History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 1

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014

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HISTORY

MEDINA COUNTY

1881

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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

BY EZRA

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE

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HISTORY

MEDINA COUNTY

AND

Containing a History of the State of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, embracing its topography, geological, physical and climatic features; its agricultural, stock-growing, rail- road interests, etc .; a History of Medina County, giving an account of its aboriginal inhabitants, early settlement by the whites, pioneer incidents, its growth, its improvements, organization of the County, its judicial history, its business and industries, churches, schools, etc .; Biographical Sketches ; Portraits of some of the Early Settlers and Prominent Men, etc., etc.

ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO : BASKIN & BATTEY, HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, 186 DEARBORN STREET. 188I.

PRINTED BY Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co.,

CHICAGO.

PREFACE.

HE work that has engaged our historians, W. H. Perrin, J. H. Battle and W. A. Goodspeed, for some time past, is now closed. On these pages they have traced the tedious journey of the pioneer from homes of comfort and refinement to the untouched wilds of the West; they have noted the rising cabin, the clearing of the for- ests, the privations of the early settlements, the heroic fortitude with which the pioneer surmounted these obstacles, and the patient toil that has " made the wilderness to blossom as the rose:" they have marked the coming of the schoolmaster, and that greater teacher -the preacher-the rise of the schoolhouse and church, and their influence in molding society. This work we have undertaken in the belief that there is a proper demand that the events which relate to the early times should find a permanent record, and with what fidelity to facts and with what patience of research this has been accomplished, we shall leave to the judgment of our patrons, in whose keeping the traditions of that day remain, and for whom the work was undertaken.

Advantage has been taken of such historical works as were found; but the chief resource for information has been the traditions which have been handed down from one generation to another. These have generally been verified from other sources; but in some not essential particulars, our writers have been obliged to depend upon tradition alone, and may thus have sanctioned some errors. These, we trust, will be found of trifling impor- tance; and we ground our hope of the favorable judgment of the public upon the essential correctness and completeness of this volume as a history of Medina County.

We desire, also, to thank the citizens everywhere in the county, who have so cordially aided our writers in gathering the materials for this volume, and especially to acknowledge our indebtedness to the gentlemen who have been associated with them in the various parts of the work; to Hon. AARON PARDEE, of Wadsworth; JUDGE SAMUEL HUMPHREVILLE (now deceased), and Dr. E. G. HARD, of Medina; J. T. GRAVES, of Seville, and others whose names appear with their contributions.

March, 1881.

PUBLISHERS.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO. PAGE.

CHAPTER I .- Introductory-Topography-Geology-Primitive Races -- Antiquities-Indian Tribes. 11

CHAPTER II .- Exploratious in the West. 19

CHAPTER III .- Euglish Explorations-Traders-French and 37 Indian War in the West-English Possession.

CHAPTER IV .- Pontiac's Conspiracy-Its Failure-Bouquet's 48 Expedition- Occupation by the English.

CHAPTER V .- American Exploration-Dunmore's War-Cam- paign of George Rogers Clarke-Land Troubles-Spain in the Revolution-Murder of the Moravian Indians ... 52

CHAPTER VI .- American Occupation-Indian Claims-Early Land Companies-Compact of 1787-Organization of the Territory-Early American Settlements in the Ohio Val- ley-First Territorial Officors-Organization of Counties ... 60 CHAPTER VII .- Indian War of 1795-Harmar's Campaign- St. Clair's Campaign-Wayne's Campaign-Close of the War .. 73

CHAPTER VIII .- Jay's Treaty-The Question of State Rights and National Supremacy-Extension of Ohio Settlements -Land Claims-Spanish Boundary Question. 79

CHAPTER IX .- First Territorial Representatives in Congress -Division of the Territory-Formation of States-Mari- etta Settlement-Other Settlements-Settlements in the Western Reserve-Settlement of the Central Valleys- Further Settlements in the Reserve and Elsewhere .. 85

CHAPTER X .- Formation of the Stato Government-Ohio a State-The State Capitals-Legislation-The "Sweeping" Resolutions .121

CHAPTER XI .- The War of 1812-Growth of the State- Canal, Railroads and other Improvements-Development of State Resources. .127

CHAPTER XII .- Mexican War-Continued Growth of the State -War of the Rebellion-Ohio's Part in the Conflict ...... .132 CHAPTER XIII .- Ohio in the Centennial-Address of Edward D. Mansfield, L.L D., Philadelphia, August 9, 1876. 138

CHAPTER XIV .- Education-Early School Laws-Notes-In- stitutions and Educational Journals-School System- School Funds-Colleges and Universities. 148

CHAPTER XV .- Agriculture-Area of the State-Early Agri- culture in the West-Markets-Live Stock-Nurseries, Fruits, etc .- Cereals, Root and Cucurbitaceous Crops- Agricultural Implements-Agricultural Societies-Pomo- logical and Horticultural Societies. 151

CHAPTER XVI .- Climatology-Outline-Variation in Ohio- Estimate in Degrees-Amount of Variability. 163

CHAPTER XVII .- Public Lands-Early Contest on Right of Soil and Jurisdiction-The Western Reserve-Origin and Organization-Social and Material Growth. .165

PART II.

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. PAGE

CHAPTER I .- Physical Geography of the County-Geological Formation-Material Resources-Grain Culture-Stock Raising-Dairying Interest-Agricultural Societies ........ 181

CHAPTER II .- Prehistoric Races-Ancient Earthworks-In- dian Traditions-Pioneer Settlements-Erection and Or- ganization of the County-History of the Public Build- ings-The Growth of Political Parties. 212

CHAPTER III .- The Learned Professions-Early Courts and Practice-Reminiscences of the Early Bench and Bar- The Bar of the Present-The Medical Fraternity-Prac- tice in ye Olden Tinie-Doctors of the Past and Present .. 242 CHAPTER IV .- Social Development of the County-Character of the Early Churches --- The Rise of Denominational Influence-Temperance Work-Early Schools-Growth of Higher Education-Academies-The Press-Railroad Operations 275

CHAPTER V. - War Activities-Stampede of 1812-Volunteers for the Mexican Struggle-The County's Contributions to the War of the Rebellion-Medina's Volunteers in the Army-Soldiers' Association. 308

CHAPTER VI .- A Retrospect-The Railroad Jubilee-A News-

paper's History of the Day-A Memorable "Fourth "-A

Centennial Oration

355

CHAPTER VII .- Medina Township-Its Settlement-Early Privations-Social Development-Growth of Villages- Weymouth and Medina-Church and School. 375

CHAPTER VIII .- Medina Village-Its Incorporation-Inter- nal Improvements-Manufacturing Enterprises-Fire Department-Church and School Interests-The Ceme- tery ... 394

CHAPTER IX .- Wadsworth Township-Coming of the Whites -Incidents of Early Settlement-Beginnings of Township Government-Origin of Church and Schools 414

CHAPTER X .- Wadsworth Township-Notable Epidemic- Coal Mines-The N. Y., P. & O. R. R .- Village of Wads- worth-Growth and Incorporation-Family Genealogies 435 CHAPTER XI .- Guilford Township-Topography and Bound- aries-The Pioneers-Their Journey to the West-Early Industries-Seville-Growth and Incorporation of the Village-Churches aud Schools. 454 CHAPTER XII .- Harrisville Township-Physical Features- The Pioneer Settler of the County-Incidents of 1812- Hardships in the Wilderness-Growth of Villages-Or- ganization of the Township- Social Development. 483

CHAPTER XIII .- York Township - Natural Attractions- Pioneer Families of the Township-Social Customs- Commercial Activities - York Center -Manufacturing Interests-Church and Schoolhouse. 509

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

CHAPTER XIV .- Litchfield Township-Surface, Drainage and Material Resources-Early Settlement-Experiences in the Wilderness-Petroleum Excitement-Early Manufact- ures-Religious and Educational Efforts. 525

CHAPTER XV .- Liverpool Township-Configuration of Land -The Discovery of Salt-Early Manufacturing Activity -Growth of the Community-Moral and Mental Develop- ment 536

CHAPTER XVI .- Spencer Township-Topographical Features -First Settlement of the Township-Primitive Customs -Incidents of Life in the Wilderness-Beginnings of Church and School-Their Development. 555

CHAPTER XVII .- Chatham Township-Geological Structure -Pioneer Beginnings-Early Efforts at Agriculture- Story of the Old Log Cabin-Progress in Politics, Churches and Schools. 569

CHAPTER XVIII .- Brunswick Township-Rocks and Rivers -Making a Home in the Wilderness-Incidents of Pio- neer Life-Early Manufactures-Social Customs and Development .. 580

CHAPTER XIX .- Westfield Township-The Lay of the Land -Agricultural Advantages-Early Selection of Sites- Pioneer Pleasures-Preachers and People Schivolmasters and their Scholars ... 594

CHAPTER XX .- Hinckley Township-A Hunter's Paradise- The Coming of the First Settlers-The Great Hunt-In- cidents of the Early Hunters and Trappers-Growth of Civilization-The Church and School 607

CHAPTER XXI .- Sharon Township-Its Topographical Sur- vey-Its Early Settlers-Sketch of Pioneer Homes- Early Rise of School Interests-The Academy-Material Prospects of Sharon 620

CHAPTER XXII .- Granger Township-Contour of the Sur- face-Agricultural Resources-Early Settlements and Incidents-Political Organization-Beginnings and De- velopment of Church and School 630

CHAPTER XXIII .- Montville Township-Character of the Surface-Soil and Drainage Early Survey-First Settle- ments-Beginnings of Agriculture- Snakes and Game- The Turnpike and Early Roads-A Fourth of July- Churches and Schools ... 647

CHAPTER XXIV .- Homer Township-Iis Boundaries and Physical Attractions-The Coming of the Whites-Early Organization and Political Relations-Changes in its County Relations-Church and School Interests. ... 656

CHAPTER XXV .- La Fayette Township-Origin of the Name -Early Settlement-Pioneer Incidents-Frontier Indus- tries-Social Development-Beginning of Churches and Schools 665

PART III.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. PAGE.

Brunswick Township. 764

Chatham Township. 798

Guilford Township 718

Granger Township 904

Harrisville Township

862

Hinckley Township. 770

Homer Township .. 920

Litch field Township. 743

Liverpool Township. 748

La Fayette Township. 829

Medina Township ...

681

Montville Township .. 784

Sharon Township

790

Spencer Township.

754

Wadsworth Township.

706

Westfield Township.

883

York Township.

731

ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTRAITS.

Badger, Austin (Biography on page 687) 381

Clark, W. P. (Biography on page 784) 285

Coulter, O. M. (Biography on page 884). 369 Dowd, D. D. (Biography on page 885). 309

Freeman, Rufus (Biography on page 889). 603

Harris, Joseph (Biography on page 481). 485

Harris, Rachel .. 495

Harris, Albert (Biography on page 870) 507

Hatch, Hoel (Biography on page 911). 631

Hatch, Saloma

635

Hosmer, Henry (Biography on page 724). 459

Houghtou, Amhrose (Biography on page 890) 279

Lindley, Ephraim (Biography on page 766). 585

Loomis, T. G (Biography on page 87]) 351

Munson, A. (Biography on page 696). 243

Morton, Oliver (Biography on page 895) 595

Parker, L. B. (Biography on page 752). 549

Pearson, Arza (Biography on page 739) 513

Strong, Dyer (Biography on page 882). 333

Van Deusen, R. L. (Biography on page 781). 207

Van Deusen, Orpha (Biography on page 780). 619

Wittor, W. H. (Biography on page 704). 405

Willey, A. G. (Biography on page 271).

555

VIEWS.

The Medina County Court House ..

181

ADDENDUM.

Obituary of Judge S. Humphreville.

922

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HISTORY OF OHIO.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY -TOPOGRAPHY - GEOLOGY -PRIMITIVE-RACES - ANTIQUITIES -INDIAN TRIBES.

T THE present State of Ohio, comprising an extent of country 210 miles north and south, 220 miles east and west, in length and breadth- 25,576,969 acres-is a part of the Old Northwest Territory. This Territory embraced all of the present States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and so much of Minnesota as lies east of the Mississippi River. It became a corporate existence soon after the formation of the Virginia Colony, and when that colony took on the dignity of State government it became a county thereof, whose exact outline was unknown. The eounty embraced in its limits more territory than is eom- prised in all the New England and Middle States, and was the largest county ever known in the United States. It is watered by the finest system of rivers on the globe; while its inland seas are without a parallel. Its entire southern boundary is traversed by the beautiful Ohio, its western by the majestic Mississippi, and its northern and a part of its eastern are bounded by the fresh-water lakes, whose clear waters preserve an even temper- ature over its entire surface. Into these reservoirs of commerce flow innumerable streams of limpid water, which come from glen and dale, from mountain and valley, from forest and prairie-all avenues of health, commerce and prosperity. Ohio is in the best part of this territory-south of its river are tropical heats; north of Lake Erie are polar snows and a polar climate.

The territory comprised in Ohio has always re- mained the same. Ohio's history differs somewhat from other States, in that it was never under Ter- ritorial government. When it was created, it was made a State, and did not pass through the stage incident to the most of other States, i. e., exist as a Territory before being advanced to the powers of

a State. Such was not the case with the other States of the West; all were Territories, with Terri- torial forms of government, ere they became States.

Ohio's boundaries are, on the north, Lakes Erie and Michigan ; on the west, Indiana ; on the south, the Ohio River, separating it from Kentucky; and, on the east, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It is situated between 38° 25' and 42º north latitude; and 80° 30' and 84° 50' west longitude from Greenwich, or 3º 30' and 7º 50' west from Washington. Its greatest length, from north to south, is 210 miles; the extreme width, from east to west, 220 miles. Were this an exact out- line, the area of the State would be 46,200 square miles, or 29,568,000 acres; as the outlines of the State are, however, rather irregular, the area is estimated at 39,964 square miles, or 25,576,960 acres. In the last census-1870-the total num- ber of acres in Ohio is given as 21,712,420, of which 14,469,132 acres are improved, and 6,883,- 575 acres are woodland. By the last statistical report of the State Auditor, 20,965,3712 acres are reported as taxable lands. This omits many aeres untaxable for various reasons, which would make the estimate, 25,576,960, nearly correct.

The face of the country, in Ohio, taken as a whole, presents tlie appearance of an extensive monotonous plain. It is moderately undulating but not mountainous, and is excavated in places by the streams coursing over its surface, whose waters have forced a way for themselves through cliffs of sandstone rock, leaving abutments of this material in bold outline. There are no mountain ranges, geological uplifts or peaks. A low ridge enters the State, near the northeast corner, and crosses it in a south westerly direction, emerging near the inter- section of the 40th degree of north latitude with

IHISTORY OF ONIIO.

the western boundary of the State. This " divide" separates the lake and Ohio River waters, and main- tains an elevation of a little more than thirteen hundred feet above the level of the ocean. The highest part is in Logan County, where the eleva- tion is 1,550 feet.

North of this ridge the surface is generally level, with a gentle inelination toward the lake, the ine- qualities of the surface being eaused by the streams which empty into the lake. The central part of Ohio is almost, in general, a level plain, about one thousand feet above the level of the sea, slightly inclining southward. The Southern part of the State is rather hilly, the valleys growing deeper as they ineline toward the great valley of the Ohio, which is several hundred feet below the general level of the State. In the southern counties, the surface is generally diversified by the inequalities produced by the excavating power of the Ohio River and its tributaries, exercised through long periods of time. There are a few prairies, or plains, in the central and northwestern parts of the State, but over its greater portion originally existed im- mense growths of timber.

The " divide," or water-shed, referred to, between the waters of Lake Erie and the Ohio River, is less elevated in Ohio than in New York and Penu- sylvania, though the difference is small. To a per- son passing over the State in a balloon, its surface presents an unvarying plain, while, to one sailing down the Ohio River, it appears mountainous. On this river are bluffs ranging from two hundred and fifty to six hundred feet in height. As one aseends the tributaries of the river, these bluffs diminish in height until they become gentle undu- latious, while toward the sources of the streams, in the central part of the State, the banks often become low and marshy.

The principal rivers are the Ohio, Muskingum, Scioto and Miami, on the southern slope, emptying into the Ohio; on the northern, the Maumee, Sandusky, Huron and Cuyahoga, emptying into Lake Erie, and, all but the first named, entirely iu Ohio.

The Ohio, the chief river of the State, and from which it derives its name, with its tributaries, drains a country whose area is over two hundred thousand square miles in extent, and extending from the water-shed to Alabama. The river was first dis- covered by La Salle in 1669, and was by him nav- igated as far as the Falls, at Louisville, Ky. It is formed by the junetion of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, in Pennsylvania, whose waters

unite at Pittsburgh. The entire length of the river, from its sourec to its mouth, is 950 miles, though by a straight line from Pittsburgh to Cairo, it is only 615 miles. Its eurrent is very gentle, hardly three miles per hour, the deseent being only five inehes per mile. At high stages, the rate of the eurrent inereases, and at low stages deereases. Sometimes it is barely two miles per hour. The average range between high and low water mark is fifty feet, although several times the river has risen more than sixty feet above low water mark. At the lowest stage of the river, it is fordable many plaees between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The river abounds in islands, some of which are exeeed- ingly fertile, and noted in the history of the West. Others, known as "tow-heads," are simply deposits of sand.

The Seioto is one of the largest inland streams in the State, and is one of the most beautiful riv- ers. It rises in Hardin County, flows southeast- erly to Columbus, where it reecives its largest affluent, the Olentangy or Whetstone, after which its direetion is southerly until it enters the Ohio at Portsmouth. It flows through one of the rich- est valleys in the State, and has for its compan- ion the Ohio and Erie Canal, for a distanec of ninety miles. Its tributaries are, besides the Whet- stone, the Darby, Waluut and Paint Creeks.

The Muskingum River is formed by the junc- tion of the Tusearawas and Waldhoning Rivers, which rise in the northern part of the State and unite at Coshocton. From the junction, the river flows in a southeastern course about one hundred miles, through a rich and populous valley, to the Ohio, at Marietta, the oldest settlement in the State. At its outlet, the Muskingum is over two hundred yards wide. By improvements, it has been made navigable ninety-five miles above Mari- ctta, as far as Dresden, where a side cut, three miles long, unites its waters with those of the Ohio Canal. All along this stream exist, in abundant profusion, the remains of an ancient civiliza- tion, whose history is lost in the twilight of antiq- uity. Extensive mounds, carthworks and various fortifieations, are everywhere to be found, inclosing a miute history as silent as the raee that dwelt here and left these traces of their evistence. The same may be said of all the other valleys in Ohio.

The Miami River-the scenes of many exploits in pioneer days-rises in Hardin County, near the headwaters of the Scioto, and runs southwesterly, to the Ohio, passing Troy, Dayton and Hamilton. It is a beautiful and rapid stream, flowing through

IIISTORY OF ONIIO.

a highly productive and populous valley, in which limestone and hard tiuiber are abundant. Its total length is about one hundred and fifty miles.

The Maumee is the largest river in the northern part of Ohio. It rises in Indiana and flows north- easterly, into Lake Erie. About eighty miles of its course are in Ohio. It is navigable as far as Perrysburg, eighteen miles from its mouth. The other rivers north of the divide are all small, rapid-running streams, affording a large amount of good water-power, much utilized by mills and man- nfactories.

A remarkable feature of the topography of Ohio is its almost total absence of natural lakes or ponds. A few very small oncs are found near the water-shed, but all too small to be of any practical value save as watering-places for stock.

Lake Erie, which forms nearly all the northern boundary of the State, is next to the last or lowest of America's "inland seas." It is 290 miles long, and 57 miles wide at its greatest part. There are no islands, except in the shallow water at the west end, and very few bays. The greatest depth of tlie lake is off Long Point, where the water is 312 feet deep. The shores are principally drift-clay or hard-pan, upon which the waves are continually encroaching. At Cleveland, from the first sur- vey, in 1796, to 1842, the encroachment was 218 feet along the entire city front. The entire coast is low, seldom rising above fifty feet at the water's edge.

Lake Erie, like the others, has a variable sur- face, rising and falling with the seasons, like great rivers, called the " annual fluctuation," and a gen- eral one, embracing a series of years, due to metc- orological causes, known as the "secular fluctua- tion." Its lowest known level was in February, 1819, rising more or less each year, until June, 1838, in the extreme, to six feet eight inches.

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 1

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014