion, John Mitchell, Ira Chase, David Shaffstall, Thad- deus Kent, William McPherson and several others. These men were almost wholly of English descent, most of them coming from some of the eastern counties, where they had first settled after having come from New En- gland. They were mostly farmers, and entered their land along the Sandusky Turnpike. This was a desirable location, as the road gave them an outlet both north and south. The conse- quence was that the land along the pike was entered first, and afterward, as the road became lined with rude log cabins, built in small clear- ings in the deep woods, the land farther back was taken. Ichabod Smith was Justice of the Peace in 1833, and Richard Davidson was Township Clerk. John Mitchell and David Clute were two of the three Trustees. The records prior to this date are missing. The early hunters, who came mostly south from Seneca Countj^, lived in the northwestern part of the township. They chose this location because the land was higher and dryer than much of that in surrounding neighborhoods. The western part of the township is quite roll- ing, and, since the forests have been largely cleared away, and the eye has a chance to roam about, there is no finer appearing country in the county. Those extensive glacial ridges which extend across Northern Ohio from east to west, are found crossing Chatfleld, giving the township long but not precipitous slopes. These give the township splendid drainage, a thing that was greatly appreciated in early years. Sycamore Creek drains almost the whole township, although the northern part is drained by small streams, which flow across Seneca County into Sandusky River, and the southern part by the northern branches of the Broken Sword Creek. The soil is ^erj' similar to that in other parts of the county, being largely alluvial in the eastern part, and com- posed of more clay in the western. The bound- aries of the township were changed in 1845, although there was no increase or decrease of territory. The eastern tier of sections was an- nexed to Cranberry, while the eastern tier of Lj'kens became part of Chatfleld. This change gave the township its present boundaries and territory. Every foot of land can be cultivated, a statement that cannot be made of but two or three other townships in the countJ^ Manj' interesting incidents are told concern- ing the characteristics of the Indians, who camped in the township as late as 1830. They came every autumn and built rude wigwams in the southeastern part, near the cranberry marsh, the western edge of which touches Chat- field. They came there at the commencement of the cranberry season, and often remained all winter, the squaws, meanwhile, gathering the berries whenever the weather was favorable t while their lords and masters engaged in the manlier pursuit of hunting and trapping. After the berries were picked, they were loaded on ponies and taken to Sandusky City, where they V3' 653 HISTORY OF CEAWFOED COUNTY. were sold, and the proceeds invested in calico, trinkets and " Sandusky water." Many years before the pioneers came to the county, the In- dians had begun picking the berries, which were then taken to villages in the northeastern part of the State. They soon found it very prof- itable, and labored at it as extensively as agreed with the Indian's constitutional indol- ence. When the settlers arrived and began to domineer with the usual arrogance of the white man over the Indian, and to prohibit him from gathering berries in the marsh, contests occa- sionally arose, usually settled in favor of the white m an at the expense of his red brother. The Indians left the marsh with regret, lingering in its vicinity until necessity forced them to leave. They were largely members of the Wyandot tribe, and temporarily located in the township, coming from their reservation. One day sev- eral Indian squaws, on their way from the marsh to their reservation, saw some large, fine pump- kins in Richard Davidson's yard, and, through the ordinary process of Indian logic, came to the conclusion that they wanted a few. So, stopping at the cabin, they began making the usual unintelligible signs, and uttering the ordi- nary incomprehensible gibberish, characteristic of none but the native North American. They were offered flour, meal, pork and various com- modities, but each time their heads were shaken impressivelj^ to signify (strange as it may seem) that the offering was not wanted. At last, an old squaw seized Mrs. Davidson by the hand, and led her out into the yard where the pump- kins were, where, with sundry signs and grim- aces, she intimated her desire of loading a half dozen or so on the backs of her ponies. Mrs. Davidson bowed assent, and the pumpkins were taken away. Davidson owned a fierce dog which appeared to detest the Indians, as it would not let them approach the cabin. One day an Indian youth of about seventeen, evi- dently on a begging visit to the cabin, unaware of the unfriendliness of the dog, came into the yard before that animal was aware of his pres- ence. At the sight of the boy, the dog bounded toward him, but the young Indian nimbly caught a branch and swung himself into a tree, while the animal bayed in great fury at its foot, making it evident that the youth had had a narrow escape. After a few minutes elapsed, the family came to the door, wondering what was meant by the noise and commotion outside. They laughed as the sight of the treed boy met their gaze, but he did not seem to enjoy or ap- preciate their levity in the least, for he sat eyeing the dog with no little concern, evidently speculating as to the best means of escaping the sharp teeth of the enraged animal. The dog was quieted and the boy descended from the tree ; but the family had all they could do to prevent the animal from throttling the youth, who, as quick as possible, sought the protec- tion of the cabin. It is also related that one day a party of Indians, mounted on their po- nies, came upon a logging party of settlers in the northern part. The two parties began amicably exchanging greetings and tobacco, the latter being extensivelj' used by the red- men, and even more so by the settlers. At last, one of the settlers, whose name is forgotten, and who had acquired a great repu- tation as a wrestler, declared that he could throw down any Indian in the band, which con- sisted of about ten. After some communica- tion among themselves, one of the Indians — a stalwart young fellow with an enormous chest — accepted the challenge, and each began pre- paring for the struggle. A circle of settlers and Indians was formed, inside of which the two wrestlers took their respective positions, and the sport began. The wrestle was the fa- mous shoulder-and-elbow grip, and, for a long time, each contestant tugged and strained to throw his antagonist on the ground by main strength, or by the less tiresome sleights known to the professional wrestler. They were quite equally matched in point of strength, and for a ^r JU HISTORY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. 653 long time the issue was uncertain. At last, ■when the Indian was off his guard, the settler made a feint of tripping him, but changed his design just in the act, and with a sudden, pow- erful strain in the opposite direction cast him upon his back. He was on his feet in an in- stant, and began loudly exclaiming " No good, heap no good," but he was assured by all that he had been honorably vanquished by his an- tagonist. As in all new countries, where settlements are made, various industries began to arise in different parts of the township. David Shaff- stall built a saw-mill on Sycamore Creek, as early as 1834. The building was a frame struc- ture, sided with rough walnut and poplar plank sawed at the mill. It was run by water-power, and was located at a place where there was quite a slope of the land toward the mill on the opposite side from the stream. Often in winter, when the ground was covered with ice, advan- tage was taken of the slope and the slippery condition of the bank to roll the logs down near the mill. Woe unto the man who got in the way of one of these descending logs. Mr. Shaff- stall operated the mill for nearly twenty years, when it was sold to Frederick Hipp, Jr., and his brother-in-law, Simon Neffzer. These men added some improvements, and, after running the mill for about ten years, sold it to other parties, when it was soon afterward abandoned. A Mr. Johnson built a steam saw-mill a short distance south of E-ichville in 1855. in which was an up-and-down saw. This mill did good and extensive work. Sawing was done at the rate of 37 cents by the hundred, or on shares, one-hklf being taken by the sawyer. After running about fifteen years, it was removed to the vicinity of Bucyrus. The Tiptons began burning brick as early as 1840. Several kilns were burned and sold to the citizens. Ira Chase also burned brick about the same time, but not quite so extensively. Richard Frisbee and Na- than Anthony began keeping separate taverns on the turnpike, about a mile north of Richville, as early as 1832. It was about this time that a large emigration came directly from Germany to the township, and began entering the land so rapidly that within about half a dozen years all was taken up. Among those who came in at this time were Adam Fouser, Henry Durr, John G-. Long, John G-. Karg, Sidney Holt, Frede- rick Hipp, George Brown, Jacob Eegala, Peter Weiter, Peter Reidel, B. Biggs, David Shaffstall, Nathan Bobbins, George Widdle, Harrison Gar- ton, Jonas Tingling, Lorenzo Bartimess, John Fissell, Samuel Foote, Jacob Gross, Abraham Harmon, Timothy Park, John Scott, Nathan Rich, Jacob Nigh, Benjamin Lindsley, Daniel Brindley, Jacob Bright, Benjamin Hilliar, John Hekenlivly, Hugh Goshorn, Spencer Moffltt, James McKintry, John Burghacher, George Caruthers, Thomas Timony, William Koenig, Benjamin, John and Ephraim Clements, Truman Wilkinson, William King, Benjamin F. Royce, John Scott and his sons Isaac, Solomon, George, William and John H., and many others whose names are forgotten. These settlers located in different parts of the township, and it was not long before scores of small log cabins were erected, and the forest began to disappear be- fore these sturdy pioneers. The two taverns referred to above were located near together on opposite sides of the turnpike. Both build- ings were two-story and frame, and, it is said they were excellent houses. They had a splen- did patronage, notwithstanding the fact that they were located far from any town. There was an enormous travel along the turnpike by settlers in the central part of the State, who came with droves of hogs or cattle, or with wag- ons loaded with the different kinds of grain, on their way to the large towns in the northern part near Lake Erie. This gave an excellent patronage to the two taverns that often were called upon to furnish accommodations for a score of men, besides their teams and stock. Garton Frislen also opened a tavern in 1833, ^. '.t^ v> 654 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. about a mile north of the southern boundary of the township. Another was built in the ex- treme northern part. This gave the township an abundant supply of taverns. All these tav- erns kept open bars, and several stories are in circulation as to criminal conduct on the part of those who frequented the one on the northern boundary. It is related that disreputable men were in the habit of assembling at this tavern to gamble and carouse during the night. It is also alleged, though probably without grounds, that it was a rendezvous for a band of counter- feiters, who had several secret haunts in south- eastern Seneca County. A detective came into the neighborhood, where he remained for a month or more, evidently endeavoring to dis- cover the whereabouts of the law-breakers ; but he was unsuccessful, or perhaps he was success- ful id discovering that there were no grounds for the reports. However, after a number of years, when an old shed near the tavern was removed, a number of implements, undoubtedly designed for use in the manufacture of counter- feit coin, were found buried under a heap of rubbish. This seems to imply that there is truth in the report. A distillery was connected with the tavern. Two copper stills, whose united capacity was about thirty gallons, were placed in a frame shed-like building, and whisky of an inferior grade was furnished to those ad- dicted to the use of that drink. The ground grain was purchased at Sandusky City or Bucy- rus. The distillerv and the tavern, with its evil reputation, were conducted for about ten years, when the landlord found it to his advantage to sell out and depart for another locality. Rich- ard Frisbee was quite an intelligent and promi- nent man. Somewhere about 1833, he circu- lated a petition, which was signed by all the neighborhood, praj'ing for the establishment of a post office at his tavern. The prayer was granted, and Mr. Frisbee was appointed Post- master. This was the first post office in the township, and, after remaining at the tavern until a }'ear or two after Richville was laid out, it was removed to the latter place. This re- moval took place in about the year 1843, and Dr. A. B. Fairbank received the appointment as first Postmaster in the town. In 1837, Jacob Reidel built an asherj- near Richville. After running moderately for about ten years, it was discontinued. Those who made potash found it to their advantage to keep a small stock of goods on hand to be exchanged for ashes, as money was quite scarce ; and, the system of exchange necessarily adopted in the backwoods, obviated, to quite a great extent, the want of that medium of exchange. It thus occurred that a majority of the asheries were run in con- nection with stores. Great trouble was experienced in early years from the fact that stock wandered away in the deep woods and was lost beyond hope of re- covery, or remained away so long that its familiar appearance was no longer distinguish- able by the owner. The settlers, therefore, soon learned to carefully mark their swine and cattle, as the following taken from records in the possession of Mr. Hipp shows : " Thomas Johnson's ear-mark for liis cattle and hogs, is a square crop off the left ear and a slit in the sanbe." "John Davidson's ear-mark for cattle and hogs, is a swallow fork in each ear." " Adrian Hoblitzell's ear-mark for cattle and hogs, is a slit in both ears.'' The following is a transcript of a portion of the records of the Township Clerk, written in 1833: " Silas Chatfield and John Mitchell and Lloyd Ady and Jacob L. Gurwell and Jacob Bunce, and all apeared before me, James Adams, and was duly qualiQde within the allimitad time." The following is also quoted from the same record : '• The Trustees of Chatfield Township met on the 11th of November, 1833, and laid off the township into three school districts, commenc- r ".^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 655 ing at the northeast corner of the township and taking a strip two miles wide across the town- ship west, called District Number 1 ; Number 2 takes the two center tiers ; and Number 3 the two southern tiers." In 1837, the township was laid off into six Road Districts, three on the eastern side of the turnpike, and three on the western side. Changes have since been made in both school and road districts. There are at present living in the township about two hundred families, 190 of which are of G-erman descent, and the other ten English. Many of the Germans, though raised in the township, can speak and understand but little or no English. About two hundred votes are polled when all the voters turn out; 180 ballots are cast for the Democratic candidates, and the other twenty for the Republican candidates. It is the banner Democratic township in the countj'. About ten years ago, there were but eight Republican voters. The citizens are thrifty and indus- trious, and the present valuation of personal property is about $109,400. The Scotts were prominent settlers in the northern part. The son, John H., had been one of the contractors on the turnpike, and besides receiving considerable money for his services, also received a deed for quite an extensive tract of land adjoining the road, given him by the turnpike company as part payment for his labors. The Scotts lived in the northern part for many years, were industrious citizens, and were instrumental in adding greatly to tlie sub- stantial growth of the township in business in- dustries and general intelligence. After many years, they sold out and moved West. It was in about the year 1838 that Martin & Hilliar erected suitable buildings in the northern part, and began carding wool. The building was frame, and was two stories in height ; but the enterprise did not advance to the next higher step in the business — cloth-dressing — but con- fined itself wholly to wool-carding, which was continued quite extensively for eight or ten years, when the project, for some unknown rea- son, was abandoned, and farming was adopted, as a more profitable pursuit. About two years after the wool-carding building was erected, John Lucas, a gentleman of English descent, assisted by his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Breston, a widowed lady, began the unusual occupa- tion of rearing silk-worms from eggs obtained in Eastern cities and brought with them into the wilderness with the view of manufacturing silk. Long sheds were erected with suitable shelves on the sides, whereon were deposited the eggs, and the rooms were heated to that degree of temperature necessary for the hatch- ing of the caterpillar and its subsequent life. Here could be seen the wonderful metamor- phoses of the different changes from the egg to the repulsive larva or caterpiller, then to the apparently lifeless chrysalis, and finally to the perfect insect, or imago. A small worm, or caterpillar, was hatched from the egg by the tropical temperature, kept day and night in the room, and then began its life of usefulness un- der the care and inspection of Sirs. Breston. Seed of the black mulberry {morns nigra) was planted in boxes, to be used when the plants were several inches or more in height, as food for the larva, which fed upon the leaves. A few mulberry trees were found growing in the woods, and the small leafy branches were clipped and taken to the rooms, where they could be kept fresh for several weeks by being planted in moist earth. The most serious dif- ficulty in the successful management of the enterprise was found to be the propagation of mulberrj' plants, without which the larvse could not live and thrive. Much of the seed when planted did not grow, and the neighbors were asked to assist in the cultivation of the plants, to be paid for their labor and trouble in money or silk thread. This was attempted by many, but there it ended. After the larvae became full grown, they began to spin their cocoons of i \> ^i ±1^ 656 HISTOEY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. silk, preparatory to passing into the chrysalis state of development. Thousands of larvae were reared, and set to work at that most im- portant and useful industry of manufacturing silk, of which quite a large quantity was spun. A sufficient number of the healthier chrysa- lides were permitted to reach the imago or perfect state with a view of the propagation of eggs ; but the majority were destroyed, as their lives of usefulness terminated with the spinning of the cocoons. These cocoons were taken, and, after being moistened, the silk thread of which they were composed was unwound, and then rewound on small spools. Hundred of spools of excellent silk thread were thus prepared and taken to Bucyrus or Sandusky City, where they found a ready sale. No cloth was manu- factured, although neck-ties and ribbons were woven by Mrs. Breston. The enterprise was something very unusual for the backwoods, and soon attracted no little interest and attention from surrounding neighborhoods. Employ- ment was given to some half-dozen girls, who were intrusted with the care of the insects — no light responsibility — and instructed to place within their reach an abundant supply of fresh mulberry leaves, as the usefulness of the larvae depended upon- their healthy growth, which was rapid and desirable in direct proportion to the degree of their power of consuming food. Loads of people came from miles around to see the useful little insect pass through its various transformations, and to see it spinning its co- coons of shining silk. After the enterprise had been conducted for about twelve years, it was abandoned, because the returns realized were not commensurate with the outlay. The build- ings were located in the northeastern part of the township, near the western boundary. Mrs- Breston was a lady of unusual culture, and her people were well bred and well educated. They afterward sold out. and left tlie neighborhood, and the buildings were torn down and the lum- ber devoted to other uses. Thus ended one of the most useful industries ever begun in the township. Two villages have arisen in the township, although their present appearance and condi- tion are widelj- different from what they were in early years. At one time, they both were promising towns, where men of push and energy resided, but now they are almost wholly de- serted by enterprises of a business character. North Libertjr was the first laid out, and it was among the earliest in the county. It was one of the many laid out between 1830 and 1835, at which period a sort of epidemic for town- making spread over the county. It was sur- veyed and platted in May 1834, by Thomas C- Sweney, County Surveyor, and John Henry, proprietor. It was laid out from land on the north half of the southeast quarter of Section 19, Township 1 south, Range 17 east. Forty- one lots were laid out, partly on the east side of the turnpike and part on the west, and soon the little village began to grow. Several years before, a man named Demetry had built a small frame dwelling, on what afterward became the site of the village. John Henry, the proprie- tor of the land and town, except one lot owned by Demetry, also built a small frame dwelling before the town was laid out. These were the only buildings in town before it was surveyed and laid out, although immediately after that event, Jacob Bibble and John Winterholder erected two dwellings, into which -they moved their families. Soon afterward, two other fami- lies came to reside in the town, and, when this is narrated, almost the whole history of the village is known. No store nor tavern ever honored the town with its presence, although much talk was freely indulged in, in early years, at a total loss to those participating. Thirty- five will cover the population of the village in its palmiest days. This was something un- usual — a flushed condition, so to speak, which could not last long ; for ordinarily, the village enumerated less than a dozen souls, and some- I ^^iT^fci^ 'iy/txc£^^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 659 times was reduced to less than a half-dozen. However, in about 1839, a man named Kronen- bach erected a small building about a quarter of a mile south of the village on the turnpike, divid- ing the lower story into two apartments, and placing in the front one about $300 worth of notions. The citizens of the village, when away from home, were accustomed to speak of this store as though it was in town, a privilege which was not denied them by Mr. Kronen- bach, who was evidently willing for them to get as much satisfaction out of the statement as could be expected. But the statements could not disguise nor conceal the fact that the village was without a store. It was not deemed profitable by mercantile men to place a stock of goods in the town when a rival establish- ment was doing a fair business a few rods south. Perhaps Mr. Kronenbach had an ob- ject in resisting the invitations of the villagers to move his stock of goods to the town. It is very likely that he adopted the practical phi- losophy of Mohammed reversed, thinking that the town should come over to him instead of the opposite. Both parties were disappointed, however, as the village remained where it was, and the store continued to do a fair business a few rods south. Mr. Kronenbach purchased his goods at Bucyrus, and his stock was in- creased until it was valued at about $600, dry goods and groceries being added to the original stock. After continuing the pursuit for about twelve years, Mr. Kronenbach was taken sick and died, whereupon his stock of goods was closed out and the enterprise abandoned. This was the first stock of goods brought to the township. The only noteworthy business en- terprise ever in North Liberty, was Jacob Reidel's ashery, heretofore mentioned. The village is universally, though vulgarly, known as "Hog Town,'' which title was bestowed up- on it from the following curious circumstances : John Henry, the proprietor of the town, was the man previously referred to, who was in the habit of illegally appropriating his neighbor's hogs. He soon obtained an ill-repute, which clung to him wherever he went, like Sindbad's burden. The stigma of disgrace could not be shaken off, though there is no evidence show- ing that Henry tried very hard to accomplish that result ; on the contrary, he apparently was not concerned in the least by what his neigh- bors might think of him. He seemed to have enough to do in packing his neighbors' pork without their consent, to undertake any such new and unusual occupation. Finally, the neighbors began speaking of him as "Hog" Henry, a name he adopted without a murmur of disapprobation, even being heard to speak of himself as "Hog" Henry. One day, Joseph Hall and several other settlers were hunting in the woods near the cranberry marsh, when they suddenly heard the loud report of a rifle about a quarter of a mile distant. The hunters started toward the spot where the report had sounded, and, when within a few yards of that locality, they glanced through the foliage of the trees, and saw a man bending over the body of a hog that had just been shot. The man had a sharp knife in his hand, and was already busilj' engaged in flaying the dead ani- mal. The hunters stopped immediately when they recognized the butcher. It was "Hog" Henry, who was undoubtedly up to his unlaw- ful depredation of slaughtering and appropri- ating his neighbor's swine. One of the hunters was so incensed at the flagrancy and audacity of the act, that he raised his rifie and shot Henry through the thigh. The wounded man fell prostrate upon the animal he had shot. The hunters ran forward to assist the fallen man, upon whom had fallen a swift and merited retribution. He was taken home, his wound was dressed, and after a few months he was out again, as active as ever in his old occupation. After this, the people began calling the village which Henry had laid out "Hog Town," a name it yet retains in honor (?) of the deeds of s "V ^ 660 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. its illustrious founder. The village is now almost wholly deserted. Its early lack of pros- perity was, in a great measure, due to the ill will of the neighbors toward Henry. This man moved West, and has been dead many years. Richville has had a different history. It was laid out and platted in May, 1840, by the Crawford County Surveyor, and by Nathan Rich, the projector and proprietor. Nineteen lots were laid out on the southeast quarter of Section 18, Township 1 south. Range 17 east ; and the village immediately began to grow and thrive, notwithstanding its proximity to North Liberty. Mr. Rich had erected a frame dwell- ing one and a half stories in height about three years before the town was surveyed. This building is yet standing, though deserted and unoccupied. Mr. Rich was an intelligent man of English descent, who had moved to the township about the time his dwelling was erected. Several buildings went up imme- diately after the laying-out of the town. John Robbins built the second, and John Pugh, the third. Pugh was a shingle-maker, and erected suitable shops wherein to ply his trade. When business at his shop became dull, he traveled around to the houses of the citizens, soliciting engagements for the manufacture of shingles. He made excellent ones from poplar and other wood, charging from 25 to 50 cents per hundred, sawing, splitting and shaving them out from the rough wood. He prepared a limited quantity of siding in the same man- ner, first splitting the rough clapboards out, and afterward shaving them down to the desired thickness. He continued the business for a number of years and then moved West. Pugh had a boy who was immoderately indo- lent. He refused to perform manual labor of any kind, although often flogged severely for such refusal. The youth was incorrigible, but soon developed an unusual power of acquiring knowledge. He outstripped his fellow-students at school, learning his lessons without any apparent effort. All that is known of the fami- ly after moving West is, that the boy who was so lazy in Ohio, arose by steady degrees through various positions of honor until finally he was elected to represent his district in Con- gress. This incident is not related with a view of encoucaging indolence ; neither is it insinu- ated that idle boys make Congressmen. The obvious moral to be drawn is, that, if the youth's physical energy had been proportion- ate to his powers of mind, he might have be- come one of the greatest statesmen in the country. Boys should be cautioned, in read- ing this incident, not to make the mistake, that idleness is one of the cardinal virtues. About the time that Pugh built his dwell- ing, Thaddeus Kent, a settler, had come to Crawford County, locating near Bucyrus, as early as 1822. This man, who has been one of Chatfield's most distinguished citizens, is yet living in Richville. He is a cooper, and has followed his trade for many years. Nathan Rich, the founder of the town, kept the first stock of goods in Richville, consisting of about $75 worth of notions, used to exchange for ashes, for Mr. Rich owned one of the most extensive asheries in the county, manufact- uring as high as twenty-five tons of excellent pearl-ash per annum. He purchased large quantities of ashes from the neighboring set- tlers, paying at the rate of from 3 to 5 cents per bushel for the same, or giving notions, at the same rate, in exchange. Hun- dreds of tons of pearl-ash were transported to Bucyrus or Sandusky City, and sold, and hand- some profits were realized. The same year that Richville was founded, Mr. Rich erected a large two-storied frame building, in which was placed one set of " nigger-head " stones. The grinding of any other grain but corn was not attempted, and even the latter was not ground to any great extent. In one apartment of the mUl was placed a large " up-and-down " saw, ;^ ik HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 661 and here an excellent and first-class business was done. The services of an experienced sawyer were obtained, and large quantities of sawed lumber were furnished the neighboring citizens. The real growth of the town began with the erection of the mills and the com- mencement of the manufacture of pearl-ash. Dwellings began to go up in the village, trades- men began to appear, and the outlook seemed promising. Life and activity were seen in all undertakings. John Bobbins kept the first real store in town. He began in 1840, with a general assortment valued at about $800, and continued the business for six years, when he sold out and went to Wyandot County. He was succeeded in 1846, by a man having the same name, John Robbins. This merchant kept the largest stock but one ever in the town. He sold a general assortment of goods, realiz- ing fair profits therefrom, and at the expiration of ten years sold out and removed to some other locality. John Quaintance opened a saloon in town soon after it was laid out. It is said that his stock of liquor, on hand at any one time, could be contained in a single jug. Several inveterate topers, living in the neigh- borhood, were in the habit of frequenting this saloon, where their earthly tribulations were drowned in the flowing bowl. Some of these tribulations were excellent swimmers, judging from the quantity of liquor that was drank. Mr. Quaintance kept a small stock of groceries, among which was coflee. He had in his em- ploy a youth of about sixteen years of age, who, it is said, knew enough to take 3 cents for a drink of whisky, and there his stock in knowledge failed. One day Mr. Quaintance, who was engaged in buying paper-rags of the citizens, left the boy in charge of the saloon, while he went to Bucjtus for another jug of whisky. A neighbor came in with a sack of rags, the worth of which he told the boy he would take in coflee. The youth, with that ready confidence which is often found abundant- ly where knowledge is lacking, weighed the rags, and announced that there were some fif- teen pounds. He then weighed the same num- ber of pounds of coffee, tied the same up, and gave the package thus prepared in exchange for the rags. All this was done with that ready assurance which distinguishes the man of ex- perience — one who has tied up thousands of pounds under the same familiar circumstances. When Mr. Quaintance came home and learned of the transaction, his faith in the experience and mental skill of his confidential clerk was hope- lessly shaken. He even attempted to point out to the unsuspecting youth a serious error in the exchange ; and such conduct on the part of the emploj'er was not tolerated by the indig- nant clerk, who announced his intention of leaving the saloon, if such presumption was again attempted. He did not leave, and the presumption is that he overlooked the repre- hensible conduct of his employer in doubting the wisdom of the clerk and the financial bene- fits of the exchange. Mr. Quaintance con- ducted his saloon for a number of years, and then closed out his stock and retired from the business. Mr. Kaler opened a saloon soon after- ward, but did not continue long at the occupa- tion. Liquor has been sold in the village dur- ing the larger part of its history. Lorenzo Bartimess, a man of great push and enterprise, erected suitable buildings in 1839, and began the distillation of whisky and brandy on quite an extensive scale. He placed in the building two copper stills ; one, the larger, with twice the capacity of the other, containing about eight barrels, and the other four. This became the most profitable distillery ever in the township, turning out a fair sample of whisky and brandy at the rate of from ten to thirty gallons per day. Mr. Bartimess understood the business thoroughly, being a practical distiller of wide experience, and he commanded an extensive patronage from the surrounding country, and also sold considerable in neighboring villages. ^ D fy '^ 663 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. The enterprise was continued, witli the excep- tion of several stoppages, until a few years ago, when it was discontinued by the direction and through the intervention of United States oflS- cials. The distillery buildings were located just east of the village, where the water of Sycamore Creek would be easily obtained for cleansing purposes. Scores of men living in this and adjacent townships, were accustomed to visit the distillery, where liquor free from strychnine and other alkaloid poisons could be obtained for less money than the impure arti- cles then circulating in commerce. Jugs were taken and filled, and when the supply had failed, another visit was made for more. The greater portion of the liquor manufactured was consumed at home. In the year 1864, Hipp & Robinson erected the present store building in the town at a cost of $600, and placed therein S6,000 worth of goods. Thej' made a fair profit the first year on the investment ; but, when the fictitious prices, created during the war, began to de- cline, often going down 20 per cent within as many days, large losses were incurred, and at the end of five years the partners sold their stock to Markley & Durr for $3,000, and re- tired, having sunk several thousand dollars in the enterprise. The latter partnership contin- ued in business for several years ; but the un- dertaking was not profitable, and was discon- tinued within four or five years. Other parties have engaged in the mercantile pursuit at dif- ferent times. Frederick and William Asch- baugh, for a number of years, kept about $2,000 worth of a general assortment of goods for sale. Jacob Buckman also engaged in the same pursuit with $3,000 worth of goods. In a small building a short distance south of the village, G-eorge Maltz, beginning in 1854, car- ried a stock of goods valued at $2,500 for about ten years. He was wise enough to close out or sell out just before the prices began to decline, having received the full benefit of the rise of goods in value. Michael Hall followed him for about four years, but heavy losses de- cided his closing out his stock. This has been the extent of mercantile pursuits in RichviUe. Several of the stores commanded a wide patron- age, furnishing large profits to the owners. Shortly after the town was laid out, the post oflace was changed from Frisbee's Tavern to Eichville. As was previously stated, Dr. A. B. Fairbanks, the first physician of any note in the town, received the appointment as Post- master. This ofllce has been in the village ever since, and has always been kept in some of the stores. Dr. Fairbanks had a partner in his profession — a j'oung man named DetwUer — and this partnership was not dissolved for about fifteen years, enjoying in the meantime an ex- tensive practice. Thej' have been followed by Drs. Pitzell, Urias Tupps and Zeigler, the pres- ent resident physician. The village has seen its best days, and nothing is likely to arise to modify, increase or change its present condi- tion of inertness. Frederick Hipp, or " Squire " Hipp, as he is more familiarly known, has done a great deal in the past to add to the material prosperity and growth of the town. He has been elected term after term to the office of Justice of the Peace, and in the private walks of life has commanded universal respect and influence. One of the most melancholy events falling upon the historian to record occurred in Sep- tember, 1879, making a deep impression upon the minds of the citizens of the township. David Kalb had, living at his house, a niece. Miss Mary Long, about seventeen years of age, quite pretty and attractive. She had several admirers, among whom was a young man named George Swab, who worked for her uncle upon the farm, and who professed for her the most ardent love and devotion. It is not posi- tivelj- known whether the young lady recipro- cated his affection, although the evidence seems to imply that their love was mutual. But the •^ g ll^ HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. 663 relatives of the young lady, who were quite wealthy, objected to the match, and discouraged the devotion of the lovers in every possible way. The uncle dismissed the young man from his service ; but love was not to be thwarted, and the lovers continued to meet at the residences of the neighbors. The young man spent one Sunday evening in her company at Henry Klink's, and what transpired at this interview will never be known. The following Monday evening, he went to the residence of the uncle, when all the famil}^, except the young lady and hired man were absent, and, having gained admittance to her room, delib- erately shot her through the heart with a re- volver, killing her instantly. He then coolly went to the barn, and, having detached the reins from the harness, took them and hung himself on a cherry tree in the yard. The hired man was so frightened that he made no efforts to ascertain the cause of the report. Re- ports of the murder and suicide were soon in swift circulation, and hundreds of the neigh- bors arrived on the scene of the tragedy to learn more fully of the affair, and to view for the last time the pale faces of the dead lovers. Some think that the young man was rejected by her he loved on the previous Sunday night, and that, all hope having died out of his heart, he determined to take his own life and that of his loved one. Others think it was a precon- certed plan of the lovers, who had resolved to die together rather than live separately. The truth will probably never be known, until the light of God's mercy shall smile upon the world with a kiss of heavenly forgiveness. The first school in the township was taught during the summer of 1834, by Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, in her own dwelling, in the village of North Liberty. She taught a term of three months, and had enrolled some twelve or fifteen scholars, who paid |1 each for the term. A mystery, which the gossips of the village vainly endeavored to unravel, was connected with this lady's life. She stated that she was the wife of Hon. John Thompson, a Representative in the Ohio Legislature, from Hamilton County, but nothing of her former life, or how she came to be in the village, was revealed, any attempt at discovery being kindly and politely avoided. She was lady-like in all her manners, and was well educated, giving excellent satisfaction to the patrons of the school. She taught several terms, and finally left the neighborhood. In 1836, a frame school-building was erected on the turnpike, near Richville. This building is yet standing, although, since the erection of the new brick schoolhouse, it has stood unoccupied. John Fissell was one of the first teachers in the old house. He taught many terms outside of the village after the school buildings had been erected in surrounding districts. Within two or three years after the Richville schoolhouse had been erected, two more were built, one about a mile northwest of the village, and the other about a mile and a half south on the turnpike. The one in the northern part was located in the " wind-fall," on Section 7. When the settlers first came to the township, a strip of timber about half a mile wide, extending across the northwest corner, was quite small, none of it being more than a foot in diameter, and the ground was thickly strewed with de- caying timber lying in all conceivable positions, showing that a tornado had swept down the trees some twenty-five or thirty years before. The schoolhouse was built in this fallen timber. The names of the first teachers are forgotten, but, after a number of years, Mrs. Sarah Bres- ton taught several terms. It was not long before the township was divided into school dis- tricts, and soon afterward each had a frame schoolhouse. Chatfleld had perhaps fewer log schoolhouses than any other township in the county, obviously from the fact that they were built comparatively late, and at a time when sawed lumber could be easily obtained, thus avoiding the necessity of using logs. The 'a fT ^ 664 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. township schools are taught largely in the Ger- man language, several of them ruling out the English language entirely. The schools of the township are more thorough than might be ex- pected. John H. Davidson has taken an active interest in educational aflairs, and has done much to better school advantages. He has taught frequently, and was the first teacher in the new brick schoolhouse. Richville has edu- cated and furnished to this and adjacent town- ships, some twenty teachers, some of whom have acquired a wide reputation as skillful and efficient instructors. As early as 1832, the Jlethodists began holding meetings in those homely and incon- venient, though pleasant places — the cabins of the settlers. Ministers of all the commonest re- ligious denominations, came from Bucj-rus and surrounding townships to organize societies for the benefit of the settlers' morals. The German Lutherans and German Reformers organized societies immediately after the arrival of the German emigration from the old country. The meetings were held in cabins until 1837, when the two last mentioned societies obtained a large log cabin intended for a dwelling, and, having sided it with black walnut lumber, dedi- cated it to the ser\ice of God. It was used for many j'ears, but was finally abandoned by the religious denominations and is at present de- voted to German school purposes. In 1844, a Baptist Church was built on the turnpike in the southern part. This building is yet standing, and near it is a quiet little cemetery where beautiful marble shafts mark the last resting- place of Chatfleld's earliest and most beloved citizens. Across the road, on the opposite corner, is a fine new schoolhouse — one of the best in Chatfield. The two German Church so- cieties referred to above erected at an earlj- day a building in which to worship, locating it in the northwestern corner in the windfall. The build- ing was a large, almost square structure with one door and four windows, and was constructed largely from black walnut lumber obtained at one of the saw-mills in Seneca County. This became one of the best churches in the town- ship. An early revival increased the member- ship to such an extent that the building was scarcely capable of containing the congregation that gathered there on almost every Sabbath. A Sunday school was organized and the chil- dren were instructed regarding Biblical truths, as seen from the standpoint of German Reform- ers and Lutherans. These two denominations continued to worship together until a few years ago, when it was decided to divide the con- gregation, one faction to keep the old church, and the other to erect a new one in the northern part of the turnpike. This division was made for two reasons : one being that the house was too small and homely for the congregation, and the other that the two denominations thought it better for each to own a church of its own. The division was therefore made, the Lutherans retaining the old building, and the Reformers erecting a new one of more imposing appearance a short distance east on the turn- pike. The Dunkards erected a church just across the line in Seneca County, near the northwestern corner, which obtained many mem- bers from Chatfield Township. It was built about 1846, and, after remaining there for many years, was moved across the line in Chatfield. A number of years ago the old building was succeeded bj^ a new one erected near the resi- dence of John Burgbacher. The iVIethodists have a large, fine church in Richville, which has a larger membership than any other in the township. Chatfield boasts of having five churches, two of them being brick. The Co- lumbus and Sandusky Turnpike has ever been the great aortic artery of the township. It has been of the greatest value, especiallj' in early 3'ears, affording an easy outlet either north or south, and for many years it was the only road in Chatfield. It divides the township into two ^ ^'^ ihL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 665 unequal segments, passing north and south a short distance west of the center, the course of the road lying a few degrees east of north. It is extensively traveled by the citizens of the county, and by those in the center of the State on their way north by wagon. CHAPTER XXVI. TEXAS TOWNSHIP— EARLY CONDITION— FIRST SETTLERS— PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT— BENTON —CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. FOR many years, both before and after Crawford County was created, much of the land adjoining the Wyandot Reservation was wild and uninhabited, and was unfre- quented, except by professional hunters, who were accustomed to wander there in pur- suit of the more dangerous varieties of wild animals. Frontier life is peculiar, and, to men of splendid physique, whose health never suf- fers from hardships or privations, nor from the almost countless ills and annoyances besetting the path of the unconcerned frontierman, it possesses a singular fascination, impossible to be resisted by the sturdy natures that delight in the inclemencies incident to so obscure and wild an existence. The hardj^ natures of some men delight in ceaseless activity, and only find a happy and suitable field in which to labor, in the combined triumphs and trials, self-denials and self-imposed perils, that the wilderness pre- sents, as an obstruction to the encroachments of civilization. Men do not voluntarily exile themselves from social contact with their fel- lows, unless, in some new field of activity, greater enjoyments are found and realized. Man is a social being, happy in social inter- course with others, but despondent and filled with sorrow, when act or accident consigns him to loneliness and solitude. Alexander Selkirk, cast by the mad waters of the ocean upon the bleak and uninhabited shores of the remote island of Juan Fernandez, is supposed to have cried out, in sorrow : " Ohl Solitude, where are thy charms, That sages have seen in thy face ? Better dwell in the midst of alarms, Than reign in this horrible place. " I am out of humanity's reach; I shall finish my journey alone; Never hear the sweet music of speech ; I start at the sound of my own.'' Yet, notwithstanding the social chain that binds mankind together, the restless natures of some men impel an advance to the frontier, where social contact with wild animals and with the strange and innumerable forms of nature usurps, in an incomprehensible manner, the de- lights of communion with civilized man. It is here that his rugged nature finds companion- ship and agreeable society. It is here that sol- itude is unknown to the strange genius of the pioneer, who communes with Nature and her countless laws, and enjoys protracted interviews with inanimate creation. Byron, whose Orphic utterances charm the heart and understanding, and whose almost divine genius correctly in- terprets the language of solitude, sings : " There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society where none intrudes. By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more, From these our interviews, in which I steal From all I may be, or have been before. To mingle with the Universe, and feel What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal." 6 "V it. 666 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. The pioneer, gifted with a like insight into nature's mysteries, also ''steals" out into the wilderness to " mingle with the universe," and to seek those pleasures which are in unison with his peculiar characteristics. Texas Township was early the home of those wandering hunters who kept moving westward as the tide of settlement advanced, and whose practical training in woodcraft and in the chase could furnish pleasure only in the depths of the dark, wild forest. They remained longer in the vicinity of the "Wyandot Reser- vation, which was not subject to settlement by the whites until 1845, for the reason that they could invade the forbidden ground without danger of detection or prosecution, and find game that had wholly disappeared from newly settled localities. Small cabins were erected, in which were domiciled their wives, who. to all appearances, were capable of living with- out any visible means of support, and who were frequently left alone in the cabin for weeks together, while the husband and father was off on a long hunting excursion. The whole family were inured to privation, and, if the cabin did not contain the needful supply of food, it was no unusual occurrence for the mother to go out into the surrounding woods and bring down a deer or a squirrel or some other animal that would appease the vigorous appetites of the famishing children. This was true not only of the families of the profession- al hunters who came to the most remote front- ier, but also of families living in localities where considerable advancement had been made in settlement and civilization. A skillful hunter often made by the sale of flesh and furs upward of a thousand dollars during the hunting and trapping season, a large share of which, instead of being used in purchasing land or in providing much-needed comforts for the family, was squandered at neighboring grog-shops and distilleries. Many of these hunters were rough characters, who possessed no apparent knowledge of the rights of prop- erty, and who were in the habit of appropriat- ing swine and other domestic animals that came in their way, regardless of the wishes of protesting owners, and careless of any result- ing consequences for so doing. A family of this kind lived in Texas Township very early, and after their depredations had gone on until "forbearance had ceased to be a virtue," the neighbors assembled, and informed them that it was time for them to migrate farther out into the wilderness. The husband and father protested, saying that his children were almost naked, and that all his time would be needed to clothe them before cold weather set in ; whereupon the neighbors returned to their homes, and soon afterward again presented themselves with suitable wearing apparel for the children, who were soon comfortably clothed. But the father, no doubt overwhelmed by so charitable an act, declared his unwilling- ness to leave a locality where neighbors were so kind to the poor and unfortunate, and an- nounced his intention of remaining where he was. But he was given to understand by un- mistakable signs and language that it was best for him to depart, and he departed. As a rule, the hunters were notoriously lazy, and it was almost always the case that their families eked out a miserable existence, undergoing priva- tion and starvation which, if dominant to-day, would soon depopulate the township. Another early family in the township lived in a cabin having no door nor floor, in one end of which was a pen for a family of swine, while the other was devoted to the use of a family of eleven persons. The most degrading squalor and discomfort were everywhere apparent. It is said that the children's bodies were so thick- ly covered with scurf and dirt as to render them as swarthy and dark as those of the negro, and that the mother, when asked why the children were not washed, complacently replied, " The water is so skase hereabouts." r?l^ LiL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 667 These were exceptional cases, however, as many of the earliest families — those of the more enterprising frontiermen — ^were intelli- gent, and were surrounded with many pleas- ures and comforts unknown to-day in long- settled localities. Texas is the smallest township but one in the county. It is located in the northwestern cor- ner, and comprises twelve square miles of ex- cellent farming land. It originally belonged to Sycamore Township, of which it formed a part, until Wyandot County was created in 1845, when the township, as it now stands, came into existence, and received its name from the fol- lowing curious circumstance : In 1844, Polk and Dallas had been nominated at the Balti- more Convention of the Democratic party, for President and Vice President of the United States, and, about the same time, David Tod was running for Governor of Ohio. The most important question before the country during the Presidential and Gubernatorial canvass at this time, was that of the admission of Texas into the Union. There was also another ques- tion before the people of Crawford County during this period, which was the change made in its boundaries and territory, and the creation of four new townships. It occurred to the county authorities to name these townships after the questions then agitating the minds of the citizens, and the significant titles — Polk, Dallas, Todd and Texas — were bestowed upon them, Texas is six miles long and two miles wide. Buckeye Creek, a small tributary of Sandusky River, flows westward and across the northern tier of sections, and its small affluents drain the second tier of sections from the north. Syca- more Creek, one of the most important streams in the county, flows westwardly across the sec- ond tier of sections from the south, and it and its branches drain the southern two-thirds of the township. One of its branches, called Big Run, flows across the lower tier of sections. These streams furnish ample drainage to the township. The land in the northern and in the southern parts is quite rolling, especially so along Sycamore Creek, where the hills rise in some places 100 feet above the bed of the stream. The central portion is quite level, yet it is suflaciently well drained to make it the most fertile territory in the township. The first settler, so far as known, was George Bender, who entered a tract of land in the southern part in 1824, and erected a round-log cabin thereon. A few years afterward, proba- bly about 1827, he built a rude dam on Syca- more Creek southwest of the present village of Benton, and employed a man named McGrew to construct a saw-mill from poplar boards, sawed while the machinery was operated in the open air. John Hazlett, who became a resident of the township in 1829, discovered that Bender's mill had been erected on the land of the former ; whereupon notice was given to Bender that all claims to the mill property must be relin- quished. One year after such notice, Hazlett took charge of the mill, which was continued in operation until 1834, when a sudden freshet washed away the dam, thus rendering the mill inoperative. No repairs were attempted, and the Bender Mill soon became a thing of the past. A short time after Bender had been de- prived of his property, he built another mill farther down the creek on his own land, which after being operated a few years was discon- tinued. Bender also followed the occupation of farming, his team consisting of a large bay horse and an ox. In driving this strange team, the like of which was often seen in early years, he bestrode the horse, as by so doing he was in a much more satisfactory position to admin- ister a flogging to the ox, which had the now well-known habit of holding back. He had one of the old-fashioned wide-track wagons, and was often seen in Bucyrus with his oddly consorted team. He became well known to the subsequent settlers, who engaged his assist- ance in looking up their farms. An addition a ^y ^1 'hL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. was made to Bender's cabin, a long shed built of rough boards, which was used as a combined swine, cow and horse stable. His cabin had two doors, hung on wooden hinges, one on each side of the building, and the large lire-place filled one entire end. The horse was often used in drawing huge logs into the cabin, which were afterward rolled into the flre-place. The following year after Bender entered his land, there came in Anthonj^ Betray, Robert Roberts, Charles Morrow, Adam Miller and Robert Mays, who located in the southern part, and Bodridge Paul, Eli Adams, Joseph Nedray, Bavid Palmer, Alva Trask and Laban Perdew, who selected farms in the northern part. There also came in, prior to 1830. William Gregg, James Griffith, Lewis Lemert, Washington Buncan, John Hazlett, Arthur Andrews, Charles Bickens, John Henry, A. L. Westover, John and Pinley McGrew, Martin Holman, William Pennington and others, who established themselves in different parts of the township. Those settlers who located in the northern half, with scarcely an exception, came from Seneca County, where large emigrations of New En- glanders have settled, many of them before the war of 1812. After most of the land in Seneca County had been entered and improved, the settlers, who continued to come in large num- bers, were compelled to journey on farther west or south, where farms as fertile and beautiful as any in Ohio could be purchased for $1.25 per acre. It thus came to pass that, between 1820 and 1830, pioneers by the thousands lo- cated in surrounding regions, and the wave of colonization rolled down from the north into Crawford County to meet the one of even greater strength that swept westward from Mansfield and vicinity. The two waves of settlement met in Crawford County, and it thus occurred, that the first settlers in the northern part of Texas Township came from Seneca Countj^, where they had arrived in search of homes, while the southern part of said township was settled and improved by those who came from Mansfield through Bucyrus. The land in the central part was not entered at first, for the reason that it was flat and wet, and the settlers preferred the well-drained hills along the streams. Many, when they arrived in the township, had nothing with which to begin their forest life except good health and bound- less resolution. A man or woman with feeble health had no business in the backwoods, where robust health was an invaluable auxiliary to success. Manj"^, however, with feeble con- stitutions came out, hoping to prolong their existence, but most of these were soon con- signed to the nearest churchyard. Cases are often found where, when the question is asked some gray-haired old man or woman, " How did you manage to live during the early years ?" the only answer, like the one received from Martin Holman, is an exhibition of wrinkled and calloused hands. And that answer is suf- ficient and true ; for many an old man and woman now living in the township and in other portions of Ohio, who are surrounded with com- forts purchased by a bountiful expenditure of wealth and with loving children, grandchildren and friends, came into the wilderness more than half a century ago with nothing to meet the adversities of pioneer life except strong, honest hearts and hands. When Adam Miller reached Texas Township, his money and credit amounted to the sum total of 12^ cents. He owned an ox and a rifie, and his wife had a few cooking utensils, and with these they began to clear and improve their farm and supply them- selves often with barely sufficient food to sus- tain life. The Wyandot Reservation afforded abundant opportunity for observing the " noble red man," who was in the habit of visiting the cabins of the settlers for divers purposes, the chief being that of begging. The}' solicited alms from the settlers, who often, if they gave anything in charity, were obliged to give the last they had. ^ IL^ HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. Several one day presented themselves at the cabin of Holman, and, pointing to their abdo- mens with downcast look, pitifully said, " Me sick, me sick," intimating that they were al- most famished with hunger. They were fed, but their appetites were so vigorous and their capacity for food so prodigious, that the stores of the pantry, though large at first, were soon reduced to a minimum. But a radical cure was effected by this treatment, and the Indians left the cabin with happy hearts. One day, when John Hazlett and Nicholas Ulary were hunting in the woods, they overtook a wounded deer, which they shot, and, just as they had dressed it, several Indians presented themselves and claimed the animal. The white hunters at first refused to give it up ; but, when the Indians pointed to the wound on its shoulder and then to them- selves, shaking their heads in the meantime, and making threatening demonstrations to the effect that trouble would ensue if the -animal was retained, it was relinquished without a murmur. John Hazlett was one of the most successful resident hunters ever in the township. The largest part of his time was spent in hunt- ing in the deep woods, and he remembers of par- ticipating in manj' an exciting adventure. The Hazlett brothers thought it strange unless they succeeded in killing a hundred deer during the winter months, for a number of years after coming to the township. John one day wounded a deer, which fell, apparently dead, upon the ground. He kneeled over its body, intending to cut its throat, but, with a sudden movement, it leaped to its feet, at the same instant kicking him sprawling on the ground. It came at him with head down, but he seized a large club and began beating it across the neck and head with all his strength. By dodging around trees, he succeeded in avoiding the antlers of the angrj' animal until at length, by a lucky blow, he dis- located its neck, whereupon it fell to the ground and was quickly dispatched. At an- other time, when out late one bitterly cold night in winter, when the ground was thickly covered with snow, a large animal leaped out of the bushes near him, and bounded off through the woods, as though possessed by the spirit that once took refuge in a herd of swine. It gave a piercing scream at every bound, and, when off at a considerable distance, Hazlett plucked up enough courage to answer it, whereupon the animal ceased its cries and came rapidly back toward the hunter. Hazlett could hear it treading on the snow near him, and occasionally a sniffling or wheezing sound was heard. He was too much of a hunter not to know what the sound meant. The animal was a panther, and at the thought his blood ran in icy currents through his veins, and, as related by himself, his hair stood erect on his head, so that the weight of his cap could no longer be felt. He involuntarily placed his hand on his head to see if it bore its accustomed wearing apparel, which was found to be in its proper place, which fact in a measure re-assured the hunter. He was terribly frightened, and, scarcely knowing what he did, he called out at the top of his voice for it to come on, as he was ready for it. But the animal seemingly declined his invita- tion, as it turned, and was soon out of sound and sight. Very earlj^ the following morning, Samuel Gregg, who had just butchered, was roused from his bed by the same sniffling sound that had frightened Hazlett. He took his gun and went out, when a large animal ran out of a small shed in which the meat was hung, and bounded off through the woods. It was undoubtedly the same animal that had disturbed the nocturnal ramblings of Hazlett. Other interesting and exciting incidents are re- lated by several of the earliest settlers yet liv- ing in the township. One is related of Robert Clark, who had just come from the East, and who was a novice in all the ways of pioneer life. His cabin was built and entered, though it had no door except a blanket suspended from above. It is said that one night, soon after their ■Tt; :^ ^ 9 ^ 670 HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. arrival, the family became terribly scared by strange cries around the cabin. Surmising that some dangerous animals were meditating an attack upon them, Mr. Clark hurried his wife and children into the loft, while he, with ax in hand, stood guard all night at the door, ready to brain any animal that attempted to enter. It was afterward learned that the family were frightened by the screechings of the owls. At another time, Washington Duncan, who lived in a cabin much like the one owned by Clark, was aroused from his sleep one night by an un- usual noise in the room. A few dying embers in the fire-place cast a faint glare over the sleep- ing inmates, and revealed to the apprehensive Duncan what appeared to be a large bear, standing in the shade on the opposite side of the room. He whispered to a companion lying near him, "Lie still, John, till I get the gun." He reached for the rifle which stood in one cor- ner of the room, and was on the point of firing at the supposed animal, when it suddenly arose to an erect position and called out in alarm, " Heah, Massa Wash, what yo' doin' ? " The supposed bear proved to be nothing but a negro, who was thouarht to be sleeping in the loft above, but who, getting cold, had come down and stretched himself out on a bench, covering himself with a heavy coat, the sleeves of which, hanging down, caused the fancied re- semblance to a bear. The negro was greatly scared and rolled his e3-es in fright, when he was informed of his narrow escape from being shot. Isaac Miller built a^saw-mill in 1836 onjSyca- more Creek, about half a mile southwest of Benton. It continued in operation about eight years, but was finally washed away by a freshet, and was not afterward rebuilt. James Long- well also built one on the same creek in 1837, which was perhaps the most valuable ever in the township. It was a rude shed concern with an old-fashioned " flutter " wheel, but it had the capacity of turning out a large amount of first-class work. The stream where the dam was built gave excellent water-power, and, though the mill could run but four months of the year, it sawed day and night while the water lasted. Logs of all kinds and sizes were sawed, either on shares, one-half being taken by the sawyer, or at the rate of about 40 cents per 100 feet. After this mill had been in operation a number of years, the proprietor entered into partnership with Uriah Wooster, for the purpose of erecting and operating a grist-mill. The building erected was three stories high, and, together with the milling machinery placed therein, cost about Sl,400. This mill is yet in operation, and since its erection has been of the greatest value to the township and the surrounding country. It has changed ownership many times, and has been improved and enlarged ; but, under the control of almost every miller, it has furnished an excellent grade of fiour and meal. Mr. Wooster was one Sunday operating the mill after it had been erected a number of years. One set of buhrs gave him considerable trouble, as the upper stone, by the force of friction, would spring up several inches from the lower, onlj- to settle back again for a repetition of the annoyance. This continued for some time until at last, under a heavier pressure of steam, the upper stone was given such a wrench by the sudden and unusual friction, that it burst into a half-dozen pieces, one of which struck Wooster on the head with such force as to crush his skull, causing instant death. The Longwell Saw-mill was operated about twenty-five years, and was finally permitted to run down. The grist-mill is in a prosperous condition, and for a number of years has been owned and con- ducted by Michael Snyder, an efficient miller. In about 1848, Martin Holman sunk four vats and began dressing skins. The enterprise failed to yield the desired profits, the leather being barely sufficient to supply the demand at Benton, and, at the expiration of five years, the tanyard was transformed into a barnyard .^ ^t _?>l^ HISTORY OF CKAWFORD COUNTY. 671 and Holman turned his attention to farming. The children of early settlers were often lost in the woods, and frequently several days elapsed before they were recovered. Holman's children were thus lost and the whole neighbor- hood turned out with bells, guns and horns, to hunt the wanderers. After remaining in the woods all day, they were discovered by a neighbor, who conducted them home. The lost ones were not always children. Often men and women who had resided in the woods for years became bewildered when out alone, and after passing several days and nights in the forest, perhaps within half a mile of home, sud- denly presented themselves at their own cabin or that of some near neighbor, inquiring who lived there and asking where Mr. So-and-so lived, mentioning their own names. A person bewildered in the woods strangelj"^ loses every iota of sagacity and judgment, and squarely re- fuses to recognize landmarks which he has seen a hundred times, often passing within a few yards of his own door without noticing a single familiar sign. This is hard to account for from any other fact than the psychological one, that the diflFerent faculties of observation, used in unusual degrees of intensity, see well- known objects through new characteristics and refuse to recognize those that are familiar. It is related that George Bender, who had lived in the woods for j^ears, became bewildered within half a mile from home, and after wan- dering mostly in a circle for two nights and a day, finally stumbled, as it were, upon the cabin of a neighbor, whereupon his senses re- turned. On the 24th of August, 1841, John Hazlett and George Bender, on land owned by them- selves, laid out fifty-one lots from the northern part of the southeast quarter of Section 26, Township 1, Range 15 east, and named the vil- lage Benton. What induced the proprietors to bestow upon their town the name it now bears, has not been satisfactorily explained. One fact is known, however, that the village was named in honor of Senator Benton, of Missouri. It is likely that there were but two or three cabins on the present site of the village before it was laid out. Daniel Beal, a blacksmith by trade, erected and occupied a small frame building as early as 1835. He also built a small shanty- shop, and began working at his trade at the same time. This man, perhaps, more than any other, created the desire among the citizens for a village and a post ofBce. His shop became a resort, at which the farmers gathered on rainy days to pitch horseshoes and gossip about neighboring affairs The prominence of these circumstances, in the minds of Hazlett and Bender, led them to lay out the town. The lots were sold rapidly, and, within ten years, the village had more than 100 inhabitants ; and soon 'afterward, the population had attained such magnitude that a petition for incorporation was presented to the County Commissioners by the villagers. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and Alvin Williams was elected the first Mayor of Benton. As far as known, the second dwelling in the town was built by John Leigh in either 1836 or 1837 ; but these were probably the only ones until after the town had been laid out. Immediately after that event, two more small dwellings were erected, and, in 1842, John Hazlett built a frame structure on the site of the present hotel. Leigh was also a blacksmith, and began work- ing at his trade, though he found but little to do. This constituted the growth of the village until after the creation of the township in 1845. The laws of Ohio were such that Texas, with its twelve sections, could not form a separate township, unless it contained, at least, one in- corporated village. This led the citizens to build up the town very rapidly after 1845, un- til its population reached the legal limits neces- sary to those desiring incorporation. Alvin Williams was the first one to open a store in the village. However, the stock of goods. 672 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. valued at about $500, was owned by the part- nership, Williams & Westover, and was placed in a small storeroom built for that purpose. For some unknown reason, they closed out their stock at the end of four years, and retired from the business. WiUiams owned an ashery at the same time, which was condncted quite extensively while the store was open, and for a number of years afterward. It is likely that the store was opened as a sort of an auxiliar}- to the more important ashery. Immediately after this store closed, J. W. Saltzerman placed $1,000 worth of goods in a large room in a private dwelling ; but, after dealing two or three years with the Texans, he likewise closed out his stock. William Sigler, in 1844, purchased the building erected by Hazlett, and opened it as a tavern, placing in one apartment $3,000 worth of goods ; but, after conducting the two enterprises for two years, he removed his goods to Gary, Ohio, and sold the tavern to Daniel Tuttle. This man, in connection with his hotel, began selling liquor and groceries, and con- tinued thus for nearlj' twenty j^ears, when he sold out to other parties. Tattle enlarged the building, while owned bj- him, until it reached its present size and shape. The tavern has changed hands several times since, but each landlord has sold liquor. Chapman & Shepard also sold goods in the town for several years, about the time it was incorporated, their store- room being the one now occupied by Winters & Longwell. These partners sold their stock to a Mr. Groff, who closed out within a year. Winters & Temple then began with several thousand dollars' worth of goods, and, for a number of years, did an excellent business ; but the death of Mr. Temple complicated affairs, until Mr. Longwell purchased the share owned by Temple's heirs. This firm, Winters & Long- well, is at present driving quite a brisk trade in the village. Alvin Williams kept the first saloon, and the village has had an abundance of liquor since. Mr. Van Fleet also kept a stock of goods at an early day. Robert Martin, who built one of the first few dwellings in the town, was the first resident carpenter, and many of the buildings yet standing in town and sur- rounding country, were built by him. Erastus Reynolds also followed the same occupation. David Rank sunk six vats in 1845, and began tanning skins of all kinds, an occupation he followed quite extensively for twelve years. He did a good work, and much of his leather was made into boots and shoes by resident shoemakers, the remainder finding a ready sale at Bucyrus and other towns. Dr. Yates was the first practicing phj-sician in the village. He was succeeded by Dr. Alvord, who resided in Benton twenty years, and practiced exten- sively throughout the neighboring country. He was followed by Dr. Bland and afterward by Drs. Kryder and Swahn, who are at present prescribing for the bodily ills of the Texans. The population of the town has not exceeded 300, and is at present about 230. Daniel Tuttle did as much as any other man to build up and improve the village. This strange man, who is yet living in the town, deserves more than a passing notice. As far back as known, he has been an openly avowed Infidel ; and, as said by himself, has fought all Christian denominations with an intolerable hatred, spar- ing neither monej', time nor labor. In 1850, he issued the first number of The Divinity Physician, a paper to be published " semi-occasionally,'' which had for its motto the following well-known sentence from Thomas Paine : " I will go any length for truth, but not one step for popularity at the expense of truth." The paper was satirical in its tendency, and was designed to burlesque the cardinal doctrines of the Christian denominations. Some years, several numbers appeared ; at other times, two or three or more years elapsed with no issue. The sheet is a small folio, and the last number appeared in 1876. But little return has been received in the way of subscription w liL HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY. 673 for the cost of publication by the publisher, who, on the contrary, has been prosecuted several times in the County Courts for libel at a great cost to himself. He makes no scruple about having his views known by every one ; on the contrary, he glories in the name of Infi- delity, and deems it his duty to do all he can to obstruct the progress of Christianity. He has expended several thousand dollars in the publication of his paper without any return, except continued insult and contempt. The first schoolhouse in the township was a square, round-log structure, erected as early as 1828, on Dodridge Paul's farm. It was built a number of years before the township was di- vided into school districts, and ver3' likely be- fore, or about the time, Sycamore Township, of which Texas formed a part, was created. The country all along the course of the Sandusky Kiver, in Seneca County, and in the vicinity of Melmore, was quite thickly settled at that time, and numerous mills, taverns, schools and churches had been established. But the ear- liest settlers in Northern Texas saw clearly that it was out of the question for their chil- dren to traverse the long distance through the woods to attend those schools. Church-going people could travel the distance easilj', and did largely for many years, even after churches were organized in Texas Township. In order that their children might get at least ttie rudi- ments of an education, the early settlers assem- bled and erected the large school-cabin referred to, designing it for all public purposes, the prin- cipal being those of school, church and town- ship. It was a quaint structure, with clapboard roof and floor, having a large chimney, built of stone and earth, and extending down to within six feet of the floor, and having a large funnel- shaped opening to insure sufficient draft to carry off the smoke of the fire, built upon a broad stone hearth directly underneath. Around this central fire-place, rude clapboard benches were placed, and in one corner was a small black walnut table, which served as a pulpit when the cabin was used as a church. The chimney was so low that tall men, unless they were cautious, often bumped their heads, and then the usual exclamations under such cir- cumstances were uttered. One day a minister from Bucyrus, who was to preach there, came hastily in, and, without noticing the chimnej', struck his head against it, but no language of less dignity than " my stars '' escaped his lips. That was perhaps the most appropriate expres- sion that could be made under the circum- stances. This building was deserted after 1833, when a new and better school building was erected a short distance south. The new house was frame, and was used until the township was redistricted in 1845, when the change was made in the territory of the count}'. A log school- house was also built in the southern part about half a mile west of Benton as earl}' as 1830. This building is remembered to have been there that year, and was very likely built the year before. It was also used as a church even more extensively than the Paul Schoolhouse. It was in this schoolhouse, one Sunday morning before the minister. Rev. Mr. Oliver, or the con- gregation had arrived, that Daniel Tuttle, or " Bishop " Tuttle, as he was afterward called, wrote with a piece of charcoal upon the wall : " Oliver, Bender and Gillim Have caught I he devil, And are going to kill 'im." This was taken as a text by the minister, who, as if to verify the declaration of the rhymer, preached with great potency for nearly two hours. This building was used until about 1839, when a frame schoolhouse was built in the western part of "what is now Benton. It was likewise used as a meeting-house, and its walls resounded " many a time and oft " with the loud acclamations of warm-hearted and enthusiastic Christian people. In 1858, a new schoolhouse was built in the village, which is yet devoted to educational purposes. At the ^f^:" i ^ 674 HISTORY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. time of the creation of the township, in 1845, it -was divided into four school districts, each of the northern two comprising four square miles, and each of the southern two, two square miles. This is the present division, and each district has a comfortable schoolhouse. But little attention was paid to the boundary lines of school districts in early years. Schol- ars attended the nearest schoolhouse, even though it was in another township. And then, again, the greater number of the earliest schools were taught by subscription, and with- out any regard to districts, townships or coun- ties. Churches were not built in the township as early as the schoolhouses, from the fact that the settlers experienced no serious difHeulty in attending those in Seneca County. Many were members of those churches, and even to this day the Seneca churches have a large member- ship in Texas Township. The early settlers were few, and, inasmuch as the schoolhouses could be used for religious purposes, it was not deemed necessary or advisable to erect church- es until the township had become quite thickly populscted. Rev. Robert Lee, father of Judge Lee, of Bucyrus, organized the first Presb3'- terian Church in Texas Township, in 1838, and Robert Clark, William Marquis and William Jackson were appointed Elders. In 1839, the society secured the services of Rev. William Hutchinson, a minister of the Richland Pres- bytery, then living in Bucyrus, who was en- gaged to conduct religious exercises in the northern part on every alternate Sunday. The meetings were held in the old log schoolhouse, and Rev. Hutchinson was very likely the min- ister whose head came so abruptly in contact with the chimney, as related above. After a number of years, the society built a small church, which was used many years, and which was located just across the line in Wyandot County. Church societies were organized in the southern part as early as 1830, but it was not until about 1851 that a church building was erected. This was built in Benton by the United Brethren Church, at a cost of about $1,500. Ten years ago, the Methodists erected a large church in the village, which cost nearly $3,000. These churches have quite a large membership, much of which comes from Wy- andot County. Rev. Mr. McKillipp was instru- mental in organizing the last-named church. CHAPTER XXVIl.* DALLAS TOWjNSHlP—TdPOGRAPHICAL— EARLY TOWNSHIP OFFICERS— INDIANS— THE PIONEEKS- FRONTIER LIFE— EPIDEMICS— RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL. ABOUT the township of Dallas, there clus- ters much that must ever awaken an in- terest in the minds of the present generation, and that will be valuable to the future " lords of the manor." In its configuration, none in the county, and few in the State, are more irregular. This irregularity is due to the change of the original boundary line of this county, which is mentioned more at length in another part of this work. * Contributed by F. S. Monnett. Previous to 1844, some considerable pressure was brought to bear upon the Commissioners, to have the county seat removed from Bucyrus to a more central location. Those in authority succeeded in obviating this by effecting some radical changes in the southern and western boundary lines of the county. Upon the south- west, a strip of territory, six miles in length east and west, and two miles north and south — including Sections 1-12, in Range 16, was taken from Scott Township, Marion County. ;^ rJ. ^^ •rji L^ HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY 677 Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 35 and 36, of Eange 15, were taken from Grand Prairie Township, Ma- rion County, and Sections 23-25, from the Wy- andot Reservation ; all combined, were incorpo- rated into one township in 1845, and christened Dallas, in honor of the newly elected Vice President, George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania. Why a township with a strong Whig majority, should have chosen as her namesake one of opposite political faith, we were unable to learn, unless the newly-born child was named by the Archons, at Crawford's capital. Dallas has for her present boundary, Todd and BucjTus on the north, Bucyrus and Whet- stone on the east, Scott on the south, and An- trim on the west. This portion of territory was originally survej'cd in 1819, by Deputy Surveyor Gen. Sylvanus Bourse, assisted bj' Samuel Holmes, for whom Holmes Township was named. It lies wholly in the celebrated Sandusky Plains, a tract of exceedingly level and rich land, extending east and west through Marion and Wyandot Counties a distance of fifty miles, with a width north and south of an average of twenty miles. No more fertile or productive soil in the entire extent of these plains exists, than is found in the southern por- tion of Dallas Township. It has been variously denominated by early writers, as one of " Na- ture's most beautiful meadows ; " " The blue- grass region of Ohio," etc., which appellations would be more appropriate at the present writ- ing than in pioneer days. For in the first quarter of this century, these now measured meadows, were fenceless fields, all overgrown with the rank sedge grass and " yellow-blos- somed weeds,'' with many a broad parterre of the purple iron-weed — of such luxuriant growth that men mounted on horseback could not be observed a few rods distant. Instead of the " lowing herd that now winds slowlj- o'er the lea,'' there were but the few domestic -'bosses" that made known their presence by the tinkling bell. By an efficient system of drainage and cultivation, this over-growth of rank weeds and wild grasses — exponents of an exhaustless soil — now return a royal revenue to their opulent owners. Dallas is favored in having two of the prin- cipal rivers of the State pass through its territory — the Sandusky, with its two sources, in the eastern part of the county, enters the northeast corner of this township three-fourths of a mile from the Todd line, passing diagonally across the western portion of its territory in a southwesterly direction, crossing the Wyandot County line at the center of the western bound- ary of the township. The bed of this portion of the Sandusky is composed of a coarse wash- gravel, that is used in repairing the neighbor- ing roads. This gravel bottom and these ex- tended sand-bars make this part of the river favorable for the hatching of minnows, which have often been noticed by myriads in the sum- mer season. The beautiful banks and solid bed of the Sandusky River made it an attractive rendezvous of the Wyandot Indians. Many interesting reminiscences were related by the Wyandot chiefs concerning the " Salmnduskie," as they termed it — signifying " clear water." " Sahunduskie " was the facetious appellation the Wyandots gave to their ardent beverage — " fire-water. When one of the men would be- come so exuberant from the contents of his leathern bottle, that he could not restrain him- self in the presence of his dusky mate ; instead of grasping the happy idea of the " Christian pale-face," and tell her he had been to the " club-house, chatting with the boys " — he would gruffly excuse himself for the evening by say- ing "Drink much Sahunduskie." The Eastern Branch of the Scioto, taking its rise three miles south of Bucyrus, flowing in a southeasterly direction, enters Dallas one- fourth of a mile east from the Marion road, passing into Marion County one and one-half miles from the Wyandot County line. Nothing of particular interest is connected with this ^■^ ifv^ ^■ '^iu 678 HISTORY OF CRA^VTORD COUNTY. part of the Scioto, except that it adds greatly to the value of the stock farms that lie along its banks, by furnishing a constant supply of water. The only other stream of any note, is a trib- utary to the Olentangy, called "Mud Run," which passes near the Whetstone Township line. It is partly natural and partly artificial. During the spring freshets, owing to its slug- gish current, it is swollen into a very wide stream. Another small stream, now a tributary to the Sandusky, passing through the Hoover farm and called the " Outlet of the Plains," was at first a dug ditch ; but, in recent years, on account of its swift current, a gully has been eroded fifteen to eighteen feet deep, reaching, at that depth, veins of perennial flow. Extending, as do the two divisions of Dallas Township, from the west bank of the Olentangy to the limestone and clay soil of Todd on the north, most all varieties of timber that are in- digenous to this portion of the State are found within its limits. That which first catches the eye of the stranger, in driving through the southern part of Dallas, are the exceedingly picturesque clumps of jack-oak trees of a com- paratively recent growth. Man}- of these groves have sprung up within the memory of our oldest citizens. There is nothing in the geological formation of the soil that prevented this growth of timber at an earlier date. Per- haps the system of drainage of more recent years maj' have been advantageous. A sim- pler and more satisfactory reason is suggested in an account of a " ring hunt," as given by Col. James Smith, who was a captive of the Wyan- dot Indians as early as 1760. Col. Smith says : " With much difficulty, we pushed up our wooden canoes over the Sandusky falls. Some of the men went up the river, and the rest of us by land with our horses, until we came to the great meadows or prairies that lie between the Scioto and Sandusky. When we came to this place, we met with some Ottawa hunters, and agreed with them to take what they caUed a ' ring hunt,' in partnership. We waited until we expected rainfall, to extinguish the fire; then we kindled a large circle in the prairie. At this time, or before the bucks began to run, a great number of deer lay concealed in the grass in the day-time and moved about in the night, but, as the fire burned toward the center of the circle, the deer fled before the fire. The Indians were scattered at some distance, and shot them down at every opportunity, which was very frequent, especially as the circle be- came small. When we divided the deer, there were about ten to each hunter. All this num- ber was killed in a few hours. The rain did not come on that night, to put out the outside fire, and, as the wind arose, the fire extended through the whole prairie, which was about fifty miles in length, and, in some places, about twenty miles in breadth. This put an end to our hunting for this season, and was, in other respects, an injury to us in the hunting busi- ness ; so that, upon the whole, we received more harm than benefit by our rapid-hunting policy." This little account explains sufficiently the cause of the annual destruction of the young growth of timber. Upon the islands, however, as they were termed, the growth of sedge-grass was not so rank, and trees here and there escaped the rav- ages of the Indian fires. Upon these ridges the celebrated " shellbark," the prolific nat- bearing hickory, may be found scattered in the southern and western portions of the township. The productiveness of the hickory in this por- tion of the county, became, to the possessor, a burdensome annoyance. Previous to the strict trespass laws that were enacted within the last decade, the farmer possessing a hickory grove, was tacitly considered by his urbane neighbors as keeping a public park for their especial ac- commodation. One of the present owners, re- ferring to this annoyance, said : " My groves, on the Sabbath Day in the hickory-nutting sea- ;r ^ HISTOEY OF CEAWFORD COUNTY. 679 son resembled a camp-meeting ground, in point of teams and number of persons, and, -when thej' had finished their nut-gathering, it was not an uncommon occurrence to have our fences so dilapidated that the stock could go from one section cross-road to another. Many of mj- trees are now dead, the result of the nut-gath- erers using a battering-ram to jar the nuts from the trees." This Sabbath desecration and gen- eral trespassing upon the farmer has been almost entirelj^ broken up by the recent revis- ion of the law. Among the other timber and shrubbery that might be mentioned are the buckeye, dogwood, ironwood, sassafras and hazel in abundance. Along the Sandusky and Scioto, some fine growths of walnut timber may be found. In the northern part there is considerable maple, which is annually turned to account in the fam- ily sugar camps. Ash and other varieties are extensively used for building purposes. The soil of Dallas in the southern part con- sists of deep black earth, that is excellent for corn, and what was once too rich for wheat, is now, since it has been drained and tamed by cultivation, rendered highly suitable for that cereal. It can be safely said its productiveness is not to be excelled in the State for wheat, corn, oats and rye. In the northern portion of the township, the soil changes to that of a clay- loam, with an occasional "white oak ridge," as it is termed in common parlance, which is not unfrequently found to be a thin and sterile soil ; but, when cleared and artiflciallj' enriched, these ridges also make fine wheat farms, as well as pasturage. The character and pro- ductiveness of the soil have made this town- ship peculiarly favorable for grazing and the feeding of stock. Hence, the south part is held in large tracts by a few heavy dealers in live stock, two or three farms including several thousand acres each. The cattle trade is still pursued by the larger land-owners, but, as the extensive tracts of pasture lands open up in our Western Territories, and railroad transporta- tion is becoming so general, the competition in cattle-raising has reduced the profit to a very small margin, so that manj' of the lesser farms are being tilled and turned into wheat and sheep farms. Some considerable attention has been given to the breeding of short-horn cattle by the stock dealers of Dallas. The principal dealer for many years in this department, was John Monnett. In later years, Ephraim Monnett dealt considerably in the Durham thorough- breds. Mr. John Monnett was an annual at- tendant upon the Kentucky stock sales, from which State he imported many choice animals into Crawford County, and for many years was the heaviest exhibitor at the county fair in thoroughbred and grade cattle. To him should much credit be given for the fine quality of beef cattle that Marion and southern Crawford can now so proudly boast of Mr. Monnett re- moved in 1873 to Iroquois County, III, where he is at present engaged in the same business. Of the earljr officers of Dallas, little can be learned definitely, as there was no village or any special building in which the Clerk's books were filed ; but they were passed around from one private residence to another. An inade- quate file of official proceedings is all that has been preserved. The retui'ns at the Recorder's office in Marion give the Justices of the Peace of the township that Dallas was formed from. The first recorded is Alsan Packard, sworn in as Justice of the Peace of Scott Township, January 27, 1825. Little is remembered of ]Mr. Packard, only that he was a man of more than the average education and refinement of those days, and, as a reward for the faithful discharge of his official duties, he was re-elected for the two succeeding terms in the j-ears 1826-27. The second Justice of the Peace of Scott was Jacob Shaffer, one of the first real estate owners of the present territory of Dallas ; having moved from Pennsylvania in 1824, to rV ^ -^ 680 HISTORY or CRAWFOBD COUXTT. the present farm of Isaiah Monnett, and en- tered twenty acres, to which he afterward added several quarter-sections. The third Justice of the Peace was William Van Buskirk. The first commissioned Justice of the Peace of Grand Prairie Township, that included the present western half of Dallas, was Zach Welsh, July 5, 1824, the grandsire of the numerous Welsh progeny now so prominent in Wyandot and Crawford Counties. The second Justice of the Peace was John Page', 1825, who lived to be a centenarian. Mr. Page was succeeded after a second term by Daniel Swigart. Whether the duties were too arduous, or Mr. Swigart's business demanded his exclusive attention, is not known, but he resigned his office, and William Howe was chosen his successor in the same year, 1827. Under the re-organization, Andrew Kerr was the first installed Esquire, April 7, 1845. The second was William Hoover, April 7, 1847. To the Dictators in Dallas already mentioned, we may add the following line : Daniel Swigart, April 3, 1848 ; Ezra Huntly, January 12, 1850 ; Y>^illiam Hoover, April 1, 1850; Isaac N. Munson, October 14, 1851 ; Samuel P. Shaw, April 5, 1852. It is not definitely known who can claim the honor of being the first settler in this present flourishing township. The first land taxes that were paid upon the land in Dallas, is recorded in the Marion County records in 1828. and the land at that time, and for five j'ears succeed- ing, was only valued at Sl-25 per acre. So that we conjecture that the permanent owners did not enter the land previous to 1823, and several sections as late as 1828 were not reported as yet entered. As early as the year 1818 there was an occasional squatter, whose whole suste- nance was nearly allied to that of his red-skinned neighbor. These squatters usually settled along the Whetstone or Scioto, clearing a patch of ground large enough to raise a very limited supply of the coarser vegetables. The number of these early and transient settlers maj' be judged by the statement made by Abraham Monnett a few months ago. Said he : " In that strip of land from the turnpike west to the Wyandot County line, up to the Bucyrus Town- ship line, I have in my memory more than fifty cabins that are now wholly destroyed, or at least but a few decayed timbers left to mark the former residence of some do-less squatter." The good morals of this class of settlers were conspicuous for their absence. While we cannot obtain any sufficiently authenticated case, yet very many stories are still told among the old people concerning the daring robberies, and in one case strong evidence is still related by old settlers of a stranger, purporting to be a man of means, who was made the chief char- acter of an unrecorded tragedy in a log cabin that stood upon the east side of the tumpikej at the northern edge of the township. The in- trinsic value of this territory, however, could not long leave it in the hands of a class of people, who, at best, would be honored in being called " the connecting link between the Indian and the white man." As the men and women of intelligence moved in from older counties of the South and East our squatter friends found the rays of the rising civilization too glaring for their squalor and filth, and they pandered to their nomadic tastes by keeping pace with the twilight belt as it gradually moved onward over the unbridged streams and fenceless prairies of the West. As would be expected, the plain land of Dallas was entered bj- a class of permanent dwellers, coming from a countrj- similar in soil and re- sources, and of like general features. Among the first of these was George Walton, a middle- aged man, of large family, who moved into Dallas from the " Pike- Whole-Prairie," in Pick- away County, in the fall of 1820. Mr. Walton moved into a squatter cabin that was located near the present residence of Maj. Matthew Car- mean. To this cabin he built an addition, and in two years had his place sufficiently improved ^.i: liL^ HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. 681 to appear like living. He was of the Meth- odist belief, and the first Methodist meetings held in the township were at his residence. To the hospitable board and hearth of this enter- prising settler, all the early itinerant ministers of the early times were welcomed. Through Mr. Walton's fostering care and devotion to his faith, an interest in religious matters was awakened at a very early day, and the Meth- odist organization, now known as the " Sixteen Chapel," had its rise in these " cottage prayer meetings." Mr. Walton, having reared an enter- prising family, and seen them all comfortably established upon farms and in other avocationsi finally removed to Iowa, and died there in 1857. A neighbor of Mr. Walton was a Mr. Van Home, well known to the early settlers. He also came from Pickaway County in 1821. Mr. Van Home had a family of three sons. He never extended his farm to more than two eighty-acre lots. The family remained here until the old gentleman died. The Mason family were among the earlj' set- tlers of the southeastern part of the township. The father and three boys, Thomas, Joseph and John, came from England to America in 1825, and followed ditching for an avocation, Mr. Mason, being a widower, with his three sons, kept bachelor's hall in a cabin erected on a forty-acre lot which he purchased, and which is now a part of the present farm of the widow of John Mason. It is told of the old gentleman that his skill in the culinary art enabled him to give some valuable lessons to his neighbors of the opposite sex, who made household duties their exclusive business. His bread, especially, on account of its whiteness and fleeciness was the envy of the worthy dames who presided in the neighboring establishments. Mr. Mason was never remarried and died at a ripe age in our centennial j-ear. One of the most prominent of the early set- tlers, that still blesses this territory with his inspiring presence, is Charles Wesley White, who was raised in Ross County bj' fervent Methodist parents. He came by way of Waldo, and, after remaining for a short period, traveled northward until he reached Upper Sandusky, in 1822, where he engaged himself to the In- dian Mill, receiving $15 per month, boarding himself Mr. White was an important partici- pant in one of the first weddings of Dallas, the notice of which reads as follows ; " Married — Mr. C. W. White to Miss Hannah Hoover, daughter of Christian Hoover, by Zalmon Rowse, November 25, 1830." He commenced housekeeping in a small log house on the south side of the Wyandot road, opposite his present residence — just a half-century ago. He en- tered 200 acres of land, which lie to the west and join the present Ephraim Monnett farm. Mrs. White died in 1851, and Mr. White has never married again. He has, for many years, been one of the principal land-owners and stock dealers of the central part of Dallas Township, and is still pushing his business with the same ardor that has characterized his whole life. He spends his winters with his son-in-law, J. J. Fisher, of Bueyrus. Matthew Mitchell was another of the early land-owners of this township. He came from Richland County in 1820, entered the old Welsh farm, afterward moved to Wyandot County, and died there, in 1878, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. G. H. Busby came from Fairfield County, in 1820 ; was a house joiner by trade ; purchased land in Section 7 ; followed his trade and farmed. In 1830, he was elected Clerk of Mar- ion County, which office he filled for many years. Alex Scott was the first owner of the present Ephraim Monnett farm. He entered it about 1822. His wife and children all died on this farm. jMr. Scott returned to his native State, Pennsylvania. Christian Hoover was one of the first per- manent settlers of central Dallas. He bought ^^ S Ji 682 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. out the heirs of William Johnson, in 1830. This land is now the property of Christian Hoover, Jr. iMr, Hoover had a family of two children, Hannah and William ; the former of whom, as already mentioned, married Mr. C. W. White. The latter is at present a resident of Bucyrus. 3Ir. Hoover was one of the prin- cipal wheat growers in this township. He pur- chased a thresher as early as 1835, which in some particulars is excelled by the threshing machinery of the present day. This thresher brought the straw, chaff and wheat, all com- bined, from the cylinder to the ground, but, as compared with the slow process of flailing, was a grand improvement. [Mr. Hoover died in 1849, at the age of sixty years. His wife died the following j'ear. ^ David Bibler, another early settler, was a citizen of considerable celebrity in this and the adjoining township. In 1826. he moved to a residence adjacent to a spring, which has ever since been known as the " Bibler Spring." This land, which had been entered by Christian Stahley a few years previous to Mr. Bibler's advent, is now the property of i\Ir. James Hufty. At the old cabin which is still stand- ing upon the Wyandot and Bucyrus road, on the county line, Mr. Bibler kept tavern for manj- years, and was one of the " stops twenty minutes for dinner," along the old stage line. He ran a still-house upon the south bank of the Sandusky ; also a saw-mill ; dealt some in live- stock, cultivated a farm, etc. He was twice mamed. His first wife died December 9, 1856, and his second died a few years later, after which he removed to Hardin Countj'. In the year in which his first wife died he lost a son, who committed suicide. His daughter Susan died within the same year. An authentic and accurate sketch of some of the real experiences of these early settlers is not inappropriate here, and we give an extend- ed account of early life as related by Mrs. Martha Johnston, a lady of seventy-eight years, with a remarkably well preserved memo- ry, and who has been a resident of Dallas near- I ly all her life. Thomas F. Johnston, better known among his cotemporaries as " Squire Johnston," was born in the year 1800, in Lycoming County, Penn. After having learned his trade, that of cabinet-maker, and acquired some m^ans, he determined to emigrate with his young wife to the capital of the new and ' prosperous State of Ohio. All necessary prep- i arations wei e made and in the fall of 1825, a four-horse team attached to a covered wagon containing Mr. and Mrs. Johnston with an infant child, Mr. Benjamin Warner and wife and an infant son, started for the untamed West. Their brother-in-law' s, George Walton already mentioned, who settled in Dallas two years previous, was the location first aimed for, from thence to the capital. After a three weeks' drive, the snow became so deep and the roads almost impassable, which obliged them to winter in the eastern part of the State. They resumed their Westward march in the early spring, having made their journey with the usual privations incident to such trips, they reached the eastern borders of the present countj' line, when again they were obliged to halt — the wagon mired to its bed. With Spartan endurance, the women mounted the I bare-back horses and carried the children, I while the men, guided by the blazed trees, pre- I ceded them with their rifles. When they ar- j rived at the present Archy Clark farm, it had grown intensely dark. Not wishing to stay all j night, a 3Ir. King, who lived near there, with j pioneer courtesy, prepared hickory-bark torches : and conducted them to jMr. Walton's. It was I now 2 o'clock in the morning. For the conso- ! lation of the modern young blood who is searching for precedents, we will record that even this hour did not find them all retired. Providence had favored Miss "Tishy," the i eldest Walton daughter, with a blushing beau, neighbor Van Home's son. It may likewise be ? « IV ^1 liU 686 HISTORY OF CRAWFOED COUNTY. man. He usually chose to ride on horseback in his deer hunts, which, from his frequent suc- cessful shots, was a great saving of his strength in bearing home the game. He re- ceived the title of Major from the position he held in one of the local military organizations of Marion County. Among the other early settlers who should at least have a passing notice, was Robert Grif- fith, better remembered as "Bob" GriflSth. He came from Ross County in 1832, and at first took care of some landowned by Linus Ross, who was then living in Ross County. Mr. Griffith afterward bought this land of Ross, to which he added 200 acres. He was a remarkabl}' successful stock-dealer, and, ac- cording to the statements of his cotempora- ries, " everything he touched turned into money." Finding his farm too small to grat- ify his increasing wants, he sold out to Mr. Ross in about the year 1842, and moved to Iowa. He is now one of the heavy shippers from that State to the Chicago markets. John Roberts was also one of the early settlers of this section. A short history of this gentle- man is given in another part of the work. In fact, there is no citizen of a new country that has lived fifty years amid such varied scenes and rapid improvements as have the citizens of this section for the last half-century, but that can relate to the present generation many in- teresting reminiscences. To talk to these ven- erable old men, one can but feel the sentiment expressed by the poet, "The peasant at his cottage door May teach you more than Plato knew. See that thou acorn him not : Adore God in him and thy nature too." It is not uninteresting in these days, when we hear so much discussion concerning capital and labor and the social problems, to listen to the pioneer's story of early privations and hardships. WhOe we would not wish to re- turn to the " good old days," as they are wont to call them, yet a rehearsal of their story and experience can but enlarge our charity for their criticisms of the " heir apparent " who goes dashing by with his fiery " coursers " and glittering " side-bar." In their daj', it was not a "ten-hours law," but units of labor per- formed, that constituted a day's work. With the wooden mold-board plow that turned a six to eight inch furrow, one and one-half acres was considered a day's work. In the wheat- fields of 1830, the proprietor, instead of sitting at one side of the field or riding about on his hack horse after a self-binder, was the leader of a band of robust reapers with sickles in hand. The man that could gather and bind the most sheaves was the hero in the eyes of his fellow-laborers, and the "beau ideal" of the " Maud Mullers at the spring." A day's work in the harvest-fields then was to cut and bind from twentj'-flve to thirty dozen. Occasionally there were "giants in those days," even at labor. As an instance, Jacob Monnett cut and bound and shocked in one day forty-four doz- en of rye for Abraham Monnett. For the en- couragement of the few (?) remaining posterity of Rev. Jeremiah Monnett, it is recorded that, at an advanced period of his life, he bound one hundred and five dozen of oats, and in the evening walked four miles to a neighboring camp-meeting. Another authenticated case is that of Samuel Morris, who, to win a wager, mowed in one day four acres of grass for Mad- ison Welsh, who then owned the present Eph. Monnett farm. The laborer that had the health and did not perform what was mutually agreed to be a day's work — and the standard was by no means short of measure — was so- cially ostracised by his comrades and shunned by the fair sex, whose penal criticism is always " too grievous to bear." Not infrequently did the feminine progenitors of some of the mod- ern bloods make the harvest-field a " summer resort," and put in sheaf the endless " golden swaths " that their not more enduring mates ^ -^ — ^t^, HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 687 were ever dropping from their swinging cra- dles. Every frontier colony has its many unre- corded hardships. None was more unfortu- nately situated in this respect than was Dallas Township. Par from all commercial outlets and thoroughfares, her citizens were obliged to drive to Frederick, Knox County, or Mount Vernon, to a grist-mill. Each customer had to fall in line and abide his time, making the bus- iness of going to mill very often one of a week's job. Lumber, salt, groceries, dress- goods, when purchased, and all other commer- cial necessities, had to be bought at Sandusky City (then called Portland), and conveyed over- land by wagons. These disadvantages, com- bined with a lack of capital, awakened the inventive genius of the American mind, as may be evinced if we glance for a moment at the domestic life of some of these inland pio- neers. To make the flour and meal obtained at such labor and expense hold out, home- made hominy was manufactured. A hickory log was usually chosen and sawed in a con- venient length and stood on end. The artificer of the family would use his experimental knowledge by manufacturing from it a very durable mortar. Into this mortar would be placed a few quarts of corn with a cup of warm water, the pounding of which furnished the boys with old-time sport. With the pecu- liar shape of this mortar, all that was neces- sary was to strike with the pestle in the center, where the largest particles would fall. Another of the customs in providing sup- plies, that has now become obsolete, and one that may be interesting to the future Dallasian when he wishes to celebrate the centennial of this dominion, was the home manufacture of wearing material of fifty years ago. Those made of " hempen goods ' passed through many stages. First, the flax was pulled up from the root by hand, bound in small bundles, gathered in stacks, and each bundle was divested of its seed by means of an oaken paddle and a tem- porarj^ stanchion — usually a rail — over which the heads were held. Great care had to be taken to keep the straw from entangling. After this first step, it was bound in parcels of conven- ient size, to facilitate its removal to the meadow or stubble field, where it was spread in swaths, to be exposed to the sun and rain from four to six weeks, to " rot," as it was termed. The col- lecting of the fiber thus exposed to the weather, when the grass had grown up among the straw, has made a professional man out of many a one of our ancestors. For, if the pioneers " agree as touching one thing, it is in expressing their distaste for this stage of manufacturing hempen goods, and fully accounts for the rapid strides that the inventive genius has made in this line of manufacture. The breaking of the flax was usually reserved for fall and winter evening ex- ercises. Bach boy had his task of so many bundles for the evening. One of the " tricks of the trade " may be found in the following state- ment : " It was always necessary to have a flre. Around and above this flre would hang the un- broken flax to dry. The old people, being more expert, frequentl}^ would complete their evening task in advance of the rising genera- tion, who, being left alone, would suddenlj^ raise the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere by adding to the flames a fuel whose intrinsic value was not always taken into consideration, nor made a topic of family discussion the re- mainder of the evening.'' In the next process, the flax was '• scutched," when it passed into the hands of the girls, who would hackle it, which left it ready for the spinning wheel and the shuttle. The long and laborious process of threshing and winnowing the wheat for mar- ket and mill ; their home-made cheese ; their dip candles ; their out-ovens ; almost a whole vocabulary of domestic terms, that will become practically obsolete to coming generations — could each be dwelt upon with interest, did space allow. ^-. 9 ""V ^^ i^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. The fine stock of these fertile valleys — which have since gained a reputation and name be- yond the State for this branch of profitable trade — in 1824, consisted of thirty-one horses and fifty-five cattle, the former appraised at $40 per head, and the latter from $4 to $8. Sheep and hogs were not enumerated in the tax list, even as late as 1830. The former were usually of the hardy varieties, like the long-legged, eoarse-wooled that are now called the "In- diana." For their protection, it was necessary to keep constant watch over them, and, in the evening, they were driven into high-built pens to protect them from the ravages of the wolves. The pork trade, in 1824-30, was as equally an uncertain business. Not that the cloven-footed animal could not protect himself from the hos- tile attacks of those of his own rank in cre- ation, but his roaming nature often made his ownership a subject of litigation. The man who was fortunate enough to own a piece of timber yielding mast, frequently became the possessor of a marketable drove of hogs in the fall of the year. These hogs were hard to capt ure, and, as one of the old purchasers stated it, " In the early days, it was an important mat- ter, when you bought hogs, to have it under- stood they were to be delivered." The most noted men in the sheep and hog trade were Da- vid and Simeon Bryant, who moved to the pres- ent Ephraim Monnett farm in the fall of 1829. They would bring in sheep and hogs from the East, and fatten the latter on the mast, when they would either drive them to the Eastern market, or butcher and pack them on the place. Madison Welsh was one of the first pork- packers in this part of the county. He estab- lished a packing-house on the land that Greorge Welsh now owns, on the Marion road. This gave an increased value to the forbidden meat. The forests and neighboring swamps were eagerly searched for wild hogs. Some of the thrilling adventures connected with their capt- ure justly entitle not a few of our ancestors to unfading laurels. Concerning the changes in the social customs of the last half-century, our limited space will allow but a brief notice. The building of dwell- ings, barns, breaking the first sod, all classes of heavy labor, constituted the " sociables " and ' soirees " of two generations ago. The lawn fetes of these primitive times were to assemble by moonlight on the green ; choose leaders ; divide in the center a long pile of corn provided by the host. When the signal was given, each party would strive to accomplish the lawn " feat " of " beating." Not " to the victor be- longed the spoils ;" but the successful captain was rewarded by being elevated upon the shoulders of his comrades, and carried about the premises as the recognized champion of the evening. Their isolation from the commercial world, bound them the closer in the ties of neighborly affection, so that in their sports or in their sorrows they enjoyed or suffered as one. The first time the people were called together in a meeting of a sadder nature than the one above described, was in the spring of 1827. The death angel passed over the settlement, and a young man was left lying in a cabin chamber of Jacob Snyder, cold in death. Dying in the spring of the year, when the streams were all swollen and impassable, they were compelled to inter the corpse in a coffin rudely made of split-oaken puncheon. From these a square box was made, by putting one in the bottom of the grave, two at the sides, placing the body within, and the fourth served as a lid. This young man was buried near the present resi- dence of Mervin Monnett — a graveyard that has no tombstone to mark its location. In the same year, the first burial was made in the White graveyard, situated in central Dallas, one mile east of the village of Wyandot. Of Mr. McClary , the first occupant of these grounds, but little is remembered. He resided not far from Wyandot Village, and was inhumed with- ^r J'- HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 6B9 out religious rites. In the following j'ear, 1829, Charles Parish died on the farm west of Ephraim Monnett's. He was the first silent partner of Mr. McClary in the new necropolis. An item of more than local historical interest and value is connected with a spring, , now owned by James Hufty, commonly called the " Bibler Spring." It is located a few rods east of the Wyandot County line, on the north side of the Wj'andot and Bucyrus road. It was told us by several of the early settlers that this was the traditional spot upon which Col. Crawford camped the night before his ill-fated engage- ment. Upon further inquiry, we learned from Benjamin Welsh, now living in Wyandot, and he is a man eighty years of age, that when he was assisting in putting up one of the first cabins in 1819, an old man rode up to their place of work, and, during the conversation, related an account of the encampment at this very spring, claiming to have been one of Craw- ford's men. He stated that in the early morn- ing (which probably was June 4, 1782), sev- eral of their men saw some Indians, for the first time, coming toward the encampment from the southeast ; but, on observing the whites, they immediately disappeared. This little scrap of such direct tradition, may throw some light upon Hechewelder's supposed fictitious collo- quy, which he has recorded as taking place between Chief Wingenund and Col. Crawford, in which Col. Crawford asks the Chief : " Have any Moravian Indians been killed or hurt since we came ?" Wingenund replies, " None ; but you first went to their town, and, finding it empty and deserted, you turned on the path toward us. If you had been in search of war- riors only, you would not have gone thither. Our spies watched you closely ; they saw you while you were embodying yourselves on the other side of the Ohio ; they saw you cross the river ; they saw you where you encamped at night ; they saw you turn ofi" from the path to the deserted Moravian town. Your steps were constantly watched, and you were suffered to proceed until you reached the spot where you were attacked." These two accounts, coming from such dif- ferent sources, have a wonderful agreement. If either story be correct, undoubtedly the Indians seen near the Bibler Spring that morning were some of the spies that Wingenund refers to. Dallas can present a very commendable war record, this being the only township in the county that furnished her full quota of men without having the draft imposed. One of her sons, whose valiant career did her honor, was Lieut. Col. J. W. Shaw, more fully men cloned in another chapter of this work. The borders of Dallas Township have been thrice visited with prevailing epidemics. The first was the milk sickness. The Wood family was the first fatally affected. Elizabeth and Henry Wood died a few days apart, from this scourge, in the fall of 1833. James Wood, of the same household, died a few days later. Others, whose names are now forgotten, in this, the neighborhood along the Sanduskj' River, died about the same time. In the same year, several cases of Asiatic cholera developed among the citizens in the southern part of the township. So little is told definitely concern- ing this, that we omit any of the statements. The second attack of cholera occurred late in the summer of 1854. The epidemic was intro- duced into Dallas by John Norris. He was a man addicted to strong drink, and endured abstinence as long as he thought possible. Contrary to the pleadings of his wife, he started for Marion at a time when that town was severely scourged by this disease. Although its streets had been fenced across, and every precaution and warning given "to stay out," Mr. Norris went, and in some way obtained his fill of liquor. About forty-eight hours after- ward, Dr. John Milot, of Bucyrus, was sum- moned to his bedside, and foun' @_ HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 697 was covered with a heavy forest, which has been largely cleared away to make room for the agriculturist. This is one reason why the soil in almost every locality is much drier, at present, than formerlJ^ Another reason is, that since the forests have disappeared, the action of the sun is unchecked, thus effecting a more rapid evaporation of the moisture than when the country was covered with woods. And, correlatively, the sandy plains of the West, exposed to the blazing heat of the summer's sun in former years, could retain moisture but a few days, even if six inches of water fell at one time. It thus appears that the rain cloud can be imperfectly controlled, and the supply of rain in any section of country can be varied through a period of years necessary for the growth of timber, for the benefit of tillers of the soil, and, consequently, for all humanity. Thus the answer to the prayer of the Kaffir is realized through the observation of intelligent men. The soil of Lykens is not surpassed in richness by that of any other township in the county. It is peculiarly adapted for corn, and large crops of this valuable grain are raised year after year on the same piece of land without any appreciable decrease in the quanti- ty produced. This is true in the eastern and southeastern parts, where a deep, black soil prevails ; while the western part is better adapted to wheat and kindred grains, from the fact that more sand and clay are found, these portions of the soil being highly essential to the proper growth of the smaller grains. Along the course of the winding Sycamore Creek, corniferous limestone is found out-cropping, sufficient in amount to furnish the country for miles around with building stone. It is found in large quantities on Section 16, where the stone is covered with earth varying in thick- ness from six inches to eighb feet. The stone is blue, and contains more impurities than that obtained at the more extensive quarries in Holmes and Todd Townships. It contains the casts of crinoidal stems and numerous cephalo- pods and trilobites. It is coarse, though exceed- ingly durable. The quarries have been but little worked, and many of the beds remain un- opened. The central and western portions of the town- ship are well drained. Sycamore Creek, a small, shallow stream, flows across the central part, entering the township on Section 11, and flowing across Sections 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 30. It has many small branches, one of the principal rising in the flat land near the southeastern corner and flowing northwest, uniting with the main stream on Section 30. This stream, called Little Sycamore Creek, has but little fall and is sluggish in its movements. The northeastern part is level, and, in former years, was almost bottomless. These streams give the township an imperfect drainage. Lykens was for several years attached to Sycamore Township, of which the present Texas Township was a part until 1845. But, in 1831 (or possibly 1830), a sufficient number of set- tlers had arrived as to make it advisable to have a separate township organization. Up to this time Lykens was known only by its number and range ; but, as soon as the propriety of a sepa- rate organization was apparent, the few settlers were called upon to suggest a name for the township to be presented in their petition to the County Commissioners, praying that the town- ship have a separate organization. Jacob Poy wanted the township named " Payette," but he could not command sufficient influence, much to his disappointment, to accomplish that result. Finally, Jacob Lintner, a prominent German who had just settled with several of his coun- trymen near Portersville, suggested the name Lykens. The Germans had come from a town of that name in Pennsylvania, and, after some discussion, the name was presented in the peti- tion to the Commissioners, who accordingly bestowed it upon the township. An election of officers was ordered to be held at the residence & 'V^ HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. of Jacob Poy during one of the spring months of 1832. There were living in the township at that time barely sufficient men to fill the va- rious offices ; but, pursuant to the order of the Commissioners, they assembled at Mr. Foy's cabin and elected the following officers, as re- membered by Joseph Hall : Benjamin Huddle, Justice of the Peace ; Levi Gifford, Constable ; John Elliott, Clerk ; Jacob Lintner, Treasurer ; Joseph Hall, Joseph Muchler and Robert Knott, Trustees ; and two others elected as Fence Viewers. This list of the first officers is given from memory by Mr. Hall, and may not be absolutely correct. However, the probability is that the list is correct. Almost every settler in the township was honored with an office. At that time the township, with the exception of a portion of Sections 31, 32 and 33, which be- longed to the Wyandot Reservation, comprised its present territory, and, in addition, the west- ern tier of sections in Chatfield Township. In 1835, all that portion of the township belong- ing to the Wyandot Reservation was annexed to Lykens, as is shown by the following extract taken from the records of the County Commis- sioners : " All that part of the originallj' sur- veyed Township 1, Range 16 east, lying in said (Wyandot) Reservation shall be attached to Lykens, and shall constitute a part of said township." After this action no change was made in the boundary or territory of the town- ship until 1845, when the eastern tier of sec- tions was attached to Chatfield, leaving Lykens thirty sections, the number it yet retains. For several years after the creation of the township, elections continued to be held in the cabin of Jacob Foy ; but, when the first schoolhouse was built, they were held there. The first settlers were of English descent, and first came to Seneca County ; but upon their arrival they discovered that the more val- uable portions of land had been entered, so they journeyed on south into northern Craw- ford County. It was not until about 1830 that the first settlers located in the southern part. The real emigration into the southern part, however, did not begin until 1832, when large numbers of Germans, directly from the old country, arrived in a body, and entered all the land in the southern part, within three or four years. Many of them had entered the land at the land offices, without first having seen whether it suited them or not. The conse- quence was that many of their farms were found to be almost wholly under water, and the disappointed Germans were compelled, bj' the fiat of events, to make the most of what they had. They were not easily discouraged by the floods of water, but went to work to clear and drain their land, and, in time, they were abundantly rewarded. The important question as to who was the first settler is a dif- ficult one to answer with any certainty. It is quite likely that the first settler to build a cabin in the township remained but a few years, going back to Seneca County, whence he came. This knowledge is gained from Arthur An- drews, one of the oldest settlers living in Texas Township, and from his recollection it seems highly probable that Seneca County furnished the first settlers for Lykens Township. The following men were established in the township in rude log cabins as early as 1828 : John El- liott, Jacob Poy, Jacob Lintner, Joseph Trask, Gottleib Hoss. Christopher Keggy, Joseph Hall, Jacob Miller and several others whose names are forgotten. In 1829 and 1830, there also came in James Ferguson, Benjamin Hud- dle, Levi GiflEbrd, Samuel Spittler, James Wickam, Robert Mays, Robert Knott, Joseph Muchler and a few others. After 1830, and prior to 1836, there appeared Nelson Holt, Daniel Coon, John Babcock, Ira Cory, Daniel Pratt, Barnaby Harper, Adam Baden, Solomon Seery, David Albaugh, Nathan Coran, William Swalley, Adam and Lucas Shock, Otto Peltner, John Apple, Jacob Oberlander, John Aupt, Reu- ben Keran, Ira G. AUen, Milton Waller, Eli *7t ;^ iL HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. Winter, Sr., William Burgett, Joseph Ken- nedy, Samuel and Timothy Parks, Joseph Dil- linger, John Shoulter, Solomon Babcock, and many others. It was during this period that nearly all the land in the township was taken up, and many interesting incidents are related as to the maneuvers made by the settlers to secure the best land. Circumstances seem to in- dicate that Christopher Keggy was the first settler in the township. This man came from Fairfield County, first locating in Seneca County ; but afterward, in 1825, he came to Lykens Township, and built a small log cabin in the northwestern corner. Indications seem to point to his not owning any land, having been a squatter, and having located there to hunt and trap. He remained in the township until 1830, when he sold what interest he had in the farm to Reuben Keran, and returned to Fairfield County. Keggy was a noted hunter, and had come to Ohio before the war of 1812. His life was a succession of adventures with wild animals and with Indians. What became of him is unknown. Jacob Miller came to the township as early as 1827, locating in the northwestern part. This setter was also a hunter of distinguished reputation. Joseph Trask was the third settler, but, in 1831, he sold his farm to another settler, and returned to Seneca County, whence he came. Jacob Poy was the first permanent settler, and was an influential man in early years. He served many terms as Justice of the Peace, and always impartially administered the laws as he understood them. Roliert Mays and Levi Gifford served as Jus- tices of the Peace between 1830 and 1840. For several years the settlers had been grievously damaged and annoyed by having their swine stolen by some thief or thieves in the neighbor- hood, until, finally, they resolved, if possible, to put a stop to it. One day a man named Pratt, who had been fined several times for stealing, was detected in the act of killing a hog belonging to one of his neighbers. Pratt was an illiterate man, in whom the spirit of evil knew no superior nor control. He was a great coward, and it was resolved to make the eflSort to scare him out of his illegal proceed- ings. He was arrested by the Constable, and taken with great solemnity before "Squire" Mays, who, after hearing all the evidence and sifting the case to the bottom, informed the culprit, that, inasmuch as he had been pun- ished repeatedly by fines for a similar oflSense, without any change being obtained in his con- duct, it was the duty of the court, in order to preserve the sacred rights of private property, to place the offender beyond the reach of fur- ther violating the law, by hanging him to a tree in the yard of the cabin until he was dead. The prisoner was visibly affected and fright- ened. He trembled^in every limb, and turned as pale as death, but the inexorable Justice gravely informed him that he had brought his fate upon his own head, and must prepare for death. A rope was procured, and preparations were being made to execute the sentence of the court ; and, while these were in progress, the prisoner was purposely left alone near an open window, thus favoring an opportunity for es- cape not to be overlooked, for, with a desperate bound, he leaped through the opening and ran off with the speed of the wind. He was in- stantly pursued by the officers, who had no in- tention of recapturing him ; but to keep up ap- pearances guns were fired, curses were hurled after the condemned man, and the servants of the law went scouring after him in swift pur- suit. He ran as though pursued by the furies, effecting an easy escape through the deep woods. This ruse proved far more effective than admonitions or prosecutions, for Pratt left and was never afterward seen in the township. Cases of this character, however, were unusual in early years, and were only instituted when lawful proceedings were inadequate in securing the desired relief Trouble of a similar nature was experienced by the settlers through the ^> rRT Ji -^ 700 HISTORY OF CBAWFORD COUNTY. thievish propensity of John Henry, whose un- lawful acts are specified in the chapter on Chat- field Township in this volume. Many cases are remembered where settlers, in returning from town or mill with their teams late at night, through the winding forest roads, became mired down, making it necessary for them to leave their wagons, and occasionally their teams, until the next morning, and being compelled to reach home on foot as best they could. It became customary to carry lanterns or torches, so that, if the road was obscure, all difficulty in following it might be avoided. The Parks brothers started one evening just at dark to go without light to the cabin of Eli Winters, who resided about a mile and a half distant. Night came suddenly upon them, they lost their reckoning, became bewildered, and, after wan- dering around in the woods for several hours, during which time they shouted themselves hoarse, navigated numerous swamps and bogs, and encountered sundry logs in a manner not calculated to soothe their tempers, they finally found themselves waist deep in mud and water, from which they were unable to extricate them- selves beyond climbing on a large log that lay half out of the water. The swamp was all around them, and, not daring to venture again into unexplored paths of water, they concluded to remain on the log until morning. It was in the fall of the year, and, after passing a miser- able night, during which they suffered intensely from wet clothing and the cold, daylight at last came, and revealed an easy path from the swamp, which was quickly traversed by the shivering brothers. They reached Mr. Winter's cabin thoroughly prostrated, and it was only after several hours, with hot coflee, before a roaring fire, that they were enabled to return home. This is only one of many cases of a similar nature. It was the easiest thing in the world to get lost in the woods, even in the day- time, and, unless a person was thoroughly fa- miliar with the path he was traveling, or had with him a lantern, he was almost sure to get lost in the woods at night. The settlers of the township were often aroused to search for some child that had become lost in the pathless forest. James Ferguson's family lived in the western part, near Sj'camore Creek. One even- ing in summer, Mrs. Ferguson, accompanied by her son, a boy ten years of age, started after the cows. The animals were found about a mile away, but they refused to be driven home, pre- ferring to dash through clumps of bushes to avoid the flies, and, apparently, to annoy the driver as none but cows know how to do, when their feeding is likely to be cut short. In en- deavoring to head them toward home, Mrs. Fer- guson became bewildered, and was startled to find that she was lost. The cows seemed deter- mined to go directly away from home, although, really, they were aiming as straight for that spot as cows could through the deep woods ; but Mrs. Ferguson did not know this, and, thinking that she could retrace her steps, she left the cows and endeavored to find her way home. But she failed to see a single familiar object. This increased the terror, and, conse- quently, the bewilderment of the lost woman. She called repeatedly at the top of her voice, but only the terrifying echoes of her own tones answered her. Darkness came on, and the wolves began to howl at intervals through the dark forest. Mrs. Ferguson saw with alarm that she was doomed to remain in the woods all night, unless some providential circumstance brought her home. She knew that rambling through the woods would attract the wolves, and saw that the wisest course was to lie down near some large log that would afibrd shelter from descending dews, and remain quiet until morning. This was done, and the long, chiUy night was passed, with occasional frights to the watchful woman by strange noises around her. At last the morning came, and the tired woman, taking her boy by the hand, started out, hoping to reach home for an early breakfast. But she a) - ;ir -4V HISTOJRY OF CEAWPOBD COUNTY. 701 wandered on and on until noon, without having seen a single familiar landmark. She exhausted all her knowledge of woodcraft to establish the cardinal points of direction, but failed. She traveled on until darkness came, and another night of terror and suffering was passed. Noth- ing had been eaten except a few wild berries, and the mother and her child were almost worn out with anxiety and hunger. Another day came and was passed wandering through the woods until about the middle of the afternoon, when the welcome report of a rifle was heard near at hand, and, in a few minutes, the over- joyed woman saw a neighbor walking rapidly toward her. He was one of a party that had been searching for her for two nights and nearly two days, and had brought with him some bread and butter, which was eagerly devoured by the half-famished woman and child. She was about three miles from home, and had kept wandering round and round in a circle, passing once or twice within a quarter of a mile of her cabin. She was soon at home, and in a few days was fully recovered from her exposure and nervous shock. Search for her had begun the night of her disappearance, and, although guns had been fired, and bells rung, yet not a sound thus made reached the ears of the lost woman. This seems unaccountable, and can only be explained by reason of distance and contrary winds. Mr. Ferguson was one of the most skillful hunters ever in the county. He had been reared in the woods, and was thor- oughly familiar with all the tactics known to professional hunters. He had taken a promi- nent part in the military expeditions in Ohio during the war of 1812, and was employed as a scout and a bearer of dispatches from one commander to another. He is remembered to have told, that, on one occasion, while bearing dispatches from near Columbus to some fort in the northern part of the State, he was seen by a party of hostile Indians, and pursued for two days before he succeeded in eluding them. He is said to have been a remarkable marksman, being able to bring down with his rifle almost any bird, on the wing. He first located in San- dusky Township, but, after a few settlers had arrived, he moved to Lykens, where he re- mained a few years, and then went farther west. The settlers, for many years, went to Seneca County for their flour and lumber. Extensive mills had been in operation in that county, on Sandusky River, for many years prior to the set- tlement of Lykens, and the settlers found it much handier to go there than south to the vicinity of Bucyrus. It was not long, however, before industries began to arise in the township, and, ere many years had elapsed, the settlers no longer went north for their lumber, although they continued to go there for their flour. Otto Fieldner, in about 1836, erected a small frame building about a mile south of the village of Lykens, in which was placed one set of " nig- ger-head " stones for the purpose of " cracking " corn. It was not designed for a flour-mill, al- though a feeble efl'ort was made to grind wheat and rye. It was a great accommodation to the settlers, who, in order that the meal might not become stale, were in the habit of getting a sackful ground at a time. The mill continued in operation about eight years, and then was allowed to run down. Milton Waller was a cooper by trade, an occupation he followed at odd times for a number of years. He had a small shop at his house and made tubs, kegs, etc., finding a ready sale for all he could man- ufacture. He was a prominent man, and his sons have been among the most enterprising and intelligent citizens in the township. Fran- cis Slee was a carpenter. He built many of the early frame houses, and manufactured chairs, looms, spinning-wheels, etc. Ira Cory was a blacksmith, the first one to work at the trade in the township, and erected a small shop a mile or so south of the village. Joseph Ken- nedy burned brick about a mile east of the vil- lage as early as 1840. No large quantity was i±. 702 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. burned, and a ready sale was found for all he prepared. One of the first houses erected in the village of Lykens was constructed of brick from Mr. Kennedy's Idln. Some say that Nathan Goran was the first blacksmith in the township. It is quite certain that his shop was erected as early as 1834. He worked at the trade for many years. William Jackson tanned skins on a small scale, begin- ning about 1840. Otto Fieldner, in connection with his "corn-cracker,"' operated one of the best of the early saw-mills. The mill was lo- cated on a small stream ; and, although noth- ing better than a slow motion could be obtained for the saw, owing to the sluggish flow of the water, due to the fact that the stream had but little fall, it was enabled to run about four months during the spring. It continued in op- eration as long as the " corn-cracker.'' Mr. Fieldner found it best to attach to the com- bined mill suitable machinery to be worked by horses, for the purpose of lengthening the time that the mills could run. This tread-power proved so satisfactory that it soon superseded the old water-wheel. It is stated that, in vio- lation of the United States revenue laws, liquor of various kinds, including whisky and brandy, has been distilled in the township, in cellars and other secret places, by diiferent parties, at inter- vals, since the earliest times. Stories are in circulation, where certain parties are reported to have been seen under suspicious circum- stances during nights in past years. The re- ports have probably been exaggerated, but it is quite certain that the revenue laws have been violated, although the quantity of liquor man- ufactured has been small, and the quantity sold smaller stiU. Joseph Stammits buUt and operated a steam saw-mill in the northwest corner, on Buckeye Creek, as early as 1844. He had a good mill, and did a large amount of sawing for the cit- izens. It is said that the creek furnished only sufficient water to supply the boiler. After running ten or fifteen years, the engine and boiler were removed and the mill abandoned. Eli Winters, Jr., owned and operated this mill for a short time. He was a skillful sawyer, and was connected with several of the early mills. The most valuable and most extensive saw-mill in the township in earlj' years, was built and operated hj Jacob Foy, a sawyer of long ex- perience. The mill was a combined saw and grist mill, and was erected at the junction of the Big and Little Sj'camore Creeks. The building was a large two-story frame structure, divided into two apartments, one for the grind- ing machinery, and the other for the sawing. Excellent water-power was secured by means of a race having sufficient fall to furnish ample power for the rapid running of the saw. The mill was built in about 1834, and continued in operation many years. The remains of the old mill may yet be seen at the junction of the two creeks. It is said that excellent flour and meal were furnished by the grist-mill. Inch lumber from any wood was furnished for about 40 cents by the hundred, or a share was taken, varying from one-third to two-thirds. Lai^e quantities were sawed, and many of the older buildings yet standing in the township were constructed of lumber obtained at the Foy saw-miU. The " nigger-head " stones used in the grist-mill were bowlders taken from the farm of Eli Winter, and dressed down to the proper size and shape by some neighboring stone-cutter. After Foy had operated the com- bined mills for fifteen or twenty 3-ears, he sold out to Moses Woodsides, who increased the scope of both departments of the mill, by sub- stituting steam as the motor in place of water. After running many years, the mill was finally abandoned. A man named Patrick built and operated a saw-mill on Sycamore Creek as early as 1865. A Mr. Blanchard also operated one for many years. Among the early industries must be noticed the effort made by two or three parties in the township, between 1840 and 1850, ihL HISTORY OF CRAWFOKD COUNTY. 703 to rear silk-worms and to manufacture silk goods. Mrs. Breston, of Chatfield Township, was quite extensively engaged in the enterprise, and, through her influence, many were induced to embark in the same pursuit. A man named Blanchard was induced to begin the business on a small scale. A room in his house was fitted up with suitable shelves and heating ap- paratus, and eggs of the silk-worm were ob- tained from Mrs. Breston and placed therein, under proper conditions of heat and moisture, to be hatched. Here could be seen the wonder- ful metamorphosis from the egg to the mature insect. Mr. Blanchard experienced other diffi- culties in conducting the business than Mrs. Breston did, from the fact that he was a novice in the rearing and care of silk-worms, being obliged to depend upon Mrs. Breston for neces- sary instructions. He, as well as the lady, soon found it extremely difficult to obtain the nec- essary supply of fresh mulberry leaves, which constituted the caterpillar's only food. After having got nicely started, he was compelled to forego the combined pleasures and anxieties connected with the pursuit. The insects died on his hands, and the silk-culture soon became a thing of the past. One or two other parties made efforts in the same direction, but nothing was accomplished, except to discover that the business could not be otherwise than unprof- itable. In October, 1870, J. F. Peighner secured the services of H. W. McDonald, County Surveyor, and laid out fifteen lots on the northwest quar- ter of Section 15, Township 1 south. Range 16 east, and named the village thus surveyed, Ly- kens. These were the first lots laid out in accordance with the law of Ohio, although, many years previously, the village had sprung into existence, industries of various kinds had arisen, merchants had come and gone, and the real growth and business activity had passed before the village was properly laid out and or- ganized. Other suggestive names have been bestowed upon the village, much to the disgust of the villagers, who recognize no name but Lykens. Citizens in the township, outside of the village, and even people living in distant parts of the county, speak of "Buljo,"' when referring to the only town in Lykens Township. The origin of this title is somewhat doubtful. It is related that many years ago, when the first saloon was doing a lively business in the town, several of the citizens were wont to assemble there to drink, tell stories and amuse themselves in various ways. Among the number was a man who told a funny story, wherein a negro, in referring to a certain place where liquor was sold and imbibed, said they had " high times in Buljo." The story, whenever told, elicited rounds of applause, and it was not long before the frequenters of the saloon, in speaking of their revels, said " We have high times in Buljo." After that, the village became known as " Bul- jo," a name that clings to it, despite the efforts made by the villagers to shake the title off. The name Santa Fe was bestowed upon the town, but after a few years this was forgotten. Several of the citizens in early years began calling the village "Buzzard's Glory.'' The origin of this name will be left to the imagina- tion of the impartial reader. The first dwelling in the town was built by a man named Swet- land on his own land, in 1834. It was a small frame structure, and was torn down a few years ago. A Mr. HoUister built the second about two years later. When these dwellings were erected, it was not imagined that a village was soon to spring up about them ; and perhaps if the thought passed through the minds of these two men, it was unheeded and soon forgotten. By 1840, there were as many as six or eight dwellings in the village, and people began to talk of having lots laid out. It was about this time that Anson Brown built the brick house now owned and occupied by Dr. Ritchie's wid- ow. The bricks were obtained at the Kennedy kiln, a short distance east of the village. A i \ t^ 704 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. man named Gossage built the frame dwelling now owned and occupied by the family of Hiram Dillinger. The villagers soon became clamor- ous for a post office, and began with one accord to call the town " Lykens," a title suggested by the name of the township. Mr. Swetland opened the first store. He placed in one room of his dwelling about $200 worth of notions, including some half-dozen yards of calico, and a small quantity of groceries. This, however, did not satisfy the wants nor ambition of the villagers, as they still found it profitable to go to Bucy- rus, when a large bill of goods was wanted. Mr. Swetland began as early as 1835, and continued until 1840, when he closed out his stock, and turned his attention to his farm. In the fall of 1840, Anson Brown built a small storeroom and began the mercantile pursuit, with a gen- eral assortment of goods valued at $600. This was the first store of consequence in the town. Brown began doing a lively business from the start, and kept steadily increasing his stock, by investing all the profits in additional goods. He dealt quite largely in produce, buying and shipping butter, eggs, poultry, etc., and made considerable money. In 1847, his store caught fire, one windy night, from a defective flue, and burned to the ground, consuming several thou- sand dollars' worth of goods : but this loss did not dishearten Mr. Brown in the least, for he immediately rebuilt, and began with a much larger stock than formerly. He was a shrewd business man, and, in time, increased his stock until it was worth nearly $8,000. He is said to have kept the largest and best stock of goods ever in the town, besides doing a large and active trade in produce of all kinds. He finally sold out to other parties. Byron Brown (not a relative of Anson Brown) opened a store in about 1848. His stock consisted principally of groceries, and was worth about $1,000. He continued the business for about seven years, and then closed out his stock. The Browns were succeeded by George Jackson, who sold a small stock of goods for about five years. Samuel Martin began to sell a general assort- ment of goods about 1856 ; but, after following the mercantile pursuit for six or eight years, and discovering that the business was not likely to enrich him very soon, he sold out to other parties. Various other persons have sold goods in the town. It has been in past years quite an extensive trading-point, and even at present commands a fair patronage. Various other industries have arisen in the village. A man named Cummins erected a blacksmith- shop as early as 1838, and began to work at that trade. He was followed by a Mr. Madison. Carpenters, butchers, coopers, masons and oth- ers have followed their peculiar callings in the village. James Drake built an ashery quite early, probably 1845. The building was lo- cated on Sycamore Creek, near the southern limits of the town, and large quantities of ashes were manufactured into potash, and shipped to Bucyrus and other neighboring villages. Mr. Drake succeeded in manufacturing as high as fifteen tons of potash per annum, and contin- ued at about the same rate for a number of years, and finally sold the building and all the appurtenances thereto belonging to Anson Brown, and moved west to the Centennial State. Brown conducted the ashery even more extensively than Drake, and gave goods from his store in exchange for ashes. The ashery was finally sold with the store. Jacob Hodge built an ashery in the village, on the bank of Sycamore Creek, soon after the erection of the Drake building. He manufactured considerable potash during a period of six years, but finally abandoned the enterprise. Jerry Jolly erected suitable buildings, sunk some half-dozen vats, and began tanning skins as early as 1846. He did good work for ten years, when he sold out to Bphraim Adams, who, after continuing the same occupation for five years, abandoned it, and the buildings were taken down. A man named Brown (not Anson Brown) opened a sa- -3^ »yv HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 705 loon in the village in 1845 ; but, at the end of faur years, he transferred his stock of liquors to some other locality. Peter Howenstein built a saw-mill in " Buljo," on Sycamore Creek, in 1847. He did good work, and owned and op- erated the mill for nearlj' fifteen years, but finally sold out. Eli Winters owned and oper- ated the mill for a time. Other parties also owned it. The same mill, altered and en- larged, is yet in operation in the town. Dr. James Dodge was the first resident physician, locating in the village in 1848. He obtained a fair practice, but left for other fields of labor five or six years after his arrival. Dr. Harmon resided in town for a few years. He was suc- ceeded by Dr. Ritchie, who came in 1856, but died at the end of four years. The present physician is Gr. D. Spengler. The post office was secured about 1844 ; but, prior to that time, the mail was brought from Melmore, in Seneca County, and later, from Portersville. The mail was carried by William Hank, once a week for many years. Anson Brown was probably the first Postmaster. In 1872, the Odd Fellows organized a lodge in the village, beginning with fifteen members, a flattering number for so small a place, to be sure. A hall was hired over one of the stores, and the lodge was soon on firm footing. The present mem- bership is thirty-four. It will be seen from the above that the village was not properly laid out until 1870 ; but, prior to that time, lots were measured ofl', and sold to those desiring a residence in town. The village at present has a population not to exceed forty -five. The Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike was traveled quite extensively for many years be- fore the last war by escaping slaves from the Southern States on their way north to the do- minion of the British Queen. Almost every citizen living on that well-traveled highway recollects of seeing many a dusky runaway skulking along the road under cover of the night, or being driven rapidly north by some assisting friend. It occasionally happened that pursuing masters also traveled the road ; but it is not remembered that any runaway slave was captured by his master while escaping through the county. It was not customary for slaves to stop at houses directly on the road, even though the owner was a known friend. As morning approached, they left the road, and stopped at dwellings several miles from its course. It thus occurred that several citizens in and near the village of Lykens were known to harbor the black man, and to convey him farther on his way to Canada and freedom. On one occasion, one of the citizens was seen with a wagon-load of dusky women and chil- dren, heading for the house of some friend in southern Seneca County. And, at another time, a half-dozen or more of half-starved, half-clothed negro men were seen in a barn in Lykens Town- ship. Schools are the offspring of civilization. They are unknown among barbarians, and are found numerous and perfect in the degree of a people's removal from the savage state. None but highly cultured people — those with a ready appreciation for excellences, whether found in human character or in material creation — can see the countless beauties and perfections which adorn like summer flowers every pathway of life. Education amplifies the vision of the in- tellect, widens the moral and social capabilities^ and places the enchanted observer upon mount- ainous heights, from which a glimpse of new delights is seen shining like starry constellations in nocturnal skies. Education multiplies the sources of enjoyment, and adds to the happiness of human life. It is highly necessary for the preservation of the American Government that the people should foster and protect schools as they would pearls and rubies. And this has been done in the past with steadily increasing interest, and a willing expenditure of millions of money. AU over the land is found that unpretending temple of learning — the school- ^■f B "^ 706 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. .k house — and no child need be raised to mature years without, at least, a fair education. It is likely that the first schoolhouse in Lykens Township was built two miles west of the vil- lage, near the farm of Eli Winters, in 1834. The building was constructed of round logs, and was built by everybody before the township had been divided into school districts. Isabel Hall was probably the first teacher in this build- ing. It was during the first term that Perry Black and William Helt, two of her scholars, caught a porcupine in the woods ; and, having tied a long string to its leg, they climbed upon the schoolhouse, unseen by the inmates of the room, who were intent upon the lessons of the day, and lowered the animal down the chimney, much to the annoyance of the teacher and the amusement of the other scholars. The school was taught by subscription, and there was a large enough attendance to afl!brd the teacher wages at the rate of about $10 per month. A clapboard, smoothed ofl' and coated with black paint, was used as the blackboard, and this was regarded by scholars, teacher and patrons, as a very valuable piece of school apparatus. A man named Andrews was an early teacher, as was also a Miss Lueinda Warren. While Miss Warren was teaching, the scholars were at rec- reation one day, ofi" in the woods about forty rods, when they were seen by a party of Wyan- dot Indians on their ponies. In order to scare the children, the Indians started on the gallop toward them, whooping and swinging their tomahawks and rifles in the air. The children ran screaming with fright toward the school- house, and were met by the alarmed teacher, who had come out to ascertain the nature of the unusual commotion outside. At sight of her, the Indians wheeled their ponies, and rode away laughing. In about 1840, a much better schoolhouse was built to take the place of the old one. After this building had been used many years, the present one was built at a cost of $500. The Kansom Schoolhouse was buUt in 1836. It was also of logs, and was replaced after a few years by a small frame building, which was used until the present house was erected. This building has become known as the " Frog-pond " Schoolhouse. A frame school building was erected about a mile north of Lykens Village in 1840. It was used untU the present one was buUt. No schoolhouse was built in the village until 1851. Many years be- fore, a log school cabin had been built about a quarter of a mile north of town, and this was attended by the village children. A school building was erected on Section 29 as early as 1838. It was built of logs, and was used until 1854, when a small frame house took its place. This building was used until 1880, when a large brick schoolhouse was built at a cost of $1,600. This is the largest and best school building in the township. A school cabin was erected in the southeast corner in 1840. Two others have succeeded it, the last being built a few years ago. Spelling schools were held in early years with the usual laughable incidents connected therewith. David Spittler taught " singin' skewl " during the winter months for many years. The old " buckwheat notes " were sung with a gusto and a hilarity not commended by later musical instructors. The earliest settlers went to church in Sen- eca County ; but, after 1832, when a large German emigration arrived, it was thought best by the various denominations to erect churches nearer home. As early as 1832, the Free- Will Baptists began holding meetings in the cabins of the settlers. Two brothers, Seth and Benjamin Parker, were among the first ministers. Rev. James Ashley was another, as was also Comfort Waller. Among those who organized the society and took an active part in subsequent exercises, were the families of Comfort Waller, David Hill, Lewis Warren and William Swalley. Finally, in 1842, this society built the first church in the township in the western part, on the farm of Comfort ^ ;fr ) !>• HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 707 Waller. The church was a low frame build- ing, with clapboard seats fastened to poles laid lengthwise of the house, and pulpit made of poplar lumber planed to a fair degree of smoothness. A large fire-place in one end added heat, light, cheerfulness and comfort to the room. The members were proud of their church, and could boast, without fear of suc- cessful contradiction, that it was the best in the township. After many years, the present church was erected to take its place, at a cost of about $1,200. The Baptist society has been one of the strongest and best in the township, and has done much good. The Presbyterians began holding meetings in the house of Solomon Seery, and others, as early as 1834. Here they continued to assemble for many years, being visited regularlj' by Rev. Tracy, a circuit-rider, who traveled over several counties. The membership of the society slowly increased, and, after about twelve years from the first organization, a church was built on the Seery Corners, and has since been known as the Seery Church. It was a small frame building, with the rudest architectural ornamentation. The seats and pulpit were roughly made of poplar lumber, and were without paint or varnish. This building was used until 1870, when the present church was built. After a few years of ministerial service for the society. Rev. Tracj' died, and was suc- ceeded by the well-known Rev. Lillibridge, who preached and labored with the congrega- tion for many years, placing the church on firm footing as regards both finance and mem- bership. The first church built b}' this society was the becond in the township. The Luther- an Church, located just across the southern line, in Holmes Township, is largely attended by the citizens living in the southern part. This church was organized by the Germans at an early day. The present minister is Rev. Josiah Kanagy, and the church has a member- ship of about seventy. In 1850, the German Reformers and German Lutherans organized a church society in the northwestern part. Preaching was held in the schoolhouse for one year, and then for a short time in a barn be- longing to John Klaes. The barn was de- stoyed by lightning ; whereupon services were held in Mr. Klaes' house until the summer of 1852, when a small brick church was built. The first minister in charge of the society was Rev. John Bantz. He was succeeded by Rev. William Veiler, who remained with the congre- gation about a year, when Rev. Elias Keller took his place. Afterward, the Rev. John Winter became the minister in charge. In 1859, during the ministry of Rev. Winter, the congregation was divided. The Reformers sold their interest in the old church to the Luther- ans and erected a fine brick church within fifty feet of the old one. The old church was occu- pied about two years by the Lutherans, when it was abandoned, and soon afterward sold to Jacob Feighner, who used the bricks in the construction of his residence. The congrega- tion of Reformers grew in strength, and has for many years been the strongest church or- ganization in the township. The present min- ister in charge is the Rev. C. H. Schopfle, a cultured and worthy gentleman. The church is a large, fine structure, the best in the town- ship, and the society is large and wealthy. ""s g V a k^ ^ L'.Aim:i'.&,k,m. ^^ BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES. i]^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. CHRISTIAN ASSENHEIMBR, farmer, etc. ; P. 0., Bucyrus ; was born August 12, 1834, on Cherry street. New York City, and is a son of Ludwig and Rosena (Stoll) Assenheimer. He was 1 year old wiien his father's family located in Bucyrus, in the fall of 1835. He grew up in the village, and was educated in both German and English. He went to school until 12 years of age, when he went to work about town at anything he could find to do. In his 17th j-ear he began to learn the trade of a cabinet maker with Peter Shallenmiller, work- ing as an apprentice three years and a half. He followed his trade as journeyman until 1859, when he bought out his old employer, and go- ing in debt for a large part of the stock. He carried on the business of furniture and under- taking for about twelve years, with good suc- cess, paying for the stock and buying the prop- erty where C. M. Matthews & Co. are now located, and where he did business until 1871. He exchanged his town propert}' for ninety-six acres of land where Benjamin Beal now lives, and resided there until 1879, when he pur- chased his present farm of 160 acres of land on the Sandusky road, five and a half miles from Bucyrus, still residing on it, where he is making some fine improvements. His wealth has been accumulated by his own exertions, and amid many misfortunes. He was married Oct. 6, 1859, to Miss Bertha Marggraf, of Bucyrus, who was born in Stadtilm, Saxony, Germany, Oct. 17, 1837, and came to America with her parents when but six years of age, settling in Bucyrus, where she grew up. Six sons and two daughters have been the result of this union, viz. : Emma C, born June 26, 1860 ; Martha T., March 15, 1862 ; Frederick C, May 28, 1864 ; Louis H., July 12, 1866 ; Franklin E., Aug. 22, 1868 ; Edward C, July 26, 1871 ; William C, March 15, 1875, and Otto A., Oct. 5, 1877. Mr. Assenheimer, his wife and three children are members of the German Lutheran Church ; he has been trustee and has held va- rious other offices connected with the Church, among them that of teacher in the Sunday school for many years. He has always been Democratic in politics ; was a member of the Town Council six years and Trustee of the township three years. His father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in about 1802, and was educated in the schools of his native town ; afterward followed the trade of a weaver. In the spring of 1832, he came to New York, where he married Miss Rosena Stoll, a native also of Wurtemberg, who was born Aug. 11, 1811, and who probablj' came over in the same vessel. They were married in 1833, and in 1835 came to Bucyrus. He brought a large stock of clocks with him, which he traded to his brother-in-law, Geo. F. Stoll, for the build- ing of a house ; he was one of the men who assisted in unearthing the skeleton of the mas- todon, which is mentioned in the body of this work. He followed the trade of weaving for many years, then kept a grocery store until his death, Oct. 19, 1855. His wife is still liv- ing. They had thirteen children, four of whom are living, viz. : Christian, Catharine, George and John. LEWIS W. BUCK, P. 0. Bucyrus. William and Mary (Albright) Buck, parents of this gen- tleman, were both natives of the " Keystone " State, and the parents of nine children. The mother died in 1835. The father subsequently married Susan Shieb, who was the mother of fifteen children. Mr. Buck died in 1860. He was a successful farmer and miller, and held during his lifetime, numerous positions of honor and trust. Lewis Buck was born in Schuylkill #* -^ 710 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Co., Pa., Aug. 20, 1824; his early life being passed in a mill, and upon a farm. He received but a limited education, and when 22 years of age left his native State and came to Crawford Co., Ohio. For some time he found employ- ment in a mill in Bucyrus, when he was placed in charge of the Sinn Mills, where he remained some four years. His marriage with Miss Pas- calena Sinn occurred Jarl. 4, 1849. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, June 14, 1833, and is one of a family of ten children born to George and Sarah (Hawk) Sinn, who came from Pennsylvania to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1826. Mr. Sinn was well and favorably known through the county, and was thrice elected County Auditor, besides holding other positions of honor and trust. He died in 1870, and his wife in 1876. In Lewis W. Buck's family were seven children, five of whom are now living, viz. : Mahlon L., Sarah C. A., Lucretia M., Charles L. and Mary S. Those deceased were Mandon D. and Franklin H. Mr. Buck fol- lowed milling until 1861, when he purchased the farm he now owns, and has since followed the vocation of a farmer. He began life as a poor boy, and is, in the fullest sense of the term, a self-made man. He has held several township offices, and is highly spoken of as an official. As refined, intelligent people, Mr. Buck's family stands second to none in the county. CAPT. WM. NEVINS BEER, deceased, Bu- cyrus, is a son of the Rev. Thomas and Margaret (Cameron) Beer, and was born Nov. 28, 1839, in Ashland Co., Ohio. His father was well edu- cated, and, owing to the imperfect school facili- ties of the time, he communicated his learning to his children. The subject of this sketch at- tended the Vermilion Institute at Haysville, for a time, then "finished off" at Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg, Penn., after which he engaged in a store in Ashland for a few years. He came to Bucyrus about 1861, and during the summer of that year enlisted in the 101st Regi- ment 0. V. I., as a private in Capt. McDanald's company. He soon became Second Lieutenant, and, some time after, First, and upon the promo- tion of Capt. McDanald, was promoted to the captaincy of the company, which position he held at the time of the mustering-out of the regi- ment. He returned to Bucyrus at the close of the war, and commenced the study of law with his brother, Judge Thomas Beer, and was in due time admitted to the bar, as noted else- where in the sketch of the legal profession. He was married, Nov. 7, 1869, to Miss Mary D. Swingley, the third daughter of Dr. Frederick Swingley, of Bucyrus, and located here in the practice of his chosen profession until 1873, when in June of that year, he removed to Humboldt, Iowa, and practiced law there about one year. The family returned to Bucyrus in the spring of 1874; he remaining during the summer. He started from Humboldt as well as usual, for this State, and, at Valparaiso, Ind., where he stopped for a short time, he died suddenlj' on the night of July 25, 1874 of apoplexy. His widow has ever since resided in Bucyrus. At present she is a teacher in the Union schools of the town, a position she fills with honor to herself and satisfaction to all. They had three children, all of whom are living — Margaret M., Thomas Frederick and William C. Capt. Beer and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. HON. THOMAS BEER, lawyer and Judge, Bucyrus ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Sept. 7, 1832. The Rev. Thomas Beer, his father, now residing in Ashland, Ohio, was born in North- ampton Co., Penn., and came to Ohio about the year 1828, where he soon entered the ministry, serving two churches, for over thirty j'ears, on alternate Sabbaths, proving an earnest, devoted Pastor, and beloved bj' his people. Margaret (Cameron) Lee, his mother, was a -lineal descend- ant of Clan Cameron, famous in Scottish history. After he had received such an education as the school of his district afforded, our subject be- came a pupil of the Vermilion Institute, at Hays- ville, Ashland Co., and, in 1848, commenced teaching school. Having chosen law as a pro- fession, he commenced its study with Mr. John C. Tidball, at Coshocton, in 1851 — teaching school in the meantime, that he might earn enough to defray his necessary expenses — and remained with him as a pupil until 1853. Dur- ing the ensuing five j'ears — from 1854 to 1858 — he was telegraph operator and Postmaster at Alliance, Ohio, but, in the latter year, he be- came editor of the Stark County Democrat, at Canton, Ohio. In 1860, he removed to Bucy- rus, where he assumed the editorship of the Craioford County Forum. In 1862, he was ad- mitted to the bar, and began the practice of law in Bucyrus. In the following year, he was elected to the House of Representatives by the ^-i ® ^ ♦** >. 4 h TV A •.\4^ BUCYKUS TOWNSHIP. 713 Democracy of Crawford Co., and re-elected in 1865, holding a seat in the Legislature during the sessions of 1864-65, and 1866-67. In 1873, he was chosen a member of the Constitu- tional Convention which met at Cincinnati, and was.presided over by Chief Justice Waite ; and, on the 15th of August, 1874, he was ap- pointed, by Gov. Allen, judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the fourth subdivision of the Third Judicial District, comprising Wood, Hancock, Seneca, Wyandot. Crawford and Marion counties. In October, 1874, he was elected to fill the unexpired term of Judge Jackson, who had resigned, and, in 1876, he was re-elected for a. full term of five years. Judge Beer for manj' years held the position of County School Examiner, and was also a mem- ber of the Board of Education. He has always acted with the Democratic party, and taken an active interest in national and State affairs. His religious views are Presbyterian, in accord with the Scotch Church. In 1856, he was mar^ ried to Miss T. M. Dinsmore, of Ashland Co.; of this marriage they have seven children living. Judge Beer's large acquaintance and high standing in public life soon brought him a large practice after his admission to the bar. As a practitioner, he was fair, honorable and courte- ous. He carried with him to the bench the strong common sense that had characterized him at the bar, and is always indefatigable in studying the law that should decide a case, be- fore he renders judgment. He is not rapid in his decisions, but takes time to fortify himself with principles and precedents, which causes him to be regarded as a careful, impartial and just Judge. J. H. and P. A. BEAKD, Bucyrus. These gentlemen are descendants of Phillip Beard, who came from Germany to America during the reign of George the III, and settled at Baltimore. He was a stone-mason, and under his supervision old Ft. Frederick was built. It is said that some j'ears ago when that structure was being torn down, the workmen found it almost im- possible to separate the masonr}-, thus testi- fying to his ability as a mechanic. John and Susan (Sager) Beard, parents of J. H. and P. A. Beard, were both born in Washington Countj-, Md. The maternal ancestors were from Ger- many, and served with distinction in the Amer- ican army during the Revolutionary war. Our subject's parents were married in Maryland and resided there until 1854, when the}' came to Seneca Co., Ohio. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are yet living. The father died in 1866 ; his wife is j'ct living at an advanced age. J. H. and P. A. Beard were both born in Washington Co., Md., the former May 3, 1830, and the latter March 22, 1833. They were brought up to hard work and received few advantages for obtaining an education. Soon after reaching their majorities, thej' engaged in agricultural pursuits, which for the most part they have ever since followed. J. H. was married to Miss Catharine A.'Nusbaum, Dec. 28, 1858 ; she was born in Frederick Co., Md., April 2, 1841. They are the parents of five children, viz., Celia V., J. Lewis, Anna D. and Ralph H,, living ; Delia H. deceased. Phillip A. married Miss Lucj- Reichart, June 12, 1856 ; she was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, Nov. 23, 1836. They have seven children, viz., Ida C., Clemma L., Bush C., Effie E., Jesse P. and John S., living ; Clara B., deceased. Both brothers own nicely improved farms in Bucyrus Township, which the}- have obtained by industry, economy and close attention to business. J. H. Beard came to this county in 1865, and his brother some four }ears later. They are members of the Republican party and of the English Lutheran Church. In political matters, however, thej* are liberal and make it a rule to vote for men and measures and not for party. They are intelli- gent, progressive men, respected l)y all who know them. Crawford Co. would indeed be much better off' had it more such men as J. H. and P. A. Beard. JOHN G. BIRK, harness manufacturer, Bucyrus ; was born July 22, 1823, in Wur- temberg, Germany. According to the cus- tom of that country, he was sent to school until his 14th yeai". He was then apprenticed to a man named Zlgler for three years, to learn harness making, in the town of Kiichheira. He gave $60 to learn the trade, in addition to three years' labor, often working fourteen hours per day. After completing his trade, he worked as journeyman at different places, for about six 3'ears. As there were more harness-makers than could find employment in his native land, our subject sailed from Havre in the spring of 1845, and after a thirty days' voyage, arrived at New York, June 3, 1845. His means being exhausted, ho worked for a farmer near Albany about two months, whereby he obtained money s v sb. 714 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: enough to bring him to the German colony called " Zoar," in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, where he worked for some time in the smelting works. Then he was taken sick with ague for a period of six months, which again exhausted his earn- ings. Upon his recovery, he worked at his trade there for some time. He came to Bucy- rus, April 21, 1847, and found employment in the harness-shop of Frederick Beckle, who died some nine months after. Our subject worked for Israel Jones until 1850, when he started a harness-shop for himself, and has been in the business ever since ; being now one of the old- est harness-makers in the town. He has occu- pied his present shop about eighteen years, where he employs a number of skillful work- men, who turn out every variety of the most substantial and attractive work. He also car- ries a full stock of everything in his line of goods. April 24, 1851, he was married to Miss Johanna B. Kuhn, of Whetstone Town- ship. Of this marriage, the following children are living : Christian F., Lewis L , Emanuel and George R. Two children died when young. Mr. Birk had but .'14 when he came to Bucj-rus, and lost his entire earnings by failure of his first employer. He is a member of the Ger- man Lutheran Church, in which he is a Trustee. J. N. BIDDLE, Bueyrus ; is the son of Alex- ander and Magdalena (Noftsgar) Biddlc, and was born Feb. 8, 1834, in Harrison Co., Ohio. His earlj' life until his 16th }'ear was spent on a farm, and in the pursuit of a common-school education. His father being a pioneer in the ministry of the United Brethren Church, and in indigent circumstances, the son was compelled to support himself by making brooms outside of school hours. He attended Otterbein University in 1852-53, and began teaching at 16, which he continued for four winters. In the meantime, he left Otterbein and entered Oborlin College, at Oberlin, in the spring of 1854. The next fall, on Oct. 30, he was married to Miss Marian Musgrave, daughter of Judge R. W. Slusgrave, of Annapolis, this County, who was an old and influential citizen. After his marriage, Blr. Biddle became the partner of Judge Musgrave in the mercantile business at Annapolis, com- mencing in January, 1855, and continuing until 1868. When he came to Bueyrus and entered into banking, under the firm name of Scott, Biddle & Co., Mr. Biddle being one of the managing partners, and conducting the business in a manner that made it prosperous. In 1872, he was elected President of the Bueyrus Ma- chine Works, and was also its manager, con- tinuing until 1876, when the firm failed, and he was elected Assignee by the stockholders, and he has discharged the duties of the office in a highly creditable and satisfactory manner. In 1877, in company with Gov. Foster and the Gormley Bros., he assisted in building a large furnace at Moxahala, and owning a fourth in- terest. In 1865, he made a venture with Col: Lemert and others in raising cotton in Louisi- ana ; but, the levee breaking and overflowing their fields, it was a failure. Mr. Biddle has been a prominent and influential citizen wher- ever he has been. He was Postmaster at An- napolis during Lincoln's and Johnson's admin- istrations. He has always been a prominent Republican, and is now Chairman of the Repub- lican Central Committee, and almost since the organization of the party he has been on a com- mittee. He is a member of Demas Lodge, No. 108. He has a family of nine children, all liv- ing. They are Clara J., Louie J., Edgar N., Maud M., Judson M., Ralph A., Marion, Kath- leen A. and Launcelot Todd. The great-grand- father of Mr. Biddle came from Hesse-Cassel, Germanj-, prior to the Revolution, and was Quartermaster of a Pennsylvania regiment throughout that struggle. Launcelot Todd, his great-great-grandfather, came to America early in the eighteenth century, and obtained a land grant, probably from the King of Great Britain, for a tract of land on which the city of Annapo- lis, Md., now stands. He is an ancestor of the Todd family, of which Gov. Tod and Mrs. Lincoln are representatives. His son Benja- min was the great-grandfather of our subject, who settled in Maryland. His daughter, Rachel Todd, married Jacob Biddle, the grandfather of our subject, who settled in Wayne Co., Ohio, in about 1831. They raised twelve children, of whom Alexander Biddle, father of Mr. Biddle, was the tenth child, and was born in Bedford Co., Penn., in 1810. He became a preacher of the United Brethren Church at the age of 21, and was an active traveling minister until 1875. He has done a good work in the cause of his Master, and now rests from his active labors, living in retirement at Gallon, Ohio, having performed his work well. His family consisted of six children, five of whom are living — John B., the eldest, was killed at the battle of Stone -7\l f 'k. BUCYBUS TOWNSHIP. 715 Kiver, being 1st Lieutenant of Co. C, 101st 0. V. I. ; William R is a lawyer at Pleasanton, Kan. ; James B. a successful merchant at Mt. Blancliard, Otiio ; Racliel E., wife of Rev. J. R. Crin, of Bowling Green, Oiiio; Jaoob A., a Congregational minister at Oswego, N. Y. J. M. BLACK, merchant, Bucyrus ; was born April 24, 1845, and is the son of J. P. Black. He is a native of Clarke Co., Ohio, where he spent his youth on a farm, in the meantime ac- quiring a common-school education. At the age of 19, he entered the public schools of Bu- cyrus, where he continued some three years. In 1868, he entered the grocery of Kimmel & Timanus, where he was clerk for three years. For the six years following, he was emploj'ed in a similar capacity by Kaler & Malic. In 1877, he entered into his present place of busi- ness, in Rowse's Block, as equal partner with J. P. Black, under the firm name of J. M. Black & Co., where he is doing a flourishing busi- ness in dry goods, groceries and queensware. They have a room, 30x98, which is filled with a large and well-selected stock of goods. Since he has been engaged here, his business has prospered, and he is now at the head of a thriv- ing establishment. He was married, Dec. 26, 1871, to Miss Hattie Mower, of Bucyrus. This union has been blessed with five children — Jay P., Bessie N., Carl M., and an infant son and daughter. Mr. Black is a member of the Pres- byterian Church, a Trustee, and also Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday school. G. W. BUELL, marble dealer, Bucyrus ; is a son of George and Rebecca (Fuller) Buell, and was born Jan. 15, 1842, in Genesee Co., N. Y. When he was about 5 years old. his parents re- moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., and here he at- tended school until he was 14 years of age, when he entered his father's match-fiictor3', and continued there until he was 20. Aug. 7, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 20th Mich. V. I., and served until the close of the war. He was in eighteen battles — South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Knoxville, The Wil- derness, Spottsylvania, and all of Grant's cam- paign. He was mustered out at Detroit, Mich., July 8, 1865. He was wounded at Spottsylva- nia, losing the middle finger of the left hand. He lived in Ann Arbor after the war, and, in 1867, commenced to travel for a marble firm of that town, and followed the business five years, with good success. He next spent two years traveling and selling cigars for his brother. He then sold marble for different firms until 1879, when he went into partnership with Mr. Keel, and removed to Bucyrus, where they have built up a splendid business, employing several first- class workmen. They are wholesale and retail dealers in foreign and American marbles, and all kinds of granite. Their work is finished in the best of style and by the most skillful work- men. Mr: Buell is a Knight of Honor, being a member of Howard Lodge, No. 109, and is a Democrat in politics. He was married, Sept. 9, 1865, to Miss Mattie E. Bowen, of Ann Arbor, Mich. They have two children — Ina and Norma. S. A. BOWERS, miller, Bucyrus ; is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Palmer) Bowers. Was born April 9, 1834, in Whetstone Township, this county. He lived on a farm, assisting at tiome and attending school, until he was 24, when, in 1858, in company with J. W. Delancy, he rented Mager's mill, at North Robinson ; this they ran for about a year ; the following fall they purchased the saw-mill of Emanuel Dear- dorff; and to it they added a flour-mill, under the name of '-The Sandusky Valley Mills." In 1861, Mr. Delaucy retired, and the subject of the present sketch has continued the business ever since. Mr. C. F. Miller bought the mills in 1872, and, he failing, Mr. Bowers and Mr. Delancy bought the property, and have carried on the business with good success. They have three runs of buhrs, ample steam power being furnished by two engines. In 1870, Mr. Bow- ers bought a mill in Upper Sandusky, which he repaired and controlled about a year, when he sold it out. On May 15, 1861, he married Miss Lizzie White, of Uniontown, Penn. Of this marriage, there are two children — Delia and Carrie. His first wife died in April, 1872. In October of the' following year, he married Mrs. Maggie Campbell, of Bucyrus. Mr. Bowers is a member of Demas Lodge, No. 108, K. of P., and one of the most substantial citizens of the city, having made all by his own efforts. In 1863, he purchased a fine farm three miles west of the city, which he still retains. As a busi- ness man he is fair and upright, and commands the esteem of all his fellow-townsmen. FRANK BLICKE, merchant, Bucyrus ; son of William and Mary (Reiger) Blicke; was born May 6, 1836, in Prussia, and went to school from his 7th to his 16th year, receiving a good education in his native language. When .f^ -^ 716 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 16, he was apprenticed to a brewer and served three years, and worked a year longer in his native land. In the year 1856, he sailed from the' port of Bremen for the shores of America, resolving to seek his fortunes in the New World. He landed at New York June 7, 1856, after a voyage of forty-two days. He came direct to Cincinnati, Ohio, and entered a brewery, where he remained four years. In May, 1860, he came to Bucyrus and became the partner of Christian Wingert in the brewery, this union lasting three years. At the expiration of that time, he became the partner of P. A. Vollrath in the grocery and provision business, and added a stock of dry goods the second year. In 1870, Mr. Vollrath retired, and our subject purchased his entire stock and interest in the building, and since then has carried on the business himself He has built up a large business, at the corner of Sandusky avenue and Mary streets, and has a large stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries and queens- ware. Mr. Blicke has built eight fine, large residences in this city, which are a credit to Bucyrus and an evidence of his business en- ergy and enterprise. He came here without capital, and, by industry, he has brought him- self into affluence. He has been a member of the City Council, City Treasurer for four years, and is now serving his third term as Treasurer of the township. He is now N. G. of La Salle Lodge, No. 51. In September, 1864, he mar- ried Theresa Vollrath, of Bucyrus ; of this marriage there were born four children, three of whom — William A., Carrie A. and Louisa M. — are living ; Cora A. is dead. DAVID B. BAKRBTT, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; is a son of Arthur and Elizabeth (Wolph) Barrett, and was born May 21, 1824, in Harrison Co., Ohio, where he lived on a farm until he was 23 years of age, having the advantages of the common schools of the time ; his father died when he was 20 years old, and he and his brother came to this town- ship in the spring of 1848 ; they bought 200 acres of land on the Plains, where Jacob Beal now lives, adding to it afterward 160 acres more. His mother and his brother Enos came in 1849, one year after his settlement here, and they all lived on the place of first settlement until 1856, our subject remaining until 1860, when he moved to his present place, where he now owns 155 acres of well-improved land ; he has excellent buildings, his barn and residence both being of the very best in the country. He was married, Oct. 28, 1849, to Nancy B. Kerr, of this township ; she was born in this county in 1827 ; her father came to the town- ship in 1826, and was one of its early settlers ; he died in March, 1880, and his wife still lives, and is in her 88th year. Our subject's father was born in Virginia ; emigrated to Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1804, and, being a young man, he there married a Miss Huff, by whom he had four children, three of whom are still living ; his second wife, Elizabeth Wolph, was the mother of our subject ; there were four chil- dren by this marriage — Louisa, living in Bucy- rus ; Enos, John W. and David B. ; his widow is still living with her daughter, in Bucyrus, in her 88th year ; her husband farmed in Harri- son Co. successfully until his death, in 1844. The subject of this sketch has but one child living — Ida B. ; two sons are dead — Curtis E., died at the age of 18, and Henry, at the age of 6 years. Mr. Barrett and family are members of the Presbyterian Church ; he is a Repub- lican in politics. He began life with but little of this world's goods, but is now in comforta- ble circumstances. DR. W. M. BEILHARZ, dentist, Bucyrus ; son of Rev. John J. and Maria C. (Froelick) Beilharz ; was born Sept. 21, 1819, in Maxa- tawney, Berks Co., Penn., where he lived until about 8 years old, when the familj' removed to the State of New York ; here our subject went to school in winter until 15, and helped his father on the farm until 22 years of age ; in 1842, he removed to Tiffin, Ohio, where Mr. Beilharz began the study of dentistry with an older brother, who had removed from New York some time previous ; he practiced his profession in Tiffin for a period of nine years, coming to Bucyrus Dec. 18, 1853, where be at once opened an office for the practice of den- tistry, and has continued with fair success ever since ; he is an expert in all the departments of mechanical and operative dentistry ; about 1850, he made a discovery of a cure for sore and inflamed eyes, but, being engrossed with his profession, he never brought it before the public until of late years ; the almost miracu- lous cures which it has effected place him among the leading oculists of the country ; he has also discovered a remedy which he calls the " Healing Fluid," which acts as an antisep- ^S ^^^^=±1 ^ BUCYEUS TOWNSHIP. 717 tic, preventing inflamujation, and cures all soreb, either recent or chronic ; its efficacy is attested by the unanimous testimony of those whom he has cured. On June 17, 1849, he was united in marriage with Miss Maria B. Crockett, of Seneca Co., Ohio ; two sons aind a daughter are the fruit of this union, all of whom are living — Charles A., Anne, wife of F. L. Ingman, merchant at Villisca, Iowa, and Cassius M. Dr. Beilharz has been a careful student of history for many years, and is an intelligent and respected citizen. JAMES P. BE ALL, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born May 13, 1828, in Harrison Co., Ohio, and is the son of James P. and Minerva (Hough) Beall ; his father was a farmer, and he remained on the farm until he was 23 years old ; his father being in moderate circumstances and having a large family to support, young James was compelled to work, and thus lose many advan- tages of schooling. He received a moderate education, however, and worked some two years for $10 per month, and also split rails at 37^ cents per day ; in the fall of 1852, he came to this county, and rented a farm in Bucyrus Township, adjoining that of A. J. Caldwell ; the next year he worked by the month for Enos Barrett, receiving $240 per year and house rent, etc. ; in December, 1854, he bought 120 acres of the land which he now owns, and which at that time was but little improved ; he has improved his farm and added to it, so that at present he is the prosperous owner of 392 acres of well-tilled land, and has erected sub- stantial buildings, all being the result of Mr. Beall's labor and industry, united with good management, as he commenced life for himself with only $7. When he first purchased his land, he raised large crops of grain until the land was sufficiently cleared, and, since then, he has dealt in the best breeds of sheep, such as the Merino, having a fine flock of 500, and handling at times from 300 to 1,800 head. He is a Republican in politics, and was formerly a Whig, casting his first vote for Gen. Scott. Both himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church, of which he is a Trustee. He was married, Dec. 27, 1848, to Miss Mary Keck- ler, of Harrison Co.. Ohio ; of this marriage, there have been seven children — James P., deceased ; those still living are : John W., Mary M., Laura E., Dorsey L., Eva M. and Nora E. The father of Mr. Beall was born in Washington Co., Penn., in 1797 ; he was first married to Jane Albert, of Pennsylvania, and of this marriage there were two children, one of whom is still living — Jane, the wife of Aaron Chance, of Bucyrus Township ; this first con- sort died in about 1821, and Mr. Beal, Sr.,came to Harrison Co. the following year, and, some time after, he married Minerva Hough, of that count}' ; he was one of the earliest settlers in that region, and for twenty-one years the elec- tions were held at his house ; he was County Commissioner there, and also held several township offices ; he settled in Bucyrus Town- ship in 1854, where Christopher Mason now lives, and resided there until his death, in 1869; his mother died in 1875. Of this marriage, there were the following children — Cass An- drews, deceased ; Elizabeth, deceased ; Colmore C, deceased; James P., our subject ; Cyrus H., deceased ; Rebecca, deceased ; John W., de- ceased ; Minerva A., Zephaniah, Mary A. and Susannah ; the last three died in infancy. BENJAMIN BEAL, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; son of G-eorge and Anna B. (Shearer) Beal ; was born June 9, 1839, in Lycoming Co., Penn., and when 4 years of age his father's family came to this county and settled in this township ; he at- tended the district schools until 19 years of age, during the winter season, working on the farm in the meantime. He married Mary Stalz, March 19, 1861, and began farming on 80 acres of land just east of the pike, where he lived until 1879, when he came to his present farm on the old pike ; he now owns 185 acres of fine farming and grazing land, and has dealt largely in sheep since 1872, buying, grazing and feed- ing for market. His wife died Nov. 14, 1867 ; three children were the fruits of this marriage, viz., Albert G., born Feb. 11, 1862 ; Daniel Wesley, born March 10, 1865, and Emma, born June 7, 1866. He was married a second time. May 25, 1871, to Miss Lydia A. Rexroth, of Bucyrus ; five children were born of this union — Benjamin, born Oct. 10, 1873 ; Mary J., born April 27, 1875 ; Edwin G., born Sept. 1, 1876 ; Frederick X. A., born Dec. 14, 1877, and Will- iam D., born Aug. 6, 1879. Both Mr. Beal and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. He has always been Republican in politics, taking an active interest in the affairs of the State and nation. In 1872, Mr. Beal visited Europe, trav- eling about 4,000 miles on the continent, land- tit. 718 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ing at Bremen and going to Saxony, Austria, Bavaria, Hesse, Switzerland and Wurtemberg, visiting the birthplace of his father ; he also visited Baden-Baden, Wiesbaden and Ems, fam- ous watering-places of Europe ; he returned in September, much improved in health. His father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Feb. 14, 1795, and came to America with his father's family in 1805, being at the time 10 years old ; the family settled in Lycoming Co., Penn., where he followed farming until he grew up. In about the year 1 825, he married Anna B. Shearer, a native of Wurtemberg, whose family came to America in 1804, settling also in Ly- coming Co. After marriage, they lived on a farm there until 1843, when they came through to Ohio in a large covered wagon, and settled in this township, where he still lives ; he is in his 86th year, and his wife in her 80th year ; he purchased 160 acres of land when he came to the county, and by energy and industry added another quarter-section to it ; he raised three sons — Isaac, Jacdb and Benjamin — and one daughter, Mary, now the wife of Mr. N. Mutchler. ELIAS BLAIR, hardware dealer, Bucyrus ; son of Joseph and Rebecca (Bennington) Blair, was born May 1, 1824, in Knox Co., Ohio. He lived on a farm until his 20th year. In 1845, he went to Mansfield, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of plows until 1850, when he went to California, by the " overland route," to seek his fortune in the gold diggings. In 1853, he came to Bucyrus and opened a hard- ware store, and has been engaged in that busi- ness ever since, except a brief period employed in the erection of his present building in 1863. His business block consists of a fine three-story brick. 20^x155, in dimensions. He has done an extensive business and carries an immense stock of goods, representing every department of the hardware trade. In 1874, he invented the famous Blair's hog ringer. He is now manufacturing these rings by automatic ma- chinery, at the rate of 60,000 per day. ISAAC BE AL, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; son of George and Barbara (Shearer) Beal, was born Aug. 28, 1828, in Lycoming Co., Penn. He remained there going to school and on the farm until 14 years of age. In 1842, he came to Crawford Co., Ohio, locating on the eastern border of Sandusky Plains. He went to school two terms on the old Mud Pike, and, Sept. 15, 1853, married Christina Hurr, daughter of the late George and Christina (Kehrer) Hurr. By her he has the following family : Marv A., born Dec. 2, 1854 ; Simeon G., Oct. 19, 1856 ; Eliza- beth, Sept. 21, 1858 ; Benjamin P., March 31, 1860 ; Katie, March 9, 1866 ; Ellen B.. April 11, 1872 ; and Martha, Jan. 23, 1876. Of this family, Daniel and John are dead ; the former's death occurred in 1872, and the latter's in the same year. Mrs. Beal was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., Dec. 25, 1830. Mr. Beal is a kind husband and an affectionate father. He now has charge of the old homestead, to which he has added 124 acres of land. His parents are yet living, making their home with their son on the old farm. Mr. Beal takes much pains in the rearing of blooded stock, and at present has some fine specimens of full-blooded short-horn and Durham cattle. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, but sometimes deviates from voting the straight Democratic ticket. Mrs. Beal is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church, and the Beal family are known to be intelligent and highly respected people. WILLIAM CALDWELL, Bucyrus ; son of Alexander and Mary (Agnew) Caldwell, was born Jan. 9, 1812, near Gettysburg, Adams Co., Penn. His early manhood and youth were passed on the farm and in attending school. Prom his 19th year until he was 27, he worked for his father. In 1839, his father had come to Crawford Co., Ohio., purchased a farm, and the following year he and sister drove from Pennsylvania to Ohio in a buggy. Here he found his father had purchased 258 acres of land on the Marion road, paying $11 per acre for it. This road was one that was traveled considerably by stock men, and soon Mr. Cald- well's house became a kind of tavern or place of entertainment for the weary traveler. In 1841, William purchased the farm from the heirs, the father having died. On the 19th of May, 1845, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Stow, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Knisely) Stow, and by her he had the follow- ing family : Alexander, born March 19, 1846, died Oct. 20, 1856 ; Mary B., Nov. 23, 1847 ; Martha E. ; Charles, June 7, 1852 ; William J., May 31, 1854 ; Samuel E., May 28, 1857 ; and Frank, Dec. 30, 1859. Mrs. Caldwell was born in New Philadelphia, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1825, and her people were old settlers and prominent peo- ple of Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. Mr. Caldwell ^f' y±^ BUCYRU8 TOWNSHIP. 719 owns 488 acres of fine farming and grazing land, all of which he has made by his own ex- ertions, with the exception of $1,200 from his father's estate. He first devoted his time and attention to raising grain, when he took charge of the place, but since 1845, has devoted his time to wool-growing. He is a self-reliant and highly esteemed citizen. He and wife are con- sistent members of the Presbyterian Church ; while he is a Democrat in politics. ALEXANDEK J. CALDWELL, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bucyrus. One of the promi- nent and influential families of the country is that of Caldwell. There is scarcely a State in the Union in which the name is not found, and al- ways among the very best class of citizens. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is no exception, and fully maintains the honor, dignity and boundless hospitalitj' of this old and dis- tinguished family. He is a son of Hon. Sam- uel S. and Margaret E. (Mickle) Caldwell, and was born Aug. 27, 1828, in Adams Co., Penn. He was 7 years old when his father emigrated to this county and settled in Bucyrus. He lived with his father until he was 23 years old, going to school during the winter, in an old log hut, that, like Solomon's Temple, had been built without the " sound of ax, hammer or any iron tool," at least there was no iron in the ma- terial of which it was composed, not even nails. In this rude hut he gained a fair knowledge of the common branches of education. He was married, May 25, 1853, to Miss Harriet C. Chambers, daughter of Andrew and Isabella (Marshall) Chambers, who was born in Rich- land Co., July 14, 1830. Seven children were the fruit of this union, all of whom are now living — Thomas J., married to Miss Mary Wentz, and farms with his father ; Smith C., Edgar C, Mina B., Hattie L., Mary A. and Frances Marion. After marriage, Mr. Caldwell settled on his present farm, on the Marion road, where he owned 100 acres. It was then but partially improved and cleared, and was some- what swampy. He has cleared it up, drained and improved it in the highest degree, and erected not only substantial, but even elegant, buildings. Both he and his wife are exem- plary members of the Presbyterian Church, and have been for a number of years. He is a Democrat, and has always acted in concert with that party. His father, Hon. Samuel S. Caldwell, was born in May, 1804, in Adams Co., Penn., where he lived until 1835, in the fall of which year he removed to Crawford Co., having married, in 1827, Miss Margaret E. Mickle. He settled on the Plains south of Bu- cyrus, where he bought 200 acres of land, and farmed until 1856, when he removed to town. He lived here until 1877, and on Nov. 18, of that year, died at the house of his son, Alexander J., in the 74th j'ear of his age. His aged wife survives him, and lives with her son (our sub- ject), and is now in her 87th j'ear. Hon. Sam- uel S. Caldwell was a public spirited and enter- prising man. He was Justice of the Peace and Notarj' Public man}' j-ears ; was elected to the Legislature in 1844, and served his consti- tuency faithfully in the Forty-third General Assembly, and used his influence to have the county seat retained at Bucyrus. His family was as follows : Alexander J., Samuel, a farmer in Wyandot Co., and Florence McL., wife of F. M. Welsh, of South Bend, Ind. DANIEL 0. CASTLE, County Eecorder, BucjTus, is the second son of Elisha and Phebe A. (Marshall) Castle. H^e was born near Lees- ville, Ohio, Jan. 13, 1846. His early advan- tages for education were somewhat meager, leaving school at 12 years of age ; he learned the trade of shoemakei', which he followed until the breaking-out of the late rebellion. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 101st 0. V. I., Company E, under Capt William Par- sons of Gallon. He was under the command of Gen. Rosecrans in the army of the Cum- berland. Mr. Castle participated in the battles of Perryville, Knob Gap, Murfreesboro, Chicka- mauga and many other engagements. He was wounded by a musket ball at the battle of Chickamauga, but remained until the close of the struggle, being mustered out at Plattsburg, N. Y., July 26, 1865. He returned to this county, and at once resumed his trade of shoe- maker, dealing in boots and shoes at Crestline and Lecsville until 1874, when he formed a partnership with Frederick Beech, and they did a successful business in dry goods at Leesville for two years. During this period, our subject was Postmaster, and also served in the capacity of Justice of the Peace and Mayor of the in- corporated village of Leesville. He subse- quently formed a business partnership with his brother, which lasted about one year. In Octo- ber, 1878, Mr. Castle was elected to the office of County Recorder, and entered upon its duties Vs 13" 720 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: Jan. 6, 1879, which he has since performed in a manner at once faithful and creditable. July 4, 1866, he was married to Miss Eliza A. Smith of Leesville. By this union four children were born, whose names are Laura, Jacob, Lelah and Clayton A. Elisha, the father of BIr. Cas- tle, was born about 1796, near Brownsville, Bid. ; at 16 he enlisted in the army, serving 10 months in the war of 1812, and went to Fayette Co., Penn., when a vouno- man, and there married Phebe A. Marshall. He followed the trade of shoemaker and dealt in horses for some years. Coming- to Crawford County in 1840, he settled on a farm in Sandusky. In 1848, he removed to Leesville, where he kept a boot and shoe store and a shop therewith. He died May 8, 1864, leaving two sons, Henry, a farmer of Wyandot County, and Daniel 0., the subject of this sketch. D. C. CAHILL, lawyer, Bucyrus ; was born Nov. 2, 1832, in Vernon Township, and is a son of R. W. and Eliza (Cummins) Cahill. His youth wtis spent on a farm, and at the age of 20, he, in the fall of 1852, entered the pre- paratory department of Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio, where he remained until 1 856, after which he spent one term at the Ohio Wesiej'an University. In 1857, he went back to Wittenberg, where he completed the entire course, except the formality of graduating. Owing to the failing health of his father, he then took charge of the homestead. In the fall of 1868, he came to Bucyrus, and entered the law office of S. R. Harris, Esq., for the pur- pose of studying law. He was admitted to the bar; Dec. 20, 1860, and practiced here until April, 1865, when he made a trip to San Fran- cisco, Cal., overland, being nearly six months on the way. arriving there in September, hav- ing visited many points of interest during the journey. He went to Oregon and held an office in Linn Co., from September, 1866, until April, 1867. He then returned via Panama to New York, and was called home by the illness of his brother, who was practicing law at Dayton, Ohio. At the close of 1867, he re-opened a law office in Bucyrus ; closed his office in Septem- ber, 1868, and traveled with his brother, until his death, at San Antonio, Texas, in December following, In June, 1869, he returned home and resumed his law practice, in his present office, as the partner of Judge Thomas Beer. He was out hunting in December of this year. when, by an accidental discharge of his gun, he received a painful wound, which disabled him for about eighteen months. In the latter part of 1871, he was employed by the Mans- field, Coldwater & Lake Blichigan Railroad, to obtain the right of way through the county. In the spring of 1 872, he again opened a law office and practiced until his election as Clerk of the Court in October, taking charge of the office in February," 1874, and retired in February, 1880, when he resumed his law practice with his brother Isaac Cahill, under the firm name of Cahill Brothers, in No. 7 Quinby Block. He was married in October, 1875, to Miss A. E. J. Juilliard, of Bucyrus, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, and is a daughter of John N. Juilliard. She came to Bucyrus in 1867, where she learned the millinery business with Miss Jennie L. Anderson, and was partner for one season. Since 1 868, she has done a large bus- iness alone ; employing from six to fourteen ladies in the millinery department. She keeps a large stock of milliner}^ and notions. HENRY COUTS, farmer and veterinary sur- geon ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., July 4, 1810. Christian Couts, the father of Henry, was of Scotch descent, and served three years in the American army dur- ing the Revolutionary war. He removed to Crawford Co. with his family, about the year 1821, when the subject of this sketch was about 12 years of age ; they settled in Liberty Town- ship, southeast of what is now Sulphur Springs. When Henry Couts was a young man, between the ages of 14 and 20, he would frequently re- side with the Indians, and, occasionally, these visits were several weeks in length. During these visits, he was frequently the guest of Johnny Cake, a half-breed Wyandot Indian, whose father was a Frenchman. This savage resided at Upper Sandusky, in a hut which stood near the Wj-andot Mission Church. Johnny Cake liked Couts, who occasionally practiced at shooting with the bow and arrows with the two sons of his savage friend ; they would occasionally make hunting excursions together on the Honey Creek, Sycamore Creek and the Broken Sword. Couts relates that he also spent many nights with Bill Walker, one of the chiefs. This Indian read law and prac- ticed some at an early day ; he lived in a frame house, possessed many articles found in the homes of the whites, and was more civilized f" BUCYKUS TOWNSHIP. 721 than Johnny Cake and many other savages. Walker had two sisters, with whom Couts spent many a pleasant hour. The subject of this sketch was always on friendly terms with the Indians, but once he had a fuss with one called Between-the-logs. Couts had a very fine hunting dog, and this savage desired to pur- chase it, and, while the Indian was Imnting on the Broken Sword, he visited Couts with the in- tention of securing the coveted animal. But Couts didn't wish to sell the dog, and Between- the-lpgs became very angrj' about it ; he was intoxicated, and, when Couts entered his cabin after conversing with him, the enraged savage ran his knife through the door of the house. He also threatened Couts' life, and drew his gun upon him several times, but did not fire at him ; but he finallj' left, vowing to remember Couts in the future. After he left, the owner of the dog thought over the indignities he had suffered, and grew very angry about it ; he fol- lowed the Indian several miles, and, overtaking him, drew his gun to shoot the savage, but the charge did not explode, and the warrior es- caped. Couts says he was always glad in after years, that the gun missed fire. But, at the next general muster, Between-the-logs attended ; he became intoxicated, and commenced to abuse Couts, who turned in and thrashed the savage. Couts was a very good wrestler in his 3'ounger daj's ; was known as the " bully Dutchman," and one time gained a signal victory over a man named Erastus Finn, who challenged any man in Capt. Linton's militia company. Couts was married to Sarah Ann Peterman Aug. 25, 1833 ; she was born June 22, 1818. They re- resided in Liberty Township until September, 1841, and then removed to Missouri, where they remained for about twelve months. While a resident of Libertj', he served as Constable several terms. When he returned from Mis- souri, he settled in Bucj'rus, and followed the occupation of teamster for Henry Converse, and made frequent trips between Bucj'rus and San- dusky City. In 1846, he secured a contract for carrying the mail through the country, and con- tinued in this business for some eighteen years. He served as Street Commissioner and Marshal of Bucyrus for two terms. In the early part of 1863, he secured a position as Veterinary Surgeon in the 34th 0. V. C, under Col. Frank- lin, and served in this capacity nearlj' eighteen months. He removed to his present residence southwest of town, about 1866, where he ran a saw-mill until some two years since, when he sold the mill privileges to the County Commis- sioners ; since then, he has been farming and practicing veterinarj' surgery. Mr. Couts joined the M. E. Church at Annapolis in his younger daj'S, and was a Class-leader for some five years. After he returned from Missouri, he connected himself with the Protestant M. E. Church, and is at the present time a member of the U. B. congregation. The subject of this sketch is the father of the following children : Samuel, born April 10, 1834 ; married to Sarah A. Nichols March 24, 1857, and died Nov. 23, 1865 ; David, born Nov. 4, 1835 ; now a resi- dent of Page Co., Iowa, and married to Sarah A. Palmer ; John A., born Oct. 2, 1837 ; mar- ried to Mary A. Borst Nov. 29, 1860, and now a resident of Upper Sandusky ; William H. H., born j\Iarch 15, 1840 ; married to Hatty Mead Dec. 10, 1863, and now a resident of Sandusky Township; Barbara E., born March 18, 1842; married to George Sware, Dec. 18, 1862, and, after her first husband died, to Jacob Shupp ; thej' reside southwest of Bucyrus ; Jacob, born March 3, 1844 ; married Miss Catharine Forney Jan. 17, 1864, and now resides in Bucyrus ; Jeremiah B., born March 12,1846; married Susan Mj'ers, and is a plasterer in Bucyrus ; Frances, born July 18, 1848, and died in in- fancy ; Hiram Andrew, born Nov. 6, 1849, and died May 7, 1871 ; Eliza Ann, born April 7, 1852, and died in infancy ; Sanford, born Sept. 21, 1854 ; married Cynthia Dixon, and now a resident of Upper Sandusky ; Charles Fremont, born March 29, 1857 ; married to Hattie E. Mahaffey, Nov. 12, 1878, and resides southwest of town. Six of the sons mentioned above (all who were old enough), enlisted in the Union Army during the late rebellion, and served their country on many a bloody battle-field ; their father was too old to enlist as a soldier, but entered the service as a Veterinary Surgeon. M. C. CUYKENDALL, physician and sur- geon, Bucyrus ; is the son of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Courtright) Cuykendall, and was born Nov. 21, 1829, in Cuyahoga Co., N. Y. He lived on a farm until his 17th year, and then entered Groton Academy, in Tompkins Co., N. Y., remaining two years, and teaching in the winter ; he taught the following winter and worked at carpentering for the two ensuing seasons, spending the winter months meanwhile j'ears, when he returned to his home in Bucjtus. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Birk, Oct. 30, 1877. She was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1856. They have one child — Gertrude. Soon after his re- turn from St. Louis, he purchased his father's interest in the brewery, and has, in connection with his brother George, since been engaged in that business. Thej are intelligent, enterpris- ing gentlemen, respected by all who know them. J. DOUGHERTY, photographer, Bucyrus ; is the son of Edward and Abigail (McComb) Dougherty, and was born in Cannonsburg, Penn., April 14, 1826 ; he went to school until his 16th year, when he commenced to learn carriage-painting, and followed it for ten years. About this time, he learned daguerreotyping in Washington, Penn., and worked at the business some eight years. In 1859, he came to Bucy- rus, and established a gallery in a building where the Sims House now stands. He has been located in his present place, Quinby Block, for fifteen years ; here he is doing a splendid business, and is a skillful photogra- pher, paying much attention also to the copying and enlarging of pictures in water-colors and India ink. He has exhibited at the county fairs, and has always outstripped his competi- tors ; he is the oldest resident photographer of the place. He was married June 29, 1848, to Miss Annie Butts, of Washington Co., Penn., and three children are living, the fruits of that union — Ella, Blanche and Lulu ; Laura died at the age of 5. Mr. Dougherty is a prominent member of the M. E. Church, and a Trustee of their organization. H. M. DEAL ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is the son of Martin and Sarah Lilley Deal, and was born Dec. 26, 1854, in Bucyrus; he attended school here until his 18th year, and attended the Ohio Wesleyan University in 1875; he next became assistant clerk in his father's manu- factorj' of smutters, remaining in this position two years. In 1878, he became general man- ager of the establishment, which position he now holds. They have about six hundred local agencies in the United States and Canada ; also in South America and London, England. The annual shipping capacity is from 60,000 to 75,000. They are making thirty-six different styles of machines for cleaning grain. Mr. Deal is a partner in Deal's Improved Wheat Heater, which has proved lucrative, and is also the manufacturer and sole proprietor of Deal's Corundum Polisher, a tool for cutting, level- ing and polishing the furrows and face of mill- stones, which has a precedence among such in- ventions. He was married Sept. 12, 1876, to Emma Rowse, daughter of Horace Rowse, of Bucyrus. H. H. ELLIOTT, proprietor of Sims House, Bucyrus ; a son of Ennion and Susan (Garver) Elliott, was born Aug. 16, 1840, at Chambers- burg, Penn., where he lived until 14 years old, receiving a fair education. In 1855, then 15 years of age, he came to Pittsburgh, where he began as brakeman on the Pennsylvania Rail- road. He rose to the position of conductor at 17 years, and at 20 became train dispatcher on the Western Division of the P. R. R., where he remained some five years, giving good satis- faction. In 1865, his father died, and he re- signed and went home ; subsequently he became conductor on the Cumberland Valley Railroad, and after a year and a half in that position be- came train dispatcher of this road, where he ^^ ft fy ^ -^ 732 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: continued from 1867 to 1875. In the mean- time he bought the Montgomery House, at Chambersburg, Penn., in 1872, and carried it on with success for three years. In 1875, he re- signed his position as train dispatcher, and bought the National House, at York, Penn., the largest hotel in the city, and run it for two years successfully. In 1876, he bought the Taylor Hotel, of Winchester, Va., but, not being able to give it his personal attention, he lost heavily and disposed of it in 1878 ; he also had Bentz House at Carlisle, Penn., sold it with loss after one year ; owned three hotels at one time. In October, 1878, he leased the Sims House at Bucyrus for three years, with priv- ilege of five years. Under his management, the Sims has become one of the best hotels in the city. He makes the comfort of his guests a personal study, and it may with truth be said that the entertainment of travelers, to him, has become one of the fine arts. The Sims House is centrally located; has four fine sample rooms, and 35 light, air}', well-fiirnished and comfortable rooms. His table is furnished with the best the market aifords. He was mar- ried in October, 1862, to Miss Emma V. Mitch- ell, of Pittsburgh ; they have one child — Susie Ella. In October, 1880, in partnership with W. J. Ryan, he bought the Capital House, at Gralion, Ohio, of which they are still proprietors. HIRAM B. EVERETT,"Street Commissioner, Bucyrus ; son of Jesse and Mary Russell Ever- ett, was born Sept. 4, 1833, in Seneca Co., N. Y. He lived on a farm till he was 15 years of age, and for two years worked at the painting trade. In March, 1854, he came to Bucjtus, and farmed near here for three years, and then worked at house painting for eight years. In 1863, he went to New Orleans via New York, and became first mate on a steamship pljing on the Mississippi River, and he became Cap- tain of the Time and Tide, which was de- stroyed, with nine other boats, Mr. Everett being a witness of the affair, and, at the time, he secured the money and came out through the flames. In 1865, he purchased a trading boat called the Star, of 75 tons' capacity, and ran it on the Red River. He sold it in the spring of 1866, and soon after purchased an interest in the War Eagle, making trips to St. Louis and Omaha, with success. In June, 1 867, he sold this vessel, and was taken sick at St. Louis, being disabled for three months. After recovering somewhat, he went to Saginaw, Mich, and resumed his trade of house painting for a year. In 1868, he went to Washington as wit- ness before the Court of Claims, in the case of the loss of J. H. Russell, and the steamer Lib- erty. When court adjourned, he resumed his trade, in all some 16 months. In February, 1878, he returned to Saginaw, Mich., and worked at his trade for three years. In December 1873, he came to Bucyrus and has since then been engaged in painting. In the spring of 1880, he was elected Street Commissioner of the city of Bucyrus, and is now discharging the duties of that office with great credit. He was married, Aug. 5, 1878, to Mrs. Louisa Keeney, a daughter of Benjamin Warner, and widow of Edwin Keeney. They have one child, Thos. Ewing. Mr. Everett has always been a Demo- crat and was in favor of the war for the preser- vation of the Union. MOSES EMRICH, clothier, Bucyrus. This popular and widely known clothier was born in Baden, Germany, March 31, 1838, and is the son of Moses and Esther (Breidenbach) Emrich. Until 14 years of age, Mr. Emrich attended school, and at 15 he sailed for the United States, being upon the ocean forty days, and arriving at New York July 7, 1853. He came in a few days to Fremont, Ohio. He attended school somewhat at Rochester, Ohio, acquiring a knowledge of our language, of which he was entirely ignorant upon his advent here. He was a diligent student and made good progress. In the spring of 1854, he commenced to travel through the country on foot, and sell notions ; but soon purchased a horse and wagon, and with this outfit traveled some four years in Northern Ohioand Michigan. He then bought and shipped live stock for some two j'ears, and later accepted a clerkship in a store at Tiffin, Ohio. In March, 1861, he removed to Bucyrus and opened a store for the sale of ready-made clothing, in the room now occupied by Malic & Gloyd, continu- ing in that room some two months, then remov- ing to the old Failor corner until fall, when he entered his present quarters in Nos. 1 and 2 Quinby Block, two rooms having an area of 40 x80 feet, where he has been ever since. He is engaged in the gents' furnishing goods business, and has an immense stock of ready^-made cloth- ing — a specialty being his merchant tailoring department. The whole establishment is one of the largest in Central Ohio, he employing it ^ ^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 7S3 some thirty-five hands in different branches. He at one time had two branch houses, one at Tiffin and another at Upper Sanduslcy. He is one of the oldest business men in his line in the city. Aug. 19, 1867, he was married to Miss Rachel Trounstine, of Cincinnati. They have two children — Selma and Blanche. As a busi- ness man, Mr. Emrich stands among the first in Bucyrus, and he has an extended reputation as a clothier, which he justly deserves. JOHN A. EATON, lawyer, Bucyrus ; is the son of Reason and Margaret E. (Hayes) Eaton, and was born Nov. 17, 1853, in Holmes Township, Crawford Co. He was reared on a farm and remained there until he reached his 17th year. He then entered Mt. Union College, Stark Co., Ohio, and remained nearly two years, when he returned to the farm, where he was so unfortu- nate as to meet with an accident which resulted in lameness. In the fall of 1874, he commenced the study of law in the office of Jacob Scroggs. He was admitted to the bar on Oct. 3, 1876, and was admitted to practice in District and Circuit Courts of the United States, by the Supreme Court on Jan. 24, 1880, and during his profes- sional career has had good success. For nearly three _years he was partner with W. B. Richie, but this partnership was dissolved May 14, 1879. Mr. Eaton has conducted an extensive commercial practice, being attornej' for several banks. He is now Vice President of the Craw- ford Count}^ Agricultural Society, and also City Solicitor. He was united in marriage with Miss Bashie G. Quaintance, of Holmes Township, Oct. 8, 1873. They have three children— Dud- ley W., Vincent and Inez G. HENRY ENSMINGER, merchant, Bucyrus ; was born in Perry Co., Penn., Feb. 2, 1826, and is the son of David and Barbara (Messinger) Ensminger. Up to the time that he was 18, he attended school and worked on a farm. At the age of 25, he commenced farming in part- nership, and so continued for three years ; he was a farmer in his native State until 1866, when he came to Ohio and settled in what is now Jefferson Township. He farmed one year, and, in the fall of that year, he opened a store in partnership with his brother, at North Rob- inson ; this lasted two years.'and was dissolved by the death of his brother. Mr. Ensminger continued the business for some four years, when he sold out his goods and bought a farm of 80 acres near the village, where he lived six 3'ears. He came to Bucyrus in the spring of 1879, and opened a dry-goods store in No. 6 Quinby Block, where he still continues, and has a large and attractive stock of goods and no- tions. He was married in Cumberland Co., Penn., April 12, 1851, to Susan Jacobs ; they have four children — Franklin P., Albert M., Charles E., Alberta E. and one child dead. W. H. DROUGHT, grocer and produce ship- per, Bucyrus ; son of William and Margaret (Gillispie) Drought ; was born in Franklin Co., Vt., March 19, 1827, and received a thorough knowledge of the common branches in the pub- lic schools of the old " Green Mountain State." When about 20 years of age, he removed to Illinois, and was for about ten j^ears employed on several of the railroads in the Western States. He worked on the I. C. R. R. for nearlj' eighteen months ; also three months in 3Iis- souri. After this, he obtained a situation as roadmaster on the N. M. R. R., and also occu- pied the same position for some eighteen months on the 0. & M. R. R.; then for three j'ears he was a passenger conductor on the road between Chicago and La Fayette, Ind. He resigned this position to accept the office of master of transportation on the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R., having charge between Crestline and Chicago, and continued with this corporation for some two years. In 1860, he located in Bucyrus with his family, and, in December of that j'ear, purchased the provision store of Messrs. Mc- Graw & Fowler, who were located at No. 7 Quinby Block. Mr. Drought has continued the business at this same stand for twenty years ; in after j-ears, he purchased that section of the block. Several j-ears since, he em- barked in the business of shipping produce for the Eastern market, and has carried on an ex- tensive business, chiefly in butter, eggs and poultry. The subject of this sketch was mar- ried May 26, 1857, to Miss Nannie E. Flack, of Washington Co., Penn.; they were the parents of five children, three boys and two girls — James H., Anna B., Ella, Charles Edmund and Wilber F. Their daughters are living, but the three sons are dead ; James H., the eldest, died of consumption, Aug. 20, 1876, in the 18th year of his age, while in the West, seeking his health; Charles Edmund died Nov. 13, 1874, aged 5 years and 3 months ; and Wilber F. died' May 28, 1876, in the 7th month of his age. Mr. Drought is a member of the First Presby- T^ ^^ it^ 734 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: terian Church of Bucyrus, and, since February, 1868, he has been a Ruling Elder in that re- ligious society ; he was also a charter member of Howard Lodge of the Knights of Honor, and Crawford Council of the Royal Arcanum. GEORGE A. DEAGLE, Bucyrus ; is a son of John and Barbara (Hoffman) Deagle, who were residents of Lancaster Co., Penn. ; his birth occurred Jan. 27, 1 828 ; his father was a shoemaker by trade ; about the year 1841, he moved his family to a place near Ashland, Ohio — what was then Richland Co., but is now Ash- land ; the subject of this sketch received but a meager education, attending school until his 13th year only, when, coming to this State with his father, he began working by the month as, a farm-hand, at which he continued for about nine years ; the familj^ then moved to this county, settling permanently in Liberty Town- ship ; he then engaged in work for six years as farmer for Mr. George Lauck, beginning at $120 a year, his emploj-er raising his wages to SI 80 a year, on account of his industrious habits. March 26, 1857, he was married to Rebecca J. McMichael, of Libert}' Township ; she was a daughter of David and Margaret (Anderson) McMichael, one of the earliest pioneer families of this county ; she was born in Liberty Town- ship Sept. 30, 1834 ; of this marriage, four children are living — Mary Margaret, John G., Eddie (who died at 2 years of age), Ella J. and George W. ; the mother of this inter- esting family of children died April 23, 1877, of congestion of the lungs. After marriage, Mr. Deagle rented for eight years, of Mr. Lauck, the same farm on which he had already spent six years, meeting with success as a farmer un- til the year 1865, when he purchased his pres- ent home on Poplar street, in Bucyrus, where he was engaged in teaming and farming until the year 1870, when he was elected to serve a term as Street Commissioner of the city of Bu- cyrus. He is a member of Howard Lodge, K. of H., a Democrat politically, and a member of St. Paul's English Lutheran Church. HON. EBENEZER B. FINLEiT, lawyer, Bucyrus ; is a native of the State of Ohio, hav- ing been born at Orrville, in Wayne Co., Juh' 31, 1833 ; his earlier 3'ears, until he had attained the age of 20, were passed on a farm, and his education was such as the common school of the neighborhood afforded ; at that age he left his home and went to Kansas ; Mr. Finley sub- sequently left Kansas, and for awhile lived in Illinois ; for two years he taught school in Ful- ton Co., but, in 1858, with the desire of seeing more of the great regions of the West, he went to the Rocky Mountains, then far wilder and less frequented than now ; passing the years 1858 and 1859 there, he returned to his native State, establishing himself permanently at Bucyrus, where he entered upon the study of law ; he was still engaged upon his studies when the war of the rebellion broke out ; he at once re- cruited a company, which formed a part of the 64th 0. V. I., and was elected as First Lieuten- ant ; in 1862, he resigned his commission, and, being admitted to the bar, commenced the prac- tice of his profession at Bucyrus, which he has continued to the present time. In 1875, Mr. Finley was nominated for the Forty-fifth Con- gress by the Democrats, and elected by over 5,000 majority ; he was re-elected to the Forty- Sixth Congress, over his competitor, Charles Foster, by upward of 2,000 majority. Mr. Fin- ley is recognized as an indefatigable worker in Congress, and gained considerable distinction through his able speeches delivered in the House of Representatives. He had an atten- tive auditory whenever he spoke, and was marked for his readiness and earnestness in debate, and for the clear and forcible manner in which he presented his facts and deduc- tions. ;\Ir. Finley is now Chairman of the Committee on Public Expenditure, and a member of the Census Committee. He re- tires from Congress with the expiration of the present House. He was married on Feb. 18, 1858, to Miss Emeline C. Codding, of Copley, Summit Co., Ohio, a daughter of Robert Codding, now of Marion, Ohio ; he has but one child, a son, Harry M., a midshipman in the navy, having graduated at Annapolis, Md., on June 10, 1880. HIRAM FENNER, P. 0. Bucyrus ; is the son of Abraham and Eliza (Pickering) Fenner; was horn in Pike Co., Penn., July 13, 1821 ; he lived on a farm until his 19th year, acquiring in the meantime but little education, one winter attendhig school but nine days. He left the farm at the age of 19, and went to learn the merchant-tailoring trade, serving his appren- ticeship in Easton, Penn., and remaining until he was 24. In April, 1845, he came to Bucy- rus, and at once engaged in tailoring, following that business for some ten years, and then com- ^K* :^ BUCYRUS TOWNSfllP. 735 menced merchant-tailoring, beginning with a small stock ; he soon took in Moses Simon as partner for ten years, when Mr. Fenner retired, and at once started anew and continued for seven years, retiring in 1865, having been blessed with good success, and all attained by his own efforts. He was married, April 21, 1846, to Elizabeth Myers, daughter of Gen. Samuel Myers ; they have four children — Marj' A. Lewis, Samuel L., who is a merchant at Terre Haute, Ind.; Millie, the wife of Jacob Geiger, of Bucyrus, and Hiram W., a physician at Terre Haute. JSIr. Fenner has been, and is at present, Secretary of the Cemetery Associa- tion, and has held the office for fifteen years. He was one of the twent3'-six persons who or- ganized the association, and he has been a Trustee since 1858. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is a man of uprightness and integrity. H. M. FISHER, carpenter and builder, Bucyrus ; is a son of David and Elizabeth (Stayman) Fisher, and was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Dec. 12, 1818. While a boy, he lived on a farm and received a good common-school education. His father was born near Green- castle, Penn., in 1787 ; was a farmer and also a miller, becoming a merchant later in life ; he was possessed of a liberal education, and was married in Pennsylvania in 1809, and came to Ohio in 1828, and lived here until his death. The subject of our sketch came with his parents here, and assisted his father on the farm, near Mansfield, and remained until the death of the latter. He learned the carpenter trade with his brother in Mansfield, about 1842. In 1854, he came to Crawford Co., and worked in and around Bucyrus, following his trade, in com- pany with his brother, David Fisher, until 1865. In 1867 and 1868, he also worked in Marion Co. He has been engaged in carpentering and bridge-building ever since 1854, in this and ad- joining counties. He was married, Oct. 29, 1850, to Miss Solena Culver, of Richland Co., Ohio ; she died Jan. 13, 1852. Sept. 20, 1855, he was again married, to Miss Sarah A. Dick- son, of Vernon Township, this county ; there is one child of this family — N. C. Fisher, Civil En- gineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad, stationed at Chicago. Of his father's familj', there are the following children living, besides himself — Eliza, wife of Henry Cook, of Constantine, Mich. ; C. W. Fisher, Louisa, widow of Joseph Davis, of Evansville, Ind., and Susannah. Mr. Fisher has been a Republican since the organization of the part}', and is one of the respected and in- fluential citizens of Bucyrus. CHRISTIAiX W. FISHER, Postmaster, Bu- cyrus, is a son of David and Elizabeth (Stayman) Fisher, and was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Aug. 23, 1825. His father was a farmer, and young Christian lived the first three years of his life on the farm where he was born. His parents removed to Richland Co., Ohio, in 1828, and settled on a farm, where their son was reared, to work against the privations of a new and wild country, and to struggle against the disadvantages of pioneer life. But little time could be spared for schooling in those days, and the school houses were of the primitive character described in other portions of this work. The only text books in Mr. Fisher's early school days were the spelling book, and that revered volume, the Bible, but Mr. Fisher, despite the barriers which arose before him in the acquirement of an education, was a hard student, and, at the age of 20, was enabled to teach school. Soon after his debut as a peda- gogue, he entered the Ashland Academy, then in charge of Loring Andrews. ]^or a period of several years he attended and taught school, and proved himself a successful instructor. In June, 1848, he removed to Bucyrus, and upon his arrival was tendered and accepted a clerk- ship in the dry goods store of A. Failor, where he continued five years. On the first day of the year 1856, he commenced business as a partner in the firm of Root, Fisher & Hall, which enterprise was successful. The business was sold out at the end of two years, and our subject accepted a clerical position under the firm of Hall & Juillard, remaining one year, when he purchased a half-interest, and the bus- iness continued under the firm name of Juil- lard & Fisher, and this partnership lasted until 1865. In January, 1866, Mr. Fisher com- menced a new enterprise, opening a general store three doors north of the National Bank, under the firm name of Fisher & Lauck. This was continued until February, 1877, when he retired. Feb. 1, 1879, he received the appoint- ment as Postmaster from President Hayes, an office the duties of which he has ably dis- charged, and making himself popular among the citizens of Bucyrus. He has been a prom- inent and useful member of society, having l\±. 736 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: served on the School Board for several years. He is a charter member of Howard Lodge, Knights of Honor, No. 109, and was its first presiding officer ; also its delegate to the second session of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and was elected Chaplain of that body. At the third session he was elected Grand Dictator, and in 1878 he retired, becoming Past Grand of Ohio. He was elected delegate to the Supreme Lodge for two years, Xashville in 1878, and Boston in 1870. Mr. Fisher is a member of the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was mar- ried in May, 1852, to Miss Henrietta Lauck, of Bucyrus, and of this marriage there are seven children — Edgar L.. Charles J., George P., Mary L., Frank M., Blanche and Grace. DAVID E. FISHEK, merchant, Bucyrus; was born in Mansfield, Ohio, March 24, 1846, where the first fourteen years of his life were spent in attending the schools of that place. In the fall of 1860, he came to Bucyrus to live with an uncle, 'Sh: C. W. Fisher, assisting him on his farm and attending school one year. In J ulj-, 1862, he enlisted in the 131st 0. V. I., from which, after five months' service, he was honor- ably discharged. He then began clerking in his uncle's store, filling a position there until the 136th 0. N. G. marched to the defense of the National Capital. At the expiration of the term of his enlistment, he was again discharged from the service, and resumed his duties in the store with his uncle, C. W. Fisher, until 1869, at which time the firm was changed to Fisher & Lauck ; he, however, remaining with that firm until 1873, when he entered into a partnership with his brother, J. J. Fisher. He was married Nov. 3, 1869, to Miss Maggie Hoover, by whom he has three children — Bessie 31., Jay C. and infant son. He is a member of St. Paul's Lu- theran Church and Sunday school, holding, in the last-named organization, a responsible po- sition. JA3IES G. PRAYER; conti-actor, Bucyrus. The above-named gentleman is a son of James and Grace (Sigerson) Prayer; born April 14, 1826, in Butler Co., Penn. His youth was spent amid the scenes of rural life until 14, when he went to the town of Butler, and was there apprenticed to a man named William Fouzer, a builder, under whose direction, dur- ing a term of three j-ears, he learned the triple trade of brick-laying, stone-cutting and plaster- ing. Just after the fire at Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1845, our subject went there to follow his trade ; but workmen were so plenty that a brick-layer only received 87 cents per day. In 1848, Mr. Frayer began building under contract, and continued in the vicinitj' of Pittsburgh un- til 1856. In that year, he started West ; but stopped at Bucyrus to visit a friend, when he was persuaded to remain. From 1856 to 1862, his energies were confined to the principal build- ings of Bucyrus. He erected during that period the Quinbj' Block, Presbyterian and Lutheran Churches and several other large buildings. In 1863, he was employed by the Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Company to build their depots and hotel stands, at present from Crestline to Allegheny City. In 1865, he erected the State Lunatic Asylum at Dixmont, Penn., which contains over two million brick. In about 1869, he received the contract for the brick-work of the Lunatic Asylum at Athens, Ohio, which alone contained twelve million of brick. In company with other gentlemen in 1868-69, he built the schoolhouses of Crestline, Gallon and Cardington. In 1870, the firm of Miller, Frayer & Sheets was formed, and have .since built the magnificent court houses of Erie, Richland and Licking Counties. This firm has in its employ from one to three hundred men. Mr. Frayer was a member of the firm of B. B. McDanald & Co., which was organized in about 1871, and graded six miles of the Ohio Central Rail- road. The same firm also graded and laid seven miles of track from the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad to the coal mines. The firm of Frayer & Sheets have the contract for building the extensive railroad shops of the Ohio Central at Bucyrus. Feb. 8, 1850, Mr. Frayer united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Garner, of Sharps- burg, Penn. Of this union there are five chil- dren living, and two dead. COCHRAN FULTON, physician and drug- gist, Bucyrus ; is the son of Abraham and Ann (Smith) Fulton, and was born in West- moreland Co., Penn., Feb. 22, 1819; his youth was spent on a farm and in hard work until the age of 17, when he attended select school at Dalton, Ohio ; at the age of 20, he entered a dry -goods store as clerk, and remained about a year ; having always had a taste for the study of medicine, he entered the office of Harvey J. Tuttle, at Brookfleld, Ohio, reading and prac- ticing for some five years ; his next residence was in Wooster, Ohio, where he remained one ^^ ^1 ^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 737 year, when, on Nov. 14, 1845, he came to Bucyrus ; he immediately entered upon the practice of his profession, and is the third old- est practitioner in the county and the old- est active physician in the city ; he came here without capital, and soon was in the enjoyment of an extensive practice ; during the dysentery epidemic of 1852, he was obliged to ride day and night, and for three consecutive days he never slept, sacrificing his own comfort and welfare for the good of his patients ; about 1855, he opened a drug and book store in the Quinby Block, in partnership with Dr. W. R. Clark ; this partnership lasted some six years, when the subject of our sketch sold out his in- terest to his partner ; he commenced business in his present room in the spring of 1861, and continued alone for some nine years ; in No- vember, 1870, his son Melancthon was admit- ted as partner, and the business continued under the firm name of C. Fulton & Son ; the}' are carrying an extensive stock, and are doing a flourishing business, both being men of business capacity and enterprise. Mr. Fulton was married, in October, 1844, to Elizabeth A. Davis, of Brookfield ; they have two children — Anna J., now the wife of Rev. A. S. Milhol- land, of Uniontown, Penn., and Melancthon, his partner in business. Dr. Pulton has been a prominent citizen, having been a member of the City Council for several years, and also of the School Board, of which bodj' he was Presi- dent when the new building was erected, and gave especial attention to its construction. He has always been a Democrat, his first vote hav- ing been cast for Van Buren. GEORGE W. FISHER, merchant, Bucy- rus ; is the son of E. B. and Lj^dia (Webster) Fisher, and was born July 23, 1856, in Middle- town, Butler Co., Ohio ; his early youth was spent in this village, and, when he was about 7 years of age, his parents removed to Franklin, Ohio, where he received his education ; at the age of 16, he commenced to learn tailoring with his father, who is a skillful cutter and tailor; in 1873, the family removed to Tiffin, Ohio, and the subject of our sketch became, at the age of 18 years, cutter for G. H. Corthell & Co., at that time doing the best business in TiflBn in their line ; he continued here until 1876, when he worked in Marion for six months ; he formed a partnership with Morri- son on Jan. 8, 1879. He was married to Hat- tie E. Cook, of Tiffin, Ohio, by whom he has one son— Harry W., born Feb. 19, 1880. Mr. Fisher is a young and energetic business man, and the business of his firm is prospering finely ; as a cutter, he has few equals and no superiors in Bucyrus. FREDERICK E. FREY, machinist, Bucy- rus ; is a son of John M. and Magdalena (Lein- inger) Frey, and was born in Neiderweiler, Baden, Germany, Feb. 23, 1837. He received the rudiments of his education in his native town, and at the age of 10 years commenced a four years' course in the high school at Muhl- heim, where he graduated. The year follow- ing he worked in a machine-shop, but at the age of 15, he came to America and settled in Plymouth, Richland Co., arriving there July 5, 1852. He became well versed in our lan- guage in the course of three months, and soon became a clerk in a store, which position he filled for two years. His parents had removed from Germany in the meantime and settled in Huron Co. He then removed to their home, and was with them two years. In December, 1856, he came to Bucyrus and commenced work as a machinist, being employed by three diflferent firms until 1859. In the following spring he became a resident of Huron Co., and engaged in agricultural pursuits for a period of ten months. In March, 1861, he came to Bu- cyrus and was employed in the shops, of which he is now a partner. The following fall saw him a partner of D, I. Scheckler, where he still remains, and is universallj' respected as a man of business talent and of upright integrity. He was married Nov. 3, 1859, to Lucy H. Houffstatter, of Huron Co., Ohio, and the fol- lowing-named children are the fruits of this union — Celia M., Myrta V., James A., Ernest H., Bessie L., John J., Rena R., Frederick F. (deceased), and Imogene. Mr. Frey is a de- voted and earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a Trustee, and is also Superintendent of the Sunday school at Pleasant View. He is a man who shares largely in public esteem and is an exem- plary citizen. J. J. FISHER, merchant, Bucyrus ; is a son of David and Martha (Cook) Fisher, and was born in Mansfield, Ohio, Nov. 22, 1837. He attended school in that place until 18 years of age, at which time he left school and came to Bucyrus, where he was clerk in a dry goods -^^ -^ 5 > 738 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: store for nine years. In 1865, he entered into a partnership with J. A. Schaber, at Sulphur Springs, Ohio, and they there started a general store. This enterprise they sold out, however, and he commenced business again, in company with Juillard and Lewis in the grocery busi- ness at Bucyrus. This partnership lasted until 186&, doing a very successful business. Mr. Fisher's health failing, he retired and spent some time on a farm. In March, 1873, he and D. E. Fisher entered into business together under the firm name of J. J. Fisher & Bro. Since then they have conducted the business together. In 1871, the}' erected the Fisher Block, a three-story brick structure, 158 feet deep and 23 wide. The first story is occupied with dry goods and groceries, the basement with carpets and queensware. They are doing an immense business, and are enterprising and successful in business. The subject of our sketch was married Sept. 17, 1865, to Miss Arena White, daughter of C. W. White, of Dallas Township. He is an Elder in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is a consist- ent and steadfast Christian. His father, David Fisher, was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Nov. 11, 1810. He was a carpenter by trade, and came to Mansfield in 1832. He was married there in 1836, and continued at his trade throughout his life. There are four children, James J., Joseph B., John W. and David E., of this first marriage, are still living. His wife died in 1846. He was remarried in 1849, to Sarah Furgeson. They had one child, a daughter, named Amelia, now Mrs. D. F. Welsh. He died July 22, 1880, holding a firm belief in the tenets of Christianity, and was a member of the Congregational Church. M. H. FULTON, telegraph operator, Bucy- rus ; son of George W. and Harriet (Blanchard) Fulton, was born May 22, 1840, at Brighton, Penn. He attended school until 17, and then learned telegraphy in the Brighton oflBce. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the 9th Penn. Reserve Corps, and served until his discharge in 1862. He was wounded by a musket ball June 27, at Gaines' Mills, during the seven day's fight. He was here taken prisoner and confined in Hope Prison, near Libby. After a confinement of several weeks, he was exchanged, and in 1862 he was discharged. He was engaged in the battles of Dranesville, Gaines' Mills and Mechanicsburg. For one year after his dis- charge he laj' sick on account of his wound, and then resumed his business, becoming day operator at Allegheny City, Penn. Here he remained some two years and then went to Rochester, remaining three years. Next he came to Bucyrus, Aug. 11, 1866, and has re- mained ever since. Nov. 30, 1871, he was married to Miss Kate M. Swingly, daughter of Dr. Swinglj-, of Bucyrus. Of this marriage there are three children — Carrie, George F. and Percv. WILLIAM FRANZ, Bucyrus; son of John and Jane (Burwell) Franz, was bom May 21, 1843, in Leesville, Crawford Co. His youth up to his 14th year was spent on a farm and in attending district school. His father's family then removed to Bucyrug, and young William went to the Bucyrus Union School until he was 19. He served an apprenticeship with William Burkhardt in the watch-making business for one year and a half, and then bought out his employer and continued for himself He next went to Plymouth, Ohio, and from there to Cleveland, where he was en- gaged at his trade. From Cleveland he went to Meadville, Penn., where he worked at watch making and repairing until 1864, and in the winter of 1865, he came to Bucyrus and started a jewelry store in company with H. J. Riblet. This business union lasted some two years, and then )Ir. Franz went to Crestline and engaged in the same business with Dr. William Pope. In 1868, a fire occasioned them considerable loss, but they soon resumed business, and con- tinued until 1869. During the year 1868, they had been interested in the invention of a knit- ting machine, and in November, 1869, they en- tered into a business corporation, known as the Bucyrus Knitting Machine Works, and com- menced the manufacture of family knitting machines. In 1871, the name was changed to the Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Company, and has done a prosperous business, having engaged in the manufacture of hosiery since 1878. In February, 1879, Mr. Franz retired to regain his health, which had become badly shattered. He was married, Jan. 22, 1868, to Miss Almira M. Campbell, of Bucyrus. They , have four children — Katie J., William C, Mel- lie A. and Jay W. Mr. Franz is a member of Crawford Lodge, No. 443 ; of Ivanhoe Chapter, No. 117 ; Mansfield Commandery of Knights Templar, No. 21, and charter member of the ~^l K- Al L^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 739 Knights of Pythias, Demas Lodge, No. 108. His father was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, in 1812, and died Nov. 14, 1870. He was well educated in his native land, and was in the army there. He came to America in 1837, and settled first in Galion and afterward removed to Leesville. He was Justice of the Peace in Jackson Township for nine years, and was elected Sheriff in 1857, and served two terms. He was elected County Treasurer in 1867, and served until his death. He was Lieutenant Colonel of the 101st 0. V. I., and was wounded at the battle of Perryville and resigned. There are five children living — J. B., of the St. James Hotel, Mansfield ; William; John S., of Marion ; Mrs. Kate Clymer ; Mrs. Sallie Kerr, wife of Alexander Kerr, of Holmes Township. HENRY FLOCK, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is the eldest son of Stephen and Catharine Flock ; born in the Rhein Province of Bavaria Dec. 14, 1815 ; educated in the schools of his native State, and, at an early age, was set to work in order to assist in supporting the fam- ily ; the wages received by laborers were very low, and Mr. Flock worked many a day for 20 cents ; wood was scarce, and it was necessary for him to haul fuel or fagots nearly ten miles on a wheelbarrow ; consequently, the stoves were seldom overly hot ; the peasants were not permitted to cut green timber ; they provided themselves with fuel by breaking off the dead limbs, and it was generally necessary to climb the trees to secure these ; once Flock became so numb with cold while in a tree that he near- ly fell to the ground, and this fact led him to considering whether he had not better emigrate to America ; when he became of military age, he was too short to enter the service, and they put him back one 3'ear, expecting he would grow, but, as he failed to do so, they rejected him altogether. Flock desired to get married and secure a home ; finding the outlook in Ba- varia was not very promising, he emigrated to America in 1839, and settled in Bucyrus; he first worked for Abraham Hahn, proprietor of what is now the Sims House ; he remained with Hahn for three years, and received $7.50 each month ; during this period, although he was sick six months, he managed to save $158 ; the first $45 of this amount he sent to Ger- many in order to pay the passage of Miss Catherine Slicker to America, and, some two years after she arrived at Bucyrus, they were married ; after leaving Hahn's employ. Flock worked for three years for other persons, and then acted as clerk in Dr. Willis Merriman's store for nearly seven years ; in March, 1853, he removed to Wyandot, and formed a partner- ship with James H. Reinicker ; they embarked in the mercantile business, and, after Flock bought his partner's interest, he continued the store until 1870, when he transferred it to his son. While a resident of Wyandot, he served as Postmaster of the village for nearly seven- teen years, and, while a clerk in Merriman's store, was Treasurer for one j'ear of Bucyrus corporation. In 1870, he settled on his present farm of 80 acres, just southeast of town, where he has resided during the past decade. He was married to Miss Catherine Slicker Sept. 22, 1842 ; this lady was born Jan. 20, 1820, in Bavaria, and, in 1840, emigrated to America with Peter Geiger and family ; the result of this marriage was the following children : Mary Flock, now Mrs. William Welsh, near Wyan- dot ; Daniel Flock, now a merchant at Wyan* dot ; Kate Flock, now Mrs. Peter Bair, of Todd Township ; Louisa Flock, now Mrs. John B. Welsh, of Wyandot ; Caroline Flock, now Mrs. John Gordon, of Todd Township ; his first wife died Oct. 11, 1862, and, on Nov. 6, 1864, he was married to Miss Mary Jane Clark, who was a teacher in the schools of Bu- C3'rus for several years ; she died Jan. 25, 1875, and he was married to his present wife, formerly Miss Lena Hooker, on Oct. 11, 1877. Mr. Flock joined the Evangelical Church, in Bavaria, at the age of 13, and since then has been an exemplary member of some religious society ; when he settled in Bucyrus, he united with the German Lutheran Church, in which congregation he served as a Deacon for many years ; he is at present connected with the St. Paul's English Lutheran Church of Bucyrus. . DR. JAMES F. PITZSIMMONS, physician, Bucyrus ; son of William and Ann E. (Holman) Fitzsimmons, was born Sept. 18, 1843, in Whet- stone Township, in this county. He was brought up on a farm until 19 years of age, when he attended several terms of school at Upper San- dusky. In May, 1864, he enlisted in the 134th 0. V. I., and was discharged in August. In the fall of 1864, he attended the Vermilion In- stitute at Haysville, Ohio, remaining until the summer of 1865, when he entered the office of *7r. ^ 740 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Drs. Ferris & Byron at Upper Sandusky. In the winter of 1865-66, he attended his first course of lectures at Charity Hospital Medical College, Cleveland. He then went to Ft. Wayne, Ind., where he studied and practiced in connection with Dr. J. S. Grregg, of that place, until the fall of 1867, when he entered the Chicago Medical College, from which he gradu- ated in March, 1868, and resumed his practice in Ft. Wayne until the spring of 1871. He then went to Cincinnati, spending a short time in that city in special practice, when he was called home, on the illness of his sister. In June, 1871, he located in Bucyrus, and has a pleasant office on corner of East 3Iansfield and Walnut streets. Has been a contributor to the periodicals published in the interest of his pro- fession ; enjoys a good practice. He was mar- ried, Jan. 1, 1872, to Miss Ella Kyan, an adopted daughter of G. L. Saulsbury, late of Bucyrus. Two children have been born to them ; Ralph, born Oct. 16, 1872 ; Nellie, born June 9, 1874. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church, and lives on Warren street, east of Disciples Church. Dr. Fitzsimmons' father was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., in 1791, and was well educated ; was Counry Surveyor of his native county. He was married, in Novem- ber, 1826, to Ann E. Holman, of Franklin Co., Penn. He followed farming until Jtay, 1831, when they came to Ohio, driving through in a carriage to Bucyrus. He bought 160 acres of land in Whetstone Township, four miles from Bucyrus, where he resided until his death, Oct. 10, 1848, at the age of 54 years. He kept post office four years. When he settled in the county there were but three other houses be- sides their own between Bucyrus and Gallon. For several years they entertained strangers, though not, strictly speaking, keeping tavern. SAMUEL GARNER, blacksmith, Bucyrus ; son of William and Sarah (Cook) Garner, was born Feb. 20, 1818, in Pittsburgh, Penn. He went to school there until his 15th year, and then commenced learning blacksmithing with John Stewart, serving three years, when he purchased a set of tools and started a shop at Sharpsburg, Penn,, where he continued for ten years with good success. His next point was in Athens Co., Ohio, where he purchased a farm of 105 acres and farmed, also working at his trade. He lived here ten years, and in Septem- ber, 1864, came to Bucyrus, where, for three years, he was the partner of his brother, William. His next partnership was with Van Rinkle, and their union lasted some two years. Since then Mr. Garner has been working alone, assisted by his son. He has occupied his present shop for fifteen years. It is situated on Sandusky ave- nue, where he is doing a prosperous business, repairing and horseshoeing. He was married in July, 1844, to Miss Margaret Rougher, of Bakerstown, Penn. Of this marriage, there were five children — John, Amelia, Sarah, Mary and William. John was the victim of a fatal accident in the spring of 1876. While living at Delaware, Ohio, engaged in the study of medi- cine with Dr. E. H Hyatt, a large flag-stone over a cavity under the pavement broke, and falling with it, one-half crushed him, and he died soon after. He was a young man, and held iu high esteem, and left a wife and family to mourn his sad and untimely loss. His first wife dying. Mr. Garner was remarried July 9, 1857, to Miss Delia Chapman, of Athens Co., Ohio, a woman of fine mind, and more than or- dinary intelligence, possessing the most desira- ble qualities as a wife and mother. Of this marriage there are six children — James, Isabel, Charles, Nettie, Carrie and Samuel. Mr. Gar- ner has been a hard-working, industrious, as well as a successful business man. He is a member and class leader in the Methodist Church, and has always been a Republican. REV. JACOB GRAESSLE, Bucyrus; was born Feb. 14, 1836, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and is the son of Jacob and Sophie (Smith) Graessle. He received a common-school edu- cation, and this was supplemented by a course in a gymnasium. He also went to a State Normal School, called Nuertingen Seminary, remaining there till 19 years of age. He ob- tained a State certificate, and taught in his native village until he was 21 years of age. He then sailed for America, from Havre, France, and, after a voj^age of 47 days, landed at New York, in August, 1857. Having relatives at Lancaster, Ohio, he removed thither, and re- mained some eight months. In the fall of 1858, became a teacher in a private school at Rich- mond, Ind., and taught two years. In Septem- ber, 1860, he entered the Capital University at Columbus, Ohio, and entered upon a theological course, graduating in 1862. He was received into the ministry, and commenced his labors at Sidney, Ohio, in September, being Pastor of St. \f( i f" 1^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 741 John's Lutheran Church for five years. Prom this field of labor, he came to Bucyrus in 1867, and has remained here ever since as Pastor of the Good Hope Church. He has established a missionary station at Wingert's Corners, which has been productive of much good. His con- gregation is at present one of the strongest and largest in the town, its Pastor being a devoted and earnest worker. He was married in April, 1864, to Louisa Fuechtemeyer, of Eichmond, Ind. They have seven children living — Emma C, Otto L., Ida, August A., Bertha, Sophia and Whilhemina. His father was a carpenter by trade, and Mayor of his village. Both his par- ents and seven other children removed to this country, and both father and mother died at Jacksonville, 111. JAMES W. GAMBLE, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; is the son of Pilson and Bathsheba (Mor- row) Gamble, and was born April 29, 1852, in Concord, Franklin Co., Penn. At the age of 13, he came to this county, and worked for two years on the farm of his uncle, Calvin Gamble, and then returned to his home in Pennsylvania, where he lived two years. In the spring of 1869, he returned to Whetstone Township, and worked for George Brehman at $20 per month for three years. On Oct. 21, 1873, he married Miss Lizzie McCreary, of Bucyrus Township. He managed a farm in Vernon Township four years, and, in 1877, moved on to his present place of 240 acres, owned by his father-in-law. Mr. Gamble has but one child living — Curtis Guy, born June 26, 1875. Mabel Grace died at the age of 8 months. Mr. Gamble is a Re- publican in politics. Both himself and wife are members of St. Paul's English Lutheran Church of Bucyrus. JAMES GLOYD, merchant, Bucyrus ; is the son of Samuel and Rebecca Gloyd, and was born Aug. 1, 1811, in Hampshire Co., Va. The days of his youth were spent on a farm, and his educational advantages were limited. In 1821, his father removed his family to Ohio, settling in Richland Co., where Plymouth has since become a town of some importance ; he was compelled by the exigencies of the times and his father's condition in life, to work hard, and was allowed but little time for recreation or education. Young James remained with his father until he attained to his majority, and then commenced to work by the month at meager wages, continuing some two years, until he was able to purchase some land ; he was a farmer in Richland Co. until the new division of the county, and continued as a citizen and farmer of Vernon Township until 1873, being the possessor of some four hundred acres of land, and also managing a steam saw-mill. During his residence in the township, he was one of its prominent citizens, and for four j^ears he kept a store at Liberty Corners. As a farmer and business man he was uniformly successful. In 1873, he came to Bucyrus, and has been living there ever since. He has been a partner in the large mercantile establishment of Malic & Gloyd since 1876, and is recognized as a busi- ness man of ability and enterprise. He was first married March 26, 1835, to Charlotte Wethewill, a native of England ; of this mar- riage, five children survive out of eight born to them — Henry, Ira (both farmers in Missouri) ; Rebecca, wife of C. G. Malic ; Amy Dickson, widow of the late Andrew Dickson, Jr., and Anna, wife of Emanuel Magner. The first wife of his affections departed this life Jan. 13, 1873, and April 27, 1876, he was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Ruth Plants, widow of the late Jeremiah Plants. Mr. Gloyd is a business man of tact and commendable enterprise, his deal- ings being characterized with honesty and up- rightness, and he has always commanded the respect of his fellow-citizens. JAMBS B. GORMLY, banker, Bucyrus; the oldest son of John A. Gormly was born November 23, 1836, in Bucyrus. In his youth he received such instruction as the village schools afforded, until his 17th year, when he entered the store of his uncle, J. P. Bowman, for one year. In the fall of 1855, he entered Bartlett's Commercial College of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in the spring of 1856. On his return home he at once en- tered the Exchange Bank of this place, as teller and general book-keeper. He performed these duties with efficiency from May, 1856, until June, 1859. In the latter year, he and his father organized the People's Deposit Bank, Aug. 1, 1859, being sole proprietors. This in- stitution continued until May 1, 1864. At the organization of the First National Bank of Bucyrus, Mr. Gormly was chosen Cashier — a position which he held until the death of his father, in May, 1878, when he was elected President — a tribute to his long experience and faithful service. From 1871 to 1875, he served *? « V3» i, '>^ ^ -^ 742 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: the Ohio Cent. R. R. Co., in the double capac- ity of Secretary and Treasurer. He was also Treasurer of the Crawford County Agricultural Society, from 1867 until 1878— a period of eleven years. In May, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss E. Virginia Swingly, daughter of Dr. F. Swingly. This union has been blessed with three children — Ella K., Susie E. and James B., Jr. Mr. Gormly was raised a Presbyterian, and has been Treasurer of his church since his eighteenth year. The First National Bank, under the management of father and sons, has become widely known as the Gormly Bank. Within a period of ten years it has returned to its stockholders in dividends their entire original investment of $100,000, besides putting 120,000 into a reserve fund. The father, John A. Gormly, whose portrait appears in this work, was born at Pitts- burgh, Penn.,Peb. 19, 1804. He was the son of John Gormly, an Irish Protestant, who was born in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, in 1776, and came to America about 1790 ; settling at Pittsburgh Penn., where he followed the busi- ness of milling. John A. Gormly was reared by pious and godly parents, whose early lessons blossomed, and, in after years, bore the fruit of a well-rounded life and exalted Christian man- hood. About 1830, he removed to Brownsville, Penn., where he became a member of the Pres- byterian Church. It was here that he met and married Miss Louisa Bowman, in 1833. The result of this happy union was three children — James B., George C. and Mary L.. wife of Rev. James G. D. Findley, Pastor of the United Presbyterian Church, at Xewburg, N. Y. Mr. Gormly was employed iu mercantile pursuits at Brownsville, Penn., until 1836, when he removed to Bucyrus. He had but little capi- tal at that time, and purchased a house and lot on Sandusky avenue, and kept a small store, on i the site of H. H. Moderwell's tin and stove store. It was a general store where the meager wants of both the white and the red children of the forest were supplied. In those days, he and his faithful wife came to know what toil and privation meant, but by unswerving purpose and careful management, step by step Mr. Gormly became one of the substantial men of Bucyrus. He invested his surplus capital j'ear by year, in the rich farm lands near town, until he owned over 1,000 acres, besides considerable city property. In 1859, he became proprietor of the People's Deposit Bank of this place, which continued in successful operation until 1864, at which time he was elected President of the First National Bank of Bucyrus, a position which he held until his death, and to him that worthy institution owes much of its past pros- perity, and present prestige for fair dealing and sterling integrity, which were synonyms of his life and character. He took a prominent part in church afiairs, and in the year 1838, he was elected a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and chosen by the Presbytery of Belle- fontaine Lay Commissioner to the General As- sembly, which met at Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1876. His faithful wife departed this life May 6, 1872, and he passed away peacefully May 8, 1878, in the 75th year of his age. GEORGE C. GORMLY, Cashier of First National Bank, Bucyrus. The subject of this sketch is the second son of John A. Gormly. The maiden name of his mother was Louisa B. Bowman. He was born on the 18th of October, 1841, in Bucyrus. In his 19th year, he com- pleted the high school course of this place, and in the fall of 1860, he entered the freshman class of Jeflferson College, at Cannonsburg, Penn. He graduated from this institution in June, 1864, receiving first honors as the essayist of his society. On his return to Bucyrus, he en- tered the First National Bank as teller, a po- sition which he held untU 1876, when he was promoted to the position of assistant cashier. In 1878, he was elected cashier — a position for which his fifteen years of faithful service had eminently fitted him. He has conducted a general insurance business since 1869, and is Treasurer of the Crawford County Agricultural Society, and Secretarj' of the Joint Stock Com- pany. He is one of the Trustees of the Oak- wood Cemetery, and also served his party as a member of the Central Committee. He united with the Presbj'terian Church in 1863, and has been Secretary and Treasurer of the Sabbath school for ten years. On Jan. 4, 1866, he united his fortunes with Sarah A. Ward, only child of Hon. C. K. Ward. Of this marriage two children were born — Gracie W. and John Clark Gormly. OSWALD E. GRAYELL, carriage manu- facturer, Buc3'rus ; son of Thomas and Mary (Keys) Graven, was born Sept. 12, 1844, in HoUidaj'sburg, Penn., and came with his par- ents, when but one year old, to Upper San- 4 lA BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 743 dusky, Ohio. He lived there until grown ; go- ing to school until 18 years old — part of the time with Indians — in the old council house, until it was burned. In May, 1861, he volun- teered in Co. D, 15th 0. V. I., and served through the war ; was in some twenty general engage- ments, including Shiloh, Murfreesboro (where he was a prisoner for a few minutes), Nash- ville, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga, and all the battles of the Atlanta Campaign ; was wounded in the right arm by a shell, at Burnt Hickory, in G-eorgia, for which he now draws a pension. He was mustered out at Columbus, in December, 1865, and afterward traveled over the States of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and the Indian Territory, returning to Bucyrus in 1868, where he learned carriage-making, with Jeffer- son Norton, serving for two years. He worked for a time at Mansfield and Kenton ; in the lat- ter place he started in business, and continued it until 1876, when, at the death of Mr. Norton, he came to Bucyrus and managed the business for one year, and in 1877, became the proprietor. Since then he has done a large business in man- ufacturing carriages, buggies and spring wagons. He was married Oct. 2, 1872, to Miss Flora Norton, eldest daughter of Jefferson Norton. Has one son, Leroy, living ; another son, El- mer, died at the age of two years. He was a member of Demas Lodge, No. 108, Knights of Pythias. His wife's father, Jefferson Norton, was a son of Samuel Norton, the first settler of Bucyrus. He was a carriage-maker by trade, and for over twenty five years the leading me- chanic in that line in the town. He died Aug. 20, 1876. He married Eleanor M. Byron, May 23, 1850, and had six children — Mary died in infancy : Flora, Hattie, Charles, Fernando and Byron. Flora married 0. E. Gravell, the sub- ject of this sketch ; Hattie married Joseph Boure ; the sons are residents of Bucyrus. The mother is still living, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Boure, at Upper San- dusky. JOHN HOPLBY, editor and proprietor of Bucyrus Journal, Bucyrus, Ohio. Mr. Hopley, whose portrait appears in this work, came to Bucyrus in the spring of 1856, to fill the posi- tion of Superintendent of the Union Schools. He is by birth an Englishman, although he was naturaUzed many y^ars ago, and has long been thoroughly identified with the interests of his adopted country. His paternal ancestors were substantial farmers in the county of Suffolk, England. His father was a Surgeon in the English navy, and in private life, first a practic- ing surgeon at Whitstable, a small sea-coast village in Kent, and afterward at Lewes, in Sussex, one of the most venerable towns in England. His mother's ancestors were for many generations distinguished dignitaries in the Church of England, and he has the genea- logical tables of their descent for hundreds of years back. Mr. Hopley was born at Whitsta- ble May 21, 1821, but his parents removed to Lewes while he was yet an infant. He finished his education at the Royal Naval College, then at Camberwell in the county of Surrey, and a suburb of London, now at New Cross in the same county. It was an institution for the sons of naval officers, and, although not licensed to confer degrees, the course of education was very extensive and thorough, embracing a course as comprehensive and as high as any college course in the country. The institution received 330 pupils, all of whom lived in the college. The Roll system of education was adopted ; it comprehends the instruction of pupils in large classes by the aid of the best pupils acting as monitors, and it is sometimes known as the Monitorial system. It was, therefore, although not by design, a Normal School, and it afforded to the monitors at the head of their classes a large experience in the art and duties of teach- ing. Although Mr. Hopley, as a boy, excelled in many of the sports of the play-ground, he was never an idler at his studies. He was a constant contestant for the head of his various classes, frequently standing first and acting as head-monitor for weeks together. He thus early acquired the art of teaching, which after- ward contributed to his reputation as a teacher in this country. About the close of his term as a student in the Royal Naval College, he was made a teacher, and continued in the institution for some years in this capacity. In 1842, soon after he became of age, he came to the United States with his mother's brother, John R. Prat, Esq., of Zanesville, Ohio, and went into his store as clerk. He continued clerking until the fall of 1844, when he commenced to teach school with a view to reading law. But he was earnest in whatever he undertook, and the better he became known as a teacher, the larger were the schools he taught and the more time he de- voted to them, thus making his progress :^ '-^ 744 BIOGRAPPIICAL SKETCHES: through the elementary law books very slow. In 1845, he removed to Logan, Hocking Co., where he induced the School Directors to estab- lish graded schools ; these were among the first in Ohio, and they were a great success. In 1848, he married, at Logan, Miss Georgiana Rochester, fourth daughter of John Rochester, Esq., and, desiring to study the nature of so- ciety under the sj'stem of slavery, he went to the South to teach. He had schools at Yellow Creek, in Montgomery Co., Tenn., also, near Elkton, Todd Co., Ky., and also at New Provi- dence, near Clarksville, Tenn., from which place, at the close of 1852, he returned to Logan, and taught there for three j^ears. The present sj's- tem of school supervision had been inaugurated in his absence, and he resumed his duties at Lo- gan as Supervisor of the schools, which, however, were scattered over the village, as closely to- gether as rooms, far from suitable, could be ob- tained for them. In 1855, he removed to Columbus to take the position of teacher of Mathematics and of Commercial Arithmetic, in what was then known as Granger's Commercial College. After, however, about six months of labor in this new sphere, he found the " college," so-called, a very unstable institution, and he left it to take charge of a fractional term of the Wellsville Union Schools, from which place he removed with his family to Bucyrus, arriving on Saturday, 12th of April, 1856. The schools were at that time comparatively in their infancj' as union schools, and were far from being in a prosperous condition. Mr. Hopley, however, prosecuted his new duties with his usual thor- oughness, industry and zeal, and soon made them the wonder and admiration of his fellow-citi- zens. In 1858, he formed a partnership in the practice of law with A. M. Jackson, Esq., for a year, and was admitted to the bar. At the ex- piration of the term, he opened an office by himself, and practiced, with encouraging success until the close of July, 1862, when he went to England in company with Mr. Thomas Alsop, on professional business. Upon his return in Oc- tober, he found the law practice almost de- stroyed for the time being ; scarcely any cases were tried. In nearly all, either one of the par- ties, or some important witness, was in the army. In this emergency, he obtained from Mr. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury, an appointment to a clerkship in the office of the Second Auditor of the Treasury. Soon after, by special order of the Secretary, he was trans- ferred to the Secretary's own office. He then had a desk in the library of the Treasury, and commenced a thorough staAy of finances, em- ploying his pen effectively in sustaining the financial policj' of the Secretary, and the estab- lishment of national banks. When the national hank bill became a law, he was transferred to the Bankjng and Currency Bureau. Hon. Hugh McCulloch was then Comptroller of the Cur- rency, and he placed Mr. Hopley in charge of the statistical division of the bureau. This in- cluded the examination of the regular reports required by law of the banks, and of the re- ports made by the Bank Examiners. In this position, it frequentlj^ became his duty to fur- nish distinguished members of Congress with such data for their speeches on financial ques- tions as made them distinguished. In 1864, he resigned to accept a position in a large bank in New York. In 1866, he returned to Washing- ton, in a private capacity for his employer, and was appointed National Bank Examiner for all the Southern States, except Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Kansas was afterward added, and he entered upon his duties in the fall of 1866. Having completed the examination of the list of banks, he returned to Bucyrus, and in September, 1867, he purchased the half-in- terest in the Bucyrus Journal, of the senior editor, J. G. Robinson, Esq., for |2,000. It was at that time conducted by the brothers Messrs. James and Ralph Robinson. In May, 1868, it was arranged for Mr. Ralph Robinson to sell out to John ]Markee, Esq., of whom Mr. Hopley the same day purchased the other half-interest for $2,000. Although he entered upon journal- ism only as a temporary resource, preliminary to returning to the practice of the law, yet he soon became absorbed in his new profession to the exclusion of everj^thing else. In August, 1870, he entered upon the duties of Postmaster, and retained the office until January, 1879. He still continues to edit the Journal. His family is as follows : Charles Rochester, John Ed- ward, Thomas (who died in infancy), Thomas Prat, Mary Catherine, Georgiana Eliza, Haniet Evaline, James Richard, Frank Lewes and Jo- seph William, ten in all, of whom nine are yet living. JOHN HOLMES, Bucyrus ; is a native of Holmes Co., Ohio, where his birth occurred April 21, 1822. His parents, Jacob and Mar- -.^ djL^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 745 garet (Orr) Holmes, were sober and intelligent people, and both were natives of the Keystone State. A few years after their birth, and pre- vious to the war of 1812, thej' were taken by their respective parents to Harrison Co., Ohio, where they were raised and where they were subsequently married. Soon after their mar- riage, in 1821, thejr removed to Holmes Co., and, after remaining there about two years, left and located in Richland Co. Here they fol- lowed the not unusual occupation of farming until 1833, at which time they came to Craw- ford Co., locating on what is now known as the Stewart farm, in Jackson Township. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters, all of whom are yet living. The mother died about a year after coming to the county, but the father is j^et spared and has reached the unusual age of 95 years. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served his country with distinction. He became thorough- ly familiar with all the details and perplexities of pioneer life, and a complete record of his eventful days would be well worthj- of perusal. His son, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm, receiving but a limited earlj' edu- cation. At the age of 16, he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and, after learning that trade, followed it to a greater or less extent for about fifteen years. When the last war broke out and the Government began buying horses for its cavalry, Mr. Holmes, who was a good judge of horses, bought large numbers, over a range of several counties, and then sold them to the various Quartermasters of the army who were authorized to purchase. In this manner a profit of several thousand dollars was real- ized in a short time. After the war he kept a hotel for a short time, at Leesville, Crawford Co., and a few years later served as Superin- tendent of the County Infirmary. Subsequent- ly he resided two years in Crestline, where he kept a livery stable. His thorough knowledge of " horse flesh," has, to some extent,- shaped his life-labors. Himself and family are at present residing in Bucyrus. He was married to Miss Mary J. Morrow Nov. 2, 1854. This lady is a native of Crawford Co., her birth oc- .curring Aug. 24, 1834. She is the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Seanor) Morrow, natives of Westmoreland Co., Penn., where they were married and resided until 1833, when they came to Crawford Co., locating in Jackson Township. They were the parents of fifteen children, and eleven are yet living. The mother died in 1872, and the father two years later. Mr. Morrow was a stone-cutter and a mason, and followed these occupations through- out life. A family of four children has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Holmes. Mary E. and William W. are living, and Ella Beatrice and Oliver H. are dead. "Lizzie" and "Willie" have been educated at the country schools, where their parents formerly resided, at the Crestline schools, and, finally, at the fine schools in Bucyrus. They are both living with their parents at the county seat. HOLM & GARNER, Bucyrus. This firm is well and favorably known in Crawford and adjoining counties. Though .young men, they have, bj' close attention to business and straight business habits, placed themselves in the front rank of cigar-makers. They both re- ceived the benefit of a common-school educa- tion, and, when yet boys, entered the cigar store of Mr. Horn, of Bucyrus, where they learned the business, and, in 1878, formed a partnership and began business for themselves. They manufacture " Palmer's Choice," one of the best 10-cent cigars in the market ; their " H. & G.," " Nox Aall," " All the Go," and " Our Choice," all 5-cent cigars, are second to none in the trade. They use only the best stock in the filling and wrappers of these cigars, and, in this way, have secured an enviable reputation among the cigar-men of Central Ohio. Mr. Holm was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, July 9, 1855 ; he is one of a family of five children born to Abraham and Jane (Haish) Holm, the former a native of Clarion Co., Penn., and the latter of Baden, Germany. The mother's people came to this country in 1827, and settled in Holmes Township ; the father came to the county about one year later, and was married here. He was an educated man, and, in early days, taught school in different portions of the county. He was also Colonel of a regiment of State militia for a number of years, besides holding other po- sitions of honor and trust in Bucyrus and Craw- ford Co. He died April 14, 1878. His wife sur- vives him, and resides in Bucyrus. 3Ir. Garner was born Oct. 2, 1850, in Allegheny Co., Penn.; his parents, William and Rosa (Briar) Garner, were both natives of the Emerald Isle. They came to Bucyrus, Ohio, in I860, where they have since resided. Mr. Garner, of the firm of i V ^1 't. 754 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: north of Ft. Wayne. In 1865, he entered the Freshman class of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and graduated in the classical course in 1869. He then became Principal of the South Side High School of Flint, Mich., where he continued one year. He was next Superintendent of the North Side Schools from 1870 to 1872. During the nest year, he was Superintendent of the Public Schools at La- peer, Mich. He was elected Superintendent of the JBucyrus Public Schools in 1873, and has served in that capacity ever since, and, as evi- dence of his efficiency and popularity, we would state that he has been re-elected to serve for the three years following. He was a delegate to the National Teachers' Asso- ciation, at Baltimore, in 1876, and is an active and vigorous worker in county associations. He is connected greatly with educational work, and is a popular lecturer on various educa- tional topics. He was married, Aug. 1. 1871, to Miss Josie A. Conover, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; they have one son — Walter M. JAMES 0. HOLLAND, farmer; P.O.Bucy- rus ; is the son of Nehemiah and Lucinda (Bentley) Holland, and was born in Mahoning Co., Ohio, Dec. 20, 1841. His boyhood was spent on a farm, and in the acquirement of a limited education. At the age of 16, he began learning the carpenter's trade, following it some three years. Aug. 22, 1861, he enlisted in the 21st 0. V. L, Company B, and was at Stone River, Chickamauga, Jonesboro, At- lanta, and in the famous " march to the sea." He was taken prisoner at Nolansville, N. C, and was paroled after fourteen daj^s' imprison- ment, and sent back to the Union lines. He was mustered out at Columbus June 20, 1865, and, Oct. 10, 1866, he was married to Ellen Starner, of Bucyrus Township. After mar- riage, he removed to Nevada, Ohio, where he followed carpentering until he moved to his present home, on the Sandusky road, where he has a farm of 81 acres. He has repaired the building^, enlarging the house, and has a com- fortable home. He is a member of the School Board, and Supervisor. In politics he is and always has been a Republican, and in religion is a member of the Second-Day Advent Church. Of his marriage, there is one child — George W., born Oct. 4, 1870. HERMAN F. JAHN, salesman, Bucyrus; son of Gustavus and Amelia (Brennert) Jahn, was born April 9, 1858, in Bucyrus. He went to the public schools here until he was 16 years old, when he accepted a clerkship in the store of M. Emrich, where he has been employed ever since, with the exception of six months spent in a wholesale house in Cleveland. He is now in charge of the hat and cap and furnish- ing department, and is among the best salesmen of the city. His parents were born in Saxony, Germany. Tlie father was born Oct. 13, 1826, and the mother Nov. 22, 1832. His father went to school in Germany until he was 14 years old, when he learned the shoemaking trade, and, in 1848, came to the United States ; tarried one year in Paterson, N. J., and, in 1849, came to Bucyrus, working at his trade for some nine years after his arrival, when he abandoned it for mercantile pursuits. In 1854, he married Miss Amelia Brennert, of Seneca Co., Ohio, but a native of Germany. From this marriage, there are five children, of which the subject of this sketch is the second son. ALONZO M. JONES, physician, Bucyrus (whose portrait appears in this work), is a son of Ludwig and Mary (Hale) Jones ; was born April 4, 1811, in Berkshire Co., Mass. His father, a native of this county, moved to the Western Reserve in the spring of 1817, settling in Lorain Co., then a densely wooded tract, with the county seat at Warren, a hundred miles awa}'. Here with but eight families in the territory now within the limits of Lorain Co., Mr. Jones began the career of a pioneer at the age of 6 years. There was plenty of work for even little hands to do at that time, and, until he had reached the age of 12 years, there was no opportunity for schooling. About this time, he went a few terms during the winter months to the primitive schools of the time. His father dying when he was at the age of 14, threw the care and support of the family upon his young shoulders, to which he thenceforward devoted himself until 21 years of age. He now began to look forward to a permanent settle- ment in life, and, adopting the profession of medicine, began study in the spring of 1832 with Dr. E. W. Hubburd, of La Grange, Ohio. After studying in the office about a year, he attended lectures at the medical school in Wor- thington, Ohio, graduating in July, 1834. In the meanwhile, he had established himself in Norton, Ohio ; but, after a practice of some four months, and attending his final lectures. ;^ A^ '.^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 755 he went to Toledo, Ohio, practicing there, how- ever, only six months, when he came to Bucy- rus. This was in December of 1835, and he continued in his profession with scarcely an interruption until 1843. In the spring of this year, in company with Samuel Clapper, , Mr. Jones bought the old woolen-mill property, en- larged and repaired the establishment, bringing the second steam engine ever ia the county. After some seven years' successful operation in this business, Mr. Jones sold to his partner in 1846, and turned his attention to real estate speculation, purchasing large tracts of wild land of the Government. About 1866, he again en- gaged in manufacturing business, forming a partnership with W. C. Lemert, Capt. Lyman Parcher and John Jones, in the hub, spoke and bent-work business. Changes in the partner- ship took place a little later, leaving the present firm of A. M. Jones & Co., who are doing a successful business. Beginning life with little assistance, Mr. Jones has accumulated his large property — save 180 acres of land — entirely through his own exertions. The necessity of his situation, however, has not narrowed the scope of his enterprise. Every public under- taking has found in him an active worker, and, in the various railroad projects, he has borne a prominent part. To these characteristics of a good citizen, Mr. Jones adds the accomplish- ments acquired by extended travel, and the culture of a well-read man. He was married May 15, 1838, to Miss Elizabeth Norton, of Bucyrus, Ohio. Of eight children born to him, five died in infancy and childhood. The three now living are Mary L., wife of W. C. Lemert, Lorenzo E. and Volney W. Mrs. Elizabeth (Norton) Jones (whose por- trait appears in this work) ; is a daughter of Samuel Norton, the earliest pioneer and original proprietor of the village of Bucyrus. She was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., near Dundaff, and was 17 months old when her father moved his family to the site of Buc^'rus. The nearest house at that time was eight miles awaj', and for three days they lived in a bark hut which had been deserted by the Indians, until a more substantial residence was erected, near the pres- ent site of the Main Street Mills. The Indians were at that time in full costume, and greatly frightened the family by their yells and actions. The land, though wild, was found to be a great improvement upon the hilly soil full of hemlock roots just left in Pennsylvania. A good crop of corn was raised the first year, and the woods supplied all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life. Plums, wild grapes and honey were found in abundance. The absence of mills was felt to be a serious drawback, the nearest one being at Mansfield. To this mill Mr. Nor- ton went, frequently leading a horse laden with sacks through the woods. When 8 years old, Mrs. Jones began her education in the duties of a pioneer maiden, by taking her first lesson in spinning. To accommodate her size, the legs of the spinning-wheel were sawed off, and a plank arranged to raise her up so that she could manage it. Although hampered by the shortness of the board, she accomplished her task of five knots a day without difficulty. At this time her father kept nine or ten cows, and made cheese every week, in all of which she had a prominent part. Her first teacher was Miss Alta Kent, who gave to her pupils " rewards of merit," cards ornamented with colors derived from blood-root and " golden- seal." She continued her school days until she was 19, attending the Granville Baptist Semi- nary, in 1836, for some three months, where she studied philosophy, music, etc. In 1838, at the age of 20, she married Dr. A. M. Jones, then practicing in Bucyrus. SAMUEL JONES, retired, Bucyrus; was born near Chambersburg, Penn., March 17, 1805, and was but 1^ years old when his par- ents moved to Columbiana Co., Ohio, in the latter part of 1806. Here his youth was spent on a farm, where the family remained until 1815, when they removed to Wooster, Wayne Co. Here his father died in 1817 ; he lived with his mother until 1820, assisting her in keeping tavern. His mother married a second time, and, in 1820, he left home and be- came a teamster from Wooster to Pittsburgh and other points. He followed this and farming until the spring of 1825. He then apprenticed himself to George Bechler, of Wooster, to learn chair-making, working two years with him, a part of the time in Coshocton Co. In January, 1827, they returned to Wooster, where he worked as journeyman until Jlarch, then removing to Newark, where he worked until the spring of 1 829. In May of this year, he came to Bucyrus on foot, with no capital but a set of tools, but by some means these and his clothes never reached here. He bought tools and stock on a *?i; nv* £L^ 756 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: credit, and opened a chair and paint shop. There were more Indians in the county at that time than whites. He traded chairs for cran- berries at 37^ cents a bushel. Soon after com- ing to BucjTus, he erected a hewed-log house south of the railroad, near a large pond. He worked at making chairs and bedsteads and house-painting until 1847 ; his wife often paint- ing and ornamenting his work for him ; he also farmed some on shares ; quit his shop in 1847. He was married, Dec. 24, 1829, to Miss Sarah Campbell, of Wayne Co., Ohio, and, in July, 1844, she died. Two children were the fruit of this marriage — John and Maggie. The latter was born Jan. 16, 1838, in Bucyrus. She lived here until her marriage with J. B. Kothchild in November, 1854. Mr. Kothchild came to Bu- cyrus from Cincinnati about 1850, and engaged in the clothing business until 1855, when they removed to Janesville, Wis., but returned to Ohio in 1858 and located at Pindlay, where he was for some time employed as Revenue Col- lector ; he is now a wholesale merchant at that place. They have four children — Fannie, Jennie, Emma and Wilber. Mr. Jones married a sec- ond time Dec. 24, 1846, to Miss Nancy Mc- Claren, of Whetstone Township, this county. They had one son — Griffith, now a harness- maker at Massillon. In 1847, he moved to a farm on the pike, where he lived one year, and then returned to Bucyrus. In the spring of 1848, he became the partner of R. T. Johnston in a drug store, continuing some three years. In 1857, he and his son John, formed a part- nership in the tin and stove business for six years, and then he took a contract on the At- lantic & Lake Erie Railway. He was origi- nally a Democrat, voting twice for Gen. Jackson for President, then became a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party became a member of it, and still votes that ticket. He was elected Street Commissioner of Bucyrus in 1848. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for thirty years, and served also as a Trustee of church. His second wife died June 22, 1877. He brought a load of goods to Bu- cyrus with ox team in 1824. Rattlesnakes were plenty when he came here ; he has often killed as many as twelve in one day ; was once sitting on a heap of hay when a Dutchman toid him that a rattlesnake was crawling in his pocket, he gave a good-sized jump, when the snake dropped to the ground and he killed it. JOHN JONES, Bucyrus ; is the son of Sam- uel and Sarah (Campbell) Jones, and was born Jan. 20, 1834, in Bucyrus, Ohio. He attended school in this town until he was 15, when his parents removed to a farm, and he there attended school about three terms more. In 1850, his parents removed to Bucyrus again, and his father became the partner of Dr. Johnston in the drug store, and Mr. Jones assisted in the store for four years. In April, 1855, he went to Janesville, Wis., where he clerked in a cloth- ing store. He then went to Nebraska and as- sisted in the Government survey among the Pawnee Indians, at a time when it was de- cidedly wild and dangerous, two corps of en- gineers having been driven away some time before. In 1857, he returned to Bucyrus and engaged in the stove and tinware trade with George Quinby for some six years with good success. In the spring of 1861, he enlisted in the 86th 0. V. I. as Sergeant and soon became Sutler. The 86th was re-organized for six months, and he was again Sutler. On his re- turn home he became Sutler of the 129th 0. V. I. He next became an employe of the Bellefontaine Cotton Company, going to Island No. 10 in 1865. The company abandoned the enterprise, and, in company with Col. Lemert and Mr. Atwood, Mr. Jones purchased the stock and operated the plantations for one year, mak- ing a handsome margin. He next ventured in oil boring near Smith's Perry and sunk a shaft about one thousand feet, but found no oil. He returned to Bucyrus, and, in company with Col. Lemert, organized the hub and spoke factory and kept it in operation about four years. Then, in partnership with his father, he took a contract of grading four miles on the Atlantic and Lake Erie Railroad, completing it in two years. He was next a clerk in the store of W. H. Drought for four years, and afterward served Mr. J. Hall in the same capacity. In January, 1879, he purchased the bakery of J. G. Miller & Sons three doors south of the public square, and is now doing a prosperous business, having in connection with the bakery a lunch-room and grocery. He is a prominent member of the Royal Arcanum, having been its presiding oflS- cer. On Dec. 3, 1862, he was married to Miss Mary J. Smith, of Sandusky City. They have two children — Frederick S. and Charles E. ISRAEL JONES, saddler, Bucjtus ; son of Griflath and Elizabeth (Zeigler) Jones, was ^f^ A± f-W BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 757 born March 6, 1807, in New Lisbon, Colum- biania Co., Ohio. While a boy living on his father's farm, he went to subscription school in the winter, and remained at home until he was 18. He then went to Paris, of his own county, to learn the harness and saddle trade. He worked here with William Crook for two and a half years. He next came to Woos- ter, where he finished his trade and returned to New Lisbon, where he was employed for some three and a half j'ears. In August, 1832, he came to Bucyrus and soon after started a shop and continued in the business until the close of the late war. He claims, and proba- bly rightly, to have made the first set of har- ness ever made in this city. He had saved money enough while working for wages to start his business, and had $3, besides. His business increased rapidly, and he has been a successful tradesman. He made a great manj' saddles for the Indians and side- saddles for their squaws, receiving money in return. He also made shot-pouches for them, and traded considerably in skins. He has often carried his stock of leather from Mans- field before him on horseback. Altogether he has taught about six j^oung men the business of harness-making. He is a Republican and was formerly a Whig, having, however, cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. He was mar- ried. May 21, 1833, to Miss Margaret Powell, of Columbiana Co. They had two children, how both dead — Clemon and George. His wife died Oct. 8, 1874. Mr. Jones is one of the pioneers of Bucyrus, and withal a prominent and substantial citizen. ROBERT T. JOHNSTON, druggist, Bucy- rus ; is a son of Thomas and Abigail (Powell) Johnston, and was born in Wooster, Ohio, Oct. 30, 1822. His parents remained in town eight years after his birth, when they removed to the country, where our subject worked on the farm until he was 15, but, educational ad- vantages being very poor, the family again re- moved to Wooster and Robert was given a year's schooling. After this he went into a printing office, where he remained some two and a half years. His health failing, he began the study of medicine, at the age of 18, read- ing first in the office of Dr. S. Bissell, of Woos- ter, Here he remained three and a half years. After practicing one year, he removed to Bu- cyrus in November, 1845. He began the prac- tice of his profession immediately, and opened the first drug store ever in the town. His partner in this enterprise was Jabez B. Lar- will, and their establishment was in an old frame building standing where the Sims House is now situated. Mr. Johnston has continued in business ever since. He entered his present quarters in Rowse's Block in 1850. He has been in the drug business for about thirty years and has now a large stock of goods, em- bracing, also, books, stationery, etc., with a salesroom 100x120, and his business is flour- ishing and constantly increasing. He was married, Oct. 26, 1850, to Amelia P. Haskill, of Pittsburgh. Of this marriage three chil- dren are living — Belle, Frank and Amelia. Mr. Johnston was Postmaster of Bucyrus dur- ing the administration of James K. Polk. He was raised a Democrat, but joined the Repub- lican ranks in 1856, at its organization. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a Trustee. He ranks high among the business men of the town, and is a citizen highly es- teemed by all who know him. H. B. KRATZ (with M. Deal & Co., manufac- turers), Bucyrus ; a son of Jacob and Catha- rine (Wismer) Kratz, was born Oct. 14, 1849, in Wayne Co., Ohio, near Wooster, and is of English-German descent. He lived on a farm until 16 years old, attending school in mean- time, and at the age of 15 entered the Smith- ville High School for one j-ear. At 16, he be- gan teaching in common schools, and working at the carpenter's trade during the summer. In the fall of 1871, he entered the freshman class of the Dennison University at Granville, where he remained two years. In the fall of 1873, he entered the Senior Class at Wooster University, and by industry and close applica- tion he was enabled to graduate from that in- stitution in June, 1874. In the following Sep- tember he became Principal of the High School of Bucyrus for one year. Prom 1875 to 1878, he was Superintendent of the schools at Dex- ter, Mich., with excellent success. His health gave way, and he came to Bucyrus, where he ob- tained the position of book-keeper in the manu- factory of M. Deal & Co., which place he still holds. In February, 1880, he became one of the firm of the Deal Manufacturing Company. He was married, July 19, 1876, to Miss Lizzie M. Deal, eldest daughter of Martin Deal, of Bucyrus. Two children are the result of this •7^ rv* .K 758 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: union— Horace E., born Nov. 12, 1877, and Bessie M., born Jan. 2, 1879. Mr. Kratz has been a member of the M. E. Church since his 23d year; his wife is also a member of the same denomination. He has been identified with Sunday school worlc in the county since he came here, and is now Superintendent of Sunday school, and a missionary worker in Sunday School Union. He has been a zealous student of music for many years, and is now chorister for church and Sunday school. JACOB KINSEY, Bucyrus ; this gentle- man was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Oct. 15, 1805. His parents, Daniel and Maria (Palmer)- Kinsey, were natives of the " Keystone " State, and the parents of twelve children. They al- ways resided in their native State, and have been dead a great many years. Jacob Kinsej' was brought up to farm labor. When 18 years of age, he left his parental roof and began working by the month upon a farm. He was married in 1823 to Miss Nancy Maldaraan. She was born in Pennsylvania, in 1808. This union resulted in the birth of twelve children, seven of whom are now living, viz., Mary, Annie, Fidelia, Sarah, Jacob, Riley and Emma. The deceased were Emanuel, Elizabeth and three who died in infancy without naming. Mrs. Kinsey died Sept. 20, 1880. Soon after his marriage Mr. Kinsey moved to New York, where he remained until 1832, when he came to Crawford Co., Ohio, where he has since re- sided. He owns 62 acres of well-improved land in Bucyrus Township, which he has pro- cured bj- his own endeavors. He has always voted with the Democratic partj' until the late election, when he gave his vote for Garfield and Arthur. Mr. Kinsey is an old and much-re- spected citizen. GEORGE T. KERR, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; the son of James and Nancy (Towers) Kerr, was born Dec. 13, 1847, in Whetstone Township, where he lived on a farm until the age of 23 years, receiving a common school education. He was married, Jan. 27, 1868, to Miss Lydia Echelberry, of Marion Co., by whom he has four children — Cloyd, Bertie, James and Elnorah. He farmed in Whetstone Township for two years, when he came to this township in 1871, and farmed 355 acres of his father's estate, with success. He is extensively engaged in raising sheep, and has a very fine flock of 1,000 head. Mr. Kerr is a Republican in politics, and casts his vote in accordance with the principles of that party. WILLIAM H. KINNEAR, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is the son of Joseph and Mary (Sul- livan) Kinnear, and was born Oct. 23, 1829, in Circleville, Ohio. He was raised on a farm, and attended a common school until he was 21. He was a close student and appreciated the ad- vantages of the education which was given him. He saved enough by hard work and close ap- plication, to pay his expenses one year in col- lege ; and he accordingly entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, in the fall of 1852, and remained one year, making rapid progress. His father having removed to Ken- ton, our subject went there, and bought a farm of 200 acres, going in debt largely, and com- menced dealing in cattle, and, like others, he lost all in speculation. He came to his present farm in the spring of 1857, and now owns 255 acres of fine farming land, and is now devoting his time to farming and stock-raising, being, at one time, one of the largest stock-raisers in the county. Mr. Kinnear has been somewhat iden- tified with politics, being chairman of the Republican Central Committee in 1861, 1862, and 1863, and, by efficient management, the Democratic majority was largely reduced. He was nominated for Representative when Todd was elected Governor, and previous to this was nominated for Auditor and Surveyor in Hardin Co., Ohio. He was a delegate to the conven- tion which nominated Brough for Governor. He is well read in history, science and litera- ture, and is a great lover of poetry. He has gathered a fine library of standard books, and is foremost among the intelligent men of the county. He is a member of the Bucyrus Lodge, F. & A. M. He was married, Dec. 11, 1855, to Rachel Monnett, daughter of Col. William Mon- nett. He has four children living — William M., Theodosia B., Joseph W., and Mary E. Three died in infancy. Mr. Kinnear is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has served in all its offices, and is an earnest worker in both church and Sabbath school. His father was born in Berks Co., Penn., in 1803, and removed to Pickaway Co., when quite young. He raised four children — Alexander, a salesman at Pitts- burgh, Ellen, wife of David Rutledge, D. D., of Delaware, Ohio ; Benjamin F., salesman at Mansfield, Ohio, and our subject. He was Re- corder and also Surveyor of Pickaway Co., ^ ^^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 759 Ohio, and a man of flue business talent. He is now a resident of Ada, Ohio. His father was a Judge and Surveyor of Pickaway Co. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Kinnear was Aaron Sullivan, of Virginia, also a relative of Hon. S. S. Cox, of New York. W. H. KEEL, marble-dealer, Bucyrus ; is the son of Henr^- and Harriet (Sailor) Keel, and was bom April 9, 1854, in Somerset Co., Penn.; he lived in the town of Somerset until he was 14, when he came to Shelby, Ohio, with W. H. Houpt, in 1868, where he entered a pho- tograph gallery and followed the business for about three years ; at the age of 17, he entered a marble shop, where he was employed at pol- ishing until 1879, when he came to Bucyrus and entered into partnership with- G. W. Buell in the marble works ; since then the new firm has been meeting with good and deserved suc- cess, they being practical workmen, and aiming to please and satisfy their patrons. Mr. Keel was married, Sept. 20, 1876, to Miss Lena Hipp, of Chatfield Township. He has always been a Democrat. EDMUND R. KEARSLBY, retired, Bucy- rus ; is a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Het- ich) Kearslej', and was born in Harrisburg, Penn., Ma}' 18, 1816, but, when quite an infant, his home was changed to Detroit for two. years. His father, Maj. Jonathan Kearsley, was born in Pennsylvania, and received a thorough col- legiate education, being a pupil of Prof Ross, author of Ross' Grammar. He graduated at Washington College, Pennsylvania, at the age of 19, and was Professor of Languages for some time afterward. At the outbreak of the war of 1812, he was appointed in command of a company, and was on the staff of Gen. Scott, participating in the battles around Ft. Erie, un- til he lost a limb by a musket ball. He then returned to Pennsylvania, when he received an appointment as Collector of Internal Revenue for the State, in the year 1814. He held this until his departure for Detroit, in 1821, where he was Receiver of Public Moneys for the State of Michigan, and also a member of the Land Board until 1849, when he retired from public life. He was at one time Mayor of Detroit, and was one of its most prominent citizens. His father, Samuel Kearsley, was a Captain under Gen. Washington, and a great favorite of his commander, who gave him the sword worn at Braddock's defeat, which is now in the posses- sion of his great-grandson, J. K. Webster, of Grosse Isle, Mich. Tlie mother of our subject died in 1821, near Chambersburg, Penn., and he was raised by his grandparents until he was 9 years of age, when he went to Detroit, in 1825, residing there nine years, and, in the meanflme, completing a course in the city schools, and also attending school in Utica, N. Y. He was a student of Kenyon College, Gam- bier, Ohio, from 1829 to 1832, and, from that time, he was employed in the Michigan Land Office as Assistant Receiver, his father being Receiver, as has been stated. He soon after entered the office of Maj. John Biddle, and was Chief Clerk for a period extending to the year ] 840. His health failing while engaged at sed- entary pursuits, he took charge of a large farm of 600 acres, in Oakland Township, Mich., where he continued for seven years. At the end of that time, being much improved in health, he returned to Detroit, where he super- intended the building of the Biddle House. He came to Bucyrus in the fall of 1851, having visited the place once or twice a year, while on hunting expeditions, since 1834. He went into the employ of his uncle, Charles Hetich, who was Count}' Treasurer, and remained here one year, when he assisted Judge Jackson, now of Cleveland, in the Auditor's office. In 1853, he was elected to the office of Auditor, in which he served the unprecedented period of three terms, his last nomination being made by both parties. Both the court house and jail were built under his supervision, and, since the ex- piration of his term of office, he has assisted some in the offices and looked after his estates in Michigan. While a resident of Detroit, he was a Captain in the Ready Guards, which or- ganization was pronounced by Gen. Scott to be the finest-drilled company that underwent his inspection ; was also Assistant Quartermas- ter General of the State, and served with Gen. Grant. He was first Secretary of the Eire De- partment of Detroit, and Assistant Chief En- gineer for several years, and also a member of the School Board for several years, and Chair- man of the Committee on Repairs. He was married to Martha C. Sweney, June 27, 1857, a daughter of Geofge Sweney. Of this marriage, one child is living — Rebecca M. The mother died in March, 1873. He was remarried Sept. 7, 1875, to Susan Phillips, of Genesee, III, but formerly of Bucyrus. Mr. Kearsley has been ^' liL^ 760 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: a Democrat throughout his life, and has been, since his residence in this county, a man who ■was universally respected. As a public officer, his record was unexcelled, and he is noted as a man of generous and honest principles. His residence in Bucyrus is one of the finest iij^this part of the State. GEORGE KELLER, physician and surgeon, Bucyrus. This gentleman is an eminent phy- sician of Bucyrus, and of Crawford Co., where he is well known as a man of varied knowledge and skill in the practice of his profession ; he was born Nov. 24, 1826, in Franklin Co., Penn.; his father removed to Ohio when George was 3 years old ; his youth was spent in Dalton ; in the meantime he attended subscription schools, and at the age of 15 entered an academj' at Dalton, and soon became interested in the study of medicine ; a portion of his time was spent in teaching ; he commenced his medical studies under Dr. Harley, then of Dalton, but now a ph5-sician of Lima, Ohio ; De Kalb, in the north- eastern part of this county, was the scene of his debut as a practitioner ; some time being spent here with good success, he went to Cleve- land and entered the medical college there, at- tending during the sessions of 1846 and 1847 ; he then returned to Dalton and practiced there until March, 1850, when he became physician for a party consisting of 240 persons, who were traveling overland to California ; this journey lasted 108 days, and was fraught with some ac- cidents and fatal occurrences, nine men being killed bj' Indians on Pitt River ; on Julj' 4, 1850, they reached their journey's end, arriving at a point on the Sacramento River ; for six months Dr. Keller practiced in Yuba City and Marysville ; in May, 1851, he returned to Ohio and stationed himself at West Liberty, this county, where he remained three years and had a good practice ; in the winter of 1852-53, he graduated at the Cincinnati Medical College ; soon after, he located in Bluffton, Ind., practic- ing there for eighteen months ; he returned to Bucyrus in 1861, where he has since resided, excepting two years spent at Churubusco, Whitley Co., Ind. ; he was, in 1877 and 1878, a member of the Faculty of the Ft. Wayne Col- lege. He was married, Oct. 3, 1848, to Mary J. English, of Canton, Ohio ; of this marriage four children are living — Maud, Annie, Kittle and Prank. Dr. Keller has ever sustained a wide- spread reputation for skill in the practice of his profession, and is noted as well for his literary ability and his extensive knowledge of various topics. THOMAS J. KISNER, M. D., physician and surgeon, Bucyrus, is the son of Henry and Susan (Nichols) Kisner, and was born March 3, 1832, in Stark Co. His early youth was spent on a farm, varied, indeed, by the slight time devoted to education in district schools. He was compelled, after sixteen winters had passed over him, to work early and late on a farm, and was remunerated to the extent of $6 per month. However, by perseverance and strict attention even to the groveling details of farm work, he obtained an insight of business life, and, in the fall of 1851, he went to Steuben- ville, and became a clerk in a dry-goods store. Here young Kisner was a valuable salesman, for one year, when he went to Cincinnati, and became transfer clerk in a large jobbing estab- lishment. In August, 1852, he went to New Orleans with the intention of joining the Lopez expedition, but arrived in the Crescent City some six hours after the departure of the party, and thus was the current of his future life directed in another channel. Disappointed by the machinations of Time and Pate, the future M. D. again turned his attention to bus- iness affairs, and became clerk in a New Or- leans wholesale house, remaining until March, 1853. During this month he went to Beaver Co., Penn., where, for twenty-eight months, he devoted his time to teaching, near Rochester. In the fall of 1855, he left Rochester, and journeyed to Lewis Co., Ky., where for six months he instructed a portion of that county's rising generation. He again returned to Roch- ester, Penn., and began the study of medicine in 1856. After a year had passed, spent in study, he removed to Van Wert, Ohio, where he devoted one year to the study of his pro- fession, by correspondence with Prof Cleve- land, of Cincinnati. In 1858 and 1859, he attended lectures at the Eclectic Medical Col- lege of Cincinnati, completing the course in 3Iay of the last-named year. The ensuing summer, he commenced the practice of his profession with Prof B. F. Payne, at Steuben- ville, Ohio. In 31 ay, of 1860, he located at Wiltshire, Ohio. He commenced this venture without capital, but by dint of perseverance and skill in his art, he continued with good success until 1863, when his health failed him, # i^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 761 and he returned to Van Wert, remaining there till the following year. Wheeling, W. Va., was the scene of his next professional Tabors, and here he was an eminent physician, until four years later — 1868. In this year, he removed to Ft. Wayne, where he was located for two years, and was also a short time in Cleveland, where he founded the Cleveland Water Cure establishment. He came to Bucyrus in Sep- tember, 1871, where he has since remained, and enjoys a lucrative and widelj^ extended practice. He travels considerably in the prac- tice of a special department of his profession, in which he is quite successful. He was mar- ried in June, 1861, to Miss Sallie Simmons, of Steubenville, Ohio. They have two children — • Oren D. and Perry E. REV. HERMAN KORTHBNER, D. D., Bu- cyrus ; is a son of Herman Korthener, and was born in Coblentz, on the Rhine, in Rhenish Prussia, Nov. 13, 1819. He attended school in Coblentz until he was 17, paying considerable attention in the meantime to the study of music. He attended a State University, com- pleting a course at 21. He then commenced to teach in an institution at home, and also gave private lessons to a number of pupils. He came to the United States in 1855, and set- tled first in Wisconsin, where he spent two years in preparation for the ministry. In 1857, he came to Tiffin, Ohio, and was there admitted to the ministry of the German Reformed Church. His first charge was at Pindlay, Ohio, where he was ordained and remained two years. For the five years following, he preached in Terre Haute, Ind., and his efforts there were crowned with success. He was then called to officiate in the Evangelical Church, and for thirteen years served his charge, building, during this time, a large church, and greatly increasing the membership. He next went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained for six months, giving in- structions in music and literature. In July, 1878, he was called to the pastorate of the Ger- man Reformed Church of Bucyrus, where he has since remained, serving them in an accepta- ble manner, and doing much in the cause of religion. In 1877, the Franklin and Marshall College conferred upon him the degree of D. D. He was one of a committee of four, who com- piled the liturgy of tbe church now in use. He also revised the musical portion of the new English Reformed Hymn Book. He was mar- ried, Sept. 22, 1846, to Malvina Zimmerman, of Coblentz. Of this marriage there are six chil- dren living — H. 0. C, the noted pianist and musician of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Sophia ; Whilhe- mina, wife of Theophil Ackeret, of Massillon, Ohio ; Malvina, wife of E. R. Good, of Tiffin ; Paul and Arthur. Two children died in Ger- many, and five have died in America. J. B. KREIDER, M. D., physician and sur- geon, Bucyrus ; this worthy physician was born Feb. 3, 1840, in Millheim, Penn., and is the son of John P. and Leah (Bowman) Kreider ; the first eighteen years of his life were passed on a farm, receiving, of course, a common- school education in the meantime ; until his 24th year, he divided his time between teach- ing and attending school ; in 1864, he entered the University of Pennsj'lvania at Philadelphia, and graduated from the medical department in 1866 ; for five years following his graduation, he practiced in his native town of Millheim, and then removed to Crawford Co. and prac- ticed six years at Benton ; he came to Bu- cyrus in the spring of 1877, and located on Mansfield street, where he has since remained, and has enjoyed a good practice ; he has proved himself a physician of skill and prom- ise, and is well instructed, having spent two years under Dr. Tutts, an eminent physician of Philadelphia. He was married, April 30, 1867, to Georgia M. Stover, of Boalsburg, Penn.; they have two children — Samuel G. and Nel- lie V. JOHN KEIL, liveryman, Bucyrus ; is the son of Henry and Mary (Yagle) Keil, and was born Feb. 3, 1836, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many ; according to the custom of his native land, he went to school from his 6th to his 14th year ; he commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade at Pfungstadt, serving an apprenticeship of four years ; after learning his trade, he had a desire to try his fortunes in the New World, and accordingly set sail from Havre, arriving at New York Nov. 2, 1854, after a voyage of thirty days; he came at once to Bucy- rus, and worked at his trade for Phillip Osman for a year and a half ; he then made a business venture for himself, and followed his trade until 1869 with good success ; in 1862, he commenced dealing in horses for the cavalry service, and, during 1864, gave his entire atten- tion to that business ; in 1865, he went into a store with Kaler and C. G. Malic, where he 7n rf^ ^f 762 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: remained three years, aud, the following year, was interested in shipping stock ; in August, 1869, he purchased the livery stable of H. M. Eowe, on the public square, and has since con- tinued business there with splendid success, doing a general livery, sale and feed stable business, and enjoying a good share of the public patronage. He was married, in April, 1856, to Miss Minnie Hocker, of Bucyrus, who was born in Baden, Germany, in January, 1836 ; of this marriage, there are nine children living — Louisa, John. Kate, Mary, Minnie, Harry, Charlie, Nannie and Mattie. Mr. Keil has been a good citizen of Bucyrus, and has shown that a man, even without any other cap- ital than energy and industry, may work him- self into good circumstances and position. DANIEL KANZLEITER. journalist, Bucy- rus. A gentleman who is a welcome guest in the minds of the people of Bucyrus, his native place, is a son of John and Catharine U. (Kober) Kanzleiter, and was born June 21, 1843. The first eighteen years of his life were spent in securing as good an education as the schools of his nativeplace aiforded at that time. In 1863, he entered the Journal office, where he learned printing ; enlisting in 1864, in Co. E, 136th O. N. G. He served his time, then returned to the Journal office, where he worked until August, 1868, when he resigned his position on account of ill health, and ran a news depot and confectionery until 1876. In the fall of 1877, he started a job printing-office, and. in 1879, added to the business by publishing a monthly paper called the Sunbeam, which he edited un- til May, 1880, when he sold his business, and again returned to the Journal, where he has since been employed. From 1868 to 1873, he kept a circulating librarj-, containing over 1,000 volumes— the onl}' enterprise of the kind in the place. During his later years, he has given considerable attention to wood engraving, hav- ing, without suitable tools, constructed several wood-cuts of more than ordinary merit. He was married to Miss Emma E. Mohler, of Daj-- ton, Ohio, Jan. 16, 1876, since which time he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. JOSIAH H. G. KECKLER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is the son of John and Rosannah (Gorden) Keckler, and was born Feb. 16, 1829, in Adams Co., Penn. His father's family re- moved to Harrison Co., Ohio, and settled five miles from Cadiz when the subject of this sketch was but 8 years old. Here young Keckler aided his father on the farm, and also in his blacksmith-shop, gaining in the mean- while a common-school education. . At the age of 18, he left home and commenced working for $10 per month at first, and continued six years for one man, remaining also three years longer. He came to this county in 1852 with 81,000, which he had saved from his wages while working by the month. For some time after his arrival here, he rented land and farmed, also raising considerable stock, and im- porting large numbers of Saxony sheep into the county, and selling them here at good fig- ures. In about 1864, he purchased 104^ acres of what comprises his present farm, and com- menced raising stock. He has increased the size of his farm to 246^ acres of first-class farming land, and has been engaged in buying, grazing and feeding large numbers of sheep, handling from 300 to 500 at times, with good success. Mr. Keckler is an enterprising farmer, and hy his careful management has amassed considerable property. He is a Republican, casting his maiden vote for G^n. Scott. He was married, April 4, 1873, to Miss Juliette Parcher, born Oct. 16, 1850, and the daughter of Daniel and Mary (^leXeal) Parcher, of this county. This union has been blessed with three children — John Franklin, Agnes Rosannah and Orrie Gorden. JAMES LEWIS, P. O.Bucyrus ; son of David and Rachel (Rogers) Lewis ; was born Sept. 2, 1813, in Harrison Co., Ohio. He lived on a farm, performing the continuous hard labor in- cident to that calling, until 19 years old. Dur- ing this period, he received onl3' such instruc- tion as the common schools afforded, yet he had made the most of his opportunities, and presented himself for pedagogical honors. The first certificate he received comprised the sub- jects of reading, writing, and arithmetic as far as the rule of three. From this modest beginning, as he taught he studied, often late into the night, and, each year, added two new branches of learning to his qualifications for many years. He began teaching in 1832, and taught almost continuously until 1849. When not employed in the public schools, he taught many terms of select school, thereby fitting man}' young men and women for the responsi- ble work of teaching. In November, 1849, he •^ C 4 ^ ^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 709 Ludwig was' a native of the Province of Al- sace, France. His ancestors on this side of the house were Huguenots, and it was during the reign of Louis XIV, of Prance, who gave the Huguenots a given time in which to leave the country, with such clothing as they might be wearing and a staff in their hands, and that those who remained were, by his orders, to be put to death. Among those who escaped were two brothers by the name of Ludwig, who managed to sew into their clothing, in such a way as to escape detection, gold, with which one of the brothers afterward entered land in Berks Co., Penn. Each of these brothers married and had seven sons. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a stone mason by trade, and settled in Philadelphia, where he helped to build manj- of those quaint old buildings that attracted so much attention, but have since given way to buildings of more modem architecture. It was in that city that Michael, the father of Samuel Ludwig, was born, and raised to man's estate. About the age of 22, Michael Ludwig married Sarah Hanks, an English Quakeress, and then moved to Berks Co., Penn., where the subject of this memoir was born, he being the youngest of six children, two boys and four girls. His father (Michael) dying when he was but three years old, his mother was left with a large family on a little barren farm among the hills, to make a subsistence for herself and young children. This she did nobly for years, when she married Nicholas Yochem, a wealthy farmer in that neighborhood. He was the father of Nicholas and Moses Yochem, who afterward became the heaviest iron masters in Eastern Pennsylvania. Here, with the Yochem boys, Samuel worked on the farm of his stepfather for years. The old man was a hard master, his sons and Sam- uel Ludwig doing about all the work on the farm, which comprised 400 acres, the boys get- ting very little time to go to school, as they were obliged to thresh out all the grain with flails, during the winter season. Under these circumstanQcs, a strong attachment grew be- tween these young men, which was not lessened by long years and gray hairs. Up to the age of 18, Samuel Ludwig had gone to school but about six months, all told. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, he was a prettj' fair scholar, as he had received instruction from his mother — a highly intellectual and well-educated lady for that daj^ — who was the home preceptress for her son and the Yochem boys. In the winter of 1805, Francis B. Shunk, who was afterward Governor of Pennsylvania, came to that neighborhood, a mere stripling of 18 j'ears, and raised a select school. This school Mr. Ludwig attended. Mr. Shunk made his home with the Yochems, and, during that win- ter, thej' had very profitable and interesting evening exercises, Mrs. Yochem acting as teacher, the Yochem boys, Samuel Ludwig and the future Governor, as scholars. In the fol- lowing spring, Mr. Shunk, the teacher, went to Lancaster, Penn., to study law, while Samuel Ludwig, being too poor to study a profession, engaged as an apprentice in the wheelwright business, at which he continued for two years. At the age of 20, Samuel married Miss Eliza- beth Kedcha, daughter of Hon. John Redcha, who, at that time, was a member of the Penn- sjdvania Legislature, then in session at Lan- caster, at that date tlje capital of the State. After his marriage, he removed to Reading, Penn., and engaged in the manufacture of wag- ons and plows, which he carried on extensively for twenty-three years, and by his industry and economy amassed a fortune for that day. He was often solicited by the people to accept an office. Repeatedly he was offered the posi- tion of member of the Legislature, and differ- ent county offices, all of which he peremptorily declined, saying, that, as he was now his " own master," and did not want to become the serv- ant of the people, he would infinitely prefer domestic life in the bosom of his family to any public honor they might bestow upon him, and that a large family and an extensive business, even if he had the inclination, precluded the acceptance of official trusts. So great was- his thirst for knowledge, that, long hours after the family had retired to bed, he would sit and read, sometimes until 12 or 1 o'clock in the morning. At the age of 45, he had gained an extensive knowledge of chemistry, geology and natural philosophy, besides accumulating a large store of historical and general informa- tion that was surprising in one possessing his meager advantages. In 1831, Mr. Ludwig made the journey on horseback from Reading, across the Alleghany IMountains to Bucyrus, where he bought a tract of 100 acres of land, joining Bucyrus on the east. He returned to his home, and, in the fall of the same year, re- ^, ^ ±t^ 770 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: moved with his family to Crawford Co., arriv- ing about Dec. 12. The family lived on Mr. Ludwig's first purchase until the following spring, when he bought of John Coalman 80 acres, lying east of Bucyrus, on the Mansfield road. There Mr. Ludwig made his home for thirty-eight years, and the property is still owned by his son, Samuel Ludwig, Jr. Mr. Ludwig engaged largel}' in the purchase of lands, and, in 1840, he owned 3,000 acres of choice land lying in difierent parts of Crawford Co. He was a shrewd, careful business man, and an excellent financier, and was well known as one of the wealthiest men of Crawford Co. This position was attained almost wholly by his own eflforts, he having received from his father's estate only $400. In 1849, the atten- tion of the whole country was turned to the golden lands of California, which, at that time, was in a Territorial condition. Father Lud- wiir, then 62 years old, and one of the wealth- iest men of Crawford Co., raised and equipped a small company of young men, who had every confidence in his ability to pilot them across the Great American Desert, to the Eldorado of the West. Various persons urged him to de- sist from his perilous enterprise, asking him to turn back, as the journey was too great for one of his years. With his usual decision of character, he told them he had " made up his mind to cross the Kocky Mountains, and cross them he would, if life and health were spared him," and he did cross them, and in due time landed his little company on the Pacific coast. Mr. Ludwig visited San Francisco, which was then a small village of miserable log huts and tents. He remained there about fifteen days, and, having seen all other places on the Pacific coast, of note in that day, he decided to return to his home. He sailed from San Francisco to the Isthmus of Panama ; from thence he sailed across the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans ; thence up the Mississippi to Cairo ; thence northward on the Ohio to Cincinnati, from which city he completed his journey by rail to his old home in Bucyrus. His trip had cost him about $4,000 ; this, however, he did not consider as lost, as his great journey and voy- age to and from California in his 62d year, was ever after a source of satisfaction to him. The few closing years of Mr. Ludwig's life were spent with his daughter, Mrs. Henry D. B. Johnston (now Mrs. Abraham Monnett) and to whom whom we are indebted for Mr. Ludwig's portrait and this sketch of his life). His death occurred, after a brief illness, on the 20th of December, 1876, aged 88 years and 11 months. Mr. Ludwig was the father of eleven children, seven of whom are living — five sons and two daughters — all of whom are wealthy, honored and respected people. COL. WILSON C. LEMERT, Bucyrus. The subject of this sketch is a son of Lewis and Ruth (Purdue) Lemert. This family are among the pioneers of Crawford Co., and an appropri- ate sketch of its early history will be found among those of Texas Township, where Wilson C. was born March 4, 1837. He assisted his father on the farm until 14 years of age, when he went to the Republic Academy, in Seneca Co., for one year ; from there he went to Heidelberg College, which had just been estab- lished at Tiffin, Ohio ; he there completed the preparatory course. In about 1854, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, and continued four years, teaching public school in this county in the meantime. He graduated in 1858, and studied law for some months with the Hon. James R. Hubbell, of Delaware, then came to Bucyrus and further pursued his law studies in the oflSce of Franklin Adams, Esq., for about one year. From there he went to the Cleveland Law College, from which he graduated, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. Mr. Lemert then returned to Bu- cyrus, where he engaged in the practice of his profession for one year, then removed to Greensburg, Ind., in i860. Six months after his removal to Greensburg, he enlisted as a private soldier in the 7th Ind. V. I., and, before going to the field, was made Second Lieuten- ant. During the first year of service, he was promoted to the position of First Lieuten- ant, and then Captain of his company. He led his company in the decisive battle of Win- chester. Va., and, for gallant conduct on the field, was recommended for promotion. He participated in the battles of Philippi, Rich Mountain, Carrick's Ford, Greenbrier and Win- chester. Some three months after the last- named engagement, he was commissioned Ma- jor of the 86th 0. V. I., and took part in the West Virginia campaign. In July, 1863, he re-organized the 86th 0. V. I., and was com- missioned Colonel of that veteran regiment. The regiment was assigned to Gen, Burnside's li^ -4^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 771 Corps, and joined in the East Tennessee inva- sion. At the conclusion of that campaign, Col. Lemert was appointed to the command of a brigade, and stationed at the post of Cumber- land Gap, then a vital strategic point. His command as Brigadier General consisted of Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Illinois troops, numbering over 7,000 soldiers, including thirty piece^of artillerj'. He was mustered out in Febp%, 1865. In 1865-66, the Bellefontaine Cotton Company was organized at Bellefon- taine, Ohio, and, at the solicitation of its stock- holders, Mr. Lemert became its President and General Manager. Floods disheartened the as- sociate adventurers, and, at the end of five months, he purchased the interest of those de- siring to abandon the venture, and, in company with John Jones and Dr. Nathan Atwood, organized a new partnership, and continued the business until the spring of 1866. It proved a dangerous but very fortunate enterprise, yield- ing a handsome return to those who had the hardihood to weather it through. In August, 1866, Col. Lemert became a partner in and busi- ness manager for the wagon and carriage wood- work factory of A. M. Jones & Co., atBuejTus, and continued in that relation until 1877. This business was conservative, and yielded results far above the hopes of the investors. In about 1871, the firm of B. B. McDanald & Co. was or- ganized for railroad building, and did about a half-million dollars' worth of work for the A. & L. E. and the 0. C. R. R. Owing to the insol- vency' of these corporations, McDanald & Co. became seriously embarrassed, and, in 1878, Mr. Lemert assumed control and management of the propertj' and business of McDanald & Co., and closed its affairs without loss. At the same time, he was Secretary and Treasurer of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Coal Co., an organiza- tion owning a very large area of coal and iron lands in Perry Co., Ohio. During the same period, he served the A. & L. E. and the 0. C. R. R. in the capacity of director, and, when its financial condition became hopeless, he assisted in its re-organization, and is now the only per- son connected with the road who played a con- spicuous part in its early history. Though persistent yet misguided criticisms have been directed at these gentlemen for their share in the railroad scheme, it is believed the consum- mation of their labors and the enduring good achieved by it, will bring in future the just meed of credit so richly earned. The fight was long and rugged, yet marvelously successful in the end. In 1877, Mr. Lemert organized and became President of the Moxahala Iron Co., of which he is still President and General Man- ager. In 1879, he superintended the construc- tion of the southern division of the 0. C. R. R., which embraces the Moxahala tunnel with its heavy approaches, in all nearly a half a mile long, furnishing the work in good order, in six months, which was the quickest and cheapest work of its kind ever done in Ohio. In the spring of 1880, Col. Lemert superintended the raising of $100,000 local aid along the line of the 0. C. R. R., between Bush's Station and Toledo. To accomplish this work, he held forty meetings, raising the amount in two months. He was assigned the management of the Ohio Central Coal Co,, in Perry Co., Ohio, and again exhib- ited executive ability of the highest order, by carrying on the work through one of the most dangerous strikes ever known to the mining interest, which occurred there in the fall of 1880. Col. Lemert was Postmaster at Bucyrus during the vears of 1866-67, and is at present Chief Engineer of the State of Ohio. In 1879, he laid out Corning, in Perry Co., Ohio, which in one year has become a village of over 1,000 inhabitants. In December, 1880, he organized a company, which purchased the foundry and machine works of Bucyrus, Ohio, and changed it from agricultural to railroad and mine work. Aug. 2, 1860, our subject was married to Miss Mary L. Jones, only daughter of Dr. A. M. Jones, of Bucyrus ; of this union there are two daughters — Katie and Blanche. DANIEL H. LOWMILLER, contractor and builder, Bucj-rus ; is a son of Adam and Cath- arine (Baker) Lowmiller ; was born Aug. 12, 1838, in Union Co,, Penn.. where he remained with his parents until 21 years of age, in the meanwhile attending subscription school a few terms in winter and working by the month at farm labor the remaining time ; in February, 1859, he and his brother William came to this county, he being employed by Charles Roehr and Lewis Knhn to learn the carpenter's trade, serving three years ; at the expiration of his term of apprenticeship, he enlisted in a com- pany of the 1st Mechanics' Fusileers, uuder Capt, Marsh ; after serving about six months, he re-enlisted in the 1st 111. Light Artillery, Battery I ; as a member of that body, he '7^ -^ 772 BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES: fought in the battles of Corinth, Jackson, Nashville, Kussell's House, Mission Eidge and Pittsburg Landing ; after serving there about two years, he enlisted as a veteran, at ScottsborO; Ala., Jan. 26, 1864, in the same battery as above mentioned, serving until the close of the war, being mustered out of the service in July, 1865, at Chicago, 111.; he was miraculousl}' saved by a kind Providence through the many dangers of his long army life and permitted to return to his home at Bu- cyrus a short time subsequent to the close of the war ; after his return to Bucyrus, he engaged in contracting and building, working on some of the principal buildings of the place ; among them may be mentioned Mr. Kearsley's, J. B. Gormley's and W. P. Rowland's. His marriage occurred Aug. 29, 1865, to Miss Louisa Keafer, of Holmes Township, of this county ; bj' this union, there are four children living — Emma C., Laura E., Cora M. and Marise Gilbert, Daniel H. dying in infancy. He and wife are members of the German M. E. Church, also taking a great interest in the Sunday-school work, he having filled ac- ceptably the offices of Treasurer and Librarian. Bj- his industry and frugal habits, although coming to Bucyrus without any capital, he has gained a comfortable sufflcienc}' of this world's goods. COL. WILLIAM MONXETT, Bucyrus ; is the son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Pittinger) Monnett. and was born in Ross Co.. Ohio, April 22, 1808 ; when he was 5 years old, his parents removed to Pickaway Co., and here our subject lived on a farm till he was 20 years of age ; during this time, he was given the ad- vantages of a subscription school ; his father set apart a room as a study for his boys, recog- nizing the necessity of thorough education, and our subject so applied himself that, when 18 years of age, he was sufficiently advanced to teach school himself; in the fall of 1828, his father's family removed to Crawford Co. and settled on the Plains of the Sandusky, about five miles south of Bucyrus ; here his father entered 1,440 acres of land, giving to each of his children 160 acres; in company with his brothers John and Abraham, Col. Monnett had charge of 1,300 acres of land which their father had purchased of Samuel Stutz ; they fenced it in, making one large field; in 1830, they pastured 300 cattle for Allen Kelly, and, another year, drove for John Wylie and David Holderman ; the following fall, he purchased a large drove of cattle, and, being successful in this venture, he continued for several years to buy, graze and sell large numbers of cattle, and has been very success- ful ; in 1837, just preceding the panic, he owned 700 cattle, and, at one time, he owned 1,400. Mr. Monnett had united with the M. E. Church at the age of 12, and, at thai^i^e of 32, he was licensed to preach, and continued for ten years, at the end of which time he was compelled to abandon the ministry on account of his health. On the same day that he was licensed to preach, he was appointed Colonel of the 1st Regiment, 3d Brigade, of 11th Division Ohio Militia, and for seven years served efficiently, when he resigned. He lived where W. H. Kinnear now lives until 1851 ; here he taught school several terms, and then came to Bucyrus to give his children the advantages of a better education. On coming to Bucyrus, Col. Monnett formed a partnership with Patterson Jlurshall, keeping a general store, one of the largest of that day ; he con- tinued some three years and then retired, pur- chasing 400 acres just east of Bucyrus, and also about 1,100 acres near Cranberry Marsh, of Paul Hetich ; he has since been engaged in keeping large numbers of cattle and sheep, his son Abraham engaging with him from 1864 to 1875. Mr. Monnett has been one of the promi- nent men of this county, and especially prom- inent in religious work ; he has been Recording Steward of the church for several years, and fills that position at the present writing ; he is a Republican in politics, and, previous to the organization of the party, he was a AVhig. He was married, Jan. 11, 1831, to Elizabeth Ca- hill, of Bucyrus, a daughter of Abraham Ca- hill, and sister of Hon. Richard Cahill ; of this union there were five children — Mary J., wife of Hon. S. R. Harris, of Bucyrus ; Rachel, wife of W. H. Kinnear, of Bucyrus Town- ship ; Sarah L., wife of L. L. Walker, of Whet- stone Township ; Isaac ^Y., died in his 43d year in Washington Territory, and Abram C, died at Bucj-rus, in his 41st 3-ear. both leaving families. ABRAHAM MONNETT, banker, Bucyrus; few of the residents of Crawford Co., and per- haps none of those who may be numbered among the pioneers, have risen to a place of n^ ^- '-^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 773 greater prominence as a citizen and a man of sterling worth and business ability, than the subject of this sketch — Mr. Abraham Monnett — ^whose portrait appears in this work. He is a descendant of Mr. Abraham Monnett, who, with his family, moved from Virginia to Ohio, in the year 1800, and settled near the village of Chillicothe. His famUy consisted of Isaac, Thomas, Margaret, Jeremiah (the father of our subject), John, William, Osburn and Elizabeth. Jeremiah Monnett returned to Virginia, where he was married to Miss Alcy Slagle. Thej' set- tled near Cumberland, on the Potomac River, and resided there until 1814, he then, with his family of a wife and five small children — one of whom was the subject of this memoir — removed to Ohio and settled in Pickaway Co. Their trip from Virginia was a very hard one, and probably would not have been undertaken but for the help of a Widow Jones, with whom Mr. Monnett joined teams. Mr. Monnett was a regularly ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and when arriving in Picka- way Co. he had only $5 in money, and his team and small supply of household goods. He re- mained a resident of Pickaway Co. until 1835, and then removed to Crawford Co., settling four and a half miles south of the village of Bucy- rus, where he resided until his death, which oc- curred in September of 1863. Mr. Abraham Monnett was born on the 12th of October, 1811, in the State of Virginia and near the Maryland line. His life was spent in the home of his birthplace until" his parents removed to Ohio in 1814. In that early day of the settle- ment of Pickaway Co., but few opportunities were afforded him for attaining an education. Always active, energetic, and endowed with great decision of character, he had before leaving Pickaway Co. with his father, in 1835, taken an active part in all local matters, and while residing there he joined a company of Militia, of which he was First Lieutenant ; his commission for this office was signed by George McArthur. Shortly after his father moved to Crawford Co., Abraham bought a forty acres of land lying in Scott Township, Marion Co., Ohio. Soon after his going to Marion Co., he joined the Militia Company commanded by Capt. Beckley, in which he also was' elected First Lieutenant. In June of 1836, Mr. Monnett returned to Pickaway Co., where on the 9th of that month he was married to Miss Catharine Brougher, who had been an orphan from her 4th year, and by whom he re- ceived $2,500, the proceeds of the sale of land of which she was the heir. This, with the ex- ception of $120, given him by his father, was the only money received by him, and the only part of his extensive fortune, not accumulated by his own energy and industry and economy. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Monnett took up his residence in Scott Township, Marion Co. In 1838, he began the handling of cattle, many of which he bought in Illinois, and drove through to his farm in Marion Co., to do which would sometimes require a thirty-days drive. Later in life, he assisted largely in the organi- zation of the Marion Co. Bank, an institution in which he has since held an interest and of which he has been the President since 1864. At present he is also the President of the Parmer's Bank of Marion, Ohio. He is also at the head of the Crawford Co. Bank of Bucyrus, where much of his time is spent. Besides his interest in the above enterprises, Mr. Monnett owns, in Crawford and Marion Cos., 11,000 acres of choice land. Truly, this is a fortune for one man to accumulate, whose early life was spent in a new country, where, to attend a verj' common school, he was obliged to walk two and a half miles. Mr. Monnett has not been successful in financial affairs only, but in the rearing of a family of twelve children to honorable man and womanhood. They are sit- uated as follows : Bphraim B., farmer, of Dallas Township : Martha, wife of G. H. Wright, of Bucyrus Township ; Oliver, farmer, in Dallas Township ; John T., farmer, residence Marion Co., Ohio ; Alcy, wife of James Malcom, of Bucyrus ; Augustus E., farmer, of Bucyrus Township ; Marvin J., farmer and stock-dealer, Dallas Township ; Mary J., wife of George Hull, banker, Findlay, Ohio ; Madison W., Teller Crawford Co. Bank ; Nelson, on the old homestead, in Marion Co. ; Amina J., wife of Calvin Tobias, of Bucyrus, and Kate, wife of Louis Ross, farmer, of Dallas Township. Mrs. Monnett died on Feb. 8, 1875, and on May 30, 1877, Mr. Monnett was again married. His present wife was Mrs. Jane Johnston, daughter of Mr. Samuel Ludwig, whose portrait appears in this book, as does also the biography of his life. They resided for a short time after this marriage on a farm owned by the widow, but later removed to Bucyrus, where they now re- ^f ;fr ^1 fe^ 774 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: side. Mr. Monnett has for many years been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his early manhood he was a member of the Whig party, but since the organization of the Republican party he has cast his vote and in- fluence for it. His first Presidential vote was cast for J. Q. Adams. REV. THOMAS J. MONNETT, farmer and minister, Bucyrus, whose portrait appears in this work, is a son of Rev. Jeremiah and Alcy (Slagle) Monnett, and was born Jan. 26, 1826, in Pickaway Co., Ohio. When nine years of age, his parents removed to this county and settled on the place where he now lives. They came from an old and thickly settled coiintrj^, and, arriving at their new home in a heavy rain, drenched to the skin, the prospect before them seemed anything but inviting. In the midst of all this his mother was taken sick, which added to the anxiety of the situation. Young Mon- nett was employed in herding stock, and riding among the yellow-blossomed weeds, which cov- ered the Plains ; he was often lost almost in sight of his father's cabin. An old cabin resi- dence near by was converted into a schoolhouse during the summer of 1836, and Harriet Bover, an Eastern lad}' of some attainments, taught the first school in it. Pupils came four or five miles to the first winter school, which was taught by a Mr. Kenough. In these schools young Monnett studied until he was 16, mas- tering the common branches as far as taught by those early teachers. In his 16th year. Rev. Osborn Monnett, of the Norwalk Seminary of the Methodist Episcopal Church, came to the neighborhood, and soon after started a school at his own residence, in which he was enrolled among the first pupils. He was a very thorough teacher, and for two years, young Monnett pur- sued the studies of grammar, philosophy and algebra. About the year 1 845, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and returned and took charge of the home school that winter at $18 per month, it being the first school under the district system. He taught two terms, at the same time occupying himself with individual study. At 21 years of age, he began reading medicine with Drs. P. Swingley and Douglass, of Bucyrus, and recited to them for one year. Previous to attaining his ma- jority, he read Clark's Commentaries through to his father, who was a minister of the Gospel, and the church licensed him to preach, but, not feeling sure of his duty, he did not then enter the ministry. A few years later, however, be- ing called by the church and his own convic- tions, he took charge of Melmore Circuit, under Presiding Elder Wm. Disbra, for one year, as supply. He was then recommended unani- mously by the circuit to the Nortli Ohio Con- ference, and in 1853, he joined the conference and was sent to Fostoria, where he labored for two years, having a glorious revival each year ; he was then sent to Kenton, one of the strong- est charges at that time in the conference ; and was ordained Elder, having completed a com- prehensive course of study in four years — • which usually requires six years. He remained at Kenton one 3'ear, and then went to Upper Sandusky, laboring there two years with good success. He was then removed to the Cale- donia Circuit, which enabled him to be at home, and here he labored for two years, having a large revival at Monnett Chapel, in which 108 persons joined the church ; he labored continu- ously for forty-two nights, which proved too much for his already over-tasked sj'stem, and brought on a hemorrhage of the lungs, and he retired for two years, much broken down in health. In 1861, he took a superannuated re- lation to the North Ohio Conference, and on his recovery he labored in the ministry in vari- ous places. He has been called upon to settle up some large estates for T. P. Johnston and others. About 1861, he began stocking his farm and had good success, and some years later, he purchased the old homestead ; he now owns about 1,200 acres of fine farming and grazing land. He has been engaged in various public enterprises, among them the Bucyrus Woolen Mills, and is now, with J. G. Prayer, owner of the Bucyrus Gas Works. In 1848, he was married to Henrietta Johnston, of Dallas Township, and had born to him by this mar- riage, seven children, viz. : Orwin Bruce, of this township ; Wm. A., commission stock-dealer of Chicago; Francis S., still at home; John G. (deceased 10 years) ; Effle at home ; Webster and Agnes, died in childhood. His wife died Nov. 22, 1871, in her 43d year, and on the 4th of September, 1873, he was married to Miss Sarah Rexroth, of Bucyrus, who was born at Winchester, in this county. May 4, 1842, and educated in the Bucj^rus schools, and at Mt. Union College. She began teaching at 15, and taught seven terms in this county; in 1862, f l]^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 775 she began teaching in Bucyrus Union Schools, and continued until 1873, teaching in every grade, and in the high school department. She was identified with the missionary work in this county, having been Corresponding Secretary of the Cincinnati branch of the Women's For- eign Society and Sunday school work, and is now Superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Monnett's father and uncle came about 1835, and were the first Methodists in the neigh- borhood. His father married Alcj' Slagle, who was born in Virginia, and received from her father's estate a number of slaves, which he brought across the Ohio River to free them, when he moved to Pickaway County in 1801. Mr. Monnett, the subject, has always been a Republican in politics. He was nomi- nated for the State Senate in the district com- posed of Crawford, AVyandot and Seneca Coun- ties, and cut down the Democratic majority 400 votes ; was also nominated for Representa- tive in 1879. ABRAHAM C. MONNETT, deceased; son of William and Elizabeth (Cahill) Monnett; was born in Bucyrus Township, March 31, 1839, and lived on the plains until 1851, when he came to Buc5'rus and attended school until he was 21, when he attended the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware one 3'ear, but was compelled to come home on account of sick- ness. In 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 34th 0. V. I., Co. B, and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He participated in the battles fought in Virginia, and was honorably discharged in 1864. On his return, he engaged with his father in stock-raising and farming until about 1870, when they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Monnett continued alone until 1878, when he was stricken down with consumption, and died April 17, 1879, after a lingering illness. . He was a man highly esteemed by all who knew him — a kind and affectionate husband and lov- ing father. He was married, Dec. 11, 1867, to Miss Jennie E. Walwork, of Bucjtus. She was born at Saratoga, N. Y., June 6, 1840. She re- ceived her education at the Albany State Nor- mal School, graduating there in July, 1860. The following August, she came to Bucyrus, and, in September, 1861, she accepted a posi- tion in the Bucyrus Union Schools, where, for five successive years, she taught with gratify- ing success. Five children were born of her marriage— Frank W., bom March 18, 1869 ; Wallace L., Sept. 18, 1871 ; Elizabeth, March 22, 1873; Julia, Nov. 13, 1874; Rachel, Aug. 3, 1876. JI. W. MONNETT, Assistant Cashier of Crawford County Bank, Bucyrus ; is the son of Abraham Monnett, whose biography appears in this work. He was bom Aug. 8, 1851, in Scott Township, Marion Co. He attended common school until 1871, and then took a commercial course in the Buckeye Business College, of San- dusky City, graduating in March, 1872. He remained on the farm until 1878, when he be- came Assistant Cashier in the Crawford County Bank, which responsible position he still holds. Before this appointment, he did considerable business in live stock, and proved himself a live business man. He was married, Sept. 12, 1872, to Rosalie A. Brewer, of Marion Co. Of this marriage there are two children living — Ernest E. and Edith A. His wife died Aug. 17, 1876. He was re-married, Dec. 3, 1879, to Miss Arma McCrory, of Bucvrus. A. E. MONNETT, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is a son of Abraham and Cath- arine (Brougher) Monnett, and was born Oct. 3, 1845, in Scott Township, Marion Co., Ohio. Here he spent his j'outh on the farm, acquiring a common-school education in the meantime. At the age of 21, he took charge of a farm of 600 acres, which he still owns. He at once de- voted his attention largely to the raising of stock, principally that of cattle and sheep. In the rearing and handling of stock, he has been eminently successful. He united his fortunes with Miss Anna Walton, of Marion Co., Feb. 20, 1868. Of this marriage four children were born — Irvin E., Rosa C., Walter J. and Ada A. The latter died in infancy. Mr. Monnett is a Republican in politics. ORWIN BRUCE MONNKTT, farmer, etc.; P. 0. Bucyrus ; son of Rev. Thomas J. and Hen- rietta (Johnston) Monnett, was born Sept. 29, 1850, in this township. He was 10 years old when his father returned from his ministerial labors to the farm. He worked on the farm from 1860 to 1869, attending in the meantime the com- mon schools. In the fall of 1869, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, re- maining one j'car. In the fall of 1870, he en- tered the Ohio Business College at Delaware, from which institution he graduated in January, 1871. In June of the same year he became book-keeper for the woolen-mill company of 776 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Bucyrus, serving acceptably there for nearly one year. In May, 1872, he bought an interest in a wholesale and retail grocery and provision store in Bucyrus, becoming a partner with G. W. Myers. This partnership lasted until Sep- tember, 1873, when he retired from the store and returned to the farm. In 1874 and 1875, he was clerk in American Express Company's office at Gallon, and, in May of the latter year, became book-keeper for Monnett, Frayer & Co., for one year. In the fall of 1876, he again returned to the farm, where he has since remained, aiding his father in the management of his large estate. Nov. 14, 1877, he married Miss Annie Hoffman, of Bucyrus, a daughter of Charles P. Hoffman, Esq. She was born April 12, 1858. Mr. Monnett is a Republican ; and is at present a member of and President of the School Board of Bucyrus Township, and taught school in 1879-80. He is a local member of Chautauqua Scientific and Literary Circle, in which he takes considerable interest and is a shining light. CHARLES S. MUNSON, Bucyrus ; was born in Paris, Oneida Co., N. Y., and is a son of Julius and Marie Antoinette (Smith) Munson. His youth was spent on a farm until 21 years of age. He completed his education at Rome Academy and Cazenovia Seminary, New York. In 1854, he went to Boston, Mass., there he en- tered the organ factory of Mason & Hamlin as foreman of the tuning department. He is a cousin to Mr. Hamlin, of this firm. While in this business he was a member of the leading oratoria societies of Boston, and for some years correspondent for the New York Musical Re- view. He remained in the factory about four years. Was married, Sept. 18, 1855, to Miss Harriet A. Cooper, of Wampsville, N. Y., and of this union five children have been born — Mary A., Emma L., Grace, Charles and William. He recurned to New York after leaving Mason & Hamlin and taught school in 1857-58 ; had taught several terms before. He came to Ohio in 1858 to engage as commercial traveler for A. Miller & Co., his health demanding a change of habits. In 1859, he removed his family to Delaware, Ohio, where they lived some two years. In April, 1861, he came to Bucyrus, where he engaged in the boot and shoe business in Quinby Block until January, 1868, when he sold out and became commercial traveler for a wholesale drug house at Cleveland for two years. at the end of which time he entered the whole- sale liquor and tobacco business in 1870, which he has still followed with good success. He began his musical education at 15, and in three years' time was leader of the choir in Paris, N. Y. His first instrument upon which to take les- sons was the violin, but he rapidly acquired a knowledge of other instruments. Of late years he has composed some very creditable pieces of vocal music. Has been leader of choirs since the age of 18 years. He organized the choral union in 1874, first formed of the Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian choirs for mutual practice, and under his direction sing classical music. He and wife are members of the Pres- byterian Church. His father was born in Paris, N. Y., in 1806, and followed farming ; he raised three sons and two daughters — Charles S., Julius S., James E., Jane and Sarah. Julius is professor of vocal music in Boston ; James lives in New York City, and is author of Mun- son's complete phonography, and is official reporter of Surrogate's court The two daugh- ters are living at Chicago. His wife was a native of New York, daughter of Rev. William H. Cooper, late of Bellport, L. I. She was a graduate of Cazenovia Seminary, and was a fine Latin and French scholar. GEN. SAMUEL MYERS^ Nevada ; is a son of Abraham Myers, and was born on the 4th day of December, 1802, near Lancaster, Lan- caster Co., Penn. His father was born on the memorable day of July 4, 1776, and was a miller by trade. He bought a mill in York Co., Penn., where he liv.ed for several j^ears, and, about 1 807 or 1808, he removed to Carlisle, Cum- berland Co. The subject of this sketch left home when 18 j-ears of age, and learned the trade of tailor, serving three years. He was married on the 6th day of October, 1825 (then about 22 years of age), to Rebecca Deardorf, who was born July 31, 1808, and, in the fall of 1827, thej' removed to Bucyrus, Crawford Co., where they lived in the town and vicinity for a period of fifty -three years. His wife died July 17, 1845, leaving ten children, the j'oungest but 7 days old. He kept house with his children for about three years, when he was again, mar- ried, June 22, 1848, to Mrs. Hannah Hamilton, the result of which was one son, born July 2, 1849. Bucyrus was but a small place when Mr. Myers moved to it, consisting of a few houses only, and they of the regular pioneer # u^ BUG y BUS TOWNSHIP. 777 pattern. He, with a few other public-spirited citizens then living in the new settlement, went to work in good earnest to build up the town and improve the country, so as to make it at- tractive to emigrants. There were many In- dians then in this section of the country. They were good friends to Mr. Alyers and his family, and he alwaj's felt himself perfectly safe among them. They, and their squaws and papooses, would frequently come to his house, and his good wife would give them something to eat, for which they always seemed grateful. Mr. Myers was instrumental in raising an inde- pendent company of militia, called '< Bucyrus Guards," of which he was elected Captain, a po- sition he held several years, when he was elected Brigadier General of the Third Brigade, 11th Division of Ohio Militia, which, after command- ing several years, he resigned. He was elected County Treasurer in 1834, and served for ten years ; the county then embraced quite an ex- tensive territory, and he went to every township to receive the taxes, to the place of holding elections, on horseback, mostly along Indian trails and paths. In 1848, he was elected to the State Legislature, and, in the fall of the same year, was one of the Electors for the State, and was elected a second time to the Legis- lature. During those years, he lived at Bucy- rus, and was frequently called upon to assist in getting up improvements for the benefit of the town and the surrounding country, such as se- curing the county seat at Bucyrus, railroads and other improvements. Gen. Myers has al- ways been a public-spirited citizen, and to his enterprise Bucyrus and Crawford County owe much of their wealth and prosperity. He now lives at Nevada, just over the line in Wyandot County. W. W. MILLER, retired ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; whose portrait and that of his wife, appear in this book, is another of the old and honored pioneers of Crawford" Co. He was born in Matiheim Township, Berks Co., Penn., on March ], 1808, and is the son of Peter Miller, who migrated with his family to Crawford Co. in the year 1835 ; the journey was made by wagon and was a most tedious one, the family consisting of the father and mother and seven children, all of whom arrived safely at the old Blue Ball Inn, two miles south of Bucyrus, on the 16th of May, 1835. They resided at the Blue Ball until the 4th of the following June, when they rented a house in the village of Bu- cyrus, to which they removed. Mr. Miller and his son, the subject of this sketch, engaged in hauling earth from the hill north of town, to fill in and level the public square. They continued teaming, at different kinds of work, until on the 12th of the following December, when they purchased the lot where the Western Hotel now stands, paying for it $850, when together they engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Peter Miller & Son. Now, to go back to the earlier life of Mr. Miller : He was reared on a farm, and remained with his father until the age of 14, when he began hiring out to do farm-work. This he continued for a few j^ears, or until 1828, when he secured a situation as salesman in a store at McKeans- burg, Penn.; there his first instructions as a salesman were received. His first year's salary for this work was $30. In 1830, he secured, through the influence of his uncle, John Miller, a situation in the store of Mr. Henry Arnold, in Lancaster, Ohio. A short residence in that place brought on an attack of fever and ague, on account of which he returned to Pennsyl- vania. Recovering, he again secured a situa- tion in McKeansburg, where he remained most of the time until preparations were made by his father to move to Ohio, which event oc- curred as above stated. The business was con- ducted in Bucyrus under the firm name of Peter Miller & Son, until the death of the old gentleman, which occurred on his 55th birth- day, August 1, 1839. W. W. continued the business until Aug. 31, 1848, when his building and entire stock of goods were destroyed by fire. Though sustaining this loss by fire, Mr. Miller was still in fair financial circumstances, and in 1852, he, in company with some other gentlemen of Bucyrus and Mansfield — John Sherman, now of national reputation, being one of the number — engaged in the general banking business in Bucyrus. The Mansfield gentlemen withdrawing, the business was continued until 1862, by Messrs. Musgrave, Hetich, Adams and Miller, of Bucyrus, when they discontinued the business to devote their time to other interests and enterprises. Mr. Miller has bought and sold many different lots and tracts of land in and about Bucyrus. For a number of years, he has been in no active business, but has been reaping the reward of his early industry and economy, in a pleasant home in West Bucyrus, 7; JH^ z±i^ 778 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: where, in company with his estimable wife, he resides in peace and contentment. On Jan. 28, 1836, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Cath- arine, daughter of Henry and Catharine Sell. She too, bore her burdens nobly in their early struggles to accumulate a competenc}"-, and in the rearing of their family of four children to honorable man and womanhood. Her portrait appears in this work, as a lad}^ worthy of a place In the history of Crawford Co. Their children are Maria W., now the wife of C. H. Shonert ; Wilson A., James K. and Clarrissa. HARVEY B. MORGAN, barber, Bucyrus ; was born in Springfield, Clarke Co., Ohio, Dec. 15, 1833. His father, Nimrod Morgan, was born Dec. 25, 1789, and was for many years a slave in Bourbon Co., Ky. ; he commenced to buy his freedom, and labored for several years in order to secure enough to emancipate him- self and wife ; he settled in Springfield, Ohio, about 1825, and followed the trade of a black- smith for many years ; Nimrod Morgan was the father of thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters, and is still living at an ad- vanced age ; he was 91 years old on Dec. 25, 1880. Har\'ey E.Morgan, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest son, and in his youth received only two months' instruction at a regu- lar school ; but in after life he acquired by his own efforts a good education. He assisted his father in the blacksmith-shop until about 18 years of age, and then entered a barber-shop at Cincinnati, Ohio, serving an apprenticeship of two years with George Anderson. During the next year he followed his trade on the steam- boat Jacob Streeter, which made regular trips between Cincinnati and New Orleans. He then worked at Richmond, Ind., for four months ; then at Dayton, Ohio, for two years ; then at Miamishurg about one year ; he also followed his trade as a journeyman barber in New York City, many places in Michigan, Penn- sylvania, Illinois and Ohio, including the cities of Chicago and Cleveland. He was married to Miss Isabella C. Bell, of Xenia, on Oct. 18, 1854, and after working in Springfield a short time removed to Miamisburg, where they re- mained a,bout a year and then removed to Mansfield, where they resided for a longer pe- riod. In April, 1860, the family settled in Bu- cyrus, where Mr. Morgan has since followed his trade with good success. At the present time he runs three chairs in his establishment, which is located in the Reid frame building at the northwest comer of the public square ; his rooms are conveniently located, handsomelj' furnished, and all his customers are satisfied with the treatment they receive upon giving him their patronage. He is gentlemanly in his deportment and has always attended strictly to business, but nevertheless, during the war, when political feeling was most intense against the race to which he is an honor, and when a craven fear of the draft made ruffians and cowards of many, the trials of Mr. Morgan were exceeding- Ij"- severe. The night succeeding the day of a political meeting, was certain to be disgraced by acts of oppression and cowardice toward him. Upon four different occasions his shop windows were broken in and his furniture de- stroyed. When prominent white citizens were frequently insulted and abused on the streets, it is not likely a colored citizen, although harm- less, inoffensive and non-combative, could es- cape similar treatment ; he was assaulted and abused on the streets by cowards and ruflaans who were safe from all legal responsibility, for frequently officers sworn to preserve order in the community assisted the rabble in making the place uncomfortable for Morgan, who was therefore stoned, chased and abused whenever it suited the pleasure of these enemies of his people. His employes were driven from the town, his family kept in perpetual alarm and at one time frightened from their home ; thus an innocent wife and helpless children were also the victims of the brutalitj' of the mob, Mr, Morgan is the father of nine children, seven of these are still living — Alice, Lucinda, Lil- lian, Edward H., Frederick D., Jay R., and Carl S. Mrs. Morgan is a consistent member oftheM. E. Chm-ch. DANIEL MILLER, Bucyrus. The history of Crawford Co. would indeed be incomplete without the subjoined sketch of the Miller family. John Miller, father of Daniel, was -a. native of Little York, Penn., from which place to Perry Co., Ohio, his parents removed when he was yet a child. He learned the cabinet-mak- er's trade in early life, and soon after reaching his majority, went to Licking Co., Ohio, where he worked at his trade. It was in this county at Granville that he met Miss Lydia Murdick, to whom he was married, and who was the mother of his five children. For some time after his marriage, Mr. Miller resided in Perry » "'V ,^ BUCYEUS TOWNSHIP. 779 Co., working at his trade. In 1825, he came to Crawford Co., and settled in Bucyrus, which at that time was but a small hamlet on the San- dusky River. For some time, he worked at carpentering and cabinet-making, and then en- gaged in the hotel business and dry goods trade. He built the first carding-mill in the town, and through his endeavors it proved a success, and was, for a number of years, one of the leading industries of the county. He was twice elected Sheriff of the county, and it is said by old settlers that the county never had a more efficient officer. For a number of years, he kept an exchange office and dealt quite largely in real estate. He purchased of a Mr. Clark 80 acres of land, which he laid out in town lots, and which is now known as " Miller's Addition " to Bucyrus. He was in fact one of the most prominent and successful business men of that day, and contributed not a little to the building-up and improving of the little citj^ he had chosen as his home. This good man departed this life in 1858, and was followed by his wife in 1871. Daniel Miller was born in Perry Co., Ohio, June 1, 1824, and his youth and early manhood were passed upon a farm. He received a good common-school education, and soon after reaching his majority, began for himself as a farmer. His marriage with Miss Maria Lemmon occurred in 1847. She was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., May 20, 1827, and came from there to Seneca Co., Ohio, when a child. She is sister of Judge Lemmon, of To- ledo, one of the leading jurists of Northern Ohio. Mr. Miller's marriage bore the fruits of seven children, six of whom are yet liv- ing — Jennie, John D., Charles R., Francis E., Cassius M. and Stansbury L. Jeannette was the name of the one deceased. Mr. Miller has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He owns 142 acres of land, one and one-half miles west of Bucyrus, upon which are good and substantial farm buildings. Politically, ho is a Republican. Socially, he and wife are sec- ond to none in the county. JOHN MEYER, Bucyrus ; was born March 24, 1832, in Lindach, Oberamt Gmuend, Wur- temberg, Germany. He is the son of Caspar and Catharina (Esterday) Meyer, who were na- tives of Germany and the parents of six chil- dren, viz., Dorotha, Christian, Mary, John, Catharina and Barbara. The father was twice married, his second wife being Margaret Man- gold, who was the mother of two children, viz., Rosanna and Magdalena. The father was a baker and farmer, and held, during his lifetime, many positions of honor and trust' in his na- tive country. The subject of this sketch at- tended school and assisted his father until 14 years of age. About this time, the father died. This compelled young Meyer to care for him- self, and the next five j'ears found him working on a farm at $30 per year. He had saved some money at the expiration of that time, and he concluded to try his fortune in the New World. He arrived in the United States in 1853, and, the same year, came to Bucyrus, Ohio, which he has since made his home. On his arrival at Bucyrus, he had but $2, but he went to work on a farm, and, for two years, fol- lowed that as a vocation. He then, for a few years, worked in a hotel and at brick-making. He was united in marriage, April 8, 1858, to Miss Margaret, daugliter of Jacob and Eva (Stichler) Bauer, both natives of Bavaria, Ger- many, and the parents of five children. Mi- chael, one of the sons, was a soldier in the war of the rebellion, and was killed while fighting for his country. Mrs. Meyer was born Oct. 17, 1838, in Bavaria, Germany. Her marriage with Mr. Meyer bore the fruit of seven chil- dren, six of whom are now living, viz., Eliza- beth, John, Jacob, Catharine, Charles and Frank. The name of the one deceased was Amelia. Mr. Meyer worked, for some years after his marriage, at brick-making. He then entered the employ of VoUrath & Blicke, with whom he remained some three years, and then pur- chased the business of them, in which he has since remained. He owns a nice business prop- erty on Sandusky street, and is doing a large and steadily increasing business. He is a Democrat in politics, and has twice been elected to the responsible office of Corporation Treas- urer. He is spoken of in very complimentary terms as an official. JOHN R. MILLER, lumber merchant, Bu- cyrus ; was born Nov. 13, 1840, near London- derry, England ; he is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Henry) Miller, both of whom were born in Cheshire, England, and who now reside in Perth Co., Out, Canada ; Mr. Miller was 8 years old when his people emigrated from England to Canada ; they settled on a farm in the same county in which they still reside ; there the early life of John R. was spent, and ^ t, \ »^ 780 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: an education received ; at the age of 16 yea.rs, he began learning the carpenter's trade with one Jacob Bald, of Stratford, with whom he remained "for two years ; his father buying a carriage factory, required the help of his son to run it ; he therefore quit the carpenter's trade to take charge of the wood-work depart- ment in the shops of his father ; his father continued the business for four years, when he sold out ; this left young Miller free to make new arrangements for his own future ; accord- ingly, in the spring of 1863, he came to Seneca Co., Ohio, to see an uncle, and, while there, he took a contract to build for him a barn ; this piece of work served as an introduction for him, and, after its completion, he secured plenty of contracts for building ; for a time, he followed the business of building in the States in summer, and returning to his home in Can- ada in winter. Jlay 4, 1874, he was married to Miss Mary E. McKinstry, of Bueyrus, Ohio. For two years after marriage, Mr. Miller lived in Seneca Co., Ohio, but, in February of 1876, he came to Bueyrus, where he has since re- sided ; for one year, he worked at his trade, and then became a member of the firm of Os- man Miller & Co., manufacturers and dealers in lumber ; several changes were made in the firm until 1879. when Mr. Miller became the sole owner and proprietor ; he has been one of the active, energetic business men of Bueyrus, and his success is the result of his own good financiering. He is a Republican, and a mem- ber of the Knights of Honor ; Mrs. Miller, as well as himself, is a member of the M. E. Church. They have two children living — Car- rie Gertrude and James William. C. G-. MALIC, merchant, Bueyrus. This gentleman, so well known to the citizens of Crawford Co., was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, March 20, 1834, and is the son of Caleb and Barbara (Heibold) Malic. After receiving his education, he sailed to America, and was on the ocean twenty-seven days, landing in September, 1847. He at once came to Craw- ford Co., and commenced work at cabinet-mak- ing, at which he continued some six months. He also followed threshing for two years, and, in the meantime, attended school, and acquired a knowledge of the English language. Liberty Corners, in Vernon Township, was the scene of his first clerical and mercantile labors. In October. 1851, he commenced at that place as salesman, and continued for some four years. He then purchased a half-interest with John Kaler, in Bueyrus, which partnership lasted until 1859, when the subject of our sketch pur- chased the entire business, and continued it until the fall of 1864. In the following year, he began business in the place which he now occupies, with John Kaler and John Keil as partners, dealing in dry goods and groceries. Jlr. Keil retired in 1867, and the remaining two partners continued the business until 1 876, when Mr. Malic purchased the entire business, and was sole owner until 1878. when James Gloyd became an equal partner. Thej are now running the business together, and have large salesrooms on the northwest corner of the pub- lic square, one 26x60 feet, devoted to the dry goods business, and a carpet room on the second floor. The grocery occupies a room to the rear of the drj' goods department. They are doing a flourishing business, and are recognized as among the leading business men of the place. 3Ir. Malic was married in May, 1864, to Re- becca Gloyd, of West Liberty, and of this mar- riage there are four children — Mary, the wife of C. C. Scott, of Bueyrus ; James B., a clerk in the store ; Emma, wife of H. J. Deal, of this city, and Charles. Mr. Malic is a self-made man, and began without capital, and has brought himself into affluence by industry and business tact. He is a prominent citizen, taking interest in public affairs, and is at present a member of the Council of Bueyrus. LOUIS K. MYERS, Assistant Postmaster, Bueyrus ; is a son of George W. and Mary (Hart) Myers, and was born in Gallon Feb. 9, 1852. His father's family removed to Bueyrus in 1856. where our subject went to school until his 17th year. Afterward, he was clerk for his father until 1869 ; he was then appointed Dep uty Postmaster under J. P. Rader, and, the office changing hands, he remained one year under John Hopley, afterward becoming a clerk and book-keeper in the produce business until 1873 ; he then became an engineer on the At- lantic & Lake Erie R. R. ; he was on the en- gineering corps until 1874, when he became chief clerk for C. W. Timanus, remaining one year ; he was next book-keeper for A. M. Jones, in the Buckeye Shops. In the fall of 1876, he was bill and shipping clerk for Tracy & Avery, of 3Iansfield. In the fall of 1877, himself and brother entered into the grocery business. In fe. BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 781 1878, he entered the post office again, under Mr. Hopley, and has since then remained the deputy clerk. He was Captain of the Bucyrus Light Guards until his departure for Mansfield, and has been a steadfast Republican and good worker in the cause ; he is also a member of the M. E. Church. In discharging his duties as clerk in the post office, he has given satisfac- tory evidence of his ability in that department of the public service. WILLIAM MAGEE, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; son of James and Ann (Moderwell) Ma- gee, was born Sept. 9, 1828, in Sandusky Town- ship, this county, where the familj- were among the earliest settlers. His youth was spent there on a farm, attending, in the meantime, the dis- trict school, until 21 years of age, and worked at home for the familj' until he was 24 years old. On Oct. 10, 1850, he married Miss Mar- garet J. Cleland, of Vernon Township ; two children are the fruits of this marriage — Ra- chel A., now the wife of Charles McCuen, a blacksmith at Wyandot, Ohio, and William W., at home. He has also raised a nephew and a niece — Fenton G. Magee and Rachel E. A. Cle- land. After marriage, he farmed the homestead for one year, then went to North Robinson, where he built a saw-mill with Baxter Mayers, in which business he remained for about two years, and afterward farmed for two or three years on rented land. He moved on to his present place in 1857, it being owned at the time by his uncle, John Moderwell. In 1859, he bought 80 acres of the farm, and added 18 acres to it in 1862. It has good buildings, a fine orchard of his own planting, and is located one mile from Bucyrus. He began life' with but little except good health and energy, and has acquired all he has by his own labor and industry. In early times, he bore his share of tjie hardships incident to life in a new country, being obliged to plow when he was so small that he could not pull the plow loose when it caught under a root, but had to hitch his team to his end of it for that purpose ; and has also plowed barefoot, when his plow would freeze fast in the ground at night. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church ; his wife also was raised in that faith. He is a Republican in politics. The father of Mr. Magee was born in Washington Co., Penn., about 1788, and was a teamster in early life, but afterward learned cabinet-making. He was married about 1811 ; was in the war of 1812, and marched to Port Meigs, when the war ended. In the spring of 1824, they drove through to Ohio in a wagon, cutting their way from Mansfield, and arrived at their destinatioQ, after a long journey from Washington Co., Penn. He came out on horse- back in the fall of 1822, and entered 160 acres of land for himself, and 160 also, for John Mayers, his brother-in-law, in Sandusky Town- ship. Knisely and Ridgel}' were the only set- tlers in that vicinity, which was densely wooded, and the Indians lived within forty rods of his house. Thej^ moved into a cabin which had nothing to recommend it but the roof and logs. Thej' drove a cow and two calves through with them, which died shortly after their arri- val ; he lost many cattle after his settlement here from murrain and in the swamps. He raised a small crop of potatoes the first year in his new home ; food was very scarce ; they had to pound corn, and sift it through a rag. He was a hard-working man, but met with many misfortunes, which kept him in debt until just before his death. He had considerable mechanical genius, and with tools could do many different kinds of handiwork, as well as building houses. He died April 14, 1850, and his faithful wife Oct. 15, 1851. They had nine children — Eliza, wife of Samuel Parsons, of Gallon ; Mary A., died in her 18th year ; Rob- ert, died at the age of 55 ; Belle, is the wife of Peter Wert, of Johnson Co,, Mo. ; John, died at the age of 55 ; William, the subject of this sketch ; Margaret E. and Sarah J., both died young, one 15, the other 18 years of age, and Ethelinda died in her 18th year ; all died rather suddenly. Mr. Magee, Sr., was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a Whig in poli- tics. W. P. MORRISON, merchant, Bucyrus ; was born Oct. 23, 1849, in this county, and is the son of John and Mary (Brokaw) Morrison. He received a common-school education, living on a farm until his 19th year. He then became a fireman on the A. & G. W. R. R., running from Gabon to Dayton. He was also a brake- man, for some time after, on the B. & I. Div. He then retired to the farm. He remained on the farm with his brother for one year, and then rented a farm for three years, with good success. In 1875, he began in the mercantile business, running a general store at North Robinson, in company with J. P. Robinson, for ^; f' ±t^ 782 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: about thirteen months. Robinson retiring, our subject continued one year, at the end of which time his brother, R. Morrison, became an equal partner, and together they continued in busi- ness until the fall of 1879. Sept. 1, he formed a partnership with Geo. W. Fisher under the firm name of Morrison & Fisher. They are now doing an extensive business in merchant tailoring and gents' furnishing goods, occupy- ing Room 4, Qninby Block. They have con- stantly in their employ over twenty' experienced workmen. Mr. Morrison was married, March 21, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Chambers, of Crest- line, Ohio. They have three children — One}- 0., Bertha E. and Mabel E, JAMES H. MALCOLM, Bucyrus ; was born Oct. 18, 1827, in Marlborough, Ulster Co., N. Y., and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Hayne) Malcolm. He lived on a farm and attended district school. His father dying and leaving him to fight the battle of life alone, he worked in a mill morning and evening to pay his board, while he attended school during the day. In the summer he worked on a farm. At the age of 16, he commenced bujing cattle for his brother, and was thus employed for about three years, his brother being one of the first to slaughter and send quartered beef down the Hudson to the Xew York markets. He next went to Washington and engaged in selling beef by the quarter, and followed this five years. During this time he formed the ac- quaintance of some of the leading stock-dealers of the Sandusky Plains, among whom were the Monnetts. In 1851, he went to California, taking the water route, the voyage occupying thirtj'-six days. He purchased a tract of land in the Santa Clara Valley, and kept a ranche for one year, and then sold it at a fair profit. He then located on the river twenty miles be- low Sacramento City, on the great Vine ranche, and here turned his attention to the raising of vegetables. The river overflowing, however, rained a large portion of his crops. He re- turned to Xew York in the winter of 1854, and resumed the handling of cattle. In June, 1 856, he came to Bucyrus and engaged in buying and feeding cattle, in partnership with George Roberts. They rode five miles each day and fed 400 cattle. This business union lasted three years and was productive of fair success. He then continued in the stock business alone, and rented the Abraham Monnett " Mud Run " farm for one year, when he bought the home- stead portion, consisting of 360 acres, livino- here nine years and adding 300 acres in 1868. He lived here until May, 1878, when he came to Bucyrus to educate his children. The Mal- colm race, of which the subject of our sketch is a descendant, are of Scotch origin and of hon- ored ancestry. His grandfather, James Mal- colm, was an aide to Gen. Scott and fell in the battle of Lund\''s Lane, on which bloody field he was buried, and where now rest his remains. The father of Mr. Malcolm was an only son, and was born in Xew York State and followed farming. He was in the war of 1812, and raised four sons and seven daughters, eight of whom are living — Abigail J., Elizabeth, Eve- line, Mary, Julia, Eleonora, James and Augus- tus. Mr. Malcolm was married, Nov. 4, 1862, to Miss Alcy Monuett, daughter of A. Mon- nett. This union has been blessed with three children— Katie E,, Gilbert F. and Ella M. Mr, Malcolm has always been a Republican in politics. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch, of which he is now Steward and Trustee. C. M, MATTHEW, cabinet-maker, Bucy- rus ; son of Frederick and Mary (Kuntz) Mat- thews ; was born April 25, 1825, in Prussia. He attended school until his 14th year. At 16 he commenced learning cabinet-making, serving an apprenticeship of three years under Philip Heifner, in the village of Thalsang, and was compelled to work early and late. He after- ward worked as journeyman in several places | in Prussia. In the early part of 1851, he sailed i from Antwerp, and, after a tempestuous voyage j of fifty-five daj-s, landed at X'ew York, in May, 1851. He went to Milwaukee, Wis., at a time when stumps were in the midst of the town. He worked on a farm for one j'ear, and then went to Detroit, Jlich., where he worked at his trade for several years. In the same 3'ear, he went to the copper-mines of Northern Michigan, and worked there in company with a party of sixty carpenters, nearly all of whom died of the cholera. He remained there a year, and then went to Sandusky City, working at his trade there for about two years. He next worked at Republic, Seneca Co. Here he lived three years and then removed to Leipsic, Putnam Co., resid- ing there two years. In October, 1860, he came to Buc3-rus, where he worked in the sash fac- tory. The next year he helped build the Bu- f y^ « r A i^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 785 cyrus Machine Works, and was employed in the wood-work department as pattern-maker and foreman, which position he held ten years. In 1872, he opened a cahinet-shop and furniture store in partnership with Conrad Strieb, which union lasted until February, 1880, when the firm name was changed to C. M. Matthew & Co. His establishment is on Sandusky avenue, where he has a large stock of furniture, and is at all times prepared to do undertaking on short notice. He received a majority of the premiums at the last Crawford County Fair for displays of furniture. He is substantially a self-made man, and by his careful management has placed himself in easy circumstances. His father died when he was but 2 years old. He has one brother, John P., Superintendent of Schools at Ludwiller. He was married Aug. 22, 1853, to Miss Margaret Shaak, of Republic. Her parents were born in Bavaria, and came to Seneca Co. in 1849. Her father is still living, aged 78. There were nine children, of whom Louisa, Elizabeth, Mary, Jacob, Adam and John are living. Margaret and Catharine are dead, and one died in the old country. Of Mr. Matthew's marriage there are seven children — Charles F., Louisa, Mary A., Henry J., John F., William E. and George. L. MANTEL, boot and shoe dealer, Bucyrus ; was born in Bavaria March 9, 1839. He re- ceived a limited education, having completed it at the age of 12. He then learned weaving in the town of Mellerichstadt, serving two years, and passing a thorough examination when his trade was completed. He then, although very young, traveled through the principal cities of Europe, working at his trade for short periods in each place, altogether thus occupying three years. He then went to England, visiting Liverpool and London, traveling on foot. He finally settled at Manchester, where he worked in a rubber goods manufactory for two years. He then sailed from Liverpool to New York, the voyage occupying thirteen weeks. He landed at New York in March, 1861, and, the war breaking out soon after, he sold cigars up and down the Hudson to soldiers and others, and stopped at Albany two months. From that time until 1863, he was a sutler in the Union army ; was taken sick in that year and went to Cincinnati ; after recovering somewhat, he trav- eled throughout the Eastern cities ; arrived in the fall of 1863 at Cleveland, his health still be- ing somewhat impaired. On March 24, 1864, he married Miss Henrietta Rothschild, of Alle- gheny City, and came at once to Bucyrus, where he engaged in buying and shipping produce for one year. Values being at a downward tend- ency, he lost all that he had earned by hard work and economy. In 1865, he bought a horse and wagon and a stock of notions and dry goods, and followed peddling for about ten j'ears ; in the meantime changing his home to Cleveland, coming again, however, to Bucyrus. In 1874, he went to Allegheny City, where he dealt in stock, and afterward run a feed store for about nine months. He then returned to Bucyrus and started a shoe-store, in which business he has been engaged ever since. He is now located opposite the First National Bank, having a large stock of boots and shoes and an extensive, well-appointed establishment. He does considerable business in hides, leather and shoe findings. Mr. Mantel has three children living — Betty, Emanuel and Nathan. S. B. MILLS, blacksmith ; is the son of Sam- uel and Mary (Tussing) Mills, and was born in Rockingham Co., Va., March 21, 1847. At the age of 18, he commenced learning the trade of blacksmith at New Market, Shenandoah Co., and served two and a half years' apprentice- ship, afterward working two and a half years as a journeyman. In 1870, he came to Bucy- rus and entered his present shop as a workman ; but, in 1876, he purchased the establishment, and is doing a general business in blacksmith- ing, wagon-making and horse-shoeing, employ- ing four hands. He has an enviable reputation for turning out first-class work, it being invar- iablj' satisfactory. He was married. Oct. 1, 1872, to Miss Mary Barth, of this county. They have two children — Homer 0., born in July, 1873, and an infant daughter, born in February, 1880. He is a member of the En- glish Lutheran Church, and also belongs to the Knights of Honor and the Royal Arcanum. He is a Republican in politics. JAMES MoCRACKEN, deceased ; was born July 16, 1800, (probably) in Westmoreland Co., Penn, At the age of seven years, he came with his parents to Ohio, and settled in Wayne Co. Here he received a common-school edu- cation, and, while yet a young man, began lay ing the foundation for a competency. Accord- ingly, he came to this county in 1825, and learned the trade of a wheelwright, with his 9 V l±. 786 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: cousin, Hugh McCracken, having, however, prior to this, been a tiller of the soil. Until the year 1834, he worked here and made spin- ning-wheels for a livelihood. During this year, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and held this office, discharging its duties faithfully, for several years. He was also in early da3'S, Postmaster of the village of Bucj'rus. In 1848, he removed to a farm south of town, and occu- pied it three years, when he removed to a farm west of town, which he partly cleared and greatly improved, and here lived until his death, which occurred Dec. 24, 1875, in the 76th year of his age. He died a highly esteemed citizen, an upright, conscientious Christian, and a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. He was mar- ried to Ruth Marquis, of Bucyrus Township, Dee. 4, 1832. She still survives him, and is living in Bucyrus, occupying a handsome resi dence on East Rensselaer street. She was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, May 26, 1813. Her father removed to this county in 1829, and set- tled three and one-half miles south of town, at a time when the country was sparsely settled, and the Indians were constantly seen. Her father was a native of Manchester, Va., and lived for awhile after his first marriage in Washing- ton Co. of the same State. About the year 1800, he was re-married, and moved to Bel- mont Co., where Mrs. McCracken was born. He died in this county, in November, 1834. His wife survived him till 1855, when she also died, aged 81. There were ten children of this marriage, six of whom onl}'^ survive — David, William, Susan, 3Irs. McCracken, Cynthia and George. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Cracken there were eight children, all of whom are living. Portia, formerly a teacher in the Bucyrus Union Schools, now living at home ; WiUiam V., of Columbus ; James K., agent at Ft. Wayne for the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. ; Alex- ander M., clerk in railroad office ; Augusta M., at home, and a successful teacher in public schools ; Harvey M., ticket agent at Ft. Wayne ; Charles W., at Cincinnati ; Harriet E., at home, formerly a teacher in the city schools. JAMES S. McCARRELL, dentist, Bucyrus ; was born Feb. 16, 1836, and is a son of James and Xancy (Shearer) McCarrell. He first saw the light in Armstrong Co., Penn., and was raised on a farm, attending the common schools until 14 years of age, when he entered an academy at Hookstown, Penn., studying there for about three years, after which he taught school for six years. At 24 years, he entered a dental office at New Brighton, Penn., where he was a student three years. He remained in Brighton some two years longer, when he came to Bucy- rus, Ohio, June 26, 1866, locating in Picking's Block, where he has since practiced mechanical and operative dentistry with fair success. He married Mary Matthews, of Sandusky City, Ohio, Jan. 16, 1867. Two children have been born of this union, viz., Maud and Susan. He is at present a member of the Town Council. GEORGE McDonald, Bucyrus ; was bom in Niagara Co., N. Y., Oct. 20, 1828, and is the son of Reuben McDonald. When he was but 4 years old, his father removed to Liberty Town- ship. Here he lived on a farm until he was 18 years of age, receiving, in the meanwhUe, a common-school education. He then commenced learning the trade of wagon and carriage mak- ing, with Moses Mitchell, of Greenwich Center, Huron Co., Ohio. He worked with him but twelve months, finishing his apprenticeship with Mr. Shonehiter, of Attica, Seneca Co., Ohio. In 1849, he returned to his home in Liberty Township, and. building a shop, commenced working at his trade, and followed it there for five years. He then removed to Wingert's Cor- ners, where he remained three years. He then sold his shop, and, buying a stock of merchan- dise, kept a store for four years. During Bu- chanan's administration, he was Postmaster at Broken Sword. He continued in his store until 1864, when he sold out, and engaged at his trade at Benton, in this county. Five years later, he sold this shop and removed to Lykens Township, where he bought a farm, and was for four 3'ears a farmer. In September, 1873, he sold the farm, and purchased two lots on the Plymouth Road, and built thereon the hand- some Gothic residence now occupied by James Gloyd, and which he occupied for three years, and then built his present residence and shop. Since his residence in Bucyrus, he has been en- gaged at painting, glazing and finishing, also paying considerable attention to house building. He started in life with nothing, but, by in- dustry and good management, has succeeded in placing himself in easy, comfortable circum- stances. He was married Sept. 15, 1850, to Miss Lydia Seitz, of Holmes Township. They have two children living — Silas F. and Cyrus F. # J^l ia^ BUCYEUS TOWNSHIP. 787 THOMAS McCREARY, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; the oldest son of Thomas and Poll}' McCreary, who -were of Scotch-Irish descent. The subject of this sketch was born in York Co., Penn., July 15, 1826, and in 1837 his par- ents removed to Crawford County with their familj', and settled on land in Bucyrus Town- ship now owned by David Marshall. McCreary worked for Judge Andrew Taylor for some ten years, until he became of age, and then worked for D. C. Boyer for some two j'ears. He was married to Miss Eliza, daughter of John Boyer, of Whetstone Township, Dec. 28, 1849. They were the parents of the following five children : J. F. McCreary, now a resident of Nebraska, and married to Maria McMichael ; Elizabeth McCrearj-, now Mrs. James Gamble, of Bucy- rus Township ; Joseph Reuben, Anna K. and Elida B. His first wife died in 1867, and Sept. 3, 1868, he married Miss Catherine Cobb, and the result of this marriage is the following children Sadie M., Charles H. and Edith N. McCreary. About Jan. 1, 1850, McCreary pur- chased of his father-in-law, John Boyer, the 160 acres in Whetstone Township now owned by Samuel H. Heinlen. He resided on this farm for about five years, until he bought, in 1856, the land now owned by William Holmes, when he removed to this farm, which he occu- pied until 1872, when he sold it to the present proprietor. McCreary then occupied his first farm for some twelve months and then pur- chased his present farm in Bucyrus Township, containing 240 acres, of the Shaeffer heirs. This land is now occupied bj' McCreary's son-in-law, James Gamble. When he sold one of his farms to William Holmes, he received as part pay 220 acres in Vernon Township, which he hold for three j'ears and then sold to Peter Weaver. McCreary lived on his farm in Bucyrus Town- ship from 1873 to 1876, and then removed to Bucyras, and, after occupying for some months the houses now owned by Martin Streib and Benjamin R. Boyer, removed in the spring of 1878, to his present residence, on the land now owned by Martin P. Wright. Mr. McCreary united with the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bucyrus about the year 1851, and has served as Trustee and Deacon in the congregation sev- eral different terms. In 1860, his brother, who was agent for the South Bend plows at the city in which they are manufactured, shipped six to Mr. McCreary, which were the first South Bend plows introduced into Crawford County. In 1867, Mr. McCrearj' purchased the first Cli- max Reaper and Mower of Corry, Pennsylvania, introduced into the county. JHe sold several of these machines and also the South Bend plows, but aside from this his occupation has always been a farmer. WILLIAxM McCUTCHEN, book-keeper, Bu- cyrus ; was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Oct. 6, 1841. He is a son of James and Louisa (Pike) McCutchen, of Pennsylvania. At 11 years of age he began learning the tailor's trade in Green Castle, Penn., and after serving three years mastered his trade. For four years he worked at his trade in different places in Penn- sylvania, and in April, 1861, came to Tiffin, Ohio. He remained at this point a short time, and then removed to Bloomville, Ohio, where he opened a tailor-shop, for custom work. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. G, 49th 0. Y. I., and was discharged at Louisville, Ky., Nov. 20, 1865. 3Ir. McCutchen was in the cam- paign of the Armj' of the Cumberland, and was an active participant in all the engagements of that memorable campaign. On the same day he was discharged, he married Miss Elizabeth C. Williams, of Louisville, Ky. She was born in Indiana. To this union were born two children — George and Mary L., both of whom died in childhood. After his marriage, Mr. jMcCutchen came back to Bloomville, where he recommenced the tailoring business. Since that time he has been in different localities in Ohio, working at his trade and selling sewing ma- chines. In 1871, he came to Bucyrus, where he engaged in selling sewing machines until Feb. 1, 1878, when his services were engaged by the Franz & Pope Knitting jMachine Co., as book-keeper and Treasurer, and with whom he has continued ever since. Mr. McCutchen is a member of F. & A. M., Lodge, No. 443, of which he is Secretary. He is a Republican in politics, and an intelligent, wide-awake gentle- man. W. H. McCORMICK, dealer in stoves and tinware, Bucyrus ; is the son of Thomas and Margaret (Martin) jMcCormick, and was born in Franklin Co. Penn., May 10, 1840. His par- ents removed to Mansfield, Ohio, on May 10, 1843 ; here he went to school until he was 14. He worked at gas-fitting in Mansfield and Woos- ter for one and a half years. He then learned the tin trade with Mr. Blendmyer, serving four L^ 788 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: years, at the end of that time becoming fore- man of the shop ; he, however, soon retired on account of his health, and some time after he came to Bucyrus, and worked two years in the tin-shop of D. Picking. In the fall of 1861, he opened a tin and stove store at Annapolis, this county, but remained there only a year. He removed to Waterloo, Ind., in the fall of 1863, and opened a hardware and tin store, doing a large business for three years ; he then returned to Bucyrus, and became agent for the sale of agricultural implements. In 1867, he entered the employ of M. Emrich, operating a branch store at Upper Sandusky. After remaining there some three years, he returned to Mansfield and entered the employ of Blendmyer, and be- came foreman for the year. He next became foreman of Cuykendall & Freeman's tin and hardware store at Plymouth, Ohio, for two years. In March, 1876, he returned to Bucy- rus, and has since been engaged in the stove and tinware business, and also in the sale of agricultural implements. He entered his pres- ent storeroom in the Gormley building, in November, 1879, and here he has a full stock of stoves, tin and glass ware, and is prepared to do all kinds of roofing and spouting. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and also of Waterloo Lodge, 303, Waterloo Ind. He is a Democrat in politics ; he was Government Inspector in the Fifth District dur- ing Johnson's administration. He was married May 15, 1862, to Miss Rosanna Boj^er, of Bu- cyrus ; they have two children — Alvertie and Anna K. H. W. McDonald, civil-englneer, Bucy- rus ; is the son of Reuben and Matilda (Cole) McDonald, and was born in Liberty Township Feb. 12, 1846. He received his education in the Bucyrus Public Schools, and at the age of 13 years entered a store in that place. At the age of 16, he commenced teaching, and taught nine terms in all, and also attended school in the meantime. In 1858, he commenced travel- ing through the Western States, introducing new inventions. In about 1862, he was ap- pointed by the County Commissioners, to the office of County Surveyor, to fill the unexpired term of Horace Martin. He was, at the next election, elected to fill the place, and, in all, was elected for three full terms. During the time that he held the office, Mr. McDonald surveyed, platted and published the current map of Bucyrus, which is the standard publica- tion of its kind of the county. He also laid out the town by careful surveys, in its present system of sewer districts, and superintended the construction of the principal sewers of the town. The county is also indebted to him for many and important suggestions and improve- ments on the Infirmary farm. Since his retire- ment fi;om the office, he has been engaged in civil engineering and surveying, and dealing in real estate. He has been a member of the City Council, and has been instrumental in the im- provement of the town lying north of the river. Throughout his public life, Mr. McDonald, has secured the respect and esteem of his fellow- citizens. He began without capital, and bj' in- dustrj' and good management he has placed himself in good circumstances. He was mar- ried Sept. 1, 1859, to Miss Hattie Perdew, of Benton, this county. Three children are living of this marriage — Laura, Maud and Mott H. Two died in infancy. In politics Mr. McDon- ald has always been a Democrat. His grand- father, Samuel McDonald, was born in Wood- stock, Conn., in January, 1745, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He enlisted in the Con- tinental armj' at the beginning of the Revolu- tion, and served under Washington throughout the war. After peace was declared, he removed to Berkshire Co., Mass., where he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Squiers. He re- moved to the State of New York about 1820, and settled in the " Holland Purchase," and died at the residence of his son in Cambria, N. Y., in November, 1829. Reuben McDonald, the father of our subject, and a son of Samuel Mc- Donald, the youngest of nine children, was bom in Berkshire Co., Mass., Jan. 12, 1803, and re- moved to Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1829, where be married Miss Matilda Cole, removing to Liberty Township, in this county, in May, 1832, and now resides on Maple street, in North Bucyrus. James Cole, the father of Mrs. Reuben Mc- Donald, was a native of Nova Scotia, born Nov. 13, 1752, of wealthy parentage. At the com- mencement of the American Revolution, he joined a company of Nova Scotia refugees and served in the Continental army throughout the war, for which he was disinherited; was at Valley Forge with Washington, afterward taken prisoner and incarcerated in a British prison ship in Boston Harbor, where he was badly wounded in one of his limbs, by the ex- =^r' ^>> BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 789 plosion of a shell, which crippled him for life. After the war closed, he was released and re- ceived pay for his services in Continental money, not worth a — continental — and hobbled on his crutch to Cheshire, Western Mass., where he hired out to a wealthy farmer, named Jesse Mason, working for him nearly a }'ear, and in the meantime marrying his daughter Elizabeth. They removed to Vermont, came back to Mas- sachusetts, and afterward removed to Niagara Co., N. Y., where he died in November, 1826, at the age of 74 j'ears. JAMES McKINSTKY ; P. 0. Bucyrus, Ohio. James McKinstry was born in Washington Co., Penn., June 18, 1811. His father, John Mc- Kinstry, was a native of Belfast, Ireland, and came to this country in 1776, when but 3 3'ears old. His mother, Mary Patton, was born in South Carolina, her father being a Captain in the Revolutionarj- war, and a brother-in-law to Maj. Andre. They were married in the year 1806, in Franklin Co., Penn., and became the parents of three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living, the youngest being now 59 years old. They attribute their long life to habits of industrj' and sobrietj-. The early life of James was spent on the farm, working dur- ing the summer and attending school a few weeks in the winter. At the age of 14, he com- menced teaming to Pittsburgh and Wheeling, driving five and six horses before heavily load- ed wagons, over the mountains. This life, which he followed for eight years, threw him among men of the most dissipated habits, and he, with commendable resolution for those times, pledged to himself to forever abstain from the use of spirituous liquors and tobacco, in all its forms — which pledge he has never broken. In September, 1833, his father's family moved to Marion Co., Ohio, and settled near Caledonia. The country was new and ver}- thinly inhabited. Deer and wild turke}'s were in abundance. He and his trusty rifle were constant compan- ions, and he can narrate many stirring inci- dents of those pioneer da^'s. He possessed re- markable physical strength, and was therefore in constant demand at clearings and raisings. In 1840, he was nominated on the Whig ticket as candidate for Sheriff of Marion Co., but was defeated by a small majority. On Sept. 15, 1842, he married Miss Rebecca Garberson, old- est daughter of William Garberson, lately de- ceased, of Caledonia. He settled on a farm two miles west of that town, and, by a life of in- dustry and frugality, he became the possessor of about 600 acres of the best land on the Plains. He was one of the prominent wool- growers of Marion Co., keeping from 800 to 1,800 sheep. During the war of the rebellion, he drove to Illinois more than 4,000 sheep, and fed them there for two years. To afford his children the advantages of an education, he re- moved to Bucyrus in April, 1863. Between 1868 and 1870, he engaged in the grocery bus- iness. His generous and unsuspicious disposi- tion made him freqiiently the dupe of design- ing knaves, and, during the panic of 1 873, he was compelled to pay over $20,000 of that hard- est of all monejr to pay — " bail money " — by which nearly all the honest earnings of a life were swept awa}'. He is the father of ten chil- . dren, six of whom died in infancy and child- hood. Of those living, the oldest is William Tiiomas, who resides on a farm four miles south of Bucyrus ; the second is Marj' E., wife of John R. Miller, proprietor of a saw-mill in Bu- cyrus ; the third is Ama H., wife of Theo. F. Shotwell, an attorney at law in Bucyrus ; and the fourth is 3Iatthew, who still lives at home. WILLIAM A. McDOXALD, marble works, Bucyrus ; is a son of Daniel and Nancy (Thomas) McDonald, and was born Dec. 19, 1827, in Cal- edonia Co., Vt. He was raised on a farm until he was 16 j^ears old, with but little opportuni- ties for obtaining an education. At the age of 16, he began traveling and selling notions, and followed it until 1859, except one year spent in Lyndon and Peacham Academies. During his 19th year he also taught three months. He traveled through all the Northeastern States, and a large portion of the Middle and North- western States, and the Dominion of Canada, with fair success, but his great desire was to see the country. In 1858, became to Ohio and engaged in the tombstone business, at ^h. Gil- ead, Ohio, until 1867, when he came to Bucyrus and engaged as traveling salesman for the mar- ble shop of J. G. Slierwood, continuing as such until 1876. In 1877, Jlr. McDonald started a marble-shop of his own in Bucyrus, and has since done a prosperous business. In Januarj", 1880, he moved into his present shop, on the corner of Warren street and Sandusky avenue. At the same time, he became the partner of W. H. Houpt, under the firm name of Houpt & McDonald, with two large houses — one here D fy 'A 790 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: and the other at Shelby, Ohio. They employ about twelve skillful hands— among them John HuUikan, of Eutland, Vt., who is one of the most skillful carvers in his profession, his work taking premiums over all competitors at the Crawford County Fair of 1880. .Mr. McDonald was married, July 10, 1849, to Miss Jane D. Sayward, of Great Falls, N. H. He has two children living— AUie J. and H. Scott ; three died in infancy. His wife was born in Hollis, Me., on the 8tii of September, 1830. Both she and her husband are members of the M. E. Church. GEORGE McNEAL, Bucyrus ; is the oldest son of Alexander and Jane (Goshorn) McXeal, and was born Aug. 8, 1822, in Huntington Co., Penu. His father was a native of Penns}'lva- nia, of Irish parentage, and a farmer. He married Jane Goshorn about the year 1820 ; she was also a native of the Kej^stone State. They had twelve children, nine of whom are living, the subject of this sketch being the old- est ; the others are Mary, John, Matilda, J ames, Alexander, Margaret, Susan and Eliza Ann. In 1835, his parents removed here and settled four miles east of Bucyrus. Here Mr. 3IcXeal was compelled to work earlj- and late, in clearing the land, and received but little schooling, being compelled to work for the support of the rest of the family, there being twelve children younger than himself He learned carpenter- ing at the age of 21, working three j'ears with his brother-in-law, Daniel Parcher. He then removed to Bucyrus, where he became Deputj' Sheriff under William C. Beal, and served as Constable at the same time. He engaged in butchering several years, with good success. He then became a partner with J. H. Phillips, in the grocerj^ and provision business, continu- ing from 1867 to 1870. In the spring of 1869, he was elected Jlaj'or of Bucjtus, serving one term. He then became sub-contractor on the A. & L. E. R. R., to grade teu miles, in company with S. D. Rowse. Since that time, he has been engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, representing Aultman, Miller & Co., of Akron; C. Aultman & Co., of Canton; Gaar, Scott & Co., of Richmond, Ind., and other large firms, and is doing a good business. He is now Township Trustee, and has been many years, being also one of the leading auctioneers of the county. By his first marriage, he has four children liv- ing — Orlando, railroad conductor, Ft. Wayne, Ind. ; Maggie, wife of Frank Stauffer, of Bucy- rus ; Dilla Hulda, married, and living in Co- lumbus ; Mar3f J., Rebecca and Charlotte are dead. His first wife died in October, 1870 ; he was married to Lavinia Knisely, of Osceola, Aug. 8, 1871. He is a member of Bucyrus Lodge, No. 139, and a charter member of Ivan- hoe Chapter, No. 117, A., F. & A. M. DR. A. C. McNUTT, physician, Bucyrus ; is the son of Abraham and Jane (Craton) McNutt, and was born Oct. 26, 1827, at Petersburg, Ohio. He passed his youth here until 12 years of age, when his father moved to Liberty Township, in this county. Here young McNutt worked upon the farm until 22 years of age, gaining his education at the common schools, save a few months spent in the school at Bucy- rus in 1850. In the following year, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. In the spring of 1852, be began the study of medicine with Dr. George S. Ziegler, of Sulphur Springs, Ohio, and, in the mean- while, for several years, teaching school to pay his way. He continued with Dr. Ziegler until - his graduation; in March, 1856, at the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio. He began the practice of his profession in Leesville, in April, 1857, where he continued two and a half years. In 1860, he removed to New Washington, where he was at the breaking-out . of the war of the rebellion. On Oct. 16, 1861, he was commissioned as State Surgeon by Gov. Tod. and was transferred to the United States service in August, 1862. He was at once sent to the post hospital at Raleigh, Va., where he acted as Assistant Surgeon. For some four months, he acted as Surgeon of the 11th 0. V. I. In the fall of 1862, he was taken seriously ill, and returned home. In April, 1863, having re- gained his health, he engaged in his practice at Caledonia, where he continued with good suc- cess until 1874. In 3Iay of this year he re- moved to Bucj'rus, Ohio, where he has since re- sided. Mr. JIcNutt is a member of the Ohio State Association, and one of the Vice Presi- dents. He was married Sept. 14, 1858, to Miss Emily Whittaker, of Leesville, a daughter of Annas Whittaker ; she was born there Sept. 14, 1835. Two children have been born to them — Grant A., born July 4, 1864, and Hortensia, born Sept. 10, 1867. JEREMIAH MORRIS, deceased ; was the son of James and Elizabeth (Pittinger) Morris, ;f* A ik. BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 791 and was born in Frederick Co., Md., April 6, 1793 ; his fatlier, who was a Methodist minis- ter and a relative of Bishop Morris, died three years later, leaving only a Bible to his son and but little more to his widow ; in 1800, Mrs. Morris brought the family down the Ohio to Portsmouth, and afterward married Isaac Monnett, the father of Col. William Monnett. During the war of 1812, Mr. Morris, then a lad of some 19 years, enlisted in Capt. Daw- son's company of Ohio militia, from Ross Co., Ohio, in which his step-father held a commis- sion ; he was stationed at the old fort near Upper Sandusky for some time, where, one night, while on a trip to Ft. Wayne, he lost a horse, stolen by the Indians ; meeting a mes- senger, who reported the aifair of Drake's de- feat, they turned back, young Morris making the sixty miles on foot in one day, with noth- ing but a raw piece of bacon and a canteen of whisky. About 1815, he married Miss Mary A. Williamson, of Pickaway Co.. Ohio. Here he was made Captain of a militia company, and spent his life until 1834, when he moved to his present residence, in Bucyrus Township ; here he lost his wife, and, some five years after- ward, Oct. 22, 1839, he married Miss Mary Parker, of Pickawaj^ Co., Ohio ; Miss Parker was born in Caroline Co., Md., Oct. 31, 1803, and still survives him ; a daughter, Elizabeth, is the only child of this union. Mr. Morris died Oct. 19, 1874. He was for many years a devoted member of the M. B. Church, and pos- sessed more than an ordinary share of amiable qualities ; he possessed a large and powerful frame, was strictly honest, and remarkably industrious, and a Republican in his political aflSliations. He died possessed of some three hundred acres of land, most of which he gained through his unaided industry. DR. J. T. MOLLESON, veterinary surgeon, Bucyrus ; the above-named gentleman is the only representative of veterinarj^ science in this vicinity, and his calling is one worthy of our attention ; the practice of the healing art and study of that branch which has refer- ence to our noble animals has been a growth in this country, and our subject is one who strives, by careful study and scientific research, to exalt and dignify his profession ; many of the aids afforded the practitioner among the human species are denied him who would heal the dumb sufferers of the brute creation ; the diagnosis of these cases must be made by an examination at once scientific and difficult. J. T. Molleson, son of John D. and Lucy (Chamberlain) Molleson, was bom March 23, 1840, at, Miamisburg, Montgomery Co., Ohio ; while yet an infant, his parents removed to Franklin, Warren Co., Ohio, where his boyhood was spent in the varied employments allotted him on his father's farm until 17 years of age ; he then entered his brother's livery-stable, where he remained some years ; at the age of 19, he began study of veterinary works, having been the constant companion and admirer of the horse all his life ; by the year 1861, he had carefully read some standard works on the subject, and began treating some diseases ; in 1867, he entered upon an elaborate course of study of veterinary medicine with Dr. Ballard, of Arcanum, Darke Co., Ohio, a man eminent in his profession ; he continued one year, and completed a course of study on the treatment of horses ; he practiced with good success in Southern Ohio until 1875, when he made his first trip to Bucyrus, locating permanently in 1877 ; since that time, he has successfully treated over one thousand horses, and, during the epidemic among horses in the fall of 1880, treated in three weeks over one hundred horses, without losing a single case. He was married, Dec. 21, 1867, to Miss Hattie McFar- land, of Tippecanoe, Ohio, and of this union five children were born — Fannie, Johnnie, J. D., Leon and Daisy. The Doctor is a member of De Graff Lodge, No. 549, I. 0. 0. F., and Demas Lodge, No. 108, Knights of Pythias. JACOB R. MILLER, stock-dealer; P. 0. Bucj'rus. The subject of this sketch is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Bamberger) Miller, and was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Jan. 19, 1839. The family lived in Dauphin Co. until Jacob was 8 years old, when they moved to Northumberland Co., of the same State, living some seven years there. They returned to Dauphin Co., where Mr. Miller lived until 1865, working hard at farm labor, and going to school but little in youth. In 1865, our sub- ject went to Schuylkill Co., and followed the double occupation of stock-dealer and butcher in the town of Ashland, Penn., until 1871, having good success except for the loss of ac- counts during the strike of 1869. In the spring of 1871, he came to Bucyrus, where he kept the Mader House for one year. In 1873, i^ v::! 5 \ 792 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: he opened a butcher-shop on South Sandusky avenue, between Charles and Warren streets, doing a prosperous business until 1878, when he rented the shop to John Heinlen, and has since devoted his attention to buying and sell- ing stock, dealing extensively in cattle. Oct. 22. 1866, he married Jliss Hannah Bensinger, of Schuylkill Co., Penn., and of this marriage there were five children, two of whom are liv- ing — Ulysses G-. and Villera L.; those deceased are Cora L., died in infancy, in Pennsylvania, and lies buried in Schuylkill Co., while two are buried here — Katie 0. and Jennie B. Mr. Mil- ler and wife are both valued members of the German Methodist Church, and he is an es- teemed citizen. FREDERICK MASSNER, contractor and builder, Bucyrus. A son of Jacob and Maggie (Snawenbarger) Massner, was born May 13, 1834, in Wiirtemberg, Germany, and received an education under the compulsory laws of the land of his nativity. He then began learning the carpenter's trade in Ludwigsberg, serving with one Charles Bair for four years, without remuneration, and working from 5 in the morn- ing until 7 at night, the year round ; subse- quently he worked two years as journeyman in Zurich, Switzerland. He sailed from Havre, and arrived at New York in September, 1854. He went to Dayton, Ohio, in search of work, and found employment with a farmer five miles from the city, with whom he remained for about one year, completing, in the meantime, his dwelling, which was in process of construc- tion. He then went to GreenviUe, Darke Co., Ohio, where he plied his trade for a few months, thence to Columbus, Ohio, where he worked with a brother for about two years, beginning in 1856, upon the State house. April 4, 1857, was the occasion of his marriage to Miss Fred- erieke Nachtraub, of Columbus. In May, 1858, he came to Bucyrus, where he has since resided with his family, composed of wife and six children, namely — Anna, Henry, Albert, Matilda, William and Charles, two having died, each in the ninth year of its age. After com- coming to Bucyrus, he began taking contracts, building some of the finest residences in the city, among them, that of S. R. Harris. He is an architect of some note, having made it a study in the schools of the old country. His business is quite extensive, having several workmen employed during the season. He and family are members of the German M. E. Church, also workers in the Sunday-school, he being at present Superintendent, also a Trustee in the church. His wife was born in Wurtem- berg, Germanj', near the place of his own na- tiviiy, and came to this country in 1852. Mr. Massner, to use his own language, is a " Re- publican always." JERRY NIM AN, furniture dealer and under- taker, Sucyrus ; was born in Richland Co.. Ohio, Feb. 27, 1841. He is the son of John and Margaret (Bradley) Niman. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Richland Co. at an early day, and there mar- ried about the j'ear 1818. He follo^yed farm- ing with good success. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of six children, and was 7 years old when his father removed to Mans- field, and he received his education in the public schools of that city. His brother was a manu- facturer of furniture, and while yet young Mr. Niman entered the workshop of his brother, having a natural taste for such labor. He fin- ished his apprenticeship at the age of 21, and, having served two apprenticeships at uphol- stering, he worked with his brother as journey- man until 1861. In 1863, he enlisted in the 163d 0. V. I., and was at Petersburg- and City Point, Va.; was mustered out in September and returned to Mansfield. In April, 1865, he came to Bucyrus and engaged in the manufacture and sale of furniture ; also attending to under- taking. In 1874, he built the northern half of Niman & Fisher's Block, one of the finest brick blocks in the city, his part being 110x21^ feet, and three-stories high. Mr. Niman has his furniture warerooms on the second floor, and has a large and elegant stock of the latest and most desirable styles of furniture. He also makes a specialty of undertaking, and is prepared to embalm subjects in the most approved and scientific manner. His experience of twenty- five years makes him a man on whom the peo- ple may rely. He was married, May 5, 1870, to Miss Mary Seamen, of Toledo, Ohio. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, and also of Royal Arcanum. i). W. NUSBAUM, miller, Bucyrus ; is the son of David and Rebecca (Getuldig) Nusbaum, and was born in Frederick Co., Md., June 6, 1833. He went to school some during the winter, and, at the age of 18 years, moved to Seneca Co., Ohio. Previous to this, he had '-^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 793 worked one year at milling in his native State, also assisting his father in the blacksmith-shop. After coming to Seneca Co., he worked a year at blacksmithing, and then entered a mill near Tiffin and remained three years. He then be- came foreman in the construction of the C, S. & C. R. R. After the completion of this road, he was Division Master for about two and a half years, and then went to Toledo, where he was foreman in charge of 125 men in building the Island House, which occupied two and a half years of his time. He then returned to Tiffin, Ohio, and engaged again at milling, continuing for three years. Next he rented Judge Lugen- beel's Mills, above Tiffin, for one year, and then the Honey Creek Mills for three years. He took charge of Kaller's Mills one year, and then Benton's Mills, in Crawford Co., were under his supervision. His health failing, he purchased a farm near Bucyrus, which he still owns, and remained but one year. He came to Bucyrus in 1865, and has remained here ever since. He assisted in the erection of his present mill. He was employed in McClau's Mills, Sandusky Valley Mills, and in the establishment of Voll- rath's. Has been in the present mills since 1878 as a partner. He has always been a Re- publican, true to the principles of the party faith. His maternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionarj- war, He was married, in February, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Sinn, of Craw- ford Co. They have three children living — Emma J., Charles and David E., and one child is dead. SAMUEL NORTON and wife, deceased, Bu- cyrus ; whose portraits appear in this work, were the first settlers of Bucyrus Township. For sketch of them see Chapter VIII, devoted to that township. JOHN G. OTT, dealer in stoves and tinware, Bucyrus ; is the son of John G. and Marj- (Aclin) Ott, and was born Nov. 27, 1810, in Baden, Germany. He went to school from his sixth to his 14th year, and then learned the trades of mill-wright and carpenter. At the age of 20 he entered the regular army, and served three years. In the fall of 1834, he came to America, making the voyage in twenty- eight days. He came by canal and steamboat, from New York to Sandusky City, and by team to Crawford County, with a family named Schlater, who settled in Chatfield Township. He assisted them to build a cabin, and remained during the winter. In May he went to Lower Sanduskj', now Fremont, where he was em- ployed at cabinet-making. He then went to Ft. Wayne and commenced work as a carpen- ter, returning, however, the same year, to Fre- mont. In the spring of 1836, he went to Springfield, Ohio, where he remained until 1841. In 1842, he removed to Kenton, Ohio, where he put up a steam saw-mill, and did a large busi- ness, remaining until 1 852 ; in the meantime, erecting three saw-mills in the county. He re- moved to North Washington in that year, and remained there until 1867, in which year he removed to Bucyrus, and ran the steam pump for the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Rail- road, filling the position for five years. In 1872, he bought a stock of stoves and tinware, and opened a store on Sandusky avenue, north of public square, with his two sons, George and August, as partners. They have a large, complete and attractive stock of stoves, tin- ware and house-furnishing goods, and do all kinds of roofing, spouting and job work. Mr. Ott commenced without capital, and is now one of the substantial business men of the town. He is a member of Crawford Lodge, No. 139, A., F. & A. M. ; Ivanhoe Chapter R. A. M. ; also of the Royal Arcanum. He is a Democrat in politics. He was married, Jan. 8, 1838, to Miss Eva Heisel, of Springfield. Ohio. Of this marriage, there are five children — George, Mary, August, Caroline and Louisa. His first wife died in 1854, and he afterward married IMiss Elizabeth Orth, of Hardin Co., Ohio. Of this marriage there are two children living — Hamilton and Edward. George M. was born April 8, 1844, in Kenton, Ohio, and received a common-school education. He learned the tinner's trade, and since 1872, has been engaged with his father in the business. August was born June 3, 1847, and has been a member of the firm since 1872. He was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Shealy, of Chatfield Township. Hamilton Ott is a graduate of the Bucyrus High School, and is now attending the Wittenberg College. J. G. Ott & Sons are among the leading business firms of the city, and have an enviable reputation for doing good work, and giving general satisfaction. PHILIP OSMAN, tile manufacturer, Bucy- rus ; son of Jacob and Catharine (Eichman) Osman ; was born March 29, 1829, in the town of Rutdow, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. He ^I^ d4^ 794 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: left school when 12 years old to learn black- smithing. He served an apprenticeship of four years, during a part of the year working from 4 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock at night, and without compensation. He next worked in the Province of Baden about eighteen months, when he went to France, and there worked as journeyman blacksmith for about three and a half years. On reaching the age of 21, he sailed for America, landing at Phila- delphia in June, 1850. He worked in a car- riage factory of that city some seventeen months, when he set out for Ohio, reaching Bucyrus in December, 1851. Here he was employed by Jefferson Norton one year, when he started a shop of his own. He did only custom work for some time, then began the manufacture of car- riages and wagons. He continued in this busi- ness with fair success until 1876, when he re- tired, selling his interest to his son Lewis and David B. Woodside. In 1870, he became in- terested in the manufacture of draining tile, but rented the factory until 1877, when he gave the business his personal attention, and has since done a large business at the factory located on the Gallon road. Mr. Osman is one of those who started in business without capital, and by hard work, and close attention to business, has steadilj- gained the confidence of all, and that esteem which is the meed of everj' worthy and useful citizen. Feb. 14, 1854. he united in mar- riage with Miss Catharine Hooker, of Bucjtus. The fruit of this union was six children, only three of whom are living — Lewis, Aquilla and Mattie. The wife and mother of these children died July 25, 1866, and he subsequently was married to Miss Anna Keller, of Bucyrus. Mr. Osman takes an active interest in the cause of temperance, and believes in the legal prohibition of the rum traffic. DAVID PETRY, Bucyrus ; was born July 4, 1841, in Schuylkill Co., Penu. He is one of a family of five children born to Charles and Phcebe Petry, both of whom were natives of Berks Co., Penn., where they were married, and resided until their removal to Schuylkill Co. They removed from this to Richland Co., Ohio, in 1857, where the father now resides. The mother died Sept. 5, 1872. David Petry was reared upon a farm, and received the advantages of a common-school education. He was mar- ried 3Iarch 28, 1863, to Jliss :Mary A. Wirt. She was born in Bavaria, Germany, Xov. 26, 1842. They have one daughter — Mary A., bom March 1, 1864. Mr. Petry oame to this county in 1870, and has become well and favorably known to the people of Bucyrus and vicinity. He takes great interest in all educational enter- prises, and, by his integritj- and gentlemanly conduct, has surrounded himself with a large circle of friends. He owns 132 acres of land, which he farms in a successful and systematic manner. Politically, he is a Democrat. JUDGE JOSIAH S. PLANTS (deceased), Bucyrus. Judge Plants, whose portrait ap- pears in this work, was a son of Samuel and Rachel (Sands) Plants, and was born Dec. 10, 1820. in York Co., Penn., it is believed. When 14 3^ears of age, he came to Bucyrus with his parents. They stopped with George Lauck, who kept tavern at that time. He persuaded them to remain, and he bought land within three miles of Bucyrus. The subject remained there two years, when he learned the shoe- maker's trade, but onh' worked at it a short time. By his own exertions, he educated him- self, plying his vocation with an open book be- fore him, and, when he acquired a sufficient education to teach, took up a school. When his term closed, he entered Ashland Academy, alternating for several terms as teacher and student. When about 23, he entered upon the study of the law with Robert McKelly, of Bucy- rus, now of Upper Sanduskj'. finishing his course with Judge Scott, of Bucyrus. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1842, as noticed in the sketch of the legal profession in another depart- ment of this work, and practiced until 1858, when he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in which capacity he served until his death, which occurred at Davis Station, 111., bv the accidental discharge of a gun, on the 24th of August, 1863. He taught the first high school in Bucyrus, previous to his begin- ing the studj- of law. He commenced life with- out capital, and acquired a handsome com- petenc}- through his own exertions. He was married Jan. 1, 1849, to Miss Amanda C. Lauck, of Bucyrus. Three sons and one daughter were born of this marriage — Justinian L., Galen S., Frank and Anna J. Since her husband's death, j\lrs. Plants has cared for and educated her family. Justinian lives at Bedford, Iowa, and is a Notary Public and Real Estate agent. Ga- len lives in Concho Co., Texas, and is a stock- raiser. Judge Plants is spoken of among his •^ ®- -^ ^, lL^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 795 large circle of friends, as a faithful friend, hon- est counselor, able advocate and just Judge. His heart was open as -his charity was bound- less, and the poor were never turned away hungry from his door. DAVID PRICE, proprietor of Monnett House, Bucyrue ; son of John and Anna (Watts) Price, was born Sept. 6, 1823, in Man- hattan Co., Island of Manhattan, then Harlem, where he went to school until he was 14 years old. His father was a butcher, and our subject attended on a stall in Washington market in the meantime. Mr. Price has " roamed through manj' lands;" for years he was a sailor, and his life was spent " on the ocean wave," his home was " on the rolling deep," and to use his own words he " never felt so much at home as when on blue water.'' In addition to his other sailor experiences and other voj'ages, he made a trading voyage around the world, leav- ing New York in 1844. His vessel, which was the sail vessel Truscot, sailed from New York direct for the Gulf of Guinea, on the coast of Africa, where they took on a cargo of ivory ; thence rounded the Cape of Good Hope ; passing across the Indian ocean, thej' touched at Aus- tralia ; thence north to Kamtchatka and the sea of Okhotsk ; thence among the islands of the South Pacific for spices ; thence rounded Cape Horn, up the South Atlantic and back to New York, after an absence of thirty-nine months. He shipped, originallj', as a cabin boy in the Live Oak, schooner, bound to Flor- ida, which he continued at intervals until he started on his " voyage round the world." He began his nautical career as cabin boy, then served as a sailor, and finally as fourth mate. In 1850, he left the high seas, intending to con- fine his voyages to the lakes ; took one trip to Marquette, but, not liking it, he retired from the business and settled in Cleveland, where he started a butcher shop, which proved success- ful. He became clerk in Gorham & Aplin's grocery for some time. He was next money deliverer for the American Express Co., which position he filled for about three years. In 1872, he became proprietor of the Gibson House, at Crestline, and operated it for about three years. July 1, 1875, he purchased the furniture and fixtures, and leased the Monnett House, of Bucyrus, and has done a good busi- ness ever since as its proprietor. The house contains forty-nine light, airy rooms, all newly furnished and re-fltted. It has two large and elegant sample rooms on first floor, and his ta- ble is furnished with all the delicacies in their season, and if his guests do not get hold of them it is not his fault. He has made such improve- ments as render the Monnett House first-class in every respect. In September, 1859, he was married, at Milwaukee, Wis., to Miss Abbie M. Shurbin, of Concord, N. H. E. P. PENFIBLD, physician and surgeon, Bucyrus ; is the son of Samuel and Clara E. (Woodworth) Penfield, and was born in Huron Co., Ohio, April 5, 1833. His home was in North Fairfield until he had attained to the age of 14 years. He then went to the Normal Academy at Nor walk, and received a good edu- cation. He commenced the study of medicine in 1854, with Dr. D. H. Reed, of his native village, and graduated at the Homeopathic Medical Col- lege in 1859, and immediately after, went to Newark, Ohio, where he entered into a good practice, remaining some three years. He re- moved to Bucyrus in June, 1861, and opened an office. During this time, he has built up an excellent practice, and gained an enviable reputation as a skillful physician, being the only representative of the homeopathic school in the citj'. He is a member of the State Homeopathic Association, and was, at its sec- ond session, elected Secretary. On April 15, 1857, he was married to Louisa H. Smith, of North Fairfield, Huron Co. Three sons are the blessings of this union — Charles S., Jamie W. and Arthur E. Ttie eldest, Charles S., is a graduate of Hahnemann Homeopathic School of Chicago, and is practicing there at present. The doctor's father was a native of Connecticut, and his mother of New York. Thej'were earlj^ settlers in Huron Co., where his father was a wagon-maker, but followed farming later in life. Dr. E. P. Penfield is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and has been Trustee for nine }'ears. As a physician, he ranks among the first in the citj', and has been a prominent and valuable citizen, and one who is well known as a man of principle and true worth. WILLIAM POPE, manufacturer, Bucyrus ; is the son of Perry Pope and a native of New York, having been born in Edmeston, Otsego Co., N. Y., Aug. 7, 1825. His earlier years, until he had attained the age of 15, he spent upon the farm and secured such education as was aflforded by the common school in his s ^ tlt^ 796 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: neighborhood. At the age mentioned he began the harness trade, working in his native county for some five years ; subsequently he engaged in work at an art gallery, where he continued for some eight j'^ears. In the meanwhile he read medicine, and, in 1852, he commenced the practice of medicine in the Western part of New York. In the spring of 1855, he came to Crestline, where he continued the practice of his profession until 1870. In the meantime, in con- nection with William Franz, he became inter- ested in the improvement of knitting machines, and applied for their first patent in 1868, which was granted in the following March. Since then thej^ have taken out eight patents on these machines and have purchased six others. In 1870, Mr. Pope, in company with Dr. C. Fulton, James Clements, John Franz and others, became incorporated for the pur- pose of manufacturing these machines and knit goods. Their first machines were put upon the market in 1870, when they became quite popu- lar and are now used extensively as a family machine and by manufacturers. Mr. Pope is President and General Manager of this com- pany, and has shipped goods to Germany, England and Japan. He was married to Cor- nelia Waring, of Franklinville, N. Y., on Nov. 17, 1856. Seven children have been the fruit of this union — William W., Lois, Ida, Kate, Henrv, Anna and Frank. REV. JAMES T. POLLOCK, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus ; is a son of William and Fannie R. (Thomson) Pollock, and was born, in Leesburg, Carroll Co. Ohio, Aug. 14, 1835. He was reared on a farm and went to a common school until he was 16 years of age. He was then given the advantages of a higher education, and at the age of 22 he grad- uated at Geneva College, Logan Co., Ohio. He was licensed to preach, April 16, 1860, by the Scotch Covenanter Church, and was ordained at Utica, Ohio, July 11, 1861. He entered upon his ministerial labors at Bovina, N. Y., serving from 1861 till 1863 with gratifying success. In the following year he enlisted as Chaplain of the 91st Ind. V. I., and continued until the close of the war, witnessing the battles of Franklin , and Nashville, and proving of great assistance to the wounded. After the war, he was called by the New School Presby- terian Church, of Osborn, Greene Co., Ohio., to fill their pulpit, where for four years he labored successfully. For the three years following, he was Pastor of the Church at Monroe ville, Hu- ron Co., Ohio. The Presbyterian Church of Tif- fin next gave him a call and here he labored in his chosen calling, until 1877, when he removed to Maumee City, remaining but six months, and in Januarj', 1879, he came to Bucyrus, where he has proven himself a model Pastor and beloved of his people. He was married, June 12, 1867, to Elizabeth A. Andrews, of Montgomery Co., Ohio. Of this union there are three children living — Fanny T., Margaret R. Melville A. A son, Charles F., is dead. ZALMON ROWSE (deceased), whose por- trait appears in this work, was one among the earliest of Crawford County's pioneers. He was born in December of 1789, in the State of Massachusetts. His parents were poor and un- able to give him the advantages of a classical education. He was endowed with a quick and comprehensive mind, and by his own efforts he succeeded in getting a good education, which he turned to the best advantage by engaging in school teaching. When 16 years old he went to Wayne Co., Penn., and while there, when he had arrived at the age of 19, he was married to Miss Mehetabel Kent, who was then 16 years old. In the spring of 1821, he walked from Wayne Co., Penn. — 500 miles — to Craw- ford Co., Ohio, where he entered three tracts of land of 80 acres each, after which he again walked to his home. In the fall of the same year, he moved to this county with his family, which consisted of his wife and six children. They started on the 12th of October, 1821, and with a team of oxen made the journey to Craw- ford County by the 2d of December following. Mr. Rowse first located in Whetstone Town- ship on one of his purchases, that now lies within one-fourth of a mile of the incorporate limits of Bucyrus. He remained there about two years and then removed to another of the three original eighties, which is now owned and resided upon by Col. William Monnett. Mr. Rowse taught one term of school after he came to Crawford County. Shortly after his arrival, he was made one of the County Com- missioners, and following this he was elected Justice of the Peace. He was then appointed Clerk of the Court of Crawford County, in ad- dition to which he also held the office of County Recorder. These different oflBces he held about fifteen years. He was a member of 7 y^_ i^ ^: BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 797 the Whig partj', and at the organization of the Crawford Countj- Militia, he was re-elected Colonel. He never engaged in the mercantile business, but bought and sold many tracts of real estate in and about Bucyrus. He also did contracting of almost any kind. When the old Columbus and Sanduskj' Turnpike was built, he contracted and built several miles of it, which ran through Bucyrus. His greatest amusement was hunting, at which in those early days he had a decided advantage to grati- fy his passion, as game of almost every descrip- tion common to the climate was abundant. He was a member of the order of A., F. & A. M., and for twenty years previous to his death he was a member of the M., E. Church, as was also his wife, whose death occurred in 1849. Mr. Kowse survived his wife until Aug. 16, 1854, when he also passed away. They were both interred in the old burying-ground, east of Bu- cyrus, but subsequently their remains were re- moved to Oakwood Cemetery. They left a family of children to mourn their loss, among whom were the sons, Horace and William, who have since become prominent business men of Bucyrus, and to whom we are indebted for many of the facts and data of this sketch and for the portrait of their father, the subject of this memoir. Col. Zalmon Rowse. WILLIAM ROWSE, merchant, Bucyrus, is a son of Zalmon and Mehetabel (Kent) Rowse, and was born in Bucyrus April 24, 1824. He was among the earliest born in this city, and is now, probably, the oldest native of the town, now living. He spent his youth in tilling the soil, and attended school, acquiring a servicea- ble education. At the age of 21, Mr. Rowse be- gan to labor for himself, and commenced farm- ing on the place now owned by William Mon- nett, which land had been entered by his father, Zalmon Rowse. For three j'ears he continued to farm this property, and then exchanged it for one in Whetstone Township, where, for seven years, he lived and farmed, with good success. In 1859, he removed to Bucyrus, and, in connection with his brother Horace, built the Rowse Block. After its completion, they opened a general store, and with the exception of one year, Mr. Rowse continued in this busi- ness until 1876, meeting with splendid success. In March, 1878, he opened a store at No. 3 Quinby Block, and is at present doing a flour- ishing business, carrying a general stock of dry goods, groceries and boots and shoes. He was married, in September, 1849, to Catherine C. Finn, of Dundafl?. Six children were the fruits of this union, three of whom are dead. Those living are Charles H., Cora A. and Carrie A. Mr. Rowse is an old resident of the city, and one of its influential men. He is a prom- inent member of the M. E. Church, being one of its Trustees, and is a man of noted honesty and integrity, who shares largely in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. HORACE ROWSE, merchant, Bucyrus, was born Sept. 23, 1811, among the hills of Wayne Co., Penn., and is the son of Zalmon and Mehetabel (Kent) Rowse. The subject of our sketch spent the first fifteen years of his life on a farm. When aged 10 j'ears, his parents removed to this county, and located on what is now known as the Ludwig farm, one mile east of town. They next moved to the William Monnett place, when Horace, who was then 16 years of age, came to Bucjtus, and went to school the first winter to a teacher named William Blowers. He worked for his father on the farm till he was 23, and, in the meantime, taught his first term of school at the age of 21 ; continued at intervals, teaching some four terms. For three years he worked for his father on a contract of the Columbus and San- dusky Turnpike. He and his brother bought 400 acres of land, about two and a half miles from town, where he lived about two years. In 1838, he removed to town, and worked on the jail and boarded other employes. In 1842, himself and brother opened in the mercantile line, but Horace sold out in two years, and re- moved to Sulphur Springs, where he kept a general store. He was here in business for seven j'ears, and then bought the old home- stead, where he remained two years, and then selling it to William Monnett in 1853. Return- ing to Bucyrus, he opened a store where Malic is now. Two years afterward he purchased the corner, and exchanged that for 400 acres of land in Whetstone Township, which he rentsd. In 1856, he put a stock of goods in Rowse's Block, and was there until 1858. He and his brother then built the structure which he now occupies, and continued business for some ten years. In company with his son, he opened a shoe store in the Quinby Block, in 1875, and subsequently put in a stock of dry goods. He retired in 1878, and, in 1879, he "5> ""V V :fk^ 798 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: and his son opened a grocery and provision store, also a news depot, in which business they still continue, and have been successful. He was married, in September, 1834, to Cath- erine Bell, of Delaware Co., Ohio, and of that marriage six children are living — Eva, Ada, Theron A., Emma, Kate and Henry. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and Steward of its organization. Jlr. Rowse has been a suc- cessful business man, and is a much-respected citizen. ALEXANDER A. EUHL, Clerk of Courts, Bucyrus. The genial and popular Clerk of Crawford Count}' was born April -i, 1828, in Shrewsbury, York Co., Penn., and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Daws) Ruhl, His father was a farmer and came to Ohio in 1833, settling near Galion, the north part of which citj' is now on land that he once owned. At the time of his settlement there, Galion was composed of a few cabins. The subject of our sketch gathered chestnuts on what is now the public square, and deer were common even in his day. Mr. Ruhl, Sr., cleared that portion of the citj' north of the square. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, a highly re- spected citizen, and died at the age of 63. His family consisted of nine children, eight of whom ai-e still living — Cornelius K., died in July, 1863; Joanna, wife of 0. T. Hart, of Galion; Margaret, wife of C. G. Rupp, of Bucyrus ; James H., farmer in Allen Co., Ind. ; JIary M., lives in Galion ; Louisa M., is now the wife of W. H. Clymer, editor of The Times, Van Wert, Ohio ; Calvin E., dentist at Findlay ; Sarah G., married S. G. Cummings. These, including the subject of our sketch, composed the family. Alexander was but four }'ears old, when he came to Ohio with his parents, and attended school but little, the advantages of education not being as at present. At the age of 22 he entered Wittenberg College, at Springfield, at- tending two years. In 1850, he came to Bucy- rus, and entered the dry-goods store of Hecrj- Converse, and remained some four years. In 1859, he was elected Auditor, and discharged the duties of that office four years. He trav- eled extensively through the West and South, during the years of 1866 and 1867. When in 1868, the Bucyrus Machine Works were started under the direction of a stock company, Mr. Ruhl was elected Secretary, and filled the posi- tion with satisfaction for some eighteen months. when he commenced traveling and selling ma- chinery for ^IcDonald & Co., of Wooster, Ohio, and continued for five years. In 1875, he com- menced selling machinery of various kinds in Bucyrus, and continued until his election as Clerk, in October, 1879. He was married, Dec. 27, 1853, to Aurelia M. Shauke, of Bucyrus, and they have three children — Ida B., Geo. S. and Frank 1. Mr. Ruhl is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a highly re- spected citizen. JOHN REXROTH, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; a son of John N. and Anna M. (Writman) Rex- roth, was born May 10, 1836, in Bucyrus ; at the age of 3 years, his parents removed to Winchester, where ten years of his youth were spent , he attended school at that place three months each year, and returned to Bucyrus with his family in 1849, going to school here until the winter of 1854, under John Hopley, Esq. He and his brother rented land near Bu- cyrus, and supported the family by teaming and other work. He aided his father in his shop until he gave up blacksmithing, about 1855. The family- exchanged town property for 80 acres of land, in 1857, lying just south of town, to which the}' moved. Here they lived some time, and then removed to another farm — the Riley Pettitt farm — where they lived until 1867 ; his father died there June 15, 1867. They then returned to Bucyrus. Thus far the subject had been a member of the fam- ih' and its chief support in early part of the time ; all working together, however. He was married, Dec. 18, 1867, to Miss Maggie S. Frey, of Buc3'rus, who was born June 14, 1847, in Germany, and came to this country when but 6 years old, and was educated here. They have four children li'dng — Charles F.. born Oct. 1, 1868 ; Lilly J., born July 5, 1875 ; Royal R, born Dec. '8, 1877 ; Clyde N., born Sept. 15, 1879 ; John Jaj' died when only 3 years old. After marriage, Mr. Rexroth removed to his present place, two and a half miles south of Bucyrus, where he owns at the. present time 296 acres of fine farming and grazing land, with some beautiful groves of light timber, and with four flowing springs. These springs have been bored to different depths ; the deepest to a depth of twenty-one feet, and yields a suflB- ciency of water for 1,000 head of cattle. It is of mineral nature (slightly impregnated with iron). He began life in the spring of 1855, ^7 :fz p^ BUCYKUS TOWNSHIP. 799 without a dollar, and ia twenty-five years, by hard work and careful management, has accu- mulated a good property. During the war he dealt largely in sheep, buying, grazing and sell- ing. He is now engaged in farming and stock- raising — breeding a high grade of Merino sheep, and has a fine flock. He has always been Republican in politics, and is a member of the M. E. Church at Bucyrus. John N. Rex- roth, the father of John Rexroth, was born Nov. 6, 1800, in the village of Erhach, Hesse- Darmstadt, G-ermanj', and went to school there from 6 to 14 years of age, after which he learned the trade of blacksmithing, probably with his father. He followed his trade in the old country until 30 j'ears old, when became to the United States, landing at Baltimore, after a voyage of six months, being wrecked twice on the way. At Baltimore, he met and married Anna 51. Writman, who was born near Carls- ruhe of Baden. She came over about the same time as himself — the only one of her family, and they were married March 1, 1831, in Baltimore, and at once removed to Gettys- burg, Penn., where they lived little more than a year. In 1833, they came to Bucyrus, where he followed his trade until 1855, accumulating property rapidly. He purchased considerable land by his indefatigable industry, but by se- curity debts for friends, lost nearlj' all, except a comfortable home, and they worked together until all the children were educated. ■Mr. Rex- roth was raised a Lutheran, and when he came to Bucyrus he united with the Evangelical As- sociation, but that society did not prosper, and he united with the German M. E. Church, and was a devoted Christian to the time of his death, which occurred June 15, 1867 ; and was class- leader for many years. He had two remarkable visions or dreams ; some twenty years before his death, when reverses had come upon him, and he retired feeling very despondent, like Bunyan, he "saw in his dream" a "presence," which said, " Come, and I will sliow you your future ; " following it, he saw a house, larger than the one then occupied ; they went on for some time, when the " presence " said, ' Here you stop;" these appeared to lie like in ap- pearance to his future home, and the last was the exact counterpart of the place where he afterward died. A stranger, a countryman, once called on Mr. Rexroth, and, after remain- ing with him a couple of hours, left, and went to his home, some four miles distant ; a few weeks later, he had a dream, in which he was required to go to his stranger friend, as he needed his assistance ; three times this vision appeared, each time as if a person talking to him and telling him to go ; he went to work in the morning, but could not rid himself of the impression, and finally he decided to go and see the man ; upon his arrival, he found him dying. Mr. Rexroth was the father of ten children, nine of whom grew to man and womanhood — Adam (deceased), Catharine Al- bright, John, Daniel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Lydia, Samuel (now also dead), David, Margaret (wife of S. Kurtz), Elizabeth (is the wife of Rev. G. Lease, of Kenton, Presiding Elder) ; Lydia is the wife of B. Beal, Esq. JAMES H. ROBINSON, County Auditor, Bucj'rus ; was born in Chatfield Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1839, and is the son of James M. and Mary E. (Cooper) Robin- son, who were parents of the following family : John, James, Nathan (deceased), William, Abner (deceased) and Melvina (deceased) ; the father was born near Wheeling, Va., in October, 1807, and, about the year 1825, he, together with his parents, came to Chat- field Township, where our subject was born ; the grandfather of James H. was a man of considerable means, and, on his arrival, he purchased a large tract of land, which he tilled for many years ; at his death, his son, the father of James H., took charge of the farm, which he also farmed until his death, which event occurred in October, 1874. It was on this farm that James H. passed his early years ; he received a good education, which was finished by attending the Otterbein Uni- versity during the winter of 1860-61 ; Mr. Robinson then began teaching, and continued eight terms with success, three of these terms being taught in Richville ; while in the latter place, he was in the mercantile business in connection with teaching. On July 4, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Hipp, of Chatfield Township, and by her had two children — Minnie, born Nov. 19, 1867, and Francis M., who died when 5 years old. Mr. Robinson was elected County Surveyor during the fall of 1872, and continued in that office until 1877, when the people of the county, rec- ognizing his ability, selected him for Auditor of Crawford Co. ; he was elected, and re-elected ' MS) . fk^ 800 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: in the fall of 1880. Mr. Kobinson is a consist- ent Christian, and takes an active part in the advancement of his church. WILLIAM P. ROWLAND, retired, Bucy- rus ; is the son of John M. and Martha (Mar- tin) Rowland, and was born Feb. 6, 1837, in Green Township, Richland Co., Ohio ; his father was a native of Washington Co., Penn., and came to Ohio when very young, and was consequently one of the pioneers of that countj- ; his grandfather was in the war of the Revolu- tion ; there are two sisters and one brother of our subject living — Mary Hickoks, of Denver, Colo.; Laura Miner, of Mansfield, and Shan- non, of Leadville, Colo. The subject of the present sketch attended district school until he was 18 years of age, and then became yard dispatcher at Crestline, which position he held for four years ; next, he spent two years in the ticket and freight oflSce ; in the fall of 1861, he became proprietor of the St. James Hotel (then the Weldon), of Mansfield, and was its landlord for two years ; in 1863, he came to Bucyrus and engaged in the sale of stoves, tin and hardware as a partner in the firm of Rowland & Picking, this partnership exist- ing until 1874, when Picking died, and Mr. Rowland sold out the business to J. G. Ott & Sons, and retired from active business life ; since then, he has visited several of the West- ern States, and has spent one winter with his family at Lookout Mountain, Tenn. He was for three years President of the School Board, and also a member of the City Council. He is a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 272, and of the Knights of Pythias, Demas Lodge, No. 108. He was first married in October, 1858, to Miss Lizzie Sloane, who died eleven months thereafter ; he was married again, July 9, 1862, to Miss Kate Picking, of Bucyrus, daugh- ter of John Picking ; they have two children — Jesse and Mollie. CHARLES ROEHR, Bucyrus ; is the son of Henry and Caroline ((jresky) Roehr, and was born July 26, 1835, in Ihna, Saxony. He at- tended school until his 14th year, and then for six years following he clerked in a store. In August, 1855, he sailed for the new world from Hamburg, and arrived in New York after a voyage of six weeks. He came at once to Bu- cyrus, where he commenced an apprenticeship with George StoU, in the carpenter's trade. After serving two years, he commenced business for himself in contracting work, and continued until 1868. In October of that year, he became a partner in the firm of Stoll Bros. & Co., and this business union lasted five years. John Stoll retired at the expiration of this time, and Mr. Roehr became an equal partner with Jacob Stoll and John Shealy, running a large planing- mill and lumber-yard at Bucyrus, also running a branch establishment at Upper Sandusky. Mr. Roehr has managed the business for twelve years, which began with the help of eight men, while they now employ thirty-five and occupy some three acres. Mr. Roehr is a member of the German Lutheran Church. He has dealt considerably in real estate, and has built over twenty buildings in the town. He was married, in November, 1858, to Miss Lizzie Eberth, of Bucyrus. They have eight children — Kate, Edward, Emma, William, Helen, Henry, Carl and Alma. HENRY M. ROWE, liveryman, Bucyrus ; is the son of Norman Rowe, and was born March 22, 1828, in Oswego Co., N. Y. ; was a farmer's son, and spent the first sixteen years of his life on a farm, working after he was 16 at $8 per month. In 1844, he came to Ohio and stopped at Newark. He then commenced traveling throughout the State selling notions and medi- cines until 1853. He also made a trip to the West to see the country. Having made Bucy- rus his headquarters, he started a livery-stable here in 1 856, in partnership with C. D. Ward, which business relation existed for six years. In 1862, Mr. Rowe bought out his partner and continued the business as sole proprietor until 1868. During the war he was prominent in the shipping of horses, and also was engaged in this branch until 1875. In 1868, he sold out his stable to John Keil. In 1876, he went to New York and engaged in the mercantile business with his brother at New Haven. He retired in September, 1879, and, in June, 1880, he started a new liverj', sale and feed stable in Bucyrus in the southwest corner of public square, where he is doing a thriving business. Mr. Rowe is a member of Crawford Lodge, No. 443, A., F. & A. M., also of Ivanhoe Chapter. Has also been a member of City Council. He was married in September, 1849i to Martha Burke, of Wyandot Co., Ohio. His wife died May 5, 1872. CHARLES G. RUPP ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is the son of Peter and Hellena (Earnst) Rupp, and was born Feb. 3, 1822, in York, York Co., Penn. •^ s ?^ CcA-'C'-U-^ -4u BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 803 His grandfather, Gottleib Rupp, was a native of Germany, and came over late in the eight- eenth century, settling at York, where he was a butcher. He raised four sons and two daugh- ters, of whom Peter, the father of our subject, was the third son, and followed the trade of his father. Peter married Hellena Earnst, a native of York, and thej' were blessed with four sons and two daughters, three of whom are now living — Dr. Peter Rupp, of South Bend, Ind.; Melvina, widow of Rev. A. Kuhn, for- merly of Gallon, and later the widow of David Seltzer, of Crestline. The father died at York, Penn., in 1825, while the mother survived him fifty-three years, dying at Wapakoneta, Ohio, in March, 1878, aged 93 years. The subject of our sketch received but a limited education, and, at the early age of 11 years, he entered a store in his native town, where he was employed for ten years. In May, 1843, he came to Ohio by stage and canal, the journey occupying two weeks. He remained a j'ear at Galion, where his sister lived, and then went to Leesville, at that time a better trading-point than Galion. He kept a general store there for three years, and removed to Bucyrus in 1848, and was em- ployed as a clerk for four years. He then opened a store in partnership with John Mod- erwell, continuing two years, and, upon the re- tirement of Mr. Moderwell, Horace Rowse be- came a partner for three years. He next en- gaged in business with Fisher and Hall, doing a large business on the old Kaler corner. Mr. Rupp retired from the firm in about a year, on account of ill health. He then became a clerk for his old partner, Horace Rowse, and contin- ued in that capacity until the close of the war. He then left mercantile pursuits and purchased an interest in a woolen-mill, and also, some time after, an interest in the Bucyrus Machine Works; also in a grist and saw mill, selling out this last-mentioned venture, however, in a short time. About the year 1868, he became a partner in the firm of Rupp, Rowse & Lauck, and afterward, of William Rowse, in the shoe-store. On the failure of the Bucyrus Machine Works, Mr. Rupp became assignee and settled up the business, which occupied some three years. He has also been engaged in settling up some fifteen estates. In 1873, he bought a stone quarry at Leesville, which has been lucrative, the stone being known as the Waverly group, and of the same grit as the Berea, and a fine stone for building purposes. He was Postmas- ter at Leesville during the administration of James K. Polk, and was, during the Kansas and Nebraska troubles, a Free-Soiler, and is now a Republican. He was a candidate for County Treasurer in 1858, and made a popular run, cutting down the Democratic majority to the extent of 600. He was married, July 18, 1848, to Margaret J. Ruhl, of Galion. Pour children — Annie, Clara, Maggie and Lincoln — are living, and five died in childhood. JOHN ROSS, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is the son of Linus H. and Jane (Emerson) Ross, and was born Dec. 12, 1831, in Pickaway Co., Ohio. His father was born near Elizabethtown, N. J., Oct. 19, 1799, and was of Scotch-English de- scent. He came with his parents to Pickaway Co. when 6 years old, and, at the age of 25, he was married to Miss Jane Emerson, a native of Kentucky. Thej^ had seven children, three of whom are yet living — Abigail Monnett, of White Co., Ind.; Eliza Hostler, of Cairo, 111.; and our subject. The father died in August, 1871, in his 72d year, the mother dying Sept. 28, 1878, in her 73d year. His father commenced life poor, first as a brick-burner, and later as a ma- son ; but at one timeowned 1,700 acres of land. The subject of this sketch worked on a farm until he was 14 years of age, at which time his father's family came to Crawford Co. and set- tled in Dallas Township, where, in 1827, the father had entered a large tract of land, and had grazed large numbers of cattle on it until 1845, when he removed there. Mr. Ross re- ceived a common-school education, and, at the age of 17, began handling cattle, doing quite a prosperous business. In 1853, he removed to his present farm, where he has 340 acres of fine farming land. He is at present engaged in raising thoroughbred cattle, and has a fine herd of fifteen short-horn Durhams, being of the finest Kentucky blood. He is also engaged in buying and feeding sheep. He is one of the prominent, influential men of his township, and is enterprising and a good business manager. He is a Republican in politics. He was mar- ried, Oct. 19, 1853, to Miss Lucinda W. Tharp, of Bucyrus Township, the daughter of Joseph Tharp and Phoebe (Kinnear) Tharp, and was born in Whetstone Township June 20, 1834. They have seven children all living — Linus H., born Aug. 21, 1854: Jennie, Feb. 15, 1857; John P., Dec. 28, 1858 ; Maggie H., March 24, 804 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: 1862 ; Anna K., Jan. 3, 1865 ; Joseph W., April 16, 1868 ; and Talmage J., Nov. 28, 1871. \ JAMBS G. ROBINSON, deceased. He was born on the 25th of December, 1828, at Wash- , ington, Penn., where his father, William Robin- son, a merchant, then resided. At the age of 14, he entered the printing office of John Baus- man to learn the mystery of type-setting, going to Pittsburgh a few years later and acting as i foreman in the office of the Pittsburgh Dispatch. Here he began a friendship with D. R. Locke, ; which lasted over a quarter of a century. In i 1853, on the occasion of a printer's strike, he ; left Pittsburgh with Mr. Locke, and in company i with him revived the Plymouth Advertiser, in , Huron Co., Ohio. Soon after, in 1855, he and ! his partner disposed of this paper, and pur- chased the Mansfield Herald, in company with i a j'oung lawyer, Rudolph Brinkerhoff. In a ' few months, Mr. Locke sold out his interest and I bought the Bucyrus Journal, and urged Mr. [ Robinson to join him in this new venture, j which he did in April, 1857. Here Mr. Robinson was marked for his public enterprise, to whom, in company with Mr. Locke, is due many of the public improvements enjoyed by the citizens of Bucyrus to-day. In 1861, he was appointed Postmaster, and in 1863, Mr. Locke having ac- cepted a position elsewhere, he associated his younger brother, J. Ralph Robinson, with him- self in the printing business. In September, 1867, he disposed of his share in the business, and engaged in the drug business with Dr. Cuykendall, whose interest he purchased in January, 1870, and continued the business un- til his death, April 14, 1872. He was univer- sally esteemed by the community in which he lived, was sincerely and conscientiously a Chris- tian gentleman, and in his daily life was an ex- emplary model for all. He was married to Miss Sarah Benscooter, daughter of Dr. Benscooter, of Plymouth, Ohio, in October, 1854. Her grandfather was a Van Benschoter, one of the famous Knickerbocker family who first settled New York. The marriage of our subject was blessed with six children — three of whom are living — as' follows : Irene, wife of Rev. C. S. Sprecher, of Ashland, Ohio ; Sarah J., and Jay G. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Rob- inson has resided in Bucyrus, where she has educated her family. DANIEL REXROTH, farmer; P. O. Bu- cyrus ; son of John N. Rexroth ; was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1837. The fam- ily were in moderate financial circumstances and young Rexroth spent his youth in town working for the farmers during the busy seasons, at $6 per month, doing a man's work at 15. During the winter months he acquired such education as the public schools of the time afforded. At the age of 16, in com- pany with a younger brother, with only $45 in money, he bought a horse and the necessary implements to put in 100 acres of corn. Here- tofore he had contributed his earnings to the support of the family, but thenceforward these boys started out for themselves, gaining the confidence of the farmers by their honesty and industry, and achieving a good degree of sus- cess. Marrying in 1862, he enlarged the scope of his industry, dealing in sheep for about a year. In 1864, he purchased 195 acres of his present farm for $11,700, where he has since made his home. He has devoted his attention since that time entirely to farming, and has been remarkably successful. He now owns 315 acres of as fine farming lands as are to be found in the county. It is finely watered, has a deep soil of great richness. Here his labor has been bestowed with such good judgment as to gain the credit of having the second-best farm in the county. In 1879, he erected a fine frame dwelling of ten rooms, which is an orna- ment to the place. He devotes his care to the growing of grain and the raising of sheep, keeping a flock of some 600 constantly on his farm. Mr. Rexroth's father was a German Re- publican, who came to this country for that free- dom of speech and action for which this land claims pre-eminence. The subject of this sketch has followed in the footsteps of his father, and is, politically, a member of the Re- publican organization. He and his wife are members of the Scioto Chapel M. E. Church. He was married, Dec. 2, 1862, to Miss Mary Purkey, of Bucyrus, a daughter of John and Phoebe (Kinnear) Purkey. She was born near Gallon Dec. 29, 1835. Four children have re- sulted from this union — Edward K., born Sept. 30, 1866 ; Effle N., March 27, 1868 ; Anno M., Dec. 4, 1870, and Nellie B., Jan. 20, 1872. The reliable CLOTHING HOUSE. Among the substantial business firms of Bu- cyrus, the above-mentioned house has a history worthy of note. Joseph Nussbaum, the pres- ent proprietor, to whose eminent business qual- tk^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. BOS ities the signal success of the house is almost wholly due, was born in Bavaria, Germanj', Sept. 11, 1853. He was carefully educated in his native land until 13 years old, when he left school and worked at tailoring one j'ear. In 1 367, he sailed from Bremen, and, after a short voyage, he arrived at New York July 19. He came at once to Cleveland, Ohio, where he at- tended the public schools for six months. He gained a fair knowledge of the English tongue, and started on foot through the country to sell notions. He followed this occupation about six months, then accepted a clerkship in a dry- goods store, which he held four years. He next opened a drj'-goods store of his own in the city of Cleveland, where he did a prosper- ous business for three years. In August, 1877, Mr. Nussbaum came to Bucyrus, and, in com- pany with Edward Braun, opened a large stock of clothing in Niman & Fisher's Block, where they have built up a large and constantly in- creasing business. The dimensions of the present room are 80x25 feet, making an area of 2,000 feet, with every available space occupied by the different departments of the business. The ready-made clothing department is ar- ranged on the plan adopted by the large houses of the cities, not on high shelves, but on a great number of large tables, within easj- reach of the customer, who may examine the vast stock without the aid of clerks. The merchant- tailoring department is represented by a full line of imported and domestic cloths, and a full corps of skilled workmen, among whom is Ben- jamin Nussbaum, lately arrived from Europe, brother of the proprietor. He is a tailor of ability and experience, who will devote his time to the trade. The gents' furnishing and hat and cap department furnishes the customer with an almost bewildering variety of the latest and most attractive stj'les to select from. The en- tire stock of this enterprising house is pur- chased by Mr. Nussbaum of Eastern manufact- urers, at the most favorable seasons of the year. His purchases are made for cash, giving his cus- tomers the benefit of large discounts thereby. Mr. Braun retired in January, 1880, leaving Mr. Joseph Nussbaum sole proprietor. He is aided in the different departments by his brothers Isaac and Benjamin, who, like himself, have been raised in the business, their father having been a tailor. They labor constantly to- gether to build up the honor and good name of the house. Among the factors that have con- tributed largely to the success and popularity of their store, was the adoption of the one- price system in the clothing trade. This has produced a much-desired revolution of the old scheme of asking overmuch and taking less, and is hailed with satisfaction by buj-ers of clothing. The term " reliable " is synonj'mous with the operations of this house, where goods are represented as they are, and offered at their true value. CHRISTIAN RENKERT, shoemaker and dealer, Bucjtus- ; was born March 28, 1831, in Baden, German 3', city of Freyburg, and is a son of Christian and Anna M. (Buckmiller) Ren- kert. He went to school from the age of 6 to 14 years. In his 15th year his parents came to the United States, and settled in Erie Co., N. Y., about the year 1845. They lived on a farm here for three j-ears, but in the meantime the subject of this sketch was apprenticed to learn the shoemaking business with a man named John West, of Buffalo, N. Y., serving two years, and remaining one j-ear after his term had expired. He came to Bucj-rus in the fall of 1849, and was employed by Fred- erick Schuler for seven years. In 1856, he started a shop of his own, north of the railroad, where he worked three j-ears. In 1876, he re- moved to his present room in Schaber's build- ing, where he keeps a full stock of boots and shoes of every style and qualitj' ; has a repair- shop and manufactory, turning out the best kind of work. He was married, Dec. 25, 1856, to Miss Helma Vollrath, of Bucyrus. Eight children have been born to them, of whom six are living, viz.: Frank, Tillie, Otto, Aggie, Frederick and Agatha. Charles died in his 7th and Anna in her 18th year. Mr. Renkert has always been a Democrat, and is now Trustee of the township ; was President of the Loan and Building Association. He and ft^mily are mem- bers of the German Lutlieran Church, he is also a member of the Howard Lodge of Knights of Honor. He began life with but little capital, and by his own energ}' and industry has ac- cumulated sufficient of the world's goods to render him comfortable. WILLIAM M. REID, grain dealer, Bucyrus ; was born in Whetstone Township Nov. 23, 1834, and is a son of George and Mary A. (Foster) Reid. The latter gentleman was born in Ire- land Jan. 7, 1812, and came with his parents ^ !> ''V ^^ li^ 806 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: to America in 1816, stopping near Newburg, N. Y., but sliortly afterward removing to Wash- ington Co., Penn., and some six j-ears later (in 1824) to Crawford Co., Oliio, settling near Bu- cyrus, on new land, which his father had entered some two years before. There was no school at that time in the neighborhood, and young Reid, who was an only child, was deprived of educational advantages. At the age of 21, he married Mary A. Foster, and settled on the homestead, where he lived until 1863, when he removed to Bucyrus. His wife died in 1860, and in 1865, he was married to Mrs. M. P. Bodge, of Worthington, Ohio ; four children were born to Mr. Reid — Robert, William M. (the subject), George and James H. ; two are dead, a son and daughter ; he owned 280 acres of land. Will- iam M., whose name heads this sketch, at- tended the district school until he was 18 years old, when he entered the Bucyrus High School ; in 1854, he went to the Grranger Commercial College, at Columbus, Ohio, from which he grad- uated the same summer, and afterward taught two years ; in 1857-58, he engaged in the mer- cantile business in Bucyrus, but sold out April 1, 1860, and went to Utah Territory by over- land journey. There were four in the party, and, after a pleasant journey of forty-five da3's with a team, they arrived in the vicinity of Breckenridge City, where they worked with moderate success, returning home in November \ of same year. Upon his return to Bucyrus, he ' commenced buying grain, continuing the busi- \ ness alone until 1866, when John Kaler became his partner, and the business is still continued under firm name of Reid & Kaler. They leased the present warehouse in 1870, and do a large business in grain, seeds, pork and wool. He was married, Jan. 1, 1862, to Mary E. Moder- well, of Bucyrus ; one daughter (Anna M.) was born of this marriage. His wife died in 1863, and Aug. 16, 1864, he married Emily Mc- Cracken, of Ft. Wa3-ne,.Ind. Seven children have been the fruit of this marriage, one of whom is dead ; Edward Cr., Lathrop F., Will- iam T., Charles, Robert T. and Sue. At the age of 15 years, Mr. Reid united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 1863, he joined the Presbyterian Church, of which body he has since remained a consistent member. He has been Superintendent of Sabbath school for sixteen years ; Trustee several terms, and is at present an Elder in the church ; was Treasurer of the State Sunday School Union for six years, and is now a member of Executive Committee. He has been elected by the people Mayor of Bucy- rus, a position he held with credit. JlLBERT J. RICHARDS, insurance agent, Bucyrus ; a son of Samuel R. and Amy (Eg- gleston) Richards, was born Oct. 13, 1852, at Leroy, Medina Co., Ohio, where he spent his youth going to school until about 17 years old, when he entered, in 1869, Baldwin University, at Berea, Ohio, remaining two years. (His father was Postmaster, and in youth subject as- sisted him in the office.) In 1872, he became the agent of the Ohio Farmers' Insurance Com- pany, located at Leroy, but worked Crawford County, which has since been his field of opera- tions. Dec. 20, 1876, he was married to Mrs. Mary E. Charlton, a daughter of W. B. Tobias, of Bucyrus, and widow of the late Alexander Charlton, by whom she had one son — Marquis. Of the present marriage one child is living — Mabel ; one son, (ruy, died in his second year. After his marriage, Mr. Richards lived in Holmes Township until September, 1879, when he moved to Bucyrus. He has done a large business in insurance, having over 2,000 risks in the county at this time. This company is a very reliable one, with a cash capital of nearly a million dollars. Mr. R. and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. His father was born in Watertown, Conn., probably in June, 1816. He lost his father when about 8 years old, when the family moved to New York, where he learned the trade of blacksmith. He came to Akron, Ohio, and worked at his trade, and about 1842 removed to Leroy, Medina Co., where he now resides. He married Amy Eggleston. then living in Medina County. They have five • children living — Maria, William, George, Albert J. (the subject) and Cora. He has been Postmaster at Leroy since 1861. In 1855, he became agent for Ohio Farmers' In- surance Company, has worked in the county for twenty-five years and is well known and respected. MRS. LUCY ROGERS, Bucyrus. ■■ Mother Rogers," as her friends familiarly call her, one of the aged pioneers of Crawford Co., has been so long identified with the county as to deserve an extended notice in this department. She was born Aug. 11, 1802, and is the daughter of Eli and Lucy (Green) Widger, of Preston, Che- nango Co., N. Y. The ancestry of her family •^ s i^ "k^ BUCYKUS TOWNSHIP. 807 is traced to the " manors " of England, and her father, in his day, was considered a man of wealth, being an industrious and prosperous farmer. Mrs. Rogers was educated in the common schools of her native place, and, at the age of 18 years, was married to Ichabod Rogers, of Connecticut, who was born Sept. 30, 1798 ; the marriage was solemnized July 21, 1821. The first year after marriage, they kept a dairy of thirty cows, and, so favorably impressed with her frugality and industry was the owner of the dairy, that he offered them $500 to stay in the same capacity for another year, but they had caught the Western fever, conse- quent upon the flattering stories told of the al- luring prospects of fortunes awaiting all those who should go to the rich " country of Ohio," and June 30, 1822, they started in a one-horse wagon, with all their worldly effects, but rich in hope and expectation. They were young and buoj'ant, and thought not of hardships and dangers. They were a month on the road, and traveled over 600 miles ; the young wife walked over 100 miles of the distance, and wore out one pair of shoes on the journey. They thought to settle at Pittsburgh, but upon their arrival there, being disgusted with the smoky appear- ance of the town, they determined to carry out their original intention and proceed to Ohio. They had about $130 in money ; $100 of this was exchanged for a counterfeit bill. Its fraud- ulent character was not discovered until they came to Pittsburgh and attempted to make a purchase. When they reached Bucyrus, tired and disheartened, they decided to go no further. Mr. Rogers left his wife at the house of a Qua- ker named Beadle, near the Deardorf place, while he returned to Chenango Co., N. Y., to re- cover his $100. This attempt resulted in a law- suit and a failure to recover the money. Now completely moneyless, he borrowed $75 of his brother and sister-in-law and returned to Bucy- rus. With this he went into business, and he and Samuel Norton were partners for one year. In 1833-34, he started a hotel on the corner of Perry street and Sandusky avenue, where Mother Rogers now resides, near the gasworks. This tavern was closed in 1838, and ever since the building has been occupied by her in the quiet routine of home duties. Here for more than half a century she has lived ; here she spent her best days ; here she raised her chil- dren from infancy to man and womanhood ; here died the husband of her early love, and the sharer of her joys, toils and sorrows. Of their early life in Ohio, Mrs. .Rogers relates the following incident : Her brother George came out to see them from New York, and, seeing the privations they suffered, he said : " What would father and mother say if they knew how you suffer ? " Said she, " I do not suffer. I have come to a new countrj-, and expect to live here and grow up with it. I am not homesick, either. Tell them when you go back, that I am well, hearty, and smart as a deer, but can't jump quite as far. You must not tell them how I live, or what privations we endure. Just tell them you guess I live well enough, and will get along." Six years later, Mrs. Rogers returned to her old home in New York on a visit, and while at her father's (Eli Widger's) he, referring to hard times, said, " None of my children know what suffering is. I served three years under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary war ; one time we were on a scout for three days, and nothing to eat but three biscuits ; we finally came to a settler's cabin, in a clearing, nearly starved." Mrs. Rogers then related her own experience in the wilds of Ohio ; how upon a certain occasion her husband was taken sick, and was for awhile bedfast, and their scanty store was exhausted ; how, when starvation stared them in the face, she, to save her loved ones, went forth to beg — walked through the tall, wet grass to William Langden's, told her pitiful story, and begged for something to keep her husband and babe from starving, and when, after getting a little flour, she returned on foot. The recital brought tears to all eyes, and even the old Revolutionary soldier was forced to ac- knowledge that her sufferings had been greater than his. Mrs. Rogers made six trips to New York to see her parents, and each time crossed Lake Erie, once encountering a terriflc storm. Her husband died Jan. 10, 1853. They had five children born to them ; three sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living. Rowena, widow of the late Alexander P. Widman ; Jane Eliza, wife of John Heinlen, of San Jose, Cal. (first girl born in Bucyrus), and George W. Rogers, Esq., of Bucyrus ; William B., farmer near San Jose, Cal. ; Henry D., of San Francisco, Cal SAMUEL SHROLL, Bucyrus. Mr. Shroll's parents, John and Elizabeth (Coleman) Shroll, were born, raised and married in the " Key- rV" ^1 \i\ 808 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: stone " State, where they resided until 1822, when they moved to Stark Co., Ohio, living there until their coming to this county in 1827. They were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are now living. In 1834, the father died of cholera, as did three of his brothers and the wives of two of them who had come to the county at the same time. The twelve chil- dren were living at the time of the father's death, and the family endured many hardships and privations before they found themselves in comfortable circumstances. Samuel ShroU was born in Bucyrus Township Nov. 8, 1828, and, from earlj' boyhood to the present time, has found employment upon a farm. He was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Stockman Jul}' 27, 1855. She was born in Liberty Township, this county, Feb. 19, 1837. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. ShroU, viz. : Mary J., Susan E., Martha A. and Lettie M. Mr. ShroU began for himself by working bj' the month upon a farm. He is, in the fullest sense of the word, a self-made man, and one who has the respect and confidence of the entire com- munity. He is a Democrat, but liberal in his views regarding men and religion. He has a nicely improved farm of 70 acres, upon which are good, substantial farm buildings. JOSIAH SCOTT, son of Alexander Scott and Eachel McDowell, was born near Cannons- burg, Washington Co., Penn., Dec. 1, 1803. While yet a youth he entered Jefferson College — walking from home every da}' and back — and graduated in 1823. After this he spent nearlj' six years in teaching — two years in Newtown, Berks Co., Penn., two years near Richmond, Va., and two years as tutor in his Alma Mater. While engaged in teaching, he studied law privatelj', borrowing books for that purpose. He commenced the practice of law in Bucyrus in the spring of 1829. Some ten years after this he was a member of the Ohio Legislature, and, in 1844, was the elector for his district on the Henry Clay ticket for Presi- dent. In 1850, he removed to Hamilton, Ohio, and in 1856 was elected to the Supreme Bench of the State, and twice afterward re-elected, positively declining a re-nomination. In 1 868, he returned to reside in Bucyrus, and, in 1876, Gov. Hayes appointed him as the head of the Supreme Judicial Commission, on which he served for the three full years of his appoint- jnent. He died June 15, 1879, about three months after his term of service had expired. Mr. Scott never sought any official position to which he was chosen or appointed. The office sought the man, and not the man the office. Although a man of great and varied talent, he was constitutionally modest and diffident. He was a man of extensive learning — a fine scholar in all the branches of an academic course. He excelled both as a linquist and mathematician. He could translate the Greek and Latin authors with great ease and acenracj'. He learned to read the Hebrew Bible without a lexicon, grammar or instructor. He was a complete master of mathematics, and it is said never failed to solve any problem given him that was solvable. He was the author of the rules for the formation of " perfect magic squares." As a law3-er he was logical, eloquent, brilliant, humorous, pathetic or sarcastic, as the circum- stances dictated. As a Judge, he was learned, profound, concise, and thoroughly conscien- tious. As a Christian he was humble, devout, thoroughly familiar with the Scriptures, and a fine theologian. He was a ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church for nearly fortj' years. He had an unusually large head and brain, and without effort could concentrate his mind upon all questions he was called upon to consider. His moral character was above reproach. " His life was gentle, and the elements So mixed in him, that nature might stand up And say to all the world, Ihis was a man." FREDERICK SWINGLY, M. D., retired, Bucyrus, whose portrait has been chosen to illustrate the history of the medical profession of Crawford Co., was born in Washington Co., Md., in Nov. 22, 1809. He is the son of Leon- ard and Prudence (Brentlinger) Swingly, both of whom were descendants of early settlers of the "Pine Tree State." Up to his 18th year the Doctor had the advantages of the Hagers- town schools, of Maryland. His first occupa- tion after leaving school was that of salesman in a dry goods store. He had been engaged in that work for about eighteen months, when his parents removed to the country, whither he went with them. The next two years of his life were spent at work upon his father's farm. Determining, however, to study medicine, he secured a place in the office of Dr. Russel, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, under whose instruction he remained for about eighteen months, and then took his first course of lectures at the Jefferson s — 9 \' '.\^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 809 Medical College, of Philadelphia. He then at- tended the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1840. He began his first practice in Chesterville, Ohio, where he remained seven years, and then spent one year in practice in Mt. Gilead, Ohio. In December of 1843, he came to Bucyrus and at once en- gaged in the practice of his profession. In his collegiate course and from the begining of his practice until locating in Bucyrus, the Doctor had devoted much time and hard study to sur- gery. His success as a physician and surgeon in fonner fields of practice becoming known to the people of Bucyrus and vicinity, he was, shortly after his arrival, in the midst of a large and lucrative practice. The Doctor was the first physician of any standing to locate in Bucj'rus, and to him is given the palm of pio- neership of all the medical fraternity of Craw- ford Co. In those early days his reputation as a skilled surgeon spread over an area of many miles around Bucyrus. Success to the physi- cian, in those days, brought long, hard rides in cold and stormy weather, over almost impassable roads and across unbridged streams, the fording of which, at some seasons, was dan- gerous to both horse and rider. The Doctor spent many years in this trj'ing practice, but later in life he has allowed most of his lausi- ness to drift into the hands of younger and hardier men, until now he has retired from the practice. On June 21, 1836, he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Trobridge) Denman, of Knox Co., Ohio. Of this marriage, there were six children reared to honorable man and womanhood. They are now situated as follows : Edith V., wife of James B. Grormley, banker of Bucyrus ; Ellen M., late Principal of the Bucyrus schools ; John R., Fruit Culturist and Purser of the Valley City Steamer ; Frederick, ex- Auditor of Crawford Co.; Mary D., teacher in the public schools of Bucyrus and widow of William Beer, late mem- ber of the Crawford Co. bar, and Kate N., wife of H. M. Fulton. Mrs. Swingly, upon whom de- volved much of the early training and educating of her children, and whose noble qualities of heart and mind have never been forgotten by them, now lies in Oakwood Cemetery. Her death occurred on Feb. 29, 1874, and was mourned deeply, not only by her own devoted family, but by very many tried and true friends of her earlier life. For some years after the death of his wife, the Doctor made his home with his widowed daughter, Mrs. Beer. On June 5, 1879, however, he again married — this time to Mrs. Barbara E,., widow of the late Isaac Vanvorhis, and daughter of George Han- cock, who was one of the early settlers of Craw- ford Co. Their home is in the Southern sub- urbs of Bucyrus, where the closing years of the Doctor's life are being spent in peace, plen- ty and contentment. JOHN SHULL (deceased), Bucyrus, whose portrait appears in this book, was the son of Solomon and Catharine (Huber) Shull ; he was born Oct. 3, 1809, in Fairfield Co., Ohio, where he lived with his parents on a farm until his 1 8th year. He then went to Lancaster to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he served an ap- prenticeship of three years. About the year 1830, he came to Bucyrus and began working at his trade. But little building was done in those early times in the history of Bucyrus. In later years, however, Mr. Shull had plenty of business, and to-day, many of the buildings in Bucyrus may be pointed out as standing mon- uments of his workmanship. Notable among these, were the old Methodist Church, also the Lutheran Church ; the old Sims House and the Bowman Block were also built by him. He was an active, energetic man, and, more than all else, an honorable, upright and respected citi- zen. In the year of Van Buren's election to the Presidency, Mr. Shull was elected Sheriff of Crawford Co. by the Democratic party, but, upon the organization of the Republican party, he joined their ranks, and ever after cast his vote with them. For forty years previous to his death, he had been a consistent member and an active worker in the Baptist Church. His death occurred on the 12th of October, 1875, in his 66th year. On Dec. 14, 1833, Mr. Shull was married to Miss Catharine, second daughter of Samuel and Mary (Bucklin) Nor- ton (a history of whose lives is also given in this book). She was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., on Dec. 17, 1815, and, in her 4th year, was brought to Bucyrus by her parents, who were the first white man and wife to settle upon the site of the town. The early life of Mrs. Shull, like that of her sisters, was spent in the wild and uncultivated country of Bucyrus and vicinity. The whole country seemed to be peopled with Indians and inhabited by wild animals. Schools for a time were almost un- >> V ^± ._\^ 810 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: thought of, and, when opened, they were of a very modest and unassuming character. With such surroundings and advantages, but little opportunity was aflTorded Mrs. Shull for attain- ing an education. Instead of attending the fashionable boarding-schools, she learned how to card, spin and weave, accomplishments of much greater importance at that day than a slight knowledge of French and the ability to paint a few dizzy pictures in water-colors. Mrs. Shull was married at the age of eighteen years, and, for some time following this event, she and her husband lived on the site of the Main Street Mills. In 1834, they removed to their home on East Mansfield street, where Mrs. Shull still resides. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shull five children, all of whom were daughters, and one of whom, who was the wife of J. B. Franz, is now dead. The four now living are all married, and situated as follows : Lettie, wife of Mr. Field Bush, of Mansfield, Ohio : Mary, wife of James R. Stuart, of Whet- stone Township ; Lizzie N., wife of L. C. Cald- well, of Bucyrus, and Orpha, wife of Frank Felton, of Ft. Wayne, Ind. JOSEPH W. SHARROCK, Bucyrus ; was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, Nov. 4, 18 14. He is the son of Benjamin and Constantine (Williams) Sharrock, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Maryland. They were married in Gruemsey Co., and removed from there to near Iberia. Morrow Co., in 1817. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are yet living. The father died Nov. 16, 1879, being at the time over 100 years of age. He had been a soldier of the war of 1812, and was a man of much more than ordinary intelligence. The Sharrock family are descended from one James Sharrock, who came to America in 1775, as a British soldier. After learning the true cause of the revolt against the mother country, he, with others, deserted, and, from that time un- til the close of the war, fought with the American army under Washington and La Fayette. J oseph W. Sharrock was raised upon a farm. He re- ceived such education as the schools of that early day afforded. His wife. Miss Mary Wood- side, was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 17, 1818. They were married April 18, 1843, and are the parents of six children, viz., Garrett, Charles, Oscar, Benjamin F. and James, living. Gardi- ner was the name of the one deceased. Two years after his marriage, Mr. Sharrock came to Crawford Co., which he has since made his home. He owns 290 acres of weU-improved land, which he has obtained by his own hard work. He is a Democrat, and a man of broad and liberal views regarding man and religion. He is one of the county's early settlers, and a highly respected citizen. PETER STOCKMAN, Bucyrus; was bom in Stark Co., Ohio, July 11, 1823. His par- ents, Jacob and Mary (Bolinger) Stockman, were natives of Pennsylvania. They were mar- ried in Stark Co., and were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are now living. In 1828, they came to Crawford Co., and settled in Liberty Township. The father died in 1867. His wife survives him, and resides with a daugh- ter in Indiana. They were hard-working people, and greatly respected by all who knew them. Peter Stockman was brought up on a farni. He received but a limited education, as his services were required at home in assisting to care for the large family. He was united in marriage to Mrs. Margaret Shroll in 1865. She was bom in Baden, Germany, June 8, 1834, and her maiden name was Bickle. Her first marriage was to Mr. Daniel Shroll, one of the early set- tlers of this county. From her marriage with Mr. Stockman there are six children, viz., George P.. Mary A., John W., Margaret M., Aaron A. and Esther H. Mr. Stockman began life as a poor boy, and has, by economy and hard work, made for himself and family a comfortable home. He owns 138 acres of land, the greater part of which is under cultivation. He is a man whom every one respects, and has unbounded con- fidence in. Politically, he is a Democrat. J. W. STIGER, farmer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; a son of Abraham and Rosenna (Klieman) Stiger, was born Feb. 22, 1839, in Lycoming Co., Penn. His parents came to Ohio when he was 5 years old (in 1844), and se.ttled on a farm, where they remained about one year, when they moved into the town of Bucyrus. Here he (the subject) went to school until he was 16 years old, when he went West (in 1858). Spent one year near St. Louis shipping horses, one year in Illinois, and two years traveling through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, buying furs and trading with the Indians, running many narrow risks of losing his own fur, otherwise his scalp. He was especially successful in the fur business, and did well for one so young. On the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted in ;f* 4^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 811 Co. E, of the 34th (). V. I. (Col. Piatt's Zouaves), in Jul}', 1861. He served principally in the Kanawha Valley, and participated in the battles of Coal River and Payetteville, and also in much skirmishing. He was discharged in the fall of 1863, on account of failing eyesight. He returned to Bucyrus and 'engaged in the harness and saddle business, which he followed for two years ; he then went into the grocery business, and continued that for about one year. His next move was on to a farm in Scott Township, Marion Co., where he farmed for about six years, and in 1871 removed to his present place, on the pike about five miles south of Bucyrus, where he owns some 220 acres of very fine farming lands. He devotes considerable attention to raising and feeding stock, with good success. He was married. May 3, 1865, to Ellen M. Monnett, of Marion Co., by whom he has had six children — Charles W., Gertie M., Annie E., John R., Thomas A. and Cora B. Sir. Stiger is a member of the M. E. Church ; also, of Oliver Lodge, No. 444, A., F. & A. M., at Caledonia. WILLIAM M. SCROGGS, deceased ; is the son of John and Anna (Shawke) Scroggs, and was born May 27, 1825, in Canton. He left school at 11 years of age, and entered a tailor- shop to learn the trade ; he worked in the town of Canton until about 14, when he came to Bu- cyrus with his father's family, in 1 839. ' He here completed his trade with Peter Howen- stein, and in a few years opened a shop of his own, and in 1851 added a stock of clothing, being one of the early merchant-tailors of Bu- cyrus. He retired from the business of tailor- ing about the year 1860. April 25, 1849, he was married to Miss Margaret A. Byron, of Bucyrus ; she was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., and came to Bucj'rus in 1835. About 1850, Mr. Scroggs was elected Mayor of Bucy- rus, a position he held for several j-ears, being at the same time Justice of the Peace. On the completion of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad, he was appointed conductor, and run the first reg- ular passenger train over the new road. After running on the road for some time, he became General Ticket and Freight Agent of the road, having his office at Crestline. Subsequently he returned to Bucyrus and studied law, for which he had a profound admiration, and was admit- ted to the bar about 1864. In 1868, he was elected Auditor of Crawford Co., and re-elected in 1870 by a large popular majority ; he proved a faithful and efficient officer. He died peace- fully Nov. 6, 1874, in his 50th year. Of his family, there is but one daughter living — Frank M., a teacher in the Bucyrus schools ; two sons aud a daughter are dead — Mary A., Edmund K. and George B. Mr. Scroggs began life with few of this world's goods, and by a life of ear- nest labor, left his family in good circumstances. Deprived of the advantages of education in youth, he sought by personal endeavor to re- pair the loss. He studied that book of books, the Bible, until he was familiar with every por- tion of it. While following his vocation, a con- venient volume was ever near him, until he be- came one of the best-read men of his day. He collected an extensive library, embracing the choicest treasures of history and literature, over which he pored with an ever-increasing delight. He was generous to a fault, and within the sacred domain of home, surrounded by his family, he deemed himself more favored than the monarch on his throne. E. D. SUMMERS, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; a son of Abraham and Susan (Wolford) Sum- mers, was born Dec. 26, 1841, in Wooster, Ohio. He lived there until he was 9 years old, when the family removed to this county (in 1850), settling permanently in this township, on the place now occupied by Magee. He grew up within a quarter of a mile of where he now lives, attending during the time the district school. He began farming for himself at the age of 23 years. He was married, Oct. 15, 1863, to Lettie M. Shroll, a daughter of William Shroll, of this township ; the result of this union was five chil- dren, four of whom are living — Anna L., born June 11, 1867; Charles A., Jan. 17, 1871; Lester A., Jan. 19, 1874 ; Hattie P., Feb. 7, 1880 ; William F. died at the age of five months. Mrs. Summer's family (the Shrolls) settled in this township in 1826, and were among the pio- neers of the county. They entered the land upon which Oakwood Cemetery is situated. The elder Shroll probably built the first saw- mill in the township. About the year 1860, Mr. Summers bought a farm of 60 acres, which he sold in a short time and bought the old Shroll homestead of 89 acres, upon which he lived for about eighteen months. He lived a short time in Tuscarawas Co.; removing in July, 1867, to Delaware, Ohio, where he was employed in the gas-works until 1876. In No- ^1 -'—^k^ 812 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: vember of that year, he removed back to this township, where he bought 60 acres of land, upon which he now lives. It is fine farming land and is highly improved. He votes the Kepublican ticket. Mr. S. started on small capital, and has accumulated his property by his own labor and industry. COL. JOHN W. SHAW, deceased, Bucyrus ; a son of Samuel P. and Elizabeth (Lowstetter) Shaw, was born March 15, 1820, at Rising Sun, Ind. He was about two years old when the family moved to this State. His father was an itinerant minister of the M. E. Church, and moved from point to point in Ohio. Young Shaw received a good education, and, at 18, came to Abraham Monnett's and assisted him on his farm until he was 21 years old, when he began farming on 170 acres which he bought in Dallas Township. April 24, 1843, he married Miss Mary Monnett, a daughter of Jeremiah Mon- nett ; she was born April 2, 1824, in Pickaway Co., Ohio. Three children were the fruit of this marriage, viz., Placidia, Autistia and Irene. They lived on this farm until 186U. He pur- sued the study of law with Judge Plants for one year, but, not finding it congenial to his taste, he gave it up. He was a very successful farmer and stock-raiser. In July, 1861, he raised a company which became Co. E, of the 34th 0. M. I., of which- he was made Captain Aug. 15, 1861 ; Oct. 10, 1862, he was promoted to Major of the regiment, and to Lieutenant Colonel July 18, 1863. He was mortally wounded at the battle of Winchester by a mus- ket ball July 24, 1864, and died eight hours afterward in the ambulance. He was a consist- ent member of the M. E. Church ; was a Stew- ard at one time and Class-leader, and Superin- tendent of the Sunday school. He was a Demo- crat in politics and held various township of- fices, in all of which he gave satisfaction. March 24, 1869, his widow married Rev. Benjamin P. Royce, of Seneca Co., Ohio, a minister of the M. E. Church. He was born at Essex, Vt., and came to Ohio in an early daj-, settling on wild land near Bloomville. He was first married in Vermont to Melinda Perry, by whom he had eight children, two only of whom are now liv- ing. He died Feb. 8, 1874, leaving her for the second time a widow. He lived at Bucyrus after his marriage to her, where he was a local preacher. Mrs. Royce moved to Bucyrus with her first husband in I860, and has lived here ever since, keeping her family together and educating them. W. R. SHAW, Bucyrus. This gentleman was born April 20, 1823, in Essex Co., N. J. He is one of a family of five children born to Lewis and Phoebe (Willis) Shaw, both natives of New Jersey, where they were raised and married. The father died when the subject of this sketch was a small child. The mother again married, and in 1834 the family moved to Richland Co., Ohio. After remaining in that county some five years, they went to Lick- ing County, but only remained there a short time. In 1838, the family came to Crawford Co., which they ever afterward made their home. The parents kept a tavern for some years three miles from Bucyrus, on the Little Sandusky road. W. R. Shaw was raised upon a farm and received a common-school education. When about 16 years of age, h^ entered a shop and served an apprenticeship of three j'ears at the blacksmith's trade, and, for two years after, worked at it He then, for three years, worked on a farm. His step-father d3-ing about this time, Mr. Shaw took charge of the hotel, which he successfully run for two years, when the family removed to Bucyrus, where they re- mained some years, and then purchased a farm adjoining the town, upon which they resided a number of j'ears. Mr. Shaw was married Dec. 27, 1846, to iMiss Sarah Bankert, who was born April 17, 1828, in Stark Co., Ohio. There were nine children in their family, eight of whom are yet living, viz., Emma J., Sarah P., Minnetta, Mary C, Lucy R., Georgiana C, Catharine and William H. The one deceased was Albert J. Soon after his marriage Mr. Shaw began team- ing between Sandusky City and Bucyrus, which he followed five years, and then, for some years, was in the saloon and restaurant business in Bucyrus. Three years ago, he took charge of the American House, and has since remained in the hotel business. He has held a number of positions of honor and trust in the county and city governments, and is one of the most prominent and influential Democrats in Craw- ford Co. G. W. STARNER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; son of George and Katie M. (Van VIeet) Stamer, was born in Monroe Co., Penn., Nov. 12, 1812. His youth was spent on a farm, at hard work, with but little opportunity of going to school ; the little schooling he received was obtained in ;r^ ihL^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 813 a log schoolhouse, where he sat on slab seats made of logs split in two, and legs put in at each end; and the school was taught by sub- scription. He was married, June 12, 1835, to Susan Stiff, of Monroe Co., Penn., who was born in Sussex Co., N. J., and removed with her parents to Monroe Co. when about 14 3'ears of age. He raised four children — Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Yeagley ; Ellen, the wife of James 0. Holland, of this tovynship ; Harriet, married John Dobbins, died at the age of 22, and lies buried in Henrj^ Co., Mo. ; William is a farmer in Henry Co., Mo. Mr. Starner moved to Ohio in September, 1832 ; came through in a two-horse wagon, making the trip in four weeks, and landing in Perry Co., Ohio, where they lived six years on a farm, and, in the spring of 1843, removed to Crawford Co. and settled in the southern part of Bucyrus Township, where he lived for seventeen years. In April, 1861, he bought 72f acres of land, upon which he at present resides. All that he possesses he has made by his own efforts. He has been a Republican in politics, ever since the organization of that party. A. SHUNK, Sr., Bucyrus, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of Simon and Susan (Harmon) Shunk, and was born March 23, 1797, in Somerset Co., Penn. He was raised on a farm, and was denied the advantages of schooling, living at home until he was 21. He then made himself tools and commenced work- ing at the carpenter's bench, and for twenty- one years followed this occupation in his na- tive State. He seemed especially gifted in this line, for, when only 8 years old, he made a min- iature wagon, perfect in everj' particular. He never served an apprenticeship — a fact which shows his natural skill in the direction of me- chanics. In 1843, he bought a patent right for the manufacture of a bar-shear plow, in Greene Co., Ohio, and, in the following spring, com- menced the manufacture of plows at Xenia, Ohio. He also kept a grocery and tannery for three years. He next worked at Canal Fulton, Stark Co., for about a 3'ear and a half In October, 1854, he came to Bucyrus and started a plow factory. He had about $1,000 capital, and built a brick shop the second year of his residence, and then had a surplus of $500. He is now sole owner of the entire block, which has all been made by his own efforts. They turn out about 1,400 plows per year, of six different kinds, and which have quite an extended reputa- tion, there being over 100 local agencies in four different States. Since he made his first plow, he has made all his own patterns, and has, dur- ing the last year, invented a pattern which ex- cels them all. We doubt if there are many men, so advanced in years as Mr. Shunk, who display so much business activity. He is a member of the English Lutheran Church, and has been since his 17th year. His father was in the war of the Revolution, serving under the great Washington. He was married, Feb. 1, 1816, to Miss Mary Banfort, of Somerset Co., Penn. There are twelve children living. Of this first marriage there are Delilah, wife of Mr. Stevenson, of Upper Sandusky ; Allen, machin- ist at Ft. Wayne ; Lavinia, wife of Joseph Mil- ler, of Springfield, Ohio ; Marian, wife of N. F. Albee, of Kent, Mich.; and Adam. His wife died Aug. 21, 1844. In 1845, he married Cath- arine Bauch, of Springfield, Ohio. Of this marriage, there are Francis, Nelson, Theodore, Isaac, Thomas W., John L. and Katie. D. W. SWIGART, attorney at law, Bucyrus. This gentleman, one of the eminent practition- ers of the Crawford Co. bar, is a son of George and Elizabeth (Small) Swigart, and was born Dec. 12, 1824, in Franklin Co., Penn. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1789, was a farmer, and removed to Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1844, where he died in 1856. His mother was born in 1796, and died in 1874. Their children numbered twelve, nine of whom are still living. George is a farmer in Knox Co., Ill.;^John a merchant in Bloomville ; William a farmer in Seneca Co.; Joseph R. is at Bowling Green, Ohio, practicing law. The daughters are all married and settled in Ohio. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood on a farm, and attended Marshall College, Mercersburg, Penn. He taught in his native State for some time, and removed to Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1845, where he taught in the winter and worked on the farm in the summer. In 1846, he came to Crawford Co., where he taught school one term, and, in the spring, was made Deputy in the Clerk's of- fice, holding this for one year, when he was ap- pointed Clerk, and served until 1852. He attended the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in June, 1 852, and was soon after admitted to the bar. In 1861, he entered the service of the United States army as Assistant Quartermas- ter, and, during the three years following, han- ^^ « ^ ^f^ 9 ^ 814 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: died some six millions of dollars. He returned to Bucyrus, and continued the practice of his profession until 1869. In that year, he was elected President of the A. & L. E. R. R., serving four years, when he again resumed the law. He was married, Oct. 9, 1848, to Rebecca A. Sweney, a daughter of George Sweney ; they have one child living, Rebecca S. Mr. Swigart was one of the prominent citizens of his city and county, and stands high in the estimation of all who know him. [Since the above was written, Mr. Swigart died suddenly, Nov. 25, 1880.] JOSEPH STEWART, retired, Bucyrus, whose portrait, and that of his deceased wife, appear in this book, was born in Carlisle, Cum- berland Co., Penn., where he lived until he was 21 years of age. He was brought up on a farm, and his facilities for receiving an educa- tion were limited, but, such as they were, he made the best possible use of them, and suc- ceeded in obtainii^ sufficient "schooling" to enable him to get through the world. Mr. Stew- art is one of the pioneers of Crawford Co., and has been an eye-witness to the grand stride of improvement and civilization made within the past sixty years. Re came to Ohio in the fall of 1821 ; entered laud in Columbus, but the family remained in Richland Co. during 1822, where they raised a crop of grain, and, in 1823, located in what is now Whetstone Township, in this county. This season all of their horses (four in number) died, and they were left in a rather bad condition. They then traded a cop- per stiD to Nathan Merriman, of Richland Co., for a yoke of oxen, with which a new start was made in farming and opening of their land. Mr. Stewart's recollection of pioneer days is very vivid, and, as a matter of interest to the young financiers of the present day, we will let him tell us something of early money matters in his own words. He says : " My brother James and I started down to Carlisle, Penn.; I took with me $100 in paper money. When we were ready to return West, my $100 would not buy me a ticket to come home on. My brother James had as much money as I, but his was in gold. I had to borrow some money from my brother John to enable me to get a ticket to bring me home. If a man had $100 in those days, he did not know that it would be worth anything in a week." Mr. Stewart saj-s rattle- snakes were plenty, and when they used to go out on the prairies to mow the grass for hay. they were compelled to make grass ropes and wrap round their legs as a protection against these poisonous reptiles, and that they had killed as high as four in mowing " one round." Says Mr. Stewart : " The largest and fattest deer I ever killed was a fat buck, which, after I had skinned and taken out the entrails, was so heavy I could not hang up. I took fat enough off the entrails to make a kettle of soap. When we came here, there were to be seen the paths made by the buffaloes going to and from their watering places." The following incident is re- lated by Mr. Stewart, in illustration of early life in the wilderness : " I was awakened one night by two men trying to get the door open. I called to them ; they said they wanted to come in. One had a club in his hand, and sprang against the door. I went to the window, with my loaded gun in my hand, and leveled it at his breast. He then came up and wanted a drink of water, but I told him if his tongue was hanging out of his mouth, I would not give him a drop, and that if he did not leave at once, I would blow him through. They both left without further parley, and I saw them no more." In the fall of 1824, Mr. Stewart was married to Jane Steen, of Whetstone Township. The result of this union was eleven children, three of whom are living, viz. : John, a farmer, living in Greene Co., Iowa : Charlotte, wife of Daniel I. Sheckler, of Bucyrus ; Ruth, widow of the late Jonathan Songer, who was wounded in the battle of Saulsbury, N. C., from which he died March 4, 1872. The children who were dead were named Barbara, John, Elizabeth, Mary A., Jane, Matilda, Emily, Caroline and Joseph. Mr. Stewart has retired from active business, and is now a resident of Bucyrus, en- joying the fruits of a life of toil. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for nearly sixty years, and has voted with the Republican party since its organization. WILSON STEWART, Bucyrus ; is the son of James and Sarah (McClintock) Stewart, and was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, April 12, 1815. He was the son of a miller, and entered his father's grist-mill as soon as he was capable of work. After the death of his father, which occurred when the subject of our sketch was but 15, he worked by the month, and supported his mother. At the age of 17, he commenced to learn the machinist's trade at Washington- ville, Ohio, under Jacob Miller, and was there j) fy ^L^ BUCYEUS TOWNSHIP. 815 and thus employed for three years. Having attained to his majority, he established a gun- smith-shop near West Point, Columbiana Co., Ohio, and remained there until the spring of 1850, when he settled in Kichville, this county, and established a shop and saw-mill, and met with good success. In November, 1859, he came to Bucyrus, and started a shop here on East Mansfield street, where he is now engaged in manufacturing all kinds of fire-arms, rifles, shot-guns, and doing a general repair business, as well as model making. Mr. Stewart's work has an enviable reputation, and many of his manufactures maj' be found in difl^erent States of the Union, he never having a gun returned to him. Throughout his life, he has been a prominent and highly esteemed citizen. For eighteen years, he was Justice of the Peace. He was Mayor of Bucyrus two j'ears, in 1863-64. He was County Commissioner for six years, serving from 1852 to 1858, during the erection of the court house. Since his 19th year, he has been a member of the Seceder Church. In politics, he has always been a Democrat, and voted for Andrew Jackson. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is H. P. of Ivan- hoe Chapter. He was married, Sept. 13, 1836, to Mary Woolan, of West Point, Ohio. Five children were the fruits of this union, one of whom, Rensetta, is deceased. Those living are Joseph, James, Sarah J. and Hibbitts. JOHN SIMS, retired, Bucyrus ; son of James and Martha (McConnell) Sims ; was born May 18, 1817, in St. Clairsville, Ohio. He was raised on a farm, and went to school but little, walking over three miles, and receiv- ing about two years' schooling altogether. He left home at the age of 17, and learned the har- ness and saddler's trade at St. Clairsville ; he worked at his trade in Mt. Vernon for a time, and in the spring of 1845, came to Bucyrus, started a shop and worked about eight j^ears, when his eyes failed, and he was compelled to quit the business. He engaged in a bookstore for about three years, and then sold out. He next bought the American House, about 1855, and kept hotel for a short time. In 1863, he bought the Bowman House, now known as the Sims House, which he has owned ever since. He thoroughly repaired it and added the third story. He carried it on as a hotel for about seven years, and since then has rented it, ex- cept for two short periods. He met with a heavy loss, previous to 1860, by a security debt. For a number of years he has dealt largely in real estate ; he has built over twenty houses in the town, and expended more than $100,000 ; having at one time owned all from the Sims House to Fisher's corner. He has been a member of the Town Council for four years. He was married, March 1, 1841, to Miss Catharine Meflford, of Mt. Vernon, by whom he has three children living — Hannah J., wife of G-eorge S. Harris, of Mansfield, Ohio ; Eugene H., of Bucyrus, and Sarah E., wife of James W. Spencer, of Iowa. His wife died in August, 1855, and he was married again, in May, 1857, to Miss Susan L. Smith, of Sandusky City. She was born Aug. 24, 1836. He was an Old- Line Whig, and a Republican since the organ- ization of that party. His father, James Sims, was born July 15, 1792, in Eastern Maryland, and was the son of James and Mary (Bwing) Sims. He came to St. Clairsville, Ohio, in 1810. He was married, Feb. 2, 1815, to Martha Mc- Connell, of Belmont Co., Ohio, owning a large farm there, which he developed and improved. He served during the war of 1812. Five sons and three daughters were raised to manhood and womanhood : James is a merchant at St. Louis ; John, our subject ; William, died in Wheeling, W. Va. ; Robert, connected with rail- road interests at Atlanta ; Ophelia, the wife of Newton Mills, a farmer of Knox Co., Ohio ; Ann, widow of the late Charles McWilliams, of Na- poleon, Ohio ; Joseph, farmer in Iowa, and Da- vid, a merchant in Illinois. The elder Mr. Sims is still living at Martinsburg, Knox Co., Ohio, with his venerable wife. He is in his 89th year, and in the possession of all his fac- ulties. His mother was a daughter of the Rev. John Ewing, who was born June 22, 1732, in England, and came to Philadelphia in 1759, upon a call from the First Presbyterian Church of that city. He filled the pulpit many years acceptably. In 1773, he went to England with Dr. Hugh Williamson, of North Carolina, to solicit subscriptions for the church ; returned in 1775, and preached to his old church until driven out by the British troops. After they evacuated Philadelphia, he returned to his la- bors again. The late Thomas Ewing was a full cousin to our subject's grandmother, and his grandfather, James Sims, came from Scotland in 1775, and fought in the Revolutionary war ; he was also a Presbyterian. He came with W^ t>u 816 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Gov. St. Clair here, before Ohio was made a State, and they settled at St. Clairsville, then called Newellstown ; the place then had a few cabins and a block-house ; he died in St. Clairs- ■ville at the age of 99, and his wife at 92 years of age. EUGENE H. SIMS, livery stable, Bucyriis ; was born Sept. 21, 1844, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio ; spent his youth in Bucyrus, and attended school until 15 years of age. He then assisted his father in the American Hotel for about one year. He then went into his father's harness- shop to learn the trade, and worked some two years at that business. When the war broke out, he^enlisted in Go. B, 86th 0. V. I., serving four months, when he was. discharged and re- turned home. He went into the harness-shop again for one year. His father bought the Sims House, and he took charge of the shop alone for a short time. He re-enlisted in the 136th O. N. G., and was engaged in pursuit of Gen. Mosby and guerrilla bands at Ft. Worth, afterward returning to Bucyrus, and becoming clerk for the Sims House for four years. In November, 1866, he bought a stock of horses and buggies, and engaged in the livery business until June 23, 1880, when his stable burned, and he sustained a partial loss of stock, but saved all the horses and buggies. By Septem- ber, 1880, another building, larger and more convenient, was erected on the old stand, on the southeast corner of public square, where he is a doing a successful business, in a livery, sale and feed stable. FRANK J. SHECKLER, Bucyrus ; was born July 14, 1857, in Bucyrus, and went to school, graduating in the high school at the age of 20. He then entered the office of the Eagle Machine Works, where he served as clerk, book-keeper and financial manager. In the spring of 1879, he began buying and grazing stock, and doing a general shipping business. He still, however, gives his attention to the machine works. He was married, May 21, 1879, to Miss Jennie Bryant, of Wyandot Co. She is a daughter of the late Isaac Bryant, and was born Feb. 22, 1858. They have one daughter — an infant — born July 6, 1880. Mr. Sheckler is a thriving and energetic young business man, who is suc- ceeding admirably, and is a valuable citizen of Bucyrus. DANIEL J. SHECKLER, Eagle Machine Works, Bucyrus ; was born in April, 1824, in Bedford Co., Penn., and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Needier) Sheckler. His father died when he was 1, and his mother when he was 5 years old. He lived with his aunt in Bedford until he was 8, when he went to live with his godfather, George Beegle, having been christened in the old Lutheran Church. He worked with him on the farm until he was 14 years old. He then returned to the village of Bedford, and-worked at tailoring for two years ; then worked at cabinet-making, which proved more congenial to his tastes. He learned the trade with John Stall, working some seven years in Pennsylvania, and came to Bucyrus, Ohio, in the fall of 1845. Began work first on a farm, and at whatever he could find to do, having but 50 cents when he landed. He soon found employment in the shop of C. Howenstine, where he worked one j'ear at $15 per month, and then formed a partnership with him, but had run but about six months, when all was swept away by fire, having just laid in a stock of lumber, which was also destroyed. They again started upon Mansfield street, and con- tinued about two years, when Mr. Sheckler re- tired, and went to work in a machine-shop operated by James Kelley. He worked as a hand about eight years — his true employment. In about 1860, he and F. E. Frey bought the stock, Kelley & Widgeon having failed. They paid for the stock the first year, and the assignee oflfered the property for sale about 1862, when they purchased it for $8,500, and continued the business about four 3-ears with good success, when, in August, 1867, all was again destroyed by fire, leaving them with nothing but $4,000 insurance. With this they began building the following winter their present foundry, w^hich is known as Eagle Machine Works. The part- ners were F. E. Frey, Mr. Sheckler (the sub- ject) and George Quinby, each owning a third interest. They manufacture engines, horse-pow- ers and saw-mills, brick machines, and do a general foundry business, and, of late years, make the Eagle Portable Engine. The firm changed in 1875, when Mr. Sheckler retired, selling his interest to Mr. Quinby, and, in the meantime, running the works for the firm. Mr. Quinby retired in 1877, and William Hoover purchased his interest. Tlie firm now is Frey, Sheckler & Hoover, Mr. Sheckler having again taken an interest. The works at present em- ploy eighteen hands, and have six buildings — nv iht^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 817 foundry, machiae-shops, blacksmith-shops, en- gine house, coke and sand house, store and paint-shop, office and pattern-room. Mr. Sheck- ler has been married twice — the first time, April 26, 1848, to Sarah Ann Albright, of this county, and, of this marriage, all are dead but one daughter — Mary. The wife died April 3, 1855. He was married a second time to Charlotte Stewart, daughter of Joseph Stewart, October 28, 1857. Eight children have been born of this marriage — Franklin J., Jackson, Vaneleer, Amelia, Edward, Stewart, Frederick, Jesse. Mr. S. votes the Eepublican ticket, and is a member of the M. E. Church, and one of its Trustees. JOHN A. SCHABBK, Sheriff, Bucyrus ; is the sou of J. George Schaber, and was born Nov. 2, 1836, in EU-hoffen, Wurtemberg, Ger- many. He attended school at Wiensbach from his 8th to his 14th year. He then entered the blacksmith-shop of his father, and remained until 1853, when they sailed from Antwerp on June 15, 1853. The voyage occupied a period of forty-nine days, and they arrived at New York Aug. 7. His journey was continued to Buffalo, where he engaged at his trade, at Black Rock, a suburb of that city. In June, 1854, he and his father removed to Crawford County, and on July 4, of that 3'ear he commenced work, not knowing that it was a national holi- day. He was first employed by Phillip Osman. A year more and he entered the plow factory, and later formed a partnership with John Howalt, in the manufacture of buggies. This partnership was dissolved in six months, and Mr. Schaber enlisted in the "Mechanical Fusi- leers," Sept. 12, 1861, and in the following year the companies were disbanded bj' the Secretary of War. Mr. Schaber then engaged in the pro- vision trade, in the old bank building, in com- pany with Joseph Sandhammer, and continu^ one year. He then went into the dry goods business with Isaac Miller, and in a year, sold out this enterprise also. His next venture was at Sulphur Springs, where he opened a general store, with J. J. Fisher ; some time after, Fisher sold his interest to J. N. Biddle, Schaber con- tinuing with him in the business, but soon sold his interest to him and returned to Bucyrus, opening a store in partnership with Thomas Furman, which enterprise was carried on two years ; after which, Mr. Schaber went into the dry goods and grocery business alone, until February, 1877. In October of that year, he was elected Sheriff, and commenced the discharge of his duties Jan. 7, 1878. He served in an able manner, and, in 1879, was re-elected, being nominated by acclamation. At his first nomi- nation there were ten opposing candidates, but he had a majority of 340 over one next highest. Mr. Schaber was married, Feb. 4, 1869, to Ber- tha W. Margraff, of Crawford County. They have three children — Geo. W., Sophia M., Charles T. Mr. Schaber is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and a gentleman who has held various offices of trust, he having been Councilman for eight j'ears. Township Treasurer for four j'ears, and was Treasurer of the Crawford County Loan, Saving and Build- ing Association during its existence. As Sheriff he has proved himself worthy and efficient. In the early part of 1865, Liberty Township, of this count}', raised a volunteer fund of nearly 125,000, and tendered the responsible position of Treasurer to John A. Schaber, not even re- quiring bonds of him while handling this large sum. He was also first President of the Deutsche Gesellschaft, discharging all duties with that high sense of honor and integrity which has ever distinguished him. JACOB SCROGGS, attorney at law, Bucyrus. Among the names of prominent men in Bucyrus and Crawford Co., that of Hon. Jacob Scroggs, deserves especial mention. Jacob Scroggs, son of John and Ann (Shawke) Scroggs, was born in Canton, Ohio, Aug. II, 1827. His father was born in the city of Baltimore June 9, 1794, and was a hatter by trade, having served his apprenticeship seven j'ears, in his native city. In 1819, he removed to Cumberland Co., Penn., where he lived one year, and then removing to Columbiana Co., Ohio, where he was married in 1821. Was engaged in business at New Lisbon for some time, and afterward at Can- ton. He removed from Stark Co. in 1839, coming to Crawford Co. by team, and settling on the site of his son's present residence. He died in 1861. Throughout his life he was a pure-minded, fervent Christian, a member of the M. E. Church. He participated in the war of 1812, being engaged in the bombardment of Fort McHenrj' and North Point. His wife's father, Jacob Shawke, was a soldier in the Revolution. His son Abel Shawke invented first steam fire-engine, which was tried in the winter of 1851-52, in Cincinnati. The subject ^^ IS -4^ 818 BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES: of our sketch assisted his father in the hat trade until he attained his majority, acquiring a limited education. He also spent some time in the printing office of T. J. Orr, publisher of the Democrat- Republican, and, later, with J. R. Knapp, of the Bucyrus Forum, as a tj'pe-setter. After he was 21, he taught school five terms, and was also Deputy Sheriff. He was also em- ployed in the Clerk's and Probate offices as copyist, in the meantime acquiring a knowledge of medicine, and was a clerk in Toledo in 1851 and 1852. He then represented Winthrop D. Smith, in introducing the Eclectic school books, traveling one season. He then entered the law office of D. W. Swigart, having been a student of Judge Hall. Next, he attended the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in May, 1854, and was admitted to the bar in Hamilton Co. He continued with D. W. Swigart until February, 1855, when he opened an office here, beginning without capital, and has worked his way into affiuence. He was Mayor of Bucy- rus from 1855 to 1859. He is now serving his eighth year as member of the School Board, and fifth as President of that body. Was Presidential Elector on the Republican ticket, in 1864, for the Ninth District. He was mar- ried, in September, 1859, to Julia A. Walwork, of Bucyrus, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one son, Charles J., a promising student at Ann Arbor, Mich. C. H. SHONERT, County Treasurer, Bucy- rus. This gentleman is a son of John H. and Frederika (John) Shonert, and was born in Saxony April 13, 1832, where he went to school until he was 14, and afterward worked with his father at blacksmithing for two years. In March, 1848, he sailed from the port of Bremen, and, after a voyage of six weeks, landed at New York on May 6. He removed to Crawford Co. with his father's family and settled in Lykens Town- ship, where Mr. Shonert worked on the farm for one year. In April, 1849, he came to Bucyrus and learned tanning with Aaron Cary. For eighteen years he carried on business for him- self, and now has a half-interest in the business with Jacob Haller. He early developed a re- markable taste for music, and is one of, if not the finest musician in the city. He has held several city offices, and, in 1875, he was elected County Treasurer, and was re-elected in 1877. During his terms of office he has shown himself capable and energetic, and made himself deserv- edly popular. He was married, Oct. 30, 1856, to Maria W. Miller, of Bucyrus. Seven children are the fruit of this union — William, Emma M., Francis 0., Edwin M., Anna Z., Clara W., Thomas C. Mr. Shonert commenced life poor, with no capital but his own labor and energy, but he has succeeded admirably in making his fortune by his own efforts. HENRY STUCKEY, machinist, Bucyrus; was born May 25, 1833, in Canton, Ohio, and is the son of John and Mary (Shock) Stuckey ; he was raised on a farm, and attended district school during winters till his 18th year ; iu 1852, he purchased a farm in Texas Township of 80 acres, and lived there until the fall of 1861 ; during this time, in connection with his farming, he also sold machinerj'-, and did a lucrative business ; in 1861, he came to Bucy- rus, and bought an interest in the Bucyrus Machine Company, and was Superintendent during its existence ; in 1868, the firm was changed to the Bucyrus Machine Works, and Mr. Stuckey was Superintendent until 1876, excepting some three years spent as general agent for McDonald & Co.; the Bucyrus Ma- chine Company failed in 1876, and Mr. Stuckey and others bought out the entire stock and business in April, 1877 ; he then became Su- perintendent for A. Monnett & Co. for two years, and, in April, 1879, he and A. W. Diller leased the shops, and are now doing a flourish- ing business. He was married, in April, 1854, to Miss Catharine Shock, of Seneca Co. ; of this marriage, there were five children, all of whom are living — John, Louisa, Sarah, Annie E. and Henry ; his wife died July 10, 1875, and he was remarried, Nov. 18, 18'76, to Mrs. Elizabeth Meyrs, widow of the late Jacob Meyrs ; they have two children — Frederick and Charles. He was, at one time, Trustee of Texas Township, and has been a member of tTO council for twelve years. He is a member of the Reformed Church, and is a Trustee of the church organization. He is a member of Bucyrus Lodge, No. 139, A., F. & A. M.; Ivanhoe Chapter, R. A. M.; and Mansfield Commandery, Knights Templar. THEODORE P. SHOTWELL, attorney at law, Bucyrus. Theodore F. Shotwell was born at Walesville, Oneida Co., N. Y., on July 30, 1851. He traces his ancestry through seven generations back to the first settlement in New Jersey : First — Abraham Shotwell, whose name ^ ;^ J>> BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 831 appears upon the Elizabethtown, N. J., records, under date of Feb. 19, 1665, when sixty-five persons took the oath of allegiance to King Charles the II ; his name stands fourth on the list. Second — John Shotwell, who married Elizabeth Burton in October, 1679, and died at Woodbridge in 1719. Third— John Shotwell, who married Mary Thorne and settled at Shot- well's Landing, now Rahway, N. J. Fourth — Samuel Shotwell, born Oct. 20, 1723, and mar- ried at Mamaroneck, N. Y. Fifth — Caleb Shot- well. Sixth — Joseph Shotwell, born Feb. 27, 1789 ; married Sarah, youngest daughter of Abel and Sarah Dean Randall, and was the father of eleven children. Seventh — John Max- well Shotwell, born Feb. 22, 1821, at Clifton Park, N. Y., and married Salome L., daughter of Oliver and Phcebe Turpening Stone, Sept. 14, 1842. He is the father of three children ; the oldest is Carlos B., who is engaged in book- keeping in a commercial house in Detroit, Mich., and the youngest, William E., is a student in Genesee Valley Seminary, in New York. The early ancestors of Theodore F. were Quakers, and their names appear frequently on the old records of the yearly meetings of that sect. His immediate ancestors were Baptists, his father for twenty-five years being a clergyman in that denomination, and now residing on a farm in' Allegany Co., N. Y. In early life, the subject of this sketch manifested very studious habits, standing at the head of all his classes and devouring all kinds of literature that came into his hands. At the age of 12, he wrote an Indian story of nearly two hundred pages, which, it is needless to say, was never published. He manifested a special fondness for mathe- matics. His father had promised him a pres- ent of a silver watch if he would finish geometry before he was 15 years old. The morning of July 29 came, and the last two books had not been looked at. Only one day remained. He shut himself up in his room, and at night he could repeat every theorem, draw every figure and demonstrate every proposition in Davies' Legendre. He obtained the watch, but in less than a month all knowledge of the last two books had vanished from his memory. He pre- pared himself for college in Genesee Valley Seminary, and, at the age of 18, he entered the Sophomore class of Oberlin College, from which institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts on Aug. 7, 1872. In scholarship he ranked among the best of his class ; held the position of " Class Poet," and represented the " Phi Kappa Pi " society at its anniversary. While in college, he supported himself by teach- ing winters and working during vacations. Upon leaving college, his health was so impaired he deemed it imprudent to engage in literarj' or sedentary employment ; so he commenced sell- ing Bibles, and he met with such extraordinary success that he followed the business for several years, selling thousands of copies in the coun- ties of Northern Ohio, and selling in Crawford Co. alone over one thousand Bibles, aggregating in value over $10,000. In 1874, he commenced the study of theology in Oberlin, but, his ideas not harmonizing with the doctrines taught in the seminary, he left Oberlin, and, in December, 1875, commenced the study of law in the oflSce of Wickham & Wildman, of Norwalk, Ohio. In the spring of 1876, he came to Bucyrus, Oiiio, and, forming the acquaintance of Anna Mc- Kinstry, daughter of James McKinstry, Esq., they were married on Nov. 3 of that year. He continued his law studies in the office of S. R. Harris, of Bucyrus, and, on March 28, 1878, he was admitted to the bar. He has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, his office being in Rowse Block, Bucyrus. In 1879, he ran on the Republican ticket for Prose- cuting Attorney, and, in the spring of 1880, was nominated bjr the Citizens' Convention as can- didate for Mayor, but declined the nomination. He is now Secretary of the Count}' Republican Central Committee. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a teacher in the Sun- day school. He has two children — Charles William, born May 22, 1878, and Becco, Blay 1, 1880. WILLIAM STREMMEL, Bucyrus. This gentleman, who has figured extensively in pub- lic life, was born Dec. 2, 1846, in Baltimore, Md., and is the son of Lewis G. and Prede- ricke (Feiring) Stremmel ; the first eight years of Mr. Stremmel's life were spent in the Monu- mental City, where he received the rudiments of his education ; his father removed to Bucy- rus in 1854, arriving about April 1 of that year ; he completed his education in the public schools at 16 years of age, and then entered the law ofHce of Judge A. Somers, where he remained as a student until he had attained the age of 18 years ; he then took a course in the commercial school, under the instruction of 5 v>< 822 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Prof. Kosscutt, and graduated in the fall of 1867. In the following spring, he was elected City Clerk, which ofllce he filled acceptably un- til 1869, and, in the election of that year, he was again placed in charge of that office, and was also Township Clerk until 1872 ; in June of this year, he was nominated for County Recorder, and in convention received over two-thirds of the whole vote cast, a fact which showed plainly Mr. Stremmel's popular- ity ; he was elected, and assumed the duties of the office on Jan. 6, 1873 ; after serving with eminent satisfaction, and having gained a sure hold on the esteem of the people, he was renominated by acclamation, and was again elected, and discharged the duties of the office in a manner peculiarlj- satisfactory, until 1878 ; since that time, he has been Deputy Recorder under the present incumbent of the office, Mr. D. 0. Castle ; in the spring of 1880, he was elected City Clerk and also Clerk of Bucyrus Township, the duties of which offices he is at present discharging in that efficient manner which has characterized all his public services. Mr. Stremmel-was married, March 11, 1875, to Catharine Derfler, of Holmes Township, who still lives to bless his pathway through life ; three children are the blessings of this union, the eldest being Augusta M., born Nov. 3, 1876 ; Lydia A., Nov. 11, 1878, and Cora, May 10, 1880. Mr. Stremmel is a member of the German Reformed Church, having been con- firmed at the age of 14, in this city, by Rev. Eli Keller. He has been identified with public life since the attainment of his majority, and his services have been such as have brought him into high esteem among the citizens of both city and count3^ HON. GEORGE SWENEY, deceased, whose portrait appears in this work, was born Feb. 22, 1796, and died Oct. 10, 1877, in the 82d year of his age. The following notice is taken from an obituary published in the Bucy- rus Journal : Mr. Sweney graduated at Dick- inson College, in Pennsylvania, then a very prominent institution, and commenced the practice of law at Gettysburg, where he was a cotemporary and competitor for forensic honors with Hon. Thaddeus Stevens and others, who were afterward elevated, like himself, to honor and distinction by admiring feUow-citizens. Oct. 9, 1821, he married Miss Rebecca Hetich, sister of the late Paul I. Hetich, of this place, but at that time of Franklin Co., Penn. This venerable lady survives her honored husband, in the 79th year (1877) of her age. The fruits of this union were a family' of eight children, six of whom still survive — two sons and four daughters. In 1830, he removed to Bucyrus, .where he has continued to reside, with the ex- ception of four years (from 1853 to 1856) spent at Geneseo, lU. From 1838 to 1842, he rep- resented this district in Congress. At that time this was, as now, the Fourteenth District, composed of the counties of Seneca, Crawford, Sandusky, Hancock, Wood and Ottawa. How satisfactorily he executed his trust may be de- duced from the following resolution, passed at a county convention, July 7, 1840 : " Resolved, That the uniform and firm support given dur- ing the present session of Congress to Demo- cratic principles and measures by our worthy fellow-citizen, Hon. George Sweeney, merits our decided approbation." When in Congress, he was cotemporary with Martin Van Buren, Gen. Jackson, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun and Amos Kendall ; also with WUson Shannon, Ben Tappan and William Allen, of Ohio. But the honorable gentleman was a ripe scholar and a student, and the turmoil of public life was distasteful to him. At the end, therefore, of his second term, he declined to be a candidate for renomination, and was suc- ceeded by Hon. Henry St. John, of Seneca Co. Since his withdrawal from Congress, he has lived a quiet and retired life, unostentatiously devoting himself to study, scientific research, and the education of his children. During the past five or six years of his life, as old age wore more and more deeply into his energies, he has seldom been so much on the streets, an occa- sional visit to the store being the extent of his outdoor walks, but, although not seriously ail- ing, he has remained quietly at home, living mostly with his books and in the past. In per- son he was taU, handsome and dignified ; of courteous and pleasing address ; he was an agreeable companion, overflowing with interest- ing conversation, which ever abounded with val- uable information ; and he will long be remem- bered by those who knew him as a highly cultivated gentleman of the old school. Mrs. Rebecca H. (Hetich) Sweney, widow of Hon. George Sweney, was bom in Chambersburg, Penn., June 3, 1799, and is a daughter of George and Martha (Immel) Hetich. In 1812, iiL^ BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 823 she entered boarding-school at Baltimore, Md., and was present at the confirmation of Jerome Bonaparte, on Easter Monday, the son of the brother of the first Emperor Napoleon ; at the same time, the bells tolled the alarm that En- glish ships were in the baj', but they proved to be American ships. She graduated from the Haj'ward Seminary in 1817. After her mar- riage with Mr. Sweney, they lived for nine years in Gettysburg, Penn., where he practiced law successfully. In September, 1829, they started in a carriage, and came through to Bucyrus, being twenty-two days on the road. Upon their arrival, they tried in vain, for a time, to rent a house, or even a room. At last they found a vacant cabin near where the Infirmary now stands, where they spent the winter. He bought 80 acres of land near town, upon which he fitted up a house. He had previously e^i- tered 200 acres in Whetstone Township, but was persuaded to move into town. He built a brick house, probably the second in town. No chairs could be bought near by, and he ordered a lot from Predericktown. Mrs. Sweney was the mother of eight children, five of whom, at the present writing, are living — Charles E., a merchant at G-eneseo, 111. ; Rebecca A., wife of D. W. Swigart, of Bucyrus ; Carrie D., wife of Silas L. St. John, a cotton-merchant at Pick- ens' Station, Holmes Co., Miss. ; Paul A., livery- man at Geneseo, 111. ; Augusta JL, wife of Jo- seph R. Swigart, of Bowling Green, Ohio ; Lot- tie E. Hoflfman, deceased (see sketch of John HoflFman) ; Martha C, deceased, wife of E. R. Kearsley ; one son, George A., is dead. FREDERICK M. SWINGLY; P.O. Bucyrus; is the second son of Dr. Frederick and Mary (Denman) Swingly, and was born in Bucyrus, March 27, 1846. He attended the Bucyrus Union Schools until 1 6 years of age, when he enlisted in the 86th 0. V. I., and served for three^months under Col. Barnabas Burns, when he enlisted in the 60th 0. V. I., and served during the war. The 60th Ohio formed a part of the old Ninth Army Corps, and Mr. Swingly participated in all those decisive battles which gave that shattered legion a renown which is scarcely excelled in the annals of warfare. He enlisted as a private soldier, and by his gallant' and orderly conduct rose to the rank of Adjutant. In 1865, he returned to Bucyrus, and for some time was copyist in the Recorder's office, and subsequent to this became Deputy Auditor under Samuel Hoyt, for three years, and served in the same capacity under Auditor William M. Scrqggs during his term. In 1873, he was elected to the office of Auditor of Craw- ford Co. by a large majority, and after serving two years, received a unanimous nomination, and was re-elected to the same office in 1875. Since 1877, he has been Clerk of the Commit- tee on Public Expenditures and Library, in the National House of Representatives. Nov. 23, 1873, he was married at Tipton, Iowa, to Miss Lizzie Garberick. Three children have been born of this union, named as follows — Guy D., Nellie G. and Mary. NATHANIEL STEEN ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is a son of John and Mary (Davis) Steen, who resided in Liberty Township, this county, at his birth, which occurred Oct. 7, 1834. He spent his youth on the farm, and, in the mean- time, receiving such an education as boj's were able to acquire from the schools held in the old log sclioolhouses of that time, his books being the speller and English Reader. He left his father's house at 19 years of age, and began working by the month, and continued to do so until 24 years of age. His marriage occurred at that time, Sept. 22, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Peterman, of Liberty Township. This union not being blessed with issue, they have adopted a daughter — Ella Pinnegan. Subsequent to his marriage, he labored by the day for about one year ; then engaged in the butchering bus- iness with David Crum. In October, 1862, he went into the army, serving ten months in Co. C, 49th O. V. I., and was mustered out of serv- ice at TuUahoma, Tenn., in 1863, returning to Bucyrus and engaging again in the butcher- ing business, which he followed, with other parties, until September, 1867, when he became proprietor of a meat market, continuing the business until July, 1880, meeting with success, and accumulating some valuable property. He is a member of the Ivanhoe Claaptcr, R. A. M., of Bucyrus ; also, of La Salle Lodge I. O. 0. P. He is a member of the City Council, and in his political belief a Democrat. His father was a native of "auld Ireland," emigrating to this country when but 12 years of age, and aft- erward learning the carpenter's trade. Having attained his majority, he was married to Mary Davis, of Cumberland Co., Penn., and migrated to Crawford Co. in the year 1827, which was also about the time of the arrival of the Peter- '^ 824 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: man family. He raised a family of ten chil- dren, four of whom are living — John, a black- smith, in Hancock Co., Ohio ; Joseph, a farmer in Liberty Township, this county ; James, an agriculturist in Hancock Co., also, Nathaniel the subject of this sketch, the youngest of the family now living. The father died in April, 1875, aged 95 years ; the mother. May 8, 1876, aged 86 years. When they landed in this county, their earthly possessions amounted to $100, which they invested in a piece of heavily wooded land, the improvement of which made their early settlement in this county a life of hardship and much suffering. WILLIAM B. TOBIAS, retired farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus; was born Oct. 1, 1815, near Car- lisle, Cumberland Co., Penn., and is a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Clouse) Tobias. He lived on a farm until fifteen years old, receiving but three months' schooling, and that at a night school. He then went to Carlisle, where he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker to learn the trade, and served four and a half years with a man named George Spangler. He worked about six months, after his time was up, as a journey- man, and went to Greencastle, Penn., about the year 1836, where he started a shop, working at his trade until about 1849. His health failed, and he closed his shop and rented a farm in Franklin Co., Penn,, where he farmed until 1864, and then came to this county, locating in Liberty Township. Here he lived some four years, when he sold out and removed to Holmes Township, and farmed there until 1877, when he sold his farm there, of 70 acres, and removed to Bucyrus, where he purchased a handsome property on Sandusky avenue. He married, Feb. 11, 1841, Miss Catharine Mills, a native of Greencastle, Penn. He has six children living, and two dead — William F., a farmer in Ashland Co.; Jane C, wife of John Richardson, of Holmes Township ; Elizabeth, wife of A. J. Richards, of Bucyrus ; John L., at home ; James C. (see sketch) ; and Daniel M., of Bu- cyrus. Mr. Tobias began the world without any superfluous wealth, his father dying when he was 8 years, old, leaving him to fight his battles as best he could. By energy and indus- try, he has accumulated a handsome property. When the late war broke out, he lived four miles from the Marj^land line, and the army of Gen. Lee marched through his farm and de- stroyed much of his property. The State militia destroyed his stock without scruple, taking all but six horses. He is a member of St. Paul's English Lutheran Church, and is a Democrat in politics. JAMES C. TOBIAS, attorney at law, Bucy- rus ; is a son of William B. and Catharine (Mills) Tobias ; born on the 11th of November, 1856, in Greencastle, Penn. When but 8 years old, his father moved to a farm near Sulphur Springs, this county. Here he lived and la- bored until ih, when he attended the Cold Run Academy one term, and, in the spring of 1872, entered Oberlin College, where he studied until the following September, when he entered the Mt. Union College, remaining there about three years. During this period, he taught school in winter, thereby paying his own way in college. In the winter of 1876-77, he began the study of law, entering the law office of Finley & Swi- gart in the following April. He was admitted to the bar at Delaware, Ohio, July 2, 1878. He has since practiced in the courts of this county, and is located at present in Malic's Block, where he is doing a large commercial and in- surance business. Mr. Tobias is a Democrat, and did efficient service as Secretary of the Hancock and English Club of Bucyrus. On Sept, 24, 1879, he was married to Miss Amina J. Monnett, daughter of Abraham Monnett. He and his wife are both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bucyrus. CHARLES W. TIMANUS, deceased; was the second son of William and Harriet (Fisher) Timanus. His father was- born in Baltimore, Md., and learned the trade of miller. He came to Mansfield, Ohio, in about 1829, where he lived until 1834, moving in that year to Mt. Gilead, and there resided for ten years, when he came to Bucyrus, probably in 1844. He resided in Bucyrus except five years spent in Missouri, until his death, in 1877. He had a family of eight, all deceased but two daughters — Mrs. Miller, of Mansfield, and Mrs. Lowry, of West Virginia. The subject of this memoir was born Feb. 13, 1845, in Bucyrus, Ohio. He spent his early life in the village, going with the family to Missouri in 1856. They lived in Missouri until 1861, when the family removed to Baltimore, Md., but remained only a few months, when they returned to Bucyrus. Dur- ing this period young Timanus received a good common-school education, and, when only 18 j'ears old, enlisted in the army in Co. C, of the nf* ^! ^1^ BUCYEUS TOWNSHIP. 825 86th 0. V. I. He served about three years ; coming to Bucyrus at the close of the war, he accepted a clerkship in the store of George Myers, where he remained until about 1868. He then formed a partnership with Joseph Kimmel. They bought out Bowers & Kefer, grocers, and for two years did a prosperous business both in groceries and fruits, which they shipped South. In 1872, Mr. Timanus purchased the interest of Mr. Kimmel, and in- augurated the " cash system," being the first merchant of Bucyrus who adopted it. The measure proved a success. He built up a large trade in the grocery and dry goods business, continuing until 1874, when he sold out to J. J. Fisher & Bro. His next venture was buy- ing and shipping hay, which was attended with such inconveniences that he abandoned it. In about 1875, he bought a tract of timber land west of Bucyrus, and removed the timber, which his industry converted into lumber. In two winters he had the timber removed, and sold the land and bought another larger tract, on the Nevada road, realizing a handsome profit from the timber. In February, 1879, Mr. Timanus, in company with Elias Blair, of Bucyrus, purchased 835 acres of heavy timber land, near Inwood, Marshall Co., Ind. During the winter he took two large saw-mills there, and put the heavy machinery in order. He built boarding-houses for his men, and was al- most ready for sawing. While drawing a large stump which obstructed one of the passage- ways, Mr. Timanus was aiding and directing his men, when the main bolt which fastened three large upright pieces together, broke, and these pieces fell, crushing Mr. Timanus to the earth, and when thej' were removed he was found to be paralyzed from the waist down. This sad event occurred March 24, 1879. He showed remarkable courage and fortitude dur- ing this trying ordeal, and while lying on his bed gave directions to his men at work. On the 28th of April, he was brought to Bucyrus, where he died May 8, 1879. He was a man of great activity and energy, and had a host of friends. In 1874, he purchased 27 acres of land in South Bucyrus, and after selling the residence now occupied by D. C. Cahill, laid out seventy-six town lots, which is known as Timanus' Addition to Bucyrus. By his own eflTorts in after life he acquired a good educa- tion, and although starting in life without capital, he was successful and aided in the support of his father's familj^ for several years. March 21, 187:', he united in marriage with Miss Lila Plants, daughter of the late Jeremiah Plants, of BucjTus. One child was born of this marriage, named Claudie, who died in in- fancy. He was a member of the Knights of Honor. WILLIAM VOLLRATH was born Aug. 2, 1842, in Stadtilm, Germany, and came to America in his 6th year. He attended school until he was 13, and assisted in the planing- mill until he became partner, making a visit to his native land in 1866. He worked in the planing-mill until he purchased the interest of his father and became a partner. He was mar- ried Jan. 18, 1877, to Miss Louisa M. Hine, of Wooster, Ohio ; they have one child, Gertrude. He is a member of Bucyrus Lodge, No. 139, F. & A. M., and of Ivanhoe Chapter, No. 17, of Roj'al Arch Masons ; he is also a member of La Salle Lodge, No. 51, and of the Roj'al Ar- canum, Council, No. 15. The father, Gottleib L. VoUrath, whose sons are prominently men- tioned in this work, was born in Stadtilm Sept. 29, 1804, and received a good education. He learned the trade of cabinet-making, and, at the age of 23, married Frederike Meissner, of the same town ; of this marriage there were twelve children, six of whom are living in Bu- cyrus — Albert, Charles, Helma (wife of Christian Renkert), Theresa Blicke (wife of Frank Blicke), Frederick A. and William. Mr. Vollrath was a very skillful workman and was active in busi- ness until 1875. The mother died Aug. 24, 1875. Mr. Vollrath built a house when he first came to this town, and has lived in it ever since. The family is one of intelligence and enterprise, and they are valuable citizens, of whom Bucj'rus should be proud. CHARLES VOLLRATH, manufacturer, Bu- cyrus ; was born May 16, 1835, in Saxony, Ger- many, and is the son of Gottleib and Fredericke (Meissner) Vollrath. He attended school seven years, and came to this country' with his father's family. They came to Rochester, N. Y., where they lived one year, and, in Jlay, 1849, came to Bucyrus, and were at the time in moderate circumstances. Our subject began learning the carpenter's trade upon his arrival with his father and brother, and followed the business until 1855. He then received an interest in the plan- ing mills which were established in that year. ^1 '-^ 826 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES: The firm name was, at first, G., A. & C. Voll- rath, consisting of the father and two sous ; but, in 1867, William Vollrath purchased the share of the father, and the firm is now Vollrath Bros., the brothers being Albert, Charles and William. In 1868, they erected the present brick building of three stories, and are doing an extensive business in the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, flooring and siding ; also dealing in lumber, shingles and laths. Their yards occupy over an acre of land, and they employ about twenty hands. March 23, 1858, Mr. Vollrath was married to Elizabeth Hocker, of Bucyrus. She is a native of Baden, and was born in June, 1831. Five children of this mar- riage are living — Edward C, Lydia, Eva E., Marly M. and Elly C. Louis Otto and Alex- ander A. are deceased. The wife and family are members of the English Lutheran Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of La Salle Lodge, No. 51, I. 0. 0. F. ; also a Knight of Honor, and a member of the Koyal Arcanum. ALBERT VOLLRATH, manufacturer, Bu- cyrus ; was born Jan. 31, 1830, in Stadtilm, Germany, and attended school from his 6th to his 14th year. He was apprenticed to his father for three years, learning the trade of cabinet- making, and was a journeyman three years longer, when he came to Bucyrus and worked for Stoll & Knecht for one year, and then com- menced building by contract until 1855, when he became a partner in the planing mill. He was married, May 27, 1856, to Miss Catharine Maderj of Bucj-rus. She was born in Wurtem- berg, G-ermany, March 17, 1835, and came with her parents to this country in 1852. They have four children living— Theresa, Louisa, M"elinka and Caroline. William is deceased. Mr. Voll- rath is a Democrat in politics, and was a mem- ber of the Council in 1863. His family are all members of the Lutheran Church. He is one of the oldest members of La Salle Lodge, No 139, L 0. 0. F., and of the Royal Arcanum. WILLIAM S. WILLIAMS, retired, Bucy- rus ; a son of Mordecai and Sarah (Smart) Will- iams, was born February 26, 1802, in Fairfield Co., Ohio, where he was brought up on a farm until he was twelve years old, when his parents removed to Richland Co. Only three or four families then lived in Monroe Township ; in the fall of 1814 there were but a few roads and trails through the county. There he grew to manhood, farming, clearing land and improving it. Went to school but little, as there were no schools for a number of years, but studied at home. He was married Sept. 2, 1824, to Martha Cunningham, who was born at Beaver, Pena, Dec. 15, 1802 ; nine children were the result of this union, five of whom are living — Sarah, died in infancy , Jane, now wife of Elbert Racy, of Henry Co.; Nancy died April 5, 1873, was the wife of Norman Tucker, a lawyer of Lima, Ohio ; Margaret, wife of Josiah Galbraith of Henry Co.; .Tames, now of Bucyrus; Joseph, a farmer of Putnam Co.; William N., fell at the battle of Gettysburg, and is buried in the National Cemetery there ; Thomas J., a farmer of this township ; Isaac was woundfed at Mur- freesboro, and thrown into Libby Prison, and by an accident caused by the breaking of a bridge near there he was disabled and died at the National Home at Dayton, where he lies buried. His wife died March 12, 1868, and he married a second time, June 29, 1871, to Mrs. Mary J. Hight, of Bucyrus. Mr. Williams farmed in Richland Co., where he owned eighty acres of land, until 1854, handling timber in the meantime extensively. In September of this j'ear, he moved his family to this township, where he bought thirty-seven acres with a saw- mill on it ; he now owns sixty-eight acres ; he ran the saw-mill twelve years, during which time he sawed large lots of lumber. He retired from active life in Januarj', 1879, and came to Bucj'rus ; although nearly 79 years old, he is very active and industrious, has always been a hard working man. At the age of 24 years, he united with the Presbyterian Church, of which he has ever since been a faithful member ; has been an Elder of the church, and a member of the session, and has always taken an active in- terest in Sabbath schools. He- was an Old- Line Whig, and, after the organization of the Republican party, has acted with it. CHRISTIAN WISMAN, Bucyrus; was born in Waynesboro, Franklin Co., Penn., Sept. 15, 1827. He is the son of Fredrick and Eliza- beth (Heinlen) Wisman, both natives of Wur- temberg, Germany, from which country they came when children. They were married in Pennsylvania, and resided there until their re- moval to Crawford Co., in 1828. The father was a wagon-maker, but after he came to this county devoted his time to farming. He was an industrious man and much loved by his w liL^ BUCYKUS TOWNSHIP. 827 neighbors and acquaintances. His wife died some fifteen j'ears after tiieir coming to the county, and he Feb. 18, 1867. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are yet living. Christian's youth and early manhood were passed in assisting his father upon the farm. His education was obtained in the log schoolhouses of that early day. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Conkle Oct. 17, 1850. She was Ijorn in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Sept. 30, 1830. Three children have been born to them, viz., Adam J., living, and Eliza- beth and Amanda, deceased. Mr. Wisman owns a well-improved farm of 171 acres nicely situated on the west bank of the Sandusky River. He started in life with nothing but a stout heart and willing hands, and by frugality and industry has placed himself in good cir- cumstances. He is a Democrat and a gentle- man, whose integrity has won for him the con- fidence and esteem of his neighbors and friends. W. S. WELSH, proprietor of Western House, Bucyrus ; a son of Mannington and Annie (Comstock) Welsh, was born June 15, 1851, in Wyandot Co., Ohio. He lived on a farm until 1870, receiving a common-school education. In the fall of that year (in September), he en- tered the Freshman Class at Bethan}' College, where he remained-two years, then returned to Wyandot County and engaged in mercantile pursuits for three years, when he removed to Little Sandusky, and was employed there one and a half years. In 1873, he crossed the AUe- ghanies with stock, visiting Eastern cities. The latter part of 1873 and 1874 was spent in Indiana, handling, feeding and shipping stock. In May, 1880, he leased the Western House, at Bucyrus, which has been newly refitted and re- furnished. It is two stories high, has thirtj'- five large and commodious rooms for guests ; fine sample rooms on first floor ; large, cheerful dining-room, and a table that is first-class in every respect. The famous sulphur pump is just in front of the house, the water of which is well known far and wide. Every attention is given to the care and comfort of guests. August 28, 1874, he was married to Miss Ida Burks, of Nevada, Ohio, by which union he has two children — Frankie and Tressie. He has always been a Democrat. His father was born in Virginia, in 1816, and his mother in New York State, and about the year 1817, they came to Wyandot County, being one of the very first white families who settled in that county, and were familiar with all the shades of Indian life. They settled on the banks of Sandusky Creek, at the point where Little Wj'andot now stands, being the first white set- tlers in that vicinity. Our subject's father was a farmer and stock-raiser. He had a family of four sons and one dalighter — William, a farmer of Wyandot Co. ; W. S., our subject ; Charles, a farmer ; Frederick and Alice. CHRISTOPHER WALTHER, contractor and builder, Bucyrus, oldest son of Christo- pher and Elizabeth (Doll) Walther, was born June 16, 1833, in Baden, county of Durlach, Germany, where he went to school until 12 years old, when his parents came to the United States, landing at New York July 1, 1845. They came at once to Sandusky City, where an uncle of our subject lived, and here they re- mained until September, when they came to Crawford County, settling on the Broken Sword, in Liberty Township, where the father bought 50 acres of land and engaged in farming with good success. Until 18, young Christopher aided his father on the farm, when he was ap- prenticed to learn the carpenter's trade with Michael Lutz. He worked over three j^ears, only receiving $160. Dec. 4, 1859. he married Margaret Schuler, of Bucyrus, Ohio. Of their union five children are living — Annette C, Frank A., Frederick B., Lena C. and Lizzie E. Two children died in infancy. Mrs. Walther is a daughter of Frederick and Eve (Stoll) Schuler. Her father was a native of Baden, Germany, who came to New York, 1832, where he married Miss Eve Stoll, August, 1837. In September, 1838, he came to Bucyrus, where he, for many years, followed the trade of shoe- maker. Her parents are still living in Bucyrus, and are among the few who still live to recall the struggles of pioneer times. After complet- ing his trade, our subject went to Fayette Co., Iowa, in 1856, where he worked as journeyman and contractor until 1859, when he made a trip to Bucyrus, returning with his wife in the same year. They lived in Iowa until 1861, when he returned to Bucyrus and located permanently. In the same 3'ear, he began taking contracts and has since employed from six to eight men. He has gained an enviable reputation as a first-class workman, having put up some of the largest public buildings and private residences in the city, among which may be mentioned the Union vT^ 0.^ 828 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES: School building, which he erected in 1867-68. Mr. Walther began life without capital, and has, by hard work and close attention to busi- ness, raised himself and family into comforta- ble circumstances. He and family are mem- bers of the German Lutheran Church, in which he has served as Trustee and other offices. He is. a Democrat. His parents were both natives of Baden, where they were married, about 1830, and settled in Liberty Township of this county in 1845. They raised five children — whose names were Christopher. Magdalena, Philip J., Caroline and Henry. The father died Aug. 14, 1879, and the mother died Sept. 9, 1873. LUDWIG WEBER, grocer and express agent, Bucyrus ; is the son of Jonathan and Annie (Fritt) Weber, and was born Aug. 18, 1821, in Cumberland Co., Penn. He was raised on a farm until his 16th year, when he went to Lexington, Ohio, to learn tailoring, and was there four years. He next went to Ontario, Eichland Co., and there lived until 1850, hav- ing worked at his trade until two years previous to this date, and also carried on the Ontario House. He went to California by the overland route, the trip occupying ninety-two days. He met with varj'ing success, and returned in 1852. The following year, he removed his family to Crestline, and there he embarked in the grocery business, continuing for eight years with good success. He then removed to a farm near there, and, for eight years following, he tilled the soil. In 1872, he sold his farm and came to Bucyrus, where he opened a grocery and became agent for the Adams Express Co. His business is flourishing, and he is one of the first grocers in the town in point of business. During Pierce's administration, Mr. Weber was Postmaster of Ontario. He was also for three terms Trustee of Jackson Township. He was married May 30, 1844, to Jerusha J. Martin, of Martin's Mills, Ohio ; of this union, eight children are living, two having died when young. Those liv- ing are Aveline A., wife of A. M. Pinney, of Chicago ; Ellen V., wife of Engineer Fitzsim- mons, of Allegheny, Penn.; Flora G., wife of C. D. SheflHer, conductor, Chicago ; Cora, wife of F. D. Mann, of Kansas City, Mo., formerly of Pittsburgh ; Harry L., County Surveyor ; Madge B., Mettie and Jennie at home. HARRY L. WEBER, County Surveyor, Bu- cyrus ; is the son of Ludwig and Jennie (Mar- tin) Weber, and was born July 16, 1856, in Crestline, Ohio. Until his 8th year he lived on a farm. He attended school in Bucyrus in 1871 ; he came to Bucyrus and attended school here. After leaving school he went into the employ of Adams Express Co., as assistant agent. April 8, 1879, he was appointed Sur- veyor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Frank L. Plants. In October follow- ing, he was elected to fill the office and ran ahead of his ticket handsomely. He entered upon the discharge of his duties Jan. 5, 1880, being but 23 years of age. On April 8, 1880, he was married to Flora Hoover, of Bucyrus. Mr. Weber is a young man of considerable talent, and is, indeed, a rising young man, of whom much will yet be expected should life be spared him. ANSON WICKHAM, attorney at law, Bucy- rus ; is the son of Williard and Phoebe (Penning- ton) Wickham, and was born in Lykens Town- ship June 19, 1850. He spent the first 16 years of his existence on a farm and in attend- ance upon district school, when he entered the union schools of Bucyrus. He taught seven terms during the time he was receiving his ed- ucation. He entered Otterbein University, at Westerville, in the spring of 1867, and gradu- ated in May, 1873. In August of that year he came to Bucyrus and commenced the study of law, with Scott & Harris, and was admitted to the bar Sept. 17, 1875. Since that time he has become noted as a rising young lawyer, be- ing especially successful in criminal cases. He was appointed School Examiner in 1874, and held the office two years. WILLIAM WISE, furniture dealer and un- dertaker, Bucyrus ; is the sou of George and Charlotte (Moore) Wise, and was born in Fair- field Co., Penn., Sept. 1, 1824. The first eight- een years of his life were spent on a farm, va- ried with a short season of schooling in the win- ters. His parents removed here when he was aged 10 years. When 18 years of age, he commenced to learn the cabinet-maker's trade with C. How- enstine, his apprenticeship lasting three years. He afterward spent one year working at his trade, in Valparaiso, Ind. Returning from thence he formed a partnership with Howen- stine, which lasted some twelve years. At this time the subject of our sketch commenced in business for himself at his present place on Main street, and has been there since 1866. He has now a large stock of furniture, and n^ ^^ BITCYRUS TOWNSHIP. 839 makes a specialtj- of undertaking, in which department he has had twenty-five years' expe- rience. He was married, July 4, 1850, to Eliza J. Deardorf, of Bucyrus. Of this marriage nine children are living — Mattie, wife of Rev. George Heindle, of Belleville, Ohio ; Rebecca, at home ; Elizabeth, John Pressley, William R., Millie R., George L., Frederick A. and Joseph D. Mr. Wise was a Free-Soiler and is now a stanch Republican in politics. He is a mem- ber of St. Paul's English Lutheran Church, and for thirty years has led the choir of that Church, serving also as one of its Deacons. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a blacksmith by trade, but in later years followed farming. He came here in 1833, and for one year was a resident on Bro- ken Sword. He then removed south of town some three miles, and lived there till 1853, dy- ing ten years later, his wife having died in 1858. They reared eight children to man- hood, and were conscientious Christians and members of the Lutheran Church. R. K. WARNER, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus; was born April 8, 1825, in Lycoming Co., Penn., and is the son of Benjamin and Mar}^ (Walton) Warner. He was about 2 years old when his parents removed to Whetstone Township, this county, being among the first settlers. Here he was raised among the Wyandot Indians, and plaj'ed with the •' Johnny Cake " boys many a day, and learned their language. When he was 8 j'ears old. his father removed to this town- ship, and settled on the pike. It was in 1836 that the subject of our sketch attended his first school, taught in Dallas Township, by IMiss Susan Bovee. He attended school until he was about 20 years of age, in a log schoolhouse near the residence of Thomas J. Monnett.. In 1847, he rented a farm for two years, and afterward purchased 120 acres, where he now lives. He now owns 440 acres of fine farming land. He has dealt extensivelj- in sheep, cattle and hogs, and has been very successful. He was raised a Quaker, but is not a member of any church. In politics, he was formerly a Whig, and later, a Republican. He was married in December, 1846, to Miss Martha Monnett, daughter of Jeremiah Monnett, who was born in Pickaway Co. Jan. 22, 1827. He has raised four chil- dren — Ellen, born Aug. 30, 1849, now the wife of Thomas McKinstry ; Mary, born Jan. 1, 1856, married Albert Yaker, and died in January, 1874 ; Harriet, born Dec. 27, 1861 ; Louisa, born June 25, 1871. In 1875, Mr. Warner erected a fine frame dwelling of sixteen rooms, which is an evidence of his good taste, and an ornament to the vicinity. His father, Benja- min, was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., about 1801, and was married in 1822, coming to Ohio in 1827, driving here in a four-horse wagon. Pour miles from Gallon their wagon sunk in the mud, and they walked four miles to a rela- tive, leaving the wagon behind. He lived in the county all the rest of his life, and died May 8, 1872, in Kankakee, 111., where he had gone on a visit. His wife survived him until March 7, 1877, when she, too, closed her earthly labors, and went to her i-est. Harriet Welsh, of Mis- souri, and Louisa Everett, of Bucyrus, are still living. Five died young. He was a Quaker in belief, the family for several generations back holding to that faith. GEORGE HENRY WRIGHT, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; son of George and La Vendee (Woodard) Wright, was born Aug. 16, 1828, in Jackson, Washington Co., N. Y., and spent his boyhood on a farm. He at- tended common school, and at the age of 16 years entered Argyle Academy, under the in- struction of his brother. Prof D. W. Wright. He began teaching at the age of 20, and taught nine terms, six of which he taught while yet living in New York. In 1853, he came to this county, teaching during the winter, and dealing in stock during the summer ; finally abandoned teaching and devoted his time wholly to the stock business, packing beef with his brother, T. H. Wright, of Huron, Erie Co. In 1856, he bought 480 acres of land in Wood Co., Ohio, which he improved. Dec. .29, 1857, he was maiTied to Miss Martha E. Monnett, a daugh- ter of Abraham Monnett, and in March, 1858, he removed to his land in Wood Co. Nine children were born of this marriage, eight of whom are living — Earl P., Helen A., Gertrude M., Oda M., Libbie B., Charles H., Carrie and Clark W. ; Mattie died in infancy. His wife made a visit to her father in October, 1859, and, returning home, reached Pindlay, when a snow two feet deep fell on October mud, which was then extraordinarilj- deep. She was twen- ty-two miles from her destination, and almost gave up going ; after trying other means, she hired a horse and set out alone on horseback, determined to reach home, if possible. Shortly ^l A|2 ^kv 830 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: after starting, she overtook a man, who ex- claimed, " My Grod ! lady, I shall expect to find your head sticking out of the mud." She reached home at 11 o'clock at night, crossing the " Black Swamp " (fourteen miles wide), in safety ; there were very few people living on the route. Mr. Wright built substantial houses on his farm and improved it well, remaining on it until the spring of 1861, when he removed to his present farm of 225 acres, on the pike, four miles south of Bucyrus, where he is en- gaged in farming and stock-raising ; he makes a specialty of sheep and cattle. He has erected large and handsome buildings, and has one of the most attractive places on the road. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyte- rian Church. He was formerlj' connected with the M. E. Church, and was Superintendent of Sunday school at Monnett Chapel ; he was raised in the Associate Presbyterian Church. His wife was born in Scott Township, Marion Co., Ohio. He is a Republican in politics, and has acted with that party since its organization, but was previously a Democrat. He held vari- ous offices in his native State ; is of Scotch . descent ; his early ancestors lived in Connecti- cut. His father was born in Cambridge, N. Y., about the year 1790, and was a soldier of 1812, and served on Lake Champlain. He raised twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, named respectively — Daniel W., Franklin H., Earl P., Olive M., Delana P., Mary Y., La Ven- dee, Sophronia J., George H. (subject), Eliza- beth v., Sarah S., Edwin W. — all of whom are living at this date, except the oldest and the youngest. The oldest, D. "W., was Principal of Argyle Academy for many years, and died Oct. 29, 1847. HON. CHAPMAN D. WAED, Justice of the Peace, Bucyrus. This representative of an old and honored family traces his ancestry through a genealogical account, published in 1851 by Andrew Henshaw Ward. The first representa- tive in this country was William Ward, who settled in Sudbury, Mass., in 1639. His pro- genitors were Normans, who came over to En- gland with William the Conqueror in 1066, as one of his noble Captains was named Ward, and the name of William de la Ward Appears in English history as a resident of Chester in 1 175. William Ward, of Sudbury, Mass., was made a freeman in 1643, and the next year rep- resented Sudbury in the General Court, and was for several years Chairman of the Select- men. He, in common with many others, en- dured great hardships during the Indian hostil- ities, especially during King Philip's war, in 1675-76, when his buildings were fired, his cat- tle destroyed, and one of his sons slain by the enemy. Through several generations, the Wards continued to take an active part in govern- mental aflairs, and we again take up the thread of family his^sry. William, of Sudbury, had fourteen children, of whom his son William was the seventh child, born Jan. 22, 1640. He mar- ried Hannah Eames, at Marlboro, in 1679. Their oldest son, William, born March 27, 1680, was Colonel of the militia, and married proba- bly Jane Cleveland, of Boston. Fourteen chil- dren were born to them, of whom Charles was the youngest son, born Oct. 27, 1722. He is the great-grandfather of our subject, and mar- ried Abigail Pike, Aug. 25, 1742. He enlisted in the expedition against Cape Breton, and died at the siege of Louisburg, in 1745, leaving three children, of whom William, born Sept. 12, 1743, was the oldest. He married Lucy Church, Dec. 11, 1763, and removed to Poultney, Vt, in 1775, becoming one of the first settlers of the town, and was one of that sturdy band who brave- ly resisted Burgoyne's army and participated in its capture. In the meantime, his wife, with her helpless children, was exposed to the rav- ages of the British soldiery and their savage allies, then within a few miles of her dwelling. She fled to Bennington, forty miles through the wilderness, on foot, with her children, carrying the youngest in her arms, without a man to protect or guide her, finding her way by the blazed trees. They reached there in safety, and quickly the battle of Bennington and the sur- render of Burgoyne followed. The Hon. Will- iam Ward returned to Poultney, Vt., where he resided until his death, Aug. 3, 1819, in his 76th year. He was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of the State, and was for six yeai'S one of the Judges of the County Court of Rutland, and Judge of the Probate for the District of Fairhaven twenty- two years. He was a Justice of the Peace fortj- j^ears, and Representative in the Legisla- ture eighteen years. He was a much-esteemed citizen and a devoted Christian gentleman, hav- ing a family of twelve children, who aU grew to manhood and womanhood except one. His fourth son, Elisha, born Jul}' 30, 1780, is the ^ POLK TOWjS'SPIIP. 839 of Mutual Lodge K. of H., No. 32, and a member of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, K. of H. A. M. BROWN, foreman machine shops, N. Y., P. & O. E. E., Galion. Mi-. Brown was born in Essex Co., Mass., May 19, 1833. His early life, up to 19 years of age, was spent in Massachusetts. He learned his trade as machinist at Andover, Mass., and from there, in 1852, went to Dunkirk, N. Y., re- maining there but six months, when he went to Toronto, Canada, working at his trade there for a short time. In 1853, he went to Marion, Ohio, and engaged with the C, C, C. & I. E. E., working there until the shops were moved to Galion, in 1854, when he came there and remained in the shops until June, 1861, when he went to Ft. "Wayne, and worked for the Pennsylvania Company, until October, 1861, when he returned to Galion and engaged with the A. & G. W. E. E., and then with the N. Y., P. & 0. E. E., and has been with that company up to the present time. He was appointed foreman of the machine shops, in June, 1873, which position he still holds. He was married Nov. 22, 1853, to Miss Nancy Cather, of Dun- kirk N. Y. JAMES W. COULTEE, lawyer, Gallon; was bom July 4, 1846, in West Bedford, Coshocton Co. His father, E. M. Coulter, now deceased, was bom in Pennsylvania. His mother, who is now living with her son-in-law, O. W. Aldrich, L.L. D., Editor of the MontUy Jurist, at Bloomington, 111., was born and reared in Ireland; her maiden name was Phcebe Greer. The subject of this sketch is a fair type of the " self-made " men, who are the strength and pride of our commonwealth. Mr. Coulter was educated at Spring Mountain. Coshocton Co., Ohio. By his own personal exertions, he supported himself and paid his way at school, receiving no pecuniary assist- ance from home. He read law with Hon. A. M. Jackson and Hon. Thomas Beer, of Bucy- rus, who is now Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas of that district. He was admitted to the bar in 1866, when he inomediately located in Galion, and commenced the prac- tice of his profession, in which he has been very actively and successfully engaged since. For four years, he was Prosecuting Attorney of the county; six years a member of the Board of County School Examiners ; also, four years a member of the Board of Education of the Galion union schools, and was President of that board. He has always been a Demo- crat, but in no sense a partisan politician; is now 33 years of age, unmarried. Mr. Coulter is a thorough business man, and has been very successful in a pecuniary way; in fact, his judgment and practical ability in this respect are firsirclass, both in the management of his ovm interests and in conducting others that may be intrusted to his care. His opinion has much weight with local capitalists, and in point of public spirit he stands in a front rank in the community where he resides; has uniformly seconded his views by liberal in- vestments or donations, and habitually helps to advance the private enterprises of his fel- low-citizens, as far as he can consistently with correct business principles. As a lawyer ]Mr. Coulter is keenly perceptive, incisive, logical and spirited in debate, yet courteous. In religion, he is tolerant, extending the same charity to others that he desires from them. With good health and the greater part of an ordinary lifetime before him, judging from the last decade, it is easy to predict what, in all probability, the future has in store for Mr. Coulter, now one of the successful self-made men of his native State. C. S. CRIM, banker, Galion. Prominent among the energetic and prosperous business men of Galion, and one worthy of especial mention, is C. S. Crim, banker and capitalist. Mr. Crim was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1820. He is the son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Smith) Crim. His father being a farm- er, his early life was spent upon the farm, and his education such as the common schools of the times afforded; he also attended select school at Lexington, Ohio. In 1839, Mr. Crim started out in life for himself, as clerk in a dry goods store in Lancaster, Ohio. He received no pecuniary aid from home, and his success in life is due to perseverance and industry, coupled with good judgment and practical ability. In 1843, he removed to Jeromeville, Wayne Co., Ohio, and engaged in the mercantile business for himself, and also engaged in the same business in Johnsville, ^^ :±=£t. 840 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Morrow Co., remaining at the latter place until 1851, when he removed to Gallon, and has since been identified with numerous enter- prises there. In 1854, he started a dry goods store on the comer of Main and Columbus streets, and at the same time engaged in the grain and produce trade, which he is still interested in. In 1864, he established the First National Bank of Gallon, and has been its President ever since. This bank has a capital of $50,000, and does business aggre- gating several millions yearly. In 1866, in connection with John S. Davis and H. P. Stentz, the Exchange Bank of Monroeville, Huron Co., was organized, and, in December of 1869, it was changed to a national bank, and is now known as the First National Bank of Monroeville. Mr. Crim is a Director of this bank. He is a Republican, but has never taken an active part in politics, his time being occupied in the management of his numerous business interests. jVJx. Crim was married, on April 8, 18-38, to Miss Martha E. Casner, of Ohio, who received her education at Ober- lin, Ohio. They have four children living — Ollie E., Ella E., Charles S. and Don. Aaother son, Georgie S., died, Feb. 0. 1880, aged 6 years. He and his wife and daughters belong to the Methodist Church. Mr. Crim, by in- dustry, economy, pluck and fair dealing, has acquired great wealth, which he uses in a quiet, unostentatious way, to advance every public enterprise that possesses merit. As a man of public spirit, devoted to his family, loyal to his church and his business, he has few equals and no superiors, and presents a bright and shining example to the young men of to-day of what it is possible for them to accomplish by acquiring correct habits and adhering to honest convictions and scrupulous integrity. T. COSSLON, conductor, Gallon; was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1854. He has been railroading for the past ten years, and, during that time, had three fingers taken ofi' in an accident. At the present time he is running a traia on the C, C, C. & I. R. R. O. S. CULP, livery, Gallon; was bom in Pennsylvania, in 1883, and received a good common-school education, and, in 1854, went into the livery business at West Newton, AVest- moreland Co., Penn., and remained there until 1865. He then went to Warren Co., 111., and farmed for five years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Cleveland and en- gaged in the livery business, again remaining there for over six years, when he removed to Gallon, and has been engaged in the livery business up to the present time. He was married in 1854, to Miss Anna F. Carl, of "Westmoreland Co., Penn. They have nine children. P. F. CASE, wholesale hardware, Gallon; was born in New Haven, Huron Co., Ohio, in 1848. His parents moved to Vernon Town- ship, Crawford Co., in 1850. His education was limited to country schools. He came to Gallon in 1866, and clerked three years with Roger & Duck, in the hardware business. He began business for himself in 1870, in the retail hardware trade, and, in 1875, he changed from retail to wholesale, and is en- gaged in that line at the present time (1880). He has just completed one of the largest build- ings in the city for the better accommodation of his increasing trade. In 1879, he started a brass band of thirty pieces, named after himself. It is considered one of the best bands in this locality. He was married in 1872, to Dora Monnett, daughter of Dr. Mon- nett. They have three children — Laura, Frank L. and May. He was a member of the Common Council for two years. ROBERT COWDEN, Postmaster, Gallon; was born in this county, May 24, 1833, and had the benefits of hut a limited education. At the age of 5, death robbed him of his father, and, at 15 years of age, he commenced carpentering as an apprentice, which business he followed on his own account from the age of 19. By dint of close private study, he prepared liimself to teach in the common schools of his time, which he practiced during winters. At 19 years of age he was converted, and joined the United Brethren Church. At 21 he was married to !Miss Lydia T., daughter of Daniel Miller, who is also a native of this county. In the spring of 1857, he moved to Franklin Co., Kan., where he worked at his trade, and where, on the organization of the county, he was elected its first County Clerk. About the first of the year 1860, he returned • * ° 'I>^^ POLK TOWNSHIP. 841 to his native county. On the 9th of Septem- ber, 1861, he enlisted as private in Company B, 1st U. S. Mechanic Fusileers, but on the organ- ization of Company H, which he had aided in recruiting, he was appointed First Lieutenant of that company, but, because of informality in the enlistments, this regiment was mustered out, by order of the Secretary of War, on the 29th of January, 1862, and he immediately enlisted as private in Company I, 1st 111. Light Artillery. He was rapidly promoted to Coi-poral, Sergeant and First Sergeant, and, in May, 1862, for meritorious service at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., he was commissioned Second Lieutenant. On the 1 1th of May, 1863, he was appointed to aid in the or- ganization of the 39th tJ. S. Colored Infantry, and was commissioned Major of the regiment, and, on the 18th of May, 1864, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He was in command of the regiment from December, 1863, until its muster-out on on the 31st of January, 1866, at Memphis, Tenn., except while incapacitated by wounds. At the head of his regiment, he received a severe gun-shot wound in his right hip, at the disastrous engagement at Gun- town, Miss., on June 10, 18Ij4, from which he has suffered ever since. The principal en- gagements in which he participated were Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jack- son and Guntown. After the war, he be- came noted as a leader in Sunday-school work, and was Secretary of the Ohio Sabbath School Union six consecutive years, from 1871 to 1877. He has been Secretary of the Sun- day School Union of this county ever since its organization, in 1867, till this time (1880). He has also been General Secretary of the United Brethren Sabbath School Association since May, 1877, in which capacity he has traveled over much of the United States, hold- ing Sunday School Normal Instittites. His cormnission as Postmaster in Gallon is dated January 29, 1878, and he entered on his duties on the 4th of March of the same year. E. W. CHASE, physician, Gallon; was bom in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1842. He had the benefit of a good common-school edu- cation, and taught school in 1858 and 1859, in Charlotte, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., after which he spent 1861 and 1862 attending college. after which he clerked in a dry goods store in the years 1863, 1864 and 1865. In 1866, he bought a half-interest in a dry goods store in Chautauqua, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and remained in said business three years, and sold out in 1869, and commenced study- ing medicine with Dr. D. S. Pickett, of Chau- tauqua, N. Y., and remained one year, and completed his studies with Dr. Fenner, of Fredonia, N. Y. In 1874, he commenced the practice of medicine in Chautauqua, N. Y., where he remained three years, when he went to Bradford and remained three years, and graduated at the Eclectic Medical College, in 1875. He came to Gallon in June, 1880, and is established in practice on West Main street. S. G. CUMMINGS, attorney. Gallon. Mr. Cummings was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, in October, 1839. In 1861, he commenced to read law with Bartly & Johnston, of Mans- field, Ohio, and remained with them until 1864. He was admitted to the bar in Janu- ary, 1864, at Columbus, Ohio, when, in April, 1864, he went to Montana, and engaged in gulch-mining until 1866, and was successful, and then came to Gallon, Ohio, and com- menced to practice law there in 1867. He was elected Prosecutor of Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1873, and again in 1875, and served four years. He has been elected several times a member of the School Board and Council, and is a member of both at the present time. Is also a member of the firm of Cummings & Meuser, attorneys at law, who have a good practice. He married Miss Sarah G. Ruhl, of Gallon, Ohio, in January, 1867, and has one son. HEEBEET DECROW; physician. Gallon, was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1846, and received a good education at the union school at Johnstown, Ohio, and at Dennison Univer- sity, at Granville, Ohio; he lived on a farm until 20 years of age, and when not at school canvassed for books. In 1867, went to Quincy, 111., with Dr. Decrow, dentist, and worked in his office, and studied medicine with Dr. Baker, and remained there three years, when he came home and traveled sixteen months for the Austin Powder Company, of Cleve- land, Ohio. He then taught school and read ".^ 848 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: medicine under Drs. Stinson & Williams, of Alexandria, Ohio, until the fall of 1873, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended lectures at the Eclectic Medical Institute, and graduated in the spring, having attended his first course in 1869 and 1870, in Jefferson Medical Institute, and Pennsylvania Dental College at Philadelphia. He commenced the practice of medicine at Utica, Licking Co., Ohio, March 1, 1874, and remained there until April 1, 1880; he then moved to Gallon, Ohio, and has established a firsi^olass practice, being very successful. He was married to Lucy A. Holmes, of Brownsville, Licking Co., Ohio, and has three boys. THOMAS C. DAVIS, grocer. Gallon; was bom in that portion of Richland Co. which is now Morrow Co., in October, 1837, and re- mained thereuntil 1861. He then enlisted in Company C, 15th 0. V. I., and served four years and four months. He served two years as private, then was commissioned as First Lieutenant, and afterward as Caj^tain. He returned from the army in March, 1866, and commenced the grocery and daily market busi- ness at 26 West Main street. Gallon, Ohio, where he is still in business. On his return from the army he married Angeline Kinehart, daughter of John and Catharine Rinehart. JOHN D. DeGOLLEY, attorney, Gallon, was born in Washington Co., Md., May 26, 1850, and received his education at the Quincy Academy, of Franklin Co., Penn. In 1868, he commenced reading law with D. Watson Rowe (Judge of Court of Common Pleas), and took a three years' course, and was admitted to the bar at Chambersburg in 1871. He came to Gallon, Ohio, May 27, 1874, and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio, June 6, 1876, and has been practicing law in Gallon, Ohio, ever since. He was elected the first City Solicitor of Gallon, in April, 1879. He was- married in October, 1878, to Miss Anna M. Parsons, of Gallon, Ohio, and has one son. REV. E. P. ELCOCK, Pastor Presbyterian Church, Gallon; was born in Covington, Miami Co., Ohio, Aug. 20, 1847. His education was commenced at home, his mother having been a teacher in the public schools at Dayton, Ohio, before her marriage. He commenced the study of Latin at the age of 7 years, assisted by his father. Rev. Thomas Elcock; also attended public school at Van Wert, Ohio, and Decatur, Ind. He was also sent to Vermillion Institute, Ashland Co., Ohio, remaining there about three years. At times, during his at- tendance there, he taught school at various places, having at one time a select school in Decatur, Ind., of 125 pupils. From Vermill- ion Institute he went to Cannonsburg, Perm., attending Washington and Jefferson College, graduating in 1869. After spending three years at Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. Y., he was installed as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Port Deposit, Md., on May 7, 1872. He remained there fifteen months, and then went to Bridgeville, Del., remaining there nearly three years. He came to Gallon in August, 1875, and has been Pas- tor of the First Presbyterian Church up to the present time. JAMES H. GREEN, bank cashier. Gallon; son of Aaron and Nancy Green, he of Penn- sylvania, she of Tennessee. He was born March 4, 1834, at Norton, Delaware Co., Ohio, and during his youth attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and in 1850 he went to Cardington, Morrow Co., and clerked in a hardware store until 1856, when he went to Mt. Gilead, and carried on the merchant- tailoring business until 1861. He enlisted in Co. B, 43d O. V. I., and served three years and a half, then went to Cardington,Ohio, for two years, as Assistant Cashier of the First Na- tional Bank. In August, 1866, he came to Gal- ion, Ohio, and has been Cashier of the Citizens' Bank and Citizens' National Bank up to the present time. He ovras and superintends four farms and two stone quarries, and a wholesale oil and varnish jobbing house. He was mar- ried to Miss Lola H. McLain, of Gallon, Ohio, and has four children. JOSEPH S. GRAVER, hotel. Gallon; was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1844, and had the benefit of a good common-school educa- tion. He commenced to learn the butcher's trade in 1854, and stayed at that one year, then worked in a morocco manufactory until 1859, when he started a milk-wagon, and ran that until 1861. He then enlisted in Com- pany F, 8d Penn. V. C, and remained three years, and came home in 1864, and went to & 1— >^- ^1 !k^ POLK TOWNSHIP. 843 Alliance, Ohio, to work for tlie P., F. W. & C. E. R., in 1865, after that going to Philadel- phia, and remaining eighteen months. He returned to Alliance, Ohio, in 1867, and com- menced railroading as condtictor until 1872. In 1873, he went back to Philadelphia and to New York City, then to Savannah, Ga., in the hide business, for three months. He then traveled extensively through the Southern and Western States, to Cincinnati, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, Lafayette, Ind., Tole- do, Ohio, Mansfield, Ohio, then in the fall of 1873, he came to Gallon, Ohio, and com- menced with the A. & G. W. R. R., and left in the spring of 1874 and went to work for the C, C, C. & I. E. R., and remained there until August, 1879, when he took the National House, near the depot of the N. Y., P. & O. R. R., and is still there. He was married to Minnie Scott Mathews, of Allegheny City, Penn., Aug. 26, 1S72, and has two children living and two dead. ASA HOSFORD, miller and farmer; P. O. Gallon. Among the early settlers of this county, and one worthy of special mention, is Asa Hosford, the subject of this sketch. He was bom in Richfield, Mass., in 171)9. At the age of 6 years, his parents removed from Litch- field, Conn., to Jefferson Co., N. Y., and located upon a farm, remaining there for fourteen years, when they again removed to Ontario Co., N. Y., remaining there for four years. Mr. Hos- ford then being of age, and having a strong desire to see Ohio, he, in company with his brother Horace, started upon a tour. They came to Cleveland upon the first steamboat upon the Lakes, and then started for the in- terior of Ohio on foot. This was in the fall of 1819. Mr. Hosford remained in Huron Co. all winter, and in the spring was joined by his parents, who located in what is now Crawford Co. Mr. Hosford worked for several years to get his first §100, when he entered 80 acres of land near Gallon. In 1824, he opened the first hotel in the neighborhood. It was located somewhere in the present site of Gallon, and for eight years was the pro- prietor. He finally sold the hotel property to Ruhl for $600, and invested this money in 43 acres of land, which was situated where the heart of Gallon is to-day. It was the inten- tion of Mr. Hosford to lay out a town. Ruhl also had the same intentions, and finally bought the 43 acres of Mr. Hosford. He then, in 1832, bought the mill property in Polk Township, where he still resides, build- ing a mill which is in operation to-day. He was married in 1825, to Miss Alta Kent, of Bucyrus. They have three children living — Rebecca, Eri and Stephen. Mr. Hosford has been honored by many offices of trust by his friends, and in all has discharged them with ability and honor. His connection with the railroad, in which he deserves great credit, appears in the history of Gallon. J. R. HOMER, foundry and machine shop. Gallon ; is the present Mayor of Gallon, Ohio. Although a Republican in a Democratic com- munity, he was elected by twenty-live ma- jorit)'. He was born in Monson, Me., April 7, 1833. He attended the common schools and also an academy two terms. He worked on a farm when not at school until he was years of age, and afterward served his time in a foundry at Gallon, Ohio, and worked five years as journeyman, and also as foreman three years. In 1862, he enlisted in Company E, 101st O. V. I., and served three years in all the offices except Orderly Sergeant up to First Lieutenant, and came home in 1865, and took a position as foreman in a foundry for two years. He then bought a half-interest in a foundry and machine shop, known as the Gal- ion Machine Works. He has served several terms as a member of the Council, and has been President of the School Board, and has been Director of a building association through its full term. He was married to Jane E. Nave, of Gallon, and has one son, who works in the machine shop, and one daughter, who teaches in the public school at Gallon, Ohio. J. W. HOLMES. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born Sept.' 13, 1S21, at Dalton, Mass. When 18 months old, his father, Joseph Holmes, was called, to England. He was lost at sea while on his return to his family, which left the son with no other care but his mother. He was taken in charge by different ones, and when 10 years old was put on a farm until 16 years of age, when he was 'bound an appren- tice to the cabinet-making trade, serving his !) "S" -* 4' i) J* 844 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: time until the age of 21 years; lie then com- menced business for himself. In 1850, he was burnt out, by which msans he lost his wife and all his property, leaving him desti- tute. At this time he went to Bridgeport, and entered into a contract, with fifteen others, to go South to assist in putting the rolling Siock upon the Alabama & Tennessee River E.. B. {now the Selma, Eome & Dalton E. E.). From there he returned and entered the employ of the N. Y. C. E. E., in May, 1852, and con- tinued in said business at Eochester, N. Y., and Niagara Falls, being in charge of the car department until June, 1862, at which time he commenced to raise a company for active service in the 129th N. Y. V. I., under com- mand of Col. P. A. Porter; mustered into the United States service Aug. 22, 1862, and marched to the city of Baltimore, where the regiment was put in the defense of Baltimore and vicinity. In December, 1862, the regiment was changed from 12yth V. I. to the 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and recruited up to a reg- iment of 1,900 officers and men, and continued in the military duties of the Middle Depart- ment until July 2, 1868, when they were ordered to Maryland Heights, opposite Har- per's Ferry, to protect the rear of the army at Gettysburg. On the 1st of September, he was ordered back into the defenses of Bal- timore, and detailed as Provost Marshal of Fort McHenry, in charge of all Union and confederate prisoners at that point, and inti- mately connected with the secret service, which contributed so much to the success of our arms. In May, 1864, was relieve 1 from the duties of Provost Marshal, for the purpose of accompanying the regiment to the front, joining the army at Spottsylvania Court House, on the 18th of May, 1864, with 1,900 men assigned to the 2d Corps, 2d Division, commanded by Gen. Tyler. On the 19th, participated in the repulsing of an attack in force by Ewell's Corps; on the 23d and 24th, in the engagement of North Anna; on the 30th and 31st, at Cold Harbor; June 3, made a charge on the enemy's works, in which 600 men of the regiment were killed and wounded; crossed the James on the 15th of June; as- saulted the Confederate works before JPeters- burg, on the evening of June 16; supported an assault on the 18th, at which time, for gal- lant conduct, was promoted to Major, he hav- ing acted as such since June 8. On the 22d, assaulted and captured works held by the Confederate forces. Prom this time, the reg- iment was employed on breast-works, fortifi- cations, and covered ways, until Jul/ 26; ordered to the north side of James Eiver, and participated in the assaults on the enemy's lines at Deep Bottom, capturing their outer works ; also participated in severe fighting at Deep Bottom, Aug. 12. On Aug. 25, in a severe engagement at Ream's Station, on the 26th, being in command of the regiment, which when mustered, but 5 officers and 110 men reported for duty, thus showing the effects of severe duties which they had performed, and the loss which they had sustained since join- ing the army at Spottsylvania, on the 18th of May. At this time, the regiment was given a short rest, which was improved in receiving recruits, and the return of men from hospital, at which time he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. The regiment was again put on active duty, and participated in all the engage- mants until the surrender of Lee's forces, April 9, 1865. In June, 1865, was ordered to Eochester, N. Y., with his regiment, and mus- tered out of the service of the United States and retm'ned to peaceful pursuits of life. In August, 1865, entered the service of the A. & G. W. E. E., at Kent, Ohio. In September, the same year, promoted to the position of Superintendent of car repairs at Gallon, Crawford Co., Ohio, at which place he now resides, where he has been intimately con- nected with the Masonic and other kindred organizations, having, in 1850, beoams a Mas- ter Mason; in 1856, a Royal Arch Mason; received the degrees of Royal and Select Mas- ters, and dubbed and created a Knight of the Red Cross, Knight Templar and Knight of Malta. Since living in Gallon, he has been intimately connected with the organization of Gallon Lodge, No. 414, A.,F. & A. M.; Craw- ford Chapter, No. 142, E. A. M.; Mansfield Commandery of Knights Templar, No. 21, and now 32d degree member of Ohio Consistory, A. & A. S. Eite, at Cincinnati ; to mutual insur- ance organizations, a goodly portion of his attention has been given, being foremost in n^ lliL POLK TOWNSHIP. 845 the organization of Mutual Lodge, No. 32, K. of H. ; Galion Council, No. 20, E. A. ; was prominent in the formation of the Grand Lodge, K. of H., of Ohio, July 29, 1875, and was elected its first Grand Dictator; also, the Grand Council of the E. A. of Ohio, April 4, 1878, and was elected, at its second session, Grand Eegent. In all of the above organiza- tions, he has done his full proportion of the work to make each a success. G. L. JOHNSTON, foreman building and bridge department, C, C, C. & I. E. E., Galion. Ll the carpenter and wood-work department of the C, C, C. & I. E. E. shops, we find Mr. G. L. Johnston, as Foreman and Superintendent. He was born in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1841, and when a youth learned the carpenter's trade. In November, 1875, he entered the employ of the C, C, C. & I. E. E., at Shelby, and, in 1878, was called by that company to Galion, to assume his present position. He has the entire supervision of the construction of build- ings, bridges, freight trucks, etc. He was married in 1869, to Miss Polly E Hayes, at Mount Gilead. They have two children — Wilbur H. and Ealph P HENEY KAEMPHEE, Priest, Galion. The grandparents of Father Kaempher were French, and emigrated toWestphalia at the time of the first French Eevolution. He was born in Westphalia in December, 1848, and gradu- ated with honors at the University of Munster. He is also a graduate of the College of Eheine, and studied in the college nine years, and in the university four years. He came to Cleve- land, Ohio, in 1874, and went to Putnam Co., Ohio, and remained three years, and in April, 1878, he came to Galion, Ohio, and took charge of the two Catholic Churches there, and is building up good congregations in each. DE. HIEAM E. KELLEY, M. D., Gallon; was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., on the 7th of February, 1835. He attended the common schools until 13 years of age, when he entered a store and served two years as junior clerk. In 1851, he began teaching school, continuing until 1853, when he left Pennsyl- vania and removed to Ohio, settling in Perry Township, Morrow Co. He resumed his occu- pation as school-teacher for a year. In 1854, having resolved to become a physician, he attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and engaged in study until 1856, when he attended a full course of medical lectures at Cincinnati. He commenced the practice of medicine at West Point, Morrow Co., Ohio, remaining there until 1865, when, going to Columbus, he attended a full course at Starling Medical College, and graduated there. Eeturning to West Point, he resumed practice there until the spring of 1870, when he removed to Galion, and has since been in active practice there. For upward of twelve years, he has been ^a member of the State Medical College, and surgeon of the A. & G. W. E. E., now N. Y., P. & O. E. E.; for eight years, has also been appointed surgeon for the C, C, C. & I. E. E. In May, 1878, he was appointed Trustee of the Girls' Industrial Home, at Delaware, Ohio. Since 1873, he has been a member of the Galion Board of Education. Although enjoying an enviable reputation as a physician, his greatest success has been in surgery, having performed several difficult major operations successfully. He was married in 1858, to Miss Matilda Emma Keech, of Chester Co., Penn. They have one son — J. Webster Kelley. DE. J. WEBSTEE KELLEY, M. D., Gal- lon; was born at West Point, Morrow Co., Ohio, in 1859. He graduated at the High School, Galion, and, having resolved to be- come a physician, he attended Dennison Uni- versity, and afterward the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. From there he went to Starling Medical College, Colum- bus, Ohio, and while there carried off the "Surgeon's prize," in 1878. He then entered the office of Prof. Pooley, Professor of Surgery at Starling, and afterward went to Bellevue Hospital, N. Y., and graduated in March, 1880. He then returned to Galion, and entered into partnership with his father, and is now in practice there. He was married, Aug. 26, 1880, to Miss Ella E. Crim, daughter of C. S. Crim, President of First National Bank. Since his return to Galion, Dr. Kelley has reported several articles to medical journals in New York and Columbus. EEV. J. H. KLEIN, D. D., Gallon; was born in Baden, Germany, in 1829. He at- tended the common schools in Germany, and V,^ ■^ 846 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: emigrated to America in 1849, locating at Sandusky City, Ohio. He attended the Hei- delberg College and Seminary at Tiffin, Ohio, graduating in 1854, and entered the ministry of the German Reformed Church. He served at a number of missionary points, and at five different preaching charges in Sandusky Co., Ohio. Receiving a call from the St. John German Reformed Church of Fort Wayne, Ind., he removed there, and remained as Pas- tor until 1868, v?hen he was called to a pro- fessorship at the church seminary at Sheboy- gan, Wis. Served two years there, but, on account of the climate, he resigned, and accepted a call as Pastor of First German Reformed Church of Louisville, remaining there until 1878, when he removed to Gallon, and is now located there as Pastor of German Reformed Church. Since coming there, he has added fifty-seven members to the church. He was married in 1854, to Catharine Weis, of TifSn, Ohio. They have four children- Emily L., Caroline C, Catharine H. and Charles D. ROBERT L.4IRD, foreman boiler shops, N. Y., P. & O. R. R., Gallon. Mi: Laird was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1841. His parents emigrated to this country when he was 8 years old, locating at Mount Savage, Md. In 1855, he went to work for the B. & O. R. R., at Piedmont, W. Ya., and remained with that company until 1862, when he came to Zanesville, Ohio, and engaged with the Central Ohio R. R., working at his trade of boiler-making. In 1864, he enlisted as a 100- day man in the 159th O. S. V. I. After serv- ing his time, he returned to Zanesville, and was married to !Miss Jennie Mcintosh, Dec. 23, 1864. He then went to Cincinnati, and for nearly three years worked at his trade for the C, H. ii D. R. R. He came to Gallon in 1867, and worked at his trade for the C, C, C. & I. R. R., until January, 1870, when he engaged with the A. & G. W. R. R., now the N. Y., P. & O. R. R., and has been with that company ever since, as Superintendent of the boiler shops. He resided for three years at Kent, where the principal shops of this com- pany were located, but, on their removal to Gallon, has made his home there. He has one child — John. ISIr. Laird is a member of Gallon Lodge, No. 414, F. & A. M., Gallon Chapter, No. 142, and Mansfield Commandeiy, No. 21. HENRY LAUGHBAUM, farmer; P. O. Gallon. Mr. Laughbaum was bom in Rich- land Co., Ohio, in 1828. He is the son of Solomon and Margaret (Heist) Laughbaum, natives of Pennsylvania, both being bom near Lancaster. When Henry was a youth, his father bought. 20 acres of land in Jefferson Township, Crawford Co., and then was stricken down by disease from which he never recov- ered, but lingered along for years, a helpless invalid. This threw the support of the family upon the boys, and their early life was one of extreme toil. He married Miss Nancy Pfeiffer, daughter of Peter Pfeiffer, in 1849. She was bom in Cincinnati, Ohio, June, 1832, and, at the time of her marriage, was an orphan. ]Mr. Laughbaum's business at this time, until 1865, was running a saw-mill in Whetstone Town- ship. In 1865, he bought 80 acres of land, in Polk Township, where he now resides. Since that time he has added 20 acres more to the original purchase, and has improved it in buildings, fences, ete., until to-day it is one of the most valuable pieces of land in the town- ship. In the summer of 1S8U, he built a new and elegant residence, which adds much to the value of his property. His farm lies a few miles northwest of Gallon, and, as ^Ii. Laughbaum devotes his time exclusively to the improve- ment and cultivation of his land, he will have a home, in time, second to none in the county. During his residence in Whetstone Town- ship, he served four years as Constable, seven years as Township Clerk, and one year as Township Trustee, ilr. and ili-s. Laugh- baum have ten children — Ellas W., Aaron H, Sarah J., Louisa C, Melissa B., Otterbine F., Deborah E., Maransa C, Horatio T. and Weston S. Aaron H. is married to Ellen Shu- maker, aud they are living in Sandusky Town- ship; Sarah J. is married to William 0. Shu- maker, residing in Polk Tovmship. M. MANLEY, Superintendent of Public Schools, Gallon; was bom in 1841, at New Salem, Fairfield Co., Ohio. His parents were of Scoteh and English descent. In 1848, they moved to New Lexington, Perry Co. He at- tended the public schools there until 1854, ®P IV ■^ POLK TOWKSHIP. 847 ■when he removed back to Fairfield Co., and entered Fairfield Academy in 1857. He taught school during the winters and attended the academy during the spring and fall until 1860, when he entered as freshman in the classical course of the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity, at Delaware, Ohio, teaching school to pay his tuition while there. He graduated in 1866, and took charge of the north district of the union school at Lancaster, Ohio; resigned at the expiration of one year, on account of fail- ing health, and accepted the agency of Apple- ton & Co.'s school books, until 1870. He had charge of Carroll School, in Fairfield Co., until 1872 ; was Principal of the high school of Lancaster until 1871, when he came to Gallon, and was Principal of the high school one year, and, since that time, has been Super- intendent of public schools, being elected to serve until 1883. Prof. Manley served two years in the army, in the 17th and 146th 0. V. I. He is a Mason, and a member of the Knights of Honor. JACOB G. MEUSER, lawyer. Gallon. Prominent among the leadino' men of Craw- ford Co. and of Central Ohio, is J. G. Meuser. He was born on April 4, 1844, in Sandusky Township, Richland Co., within a few miles of Gallon, and is the son of Peter F. and Katherine (Swayne) Meuser. His early life was passed upon a farm. He received a good education, commencing with the common schools, and finishing at Capital University, of Columbus, Ohio, after which he taught school from 1864 to 1870. After determining to make the practice of law his profession, he entered the ofiice of S. G. Cummings, of Gal- ion, and commenced reading. He was admit- ted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio, in 1872, and has been engaged in this profes- sion, in partnership with S. G. Cummings, up to the present time. Politically, Mr. Meuser is a Democrat, and has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of his party, being con- sidered one of its leaders in Ohio. Among the numerous offices which Mr. Meuser has held, we may mention the following: In April, 1874, he was elected Mayor of Gallon, and, in 1875, he was chosen to represent his district in tbo State Legislature. In 1877, he was re-elected, and, during the latter term, was Chairman of "f; the Judiciary Committee, the Committee on Rules, and of the committee to revise and consolidate the statutes. In 1879, he was em- ployed by the State to edit the present Re- vised Statutes of Ohio. Mr. Meuser is also one of the proprietors and the editor of the Gallon Inquirer, one of the leading Democratic organs in Central Ohio. Socially, he is hu- morous, genial and agreeable. Possessing great executive ability, and endowed with perseverance, energy and industry, Mr. Meu- ser is to-day one of the rising young men of his native State. DA.VID MACKS Y, architect and builder. Gallon; was born in Franklin Co., Penn., April 3, 1835. His parents removed to Ohio when he was 3 years old, locating in Musk- ingum Co. He attended the common schools until he was 13 years old, when his parents moved to Crawford Co., Polk Tovmship, in 1848. His father was a carpenter and build- er, and David assisted him in that busiaess until he was 21 years of age, when he com- menced taking lessons in drawing and archi- tecture. In 1854 or 1855, he entered the car department of the Indiana Division of the C, C, C. & I. R. R., and worked in that depart- ment for twelve years, since which time he has been in business for himself as an architect and builder. In 1878, he erected Mackey's Block, and is also the builder of the Citizens' National Bank, and a large portion of the best buildings in Gallon. He was man-led in 1854, to Miss Sarah L. Traul, of Gallon. They have two children living — Mattie and Sadie. Mr. Mackey has been a member of Common Council for two terms before the city was in- corporated, and is now serving his second term. He was a Director in the old Gallon Building Company, and is now President of the Citizens' Building Company. Mr. Mackey and wife are members of Presbyterian Church. O. N. MONROE, foreman carpenter depart- ment, N. Y., P. & O. R. R., Gallon; was born in Medina Co., Ohio, in August, 1831. His father was a farmer, and his early life was passed upon a farm, until, at the age of 17, he went to learn the carpenter's trade in Lorain Co. After three years in that county, he went to Huron Co., and went to contracting for himself. "While there, he engaged with the | ~^ ® f^ 9 i?» 848 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Lake Shore R. E. Company, and worked in their shops at Norwalk for thirteen years, and was foreman of the shops for ten years. In August, 1869, he engaged with the A. & G. W. R. K., and went to work for that company at their shops at Kent, Ohio. Li December, 1869, the shops were removed to Galion, and he has, since that time, made his home there. He has been foreman of his department ever since his connection with the road. He was married, Dec. 6, ISoo, to Miss Julia Petteys, of Huron Co. They have fo\u: children — • Albert W., Eugene A., Orin N., Jr., and Beele. J. C. McILVAIX, M. D., Galion; was bom in Mansfield, Ohio, Mireh 23, 1845. He at- tended select schools until the inauguration of the public schools, which he attended until 11 years of age. He then, through the influ- ence of John Sherman, member of Congress, received an appointment as cadet to West Point or Annapolis. He selected Annapolis, but was rejected on his physical examination, on account of a crippled arm. Through the influence of Secretary of the Xavy Toucey, he was passed, however, and remained in the navy two years, on the frigate Constitution, when he resigned, and entered the IJOth O. V. I. Served in Grant's 13th Corps, and was with Sherman all through the siege of Yioks- burg. "While with Banks' expedition, up the Eed River, he was taken prisoner, and lay thirteen months in rebel prisons in the inte- rior of Texas. He was mustered out late in 1S65, and suffered severely for a year, from the effects of prison confinement. After re- gaining health, he went to Michigan and served six years as civil engineer. He com- menced the study of medicine in 1869, and graduated in 1S7"2, at the University of Mich- igan, Atiti Arbor. First commenced practice near Lansing, Mich.; practiced also in the lumber regions and at Grand Rapids, Mich. Came to Galion in the fall of 1878, and is now engaged in active practice there. W. A. McKEAN, foreman car department. C, C, C. & I. R. R., Galion. Among the officials of the C, C, C. & L R. R., is Mr. >V. A. McKean, superintendent of the car depart- ment. He is a native of Ohio, and was bom in Holmes Co., in 1837. He came to Galion in IS 58, and worked at cabinet-making for four years. He then entered the employ of the above-mentioned railroad, and has been connected with that road ever since. In Octo- ber, 1879, he was appointed foreman and superintendent of the car department, which position he still holds. HENRY POISTER, boots and shoes, Gal- ion; was bom in Germany, in 1845, and emi- grated to this country in 1854, with his par- ents, and located in Galion. He attended school until 1862, and then entered the C, C, C. & I. R. R. shops, and worked as carpenter until 1866, when he went to Indianapolis and worked in the railroad shops there. Returned to the Galion shops in 1871, and worked iintil 1877. He then went into partnership with C. F. Beck, in the dry goods and boot and shoe trade. In the spring of 1880, he dis- solved partnership, and is now carrying on a boot and shoe store on Main sti-eet. He was maiTied, in 1870, to Miss Louisa H. Beck. They have one child — Clara. He is a mem- ber of the German Reformed Church. T. L. PITTOX, yard-master, X. T., P. & O. R. R., Galion; was bom in Canada, in 1845, and his early life, up to 19 years of age, was spent there. He then went to Salamanca, X. Y.. and went to work for the A. & G. TV. R. E., now the X. Y., P. & O., and has been in the employ of that road up to the present writing. He came to Galion in 1867, and has been yard-master ever since his residence there. He was married to Miss Susanna Rick- ets, of Galion, in 1869. They have two chil- dren — Thomas J. and Minnie. ~Mjc. Pitton is a member of Galion Lodge, Xo. 414, F. & A. M., and Mutual Lodge, K. of H., Xo. 32. V\TLLIAM PRICE, foreman blacksmith shops, X. T., P. & O. R. R., Galion; was bom in Breconshire, South Wales, in 1833. He emigrated to America in 1857, and located in Pittsburgh, and worked at his trade there for three years. He then, in 1859, removed to Crestline, and was employed in the Pittsburgh & Fort Wayne railroad shops until 1864, when he removed to Galion, and engaged with the C, C, C. & I. R. E. Co., remaining with them until 1866. He then began to work for the A. i- G. W. E. E. Co., now the X. Y., P. & O. E. E., and has been with them up to the pres- ent time. In 1867, he was appointed foreman "^s 3^ liL^ POLK TOWNSHIP. 849 of his department, which position he still occupies. He was married in Wales, in 1857, to Miss Hannah Herbert. They have four children living — Thomas, now working in the shops with his father, William, Eliza and Clara I. He is a member of Gallon Lodge, No. 215, I. O. O. F., and has been a member of the Gralion Common Council. W. C. QITIGLEY, superintendent black- smith-shops, C, C.,C. & I. R. E., Gallon; was born in Mansfield, Ohio, in IS-iO, and his early life, until he was 16 years old, was spent in that place. At this time, he came to Gal- ion, and has since made his home there. For a number of years he worked at several trades at the C, C, C. & I. R. R. shops, attending schools at intervals in the meantime, until 1862, when he enlisted in the 81st O. S. V. I., and was in active service for three years, with Sherman's army. At the close of the war, he returned to Gallon, and again entered the employ of the C, C, C. & I. R. R., and has been with that company up to the present time. For the past nine years, he has been su.perin- tendent of the blacksmith-shops. He is the inventor of a " railway frog and crossing com- bined," which is used exclusively upon' the C, C, C. & I. R. R., and he is also the inventor and patentee of a lawn rake, a mo.st valuable improvement upon any other rake now in use. He was married, in Gallon, to Miss Emma Fague, Aug. 6, 1865. They have two children — Harry N. and Samuel T. He is a member of Gallon Lodge, No.- 414, F. & A. M., and, together with his wife, a member of the Meth- odist Church. WILLL^M H. RAYMOND, superintendent of stock-yards, C, C, C. & I. R. R., Gallon. Mr. Raymond was born in Shelby, Ohio, in 1843. His father was a cooper by trade, and also followed farming. He remained at home, working upon the farm, until 22 years old, when he went to Crestline, and entered into the employ of the C, C, C. & I. R. R. in the stock-yards there. In 1870, he removed to Gallon, and has since resided there. He is superintendent of the stock yards there, and one of Gallon's most esteemed citizens. He was married in 1872, to Miss Mary Hall, of Crestline. They have two children^^Grace and Jessie. Mr. Raymond is a Mason, and is a member of the present (1880) school board. V. H. REISINGER, dentist. Gallon; was born in Gallon, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1854, and was educated in the Gallon Union School. He went into a drug store a short time, and, at the age of 16 years, commenced to study dentistry with Dr. S. Waggoner, of Gallon, Ohio, and remained with him about three years, and then commenced the study of dentistry in the Bal- timore College of Dental Surgery, and contin- ued through two terms, and then removed to Belleville, Richland Co., Ohio, and practiced there in 1876 and 1877, about nine months. The Baltimore College of Dental Surgery having consolidated with the Maryland Col- lege of Dental Surgery, he completed his course there, and graduated with honors, March 7, 1878. He then came to Gallon and commenced the practice of his profession in Mackey's Block, Gallon, Ohio, where he is building up a first-class practice. He was married, Jan. 25, 1876, to Miss Amanda Mackey, of Gallon, Ohio, and has two chil- di-en. J. P. REISINGER, Notary Public, Gallon; was born in Gallon, in 1849; is a son of the late Dr. Reisinger. He had the advantage of a high-school education, and, at the age of 16 he began the tinner's trade, serving an appren- ticeship of three years, and working at his trade for two years, and, during this time, studying book-keeping in the evening. In 1869, he went to Tiffin, and engaged as book- keeper for William Sullivan, a hardware mer- chant; also, was clerk at the Shawhan House, remaining in Tiffin until 1871, when he re- turned to Gallon, and was clerk at the Central Hotel for a short time. He then engaged with H. D. Lee, in the knitting-machine busi- ness, as business agent, having his headquar- ters at York, Penn. Mr. Reisinger traveled over several States in the interest of Mr. Lee. In 1871, he came to Ashland, Ohio, and mar- ried Miss Cynthia Mcllvaine, she returning with him to Pennsylvania, and traveled with him, assisting him by operating the machines at fairs, etc. Mr. Reisinger remained with Mr. Lee until 1874, when he removed to Ash- land, Ohio, and ran the St. Nicholas restaur- ant for two seasons. He then purchased, with H. Tucker, the Ohio Publishing Company, ^ a '\S^ ^ 4a «^ ^ 850 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: which proved a bad investment. He then re- turned to Galion, in 1876, and is now engaged in the real estate business, and is a Notary Public. Politically, Mr. Eeisinger is a Demo- crat, and takes an active interest in the work- ings of the party, and is now the Secretary of the Central and Executive Committees of that party in the county. Mr. Reisinger is also Secretary of the Pioneer Association, and was the first Land Appraiser elected by the city. WILLIAM E. RIBLET, County Treasurer; was born in Sandusky Township, Richland Co., in 18;i5. He attended the common schools of those times. In 1851, he came to Galion, and worked at the tinner's trade for eight years. He then went to Mansfield, and clerked in the post office until he secured a situation as route agent from Crestline to In- dianapolis, on the " Bee Line;" served in this, capacity during 1859 and 1860. In 1861, he went into the shoe business in Galion, and from that to the hardware business in 1862, remaining in that line until 1874, when he sold out and went into real estate. In 1866, he laid a farm out in town lots; it is now called " William Riblet's Addition to Galion." ilr. Riblet served as Corporation Treasurer for three terms, as Township Treasurer two terms, and was elected County Treasurer in 1879. He was married, in 1861, to Caroline H. Edson. They have three children — Ella E., Clement W. and Richard E. He is a Democrat in politics. HUGH ROSS, foreman rail shops, N. T., P. & O. R. R., Galion. One of Gallon's most esteemed citizens is Mr. Hugh Ross, who was born in Dingwall, Rosshire, Scotland, Sept. 21, 18"i3. He emigrated to Toronto, Canada, in September, 1843, and worked at his trade as blacksmith there until February, 1862, when he crossed over to Buffalo, N. Y., and worked there until April, 1802. He then went to Meadville, Penn., where the Atlantic and Great Western R. R. had reached in con- struction, and built for this company the first steam shovel on the road. He operated this shovel for two years, in the construction of the road. He was then placed in charge of the repair shops at Urbana, Ohio, remaining there for two years. He then was removed to Galion, and has had charge of the rail shops up to the present writing. Mr. Ross was mar- ried in Canada, in the year 1841, to Miss Margaret Irvine ; she was bom in Ireland, in 1821. They have four children living — ^Fin- lay, now living in Kansas ; William, a black- smith; Elizabeth, married to Peter Meuser, of Galion; George, a machinist, and three de- ceased — Harriet, Annie and Hugh A. He is a member of Galion Lodge, No. 215, I. O. O. F., and, together with his wife and daughter, a member of the Presbyterian Church. W. J. RYAN, hotel proprietor. Gallon; was born July 6, 1857, in Orange, Delaware Co., Ohio. He received a good education, attend- ing the schools at Delaware. He then learned telegraphy, and his first office was at Linn- dale, Ohio. After operating in different towns, he was sent to Galion, in 1875, as night oper- ator. From there he was sent to Delaware, and worked in the train dispateher's office for six months, when he was given the day office at Galion, and continued there until Sept. 1, 1880, when he removed to Bucyrus, and en- gaged in the book and stationery business. In October, ISSO, in connection with H. H. Elliott, of the Sims House, Bucyrus, he be- came one of the proprietors of the Capitol House, Galion. He was married June 3, 1880, to Miss May Beck, daughter of M. Beck, of Galion. 'Six. Ryan is now located in Galion, as the managing partner of the Capitol House. It is the intention of Elliott and Ryan to make the " Capitol " one of the best hotels in Cen- tral Ohio. J. K. SHERER, farmer; P. O. Galion; was born in Wlietstone Tovraiship in 184-j. He is the son of John and Sarah (Keifer) Sherer, who now reside in Whetstone Township. His early life was spent upon his father's farm, until he was 21 years old. In October, 1866, he was married to Miss Nancy M. Beck, of Polk Township, and bought the farm where he now resides. His farm now embraces 210 acres of fine, improved land, lying three miles west of Galion. He has improved it in build- ings and fences until it ranks as one of the finest farms in Polk Township. For the past five years, he has been dealing extensively, buying and selling stock, and at present is devoting his time exclusively to that branch, his farm being worked by his nephew, G. W. ;^ !k* POLK TOWNSHIP. 851 Bair. He has six children — Martin L., Flor- ence L., Arvene R., Bessie G., Orra D. and an infant unnamed. He, with his wife, is a meinber of the English Lutheran Church. EEV. J. A. SCHULZE, German Evangel- ical Lutheran, Galion; was born in Mieste, Prussia, in 1828. He obtained a common- school education; emigrated to America in 1847; began his study for the ministry in 1S1:8, at the Capitol University of Columbus, Ohio, graduating in 1851. His first charge was at Trenton, Butler Co., Ohio, preaching tc several congregations in the vicinity. He was called to Columbus in 1856, preaching to a number of congregations, and engaged on the staff of a Lutheran periodical, and in the publication of Lutheran books and literature. Receiving a call from the church in Galion, he came there in 1875, where he is now located. C. B. SHUMAKEE, Justice of the Peace, Galion. Mr. Shumaker was born in North- umberland Co., Penn., in 1835. At 19 years of age, commenced to clerk in a dry goods store in Jersey Shore, Penn., in 1854, and remained there until 1857. Commenced in the restaurant business at Williamsport, Penn., and remained one year, and then com- menced to farm and contract for railroad ties, for six years, some of which time he was raft- ing on the Susquehanna River. In 1864, he came to Galion, Ohio, and went to work in the railroad shops, and remained here eight years. He served as Constable for five years, and is at present serving as Justice of the Peace, and, together with his son, is conduct- ing a photograph gallery at 13J East Main street, Galion, Ohio. JAMBS J. SPITTLE, foreman copper-shop, N. T., P. & O. R. R., Galion; was born in Wales, in 1836. His parents emigrated to America when he was but six months old, and located in Pittsburgh, Penn., remaining there for ten years. Prom there they went to Lo- rain Co., Ohio, and, after a short period there, went to Cuyahoga Co. In 1848, they removed to Sandusky City, where Mr. Spittle learned his trade as coppersmith. He came to Galion in 1856, and went to work for the " Bee Line" E. R., at his trade. He has also worked for the Pittsburgh Co. and the Pan Handle road. at Richmond, Ind. He returned to Galion in 1866, and has been with the A. & G. W. R. R. (now the N. Y., P. & C. R. R.) ever since. In every shop in which he has worked has been foreman of his department. He married Miss Alvina Winfield, of Sandusky City, in 1857. She was born in Prussia, in 1838. They have two children living — William A., born in Galion Sept. 25, 1858, and is working with his father in the railroad shops, and Car- rie L., bom in Richmond, Ind., Nov. 28, 1865. Fannie L., deceased, was born in Sandusky City, in 1861, and died in 1865. Mr. Spittle is a meml^er of Galion Lodge, No. 414, F. & A. M., and Galion Lodge No. 215, I. O. O. F. EDWIN STOUGH, brakeman, Galion; was born Feb. 14, 1854. For the past four years, has been brakeman on the A. & G. W. R. R. A. M. STEWART, general traveling agent, C, C, C. & I. R. R., Galion; was born in St. Albans, Me., in 1835. He attended the com- mon schools until his parents removed to Bos- ton, Mass., in 1847. He began his career for himself by selling newspapers on the passen- ger train running on the Boston & Maine Railroad. He was then working under Charles Minot, who seemed to take an interest in him, and gave him a position on the New York & Lake Erie R. R. He served on what is called the "telegraph gang," and put up over 400 miles of telegraph wire. After this, he ob- tained a position as a machinist in the rail- road shops in New York City. After learning his trade, he became a fireman, and followed up this business until 1853, when he came to Galion and obtained a position as engineer on the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis R. R. At this time he was only 17 years old, and, in 1857, was given charge of the railroad shops at Galion. He served in this capacity until 1864, when he built the Galion Stock Yards, in conjunction with Oliver Duck. In 1877, he was appointed stock agent of the C, C, C. & I. R. R. and, in 1880, was made general traveling agent of this road. He is at present administering both these offices for the com- pany. He was married in 1856, to Miss Han- nah McClellan, a native of Columbiana Co., Ohio. They have one daughter — Nellie H. Himself and wife are members of the Meth- odist Church. Is a Republican in politics. ?|v^ ^1 853 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: JOSEPH E. WILLIAMS, teacher, Galion; was bom in Gralion in 1848. He completed a common-school coiu'se in 1870, and went to Hillsdale, Mich., and attended the Hills- dale College, graduating in 1875. He was elected Principal of the High School of Galion, and served until 188G, when he was elected Superintendent of Public Schools of Cambridge, Ohio. He was married, in 1880, to Miss Ada E. Gochenour, of Galion. Both are members of the Baptist Church. 'Mi. Will- iams is a Mason, belonging to Galion Lodge, No. 414. L. H YORK, yard-master, C, C, C. & I. E. E., Galion; was bom in Ulster Co., N. T., in 1835. His early life was passed upon a farm. In ] 855, Mr. York removed to Wisconsin and engaged in farming in Dane Co, remaining there about three years. In January of 1858, he came to Galion, and has been in the employ of the C, C, C. & I. E. E. ever since. He has had charge of the yard there for twenty years. Mr. York was married in IS 58, to Miss Martha F. Bryfogle, of Galion. They have one child llii^ — Frahkie L. He is a Mason, also a member of the Eoyal Arcanum, and of the American Legion of Honor. In politics, Mr. York is a Eepublican, but does not take an active part, as his time is fully occupied in the faithful discharge of his business. He has been a member of the Common Council of Galion, and is one of its honorable and upright busi- ii©ss mGH JOSEPH A. YOCHEM, dry goods, Galion, Ohio. The father and mother of Joseph A Yochem came from Germany to Galion in 1850, and were married in Galion. The sub- ject of this sketch was bom in Galion, Ohio, July 15, 1850, and is one of Crawford's most enterprising young men, and is doing a good business at the northwest comer of Main and Columbus streets, Galion, Ohio. He attended the public schools of Galion, and went to clerk for S. C. Eanaga, April 27, 1874, and con- tinued with him until May 1, 1878, when he bought his employer out, and has enlarged the business, and is at present carrying it on at the old stand with good success. JACKSON TOWNSHIP. M. C. AECHEE, Superintendent Water- ] Works, Crestline; was bom in Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1S20, of American parents, and came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., in 1837, and resided there imtil 1853, when he came to Crestline, and was employed at railroading for thirteen years. In 1876, he went to Co- lumbus, and was in the employ of the C, S. & C. E. E., until 1880, when he returned to Crestline, and is now engaged as Superintend- ent of Water- Works. He was married Nov. 14, 1840, to Mary Hill, daughter of Lewis Hill, of Eichland Co. They have three chil- dren — Caroline D., Thomas A. and John J., who is now General Ticket Agent of Scioto Valley E. E. !Mr. Archer has always been a Eepublican, and has served one term as mem- ber of Common Council of Crestline, and was Deputy JJ. S. Marshal during the administra- tion of Lincoln. DAXLEL BABST, Sb., banker, Crestline; was bom near Strasbourg, France, in 1810. Cam.e to this country in 1832, and lived in New York for three years, and came to Stark Co., Ohio, in 1S34. Prom there he went to Canal Fulton, and lived there until 1852, when he came to Crestline, and has resided there ever since; was married to Catharine Arter in 1832; was married again to Margaret Yost in 1841 ; they have seven children by last marriage — Emeline, born August 20, 1842; Caroline, bom Feb. 26, 1844, died May 26, 1845; Jacob, bom Feb. 11, 1846; Daniel Jr., Oct. 19, 1847; Louise, Aug. 28, 1849; Thomas, Oct. 23, 1853; Willis H., June 5, 1858. ^SIi. Babst entered into the hotel business on com- ing to Crestline, as proprietor of the old American House, afterward known as Franklin House, and remained in the hotel business about four years. In 1871, he built and estab- lished Babst's Banking House. Mr. Babst retired from all active business in 1878, and was succeeded in the banking business by his sons, Jacob and Daniel, Jr. Mr. Babst has -^. If A ^ JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 853 added considerably to Crestline in buildings, and is one of the largest property owners in the town. He is now living in retirement at his beautiful residence south of Crestline. Mr. Babst has a vineyard of one acre of choice grapes, in which he takes great pride, making yearly about twenty barrels of wine. Pine pears, plums and fruits of all kinds are to be found upon his ample grounds. Mr. Babst is a member of the Lutheran Church. He has always been a Republican. DAJSflEL BABST, Jb., lawyer, Crestline; was born Oct. 19, 1847, in Canal Fulton, Ohio, and came to Crestline with his parents in 1852, and. has always resided there. He read law with M. Jones, Esq., of Crestline, and was admitted to the bar in 1870, and commenced practice in 1S72. Was elected Solicitor for the corporation of Crestline in 1878, appointed Mayor in 1879, and elected in ISSd. ]Mr. Babst is also a member of the Board of Ex- aminers. The subject of this sketch is a young man of great energy and ability, and is also very popular. In politics, ]\Ir. Babst is an Independent Republican. JACOB BABST, banker, Crestline; was bom in Canal Fulton in 1846, and came to Crestline with his parents in 1852, and has always made it his home. He is a tinner by trade, following it for ten years; also carried on a tin and stove store for three years, while working at his trade. He married Matilda C. Stoll, daughter of George Stoll, of Bucyrus, in 1869. They have three children — Daniel Earl, born July 6, 1870, Jessie Fremont, born March 2, 1S72, Bertha Stoll, Dec. 6, 1878. Matilda Stoll, his wife, was born March 20, 1848, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. Babst and his wife are both members of the Presby- terian Church. He went into the banking business in 1871, and in 1873 was appointed Cashier. Since the retirement of his father from the bank, in 1878, he has had the entire management of it, as his brother Daniel, Jr. (who is joint owner), is immersed in his law practice. Mr. Babst has always been a Repub- lican. JAMES LEROI BOOTH, M. D., Crestline. He was born in Holmes Co., Ohio, in the year 1835. He attended the common schools until 14 years of age. The following three years were spent at Haysville College. He taught district school for one year, when he was elected Superintendent of the Sullivan County Seminary. This institution being out of the State, it brought him in contact with stran- gers and educational influences. In 1854, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Boyer, at Sullivan, Ind. The following year he taught mathematics in Marshall Academy, in Clark Co., 111., for one year, at the same time continuing the study of medicine with Dr. White, an eminent physician of Eastern Illi- nois. He completed his study with his brother Edwin, at Brownsville, Knox Co., Ohio, in 1856. In 1857, removed to Vaughnsville, Putnam Co., Ohio. He remained there one year, when the death of his brother. Dr. Mil- ton H. Booth, of West Cairo, Ohio, called him to this place, where he took his practice. In 1861, he raised a company, and was commis- sioned Captain of Company D, O. V. I., 118th Regiment. He returned to Cairo, in 1864, and practiced medicine a short time, when he was elected Captain of "Company C, 151st O. V. I., without a dissenting vote. He remained with his company until his time of service expired. He retm-ned to Cairo and resumed his practice until 1871, when he retired from practice for one year. Began a practice in La Grange, Indiana, and continued for two years. He came to Crestline in 1876, and has at present a very extensive and lucrative practice. REV. MICHAEL B. BROWN, Catholic Priest, Crestline; was born near Plattsburg, N. Y., in 1840. At the age of 12 years he removed with his parents to Sandusky City, Ohio. At the age of 17, he entered St. Maiy's Preparatory Seminary, at Cleveland, and, in 1859, entered the University of Notre Dame. In 1860, he applied for admission into the congregation of Holy Cross, and was received into the novitiate in March of the same year. In June, 1802, he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in the following Sep- tember began his theological studies, which he continued until June 10, 1867, when he was ordained Priest. In 1868, he was ap- pointed to the Professorship of Moral and Mental philosophy. He continued teaching until 1872, when he became Vice President of i) ^ the Association, and had sole management^of all the classes, over forty teachers, until iSTi, when he went to Watertown, Wis., and took the management of College of " Our Lady^of Sacred Heart." He remained there until 1876, when he gave up college life, and went to Youngstown, Ohio, as assistant of his brother, who was Pastor, and came to Crestline in July, 1877, and has been Pastor of Catholic Church there ever since. WILLIAM P. CEO WE, grocer, Crestline; was born in Ireland, in 1841, and came to America with his mother in 1849, and located for about six months in Vermont, when he came to Ohio, locating in Columbiana Co., remaining in that county a short time. He also resided for a short period in Stark and Kichland Counties, and came to Crestline in April, 1853, and has made his home there ever since. He was maiTied in 1871 to Ellen Haley, of Marion. They have five children — Mary, Catharine, Ellen, Annie and Jane. Mr. Crowe served seven years as Corporation Treas- urer of Crestline, three years as Justice of the Peace, and has also been a member of the Common Council. He is agent for the Inman line of steamers, and also an insurance agent. He has always been a Democrat. D. H. CASSEL, hardware, Crestline; was born in Richland County in 1843, and re- mained in that county until 1802, when he came to Crestline and learned the tinsmith's trade, with G. W. Pierce. In 1871, he went into partnership with George W. Zint, under the firm name of Cassel & Zint, in the hard- ware, tinware and stove business, and has been engaged in that line up to the present time (1880). Was married in 1867, to Maggie Cramer, of Upper Sandusky, and has two children by first wife — Dora D. and Flora D. Mrs. Cassel died in 1869. He married again in 1872, to Maggie McGuire, of Eichland County. They have one child — Daisy May. ]Mr. Cassel has been a member of the Common Council of Crestline, is a member of the Knights of Honor, and also an Odd Fellow. Has always been a Democrat. CEESTLINE "ADVOCATE." The Advo~ cate was established in July, 1809, by Adam Billow and son, D. C. Billow, in the Union Hall Block, second floor. Upon the death of his father, which occurred May 20, 1876, D. C. Billow assumed sole management and has made the Advocate one of the best papers in the county, having a good solid list of sub- scribers and doing an extensive job business. The office is supplied with power by a Backus Water Motor. The Advocate is independent in politics. DE. I. S. COLE, Crestline; was born in Al- - legheny City, Penn., Feb. 19, 1836, and at- tended the Institute at Haysville, Ashland Co., Ohio. He afterward read medicine with Dr. Glass, and graduated from Cleveland Medical College. He began the practice in Eeeds- burg, Ashland Co., Ohio, and removed to West Salem in 1873, remaining there until 1880, when he came to Crestline and married Euth A. Smith, daughter of James B. Smith, of Ashland County. They have four children — Frank, Minnie B., Eufus I. and an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. JOHN DODANE, real estate, Crestline; was born in France in 1825, and came with his parents to America in 1836, and located in Stark County, working on his father's farm until 1853, when he started for California, remaining there until 1857, digging gold. In 1857, he came back to Ohio on a visit, but re- tui-ned to California in 1858, and remained there until 1866, when he came to Crestline, and has resided there ever since, engaged in the real estate business. He was married in 1867, to Anna Dodane, of Crestline, widow of his brother. They have two children — Min- nie, born in 1870, Delia, born in 1867. Mrs. Dodane died in 1873. Mr. Dodane has been one of the Trustees of the Water-Works of Crestline two terms. Has always been a Democrat. J. P. DAVIS, dry goods merchant, Crest- line; was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1824, of American parents, and came to Craw- ford County in 1833, and has always made it his home. He was agent for the C, C, 0. & I. E. E., at Shelby, for three years, and came to Crestline in 1852, and was agent for the same company until 1862, when he engaged in the dry goods business. First went into partner- ship with John McGraw, succeeding E. Lee & Co., continued with McGraw for a year and n^ 'A JACKSON TOWXSIIIP. 857 a half. McGraw then sold his interest to John MoKean, the firm then being Davis & McKean, for two years, when McGraw bought the interest of Mr. Davis. He then went into partnership with Martin Davis & Co., and continued for about two years, when the Davis Brothers bought the interest of Martin, estab- lishing the firm of J. P. & J. W. Davis. Two years after, they dissolved partnership, and went to his present location, in Union Hall Block, remaining there until 1875, when he sold his stock, and retired from business for about four months, when he again went into partnership with H. A. AVhite, under the iirm name of Davis & White, and they have continued in business up to the present time (1880). ]VIr. Davis was married to Catharine Mickey, of Richland Co., in 1850. They have eight children — Wilbur E., Florence A., Ed- win P., George P. (deceased), infant (deceased), Lillie May, Itobert L., Augustus. Mr. Davis has always been a Republican. BENJAMIN EATON, mail agent. Crests line; was born in Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, in 1821. In 1837, he went to Belmont Co., Ohio, remaining there until 1839, when he went to Wheeling, W. Va., and learned the harness-maker's trade. In 1840, he returned to Ohio, working at his trade, and also at peddling. He came to Crestline in 1859, and has since made it his home. He was married in 1849, to Harriet A. Martin, of Richland Co. Mr. Eaton was depot policeman for two years, and, during the war, was the agent of the sick and wounded; also, enrolling master for Vernon and Jackson Townships. Eor the past few years, has been in the employ of the Government as mail agent. He is a Knight Templar, and a Republican. C. E. FRANK, dry goods, Crestline; was born in Southern Germany, in 1832, and came to America with his parents in 1846, locating in Western Pennsylvania, remaining with his parents and working on a farm for five years, when he went to Johnstown, Penn., and learned the dry goods business, and came to Crestline in the spring of 1856, and engaged in the clothing business, remaining there about two and a half years, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and went into the provision business until the following spring, when he engaged in the hardware trade, and contin- ued until the fall of 1804. He returned to Crestline in August, 1805, and engaged in the dry goods business, and has been there ever since. He was married in 1859, to Em- ma Babst, daughter of Daniel Babst, of Crest- line. They have five children — Daniel, Ger- tie, Maud, George, Paul. Has been a member of the Common Council of Crestline, and is now serving second term as City Treasurer. Mr. Frank and wife are members of the English Lutheran Church. C. P. FRANK, coppersmith, Crestline ; was born in Butler Co., Penn., in 1839, and went to Pittsburgh in 1855, residing there until 1859, when he removed to Cleveland, remain- ing there about one year. In 1800, he went to Gallon, where he resided until 1804, when he came to Crestline, and has since made it his home. He has been in the employ of the railroad shops in Crestline for sixteen years. He was married in 1862, and has four chil- dren — Edward, Retta, Willie and Alice. He is a Republican. SAMUEL GEE, express agent, Crestline; was born in England in 1810, and came to this country and located in Youngstown, Ohio, as Pastor of the Methodist Protestant Church, in 1845, and continued preaching in various places in the State until 1860, when he was appointed express agent at Crestline, Craw- ford Co., and has since made it his home. He was married in the city of Hull, England, in 1842, to Mary Ann Radmall. They have five children — Samuel W., Allison W., Frank B., Lauretta S., Cynthia E. As there is no Methodist Protestant Church in Crestline, INIr. Gee and wife are members of that church at Middletown, Crawford Co. Mr. Gee has always been a Republican. L. P. HESSER, blacksmith, Crestlifae; was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1826. Went to Wood Co. in 1832, and removed to Mansfield in 1884, remaining there until 1856, when he came to Crestline, and has since made it his home, with the exception of a trip to Califor- nia in 1862. He is the oldest blacksmith in the railroad-shops in Crestline. He was mar- ried in 1851, to Rachel S. Grant. Her father was the first tanner in Mansfield, and a dis- tant relative of U. S. Grant. They have six *%^ ;f^ li\ 808 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: cliildren — Minerva M., Ora B., Mary, George G., Rosa, Elizabeth R. Mr. Hesser is a Dem- ocrat, and has occupied several township and corporation offices, among which we may men- tion as a member of the School Board for fourteen years; also on committee for school buildings and improvements, and it was owing to the active part taken by this committee that the union school, with its beautiful park, was secm-ed. ]Mr. Hesser also was a member of Common Council for four years. CHARLES W. JENNER, physician, Crest- line; was born in Richland Co. in 1841. Came to Crestline in the fall of 1857, and has resided there ever since. Dr. Jenner is a graduate of the University of Woostef, Cleve- land, Ohio. Was married in April, 1866, to Mary V. Emmett, of Crestline. They have one child — Daisy L. I. Jenner, born October, 1875. Mrs. Jenner is a member of the Pres- byterian Church. Dr. Jenner has obtained the reputation of being one of the most skill- ful and reliable physicians of the county. He came from a medical family, his father and an elder brother both being members of that profession. He has alwavs been a Democrat. NATHAN JONES, lawyer, Crestline; was born in Westchester Co., N. Y., 1832, and came with his parents to Norwalk, Ohio, 1833. In 1S57, Mr. Jones went to Upper Sandusky, and published the Democratic Union until his office burned down, when he removed to Jef- ferson Co. and engaged in the business of dealer in musical instruments. He came to Crestline the 30th of September, 1859, and has resided there ever since, where he has been actively engaged in the practice of law. Mr. Jones commenced reading law when 17 years old, and was admitted to the bar April 25, 1855, at Norwalk, Ohio, and was admitted to the United States Courts at Cleveland, Sept. 28, 1865. He was elected Recorder of the corporation of Crestline for four success- ive terms, and also Mayor for four terms. He was elected- Prosecuting Attorney of the county in 1865, and again in 1867. Mr. Jones is one of the most prominent Odd Fellows in the State. Having filled all offices of the sub- ordinate lodge, in December, 1875, he was elected M. W. Grand Master of the order of the State of Ohio. At the end of his term of office, he was presented by the Grand Lodge with a purse of $300, and an elegant jeweled badge, valued at $70. In December, 1878, he was elected by the order in Ohio as Grand Representative to Grand Lodge of United States. He served part of one term, but was compelled to resign on account of its interfer- ence with professional duties. He is also a Knight Templar of the Masonic Order. Mr. Jones prides himself as being a self-made man, earning money when a boy to enable him to attend school, and to pursue his law studies. He is regarded as one of the most able lawyers of the county. F. W. MARCUS, German Reformed minis- ter, Crestline; was born in Germany, in 1852, and came to this country with his parents, and located in Louisville, Ky., in 1855. He attended public school at Louisville, and went to Franklin, Sheboygan Co., Wis., where the schools of his church are located, and gradu- ated in 1876. He came to Crestline in 1879, and was married, in October of same year, to Mary Hildbold, of Gallon. He has a mem- bership of 175 (in 1880) in his church. JOHN McKBAN, physician, Crestline; born in Hook Town, Penn., in 1810, of Amer- ican parents. After completing a thorough classical and mathematical education, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Quigley, of West Union, Ohio; he also attended lectures at Lexington, Ky., and received the necessary papers for practice in October, 1831. He entered into partnership with Dr. Marshall, of Burgettstown, Penn. One year after, they dissolved partnership, and he removed to Calcutta, Ohio, and two years after, in 1834, he removed to Leesville, Crawford Co., and practiced there until 1867, when he removed to Crestline, and has resided there ever since. Since 1844, he has been Ruling Elder of the Presbyterian Church. In 1847, he was elected a member of the Philo- sophical Society of Wittenberg College. He has been Mayor of Crestline for one term. He was married to Rebecca McClaskey in October, 1835. They had ten children — five living and five deceased. (From Physicians and Surgeons of U. S., by Atchinson.) A. MOOREHEAD, livery, Crestline; was born in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1842. When at -re* A' tk* JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 859 the age of 15, came to Crestline, and has ever since made it his home. About 1805, he went into the hotel business, as proprietor, at Franklin and Crestline, for a few years, when he estabiisiied a livery and feed stable, and has since been engaged in that business. In 18(9, Mr. Moorehead bought out Shank's har- ness-shop, and is now running that branch in connection with his other business. Mr. Moorehead was married in August, 1805, to Maggie Miller, of Crestline. They have four children — Charlie, Flora, Lizzie and Howard. Mr. Moorehead and wife are both members of the Methodist Church. He has always been a Democrat. F. NEWMAN, lawyer, Crestline; was born dn Germany, in 1839, and came to this country in 1854, and first settled in Crestline in No- vember of 1854. He went to Maryland and remained there until 1858, and returned to Crestline in 1860, and remained there until 1862. He lived in Annapolis, Md., from 1802 to 1865, when he went to New York, remain- ing there nearly one year. In 1866, he returned to Crestline, remaining there until 1876, when he went to Florida, and remained there nearly one year, when he again returned to Crestline, where he has remained ever since. He was married, in 1868, to Emma T. Smith, daughter of John S. and Jane Smith, of Crest- line. They have four children — Florence, Elnora, Edna and Earl. Mr. Newman and wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Newman has been practicing law for the past twelve years. He has always been a prominent Democrat in the township. DAVID OGDEN, Justice of the Peace, Crestline; was born in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1819, and came with his parents to Crestline in April, 1828, being one of the pioneers of the county. Mr. Ogden first learned the mill- er's trade, and worked at that business for about fifteen years. Since that time, he has been engaged in various occupations, and, for the past twenty years, working in the car- shops of the P., F. W. & C. R. R., at Crest- line. Mr. Ogden was Justice of the Peace from 1853 to 1862; has also been Township Clerk for a period of six years. He drew up the papers and petition for the boundaries of Crestline, and was its first Mayor. Mr. Ogden was also the prime mover in securing the union school in 1858, his brother, John Ogden, now Principal of the Ohio Central School, delivering a lecture upon that subject at that time, which tended to help the movement. Mr. Ogden has always been a friend to every movement tending to improve Crestline in any form. He was married in 1844, to Mary J. Kirkland, of Richland Co. They have only one child living — Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Ogden are both members of the Presbyterian Church. A. M. PATTERSON, P. M., Crestline; was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, in 1842. He came, when a boy, with his parents, to Jack- son Township, and has resided there ever since. He was appointed Postmaster of Crest- line in 1804, and has continued to hold the office up to the present time. Mr. Patterson is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is considered one of the leading, enterprising men of Crestline. He has always been a Republican. WILLIAM ROBINSON, machinist, Crest- line; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Aug. 1, 1830, and came to Crawford Co. with his parents in 1831, locating near North Rob- inson, that town being named after his father. Mr. Robinson taught district school for ten winter terms, spending two years of this time in Iowa. He came to Crestline in 1860. He was Township and Corporation Clerk in 1801 for one year ; also elected Justice of the Peace in 1805. He was a member of the school board for six years. Mr. Robinson has served in several other tovmship offices, and, for the past few years, has been employed in the railroad shops there. He was maiTied in 1800. D. W. SNYDER, blacksmith, Crestline. The subject of this sketch was born in Cum- berland Co., Penn., in 1832. He came to Ohio in 1836, locating in Richland Co. Fi- nally he came to Crestline, in 1856, and has since made it his home. He has been a prom- inent man in the 1 i tory of Crestline, serving in various offices, among which we may men- tion as a member of the Common Council for four terms, as a member of the School Board three terms, and also as Township Treasurer. He was married in 1850, and has been in the employ of the P., F. W. & 0. R. R. for twen- ty-five years. D V ^t fk. BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: JOHN A. THOMAN, deceased; was born at Sosehiem, in the Palatinate, on the 11th of June, 1807. He came to America in 1834, and located in New York, working for the United States, with Gen. E. E. Lee. Lee then was Captain in the United States army. The friendship between the two lasted all through life. Mr. Thoman came to Crawford Co. when it was a wilderness, and Crestline not in existence — about November, 1845. By honest industry he amassed a handsome fortune, and assisted many of his countrymen with money in time of need, and to homes to make them comfortable in after life. In all publip enterprises he took an active part and a deep interest, always giving largely, and more lib- erally than any other citizen. He died March 30, 1875, at 67 years of age, deeply mourned by the community. HON. T. J. WHITE, Crestline; was born in Perry Co., Penn., in 1828, and came to Jackson Township previous to the laying-out of Crestline, locating on the old White farm. He helped clear the ground where Crestline now stands ; bought the first lot and built the first three houses in the town. He has been a member of Common Council two terms, a member of the School Board two terms, and served two terms in the Ohio Legislature — from 1871 to 1875. He has also been one of the Trustees of Jackson Township for six terms. Mr. White taught school in the Dap- per District for two winters. He owes his success in life to his own energy and perse- verance, being what is termed a "self-made man." J. M. WEETZ, conductor, Crestline; was born in Holmes Co., Ohio, June 9, 1887. He taught school for three years in early life, and studied medicine with Dr. Joel Pomerene, of Mt. Hope, Ohio. He attended lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1858, and commenced prac- tice in 1860, at Dundee, Ohio, remaining there for three years, when he was appointed Assist- ant Surgeon 2d U. S. Colored Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He prac- ticed three years at Loudonville, Ohio, and for the past twelve years has been railroading, being at present conductor on P., F. W. & C. E. E. JOHN C. WILLIAMS, coppersmith. Crest line; was born in Butler Co., Penn., in 1843. He entered the army in 1861, and served until its close. He came to Crestline in 1865, and has since made it his home. He was mar- ried in 1867, to Anna Auten. They have four children — Frank, Jessie, Erie and Belle. Mr. Williams has been a member of the Com- mon Council two terms. He is at present working at his trade in the railroad shops at Crestline. Mr. Williams and wife are mem- bers of the M. E. Church. DE. P. B. YOUNG, Crestline; was bom in Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1832. Went to Beaver Co., Penn., in 1849, attending the Beaver Academy, taking a full course of stud- ies. After deciding to make the medical pro- fession his calling, he attended the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, Penn., grad- uating in 1860. His first location was at Freedom, Beaver Co., Penn., remaining there for two years, when he entered the army as assistant surgeon. He was promoted to sur- geon in 1868, and remained in that important position all through the war. At its close, he came to Crestline, in 1865, and has since been in active practice there. Dr. Young has been surgeon for the P., F. W. & 0. E. E. since 1874, and is now examining surgeon for pen- sions. He was married in 1862, to Sarah M. Gormly. They have one child — ^Howard. S r^ B \ '^ AUBUEN TOWNSHIP. 861 AUBURN TOWNSHIP. E. E. ASHLEY, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Tiro. There is no family more worthy of notice in the history of Crawford Co., than the Ashley family. Ebenezer Ashley, the father of onr subject, was born in New York, May 6, 1804, and came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1830. Mary Aumend, the mother, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1812. Her father, Adam Aumend, came with his family to Auburn Township in 1819, it then being an almost unbroken wil- derness. Ebenezer Ashley and Mary Aumend were united in maiTiage in Auburn Township, Nov. 21, 1830, and to them were born six children — Clarissa, Philo, Franklin, E. E., Leonora and William. All are living except Clarissa. Mr. Ashley died July 2S, 1843. Mrs. Ashley remarried July 11, 1844, her sec- ond hvisband being Elijah Ashley, a brother of her former husband. To the second mar- riage were born two sons — Jerome and Jud- son. Mrs. Ashley's second husband died April 21, 1850. The subject of this biogra- phy was reared upon a farm. His education was limited, being confined to the common schools. He was united in marriage with Mary Cummins, daughter of Thomas Cum- mins, Jan. 17, 1861, and by her has the fol- lowing family — Frank S., born July 10, 1802 ; Ella L., born July 6, 1864; Philo A., born Nov. 27, 1866; Edson C.,born July 29, 1869, and Ida A., born June 12, 1873. All of these are single, and are living at home with their parents. Politically, Mr. Ashley is a Kepub- lican; religiously, a Baptist. He is a mem- ber of the I. 0. O. F. at Tiro. He owns 80 acres of well-improved land, and is a promi- nent and influential man in his neighborhood. His family are among the first in Crawford Co. EEV. W. P. BUKCHAED, minister and farmer; P. O. Tiro; is a native of Auburn Township, and was born Nov. 26, 1834. His parents were John and Mary (Robertson) Burchard. His father was born in Delaware, in 1790, and his mother in Pennsylvania, in 1791. They were married in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Dec. 28, 1819, and moved to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., in 1830. They were parents of five children — James R., Sarah J., John B., Catharine B. and William P. Of these all are dead except William. His mother died Oct. 2, 1875, and his father is yet living, at the advanced age of 90 years, and makes his home with his son. William was raised upon a farm. He received a good common- school education when young, and by study and thought in after years has become a man of good learning, and of more than ordinary intellect. He was man-ied Feb. 23, 1865, to Sarah King, daughter of Henry and Mary (Cupland) King, and by her has the following family— Ernest A., born Nov. 12, 1866; Mary I., born Sept. 19, 1869, and John, born Aug. 29, 1875. All are living at home with their parents. Mr. Burchard is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the religious denom- ination known as the Church of God. He was ordained a minister of that church in 1872, and at present has charge of the New Wash- ington and Crawford County Circuit, in which he is meeting with good •♦uccess. He owns 100 acres of excellent farming land in Eastern Auburn Township. ENOCH BAKER, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. North Washington; was born in Wash- ington Co., Ohio, Oct. 25. 1808. Is a son of Joseph and Rachel (Hutchinson) Baker. The father was born and raised in Virginia, and the mother in Maryland. They came to Ohio in 1810, and to Auburn Township in Decem- ber, 1S20. They were the parents of four childi-en — Margaret, Martha and Ruth, twins, and Enoch, the latter being the oldest one in the family. Enoch's early years were passed on the old place, assisting his father in clear- ing and improving the place. He was mar- ried, March 8, 1832, to Sarah Hutchinson, a daughter of James Hutchinson, and by lier had the following family r Rachael, born Nov. #* ^-_ l^ 862 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 29, 1832, married Lewis Warner, and died, leaving four children to mourn her loss; Nancy, born Aug. 26, 1834, and died when quite young; Keziah, born April 15, 1837, died a few days after Nancy; Ephraim, born Jan. 22, 1839, married, and lives in Auburn Town- ship; James S.,born June 22, 1842, and died when 7 years old; Phcebe is the wife of Gus Groffmiller, and lives in Auburn Township; John was born Jan. 30, 1848, man-ied, and lives on the old place; and Matilda, born Sept. 2, 1850, and dying when but 7 years old. The mother died Jan. 30, 1851. She was a kind wife and mother, and her loss was deeply felt by her family and friends. Jan. 8, 1852, Mr. Baker remarried, his second wife being Elmira Wood, widow of Dr. Wood. His sec- ond wife died May 6, 1878. She was a con- sistent Christian, and a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Baker is one of the old land- marks, and is one of the prominent and suc- cessful farmers of Auburn Township. "V^Tien but a boy, he made his start in life, by pick- ing cranberries off of the "ma'sh," and sell- ing the fruit. His present property, of 160 acres, was acquired by dealing in stock to a considerable extent. He is a stanch Repub- lican, and a member of the M. E. Church for the past thirty years. His son Ephraim has a certificate of meritorious conduct, that shows he was a gallant and brave soldier in Com pany C, 101st O. V. I. WILLIAM CUMMINS, farmer and stock- dealer; P. O. Tiro; son of David and Mary (Wilson) Cummins; was born in Indiana Co., Penn., March 28, 1834. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1804. and his mother a native of Ireland, born in 1810. The parents were married in Indiana Co., Penn., in 1831, and to them were born the following family: John D., David, Joseph, Caroline, T. H. B., A. J., Elizabeth M. and William. William passed his youth on the farm, and in going to school. He commenced for himself when 21 years of age, by entering the mercantile business in his native county. Aug. 25, 1864, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Morrow, daughter of David C. Morrow, and granddaughter of Charles Morrow, who came to Auburn Township in 1817. By her Mr. Cummins has this family: Sarah M., born 1865; David M., born 1867; Cora E., born 1867; David W., born 1869; Jeanette, bom 1871; Joseph D. and John S., twins,, born 1874; Julia B. M. and Nancy S. C, twins, born 1876, and one born in 1880, that died soon after its birth, without being named. Of these five are living — Cora E., David W., Joseph D., Julia and Nancy. Mr. Cummins was a commissioned Caj)tain of the 78th O. V. I., Company A, and served in that capacity until his health failed, which compelled him to resign, in August, 1873. He is a Democrat in politics, and is one of the largest land-own- ers living in Auburn Township; 280 acres of his land lies in Richland Co., and 320 in Crawford Co. Mr. Cummins is a well-edu- cated and enterprising gentleman, and is among the most prominent and successful farmers of Crawford County. HUGH CALDWELL, farmer; P. O. Plym- outh; was born in Eichland Co., Ohio, Jan- uary, 1835. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Miller) Caldwell, who were parents of nine childi-en — George, Elizabeth, James, Hugh, Susanna, Hannah, Catharine, William, and one that died in infancy. Our subject was reared on a farm, and farming has always been his chosen occupation. He was married Nov. 5, 1857, to Elizabeth Bevier, and by her had five children — Florence, William, Frank- lin, John, and one that died without name. Florence is dead; the balance of the children are living at home with their parents. Mr. Caldwell was in Company B, 60th O. V. I., in the late war, where he served his country with distinction. He was in quite a number of noted engagements, and among them might be mentioned Petersburg, the battle of the Wilderness, and others. It was in the army that Mr. Caldwell was taken with the measles. Not having proper care, they settled on his lungs, and to-day he is a mere wreck of the robust soldier he was when he enlisted in February, 1863. Mr. Caldwell is a member of the Church of God, and a Republican in politics. He owns 29| acres of land, is well known, and a good and useful citizen in the township. R. R. CURTIS, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. New Washington; is a son of Josiah and Mary (Rockwell) Curtis, and is of English ^ !.W AUBURN TOWNSHIP. 863 descent. He was born in 1817, and, like his father before him, chose farming as his voca- tion in life. He was married in the spring of 1839, to Margaret De Witt, daughter of Tjerick and Margaret (Dean) De Witt, and to this union were born five children — Mariam, Mary J., Elizabeth, George W. and Calista J. Mariam is the wife of Samuel Wynn, and lives in Lucas Co., Ohio; Mary J. is dead; Elizabeth lives in Adams Co., Ind., and is the wife of David Wynn; George married Mary E. Smith, and lives in Lucas Co. Mr. Curtis owns 165 acres of good land, 40 acres of it being in Cranberry Township, and the bal- ance in Auburn Township. He is a Repub- lican, and a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Curtis is an enterprising and upright man in his dealings with men, and is highly respected by all who know him. JOHN O. DAVIS, merchant. Tiro; is a son of John and Mary (Hamilton) Davis, and was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1839. His father was a native of Maryland, and was born in 1791. The mother was a native of Penn- sylvania, and was born in 1796. They were married in Columbiana Co., Ohio, and came to Crawford Co. in 1832, locating in Sandusky Township. There were born to them the fol- lowing family — Julia A., Susan, Jonathan, Keziah, Henry, Mary, James, Jefferson, Joseph, Louisa, William, Martha and John O. Of these, Susan, Keziah, Mary and Joseph are dead. Julia is the widow of John Mcln- tire, and lives in Illinois; Susan married a Mr. Mills; Jonathan married Margaret Hud- son, and lives in Hardin Co., Ohio; Keziah married Dr. T. A. Mitchell; Henry married M. A. Stone, and lives in Shelby, Ohio; Mary married Samuel Anderson; James married Catharine Mickey, and lives in Crestline, Ohio ; Jefferson married Amanda Fox; Joseph mar- ried Louisa Fisher; Louisa is the wife of G. H. Lee; William married Leah McCrady, and lives in Gallon, and Martha married John Dempsey, and lives in Shelby, Ohio. John was reared and educated in the country. In 1859, he was united in marriage with Rachel M. Rigby, daughter of Nimrod Rigby, and by her has three children — William B., born Nov. 8, I860; George H., born May 3, 1868, and John H., born Jan. 7, 1872. Mr. Davis owns 80 acres of land in Auburn Township, and 160 acres in Kansas. He also owns a fine business house in Tiro, the upper story being the I. O. O. F. Hall. The store in the building is as fine a grocery store as is usually found in large cities. The firm name of the owners is Davis & Mitchell, Mr. Davis being the jun- ior partner. Mr. Davis is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a Republican in politics. He served faithfully in the late war, enlisting in Company H, 123d O. V. I. He was discharged June 15, 1865. He was in some of the hard- est contested battles of the war; was taken prisoner at Winchester, and for thirty days was confined in Belle Island. After being exchanged, he again joined his regiment, and was again taken prisoner, and served some months in Andersonville and Florence, sufi'er- ing all the agoiri.es of starvation and disease. He was finally exchanged, Dec. 6, 1864, and since that time Mr. Davis makes Dec. 6 his holiday. His brother William was in the 101st Regiment, and served as Quartermaster Sergeant, but was promoted to lieutenancy. Mr. Davis was a Sergeant in his regiment. Both John and William Davis were said to have been brave and gallant soldiers, and were always found in the thickest of the fight. Much honor and credit is due them for the heroic part they took in the war. ELIZABETH DAUGHERTY, Tiro. Re- solved White was a native of Connecticut. He moved to New York when but a lad, and lived there until the year 1818, then emi- grated to the West in search of a home. In 1819, he came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., and there purchased 160 acres of land of one Mr. Laugherty, paying for the same $3.75 per acre. On this farm was a small log house. In 1820, Mr. Wliite retm-ned to New York. In 1821, he married Lucy Searl, and the same year he, togetlier with his young wife, emigrated to their wilderness home in Ohio. There were born to them six children — Philo, Elizabeth, Resolved, William W., one that died in infancy, and Lucy. Elizabeth and Lucy are the only ones living. Lucy is the wife of Dr. Cuykendall, of Bucyrus; Eliz- abeth, on the 31st of March, 1842, was united in marriage with Ezekiel Daugherty, a son of Daniel and Lydia (Smyers) Daugherty. He A; >?-. 864 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: was bom in New Jersey Feb. 5, 1818, and was reared tipon a farm. In 1832, he came to Auburn Township, and began working for the farmers by the month. His marriage with Elizabeth bore the fruit of six children — ^Mva, Melissa, Searl, Orrissa, Resolved and Clara. Alva and Searl are dead. Melissa is the wife of Martin V. B. Wood, and lives in Auburn Township; Orrissa is the wife of John Hahn, and lives in Delaware, Ohio; Resolved lives on the old place with his mother. In Febru- ary, 1879, he married Catharine Bender, and by her has one daughter — Orrissa, bom May 8, 1880. Clara is at present going to musical school in Columbus, Ind. jVIr. Daugherty is now dead. His widow and her son live on the old place first bought by Resolved Whit«. They own 2"24: acres of excellent land. Mrs. Daugherty is a descendant of Perigrine '^Tiite, of Plymouth Rock notoriety. Of Puritan ancestors, the Daughertys are honest and upright people, and are highly respected in the community in which they live. SA^^rUEL S. GREEN, farmer; P. O. Tiro. The oldest settler living in Aubum Township is the subject of this biography. He was bom in Indiana Co., Penn., June 25, 1807. Is a son of William and Martha (Stanton) Green, who were married in Luzerne Co., Penn., in lS()n. The father was a native of Berkshire Co., Mass., and was bom in 1778, and the mother was bom in New London Co., Conn., in 17SS. In 1813, they came to Lick- ing Co., Ohio, where they remained three years. In 1815. Mr. Green came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, where he entered 640 acres of land in the southeastern part of the township. In December, 1816, he moved his family to the log house he had on his clearing in Auburn Township. ]Mi-. and j\irs. Green were the parents of eleven chil- dren, one dying in infancy without any name — Samuel S.. Caroline, Walter, Julia A., Will- iam, Martha M., Daniel, John, Mary and Han- nah J. Those named are all living. The father died in 1862, and the mother in 1865. Samuel S. was 9 years old when they came to Auburn Township, and much of the Auburn Township history was learned from him. He is single ; owns 80 acres of land, and is a Democrat in politics, and a genial, wide-awake gentleman. DANIEL HOWE, farmer and miller; P. O. Tiro. Nelson S. and Sarah B. (Ghmsau- lus) Howe were natives of the State of New York, the former being born May 3, 1808, and the latter in 1810. They were married in Richland Co., Ohio, Nov. 4, 1830, and to this union were born the following family: Amelia, Philanda, Alonzo and Daniel. Amelia and Alonzo are dead. Philanda is the widow of Zebediah Morse, and lives in Auburn Township. Daniel was a young man of considerable push and enterprise. When the war broke out, he enlisted in Company H, 64th O. V. I., and was chosen Second Lieu- tenant, and during the latter part of the war was promoted to Captain. He was in some of the hardest fought battles of the whole war, among which might be mentioned Shi- loh, Corinth, Chickamauga, and through the entire campaign of 1864, in Georgia, under Gen. Sherman. He received a severe flesh wound at Chickamauga, from the explosion of a shell. He was married April 28, 1859, to Amanda D. Abbott, a daughter of Rev. J. R. Abbott, of Bowling Green, Wood Co., Ohio, and by her has seven children — Flora C, born Sept. 20, 1859; Adel M., bom March 22, 1867; Lisle A., born May 18, 1869; Frank L., born June 2, 1871; Earl E., bom Dec. 24, 1873; Grace E., born Dec. 24, 1876, and Addie, bom Dec. 22, 1878. The youngest died Feb. 10, 1879. Flora married Isaac A. Metcalf, and lives in Richland Co., Ohio; the rest are all single, and live at home with their parents. Mrs. Howe was born Dec. 11, 1842. Mr. Howe is a Republican in politics. Owns 50 acres of well-improved land, and also one of the best saw-mills in Crawford Co. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Tiro. Mr. Howe is an honest, straightforward man, and is well respected and highly esteemed by all his friends and acquaintances. J. HILLS, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Plymouth; is the son of Rufus and Dinah (DeWitt) Hills, who were the parents of nine children, three of whom are yet living. They were natives of New York, the father being born in 1807 and the mother in 1812. Their children are Susan, William, one that died in infancy, Jedediah, Louisa, Cynthia, Eliza, Clinton and Alvira. Alvira, William and Jede- i^ i\^ AUBURN TOWNSHIP. 865 diah are the only survivors. Mr. Hills, Sr., died Aug. 22, 1872, and was followed by his wife Sept. 5, 1875. They were among the early pioneers of Richland Co., having come to that county about the year 1820. He was an excellent farmer, and an honest, enterpris- ing man. His son, Jedediah, was born in Eichland Co., Dec, 16, 1828, and was reared on a farm, and to-day is one of the best farm- ers in Auburn Township. He followed farm- ing steadily until 1860, when he purchased 40 acres of land in Auburn Township. Since that time, he has sold and bought land, until he now owns 12(1 acres of Auburn Township's best land, and 40 acres in Adams Co., Ind. He was married, Sept. 19, 1852, to Maria, daughter of William and Sarah (Noggle) Crouse, and bv her had four children — Julius J., born Dec." 23, 1853, died May 31, 1877; Matilda B., born Feb. 27, 1857; Sarah B., bom Aug. 11, 1858, died July 22. 1873, and Clement L. V., born March 25, 1863, died June 15, 1864. Mrs. Hills was born Sept. 12, 1830. Matilda is the only one of the children living. She is the wife of Ezekiel Rooks, of Eichland Co., Ohio. Julius married Alvira Steele, and by her had two children — Flora B. and Pearly J. His death was caused by consumption, and was much regretted through- out the neighborhood. Mr. Hills is a Demo- crat in politics, and an intelligent and enter- prising citizen. He takes an active part in aU laudable enterprises, and much credit is due him for his liberality in assisting educa- tional affairs in his township. GEORGE HAMMOND, farmer and stock- raiser; P.O. Tiro; was born in Auburn To^vn- ship, June 26, 1824, His parents were George and Sarah P. (White) Hammond. The father was born in Plymouth Co., Conn., and the mother in Massachusetts, where they were married. From Ontario Co., N. Y., they came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, in February, 1822. Here he bought 160 acres of land from a Mr. Clark, who had entered it some time before. This property is situated on the northwest quarter of Sec. 28, and is now owned by his son George. These parents had the following family: Albert, Alfred, Harvey, Nannie, George, Rowland and Sarah. Albert, Nannie and George are the only ones living of this family. The father died Dec. 30, 1868, and the mother April 4, 1840. Al- bert, married Catharine Groesbeck, and lives in Williams Co., Ohio. Nannie is the wife of Cornelius L. Newkirk, and lives in Macon Co., Mo. George, Jr., passed his youthful days with his parents on the farm, going to school, etc. He was married to Hannah A. Groesbeck, Sept. 1, 1846, and by her had two children — Emma E., born April 27, 1847, married B. F. Crouse; Filmore, born June 9, 1849, and married Josephine Crouse. Mrs. Hammond died Feb. 19, 1851. Mr. Hammond's second wife is Mary Lewis, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Masters) Lewis, to whom he was married March 22, 1855. By her he has two children — L-ene, born Sept. 27, 1856; she is the wife of T. S. Groesbeck, and lives in Co- lumbiana City, Ind.; Sarah, born Nov. 17, 1863; she is single, and lives at home with her parents. Mrs. Hammond is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. ]Mr. Ham- mond is a Republican in politics, and is one of the best farmers of Auburn Township. JAMES HANNA, farmer; P. 0. Tiro; was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Dec. 14, 1818; is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Duff) Hanna. The father was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 171)5, and the mother in the same county in 1794. They came to Belmont Co., Ohio, March 25, 1818, and from there to Au- burn Township, Crawford Co., in 1819. Sam- uel Hanna, grandfather of James, entered the farm for his son in about 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna are the parents of eight children — James, Samuel, John, Margaret A., Eliza J., Archibald, Thomas and William. Of this family all are now dead except James, Mar- garet, Archibald and William. Mr. Hanna departed this life June 22, 1862, followed by his wife March 11, 1875. Their daughter, Margaret is the wife of Andrew Dickson, and lives in Vernon Township ; Archibald married Mary Gribben, and lives in Hancock Co.; William married Maiy A. Spangle, and also lives in Hancock Co. James was reared upon a farm. He secured but a limited education, owing to poor schools, and not having much time to attend them. He was married April 1, 1847, to Clarrissa Scott, daughter of Samuel and Catharine Scott, and by her had three :f;^ 'J^ 866 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: children — Catharine, bom Dec. 25, 1847; James M., born June 27, 1851, and William S., born Aug. 31, 1S57. The oldest married James Cahill, and lives in .Auburn Township; James married Harriet Chambers, and lives in Auburn Towuship; William is single, and lives at home with his parents. IVIr. Hanna is a Eepublican in politics and a United Pres- byterian in religion. He owns 140 acres of excellent farming land, which is highly im- proved. The Hannas are among the best farmers and citizens in Crawford Co. CATHERINE A. HANNA, Tiro. The sub- ject of this sketch was born in Franklin Co., Penn., July 31, 1824. She is the daughter of John H. and Mary E. Hofman. Mr. Hof- man was educated for the ministry, as his father was before him, but, his health failing, he was compelled to relinquish his studies. After this he learned the jeweler's trade, which business he followed until his death. IMr. Hofman was born in Virginia, in 1798, and his wife in 1802. They were married in Chambersburg, Penn., in 1821, and to them were born eleven children. The parents came to Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio, in 1S2(k It was here that Mrs. Hanna was reared and educated. On the 24th of November, 1844, she was united in marriage with Samuel Hanna, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Duff) Hanna, of whom appropriate mention is made in the biography of James Hanna, in this work. ]\Ir. Hanna was born Sept. 22, l82ii His union with Miss Hofman bore the fruit of nine children — James J., John F., William L., Mary E., Clara A., Emma J., Charles E. and two others, twins, who died in infancy. James lives in Mansfield, and is a commercial traveler; he married Mary Anderson. John married Nettie V. Rankin, and lives in Hen- derson Co., 111. William L. married Serena Wilson, and lives on the old homestead with his mother. Mary is the wife of Lorenzo Blackman, and lives in Richland Co. Clara and Emma are single and live at home. Charles E. is single, lives at home, and will take charge of the farm in 1881. Mr. Hanna died Jan. 3, 1868. He was a man of kind and aifectionate disposition; he had the confi- dence and good will of the people. His death called away a good man and a prominent citi- zen. The heirs own 79 acres of well-improved land, and all are well known and universally respected in the community. MRS. B. HANDLEY, Tiro; was born in Stark Co., Ohio, April 5, 1835. She is a daughter of Frederick and Mary (Mundz) Staley. Her father was born in Germany, December, 1800, and her mother, in January, 1797. They were married in the United States, and came to Cranberry Township in 1841. They were the parents of six children — Ann M., Christina C, Barbara S., Anna C, Frederick and Elizabeth. Ann, Christina and Anna are dead. Mrs. Handley's parents were farmers, and she was reared and educated in the county. On the 6th of December, 1856, she was united in marriage with John Handley, son of William and Jane (McDermott) Handley, who came to Sandusky Township in 1822. To this union were, bom three children — Emma E., bom Oct. 10, 1857; Cassius H., born July 8,1860; Jessie A., born Sept. 3, 1863. Emma died Feb. 9, 1875. Cassius and Jessie are single and live with their mother in Auburn Township. Mr. Handley died in Cranberry Township Jan. 16, 1865. He was a man of good education, and of moral and upright character. The following is a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Sandusky Literary- Association, on the death of Mr. Handley: '^Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Hand- ley, this society has lost an exemplary and influential member. As a member he was amiable, kind and courteous; he was a great humorist and a keen satirist; as a debater he excelled; as a citizen he ardently loved his country; he expended liberally in the sup- pression of the recent rebellion; he was the soldier's fast friend. As an individual, he was honest and obliging; he was an afifectionate husband and a kind father." In addition to the above, we could add that IVIr. Handley was a man beloved by all who knew him, and no name could be better spoken of than that of John Handley. His family live in the little village of Mechanicsburg, where they are well known and highly respected by all who know them. ADAM HIGH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Plymouth; is a native of Germany, and was born August 18, 1827. His parents. ♦%i ^f ^± AUBUEN TOWNSHIP. 867 Adam and Elizabeth Schafer High, were both natives of Germany, and parents of six children, all of whom were born in the old country. Their names respectively are Val- entine, Elizabeth, Michael (deceased), Michael, Margaret and Adam. The High family came from Germany to Cranberry Township, Craw- ford Co., Ohio, in 1833, where they lived for a number of years. Mrs. High departed this life Nov. 22, 1806, followed by her husband July 1, 1867. Mr. High was a hard-working, thrifty and enterprising farmer. He was a man of good morals, and kind and considerate toward his family. His death and that of his wife are mourned by an affectionate family and a large circle of neighbors. Adam went to school in his youthful days, and when 18 years of age he was apprenticed to learn the wagon-making trade. At the end of three years, he mastered his trade, and since that time has made that his business in life, until the past ten years. He formerly owned the land on which the depot at New Washington now stands. He at present owns 80 acres of well-improved land in Auburn Township. Jle was married, Oct. 23, 1851, to Matilda Hesse, daughter of Augustus Hesse, of Perry Co., Ohio, and by her has twelve children — Emma, born Oct. 11, 1852, died April 2, 1855; William O., born March 17, 1854, and mar- ried Elizabeth Wilford, July 4, 1875; Lewis J., born July 3, 1855, died Aug. 6, 1856; Franklin C, born June 8, 1857, died Aug. 13, 1857; Gustavus L., bom July 13, 1858, died June 13, 1859; Jefferson C, born March 17, I860; Augustus H., born March 13, 1862; Lo- rena E., born Feb. 25, 1864; Amanda L., born February, 1866; Caroline E., born Aug. 17, 1868; Edmund A., born Sept. 1, 1870, died Sept. 1, 1871; Addison, born Nov. 13, 1873. Mrs. High was born Oct. 10, 1830, This fam- ily are hospitable, enterprising and intelli- gent. Mr. High is a Democrat, and liberal in his religious views. He is one of Auburn Township's successful farmers. SAMUEL HILBORN, farmer and stock- dealer; P. O. Tiro; was born in Eichland Co. June 28, 1826. His parents, Isaac and Nancy (George) Hilborn were both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born Aug. 11, 1798, and the mother was born May 22, 1801. They were the parents of nine children — Polly, Eobert, Samuel, Amos, William, Eliza- beth, Isabella, John and Sarah. Polly, Eliza- beth, Amos and Isabella are dead. The father died April 30, 1865, and the mother April 17, 1841. Mr. Hilborn was one of the early set- tlers of Auburn Township, and more will be said about him elsewhere in this work. Sam- uel received a good common-school education when young. At the age of 17, he commenced learning the blacksmith trade, which he fol- lowed for a number of years. He is at pres- lent one of Au.burn Township's most intelli- gent and prosperous farmers. He was mar- ried Jan. 31, 1850, to Elizabeth Irwin, and by her has the following family: Isaac N., deceased, Lodema, deceased, Zella, Ellsworth and Charles. Zella is the wife of James Michener, and lives in Aubm-n Township; Ellsworth and Charles are single, and live at home with their parents. JOHN HILBORN, Tiro; was born Nov. 16, 1838, in Liberty Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. He is a son of Isaac and Nancy (George) Hilborn. (For a full record of Mr. Hilborn's parents and their family, see the biography of his brother.) John was raised on the farm. His education is only moderate, owing to the schools of that day being very poor as compared to what we now have. He served his country well and faithfully in the late war, enlisting in Company I, 15th O. V. I., on the 7th of September, 1861. His dis- charge was dated in Texas, November, 1865. He was in quite a number of engagements, and among them Corinth, Atlanta, Liberty Gap, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost and Pickett's Mills. He was also in the running fight that extended from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Atlanta, Ga. He was a brave and efficient soldier, and had many a thrilling experience in the army. At Pickett Mill he was severely wounded, and to-day is a victim of the traitorous leaders of our great civil war. At the conclusion of the war he returned home, and, on the 15th of June, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Emeline Clark, daughter of Martin and Nancy Clark. Mrs. Hilborn died April, 1868. Mr. Hilborn's second wife is Sarah J. Davis, daughter of James K. Davis, of (^rawford Co., to whom he was married on the 29th of June, Al: ^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 1869. Mr. Hilborn is at present engaged in the livery business. He owns between four and five acres of valuable land within the lim- its of the village of Tiro. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and is well knovsTi and has the well wishes and friendship of his fel- low-townsmen. WILLIAM H. HILBOEN, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Tiro; was born in San- dusky Township June 25, 1831. He is a son of Isaac and Nancy (George) Hilborn, a sketch of whom is found in the biography of Robert G. Hilborn, his brother. Like his other brothers, "William was reared on the farm. Two years prior to his marriage, he worked out by the month, the first season receiving $11 per month, and the next season ^12.ri0. This was his marriage start. He was married Jan. 3, 1855, to Elizabeth Grouse, daughter of Abner and Harriet (Thoman) Grouse, and to them were born three children — Ira O., born in September, 1856; Anna L., born in May, 1858, died when 4 months old; Mary A., born in May, 1861. Mrs. Hil- born was born Jan. 6, 1836. From his mar- riage up to 1N(')5, Mr. Hilborn has made many changes. He at one time owned the saw-mill near where his house now stands. He now owns 80 acres of well-improved land in "West- ern Auburn Township. Mr. Hilborn is a Republican in politics, and a hard worker in the cause of advancement in our public schools. He is intelligent and entertaining, and com- mands the respect of a large circle of friends. I H. IR"WIN, blacksmith. Tiro; was born in Chester Co., Penn., Jan. 18, 1835. He is ■ a son of Israel and Hannah (IMillard) Irwin. The father and mother were natives of Penn- sylvania, the former being born in 1802, and the latter in 1800. They were married in Chester Co., Penn., April 1, 1823, and came to Auburn Township in 1835. The father died July 19, 1837, and the mother July 22, 1877. Mr. Irwin was a. man beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. He was a local minister in the M. E. Church, and lived a life full of usefulness. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin were the parents of the following family: Thomas M., Margaret A., Joseph, Sarah J.^ Caroline M.,. Elizabeth A., I. H. and Jared A. Thomas, Margaret, Joseph and Jared are dead. Sarah is the wife of Geoi'ge Byers; Caroline is the widow of James Ovens, and Elizabeth is the wife of Samuel Hilborn, whose biog- raphy accompanies this work. All live in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. The subject of this biography lived with his mother until she married Isaac Hilborn, and then he lived with his step-father for about ten years. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith when about 13, with whom he lived four years, serving out his apprenticeship. Since that time he has been continually engaged in that business in Mechanicsburg, excepting one year, that being a year he farmed. He was married Dec. 20, 1854, to Margaret L., daughter of Abner and Harriet (Thoman) Grouse, and by her has one daughter — Almeda, born July 14, 1856. Almeda is the wife of John D. Mich- ener, and by him has one daughter — Annie I., born Oct. 6, 1875. Mr. Irwin is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Church. He has held various township offices and is well known and highly respected throughout Auburn Township. D. G. JEFFREY, merchant. Tiro; was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1834. He is a son of Thomas and Lydia Ann (Chittenden) Jeffrey, who were parents of nine children — D. G., S. W., Mary, T. Alonzo, Melissa, "Will- iam, Amos, G. M. and Lewis. The father was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1790. The mother was born in Vermont in 1810, and they were married in Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1833. Their son, S. W., is one of the prominent men of Auburn Township, and his biography accompanies this work. Mary is the wife of A. C. Daley, and lives in Da- kota; Alonzo is in the mercantile business in Toledo, and married Susan Gibbs; Melissa married Edward Gregory, both of whom are now dead; "William married Nora Munson, and is a carpenter and joiner in Toledo ; Amos died at home from disease contracted while in his country's service; Lewis' is single and lives in Dakota Territory. D. G., our subject, was reared upon his father's farm. His father becoming involved in some financial trouble, young Jeffrey was kept away from school a greater share of the time to assist on the farm. He was married, Nov. 11, 1860, to Miss Laura Hutoheson, daughter of Lombard )1V a_ ^>^ AUBURN TOWNSHIP. 869 and Lucinda (Kibbey) Hutcheson, and by her has four children, all of whom are living — Fred M., born March 27, 1862; Ella A., born Nov. 6, 18(55; Willie H., born Sept. 19, 1870, and John F., born Oct. 23, 1872. The mother was born June 14, 1811. Her 2iarents had a family of nine — Esther, Maria, Mary, Ehoda and Rhuda (twins), Lombard, David, Laura and Hiram. Mary, Ehoda, Lombard and Hiram are dead, the latter being killed in the army. Mr. Jeffrey's father died April, 1860, and his mother October, 1872. Mrs. Jeffrey's father died in 1850, and her mother in 1872. Mr. Jeffrey started in life a poor boy, and by industry, frugality and hard labor has acquired the nice property he now owns. He is a Ee- publican in politics, and' quite liberal in his religious views. He takes an active part in all educational affairs, and always uses his influ- ence in matters tending to advance the best interests of his county. Mr. Jeffrey owns the only drug store in the rapidly increasing town of Tiro. His stock consists in a full line of the best drugs, medicines, etc., which is men- tioned appropriately elsewhere in this work. SAMUEL W. JEFFEEY.farmer, P.O. Tiro; is a son of Thomas and Lydia Ann (Chittenden) Jeffrey, who were parents of a family of nine children, seven of whom are yet living. Sam- uel "W. passed his youth on a farm. He was united in marriage with Amanda C. Aumend, daughter of David and Clarissa (Ashley) Aumend, and by her has one child — Willard F., bom Dec. 30, 18f)7. Mr. Aumend, the father of Mrs. Jeffrey, was born in Pennsyl- vania, May 9, 1810. He was a son of Adam and Christina (Allbright) Aumend, who came to Auburn Tovmship in 1819, it then being an unexplored wilderness. Here Mr. Aumend was reared. On the 16th of August, 1833, he was married to Clarrissa Ashley, and by her had the following family : Willard H., Lucre- tia, Laura J., Francis M. and Amanda. The latter married Mr. S. W. Jeffrey, as stated above. Mr. Jeffrey is a Eepublican in poli- tics and a member of the Church of God. He well and faithfully served his country in the late war between the North and the South., He enlisted in Co. C, 23d O. V. I., and served until the close of the war, when he was dis- charged, July 26, 1865. He was first under the command of Col. Eosecrans, but after- ward was uuder Col. (now President) Hayes. Mr. Jeffrey was in quite a number of engage- ments; was severely wounded in the neck, October, 1864, in Shenandoah Valley, Va. He is a young man of considerable enterprise and push, and is an intelligent citizen. LUCY (SAWYEE) KELLOGG, Plymouth; was born in Auburn Tovraiship, in 1827. Her parents, Erastus and Sally (Snider) Sawyer, were both natives of New Y'ork, the former born in 1800, and the latter in 18(.)2. They were married in Auburn Township, Dec. 19, 18 '-2, and were the jiarents of the following children: Albanus, Franklin and Lucy. All are living, the former in Auburn Township, and the latter in Norwalk, Ohio. The Sniders came to Auburn Township. Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1820, and the Sawyers in 1821. Lucy mar- ried Delos Carlisle, Nov. 14, 1850. Mr. Car- lisle was a son of David and Dorcas (White) Carlisle. His marriage with Miss Sawyer bore the fruit of four children. The oldest died in infancy; the next, Maraldi E., bom Dec. 26, 1852, and died June 13, 1855; Ella W., bom April 29, 1855, and is living at home with her mother. Jay D., bom Nov. 10, 1857, is at present in Kansas. Mr. Carlisle was born July 3, 1823, and died of consumption, Aug. 4, 1857. He is a Eepublican, and a member of the Baptist Church. A man^ of few words and temperate habits, he had tlje respect and esteem of all who knew him. Mrs. Carlisle is the present wife of David B. Kel- logg, to whom she was married May 24, 1870. She has by him one daughter, May, born July 1, 1873. Mr. Kellogg is a son of Solomon and Margaret (Millhollen) Kellogg. He was married prior to his marriage with Mrs. Car- lisle, his wife being Helen Snider, and by her had three children — Catharine, Margaret and Theodore. All are living in Wyandot Co., and all are married. Mrs. Kellogg's brother Franklin was a Lieutenant Colonel in the army, and after the war, was commissioned Brevet General. Mrs. Kellogg owns 97 acres of good land. Further notice of her parents will be found in the history of Auburn Town- ship. GEOEGE LASH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Tiro; was born in Wayne Co., April 30, ^ ,k 870 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: 1830. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Fred- line) Lash, who were parents of nine children. The father was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1808. The mother was born in Somerset Co., Penn., in 1812. They were married in Wayne Co., in about 1828. The names of their children are George, Charity, Leah, Peter, Benjamin, Mary, Phoebe, Francis and Lucinda. These children are all living, and all are in Ohio. Mr. Lash emigrated to Ohio when it was but a Territory, and from Wa^^le Co. he emigrated to Crawford Co. in 188."), locating in Auburn Township. He was a thrifty, hard-working farmer, and by his ster- ling honesty and kindness made many warm and sincere friends. He departed this life in 1851, leaving behind an honest and upright record many might profit by following. His widow still survives him. George Lash lived with his parents through youth and early man- hood, assisting them in clearing and improv- ing the place. He received a good common- school education, and on the 16th of October, 1854, he was united in marriage with Sarah E. Hutson, daughter of Benjamin Hutson, of Cranberry Township. To this union were born four children — William M., born April 6, 1858; Elmer E., born Aug. 12, 1861, died Sept. 15, 1870; Benjamin E., born June 1, 1864, and George F., born May 9, 1866. Mrs.. Lash was born April 14, 1835. William, Ben- jamin and George are living at home with their parents. Mr. Lash owns 80 acres of good land in Western Auburn. He is a Dem- ocrat in politics, and a member of the Good- Will Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a prominent and influential man in his neigh- borhood, and he and his family are well known and highly respected throughout the neigh- borhood. JOHN MORROW, farmer; P. O. Tiro; was born in Auburn Tovmship, July 13, 1851. He is a son of James and Margaret (Ake) Morrow, and grandson of Charles Morrow, who came to Auburn Township in 1817. His father and mother were natives of Pennsylva- nia. The former was born in 1809, and the latter in 1812. They were married in Auburn Township Sept. 9, 1830, and to them were born six children, viz.: William, Mary A. (deceased), Charles, David (deceased), James and John. Those living are all in Auburn Township. John passed his youth and early manhood on his father's place and going to school. He was married, Dec. 10, 1874,^ Susan N. Cory, daughter of Thomas Cory, and to them were bom two sons — Harry B., born Dec, 20, 1875, and Charley J., bom May 18, 1878. Mr. Morrow owns 160 acres of well-improved land, and is a Democrat in politics. His father was a man of good, steady habits, and was well respected by h's friends and neighbors. He died March 8, 1875. His mother lives on the old place with him, in Auburn Township. CHARLES McCONNBLL, Tiro; was bom in Richland Co., Dec. 18, 1844. He is a son of Charles and Nancy (Taggart) McConnell, who were parents of the following family: Samuel, Mary, Susan, James, John, William, Charles, Josiah and Isaac. James, John, William, Charles and Josiah served faithfully in the late war. James was killed in battle at Rocky Face Mountain, Ga. ; William died at Green Lake, Tex., from disease contracted while in the army; Josiah died at home, four days after his discharge, also from disease contracted in the army. Those in the family living, are Samuel, Mary, John, Charles and Isaac. Samuel married Charity Lash, and lives in Auburn Township; Mary lives in Auburn Township and is the wife of John Wynn; John is single, and lives at home with his mother ; Isaac is single, and lives in Van Wert Co. Charles was raised and educated in the county. He has an excellent practical education, and is a school teacher of thirtesn terms' experience. His occupation is that of school teaching, and dealing in chromos, picture frames, tobaccos, toys and notions. His shop is located in the northern part of Tiro, and in it is a barber's chair, run by James Michener. The McConnell family are Republicans in politics, and too much praise cannot be given them for the heroic and gal- lant part they took in helping to quell the war of the great rebellion. And how much honor is due to the mother who raised seven sons from infancy to manhood, sending five to battle for the right, three of whom now sleep in soldiers' graves. All honor to such mothers, and may their names be immortal- i) fy AUBURN TOWNSHIP. 871 ized, and written forever in the hearts of the American people. B. W. McKEE, M. D., physician and sur- geon. Tiro; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1841). He is a son of John and Margaret (Wallace) McKee, who were the parents of eleven children — James, Margaret, Robert, B. W., Thomas B., William A., Mary, John, and three others that died in infancy without names. James is practicing medicine at Des Moines, Iowa; Margaret married a Mr. Nee- ley, and lives in Adair Co., Iowa; Robert died from disease contracted while in his country's service; Thomas is the present minister of the United Presbyterian Church at De Kalb ; William is in Wooster; Mary is in Richland Co., Ohio, the wife of J. W. Dougal, and John is in Wayne Co. Our subject passed his youth on the farm and going to school. He commenced the study of medicine April, 1865, under the instructions of his brother James, and afterward under Prof. Firestone, who has now charge of the Insane Asylum at Colum- bus. He commenced attending medical lect- ures at Cleveland, in 1869, where he contin- ued steadily iintil his graduation, which was in 1870. On the 16th of June, 1870, he was united in marriage with Ruvilla Weirich, daughter of Christian and Adaline (Miller) Weirich, and by her had two children, the first of whom died in infancy without a name, and the one living is Cruveilhier W., born April 15, 1875. Dr. McKee first located in Northfield, and after one year moved to De- Kalb, where he remained eight years, and at the expiration of that time removed to Tiro, where he has ever since resided. His grand- father, Robert, and brother, Logan McKee, came from Ireland to America the year before the war of Independence began. Logan was among those who gave his life in defense of his adopted country. Dr. McKee and his brothers, James, Robert and Thomas, served faithfully in the war of the rebellion. Mrs. McKee was born Oct. 9, 1848. The Doctor is an excellent physician, and he has a large and lucrative practice, which keeps him busily engaged. AMOS MORSE, farmer; P. O. Tiro; was born Feb. 7, 1819, in Huron Co., Ohio. His parents, Rudolphus and Huldah (Williams) Morse, were natives of Massachusetts. The father was born April 17, 1791, and his wife June 26, 1794. They were married in Onta- rio Co., N. Y., Nov. 13, 1816, and moved to Huron Co., Ohio, June, 1818, and in March, 1820, came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., where he remained all his life. They were the parents of six children, viz., Amos, Amanda, Joel, Joseph W., Zebediah and Malin D. Amos and Malin are the only ones in the fam- ily now living. The parents came to Auburn Township when the country was but very thinly settled. Their financial means were very small, and, coming as they did into a new country, their start depended mainly on their ovm physical exertions. The father died Oct. 11, 1872, and the mother May 26, 1873. Mr. Morse was one of the most influ- ential men of his neighborhood, holding sev- eral offices of honor and trust in his township. Amos passed his youth with his parents, and when he reached his majority began for him- self. On the 13th of May, l849, he was mar- ried Mehetabel, daughter of David and Dor- cas (White) Carlisle, and by her had three children — Frank B., born May 17, 1852, and Amanda and Adelia, twins, bom Sept. 5, 1854. The mother was bom Jan. 8, 1819. Frank married Alvira B. Stock, in 1873; Delia married Samuel A. Stock, in 1876, and Amanda married Milton W. Griffeth, in 1877. In his earlier years, Mr. Morse was a school teacher. He is a Republican in politics, and although in a Democratic neighborhood has held the ofSce of Justice of the Peace for the past twenty years. Owns 160 acres of land. He is a Baptist in religion, and is a man of more than ordinary intelligence. MRS. G. W. OVENS, Tiro; daughter of John and Maria (Staherin) Brenerd, and was born May 12, 1838, in Crawford Co., Ohio. In the fall of 1858, she was imited in mar- riage with Aaron Daugherty, and to this union were born three children, respectively — Lucy, bom Aug. 12, 1860; Sherman, born Dec. 14, 1863, and Rebecca, born Feb. 15, 1865. Mr. Daugherty was born Jan. 18, 1818, and died May 22, 1871. He was a brother of Ezekiel Daugherty, mention of whom is made in the biography of Elizabeth Daugherty. Mr. Daugherty was a great farmer and a hard- 'f* fk^ 872 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ■working main. He was temperate in his hab- its, and affectionate in his disposition toward his family. He was a man universally respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Daugh- erty, on the 5th of March, 1872, was married to Greorge W. Ovens. Mr. Ovens was born July 22, 1840, and is a son of William and Eleanor (Eobinson) Ovens, and is of Irish descent. His father and mother were parents of six children — James, Anna, William, John, George and Kate. The Ovens family came to the United States from Ireland in 1842, and to Crawford Co., Ohio, ten years later. In his father's family James is the only one dead. He was murdered for his money in Hardin Co., Ohio, in 1862. Mr. Ovens is a Democrat in politics, and a straightfor- ward, honest and upright man. On the death of her first husband, Mrs. Ovens and her chil- dren were left a valuable farm of 240 acres, which she still retains. Mr. and Mrs. Ovens live happily together with her children on the old place left them in Auburn Township, and no family are more respected in Crawford Co. than this family. R. R. ROSS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Plymouth; was born in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, Nov. 25, 1832. He is a son of A. C. and Celia (Emmons) Ross, who were the parents of four children — Phoebe A., Melissa, one that died in infancy, and Royal R. Royal is the only one living. Mr. Ross' biograjahy will be found in connection with the biography of A. C. Ross, in another part of this work. Mrs. Ross, mother of our sub- ject, was born April 8, 1802, in New York. She died as she lived, a conscientious Chris- tian. Her death occurred in Auburn Town- ship in 1836. Royal R. lived on a farm until he was 23 years old, and on the 4th of October, 1860, was united in marriage with Mary A., daughter of Adam and Susanna (Harley) Aumend, and by her had five childi-en — Em- mons W., born Sept. 13, 1861; Willie B., born April 23, 1865; Amelia, born Sept. 24, 1868, died December 11, 1868; George H., born Sept. 10, 1872, died Dec. 28, 1879, and Freddie R., born Sept. 27, 1878. Mrs. Ross was born July 6, 1840, in Auburn Township. Both of these parents are the descendants of old and honored settlers, who came into the wilderness in search of a home. The present condition of their children and grandchildren attest the success with which they were met. Mr. Ross is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Chiu-ch. They own 160 acres of highly improved land, where they live happily together, making no pretensions, but having the respect and good-will of all their friends and neighbors. A. C. ROSS, farmer; P. O. Tiro; was born in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, June 11, 1842. His father was Abel C. Ross, who came to Auburn Township in 1825, it being then an almost unbroken wilderness. The father was married first to Celia Emmons, Sept. 22, 1822, and by her had the following family: Phoebe A., Melissa A., Royal R., and one that died in infancy without being named. The wife died Feb. 23, 1837. Mr. Ross remar- ried March 5, 1838, his second wife being Laura (Carlisle) Ross. From the second marriage the following family were born: Byron H., Alfred C. and Celia A. The father was born April 28, 1800, and died Dec. 17, 1875. The mother is yet living, and makes her home with her son A. 0. Byron was a member of Company H, 64th 0. V. I., in the late civil war. He is now dead. Celia is married. A. 0. Ross was reared upon a farm; was married, Sept. 22, 1871, to Mary J. Hoak, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kaylor) Hoak, and by her had one son and one daughter — Mary A., born Dec. 29, 1873, and Royal H., born May 31, 1876. The wife was born July 30, 1849. IMi-. Ross is one of Auburn Town- ship's best farmers. He ovms 111^^ acres of well-improved land. Belongs to the United Brethren Church, and is a Republican. . The death of his brother Byron and his widow left two children — Alvin E. and Bertha A. The former lives with our subject, and the latter with his half-brother, Royal E., in Auburn Township. A. C. ROBINSON, farmer; P. O. Tiro; was born in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, July 21, 1846. He is a son of Barber and Mary (Morrow) Robinson, and is one of a family of nine children, their names being as follows: Charles, Campbell, David, Mary J., Ellen, James, Robert, "William and Florence. 4^ ■.^ :1^ AUBURN TOWNSHIP. 875 All of these are living, as are also his parents. The subject of this sketch passed his youth upon a farm. He received a good common- school education, and on the 26th of May, 1868, he was united in marriage with Han- nah E. McNutt, daughter of Abraham and Jane (Crayton) McNutt, of Lawrence Co., Penn., and by her has one daughter — Nora, born April 14, 1869. Mrs. Kobinson was born Dec. 14, 1846. Mr. Robinson's parents were bom in Ireland. Mr. Robinson is a Democrat in politics, as is also his father. He owns 100 acres of well-improved land near Tiro. He is enterprising and industrious, and takes an active part in all laudable enter- prises that tend toward advancing education or building up the county. S. B. RAUDABAUGH, carpenter and join- er, Tiro; was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1842. He is a son of Henry and Lydia (Hahn) Raudabaugh, who were the parents of the following family: William, Samuel, Cath- arine, David, Elizabeth, Daniel, Rebecca, John, Ellen, Henry, Nancy and Sarah. David, Elizabeth and Henry are dead. The rest are all living in Ohio except Kate, who lives in Indiana. Samuel passed his youth at home. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. I, 15th O. V. I., and was discharged in November, 1865, having passed about five years in fight- ing for his country. He was a participant in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Corinth and a great many others. He was in actual service about five years, and during that time never left his regiment or was wounded. Aiter the war closed, he came to Auburn Township, prose- cuting his trade. On the 10th of June, 1869, he was united in marriage with Martha Eckis, daughter of Jacob and IVCartha (Crouse) Eckis, and to this union were born four children — Alberfcis, born Feb. 4, 1870, died Feb. 10, 1870; Howard L.,bom Aug. 3, 1871; Vinnie, born June 28, 1876, died Aug. 19, 1870, and Ralph K., born Aug. 8, 1877. Mrs. Rauda- baugh was bom April 16, 1839. Mr. Rauda- baugh owns 3^ acres of land in Mechanics- burg. He is a Republican, and one of the best carpenters in Crawford Co. He received but a limited education, but by reading and study he is one of the best-posted men in the township. JOHN P. SHECKLER, farmer and stock- dealer; P. O. Plymouth; was born in Auburn Township, March 3, 1829. He is a son of John and Rachel (Pettit) Sheckler. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Virginia. They were married in Richland Co., Ohio, in 1820, and were the parents of eight children — Elizabeth, Cathar rine, David, Thomas, John P., Christina, James and George. David is dead. Thomas and George are in Indiana, Christina is in Richland Co., and the balance are in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. Mr. Sheck- ler died in 1860, and Mrs. Sheckler in 1835. They came to Auburn Township in 1821, and were of that class of pioneers that dangers and hardships did not daunt. Mr. Sheckler was said to have been one of the best and most respected men that are identified with Auburn Township's early history. His son John was reared on the farm. He received a good common-school education, and was mar- ried in 1862 to Lenora Ashley, a daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Ashley, and by her has the following family: Rachel E., born March 9, 1863, and died Sept. 10, 1864; Mary, born Aug. 15, 1864, and E. Blanche, born Jan. 1, 1867. Mr. Sheckler is a prominent Repub- lican and farmer in Auburn Township. He owns 112 acres of excellent farming land, and is highly respected by his friends and neigh- bors. JOHN H. TRAGO, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Tiro; was born in Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, May 31, 1840. His par- ents, Daniel and Sarah (Waters) Trago came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1838, locating in Auburn Township, Crawford Co. They were the parents of ten children — Samuel W., Ann E., Elmira, Agnes, Francis M., Vincent T., John H., Alice A., Mary and Morris W. The father was born May 8, 1796, and died in Richland Co., Ohio, Jan. 3, 1876. The mother was born Jan. 1, 1806, and departed this life May 22, 1871. Mr. Trago was one of the prominent and influential men of his neighborhood, and a Quaker of sterling hon- esty and upright dealings. John H. was reared upon a farm. Oct. 21, 1866, he was united in marriage with Nancy A., daughter of James and Jane Mount, of Richland Co., .f^ "-K^ 876 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: and by her has four children — Fannie, born Sept. 1, 1867; Justus, bom May 23, 1873; Andrew E., bom Aug. 18, 1876, and John H., bom July 9, 1879. Mr. Trago is a success- ful and enterprising farmer, owns 120 acres of well-improved land, and is a Eepublican in politics, and is highly respected by hia friends and neighbors. MABY E. TRAGO, Tiro; was bom in Holmes Co., Ohio, in 1843. Her first husband was Wesley Dull, and by him she had two children — Malin M., born in 1867, and one, E. W., who died in infancy. Mr. Dull departed this life Jan. 23, 1867. Mrs. Dull remarried May 5, 1870, her second husband being Vincent T. Trago. She bore Mr. Trago two sons — Marion W., born April 9, 1872, and Harry D., born Aug. 9, 1875. Mr. Trago was First Lieutenant in the late war, and was in some of the most hotly contested battles. A few of the principal engagements he was in are Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Nash- ville, Columbia and others. It is said of him that he was a brave and kind officer, and a splendid soldier. During the spring of 1880, he was stricken down with disease, and he died the death of a Christian, April 14 of the same year. His death was greatly deplored ^ by his friends and neighbors, and especially by his devoted wife. Mrs. Trago lives on the place, 160 acres, left by him. For a more detailed account of Mr. Trago's family con- nection, see the biography of his brother, John H. Trago, which will be found in an- other part of this work. B. S. VAN TILBUEG, merchant, Tiro. One of the most prominent business firms of Tiro is I. & B. S. Van Tilburg, dealers in groceries, dry goods, notions, grain, etc. The junior partner, B. S., was born in Richland Co., Ohio, Nov. 1, 1851. His parents, Vin- cent and C. E. (Musser) Van Tilburg, were married in Ei;hland Co., Ohio, in 1849, and to them were born the following family: B. S., F. O., M. L., J. M., Eva M., Emma E., Charlie G., Ettie and Adda, and one who died in infancy. Our subject was reared on his father's farm. He received a good common- school education, and on the 19th of Febru- ary, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bender, daughter of Jacob Bender, of Vernon Township, and by her has one daughter — Edith M., born Sept. 24, 1878. Mr. Van Tilburg is a Republican, and mem- ber of the Lutheran Church. He owns a half-interest in one of the best stores in Tiro, Crawford Co., Ohio. IRA VAN TILBURG, merchant. Tiro; was bom in Richland Co.-, Ohio, April 15, 1839. He is a son of Peter and Hannah [Kennedy] Van Tilburg, who were parents of twelve children — William, Margaret, Eliza, Nancy, Vincent, Frank, Kate, Mary, Maria, Ira, Mar- tha and Lovina. All of these are living except Frank, who died in California. Peter Van Tilburg was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1802. Mrs. Van Tilburg was also a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1801. They were married in Jefferson Co., Ohio. Mr. Van Tilburg died during the fall of 1876, but his widow still survives him and is living in Mansfield, Ohio. The subject of this biog- raphy passed his youth and early manhood on a farm, and going to school. When 19 years of age, he went to California, where he en- gaged in the mining business, which he fol- lowed in California and Nevada for ten years. On the 5th of October, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss A. E. Ewing, daughter of J. D. Ewing, Esq., of California. To this union was bom one son — Frank, bom Dec. 22, 1869. The mother was bom in March, 1851. In 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Van Tilburg came to Richland Co., Ohio, Mr. Van Tilburg engaging in the mercantile business at Olives- burg. In 1873, he formed a copartnership with his nephew, B. S. Van Tilburg, at Tiro, Crawford Co., Ohio, imder the firm name of I. & B. S. Van Tilburg. This was the first business house in Tiro. They started on a small capital, and to-day are one of the heav iest firms of any town in the county. Besides a general dry goods and grocery store, they run a butter and egg house separately, and are also the only grain-buyers at De Kalb Station. They keep a force of from four to five men constantly engaged. Mr. Van Til- burg is a radical Republican in politics, and is a hard and earnest worker in that cause. PETER WRIGHT, farmer; P O. Plym- outh; was born in Plymouth Township, Al' fe> SANDUSKY TOWNSHIP. 877 Eichland Co., Ohio, January, 1835. There were born to his parents, Joseph and Christina (Kinnamen) Wright, five children — Peter, Sophia, Susanna, Manuel and Haymen. Peter was reared on a farm, and received a good common-school education. He was married, October, 1859, to Sarah Bevier, daughter of Alexander and Almira (Birch) Bevier. They have no children of their own, but have raised one child from infancy to manhood. Mr. Wright owns 80 acres of well-improved land. He is a member of the Church of God, and a Republican in politics. He is well informed on the issues of the day, and is a prominent citizen in northern Auburn Township. SANDUSKY TOWNSHIP. REV. JOHN B. BLAYNEY, retired clergy- man, Tiro. Rev. John B. Blayney, well known to the citizens of Crawford Co., was born March 29, 1811, and is a native of the " Old Domin- ion." He is the son of George Blayney and Margaret Buchanan. His father removed from Virginia to Morrow Co., Ohio, where he died at the age of 70. John B. is a graduate of Wash- ington College, Pennsylvania, and was licensed to preach in 1840. He first commenced his la- bors in Delaware Co., where he served various stations for about a year, when he was placed in charge of the new church at Iberia. He was the first Pastor of this Presbyterian Church, and so continued for twent}' years, during which time, by his labors, the church grew to be self- sustaining. Mr. Blayney did excellent work in this vineyard of Christ, and, as an instance of his good work, we maj' say that he never held a communion service but what some were ad- mitted to the church. He was married, in 1840, to Tamar Elliott, who died in 1848, leav- ing two children — David B. and Tamar. Mr. Blayney was remarried, Oct. 30, 1851, to Mrs. Catharine Stockton Extell. Five children are of this marriage — John B., a Presbyterian cler- gyman ; Francis S., a graduate of Wooster, who is also a minister, and who, in August, left for Omaha to commence his labors in the Master's vineyard ; Anna Mary, Martha, Margaret, Sarah Catharine. The three last-named daughters are at home. Mr. Blayney was one of the gen- tlemen who organized the Central College at Iberia, which is now quite an institution. He has now retired from the pulpit and is living on his farm, surrounded by all that tends to make life pleasant, and enjoying the respect of his neighbors. He has been distinguished as a devoted worker in the cause of Christ, and his reward will be given with the words of Script- ure, " Well done, thou good and faithful servant ; enter thou into the joys of thy Lord." CHARLES A. BROWN, farmer ; P. 0. Sul- phur Springs ; was born in Wittenberg, Ger- many, Nov. 13, 1831, and is the son of John and Rosanna (Gruber) Brown, or Braun, as it is in the original German. His parents came to the United States in 1832, and were thirty days in crossing the ocean. They first set- tled in Columbiana Co., and the following j-ear removed to Crawford Co. and settled in this township, where Mr. Brown's father lived till his death in 1856. Here our subject was reared and schooled, and has always followed farm- ing. He has been a successful farmer, and has, by hard work and shrewd business habits, amassed considerable propertj'. He is living now near the center of the township, and has a fine farm and pleasant home, being blessed with a good family of loving and bright chil- dren. He was married in 1871 to Lavinia Eas- terday, of Vernon Township. They have four children — Wilson, Albertus, Milton and one unnamed. WILLIAM COX, retired farmer; P. 0. Lib- erty Corners ; is the son of Emmor and Eliza- beth (Hough) Cox, and was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1805. His father was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and was raised in Chester Co., where he lived throughout the Revolution. The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm in Franklin Co., eight miles southeast of Colum- bus. Here he received his education, his first teacher being Rhoda Goodrich, of Delaware Co. While a young man, Mr. Cox commenced teaching, and himself and brother were among the first school-teachers in Franklin Co. He "^^ 9 V -9* 878 BIOGBAPIIICAL SKETCHES: also continued at farming, and was married in 1829 to Sarah Ward, of Franklin Co., who was born on Blennerhasset's Island. Two years after this marriage, in 1831, he came out to Ohio, and settled in Sandusky Township, thus being one of its oldest living pioneers. Here he followed farming, and also for several years was school-teacher during the winter, so that he is also one of the pioneer school-teachers of the county. Mr. Cox lived with his first wife a little over fifty years, and of this union there were eight children — Hannah Eliza dying at the age of 8, leaving the following now living and doing well : G. W. Cox, living in Paulding Co. ; Lydia Jane, Greenwood, Mo. ; Margaret, near Upper Sandusky ; Emmor, in Crestline ; Sarah, Seymour, Indiana ; John, in Paulding Co.,. and Mary, the wife of Obadiah Fry, liv- ing in Sandusky Township. Mr. Cox was re- married, July 16, 1878, to Eliza Walter, widow of Antony Walter, of Sandusky Township, and they are now spending their last days in ease and retirement, honored and respected by all who know them. J. C. COLE, farmer ; P. 0. Biddle ; was born in Auburn Township, this county, on April 17, 1824, and is the son of Barnett Cole, who was one of the very earliest settlers of that section. Mr. Cole, the subject of our sketch, is one of the first white children born in Auburn, and is, therefore, one of the oldest living pioneers of the county. A short time after his birth, his father removed into Vernon Township, and settled below what is now called Liberty Corners. Mr. Cole was brought up amid the difficulties incident to pioneer life, and was, like many others, educated in a rude schoolhouse, contrasting greatly with the com- modious structures of to-day. He was reared on a farm, but after reaching manhood he learned the trade of weaving fancy coverlets, and followed this trade for a number of years with good success. Since then, he has paid considerable attention to farming, and is now running a cider press on his place. By habits of industry he has gathered around him a nice property, and is one of the most respected citi- zens of his township. He was married in 1858, to Miss Mary A. Warner, of Vernon Township, a sister of Esquire Warner, of Liberty Corners, whose history occurs elsewhere. This union was blessed with nine children, three of whom, Amos, Sarah, and an infant, are dead. Those living are Samuel F., George, John B., Clara, Alexander and Albert. ANDREW DICKSON, Sr., farmer; P. 0. Sulphur Springs. Andrew Dickson, Sr., one of the prominent members of his family, is a son of Andrew Dickson and Sarah Frazer, and was born in Indiana Co., Penn.y June 24, 1811. He removed to this county at the age of 20, and has since resided here. He was married, first in 1833, to Mary T. Cummins in this countj', who died in 1834, leaving one child, Sarah J., who is the wife of J. D, Brown, of Tiro. Mr. Dickson was re-married in 1841, to Blary Clemons, who is still living. Nine children are the fruits of this union, three, how- ever, being deceased. Those living are Mary Ann, wife of Geo. Johnson ; John Andrew, Eliza Catharine, Maria Celina, Elizabeth E., Hannah J. Mr. Dickson has been one of the prominent men of Crawford County, and by his integrity has won for himself a high place among his fellow-citizens. He has been en- gaged principally in stock-raising and farming, and it is said that his farm is one of the finest in the county. He has been Justice of the Peace for several years, and served two terms as County Commissioner. He was also Presi- dent for three years of the Crawford County Mutual Fire Insurance Companj'. In 1871, he was a member of the State Board of Equaliza- tion, of which Hon. W. S. Groesbeck, of Cincin- nati, was President. Mr. Dickson has been a prominent man in the affairs of his county, and his ability and good judgment entitle him to a front place among Crawford Countj^'s citizens. His family is one of the oldest in the county. Seldom have so large families been found where Christianity has been ever a controlling element, and whose members take delight in the ways of righteousness and paths of peace. A. D. GROGG, farmer ; P. 0. Biddle ; was born April 25, 1847, in Liberty Township, this county, and is the son of Abraham and Anna (Bowers) Grogg, who are still living and highly esteemed residents of Liberty Township. Her father is a native of Pennsylvania, and came to this county from Stark Co., Ohio. The subject of this sketch was reared in Liberty Township, and received a good education, fitting him espe- cially for business life. His father has always been a farmer, and his son is now one of the most successful young farmers in Sandusky Township. He was married on Nov. 28, 1867, <<^ a ;^ l^ SANDUSKY TOWNSHIP. 879 to Eliza Jane Cobb, of this county. Tbiey liave three children living — Drusilla A., Daniel E. and Abraham L. ; two other children dj'ing when verj^ young. Mr. Grogg is a life-long Republican, but is a man universallj- respected in his township, and, although it is strongl3' Democratic, he was recentl}' elected Justice of the Peace, but refused to serve. He is a man of enlightened opinions, and of that agreeable disposition that makes him popular with all. JOHN KNISELY, farmer; P. 0. North Robinson ; was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, near what is now New Philadelphia, Jan. 20, 1822 ; he is the son of Samuel Kaisely, who was a native of York Co., Penn., and who was one of the earliest settlers in Sandusky Town- ship, coming here in 1828. He settled on the place now owned bj' Joseph Kniselj-. The sub- ject of our sketch was reared on a farm amid the privations of frontier life, and denied the educational privileges that now exist ; he, how- ever, being a man of considerable natural tal- ent and love of knowledge, improved himself as time and circumstances would allow, and ac- quired thereby a good self-education. He has a fine farm, well improved, and a fine residence which is an ornament to the neighborhood. He has served in several township offices, with credit to himself and satisfaction to his neigh- bors. He has been identified with the stock trade to a considerable extent, and is now one of the most efficient agents of the Mutual In- surance Company of Norwalk, Ohio, for which he is doing valuable work. He was married, June 10, 1846, to Elizabeth Esterline, of Ver- non Township ; they have four children living — Lydia Jane, Mary Louisa, William J. and Rosa Lucinda, all of whom are married and doing well. PHILLIP KELLER, farmer ; P. 0. Sulphur Springs; was born in January, 1818, in North- ampton Co., Penn., and is the son of John H. and Maria (Engler) Keller. The family record can be traced back to the great-grandfather, and, being interesting, we have copied the record from the family Bible, as follows : Joseph Kel- ler, born March 15, 1719 ; died, Sept. 17, 1800. His consort, Maria E. Good, born Sept. 15, 1718; died April 22, 1802. Phillip Keller, born March 29, 1763 ; died Oct. 2, 1842 ; first wife, Sarah Miller, born Sept. 27, 1763 ; died, Oct. 16, 1804 ; second wife, Susanna Niemeier, born Nov. 22, 1770 ; died, Dec. 4, 1859. John H. Keller, born Dec. 24, 1786 ; died Sept. 10, 1867. Maria Engler, born July 4, 1797 ; still living in Bucj'rus, aged 83. The family history of the Kellers is very interesting. Two broth- ers of Phillip (grandfather to our subject) were in the Revolution, and in most of the hard-fought battles under Gen. Washington. In the family of Mr. Keller's father, there were six brothers and two sisters, of whom Phillip is the oldest. Two brothers, Amos and Aaron, were killed at the battle of " Stone River," dur- ing the late war. His father removed from Northampton Co., Penn., to this State in 1856, settling in this county, and Mr. Keller has been engaged in farming ever since. He was mar- ried in 1845, to Hannah Stocker, in Pennsylva- nia. Most of his life has been spent in farm- ing, except some four jears in which he taught school. He has living, seven children — Maria B., Sabina E., John Henry, Ellen S., Abbie L., Lydia Ann, Francis Amos. Those deceased are Susanna and Sarah Ann. Mr. Keller has been Justice for some time, and is now Presi- dent of the Crawford Co. Mutual Fire Insurance Companj^ He has a fine home, is suiTOunded by a loving family, and has gathered around him the requirements and many of the luxuries of life. Mr. Keller is a Republican, and a man held in high esteem throughout the county. JOSIAH KELLER, farmer ; P. 0. Tiro ; was born in Northampton Co., Penn., Oct. 14, 1846, and is the son of Joseph and Lavinia (Kline) Keller. He received a good education, and at the age of 11, he with his parents removed to this State, settling where the son now lives. The father is now a respected and esteemed citi- zen of Annapolis. The subject of our sketch has lived on a farm, and has been a successful farmer. He was married in May, 1871, to Miss Maggie Reynolds, of Kansas. Of this mar- riage there have been three children — Lillie D., born Dec. 22, 1 873 ; Lavinia B., born April 7, 1877, and died Nov. 30, 1879, and an infant born on the 8th of January, 1880. Mr. Keller is an enterprising, successful farmer, a man of enlightened views, and a Christian gentleman. He is a Republican in politics, and has always clung to that faith. He is a member of the church, and in every way an upright and sub- stantial citizen. LEWIS LITTLER, farmer J P. 0. Leesville ; was born in Hardy Co., Va., Dec. 13, 1811, and is the son of Abraham and Sarah (Moore) Lit- ^ a i ^ it 880 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: tier. His father was a farmer, and remained in Virginia until 1832, when he removed to Craw- ford Co., Ohio, and settled in Jefferson Town- ship, where he lived until his death. His father, Thomas Littler, was engaged in the Revolution under Washington. Lewis' father was born Jane 24, 1780, his wife, Sarah Moore, was born Nov. 9, 1783. They were married the Uth of June. 1803. The fruits of this union were eleven children, as follows ; Nathan, born Jan. 12, 1804 ; Mahala, April 19, 1806 ; Joel, Jan. 31, 1808 ; Scotty, Nov. 26, 1809 ; Lewis, Dec. 13. 1811; Elizabeth. Nov. 30, 1813; Isaac, Oct. 30, 1815 ; Magdalen, June 3, 1817 ; Dor- sey, March 21, 1819 ; Cecelia, May 16, 1821 ; William, Oct. 9, 1823. Lewis was one of the pioneers of Sandusky Township, and was obliged to work very hard in order to succeed ; he has always been a farmer, and a successful one. Mr. Littler has been a prominent citizen of the county, and has served in several posi- tions of trust ; he was County Commissioner for two terms, and is counted as one of the best Commissioners that the county ever had. He was married Oct. 14, 1841, to Mary Cham- bers, of Jackson Township, who was born in Washington Co., Penn., March 21, 1812. They have had six children — William S., born Nov. 3, 1842 ; Abraham D., July 29, 1844 ; Sarah E., May 3, 1846 ; Emeline C, May 30, 1848 ; John W., April 1, 1850 ; Frank P., in December. 1852. Mr. Littler is one of the most substan- tial citizens of his township, and has a fine home, surrounded by all that makes life pleas- ant. E. B. McC AMMON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Ohio Co., W. Va., Sept. 19, 1841, and is the son of James and Mary (Blayney) McCammon. His father is still living on the old homestead, where he was also born and raised. Mr. McCammon removed to this State and county in 1867, and settled in Sandusky Township. He was a soldier in the 12th W. V. I. under Hunter and Sigel, and, later, under Sheridan and Grant, at the surrender of Appomattox. He was married in this township Oct. 13, 1838, to Sarah E. Stephenson, whose father, John Stephenson, was one of the most re- spected citizens of the community; he died Sept. 2, 1879 ; his wife died in March of the same year. Mrs. McCammon is now the only child living, a brother being dead. Mr. McCammon is one of the enterprising business men of his town- ship, and, although young, has control of more land than any man in it, his farm compris- ing 607 acres of as good land as there is in the county. He has been successful as a farmer, and has a great amount of energy. He is a gentleman that one likes to meet, and has a pleasant, hospitable home, in the very center of the township. They have four children — Lee Anna, Edmund, Francis Milton and John Ste- phenson. OLIVER P. McKEEHEN, farmer ; P. 0. Sul- phur Springs ; is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Anderson) McKeehen, and was born in Indiana Co., Penn., May 27, 1838. His father removed to Ohio when our subject was quite young, and settled in Richland Co., and then near De Kalb. He next removed to near Leesville, and then to Loudonville, and from there to Sandusky Township and located on the farm now owned bj^ his son Oliver P. Here our subject lived till he was 22, and worked on the farm. After one more 3'ear spent in work for his father, he commenced buying and shipping stock, and followed this until after the war, being very successful. He then rented his father's farm and farmed it for three years, after which he bought 60 acres opposite his present farm, and lived there three and a half years, when his house was burned to the ground. He soon after bought the farm where he now lives, of his father, and has been living there ever since, having built upon it a fine brick residence and otherwise improved it, so that it is one of the best and most desirable in the township. He was married Nov. 29, 1865, to Martha J. Smith, daughter of Alexander Smith, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work ; they have six children — Laura Etta, Charles Edgar, Clara Edith, Anna Eurilla, Oliver Francis and Smith Leroy. Mr. McKeehen has been one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of his vicinity, and is a man held in high esteem by all who know him. JAMES NAIL, farmer; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; is the oldest living settler of Craw- ford Co., and is one of those noble-hearted pioneers who are quickly passing away, and who will soon be gone, leaving only history and tradition to tell the tale of their suffering and privations. James Nail came to this county, and made a settlement in 1817, in the south- east corner, near G-alion. Here he lived until 1822, when he married Susan Brown, this mar- r^ :1^ SAKDUSKY TOWNSHIP. 881 riage being the first ever solemnized in the county, Ml. Nail being compelled to go to Del- aware for a license. His son, Henry Nail, now living in Grant Co., Mo., was perhaps the first white child born in the county. Mr. Nail tells strange and interesting stories regarding early times. He was born in 1797, and is conse- quently at this time at the advanced age of 83. He is one of the grand old gentlemen of his township, being genial and hospitable, with a kind word for everj'body, and has always been a man who commanded the respect of all who knew him. AARON RADER, farmer; P. 0. Sulphur Springs. One of the most prosperous farmers of Crawford Co., is Aaron Rader, who, with his family has been a resident of the county since 1856. He was born. May 29, 1817, in North- ampton Co., Penn., and is the son of Peter Rader and Catharine Fried. Mr. Rader, during the early days of his manhood, learned milling, and followed the business for a number of years, and later engaged in farming. He was mar- ried 8th of September, 1840, to Sabina Bauer and their union has been blessed with several children, eight of whom are yet living, one hav- ing died recently. They are as follows — Owen Henry, James Peter (deceased), Enos Gr., Franklin, Maria Catharine, Jacob Thomas, John David, William Benjamin Francis Owen. Owen H., James P. and Enos George were in the late war, enlisting in the 49th 0. V. I., and were in the battle of Stone River along with the Keller boys, of whom mention is made in the history of Phillip Keller. Mr. Rader's children have all been well educated, and are now all in splendid circumstances. They are all of them young men of estimable worth and ability. Two are in Clyde, Ohio, engaged in business; Jacob is agent for the Clyde Nursery, and the others are engaged in var- ious pursuits, James B. was at one time Post- master at Bucyrus, and afterward was a Gov- ernment clerk in the Treasury Department at Washington. He was an estimable young man of promise. He died at Bucyrus, Jan. 7, 1880, of consumption, in the very prime of his man- hood. He was born April 1, 1843, being, at the time of his death, 36 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Rader are estimable people, who stand high in their community. They have a pleas- ant and beautiful home, and are in possession of a fine farm. Mr. Rader is a man of noted integrity, is a steadfast Republican, as are also his sons. WILLIAM A. ROBERTSON, farmer ; P. 0. Leesville ; was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, May 27, 1809, and is the son of David and Sarah (McCune) Robertson. His father and mother were both natives of Pennsylvania. He settled in Ohio in 1793, and was married in that State in 1796. William lived in Jefferson Co., Ohio, for many years, and was engaged there in the woolen mills. With his family he removed to Jefferson Township, Crawford Co., in 1856, where he now owns a farm. He is now living in Sandusky Township, on the farm of his brother, who died about a year ago. He was married, in 1834, to Sophia Dean, in Jefferson Co. She is a native of Pennsjdvania. There are now living the following children : David, Robert, Abbie J., Elizabeth and Margery. Mr. Robertson and all his family are earnest Chris- tians, and are well educated and well read. Mr. Robertson is a stanch Republican and a hospit- able Christian gentleman. His son, David Rob- ertson, is one of the best read and informed men in the township, possessing a large and comprehensive library, and being also a great lover of art and literature. ALEXANDER SMITH, farmer ; P. 0. Sul- phur Springs ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., June 2, 1821, and is the son of Joseph and Jane (Hogan) Smith. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, and came first to Ohio in 1821. He entered 160 acres of land and settled on it permanently in 1825, being one of the earliest settlers in the township, there being but five families then there. He settled on the land now owned by his son. He lived here and exerted himself to improve his land until his death, in 1843, at the early age of 46. The subject of our sketch was left, as the eldest of six children, to look after the interests of both farm and family, which he did in a creditable manner, working hard and being economical. He early took a livel}^ interest in religion, and has been, throughout his life, a consistent, earn- est Christian worker, who has devoted much time and means to the advancement of Christ's cause. He was one of the earliest residents of his township, and is now probably the oldest living settler. He was married, in 1843, to Nancy Jane Dicks, of Columbiana Co. Of this marriage, there are five children living — Martha Jane, Joseph Marion, Porter Willis, Ada and c — :^ ll^ 883 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Alexander. Phoebe Marilla and Tabitha Ann are dead. Mr. Smith has been one of the most successful farmers of the township, and is one of its most prominent men. WILLIAM R. STONE, farmer ; P. 0. Tiro ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Jan. 2, 1826, and is the son of Adam and Mary Love (Robinson) Stone. His father was born in Jef- ferson Co., Ohio, seven miles from Steuben- ville, on Island Creek. His mother was born on Cross Creek, Washington Co., Penn. Mr. Stone removed to this State with his parents when he was 5 years old. at a time when it was as yet in its infancy, being wild and unculti- vated. Here Mr. Stone endured all the priva- tions of pioneer life in bringing up the land to its present state of cultivation. His father lived here until his death, dj'ing at the age of 75, his wife having died some time previous. He was a carpenter and cabinet-maker, and learned his trade with Barney McNutt, of Pennsylvania. He made the first coffin in this township, and also one of the first barns. In 1850, Mr. Stone went to California, remaining there two years, and returned to his farm in Sandusky Township. He was married, in Feb- ruarj', 1854, to Mary Ann George, of Pennsyl- vania. Her folks are at present residents of Clarke Co., Mo. Of this union, there were four children ; Viola, the eldest, is married to George W. Cole, and living in Sanduskj^ Town- ship ; Amanda Eleonora and Eva Esther are those that are living ; James, the only son, was born in 1858, and was a young man belovud by all who knew him. He was taken sick May 27 with typhoid pneumonia, and died June 8. He was a young man of whom any father might well be proud. His death was greatly lamented, and he was laid to rest in Sandusky burial-ground, followed by the largest con- course of any funeral ever held in the town- ship. Peace to his memory, for peaceful is his rest, as he awaiteth the day of final meeting in the land where partings shall be no more. SAMUEL STONE, farmer; P. 0. Tiro ; was born on the place where he now lives, June 25, 1832. He is the son of Samuel and Mary (Robinson) Stone, who came from Pennsylvania in 1831 and settled in Sandusky Township. At the time of their settlement, there were few residents of the township, and the subject of this sketch was consequently inured to the hardships and privations of pioneer life. He was reared on a farm, and received a fair edu- cation. His life has been spent in tilling the soil, and all but four years has been on the farm of his father. He was married, Sept. 14, 1858, to Elizabeth Dickson, of Vernon Town- ship, a daughter of Jonathan Dickson, mi sis- ter of James Dickson, Jr., whose biography ap- pears elsewhere in this work.' Of this union there are three children — Lottie Elizabeth, Ella and Clifton. Mr. Stone is a man of enlight- ened views, and his family has been given the advantages of education, so that their home is one of liberal culture and refinement. ADAM WERT, farmer ; P. 0. North Robin- son ; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., June 5, 1817. He is the son of one of the earliest set- tlers in Sandusky Township, his father coming here in 1826, when Mr. Wert was but 9 years old. He has ever since been a resident of the township. His father was a man of religious principles, and much devoted to the success and furtherance of the cause of Christ. To his honor it may be said that he inaugurated the first Sunday school ever held in the county. He was one of the first to help in the organiza- tion of a church, and was throughout his life an Elder, and a devoted worker and worshiper in the vineyard of his Master. Twenty-five years ago he died, an old man, yet honored in his old age, and respected by all who knew him as a man who loved righteousness and eschewed evil. His sons all followed in his footsteps, and are of those who are living faithful and upright Christians. The subject of our sketch was mar- ried, in 1840, to Mary SIcMannis, a native of Pennsylvania. There were nine children of this union, all' of whom are living — William H. is in Putman Co. ; Sarah Elizabeth in Sandusky Co. ; Peter P. in Richland Co. ; Matilda Ann in Sandusky ; A. J. in Williams Co., while Nicholas B., John A., Mary Emeline and Belle are at home. His children are all doing well, and have been brought up in accordance with those principles of religion and right which have governed the lives of their father and father's father before them. ■^. ^ ^ SL k_ WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. 883 ^W WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. MICHAEL AUCK, Bucyrus. Christopher Auek, father of Michael, was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, Jan. 31, 1813. He received a good education, and, when quite young, entered a shop, serving an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade. In 1831, he came to the United States, and located in Pennsylvania, where, in 1841, he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Wag- ner. From this marriage were three children — Slichael and Elizabeth living — Mary, deceased. He removed from Pennsylvania to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1848, and purchased a farm in the " Gibson Neighborhood." His wife died Sept. 2, 1875. He was married to Mrs. Catharine Flick Sept. 7, 1876. Michael Auck was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., July 23, 1842. He received a good common-school education, and has been doing business for himself ever since he reached his majority, although he and his parents always made their homes together. He was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Ehman Sept. 20, 1866. She was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, Feb. 9, 1845. There are six children from this union — Mary J., John C, Lucy E., William H., Priscilla S. and Samuel E. Mr. Auck owns 204 acres of well-improved land, and is one of the prominent and influential men of Whetstone Township. He is the present Township Treasurer. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the German Reformed Church. JOSEPH ALBRIGHT, retired, Bucjrus; was born May 16, 1801, in Huntingdon Co., Penn. His parents, Daniel and Hester (Wag- ner) Albright, were also natives of the Keystone State, where they lived during their lifetime. This family of Albrights are descended from three brothers of that name, who came from Germany to America in colonial times. As a family, they are noted for their frugality, mo- rality and force of character. These character- istics have manifested themselves in the sub- ject of this sketch in a noticeable manner throughout his long and eventful lifetime. At a very early age, he was placed in his father's brickyards, where he was kept to work early and late, receiving but little or no education. He remained with his father until about 27 years of age, although after reaching his ma- jority, he had an interest in the business. His marriage with Miss Hannah Jury was solem- nized Oct. 11, 1827. She was born in Loudoun Co., Va., March 1, 1809. They are the parents of ten children — Daniel B., Emanuel, Joseph J., George W., John T., Mercia, Hannah and Frank living — Sarah A. and Hester A., deceased. In 1830, he and his young wife left their native State and came overland to the then new aud sparsely settled county of Crawford, Ohio. He began burning brick soon after his arrival, and has to a greater or less extent burned and man- ufactured brick and tile ever since. The first piece of land he purchased was 20 acres of un- improved woodland. From this he has gone steadily forward until he now owns about 600 acres of well-improved land. In all his under- takings in life, he has found in his good wife a sound counselor and ready helpmeet, and it is in a great measure owing to this good woman's help and advice that he has been successful. He and wife have been, for a number of j^ears, members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Albright was formerly an Old-Line Whig, but, on the organization of the Republican party, joined its ranks, and was, during the late war, an uncompromising Union man. He is an upright Christian gentleman, and one of Craw- ford Co.'s best citizens. HENRY ALBRIGHT, farmer ; P. 0., Gallon ; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Sept. 17, 1827. He is the son of John and Sarah (Shafer) Al- bright, who are natives of the Keystone State, their marriage occurring there in 1816. In 1829, they came to Crawford Co., Ohio, per- forming the journey in about a month, in a three-horse wagon, settling in Whetstone Town- ship, and entering 73 acres of land on Sec. 22. Mr. Albright was a boot and shoe maker, and after his arrival in the township, for quite a number of years, worked at his trade in con- nection with farming. His death occurred in 1866, under peculiar and distressing circum- stances. On the 1st of May, of the last-men- tioned year, Mr. Albright had in his house » "V Ml tiL 884 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: about $400 in money, together with considera- ble jewelry. These facts having become known outside of the family, aroused the avarice of unknown parties, five or six of whom, com- pletely disguised with masks and paint, came to the house one night and demanded the money. Having been refused their demands, they set upon Mr. Albright and beat him terri- bly, inflicting the same punishment upon his son John, who had come to the assistance of his father. To save their lives, they were forced to give up their hard-earned money, whereupon the robbers departed. Mr. Albright was so badly injured, that, after lingering until August of the same year, he died. The crimi- nals were never identified, although suspicion and some quite strong evidence pointed to some near neighbors as having a hand in the crime. Mrs. Albright died Dec. 4, 1874. Eight children were born to these parents, three sons and five daughters, seven of whom sur- vived the parents. Henry Albright's youth was passed, like that of other country boys, on the farm at hard work. He began for himself when of age, and was married to Miss Savina Weirick Jan. 4, 1854. who was born in Penn- sylvania. She became the mother of four chil- dren, as follows : Matilda, Agnes, Isaac and John. She died in 1866. On the 24th of Sep- tember, 1867, Mr. Albright married Miss Laura Noblit. This lady was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1840 ; she bore her husband three children — Charles H., George F. and Ida M., all of whom are yet living. Mr. Albright owns 226 acres of well-improved land. He is a prominent Republican, and is nicely situated as regards this world's goods. SAMUEL BOGEN, farmer; P. 0. North Robinson ; was born in Gettysburg, Penn., Jan. 1, 1816. He is the son of John H. and Mar- garet (Lynd) Bogen, both of whom were natives of Maryland, where they were married and re- sided some years afterward. They then moved to Pennsj-lvania ; from there to Virginia, and thence to Stark Co., Ohio, in 1835. They came to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1848, where they resided until their death. The father died Feb. 9,1859, and the mother in 1869. They were the par- ents of seven children, six of whom are yet living. The father practiced medicine, a pro- fession he followed very successfully all his life. Samuel was raised upon a farm, receiving the advantages of a common-school education. He was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Bowers Nov. 12, 1838. She was born in Stark Co., Ohio, May 16, 1821. From this union there are eleven children, viz., Sylvester, Erne- line M., Martha J., Sylinda, Emanuel L., Mary E., Sarah A., William S., Rebecca C. and Tabi- tha E., living ; Amelia M., deceased. Mr. Bo- gen began life as a poor boy, and has made what he now possesses by close attention to business, combined with honesty and industry. He owns 101 acres of land, all of which is un- der a good state of cultivation. He is an un- compromising Republican, and one of the most honored and respected citizens of Crawford Co. DANIEL C. BOYER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; son of Christian and Elizabeth (Gottshall) Boyer; born Nov. 14, 1822, in Schuylkill Co., Penn. Christian Boyer was born March 1, 1799, and removed with his wife and family to Crawford Co., in September, 1842. He pur- chased of Martin ShaflFner 160 acres in Whet- stone Township, just southeast of Bucyrus, pay- ing for this land $30 per acre. He also bought the 80 acres in Bucyrus Township, just west of his Whetstone farm, and 36 acres north of this land. After living in Crawford Co. nearly ten years, he died May 8, 1852. Elizabeth Boyer, his wife, died June 24, 1863. The subject of this sketch removed to Crawford Co. with his parents, and, shortly afterward, on Nov. 13, 1842, married his half-cousin. Miss Phoebe Boyer, who was born Feb. 15, 1819. She was the daughter of John and Catharine Hunsinger Boyer. Her father was a half-brother to Chris- tian, and had removed to Crawford Co. several years previous to 1842. For many years, he kept an inn on the Bucyrus and Gallon road, some three miles from the former town. This pioneer died at the advanced age of 83 years and 9 months, on Dee. 12, 1874. For about twelve months after Daniel and Phoebe were married, they resided on John Boyer's farm, and the owner paid his son-in-law $75 a year for his labor. 'This was considered good wages at that time. In 1844, the young couple re- moved to the Whetstone farm of Christian Boyer, and, in about two years, Daniel pur- chased the 160 acres from his father, agreeing to pay him $5,000 for the farm. This was at the rate of $31.25 per acre. This farm, their present residence, they have owned and occu- pied for over thirty years. They were the par- ents of several children — Andrew Melancthon '^• f J^ WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. 885 was born Jan. 16, 1846 ; Edwin Henderson was born Sept. 26, 1847, and died Oct. 27, 1848 ; Ida May was bora Nov. 12, 1854, and died Jan. 27, 1858. Ttieir eldest son and only living child, Andrew Melancthon, was married on May 3, 1864, to Miss Tillie J. Freeburn, and tiiey are the parents of one child — Ida May Boyer. About 1853, the subject of this sketch accepted the agency of the Manny Reaper and Mower for the counties of Crawford, Seneca and Wyan- dot. He continued at this business for some nine years. He was more successful than at any other occupation, and was considered one of the best agents employed by the company. The last year of his agency he was in partner- ship with Mr. Deal. About 1850, he purchased from the Brehmens two machines — a Hussey Reaper and a Hussey Mower. They were the first reaping and mowing machines ever brought to Crawford Co., and were used by D. C. and J. C. Boyer for several years to do their own cutting. Several years after, he purchased the first combined reaper and mower ever brought to the county. About 1860, he attended the Ohio State Fair at Zanesville, and noticed a Hubbard machine, which he purchased. It was the first Hubbard machine sold to a Crawford County farmer, and is still in use on Boyer's farm. Previous to 1840, Martin Shaffner built a rude threshing machine, which was possibly the first one operated in the county. Shaffner sold this to tlie Boyers, who ran it for several years. About 1858, Boyer purchased of Aaron Cary, for $60, the first piano ever brought to Bucyrus. Cary purchased this about 1850, of Mr. C. H. Shonert, who, several years previous, brought the instrument from Germany. In 1856, Boyer removed to Bucyrus, and resided for some two years on the southwest corner of Charles and Walnut streets. During this period, he was engaged in the mercantile business with his brother Eli, the firm being styled D. C. Boyer & Co. Mr. Boyer is at the present time the largest dealer in thoroughbred Spanish merino sheep in Crawford Co., and possibly the largest raiser of imported sheep. He commenced breed- ing Spanish merino sheep about 1861, and, in September, 1863, purchased, for $1,200, in part- nership with D. J. Twitchell, the three-year-old Spanish merino ram, " Sweepstakes." This was the most expensive sheep ever brought to Craw- ford Co., and Mr. Boyer relates that it was the best investment he ever made. His large barn is well adapted to sheltering these animals in bad weather, and, at the present time, he has 175 head of the imported Spanish merino sheep. He has served for many years as Superintendent of the Sheep Department at the annual fairs of the Crawford County Agricultural Society. When this association was re-organized in 1867, he served as President for one year, and was also, for several years, President of the Agri- cultural Joint Stock Co. He is at the present time General Agent of the Crawford County Farmer's Fire Insurance Co. Daniel Boyer united with the Lutheran Church, April 9, 1841, while a resident of Pennsjdvania. His wife, PhcEbe Boyer, has been a member since June 17, 1837. Mr. Boyer has been an active mem- ber of the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bucyrus for nearly forty }'ears. Twenty-nine years of this period he has served in the Church Council ; three years as a Deacon, and twenty-six years as an Elder. PETER BEACH, farmer'; P. 0. Gallon ; was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Nov. 16, 1842. He is the son of Adam and Margaret (Simmer- maker) Beach, both of whom were natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. They were mar- ried in this county, to which both had come with their parents in the year 1833. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are yet living. The father was an industrious man, and respected bv all who knew him. He died in 1850. His wife survives him, and is one of the oldest living settlers of the township. Peter was raised upon a farm, receiving but a limited education. When he was 13 j^ears of age, he took charge of the home place, which he now owns. It consists of 171 acres, upon which are good, substantial farm buildings. He was married to Miss Amanda Cook Feb. 6, 1868, who was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1849. They have two children— Ellen M. and Tina M. Mr. Beach is a member of the Ger- man Reformed Church, and a Democrat. He is one of the Trustees of Whetstone Township, and a prominent and influential citizen. GEORGE BREHMAN, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Jan. 26, 1825. He is the eldest of a family of ten chil- dren born to John and Frances (Stach) Breh- man. John Brehman removed from Pennsyl- vania to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1828, settling on the farm now owned by his son George in Whetstone Township. He was a wagon-maker wT (i If^ ?|A, BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: by trade, and in that early day his services were highly prized, for there were few men of that trade who settled in Crawford County in that daj'. He was a very industrious man, working early and late, and doing much gratui- tous work for the settlers as they came into the neighborhood. His two sons, George and John, were kept constantly at work clearing the land he had entered, while he worked at his trade. George from early youth to the present has been noted for his industry, force of char- acter and strict business habits. He was mar- ried March 12, 1850, to Miss Hettie Reiter. She was born in Pennsylvania April 12, 1829. From this union there are ten children — Eme- line, Martha, Matilda, George, Amanda, Me- linda and Eli, living ; John, Ephraim and Clara deceased. He owns 183 acres of well-improved land in Whetstone Township, and is one of the prominent and successful agriculturists of the county. He is a Democrat politically, and has held numerous positions of honor and trust in his township. JOHN BREHMAN, stock- raiser and farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Feb. 15, 1827, in Franklin Co., Penn. He is the second son of a family of ten children, of John and Frances (Stach) Brehman, who came from Pennsylvania to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1 828. The Brehmans, as well as the Stachs, are of German descent, the grandfathers on both sides being natives of that country ; they were frugal, industrious people, and secured to themselves and families a goodly share of this world's goods. The sub- ject of this sketch was but 1 year of age at the time his parents came to Crawford Co. He re- ceived but a limited education, as he and his brother George, as soon as old enough, were kept constantly at work clearing up the farm. When 23 years of age, he purchased 100 acres of land, paying but little down for it. He had, however, an indomitable will, and knew no such thing as fail. It was not many years until this was paid for and additions made to it. He now owns 260 acres of well-improved land, upon which are as good buildings as are to be found in the township. He was united in marriage with Miss Eliza A. Shrull March 14, 1850. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, July 14, 1833. From this marriage were nine children, four of whom are now living — Stephen, John A., Hattie A. and Eliza B. Mr. Brehman has held a number of offices in Whetstone Town- ship, and is a Democrat in politics, and a lead- ing citizen. MARTIN BACON, retired ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in Mentor, Ohio, July 30, 1809, his parents being Ralph and Marj' (Jourden) Bacon, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. When the father was 8 years of age, he was bound out to a man named Heath, near Boston, Mass. At the end of four years, he returned to his parents, and remained with them until he was 17 years of age, when he returned to Ohio, locating near Painesville. He acquired some property, and became acquainted with the lady who afterward became his wife. In 1820, the father came with his family to Crawford Co., Ohio, traveling by wagon with two yoke of oxen and one horse. The father had come out the previous year and located his land and made a deposit on it, designing to com- plete the purchase when the land became mar- ketable, which event occurred in 1820. There were but two houses in Bucyrus when they passed through it on their journey out. The father entered 240 acres of land, and his patents, which were signed by President Monroe, are now in possession of Martin Bacon, his son. They endured all pioneer privations and sacri- fices which fall to the lot of the first settlers in a country. The mother died Oct. 5, 1843, and the father followed her June 15, 1849. The parents settled on 80 acres of land in what is now Liberty Township, though the balance of their 240 acres was adjoining, but across the line, in Whetstone Township. At the age of 20 years, Martin Bacon bought the farm of his father, upon condition that the son should maintain his aged parents and raise the younger ones of the family, which consisted of thirteen children, all of whom reached their majority. This he did successfully. Dec. 15, 1833, he married Miss Jane Kemmis, who was born in Washington Co., N. Y., May 10, 1808. Tlie wife bore her husband seven children — Clark, Warren N., Mary and William A., now living, and Clarissa, Charles W. and George W., de- ceased. Mrs. Bacon died July 2, 1872. Mr. Bacon owns 381 acres of fine land, having made it all by hard labor and privation. He was a Whig, and is at present a Republican ; he is also a consistent member of the Advent Church. He is one of the most prominent and honored citizens of the county. Though bur- dened with the weight of years, he is yet strong ;r^ t\^ WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. 887 and hearty. Though a Republican, he has held the office of Justice of the Peace in a Demo- cratic Township. No citizen is more highly respected than Martin Bacon. JOHN L. CASKEY, carriage-builder, North Robinson. This gentleman's mother died when he was about three years of age, and he was talien by Timothy Winterhalter to raise, in whose service he remained until the age of 17 years, where he served an apprenticeship of three years, learning the carriage-making trade at Sulphur Springs, after which he worked as a journeyman one year for the same man, and aft- erward one year in Bucyrus. He came in company with Lewis Helcker to North Robin- son, in which village he built a blacksmith and carriage shop. He. did a good business for a number of years, until the introduction of cheap and inferior work in the county greatly injured his trade. He has the reputation of being a first-class workman, and his buggies are well known for their durability and superior excel- lence. No second or third class work leaves his shop, which at times has been manufactur- ing quite extensively. His birth occurred in Chatfleld Township Sept. 24, 1847. His par- ents were natives of Pennsylvania, and the father when a young man came to Stark Co., Ohio, where he was married. The father, Levi Caskey, is yet living at the county seat. He lived in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, for a number of years, where he kept a tavern. John L. was united in marriage in 1874, to Sarah Ambros- hier, who was born in Wyandot Co., Ohio, March 2, 1855. Two children have been born to this union, as follows : Lyle and Clayton. Mr. Caskey, besides his commodious and ex- tensive shops, owns a nicely improved property and residence in the village. He is a member of the Bucyrus Lodge, No. 139, A., F. & A. M., and is an intelligent and enterprising gen- tleman. EDWARD CAMPBELL, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus. In the spring of 1824, this gentleman, then but a small boy, was brought by his father to Crawford Co., Ohio. The father was a poor man, and all the money he could raise was only sufficient to enter 80 acres of land. During his first few years in the township, he owned neither an ox nor a horse team, and what little farming he did was without the assistance of those valuable aids, except what little he re- ceived from the neighbors ; but, notwithstand- ing his poverty, he became one of the most prominent and influential men in the county. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for twenty-seven years, and was finally elected two terms to the Ohio Legislature by the people of Crawford Co., where he advanced the interests of the State and county by his judgment and deliberation. While serving as Justice of the Peace, his decisions were rarely reversed when appealed to the higher courts, proving the ac- curacy and excellence of his mind and judg- ment. This useful man died in 1865, greatly lamented by those who knew him. His wife's death had occurred in 1857. Edward's birth occurred in Wayne Co., Oh'io, Dec. 16, 1816. His parents were John and Mary (Jones) Camp- bell, both natives of Pennsylvania, where their youth was passed, and from where the} moved while 3'et children. Their marriage occurred in Wayne Co. Edward was raised on the farm, and has, by his own exertions and business sa- gacity, acquired a large, valuable farm of 656 acres. He was one of a family of nine children, four of whom are yet living. He began the battle of life when of age, though he remained on the old farm. He was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Tupps on the 4th of Janu- ary, 1838. His wife was a native of Pennsyl- vania, her birth occurring there on Sept. 20, 1820. Pour children were born to this union, three of whom are yet living — Samuel K., John B. and Lottie J., living ; and Catharine, de- ceased. Mr. Campbell, though a Democrat un- til the organization of the Republican party, is now a member of the latter. He is a member of the Disciple Church, and, during his divers- ified business career, has shown sufficient sa- gacity to accumulate much property in land, and place it in permanent shape. JOHN COOK, G-alion ; was born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, Jan. 14, 1816. He is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Miller) Cook, both of whom were natives of Germany, where they were married and resided until 1830, when they came to the United States. They stopped for four years in Franklin Co., Penn., after which they came to Crawford Co., Ohio, where they resided until their deaths. The father was a tailor, and after his arrival in Crawford Co., worked at his trade for a num- ber of years, although farming was his chief oc- cupation He bought thirty-seven acres of land, and began to work hard and economize. ;f^ '1^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: He had a family of four children, two of whom are yet living. The father died in 1835, and the mother in 1858. Both were good neigh- bors and citizens. After the family came to Ohio, John worked on a farm for some time, and afterward learned the plasterer's trade, serving an apprenticeship of two years. He plastered in Bucyrus and adjoining towns for several years, working hard and making con- siderable money. By hard work and a judi- cious expenditure of his savings, he finally be- came the owner of 340 acres of fine land. This fine farm was afterward parceled out to his children, until he owns but ninet}'-one acres at present. His wife was Miss Sarah Deebler, to whom he was married in 1839. This lady was born in Pennsylvania, in 1819, and bore her husband ten children, five sons and five daugh- ters. Of these, four sons and four daughters are yet living, as follows : Henry, Isaac, G-eorge W., John L., Elizabeth, Christina, Amanda and Sarah J.; those deceased are Mary A. and Samuel. Mr. Cook is a prominent Democrat, and is a member of the German Reformed Church. He is a well known and influential cit- izen, and is highlj' respected in his neighbor- hood. E. G. CHAMBERS ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; he was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland, June 4, 1819, and is the son of Edward Chambers, also a native of the Emerald Isle, and a carpenter by trade. The father died in Ireland, in 1823, and the mother soon followed him. Ten years after- ward, Jlr. Chambers, then an orphan of 14 years, came to the United States, landing in the city of New York, where he began working on the Dela- ware & Raritan Canal, remaining there four months. He was the onlj- one that could read in his party of workmen, and was employed by the company to conduct the men from New Jersey to Dedham, Mass., to work on the Boston & Providence R. R. He remained with the com- pany fifteen months, and, after working on a farm about eight months longer, he came to Bucyrus, Ohio. He stopped three years with his uncle, Charles Chambers, who had come to Ohio a number of j^ears before. He learned the carpenter's trade, and, after working at it a few 3'ears, married Miss Elizabeth Henderson, a native of Pittsburgh, Penn. His children are William H., Charles C, Rachel J., Celestia E., Lucy E., Edward F. and James W. There has been no death in this family. After his marriage, he attended Oberlin College, gradu- ating there in 1848. He taught school in Bu- cyrus six months, and then took charge of the union schools of Groveport, Ohio, remaining there three years. He then began devoting his time in endeavoring to secure the passage-of a bill in Congress to establish a stage and tele- graph line between the Missouri River and the Pacific Coast. Although the project failed at the time, yet" the wisdom of having overland communication with the " South Sea " was soon demonstrated, and the " Pony Express " was established. In 1856-57, Mr. Chambers was paymaster at Bucyrus for the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R., after which he farmed until 1861. He went to Washington, D. C, two days after Lin- coln's first inauguration, and secured the posi- tiim of Clerk of the Committee on Territories, of which Mr. Wade was Chairman. At the called session of Congress, shortly after Lin- coln's inauguration, he was appointed Secretary of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, Mr. Wade being Chairman of this com- mittee also. After the dissolution of the com- mittee, he was employed bj' the Secretary of the Senate to prepare an alphabetical list of private claims made to the United States Sen- ate. He superintended the construction of the harbor at Frankfort, 3Iich., remaining there two years. He returned to Bucyrus in 1867, and has remained on his farm the most of the time since. While in Washington, D. C, in 1865, he assisted in giving Hon. James A. Gar- field the Royal Arch Degree in Masonry, and the attention of that gentleman's biographers is respectfully called to this fact. Mr. Cham- bers is the Secretary of the Crawford County Agricultural Society, and has been Secretary of the Crawford County Mutual Insurance Com- panjr. He is eminently a self-made man ; is a Republican ; owns 240 acres of land in Craw- ford Co., and 3,000 in Benzie Co., Mich. JOHN DEEBLER, farmer P. 0.; Bucyrus. This gentleman was born in Union Co., Penn., on Nov. 25, 1816, and is the son of John G. and Mary M. (Wise) Deebler, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were raised, married and resided, until 1828, when they came to Crawford Co. They came over the mountains in a three-horse wagon, in com- pany with two other families, all of whom set^ tied near the center of Whetstone Township. Mr. Deebler entered the land now owned by ;f^ J^ WHETSTONE TOWJSTSHIP. his son, and it took all his money to do so. He was a carpenter by trade, which he worked at in connection with farming. Many of the houses in the township were built by him, some of which are yet standing monuments to his skill and industry. Both parents are now dead. The subject of this sketch worked for his father upon the farm, until he had reached his majority, after which he took charge of the place, his parents remaining with him until their death occurred. He was united in mar- riage with Magdalena Heinlen on Aug. 20, 1843. She was born in Pickawaj' Co., Ohio, on June 20, 1822. There were born by this union eight children, five of whom are yet liv- ing — Sarah R., Anna E., Rebecca L., John L., and Amanda S. The names of those who died were — Mary JL, George and Samuel. Mr. Dee- bler owns 285 acres of land, upon wliich are good substantial farm buildings. The greater portion of this property he has accumulated bj' his own exertions. He has held a number of positions of honor and trust in this township, and is respected by all who know him. Politi- cally he is a Democrat, though liberal in his views of men and things. PETER EBY, North Robinson ; was born in Perry Co., Ohio, May 21, 1811. His parents, John and Eve (Bixler) Eby, were both natives of the "Keystone" State, where they were mar- ried, and resided until 1804, when they removed to Fairfield Co., Ohio, remaining there until the fall of the same year, when they removed to Perry Co., where tliey passed the remainder of their lives. The father died in 1830, and the mother six years later. They were the parents of twelve children, only three of whom are yet living. Peter Eb}' passed his youth and early manhood, assisting his father upon the farm. He received such education as the schools of that early day afforded, and when about 20 years of age began for himself He was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Guisinger Oct. 9, 1831. She was born in Pennsylvania, in 1809, and died Feb. 16, 1842. Mr. Eby married for his second wife Miss Matilda Guisinger, a native of Perry Co., Ohio, where she was born April 12, 1822. Five chil- dren were born of the first marriage — George S., Elias v., Sarah, Matilda and Joseph P. Six were born of the second — Jacob H., Barbara, John, Emma, Lincoln and Viola J. In 1837. Mr. Eby came to this county, which he has since made his home. He has for many years been a member of the United Brethren Church, and has done a great deal to elevate the stand- ard of morality in the community in which he lives. He began life as a poor boy, and has obtained his nicely improved farm of 100 acres by his own exertions. In politics he is a Re- publican. There are few men in the county, better or more favorably known than Mr. Eby, and, had the county more such men, it would be much better off. PHILLIP BBERT; P. 0. Bucyrus. This gentleman was born in York Co., Penn., March 12, 1812 ; he is the son of Daniel and Susan (Ernst) Ebert, both natives of the " Keystone State," and the parents of four children, three of whom are yet living. This family of Eberts are descended from a man by that name who came from German}"^ to York Co., Penn., in 1741. Daniel Ebert was a miller by trade, a business he followed in his native State until 1855, when he made a trip to Baltimore to col- lect some money due him. From that time to the present, he has never been heard of by his family or friends. It is supposed be was mur- dered for his money either in Baltimore or on his way home. Phillip Ebert, up to the time he was 15 years of age, had received but a common-school education. He then attended the York Academy some time, after which he studied Greek and Latin for a year or more, under a private instructor. In the spring of 1831, he entered the office of Dr. Jameson, of York, with whom he remained about three years. He graduated from the Washington Medical College, of Baltimore, in March of 1834. He began practicing at Duncannon, a town sixteen miles west of Harrisburg, Penn. He remained here actively engaged in his profession twenty-five years. He was a very successful practitioner, and by economy accumulated considerable property. He came to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1864, and purchased a farm of 200 acres, and has since devoted his time to the improvement of his farm. He has held, during his life-time, many positions of honor and trust. He was, for a number of years, Associate Judge of Perry Co., Penn. He was united in marriage with Miss Letitia Mitchell, April 15, 1835 ; she was born in Bucks Co., Penn., Feb. 21, 1817. From this union are ten children — Susan C, Edgar E., Martin L., Charles M., Miriam A., Henry S., Horace M., ^F t) Vy " li:^ 890 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Newton E. and Letitia L., living ; George D., deceased. Dr. Ebert is a Democrat, a consist- ent member of the Lutheran Church, and a self-made man in the fullest sense of the word. SAMUEL PONSBR, Bucyrus. Prominent among the younger men of Whetstone Town- ship is Mr. Fonser. His parents, George and Susan (Nelson) Fonser, were among the first to settle in central Whetstone, although both came to the county previous to their marriage. The father was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and the mother of Pennsylvania. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and worked at his trade and on his farm after his marriage. He died in 1868. The wife married a Mr. Rudolph, and now resides in Bucyrus. Samuel Fonser was brought up on a farm, receiving a good common-school education. He was married to Miss Catharine Hagar in 1872. She was born in German}' in 1850. They have two children — John J. and Anna E. Mr. Fonser is a Demo- crat, a member of the German Reformed Church, and is an intelligent Christian gentleman. He owns 160 acres of well-improved land, upon which are good farm buildings. MRS. RACHEL GIBLER, Gallon. This lady was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Aug. 22, 1837. She is the daughter of John and Sarah (Kieflfer) Sherer, prominent mention of whom is made in another part of this work. Our sub- ject was married to Mr. Adam Gibler in 1859. He was a native of Carroll Co., Ohio, and came from there, when a young man, to Crawford Co., where he became acquainted with the lady who afterward became his wife. He was a hard-working man, loved by his family and universally respected by all who knew him. He departed this life in 1871. Since Mr. Gibler's death, his wife has remained upon the farm, and attended to its cultivation and improve- ment. She takes an interest in all educational enterprises, and has managed to give her chil- dren superior advantages for obtaining more than an ordinary education. She is the mother of six children, four of whom are now living — Mary E., Isaac E., Sarah B. and John W. ; those deceased were named Ollie E. and Samuel M. Mrs. Gibler owns 127 acres of land, all of which is under a good state of cultivation. She is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, and an influential and much respected lady. JOHN GIBSON ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; this gen- tleman is of Scotch-Irish descent, his birth occurring in Pennsylvania Jan. 8, 1812. He is the eldest of a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters born to George A. and Hannah (Buchanan) Gibson, both na- tives of the above State. The family resided in Pensylvania until 1838, when they left the old home and came to the new one in Crawford Co., Ohio, where the father died in 1848. Shortly after this, the widow moved with her family to Wj^andot County, where she likewise died in 1872*. In 1835, Mr. Gibson, then a young man 23 years of age, came to Crawford County. He had previously traveled over sev- eral States, viewing the country ; but, liking Crawford County, he purchased 80 acres of school land upon which he yet resides. On the 15th of April, 1837, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Matthews, who bore him one child, Martha. Mrs. Gibson died Sept. 22, 1838, and on the 15th of April, 1841, Mr. Gib- son married his second wife, Miss Mary A. Kerr. This lady was born in Franklin Co., Penn., March 4, 1822, and has borne her husband eleven children, ten of whom are living — Mar- garet A., Hannah B., Andrew H., George B., James McG., Emma A., John E., Charley B., Delia J. and Leafe L., living; and Mary B., de- ceased. Mary A. Gibson is the daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Campbell) Kerr, natives of Franklin Co., Penn., who came to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1826, entering a small piece of land and sufiering all the hardships of pioneer life. They were among the earliest settlers in the county, and are closely identified with its history. Mr. Kerr died in 1880, aged 85 years, and his wife yet survives him at the advanced age of 88 years, being one of the oldest living settlers in the county. Mr. Gibson owns 150 acres of land, and is one of the most prominent citizens in the county, engaging actively in educational enterprises, and in all movements to insure the prosperity and happiness of the human race. He has always found a warm assistant and sympathizer in his good wife, whose womanly heart never tires of well-doing. Mr. Gibson is one of the few Republicans in the county. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. SAMUEL G. HBVERLY ; P. 0. New Win- chester. Mr. Heverly was born July 21, 1845, in Whetstone Township, Crawford Co. He is one of a family of seven children born to John L. and Christina (Miller) Heverly, ~ ja _9 ^ WIIKTSTONE TOWNSHIP. 893 who came from Pennsylvania to Crawford Co., Ohio, about the year 1840. Both parents were natives of Wurtemberg, Germanj', but were married in Pennsylvania Jan. 29, 1828, where they resided until their removal to Crawford County. The father was a weaver, and for years after he came to Ohio was employed during the winter months working at his trade. He died Aug. 14, 1873, followed by his wife, Jul}' 10, 1878. Samuel 6. was reared upon his father's farm, receiving a common-school edu- cation. He was united in marriage with Miss Olive A. Miller, Nov. 4, 1869. She was born May 26, 1847, in Marion, Ohio. They are the parents of four children — Edward H., Rosa D., John H. and Orrie Gr. Mr. Heverly is a stal- wart Republican, and a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Ciiurch. He owns 120 acres of well-improved land, is one of the prominent and influential agriculturists of Crawford Co. HENRY HARRIGER, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; is one of the most intelligent and influ- ential men in Whetstone Township. He was brought up on a farm, and when 21 was given charge of the place, which he improved, and which soon repaid him with a goodly share of this world's goods. His birth occurred on the 30th day of August, 1832, in Crawford Co., Ohio, and his parents were Henry and Catha- rine (Greenhoe) Harriger. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and when a young man went to Stark Co., Ohio, where he married, and lived until 1823, when he came to Crawford Co. and purchased the farm upon which the subject of this sketch lives at present. The father had really entered the land (160 acres) in 1822, but had immediately returned to Penn- sj'lvania, from whence, after remaining a few months, he went to Stark Co., selected and mar- ried his wife, and flnallj'- settled on his farm in Whetstone Township, in 1823. This man was a soldier in the war of 1812, and fought with distinction against the tyranny of Great Britain, and was one of the men who lived to see that struggle terminate in favor of the United States. He became a useful and intelligent citizen in the township, one whom his neighbors delighted to honor, and one whose integrity and honor were unquestioned. His trade was shoe- making, which was followed in connection with the cultivation of the soil, for a number of years. Himself and wife were given a family of nine children, four of whom are yet living. The father died in 1878, and the mother in 1862. Henry Harriger was married to Sarah E. Robison May 12, 1861 ; this lady was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, her birth occurring March 20, 1841 ; she bore her husband a family of six children, as follows : Katie A., DimmaE., Lor- etta, James F., Laura B. and Janetta. Henry and his brother Mike live upon the old farm of 120 acres, in which both have an interest. The brothers are good, thrifty farmers, who en- deavor to conduct their farm after the plans which experience has shown to be the best and most profitable. They are industrious, but do not ostentatiously parade their industry ; on the contrary, being sober and quiet, swerving neither to the right nor to the left, for fear or favor. It can be truthfuUy said that Whet- stone has no more useful citizens than Henry and Mike Harriger. JOHN HBINLEN, butcher, Bucj-rus ; is the son of Lewis and Rachel Heinlen. He was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, on July 29, 1829, and remained a resident of his birth-place until the age of 2 years, when his parents re- moved to Crawford Co. and settled in Whet- stone Township. There young Heinlen grew to man's estate, and received such advantages in schooling as the newness afltorded. At the age of 20 years, he began working at the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed for three years, and then gave it up and turned his attention to farming. He was probably induced to make this change through the gift of 50 acres of land from his father, which was situated in Bucyrus Township. This he afterward sold, and then bought a number of acres in Whetstone, where he resided for two years, and then sold out and removed to Marion Co., where he resided near the town of Three Locusts for twelve years. In 1867, he again became a resident of Crawford Co. and Whetstone Township. In two years, however, he again returned to Marion Co., but, in a couple of years, he again came to the old township of Whetstone, where he now owns a finely-improved farm of 200 acres, and where he still resides. In 1878, he rented the meat- market of J. R. Miller, of Bucyrus, where Mr. Heinlen is now doing business, though he still runs his farm. July 6, 1851, he was married to Miss Eliza Winters, of Winchester, Crawford Co. They have seven children living, named as follows : Andrew J., Henry S., Amanda, Lavina L., James, William and Charles ; those deceased ;\^ tiL 894 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: were Samuel and Mary. Mr. Heinlen and his wife are both members of the M. E. Church and have, for many years, been classed among the honorable and reputable class of the community. SAMUEL P. HEINLEN, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; was born in Bucyrus Township, Craw- ford Co., Ohio, July 1, 1833. His father, J. Lewis Heinlen, was born in Wurtemberg, {Ger- many, April 9, 1799, and, when about 18 years of age, came with his parents to Lancaster Co., Penn., where they remained some two years, then removed to Franldin Co., same State. Here the family resided until 1828, when they removed to Crawford Co., Ohio. J. L. Heinlen, while residing in Franklin Co., Penn., was mar- ried to Miss Hannah Wise. She was born in Union Co., Penn., Dec. 10, 1809. From this marriage were eleven children, six of whom are yet living. J. L. Heinlen is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Crawford Co. His life has been one of great hardships. His parents had to borrow money from a fellow-pas- senger to pay their passage to the United States. Upon their arrival here, J. L. was bound out to • this man to cancel the debt. He worked three years for this man, and, although not receiving a cent for his labors at the end of that time, had a good suit of clothes and $7. He has been interested in nearly all the enterprises that have had a tendencj' to build up the community in which he lives, or benefit his fellow-man. Sam- uel F., the eldest of his eleven children, remained at home, assisting him on the farm until 22 years of age, at which time he began for him- self For a number of years, he and Emanuel Keis, a brother-in-law, ran a threshing machine. He purchased 90 acres of land in Marion Co., Ohio, upon which he lived some years, and then sold and bought an adjoining farm of 160 acres, where he resided until his removal to Crawford Co., in 1879. He now owns a nicely improved farm of 171 acres, in Whetstone Township. He was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Keis March 24, 1860. She was born in Ly- coming Co., Penn., May 6, 1840. From this marriage are three children — William H., Mar- garet A. and Sarah L. Mr. Heinlen is a Demo- crat in politics, and a member of the German Keformed Church. He has held a number of oflBces in the townships, in which he has lived, and is a respected and honored citizen. SAMUEL HEINLEN, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born in Whetstone Township, Craw- ford Co., Ohio, April 19, 1832. His parents, Lewis and Christina (Siger) Heinlen, came from Germany to the United States in 1817. The father was a single man at this time, but, after his arrival in Pennsylvania, married Miss Siger. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren, nine of whom are now living. The father was a tailor by trade, but, after his coming to the United States, he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed during his lifetime. He, with his family, came to Crawford Co., Ohio, previous to 1830, and were among the first settlers of Whetstone Township. He and wife were intelligent people, and much respect- ed by their friends and neighbors. Samuel was raised upon his father's farm. He had but limited advantages for obtaining an education, as the schools were scarce, and his services were needed upon the farm. When 21 years of age, he began for himself with only a horse, which his father had given him. He possessed a great amount of energy, and it was not long until he owned 40 acres of land. He has kept buying and trading until he now owns 130 acres of well-improved land. He was married to Miss Margaret Keis Feb. 11, 1857. She was born in Pennsylvania Feb. 3, 1834. From this union there are five children — ^William A., Lewis F., Keuben E., Mary E. and Edward C. Mr. Heinlen is one of the prominent Demo- crats and successful farmers of Crawford Co. He and his wife are consistent members of the Evangelical Church, and have given their chil- dren superior advantages for obtaining educa- tions. JACOB KIESS ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., in 1811. He is the son of Christopher and Christina (Sheets) Kiess, both of whom were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, where the}' were married, and resid- ed until 1806, when thej' emigrated to the United States, locating in Lycoming Co., Penn., w.here they passed the remainder of their days. Jacob lived at home until he was 26 years of age. About this time, he purchased 100 acres of land in his native county, and began the im- provement of it. He was married to Miss Catharine Rott in 1837. She was born in Ly- coming Co., Penn., in 1811, and died there Dec. 12, 1840. The fruits of this union were two children — Lydia and Jonathan. Mr. Kiess married his present wife, Catharine Daker, in 1844. She was born May 12, 1816. From t ^ d4^ WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. 895 this union there are seven children — Simeon, Christina, Daniel, Joseph, Samuel, Margaret and William. Mr. Kiess came to Crawford Co. in 1851. He owns 395 acres of well-improved land, which he has obtained hy his own exer- tions. He is a Democrat ; a member of the Evangelical Church, and a much respected and honored citizen. REV. JOSEPH KESTEE, Bueyrus ; was born Nov. 1, 1829, in Whetstone Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. His parents, Jacob and Saloma (Wize) Kester, removed from Union Co., Penn., their native State, to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1828, and entering 80 acres of land near the center of Whetstone Township. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are yet living. The father was an educated man, and held, during his lifetime, many re- sponsible positions in Crawford Co. He de- parted this life Aug. 2, 1878. His wife died Oct. 5, 1866. Joseph Kester received the ad- vantages of a common-school education, and remained upon his father's farm until about 24 years of age. He was united in marriage with Miss Sevilla Shroll Jan. 20, 1853. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, March 30, 1829, and is the daughter of Abraham Shroll, one of the first settlers of Crawford Co. 3Ir. Kester was, for a number of years, actively engaged in polities, and was elected to numerous posi- tions of honor and trust, always faithfully serv- ing his constituents. In 1866, he moved to Marion Co., where he remained until 1877, when he removed to Wayne Co., and from there to his native county in 1879. Since 1866, he has been a minister of the German Keformed Church. He is a man of much more than or- dinary ability, and his services are highly ap- preciated wherever he labors. He is a Demo- crat, though conservative in his views. He owns 80 acres of land in Marion Co., Ohio, and 240 acres in Wright Co., Iowa. In his family were nine children, eight of whom are now living — Henry J., Joseph E., Nancy J., Eliza A., Sarah S., Elizabeth, Lydia M. and Mary M. The deceased was named John A. Crawford Co. has no better citizen than Mr. Kester. J. G. KELLY, Bueyrus. This gentleman was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Feb. 25, 1832. He is the son of Samuel and Lj^dia (Marshall) Kelly, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania, where they were married, and resided until 1826, when they removed to Columbiana Co., Ohio, where they remained until 1835, and then came to Crawford Co., locating in the southern part of Whetstone Township. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom are yet living. The father was an exemplary Christian gentleman, and helped to organize the first Baptist societj- in the township. He died in 1862. His wife survives him, and is a resident of the township. J. G. was raised upon his father's farm, receiving a common- school education. In 1854, he went, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, to the then newly dis- covered gold-fields of California. He remained on the Pacific Slope six years, and was en- gaged in mining, teaming, etc., etc. After his return to Ohio, he engaged in farming, a bus- iness he has since followed. He was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Campbell in 1861. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1829. From this union there are five children, viz., Ida B., George B. and Mary M., living ; Imas and Mary B., deceased. Mr. Kelly began life j as a poor boy, and is, in the strictest sense of the word, a self-made man. He owns a nicely improved farm of 256 acres in the township, and is one of the leading and successful agri- culturists of Crawford Co. He is a -stanch Ptepublican in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church. SAMUEL KIBFFER ; P. 0. Bueyrus. Among the old settlers of Whetstone Township is Mr. Kiefler. He was born in Somerset Co., Penn., May 8, 1807. His father, Adam Kieflfer, came with his parents from Germany to America previous to the Revolutionary war. They re- sided near the site of Valley Forge, Penn., dur- ing that war. Adam Kiefler was married in Somerset Co., Penn., to Miss Susanna Rhodes, and remained in that county until 1812, when he removed to Stark Co., Ohio. In 1825, he came to Crawford Co. and settled on the farm now owned by his son Samuel, who, when 21 years of age, began for himself His father gave him 30 acres of land, which he improved, sold, and then purchased a portion of the farm he now owns. Ho was married to Miss Catha- rine Jones Nov. 11, 1830 ; she was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Jan. 12,1811. From this union there were nine children, four of whom are now living — George W., Rebecca, Letta and John ; the deceased were named Franklin, Milon, Samuel, Sarah and an infant son. Mrs. KieflTer departed this life June 24, 1877. Mr. 9 IV 9 > 896 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: KieflFer was united in marriage to Mrs. Mar- garet Williams Sept. 5, 1878. Mr. Kieffer at one time owned over 600 acres of land, but he has given liberally to his children and to char- ity. He now owns 200 acres of well-improved land. He is a Republican, and a consistent Christian. MARTIN KEHRER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus. This gentleman is a native of Lycoming Co., Penn, where he was born on the 6th of April, 1813. He is the son of John and Margaret (Sherer) Kehrer, who came from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1805, where they resided until 1834, when they came to Crawford Co., Ohio, and located on the farm now owned by Jacob Hurr. ;Many years before coming to Ohio, in 1819, the mother died in Pennsylvania. The son, Martin, had come to Crawford Co., how- ever, in 1833, in search of a home, but had soon returned to his native State, and, the following year, the father came with his son to the new home in the West. In the year 1838, Martin returned to Pennsylvania, and, while there, was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Bruck- lacher, the lady being a native of Pennsylva- nia ; the young couple immediately went West, to Crawford Co., Ohio, to the home Martin had selected. Here they have since resided, labor- ing and economizing, endeavoring to surround themselves with comforts for their declining days. Mr. Kehrer and lady have two children — Daniel and Catharine by name — both of whom are married and living on the home farm. Mr. Kehrer has passed his life on a farm, and is thoroughly conversant with aU the de- tails of farm management. He has often held positions of trust in the township, and is one of Whetstone's best citizens. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and owns 212 acres of fine land. He made his son the handsome present of 80 acres of land. There were seven children in the elder Kehrer's family, four of whom are yet living. The father died about seventeen years after coming to the State. The members of the family are moral and upright, and make good citizens. JAMES KERR, farmer and wool-grower ; P. 0. Bucyrus. Among those citizens of Craw- ford Co., who have, by their own exertions and upright conduct, become a part and parcel of the county, none are more worthy of mention than Mr. Kerr. He is a native of Knox Co., Ohio, where he was born Feb. 18, 1818. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Arbuckle) Kerr, came from Pennsylvania to Knox Co., at a very earlj- day. It was here that the subject of this sketch passed his life until 17 years of age. He then left his home in Knox Co., and traveled on foot to Crawford Co., where he began working for an elder brother, who had come to the county some j-ears previously. He remained with his brother some three years, and then be- gan farming^for himself. He was married to Miss Naucj' Towers Nov. 5, 1840. She was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1820. From this union were three children— Susan and George T., living, and James F., deceased. Jlr. Kerr now owns 675 acres of land in Craw- ford and Marion Cos. He has given liberally to his children, who are married, and reside in the countj". He has been extensively engaged in the sheep trade, and is known throughout the county as one of the most successful wool- growers within its limits. He is a Republican, and a member of the Disciples' Church. NANCY KERR, whose portrait and that of her husband, James Kerr, appear in this work, is the daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Sylivant) Towers, both of whom were natives of Mary- land, from where they moved to Pickaway Co., Ohio, in an early day. The former was a sol- dier in the war of 1812. They were both, for many years previous to their death, consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their occupation was farming. From Pickaway Co. they removed to Crawford Co., where they resided until their death. Mrs. Kerr is a na- tive of Pickaway Co., where she was bom, Jan. 14. 1820. She was one of a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Owing to the straitened circumstances of her parents, and the newness of the country, she never had the opportunity of acquiring an education such as by her own efforts, in connection with her husband, they have been able to give their chil- dren. She bore bravely the struggles, hard- ships and privations of pioneer life, and, during their long 3'ears of married life, she has worked with an energy equal to that of her husband, in the amassing of their large fortune. For many years they have been active and faithful mem- bers of the Disciples' Church, located in Bucy- rus, an organization that owes its present pros- perous condition to their work and liberality. In the building of the church, Mr. Kerr gave S2,100, and afterward donated $2,000 to the ^; ;^ M e _S) k^ WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. 897 support of it. Their home is about seven miles south of Bucyrus, in Whetstone Township, where the};^ reside in peace and happiness, en- joying the fruits of their early industry and labors. WILLIAM LOWMILLER, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. 0. Bucj'rus ; is a native of Snyder Co., Penn., where he was born May 19, 1840. He is the son of Adam and Catharine (Baker) Lowmiller, both of whom were natives of Penn- sylvania, and who became the parents of eight children, six of whom are yet living. The par- ents are yet living in Pennsylvania. The father was a weaver by trade, an occupation he followed a large portion of his time, and was one of the county's most industrious citizens. William passed his youth in the Keystone State, but when 19 years of age came to Bucy- rus, Ohio, and served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for a number of years. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Kester, on the 6th of April, 1865. She was born in Whetstone Township June 29, 1838, and bore her husband four chil- dren, as follows : Edward C., Jeremiah A., Ellen M. and Ida E. After his marriage he lived a number of years with his father-in-law. When he first came to the State he had but $9, and has made his farm of 85 acres by a close adher- ence to business, this land being a part of the old Kester farm, first settled in 1828. 3Ir. Lowmiller takes pride in raising good stock, and in improving the different varieties. He is a Democrat, and a member of the German Re- formed Church, and is one of Whetstone's most industrious citizens. SAMUEL LUDWI&, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; of those who have for a great many years been identified with the best interests of Craw- ford County, none is more worthy of mention than Mr. Ludwig. In 1829, he came with his parents from Berks Co., Penn., to Crawford County. He was born May 26, 1813, and from early boyhood had to work earlj' and late to assist in caring for the large family of which he was one. He married Miss Scotia Littler, a native of Hardy Co., Va. Prom this union were five children, two of whom are yet living. Soon after his marriage he went to live in Seneca County, where he remained twelve years and then removed to Sandusky County, and from there after a stay of two years to Craw- ford County, and purchased the old Littler farm. upon which he resided some years, and then purchased the McCee farm. He now owns the farm settled by his father in 1829, besides valuable property in Bucyrus. His home farm of 260 acres adjoining the city of Bucyrus, is one of the most valuable in the county. About 70 acres of this farm are underlain with as ex- cellent sand as can be found in the State. On the farm are also quarries of the best quality of limestone. Mr. Ludwig has dealt largely in live-stock, especially in sheep, and at one time during the late war he owned a flock of 6,000. His wife died on Sept. 21, 1878, since which his son C. T. has resided with him. This son was a soldier in the war of the rebellion in Co. E, 86th O. V. I. Both Mr. Ludwig and his son are stalwart Republicans, and among the most intelligent, public-spirited men of the county. ELIAS LAVELY, Buc3'rus ; was born in Frederick Co., Md., Nov. 29, 1823. His parents, John and Anna (Gorsuch) Lavely, were also natives of that State and the parents of nine children. They removed to Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1825. Their object in coming to Ohio was to remove their family from the evil influences of slavery in their native State. The father was a strong pro-slavery man, and a prominent " stock-holder " in the " underground railroad." He was a man who took an active and leading part in all the religious and educational enter- prises in the community in which he lived. Elias Lavely remained at home until his mar- riage with Miss Sarah Gorsuch, April 6, 1848. He received such education as the schools of that early day aflforded. In 1853, he came to Crawford Co., Ohio, and purchased a partly improved farm of 240 acres. He has since resided upon this farm, each year making some improvements, until it is now one of the best improved farms in the county. He has never aspired to any political prominence, but has devoted his time and energy to the improve- ment of his farm. There is not a more practi- cal and successful farmer in Crawford Co. than Sir. Lavely. He is the father of eleven chil- dren — Mai-y E., Alice B., Flora A., John E., Ida J., Charles L., Henry E. and Sarah E. living — Milton, George W. and Jesse G., de- ceased. Politically, he is a Republican. WILLIAM MODERWELL, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. North Robinson ; belongs to a family that is one of the oldest and most 9 ^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ^i\ widely known in the countj. They have offl- ciated in various township and county offices, always with honor to themselves. The}' came to the county in about 1824, and have been Whigs and Republicans from the first. The subject of this memoir was born in Whetstone Township, Nov. 16, 1840, and is the son of James W. and Mary (Peterman) Moderwell, both of whom were natives of the Keystone State. The}' were married in Crawford Co. The father lives in Indiana, and his son. Will- iam, lives on the farm first owned bj- ^Mr. Howard and afterward by William Rowse. His brothers and sisters were six in number, and his brother J. Q. enlisted in the late war, in the 123d 0. V. I., in which he served some two j'ears with signal bravery. Mr. Moder- well's wife was Miss Mahala J. Beck, the mar- riage occurring Nov, 17, 1864. This lady was born in Jackson Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1844. To his union was born a fami- ly of five children, four of whom are yet living — Laura B., William P., Ellen A. F., and Rob- ert, and Isaac W. deceased. The father, James W. Moderwell, was a carpenter by trade, which occupation was followed for a number of years. For the past thirty 3'ears he has been exten- sivelj' engaged in dealing in live-stock, of which he is a reliable and accurate judge. William and J. Q. Moderwell and Edward R. Faulkner, during the winter of 1875-76, pur- chased and shipped from North Robinson and Crestline over 8100,000 worth of live stock. Both before and since that date they have dealt extensively in the same business, and are among the best stock judges in the county. They are prominent farmers and influential CHARLES MYERS, Gallon ; was born in Whetstone Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, May 17, 1840. He is the sou of Nicholas and Saloma (Mauerer) ^Ij'ers, both of whom were natives of Baden, German}', where they mar- ried and lived until 1817. They then emigrated to the United States, and located in Northum- berland Co., Penn., remaining there until 1830, when they removed to Crawford Co., Ohio, en- tering 100 acres of land near the center of Whetstone Township. By economy and hard work they managed to acquire considerable property. " The father died July 10, 1869, and the mother, Feb. 6, 1873. They were the par- ents of ten children and seven of them are vet living. Charles' early years, until he was 17 years of age, were passed on his father's farm, but, after reaching that age, and until he.was 22, he worked by the month for neighboring farm- ers, saving considerable money in the mean- time. On the 31st of December, 1861, he was married to Miss Catharine Beach. This lady was born in Whetstone Township, Feb. 16, 1^40. and bore her husband seven children, as follows : Isaac I., Elizabeth E., Samuel H., Laura L., Washington W., Mary il. and George E. Mr. flyers has, by his exemplary conduct and sterling integrity, won the confidence of his fellow-citizens, and has been honored with A-arious positions of responsibility, among which may be mentioned those of Trustee, As- sessor, Land Appraiser, Justice of the Peace, and has served for six years in the prominent position of County Commissioner. He owns 181 acres of land, upon which are comfortable and commodious buildings. He is an influen- tial Democrat, and also a member of the Ger- man Lutheran Church. For the last two years he has been shipping considerable live stock. It is scarcely necessary to mention that he is one of the most prominent citizens in the county. JOSEPH S. PARCHER, Bucyrus ; was born Oct. 5. 1838, in Crawford Co.. Ohio. He is one of a family of eight children born to Samuel and Sarah (3Ierriss) Parcher, the former a na- tive of the ■■Green Mountain State," and the latter of the " Empire State." The father, when a young man, left his native State and came to Lake Co., Ohio, where he remained un- til 1820. when he, in the employ of the Bacons, as teamster, came with them to Crawford Co. The mother came to Crawford Co. soon after this, and some years later was married to Mr. Parcher. They for many years endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life, and be- came well and favorably known to the people of the county. They accumulated considerable propert}-, of which they give liberally to the poor, and to all enterprises that had a tendency to build up the community in which they lived, or benefit and better the condition of mankind. Samuel Parcher departed this life in 1845 ; his wife survives him and is residing upon the farm purchased by them soon after their mar- riage. Joseph S. was raised upon a farm, re- ceiving a good common-school education. He was united in man-iage with Miss Margaret ;f^ t\iL WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. 899 Traxler Nov. 27, 1877. She was born in Bucy- rus Township in 1859. From this union there are two children — Flossie D. and Diana V. Mr. Parcher owns 148 acres of well-improved land. He is an uncompromising Republican in poli- tics, but liberal in his views regarding men and things. BENJAMIN PHILLIPS, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus. This gentleman is the son of Henry and Christina (Winters) Phillips, and was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., on the 8th of June, 1819. His parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married, and resided until 1832, when they came to Crawford Co., Ohio. Here they resided until their deaths. They were the parents of six children, two of whom are yet living. The father was a success- ful and prominent farmer, an occupation he followed during life. His death occurred in 1851, his wife following him in 1860. They were consistent Christian people, and were uni- versall}' respected. Benjamin passed his early •years on a farm, and, after the removal of the family to Ohio, where he had attained his ma- jority, he had charge of his father's farm. In 1845, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Null, who was a native of Northumber- land Co., Penn., where she was born in 1820. Four children have been born to this union — Rebecca J., Henry, Benjamin P. and Samuel. Mr. Phillips owns 80 acres of excellent land, all of which is under cultivation. He is a promi- nent Democrat, and himself and family are members of the Lutheran Church. The mem- bers of the family have been among the most industrious citizens in Whetstone Township. The sons at present own and operate a steam thresher, and they have the reputation of being among the most experienced managers of those machines in Crawford Co. The family is well known and highly respected. J. G. RAISER, farmer and tailor ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus. This gentleman was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, June 13, 1827. He is one of a family of five children of Jacob and Barbara (Hoch) Raiser, both natives^ of Wurtemberg. The father was a finely educated man, his voca- tion in life being that of a farmer and cooper. He died in 1866, and his wife in 1865. Our subject is the only one of the children now living. His youth was passed attending the schools of his native country. When 14, he began the trade of a tailor, serving an appren- ticeship of three years, after which he worked as a journeyman until 24 years of age. During this time, he often was head workman, and had the overseeing of a large number of employes. At 24 j'ears of age, he began business for him- self in his native country, where he remained until he came to the United States. He came almost directly to Bucyrus, Ohio, having at the time not a penny in his pocket, and being in debt to a fellow-passenger to the amount of $30. He soon secured work at his trade in Bucyrus, with a Mr. Failor, at $18 per month. He re- mained with this man until he failed, and then began in a small way to do business for himself In four years after commencing for himself, he had, by hard work and economy, saved sufficient means to erect a large and commodious three- story brick business building. He continued working at his trade until 1876, when he bought the " old Reed farm " of 81 acres in Whetstone Township, upon which he moved, and has since resided. He was married to Miss Harriet Bair, March 30, 1858. She was born in Bucj'rus, Ohio, May 31, 1839. From this union there are eleven children — Henry S., Charles W., George F., David R., Sarah C, Maria E., Anna E., Su- san F., Martha E. and Jacob A., and John E., twin brothers. Mr. Raiser came to this country a poor German boy, and has, by his upright conduct and straight business habits, attained an enviable position among the people of Craw- ford Co. He is a much-respected citizen. ISAAC STUMP, Bucyrus ; was born in Ly- coming Co., Penn., Jan. 6, 1834, and is one of a family of six children of Jacob and Mary (Kehrer) Stump, who were natives of Germany, from which country they came when yet chil- dren. They were married in Pennsylvania, and resided there until 1835, when they removed to Crawford Co., Ohio. They were hard-working, intelligent people, respected by all who knew them. The father died in 1855, and the mother in 1860. Isaac was raised upon a farm, receiv- ing the advantages of a common-school educa- tion. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Heinlen. May 3, 1860. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Oct. 14, 1837. They are the parents of six children, five of whom are yet living, viz., Esther, Sarah, Henry, Amanda and Amy. Mr. Stump has always followed farming, and is one of the most successful of that calling in the county. He owns 355 acres of well-improved land, the greater portion of 5 "V ^ ^ 900 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: which he has obtained by his own exertions. Politically, he is a Democrat, though liberal in his views. He is a member of the German Re- formed Church, and has held the office of Town- ship Trustee a number of terms. Crawford Co. is benefited .by having within her borders such men as Mr. Stump. DANIEL STUMP, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus. Among the successful farmers of Whetstone is the gentleman whose name heads this biogra- phy. He was born in Lj-coming Co., Penn., Sept. 7, 1833. When he was but 6 years of age, his parents, ^lartin and Barbara (Kehrer) Stump, removed from Pennsylvania to Crawford Co., Ohio. Both parents came, when children, from Germany to the United States, their parents lo- cating in Pennsylvania. The parents of our subject were intelligent, industrious people, and, by hard work and economy, obtained a goodly share of this world's goods. The mother died in 1855, and the father Dec. 8, 1879. Daniel has always remained upon the old homestead, and, after his majority, took charge of it. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Zimmerman, on Sept. 15, 1857. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1835. Her parents were among the early settlers of Whetstone Township. This union has been productive of six children, three of whom are yet living — Samuel, Louisa and Clara ; the deceased were named Sarah. Lydia and Joseph. Mr. Stump owns 160 acres of land, upon which are good buildings. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and of the Dem- ocratic party. He is a man loved and respected by all who know him. MICHAEL STOLTZ, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on July 9, 1809. His parents, David and Sophia Stoltz, came from that country with their family to the United States in 1817, and located in Lycoming Co., Penn. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are yet living. Michael was raised upon his father's farm in Pennsylvania, receiving such education as the common schools afforded. He was married to Miss Mary Kober, a native of Germany, in 1833. From this union there were nine chil- dren, two of whom, only, survived of this large family, David and George. The names of those deceased were — Sophia, William, Jacob, Mary, Samuel, Sophia and Caroline. Mrs. Stoltz died in 1850, and in 1851, Mr. Stoltz married Mrs. Mary Keltner, who was bom in Union Co., Penn., in 1810. Mr. Stoltz came to Crawford County in 1836. He began life as a poor boy, and is a self-made man, now owning 255 acres of well-improved land in Whetstone Township. He is a Democrat and a member of the German Lutheran Church. His son George lives with him, and David some two miles south in the same township. They are intelligent, in- dustrious people, and respected by all who know them. JACOB SHEREE, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus; was bom in Whetstone Township, Crawford Co., on Jan. 18, 1835. ' He is the son of Jacob and Christina (Gross) Sherer. a sketch of whom appears in the biography of Daniel Sherer in this work. Jacob Sherer was raised upon his father's farm, receiving a good common-school education. He, like his brother, has always re- sided upon the old home farm, and he now owns 319 acres of nicely improved land. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hurr Oct. 13, 1859. She was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., July 17, 1841. From this union five- children were born to them — Emanuel D., Sarah E., Emma C, John W. and Laura A. Mrs. Sherer died Dec. 27, 1875. Mr. Sherer was again married, to Miss Sarah Beal, on Dec. 17, 1878. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Oct. 21, 1856. Mr. Sherer is a Democrat, and has held a number of positions of honor and trust in the township in which he lives. SAMUEL SHOOK, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus; he is the eldest of a family of twelve children born to Valentine and Nancy Shook, the for- mer a native of Northumberland Co., Penn., and the latter of Hagerstown, Md. They were married in Stark Co., Ohio. In 1827, the fath- er entered the eighty-acre tract of land now belonging to Christopher Kiess, in this county, and, the following 5'ear, he left Stark Co. with an ox-team, two cows and six head of sheep for his possessions in Crawford Co. The fam- ily had to live in their wagon until a log cabin was built, which took some time, after which they got on quite well, as all were willing to work. The father had been an Ensign in a regiment under the command of Gen. Harri- son, during the war of 1812. After coming to this county, he followed carpentering in con- nection with farming. He died in 1843, and his wife some twentj' years afterward. Samuel Shook was bom in Stark Co., Ohio, March 15, 1815, and, from the time he was 8 years of age, (51 — -^—^ WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. 901 was kept almost constantly at work helping to care for the family, and, in these pinching times of want and necessity, he learned the salutary lessons of economy and industry which have marked his career through a long and eventful lifetime. He was married, Oct. 5, 1848, to Miss Margaret Christman, who was born Sept. 4, 1828, in Germany. Her parents, Adam and Elizabeth (Snyder) Christman, came from Germany to the United States in 1840. To Mr. and Mrs. Shook have been born five children — Francis L. and Sarah E. E. living ; Jefferson, John and JIary deceased. In poli- tics, Mr. Shook was at first a Whig, and later, when new issues gave rise to the Republican party, he took an advanced position with it in favor of the Union and equal rights. He owns 264 acres of land, and, beginning as he did, a poor boy, he has struggled up through his own efforts to a position of wealth and influence. He is eminentl3^ a self-made man, and may well be proud of his achievements. DAVID SCHRECK; P. 0. Gallon; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Aug. 22, 1829. He is the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Buf- fington) Schreck, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, where thej' were married, and resided until 1835, when they came to Craw- ford Co., Ohio, locating on the Annapolis road, a short distance from Bucjrus. They remained there some four j-ears, and then removed to Whetstone Township, which they made their home until their deaths. The mother died in 1868, and the father in 1872. The father was a soldier of the war of 1812. When he ar- rived with his familj' at Bucyrus, in 1835, he had but $4. He was an industrious man, how- ever, and, with the assistance of his good wife, who was a great weaver, and kept her loom go- ing early and late, managed to raise their large family in a very creditable manner. David's early life was passed upon his father's farm. He received such education as the schools of that early day afforded. He was married to Miss Belinda Sherer Oct. 19, 1851. She was born in Stark Co., Ohio, March 30, 1832. There have been eleven children born to them, nine of whom are now living — John A., Fran- cis M., George W., Sarah E., Sina B., Emanuel W., Ira E., Clara E. and Samuel I. The names of those deceased were Martha J. and Ida M. Mr. Schreck followed, for twenty-five years during the fall and winter months, threshing. He also, during that time, cleared with his own hands 60 acres of heavily timbered land. From boyhood to the present time, he has paid close attention to diseases of the horse. He uses only new and rational remedies, and is one of the most successful veterinary surgeons in Crawford Co. He owns 180 acres of well- improved land ; is a stanch Republican, and a member of the English Lutheran Church. ADAM SHERER ; P. O. Galion ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Sept. 7, 1812. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Singhaus) Sher- er, mention of whom is made in the biography of John Sherer, in this work. Adam was reared upon a farm, receiving but a limited ed- ucation. He was married to Miss Nancy Clem- ens in 1835 ; she was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1820, and died in 1850. She was the mother of seven children — William and Abraham, liv- ing ; Sarah, Clarine, Adam, Henry and John, deceased. Mr. Sherer was married to Hannah Clark in 1851 ; she was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1822. Four children were born of this union — Susan, living ; Elizabeth, Levi and James, deceased. Mr. Sherer came to Craw- ford Co. in 1837. He owns 162 acres of land, which he has made by his own exertions. His sons William and Henry were soldiers in the late war, in Co. B, 101st 0. V. I. ; Henry died at Bridgeport, Ala., in 1863. Mr. Sherer is a stanch Republican in politics, and a member of ths English Lutheran Church. He began life as a poor boy, and has, by close attention to business, obtained a goodly share of this world's goods. Himself and family are much- respected citizens. JOHN SHERER, farmer; P. 0. Galion. The parents of this gentleman, John and Eliz- abeth (Singhaus) Sherer, were both natives of the " Keystone State," where they were married and resided until 1813, when they came to Stark Co., Ohio. The wife died March 1, 1815, and Mr. Sherer was subsequently married to a Miss Kieffer. By his first marriage there were four children, and by the second, eleven. He died Sept. 30, 1871, and his wife Oct. 26, 1864. The father had been a soldier of the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison, and was for a num- ber of years, the captain of a company of mili- tia. He was an exemplary Christian gentle- man, and held, during his life-time, numerous positions of honor and trust. The subject of this brief sketch was born Feb. 22, 1809, in B \ .^ -^ 902 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Washington Co., Penn. His youth and early manhood were passed upon his father's farm, and his education consisted of such instruction as was given to the pupils of the common schools of that early day. Soon after reaching his majority, he came to Crawford Co., Ohio, which, with the exception of three years, he has since made his home. He was married, March 31, 1831, to Miss Sarah Kieffer, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1808. From this union there were eight children, five of whom are yet living — Belinda, Rebecca, Rachel, John K. and Francis BI. The names of those who died were Samuel, Michael and Adam. Michael and Adam well and faithfully served their country in the war of the rebellion, in Co. E, 1 1 st 0. V. I. Adam was killed at the battle of Stone River, and Michael died of typhoid fever at Edgefield Junction, Tenn. Mr. Sherer began as a poor hoj, and has been very successful in his business undertakings, and at one time owned over 800 acres of land in the county. He has given liberally to his children, and to all- enterprises that had a tendency to build up the community in which he lived, or benefit his fellow-man. He and wife are consistent mem- bers of the English Lutheran Church. He is a stanch Republican, and has held numerous po- sitions of honor and trust in his long and eventful lifetime. The world would be much better if it held more of such people as Mr. and Mrs. Sherer. SAMUEL SHERER, farmer; P.O.Bucyrus; was born March 3, 1828, in Lycoming Co., Penn. He is the son of Jacob and Christina (Gross) Sherer, both of whom were natives of Germany, from which country they came when yet children, with their parents, to Lycoming Co., Penn. Here they were married and re- sided until about 1833, when they came to Crawford Co., and settled on the farm now owned by George Kurtz, in Whetstone Town- ship. The mother died Dec. 1, 1870, and the father June 22, 1877. Samuel has always re- mained upon the old homestead. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Miss Magda- lena Heckenlively, who bore him two children — Catharine and Mary J. This lady died Jan. 3, 1860. Mr. Sherer's second wife was Miss Eliza- beth Haller ; she also bore him two children — Simeon and Matilda. This wife died April 5, 1872. Mr. Sherer owns 308 acres of well- improved land. He is a Democrat, and has held the ofHces of Township Trustee and Clerk. He is a man of broad and liberal views, always supporting men and measures, and not party. He has an intelligent family, and is looked up to and respected by all who know him. C. R. SHECKLER, physician ; P. 0. North Robinson. This gentleman attended the public schools of Bucyrus until the age of 15, when he began the study of medicine in the same town, in the office of Dr. Cuykendali, under whose instruction he completed his medical education in about three years, after which he attended the Columbus Medical College, at the capital of the State, at which institution he graduated during the spring of 1876. Soon after his gi-aduation, he began the practice of his profession in the village of North Robinson, where he has since remained, with a rapidly in- creasing business practice. He was bom in the county seat March 7, 1855, and is the son of E. F. and A. G. (Shawk) Sheckler, both natives of Pennsylvania, from which State they emigrated to Bucyrus at quite an early day. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Kate Bogan April 15, 1880 ; she was born in Whetstone Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, in January, 1862. Dr. Sheckler is also engaged in the drug business in the village, and has quite a flourishing trade, which is on the in- crease. He is a member of the Democratic party. ISAAC SNYDER ; P. 0. New Winchester ; was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 27, 1831. His parents were George and Mar- garet (Null) Snyder, the former being a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Baden, Ger- many. They were married in Pennsylvania, and were the parents of one child, the subject of this sketch. The mother was a widow at the time of her marriage with Mr. Snyder, and the latter had also been previously married. When Isaac was 3 years of age his father died, and the mother remained on the old homestead until 1836. At this time, Nicholas Myers, a relative who had been living in Crawford Co., Ohio, for several years, went to Pennsylvania, and when he returned to Ohio Mrs. Snyder and family accompanied him. On her arrival, Mrs. Snyder purchased a farm, upon which she re- sided until her death, which occurred in 1872. The mother was a hard-working, kind-hearted Christian lady, with a loving and affectionate disposition. Isaac, throughout his life, has vn -.^ k.- WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. 903 been trained and inured to hardlvork, and, be- ing deprived of his father at an early age, was called upon when young to assume many manly responsibilities, and later had charge of his mother's farm. He was married to Miss Ee- becca Albright on the 9th of January, 1857, the lady having been bom in Whetstone Town- ship Feb. 17, 1830. Seven children have been born to this union, five of whom are now living, as follows : Laura A., Lucinda, Lewis K, John D. and Mary E. Those deceased are Emeline and Charles W. Mr. Snyder has been honored with various township offices — was Justice of the Peace three years and Treasurer four years. He is a Democrat and a member of the Ger- man Reformed Church. He owns 390 acres of land, nicely improved, with good buildings, etc. He raises good stock, and is one of the most intelligent, enterprising and prominent men in the township. MRS. SUSAN SAVAGE ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; this lady was born in 1805, in Columbia Co., Penn. Her father, Asa Coho, was a native of the Ke}fstone State, and the parent of eight children. He died when Mrs. Savage was 7 years of age, after which she went to live with a cousin, with whom she remained until her marriage with Mr. Daniel Savage in 1824. Four years after this event they removed to Crawford Co., Ohio. Mr. Savage was a shoe- maker by trade, a business he followed in con- nection with farming, after he came to Craw- ford County. He was a consistent Christian gentleman, and an influential, respected citizen. He died in 1877, while visiting friends in Indi- ana. His marriage was fruitful of fifteen chil- dren, eight of whom are now living, viz. : John, Daniel, Thomas, Benjamin F., Mary A., Debo- rah E., Elizabeth and Angeline. The deceased were William, Asa, Francis R., Joseph, Charles and two infants, who died without naming. Mrs. Savage is now living upon the farm set- tled upon by herself and husband in 1828. It consists of 163 acres, all of which is under cul- tivation and nicely improved. She has been a member of the Lutheran Church a great many years, and is one of the most respected and in- telligent Christian ladies in Whetstone Town- ship. LBANDBR L. TEEL, Bucyrus ; the eldest son of George W. and Elizabeth (Markley) Teel ; was born March 27, 1847 ; attended the schools taught in Sulphur Springs, where he received a knowledge of the common branches. At the age of 16, he entered the college at Oberlin, Ohio, where he remained eighteen months, and attended Duflf's Commercial College, at Pitts- burgh, during the winter of 1865-66. Was married. May 4, 1869, to Sabina E., daughter of Phillip Keller, of Sandusky Township. Five children are the result of this marriage — Harry Clay, Ester M., Herbert K., Gertrude E. and Errie P. Resided in Sandusky Township after his marriage until the spring of 1874. The year previous, he was elected Clerk of the township, although a Republican. He engaged in the mercantile )iusiness at Sycamore, Wj'andot Co., from the spring of 1874 to April, 1875, when he returned to Crawford, and acted as agent of the South Bend, Ind., Iron Works for some twelve months ; then for three years farmed a portion of his father's land. Taught the higher department of the Sulphur Springs schools for three winters, and also one winter in Sandusky Township. In the spring of 1880, he removed to his present residence in Whetstone Town- ship east of Bucyrus, and during the past twelve months has assisted his lather in business con- nected with the Ohio C. R. R. The subject of this sketch was instrumental in securing $10,- 000, the quota of Wj'andot Co., to the guaran- tee fund of the road, and through the eflbrts of Mr. Teel this county was the first to report. He is at the present time Assistant Secretary of the Crawford Co. Farmers' Fire Insurance Co., and was President of the Garfield Club of Bu- cyrus during the recent Presidential campaign. Mr. Teel is the great grandson of Adam Link, who was one of the last five surviving veterans of the American Revolution. Link was born near Hagerstown, Md., Nov. 14, 1761, and died at the residence of his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Horatio Markley (both since de- ceased), near Sulphur Springs, Aug. 15, 1864, aged 102 years 9 months and 1 day. When Link was 6 years of age, his parents removed into Fayette Co., Penn., and afterward settled in Washington Co., which was then on the extreme borders of civilization. Being thus exposed to the subtle danger which then surrounded a frontier life, in the vicinity of Indians un- friendly to the whites, Adam acquired, in the hardships and dangers of boixler warfare, an experience which fitted him for future service in the cause of his country. He entered the American army in 1777, and, upon the com- >^ a ;J^ Mt tit^ 904 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES: mencement of hostilities, the Indians made a descent upon the settlement, captured his father, John Link, then murdered and scalped him, burnt the house and barn, destroyed a large field of corn, 100 hogs, 40 sheep, all the cat- tle and horses, and 300 bushels of wheat. Prom this period, the familj', from having enjoyed an unusual amount of wealth and independence, was at once depressed into povertj^, and suffered great privation and danger during the remainder of the war. Link served at different periods in the garrisons at Wheeling, Moore, Dements and Shepherd forts, and acted as an Indian spy, as well as scouting along the frontier. In 1791, Gen. St. Clair made a levy of two men from each county for the frontier service. These men were to be drafted in 1791 in case they did not vol- unteer. The men, on a set day, were drawn up in line and the object made known, and any two who were willing to go were asked to step for- ward. Link was the first to advance, and with another man, oflfered to clear their county from the draft for $10 each, certainly a very low bounty, but nevertheless it was not paid. Men in those days would not pay much money in order to avoid fighting for a good government when its life was in peril. Link was married at the age of 30, and resided in Crawford Co. for several years previous to his death, and saw his posterity to the fourth generation. JOHN TRIMBLE, retired, Bucyrus ; is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born in Jefferson Co., Feb. 15, 1805. His parents, Hugh and Ann (Long) Trimble, came from Ireland to the United States in the latter part of the eighteenth century, locating in Pennsyl- vania until 1800, when they came to Jeflferson Co., Ohio. In 1823, they came to Whetstone Township, locating in the northern part, on land now owned by Mr. Bichelberger. The father had come to Whetstone Township the previous year, and entered 320 acres of land. He was singularly upright, and after many years of toil secured a comfortable home. The mother died in 1830, and the father followed her in 1840. They were the parents of nine children, two of whom are yet living — John and William, the latter living in Liberty Town- ship. John Trimble remained with his father until the age of 22, when he was sent to Dela- ware, Ohio, to enter the eighty acres of land upon which he now lives. He walked to and from Delaware, and upon his return was given twenty acres of the eighty he had entered. On the 31st of January, 1828, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Icy, daughter of Daniel and Patience Parcher, his wife being born in Ver- mont, Jan. 30, 1803. Her parents had come to New York, thence to Mentor, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, thence to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1823. To John and Icy Trimble was born the follow- ing family: Asenath, Icy, Mary A., Lafayette, Nelson J., Sarah, John W., Lyman and Eliza ; the former three are the only ones now living. After his marriage, Mr. Trimble began living on his twenty-acre tract of land. In time he added considerably to his small farm ; but soon afterward gave it to his children, that they might have something to start with in life. Mr. Trimble has been a Republican since the or- ganization of that party, and was formerly a stanch Whig. Two of his sons, John and Nel- son, were soldiers in the late war. John did not live to return home ; his daughter Asenath is the wife of G-. W. Kieffer ; Icy is the wife of Franklin Bowers, and Mary A., the wife of J. A. McMichael ; the latter son-in-law, was also in the late war. Mr. Trimble has held several township offices, always serving with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituency. His wife died on the 25th of February, 1874 ; he has the unlimited respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. As a member of the Baptist Church, he has lived a long, consistent life. ANDREW R. WALKER, Bucyrus; was born in Hampshire Co., Va., Jan. 14, 1827. He is the son of Robert and Martha (Leeper) Walker, the former being a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of seven children, only two of whom are now living — Andrew R. and his brother, L. L. Walker. In 1826, the father came to Craw- ford Co. and entered 160 acres of land. In 1828, he returned with his family and began the improvement of his forest home. About eight years after their coming to the county, the father died. This left five small children de- pendent upon the mother. She was a woman of great force of character and energy, and managed, through the assistance of the neigh- bors, to raise her children quite nicely, giving them such education as the schools of that early day afforded. Andrew R., being the oldest son, learned, when quite young, what it was to have persons dependent upon him for their daily bread. This, although hard for the boy, was, in A WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP. 905 the end, very beneficial to the man. Habits of industry and economy, then of necessity, learned by him, have, in a great measure, characterized his walk throughout life. He was united in marriage with Miss Imus Campbell Sept. 25, ; 1860. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Jan. 7, 1883. There was one child from this union — Robert J., born July 4, 1861. The wife and mother died Nov. 17, 1862. Mr. Walker I was again married, June 10, 1878, to Miss Han- nah B. Gibson, daughter of John Gibson, Esq., one of the early settlers of Crawford Co. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, July 16, 1844.' Mr. Walker has resided nearly all his life on the old homestead in Whetstone Township. Pre- , vious to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, Mr. Walker voted with the Democratic party. Since that time, he has been a stanch Republican. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church, and an influential and prominent citizen. He owns 260 acres of nicely improved land, situated near the center of Whetstone Township. WILLIAM A. WILLIAMS, Superintendent of County Infirmary, Bucyrus, was born Dec. 15, 1825, in Berks Co., Penn. The parents. Price and Ann (Hughes) Williams, were both natives of Pennsylvania, where they were raised, married, and resided until 1836, when they came to Crawford Co., Ohio, settling in Auburn Township. The father's occupation was charcoal burning, a business he followed quite extensively after his coming to Crawford Co., and until the advent of the railroads in the county. He also owned a farm, but his sons did nearly all the work upon this, as his time was occupied in charcoal-burning. Will- iam A. being the eldest son, on him devolved the responsibility of clearing and improving the farm. This gave him but little spare time, and his opportunities for obtaining an educa- tion were very limited. In early life, he mani- fested a strong liking for the rearing and train- ing of horses, and, on reaching his majority, began in a small wa}' to deal in horses. During his life, he has owned some of the best horses ever kept in Auburn Township, and has done much to improve the grade of farm horses in the county. When 25 years of age, he pur- chased 80 acres of unimproved land, and be- gan its improvement. In the late war, he served in Co. H, 123d 0. V. I., from August, 1862, to August, 1864. At the battle of Win- chester, Va., he was taken prisoner, and for eight months endured all the hardships inci- dent to prison life in the historical Libby Prison of Richmond, Va. He was one of the men who planned and successfully established a tunnel, through which 104 men escaped from Libby Prison. After his escape, he rejoined his company, of which he was Second Lieuten- ant, although during the year of 1864, he had charge of Co. H, and, from the time of his es- cape to his discliarge, he had command of that company. After his return home, he devoted his time to farming and stock-growing. In 1877, he was appointed by the Infirmary Direct- ors Superintendent of that institution. Mr. Williams possesses superior executive ability, and, under his skillful management, the Infirm- ary has become almost self-supporting. Dur- ing his residence in Auburn Township, he was honored with many positions of profit and trust. His marriage with Miss Rebecca J. Bleeks occurred Aug. 29, 1852. She was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Aug. 2, 1832. From this union there are three children — Allison, living ; Emma and Oscar, deceased. Mr. Williams owns a nicely improved farm of 160 acres in Auburn Township, which he has obtained by his own exertions. He is a Democrat, politi- cally, though liberal in his views. 9 nv '\iL 906 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. ELI ADAMS, retired farmer ; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Massactiusetts, about forty miles from Boston, March 18, 1803. His father, Ephraim, was a grandson of John Adams, of Revolutionary fame. Ephraim Adams married Martha Mason, and they moved into Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1804, Eli being then only about a year old. Thej' set- tled among the hemlock and brakes, where it was almost impossible to raise anj^thing by cultivation but beans and a few potatoes. The greater part of their subsistence while there was bean porridge. During their residence in New York, Mrs. Adams died, leaving altogeth- er six children — Annie, Buckley, Eli, Sarine, Angeline and Ephraim. 31r. Adams married a second wife, by whom he reared three girls. The Adams family and one Jacob Sweetland, with wife and large family, left New York in the spring of 1814, with the intention of going to the settlement then being made along the Huron River near where Sandusky City is now located, and which was then known as the old " Gault Place ; " but, on their arrival in this State, at its northeastern border, they were ad- vised to pass the summer there, as it would be easier to procure provisions later in the season in the new settlement whither they were bound. Acting on the advice given, they (both fami- lies) stopped, and put up in a vacant cabin from June until August, when they proceeded on their journey. This was on the Grand River, and, during their staj^, Adams and his boys went to work in the harvest-fields of Gov. Huntington. When harvest was over, they proceeded to the settlement on the Huron River. Sweetland and family occupied a va- cant hut which had been built on the " bottom land," and, in a few weeks, himself, wife and two children were victims of malarial fever, The other children were taken back to their friends in New York by one of the oldest boys, who was able to drive the team. Adams and his family remained there about five years, be- came tired of their location, and moved to Sen- eca Co. in 1819. In October, 1820, Mr. Adams died, leaving a widow and three helpless chil- dren, besides some of the j'ounger children of his first wife. Eli then began to do for himself, as he was then in his 18th year. The only thing he ever received or could be spared from his father's estate was a scythe, which he traded to a cobbler to make him a pair of shoes. He then hired out on a farm at $6 per month ; worked three years, and the highest wages received was $9 per month. He then made a visit to the place where he was partly reared, in New York, and then hired at 19 per month for seven months. He returned with about $60 in his pocket, hoping to collect $40 which was due him for labor in Ohio, with which he hoped to form the nucleus of his fu- ture fortune by entering 80 acres of land. But, to his sorrow, his debtor had gone to parts un- known during his sojourn in New York. He went to work, earned the required $40 and something more, put it to his $60 already earned, went to Delaware, where the land office was, and entered 80 acres in what is now Tex- as Township, of this county, in 1824. He be- gan to clear and improve his land, and boarded with a Mr. Paul, giving two days' work for a week's board. He lived in this manner three years, when he built a cabin and married Mary, daughter of James Andrews, of Seneca Co., Nov. 27, 1 827. They were both reared in poor circumstances, and were familiar with the hard- ships of pioneer life from earlj' childhood. Mr. Adams had got a cow in payment of work done, and his wife had been likewise obliged to take a young heifer a year or two before for work she had done, which by that time was de- veloped into a valuable cow. These two ani- mals were the onlj^ things of value they owned when they began housekeeping. - Adams went to work to make a bedstead, and, unfamiliar with the proportions it should be, and not much of a mechanic at best, when completed- discov- ered that their bedding would scarcely cover half of it. The first season they lived there, they were often hard up to find proxision enough for their support. The milk which they got from their cows was no small part of their living. One Sabbath evening in October of If^ •L^ LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 907 12/ that 3'ear, they used for supper the last morsel of food in their possession, and, on the follow- ing morning, Mrs. Adams proceeded to paddle what little milk they had gathered for the par- pose of obtaining butter enough to grease a pan in which she contemplated grating a few ears of corn, and thereby make a cake. While she was so engaged, Mr. Adams took his gun and stepped into the woods to shoot a squirrel which attracted him thither, when two deer sprang up, one of which fell a prey to his trusty rifle. He dragged it to his cabin with no little pride, and dressed it. By that time, Mrs. Adams had made the little butter she could, and had her cake of grated corn under way, to which they added a good steak of fresh venison, and considered themselves well supplied. They had eight children — Ephraim, James, John, /Vrthur, S. E., Angeline, Kuth A. and one deceased. W^hile hoeing busily at his first patch of corn one day, two Indians, who were passing in the woods, came up stealthily behind him, one of them coming within an arm's-length before Adams observed them. Being startled at sight of the Indian so near him, on the impulse of the moment he made a sudden break, which was the source of consid- erable amusement to the Indians, who meant him no harm, and assured Adams that they only wanted to scare him. He sold out in Texas and moved to Lj'kens Township. After- ward sold out there and moved to Bloom, Sen- eca Co., where his wife died Nov. 28, 1875, after a married life of forty-eight years and one day. He sold his property in Bloom, and came to live with his son S. E., in this village, in 1879. S. E. was born May 16, 1847. When 18 years of age, he began to learn the carpen- ter's trade, and taught school during the winter months. In April, 1870, he moved to Kansas, and engaged at the carpenter's business in Dickinson Co., and taught school everj' winter term he was there, besides three summer terms, and several summers he worked on the farm. He returned to his father's, in Seneca Co., in 1875, and the two succeeding seasons worked on the farm. In the fall of the latter, he took a district school, and taught there that winter. On March 19, 1878, he married Mary Kader, who was born in Northampton Co., Penn., April 15, 1856, and came here with her parents when about 12 j'ears old. They have one child — Bessie. Mr. Adams works at the carpenter's trade in the summer and teaches school in the winter months. DR. HARVEY S. BEVINGTON, physician and druggist. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1830. To give a short and comprehensive sketch of the Bev- ington family, it is necessary to go back to the advent, to this country, of one Henry Beving- ton, who, with his wife, emigrated from Lon- don, Eng., immediately after the close of the Revolution, and settled in New York. In re- ligious belief he was a Quaker, and a tailor by trade ; early in life he sustained the loss of one leg, which no doubt had something to do in determining his profession. They reared five children who grew up to maturity, and those of that name in this countr3' can trace back their ancestry to this family. John was one of the oldest of the family ; he moved from his native place in New York, to Beaver Co., Penn., when a young man ; there he married Frances Scott, whose early history is somewhat roman- tic, considering that she, when 2 years old, with her parents and four older children, emi- grated from Ireland about the year 1789, and while on the ocean both parents died, leaving their helpless children to the mercy of strangers, the oldest about 15 years, the youngest only 2 years. They made their way to Beaver Co., Penn., and there a family by the name of Blackman took and reared the youngest, who afterward grew up to beautiful womanhood and became the wife of John Bevington. They remained in Pennsjdvania several years after their marriage, but moved to Wayne Co., Ohio, where they settled in the wilderness : shortlj' after their settlement in Wayne Co., Mr. Bev- ington responded to a call for troops to defend the country' and its interests against the invasion of the British in 1812. Leaving his wife and two babes in the woods, he proceeded with the army and was with Gen. Harrison at the front, until peace was restored. At the close of the war he returned to Wayne Co., and assumed the task of carving for himself and family a home in the woods ; this he successfully ac- complished, and there reared an interesting fam- ily of nine children, three girls and six boys, viz.: Rachel, Henry, Charles, Alexander, Re- becca, Samuel, John, Hannah and Harvey S. The latter and j'oungest one of the family, be- ing fond of books and general lore, spent his early life at school, and when he had acquired ^. tiu 908 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: a good common-school education he spent two years at the Academy in Edinburg, Ohio, when about sixteen years old ; then resumed his studies in the Vermillion Institute, at Hayesville, Ashland Co., where he remained two years, at the same time pursuing the study of medicine along with the regular work of the institution, having begun to read in the office of his preceptors, Drs. Buckmaster and West- cott, of Fredericksburg. At the age of 21, he entered the Medical Department of the Ann Arbor University, Ann Arbor, Mich., where he graduated March, 1852. Thence moved to and began the practice of his profession in Hicks- ville. Defiance Co., Ohio, and two years later, in 1854, his parents and the entire familj^ moved to Defiance Co., where his father closed the varied scenes of life the same year ; but most of the family reside there stiU. There the Doctor practiced until 1856, when he moved to De Kalb, Crawford Co., and practiced there until 1862, when he went into the army as 1st Lieu- tenant of Co. H, 123d 0. V. I. On June 13, 1863, during Gen. Jlilroy's retreat from Win- chester, he was taken prisoner and sent to Lib- by Prison ten months and a half; he was paroled May 1, 1864, and on the 7th of the same month, was exchanged, when he imme- diately joined his old regiment and company, rather serving with his old comrades than ac- cepting the office of Captain, to which he had been promoted while in prison. His regiment was then in the "Army of the Shenandoah," under Gen. Sheridan ; after his return to the ranks he participated in the conflict at Winches- ter, on Sept. 19, 1864, and on 22d of same month in the general engagement at Fisher's Hill, and Oct. 19 (the day of Sheridan's famous ride), in the battle of Cedar Creek. During that winter he was transferred to the Army of the Potomac, and in February, 1865, he was discharged on account of physical disabilitj'. He then re- turned to Crawford Co., located at Annapolis, and resumed the practice of the healing art, in which he has been remarkably successful. In 1876, he purchased the drug store in which he does an extensive business for an inland vil- lage ; the reasons are obvious, his stock is of the best and complete for country demand, and his patrons are sure to be honorably dealt with. The Doctor has been married three times : first, to Martha A. McCullough April 20, 1854 ; she was born in this county and died died Feb. 21, 1876, Martha V., Jay W. here July 11, 1860, leaving one child — Mary F., now Mrs. E. A. Squier ; his second marriage was with Elizabeth A. Barclay April 23, 1862. She was a native of Pennsylvania, but came here when young ; she - — leaving three children, viz. and Carrie L. His third marriage was cele- brated Dec. 12, 1876, with Mrs. Millie Ensmin- ger — widow of the late Geo. Ensminger — she is a daughter of Dr. Phillip Ebert, of North Kob- inson, formerly of Pennsylvania ; by this union there is one child, viz.: Ell wood Ebert. Be- sides the property in town, he owns a good farm of 57 acres, about one mile southeast of Annapolis ; be it said to his credit, all of which has been accumulated by his own tact and in- dustry, as he was not worth any property when he started out on his own responsibility. SAMUEL S. BLOWERS, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus ; son of John 0. and Sylvinia Chad- sey Blowers, who settled upon the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch, in the spring of 1822. (These pioneers of liberty have received an extended notice in the town- ship history.) Samuel S. was born April 11, 1825, and is the oldest native male inhabitant of the township, who never lost his residence in Liberty. He attended the schools taught in the Blowers Schoolhouse until about 18 years of age, and then, in 1843, he visited Missouri, where he remained several months. When he returned to Crawford Co., he labored at various occupations until April, 1853. He then rented the Blowers farm, and, in 1858, having purchased the interests of the other heirs, became sole proprietor of the home- stead, which at the present time comprises 174 acres. Blowers was married, April 17, 1853, to Margaretta C. Nave, who died in 1858, leaving two children — Arthur Lloyd Blowers, born July 5, 1855, and Martha May Blowers, born June 21, 1857. The latter is now the wife of J. N. Tustison. Samuel Blowers was married, Sept. 29, 1859, to Miss Diana Parcher, and they were the parents of the following eight children : Samuel Lincoln, born Aug. 25, 1860 ; Jesse D., born Nov. 3, 1861 ; Sallie Serena, born March 9, 1863 ; Idelia Vannessa, born Oct. 30, 1864 ; George William, born Aug. 9, 1867, deceased ; Isa Birdella, bom May 14, 1870 ; Mary, born March 4, 1873, and Clara, born July 22, 1875, deceased. Aug. 9, 1862, Mr. Blowers enlisted as a private in the com- ■j ^ ^ lllL LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 911 pany raised by Capt. Wm. Parsons. Several days afterward, Judge Josiah Plants, a member at that time of the Military Board for Crawford Co., expostulated with Blowers for having en- listed as a private, stating that, if he had known Blowers desired to enter the service, he would have secured for him a commission. Blowers replied that he had enlisted from a sense of duty and wished his children to feel in after years that their father had entered the service from patriotism and not for the sake of obtain- ing a commission. But they refused to per- mit him to serve as a private very long, and he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on Feb. 26, 1863, and assigned to the 101st 0. V. I. on March 20, 1863, which regiment was a portion of the Army of the Cumberland. The exposure and hardships of an active military life resulted in inflicting upon him several seri- ous ailments ; he was ordered into the hospital, but his health did not improve, and, as the dis- ease appeared chronic, he was finally released from duty Jan. 9, 1864, and returned home, having been reduced in weight from 1 63 to 95 pounds during the term of his military service. During the past twenty years, Mr. Blowers has held many positions of honor and trust in Lib- erty Township. DEXTER BACON, farmer ; P. 0. Bucj^rus ; is the son of Ralph Bacon, the second settler of Liberty Township ; born May 6, 1822, and was the first native white child of Liberty. The subject of this sketch was, when about 10 years of age, bound by his father to Martin Bacon, an older brother, who received the farm for pro- viding for the family until each member became of age. By the agreement, Dexter was to re- ceive $100, if he remained with Martin between the ages of 16 and 21. Dexter attended school at the Maxfield and Blowers Schoolhouses, but most of his education was acquired in the later years of his life. When Bacon became of age, his brother paid him the $100, and he started for Wisconsin, traveling on foot nearly the en- tire distance, carrying the money, some $80 in silver, and $20 in gold, upon his back in a knap- sack, and expending only $6.50 during the journey. Bacon purchased 80 acres of land some thirty miles from Milwaukee, and in a short time returned to Crawford Co., where he was married, April 25, 1844, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Henry Bonebrake. In May, 1844, Bacon again left Crawford Co. for Wisconsin, accompanied by his wife, her father and his family. They removed in wagons, reaching Mil- waukee July 3, 1844. Their goods were shipped from Sandusky City to Milwaukee by water. Bacon settled some ten miles from the latter city, in the same county, on a claim of 80 acres belonging to Ralph Bacon. For some months, the family suffered many hardships. The sub- ject of this sketch relates : " I had to borrow $20 of Joseph Bonebrake to defray the expenses of moving, and when that ran out I had nothing left but my hands. I cut wagon hubs from the timber on my farm, and sold them for one-half cash and one-half trade. With the first money obtained, I purchased my first barrel of flour for $3.38, and never felt better in my life when hauling it home. A tree blew over on my only steer and killed it. I purchased another four- year-old steer for $18, and had to borrow money at 12 per cent interest to pay for the animal. It was six months before I made enough to pay this debt." But hard work improved the con- dition of Bacon's finances. He engaged in lum- bering for several y-ears, and in four years cleared 40 acres of the farm he occupied, which he finally purchased of his father, trading for it his own farm and $400 in monej'. Bacon left Wisconsin with his family in the spring of 1850, and after stopping six months near South Bend, Ind., reached Crawford Co., Nov. 12, 1850, and settled on his present farm, which he pur- chased of his father-in-law, who bought it of John Maxfield. Bacon has resided on this farm during the past thirty years, which at the pres- ent time contains 119^ acres. At the first, the land was so poor that Bacon could not raise wheat upon it for two years, now it yields twenty-five bushels to the acre. Since 1860, Bacon has paid some attention to raising thoroughbred cattle. His first purchases were of the Durham grades. He has frequently paid several hundred dollars for a single head. He introduced into Crawford Co., in March, 1876, the first AjTshire cows ever brought to the county, and for several years he has been breed- ing pure-blooded Berkshire pigs. About 1862, Bacon engaged in the rearing of bees, and is possibly the largest bee-keeper in the county, having, at the present time, eighty-six hives. Most of these are Italian bees. Bacon joined the M. B. Church when about 16 years of age, under the preaching of Rev. Adam Poe, a son of the famous Indian fighter. He was a mem- ;t^ 912 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ber of this religious denomination until he re- turned from Wisconsin, when he united with the Christian Advent Church. Bacon was an original stockholder in the First National Bank of Bucyrus, organized in 1863. and never sold his interest. He served as a Director in this corporation for a short time during the year 1879. During the war, he subscribed some $500 at different times to assist in clearing Liberty Township from the draft. The subject of this sketch is the father of the following six children, and five of these reside with their parents : Samantha, born Jan. 21, 1846 ; Wash- ington, born Jan. 1, 1849 (deceased) ; Gilbert G., born Jan. 7, 1851 ; Charles W., born Oct. 4, 1852 ; Martha Ellen, bom Jan. 14, 1857, and Elsie, born Jan. 12, 1866. CHARLES C. COBB, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in this township May 2, 1847 ; he is the son of Elam and Nancy (Brown) Cobb. He (Charles C.) was married in December, 1877, to Hannah Heckard, who was born in Williams Co., Ohio, Nov. 27, 1856, and came to Crawford Co. with her parents in 1872. Her father died in March, 1872, but her mother stiU survives, although she has been blind for about ten years. Mr. Cobb has a fine farm of 200 acres, which belonged to his father's estate, two-thirds of which was left to him. They have one child, Ora E. <* « ;f* lIl LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 917 shortly afterward, with his father's assistance, he purchased it. Mrs. David Crall was born in Seneca Co., in November, 1852. They have three children— Nine M., Elizabeth M. and Eltie J. Mr. and Mrs. Crall are members of the United Brethren Church, and Mr. Simon Crall has been a member of the same church for over thirty -nine years. He is one of the most robust, quick on foot and healthy men to be found, con- sidering his advanced age and weight, which is upward of 200 pounds, although he is of low DK. M. M. CARROTHEES, physician, Sul- phur Springs ; was born in Vernon Township, this county, Feb. 8, 1845 ; is the youngest of eight children, and, like most young men who are brought up to farm-life, his time was occu- pied between the duties of the farm and attend- ing school ; but he showed a decided taste for the latter, and a desire for general knowledge, which has been duly gratified. In May, 1864, he enlisted in the 163d 0. N. G., and served until the following September, that time being the expiration of his term of enlistment. He then returned home, and in the following No- vember he began teaching school, and taught five winters, living at his father's and helping on the farm in the summer months. When about 23 years of age he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. E. Jenner, of Crestline ; he studied there three years, including two terms of lectures — first, at the Miami Medical College, of Cincinnati ; second term of lectures was at the University of Wooster, in Cleveland, where he graduated in February, 1872. That same spring, he came to this village and began the practice of his profession, and was favored with a patronage beyond the most sanguine ex- pectations ; his medical skill is daily growing in favor. He is a j'oung man, quiet and un- assuming, and not given to any display, but understands thoroughly his profession, as his success attests. He owns a valuable property in the village, and the only two-story brick res- idence there at this writing, and is otherwise well prepared, financially, to enjoy life. On July, 1872, he united his fortunes with Mary Wert ; she was born in Sandusky Township, this county, Jan. 7, 1846. They have three children — Carrie M., Eva E. and John R. NATHAN COOPER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born in this county, near Gallon, April 4, 1831. He worked on his father's farm until he was married, which event occurred Feb. 28, 1856, with Catharine Crider ; they have five children — Mary L., Eliza A., Laura B., Daniel and Sarah E. Mrs. Cooper was born Aug. 14, 1831, in Penns3'lvania, and came to this county with her parents when about 6 years old. Mr. Cooper rented farms for a num- ber of years after he was married, and, on Oct. 25, 1865, they moved to the farm of 100 acres, which they own ; is well improved, and is sup- plied with the best of water privileges, as it is situated on the Sandusky River. It is one of the first settled farms of Crawford Co., and was entered by one Daniel McMichael, who im- proved and built a mill, and planted some apple trees, one of which stands on the south side of the river, and its trunk is, by actual measure- ment, nine feet eight inches in circumference four and a half or five feet from the ground. It is bearing well a good grade of ungrafted fruit. The father of our subject (Edward Cooper) was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, March 22, 1810 ; his father's name was George Cooper, and his mother's maiden name Mary Wood, both natives of Pennsylvania ; the latter came to Belmont Co. with her parents when young ; she was in the block-house at Wellsville at the time of the infamous massacre of the Riley family by the Indians in that vicinity, in 1812. Edward Cooper's father died, leaving a widow and six small children ; she married one Dis- bury Johnson, who was himself a widower with an equal number of children, as his second wife ; by this union six other children were born — in all, eighteen children in one family. Thus came the above-mentioned family to this vicinity. The said Johnson, with the six Cooper and eleven of his own childreh (his eld- est daughter, having married, did not come), set out for Crawford Co. with a four-horse team, driving some cattle and hogs ; and, of all the herd, an old sow was complimented as being the best leader through the woods, consequently, she was assigned the duty of carrj'ing the bell. They arrived where Gallon is now located on Oct. 15, 1821. Johnson died at Gallon, some time ago, in his 104th year. Edward Cooper worked on the farm until he had attained his majority. He has been married three times ; first, to Eliza Burwell, June 8, 1828 ; they had eight children — Sally A., Nathan, Margaret, Louisa, John, William, Artemon and Mary. He is quite a genius, as he is competent to make a <^ a ^ 918 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: bucket, boot, barrel, or frame a buildiag ; and many of the pioneer youth are indebted to his musical talent for their early training. Dec. 13, 1865, his first wife died ; he then married the widow of J. H. Smalley, whose maiden name was Mary Walter ; by her he had three children — Franklin. Eddie and Mary ; second wife died Nov. 11, 1874. His third wife was Catharine Bresler ; there are no children by this union. JOHN ESSIG, deceased. Mr. Essig was born in Wurtemberg, G-ermany, February 14, 1798, and while yet young resolved to try his fortune in the United States. Accordingly he left his native place and arrived at Hagers- town, Maryland, in 1817. Here he settled and worked at his trade, dyeing, which art he had learned in the old country, and at which he seemed to prosper in Hagerstown. But, still restless and desiring to procure some land, he and his young wife — who were made one in Maryland — set out for the West and arrived in this county in 1832. They entered eighty acres on the Sandusky River and purchased eighty acres more adjoining. They had scarcely begun to feel themselves in their own home in the new country when death ruthlessly snatched from his side the loving young wife. He married a second wife some years after the death of the first ; she was Mary E. Gerhard, who was born in Germany, and came to this country in 1839. By this union there were born six children, three of whom lived to ma- turity, viz.: Carolina, who died in March, 1873 ; Louisa, who was married to Phillip Haer (she died March, 1872, leaving one chUd), and Mary E., now Mrs. C. L. Meinzer, who resides on the old homestead. Her husband, C. L. Meinzer, was bom in Baden, Germany, Feb. 17, 1846, and came to the United States in the fall of 1867. He located in Cleveland, where he worked at his trade of blacksmithing for sev- eral months, thence to Upper Sandusky, and went into the country, where he worked about four months ; he then returned to town (Upper Sandusky) and worked at his trade for some time, and in 1871 came to Bucyrus and worked there three months at his trade ; thence to West Liberty, where he worked until 1873. On Dec. 26, 1872, he married Mary E. Essig. He then went to Crestline, where he pursued his trade nine months. At the expiration of that time he moved to his father-in-law's place, where he has been farming ever since. Mrs. Meinzer was born on the place where they live Feb. 12, 1850. They have five children living, viz., Eosey A.. John C. L., Louisa, August H. and a babe. Mr. Essig owned at his decease, 274| acres, besides valuable property in Gallon, which is owned by Mrs. Meinzer and her sister heir — Haer. J. H. FRY, deceased ; was born in the Can- ton of Zurich, in Switzerland, Nov. 14, 1791. His passport to this country bears date March 11, 1817 ; he landed at New York, and went thence to Chambersburg, Penn., where he re- sided several years, when he resolved to come to the West, and in 1824 he came to Crawford Co., entering 160 acres of Government land, west of where the village of Annapolis is located. In January, 1827, he married Catha- rine — daughter of Thomas Williamson, and in 1833 they sold out, but purchased 160 acres about half a mile north of where the village is located, of one Matthias Markley; this location Mr. Fry made his home until he was called hence by the messenger of death. They were quite prosperous in their farming pursuits, and were also blessed with a? e s "S" t>u 926 BIOGRAPHICAL .SKETCHES: ceasing industry, the basis of his comfortable home, as he was actually in debt over $100 when he was married, and no means of any con- sequence within his control. Since 1871, he has devoted his attention to his farm, seldom doing anything at his trade. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1865, and served three terms, in which office he is now holding his fourth term. He has been Township Treasurer six years ; also held the office of Township Trustee for several years. J. A. KLINK, farmer; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 29, 1824. His parents, John G. and Cath- arine Klink, emigrated, with their three children — Catharine, J. A. and J. G. — to this country in 1828 ; after a long, severe passage, they ar- rived in New York. They pushed their way westward by canal or other available convey- ance, until they arrived in Colutobiana Co., Ohio, where they stopped, as it was then the approach of winter, and they had no means to carry them further, as their all was expended. Their father had been in good circumstances in Germany, but lost all his property by going se- curity for a milling firm which failed, and when he sailed from Germany, it was only by the lib- eral and generous aid of relatives and friends that he was enabled to bring his family along ; consequently, he had nothing left when they got here. Mr. Klink, Sr., found employment in Columbiana Co., and worked there through the winter, and in the spring of 1829 he had saved enough to purchase a pair of oxen and an old cart. He packed his family in the cart, and set out for Crawford Co. They settled in Liberty Township in the woods, and soon after he en- tered 80 acres, paying for it with a little money which remained, and two watches. His family got the shelter of a cabin of some one who had settled there a short time before them, until a log cabin could be erected on their own location, which was hastily and roughly done. When they had lived here about two years, another member was added to the family by the birth of J. D. They seemed to prosper nicely, but had many inconveniences to bear with in the new and unsettled country. Their cattle would stray off through the unbounded forest, and on several occasions, the oldest boy (John A.), when a mere lad, lost his way when sent in search of them ; once, overtaken by the shades of night, he was unable to get back or find any way out, and after wandering until exhausted, he crept into a hollow tree and remained until daylight. Search was instituted by his parents and the neighboring settlers, who were unsuc- cessful in meeting with him, and were about to give up the search, supposing he had been killed bj' wolves, when, to their surprise, he came home. On a similar occasion, he found an Indian camp, at which he stayed all night and was well treated by them, and in the morn- ing one started with him to conduct him home. When they arrived at Klink's cabin, the Indian assured Mr. Klink, if they ever found his boy, they would neither let him get lost nor injure him. About the time that they were getting things in shape to enjoy themselvss and live comfortably, Mrs. Klink died. Mr. Klink mar- ried a second wife, Katie Deppler ; she was a native of Germany, and came here with her people. By this union there were two children — Mary and Rosy, who finally married and. moved to Henry Co. Mr. Klink, Sr., died on his farm (which is now owned by I. Klopfen- stein), on Feb. 25. 1853. John A. remained with his father until of age ; he worked earlj- and late on the farm, and had no opportunity of attending schools, as there were none in the neighborhood when he was small, and soon as he was able to work his services were consid- ered too important at home. He married Melis- sa Kohlman, March 8, 1848, and that year they moved on to a farm of 110 acres, which was all woods, and which Mr. Klink had bought some time before he was married, with S200 which he had earned by chopping. He worked un- ceasingly, and was very economical, and he is now among the ablest farmers of Crawford Co. In about eight years after he was married, he began to make other purchases of land, and has kept on increasing his broad acres, from time to time, -until he now owns 940 acres (ex- cept 4 acres, which he sold off), of as good land . as there is in the county, and in an excellent state of cultivation, with v^ry good buildings. Of these 936 acres, 780 acres are in one contin- uous tract, lying in the corners of three adjoin- ing townships. His first team was a yoke of oxen, with which he did a great part of the 'log- ging in this neighborhood ; he used cattle for his work for about fifteen years. All he ever received from home was $260, after his father's death ; his start in business was the proceeds of his work by the month and days' labor, which he ;i^ ^ >^ LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 9S9 saved carefully ; now they enjoy the possession of one of the best farms of this county. They had twelve children — Mary M., now wife of B. Jacobs ; Carolina, now wife of John Shieber ; John H., married Jennie Feighaer, and farms the Lykens Township place ; Henry is farming 80 acres in Chatfield Township — his wife is Flora Feighner ; Adam, Daniel, Solomon, Will- iam, Emma, Melissa and Charles are single, and reside with their parents ; also, one boy, who died in childhood. The whole family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Klink was born in Prussia Dec. 22, 1832, and came to this country with her parents when 4 years old. Her father, Daniel Kohlman, came here with three children, viz. : Catharine, Charles and Melissa ; the boy died when they had been here about three years. CHARLES KEPLINGER, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in York Co., Penn., Feb. 2, 1809. His father, Daniel Keplinger, was also a native of Pennsylvania. He married Annie M. Leister, of Maryland. After their marriage they settled on a farm. They reared a family of eight children, viz., Japob, Hannah, Sarah, Polly, Lydia, Charles, Daniel and Cath- arine. They all moved to Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1825, except Hannah, who, with her husband, followed a year and a half later, and in the spring of 1827 they moved to a farm which they purchased in Stark Co., where the children grew up to maturitj', and began to " strike out " for themselves. On account of the delicate condition of their father's and old- est brother's health, Charles was obliged to render all the assistance in his power, from the time he was 11- years old. Almost the entire care of his father's farm was left to him, consequently he got no chance of attending school. He remained at home until 24 years of age, and on Dec. 24, 1833, was united in marriage with Sarah Wersthler. She was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Oct. 9, 1813. They lived with his father and farmed the homestead for three years. They then moved to the farm of his father-in-law (George Wersth- ler), where they farmed three years. In the meantime, his father (Daniel Keplinger) died ; therefore they moved batk to care for the old homestead, and lived on it one and a half years. He purchased 160 acres of his present farm in August, 1839, and moved to it, arriving here on the 3d day of November, 1840. The farm was all under wood and without any improve- ments of any kind when he purchased it ; by the time they get here there was a log cabin erected by one John Werner, under contract. The roof was on, but the cabin was yet unten- antable, so his wife and little ones got shelter in the house of his brother-in-law, Jacob H. Sells, who had been here several years, until their own cabin was fixed up so the}' could live in it. Thej' were in poor circumstances, financially, as all they possessed was one team, and were $150 in debt on their land. They worked hard, and by unceasing energy and industrious habits of himself and noble wife, they have secured a competence of this world's goods. They built a substantial and commodious brick residence in 1857, and besides his well-improved farm here, he owns 320 acres in Nebraska. They had eleven children, eight of whom are living — Mary A., wife of Isaac Kinney, of Indiana ; Josiah, in this township ; Emanuel, in Nebras- ka ; William E., in this township ; Daniel E. and Jacob W., also in Nebraska ; George W. and Emma at home with their parents. Three children, two girls and one boy, died here of scarlet fever, which was epidemic shortly after they came to this count}'. The second year of their residence here, Mr. Keplinger was elected Township Trustee, and served several years, and then Township Clerk for two years ; was re-elected Trustee, and held the office several years. He was then elected Township Treas- urer for two years, and when one year had elapsed after his term had expired, he was elected to the same office and served nine j'ears. In 1860, he was elected Land Appraiser, and officiated in the same capacity in 1870. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1846, for one term, and on account of his own business interests, which demanded his undivided atten- tion, he refused to serve any longer in that office. In 1859, he was elected County Com- missioner, and held that office until December, 1865, and in the fall of 1875, he was again elected County Commissioner, and is now serv- ing on his second term. Although his school education was deficient, he acquired a good, practical, business education through his pow- ers of quick perception and varied experience. Almost continuously, since his residence in the county, he has been, in some capacity, faith- fully serving the public. In 1862, his son Emanuel enlisted in Co. H, 123d 0. V. I., and n f-w St -^ 930 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: served until the close of the war. He received three wounds — once through the calf of the right leg, and was shot through the right foot, the ball entering in his heel, passed through his foot lengthwise, emerging between the sec- ond and third toes ; the third was less serious, though none the less dangerous, as it came closer to more important organs of life ; in this case a ball grazed the top of his ear so closely that it bled, but luckly from this he sustained a mere scratch. JOHN KAPEE, farmer; P. 0. Sulphur Springs; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 13, 1812. His father Michael, and mother Elizabeth (Klienknecht) Kafer, with their seven children — Mary, Jacob, Catharine, John, Fred- rick, Rosey and Christiana — emigrated from the old country in 1832, and in the spring of 1833, came to Crawford Co., Ohio. They purchased 80 acres in this township, which one of the family now owns ; this served as a home for all the family until they began to drop oflf, one by one, into homes of their own. The old folks still remained on their first location, until removed by death a few years ago. Mr. John Kafer remained in the parental home for some time after he was of age. He then thought best to make a beginning on his own account, and prudently secured a housekeeper, who would take a life interest in his affairs. She was named Elizabeth Hamm, and they were married March 22, 1838 ; she was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Oct. 8, 1818. While yet in limited pecuniary circumstances, they enjoyed their lot; but erelong that mutual enjoyment was crushed by the death of Mrs. Kafer ; she left one child, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of Adam Durr. Mr. Kafer married a second wife, Fredrecka Layer, on March 15, 1841. She was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Nov. 29, 1821, and came to the United States with her parents (Christian and Catharine Layer), when about 15 years old. In 1839, Mr. Kafer bought 80 acres of the farm where he resides, and has lived there ever since ; he is unlike many, in that he has not only been able to barely hold on to his first purchase of 80 acres, but by his unceasing labor and economy, has added, by various pur- chases, until he now owns 319 acres of good land, and lives a quiet unassuming life, enjoy- ing the fruits of his early industry. His chil- dren by the second marriage are Mary A., wife of Daniel Pfleiderer ; Carolina, wife of Fred Heiby; Catharine, wife of Jacob Ackerman; Louisa C, at home with her parents ; Rosy, wife of Phillip Heiby ; Jacob S. and Emma R., at home. They are members of the Lutheran Church. SAMUEL B. KOONS, farmer; P. 0. Sul- phur Springs ; was born in Sandusky Town- ship, this county, Nov. 17, 1840. He is the son of Abraham and Jane (Mills) Koons. His father was born in Pennsylvania June 16, 1783, and, when a young man, he learned the millwright's trade, which he followed for many years, besides owning a farm. He was twice married, first to Susan Shrader, by which union there were thirteen children, six of whom grew to manhood and womanhood and reared fami- lies of their own ; they were Margaret, Daniel, John, Charlotte. Susan and Abraham. After about twenty-four years of married life, his first wife died. April 15, 1830, he married Jane Mills, who is his surviving widow ; she was born in Maryland July 1, 1812 ; of her father's family there were seven children left to do for themselves when quite young. Mrs. Koons was taken by a family to rear, and they moved to Pennsylvania when she was about 5 years old. There she grew to womanhood, and, as stated above, was married to Mr. Koons. Notwithstanding he was much her senior, they got along the very best. Two years after their marriage, they came to Ohio, first settling in Richland Co. in the spring of 1832, and, in the spring of 1839, they sold out and moved into Sandusky Township, this county, where they purchased 160 acres, and afterward added 37| more. In the course of time, there were four- teen children born to his second wife, twenty- seven children in his family in all, as his first wife was mother of thirteen, seven of whom died in childhood ; but the fourteen of the sec- ond marriage are all living and doing well, the youngest about 26 years old. Their names and present residences are as follows : William L., in Fulton Co., Ind.; Annie E., in Crestline, at the mUlinery business ; Mary M., in Kansas — was married to R. Armstrong ; he was killed by a runaway team ; Sarah J., now Mrs. Moore, of Lansing, Mich.; David S., farming in Han- cock Co.; Martha E., is married to Rev. James M. Roberts, a missionary in New Mexico ; Samuel B., in this township ; Harriet, Mrs. James Stevenson, of Annapolis ; Ben. F., is now pursuing his studies at Yale College, # ^l^ LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 931 New Haven, Conn. ; R. Cathaxine is on mission- ary worls among the freedmen of Mississippi, and teacher in Tougaloo College, near Jackson, Miss.; R. Porter, is a physician in Kansas ; Oliver H., is studying music in Philadelphia ; F. Mills, is studying in Oberlin, Ohio ; Joanna is married and living in Illinois. Mr. Koons, Sr., died March 22, 1869, and, after the settlement of the estate and several unimportant changes, Mrs. Koons got herself a comfortable residence in the village, where she is spending the remain- ing years of her life quietly and alone. Samuel B. received a common-school education, besides one term in Oberlin ; his time beyond school hours was occupied on the farm until Aug. 15, 1861 ; at that date he enlisted in Co. C, 49th 0. V. I., and participated in several of the deadly engagements of the war, viz., Shiloh, Liberty Gap, Stone River (and at the close of that engagement he was promoted to Sergeant), Chickamauga and Mission Ridge ; in the latter conflict, Nov. 19, 1863, he sustained a serious injury by being struck on the back of the head by a piece of wood which formed a partition between the powder and ball in the construction of cannon cartridges, from one of their own guns, which was firing over them. From the eflfects of this wound he lay insensible for eighteen days. After a month's hospital care, he was able to come home on a furlough, and remained about two months. When his regi- ment was re-enlisted, he went in the Atlanta campaign as far as Buzzard's Roost ; his term of enlistment had then expired, and he was dis- charged Sept. 5, 1864. He then came home to Crawford Co., and, on Nov. 17 of the same year, he was married to Margaret Stevenson ; she was born in Seneca Co. March 27, 1845. For three years, he worked his father's farm, and, in the spring of 1868, they purchased the farm of 71 acres where they now live. Mrs. Koons' parents came to live with them, and here her father died Aug. 16, 1871, but her mother is still with them at the advanced age of 73 years. On account of his wound received in the army, which affects him seriously if he takes the- least cold, he draws a pension of $8 per month. They have a family of five chil- dren — Clarence A., Virgil C, Sarah J., Maggie M. and Samuel R. ISAAC KLOPFENSTEIN, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Polk Township, this county, March 10, 1837. His father, Abraham, was twice married ; by his first wife there were four children — Susan, John, Elizabeth and Abraham ; the three younger ones emigrated with their father from Switzerland to Canada in 1829. Susan re- mained in their native country. Mr. Klopfen- stein was a widower, and when he settled in Canada he married Elizabeth Reiter, who came from Switzerland when he did. They built a cabin in the woods and bought some land and were getting along nicely. A brother in Swit- zerland wrote to Abraham in Canada, that he was about to start for the United States, and would prefer to see him there. John came from Switzerlnnd to Crawford Co., and Abra- ham from Canada, they located in Polk Town- ship, where the latter entered 200 acres in 1833 ; and brought his j'oungest son, by first wife, along, leaving John and Elizabeth on the property in Canada. Abraham went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he took sick and sent for his father to come and see him, which he did on foot, and returned in the same manner; from then they lost all track of Abraham, as he never re- turned. When Mr. Klopfenstein came here he built a cabin in the woods and began the clear- ing and improvement of his land, and got along well until 1846, when he was called by death, leaving widow and three children, viz.: Mary, Elizabeth and Isaac. (Mary is now widow of Jacob Freidley, of Van Wert ; Elizabeth is wife of Charles No3'er, of Allen Co., Ind.) Widow Klopfenstein married Jacob Millemater about two years after the death of her first husband ; Millemater assumed control of affairs, and in' April of 1851, Isaac (our subject) left home to do for himself, and engaged with Charles Noyer in a brickyard, and did odd jobs until spring of 1852 ; when he again engaged on the brickyard, and in the fall he purchased a half interest in a threshing machine on credit, in partnership with John Kinsey. Having poor success that season, he sold out his interest to Kinsey, receiving something for his labor. In January, 1853, he went to Wayne Co., Ind., where he took a job of cutting eighty cords of wood at 60 cents per cord, and paid his board at the rate of $1.50 per week ; this job he completed in forty days. He then began to work by the month a short time at $15 per month, but soon got another job of cutting out a road three rods wide and one-fourth of a mile long, through heavy timber, cutting it all into cord-wood, re- ^-^ 933 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ceiving for his job 62^ cents per cord for as much as it would make, and board himself, which he got at the old rate, $1.50 per week. He then returned to the county and sold his one-third interest in the homestead of eight}' acres, for which he received $600. His guard- ian turned over the money to him, and he straightway purchased eighty acres in Chat- fleld Township ; twenty-five of it was partially cleared, and had a cabin house and barn on it. He returned to Wayne Co., Ind., and worked in a slaughter-house until about Christmas of that year, when he returned to this county, and, on Feb. 5, 1854, he married Mary Bitik- offer ; she was born in Switzerland, Dec. 4, 1831, and came with her parents to Stark Co., in 1836, and to Crawford Co. in 1843. April 1, 1854, *hey moved to their farm, which he had lately bought, and while they lived there made several purchases and sales ; the}' re- mained there twelve years ; during that time he was twice drafted into the army, first time he furnished a substitute, and second time the township was cleared by subscription, costing him $595, in all. In 1866, he bought 100 acres and added to it 44, which constitutes the farm where he resides, besides 40 acres in Chatfield, 160 acres in Sandusky, and 144 acres in Bucyrus Townships, and, in 1877, he purchased a half-interest in the stock of dry goods and groceries of Fry & Keller (Mr. Frj' owning the building). He has a family of seven children living, viz.: Abraham, who is living on the Bucyrus farm, 80 acres of which he has bought ; John is on the San- dusky farm, 80 acres of which he has pur- chased ; Mary E., Susan C, Emma S., Isaac E. and Maud M. ; the. five last named are at home with their parents. In 1861, he was elected Township Trustee for one term. He built a good brick residence on his farm in Chatfield, and in 1860 he put up a barn, 56x44 feet ; the frame-work cost only $105, taken off the stump. He has tried his hand at many kinds of busi- ness, and, although a man of very limited edu- cation, has succeeded at all. After he was 9 years old, he was only two weeks at school, and when he was married he could not write his own name. Being totally ignorant of mathe- mathics when he began to deal in stock in 1860, he found it necessary to study the sim- ple rules, and for that purpose he went to school along with his own children. His first start was farming, next project was threshing in partnership with Mr. Bitikoffer, in 1855, and in 1856 he made brick ; in 1857 he bought and " run " a thresher on his own account, and in 1858 he resumed the manufacture of brick ; and in 1860 he began stock-dealing ; in that he has been very successful; while others have failed on every side of him he has and is still doing a prosperous business ; some farmers in this vicinity have sold to him exclusively for the past twenty years, which is good evidence of fair dealing. His success in farming can be best understood by the following figures and data : His first crop of wheat was four and one- half acres, which himself and wife harvested in 1856, the entire crop amounted to eight bush- els, and this year (1880) himself and sons har- vested 110 acres, from which they realized 2,750 bushels and marketed it at 95c(^$l per bushel. He joined the German Reformed Church when 14 years of age, and was Deacon from 1859 until 1865 ; since latter date he has been an Elder, and officiates in that capacity now. Mrs. Klopfenstein and the three oldest children are members of the church. His father settled up the estate so as to leave the property in Canada to John and Susan, of the first wife, giving a quit-claim deed to it, and taking the same from them as against his Crawford Co. property, which was intended for his other tliree children, but by neglect his father never recorded the quit-claim from those in Canada, and after his death they came here and claimed and got an equal share with Isaac and his two DANIEL LIGHT, retired farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; was born June 30, 1806, in Dauphin Co., Penn. His parents, Adam and Mary (Did- dle) Light, were also natives of Pennsylvania. In early life, Daniel learned the weaving busi- ness, but due regard for his health forbade him following it long ; so he abandoned it for the more invigorating life on the farm, to which he has ever since devoted his whole attention, both in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He moved here in 1854, purchasing 80 acres where he now lives, but has added, by purchase, until his farm con- sists of 120 acres of good and well-improved land, where he is passing the declining years of his life in peace and enjoying the fruits of his early industry. He has Iseen twice married ; first to Polly Heller, September, 1828. She was called away by death, leaving four children. n^ £^ LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 933 viz., William, John, Emanuel and Adam. His second marriage was with Lucetta Harmon ; she was born in Dauphin Co.. Penn., Jan. 15, 1823 ; the children by this union are Mary E. and Daniel A. They brought his first wife's four children along with them when they came to Ohio ; his daughter by second wife was only a few months old ; his youngest son, Daniel A., was born in this county. Shortly after the out- break of the rebellion, his son. Adam, enlisted on Nov. 2, 1861, in Co. K, 64th 0. V. I., and served through the war, until the engagement at Chickamauga, where the Union soldiers were forced to yield, and during the retreat he was stunned by a bullet, which grazed the top of his head, stripping its breadth of hair and scalp from his skull, which felled him to the ground, when he became an easy prey, as a prisoner, to the rebels ; he was forthwith con- veyed to Andersonville Prison, and later, to Florence Prison, spending seventeen months of starvation and misery in the two places. He was paroled in February, 1865, and returned to his father's, as his discharge had been granted before he was released from the Southern prison. Emaciated with hunger and dejected in spirits, his recovery seemed verj' doubtful ; but with strict attention of his parents, good care and nourishment, he regained his usual strength ; he afterward married here, where he died, leaving a widow and three children. William lives in this township ; Emanuel resides in Henrj' Co., Ohio ; John owns 40 acres of land in Holmes Township, but makes his home with his father ; he is unmarried ; has devoted his time to farming, and like those whose quiet lives are unallured by the gush and glare of society, lives a quiet, practical life. Jlary E. is now Mrs. Henry Stevenson, of this county ; Daniel A., the youngest, also resides with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Light are members of the Ger- man Reformed Church. DANIEL LAYER, farmer ; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 9, 1830. His parents, Christian and Catharine (Paill) Layer, emigrated from Ger- many to the United States in 1838, and brought eight children with them, viz., DoUey, Elizabeth, Predricka, John, Jacob, Christian, Daniel and J. A. They all reside in this State. The oldest girl married John Layer, and died in Union Co., leaving five children. When 'Sir. Layer came to the United States, he came direct to Ohio, and purchased 96 acres, where Daniel lives. Here the family grew up to maturity, and from there struck out in the world for themselves. On Feb. 1, 1854, Daniel married Catharine, daughter of Jacob Ulmer, and moved to Kent Co., Mich., where he entered 160 acres of land and lived there three years. His wife's health failed, and she longed to return to her old home and acquaintances in this county, so they sold out, and came back to his father's, where his wife died, October, 1857. He rented his father's farm for four or five years, and lived a widower with his parents ; and they, being old with j'ears and hard work, were ready to give up the care of the place to some one more competent to take care of it. "In 1862, his father died, then he, Daniel, bought the interest of the other heirs, and carried on the ^farm, his aged mother making her home with him until July 24, 1878, when she was removed b}^ death. Daniel was again married, to Barbara Eppley, daughter of John and Barbara (Wey) Eppley, who came from German}', where she was born Feb. 21, 1859, and came here with her parents when about 3 j^ears old. Her parents first set- tled near Harrisburg, Penn., for about two years, and then came to Chatfield Township, this county. Mr. Layer has, by his second marriage, one child — Lydia. John A. lives on the adjoining farm, and both of them have prospered well. He married Mary Green Jan. 10, 1856. They have the following children — Elizabeth R., Eliza A., George F. and Prank E. JAMES MAN AH AN (deceased) ; was born in Frederick Co., Md., in 1811. He married Sidney Nichols, who was born in the same county in 1813. Some time after they were married, they moved to Seneca Co., this State, where they stayed about one year. In 1840, they came to Crawford Co. and settled on the Wyandot Reservation, and remained about two years. Then they moved to the " Plains" out from Bucyrus, and settled at what is known a? " Parcher's Corners." They lived there seven " years, and the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. now runs directlj' over the location where their house stood. They kept shifting from time to time, and, about 1851, they removed to a farm on the Sandusky, near R. W. Knisely's, where they lived eight years. In 1859, they rented the Biddle farm, near Annapolis, and here they have remained since. They reared a family of ten children, six boys and four girls — Alfred s \ ' !^ 934 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: W., Samuel, Lucinda (now Mrs. Joha Zandel), Barbara J., Adaline, Elizabeth, Silas, James M., John and Watson. When the late rebellion broke out, Alfred W. enlisted in the three months' service. At the expiration of that time, he re-enlisted for nine months. When that time expired, he again enlisted, and served to the close of the war. He now resides in Frederick Co., Md. James 31 also enlisted, but only in the one hundred days' service, 0. N. G-., and when his term of service expired he returned to the rest of the family, and re- mained here until removed by death on May 1, 1878. Their father died on March 1, 1871. Silas is unmarried, and with him his aged mother and sisters make their home. He takes entire charge of the farm of 153 acres, for which he pays S450 annually in cash as rent for the place. They have now been occu- pying the same place for over twenty-one years, which fact would indicate that they are desirable tenants. E. M. MOORE, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was ' born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Sept. 9, 1838 ; he is the son of James and Catharine (Lomes) Moore, the former a native of Washington Co., Penn., and the latter of Columbiana Co., Ohio. Mr. E. M. Moore's youth was spent between the duties of the farm and attending school. Being naturally as a boy apt and intelligent, he acquired a good education early in life, and, in his 17th year, he began teaching school, and taught sixteen winter terms. When 1 8 years of age, he entered Mt. Union College, Stark Co., Ohio, and attended it eight terms. He had en- tered the Junior Class in 1861, when he aban- doned his course at college, as he had to furnish for himself all means of support and tuition. He afterward turned his attention to teaching in the winter months and farming in the summer. He owns one of the most comfortable and best- improved farms of 108 acres in Liberty Town- ship, with splendid out- buildings and a fine brick residence, to which he moved in March, 1868, on the 12th of which month he united his fortunes with Lizzie, daughter of John and Elizabeth Crall. She was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Dec. 17, 1843, and came here with her parents in 1852, They have six children —Cora E., Susan E., Blary M., John J,, Kattie B. and Oliver M. Besides superintending his farm, he has been engaged about ten months of the year for the past nine years as foreman in the clothing department of the extensive mercantile house of M. Emrich, of Bucyrus, which position he now holds. He is a member of Demas Lodge, No. 108, of Knights of Pyth- ias, and of Howard Lodge, No. 109, Knights of Honor ; also the Masonic Crawford Lodge, of Bucyrus. ROBERT WALLACE MUSG-RAVE, de- ceased ; was born in New York Feb. 10, 1810 ; he was the youngest of a family of six children, four boys and two girls. The whole family moved to this State when he (Robert W.) was a mere boy, and, when about 15 years of age, he was employed by Henrj' St. John as clerk in his store at Wooster, Ohio. Mr. St. John soon moved to Bucyrus and brought young Mus- grave along. And, after he had been here some time, he took an interest in the establishment and did business for several years in partner- ship with St. John. Here he formed the ac- quaintance of Maria Gillespie, who was born in Washington Co., Penn., Sept. 5, 1806, and came to Bucyrus with her father's family in October, 1834. 'Sept. 5, 1835, Mr. Musgrave and Miss Gillespie were united in matrimony ; they began housekeeping and resided there for six ji'ears, when Mr. Musgrave disposed of his interests in Bucyrus and moved to this village in June, 1841, where he built a store and put in a stock of general merchandise, and carried on the busi- ness with much success, and purchased at var- ious times .land in this vicinity to the amount of 760 acres, which is owned by his widow and the heirs. During Buchanan's administration, he was appointed Postmaster, which office he held here many years, although he was of the opposite political persuasion ; he also held the office of Associate Judge for several years. They reared five children, viz., Marian, now Mrs. Biddle, of Bucyrus ; Ellen J., deceased ; Thomas W. ; Julia, widow of James Rader ; and Jlyra, now Mrs. Wells. Mr. Musgrave's was a life of unceasing business activity from the time he was 15 years old until it closed in death May 18, 1868. His usefulness was never fullj' known or realized in business circles, or his influence in society until the vicinity sus- tained the loss in his demise. His introduction to this county was in the role of a poor boy do- ing chores and clerking in a store, and carrying the mail across the country on horseback. But his course was steadily upward, as in time he soon became one of the important factors in s \ -< ® ^ LIBEETY TOWNSHIP. 935 the business circles of the county, also holding the position of Associate County Judge. Re- gardless of public opinion, or at the risk of be- coming unpopular, he would unhesitatingly assail whatever he considered of questionable merit. Mrs. Musgrave occupies the old home- stead and 140 acres, where she is passing the remainder of her days in happiness, and sup- plied with all the luxuries of life. Her ances- tors were from Ireland ; her grandfather, James Gillespie, emigrated from County Tyrone, and came to United States when young ; he settled in Washington Co., Penn., where he reared a family of six sons. Thomas, the oldest one was Mrs. Musgrave's father, and when she was 8 years old the familj' moved from Penn- sylvania and located at Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, and remained there about twelve years ; her father spent some time in Tiffin in connection with the land office there, but, as stated, moved his family to Bueyrus in October, 1834, and died in the village of Annapolis at the residence of his son Thomas many j'^ears ago. THOMAS W. MUSGRAVE, retired farmer ; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Bueyrus, this county, March 9, 1840. He is the only son of Robert W. Musgrave, and was reared to farm work, and lived with his parents until of age. On Aug. 21, 1861, he united his fortunes with Hannah Fry, a daughter of J. H. Fry, who was born Jan. 21, 1839, in this township. He farmed his father's place for several years, when he went to the State of Indiana, but re- mained only a short time, when he came back, and got 160 acres of his father's estate, which he occupied for some time, but subsequently sold it and purchased 148 acres, which he now owns. In the spring of 1880, he moved to this village (Annapolis), where he lives comforta- bly, away from the cares and toil of the farm. He is one of those who are liberal in assisting in any enterprise which is worthy of patronage, and that without display. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, Liberty Lodge No. 845. They have four children — Frank R., Mary E., Robert J. and Albert W. THOMAS MoCULLOUGH, deceased. He was born Aug. 14, 1831, on the farm where his widow and family reside. His father, Alexan- der McCuUough, came here at the first settle- ment of the county ; he died here, leaving a widow and five children, Thomas, the eldest, being only 10 years of age ; consequently, he learned early in life what it was to do for him- self The widow and her five children strug- gled hard for subsistence, and, as time carried them through the shifting scenes of pioneer life, they saw, with much gratification, that the many and varied obstacles disappeared as soon as approached ; but of the five, onlj' William (now living in Wayne Co.) is left to compare the present realities with the memories of the past. On Nov. 4, 1858, Thomas united his fortunes with those of Mary Cleland. She was born June 3, 1827, in Vernon Township, this county. They have had five children — Martha Atta, Rachel A., William C, and two who died in infancy. Mr. McCullough began school- teaching early in life, and continued the same in the winter months, and, in the summer, at- tending to his farm duties, for several years after his marriage. He was elected and held the office of Township Trustee for two terms, with honor to himself and satisfaction to those he represented. He took a deep and lasting interest in the Sabbath school which was or- ganized in their district, and of which he was Superintendent for six years. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. On the 12th of May, 1879, his career closed and his life of good works was sealed in death, mourned by many and highly esteemed by all who knew him. Mrs. McCullough and her three children are in good circumstances, and live happily on their well-improved farm of 76 acres. She purposes giving them a good education, which they are eager to avail themselves of Her eldest daughter, Martha A., has taught school during the past summer. Mrs. McCuUough's father, William Cleland, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to the United States when young, with his parents. He came to this county and settled in Vernon Township, where he is still living, and is strong and active, con- sidering that he is in his 85th year. It took six weeks to make their voyage across the ocean.. He married Rachel Ramsy, who was a native of Virginia. DANIEL L. McMICHAEL, farmer ; P. 0. Bueyrus ; was born April 7, 1836, where he resides. To give a short sketch of the family — of some historic worth, in connection with Crawford Co. — it is necessary to go back to one Daniel McMichael, grandfather of D. L. McMichael, who was born in Ireland, and came to the United States with his parents when s \ '' -4^ 936 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: about 16 years of age, which was about the year 1794. The family located in Westmore- land Co., Penn., and, when Daniel attained his majority, he married Mary McDowell. She was a native of Scotland, and came to the United States with her parents at an early date. A few years after their marriage, they moved to Ohio, and located on the north of the Sandusky, near where Bucyrus is located. Being a miller by profession, and a mechanical genius, Mr. McMichael saw and felt the pressing need for some kind of mill to grind what little grain they raised to subsist on. He traveled up the river, looking for a suitable location as the basis of operation for building a mill. When he reached the place where Nathan Cooper now lives, he concluded that the object of his search had been discovered. There he entered 160 acres of Government land, and built a saw and grist- mill combined, which was one of the first insti- tutions of the kind in the county, of which the county history speaks more fully. He reared a family of eight children, viz., David, Matthew, William, Daniel, Allen, Mary, Hattie and Mar- tha. Of these, Daniel, Mary and Martha are living in Iowa ; Allen, in Nebraska, and Matthew, who resided on the old homestead, near Bucy- rus, and died there some years since. William set out for the gold fields of California, during the early excitement in 1848, and was never heard from here since he wrote a letter back when he reached the Rocky Mountains. David, the oldest one of the family, married Margaret, daughter of John Anderson, who settled here about the year after the McMichaels came. Shortly after the marriage of his daughter, Anderson died, soDavid McMichael moved to the Anderson farm and remained there until the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 3, 1857, leaving a widow and seven children, viz., Rebecca J., Daniel L., John A., George W., Marie, Cynthia and David — the latter one is deceased. Of these, G. W. and Marie are in Nebraska ; John, Cynthia and Daniel L., in this county. The last-named worked on the farm, and, in the meantime, received a good education at the common and normal schools. He prepared himself for teaching, which he did with marked success for a period of fifteen years, in the winter months, spending the sum- mer on the farm, with some few exceptions, when he taught in summer also. Sept. 16, 1864, he married Rachel J. Woodside. They have four children, viz., Wallace D., Burton 0., Will- iam G. and Lawrence E. Mrs. McMichael was born in this county, in 1839. They own about 50 acres of land, which is part of what belonged to the old Anderson homestead. JACOB OREWILER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., on Jan. 5, 1814. His father, John, and his mother, Barbara (Keith) Orewiler, were both natives of Pennsylvania, but his mother's parents came from Germany, and settled in Pennsylvania, and her father's name was Michael Keith. When Mr. John Orewiler married Barbara Keith, she was then the widow of one John Kline, by whom she had three sons— John, William and Joseph. And of the Orewiler children there were seven— Henry, Adam, Lewis, Rosanna, Elizabeth, Michael and Jacob. They were all born in Pennsylvania ; and when the " youngest (Jacob) was about 3 years old, the whole family moved from Pennsylvania and came to Ohio ; they settled in Richland County, about ten miles north of Mansfield, in 1817. There the children grew to maturity, and began to branch out for themselves. Coin- ing into this State at such an early date, they were perfectly conversant with pioneer life ; and, although the family were in reasonably good circumstances for that time, yet many were the disadvantages and privations to be borne then, which the youth of to-day would consider impossibilities. No pen can ever do justice to the men and wives, with their help- less little ones, who ventured into the trackless forest, with which they were unacquainted, there to risk their lives at the hands of the rsd man, for the sake of securing a home for them- selves and their posterity. And who can speak knowingly of the longings, and aching hearts of those who would have gladly returned, whence they came, when all opportunities of returning were unavailable. But most of those noble souls who bore the first burdens of set- tling these parts, have passed from their toil- ing to a more abiding rest. Mr. Jacob Ore- wiler's parents made their permanent home in Richland County, and died there years ago. The first of the family to come into Crawford County was Lewis ; he settled in Cranberry Township in 1835. Jacob came here also at that time, but did not settle permanently. He made a purchase of 40 acres in Sandusky Town- ship in the year 1835, and then returned to his "^T ;^ ^ -l^ LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 937 father's in Richland County. Erelong he came back to Crawford Countj' and stopped with his brother Lewis ; and purchased 40 acres more in Sandusky Township. He worked around between Richland and Crawford Conn- ties for several years ; and in 1839, he went to Indiana, and stopped In De Kalb County, a little over a year, thence to Iowa, where he worked by the month about two years ; then returned to Crawford County, and made his home with his brother Lewis for a short time ; and in January, 1843, he married Annie Con- ley. She was born in Richland County Feb. 3, 1818, and came to this county with her folks in 1828. Mr. Orewiler and his bride repaired to his farm of 80 acres, which he still retained, in Sandusky Township ; but afterward sold out there, and moved to " Chatfleld Township, where he purchased 79 acres. They occupied the latter about ten years ; and Jan. 31, 1865, moved to the farm where they now live ; and in 1876, erected a commodious two-story frame residence, besides making other important and necessary improvements on the farm. They had nine children, five of whom are living — John, Elzie, Albert, Jacob and Flora A. Those deceased are Alfred, Henry, Nancy J. and Louisa. John married Sophia Kroneber- ger, and lives in this township ; Elzie married Alice Keller, and lives at Upper Sandusky. Mr. and Mrs. Orewiler are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His sisters were married and moved West, at an early date, and little has been known of them since. Elizabeth was mar- ried to Jesse Van Fustin ; Rosanna to Jacob Hoover ; they settled first in Illinois, and then moved to California ; this was the latest ac- count ; Lewis is the only brother who survives. DAVID PPLEIDERER, farmer ; P. 0. Sul- phur Springs ; was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, Dec. 5, 1822. He is the son of Christian and Barbara (Auberly) Pfleiderer ; the former bom in the year 1789, and the latter in 1794. They were farmers in Germany, and in very comfortable circumstances; but Christian con- cluded to emigrate to the United States, where he could more readily procure farms for his growing familj^ ; accordingly, himself and wife and their four children, viz.: Adam, Jacob, Daniel and Christian, started from Germany in the spring of 1831, and after ninetj'-two days on the ocean they landed at Baltimore, Md. They came across the country until they ar- rived in Columbiana Co., Ohio ; being weary of traveling, and then near the approach of winter, they hesitated about going to unsettled parts of the new country, they concluded to stop in Columbiana Co., until winter would break up. They found shelter with a family by the name of Seacrist ; Mr. Ffleiderer went to work at whatever odd jobs turned up while they were there, as did the oldest boys. Soon as spring opened up they purchased a yoke of oxen and an old wagon, with which the family traveled and brought their little effects, and in the first week of April thej' came to Crawford Co. and located on 80 acres which was entered by Mr. Pfleiderer while they were wintering in Columbiana, and the same is now part of David's farm. Soon as they came here they purchased 80 acres for $145, adjoining that which had been entered. There was a misera- ble old cabin on the premises, which the family took refuge in until they got a more comforta- ble one erected, and in which there was scarce- ly a nail used in its construction, and about a year later he bought 80 acres more for $140. He was called on, soon after their arrival here, to assist one Ludwig Geiger raise a cabin, when by accident a pole fell and broke his right leg, which was a terrible drawback to the general improvement which was so much needed in the woods ; although he had no clearing done at this time, the family were not as destitute as many of the pioneers, as they had considerable money with them. They had made a good start, and everything seemed pros- perous until Mr. Pfleiderer was stricken with paralysis one morning as he got up out of bed, from which he expired instantly. This sudden and unexpected change left considerable care on his widow with her six children, two of whom were born since their arrival in this county — John and Daniel, the latter a mere infant. The older children conducted the af- fairs of the farm admirable, and Mrs. Pfleiderer did considerably of the light work out doors herself; she lives with her son David, and al- though she is in her 86th year, she is as smart on foot as many who are twenty years younger ; will walk off to church, a distance of several miles, and back without any apparent fatigue. "."Someplace their bliss in action, some in ease, Those call it pleasure, and contentment these." Truly, she may be placed in the former class, for the writer found her in the corn-field with '4i^ BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: a party of huskers, doing her share with a zeal and earnestness which would become one of 16, rather than 86 years ; of course, it is neither expected of her nor desired, but having always led an active life, she could find no contentment in sitting down in idleness or ease. At the set- tling of the estate, David took the homestead and has bought nearly all the heirs' interest, except Christian's, who makes his home with David. He (Christian) was taken with a severe attack of scarlet fever when quite young, caus- ing an unbalanced condition of his mental fac- ulties, from which he never fully recovered. Nov. 13, 1843, David married Mary Heck- enlively ; she was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, and came to Chatfield Township with her parents in August, 1832. They have had fourteen children, viz.: Magdalen, now Mrs. Christ Harmon, of Kosciusko Co., Ind.; Anna M., wife of G-. Ludhardt ; Abraham, in Kosciusko Co., Ind.; John (deceased), Margar- et, George (deceased), Barbara, wife of Eeuben Crall, of Indiana ; Lydia, Isaac and Jacob (twins.) Samuel (deceased), Leonora, Carolina and Clara. Mr. Pfleiderer owns a good farm of 240 acres, which is well improved and has good buildings, which have been well earned by his own and his wife's industry. David's eldest brother, Adam, is now in Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Jacob married here, died, and left a widow and three children. Mrs. David Pflei- derer is the oldest of a family of eight chil- dren ; her father, John Heckenlively, was bom in Germany and came to the United States a young man ; he was married in Baltimore, and subsequently moved to Chatfleld Township, this county, in 1832. He was a minister of the Gospel of the New-School Lutheran Church. Sometime after they settled here his wife died, leaving eight children, viz.: Mary, Christina, George, Barbara, John, Catharine, Jacob and Magdalen. Of these George, Barbara and John are in Iowa ; Catharine and Jacob in Missouri; Christina is now Widow Shieber. Rev. John Heckenlively finally married the widow of Christian Pfleiderer and lived very confortably. He was sent to Iowa bj- the American Tract Society, as a missionary — in the German language — in the interest of the New-School Lutherans. He preached in that State three years, and, finding his health fail- ing, he resigned ; returned to Mr. Pfleiderer's, and soon afterward passed to that realm of which he so earnestly endeavored to teach others. E. S. PBTERMAN, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus; was born in York Co., Penn., Dec. 1, 1831, the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Shultz) Peterman. The family consisted of parents and two chil- dren — E. S. and Mary ; they moved from Penn- sylvania and settled in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1834. Mr. Peterman, Sr., worked at the blacksmith's trade for some years, but later in life turned his attention to farming. Mr. E. S. Peterman secured a good common-school education, and, in 1859, he embarked in the grocery trade, opening an establishment in Canton, and in 1861 he purchased an interest in a dry-goods establishment with J. J. KauflEman, a brother of Mrs. Peterman. Having sold out liis gro- cery business, he devoted his attention to the dry goods alone, which he followed about six years, and sold out in 1866. He was united in marriage with Henrietta Kaufiman March 20, 1856. Her parents were natives of Lancaster Co., Penn., but moved to Ohio, and settled in Stark County in 1831, where Mrs. Peterman was born July 5, 1837. Mr. Peterman moved to Crawford County in 1868, and in 1870, pur- chased the farm of 80 acres which he now owns, and which he bought of his father, who purchased the same of one Ernshaw, a Quaker. It is said that this 80 acres was the first loca- tion entered in the township. Mr. Henry Peter- man had moved to this place in 1855 ; he and his wife both died here, she in the fall of 1869, and he in the spring of 1873. Mr. E. S. Peter- man is quite a mechanical genius, and does his own odd jobs of carpenter work, and some small blacksmithing jobs. They have three children — Ella, Frank B. and Harrie, and enjoy the comforts of a well-earned and pleasant home. JACOB SHIEBER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in Wiirtemberg, Germany, May 19, 1831. His father, Gottlieb, and mother, Mag- dalen (Brosey) Shieber, emigrated from Ger- many to the United States in 1832 ; they had five children, Jacob being then a mere child. They, with a party of German emigrants, came by way of the lakes to Sandusky City, Ohio, and resolved to make a search for one Fred Peichtner, with whom they 'were acquainted in Germany, and who had settled in Crawford C©. ; with this intent Mr. Gottlieb Shieber and several of his German friends and fellow- emi- :r fc. LIBEETY TOWNSHIP. 939 grants left their families in Sandusky City and set out on foot to walk here. After considera- ble weary search they were successful in find- ing their friend Feichtner, located comfortably in this township on the Broken Sword. Being much pleased with the appeai-ance of the coun- try, they concluded to locate in the same neigh- borhood. When they had made a short visit and looked around for a place to locate, they returned on foot to Sandusky City to move their families here. They hired teams and brought their effects to this locality, and turned their attention to providing a home for themselves. Mr. Shieber bought 40 acres of J. Caris, and soon after he entered 40 acres, and added by purchase until he owned 110 acres. This con- stituted the homestead where the children grew up to maturity ; there were nine in all — Chris- topher, G-ottlieb, Fredericka, Christian, Jacob, Catherine, John, Abraham and Mary. Of these Fredericka, John and Abraham died when young. They were poor when they arrived here and had a hard time, but were blessed with good health and industrious habits, which are the basis of all material success. Jacob was the youngest son who lived to mature years, therefore he remained with his parents until 24 years of age. He married Eve Mauer June 14, 1855 ; they farmed his father's place one year, and then moved, in April, 1856, to the farm where they are living, and where they had bought 80 acres, of which about 20 acres were cleared and a log cabin erected. They were poor and worked hard to improve their home and make it comfortable. At length they were able to purchase 37^ acres of Henry Cobb, and subse- quently bought 80 acres of his brother in Holmes Township, and added by purchase until he owns in all 287 acres of good land with good buildings and otherwise well improved. They received only about $3,000 in all from the old homestead, and all the balance has been made by his own and his wife's industry. They reared nine children, eight of whom are living — John, Louisa J. (was married to Harrison Klink, but is now deceased), Henry, David S., Emanuel, Mary. Lizzie, Abraham and J. W. Mrs. Shieber was born June 21, 1835, in Stark Co., Ohio, and was only 2 weeks old when her parents left Stark Co. to come to 'Crawford. Her father's name was Jacob Mauer ; he emigrated from Germany with his wife and one child and first settled in Stark Co. and, as stated, moved thence to Craw- ford Co., where he died ; his widow married one Simon Price. Mrs. Shieber is the only surviv- or of her parents' six children. Mr. Jacob Shieber was elected Township Trustee for two years ; he was drafted into the army, but fur- nished a substitute ; his father died here in August, 1869, full of years, when he had lived to see all his children enjoying comfortable homes of their own ; his widow still survives at the advanced age of 82 years. The family are members of the German Lutheran Church. DANIEL SELL, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born on the farm where he now lives, June 19, 1838. He is the son of Jacob H. and Mary (Keplinger) Sell, who were both natives of Pennsylvania, and moved to Stark Co., Ohio, when quite young. They were married in Stark Co., and lived there several years afterward. In 1837, they moved to Crawford Co., and brought with them two children — Henry and Elizabeth. Mr. Sell entered 160 acres, and afterward pur- chased 40 acres more ; there were no improve- ments on any of the land which they located on. Mr. Sell erected a log cabin in the woods, and began clearing and improving his home. Two children were born to them after they came here, viz., Daniel and Catharine ; the latter died when about 3 years old ; three grew up to ma- turity. Henry married here one Mary Peter- man, and got 80 acres of his father's estate, but subsequently sold out and moved to Williams Co., where he now resides. Elizabeth is the wife of Samuel Forst, of Indiana. Daniel resided on the farm with his parents, and owns almost 80 acres of the same to-day, and enjoys the fruit of their industry as well as that of his own. Their first residence, or cabin, was re- moved only six years ago, to give place to their more comfortable residence. When Mr. Sell was about the proper age for attending school, there was but little opportunity for attending, as there were but few institutions of the kind in the kind in the country, and on account of his father's ill health, he was obliged to take charge of the farm, consequently his school education is limited. He married Lovina Alice Cooper Nov. 19, 1863. She was born in this county Nov. 19, 1844. They have five children, viz., Willie 0., Prank, Harry, Orie and Perley. Mrs. Sell's father, Adam, and her mother, Eliza (Knisely) Cooper, were natives of Pennsylvania, and moved to this county quite early, and after- ward moved to Findlay, where they died, leaving J^ 4> 940 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: four children — Eliza, Mary, Lovina Alice and Horace Q. Mr. Jacob H. Sell died here on the old homestead, Oct. 3, 1876, and his aged widow resides with their son Daniel. SEXAUER BROS., carriage manufacturers, Sulphur Springs. To give a short sketch of the family, it is necessary to go back to one Christian Sexauer, who, when a young man, emigrated from Baden, Germany, about the year 1827, and landed at New York, but had resolved to push on to the West. According- ly, he set out for Ohio, and located at Sandusky City. After a few years' residence there, he removed to Buo3'rus, and there pursued his trade of shoemaking. On the same ship, there sailed a maiden of his own nativity (Baden), one Carolina Schindler, who was also en route for Sandusky City, Ohio, and who shortly after- ward moved to Bucyrus, which, no doubt, had something to do with the attraction of young Sexauer thither, as subsequent events proved. There they united their fortunes in matrimony, and indeed the financial part was easily united, as neither one had much to begin with except willing hands and good health, which was their capital stock. Here they lived happily for a number of years, when the cold hand of death snatched the husband and father from the fam- ily circle, leaving the widow and four sons, the eldest about 6 years, and the youngest a mere infant, viz., William F., Christian, C. F. and Lewis. Subsequently, the widow married J. G. Kinninger, of Gallon, a wagon-maker by trade. In the meantime, William F. had gone to live with Stephen Brinkman, a chair manu- facturer, and learned that trade with him. Christian had been living with a family in Bu- cyrus until about 17 years of age, when he went to John Sims, and learned the trade of harness-making. When his apprenticeship had been served, he spent some time traveling and working at his trade, with the intention of im- proving thereby. He finally located in Elgin, 111., and began business for himself in 1860, and died there in 1877, leaving four orphan daughters, as his wife had died a few days pre- vious. C. F. and Lewis lived with their mother and step-father, the former going into the wag- on-making business, which he learned thor- oughly. The latter, when about 13 years old, was apprenticed to the painter's trade with Jefierson Norton. At the termination of his apprenticeship, he traveled some in connection with the interests of his trade. In the mean- time, their step-father had moved from Gallon and opened a wagon-shop here (Sulphur Springs) in 1849, C. P. being his only help, and in fact the sole conductor of the business, as both parents were advanced in years and re- quiring the assistance of their son. In 1862, the three brothers, William F., C. F. and Lewis, entered into co-partnership, under the firm name of Sexauer Bros., for the purpose of man- ufacturing carriages and wagons. (For partic- ulars of this industry, see township history.) They employ from eight to ten men, besides what they do themselves, in the various depart- ments. William and C. F. attend principally to the woodwork, as in that they are both pro- ficient, and Lewis takes charge of the painting department. The iron work is under their own supervision, which is suflBcient guarantee that it is well done. They began here with limited means, and, although they have not sprung at once to the zenith of a financial success, they have raised steadily and surely in the favor of their patrons, which is indicative of good, hon- est work and fair dealing, at reasonable prices. Theirs is not the hurriedly -made machine work such as floods the countrj', but everything war- ranted, and made by hand, of the best mate- rial. They are all married, and have each a home of their own. William F. was born Nov. 19, 1835. When 21 years old, he married Mary Rupersberger (Jan. 24, 1856). She was born June 8, 1837, in Germany, and came here with her widowed mother and four other chil- dren, two boj'S and three girls in all, in 1849, and located at Gallon. They have five chil- dren, viz., William, Charles, Frederick, Aman- da and Christian. C. F. was born Nov. 17, 1839. He married Mary Ziegler Nov. 26, 1863. She was born Nov. 17, 1841. They have four children living, viz., Ella, Bessie, Susan and Bertha ; two deceased, Celia and George L. Lewis was born March 17, 1843. He married Sarah Culver May 24, 1871. She was born in Pennsylvania Sept. 21, 1853. They have two children living, viz., Laura A. and Walter A. ; three deceased — Carrie, Edward and Frank. DR. JOHN B. SQUIER, physician. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Salem Township, Wash- ington Co., N. Y., May 16, 1818. His grand- parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Wood) Squier, were natives of New York, and reared their family of eleven children to manhood and ^1 ■> LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 941 womanhood in the same county. There were in the family seven sons and four daughters, viz., Elizabeth, Salmon, Alice, Daniel, Charles, Lucinda, Irene, Calvin, Nehemiah, Sheubel and Elijah. One of these, Lucinda, who was mar- ried to Isaac McClallen, and of whom nothing definite had been known to her kinfolks of Ohio for more than thirty years, was considered de- ceased, when, recently, to their surprise, the knowledge of her survival and residence in Western Pennsylvania came to hand. The Doctor (her nephew) paid her a visit and found her living happily with her son, James McClal- lan, remarkably vigorous and strong for one who has passed 92 summers, and is without a single nervous quiver. To move from the old homestead in New York, Salmon was the first. He settled in the Black River country, in the western part of that State. Calvin, his wife and one child ; Nehemiah, wife and two chil dren, viz., George M. and John B., started, with two two-horse teams and wagons, packing therein goods and utensils such as they deemed would be necessary, set out to push their way to this State. They arrived here safely on Nov. 5, 1822, making the journey in thirty days. They stopped with John 0. Blowers, near the Sandusky River, on the farm now owned by Samuel Blowers. The wives of Calvin and Ne- hemiah were sisters, and sisters of John 0. Blowers, who was pleased to have the Squiers locate by him. He gave them privilege of erecting a cabin on his premises to protect them from the rapidly-approaching winter. This was soon accomplished. There Calvin and Nehe- miah, with their families, spent the winter of 1822-23. When the spring opened, Nehemiah built a more comfortable dwelling on 10 acres, which he purchased of Ralph Beacon, on the Bucyrus road ; and, in a short space of time, Calvin and Nehemiah bought 80 acres across the Sandusky, to which the former removed in 1824, and there made his home until 1851, when he sold out and moved with his family to De Kalb Co., Ind. Nehemiah purchased the mill property of J. 0. Blowers, and moved to it in 1833. He had by this time added 20 acres to his first purchase. Here Mr. Squier reared his family, and knew full well the hardships inci- dent to " life in the woods " in those days. He was a man of sterling worth in the newly-settled neighborhood. They reared five children — George M., who died here when about 17 years old ; John B., of whom we make further men- tion ; William H., who died when about 17 years old ; Nehemiah, who moved to Illinois, and is near Olney, Richland Co.; Daniel W., who resided in Indiana, and died there in 1862 from disease contracted in the army. The fond wife and mother was called away, in August, 1842, from the scenes where she so nobly bore her part, not only in assisting and encouraging her husband in domestic duties, but by leaving the impress of her character on the youths who were about to step into and form part of the coming society ; and how seldom are self-sacri- ficing mothers duly accredited for their pains in that direction. Nehemiah married a second wife — widow of the late Horace Smalley — and, by this union there was one daughter — Alice, now Mrs. A. J. Messenger. April 24, 1865, Nehemiah died, and was interred in the ceme- tery near his original farm, as is also his brother Calvin, and a brother of their wives, William Blowers, who came to Ohio with them and lived here two 3'ears, and taught school in Bucyrus the first winter, and preached frequently through this section, as he was one of the first Meth- odist ministers here ; but he then returned to care for his aged and infirm father in New York, and never returned, except, on three occasions, to visit. On the last occasion, he was taken sick, and, in twenty days' illness, he died at the Doctor's residence. How significant were his last words : " Lay me beside Nehemiah and Calvin, and I know that I'll be with two honest men." Some time previous to the death of the latter, the Doctor had gone to visit his Uncle Calvin in Indiana, and found him in failing health, and brought him along to his home, be- lieving that a change of scene and air would have a good eflfect, to which Calvin readily as- sented, and gave evidence of his desire to be here when his final dissolution would come. He lingered six months, and died, and was interred here. After years of separation and hundreds of miles had intervened, how singular that cir- cumstances should bring the three to the same place to die, who had been life-long, devoted friends, and, as by their desire, their ashes rest side by side ! As above stated, John B. was only 4 years old when his parents came here, and, when about 7 years old, he met with a pain- ful accident by cutting his right knee with an ax". Infiammation set in and resulted in com- plete anchylosis of the knee joint, which influ- •^U ^f ,1^ 942 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: enced his parents to apprentice him to the tailor's trade. He began when 1 3 j'ears old and worked six years. In the meantime, he had ac- quired more strength in the wounded leg, and the tailoring business was too sedentary for his active mind, so he concluded to learn the mill- wright's trade. In connection with millwright- ing, he taught school winters for ten years. Still strivino; for a wider and higher field of knowledge, he took up the study of medicine with Dr. G. L. Ziggler the three last years of millwrighting, and, being determined to master the subject, he would carry his book on medi- cine in his tool-chest, and study nights, wher- ever he was at work, thereby carrying together one of the most important studies and a most particular mechanism. After three years' study, he attended one term in medical college at Cin- cinnati in the winter of 1847-48. He then practiced with his preceptor one and a half years, and then began practicing on his own ac- count ; and, in the winter of 1852-53, he at- tended another term in medical college at Cin- cinnati, at which date he graduated ; and, since that time, he has been applying the healing art in this vicinity with more than ordinary success. The evidence in his favor proves him to be a physician of much ability, a man of great breadth of knowledge, with years of varied ex- perience, and possessed of the strongest vital- ity ; courteous to the stranger, a true friend to his friends, kind and affectionate in his family. He has been married three times — first, to Eliz- abeth Decker, in October, 1839. She was a na- tive of New Jersey, and came here with her parents when quite young. She died in July, 1848, leaving one child — Thomas Corwin. Dur- ing the late rebellion, he enlisted, in March, 1864, in Co. C, 49th 0. V. I., and served until the following June, when he was taken prisoner at Altoona Mountains, Georgia, and sent to Andersonville Prison, where he died July 20, 1 864. His second marriage was with Achsah M. Dilts, in January, 1849. She was a native of this State. She died in January, 1855, leav- ing one child — Ellen, now Mrs. A. E. Humiston. His third marriage was celebrated with Dorothy Hottel. She was born in Bristol, Trumbull Co., Ohio, Nov. 14, 1830. By this union there are six children — Edgar A., Emma (now Mrs. E. Van Vorhis), Annie, Oscar W., Flora and Eflle. He owns the flour-mill, which he bought in Jan- uary, 1867, in partnership with W. S. Beacon. They moved it from the river to Annapolis, and rebuilt it, and, in 1874, the Doctor bought Bea- con's interest, now owning the entire property, which is run by his sons, Edgar A. and Oscar W.; and owns valuable town property besides. The Doctor's religious views are decidedly of the Swedenborgian school, which doctrine he converses of understandingly, with unpreten- tious and unassuming zeal. Politieallj', he was a Republican while he believed that party's banner was emblazoned with human rights and freedom. He withheld not his son (who fell on the national battle-field) when the country was in its greatest need. But, believing that when a party forsakes its principles, patriots should forsake the party, therefore, he espoused the Liberal cause in 1872, and was a warm sup- porter of Horace Greeley, and has since sup- ported the Democracy. NELSON SMITH, sawyer and farmer; P. 0. Bucj'rus ; was born Feb. 7, 1844, in this township. He is the son of Thomas and Mi- rilla (Ketchum) Smith, who came here young, and, after they were married, located near where Mr. Smith lives. Our subject is the seventh of a family of nine children, who are all deceased, except himself and one brother. His parents were among the first settlers of the county, and knew well the hardship which pioneer life subjected them to. Both died on the same farm, where they first began for them- selves, the mother in 1853, and his father five years later. Nelson worked on his father's farm until he was 27 years of age, except one year in which he worked at the carpenter's trade. On Nov. 29, 1866, he cast his lot with that of Cornelia Hise, who was born in this township Feb. 27, 1846. They have two chil- dren—Willie F. and Nellie B. In 1870, he purchased and erected a good saw-mill on his premises, which he has run ever since, doing a good deal of work. He owns 20 acres of land in connection with his mill, which makes them a comfortable home, and which he has made by his own industry. He is a member of Lib- erty Lodge, Knights of Honor. No. 845. SAMUEL SPONSELLER,' farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Dec. 31, 1836, on the place which he now owns. He is the youngest of a family of eleven children. His father, Michael, and mother, Susana (Mentzer) Sponseller, came from Columbiana to Crawford Co. with seven of their children, in 1832. They settled on the n Xj iks. LFBERTY TOWNSHIP. 943 northeast quarter of Sec. 20, in this township, and his first purchase was 80 acres, for which he paid $400 to his brother-in-law, Jacob Mol- lenkopf He (Mollenkopf ) had been here as early as 1828, and made some improvements, but moved west of Bucj'rus when Mr. Spon- seller bought him out, where he died many years ago. Mr. Sponseller was possessed of considerable monej' when they came here, and soon purchased 80 acres more besides entering other 80 acres. One relic of the pioneer im- provement still remains on the place, in the shape of an old log barn, which was built in 1838. When it was up to the square, the famous wind-storm, so destructive in this sec- tion, swept over, carrying the tops of a large hickory and two large oak trees into one of the bays, filling it completely, which was a terrible job to get cleared out, considering the height of the walls, and the weight of the pieces carried in by the wind, and while chopping and clearing it out, he sustained a serious in- jury on his foot. In 1858, he replaced the old residence with a good substantial frame dwell- ing, now occupied by Samuel. They had eleven children — Elizabeth, who married George Emery, and died, leaving three children ; John, who died in Van Wert Co.; Susan, now the widow of Martin Brown, late of Indiana ; Julia, wife of Eli Bressler ; G-eorge, now in Van Wert Co.; Fred, in this county ; Eman- uel, in Hancock Co.; Henry, now in Kos- ciusko Co., Ind.; Reuben, in Defiance Co., and Samuel (he was a twin, but the other died in infancy). After many years of anxious care and toil, with a varied experience of pioneer life, Mrs. Sponseller closed her worldly cares in death, in 1858. Mr. Sponseller married a sec- ond wife, the widow of one Mr. Hatten, whom he followed across the river in 1874. Samuel Sponseller, our subject, married Sarah A Kling, daughter of Moses Kling, April 18, 1861. She was born Oct. 1, 1840. For twelve years after they were married, they rented land in this neighborhood, although in nine years from the time they were married, he purchased 40 acres, and afterward bought 15 acres more. He sub- sequently purchased the old homestead of 120 acres, after his father's death. He has held the office of School Director for several years, which office he now holds. They have three children — Sylvanus E., James Q. and William H. During the early settlement of this neigh- borhood, the locality known as the Wolf Swamp, was infested with wildcats of a very large size, which caused them much annoj'ance by carrying ofi" lambs, and Mr. Sponseller's place adjoining was subjected to their ravages frequently. JOHN L. SNYDER, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Sept. 3, 1830, in Harrison Co., Ohio. His grandparents came from Maryland and set- tled in Harrison Co., Ohio, in the year 1800 ; they had eight children — Adam, Samuel, Henry Clay, George, Eve A., Mary, Sarah and Eliza- beth. Of these, Henry C. was the progenitor of the Snyder family, of this county ; he was drafted into the war of 1812, and was present at Baltimore at the time of Buckingham's defeat. He worked on his father's farm in Harrison County until he married, which event occurred about the year 1322 or 1823, with Hannah Miller, who was born in Maryland, and came to Ohio with her parents in 1801. Shortly after Henry C. and Miss Miller were married, they entered 160 acres in Harrison County, which they put under good improvements. And there Mrs. Snyder ceased her worldly cares in death, leaving seven children — Mary (deceased), Mahala, Samuel, John L., Marie, Catharine and Joseph M. Mr. Snyder married a second wife, Mary Myers, who was then a resident of Craw- ford County, and shortly after his second mar- riage, he moved with his familj' to this county, and settled on the farm where John L. resides, in 1844. By the second marriage there were seven children — Salina, Hannah, Frances, Mar- garet, James M. (deceased), Martha and Ar- mina. Our subject, John L., worked at home on his father's farm until he was of age, and when quite young acquired the knowledge and taste for grafting fruit-trees, at which art he became an expert. He has dealt extensively in nursery stock of various firms, and made a business success of it in every respect ; as his practical experience afibrds him facilities for knowing what is and what is not adapted to this climate and soil. On May 22, 1862, he married Susanna Ronk ; she was born in Penn- sylvania Oct. 10, 1842, and came here with her widowed mother and the rest of the family in 1848. Shortly after their marriage, they bought and located on 80 acres, just west of his present farm, where they lived about eight years, when he sold out and moved to Johnson Co., Mo., but being so lately after the close of 4. 944 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: the war, the state of society was scarcely what an Ohioan could wish for, so he concluded to return, and in six months came back to Craw- ford County and bought the farm of 80 acres where he is now living, of his father, who was then about to retire, and was aged and infirm. They have four children — Clark C, John L., Jr., Virgil V. and Lavern. Mr. Snyder has held the offices of Constable, Assessor and Trustee, for several terms in this township, and is a member of Liberty Lodge, No. 845, Knights of Honor. His father died here in 1871 ; his brother, Joseph M., was drafted during the late rebellion, and went into service in 1862, 49th 0. V. I., and served one year, which was the time for which he was drafted ; at the expiration of that time he returned home unhurt, and died here Aug. 16, 1880. The southeast corner of Mr. Snyder's 80-acre farm is said to be the ex- act geographical center of Crawford Count}'. GOTTLIEB SHIBBER (deceased), farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in "Wurtemberg, Ger- many, Sept. 23, 1823 ; was the third child of Gottlieb and Magdalena (Brosey) Shieber, (whose sketch is connected with that of Jacob Shieber. Gottlieb lived with his parents until he attained his majority, and, on Oct. 11, 1847, he married Christina Heckenlively ; she was born Oct. 25, 1827, in Columbiana Co., Ohio, and came here with her parents when about 7 years old. Her father, John, and her mother, Margaret (Leffler) Heckinlivelj^, came from Germany when j'oung ; they married in Balti- more and came on to Columbiana Co., where they bought 80 acres of land, where they lived about six years. The following January after Mr. and Mrs. Shieber were married, they moved to 80 acres which he had purchased, and on which he had built a log house ; the farm was all woods when they came to it, and, anxious to make a start and get their farm cleared, Mr. Shieber worked very hard and unceasingly. They replaced the log cabin with a good sub- stantial frame residence, in 1859, and, subse- quently, added 38 acres to their farm. Mr. Shieber's health began to fail him, no doubt caused partially by constantly overworking himself, such was his ambition to surmount every financial embarrassment. The messenger of death called him away from his worldly cares, June 18, 1866, leaving a widow and eight children, the oldest only 17 years of age, and the j'oungest born four months after Mr. Shieber's death. The names of the children are as follows : Elizabeth (now Mrs. George Eberhart), John (who is married to Lovina Williams, and lives in Holmes Township), An- nie, John, Sarah, Reuben, Lydia and Gottlieb Wesley. Lydia has been teaching school, and is preparing herself for that avocation. Mrs. Shieber has managed the affairs of her family and farm with much credit and ability, since her husband's^ death ; their wants are well sup- plied with all the necessaries of life, and she has everything prepared to make her mature years pass smoothly by. JACOB SHULL, carpenter ; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Perry Co., Penn., Dec. 4, 1822 ; the son of Jacob and Sarah (Flick) ShuU, and the only child of that union, as death called the paternal parent when he (Jacob) was only a few weeks old. After his father's death he was taken and reared by his mother's father, John Flick, and lived with him until about 1 8 years of age. In the meantime, his mother had again married one Jefferson Wallace, a carpen- ter by trade ; and with his step-father he began to learn the carpenter's trade when in his 18th year. When he had served about two years apprenticeship, he was employed to work by the month, and worked steadily for his step- father four years, and one year for another car- penter. In 1831, they (John Flick, his grand- father and his step-father) sold out and moved to Ohio ; they settled near Mansfield, making the journey in about three weeks. There he assisted his grandfather in the improvement of his farm for about nine years, which includes the time spent at his apprenticeship. His mother and step-father moved to Crawford Co. and located in Sandusky Township, but finally moved to Indiana, where both died ; they had seven children, who moved to Indiana likewise, except one daughter, who was married and re- mained here. In 1845, Mr. ShuU began work- ing at the carpenter's trade on his own respon- sibility, and has been very successful, having raised to date, about three hundred buildings, and some of the largest in the country without the slightest accident to any one around. He formed one resolution when he began on his own account, viz. : " That intoxicating drink of any kind should not be used where he was rais- ing a building," and be it said to his credit, that that resolution was never, in a single instance, deviated from ; even in the early time, when it ^^ s "V ^—4^, LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 947 was considered a dishonor not to have a good- sized, well-filled jug on the ground, when a few persons were gathered to perform any piece of work. Simple as it would now appear to live up to such a resolution, it was then a matter of considerable moment, as it was antagonized by society in general, therefore, it involved the man's popularity who would hold out ; and that was not all, it involved the mechanic's ad- missibility to employ, consequently Ms bread. Notwithstanding, he held firmly to the princi- ples involved. He is, and has been for years, radical in his advocacy of prohibition princi- ples, and has frequently discussed the subject publicly. As illustrative of the undaunted en- ergy of which he was possessed in youth, and which would correspondingly apply at the pres- ent ; he started on foot, when about 21 years old, and walked from here through the then sparsely settled country, to Columbia City, Ind., a dis- tance of 150 miles, on the circuitous route tak- en, in five days, and returned on foot, making a circuit of some of the more northern coun- ties. In those daj's there were no railroad pal- ace cars flying on their beaten course at the rate of forty miles an hour, but the ox team in- stead would plod its way, " with no bad luck," at the rate of ten miles per day ; and a year or so later, he made the same trip again on foot. When about 20 years of age, he united himself with the church, and in 1868 he was ordained a minister of the M. E. Church ; since that date he has held many meetings in various States. He has traveled over nine States, viz. : New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennes- see, Alabama, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and held religious meetings in five of them, princi- pally in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Ten- nessee ; and although he has no regular charge, he does considerable work for the cause of re- ligion wherever an opportunity presents itself He is Superintendent of the Sabbath school, which office he has diligently applied him- self to for the last twenty-five years. He is a man of liberal views, inasmuch as he believes in the advancement of all institutions which tend to the general welfare of mankind, irrespective of their race or color, and, not only liberal in thought, but, with the goods he pos- sesses, giving cheerfully to the support of teachers and missionary work among the freed- men of the South, besides annual delations of considerable amount to the church at home. Nor are his circumstances less comfortable than those who would be more selfish and grasping ; he enjoys the pleasures of a comfortable home in the village, and has a well-improved farm of 90 acres besides, which he has prudently saved of his own earnings. July 3, 1847, he was mar- ried to the widow of the late B. Spahr ; her maiden name was Sarah Peterman. She was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., March 14, 1823. They have three children living, viz. : Francis A. (who married Lucetta Darr — is farming his father's place), Sarah A. and Eva A. Mrs. ShuU has one child — Benjamin Spahr — by her first husband. GEORGE W. TEEL, farmer and purchasing agent for the Ohio Central Eailroad ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus and Sulphur Springs. The subject of this sketch is one of the most active, energetic and successful business men of Crawford Co. He was born at Ashland, Ohio, May 16, 1821, the son of poor but industrious parents. At the age of 10 and 11, having received a limited education, he worked in John Mofflt's brick- yard for two summers, and for the next two seasons drove a team on the Ohio Canal ; he then worked for different farmers in Stark Co., for some two years. In the meantime his father, John C. Teel, had removed to Guernsey Co., and purchased a small farm. The subject of this sketch managed this farm for some two years, while his father worked at the black- smith trade. In his 17th year, he taught school during the winter in Wayne Co., and also fol- lowed this same occupation in his 19th year. After this he attended the Ashland Academy for one term of five months ; then clerked a year for Josiah Blackburn, at Benton, Holmes Co. He removed to Navarre, Stark Co., in the spring of 1843, and from April to July pur- chased horses, took them to Canada and sold them to British officers. Mr. Teel removed to Crawford Co., Aug. 7, 1843, and purchased of George W. Galloway the farm upon which he now resides ; he taught school at Sulphur Springs and vicinity for fifteen winters, as fol- lows : Five winters in the village, three in the Broken Sword District, two in the Charlton District, two in the Rice District, two in the Stephens District and one in the Clingan Dis- trict. He conducted in the Broken Sword District the first English school taught in that neighborhood, and afterward they could never persuade the residents to support a German 2^ J^ -4^ 948 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: school. For some six months, about 1844, he was engaged in the mercantile business at Sul- phur Springs, with a man named Allen, and the establishment was known as the Great Western Store. In 1862, he was appointed Eevenue Assessor for Crawford Co., and served in this capacity for nine years. During the fall of 1872, he was employed by the A. & L. E. E. R., as collecting agent for the corpora- tion, and continued with the company for three years. In the spring of 1877, he removed his family to Bucyrus and was engaged for one year as assignee in settling up the business of Messrs. Osman & Woodside. The family re- moved to Crestline in the spring of 1878, and remained there some twelve months, when they returned to the farm in Liberty Township. During this time, however, Mr. Teel still con- tinued as a partner in the carriage establish- ment at Bucyrus ; is owner at the present time of 303 acres of land in Crawford Co., and 80 acres in Paulding Co., but has not been actively engaged in farming since 1862 ; is at the present time Secretary of the Crawford Co. Farmers' Fire Insurance Company, and also purchasing agent of the Ohio Central Railroad ; as agent for this corporation and also the old A. & L. B. R. R., he secured nearly all the right of way for the road-bed from the coal fields to Toledo, including also the depot grounds lately pur- chased in that citj'. He was instrumental, to a great extent, in securing the guarantee fund of over $100,000 subscribed in 1880, by the count- ies along the route of the road, as the "local aid " to complete this new enterprise, and with Messrs. D. W. Swigart, C. Fulton, S. R. Harris and James B. Gormly, succeeded in getting the Machine Shops Bill passed by the Legislature. The subject of this sketch was married Sept. 17, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Markley, and they are the parents of the following children : Leander L., Jennie (formerly Mrs. Byron Ben- son, but now deceased), Jared, Laura L., Ella, George W., Horatio Markley and Fannie. JOHN F. WILLIAMS, deceased. He was the progenitor of the Williams families in this section. He was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., and was brought up to farm life. When about of mature age, he was united in wedlock with one Elizabeth Flora ; they moved from their native place to Belmont Co., Ohio, at a date which can not be accurately ascertained, but about the year 1806 they located near Steu- benville, and enjoyed their new home about five years, when Mrs. Williams was taken from the family by death, leaving five children, viz., Frederick, Catharine, Isaac, Susan and Eliza- beth. At this time he had a brother-in-law living in Stark Co., and, after disposing of his effects, he repaired to Stark Co. with his five children, and leaving them in charge of his rel- ative, he returned to his native place in Penn- sylvania, and there he married Elizabeth Gar- tie, and, having spent about a year on his visit, he returned with his young bride to where his children were, arriving in 1813. During his unsettled condition and his removals to and from Ohio, he escaped the draft, which would, in all probability, have drawn him into the war of 1812. He was in very poor financial cir- cumstances, and was unable to enter the amount of land specified by law, but bought 60 acres of his brother-in-law, which he improved, and, by his unceasing industry and the enhance- ment in value of the property, he got to be in easy circumstances. In the course of time there were born to him, in Stark Co., by his second marriage, five children, viz., Thomas, George, Joseph, Mary A. and Jacob, three of whom are now aged and respected citizens of this county. An earnest feeling was pervading in the family as to finding a more suitable ag- ricultural location, where farms might be se- cured for his growing family. Thus prompted, one of his elder sons, Isaac, made a tour of inspection, and purchased, in 1828, 160 acres near Bucyrus, in Holmes Township. He re- turned with a description of this locality, which induced Mr. Williams to come here with his family. They started in the spring of 1829, with a two-horse team and wagon, driving a few cattle along. When they arrived at Spring Mills, Richland Co., the family stopped there and Mr. Williams came on here and bought 80 acres in Liberty Township, where his son Jacob now resides. He then went back to Spring Mills and moved the family there. During his absence the oldest boy, Thomas, helped in the harvest at Spring Mills, reaping with a hand- sickle. When they came to Gallon, they found the country so soft and impassable that it was necessary to hire a team to hitch on and help them through here. Elizal)eth, the youngest child of his first wife, was the onlj' one of hers who came at that time. She died shortly after their settlement here. But Isaac and his wife ;fr ^ k^ LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 949 soon followed, to the location he had purchased when out here in 1828. Susan married Benja- min Grants and remained in Stark Co., where she lives to this day. Catharine married Leon- ard Mowin and moved to Wood Co., and is still living. Frederick came here and bought con- siderable land in Holmes Township, and built a saw-mill, which was not a success on account of want of water sufHcient to run at all seasons, and when a dam was built, at a heavy expense, failed to serve the purpose, continually break- ing because of quicksand surroundings. Ex- hausting much of his means, and becoming discouraged, he started for California with the first tide of emigration to that State, leaving here his wife and four children, with the hope of returning in the earlj^ future with a repleted fortune ; but he never returned, and many years since died. In December, 1836, death again visited the family of Mr. Williams, this time summoning the loving wife and devoted mother. He married a third wife — Elizabeth Fox, widow of Michael Fox, late of Seneca Co. She had two children by Mr. Fox, but left no heirs by Mr. Williams. The children bj- his second wife we will make mention of elsewhere, except George, who will come in this connection. He lived at home until about 18 years old, when he went to sail on the lakes with Capt. Cobb. More than twenty years of his life were spent on the lakes ; ten j'ears of that time he was Captain of a steamer plying between Buflalo, N. Y., and Chicago, 111., and intermediate points. He died in Buffalo, N. Y., (his home for years), in 1866. Mary Ann married Josiah Jackson ; they moved to Iowa, where she died. Thomas, Joseph and Jacob are still here, and spoken of with their families, in the following sketches. Mr. Williams was living on the old homestead with his son Jacob, when his final dissolution came. His widow went back to her children by Mr. Fox. THOMAS WILLIAMS, farmer; P. 0. Bu- cj'rus ; is the eldest child of John F. Williams' second marriage ; was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Feb. 16, 1814. He lived with his father until of age, working -on the farm, and being of a mechanical turn of mind, and genius of that kind being in demand, he took up the boot and shoe making trade, without ever spending an hour as an apprentice. By doing jobs of re- pairing for themselves and others, he soon acquired a knowledge of the business that en- abled him to do any kind of work, doing a great portion of all that the early settlers of their vicinitj- required, not because he ever expected to make a lifetime business of it, but more for the accommodation of their own family and neighbors. In 1833, he married Sarah Shaflf- stail. She was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Jan. 25, 1816, and came here with her father's (Solomon Shafl'stall) family in 1832. Mr. WMll- iams had got 80 acres of his father, which was all in wood. He set about improving it, but his health failed him the first j'ear, which interfered seriously with further progress on his farm. The following year he regained- his health and worked for his brother in the summer, at the building of a mill in Holmes Township, at $10 per month. At this time they lived near the mill-site, and boarded the hands emploj-ed at its construction. In 1832, he had the logs cut and hewed to build a house, doing all the work himself and after the completion of his work on the mil], he returned to his farm, five acres of which he had succeeded in clearing. He then set about making general improvements on his place, working hard both early and late. The old log building which he first erected stands on the premises to this day. -The nails which he put on the roof with, cost him 10 cents per pound, which he paid for with maple sugar, made bj' himself and wife ; that was their resi- dence from 1832 until 1860. In 1838, Mr. Williams worked some time at the construction of the Erie & W^ abash Canal, near Defiance, and lost no opportunity in those earlj^ daj'S to do whatever kind of work presented itself, whether considered hard or light, and all with the intent of securing an independent home, which now he so fully enjoys. Besides giving his children a good start, he owns 160 acres of good land. They had eleven children, viz., Al- mira, wife of G eorge Seits ; Henry, whose sketch appears here ; William, deceased ; Elizabeth, was married to Edwin Ferrall, and died in May, 1879, leaving three children; Catharine, wife of Isaac Dial ; Joshua, deceased, in his 25th year ; Laura, wife of John Davidson ; Harrison, married Frances Slocum ; Mary, wife of Joseph Hill ; Amelia, wife of Jacob Payne ; Emma, wife of Lawrence Pponseller. Those living are all married and doing for themselves, and Mr. and Mrs. Williams are spending their later years enjoying the fruits of their early industry. ^^=^ -^ 950 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: JOSEPH WILLIAMS, farmer: P. 0. Sul- phur Springs ; is a son of John P. and Elizabeth Williams. He was born in Stark Co.. Ohio, March 4, 1819. Mr. Williams had but a poor opportunity of obtaining an education, conse- quently his schooling was very limited. His early pursuits were those of the farm, as thej' have alwa3'S been. He has been twice married, first to Catharine Nigh. She was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., July 16, 1816. Shortly after their marriage, they settled on 20 acres, which he owned along the creek, and lived there about two years. He then sold that and worked a rented farm for three years. Having saved a little money by that time, he purchased 80 acres (for which he "paid $800) lying about two miles east. They lived there two years, when he sold out and purchased 138 acres, where he now lives, which is well improved. In 1877, he built the fine two-story frame dwelling which adorns the premises, at considerable cost. Mrs. Williams died in October, 1878. They were parents of nine children, four of whom are living, viz., Eliza, now Mrs. John Rush ; Amanda, now Mrs. John Schaal ; Lovina, now Mrs. George Schie- ber, and Matilda, now Mrs. J. J. McBride. Mr. Williams married his second wife, Polly Miller, Feb. 19, .1880. She was born in this countj', March 5, 1837, and is a daughter of Jonathan Miller, who came to this county at an early date. She was the widow of the late Hon. John Welch, of Wyandot Co. He was among the first set- tlers there, and served about eight years in the Legislature from that county. She was married to him Feb. 18, 1858. He died Dec. 9, 1859, leaving one child — Wesley E. Mr. Williams was drafted into the late rebellion in October, 1862. He served in Co. L, 10th Ohio Cavalry, eight months, without having encountered much of the hardship which was incident to that difficulty. He has been a man of remarkable constitution, as he has scarcely ever experienced sickness, even in the early settlement of this country, when malarial affections prevailed in every community, almost in every family in the fall of the year, except an attack of scarlet fever, when he was quite young, which affected his hearing very seriously ; but, as he advances in years, the organs of hearing become more sensitive and his hearing improves. His son- in-law, J. J. McBride, farms the place, and has ever since he was man-led. That event occurred Jan. 8, 1873. They have three children, viz., Altha L., Stella S. and Aida B. Mr. McBride was born in this county September, 1849. JACOB WILLIAMS, farmer and teacher ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is the son of John F. and Elizabeth Williams, and was born in Stark Co., Ohio, March 23, 1823. His boyhood was spent on the farm, without many privileges of obtain- ing an education, much as he desired it. As he approached the age of manhood, he felt still more keenly* the necessity of acquiring knowl- edge ; and so he studied closely during the odd hours of leisure, and being naturally apt, soon acquired a fair amount of learning. In 1842, he taught school through the winter term, receiving $15 per month, each month compris- ing twentj'-six days. The proceeds of that term were turned over to his father for neces- sary general purposes. The next winter, 1843 -44, he went to school, that being the only term that he ever attended school as a pupil. The following winter he taught a school four miles west of Marion. - The next term he taught in Holmes Township, and continued for three terms, where he taught his first term. Oct. 8, 1848, he married Catharine Hershberger ; and soon afterward they moved to Holmes Township where he worked a rented farm in the summer and taught school during the winter for two years. At that time his father wished him to return and take charge of the old homestead, which he did in 1852, and in 1855, purchased the farm, and has lived here ever since. Al- though he then had the charge of a farm and familj', he pursued his studies by night, kept up with the advance in that direction, and has taught school almost every winter ; having taught fifteen terms in their own district. Mrs. Williams was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., June 8, 1829, her mother (Magdalene Eberly) died when she was about 11 years old. There were thirteen children of them ; ten of whom grew to maturity, and came with their father to this State in 1847. He (Jacob Hershberger) now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Williams, at the advanced age of 85 years. Mr. and Mrs. Will- iams are the parents of four children — Mary A. (deceased), John F., Sally J., now Mrs. Jef- ferson Correll, and George H. The latter has prepared himself for teaching, and taught his first term in Holmes Township, where his father first began. Mr. Williams owns a good farm of 121 acres of good land, which he has earned by his own tact and industry. ^ S' ^^ liL^ LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 951 HENRY WILLIAMS, farmer , P. 0. Bucy- rus ; is the oldest son of Thomas Williams ; he was born in this township Dec. 24, 1836, and worked on the farm with his parents until after he attained his majority. He united his for- tunes with those of Elsie Cobb on March 19, 1859 ; she was born in this township May 17, 1838. In August, 1862, he enlisled in Co. C, 101st 0. V. I., and was rushed to the front im- mediately. The regiment which he was in suf- fered severely from the long and hurried march which they were obliged to make almost as soon as enlisted. Many of them had only been a few days drilling, and were green re- cruits, unused to every phase of warfare. Mr. Williams was in the engagement at Perrj*- viEe, and at Edgefield Junction, Tenn. ; he was taken sick and sent into hospital for some time, and was terribly afflicted with rheumatism, which disabled and reduced his otherwise strong frame to a mere shadow. He received his discharge from army duty in January, 1865. He is a sufferer from the effects of the disease contracted in the service, to this day for which be is worthily among the list of pensioners. While Mr. Williams was in the army, i\Irs. Will- iams taught school, as she was well prepared for that vocation before they were married, and had taught school several years previous. From the date of his return from the army, they re- sided on his father's farm until 1872, when they removed to their present farm of 40 acres, where they live very comfortablj^ They haye only two children, viz., V. K. and Sadie M. ; the former is attending school, with the intention of preparing himself for teaching. Mrs. Will- iams' parents were Henry and Sallie (Mitchell) Cobb ; they had twelve children, ten of whom grew up to maturity. He died at Bucyrus Feb. 20, 1878, in his 73d year, his widow still sur- viving. J. H. WEET, farmer ; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; is the oldest of the family of John and Saloma (Shafer) Wert, who were both natives of Penn- sylvania ; there they reached man and woman's estate, and there they were married. J. H. was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., May 25, 1833 ; their second child (Eliza), was also born in Pennsyl- vania. Mr. John Wert learned the tailor's trade and worked at it during the winters besides at- tending to some farm business. He, with his wife and two children, moved from their native State to Ohio and settled in Sandusky Town- ship, of this county, in 1835. They purchased 40 acres of land and proceeded to make the most of their situation. He would work on the farm through the summer and raise something for their support, and in the winter he would do the tailoring for the surrounding countr}', and, as cash was a very rare commodity in most of the new settlements, he was often ob- liged to receive as pay for his work some pro- duct of the farm, and very nicely situated were those who had some provision to spare. The residence of course was the ordinary log cabin, and not warm dwellings, either, in the inclem- ency of the winter. But between Mr. Wert's farming in the summer and his attention to his trade in the winter, they had always a supply of the necessaries of life. Although all in his im- mediate neighborhood were not so favored. Calling on one of his neighbors he found him in low spirits, and, insisting on an explanation of his moody appearance, the poor man admitted, with reluctance, that his entire store was ex- hausted and was without means of any kind to procure something for himself and famishing family. This announcement made, Mr. Wert produced the price of a barrel of flour saj'- ing, " Take that, get something and pay me when you can." It is needless to say that the poor man accepted it with more inward thank- fulness than he could easily express, and laid in its value of the " staff of life," and soon got jobs of work whereby he was able to sup- port the family and repay Mr. Wert what he had lent him. Notwithstanding his poverty then, he lived to be a well-to-do farmer, with plenty ; only his wife — in her 80th year— survives, as her husband and all the children have passed before, and with grateful feelings to this day she remembers John Wert's generosity when they were in need. In the early settlement the people often resorted to the manufacture of maple sugar as a source of revenue with which to procure some little necessaries, and the first stove that Mr. Wert ever owned after coming to this county, he bought with sugar made by him- self and wife from the maple-tree. They reared to maturity six children (one boy died in infancy), four boys and two girls, viz., J. H., Eliza, now Mrs. Joseph Roop, of Bucj'rus ; J. G., of Bucy- rus ; Sarah A., now Mrs. Abraham Pfleiderer, of Indiana ; and Lewis ; he was married, but both himself and wife have gone the way of all flesh. Their parents are both dead, Mr. Wert IV il^ 953 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: died on May 31, 1865, and Mrs. Wert Ma}^ 12, 1868. When J. H. was about 17 years old, he accepted a clerkship in a general merchandising house where he worlced several years, and clerlied in the mercantile house of F. G-. Hesche over five years in Bucyrus. He then came to the village of Annapolis and clerked for Thomas Gillespie for about six months, and when Mr. Gillespie sold out to E. Warner, Mr. Wert re- mained with him (Warner) about three 3rears. At that time Mr. Warner moved to Crestline, and Mr. Wert turned his attention to farming ; he rented farms for about seven years, and, in 1869, he purchased the farm where he resides. He owns in all 119 acres of well-improved land, and lives comfortably on the fruits of his own industry. He was elected Township Clerk in 1861, and held that office fifteen consecutive years, except one, and, in the spring of 1879, he was elected Township Trustee, and the fall of the same year he was elected Land Appraiser. He is a charter member of the Knights of Honor and is Reporter of the " Liberty " Lodge, No. 845. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth A., daughter of Michael Carlton, May 31, 1860 ; they have two children, viz., Charles M. and Huber B. Mrs. Wert was born in this town- ship, where her parents now reside, Aug. 29, 1833. They are members of the Lutheran Church. J. B. WERT, clerk, Sulphur Springs ; was born Nov. 28, 1837, in Sandusky Township, this county. His parents, John and Salome (Shafer) Wert, were both natives of Dauphin Co., Penn. They moved to and settled in this county in 1835. J. B. is the third of their seven children. He spent the early part of his life on the farm, and acquired a good common- school education. He made his home at his father's until he was married, which event oc- curred May 28, 1863, with Leonora Ziegler, daughter of Dr. George L. and Susanna (Beard) Ziegler. The latter was bom in Mahoning Co., Ohio, the former in Pennsylvania, and came to Mahoning Co. when quite young. From there they came to Crawford Co. and settled in Au- napohs Township Feb. 8, 1841. Mrs. Wert was born here April 1, 1844. Shortly after their marriage, Mr. Wert rented a farm in this township, and spent eight years on two farms. They then moved to this village, and he worked at the carpenter's trade four years. Some time afterward, he accepted a clerkship in the dry- goods establishment of Klopfenstein & Co., which position he holds at present. He owns a very nice home in the village, which he has principallj^ earned by his own industry. He is a member of Liberty Lodge, No. 845, Knights of Honor. They have one child living — Hat- tie M., and one deceased — Flora. ISAAC WATERS, farmer; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born where he now resides on June 22, 1832. His father, Jacob, and his mother, Mary (Trout) Waters, were natives of Westmoreland Co., Penn. They were farmers, and, with a view to giving their growing fam- ily an opportunity of procuring homes of their own in due time, they started with their family of six children — Violet, Benjamin, Andrew, Phillip, Jacob and Michael — and settled in Liberty Township, in 1830, on a piece of land which had been entered by his father-in-law, Phillip Trout, several years before. It was situated on the Sandusky River, and there the family grew up to maturity, and then scattered off to do for themselves. But Isaac, being the youngest of the family, remained at home with his parents. He was the only child born to them in this State. In 1860, the father died, being then in his 73d year ; but Isaac cared for his aged mother, with whom she made her home until her final dissolution, which occurred in 1877, in the 83d year of her age. Isaac's advantages for procuring an education were quite limited, considering both time to be ap- plied and facilities. The old common log-cabin schoolhouse, with its miserably arranged fix- tures, was not conducive to comfort, much less to the happiness so often referred to in more modern school days. In the early winter, when the weather was too chilly to be without a fire in the cabin schoolroom, and one would be made, the result has frequently been that, in consequence of the smoke, the place would be untenantable the remainder of the day ; hence thej' would arrange benches of a temporary character outside, and there finish their exer- cises. He owns a well-improved farm of 173 acres, and takes considerable pride in having good stock. His horse, of the " English Hen- ess " stock, took the first prize in the " general purpose " class, and '■ sweepstakes " of all classes at the late Crawford Co. Fair. He united his fortunes with Mary Bonders, widow of the late John Souders, June 5, 1875. Her maiden name was Mary Chisholm, She was a *f* tiL^ LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 953 native of Perry Co., Penn., and came here in 1854 with her first husband, by whom she has seven children — David, Anna, Martha, Mary J., Virginia, Robert and John. In 1878, Mr. Waters built an elegant two-story frame resi- dence, which supersedes the old house that was built on the premises over forty years ago; also fine outbuildings, which contribute to the appearance of his beautiful location. MICHAEL WOLF, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., March 6, 1799. His father, Henry Wolf, came from Germany a young man, before the Revolution, and settled in New Jersey, where he married, and subse- quently moved to Pennsylvania. While he was residing there, he enlisted in the war of the Revolution, and participated in many of the most important battles of that time. When the war closed, he returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and shortly afterward his wife died, leaving nine children. He married a sec- ond wife, Elizabeth Kaylor, a native of Penn- sylvania. By this union there were likewise nine children, our subject, Michael, being the youngest one of the family. Mr. Wolf, Sr., died when Michael was about six years old, and his mother being left in poor circumstances he (Michael) was obliged to do for himself when quite young, and also required to render early assistance to his mother, who was also called away when he was about 22 years of age. Michael was a natural genius, and, although he never spent a term of apprenticeship at any trade, he could do almost anything in mechan- ics, and if not of the finest character it invariably suited the purpose. Among the trades in which he was most proficient was plastering, masoning, shoemaking and carpentering, as well as doing some blacksmithing of a general character. He married Nanna M. Beck, in 1824, in Pennsyl- vania, and in 1834 they came to Crawford Co., with five of their children, and settled on the farm of sixty-three acres, where he now lives. When he settled here his entire farm was wood and swamp. He came here quite poor with a large family of helpless children ; he had very hard work to get along. He was in debt $25 on his land, for which he gave his note payable in four months ; and ia the new country, where money was very scarce, it was almost impossi- ble to earn or even get cash for work done ; however, by working at odd jobs through the day, and making shoes at night, he raised the means to pay off his $25 note. While he was clearing his land and preparing for a crop, he has been obliged to pay as high as $1.25 per bushel for corn for the subsistence of himself and family ; and pay for the same with work at a very low rate per day. While working at the clearing of his farm through the day, he has often worked at shoemaking until midnight. In one week, while splitting rails every work- ing day, he made five pairs of shoes during the nights of the same week. There are few men, if any, in Crawford Co., who have done more hard work, and now, in his advanced years, with enough to make him comfortable, and good health to enjoy it, he looks back at the past with considerable pleasure when he re- members the hard experience of pioneer days, seeing he has succeeded in procuring the nec- essary things for comfort in his old age. They reared eleven children — Sarah A., now Mrs. John Burk ; Fannie, was wife of John Todd, and died in Michigan in June, 1880 ; Caro- lina, wife of Henry Gipple, of Williams Co ; Elizabeth, wife of John Griner, of Wood Co.; Henry, at home ; Jonas, of Reno Co., Kansas ; Susan, wife of Isaac Smith, of Wood Co. ; John, who is in Michigan ; Jacob, of Wyandot Co.; Samuel makes his home here, and Anna M.; the latter keeps house and cares for her aged father in the declining days of his life. Mrs. WoLf was called away Nov. 10, 1867. GODFREY WINGERT (deceased); was born in Germany Nov. 7, 1807. When about 21 years of age, he concluded to trj' his fortune in the United States. On his arrival here, he took up his residence near Buffalo, N. Y., where he bought a small piece of land ; and, on March 23, 1832, he married Annie Kaler, who had latelj' come from Germany, and was born there Sept. 22, 1807. They lived near Buffalo six years, when they sold their small farm and moved to Ohio, and settled on the farm where Mrs. Wingert and her daughter live. They bought 42 acres on arriving here ; but added by purchases until they owned 127 acres. They had eight chil- dren, seven of whom are living — Andrew, Annie, George, Amos, Marie, Louisa and G. L. Mr. Wingert was a member of the Reformed Church in his native country, and with which he and his wife were identified here. He was called away March 27, 1879. Their youngest son, G. L., was born Nov. 4, 1851, on the farm where his mother now lives. He remained at home 1^ 4 954 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: on the farm with his parents until July 25, 1876, at which date he was united in marriage with Verlonia A. Hilliker, daughter of Samuel P. and Henrietta B. (Duzenberry) Hilliker. She was born in the city of New York, and came to Crawford Co. with her parents when about 9 years old. Her parents remained here until the spring of 1879, when they moved to and took up their residence in Beatrice, Neb. Oda May is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Wingert. They own 40 acres of good land, which he got from his father's estate. They are members of the United Brethren Church of this township. EMANUEL YEITER, farmer ; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born at his present residence, March 3, 1843. He is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Auperle) Yeiter, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, and emigrated to the United States with their four oldest children in 1832. They came direct to Crawford Co. and entered the 80 acres which Emanuel owns. In course of time there were five children born to them in this country, making nine in all, viz., John, Jacob, Mary, David, Catharine, Christina, Fredrick, Sophia and Emanuel. The family grew up here, and scattered out in the world for themselves. The parents knew what the rough pioneer life of the new country was, as they came here, with four small children, into a coun- try strange tO them in every respect. And one of the inconveniences, and not the least, either, to be overcome, was the language, with which they were unfamiliar ; that obstacle Mr. Yeiter finally overcame, as far as was necessary in business; but his wife being less among En- glish-speaking people, and more confined to her domestic duties, where in their own family the German language only was used, she never learned, nor can she to this day converse intel- ligibly in anything but her "mother tongue." They soon arose above pecuniary embarrass- ment, and have all been, and are, living in good circumstances. They are all married and doing for themselves ; John, Jacob, David and Fred- erick are in Kent Co., Mich. ; Mary is now Mrs. Stahl, of Union Co., Ohio ; Catharine is now Mrs. D. Lust ; Christina is now Mrs. Adam Meek, and Sophia is now Mrs. Joseph Neff. Our subject (Emanuel), being the youngest, re- mained at home, and purchased the interest of the others in the homestead. He married Sophia Lust Feb. 29, 1872 ; she is the daughter of Conrad and Magdalene (Myers) Lust, and was born June 19, 1853, in Chatfleld Township. They have five children — Mary M., Elizabeth C, Joseph B., Catharine A. and Albert F. Mr. Yeiter is serving his third year as School Di- rector of his district. He and wife are mem- bers of the German Methodist ''Ciiurch, His father died at the old homestead in June, 1878, in his 77th year ; his wife survives, and is hale and strong, being in her 78th year. Last May she fell down ^nd broke her thigh bone, near the hip-joint, which became perfectly sound again in the miraculously short time of six weeks, considering her very advanced age. JOHN K. ZARBE, proprietor hotel. Sul- phur Springs, was born in Schuylkill Co., Penn., Nov. 1, 1838. Is the son of George and Han- nah (Clauser) Zarbe. In 1856, he came to this county, and began with Jacob ShuU to learn the carpenter's trade. When he had worked three months, he returned to Pennsylvania, and continued his apprenticeship, working at the carpenter business about five and a half years, in the meantime occasionally doing some- thing at home on the farm. In the spring of 1862, he began in the coal mines, where he was at work, when, in the fall of the same year, he was drafted into the army, on a nine months' call. He served as Corporal in Co. F, 173d Penn. V. I., and, at the expiration of ten months, he returned home, having received his discharge Aug. 16, 1863. On Feb. 29, 1864, he re-enlisted in Co. A, 50th Penn. V. I., which belonged to the 1st Division of the 9th Army Corps, in which he did some hard duty, partic- ipating in the battles of the Wilderness, Nye Eiver, Spottsylvania Court House. In the lat- ter engagement he was taken prisoner, but ere his captors had proceeded far with a number of prisoners which they had taken at the same time, they ran unsuspectingly against a pha- lanx of the Union army ; enthused by the presence of the Union soldiers, he (Mr. Zarbe) dashed from the ranks of the prisoners and made good his escape into the Union line, and was soon in his own regiment again, when he participated in the conflicts of Shady Grove, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. On the last of September, he was taken ill and sent to hospital, where he remained from Oct. 1 until about the 1st of November, when he got a fifteen-day furlough, but, being sick and unable for duty, his furlough was extended fif- teen days more. He then returned to Alex- n^ liL^ HOLMES TOWNSHIP. 955 andria, and, being unfit still, for field service, he was assigned a place in the dining-room of the hospital at that place. In April, 1865, he returned to the regiment, which was encamped near Alexandria, where it was stationed on post duty. His regiment was marched to Get- tysburg, where the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the National Cemetery was observed July 4, 1865. On the 30th of that month, he received his discharge and returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and resumed his farm work, which he followed until 1868, when he sold out and moved to this county. Here he bought a farm of 76 acres ; there he left his parents, and bought 120 acres more. He lived on the latter four j'ears, when he sold, and came into the village and worked at the car- penter's trade one year, and subsequently pur- chased the hotel property of Michael Heiby. Nov. 20, 1859, he married Elizabeth Mundinger. She was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 11, 1838. They have had eight children — Alvin P., Hen- ry A. (deceased), John W., Lewis W., William P., Grrant A., Ida E. (deceased) and Laura S. HOLMES TOWNSHIP. JOHN T. ALBRIGHT, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; was born Dec. 16, 1846, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Jury) Albright, of Whet- stone Township ; related to the notable " Al- bright " who founded the Evangelical Church. The subject of this sketch attended school in the winter, and worked on the farm with his father until about 22 j'ears of age, and then en- gaged in farming with his father for two years. He was married Feb. 10, 1870, to Amelia Mc- Cracken, of Holmes Township, who was born Oct. 22, 1847, daughter of Hugh and Martha McCracken. He lived in Liberty Township for three years after marriage, afterward moving to the farm on which he now resides. Two children have been born to them — Franklin, born Nov. 26, 1870, and Martha Ann, Aug. 27, 1875, both living at home. Our subject has a beautiful farm of 150 acres, which is, by his good management, in a thorough state of cul- tivation. DANIEL BRINKMAN, firmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born Feb. 7, 1840, and is the son of Christopher and Mary (Heinlen) Brinkman. The father was a native of Baden, Germany. He was born in 1802, and died in December, 1 876. The mother is also a native of Germany. Their union was celebrated in the fatherland, and they afterward came to this country. There were nine children, six of whom are now living. Daniel is a properous farmer, and is meeting with good success in his business. Of his father's family there were nine children — Henry, John, Lewis, Christopher, Frederick, Mary, Elizabeth, Daniel, Jacob. Of these, Lewis, Mary and Elizabeth are dead. Daniel is a man of con- ciderable influence in his community, and is JACOB BRINKMAN, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; a brother of the preceding ; was born Nov. 5, 1842, and is the youngest son of the family. He was brought up on a farm, and has always followed this branch of industry, and has been successful. He has always been in- dustrious and frugal, and by so doing has placed himself in comfortable circumstances. His father came to Bucyrus when it was a small hamlet, and after a residence of several years there, they removed to Holmes Township. Here they erected a rude dwelling, which is still standing, a rude structure, yet suggestive of many recollections and hallowed memories. Mr. Brinkman is a prominent man of his town- ship, and is an enterprising farmer. JOHN P. BLACK, farmer ; P. 0. Baeyrus ; was born Oct. 29, 1814, in York Co., Penn., and is the son of James and Martha (Porter) Black. He removed to Clark Co., Ohio, in 1844, and engaged in the manufacture of carriages and farming implements for five years. He then removed to Brown Township, Delaware Co., engaging in the same business, and, at the end of three years, removed to Crawford Co., and settled on the farm which he now owns and on which he resides. He has so improved it that it is now one of the finest farms in Holmes Township. He is one of the prominent men of his township, having filled the most prominent oflBces of the corporation, and has been a mem- ber of the school board for twenty years. He :nr _=« © 4* 956 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: has also been President of the Crawford County- Sunday School Union since 1859. For years, he has been an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and a devoted Christian worker. He was married, April 19, 1838, to Margaret Har- uflf, daughter of Peter Haruff, of Hummelstown, Dauphin Co., Penn. Of this union, there were nine children— Martha B., J. Murray, Mary Agnes, Josephine, Carrie P., Thomas B., Louie J., Annie B. and J. Edmund. Mary A. was the wife of Robert M. Hutchison, and died in her 24th year, leaving a husband and two bright little daughters to mourn her loss. Mrs. Black died Sept. 9, 1847, aged 47, leaving a devoted husband and loving family, who miss her, yet not without hope, having faith that they shall meet again on the shores where partings never come. PETER BASH, farmer ; P. 0. Bueyrus ; was born July 22, 1819, in Schuylkill Co., Penn., and is the son of Jacob and Mary (Whetstone) Bash. His parents removed to Stark Co., Ohio, when he was but 5 months old. They remained there until his 10th year, when they removed to Bueyrus. His mother dying in 1834, and his father in 1838, he was left somewhat under the care of his grandfather, who entered land in the vicinity of Annapolis, this county. The grandmother of our subject was the first person ever interred in the ceme- tery of Annapolis. He was married, Sept. 17, 1839, to Susannah Cover, daughter of Samuel Cover, living one mile east of Annapolis. He lived in the vicinity of Annapolis until some 25 years ago, when he removed to his present farm in Holmes Township. Of his marriage, there were born — Samuel, Jacob, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Peter L. and Susannah, all of whom are living ; Mary E. married Jacob Seibert feb. 8, 1873, and died on May 7, 1874 ; Albert and Henry died in infancy. Four children are married and live near their father. Samuel was married some three years ago, and removed to Huntington Co., Ind. Mr. Bash is a prominent man in his township, and has filled several im- portant offices of trust and responsibility in both townships where he has resided. He is a member of the Dunkard Church, his grand- father having been a Dunkard preacher, and a man hia;hly esteemed. ABRAHAM P. DITTY, farmer ; P. 0. Bro- ken Sword ; was born Aug. 31, 1846 ; is a son of Martin and Sarah (Pierson) Ditty, who were natives, the former of Lancaster Co., Penn., and the latter of Henry Co., Ind. They moved to Crawford Co., Ohio, about the year 1840, and settled in Holmes Township, a little south- east of Broken Sword. By his father's first marriage there were two children, of which our subject was the oldest ; by his second marriage, two children ; third marriage, six ; fourth mar- riage, none. The fourth mother of the subject of this sketch is now living at New Winchester, Whetstone Township, this county ; his father having died Oct. 22, 1875. Abraham attended school about one month in the year until 18 years of age, the remainder of the time being devoted to farm work with his father. After his 18th year he engaged in farming ; was married Jan. 21, 1868, to Miss Matilda Selee, daughter of Emeal and Catharine (Spade) Selee, a farmer of note in Holmes Township. By this marriage there were three children — Clara Ellen, born Oct. 27, 1868; Tire Esrom, Feb. 7, 1872 ; Rena, Oct. 7, 1874, all of whom are living at home. Mr. Ditty has cleared up and improved his farm, and is now enjoying the advantages of many broad, well-cultivated and fertile acres. He has also had charge, for the past ten years, of the large tract of land belong- ing to the Dalzells, extensive glass manufact- urers of Pittsburgh, Penn ; is also a prominent man in the affairs of the township. He had a half-brother in the late war, who was wounded at the battle of Bull Run, was sent home and died. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Association of North America. REASIN EATON, farmer ; P. 0. Bueyrus ; was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Dec. 4, 1818, and is the son of John and Catharine (Marker) Eaton. His father was born in Washington Co., Md., April 25, 1778, and removed to Ohio in 1804. He removed to this county in 1829, and lived here till his death, July 23, 1850. There are eight children living, four sons and four daughters ; of the sons two are lawyers, one a physician, and our subject, a farmer. Mr. Eaton received a common-school education and worked on his father's farm. He also remained assisting his father until his death. He was married, April 8, 1857, to Margaret E. Hays, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Stevenson) Hays, born in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Penn. Her mother came to Bueyrus Christmas Eve, 1840, and depended upon her eldest son, a tinner by trade, for support. Of this union, « ^ ?V^ t^ HOLMES TOWNSHIP. 957 there were eleven children, of whom seven are living ; they are Kate, married to W. B. Richie, a prominent young lawyer of Lima, Ohio ; John A. married Basha Quaintance, and is one of the rising young lawyers at the Bucy- rus bar ; Horace married Ada Fry, daughter of Henry Fry, of Liberty Township ; Harvey married, Jan. 16, 1879, to Flora Shaftner, daughter of Henry Shaftner, who gave his life for his country. Also Reasin, Ethel and Wal- ter at home. Virginia, Mark, George and Nellie died while young. Mr. Eaton is, per- haps, the wealthiest farmer in Holmes Town- ship, and is also one of its most prominent men. He has often been urged by his friends to accept a nomination for the Legislature, but has alwaj-s declined the honor. By strict at- tention to business and good management, he has been very successful. Himself and wife are both members of the English Lutheran Church, and by his means and labor it was that the church of which he is a member was erected. Reasin Eaton will long be remem- bered as a man who loved righteousness, and whose hand was not withdrawn from things of charity — a man universally loved and respected. GEORGE F. EBERHART, farmer ; P. 0. Broken Sword ; was born Jan. 20, 1812. His parents were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, where our subject was born and attended school. In his 15th year, he was apprenticed to John Myers for three years, to learn the blacksmith's trade, for which he paid $30, and found his own clothing. After his 18th year, his apprenticeship having expired, he worked as a journeyman in his chosen avocation for one year, and then took passage for this country, with his mother and two brothers, his father having died when he was in his 4th year. After a voj'age of forty-two days they landed in New York, thence to Bucyrus, arriving about the 14th of September, 1832. He then engaged as chain carrier for John Schleiver, in laying out the village of Schleivertown, now Annapolis, and afterward at blacksmithing with one Fred- erick Beard, in the town which they had laid out. He afterward went to Harrisburg, Stark Co., Ohio, and thence to Louisville, same Co., where he run a shop for himself until his mar- riage, which occurred Feb. 14, 1834, to Catha- rine Hamm, of Washington Township, Stark Co., where he purchased a small piece of land, and lived for about two years, then moved to Lib- erty Township, Crawford Co., and purchased a small farm, improved it and worked at his trade a few years, then moved back to Stark Co., where he purchased 100 acres and lived for two years ; sold out and again moved to Crawford Co., Cranberry Township, where he dealt in real estate quite extensively, and lived there thirty-four years, when he moved to the beautiful farm on which he now lives. By his first wife there were seven children — Jacob, born Sept. 20, 1836; Mary, July 15, 1838; Elizabeth, Oct. 7, 1841 ; George, June 29, 1844 ; Rosina Catharine, Feb. 28, 1847 ; Margaret C, Nov. 30, 1849, and Christine, Sept. 30, 1854. His first wife died March 14, 1868. He was again married April 12, 1870, to Mrs. Barbara (Walker) Foust, born March 18, 1832, who had one daughter, Christine, born July 24, 1855, by her first husband, Taylor Weingartner. Mr. Eberhart, with his wife and four surviving chil- dren, who are all married, are members of the Albright Church. JOHN GEORGE EBERHART, farmer ; P. O. Broken Sword ; was born June 30, 1844, and is a son of George Frederick and Catharine Elizabeth (Hamm) Eberhart, of Cranberry Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. He is the sec- ond son of a family of five children, three daughters and two sons. His father was a native of Germany, and his mother a native of Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch ac- cepted the limited educational advantages afforded, and attended school when the oppor- tunity was given him, woi-king on the farm with his father and studjdng when he had a few spare moments, until about 19 years of age. He then engaged in farming until 22 years of age, when he was united in marriage Sept. 24, 1866, to Elizabeth Sheber, daughter of Gottlieb and Christina (Heckenlively) Sheber. This union was blessed with four children — Matilda Jane, born July 24, 1867 ; Mary Corena, Oct. 17, 1869 ; John Benjamin, June 3, 1872, and Sarah Naomi, June 19, 1875, all of whom are living at home with their parents. Mr. Eber- hart's magnificent surroundings show a marked degree of ability in his chosen avocation. He and his estimable wife are members of the Ger- man M. E. Church, of Holmes Township, and are prosperous and happj'. DANIEL FRALICK, merchant ; P. 0. Win- gert's Corners; was born May 11, 1817, in Dauphin Co., Penn. He is the only child of S) \ ^ lii^ 958 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: William and Mary (Harden) Fralick, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. He worked on a farm with his father during the summer, and in the winter attended school, until his 13th year, when his parents removed to this county and settled on the Rowse farm, now occupied by A. Monnett. They lived here from spring until fall, and then removed to the extreme north of Holmes Township and entered 80 acres of land, with patent given by Andrew Jackson. Here they erected a log cabin, worked hard and endured the privations of a pioneer life. In the spring of 1834, he came to Bucyrus, and commenced work in the flour and saw mill of Elias Slage. He worked during the time, when the water-power was sufficient to run the mill, and during dull times he returned to his father's farm, and put in his time there ; he worked at the mill from 1834 to 1846, in which year he moved on his father's farm, and lived there several years. In 1853, he commenced a store at Wingert's Corners, and in 1855 built a new storeroom, which he now occupies. He also worked the farm, in connection with his mercantile pursuits. Mr. Fralick is now en- gaged in the mercantile business at Wingert's Corners, and is doing well. He is a prominent man in his township, having held several offices, and has been Justice of the Peace for 15 years, being the only Republican in his neighborhood. Himself and wife are both members of the Reformed Church. He was married to Ann Maria Shupp Oct. 6, 1840. She is a daughter of John and Ann Shupp, of Wingert's Comers, and is a native of Dauphin Co., Penn. Their union was blessed with nine children, of whom Henry, Isaiah, Mary and Sarah are deceased. Margaret J. married Samuel Flickinger ; La- vinia married Samuel Swank, and John married Matilda Shirk, of Holmes Township ; Rebecca and Daniel are at home. SAMUEL FLICKINGER, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- CJTTUS. The subject of this sketch was born March 21, 1837, in Dauphin Co., Penn., and is the ninth child in a family of twelve. His father, also named Samuel, came to Stark Co. at an early day, and from there removed to this county, where he lived until his death, in 1872. The subject of our sketch spent his youth on a farm, and received a common-school education. At the age of 28, he commenced saw-milling, and has been engaged in the business some fifteen years. He is a well-known and highly respected citizen of Holmes Township, and is well respected by all who know him. He was married, Dec. 28, 1867, to Margaret J. Fralick, daughter of a prominent merchant of Wingert's Corners. This union has been blessed with two children — Clarissa and Fanny Blanche. ISRAEL GOODWIN (deceased), Bucyrus; was born April 4, 1833, and was the son of William A. and Rebecca (Helpman) Goodwin. He was a carpenter by trade, and followed the occupation for several years, and then engaged in farming until his death, which occurred July 18, 1874. He was a man universally respected, and a good husband and father. He was mar- ried Nov. 12, 1857, to Lovina Heller, daughter of D. J. Heller, and who still survives him. Of this marriage there are six children — Mary Ellen, born Oct. 23, 1858, married William A. McBride, and is living in the township ; Ange- line, born March 4, 1861 ; Alice, March 28, 1863 ; Maud, Oct. 20, 1865 ; Minerva, Jan. 2, 1868, and Leander, June 22, 1874. Mrs. Good- win is living on her farm in Holmes Township, and is in very comfortable circumstances, and is respected by all who know her. TILGHMAN H. GEORGE, farmer; P. 0. Broken Sword ; was born May 12, 1834 ; is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Houpt) George, who were natives of Northampton Co., Penn. They moved to Wj'andot Co., Ohio, in the fall of 1853. After residing there for some time they moved to Crawford Co., Ohio ; thence to Seneca Co., Ohio. The subject of this sketch attended school during the winter months, and worked with his father at shoemaking until about 21 years of age, when he engaged for himself in shoemaking, then in the manufacture of cigars, and afterward in the carpenter's trade. About twenty -one years ago, he began his agricultural life, which he has run quite successfully, and, within the past five years, has added a thresh- ing machine of the latest improved style to his large stock of machinery, and has, by his exten- sive adoption of machinery in agriculture, been liberally remunerated for his skill and energy. He was married Nov. 27, 1856, to Sarah Miller, a daughter of Jonathan and Anne (Shupp) Mil- ler, who were natives of Dauphin Co., Penn. By this marriage, there were seven children — William Henry, born April 24, 1858 ; Wesley E., July 14, 1859 ; John Adams, Jan. 7, 1861 ; an infant son died on day of birth, April 5, 1862 ; Anna E., June 26, 1869 ; Roily Edgar, ^? ^^ HOLMES TOWNSHIP. 959 Feb. 25, 1872, and Eosetta, April 30, 1876. William H. was married in March, 1880, to Lena Sterns, of Lykens Township, this county. Wes- ley is engaged in business in Seneca Co., Ohio, and the rest of the family are at home with their parents. Mr. George has been a promi- nent man in the township, having held some important offices. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Albright Church, and are respected and esteemed by all who know them. ELIZABETH HEINLBN, farmer ; P. 0. Broken Sword ; was born Nov. 20, 1844 ; is a daughter of Christopher and Kachel (Wagner) Auck, of Crawford Co., widow of the late Henry Heinlen, who died March 23, 1877, who was a son of Lewis and Hannah (Wise) Heinlen. Since her husband's death, she has taken charge of the business pertaining to a farm of 160 acres, showing by the extensive improvements which she has made, and the high state of cul- tivation under which she has the land, that the weaker sex are capable of assuming responsi- ble positions, if the opportunity is given them. She was married to Henry Heinlen Feb. 4, 1868. From this union there were four chil- dren — Clara Malinda, born Nov. 28, 1868 ; Manuel Edward, born May 6, 1871 ; Caroline Rebecca, born Nov. 26, 1873 ; Sarah Elmira, born Oct. 31, 1876, died March 8, 1877 ; the remaining three are living at home with their mother. Mrs. Heinlen and her husband were members of the German Reformed Church at Wingert's Corners. JOHN HOLMAN, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Nov. 7, 1828 ; son of Martin and Ro- sanna (Foy) Holman, the former of Beaver Co., Penn., where he resided until he was about 12 years of age, when he moved to the State of Kentucky, where he resided for a time, then moved to Brown Co., Ohio, thence to Ross Co., where he learned the currier's trade, which he followed for a time with an older brother. He afterward moved to Crawford Co., where he un- derwent the trials of an early pioneer life, work- ing at his trade and clearing up the country. Our subject was born in Crawford Co., when that county was in its infancy, and when edu- cational advantages were limited ; but by his diligence he obtained a moderate education by attending school in winter, and working with his father until about 22 years of age, when he attended college for a time at Oberlin Univer- sity, Westerville, Ohio. He then engaged in farming, working at the carpenter's trade and teaching, for about three years, and afterward farming and teaching for several j'ears. He was married Oct. 5, 1854, to Hannah M. Brown, daughter of Asa and Eliza (Lee) Brown, of Crawford Co. This union was blessed with five children — Lucelia E., born July 27, 1855 ; Jay B., born Nov. 21, 1859 ; Guy C, born April 10, 1864, died Dec. 8, 1870 ; Carrie A., born July 15, 1872, and Myrtle, born March 14, 1874 ; all those living are at home with their parents. Our subject was elected Jus- tice of the Peace in 1865, which office he filled creditably for fifteen consecutive years. He was also Township Clerk for seven years, and Township Trustee for three terms. He is now a member of the Board of Directors of the Crawford County Farmers' Fire Insurance Company. He has lived in this county for over fifty-one years, and he, with his estimable wife and family, are members of the Lutheran Church of Holmes Township, much esteemed and loved by all who know them. MARY HEMMINGER, farmer : P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born Jan. 1, 1812, of Irish-English descent. Her parents were James and Sarah (Hawks) Martin ; the former, a native of Ireland, went to a place at that time eleven miles from London, England, but which is now in the city, where he engaged in business and married Sarah Hawks. They took passage from Lon- don in the fall of 1822, being nearly three months on the voyage, landing in Philadelphia about fifty-eight years ago. On their voyage across the " briny deep," and, during a severe storm, their ship's rudder was lost, and they were left drifting at the mercy of the wind and waves ; but, by the bravery of the men, several of whom lost their lives in attempting the nec- essary repairs, having to work under the water, the ship was saved. One brave old sailor, whose memory our subject will always reverence, suc- ceeded in making fast the rudder, thereby ef- fecting a safe landing. Some time after arriv- ing in this country, her parents moved to this State, where they underwent all the trials, suf fering and exposure of an early pioneer life. The subject of this sketch, being the " cow-boy " of the family, was many times for days and nights in the woods, being at one time twenty- six miles from home, and, overtaken by dark- ness, she was compelled to wait in the howling wilderness, with none but the Great Spirit to ^^ w ^k 960 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: protect her, but hoping for the moon to rise, that she might be directed in her course. Her father's cabin was frequented hj the Indians, by dozens and scores, almost crowding the family from their humble home, that they might be sheltered from the raging elements without. The husband of the subject of this sketch was twice married ; first to Miss Elizabeth Spahr, in 1825, and after her death to Miss JIary Mar- tin, on May 13, 1830. They moved to the farm on which the widow now lives, about the year 1838. This union was blessed with thirteen children, eight of whom are living, five having died in infancy. Those living are James, born Feb. 4, 1831 ;'Mary Ann M., June 10, 1832 ; Sarah J., Feb. 14, 1834 ; Martha, Aug. 31, 1838 ; Charlotte, March 8, 1841 ; John, June 10, 1848 ; Jacob, Feb. 7, 1851, and Blarsella, June 29, 1855 ; all of whom are married and living in the great State of Ohio. Mr. Hemminger had been seriously indisposed for three years before his death, and bore his afflictions at all times with cheerfulness and resignation, al- though confined to his bed most of the time, death releasing him Sept. 6, 1877. at the ad- vanced age of nearly 80 years. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, was a desirable neighbor and a man of his word, prompt in ful- filling his contracts to the best of his ability, and lived and died esteemed and respected by all who knew him. DANIEL J. HELLER, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; was born Aug. 7, 1814, in Dauphin Co., Penn. He attended school in winter, and worked with his father until about 1 8 years of age, when he engaged in farming with his father until his marriage, which occurred in October, 1833, to Catharine Ginrick, who was born July 15, 1816, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Fishbaum) Ginrick, a respected farmer of Dauphin Co., Penn. After marriage, they en- gaged in farming in Dauphin Co. for about four years, and then moved to Liberty Township, where they lived about twenty -seven years, when they moved to the farm on which they now reside. Their marriage was blessed with thirteen chil- dren—Elizabeth, born Feb. 20, 1835 ; Mary, Jan. 5, 1837; Lovina, May 15, 1839 ; Lucy A., Dec. 7, 1841 ; Jonathan G., March 12, 1844 ; Susanna, Oct. 13, 1846 ; Sarah J., Jan. 14, 1849 ; an infant son, Nov. 27, 1851 — died same time ; Melissa, Dec. 22, 1852 ; William, June 30, 1855 ; Catharine E., Jan. 23, 1858 ; Dianah B., Dec. 12, 1860, and Ida A., March 1, 1864. Su- sanna died June 21, 1849 ; eleven are still liv- ing. Elizabeth married George Frame, son of a farmer of Holmes Township, and moved to Johnson Co., Kan., where they now reside. Mary married Aaron J. Quaintance Oct. 9, 1836 ; Lovina married Israel Goodwin, now de- ceased, Nov. 12, 1857 ; Lucy married Emanuel Aumillcr in the fall of 1860 ; Jonathan G. was married to Lovina Quaintance March 15, 1866 ; Sarah J. to Jacob Sheckler March 20, 1867 ; Melissa A. to Frank Johnson Dec. 15, 1872, and William H. married Amelia Stewart Dec. 23, 1875. Mr. Heller, by hard labor and frugal living, has given his large and interesting fam- ily a sufficiency of this world's goods, and as good educational advantages as their common schools afforded. He and his wife are mem- bers of the United Brethren Church, and are verv much respected by all who know them. JOHN JOHNSON, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Nov. 20, 1829, and is the youngest of a family of four children born to Jacob Johnson. The subject of our sketch removed to Crawford County in 1844, and commenced farming. He was in his youth denied the advantages of education, having never gone to a school in his life. However, he rose above the disadvantages of his situation, and acquired by his own efl!brts an education of practical worth and benefit. He was a mem- ber of Co. L, 10th 0. V. C, and served eighteen months, when he was discharged on account of disability. He was a good soldier, and fought bravely in the defense of the rights of man and the preservation of the Union. He was married, Dec. 20, 1847, to Susanna Lonnes, and has four children — Franklin L., John W., Theodore and Mary Etta. Three of these are married, and are living near their father, in good cir- cumstances. Mr. Johnson is a prominent citi- zen of his community and universally re- SDGCljGCl PETEE T. JAMES, farmer ; P. 0. Broken Sword ; was born March 23, 1850, eldest son of Jesse and ^lary (Wells) James, natives of the Buckeye State ; they moved to Crawford County in the fall of 1847, to the farm on which they now reside. After moving to Holmes Township, in the wilderness, the}' cleared a space in the woods large enough for the erec- tion of a rude log cabin, which the father built to shelter his family ; then he went to work ^ el - ^^ i^ HOLMES TOWNSHIP. 961 with a will which showed a determination to accomplish the great work which was before him. Their beautiful buildings, pleasant sur- roundings, and the large income of their broad and fertile fields, is the reward of hard labor, good management and frugal living in an early pioneer life. The father died April 25, 1878, in the 57th year of his age, leaving three sons and two daughters — Peter T., Thomas, Maggie, Elizabeth and Henry, and an estimable wife to mourn the loss of a true husband and noble father. Thomas was married, Oct. 25, 1877, to AUie Linn, daughter of William and Hannah (Fralick) Linn, respected farmers of this town- ship. Jesse James and wife were members of the Evangelical Association ; were always en- gaged in good works, such as building churches and assisting the poor and needy. Politically, they are Republicans to the core, and the core is also Republican. WILLIAM KERR, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Aug. 24, 1808, and is the son of William and Sarah (Abraham) Kerr, and is of Welsh-Irish descent. In the fall of 1832, in company with a colony of twenty-one, he re- moved to this State and settled in Whetstone Township, near the Plains. He lived here un- til 1877, when he removed to his present home. He was married, Feb. 14, 1838, to Miss Jane Clark, of Whetstone Township. This union was Ijlessed with nine children — Archibald, Ann, Alexander E., Nancy, Elizabeth, Sophia, Jane, Margaret, and a son who died in in fancy. Those living are all married, and do- ing well. Archibald entered Co. K, 81st 0. V. L, in the fall of 1862, under Maj. W. H. Cham- berlain, and died at Corinth, Miss., of a fever, Dec. 1, 1862, aged 24 3'ears 9 months and 25 days. Mr. Kerr has made his property by hard labor and frugality, and is now in com- fortable circumstances. He and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus, and have been so for twenty-five years. WILLIAM LINN, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is a well-known resident of this township, where he has lived since the year 1834. He was born on Sept. 6, 1805, and is the son of John and Margeretta Linn, who came from Germany in 1834, and settled in this portion of the county, where he has ever since resided. He has raised five children, who are now all married, and in prosperous, well-to-do condi- tions in life. Their names are William, Sophia, Lewis, Caroline and Julia. The father is a frugal, industrious man, who has labored hard throughout his lifetime to accumulate his prop- erty, and is now an old and highly respected citizen. JOSEPH LONNES, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born March 17, 1802, in Berkeley Co., Va., near the town of Bath. He is the son of John and May (Spahr) Lonnes. A singular coinci- dence connected with his birth is that he was born in the same house that had been the scene of his mother's birth also. When he had reached his 9th year, his father removed to Columbiana Co., Ohio, and settled some six miles from the Ohio River. He was the oldest of eleven children, seven of whom are now living, and a large share of farm work fell to him in early life. He was married, in 1829, to Miss Jane IBoeman, and seven children are the fruits of this marriage. One of his sons, Lam- bert, was stabbed and killed by one Joseph Morran. All of his children have been given good starts in life, and all are now doing well. Mr. Lonnes is a self-made man, and has accom- plished all by hard labor and frugal industry. He is one of the much-respected citizens of his township, and is a stanch Republican. BENJAMIN LUST, farmer ; P. 0. Broken Sword ; was born July 24, 1854 ; is a son of Frederick and Sophia (Buhl) Lust, residents of Lykens Township. His father was a native of Germany, his mother a native of Pennsj"lvania. Benjamin attended school in winter and worked with his father on the farm the remainder of the time, until about 17 years of age, when he engaged in farming with his father until after attaining his majority. He was married, March 2, 1876, to a Miss Bberhart, daughter of George Frederick and Catharine Elizabeth (Hamm) Eberhart. After marriage, Benjamin resided on his father-in-law's farm for about three years, when he purchased the farm on which he now resides. Of his father's family, there were eight children — four sons and four daughters — of whom Benjamin was the fourth son, for whom, on account of his energy and ability, we predict a bright future. ABRAHAM LICHTENW ALTER, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Sept. 17, 1817, in Stark Co., Ohio, and is the second son of Michael and Mary (Eyster) Lichtenwalter. He received but about eight months' schooling in S ^f 11^ 963 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: his whole life, the remainder of his time being devoted to work on the farm. He was married, Feb. 7, 1839, to Elizabeth Allbaugh, of Stark Co., and, the following fall, removed to Craw- ford Co. and settled in Holmes Township, at a time when it was very sparsely settled, and when the greatest amount of hard work was necessary to bring the soil to a good state of cultivation. His marriage resulted in ten chil- dren, of whom Harriet died at 18 years of age ; Emeline died at the age of 3 years ; Michael at 4 months ; Nancy Ann at 9 years of age, and two more in very early infancy. Those married are Mary Eve, born May 16, 1847, married to Jacob Linn, May 16, 1871, died July 31, 1871, of typhoid fever; Matilda Elizabeth, born April 16, 1850, married to Edwin Chapman Sept. 2, 1869 ; they had four children— Charles Clinton, Laura Bell, Alberta, and one who died in early infancy ; William H., born Aug. 22, 1852, living at home, and working the farm for his father ; was married to Candace Correll, daughter of Jacob Correll, a farmer of Holmes Township ; she died July 23, 1877 ; William was remarried Dec. 25, 1879, to Alice C. Eeinsberger, daughter of John Reinsberger, a resident and prominent farmer of Carroll Co., Ohio ; Elmira, born Jan. 24, 1857, married to Levi Sponseller Feb. 11, 1874 ; living near Bloom ville, Seneca Co., Ohio. There are three children — Myrta May, born March 15, 1876 ; 011a J., born Dec. 5, 1877 ; Orrie F. A., born May 7, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Lichtenwalter are genial and well-respected citizens of their township, and are greatly esteemed by all who know them. JACOB MILLER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Aug. 17, 1820, and is the youngest son of John A. and Mary E. (Wert) Miller, res- idents of Dauphin Co., Penn. They moved to Crawford Co. in October, 1830, and settled in Todd; then Sycamore, Township. After living there about ten years, they removed to Holmes Township, where they lived, and died twenty- five years ago. Our subject worked on the farm and received a common education. At the age of 22 years, he married Miss Polly Shupp, daughter of a respected citizen of Holmes Township. This wife dying, he was again mar- ried, only to again lose the wife of his affections. He maiTied his third and last wife, Mary Ream, on April 13, 1852. He has had nine children born to him. Those living are Thomas, Eliza- beth, Sarah, Eve, Christopher, Maria and Emma. Catharine and John died in infancy. Mr. Miller and wife are both members of the Lutheran Church, are exemplary Christians, and are well esteemed in the township where they live. STEPHEN McBRIDE, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born May 5, 1809, and is a son of John and Ann (Maloy) McBride, natives of Virginia, who moved to Columbiana Co., Ohio, about the year 1804. Our subject attended school a few months in early life, and assisted his father on the farm until marriage, and two or three years thereafter, then moved to Craw- ford County, Nov. 15, 1836, with his wife and two children, having been married March 3, 1831, to Eliza Weisman, a native of Cumber- land Co., Penn. ; b}- this union there was one child, Mahlon, born April 18, 1832. His sec- ond marriage was to Hannah Boyle, June 13, 1833, of Columbiana County, by whom he had two children — Eliza Jane, born June 19, 1834, and Sarah Ann, June 22, 1837 ; some time after, he was again called upon to lay awaj- be- neath the sod the one upon whom his affections had been centered, and on the 19th of July, 1840. he was married for the third time to Pa- tience Lewis, of Crawford County, by whom he had ten children — Elizabeth, born June 18, 1841 ; John, April 26, 1843 ; Joshua L., Feb. 9, 1845 ; Wm. Lockard, Jan. 14, 1847 ; Jere- miah J., Sept. 16, 1849 ; Hannah M., April 4, 1852; Rachel U., May 7, 1854; Stephen A., June 7, 1856; Martha M., June 11, 1859, and Reuben R., April 30, 1866 ; all of whom are living and married except the two youngest, who are at home assisting their parents. John served in the late war over four years ; was taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga, and served and suffered nineteen months and eight days of prison life in six different Southern hells, but his life was spared and he returned home. Mr. McBride, his wife and most of the family, are members of the United Brethren Church ; working with a willing hand for the advancement of the "cause and kingdom" here. Mr. McBride, at the advanced age of 72 years, is hale and hearty, able to work, and to enjoy the rewards of his beautiful home and the abundance of his farm, which has been given him for the toil and suffering which he endured in his early pioneer life. MAHLON McBRIDE, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born April 18, 1832, in Columbiana ;r \ * Lliv HOLMES TOWNSHIP. 965 Co., Ohio, is the son of Stephen McBride. He attended school in the winter, and assisted his father until about 20 years of age, when he en- gaged in farming. He was married Nov. 3, 1855, to Sarah Jane Hemminger ; by this union there are seven children — William A., born Sept. 24, 1856 ; Samuel B., Dec. 30, 1858 ; Em- merellis, June 23, 1861, Marsella, Jan. 23, 1866 ; Ida, March 23, 1868 ; Sadie, June 29, 1874, and Stephen M., Feb. 19, 1877, all living and at home, except William, who married Angeline Goodwin, on Aug. 8, 1878, and Em- merellis, married to a Miss Doufler, Dec. 17, 1877. Mr. McBride and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and excellent people. DANIEL McCLANE, retired farmer ; P. 0. Wingert's Corners ; was born July 30, 1809, in Dauphin Co.. Penn., and is the oldest son of John and Eve (Jury) McClane, who both died in Pennsylvania. Mr. McClane was raised on a farm, and attended district school. He also learned the trade of a weaver with his father at home. He was married June 29, 1828, to Elizabeth Shaffner, in his own State, she being eight days younger than her husband. Two years later. May 5, 1830, he removed to this county, and since 1869, has been a resident of Holmes Township. He is an old and highly respected citizen, and though 71 years old his hair is not whitened, but retains its raven black color. Mr. and Mrs. McClane are both estima- ble Christians, and members of the Evangel- ical Association of Wingert's Corners. Of their marriage, there were eleven children, all of whom are dead, and but one grandchild is left as heir or descendant. The names of their children are John Martin, Sarah Ann, Leah Jane, Nancy Loretta, Lucy, Sylvester ; the re- mainder all died in infancy. Sarah married Martin Ditty, of Holmes Township ; John Martin married Polly Hiesch, whose daughter, Loretta, is now living. WILLIAM MATEER, farmer; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; was born Sept. 9, 1823, eldest son of James and Elizabeth (Shrum) (Spangler) Mateer, near Rosstown, York Co., Penn. His mother was born in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Penn., Dec. 5, 1793; father born Aug. 31, 1794, near Lisburn, Cumberland Co., Penn., of Scotch-Irish descent. William Mateer, our sub- ject's great-grandfather, started to this country from Ireland, early in 1700, with his family, con- sisting of wife and four sons — William, James, Robert and John, and buried all at sea ; after settling in America he had four other sons, whom he named same as first four. The subject of our sketch attended school in winter, and worked with his father on the farm in summer, until about 21 years of age, at which time he engaged in farming with his father, until his 23d year, when he was united in marriage to Miss Cath- arine Ann Wagoner on Sept. 8, 1846 ; she was born Feb. 12, 1825, youngest daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Draver) Wagoner, respected farmers of Cumberland Co., Penn. Mrs. Ma- teer's father was born Oct. 8, 1787, her mother Dec. 1, 1784. They moved from Cumberland Co., Penn., to Holmes Township, lauding in Bucyrus on Aug. 30, 1854, and engaged in farming near the place on which they now re- side. Two children were their issue — Mary Elizabeth, born May 18, 1847, died Nov. 1, 1850, and William Albert, born Oct. 20, 1850. The latter attended school and helped his father on the farm until about 20 years of age, and, being a close student, was always at the head of his class. He was married, Dec. 31, 1874, to Miss Martha J. Davis, who was born May 20, 1855, daughter of Jacob and Adaline (Mount) Davis, of Ashland Co., Ohio ; from this union, there was one child — Benjamin Franklin, born Nov. 11, 1875; William A. died July 18, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Mateer and their daughter-in-law and child are mem- bers of the M. E. Church, and are enjoying a happy life at their pleasant home. JAMES MOORE, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Jan. 25, 1817, in Washington Co., Penn., and is the youngest son of James and Emma (Crow) Moore. His father came from Ireland to engage in the Revolutionary war, and settled in Washington Co., Penn. He re- moved to Columbiana County in 1820, was left an orphan in his 3d year by the sudden death of his father, who retired at night in health, but was found in the morning a corpse, and the sudden shock so affected the mind of his mother that she became insane. Mr. Moore only attended school about nine months, and went to work early. He first worked for $3 per month, and the second year for $4. Then he engaged for three years in the tobacco business, and, proving himself skillful, he received higher wages than ordinary hands. He worked one whole year without losing more than half a day, and that was at the request of his em- ;f- .u 966 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ployer. When 28 years old he learned the cooper's trade with his cousin, John Crow. He worked here two years, and then engaged in the business for himself the next two years. After this he removed to Crawford County, and settled on the farm where he now lives, and where he has prospered, owing to his habits of industry and energy. He was mar- ried in his 22d year to Catharine Lonnes, sister to Uncle Joseph Lonnes, the oldest living set- tler of Holmes Township. Four children — Ephraim M., Blmira, Joseph A. and Mary Frances are living. John James is deceased. He enlisted in 1862, in Co. C, 101st 0. V. L, and went to the front immediately, engaging in two battles before that of Stone River, in which last he was shot three times and killed, after serving faithfully three months. Those living are all married, Joseph married Alice Vore, and is on the home farm ; E. M. married Lizzie Crall, of Liberty Township, and is a farmer of that township, and also a valuable salesman in Emrich's store, Bucyrus ; Elmira married Prof John A. Roberts, of Knoxville, Marion County (Iowa) ; Mary married Lewis H. Vore, who is a carpenter by trade, but is now farming in Southern Kansas. Mr. Moore has served the Methodist Church forty-one years as an efficient class-leader, and has as- sisted in the Sunday-school work twenty-six years, being Superintendent twenty-three years of that time, and is filling that position efH- ciently at present. He organized the first Sun- day school ever held in this township. He is also Vice President of the Crawford County Sunday School Union. He has organized and kept up some six or seven Sunday schools. He is actuated by the true Christian principle and spirit, and is a man who can spend his declin- ing years in reviewing the good which his hands have done, and which will make rich his crown in the kingdom above. HENRY G. PEASLEY, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; was born July 7, 1814, in Clinton Co., N. Y., and is of English- Irish descent. His father's name was Samuel, and his mother's maiden name Jane Greene. Mr. Peasley at- tended school and assisted his father on the farm during his youth. In June, 1834, he came with his father to Mt. Gilead, being one month and six days on the road. In Morrow Co. Mr. Peasley engaged in farming for several years, and then removed to Crawford Co. He was married, in February, 1840, to Miss Ann Quaintance, daughter of Fisher and Sarah (Frey) Quaintance, who came to Crawford Co. in 1829, from Jeflferson Co. Of this marriage there were six children — Sarah, born March 25, 1841, died at the age of 5 ; Narcissa, born March 31, 1843 ; Ira, born Sept. 16, 1848, died Oct. 27, 1865, and Charles, born Aug. 19, 1850, died Oct. 29, 1865, both of diphtheria ; cut off in the flower of their youth, their loss was a keen blow to 'their loving parents and all who knew them, as they were kind, sociable and beloved by all ; Minerva, born April 23, 1856, and Cynthia, born Dec. 14, 1858, are still liv- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Peasley are members of the Friends' Church, and are greatly esteemed by all who know them. SAMUEL PETERMAN, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; is the son of John and Barbara (Bck- ert) Peterman, and was bom in York Co., Penn., Sept. 21, 1810. He attended school in winter until he was 16 years of age, and then assisted his father on the farm until his 21st year. His parents removed to this county in October, 1827, and entered 320 acres of land in Liberty Township, on the Sandusky River ; they cleared a portion of it, and erected a hewed-log cabin. Five years afterward, our subject left the farm of his father and went to Bucyrus, where, for twenty-five years, he was engaged in hauling goods between Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Columbus and Sandusky, with a six-horse team. After that, he returned to the farm on which he now lives, and has re- mained there ever since. He was, during his teaming career, entrusted with a gi-eat deal of money for transportation, and always proved himself a man who could be trusted. He now has a nice property, all gained by his own ef- forts and industry. He was married, Nov. 19, 1833, to Violet Hinebaugh, daughter of Conrad and Mary (Trout) Hinebaugh, of Philadelphia, Penn. They had two children — Mary Ann, died at the age of 4 years, and an infant, which died very young. W. H. POOLE, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was bom April 18, 1828 ; is a son of Rodney and Elizabeth (Hoy) Poole, of Frederick Co.," Md., who moved to the town of Mexico, in what was formerly Crawford Co. (but, since the division, Wyandot), in the fall of 1835, where they lived until 1849, when they moved to the farm on which W. H. Poole now lives, where the family r?R ri* t\±^ HOLMES TOWNSHIP. 967 resided until his death, which occurred in July, 1865. After moving to the now beautiful farm, which was, at the time of their settlement, a dense forest (there being but one neighbor in an area of several miles), they cleared a patch large enough for a log cabin, in which they li\'ed and endured the sufferings of an early pioneer life, in clearing and beautifying their home. The parents of our subject moved to Norwalk for the purpose of educating their children, five in number, where the father was connected with the college for two years, then moved back to Mexico, thence to the farm, and thence to Mansfield, where they engaged in the lumber business for a time, when they retired from the business, and returned to familiar haunts. At the breaking-out of the late war, the subject of our sketch enlisted in Co. L, 10th 0. V. C, on Oct. 10, 1862, under Capt. Brink, serving three years, Gen. Kilpatrick Division commander. He was close to the General when he was wounded at the battle of Resaca ; at Atlanta, when the division was surrounded ; and at Bentonville, Savannah, and several other places of impor- tance. Having served his time, he was honora- bly discharged, came home, and engaged in farming. He was married Oct. 19, 1859, to Miss Catharine Hartman, daughter of Andrew and Susan Hartman, of Mechanicsburg, Cum- berland Co,, Penn. ELI P. QUAINTANCE, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; was born Aug. 16, 1818, in Jefferson Co., Ohio, and is the second child in a family of nine. His youth was spent on a farm and in gaining an education to fit him for usefulness in life. Mr. Quaintance was married in 1842 to Hannah Kirk. Of this union there were eight children, seven of whom are still living and have settled in life, possessing comfortable homes and good families. Mr. Quaintance has, by hard labor and frugal industry, amassed considerable property-, and is one of the most prominent men of his township, being held in high esteem by all who know him, as a man of enlightened views and extended informa- tion. JOSEPH W. QUAINTANCE, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Aug. 31, 1828, in Jeffer- son Co., Ohio, and is the sixth child of Fisher and Sarah Quaintance. His parents removed to Crawford Co. in 1829, and were among the pioneers of this section. They engaged in farming, and the subject of our sketch was reared on a farm, and has always followed this branch of honest toil. He was married in March, 1853, to Lucinda L. Gidley, a native of Bristol Co., Mass., who removed to this county in 1851. Nine children were the fruit of this union, seven of whom are still living — Basha, married to John A. Eaton, a prominent attorney of Bucyrus ; Isadore B., Edith May, Ira Ells- worth, Lemert F., Core E. and Howard B. Charles and Frank are deceased. Mr. Quaint- ance owns one of the oldest farms in the coun- ty, which has been called the Old Flake Farm. Years ago, there was a mysterious murder com- mitted here ; an old peddler was killed, and, in order to cover up all traces of the crime, his body, wagon and all were thrown into a well and covered up ; who the peddler was, and also the identity of the perpetrators of the deed, have never been disclosed, and the whole affair is shrouded in mystery. A. J. QUAINTANCE, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born March 4, 1844 ; the eldest son of Joseph and Hannah (Hale) Quaintance. Joseph, father of the subject of this sketch, was taken away from his family by the hand of death, leaving the care of a large family upon his eldest son, who was about 16 years of age, thus depriving him of the limited educational advantages of his forest home, having attended school only three months in his life ; but, by energy and perseverance, he has been success- ful as a farmer, and is enabled to give his fam- ily the advantages which he was deprived of His father and mother were natives of Mary- land, and moved to Holmes Township, Craw- ford Co., in the spring of 1855, where they lived until death, with the exception of a few years in Libert}^ Township. A. J. Quaintance was married, Oct. 9, 1859, to Mary Heller, daughter of D. J. Heller, a prominent farmer of Holmes Township. From this union there were ten children — Israel J., Joseph, Leroy, Martha Etta, Daniel, Oscar, Alverta, Blanche, James and Olive, all living except Israel and Alverta, who died in infancy. He enlisted in August, 1861, in Co. C, 101st 0. V. I., and was sent to the front immediately, under Capt. McDonald, and participated in many of the most bloody con- tests ; was in Sherman's march to the sea ; at Franklin, Tenn., when Gen. Hood raided that country ; was at Lookout Mountain ; wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Chicka- mauga, and sent to the hospital at Crawfish i^ e ^ 4 968 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Springs ; after recovering, he returned to his command, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. His brother, T. E. Quaintance, was torn to pieces by a cannon ball at his side, while he was miraculously saved. He and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and respected by all. JOHN ROBERTS, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born April 7, 1805, in Lycoming Co., Penn., and was the eldest son of George and Catharine (Rickerd) Roberts. The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood on a farm, and received a common-school education. He was married on March 6, 1826, to Lavinia Walton, eldest daugh- ter of David Walton, of Lycoming Co., Penn. Of this marriage, there are six children — Flem- ing, Wesley, George Washington (born Feb. 22, 1832, on the centennial anniversary of the birth of his namesake), Mary, Edwin and Willis. Mr. Roberts removed to Crawford Co. in 1828, in a portion which was then a part of Marion Co. He commenced farming, and has always con- tinued a tiller of the soil. He lived on his farm in Whetstone Township for thirty-seven years. His first wife died in February, 1872. He was married July 16, 1873, to Miss Belle Chambers, of Whetstone Township. By this marriage, there are two children — John and Aubrey N. Mr. Roberts is a highly valued citizen of Holmes Township, where he has lived fourteen years. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for forty-two years. One of his sons, Edwin, served in the cause of the Union in the late war, under Capt. Moderwell. ■J. C. REIFF, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born March 15, 1836, and is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Geiger) Reiflf, of Wurtemberg, Ger- many. The subject of our sketch attended school under the compulsory laws of his " Fader- land," until his 15th year, when he entered a private college of agriculture, preparatory to entering the Government College ; but, before being advanced a step higher, he moved to this country to live with his uncle and aunt, who had also come to America, the former in 1852, and the latter in 1853. Our subject engaged with his uncle in stone-cutting, masonry and plastering for about twelve years, at Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio. He was married, Jan. 17, 1862, to Mary Shock, of Seneca Co. This union has been blessed with nine children — Charles G. F., Paul A., Eliza M., John C, Hannah M., Henry J., Lewis W., and two girls who died in infancy. Mr. Reiff, since moving to his farm in 1863, on which there were three acres cleared, has, by his indomitable energy and determina- tion in working at his trade during the day, cutting timber and burning brush at night, cleared up 75 acres, and opened one of the finest limestone quarries in Crawford Co., which he is running extensively, and in which he was quite severely injured. He has held several of the offices of the township, and is filling the office of Trustee at the present time creditably to himself, and satisfactorily to his constituents. CHRISTOPHER SCHIEBER is a promi- nent farmer living in Holmes Township. He was born March 4, 1820, and is the oldest son of tfialeb and Magdalena (§'osey) Schieber. There were of his father's family ten children, all of whom are now living. The subject of our sketch was united in marriage to Lydia Harshberger in August, 1849, and by this union there are three children living — Jacob, born in December, 1852 ; John, in February, 1854 ; Magdalena, in September, 1856. Pris- cilla was born in August, 1859, but is now dead. Jacob, John and Magdalena are mar- ried, and are living now in Liberty Township, and doing well. Mr. Schieber's mother is stiU living, at the advanced age of 82. Our sub- ject, coming here in early times, had several experiences with the Indians, and is quite a prominent pioneer. MOSES SPAHR, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus. The subject of this short sketch was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1814, and is the son of George and Catharine (Guyer) Spahr. He is the fourth child of a family of eight chil- dren. From his earliest childhood, he was brought up on a farm and inured to labor. He came to this county at an early day, and is one of its honored pioneers, as he forwarded the advance of civilization by clearing up the wilderness and improving his land. He has now a fine farm of 160 acres, well improved, which he has acquired by industry and perse- verance. In early days, almost his only asso- ciates were the wild red men of the forest. He is a bachelor, and is one of the most respected citizens of Holmes Township. GEORGE A. SPAHR, farmer; P. 0. Bu- cyrus ; was born June 21, 1825, and is the son of Jesse and Margaret (Peterman) Spahr, of Cumberland Co., Penn. His parents removed to Crawford Co. in 1830, and are still living, -.f- '-Sl^ HOLMES TOWNSHIP. both in their 81st year, there being but seven months difference in their ages. Our subject attended school and remained on the farm un- til he was about 22 years of age. He was married, Dec. 10, 1846, to Catharine Cover, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Zent) Cov- er, who was born Dec. 24, 1825. They have had seven children — Joshua, boi'n Dec. 18, 1849, and died April 22, 1875; Julia Ann, born April 8, 1851 ; Daniel, Dec. 23, 1847 ; Lavinia, Nov. 8, 1852 ; Moses, Oct. 10, 1854 ; George, Nov. 13, 1857, and Eliza, July 11, 1859. Daniel married Elmira Aumiller, who died Nov. 25, 1879. Julia Ann married Eli Miller. Lavinia married Elias Crall. Moses married Hannah Taylor, and two are living at home. Mr. Spahr moved on to his present farm one year after his marriage, and has lived there ever since. He has worked hard to ac- quire his propertjf, and has been industrious and frugal. He has always been a Democrat, and has been Trustee of the township. He is a member of the United Brethren Church of Bucyrus, of which church his son Moses is Pastor. He is a man universally respected in the township, and a devoted Christian worker in the cause of his Master. REBECCA SELLS, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; the widow of Jacob Sells, was born April 13, 1813, and is the daughter of John and Anne (Malvy) McBride. She attended district school until about 19 years of age, when she engaged in teaching school, in which occupation she was employed for about six years, when she was married Oct. 4, 1838, to Jacob Sells, who was a son of Peter and Barbara (Sluss) Sells, of Stark Co., Ohio, who moved to Crawford Co., about the year 1831. Jacob and Rebecca went to keeping house, immediatelj' after mar- riage, in a home of their own on the TiflSn road, where they lived several j-ears. Jacob was an architect and builder 'by profession, and, on account of his extensive business, was compelled to be away from home the greater portion of the time, thus leaving to the care of his noble wife a large family of children. Mrs. Sells is a woman of great force of charac- ter, and has an indomitable will and courage ; sharing the hardships and trials of an early pioneer life, she displayed a noble Christian character, and in all that which is most beauti- ful in woman — the love of home, husband and children — she is the perfect type of the true wife and mother. Mrs. Sells suffered many trials on account of her fearless advocacy of abolition principles, their residence being in a community where secessionism predominated, and also from her husband's absence of seven- teen months during the war, he being in attend- ance at the land sales in the Osage country, Missouri. Their communication being cut off, she supposed him to be dead, but had not lost all hope, until one day she was notified that the corpse of her husband was awaiting her at Bucyrus, to which place she went almost broken-hearted. The bodj' was identified by the family and friends, but, before removing the corpse, what must have been her surprise, joy and gladness, upon being put in possession of a communication from her husband stating that he would be with them in a few short hours, may be imagined ; thus a scene of the deepest sadness was turned to one of rejoicing and gladness. Jlrs. Sells is a twin sister of Mrs. Lockard, living near Cleveland, whose familj' has gained so much notoriety in differ- ent parts of the countrj'. Mrs. Sells was blessed with ten children — John, born Aug. 22, 1840, and died May 15, 1842 ; Annie E., born Jan. 11, 1841 , Sarah Cordelia, born Aug. 20, 1843 ; Mary E., born July 4, 1845 ; Susan M., born Jan. 7, 1847 ; Isaac D., born Jan. 1, 1849 ; Jeremiah M., born Feb. 3, 1851 ; Jennie R., born Aug. 14, 1856 ; Newton V., born July 17, 1858, and Jay J., born July 1, 1860 ; seven of these are married, and two daughters, jNIary and Jennie, single are still living at home. Newton V. was formerly a law student at Ann Arbor, Mich., was engaged with a surveying party in the West, and lecturing on temperance ; he is a rising young man and now studying in Columbus, Ohio. Jay J. is a student at the Columbus Medical College ; Isaac D. is a por- trait painter and sign-writer, and Jeremiah a prominent farmer in Wood Co., Ohio. Jacob Sells died May 21 , 1874. after a severe illness of seven months. The widow and family are members of the Lutheran Church. HENRY SHUPP, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Dec. 29, 1815, in Dauphin Co., Penn., and is the third son of ^Michael and Margaret (Wise) Shupp. His father removed to Crawford Co. in May, 1828, and entered 80 acres of land on Broken Sword, in Holmes Township. There they lived eight years, and then moved on the farm where Mr. Shupp now lives, and where his i) V^ ' 9 > 970 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: father lived till his death. He lived at home until his marriage, some thirtj'-two j'ears ago, to Dora Easterday, daughter of a respected citi- zen of Liberty Township. They have six children ^Malinda, Lucia Ann, Louisa, Solomon, Henry and Charles. All of his children except Charles are married and doing well, a portion of them being in Nebraska. Mr. Shupp and his wife are both estimable members of the community, and members of the Evangelical Association. SAMUEL SHUPP, farmer; was born Aug 2, 1828, in Dauphin Co., Penn., and is the young- est son of John and Anne Maria (Yeager) Shupp. His father removed to the farm where the sub- ject of our sketch now lives, in the spring of 1831. He worked on the farm and attended school until he was 21, when he was married, in October, 1848, to Mary Young. She died some time after, leaving one child, Emma Clara, aged 2 months. He was remarried, in the spring of 1851, to Rosanna Schaal, daughter of a re- spected farmer of Holmes Township. There are six children of this marriage — John, Mary A., Simon L., Sarah J., Rebecca A. and Emma E., all of whom are living, and all are married save Simon and Emma. His second wife died in February, 1863, and he has since then married to Elizabeth Gerhart, of Holmes Township. There are two children of this marriage — Edwin and Rolandus. Mr. Shupp has been a member of the church and a prominent Class-leader, and, since his connection with the church, has been an exhorter and local preacher, doing valuable work for the cause of the Master. SAMUEL SHAFFNER, farmer ; P. 0. Bu- cyrus; was born Dee. 13, 1811, in Dauphin Co., Penn., and is the son of Martin and Sarah (Fleisher) Shaffner. He was reared on a farm, and attended school until his 14th year. In 1829, his parents removed to Whetstone Town- ship, settling on the Boyer farm. When about 15 years of age, he was apprenticed to John Bretz, to learn tanning, but at the end of two and a half years, he came with his father to this countjr, and assisted on the farm. He was married, May 8, 1832, to Miss Frances Shultz, of this county. By this marriage there were three children — Henry was born Oct. 17, 1833, and was killed at Franklin, Tenn., while fight- ing in defense of his country. He was before this taken prisoner, and almost starved by the inhumanity of his captors, at Belle Isle, but, being exchanged, he came home, recruited his health and returned to the field, experiencing many hairbreadth escapes, and was finally killed. Martin was born April 5, 1838, and he also served in the war ; was at the siege of Vicksburg, and in many of the hard-fought battles for three years, and escaped without a scratch. After the war, he engaged in farm- ing, and removed to Wood Co., where he died in June, 1879 ; Sarah was born July 1, 1842 ; she married . William Kinnej', and is living near Warsaw, Ind. Mr. Shaffner's first wife died Sept. 13, 1858. His second marriage oc- curred, Nov. 25, 1860, to Miss Hannah Martin, who died June 3, 1869. Esquire Shaflfner is one of the prominent men of his township, having held several oflSces of trust and re- sponsibility, for which he was especially fitted. He is a member of the M. B. Church of Holmes Township, and an exemplary Christian gentleman. GEORGE STROHM, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus; was bom Nov. 20, 1844, in Southern France ; son of Frederick and Mary E. Rodebach. His parents moved to New York State at Waterloo, the journey across the ocean lasting thirty-five days, and, after a residence there of six years, they removed to Annapolis, this county. After a residence here of eleven years, he removed to the farm where he now lives. His father died in 1 864, and he bought the property of the other heirs. He was married, March 2, 1871, to Cath- erine Leitzy, of Holmes Township. They have four children — Mary Eve, Rosa, Frederick Fran- cis and John George — all living at home. His mother died on April 19, 1874. Mr. Strohm is a prominent and influential citizen, is an indus- trious farmer and an honor to the community in which he lives. Both himself and wife are members of the German Lutheran Church of Bu- cyrus, and are estimable people. HANNAH SAWYER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born May 4, 1830, and is a daughter of Andrew and Rebecca (Heaton) Ridgeley, the former a native of Maryland, the latter of Pennsylvania; they moved to Crawford Co. about the time of the Revolutionary war, the father enlisting soon after their removal. The subject of this sketch was married May 15, 1851, to S. F. Sawyer, a prominent farmer; nine children blessed this union — .William S., Ann Eliza, Simon J., Melville J., Emma A., Johu B., Rebecca I. J., Wilmer A. and Frank F., all of whom are living except Melville J., i"" ;%* y^ HOLMES TOWNSHIP. 971 and four of whom are at home and four mar- ried. Mr. S. F. Sawyer died Oct. 20, 1878, of that terrible affliction, cancer, after suffering all that man could suffer, leaving a widow and four children on the farm, to care for them- SIDNEY L. SPORE, farmer ; P. 0. Broken Sword ; was born July 10, 1833, and is a son of David C. and Lucy L. (Long) Spore, the former born in Schenectady Co., N. Y., the latter of Canada, about fifty miles from Montreal. They moved to Chatfleld Township, this county, in June, 1837, and bought a piece of land with about three acres cleared and a log cabin. Up- on this they labored and endured the privations of a newly settled country, the father teaching school in the winter time, at 50 cents a day, to obtain a sustenance for his family, and, on one occasion before leaving his family, the father had purchased a barrel of flour, for which he had paid thirty-six days' labor in teaching, and which was to be delivered to his family ; so he took his departure, trusting that all would be well with his little flock. But not so ; on his return he found his family in a famishing condition, the flour not having been delivered, and they had subsisted for six whole days on nothing but parched rye. In 1857, after a twentj' years' residence, they sold the farm, the mother after- ward moving to Macon Co., Ill, the father hav- ing died Dec. 25, 1862. The subject of this sketch has attended school only sixty-three days in his life, going bare-footed one and three- fourths miles across the woods and through the snow ; the remainder of the time, until attain- ing his majority, being spent in assisting in the work of the farm. At 22 years of age, he taught school in the winter, and worked by the month in the summer for three years, and then worked his father's farm for two years. He enlisted in Co. I, 57th 0. V. L, Oct. 8, 1862, and was sent to Nashville, Tenn., where he joined his regiment ; thence to Vicksburg, and was present at the time of Sherman's defeat, in the eight-day siege. At that place he had his knapsack stolen from his back bj' a piece of shell which he never succeeded in bringing to justice. He then participated in the contest at Arkansas Post, which resulted in a glorious victory, for the Union forces took 8,000 pris- oners, and reduced the fort. They were then sent back to Vicksburg, with the combined force under Gen. MeClernand, and worked on the canal at that place, and, on account of ex- posure, suffered from a severe attack of typhoid fever. After recovery from the fever, he was taken with chronic diarrhoea, sent to Lauson Hospital, at St. Louis, and then discharged on account of disability. To use his own lan- guage, he says : " I owe the preservation of my life to Mrs. Springer, of Boston, Mass., who was President of the Woman's Union Aid Society, Mrs. Dr. Jones, of St. Louis, and other noble members of that association. Through Mrs. Springer's efforts, who walked three miles to Gen. Schofield's headquarters, and laid my case before him in person, I procured my discharge." His clothing having been lost, as also his de- scriptive list, he was unable to draw the neces- sary money or clothing for his return home ; so, without money or clothing, except a suit of underclothing, which the ladies of the associa- tion had given him, he left the hospital in a weakened and destitute condition ; but through the kindness of the people with whom he came in contact, he was enabled to reach Bucyrus, where he was met by anxious friends. He remained at home recruiting his health for about fifteen months, when he re-enlisted in the 179th 0. V. I.; was promoted to 1st Ser- geant, his command being at Nashville, Tenn., on post-duty, and was discharged June 17, 1865. There have been nine children in his family, five of whom are living — Sumner, born July 28, 1858 ; Honora, Sept. 6, 1859 ; Aud D., July 20, 1861, died Feb. 18, 1880 ; Armeda, March 15, 1863, died March 30, 1863; Ona, June 6, 1864, died same day ; Rufus D., June 6, 1866 ; Benjamin M., Aug. 17, 1868 ; Motta, Jan 10, 1873, died Feb. 2, 1873, Loretta, Sept. 26, 18'75. The surviving members of the fam- ily are at home, except Sumner, who is attend- ing school at Oshkosh, Wis. Mr. Spore and wife are members of the Evangelical Associa- tion. He is a Republican. WILLIAM TAYLOR, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born April 10, 1811, and is a son of William and Fanny (Poster) Taylor, of Louisa Co., Va., but who moved to Albemarle Co., Va., near the University. He was left an orphan at 4 years of age, by the death of his mother, and at 10 years of age commenced the carpen- ter's trade with his father, at which he is still working in connection with his farm duties. He never attended school a day in his life, but has obtained a good common-school education s \> ^ 972 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: by the study of the Bible, which has been his constant companion for fifty years. He has also been engaged in the milling business, as well as carpentering and farming, having run a grist and saw mill for four years iDefore leaving Virginia He moved to this county in the fall of 1833, to what was then Sycamore Township — which was, after the division of the counties, thrown into Wyandot — where he lived for fif- teen years, and then moved to Holmes Town- ship, where he has lived ever since. He has attended every election since 1833, except one, and has been a prominent man in his township. He was married Aug. 12, 1832, po Patience Sayrs, of Pickaway Co., Ohio. This union has been fruitful of eight children — Josephus, Jas- per, Newton, William S., Ephraim S., Ben- jamin F., Elizabeth F., Susan Arminta and Mary Helen, who are all living except Eliza- beth, who died in infancy, and Susan A., who died at 33 years of age, leaving one child. Jasper and Ephraim, the only two able-bodied men in the family, enlisted in the 101st 0. V. I., went through with Sherman in his raid, and fought in many of the most closely contested battles on the field, Jasper only being wounded in the leg. Mr. Taylor and his family have sufiTered all the trials of a very early pioneer life, in the first clearing-up of the country, but are now reaping their reward in the enjoj'ment of a beautiful home. He and his estimable wife have been leading members of the church for forty-eight years, consistent Christians, es- teemed and respected by all. JESSE VORE, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Aug. 15, 1805, in Berks Co., Penn., and is the eldest son of Absalom and Margaret (Gary) Vore. He attended school until he was about 21, in the meantime learning tailoring, serving three and a half years. He then worked at his trade with George Ossman, of Millikin Center, Penn., until about 1852, when he engaged in farming for about seven- years. In March, 1859, he came to Osceola, Crawford Co., and six weeks afterward he purchased the farm on which he now lives, and has improved it and made it " blossom as the rose." He was married March 30, 1830, to Catharine Musser, daughter of a respected farmer of Center Co., Penn. There were eleven children born of this marriage, seven of whom are living — Margaret Ann, Matilda, Absalom, Lewis H., Catharine A., Mary Elizabeth and Alice. Harriet, Julian, Sarah and John A. are deceased. Those living are married and doing well. Lewis and Mary are in Kansas ; Catharine married Frank Fra- lick and is living near Hartford City, Black- ford Co., Ind. jilr. Vore's success in life is due to his own eflTorts. His father died when he was very young, leaving a widow with three children to contend against the world alone. Mr. Vore has filled several offices in the town- ship. He is a member of the German Reformed Church, of Bucyrus, and his wife is a member of the Lutheran Church of the same city. ELLIS WINNER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; is the son of Abraham and Rachel (Worner) Winner, and was born in Sussex Co., N. J., Oct. 23, 1812. His life was mostly spent in his na- tive State. He was married in Columbia. Co., Penn., in 1836, to Miss Ruth Parker. He has nine children — Sarah A., Martha J., Lewis, Charles, Hering C, Andrew, Lemuel, Simon Peter and Daniel Webster. Martha J. and Charles reside in Kalamazoo, Mich. Two sons were of his first marriage — Joseph Lloyd, now living in Wilmington, N. C; Chester P. lives in Wayne Co., engaged in wool manufacturing. Mr. Winner's first wife lived but three years, and he was remarried in 1840. She was Mary Carr, of Columbia Co., Penn. Mr. Winner was for two years traveling agent in Ohio for the Bucyrus Machine Company, and for two years in Pennsylvania. He was also for three years agent throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania for Monnett's Patent Pence. He is an industrious farmer, and a man who stands eminently in the esteem of those who know him. JOHN WENTZ, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus; was bom in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., Sept. 1, 1837, and is the eldest son of John and Mary (Monard) Wentz. His parents moved to Blackford Co., Ind., in September, 1839, and Mr. Wentz was here reared on a farm, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. He was married,' Nov. 26, 1857, to Catharine Greenwich, only daughter of Jacob and Christina Green- wich. They have nine children — Mary E. (who was married, Dec. 4, 1879. to T. J. Caldwell, a prominent farmer in Bucyrus Township), An- nette, Clement I<., Willis J., Ora Alice, Clara Dell, Ida May, Emma Pearl and John Earl. Mr. Wentz is a prominent citizen and farmer, is a stanch member of the English Lutheran Church, and is a man who stands high in his community. 1%" L^ HOLMES TOWNSHIP. 973 CHEISTIAN WILHELM, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Feb. 20, 1826, in Wurtem- berg, Germany, and emigrated to this country when quite young, proceeding to Lancaster, Penn., where they wintered, and then moved to Columbiana Co., Ohio, where they lived three years, afterward moving to Crawford County. The subject of this sketch did not attend school in his youth, on account of a lack of knowl- edge of the English language, he not being able to speak a word of English until after he was 18 years of age. At the age of 14 years he was left an orphan by the death of his father, from which time he worked as a farm hand, except one j'ear, when he worked in Joe Walker's warehouse, at Tiffin, Ohio, until the fall of 1851. when he went to California, and engaged in mining, meeting with considerable success until the spring of 1856 ; when he carae back to Ohio in the following July, he com- menced clearing on his present farm, and a glance at his beautiful home and pleasant surroundings will be evidence enough of his industrj' and good management. He was married Dec. 20, 1857, to Esther Houston, four children blessing this union — Sarah E. H., William, Jan. 1, 1861 ; Laura, Jan. 31, 1864, and Ethel, Aug. 13, 1870; Sarah E. was married to Thomas Miller, Sept. 1, 1878 ; the rest are living at home, assisting their father in household and farm duties, their mother having died Feb. 7, 1875, of that dread disease, consumption, leaving her cares upon her two young daughters, who are taking upon themselves nobly, the responsibilities of the be- reaved household. ELIZABETH WING ART, farmer; P. O. Broken Sword ; was born Feb. 29, 1808, and is the widow of William Wingart, formerly of Wingert's Corners. The husband of the sub- ject of this sketch did not attend school until after his first marriage, which occurred Sept. 19, 1830, to Elizabeth Keener, in Pennsylvania. After marriage, he attended school a short time to learn to write and cipher. Wm. Wingart came to Lykens Township, to what is now Win- gert's Corners, about 1835, built a shop, and engaged in the manufacture of furniture until about 1851, when he engaged in mercantile pursuits for six years, and then moved to the farm oj),.wliich his family now live, on April 3, 1857, 'improving his farm and commanding the respect of his neighbors, being elected to some of the prominent offices of the township. By his first wife, there were seven children, three of whom are living — Henry, Louisa, Mary, Maria L., born July 23, 1831 ; Henry M., June 2, 1833 ; Melinda, June 3, 1835 ; Louisa A., Sept. 28, 1836 ; Jane E. and Emma C, twins, born Aug. 11, 1839; Mary E., Oct. 18, 1841. His first wife died Oct. 18, 1841. He was married a second time, at Lykens Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, to Elizabeth Shupp, on Jan. 30, 1842, by whom he had eight children — Martha, born June 9, 1844; Wm. Nelson, April 12, 1846; Jacob Seal, Sept. 25, 1848; James K. Polk, Feb. 9, 1851; Philo Pierce, July 24, 1853 ; Alice L., Oct. 5, 1855 ; Sarah C, Nov. 6, 1857, and Delia May, May 28, 1860 ; all of whom are living and married except Delia May, who is living at home with her widowed mother, her father having died, Nov. 25, 1864, after an illness of about four years. They are members of the Albright Church. jPV ' JV a lb. 974 ^ S ^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: VERNON TOWNSHIP. JAMES ANDERSON, farmer ; P. O. Tiro ; was born June 21, 1833, in Vernon Townsiiip, on the site of his present home. He is the son of David and Rachel (Dickson) Anderson. His father was born in Huntington Co., Penn., and when a young man came to Ohio with a kit of shoe-maker's tools, and worked at his trade for some time. He then returned to Pennsylvania, where, in 1826, he was married to Mary D. Hamilton, who died in 1828. He came to Crawford County and settled in Vernon Town- ship in the year 1830, and after farming awhile engaged in mercantile pursuits at De Kalb, keeping a general store for some fifteen years, during which time he made considerable money. He next went to Shelby, where he also engaged in business for some two years. He was one of the original stockholders in the old State Bank of Mansfield, now the Richland County Bank, and continued so until his death. He was also Vice President of the Shelby Bank. In 1838, he had married Miss Rachel Dickson, of this township. He was a distinguished pa- triot and Republican, and during the war as- sisted the cause of the Union by his means and influence. He was a member of the Presby- terian Church, and was distinguished for his liberality in church beneficence. He was the father of thirteen children, now scattered throughout several States, all doing well. This truly good and honored man died May 17, 1873, at Morrison, 111., while on his waj' to Cali- fornia, to visit a son. His wife lived until Oct. 9, 1879, when she died at Shelbj', Ohio, in the 75th year of her age. She was loved and revered by all who knew her as a noble woman who had lived a consistent Christian life, and is remembered as a dignified, refined and intelli- gent woman, worthy of the honored husband whose faithful wife she was. James, her son and the subject of this sketch, lived in this town- ship until 1852, at which time he went to Shelby, and engaged in the store of his father. He also engaged in mercantile pursuits in Shiloh and New London. He then came back to Shelby, and commenced in the grain business, which he continued until the close of the war, making a considerable amount of money. In 1866, he removed to his farm of some 400 acres, and has since lived there and tilled the soil. He is a prominent business man and a prominent farmer of his neighborhood. He is a stalwart Republican and has always held to that faith. He was married, Oct. 15, 1858, to Elizabeth Stimmel, of Shelby, Ohio. They have four children — Alva H., a student at Gambier, Ohio ; Willis Swanner, Charles Henry and Rachel May at home. ADAM BILSING, agent and farmer ; P. 0. Leesville. This gentleman, the son of Henry and Christina Bilsing, was born in Franklin, Loehlbach Province, of the Principality of Hesse, Germany, Feb. 11, 1822. With his par- ents, he removed to America, in 1832, stopping a month in Columbiana Co., arriving at the place of his present home in the fall of the same year. His father built the first house erected in their vicinity. His family was quite large, and he was a man of great respectability and honesty. The subject of this sketch was married Oct. 15, 1845, to Miss Lavinia Fisher, and this union was blessed with these children — J. H., Barnard C, Mary C, W. A., Eliza E., Anna D., Amilda C, Flora Maude, Margaret E. (deceased). Mr. Bilsing's first wife died Oct. 28, 1871. He was remarried Oct. 5, 1873, to Catharine Dapper, whose parents live in this neighborhood. Of this marriage, there are three children — ^Aaron P., Augusta Lorena and Frank. Mr. Bilsing is a self-made man, who has worked hard to ob- tain his present wealth. He commenced as a blacksmith, at which trade he worked for some time. He has now a fine farm of 250 acres, and is engaged principally as agent for all kinds of farming machinery, in which business he has made a success, being well known throughout the county as a man of varied information and honesty. He is enterprising, as the manage- ment of his farm will show. He is a Christian, and has been for a number of years, and stands foremost among the citizens of the township. RICHARD W. CAHILL, retired farmer ; P. 0. De Kalb. This distinguished citizen, so well known to people of Crawford Co., was born in — ® ^ ^1 VERNOX TOWNSHIP. 975 Westmoreland Co., Penn., March 6, 1802, and is a son of Abram and Nancy Wallace Cahill. His father was an officer in the State Militia, and at one time had command of all the forces in Western Pennsylvania. In 1818, the subject of this sketch removed to Wayne Co., Ohio, with his parents. In June, 1827, he removed to Crawford Co., filling a clerkship in a store at Bucyrus for six years, after which he came to the farm which he now occupies, and has made it his place of residence for forty-five years. He was married, first, to Miss Eliza Cummins, of Richland Co., who died in 1843. He was re- married, to his present wife, in 1 8-14, her maiden name being Catharine Richards. Mr. Cahill had, in his youth, been denied the advantages of education, and he had accordingly applied himself, when a young man, to the study and reading of various books, so that he became self-educated and self-made. In 1841, his abil- ity and education were recognized by the peo- ple of Richland Co., and he was elected to the State Legislature in 1841, and re-elected in 1842 and 1843, serving his constituency in an admir- able manner, not partisan. Although elected as a Democrat, he often assumed an independ- ent attitude and voted as his judgment directed. He has a fine family of sons and daughters, of which he is justly proud. His oldest son, Abram, studied law with Osborn, of Dayton, and was also a partner in the firm. He went to Texas and there died. David was County Clerk for a number of years, and is now practicing law in Bucyrus. Isaac is at present Deputy Clerk of Court. Richard Cahill, Jr., is in Na- poleon, Ohio, and the j-ounger portion of his family is at home. Mr. Cahill has striven to educate his children for useful positions in life, and now, in his declining years, looks with pride upon his family, an ornament to societ}'. He is a consistent, whole-souled Christian gentle- man, and commands the respect and admiration of all who know him. His life has been one of distinction, and one that would be a model for many of the rising generation. Endowed with talent, he has used it for the good of his State and the benefit of his family. ARTHUR CLELAND, farmer ; P. 0. Tiro ; is the first white child that was born in Vernon Township, the date of his birth being Feb. 6, 1826. He is the son of William and Rachel (Ramsey) Cleland, his father being one of the first settlers in the township. He was born in County Down, Ireland, May 14, 1796, and came to America with his parents in 1819. They landed at the mouth of the Delaware River, and lived for eighteen months at Wil- mington, Del. From thei'e they went to Brooke Co., Va., where, in 1825, Mr. Cleland was mar- ried, and afterward came to Ohio, settling here in the woods, and clearing up the soil, and out of a wilderness gaining for himself a fine farm of many acres. He has raised a family of eight children, all of whom are living — Arthur C, Mary, Margaret, Jane, Susan, William, Rachel, Eliza and John. Arthur, the subject of this sketch, received his education in this township, and has always lived in the county, being for some years in Sandusky Township. He was married, Oct. 4, 1855, to Priscilla Gundrum, a native of Pennsylvania. They have three children — William John, Arthur Bevington and Rachel Anne, all living at home. Mr. Cleland is a man of good and varied infor- mation, and a much respected citizen, having held several township offices. His father is also a fine gentleman, being even yet hale and hearty, notwithstanding his advanced age, and the family is one of culture and refinement. JAMES DIXON, Jr., farmer andstock-raiser; P. 0. Tiro. This gentleman, one of the promi- nent members of the Dixon family, is a son of Jonathan Dixon, and was born on the farm where he now resides, July 25,1827. As will be seen by other biographies of the Dixon family, his father, 'Jonathan, was one of the earliest settlers in this township, having removed here from Penn- sylvania in 1825. A remarkable fact in the familj' history, which will be found more at length in the biographies of the older mem- bers, is that thirteen children were at one time settled on farms, on all sides of their father's place, within hearing of his dinner-bell. The elder, Andrew Dixon, grandfather of James, Jr., was born in 1776, and emigrated to this county in 1831, some time after the advent of his sons. James, Jr., was educated as well as the schools of his day would permit, and spent the daj's of his early manhood on the farm. He was married, in May, 1855, to Martha Cald- well, of Vernon Township. Bj^ this marriage there are four children — Luatto, David C, James E., Martha A. Mrs. Dixon died in 1870, and her death was mourned by a large number of friends and relatives. Mr. Dixon was remarried in 1872, May 22, to Elizabeth >F 6 tk^ 976 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: Simon, born in Cranberry Township. They have two children — Clayton L. and Andrew. Mr. Dixon is living on the farm of his father, who is now an old man, being in his 79th year. Our subject has been identified as a leading stockman, having been engaged in shipping for several years. He has been Justice of the Peace for a long period, and is a man of con- siderable knowledge and good judgment, who stands high among his neighbors. J. G. STOUGH, retired farmer ; P. 0. Shelby ; was born in Faj'ette Co., Penn., Oct. 11, 1802, and is a son of John and Catharine (Trautman) Stough. His father was a native of York Co., Penn., and his grandfather was born in Wur- temberg, Germany. His mother's father was born in Maryland, and, while he was very young, the Indians killed his father and carried away into captivity three of his sisters. Some time afterward, he came to Ohio, on the Kil- buck, near Wooster, and rescued them, taking them back home. Mr. Stough's father came to Ohio in October, 1806, and settled first in Columbiana Co., where he lived some twenty- three years. In November, 1826, the subject of our sketch moved to Crawford Co. and set- tled in Liberty Township. His father came in 1829. He was a minister of the Gospel, and entered the ministrj' of the Lutheran Church in 1793, and served the Lord in his calling for fifty-six years, dying in July, 184^ Mr. Stough received a substantial education, ancL commenced to farm. He was a farmer in Lib- erty Township for forty years, and has been a resident of Vernon for thirteen years. He was married to Sarah Charlton, in Columbiana Co., Aug. 22, 1826. She was a native of Washing- ton Co., Md., and born April 8, 1805. She was a devoted and Christian wife, a loving and sac- rificing mother, and blessed Mr. Stough's varied pathway for fifty-three years, departing this life the 4th of September, 1879. They had eleven children — Elizabeth, who is still living and married ; John T., dead ; Jehu, dead ; Catharine, living ; Jonas, dead ; Francis, dead ; Alba, dead ; Joseph, a member of Co. C, 49th 0. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Mur- freesboro ; Sarah Ann, living ; Prances, dead ; Mary, still living. Throughout his long and peaceful life, Mr. Stough has been a consistent Christian, and more, he has worked hard in the vineyard of the Master, with an eye single for the glory of God. His father before him beheld his labors blessed, as he lifted up his voice in the primitive scenes of this county. Kevered be his memory, and also the memory of his son, who, old and feeble, is now waiting for the gates of pearl to open, and once more join with those who have gone before, and be again united with the wife of his youth and the comfort of his declining years. JOHN WARNBE, farmer; P. 0. Liberty Corners. This gentleman, who is one of the prominent citizens of his township and county, was born June 9, 1817, and is a native of York Co., Penn. He is a son of Charles and Catha- rine (Babbitts) Warner, who with their family removed from their native State and settled in Harrison Co., Ohio, where they remained nine years, removing at the end of that time to Ver- non Township, Crawford Co., where John has ever since resided. At the time of Mr. War- ner's advent here, it was, of course, a wild and unsettled country, the improvement of which required great labor and exertion. His father was a man of upright integrity, who stood high in the community, and was universally re- spected. His labors improved a great portion of the land near the town of West Liberty, and it was by his own unaided exertions that he raised his family and gained for himself a com- petency. John assisted his father when young and was afterward bound out as apprentice to a carpenter, and soon after commenced busi- ness for himself While he was just beginning, his shop was burned to the ground, and he lost all ; securing more tools he went to work again and amassed from his own labors a considera- ble fortune, and has now two farms, compris- ing in the aggregate 240 acres of land. He was married in 1840, to Rebecca Jane French, daughter of Judge French of this county. Six children were the fruits of this union, two of whom, Catharine and Charles, are dead. Those living are William, Julia Ann, Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Warner is in every sense of the word a self-made man, who has made all by his own exertions. He has a fine home just north of Liberty Corners, and has the respect of the entire community as one of its most influential members. He has served the township as Clerk for fifteen years, and as Justice of the Peace for eighteen, and has given the best of satisfaction in the administration of his offices. He is well read on the various topics of the day, and no man in the township ■^* e r :±^=£k VERNON TOWNSHIP. 977 stands higher in the public estimation than Esquire Warner. P. B. YOUNG, physician and surgeon, Crest- line. Dr. Young, one of the eminent prac- titioners of Crawford Co., was born in Colum- biana Co., Ohio, March 8, 1832, and is the son of Jacob and Susannah (Brown) Young. His father died in 1849, and his mother in 1854. In 1855, the Doctor entered upon the study of medicine in Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, completing the course in 1860. He began practice in Freedom, Beaver Co., Penn. In 1862, he entered the military service as As- sistant Surgeon of the 136th 0. V. I., and, in 1863, was commissioned Surgeon of the 2d Penn. Y. I., in which capacity he served till the close of the war. He then came to Crestline and began the practice of his profession, and remained there ever since, where he sustains an enviable reputation as a man skilled in the practice of medicine and surgery. He was married in 1862, while in Pennsylvania, to Miss Sarah M. Grormley, a native of that State ; they have one child, Howard B. Mr. Young is a self-made man in every respect. Bj' his own efforts, he obtained an academic education and pursued his medical studies. During the twenty years of his successful practice, he has attended strictly to the affairs of his profession, devoting to it his entire time and attention. In 1874, he was appointed Kailroad Surgeon of the P., Ft. W. & C. B,. R. at Crestline, in which capacity he still serves this company. He has a beautiful and pleasant home, and is blessed with the respect of his fellow-citizens, standing high among them as a man of truth and prin- ciple. J. B. YETZER, farmer ; P. 0. Crestline. Among the old and highly respected citizens of Vernon, and especially of the thrifty Germans in its southern part, is the above-named gentle- man, who was born in A^ogelsang, State of Aar- gau, Switzerland, April 15, 1819. With his parents he removed to America in 1833, set- tling on his present property in 1834. His father died when the son was 22, leaving him as almost the entire supporter of the family. The country at that time being very wild, and requiring great labor, Mr. Yetzer worked hard to make his farm profitable and to support his father's family. He was married March 25, 1845, to Hippolyte Catty, who was a native of France ; their union was blessed with twelve children, six of whom are living. His wife continued the journej^ of life with him until Dec. 23, 1876, when she died. Their children, who survive are all in good condition in life, and are such as a father might be proud of Mr. Yetzer, throughout his life, has been a con- sistent Christian, adhering strictly to the prin- ciples of honest and upright integrity. He still lives on the farm which his labor im- proved, and has a comfortable home and pleas- ant surroundings. He stands high in the com- munity, and is one of the best-read men of his township, and has worked hard to achieve his present prosperity, and is now spending the ^ys of his old age in the quiet of the scenes of his early manhood. IK" Iht^ 978 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: TODD TOWNSHIP. ELI EVANS, farmer ; P. 0. Poplar ; is the son of David and Elizabeth (Dissinger) Evans, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Welsh descent, the latter of German ; his father was a weaver by trade, at which he was engaged during the early part of his life. He afterward engaged in farming and died in Crawford Co., Ohio, at the age of 54 years, and Mrs. Evans at the age of 72 years. Our sub- ject was born in Summit Co., Ohio, in 1826, and while young he obtained a limited common- school education. At the age of 20 he engaged in the chair-making business at Bucyrus, Ohio, which he followed for about twenty years, all the work having to be done b}' hand. About 1865, he purchased some land, since which time he has been engaged in farming, Mr. Evans was married in 1848, to Sarah Stelts, by whom he has had five children, two of whom are liv- ing — William and Emma. Mr. Evans has a good farm pleasantly situated just south of the proposed new station of Lemertville, on the 0. C. R. R. He is a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, and in politics is a Liberal Republican. STEPHEN FANT, M. E. minister, Osceola : was born in Louth, Lincolnshire, England* and while a young man emigrated to Canada ; afterward to the States. He entered the minis- try at Ashland, Ohio, in 1846, since which time he has been so engaged. It is not necessary to ligcount the number or to detail the amount of work done by this venerable man ; suffice it to say that he has been a great revivalist, and we think the means of doing much good in the world. His home for many j-ears was at Dela- ware, where he educated his children, seven in number, all of whom are now married. Two daughters are living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, one son in Chicago and the others living in differ- ent parts of the State of Ohio. Our subject's charge, as now located, has been organized since he came here in 1878, and is composed of Holmes, Chappel, Little York, Belle Vernon and Osceola, and the different societies taken all to- gether have about 147 members. The only eulogy we will pass upon this venerable minis- ter's life, is that when his Master calls him home it will not be said that he lived in vain. JOHN FOSTER, farmer ; P. 0. Osceola ; was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., in August, 1810, and is the son of Thomas Foster, who was born in the State of Pennsylvania, where he died at the age of 56 ; his mother's name prior to her marriage was Elizabeth E. Wilson, a native o^ England, who died when our subject was an in- fant. Mr. Foster received a common-school education, and followed clerking at Jersey Shore for twenty -one or twenty -two j'ears. In 1837, he moved to Crawford Co., Ohio, and bought the land where he now resides ; he had 20 acres cut down and then returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained five years, and, in 1843, he removed his family to their home in Ohio. He was married, in 1831, to Sarah A. Lea ; her par- ents were Lacias P. Lea and Catharine (Rowe) Lea. The former was a native of England and died in Ohio at the age of 80, and the latter died when Mrs. Poster was an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have had seven children, of whom two are living — Catharine, now Mrs. Coder, of Parker Co., Texas ; and Sarah E., now Mrs. Norris, of Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio. Our subject is opposed to secret societies ; is a member of the M. E. Church, and takes an interest in the elevation of society. He was formerly a Whig, and is at present a radical Republican. JAMES FORREST, Jr., plasterer and ma- son ; P. 0. Osceola ; is a son of James Forrest, Sr., who was born in Barre Township, Hunting- don Co., Penn., on Maj- 18, 1799. His mother's name prior to her marriage was Margaret As- ton ; born in Lancaster Co., Penn., on Aug. 23, 1807. Mr. Forrest, Sr., always followed farming as a business ; his early education was very limited, except that acquired by himself He was a man of great force of character, a reader, and one who, by his own efforts, became able to converse intelligently on nearlj- any subject. During the war of 1812, his uncle was drafted, and assigned to Commodore Perry's command, and, not being able to go, Mr. Forrest, Sr., volun- teered his services to go in his uncle's stead, being then 13 years of age. Being large of his ^^ d'- •k TODD TOWNSHIP. 979 age, he was accepted, and was one of the crew that took part in the engagement of the Twin Sisters, between the American and British fleets, on Lake Erie, which ended so gloriously for the Americans that it has ever since been styled "Perry's Victorj-." He filled several offices of trust creditably to himself and to his constitu- ents ; he was Sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives of the State of Pennsylvania, under Gov. Shunk's administration, in 1844. Himself, with familj^, moved to Osceola, Craw- ford Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1854, and pur- chased a farm north of the town a quarter of a mile, where he died. Being troubled with water-brash, he had become weak and debili- tated, and, after a severe storm, the excitement was so great, perhaps, that he gave way and expired in his chair, supported by two of his sons, one on each side of him, in the 81st year of his age. He left no enemies, had a poor opinion of lawyers, thought little of phj'sicians, was opposed to fees, and thought lawj'ers and all officers of trust ought to be paid salaries ; his character was impressed with the hardihood of old, and he was always ready for anj'thing that might occur. He was a worthy member of the I. 0. 0. P., taking all the degrees, and was Noble Grand of the Lodge at Saulsburg, Penn. There was a beautiful tribute to the de- ceased passed by a friend, and a poem com- posed by his daughter, Mrs. Harter, which shows the high degree of intelligence of which the family is possessed. Oar subject was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn. ; he obtained rather a limited common-school education, but by his own efforts, having read a great deal of history, etc., he is able to converse freely on all general subjects. His early life was passed on the farm, and at the age of 23, he commenced the trade of plasterer and mason, which he has followed ever since, though never serving an ap- prenticeship. He was married Dec. 16, 1857, to Rebecca J. Brown. They have seven chil- dren — John L., Mary Juniata, now 3Irs. Charles Welsh ; Joseph E., James A., Dahlgren L., Frank M. and Moreau B., all living, stout and hearty. Mr. Forrest and his father were always Democrats. GILBERT JUMP, farmer; was born in Greene Co., N. Y,, in 1812. His parents were Elijah and Charity (Jones) Jump, both of whom were natives of the State of New York, his father being a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Jump, with his parents, moved to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1843, where the latter died, the father at the age of 81. and the mother about the age of 82 years. When our subject came to the State of Ohio, he purchased land near where he still resides, and commenced the task of clear- ing and improving his farm ; and a glance at his premises — his large and commodious dwell- ing — show how well he succeeded. There were many Indians in the country when he came to it, and, though peaceable with the whites, they had man}' quarrels among themselves. Mr. Jump was married in 1837, to Olive Aultman. She died in 1844, leaving three children — Ran- som, Isaac, and Laraujah, now Mrs. Gunndy. Mr. Jump was again married, in 1845, to Eliza McCuen, by whom he has five children — George, Delos, Morell, Seymour and Viroqua. Using his own language, " He has been a Democrat ever since he was born." WILLIAM T. KELLBY, merchant, Osceola; was born in Wood Co., Ohio, May 23, 1854, and is the son of John A. and Nancy (Patter- son) Kellej'. His father moved to Wood Co., Ohio, about the year 1830, being one of the first settlers, and building the first log cabin in Montgomery Township, where he engaged in farming. He was Justice of the Peace for many years, and was Probate Judge for two terms in succession before the county seat was removed to Bowling Green, it then being Perrysburg. Both parents died at an advanced age. He has one half-brother, who went to California during the gold fever of 1850, where he has since resided, being now worth probably $100,- 000, which shows how well he has succeeded. Mr. Kelley can relate numerous events of his early life, how he stuck in the mud, slept in the woods, and caused his parents no litfle alarm. He received a common-school educa- tion, and was thrown on his own resources when quite young. He worked during four successive summers in a nursery in Geauga Co., Ohio, after which, he went to Gratiot Co., -Mich., and engaged with the Monroe Nursery Co., for whom he worked three years, after which he bought a half-interest in a woolen-factory and chair-fac- tory, which was burned in 1876, supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. Prom there, he returned to Mill Grove, Wood Co., Ohio, where he purchased a half-interest in a drug store on borrowed capital, and afterward bought the entire stock. He had an adventure ^ jy k -K 980 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: in business, of short duration, in Nortii Balti- more, Ohio, and in May, 1880, moved his stock of goods and family to Osceola, where he is doing a ilourishing business in drugs and gro- ceries. He was married, Feb. 8, 1879, to Lora Phillips, who was raised in Sycamore, Ohio, by which union they have one child. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and in politics is a Republican. a. W. LBITH, retired ; P. 0. Nevada, Wy- andot Co.; was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, in October, 1810 ; his grandparents were captives of the Indians for twenty-nine years, roam- ing from place to place, his father being born during their captivity. They were of the float- ing frontier class, moving from place to place, finally locating in Fairfield Co., Ohio, where our subject's father died when he was yet a little boy. He was brought to Crawford Co., Ohio, in the beginning of April, 1824, by a guardian, and was engaged in the pursuits incident to farm life, clearing, grubbing, farming, etc. Mr. Leith never had the privilege of attending school, except one-half day in his life, when it rained, and he could not work in the corn. The event of that day was his throwing a chip through a greased-paper window, for which he received an application of the birch, the re- membrance of which is still vividly impressed upon his memory, though now in his old age. After his marriage, his wife being a good reader, the J udge learned to read aad write, the hardest part being to get the connection of dif- ferent subjects. When Mr. Leith settled in Crawford Co., he was the first settler in Leith Township, called " Leith '' after his grandpar- ents (the captives). The entire county being thinly settled, the Indians and their ponies roamed over the prairies and through the for- est at will. And many times our subject has started after his horses in the morning, they having strayed off during the night, and fol- lowed after a band of Indian ponies, only clad in shirt and breeches, following trails sometimes all daj^, without anything to eat. The first week that he was in the county he got lost in the evening, and had to remain out all night ; to add to his terrors, the wolves made the night hideous with their howls, often com- ing so near that he could see them. On sev- eral occasions his wife remained in the camp all night alone, without doors or windows, he being away from home. Mr. Leith was mar- ried to Margaret Steele, of Seneca Co., who has been the mother of ten children, the youngest being twin daughters, though but five are left to cheer them in their old age. The Judge never voted until 1840, for the reason that he was never before satisfied in his own mind that he knew how to vote intelligently, voting for Gen. Harrison, after which he voted the Whig ticket until the organization of the Republican party, which ticket he has voted ever since. In 1845, Mr. Leith was elected to the office of Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, which office he filled during the term of eight years, very creditably for himself and with satisfaction to his constituents. Through the partiality of his friends, he was once nomi- nated for Representative, and twice for the Sen- ate, but failed from the fact that he was in one of the strongholds of Democracy, and could not get the votes. The Judge is one of the early pioneers, having come to the county more than half a century (fifty-six years) ago, and was ac- quainted with the early settlement and organi- zation of the county. The Judge, though fee- ble with age and the hardships through which he has passed, still possesses a clear mind and a good memory, and has been one of the most important personages that figured in the early settlement of the county. LEWIS MILLER, farmer; P. 0. Poplar; was born March 18, 1836, in Seneca Co., Ohio ; lie received a good education, attending the common schools while young, and, at the age of 18, entered the Otterbein University, situ- ated at Westerville, Ohio, where he attended for two years, after which he attended Heidel- berg College, at Tiffin, Ohio, one year. Mr. Miller had a desire to enter the legal profes- sion, but, after commencing the study of law, was compelled to give it up on account of his health. His parents were Jacob and Phoebe (Pennington) Miller. His father is a native of Ohio, and still living ; his mother was a native of Virginia ; she died at the age of 66 years. Lewis has taught about twenty terms of school, has been School Examiner for some time, and has been engaged in farming to some extent nearlj' all his life. He has been consid- erable of a sporting man, and was the owner of "Ketchup," bred and raised by his father, tak- ing several handsome races, and making his best time at Tiffin, Ohio, in 2:24. Mr. Miller was married, on Feb. 12, 1880, to Crilley A. ir^ !.^ TODD TOWNSHIP. 983 Houseburg. He is a man of good informa- tion, and a Democrat. LUTHER M. MYERS, retired ; P. 0. Osce- ola ; was born in the State of Maryland in the year 1814, and is the son of Adam and Marga- ret (Worman) Myers. Mr. Myers attended subscription school while 3'oung at different times uatil he was 14 years of age, paying a small sum per quarter, his grammar consuming a part of his time for three days, and he im- provised rules for arithmetic to suit himself, Mr. Myers served an apprenticeship at milling, carpentering and millwrighting. He had charge of a mill for several years, and, in 1848, moved to Wyandot Co., Ohio, where he resided until 1854, at which time he removed to Crawford Co., Ohio, where he has since resided. He was married, in 1844, to Susan Hoj"^, and both of them are living to a good old age, though not blessed with any children. Our subject has been a life-long Democrat, though laying aside party affiliations at times in local matters, vot- ing for those who, in his judgment, are the most eminently qualified to fill the positions sought. Mr. Myers is a man that keeps thor- oughly posted on all general subjects, and takes an interest in all enterprises of interest to himself and those around him. He is a No- tary Public, and, by his unpretentious man- ners, he commands the good will and respect of his neighbors and fellow-men generally. JOHN OUTHWAITB, farmer ; P. 0. Osce- ola; was born in Pulton Co., Penn., on Nov. 10, 1820, and is the son of William and Eliza- beth (Thompson) Outhwaite, both natives of Yorkshire, England. They came to America in February, 1818, and settled in Fulton Co., Penn., where they lived seventeen years, and in 1836 moved to Seneca Co., Ohio, where they resided during the remainder of their lives, the father living to the age of 64 and the mother to the age of 54 years. John attended subscription schools in Pennsylvania, and the public schools after coming to this State, re- ceiving a fair education for the time. He left his parents and engaged in business for him- self when he was about 25 years of age, and about two years afterward purchased the land where he now resides. He has made several ad- ditions since, now being the owner of 240 acres of land, all under cultivation, with good build- ings orchards, etc. He takes an interest in fine stock and in improvements of all kinds. He was married, Feb. 22, 1855, to Drusilla Brown, of Seneca Co., Ohio, daughter of Will- iam and Rachel (Wiltse) Brown. They have two children living, Susan Belle, born Nov. 3, 1859, now Mrs. Tucker, and John R., born March 8, 1863, and three dead, two of whom died j'oung, and one, William B., died Dec. 3, 1879, aged 23 years. He was a young man of promise, and his death was a grief to his father and regretted by all who knew him. Mr. Outhwaite's wife died on Dec. 2, 1868, and on April 27, 1873, he was again married to Susan- nah Brown, a sister of his former wife. Our subject has been a member of the church nearly all his life, and was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party, to which DAVID POLLOCK, farmer ; P. 0. Osceola ; was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, on Aug. 8, 1825 ; son of Joseph and Nancy (McKinzey) Pollock, the latter a native of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Pollock, a native of Virginia, who moved to Richland Co. Ohio, in 1812, being among the first settlers of that countj-. He helped raise the first house in Ashland and the second house in Mansfield. They lived in Richland Co., un- til their death occurred, the father dying in 1867, and Mrs. Pollock in 1874. David re- mained with his parents (getting a limited common-school education, the time of his at- tendance not exceeding eighteen months in all), until 1851, when he moved to Crawford Co., Ohio, where he purchased 80 acres of land on which he now resides, and cleared the space to build a house. His farm is all cleared and the additions to it, together with the handsome brick mansion which stands where used to be the little log cabin, showing the degree of pros- perity which now surrounds him. He was married, in 1851, to Mary Bailey, who was born in Ashland Co., Ohio ; her parents being natives of Jefferson Co., Ohio, and were related to Thomas Ford, once Lieutenant Governor of the State. They have had seven children, five of whom are living — Joseph, Loren, Lambert, Robert and Alice L. Mr. Pollock was formerly a Whig and has been a Republican since the organization of the party, CAPT. JOHN WERT, retired mechanic, Os- ceola ; was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., on Aug. 3, 1808, and is the son of Joseph and Barbara (Kitch) Wert, both of American birth. His gi-andmother was one of the many women ^1 .^ 984 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: brought to this country, during the early settle- ment of the country, who served a number of years (being sold to the highest bidder) to de- fray the expenses of the voyage to this country. Our subject, with his parents, moved to Craw- ford Co., Ohio, in 1826, and settled on the San- dusky Kiver, about ten miles from Bucyrus, where his father entered 160 acres of land. The Captain, in 1828, attended school in Bucy- rus, working morning and evening for his board, being clad in the pioneer outfit — ^buck- skin breeches, moccasins and coon-skin cap. The schooling he received, however, did not ex- ceed four months. He worked one year at $7 per month, after which he served an apprentice- ship at the carpenter's trade, which business he followed for fourteen years, and afterward fol- lowed miUwrighting for thirty -three years. The Captain moved to Osceola in 1847, where he has since resided. He was married, in 1831, to Sarah Ziggler, by which union they have been blessed with eleven children, eight of whom are living — Sarah A. E., Mary J., Nancy C, Harriet C, Henry J. F., Edward D., Roy G. and James S. M. He first voted the Democratic ticket, voting for Gen. Jackson, next for Gen. Harri- son, and, since the organization of the Repub- lican party, he has been one of its strongest ad- herents. JOHN WIRBBAUGH, farmer; P. 0. Os- ceola ; was born in Pennsylvania on Julj' 28, 1806, and is the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Fisher) Wirebaugh, both natives of Pennsj-lva- nia. Our subject, with his parents, came to Columbiana Co., Ohio, in the year 1812, and, after the formation of Carroll Co., they were in that county, where the parents died, the former being 73 years of age and the latter about 63. Our subject received a limited education, at- tending subscription school in the old-time schoolhouses, with puncheon seats and greased- paper windows. He moved to Crawford Co., Ohio, during the year 1847, and bought the land where he now resides, and cleared a place for buildings. An event of the first day was that they lost their axes while at dinner, and had the trouble of hunting some time before they found them. Our subject was married to Elizabeth Potts, from which union they had six children — William H., Nicholas J., Elizabeth R., Sarah C, Nathan P. and John F. His wife died while he was yet in Carroll Co., and he was again married, to Elizabeth Horner, who is still living. They have four children — Cyrus S., Stuart C, Ladora E. and Isaac V. Mr. Wire- baugh is a member of the Christian Church at Bucyrus, Ohio, and has been a life-long Demo- crat. CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP. J. F. AILER, Postmaster and druggist ; was born in Chatfield Township, -March 4, 1840. His parents, Frederick and Christina Ailer, were natives of Germany. They were the pa- rents of three children — John, Caroline, and Jacob F. The latter was left motherless when but 4 days old, and his father, being very poor, bound him out to a Mr. Guiss, for a period of twenty-one years. Mr. Ailer's stay with the Guisses lasted until he was 17 years of age, when Mrs. Guiss died, and he was then given his freedom. While at Mr. Guiss', he had little or no chance to see anything of the world, for the only time he was allowed off the place was to go to church or school. When given his freedom, young Ailer hired out to Christian Guiss, for $10 per month ; this was the first money he could call his own, and he saved it up and went to school, thinking he could put it to no better use than in acquiring an education. Mr. Ailer's schooling was received mostly at Hayesville High School, Ashland Co., Ohio. During the winter of 1857-58, he taught his first term of school ; the next summer, again working for Mr. Guiss, and with the money thus acquired, he continued his education. From that time until 1863, he alternately taught school, worked on a farm and studied. In 1863, he commenced clerking in a provision store in Bellevue. His work from that time was some- what varied, consisting of clerking in stores, and working for railroad companies, etc. In the fall of 1863, he married Miss Susan Guiss, daughter of John and Ursilla (Grant) Guiss ; and by her had one daughter — Melissa, who is now dead. His wife died June 8, 1865 ; her early death d- d^ CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP. 985 being deeply regretted by all who knew her. Mr. Ailer's second wife was Miss Elsie Kang, daughter of Henry and Emily (Weeks) Rang ; to whom he was married Oct. 3, 1867. To this union were born the following family : Frank- lin J., born Dec. 22, 1868, died July 31, 1869 ; AVilliam H., born Feb. 8, 1870; Alplia 0. born July 1, 1873, and Pearl 0., born March 29, 1878, and died Aug. 29, 1880. Mrs. Ailer was born July 17, 1850. Mr. Ailer has, at diflfer- ent times, been in the dry goods and drug trade, and at present his occupation is druggist and Postmaster, ha\ing been appointed Post- master on April 9, 1866, and has ever since held that office in New Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Ailer are intelligent and sociable people, and are among the first citizens of the place. J. F. ACKERM AN, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. O. New Washington ; was born April 13, 1845, on the farm he now owns in Cranberry Township. His parents, John and Mary (Ham) Ackennan, were of German descent, the fatlier being born in Wittenberg, Germany, and the mother in Stark Co., Ohio. The fa.ther, when a young man, came to the United States, locating in Stark Co., Ohio. Here he met her who soon afterward became his wife. After living in Stark Co. a number of years, they came to Liberty Township, Crawford Co., and, about 1843, removed to Cranberry Township, in the same count}'. These people were honest and industrious ; coming, as they did, into an al- most unbroken wilderness, they endured many privaLions, that to-daj- their children might reap the benefit. They were the parents of the following family : Mary, Elizabeth, John, Catha- rine, Jacob F. and Eliza. The parents of these children are both dead. The subject of this biography was reared on the farm, receiving a common-school education. On Feb. 11, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Kakfer, daughter of John and Fredrica (Loyer) Kakfer, of Liberty Township, and by her has seven children — Eliza A., born May 13, 1870 ; John W., born Nov. 3, 1871 ; Emma L., born Sept. 16, 1873 ; Jacob C. born Feb. 3, 1875 ; Francis M., born Sept. 13, 1876 ; Elmore J., born June 30, 1878, and Hattie C, born March 9, 1880. Mrs. Ackei'man was liorn March 4, 1847, in Lib- erty Township. Mr. Ackerman owns 1 52 acres of excellent land in this township. He is a Demo- crat in polities, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Ackerman is an intelligent and enterprising gentleman. He is well respected wherever known, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends. MICHAEL BAKER, New Washington, was born in France Nov. 1, 1831. He is a son of John and Catharine Baker, who were parents of ten children, seven of whom are yet living. His father was a soldier under Napoleon, and served his country with distinction. Michael was raised on a farm, and, in 1843, moved with his parents to the United States, locating in Cuyahoga Co. When 18 years old, Michael began learning the carpenter's trade, which business he followed until 1855, when he began fitting himself for the priesthood. For ten 3'ears he studied and went to school, and at the end of that time graduated at the Catholic Seminar}', situated at Cleveland. He was im- mediately assigned to the New Washington charge, and with that charge has ever since been identified. On his arrival, there was nothing but a small frame church, but now, bj' his perseverance and exertions, the Catholics have one of the finest churches in Crawford Co. The history of that church will be found in the history of Cranberry Township. Mr. Baker is an intelligent gentleman, and the Catholics of New Washington owe much of their prosperity to him. JACOB J. BEAR, merchant, New Washing- ton ; son of Daniel and Julia A. (Haller) Bear, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Aug. 6, 1835. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in' 1808. Mrs. Bear was born in Ger- man j- in 1816, and they were married in Lan- caster Co., Penn., in 1832. To them were born six children, three of whom are yet living, viz., John, Barbara and Jacob. John married Sarah Dean, and lives in La Grange Co., Lid. ; Bar- bara is the wife of N. H. Chamberlin, and lives in Williams Co., Ohio ; Jacob J. lived with his parents on a farm until 13 years of age, and entered a printing office in Marshall, Mich., where he remained two years. At the conclu- sion of that time he engaged in the printing busi- ness in Coldwater, Mich., where he remained one year. From 1851 until 1859, he traveled through a great many of the Eastern cities at different times, working in the Times office at Toledo, the Review and PI aindealer at Cleve- land, the Times at Pittsburgh and the Times at Wheeling, Va. For nine months, he was at vpr ^1 i^ BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: Painesville, Ohio, where he published a book on latitude and longitude, entitled " Mnemotech- ny." In 1860, he took the " gold fever " and started for Pike's Peak. After a long and event- ful trip overland, Mr. Bear and the company ■with whom he went arrived at their destination in safety. Here he commenced mining, but it turned out a complete failure financially, Mr. Bear sinking his " all " in the enterprise. About this time W. N. Byers established the first news- paper — the Rocky Mountain News — in Denver. Mr. Bear immediately engaged his services to Mr. Byers, and, as a matter of history, it can be said he assisted in publishing the first news- paper in Colorado. After nine months unproflt- ably spent in Colorado, Mr. Bear returned to the States and engaged in his old trade in St. Louis, Mo., Alton, 111., and other places. In June, 1861, Mr. Bear enlisted in Co. A, 21st Ind. V. I., and served his country through the bitter struggle of the war of secession. He was in quite a number of engagements, among them being Fort Jackson, Phillippi, Baton Rouge, Vicksburg, Island No. 10 and others. During his army career, he was Post-Printer a greater part of the time. He was discharged in January, 1865. Mr. Bear has been married twice, his first wife being Parmelia Cannon, by whom he had one daughter — Ida M., born April 5, 1867. His present wife was Catharine M. Kariger, to whom he was married Sept. 18, 1873. By her he has four children — Charles I., born June 27, 1874 ; Eden W., Dec. 4, 1875 ; Elmer A., Nov. 30, 1878 ; and Senora B., June 17, 1880. Mrs. Bear was bom Sept. 25, 1847 ; Mr. Bear owns a livery barn and house and lot in the city. He also owns one of the best gro- ceries in town, and he does an excellent busi- ness. Is a Democrat in politics, and a keen, wide-awake gentleman. HENRY BECKER, Jr., merchant. New Washington. Among the young and enter- prising business men of New Washington is the subject of this biography. He was born in Pennsylvania Feb. 17, 1855, and is a son of Henry and Kate (Breckly) Becker. His par- ents were natives of Germany, and were mar- ried in Pennsj'lvania. They came to the United States about the year 1825, and to them were born twelve children — Henry, Charles, Kate, Mary, Anne, Edward, Helen, Christopher, Martha, Augusta, Ida and Caro- line. The father of these children is at pres- ent a prosperous merchant in Girard, Penn., and is an intelligent and well-respected citizen in his locality. Henry Becker, Jr., received an excellent education in his native State, and in March, 1877, embarked in the merchant-tailoring business in New Washington. Mr. Becker, al- though a young man, has had considerable ex- perience in his line of business, and his fair and honest dealings have won for him the name of being one of the best business men in the village of New Washington. DR. CHARLES T. BENNER, physician and surgeon. New Washington ; was born in Tiffin, Ohio, July 29, 1856 ; he is a son of George and Susanna (Zlise) Benner, who were parents of five children — Josephine, William, Augustus, Charles T. and John. Dr. Benner's youthful days were passed in TiflSn going to school. He was for one year in the employ of Gray & Steven- son, in Tiffin, and, for a short time, clerked for his brother in the same place. In 1874, he commenced the study of medicine, under the instruction of Kinnaman & Hershiser, and, after a thorough study of the branches neces- sary, he entered the University of Wooster, at Cleveland. After one term of lectures, in the spring of 1877, he began practice in New Washington. Here he met with excellent suc- cess, and, the next winter, returned to college, where he graduated. After his graduation. Dr. Benner returned to New Washington and re- commenced the practice of medicine. Jan. 8, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Jen- nie C. Meschinger, daughter of John U. Mesch- inger, Esq., of Tiffin. Although yet a young man. Dr. Benner, by his gentlemanly deport- ment, and the success with which he has met obstinate cases, has won an excellent practice, and one that is as desirable as any physician enjoys in Crawford Co. He is an enterprising young man, and a Democrat in politics. He is widely known and highly respected through- out the county. J. W. and T. B. CARSON ; P. 0. New Wash- ington. The parents of these gentlemen, Sam- uel and Elizabeth (Willoughby) Carson, were of German-Irish descent. Thej- were natives of Virginia, and were married in Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1814, and to them were born eleven children, eight of whom are yet living. These parents came to Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1835, locating in Venus Township, where they re- mained until their respective deaths. Mr. Car- ^r ^ i±^ CEANBEREY TOWNSHIP. 987 son claims to be a distant connection of the celebrated trapper and Indian fighter, "Kit" Carson. Mr. Carson was a man very decided in his views, and, being a man of excellent judgment, he, in his time, was considered one of the most prominent and intelligent citizens in northern Crawford and southern Seneca Counties. In politics, he was a Democrat until Buchanan was elected President. Being a strong Abolitionist or anti-slavery man, and not liking Buchanan's administration, he threw his influence and support with the new party — Republican — with whom he ever afterward be- came identified. Mrs. Carson died in February, 1866. She was a fond wife and a kind and afiectionate mother. Mr. Carson survived his wife until June, the following year, when he, too, died and was laid away to rest iDy the side of her who was his helpmeet in life. The names of their children are Robert, J. W., Anne, Harrison H., George, Margaret, Sarah, Hannah, Ehza and Samuel. Robert, Anne and Hannah are dead. The balance of the family are living in Ohio and Michigan. J. W. Carson was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Dec. 3, 1818. He was reared on a farm, and in 1841, was united in marriage .to Miss Mary Ann Moore, daughter of Maurice Moore, Esq. By her Mr. Carson has twelve children — Margaret J., Elizabeth B, (dead), Hannah L., George (dead), Sarah, Samuel B., Maurice (dead), Eliza, Harrison M. (dead), Mary F., Ida M. and Ettie. Mrs. Carson was born in New Jersey in 1820. Mr. Carson owns 80 acres of land in Venus Township, Seneca Co., where he resides. In connection with farming, he deals quite extensively in stock. He is an uncompromising Republican in poli- tics, and a first-class citizen. His brother T. B. was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, June 7, 1837. His youth and early manhood, like that of his brother, was passed on a farm. He received a good common-school and academical education. May 2, 1861, he was united in marriage with Sarah, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Bigam) Smith. His wife was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1841. Sept. 1, 1861, Mr. Carson enlisted in Company H, 14th Regiment 0. V. I., and was discharged Sept. 9, 1864. He bravely served his country throughout the war of secession, participating in a number of en- gagements, a few of the more prominent being Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Jonesboro and a number of others. He and wife are parents of six children — John "W., Viola E., Wilbur C, Ulysses, Estella and Fran- cis M. Of these only the two former are liv- ing. Mr. Carson owns a large and well-im- proved farm. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Church. The Carsons are very sociable and highly re- spected people. They enjoj' the friendship and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. H. M. CORY, insurance, New Washington ; was born in Cranberry Township, Crawford Co., Dec. 28, 1845. He is a son of Thomas and Esther (Brown) Cory, appropriate mention of whom will be found in the biography of Hon. J. E. Cory, in this work. Mr. Cory was reared on his father's farm, and during his youth re- ceived quite a good common-school education. When 20 years old, he commenced attending the male and female seminary of Lexington, Richland Co., Ohio, where he remained two years. He then for one year attended the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. Dur- ing the spring of 1870, Mr. Cory went to Kan- sas, where he engaged in the real estate busi- ness for a number of years, and, while engaged in this, read law under the instruction of Thomas C. Cory, a brother, who was living in Parsons. In August, 1878, he returned to his native neighborhood, where he engaged in his present occupation. Mr. Corj^ represents the Continental Insurance Co. of New York, one of the best companies in the United States. It has a cash capital of $1,000,000, and the popularity of this company is largely increased in securing Mr. Cory's services in Crawford and Richland Coun- ties. During Mr. Cory's life, he has taught school to some extent, in which he has invariably given excellent satisfaction. He is a Democrat in politics, and we predict for him in the near future an honorable position in that party. HON. JAMES E. CORY, carpenter and joiner ; is a native of Cranberry Township, and was born in September, 1840. He is a son of Thomas and Esther (Brown) Cory, and grand- son of Aaron and Elizabeth (McGuire) Cory, who came to Cranberry Township in 1826. Of the grandparents, more is said of them in the history of Cranberry Township. Thomas Cory, son of Aaron, was a native of Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, and was born in 1810. When 9 j^ears old, he, together with his parents, moved to Richland Co., Ohio. He married Esther Brown, ^.1 .[> 988 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. and to them were bom the following family — Mary E., Thomas C, James E., Robert W., Hugh M., Sarah E. and Susan N. Mary is the wife of James Jlorrow, and lives in Auburn Township ; Thomas C. resides in Kansas, his wife was Leona Comstock ; James E. and Hugh M. are both single and reside in their native township ; Robert W. is a prominent citizen in Lykens Township, and is the husband of Aba- gail Purky ; Sarah is the wife of Henry C. Mar- tin, and resides in Montgomery Co., Kan., and Susan is the wife of John ^Morrow, whose biog- raphj- accompanies this work. As far back as can be traced, we find the Cory family to be one of more than ordinary intelligence and en- terprise. We first notice Aaron Cory, who, braving the wilds of an unexplored wilderness, emigrated to the interior of Ohio when it was but a Territory, in 1814-15, he settled in Wayne and Richland Cos. Thomas Cory imbibed much of his father's energy of character, and upright and honorable dealings with his neighbors. He was an influential man, and had the respect and confidence of his fellow-men. He was deeply beloved by his family, and, when he died — which event occurred in 1856 — his death was greatljf deplored by the neighborhood, and es- pecially by his devoted wife and family. His wife died during the spring of 1865. The chil- dren of Thomas and Esther (Brown) Cory are all living, and all are prominent and respected citi'Zens in their respective localities. James E. Corj- was reared on his father's farm in Cran- berry Township, when he received a good edu- cation. During the fall of 1879, the people of Crawford Co., recognizing his a"bilitv, selected him to represent them in their State Legisla- ture, which he did to the credit of his county. Mr. Cory is also a member of the Board of County Examiners, and has been for the past four years. According to custom, Mr. Cory will at least represent the people of Crawford Co., at Columbus another term, as be gave excellent satisfaction while there before. 'Mr. Cory is single and makes his home in New Washington. He is a successful carpenter and an intelligent gentleman. LUTHER COX. farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. New Washington ; was born May 1, 1826, in Wayne Co. ; he is a son of Stewart and Ann (Garretson) Cox, who were parents of seven children. The father was born in 1800, and the mother six years later. They were married in 1824, in Wayne Co., Ohio, and their children's names respectivelj- are Lutlier, Lu- cinda, William, Mary, Alexander, Sarah and Catharine A. This family came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, in March, 1839, purchasing 160 acres of land in that Township, and 160 acres in Cranberry Township. While in Crawford Co., Mr. Cox made many good and warm friends. He died in June, 1859, leaving behind him a good record. Luther Cox was reared on the farm. His education was none of the best ; he, being the oldest child in the family, was consequently kept at home a greater part of the time to assist in improving and clearing the place. He was mamed June 10, 1851, to Lucinda Hudson, daughter of Ben- jamin and Anna (Willford) Hudson. Benja- min Hudson came to Cranberry Township, from Wajne Co., Ohio, in 1833, and settled on the farm now owned by G-eorge Stoutnor. They were among the earliest settlers of Cranberry Township, and, in their early time, did much to influence settlers to locate in the Township. Mr. Hudson is now dead, but his wife is yet living on the old place, with her son-in-law, John Stoutnor. Mr. Cox, by his wife, had the following family : Sylvia A., born Oct. 22, 1853, died Dec. 17, 1870 ; Catharine C, born Sept. 8, 1855 ; Edmond 0., born Oct. 10, 1857, died March 15, 1858 ; Cora M., born July 9, 1866 ; Mrs. Cox was born July 31, 1832. At the time of his marriage, he was farming his father's place in Auburn Township. The year after thej' moved to the place where he now lives, erecting a log cabin, almost where his house now stands. He owns 120 acres of well- improved land, in Cranberry Township, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Cox is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Democrat in politics. The Cox famil}- are well known in Cranberry and Au- burn Townships, and are highly respected citi- WILLIAM CU3IMIXS ; P. 0. New Wash- ington ; was bom in Crawford Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1843. His parents, Morgan and Elizabeth (Smith) Cummins, came to Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, about the year 1828. They were the parents of four children — Abner, John, one that died in infancy, and William. Abner is married, and lives in WUliams Co., Ohio. John married Caroline Boardner, and lives in Henry Co., Ohio. William passed B ^ ^1 i>L, CBANBEERY TOWNSHIP. his youth and early manhood on his parents' farm. Until 1866, the greater share of his time was occupied in farming and carpenter- ing: He was married, Feb. 15, 1866, to Matil- da Hosier, daughter of Jonas and Catharine (Troxel) Hosier, and by her has the following family ; David S., born Oct. 10, 1866 ; Cora M., Sept. 25, 1872 , Delia M., Oct. 3, 1874 ; John F., Feb. 16, 1877, died Dec. 10, 1879, and Mary B., born March 11, 1879. Mrs. Cummins was born Dec. 8, 1846. During the spring of 1866, Mr. Cummins came to New Washington and engaged int the saloon business, and so far has been quite successful. He owns a good business house and good private town proper- ty in New Washington. Mr. Cummins is a Democrat in politics, and is a man who takes great pains — as all men should — to educate his children. His oldest son, David, only 14 years old, passed an examination before the County Examiners that, but for his age, would have entitled him to a teacher's certificate of high grade. Mrs. Cummins' people were among the earliest settlers in Bloom Township, Sene- ca Co., Ohio. Mr. Cummins is an intelligent and enterprising man. He spends much of his time in reading, and, although he did not receive anything extraordinary of an educa- tion in youth, has, by application, made him- self thoroughly conversant with the issues of the dav. WILLIAM H. DONNBNWIRTH, merchant. New Washington ; was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Oct. 6, 1838. He is a son of John and Marga- ret (Lang) Donnenwirth, who were parents of nine children. The parents were natives of Alsace, Germany. They were married in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1828, and the names of their chil- dren respectively are Elizabeth, deceased ; John, deceased ; Mary, George, William, Mar- garet, Elizabeth, Andrew and Samuel. The mother is dead ; the father is yet living, at an advanced age, in Stark Co., Ohio. Mary lives in Canton, Ohio, the wife of Emanuel Raber. George married Matilda Stump and is a farmer and lives in Stark Co. Margaret lives in Mich- igan and is the wife of Henry Heffleman, Elizabeth is the wife of Lewis Schneider and resides in Stark Co. Andrew is a saddler, married Mary Ingraham and lives in Summit Co. Samuel is a farmer in Stark Co., his wife being Emma (Housman) Donnenwirth. William was reared on a farm, receiving a good com- mon-school education. He began for himself when 27 years old, by farming. Jan. 30, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Catharine A. Sheetz, daughter of John A. Sheetz by his second wife. To this union were bom the fol- lowing family ; Margaret 0., born Dec. 2, 1866 ; Caroline L., born Oct. 18, 1868 ; Mary M.,born Sept. 25, 1870 ; Etta I., born July 19, 1872 ; Emma A., born March 14, 1875, and Ida E., born Feb. 3, 1878. Mrs. Donnenwirth was born in Auburn Township, Aug. 8, 1838. Mr. Don- nenwirth opened a hardware store in New Wash- ington in 1872, and by excellent business tact has increased his stock to one of the best stores of its kind in the county. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Donnenwirth is a genial, intelligent and en- terprising gentleman, and one of the best bus- iness men in New Washington. L. C. DONNENWIRTH, New Washington, was born in New Washington, Ohio, Aug. 11, 1851. His parents were Hon. George and Car- oline (Durr) Donnenwirth. The main history of the family will be found in^the biography of Hon George Donnenwirth, of Bucyrus Town- ship. When 6 years old, our subject, together with his parents, moved to Bucyrus, where he remained until 18 years old. He then appren- ticed himself to Jacob Seifert to learn the blacksmith's trade. After about two and a half years, he mastered the trade, and then, for one year, assisted his preceptor. Mr. Seifert died at the end of that time, and our subject, with his half-brother William, continued the busi- ness. In 1877, he commenced blacksmithing by himself in New Washington, and as such has ever since continued. Mr. Donnenwirth is considered one of the best disciples of Vulcan in the town. On May 1, 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Guiss, daughter of Christian Guiss, and to them were born two children— William A., born Oct. 7, 1874, died Jan. 1, 1877 ; Annetta J., born Feb. 24, 1880. Mrs. Donnenwirth was born Aug. 22, 1853. Mr. Donnenwirth is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is a Democrat in politics. He has held the position of City Clerk since 1874, and Township Clerk since 1877. Mr. Donnenwirth is an enterprising and industrious young man, of good morals and good character. JOHN F. EARLER, New Washington ; was born in Germany May 30, 1835. Is a son of John and Mary B. (Mayer) Earler, who were '^ -J»_ 9 >• -"^ 990 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: parents of four children — John F., Earnest F., Caroline and Barbara. Caroline is dead ; par- ents are also dead, having died in the " old country." John F. Earler came to the United States in 1855, locating in Ashland Co., Ohio, where he worked as a farm hand for seven years. The next three years, he was employed by a butcher in a buti.her-shop ; here he met Catharine Webber, who afterward became his wife. In 1865, he moved to Cranberry Town- ship, Crawford Co., Ohio, and two years later purchased the farm he now owns. He started a poor boy, but, by economy and hard work, Mr. Earler has acquired quite a competency. His wife died Sept. 12, 1877. Was again mar- ried Sept. 6, 1878, his second wife being Cath- arina Laufer, and by her has two sons, twins — John and Frederick. By his first wife, Mr. Earler also had two sons — John G-. and Charles W. Mr. Earler is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and a Democrat in politics. His land is situated north of the center of Sec- tion 23, the one-half being the southeast quarter of the northwest»quarter, and the other half be- ing the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 23. Mr. Earler is an enter- prising and well-respected citizen ol Cranberry Township. J. C. H. ELDEK, attorney and counselor at law, New Washington ; son of Achor and Eliza (Cessna) Elder, who were pi^rents of seven children — Sarah V., Emma, Curtis, William J., J. C. H., Mary and Horace A., all of whom are living, except Mary. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents on the farm until he was 19 vears old. He was born in Bedford Co., Penn., June 15, 1849, and in 1868, com- menced attending the Heidleberg College, at Tiffin, Ohio, where he remained until 1875, completing the classical course of that college. After graduating, Mr. Elder entered the law of- fice of Hon. Warren P. Noble, with whom he remained, reading law, until he was admitted to the bar, which occurred April 12, 1877. On Jan. 16, 1878, he commenced the practice of law in New Washington, where he has remained ever since. Mr. Elder was married in Septem- ber, 1877, to Miss Marietta Ash, daughter of Emanuel Ash, of Fostoria, Ohio, and by her has one daughter — Mabel, born in July, 1878. Mr. Elder, on his father's side, is of Irish descent, and on his mother's side, of French and Welsh. His wife is of German extraction. Although a young man in his profession, Mr. Elder has a good and lucrative practice, and, besides being an attorney, he represents two reliable insur- ance companies — the Cooper Insurance Co., of Dayton, Ohio, and the Insurance Co., of North America, of Philadelphia. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Reformed Church. Mr. Elder is an enterprising young man of good and moral habits, and enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow'townsmen, and we predict for him an excellent future and an enviable record. C. K. HEABLER, practical miller, New Washington ; of the firm of Endslow & Heab- ler, was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, May 4, 1847. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1795, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Heabler was also a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1807. They were the parents of eleven children — William, deceased ; John ; Catharine, deceased ; George ; Emanuel, de- ceased ; Henry ; Samuel, deceased ; Elizabeth, David, Sarah and C. K. Out of those living, C. K., Henry, George and John are millers, as was their father before them. David is a shoe- maker. George, David and C. K. were faithful and efficient soldiers in the late war. The father died in June, 1875. His widow survives him and resides in Attica. Mr. Heabler owned a farm, on which his family lived, while he at- tended the milling business. He was a kind and firm man, and very strict in his religious views, and his habits were strictly temperate and moral. At his death, the neighborhood lost a prominent and good citizen and a kind neighbor. Our subject. Christian K., was brought up on a farm, but learned the milling trade when quite young. When 19 years of age, he engaged his services to his brother, who was a miller in Attica, with whom he remained twelve years. For one year he milled in Napo- leon. In Januarj', 1880, he, together with T. B. Endslow, bought the large grist-mill at New Washington, and, as millers, are second to none in the county. Mr. Heabler is a Demo- crat in politics. He was married Jan. 26, 1870, to Miss Sarah B. Swartz, daughter of Peter and Martha Swartz. To this union were Dorn two children — Roscoe G., bom Jan. 22, 1871, and Ettie M., bom July 22, 1875. Mr. Heabler owns a half-interest in the mill, is a member of the I. 0. 0. P., and an intelligent enterprising gentleman. ^7 ^^ iki^ CRANBEREY TOWNSHIP. 991 GEORGE HEPP, fai'mer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. New Washington ; is of German descent, and was born in Alsace in 1832. His parents, John and Belinda (Summer) Hepp, came to the United States in 1 843, locating in Seneca Co. They were the parents of two children — George and Peter. Peter married Elizabeth Baach, and lives in Seneca Co. Mr. Hepp died in 1872. He was a good man, and was a prom- inent and respected man among the Germans. Our subject passed his youth and early man- hood on the farm and in attending school. He was married, in 1856, to Mary Westrick, who died in 1858, leaving a fond husband and baby daughter to mourn her loss. The daughter's name is Caroline, and she is now the wife of Lawrence Wechter, living in Cranberry Town- ship. On Nov. 1, 1859, Mr. Hepp remarried, his wife being Margaret ^^^enslie. By her he has nine children — Elizabeth, born in 1860 ; Mary, in 1861 ; Anthonv, in 1862 ; Jacob, in 1865 ; Melinda, in 1868"; Joseph, in 1870, and died the same year ; Frank, born in October, 1872 ; Rosa, in 1875. and Anna, in 1877. The Hepp family are all good, industrious citizens, and enjoy the respect of all who know them. They are Catholics in religion, and prominent farm- ers in Cranberry Township. Mr. Hepp owns 102 acres of highly improved land adjoining the village of New Washington. He is taking especial pains to educate his children, as he wishes them to grow up intelligent men and women, and fully capable of assuming promi- nent positions in society. ROBERT G. HILBORN ; P. 0. New Wash- ington. Among the old and time-honored resi- dents of northeastern Crawford Co. is the subject of this biography. He was born in Richland Co., Ohio, May 15, 1823, and was one of a family of nine children, of whom Isaac and Nancy (George) Hilborn were the parents. Mr. Hilborn, the father, came to Richland Co. as early as 1813, being one of the very earliest settlers. In 1826, he came to Crawford Co., locating in Liberty Township, and afterward in Sandusky and Auburn Townships. Mr. Hil- born died in the latter township during the spring of 1863. He was a man of great ener- gy of character, and did much to advance civ- ilization in the county. The biographies of their sons, Robert, Samuel, John and William, appear in this work. Robert, like his brothers, was reared on the farm, and, being the oldest boj", was detained at home to help clear and improve the place, and thus did not receive the advantages in education that boys now do. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Eckis, daugh- ter of Jacob Eckis, Esq., of Auburn Township. In 1847, he built a cabin in the woods of Holmes Township, where he lived with his young wife ten years. He then moved to Au- burn Township, and, about this time, lost his wife. By her he had the following family : Minerva A., now the wife of William Taylor ; Martha ; Sarah A., now the wife of George W. Gregg ; Emma L., now the wife of Joseph Til- son ; Amena E., the wife of Christian Graff- miller ; Ida, now the wife of Dee Milroj', and one son that died in infancy. Not long after the death of his wife, Mr. Hilborn bought the John Robinson farm, in Cranberry Township. He was married to his present wife March 25, 1862. Her name was Mrs. Nancy Hanna, widow of John Hanna, and daughter of James Crawford, a relative of Col. Crawford, who was burned at the stake by the Indians. His last marriage bore to him three children — Isaac H., born in January, 1863 ; Hepzibah, in Septem- ber, 1865, and Kate, in July, 1867. Mr. Hil- born lived on the John Robinson place six 3'ears, and, in 1869, moved to New Washing- ton. His present occupation is hotel-keeping, he being the proprietor of the City House. He does a good business, and is reasonably suc- cessful. Mr. Hilborn remembers distinctly many an experience in his early life in the then forest of Auburn and other townships. When but a boy, he remembers carrying pro- visions to the Indians, and of many memorable scenes connected with them. Mr. Hilborn is an honest and respected citizen in New Wash- ington, and no name is more respected in the neighborhood than his. J. S. HERSHISER, M. D., physician and surgeon. New Washington ; is one of a family of ten children, whose names respectively are Mary A., Cyrus, Caroline, Anthony B., Sarah, John S., Aaron, Bertha, Jacob H. and Adeline H., all of whom are living except Bertha. The father of this family was Samuel Hershiser, who, with his wife, Sarah (Schertzer) Hershiser, were honored and highly respected citizens of Bedford Co., Penn. John S. Hershiser, the sub- ject of this biography, was reared on a farm. He received an excellent common-school edu- cation, and, for two years, was a student in the ^ R:* :^^ 992 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: college at Oberlin, Ohio, where he begaa fitting himself for the medical profession. After this, and for three years, he studied under the in- structions of Dr. S. B. Bell, of Mansfield, Ohio, and, in 1856, attended medical lectures in the Medical Department of the University of Mich- igan, at Ann Arbor. He remained there one year, and then, in the spring of 1857, came to New Washington and began the practice of medicine. Here he remained until the winter of 1865-66 ; he then attended the Medical De- partment of the University of Wooster, situ- ated at Cleveland, were he completed the course of the regular school of medicine, graduating with honors. Since that time, he has always practiced his profession at New Washington. On the 30th of April, 1857, he was united in marriage with Sarah J., daughter of John Dull, of Vernon Township, and by her has one son, Charles C, born Jan. 22, 1858. Mrs. Hershiser was born May 5, 1837. Dr. Hershiser is one of the best physicians in Northern Ohio. It has always been his aim to be '' at the top " in his profession, and his pres- ent popularity shows the success which his determination has met with. He is one of the prominent men of New Washington, is a Re- publican in politics, and a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. MATTHIAS KIBLER, deceased ; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, June 11, 1822, He was the youngest in a family of eight children, six of whom are yet living. He, together with his parents, John and Maria Kibler, came to the United States in 1839, locating in TrumbuU Co., Ohio. Here Mr. Kibler passed his time working on a farm, working on a canal and working in a tannery, and, at intervals, going to school. In this way he received a good common-school education. On the 22d of Oc- tober, 1846, he united in marriage to Prederica Pfahler, daughter of Matthias and Barbara Pfahler, and to this union were bom eight children — Maria, born Dec. 5, 1847. died July 25, 1850; Samuel J., March 9, 1851 ; Franklin P., June 27, 1853, died July 15, 1854 ; James M., Feb. 15, 1856 ; Lovina, April 5, 1857 ; John W., June 28, 1859 ; Caroline, April 25. 1862, died Aug. 18, 1862 ; Louisa M.. July 20, 1863. Of these, Samuel J. is the only one married. On the 22d of April, 1875, he married Miss Elizabeth Herr, of Seneca Co., and by her had three children — William B., bom April 13, 1876, died AprU 14, 1876 ; Alfred G., Aug. 1, 1877 ; and Clara 0., June 20, 1879. The mother was bom May 24, 1854. Mr. Kibler, Sr., came to Cranberry Township in 1841, and embarked in the tanning business on the farm now owned by Daniel Easley. In the winter of 1846-47, this tannery took fire and was burned to the ground. The next spring, Mr. Kibler moved to New Washington and engaged in farming, tanning, and the boot and shoe business. He built the tannery now owned by his sons, S. J. Kibler & Bro., and he was one of the principal citizens of his time. His death occurred Sept. 23, 1876. Mr. Kibler was a man of keen foresight and in- telligence, and, during his time, held many offices of honor and trust. He was the first Mayor of New Washington, and was Mayor at the time of his death. His sou, S. J., succeeded him in the office of Township Treasurer. Mr. Kibler was a Democrat, and a member of the German Lutheran Church. He was well known all over Crawford Co. as a man of more than ordinary intelligence and ability. His widow still survives him, at the age of 56, and is living in New Washington. • The Kibler family is an old and honored one, and no name commands more respect than does that family. J. F. KIMERLINE ; P. 0. New Washington ; is a son of John and Mary (Derr) Kimerline, who were the parents of seven children, and were natives of Germany, the father being bom in 1820, and the mother in 1818. They were married in Germany, and came to the United States in 1853, locating in Wooster, Ohio. The names of their children respectively are Will- iam, Lewis, John, Maggie, Christina, Fred and Elizabeth. William, Christina and Elizabeth are dead. Lewis is a butcher by trade ; he mar- ried Barbara Derr, and resides in New Wash- ington ; John is single, and lives in Cleveland ; Maggie is single, and resides at home with her father, in Wooster. Mrs. Kimerline died Jan. 2, 1880. The subject of this article was born Dec. 6, 1855. He passed his youthful days on the farm and in attending school, receiving the common-school education which most boys in the country receive. When 17 years of age, he determined to increase his mental acquire- ments, and fit himself for teaching. With this purpose in view, he first attended the schools of Smithville for a time, and when sufficiently qualified, commenced alternately teaching and ^ l±^ CEAKBEERY TOWNSHIP. going to school, which has been his occupation ever since. Mr. Kimerline is at present Prin- cipal of the New Washington schools. He is a young man of good habits, and has the reputa- tion of being an excellent instructor. He is a member of the graduating class- of 1882, in the college at Ada, Ohio. Mr. Kimerline is a Demo- crat in politics, and is enterprising and indus- trious, and has the respect and esteem of his employes and acquaintances. DANIEL KELLER, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. G. Tiro. There is no more honored and respected name in northeastern Crawford County than that of Keller. George and Mary Keller were the parents of eight children, only two of whom are living. They were married in Pennsylvania, and in 1827, emigrated to Stark Co., Ohio. After eighteen years of pio- neer life, they removed to Cranberry Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, settling on the farm that is now owned by Daniel Keller — the subject of this biographj^ Mr. Keller was a man of pow- erful frame and constitution, and one well cal- culated to become one of the best and hardiest pioneers of Crawford County. Here he built him a log cabin, where he and his wife lived happily together until they were called to their final account before God. The mother died Aug. 26, 1854, a well-beloved and respected mother. Mr. Keller died Feb. 3, 1860. He was a man of a deep moral and religious nature, and his loss was keenly felt by a large circle of friends. Daniel Keller, the only son now liv- ing, was reared on the farm. His boyhood and early manhood were similar to that of a great manj' other boys of that time, with perhaps but few exceptions. He has been singularly un- fortunate in his marriage relations, having been married four times, his first, second and third wives being dead. By his first wife, Catharine Eckis, to whom he was married in 1848, died in 1854, leaving him two children to care for. His second wife, Annie Crall, to whom he was married in 1859, died without issue. Mr. Kel- ler's third wife was Margaret Smith, daughter of the old pioneer preacher Smith. She died in 1871, bearing Mr. Keller four children — John S., Emma, Minnie and one that died in infancy. His first two children were Isaiah and Mary. Mr. KeUer is a kind and genial gentleman. He owns 80 acres of good land, is a Republican in politics, and holds to the United Brethren religion. He is enterprising and in- dustrious, and commands the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. J. & A. G. LEDERER; P. 0. New Washing- ton. A. G. Lederer was born in Cranberry Township, Dec. 19, 1853. His parents, Jacob and Magdalena (Donnenwirth) Lederer, were natives of Germany, and came to the United States in 1819, locating in Stark Co., Ohio. They came to Cranberry Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1826, where the Lederer family has since resided. The family consisted of Jacob and Magdalena Lederer, parents, and John, Jacob, Adam G., Matilda and Odella, the children. Of the children, Matilda is the only one dead. Mr. Lederer was a man of good morals and steady habits. His death was a deep loss, not only to his family, but to the neighborhood in general. He died as he lived, a pure, upright man in the sight of his God, on Aug. 19, 1857. His widow survives him and resides in New Washington. John married Elizabeth Kline, and resides in New Washing- ton ; Jacob lives on the old place with his brother Adam, and is the husband of Mary (Guiss) Lederer ; Odella is the wife of Andrew Croonenberger, and they live with her mother in New Washington ; Adam G. was, like his brothers, reared on a farm. He received a good common-school education in youth, and finished it by going to the high school in Lex- ington, Ohio, two terms, and Fostoria, Ohio, one term. Since then he has been engaged in farm- ing and teaching school. He is a teacher of fourteen terms' experience, the last three years being taught in New Washington graded schools. He was married, Feb. 8, 1876, to Miss Ella A. Hartupee, and by her had one child, Eva, born Jan. 2, 1878, and died Oct. 24, 1878. The mother was born Feb. 24, 1854. The Lederers are Lutherans in religion, and Democrats in politics. They are intelligent and first-class DAVID D. L ANTZ ; P. 0. New Washington ; was born June 18, 1833, in Oreville, Prance. His parents, Valentine and Catharine Lantz, ■were natives of Germany, and the parents of seven children, six sous and one daughter. Five sons and the daughter are yet living. They were married about the year 1828, and came to the United States in 1834, locating in Cranberry Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, on the farm now owned by George Hepp. Mr. Lantz is now dead. He was a man of great fk^. 994 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: energy of character, and of firm but kind de- meanor. He was well and highly respected by his friends, and his death was greatly deplored by a large circle of friends. Mrs. Lantz is yet living, and makes her home with her daughter in Sandusky City. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and, owing to the poor schools of that early day, received but a mod- erate education. When 20 years of age, he began farming for himself, but made his home with his mother, his father being dead. The marriage of David D. Lantz and Caroline Bibel was solemnized Sept. 29, 1863. Mrs. Lantz is a daughter of Jacob and Christina (Fireing) Bibel, and her marriage with Mr. Lantz pro- duced four children — Oscar, born June 30, 1864 ; Katie, born Oct. 20, 1865 ; Ellen, born March 4, 1867, and Percy, born Feb. 9, 1878. Mrs. Lantz was born Aug. 28, 1841. Mr. Lantz's present occupation is farming and threshing. He owns 20 acres of valuable land within the corporate city limits of New Wash- ington. Is a Democrat in politics, strictly ad- hering to the principles laid down by the National Democratic party. Mr. Lantz has held the office of Constable of his township, and he is a genial, intelligent man, and is well and highly respected by all who know him. JOHN MILLER, merchant. New Washing- ton. Among the prominent and influential business men of New Washington is this gen- tleman, who was born July 2, 1839, in the prov- ince of Lorraine, France. His parents, Peter and Mary A. (Ludman) Miller, were natives of France, the father born in 1811, and the mother in 1818. They were married in 1838, and were the parents of nine children, viz.: John, Mary Ann. Hubert, Magdalena, Nicholas, Mary, Jo- sephina, Julia and Jacob ; eight of these chil- dren are yet living. The parents left their native country for the United 'States, arriving in Buffalo, N. T., on the 19th of July, 1847. They remained in Buffalo until 1856, when they removed to Crawford Co.. Ohio, locating in New Washington, where the father engaged in mercantile pursuits. Here the father remained actively engaged in business until 1866, when he sold out and returned to Buffalo. ' The father is dead, but the mother is still living, and re- sides at Buffalo, as do several of the children. John Miller received the advantages of a" com- mon-school education. In 1865, he, in connec- tion with P. D. Studer, embarked in the boot and shoe trade, at New Washington. After about one year, Mr. Miller sold his interest to his partner, and engaged in a general mercan- tile business ; he has ever since remained in this business, and has. by his upright conduct and strict business habits, built up a large and steadily increasing business. Mr. Miller was married, Jan. 12, 1862, to Miss Catharine Yochum. She was born !March 31, 1840. From this union are nine children — Peter C, Clara M., Mary E.", Josephina 0., Henrietta L., El- vina E., C. L., Henry L. and Clara R Mr. Miller is a Democrat and a member of the Catholic Church. He has held a number of po- sitions of honor and trust in the municipal and township governments, and is at present Di- rector of the County Infirmary of Crawford Co. He owns valuable property in New Wash- ington, and is one of the prominent and influ- ential men of Crawford Co. JACOB METZGEE, New Washington; is the son of Pius and Mary (Best) Metzger, who are natives of Germany. The father came to the United States in 1828, and the mother in 1832. About the year 1833, they were married, and to them were born eight children, six of whom are yet living. Their names are John (deceased), Pius, Mary, George, Kate (deceased), Jacob, Joseph and ]\Iatilda. The parents are 3'et living, and are honored and respected citi- zens of Richland Co. Jacob Metzger was bom Oct. 14, 1856, and was reared on a farm. He received a common-school education, and, when 22 years old, ojjened a furniture store and cab- inet-shop in New Washington, where he has since remained. On the 22d of June, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Stouder. Mrs. Metzger was bom Oct. 28, 1857, and was one in a family of fifteen children, eight of whom are yet living. Her father was a French- man, and served nine years in the French army. Her mother was a native of Germany, and they were Catholics in religion. Mr. iletzger is a Democrat, and a member of the Catholic Church. He is an enterprising young man, and owns the best and principal furniture store in the town, keeping constantly on hand a full line of furni- ture, and selling at reasonable rates, which gives him a trade extending over a large territory. He is honest and diligent, and he and his wife are well and favorably known in the community. JOHN MICHELFELDER, Jr., merchant. New Washington ; was born in New Washing- V s IV ^1 ■ii±^ CRANBEBRY TOWNSIIIP. 995 ton, Ohio, Sept. 6, 1847. His parents, Jolin and Fredrica (Utz) Michelfelder, were natives of Germany. The father was born in 1818, and the mother in 1823. They came to tbe United States in 1846, coming direct to Cranberry Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, and, in 1847, were married. To this marriage were born the following family : John, Fredrica, Jacob, Cath- arine and Frederick. Fredrica is the wife of George ITildebrand, and lives in New Washing- ton. Jacob, Catharine and Frederick live ab home with their parents. The father owns 15 acres of valuable land within the city limits, and 11-^ just outside the corporation. He also owns a boot and shoe store in town, his sons at home assisting him in running it. John, Jr., lived on a farm until he was 14 years of age, and then commenced learning the boot and shoe making trade with his father. Until he was 21, he assisted in the shop. When he reached his majority, his father employed him for two years longer. In 1870, he and his father formed a partnership, to be known as J. Michelfelder & Son, manufacturers and dealers in boots and shoes. This partnership remained unchanged for three years, and was then dissolved by mu- tual consent, the father continuing the business. The son then built a business house in New Washington, and, on his own responsibility, opened a boot and shoe store, which he has con- tinued successfully ever since. On Dec. 1, 1870, he was united in marriage with Matilda High, daughter of Michael High, and grand- daughter of Adam High, the old pioneer of that name. Mr. Michelfelder is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Church ; owns 2^ acres within the city corporation ; does a good business and is in every way prosperous. VOLNEY POWERS, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. 0. New Washington ; was born in Tompkins Co, N. Y., June 12, 1814. When 4 years old, he, together with his parents, emi- grated to Ohio. His father and mother. Dr. Lemuel Powers and Jane S. (Bacon) Powers, were the parents of nine children — Volney, Louisa, Julia, Alonzo, Abigail, Phcebe A., Jane, Rolla and Mary. Volney and Jane are the only ones living in the family. Jane is the wife of Dr. Teller, and lives in Vineland, New Jer- sey. The father. Dr. Powers, was a good and prominent citizen, and an excellent physician. He was a member of the Methodist Church. Volney Powers was reared and educated in town. When 16 years of age, he engaged in the hatting business in Plymouth for twelve years. He then discontinued that business and engaged in the mercantile trade, in New Wash- ington. Mr. Powers established the first ash- ery in New Washington, and by this made quite a start in life. After six years in the mercantile business, he bought a nice farm near the city corporation line. On June 15, 1837, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Ream, daughter of Samuel Ream, and by her has a large and interesting family. Mr. Powers owns an excellent stock farm of 240 acres, in Cranberry Township. He takes an active and leading part in matters tending to advance edu- cation. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. MOSES PUGH, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. New Washington ; was born in Lykens Town- ship, Crawford Co., Ohio, April 6, 1843. He is a son of Aaron and Mary (Jackson) Pugh, and grandson of Moses and Christina (Baker) Pugh. His parents were married in April, 1837, and to them were born the following fam- iljf : Elizabeth, William, Moses, James, Lan- son and Anson (twins), Alfred and John. The parents and grandparents of these children came to Lykens Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1846. In 1862, Aaron Pugh and wife, with his total wealth, consisting of a sled-load of household goods, moved into Cranberry Town- ship, and settled on the farm now owned by his son Moses. Here his energy and indomitable will showed itself At one time Mr. Pugh was worth $25,000, but he has divided his property among his children, so that he has only some fine town property in New Washington and Crestline, and a few acres of land in the coun- try, near the former town, where he and his wife live happily together in their advanced years. When seventeen years of age, the sub- ject of this biography enlisted his service in his country's behalf, and remained fighting man- fully for about four years. He was in Co. H, 55th 0. V. I., and participated in a number of en- gagements ; a few of the more prominent being Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Kenesaw Mount- ain, Buzzard's Roost, Cedar Mountain, Atlanta, Chattanooga, and, also, was with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea. He entered the service as private, and was mustered out as 2d Lieutenant. At the conclusion of the war he came home, and on the 26th of July, 1866, 9 > 996 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: married Miss Martha Johnston, daughter of Jacob Johnston, Esq., and by her had seven children; the three following named are the only ones yet living — Leila G., Effie I. and Mary. The mother of these was born May 14, 1843. Mr. Pugh is a Free- Will Baptist in re- ligion, and a stanch Republican in politics. He owns 160 acres of well-improved land, and is one of the best and most respected citizens of Cranberry Township. ROBERT ROBISON, stock-dealer and farm- er ; P. 0. New Washington ; was born in Perry Co., Penn., in 1825. He is a son of John M. and Jane (Baxter) Robison. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, where thej- were mar- ried; and to them were born nine children — Margaret, William and Susan (twins), Robert, Martha J., Mariam, Nancy, Elizabeth and John. Five of these are j-et living. Parents came to Cranberry Township in 1835, locating half a mile west of the village of Wa3-nesburg. Jlr. and Mrs. Robison are dead, both having lived to see the county around them (once all woods), leveled down by the hand of the agriculturist. Mr. Robison was among the early blacksmiths, and his son Robert passed the greater share of his time in the shop, assisting his father in what- ever he was called upon to perform. Robert has followed that business to a greater or less extent ever since. He was married, March 26, 1846, to Mary A. Robison, and by her had one son — George A., born July, 1847. He married Mary J. Patterson, and lives in Crawford Co. Mr. Robison's wife died soon after the birth of his son, and on the 24th of May, 1852, he mar- ried her cousin, Esther Robison. By his second wife, Mr. Robison has six children — JIargaret J., bom July 1, 1854 ; Mary E., born Nov. 19, 1859, died March 7, 1861 ; John E., born Sept. 29, 1862, died Sept. 5, 1865 ; Richie A., born Sept. 5, 1865. died Oct. 10, 1865; James E., bom Oct. 22, 1866, and Willie L., born April 11, 1869. The mother was born May 25, 1832. Mr. Robison's occupation since his marriage has been blacksmithing and farming, in and near Waj-nesburg. He had but a poor start in life, but by industry, honesty and frugality has acquired valuable real estate in Cranben-y Town- ship. He at present owns 190 acres of well- improved land. Is a Democrat in politics, and is an intelligent and enterprising man. J. H. STEVENS, farmer ; P. 0. Tiro ; is a son of Amos and Hannah (Cunning) Stevens, who came to Cranberry Township in 1834. His parents were married Jan. 1, 1801, and were the parents of six sons and five daugh- ters — Nancy, Augustus, Sophia, Margaret, Rob- ert, Hannah, Amos, Jacob, Benjamin, Daniel and Sarah A. Of these, Hannah, Amos, Jacob, Benjamin and Daniel are the only ones living. Amos is in Taylor Co., Iowa ; Benjamin is in Crawford Co., Ohio, and Daniel is in Williams Co., Ohio. Jacob H. was born Oct. 31, 1817. Like his father before him, he is a practical farmer and stock-raiser, and was raised as such. Mr. Stevens was married, April 12, 1848, to Miss Sarah J. Wallace, daughter of Jefferson Wallace, Esq., and to them were born ten children — Minerva, bom May 6. 1849, died July 20, 1873 ; Sarah E., born Jan. 14, 1851, died Dec. 29, 1873 ; Amos W., born April 23, 1853; Fernando and Arlando (twins) Jan. 16, 1855 ; Arlando died Aug. 3, 1855 ; Almira, born March 18, 1856 ; Sherman H., May 24, 1858 ; Clara B., Feb. 12, 1860, died Sept. 30, 1864; Julia M., born March 7, 1862, and Nora E., July 7, 1864. Mrs. Stevens was born April 28, 1828. The Stevenses are of English- Welsh descent, while the Cunnings are of English- Irish descent. Robert Cunning, grandfather of Mr. Stevens, was a native of Ireland, and came to the United States in 1777. He was immediately pressed into the army to help the colonies to gain their independence from Great Britain, and, through that long and bloody war, served the colonies faithfull}-. Amos Stevens, father of Jacob, was one of the best of farm- ers. He was an honest, kind-hearted man, and enjoyed the respect of a large circle of friends and neighbors. He was a local preacher in the M. E. Church, and did much to improve the morals of the early citizens of Cranberry Township. Jacob Stevens is a Republican in politics, but favors a strong prohibitory law. He owns 230 acres of land in Cranberry Town- ship, 126^ in Liberty and 100 acres in Sandus- ky Township. Mr. Stevens is an old, time- j honored citizen of the township, and he is one I of the leading men in northeastern Crawford County. PETER D. STUDER ; P. 0. New Washing- ington. Peter Studer, Sr., is a native of the beautiful Swiss Republic, that nestles among the snow-crowned Alps, in Southern Europe. His birth occurred in 1819, and, though his parents were verj- poor and humble, they were -?i: ?^ ik^ CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP. 997 industrious and honest, and loved their coun- try with true Swiss devotion. But the little republic could not give its poor the education and advantages they craved, and many of them, loving the cause of liberty, turned their faces toward the West, where a new country was draining all Europe of its freedom-loving people. In 1841, Mr. Studer was united in marriage with Miss Eva Studer, daughter of a Tyrolean. After his marriage, seeing thousands of his countrymen flocking westward across the Atlantic, he also began thinking of leaving the land of his b'irth — the land he loved — and following his people to the new El Dorado across the sea. But the gaunt wolf of poverty stood in the way, and for many j-ears pre- vented a consummation of his wishes. In 1 853, himself and several other Swiss citizens peti- tioned the Government to defray the expenses of their voyage to America ; the Government agreed to do this if the people would relin- quish their claim to the national timber for ten years. This was done by scores, but Mr. Stu- der refused to go until the following j'ear, when he, in companj!^ with many others, started on the long journey to the United States, with but little means at his command, and a family dependent upon him for support. He settled in Chatfield Township, and soon obtained em- ployment as miller in a grist-mill. His chil- dren were Peter D., Susanna, Paulena, Oliva, Joseph and John. Paulena, John and Oliva are dead ; Susanna is the wife of Cornelius Schlachter, and resides in Huron Co., Ohio ; Joseph is married, and lives in the same county. Mrs.' Studer, Sr., died Aug. 27, 1873. Peter D. was born in Switzerland in 1842, came with his parents to the United States in 1854, and, when 16 years old, began learning the shoe- maker's trade. He mastered the trade at the end of three years, and then was employed by his preceptor for one j'ear. The following year, he came to New Washington and began work- ing at his trade, but, not receiving much work, he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he worked for a time, and soon after went to Nebraska. He returned to New Washington in a short time, where he has since been, and is to-day one of the most prominent and influential men in the township. Oct. 23, 1866, Mr. Studer was united in marriage with Miss Catharine, daughter of Paul Miller ; to this union were born seven children— Paulus F., born Sept. 23, 1867 ; Mar- garet C, born Sept. 9, 1869 ; Catharine A., born Dec. 16, 1870 ; Joseph A., born Aug. 29, 1872 ; John B., born Jan. 31, 1874 ; Maria S., born May 7, 1876, and Emma C, born June 7, 1879. Mrs. Studer was born March 17, 1847. Mr. Studer is a Democrat and a Catholic ; has been Justice of the Peace, and is the present Maj'or of the village. He is one of the most respected citizens of Cranberry Township, and is a genial, intelligent gentleman. JOHN A. SHEBTZ, retired merchant, New Washington. Among the old and honored residents of Cranberry Township is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Germany in 1809, and when in his 21st year emigrated to the United States, locating in Columbiana. Co., Ohio. He lived there a short time and then moved to Waj-ne Co., and engaged in farming. In IMay, 1836, he was united in marriage with Margaret Weisenbacher, who died in July, 1836. In October, 1837, he married Miss Margaret Beever, who died giving birth to a daughter, Catharine A., who is the wife of William H. Donnenwirth, whose biograph}^ accompanies this work. Mr. Sheetz is at present living with his third wife, whose name was JMargaret Hesse, widow of Ehregott Hesse and daughter of George Donnenwirth. He was married to her in 1842, and to this union were born the fol- lowing family: Jacob, born in 1843; Maria M., born in 1845 and died in 1871 ; George, born in 1849 and died the same j'ear ; Caro- line, born in 1850; John, born in 1852, and Pauline, born in 1854. His wife by her first husband, Mr. Hesse, had one daughter, Matilda, who lived with Mr. Sheetz until she married George Schwemly. She is now dead. Mr. Sheetz first began the mercantile business, with a gen- eral assortment of goods, at New Washington, in 1842. In 1879, his trade and stock had so increased as to necessitate the buying of a larger storm-room. He at present owns the large brick block now occupied by William H. Donnenwirth and Sbeetz & Bro., his sons. Mr. Sheetz is an honest, straightforward man, having made most of his mone}' by hard labor and honorable dealing. He is a Democrat in politics and has always been identified with the Lutheran Church. He and his family are well known and highly respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. WILLIAM SEYDEL, farmer and stock- dealer : P. 0. New Washington ; was born in ^ ^t 998 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Northumberland Co., Venn., July 22, 1813. His father, Andrew Seydel, was born in Pennsyl- vania March 15, 1791, and Marv (Vandling) Seydelin New Jersey Feb. 27, 1791. They were married in 1812, and to them were born the following family — William, Eliza, John, Catharine, Sarah, Keziah, Michael and Samuel. Sarah and Keziah are dead. The father died Sept. 20, 1878, and the mother Sept. 21, 1848. In 1823, the parents came to Columbiana Co., Ohio, and after a time moved to Stark Co. In 1845, they came to Cranberry Township, where they lived the balance of their lives. The sub- ject of this biography was reared on the farm until 1831, when he was apprenticed for three years, to learn the potter's trade. After serv- ing his time out, he eontiniied that business for two years, and since that time has confined his time wholly to farming. On April 2, 1836, he married Margaret Cook, daughter of Daniel and Martha (Frye) Cook, and by her had five children —Martha J., born Feb. 21, 1837, died Nov. 14, 1869 ; Mary A-, born Sept. 10, 1838 ; Eliza M., born Jan. 28, 1840 ; John M., born Jan. 29. 1845, and Nancy, bom March 10, 1847. The mother died Feb. 1, 1871. Mr. Seydel was re- married June 6, 1872, to Deanna (Bloom) Champion, daughter of Daniel Bloom, and wid- ow of William B. Champion. Mrs. Sej'del by Mr. Champion had two sons and one daughter — Joseph D., Francis M. and Maggie L. Mr. Champion died March 1, 1851. Mr. Seydel is a Democrat in politics. His wife belongs to the Protestant Methodist Church. Her father was an old school-teacher in Richland Co., and Mrs. Seydel remembers when ■ he used to start out to teach school in the morning with nothing but a trail to show him the way. Mr. Seydel owns 80 acres of good land and is a respected gentleman. M. SIEFERT ; P. 0. New Washington ; son of John and Saloma (Lantz) Siefert, was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1830. His parents were natives of Germany, and, like a great many of the more enterprising and freedom-loving citizens of that country, emigrated to the United States. This was in 1828, and their location was in Stark Co., Ohio. In 1834, they removed to Cranberry Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. To show the industrious and economical spirit of these people, we will say that after paying $85 for 80 acres of land, he had only $25 to commence hcfusekeeping on. Some people would have thought this no start at all, but the spirit of enterprise was in the hearts of these humble people, and in time they were able to give their children a much better start in life than they themselves had. Their children were Michael, John, George, Jacob, Annie and Catha- rine. Michael and Annie are the only ones living ; the latter being the .wife of John Schwimlj-, and resides in Chatfield Township. Michael passed his j-outh and early manhood on his father's farm, in Cranberry Township. On the 29th of January, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Christina Hoffses, and by her had a family of fourteen children — Jacob, Michael (dead), John (dead), George, Caroline, Annie, Fredrick (dead), William, Michael (dead), John, Andrew (dead), Clara, Emma and Frederick. Mrs. Siefert was born in August, 1846. Mr. Siefert continued in after life as he had been raised, i. e., farming. In 1864, he went into the stock business, and fol- lowed that and farming until the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1879. He then purchased the grain elevator in New Washington, of Charles Bros., and he has dealt in grain at that point until the present time. Mr. Siefert takes an active part in all educational enterprises that tend to ad- vance education in the county. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Church in New Washington. Besides the ele- vator and two lots in New Washington, Mr. Siefert owns 208 acres of excellent farming land in Cranberry Township, and is an honest and upright man in his dealings with his fellow- men. GEORGE B. WOLF. New Washington; was born in Reinbiern, Germany, Sept. 27, 1850. He is a son of Valentine and Mary (Kramer) Wolf, both of whom were natives of Germany. They were the parents of fif- teen children, nine of whom are yet living. They came to the United States in 1852, and located in Richland Co., but soon removed to Ashland Co., where they now reside. George Wolf remained at home, assisting his father on the farm until 16 }'ears of age, when he ap- prenticed himself to A. H. Risser, at Hayes- ville, Ohio, to learn the harness-maker's trade. After serving an apprenticeship of three years, he worked on a salary for a time. In 1871, he went to Ashland, and worked for a man there for awhile. "During the fall of 1872, he came to New Washington and opened a harness- ;i^ liL^ JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 1001 shop, under the firm name of Eisser & Wolf, the senior partner being his former preceptor- In 1874, this partnership was dissolved, Mr. W^olf continuing the business. On his arrival, Mr. Wolf met with considerable opposition. He started with scarcely any capital, but by good work and square, honest dealing, has made quite a good headway, and is to-day recognized as one of the best workman of his kind in the county. His marriage with Miss Elizabeth Huber, was solemnized March 8, 1877. His wife is a daughter of Charles Hu- ber, of New Washington. Mr. Wolf is a Dem- ocrat in politics, and a member of the German Reformed Church. He is an enterprising man, and is said to be one of the best business men of New Washington. JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. JOSEPH L. BOGAN, farmer; P. 0. North Robinson; was born in Pennsylvania, in 1818, and is a son of John H. and Margaret Bogan, both cif whom were natives of Maryland. They resided awhile in Pennsylvania, and went from there to Loudoun Co., Va., where they lived until 1835, when they went to Stark Co., Ohio, and in 1840, came to Marion County, and in 1848 to Crawford Countj', where they lived and died. The father died Feb. 19, 1858, and the mother in 1864. J. L. Bogan came with his parents from Virginia to Stark County, and also to Marion County, where he lived until 1847, when he went to Indiana, and in 1855, came from there to Crawford County, and has lived in the county since that time. He pur- chased a farm of 100 acres, where he now re- sides, most of which he cleared and improved, and has since added more to it, now owning a farm of 121^ acres of well-improved land. He began business for himself a poor man, and, by hard work and close application to his business, has made something of a fortune. He was raised on his father's farm, and had the advan- tage of a common-school education. He was married in 1839 to Mary A. Carnes. She was born in Scotland and came to America with her parents in 1834, they settling in Stark County, where they died. From this union there were ten children — Margaret, John A., Wm. L., Henry H., George, Joseph M., Ellen, Samuel, Jennie and Jefferson. All are living but one. Mr. Bogan had one son, John A., in the late war, who enlisted in 1863, served nine months, and then re-enlisted and served until the spring of 1865. He took part in a number of engage- ments—Champion Hill, the battle of the Wilder- ness, etc. He came home safe, with the excep- tion of the loss of a finger. JOHN BECK, farmer ; P. 0. Leesville ; was born in Pennsylvania in 1807, the son of Adam and Mary Beck, who were also natives of Penn- sylvania. In 1829, they left the place of their nativity for Crawford Co., and settled in Jeffer- son Township, where the father entered land, and, in 1831, built a saw-mill on the farm that John Beck now owns, and, in 1835, changed it to a grist-mill. The father died in 1875, and the mother died in Pennsylvania about the year 1828. In his father's family, there were nine children. The subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm and received a common- school education. He was mari'ied, in 1 833, to Eliza Swisher, who was born in Pennsylvania and came to Crawford Co. with her parents about the year 1827. IJrom this union, there . were six children — William, Isaac, Andrew J., Adam, Samuel S., Hezekiah. The mother of these children died in 1852. Mr. ,Beck was again married in the fall of 1852, to Eliza Rhodes. She, also, was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Seneca Co., Ohio, in an early day. Prom this marriage, there were nine children — Mary C, Margaret A., John P., Autobine, Jo- seph R., Nancy E., Laura J., Lucinda H. and Louisa A. Mr. Beck had three sons in the late war. He began business for himself a poor man, and, by persistent application to his busi- ness, has accumulated quite a fortune, and now owns a farm of 161 acres of well-improved land, most of which he has cleared and improved himself He is a carpenter by trade, a business he followed for a great many years, in connec- tion with his farming. He and his wife are members of the U. B. Church. Politically, he is a Republican. DANIEL BECK, farmer ; P. 0. Gallon ; was born in Pennsylvania in 1817, the son of Adam ^ ;k- 1002 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: and Mary Beck, who were also natives of Penn- sylvania. Mr. Beck's mother died when he was quite j'oung, and his father married again in a short time, and, in 1829, came to Crawford Co. They settled in what was then Jackson Town- ship, now Jefferson. The father entered a great deal of land in the county, much of which he cleared and improved. The father died in 1856. He had a family of nine children, only four of whom are now living. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm, and has al- ways followed farming as a business. He re- ceived a common-school education, and was married, in 1845, to Nancy Larimer, who was born in Perry Co., Ohio, where her parents lived and died, and where she lived until her mar- riage. Prom this union there were six children, one of whom is now dead — Margaret J., Josiah L., William S., Isaac S., Louisa F. and Eobert W. He began business for himself almost en- tirely upon his own resources, and has made most of his possessions by his own hard work and persevering energy, and now has a finely improved farm of 92 acres of land. W. P. BEAM, hotel. North Eobinson ; was bom in Crawford Co. in 1838," and is the son of G-eorge and Kebecca Deam, who were natives of Franklin Co., Penn. The former is of Ger- man, and the latter of Scotch, descent. They came from Pennsylvania to Crawford Co. about the year 1837, and settled in Whetstone Town- ship. The father was engaged for a number of years after coming to the county on the P., Ft. W. & C. E. E., and, in 1857, purchased a farm and improved it ; followed farming for a few years, and then traded his farm for a flouring- miU in North Eobinson, which afterward burned down, and was the means of making him lose all that he had worked so long and so hard to accumulate. He died in 1871, and the mother yet lives in the county. They had a family of six children, all of whom live in the county yet, with the exception of one that is dead. W. P. Deam was raised on a farm until 20 years of age, at which time his father went into the milling business, and he was engaged in the miU for about fourteen years, or until their mill was burned, since which time he has been engaged in various kinds of business. He worked at carriage painting for several years, and was afterward salesman for awhile, selling buggies and carriages, and at the pres- ent time is in the hotel business in North Eob- inson. He was married, Jan. 23, 1862, to Ee- becca C. Caskey, who was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, in 1842. . Her parents were also na- tives of the same county, and came to Craw- ford Co. in 1843, where her father yet lives. Her mother died in 1850. From this union there were six children, one of whom is now dead — Charles 0., Mary J., Ida E., Clara A., John M. and Harry S. Mr. Deam toojf part in the late rebellion, enlisting in February, 1865, in Co. C, 1 97th 0. V. I., and served until Aug- ust of the same year, when he received his dis- charge. Politically, he is a Eepublican. SAMUEL S. FEEEZB, farmer ; P. 0. North Eobinson ; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1819, son of John T. and Susan Freeze, who were born in G-ermany, and came to America about the year 1811, and settled first in Phila- delphia, then went to Lancaster Co., and in 1831 came to Crawford Co., where the father died in 1875, and the mother in 1840. In the father's family there were five children — Will- iam, Samuel S., Elizabeth, Susan and Adam. Mr. Freeze was raised on his father's farm, and has always followed farming as a business. He received a common school education and was married, in 1849, to Lena Everly ; she was bom in Germany, and came to America with her parents in 1841, they settled in Crawford Co., where her parents lived and died. From this union, there were four children — John J., Caroline E., Eliza, William A. Mr. Freeze began business for himself a poor man, and by hard work and proper economy has accumu- lated quite a fortune, and now owns about 400 acres of well-improved land in this county. His children are now all married, and doing busi- ness for themselves. He and family are mem- bers of the German Lutheran Church. JOHN J. FEEEZE, farmer ; P. 0. Gallon ; was bom in Crawford Co., in 1848, and is the son of Samuel and Magdalena Freeze. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Germany, she came to America, and tc> Crawford Co., when young, and the father came to the county about the year 1825, and has lived here ever since. He has a family of five children, the subject of this sketch being the oldest. He was raised on a farm, and has always followed farming as a business. He received a common-school education. He has been married twice ; his first marriage was in 1869, to Hannah C. Snider, who was bom in the 2%" ,\b i^ JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 1003 county, her parents were natives of Pennsyl- vania, and came to Crawford Co. at a very early day. From this union there is one child — Charles A. The mother of this child died in 1875. Mr. Freeze lived a widower until 1877, when he was again married ; this time the lady of his choice was Margaret Trumpler, who was born in Rich- land Co., where her parents came at a very early day. From his second marriage, there is also one child — Albert L. Mr. Freeze has al- ways followed farming and stock-growing as a business, owns a fine farm of 80 acres of land, and is in good circumstances. MICHAEL HERSHNEE, farmer; P. 0. Gallon ; was born in York Co., Penn., in 1815, son of Henry and Elizabeth Hershner, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. In 1825, they came to Crawford Co., and settled in what is now Jefferson Township, one mile south of where Mr. Hershner now lives, where the father entered a half-section of land, all of which they cleared and improved. His father died about the year 1850, and his mother in 1853. In the father's family there were nine children. The subject of this sketch spent his youth and early manhood with his parents, and received a common-school education. He was married in 1835, to Catharine Horn ; she was also born in Ponnsj'lvania and came to Crawford Co. in 1835, the year she was mar- ried. From this union, there were nine chil- dren — Henry, Elizabeth, Ellen, Adam, John, Jeremiah, Mary, William 0. and Lydia V. When Mr. Hershner began business for himself, he had some assistance from his father, but has made most of his. present possessions by his own endeavors ; in 1839, he and his brother purchased a saw-mill at Middletown, which they worked for five years, and with that ex- ception Mr. Hershner has followed , farming and stock-growing for a business. He had one son in the late war, Adam, enlisted in 1862, and served three years, and when his time was out enlisted again and served nearly a year longer ; first enlisted in Co. K, 64th 0. V. I. He took part in a number of engagements, and was wounded at Murfreesboro. B. HECKERT, Treasurer of Leesville Stone Co., Leesville ; was bom in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1812 ; son of Casper and Elizabeth Heckert, who were natives of the same county, and where the father died in 1820. Mr. Heckert spent his youth and early manhood with his mother ; received a common-school education, and was married, in 1833, to Mary Rinehart, who was also born in Pennsylvania. From this union there were eleven children — Casper, Elizabeth, Catharine, John, Jacob, Frank, Mar- garet, Moses, Mary J., Fannie A. •and Albert. Five of these children are now dead. In 1852, Mr. Heckert left the place of his nativity, and came to Crawford Co., settling in Jefferson Township, and in 1859 came to Leesville, where he purchased a flouring-mill, which he ran for a number of years, then sold it, and in 1862 went into the mercantile business in Leesville, where he sold goods until 1878. He now is one of a company that own and work the Leesville stone quarries, and is treasurer and business manager of the same. These quarries furnish a superior quality of building stone, and are extensively worked. Mr. Heck- ert had two sons in the late war — John and Frank — the latter serving nearly three j'ears, and the former about eight months. Frank took part in a number of engagements ; was at Vicksburg, Nashville, and a number of others, taking part in eighteen battles in all.- Mr. Heckert and family are members of the Ger- man Reformed Church. FREDERICK KILE, farmer ; P. 0. Gallon. The subject of this sketch was born in Craw- ford Co. in 1849 ; the son of Tobias and Cath- arine Kile, who were born in Germany. The father came to America about the year 1833, and the mother a few years later. They were among the early settlers of Crawford Co. ; they settled in Whetstone Township, where they yet live, having entered the land they live on, and done all the clearing and made all the improve- ments on this land. In the father's family there are ten children, all of whom are yet living. Frederick Kile was raised on his father's farm, and has alwaj'S followed farming for a business. He received a good common-school education, and was married in 1872 to Caroline Freeze, who was born in the county, and whose parents came to the county about 1825. From this union there were four children, one now dead, Samuel F.— Catharine M., Harry F. and Will- iam. Mr. Kile began business for himself en- tirely upon his own resources, and has been quite successful, and is now in pretty good cir- cumstances. He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church. CHRISTIAN LOBBR, minister and farmer; a). p. 0. North Eobinson ; was born in Wurtem- berg, Grermany, in 1835, the son of Michael and Eve Lober, who were born in the same place, and came to America in 1856. They settled in Wood County, where the father yet lives. The mother died in 1877. Christian Lober came to America two years previous to his parents ; he also settled in "Wood County, where he resided until 1863, at which time he came to Crawford County. He was educated in Germany, and is a man of fine culture and education. He is a minister in the German Keformed Church, and has two charges in Crawford County, the Windfall Church, in Jefferson Township, and the German settlement church, in Vernon Township, both of which are in a flourishing condition under his ministration. Mr. Lober came to the farm that he now resides on, in 1873. He owns a fine farm of 80 acres, and is a successful farmer as well as a successful min- ister. He began business for himself when he came to America, entirely upon his own re- sponsibilities, and by close attention to busi- ness, and strict honesty and integrity, has been prospered in all his undertakings. Mr. Lober has been married twice. His first marriage was to Barbara Maurer ; she also was born in Ger- many, and came to America the same year her husband did, but was married in America. They were married in 1857, and had one son, Henry. The mother of this child died in 1864. Mr. Lober remained a widower until 1866, when he was again married. This time the lady of his choice was Mary B. Beach, who was born in Crawford County. Her parents were natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and came to America, and to Crawford County at an early day. This union was not blessed with children. BLIAS McCLURE, farmer ; P. 0. Gallon ; was born in Richland Co., Ohio, in 1828, and is a son of John J. and Esther McClure. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania, and father, of Washington Co., Md. The father went to Pennsylvania, where he was married and where he resided until about 1828, when they came to Richland Co., Ohio, and in about 1829, came to Crawford Co. The father en- tered land in what was then Jackson Township, now Jefferson, which he cleared and improved, and where he resided for about sixteen years, when he purchased a piece of land near Lees- ville, in the same township, where he died in 1847. The mother is yet living. When the father first came to the county, he had only money enough to pay for the land that he en- tered, and by hard work and proper economy he accumulated quite a fortune ; he was a sash- maker by trade, and worked at this business in connection with his farming. He was a man of a good education and held the office of Township Clerk for a great many years. He had a family ^f seven children, two of whom are now dead. Elias McClure was raised on his father's farm, had the advantages of a com- mon-school education. He was married in 1852, to Elizabeth liynold, who was born -in Washington Co., Md., and came to Richland Co., Ohio, with her parents in a very early day, and where she lived until her marriage. Prom this union there were eight children, three of whom are now dead. They were Mary E., Melissa J., Horace G., Benjamin F., Elmer A., Milton M., Delia M., and one died in infancy. Mr. McClure began business, like his father, on his own responsibilities, and made most that he now has by his own hard work. After a few years, however, he received a little money from his father's estate, but he had the founda- tion of his fortune laid before he received any assistance. He now has 108 acres of well- improved land, and has always followed farm- ing and stock-growing for a business. WILLIAM McKEAN, farmer ; P. 0. Lees- ville ; was born in Crawford Co. in 1841 ; son of Dr. John McKean, who came from Columbiana Co. to Crawford in about 1835, and settled at Leesville, where he practiced medicine for a great many years. The father now lives .in Crestline, where he is also yet practicing med- icine. The subject of this sketch spent his youth and early manhood with his parents, and has the advantage of a good education. He is of a family of nine children, four of whom are now dead. He was married in 1863, to Wilimina Smith ; she was born in Perry Co., Penn., in 1841, and came to Crawford Co. with her parents in about 1858. Her parents settled near Leesville, where they lived and died. From this union, there are three children — Beulah B., Harry L. and Bertram S. The mother of these children died in February, 1880. Mr. McKean has always followed farm- ing and stock-growing for a business. He and family are members of the United Brethren Church. ;^ ^1 l]4^ JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 1005 WILLIAM PRICE, farmer; P. 0. North Robinson ; was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1828 ; son of John and Rebecca Price. His father was a native of Belmont Co., and his mother of Chester Co., Penn. The latter came to Belmont Co. with her parents when quite young. Our subject's grandfather Price came from Wales and settled in Belmont Co., where he spent his daj's, and where his father lived until 1871, when he went to G-uernsey Co., where he now lives. In the father's family there were three children, one of whom is now dead. Mr. Price was raised on his father's farm, and received a common-school educa- tion. He has always followed farming and stoct-raising for a business. He was married in 1851, to Margaret Brokaw, who was born in Harrison Co., Ohio ; they had a family of eleven children, five of whom are dead — Mary L., G-eorge V., Sarah J., John, Joseph L., Mar- tha A. and Rebecca B.; four died in infancy. In 1859, Mr. Price left the place of his nativity for that of Morrow Co., where he resided until 1862, when he came to Crawford Co. and pur- chased a farm of 87 acres, where he now lives. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church. J. P. ROBINSON, farmer and trader; P. 0. North Robinson ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Jan. 4, 1828, and is the son of Will- iam and Sarah Robinson, who were also na- tives of Pennsylvania, and came to Crawford Co. in or about 1830. They settled in what is now Jefferson Township, and purchased a tract of land in the woods, which they cleared and improved. The village of North Robinson de- rived its name from this family. The father died about the year 1854, and the mother yet lives at Crestline. In the father's family there were nine children — James, John, Samuel, J. P., William, Archibald, David, Mary J. and Deborah. Mr. Robinson was raised on his father's farm, in Crawford Co., and had the ad- vantages of a common-school education. His principal business has been farming, although he has at times turned his attention in other directions. He at one time sold dry goods and groceries in North Robinson for about one year, and, since about 1877, until within the last few months, has been engaged in the grain trade in the same place. He was married, about 1858, to Mary A. Dixon, who was born in Crawford Co. Her parents were natives of Indiana Co., Penn., and came to Crawford Co. at a very early day. This union never was blessed with any children. Mr. Robinson be- gan business for himself without the aid of anj' one, and, by perseverance and strict atten- tion to business, he has gained quite a fortune. Although he has met with misfortunes that are common to men in business, and lost some money, he did not sit down and repifle, but kept bravely on, without a murmur, to repair his fortunes, and has been successful in doing so. He is a man that is universal^ respected, and also a man of rare business abilities. MAJ. JAMES ROBINSON, farmer ; P. 0. Gallon ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., in 1817. His father removed to Crawford Co. in 1831. locating at North Robinson. James and his cousin walked all the way from their old home, driving the cows. He remained and made his home at his father's farm, until he was 26 years of age. He was elected Town Clerk of Jackson Township in 1839 and 1840, and in 1845 he was elected Recorder of the county, and held this office two consecutive terms of three years each. He then went to farming, and continued in that ptirsuit for three years, during which he served as Justice of the Peace for Jackson Township. In 1857, he was again elected Recorder and served one term. In 1867, he was elected to the Legisla- ture from his district, and re-elected in 1870. In 1874, he was elected Justice of the Peace in Jefferson Township, and served two terms. He was married, in 1845, to Miss JaneR. Donahey, of Stark Co., Ohio. They have three children living — Virginia, James C. and Irene M. Mr. Robinson is residing at present upon his farm, two miles northwest of Gallon, on the edge of Jefferson Township. He is known far and near as " Major " Robinson, having received this title while serving in the Ohio State Militia. The laws of the State from 1836 to 1859, required every able bodied man from 18 to 45 to belong to the " Militia." Mr. Robinson served in all ranks, from private to Major, when he re- signed to accept the office of Captain of Light Infantry. The " Major " is a genial, kind- hearted gentleman of the old school ; although passing into the " sere and yellow leaf," his years sit lightly upon him and he bids fair to outlive some of his younger friends. All honor to the men, who, after serving years of public trust, bequeath to posterity a stainless name. ^ ^ i>L^ 1006 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: WILLIAM SHERER, farmer; P. O. GaU ion ; was born in Crawford Co. in 1843, the son of Adam and Nancy Sherer, who came to Craw- ford Co. about the year 1842, the father being a native of Pennsylvania. They settled in Whet- stone Township, and purchased a farm, most of which he cleared and improved. When the father came to the county, he began business for himself a poor man, and by perseverance and steady application to his business he ac- cumulated quite a fortune, and has been able to give each of his children a good start in the world. William Sherer was raised on his father's farm, and has always followed farming as a business. He received a common-school education. In 1862, he enlisted and served three years in the late rebellion ; he was in Co. E, 101st Ohio V. I.; was in the battle of Stone River, Chickamauga and a number of others. He was married, in 1866, to Sarah J. Beltz, who was born in Crawford Co. Her parents were na- tives of Pennsylvania and came to Crawford Co. at a very early day. From this union there were five children — Francis M., Wilbert J., Alonzo P., William M. and Nancy B. Mr. Sherer has a farm of 100 acres three and one-half miles northwest of Gallon, and his business is farm- ing and stock-growing. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Politically, he is a Republican. OLIVER SMITH, farmer ; P. 0. North Rob- inson ; was born in Crawford Co., in 1846, and is a son of Joseph Smith, who was of German descent, his parents coming to America about 1795, and settling in Pennsylvania, where they lived and died, and where Joseph lived until about 1840, when he came to Crawford Co. In his family there were five children — Leonard, Gilbert, Mary E., Matilda and Oliver, all of whom live in the county yet. Oliver is the youngest of the family, and he yet resides on the farm that his father purchased when he came to the county, and which was cleared and improved by the family. In 1869, Oliver was married to Eliza Van Voorhis, daughter of W. R. Van Voorhis, whose biography appears in this work, and who was among the first settlers of the county. Prom this union there are seven children — Florence V., Frank, Le Roy, Jessie M., Orvil A., Harry, and the youngest "is yet unnamed, Mr. Smith has always followed farming and stock-growing for a business. WILLIAM STALEY, farmer ; P. 0. Gallon ; was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Aug. 5, 1808, and is the son o# John and Elizabeth Staley, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Crawford Co. in 1826, and settled in Whetstone Township, where they lived for a number of j'ears, and then went to Michigan, where they died. The father died in 1840, and the mother in 1859. William Staley was raised on his father's farm, receiving a common-school education, and was- married, in 1839, to Eliza- beth Whitmoft, who was born in Northumber- land Co., Penn., and came to Crawford Co. with her parents in 1828. Her parents are now both dead, her father dying in 1861, and her mother in 1879. From this marriage there were eight children, three of whom are now dead — 6ath- arine A., Margaret J., Elizabeth E., Amanda P., John B,, Mary B,, William R, and Eliza M, In 1861, William R. and Eliza died, and, in 1870, Elizabeth E, died, Mr. Staley began business for himself, entirely upon his own resources, and has made all he now has by his own hard work and economy. He helped his father to clear up two farms, and has cleared one for himself, and so has done his share toward clear- ing in the county. He now owns 80 acres of well-improved land, and has always made farm- ing and stock-growing his business. His wife is a member of the German Reformed Church. Politically, he is a Republican. HENRY S. SHELDON, farmer ; P. 0. Lees- ville ; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., in 1808 ; son of Daniel and Phoebe (Green) Sheldon. The latter was born in Ireland, and the former in the State of New York, where they lived and died. Mr. Sheldon's parents died when he was quite young, and he lived with his ij-randfather Sheldon until 13 years of age, and, from that time until he was 19 years of age, he was on the water. In 1826, he came to Crawford Co., and has lived in the county ever since. He was married, on March 12, 1835, to Nancy Ridgely, who was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1813, and came to Crawford Co. at a very early day. Prom this union there were ten citiildren — Ma- tilda, Rachel, Mary A., Sarah J., Andrew J., Rebecca, Annas W., William H., Henry and Nancy. Mr. Sheldon began business for him- self a poor man, and has been somewhat fortu- nate in business. He is a cooper by trade, a business he followed for a great many years, HENRY THOMAN, farmer; P, 0, Lees- ville ; was born in Germany in 1842 ; son of ^ JErrERSON TOWNSHIP. 1007 Conrad and Magdalena Thoman. The mother died in Grermany. Mr. Thoman came to Amer- ica with his father in 1846 and settled in Craw- ford Co., where the father died in 1864. He lived with his father until he was 10 years of age, and, since that time, has done for him- self He received a common-school education. In 1862, he enlisted for three years in the Union army, and was out about nine months, when he was taken sick and was discharged from the service. He came home, and in a few months had recovered sufficiently to re-enlist in Co. L, 10th 0. V. C, and served until the close of the war, taking part in several engagements — At- lanta, Jonesboro, and a number of others.' At the close of the war, he came home and worked as a farm laborer for a number of years. He was married, in 1870, to Lydia C. Freeze, who was born in the county. From, this union, there are four children — William, Ira, Pearly and Fannie. Mr. Thoman began business for him- self entirely upon his own resources, and, by hard work and economy, he has gained a com- petency. His health was seriously impaired while serving his adopted country. He and his wife are members of the U. B. Church. W. R. VAN VOORHIS, farmer ; P. 0. North Robinson. The subject of this sketch was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., May 25, 1802, the son of Samuel and Sarah (Myers) Van Voorhis, who were natives of the same county in New York. Mr. Van Voorhis came to Crawford County with his parents in 1821. They left New York for Washington Co., Penn., where they resided until they came to Crawford County. They settled in Whetstone Township, where the parents died. The father died in 1856, and the mother in 1850. When they came to the county it was almost an unbroken wilderness, and the land they entered at that time had to be cleared before they could raise the neces- saries of life, and of course they saw many hard times, and endured many privations, be- fore they got their land under cultivation. Mr. Van Voorhis was 19 years of age when he came to the county, and he has noted the wonderful change that has been made in the county since he first knew it. ' He has been married twice. His first marriage was in 1824, to Hannah Jones, who was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, and came to Crawford County with her parents in 1821. From this marriage there were seven children, two of whom are now dead. Hiram N., Daniel, Abraham, Sarah, Rebecca J., Cath- arine, and one died in infancy. The mother of these children died in 1841. About the year 1836, Mr. Van Voorhis went to Michigan, where he resided until 1841, when he returned to Crawford County, and remained until 186Q, when he again left, this time going to Wood Co., Ohio, where he resided until 1877, and re- turned to Crawford County again. He yet lives here, and expects to spend the balance of his days here. In 1842, he married his second wife, Almeda (Johnston) Warden, widow of Benjamin Warden, who died in 1840 ; he was a native of Harrison Co., Ohio, as also was she. They came to Crawford County in 1821, having two children — Nathan C. and Benjamin P. Ten children were born to Mr. Van Voorhis by his last marriage, two of whom are dead — Amanda, James M., Mary, Eliza, Geo. S., Mar- tha, Isaac M., John R., Alice and Albert. Mr. Van Voorhis began business for himself with- out the aid of anj' one, and made all he has by hard work and economy. He had one son, John M., and his two step-sons, Nathan C. and Benjamin F. (Warden), in the late war, all of whom lived to return home. Mr. Van Voorhis and wife are members of the Disciples' Church. CALEP WEAVER, farmer ; P. 0. North Robinson ; was born in Germany in 1839, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Weaver, also born in Germany, who, emigrating to America in 1845, and coming direct to Crawford Co., settled in Jeflerson Township, where they lived until 1849, and then went to Vernon Township, where they died. The father died in 1858, and the mother in 1871. The father was married twice, and there were six children by his first marriage and the same number by his last. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of the second set of children. When the parents came to America, they were very poor, but, by hard work and proper economy, they accumu- lated something of a fortune. Calep Weaver was raised on his father's farm, and has always followed farming for a business. He did not have the advantages in the way of acquiring an education when he was young that are now afforded, and his education is consequently very limited. He began business for himself entirely upon his own resources, and, by close attention to business, has made quite a fortune. He was married, in 1860, to Margaret Delp ; she was born in Crawford Co. .Her parents ^^ iL^ 1008 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: were natives of Grermany, and were early resi- dents of the county. From this marriage, there were five children, one now dead — Will- iam F., John H., Samuel E., Emeline and Louis H. Mr. Weaver went to Defiance Co. in 1861, where he purchased a farm of 80 acres of land in the woods, which he cleared and improved, and, in 1870, he sold this and returned to Crawford Co. and purchased the farm that he now resides upon, consisting of 100 acres, in Jeflterson Township, most of which he lias cleared, and has put all the improvements on it. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. JOHN WEBER, farmer; P. 0. Crestline; was bom in Germany in 1832, and is the son of John Weber. Mr. Weber came to America with his father in 1845, and settled in Crawford Co., where his father died, in 1866. His moth- er died in Germany about the year 1835. The subject of this sketch spent his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, and received a common-school education. He was married, in 1858, to Elizabeth Delp, who was born and raised on the farm that Mr. Weber now owns and resides upon. From this union there are two children — George and Andrew. He began business for himself a poor man, and is now in good circumstances. When he first began bus- iness for himself, he worked as a farm laborer, and in this way accumulated enough to buy a threshing machine, and, for a number of years, followed threshing for a business, and, in 1859, purchased the farm of 79 acres that he now lives upon, and has since followed farming and stock-growing for a business. He and family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Po- litically, he is a Democrat. CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP. JOHN BURGBACHER, farmer ; P. 0. Chat- field. Esquire Burgbacher, one of the stanch and reliable men of Chatfield, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, town of Boll, County of Sulz, June 23, 1824 ; son of Johannes and Rosina (Bippus) Burgbacher. He emigrated with his parents, in 1835, to this State, locating in this township, and purchasing 80 acres in See. 7, of Trueman Wilkinson, he being the second owner ; 6 acres of this land was all that was cleared. John was thus early in life in- ured to hard labor, and subject to many of the privations incident to a pioneer settlement. His father dying Jan. 27, 1842, the care of the farm devolved upon John, who was at this time 18 years of age, which post of responsibility he held until he was 25 years of age. On July 3, 1849, he was joined by wedlock to Susanna M. Koenig, who was born Dec. 1, 1829, in Zell, Rhine Bavaria, and whose parents were William and Mary L. (Fey) Koenig, who were bom Oct. 21, 1797, and Jan. 4, 1795, respectively. They emigrated to this country in 1833. Mr. Koenig was one of the first coopers in this part of the country. Since the marriage of Mr. Burgbacher, he has remained continuously on the homestep,d ; he began first by buying out the heirs' interest, until he became the legal possessor of the entire farm. Ten children have been born to him, six of whom are living, viz.: Mary L., now Mrs. William Hohl, of Lima, Allen Co.; John W., in Defiance Co. ; Rose, now Mrs. Jacob Breigle, of this township ; William H., married Ellen Goler, daughter of George and Mary Strahle, of Defiance Co.; and Elizabeth, at home. The farm of Mr. B. con- tains 170 acres of land ; he has acquired the same with the assistance of his faithful spouse. During his life, he has been a true Democrat, having served two terms as County Commis- sioner, as Justice of the Peace over twenty, and as School Director twenty-four years. He and his wife are members of the German Lu- theran Church. Johannes Burgbacher, above mentioned, died in his 68th year, and his wife, Dec. 14, 1850, aged 64. AARON CARRICK, farmer; P. O. Caro- thers ; was born June 27, 1836, in Huron Co., Ohio, being the third child of Joseph and Fred- erica (Harklerhodis) Carrick, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. He was bom on July 16, 1808, and she on Sept. 8, 1809, in Bedford Co. They were married April 6, 1829,. in Stark, and moved afterward to Columbiana Co. To them were bom William, Laura A., Aaron and Sarah. William is in Seneca, Rock- •C 6 ^ ta^ CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP. 1009 away Township, and Sarah is now Mrs. Jesse English, of Carothers, Seneca Co. The Car- rick family came to this township in 1846, locating on the farm now owned by Aaron, purchasing 105 acres ; but a small portion was cleared at that time. Aaron's father was a carpenter by occupation, but after coming to this township applied himself to farming. He died Nov. 12, 1877, a worthy and respected citizen. Aaron's early boyhood was spent in attending school and at work on the farm. In August, 1862, when the war cloud was hanging over our Republic, and deluging our land with the crimson tide, and stalwart men were needed to combat the traitors' advance, Aaron was ready to respond to the Nation's call, and donned the blue, and for three years he was found at the front and did his duty until the termination of the war. During this time he was a participant in some of the most sanguin- ary conflicts of the war. His regiment was the 123d Ohio V. I., and served in the Army of the Potomac. He was once taken prisoner by Moseby, but escaped him and rejoined his com- mand. Upon his return to peaceful pursuits, he came home and resumed farming, and in 1868, was married to Lucy Ann Ficke, who was born in Venice Township, Seneca Co., daughter of Peter Ficke. Of three children born them, but one survives, Jacob A. He has 105 acres of land. J. H. DAVIDSON, farmer ; P. 0. Chatfleld ; first saw the light of day. May 28, 1835, on the northwest quarter of Sec. 20, in Chatfleld Township. His parents were Richard and Re- becca (Hill) Davidson, he was born May 28, 1799, in Virgina. His father was George David- son, who was a flrst cousin to Colonel Crawford, of Broken Sword fame. He was a soldier in the Revolution when 18 years of age. The land upon which his son Richard was born, was that which he obtained through the Govern- ment, in consideration of his services in the Revolutionary war, which title was never per- fected, and he failed to have the matter ad- justed, and it finally fell into other hands, where it has remained to this day, though justly should be in the Davidson family. The elder Davidson emigrated to this State in the early part of the present century, and settled in Knox County, being one among the flrst set- tlers, and remained here until his death. Rich- ard, his son, removed to this county in 1830, and settled on the land now owned by our sub- ject, who was the flfth child of a family of twelve, nine of whom lived to maturity. In 1832, his father was elected Justice of the Peace, being the first dispenser of justice in the Township, and was, for several years afterward, prominent as one of the leading spirits in the township. John H. was 13 years of age when his father died ; he then remained with his mother, and assisted in her maintenance. Re- moved to Marion County in 1857, where he was employed as a teacher, remaining here until 1862 ; he then returned to the homestead, where he has since lived. He has been twice mar- ried, first, to Ann M. Hopple, in Septembei', 1865 ; she died two years later. March, 1871* was married to Laura J. Williams, born in Lib- erty Township in 1848, she is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Shofstall) Williams, who were from Penns3'lvania, and of German de- scent. Three children — Nellie May, Florence M. and Walter Edward — are the younger repre- sentatives of the Davidson family. Is Demo- cratic in politics, and has served as Justice of the Peace several terms ; a teacher for twelve terms in all, and has ever been one among the prominent, enterprising and public-spirited men of his township. Is a representative of one of the prominent church societies, and is an up- right Christian gentleman. JOHN GREEN, farmer; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born Sept. 15, 1844, in Liberty Township, Crawford Co.; eldest son of Jacob Green, who was born in Wurtemberg March 13, 1818, who was a son of Frantz Gottlieb Green, who was born Dec. 11, 1775, and emigrated to this State in 1832 and settled in Liberty Town- ship. Jacob Green was married to Magdalena C. Treftz, who was born July 15, 1823, in Wur- temberg, daughter of Michael and Rachel (Rou) Treftz, who came over in the same vessel witli the Green family. Mrs. Green came to this county with her parents, who entered 40 acres in Chatfield Township. When her father went to enter the land, he left his family in a barn at Bloomingville, there being no other accommo- dations. Mrs. Green and her sister walked from that point to Sandusky, to hire out, which they did, receiving 18 cents per week. She afterward worked in Columbus, walking the en- tire distance several times, through the forests, and carrying her clothing and food, and stop- ping at the farmhouses over night when she -^ in 1010 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Qould, and at the taverns, paying 6 cents for a bed. John was raised to farming. There were eleven children in the family, ten of whom are living. At the age of 25, he was married to Barbara Pitts, born Aug. 25, 1846, in Chatfleld Township, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rock) Pitts, who were natives of Pennsylva- nia. After John's marriage, he engaged in farming on his own behalf, and has now 104 acres of land. Of six children born, four are living — Clara E., Anna M., Oscar L. and Ida A. Jacob Green died in June, 1875. He has a brother, John, who has been serving in the regular army since the Mexican war, now in the West, in the cavalry service ; is a General, and a valiant officer, and is a terror to the In- diana. JOHN HANES, fanner ; P. 0. Carothers ; is a son of Daniel Haines, whose wife was Su- sanna Bordner, both of whom were natives of the " Keystone State," near Reading, and emi- grated to Stark Co. about the time of the In- dian > war, locating in Pike Township, where John was born, on Jan. 5, 1819. His father entered 40 acres of land, but died soon after. The family being poor, John's minority was spent in acquiring means to maintain them, al- ways turning over his earnings to his mother. Soon after he became of age, he went to Huron Co., where he worked out by the year for ten successive twelve-months. Returning then to Crawford Co., he was united in wedlock to Par- melia Shade, who was born in September, 1829, in Stark Co., Ohio, daughter of Samuel Shade. Having some money, he and his brother Chris purchased 80 acres in the northeastern part of Chatfield Township, which they held in partnership for about six years. He then sold out to his brother, and purchased 74^ acres of his grandfather and Uncle George Bordner, on Sec. 5, and has since added to it until he now has 1 20 acres, all of which he has acquired by hard toil and prudent management, his farm ranking among the best of its size. It is well tilled, and everything pertaining to it proclaims the thrifty enterprise of its owner, whose re- solve was, in early life, that, should Providence grant him health, he would industriously apply himself to the acquisition of a good home and a reasonable competence, which resolve he has now realized. Of seven children born to him, five are living — Rufus, of this township ; Ellen, now Jdrs. Isaiah Keller, of Bucyrus ; Samuel, Daniel and Ida, at home. There were twelve children of his father's family, he being the sixth. His school advantages were very lim- ited indeed. He is among the few in the town- ship who cast their vote for Republican princi- ples. He and his wife are members of the Ger- man Reformed Church. FREDERICK HIPP, farmer ; P. 0. Chat- fleld. Among the prominent citizens in this township is the above-named gentleman, whose long associati8h with this locality, his sterling qualities and recognized merits have justly placed him in high esteem in the community, in which he has been a resident since 1833. Was born Dec. 9, 1822, in Bessingheim, Wur- temberg, Germany ; son of Christian P. and Sabina (Beckbissinger) Hipp, to whom were born six children, our subject being the second. In 1833, he emigrated to this State with his parents, who located in Chatfield Township, and engaged in farming. After attaining his ma- jority, he went to Bucyrus, where he learned the wagon-maker's trade, which, being com- pleted, he set up in business at Richville, and continued steadily at the same for over a score of years, when he engaged iii the mercantile business at this place for fiye years, since which time he has been engaged as a tiller of the soil, and has been successful in his efforts. When he began for himself he had nothing ; when he went to keeping house he made the greater part of his own furniture, humble and plain of its kind, yet their wants were few, and their chief desires were to secure a home and sufficiency for their declining years. Providence has crowned their efforts with success, they having now 200 acres of excellent land and town prop- erty. His amiable wife was Catharine Kunzi, born December, 1825, in Wurtemberg, in the " Paderland." She was a daughter of Andrew and Eve Kunzi. Fifteen children have crowned the union of Mr. Hipp and wife. Of the num- ber now living are — Jacob, in Seneca Co. ; Louisa, Mrs. J. H. Robison, of Bucyrus ; Hen- ry, at home ; Mary Ann, Mrs. C. D. Markley ; John, Charles, Savina, Sarah, Frederick and Emma. Democratic 'in sentiment, he has for several years past been one of the wheel horses in the Democratic party, and has filled several offices of trust in his township, as Postmaster and as Justice of the Peace eighteen years, he and Esquire Burgbacher being the present dis- pensers of Justice in the township. Mr. Hipp w :^^ CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP. 1011 is a liberal patron of the public journals, and is a friend and supporter of all enterprises in ■which the public weal is concerned. CHRISTOPHER HANES, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. 0. New Washington ; is among the prominent farmers and self-made men of this township, beginning in life a poor boy. His father dying, he was thus early in life left with- out a paternal friend to counsel and advise, and was thrown out upon the cold world to battle with its tempests and storms without a shilling in his pocket. His only capital was a good constitution and willing hands, which he brought into requisition, and to these he is- mainly in- debted for the condition of things about him as seen to-day. He was born in Stark Co., Ohio, March 4, 1819, to Daniel and Susanna Hanes, who had twelve children. Christopher worked out by the month to get his start, working six years for Stephen Russell. His school advan- tages were of an exceedingly limited character. Free schools were not then in vogue. Having saved some money, he, in company with his brother John, purchased 80 acres in this town- ship, which they held in common a few years, and, then buying John's interest, he has since added to it at different times, until he now has about 400 acres, upon which are eight orchards. His farm ranks among the best in the township, and is highly productive, he raising as much grain to the acre as any of the surrounding farmers. Stock-raising is given especial atten- tion, and his entire efforts in a business way seem to have been, in the past, crowned with marked success. His wife was Julia A. Smith, who was born in 1822, in Virginia, of well-to-do parents, who, moving West, located in this township and bequeathed to their de- scendants a liberal patrimony. Eight children have crowned the union of Mr. Hanes to Julia, his wife — George (the eldest, resides at home), Samantha (Mrs. John Martin), Elizabeth A., Frank, Susanna (Mrs. William De Roche) and Matilda are those now living. In 1875, he buil,t a spacious brick farmhouse, 32x32, with a large observatory, and cellar under the entire building, making the finest farm residence in the township. DAVID KALB, farmer; P. 0. Chatfield ; was born on the homestead, situated a short distance southwest of Richville, where he first beheld the light of day May 21, 1844. His father, William, was born in August, 1800, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and was married to the mother of David in the year 1828, whose maiden name was Savina Haner, born in April, 1803. In 1833, they emigrated to this State in company with Esquire Hipp and father, making his first settlement in Holmes Co., where he bought 80 acres in the woods, where he built a rude cabin and lived about two years and a half In 1836, during the month of February, he came to Chatfield Township and bought 110 acres in Sec. 19, and but 3 acres were cleared. For the 110 acres he paid $400. Their outfit for keeping house was not elaborate or expensive ; sat on benches and ate their frugal fare, at night resting their tired limbs on rude bedsteads of their own construc- tion. They planted their corn among the stumps, and harvested the same with a butcher knife yet they labored on and awaited the grow'th and development of the country, and lived to see the day when they were surrounded with all the conveniences of life, and a sure competence for their declining years. David remained with his parents until March 12, 1869, when he was married to Catharine. Brigle, born in this township Sept. 6, 1843, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Sheffer) Brigle ; since has resided on the homestead. Has six chil- dren — Rosella M., Emma M., Lucy E., Clara 0., William H. and John A. Has 340 acres. The family are members of the German Lu- theran Church. Of the four children — sisters and brothers — all of them are residents of the county. GEORGE LEONHART, farmer, New Wash- ington. Is one of the largest land-holders in the township. He was born March 3, 1810, in Alsace, near the river Rhine. He was a son of George Leonhart, who was born in 1776, and died in 1 832. The year following, our subject embarked for the United States to better his condition, although tolerably well-to-do in Ger- many, yet, having heard such favorable ac- counts of America — of the cheap homes and reasonable compensation for labor — he severed his relations with the land of his nativity, and set sail for the " land of promise." He came first to Stark Co., bringing with him $800, which he invested in land ; this he improved to some extent, and sold it at $200 advance and then moved to this county, locating in Chat- field Township, in 1837, with $1,000 in cash. He purchased 160 acres of land, and hag aug- ii\ ^1 •k 1012 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: mented the first purchase at diflferent times un- til he now has nearly 800 acres of land. Hav- ing always enjoyed excellent health, he has worked hard, been very economical, managed well, and is to-day one of the wealthiest farm- ers in the township. Immediately prior to his embarking for America, he was joined in wedlock to Margaret Sceapes, who was born December, 1814. To this couple have been born six children, who are John ; Kate, Mrs. Hammer ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Adam Reechart ; George, in Kansas ; Adam, at home. Aside from his land possessions in this township, he has four sections of land in Texas, purchased in 1879. Although he has already reached his three score and ten years, he is looking' for- ward to still riper years, to extend his bound- aries and increase his store by laudable and legitimate means. M. J. LUTZ, merchant, Chatfleld ; is among the rising young merchants of Crawford Co., and was raised to farming pursuits. He was bom Aug. 29, 1854, in this township ; son of Michael and Savina (Kalb) Lutz, who were na- tives of Germany, and emigrated to this State, locating in this township, many years ago, and have been, since their arrival, closely identified with its interests. At the age of 18, Michael J. left the farm and engaged at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about five years. On Feb. 6, 1879, he engaged in the mercantile business at Richville, with Mr. Morhoff, under the firm name of Morhoff & Lutz, and they are doing a thriving and prospering trade, it having doubled since their commencement. They keep a general stock, consisting of dry goods, gro- ceries, boots and shoes, queensware, and such articles as are required among the farmers, and at prices to suit the times. On Sept. -16, 1880, he was united in marriage to Christina Zeller, who was born July 6, 1856, the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Bardon) Zeller. In 1879, he was elected Township Treasurer. He and wife are both members of the Lutheran Church. DANIEL LUTZ, farmer; P. 0. Sulphur Springs ; was born on the farm he now owns, in December, 1837, and is a son of Gottlieb and Eva Kibler. He was bom in Wurtemberg, 1797, at Oberamts, Backnang ; she was born July 11, 1808. He died April 28, 1868 ; she died Oct. 17, 1850. To them were bom twelve children, five of whom lived to maturity, Daniel being the sixth. In 1832, Gottleib emigrated to this State, stopping first at New Lisbon, and, the year following, came to Chatfield, where he lo- cated, entering 40 acres of land in the " green woods," and building a rude log cabin. He lived several years the life of a pioneer, the wolves and bears being their companions and neighbors, making the night hideous with their howls, and the sheep-pens and sties almost ten- antless by their nightly depredations. One viewing the well-kept and farmer-like premises of Daniel Lutz in 1880, one would scarcely imagine how great the contrast when his father first settled here and the present time. Now, the forest and rude cabin are things of the past, being supplanted by 'fruitful and pro- ductive fields, the premises being adorned by excellent and well-designed farm buildings. Daniel stayed with his paternal ancestor until 20 years of age, then, learning the carpenter's trade, he followed the same until he was 27 years of age. On Oct. 5,' 1863, he was united in wedlock to Elizabeth tFlmer, who was born July 28, 1837, in Liberty Township, daughter of Daniel Ulmer, who was bom in Wurtemberg ; to them were bom twelve children, eleven of whom are living. Mr. Lutz has 128 acres of choice land, and is an excellent and successful farmer. Two children — David and Katie — compose the family. Mrs. Lutz's mother's maiden name was Barbara Brosey. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz are members of the Lutheran Church, and are true representatives of the better class of farmers. J. D. LOYER, farmer ; P. O. Chatfield ; was born Oct. 19, 1843, in Liberty Township, Crawford Co., Ohio ; son of Michael and Cath- arine Crouse, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, his birth bearing record 1805 ; his wife, one year later. In 1837, they crossed the broad Atlantic, to seek a home in the Western wilds, and amid the pioneers of the almost un- broken wilderness. After reaching America, they wended their way toward the setting sun, making their stand in the Buckeye State, where they purchased 90 acres in Liberty Township, Crawford Co. Here the family were raised, which numbered, in all, twelve children, but six now living, J. D. being the ninth in or- der, who lived with his parents until 21 years of age, after which he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for eight successive years, during this time making his father's ^ ^ « ^ w TEXAS TOWNSHIP. 1019 1864 ; and Michael, united to Lydia Dewiel. Mr. Holrnan has held diflferent township offices, and both he and wife are members of the U. B. Church. He says he always has been a Demo- crat and alwaj's will be, and cast his first vote for " Old Hickory." J. JUMP, farmer ; P. O. Poplar ; was born December 6, 1814, in Greene Co., N. Y., and is a son of Elijah and Charity (Jones) Jump. His father served in the war of 1812, and -was a farmer by occupation. He came to this county in 1844, and lived here the remain- der of his life. He died in 1874, in his 80th year, and his companion in the spring of 1877, in her 87th year. Mr. J. commenced do- ing for himgelf when of age, and has always been a tiller of the soil. He came to this 8tate in the spring of 1843, and located in this county. He bought a tract of forest land, and after hast- ily erecting a cabin, went to work with a will and determination, that resulted in his owning one of the most productive and highly culti- vated farms in the township. The primitive cabin of early days, has been exchanged for the present commodious and imposing structure ; and other improvements have been made until he now has one of the model homes of the town- ship. He was married, in December, 1838, to Deborah, daughter of Harvey and Hannah (Banks) Close. She was born in York State in 1817, and has blessed him with nine children — Han-iet A., William H., Mary J., Ruth A., Seth, Virgil, Emily M., Clayton R. and Dow P. Four of these are married, and Seth is attending the "Ohio Medical College" at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Jump has held various township offices, and has been County Infirmary Director for four years. He belongs to the Masonic order, has has always been a Democrat, and cast his first ballot for Martin VanBuren. JACOB KOONSMAN, retired farmer ; P. 0. Poplar ; is a son of Michael and Sarah (Strauss) Koonsman, both of whom were natives of Bucks Co., Penn., and it was there that the subject of this sketch was born, on July 27, 1824. His father was a farmer, and shortly after Jacob's birth, the family moved into Northampton Co. The father died in 1858, the mother in 1874, having borne twelve chil- dren, of whom Jacob was the seventh. He was apprenticed to a tailor, but quit before the expiration of his time, and has ever since labored on a farm. He came to this State in 1851, and has ever since been a resident of this county. He landed here with only $56 in money, but possessed a large capital of industry and economy, which, being well directed, has yielded paying dividends, as the possession of a valuable farm and town property attests. He has been retired from active labor for the last six years, and is enjoying the fruits, of his early toils. He was unitedin marriage Nov. 14, 1861, with Mary A., daughter of Edward and Rachel Porter. She was born in this county Nov. 1, 1832, and has given him four children, the two eldest dying in infancy. Those living are Pearl W. and Clark P. Mr. Koonsman has re- fused all offices except that of School Director, in which he has served a number of years. Both he and wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a Republican since the party was organized, but was a Democrat in early life. LEWIS LEMERT, retired farmer ; P. 0. Mel- more ; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., Aug. 5, 1802. His father, Joshua Lemert, was born in that State, his parents being emigrants from Germany, and, when onlj' 8 years old, his father died. He was apprenticed to a hatter, but- never worked at the trade after his apprentice- ship expired. He was married to Mary Wright, and, in 1808, moved his family to this State, and settled in Coshocton Co. He was in hum- ble circumstances, but with the help he received from his sons cleared up a farm. He was an officer in the war of 1812, and it is said was the Strongest man in his regiment. He died in 1858, in Muskingum Co., his wife having died several years previous. Lewis obtained only a meager education ; but by tact and care now possesses a fair business knowledge. He was married, Jan. 2, 1823, to Ruth, daughter of William and Rachel Perdew. She was born in Bedford Co., Penn., April 4, 1802, and accompa- nied her parents to Coshocton Co., Ohio, in 1816. In the spring of 1826, he bought 80 acres of land in this township, and, after raising his crop, came here, and cleared a small " patch," which he put in wheat. He built a cabin and moved here, where he has since lived, and car- ried on a vigorous warfare with the elements of nature for many years. His farm has increased in size, as well as value, and yearly yields its bounties to its grateful possessor. His mar- riage has been blessed with nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are ^. 14V 1020 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Laban J. ; Sarah, wife of William Davis ; Eliza, who was united to Andrew Gregg ; Joshua ; Mahala, who married William Gregg, but is now deceased, and Wilson C. All three sons have taught school, and Laban and Wilson attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, Ohio, from which Wilson graduated. In the late war, Joshua served three years in the 7th 0. V. I., and then raised a company, of which he was captain, for more than one year, or, till the " close of the war." Wilson was in Indiana, studying law, entered the 7th Eegiment of that State, and held a Colonel's commission. Mr. Lemert and wife have devoted a lifetime to Christianity, joining the M. B. Church soon after coming to this county, and often had services in their house, before the church was built. To this cause, they have contributed financially as well as spiritually, and are now waiting for the " Master's call." He has held various township oflBces, and was Land Appraiser in 1860. He commenced business on the " cash basis," and has strictly adhered to this through life, and, although he was partly raised in a stiU-house, he has used neither liquor nor tobacco for many .years. He is a Republican. PETER LONGWELL, farmer ; P. 0. Pop- lar ; was bom in Hartford, Conn., Oct. 24. 1810. He came to Ohio in the fall of 1815, with his father, and settled in Licking County, but after living a few years there they moved out on the frontier, and settled near Little Wyandot in 1821. Mr. Longwell has a vivid recollection of the privations of pioneer life. He remained on the farm till his 18th year, when he went to millwrighting, and worked at his trade until 1837. In 1836, Mr. Longwell rebuilt the In- dian mill at Wyandot. Mr. Longwell is a son of Isaac and Phoebe (Cargall) Longwell. In March, 1834, he married Miss Mary Winslow ; from this union eight children were born — Emily, Charles, Asbury, Delancy, Willis and Julia are the names of those still living. Mr. Longwell lives on his farm, and, though an old man, he seems several years younger than he is. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, with which he united in 1835. He has taken the Advocate for 41 years. Has been a prominent man in the church, is well informed and conversant with aU subjects.. Mr. Long- well married a second time, Mrs. Joanna Wins- low, his brQther-in-law's widow. JACOB MILLER, retired farmer; P. O. Poplar ; was bom in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Oct. 7, 1809, and is of German descent. His grand- father, Andrew Miller, possessed a large faj:m, and a fine mill property in Germany, which was destroyed by the army, during the war with France, and his two sons becoming subject to the "draft," although he had previously paid the sum necessary to clear them, he left every- thing, and with his wife, two sons and a daugh- ter, fled to America, and settled at Hagerstown, Maryland. The famUy all died the same sear son, except Jacob, and he soon after came to Fair- field County, in this State, and taught school. He was there married to Barbara Burtner, who had come there from Pennsylvania, after reach- ing maturity. In March, 1830, the family moved to Seneca County, where they lived until their death. Jacob, who is the subject of this sketch, was the eldest son, and his school life is embraced in two days' attendance. He commenced working out when quite young, and himself earned the $100 with which his father entered 80 acres of land in Seneca County. He cleared this besides a great deal for others. He was married, on Feb. 25, 1831, to Phcebe Pennington, who was bom in Virginia, and came to Seneca County in 1826. In January, 1849, Mr. MiUer moved to where he now lives, and where he and his sons have cleared some 200 acres of land. He has from time to time added to the original purchase, untU he pos- sessed nearly 1,000 acres; but a few years since, he transferred most of this to his children. His wife died April 9, 1875, having borne eight children, four of whom are living — Nancy, Lewis, George W. and Levi L. On March 2, 1876, he was united to Miss Nancy La FoUet She was born June 21, 1838, in Hampshire Co., Va., and came here in 1858. She has borne him two children, one of whom is living, named Howard J. Both he and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. He has always been a Democrat, and voted first for Andrew Jackson. JOHN H. MULFORD, merchant. Poplar; was bom Jan. 2, 1845, in Richland Co., Ohio. His father, John Mulford, was bom in New Jersey in 1808, and was the son of William Mulford, who served in the war of 1812. John learned the trade of tanner, and, coming to Ohio, worked awhile at Sandusky, and from there went to Monroeville, in Huron Co., and set up in business for himself. While there, he ;i^ il^^ TEXAS TOWNSHIP. 1031 secured a life partner in the person of Miss Lodusky Beverstock, who was born in Vermont, and came to this State while in her youth. He finally abandoned his trade, and, moving to Richland Co., engaged in farming. In 1848, he embarked in mercantile pursuits in that county, being two years at Ganges and one at Belleville. He then moved to this county, ar- riving at Benton, July 8, 1851, and followed the same business until 1859, when he retired to his farm. In 1852, he erected the storeroom in which his son now conducts the business. He died Dec. 20, 1878. John was reared to the occupation of farming, which he followed until October, 1874, when he went into the mercan- tile business with James Outcalt, and on Jan. 19, 1880, he became the sole proprietor, keeping a stock of general merchandise, as well as an assortment of drugs. On Feb. 24, 1868, he was united in marriage to Julia, the daughter of Peter Longwell. She was born March 13, 1848, and has borne three children — Rolla D., Mary L. and Jessie D. Both he and wife are members of the M. E. Church. He is a Repub- lican. CHRISTIAN MASKEY, carpenter and fanner ; P. 0. Poplar ; was born Aug. 27, 1833, in Ashland Co., Ohio. His father, Benjamin Maskey, was born and reared in the old Key- stone State, and there learned the carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years, and clothing himself most of the time. He served in the war of 1812, and was married to Nancy Rhinehart, and near 1831, moved to Ash- land Co., Ohio. In 1849, he moved to Wooster, assisted in building the court house at that place, and then came to this county, where he ever after lived. He bought a small farm near Osceola, on which he died in 1867, in his 78th year. His wife departed this life in 1873. Christian learned the trade with his father, as did also his four brothers, and when of age bought 20 acres of land with his careful sav- ings. He kept adding to its size as well as en- hancing its value, and in April, 1870, when he sold and moved to Benton, he had 80 acres of land. He owns a farm as well as town proper- ty, and has virtually relinquished the trade. He was united in marriage to Emily Close, Oct. 27, 1867. She was a daughter of Harvey Close, who was born in York State, in 1792 ; served in the war of 1812, and came to this place in 1869, where he lives with Mr. Maskey. Emily was born June 27, 1825, in Cayuga Co., N. Y., and came here a few years previous to her mar- riage. She died Nov. 6, 1877, and Dec. 24, 1878, he was married to Mary J., daughter of Jervis and Deborah Jump. She was born Dec. 23, 1845, and has borne him one child, Clara E. Mr. Maskey is a member of the Masonic order, and the Patrons of Husbandry. Is serving his fourth term as Trustee, and has always been a Republican. J. F. MELROY, farmer ; P. 0. Poplar ; son of Samuel and Lucinda Melroy, was born Nov. 30, 1853, in Texas Township, Crawford Co., Ohio ; was raised on the farm, and follows that business at present. He received only a lim- ited education as common schools afforded, but is a practical business man. He married Miss Emma Swalley, Dec. 26, 1878, and lives on the Swalley Homestead ; they have one child. Miss Maud Melroy. ELTING PAUL, farmer ; P. 0. Melmore ; was born June 15, 1838, in this count)', and on the farm on which he now lives. His father, Dodridge Paul, was born in New Hampshire Sept. 19, 1796, and was there reared to the pur- suit of farming. Believing there was better land and a more productive soil farther west, than he had seen in his own State, he left the old homestead when of age, and started for the great West, of which he had so often heard. He worked in Buffalo one year, and then came to what is now Erie (then Huron) Co., Ohio, where he was married to Roxana Whitney. She was born Oct. 3, 1799, in Rutland Co., Vt., and while yet J'oung her parents moved to this State. After their marriage they lived for sev- eral years in Erie Co., where he labored at any- thing he could get to do, but, having bought a quarter-section of land in this county, he eon- eluded to move to it, and accordingly arrived here in May, 1825. Leaving his wife and two children at the house of a friend in Seneca Co., he came on alone, and unaided built a cabin in the dense forest, which a neighbor helped him to cover with bark. He then moved his family to this primitive residence, but, there being no door, they waited for him to cut one, and then, moving in their household goods, built a fire in one corner, and the careful wife prepared a supper, which the husband pronounced to be the happiest meal of his life. They had no door, except a blanket, and the wolves howling around the cabin when night approached, made J?, ^ 1023 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: it lonesome indeed, besides they were frequently visited by Indians, who wanted something to eat. He cleared 3 acres that season, which he sowed in wheat, and built another and more substantial house, into which they moved during the win- ter. • He cleared 6 acres for corn the next spring, and set out an orchard of 100 apple trees. From this time on they were quite suc- cessful, and at his death, in October, 1850, pos- sessed a valuable property. His companion is still living, making her home with her youngest son, on the old homestead, which he now owns, it being one of the best in the whole township. He served as 2d Lieutenant in Co. C, 136th, 0. N. G.. and returned uninjured. He was mar- ried Nov. 10, 1860, to Mary C, daughter of Jacob and Christiana (Hess) Hershberger. Her parents were of German descent and came from Virginia to this State, and settled in what is now Wyandot Co., where she was born, on May 31, 1839. One child has blessed their un- ion — Jimmie H. Mr. Paul has alwaj's been a Eepublican and cast his first ballot for A. Lin- coln. WILLIAM H. SEERY, farmer ; P. (). Pop- lar ; is one of the prominent and intelligent farm- ers of this township, and is favorably known as an energetic and enterprising citizen. He is the eldest son of Peter Seery, a sketch of whom appears in this work (see Lykens Township), and was born May 19, 1848, in Crawford Co., Ohio. He has always followed agricultural pursuits except two summers that he worked at the car- penter's trade. For several years he has been connected with a threshing machine, and has succeeded beyond expectation, as competition was lively. He was married, in August, 1871, to Matilda, daughter of Peter and Mary Stutz- man. She was born in Schuylkill Co., Penn., and came here when in her youth. Her parents are still residents of the Keystone State. Mr. Seery moved to where he now lives in Decem- ber, 1878. His marriage has given four chil- dren — Minnie M.,OrinO., Lawrence and Clara. His wife belongs to the U. B. Church. He is a Eepublican in politics. SANFORD SOBERS, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. 0. Poplar ; is the third of a fam- ily of seven children, and was born Oct. 22, 1834, in Seneca Co., Ohio. His father, Ja- cob Sobers, was bom near the city of Philadel- phia, and learned the trade of miller, millwright and carpenter. He was a good workman, and was married while working in York State to Mary Matrawn. In 1833, he moved from there to this State, and located in Seneca Co., where he yet resides, owning a pleasant little farm. He has worked at the carpenter's trade mostly, in this State, but of late years has devoted his time to farming. Sanford learned the trades of carpenter and millwright with his father, and worked until one year after his marriage, when he commenced dealing in stock in this and ad- joining counftes. His ventures have been crowned with success, and he now owns 70 acres of land, clear of aU incumbrance, and all self- made property. His marriage was celebrated Dec. 6, 1859, the other contracting party being Corillia Sweet, who was born May 25, 1837, in Champaign Co., Ohio. Her father, Daniel Sweet, was born June 14, 1795, in Fleming Co., Ky., and is a son of William Sweet, who came to that State from Rhode Island, served under Harrison in the war of 1812, and afterward moved to Ohio. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Mershon. Daniel came to Cham- paign Co., Ohio, in 1815, and there married Antilla Thompson. He was a carpenter by trade, and in 1839, came to Hardin Co., farmed three years, and has since lived in this county, where his wife died, Nov. 6, 1873. He is now living with Mr. Sobers, who moved to this county in 1869. The subject of this sketch has always been a Republican, and voted first for Fremont. His marriage has been blessed with three children — Huron A., Wilber I., and Ethel B. MICHAEL C. SNYDER, grist-mill. Poplar ; was born Jan. 24, 1824, in Franklin Co., Penn., and is a son of Samuel and Margaret (Cover) Snyder, both of whom being natives of that county. Samuel was a blacksmith by trade, but in the latter part of his life was obliged to relinquish it, as it had seriously impaired his health. He moved to Seneca County in 1846, and lived there until his death, in 1870, his companion having died one year previous. Michael went to the miller's trade in 1841, be- ing at first in his native State, and then in Maryland, where he remained until 1854, when he came to Seneca County, and conducted a mill until the fall of 1860, when he came to this county. Here he has been conne6ted with the mill at Benton, and in 1872, bought the prop- erty. He does a good custom trade, and rail- road facilities will soon place him on the list of ^ i -fe^ TEXAS TOWNSHIP. 1033 shippers. He will undoubtedly take advan- tage of this, and, being an industrious as well as a "jolly" miller, we wish him success. He was married in 1847, to Susan, daughter of George and Mary (Koontz) Heckman. She was born in 1826, in Maryland, and has given him nine children, six of whom are living — Mary A., Susan A., John W., Samuel L., Benjamin F. and Lloyd H. The four eldest are married. Mr. Snyder has held township offices, but he is not a strict party man ; for several years he has been a Prohibitionist. F. WILLIAM SCHWAN, physician and sur- geon, Poplar ; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., March 3, 1843, and is a son of John G. Schwan, who was born in Prussia, Germany, and there received a good education. Being a man of liberal opinions on questions of public policy, he emigrated to America, whose laws were more in harmony with his views, and set- tled in Pennsylvania. He married a lady of Bavarian birth, named Barbara A. Fecher, and for many years was engaged in the tobacco trade, although he owned a farm. He died in 1877, and his wife the following year. The sub- ject of this sketch received a good common- school education, which he improved by attend- ing the Williams Academy, at Ithaca, N. Y., and then a special course in the sciences and languages at the University of Indiana. He entered the Signal Corps of the Regular Army, and, after serving with Sheridan in the Shen- andoah Valley, was detailed for special service in the Adjutant General's office, Department of Pennsylvania. He was discharged in 1865, and highly commended for the able manner in which he had performed his duties. In the autumn of the same j'ear, he entered the Med- ical Department of the University of Michigan, and, the following year, he went into partner- ship with Dr. Croninger, of Willshire, Ohio. He completed his course, and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, 111., in the spring of 1867. He located at Gallon, Ohio, where he remained one year ; but, not being satisfied with the location, he returned to his native State, and settled at Middleburg, Snyder Co. While there, he raised a company of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, of which he was chosen Captain. He was afterward tendered the com- mission of Major i&eneral of the Eighth Di- vision, but, thinking the office incompatible with his chosen profession, he declined, but, later, accepted the surgeoncy of the division. Owing to the overcrowding of his profession in that State, he again wended his way westward, and located at Loj'al Oak, Summit Co., where he remained several years, but, inducements being held 6ut, he removed to Zwingle, Iowa, where he was instrumental in the organization of the Zwingle Normal Institute, of which he was Vice President and Instructor in Anat- omy, Chemistry, Physiology and Hygiene. His health failing, he relinquished his connec- tion with the institution, and returned to Ohio in the spring of 1877, and, locating at Ben- ton, in Crawford Co., he has established a lucra- tive practice. He is a careful investigator, a tliorough scholar, and his genius in mechanism has displayed itself in the manufacture and improvement of many instruments used in his chosen profession. He is one of the leading members of the Seneca County Medical Societj-, and also belongs to the Northwestern and State Societies. His union with Mary E., daughter of Dr. Heckerman, of Tiffin, Ohio, was celebrated March 13, 1867. She was born July 24, 1848, in Pennsylvania, and has borne three children. The only one living is Hattie Florence, born July 12, 1869. Dr. Schwan is a member of the Masonic order, and, having always taken an active interest in education, is a member of the School Board. He is a Republican. JEREMIAH WALTER, farmer; P. 0. Pop- lar ; is the only son in a family of six children, and was born Jan. 16, 1826, in what is now Wyandot, then Crawford, Co., Ohio His father, Daniel Walter, was born in Pennsylvania in July, 1797, and, when 7 years old, accompanied his parents to Ross Co., they being among the pioneers of that county. He received only a meager education, as his school years were mostly passed in clearing off the heavy forest and contributing to the family support. When near his legal age, he came to what is now Wy- andot Co., with one Thomas Leeper, and worked for him thirteen months for $100. With this he bought 80 acres of land, and then had to work out again in order to obtain the necessary tools with which to develop his purchase. Heed- ing the injunction of Scripture which says, " It is not good for man to be alone," he secured a helpmeet in the person of Susanna, daughter of Peter and Susanna Baum. She was born May 2, 1795; in Pennsylvania, and came to Ross Co. at an early day, from which she came to Wy- :r 1^ 1024 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES: andot Co. a short time previous to her mar- riage. He built a rude cabin, with stick-and- mud chimney, puncheon floor, and other sur- roundings of a like character. Although they started life in hnmble circumstances, by indus- try and economy they were at length pleasantly situated and amplj' rewarded for their early privations. He died Aug. 7, 1875, in this town- ship, to which he had moved a few years previ- ously. His companion still survives him, and makes her home with her children. The sub- ject of this sketch has always been a farmer, and is one of the well-to-do citizens of the | county. His marriage to Jane Barrack was j celebrated Feb. 22, 1850. She is a daughter of John and Jane (Dunlap) Barrack, and was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., Dec. 14, 1829, and came to this township when 5 years old. Mr. Walter developed the farm now owned by Henry Coon, and lived on it from 1852 to 1864, when he came to where he now resides. He owns a quarter-section of highly cultivated land, has erected tasty and substantial buildings, and has a home that is attractive and interesting to his family as well as others. Their children are Elva (deceased), Alice, Lyman P., Dora E. and Scott. All ar^ married except the youngest. The eldest son is now attending the Starling Medical College at Columbus, and expects to finish the course in 1881. Mr. Walter has held various township oflBces, and was Land Ap- praiser in 1880. He has been a Democrat since the commencement of the late war. DALLAS TOWNSHIP. SAMUEL COULTER, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus ; was born May 13, 1801, in Huntingdon Co., Penn., is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Bryce) Coulter, formerly of Penns3-lvania ; came to Ohio in 1832, and settled in what was then Marion Co., now Crawford, on the place he now owns ; is the only one of the pioneers who still owns the first 40 acres that he entered of the Government. Was married, April 18, 1826, to Miss Sarah Keer, of Pennsylvania. Their children are John H., of Marion Co. ; James X., of Des Moines. Iowa ; William K., Macon Co., ni. ; Sarah, wife of William Simmons, Esq. ; Margarette, wife of Thomas Price, of Marion ; Martha, wife of William Keer, of Piatt Co., 111. ; Samuel, now living at Holden, Mo. ; Mary, wife of John Hourer, of Marion Co. ; George W., now living at home ; Samuel and James were soldiers for three j-ears during the war. Elizabeth, his sister, has been living with him for about twenty years since his wife died. He owns 200 acres of good land ; is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and polled his first vote for Jackson, and has been a Democrat ever MAJ. M. G. CARMEAN, farmer; P. 0. Bucyrus ; he was bom in Ohio, Dec. 31, 1804 ; a son of John and Nancy (Grayless) Carmean, formerly of Maryland. They emi- grated to Ohio in the spring of 1 804, and set- tled in Rock Co., where the subject of this sketch was raised, and where he married, Sept 30, 1829, Miss Rachel Long, of Pennsylvania. The following children were born to them : Mary A., wife of H. Coulter, of Marion Co., Ohio ; Jonathan D.. living in Bucyrus ; Ellen E., Matthew L., married 3Iiss Grolsbaugh, of Pennsylvania ; Nelson died Aug. 17, 1851. Maj. Carmean was, for a number of years, the Major of the Marion Co. State Guards. Has been noted throughout this county as a successflil veterinary surgeon. He came to this county with no money, but a strong constitution and a will to work, and bj- economy and industry he has secured a competence, owning 900 acres of good land. Mr. and 3Irs. Carmean are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Carmean is a member of the A., F. & A. M. Has been honored by his neighbors by being elected Trustee for many years. He is a Republican. CHRISTIAN HOOVER, farmer ; P. 0. Wy- andot ; was born Sept. 22, 1844, in Antrim Township, Crawford Co., but shortly after his birth, Wyandot Co. was organized and Dallas Township formed, which included the farm upon which Christian was bom ; he is at the present time living on a portion of this land which his grandfather, Christian Hoover, set- tled upon in 1822, and shortly afterward pur- chased from the Government. His only son, 1^ i ;^ l^ DALLAS TOWNSHIP. 1025 William Hoover, the father of the subject of this sketch, was bom Nov. 1, 1816, in Picka- way Co., and was but 6 years of age when his father removed to Crawford. William was married, Oct. 18, 1838, to Miss Phoebe Swisher, of Groveport, Franklin Co. They were the parents of ten children, five boys and five girls ; these children are all living. Christian Hoover is the second son , he received a thorough edu- cation in the common branches at the district schools of his township ; his first teacher was Archibald Beels, now an editor at South Bend, Ind. When he grew old enough to work, he labored on the farm, assisting his father until he became of age. In the spring of 1866, he commenced to farm for himself, and has been engaged at this occupation ever since with more or less success ; he has paid some attention to the raising of stock, but his income has been derived from farming more than from stock- rearing. He was married Oct. 21, 1868, to Miss Lo Kirby, and they are the parents of five chil- dren, four are still living, three boj's and one girl — Ernest, Burdette K., Charles W. and Maud. Mr. Hoover has never been anxious to serve the people in an official capacity, but has been frequently chosen to conduct the business of the school district. • JOHN T. HOOVBK, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. 0. Wyandot, Ohio ; was born in Dallas Township, Crawford Co., Sept. 1, 1840 ; is a son of Tom Hoover, of Bucyrus ; was raised in this township, and married to Miss Mary E., daughter of James Hufty, of Logan Co., Oct. 18, 1866. They have four children— Pauline, Parmelia, Leo H. and Ray. He owns 160 acres of good land. When his county called, he en- listed in the 11th Ohio Battery, and for thirty- eight months was at the front doing good serv- ice. Was with Gen. Fremont in Missouri in the fall of 1861, stationed at Fort Lamine ; at Otterville during the winter of 1861-62 ; then crossed the country to Booneville and St Charles ; then to Cape Girardeau, Mo. ; was with Gen. Pope at the memorable taking of Island No, 10, and the Mississippi campaign of the spring of 1862 ; then went with Gen. Pope's army to Pittsburg Landing, where, for forty days and nights, was on duty with his battery in the " On to Corinth " struggle ; was at the battle of luka, Miss., when his company lost sixteen men killed and thirty-two wounded ; they then lost their battery, but regained it the next day, and, at the second battle of Corinth, the Confederates had cause to remember the long-range "whistles" of the 11th Ohio; moved with Grant to Grenada, Miss., and with Sherman to Vicksburg ; also took part in the capture of Milliken's Bend, Napoleon and Grand Gulf; and was at the front during the march to Jackson, and in the great battle of Champion Hill ; siege of Vicksburg ; afterward at Helena and Little Rock, Ark., and was sent to assist in Gen. Banks' Red River expedition. During all these long, weary years, Mr. Hoover was never absent, sick or failed to do his duty. Crawford Co. should be proud of such a soldier. JAMES HUFTY, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. O. Bucyrus. James Hufty was born in Greene Co., Penn., July 8, 1818, and was a son of James B. Hufty (who was born in Berks Co., Penn.), and Cassandra (Lucas) Hufty, of Greene Co., Penn. They had born to them four sons and four daughters — Thomas L., living in In- diana ; Jacob, now living in Cass Co., Mo^; John L., in Iowa ; Martha, wife of David Tay- lor, Esq., of Wisconsin ; Amanda, who died at home in Greene Co., Penn. ; Cassandra, now Mrs. Hughes, living in Pennsylvania ; Phoebe, now Mrs. Pryor, of Iowa. Mr. Hufty died on the old homestead in Greene Co., Penn., on Aug. 3, 1874. Mrs. Hufty is now living with her son James, in Crawford Co., Ohio. The subject of this sketch was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Parmelia McLain, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, formerly of Greene Co., Penn. Thejr had born to them one son and three daughters — Sarah A., Mary E., wife of John T. Hoover, of this township ; Charles M., now of Ft. Wayne, Ind. ; and Frances L. Mrs. Hufty died March 1, 1871. On the 15th of October, 1873, Mr. Hufty was married again to Miss Elizabeth V. Wright, of this county, for- merly of New York. Mr. Hufty moved from Pennsylvania to Knox Co., Ohio, in 1837, and, in 1848, moved to Crawford Co., and settled where he now resides. Few men in the county have been more successful in business, and none have the confidence of the county to a greater extent than Mr. Hufty. He has been elected Commissioner for six j^ears, giving satis- faction to his constituents, and is at present Land Appraiser of his township. He has been Trustee of the township a number of years, and for ten years was the Assessor, and has also been for a number of years connected with the •^ a ■|V -^ 102B BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES: School Board, and the good schoolhouse and schools show the hand of a master. He owns a good and well-improved farm of 289 acres of land, is a leading Democrat, and his motto is, "What is worth doing is worth doing well." He is one of the board of oflflcers of the Crawford County Agricultural Society. MRS. MARY J. JOHNSON, farmer ; P. 0. Bucj'rus ; was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Jan. 18, 1830, and was a daughter of David White- sel, of Pennsylvania, and Rebecca Emmerson, of Virginia. She was united in marriage to Samuel T. Johnson Dec. 30, 1853. Mr. John- son was born Sept. 4, 1827, in this county, and was a son of Mr. M. Johnson, a sketch of whose life appears in Bucyrus Township. They had nine children — Herschel, Belle S., Jennie, William, David W., Thomas F., Otoe A., Henry and Ellis. Mr. Johnson died March 13, 1871, leaving Mrs. Johnson with a large family of little children to care for, which she has done well. She owns 240 acres of fine land in Dallas T?)wnship. Her father, David Whitesel, moved to Indiana several years ago, and died in 1878. There were fourteen of the Emmersons, who all lived to maturity. JOHNSTON FAMILY. Prominent among the early pioneers of Crawford Co., who were insti-umental in opening a wild and unbroken tract of valuable country, and through whose industry, settlers were induced to seek homes within the boundaries of what is now one among the richest agricultural districts of the Western Reserve, were Mr. Thomas F. Johnston and his wife, whose portraits, with other of the old pioneers, were selected to embellish the pages of this book. The name of this branch of the Johnston family is of Irish origin, as the father of Thomas F. emigrated from Ireland to the United States, and settled in Lycoming Co., Penn., where Thomas F., his only child, was born, on Feb. 3, 1800. But little of the surroundings of his early life are known. However, as he grew to man- hood, he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, which trade he learned, and had worked at it for about two years previous to his marriage to Miss Martha L. Walton, which event occurred on Sept. 20, 1823. Mrs. Johnston is the daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth (Rogers) Walton, and was bom in Lycoming Co., Penn., May 11, 1803. Her grandfather Walton was one of three brothers who emigrated from England. Her parents were farmers, and at that early da3'' but few opportunities were afforded for attain- ing an education. After their marriage, they remained residents of Lycoming Co. until the fall of 1825, when, in company with a brother- in-law of Mrs. Johnston, a Mr. Benjamin Warner, they set out by team over the old Pennsj'lvania wagon road for the West. They had journeyed as far on their way as the little town of New G-ardon, Ohio, when they were stopped by a heavy snow-storm, where, the very next day after their halt, Mr. Johnston was taken sick with fever, and did not recover till the following spring. On April 1, 1826, they again started, and this time succeeded in completing their journey without further mishap. It was the intention of Mr. Johnston to begin work at his trade upon his arrival in Bucyrus. A very short time, however, served to convince him that such means of support for himself and family must not be thought of, as the city of Bucyrus at that time comprised eight log cabins and two little frame buildings, and a dry board, from which to make an article of furniture, could not be found in the place. Mr. Johnston's principal property consisted of a set of tools, and, when he found these of but little use, he turned his attention to farming, and settled first on 40 acres located in Whetstone Township, Crawford Co., that he purchased by the help of Mr. Warner, where he. resided until 1829, when, becoming dissatisfied on account of the scarcity of timber, he removed to Findlay, Hancock Co., Ohio, where he resided during the years 1829-30-31, and then returned to his old home, and settled in Dallas Township, Crawford Co., about four miles from his former residence. While he was a resident of Hancock Co., the citizens nominated him the Republican candi- date for County Auditor, to which office he was elected, and discharged the duties pertaining to it to the entire satisfaction of all interested. While Mr. Johnston's duties, as an officer of the county, called him from his home much of the time, Mrs. Johnston was left to protect herself against the Indians and wild animals, both of which were very plenty, and, among the latter, was the large gray timber wolf, which some- times became very ferocious, and would gather in quite large numbers around the cabin. Their cabin was but a rudely constructed affair, and in its then unfinished condition, was lacking a door, to supply which, Mrs. Johnston had hung s ^ -Mf iLj^^ DALLAS TOWNSHIP. 1037 a bed-quilt to protect herself and her small children from the night air, Indians, wolves and other wild animals. Those were truly pioneer days, of which but few of the present generation comprehend the hardships and privations. In the latter part of 1831, as before stated, Mr. Johnston removed from Hancock Co., and again settled on his farm. He was induced to return to Crawford Co., on account of a num- ber of his own and Mrs. Johnston's relatives, who had followed them westward. On return- ing to the farm, it was the custom of Mr. John- ston to work at his trade in the winter and follow farming in the summer. He also gave much attention to stock-raising, and particular- ly to sheep, of which he would have at times as many as 6,000. As he acquired more capital he increased his stock business and bought more land. He was a good financier, and in all his undertakings he was successful. At the date of his death, which occurred very sud- denly on Nov. 1, 1862, he owned 1,300" acres of choice land. He was one of the noble old pioneers of the countj', whose death was mourned by many tried and true friends of pioneer days. He was a member of the order of A., F. & A. M., and for many years he held the office of Justice of the Peace in Scott Township. In 1865, Mrs. Johnston removed to Bueyrus, where she still resides. She is now in her 78th year, and is one of the hon- ored and respected old ladies of the city. In her old age her life is being spent in the com- pany of her daughter and youngest child, Miss Agnes, who is the only one living of the nine children born to them. In this sketch of the Johnston family, it is our purpose to give a brief sketch also of each of these nine children, the oldest of whom was H. D. E. Johnston, who was born on Aug. 8, 1825, in Lycoming Co., Penn., and was about two months old when his parents emigrated to Crawford Co. His early life was spent on his father's farm, where he was engaged in farming and attend- ing to stock, a business in which he subse- quently became engaged on his own account. Though he had few opportunities of acquiring an education, he grew, through experience in the stock trade, to be a shrewd, careful and successful business . man. He and his younger brother, S. G., were instrumental in helping their father to his earlier success, as the former did not leave home until he was about 28 years old, and the latter 26. They remained this long to help their father pay for a second 600 acres of land. They then engaged in the stock trade on their own account, and for a number of years were associated together in this busi- ness, the elder doing most of the buying, sell- ing and shipping, while S. G. looked closely after the interests of the business at home. On May 6, 1857, H. D. E. was married to Miss Jane Ludwig, youngest child of Mr. Samuel Ludwig, who was one of the old pioheers of Crawford Co., and whose portrait and biogra- phy appear in this book. For two years after their marriage, Mr. Johnston was engaged in farming and stock-dealing. He then removed to Bueyrus and engaged exclusively in the stock trade for three years. He then returned to the farm where he was engaged in the stock busi- ness and at farming until his death, which was caused by consumption and occurred on April 19, 1870. Mr. Johnston was an active mem- ber of the community, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the wa? of the rebellion, though he was not subject to the draft, he was in raising the funds, and con- tributed to buy substitutes for those citizens of Dallas Township wh6 might be drafted. He left, at his death, a fine projgerty of 5l5 acres to his wife and their three children, allof whom were daughters. S. G-. Johnston, the second son, was bom Sept. 4, 1827. His advantages during early life were about the same as those of his older brother. Their interests were much the same, and he also remained with his parents till he was 26 years old. As before stated, he became associated with his brother in business. Their j first purchase of land together, was the old Isaac Monnett farm of 500 acres. This farm afterward became the property of S. Gr., and is still owned by his widow and heirs. During the war of the rebellion, he also contributed largely to the substitute fund of . Dallas Town- ship. He was an active, energetic business man, and, at his death, which was also caused by consumption and occurred on April 19, 1870, he left to his wife and children 900 acres of valuable land. Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Mary J. Whetzel, and there were bom to them nine children, six of whom are now living, five sons and one daughter. Henrietta Johnston was the eldest daugh- ter and the third child born to Mr. and Mrs. ^ ^31 ^^ 1028 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Johnston. She was possessed of a quick and intelligent mind, and, though the opportunities were few in their country home, she learned very readily, and, with the few advantages of her surroundings, she acquired a fair educa- tion, after which she attended the Marion schools. She had advanced so far at the age of 14 years as to be able to teach, and, for a short time prior to her marriage, she was en- g^ed in this work. On Oct. 19, 1847, she was married to Mr. Thomas J. Monnett, who was a minister of the M. E. Church, and has since become a distinguished member of one of the most prominent families of Crawford Co. Her disposition and nature were all that a minister could desire, as, at the earlj- ^e of 1 years, she had united with the M. E. Church, and re- mained until her death a consistent member and a hard worker in the Sabbath school. She aided Mr. Monnett much in his ministerial duties, and frequently, by her quick perception and long study of the Scriptures, made many valuable suggestions that added much to the power and eloquence of his sermons. There were six children bom to them, four onlj"^ of whom are living, three sons and one daughter. Her death, which was caused by consumption — a disease hereditary in the family — occurred on Xov. 20, 1871. Latina Johnston was bom on the farm of her parents on Jan. 20, 1832. and was the fourth child bom to Mr. and Mrs. Johnston. Her short life was spent in the home of her parents. At the early age of 15 years, she sickened and died of the same disease which afterward caused the death of her brothers and sisters — consumption. Her death occurred on May 15, 1846. JosiAH S. JoHNSTOX was bom on Feb. 22, 1834. His death occurred in his infancy, and was caused by his falling into a well and drowning on Xov. 1, 1835. W. H. H. Johnston, the fourth son and sixth child of his parents, was bom June 28, 1836. His early life was spent on the farm. He acquired at the district schools a fair edu- cation, and then took a full course at the Co- lumbus Commercial College. Shorth" after finishing his college course, he entered as a volunteer the 34th 0. V. I., under Col. Shaw. He entered the service for three years, but the exposure and hard marching through which he passed soon brought on spinal disease, on ac- count of which he was honorably discharged, not, however, until his father had gone to Washington and interested the Secretary of War in his behalf. Shortly after he was brought home, his parents sent him for treatment to the Longview Hospital of Cincinnati. His death occurred there on April 24, 1865. June 22, 1863, he was married to Miss Caroline Car- nahan, whose death occurred about eight months after their marriage. James Q. *Johnston, the fifth son and seventh child, was bom Nov. 5, 1838. His life was spent on the farm until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when he, too, entered the 34th 0. V. I., under Col. Shaw. A short season of army life destroyed his health and soon brought him home to his parents, a victim of that dread disease consumption, from the eflfects of which he died March 10, 1865. Oregon Johnston, the youngest of the sons, was bora on Feb. 4, 1843. Though much against the wish of his parents, he, too, entered the army for three years. He was also a mem- ber of the 34th O. V. I., and one of the Lieu- tenants of Company A. He was the only one of the three brothers who withstood the hard- ships of army life, and served his full term of enlistment. His duties were of a miscellaneous nature, as much of the time he was on detail duty. He was an excellent sharp-shooter, and did his country very effective sendee in this peculiar mode of warfare. After returning from the army he spent about one year in Colum- bus, in the employ of the Grovemment. In the winter of 1871, he married Miss Kizzie, daugh- ter of John Hill, who was one of the early pio- neers of Marion Co., Ohio. Though Mr. John- ston had passed unharmed through many hard- fought battles, he was forced at last to give np, and, on Xov. 1, 1876, his death was caused by consumption. Agnes J. Johnston, the youngest of the nipe children, was bom Aug. 15, 1845. Her earl}' education was received principally at the Bucj-rus schools, which she attended until she was 14 ; she then completed her education at the Oberlin College. In early childhood she was hurt so badly while at play as to leave her lamed for life. For several years she has spent most of her time in Xew York and Jersey City, under the care of the best medical skill of those cities. iy*^ ■^ DALLAS TOWNSHIP. 1039 E. B. MONNETT, farmer and stock-dealer ; was born in Marion Co., Ohio, March 21, 1837 ; is a son of A. Monnett, of Bucyrus. Mr. Mon- nett was raised in Marion and Crawford Coun- ties, and was united in the holy bonds of mat- rimony to Miss Ellen C. Barton of Pennsyl- vania, Nov. 20, 1861. They have been blessed with ■ four children, two of whom are living — Nettie B. and William A. Mr. Monnett owns one of the best stock farms in the county, con- sisting of 553 acres of land in Dallas Township, watered by the Scioto River, running through from north to south, thus always furnishing a bountiful supply of pure, fresh water to his herds. He is extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock to New York, Pittsburgh and other Eastern cities. He commenced when he was 22 years old, and has kept it up with increased vigor ever since. He makes a ship- ment nearly every week in the year. He also owns a nice little farm near Bucyrus ; is a strong friend of education, and has been one of the School Board for a number of years ; is clerk of the township, and is always identified with all progressive movements in the county ; is a stalwart Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Mon- nett are both members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. OLIVER MONNETT, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born in Marion Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1840, the son of A. Mon- nett, Esq., whose life appears in this work. He was raised in Marion and Crawford Cos., Ohio, and was married to Miss Etta, daughter of Charles Reamer, Esq., of this county, and for- merly of Pennsylvania. To them have been born two sons and three daughters' — Lorain H., Dimma, Milla, Charles A. and Emma. He owns 954 acres of land, all well improved, on which is built one of the best houses in the county. Mr. Monnett is extensively engaged in stock-raising, often having over 1,000 head on his farm. He is favorably disposed toward all Christian denominations, but is himself a member of the M. E. Church. M. J. MONNETT, farmer and stock-dealer ; was born in Marion Co., Ohio, Aug. 24, 1847, son of A. Monnett, of Bucyrus ; was raised in Marion and Crawford Cos., and was married to Miss Alice A,, daughter of G. W. Hull, Esq., of Bucyrus (a sketch of whose life appears in this work), Jan. 5, 1869. They have had one son born to them — Orra Eugene. He is en- gaged in raising stock on his fine farm of 560 acres of land, which is in excellent condition, and well watered, the Scioto running through it from north to south. Mr. and Mrs. Monnett are members of the M. E. Church, having their membership at the Scioto Chapel. Mr. Mon- nett is a Republican in politics, of the stalwart stripe. MRS. MARY MASON, farmer; P. 0. Cale- donia, Ohio ; was born in Dallas Township, Craw- ford Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1823 ; daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Smith) Line, formerly of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Line moved from Pennsylvania to Delaware Co., Ohio, and from there, in 1820, to Crawford Co., where the subject of this sketch was raised. She was married, April 12, 1846, to John Mason, who came from England in 1820, and, after he married, settled on the place now occupied by Mrs. Mason. They had born to them Nancy A., wife of Charles L. Sayler, of Harvey Co., Kan.; Fannie, wife of Z. W. Hip- sher, of Marion Co., Ohio ; Ellen M., wife of Otis Brooks, of this county ; Rosa, wife of J. Hord, of this county ; William, now living at home ; Robert, who died, at the age of 20 years, March 20, 1871 ; Ada, who died Feb. 15, 1855 ; and Charlotta, who died Dec. 3, 1872. Mr. John Mason died July 13, 1876. Mrs. Mason owns 270 acres of good land, and has been a member of the M. E. Church for thirty years. CALEB McHENRY, farmer ; P. 0. Bucy- rus. This gentleman was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Nov. 15, 1829, and was a son of Mal- comb and Elizabeth (Wickart) McHenry, Who moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1812, and settled in Columbiana Co., and afterward moved to Richland Co., Ohio, where they lived until 1838, when Mr. McHenry went West to hunt a new home, and has never been heard of since. It is supposed that the Indians killed him. Mrs. McHenrj"^ went to Indiana, where she died on Feb. 6, 1878. The subject of our sketch was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, April 15, 1852, to Louana, daughter of Dennis Palmer, Esq., of Bucyrus Township. They were blessed with six children — Christiana L., wife of B. L. Hudson, Esq., of Delaware, Ohio; Millard C; Easter, wife of Jacob Shupp, Esq., of Todd Township ; Joseph C. and Mary C. Mrs. Mc- Henry died Dec. 1. 1863. Mr. McHenry was again married to Miss Adeline M. Rex, of Dallas Township. They had four children-— Martha M., Orpha M., Milan C. and William C. -^ 1030 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Mr. McHenry has been elected Justice of the Peace for sixteen years, and lias been often elected one of the Township Trustees, and has also been for many years connected with the School Board, as Clerk of the Chairman. He owns 149 acres of good, well-improved land ; is a Republican in politics, and has made Dallas Township his home since 1840, with the excep- tion of a period from 1852 to 1860, during which he lived in Lake Co., Ind., and at its ex- piration returned to Dallas Township, where he has been ever since. LINUS H. ROSS, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Bucyrus ; was born Aug. 21, 1854, in Bucyrus Township, and is a son of John Ross. He attended the common schools until he was 18 years of age, when he entered the Bucyrus • Union Schools, remaining for one year ; in 1875, he attended Mt. Union College, and in 1876, Ada Normal School, thus laying the foundation for future usefulness. Se was married Oct. 17, 1877, to Miss Kate Monnett, youngest daughter of Abraham Monnett, who was bom Jan. 8, 1858, in Scott Township, Marion Co., Ohio. They have one child — Grace A., born Feb. 12, 1879. Mr. Boss has always worked on a farm, and for a number of years has been dealing in stock, as partner of his father until 1876, when he embarked in the business alone, dealing in sheep, hogs and cattle, and has a farm of 560 acres of fine land. He has lived on this place since March, 1880, and has a fine frame resi- dence of tgn rooms. He and his wife are con- sistent members of the M. E. Church. He is a Republican in politics. He is a thorough stu- dent, is well informed, and spends his leisure hours in reading and study. WESLEY ROBERTS,' farmer and stock- dealer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; was bom in Lo- gan Co. Jan. 25, 1829 ; was a son of John Roberts and Louvina (Walton) Roberts, form- erly of Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Elsa A. Mon- nett, which union has been blest with two sons — Isaac, living in Maryland, and Madi- son, living in Marion Co., Ohio. Mrs. Roberts died October, 1852. Mr. Roberts was married the second time, to Miss Elizabeth Newsom, of this county, in March, 1858. They have bom to them — Prank, Joseph, Charley, Willis, Mar- cellus, Ida M. and Belle, who died from the ef- fects of a bum. At the commencement of the war, in 1861, Mr. Roberts was comparatively a poor man, but by untiring perseverance and care, has been able to accumulate a large fortune. He has one among the best farmhouses in the county, and owns 1,500 acres of good land, and raises more corn and wheat than any farmer in Crawford Co.; is also engaged in buying, feed- ing and shipping stock. He feeds all his com on the farm to cattle, hogs and sheep. Last year he sold a lot of 400 of the latter. He believes in attending to his own business, has often been solicited 'to accept oflSce, but always de- clines, believing that it pays to take care of his own interests ; is Republican in politics. BARNHART SAYLER, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. 0. Bucyrus. Among the many en- terprising men of Crawford Co., there is no one more active and wide awake than Mr. Sayler, who was bom in Richland Township, Marion Co., Ohio, Dec. 9, 1828. He is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Kefner) Sayler, formerly of Berks Co., Penn., who came to Ohio in 1799. Mr Sayler rode on horseback 300 miles, carry- ing his pack-saddle and trusty rifle, to Picka- way Co., Ohio, and moved to Marion Co. about 1 820, where the subject of our sketch was born and raised, and where he was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss C. J. Owens, of Marion Co., on Sept. 21, 1854. They moved to Dallas Township in 1874, and bought the 360 acres of land they now own. They have twelve children — Ira F., now in Kansas ; Charles L., John B., A. Lincoln, Eugene B., Clara E., Ida M-, Willie 0., H. Perry, Mirtie E., Thomas E. and Minnie Pearl. They also have an adopted child Mary Petrie. Mr. Sayler is a breeder of fine Norman horses, and his success at the fairs in getting the red ribbons shows that he under- stands the business. He is also engaged with his son Ira F., in the cattle business in Kansas. They own quite a herd of blooded stock in that growing State. Mr. and Mrs. Sayler are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are known and beloved for their Christian bearing ; they are also identified with the Sun- daj' schools of the county. Mr. Sayler has been three times elected Justice of the Peace, unanimously, by his neighbors. He believes in temperance in all things, and is an advocate of prohibition. WILLARD T. WHITE, farmer ; P. 0. Wy- andot ; is the son of Charles W. and Hannah Hoover White ; born Aug. 8, 1845. Charles White, grandfather of the subject of this B^ ^ ^1 D ALL AS TOWNSHIP. 1031 sketch, was born and raised in Virginia. When the Revolutionary war broke out, he was about 16 years of age. He was placed on the muster roll of the militia, and was in active military service several years during the struggle of the colonies for American independence, and a portion of this period under the immediate command of Gen. Washington. White also served for several years in that branch of the service styled " minute men." When his fa- ther died, a portion of the estate inherited bj' the son consisted of slaves. Charles, having been reared under the teachings of slavery, was not at first opposed to the system. He made several additional purchases of this spe- cies of property, and, in a few years, removed to Kentucky, where he lived for some time in Fayette Co. But, having fought for liberty in his younger days, he could not reconcile the right to hold his fellow-men in bondage with the principles of eternal justice ; and, becom- ing disgusted with the iniquitous system, he liberated his negroes, some thirteen in number, and shortly afterward removed to Ross Co., Ohio. Previous to this, he had enjoyed a com- petencj', but his devotion to the cause of free- dom and practical abolition caused a great re- duction in his available assets, and, for some years, he was in straitened circumstances. When he removed to Ross Co., about 1812, he had barely enough to purchase the farm of 145 acres of land upon which he settled ; but, by industry and hard labor, he soon became in better financial condition. He resided in Ross Co. for some forty years, and died about the year 1856, at the advanced age of 96 years 6 months and 14 days. He was the father of three sons — Samuel, George and C. W. White. The two elder were soldiers in the American army during the war of 1812. The youngest son, who was born in Fayette Co., Ky., within, a mile and a half of Lexington, July 18, 1802, was too young to engage in the second struggle for American independence. When about 18 years of age, C. W. White left his home in Ross Co. and visited the New Purchase for the purpose of seeking another home in this sec- tion of the State. About the year 1820, he obtained a situation at the old Indian Mill, lo- cated on the Sandusky River, several miles above the present site of Upper Sandusky. He was employed by the Government Indian Agent, received $15 a month and boarded him- self His assistant in the mill was Charles Garrett, and, at this time, the nearest white settler was at the Indian mission, then Upper Sandusky. White assisted at the mill for some three years. During this time, he saved money enough to purchase his first farm, consisting of 207 acres, now located in Dallas Township, which farm he has owned for over half a cent- ury. After working for diflferent persons dur- ing the next nine years, he removed to his land, and, by industry, economy and hard labor, he has acquired a competency. At the present time, he owns some thirteen hundred acres, aU in Dallas Township except some ninetj'-seven acres which are in Bucyrus Town- ship. During his life, he has paid more atten- tion to the rearing of stock than to farming, and the principal source of his income in past years has been obtained by raising cattle. C. W. White was married, Nov. 25, 1830, to Miss Hannah Simmons Hoover, and they were the parents of three children, who are still living — Loreno, now Mrs. J. J. Fisher, of Bucyrus j Willard T. White and Charies White. The mother of these died many years since, but their father is still living, at the advanced age of 78 years, with his oldest son, who resides at the White homestead, in Dallas Township. Mr. C. W. White has frequently been chosen to fill various township oflSces during the last half- century, but has never been anxious to serve the public in an official capacity. During the war, although not subject to the draft, he as- sisted in " clearing Dallas Township " on sev- eral occasions. ® ^ ^1^ i\^ 1033 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: LYKENS TOWNSHIP. EPHEAIM H. ADAMS, carpenter, Poplar; was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Sept. 7, 1831. His father, Eli Adams, was born in 1803, in the old "Bay State," and when 3 years old accompanied his parents to Cortland Co., N. Y. In 1813, they moved to Ohio, and settled in Huron Co., where the father died. In 1825, Eli came to this county, and entered 80 acres of Government land in what is now Texas Township, which he developed. He married a lady named Mary Andrews. He moved into Bloomville several years ago, where his wife died, Jan. 1, 1876, and he is now living with one of his sons. Ephraim went to the carpenter's trade when young, and has followed it ever since, with few excep- tions. In 1861, he entered the service of his country, in the regiment known as the Mechan- ics' Fusileers. After they disbanded, he entered the 136th O. N. G., Company H, and did duty at Fort Worth. He is the patentee of the well-known " Adams' Buckeye Holler," which was patented Sept. 7, 1875, and has invented other agricultural implements. He was married Aug. 26, 1862, to Lutitia, daugh- ter of Asa and Nancy (Lee) Brown. She was born in Crawford Co., in the year 1840, and has borne him three children, two of whom are living — Asa E. and Hayes. Mr. Adams is a member of the I. O. O. P., and is identi- fied with the Republican party. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. EUDOLPH BEAUSE, farmer; P. O. Ly- kens; was born in Saxony Germany, Feb. 19, 1826, and is a son of Gotfried and Anna (Hays) Brause. His father was a tanner by trade in early life, and, in the spring of 1831, emigrated with his family to America, landing in Crawford Co., Ohio, Lykens Township, Sept. 11 of that year. He immediately entered a quarter-section of land, and lived on and improved the same until 1856, when he dis- posed of it and went to the State of Iowa, where he now lives, being in his 92d year. His companion departed this life in 1878. Eudolph lived under the parental roof until he organized a home of his own. His mar- riage was celebrated Aug. 3, 1851, Mrs. Cath- arine Celler, widow of John Celler, becoming his wife. Sh8 was born in Germany March 23, 1822, and came to this coimtry when 7 years old, her parents being George and Catharine (Kinsley) Klink. She had, at the time olf her marriage to Mr. Brause, two children — Elizabeth and (Catharine, both of whom are married. He bought 40 acres where he now lives, there being a little cleared and a small cabin for improvements. He was poor in purse but rich in energy and determi- nation, and, with the aid rendered by his industrious wife, not only developed this, but has purchased other farms, and is now ranked among the independent farmers of the county. Their primitive home has been superseded by a more massive and beautiful structure, per- haps the best in the township. Of the eight children born to them, four are living — George, John, Fidelia and Willis. They have befriended a deserving little boy by the name of Lewis D. Pickering, an intelligent and interesting child, and a source of comfort to them all. The whole family belong to the Lutheran Church. FEEDEEICK C. BAUEE, farmer; P. O. Broken Sword; was born in Saxony, Germany, April 5, 1819, and is a son of Caspar and Susannah (Hoffman) Bauer. His father was one of the overseers of the Deeringer forests, a position he held until his death, near 1842, when 56 years old. Frederick secured a posi- tion in his father's business when in his 17th year, and remained in the Government's employ while in that country. In June, 1842, he was married to Henrietta Bauer, and, in the year 1846, emigrated to America in com- pany with his mother and sister. His wife remained behind, with the purpose of follow- ing when he became located. Coming direct to Crawford Co., Ohio, they located, but Fred- erick, not liking the country as well as he ;^ -4^ LYKENS TOWNSHIP. 1033 anticipated, returned to Boston and went to work in a sugar refinery, where he remained five years. While there, his wife and child joined him, the eldest child having come over with his grandmother and lived with her until the arrival of the mother. Having saved a neat little sum. while in the city, Mr. Bauer again came to Crawford Co., and secured the farm on which he now lives. But a small part of this was cleared, and the rest was accomplished by himself. He is well and favorably known throughout the county as a successful, careful and industrious farmer. His marriage has been blessed with seven children — William, Louisa, William Freder- ick, Albert, Lewis, Henry and Mary. The eldest was recently 'killed in a saw-mill in Putnam Co., Ohio, where he was then living. Mr. Bauer, wife and children are members of the Lutheran Church. JAMES MADISON, DITTY, merchant, Wingert's Corners, youngest son of William and Susan Ditty, was born April 11, 1854, in Holmes Township. His father was a successful farmer and school-teacher, and died in the fall of 1856, leaving the subject of our sketch fath- erless at the tender age of 2 years. His mother then removed to Wingert's Comers, and, two years later, she was married to Jacob Steams, of Lykens Township. By this last marriage she has two children — Alice and Magdalena,- both married to respected farmers of Lykens Township. The mother died in 1860. Mr. Ditty attended district school until his 19th year, when he attended a normal school in Republic, Seneca County. At the age of 20, he went to Upper Sandusky, and entered the grocery and provision store of Harmon Bowen as clerk, and remained there six months, when he came to the farm of his step-father, in Ly- kens Township, and remained three years, and then engaged in mercantile pursuits at Win- gert's Corners, opening a grocery and provi- sion store in company with Jacob Shuck, and is now thus' engaged and doing a good busi- ness. Mr. Ditty has been a prominent man in the politics of the township, and was recently elected Township Clerk, and is dis- charging his duties with faithfulness and sat- isfaction. DAVID FBALICK, farmer; P. O. Broken Sword; was born Dec. 14, 1835, in Lebanon Co., Penn., and is a son of David and Eliza- beth (Garrett) Fralick, both of whom were natives of the Keystone State. His father was a weaver by trade in early life, but relin- quished it for farming. In 1836, he moved to this State and located in Richland Co., where he lived about eight years, and then came to Crawford Co. After residing here about six years, he returned to Richland Co., and, following his chosen pursuit of farming, remained quiet until 1860, when he disposed of his property and again moved into this county, which was ever after his home. He died April 1, 1878, possessing at that time a valuable property, the result of his own indus- try and good management. The subject of this sketch went to the carpenter's trade when only 18 years old, and followed it steadily until the year 1875, when he left it for the more congenial and independent vocation of farming. He has a pleasant little farm of 136 acres, which he carefully tills and im- proves. Dec. 24, 1863, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Elizabeth Hass, daughter of Conrad and Catharine (Myers) Hass. Her father came to this country from Germany when six years old, and was married in Colum- biana Co., Ohio. He moved to this county in 1835. Mrs. Fralick was born Aug. 28, 1841, and has been fruitful of six children — Emma J., Benjamin F., Ida C, Lizzie B., Edward C. and Harrison A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fra- lick are consistent mem.bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat. JACOB GEIGER, farmer; P. O. Lykens; was born in Baden, Germany, Aug. 5, 1844, and is a son of Conrad and Veronika (Heid) Geiger, both of whom are natives of that country, the above-named lady being MJr. Geiger's second wife. Conrad Geiger is a farmer by occupation, and is yet residing in his native land. Jacob left the fatherland in 1871, and, Sept. 16 of the same year, landed in the city of New York. He remained there three years, laboring at various occupations, and then came to Seneca Co., Ohio, where he worked as a farm hand until August, 1877, when he removed to this county. He has a pleasant farm of 80 acres, on which good buildings have been erected, and the fields, if^ !.IA 1034 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: bearing evidence of careful tillage, mark Mr. Geiger as one of the best of farmers. He cast his first Presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden. WILLIAM M. GEIGER, farmer; P. O. Lykens; was born Feb. 1, 1845, in Seneca Co., Ohio. His father, Henry Geiger, was bom in Reigher, Germany, and when 15 years old accompanied his parents to America. They settled in Stark Co., Ohio, and there Henry was married to Christena Zooterven, who came to this country from Germany when in her childhood. As soon as married, he moved to Seneca Co., where he entered 80 acres of Gov- ernment land, and, besides the land, possessed only an ax, fifty pounds of fiour, and $1 in money. The privations they endured only served to renew their energies and qualify them for the undertaking presented to them of developing a home in the forest and earn- ing the necessaries of life while thus engaged. They succeeded as such people usually do, and have now one of the finest homes and most valuable farms in the whole county. They have also assisted each of their seven children to a pleasant start in life, and are now living in the enjoyment of the bounties given them for their early struggles. The subject of this sketch remained on his father's farm and under the parental roof until he organized a home of his own. His marriage was celebrated in the month of November, 1868, Maria, daughter of Conrad and Chris- tiana Lebold becoming his wife. She was born Sept. 28, 1846, in Seneca Co., Ohio, her parents being early settlers of that county from Germany. In the spring of 1872, Mr. Geiger sold his farm in Seneca Co. to good advantage, and came to where he now lives, owning a pleasant farm of nearly 100 acres, which he cultivates carefully and successfully. Their marriage has been fruitful of four children — Emma A., Bertha D., Nelson E. and Edward. He is a charter member of the Patrons of Husbandry. He is a Democrat. SAMUEL HALL, retired farmer; P. O. Melmore; was bom in Fairfield Co., Ohio, March 24, 1816. His father, Joseph Hall, was bom in Westmoreland Co., Va., and when 13 years old accompanied his parents to this State. They settled in Fairfield Co., and there developed a farm. Joseph was united in marriage with Mary Mills, a lady of Penn- sylvania birth, and in December, 1829, removed to this section of the State. He entered a quarter-section of Government land in what is now Lykens Township, and after- ward two 80-acre lots joining, one being in Seneca Co. He underwent the usual priva- tions that fell to the lot of early settlers, and passed a life of usefulness and industry in this county, dying at a hale old age in 1863. Samuel passed his early life amid the stirring scenes of pioneer life, and first owned a farm near the center of the township, now owned by William Tippin. It was partly cleared when he secured itj and on this he lived until 1866, when he removed t& where he now lives, on the old homestead. May 4, 1843, he was married to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of James and Rachel (Conger) Telford. She was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Oct. 28, 1822, and in June, 1835, her parents removed to Ohio, the journey being accomplished in three weeks and four days, in a wagon drawn by two yokes of oxen. They first settled in Seneca Co., and, Dec. 31, 1840, removed to Crawford Co. Of the four children bom, one is living — Garrett B. Mr. Hall has held different township offices. He was a Democrat in early life, and supported Martin Van Buren for the Presi- dency, but severed his connection with that party- during the war, and has since been a Republican. His wife belongs to the Pres- byterian Church. WILLIAM HUNSICKER, farmer; P. O. Lykens; was born in Stark Co., Ohio^ April 15, 1842. His father, Jacob Hunsicker, was born in Germany, and, after reaching maturity, emigrated to America. He lived a few years in the State of New York, where he was mar- ried to Matilda Kneriernan, who was also of German birth. From there he removed to Stark Co., Ohio, and, securing a partly devel- oped farm, lived on it until 1851, when he removed to Crawford Co., and located in Chat- field Township, where he now lives. William has always made farming his leading occupa- tion, and in April, 1871, moved to where he now lives, owning a pleasant little farm • of 160 acres, on which good buildings have been erected, and other necessary improvements * r ~c ±fes. LYKENS TOWNSHIP. 1037 made. For several years he has followed threshing, with good results to himself, and satisfaction to his patrons. He was married, Nov. 24, 1870, to Catharine, daughter of Con- rad and Magdalena Lust. She was born in Crawford Co., Dec. 30, 1850, and has crovmed their union with four children — Peter Frank- lin, Magdalena Elizabeth, John Wesley and Charles Simon. Both' he and wife are mem- bers of the German Methodist Church. He is usually found in the ranks of the Democratic party, but advocates the support of men in preference to parties. BYEON F. JACOBS, farmer; P .0. Ly- kens; is the youngest son, and third of a family of four children, and was born Sept. 4, 1847, in Lykens Township, Crawford Co. His father, August Jacobs, was born and reared in Saxony, Germany, and there learned the carpenter's trade. He married a lady of his native land, named Rachel Baer, and started immediately for America, landing in the city of New York with 25 cents in money, and debts amounting to $11. After working a while in the city, he turned his face westward, and came to the State of Ohio, where he has since lived. For awhile he worked on the National pike, and then, coming to Crawford Co., bought a small piece of land. He would work at his trade during the day to support his family, and cleared his land after his day's labor was completed. He then sold this, and bought a larger tract, which was all forest, and which he has rendered valuable and attractive, although many prophesied that he would starve when he moved there, as it was wet and low. He is yet living, at a hale and hearty old age, having lost his companion April 16, 1872. The subject of this sketch passed his early life on his father's farm, and, Feb. 25, 1869, was married, Margaret, daugh- ter of J. A. and Melissa (Kulman) Klink be- coming his wife. She was born Oct. 17, 1850, in Liberty Township, this county, and has blessed their union with four children — Jef- ferson, Melissa, Adam and Harrison. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a Democrat; pos- sesses a neat Ittle farm, and is, withal, an intelligent and enterprising citizen. JACOB KELLER, farmer; P. O. Mehnore; was bom in Bavaria, Germany, July 1, 1831, and is a son of Peter and Susannah (Bufch- man) Keller. His father served six years in the regular army of his native country, and the balance of his life was devoted to farming. In the fall of 1852, he emigrated with his family to America, and came directly to Ohio, settling in Seneca Co. He arrived there Sept. 17 of that year, and, after residing there sev- eral years, he moved into Crawford Co., where he remained till his death, clearing up a farm with what assistance he received from his sons. He died in 1866, and his wife survives him. Jacob left the fatherland in advance of the rest of the family, arriving on the shores of the New World in August, 1851, and came direct to Seneca Co., Ohio, where he com- menced laboring ou a farm. Shortly after the arrival of his father's family he again went to work for his father, although he had reached the legal age, and could have been doing for himself. He labored thus for seven years, and then .bought a farm of 80 acres, which he sold, and bought where he now lives, owning 180 acres of good land. He was married April 5, 1860, to Catharine Stuckey, who came to this country from Ger- many after arriving at womanhood. She died July 16, 1862, having borne one child — ^Adam J. He again entered the married state March 1, 1863, Mary Slowman becoming his wife. She was born in Germany June 26, 1843, and is a daughter of Frederick J. and Ellen N. Slowman, and came to this country in 1852. Their children are named respectively George B., Ellen N. S., Mary A., Jacob, Charley A., William M. and Louisa C. Both he and wife are members of the German Reformed Church, of which he is Treasurer, Secretary and Elder. He has always been a Democrat. FRANKLIN LA RUE, farmer and stock- raiser; P. O. Poplar; is the eldest of a family of seven children, and was bom in Seneca Co., Ohio, July 22, 1842. His father, Jonathan D. La Rue, was born Sept. 25, 1816, in Steu- ben Co., N. Y., and was there married to a lady named Jane Gray. He taught school there in early life, and, in June, 1841, he moved to Ohio, and settled in Seneca, Co., where he resided iowc years. He then came -V- rr ^ « w. ikL 1038 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: to Crawford Co., and, securing a partly devel- oped farm in Lykens Township, created a handsome property. "Maj. La Eue," as he was familiarly called, was a man of extended acquaintance, and was respected by all as a man of good judgment, and the embodiment of honor and integrity. He died Sept. 5, 1880, after a brief illness, and for many years had been a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church. His children were named respect- ively — FranMin, Charles, Comfort W., Levi G., George, Jeannette and Albertus. The two eldest sons enlisted in Company K, 45th O. V. I., "and Charles, being captured, died in that horrid prison pen at Andersonville. Comfort W. and Levi G. are residing at Le Mars, Iowa, engaged in the hardware and agricultural implement business. George and Jeannette died when young, and the youngest is now studying medicine. The subject of this sketch was married Feb. 20, 1868, to Ardella, daughter of L. M. Waller, of this township, in which she was bom in 1848. Their union has produced six children — Charles, Lysander W., Arietta C, Ealph W., Guy E. and Harry G. He has devoted special attention to the breeding of sheep of the Spanish merino variety, and, as a result, possesses flocks that take rank among the best in the county. He has always been a Republican. His wife is a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church. JOHN Mclaughlin, farmer and teacher; P. O. Poplar; was bom Jan. 4, 1835, in Mel- more, Seneca Co., Ohio. His father, George McLaughlin, was born in Juniata Co.. Penn., and learned the trades of wheelwright and cabinet-maker. In 1825, he came to Seneca Co., Ohio, and, locating at Melmore, remained there two years, when he returned to his native State. A^gain in 1829 he determined to make the West his home, and, coming back to the same place, was married, Feb. 24, 1834, to Sarah Lewis, who came there from Oneida Co.,N. Y., a few years previous to their union. In the spring of 1838, he removed to a farm in Bloom Township, in that county, on which he remained until his death, June 10, 1875. His wife survives him. John received a good common-school education, and when 18 years old commenced teaching school, a business he has ever since followed during the winter season, except the time he was in the army. He enlisted in Company H, 55th O. V. I., and served over three years. He participated in the second battle of Bull Eun, Slaughter Mountain, Manassas, Chancellorsville and other engagements. He was captured at Get- tysburg on the second day, and was impris- oned both at Belle Isle and Libby. When exchanged, he returned to his regiment. On Dec. 24, 1857, he was married to Harriet Bellinger, wfio was bom in this county on April 28, 1836, and died Dec. 30, 1870, leav- ing five children — Elodia, Frank, Ida, Jennie and Minnie. He again entered the married state March 19, 1871, Susan Park becoming his wife. She is a daughter of Amos and Sarah (Baker) Park, and was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1839. She came to this county when quite young, and for many years previous to her marriage had been a leading school teacher in the county. She has blessed their union with four children — Nettie, Daisy, John D. and Lettie. He has for several years been one gf the leading teachers in the man- agement of the Teachers' Institute in Craw- ford Co. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as also is his daughter Ida. He is a Eepublican. JOHN W. MILLER, farmer; P. O. Ly- kens; is one of the successful and energetic farmers of the county, and was born ia North- ampton Co., Penn., July 18, 1841. His father, Jacob S. Miller, was a native of that county, and there he was married to Mary Mills. He learned the trade of blacksmith in early life, and has followed it much of the time ever since. In 1854, he left the Keystone State, and, coming directly to Ohio, located in Craw- ford Co. Securing a farm in Lykens Town- ship, he conducted it as well as working some at his trade, until 1877, when he relinquished farming, and went to Bloomville, Ohio. He has been blessed with six children, three of whom are living — John W., Richard and Jacob. John W. commenced doing for him- self when of age, and has always been devoted to agricultural pursuits, except while in the army. He enlisted in Company H, 55th 0. V. I., and served nearly three years. He par- ticipated in the battles of Peach Tree Creek, Marietta and other engagements, and went ;rr 'A LYKENS TOWNSHIP. 1039 with Sherman on his "march to the sea." He was slightly wounded at the battle of Averys- boro, N. C, and, thj-ee days later, at the bat- tle of Bentonville, he received a serious wound in the arm, from which he has never fully recovered. He was also prostrated by a sunstroke while gone, which he ccsnsiders a permanent injury. On Dec. 27, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Allbaugh) Shalter. She was born in this county Sept. 21, 1843, and died June 5, 1878. He again entered the married state on October 14, 1879, Sarah Allbaugh, daughter of David and Kebecca (Keeran) Allbaugh, becoming his wife. She was born in this county Sept. 4, 1848, and is a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church, while he belongs to the United Brethren Church. He has a model farm of 100 acres, on which he has erected tasty and convenient buildings. He is a Republican. JOHN MOORE, farmer; P. O. Lykens; was bom in Harrison Co., Ohio, July 7, 1823, and is one of the well-to-do and flourishing farmers of the county. His father, Maurice Moore, was born and reared in the State of New Jersey, and was there married to Han- nah Davis, who came to this country from Wales in her childhood. He was a farmer by occupation, and, a few years after his mar riage, emigrated to Harrison Co., Ohio, and cleared a farm. In the year 1834, he moved to Seneca Co. and entered aquarter-section of land, which he cleared and improved, with the help of his sons, and on which he is now living. The subject of this sketch received only a meager education, and vividly remem- bers many of the privations through which the family passed, in their pioneer home. He recollects distinctly the time when they ground buckwheat through their coffee-mill, for a family in which there were nine chil- dren. He was married Oct. 9, 1845, to Sarah R. McLaughlin, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Fisher) McLaughlin, her father being of Scotch-L-ish descent, while her mother was of Dutch extraction. She was bom in Columbiana Co., Ohio, May 10, 1825, and came to Seneca Co. when 16 years old. After marriage Mr. Moore lived west of Bucyrus about two years, and, in the spring of 1848, moved to where he now lives, having cleared his farm from the dense forest, and has an elegant and attractive home. He has erected substantial and tasty buildings, and can now enjoy the benefits to be derived from his life- time of industry. Four children have blessed their union — Eliza J., Hannah A., Sarah F. and Ardella A. The three eldest married, but the first one has since died. The youngest died Jan. 16, 1864, when in her 9th year. Mrs. Moore has of late years been afflicted, but places her trust in Him that doeth every- thing for the best. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. jMoore is a char- ter member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and identifies himself with the Republican party. DAVID PERKY, retired farmer; P. O. Lykens; was bom in Westmoreland Co., Penn., April 1, 1811. His father, Christo- pher Perky, was bom in what is now Fayette Co., Penn., and reared to the pursuit of farm- ing. He married a lady by the name of Elizabeth Slaughter, of Westmoreland Co., and there lived a number of years. He served in the war of 1812, and was under Gen. Har- rison at Fort Meigs, and in the fall of 1819 moved to Ohio, where he ever after lived. He lived in Perry Co. a short time, and then went to Fairfield Co., where he remained imtil 1827. In that year he moved to Seneca Co., where he died, Aug. 28, 1833, on the 57th anniversary of his birth. His companion departed this life in July, 1849. David was married, April 15, 1834, to Mary, daughter of John and Magdalena (Spitler) Seitz. She was born in Fairfield Co. in March, 1814. He has always been a tiller of the soil, and has been a resident of Crawford Co. since 1848. He has cleared two different farms, one being in Seneca Co., and for the last ten years has done but little manual labor. His wife died July 15, 1853, having borne eleven children, four of whom died in infancy. Those who grew up were named respectively — John, Jane E., Lewis, Franklin, Abigail, David and Henry. He was again married Oct. 18, 1855, Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Hoover) Kanel, becoming his wife. She was born in Adams Co., Penn., Dec. 10, 1810, and came to this State when 16 years old. Mr. i "V i\^ 1040 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Perky's sons were among the patriotic young men who hastened to the defense of their country when her flag was insulted by traitor- ous hands. John enlisted in Co. G, 25th O. V. I., and served three years, coming home uninjured. In 1862, Lewis and Franklin entered Company H, " 55th O. V. I. Lewis was killed at the battle of Eesaca, Ga., and his ashes now repose in the National cemetery at Chattanooga, Tenn. ; and Franklin, being discharged when disabled by sickness, died soon after his return. When only 16, David entered the army, and died at Alexandria, Va. We thus see that Mr. Perky's family contrib- uted four heroes to the late war, three of whom thereby lost their lives. The youngest son, Henry, died in February, 1869. He is a Democrat. His wife belongs to the German Eeformed Church. T. F. POPE, farmer; P. O. Lykens; was bom March 30, 1845, in Delaware Co., Ohio. His father, S. C. Pope, was born and reared in Logan Co., Ohio, and for many years fol- lowed teaching. While engaged in his chosen vocation in Richland Co., he was married to Esther Burrow, who was a native of that county. He shortly afterward moved to Del- aware, Ohio, and from there went tt> Williams Co. and ran a saw-mill. Some ten years later, he returned to Logan Co., and fi'om there went to Paulding Co., where he now lives, his companion dying in 1860. The subject of this sketch, being of a patriotic nature, was one of the first to hasten to the defense- of his country, and, when scarcely 17 years old, enlisted in Company L, 10th O. V. C. He served three years, and came out without a mishap or a sick day, and was under Balpat- rick when he raided through Georgia with Gen. Sherman. When discharged, he returned to this county, where he has since lived, and, April 23, 1866, was married to Amy, daughter of Jonas and Mary (Thomas) Yingling. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Sept. 16, 1848, and is the happy mother of five children — Mary Esther, Kate L:ene, Ada J., Sanoma B. and Jonas Adolphus. Mrs. Pope belongs to the Free- Will Baptist Church. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of the Patrons of Husbandry. He has held town- ship offices, and is a stalwart Eepublican. JACOB RHO AD, farmer; P. O. Bloomville; is one of the energetic and enterprising farmers of this county, and a thorough business man. He wa^ born in Seneca Co., Ohio, Sept. 24, 1885. His father, George Rhoad, was bom in Pennsylvania, and when 15 years old moved tx) this State, with his father's family. They lived in Crawford Co. two years, and then went into Seneca Co., where they afterward lived. They settled at first near where the town of Republic now stands, the county then being almost an unbroken forest, and helped clear the land on which the town was built. George was married to a lady named Sarah Webster, who was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, and came to Seneca County when in her youth. He has cleared up a fine farm in that county, on which he now lives, enjoying the benefits derived from his early labors. Jacob's edu- cational advantages were quite limited, but through his own efforts and improvements he now possesses a fair education. He com- menced doing for himself when of age, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. Having a natural taste for music, of which he is passionately fond, he cultivated this gift of nature, and for the last twenty years has taught singing schools with good success. Feb. 20, 1859, he was marriod to Alvira, daughter of Albert and Catharine (Grews- beck) Hammond. She was born in Crawford Co. on the 20th day of February, 1839. He served at Fort Worth during the late war, being in Company C, B6th O. Y. I. His mar- riage has been fruitful of seven children — Eva A. (deceased), Elmer E., Charley, Nellie (de- ceased), Odessie, Nettie G. and Ira D. Both he and wife are members of the Free- Will Baptist Church, of which he is Deacon. He is Superintendent of the Sabbath school, an office for which he is well qualified, and takes great interest in the- common schools. He was raised by an "Old-Line Democrat," and remained in that party until the Brough cam- paign, when he joined the Republican ranks, to which he now belongs. JACOB SEERY, farmer; P. O. Poplar; was bom in Ross Co., Ohio, Nov. 19, 1825, and is a son of Solomon Seery, Sr., one of the pioneers of this township. He passed his youth and early manhood in assisting his "^ r L^ LYKENS TOWNSHIP. 1041 father and elder brothers to clear the old homestead. Not until 25 years old did he commence doing for himself. On Jan. 22, 1852, he was united in the bonds of wedlock to Miss Lavinia A. Coon, who was born Dec. 18, 1833, in the Dominion of Canada, and is a daughter of Elisha and Olivia (Boyce) Coon. In October, 1840, they moved to Ohio, and settled in Crawford Co. After his marriage, Mr. Seery located on the farm on which he now lives, the improvements consisting of a small cabin and stable. It was partly cleared, and by industry and careful management he has brought it to a high degree of cultivation, and possesses one of the most valuable farms of the township. His marriage has proved a happy and prosperous one, and has been blessed with four children — Alvaro, De Forest B., Lorenzo M. D., and Eeno Eoscoe. The eldest died when 12 years old. Mr. Seery served in Company C, 186th O. N. G., during the late rebellion, being located at Fort Worth. He has served as Trustee, has been a Repub- lican since the organization of the party, and was a Whig in early life. PETEE SEEEY, farmer; P. O. Poplar; is one of the substantial and well-known citizens of this township, and is prominently identified with her growing interests. He was born Oct. 5, 1818, in Eoss Co., Ohio, and is a son of Solomon Seery, Sr., whose sketch is given elsewhere. He has always been a farmer, and, July 18, 1845, was married to Margaret A., daughter of William and Ehoda Pen- nington. She was born Oct. 13, 1818, in Vir- ginia, and came here about the year 1826. After marriage, Mr. Seery settled on the farm on which he now lives, the improvements con- sisting at that time of a cabin and a few acres cleared. By years of patient and steady labor, he has created a productive farm, and many years ago their primitive house was replaced by one more commodious and elegant. His wife departed this life Nov. 3, 1873. She had borne five children — Mary F., who died in infancy; William H., Willard W., Ehoda M. and Phcsbe J. The sons are married. Both he and his wife united with the United Brethren Church before their marriage, and have devoted their lives to Christianity. He was identified with the Whig party in early life, and cast his first vote for Gen. Harrison. He is at present a Eepublican. CHAELES SOLZE, farmer; P. O. Broken Sword; was born in Saxony, Germany, Nov. 2, 1840, and is a son of John Frederick and Fredericka (Fodenerhaur) Solze. His father was a farmer, and, in the spring of 1841, with his wife and six children, embarked for Amer- ica. They came direct to Crawford Co., Ohio, and, in attempting to walk from Attica here, were lost, and compelled to pass the night in the woods under a large tree. The next day they reached their friends. He at first bought 40 acres of land, on which a small improve- ment had been made, and, when circumstances would admit, sold, and secured a better situa- tion. He died in 1867. One of his sons. Christian, was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks, being in Company C, 82d O. V. I. Charles, who is the subject of this sketch, worked on his father's farm until the breaking- out of the war, when he cheerfully responded to the call of his country, and, against the advice of friends and kindred, enlisted in the army. His name was enrolled in Company L, 10th O. V. C, and his term of service ex- tended over a period of three years. He served under Kilpatrick on the "march to the sea," and, during his whole term of service, never lost a day's duty. He was married, Nov. 6, 1870, Mary C, daughter of Alfred and Fanny (Foy) Park, becoming his wife. She was born in this county Sept. 20, 1838, and has borne five children — John A., Fannie, Ada, Jose- phine and Scott. Mr. Solze is a successful and enterprising farmer, and has a handsome property. He has always been a Eepublican. SOLOMON SEEEY, farmer; P. O. Poplar; was born Sept. 22, 1823, in Eoss Co., Ohio. Solomon Seery, Sr., his father, was born in Washington Co., Perm., and when 10 years old accompanied his mother to Eoss Co. Ed- ucational advantages were meager at best, but he, being the only child, was compelled to forego these, and labor for the support of his mother, and is said to have learned to read after his marriage. His mother was after- ward united to Jacob Foy, and came to this county. He was married in Eoss Co., to Magdalena Van Gundy, who had come there from Pennsylvania when yet young. He 'A 1043 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: developed a farm there, and in the fall of 1832, with his two eldest sons, came here, and commenced clearing, having entered three 80-acre lots. He returned to his family, and the following spring came here, erected a cabin, planted a small, crop of corn, and then leaving his eldest son and daughter to keep house, himself and second son went back, and, after harvesting, started for the place with the family, and arrived here Sept. 1, 1833. He afterward entered three 80-acre lots, making 480 acres of Government land taken by this one man, which he and his sons developed as fast as possible. He died July 2, 1860, and hi^ companion on July 24, 1878. The sub Ject of this sketch has always been a tiller of the soil, and his early life was spent in devel- oping forest land. On Sept. 4, 1856, he united his fortunes with those of Elizabeth Park. She was born Nov. 9, 1832, in Hamp- shire-Co., Va., and is a daughter of Amos and Saf ah (Baker) Park. Her father moved from there to Licking Co., Ohio, in 1836, and, two years later, came to this county, where he lived until 1873, and has since been located in Williams Co., Ohio. His wife died in 1871. Since marriage, Mr. Seery has lived on the farm where he now resides, and where he has erected convenient and elegant buildings. His marriage has been blest with three children — Independence, John W. and Russell O. Both he and his amiable companion have devoted many years to Christianity, and are consistent members of the United Brethren Church. He is identified with the Republican party, and advocates temperance. WILLIAM S WALLS Y, farmer; P. O. Ly- kens; was born Nov. 20, 1810, in Mifflin Co., Eenn. His father, John Swalley, was born and reared in New Jersey, and, moving to Pennsylvania, was married to Barbara Arma- gast. He was a weaver by trade, and also conducted a farm, and, in the year 1817, moved to Ohio, and settled about fifteen miles south of Zanesville. The father died soon after this, and the family then returned to Mifflin Co. In 1834, the mother again came to Ohio, and this time located in Crawford Co., being accompanied by her two daughters, other members of the family being here already. The subject of this sketch was mar- ried Dec. 8, 1833, to Catharine, daughter of Philip and Catharine Wonsetler. She was born in Washington Co., Penn., June 5, 1817, and has blessed her husband with the follow- ing children: Martin Van Buren, David W.,_ Cornelius, Abel Sylvenus, Ann Eliza, Lafay ette, Sarah Ann. All are married except David, Sylvenus being a merchant at luka, 111. Since coming to this State, Mr. Swalley has developed a quarter-section of land, which he himself entered, and has bought other lots, owning at present 200 acres. The cabin of primitive days was years ago replaced by a more tasty and commodious structure, and but little is left to remind one of the forest home they occupied and enjoyed years ago. Both Mr. and Mrs. Swalley are members of the Free- Will Baptist Church. He cast his &rst vote for Andrew Jackson, but left the party at the time of the war, and is now a stalwart Republican. CORNELIUS SWALLEY, farmer; P. O. Lykens; was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, March 31, 1838, and is a son of WiUiam Swalley, of this county. His early life was uneventful, being passed on his father's farm and at the quiet country school. When 20 years old, he commenced working out, and followed that until the year 1862, when he responded to the call of his bleeding country, and, entering Company K, 45th O. V. I., served for three years. He participated in the battles of Franklin, Nashville, and other engagements. He was captured at Mount Sterling, Ky. ; was immediately paroled, and, as soon as exchanged, joined his regiment. He was again captured at the battle of Phil- adelphia, Tenn., and imprisoned at Belle Isle for five months, after which he joined his regiment at Atlanta. He was married, Oct. 15, 1867, Sophia, daughter of Milton Waller, becoming his wife. She was bom in Craw- ford Co., May 4, 1839, and has borne five children — Dillie, Don E., Minnie, Clara and Willie M. Both he and wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church. He is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. LUCY ANN SMITH, farmer; P. O. Bro- ken Sword; is a daughter of Michael Shupp, one of the first settlers of Crawford Co., and ^Fh -rV r s ^ LYKENS TOWNSHIP. 1043 was born here June 3, 1830. Her parents dying when she was yet in her childhood, she lived with her brother Michael until her mar- riage, Dec. 20, 1847, to Frederick Smith. He was born and reared in Saxony, Germany, and, when grown to maturity, emigrated to Amer- ica. He came direct to Columbus, Ohio, and, being a stone-mason by trade, immediately went to work, and soon established his repu- tation as a first-class workman. He secured contracts for bridges on the National pike then being constructed, and in a few years had saved several hundred dollars, with which he bought a quarter-section of Government land in Lykens Township, Crawford Co. He moved on this in 1840, developing, and bring- ing it to a high degree of culture. His first marriage was to Christiana Lipman, a native of Saxony, Germany. She died in 1846, leav- ing four children — Louis F., John F., Adol- phus G. and Clara. By his second union, eleven children were born, ten of whom are living — Cornelius, Matilda, Catharine, Fred- erick, Henry, Lucy Ann, Jefferson, Emma J., Melancthon and Serepta. Mr. Smith departed this life Dee. 3, 1877, and the farm has since been conducted by his wife. He was an influ- ential and prominent citizen, and well known throughout the county. In November, 1862, he was elected Justice of the Peace, an office which he held till his death. He was Town- ship Clerk for many years, and School Di- rector most of the time since living in the county. He was connected with the Grange, and was Master at the time of his death. He was also a member of the county and State Granges. He was a member of the Evangel- ical Association, but had been a Lutheran in early life. He was a Democrat. COENELIUS SMITH, carpenter. Broken Sword; is the eldest child born to Frederick and Lucy Ann (Shupp) Smith, and was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Dec. 25, LS47. He received a good common-school education, much of it being secured by his own exertions when not at school, through his habits of study at odd hours. When 1 8 years old he commenced teaching, and followed it for sev- eral years with fair success, but relinquished it for the carpenter's trade, which is his pres- ent business, and his efforts have been crowned with like results. He was married April 3, 1870, Mary Catharine Ludy becoming his wife. She was born in this county March 17, 1850, and is a daughter of Michael and Cath- arine (Leimenstoll) Ludy, who came to this country from the Old "World. They have two children — Joseph Clarence and Cora Ellen. Both he and wife are consistent^ members of the German Reformed Church. He has a pleasant property situated at Wingert's Cor- ners, and is one of the cultured citizens of the place. ,He is a Democrat. MICHAEL SHUPP, retired farmer; P. O. Broken Sword; the eldest of a family of nine children; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., July 24, 1809. His father, whose name was also Michael Shupp, was a native of that county, and was there married to Rebecca Wise. Being a farmer by occupation, he con- cluded to emigrate to the West, where land was plenty and also cheap, and, the 28th day of May, 1828, he landed at Bucyrus, Ohio, with his family. He immediately entered 80 acres of land in Lykens Township, which he carefully developed, and then sold, and bought a quarter-section of new land. He again entered the struggle with the elements of Nature, but had the satisfaction of possessing a larger farm when once he had it cleared. He died in 1836, and his wife in 1843. The subject of this sketch commenced doing for himself when 22 years old, and, .working out one year, received the sum of $100 for his serv- ices, with which he entered 80 acres of land. After improving it he sold, and bought the quarter-section where he now lives. This he has also cleared and rendered valuable by a lifetime of industry and careful attention to the minute details connected with the duties of a successful farmer. He was married, March 4, 1834, to Susannah, daughter of John Adam and Anna Maria (Wirt) Miller. She was born June 19, 1817, in Union Co., Penn., and came to this county in 1830. She died Dec. 19, 1877, having borne fourteen children, twelve of whom are living — Isaac, Amanda, Mary Ann, Lavina, Noah, Caroline, Lucinda, Benja- min, Henry, Susannah, Catharine and Julia. All are married except the youngest three. Mr. Shupp is a member of the church known as the Evangelical Association, in which his ^ a ^ 1044 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: son Noah is a minister. His wife also was a member of the same church. LOUIS P. SMITH, farmer; P. O. Lykens; was born in Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1836, and is a son of Frederick Smith, one of the most prominent farmers of the county. Louis was reared to agricultural pursuits, but, pos- sessing good business qualifications, he has made himself useful in other ways, while con- ducting his farm. He was married Sept. 5, 1859, to Christean Wilhelm. She was born in Stuttgart, Germany, Dec. 6, 1840, and came to this country when six years old. Their Union has proved a happy and prosperous one, and has been blessed with eight children, five of whom are living — Sophia, Adolphus, Clara, Loretta and John H. Mr. Smith owns a pleas- ant farm, which is the result of well-directed labor and care. He is a man of recognized ability, being at the present time Master of Subordinate Grange, No. 245, and has impor- tant relations with the county and State Grange. He is prominently identified with the Crawford Co. Agricultural Society, and manifests a degree of interest in its success. Both he and his companion are members of the Pyethist Church. He has always been a Democrat. WILLIAM TIPPIN, farmer; P. O. Lykens; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Nov. 11, 1827, and is a son of John and Margaret (Miller) Tippin, both of whom were born and reared in Pennsylvania, and were there married. John's father, James Tippin, came to that State from Ireland when 21 years old, and was married to a Dutch lady, and, in the latter part of his life, moved to Wayne Co., Ohio, where they both died, he being in his 85th year. John moved to this State shortly after his marriage, and, locating in Wayne Co., remained there until 1837, when he came into Crawford Co. In 1851, he went to Wood Co., where he remained some time, and then returned to the county of Wyandot, where he now lives. The subject of this sketch remained under the parental roof until they started for Wood Co., when he remained behind, and has since been doing for himself. His marriage was celebrated Dec. 13, 1852, Miss Frances, daughter of Solomon Seery, becoming his wife. She was born Oct. 26, 1828, in Eoss Co., and has blessed their happy union with nine children — David E., Owen W., Blbridge F., Emma C, Charley R., Seery S., Anna May (deceased), Harvey B. and Alta. The three oldest are married. ' Mr. Tippin and wife are consistent members of the United Brethren Church, of which he is a Trustee. He is a Republican. ELI WINTERS, farmer; P. O. Lykens; was born Serat. 28, 1824, in Jefferson Co., Ohio. The Winters family were among the first settlers of Jefferson Co., coming there from Pennsylvania when this State was yet a Territory, and it was there that Eli Winters, Sr., the father of the above-named gentleman, was born, in February, 1802. He was married to Annra Andrews, who came there from Ches- ter Co., Penn., the place of her birth, and, in March, 1834, moved to this county, and set- tled on a tract of Government land which he had entered the previous year. Mr. Winters, with the assistance of his sons, developed a good farm, besides doing much work for others, and in 1865 disposed of his property, and retired to Bloomville, where he now lives. The partner of his joys and sorrows departed this life in 1879. The subject of this sketch was deprived of many of the advantages that are necessary to the acquisition of a liberal education, there being a demand for his serv- ices at home, even during the short session of winter school. However, in his father'd family a " nighi^school " was organized, in which the children were scholars, and an older member of the family would act as in- structor, and thus he received the most of his schooling. He taught school one winter, and has been doing for himself since he reached the legal age. He did " job-work " for several years, ran a threshing machine, and at length secured a half-interest in a saw-mill at " Buljo," with which he was connected for a number of years. He quite nattirally drifted into the mercantile business at that place, and at the same time was Deputy Postmaster. In the spring of 1865, he bought his father's farm, and has ever since followed agricultural pur- suits. He is now serving as Justice of the Peace, an office to which he was first elected in 1858, and has held ever since, except a short time during the war, when party spirit «f « ^ — a) '-^ LYKENS TOWNSHIP. 1045 ran high, and, being a Eepublican, he was deposed a short time, as the township was mostly composed of the opposite party. In 1851, he was married to Eliza Howenstein, who came to this county from Pennsylvania a few years before their union. Six children have blessed their marriage, four of whom are living — Orelia A., Thomas H., Laura and Martha. STEPHEN WALLEE, farmer; P. O. Ly- kens; was bom Aug. 25, 1831, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and is a son of Milton Waller, one of the hardy pioneers of this township. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, and is one of the well-to-do and respected farmers of the county. On Dec. 25, 1853, he was married to Martha, daughter of James and Mary (Rose) McKinley. . She was born May 17, 1827, at New Lisbon, Columbiana Co., Ohio, and departed this life Oct. 4, 1879. She was an amiable companion, an affection- ate mother, and a friend to all. Her union with Mr. Waller gave nine children, five of whom are living — Osmar L., Stephen Milo, Ellen E. and Helen E., twins, and Mary J. The eldest has taught school, and is now attending the Hillsdale College, at Hillsdale, Mich. Mr. Waller belongs to the I. O. O. F., and was a charter member of the Patrons of Husbandry. He was the second Master of the Lodge, and was, the same year, delegate at large to the State Grange from Crawford Co. He is a consistent member of the Free- Will Baptist Church, as was also his wife. He is a Democrat. LYSANDER M. W«ALLEE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Lykens; was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., July 20, 1827. His father, Milton E. Waller, was bom Aug. 7, 1807, in Washington Co., N. Y., and in early life learned the cooper's trade, and in 1825 accom- panied his parents to Orleans Co., where he was married the following year to Polly Coon. He afterward moved into Chautauqua Co., where he secured a farm, and, trading this off, received part of his pay in dry goods. He emigrated to Ohio in the spring of 1833, and located in Seneca Co. The same year he en- tered 80 acres of land in Lykens Township, Crawford Co., and the year following, moved on to his property. He soon secured 40 acres more. which he paid for by day work, and, besides developing this, had to labor for others, for the support of his ftimily. He would work at the trade during bad weather, and often at night, after the completion of a hard day's labor. He departed this life Feb. 28, 1880, and his companion on Aug. 17, 1872. The subject of this sketch received only a meager education, such as the pioneer schools of those days furnished, many years of his life being devoted to the more practical occupation of clearing and assisting to develop the "forest home." He was married in 1848 to Arietta Cory, and in 1851 she departed this life, leav- ing one child — Ardella, now the wife of Franklin La Rue. He again entered the marriage relation Feb. 16, 1859, Miss Ann J. Yingling becoming his wife. She is a daugh- ter of Jonas and Mary (Thomas) Yingling, and was born in 1836, in this county. Their union has given one child — Amy Sophia, who died in her infancy. Mr. Waller is a member of the Masonic Order, Knights of Honor and Patrons of Husbandry. He is now serving his second term as Commissioner of Craw- ford Co., giving almost universal satisfaction. He has always been a Democrat. ROBERT WALCUTT, farmer and agent; P. O. Poplar; is one of the well-known and genial citizens of Crawford Co., and one of her thorough business men. He was bom in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1832. His father, Jacob Wqlcutt, was bom in Loudoun Co., Va., in 1790, and served in the war of 1812. He came to Ohio after reaching his manhood, and was married in Pickaway Co., to Elizabeth Riley, who was also from the " Old Dominion," having been born there in 1800. He was a farmer, and while Robert was yet in his infancy moved with his family into Franklin Co., where he soon after died. He had, however, entered 80 acres of land near Benton, in this county, some time previ- ous, on which he contemplated moving, when Providence interposed, and his untimely death left a family of seven children to a mother's care. However, a few years later, they came to this county, and settled on the farm secured to them by the husband and father before his death. Robert received only the rudiments of what is now considered a common-school 1^ 1046 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: education, but his time has not been unim- proved, and he has added greatly to his early accomplishments. He • has, until recently, paid special attention to farming, and in 1857 went to Iowa, where he lived one year, the rest of his time being passed in the Buckeye State. In 1877, he commenced working for the well-known W. H. Houpt, of Shelby, Ohio, one of the largest dealers in marble, granite, etc., in the State. He has been a successful salesman, and is held in high esti- mation by the firm. During the past year, he has also dealt in agricultural implements and machinery, with uniform results. In 1854, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Abraham and Susannah (Cline) Knisely. She was born in Pennsylvania in. 1836, and came to this county when 6 years, old. She died Aug^ 18, 1876, having borne nine children, six of whom are living — Mary Yirginia, James E., John Brough, Frances J., Minnie B. and Nellie A. The eldest is married, being the wife of Torry C. Linn. The eldest son has been a successful school teacher, and is now attending the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Walcutt belongs to the I. O. O. F. ; is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Gen. Scott. WILLAED WICKHAM, farmer; P. O. Poplar; was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., Aug. 26, 1814, and is a son of David and Louisa (Hilliard) Wickham, both of whom were natives of that State. The father served in the war of 1812, and, being a farmer by occupation, came West to better his circumstances and improve his surroundings in life. In 1837, he came to Crawford Co., Ohio, and secured a partly developed farm in what is known as Texas Township, on which he passed the rest of his Hfe, dying in September, 1849. His wife departed this life in August, 1875, and was residing at that time in Michigan, at the home of a daughter. The subject of this sketch commenced doing for himself when of age, and has always been a tiller of the soil. He taught school for several winters when a young man, and in 1840, secured the farm on which he now lives. It was all heavy forest, and this he has developed and made valuable by a lifetime of industry and toil. During the administration of Franklin Pierce, he was appointed Government farmer among the Winnebago Indians, located at Long Prairie agency in Minnesota. Of late years he has led a more retired life. He was united in the bonds of matrimony Oct. 21, 1838, Phcebe, daughter of William and Ehoda (McKeever) Pennington, becoming his wife. ' She was born in Virginia, in the year 1820, and ac- companied her parents to this State at an early day. Their union has been blessed with ten children, seven of whom are living — G«orge W., Margaret A., Mister W., Anson, Mary £., William H. and Wallace M. All received a good education, and all have been successful school-teachers. Mr. Wickham is now serv- ing . his fourth term as Justice of the Peace, and is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. His companion has been a member of the United Brethren Church most of her life. He is a Eepublican. JOHN P. YINGLING, farmer; P. O. Ly- kens; is one of the industrious and energetic farmers of the eoiinty, and was born Aug. 6, 1838, in Crawford Co., * Ohio. His fattier, Jonas Yingling, was born and reared in Hunt- ingdon Co., Penn., and when a young man. came to Ohio. He was a mason and stone- cutter by trade, and for awhile worked on the Baltimore & Ohio E. E. when it was being built. He was married m Portage Co., Ohio, to Mary Thomas, who was born iu Wales, and came to America after reaching maturity. She remained a short time in New York, and then came to Pittsburgh, and soon went to work for a man named Appleton, who was a contractor on the Baltimore & Ohio E. E. It was here that she first met Mr. Yingling, who afterward followed her to Portage Co. and made her his wife. They started for Crawford Co. as soon as married, where he entered 80 acres of Gov- ernment land, and, although he made several changes, never left the county. He died Aug. 27, 1867, having at that time 260 acres of land. John received only a meager educa- tion, being required on the farm much of the time. He has always been a tiller of the soU, and confesses that he has not yet completed the trade, although his farm bears evidence of careful tillage. In the late war, he served in Company C, 49th O. V. I., being stationed at Fort Worth. Oct. 2, 1870, he was united ;%" :±iL^ EBRAtA. 1047 in the bonds of marriage with Miss Sarah F. Moore, who was born in this county Aug. 7, 1852, and is a daughter of John Moore, a sketch of whom is given in this work. Two children have blessed their union — ^Myrtie, Born Aug. 7, 1871, and Ora, born July 7, 1873. He is a Republican. ERRATA. BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP. THOMAS P. HOPLEY, printer and journal- ist, Bucyrug ; the fourth son, or third living son, of John and Gteorgianna (Rochester) Hop- ley ; born at Logan, Hooking Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1853. He has been a resident of Crawford Co. since April, 1856. He was educated in the public schools of Bucyrus, from which he graduated in the class of 1872. He is a printer by trade, and a journalist by profes- sion ; he has worked in the Bucyrus Journal office for about ten years, since May, 1868. He has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus since February, 1868. He hasn't done anything worthy a place in the Crawford Co. History except vote the Prohibi- tion ticket since he became of age, including Presidential votes for G-reen Clay Smith in 1876, and Neal Dow in 1880. He is consid- ered a "fool" b^' many who do not like his views on the Temperance question, and thinks their opinion a compliment. His mother is the fourth daughter of John Rochester, who was born near London, England, Jan. 9,. 1796. Rochester was married in 1816, to Miss Marian G-ladle, a descendant of the Westley family on her mother's side, and the daughter of a rene- gade Frenchman, who left his native land dur- ing the French Revolution, and served as an officer in the English army ; Gladle was killed in Spain, while fighting against France. Mr. Rochester emigrated to America in 1820, and settled at Englishtown, Athens Co.; he removed to Logan, Hocking Co., in 1829, and was, for nearly fifty years, engaged in the mercantile business at that place. He united with the Presbyterian Church in 1832, and was, for forty-four years, a member of that religious society, serving thirty-four years as an Elder, and twenty-eight years as a Ti'ustee in the church ; he was for many years Superintendent of the Sunday school. He died Nov. 29, 1876, in the 81st year of his age ; his first wife died in September, 1832. Georgianna Rochester was born Feb. 22, 1826, and was married April 19, 1848, to John Hopley ; they are,, the parents of ten children ; nine are still living. Mrs. Hopley is a member of the First Presby- terian Church of Bucyrus, and took an active part in the Woman's Temperance Crusade of 1874. W. H HOUPT, Bucyrus, proprietor of Shelby Marble Works, importer and wholesale dealer in all kinds of marble and granite ; born in Sen- eca Co., Ohio ; his parents removed to Craw- ford Co., Ohio, where he spent his youth on a farm ; at the age of 26, he went to Somerset Co., Penn., and engaged in the marble business for some two years and a half; he then came to Ohio and purchased an interest in the works and ran in partnership for about a year ; in the spring of 1872, he purchased his partner's interest and took control himself; he has su- perior advantages in the purchase of material ; he buys directly from the quarries of England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada ; he purchases American granite and marble from all quarries in the United States ; he has recently pur- chased the marble works of Plymouth, Ohio, and opened works in Bucyrus, Ohio ; from the long experience of Mr. Houpt in his business, and his well-known and honorable dealing, coupled with flrst-class material and workman- ship, he has established a large and increasing trade. VI®" s ^>