USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > A complete history of Fairfield County, Ohio > Part 8
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The first mortgage of which any record appears, was made by John Cleves Symmes to Benjamin Murphy, for the pur- chase of one hundred acres of land, for which payment was to be made in six years with six per cent. interest. The instru- ment bears date of August 19th, 1801, and the sum contracted to be paid was two thousand dollars. These figures are prob- ably an error, as twenty dollars per acre for wild lands at that early day was hardly likely.
In October, 1802, and on the 12th day, two members of the Constitutional Convention for Ohio were chosen by popular election. This was the first election for the county. Emanuel Carpenter, Sr., and Henry Abrams were elected, the former
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receiving two hundred and twenty-eight, and the latter one hundred and eighty-one votes.
The members of the convention convened at Chillicothe on the first day of November following, and organized by the appointment of Edward Tiffin as President, and Thomas Scott as Secretary. This convention held an adjourned session on the 29th of the same month, when they completed their work ; and the constitution was submitted directly to Congress, and accepted, without being placed before the people of the State for their approval.
STATISTICAL.
Statistics show that there were in Fairfield County, in the year 1870, 2,318 farms, aggregating 232,016 acres of cultivated land; and that there were within its limits the total of 316,420 acres, including all outlying and timbered lands.
FAIRFIELD IN THE WAR OF 1812.
In the month of April, 1812, a company of infantry volun- teers, under the command of Capt. George Sanderson, was raised, to operate on the northern border against the British, in what is known as the war of 1812. This company formed a part of Colonel Lewis Cass's Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, which was betrayed into the hands of the British General Brock, as was believed, by the cowardice of General Hull, on the 12th of August following, in front of Detroit. They were paroled not to fight against the British until exchanged, which exchange took place in May, 1814. It is said, however, that some of the men went and joined Harrison's campaign to the Maumee and Thames in 1813, and continued until peace was concluded.
There was a second company, partly from Fairfield, which was commanded by -- -. This company was attached to Colonel Paul's Regiment of Twenty-seventh United States Infantry. They were honorably discharged at Detroit in 1814.
In an old blank book purchased at the sale of the venerable John Leist, west of Amanda, and furnished me by one of the sons of the late William Graham, of this county, I find the records in part of a third company that left Lancaster for the North in 1812. This company was commanded by Jesse D.
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Courtright; John Leist, First Lieutenant. The record, or journal, was kept by one Samuel W. Taylor, probably an Orderly. The journal opens thus :
"Rendezvoused at Lancaster on the 26th of August, 1812, for a six months' tour on an expedition towards Canada."
The record then proceeds in the form of a diary, until the Maumee country is reached, when it terminates abruptly thus :
"General Harrison arrived at the Rapids, and started next day with a thousand men, commanded by General Perkins, to reinforce General Winchester. They did not get far when they met some of Winchester's men, who told them that Win- chester's army was all taken prisoners or killed."
REFUGEE LANDS.
We notice very briefly the Refugee Tract, so-called. It passes through the northern part of this county, from east to west. Its width is two miles, and length eighteen miles. The origin of this reservation was as follows: There were citizens of Canada who, during the revolutionary war, gave their sym- pathies and aid to the American colonies. Congress appropri- ated this strip of land, of eighteen miles east and west, and two miles north and south, for their use, hence " Refugee Lands." After it had been taken up to the extent of the claimants who presented themselves, the unclaimed portion was sectioned and sold as other Congress Lands.
REFORM FARM.
The first efforts to obtain appropriations and encouragement for the establishment in Ohio of a Reform School for boys through the Legislature in 1857 and 1858, did not issue in any definite or effective result.
Charles Reemelin, of Cincinnati, having returned from a visit to Europe, reported his investigations of several institutions of the kind in that country. His suggestions gave impetus to the idea, and in 1857 the first log-structures were built on the site selected. To Mr. Remelin belongs much of the credit of the inception and subsequent development of the Ohio Re- form Farm.
There were ten boys brought there from the House of Re- fuge in Cincinnati, on the 30th of January, 1858. This was
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the beginning of the "State Farm," as it is familiarly called.
In 1876 the estimate of all the buildings and the farm was $200,000. Up to that time the total number of boys, who had passed through the institution, as shown by the official report of the Superintendent, was 2,019. The cost of each boy to the State, not including buildings and improvements, for the year of 1875 is put down at $118.53. Geo. E. Howe has been the Acting Commissioner from the first, and still holds the position. In his report in general he says, that "eighty per cent. of the boys leaving hare turned out well."
The farm is said to contain eleven hundred acres. The buildings are mostly of brick, and of a fine syle of architecture, and occupy about twenty acres of ground. The land lies some five or six hundred feet above the level of the Hocking Valley, three or four miles to the east. The surrounding hills are de- lightfully romantic with pine and chestnut groves. Besides farming on a small scale, and fruit growing, the boys are em. ployed in the manufacture of cane-seats, brushes of a great variety, shoes, brooms and other wares. There is a chapel where religious instructions are given every Sunday. There are also a number of schools in operation the year round, where all the boys receive competent education in the English language.
There are no lock-ups. Generally the boys are under the care of a select class of young men, denominated "Elder Brothers," and held to close and rigid discipline. Their time is diversified with school, labor and recreation. Many of them show themselves to be entirely trustworthy, and are allowed to go and come, and even to transact responsible business. Mrs. Howe, wife of the Acting Commissioner, is Matron, and it is said by those best acquainted with the institution, that her influence and motherly supervision has had a marked effect for good on the boys.
The farm is situated six miles from Lancaster, in a south- west direction. A good turnpike road leads from the foot of Broadway directly to the farm, most of the distance through delightful pine groves, which, in summer, make the air redo lent with resinous exhalations. The farm is at all times ac- cessible to visitors, who are politely shown round. On Sun-
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days, however, visitors, except for the purpose of attending church, are not desired.
The term of detention of those sent there is not fixed, and their discharge, when thought prepared to leave, is left to the Acting Commissioner.
FAIRFIELD REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
At an early day (1819-1821), and (1821-1829), Philemon Beecher was in the Lower House of Congress. Later, citizens of the county who have been elected in the various districts to which it has belonged, have been : William W. Irvin, John Chaney, William Medill, Charles D. Martin, Thos. O. Edwards, Edson B. Olds and Philadelphus Van Trump. Senate and member of the Cabinet : Thomas Ewing.
TOWNSHIPS.
Following will be found a brief history of the townships and villages, which is as full and specific as the plan of this work will permit, and it is hoped will be found satisfactory. It is perhaps possible that, in collating such a work, non-important errors may creep in. Such, if any shall be found, will be ex- cused, if the general tenor of the history shall be approved, for, as before said, much has to be taken from tradition, and the recollections of living witnesses vary more or less.
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Clear Creek Township is situated in the south-west corner of the county. Its name was suggested from "Clear Creek," a small stream running through it. Its school district system is well arranged. There are nine school-houses, located re- spectively at the cornerings of the sections.
It contains the villages of Oakland and Stoutsville, the former laid out by Charles Sager, and is twelve miles from Lancaster, on the Chillicothe pike; the latter by Benjamin Stout, in 1854, and is about sixteen miles west, or south-west of Lancaster. Clear Creek formerly extended over parts of the Townships of Madison and Amanda.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
We note among the early settlers of Clear Creek, John Leist, who came there in 1807. He was born in 1784, and was a member of the Legislature from 1813 to 1820. Mr. Leist served in the war of 1812, and was under Harrison at Fort Meigs and Detroit. He died several years since, at a very advanced age. Mr. Dillsaver is said to have built the first horse-mill in the township. Michael Nye was also an early settler. Charles Friend came in 1800, and built the first water-mill on Clear Creek. Among the first teachers were Apple Young and John Young. Jacob Leist was an early Lutheran preacher there. It is believed the Lutherans built the first meeting-house, which was a log-cabin. It was situa- ted near the somewhat historic place, known as " Dutch Hol- low. " The last census gave Clear Creek a population of 1,743.
AMANDA TOWNSHIP.
Amanda lies immediately north of Clear Creek. It is com- monly understood that the name was given by William Ham- ilton, who was the first County Surveyor of Fairfield. It con- tains the villages of Amanda and Royalton. Amanda is eight miles west of Lancaster, on the Cincinnati Railroad. Its first proprietor was Samuel Kester, and its beginning was about 1830. Royalton is six or seven miles north of Amanda. It is a small village, and was known as Toby Town at the begin- ning of the settlements.
Frederick Leathers is spoken of as the first settler. He kept a tavern on the old Chillicothe road. Isaac Griffith suc- ceeded him as landlord, and remained there until 1834, soon after which the house was burned. Other early settlers were : Disinger, William Ward, Mr. Norris, Mr. Denison, William Hamilton, Thomas Barr, John Christy and Mr. Morris, who acquired notoriety as a ring-fighter at public gatherings. A school-teacher, by the name of Solomon Grover, is spoken of as having school in the upper story of his house, in 1817. A Presbyterian Church was organized in the village, in 1838, by Rev. Dr. Hogue, of Columbus. The first minister was Wil- liam Jones. The first Sabbath-School in Amanda was in- augurated in 1860, by the Rev. Thorn.
It is due to Amanda Township to say, that no draft was
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made within its borders during the Southern Rebellion. There were more volunteers than the township quota.
BLOOM TOWNSHIP.
Bloom was established in 1805. The following names have been furnished as first "settlers : Abraham Courtright, Jesse D. Courtright, Zephemiah Drake, Christian Merchant, Peter Powel, Conrad Platner, Michael Thrash, John Smaltz, Michael Allspaugh, Jacob Allspaugh, Levi Moore and Daniel Hoy. Bloom Township contains Lithopolis and Greencastle. Green- castle was first laid out, and Jesse D. Courtright was its first proprietor. This was in 1810. In 1814, one Bougher laid out the town of Lithopolis. It is the largest village in the county, possibly. It has three churches and an academy. Lithopolis is fourteen, and Greencastle ten miles from Lan- caster, both on the old Columbus road.
A quaint rule is spoken of as having been established in this township in its early history, viz .: No man was allowed to vote at their elections who could not produce a certificate that he had performed two days' work on the road, removing the stumps.
The first school-teacher in Bloom Township was Abraham Courtright. He taught there in 1805. The first church in the township was built by the German Presbyterians, in the year 1807. It was near the old State road, and is said to be still standing.
The Trustees seem to have occupied much of the time of their meetings in attention to the reports and duties of Road Supervisors and Fence Viewers. The latter office, in Ohio, has long since been abolished. There was there, as in all townships at that early day, provided by law a special Board of Overseers of the Poor. Under the action of this Board, the Overseers sometimes sold the paupers to the lowest bidder for their maintenance.
Saw-mills were very numerous. Of those who run saw-mills at that early day, are mentioned Jacob Allspaugh, Sam'l Kist- ler, Judge Chaney, and a Mr. Barnett. The last two, Kistler and Chaney, are old citizens of Bloom Township, and refer to the times in the past when goods were brought on horseback from Wheeling, Marietta and Zanesville, and of going to Zanes-
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
ville for their grinding, a distance of over fifty miles. As late as 1822, it is said, there were no grinding facilities in Bloom besides one small raccoon-burr mill. Wheat was exchanged for salt, bushel for bushel, which was considered a great point gained by the farmers.
In 1822, there were two hewed log churches in the township, that were used jointly by the Lutherans and German Reforms. Rev. Steck was the pastor of the former, and Rev. Geo. Wise of the latter. Methodists, Presbyterians and others, at that time, held their meetings in private residences.
Jefferson and Lockville are in the northern part of the township. The population of the township of Bloom was, in 1840, 2,288.
VIOLET TOWNSHIP.
This township makes up the north-west corner of the county. It formerly contained the village of Winchester, but an act of the Legislature a few years since, struck off a tier of sections from its western border, which was attached to Franklin County, including Winchester.
The name " Violet" is understood to have been derived from the luxuriance with which the flower bearing that name grew on some portions of its soil. Pickerington is situated in Violet. A man by the name of George Kirk first purchased the eighty-acre tract in which the village stands. Subse- quently the land fell into the hands of Mr. Pickering, who laid out the town and christened it with his own name.
Of those who settled in Violet previous to the year 1806, are mentioned : H. Donaldson, A. Donaldson, Edward Rickets, Westenburger Hustand, Dr. Tolbert, A. Pickering and Mor- decai Fishbaugh. Waterloo, on the canal, is within this town- ship.
Violet, in churches, schools, and the general spirit and enterprise of the times, is not behind any township of the county. Settlements were first begun in the vicinity of where Pickerington now stands. Residences were located through the township with reference to springs and water streams, as well as the quality of the lands. Some of the first settlers came out in advance of their families and first built their cabins; in other instances the families came together, and took their chances in the forests. Dr. Tolbert was prob-
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
ably the first physician in the township-at least among the first. He is still living at a very advanced age, and has been for many years a citizen of Jefferson.
Wolves are said to have been very abundant in Violet when it was first settled; but subsequently the premium paid for their scalps had much to do in thinning their ranks.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
A large portion of the first settlers of this township were Swiss. The writer has been told that it was at their suggestion that the name " Liberty " was adopted. They came from a country where the liberties of citizens were very much restricted by Monarchical Government, and they seemed to desire that their freedom in the new country of their adoption should be per- petuated in history, hence "Liberty Township."
Baltimore and Basil, on the canal, are in Liberty, and are both places of considerable business. Baltimore is a consider- able village, and is quite noted for the strength and respecta- bility of its secret orders. It has the usual amount of church and school facilities. Before the trade of the county was dis- tributed by its two railroads, Baltimore had a heavy grain trade, on account of the facilities of transportation afforded by the Ohio Canal, upon whose banks it stands.
Liberty lies between Violet and Walnut, in the northern tier. I have not the facilities for giving the exact dates of its organization, or that of either of its villages, or the names of their proprietors, but they are both old villages.
The roads through Liberty follow the cardinal points. The first tavern of the place was kept by Michael Allen. The first Methodist class-leader was a Mr. Kniseley Schumaker, who also established the first Sabbath-School. The surface was originally covered with dense forests of beach, sugar, and other forest trees, to clear away which, and make the soil available for farming, was a heavy and tedious work.
GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Greenfield was first settled in 1799, and was incorporated as a township in 1805. Isaac Meason, father of the late Vener- able John Meason, was among the first to settle in the bounds of Greenfield. At the time of his coming there is said to have been not above half a dozen of families within the boundaries
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
of the then very large township. Their names are: Captain Joseph Stewart, father of Levi Stewart, now of Lancaster, Wm. McFarland, Ralph Cherry, Jeremiah Cherry, Joshua Meeks, Dorsey Meason and Samuel Randall. They expected to hold their lands under the "Tomahawk " Pre-Emption Claim, but they were subsequently sectioned and sold as Congress Lands at two dollars an acre, without any reference to " Squatter Sovereignty."
Following these first settlers were the Willetts, the Ben- nets, the Fitzeralds, the Drurys, the Rices, the Smotherers, and others.
Yankeytown and forks of Hocking were first settlements in Greenfield. The site of the former is now known as the Clay- pool neighborhood, and the latter as the Rock Mills.
The name of Henry Abrams, father-in-law of the late General George Sanderson,'is also prominent among the first settlers of Greenfield, he having arrived in 1800, settling first, I believe, on what is at present known as the Sanderson farm.
The first election for the township was held at Yankeetown in the fall of 1805. The first tax-collector in Greenfield was Colonel Crooks, who was subsequently Sheriff of the county. Emanuel Carpenter is also spoken of as being at that time a citizen of Greenfield. His surviving friends, however, do not . remember that he ever lived anywhere but down Hocking.
[A general remark is here proper. At the early times, of which we write, the taxes of Ohio were collected by special collectors. The manner was as follows : A house in the town- ship was designated, and a day named ; at that house, on the specified day, the collector remained all day to receive the taxes, it being the duty of the tax-payers to come there and take up their receipts].
Walter McFarland, John Meason and Gideon Martin, old and prominent citizens of Greenfield, deceased during the last year, aged respectively above eighty years. -
Joseph Loveland and Hezekiah Smith, New Englanders, built a grist and saw-mill combined at the forks of Hocking in 1800. The place is familiarly known at present as the Rock Mill. It is on the old Columbus road, seven miles from Lan- caster. These men are said to have sold goods at their mill which were brought on pack-horses from Detroit. They also sold whisky, charging one dollar a quart for it. The Indians
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
often bought it and took a big drunk, always leaving one or two of their number sober to restrain the drinkers, a custom not observed by their more civilized brethern of the " pale- faced " race.
A wrestling tournament between Isaac Meason and a stout Indian is spoken of, in which Mr. Meason was successful in three straight falls, when the Indian, in a very surprised man- ner, gave up the contest.
It is related that some of the first emigrants erected tents, which they roofed with bark, inhabiting them until they could find the time to put up cabins. Two or three families ยท are said, in some instances, to have jointly occupied one cabin of small dimensions.
The second or third years, after the settlements began, were characterized by a great deal of sickness. A form of disease prevailed that was thought to be yellow fever. Of those who died with it are mentioned: Jeremiah Cherry, Joshua Meeks and Benjamin Edgar. For their interment no better coffins could be provided than rude structures of puncheons.
The first Methodist preacher who came into the township, it is believed, was one John Williams. A Scotch Covenanter, by the name of Wallace, made an effort in 1816 to establish a church, but failed. In 1813 the Lutherans built the first church of the township. A Union Church was built in 1840, which afterwards fell into the hands of the Methodists. It is said to be still in use. It was called Pleasant Summit. The first circuit-riders who preached in it were Hand and Milligan.
There are three villages in Greenfield. Carroll was laid out by William Tong, at the junction of the Ohio and Hocking Valley canals. Havensport, a small village on the canal, was laid off by Isaac Havens; and Dumontsville, four miles north- west of Lancaster, by Mr. Dumont, from France.
Greenfield ranks among the wealthiest townships of the county. It is situated north-west from Lancaster. The first man who taught school in Greenfield is believed to have been a Mr. May. The township at this time contains seven churches.
An object in this township that merits commemoration, is Greenfield Academy on the Carroll Pike. It was erected in 1830 by Jacob Claypool, and was at first used for school and church purposes, and afterwards converted into an academy.
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
John Williams was Principal, and under him many of Fair- field's best young men received fine educations.
"Greenfield " was derived from the many beautiful meadows of land within its borders.
HOCKING TOWNSHIP.
In this township Lancaster is situated, near its northern and eastern borders. Its name derives from the Hockhocking river, which flows past its western and southern limits. The history of Lancaster is a large part of the history of Hocking Township. And the history of the first settlements of the county would, in a general way, be the history of all frontier life seventy years ago.
Within this township, and in near proximity to Lancaster, are inexhaustible ledges of the fines sand-stone in the world- sufficient in quantity to build a hundred cities. It will be remembered this township was the theatre of the Wyandot and Delaware Indians when the valley was first penetrated by the white race. But now not the slightest trace of that swarthy race which once made these hills echo with their wild and discordant shouts, remains ; not a mark to show they were ever here. And the pale faces are gone too, and their foot-prints are nearly faded out; that is, the first comers. Their forms have dissolved away, and their voices are all hushed forevermore.
The first settlers of Hocking township have been mentioned elsewhere, when speaking of the first settlers of Fairfield county, and it is needless to recapitulate.
Outside of Lancaster, there is but one village in the town- ship-the village of Hamburg; five miles to the south-west. It is a place of a few families, and has a little trade.
Hocking, perhaps more than any township in the county, presents more mementoes of the frontier age in the form of remnants of old log-cabins and the like. At present it is the chief grape-growing township of the county. The hills for a few miles south are, to a large extent, covered with the vine in healthy conditions of culture. The State Farm is in Hock- ing township.
We have said there are no traces of the Indians left. There are no visible traces ; but one will learn, by conversation with
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
oldest inhabitants, that some of the arts of the red man in ex- tracting healing virtues from wild plants have been diffused and are not lost.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
Madison Township was honored with the name of one of the illustrious Presidents of the United States, James Madison. It lies immediately east of Clear Creek, on the southern border of the county. It was established with pretty near its present boundaries, in the year 1812. Previous to that time it formed, I believe, a part of Clear Creek Township. The first election for the township after its independent organization was held at the house of Mr. Valentine Wolf.
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