USA > Ohio > Ashland County > A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County > Part 24
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deed remains a profound mystery. The deceased leaves a wife and several children to mourn his un- happy end. We hope no effort will be spared to ferret out the author of this deed. The fair fame of our county and the safety of all is at stake."
LOUDONVILLE. This town was laid out August 6, 1814, by Stephen Butler and James Loudon Priest.
Population in 1830. 272
" 1860 447
The census returns of the intermediate decennial periods were merged in the township.
The town is situated on the line of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railroad, and contains four churches: 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Ger- man Reformed, and 1 Lutheran; a Masonic Lodge, and a Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows; 1 academy, 1 attorney, 3 physicians, 2 clergymen, 3 dry goods stores, 2 clothing stores, 2 drug stores, 3 millinery shops, 2 founderies, 1 tannery, 2 tin and stove shops, 3 blacksmith shops, 3 boot and shoe shops, 2 saddlery and harness shops, 1 bakery and confectionery, a lumber yard, 2 cabinet shops, 1 mar- ble shop, 1 chair shop, 1 tailor shop, 1 barber shop, 1 coverlet manufacturer, 1 gunsmith, and 5 groceries.
The officers of the town for the year 1862, are as follows :- Mayor: William Larwill, Jr .- Recorder: Mor- rill Rust-Marshal : J. W. Rollins-Council: Henry Brown, George Hunnybarger, Clodius Peto, Adam Ullman, and G. G. Leopold.
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In the legislation connected with the internal im- provement system undertaken by the State of Ohio, the town of Loudonville and the Black Fork of the Mohican occupied no inferior space. At a very early day the Black Fork was declared by legislative enactment to be within the purview of the fourth Article of the Ordinance of 1787, which proclaimed the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, as "common highways,* and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said territory, as to the citizens of the United States, and those of any other States that may be admitted into the confederacy, without any tax, impost, or duty therefor."
The Walhonding Canal was commenced with the intention and expectation of extending it up the branches of the river of that name, to Loudonville, on the Black Fork, and to Mt. Vernon, on the "Ver- non River," or, as it was and is more generally known, the "Owl Creek." On the 10th of March, 1838, a law was passed to provide for the extension of the Walhonding Canal to the points above named. This law directed "that whenever the Board of Pub- lic Works shall be satisfied that the work on said canals may be commenced and prosecuted with
* If a dam is erected across such stream, and loss is sustained by the navigation, in consequence of the obstruction, the owners of the dam are responsible, although the erection was authorized by the legislature upon certain terms and conditions, and although all diligence was used by the owners of the dam to prevent it from creating obstruction to the navigation. If such dam is not kept in the condition required by the act of the legislature authorizing its erection, it may be regarded as a common nuisance, and per- sons injured may maintain an action as in the case of an injury by & nuisance. Hogg v. Zanesville Canal Co., etc., 5 O. R. 410.
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economy, and without material detriment to the public works in the vicinity which may then be in pro- gress," * "they shall certify the same, together with an estimate of the sums which can be advan- tageously expended on the same, within the year next ensuing, and so on, from year to year, during the progress of the work, to the Commissioners of the Canal Fund. That the Commissioners of the Canal Fund shall, from time to time, on receiving such cer- tified estimates from the Board of Public Works, be authorized to borrow, on the credit of the State, at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent. per annum, the sums so certified to be necessary for the prosecu- tion of the work."
On the 6th of April, 1839, the Board made the necessary certified estimates to the Commissioners of the Canal Fund, and also made preparations for com- mencing the work, by a permanent location of the same.
A few days previous to the time designated for ad- vertising the letting of the work, a communication was made to the Board of Public Works by the Com- missioners of the Canal Fund, then in New York, noti- fying the Board that money could not then be bor- rowed at the rate authorized by law, and urging that the work for a time be suspended.
The suspension proved to be indefinite; and thus, after a few spasmodic but ineffectual revivals, ended a project which, had it been successful, would, in all probability, have made Loudonville at this day the seat of justice of one of the most flourishing counties in Northern Ohio. It was only the protracted period of financial embarrassment that immediately succeeded the year above mentioned-an embarrassment in-
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volving all the productive interests of the country as well as corporations and States-that defeated the con- struction of the improvement of the Black Fork.
CHURCHES IN LOUDONVILLE.
BAPTIST.
This church was organized in May, 1839-Isaac Wolf and John Neptune, deacons. Rev. Mr. Wilson had charge of the congregation two years, when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Stearns, who also re- mained two years. Rev. William Leete is the present pastor.
The church was organized with eleven members. There are now fifty-six. Warren Wolf, Joseph B. Sanborn, and John Neptune are the deacons at this time; William Campbell, clerk.
The building, which is a frame, 40 by 45 feet, and will accommodate, with seats, a congregation of five hundred persons, was erected in 1843, at a cost of $1250.
METHODIST. -
In the spring of 1834, the first protracted meeting was held by Rev. Elmore Yocum, in an old stone house, owned by Thomas McMahan, at which time forty-four persons joined the church.
At a meeting of the Quarterly Conference, held at Eckley's Meeting-House, Ashland Circuit, Wooster District, Ohio Conference Methodist Episcopal Church, February 14, 1835, the following Board of Trustees were appointed to estimate the expense of building a church in Loudonville, namely: Joseph White, James Martin, and Leonard Parker. On the 14th of
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March, 1835, the following Board of Trustees were appointed by Rev. H. M. Shaffer, namely: Joseph White, James Martin, Leonard Parker, Thomas Shearer, Daniel Oliver, William Kay, Edward S. Hibbard, Henry Hannawalt, and Joseph Hill.
The church was organized by Rev. Elmore Yocum, in March, 1834, in Thomas McMahan's warehouse. Meetings were also held at the houses of Joseph White and James Martin, and at the old Plank School-House. David Drake was the first class- leader. The first church building was erected in the summer of 1836. Its walls were of brick. Di- mensions, 24 by 36 feet, and cost $500. The present building, which is 40 by 50 feet, was completed in the summer of 1856, at a cost of $1500. It will seat comfortably four hundred persons.
The present membership is sixty-five. Class-Lead- ers: Samuel White and Andrew Mumper-Steward: C. S. Deyarman - Preacher in Charge: Rev. C. D. Lakey-Junior : Rev. J. L. Beardsley.
GERMAN REFORMED AND LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL.
These denominations erected a house for public worship, in Loudonville, in 1846, for the joint use of both. In July, 1860, the building was destroyed by fire. In 1861, the denominations having previously separated, each erected, during that year, houses for public worship.
Rev. Mr. Greenline, during the last three years, has had charge of the German Reformed congrega- tion, and Rev. Mr. Herzberger, since April, 1862, has supplied the pulpit in the Lutheran Church.
The buildings are substantial frame edifices, and a credit to the town.
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BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
HANOVER LODGE NO. 115, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.
The dispensation for the lodge, at Loudonville, was granted in November, 1843, to Geo. H. Stewart, Adolph Klemm, Nathaniel Haskell, John Ewalt, Wm. J. Cullen, P. B. Griffith, E. B. Fuller, and Jacob Booth. At a special communication, October 28, 1844, the officers were regularly installed by Kimball Porter, of Ebenezer Lodge.
The first officers elected were, Geo. H. Stewart, W. M .; N. Haskell, S. W .; P. B. Griffith, J. W .; W. J. Cullen, S. W .; C. B. Fuller, S. D .; A. Klemm, Secretary; Jacob Booth, Treasurer; and L. E. Hus- ton, Tyler.
At the organization of the lodge, the membership numbered fifteen; at the present time (1862) the number is fifty-eight. The three principal officers are, G. G. Leopold, W. M .; C. S. Deyarman, S. W .; and J. H. Sanborn, J. D.
SYLVAN LODGE, NO. 240, I. O. O. F.
This lodge was instituted April 20, 1854. The chartered members were John Taylor, David E. Stockman, A. P. Mather, C. Hildebrand, and A. Yarnall.
The present officers are, C. Hildebrand, N. G .; J. B. Long, V. G .; F. Shuck, Recording Secretary ; J. Brown, Per. Secretary ; J. W. Rollins, Treasurer; and P. Guth, P. G.
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REMINISCENCES OF THE PIONEERS OF HANOVER TOWNSHIP. SAMUEL GARRET.
Samuel Garret emigrated from New Jersey to Hanover township in 1825, having the year previous entered eighty acres in section 11, (the west half of the southwest quarter.)
Loudonville, although having been laid out several years, was a place of little business importance. He bought, at a public sale, lots in the town for one dollar.
Gratuitous Official Services.
For several years subsequent to Mr. Garret's set- tlement in the country, it was the custom of township officers to make no charge for public services. From about the year 1830, township officers received their first compensation.
Mr. Garret is now (August, 1862) in the eighty- first year of his age. His father, William Garret, served during the revolutionary war, in the Life- Guard of General Washington. After his first dis- charge, in 1780, he received his arrears of pay in Continental paper, and, on the following morning, a landlord declined to receive the whole amount of his "money" for his breakfast.
NATHANIEL HASKELL.
Nathaniel Haskell established himself at Loudon- ville, in April, 1820, and purchased the flouring mill on the Black Fork, one-half mile north of the town. To this he added machinery for the manufacture of woollen goods. In 1826, he disposed of his interest to Thomas J. Bull, and subsequently the mills passed
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into the hands of J. C. Larwill. About 1828, Mr. Haskell engaged in the mercantile business, in which he continued about twenty-eight years having been a merchant a longer continuous period, probably, than any other within the present limits of the county.
Direct Trade with New Orleans, etc.
From 1817 until about 1830, a direct trade, by means of flat-boats, was conducted with Louisville and New Orleans-the boats passing down the Black Fork into the Mohican, then into the White Woman, (or Walhonding, as it is now named,) thence into the Muskingum, and thence into the Ohio. These boats were generally freighted with flour and whisky, and would carry about forty-five tons. The comple- tion of the Muskingum improvement and Walhond- ing Canal cut off this trade. During the period of this commercial intercourse with New Orleans, flour at Loudonville would command from $2.50 to $3 per barrel, and would sell at the former place for $5 @ $6.
JOHN HILDERBRAND.
John Hilderbrand removed to Hanover Township in 1823, and settled upon the land which has since remained his residence.
MARK MAPES.
Mark Mapes removed to Hanover Township in the spring of 1822. He had previously resided in Mus- kingum County. When he commenced improvement upon the land he now occupies, his nearest neigh- bors on the north were Edward S. Hibbard and Gilbert Pell, two miles distant; on the east, his near-
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est neighbor was about four miles distant; on the south, Jacob Fifer, four miles; and on the west, Wil- liam Dorland, about five miles.
JAMES LOUDON PRIEST.
James Loudon Priest removed from Pennsylvania to Lake Township in May, 1810, and entered the land now owned by Calvin Hibbard, of Loudonville. His children were William, Olive, Clarissa, Daniel, Alvin, Eliza, James, Isaac, Jonas, John, and Sarah.
Mr. Priest purchased the land (one hundred and sixty acres, northwest quarter section 1) upon which is now situated Loudonville-and which town bears a part of his name-in the year 181 . At this date there was not a building of any sort within what now constitutes the town of Loudonville.
The first sale of lots was made on the 14th day of September, 1814. The proceeds of the sale were small.
The first justice of the peace who was elected, living within the town of Loudonville, was Stephen Butler.
Mr. Priest was elected the first justice of the peace in Lake Township, and built, upon the farm above mentioned, the first log cabin in said township. He died August 12, 1822, aged fifty-five years; and was the first citizen buried with Masonic honors in Loudon- ville. His wife died in October, 1859. William Priest died about 1847; Olive married Robert Davis, (who died thirty years since,) and is now the wite of An- drew Smith, with whom she is now living, in Holmes County. Clarissa married Benjamin Quick, and de- ceased about twenty-seven years since. Daniel is now a resident of Holmes County. Of Alvin, nothing is known concerning him; the last information from
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him being that he was in Texas, in 1860. Eliza mar- ried George Webster, with whom she now resides, in Logansport, Indiana. James, when last heard from, (about thirteen years ago,) was in Ireland. Isaac died in Illinois in 1856. Jonas (who communicates these details) is a resident of Washington Township, Holmes County, about one mile east of Loudonville. John is a neighbor of the latter; and Sarah married Cephas Parker, with whom she now resides, in Lake Township, Ashland County.
A few months prior to the Indian murders upon Black Fork, but while the savages had betrayed signs of hostility, Mr. Priest and his eldest son, Wil- liam, went forth upon a reconnoissance. During their absence, Mrs. Elijah Bowland, a neighbor, came to the house and notified Mrs. Priest that she had dis- covered in the neighborhood unmistakable signs of Indians, their tracks, and a piece of blanket. She so impressed her feelings of alarm upon Mrs. Priest that she immediately proceeded to vacate the house, and, placing her three youngest children in a canoe, which happened to be passing on the Lake Fork, under the management of Samuel Magnin, with the other seven she followed a trail which led to the house of Henry Darnell. She had not proceeded far, how- ever, before she became impressed with a fear that she might be waylaid by the Indians, and sent Dan- iel to the house to await, in an adjoining thicket, the return of his father and brother, to inform them of the circumstances that had transpired during their absence. In the mean time, she and the other children had sought refuge in an "alder swamp," not far distant. About midnight Mr. Priest and eldest son returned; upon discovering whom, Daniel came forward, and
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communicated the causes which had produced the change.
Although the result proved that there was no just cause for alarm, it was determined, as a measure of safety, to build a fort, which was accordingly done, upon the farm of Mr. Priest, and became the constant abode of the settlers in the neighborhood during the subsequent three months, and at nights during the entire period of the war.
GEORGE SNYDER.
George Snyder and family removed from the neigh- borhood of Wooster to Loudonville, in 1818. There were then but three families between Loudonville and Mt. Vernon. Mr. Snyder had been a soldier during the war of the American Revolution. He died in 1840, at the age of ninety-three years. Henry Snyder, of Green Township, is the only son now residing in the county.
CONTRIBUTED BY MISS MARY E. STEWART.
The town of Loudonville was laid out, in the year 1814, by Mr. James Loudon Priest and Mr. Stephen Butler. The beauty of the surrounding scenery, the mildness of the climate, and the fertility of the soil, attracted the attention of the pioneer, and, in many cases, induced him to rear his humble dwelling upon some of our beautiful farms, and make it his future dwelling-place.
When the town was first laid out, there was but a single building in the place. It was a log cabin, owned by Mr. Stephen Butler, and, although it had but one room, it was the hotel, and dwelling house of two families.
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Owing to the many hardships which the emigrants to the far West (it was then called the far West) had to endure, and the difficulties they were obliged to encounter, the town improved but little during the first few years of its existence. In the year 1813 Mr. Caleb Chappel immigrated, with his family, to the then far West, and settled, for a short time, in Knox County, a few miles south of Loudonville. He assisted in surveying the grounds where the town now lies, and, in the spring of. 1814, he entered land adjoining the town. The remainder of the year was spent in clearing the timber off the farm, erecting a log house, and preparing the grounds for use by the next spring. In the spring of 1815 he removed his family to his farm, which joins the northwestern corner of the town. Everything was new; and the many incon- veniences with which they had to contend, and the dangers to which they were exposed, can only be known to those who have left comfortable homes, and taken up their abode in the wilds of a new country.
Wild animals roamed at large through the sur- rounding forests, and the Indians built their fires and held their councils in the neighboring woods. Mr. Chappel's nearest neighbor was Mr. Butler; he was the squire, the tavern keeper, and, in fact, the only man in town. Mr. James Loudon Priest lived some five miles east, and Mr. Oliver three miles to the west. The nearest places for trading were Wooster and Mansfield, then small towns, contain- ing a limited number of buildings and inhabitants. The dress mostly worn by the male portion of the community consisted of a loose hunting-shirt-made of homemade linsey-being sometimes red, and some- times blue. Those made of blue linsey were trimmed
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with a red fringe, and those made of red were trimmed with blue fringe. A pair of pantaloons made of the same material; a pair of stout moccasins; a cap made frequently of rabbit skin; a broad, black belt, worn around the waist, to which was attached a large knife, and frequently a tomahawk and gun, completed the dress of the early settler.
Pantaloons made of deer-skin were generally worn by hunters. The female dress was made of either flannel, linen, linsey, or calico-the calico being the most expensive, as the others were manufactured at home. Such was the dress worn by the early settlers of our country, contrasting greatly with the dashing style of the fast young man and modern belle of the present age; and no doubt many a young American would consider it far beneath his dignity to acknowl- edge such was the simple dress worn by his fore- fathers.
One of the greatest disadvantages with which the early settlers had to contend was, that of educating their children. There was no school for some time after the town was incorporated; and the great cause of education was greatly neglected. At length, the people of the village and the neighboring country, seeing the necessity of establishing a school in their midst, convened together for the purpose of taking the matter into consideration. They soon came to the conclusion to build a school-house, and to procure a teacher who was worthy and capable of imparting instruction to the rising generation. A subscription was raised for the purpose of building it, and it was not long before it was entirely completed. It was made of planks, stood upright, and weather-boarded on the outside; it had a shingle roof, then a great
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rarity. It occupied a very conspicuous place, on the Public Square, and was about 18 feet long and 14 feet wide, with a door in front, and three windows on each side of the room. A large fireplace occupied one end of the room, and benches were placed along the sides. Taking all things into consideration, it was quite a respectable looking building, and served for many years as a public building for almost every purpose-for holding meetings, both religious and political. The system of public schools not being established, the schools were all raised by subscrip- tion, and were seldom in session more than three months out of the year.
In October, 1834, there was a printing office estab- lished in the place. The paper to be printed was the " Mohican Advocate and Hanover Journal." The pro- prietor was Mr. Rogers, but, owing partly to mis- management and partly for the want of patronage, it proved a failure; and, after issuing six numbers, suspended operations.
The facilities for sending and receiving the news of the day was very limited; letters and newspapers were seldom received. The mail was carried for many years on horseback, and when the first stage- coach made its appearance it was an object of wonder to the people in general. The day of its arrival was always looked forward to with joy and expectation; and the anxious people would gather in groups around the country inn, to await its arrival, and scrutinize the passengers.
JACOB STICHLER.
Jacob Stichler immigrated to Hanover Township, from Stark County, Ohio, in the fall of 1829. He died in January, 1848, at the age of seventy years.
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Henry, son of Jacob Stichler, is the only surviving member of his father's family, and now occupies the place originally entered by his father.
PHILIP THUMA.
Philip Thuma removed to the land he now owns and occupies in Hanover Township, in April, 1830.
CHAPTER XIII.
Lake Township.
SURVEYED in 1807, by Jonathan Cox. On the 5th of September, 1814, (Oliver Jones, Jonathan Butler, and Benjamin Miller, Commissioners of Wayne Coun- ty,) Lake was organized as it now is, except that a part or the whole of Washington Township, Holmes County, was included. Holmes County was erected since, (January 20, 1824.) At that time Coshocton and Wayne joined.
Population in 1820
311
" " 1830.
552
" 1840 1145
" 1850
880
" 1860. 912
There are no towns in Lake Township. By the operation of the act of 1846 erecting Ashland County, Lake, which had already been shorn of its full pro- portions by the erection of Holmes County, became yet farther reduced, and has now a smaller area than any township organization in the county except Mif- flin. It is known as "Little Lake;" yet, notwith-
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standing its decimation of territory, the census of 1860 exhibits a respectable gain, as compared with the decennial period immediately preceding, while other townships in the county show a falling off in population during the same space of time.
ODELL'S MILL.
As many references are made in the memoranda of the early settlers to this mill, it may be a matter of interest to state that it was erected by Nathan G. Odell, in the spring of 1812. Mr. Odell entered the tract upon which the mill is located in April, 1810, and at once commenced his improvement, and in March, 1811, removed his family to the place. He was the first white settler within the limits of what is now Clinton township, Wayne County. He died in Michigan, in 1833, at the age of sixty-seven. His son, L. D. Odell, Esq., is now the owner and occupant of a part of the land originally entered by his father, but the mill is owned by Joseph Newkirk.
The building was originally constructed of hewn logs, and raised by the aid of friendly Indians, then inhabiting the neighborhood, and without whose aid it could not have been erected.
REMINISCENCES OF THE PIONEERS OF LAKE TOWNSHIP.
GEORGE BENDER.
George Bender immigrated to Lake Township in 1828, and purchased the land now occupied by his son, Martin Bender. He continued his residence upon this land until his death, which occurred in June, 1859.
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JACOB EMRICK.
Jacob Emrick entered the southeast quarter of sec- tion 3, Lake Township, at the land-office at Wooster, in 1830, after the government had reduced their lands to $1.25 per acre. The whole farm is upland, and at the time of its purchase Mr. Emrick's neighbors re- garded his investment a very unwise one; but his efforts at cultivation, after clearing a few acres, proved successful, and he was among the first who demon- strated the fertility of the hills, and showed that, for wheat growing purposes, they were really superior to the bottom lands, while for all other crops, excepting corn, they were not inferior to the valleys.
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