USA > Ohio > Highland County > A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio > Part 12
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
gregated at a neighbor's cabin, shortly tract, which attained to maturity early after New Year, and the best the house in the spring and was ready for con- could afford was of course put in requi- summation ; and it being necessary sition, to which it was desired to add a that this should be done under sanction cup of genuine "Young Hyson." On of law as well as in presence of wit- examination it appeared there was bit nesses, one John Brown, from the town one fire-proof vessel about the house, of New Amsterdam, at the falls of an old broken bake oven. So with this Paint, was brought up to New Market. they went to work, beginning at the Whether he was a preacher or a 'Sunire substantials. In the first place some tradition does not say, but it is clear nice cakes were made and fried in that he was fully empowered to sol- bear's oil in the oven ; then some short emnize the rites of matrimony. So he cakes were baked in it. Then some married John Emrie and Margaret nice venison steaks were fried in it, Ross. This ceremony took place at 'Squire Ross' tavern, adjoining the plat
after which it had to be used to carry water from the spring, about two hun- of the present town of New Market. dred yards distant. The water was east, on the Chillicothe road, and they then heated in it and the tea made, were the first couple married within which was pronounced excellent.
the present county of Highland. To
The society, as constituted at New this wedding of course all the neigh- Market at that time, was perhaps not borhood were invited. It took place quite as refined as at present, yet the about 11 o'clock in the morning. The people managed to enjoy themselves to party partook of a substantial dinner their own satisfaction. Shooting at 12, and spent the afternoon in varions matches in the day time and dances at amusements-shooting at a mark, ri- night, were not uncommon amusements ning foot races, romping with the girls, during the winter. It required but &c., winding up with a daner at night. very little preparation then to com-
This year (1500) the seat of Govoru-
mence the dance, and the young men ment of the North-west Territory went on the floor with their blooming having been removed by act of Con- buckskin partners dressed in hunting-shirts and gress from Cincinnati to Chillicothe, breeches and moccasins. the erection of a State House was com- Fashion and perfumery and all the meneed at that place, for the accom- follies of the present day had not then modation of the Territorial Legisla- intruded themselves upon poor frail ture and Courts. This is said to have man, to mar and repress his native ele- been the first public stone edifice built ments of social delight. Much hunting in the Territory. The mason-work of was of course done. and considerable it wasdone by Major William Rutledge, whisky consumed, though no outrages a soldier of the Revolution. The Ter- resulted, and the warm, pleasant days ritorial Legislature held their first of spring found the inhabitants pleased session in this building in 1501, and the with their town in the woods, and act- Constitutional Convention that formed ive in preparation for the labor of the the old constitution, held their session coming summer. That spring Gov. in it. The State Legislature occupied St. Clair, passing from Chillicothe over it, with the exception of two yehrs, ti !! the trace to Cincinnati, stopped at Ross' the seat of the State Government With tavern, much to the vexation of land- permanently established at Columbus, lord Wishart. Ross was a man of con- after which Ross county ocenpled it 23 siderable shrewdness and good hard a court house until a few years PEO, common sense, and having a touch of when it was pulled down to give plas the blarney on his tongue, being a to a more approved structure.
County Derry Irish Presbyterian, he Chillicothe was now the most itt- managed to ingratiate himself with the portant point in the North-west, being Governor, who shortly after sent him a the capital of an empire of territo ; commission as a Territorial Justice of whose extreme North western hne the the Peace, the first officer of the law the head of Lake Superior, and return- within the present limits of Highland ing east formed the dividing line be- county. This dignity was only appre- tween the British Possessions and ciated by "Squire Ross," as well as the those of the United States, west of the town of New Market. Unfortunately Allegheny Mountains ; but it was an though, the commission did not arrive empire only in territory. wild beasts early enough to meet the demands of and Indians, and the town the capital the community for legal official servi- of a wilderness. Yet it soon became ces. John Emrie and the new 'Squire's the center of wealth, fashion and che- eldest daughter, Margaret, during the gance, and drew its trade and extend- past winter had been negotiating a con- ed its influence for hundreds of miles.
A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
Its busy and crowded streets presented The haughty chief and warriors from the appearance of a city in which the the shores of Erie and Huron, clad in: uncouth trapper ail trader from the barbaric splendor. not unfrequently far west, elad in the skius of wild mingled in the throng, silent spectators. beasts. jostled the grave judge of the of the devastation wrought by the in- United States Comt, the wise Legisla- novating hand of civilization on the tor, or the courdly and fashionably beautiful hereditary hunting grounds. dressed Secretary of the Governor. of the red man.
CHAPTER XIII.
FIRST SETTLERS AT GREENFIELD - THE POET CURRY - MAJOR ANTHONY FRANKLIN SETTLES IN THE COUNTY-NATHANIEL POPE AND FAMILY START FROM VIRGINIA FOR THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
TARLY in the spring of 1800 John part of the Revolutionary war, and' Coffey, Lewis Lutteral, Samuel Schoo- was taken prisoner by the British ley, Joseph Parmer, James Curry, when the American army surrendered James Milligan and William Bell at Charleston, S. C. During his resi- moved into Greenfield and commenced dence in Ohio, he was extensively building houses and making other nec- known, and had many warm friends essary improvements with the view of among the leading men thronghont a permanent residence. The next spring 'the State. He was frequently elected Mr. Bell died. This was the first death to the State Legislature, and was one in the place, except a small child of Mr. of the electors by whom the vote of Coffey. Hle left a widow and six chil- the State was given to James Monroe dren, three sons and three daughters. in 1820. The last of many public trusts The three sons all married, settled which he held was that of Associate down in Greenfield, and became prom- inent and active business men. Joseph and Charley learned the blacksmith trade, and were the first to set up that business in the town. Josiah learned tlie hatting business and established
Judge for his county. His son James, still (1858) resides on the homestead, is a prominent farmer and highly respected citizen. Otway Curry, his youngest son, was born in Greenfield, in Highland county, on the 26th of March, 1804. the first hatter shop in the town. In He was a most promising boy and his the course of time, by industry and father took great care in his education, close attention to business, they all with the design of preparing him for prospered and became wealthy, and the bar. The Curries were of Scotch established themselves as dry goods origin, and remotely related to the poet, Burns. It is not pretended that genius is hereditary, but the peculiar temperament characteristic of poets as a class may be, and it is not improbable
merchants, and Josiah and Charley soon became the prominent merchants of the place. Joseph removed many years ago to Washington, Fayette
county. Josiah died in 1853 or 1854. that young Curry's bent of mind thuis John Coffee continued to reside for
originated. At any rate he greatly many years in the vicinity of Greenfield, vexed his kind and worthy parents by and filled several offices both in church his comparatively idle and dreamy
and State. After rearing a large family habits. He was an assiduous student, but not of the substantial branches taught in the schools. A copy of was too often found where Euclid he died full of years and in christian peace. James Curry only remained a few years. having removed to Burns or Cowper, or some other poet Union county and settled on farm on the banks of Darby Creek in should have been, until finally he com- 1811, where he died in 1834. In early mitted, as Burns says, the sin of rhyme. youth he was with the Virginia forces He was a poet, and felt that to be his at the bloody battle of Point Pleasant. true vocation. His father, however, He served as an officer in the Virginia determined not to be thwarted in his Continential line, during the greater purpose, and early placed him in a law
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTT, OHIO.
office. Otway exerted himself to please Market was by no means idle. Quite 3 his father, and labored over the musty considerable accession was made voumes of dry and incomprehensible through the spring and summer of law to no purpose. His thoughts were good substantial settlers, who went to with his heart and that was far away work with energy and determination to amid the scenes recorded in heroic and build cabins and clear out the ground. pastoral song, or reveling in gorgeous Before the commencement of winter beanties of an ideal existence. At much of the legs and brush had disp- length he determined to escape. So in peared from the principal streets, and the nineteenth year of his age he ran the number of cabins, pole pens and off, and finding himself in Cincinnati half-faced camps were quite respectable. without money or friends, but with a The place began to wear something manly heart and strong arm, he appren- like a business appearance. A good ticed himself to the carpenter trade. corn crop that year promised a supply He thus escaped being a lawyer, and for home consumption, and the solemn had leisure to cultivate his genins in toll of the cow bells, as they slowly poetry and elegant literature. He re- wended their way home after a day's mained tinis employed some years, dur- grazing on the luxuriant peavine, spoke ing which time his name becameknown of the luxury of plenty of milk and amongst the first poets of the west .. His butter. So that upon the whole the poems are generally short magazine town really seemed to be in a prosper- and newspaper productions, yet they ous and thriving condition. And to possess the true ring of the genuine crown all and make the hope for the mettle, and are true to nature, express- approaching winter bright and un- ing a warmth of heart, a pathos and clouded, landlord Wishart landed from elegance equaled only by the true noet. his oxcart a new supply of old Monon- His outset as a poet promised a brilliant gahela. career, but from some unknown cause,
In the fall of this year (1500) Major his latter years did not realize it to the Anthony Franklin built a cabin ca the world. But much he has written will trace from New Market to New Am- survive. Many sweet fugitive poems, sterdam, abens three miles east of which years ago stirred the hearts of where the village of Marshall now the readers of western literature, owe stands in the present county of High ;- their paternity to him. During the year land. This was the first improvement 53 he was editor of the Chillicothe in that immediate vicinity. This tone- Chcete, but retired from that post in ment was soon made by additions quite the autumn of '54, with the view of comfortable and convenient. and stool practicing law in Marysville, Union on the land on which the Major long county, to which place he removed. In resided, and within a short distance of the latter part of the following Febru- the present residence, until within a ary he died after an illness of two weeks, few years. His house, being the only
During the spring and summer of one between the two towns, was for 1500 Gen. Massie erected on his farm at many years a stopping place for travel- the falls of Paint, on the south side, a ers, who always niet a kind and hospit- large and elegant mansion, and marry- able reception. Among the many me. ing a daughter of Col. Meade, of Ken- of distinction who were there etter tricky, took up his residence on his farm, tained were Gov. St. Clair and Av. where his hospitable home was open to Burr. all his old associates and visitors from Major Franklin wagrated for Amherst county, Virginia. in 1:04 Am being a carpenter Was atalet. 120the falls of Paint, Hd ale as one of the builders of tien. de's mansion. old States. He seemed to take peculiar pleasure, in which ' his accomplished wife joined, in entertaining his war- worn and woods companions.
This improvement by Massic attract- The Idu Bien queregent vise- ors at his cabin at this time, ami om- tinned to hunt in the Surrounding Inthe
ed many persons to the neighborhood of the falls. AA large number mechanics were necessary, and they for some four or five years after wards. mostly came from the East. The town On the 9th of December. In der of New Amsterdam also was benefited St. Clair, by proclamation, established in an increase of population, capital Clermont county, which was bounded and industry, and it began to present on the east by a line running due north the appearance rather than the promise from the month of Elk River (Eagle of a town, greatly to the gratification Creek.) This included some two or of honest Jacob Smith.
three miles of the present county of
While these things were going on at Highland on the western border. Wil- the falls, the rival upland town of New liansburg was made the county sent.
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
and good public buildings erected, but emigrant to the West at the present day it was subsequently removed to New necessarily encounters none of the Richmond in 1520,and on February 24th, dangers, hardships and toils which were
1824, permanently transferred Batavia.
to inevitable at that time, and there- fore the characteristics of the early
Emigration from the old States west pioneer are not found in the new States. The race appears to be almost extinct, and the few who do survive are more
was quite a different thing at that time to what it is now, and required a inoral courage to undertake, and an likely to be discovered in the sequester- energy and determination to consum- ed valleys of Southern Ohio, than on mate, little short of that which carried the broad and fertile plains of the West. Napoleon over the Alps and Columnbus
In the fall of 1796 Nathaniel Pope to the Indies. The second half of the set out with his family from Virginia nineteenth century abounds in appli- for the North-western Territory. IIe ances of ease and luxury, of which it had constructed a narrow cart, adapted had never entered into the heart of man to the mountain track, with ropes at- to conceive at the close of the last half tached at each side, ready to be seized of the eigliteenth, And the emigrant whenever necessity required to prevent upsetting. In this homely vehicle were stored one bed and some bedding. together with the portable articles most prized by the family. The necessary from Virginia, Massachusetts or Ohio, who to-day settles in his mind to pull up stakes and go to the West, selects his point, it may be on the prairies of Iowa or the plains of Utah, or the kitchen furniture was packed on horses. shores of the Pacific, and he, with his Mrs. Pope rode a horse on a pack, and family and goods are borne forward the remainder of the family, consisting with the speed of the wind, till his of several boys and girls, walked and journey is completed, and at the end of rode as opportunity offered. Thus two or three days he is quietly set equipped, with a rifle on his shoulder down, all safe, a thousand miles from and three or four good hunting dogs his old home, but not in a wilderness, following with cart, pack-horses and nor in a new settlement where the old- cows with bells on in the rear, the fam- fashioned log cabin, solitary occupant ily turned their faces towards the of the little clearing, alone greets him, north-west, in the midst of that calm, but in a populous city filled with a half-dim, half-bright-dreamy, and to many, melancholy season known as busy throng of polished population, in which abound all the luxuries of the Indian Summer. The "movers" pro- East. He finds houses, cottages and gressed, as a matter of course, slowly, out-buildings in market, all ready fram- camping out of nights, sometimes on the mountain, sometimes in the valley, ed and finished for shipping and speedy erection. He buys to suit his purse and by pine knot fires. This was by no taste, ships by the railroad to his land means unpleasant, particularly to the in the midst of the prairie, takes on younger portion of the family, for the hands, and in one week his new farm soft balmy moon-light nights were en- is graced with a pretty gothic cottage joyed quite as much as the day, and of five or six rooms, finished in and out many a coon and 'possum did the boys in city style. A supply of furniture is and dogs capture while the remainder also obtained at the city, and at the end of the family slept soundly after the of ten days his wife and family arrive day's fatigue. from the hotel where they have been Towards the latter end of November they arrived at the falls of the Great Kanawha, The weather had become wet. cold and very disagreeable for traveling, provided as they were. So they determined to winter there, having been very kindly received by a worthy farmer, Mr. Leonard Murrice, who sup- plied them with shelter, corn, pumpkins, turnips, &c. Mr. Pope and his elder sons were good hunters, and easily awaiting the completion of the arrange- ments. to find not only a comfortable but a Inxurious home. He hires a pro- fessional prairie-breaker, and in two weeks inore he has twenty or thirty acres in corn, and before it is fairly up it is surrounded by a plank fence. Thus in six weeks from the time he sets out from his old home he finds himself on a better farm, more comfortably situ- ated than he was before. In short, in supplied the family with winter meat that brief space of time he has attained of the choicest description. They beat all except, perhaps, an orchard, that the hominy, made and mended moccasins, new settler Southern Ohio, leggins, &c., of nights and inclement was only able, by the great- days. So passed the winter. In the est effort, to secure in thirty years of latter part of February they tapped industry and constant drudgery. The sugar trees and made a supply of sugar.
,
.55
A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
Preparatory to another start for the corn, pumpkins and potatoes, around north-west Mr. Pope cut a large tree on which they made a brush fence. When the hill side, made a scaffold of poles they left Kanawha in a boat, Mr. Pope's and forks, against the steep side of the eldest son, William, and his cousin, hill, rolled the logs on it, and with a John Walters, were started with the whip saw, which he borrowed, and two horses and other stock by land. All the of his boys at the lower end, sawed
meal the family used was beat in a plank enough, and then went to work hominy block. During the summer an- and constructed a pretty good sized other family came down in a small boat, which he launched and loaded boat, and stopped on the same bottom with his goods, except his live stock, with Pope. They concluded to try the and getting aboard with his family, he experiment of constructing a mill on hallooed to an old hunter to cut the the two boats, to be propelled by the
grapevine, when his little craft round- ed out handsomely into the current, all
current of the river. They finally suc- ceeded pretty well, but had to go to
waiving their caps and huzzaing good- the current which was on the Virginia
bye. Mr. Murrice had given the voyag- side. They lashed the boats with a ers a pretty accurate knowledge of the long and large grape vine to a tree just channel of the river, and they trusted above the mouth of Guyandott. The to fortune and care for success. In the boats were then pashed out into the course of an hour's run they came to current with long poles and held there the rapids, which they had the luck to pass in safety, with the trifling excep- while grinding. The mill did quite as well as could be expected, and supplied tion of a thorough ducking from the the wants of all in the way of meal.
Nathaniel Pope and Jessie Baldwin
water thrown over the sides of the boat. After this danger was safely were the first who settled on that bot- passed they landed, built a large fire tom. John Walter came next, then and warmed and dried themselves, ate Thomas Beals, the preacher, and his their supper and rested till morning: sons, and shortly afterward Obadiah They set out again in the morning and Overman and his brother Zebulon, and passed down in safety to the Ohio, others. These settlers with their fam-
when the joy of all was expressed by three hearty cheers, the boys standing at the bow of the boat, coon skin caps in hand, to greet with heart-felt huzza the far-famed territory north-west of ilies formed, by this time, quite a large community, all of whom were of the Society of Friends; and here on the peaceful but wild and lonely banks of the beautiful Ohio Thomas Beals the Ohio. They landed at the French preached the first Friends' sermon ever
Station- Gallipolis-and having a good
delivered in the Northwestern Territo-
stock of bear and coon skins, the pro- ry. The male portion of the congrega- ducts of the last fall and winter's hunt, tion were dressed, without an excep- they went to a trading house and laid tion, in leather, and the females in in a supply of . necessaries, such as fabries of their own manufacture. powder, lead, tomahawks, butcher chiefly linen and cotton. Truly might it have been said, that from this little knives, &c., together with Indian shawls, cotton cloths, &c. They then handful of worshipers the vices and contined their voyage down the Ohio vanities of the world were far remov- in fine spirits, taking care to keep in ed, leaving but few obstructions be- the middle of the river and lying to at tween the temporal ear and the gentle night on the Virginia side. Towards admonitions of the Spirit within.
the evening of the second day they In the fall, after the frost had wilted came in sight of a large and beautiful the nettle leaves, Mrs. Pope had her two youngest boys gather a quantity of the stalks and beat them with mal- lets, until the fint was fairly loosened:
bottom, which Mr. Pope at once recog- nized as that which he had explored a year or two before in company with Thomas Beals and others. He there- she then hackled and spin it into fore landed at the month of a little thread. She then carded and spun but- creek called Paddy, about a mile above falo wool and wove linsey, of which the month of Guyandott. on the north- she made the boys clothes for the win- ern side of the Ohio. They were pleas- ter. ed with this location, and the bottom One day while all were at meeting word came that the floating mill had broken loose from its fastenings and gone off down the river. The meeting was immediately dismissed, and all the appearing very rich and easily cleared, they determined to pitch their tent for a season. So all hands went to work and put up a half-faced camp of poles in which the family sheltered until a active young men dispatched, with jerk small patch was cleared and planted in and johnny-cake in pocket, after it.
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
They could not. of course, know when licothe, and packed through the woods. they set out how far they would have driving their cattle and hogs, to the to go, or indeed whether they should Pee Pee Prairie, thence on a newly be able to overhaul it at all, but it was made trace over the Scioto and Sunfish a most indispensable piece of property, Hills to the falls of Paint, where they and they were resolved to make the wintered. Pope sold most of his stock effort. They pursued in canoes till to General Massie for corn and land. they arrived at Hanging Rock, where the land to be selected from any of his to their great joy they found the mill, unsold lands in the Territory. During which had been caught and fastened that winter Pope explored the country point. to the Ohio shore by a settler at that lying on the head waters of Lees Creek. Paint, Hardin's Creek and Rattlesnake That fall (1798) Pope, whose eldest as far west as the East fork of the son was a first-rate woodsman and Miami, and finally selected a place hunter, contracted to furnish Uriah where Leesburg now stands. While Paulding's salt works with meat, and he was thus engaged his elder sons they killed during the fall and winter were hunting and trapping . beaver. eighty-three bears and ten buffaloes, Paint Creek, from the falls up to the besides deer and turkeys in large num- mouth of Rattlesnake, at that time was bers. The hunting grounds were on a favorite haunt of the beaver, and Symmes Creek and Raccoon. The meat they inhabited it in great numbers.
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