i ^i h, '''7 ' ii4S"''"^" 3 9002 f" ' 3 " r 'Jj r M r " '¦^ ^ ¦" i L J 1p:^= LmS' j-i^X-,-- 1,575 SVpiw-fgc I r-: A\A-.^V4 ^^J^-fT" HISTORY PERRY COUNTY OHIO BY CLEMENT L MARTZOLFF PUBLISHED BY WARD & WEILAND NEW LEXINGTON, OHIO COLUMBUS, OHIO PRESS OF FRED. J. HEER 1902 Entered According to the Act of Congress in the Year 1Q02 BY CLEMENT L. MARTZOLFF in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. C^Yx \C\ ^-^ \ (^ "A few moments before crossing the far-famed battle field of Montmirail, I met a cart rather strangely Irdcn; it ivas drawn by a horse and an ass, and contained pans, kettles, old trunks, straw-bot tomed chairs, with a heap of old furniture. In front, in a sort of basket, were three children, almost in a state of nudity; behind, in another, were several hens. The driver wore a blouse, was walking, and carried a child on his back. A few steps from him was a woman. They zvere all hastening toward Montmi rail, as if the great battle of 1814 were on the eve of being fought. I was informed, however, that this was not a removal; it was an expatriation. It was not to Mont mirail they were going — it was to America. They were not Hying to the sound of the trumpet of war — they were hurrying from misery and starvation. In a word, it was a family of poor Alsatian peasants who were emigrating. They could not obtain a living in their native land, but had been promised one in Ohio." — From Victor Hugo's "The Rhine." To my Alsatian grandparents, paternal and maternal, who were among the pioneers of Perry county, and who may have been the ones seen by Victor Hugo, this volume is respect fully dedicated. FOREWORD. Apology for the existence of this book will not be hidden under the multi-repeated quotation, "of the making of many books," etc., or the "filling of a long felt want." It is written because the author "wanted" to write it. It is being published because friends have generously subscribed for it. I believe that there is room for a small volume containing in brief, the main facts concerning the history and industrial development of this county. We teach our children about happenings in remote ages, in countries of which they know nothing, and allow the occur rences transpiring before them to pass by unnoted. Every teacher can testify to the woeful ignorance of the youth, as to local affairs, while every school examiner can truthfully say the same about the teachers. It is my belief that in this book has been collected much that will prove a source of information and interest to many. The subject is not in any manner exhausted. A vast amount more could have been written, but the aim has been to ex clude all matter of secondary importance. To acknowledge, individually, the assistance received from friends, in the way of data, would require more space than can be devoted to it. I am under the deepest obligation to them, and but for their suggestion and aid this volume would not have been possible. Clement L. Martzolff. New Lexington, Ohio, June 18, 1902. CONTENTS. PAGE. Meridian Monuments , 1 Drainage 1 Water Shed 3 Elevations Above Sea Level 4 Buckeye Lake 4 Geological Divisions of the County 5 Drift Region 6 Lake Ohio 8 Pre-Glacial Drainage .' 8 Terraces 10 Rocks of Perry County as to Structure 11 Vertical Section of Rocks of Perry County 16 Vertical Section of Sub-strata at New Lexington Depot. 16 Vertical Section of Strata at Moxahala 16 Vertical Section of Rocks at McCuneville 18 Generalized Section of Perry County Strata 19 Limestones 21 Fossils from the Maxville Limestone 22 Iron Ores 25 Coals 27 Buried Channels 29 Clays 30 Petroleum and Gas 30 Saltlicks 32 Lidey's Rocks 33 High Rocks 33 Bear Dens 33 • Why Rush Creek Bottom is Flat 34 The Mastodon 35 . Birds of Perry County 35 Animals 39 Forests 40 Big Sassafras 41 Pre-Historic Race 41 Children of the Forest 49 a. Buffalo Trails 50 VIII CONTENTS. PAGE. b. Monongahela Trail 50 c. Shawnee Run Trail 51 d. Flint Ridge Trail 52 e. Scioto Beaver Trail 53 /. Moxahala Trail 53 g. The Last Conflict 54 h. The White Man's Foot 57 i. The Last of His Race 58 y. Treaty of Fort Stanwix 58 Under the Banner of St. George 58 Under the Lilies of France 59 In the Province of Quebec 62 Boutetorst County 63 In the County of Illinois 6$ First White Man in Perry County 64 Land Surveys 65 Scioto Land Scheme .' 68 Zane's Trace 70 Refugee Tract 77 The Heroes of the Forest 78 The Evolution of Perry County 82 Village Settlements 84 Organization of the Townships 93 Section Sixteen 96 Churches 98 a. Lutheran and Reformed 99 b. Presbyterians 100 c. Dunkers 101 d. Baptists 101 e. Methodists 102 f. Bible Christians 103 g. Disciples 103 /;. United Brethren 103 i. Mennonites 104 y. Catholics 104 Schools 107 a. Madison Academy 112 b. St. Aloysius' Academy 113 Mills 113 Oil Works 114 CONTENTS. IX PAGE. The Old Salt Kettle 115 McCuneville Salt Works 115 Tobacco Houses 116 Lime Kilns 117 An Old Time Pottery '. . . 118 Blast Furnaces 119 Coal Mines 122 Oil Wells 123 The Inventor of the Revolver 124 Perry County in War 125 Perry County in Congress 129 The Removal of the County Seat 180 Public Buildings 133 Underground Railroad 135 Morgan's Raid 136 Population of Perry County 141 Constitutional Conventions 141 Col. James Taylor 142 Stephen Benton Elkins ~. 144 The Knight of the Pen 146 a. Biography of MacGahan, by Judge M. W. Wolfe. 150 b. Funeral and Burial of MacGahan 159 c. The Article that Caused the Russo-Turko War . . . 163 d. Poem, by Col. Taylor 170 Jeremiah M. Rusk 173 William Alexander Taylor 175 James M. Comley 178 Gen. Philip H. Sheridan 181 a. Sheridan's Ride 184 Rev. Father Zahm 189 Dr. Isaac Crook 188 The Oldest Woman in Perry County 191 Perry County's First Historian 192 Poem, "Beauty of Our Hills" 195 ILLUSTRATIONS. Portrait of Author Frontispiece Lidey's Rock Opposite 32 The Big Sassafras " 32 The Stone Fort " 42 The Wilson Mound " 44 The Roberts Mound " 44 Earth Works, North of Glenford " 46 Flint Implements, One-fourth Size " 48 Hematite Objects, One-third Size " 48 Ceremonials, Gorgets, Banners, Stones, etc. . " 50 Pipes Attached to Antlers of Deer " 52 An Indian Grist Mill " 52 A Scene on the Moxahala " 54 Where Ebenezer Zane is Buried " 76 A Scene in New Lexington in 1873 " 86 Peter Overmeyer " 78 Old Lutheran Cemetery at Somerset " 98 An Old Time Meeting House " 98 Bishop Fenwick Discovering a Catholic Family in Perry County " 104 The New Home in the Woods of Perry Co. ... " 76 Church at Chapel Hill " 106 Old Stone Church " 106 Madison Academy " 112 Old Salt Kettle " 112 McCuneville Salt Works " 114 Old Tobacco House " 114 Remains of a Maxville Lime Kiln " 116 An Old Time Pottery " 116 A Ghost of Departed Industry — Baird Furnace. " 118 A Model Coal Mine — Congo " 118 Coal Tipple at Congo " 86 Power House at Congo " 122 In the Corning Oil Field " 122 Monument to 31st O. V. I., New Lexington... " 124 XII ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE. Old Court House at Somerset Opposite 134 Old Court House at New Lexington " 136 Old Temple of Justice — The New Court House. " 136 Old Perry County Infirmary " 138 A Station on the Underground " 138 Stephen B. Elkins " 144 The Knight of the Pen " 146 Birthplace of MacGahan " 158 The Resting Place of Bulgaria's Liberator.... " 158 A Grubber " 174 Jeremiah Rusk " 172 Where Uncle Jerry Rusk was Born " 174 Col. W. A. Taylor " 178 Gen. James M. Comley " 180 The Hero of Cedar Creek " 182 Early Home of General Sheridan " 186 Priest and Scientist — Father Zahm " 186 Catherine Cavinee " 190 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, OHIO. Meridian Monuments. Persons visiting the New Lexington Fair have no doubt noticed the two granite monuments situated about the middle of the grounds. Some have the idea that they mark the geographical center of the county. This is not the case. The westward one was planted by Philander Binckley about thirty years ago, to cor respond to the true meridian. On account of the variation of the magnetic pole, it was found necessary in 1898 to again locate it. The County Commission ers contracted with John Avery to place the new monu ment. He planted it at the south end of the line bearing north 30 degrees, west, 627.8 feet distant from the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section No. 5, Tp. No. 15, Range No. 15. The geographical latitude is 39 degrees, 44 min utes north. The geographical longitude is 5 degrees and 1 1 minutes west from Washington. The variation of the Magnetic Meridian from the True Meridian is 28 minutes to the north. Drainage. Buckeye Lake and three rivers receive the waters of Perry county. These rivers are the Scioto, the Muskingum and the Hocking. Walnut Creek, a tribu tary of the Scioto has one of its sources in the western part of Thorn township. The Big Swamp originally discharged its waters into the Licking river, and is 2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. therefore a part of the Muskingum basin. The prin cipal stream emptying into Buckeye Lake is Honey Creek. All four of the drainage systems, as far as Perry county is concerned, have their sources in Thorn township. Walnut Creek flows toward the west. Honey Creek to the north. Jonathan or the Moxahala to the east and Rushcreek to the south. Hopewell township is drained by Jonathan and Rushcreek. Mad ison is drained by Jonathan. The principal tributaries of north Jonathan Creek are Turkey Run and Buckeye Creek in Clayton. The remainder of that township fur nishes the sources of small streams that flow into the east branch of Rushcreek or the south fork of Jona- ;than. The northeastern part of Reading is drained by Hood's Run into the Moxahala. The western part is traversed by tributaries of Rushcreek, while the east branch of Rushcreek gets the southern part. -Harrison township is mostly in the basin of the south fork of the Jonathan, as is Bearfield with the exception of the -south side where Sundaycreek has its origin. A branch of Wolfe Creek, in Morgan county also rises in the southeast of Bearfield. The east branch of Rushcreek and the south fork of the Moxahala get the waters lof Pike. Jackson has many feeders for east Rush creek. Little Mondaycreek has its beginning in "this township at the Gordon Cross Roads, where the Lex ington and Logan road crosses the old Monongahela Indian trail. Mondaycreek is aptly named. Both streams of that name receive her entire drainage. Big Mondaycreek and the west branch of Sunday- creek get Saltlick's rainfall. Big Mondaycreek has .also a tributary in Coal. Indian Creek rises in the eastern part of that township and flows into Sunday- creek over in Athens county. Pleasant throws her IIISTORV OF J'ICKRV C'OLNTY. -S \\'aters into the south fork of the Moxahala and to Sundaycreek. Monroe is entircl}- drained by the last named stream. Water Shed. The Perry County Divide extends in an irregular line from the northwest to the southeast. It begins in Thorn township separating the streams that flow into Buckeye Lake and Jonathan's Creek from Rush creek and Big Walnut. Somerset is situated on it. Passing through Clayton township it sweeps to the east toward AIcLuney. The C. & M. V. Tunnel cuts it east of New Lexington. Then turning toward the west again it completes a horse-shoe by circling south of Xew Lexington. The T. & O. C. railroad tunnels it about a mile south of the county seat. It continues westward as far as Bristol. This place occupies the summit of a ridge from wnich five streams have their sources. — Turkey Run of Rushcreek, South Fork of Jonathan, Little Mondaycreek, Big Mondaycreek and a branch of Sundaycreek. The water-shed south of Bristol turns toward the northeast, forming the ridge between the South Fork of Jonathan and Sun- da^¦creek. Passing south of Moxahala the T. & O. C. R. R. has made through it the longest tunnel in Perry county. The dividing ridge leaves the county at Porterville. It is 1 14 miles long and passes through nine townships : Thorn, Hopewell, Reading, Clayton, Harrison, Pike, Saltlick, Pleasant and Bearfield. Its average elevation is about 450 feet above Lake Erie and about 1,000 feet above sea level. 4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Elevations Above Sea Level. Feet. Corning, Depot 'i'22 jMcLuney, Depot 905 ]\loxahala. Depot 821 Xew Lexington, Depot 856 New Lexington Court House 946 New Straitsville, Depot 792 Rendville, Depot : 742 Summit LaRue's Gap, Shawnee 909 Somei^et, Court House 1 , 159 J\taxville, Lime.stone 770 Roseville, Depot 783 Gore ( near county line) 763 Monday Creek Station (on county line 689 Winona Furnace (on county line) 743 Great Coal Vein at New Straitsville 870 Buckeye Lake. Buckeye Lake, formerly known as Licking Reser voir, is the only body of water of which our county can boast. It now contains about thirty-six hundred acres. It is partly natural and partly artificial. The natural part consisted of three or four little lakes of pure clear water, well stocked with fish. Situated as it is along the line of the Terminal Moralise, there is no doubt that it is the result of the great ice sheet that came down from Canada long ago. When Christopher Gist encamped upon its shores in 175 1, he named it the Bufifalo Lick, or the Great Swamp. The first settlers, about the year 1800, found wild plums and red thorn-berries growing along its shores in profusion. The center of the original lake was quite deep with a cranberry island floating upon its surface. In the year 1825, when the Ohio Canal was dug, quite a good deal of the surrounding land was flooded IIISTOin' OF I'FRin' (111 NIV. JJ to enlarge the lake that it might become a feeder to the canal. At IMillersport is what is known as the "deep cut." It is about three miles Inng. Buckeye Lake is one of the prettiest little sheets of water in the State. Its banks are shaded with trees that bend over it, and its placid surface, glinting in the sunlight, is a pleasing contrast to the "rock ribbed" hills. Here the Isaac Waltons and the Ximrods dis port themselves and the man can leave the harass- ments of business and hie himself to this little "Touch of Nature," and lull himself into sweet forgetfulness. Geological Divisions. The great line extending throughout the State from north to south and dividing the Carboniferous from the Sub-carboniferous regions, passes in an irregular path through a portion of our county. It strikes our county near the Hopewell-Thorn boundary and its course is approximately south till it reaches the northwest corner of Jackson. Here it sweeps north, east and then south. Junction City is its east ern extremity. It then continues in a southwesterly direction leaving- the county at the southwest corner of Section i8 in Jackson township. East of this line are found the coal measures. None are found west of it. Our strata rise to the northwest at the rate of about thirty feet to the mile. It follows then that rock Iving three hundred feet beneath the surface at a given elevation in the southeast of the county, would appear on the surface, at the same elevation, ten miles northwest. For example, McCuneville and Maxville have approximately the same altitude. At M;Cuneville the Sub-carboniferous or Maxville lime- b HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTS'. Stone, is one hundred and ten feet beneath the creek bed. At Maxville the lime appears in the bed of the creek. • The Sub-carboniferous lime as its name implies underlies all our coal measures. When the Maxville lime makes its appearance on the tops of the hills, it is useless to look for coal there. So, the line we have described, theoretically marks the out-crop of the Sub- carboniferous lime on the tops of our hills. ( See Map.) Drift Region. Our county may also be divided into two other geological divisions, viz : the Glaciated or Drift Re gion and the Non-glaciated. North of the Great Lakes is the Laurentian Highland. This highland was once a lofty range of mountains. It was then, with them, just as it is with high mountains today. On their snow-capped summits, ice was formed and it pitched in frightful avalanches to the valleys below, carrying with it masses of rock, from their deep scarred sides. Glaciers, or river-like fields of ice were thus pushed out further and further toward the southland, taking with them the granite, which they ground and pol ished with their tremendous weight. This vast river of ice passed, in many places over the soft bed-rock and we can yet see the grooves and scratches on its surface. The climate must have been somewhat cooler in that time, than now, or the glacial sheet could not have come so far south. But finally it reached a point where it began to melt. As it receded toward the north, it left scattered over the land, millions upon millions of tons of granite boulders, many of immense size, peb bles and earth. The pebbles and earth mixed with HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. t lime and other rock gathered in its journey, constitutes the soil in the entire "Drift Region." It is very fer tile and is known as "Till." The line marking the southern extremity of the ice region is known as the "Terminal Moraine." It ex tends in a general easterly and westerly direction throughout the United States. In Ohio its trend is northeast and southwest. This "Terminal Moraine" passes through Perry county. In Thorn township can' be found evidences of the ice. The boulders or "nig ger heads" can be found lying promiscuously about. The fertility of its soil is dependent upon the "till," which is often found to be 90 feet in thickness. It is a coincidence that the "Terminal Moraine" in Perry county is practically the same line that divides the Carboniferous from the Sub-carboniferous areas. (See Map.) There are some exceptions and these have been designated as "drift loops." (See Map), These "loops" may have been caused by subsequent erosion and drifting of streams. There is no doubt but that our streams have not always had the same course that they have now. The "Drift" extended much farther in Perry county than most people sup pose. The finding of a granite boulder, weighing al most a ton, in Section 16, Jackson township occasioned some surprise. Such a rock could not have been car ried by water. This Ice Sheet scraped out the Great Lakes, to gether with the thousands of smaller ones in the north ern part of the United States. The natural part of Buckeye Lake is a remnant of the weakened power of the glacier. What a pity that the ice did not cover all of Perry county. Its fertility throughout would then have been equal to Thorn township. O HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Lake Ohio. Prof. G. Frederick Wright, Oberlin, O., who has obtained a world-wide reputation, as authority on gla cial phenomena, says that at one time, when the ice began breaking, it formed a dam at Cincinnati, to the height of about 550 feet. This would cause the water to back up the trough of the Ohio and its tributaries, to the height of the dam. It is estimated that this dam covered an area of 20,000 square miles. During the summer months the dam would break and the floods would sweep down the valley with terrible velocity. It is interesting to note that the northern tributaries of the Ohio have their sources in the glaciated region. This accounts for the presence of glacial pebbles along many of our streams, beyond the ice covered tract. There are evidences of streams that then existed and poured a vast volume of water and deposited "till" on their ancient shores. The channels of these old streams are now known as "gaps." This Lake Ohio extended into Perry county. Prof. Wright's map marks Logan as the northern limit of the lake, on the Hocking river. JudgiiiP" from this level, the lake reached to Maxville on Little Mondaycreek, to near Shawnee and McCuneville on Big Mondaycreek, and to Corning on Sundaycreek. It must have backed up a considerable distance on Jonathan's Creek, at least to the Perry county line. Pre-Glacial Drainage. By George W. DeLong. Scientists have found much evidence that the pre- glacial drainage of a large portion of the state of Ohio was very different from its present drainage. HISTORY OF PERRY COIN'TY. 9 For our present discussion we need to note only a few of these changes. There seems to be very good reasons to believe that the Muskingum river flowed from Dres den by way of Hanover, Newark, the Licking Reser voir and Thurston, and joined the Scioto north of Circleville. The Hocking river flowed north from Rock-bridge, Hocking county, and joined the Muskingum near Canal Winchester. Northern Perry county was in cluded in this pre-glacial drainage area. All the upper streams of the North Branch of the IMoxahala, including Turkey Run flowed to the north west and discharged their waters into the Muskingum at some point near the present Licking Reservoir. The South Branch of the ^loxahala, which was joined by Buckeye Creek at Darlington, flowed along the present line of the C. & M. V R. R., from that point to Zanesville, and, having joined its waters with that of the Licking river, united with the Muskingum at some point north or west of Zanesville. The differ ent branches of Rushcreek flowed approximately along their present courses and joined the Hocking near Lancaster. \Mien the great ice-sheet came down from, the north, carrying with it a large amount of drift and till, the streams described above were dammed up in their courses and lakes formed at Zanesville, in Thorn and Hopewell townships in Jerry county, and at Lan caster. The waters of the Lake at Lancaster found an out let over the low ridge at Rock-bridge and joined the southern lialf of the Hocking. The lake at Zanesville found an outlet in the low 10 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. ridg;e near the Muskingum and Morgan county lines and thus turned this stream to the south. The lake in northern Perry county found an outlet in the low ridge east of Mt. Perry and having united with Buckeye Creek at Fultonham joined the south branch at Darlington and this formed the present IMoxahala River which drains so large a portion of Perry county. The Moxahala turned to the east at Darlington and after cutting its way through the hills, joined the Muskingum some miles below Zanesville. In time the outlets of these lakes cut canons in the ridges over which they flowed and thus the lakes were drained. Terraces. We quote from Prof. G. Frederick Wright, Ober lin. "Almost without exception, the streams flowing southward from the glaciated area show marks of former floods- from fifty to a hundred feet higher than any which now occur. Gravel deposits from fifty to a hundred feet higher than the present flood plain, line the _ valley of everyone of these streams, not only where they lie in the glaciated region, but through much of their course after they have emerged from the glaciated into the unglaciated region." This can be noticed in Thorn township, along the valley of Jonathan Creek. Has anybody in Thorn township ever noticed it? It is in these terraces that the so- called palaeolithic implements have been found, which show that man lived here before the ice came. Gold is often found in these terraces. It is called "Drift Gold." Some of it was discovered along the Licking river several years ago. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 11 Rocks Of Perry County as to Structure. I. Massive Rock. As Granite. 2. Crystalline Rock. As Flint. 3. Stratified Rock. As Sandstone or Shale. 4. Fossiliferous Rock. As Limestone. 5. Sedimentary Rock. As Sandstone. 6. Conglomerate Rock. Pebbles cemented to gether. 7. Decomposed Rock. Crumbled. 8. Concretionary Rock. As kidney iron ore. i\Iassive rocks are such as have been produced from within the crust of the earth in a molten condition. Most of them consist of two or more minerals. Their chemical constituents are silica, magnesia, lime, potash, soda, magnetic iron and phospate of lime. Igneous or Eruptive, is another name for massive rocks. The granite found in the drift region, is a repre sentative of the massive rock in Perry county. Crystalline rocks are those that are formed mainly by chemical deposits. They are frequently found in- terstratified with other kinds. They are being formed constantly by mineral springs, or in the bottom of in land seas and lakes. The most common Crystalline rock in Perry county is Flint or Chert. Stratified Rocks are such as lie in layers one over the other. Perry county rocks are all classed among the stratified except those brought in by the ice sheet. The strata of the county lie in much the same way as they did when they were deposited on the old sea floor or the bed of the inland sea. They have not been dis turbed by orogenic agencies and the faults that may be found by borings can be accounted for, in other ways. Fossiliferous Rocks contain fossils. The word 12 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. "fossil" etymologically means "dug up." For many years it included anv mineral substance, but its mean ing is now restricted to include the remains of plants and animals preserved in rocks. Our Fossihferous Rocks are shales and limestones. Fossils are formed by the decay of animal cells and the mineral constituent taking the place of the organic matter. Our limestones are particularly fertile in fos sils. They consist of shells of various forms of sub marine life. Our shales have also an abundance of fossils. The imprint of leaves and stems of trees are especially plentiful. Sometimes the track of a bird is found. Even sandstone contains them in places. They do not occur frequently, however, as there is not suf ficient plastic material in sandstone to hold the fossil intact. The writer is the possessor of a beautiful fossil in sandrock. It contains four fern leaves. Even the midrib is plainly visible. The fossils found in the coal measures of the county are best known. Many beatitiful specimens have been discovered. Impressions of fern leaves, branches and trunks of trees, are of frequent occurrence. They are mostly to be found in the slate over the coal. In the shales that' often accompany some of the lighter coal measures of the county may be found excellent fossils of plant life. About a mile east of Junction City the writer found the fossiliferous stem of a plant, fifteen feet in length and was not able to get it all for the road workers had destroyed some of it. The Junction City High School pupils afterward found another one, a part of which they placed in their cabinet of collections. Another Perry county fossil is yet to be mentioned. But it is an alien. It was brought in by the glacial drift. Scat tered throughout the drift region, especially fn the IIlSruR\' OF PERRY COUNTY. IB northern part of the county, along the terraces of Jon athan Creek are found numerous remains of coral formations. Some of them are very beautiful, but they are mostly small fragments. Outside of the drift, the Perry county rocks are mostly sedimentary. The limestones were formed by the siftings of organic matter to the bottom of the an cient ocean. The sandstones, likewise rose from the sea, formed by the small particles of sand that settled from above. The Conglomerates consist of pebbles, cemented to gether. By silicious matter mixing with them and by pressure, they were crowded into a compact mass. Conglomerates are found in abundance south of Glen ford at the Old Stone Fort. The geologist Heilprin tells an interesting story of how a friend of his, an old sea captain, had sent him a bolt, that had no doubt come from a wrecked vessel. The bolt having been buried in the sand, the rust from the iron acted as a cement to the small pebbles about it. A sheath of pebbles was thus formed and the bolt could be slipped in and out of its pebbly sheath with ease. This explains the process of making conglom erates, or "pudding stone" as it is sometimes calledi Decomposed Rocks. — All our rocks are to a great er or less extent decomposed. The process of decom- jK)sition is constantly going on. The mechanical action of water, the alternate contraction and expansion of particles of rock, and the work of the frost, are the silent laborers in the disintegration of the rock masses. The presence of iron in a great many of our native rocks is one of the surest methods of decomposition. The oxidation of iron in the sand rocks and shales of Perry county has done as much in tearing down its 14 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. hills after the water had exposed their sides, as any, other agency. Some of our rocks were never solid ; especially is this true of the shales. They, con taining little or no sand, had not sufficient weight in themselves to become compact. Containing very little plastic material that could cement them, they are very easily eroded. They are altogether of the nature of decayed wood. In Pleasant, Bearfield and Monroe townships, especially in the latter, we find quite a num ber of hills that are capped with shale deposits. Some times we find on ridges, the remnants of these old shale beds standing out by themselves. All has- been eroded except a small part which may easily be mis taken for an artificial earthwork. Concretions are plentiful among the sedimentary rocks. The Concretionary Rocks of Perry county are mostly of the iron ore variety, although concretions of clay and limestone may also be found. These forma tions were caused by the collection of a mineral around a center. They assume different shapes, usually spher ical or elliptical. They are dispersed irregularly through other strata. Ferruginous or iron nodules are frequently found in clay. They form quite often about some organic body, such as a fragment of plant, shell or bone. The writer, accompanied by his pupils, on a Geological Field Day, found an excellent specimen of iron nodule. about a mile south of Junction City. In the bed of a stream was found a stratum of pure clay or soapstone, The appearance of a circular rock of a different color, upon the surface of the white stone attracted instant attention. The clay stone being soft, it was an easy matter to remove it from the concretion, for such it proved to be. Upon removal it was found to be some HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 15 six inches long, about two and one-half inches in dia meter at one end, gradually tapering toward the other The center of it looked like the heart of a tree. The conclusion was that when the clay stone was softer, a branch of wood lodged in it. As the wood decayed, particles of iron, percolating through the soap stone would take the place of the wood cells, until finally the iron had completely substituted itself. It was in real ity an iron fossil. W^e were further convinced of the truth of our conclusion by finding a six-inch vein of the purest iron ore in the bank about three feet above the clay stratum. These iron concretions are some times known as "kidney ore" from their shape. Upon breaking them open, a hollow center is found, usually containing a little clay dust. In these cases the center around which the concretions were made, has decayed, and as they are formed by building layer upon layer from the outside, the original becomes a cavity. The iron nodule referred to above was not formed that way. It built toward the center. The incasement of the wood by the clay prevented the concentric layers from being laid upon it from the outside. The bark of the wood would decay first. Its cells would be filled by the iron. The ferruginous material, always being present, would enter the wood from above. The harder center decayed more slowly and only the finer particles of iron could find lodgment there and conse quently the branch of the tree was almost perfectly reproduced. 16 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Vertical Section of Rocks of Perry County. 2. Glacial Drift. I. Carboniferous. 6. Upper Barren Coal Measures. Upper Productive Coal Measures. Lower Barren Coal ^Measures. Lower Productive Coal Measures Conglomerate Series. Subcarboniferous Limestone. Vertical Section of Sub-Strata at New Lexington Depot. Alluvial, i6 feet. Black Flint, 16-3.5. Black Clay, 19.5-3.5. Limestone, 23-10. White Clay, 33-92. White Sand, 125-15. Black Shale, 140-100. Sand, 240-12. Shale, 252-38. Sand, Salt, Course, 290-55. White sand, fine, 345-200. Gray sand, medium, 545-5. Shale, 550-300. Brown shale, 850-33. Berea sand, 883-28. Bedford shale, 911. (Courtesy, E. W. Dean). Section of Strata at Moxahala. 42. Coal. {7a). 41. Fire clay and shale. 40. Limestone. HIS TORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 17 39. Sandy shale. 38. Limestone. 37. Fire clay, shale and iron. 36. Sand rock. 35. Fire clay.- 34. Sand rock. 33_. Shale. 32. Iron ore (Iron Point). 31 Fire clay. 30. Sand rock. 29. Shale iron ore. 28. Coal (Stallsmith) (Upper Freeport) (6 and 7). 27. Fire clay (Upper Freeport or Bolivar clay). 26. Sand rock. 25. Iron ore ("Sour Apple"), Limestone shales, (Upper Freeport or Buchtel Ore). 24. Coal (Norris) (6a) (Lower Freeport). 23. Fire clay with iron ore (Lower Freeport Limestone). 22. Sand rock. 21. White shale. 20. Sand rock. 19. Shale, with ore (Lower Freeport Sandstone). 18. Coal, Great Vein (Middle (Upper) Kit- tanning) (Upper New Lexington). 17. Fire clay and sand rock. 16. Iron ore (Phosphorous Ore of Hamden Furnace) . 15. Sandy shale. 14. Fire clay. 13. Coal, "Lower Moxahala" (No. 5) (Lower New Lexington). 2 H. p. c. 18 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 12. Fire clay and sand rock (Kittanning sand stone and clay). II. Ore (Ferriferous Limestone) (Baird Ore). lo. Sandy shale. 9. Fire clay. 8. Sandy shale. 7. Sand rock. 6. Shale. 5. Coal. 4. Sandstone and shale. 3. Cherty limestone and coal. 2. Sandstone and shale. I. Coal. The Vertical Distance through which these strata pass is about 350 feet. — Ohio Geological Report. {The parentheses are the authors). Section of Rock at McCuneville. t Including Surface Horizons and the Strata Disclosed by Borings for Salt.) 18. Shales and sandstones. 17. Iron ore. 16. Sandy shale. 15. Limestone capped with ore. 14. Sandy shale. 13. Coal. 12. Sandstone and shale. II. Coal. 10. Shale and sandstone. 9. Coal No. 6, Great Vein (Middle (Upper) Kittanning) (Upper New Lexington). 8. Shales with iron ore. 7. Coal with ore below. 6. Sandy shale or sandstone. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 19 5- Shell ore 10 feet below coal. 4- Iron ore. 3- Coal. 2_ Shales and sandstone. I. Coal. O. Blue limestone with ore. I. Shales. 2. Coal. 3- Shales. 4- Coal. 5- Sandy Shales. 6. Maxville Limestone. 7- Sandstone and shale, with salt water. 8. Shale. 9- Black Shale. 10. White sandstone. II. Salt water in Waverly Sandstone. 12. Red shale. 13- Gray sand-rock. U- Dark shale. 15- Hard shale. The Vertical Section of Surface Horizons is about 300 feet. The depths of the wells were about 900 feet. The Maxville Limestone is no feet, below the surface. The Great Coal Vein is 150 feet above the surtace of wells . — Ohio Geological Report. Generalized Section of Perry County Strata. 43. Fresh Water Limestone (Ferrell's. Hill). 42. Ames Limestone — Found on tops of hills in Bearfield and Monroe. 41. Ewing Limestone or iron ore. 20 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 40. Patriot Coal. 39. Cambridge Limestone — on the hill above Crooksville . 38. Upper Mahoning Sandstone. 37. Coal (No. ya) — traceable on tops of hills in eastern part of county (Mahoning Coal). 36. Mahoning sandstone and shale. 35. Iron Point Ore. 34. Shales. 33. Upper Freeport Coal (Stallsmith) (Workable at Hamburg) (No. 7). 32. Upper Freeport or Bolivar Clay. 31. Upper Freeport Limestone or Buchtel Ore. (Shawnee), (Sour Apple). 30. Lower Freeport Coal (6a) (Norris). 29. Lower Freeport Limestone. 28. Lower Freeport Sandstone. 27. Middle (Upper) Kittanning— Great Coal Vein — Upper New Lexington — No. 6. 26. Fire Clay and Sand rock. 25. Phosphorous Ore of Hamden Furnace. 24. Sand Shale. 23. Lower Kittanning Coal (No. 5) (Lower New Lexington) (Lower Moxahala) (Mined at Redfield). 22. Kittanning Clay and Sandrock. 21. Ore (Ferriferous Limestone) (Baird Ore) (Clarion Coal, sometimes wanting) (40). 20. Shales and Clay. 19. Putnam Hill Limestone (Flint Beds at New Lexington ) . 18. Brookville Coal (Tracings found in drill ing) (4)- 17. Shale and Clay. HISTORY OF |¦|•;RR^• COUNTY. 21 16. Tionesta Coal ( Cannel Coal of Monday creek). 15. Tionesta Clay (Worked at Roseville). 14. L'pper Mercer Ore and Limestone. 13. L'pper Mercer Coal (3a). 12. L^pper Mercer Clay. II. Sandstone or Shale. 10. Lower fiercer Ore and Limestone. 9. Lower INIercer Coal (Seen on hill at Junction City) (3). 8. Lower Mercer Clay. 7. Block Ore of Junction City. 6. ^lassilon Sandstone and Shale. 5. Ouakertown Coal (Found in Mondaycreek north of Maxville). 4, Sandstone, 3. Sharon Coal. 2. Conglomerate. . I. Sub-Carboniferous Limestone (Maxville). (Courtesy, S. W. Pasco). Limestones. The geological basis of Perry county is the Sub- carboniferous or Maxville Lime. The geological apex is the .\me3 Limestone that is found on the tops of the hills in Bearfield and Monroe townships. In all, our county carries six principal limestones. In the order of their ascending scale they are : I. The iMaxville (white). 2. Zoar (blue). 3. Hanging Rock (gray). 4. Shawnee (buflf). 5. Cambridge (black). 6. Ames (crinoidal). 22 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. There are several accessory seams but they are un important. But little is known of the Maxville Lime. It shows in but a few isolated patches, and its appearance is varied in the different exposures. The Maxville ex posure, however, is the most characteristic. It is of a white or lig-ht drab color, very fine grained and breaks with a conchoidal fracture, which makes it valuable for lithographic stone. It contains ninety per cent. carbonate of lime and can therefore be utilized for plaster and furnace flux. It is a stratum of about ten feet and lies exposed in the bed of the creek. It has been used for plastering purposes for over half a cent ury. (See Lime Kilns). When Baird Furnace was built, the lime from Max ville was hauled a distance of three miles, where it was used as flux for the furnace. The Maxville deposit is not rich in fossils, but when found they are usually very fine specimens. The sub-carboniferous Lime has also been quarried in Reading township near the Mays- ville pike. It is also found at Fultonham. LIST OF FOSSILS FROM THE MAXVILLE LIMESTONE. I. Zaphrentis. A small, undetermined, curved, conical species. 2. Scaphiocrinus decadactylus. 3. Productus pileiformis. 4. Productus elegans. 5. Chonetes. Undetermined species. 6. Athyris subquadrata. 7. Athyris trinuclea. 8. Spirifer (Martinia) contractus. 9. Spirifer. Undetermined fragments of perhaps two species. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 23 lo. Terebratula. An undetermined, small, oval species, showing the fine punctures under a lens. II. Aviculopecten. Undetermined species. 12. Allorisma. Undetermined fragments, appar ently like A. antiqua. 13. Naticopsis. A small undetermined species. 14. Straparollus perspectivus. 15. Bellerophon sublsevis. 16. Pleurotomaria. A small, undetermined cast. 17. Nautilus. A small, undetermined, compressed, discoidal species, with very narrow periphery trun cated. 18. Nautilus. A large, sub-discoid, undetermined species, with an open umbilicus, and only slightly em bracing volutions, that are somewhat wider trans versely than dorso-ventrally, and provided with a row of obscure nodes around, near the middle of each side. The writer, in company with Supt. DeLong, in the summer of 1901, found an excellent specimen of the last named fossil, at Maxville. About a hundred feet above the Maxville stratum is the very persistent horizon of the Zoar or the Blue Limestone. It has an average thickness of about three feet. It is not so compact as is that at Maxville and it weathers readily. It is of no use as a building stone and it is so rich in silica, that it cannot be utilized for furnace flux. In fact its sihcious tendency is often so great that it is known as flint. It is highly fossilifer ous and carries with it a great amount of iron. Where the iron predominates it has been mined for iron ore. This was the case at Junction City, where it was known as "block-ore." Its horizon is in the valley below Baird Furnace, from where it was first taken for flux. As it 24 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. proved a failure for that purpose, it was subsequently mined as block-ore and its iron extracted. The Hanging Rock or Gray Limestone is found throughout the southern part of the county, at least as far north as Bristol. Throughout the remainder, ot the county, it is represented by the Putnam Hill Limestone, which is quarried at New Lexington under the name of Flint or Chert. This lime is highly fer riferous, and in many places is known as iron ore. Where it appears as such it has been designated as the Baird Ore and it is what was used at Baird Furnace and at others of the smelting works near the Perry county line. It lies about one hundred and ten feet above the Zoar Lime and is quite persistent. We find its horizon at McCuneville where it is denominated "bastard lime." Something over a hundred feet above the Gray Limestone we find the Buff, Shawnee or Upper Free- port. It is rich in carbon and was therefore used as a flux in the Shawnee furnaces. It is only a few feet in thickness,' is non-fossiliferous, and carries several accessory seams which are better known as iron ores. The Cambridge Limestone is a fossiliferous stra tum of about two feet. It is often known as flint and this is especially true in our county. It is found in the eastern townships and its most westward outcrop is north of Rehoboth in Clayton township. It was this lime that was used in paving the streets of Crooksville. The Ames Limestone almost misses Perry county. In the extreme eastern part we find it only on the very tops of the highest hills. It is highly fossiliferous, consisting mostly of crinoid stems. It is from this fact that it is called by geologists "crinoidal lime stone." HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 26 Iron Ores. With the exception of the Ames Limestone, each of the six strata mentioned in the foregoing, carries with it an iron ore. In fact iron often substitutes itself for the lime. There are, however, some other seams of iron ore in the county, since we have not less than fourteen well recognized strata. The first one we find in the scale is at Maxville, where it lies over the Sub-carboniferous Lime. The same stratum can be found in the same relative posi tion in Reading and }iIadison townships. This ore is known as the Maxville Block. Lying about fifteen feet below the Zoar Limestone is found the Lower Main Block Ore. This was mined extensively at Junction City. Just over the Zoar Limestone is a seam that is always present but at times so thin that it is not work able. It is the most widely distributed ore of the Hanging Rock District. Its name is the Main Block Ore. About thirty feet above the latter can be found a valueless vein in the most of our hills. It is sometimes called the Rough Block Ore. I'rom ten to twenty feet above the last named, an other Block Ore occurs. It is carried by the Gore Limestone, an accessory of the Zoar. We find this seam in the extreme south of the county. At Mc Cuneville the lime with it is almost an ore in itself, since it contains twenty per cent metallic iron. Thirty feet higher in the scale, in the south of the county, is the vein that corresponds to the Putnam Hill Limestone at New Lexington. At the latter place 26 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. about ten feet below the Lime is a kidney ore which is its accessory. The next vein is the Limestone Kidney Ore. It can be found at McCuneville in connection with a lime, wnence its name. The most important of all our ores comes next. It rests upon the Hanging Rock Limestone. It is bet ter known, however, as the Baird Ore. It was the one most generally used, since at one time, more than sixty furnaces in southern Ohio utilized it. Above this is the Black Kidney which is not always present. It occurs in patches and is of little value in our county. Passing above the Great Coal Seam and closely connected with the Norris Lime is an ore by the same name. Thirty feet in ascent brings us to the ore invested with the Shawnee Limestone. It has been mined extensively at New Straitsville, and has received its name therefrom. The Sour Apple Ore received a Perry County ap pellation because of the presence of an apple tree near its outcrop in the neighborhood of Moxahala. It was laden with luscious looking fruit, but the members of the Geological Survey were somewhat disappointed when they tested it. The greatest of all our ore deposits is the one that lies about one hundred and fifteen feet above the Great Coal Seam. Its general name is the Black Band. It is locally named the Iron Point or the Bowman Hill Ore. It was mined at Bristol, Moxahala, and also on the Hone farm east of New Lexington. Its aver age thickness was found to be from three to five feet. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 27 In many places it showed a frontage of seven and eight feet. There are a few unimportant strata in connection with the Cambridge Lime. They are for the most part valueless in our county. Coals. The lowest coal measure in our county is the Sharon, overlying the conglomerate of the Sub-car boniferous Limestone. Its outcrop can be seen in the bed of Mondaycreek, northeast of Maxville. It is usu ally a thin vein but in Section 14, Hopewell township, there is a small area that can be mined. It must be remembered that the Maxville Limestone can be seen topping the hill above Glenford on the farm of Plum Reed. The Quakertown is the next seam in the ascending scale. It lies about fifty feet above the Sharon and is very thin. It can be seen in the ravines of western Mondaycreek and Jackson townships. At times it has been found to be two feet in thickness and farmers have quarried it. Connected with the Lower Mercer Limestone is a thin stratum of coal which has received the same name. It is less than a foot thick. Above this is the Upper Mercer which is known in many places as the "16-inch vein." The Tionesta Coal (3b) is found on Coalbrook in Mondavcreek where it has been known for years as Cannel Coal. It is rich in oil and has a thickness of two feet. The outcrops of this coal are also found throughout southern Jackson. Twenty feet above the Putnam Hill Limestone is a vein often wanting. It is from eighteen to twenty-two 28 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. inches thick and of a good quality. In the clay bank at the New Lexington Brick Plant and several miles north of this point the horizon is plainly shown. It lies beneath the Ferriferous or Baird Ore. In the ore diggings in Mondaycreek it was often found. We now come to the workable coal measures. The Lower Kittanning may be considered the base of such coals. It is known by different names — No. 5, Lower New Lexington, and Lower Moxahala. It has been mined at New Lexington and is now mined at Nugent- ville and Redfield. At Bristol Tunnel it was worked in the same hill with the No. 6 above it, and was loaded over the same tipples. It is about four feet thick and is a valuable steam coal. The most general coal and the one most valuable is the Great Coal Vein or Middle (Upper) Kittanning. This is the seam mined at Shawnee, New Straitsville, Congo and Baird Furnace, where its thickness is from ten to fourteen feet. At Dicksonton, McCuneville, McLuney and along the C, S. & H. R. R. in Bearfield township it is only about four feet. It is known too as the Upper New Lexington. In many places, about fifty feet above the Great Vein, is often found the mere tracings of a seam. It is the Lower Freeport or 6a. In Perry county it is locally known as the Norris Coal, because it was for merly mined at Millertown by a man of that name. It often reaches a maximum thickness of six feet but it usually is much less. The Upper Freeport Coal is not known in the western or northern part O'f the county^ It is a seam of about five feet and is mined at Hamburg. Its local name is the Stallsmith. Its rank in the series of coals is No. 7. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 29 On the tops of the hills in the southeastern part of the count}- is often noticed a thin streaking of coal "blossom." It is the horizon of Coal No. "ja. This is the highest of the coal strata in the county. This seam was once mined near Chapel Hill under the name of the "patriot coal.'' Buried Channels. The Ohio strata of rocks are usually persistent. There have been no orological convulsions to twist the strata from where they were originally deposited. The general dip to the south east is regular. Any departure from the established method is apt to cause consider able conjecture. Borings for coal have revealed the fact that often it is absent or very thin. The cause of this is, in many cases, the presence of an ancient chan nel, now buried under the silt of subsequent ages. When the water poured through these channels, just after the Carboniferous Age, it eroded through the coal measure and carried it away, just as our streams are doing to-day. In the course of time these chan nels were filled with gravel and sand — by the setting back of the water in them and the stopping of their currents. All through southern Ohio there is ample evidence of these ancient water courses, showing that they are continuous and connected, forming a system of drainage. The Muskingum River runs in a great measure over such a buried channel. This has been discovered by building dams in the river. Our county has such a water course. The diagram on the map shows its approximate course, without its tributaries. Many tracts of land where coal was supposed to exist have been found to be utterly destitute of that mineral. The miners at the Congo mine frequently find that the 30 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. coal is absent. We are thus able to follow the devious windings of this ancient stream, that plowed its way through the strata, when old Mother Earth was some what younger than now. Clays. Clay is the product of the decomposition of felspar through the agency of the atmosphere. There are two classes of clays and both are represented in our county, .viz: clays proper, and shales. All shale becomes clay when moistened. Soap-stone is a clay stone and slate is only a harder variety of the same substance. As to varieties, clays may be divided into Fire Clay, Potters Clay and Brick Clay. There are no less than a dozen well recognized strata of clays in Perry county, all of which are workable. All varieties are repre sented. Their relative positions may be seen by ex amining the vertical sections of horizons in different parts of the county. Many of these seams are of great thickness and the supply is inexhaustible. Petroleunn and Gas. The Oil and Gas field is in the Townships of Monroe, Pleasant and Bearfield. The surface of this territory lies in the Lower Productive and Lower Bar ren Coal Measures. As has been stated in previous topics, the Ames Limestone has its horison on the tops of the hills. The Sundaycreek valley, which is the deepest in the neighborhood, cuts its way through the Great Coal Vein north of Corning. Corning, itself, is at the level of the Upper Freeport Coal. The oil is found in the Berea sand, which has been found to have an average thickness of about 30 feet. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 31 Through the courtesy of Mr. Geo. DeLong, the fol lowing "log" of a well drilled on his lot in Corning is given. The top of the well lies at the base of the Mahoning Sandstone. The elevation is practically the same as given for the Corning Depot. (See ele vations ) . Thickness Total of Stratum. Thickness. Feet. Feet Shale 25 25 Bastard Lime 15 40 Sand 10 50 Coal (No. 6) 10 60 White Slate 65 125 Sand .- 15 140 White Slate 25 165 Blue 10 175 Sand 10 185 Slate 50 235 Shale 35 270 Sand 30 300 Black Shale 10 310 Lime 25 335 Shale with Concretions 100 435 Slate 25 460 Limestone (?) 30 490 Shale 35 525 Salt Sand 30 555 White Slate 100 655 Slate and Concretions 2.5 680 Shale 15 695 Little salt sand 20 715 White slate 100 815 Slate and Concretions 100 915 Brown Shale 40 955 Black Shale 38 993 Top Berea 993 Bottom of Berea 1,008 32 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. The Berea sand is of a Hght gray color, fine grained, and usually a pure quartz. The "pay streak" or the part ^containing the oil and gas ranges in thick ness from 3 to 8 feet. The wells are cased through the salt sand at a depth of about 555 feet. The amount of salt water found in the Corning field, especially in the eastern part, is wonderful. It seems to have some effect on the gas pressure. The western part of~the field, in the vicinity of Oakfield, is practically free from salt water. Here is where the strongest gas poducing wells are. Near Junction City has been bored the deepest well in the county. It reached the Clinton Limestone at a depth of 3090 feet. It is in the Clinton rock that gas is found in the Sugar Grove field. The fol lowing is the approximate depth and thickness of the various strata. Feet. To the Berea sand >^26 Thickness of the Berea, to the shale 40 Thickness of sahle to the Niagara 1,154 Thickness of Niagara to Shale 930 Shickness of shale to Clinton 140 The Clinton is about 30 feet thick. A small amount of oil was found in this rock. Saltlicks. Our county is. moderately well supplied with Salt licks. The largest and best known is the one at Mc Cuneville. Near Baird Furnace, 'in Mondaycreek, on Salt Creek, is another one, but it is small. At the "Lick School House" in Clayton is another. Likewise there is one in Harrison. Several smaller ones are to be found in various parts of the county. Salt water is found in abundance in all of our oil and gas wells. LIDEY'S ROCKS. THE BIG SASSAFRAS. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 33 Lidey's Rock. .\mong the bits of Natural scenery in our county is Lidey's Rocks, in southern Reading township. The wildness and picturesqueness of the scene is in sharp contrast to the surrounding country. Here a small stream has eroded the rocks in such a way as to give a person a very good idea of how the' water can chisel in minature, thousands of fantastic forms. These rocks served at one time as a shelter for hunting parties of Indians. Under one of the ledges of rock can yet be seen the mortar in which they cracked their hominy. This locality is now a favorite resort for picnic parties. The High Rocks. Near the Old Stone Fort at Glenford, is quite a beautiful example of the erosive power of water. The rocks here belong to the conglomerate series that over lies the Sub-carboniferous or Maxville Limestone. At this place the water has eroded the softer portions away and has left standing tall. Titanic-like pillars that are at least seventy feet in height. The cause ways between these masses of rock wind about in devious ways and thereby lend to the enchantment of the place. These rocks are seldom visited, but they deserve more attention, for in many ways they surpass Lidey's Rocks. The Bear Dens. In southern Jackson township are the Bear Dens. The mass of sand rock has been left here in a miscel laneously confused heap. There is beneath one of these rocks, a narrow opening which leads to a series 3 H. p. c. 34 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. of large chambers. It is asserted by old settlers that it was once the haunt of numerous bears when Bruin was monarch of the Perry county woods and wan dered through its mazes in search of mast and wild honey. Why Rushcreek Bottonn is so Flat. In going from New Lexington toward Bremen, one can not help but notice how near to the tops of the hills Rushcreek is. On either side of this valley, the creeks have cut their channels much deeper. Lower Rushcreek is especially flat and marshy, while its en tire course is subject to frequent inundations. The reason of this is apparent when we examine the soil , between Junction City and Bremen. The soil of bottom lands is always the same as that •of the hills, lining either side. Such is not the case with Rushcreek. This soil is that of the neighborhood between Rushville and Pleasantville. It accordingly contains considerable "till" and other "drift" materi- -als. At Rushville, Big Rushcreek "rushes" through a break in the hill which it has made. The narrow pass- :age would cause the water to run swifter at this place. IReaching the flat territory, just south of this "break," the water would spread in every direction. Little Rushcreek would consequently receive a considerable share of this back-water, with its accompanying silt. The water then subsiding very slowly would leave the detritus behind. In this way it is estimated that lower Rushcreek valley was filled to a height of sixty feet. HISTORY OF PERRN- COUNTY, The Mastodon. The fact that the remains of many Mastodons have been found in Ohio, leads us to the opinion that Perry county must have known about these immense moun tains of flesh. After the Ice Age, a dense growth of vegetation sprang up. The Mastodon being herbiv- brous would naturally seek for places where food was abundant. Northern Perry would be of especial value to him. The land was swampy ; the vegetation was of quick growth, thus making it toothsome. It is in such places that the remains have been found. We may be sure that one of his kind once browsed in Thorn township, near the Big Swamp. Parts of his skeleton have been found along Jonathan's Creek. Eleven of his teeth, weighing from ten to seventeen pounds each, adorn the private museums of their find ers. A part of a rib, measuring about forty inches has been picked up in the alluvial plain of the Moxahala. As the stream changes its course, other parts of the frame of this ancient Perry county citizen may be unearthed. Since the above was written, the author has learned that the tooth of one of these mammoth creatures was picked up in the neighborhood of Chapel Hill. Birds of Perry County. I. Black Throated Loon — Gavia arcticus. 2. American Merganser — Merganser Ameri- canus. 3. Hooded Merganser — Lophodytes cucullatus. 4. Mallard — Anus boschas. 5. Black Duck — Anas obscura. ot) HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 6. Gadwell — Chaulelasmus strepera. 7. Baldpate — Mareca americana. 8. Green-winged Teal — Nettion carolinensis. 9. Blue-winged Teal — Qurquedula discors. 10. Cinnamon Teal — Qurquedula cynoptera. II. Shoveller — Spatula clypeata. 12. Pintail — Dafila acuta. 13. Wood Duck — Aix Sponsa. 14. Redhead — Aythya americana. 15. Canvas Back — Aythya vallisneria. 16. American Scaup Duck — Aythya marila. 17. Lesser Scaup Duck — Aythya afifinis. 18. Ring-necked Duck — Aythya collaris. 19. American Golden-eye — Clangula americana. 20. Barrows' Golden-eye — Clangula islandica. 21. Buffle-head — Charitonetta albeola. 22. Ruddy Duck — Erasmatura j-amaicensis: 23. Lesser Snow Goose — Chen hyperborea. 24. Greater Snow Goose — Chen hyperborea ni valis. 25. Blue Goose — Chen caerulescens. 26. American White-fronted Goose — Anser albi- frons gambeli. 27. Canada Goose — Branta Canadensis. 28. Brant — Branta bernicla. 29. Sandhill Crane — Grus mexicana. 30. Virginia Rail — Rallus virginianus. 31. American woodcock — Philohela minor. 32. Wilson's Snipe — Gallinago delicata. 33. American Golden-plover — Charadrius do- minicus. 34. Kildeer — Aegialitis vocifera. 35. Bob-white — Colinus virginianus. 36. Ruffled Grouse — Bonasa umbellus. HISTORY OF PERR^' COUNTY. 37 2,~. Wild Turkey — Meleagrisgall opavo fera, 38. Mourning Dove — Zenaidura macroura. 39. Turkey V ulture — Cathartes aura. 40. Marsh Hawk — Circus hudsonius. 41. Red-Tailed Hawk — Buteo borealis. 42. Broad-winged Hawk — Buteo platypterus. 43. Pigeon Hawk — Falco Columbarius. 44. American Sparrow Hawj< — Falco sparverius. 45. American Barn Owl — Strix pratincola. 46. American Coot — Fulica americana. 48. Short-eared Owl — Asio accipitrinus. 49. Screech Owl — Megascops asio. 50. Great Horned Owl — Bubo virginianus. 51. Snowy Owl — Nyctea nyctea. 52. Black-billed Cuckoo — Coccyzus erythroph- thalmus. 53. Belted Kinefisher — Ceryle alcyon. 54. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — Sphyrapicus va- rius. 55. Red-headed Woodpecker — IMelanerpes ery- throcephalus. 56. Northern Flicker — Colaptus auratus luteus. 57. Whip-poor-will — Antrostomus vociferus. 58. Nighthawk — Chordeiles virginianus. 59. Chimney Swift — Chaetura pelagica. 60. Ruby-throated Hummingbird — Trochilus co- lubris. 61. Kingbird -^ Tyrannus tyrannus. 62. Crested Flycatcher — Myiarchus crinitus. 63. Blue Jay — Cyanocitta cristata. 64. American Crow — Corvus americanus. 65. Bobolink — Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 66. Cowbird — Molothrus ater. 38 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 67. Yellow-headed Blackbird — Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. 68. Red-winged Blackbird — Agelaius phoeniceus. 69. Meadowlark — Sturnella magna. 70. Orchard Oriole — Icterus spurius. 71. Baltimore Oriole — Icterus galbula. 72. Rusty Blackbird — Scolecophagus carolinus. 73. Purple Finch — Carpodacus purpureus. 74. American Goldfinch — Astragilinus tristis. 75. Ti'ee Sparrow — Spizella monticola. 76. Swamp Sparrow — Melospiza georgiana. 77 . Cardinal — Cardinalis cardinalis, 78. Rose-breasted Grosbeak — Zamelodia ludo- viciana. 79. Scarlet Tanager — Piranga erythromelas. 80. Purple Martin — Progne subis. 81. Barn Swallow — Hirundo erythrogaster. 82. Tree Swallow — Tachycineta bicolor. 83. Bank Swallow — Clivicola riparia. 84. Water Thrush — Seiurus noveboracensis. 85. Mockingbird — mimus polyglottos. 86. Catbird — Galeoscoptes carolinensis. 87. Brown Tlirasher — Harporhynchus rufus. 88. House Wren — Troglodytes aedon. 89. Wood Thrush — Hylocichla mustelina. 90. American Robin — Merula migratoria. 91. Bluebird — Sialia sialis. 92. Ring-necked Pheasant — Phasianus torquatus. 93. English Sparrow — passer domesticus. 94. Red-bellied Woodpecker — Melanerpes Caro linus. 95. Chipping Sparrow — Spizella socialis. 96. Field Sparrow — Spizella pusilla. 97. Towhee — Pipilo erythrophthalmus. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 39 98. Indigo Bunting — Cyanospiza cyanea. 99. Red-eyed Vireo — Vireo olivaceous. 100. Yellow-throated Vireo — Vireo flavirons. loi. Blue-headed Vireo — Vireo solitarius. 102. Yellow Warbler — Dendroica maculosa. 103. Bald Eagle — Haliaectus leucocephalus. 104. Downy Woodpecker — Dryobatespubescens medianus. 105. Bronzed Crackle — Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. 106. Great Blue Heron — Ardea caerula. Green Heron. 107. Whooping Crane — Grus americana. 108. Passenger Pigeon — Ectopistes migratorius. 109. Kentucky W'arbler — Geothylpis formosa. no. White-breasted Nuthatch — Sitta carolinensis III. Tufted Titmouse — Parus bicolor. 112. Wood Pewee — Contopus virens. 113. Phoebe — Sayornis phoebe. Animals. The virgin forests of Perrj^ county afforded ample haunts for all animals characteristic of this latitude. The woods were full of them. The bear was unques tionably the undisputed monarch of the wilds, as he ambled over our hills and valleys. The panther was a close second in point of rule, as he crouched on the hmb of a giant oak, ready to spring upon the timid deer when the latter bounded through the underbrush. \\^ildcats and catamounts were plentiful. The wolf made the night hideous with his cry. The smaller ani mals, such as the fox, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon and opossum, fairly swarmed. Wild turkeys made this their feeding ground. Prairie chickens nested and brooded in the tall grass. Pigeons in countless num- 40 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. bers roosted in the tree tops and scores of varieties of olher birds twittered and sang and made gay the forest world. In the creeks whole "fleets" of ducks were convoyed by their leader, while in the dark under brush lay the deadly rattlesnake ready to sound his warning, or the copperhead to strike his fangs into the intruder. The Indian had not destroyed them all and long after the white man came they were far from being scarce. Forests. With but few exceptions the entire area of our county was covered with forests. The oak was the giant, found in every part of the county. It was then as now, the most plentiful of our trees. The oak was not a favorite among the settlers of the county, because, before the days of saw-mills, timber that could be split more easily was utilized. The tall, ar rowy poplars or tulip trees, thus came to be the prime favorite for building purposes. There v/ere "chestnut ridges'' in every township. On the low lands, the pon derous button-wood or plane-tree changed his coat twice a year. The walnut selected his habitat in the rich soil of the valleys. The shell-bark hickory annu ally cast its fruitage on the ground. Grape vines threw their trellis work from bough to bough, and each year, paid their tribute to Mother Earth. Nestled in the coves of the hills were hundreds of sugars, through whose veins was coursing the saccharine fluid that had never as yet poured forth its fountain of sweetness. The buckeye grew along the creek banks in the southern townships. Cedars bastioned the rocky hill-sides of Madison where the Moxahala cut its way toward the sea. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 41 The flora of the county was profuse. It is said that in the hills, west of Sugar Grove in Fairfield county are a greater number of plant species that can be found in any similar area in Ohio. Lying contiguous to that section, our county partakes of some of its abundance. Lily pads covered the Great Swamp, cranberries grew on its marshy banks, Jack-in-the-pulpits nodded be neath their canopies, bulrushes grew on the creek bot toms, while wild flowers bedecked the mossy ledges and sent out their "sweetness on the desert air." It was a dark, dense world, where only wild animals and wilder men could live. But through the uncounted ages, while empires and dynasties rose and fell, while men strutted about for their brief day on the stage of ancient civilization, the giants of our hills were making ready for the Pioneer's ax and the mould of the wood was gathering slowly for the plow of the Hero of the Forest, who, out of the experiences of the older times, should lay the foundations of a newer and stronger Commonwealth. The Big Sassafras. — What is said to be the larg est sassafras tree in Ohio, grows in Section 13 Pike township, near the Dean schoolhouse on the Moxahala Toad. Its shape is more that of an oak or chestnut than a sassafras, which usually grows tall and crooked. This tree has a girth of over fourteen feet. Pre-Historic Race. "As o'er the verdant waste I guide my steed, Among the high rank grass that sweeps his sides. The hollow beating of his footsteps seems A sacrilegious sound. I think of those Upon whose rest he tramples. Are they here — 42 history of PERRY COUNTY. The dead of other days ? And did the dust Of those fair solitudes once stir with life And burn with passion ? Let the mighty mounds That overlook the rivers, or that rise In the dim forest crowded with old oaks, Answer. A race, that has long since passed away. Built them; a disciplined and populous race Heaped with long toil, the earth, while yet the Greek Was hewing the Pentelicus to forms Of symmetry, and rearing on its rock The glittering Parthenon. These ample fields Nourished their harvests; here their herds were fed. When haply by their stalls the bison lowed And bowed his maned shoulder to the yoke. All day the desert murmured with their toils. Till twilight blushed and lovers walked and wooed In a forgotten language, and old tunes. From instruments of unremembered form. Upon the soft winds a voice. The red man came — The roaming hunter-tribes warlike and fierce. And the mound builders vanished from the earth." — Bayard Taylor. "Who were the Mound Builders?" This in the minds of most people has never been satisfactorily an swered except to the answerers themselves. There are many theories extant. A few are plausible ; many are superlatively nonsensical. Most of the latter are hastily built deductions, based an fragmentary evi dence. The remainder are evolved in the fertile and highly imaginative minds of theorists. The origin of the Pre-historic Race of America has been attrib uted to every nation known to ancient civilization. It has been asserted that they came from the Nile ; that these transplanted Egyptians built the mounds in the western world, in rude copy of the pyramids in the land of the Lotus. ' .''y\, /¦/ ,''/-.llll/,Vv history of PERRY COUNTY. 43 Others maintain that they were the lost Children of the tribes of Jacob. Some say they were Phcenicians ; others, Scythians; while still others are equally cer tain that they were of Welsh extraction. A''oltaire had the evolutionary idea, that it isn't necessary to believe they came from anywhere : that they were native to the soil the same as the beaver or the bison. It is not our intention to discuss any of these the ories or attempt to answer the original question. It must be said, however, that the subject of archseology is being studied more systematically than ever and that men are analyzing the subject from a scientific standpoint, and that the "relic hunter" is not now being cited as authority. It is not out of place, however, to say here, that it is being generally conceded that the mounds and earthworks left by these unknown people are not so old as was formerly believed ; that the Mound Builder and Indian do not belong to different races ; and that the Mound Builders were not such a highly civilized race as has been thought. We have been able to learn only a few of the things concerning these people. All else is conjecture. We know only, that somebody at some time built these strange works. We can only look at them and wonder. These people lived in our county. They built their mounds and fortifications. We can but describe them as we find them, then the reader can draw his own con clusions. That will be satisfactory to him at least. There are over a hundred mounds, fortifications, earthworks and village sites in Perry County. The most interesting and best known of these is the "Stone Fort" at Glenford. This fortification belongs to the class of "Hill-top Enclosures," and is the best example 44 history of perry county^ of its kind in the state. Caleb Atwater came over from Circleville about 1840 and then published a glowing description of it in the first book ever written on Ohio Archseology. Archaeologists from all over the land have visited here and the concensus of opinion is that it is one of the most wonderful of fortifications. This enclosure was evidently erected for defensive purposes. Its area is a fraction over 27 acres. It is made en tirely of stone. The pieces are of various sizes. None are larger than what can be easily carried and many are much smaller. The present condition of the walls shows only a win-row of stones. Many have been hauled away. When originally built the wall must have averaged from seven to ten feet in height. The entire length of the rampart is 6,610 feet. Within the enclosure is a stone mound, 100 feet in diameter and 12 feet high. No stones are found within the enclosure. They were evidently utilized in building the work. Whoever it was that erected this wall, certainly "knew their business." They took advantage of the natural surroundings. The hill upon which it was built is something over 200 feet above the creek level. The sides of this hill are covered with the conglomerate that overlies the sub-carboniferous limestone. This same stone composes the cap-rock of the hill. Where its stratum appears, water has eroded deep embrasures, thus forming natural passage ways. The loose stones were heaped along the edges of the solid rock, so in creasing the height. With the exception of the south eastern corner, the hill has no connection with the sur rounding hills. The top could only be reached by climbing the bluffs. At the point, or corner before mentioned, there is a narrow, depressed ridge, leading the WILSON MOU.XD. (Courtesy of Ohio ^-Archaeological and Historical Society.) THE ROBERTS MOUND. (Courtesy of Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society.) HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 45 to higher p^round, beyond. On this higher ground is the Wilson Mound, i8 feet high and covering one acre of ground. From the Wilson Mound can be seen the earth enclosure to the north and the Roberts Mound, east of Glenford. The easiest approach to the fort would have been by the Wilson ^lound. The builders, however, took the extra precaution to dig a circular moat and to build a wall to protect this point. The diameter of this moat-enclosure is about 150 feet. Good springs of water are easily reached from the fort. Characteristic flint and stone implements have been found in abundance. If this fort were built for defense there certainly were no bloody battles fought, or the cemetery would be present. At Fort Ancient in Warren County, are two burial places. — one within and one without the fort. None has ever been dis covered at the Stone Fort. The Wilson Mound, mentioned above, is one of the best in the county. It belongs to the "Platform" class of mounds. It has never been thoroughly explored. Several shafts were sunk into it and it was found that the mound was at least half stone. Many of the stones showed signs of fire. A considerable amount of ashes and red clay was found, through which were mingled scraps of bone and pieces of mica. The Roberts Mound, east of Glenford, is the larg est east of the Scioto River. This structure is 120 feet in diameter and 27 feet high. There are no trees upon it, but old settlers say that sixty-five years ago a very large white oak grew upon its crest. This mound is remarkable because a layer of large flat stones was found under the earth and lining the walls. This was for the purpose of holding the wall and preventing 46 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. wash. In this mound were found skeletons partly cremated. Just north of Glenford on a hill about loo feet in height, is a fortification and several mounds. South of the fortification is a circle enclosing a bird with wings outspread. This circle is 652 feet in circumfer ence, 31 feet wide and 4 feet high. The Gate-way, 23 feet wide, faces toward the north. The bird effigy from head to tip of tail is 48 feet ; one wing is 122 feet while the other is iii feet. The body is 20 feet wide. The total length from tip to tip is 253 feet. Excava tions were made in the bird effigy and ashes were found. The flint instruments found in the county were all made of Flint Ridge material. Nearly every knoll in the northern part of the county was a workshop. The Perry County mounds do not show the high degree ot advancement that the pre-tiistoric inhabitants of the Scioto region evinced. No copper and very little mica has ever been found in our mounds. Everything points to their Ijelonging distinctively to the stone age. At New Lexington could be seen in the flint quarries, places where these former citizens of Perry County secured and shaped the raw material. The presence of the Mound Builders in our county is shown by the following : Thorn Township has 3 circles, 22 earth mounds, i village site, i mound group, i enclosure. Hopewell, 10 mounds, 3 enclosures. Madison, 3 earth mounds. Reading, 15 earth mounds, i village site. Clayton, 4 earth mounds. Jackson, 2 earth mounds, i stone mound, i village site.' ¦"r t n HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 47 Pike, 3 earth mounds. Saltlick, I earth mound. Monroe, i earth mound, i stone mound. Mondaycreek, 3 earth mounds, i village site. Harrison, 5 earth mounds. Reference has been made to the fact that the pre historic race belonged to the Stone Age of civiliza tion. The material from which they fashioned their implements came from various sources. The "Drift Region" was amply capable of furnishing all of the granite needed for their axes, celts and gouges. The only difference between a stone axe and a celt is that the axe has a groove for fastening a split stick for a handle, while the celt has no such groove. The latter was used with the hand alone, for stripping the skins from animals or dividing bones at the joints. They were often made from hematite which could be pro cured in " southwestern Ohio or West Virginia. The pestle made from granite is a common find. It is often conical or bell-shaped, made to fit the hand. Its use is too manifest to enter into a description. Corn has been found in these mounds. We conclude, therefore, that one use of these implements was to crack that grain. Small pieces of hematite, slate and quartz are often found, with grooves cut into their edges, or in the case of slate, a hole is perforated. These were probably used as sinkers, for the Mound Builders really fished. Bone fish hooks have been found in abundance, not in our county, particularly, but in the Scioto Valley. One of the interesting productions of these people is the ceremonial stones made of slate. They are of various shapes but usually flat. They are, with but few exceptions, perforated. They are known by the dif- 48 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. ferent names of Gorgets and Banner Stones. Their purpose was evidently to be worn as amulets. Their greatest skill was manifested in the manu facture of pipes. The variety of form and decoration was endless. They were made in effigy and sy -nbolized something. The utilitarian idea was not or y looked at but the art must be good as well. Possibly the smoking was better when the aesthetic side of their na ture was appealed to. These pipes were made to rep resent human heads, human heads on the bodies of birds, the wild cat, the otter, the buzzard, the eagle,. the toad, ground hog, coiled rattlesnake, elk head, etc. The implements most commonly found in this county are the flint instruments. These consist of arrow-heads, knives, drills, etc. Flint is the generic name for different forms of silicious matter, such as chalcedony, jasper, hornstone and chert. At Flint Ridge, beds of light and dark jasper are found. Chalcedony, with various tints of blue, red, brown, yellow, white and even green and purple, is plentiftil. The manner of the mining of this was crude but ingenious. The soil was removed to the surface of the flint. In this was put a large fire. When the stone became hot, water was thrown upon it, causing it to shatter. By means of the repetition of this process and the use of hammers, the workman obtained his raw material. Bone hammers with flexible handles, and prongs of deer were then used to chip off the edges. At this they were certainly adept, when we consider the immense number that were manufactured. It is. said that a modern Apache Indian could complete an arrow in about six minutes. FLIXT IMPLEMENTS, OXE-FOURTH SIZE. (Courtesy of Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society.) HEMATITE OBJECTS, OXE-THIRD SIZE. (Courtesy of Ohio Archaeological and historical Society.) HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 49 The Children of the Forest. It goes without saying that the forests of Perry County were at one time the hunting grounds of the Indian. The lack of navigable streams, possibly de terred it from making for them a permanent home. The valleys of the Muskingum, the Scioto, the Miami and the Maumee were the chief centers of Indian popu lation. The tide of Indian warfare had at diflEerent times given this region into either the hands of the Algonquins or Iroquois. When the white man first penetrated the Ohio solitudes, he found the Shawne -.s on the banks of the Scioto, the Wyandots on the San dusky and the Delawares on the Muskingum. At a little later date, we find \A''yandots on the lower Mus kingum and on the Hock-Hocking. It seems that a portion of the Sandusky Wyandots must have crept through between the Delawares and the Shawnees and made their abode partially in southeastern Ohio. By looking at a map it will be seen that Perry County was in their pathway. The result is that several of the most important "trails" with their tributaries passed through our county. It is certain that Perry County furnished excellent hunting-grounds. Our woods were heavily timbered, our valleys and rocky caverns furnished excellent retreats for game. Our streams were^full of fish. There were wild turkeys on Turkey Run, wild pigeons at Pigeon R(X)st and bears on Bear Run. There were wild ducks at the Great Swamp, while the timid deer placidly slaked his thirst in our brooks or sought the "salt-licks" in the valleys. We can clearly see why the sombre colored native would long to linger in these "happy hunting-grounds making side excursions from the regular beaten "trail." 4 H, p. c. 60 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. They were no doubt as successful in capturing that "big" fish with a bone hook as our modern Isaac Wal tons are with the latest improved "tackle." They probably had as big stories to tell, too, when they reached home. As to shooting, our Nimrods with their Winchesters would be put to shame. Buffalo "Trails" — The first road makers in our country were the buffaloes. Their immense bodies, together with their countless numbers served to beat a path through the forest. Their routes were along the hill-tops and the water divides. The Indian, true to Nature's instinct would doubtless have selected the same course. Whether it was because the road was partially made or for another reason, we do know, that the buffalo and the Indian "trails" are practically the same. There are reasons for this selection and it ap plies with equal force to both Indian and buffalo. The summits of the divides were the driest. The winds sweeping over them usually left them bare of snow in winter. The hills were not so heavily timbered with undergrowth, and they offered excellent outlooks for an enemy. j The Monongahela Trail — Perry county was traversed by an Indian "trail," however, before the Wyandots. The principal "trail" in the county was the Monongahela of the Shawnees. The Wyandots used it later in part. It connected the Shawnee towns on the Scioto with the Monongahela Valley. It was the war path, or "through" route between the Shaw nee nation and the nearest settlement of whites, which was in south-eastern Pennsylvania. Many white cap tives were brought from Pennsylvania through Perry county, to the banks of the Scioto. This "trail" struck the Muskingum at Big Rock, followed that stream till CEREMONIALS, GORGETS, BANNER STONES, ETC. HISTORY OF PERRY COU.NTN'. .51 they came to Big Bottoms, near where the town of Stockport now is. At this place the whites built a block-house (1790). The inmates were one day sur prised and twelve persons massacred. From this place the "trail" crossed the ridges till it struck \\'olf's creek, which it followed to its source, which is at Porterville on the boundary between Perry and Morgan counties. Here it followed the "divide" be tween Jonathan and Sundayxreek and between Rush creek and ^Mondaycreek throughout the county. The road now known as the Alarietta and Lan caster is in part located on the old Monongahela Trail. Later it was known as the Wyandot Trail. The Wyandots had a village at Marietta and one at Lan caster, under the shadow of yit. Pleasant. When tl:e state surveyed the old Lancaster and Ft. Harniar Road the one made by the Shawnees and Wyandots gave them the most direct route. Shazcnee Run Trail — From this main "trail" there \\ere several subordinates or "loops" that would lead out and then gradually merge back again. Of course the object was to scour the country more completely. There was one of these tributaries that left tlie main over in ^lorgan county somewhere and reached our county in the neighborhood south of Corning, crossed Sundaycreek, went up through Monroe township following the stream known as Indian Creek A\est to its source, by way of Buckingham and Hemlock, passed through the low "gap" to Shawnee where they had a village. The stream at Shawnee is known as Shawnee Run and the town and stream stand as mon uments to the redman in Perry county. It is plain why this route was selected. At McCuneville is the old "saltlick" where deer and buffalo were wont to 52 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. go. The Indian followed them for a two-fold purpose — to capture them and to get salt for himself. From McCuneville it crossed the ridge, past where the old Stone Church now stands, till they reached Salt Run in Mondaycreek Township. Here was another "salt lick." Near the source of one of the tributaries of this creek, they had a camping-place among some rocks. The object no doubt was to be close to the "lick" that they might watch for game. At this camping-place may yet be seen their hominy-mill. In a large rock is a hole shaped like an inverted cone. Here they cracked their corn by means of rock pestles. Many a time has the writer when a boy, left the horse standing in the corn row and gone down to this ancient "grist-mill" and in imagination, peopled the little valley with Indian hunters returning from'the "lick" with deer slung across the shoulders and squaws sitting on that very rock, preparing corn for their meal of samp. After such flights it was pretty hard to get back again to the prosaic work of plowing corn. From here the trail went across the ridges to the headwaters of Little Mondaycreek, which was fol lowed to a point below where Maxville now stands. Here are yet evidences of a camping place on the farm of D. Hardy. Crossing the next ridge we find, another camp in what is known as Whiskey Hollow. Here they planted their corn and early settlers in Monday creek remembered when the Indians would come to plant and harvest their crop. From here the trace went over the ridge to one of the tributaries of Rush Creek and then for Lancaster or Tarhytown as the Indians called it. Flint Ridge Trail — This trail left the main route in the neighborhood of Porterville and struck for PIPES ATTACHED TO ANTLERS OF DEER. AN INDIAN " GRIST MILL.' HISTORY OF PERK'i- COUNTV. 53 Flint Ridge in Licking county. It is doubtful if this one touched Perry county. But it was very close to the Muskingum line. It passed through Roseville in ^lelick's Grove. It may have gone through a part of AFadison township for it followed Jonathan's Creek. At Flint Ridge it joined another trail that led from the upper Muskingun to the Scioto. Again we can see why this route was selected. Flint Ridge was the flint quarry for all of the Indians between the Alle- ghenies and the Mississippi, with but a few unim portant exceptions. Evidences can be seen of their labor on every hand. The flint of this place must have been of superior quality for arrow-making, for specimens of Flint-Ridge arrows have been found as far south as Tennessee. The flint forms the cap- rock of a hill for a distance of ten miles and almost its entire length is scarred with the trenches and pits left by the. ancient diggers. Scioto-Beaz'er Trail — Another " trail " passed through Perry county. It was the Scioto-Beaver, in the northern part, just south of Buckeye Lake. No doubt Christopher Gist on his first trip through Ohio \\ent over this trail. The townships of Thorn and Hopewell were the scenes of considerable activity among the "Children of the Forest." Stone imple ments, arrow-heads and amulets have been found in great numbers. Moxahala Trail — This trail crossed the Muskin gum at Zanesville and made its way through the coun ty, by Sego, Somerset and Rushville to Lancaster. Zane's Trace approximately followed this pathway. It was however not well defined. The Indian hunter leaving the established beat would naturally take t''.e high ridge between Jonathan and Rushcreek. It must 54 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. be regarded as a loop from the main Scioto-Beaver Trail. Jonathan's Creek or better the Moxahala was favorite grounds for the Indian hunter. The fact that it ploughs its way through limestone and offers frequent fording places, may be one reason for mak ing it the crossing of the numerous trails. The Indian name " Moxahala " means " Elk's Horn." Look at your map and see why they called it by that name. We can also see why the Jonathan of Judge Spencer's " Legend of the Moxahala " built his rude cave on this creek. The intersection of the trails afforded him excellent opportunity to wreak his vengeance for the murder of wife and little ones. The story as told by Mr. Spencer is this : A man living with his family on Otsego Lake in the east, was at tacked by the Indians. His wife and children were massacred, his house burned and he himself severely wounded. After recovering from his wounds, he set out for the west with the fire of revenge burning fiercely in his bosom. He vowed to kill every Indian he could. On the Moxahala in Madison township he built his hut among the limestones ledges and here with only his faithful dog he watched for the red man from his hiding place. He was discovered, and his tragic death is beautifully told by Mr. Spencer in the "the last conflict." The sun had set ; the crescent moon -With halo -wan had follo-wed soon ; And Moxahala shado-wed o'er By Buckeye, beech and sycamore, Flo-w'd gurgling 'neath the gloom of night; And 'tween the leaves and rippled light, Look'd, trembling, here and there a gleam Of starlight on the dimpling stream. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 56 With piercing glance and noiseless tread, Quick from his hut the hunter fled, (While Don, as stealthful, keeping nigh Glared fiercely round with savage eye) , For having crossed the woody vale, He came upon an Indian trail. And all his deadly peril felt; Well did he know the place he dwelt Was sought by Indians far and near — To wreak revenge — for many a year. The Shawnee chief had tracked the bear. At last, e'en to his hidden lair. And, stealing from the bosky glen With half a hundred ruthless men. Before 'twas his the foe to take. He mentally burned him at the stake For many a murdered warrior's sake. The red men. feeling sure the prey Was in his fastness brought to bay. Closed round the hut on every side; And some the fiery brand applied. While others, yelling, tum'd to bind The dreadful foe they sought to find. And rush'd within with tiger-bound — But, lo ! no captive there they found. Hark ! ringing on the midnight breeze Afar 'neath labyrinthian trees, A rifle shriek; with sulphurous breath Sending its message dire with death — The Shawnee chief with dying whoop Falls, quivering, midst the motly group. Ha ! now amazement dumb appals — A sharp report, — another falls — O pale-face Chief, away! away! Loud, fierce, resounds the deep-voiced bay Of ghoulish forms, a horrid pack. That, howling, bound upon your track With bow and spear, and gun and knife. And tomahawk to take your life ! 56 HISTORY OF' PERRY COUNTY. Away ^^ away — go, seek the cave Where oft before, your life to save, With mystery deep, you did elude The hordes that at your back pursued. Ah, hark! They come with sounding tread And whoops that echo wild and dread ! Dewy, and fragrant breath'd and pale. Came morn, with wakening voice of bird And bee, and cool leaf-stirring gale. And squirrel's chirp, mid branches heard. 'Twas on a hillside's bluffy edge, Where rocks stuck out with mossy ledge. Where wavy-scalloped ferns between The fissured rocks grew rich and green. And delicate flowers to us unknown Save — hid from man — in forests lone, Bloom'd neath the trees that, arching high. Shut out the azure summer sky. Where ivy wild and grapevines clung To drooping shrubs that overhung The lichen'd rocks and shady ground. Beneath the ledge a passage wound, That, to a cavern dark and small. Led through a jagged, narrow hall. There Jonathan the night before Escaped the Indians in his flight; He seem'd to vanish — be no more ! And they — with awe and sore affright And superstitious fancy fraught Deem'd 'twas a demon they had fought. And hied them homeward full of thought. But Jonathan lay cold and dead. The cavern-floor his rocky bed ; And on his bosom clotted o'er With oozy drops of clottish gore, A ball had left its circle red And in his back an arrow-head. With shaft prortuding, broke in two. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 57 Had proved its fatal guidance true. Yes, Jonathan, the pale-face Chief, Had found at last that sweet relief — Nepenthe for each earthly grief. And e'en o'er him one mourner kept His vigil — yea, and, haply, wept; For think not man alone can know The bliss of love, the pang of woe : — With paws upon his master's breast -\nd plaintive howl of deep unrest. His lonely dog, though all unheard. Implored a look, a loving word. And lick'd his master's cheek and hand. And seemed to vaguely understand His soul was in a happier land." The White Man's Foot — By the Treaty of Green ville in 1795 the Indians gave up their claim to the land that is now in Perry county and after the year 1800 but few were seen within our boundaries. They were then usually straggling parties who returned to their ancient hunting-grounds as if loath to leave. But the "white man's foot" had come and the days of the "children of the forest" were numbered. "I beheld, too, in that vision All the secrets of the future. Of the distant days that shall be. I beheld the westward marches Of the unknown crowded nations. All the land was full of people. Restless, struggling, toiling, striving. Speaking many tongues, yet feeling. But one heart-beat in their bosoms. In the woodlands rang their axes. Smoked their towns in all their valleys. Over all the lakes and rivers Rushed their great canoes of thunder. Then a darker, drearier vision Passed before me, vague and cloud-like; 58 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. I beheld our nations scattered. All forgetful of my counsels. Weakened, warring with each other; Saw the remnants of our people Sweeping westward, wild and woeful. Like the cloud-rack of a tempest, Like the withered leaves of autumn." The Last of his Race — It seems that the very last Indian seen in our county was killed by the white settlers, in the neighborhood of New Lexington, after that village had been laid out. He, it' appears, lingered about the place for some time, and when he left was followed by the civilized (?) white man, to the vicinity of Brier Ridge, at the T. & O. C. Tunnel, where he was shot. It might be well at this juncture to read Miss Francis' " Lone Indian " which we used to read at school out of the McGuffey Sixth Reader. Treaty of Fort Stanwix — On October 27, 1784,. a treaty was concluded, at Fort Stanwix, New York,. with the sachems and the warriors of the Mohawks, Onondagas, Senecas, Cayugas, Oneidas, and the Tus carawas. The Six Nations here ceded to the Colonial government all their claims to land in Ohio. General Lafayette was present at this treaty. Under the Banner of St. George. England claimed the whole of North America. She is never modest about her claims. She based her claim on the fact that John Cabot first discovered the conti nent. England did very little in the way of explora tion. That she thought herself the sole possessor of the New World is evidenced from the fact that the grants given to the colonies, especially Virginia, and Connecticut extended from "sea to sea." And in the case of Virginia from the wording of the charter it ex- HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 59 tended to the North Pole. It reached for two hundred miles "north and south of Point Comfort, up into the land,, throughout, from the sea to the sea, west and northwest." Connecticut was given a strip, the width of the state from "sea to sea." As has been stated France, too, claimed the same land. The First Ohio Land Company in 1748 might be said to be the immedi ate cause of the French and Indian War, which was possibly one of the best things that ever happened the colonies. It not only freed them from subsequent in fluence of French institutions but it was the school where they learned how to write the Declaration of In dependence. The battle of Quebec and the Treaty of 1763 made Perry county a part of England's Royal domain and the banner of St. George, figuratively speaking, floated over the hills and -\alle}-s in Reading, Pike and Mondaycreek. Under the Lilies of France. Did it ever occur to you that at one time the Flag of France waved over Perry County? There may never have been really a flag of that nation planted on our hill-tops, but the Lilies of France kept watch over our silent forests from where they were planted on the steeple of some mission house or over the door of a French trading station. The claim of France to this territory was based upon the fact of her explorations. While neither England nor her colonies had ever given their consent to France utilizing the rivers and trade of the vast region yet France was in actual possession of it. As "possession is nine points of the law" we must consider that at one time if there had been white people here they would have really been subjects of the French king. 60 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. France had done four things that to her mind gave her an undisputed title to the region. The first was the sending of the Jesuit missionaries who wandered through the unbroken forests, dressed in their simple garb, exploring the rivers, and building mission chapels, from whose roofs went out to the natives "The sound of the church-going bell, The valleys and rocks never heard. Never sighed at the sound of a knell. Nor smiled when a Sabbath appeared." The second was the discoveries of LaSalle. Robert LaSalle, an ambitious young Frenchman, determined to find out something about the interior of the Amer ican continent. In the year 1669 with a party of French he sailed over the waters of Lake Erie and crossing the portage of one of the three Ohio rivers that find their sources near the head waters of the streams that flow into the Lake, he descended either the Muskingum, the Scioto or the Miami and reaching the Ohio was the first white man to sail over the bosom of the Oyo, the Beautiful River. That the French based their right of ownership on the explorations of LaSalle is evidenced from the answer of the haughty commandant at Quebec to the demand carried by Washington in 1753. "We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries of LaSalle, and will not give it to the English. Our orders are to make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley." Another reason for their claim was the reiteration of their title of possession. Eighty years after the voyage of LaSalle and only thirty years before the Second Mayflower landed on the banks of the Mus kingum there floated down the Ohio a gorgeously ar- HISTORY OF PERRY Cdl -NlV. til rayed fleet of boats. From the bow of one floating to the breeze was the flag of France. The founding of the Ohio Land Company the preceding year was no doubt th.e occasion for sending out one Louis Celoron, who crossing from Canada, embarked upon the Alle gheny. Arrayed in his "pomp and circumstance," his companions clad in lace coats and doublets, he pro ceeded in solemn ceremony and much ostentation, as only a Frenchman can, to bury certain leaden plates, that would forever set at rest the real ownership of the region drained by the Ohio and her tributaries. The plate testified that in the year 1749 it was buried as a monument of the renewal of possession. "His men were drawn up in order. Louis the XV was pro claimed lord of all that region. The arms of France were stamped to a sheet of tin nailed to a tree; the plate of lead v.^as buried at the foot, and the notary of the expedition drew up a formal act of the whole proceeding." This ceremony was gone through with at W^heeling, the source of the Allegheny, the mouth of the ^lusking^m, French Creek, the Kanawha, and the Great Miami. The plates at the Muskingum and the Kanawha were afterward found — the memorials of France's dream of an Empire in the New World. The last reason for their claim was the fact that France had actual possession of the territory. A chain of forts extended from Montreal to New Orleans. Their trading stations extended along that entire route. They had spied out the land and foresaw its possibili ties in the way of trade. They never expected to col onize it. This fact alone made the Indian a firm ally. The stories of fertile valleys, of navigable streams, and interminable forests had reached the practical ear t!"2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. of the Anglo-Saxon colonists, who saw utility in quite a different light. The French could not believe that their efforts in exploration would be of such little use to them and redound only to the good of the Eng lish. They made every effort to keep it a part of their royal possessions. The defeat of Braddock gave them temporary hope for its retention, but the fall of Quebec shattered their hopes and the Lilies of France ceased to wave over the hills of Ohio. In the Province of Quebec. The colonies that had land in the West had almost as much trouble in keeping off the encroachments of Great Britain as they had of France. It was but nat ural that they should think that the French and Indian war was for the purpose of quieting the claims of the colonies over against France. In this, however, they were mistaken. England does not do things that way. They forbade the colonies to make settlements on these lands. Virginia and Pennsylvania were not inclined to obey. Parliament, therefore, to stop the encroach ments, passed what is known as the Quebec Act. This act made all the land in what is now known as the Northwest Territory a part of the territory of Quebec. Thus Perry County was a second time a part of Can ada, ruled by a Governor General. The colonists did .not like it very well and Virginia paid but little atten tion to it and never in her own mind thought that it ever belonged to anybody but herself. England's ob ject in this was to keep down the growing power of the colonies, and by having this vast region a part of Can ada, they hoped to maintain the Indians' allegiance, which they did to a certain extent. This action of HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 63 G^eorge the Third was considered of such importance that in the Declaration of Independence it was made one of the grievances. Boutetorst County. Had your great-great-grandfather left Virginia in 1770 and settled where Glenford now stands, his friends at home would have said that he had gone to live on the Moxahala in Boutetorst County. Virgfinia would not abide by the Quebec Act. The part she had taken in the French and Indian war she thought ought at least prevent her from losing her land that she obtained by charter. In 1769 her Legislature passed an "Act," placing the territory north of the Ohio and east of the Mississippi under her jurisdiction, as Boutetorst County. The next year George Washington floated down the Ohio to the mouth of the Great Kanawha to select 200,000 acres of land for his soldiers, or their widows, who had served with him in the French and Indian war. This is as near as he ever came to our county. It might be interesting to know that the Is land of Blennerhasset, famous in history and story, was a part of this tract. While Virginia had, no doubt, the better claim to this territory, yet under this "Act" her jurisdiction was only nominal, for Great Britain still claimed it a part of the Province of Quebec. It was not until 1778 that she assumed complete control. The County of Illinois in the State of Virginia. As far as Land Grants were concerned, the land that is now Perry County belonged to Virginia. The old "sea to sea" grants to Virginia certainly included our county. That was why the authorities of Virginia took such an interest in keeping the French out of the 64 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. region north of the Ohio; why the Ohio Land Com pany was formed; why Christopher Gist was sent out with the "Compass and Pen;" why Washington was sent on his first public mission, and why Virginia troops composed a part of the ill-fated army of General Braddock. It has been seen that considerable diffi culty was experienced as to who should have juris diction over the territory northwest of the Ohio. Dur ing the Revolutionary War, the land by the Quebec Act was a part of Canada. The forts were in the hands of the British. They incited the Indians against the colonists. George Rogers Clark, a Kentuckian, was sent with an army that captured the forts, drove the British beyond the Lakes, quieted the Indians and extended the control of the Commonwealth of Vir ginia, and Perry County with the rest of the territory northwest of the Ohio again became a part of the "Old Dominion" under the name of the County of Illinois. This was in October, 1778. Patrick Henry was Gov ernor of Virginia and John Todd was made Lieutenant Governor of the County of Illinois. First White Man in Perry County. In 1748 a company was formed in Virginia, entitled The Ohio Land Company. The object was to survey the lands and establish English Colonies beyond the Alleghenies. They sent an agent to explore the region. This agent we will recognize as no other than the friend and companion of Washington, when he carried the message from Governor Dinwiddle to the French commander in 1753-4. Christopher Gist traveled through leag-ues of almost unbroken forest, crossed the Muskingum and Scioto rivers, and was kindly re ceived by the Shawnee Indians, who had a village on HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 65 the latter stream about seven miles south of Circle ville, where the hamlet of Westfall now is. The name of their town was Chillicothe. Christopher Gist en camped one night on the shore of "Big Swamp," which we now recoenize as Buckeye Lake. No doubt he was the first white man within the limits of Perry County. Gist started from the forks of the Muskingum, where Coshocton now stands, on January 15, 175 1. By draw ing a straight line from Coshocton to Westfall, it will be seen that it touches Buckeye Lake, where the village of Thornport now stands. Land Surveys. On May the twentieth, 1785, the Continental Congress passed what is known as the " Land Ordi nance of 1785." It provided for the survey of lands in the territory northwest of the river, Ohio. The surveys were made under the direction of the Geographer of the United States. The lands were to be surveyed into townships six miles square, bounded by east and west and north and south lines, crossing- each other at right angles. The ranges of townships were to be numbered i, 2, 3, etc. from the Pennsyl vania line westward, and the townships in the ranges I, 2, 3, etc. from the Ohio river northward. Further more, the townships should be cut up into lots one mile square, each numbered from one to thirty-six, beginning in the south east comer and running north to sixth ; then beginning the next range with seven and running to twelve, etc. The lines were to be suitably marked by blazed trees and notches cut into their trunks. In many of the woods of Perry county can yet be seen the marks of the original surveyors. .5 H. p. c. 66 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. The first " Seven Ranges " were surveyed as above, but the remaining fifteen are different in the number ing of the sections. Our section numbers begin in the north-east corner and run west to six; begin in the next row of sections and run east to twelve, etc. The surveying began in 1786. The Ranges only extend to the Scioto River, for west of that stream Virginia had retained the land for her Revolutionary soldiers and it was never surveyed. The land in Perry county was not ordered platted till May 18, 1796. In 1799 General Rufus Putnam was made surveyor- general and the work began at once. The land of the Ohio Company had been surveyed before. None of our county was in this Company's purchase. But their tract did extend to the southern boundary of Perry and joined the townships of Coal and Monroe. In the first surveys, the variation of the needle, which at that time was about two degrees east, was seldom corrected. The result was that the north and south lines would deviate to the west in going south ward. This would cause a section to be larger than its northern neighbor. By the time the survey reached Perry county, it was necessary to frequently correct by starting from new bases, that the sections might be kept something near the required size. The line between Hopewell and Reading, and Madison and Clayton was such a correction line as can be seen on the map. There is similar correction between Clayton and Pike and between Harrison and Bearfield. It is the most noticeable, however, between Jackson and Mondaycreek. The first five rows of sections in Mon daycreek are each exactly a mile square, but the west ern row contains over seven hundred acres in each sec tion. This irregularity in the lines was corrected by HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. bl a " correctional meridian " running north from the Ohio river, to the northern boundary of Perry county. The line on the west of Thorn township is this meri dian. But our county got none of its benefits. In \ inton county the correction amounted to a mile in many places. The northern boundary of Perry county was the northern limit of Congress Land. Licking county belongs to the Military Bounty Lands, which was set aside for Revolutionary soldiers. This Congress Land was at once set up for sale. The most of it sold for $1.25 per acre in half or«quarter sections. The Land Offices for the sale of land in this county were located at Zanesville and Chillicothe. The line separating Madison, Clayton, Pike, Saltlick and Coal from Hope well, Reading, Jackson, and Mondaycreek divided the two Land Districts. The Ordinance of 1785 further provided that. ¦¦ There shall be reserved fur the United States out of every township the four lots, being numbered 8, II, 26, 21.J for future sale. There shall be reserved the lot No. 16 of every township, for the maintenance of public schools within the said township ; also one- third part of all gold, silver, lead and copper mines, to be sold, or otherwise disposed of as Congress shall hereafter direct." In Perry count}- none of these reservations were made, with the exception of Section 16. In the Ohio Company's Purchase, Section 29 was kept for the support of a minister, and was known as Ministerial Lands. 68 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. The Scioto Company Land Scheme. When Dr. Manasseh Cutler was negotiating with Congress for the land now known as The Ohio Com pany's Purchase, Col. William Duer of New York, presented a land scheme to be worked in connection with it for purposes of speculation. Col. Duer was a man of influence and Dr. Cutler needed him to help secure the passage of his Ordinance. So it was that under the cover of the petition that the Ohio Company presented for the absolute purchase of 1,500,000 acres, between the 7th and 17th ranges of townships, there was also the option for the right of purchase, or pre-emption, on over 3,000,000 acres of land lying between the Scioto and Ohio Rivers, to the west and north of the Ohio Company's Tract. This would include all of Perry County. Not many persons living in the county perhaps know that the land upon which they are now living, was once included in a great land scheme, in which the hard earned francs of many French people, were lost in the very first financial whirlpool, that made itself felt within the confines of Wall Street. The Scioto Com pany was formed and had its headquarters in Paris. Joel Barlow, author of the Columbiad, and later Min ister of this country to France was sent to Paris by Col. Duer to prosecute the sale of land. He had with him a description of the country from Dr. Cutler and a map bearing the indorsement of the United States Geographer. Paris and France were ripe for anything. The Revolution and the fall of the Bastile had turned the country topsy-turvey. The French people naturally HISTORY OF PERRY COU.N'TY. 69 erratic, imbued with their new ideas of liberty and equal rights, grasped at any and every Quixotic project. Barlow, assisted by an Englishmari, named Play- fair, who is described as a man w ith a "good imagina tion,'' succeeded, by a glowing description, and many other embellishments, in setting Paris aglow with the craze. They told how delightful the climate was ; how winters were unknown ; how there were trees from which sugar yielded itself spontaneously ; and how another tree yielded ready-made candles. They said that venison was in abundance. And they told the truth when they stated that there were neither lions nor tigers to molest them. The French seemed to have had quite as "good imagination" as the Englishman, Playfair. They pic tured the new land on the banks of the River, Beauti ful, and the Scioto, as a veritable "milk and honey" region. Nothing else was talked of in either social or political circles. A man named Brissot came to this country, and wrote a series of letters in such a manner as to complete the popular delusion. He corroborated the previous statements of Barlow and Playfair. The people became wild with excitement. Buyers were numerous. The thrifty middle class were especially importunate. Many disposed of their entire property that they might invest in the Promised Land. But the Scioto Company could not give a perfect title. They themselves had nothing but an option. Bar low as agent expected from the sale of lands they would be able to make the title good. The "imag inative" Playfair, belying his name, had the money. Barlow was himself duped. The result was that Col. Duer and the Scioto Compan\- failed and their land 70 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. reverted to the government. The only thing that the Scioto Company did, was the settling of Gallipolis, with French immigrants in 1790. In 1795 the LTnited States Government gave 25,000 acres of land in the south-eastern part of Scioto county for such persons that had lost their property at Gallipolis by insecure title. This is known in Ohio history as "The French Grant." Zane's Trace. When Ohio was settled, the only highways -were the streams and the Indian trails. After the Revolution ary War the rich Ohio valleys became the goal of im-, migrants. It was likewise the Paradise of the red men, who contested every acre of the soil. General St. Clair having met defeat at their hands, reported that the greatest hindrance to military operations was the ab sence of roads, that their presence would be an incen tive to immigration, that it would hasten the settlement of the country and be the best means of quieting the Indians. Congress at once acted upon the suggestion. The President was authorized to contract with a responsible party, for the opening of a road from Wheeling on the Ohio, to Limestone, Kentucky, on the Ohio. This road would pass through the best agricultural land that was then open for settlement in the Northwest. Virginians were flocking to the Military Lands, west of the Scioto, to locate their claims. The valleys of the upper Hocking and Muskingum were ideal places for the settler's clearing and cabin. The work of laying out this road WdS entrusted to Colonel Ebenezer Zane of Wheeling. Colonel Zane was a man of considerable force of character and played no small part in the settlement of the North- HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 71 west. He was an ideal frontiersman. He was thor oughly acquainted with the western wilds from the Po tomac to the Ohio. His brothers were men like unto him and assisted him greatly in his undertakings. President Washington could have found no better man. As early as 1769 he came to the present site of Wheel ing, recognizing at once its important geographical po sition. The next year he brought his family. Lord Dunmore, then Governor of Virginia, had the great est confidence in Colonel Zane. and made him dis bursing agent at Wheeling. A fort was erected and named Fort Finncastle in honor of the titled Governor of the "Old Dominion." Zane was familiar with the events that led to Dunmore's Mar. his sympathy be ing with Logan, Chief of the Mingoes. but he took an active part in putting down that war. When the Revolutionary \\'ar clouds hung heavy over the land, true patriot that he was. he did every thing in his power for the establishment of the new nation. While he was never in the Co itinental army, yet he served his country in a no less eminent degree. Living as he did on the very edge of the frontier, he saw that it was as important, that the territory North west of the Ohio should be held by the colonies as it was to obtain their independence. For the latter with out the former would have crippled them and there would have been no room for growth. The struggling nation had no army to protect their frontier. It was left for the most part to such men as Ebenezer Zane, who voluntarily took it upon themselves to protect their homes from the ravages of the red-men, incited by British cupidity and revenge. The very last battle of the Revolution was fought at Wheeling. The name Fort Finncastle had been 72 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. changed to Fort Henry in honor of Patrick Henry the first governor of the Commonwealth. Here on the eleventh of September, 1782, the Indians and British made an attack. Colonel Zane's house stood about fifty yards from the fort. The people took refuge in the fort but Zane and his family remained in their house. It was at this battle that Elizabeth Zane, a sister, performed her heroic act. The defenders of the fort suddenly discovered that the powder was ex hausted. There was a sufficient amount in Colonel Zane's house, but how to get it was the question. At this juncture, the girl volunteered to go, saying that her death would not mean so much as a man's. The gates were opened. The Indians saw her hurrying across the open space, but their chivalry forbade them firing on a "squaw." Hastily filling a tablecloth, which she tied about her, she returned to the fort. She ¦ had almost reached it, when her purpose dawned upon the Indians and amid a shower of bullets, she passed through the gates. The fort was saved. During these years, Col. Zane had come into posses sion of coiisiderable property. He owned the land where Wheeling now is. Wheeling Island in the Ohio river, the present site of Bridgeport and Martins Ferry and a tract extending a considerable distance up Wheel ing Creek on the Ohio side. Jonathan Zane, a brother, was a scout. In 1774 he guided an expedition against the Indians on the upper Muskingum. He served in like capacity on the ill- fated expedition of Governor St. Clair. It is said that if St. Clair had taken his advice, the result of the ex pedition might have been somewhat different. It is but natural, therefore, that when Ebenezer Zane con tracted to cut the road through Ohio, that he should HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 73 have left it to his brother who was better acquainted with wilderness ways. Jonathan Zane was assisted in the work by John Mclntire who had married his sister. For this work Col. Zane was to receive a tract of land, one mile square for every navigable stream he should cross, provided he should maintain a ferry. The work was begun early in 1797. The road was nothing more than a blazed bridle path, with some of the undergrowth and fallen timber removed. This "trace" left Wheel ing, follow ed Wheeling Creek on the Ohio side, to its source, and climbed to the high ridges of Belmont county. Following this divide into Guernsey county, it passed through Cambridge, and then headed for the falls of the ]\Iuskingum at Zanesville. This was the first na-i'igable stream. Zane gave the tract of land here to his brother, Jonathan and his brother-in-law, Mclntire. This was to recompense them for their services in opening the road. They in turn leased it to \\ illiam ]McCullough and Henry Crook for five years. These men kept the ferry and thus became the first settlers of Zanesville. John Mclntire is really the founder of Zanesville. He died in 181 5 and is buried beneath the shadows of the Mclntire Children's Home, which he founded. This was established as a school for poor children of Zanesville. But upon the organi zation of the free school system, it was changed to an asylum for unfortunate children, who here find a home and an education. This home derives its revenue from the Mclntire estate, which originally was the mile square given to Zane b}- the United States Govern ment. This trace struck Perry county as indicated on the map. There is considerable conjecture as to where it really did pass through the county. The writer has 74 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. been for three years gathering data on this first "high way" and he has found in Perry county more uncer tainty about the actual route, than in any same dis tance between Wheeling and Maysville. By many it is supposed to be the same as the Maysville pike. Others confuse it with the Old State Road surveyed in 1809. And still others think that the old Drove Road was the original Zane Trace. From such a di versity of opinion it is diffcult to ascertain the ex act truth. The route as shown on the map does not pretend to be infallibly true, but as far as can be learned, it is approximately correct. The prevailing idea that Fink's tavern, the nucleus of Somerset, was on Zane's Trace, is hardly correct. And yet, the most of the travel may have gone by way of Somerset. The men who blazed the trail were not particular in hunt ing the best ground, although they usually aimed to follow the ridges. The last statement would justify the conclusion that Somerset was on the "Trace." But on the other hand the streams served as their guides. No white man had ever traveled the route before. They knew the general directions only. There is no doubt that the Somerset route would have been the better one, and travelers soon found it out. It is the opinion of the writer that the Zane men were trying to find the headwaters of another stream, flow ing south, after they left Jonathan's Creek. They passed through the neighborhood of what is now known as Dead Man's School. Striking a branch of Rushcreek in southwestern Hopewell, they might have continued along it but for the fact that there is con siderable swampy land in that section. This would cause them to change their course and take to the hills. This trace passed over Rushcreek at the Rushvilles and HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTY. (O following a southwest course, crossed the Hocking at Lancaster. Here Zane established another section of land. The little creek -winding up through the alluvial meadows of Fairfield county was considered navig able for "small boats." The town of Lancaster was laid out in 1800, by John and Noah Zane, sons of Col. Zane. From here the Trace continued toward Chilli cothe by passing near the present village of Amanda and through Tarlton and the Pickaway Plains, crossing the Scioto at Chillicothe. Here they were obliged to locate their land on the west side of the river. Zane sold it to Humphrey Fullerton. Caleb Atwater says in his history of Ohio (1838) that Fullerton's widow yet owned it. From Chillicothe, the road ran southwest, crossing Paint Creek near the junction of the North Fork and the Yocatangee, followed the latter stream a distance and crossed Black Run, where it intersectd Todd's Trace, which it followed to Maysville by way of ^lanchester. In 1799 a post office was established at Chillicothe. Mail was brought over the Trace once a week. Gen. Sanderson of Lancaster was post-boy between Chillicothe and Lancaster. Zane's trace became the great highv/ay of emigra tion. Droves of pack horses were driven across it. Many of the settlers of south central Ohio found their way through the primeval forest by means of this blazed path. The first settler of Pickaway county, Caleb Evans, came through from Kentucky on Zane's Trail. The first settlement in Highland county was about half a mile north of Sinking Springs, on Zane's or rather Todd's Trace. Rude taverns were erected for the accomodation of the guests. .At Lancaster there was one and at Zanesville, Mclntire's tavern became famous for having once entertained Louis Philippe. 76 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. In 1798, a Mr. Graham located upon the site of Cam bridge, Guernsey county. His was the only dwelling between Zanesville and Wheeling. Along this road the itinerant preacher came with saddle bags and "pious mien." By degrees the road was widened in part and in many places it was changed altogether, until it is almost lost. The Wheeling and Maysville pike only follows the Trace approximately. There are variations of three miles and over. The Trace followed the high ridges mostly and in many places went down precip itous bluffs. The pike goes around the hills. Zane's road may well be said to be the initial step in the policy of "internal improvements." It served its purpose well and had much to do with the developement of the cen tral west. Along it sprang up the settlers' cabin and the little clearings testified that the "white man's foot" had come. It opened up the most fertile portion, that •was then accessible in Ohio. It was the connecting link between the east and the settlements made in the ¦southwest. Ebenezer Zane certainly deserves the credit of be ing one of the Founders of the Northwest. He died in 1812 and his body lies on Ohio soil. In the village of Martins Ferry, Belmont county, is the Zane burying ground surrounded by a brick wall. In this neglected inclosure, situated on a terrace overlooking the Ohio, as it begins to bend around the state, is a slab upon T, hich are these words : In Memory of Ebbnezer Zane who died 19th November, 1812, in the 66th year of his age.' He was the first permanent inhabitant of this part of the Western World, having first begun to reside here in the year 1769. He died as he lived, an honest man. \yHERE EBENEZER ZANE IS BURIED. M.VRTIX'S FERRY, OHIO. THE NEW HOME IN THE WOODS OF PERRY COUNTY. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 77 The Refugee Tract. During the Revolutionary War many of the people living in Canada and other British Provinces, sym pathized with the American patriots in their efforts to throw off the British yoke. For this "crime" of sym pathy their presence became obnoxious to such of their neighbors as swore by the "divine right of kings." Things became so intolerable that they were obliged to abandon their homes and take refuge among their friends in the colonies. Their lands were confiscated. They were thus rendered homeless. Many of them entered the patriot army. ^^'^hen the war clouds had blown away and the in dependence of the colonies was assured, it was no more than a matter of justice, that some means be inaug urated for the reimbursement of these faithful friends. As early as April 23, 1783, and again on April 13, 1785, Congress passed resolutions, that as soon as they consistently could, ample grants of land would be made to remunerate the Refugees for their sacrifices in the cause of the colonies. Congress, however, had no land at its disposal, till after the organization of the Northwest Territory in 1787. It was not till eleven years later that final ac tion was taken in the matter. On the 17th of April, 1798, Congress invited all "refugees" to file their claims with the Secretary of War and give a true and full account of their services and losses. Two years were given in which to file them. .\t the expiration of that time there were sixty-nine applicants. On the report of the Secretary of War Congress on February 18, 1801, appropriated about 100,000 acres. The land selected was a tract four and one-half miles wide, ex- 78 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. tending from the Scioto on the west, toward the Mus kingum on tne east, as far as necessary to contain the number of acres in the appropriation. There was some discussion in Congress as to where it should be located. It was a question whether it should be taken out of the Military Bounty or Congress Hands. It was finally compromised by taking a part out of each. The location was therefore made along the line be tween these two tracts. The northern boundary of Perry county is that line. Two miles of the Refugee Land is in Perry and two and one-half miles in Lick ing. On the east the Refugee Tract extended a short distance into Muskingum County. The four north western sections of Madison township fall within the limit. As far as we are able to learn none of the patents issued to these claimants were ever located in Perry County. Only 65,280 acres were needed to sat isfy the claims. To this must be added 5,000 acres more for school purposes. About 30,000 acres re verted to the government. Heroes of the Forest. Our county had been traversed by white hunters for some years before actual settlements were made. In the year 1773, a Baptist missionary accompanied by a trader named Duncan, is said to have traveled over the path taken by Christopher Gist. Lewis Wetsell and Simon Girty, famous hunters and traders, visited the Indian town at Lancaster. To reach that place, it would be necessary to follow some of the various Indian trails through our county. We are quite sure that traders stopped within our borders for purposes of barter. In the eastern part of Bearfield Township, near the Morgan County line. PETER O-VERMYER. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 79 is evidence of a trading post, Only a few years ago, tiiere was found at this place, a Spanish coin of the eighteenth century, some bits of iron and vermillion. The latter, evidently, was to sell to the Indians for decorative purposes. The surveying- of the land and the opening of Zane's Trace had the effect of opening the land to settlement. Perry County had the advantage of some of the other counties in that its hills were more healthful than the flat lands of Fairfield and Pickaway. Who the first permanent settler in our county was is not definitel}- known. It is not probable that there were any before the year 1800. In 1801, however, we know positively, of several. A man by the name of George Arnold had entered some land in Reading Township, where the town of New Reading now is. He did not settle on the land, but sold it to Christian Binckley, the great-grandfather of Capt. T. D. Binckley, present Representative from this county. He thus became the first permanent settler, as far as known. He came from Washington County, Maryland. In 1802, several additions were made to the popu lation of our county. Among the first to arrive was Peter Overmeyer, who came with his family from Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It might be interesting to note that he, too^ was the great-grand father of our own Capt. Binckley, of New Lexington. Peter Overmeyer was the father of the Peter Over meyer who died but a few years since, and grand father of J. B. Overmeyer, ex-treasurer of this county. The younger Peter Overmeyer was three years of age when he came to Perry County. Living to a ripe old age, he had seen the growth of the entire county. He 80 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. had experienced the hardships of pioneer days, had received his education in the crude way in which it was to be got at that time, and no man was more able to narrate the early experiences in the woods of Perry County than he. His name deserves to go on the list of the "Heroes of the Forest." In the same year that Peter Overmeyer came to Reading, other settlements were made in the vicinity. Robert Colborn settled east of Somerset. Frederick Heck came to the neighborhood of Otterbein and George Bowman took up his residence on west Rush creek. From this time the settlements were made more rapidly. Fink and Miller, the proprietors of Somerset, came in 1803. Soon small clearings began to appear in the woods, the settlers' cabin was being built and the smoke curled from the stick chimney. The Pioneers had come mostly from the states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and New York. The Pennsylvania Germans and the Virginians pre dominated. The method of bringing families and household goods was by wagon or horseback. Often the head of the family had come on ahead and had the cabin ready for occupancy. If such was not the case, the wagon in which they came served as their home till the trees could be felled for the house. These homes were made of round logs. The roof was clapboards, held in place by long poles. The floors were logs hewed on one side. Greased paper served for windows. One end of the house was utilized for the flre-place. The hearth consisted of flat stones. Here the cooking was done with utensils few and simple. A pot and skillet were deemed sufficient, and the family that owned a "Dutch Oven" was considered fortunate. HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTI'. 81 The clothing was spun and woven by the women from flax raised in the clearing-. Linsey-wolsey was a common fabric. It was a mixture of wool and cotton. The food was necessarily coarse and plain. Hom iny was a staple diet. For meats they depended in part upon the animals of the forest. But hogs were soon raised and "hog and hominy" became popular. These were the "Good old times" about which we hear so much. To old people who live in the past, this may be true. But they were hard times, never theless, in more ways than one. It was an experience that few care to repeat. In spite of the hardships and many disadvantages, our pioneer fathers extracted their share of life's enjoy ment. People helped each other more then than now. There were log-rollings and barn-raisings and com- huskings. These w-ere always made social affairs. The settlers cabin had no newspaper and few books. The Bible was one of these and its contents was read and re-read, till it was committed to memory. The long winter evenings were passed in work of vari ous kinds. The pioneer knew very little beside labor. During the day, mother and daughters often helped in the fields. In the evening, wool and flax were to be spun, stockings knitted, clothes made, brooms from hickory splints manufactured, harness mended, com shelled and dozens of other duties, then to go to bed and sleep during the long winter nights and awake in the morning, and find on the bed covers, a thin layer of snow, which had sifted in through the clapboard roof. The men and women who came to the woods of Perry County, cleared its forests, built for themselves 6 H. p. c. 82 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. and families their rude homes, extracted from the land by dint of hard labor, food and clothing, and then left to succeeding generations a heritage of material wealth, independence of mind, and above all a high type of manhood and womanhood, certainly may be called "Heroes of the Forest." Their work is done. The third and fourth genera tions now occupy the land they conquered. They now sleep in the soil, wrested from the hands of untamed Nature and around their narrow beds can be heard the hum and buzz of the industry of a newer time for which they laid the foundation. "Careless crowds go daily past you, Where their future fate has cast you, Leaving not a sigh or tear; And your wonder works outlast you — Brave old pioneer! Little care the selfish throng Where your heart is hid. Though they thrive upon the strong, Resolute work it did. But our memory-eyes have found you. And we hold you grandly dear; With no work-day woes to wound you — With the peace of God around you — Sleep, old pioneer !" — Will Carleton. The Evolution of Perry County. On July 27, 1788, Arthur St. Clair established the County of Washington, with Marietta as the seat of government. Washington County comprised the whole eastern part of the state. Its western boundary line began with the Cuyahoga River, which it followed to its source, thence by the portage between that river and the Tuscarawas to the forks of the latter with the Muskingum. From this point a line was drawn HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTY. X3 to the source of the Scioto, then along that river to its mouth. Perry County was wholly in Washington County. On the ninth of December, 1800, the county of Fairfield was organized. A part of \A'ashington was used in the erection of the new county. The present townships of Thorn, Hopewell, Madison, Reading, Clayton, Jackson, Pike, Mondaycreek, Saltlick, Coal, the four western sections of Pleasant and the four western sections of Harrison, were incorporated in Fairfield, while Monroe, Bearfield, the twelve eastern sections of Pleasant and the eighteen eastern sections of Harrison remained with A\'ashington. The county of Muskingum was established January 7, 1804. It was formed from Fairfield and Washing ton. The Perry County townships, taken from Fair field were ^Madison, Clayton and the four western sec tions of Harrison. The remainder of Harrison, which belonged to Washington was also added to Muskin gum. It -will be seen that the present county of Perry was divided among three counties — Fairfield, Mus kingum and Washington. Fairfield had Thorn, Hope well, Reading, Pike, Jackson, Saltlick, Mondaycreek. Coal and the four western sections of Pleasant. Mus kingum had ]\Iadison, Clayton and Harrison. \\'asb.- ington had Bearfield, ^lonroe and the twelve eastern sections of Pleasant. December 26, 1817, is the date of the organization of Perry County. It was fifty-second in order of for mation and was erected from the counties of Washing ton, Muskingum and Fairfield. With but one exception the present boundaries of the county were then estab lished. The house of Thomas Mains in Somerset was designated as the place for holding court. The excep- 84 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. tion alluded to in the foregoing refers to the attaching of a part of Licking to Perry. Most of the maps do not show this. The northern boundary of Perry is usually considered as a straight east and west line. On Feb ruary twentieth, 1837, the following act was passed by the Ohio Legislature : "That the south half of sections seventeen and eighteen, in township number seventeen of range number seventeen, refugee, be, and the same is hereby attached to Thorn township, in the county of Perry, and shall from henceforth, be considered for all purposes whatever, a part of said county." The object of this transfer was on account of cer tain lands that lay north of the township line and south of Buckeye Lake. Because of the body of water between this land and the main part of Licking County, as a matter of convenience to the owners, it was given to Perry. Village Settlements. Lack of space precludes anything but a brief state ment of the village settlements in our county. The dates here given are the official dates of the platting of the towns. The villages usually existed before the plat was made. Their growth was generally slow and the several additions were made as the times demanded. It is only in western states that the town is built on paper first. Our mining towns have been of rapid growth and some of them have declined quite as rapidly. The nucleus of our villages was generally a country store, a ford in a stream, or a grist-mill. Then would come the blacksmith, the cabinetmaker and shoemaker. The store often served as tavern. Liquid refreshments were handed out over the same counter with calico an 1 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 85 nails. There were many such settlements throughout the county, with such dignified names as "Beanville," "X Roads," "Dogtown," "Hard Scrabble," etc., that w-ere never platted. New Reading, in Reading Township, is in reality the oldest town in the county. It was not laid out until 1805 and thereby lost its distinction of official priority for Hanover was platted by Jacob Ditto in 1804. Its life was shinrt. One of the first acts of the Common Pleas Court, upon the organization of the county, was the annulment of the Hanover town plat. New Read- in? was orieinally called Obermeyersettle, or, in Eng lish, Overmeyertown, from its founder, Peter Over meyer, who was among the first settlers in the county. The town received its name from Reading, Penns;-i- vania, the home of many of its first citizens. When the county was organized in 18 17 New Reading was a competitor for the county seat. It is said that this is the reason for the two rows of sections being taken off of Richland Township, Fairfield County, and given to Reading, thus making the latter a 48-square mile town ship. The town was so near the edge of the surveyed township that it was thought to be detrimental to New Reading's ambition. At the end of the first decade, Reading Township possessed the entire trio of Perry County villages. Somerset dates from 1810. It was settled about six years previously by Fink and Miller, who were Penn sylvania Germans. Fink's Tavern afterward became famous for it was a mid-way stop between Zanesville and Lancaster. On account of this fact the town was at first called Middletown. The tavern stood near the site of the present school building. The town was named for Somerset, Pennsylvania. When the county 86 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. was organized in 1817, Somerset was one of the four towns asking to be the capital. Because of its central position to the majority of the people, it was selected. Thorn ville became a town in 181 1. Its originator was Joseph McMullen. It too enjoys its second name. At first the poetic name of Lebanon was given to it but on account of another Lebanon in Ohio, it took upon itself French airs, followed the English custom, and christened itself with the plebeian name of Thom- ville. It has however made up for the deficiency in its name, by being the most beautiful village in Perry County. It verifies the sayings — "What's in a name?" "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," etc. The word Rehoboth means roominess. The orig inator of the Perry County Rehoboth, evidently had that in mmd when he platted the village. To this day can be seen the public square, which was one of the characteristics of the first towns. But there was an other motive for making the square in Rehoboth, be side that of being artistic. When that town was laid out in 1 81 5 by John and Eli Gardner, with prophetic eye they saw the time when a new county would be erected. That new county would need a capital, and the capital would need a court house, and a court house would not look well unless it fronted a public square. True to its purpose it became a formidable rival to Somerset., They were worsted in the contest and their public square serves as a reminder of the ambition of the thrifty citizens. When tobacco became the staple crop of the county, Rehoboth was the center for this trade. Had the county been organized twenty years later, Rehoboth would to-day be the county seat of Perry County. A SCENE IX XEW LEXINCTCX. lS7:i. COAL TIPPLE AT CONGO. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 87 Bristol is located at an interesting point in the county. Situated at the turn of the water-shed, the waters of its vicinity find their way into the Muskin gum by South Fork, and into the Hocking through Rushcreek, Big Mondaycreek, Little Mondaycreek find Sundaycreek. Besides through its main street ran the old Alonongahela Indian Trail, along whose path the Indian braves took their white captives to the Scioto towns. Later the white surveyor stretched his chain from Fort Harmar to Standing Rock and the Lancaster and Marietta Road connected the ^^luskingum with the plains of Fairfield. Bristol was at first named Burlington. It too was a bidder for the court house. Platted in iSi6 it gave evidence of considerable growth. The Commissioners, when they visited the place concluded it was too far south. The town has never recovered from this blow given it in its very in- cipiency. New Lexington became a town in 1817. James Comley was its founder. The first house in town was built by Jacob Barnthistle, a tanner. This house stood where Kishler's Buggy Shop now stands. Soon other buildings were erected but the growth was slow. The name was given it in honor of the Lexington of Revo lutionary fame. After an exciting contest, lasting seven weeks, it became the county seat in 1857. Crossenville dates from 1817, when William Cros- sen laid it out in lots. It was for a number of years quite a thrifty village, carrying on a larijc tobacco trade. Wolf Town was a hamlet north of Junction City. It was never platted but it contained a tannery and sev eral stores. It was sometimes known as "Hard Scrabble." 00 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. We now pass over a period of eleven years, during which time no new towns were erected in our county. In 1828 Mt. Perry was platted. But Hendrick's Mill around which the town grew was built in 1820. Millertown, in Monroe Township, can boast of be ing the oldest village in southern Perry, unless we except Bristol. It was platted in 1834 by Jacob Mil ler. During the Civil War, John Morgan, the cele brated Confederate cavalry leader, camped within its precincts. Straitsville, Saltlick Township, now Coal, was laid out in 1835 by Jacob and Isaac Strait. In its early history it boasted of a few stores and a tavern. Dur ing the first three years of the Civil War, this town was a recruiting station. Its quiet lanes were aroused by the tocsin of war. Through its streets, companies ot Perry County boys were marched and drilled in the military art. From its station on the hill it looked after the boys in blue as they went toward New Lex ington, to take the cars for the scene of conflict. Where is Mount Hope? Jackson Township had but one town, so at the Cross Roads where the Somer set and Logan Road crosses the Lancaster and Har mar Road, a town was platted in 1835 and named Mount Hope. But the hopefulness of the place soon vanished and no town was ever built. A postoffice named Asbury existed for a short time. The place is still called Mount Hope by the people of the com munity. A town that once bid fair to succeed and enjoyed for a time quite a lucrative trade, was Oakfield. It was platted in 1838 by Job Thar p. It was the social as well as the commercial center of the neighborhood. Oakfield is located on the water-shed. HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTY. 89 When the Ohio Canal was built, and the Licking Reservoir, laying in sight of Thornville, presented a fine expanse of water, the thrifty farmers of Thorn township concluded that a boat way should be cut through the feeder, to the head of the lake, that they might be able to ship their grain. This idea resulted in the laying out of the town of Thornport in 1839. This Canal scheme, like "Eliphalet Chapin's Wed ding " was not an unalloyed success. It soon ceased operations and the great ware-house, that was built to store their grain, stands now as a monument to these days of yore. Sego, our "String Town on the Pike," began its official existence in 1846, when William Curry built his blacksmith shop there. It gets its name from a town in Africa. It was near this village that General Ritchie lived, while in Congress and within it Dr. Thom.pson, President of the Ohio State L'^niversity, lived ^vhen a boy. Porterville is nearly in Morgan county. Situated on the county divide, it is surrounded by a fine farming community. The town was platted in 1848 by John Porter. It was also for a time called Ruskville, after the family name of Jerry Rusk, who here played when a bare-foot boy. Saltillo, (properly pronounced Sawl-teel-yo) is a name of Spanish-Mexican origin. Its beginning was a tavern, which for many years served as a stopping- place for travelers. In 1849 '* became a town. Its proprietor was F. Bradshaw. In the same year of the founding of Saltillo, Chapel Hill, Monroe township, originated. This was an Irish community, where in 1850, a Catholic Church was erected, from which fact the town gets its name. 90 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. It was also called Thompsonville for a time in honor of one of its founders. Maxville, the only town of which Mondaycreek can boast, was laid out in 1850 by William McCor- mick, from whom it gets its name — Mc's ville. There had been a store at this place for some years previous. It was owned by Henry Keck. At the end of the first half century of the county's existence there were within its bounds the following post offices : New Lexington, Somerset, Buckeye Cot tage ( Saltillo) , Rehoboth, Thornville, Mt. Perry, Sego, McLuney, Porterville, Whippstown, Oakfield, Max ville, Crossenville, East Rushcreek (now Junction City) and Straitsville. Middletown is midway between Somerset and Lo gan. A tunnel was being made through the hill south of Middletown and this brought quite a number of laborers there. A store was built and the town laid out in 1853. Clarksville, also in Jackson Township, was estab lished by Daniel Clark in 1854. St. Patrick's Church is located here. The building of Junction City, only a mile away, totally and permanently eclipsed the older town, and but for the church, you might pass through the vil- lag-e and never know it. Like a great many of our towns, McLuney was a village before it was surveyed into streets and alleys. In 1850, McLuney, already enjoyed the distinction of having a post-office. It was not until 1855 that it was organized. Its name is derived from the creek upon which it is located. We now pass over a period of fifteen years during which town building in Perry County seemed to be at HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTY. 91 a Standstill. During the Civil War our commercial activity was dormant and it was not till 1870 when the coal and iron fields began to be developed, that there began a period of renewed activity. Our county was taking a new- lease of life. There were three periods of growth in the county. The first was the establishment of the pioneer home. The village then existed for the simple wants of the traveler, hunting a new- home, and for the pioneer settlement. The second period was a period of growth in which the productions of the soil began to appear more abundantly than the settler could use for himself. The village now existed to give a market for these super fluous products. The third period was that in which the mineral wealth was utilized. \^illages and towns now served as convenient homes for the men working in the mines. Our next period will be one of manufacturing, when our raw- material will be converted into the fin ished article before it leaves us. Before speaking of the towns built since 1870, it might be interesting to note the following : A PROPHECY FULFILLED. Buckeye Blossoms, published in 1871 by Mrs. M. E. Porter, has this to say of Perry County. "This little county (Perry) comparatively un known, is destined at no distant day to become a central attraction. Coal and iron are found in abun dance and of superior excellence ; and railroads are being made and companies organized for the purpose of mining these extensively. New Lexington f^n the Cincinnati and Zanesville Railroad is the county-seat. Oakfield and Somerset are very fine towns." 92 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. New Straitsville is the pioneer mining town of the county, having been laid out by a mining company in 1870. It had a phenomenal growth. In 1 87 1, Ferrara, a town with a distinctly Italian name, was laid out between the present locations of Rendville and Corning. Upon the organization of the latter the name Ferrara disappeared. .\ town had existed for some time on the present site of Junction City. The post-office was known as East Rushcreek. Later, George Wolfe laid out on his farm a village and called it by the scriptural name Damascus. Mr. Ed- miston also had an ambition to build a city and on an adjoining farm he began a town, calling it Trio City, because of the three railroads. These towns became rivals and the matter was finally settled by a compro mise in 1872 and the present cognomen was received. The place had been known as Wolfe's Station after the C. & M. V. R. R. was buiU. Shawnee, the metropolis of the county began its existence in 1872. It was laid out by T. J. Davis. McCuneville really dates back to 1829 when the original salt works were erected. From that time until its platting in 1873 by the McCunes it received the name of the " Salt Works." When the McCunes built their extensive salt plant here, it was intended to name the town Salina, but there was already one town in the State by that name. Then for a time it was known as Tallyho. Tallyho is the huntsman's cry to urge on his hounds. The fact that the old "salt lick" was a famous hunting ground, made the name quite appropriate. But some man's name had to be per petuated and the ubiquitous "ville," like Banquo's HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 93 ghost showed itself and McCuneville was the unfort unate result. Glenford, as a town existed for many \ ears before the plat was made. Its mill at the Ford of Jonathan's Creek had long ground the farmer's grain. It was not till the railroads ran through it that it began to grow. ^Moxahala, on the South Fork of the Moxahala, was a furnace town, laid out in 1873. Crooksville, the "clay city" of the county, was or ganized in 1874. In recent years it has been of rapid growth, and is now- one of the most important towns in the county. Roseville, a much ol^er town, is hardly to be con sidered a Pert}- County village. The part lying on the Perry side is of recent growth. The town was origin ally called Milford. Buckingham was laid ont in 1873. Dicksonton was built in 1875 and is now a deserted village. Baird Furnace also belongs to the class of "has beens." Corning is our "oil city." It was laid out in 1878 by Joseph Rogers. Rendville was platted the next year by Capt. T. J. Smith and \X P. Rend. The most recent of our mining towns is Congo. It was built in 1891-92. It is a model mining town. Organization of the Townships. Bearfield Township is so named because of the numerous bears found there at an early date. It was settled in 1812 by James Black and was organized in 1818 as an original township of Perry county. Clayton Toiunship is so called from one of its first 94 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. settlers. It was settled in 1806 and organized in 1810 under Muskingum county. Coal Township is the youngest in the county. It was organized in 1872 by striking off thirteen sections from Saltlick. It derives its name from the abundance of the mineral of that name to be found in the hills. Harrison Tozvnship was formerly a part of Clayton. Hence it belonged to Muskingum county. It was organized in 1820. It was named for General Harri son the Hero of Tippecanoe. The township was set tled about 1806. Hopewell Township was organized in 1810. It was settled early in the century by one Ridenour. Origin of its name is unknown. But no doubt it was significant of the feelings of the early settlers who were mostly Germans. It was a venture, this settling in a wilderness, but they "hoped well." Jackson Township was organized as a part of Fair field county. The only authority that we have says that it was organized about 1805. There is some doubt about this. There can be no question why it was called Jackson. But at that time (1805) General Jackson was unknown to fame. It is true that he was a' favorite in Tennessee, and that he had been in the United States Senate where he neither made a speech nor voted. At this time he was living the quiet life of a farmer and listening to the schemes of Aaron Burr, who tried to draw him into the net, into Avhich the unfortunate Blennerhassett fell. There is one thing certain. If Jackson township was organ ized in 1805 it was named for another Jackson. If it was named for the Hero of New Orleans it must have been subsequent to 1805. Very few people settled HIJTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 95 in that township prior to that time. From then, how ever, to 1820 the growth was rapid. Madison Toz^'nship is an original one in this coun ty-. It was settled about 1800 or a little later by Wil liam Dusenberry. It is named after James Madison and was organized soon after the county. Mondaycreek Ton-nship was settled in 1815 by Timothy Terrell. It was a part of Fairfield county. It was organized in 1823. It is named from the two principal streams flowing through it. Monroe Toicnship was also organized in 1823. It is named from the then President of the United States. It was previous to this, a part of Bearfield for politi cal purposes. It was settled in 1814 by John !\Ic- Donald and James Dew. Pike Township was organized in 1814 by Fairfield county. It was named for General Pike of the Revolu- tionaly War. The first settler was John Fowler who came from Maryland in 181 1. Pleasant Tozx.iiship was organized in 1850. It contains sixteen sections, taken as follows : Nine from Bearfield, three from Pike, three from Monroe, and one from Saltlick. The origin of its name is manifest. Reading Tozvnship was christened by Peter Over meyer, who came from Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1801. It was a part of Fairfield county and was or ganized in 1807. But when Perry county was organ ized, two rows of sections were taken off of Richland township, Fairfield county, in order to give the new- county the requisite area. Saltlick Township was so called from the "salt lick" at McCuneville. It was settled by John Hazel- ton and organized in 1823. 96 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Thorn Tozvnship was organized in 1804 or a little later by Fairfield county. It was named from the numerous thorns that grew about the Great Swamp. It was settled in 1801 by George Stinchcomb and others. Section 16. The Ordinance of 1787 stipulated that "Section 16" of every Congressional township should be reserved for the maintenance of schools in that township. The object of this school grant was not so much for the furtherance of education by Congress as it was an in centive to settlers. This reservation was not open to sale or settlement, and consequently the territorial Leg islature could do nothing with it. When Ohio became a state these lands were granted to her to be disposed of by the Legislature. There was thus left to Ohio for school purposes the splendid endowment of 704,000 acres. The income only from this land could be used. In consequence up to 1827 they were leased and rented in various ways. The appraisement of their rental value was often low and much mismanagement caused the revenue to be of little value. The Legislature finally in 1827 provided for their sale. The money was turned into the State Treasury and the township to which the section belonged should receive six per cent interest. Much of it was sold at once but in some parts of the state there are tracts yet unsold. In our own county the first was sold in 183 1 and the last in 1883. We have twelve "school sec tions." The townships of Pleasant and Coal, being formed from other townships do not happen to have Section 16 within their limits. The amount received from their sale in Perry county was $27,829.33. This gives the schools an annual income of $1,669.76. It HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTY. 97 is divided among the twelve Congressional townships according to the amount for which their respective sections sold. The following is the sum each township receives. Bearfield $30 21 Clayton 143 95 Hopewell 117 14 Harrison 392 80 Jackson 82 91 Madison 88 38 Mondaycreek 120 00 Monroe 39 30 Pike 258 54 Reading 168 60 Saltlick 107 56 Thorn 120 37 The above amounts do not represent the actual sum each township can use for its schools ; for the po litical township is not always co-extensive with the "survey township." In the case of Bearfield, her $31.21 is divided per capita for all persons of school age, residing in Bear field and the nine sections given to Pleasant. Pleas ant township receives the per capita rate of Bear field for her children of school age in those nine sections. Pleasant township also receives the per capita rate of Monroe township, for the number she has living in the three sections taken from Mon roe. In like manner she gets from Saltlick for the one section and from Pike for the four sections. Saltlick's $107.56 is divided among the schools of Saltlick, Coal and Pleasant. Alondaycreek must pay almost half of her revenue to Hocking county. Har rison and Madison must pay to Muskingum, while 7 H. p. c. 98 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Reading, the most fortunate of all gets from Fairfield, on account of those two rows of sections on the west. Every one of school age in the county gets a share of this income. Every school board gets its allotment. A joint district between two townships is entitled to an amount from the township in which the school house is not situated. It is a curious fact that in Thorn and Hopewell townships, school lands were sold out of Section 15. In the latter almost all of both Sections 15 and 16 were disposed of for the schools. The only reason we can find for this irregularity, is that in many cases. Section 16 had been "entered" before the survey was properly made. The law gave permission to take in lieu thereof other land that had not been sold. The setting aside of this land for the schools, is one of the achievements for which the United States Congress under the Articles of Confederation, deserves no small honor. While the results have not been as great as its promoters anticipated, yet it was an induce ment for the early settlers to found schools. One thirty- sixth of all the land for the dissemination of educa tion in a wilderness, gives us an idea of the character of the men who labored for the struggling young na tion in the trying ordeal of post-revolutionary days. It is no wonder that Ohio should obtain and maintain a prestige in the production of men, when in her very incipieficy, the means of developing the mind were not overlooked in the struggle for life and home in the forest. Churches. The church organizations have always been the social centers in our county. The people who settled Perry county were very religiously inclined. Soon OLD LUTHERAN CEMETERY AT SOMERSET. AN OLD TIME MEETING HOUSE. HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTY. 99 after the first settlers the missionary came, not to con vert, but to gather the people into congregations. To speak of all of the church communities in this county would demand more space thafi the size of this book will justify. Only a short time elapsed after the settlement at Overmeyer town, tifl there came Rev. "William Foster a Lutheran missionary from Pennsylvania. The first sermon ever preached in the woods of Perry county was in what is now the orchard owned by the late George Weisman. In 1805, at New Reading, the first congregation in the county, and the first of the Lu theran Church in the state was organized. This or ganization is yet in existence. The next year, 1806, Zion's church of Thorn township was begun. This was erected by the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations, and is the second oldest in the county. The Reformed minister was Rev. John King, who settled in the county in 1803. He was the first, there fore, to permanently locate here for Rev. Foster was a traveling missionary. This Rev. Foster organized the Lutheran church at Somerset in 1812. He died in 181 5 and is buried in the Zion cemetery. The Somer set congregation has a very interesting history. The church was located in what is now known as the Old Lutheran Cemetery. It was built of hewed logs and had a gallery. It had also a pipe organ, built by Henry Humberger. It was in this church, in 1818, that the Joint Synod of Ohio was organized, and the first preacher. Rev. Andrew Hinkle was licensed to preach. The "Lutheran Standard," the official organ of the Ohio Lutheran Synod was also for a time printed in Somerset. At one time, the Lutheran Seminary, now Capital University, was expected to be located here. 100 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. In fact, during the ministry of Rev. Lehman, a theo logical class was privately taught. This congregation and most of the other Lutheran Churches in the county was served by Rev. Chas. Hinkle who is buried- in the old cemetery. The Thornville Lutheran Church was organized in 1810 by Rev. Foster in conjunction with Rev. King, of the Reformed congregation. Lebanon Lutheran Church at Junction City began its existence in 181 5. For many years the Reformed people also worshiped in it. The Lutheran and Re formed congregations jointly built St. Paul's at Glen ford in 1818. The same year, the Shelly, or Good Hope Church was organized. St. John's Lutheran Church in Mon daycreek was organized by Rev. Frankenburg in 1841, but preaching had been held in private houses and barns for six years previous. About a mile and a half east of Mt. Perry is the United Presbyterian Church on Jonathan Creek. This denomination was the third to organize a church in the county. They date from 1807. Their services were first held in a school house, or, if weather per mitted, in a tent. The first pastor was Rev. Abraham Craig. Unity Presbyterian Church, in Clayton township, began its existence in the year 1809. The services were, at the beginning, transient, both barns and houses being utilized. In 181 1, Rev. James Culbertson of Zanesville came once a month. The organization proper was made in 1816, when Rev. Wright of Lan caster became pastor. The old log school house was used at first. During his pastorate the log church was built in 1826. Unity congregation had a wide influ- HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 101 ence. Her pastors were scholars. One was a gradu ate of Dartmouth and Yale, and another of Princeton. Rev. Moore rests in the cemetery beneath the shadow of the church, for which he labored so arduously. Rev. Henry Beeman of New Lexington, came to Unity in 1866 and for some years served as its efficient pastor. The Presbyterian congregation in New Lexington was organized in 1837. Rev. Moore had preached to thp people before. This society deserves to be placed in the list of pioneers. The Dunkers or German Baptists, of whom there were, and are now, quite a number in the northern part of the county, worshiped in private houses in Thorn township as early as 1 810. In 181 7 a congregation was organized in Madison township near Mt. Perry. Hopewell Baptist Church, on Zane's Trace, in Hopewell township is the pioneer church of that de nomination. 1812 is the date of its organization. It was for many years one of the most influential of all the Baptist societies in the countr}-. The Hazelton graveyard in Saltlick township is an old landmark. The church that stood there not only occupied a prominent position, geographicalh', but its influence gave it prominence in another direction. The Hazelton Baptist Church was the first in Saltlick town ship and the second of that denomination in the county. The church has for many years been destroyed and the congregation disbanded. The date of its beginning is 1820. John Hazelton for whom it was named was a soldier of the War of 181 2. To walk from New Lexington to Hazelton's to attend church was a little difficult, and it was not long after the organization of the church in Saltlick town ship until the Baptists in the vicinity of New Lexing- 102 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. ton concluded that they, too, might support a church. Accordingly, about 1821, the organization was ef fected. In 1825, they built their church of hewed logs. It contained -a gallery and was quite a commodious building for the time. The present building stands near the site of the first. It was built in 1845. A Baptist congregation existed for some years at Oakfield. It is worthy of being listed as a pioneer. In 1814 they organized and built a church, but the con gregation was small and it soon disbanded. An organized society of this denomination was at Bristol in 1832. In the same year, Ebenezer, in Mon daycreek was founded. The pioneer Methodist Circuit Rider early found his way into the Perry county wilds. The Methodists held services in the county as soon as any of the de nominations. But the first class was not begun till 181 1, when Rev. James B. Finley organized the con gregation at Somerset. This was followed the next year by the formation of a class at Rehoboth. Church services were held in the latter place in a private house until 1818, when a log church was built. The same year that the Methodists organized at Rehoboth, the Hopewell class or as it is better known, the Chalfant's Church was formed. The Fletcher, or Holcomb M. E. Church is in Bear field township. They built a church in 1825, but for ten years, the congregation had met in private houses. The first church in Harrison township was the Iliff, The log edifice was built in 1819, but that is not the exact date for the genesis of the society. Bishop Iliff of the M. E. Church is from this place. Madison has an M. E. Church, known as Bethel, HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTY. 103 that antedates Iliff by one year. It organized in 1818 and in 1819 ,they erected a hewed log church. Zion Church in the same township is of later origin. It began about 1834. It is in its cemetery that General Ritche3% ex-Congressman lies buried. New Reading 'SI. E. Church was organized in 1825. The New Lexington Methodist congregation was organized in 1828. The services at first were held in the old log Baptist Church. Eleven years later they built their church which was destroyed by fire in 1875, when the present brick structure was erected. The Asbury- M. E. Church in Monroe township may also be classed among the pioneers. Its begin ning was in 1830. The Bible Christians built a log church in 1820 in Monroe township. A frame building was more re cently erected and services are still held. The pioneer church of the Disciples was in the east ern part of Saltlick township where in 1830 a congre gation began its existence. In 1847, with Daniel Rusk, the father of Jeremiah Rusk, at the head, a congregation was organized at Porterville. .A log church w'as built which has since been supplanted by a frame building. Daniel Rusk is buried in the cemetery adjoining the church. St. Matthew's Disciple Church near Mt. Perry was organized in 185 1. The society was disbanded in 1867 and re-organized in 1880. .\ Disciple Church existed at Oakfield a few years subsequent to 1848. Otterbein United Brethren Church is situated on the Pike, four miles west of .Somerset. It is the first church of that denomination in the countv. It has al- 104 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. ways been a large and influential society and is yet a strong organization. It dates from 1818. . Zion Church, in Jackson township, is only a few miles from the mother church. Before a church home was procured, church services were held in the woods. When the frosts of autumn came, they would burn log heaps. The date of the beginning of this society is 1830. The Mennonite Church in Mondaycreek is the only representative of that denomination in the county. The exact date of its organization is unknown. Its members were mostly Germans and among them were many of the first settlers of that community. The date of its beginning is certainly before 1830. The first settlers of Perry county were mostly Prot estants. In the north where the German element pre dominated, there were mostly Lutherans, German Re formed and Dunkers. In the central and southern parts of the county where the people were mostly Vir ginians the Methodists and Baptists were most numer ous. However, among the first pioneers of the county, especially in the neighborhood of Somerset, were some German Catholic families. To Bishop Fenwick be longs the honor of being not only the missionary priest of Perry county but the very first to be settled in Ohio. It is said that Bishop Fenwick in traveling through Ohio reached the tavern of John Fink at Somerset, and upon discovering that his host was a Catholic celebrated Mass within the rude home of the pioneer. This is as far as known the first mass ever said within the bounds of the State. It w^as the genesis of the Catholic Church in Ohio. Bishop Fenwick was a priest of the Dominican Order which had established the Father Fenwick, First Catholic Missionary in Ohio, Discovering a German Catholic Family at Somerset. From a Cartoon in Chalk by Munich Artist W. Lamprecht. — (Courtesy of Rosary Magazine.) HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 105 Convent of St. Rose in Kentucky. Dr. Fenwick was ably assisted in his missionary work by his nephew. Father Young. The Ditto and Fink families had entered at the land office, three hundred and twenty-nine acres of land, located two miles south of Somerset. This they donated to Father Fenwick for the express purpose of establishing a Church and Convent of the Dominican Order. Fathers Fenwick and Young were sent to take care of this endowment. They arrived at their destination about the first of December 1818. On the sixth of the same month, the little log chapel in the forest was dedicated. It was the first Catholic Church in the state of Ohio. The congre gation consisted of but six families. Before the end of the year an addition of stone was built to the log chapel. Holy Trinity Church at Somerset was organized in 1820 by the Dominican Fathers. About this time Catholics began to pour into the county. It was found that Holy Trinity and St. Joseph's could not accomo date all. Arrangements were made to enlarge the lat ter and in 1829 a substantial brick edifice took the place of the original. St. Joseph's was the headquarters of the Dominican Order in America. From its Convent walls, its preach ers, for preaching is what the Dominican priesthood stands for, went into all parts of the country. With the exception of the Pacific coast, St. Joseph's is yet the American center of the Order. Most of the Cath olic congregations in the county were organized through the agency of the priests at St. Joseph's. While all of these congregations, with the exception of Holy Trinity, have passed under the ecclesiastical 106 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. control of the Bishop of the Columbus Diocese, the honor of their organization belongs to the Dominicans. The Church and Convent were destroyed by fire in 1862. The present buildings were then erected. For a time St. Joseph's was also a college, where a purely secular education could be received. It is now but a Theological school. It has a magnificent library of about ten thousand volumes. Many of these are quite old and valuable. The Convent is to be taken to Washington City. At present the students begin their study at St. Rose's, Kentucky, and complete it at St. Joseph's, -\fter the removal the initial work will be done at St. Joseph's and its completion in the Capital City. The "Rosary Magazine" at Somerset is published under the auspices of the Order. Father Fenwick who became Bishop of Cincinnati, purchased land opposite the church in Somerset for the purpose of founding a female academy. This school was opened in 1830 in connection with at Con vent. Its success was unbounded till it burned to the ground in 1866. Because of a generous offer from Columbus, it was determined to accept the new loca tion. The well-known school, St. Mary's of the Springs, in Columbus, is the successor of St. Mary's at Somerset. A few years subsequent to the founding of St. Jo seph's, a Catholic Church was built in the eastern part of Clayton township. It was made of logs and was used till 1833, when it was abandoned. The congre gation then met at Rehoboth, in a large building that had been erected for a grist mill. The motive power of this mill was to be a perpetual motion. The ar chitect didn't get the motion perpetuated and he was ¦•pj''^'^:^ CHURCH AT CH.\PEL HILL. ( I.n s-rr XE ciiui;cii. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 107 glad to dispose of the building. This was used as a church till 185 1, when a new- one near McLuney was built. The Rehoboth congregation then worshiped at the new- location. The McLuney church has in turn been united with the new- organization at Crooks ville. St. Patrick's Church near Junction City is one of the children of St. Joseph's. It w as organized in 1830 by Father Young of whom mention has already been made. The first building was of brick and was quite small. The present edifice was erected in 1845. It is one of the larg-est church organizations in the county. Chapel Hill is possibly one of the best known churches in the county. It may hardly be considered a pioneer church, since it was not organized till about 1850. Services are not held here now. and the building is nearing a state of ruin. The famous old Stone Church in western Saltlick is, too. in a ruinous condition. The congregation dates back to 1825. The' building that is now falling to pieces was built in 1839. It was a magnificent struc ture for its day and is or.e of the landmarks of south ern Perry. Schools. There were two factors in the development of edu cation in our county. The Germans built the school- houses and the Irish furnished the teachers. In the settlement of our county, the church in every com munity was the first institution to be organized; the school was the second. The result was that the school and the church were usually built near each other. Often the church building was used for the school, and more often the school-house served in the double capacity. The primitive school-houses of the woods 108 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. v^'ere crude affairs. They were all built on the same general plan. A pen was built of unhewed logs ; the spaces between the logs were filled with "chinks" and mud ; one end of the building was occupied by a huge fire-place, in front of which half of the pupil, alter nately roasted and froze, that particular half being dependent upon whether he sat with his face or back to the fire. In this huge fire-place, the "dinners" would often be placed to keep them from freezing. The benches had no backs. There were low ones for the little fellows and high ones for the big boys. These benches were split from trees. The upper side of each was "smoothed" with an ax, and splinters were often numerous. The writing desks were along the walls of the building. A log had been left out above this place and when the opening was covered with greased paper an elegant window was the result. Wooden pegs were driven into the logs upon which their caps were hung. The teacher sat upon a high chair, before a high desk, opposite the fire-place. Behind him within easy reach was an abundance of rods. If there was not a sufficient supply to successfully impress the recalcitrant pupil with the glories and benefits of an education, there was no dearth of duplicates in the woods. The writing pens used by the pupils were made of quills, and one of the cardinal requisites of every teacher was that he should be able to make a good quill pen. The teacher "boarded 'round" and if he hap pened to be a genial sort of a personage his coming was .always welcomed. Only the elements of an education were taught. The spelling-book was always required. If you were not the possessor of a Reader, any book. you happened to have would serve quite as well. The Bible was read and at times the Prayer-book made a HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 1U9 suitable reading book. It has been said that the cele brated Hagerstown .\lmanac was often utilized. In searching for the first school in Perry County, we would naturally look toward New Reading, the oldest settlement. A subscription school of three months was conducted there during the winter of 1808. But it was not the first school. It was the second. The year previous, an English school was taught about two miles east of Somerset. .\n English and German school was taught in Somerset, the very first year of the town's organization. School was conducted within the present hmits of New Lexington, before the town was laid out. The building was a log cabin that stood at the foot of Brown stfeet, near the spring that yet sends forth its sparkling water. This was in 1815. Five years later a school-house was built where the McClelland Livery Barn now stands. At about the same time, the rural districts began to arouse themselves and a school began its operations near where Arthur King now lives on the Logan road. In 1830 Pike Township was divided into districts, much in the way it is divided now. The first school in Madison was taught about one and a half miles south of Mt. Perry. No date can be found for this school but it evidently was quite early. Bearfield began to have schools about 1820. Some of the early teachers were men who knew very little about teaching. Again there were among them some of considerable ability. They were for the most part persons who would drop into a neighbor hood, teach their term of school and drop out again. A few remained as fixtures. 110 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. In the Bethel Presbyterian Cemetery near Middle- town, is buried one of these old time pedagogues. His name was Colonel Thorn. For many years he taught at Somerset, but finally, he like all teachers must, sooner or later, dropped out of the ranks. For many years afterward he was a familiar figure with his pecu liar "teacher ways." Prof. Charles Nourse was for many years a prom inent teacher. In Somerset he taught a select school, under the very dignified name of "The Somerset Col legiate Institute." Prof. Nourse afterwards became principal of the New Lexington public schools. He was one of the examiners of Perry County, and an examination taken under him in 1866 is described as follows : "There were thirty-two applicants — ten men and twenty-two women. The applicants were ar ranged as a class in school and the examination pro ceeded orally. It seems that Prof. Nourse was the only examiner present. The questions were given to the head of the class and if answered correctly due credit \yas given, if not it was passed to the next, and so on through the class. When the examination was completed, those who had passed successfully were given certificates at once. At this examination all of the ladies received certificates, but only four of the men were successful. In giving out the certificates, the examiner, who was evidently somewhat of a ladies' man, remarked that it was no more than right to in dulge the ladies." Our first schools were supported from the revenue of school lands. These being insufficient, the fund was augmented by private subscription. The pioneer school law of Ohio was passed in 1821. It provided for a tax, the division of a township into districts, and HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Ill the election of three men in each district to levy the tax, build the school-house, employ the teacher and be the judge of his qualifications. It was left to the option of the electors whether they would make such provisions or not. This made the district the unit and the people of Ohio still cling to that idea. In 1825, a law was passed, making it mandatory upon the town ship trustees to divide townships into school districts, each district to elect three directors, who should build a school-house, employ a teacher, make the needful assessments and superintend the school. The teacher's qualifications were to be determined by a Board of County Examiners. In 1838 the law was enacted mak ing the township clerk superintendent of the township schools. His duty was to visit each school at least once a year and examine all matters "touching the situation, discipline, mode of teaching, and improve ment thereof." At least six months of good schooling was required. In 1847 the celebrated Akron Law was passed. This gave the right, to provide "for the support and better regulation of the common schools in that town." The next year this law was made general. And still the next year the "Law of 1849" was applied to all cities and towns. Under this law the modern High School had its origin. In 1853, a general law was passed, designating one of the sub-directors a member of the township Board of Education. It was practically as it is now with the exception that the township board had no voice in em ploying the teacher. Its jurisdiction was only general. This law also provided for the levy of one-tenth of a mill upon the taxable property for the purpose of fur- 112 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. nishing libraries and apparatus for the common schools of the state. Under this provision $300,000 was spent during the years 1854-55-56 and 59. The books were the cream of the literature then extant and 400,000 volumes were distributed throughout the state. There was lack of system in their distribution and in many places they were allowed to be lost. The cry of economy on the part of the farmers was raised. It was for them and their children that the library was inaugurated. The law was repealed. It made no appreciable difference in the taxes of any farmer and as a consequence he had "cut off his own nose to spite his face." Madison Academy. — The glory of Madison Academy has departed. But it is still vivid in the memories of the citizens of Mt. Perry. They delight to tell of the palmy days, when their village was an educational Mecca ; when their streets were filled with young men and women, who had come to drink deep at learning's fountain. Those were halcyon days — the days when William D. Harper of the Chicago Uni versity, recited within the walls of the "Academy" and William O. Thompson of our own State University, came to Mt. Perry to attend church and Sunday School. Madison Academy was founded in 1871 under the direction of the Rev. James White. It was controlled by the United Presbyterian Church. This denomina tion is particularly strong in that section. The Acad emy served somewhat as a feeder for Muskingum Col lege, at New Concord. But it had a better field of usefulness in another way. In the days before the High School era, the youth from the district school MADISON ACADEMY. SALT KETTLE OF 1826. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 113 repaired to its precincts for the benefits of a higher education. It did its work well for many years. Mad ison Academy is of the past but its influence is of the present. The building has been turned over to the Board of Education in consideration of their main taining a Township High School. A school of higher education for girls, that is at tracting some notice beyond the confines of our own county is St. Aloysius Academy near New Lexing ton. It was organized in 1876 by Sisters of the Fran ciscan Order. It has had a steady growth, both in the number of students and influence. The buildings have been enlarged from time to time and its students go out into life with nothing but praise for the efficiency of instruction received from those sisters. Mills. The first manufacturing establishment of our county was the grist mill. The mills were called "corn crackers." Their motive power was the horse. There were dozens of these in the county. A little later mills were built along the streams. They were water mills and they not only ground corn and wheat but also sawed lumber. The saw resembled our modern cross cut saw, and it stood upright. The boards could not be sawed off the logs entirely, and an ax was used to complete the work. There was hardly a stream in the county that had not several mills upon it. Jonathan Creek was "lined" with them. Hood's Run that flows from Somerset toward the Moxahala had five within as manv miles. The best known of these were those of 114 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Parkinson and Hood, near Somerset. Little Monday creek had three within three miles. Big Mondaycreek had several, while Sundaycreek and its tributaries and the South Fork of the Moxahala and Rush Creek had ttieir quota. These old mills have disappeared as far as their being used is concerned. The dilapidated ruins of some are yet to be seen, while in many a far mer's field the boy of to-day looks with wonder at two great, round pieces of rock with a hole in the center of each. These are the burr stones that ground the grain for our forefathers. The presence of so many mills along our streams in former days shows how abundant the running water was and what a change has taken place. Few of our creeks could now furnish enough water. The cutting of the timber is thought to be the cause of this change. To James Moore of Bearfield Township, belongs the honor of being the inventor of the portable saw mill. It did its first work in Bearfield Township. It was only an eight horse power mill, but it was a great .step in the evolution of the manufacture of lumber. Oil Works. before the days of petroleum the tallow dip served to light the pioneer cabin. Just before the Civil War it was discovered that a vein of cannel coal, which had its outcrop in Mondaycreek Township, contained a large percentage of oil. On Coalbrook, a branch of Little Mondaycreek a plant for the extraction of the oil was erected and for many years did a thriving business. There are yet living in Mondaycreek, many people who remember seeing the surface of the stream covered with the re fuse oil from the Coalbrook oil works. OLD SALT WORKS AT McCUXEVILLE. !'^'^J-^ P f^'-^.'-'i — ^~^ — ¦ ^^K. ':''u--'St^^f^ ^^H^i-fe'^'KlWIM^ A TOBACCO HOUSE. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTV. IT") A similar plant existed west of Maxville. It was more extensive and did a greater amount of business. Large kettles were used in the extraction of the oil. The abundance of petroleum coming from the Penn sylvania oil fields made the manufacture unprofitable. The oil factories -were razed to the ground and noth ing but the burnt earth and loose stones from the old chimneys, yet remain to testify to this former Perry County industry. The Old Salt Kettle. The picture of the large kettle is taken from one that was used to boil salt water three-quarters of a century ago. It was used at the "salt lick" where McCuneville now stands. The Manufacture of salt began in 1826 and continued for some time. But the simplicity of manufacture was unequal to more ad vanced methods and it - was discontinued. Nothing remained but a stone chimney that stood for forty years, as a monument of days of yore. But the old kettles still exist. The writer knows of at least three, yet doing service in the way of watering troughs or for boiling water at butchering time. The McCune Salt Works. The picture represents the IMcCune Salt Works at AlcCuneville. When the Straitsville branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was built to Shawnee, Mr. McCune of Newark, erected a considerable plant for the manufacture of salt. He expended about $40,000 in boring wells and getting improved ma chinery. A town sprang up and it gave every evidence of permanency. But the plant was bought by a "trust" 116 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. and it shut down never to operate again. Nothing remains of these works and their past existence is like the shadow- of a dream. Tobacco Houses. The picture represents one of the last of its kind. Fifty years ago the tobacco house was a fam iliar object. It has since gone into decay or been con verted into stables or sheds, till it is a difficult task to find one in a good state of preservation. It has been relegated to the past. But the sight of one, or its picture, is an object lesson in the history of the develop ment of the county. Without it the pioneer settler would not have been able to pay his taxes, to buy the farm necessities which he himself could not produce, nor to pay for the land itself. Nothing that the pioneer could produce had such a market value as tobacco. The soil of the county, especially in the southern part, was peculiarly adapted to its growth. It had the added merit of being the easiest crop raised. A very small patch of it yielded very large returns in comparison with other crops. It could be planted among the stumps of deadened trees and be cultivated by hand. When the leaves were ready for gathering they were stripped from the stalk and strung upon long sticks. These were hung upon poles in the to bacco houses. The houses were built very high, that the tobacco might be out of the reach of the flames. The entire upper part, reaching to the rafters was filled. Then a fire was started and the members of the family took turns at watching. It required close attention for a single spark striking the drying leaves would often set it on fire and crop and building would go up in smoke. This was always a calamity, for it REMAINS OF A MAXVILLE LIME-KILN. AN OLD TIME POTTERY. IIISTORV OF PERRY COUNTY. 117 meant that the pioneer family would have to go with out some things, and money would have to be borrowed to pay the taxes and probably for a payment on the land. Rehoboth and Maxville were the tobacco emporiums of the county. Huge warehouses were erected at these places, and the business that was done in a single day, during the tobacco season, was greater than is now done in the same village, in two months. It has not been many years since the old warehouse at Alaxville was razed to the ground. The tobacco house occu pied a very prominent place in the industrial history of the county. Lime-Kilns. The lime-kilns of Perry County were also factors in the industrial progress of the county's early his tory. Before the mines had begun to pour out their black streams of wealth, before the iron ores were being utilized, the lime deposits were drawn upon and changed into "coin of the realm" for their owners. With the exception of the salt, the limestone was the first mineral of the county to be used. Ma.xville was the center of this industry. Here in the early thirties the sub-carboniferous strata was quarried and burned. Logan, New Lexington, Lancaster and all intermedi ate points, went to Maxville to get lime to plaster their houses. The kilns were built of stone, placed against a bank. The lime was poured through an aperture in the top, and after sufficient burning it was raked through an opening in the bottom. Once, many of these kilns were in operation at Maxville, but they have all disappeared, and their site is now known only by the presence of piles of burnt lime, around a depres sion in the earth. The picture here shown is such a 118 , HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. representation. There were also a few kilns west of Carthon where the sub-carboniferous crops out near the tops of the hills. The last kiln ceased to operate in the county about 1885. The large quarries in the northern part of the state where the lime was more accessible, produced it more cheaply, although not better in quality. An Old Time Pottery. "Turn, turn, my -wheel ! All things must change To something new, to something strange; Nothing that is can pause or stay; The moon -will -wax, the moon -will wane, The mist and cloud will turn to rain. The rain to mist and cloud again, To-morrow be to-day." — Longfellow. The poet makes the. potter sing truly, when he says, "All things must change, To something new, to something strange. Nothing that is can pause or stay." There is no industry in which that truth is more manifest than in the manufacture of pottery itself. True, a great deal of the product is yet shaped by hand, but the large concerns at Crooksville, employing scores of men, the work being done by machinery thali turns out thousands where dozen were originally produced, is in sharp contrast to the "old timers," where the clay was ground by the family horse, and the wheel was turned by the foot.The kilns were but overgrown bake-ovens. Verily the world "do move." The utilization of potter's clay has for over sixty years been an important industry in the county. As early as 1838, Caleb Atwater, Ohio's first historian, in speaking of Perry county said, "A white clay is A GHOST OF DEPARTED INDUSTRY. BAIRD FURNACE. CONGO. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 119 found in abundance, suitable for pots and crucibles. It stands the heat very well, growing whiter when it is exposed to the greatest heat. It will one day be used extensively in the manufacture of Liverpool earthen ware. It contains no iron and is almost infusible be fore the blow-pipe." The neighborhood of Saltillo has furnished earth enware for a long time. Along Buckeye Creek and the South Fork of Jonathan, the potteries were fre quent. About the time of the Civil War, a pottery was conducted in Mondaycreek. It produced a good qual ity of ware. Caleb Atwater's prophecy has proved to be true. The clays of Perry county are the best in the world. The manufacture of brick, stoneware or Portland cement can here be made a source of great profit. The abundance of clay, the presence of the coal fields, and the railroad facilities are making Perry county famous in the clay business. Perry county clay- ware is shipped in car lots to the states of the west and the south-west and the business bids fair to increase as the years go by. Blast Furnaces. "And far in the hazy distance Of that lovely night in June, The blaze from the flaming furnace Gleamed redder than the moon.'' — Longfellow. At one time the flames of seven blast furnaces in our county lighted the mid-night sky. Just a fe\y rods across the Perry-Hocking line two others poured out their molten mass of the useful metal. The furnaces of Perry County were the first to utilize the raw- coal in the production of iron. 120 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Baird Furnace, in Mondaycreek, was the pioneer Furnace in this region. Mr. Samuel Baird had charge of the old char-coal furnace at Logan and became thoroughly acquainted with the mineral resources of southern Perry. Mr. Baird purchased quite a tract of land in eastern Mondaycreek, for the purpose of manufacturing iron from the native material. Many experienced iron rnen thought it a rash undertaking. The site of the furnace was three miles from a rail road. It would be expensive to get the product of his furnace to market. But Mr. Baird knew "his business." He built the furnace on an entirely new plan. The stack was placed against the hill. The coal was mined a few rods back of it and the track from the mine led to the top of the stack. The na tive ore was taken from the hills and the Maxville and Zoar limes were used as flux. It was asserted that pig-iron could be manufactured here cheaper than any place in the world. It was doubted. In January, 1876, the Amei'ican Manufac turer contained a description of this furnace and the following estimate of the cost of a ton of iron. Two and three-fourths tons of coal, at 50 cents, $1,375, say $140 Two and three- fourths tons of ore, at $2.25 ... 6 00 Three-fourths ton of limestone, at $1.30, or $1.05, say 1 10 Labor 3 00 Repairs 1 00 Interest and discount 50 Total $13 00 It is said that the iron trade at the time of the building of Baird Furnace was in a depressed state, but the price of stone-coal pig in the markets ranged HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 121 from $21 to $31 per ton. This still left a large margin for profits. After one year's experience, Mr. Baird further astonished the iron men with another state ment, as follows : Ore from furnace land $3 85 Ore, if purchased $6 00 Coal 1 60 1 60 Limestone 1 00 1 00 Labor, repairs and interest 4 40 5 40 Totals $13 00 $11 85 The cost of the furnace was $45,000. After con structing the road over which the iron was hauled by oxen and counting the cost of construction as current expense, the net profits of the first year's work was $25,000 or 55 per cent of the original cost of the furnace. It is not surprising that other furnaces soon fol lowed. Gen. Thomas built one at Gore just across the county line. -Vnother one, Winona, was erected a few rods from the Perry line on Little Mondaycreek. Moss and Marshall built the Bessie Furnace near Straitsville. This Furnace is yet running. It produces a peculiar grade of iron which is in great demand. Three Furnaces were built in Shawnee. They were the Fannie, the XX and the New York. The latter is the only one now running. At Moxahala, another was operated until removed to Columbus. Some of these furnaces have been entirely taken away while others are falling into ruins from disuse. The discovery of larger mineral fields and the decline in the price of iron has been the cause of the abandon ment of the extensive manufacture of iron in our county. 122 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Coal Mines. The greatest of our industries is coal mining. No county in the State surpasses Perry in the produc tion of coal, nor in the use of modern appliances necessary for its successful mining. The pioneers of the county were in total ignorance of the immense wealth that lay buried beneath them. Many even did not know that there was coal here. It had no attractions for the hardy settler who found a sufficient supply of fuel in the forest around his home. He had to cut the trees down in order to have fields for cultivation. He had to burn the wood and if he could use it to warm his home he considered himself fortunate and counted it so much clear gain. It is not known when the presence of coal in our hills was first discovered. But as early as 1816 it was used to a limited extent. It soon found its way into some of the well-to-do houses in town, public buildings, etc. Somerset got her supply from the mines in the neighborhood of St. Joseph's. Dr. Ponjade, a French man, operated a mine near Rehoboth in 1830. At about the same time the mines of Mondaycreek and Saltlick were opened. When the old Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanes ville, now the C. & M. V. Railroad, was built coal min ing became of some importance in the neighborhood of McLuney. The coal was shipped mostly to the towns along that road. The coal era of our county began in 1870. Through the efforts of Col. James Taylor and others, the vast mineral resources of the county were made known to the world. Capital flowed here and rail roads were being built. The Baltimore and Ohio ex- POWER HOUSE AT CONGO MINE. FIELD. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. l'2ii tending into Saltlick, opened up that territory and Shawnee is the result. The Hocking "Valley Railroad ran a branch to Straitsville and New Straitsville be came quite a village in a short time. The Atlantic and Lake Erie, now the Ohio Central Railroad, pene trated into the Sundaycreek Valley, and Corning and Rendville sprang up as if by magic. The Columbus and Eastern, now the Columbus, Sandusky and Hock ing gave Clayton township access to the world and her coal found a ready market. The coal field is in no wise exhausted. Towns are still springing up, new mines are being opened and it will be many a day before we can say of the coal industry what we can of the iron. The mine at Congo is one of the model mines of the country. It has been operated about ten years and tens of thousands of tons of the "Black Diamonds" have passed over its screens. Oil Wells. It was a fortunate thing for Corning and vicinity that petroleum was discovered when it was. In Au gust, 1 89 1, the Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad was suffering from a scarcity of water. A deep well was being drilled at the round house. At a depth of 630 feet salt water was struck. This could not be used. They accordingly cased off this water and bored the well to a depth of 1507 feet. They yet found no water, and work ceased for a few days, when they were surprised to find that oil had been thrown on the top of the derrick. This discovery caused the oil men to flock to the territory and it was not long until derricks could be seen on every hill. In June, 1892, the first well was 124 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. shot in section 14, Madison township with eighty quarts of glycerine which had been brought by wagon from Sistersville, W. Va. The oil development began about the time of the panic of 1893. Corning hardly knew what "Hard times" were. It is estimated that there has been over 1,200 producing wells in the entire field. The flow of oil is not so great as formerly. A pipe line carries the oil to Marietta, a distance of thirty-four miles. This line began operation in 1893. The oil had previously been transported in tanks on cars. When the pipe line first began to work the daily output from the field was 500 barrels. In 1896 it had increased to 1,300 barrels daily. It is now considerably less. According to official reports, the Buckeye Pipe Line in the seven years, from 1893 to 1900, had trans ported 2,227,303 barrels. The amount produced since then would be a considerable augmentation to the s above figures. The inventor of a Revolver. Several years before the Colt's Revolvers were in vented, Adam Humberger, a gunsmith in Somerset had made three models. He was of an inventive mind and somewhat of a genius in his line. On a muster day in Somerset, sometime back in the thirties, he tested the utility of his invention before several hun dreds of people, with great success. He, however, never realized any pecuniary benefit from his inven tion. He also invented a corn harvester but died be fore it was pei-fected. - ^^ i ¦ / " ,w *fl.- * ^ .- > ¦ '// .A ir^l mr [ " f '^J^ Pl" ^ rf Sctv -J.'' 'i « IHJ Jl a^at yf^^ ¦> Y"' ± ^w - I wK r j9 ^Sr ¦-' *y ?te?--.\' MONUMENT TO 31ST O. V. I., NEW LEXINGTON, OHIO. HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTV. 125 Perry County in War. Our county need not be ashamed of her war record. In every war in which our countr)- has been engaged, except the Revolution, Perry county has furnished her quota. Beneath her sod rests men \yho were partici pants in that first great struggle of ours in which we secured our independence. Quite a number of the first settlers in the county were Revolutionary soldiers. Christian Binckley, of whom mention has already been made, came from Maryland, where he had rendered important service to his country. Wm. Dusenberry, the first settler in Madison town ship, served in the armj^ under Washington. Daniel Devore, buried in a little cemetery east of Coming, was also a member of the Continental army. There are quite a number of others especially in the north of the county. During the \\'^ar of 1812, Perry county, as such did not exist. The men who enlisted from here were ac credited to Fairfield. It is not known how many sol diers were in that war from Perry county, but a few are known. They were John Fowler, the first settler of Pike township ; John Lidey, of Reading and Henry Hazelton. of Saltlick. When the Mexican \\'ar broke out. our citizens were not long in answering the call of President Polk for volunteers. Two companies were organized in this county under Captains Xoles and Filler. These companies were taken to the scene of the war but they were never in a pitched battle. They did some fight ing with the guerilla troops only. There is one sur- 126 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. vivor of this War in Perry County, Mr. Joel Spohn, of Reading. When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter came to New Lexington, Lyman J. Jackson, who was then Prosecuting Attorney, resigned his office, and at once began to raise a company. In a few days a sufficient number had enlisted and they were mustered in as Company E of the 17th O. V. I. They were under Gen. McClellan and did service in West Virginia. They were what is known as the "Hundred Day" men. When President Lincoln called for volunteers for three years. Major John W. Free, at once raised a company in the southern townships. It took but a few days until his men were ready to go to Camp Chase, where they were mustered in as Company A of the 31st Ohio. A few weeks later Col. W. H. Free, a brother of the Major, had raised another company in Pike, Salt lick, Monroe and Clayton townships. His company be came Company D of the 31st. In the meantime, Capt. Jackson's term of enlist ment had expired. He at once began to raise another company, which became Company G of the 31st. The Thirty-first Regiment did valiant service at Stone River, fought with stubborn resistance at Chick- amauga, swept over Mission Ridge, was with Sher man at Atlanta, and with him marched to the sea. Capt. John F. Fowler of New Lexington, raised a company which reported at Camp Chase and entered as Company D, 30th O. "V. I. This regiment was under fire at the second Bull Run contest. The Perry county company was in the hottest of the fight at South Mountain, took an honorable part at Antietam, was present at the investment of Vicksburg, participated HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. V2i in the battle of Mission Ridge, went with Sherman to the sea, was a part of the attacking force that stormed Ft. McAllister, and then when the war was over, marched in Grand Review in the Capital City. The Sixty-second regiment was full of Perry Coun- tians. There were three full companies from this county and two other companies were composed mostly of Perry men. This regiment saw service under Gen. Rosecrans at the first battle of Winchester. It took part in the bloody assault at Fort Wagner. It assisted at the siege at Petersburg. Many of its men fell at Deep Bottom and some saw the final conflict under Grant at Appomattox. Company H of the Ninetieth Regiment was re cruited in this county by Col. N. F. Hitchcock. This regiment lost heavily at Stone River under Rosecrans. It was -with Thomas at Nashville when he was taking care of Hood, that Sherman's campaign might be a success. The One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment con tained two companies from Perry county. Company G was composed mostly of men from Alondaycreek and Jackson townships. Company I, was recruited in the northern townships. This regiment was present at the fall of Vicksburg and did service in Arkansas and Texas. It suffered considerably with disease, caused by the unhealthful climate. In the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth, Company K was composed of men from Thorn, Hopewell and Madison townships. This regi ment saw some service. It was a part of the army of the Potomac and took part in the battle of the Wil derness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor. It was with Sheridan at Winchester and saw the gallant Perry Countian ride on the field at Cedar Creek. They lay 128 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. before Richmond and went with Sherman to receive the surrender of Johnson. Quite a number of men from our county belonged to the Seventeenth Regiment, after it re-organized for the three years' service. There was in the aggregate about one company, enlisted by Captains Stinchcomb and Ricketts. This regiment participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. It was in the Atlanta campaign and subsequently went with Sherman to the sea. Company K of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth was enlisted in out county. It was under the command of Burnside and did active service in Tennessee, par ticularly at Cumberland Gap. The Legislature of Ohio in 1863 passed an act for the organization of the Ohio National Guard. Six full companies were organized in Perry county. They be came a part of the One Hundred and Sixtieth, O. N. G. It did work in the Shenandoah valley, guarding supply trains and keeping down the guerillas. They had one skirmish with the celebrated Mosby Com mand. . Perry county did her full duty in the Great Civil Conflict. From General Sheridan down to the hum blest private, she deserves her share of the honors. Her sons fought along side of the best and bravest. They poured out their blood upon the fields of con flict. They suffered from disease in hospitals and far worse did they suffer in prison pens. All honor to the men whom Perry county sent forth when her country called. In the Spanish-American War several Perry county boys saw active service in Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. One company was enlisted in this county. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 12M Captain T. D. Binckley at the head of Company A, Seventh O. V. I., spent the summer of 1898 at Camp Alger, Va., and Camp Mead, Pa., waiting for the call to go to the front. The war closed too soon and the boys came home to pursue the ways of peace. Perry County in Congress. Our county has furnished two men to occupy seats in the LTnited States House of Representatives. Each of them served two full terms and one an unexpired term, thus giving the county over eight years in Con gress. In 1846 Gen. Thomas Ritchey, a farmer of Mad ison township was elected. He lived about one mile west of Sego on the Maysville Pike. It was during this term that Phil Sheridan, then a boy in Somerset, applied for admission to \\'est Point, and secured it through Congressman Ritchey. General Ritchey had served in the capacity of County Treasurer some years previous. In 1852 he was again elected from the eleventh district. Congressman Ritchey was a Demo crat in politics. He led on his farm a quiet and unas suming life. He died from the effects of a bum and is buried in the Zion M. E. Cemetery, in Madison town ship. Our next Congressman from Perry county was William E. Fincke of Somerset. He was nominated by the Democratic party and elected to the 38th and 39th Congresses from the twelfth district, and again later to fill out the term made vacant by H. J. Jewett. He served during the Civil War, his first election be ing in 1862. While in Congress he was a member of the judiciary committee. Congressman Fincke was 9 H. p. c. 130 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. born in Somerset in 1822. He w'as educated at St. Joseph's. Admitted to the practice of law at the age of twenty-one, he was almost immediately appointed Prosecuting Attorney. He was originally a Whig and in 1848 was the candidate for Congress on that ticket, coming within a few votes of being elected in a Democratic district. In 1854 when Know-Nothing-ism swept the Whig party out of existence, Mr. Fincke allied himself with the Democratic party. He repre- isented Perry and Muskingum counties in the 50th and 51st General Assemblies, and was the Democratic nominee for the offices of Attorney General and Judge of the Supreme Court on the state ticket. Mr. Fincke died in 1901. He was a gentleman of the old school — courteous, affable and dignified; hon ored by all who knew him, and respected because of his sterling worth, honesty and integrity. Removal of the County Seat. When the county was organized. New Lexington and Rehoboth were aspirants for the honor of being the county seat. When Somerset secured the prize, these villages were very jealous of their successful rival. As the south of the county became more densely populated, agitation for the removal of the county seat to a rhore "central" position was begun. Rehoboth and New Lexington could both agree upon the word "central." About 1840 Rehoboth came to a standstill in her growth and her fate was sealed. New Lexing ton became the sole rival of Somerset. During the decade beginning with 1840, several -men were elected to the Legislature with the expec tation that they would secure the passage of a bill for the removal of the county seat. In 1849 it had become HISTORY OF PERRY COUXT1 . LSI a question of such importance that the issue on the election of Representative was "Removal," or "Let well enough alone." In this election, the friends of removal carried the day. In 1851 after a hard struggle and considerable "lobbying" a bill was passed for the removal to New- Lexingto.i, provided that a majority of the electors of the county so wished. The contest which followed was a most exciting "one. The result shewed that "For Removal" had a majority of 292. The Somerset people then put the matter into the courts to test the constitutionality of the law that pro vided for the election. Allen G. Thurman was then a judge of the District Court and his opinion was that the law was entirely in accord with the constitution. This put the county seat at New Lexington. But there was no Court House at that place in which to store the records. The Somerset people then succeded in securing the passage of a bill for the "removal" back to ."-Somerset. This, too, was left to the electors. In 1853 the second election w as held. It was even more exciting than the first one. The Democratic party was divided. The Whigs put no ticket into the field. Somerset was filled with strangers, who were working on the rail road that was to run through that place. New Lex ington was filled with strangers who were working on the Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanesville Railroad. Somerset voted these strangers without inquiring too closely as to their residence. So, too, did New Lexing ton. The New Lexington contingent paid men who lived along the border of adjoining counties two dollars per day to move their families across the line till after the election. So too, did Somerset. Election day came and Somerset won. Xew Lexington cried 132 iUS'lORY OF PERRY COUNTY. "fraud." Somerset did not deny it. Their reply was that you "fight fire with fire." This result allowed the capital to remain at Somerset. It was now New Lexington's turn to go into the courts and demand an opinion as to the constitution ality of the law under which Somerset gained her vic tory. It was several years before the decision came. It was to the effect that the law was in dire conflict with constitutional prerogative and, therefore, the elec tion held thereunder was null and void. That meant that the first law was still in force. In January, 1857, the removal was made by wagon over the hills, and New Lexington was happy. Somerset was equally de pressed but full of "fight," for in 1859 they succeeded in naming the Democratic candidate for Representa tive. Their candidate was persona non grata to the Lexingtonians, who proceeded to nominate another. Two Democratic tickets in the field and no Republican, made 'things intensely interesting. The election was exciting. The people were desperate. It was the final struggle. New Lexington won and Somerset was ready to quit. New Lexington was glad of the chance. The agitation and contest over the affair, from the beginning to the finality covered a period of eighteen years. Wars in which the destiny and fate of nations have been determined, have occupied considerable less time. The county seat question made a "Mason and Dixon Line" in our county, which is even yet retraced on special occasions. It may not be generally known that when the Somerset party saw that it was "all up" with them, a petition was presented to the Ohio Legislature, "pray ing" for the dissolution of Perry county and the divi sion of her territory among the contiguous counties. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTV. 133 This petition was presented b\- the Representative of ^Morgan county. The original, containing the names of many of the prominent citizens of northern Perry, was found in a barrel, stowed away in an attic, some years since. The author tells this as a matter of history. His information came from a reliable citizen of Morgan county, whose veracity can not be questioned. It only serves to show to what height sectional feeling had arisen over the permanent location of the county seat. Public Buildings. Including John Fink's Tavern at Somerset, our county has her fifth Court House. Justice was dis pensed there at the first while the various offices were located in rented rooms. In 1819 a stone and brick building was erected on South Columbus street, in Somerset, as a jail. A court room and some of the offices were also included. The cost of this building was $2,335. This was our capitol till 1829, when a new Court House was built on the north side of the Public Square. This building still stands as it was then built, with the exception of a jail, joined to it in 1848, and some recent repairs. The original building of 1829 cost the tax payers of Perr)- County $6,600, while the jail, built to it was erected for the sum of $6,195.92. The 1829 building was not large enough to accommodate all of the offices. .-K part of them re mained in the old jail building, till the new one was completed. Over the main door of the Court House can yet be seen that wonderful inscription — "Let lustice be done. If the Heavens should fall." 134 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. As to its real meaning this inscription has long been an enigma. It is a case wherein considerable reading between the lines can be indulged. If the period after the word done be changed to a comma, as was evidently the intention, we are left in a considerable quandary as to the time when justice will prevail. If the period be allowed to remain, then we have two sentences. The first one sounds very well and is a noble sentiment. Then after the second sentence we are obliged to place an exclamation point, all of which then seems to con vey the idea, that the justice therein administered, was such a rarity, that when it was rendered, the heavens would certainly collapse. The first Court House at New Lexington was not paid for by the tax payers. The friends of removal to New Lexington, by private subscription, raised the necessary amount. One of the stipulations in the Act for the change of the county seat, was that suitable buildings should be provided. After the completion of the building it stood vacant for several years before the offices were placed in it. The present Court House was built in 1887, ^f ^ cost of $143,000. It is one of the finest buildings for its purpose in the state. The original County Infirmary was built in 1839 and 1840. It was enlarged some time in the seventies. Strange to say that the part built in 1839 is still in sufficiently good condition, to render it suitable to be built to by the new building that is now being con structed, while the one more recently built has been condemned and is being torn down. The one that is now building will be a handsome structure, with all of the modern improvements. It is to cost $35,000. OLD COURT HOUSE AT SOMERSET. HISIORY OF PERRY COUNTV. 135 The Orphans' Home is a large commodious build ing that has been prepared to shelter quite a number of children. It is situated at the eastern edge of New Lexington and has been established about a dozen years. The Underground Railroad. "Many years ago on a dark, bitter cold night, if persons had passed the old M. E. Church in Deaver- town, and observed closely, they might have seen dim lights within, and heard low, strange whisperings while the winds whistled mournfully around the house and among the tombs of the dead. And if persons seeing and hearing this had become frightened and gone awaj- without closer investigation, there would have been marvelous stories of a haunted house and church yard, the secret of w^hich, the death of two or three persons would have left forever unrevealed. But it was all very natural and easily accounted for.'' The above is quoted from the New Lexington Tribune of some }-ears ago. It was written by Thomas Lonsdale Gray of Deavertown. He was a descendant of Lord Lonsdale of North Yarmouth, England, and w as one of the principal conductors on the famous "Un derground Rai4road." The picture shown is that of ^Ir. Gray and his home. The house has the same appearance as it had when it sheltered fugitive slaves. While the highway of runaway slaves did not pass directly through Perry county, yet it was so near the Perry-Morgan line and many times altogether in the county, that she too can share in the glory of the "Underground." Between the years 1850-60 fugitive slaves were numerous. The lines of travel were well defined. Communities w^here a strong pro-slavery sen timent prevailed were evaded. Stations were estab- 136 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. lished at certain intervals and conductors were ever ready to assist in their flight. Deavertown seems to have been the convergence of two routes from the Ohio river. The most important of these was the one coming b)- the way of Pennsville, in Morgan county. Pennsville was a Quaker settlement. The other one came by way of Athens and followed the Athens and Zanesville road. This one passed through Porters- ville. From Deavertown the route extended to Zanes ville. Roseville was not considered a healthful place and so they kept to the right. John Ball in Porters- ville made his home a stopping-place, while David H. Deaver, commanded the first one south of Deavertown, known as Station D. The subterfuges resorted to, makes highly interest ing reading. The evasion of slave hunters, the putting them on the wrong scent and the narrow escapes are thrilling to say the least. Hundreds of slaves were transferred over this "railroad" and many people yet remember the "knock at the door" and the dark shadow that was ushered into the attic to await the next move. IVIorgan's Raid. "Alorgan is coming'! Morgan is coming!" This was the cry that startled the midnight air, in southern Perry, as a galloping horseman, like Paul Revere, rode over our hills to arouse the "country folk to be up and to arm." "Then there was hurrying to and fro" for the iron hoof of war was approaching. The silver spoons and the silver watch and the gold ear-rings, that were heirlooms in the family, were hidden behind the soap jar, in the dingiest corner of the smoke house. And, Frank, the family horse, was suddenly aroused from his slumbers in the stall bv the bridle ---J,..- - ,./ » * 1 i ^A. i^ isii ©is?'-. . -. ' , i tU.#!# ipi^^y i^/fi-^ ^^Si k. - -„ --¦ - .- -' ^^^^ -^ r^ym OLD COURT HOUSE AT NEW- LEXINGTON. OUR TEMPLE OF JUSTICE. (Courtesy of New Lexington Herald.) HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. IB! bit slipping into his mouth. He no doubt thought that now he would have to make a hurried run to New Lexington, Maxville or Oakfield for the doctor. But instead he was unceremoniously hustled down be hind the barn, across ditches, through brier patches, to a remote ravine in the farthest corner of the farm, and tied to a sapling in a thicket, where he spent the remainder of the night in cogitation. Alorgan was indeed coming. What route he would take no one knew. He was headed our way. Alany stories were afloat as to his methods. The report generally was that he was robbing and burning every thing in his pathw ay. A part of this was true. But when John Alorgan, the Confederate cavalry leader, -vvent through Perry county, he was not bent so much on devastation as he was to get out of the country. Fresh horses and food were the most that he wanted. He was in the enemy's countr\' and his reception was a little warmer than he had anticipated. He had thought that there were only a few old men and bo)-s left here. While it was true that the most of our able bodied men were in the service of their country, there was still a sufficient number here, to make it exceed ingly interesting for him, even if the National Guard that was sent to Alarietta, to intercept him were armed only with tin-cups. Alorgan's original inten tion was to carry "grim-visaged war" into Ohio, but by the time he had been chased across the state and had zigzagged and criss-crossed his path several times, he had changed his mind to a considerable extent. Alorgan had come into Ohio from Indiana, crossing the boundary at Harrison just north of Cincinnati. He was being closely pursued by tleneral Hobson's cavalry. Hurridly crossing the state through the 138 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. southern tier of counties, he attempted to cross the river at Buffington Island in Meigs county. Gun boats had been sent up the river to intercept his cross ing. Here on Sunday, July i8, 1863, was fought the only battle of the Civil War on Ohio soil. The Con federates numbered about two thousand men. Mor gan, with eight hundred succeeded in crossing the river. Seeing that he could not get all of his army across, he, himself came back to the Ohio side and started toward the. west. His intention was to get the gunboats to go down the river, when he would suddenly turn and cross before they would have time to come back again. At Harrisonville he turned south and reached the river at Cheshire in Gallia county. Still he could not effect a crossing. Turning to the west again for a dozen miles he suddenly veered toward the north-east. His object 1.0W was to outrun the pursuing cavalry, and reach the Ohio river in the neigh borhood of Wheeling before the boats could arrive. It was on this race between him and General Shackle- ford, that he passed through our county. Morgan reached Nelsonville about ten o'clock in the morning. He burned some canal boats and rested his men till about two o'clock in the afternoon. He went only two miles more that day. He encamped for the night in a wheat field where a part of the village of Buchtel is now located. General Shackle- ford came into Nelsonville at four o'clock, six hours after the Raiders. His men and horses were dusty, tired and hungry. Morgan as he went along had taken the best horses and Shackleford was obliged to take what was left. Even with the Confederate force only two miles away, it was impossible to attempt their capture, after the four hours rest they had secured at OLD PERRY COUXTY INFIRMARY. A STATION ON THE " UNDERGROUND." THOMAS L. GRAY. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. IS9 Nelsonville. The next morning- when Sliackleford reached the top of the hill, from where he had seen on the evening before, the enemy in camp, he now- saw- that during the night the dashing Morgan had slipped away. He had gone up the tributary of Big Monday creek, through where are now the towns of Orbiston and Murray, then crossing the Mondaycreek-Sunday- creek divide, struck our county in Section 35. Coal township, came down into the valley at Hemlock, followed the .^undaycreek Branch through Bucking ham and reached Millertown sometime in the after noon. Here he rested his men till six o'clock in the evening. He took some horses in the neighborhood of Buckingham. Four were taken from Squire AIc- Donald, one each from Alorgan Devore. Air. Aloore and Thomas Skenyon. Shackleford reached Alillertown during the night and camped on the ground where Alorgan had rested his men in the afternoon. It can be seen that the Union General was here losing ground. His men were so completely exhausted and their horses were in such a condition that the progress was very slow. Richard Nuzum, ex-county commissioner 01 Perr}' county, went up to Alillertown the next morning and found men sleeping all around. It was ten o'clock before the union forces left Millertown. Aleanwhile Alorgan had passed through where Coming now is. climbed the hill to the Chapel Hill Church, passed up to Porter ville and then out of the county, camping for the night on Island Run in Alorgan county. Alorgan had pressed Henry- Kuntz. a citizen of our county, into his service as his pilot. Several New- Lexington men whose curiosity was greater than their prudence went out on the trail of the Confederate^. Suddenly thev 140 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. rode into the camp on Island Run. Two of them were captured. They were taken along, but were allowed their freedom somewhere over in Guernsey county. Morgan crossed the Muskingum at Eagles- port. At this place a furnace-man from Logan, who had joined Shackleford at Nelsonville, was sKot by a sharp-shooter, while he was reconnoitering on the high bluffs above the Muskingum. General Shackel ford captured Morgan near New Lisbon in Colum biana county. The Confederate leader, was impris oned for several months in the Ohio Penitentiary from which he made his escape. One of Alorgan's men fell behind in our county. He was captured and taken to New Lexington, where he attracted considerable attention. He was sent to Camp Chase, Columbus, where Confederate prison ers were kept during the war. Morgan's Raiders took what they wanted, and if no objections were made to their wholesale appro-- priations, no one was molested. In closing this account we quote from Colborn's History of Perry county. " A plucky woman of Monroe township, who was riding along the road ga\ie thq raiders a piece of her mind. They did not retaliate in words, but gently lifted the lady from her saddle and appropriated her horse. Dr. W. H. Holden of Millertown, then on a tour of visits to his patients, was promptly relieved of his horse, but was kindly permitted to retain his saddle-bags, which he carried the remainder of the way on his arm, as he trudged homeward on foot. A farmer was hauling a load of hay along the road. His team was halted, the harness stripped from the horses in a twinkling, and there the farmer sat upon his load of hav, a much astonished and bewildered individual. HISTORY OF PERRY COUXTY. 141 There was a wool-picking party at the house of a farmer ; quite a number of ladies was there and sup per was just announced. Alorgan's men came in un invited, appropriated all of the seats, and remarked that it was very impolite to take precedence of the ladies, but that they were in a great hurry and could not afford to wait, \\hat they left in the way of eat ables was hardly worth mentioning.'' Population of Perry County. 1820 8,459 183n 13,970 l*4'i 19,344 L?5ii 20,775 l¥'." 19,678 1870 ¦ 18,453 im> 28,218 189u 31,151 19hm 31,841 The census of i860 and 1870 show a decrease in population. The first .yas caused by the removal of Californian gold-hunters, known as the "Fifty-Sixers. " The second decrease -^yas the result of the Civil ^^'ar. Constitutional Conventions. In the Constitutional Convention that met in Cin cinnati in 1 85 1 and adopted Ohio's present constitu tion. Perry county was represented b\- John Lidey, of Reading township. Air. Lidey was a soldier in the war of 1812 and at one time represented Perry county in the lower House of the Legislature. In 1871 the people of Ohio again voted for a Convention. It met in 1873 and our county was represented by Col. L}- man J. Jackson. Col Jackson was a descendent from New England Puritans and has the reputation of being 142 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. the First Volunteer from Perry County in the Civil War. At that time he was Prosecuting Attorney of the county, but resigned to organize a company of which he was Captain. He was afterward appointed Colonel of the 159th O. V I. After the war he repre sented the Fifteenth District, consisting of Perry and Muskingum counties, in the Ohio Senate. The Con stitution of 1871 was never ratified by the people of Ohio became of the clause licensing the liquor traffic. Col. James H. Taylor. A history of Perry county would be far from com plete if it neglected to say, at least, a few words con cerning the man, who had, more than any other man, to do with the development of her great mineral re sources. " Pomp and circumstance " too often at tract our attention, and we give our honors to less de serving persons. While on the other hand, there may be within our ranks, people toiling, unobtrusively and alone, whose labors will have greater results and be of more lasting benefit. Perry countians delight in telling about the dashing Sheridan, the versatile and brilliant MacGahan, the scholarly Zahm, the financier Elkins and the statesman. Rusk. But there lies in the New Lexington ceme tery a man to whose memory every village in southern Perry, every coal mine and every railroad is a living monument. From 1865 to 1868, Col. James H. Taylor prospected over the hills of Perry county. He went from farm to farm, carrying with him an old carpet bag, in which he placed specimens of coal and ore. As ne went about digging here and there, and telling some old farmer that a -wonderful vein of coal was on his HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 143 farm, he was looked upon as a sort of lunatic — but tiarmless. He met many a bland smile of incredulity. His knowledge of mineralogy not only served him well in this pursuit but he w as also a vigorous writer. As soon as he satisfied himself of the abundance of the mineral wealth, he began to write a series of articles for the Columbus, Cincinnati and New York papers. These attracted wide attention. The result was that capitalists began to be interested. Many discourage ments attended the early development but when fairl)- started, the growth was phenomenal. Within ten years the population of the county had doubled. Shaw nee, Coming, Straitsville and other villages sprang into existence. Furnaces were erected. Mines were opened. Railroads were built. Alany of the men interested became millionaires. Among them were Gen. Samuel Thomas, Ex-Senator Brice, and Ex-Gov ernor Foster. But the discoverer of all this wealth and its chief promoter never received any financial reward. He and other Perry county associates had 125,000 acres of the best mineral land in the county, but the panic of 1873 came and they went down in the crash and outsiders reaped the harvest. Col. James Ta\-lor was born in Harrison township, this county, Alay 3, 1825. He descended from ances tors who had alwa)-s taken active interest in public affairs. His grandfather had served on the staff of Gen. Monroe in the Revolutionary War. His father fought in the war with Alexico. He, himself, served throughout the Civil War. On the maternal side the blood of Simon Kenton, the celebrated Indian fighter and scout, ran through his veins. He had but limited educational advantages, such as came to most boys of his time. However he was a great student of history. 144 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. This, with a most wonderful memory, made him au thority on many subjects and eminently fitted him for newspaper work. The last fifteen years of his life were spent as editorial writer for the Ohio State Journal. In 1883 when Henry George was spreading his political theories he published a pamphlet in reply. This had an immense sale and provoked much dis cussion. He died Jan. 25, 1891. He certainly de serves to be called one of Perry County's prominent sons. Stephen Benton Elkins. It is said that great men come from the hills. If this statement were doubted, the incredulous would only need to glance over the history of southern Ohio and be convinced. 'With Somerset as the center, there can be found within a radius of fifty miles, the birth places of more men of eminence than in any similar area in the United States. Perry county has furnished her quota in this array of celebrities. The men and women who braved the terrors of frontier life, to build for themselves homes in a new land were of a hardy and thrifty character. Their children schooled in this "rough and ready" life, developed the iron nerve and the conservative temper- ment, that makes man master of situations. From the rude homesteads on the hill-side farms of old Perry, have gone out into the various avenues of life, men, who have been the progressive factors in the building up of manv settlements in the great west and southwest. While they may not have attained to such a high eminence as some, yet they have filled their places and deserve no less credit for what they have done. It is with some degree of pride that we claim for Perry county, the birthplace of Stephen Benton Elkins, STEPHE.X B. ELKINS. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 145 He was born on a farm about three miles southeast o£ Thornville, in Section 13, Thorn township, September 26, 1841, His early years were spent here. Moving with his parents to Missouri, he partly educated him self in the public schools. At the age of only nineteen he graduated from the University of the State, -with first honors. He then studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1863, joined the Union army, and served in the rank of Captain. Crossing the plains to New Mexico in 1864, he determined to win success in that sparsely settled border country. Seeing that his igno rance of Spanish would be in the way of his ambition, he set to work and in one year was master of it. His clientage rapidly grew, and his popularity with it. For in less than two years after his arrival, he was elected to the territorial legislature. The next year he was made Attorney-General of the territory. The suc ceeding year President Johnson appointed him United States District Attorney for New Mexico. While oc cupying this position it became his duty to see that the law forbidding slavery should be enforced. This he did in such a decisive manner that it gave him greater prestige than ever. In 1869 he went into the banking buGiness, thus beginning his phenomenal career as a financier. Investing his money judiciously in lands and mines, he became immensely wealthy. In 1873 he was elected Delegate to Congress from New Mexico and in 1875 he was re-elected. While in Congress, Mr. Elkins was married to a daughter of Senator Henry G. Davis of West A/'irginia. In 1878, leaving New Mexico, he went to West "Vir ginia, where he began the development of coal lands. He gave up the active practice of law and devoted his 10 H. p. c. 146 HIS-^ORY OF PERRY COUNTY. time entirely to the management of his business in terests. While he has become a millionaire, himself, yet he has done an immeasurable amount of good to the people of his adopted state, by causing the invest ment of capital. In 1891 President Harrison appointed him Secretary of War, and in 1895 he was elected United States Senator, which position he yet holds. He lives in a beautiful country home, "Hallie- hUrst," at Elkins, Randolph county. West Virginia. This four story mansion stands on a mountain side of unusual beauty. It commands a magnificent view of the valley beneath and the forest and mountain peaks "ivhich frame the scene. In this magnificent home he spends his leisure among his books and friends. In addition to his many business duties he has not failed to drink at learning's fount, to become conversant with the best literature, and to make of himself a cultured g-entleman in every respect. He is a man of strong and sturdy build, is more than six feet in height, has firm 'eatures, and a large head set firmly on his shoulders. Perry county has no reason to be ashamed of Ste phen Benton Elkins, lawyer, financier, statesman and gentleman. The Knight of the Pen. On the 19th of May, 1900, there came to the village Df New Lexington, a stranger. It was Stoyan Krstoft' Vatralsky, a native of Bulgaria. He had just gradu- ited from Harvard University and was preparing to eturn to his home-land. Before going, however, he came to visit the grave of the man, who, is held most dearly in the affections of the Bulgarian nation. The citizens of New Lexington showed him every courtesy. He was taken to view the birthplace of his hero. In THE KNIGHT OF THE PEN, MacCAHAN. (Courtesy of Rosary Magazine.) HISTORY i)F PERRY COUXTY. 147 the Court House he addressed the people in the follow ing brief and expressive language : "I do not come here in an official capacity; yet, in com ing thus to honor the dust of MacGahan, I am a representa live of the Bulgarian people. We Bulgarians sincerely cher ish in the grateful niche of our memory the name of Janarius Aloysius MacGahan as one of the liberators of our country. "MacGahan and Eugene Schuyler, another true Ameri can, were Bulgaria's first friends, and at the time she needed them most. They not only accomplished a great work for themselves, at an opportune time, but furthermore set in motion forces and influences that made other men's work more effective, thus rendering the achievement of her libera tion possible. Had it not been for these American writers, their graphic and realistic exposure of Bulgaria's wounds and tears to the world, there would have been no Gladstonian thunder, no European consternation ; no Russo-Turkish war : no free Bulgaria. It was the American pen that drove the Russian sword to action. ¦Although he died at the early age of thirty-four, Mac- Gahan's life was far from being either brief or in vain. Measured not by years but by achievements, he lived a long life. Long enough to set history to the task of writing his name among the world's illustrious : among the great jour nalists, philanthropists and liberators of whole races. And I venture to predict that in the future his merits shall be more universally, more adequately recognized than hitherto. Bul garia and Ohio must and will yet do what becomes them as enlightened states. Some of you, as I hope, shall live to sec a suitable memorial mar'