Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 37

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals > Part 37

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Speeches were made by Messrs. Briggs, of nam on the evening of the last Monday in cach Cleveland, and White, of Newark, and the month. A colored adults' bible-class was evening's exercises were brought to a close by formed, and later a Sunday-school for colored

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

people, the classes of which later were merged offense his barn was set on fire on the night the with those of the regular Sunday-school from convention adjourned. The next night the which they did not separate until the colored barn of Mr. Whipple was fired for the same people organized churches and Sunday schools reason. One of the rioters, named Michael of their own. In the winter of 1834 petitions Casey, was arrested but was rescued en route to were signed in the county and forwarded tothe the jail, at the lower bridge, by an armed body state legislature, praying for the consideration of his sympathizers and taken to Zanesville. of the condition of Ohio's colored population This event led to the determination of a mob to particularly that they might be permitted to burn Putnam, and with that avowed determi- testify in the courts and have the benefit of the nation it rushed shouting down Third street school fund; and to congress, asking for the and through the bridge. They were driven immediate abolition of slavery in the District of back by a force of armed police under command Columbia and of the slave trade between the of Mayor L. M. Chandler, of Putnam, but re- states. Prior to this time a colonization society treated reluctantly with deep curses upon the had been formed and now, to considerable ex- "abolition town," or, as some called it, "nigger" tent, the two organizations differed and some town. active opposition had developed between them;

An incident of the "underground road" days but late in 1835 the members of the two that concerns Roseville will be found of inter- societies united in a petition both to the Ohio est. This related in T. L. Gray's "Reminis- legislature and to the national congress re- censes of the Early Days of Slavery." Mr. Gray newing the requests made by friendsof eman- says, in regard to some fugitives that had ar- cipation a year before. It was about this time rived, he was fearful of keeping them about, so that Jacob Stout, a member of the society, was he took them a mile into the country to Mrs. fined $50 for employing a colored man, Mark Affadilla Deaver's and there left them. Mrs. Turner, and, taking exceptions to this decision, Deaver was going to Zanesville to market the the society employed Messrs. Goddard & Con- following day and volunteered to take them vers in his defense. A state convention was along. She put straw in the bottom of the appointed to be held in Putnam, April 22, 1835. wagon for the fugitives to lie on and covered During the preceding March, Theodore D. them over with a quilt, loaded her marketing Weld, afterwards distinguished as an aboli- and started, taking no one with her in sight ex- tionist orator, accepted an invitation to deliver cept her son Hiram, a lad of twelve. At the some addresses here. His efforts created great foot of Nigton's hill, near Roseville, the wagon excitement and roused much opposition to the mired and she found herself in the predica- society. Opponents of abolition disturbed the ment of being stuck fast in the mud and not meetings, and April II, a committee was ap- daring to unload. In a short time Messrs. pointed to confer with the prosecuting attorney Wigton, Dills, Walker and Erwing came to relative to having Mr. Weld protected in his her assistance and pried the wagon out of the right of free speech. Richard Stillwell, after- mud for her, without even so much as asking wards Judge Stillwell, then filled that office. what it contained. They were all pro-slavery The convention was broken up by riotous per- men, and Mrs. Deaver often expressed wonder- sons from "over the river, who threatened to ment as to what they would have thought "had burn the dwellings of Mayor Nye, Mr. A. A. they known they had been wading round in Guthrie and Mr. Howells. There being no the mud and prying out two big niggers," thus municipal government in Putnam, these dwell- aiding them in gaining what they regarded as ings were guarded by their owners and their unlawful freedom.

owners' friends. When the Ohio Anti-Slavery The Cincinnati Times-Star gives the follow- society again assembled here, in May, 1839, the ing sketch of ante-war time happenings here: feeling of hostility against the movement had "Edward W. Cox of the Denison house, was a to a degree decreased, but the announcement of liberal contributor to the underground railway the appointed meeting seemed to fan the flames that scooted slaves to Canada. J. Wesley of opposition to fury again. Several inflam- Gazaway, father of the present minister of matory documents were circulated, among Allen temple of this city, was in charge of the them a dozen headed "Resurrection of Abo- Zanesville station. One day Mr. Cox, who re- litionists in Putnam." This was characterized sided near Zanesville, was informed that three by the most scathing vituperation and of a slaves, the property of Cincinnatus Neal, of quality to arouse the evil passions of lawless Parkersburg, Va., were in the vicinity, and that persons. Abram France allowed the horses of two English detectives were on their track. delegates to stand in his stable, and for that Mr, Cox got all the information he could from

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

his unsuspecting informant and gave the tip to tion paper and soon raised about $50. I think Mr. Gazaway in the night time. The latter this was about 1835-36. We bought the started from home to look for the slaves, for material and made a very handsome flag. It he knew full well where they would stop. Two was of heavy decp-blue silk, about three yards days after that, Mr. Gazaway placed in Mr. in length and proportionately wide, trimmed Cox's hand a telegram announcing the safe with heavy yellow or golden silk fringe, and arrival of the slaves in Canada. Soon after the bore a spread eagle painted in gilt with a rib- breaking out of the war, Mr. Cox, who had bon in gilt suspended from its beak, bearing been appointed a clerk by A. V. Barringer, the motto: 'To the hero of San Jacinto.' The commissary of subsistence, for the post at flag staff was of black walnut with brass mount- Parkersburg, moved his family to that place. ings topped out with a brass tomahawk, with There was a bitter feeling existing against the inscription: 'To Capt. Burroughs and his northern people, but finally a kinship was braves.' I had the honor of holding up one identified between Mrs. Cox and the old set- corner of it when it was presented. * The * tlers, and the erstwhile Yanks were received flag was made at my aged grandmother's house into the best society. Mr. Cox, who had found on Third street. * * There were a dozen of us great difficulty in procuring a place of residence, girls that every afternoon for a week met in our moved into one belonging to Col. W. L. ('Mud- front room and worked on the flag until it was wall') Jackson, a brother of the famous Gen. T. J. finished; the gentlemen, too, often joined us to ('Stonewall') Jackson. Directly opposite lived give advice and help us, particularly with the Cincinnatus Neal, whose slaves had been spir- painting and staff, which they managed entirely. ited away, as related above. One evening The presentation was made from the door steps while Mr. Cox and his wife were enjoying their of the residence of Col. James Ragnet, on hospitality, the host told them a story of how Fifth street, and Miss Mary Love made a beau- three of his slaves had run away before the tiful and appropriate speech. Capt. Bur- war, and although they were tracked to Zanes- roughs replied with an excellent speech, say- ville by the best English talent, still all trace ing that the beautiful flag presented to him of them was lost at that point. Mrs. Cox should never be dishonored and that if he were

looked at her husband with a horrified expres- spared to return he would bring it back covered sion and Mr. Cox laughed outright. Mr. Neal with glory. He did bring it back, and it looked,

looked puzzled, but Mr. Cox managed to ex- too, as if it had been through many a hard bat- plain himself, and Mr. Neal never knew that tle. As I remember, some of the girls who the very man he was entertaining was a big stood on the steps with Miss Love were Belinda factor in making it possible for those identical Thompson, Elizabeth Love, Sarah E. Fawcett, slaves to escape." Edward W. Cox is a son of Eliza Galligher and I think Mrs. Ragnet, as she the late Judge H. J. Cox, who, previous to 1856, was always ready to help in any emergency. was one of the leading business men of Zanes- The street was crowded with people from Main ville. J. Wesley Gazaway, in his day, was to Market when Capt. Burroughs marched up known to all the people of Zanesville.

with his brave company.

A lady who was formerly Miss Sarah E. Vote of Muskingum county 1890: Secre- Fawcett, of Zancsville, has in a letter, given tary of state-Ryan ( R), 5,542; Cromley (D), the following interesting incident: "When a 5,590;

Lockwood (P), 334. Congressional Mr. Thurston came there from the South to vote-Slade (R), 5,511; Owens (D), 5,638; raise recruits for the Texan army, it created Caton (P), 323. Probate judge-George L. much excitement, and the community being Foley (R), 5,736; Benjamin F. Powers (D), largely southern the public sympathy was with 5,421; H. Jordan (P), 253. Commissioncr -- the Texans. Capt. Burroughs cnlisted in the Thomas McLecs (R), 5,252; S. M. Rutledge cause and soon raised a large company to join (D), 5,830; Joseph Roberts (P), 284. Sheriff- Gen. Houston, to fight the Mexicans and for John H. Drake (R), 5,361; William H. Bolin Texan liberty. We girls thought so much of (D), 5,868; B. I. Felton (P), 264. Prosecuting Capt. Burroughs and his bravery in leaving attorney-William J. Massey ( R), 5,486; Simcon a nice home and business and pleasant associa- M. Winn ( D), 5,659; G. W. Walker (P), 234. tions to risk his life in the defense of liberty, Infirmary director-Charles T. Willey (R), that we resolved to present him and his com- 5,712; John Wise (D), 5,427; Isaac McIntire pany with a flag. Wc passed round a subscrip- (P), 301.

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Chapter XU.

MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS.

F. EBRUARY 4, 1825, an act was passed by road, which was first built as the Cincinnati, the legislature of Ohio to provide for the Wilmington & Zanesville road, was put into internal improvements of the state by navi- operation at about the same time as was the gable canals. The original intention of the Steubenville & Indiana road, which is now legislature was to make the Ohio and Erie known as the Pan Handle.

canal, extending from Lake Erie to the Ohio The vast area of lands known as Northwest river, and the southern end of the Ohio and Territory having been ceded March 1, 1784, to Maumee canal, from Cincinnati to Dayton; and, the general government, congress passed an provided Congress made provisions to assist in ordinance on May 20, 1785, to have these lands the work, to extend the last named canal to surveyed into townships, and placed the work Lake Erie. The Ohio and Erie canal can of direction in charge of Thomas Hutchins. scarcely be said to have been completed until Seven ranges, bounded on the east by Pennsyl 1831-32, nor the Miami and Maumee canal un- vania and south by the Ohio, were surveyed til the locks at Cincinnati were finished in 1834. and a part of the land located. No further sales Muskingum county's navigable streams early were then made till July 1, 1801. The settle- gave her commercial prominence and the Ohio ment of Marietta had been made in April, 1788, canal, then the great route for trade for the and it needed all the sterling qualities of intel- State, was connected with the Muskingum river lect, wealth and courage to enable the colonists at Dresden. A side cut or branch canal about to bear their privations. For months they were two and a half miles in length, from the main destitute of salt, and lived upon fresh meat, canal to the river was necessary to perfect the milk, and vegetables, and bread made of corn plan. In 1871 the work was so far advanced pounded fine in a mortar. It was rumored that as to allow the passage of boats, but it was not up the Muskingum, at some point, were salt until a year later that the Muskingum *im- springs, but the Indians kept their secret till in provement was completed. August, 1795, a released prisoner stopping at

Railroads have revolutionized much in Ohio, Olive Green gave their location. A party went but perhaps in no place has the change been out at once, and during an absence of a week greater than in this city. Prior to 1850 her secured a gallon of salt, made in a camp-kettle.

natural advantages placed her without a peer In the summer of 1796 a company was in the state, but since railroads were intro- formed, consisting of fifty shareholders, who duced much of the commerce that once fell to paid one dollar and a half each, thus securing her has been diverted to other channels, and a capital of seventy-five dollars, to buy cast- to-day she stands as only the key to South- ings and erect a furnace to make salt at Dun- eastern Ohio where once she ranked as the can's Falls. Twenty-four kettles were bought first city in the state. Her first line of railroad at Pittsburg, transported by water to the foot -the Central Ohio road-was begun in 1850 of the falls, and thence packed on horses seven and extended to Newark, a distance of 26 miles to the salt-licks. A well was dug near miles; in 1853 the line was opened to Columbus, the edge of the creek, fifteen feet deep, down and in the latter part of 1854 the line was in to the rock which formed the bed of the operation to Bellaire. This road in 1866 came stream.

Through crevices in this rock salt into the hands of the Baltimore & Ohio rail- water exuded to the surface. The trunk of a road company and became a part of that hollow sycamore, three feet in diameter, was grand trunk line connecting New York and settled in the well and so bedded in the rock Chicago. The Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley as to exclude fresh water. A double-range fur- nace, twelve kettles in each, was built, a small

*See chapter IX.

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

shed was placed over the works, and a cabin decay, and the industry has almost been for- erected to lodge the workmen. A sweep and gotten. At Big Bloom, however, a few miles pole were employed to raise water from the above Malta, one of the mills is still in opera- well. The company was divided into ten tion, and the loutput is second in quality to classes of five men each, who served two weeks none in the world. Even this is about to be at a time, with regular watches night and day. abandoned, and with its retirement the last evi- Wood was chopped and hauled by aid of a yoke dence of the once important industry will dis- of cattle. The manufacture was equal to 100 appear. It is peculiar that this salt water is pounds of prepared salt in twenty-four hours. found so near the banks of the river. The well Counting the value of labor and the cost of at the power house is only a few feet from the outlay, the price of the salt was about $3 per present bank of the river which is now much bushel. It was of poor quality, of a dark color, further from the hill than it was prior to the and impregnated with muriate of lime. The construction of the railroad. Below the city, gain to the people was the substitution of labor wells situated almost on the river bank give in place of money, which latter was very forth salt water, while near by are springs of scarce. The company continued its organiza- fresh water.

tion for four years and then dissolved. The In Madison township, on the old King farm, property finally passed to the state, and was is a salt spring where hunters used to lie in wait leased at a stipulated rent to various parties for deer, and within a very few feet is another

Borings for salt water along the Muskingum spring of pure fresh water. At the power river, and the Licking, Moxahala, and Salt house is a salt well, at the market house is a creeks, have uniformly been successful, though, fresh well, and on the bank between the river in instances, not profitable to evaporate. About and canal at the foot of Third street is another sixty salt-wells have been sunk, but few of salt well. The relative positions in which salt them are operated, The water is evaporated by and fresh water are found in the Muskingum using coal, and while some wells have yielded valley is certainly peculiar. Another fact is 7,000 barrels annually, others have not pro- that the wells in the northern portion of the duced half the amount.

county are much weaker than the ones in the

Men employed in laying the foundation to southern portion, and are not so rich in the Power House No. 2, discovered on December 4, mineral. Just a short distance below the mouth 1891, the old salt well which will be remem- of Wills creek, in Madison township, is a well bered by many of the older inhabitants of which was sunk by a syndicate and in turn Zanesville. The ground on which the power came near sinking the syndicate, as the water house stands has all been filled in, the supposi- was not rich enough to justify the manufacture tion being that at one time the bed of the river of salt from it. The well at the power house is extended over to the hill. When the surface much richer, but the maximum is reached in was several feet lower than it is now, a well was the wells in the southern portion of the county. sunk and salt water discovered. No use was At Big Bloom, where the only mill in the ever made of the briny water, but the well was Muskingum valley is now in operation, the kept open for a number of years and that sec- water is very plentiful and yields a large quan- tion was designated as "by the old salt well." tity of salt. In the improvements now in prog- In after years, with the construction of the Cen- ress on the Muskingum river by the govern- tral Ohio railroad, a large fill was made here ment, it was deemed necessary to raise the dam and the old well was covered up, and had been four fect just below this factory. Salt has be- entirely forgotten until its discovery on the date come so cheap that it is probable it will not be mentioned. The well had been true to its mis- deemed profitable to go to the expense of con- sion, though covered from sight, and continued structing another factory. If this should prove to yield the same salty water. the case, it will not be many years until the

When the large basin was constructed at people will learn with astonishment that salt the power house into which the take-in pipe was at one time produced in this county.

empties its flow it was discovered that salty No class of men deserve a record upon the water in some way found its way into it. A page of history more than do the pioneers of thick wall was constructed, but the difficulty religious teaching. The following is a partial was not remedied until a brick wall was laid record of a few of that noble, self-sacrificing next to it and the whole cemented. In early band: John Goshen came to Springfield in days the manufacture of salt was one of the 1805, and in 1806 he obtained an associate in principal industries along the Muskingum the person of John Meeks. The former was a river. Most of the mills have been allowed to local minister of the Methodist Episcopal

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

church, and united with divine worship on the James Culbertson preached in the Presbyterian Sabbath skillful workmanship in building mills Church of Zanesville in 1825, and had for his and bridges on other days. Rev. Meeks audience the most respectable and influential traveled an extended circuit named the Hock- of her citizens. hocking; it embraced Newark, Lancaster, and

The Catholic church was early establislied a large portion of the Muskingum valley. In in Muskingum. Among its prominent sup- 1806, Rev. Robert Manly, heretofore mentioned, porters were the Dugans, Taylors, Taggarts, was a preacher in the county. Rev. Jesse and Hugheses. The first foothold in Ohio was Stoneman, a Methodist itinerant, traveled the in a few towns, of which Zanesville was one. valley as early as 1802, and was more or less Since that time Catholicism has steadily ad- known to the early settlers of Muskingum.

vanced, till it has a larger money investment

Wills Creek circuit was organized in 1808, in church edifices than any other denomination, and Rev. James Watts was preacher in charge. and the number of its adherents is also equal Rev. Joseph Thrap settled in the valley of the to any. Of the earlier Catholic priests, the Licking, ten miles from Zanesville, some time names of Fathers Young, Wilson, and Mont- in 1810, and was known as an indefatigable gomery are familiar to old residents. Leonidas worker. James Quinn labored in and about S. Hamlin, of New England parentage, came Zanesville more than half a century ago, and to Zanesville in 1825, and studied law, but knew the hardships of the road and the trou- never practiced. He entered the ranks of bles of the appointments. Rev. David Young Methodism, preached powerful sermons at entered the Methodist ministry in 1804, and campmeetings, and occupied the pulpits of was an extensive traveler for years; Zanesville large cities. Was elected a Bishop in 1844, was his home, and here he died in a ripe old beating Rev. Henry Bascom on the slavery age. Rev. Cornelius Springer became a minis- issue, and united editorial duties with those of ter in 1816, and may well be classed as a pio- the pulpit. neer minister, since Muskingum has known In the fall of 1803 the Hockhocking circuit was established by the Methodists, and Asa him as her citizen for sixty-eight years.

Rev. Samuel Kaemmerer, of the Lutheran Shinn appointed the preacher. The circuit church, has been in charge of a church from embraced all or a part of Fairfield, Licking; very early down to comparatively modern Delaware, Knox, Coshocton, and Muskingum. times. William and George C. Sedgwick set- Shinn was expected to accomplish his circuit tled in Muskingum from Virginia about 1824. in four weeks, and to preach more sermons The former was settled over a country congre- than it took him days to make the trip. Regu- gation of the Baptist denomination, the latter lar services were held at the house of Mr. was a Baptist minister of Zanesville and the Walmsley, near the mouth of Wakatomaka. publisher of a small newspaper conducted in Rev. Shinn wrote "The Plan of Salvation" and Baptist interests. Rev. Dr. Joseph Doddridge "The Rectitude and Benevolence of the preached on occasions to the Episcopalians of Supreme Being." His death occurred January the city Zanesville in or before the year 1818. 11, 1853.

He was the first Protestant Episcopal minister In the year 1810, Rev. James B. Findley not only of Muskingum, but of Central Ohio. was appointed on the Knox circuit, and held He was known as the author of a history of his first appointment at Dick's tavern, where Virginia and Western Pennsylvania in connec- many were swearing and drinking. A class tion with Indian wars. Bishops Chase and was formed from the employes of Dillon's fur- McIlvaine preached at times in Zanesville from nace, consisting of John and Jacob Hooper, J. 1827 to 1833 respectively, and about the former Dentenhiffer, a convert, Mr. Cooper and wife, date N. G. Baldwin was settled as a regular and Samuel Gassaway, a colored man.

pastor. Two local Methodist preachers of The following account of the celebration of 1825 were Revs. Cox and Leslie. Rev. Nich- the Fourth of July, 1814, at Zanesville, will be olas Snethen preached in Zanesville in 1835. found interesting: At the time appointed a He became chaplain of congress, and was procession was formed and marched to the known as a reputable writer. Revs. J. W. court-house. Ceremonies opened by a prayer Ragan and Joseph Trimble occupied pulpits in from Rev. Mr. Fuller. The Declaration was Zanesville in 1832 and 1833. They were re- read by William Reynolds, Esq., and pro- garded as captivating orators and talented ceedings closed with an oration by Maj. thinkers. Rev. John A. Waterman was a pio- David Chambers. Dinner was enjoyed at neer preacher of 1817; preached ten years in William Marshall's. Gen. Isaac Van Horne Zanesville, and died in August, 1837. Rev. acted as president, and Gen. Samuel Her-

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

rick and Samuel Sullivan, Esq., as vice-presi- concluded with the sentence that on December dents. Toasts were then drank with cheers and 31, "between the hours of ten in the forenoon discharges from a six-pounder. No less than and two in the afternoon, you be hanged by thirty toasts were offered, of which the follow- the neck until you are dead." One respite ing is a synopsis of the leading points illus- after another came from Gov. Worthington, trative of the times: Ist, The Fourth of July, who was opposed to capital punishment, and 1776: the day on which the Whigs of America the sentence was finally commuted to im- burst asunder the chains of British despotism; prisonment for life at Columbus. Zanesville 2d, James Madison, President: the inflexible was the scene of great excitement on the morn- advocate of his country's rights, capable in ing set for the execution, and people came from peace and war to maintain them; 3d, Elbridge a distance of 50 to 60 miles to witness it. All Gerry, Vice-President: the veteran patriot, un- day long hundreds thronged round the scaffold, sullied amidst the storms of faction and the which had been erected in the yard at the rear turpitude of treason; 5th, The War: Britain pro- of the courthouse, but their morbid curiosity voked and America declared it,-real Ameri- was ungratified. This is said to have been cans should support it to an issue; 6th, The Muskingum's first murder trial. '

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 37

Author: Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642