USA > Ohio > Knox County > A history of Knox county, Ohio, from 1779 to 1862 inclusive > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
" On the 5th of September George Coffinbery was Licensed to keep a publick house of entertainment in the town of Mansfield for one year on his payment of $4.
101
KNOX COUNTY.
" John Green, Esq., was still further allowed 3 years to settle the Isaac McClary estate.
" Catharine Shinabery, Ex. of M. Shinabery, dec'd, settled with the Court.
" Daniel Demmick was Licensed to keep a publick House of en- tertainment for one year, and Michael Click also.
" Henry Markley was allowed for 123 days services as Commis- sioner.
" Matthew Merritt was allowed for 9 days services as Commis- sioner.
" William Douglas was allowed for 10 days services as Commis- sioner.
" Edward Herrick was allowed $25 as Prosecuting Attorney for the Supreme Court for 1810."
COUNTY SETTLEMENT-5TH SEPTEMBER, 1810.
" The Court met with the Commissioners for the purpose of set- tling with the Court in County Charges, &c., which is as follows, (to wit):
"County of Knox, Dr., for, including from the June, 1809, to Sept. 6tlı, 1810:
Commissioners of Knox County $137 27
109 44
Elections
48 75
Roads
130 82
3 10
Treasurer
40 46
Boarding & Imprisoning Negro
2 75
1 83
Coroner.
3 50
Iron-Negro
5 25
Wolf Scalps
67 50
Collector's fees
102 59.8
Clerk's fees.
41 00
Clerk to Commissioners from Jan'y, 1808
87 17
Sheriff's fees
28 63
Prosecuting Attorney
100 00
Repairs of Jail
9 47
Jury Boxes
1 00
Associate Judges
102
HISTORY OF
Delinquents in Tax $24 20
Listing Townships 73 00
Petit Jurors. 15 15
Postage of Letters 95
Witnesses
4 00
Grand Jurors.
60 00
$1,194 163
Cr. By County Levy for 1809
$265 98
By Land Tax, 1809
252 52
By Draft on District Collection 118 30
By fines, &c
48 55
By stores and taverns
73 32
$759 67
" Ordered, that the Court do adjourn until the next meeting in course."
VOTE FOR GOVERNOR IN 1810.
The vote of Knox county in 1810 stood: For Return J. Meigs, 97; Thomas Worthington, 90. All the votes cast in our county at that election were 187. Our county was then on the winning side, as Meigs carried the State by 2,193 majority.
103
KNOX COUNTY
CHAPTER IX.
SKETCH OF THE FIRST WHITE MAN KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN UPON THE KO- KO-SING .- THE INDIAN CAPTIVE IN 1779 .- THE ADJUTANT IN 1812-AND COMMISSIONER IN 1824.
THE first of the citizens of Knox county to tread upon its soil, was John Stilley. In the month of June, A. D. 1779, he was a captive among the In- dians upon the banks of Ko-ko-sing. We have thoroughly investigated the early history of this country and can learn of no white person who pen- etrated the wilderness prior to that time. His father was one of the pioneers of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, who was killed by the savages when John was but a small child. Immediately after his father was massacred, John (about the year 1774) was taken, with one of his little sisters, by his brother-in-law, Kennedy, to his home in the back part of Washington county, where he was living exposed to the privations, toils and sufferings inci- dent to border life. At that time the people of the new country were in constant dread of the savages, and sleeping or waking they were alike in danger of becoming their prey. In the spring of 1779, when the corn was just sprouting out of the ground, a band of Indians of the Wyandot tribe one night attacked the house of Kennedy, took Kennedy, his
104
HISTORY OF
wife and one child, John Stilley and his little prat- tling sister, plundered the house of such things as they fancied, set fire to the house, and burned it to the ground. While they were witnessing the de- struction of the house and its contents, they became alarmed by the approach of some of the whites living nearest to Kennedy, and hastily seized his horses, and took to flight. One of the neighbors, called Captain Jack, an old Indian hunter, living about two miles from Kennedy's, thought on the evening of that day that there were Indians about, and being unable to get to sleep on account of this presentiment, kept his family awake until about midnight, when he swore that he " smelt Indians," and seizing his rifle, powder-horn and bullet-pouch went out to his nearest neighbor, and while there discovered the fire in the direction of Kennedy's, and with such of the settlement as could be hastily gathered together came up to the ruins of the house, hurrying the Indians away with their cap- tives and plunder. They followed close in pursuit, and came so nearly up to them when crossing the river that Captain Jack shot the Indian having young Stilley in charge across the right hand, cut- ting off his thumb. They heard the crack of rifles, and the balls whistled by them as they crossed the river. The Indian held young John in his left hand, and swam his horse over the river and rode some distance with the reins in his mouth. The band of Indians-sixteen in number-hastened rapidly across the country with their prisoners, crossing the White Woman near its mouth, and following on up the Ko-ko-sing, as Stilley distinctly
105
KNOX COUNTY.
recollects, until above where Fredericktown has since been built, and thence on out to the Sandusky plains. They camped one night at the Little In- dian Fields, near the present site of Mount Vernon.
This country was then an unbroken wilderness. They did not see a single white man, or the trace of one, this side of the Ohio river ; nor could John Stilley recollect of seeing one of his own race for five years, except a few prisoners who were at times brought through the country where he was, and occasionally his sisters and brother-in-law. They were parceled out by the captors as suited their fancy, and were sometimes for months without sce- ing cach other. John was a stout, hearty boy, fond of rough exercise, and having not a particle of fear he soon became a great favorite with the tribe, and was often taken by the warriors in their hunting
and fighting expeditions. He was several times brought with a portion of the tribe down to the Ko-ko-sing and White Woman country, and re- members that this was considered the most beauti- ful part of their hunting grounds. It then looked to him far handsomer than it ever has since, and because of its prepossessing appearance he determined, when he started in the world with thoughts of settling down permanently in one place, to make this his home and final resting place.
After the Revolutionary War was over and peace established, Kennedy and his wife and the two children were delivered up at Detroit. The In- dians had taken a great liking to John, and deter- mined to keep him. He was adopted into the tribe, had learned their language, and almost lost his own.
106
HISTORY OF
Trained up as their little Indians were, he had fallen into their ways, and fell in love with their mode of life, so that he had no desire to return to the white settlements. He bore no marks of ill treatment, unless we except that the end of his nose had been bitten off by one of the Indians in a fight. In all their sports and games he took part, and was a worthy " boba-sheeby." Our old settlers, who recol- lect the " whoop" that Uncle John could give when so disposed, say that he surpassed the real Indian in that line. He has often spoken to us of the events of his captivity, and how he was for a time fascinated with their wild and roving life. He sub- sisted for days upon a little corn parched and pounded up, and used to affirm to us that he never relished any thing so well in his life as that simple food.
But he was not doomed to live always a savage life. His family determined to rescue him from their wiles and allurements. His brother-in-law, with several others, undertook this mission, and at length succeeded in getting him away from them while they were camped down on Detroit, not far from where Malden has since been built. He re- mained with Kennedy and his friends at Detroit some months. There was then a British Fort there, and the village was the smallest kind of a four-cor- nered place.
It is a satisfaction to know that several of the gang who captured Stilley and Kennedy's family were afterwards in one of their marauding expe- ditions overtaken by justice. The Poes met and killed them near the mouth of Yellow Creek. Stil-
107
KNOX COUNTY.
ley and his sister became conversant with this fact shortly after the occurrence from Indians concerned in that dreadful fight.
John Stilley with other prisoners retaken. from the Indians, to the number of about ninety, em- barked in a vessel at Detroit, and landed in San- dusky Bay, and hired two Indian pilots to guide them back to the settlements. When they got pretty near the Ohio river, they began to talk over their position, where they were from, and with sad- ness parted with each other, scattering in different directions, never more to meet. Some were from Kentucky, others from Virginia and Pennsylvania. But few of them crossed the river with Stilley into the edge of Allegheny county. Stilley says that he then passed through the Ko-ko-sing and White Woman country, and not a particle of improve- ment was discernible from the time he was first taken through it by the Indians.
After remaining in his native country a short time he became restless, and longed for a newer condition of things. His desire for adventure took him to the " dark and bloody ground." He went alone-a poor boy, but strong of heart, and with resolution indomitable. Alone, and in a light canoe of his own make, he navigated the rivers, and landed at the Limestone, about three miles from where the city of Maysville now stands. The only settlements then commenced on the Ohio river in his way were at Wheeling, Gallipolis, Marietta, and at the mouth of the Kanawha. These were all very small. He pushed his way into the interior of Kentucky, and voyaged along
108
HISTORY OF
the waters of the Elkhorn, and was struck with the surprising beauty of the country, and the noble- ness and generosity of the people with whom he fell in company, and there he sojourned for some time. "There was," he said, "a considerable set- tlement along the waters of the Elkhorn, and above and between Paris and Lexington more white peo- ple than I had ever seen before. Lexington I thought a mighty clever town. We could raise along the old Elk's horn quite a number of men to take a fight every now and then, and I felt that I was man enough for any of them in any way they were a mind to take me. I knew Simon Kenton personally and right intimately, and a mighty true man he was too. He then lived down, I think, sort of northwest of Paris. He did not live as high up as I did. He kept four minute men down there always ready. We kept watch fifty miles along the river for a while, and went back and forth twenty-five miles ; I was one of them. I also knew Neal Washburn well, and I tell you he was a real brotherly feeling man. The Kentucky hunters were as good men as God ever made. They were the clear noblemen spit-all soul-all bravery- all generosity. Would to God there were more such in the world." * " I remained upon Elkhorn enjoying myself finely, farming a little, and hunting more, and wrestling and fight- ing, and all that, till the pesky Indians up in the Maumee country, and in the Miami, got to cutting up so intolerable bad that we couldn't stand it any longer-they were depredating and thieving, and murdering and scalping, and I got my blood up
109
KNOX COUNTY.
and concluded to try my aim on them, so I 'listed among the first in the country, and there was no better shot with a rifle among the crowd."
John Stilley served for four months as one of the Kentucky volunteers, and upon discharge of the company, by General Wayne, returned to the Elkhorn country. But he did not long remain quiet. Repeated acts of cruelty and inhumanity on the part of the savages and their worse than savage allies, again rendered it necessary for the Kentucky boys to shoulder their rifles and march into the enemy's country to avenge the wrongs of their countrymen. Stilley then served five months, and said he would like to have continued with old Mad Anthony the rest of his days, but the old hero said he did not require his services any longer. He returned to Kentucky and remained farming, hunting, and shooting at a mark, until the country, where he was, became too thickly settled for him to enjoy life there, and then he concluded to look up again the fine country which he had admired so much, when a boy, on the Ko-ko-sing.
He is found living in this county in 1806, making his location, building his log cabin, and settling down for the remainder of his term on carth. His wife, Rebecca, daughter of old Robert Thompson, the surveyor and pioneer, rests by his side beneath the soil of Knox county. The Stilley farm, west of Mount Vernon one mile, where their sons Mor- gan F. and Gilman B. and daughter Dorcas now live, was cleared off and first cultivated by Thomp- son and Stilley from 1805. Of John Stilley's twelve children-Sarah E., wife of Jacob Maxteller, is in
110
HISTORY OF
(
this township; Julia Ann, wife of Col. Benjamin F. Smith, in Minnesota; Joel F. in this county, Rebecca Kimbal in Morrow county; Nancy, wife of Wm. McFarland, deceased, in Oquawka, Ill., and the others, not above named, are dead.
In our chapter upon the military of Knox county it will be seen that the bellicose spirit of John Stilley is made manifest. In the war with Great Britain he served as Adjutant of Col. Kratzer's Regiment, Ohio volunteers, until honorably dis- charged. He again entered the service when Fort Meigs was attacked by the British and Indians, and received another honorable discharge. We became conversant with the events in the life of this worthy old settler several years ago, when for- warding an application for a land warrant, which he desired mainly as evidencing an evidence of appreciation of his services and sufferings by his government, but the lamentable delays of officials in the great circumlocution departments at Wash- ington prevented his receiving this just acknowl- edgment of his country's gratitude. On the 10th of March, 1852, he died of palsy, at his home, in Clinton township. His widow, after his death, received the tribute of a land warrant for 160 acres.
John Stilley was a true hearted, a brave man- ready, whenever occasion offered, to assert his rights and evidence his courage. He performed four tours of service, and under the most trying circumstan- ces acquitted himself handsomely. He was a great admirer of General Wayne and General Harrison, and never grew tired of praising them. We might give many anecdotes and incidents connected with
111
KNOX COUNTY.
the life of this worthy old pioneer-who first walked upon the banks of Owl Creek, (Koo-koo-san he said it was pronounced by the tribe who captured him.) We have thought a chapter in the History of the county to be justly due to John Stilley-the old Adjutant-the old Commissioner-the old citi- zen who was proverbial for his honesty and integ- rity-and who possessed, at four score years, as good a memory, as sound judgment and irreproach- able character as any man ever within the limits of Knox county.
112
HISTORY OF
CHAPTER X.
WHAT WAS DONE BY COURTS AND COMMISSIONERS IN THE YEARS 1811-12- 13 AND 1814 THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY .- COUNTY ROADS .- COUNTY BUILDINGS .~ COUNTY REVENUE .- WHAT IT COST TO GUARD A PRISONER AND TO BURY A NEGRO IN 1812-14 .- PRICES OF BARK AND RABBIT SKINS .- THE GLORIOUS FOURTH COMMEMORATED BY STRONG'S SETTLEMENT.
NINTH TERM OF COMMON PLEAS-JANUARY 1, 1811.
" Grand Jury-Charles Loffand, foreman, Thomas Beaty, Abra- ham Lyon, James Craig, Geo. Lybarger, Nathl. M. Young, J. Dun- lap, John Morrison, Samuel Wilson, John Herrod, John Cook, James Herrod and James Cunningham.
"Indictments presented vs. Wm. Wallace, James Smith, Solomon Geller, John Stilley, John Barney, Francis Spratt, John Fogle- song, Benj. Barney, Andrew Clark and Samuel Arbuckle.
"This term continued three days. The minutes show but one Jury Trial : The State of Ohio vs. Henry Smith for passing coun- terfeit money, and the Jury found him not guilty.
"Gilman Bryant was granted Licens to retail goods for 8 months, and Abner Ayres to keep a public house one year.
" An additional Justice of the Peace was added to the township of Clinton.
" The Indictments vs. Francis Spratt and Win. Wallace were disposed of, each being fined $3 and costs."
TENTHI TERM-29TH APRIL, 1811.
" Grand Jury-Isaac Bonnet, foreman, Charles Cooper, Robert Wright, John Hawn, Peter Bricker, Timothy Burr, Isaac Dial, Bartholomew Bartlet, Evan IIolt, John Trimble, John Wheeler, James Miller, Oliver Strong.
113
KNOX COUNTY.
"Indictments were presented vs. David Demmick, Sele Simp- kins.
" John Stilley appears and pleads guilty to Indictment for assault and battery found vs. him at- last Term, and is fined $4 and costs." The dignity of fighting is increased, and those who indulge in that luxury have to pay higher.
" Benjn. Barney, arraigned on charge of assault and battery, pleads not guilty, and on trial Jury so find.
" Andrew Clark, on indictment for same offence, is fined $4 and costs.
" John Barney stands a jury trial on his indictment, and is found not guilty.
" So also Samuel Arbuckle is acquitted.
" Licens is granted Benjn. Barney to keep publick house one year at Clinton.
" The case of Joseph Foos vs. Archibald Gardner is tried by a Jury, who find ' that Gardner was only to pay for the improve- ments done by Foos on the House.'
"Two suits were dismissed, two settled by the parties, and two judgments entered for small sums.
"John Sawyer is fined $2 and costs for not attending as a wit- ness. This being the second fine of this character in the Common Pleas Court, the penalty is increased 100 per cent.
" Licenses to retail goods are granted to Wm. H. Selby & Isaac Vore, and Tavern license to Jno. Baxter & Amoriah Watson.
" George Sapp is appointed admr. of George Sapp, decd .; Danl. Sapp & John Greer, Securities."
ELEVENTH TERM-9TH OF SEPT., 1811.
" Grand Jury .- William Gass, Jabez Beers, Joseph Coleman, Casper Fitting, Abraham Darling, Jacob Young, John Green, Henry Ankeny, James Bryant, Charles Lofland, John Wheeler, David Johnson, Jonathan Hunt, Jr.
" Indictments found vs. Sele Simpkins, Thos. McBride, Benj. Rush, Francis Wilkins, John Davis, James Walker, Jr. and James Smith.
Four Jury causes came off, to wit; Andrew Craig vs. Henry McCurb & James Cunningham, Trespass on the case ; Wm. W.
8
114
HISTORY OF
Farquhar vs. James Craig, for debt ; The State of Ohio vs. Sele Simpkins, for felony ; and James Smith vs. Samuel H. Smith, assumpsit.
" The Prosecuting Attorney entered ' nolle' on Indictment vs. James Smith for not making Election returns to Fairfield C.
"The State vs. Francis Wilkins. Defendant was fined $1 for assault and battery.
" Eleven other causes were disposed of-mainly dismissed at costs of Pltff.
"John Green, Esq., of the Methodist Church, is licensed to marry people so disposed.
" Henry Markley was allowed $53.373 for sevices as Commis- sioner.
" Matthew Merrit was allowed $1.75 for services as Commis- sioner.
" Robert McMillen was allowed $36.75 for sevices as Commis- sioner.
" License to keep public house was granted for one year to Michael Click, John Jones, Jesse Procter, Daniel Ayers, Daniel Demmick.
" Store License was granted to Gilman Bryant, Benjn. Rush, Saml. H. Smith.
" On the return of John Heckewelder, John McConnel and Moses Koss, Esquires, who were appointed by a Joint Ballot of both Houses of the Legislature of the State of Ohio to fix the seats of Justice in the Counties of Wayne and Richland in the State aforesaid, which passed the 28th of March, 1803, who did report for the seat of Justice in Richland county aforesaid to be affixed at the town of Mansfield. Signed the 20th day of April, 1809."
Settlement with the Commissioners of Knox County, to wit: Ex- penditures from Sept. Term, 1810 :
Paid out to different collectors $62 17.5
" for wolf scalps 12 00
" for Grand Juries 52 75
" for Pettit Judges in State prosecutions 20 20
" for Witnesses fees in same 88 15
" Sheriff for his services 65 50
" Coroner " 4 00
115
KNOX COUNTY.
Paid Jas. Smith, as Clerk to Com. Pleas and Comr. $89 953
" Public Buildings 111 87.5
" accommodation of Courts 5 50
Edwd. Herrick, Esq., as Prosecuting Attorney 100 00
" expences of Roads, &c 49 27.5
" Treasurer 20 59
" Associate Judges 60 00
" locating County and Townships. 63 50
" out for elections
James Smith 25 dollars for books. 35 50
$840 97
Amount received by Treasurer to same date :
Received by fines and license
$123 383
County levy for year 1810, C T'nship 113 32
66
Union
79 30
Morgan " 54 30
66
66
Wayne " 62 SS3
66
Madison " 15 923
-
State Tax for Morgan
80 893
66 66 Wayne
90 332
Union
30 25
66
Clinton
161 44 1 mill.
16
State Treasurer
117 66
Walker & Slater's land
4 25
State Tax for 1809
117 00
$1050 95 1 mill.
TWELFTH TERM-JANY. 6TH, 1812.
" Grand Jury .- Charles Lofland, foreman, Joseph Walker, Alex- ander Enos, Saml. H. Smith, John Stilley, Ziba Leonard, John Baxter, Moses Craig, John Spratt, Benj. Currin, James Craig, Andrew Craig, Solomon Geller."
This vacation had proven fruitful of knock-downs, as we may judge from bills for assault and battery being found vs. George Lybarger, Henry Ankeny, Samuel W. Culberson, Joseph Dunlap, John Strain, Benjamin Rush, John Foglesong.
116
HISTORY OF
Culberson was fined 6 cents and costs; Lybarger, $3 ; Ankeny, $5; John Foglesong, the unprecedented sum of $50 and costs. A jury in the State vs. John Davis found him guilty to the tune of $20 and costs.
Daniel Demmick is fined $1 and costs for retailing spirituous liquors without license.
The solitary civil jury trial resulted in Henry Smith obtaining a judgment of $8.123 against Oliver Strong.
There is an increasing demand for marrying officers, and we find License issued to Elisha Bowman and James Smith of the Metho- dist Church.
George Coffinberry renews his Tavern License for Mansfield, and James McClure is also Licensed to entertain the publick.
Jos. Talmage is allowed $2.25 for taking the enumeration, &c.
THIRTEENTH TERM-4TH MAY, 1812.
" Grand Jury .- Isaac Bonnet, foreman, Wm. Marquis, Solomon Geller, Benj. Corwin, Thos. McKee, John Stilley, Matthew Mer- ritt, John Hawn, Ziba Leonard, Chas. Cooper, H. Ankeny, Chas. Lofland and Joseph Berry.
" Bills were found vs. Joseph Walker and James Craig, William Walker, Elizabeth Walker.
" Two causes were tried by jury-Hiram Ball vs. Alexander Enos; verdict for defendant for costs; and The State vs. Eliza- beth Walker ; verdict not guilty.
" On Indictment for an affray, Joseph Walker is fined $1 and costs ; and William Walker is fined for an assault and battery $3 and costs.
The following order appears upon the court min- utes which "old settlers" may understand:
" Ordered, that James Walker, jr., deliver up to Benoni Gard- ner his daughter, Nancy, with her clothing.
" Store license issued to Isaac Vore, and tavern license to Azarialı Davis, Jolın Baxter and N. C. Boles.
" Eight judgments are entered up for sums varying from $2.072 to $18.66
" Luke Walpole vs. Ichabod Nye, Sheriff .- The Sheriff is
117
KNOX COUNTY.
amerced for $6, received from Wm. Wallace and not paid over. This is the first amercement case on record in Knox county.
FOURTEENTH TERM-14TH SEPTEMBER, 1812.
" License to retail goods was granted to John Garrison, and tav- ern license to Daniel Ayres.
" Court remained in session but a few hours. The following entry shows the cause : No venire for Grand or Petit jury returned in consequence of a National calamity. Ordered that the court do adjourn until the next court in course.
WILLIAM WILSON."
FIFTEENTH TERM-11TH JANUARY, 1813.
" Grand Jury .- Wm. Mitchel, foreman, Wmn. Davis, Jacob Young, Henry Markley, Wm. Knight, Peter Kinry, Henry Haines, John Murphy, Cornelius Vanosdolle, John Shrinplin, John Harrod, James Craig, Oliver Strong.
" Indictments found vs. John Jackson and Michael Click, Jos. Middleton, Wm. Stansbery, Leonard H. Coales.
" There were three trials by jury-Henry Smith vs. Allison Strong ; verdict for pltff. $12 and costs ; Eleazer Morely vs. Alex. Enos, for pltff. $56.37 and costs ; Platt & Harrison vs. Enos, for pltff. #40.80.
" Store license issued to Enoch Harriss, Richard Fishback, Gil- man Bryant.
" Tavern license issued to John Davidson on payment of $6 for one year, Richard Fishback, Amos H. Royce, Stephen Stilwell.
Not a single State case was tried. The presump- tion is that the fighting men had gone to the war!
SIXTEENTH TERM-5TH SEPTEMBER, 1813.
" Grand Jury .- Isaac Bonnet, foreman, James Loveridge, Solo- mon Geller, John Kerr, Philip Melker, Benj. Corwin, Thos. Mc- Kee, Jacob Hauger, John Dunlap, Wm. Marquis, Joseph Walker, Isaac Bean, W. H. Selby.
" Four bills were found for usual offenses. These and several other Indictments quashed for want of form. This Court contin- ued in session three days. There were three jury trials, and many old cases on the docket were disposed of.
" Wm. C. Enos is appointed Master Commissioner in Chancery.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.