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JEROME TOWNSHIP
L. CURRY
1900
SS
Class F499
Book J5600 Copyright N.º
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.
W. L. CURRY 1913
SOLDIERS' MONI MENT, NEW CALIFORNIA, OHIO.
The Monument stands on the northwest corner of the Square, facing South. The building in the rear and to the right is the old Seceder Church, now used as a Town Hall.
HISTORY
-OF-
JEROME TOWNSHIP UNION COUNTY, OHIO
"Memory, a source of pleasure and instruction, is the only paradise out of which we cannot be driven away. "-Rogers.
By W. L. CURRY
COLUMBUS,
1913 OHIO
F490 .J56C9
Copyrighted, 1913 By W. L. CURRY Published in October, 1913
MAR 25 1914
Press of The Edward T. Miller Co. Columbus, Ohio
$ 2,00
Č CIA371010
CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFACE
4-5
JEROME TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED
INDIANS
8
FIRST SETTLEMENT 9
THE LOG CABIN
11
HUNTING AND TRAPPING. 13
THE LOG SCHOOLHOUSE. 20
BARRING THE TEACHER OUT 23
24
MILLING AND EARLY INDUSTRIES
30
CHURCHES
35
VILLAGE OF PLAIN CITY
40
VILLAGE OF JEROME
42
VILLAGE OF NEW CALIFORNIA
48
VILLAGE OF ARNOLD.
57
JEROME TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
58 60
HISTORICAL ADDRESS 64
72
CIVIL WAR
73
THE BOYS OF '61 - Poem
78
HISTORY OF REGIMENTS.
80
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
162
COLONEL GEORGE RUEHLEN - Biographical Sketch.
168
MEXICAN WAR
170
WAR OF 1812. 175
181
OUR BOYS OF OTHER STATES.
184
OUR HEROINES 186
ROSTER 191
SOLDIERS BURIED IN JEROME TOWNSHIP 201
OUR HEROIC DEAD
203
SOCIAL GATHERINGS
DEDICATION OF SOLDIERS' MONUMENT
WAR HISTORY
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
PREFACE.
In distinction from romance, history is defined as "A true story or record of important events," and the writing and pub- lication of this little volume was undertaken with the desire that there may be a continuity of some of the facts already published in a county history some twenty years ago, as it was my fortune to furnish the greater part of the Jerome Township history for that publication.
By reason of the limited space in this volume, many inter- esting historical incidents must be omitted, yet we of the third generation from the pioneers who first settled in Jerome Township, have heard from the lips of our fathers and mothers many thrilling stories of Indian warfare, hunting, and other interesting incidents of pioneer life, which should be handed down to our descendants.
It has therefore been a pleasant duty to record for the future historian some of the facts that have not been hereto- fore published, to be utilized fifty years hence when he writes of the present progressive fourth generation. The story of the manner of living in the log cabins, the trials and hardships of the early settlers, will always be of intense interest to the young. The first generation has all passed to the other shore, and I hope they abide in a land where the birds sing as sweetly, the streams flow as gently as they did along the banks of Darby Creek and Sugar Run a century ago.
Perhaps the boys and girls of fifty years ago, whose hair is now sprinkled with the frosts of three score and ten winters, when they glance at these pages, may go back in memory as I have done, gaze into the wood fire at the old homestead, and live over again the days of childhood and youth.
Walking down the other side of the hill facing the sunset of life you can see in that flickering blaze the corner in the old fireplace where you conned over your lessons in the long winter evenings, read the weekly newspaper, cracked hickory
nuts gathered from the old shellbark tree down in the meadow, ate Bellflower apples and drank cider.
As you muse, hear again the sweet strains of the old songs, "Where are the friends that to me were so dear,
Long, long ago, long, long ago";
"Home, Sweet Home," listen to the thrilling stories of adven- ture, broken now and then by the bark of the faithful dog on the doorstep.
In the war history, writing in undue eulogy of any organi- zation or arm of the service has been studiously avoided. It is not intended to extol the service of any soldier or officer, but to give credit where credit is due to any organization, and to give the service of each regiment as shown by official records.
Believing all soldiers, in whatever organization they may have served, to be equally patriotic, brave and faithful, wher- ever the fortunes of war cast them - whether heroes of the Revolution, Soldiers of the War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, or Spanish-American War.
JEROME TOWNSHIP, UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
The township was organized March 12, 1821, and the first election was held May 10, 1821, for the selection of Justice of the Peace. Clark Provin received the entire fifteen votes cast. James Ewing, Frederick Sager and Simeon Hager were the judges of the election. John Taylor and John McCune were the clerks.
When the first settlers came into the territory in Jerome Township along Darby Creek, it was the favorite "hunting grounds" of the Indians. In many places the traces of their wigwams still remained and the country was full of all kinds of game, including bears, deer, wolves, panthers, and small game.
Just north of Plain City, the Indians had a town where they lived in large numbers in wigwams covered with bark, until about the year 1800.
On the old Kent farm on Sugar Run was a sugar camp where the Indians manufactured maple syrup. Parties from Chillicothe often came here to trade for large quantities of raccoon skins and other furs. At this time the Indians were generally friendly.
The first sheep were brought to the township by James Ewing and he had to keep them confined in a high pen built of logs to keep the wolves from attacking them. One day, a number of Indians called at his cabin and one of the dogs be- longing to the Indians jumped into the pen and attacked the sheep, whereupon Mr. Ewing took his rifle and killed the dog. This made the Indians very angry, and they had some trouble. As it happened, Jonathan Alder, who had been among the Indians for many years and understood their ways, interposed and peace was established between the Indians and the white men.
Wolves were very plentiful, but soon after the settlement was established, a bounty of $4.00 a scalp was paid by the
8
History of Jerome Township
county, which resulted in killing off the larger number of wolves.
Jonathan Alder lived in Jerome Township on the west side of Darby, just north of Plain City. He was taken prisoner by the Indians in Virginia when he was a small boy and lived with them until he grew to manhood. When he lived in Jerome Township he had a squaw wife. At this time he talked the Indian language entirely, but soon re-learned the English language. He finally parted from his squaw wife and she went northward with her people. He then married a white girl, but always seemed to be very much afraid of his squaw wife. The squaw wife did visit Mr. Alder's house during his absence and destroyed much of his white wife's wardrobe. She then left the neighborhood and that seems to have been the last he heard of her. The following is the inscription on his tombstone :
" Jonathan Alder, born September 17, 1773.
Taken prisoner by the Indians in 1781.
Died January 30, 1849."
When the War of 1812 opened, apprehensions of trouble with these Indians were entertained, but they remained friendly and no hostilities or difficulties arose to mar their peaceful relations. Some of the rougher class of settlers were on intimate terms with the Indians and would go to their camps and join in the convivial feasts that were held there. The children of the earliest pioneers were for a time in mortal dread of them and it required a long time before they could be accustomed to their presence.
James Robinson had one of the earliest orchards in the vicinity, and after the trees approached the age of bearing he was greatly annoyed by the birds that had a strong liking for his choice fruit, and manifested the design of indulging their appetites before it was ripe enough to pluck. Some Indian lads, belonging to several families near by, were very expert in shooting birds with their small bows and arrows, and Mr. Robinson agreed with them, by means of signs, that for each bird they killed in the orchard he would give an apple. It
LOG CABIN HOMESTEAD OF STEPHENSON CURRY. (Erected 1829.)
OLD SCHOOLHOUSE, NEW CALIFORNIA. (Erected 1852.)
3
M.GRORY
OLD SECEDER CHURCH, VEW CALIFORNIA. (Erected 1852.)
CAVALRY WATERING, CHATTANOOGA VALLEY, TENNESSEE.
9
History of Jerome Township
happened that the following day was Sunday, and as Mr. Robinson, who was a God-fearing Presbyterian, was engaged in the usual morning prayers, the Indian lads rushed in with a bird they had killed. The conscientious pioneer could not tolerate the idea of profaning the Sabbath by this unhallowed sport, and by shaking his head and gesticulting, intimated to them that they must not engage in it that day. They departed highly incensed, thinking he had withdrawn from his agree- ment, and after the old folks had gone to church that day, the Indian youths amused themselves by pointing their weapons at the children left at home, who fled to the house for protec- tion and remained within with bolted doors till their parents returned.
When the troubles of 1812 had commenced, it was several times rumored that the Indians had taken up arms and were preparing to make a raid upon the settlement. Many families, panic-stricken, deserted their homes and fled farther south. At one time, a party of settlers, including Moses Mitchell, then a lad of sixteen years, fearlessly marched to the Indian villages far to the north to ascertain if they had concluded to put on the war paint and make the rumored attack. They found the Indians sitting in council, but with no hostile intent. The band of whites remained with them all night, then returned to their friends and quieted their fears.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first settlers in the territory of Jerome Township were Joshua and James Ewing, two brothers. They settled in this territory in 1798 and erected the first cabin on the west bank of Darby Creek about one mile north of Plain City. This was the first cabin erected in the territory of Union County. Lucas Sullivant had laid out a town near this spot and called it North Liberty, about a year before the Ewings emigrated from Lex- ington County, Ky., but no house had been erected. At that time the Indians were very plentiful along Darby and seemed loath to leave their favorite "hunting grounds."
James Ewing established the first store in Union County,
2
10
History of Jerome Township
at his farm in Jerome Township, and was appointed the first Postmaster.
Soon after the Ewings arrived in Union County, other set- tlers followed, prominent among whom were the Taylors, Rob- insons, Mitchells, Kents, Currys, Cones, Mcculloughs, Bucks, Provins, Notemans, McCunes, Sagers, Shovers, McClungs and Conners. Afterwards the Wises, McCampbells, Liggetts, Rob- insons, Beards, Woodburns, Hawns, McCrorys, Flecks, Ketches, Dodges, Gills, Gowans, McDowells' Foxes, Converses, Kahlers, Ruehlens, Dorts, Crottingers, Nonnemakers, Beaches, Colliers, Bishops, Hudsons, Kiles, Stones, Donaldsons, Patter- sons, McKittricks, Frys, Norris, Jackson, Laugheads, Evans, Stewart, Magill, Biggers, Moss, Rickards, Roneys, Adams, Herriotts, Hensels, Chapmans, Kilburys, Brinkerhoffs, Hagers, Morrisons, Wells, Dunboraws, Cooks, Arnolds, Channels, War- ners, Bethards, Cramers, Hills, Hoberts, Greens, McCunes, Bowersmiths, Cases, Harringtons and Wagners, all of whom are among the older settlers of half a century ago. The ma- jority of the early settlers came from the colonies of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and a few of them from the New England States.
The large majority of these people were staunch Presbyte- rians and Seceders, the church now known as the United Pres- byterian Church. In fact, the settlers along Darby and Sugar Run were always known as strongly Presbyterian people, and at the present time the U. P. Society is still retained at New California.
Many of the first settlers came from Revolutionary ances- tors, and a number of Revolutionary soldiers settled in Union County. Among others was Colonel James Curry, who received 1,000 acres of land in part pay for his services as a Revolu- tionary soldier, which was for seven years as an officer of the Virginia Continental Line. Henry Shover, who settled in the township early in 1800, was also a soldier of the Revolution. Some of the land is still in the name of the Curry family.
Jessie Mitchell, born November 4th, 1799, was the first white child born in Union County, and removed from Darby
11
History of Jerome Township
Township in 1823. He resided on the old Mitchell farm until he died, May 13th, 1881. He was a very highly esteemed and influential citizen, raised a large family, all of whom are de- ceased. A number of his descendants still reside in the town- ship, and some of the land is still in the Mitchell name.
The citizens were strongly temperate, and it is a remarkable fact that there has never been a saloon within the territory of Jerome Township, although it has been settled for more than one hundred years. Another remarkable fact is that so far as is known, no one of the old settlers or their descendants has ever been convicted of a felony. Many of the old settlers were well educated and took an active part in establishing the com- mon school system in the county.
THE LOG CABIN AND THE OLD FIREPLACE.
This chapter is particularly for the boys and girls of today to give them a glimpse of the manner of living, and hardships which their grandfathers and grandmothers endured in the early days and well remembered by the older residents who survive. Sixty years ago, as some of the now oldest genera- tion of the township can remember, there were but few houses either of brick or frame in this section of the country. In fact many of the dwelling houses were erected of round logs not even hewn, but in time the better class of dwellings were made of hewed logs nicely matched and the openings between the logs "daubed" with mud mixed with lime, whitewashed, and presented a very neat appearance. When a citizen had his logs cut, hewed, and hauled to the location of erection the neighbors were invited to the "raising" and they came with axes and all necessary tools on the day set. There was great strife among the ax-men to see who could "take up a corner" the neatest and most rapid and it was very dangerous work for an inex- perienced boy, but they were all anxious to try their hands, usually under the eyes of their fathers. There was also great rivalry in running the logs up to the workmen on skids by using long forked poles, and frequently one end of the log would be rushed so fast that the other end would fall and the workmen
12
History of Jerome Township
were sometimes injured by the falling timber. The house or stable, whichever it might be, was usually raised in one day and the ridgepole put on ready for the roof. The roof of clap- boards, split usually from oak timber, was kept in place by long weight-poles instead of by nails.
It is well known to the older citizens, but may not be to many of the younger generation, the only way of heating the cabins or of cooking was by the old fireplace, about six feet wide, and many of the chimneys were made of sticks plastered with clay mortar on the inside. Cooking outfits were not very elaborate and usually consisted of an oven or two for baking corn pone, a skillet, an iron tea kettle, coffee pot and one or two small iron kettles and same number of large iron kettles for boiling hominy, making soap, and for washing clothes. The dishes were of the old blue pattern decorated with birds, ani- mals and flowers, which are now considered the proper style and are quite rare. Before these old fireplaces and on the iron cranes that swung the kettles the good old mothers of the pioneer days would prepare chicken and squirrel potpies with accompanying side dishes fit for a king. How many men who live in luxury today long for the corn pone, the pies and "pound cakes" that mother made. The first improvement in cooking before the day of stoves, was the tin reflector. It was about two and a half feet wide with open front and one foot deep with a shed-like top running out toward the fire at an angle of 45 degrees, which reflected the heat from the fireplace to bread or cakes arranged on a tin or sheet-iron shelf raised six inches from the hearth on small iron legs, so that coals were placed under to heat below while the reflector heated above. The ad- vent of the reflector was considered a great advance in the convnience of cooking and baking and was used in the majority of families until cook stoves were introduced in the vicinity about sixty years ago.
Nearly every cabin had a loom with spinning wheels for both wool and flax, and the linsey, Jeans and linen cloth was woven by the women in each household, cut out and made into garments for both men, women, boys and girls by the good
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History of Jerome Township
mother and daughters. The loose wamus for men and boys was usually worn, and flannel dresses dyed by the same mother, using oak and walnut bark, and in these homespun dresses the girls were content, happy and pretty.
The furniture was both scanty and plain. Solid wood chairs or benches with a split-bottom rocker for mother, a plain table used for all purposes, and a "dough chest" for meal, flour and cooking utensils. Then beds with thick and wide feather ticks of sufficient height to require a step ladder, with a "trundle bed" under for the children, a bookcase, clock with wooden wheels, was about the usual outfit of the average fam- ily. No, do not forget the trusty rifle, bullet pouch and powder horn which always hung over the door.
HUNTING AND TRAPPING.
All kinds of small game was plentiful in this vicinity until the breaking out of the Civil War. It was common amusement to go out in the nearby woods on almost any farm and kill a "mess" of squirrels before breakfast or after supper in the summer season. When corn was planted the squirrels and chipmunks would commence digging it up near the side of the fields next to the woods and it was then the duty of the boys to "go the rounds" of the fields two or three times a day liam- mering on the fences with clubs and shouting to scare the game away, and some of the older men of today have devoted many an hour to this duty, skipping over the clods in bare feet and stubbing toes on stones or stumps. When roasting ears were in season the raccoons were very destructive and when the corn ripened wild turkeys visited the fields in great droves to get their share of the farmers' corn before it was husked. Every farmer had at least one deer or squirrel rifle, and hunting was not only great sport but was profitable as well. At least two hunting dogs were kept by each family and usually one was a "coon dog" or hound, and they were always anx- ious for the chase. In the late autumn months was the busy time for coon hunting with dogs as soon as the fur was good. Early in the evening the boys would start out with their torches
14
History of Jerome Township
of hickory bark, dogs whining, skipping and playing, happy in anticipation of the night's sport. A hound was not considered the best coon dog, as he barked on the track, warning the game, and it would have time to find a large tree, but a cur dog would follow the trail so quietly that he would be on the game, unawares, thereby compelling it to seek and climb the first tree. Both guns and axes were carried and when the coon was "treed" if he could not find a hole in which to hide and it was moonlight he could often be shot, otherwise the tree must be felled. The coon is pretty shrewd, and if not pushed too hard usually found a large tree. If the tree was large and the game could not be seen to get a shot, coats were doffed in a jiffy and the chips were soon flying, the hunters taking turns at chopping. No tree was too large to tackle and sometimes they were the largest white oaks, which at this time, if sawed into finishing lumber, would be valued at a hundred dollars or more. The hunters seldom requested permission of the land owner to cut a tree, for if it was a good rail tree he would split it into rails, if no he did not care for it. When the tree was about ready to fall the boys, with clubs, and the dogs anx- ious for the fight, would form a circle in the woods out of danger in the direction the tree was to fall, ready for the chase. The coon would usually jump as the tree commenced falling, and when he was spied a grand rush would be made and the dogs would soon have him. A coon is a hard fighter and when tackled by a dog he turns on his back and fights with both teeth and claws. A dog not accustomed to such fighting is knocked out in the first round, but the old hunting dog gets him by the throat and never releases his hold until the game is dead. As coonskins were only worth from fifty to seventy-five cents cach, hunting was not very profitable where this investment was divided between three or four boys, but the fun and excitement compensated fully for the financial shortage. In the northwest part of the township there was a great forest called the "Galloway Woods," owned by non- residents, uninhabited and uncultivated before the Civil War. This woods was full of wild game, deer, wild turkeys, raccoons,
15
History of Jerome Township
foxes, minks and squirrels. At times hunters from a distance would come with a pack of hounds and start the deer, while the hunters would follow on horseback. Many times some of us who survive can recall the baying of hounds, and if coming in our direction how we watched for the deer as they bounded through the woods with the pack close in pursuit, taking up the cry of the leader of the pack as they followed in a straight row eagerly chasing the timid frightened animals. It was very exciting ; and then came the hunters, guns over their shoulders, and horses on the gallop. Such a scene with the sweet music of the hounds impressed a boy so intensely that it is just as vivid as of yesterday, although three score years have passed. Wild turkeys were still to be found in droves of twenty-five or upwards, fifty years ago. Hunters would follow them carefully during the daytime, getting a shot now and then. About sundown the turkeys would begin to go to roost by flying into the branches of tall trees. The good hunter who understood the game would then, after marking carefully the location, leave the flock. If it was moonlight he would return at midnight or later when the moon was high, and bring down a few turkeys by shots from his trusty rifle, by getting the range so that the turkeys would be seen against the moon. Rifles were all muzzle loaders and the ramrod would extend to the end of the gun barrel. To the end of the ramrod the hunter would attach a glove or mitten so that it hung down three or four inches below the gun barrel when the gun was sighted, then the aim must be so the mitten or glove would drop just below the form of the turkey looking toward the moon, and fire. John Curry, who was the most noted and successful hunter in the vicinity, seldom missed a shot. As I go back in memory I can see him now mounted on his chestnut sorrel hunting horse, "Alex," as he dashed through my father's sugar camp in front of our home at full speed, leaning forward with rifle over his shoulder, on his way to the Galloway Woods on many a winter afternoon. About dusk he would return slowly with one or two large wild turkeys hanging from the pommell of his saddle. He had a great coon dog, "Old Ben,"
16
History of Jerome Township
who was sure of his game and never failed treeing a few rac- coons and opossums every night he had the opportunity to "take the trail." Ben was the envy of every hunter and hunt- ing dog in the neighborhood. Among the other noted hunters may be named Sardius Ward, David McCune, the Hensils, and, in fact, the boys in almost every family. In the days be- fore the Civil War the hunting and shooting was all with rifles. A man or boy with a shotgun was ridiculed, as a boy fifteen or sixteen years of age was a good shot and could bring down a squirrel from the tallest oak tree with a rifle. There was a great deal of trapping of raccoon, minks, and other small game. Quails were caught in traps, a whole covey at once, and wild turkey were caught by building rail pens and tapering the pen off at the top, only leaving a small opening through which the turkey would fly down to the corn scattered inside the pen. Once inside the pen it was not possible to fly straight up to the escape and they were then easily caught by the trap- per. As there were no game laws in those days game of all kinds was shot any time in the year. When the township was first settled bear and wolves were plentiful and wolves' scalps brought $4 each after the county was organized. Colonel James Curry was a member of the legislature, representing the counties of Madison and Delaware in 1820, when the bill was passed for the erection of Union County, so called, as it was from territory of Franklin, Madison and Delaware, there- fore a union of counties. Hon. Job Rennick, a prominent citi- zen of Chillicothe, represented Ross County, and after the bill was passed he remarked to Colonel Curry facetiously that "he now had a county and all it was fit for was wolf traps." Could these grand old men who first settled the county and, by the labor and hardship they endured, blazed the way for civiliza- tion, visit Jerome Township with its fine macadamized roads, telephones and automobiles, what a revelation it would be to them.
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