USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > A complete history of Fairfield County, Ohio > Part 21
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
because the water failed, and also because larger establish- ments have been erected on larger streams.
Two still-houses were early erected on section 15-one by William Irvin, and the other by Thomas Ross. Another, and third one, was established on section 4 by Eli Holmes. All have disappeared about fifty years ago.
The people lived in log-cabins. Their dress was chiefly home-made cloth, linsey and flax and tow-linen. The men found pastime enough at log-rollings and house-raisings; and for more social gatherings they had singing-schools, and the like.
The morals of the people were good for a new country. Gambling of any kind was almost entirely unknown. The first log-cabin in the township was built by Thomas Warner, on the south-east quarter of section 20.
The names I have given you of the early settlers were all here previous to the year 1813. I have stated matters as they occurred to my mind, and without system. You will arrange my items to suit yourself, any of them, or all of them, if you deem them worthy of a place in your history of Fairfield County, a volume I hope we shall soon see.
Very truly yours, DAVID LYLE.
April 12th, 1877.
STATEMENT OF WESLEY PETERS, OF HOCKING TOWNSHIP.
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My father came from Baltimore County, Maryland, in the year 1812, and settled first in Rush Creek Township, in this county. In 1817 he removed to Amanda Township, locating on Clear Creek, one and three-quarters of a mile south of the village of Royalton. He was the father of nine sons, viz .: Henry, Robinson I., Nathan, Wesley, Stephenson, Andrew, Gideon, Lewis and Ebenezer. His four daughters were : Rachel, Leah, Mary and Elizabeth. Of the sons, eight are living, in April, 1877, Gideon having deceased in 1844. The four daughters married as follows: Rachel married William Broomfield; Leah married Broad Cole; Mary married Daniel
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
Walters, and Elizabeth married Newton Williamson. Wil- liam Broomfield deceased about the year 1874. His sons at present residing in Fairfield County, are : Robinson I., Wes- ley and Andrew ; Lewis and Stephenson reside in Pickaway County ; Henry in Upper Sandusky, and Nathan and Ebene- zer in Marion, Marion County, Ohio.
I mention as my father's neighbors, at the time of his set- tlement in Amanda Township, in 1817, Valentine Reber, Jos. Huffman, Jacob Restler, Abram Myres, George Disinger, 'Squire Stevens, 'Squire William Hamilton, Jacob Prestler, Mr. Hanaway, Jesse Hutchins, Jacob Schleich, Thomas Galaher and Mr. Huber. These were all citizens of Amanda Township. They have all passed away.
I settled in Hocking Township in 1838, three miles west of Lancaster, and have resided in the township ever since. Of my neighbors in Hocking Township, there have died since the time of my settlement, Abram Hedges, Jacob Burton, Jas. Reed, George Strode, Henry Ingman, Father Kemp, James Grantham, Mr. Smith, Allen Green, Father Broomfield, Wil- liam Broomfield, Joseph Work, Jesse Spurgeon, Nathaniel Wilson, Robert Wilson, William Graham, Buhama (Builder- back) Green, Alice Hedges, Mrs. Burton, Mrs. Broomfield, the elder ; Mother Kemp, Mrs. James Grantham, Mrs. Henrietta Ingman, Mrs. Joseph Work, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Work, near Royalton ; Mr. and Mrs. Huffman.
Our place of worship at that time was the Methodist Church, known as Mount Zion. There was likewise a Breth- ren congregation in the neighborhood, and a Lutheran Church. Our school-house stood on William Broomfield's land, and the school district was number two. The building was a hewed log structure with a shingled roof. My father died about forty-nine years ago, and my mother some years after- ward, at the age of eighty-seven years.
I have known the county in its pioneer age, and have marked its progress to its present population of about thirty- five thousand, and its more than two hundred and fifty thou- sand dollar tax-duplicate. I have seen two full generations pass away, and two new ones come upon the stage. I have lived to witness the disappearance of every thing common to the log-cabin age, and live in a new condition of society.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELDCOUNTY, OHIO.
STATEMENT OF THOMAS E. EWING, OF PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
The first settlements in Pleasant Township were begun in 1799. The following persors, with their families, came in 1800 and the few succeeding years: Thomas, Mathew and David Ewing came in 1800, and settled on Ewing's Run, four miles north of Lancaster. Thomas was my father, and David was the father of the present David Ewing, who resides on and owns the paternal farm. James Ewing was a son of Thomas, and now is the resident owner of the old place. John and Benjamin Feemen came in 1801, and settled immediately north of the Ewings. James Duncan, father of the present Thomas Duncan, Esq., came in 1800, and settled on lands ad- joining Thomas Ewing. Peter Lamb first settled where Fred- erick Sites lives, purchasing the lands at the Government sales. This was in 1801. In the fall of the same year, his father came with his family and settled on the same land. George and Nicholas Radibaugh settled in the township in 1801. George was the father of George, Jacob and William Radibaugh, who have all been well and favorably known resi- dents of Pleasant Township, but now deceased. George had three daughters ; Mary was the wife of Jacob Culp; the second daughter married Adam Conklin-her name is not remem- bered; Betsy married John Nelson. Both of these latter moved out of the township early. John, George and Daniel Smethers came into the township in about 1801, all settling on Ewing's Run. John Burton came into the same neighbor- hood also in the same year, and located on what is known as the old Christ Huber place, on the east of Ewing's Run. The father of the three Smethers brothers was also a first settler, his sons being young men at the time ; but his Christian name is not recollected.
During the war of 1812, a rifle company was raised on Ew- ing's Run and adjacent settlements, which marched to San- dusky. David Ewing was its Captain; Thomas Ewing, 1st Lieutenant ; John Burton, 2d Lieutenant. The company numbered from 80 to 100 men.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
While encamped at Sandusky, this company was chal- lenged to a wrestling match by a man of another company near by, who denominated himself " Cock of the Walk. " The challenge was accepted, and the Ewing company came out best in every fall. Jacob Culp, of the latter company, threw his man three straight falls, thus securing the title "Cock of the Walk. "
Mr. Ewing gave the correct version of an incident of David Ewing shooting an Indian squaw, elsewhere alluded to; at least his statement of the affair is likely reliable. . A party of six men went out on a hunting expedition. In the course of the day they divided into squads of two. David Ewing and his companion, when somewhere in the vicinity of Daniel Arnold's cabin, discovered what they supposed to be a bear, by its motion among the bushes, and the black hair. Mr. Ewing fired at the object, and was terribly frightened at the scream that responded to his shot-he had wounded a squaw. The two men fled with all possible speed, for well they knew that the Indians, whom they could not doubt were in the near vicinity, would soon be upon their trail. In fleeing, they passed the Arnold cabin. The Indians were soon on the trail, and having followed it to that point, supposed they had gone in there, and at once rushed in. Mrs. Arnold was seated with her baby on her lap, when one of the Indians raised his rifle to fire upon her. She raised her hands, ex- claiming, " Herr Yesu " (Lord Jesus) just as a stalwart Indian rushed forward and threw the gun aside, thus saving her life. She protested that her husband was not out that day with his gun, and thus dallied them until she sent her little eight- year-old daughter to a neighboring cabin to tell her father to come home. He came with one or two of his neighbors, who succeeded in satisfying the excited savages that Mr. Arnold was innocent, when they went away. Mr. Ewing kept con- cealed until the affair was compromised, after which he re- turned to his family, and nothing more came of it, the In- „dians having become satisfied that the accident was the result of a mistake. The little girl sent by Mrs. Arnold to bring her father was the present Mrs. Sheric, of Lancaster, now an old lady.
Old Mr. Arnold, whose Christian name Mr. Ewing could not recall, was a very early settler of Pleasant Township. He was
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
the father of Frederick, Daniel, Henry, Jacob and Geo. Arnold, all of whom are well remembered as citizens of Pleasant Town- ship, but now all deceased. Father Arnold had three daugh- ters, who were respectively married to John Foglesong, Thos. Orr, and Jacob Fetters. Conrad, Jacob and Philip Fetters settled on Fetters' Run, Pleasant Township, in 1801. Old Father Harmon, father of Peter, Frederick and George Harmon, also came into the township in 1801, settling on Pleasant Run. John Baldwin, the same year, settled on what is still known as the Baldwin farm, two miles north-east of Lancaster.
The first school-house Mr. Ewing remembers was a small round log-cabin standing on the Radibaugh land. He remem- bers a Mr. Newman who taught school in it, about the year 1820. The first meeting-house in the settlement was built by the Lutherans, and has since been known as the Ziegler Church. He thinks it was built between 1801 and 1810. The first preacher there, which he remembers, was Rev. Stake. The first building was constructed of hewn logs, but that was subsequently removed to give place to a good frame church edifice. The first still-house in the settlement was erected by Thomas Ewing, father of the narrator, previous to 1810. The first mill recollected was erected on Arnold's Run, by old Father Arnold, father of Frederick, Daniel, Henry and Jacob. The site of it was a little north of where the County Infirmary now is. It was a raccoon burr-mill, and its capacity was about ten bushels in twenty-four hours. When it dried up the people had to go to Zanesville to get their grists ground. There is not a vestige of the mill now to be seen.
STATEMENT OF FREDERICK SITES, OF PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
My father, Peter Sites, came from Rockingham County, Virginia, and settled on the farm where I now reside, in 1809. He purchased the land from Jacob and Philip Lamb, they hav- ing bought it at the Government land sales about the year 1801. My father continued to reside on the same place until the time of his death, at the age of 85 years. My mother sur-
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
vived him ten years, she being about ninety at the time of her demise.
Our neighbors sixty years ago were : Judge Burton, Thomas Ewing, David Ewing, Mathew Ewing, James Duncan, John Feemen and Benjamin Feemen. The first school-house that I can remember stood on my father's land. It was a small cabin built of round logs, with stick and mud chimneys and paper windows. I also remember another school a little further east, on Mr. Harmon's place. It was kept in the second story of his spring-house. This was in 1815. The teacher's name at that time was G. Langfore.
The Methodists held meetings at my father's cabin. The first Methodist preachers who held meetings there were: Rev. McElroy, James Quinn, Jacob Young, Cornelius Springer and Charles Waddle. The meetings were afterwards moved to Nimrod Bright's; and again they met at the cabins of Thomas Anderson, Daniel Arnold and Peter Sites. The United Breth- ren had also a society in the neighborhood, and held their meetings at my father's, and at Daniel Arnold's. Their preach- ers at that time were: Rev. Stewart, Rev. Anderson, Rev. Havens, and Bishop Christian Newcomer. In the east part of the township were Jacob McLin, Dewal Maclin, Peter McLin. Not one of the early settlers I have named are living, and there were likewise a great many of their compeers, previous to 1820, who have passed away.
During the war of 1812 an incident occurred which caused great excitement throughout our new country for a few days. An alarm spread over the country that hostile Indians were coming. The settlers mostly went into fort. The people of our neighborhood forted at the house of Judge Burton ; and those of North Berne Township forted where James Driver now resides, near Bremen. The people in some instances car- ried their extra clothing and valuables and hid them in the clover fields and other outdoor places. We took our pitchforks and axes into the house as weapons of defense against the ex- pected foes. The fighting men of the settlement rendezvoused at Lancaster for organization and offensive operations. I re- member that some persons came to the fort in the night for protection, and called to be recognized, and to assure the people that they were friends. The rumor proved false, and within a few days all was as before.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNLY, OHIO.
We wagoned our wheat to Zanesville and sold it at first for twenty-five cents per bushel, sometimes taking salt in ex- change. A little later we got forty cents. We likewise went there to mill, when our home mills failed for want of water.
Our wearing apparel was almost entirely home-made, con- sisting of flax and tow-linens in summer; and for winter wear, linsey, flannel and home-made fulled cloth. Our women spun their flax and wool on spinning-wheels; and the weaving was done by the women on hand looms. Every neighborhood had several looms. The wool was at first carded with hand-cards ; and afterwards we had carding-machines.
Boys and girls had for the most part one pair of shoes in the year, and these were often not obtained until towards Christ- mas. To economize these, and make them hold out as long as possible, they were carried in hand in going to meeting on Sunday, until near the meeting-house, when the shoes and stockings were put on, to be taken off after coming out. The girls thought they did well if they got one calico dress in the year. Young ladies not unfrequently spun, wove, and made up their wedding-dresses.
In those days people confided in each other-promises were seldom made that were not kept. Almost every man's word was as good as his bond. What little money we had was almost entirely silver, and the change, by fractions of the dol- lar, was made with cut money ; thus, a quarter of a dollar cut in two made two ninepences; and cut in four pieces, made four fipenybits, of the value of six and one-fourth cents each. It was said that people sometimes made five fipenybits of one quarter. And in the same way a half-dollar cut made two quarters, or four ninepences. These latter were sometimes called elevenpences. Men had hard work to pay their little taxes.
From my twenty-second year, for twenty-five years, I drove a six-horse team backwards and forwards across the moun- tains, taking produce and bringing back goods. Afterwards I took over droves of hogs and cattle.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
RECOLLECTIONS OF MARTIN LANDIS, OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
My father, Martin Landis, Sr., visited this valley in 1798, when all that is now Fairfield County was an unbroken wil- derness, if Zane's trace, and perhaps the cabin of Joseph Hunter on the Hocking be excepted. In 1799 he moved to the county, settling first two miles below where Lancaster stands, and as near as I can state on the land now known as the Prindle farm. After remaining there about one year, he removed and settled within what is now Madison Township, where he died in the year 1814, or about the close of the war of 1812.
He served as Justice of the Peace during the administration of James Madison as President of the United States. He entered land in the land-office at Chillicothe for Henry and Samuel Shellenbarger, the same that was afterwards known as the John Wiley farm, on Clear Creek. He also entered for Miss Katy Shellenbarger, sister of Henry and Samuel, the place now owned and occupied by Isaac Julien. Miss Shellen- barger was afterwards and long known as Mrs. Eckert. For another sister of the Shellenbarger's he entered the land now known as the Ezra Wolfe farm. This was Sarah Shellen- barger, who became the wife of Emanuel Carpenter, Jr.
My father had six children-two sons and four daughters. My only brother died in childhood, at the Prindle farm. My sister Mary married William Guy; Katy married Isaac Wolfe; and Sarah married Emanuel Dunic; Nancy did not marry. The sisters are all living.
My father sustained such pecuniary losses during the war of 1812, as to seriously embarrass him. He engaged in stock driving, and was within twenty-five miles of Washington City with a drove of fat cattle, when it was burned by the British. This disaster compelled him to sell his cattle at a sacrifice. He did not live to retrieve his losses.
My father was a Mennonite, and was very charitable and liberal in his religious views. He built a church in his neigh- borhood, which was called in its time "The Mennonite Meet- ing-house." It was, however, free for all denominations. Rev.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
Stake, Lutheran, of Lancaster, often preached in it. The building was likewise used for a school-house. It was a log structure, of the size of about twenty by thirty feet. It con- tinued to stand until recently.
There was a powder-mill that I remember well. It stood near where Abbott's store now is. I do not remember by whom it was built, or the year, but it remained a long time.
RECOLLECTIONS OF DAVID FOSTER, OF LANCASTER.
David Foster was born in Lancaster in 1811, and has been a life-long citizen of the place. In 1827 he went to learn the chair-making business with Jacob Grubb. In 1831 he suc- ceeded John B. Reed in that business, at his stand on the north-west corner of Columbus and Wheeling streets, where he still continues, under the firm of Foster & Son. He uses the same lathe and work-bench with which be began ; also, all his other implements, and has never changed his plans of work. Mr. Foster has witnessed the transformation of Lancaster from a condition almost of woods to its present population and business. He has preserved a wonderful memory of its early mechanics, their location and business, with also many other things belonging to the early history of the place. The fol- lowing is his statement, given to me, which is probably en- tirely correct :
He has a distinct recollection of the sickle-mill, which was on Baldwin's Run, a few hundred yards below the fourth lock, and a little above the crossing over the canal on the old Logan'road. Christian Rudolph informs me that the estab- lishment was built by a man named Roland [David Foster said the name was Funk] previous to the year 1810. . It was run by the water-power of Baldwin's Run, and was used for cutting teeth in sickles, and grinding them, and, I suppose, their entire manufacture. The sickle was an implement used for cutting wheat and other small grain at an early day. Mr. Foster remembers that the establishment was not entirely removed in 1828. During the past winter (1876-7), in sink- ing a culvert under the canal where the sickle-mill stood, part
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
of the fore-bay and other remnants of the old mill were found several feet below the surface, including a fragment of a grind- ing-stone.
Mr. Foster likewise describes another establishment which I have not previously heard spoken of-it was a water-power mill for the purpose of breaking and scutching flax. It stood about on the site of a dwelling-house now opposite what is known as the Giesy mill, on the Logan road, three-fourths of a mile below town. He remembers seeing it at work when he was a small boy. The establishment has long since en- tirely disappeared. He fixes his recollections of it at about 1816. He thinks it was erected by John Rolan :, or Funk, who was also the proprietor of the sickle-mill.
About the same time, there was in operation a powder-mill, on the lands now known as the Fricker farm, three miles south-west of Lancaster. The concern was owned and run by one George Bickler. He thinks it was discontinued about the year 1823.
He spoke of the mechanics of Lancaster in 1815 and the few succeeding years. A Mr. Matlock and William Bodenheimer were wheelwrights-that is, makers of spinning-wheels. Mr. Matlock's shop was at the foot of the present Main street. A Mr. Spogle likewise made spinning-wheels. His shop was in with Henry Miers, who was a cabinet-maker. Mr. Miers was the father of the late Henry Miers, and of the present James Miers. Their shop was on Main street, next west of what is now Bauman's tavern. It was a two-story log-building. William Tony made chairs and spinning-wheels about where Mr. Stroble's furniture-store now is. This was from 1817 to 1820. Jacob Grubb bought out Mr. Tony, and carried on the business at the same stand.
William Duffield was a carpenter. He built the first frame house in Lancaster-at least such is Mr. Foster's recollection. It stood on the ground now occupied by the new Court-house. Christian Weaver was a carpenter. and occupied the lot where Mrs. M. Z. Kreider lives. John Foglesong carried on black- smithing where John D. Martin resides, and which was the residence of the late Samuel F. McCracken. John Leonard, James A. Weakley and Wilson Latimore were early carpen- ters, also John K. Myers. Samuel Blazell carried on black- smithing at a very early day, on the same corner occupied by
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D. Foster & Son as their chair and furniture-shops. Henry Johns, carpenter, had his shop where Dr. P. Carpenter now lives.
John Leonard, Luman Baker and Thomas Dawlin carried on cabinet-making where Bauman's tavern is, on Main street. Samuel Effinger had a tin-shop about where the First Na- tional Bank is, on Main street. This was previous to 1820. Scipio Smith (colored) carried on tinning about the same time. Thomas Sturgeon was a silversmith, and carried on where Sturgeon's row is, east of the Public Square. John Townsend was a silversmith previous to 1820. James Gates came to Lancaster early, and succeeded Thos. Sturgeon in sil- versmithing. This was Thomas Sturgeon, Jr., who is at pres- ent a citizen of Lancaster.
Mr. Foster remembered a tailor, who, previous to 1820, car- ried on where John Work lives on Chestnut street, opposite the Jail; also, shoemakers of the same times. He thought John Stallsmith, Jacob Embick and John Napkin were here as early as 1815. Joseph Work, Sr., was carrying on shoe and boot-making in 1827. He spoke also of Hiram Hanson, who was in the same business very early.
John Beeman and Col. Geo. Seits were gunsmiths, and had their shop near Dr. Shawk's office, on Main street. Samuel B. Thompson, George W. Claspill, John Gibbs and William Bodenheimer commenced the gun-making business probably about the year 1826.
Robert R. Claspill, blacksmith and plow-maker, came to Lancaster in 1825. Robert O. Claspill carried on the same business on the grounds now occupied by the English Lutheran Church, in 1831.
Colonel Samuel Blazer first introduced into Lancaster patent scales, about 1825.
John Shur, father-in-law to Mr. Foster, was a baker in Lan- caster as early as 1812. He also kept a small tavern. Other bakers were remembered, who were in the business at a very early day. Among them were Daniel Keltner, Hiram Hanson, Gotleib Steinman and John U. Giesy.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
STATEMENT OF CHRISTIAN RUDOLPH, OF LANCASTER.
Christian Rudolph came to Lancaster in 1815, when it was little more than a log-cabin town. The same fall he hired himself to Richard M. Johnson, who then had the contract for carrying the mail from Pittsburg to Limestone (Maysville), Kentucky. He was then fifteen years of age. He commenced carrying the mail in October of that year on horseback. His route was from Lancaster to Zanesville, and back, over Zane's trace. The route required him often to be out all night, which, over the narrow road, and through the forests, especially in very dark nights, was a lonesome and dreary business. It was often so dark that he could see no part of the road, and was obliged to depend on the better eyes of his horse to follow the path. On one occasion he arrived at Zanesville late in the night, and being behind time, he received his mail and turned back, and came as far as Somerset without feeding or taking a bite to eat. In these mail routes he forded the streams that were fordable, sometimes when they were dangerously high. The rivers were crossed in canoes, and horses changed on each side.
Two or three years after he began to carry the mail, open box-wagons were put upon the road. I think he said the new contract required the mail to be carried six months in wagons, and six months on horseback. This latter contract was by J. S. Dugan. Stage-coaches were introduced on the route by Mr. Dugan, about the year 1820.
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