USA > Ohio > Highland County > A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio > Part 31
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Gen. Nathaniel Beasly was one of At the September term of the Board this class of Commissioners, and during of Commissioners it was ordered that the spring and summer of 1807, survey- John Shields receive an order on the ed a State road from West Union to
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A HISTORY OF HIGHILAND COUNTY, OIIIO.
Xenia, which passed through Hills- borough. Ife had this road ready for letting by the first of August, and was authorized to let it to individuals in such number of miles and on such terms as to his judgment seemed most advantageous. The superintendence of the work was also entrusted to him by the State. He viewed the work as it progressed and on the completion of a section, received or rejected it. When the work was satisfactorily done, he drew an order upon the State Treasury for the consideration money which was paid at Chillicothe.
The first State road which was located through Hillsborough, was that known at the present day as the "Old West Union road," leading from Xenia to West Union, which was opened up for the passage of wagons by the close of 1807. We regret our inability to give the names of all the contractors of this work. William C. Scott and Samuel Williamson contracted with Beasly to cut twelve miles of this road and make it so a wagon could pass, cutting all timber under two feet in diameter, at ten dollars per mile. Their contract was divided into two sections of six miles each. The first of these sections they cut together. It terminated where the village of Fairfax now stands. At the close of this section, about noon, they sat down on a log to eat their dinner. While eating, athree prong buck stepped very leisurely out into the road they had just finished, within thirty or forty steps of where they were eating their johnnycake and venison, and stood looking at the work. Hle not being in any way authorized by the State to view the road, and look- ing sleek and fat, Scott raised his ritle, which happened to be close by him and shot him dead in his tracks.
This part of their work being ended, Williamson gave up the remaining sec- tion to Scott for the reason that he had taken the contract of building the jail in Hillsborough and could not give his attention to both.
After the 10th of October, Scott, in company with a hand by the name of The next spring he came into High- James Montgomery, whom he had land and became a permanent citizen. hired at fifty cents a day, arrived at the Hle was born in Westmoreland conn- newly laid ont town of Hillsborough, ty, Pa., in 1754, and at the age of seven then containing only the little cabin of years, witnessed John Campton. They went on out to the beginning of the section about a mile from the town plat. This point was a short distance the other side of where Daniel Duckwall afterwards lived, at a small branch which crosses the road.
near a quarter of a mile per day and were something about three weeks in completing the section, which termi- nated near the old 'Squire Shockly place. It was necessary to move their camp as they progressed. They took corn meal with them sufficient to last during the time and also side bacon. Anything in addition to this they hunt- ed for in the woods. They were able, without much loss of time, to kill deer sufficient to keep up a pretty constant supply of venison.
On their return to Hillsboroughi quite a change had taken place, for the axe had been busy with the stately oaks. which covered the ridge when they passed. Williamson and a partner, named Cain, were nearly ready to com- mence raising the jail and prevailed upon the road cutters to stay and help them until they could get it under roof. Hands were very scarce and they feared they should not be able to complete it according to contract.
This jail was built of hewed logs and stood on the northeast corner of the public square, near where the pump now is. The logs were hewn from large oak timber, perfectly square, perhaps a foot or fourteen inches on each side. They were then notched down till they touched. This building was small and one story high. While engaged at this work the hands board- ed out at. Richard Iliff's at the Eagle Spring.
After the jail was raised and before the roof had been put on, the hands made a rule that whoever went up on the wall should treat to a quart of whisky, and to enforce this rule they always managed to take the visitor's hat in advance of the demand. In this way they kept up a pretty good supply of drink, Allen Trimble, among others, submitting to the lignor regulations.
About the first of November the jail was inclosed and Scott returned to George's Creek in Adams county. He had come there the previous spring from Kentucky, and made his home at the house of Cornelius Williamson.
the burning of Hannahstown by the Indians, men- tioned in the early part of this history. In the spring of 1792, his father and family emigrated to Kentucky. They came down in flat boats from the falls of Kiskiminetas into the Allegheny, thence into the Ohio. They passed on
They were able to cut something down, unmolested by the Indians,
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whose yells they often heard on the and his battalion nearly all slain. He northern bank. More than once they had fallen from his horse and managed expected an attack. They, however, to secrete himself in a thicket, whilst the Indians, red with the blood of his arrived safely at Limestone.
The fall before his uncle, Gabriel brethren, were passing all around him. Scott, had gone to Kentucky and made IJe could distinctly hear not only their some improvement. Hle built a station yells and the reports of their guns but on Indian Creek in what is now Harri- the groans of the wounded, scalped and son county, then Bourbon -- for defence dying. He lay concealed there all day against the Indians. To this station in the deep snow, alnost frozen. The Thomas Scott went, after landing his night was dark and he no longer heard family at Limestone, where he left the Indians. He attempted to move them till his return, to get pack horses and succeeded in half walking, half to take them to the station.
At the age of fourteen William was indentured to the gunsmith business. darkness and thickness of the brushy IIe learned to make guns, axes and all
crawling, using his sword as a canc. After some time he found from the woods, that he was unable to make any
kinds of edge tools then in use in the headway, and that his inability to see west-bells for cows and horses and the brush and saplings caused him to flax hackles. At the expiration of his hurt his wound and gave him great term of service in the fall of 1804, he pain. Finally, exhausted and alinost was employed by a man named Moore famished, for he had eaten nothing to go to Mad River, near where Urbana
since the day previous, he sunk down now stands, to work for the Indians, in the snow to await the slow ap- making and repairing their guns, proaches of death by famine or from the knives, tomakawks, &c. Urbana had effects of his wound and the intense not then been laid out, and the site of cold. Ile had lain in this condition but the town was, in part, the only corn a short time, when suddenly a light snr- field in the neighborhood of any size. rounded hin which enabled him to see It was tenanted by a man by the name objects distinctly, and standing before of Pearce, who had a little cabin for a him appeared a little man about two dwelling. He remained there till the feet high dressed in green hunting shirt, following August, when he returned to pants and cap-the uniform of his bat- talion. The light seemed to emanate from this dwarf, who immediately com- menced moving in the direction of Fort Kentucky. After settling in Highland he worked at axe making, in connection with other smithing. He made up- wards of a hundred flax hacklers one Washington, intimating by signs to the winter in Frederick Fraley's shop and Major to follow him, which he did with was no doubt the first man who made comparatively little difficulty, being hackles in this county. He served in able by the continued light to see the the war of 1812, was justice of the openings in the woods. He continued peace some fifteen years, and Associate thus till daylight. During the night he Judge of the county one term.
had seen, by the mysterious light,
It will be perceived that he was not turkeys and other fowls on trees; to- only a pioneer himself, but that he wards morning he was enabled to knock sprang from a race of pioneers. ITis one of them off with his sword, having father and mother were among the first no fire-arms, which he ate raw. He lay settlers who crossed the mountains into concealed all day, and after dark to his Western Pennsylvania, and braved the surprise again appeared the little man in dangers and hardships of border life, green and the light of the last night. when that entire frontier was a battle The little man moved on in the direc- field. His father and uncles on both tion of the night before. This continued sides were soldiers in the Revolution, for six days and nights till he passed en- as well as hunters and Indian fighters. tirely out of the Indian country. He
One maternal uncle, Major Clark, finally reached Ft. Washington and got home to Pittsburgh, nearly the only one of his battalion who ever reached home, but died of his wounds and exposure. The story was told by him on his return, and he appeared firmly convinced of the truth of all we have given, which is merely an outline of the tradition pre- fought through the whole of the seven years of the Revolution, and fought his last battle at St. Clair's memorable defeat, where he commanded the Penn- sylvania riflemen. He rendered good service in the retreat from that bloody field -- kept his men together in the rear of the flying army and in the face of the served in the family, not one of whom infuriated and desperate for, for somo did we ever hear doubt it. distance, until he was badly wounded
CHAPTER XXX.
INCIDENTS AND SURROUNDINGS OF AN EARLY SCHOOL-HOUSE-A FAMOUS DEER LICK-REV. JAMES QUINN, AN ITINERANT MINISTER-THE COMMIS- SIONERS MEET AT THE NEW COUNTY SEAT-HOW JO. HART BRIBED A JURY WITH ROAST VENISON.
During the winter of 1807-S the little pitws on a log and merely snuffing the log cabin school-house on Clear Creek, evening breeze, resumed his least. We, mentioned before, was occupied by a of course, gave the alarm, and John and mixed school, of which James Daniels, Duke Swearingen, then young men, a young Virginian, of good family and with dogs and guns, soon overhauled liberal education (then a student of law) Bruin, and the next day we had a choice was the teacher. The house was crowd- piece of his carcass."
On the farm at present owned by the
ed with the youth for some four or five miles round, of both sexes and almost heirs of Marshall Nelson, and near the all ages. The stalwart young men in dwelling house, was, in early times, an heavy brogans, buckskin breeches, hunt- apparently Jarge excavation in the earth, ing-shirt and wool hat, took lessons in made, it was then believed, by the spelling and reading, while the urchins buffalo, deer and elk which had long were busy with primer. The latter resorted there to lick, and drink the were generally dressed in linsey or tow water of the spring near by, which is linen pants, supported by deerskin sus- strongly impregnated with salt, &c. penders attached to one large brass This "lick"
was famous among the waist-band button conspicuous at the pioneer hunters and Indians, who used front. No vest or coat was used by them to go there for night hunting, as the in summer. In winter, however, they round-abouts, and the more carefully game sought were most frequently usually enjoyed the addition of linsey found there at that season and easily captured. Scaffolds were erected provided for, hunting-shirts of blue lin- around it at convenient distances on the sey fringed with red or yellow. The overhanging chins, and many a fine buck: did the carly settlers of Clear Creek and the Rocky Fork bear away
girls from eighteen to six or seven ap- peared in linsey dresses with no extra fixing of stays or hoops to impede their from there on their shoulders. The late locomotion, and in sports at noon, of Judge Richard Evans was wont, in his "prisoner's base," &c., were fleet of foot later years, to point out that place as as the wild doc. Schools were kept up the one from which he supplied his regularly every winter in this humble family for two seasons with venison. It
building for many years, and more than
was only about a mile from his cabin,
one of the hardy, rough looking boys, and always a sure market in the hunt- who attended it at the early day of ing season.
which we speak, became distinguished
A German named John Bellzer, a in after life. This house and its sur- blacksmith, lived in the Clear Creek set- roundings are described by one of the tlement at this time. He was fond of boys of fifty years ago, who received the hunting, but was too much of a coward indiments of education there, as a to go far into the unbroken woods for "wild, and in winter, a dreary and deer. Cary Trimble, then a lad of four- picturesque scene. The path ways toen or fifteen years, desirous of some through the snow to the various dwell- fun, and knowing Bellzer's character, ings of the scholars diverged from the proposed to him a visit to the lick above classic opening in the woods to en- named. The plan was to go a little be- counter bear, deer, panther, or wolf in fore dark and take his stand to wait for our way homeward. On one occasion a the deer to come in. Assuring Bellzer bear saluted us, within a few feet of our that there was no danger, he succeeded path, as we passed through the woods in gaining his assent. The Dutchman between Joseph Swearingen's and was ambitions of a reputation as a good home. The oldest of the party, a girl of shot, and extremely anxious to kill a twelve years of age, covered one retreat. deer, which he conceived indispensable But Bruin, it seems, was enjoying a full to the coveted reputation of a hunter. and fico repast on Swearingen's hogs He soon reached the ground and ascend- and, therefore, was not in a mood to give ed one of the scaffolds, confidently ex- chase. He, however, raised up his tore perting to have a shot in ten minutes, (150)
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A HISTORY OF HIGHILAND COUNTY, OIIIO.
as Trimble had assured him; so in fear between Sam and Dan Evans' cabins, and trembling he waited, rifle in hand just after dark, we were all startled by (hearing, in his excited imagination, a the wild and shrill scream of the pau- panther or a bear in every rustle of the ther apparently close to us. Tom did leaves.) He most earnestly hoped for not require the second signal, but leap- the desired shot before it became entirely ed into the wagon, and the oxen and dark, and as the shades of evening, in the old horse, instinctively aware of the dense forest, thickened into still, solid danger, started off in a lope through the darkness, and the owls mingled their woods, keeping the track, however, in
hoarse voices with the more distant barking of the fox and wolf, his fear overcame his desire of distinction as a courageous hunter who had actually the dark, with more than human skill, and without accident, we soon reached Hill's in safety. Captain Billy Hill, jr., and William Trimble immediately col- slain a deer, and he determined to de- lected all the dogs on the farm, and with scend and make for home with all possi- rifles in hand, set off in pursuit of the ble speed. Just at this critical juncture in Bellzer's ambitious career, young Trimble, in company with one Jim Fenix, a bold hunter, who' was in the secret, and who could imitate to perfec- tion the scream of the dreaded panther, stealthily approached from the rear, and gave a most terrific yell, which brought marauder, but after some hours diligent search failed in striking the trail of the varmint. After the fright passed off it was strongly suspected by all except Unele Toin that it was Bellzer's panther -Jim Fenix, who, returning from Jo Knox's tavern in Hillsborough, where he had been assisting in cutting timber, the Dutchman from his perch, some hewing logs and making elapboards for twelve or fifteen feet, in double quick the new town, was merely in the inno- time. Ilis gun went off during the cent exercise of his wonderful animal rapid and involuntary descent, which faculty."
he left where it fell, and as soon as he The county in the main underwent could sufficiently collect his scattered very little change froin this date, (1807) faculties to get the right direction, he for four or five years-indeed, until after set off like a quarter-horse for home, the war of 1812 except in accessions to tearing through the brush like a mad the population, native, and from almost buffalo. He reported the next day all quarters of the world. Irish emi- that a panther of largest size had at- grants, fresh from the bogs of the tacked him, after receiving his fire, and Emerald Isle, with their national that after a desperate fight with his brogue, traits and manners. Germans, clubbed gun, he had barely escaped fresh from the romantic banks of the with his life by running, and as proof conclusive of the fight he showed his torn clothes and scratched face and hands. Rhine, came seeking a home in ihs bush, bearing with them, as alinost a part of themselves, the peculiar charac- teristics of "Faderland." Emigrants
A story is told by one of the Trimbles from the sea coast of the East and South who was a boy at that day on Clear of the old States, and from the wild and hitherto dangerous frontiers of Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Caro- lina. Added to these many of Ken- tucky's noblest sons and daughters, and
Creek, which conveys so forcibly the wild and still dangerous character of the forests in that region, that it seems prop- erly a part of the history of the time.
"Going," says he, "one cold autumn others who had emigrated thither at an evening in the wagon, from our cabin early day and now, impelled by the up the creek to Captain Billy Hill's, for restless promptings so characteristic of Americans, seized the first opportunity to penetrate further into the wilderness, to enjoy a more enlarged and perfect freedom, with a fair prospect of accumu- our winter supply of pork-uncle Tom Trimble, who was a worthy old pioncer of Highland, a man of the black race, a native of Kentucky, who was liberat- ed with a number of other slaves by his lating property and taking a position for old master, Capt. James Trimble, and themselves and descendents among tho best and first of their compeers. followed the fortunes of the family, to the wilds of Highland in 1805-was
"I remember," says an early pioneer .. driving the team of two oxen at the "the advent of some of these families. wheels, and a steady old horse in the Old Mr. Furguson, 'a neat old Irish lead. Three boys, William, Cary and gentleman,' dressed in his Sunday suit John were in the wagon. Tom rode of black velveteen, long hose and knec sideway's on the saddle horse-imported and shoe buckles. He called at our from Kentucky, and of the Patton cabin to introduce himself as a new stock. Whistling and singing along comer in the settlement, with a large the narrow defile through the woods, family. He was a weaver to trade, fond
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
of talking and could tell much about the M. E. Church by the Baltimore Confer- troubles, civil, religious and political, in ence May, 1799, He was then a mere the old country. Old Samuel Stitt was youth under twenty years of age, and also of Irish paternity and fresh from was placed on the Greenfield circuit, the "sod" himself, with all of an Irish- embracing Washington and Fayette man's aptitude for blunders and prac- tical perversion of common and familiar
counties in Pennsylvania. In the year 1800 he was appointed to the Pittsburg truths. He was a most laughably awk- circuit. In 1801 Mr. Quinn was ordain- ward farmer, and when plowing hisnew ed deacon at the Baltimore Conference ground among roots, stumps, &c., &c., he by Bishop Whatcoat and appointed to would put the rope line around his the Erie circuit, then for the first time neck and thus attempt to guide and supplied. In 1802 be was sent to the direct a restive horse. In trimming a Winchester cirenit, Pennsylvania. The tree of its branches he would climb up following year he was sent by Bishop and seat himself on the limb whilst he Asbury to the Red Stone circuit, lying cut it off, and when he and the limb fell in the Allegheny Mountains. In 1503 together, appeared amazed at his fall. he was married. At the close of Mr. Evans the first fall he came to the own request transferred to the Western Passing through the cornfield of Judge
Quinn's term at Red Stone he was at his country, he found a small yellow pump- kin, and, as he told the Judge soon afterwards, "I thought it was a melon Conference and removed to Fairfield county, Ohio. The Western Conference was that year held at a church near and no harm to pull it, so I just picked Cynthiana, Kentucky, in October, at it up and eat it entirely, and of all the which MeRendree presided. At this creatures, I was the sickest." But with session James Quinn and John Meek all his peculiarities he was a worthy, were appointed to Hockhocking circuit. industrious and good citizen, and reared which then embraced a vast and of up an excellent family. His eldest son, course almost a wilderness territory, Samuel Stitt, was a man of fine museu- covering nearly the whole of Southeast- lar development, and much energy of ern Ohio. In 1805 he was returned to character. During the war of 1812 he the same cireuit and the following year enlisted in Captain Trimble's company of the 19th regiment, United States he and Peter Cartwright were placed on the Scioto circuit, which included High- Army, and distinguished himself in the land county. In 1820 he purchased a ranks as a brave and gallant soldier. farm of one hundred acres in this conu- He was severely wounded at Landy's ty, to which he subsequently moved his Lane, in which hard fought battle he family and made his permanent home took a soldier's part.
The farm lies in the present township of Union. The house was the old fashion- ed hewed log with stone chimneys and
During the year 1807 the Rev. James Quinn was on the Highland circuit for his second year, and as he was the first he named it Rural Cottage. At this of the itinerant preachers of the county, quiet retreat he died on the first day of and deservedly venerated by all its peo- December, 1817, aged seventy-two years. ple of the present day, any characteris-
Mr. Quinn is thus spoken of his tics and anecdotes will doubtless be one who knew him intimately: "I thankfully received. Rev. Mr. Quinn distinctly recollect the advent among spent much of the prime of his life in us of the Rev. James Quinn, so long and Southern Ohio, and from his partiality to the people of our county, when he felt the winter of his earthly existence closing around him, came to reside per- manently among its smiling and peace- ful hills, the better to enjoy the society and hospitality of its inhabitants. He
so favorably known to the people of Highland. His youthful and manly form, his fine expression and amiable face, calm and dignified, yet flu :hed with zeal in his Master's cause- a selfsacri- firing and devoted itinerant preacher on the first circuit of Highland, gathering was born April 1st, 1775, in Washington up and watching over the scattered flock county, Pennsylvania. His parents of humble and devoted Christians. He were from Ireland and were among the had first preached at old father Fitzpat- first adventurers who eros ed the monot- rick's and had then come acro.s the ains and formed the settlement at h.d
woods some six miles to visit our family. Stone. In this pioncer settlement he His manners and exterior gave assur- learned the characteristics and native ance of a gentleman, and his first words worth of the noble old pioneers, and of salutation were a passport to the con- among them he first learned the great fidence, regard and esteem of all who truths, to the dissemination of which he made his acquaintance. His visit was a early dedicated his life. He was admit- most pleasant and agreeable surprise to ted into the traveling connection of the the younger members of the family,
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
who felt at once the mesmeric influence the quiet circle, with the ill fated "harp of his mild, persuasive language and un- of a thousand strings" (at least sounds) obtrusive worth. Such was then James in his grasp, and demanded, in deep, Quinn, who lived to impress indelibly hoarse, sepulchral tones, whose "devil's his excellence and his virtues upon the instrument is this that has a place in hearts of all who lived under his minis- this house." The shock to ears polite try."
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