A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio, Part 27

Author: Scott, Daniel
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: [Hillsboro, Ohio] : The Gazette
Number of Pages: 442


USA > Ohio > Highland County > A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio > Part 27


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 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38



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132


A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.


the ground on which he surveyed the ger continued to serve this church for town to Allen Gulliford, who came some thirteen or fourteen years. He from Virginia in 1806, and his son then left for a few years and again re- Joseph Hiestand, jr., who subsequently turned and spent his last days among finished the work of establishing a his first congregation in Highland, and lowIl.


his mortal remains were laid in the


The settlement commenced in the Rocky Spring grave yard in the year fall of 1805 by William Rogers and his 1833. brother, four miles below Greenfield on


The Presbyterians organized Paiut, near the mouth of Rattlesnake, church on Clear Creek, says Col. Keys, began in the following spring to re- in 1806, which was served by the Rev. ceive considerable accessions of re- Robert Dobbins part of one year. spectable and permanent citizens, and This, after several removals, finally became thenceforth a nucleus about settled in and is the nucleus around which an interesting community col- which has been gathered the Presby- lected. William Rogers married and terian Church of Ilillsborough.


moved into his cabin this spring (1806).


The first place of preaching was at a This neighborhood was composed prin- cabin-built school house on the land of cipally of Presbyterians and about this Samuel Evans. The Rev. Dobbins offi- time they began to look about for a ciated at the organization of the con- minister of their denomination. Dur- gregation. At this organization there were two Elders elected, to-wit: David at this time consisted of five members only, three of whom were women. The Rev. James Hoge occasionally preacli- ed for them without charge.


ing the year the Rev. James Iloge, who had an interest in a Jolly and William Keys. The church large tract of land including the mouth of Hardin's Creek, came to look after Iris lands and of course made the ac- quaintance of the Rogers settlement. Whilst he was among them they erect- The name given to this congregation and which it retained while located in ed a stand in the woods at a fine spring on Rattlesnake on the farm where the country, was Nazareth. The first David Strain first settled, which was church built by them was a hewed log a part of the land then owned by Mr. house on a plot of ground owned by Hoge. Here was preached the first Richard Evans, near the mill on Clear gospel sermon, perhaps, in the present Creek, afterward owned by Mr. Wor- township of Madison, and from ley. This house was erected about this beginning a church was or- 1809. ganized which took the name of Rocky


The interest of the congregation soon Spring, in memory of Rocky Spring in made it necessary to remove their Pennsylvania, from which Mr. Jolin place of worship to Hillsborough. It Wilson came, who named it. This was seems to be the opinion and policy, the first Presbyterian Church in High- says Col. Keys, of all Christian denomi- land county and included at first all the nations, that when a town is laid out, Greenfield and Fall Creek settlements. especially a county seat, there the The first settled pastor of this church places of worship should be first estab. was the Rev. Nicholas Pittenger from lished, otherwise they are apt to be- Pennsylvania. He came to visit the come dens of revelry and dissipation.


county with a view to a permanent set- tlement in 1809, and moved out the fol- lowing year. His labors, in the Jau- guage of a venerable elder of the church, "were blessed to the building of a large congregation, which at one time null- bered over three hundred communj- cants." "This


The Presbytery to which this church (Nazareth) was attached, included members residing in Kentucky, and all belonged to Washington Presbytery, chiefly, if not all. iu Kentucky. I re- member, says the Colonel, an incident which occurred at the first Presbytery


eminent servant of held in Highland county, which was God," says the Elder, "was a workman appointed to meet at Nazareth Church. who was neither ashamed nor afraid The Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, of Cincin- to preach the truth and the whole nati, had recently moved to that place truth, not fearing the consequences, and wanted to attach himself to the and but few were ever more blessed in Presbytery about to meet at Nazareth. their labors."


He came on the road, then recently cut


The first set of Elders elected and or- through Williamsburg, inquiring at dained in this church were James every clearing he passed for Nazareth Watts, Samuel Strain, George Adare, Church, but none of the new settlers Samuel McConnel and William Garrett, had ever heard of such a place this side The first burial in the church yard was the land of Israel; he began to think a son of Thomas Rogers. Mr. Pitten- he would never find it, unless he went


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A HISTORY OF HIGIILAND COUNTY, 01110.


to Canaan. He, however, found it at and piloted them to a spring on their last, at the above named log school land, When they reached the spring At that day, owing to the smallness of the meeting houses, the congrega- way, and after partaking of a hearty cold they stretched their tent, under which they had slept for so many nights on the supper, retired to rest on their own soil.


house.


. tions that assembled in good weather could not be accommodated in the


The next day they ent down an oak house. Meetings were, therefore, often tree and made clap boards sufficient to held in some pleasant grove adjacent. build a temporary shed under which to The preachers occupied a tent made of stay till a better conll be provided. slabs of planks, as could be most easily procured. The benches were made of slabs, split logs, or flat rails. Some They then went to work aml eut logs, "scutched" them on two sides and buil! a cabin. For a floor, they heged times round logs answered the pur- puncheons, built a chimney in the usual pose for seats. The canopy above was mode at that day of "cat and clay," and the blue sky and the carpet beneath made the door of clap boards. their feet the fallen autumn leaves or


During that winter and the following the green sward; yet the people enjoy- spring they cleared out about ten acres of ed these meetings and counted them corn land. They had to pay fourteen precious seasons.


cents for iron and go to a Mr. Bilcher in smithing. During the summer follow-


These were primitive times, every- the Evans settlement to get their black- thing was in its youthful simplicity, and I have no doubt, says Col. Keys, the ing the squirrels were like to cat their people often enjoyed the same feelings crops bodily. They had to go up to and solemn sensations that John the Allen Trimble's to get powder to kill Baptist's hearers did, when he deliver- thiem. ed his soul-stirring discourses at Enon. After they got the cabin finished and


The next year (1807) the Associate moved into it, Moses concluded he Reform Presbyterians organized a con- would take a hunt and getsome venison. gregation on Fall Creek on the land of So he took his gun and dog and started William Morrow. The Rev. Samuel out. He soon found some deer, but Carothers served them as an occasional supply-preaching at Mr. Morrow's house and sometimes in the adjoining grove. The congregation sometime after built a meeting house which they and their successors yet occupy as a place of worship.


could not get a shot. He followed their white flags, as he says, all day, without killing any. The day was dark and cloudy and towards night he found him- self very tired, and to make the matter worse, lost. He wandered on till night, when he found he would have to camp


Josiah Tomlinson, from Rowen coun- out. After searching for a suitable ty, North Carolina, arrived with his fam- place he stopped and attempted tostrike ily in Highland county, on the last day


fire, but could not succeed in kindling of October, 1806. He had been out the the wood he had prepared. There previous fall and purchased a tract of land from N. Pope. A four Horse wagon was the means by which he transported his family and property. They were five weeks on the way-came through Kentucky, and crossing the river at.


seemed to be an utter impossibility to get it to burn. Finally he gave it up, and overcome with the fatigue of the day, he tumbled down and tried to sleep, but was prevented by his dog, who being more successful as a hunter Maysville passed on north through New than his master, had caught and killed a Market to the Anderson State Road, the skunk close to where Moses was crouch- east end of which, from the point where ed. This kept up such a stench all they struck it, was then taken. It led night, as effectually to drive away all them to within a mile and a half of their hope of rest or sleep. He found after- land, which lay to the south, and is the wards that he spent the night near


same on which Moses Tomlinson after- ward resided. They brought some cat- tle with them, but no other stock ex- cept their horses.


where Rainsboro now stands.


During the fall Moses bad an invita- tion over to their neighbor, do Hart's, th a com husking. He recollected the It was a very cold evening of the da on which they arrived snow on the ground. Sometime after dark they reached Borter Summer's cabin bem good suppers he used to find at simili gatherings in of North Carolina, and concluded he would go and get a good supper at least. This was the first their land, but being determined to stop husking he was at in the county. The on their own place at home, if it was the corn hast been planted late in June and the wilderness, they refused his proter- was soft. After they had Inked somme ed hospitalities, and he made a torch time, be observed one of the sons of


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A HISTORY OF ILIGIILAND COUNTY, OIIIO.


Hart selecting cars of corn as he husked the successful candidate, G. W. Barrero. and laying them on one side till he got From information communicated to him an armful of tolerably hard corn. This by citizens of New Market, Head was in- he took to a log near them and putting it duced to believe that a number of illegal in a large notch in the log, commenced votes had been polled in that township pounding the grains off, for they would for Barrere, sufficient, if purged from not shell the ordinary way. He contin- the ballot box, to leave him the highest number of legal votes in the county. ued on pounding the grain until he re- duced it to something like meal, which He accordingly took all the necessary he gathered out and carried into the cabin.


When the husking was done the hands were invited in to supper. They entered the cabin which was most prim-


itive in all its appointments. All along land was in 1806, by Richard Ilift, at


the sides were piled up the carcasses of deer, some of which were so old that they looked as dark as an old saddle skirt, while the entire floor was carpeted with deer skins, hair up. By the fire, when the company entered, sat the old


what is now known as the Eagle Spring, a mile southwest of the Court House. Iliff was a Pennsylvanian and emigrated to the "high banks of the Scioto" two years before, and establish- ed a Pottery there, but was so much woman-Hart's wife, who was said to be afflicted with fever and ague that he part Indian, on a kind of pillow made of abandoned the enterprise in that region buck skin and filled with deer hair. and took his course up the Rocky Fork She was a cripple and sat close to the to his brother-in-law's, James Smith. fire baking hoe cakes of the meal young After recruiting his health, Iliff "squat- tedy at the Eagle Spring, having se- oven lid. The first thing which struck Jected that point for its vicinity to a bed of good potter's clay. He erected the necessary buildings of light logs, and then moulded and burned the first brick made in the county, (summer of 1806,) to build his kiln to bake the


Hart had pounded in the notch, on an Moses after this was the little cloud of deer hair-which is naturally very light -rising from the floor and floating, by the draft of the chimney, over the bak- ing bread. How much fell on it he did not discover. The supper consisted of crocks.


Having cleared off SOIC boiled venison and these hoe cakes. ground and planted corn and fenced it Fortunately for the stomaths of the all -- pottery and corn field-with asub- huskers they had become very hungry, stantial brush fence, he commenced and were, therefore, able to bolt suffi- cient to satisfy their appetites for a time.


making crocks for the new comers. Ile was an odd looking, though esteem- ed a clever, worthy man, being six feet four inches in his socks, and as gaunt and slender as a fence rail. This es- tablishment soon became a place of considerable note, and Iliff drove a


The old man Tomlinson frequently bought venison of Hart, who sold it at thirty-seven and a half cents a carcass. The Tomlinsons got permission to grind their corn on Joseph Spargur's hand mill. It was double rigged, and two flourishing business. He continued his could work at a time. The boys, who Pottery there until Hillsborough was had to work it themselves, soon discov- located and something of a town of ered that the coarser the mill was set cabins built; he then "moved into the easier it worked. So they frequent- town," and established his Pottery on ly ground the meal so coarse that it the ground now occupied by the depot. would ahnost do to shoot woodpeckers. Amariah Gossett learned his trade


There was a wonderful beech mast on with Hiff, whilst he carried on at the the creek (Rocky Fork) that year and Spring. Gossett, previous to this, had wild turkeys were very fat and abund- been following the business of sawing ant. A horse load could be obtained in plank with a "whip saw." The reader a short time. That year in December has been already told that there were was the celebrated "cool Friday," so no saw mills up to this date in the country -- that all the boards used in memorable to carly settleis.


Josiah Tomlinson and his family were the construction of the rude cabins of the Society of Friends, known as were split from the solid timber.


Quakers. He has long since been dead.


When, however, as the country grew a


The first contested election in High- little older and some one fancied a land county was that of County Com- hewed log house would be more re- missioner. At the election in October, spectable, if not more comfortable than 1806, Bigger Head, one of the candidates, the old cabin, he had to make arrange- was found to be only a few votes behind ments for plank. To meet this demand


steps to contest Barrere's right to the office, but after considerable expense and trouble, failed -- Barrere being de- clared legally elected.


The first Pottery established in High-


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A HISTORY OF HIGHILAND COUNTY, OHIO.


the whip saw-the pioneer of saws in one corner of this capacious kitchen. this county-was put in requisition and The main building, on the lower floor, Gossett, though comparatively a boy, was generally ent near the center, by a engaged in the laborious business. He tight plank partition, the back of had assisted an Irishman by the name which was again divided by another of MeCanley to saw the plank neces- partition, making two bed rooms. A sary for his father's mill. After this stairway led to the upper story, which he formed a partnership with Me- was generally in one largo room, and Canley to go over the country with the used for quiltings, sleeping apartments whip saw and cut timber for whoever for the children, &c. These houses might want their services. The first were very durable and in their day the place they went was to Hector Mur- best in the county. phy's on Smoky Row. He was build-


William Vannoy, with his widowed ing a large two story log house and mother and her children, moved up Gossett & McCanley contracted for the from Adams county into Highland and plank. They sawed two thousand feet, settled on Brushcreek in the spring of all cherry. They were able, by hard 1806. His father, JJohn Vannoy, moved work, to cut two hundred feet per day, out from Kentucky and settled in for which they received two dollars Adams county in 1801.


per hundred. Their next contract was


Jacob Barnes and wife, John Barnes at David Jolly's, where they sawed two and family, and Michael Dugan arrived thousand feet, principally cherry, for at New Market, in Highland county, on his two story log house. They also the 10th day of June, 1806. The sawed for Moses Patterson and other Barneses were natives of Berkley coun- of the citizens of that day who erected ty, Virginia, where Jacob was married the very peculiar hewed log two story in 1805. Soon after this he started for honses so common in this county fifty the West. He packed his little proper- years ago. But few of this style of ty on a horse, Mrs. Barnes walking and honse now remain in the county. It riding, as it suited bost, her husband marked the third step in improvement walking and carrying his riffe. They of dwellings. These houses were built thus arrived at the Redstone settle- of heavy, well hewed oak logs, notched ment in the fall of 1805. In the spring down pretty close, corners sawed off they were joined here by John Barnes square and neat-chinked with stone and family and they all came down the and daubed with pure white lime in- river to Manchester in a little Alat boat. side and ont. The exterior of one of John Barnes settled about six miles these houses, after the logs had black- northwest of New Market, where he ened with the weather, presented a continued a very worthy citizen and pretty and novel striped appearance, as reared a large family. Jacob Barnes it stood in all its great strength, prom- was a member of Capt. G. W. Barrere's ising much comfort and good cheer, on Company in the war of 1812.


The first blacksmith shop established the brow of the hill near the spring, half concealed from the road by the in the town of New Market was by


graceful forms of native sugar, elm George Charles. Old Mrs. Bloom, and ash, with a back ground of young Christian Bloom's wife, made the gin- apples tree, and rugged fields full of ger bread for the people in the carly stumps and dead timber. They were days of the ancient capital of High- "underpinned" with stone, pointed with land. Fritz Miller commeneed tailor- lime neatly. The chimney was also of ing in New Market and was the first stone generally a stack pointed with tailor there, as well as the first mer- lime. The doors and windows were chant, after he closed his store. Ho cased with cherry plank-floors of ash was much esteemed as a cutter and plank, laid down tight, and white as maker of buckskin breeches, and had snow. The upper floor was tightly laid an extensive run of enstom. In later down on very neatly dressed joists, years, for he stuck to tailoring the re- beaded on the lower side. These joists mainder of his life, after buekskin he- were generally made of cherry. The came rather unfashionable in town, ho roof was of lap shingles, and hearth of went round the country "whipping the fag stones. The main house was two cat," as it was termed, which means stories, at the end of which, and joined doing the tailoring of a family at the to it, was the kitchen, which was only house and then going to the next. He one story. In this the cooking was found plenty of work on buckskins done in a stone fire place, eight feet among the farmers, and was perhaps long, three deep and five high. The the last man in the county who made a loom, which was still a necessary im- scientific pair of buckskin breaches. plement in every farm house, stood in


During this year Samuel Hindman


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A HISTORY OF HIGHILAND COUNTY, OIIIO.


was elected an additional Justice of a mortar with an iron wedge fastened the Peace for New Market township. to a pestle, a most laborious process, John Davidson was a Constable for At the spring at which the Trimbles New Market township this year (1806), settled there was quite a fall in the The first school taught in Liberty branch-perhaps as much as twelve township was in a little log school feet in the one hundred yards. This house on the land of Samuel Evans in suggested the idea to Allen Trimble of the winter of 1805-06, and John Mat- a hominy mill by water, and he went thews was the teacher.


to work and constructed one, which, In 1806 or '07 Asa Hunt, a Quaker who came out from North Carolina a year before, erected a small water mill though cheap and simple, was efficient and constant at its work day and night, supplying the family as well as many at the falls of Swearingen's branch, of their neighbors, with their daily where he lived. This mill afforded mess. This little mill is thus described considerable accommodation to the neighborhood.


by one whoremembers it: "The water was conducted from the spring along Shortly after this Amos Evans erect- the bank of the branch, on a level, to a ed a small tub mill on Clear Creek, point below, where there was sufficient near his house, where the bare footed fall, and then by a trongh elevated on boys from all quarters were almost forks at right angles with the main weekly seen waiting the slow process channel, it was conducted into a sugar of cracking the corn into hominy or trough on the end of a sweep, which meal as was required. Old Edward being filled, bore down that end of the Chaney was the iniller, who always sweep, which like a see-saw elevated had a kind and cheerful word for the the opposite end, to which was attach-


boys, frequently entertaining them with a game of "fox and geese," with grain's of corn, while their grist was lazily passing ont of the hopper.


ed a pestle that played in a mortar block filled with a peck or a half bushel of corn." Slow and regular as the beat of the pendulum, the hominy


Hominy in the winter in the early mill did its work-day and night, days on Clear Creek was almost indis- turning out in good order this great pensable and to prepare it in good necessary of the early settler. style by pounding in the usual way in


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CHAPTER XXVIII.


COMMON PLEAS COURT RECORDS-ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT SEAT OF JUSTICE FOR IHIGHLAND COUNTY-NAMES OF MALE INHABITANTS OVER TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE.


.


The first term of the Highland Com- ginia, and settled at Chillicothe as a mon Pleas for the year 1807, is thus re- lawyer. After serving two years as corded: "At a Court of Common Pleas Judge he became satisfied that an in- veterate habit of gambling, which he had contracted, and which had grown begun and held in the town of New Market, on the 25th day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seven, into a passion, absorbing his whole present the Ilonorable Leven Belt, thoughts, and which he either had not the power or inclination to control, Esquire, President, Richard Evans, Jonathan Berryman and John David- utterly disqualified him for the duties son, Esqs., Associate Judges." This of a Judge. It is said he would sit up term of Court lasted two days, during all night, night after night, during a which a number of small cases, chiefly term of Court, gaming, and even ad- of a criminal nature, were disposed of. journ Court for that purpose. Ile Judge Belt was elected the preceding went back to the bar, and soon after session of the Legislature to fill the moved to Lancaster, where he entered vacancy occasioned by the resignation upon a lucrative practice. Judge of Judge Slaughter. Slaughter was a Slaughter represented Fairfield county young man at that day of much in the State Legislature several ses- promise. He had emigrated from Vir- sions afterwards and was esteemed an


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A HISTORY OF HIGHILAND COUNTY, OHIO.


able member, though somewhat eccen- one of the new fangled heresies of the tric.


age, the idea of getting good drinking


At the February term of Court, 1807, water by digging in the ground. They appears the following entry: "Agree- argued that none but the old-fashioned, ably to an act of the last Legislature, simou-pure, natural spring water was entitled au act establishing the perina- designed or fit for man to swallow, and nent seat of justice in the county of some there were in that enlightened day Highland, the Court have elected at the then county seat of Highland, David Hays as Director.' This ap- who, it is said, actually thought it sin- pointment was made in pursuance of a ful and as tempting Providence to dig a statute passed March, 1803. The Com- well. But notwithstanding all these missioners appointed by the Legislature expressions of faith and opinion, G. W. to survey the conuty and establish the Barrere, who was a man of his own seat of, justice have been named in a mind, and comparatively free from all preceding chapter of this history. The bigotry and superstition, needed water statute made it their duty to report to more convenient than the public the Court of Common Pleas, on which spring, and set to work to dig a well on report the Court were authorized to ap- his lot, which by the time of which we poiut a Director, "who, after giving speak, had been sunk from ten to sufficient surety for his faithful per- fifteen feet deep, but as yet was quite formance, shall be- in the language of dry, no water having been reached.




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