USA > Ohio > Ashland County > A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County > Part 32
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war implements, were exhumed by Amassa Bowman and other workmen engaged upon the road. Within a few years, Dr. J. Deal, of Orange, in making excava- tions in the mound, discovered, at the depth of eigh- teen inches below the surface, remains of human skeletons much decayed, and, on exposure to the at- mosphere, soon turned dark and decomposed. An upper jaw tooth of a skeleton attracted attention, and after the conclusion of his investigation, determined to take this home and preserve it-but after traveling a few rods it perished and fell from his hand.
ORANGE VILLAGE CHURCHES.
There are four- one Old School Presbyterian, one Methodist Episcopal, one United Brethren, and one German Reformed.
Old School Presbyterian .- Orange was organized as a church in the early part of the year 1834. In 1837 Orange was fixed upon to be the place for public worship. To this church Rev. Nathaniel Cobb was acting as stated supply in 1835. In the year 1841, by the request of Orange Church, Rev. F. A. Shearer was permitted by Presbytery to be its stated supply the one-third of his time for one year. In November, 1843, the Rev. Samuel Moody became the pastor of this church for one-half his ministerial labors, and he continued to minister to it until the latter part of the year 1856, when the Head of the Church unex- pectedly called upon him to come up higher. To this church, for the last three or four years, Rev. A. Scott has been a stated supply.
Methodist Episcopal. - The Methodist Episcopal Church building at Orange was commenced in 1830, and completed in 1831. The present building, 40 by
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60 feet, was erected in 1853. This is the oldest church organization in the township. When the building was erected, the membership amounted to one hundred and twenty-nine. Rev. Russell Bigelow was the first presiding elder, and Revs. Elmer Yocum and John Jaynes were circuit preachers. The trus- tees were Vachel Metcalf, John Sloan, (and others whose names cannot be attained.) Class-Leader: Vachel Metcalf.
Rev. Nathan S. Worden is the clergyman who supplies the pulpit for the current year. Class-Leaders: Jacob Fluke, John Mason, Wesley Richards, and Henry McGill. The present membership amounts to about one hundred. Thomas W. Richards, circuit steward, and John Fluke, steward of the church. Trustees: Jacob Fluke, Isaac Gordon, Thomas W. Richards, Henry McGill, and Wesley Richards.
United Brethren .- The building was erected in 1854, and will seat about one hundred and fifty per- sons. The present pastors are Revs. Jonathan Cru- baugh and William Dillon. Class-Leader: Robert Barnhill -- Trustees: Robert Barnhill, Joseph Hart- man, and William Culberson-Steward: Joseph Hart- man. There are thirteen members'in the class.
St. Jacob's German Reformed Church .- The present church edifice was erected in the year 1853. Its dimensions are 24 by 36, and will seat two hundred and fifty persons. Mr. Jacob Hiffner was among the most active and liberal in efforts to secure the con- struction of the building. Rev. E. T. H. Whaler is the pastor; Henry Hinckle, elder; John Gier and George Reele, deacons; John Will and Charles Mel- chim, trustees; John Milheim, treasurer. There are forty members.
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REMINISCENCES OF THE PIONEERS OF ORANGE TOWNSHIP.
PHILIP BIDDINGER.
Philip Biddinger immigrated, with his family, consisting of his wife and one child, to Orange Township, in February, 1823. He had several years previous emigrated from Virginia to Harrison County. He now resides in Troy Township.
JOHN BISHOP.
John Bishop, in February, 1814, adopted Orange Township as his future home. He was without wife, children, or money, and relied solely upon industrious and economical habits, and a vigor- ous constitution, for future success in life. In 1817 he had accu- mulated sufficient to enable him to purchase the southeast quarter of section 21, now owned by John Finger. This quarter he im- proved and occupied seven years, and, in 1824, purchased the farm now owned by Enos Rowley, and subsequently the farm upon which he at present resides, being two hundred acres, formerly owned by the late Daniel Campbell. In 1819 Mr. Bishop mar- ried Miss Catharine, daughter of the late Jacob Hiffner, Sr.
The three white families residing in the township, in 1814, were those of Jacob Young, Amos Norris, and Vachel Metcalf. There had not been a surveyed road in the township. He carried the chain for the surveyor who established the first road, which led from Sheets's saw-mill, on the east line of Montgomery Township, via of Jacob Young's and Leidigh's mill to Savannah-although at that time there was no Sheets's or Leidigh's mills or town of Savannah. Mr. Bishop was elected, at the first election held in Orange, constable for the township. Where the town of Orange now stands, at a log-rolling he saw a span of horses, which had started for a runaway, arrested by the end of the chain, which was thrown into the air, striking a sapling so as instantly to enwrap its body and bring the team to "a dead halt."
JAMES CAMPBELL.
James Campbell was among the early pioneers of Ohio, who, previous to his decease, had resided many years in Orange Town- ship. His wife, with whom he had lived upwards of seventy years, had died on the 22d of December, 1860; and his death occurred at the residence of his son, Thomas Campbell, on the 8th of De- cember, 1860, at the age of eighty-nine years eleven months and twenty-four days. "The deceased," says an obituary notice in the Ashland Union, "was one of the oldest men in the community, and leaves a large circle of relatives and friends; having, at the time of his death, more than a hundred grandchildren. He had been a member of the Presbyterian Church sixty years, and now that he has been gathered to his fathers, his friends 'weep, though not in bitterness; their tears are not tears of gloom.'"
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JAMES CLARK.
James Clark emigrated from Washington County, Pennsylvania, in April, 1818, having entered two hundred and six acres in the northwest part of section 2, Orange Township, being the place . upon which he has since resided.
The place of trade for himself and neighbors was Elyria, where purchases of salt, leather, and other goods were generally made.
The principal crops raised in his immediate neighborhood were wheat, rye, and corn. These grains were rarely marketed, and, except such as were required for family use, were fed to hogs, which were driven to the Pittsburg market.
ROBERT CULBERTSON.
Robert Culbertson removed to Orange Township in September, 1825. He had been a resident of Belmont County many years previous. His family, when he removed to the township, consisted of his wife and two children, Thomas Culbertson and Mrs. James Hamilton, all of whom are yet residents of Orange Township. His land, when he removed to it, had not been disturbed by the axe or plow, and the walls of the first cabin erected by him are yet stand- ing upon his place.
An Indian creates a Panic.
During the first year Mr. Culbertson removed to the township, a controversy had arisen between Peter Biddinger, a gunsmith, and an Indian named "Jim Jerk," about the pay for the repair of the Indian's gun. Jim had refused to meet the cost of the repairs, and on Mr. Biddinger's refusal to deliver it to him without pay, he made threats of vengeance. The following year the Indian was discovered lurking about the neighborhood, and his conduct was such as excited suspicion. A company of thirteen men at once organized to scour the country, and if possible capture him and obtain an explanation of his conduct. A diligent search, com- mencing at daybreak and ending at a late hour of the night, proved fruitless, and all returned home except John McConnell, who con- tinued his pursuit about three days, when he reappeared and noti- fied Mr. Biddinger and the neighborhood that he had made & satisfactory and final settlement with Jim Jerk. The Indian was never seen or heard of again.
WILLIAM FAST.
William Fast, in company with his eldest brother, Martin, (late of Jackson Township,) visited the country with a view of selecting and entering land for their father, Christian Fast, Sr., in the fall of 1814. The families were yet residents of Green County, Penn- sylvania. While viewing the country, they made their home with the family of Jacob Mason-being the farm now owned by Henry Myers.
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Price and quality of Breadstuffs.
During this fall (1814) he accompanied Jacob Young and Martin Mason to Fealty Smith's, five miles east of Wooster, where they purchased frost-bitten corn at $1.25 per bushel, and took it to Stibbs's mill, and had it mashed. The musty odor of the corn- meal was offensive at the distance of a yard; yet it being the best and only breadstuffs that could be obtained in the country, it was highly prized.
A Race for the Land Office.
These races were not uncommon. William Fast had received intimation that Mr. Cuppy, in behalf of some relatives, contem- plated making an entry of the very tract which had been chosen by his brother and himself. The contest would be decided by the relative speed of the horses of the contending parties. The brothers Fast were "on time," and just as they had concluded their busi- ness at Canton, Mr. Cuppy and friends were discovered making their entrance into the town. The land then purchased was the west half of section 18-being since subdivided, and now owned and occupied by William Mohler, George Fast, and himself.
Christian Fast, Sr .- his Captivity by the Indians, and his Escape.
Christian Fast, Sr., when a boy of about sixteen years of age, was taken captive by a party of Delaware Indians, near the Falls of the Ohio. He had enlisted in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, as a member of a small military expedition of about two hundred men, organized for the purpose of chastising the Indians for de- predations committed upon the frontier settlements. The force descended the river in boats, and, some distance above the Falls of the Ohio, had become separated into two parties-Mr. Fast being among those in the rear. The advance party had driven posts in the river, upon the top of which they placed written directions addressed to those who were following them, indica- ting the point where they would find the anchorage of the party, who would be in waiting for them. These written directions, it was supposed, fell into the hands of the Indians, who had whites among them competent to read, and who thus became informed of the movements of their foes. Before the latter could form a junction of their forces, the rear party, a short distance above the falls, was attacked by parties of Indians on both sides the river, while the men in the boats were making toward the shore to cook a heifer which they had killed. The largest boat of the fleet, in which was Mr. Fast, had landed, and the others were making preparations to do so; when the attack commenced. The smaller boats immediately put up stream; but the larger one was hard aground, and could not get off. Of the one hundred, all except thirty were killed. Mr. Fast jumped into the water, receiving at
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the same instant a flesh wound in the hip, and swam to the oppo- site shore, where he was met by three Indians, who demanded that he should surrender, assuring him of friendly treatment. He declined their request, and again plunged into the current-the three Indians firing at him as he swam, one of the balls grazing his cheek, momentarily stunning him. Reaching the middle of the river, he took observations to determine the course of safety, and concluded to strike the shore several rods below where the large boat was grounded; but on approaching the shore, he again encountered the bullets of the Indians, and again made for the center of the river. Some distance below he discovered a horse- boat belonging to his party, and at once resolved to reach and board it. Just as he had succeeded in getting aboard, the captain received a wound in the arm, and waved his hand to the Indians in token of surrender. The boat was immediately boarded by the enemy, and the whites taken prisoners. An old Indian took charge of Mr. Fast, by whom he was taken to Upper Sandusky. All the prisoners were divested of their clothing, and, as their way led through a rank growth of nettle-weeds, their march was inde- scribably painful. Mr. Fast, becoming maddened with pain, at length refused to go forward, and bowing his head toward the old Indian, demanded that he would tomahawk him, and thus put an end to his miseries. The Indian took compassion upon him, and restored to the captive his clothes. From that time forward he was treated with marked kindness, during the remainder of the journey. Arriving at Upper Sandusky, he was not compelled, as was usual with the prisoners, to run the gantlet, but was adopted into a distinguished family of the tribe. He visited the lamented Colonel Crawford, after the miserable failure of the expedition and during his imprisonment, and was within hearing of his cries during the horrid cruelties he suffered at the stake.
About eighteen months after Mr. Fast's capture, an expedition left Upper Sandusky for the purpose of attacking the white set- tlement and fortifications at Wheeling, Virginia. Connected with this expedition was the notorious James Girty. Mr. Fast, who now possessed the full confidence of the Indians, was also of the party. The expedition reached its destination, and had besieged the fort at Wheeling three days and two nights. On the third night Mr. Fast determined upon an attempt to effect his escape. Approaching his adopted brother at a late hour of the night, he awoke him, complaining of thirst, and urging his brother to accompany him to a place where they could procure a drink of water. The Indian pleaded weariness, and urged his "brother " to go alone-insisting that no harm would befall him. Thereupon Mr. Fast, taking his camp kettle, steered directly for his father's house, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, about thirty miles distant by land; but the night being excessively dark, he made slow progress, and at daylight he was yet within hearing of the guns of the besiegers and the besieged. As soon as daylight appeared, he
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pushed forward, and soon discovered, by a fresh trail, that about thirty Indians were in advance of him, making for the white set- tlements in Washington County, Pennsylvania. On reaching the spur of a ridge, he discovered that the trails separated, and that the Indians had formed two parties, each pursuing parallel lines through the valleys. He hoped, by vigorously pursuing the mid- dle and straighter course, to get in advance of the Indians; and in this effort he was successful. Before night he reached the margin of the settlement of Washington County-the Indians being but a short distance in his rear. A few rods in advance of him, and approaching on his own trail, he discovered a white man, with a couple of bridles on his arm, evidently in search of horses. Placing himself behind a tree, Mr. Fast waited until the white man was within a few feet of him, when he suddenly placed him- self in his path, and gave a burried explanation of his name, ob- ject, and the immediate danger that threatened the white settle- ment. The man was paralyzed with fear; he could not believe that the savage-looking person before him, with his painted face, his ears and nose filled with brooches, his hair (all except a tuft in front, which was passed through a silver tube) nearly plucked from his skull, was anything else than a veritable Indian. Me- chanically, however, the man obeyed his directions-and each seizing and mounting horses which were near at hand, made for the settlements with all practicable speed. They gave the alarm to all the families in the neighborhood, and succeeded in securing all in the fort except one boy, who was killed at the instant he reached the gate, which was thrown open for his ingress.
After the beleagured fort was relieved by the retirement of the Indians, he sought his father's house; but was so completely metamorphosed by his Indian costume that his parents could not, for a considerable length of time, recognize him. At length his mother, recalling some peculiar spots near the pupils of his eyes, gave a scrutinizing look, and at once identified her son. She sprang forward to embrace him, and would have fainted in his arms, but he repulsed her, exclaiming that his person, as was the case with all the Indians, was covered with vermin. He retired from the house, committed his Indian clothes to a fire which he made, purified his body as best he could, and then clothed him- self in garments furnished by his father.
On the very day of his arrival in Orange Township, in 1815, he met with Tom Lyons, a chief, and one of his original captors, and & party of Indians, by whom he was recognized. The Indians, who had not suspected that he had deserted, but who believed that he had been drowned in the river, evinced much joy at the dis- covery of their lost "brother," and ever afterward offered numer- ous tokens of their friendship.
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An Indian Feast.
In the summer of 1819, a party of Indians were encamped at the foot of Vermillion Lake. Tom Lyons invited his "brother," Christian Fast, Sr., and his children, to partake of a feast which they had proposed. The only members of the family who found it convenient to accept the invitation were Nicholas and Francia. Lyons, after painting himself for the occasion, insisted that the boys should also be painted-to which proposition, "for the fan of the thing," they readily assented. Old Tom put the paint on the face of Frank, who was a mischievous lad, "so thick," that it remained indelible for a period of more than a year; and to the pres- ent day he is known to his old friends by the soubriquet of " Indian Frank." At the feast, one of the dishes was a bear's head boiled with the hair precisely as it was cut from the body of the animal. The entrails of the bear formed a distinct dish, and the other pieces made separate dishes. Venison, also, formed part of the repast.
The Mills of the First Settlers.
The first meal-making establishments, of which nearly every family had one, were hominy blocks-a hole burned in a stump, with a sweep so fixed that two men could pound corn into meal; the sieve was a deerskin stretched over a hoop, with small holes made therein by the point of a hot iron.
JACOB FAST.
Jacob Fast, an emigrant from Green County, Pennsylvania, settled upon the farm he has since owned and occupied in Orange Township, in April, 1817-being the southeast half of the south- west quarter of section 21. His family, at this date, consisted of his wife, son Martin M., daughter Mary, and son Eli R. Fast.
NICHOLAS FAST.
Nicholas Fast, in May, 1815, having previously entered at the Land Office, at Canton, the quarter section in Orange Township upon which Abram C. Fast now resides, emigrated from Penn- sylvania to said place with his family, consisting then of his wife and three sons, namely, Christian, Henry, and John B.
In 1823 he sold this place to his cousin, Joseph Fast, the father of the present owner and occupant. Subsequently he removed to Elyria, where he remained one year; and, in 1832, purchased of Mr. Sage the three hundred and twenty-five acres, upon a part of which now resides Jesse Simmons, in Troy Township. About seven years since he became the owner of the seventy acres adjoin- ing Troy Centre, upon which he has since resided.
In the spring of 1815 he embarked with his family, household furniture, provisions, etc., on a keel-boat, at the mouth of Cheat River, where that stream enters the Monongahela, and proceeded
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down the latter to the Ohio; thence up the Muskingum, White Woman, Mohican, and Jerome Fork, to Finley's Landing, five miles below Jeromeville. In addition to his own family, above named, his brothers, William and David Fast, and brother-in-law, Henry Hampton, and his wife, were also of the party.
The stock, in charge of his father, Christian Fast, Sr., and brothers, Christian, Jr., Francis, George, and John, were driven overland, from Dunker Township, Green County, Pennsylvania, to the land of Christian Fast, Sr., in Orange Township.
The portion of the families who adopted the river route had a long and hazardous passage-being seven weeks and three days on the water-their delays and dangers being in consequence of the high stage of the water. When they reached the mouth of the Muskingum, that river was so swollen, the current so strong, and the "drift-wood," which covered nearly its whole surface, offered such obstructions, that in the effort to make their way against these obstacles, they only made, during one afternoon and part of a night, about one mile. On the next day they ascended about fifty rods higher to a house, the lower part of which was submerged, and here they continued during the remainder of that day and the whole of the following night. On several succeeding days their boat passed over fields and orchards and through the woods.
The parts of families who had traveled overland were three weeks in advance of those who had taken the river route, and suf- fered much anxiety of mind regarding the safety of their friends who had committed themselves to the waters. They all had a re- union, however, in May, 1815, on the land of Christian Fast, Sr., in Orange Township. Here rude cabins and camps were hastily constructed, and the work of improvement commenced with vigor.
Mr. Fast believes that his was the second white family that set- tled in Troy Township-the name of the first not being recollected by him. He is now seventy-five years of age, and suffering much on account of physical infirmities.
JOHN FINGER.
John Finger emigrated from Frederick County, Maryland, to Orange Township, in May, 1829. His father had, five years pre- viously, purchased of John Bishop the eighty acres upon which he at present resides.
PHILIP FLUKE.
Philip Fluke emigrated from Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in 1816, and on the twenty-first of October, of that year, removed to the house of Martin Hester. His family consisted of his wife and sons, Henry, Lewis, Samuel, and Philip. He had two years pre- viously purchased of William Bryan the southeast quarter of sec- tion 15, and upon this place he proceeded at once to erect a cabin for his family. On account of inclement weather, he only suc-
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ceeded in raising his cabin on the third day. Upon the farm above mentioned he yet resides.
Life in the New Country.
Although Mr. Fluke had previously resided in an old settled country, he recurs to his experience in the wilderness of Orange Township as embracing the happiest period of his life. The health of himself and family, with the exception of ague attacks during the first year, was good. He realized from his first year's tillage sufficient wheat and corn to subsist his family and stock, and to supply, to a limited extent, new neighbors that came in. Prosperity attended all his efforts, and the accumulations of this world's goods, and the exchange of his old cabin home for the fine brick dwelling in which he has for many years resided, has not, according to his own testimony, added to his stock of happiness.
JACOB HIFFNER, JR.
Jacob Hiffner, Jr., emigrated with his family, consisting of his wife and three daughters, from Franklin County, Pennsylvania, to Orange Township, in November, 1817, and during the same year purchased of John Mackerell the southwest quarter of section 14-being the land upon which he yet resides. Four families from Pennsylvania traveled in company, and settled in Orange Township at the same time, namely, those of his father, Jacob Hiffner, Sr., of his brother, Frederick Hiffner, and of his brother- in-law, Ridenour.
His First Year's Experience.
Mr. Hiffner erected a temporary cabin upon the land of his father, which afforded shelter for his family during the winter of 1817-18. In the mean time he had constructed a rude cabin upon his own place, and in April, 1818, removed his family and scanty stock of household effects into it, and engaged in the im- provement of his land. When he commenced housekeeping, his cabin was without a door, chimney, or floor-the fire being made upon the ground in the center of the cabin, and the smoke finding its way out chiefly through an open place in one end of the roof designed for the future chimney of the cabin. Mr. Hiffner avers that the best pone he ever eat was made of soft and rotten corn, purchased at Stibbs's mill, and eaten with an appetite sharpened by a long fast and severe bodily toil. Being skilled in the use of the rifle, bis family never suffered for want of venison or other wild meat. Good breadstuffs, however, were not in the country, and the most miserable quality, which the swine of this day would reject, could only be obtained at a great distance, and at one dol- lar per bushel. His severest trials passed away with the first year. Since that time his industry has been amply rewarded, as has been the case with most of the pioneers who yet survive in
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