A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio, Part 8

Author: Baughman, A. J. (Abraham J.), 1838-1913
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 836

USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 8

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What of Mansfield! A clearing in the wilderness in 1808, with one or two log cabins, is now (1900) a city of eighteen thousand people. The ring of the woodman's ax has given way to the hum of machinery. The log cabin of our forefathers has vanished into the storied years, and stately mansions have risen in their places. The log school-house only remains as a

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memory and has been replaced by such temples of learning as are the city's pride. Where once the ox team labored through the village street, affording transportation facilities for the business of the country, now the agencies of steam and electricity, rushing headlong with their burdens, supply the vast industries, the immense business marts and the people's wants, and the peace of the village has given way to the turmoil and bustle of a city.

At the recent centenary celebration of the establishment of the seat of government at Washington, one of the orators of that occasion said with great truth that the people of the United States found themselves at the closing of the nineteenth century better clothed, better fed, better educated, better housed, with more comforts, conveniences and with greater wealth to com- mand than any people of the years that go to make the history of the world. Narrowing his remarks to our own locality, Mansfield and Richland county exemplify their truth.

In nothing else have the people of the nineteenth century grown so fin-de- siecle as in the character of the amusements and entertainments which they crave, approve and enjoy. One hundred years ago, when hardy and brave pioneers were clearing the way for civilization toward the land of the setting sun, the chief pleasures of the people centered in the log-rollings, the barn- raisings, the husking-bees, the spelling and the singing school, and they were contented and happy, never dreaming of the mimicry, the tinsel and the make-believe of the present-day theater. Life was all real to the people of the backwoods of one hundred years ago and they had no time for the frivoli- ties. In the then larger centers of population, such as Boston, New York and Philadelphia, the play-houses were beginning to attract their patronage; but to the average citizen of that time, the play-house was the habitation of all that was evil and the actor folks were to be shunned by all who were not will- ing to be in league with evil. There was no place in society for the people of the play-house such as they now enjoy, and of which they are now an ornament, and to which they have become a welcome guest. Those were the days of old Bohemia and the profession had not the social privileges they have now.

The world moved slowly in those days and the people were not made world-weary by the rush of affairs and the killing pace for supremacy in the race for wealth. They were simple folks who lived a life of simplicity and never complained of ennui, nor sorrowed for things which they did not have. Care did not hang heavily on them, and they found no time for idleness or the pleasures of the passing show. In those days the morale of pleasures sought counted for more than now,-not because the people were more strict 5

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in their morals then than now, but they held to their strict ideas of morality, while the progress of the world has given a more liberal construction of what constitutes morality. But the theater has kept step with the march of years, and is to-day far removed from what it was in the years agone.

OUR ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD.

Richland county is proud of her illustrious children, living and dead. In the Mansfield cemetery are buried warriors, journalists, statesmen and jurists. Among the warriors are General James Hedges, General Robert Bent- ley, General Robert H. Bentley, General William McLaughlin, Colonel Alex. McIlvaine, Colonel Barnabas Burns, Colonel Thomas H. Ford, Colonel Isaac Gass, Major A. M. Buns, Captain Michael Keiser, Captain Milton W. Wor- den, Captain J. L. Skeggs, Captain Jacob Christofel, Adjutant A. G. Phillips and hundreds of others equally deserving of honorable mention,. although they served in the "rank and file."

Dr. John G. Bowesmith, one of the "Six Hundred" who made the memorable charge at Balaklava October 25, 1853, is buried on lot 1287 of our Mansfield cemetery. The Doctor was a sergeant in Lord Cardigan's light brigade, and at Balaklava received two sabre wounds-one in his left arm and one in his left side. The latter never healed, and finally caused his death 011 February 23, 1878. He had lived in Mansfield about eight years. A man may represent a doctrine, a principle or an event, and the world looks more to that embodiment than to the man himself. So with Dr. Bowesmith, whose body rests in an unmarked grave, and who in his life took part in one of the most famous events in the world's history-a charge that has never been excelled in dash and daring even in the wildest story of historic romance.

Of the prominent civilians buried in the Mansfield cemetery one was governor of Ohio, one was lieutenant-governor, one was a United States sen- ator and six were members of Congress.

Mordecai Bartley was governor of Ohio in 1845-6. He succeeded his son, Thomas W. Bartley, who served the remainder of Governor Wilson Shannon's term, who resigned April 13, 1844, to accept an appointment as minister to Mexico. A father succeeding his son as governor of a state was a novel occurrence, there being no similar case in American history. Mordecai Bartley represented this district in congress four terms, serving through the eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first congresses,-eight years,- from 1823 to 1831 inclusive. He entered congress during President Mon- roe's last term and ended his service there under that of John Quincy Adams.

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A fine marble monument stands on the lot in the Mansfield cemetery where this distinguished governor and member of congress is buried, and upon it is inscribed: "Mordecai Bartley, one of the Pioneers of Northern Ohio. Representative in Congress from 1823 to 1831. Governor of Ohio from 1845 to 1846. A Christian and a Patriot." Governor Bartley was a soldier in the war of 1812.

Thomas W. Bartley was a judge of the supreme court of Ohio from 1852 to 1859, died in 1885 and is buried in Glenwood cemetery, Washington, D. C. He was the father of Mrs. S. Eberle Jenner, of this city.

Thomas H. Ford was on the ticket with Salmon P. Chase, and was elected lieutenant-governor of Ohio in 1855. He served as a captain in the Mexican war and as a colonel in the war of the Rebellion. He was the printer of the national house of representatives at one time-now called "public printer." As a campaign speaker he had a national reputation. He was the father of our P. P. Ford. Governor Ford is buried in our cemetery, and a marble monument shows where the soldier-statesman rests.

William Patterson represented the Richland district two terms, serving in the twenty-third and twenty-fourth congresses-from 1833 to 1837. He liad previously served as agent for the Virginia military school land, and had been associate judge of the court of common pleas. He lived in the country three miles we'st of Mansfield, on the Ontario road, on what was later known as the Crouch farm, and the old brick house on the north side of the road was his residence. While a member of congress Judge Patterson tendered a West Point cadetship to Hiram R. Smith, but as Mr. Smith had just entered partnership with Hugh McFall in the mercantile business the appointment was not accepted. When Patterson was in congress, Andrew Jackson was president, Benton, Webster and Calhoun were in the senate and Clay and Houston and Crockett were in the house. Judge Patterson was an active politician, and the opposition paper often used the term, "Who struck Billy Patterson?" The later years of Judge Patterson's life were passed in Van Wert county with his children, where he died August 17, 1868. His re- mains were brought to Mansfield and were interred on lot No. 209, beside those of his wife. There is a slab headstone to his wife's grave but none to his own. Judge Patterson was a soldier of 1812.

Jacob Brinkerhoff was a member of congress from this district from 1843 to 1847, and was the author of the celebrated Wilmot proviso. There were giants in congress in those days, and Judge Brinkerhoff was the peer of the best of them. On the gray granite monument that marks Judge Brinker- hoff's grave is inscribed the text of the Wilmot proviso. The inscription on

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the side notes that Jacob Brinkerhoff was born August 10, 1810, and died July 18, 1880, and that he was prosecuting attorney of Richland county in 1839, a member of congress from 1843 to 1847, author of the Wilmot proviso, and supreme judge of Ohio from .1856 to 1871. Judge Brinkerhoff was the father of George Brinkerhoff and the cousin of General R. Brinkerhoff.

William Johnston represented the Richland district in the thirty-eighth congress-1863-1865. He was scholarly, brilliant and gifted; was a ready speaker, an eloquent orator. In 1844 Johnston published the Richland Bugle -a campaign paper-and was afterward often called "Bugle Bill," to dis- tinguish him from other Bill Johnstons. Johnston lived on South Main street, at the first house south of the "Hilltop" grocery. He died May 1, 1866, aged forty-eight years, and is buried in the Mansfield cemetery, but there is not even a headstone to mark his grave. The lot is a short distance north of General Brinkerhoff's lot. A shrub bush in the center gives out its perfume as summer incense, and an evergreen tree guards the grave, typifying im- mortality.

George W. Geddes served eight years in congress-from 1879 to 1887. Before going to congress Geddes was for several terms a judge of the court of common pleas. Judge Geddes died in 1892, and a large, gray granite monu- ment stands upon his burial lot. At the bar, upon the hustings and in the halls of congress Geddes was in the front rank as a public speaker, and his ability was equaled only by his eloquence.

M. D. Harter was a member of congress from the Richland district two terms-from 1891 to 1895,-and is buried in the Mansfield cemetery. A fine gray monument has been erected, "In loving remembrance of Michael Daniel Harter." Harter was born April 6, 1846, and died February 22, 1896. An inscription on the monument reads, "Patriotism knows no politics, no re- ligion, no color, no birthplace."

In the journalistic field the late John Y. Glessner was prominent for many years, not only in Richland county but also throughout the state. For over forty years he was the editor and proprietor of the Richland Shield and Banner newspaper, the Democratic organ of Richland county. As a friend, Mr. Glessner was always constant, as a citizen he was enterprising, and as a partisan he was ever vigilant. To his party he was ever loyal and as an editor he was courteous and generous, even to his opponents. Mr. Glessner had lived such a life that at his death an opposition paper said of him: "John Y. Glessner was one of the noblest of men. His whole life was a constant devotion to everything that was good and true, and but few men enjoyed to a higher degree the respect and esteem of his political adversaries."

JUDGE GEORGE W. GEDDES. Judge of Common Pleas Court, 1856-66, and from 1868-73. Member of Congress. 1879-87.

JUDGE THOMAS W. BARTLEY.

State Senator, 1841-44. Governor of Ohio, 1844. Judge of Supreme Court of Ohio, 1851-59.

JUDGE JACOB BRINKERHOFF. Member of Congress, 1843-47. Author of " Wilmot Proviso." Judge of Supreme Court of Ohio. 1856-71.

GOV. MORDECAI BARTLEY. State Senator, 1816-18. Member of Congress, 1823-31. Governor of Ohio. 1845-46.

COL. THOMAS H. FORD. Lieutenant-Governor of Ohio, 1856-57. Served his country as Captain in War with Mexico, and as Colonel of the 32d Ohio Infantry in the War of the Rebellion. Public Printer to Congress. 1859-60.

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Of the lawyers who in the early days were prominent in their profession, the most complimentary mention could be made of the Hon. John M. May, Judge Jacob Parker and Judge James Stewart. Mr. May was the first resi- dent lawyer in Mansfield, and Parker and Stewart attained distinction upon the bench as well as at the bar.

The Hon. John Sherman, whose body was interred in the Mansfield cemetery October 25, 1900, had been congressman, senator and cabinet min- ister. His public life, extending over a period of nearly fifty years, is so well known and so closely identified with American history that an extended notice of his career is here unnecessary.

What a galaxy of distinguished names are among those of our dead! Governors, jurists, warriors and journalists are gone and statesmen have been transferred from the American congress to the "parliament of the skies."

ASHLAND COUNTY.

The law to erect the county of Ashland passed the Ohio legislature Feb- ruary 24, 1846. Of its townships, some were taken from Richland county, others from Lorain, Huron and Wayne. For many years after its organiza- tion Richland county contained a larger area than any other county in Ohio. Historian Knapp states that this fact gave rise to a number of new county schemes, and the legislature was annually beleaguered with applications for the creation of new counties. Prominent among these was one for a new county of Ellsworth, with the seat of justice at Sullivan; the county of Mo- higan, with the seat of justice at Loudonville; another for the county of Vermillion, with the seat of justice at Hayesville. There were also similar applications-Jerome, Orange and Savannah. At a later date application was made for the county of Ashland, with Ashland village for the county seat. The erection of this new county robbed old Richland not only of much of her most valuable land but also of a part of her historic territory, for some of the most stirring scenes and tragic events of our early history transpired and were enacted within that part of Richland which now forms a part of Ashland county. One of the most notable places which Ashland county gained was the old Indian village of Greentown, situate on the Black Fork, three miles above Perrysville.

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GREENTOWN.

"Were there no works of glory Done in the olden time? And has the west no story Of deathless deeds sublime ?

"Go, ask yon shining river And it will tell a tale Of deeds of noble daring, Will make your cheek grow pale.

"Go, ask yon smiling valley, Whose forests bloom so fair ; 'Twill tell thee a sad story Of the brave who slumber there."

For a number of years there was an Indian village on the west bank of the Clear Fork of the Mohican, a mile below Newville, called Helltown,-signify- ing "town on the clear water." This village was on the path of travel between Gnadenhutten and the Sandusky country. After the massacre of the Mora- vian Indians-ninety-six in number-at Gnadenhutten, March 8, 1782, the Indians evacuated Helltown and the Clear Fork valley, and founded Green- town, on the Black Fork, for greater safety. Greentown was situate on the east bank of the Black Fork, about three miles above Perrysville, and the buildings were log cabins and pole huts.

Greentown was burned in August, 1812, by a party of soldiers who were absent from their commands. To understand the burning of the village it is necessary, at least briefly, to review the situation of the country at that time,-the summer and early autumn of 1812, especially that summer in the Black Fork valley, a summer in which the earth was bringing forth a bounti- ful harvest; a summer luxuriant with flowers and musical with the carol of birds by day, while at night the moon was wont to peer atwixt the leafy branches of the forest, casting its pale glimmers of light through the languor- ous atmosphere ere it sailed forth into the open space of the sky to keep watch and ward over those who slept, as if to say, "Peace! be still." But those peaceful days and restful nights of nature seemed but a mockery, for there were days of toil and nights of watching for the white settlers who worked hard and dwelt in insecurity, for the Indians were liable to come upon them, like the proverbial "thief in the night," unawares.

As the times became more threatening, with indications of an Indian out-

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break probable at any moment, the several families kept sentinels on guard to warn them of the approach of stealthy foes. It is easy to conceive how, from long apprehension of danger, the minds of the whites could be wrought up until they imagined they could see ominous signs in the rays of the sun as they glinted over the hills and flecked the tree-tops here and there with touches of red, and tinted the fleecy clouds with gorgeous hues and colored the west- ern sky with crimson dye, all of which seemed to foretell that the red blood of human life would be shed in the conflict that all realized was then im- pending.

To understand this state of apprehension and the results which followed, let us briefly consider the condition of the country and the menacing attitude of Great Britain, which culminated in the war of 1812. For years previous to this period Great Britain had been impressing our seamen and trying to deprive American vessels of the rights of commerce upon the high seas, and British ships of war had even been stationed before the principal harbors of the American coast to board and search our merchantmen departing from or returning to the United States, and a number of vessels had been captured and sent as prizes to British ports. From 1805 to 1811 over nine hundred American vessels laden with valuable cargoes had been captured by British cruisers, and hundreds of American citizens had been impressed into British service. The contempt in which the British officers held the American navy led to an action prior to the war. The frigate President, commanded by Commodore Rogers, met a vessel one evening off the Virginia coast, which he hailed, but for an answer a shot was fired which struck the mainmast of the President. The fire was instantly returned and was continued until Commo- dore Rogers ascertained his antagonist was disabled, when he desisted. The vessel proved to be the British sloop-of-war Little Belt, carrying eighteen guns. There was no loss on the American side, but thirty-two were killed and wounded on the British sloop. This was the first lesson.

Early in November, 1811, President Madison convened congress and his message to that body indicated apprehensions of hostilities with Great Britain, and congress passed acts increasing the efficiency of both the army and navy. Although continuing to prepare for war, the administration still cherished the hope that a change of policy on the part of Great Britain would inake an appeal to arms unnecessary. But in May, 1812, the Hornet brought still more unfavorable news from across the waters, and on the Ist of June the president sent a message to congress, recounting the wrongs received from Great Britain and submitting the question whether the United States should continue to endure them or resort to war. The message was considered

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with closed doors and on the 18th an act was passed declaring war against Great Britain, and the next day a proclamation was issued by the president to that effect.

For a while the American army met with reverses, defeat being added to defeat and surrender following surrender. General Hull, who was the governor of the territory of Michigan, commanded our troops at Detroit, then considered the most important on the lakes. With a flourish of trumpets, he crossed the river on the 12th of July, to attack Malden, with Montreal as an ulterior point. But, receiving information that Fort Mackinaw had sur- rendered to the British, and that a large force of red-coats and red-skins were coming down to overwhelm the American troops, General Hull hastened to leave the Canadian shore, recrossed the river and returned to Detriot. General Brock, the commandant at Malden, pursued General Hull and placed batteries opposite Detroit. The next day, meeting with no opposition, General Brock marched directly forward as if to assault the fort. The American troops, being confident of victory, looked with complacency upon the approach of the enemy and calmly waited the order to fire; but, to their dismay and con- sternation, Hull ran up the white flag and surrendered. An event so dis- graceful has no parallel in history.

Later General Van Rensselaer, with headquarters at Lewistown, led his troops across the Niagara river to attack a fort at Queenstown, but after a long and hard-fought engagement was forced to surrender. In that action General Brock was killed.

While these reverses prolonged the war and emboldened the Indians to commit greater atrocities, the Americans never lost confidence in the final restilt. While the army suffered defeat, the navy gained victory after victory, which was particularly gratifying to American pride, for they were won by that class whose rights had been violated; and these victories were gained over a nation whose navy was the "mistress of the seas." These naval victories were extended from the ocean to the lakes, where Perry, on the 10th of September, (1813), "as we all well remember," won imperishable fame. The army finally achieved successes, as had the navy, and these led up to the final defeat of the British by General Jackson, at New Orleans, in January, and to the victori- ous peace proclaimed February 18, 1815, just two years and eight months from the day war had been declared.

In this war the Indians acted as the allies of the British. History states that Lord Dorchester, then governor general of Canada, industriously insti- gated the Indians to hostilities on our northern frontier, and that he had agents throughout Ohio and elsewhere distributing blankets, food, ammuni-

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tion and arms among the Indians, and at Malden a reward was paid. for every white man's scalp brought in by the Indians.

The Indians at Greentown and Jeromeville had received supplies from the British. This fact, coupled with their suspicious action and warlike demonstrations, gave the white settlers reasonable cause for believing that their savage neighbors contemplated a murderous assault upon them.

At the time of which I write Colonel Kratzer, who was in command of the troops at Mansfield, received orders to remove the Indians from both Greentown and Jeromeville, as a precautionary measure against an outbreak, and for that purpose sent Captain Douglas to enforce the order. There were about eighty Indian "braves" at Greentown, and it has been doubted whether Captain Douglas could have successfully coped with them. But such ques- tions are only discussed in "piping times of peace," for in times of war American soldiers whip the enemy first and discuss the matter afterward!

Armstrong was the Greentown chief, and at first refused to consent to be removed. Captain Douglas then sought James Copus, who lived a few miles further up the valley, and requested him to persuade the Indians to comply peacefully with the order. Copus was a local preacher in whom the Indians had confidence. He refused to interfere against them. After en- treaty had failed Captain Douglas is reported to have said, "Mr. Copus, my business is to carry out the instructions of my superior officers, and if I can't persuade you to comply with my request, I shall arrest you as a traitor to the government of the United States." Mr. Copus then consented to go, the offi- cer assuring him that the Indians should be protected in both person and prop- erty.

When the officers returned to the Indian village, accompanied by Mr. Copus, another conference was held with the chief, at which Mr. Copus re- peated the assurances that had been given him.

Captain Douglas again explained that his order was mandatory and that the Indians had to comply with its mandate or take the alternative. After conferring with his counselors. the old chief reluctantly announced that they would go, and Judge Peter Kinney and Captain James Cunning- ham took an inventory of their effects, and the Indians were formed into line and marched away under guard from the place that had for thirty years been the home of that part of their tribe. They had not proceeded far when, looking back, they saw a cloud of smoke ascending from their burning vil- lage !

The burning of Greentown has been criticised and censured by sentiment- alists, who regarded it as a breach of faith with the "noble red man," who

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was cruelly driven from his "happy hunting grounds" into a forced exile. But the burning of that village was not a breach of faith, for the officers did not sanction the act. It was done without warrant by five or six stragglers who had dropped out of the ranks for that purpose. They were militiamen who had suffered wrongs too grievous to be borne from the bloody hands of the Indians, and it was but human nature for them to retaliate. It seems like maudlin sentimentalism to dilate upon the wrongs which the white set- tlers committed against the Indians, for the few misdeeds that may have been done by the pioneers were too insignificant to be given prominence in history. In the early history of France we read of the dark and bloody acts of the Druids and how they immolated human life in their forest temples, but it was as a religious rite, as an atoning or propitiating sacrifice, and while we stand appalled at the bloody spectacle, our condemnation is somewhat mol- lified when we consider the motive that prompted the act. But with the Indians it was cruelty for cruelty's sake. They were savages, and through all the civilizing influences of a century they are savages still. Even those who have been educated at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, at the expense of the gen- eral government, drift back into barbarism, as a rule, after they return to the west. Let those who have tears to shed over the burning of Greentown read the accounts of the Wyoming massacre and its aftermath of butcheries, and then consider the Indians' bloody deeds in our own state and county-of cruelty, torture, death,-these three, and then tell us where is their claim for charity! Settlers have returned from the hunt and chase and found their cabins burnt and their families murdered. The bloody tomahawk and gory scalping knife had done their work, and mutilation had been added to murder. Notwithstanding the beautifully drawn and charmingly colored word-pictures given us by novelists, history teaches us that the Indian is cruel, deceitful and bloodthirsty by nature and devoid of the redeeming traits of humanity.

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A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio, Part 8

Author: Baughman, A. J. (Abraham J.), 1838-1913 Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 836

Author: Baughman, A. J. (Abraham J.), 1838-1913
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 836