USA > Ohio > Ashland County > A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
In "Ohio Historical Collections," by Henry Howe, p. 432, occurs the following notice of Johnny Apple- seed, which generally conforms to statements from other sources :-
"He had imbibed a remarkable passion for the rearing and cultivation of apple-trees from the seed. He first made his appearance in Western Pennsyl- vania, and from thence made his way into Ohio, keeping on the outskirts of the settlements, and fol- lowing his favorite pursuit. He was accustomed to clear spots in the loamy lands on the banks of the streams, plant his seeds, inclose the ground, and then leave the place until the trees had in a measure grown. When the settlers began to flock in and open their 'clearings,' Johnny was ready for them with his young trees, which he either gave away or sold for some trifle, as an old coat, or any article of which he could make use. Thus he proceeded for many years, until the whole country was, in a measure, settled and supplied with apple-trees, deriving self-satisfac- tion amounting to almost delight, in the indulgence of his engrossing passion. About twenty years since he removed to the far West, there to enact over again the same career of humble usefulness.
" His personal appearance was as singular as his character. He was a small, 'chunked' man, quick and restless in his motions and conversation; his beard, though not long, was unshaven, and his hair was long and dark, and his eye black and sparkling. He lived the roughest life, and often slept in the woods. His clothing was mostly old, being generally given to him in exchange for apple-trees. He went bare-footed, and often traveled miles through the snow in that way. In doctrine he was a follower of
Digitized by Google
35
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
Swedenborg, leading a moral, blameless life, liken- ing himself to the primitive Christians, literally taking no thought for the morrow. Wherever he went he circulated Swedenborgian works, and if short of them, would tear a book in two and give each part to different persons. He was careful not to injure any animal, and thought hunting morally wrong. He was welcome everywhere among the settlers, and treated with great kindness, even by the Indians: We give a few anecdotes, illustrative of his character and eccentricities.
"On one cool autumnal night, while laying by his camp-fire in the woods, he observed that the musqui- toes flew in the blaze and were burned. Johnny, who wore on his head a tin utensil which answered both as a cap and a mush pot, filled it with water and quenched the fire, and afterward remarked, 'God for- bid that I should build a fire for my comfort, that should be the means of destroying any of his crea- tures.' Another time he made his camp-fire at the end of a hollow log in which he intended to pass the night, but finding it occupied by a bear and her cubs, he removed his fire to the other end, and slept on the snow in the open air, rather than to disturb the bear. He was one morning in a prairie, and was bitten by a rattlesnake. Some time after, a friend inquired of him about the matter. He drew a long sigh and replied, 'Poor fellow! he only just touched me, when I, in an ungodly passion, put the heel of my scythe in him and went home. Some time after I went there for my scythe, and there lay the poor fellow dead.' He bought a coffee bag, made a hole in the bottom, through which he thrust his head and wore it as a cloak, saying it was as good as anything. An itin-
Digitized by Google
36
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
erant preacher was holding forth on the public square, in Mansfield, and exclaimed, 'Where is the bare-footed Christian, traveling to heaven?' Johnny, who was laying on his back on some timber, taking the ques- tion in its literal sense, raised his bare feet in the air, and vociferated 'Here he is!'"
In a November month, and when the weather was unusually rigorous, Chapman was in Ashland, wear- ing a pair of shoes so dilapidated that they afforded no protection against the snow and mud. The late Elias Slocum, having a pair of shoes that he could not wear, and that were suitable to the feet of Mr. Chapman, presented them to the latter. A few days . after this occurrence, Mr. Slocum met the old man in Mansfield, walking the snow-covered streets in bare feet. In reply to the inquiry as to the reason he did not wear his shoes, Chapman replied that he had found a poor, bare-footed family moving westward, who were in much greater need of clothing than him- self, and that he had made the man a present of them.
He declined, repeatedly, invitations to take food with the elder members of the family at the first table,-and it was not until he became fully assured that there would be an abundant supply of food for the little children who had remained in waiting, that he would partake the proffered hospitality.
He was never known to have slept in a bed-his habit being either to "camp out" in the woods, or, if sleeping in a house, to occupy the floor. He placed very little value upon money. His cash receipts from sales of fruit trees were invested in objects of charity, or in the purchase of books illustrating his peculiar religious faith. On a morning after he had slept on
Digitized by Google
-
37
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
Mr. Slocum's floor, Mr. Slocum found a five-dollar bank- note in the room near the place where Chapman had passed the night. Being well persuaded on the point of ownership, he left his house in search of Mr. Chap- man, and as he was yet in the town, soon came up with him and inquired whether he had not lost a five-dollar note. Upon examination of his pockets, Mr. Chapman concluded he had, and received the note, but remonstrated with Mr. Slocum against incurring so much trouble on his account.
Willard Hickox, of Mansfield, whose boyhood was passed in Green and Hanover Townships, and who well remembers Chapman, relates an incident illus- trating a trait of character which could be cultivated with profit by the "fast people" of this day. Calling at the cabin of a farmer, Chapman discovered near the doorway a bucket of "slops" which the house- wife had probably designed for the pigs, and upon the surface of which were floating some fragments of bread. He at once employed himself in removing these pieces from the bucket, and while thus engaged, the woman of the house appeared. He greeted her with a gentle rebuke of her extravagance-urging upon her the sinfulness of waste-and that it was wickedness, and an abuse of the gifts of a merciful God, to suffer the smallest quantity of anything which was designed to minister to the wants of mankind to be diverted from its purpose.
He never purchased covering for his feet. When he used anything in the form of boots or shoes, they were cast off things, or generally unmated, which he would gather up, however dilapidated they might appear-always insisting that it was a sin to throw
Digitized by Google
38
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
aside a boot or shoe until it had become so thoroughly worn out as to be unable to adhere to a human foot.
His Swedenborgian books were, as before stated, ever-present companions. Mr. Josiah Thomas in- quired of Johnny whether, in traveling on bare feet through forests abounding in venomous snakes, he did not entertain fears of being bitten. "This book," replied the old man, "is an infallible protection against all danger, here and hereafter."
We have thus given such incidents as are deemed from authentic sources, designed to impress upon the mind of the reader the characteristics of this eccentric and remarkable man, whose simple habits, unosten- tatious charities, and life of self-denial, consecrated to the relief of suffering humanity and the ameliora- tion of all God's creatures, are embalmed in the memory of all the early settlers.
CHAPTER V.
Ashland County-Commencing with its Organization.
THE law to erect the county of Ashland passed the General Assembly of Ohio on the 24th of February, 1846. Its present territory originally formed the Townships of Vermillion, Montgomery, Orange, Green, and Hanover, with parts of Clearcreek, Milton, Mifflin, and Monroe,* in Richland County; also, the Town- ships of Sullivan and Troy, in Lorain County; all
* Monroe was subsequently retroceded to Richland County.
Digitized by Google
39
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
except the eastern tier of sections of the Townships of Jackson, Perry, Mohican, and the fractional Town- ship of Lake, in Wayne County, and the whole of Ruggles, in Huron County. The counties from which Ashland was made contained originally an aggregate of 2940 square miles and ninety-three townships. The several dates of their organization and number of civil townships were as follows :-
Counties.
When organized.
Square miles.
No. of townships.
Richland
1818
900
25
Wayne.
1812
660
20
Lorain
1824
580
19
Huron
1815
800
29
2940
98
For many years after its organization, Richland County possessed the largest area of any county in Ohio. This fact gave rise to a multitude of new county schemes. There was scarcely "a laid-out" town outside a limit of twelve miles from Mansfield, that had not annually beleaguered the legislature with applications for new counties for the benefit of town lot owners. Within what is now Ashland County, there were numerous schemes which pro- posed to affect the territories of some of the counties from which Ashland was finally made-prominent among which were the new County of Ellsworth, with the seat of justice at Sullivan; the County of Mohican, with the seat of justice at Loudonville; the County of Vermillion, with the seat of justice at Hayesville; also, applications from Jerome, Orange, and Savannah for new counties, with the seats of
.
Digitized by Google
40
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
justice at their several towns; and at a later date, a new county for the benefit of real estate own- ers at Ashland. The success of the last-named pro- ject, by the passage of the act of 24th February, 1846, and by the vote of the electors of the new county on the first Monday of April of the same year, was regarded as a final settlement of all rival schemes; but the erection, at the legislative session of 1847-48, of the County of Morrow, a long pending and rival "claim," was a yet further invasion of the territory of "Old Richland." The checks imposed upon the General Assembly by the constitution of 1851, with respect to the erection of new counties and the removals of county seats, are among the wisest provisions of that instrument, and destroyed the occu- pation of a horde of mercenary lobbies, whose cor- ruptions had attained such magnitude as generally to control the legislation of the State. The constitution of 1802 simply prescribed the minimum area to four hundred square miles, without any guarantees for private rights involved in the changes of county lines and county seats. The legislative power over these subjects was supreme. One legislature could "permanently establish," and their successors could, and often did, as permanently unsettle and unmake "as a breath hath made." Rights which might be truly termed "vested," acquired under the most solemn legislative sanctions of former years, were wantonly invaded; and in an hour of fancied security men would find the accumulations of years virtually confiscated by "solemn" legislative enactment-an en- actment secured by the corps of "lobbies" who held control of every avenue leading to the law-making halls-and not only that, but had invaded the sanc-
Digitized by Google
41
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
tity of the premises within the legislative bar and dictated the votes of the worse than "wooden men" who were often sent as "representatives of the people." Unless other abuses have recently reappeared at Co- lumbus, and the lobbies found other prey, the cor- ruptionists have had a long fast at Ohio's capital.
-
ELECTIONS.
FIRST ELECTION, HELD ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF APRIL, 1846.
Commissioners-Josiah Thomas, Orange; Edward S. Hibbard, Hanover; Abner Crist, Ruggles Township.
Auditor-Hugh Burns, Milton Township. Treasurer-Geo. W. Urie, Montgomery Township.
Prosecuting Attorney-N. M. Donaldson, Hanover Township. Sheriff-James Doty, Mifflin Township.
Recorder-Asa S. Reed, Perry Township.
Surveyor-John Keen, Jr., Jackson Township.
By the terms of the law erecting the county, the officers elected in April only continued until their successors, who were to be elected on the second Tuesday of October, 1846, were elected and qualified.
SECOND ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 13, 1846.
Congress-John K. Miller.
Commissioners Josiah Thomas, Aldrich Carver, Edward S. Hibbard.
Auditor-Hugh Burns. Treasurer-George W. Urie.
Prosecuting Attorney-John S. Fulton.
Sheriff-James Doty. Recorder-Asa S. Reed.
Surveyor-John Keen, Jr. Coroner-Michael Riddle.
4
Digitized by Google
42
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
THIRD ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 12, 1847.
Representatives .- Joseph Musgrave and Daniel Brewer. Commissioner-Edward S. Hibbard.
JOURTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 10, 1848.
Congress-John K. Miller.
Senator-Andrew H. Byers, of Wayne County.
Representatives-Jacob Miller, of Ashland, and A. Franks, Jr., of Wayne.
Commissioner-James M. Hammett.
Auditor-Hugh Burns.
Treasurer-George W. Urie.
Prosecuting Attorney-Bolivar W. Kellogg.
Sheriff-Isaac Gates.
Coroner-Justus Wetherbee.
FIFTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 9, 1849.
Representatives-George W. Bull, of Ashland County, and A. Franks, Jr., of Wayne County. Commissioner-Christian Newcomer.
Surveyor-Orlow Smith. Recorder-Asa S. Reed.
Coroner-Justus Wetherbee.
For Constitutional Convention, 1594-none against-the whole vote cast that year being an average of 2234.
SIXTH ELECTION, HELD APRIL 1, 1850.
Members of Constitutional Convention-John J. Hootman, of Ashland County; John Larwill and Leander Firestone, of Wayne County.
SEVENTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 8, 1850.
*Congress-George H. Busby, of Marion County; David K. Cartter, of Stark County; Norton S. Townsend, of Lorain County. Senator-George W. Bull.
* At this and the preceding Congressional elections since the formation of the county, the townships in Ashland County voted with the several Congressional districts to which they belonged prior to the erection of the county.
Digitized by Google
43
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
Representatives-Clinton Wilson, Charles R. Deming.
*Member of Constitutional Convention -Elza Wilson, of Wayne County. Auditor-Aldrich Carver. Treasurer-J. W. Boyd. Commissioner-Luke Selby. Prosecuting Attorney-B. W. Kellogg. Sheriff-Isaac Gates.
EIGHTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 14, 1851.
Senator-John Mack, of Richland County. Representative-Charles R. Deming. District Judge-James Stewart. Probate Judge-A. L. Curtis. Clerk-John Sheridan. Commissioner-George McConnell.
NINTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 19, 1852.
Congress-Harvey H. Johnson. Auditor-Isaac Gates.
ยท
Treasurer-J. W. Boyd. Recorder-Asa S. Reed. Sheriff-John D. Jones. Prosecuting Attorney-Alexander Porter.
Infirmary Directors-David Bryte, Joseph H. Miller, George Botdorf.
Commissioner-Amos Hilborn. Surveyor-O. Smith. District Assessors John Keen, Jr., John Tanyer, Thomas Castor, J. S. Wetherbee.
TENTH ELEOTION, HELD OCTOBER 11, 1853.
Senator-Daniel Riblet. Representative-R. D. Emerson. Commissioner-Luke Selby. Infirmary Directors-David Bryte, Patrick Kelley. Coroner-John G. Brown.
* To supply vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Dr. Leander Fire- stone.
Digitized by Google
44 HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
ELEVENTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 10, 1854.
Congress-Philemon Bliss.
Probate Judge-Albert L. Curtis.
Clerk of Court Jacob O. Jennings. Prosecuting Attorney-John S. Fulton.
Sheriff-John D. Jones. Auditor-Isaac Gates. Treasurer-Jacob Crall.
Commissioner-George McConnell. Infirmary Director-Hugh McGuire.
TWELFTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 9, 1855.
Senator-Joseph Musgrave.
Representative-J. P. Cowan.
Recorder-Robert Scott. Commissioner-Harvey Fenn. Infirmary Director-George Botdorf.
Coroner-John Woodburn.
Surveyor-John Keene, Jr.
THIRTEENTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 14, 1856.
Congress-Philemon Bliss. Common Pleas Judge-Geo. W. Geddes. Auditor-James Swinford. Treasurer-John Jacobs.
Sheriff-John J. Hootman.
Prosecuting Attorney-Thos. J. Kenny. Commissioner-Wm. S. Strickland. Infirmary Director-Henry Hough.
FOURTEENTH ELECTON, HELD OCTOBER 13, 1857.
Senator-James Cantwell.
Representative-Jacob P. Cowan. Clerk-Henry S. See. Probate Judge-John D. Jones.
Commissioner-Jacob Emrick. Coroner-John Woodburn. Infirmary Director-Joseph Strickland.
Digitized by
-
45
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
FIFTEENTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 12, 1858.
Congress-Cyrus Spink, of Wayne County .* Auditor-James Swineford. Treasurer-John Jacobs. Prosecuting Attorney-J. J. Jacobs. Sheriff-J. J. Hootman. Commissioner-John Berry. Surveyor-Orlow Smith. Infirmary Directors-D. K. Hull, Holliday Ames. Recorder-Geo. Johnston.
SIXTEENTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 11, 1859.
Congress-Harrison G. Blake. Senator-Samuel Glass.
Representatives John Taylor, George McConnell. State Board of Equalization-George W. Urie. Commissioner-Daniel Pocock. Infirmary Director-Johnson S. Martin. Coroner-George W. Crozier.
SEVENTEENTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 9, 1860.
Congress Harrison G. Blake. Clerk of Court-H. S. See. Probate Judge-John D. Jones. Prosecuting Attorney-Wm. F. Johnston.
Sheriff-James McCool. Auditor-Johnson Oldroyd. Treasurer-Reuben N. Hershey. Commissioner-Jacob Emrick. Infirmary Director-Joseph Strickland.
EIGHTEENTH ELECTION, HELD OCTOBER 8, 1861.
Senator-Thomas J. Kenny. Representative-John Taylor. Judge of Common Pleas Court-Geo. W. Geddes. Recorder-George Johnston.
* Deceased prior to the meeting of the Congress to which he was elected.
Digitized by Google
46
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
Commissioner-John Berry. Surveyor-George W. Ryall. Infirmary Director-D. K. Hull. Coroner-S. P. Crozier.
ASHLAND COUNTY JUDICIARY.
[Extracts from the Court Journal. ] .
By an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, entitled "An act to erect the County of Ash- land," passed the 24th day of February, A.D. 1846, certain territory therein described taken from the counties of Richland, Wayne, Lorain, and Huron, in said State of Ohio, was set off and erected into a new county to be and remain a separate and distinct county by the name of Ashland, and by said act is attached and made a part of the eleventh judicial circuit of the Court of Common Pleas.
Associate Judges for the New County.
After the passage of said act, to wit: On the 25th day of February, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six, the said General Assembly duly elected Edmund Ingmand, John P. Reznor, and George H. Stewart, Associate Judges for the County of Ashland aforesaid for the constitutional term of seven years from and after the day of said election.
On the 3d day of March, 1846, the said Edmund Ingmand, John P. Reznor, and George H. Stewart, having received their several commissions as Associate Judges for said County of Ashland, dated at Columbus, February 25, 1846, assembled at the house of James McNulty, in the town of Ashland, in said County of
Digitized by Google
47
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
Ashland, and the oath of office required by law was administered to each of said Associate Judges, by E. N. Gates, Esq., a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Ashland, as appears by the certificates indorsed on said commissions.
Appointment of Clerk pro tem.
On the said 3d day of March, 1846, and after said Associate Judges had been qualified by taking the oath as aforesaid, they all sat together as a special Court of Common Pleas of said County of Ashland at the same place at which they were sworn as aforesaid, and made the following order, to wit:
Ordered, That Daniel W. Brown be and he is here- by appointed Clerk pro tempore of the Court of Com- mon Pleas of said County of Ashland, and that said Daniel W. Brown be required to give bond in the sum of ten thousand dollars, with three good sureties, conditioned for the faithful paying over all moneys which may come into his hands as clerk of said court, and for the faithful and impartial discharge of all the duties of his said office as Clerk of the Court of Com- mon Pleas of said County of Ashland as required by law; which bond was forthwith made out and signed by said D. W. Brown as principal, and C. R. Deming, H. Luther, and John L. Lang, as sureties, which sureties were accepted by said court, and the court retained said bond until the proper county officer should be elected and qualified to receive the same.
At a meeting of the Associate Judges of the County of Ashland, began and held in the town of Jerome- ville, in said County of Ashland on Monday, the 16th day of March, A.D., 1846 - present E. Ingmand, G. H. Stewart, associates; D. W. Brown, clerk pro tem.
Digitized by Google
48
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
Assessment Districts and Appointment of Assessor8.
The said Associate Judges having convened in pursuance of "An act for levying taxes on all prop- erty in this State according to its true value," passed March 2, 1846, proceeded to divide the said County of Ashland into three districts, and to appoint assessors for two of said districts as follows, to wit:
The first district shall be composed of the Town- ships of Lake, Mohican, Perry, Jackson, and Mont- gomery; and John Allison, of Perry Township, is hereby appointed assessor for said district.
The second district shall be composed of the Town- ships of Orange, Clearcreek, Ruggles, Troy, and Sullivan.
And the third district shall be composed of the following townships, viz .: Vermillion, Green, Hanover, Milton, and the fractional Townships of Mifflin and Monroe; and Jesse Hayes, of Hanover Township, is hereby appointed assessor for said district.
Said assessors were duly notified of their appoint- ment by a notice signed by the Associate Judges.
Organization of the Fractional Township of Mifflin.
Ordered, That the fractional Township of Mifflin falling within the limits of the County of Ashland be and the same is hereby organized into a separate township by the name of Mifflin; and the town of Petersburg or Mifflin shall henceforth be the place of holding elections in said township until otherwise ordered by law; and the judges of election in said township are required to return the poll books of the election to be held on the first Monday of April in regard to county officers, and the location of the seat
Digitized by Google
49
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
of justice, to the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas at Jeromeville, agreeably to the sixth section of the act to erect the County of Ashland.
Appointment of Assessor for the Second District.
WEDNESDAY, March 18, 1846.
This day two of the Associate Judges, to wit: Edmund Ingmand and John P. Reznor met at the house of said Reznor in Ashland in the County of Ashland, and appointed George McConnell, Esq., of Orange Township, assessor for the second district as aforesaid; and said McConnell was forthwith notified of his appointment.
Adjourned to meet at Jeromeville on the 28th instant.
E. INGMAND, Judge.
Appointment of the First School Examiners.
At the special session of the Court of Common Pleas, held at Jeromeville on the 28th day of March, 1846, on motion, it was Ordered, That John McCor- mick, Nicholas M. Donaldson, and Lorin Andrews be and they are hereby appointed school examiners for the County of Ashland for the term of three years from and after this date.
Official Vote on the Question of Establishing the Seat of Justice.
1
JEROMEVILLE, April 10, 1846.
In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, entitled "An act to erect the County of Ashland," passed February 24, 1846, the Associate Judges of said County of Ashland met at the house of G. H. Cake, in the town of Jeromeville in said
Digitized by Google
50
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY.
County of Ashland, on the day above written, and in obedience to the sixth section of the aforesaid act, and the poll books from the several townships having all been returned agreeably to said act, the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in the presence and by the assistance of the Associate Judges aforesaid, pro- ceeded to canvass said votes in regard to the location of the county seat as specified in said sixth section of the act aforesaid. Whereupon it appeared that there had been polled in said County of Ashland for seat of justice at Ashland, two thousand six hundred and eighty-two (2682) votes; for seat of justice at Hayes- ville, two thousand and two (2002) votes.
An abstract of said votes was forthwith made out and certified by said Associate Judges and Clerk, to be returned to the next Court of Common Pleas agreeably to the eighth section of the act aforesaid.
Appointment of Deputy Sheriff.
At a meeting of the Associate Judges of Ashland County, Ohio, convened at the house of Elias Slocum, in the town of Ashland, Matthew Clugston was ap- pointed by the sheriff his principal deputy; which appointment was approved by the Associate Judges.
First Regular Term of the Court of Common Pleas.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.