USA > Ohio > Ross County > Pioneer record and reminiscences of the early settlers and settlement of Ross County, Ohio > Part 1
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Gc 977.101 R73f 1385453
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02487 2530
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/pioneerrecordrem00finl 0
Un E. Mc Creary Emporia Lyon Co Raus.
July 1878
PIONEER RECORD
AND
REMINISCENCES
OF THE
EARLY SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENT
OF
ROSS COUNTY. OHIO.
BY ISAAC J. FINLEY AND RUFUS PUTNAM.
CINCINNATI: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHORS BY ROBERT CLARKE & CO. 1871.
1385453
PREFACE.
In endeavoring to accomplish faithfully what is contained in this work, it has been found that notwith- standing its narrow scope, it has involved considerable time, expense, labor, and difficulties, visiting, as we have, all the most noted, forts, circles, mounds, camps, caves, cliffs, etc., within the county. We have endeav- ored to portray the toils, hardships, and privations of a pioneer life, when nothing but dense deep forests, inhabited only by wild, ferocious beasts, and bloody savages, covered the land : when the only habitation was the rude wigwam of the aborigines; when the howl of wolves, and scream of panthers, the hum of wild bees, the hissing and rattle of the poisonous snake, the gobble of the wild turkey, and the shrill whistle of the red hunter, constituted all the music that broke the solemn stillness of the backwoods. The first brave and hardy pioneers lived to see those forests melt away before the tide of industry, and fields of golden grain spring up to adorn the efforts of the husbandman with abundant har- vests. Alas ! those pioneers, the brave, enterprising men who made their homes first in the western land, with few exceptions, have passed away. Their names, at least, should be remembered by those who now reap the fruits of their labors.
CONTENTS.
Ross County, Introduction, 5
Huntington Township, 8
Franklin Township, 34
Twin Township,
39
Buckskin Township, 63
Paxton Township,
75
Liberty Township,
84
Jefferson Township, 93
Deerfield Township,
96
Colerain Township,
100
Union Township,
104
Harrison Township, 109
Springfield Township, . 111
Green Township, 115
Concord Township, . 120
Scioto Township, 128
Paint Township,
147
.
PIONEER RECORD
OF
ROSS COUNTY, OHIO.
Introduction.
A few still live who were among the first pioneers of this neighborhood. They, perhaps, are the only ones who can fully appreciate the early home life among these hills and valleys. Only those who first cleared off these rough and sterile hills, who erected the first rough cabins, with their clapboard or bark roofs and punchcon floors, with blankets and quilts for doors and oiled paper for window-glass, with chimneys built of split sticks and mud, often not higher than their heads, can now, by contrast, value properly the comforts of a good modern home. Only those who have grubbed the thick underbrush and sap- lings ; who have used the ax in deadening and felling the heavy timber, the maul and wedge in making the first rails ; who have chopped up the trees, piled the brush, and then been smoked almost blind while burning the logs and brush, with fingers and hands bruised and burned, and arms begrimed with smoke and dust, and clothes torn from their backs, can have any idea of the pleasure there is in contemplating a beautiful, smooth lawn, without a stump or log. None but those who have held the first plow, amid roots, stumps, stones, and trees, while the faithful team was pulling and jerking it along, with the roots breaking
6
Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
and flying back against the plowman's shins, beating and bruis- ing them from the knees down, can really enjoy the delight that this same plowman feels while holding the plow as it moves slowly along, turning the soil up to the genial rays of the sun, without a root or stump to obstruct it. Only those who have struggled for scanty crops among these clearings and upon the rough and sterile hill-sides, can properly estimate the tilling of the same fields of later years. Only those who have had to con- vey little sacks of corn on horseback, over winding cow-paths, along the sides of the hills, across the ravines and valleys, to the mill, there to wait for his grist, in order that his family might have some hasty-pudding for their evening meal, can appreciate the variety of bread, the abundance of bread material, and the conveniences of mills in our land. The little boy, often less than ten years old, would frequently, while going up the steep banks, feel his sack slipping from under him, or hanging too heavily on one side, and then he felt desolate enough. Many such calamities these little pioneers had to meet. The writer of this sketch, even in his day, has experienced several such mishaps on the way to mill, and sometimes had to wait for hours on the road, until some one came along and assisted in replacing the sack.
Mills were sometimes out of the question, and then the mortar and pestle would have to be resorted to. This was one of the most primitive articles of the country, and was made in the most primitive style. A log of some hard timber, about four feet long, and twenty inches in diameter, was squared at both ends; one end rested on the ground, while upon the other a small fire was kindled, so as to burn deepest into the center. In this way a cavity was formed, called a mortar, sufficient to hold a peck of corn. Then with a pestle, made heavy by attach- ing thereto an iron wedge, the corn was beaten until the bran or hull came off. This process was assisted by adding a little scalding water from time to time. After it became thoroughly dry, and the bran was blown away, this hominy, by being well cooked, made an excellent substitute for bread.
7
Introduction.
None but those who were deprived of an education by the want of a common school system can realize the great benefit of our popular mode of instruction. Our pioneers had no school system, and many of them hardly knew what a school was. The children of the present day, who now have comfortable school-houses and good teachers, and all provided at the public expense, have but little idea of the desolation and ignorance which prevailed prior to the commencement of our great com- mon school system.
The territory now forming Ross county was well timbered at the time of its first settlement, abounding in the usual variety and extent of forest trees-the sugar, beech, hickory, walnut, poplar, and the oak of the different varieties, being the princi- pal. The soil in places is very good; the larger proportion, however, is hilly and not very productive, but is very well adapted to the growing of fruit, grapes, etc., and the citizens, of later years, have turned their attention to the raising of fruit. One can scarcely pass a farm but he sees orchards and vineyards being set out, and some of them are quite extensive.
8
Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
Huntington Township.
Present Civil Officers of Township.
Justices of the Peace, I. J. Finley, Samuel Rinehart, and A. J. Pummell ; Trustees, Joseph Ringer, Samuel Rinehart, and Joseph Grubb; Treasurer, William Combs; Clerk, Jno. W. Kel- lough ; Constables, William Wilson and John Lee; Land Ap- praiser, Thomas DeLong. Post-office, Hoopole, at Farmersville.
Huntington has never furnished any county officers under its present organization, except I. J. Finley, who represented, in part, Ross County in the Ohio Legislature in 1868-9; and it has never had a representative in the State's prison, I believe.
In McIntosh's Memoirs in 1789, page 13.
Daniel Boone encamped on Paint creek, September 7, 1789, near the Rock rapids, on his route from Manchester to Fort Clark, on Mad river. Gen. Putnam, on April 15th of the same year, encamped at the same place, on his route to Vincennes to treat with the Indians.
Old Pioneers.
John Cochenour, stone-mason, was in the war of 1812, now dead. Mr. Cochenour was of great service to the new settlers in building chimneys for their cabins, etc. One evening, while coming home from his work, he was belated and it grew very dark; when within a mile from home, five large wolves attacked him, and he having left his gun at home was forced to take shelter in a large dogwood tree that stood near his path, and there remain until the morning light drove his adversaries away.
9
Huntington Township.
Peter Streevey emigrated to Ohio at an early day from Pennsylvania ; was in the war of 1812 as teamster ; now dead; was a resident of Huntington township over sixty years; was a great hunter. He and a Mr. Rolston, of whom mention will be made in another place, started out with their guns and dogs one morning on a bear hunt. After being out for some time, being near what is called the Bald Knob, they heard the dogs barking, and going up to them they found them barking up a large chesnut tree which had been broken off at the top, leav- ing the stump some forty or fifty feet high and hollow at the top, and about twenty feet up there was another hole in the side of the stump. The two hunters thumped the tree with the butts of their guns, when a bear stuck his head out and Streevey fired, and the bear fell back into the stump. Streevey, supposing the bear dead, and being a good climber, climbed up the stump, taking with him a stout pole which he tied to his body with his suspenders, and upon arriving at the top commenced thrust- ing his pole down on the bear, when, to his surprise, bruin ran up and out at the top and down one side and Streevey on the other; the dogs met him at the foot of the tree, and one large dog of Streevey's locked jaws with the bear, and Streevey, in the excitement, fired at the bear, but only wounded him. He hastily reloaded his gun and snapped, but his gun being of the flint lock, as all were in those days, the powder being damp, his gun missed fire, when he renewed the priming and killed the bear ; after which, he reascended the stump and found two cubs, which they killed. During their day's hunting they killed seven bears, among them a very large one, which had taken shelter behind the roots of a large white oak tree which had been blown down. Mr. Streevey, during his lifetime, killed a great many deer, wolves, turkeys, etc. When young he mar- ried a Miss Tabitha Thomas, whose father emigrated to Ohio in very early times, and lived for a short time in Chillicothe with his family, when but two or three log cabins had been built in the place. One day, Mrs. Streevey, when nine or ten years old, was left with her sister in charge of the cabin, near
IO
Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
the banks of the Scioto river, while their mother went to the river to wash their clothing. Several Indians came into the cabin and commenced cutting off slices of venison, which they found hanging up, and roasting it on the coals. The two young girls became frightened and ran under the bed; but after awhile they thought it would not do to let the redskins eat all their meat, so slipping out from their hiding-place, they ran down to their mother and informed her of what was going on; where- upon the mother started for the house accompanied by a neigh- bor woman by the name of McMahan, I believe. On their way they armed themselves with clapboards, such as were used in those days for roofing. On entering the cabin they commenced clearing it of its intruders by lustily applying the boards to the naked backs of the redskins, which soon made them retreat in haste. Father Streevey and wife lived to a good old age, and died lamented and beloved by all who knew them.
Robert Bishop's Reminiscences.
Robert Bishop emigrated to Ohio from Berkeley county, Virginia, in 1805, by land, in wagons; has been a resident of Huntington township sixty four years ; still living; was in the war of 1812 under Capt. George Yoakem; was second sergeant of his company; enlisted after Hull's surrender. The company went through Upper Sandusky ; belonged to the brigade of Gen. E. Tupper; he received for his services forty acres of land. When they first encamped, while their captain was gone to report, one of their men went out to cut poles to build a tent; there was, a short distance from where they commenced to pitch their tents, a horse company encamped, and this man went on the grounds of the horse company, claimed and cut a pole, when he was arrested by them and put under guard ; they had him under a large oak tree and guarded by several men with their horse-pistols. When Capt. Yoakem returned, he asked Mr. Bishop what that meant, seeing the men standing around the tree with their pis- tols in hand. Mr. Bishop told the captain they had one of his men under arrest. When Yoakem heard this he drew his sword
II
Huntington Township.
and ordered Bishop and another of his men to arm themselves with their guns and follow him, which they did ; they marched boldly up to where the man was under the tree, the guards standing around him with pistols in hand; Yoakem marched through the guards and taking the prisoner by the arm told him to go with him. The officers of the horse company ordered the arrest of the captain, which he soon found out, when he drew his men into line and ordered them to load their pieces. When the horse company saw the hostile appearance of Capt. Yoak- em's company they drew back, and so the matter ended.
Mr. Bishop relates another incident connected with his sol- dier life. One day several of the horse company started out on a reconnoitering expedition, and did not return until late in the night ; sometime during the night some of the horses breaking loose from their riders, came dashing into camp, whereupon the whole camp was aroused ; a squad of the remaining company mounted their steeds, snatched their arms, which were stacked near by, and, loading them with buckshot, some having five or six shot in them, started out to look after the party which had not returned. Before going far, they met them returning, when they all came in together, the men restacking their arms. On the next morning one of the men was cleaning his gun; Mr. Bishop and another of the company were standing near by, when he snapped it, the gun went off, the contents passing be- tween Mr. Bishop and the other soldier, whose name is forgotten, so close they both felt the wind of the balls as they passed, and striking a man standing near, killed him instantly, two balls passing through his body, and breaking the leg of another man named Hill, I believe.
Mr. Bishop was a home hunter, and helped to kill many bears and wolves; was justice of the peace for many years, besides holding several other township offices.
Henry Bishop, father of Robert, emigrated to Ohio at the same time with Robert; purchased land in Huntington town- ship in 1806, and died in 1820, at the age of ninety-eight. Jacob and George Vincentheller were old hunters. Paul Stree-
:
I2
Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
vey was in the Revolutionary war. David and Jacob Toops were both in the war of 1812. John Lewis and George Vincentheller were the first settlers on what is known as the Alum Cliffs. John Methias was justice of the peace and county commissioner, in the first organization of the township, for some time. John Scantlin was in the Indian war of 1791, under Gen. St. Clair. John Yoakem was under Gen. Tupper, in the war of 1812. Job Haynes and George Grove were in the war of 1812, under Capt. William Keyes, of Huntington township, and were in Hull's surrender. Henry Long was sergeant in Capt. Elliott's home company. David Elliott was also in the war of 1812. George Ruffner, whose biography will appear in another place, was in the war of 1812 ; was a great Indian fighter, and was in Hull's surren - der. George Houseman was in the war of 1812, and under Hull at the time of his surrender. Stanley Seymore was in the Indian war of 1791. Daniel Toops was in the war of 1812; weaver by trade, and farmer; now dead. David Shoemaker was in the war of 1812, under Capt. Keyes. Daniel Grubb was in the war of 1812; was a home hunter ; killed several bears on his farm during his lifetime; lived to be very old; was an excellent farmer and a good citizen.
List of Old Pioneers furnished by Mrs. Mary W. Finley.
Isaac Jordan, in war of 1812; now dead. Richard Elliott emigrated from Ireland at an early day, and settled in the town - ship ; was in war of 1812; a weaver by trade. William Sadler. Jacob Seeleg was in war of 1812; started to go as substitute, but on arriving at Chillicothe the man he was going for had obtained some one in his place, when he volunteered in Captain Keyes' company, but, being a good gunsmith, was detailed to work at that business. Alex. Monroe. Henry Wilt was in the war of 1812; still living; wagon-maker by trade. Richard Honold, Thos. McCann, George Meyers, in the war of 1812 as teamsters; all dead. David Shotts, William McCann, Jos. Offort, Sr., Martin Howard, Nancy Park, John McCalley, David Mur- phy, Jacob Maurey, Peter Lightle (who served many years as
I3
Huntington Township.
justice of the peace, and in other township offices), Frederick Baker, John Kilbourne, Peter Stagner, Michael Thomas (was an early settler, and a great hunter, in connection with Peter Streevey and Benjamin Rolston, whose names appear in another place in this work). Henry Miskel, an old colored man, was among the first settlers, and deserves some notice. He rendered great service, during the war of 1812, in assisting the women and children in taking care of the harvests during the general call, as harvest came on during the men's absence. I believe all the white men in the township at that time, except, perhaps, three, had to go. Miskel was a very large, stout man, and worked almost night and day in securing the crops of his neighbors. He lived to be very old. He did not know his own age.
Benning Wentworth, father of Mrs. Finley, and grandfather of Hon. I. J. Finley, served five years in the war of the Revo- lution as drummer, and three years in the French war; was a native of the State of Maine. He emigrated to Ohio in 1816, served for many years as justice of the peace, and was, I be- lieve, the second male school-teacher in the township, a Mr. Gilfillen being the first. School was taught in a log cabin, with puncheon floor and oiled paper for glass lights. Phebe, his wife, was the first female teacher in the township. All the schools in those early days were sustained by subscription. Mrs. Wentworth organized, I believe, the first Sabbath-school, which she taught for several years at her own house. Mr. Wentworth and wife were members of the Baptist Church. They lived to a good old age, and died lamented and beloved by all.
A. P. Wentworth, the eldest son of Benning and Phebe Wentworth, was an carly settler, and lived in the township for many years. He served during a long period as justice of the peace, clerk of township, etc. Was still living in Kansas, at last accounts, and holding office. Benjamin Wentworth, another son, was one of the first in the township who kept a store. He served for several years as justice of the peace, etc .; now dead.
14
Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
Names of Pioneers and Incidents furnished by Mrs. Mary Hester.
James Finley, the father of Mrs. Hester, emigrated from Ireland in 1811; his family consisted of himself, his wife, and seven children-five sons and two daughters; John, father of Hon. I. J. Finley, and for many years justice of the peace, and who held other township offices, died in 1858; James; Moses, for many years township treasurer; William, served through the Mexican war, and died several years since of cholera in Cincin- nati; Isaac, carpenter by trade, now dead; daughters, Mary (Mrs. Hester) and Jane. They traveled from New Haven to Pittsburg, over the Alleghany mountains, in wagons; from there they came in a boat to Manchester, and lived near West Union, on the banks of Brush creek, for a short time, when the country was little more than a wilderness, the nearest neighbor being three miles away. They came to Huntington township soon after. Seth Vanmeter, a noted backwoodsman and hunter, killed a large panther a short distance from his residence; it measured nine feet from tip to tip. It was not an unusual thing to scare up a bear in those early days, or to see droves of wild turkeys crossing your path, or herds of deer galloping over the hills, or to hear the wolves howling around at night. Snakes were very numerous. Mrs. Hester killed a large rattlesnake as it was passing through the cabin door; it had sixteen rattles on its tail.
Benjamin Rolston, the noted hunter, while out on his farm one morning saw quite a large bear, which he and his dogs at- tacked. The bear fought until she put the dogs to flight, when Rolston dispatched her with his gun. Mr. Rolston, while out one very cold night, lost his way and perished near his own home. Thus died one of the bravest hunters of his time.
Mrs. Hester is now living near the old Indian trail leading from Chillicothe to Portsmouth. Reuben Elliott emigrated from Virginia at a very early day ; was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; died at the age of ninety, and was buried with the honors of war. Robert McCann was a soldier in the Revolution ; fought under General Washington at Brandywine; kept hotel
15
Huntington Township.
in early days-sign, Three Kegs. Peter Clark, emigrated to Ohio from Kentucky; he was slightly deranged, and was a great hunter ; would often fire the woods in large circles, for the pur- pose of shooting decr and other wild animals. Benjamin Ma- lone emigrated to Ohio from Kentucky about the year 1800 ; was bearer of dispatches from Chillicothe to Detroit after Hull's surrender; he passed through Columbus before there was a house crected in the place ; is still living. William Heness em- igrated to Ohio from Virginia ; was a member of an independ- ent company in the war of 1812, and took an active part in the defense of Fort Stephenson. David Ogden served three years in the war of 1812. James Gladstone emigrated from Scotland at a very early day ; traveled in a wagon from New York to Pittsburg with his wife ; floated down the Ohio river in a canoe to Portsmouth; they traveled from Portsmouth to Chillicothe on foot; settled in Huntington township when quite a wilderness. James Wilson came from Kentucky to Ohio ; enlisted for the war of 1812 at the age of fifteen years; he is a cooper by trade, and is still living. Stacey Devinney, mill- wright by trade; fought as a soldier in the battle of New Or- leans, under General Jackson ; was a great admirer of the old hero. At the time Jackson was elected president in 1828, Hun- tington township gave him but eleven votes, I believe. At this election John H. Robinson, or better known as "Hoopole " Rob- inson, made a bet of a barrel of whisky with Devinney that he . (Jackson) would not get that many votes, Devinney winning the bet, of course.
Aaron Vanscoy's Reminiscences.
Mr. Aaron Vanscoy emigrated from Virginia to Ohio, in 1804, with his father, Aaron, Sr., in wagons; they settled in Gallia county, and remained there five or six years ; from there they came to Ross County, and settled in Huntington township. He was in the war of 1812, under Captain Northup, Colonel Safford, and General Ed. Tupper; served six months; he be- longed to a rifle company, and traveled on foot to Urbana ; he
16
Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
never received any pay, although promised six dollars a month ; he furnished his own arms, clothing, blankets, etc. He has often, when the mud and water were knee deep, made his bed by cut- ting a pile of brush, and spreading his blanket on top of it. He afterward received a warrant for one hundred and sixty acres of land, which was all the compensation he ever had for his services. He is still living, at the age of eighty-two. He has seen hundreds of Indians in the early days in the township ; he was a hunter, and has killed many deer, and helped to kill several bears, wolves, turkeys, etc., which were very plentiful when he first settled in the township. He has heard the screams of the panther where he now lives, on what is called Indian creek. He used to trap a great many wolves on his farm in early days.
Enoch Vanscoy was in the employ of the government dur- ing the war of 1812, driving hogs; is still living. Wm. Haynes, Rev. Isaac Murphy, of the Baptist denomination, John Camp- bell, Jacob Day, Benjamin Smith, and David Ridgeway, were in the war of 1812.
Henry Neborgall's Reminiscences.
Mr. Neborgall's father emigrated to Ohio, in 1808, with his family, consisting of six children, to-wit: Jacob, John, Cathe- rine, George, James, and Henry, my informant, who has been a resident of Huntington township fifty-three years. He has seen many deer, turkeys, wolves, etc. He says, one day, when quite a lad, he was sent out by his father to haul wood near the house, and while thus employed he saw a gang of large wolves after the sheep in the field, and tried to get the dog to attack them ; but the dog seemed to be frightened and would not go near them. He then took a billet of wood and drove them off him- self, and saved the sheep. At another time, Mr. Neborgall's wife heard the screaming of a child in the woods at no great distance, and ran to see what was the matter. Upon arriving in sight of the child, she found it to be a cousin of Mr. Nebor- gall, named Waggey, who had been sent on an errand to a
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