USA > Ohio > Highland County > A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio > Part 30
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New Market still continued, how- few and frait, and literally "far be- over, to be a place of considerable busi- tween," and wholly unable to supply ness. The settlement around was the wants of the people, and as steam, pretty good and much of the soil had as a motive power, was then unknown, been brought into cultivation. Cattle, the horse mill as the only resort was sheep, hogs and horses were raised by called into use. the farmers, and the tannery, hatter During the summer of 1807 the see- shop, blacksmith shop, and dry goods ond military company in the county of and grocery stores continued to draw Highland was formed at New Market. trado from the distant settlements, This was a rifle company and the men- which had not yet been thus provided, bers wore white hunting shirts for uni- for some time after the removal of the form. George W. Barrero was chosen county seat. About this timo Michael Captain. This company muttered at Stroup established a carding machine, New Market. It was composed of good the first in the county, in New Market, men and soon became pretty well dis-
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A HISTORY OF HIGIILAND COUNTY, OHIO.
ciplined. They kept up their military timber of gigantic growth, that just spirit until the war of 1812 broke out, such a population as first settled it, and when they volunteered in a body, and made war upon the great oaks, was re- entered the service of their country un- quired and necessary to bring it into der Capt. Barrere.
subjection. The days of Indian fight-
The same year (1807) the third mili- ing were happily just past, and the tary company in the county and the energy and courage of true manhood first in Fairfield township was formed. were directed to the next great work of It was a militia company with uniform civilization-the battle with the stern and Richard F. Bernard was elected but relenting forests. This fight was Captain. This company mustered at kept up for many years. The stateiy Charles Clefton's on the college town- ship road a mile west of the present
oak, ash, hickory, sugartree, maple, gum and walnut, which had for centu- town of Leesburg. Jesse Knight was ries exhibited the productive qualities Lieutenant of the company. Their of the soil of Highland, were of neces- music on parade was fife and drum, and
sity regarded as enemies to the ad- they mustered with their own rifles. vancement of man and his plans. Ex- In 1811 Captain Bernard resigned and termination was therefore the word. Thomas M. Jolinson was chosen in his Next to the Indian, these beautiful place. IIe continued to command the forests were regarded the worst enemy of man. The settlers made common
company about five years.
The year 1807 was a hard year on the cause in these attacks on the forests, people of Highland, as indeed of the and the way our noble young men, who larger portion of the people of the State made and carried on the warfare upon who were dependent on the products of them, opening up and clearing our the soil. Their lot was a hard one, it farms, in many instances "smack is true, at all times for many years even smooth," as the phrase is, was in truth after this period. They principally no child's play. lived in little uncomfortable log cabins
Our spring season was always a very and shanties such as would not be used busy and laborious time of the year. at this day by their wealthy descend- Sugar-making was very hard work, ents for sheep pens.
then clearing up ground for corn, roll- The names of the men of this day have been given, and as a part of the history, not only of this year, but of many years subsequent, it is thought proper to adopt the following descrip- ing logs, &c. It was not uncommon for a hand to have to attend twelve or fifteen log rollings during a single spring, and try it when you will, it will be found laborious work. Added to tion of the men, times, &c., from the this, were cabin raisings for new pen of Col. Keys, who was himself cog- comers, and house and barn raisings nizant of what he describes. He says: for the old settlers. These barns were "The population that settled Highland almost universally built of hickory logs
were a hardy, industrious class of peo- peeled. They were built double, with ple, a great proportion of whom were a thrashing floor in the center, stables from the Southern States and had been on each end, and mows over all These raised to labor and industry. Early barns were covered with clapboards, impressed with the necessity of earning and generally clapboard doors. They their bread with their own hands, they were, however, a very pretty structure were well adapted to the toil and priva- but not durable, and it is quite proba- tions incident to the new country they ble that there is not a barn of this kind had chosen for their homes. They in the county at this time. The peel- were generally in the prime of life- ing of the bark was a substitutefor the young couples just entering upon the hewed logs which succeeded. The logs family relation, and ambitious of were selected from the abundance of achieving wealth and position in socie- the forest, and were straight and at. ty. Comparatively few of them were least a foot over, sometimes more .. old persons, though in some instances Most of the thrifty farmers had these heads of grown families sold their pos- barns at that time. The raising of sessions in the old States and purchased these barns was heavy work, and the. with the proceeds larger tracts of land able-bodied men for ten or twelve. in the new settlement of Highland, set- miles round were called out, and they tled their children around them, and never failed to attend. The work con- thus in a very few years vastly in- sumed the entire day, often two, and creased the wealth and thrifty circum- stances of their families.
At this time our county was almost entirely covered with a dense forest of
generally broke up with a frolic at night, at which the younger part of the laborers with the girls of the neighbor- hood, enjoyed themselves in their own
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, O1110.
way. .and not unfrequently our bedstead This continued for a number of consisted of a dogwood fork driven in years. It was a law of the country, es- the ground, which was the only floor of tablished by the people, with the aid of the cabin, a sufficient distance from the Legislature it is true, but neverthe- one of the inside corners. A pole stuck less a law which all acknowledged and in the crack of the cabin wall and the enforced by stern necessity, that each should help the other on all necessary occasions, and any one who refused, was sure to suffer for want of help. other end Inid on the fork, served to support clapboards laid, the one end on the pole and the other stuck in the same crack between the logs of the The stables were built of small un- cabin, constituted, too frequently, both hewn logs or poles with clapboard roof bedstead and bedcord. On thesestruct- and door-the whole structure the'ures many of us had to sleep. The work of four or five lands for one day. ground on which we expected to raise But the peeled hickory log barns were our bread had first to be cleared from quite a different thing. They were the dense undergrowth and woods counted the heaviest raisings of the which were very much heavier then time, and hands were invited for many than they now are in the woodlands of iniles round. Such raisings were not the county. On this ground, freshly unattended with danger, particularly cleared out of the green, not more than if the force was light or whisky plenty. half a crop could reasonably be expect- It was a post of honor to be one of the ed, and in many instances when men
"corner men" of such a raising, and
cleared off from three to five acres and none but the most experienced and ex- put it in corn, by the time it. got into pert cornermen were permitted to take roasting ears the squirrels, 'possums, a position on one of these barns. They coons, ground hogs, skunks, wild tur- were generally able to get one up to keys, birds and every varmint which the square in. a day. After that a few inhabited the surrounding woods, al- hands could easily finish it at their leisure."
most literally devoured it in spite of the watchfulness of the needy owner.
Another graphic description of the Day and night these depredators were time, weextract from material supplied at work, until at gathering time the by an early settler. He says: The poor farmer, in many instances, could first and early county were almost entirely de- he had planted in the spring. These settlers of our scarcely find in his entire feld the seed prived of the benefits and blessings causes rendered the crops of corn nec- of gospel preaching. There were no essarily light. Besides this there were churches at that day (1807) except one large accessions to the population, call- or two small congregations too remote. ed at that day "new comers." These from the mass of the inhabitants of the had to be fed, and in many cases free county for their attendance, except in of charge; for in those days, hardly very fine weather and on extraordinary ever a rich man moved into our county. occasions. The consequence was that The emigrants were all poor, and many no religious society or religious meet-, very poor-not a dollar left in their ings were known in many settlements purses by the time they arrived. It . at all. The people were thus totally will readily be perceived that mere subsistence under these circumstances was an object of prime consideration." deprived of the benefits of church or- ganizations and regular attendance up- on the worship of God.
Among the trying troubles of this There were no school houses with year, as named by Col. Keys, were the very few exceptions and no schools ravages of squirrels. Pretty early in taught. The youth of that day re- the spring these animals commenced ceived no instruction in reading, writ- coming in and by the first of May the ing and arithmetic, except that which whole of Southern Ohio was literally their parents might be able to give inundated by them. They swam the them in the winter evenings. Such a Ohio River in myriads, and the crop person as a school master was then un- just planted was almost entirely taken known. In this stato of case the ques- up. Replanting was resorted to of tion naturally arises in the minus of course, for corn must be raised, but with like results. They have often been troublesome, he says, in this coun. ty, but I have no recollection of them linking so general and so destructive
the youth of the present day, "how did people live then-what was their con- dition, and what was the exercise of their minds?" The answer to these several inquiries is simple to the sur- an attack ; perhaps it was partly on ar- vivors of that day. We lived in little count of our inability to fight them suc- cabins in the midst of the denso forest, cessfully. One field of tive or six
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OIIIO.
acres in my neighborhood, belonging as black as a hat. These facts will, it to one of the Sharps, was totally de- is hoped, not only give the young people stroyed in the spring, every hill being of the county an idea of the hardships scratched up. The owner having come and privations of their worthy and from the "tobacco side" of the Blue persevering fathers and mothers, but Ridge in Old Kentucky, determined that having lost his corn crop he would have a field of tobacco. Accordingly,
perpetuate for the information of other generations the times and people of the early days of Highland. Many his ground being in first rate order, and other incidents might be given up to he having a fine bed of tobacco plants, this period, but as the subject will still from seed brought from the "Old Do- bear abundant fruit as we progress minion," went to work and made it all with the annals of our county, we leave up carefully into tobacco hills, and set it for the present.
it out in full confidence in the entire
The sweeping depredations of the safety of his plants from the attacks of squirrels that year enforced upon the the enemy of the former crop. But the Legislature the necessity of some action army of the hungry and enterprising on their part to prevent their ravages squirrels, evidently believing he had in future. Accordingly, among their concealed a handfull of corn in the first acts at their session which com- bottom of the hill under the plant menced the first Monday of December, which decorated the top, set to in full 1807, was a law of seven long sections force and in a very brief space of time entitled "an act to encourage the kill- dug every hill in his field down to the ing of squirrels." This act not only bottom, not leaving one plant standing, encouraged the killing of squirrels, so he had neither corn nor tobacco that but made it a positive obligation on all season. After it was all over he good persons within the State subject to the payment of county tax, to furnish in humoredly told the writer that he had no doubt the squirrels did it through addition thereto a certain number of mistake, as they never used tobacco.
squirrel scalps to be determined by the
At this date says Col. Keys, "wolves, Township Trustees. This was impera- foxes, wild cats, pole cats and possums, tive, and it was made the duty of the continued plenty in the Fall Creek set- lister to notify each person of the num- tlement, and very troublesome. They ber of scalps he was required to furnish, committed depredations on pigs, poul- and if any one refused or failed to fur- try, &c. There was a good supply of nish the specified quantity, he was sub- game. Deer were plenty for some years, ject to the same penalties and forfeit- and wild turkeys without number." ures as delinquent tax-payers, and any
We have said that the year 1807 was person producing a greater number than a'hard year for the people of Highland, was demanded, was to receive two cents apart from the hardships incident to a per scalp out of the Treasury of the life in a new country. Bread was of county. This law, however necessary course the first great necessary, and it may have appeared to the Legislature could only be procured by clearing off at the time of its passage, was rendered and cultivating the soil. Wheat, barley, inoperative almost immediately after- · rye and oats had not yet become articles wards by the interposition of a higher of common cultivation, the great de- power, for the severe winter of 1807-8 pendence being Indian corn. Some almost totally annihilated the squirrel farmers, however, had commenced race, It was therefore impossible for growing wheat in the older settlements, tax-payers to get scalps -they were far and by this time had become somewhat scarcer in the spring and following dependent on it, in part, for bread. summer and fall than money, and that But this year the entire crop was sick was, or rather had been, considered and could not be eaten by man or beast, among the scarcest of all earthly things. and as if to enforce the terrors of The Trustees however made the assess- famine in prospective, all the new ment, but the law was not enforced, ground corn that escaped the ravages of and finally in the winter of 1809 was re- the squirrels in the spring, and when it pealed.
was in roasting ears, was literally cook-
The Board of Commissioners for ed by severe frosts early in September. Highland county-G. W. Barrere, Na- I have known says one who witnessed thaniel Pope and Jonathan Boyd-met it, cases where whole families were at New Market on the 5th day of Janu- compelled to subsist entirely on pota- ary, 1807. At this session considerable toes, cabbage, turnips, &c. Added to business was disposed of, among which this was the almost disgusting and it was ordered that Elijah Kirkpatrick nauseating bread and mush made of receive eleven dollars and thirty-three meal ground from the frost-bitten corn, cents for collecting the State and coun- .
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
ty levies for the preceding year in the the year it was opened. Another road township of New Market; that Joseph was ordered to be viewed by Joseph Swearingen receive twenty dollars and . Swearingen, Daniel Beals and William forty-nine cents for collecting the Pope, and surveyed by James Johnson, State and county levies for the town- in a northerly course from the newly ship of Liberty; that William Pope re- located seat of justice, passing the ceive twenty-five dollars for collecting houses of William Hill and James the State and county levies for the pre- Johnson to intersect a road leading ceding year in the township of Fairfield, from Urbana to the Highland county and that Benjamin Groves receive line. This road, which is now known seven dollars and three quarters for col- as the old Urbana road, was reported lecting the State and county levies in upon favorably by the viewers and opened.
the township of Brushcreek. Anthony Franklin, Sheriff, was ordered six dol-
. It appears that at the next session of lars for guarding two prisoners to New the Board of Commissioners on the first Market. Who they were, what their of- day of May following, the same viewers fense or what punishment was award- were ordered to search out another ed them the records of Court and Com- route for a road to Greenfield, the near- missioners are alike silent. It is not est and best way, and make report the improbable that they were the same in- first day of June following, whether the dividuals who were so unceremonious- new route, or the one already reported, ly lodged in Barrere's new well.
was likely in their judgment to be the
On the 25th of February following, most beneficial to the public. This the Board again met. This was a short survey is the road now known as the session and but little business of any Greenfield road passing by Nelson's.
kind transacted. Jonathan Boyd was For some months prior to the Juno ordered to be paid ten dollars for mak- term of the Commissioners, 1807, quite ing out a Duplicate of the State tax a war had been waged on the wolf of the county for the Auditor family among the woods of Highland. of State, and thirty dollars for acting as Up to that session of the Board, fifty- Secretary to the Board and for Station- two dollars and fifty cents had been paid by their order, by the County
The Board held another session on Treasurer, for wolf scalps. One hunt- the 2d of March, which continued two er, Edward Curtis, having received days, during which considerable busi- fifteen dollars, and another, Ashley ness was disposed of. At that session, Johnson, ten.
although the town of Hillsboro had not
At this time the Commissioners re- then been laid out, nor any certainty as duced the price of wolf and panther to whether the land designated by the scalps to one dollar and fifty cents for State Commissioners for the seat of jus- old- ones, and seventy-five cents. for tice of the county could even be pur- cubs. chased, steps were taken by the Board
At the June term of the Board of for the location of public highways Commissioners this year, the road form- from the future county seat in different erly known as the Stroup road-now directions. William Hill, William vacated by the pike, west-was estab- Head and Samuel Evans were ordered lished, starting from the new county to view a route for a road from the seat, and intersecting the Anderson point now known as Hillsboro to the State Road at Joseph Vanmeter's. mouth of the Rocky Fork, and Allen Orders were made at this term to pay Trimble was ordered to survey the Mark Donald seventeen dollars, for same. The opening of this road placed listing Liberty township this year; the new county seat indirect communi- eighteen dollars and fifty cents to Beu- cation with Chillicothe by intersecting jamin HI. Johnson, for listing Fairfield; at its eastern end the road leading from eleven dollars to Elijah Kirkpatrick for New Market to that place. The view- listing New Market township, and ers reported favorably, and the road seven dollars to John Roads for listing was accordingly opened on the route Brushcreek township. "Ordered, that now occupied by the pike.
any person obtaining a license or a
At the same session a road leading to permit within the county of Highland Greenfield by Samuel Evans', Joseph to keep public house for one year, shall Swearingen's, Phineas Hunt's and pay the sum of nine dollars and fifty Uriah Paulin's was viewed by Evan cents per year." "Ordered, that county Evans, William Williams and John tax be received as follows, viz: every Mathews, sr., and surveyed by Thomas horse, mare, mule, or ass, be taxed at Sanders. The viewers also reported thirty cents per head, and all meat cat- favorably on this, and in the course of tles at ten cents per head, and every stud
ery.
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
horse at the rate he stands at the sea- . Treasury for one hundred and one dol= son." "Ordered, that David Hays re- lars and thirty-three cents in part of ceive an order on the Treasury for his payment on his contract for build- twenty-six dollars and eighty-seven ing the Court House. cents for stationery, and forty-two dol- lars and forty cents, his yearly salary."
At this session it was ordered that Jonathan Boyd, Clerk of the Commis-
At this session of the Commissioners sioners, be paid "forty dollars for mak- Benjamin II. Johnson was appointed ing out eight Duplicates of the Revenue of Highland county."
Collector for Fairfield township; Joseph Knox for Liberty; Elijah Kirkpatrick for New Market, and John Roads for the township of Brushcreek.
It was ordered at this meeting of the Commissioners that "the different Su- pervisors receive their orders for the
"Ordered, that John Richards receive different roads leading to and from an order on the Treasury for forty-six . Hillsboro." It is not stated, but we dollars and seventy-eight cents, for act- suppose that these roads had to be cut ing as Treasurer one year last past at out and made passable by the lawful four per: cent."
road workers under the direction of the .
The Board of Commissioners ad- Supervisors through whose districts journed from the 9th to the 20th of they passed. June. Met pursuant to adjournment. G. W. Barrere was allowed twelve "Ordered, that the public buildings be dollars by the Commissioners for the advertised this 20th of June, to be let, use of his bar room for the court seven on the 27th of July next. at Hillsboro. days.
Board adjourned to the 27th of July. . At this session of the Commissioners, next. Board met pursuant to adjourn- September, 1807, it was ordered that ment. "Ordered, that the jail of the Amariah Gossett receive three dollars county be sold to the lowest bidder, the for killing two old wolves.
sale.to be at half after two o'clock. The Commissioners met again and Sold at two hundred dollars to Samuel for the last time in New Market, on the Williamson." "Ordered, that the Court 8th day of October of this year, and af- · House of this county, at Hillsborough, ter attending tosome road business and be sold to the lowest bidder, which was paying James McConnel four dollars done, and sold to Jolin Shields, of Chil- for wolf scalps, adjourned on the even- licotlie, at three thousand six hundred ing of that day. and fifty dollars."
Cutting out the roads of this county
The Commissioners then received the was a heavy service, but cheerfully bonds of the township Collectors, also performed by the hardy and industri- the bond of . Williamson for building ous citizens. The county roads were; the jail and the bond of Shields, $7,- as stated above, all cut out and made 500, for building Court House, agree- ready for wagons, by the inhabitants of able to the directions and plans given the road districts through which they by the Commissioners on the day of passed. These districts, owing to the sale.
thinly settled condition of the country,
Constable John . Davidson was the frequently extended in length and crier of the sale of the public buildings breadth from ten to twenty miles, and on the 27th of July, the day of sale, for the men engaged, under the direction which service the Commissioners, or- of the Supervisor, had to take several dered that he receive five dollars.
Jacob Fisher was house appraiser out of nights. A favorable season of this year for Brushcreek township. for . the year was generally chosen-spring, which service the Commissioners or- after corn planting, or in the carly dered that he be paid one dollar. The autumn-when the settlers had most same compensation: was awarded to leisure. and the weather was most suit- Job Smith for the same service in Lib- able for ont door service. In this man- erty township that year.
days provisions with them and camp ner all the roads leading from Hills-
To give an idea of the cost of locat- borough were opened, except the State ing roads at the time of which we roads. They were paid forby the State write, the mere expense of viewing and usually let out on private contract and surveying the road from the new by the State Commissioner of recis for seat of justice to the mouth of Rocky . the particular district throughi which Fork, was thirty-eight dollars, and that it was considered necessary to locate to the Green county line forty-seven them. dollars and a half,
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