USA > Ohio > Ashland County > A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County > Part 11
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1845.
Trustees : Jonas H. Gierhart, Peter Thomas, and Leander Carter-Treasurer: John Jacobs-Assessor : Samuel Swine- ford-Clerk : Lorin Andrews-Constables : Stephen Wolf and C. S. Vanarnam.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1846.
Trustees : Peter Thomas, Leander Carter, and Jonas H. Gierhart-Treasurer : John Jacobs-Assessor : Samuel Swine- ford-Clerk : Lorin Andrews-Constables : Stephen Wolf and C. S. Vanarnam.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1847.
Trustees : Peter Thomas, Leander Carter, and Hugh McGuire- Treasurer : John Jacobs-Assessor : Jonas H. Crouse-Clerk : John A. McClusky-Constables: C. S. Vanarnam and Stephen Wolf.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1848.
Trustees : Peter Thomas, Hugh McGuire, and Burr Kellogg- Clerk : J. A. McClusky-Assessor : G. W. Hill-Treasurer : John Jacobs-Constables : C. S. Vanarnam and Christian Gier- hart.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1849.
Trustees : Peter Thomas, David Bryte, and Burr Kellogg- Clerk : G. W. Hill-Treasurer : John Jacobs-Assessor : Jonas H. Crouse-Constables : C. S. Vanarnam and Joseph B. Cowhick.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1850.
Trustees : Peter Thomas, Burr Kellogg, and David Bryte- Clerk : Orlow Smith-Treasurer : John Jacobs-Assessor : Alan- son Andrews-Constables : A. C. Swineford and Uriah Drumb.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1851.
Trustees-Peter Thomas, Burr Kellogg, and George W. Urie. Clerk : Geo. W. Hill-Treasurer : John Jacobs-Assessor : John Tanyer-Constables : A. C. Swineford and R. Scott.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1852.
Trustees : Hugh Burns, John Smalley, and George Stough- Clerk : Wm. Ralston-Treasurer : John Jacobs-Assessor : John Tanyer-Constables: John G. Brown and Merida Figley.
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1853.
Trustees: Hugh Burns, John Smalley, and Willets Skinner- Clerk : Wm. Ralston-Treasurer : John Jacobs-Assessor: An- drew Sponsler-Constables : John G. Brown and A. C. Swineford.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1854.
[The record of this election does not appear in its proper place. Geo. H. Parker acted as Township Clerk. ]
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1855.
Trustees : Philip Kosht, Leander Carter, and John Smalley- Treasurer: John Jacobs-Assessor: Andrew Sponsler-Con- stables: John Lauterbaugh and A. C. Swineford.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1856.
Trustees : Geo. W. Urie, Peter Thomas, and Leander Carter- Treasurer: John Jacobs-Clerk: Wm. Willson-Constables: A. C. Swineford and M. M. Desenberg.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1857.
Trustees: G. W. Urie, Leander Carter, and Isaac Gates-As- sessor : A. Sponsler-Clerk : T. L. Arthur-Treasurer: John Jacobs Constables : Henry Woods and A. C. Swineford.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1858.
Trustees : Isaac Gates, G. W. Urie, and H. Ames-Clerk : T. L. Arthur-Treasurer : John Jacobs-Assessor : A. Sponsler-Con- sables: Henry Woods and Wm. Lasb.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1859.
Trustees: Andrew Proudfit, Jacob Martin, and John Smalley- Clerk : F. S. Jacobs-Assessor : A. Sponsler-Treasurer : F. S. Jacobs-Constable: A. C. Swineford.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1860.
Trustees : James McCool, A. Proudfit, and John Smalley- Clerk : F. S. Jacobs-Assessor : A. Sponsler-Treasurer : John Jacobs Constables : A. C. Swineford and Robert McMurray. 12
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HISTORY OF . ASHLAND COUNTY.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1861.
Trustees: James McCool, Andrew Proudfit, and John Smalley- Clerk : Wm. G. Heltman-Assessor : A. Sponsler-Treasurer : E. W. Wallack-Constables : A. C. Swineford and H. G. Hood.
ELECTION OF APRIL, 1862.
Trustees : Levi Somers, Moses Latta, and Geo. W. Urie-Clerk: Wm. G. Heltman-Assessor : A. Sponsler - Treasurer: E. W. Wallack-Constables: Amos Hilborn and John McNaull.
CHURCHES.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.
There is a church of this denomination on the east line of the township, organized in 1838. The present building is of brick, and will accommodate with seats a congregation of about three hundred and fifty per- sons. Rev. Mr. Wolf had the first charge of the con- gregation. A German Reformed clergyman, Rev. Adam Staump, also preached in the house a year or two after the erection of the church building. Rev. William Galbraith is the present pastor; Samuel Horn and Elisha Worley, deacons.
GERMAN BAPTISTS.
The denomination of German Baptists, or Brethren, have three meeting-houses in the county, known as "The Ashland District,"-the Ashland meeting-house, three miles southeast of town, the Maple Grove meet- ing-house, about one mile west of Orange, and Snow- barger's meeting-house, near Lafayette, Perry Town- ship. There is also another congregation, belonging to the same body, in the "Loudonville District," who
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are yet, however, without a church building. The membership in the Ashland District amounts to about three hundred; and in the Loudonville District, of such as reside within this county, there are between twenty-five and fifty.
This denomination has reached its present numbers in this county by accessions made to it by immigration and conversions which have chiefly occurred during the last ten years. They are a thrifty, industrious, and staid people-unassuming in their manners, unos- tentatious in their dress, and of well-established in- tegrity. To correct a misunderstanding which pre- vails to some extent in regard to their peculiar tenets, we subjoin a "HISTORY OF THE GERMAN BAPTISTS OR BRETHREN. [By Rev. Philip Boyle, Uniontown, Maryland.]-The German Baptists, or Brethren, are a denomination of Christians who immigrated to this country from Germany, between the years 1718 and 1730; they are commonly called Dunkers; but they have assumed for themselves the name of 'Brethren,' on account of what Christ said to his disciples, Matt. xxiii. 8, 'One is your master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren.'
"The following account of these people has been extracted from a work called 'Materials towards a History of the American Baptists,' published in 1770, by Morgan Edwards, then Fellow of Rhode Island College, and overseer of the Baptist church, in Phila- delphia :-
"Of the Germans in Pennsylvania who are com- monly called Tunkers, to distinguish them from the Menonists; for both are styled Die Täufer, or Bap- tists. They are called Tunkers in derision, which is as much as 'sops,' from tunken, to put a morsel in
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sauce; but as the term signifies dippers, they may rest content with their nickname. They are also called Tumblers, from the manner in which they per- form baptism, which is by putting the person head forward under water, (while kneeling,) so as to re- semble the motion of the body in the act of tumbling. The first appearance of these people in America was in the fall of the year, 1719, when about twenty families landed in Philadelphia, and dispersed them- selves, some to Germantown, some to Skippack, some to Oley, some to Conestoga, and elsewhere. This dispersion incapacitated them to meet in public wor- ship, therefore they soon began to grow lukewarm in religion. But in the year 1722, Baker, Gomery, and Gantzs, with the Franzs, visited their scattered brethren, which was attended with a great revival, insomuch that societies were formed wherever a number of families were within reach one of another. But this lasted not above three years; they settled on their lees again; till about thirty families more of their persecuted brethren arrived in the fall of the year 1729, which both quickened them again and in- creased their number everywhere. Those two com- panies had been members of one and the same church, which originated in Schwartzenan, in the year 1708, in Germany. The first constituents were Alexander Mack and wife, John Kipin and wife, George Grevy, Andreas Bhony, Lucas Fetter, and Joanna Nethigum. Being neighbors, they agreed together to read the Bible, and edify one another in the way they had been brought up, for as yet they did not know there were any Baptists in the world. However, believer's baptism and a congregational church soon gained on them, insomuch that they were determined to obey
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the gospel in those matters. These desired Alexander Mack to baptize them, but he deeming himself in reality unbaptized, refused; upon which they cast lots to find who should be administrator; on whom the lot fell hath been carefully concealed. However, · baptized they were in the river Eder, by Schwartzenan, and then formed themselves into a church, choosing Alexander Mack as their minister. They increased fast, and began to spread their branches to Marien- horn and Epstein, having John Naas and Christian Levy as their ministers in those places; but persecu- tion quickly drove them thence; some to Holland, some to Crefelt. Soon after the mother church voluntarily removed from Schwartzenan to Serus- tervein, in Friesland, and from thence migrated to- ward America, in 1719; and in 1729, those of Crefelt and Holland followed their brethren. Thus, we see all the ' Tunker churches' in America sprang from the church of Swartzenan, in Germany; that that church began in 1708, with only eight souls, and that in a place where no Baptists had been in the memory.of man, nor any now are: in sixty-two years 'that little one is become a thousand, that small one a great nation.' It is very difficult to give a true account of the principles of these Tunkers, as they have not pub- lished any system or creed, except what two individ- uals have put forth, which has not been publicly avowed. However, I may assert the following things concerning them, from my own knowledge, viz .: general redemption they certainly hold, and with all general salvation. They use great plainness of dress and language, like the Quakers, and like them will neither take an oath nor fight. They will not go to
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law, nor take interest for the money they lend .* They commonly wear their beards, and keep the first day, (except one congregation.); They celebrate the Lord's Supper, with its ancient attendants of love- feasts, washing feet, kiss of charity, and right hand of fellowship. They anoint the sick with oil for re- covery; and use the trine immersion, with laying on of hands and prayer, even while the person baptized is in the water, which may easily be done, as the person kneels down to be baptized, and continues in that posture till both prayer and imposition of hands be performed. Their church government is the same with the English Baptists, except that every brother is allowed to stand up in the congregation, and speak by way of exhortation and expounding; and when by these means they find a man eminent for knowl- edge, and possessing aptness to teach, they choose him to be their minister, and ordain him with laying on of hands, attended with fasting and prayer, and giving the right hand of fellowship. They also have deacons, and aged women for deaconesses, who are allowed to use their gifts statedly. They do not pay their ministers, unless it be by way of presents; neither do their ministers assert their right to pay, esteeming it 'more blessed to give than receive.'
* The taking of interest is now tolerated among them, but most of them do not demand or take full lawful interest, and some of them do not take any interest for the money they lend to their poorer brethren.
t It is quite probable the author here alludes to the (Sieben Taeger) Seventh Day Baptists, who formed a settlement at Ephrata, in Lancaster County, in Pennsylvania, in the year 1724. These are the same people meant and described under the name Dunkards, in Buck's Theological Dictionary. There is no account given of the German Baptists or Brethren in that work.
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Their acquaintance with the Bible is admirable; in a word, they are meek and pious Christians, and have justly acquired the character of 'Harmless Tunkers'"
The Rev. E. Winchester, one of the Baptist mis- sionaries from England, in a work published by him in 1787, gave, among other things, the following ac- count of these people: "They are industrious, sober, temperate, kind, charitable people; envying not the great, nor despising the mean. They read much, they sing and pray much; they are constant attend- ants upon the worship of God; their dwelling-houses are all houses of prayer; they walk in the command- ments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, both in public and private. They ' bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' The law of kindness is in their mouths; no sourness or morose- ness disgraces their religion; and whatsoever they believe their Saviour commands they practice, with- . out inquiring or regarding what others do."
"Though they in general maintain the same prin- ciples at this present time, yet they themselves con- fess there is not that same degree of vital piety existing among them that there was at the close of the eigh- teenth century; owing, as they think, to the circum- stance of many of them having become very wealthy, and of their intermarriage with others.
"The German Baptists, or Brethren, have now dis- persed themselves almost through every State in the Union, more or less; but they are most numerous in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. It would be a difficult task to give a regular statistical account of these people, as they make it no part of their duty to keep an exact account of the number of communicants. Some of their larger congregations
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number from two to three hundred members; each congregation has from two to three preachers, and some more. In traveling and preaching there are in general two together; and very frequently one speaks in German, and the other in the English lan- guage, to the same congregation. None of their min- isters receive any pecuniary compensation for any services they perform pertaining to the ministry; they preach, officiate at marriages and funerals among all who call upon them, without respect to persons: though their ministers will not perforin the rites of matrimony, unless they can be fully satisfied that there are no lawful objections in the case of either of the parties to be married.
"Their teachers and deacons are all chosen by vote, and their bishops are chosen from among their teachers, after they have been fully tried and found faithful; they are ordained by the laying on of hands and by prayer, which is a very solemn and affecting ceremony. It is the duty of the bishops to travel from one congregation to another, not only to preach, but to set in order the things that may be wanting; to be present at their love-feasts and communions, and, when teachers and deacons are elected or chosen, or when a bishop is to be ordained, or when any member who holds an office in the church is to be ex- communicated. As some of the congregations have no bishops, it is also the duty of the bishop in the adjoining congregation to assist in keeping an over- sight of such congregations. An elder among them is, in general, the first or eldest chosen teacher in the congregation where there is no bishop; it is the duty of the elder to keep a constant oversight of that church by whom he is appointed as a teacher. It is
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his duty to appoint meetings, to baptize, to assist in excommunication, to solemnize the rites of matrimony, to travel occasionally, to assist the bishops, and in certain cases to perform all the duties of a bishop. It is the duty of their teachers to exhort and preach at any of their regular stated meetings; and, by the re- quest of a bishop or elder, to perform the ceremony of baptism and rites of matrimony.
"It is the duty of their deacons-or, as they are sometimes called, visiting brethren-to keep a con- stant oversight of the poor widows and their children, to render them such assistance as may be necessary from time to time; it is also their duty to assist in making a general visit among all the families or mem- bers in their respective congregations, at least once a year, in order to exhort and comfort one another, as well as to reconcile all offenses that may occur from time to time. It is also their duty to read the Scrip- tures, to pray, and even exhort, if it may appear necessary, at their regular meetings of worship.
"The general order of these people has been to hold their meetings for public worship at dwelling- houses; but in some of their congregations they have now erected meeting-houses, or places expressly for worship. Some of them are built very large, without a gallery or a pulpit.
"They, as yet, have but one annual meeting, which is held every year, about Whitsuntide, and is attended by the bishops and teachers, and other members who may be sent as representatives from the various con- gregations. At these meetings there is, in general, a committee of five of the eldest bishops chosen from among those who are present, who retire to some con- venient place, to hear and receive such cases as may
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then be brought before them, by the teachers and representatives from the various congregations, which are (or at least the most important of them) after- ward discussed and decided upon, and then those several queries, with the considerations as then con- cluded, are recorded and printed in the German and English languages, and sent to the teachers in all the different congregations in the United States, who, when they receive them, or as soon as convenient, read them to the rest of their brethren. By this course of proceeding, they preserve a unity of senti- ment and opinion throughout all their congregations.
"Some of their ministers manifest a great deal of zeal in their Master's cause; and although some of them are poorly circumstanced in the world, yet they, at their own expense, leave their families for several weeks in succession, and some even longer, to preach the gospel to others. They have had a general revival among them within the few last years past; many have been convicted and converted under their preaching, and the cause of religion seems to be pro- gressing among them; and, what might seem strange to some, is, that they baptize by immersion, and that at any season of the year.
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"In connection with what has been said in the commencement of our account concerning their doc- trines, etc., we will only add, by way of conclusion, that they believe that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him; and that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life; and that God sent his Son into the world to seek and to save that which was
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lost, believing that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God through a crucified Redeemer, who tasted death for every man, and was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. And although it has herein been testified that they hold general re- demption as a doctrine, still it is not preached among them in general, as an article of faith. It has probably been held forth by those who felt themselves, as it were, lost in the love of God; and, perhaps, on this account, they have been charged with holding the sentiments of the Universalists, which they all deny. They conceive it their duty to declare the whole counsel of God, and therefore they feel themselves bound to proclaim his threatenings and his judgments against the wicked and ungodly; yet in accordance with their general principles, which are love and good- will, they are more frequently led to speak of the love and goodness of God toward the children of men."
REMINISCENCES OF THE PIONEERS OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. HENRY BAUGHMAN.
Henry Baughman removed with his wife and one child to Montgomery Township, April 1, 1814, and settled upon the southwest quarter of section 3, now owned by Michael Myers. His nearest neighbors at this date were Messrs. Chandler and Naylor, the former of Perry, and the latter of Mohican Town- ship. In 1819, he purchased of Moses Riddle the farm he now occupies in Orange Township.
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
JAMES BOOTS.
James Boots emigrated from Delaware, and located in Montgomery Township, December, 1828. Died 16th July, 1855.
SAMUEL BURNS.
Samuel Burns removed from Franklin County, Pennsylvania, to Wheeling, Virginia, in 1797, being at this time twenty-one years of age. In 1798, he became a resident of what is now Belmont County, on the Ohio side of the river. He was impaneled and served on the first grand jury at Pultney, Bel- mont County, which was held in Ohio after its organi- zation as a State. He was also.on the first jury held at Mansfield, after Richland became a county; and also a member of the first grand jury convened at Ashland after the organization of this county, at the May Term, 1846.
He entered the quarter section upon which he now resides, and removed to it in the spring of 1814. He came from Guernsey County, and removed his family on pirogues- embarking at Will's Creek, and coming up the Muskingum, White Woman, Mohican, and Jerome Fork, and landed at Finley's Bridge. His family were fourteen days on the water-an unusually tedious voyage. His land adjoined that of Esq. Newell. When he removed to the county, his family consisted of his wife and four children. The former died on 28th December, 1860, at the age of seventy- seven. Mr. Burns is now' eighty-five years of age, having been born in 1776.
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DANIEL CARTER.
Daniel Carter-originally from Butler County, Penn- sylvania-immigrated to Montgomery Township, in January, 1812, having previously, with his family, re- sided a brief time at Jeromeville. From the latter point to the farm he subsequently selected and purchased in Montgomery Township, and which is now owned by John Mason, one mile northeast of Ashland, he cut the first road through an unbroken forest. This journey and settlement he made with a wife and family of eight children, namely: John, William, Daniel, Richard, Elizabeth, James, George, and Anna. He settled down, at that inclement season of the year, in an open-ended tent covered with clap-boards-living in that condition until he was enabled to cut and haul together logs suitable for a cabin house. When he came to raise his dwelling, he was compelled to travel sixteen miles through the wilderness to obtain the fourth man required for the purpose. Having cleared and planted seven acres in corn and potatoes in the spring of 1812, a panic was created among the settlers by the receipt of intelligence, in September of that year, of Hull's surrender at Detroit; and, antici- pating that a general Indian invasion and massacre would follow this event, Mr. Carter and family de- serted their new home, and sought a place of refuge near New Philadelphia, in Tuscarawas County. Here they remained until February of the following year, (1813,) when they again returned to their farm, and where they found, happily, that their premises had been unmolested; and also their crops, which they had planted, save such as had been destroyed by deer and turkey. Here they remained until information
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was received at Jeromeville of the attack by the In- dians upon the white inhabitants on the Black Fork; immediately upon the receipt of which information, Thomas Carr volunteered as a messenger to inform Mr. Carter's family and neighbors of the attack, and warn them of their danger. Mr. Carter and family immediately fled, and made a successful escape to the fort. On subsequent examination of the premises, the tracks of the same Indians were discovered that were visible in the vicinity of Newell's house, which had been burned by the Indians. Mr. Carter's prop- erty escaped destruction, it is supposed, for reasons of past friendship. From Carter's the Indians passed to Cuppy's house, half a mile north, which was burned; they then continued to the house of Mr. Fry, (now owned by Daniel Wertman,) one half mile west of Cuppy's, where they finished their depredations.
At the close of the war, Mr. Carter entered the four quarter sections now occupied by his sons, David and Samuel, Mrs. Sackett, Mrs. Shearer, Thomas Elliott, Abraham Myers, and Jesse Callahan. Upon the homestead now occupied by Daniel Carter, he died on the 7th of February, 1854, at the age of seventy-nine years.
HENRY GAMBLE .*
Henry Gamble removed to the farm upon which he now resides in March, 1815-having entered his land at the office in Canton, in 1813. Mr. Gamble served during the last war with Great Britain; and was engaged in the service at Fort Meigs. His neigh- bors, at the time of his settlement, according to his
* Since deceased.
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