USA > Ohio > Adams County > Caldwell's illustrated historical atlas of Adams County, Ohio. 1797-1880 > Part 26
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Although this murder was committed in a village in mid day and in a few rods of a school house with a school going on, no clue was ever found to the perpetrator of this crime. The young lady was arrested, but nothing was elicited to erimiuate her.
REMINESCENCES.
At a very early day, when Maysville was but a fort, Mr. Pal- mer, Mr. Mefford and Mr. Gunsaulus, or Kingslauly, as he is fre- quently called, were in the habit of crossing the Ohio and hunt- ing in the wilderness back from the river. This was before any settlements were made in Sprigg township. A favorable hunting ground was in the neighborhood where R. S. Dailey and T. J. Shelton now live. Licks were found in the vicinity where the wild deer resorted in large numbers, that made these favorable spots at which to kill them. One of these licks was on the farm now owned by G. G. Games, and was known as Ellis' Lick, from Mr. Palmer's given name-Ellis. The run of which this spring is the source, is called Ellis' Run. Another lick, known as Metford's Lick, was located on the farm of Thomas J. Shelton, and the branch of which it is the source, is known as Mefford's Run.
These hunters were the old backwoods style of men, who lived mainly by hunting, never owned any land of their own, and shifted from place to place, as convenience and circumstances made it desirable. There are doubtless many incidents in the lives of these carly pioneers that would be interesting could they be gathered.
Palmer and Gunsaulus came over and settled in the vicinity of their hunting grounds. Palmer settled on the present farin of Wilson Case, while Gunsanlns built his enbin on the farm now owned by Robert S. Dailey.
ELLIS PALMER
Was a Pennsylvanian, and had a brother most cruelly tortur- ed and murdered by the Indians there. He vowed vengeance against all Indians, whether friends or enemies. It is probable that he has been the means of sending many a red man to the happy hunting ground. It is related that on one occasion an In- dian in passing through the neighborhood stayed over night with Will G Ibert, just over the. Brown county line. Paliner, learning the Indian's presence in the neighborhood, watched his opportu- nity and when near where Clayton now stands, shot him and threw his dead body into a sink hole and covered it from sight.
Mr. Palmier lived and died in the neighborhood of his settle- ment, where some of his descendants yet live.
JOAN GUNSAULUS
Was a man of unusnal size, and had tremendous muscular power. Tradition has it that on one occasion he crosseed the river and anchored his canoe at the mouth of Fishing-gut Creek, and a party of Indians passing that way espied his vessel. A part of them ambushed to watch the canoe, while five others went in pursuit of his trail. The pursuers overtook him, one of whom he soon shot. Ile then started on his retreat, loading as he went. Another soon fell and perhaps a third one also. The pursuit was then abandoned, and Gunsaulus made his way to a point opposite Brook's Bar, near Maysville, where he swam the river and escaped.
After the country became settled and game began to grow scarce, Mr. Gunsanlus went further west to find larger hunting ground in which to operate. IIc died in Brown county, Ohio.
MEFFORD.
We are not advised that Mefford ever settled in Adams.county, nor do we know what became of him. (Wo are indebted to Rob- ert S. Daily and jady for the foregoing partienlars.)
1 A DUEL IN ADAMS COUNTY.
The only duel ever fought in Adams county-and so far as we know-in the State, was on the soil of Sprigg township. For the honor of the township, we are happy to say, the participants in the affair were not citizens of Ohio. This event occurred Feb- ruary 12. 1812.
Gien. Thomas Marshall, of Lewis county, Kentneky, and Charles Mitchell, of Mason county, of the same State, had some diffienhy between them that they coneluded could only be settled
by the "Code of Honor. " They also decided to compliment Ohio by having the conflict of arms on her soil. Accordingly they se- lected their seconds and surgeons and a few intimate friends to witness the affair. With these preparations, they crossed over the Ohio, and landed at a secluded spot on the land now owned by the heirs of Washington Ellis, near the farm of the HIon. Jesse Ellis. The distance was measured off and the parties took their places and the word given.
Marshall fell at the first fire, having received a ball in his hip, which remained in his flesh and lamed him for life. The honor of the parties being vindicated the company crossed the river and returned to their Kentucky homes happy and satisfied.
The pistol that Mitchell used on this occasion, afterwards be- came the property of his brother-in-law, Vachel Masterson, who himself got into a' difficulty with another party, and agreed to decide the dispute by the "code. " Masterson arranged for his family's support. and then instead of meeting his antagonist went up stairs and shot himself dead with the same pistol. The formi- dable little weapon after passing through several hands, is now the property of the little son of Stephen Lawill, of Sprigg town- ship, on the Cabin Creek road.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
DAVID M. BRADFORD-The Bradford family is of Irish ori- gin, but we can learn little of the history of their ancestry. As far back as we can gather anything authentic, is that two broth- ers, David and William, who came from Pennsylvania or Virginia and settled in Adams county. David came at a very early date and settled at the mouth of Brush Creek, on the Ohio river. IIc became a very prominent man in the county, serving as County Treasurer from 1801 to 1831, a period of thirty years. When the county seat was removed, he was among the first to locate in the new town of West Union, coming here in 1804, as soon as the town was laid ont. He built the first hotel in the place and opened a tavern in 1806. William Bradford, the other brother, was the grandfather of David M. Bradford, the subject of this sketch. It appears that the father of William died when the son was but a child, and the little tellow was placed in a fam- ily of strangers, somewhere in Virginia, with whom he lived un- til he grew to the years of manhood. In 1819 he left Virginia, came to Adams county and settled in West Union where he stay- cd a year, then moved to Sprigg township and settled in Fox's Survey, No. 40I, on the Ohio River, where he lived and died. 1Ic married Margaret Parkinson. They were : the parents of twelve children, three boys and nine girls. They all grew to years of maturity and married. They were Eveline, who married Alex- ander Baldridge, Clarinda married Elijah Kimble, Benjamin married Nancy Ann Burbage, David married Mary Ann Termine, Samuel married Eliza Case, Sophia married Alexander IIntchin- son, Eliza married Samuel Beam, Sallie married Thomas Batton, Jane married David Beam, Rebecca married Washington Car- penter, Polly married John McCauley, Margaret married Jacob Holmes. David Bradford, the father of David M. Bradford, was born June Ist, 1806, and married Mary Ann Terhune, April 28th, 1830. They raised a family of nine children, five sons and fonr daughters, as follows : William, born May 17th, 1831, died July 21st, 1832. Samuel, born October 22d, 1832, died September 30th, 1862. Amanda, born Dec. 23d, 1835, married John Brookover, Feb. 19th, 1832. James, born Jan. 30th, 1838, died Jan. 29th, 1880. Benjamin, born October 18th, 1840, married Margaret Brookover, December 4th, 1870. David M., born August 17th, 1842, married Celesta Robinson, November 5th, 1868. Martha, born Jannary 19th, 1844, married James W. Campbell, March 17th, 1864. Eve- line, born January 21st, 1840, married Robert Stewart, March 12th, 1868. Aun Eliza, born June 7th, 1851, married James S. Lewis, July 29th, 1880. Three of these sons, Samuel, Benjamin and David all served in the army. Samuel and Benjamin both enlisted in the 70th O. V. I., Co. G. They were both at the bat- tle of Shiloh. Samuel was, after that battle taken with the mumps and returned to Aberdeen, where he convaleseed, started to return to his regimeut and got as far as Cincinnati, where he had a relapse, was brought back home and died a few days after- wards. Benjamin continued in service longer. le served through the seige of Vicksburg and started with Sherman on his march to the sea, but some where in Georgia, was taken sick and sent to the Invalid Hospital at Evansville, Indiana. He was, how- ever, afterwards drafted in and served in the 142d Indiana regi- ment until the close of the war. David M. Bradford enlisted Angust 54th, 1864, in the 182d Regt. O. V. 1 .. commanded by Col. Butler. This regiment was assigned to duty in the engineer corps in which it did service most of the time. It was in the battle of Nashville, where Hood's army was so disastrously defeated. He served until the close of the war. was discharged at Nashville, July 7th, 1865. and minstered out at Camp Chase. As stated be- fore, Mr. Bradford married Miss Celesta Robinson, daughter of Wade Robinson. They are the parents of seven children, five boys and two girls. Their names are Jolin Nelson, Elmer Ells- worth, Dora Deen, David Decatur, Samuel Preston, Elsie Ellwood, and Martin Lewis, Mr. Bradford owns and occupies the old homestead. It is a splendid farm of 350 acres, embracing a por- tion of the best river bottom, and extending back to the hills, 11
Is provided with good aml substantial buildings of every kind, nil Instefully arranged. A beautiful spot, 40x40 feet, lins been select- ed on the farin for n family cemetery. It has been enclosed with a substantial stone wall of solid masonry. There is a marble momument fourteen feet high, in the center of the let, on which are to be inscribed the names and ages of the deceased members of the family as they are deposited there. Five members of the family already repose in this cemetery. There are situated on the road near the easteru side of this farm, a school house und church. The elinreh, which belongs to the Protestant Methodist denomination, is a neat frame building 40x30. The congregation was organized in 1870, and the house built in 1874. The society is in a prosperous condition and now numbers sixty members. Mr. Bradford devotes considerable attention to the raising of bees. lle has the most approved style of hives, A few years ago lie made what he called his "Centennial hive." 1Ie somewhere in the woods found a hollow poplar tree which he ent down and sawed out a section seven feet long, with an inside diameter of two feet. This he roofed and set on flat stone, and put into it a swarm which he allowed to work two years. lle then killed the bees (which was wrong) and took their stores, which required two years hard labor to collect. This yielded two hundred pounds of marketable honey, which he sold for 25 cents a ponnd. Mr. Bradford is stock holder and director in the First National Bank of Manchester. fle is a man of business habits and a good financier.
ROBERT C. BROOKOVER-This gentleman's ancestors were of German origin. Ilis grandfather lived in Pennsylvania until af- ter his marriage. IIc first moved to Kentucky, then came to Brown county, where he lived and died. Me reared a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Richard, Nancy, Sallie, John, Matilda, James, Mary, George, and Andrew Jack- son Brookover. John, the fourth child, was born September 13th, 1806. Ile married Eliza Grimes, November 17th, 1831. They were the parents of nine chillren, four sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to years of maturity, and all married but one. Six still survive. These children were, Martha Aun, bort: Ang. 17th, 1833, married David Pence. They moved to Kentucky, and are both dead. Samuel born May 9th, 1835, married Tanar Shelton. They live in Greenwood county, Kansas. Mary Am, born December 23d, 1836, married John Meck Leedom. They live in Sprigg township. Nancy Ann, born Dec. 6th, 1838. is dead. William, born Dec. 9th, 1840, married Lizzie Frame. IIe died in the army, at Nashville, Tenn. Jane G., born Jannary 20th, 1843, married James Lang. Mr. Lang died in the service at Nashville. She married for a second husband, Henry Pence. George W., born May 12th, 1845,, married Mary Lcedom, They live in Mis- souri. Isabel, born Jan. 27th, 1850, married Jeremiah Foster. They are living in Missouri. Robert C. Brookover, who is the subject of this sketch, was born April 3d, 1848. IIc married Ruth Pence, Apwit Sth, 1869. Ilis wife was born Oct. 28th, 1848. They are the parents of five children. four of whom are living. Mr. Brookover owns an excellent farm, which is in a high state of cultivation, furnished with good buildings of all kinds.
THE GRIMES FAMILY-The Grimes family is of Irish origin. The paternal grandfather, whose name is not remembered, came from Ireland and settled in this country previous to the Revolu- tionary war. IIe served throughout that struggle ; was engaged in many of its Attles ; was at the battle of the Brandywine, and participated in Its closing scenees at the surrender of Lord Corn- wallace at Yorktown, that ended the contest. After the war was over, Mr. Grimes moved to Limestone, now Maysville, Kentucky, where he lived until 1800, when he crossed over to the Ohio side and settled about two miles above Aberdeen. In 1804, he located 240 acres of land in Fox's and Stephenson's surveys, Sprigg town- ship. In the spring of that year he moved to the farm and set- tled. Ile lived here until his decease, in 1828. He reared a fam- ily ot six children-all sons, one of whom when a young man was killed by the Indians, on the waters of big three mile ereek. One of these children, who was named Willian., born in 1778, beenme the owner of the farm. He married, Nancy Ellis, after he came to Adams county. They were the parents of seven children, two boys and five girls ; Sally, Eliza, Ilester, Jane. Margaret, Samuel E. and Willinn. All grew to years of maturity and married, but one. Five of the children still survive, two of them, Sally and Ilester are deceased. 'Samuel E., the oldest of them, was born in Sprigg township, Dec. Uth, 1803. He married Sally Brookover, January 20th, 1825. She was the daughter of Asahel Brookover, and was born April 19th, 1801. They are the parents of ten chil- dren, tive boys and tive girls, named William II., Lewis, Elize, Nancy, Asuhel, Matilda, Mary M. and Darins C. Two of these are deceased, the others survive and are all married. The young- est, Darius C. Grimes, was born April 14th, 1848. He married Frances C. Myers, December 19th, 1873. They are the parents of two children, Musa Gladys and Bertha May. Hlo resides on the old homestead, and takes care of his aged parents, and runs the farm. Samuel E. Grimes now owns and ocenpies the old home of his father and grandfather, the home ow which he grew up from his infantile years, with all the memories of the past elns- tering around him, but how changed the scene ! The wild beasts which used to prowl through the forests in countless members, s
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- HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO. -
terror to his youthful Imagination, Imve all disappeared, while the darkling woods with their massive trees, have given place to beautiful fields, that almost groan beneath the heavy erops that cover them. Instead of tze rude cabins of his forefathers that wrestled among the trees, li. now scee comfortable and substantial dwellings, with beautiful adornments surrounding thein, while the beautiful Ohio, with its waters flowing onward as in days of old, no more carries upon its surface the cluinsey log canoe or the rudely constructed raft or flatbont, but instead, the light aud neatly made skitl gaily skims over the waters, and the grand and elegant steamboat plows through the waves with ease iu its na- jectie strength. But while these pleasant, changes are presented to his view, the beautifully adorned family cemetery on this old farm, where, after " life's fitful dreams are over" these forefath- er's of the hamlet sleep beneath the monuments that speak their inemory, admonishes him that all things earthly must pass away. While the thick forests, as they appeared to these carly pioncers, in their wild, rugged grandeur, have passed away and can never be restored again as they looked then, yet the flelds, the flocks, the comfortable houses that havo taken their place, can be pre- served as they appear to-day, and be handed down to all futoro generations. This Mr. Grimes has the enterprise and regard for the rights of posterity to do, as will be seen by tho view of bis old home which beautities a page in our history. In this engrav- ing the venerable proprietor and his lady, appear in the scene, as they will look, when a thousand years have passed away.
GRIMES' MILL.
Although the history of this mill runs back into the past, more than half a century, it is still a prominent and useful Insti- tution of Sprigg township. It is located ou Little Three Mile ereck about a mile above its confluence with the Ohio river. It was built by William Bradford, in the summer of 1826. It is the old fashioned heavy frame, of hewn timber throughout.
It was run by water power three or four years, when steam was applied. Bradford run it nutil 1832, when ho sold to Wm. Carpenter. Carpenter sold it to Richard Grimes, who died and his heirs sold it to Daniel Reeder, who becamo insane and was taken to the Insane Asylum, where he has since remained, now some twenty-five or thirty years. It was next sold to E. B. Hill, for taxes ; he sold it to Peter Cooper, who in 1858 sold it to Sain- ucl E. Grimes.
In 1859, Grimes put in a new engine and other modern ma- chinery. It finally passed into the hands of Mr. Griines' son, Francis M. Grimes. There are three pairs of burhs in it, two for wheat and one for corn. The corn burhs are those originally put there in 1826 and are still propelled by water power. In short, this old mill is sound in every part and joint, from bottom to top, and doing good work, with the prospect of being good for fifty years more.
WILLIAM ROUSH-This gentleman's ancesters were of Dutch descent. His grandtatber, Michael Roush, together with Philip Bowman, Peter Pence and Jobn Pence, removed from Pennsylva- nia at a very early day and settled about three miles west of Ben- tonville, in what has from that circumstance been since called "The Dutch Settlement. " Grandrather Michacl Roush, had a son named Parmenus, born in Adanis county, who married Cath- arine Smith. They reared a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, named, William, Michael, John, Squire, Samuel, Rachael, Cassander, Mary Ann and Elizabeth. William, the old- est of these children, is the subject of our sketch. He was born April 16th, 1824; was married in 1849, to Margaret Edgington. They have reared a family of nine children, all living, to-wit : Laura Ann, Nancy Jane, Mary Catherine, Alexander, Frank, Pangburn, Aaron, Robert and Sherman. Two of the sons are married, the other four remain at home. The daughters are all ยท married. Mr. Roosh owns 255 acres of land, well improved and in a high state of cultivation. He owned the old homestead of his father, which includes a part of his grandfather's homestead. Mr. Roush in his farming operations acts on the principle, that " what is worth doing at all, is worth doing well, " thereforo his farm is kept in first class condition, and with it systematle cul- tivation, pays well. His stock, being of good blood, well kept and carcd for, always brings the highest market price and . ready sales. He has made all his fine property by persevering industry. 1
JOHN STARRETT, OF SPRIOO .- We can only trace back Mr. Starrett's ancestors to his grand-father, John Starrett, who left Londonderry, Ireland, at the age of sixteen, came to America and settled in Chester county, Pa., where ho engaged in farming and tanning. . While living there he married a lady named Mary Webb. After his muarrlage he removed to Westmoreland county, in the same State, where he also carried on a farm and a tannery. Ilere he lived and died. He reared a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters. One of the sone. named Samuel, camato Adams county at an early day, perhaps as early as 1794 or '95. While prospecting the country, he became acqualniod with and married Miss Mary Shoomaker, danghter of Peter Shoe- maker, who then lived on Ohlo Brush creok, come two miles be- low the Friston bridge, near Jacksonville, on the farm that now belong's to Bolat Spronll. After' liis marriage "Mr. Starrett re- surned to Pennsyivanla, with his wife, who soon after died with
small-pox. About 1796, he came back to Adams county and bought the land In Sprigg township on which he afterwards set- tled, and where he lived aud died. After making his purchase he returned to Pennsylvania, where he married Elizabeth Cop- pel. After his second marriage Mr. Starrett left Pennsylvania, and came to his land in 1804 and settled. With him came his father-in-law, Daniel Coppel, who settled near Fairview, in Lib- erty township. Mr. Coppel was a revolutionrry soldier, who had fought under Washington and Wayne, and had seen much ser- vice in that struggle. Samuel Starrett, by his second marriage reared a family of foorteen children, Jolin, Margaret, Catherine, Samnel, Moses, James, Betsey, Mary, William, Elijah, Sallie, Nancy, Daniel and Jacob, all of whom grew to years of maturity, except James, who was killed at the age of fifteen, by falling from a tree. Of this family seven still survive. Those living are William and Catharine (now Mrs. Wallace, a widow) who lives in Pike county, O. Daniel lives in Iowa, Jacob lives in Meigs and Elijah in Monroe township. Sallic (now Mrs. Edgington, a widow) is living in Kansas. John, the oldest of these children, and who is the subject of this sketch, now owns and occupies a portion of his father's old homestead in Sprigg township., Ile was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 18, 1802, and was brought by his parents to Ohio when they removed in 1804. He grew to yeurs of manhood on the old homestead, where he has lived all his life. Ile married Emily Hudson, Sept. 27, 1825. They reared a family of eight children, three sous and five deoghters, Angeline, Eliza- beth, Martha, Samuel, Sarah, Mary, John and Elijah. Angeline, born Aug. 15, 1826, married Albert Pence; she is deceased. Eliz- abeth, born Oct. 29, 1827; is deceased. Martha, born April 19, 1829 ; lives at home with her father, never marrying. Samuel, born May 6, 1831; married Sarah P. Truitt, lives in Merrick connty, Nebraska-engaged in farming. Sarah, boru March 12, 1833; deceased. Mary, born Jan. 3, 1835, married Samnel B. Truitt; lives in Sprigg township. John was born Nov. 9, 1836. He enlisted in Co. F., 7th O. V. C .; was taken prisoner at Duck River, and kept in tho South some time, then was paroled and started home on the ill-fated steamer Soltana, which blew up be- low Memphis, Tenn., by which several hundred men lost their lives. John Starrett was among the lost. The youngest son was born April 19, 1839, and married Sophronia C. Miller, of Ottawa, Ill. Ile lives in Graud Ridge, La Salle county, of that State. Ile also, was in the army doring the rebellion. He enlisted in the 15th Illinois Cavalry, served over three years, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. Mr. Starrett, in his earlier years, while game was plenty, was fond of hunting. Many a deer he has killed, besides turkeys and other smalle: game. Ile still retains his old gun and powder horn, but as the game he used to hunt is all gone, they are not used any more, though he occasion . ally delights to put on his pouch and shoulder his gun, as he used to do, to remind him of his early sports in hunting. He is seen in the engraving of his home, which adorns our pages, with his old equipments on, as he used to appear in them in his hunting expeditions. Mr. Starrett, now in his 78th year, is as active and sprightly as most men of 50 or 55, and is able to do as good a day's work in the field as most of them. This, however, he has no ueed to do, as he owns a good farm and has an abundance of this world' goods to keep him comfortable the remainder of his dafe, with a portion to leave behind at his departure.
WILLIAM HANNISON SIMPSON .- The grand-father of William Harrison Simpson was Robert Simpson, a native of New Ilamp- shire. Ile served in the revolutionary war, and received a year- ly peusion in his latter years. At an carly day ho came to Washi- ington, Ky., and cugaged in the mercantile trade; was the first merchant to engage in business in tho place. He afterwards married Mrs. Mary Daily, then bought 1,000 acres of land in Brooks' Survey, No. 1,688, Sprigg township, to which he remov- ed in 1797 or '98, where he lived and died .. He, his wife and a son are buried on this old homestead. 'Robert Simpson reared a family of nine children, Martha, who became Mrs. Moore; Sarah, (Mrs. Chambers); Isabel, (Mrs. Crusan) ; Aun, (Mrs. Borbage) ; Lydia, (Mrs. Chambers); Elizabeth, .(Mrs. Cunningham) ; Jane, (Mrs. Fowler) ; Ruth, (Mrs. Smith) ; two sons, Robert and Thom- as. Robert died at the age of fourteen. Thomas was born on the old homestead, Feb. I, 1810; married Miss Mary Degman, April 15, 1832, and settled on the old farm, which he afterwards bought. Here he continued to live to the timo of his decease. He rearcd a family of twelve childreu, two sons and ten dangb- ters, all of whom grew to years of maturity, and all marriod bot two daughters, though four of them are now deceased. These children were Lavina, (now Mrs. Baldwin) ; Eliza Aun, who is now dead, never married; Minerva R., (Mrs. Robert S. Daily); William Harrison, who married Diana Moore ; Maria Loulsa, who married Rev. J. P. Bloomhuff ; John Dorbiu, married Helen Sned- iker; Nancy Ellis, died single ;- Snsan IIelen, married William Games, of Brown county, O .; Martha Armine, married Isaiab Little, she is now. desil ; Lucy Adaline, married Robert McChes- ney, bot is now dead; Cynthia McKec, married Isalah Littlo; Emily Eleanora, married George W. fFarding. Of these children, William Harrison, who is the subject of this sketch, was born Feb. 13. 1838, and married Diana Moore, March 2, 1865. They arc the parents of seven children, Mary. C., Sallie M., Idella A., Thomas II., William Loyd, Emily L., Fannie F. Mrs. Simpson
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