USA > Ohio > Adams County > Caldwell's illustrated historical atlas of Adams County, Ohio. 1797-1880 > Part 32
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COL. JOSEPH R. COCKERILL .- The parents of the subject of this
sketch, Daniel and Esther Ceekerllì, were natives of Va. They cinigrated to Olilo in 1837, and settled in Scott township, on n farm about a mile east of Youngsville, on a farm that uow be- longs to William Allison, of Penn. They reared a family of slx children, four sons and two daughters. Daniel Cockerill soon became a prominent and influential citizen. Ile represcuted Adams county in the Legislature in 1846-17, and also in 1849-50. These parents are long sinco deceased, and bothi lie interred in Mount Leigh cemetery. Col. Cockerill, who is more particularly the subject of this article, was the oldest in this family of children, and was born in Louden county Va., Jan. 1, 1819. He came with his parents to Adams county in 1837. 'He became one of tlic most conspicuous and popular citizens Adams county over had, and made a name that stands honorably recorded in the pages of his county's history. From the age of twenty-one until he was twenty-five, he taught school. In 1840, he was elected County Surveyor, and in 1846, was appointed Clerk of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, which office he held until the adoption of the present constitution in 1851. He was elected a member of tho first Leg- islature that met under the new constitution. In 1853, he con- menced the practice of law, which was soon found to be extensive, though his other public duties finally engaged so much of his attention and occupied so much of his time that the law business was necessarily greatly neglected. In 1856, he was elected to rep- resent his district in Congress, in which body he served one term. At the breaking out of the rebellion he was among the first to cnlist in the service of his country. He was appointed, in 1861, Col. of the 70th Regt., O. V. I. This regiment participated iu the battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862, aud it, and its com- mander, Col. Cockerill, are honorably mentioned in history, and by the commanding Generals for good conduct in the terrific · fight. Whitelaw Reid, in his " Ohio in the War," says of this regiment which Col. Cockerill commanded : "After the entire line to the left of the Shiloh church had been completely turned, and not a soldier of any other regiment was to be seen on the original line of battle, the regiment fell slowly back, fighting every inch of the ground during the entire day, and lay in front of the enemy at night over half the way from Shiloh church to the landing. On Monday the regiment took part in the action during the whole day, and established au euduring name for bravery and endurance." General Sherman, under whose eye they fought, in his report of the battle said : "Col. Cockerill behaved with great gallantry, and held together the largest regi- ment of any Col. in my division, and stood by me from first to last." In Nov. of the next year he was appointed by Gen. Sher- man, commander of a brigade in the first Division of the Ffteenth Army Corps, where he remained until 1864, when he resigned and came home. In 1867, he was chosen to represent Adams county in the Ohio Legislature, and re-clected in 1864. At the meeting of this Legislature, he was chosen speaker pro-tem. He was ranked as the leader of his party (the Democratic) iu both of the Legislatures of 1867 and 1869. Col. Cockerill was a man of generous impulses. Ever ready to relieve the wants of the needy and minister to the comforts of the afflicted, he was uever ap- pealed to in vain to aid in charitable enterprises. He was gen- erous to a fanlt. Added to his noble, frank and mauly nature, he possessed a fine personal appearance, and was a fluent, earuest and forcible speaker. These qualities rendered him one of the most prominent men of his time. He died of heart disease, Oct. 23, 1875, leaving a wife (since deceaed) and two children-a son and daughter. Of this once prominent family, not a member uow remains in the county.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
ROBERT MORRISON.+Among the early settlers of Adams county who acted a conspicuous part in its early development, was Gen. Robert Morrison. He was born in the county of Au- trim, Ireland, Nov. 27, 1782. When he was an infant his father died, leaving the sole care of the son to the widowed mother. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was a good woman. It was probably to her influenco that he owed much of his future usefulness in life. He also was much benefitted by the kindly instructions of Mr. Brown, the family pastor. When near the age of manhood he joined the association of " United Irishmen," a combination formed in opposition to the British Goverument. This association was crushed out by the Govern- meut, and mauy of the members were compelled to flee from their native conntry. Though the connivance of Lord Fitzgerald, who was in sympathy with thia organization, young Morrison managed to escape. He, together with his mother and unele, landed in New York in 1810. He was now in his 19th year. This party did not stay long in New York, but proceeded to South Carolina, where two of his father's brothers. with thelr familiea were living, with one of whom they stopped. They re- mained but a short time in South Carolina .: From there they made their way to Ky., and stopped a while'near Flemingsburg. When he arrived at that. place ail his worldly fiossessions, amounted to his clothes and two dollars in money .. Here he worked on a farm a while. During his sojourn in Ky, he made a profession of religion, and united with the Associated Reformed church, under the pastoral care of Rev. John Steelc. . Here he married Miss Mary Mitchell, sister of the late Judge Mitchell, of
61
HISTORICAL. SKETCH OF ADAMS.COUNTY, OHIO.
Proble county Ohio. The day after their marriage, they set out for Ohio, the bride's father and fully and Mr. Morrison's mother and unele accummuyIng them. This was in the I'll of 1803. They came to Adams county and settled on Cherry furk. Mr. Morrison hin now got money enough to buy a pelee . of land. This fumi was at that time an nubroken forest, and hind to be cleared unt before he could raise erops. With good health, he soon had'a portion of' it under cultivation, and lived a quiet, happy life, until he suffered the saddest bereavement of his life, in the sudden und unexpected death of his wife. Now, with the denrest object of his affection, snatched away from him and the light of his home departed, all his earthly hopes' acemed ernsherd. Life to him hud lost all its charms. Though six young children, one of them only seven days old at the time of his mother's dealh, wero lef't te hils sole care, for a time over- come with geiet and a sense of his sudden foss, he seemed indif- ferent to all workily objeets. He was roused from hls lethargy by his country's call for defenders to repel a threatened Invasion. Fort Wayne was in danger of falling into the hands of tho British and Indians. Leaving his children lu the care of his mother and anele, who had accompanled him from Ky., and were living with him at the time, he hastoned to Its relief. In this expedition be commanded a cavalry company, and served inder Col. Trimble, afterwards Governor of the State. There was some skirmishing bet no general engagemont. Fort Wayne was saved from falling into the hands of the enemy. When the " general call " was made for men In 1814, Mr. Morrison was drafted. He served as Capt, of Infantry. Being the oldest fapt. in the regiment he neted for a while as Col. and com- manded the regiment. There was, however, but little fighting, On the 28th of Aune, 1814, he was married to his second wife Miss Phebe Metiown. In ISI, he was ordained a ruling elder in the Associated Reformed Presbyterian, now United Presbyterian Congregation of Cherry Fork, of which he had been a member since 1805. In 1817, M :. Morrison was elected a representative in the Obio Legislature. Hle was re-elected for threo successivo terms, serving in all four terms in that body. Hlo declined any further re-election. While in the Legislatnro ho bad for his as- sociales Gen. Harrisoo, Charles Hammond, Duncan MsAathur, and many others who became prominent men. About this time, he was appointed Brigadier General of Militla, and was generally afterwards designated as Gen. Morrison, His ednea- tion and ability as a speaker did not qualify him to be a leader wuong such men. On declining a re-election he was appointed Associate Judge of the Court of Common Plens. With this ex- ception of a part of one term, he served from 1821 to 1850. Ile was abont twenty-five years on tho beneh. Hic was hat the mere cipher on the bench that associate judges were supposed to be. He was possessed of sound judgment, good sense, and understood the principles of law, and offen held court himself in place of the President Judge. His advice uniformly was, "keep ont of law, if you can. " After the year 1850, when the office of Associate Judge was abolished, Gen. Morrison held no office of Sude. He was solicited to become a candidate and was assured of success but declined. In the meantime, he lived on kis farm, engaged in manual labor, enjoying the esteem of all who knew bim. In the latter years of his life, the infirmities of age began to creep upon him, which gradually increased until his strength gave way, and he departed this life Feb. 11, 1873, in the Mist year of his nge. Few of our pioneers have lived a more unobstrusive and yet useful lite than did Gen. Morrison. .
ADDENDA.
Finsr Coour or QUARTKE SESSIONS.
'This court met int session at Manchester, in Sept., 1797. This Was soon after the organization of the county, and the fret court thad mel.
"The tuembers present were; Nathaniel Massic, John Bens- ley, John Bellie, Thomas Wetherington, Hugh Cochran, Benja- min Goodin, Thomas Scott, Thomas Kirker ; David Edie, Sheriff; Andrew Ellison, Coroner; Job Denning, Crier.
The cenrl proceeded to business, and appointed Benjamin Winston and Ferguson Moore, Stroet Commissioners for the own of Chillicothe.
A grand jury was called, consisting of James January, foro- luan; Thomis Massie, John Barrett, John Ellison, Danenn Mo- Isenzie, Jesse Eastburn, Elisha Waldron, John Lodwlek, Stephen Bayless, Robert Ellison, William MeIntire, Nathanlel Washburn, Zeptanninh Wade, James Naylor nud Jncob Platt.
This was the first grand jury In Adams county.
VIENT COUNT UNDER THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
The tirat court In Adams county, under tho laws and consti- tution of the State, was held at Washington, Aug. 2, 1803.
David Edie, Hosoa Moore and Needham Perry, Assoclate Judges, appeared, produced their commissions I'rom Gov. Edward
Tilllu, sealed with the State seal and conntorsigned by The Seero- rotary of State, and having taken the onth of offlee, took thelr watts upon the bench.
The first act they did was to appoint Josoph Darlinton, Clerk pro fem. They next appointed Israel Donaldson to examine the different candidates for the otllee of County Surveyor ; Nathaniel Beasley received the appointment.
There seems to have been no jury of any kind, or presiding judge at this court.
The next session was held Oet. 8. It appears to have met to attend to appointing administrators on estates, but JJos- oph Darlinton was appointed County Recorder. There was a session of only one day. On the second day of November anoth- er session of one day was held.
Another session commenced Dec. 6, 1803,, On this day Joseph Darlinton was appointed permanent Clerk, which position did eventually appear to be permanent, as he held the otlee continu- ously for forty-two years,
EARLY LAWS.
The progress of nations ard peoples in civilization, e.ilture and refinement, can be traced in their laws as accurately as in any of their other institutions. A reference to Chase's statutes will show the ideas of the carly settlers of the State in regard to the reformatory influences they thought best adapted to advance the happiness of the people.
In looking over the punishments. of crimes we are forcibly reminded of the bloody code of Draco, the first Athenian law- giver, when the light of civilization was just beginning to dawn upon the world.
On page 98, vol. 1, section 4, an act for the punishments of erimes, declares that any one burning a dwelling house, or ad- joining buildings, or aiding, or assisting, to burn such buildings, shall be deemed guilty of arson, and that he or she upon convic- tion thereof, "shall be whipped not exceeding thirty-nine stripes, and pat in the pillory not exceeding two hours, and contined in the gaol not exceeding three years, and forfeit his or her estate, both real and personal, ont of which, if sufficient, the sufferer shall be reimbursed for his loss, and in case death shall result from the burning of such building, then the offender shall suffer the pains of death." .
Sec. 5 provides that if one breaks into a'dwelling honse, shop or store in the night time, with a view or intention of stealing anything therefrom, that he or she, shall be deemed guilty of burglary, and shall be whipped not exceeding thirty-nine stripes, and shall give sureties for good behavior for three years, and in default of sureties, shall be committed to Jail for three years.
Soc. 6 provides, that If any one thus entering a building, shall actually steal anything, that he, she, or they, in addition, shall be tined treble the value of the articles stolon, and if the person so brenking or entering any house shall commit or attempt to con- mit any violence or nbuse, or shall be armed with any dangerous weapons that indicato a violent intention, he, she, or they, sin. Il forfeit all their estate, both personal and real, and be committed to jail for a term not exceeding forty years.
Sce. 12. Any one committing perjury, or refusing to testify, shall be tined not exceeding sixty dollars, or be whipped not ex- ceeding thirty-nine stripes, and be placed in the pillory not ex- ceeding two hours, and torfelt all the rights of eliizenship. Any one procuring or alding the commission of perjury, to be liable to the same penalties.
Sce. 17 panishes assault and battery with a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars, and the court may, at Its discretion, re- quire the offender to give security for good behavior for a period not exceeding one year.
Sec. 19 punishes children and servants who disobey the law- ful commands of their parents or masters, by imprisonment in the jail, there to remain until they shall. humble themselves to their parents er masters satisfaction, and if a child or servant shall presmme to assan't a pareut or mastor, they shall be whip- ped not oxceeding ten stripes.
Sec. 20, provides that If any person shall be convicted of drunkenness, he shall be fined five dimes for the first offonse, and one dollar for cach succeeding one, and if he neglects or refuses to pay the fine, he shall be set in the stocke for the space of one honr, Complaints under this section to be made in two days.
Sce. 21, after reelting a homily on the beautles of purity and holiness, and onjoining thor observance, declares that any one using Idle, valu and obscene conversation, prol'ano cursing and swearing, capeclally Irreverently mentioning the name of the Su- preme Being In any of the divine characters or attributes of lils of lils name, It Is declared the government will considor As un- worthy of Its confidonce all those who obstinately violate theso injunctions.
Scc. 22 enjoins that the eltizens abstain from all labor on the Subbath day, oxcept works of necessity or charity.
On pagos 146-7, see. 1, wo find an amendment providing, that any person stealing money or any kind of property whatever, to tho amount of one hundred and fifty cents ($1.50), the offender shall have judgment to be Immediately and publicly whipped upon lils or her baro back, not exceeding fifteen lashes, or be fined not exceeding three dollars, and If able, to make restitution
to the party wranged, paying also the charges of proscention and whipping, If not able to pay to he sent to the Work-house, and Kept at hard labor twelve days-any law to the contrary tot. withstanding.
The law punishing arson was amended Dec. 19, 179D, as may be seen on page 283. See. 1, declares: "That if any person or persons shall wilfully or maliciously burn or cause to be burned, or shall wilfully and knowingly aid or assist In burulng any dwelling-house, store-house, barn, stable or other building adjoin- ing thereto, or if any person or persons shall wilfully attempt to burn by setting fire to any dwelling-house, store-house, barn, stable or other building adjoining thereto, every person so offend- ings shall ou conviction thereof suffer death."
The itnlies and capitals are ours.
The Legislature at its session of 1801-5, made some oflier changes in the punishment of crimes,
Arson (p. 139, See. 6,) where hazard lo the life of any person was caused, the offender was to suffer death,
Sec. 8, maiming with malice aforethought was punished by death. Forgery (p. 410, See. 11,) was punished with thirty-nind stripes on the naked back.
Counterfeiting gold, silver or copper coin was punished besides fine, etc., with thirty-nine stripes on the naked back.
Robbery (p. 111, See. 20.) besides tines and imprisonment was punished with not exceeding fifty-nine stripes on the naked bart, for the first, and not exceeding a hundred stripes for the second offense. Horse-stealing (p. 111, See. 22.) was punished not ex- reeding lifty-nine stripes for the first offense, and not exceeding one hundred stripes for the second.
By an amendment passed Feb. 20, 1800, (p. 614, See. 8,) the penalty for intentionally and maliciously mximing is increased to not exceed one handred and fifty stripes on the naked back.
Wounding with intent to marder (vol. 2, p. 755, Sec. 4.) to be whippe.I not exceeding tifty-nine stripes on his or her naked back, etc. For destroying fruit trees (p. 756, Sec. 7.) to be whip- ped not exceeding fifty stripes on the naked back, (passed Jan. 22. 1811.)
It was necessary to provide means for inflicting the panish. muents the law demanded.
The Sheriff' was the agent to excente the sentences of the courts, and as so considerable a portion of these punish- ments consisted of imprisonment, standing in the pillory and whipping, the laws required the Commissioners to provide jails, whipging posts, pillories and "so many stocks as may be necessary for the punishment of offenders. " See Chase's statutes, pp. 122, 131.
WIRtPING-POST IN WEST UNION.
li was of course necessary, under these laws, for Adams county to have a whipping-post, to execute the sentences of the courts. For that purpose they utilized a small poplar tree that stood near where the Christian Union church is situated in West I'nien, to which a number of poor fellows have been tied and punished with many stripes apon their bare backs, Though the laws was inexorable and made no distinction between male and Cetaale transgressors, as will be seen, yet we find no record to show that any woman in Adams county over suffered the In- fictions of its penalties at the whipping-post or pillory. It is probable that it was generally the lowest class of men that suf- fored these penalties, while its fall power comes down on the poor negro like the " hammer of Thod, " for we read on the court records of Ang. 18, 1812, that George, a black man of Sprigg township, who had the day before been tried and found guilty of stealing & horse of Mr. Matson, was brought into court to receive his sentence. He was sentenced by the Judge to pay a fine of $500, and lo be whipped at 5 o'clock that afternoon, with tifty stripes on his naked back. He was contined in jail for some time afterwards, hat how long we do not know.
On the same day another colored man of Spring township was sentenced for stealing a pair of shoes worth $125 from Absalom Burkham, to receive five stripes on his naked back, and pas a tine of $1.
Whites, as The records show, did not wholly escape the em- brace they were required to give the poplar tree ; among these cases was a boy or young mu, who was . whipped eight lashes for stealing a kulfe worth n shilling-a white man for stealing $1, was whipped with ten lashes nud flued, etc.
MORGAN'S RAID
Morgan and his men In his memorablo raid through Ohlo entered Winchester about 8 o'clock, a. m., July 15, 1863. They there helped themselves to whatever. they wanted. They. rifled Wilkins und Thompson's store of $8,000 worth of goods, then went through to 1. IL. de Bruin's store to the amount of $1,000 worth of goods, und Hobblus Brothers suffered te tho amount of $2,500. They then pursued their course towards North Liberty aud Eekmansville, At North Liberty thoy burned the bridge over Cherry Fork, and at Rekmansville, an inoffenalve old man, name.l Willlam ; Johnson, was shot and killod ; a portion of, the raldora passed Horshasville, helping themselves Ilborally from G. A. Patton's store. They theu passed eastwurdly, going
62
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ADAMS. COUNTY, OHIO.
through the villaga of Jacksonville, where Morgan himself stayed all night ; and from thence passed ou eastwardly.
Aside from their plundsriag and robbing, especially of borse», they committed but littlo depredntions.
FurFLATION AND STATISTI'S-COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE L'OPULATION OF ADAMS COUNTY.
1.
This furnace was so named because stenm wna used, mid was built in 1814. by Andrew Ellison and Christian llenner. It manufactured hollow-ware. The tirm was James Rogers, Geo. Sample, & Co. Andrew Ellison, Jr., manager. R. llamilton. clerk. It passed through several parties, and was continued until abont 1839, when it flually ceased to be operated. It wns located in Meigs township, something over a mile east of Jack- sonville. A flouring mill still ren.nins.
MARNIE FURNACE.
Was located in tao southern portion of Bratton township. It was built in 1817 by Duncan McArthur and Thomas Jones, who run it until 1832 or '33; but liko tho others it become un- profitable and ceased to work.
BRUSH CREEK FOROE.
This forgo was built about 1823, by Valentine Fear, John Means, John Sparks and Jaines Rodgers. After running it some years, and after passing throgult several hands it ceased business.
TOBACCO.
The tobacco plant was unknown to the European nations, until the discovery of the American continents, when it was first noticed by sailors sent ashore by Columbus in Cuba. They found to their astonishment the natives, puffing smoke from their mouths and noses, which they afterwards learned was derived from the dried leaves of this . plant. The smoke was inhaled through a hollow cane, one end of which was in- troduced into the mouth. As other portions of the continent were explored, tobacco was everywhere found and used in various ways by all the tributes from the north-west coast to Patagonia. It was used as snuff by pulverizing the day leaves, also, by rolling the leaves in the form of cigars and smoking them, as well as smoking it in pipes. Thus all the modes in which this plant is at present used. appear to have been in com- mon practice among the ancient Americans or Indians, when this country was first discoved by Enropeans. Its use is traced still furtber back to the more remote periods, by the pipes that are found in the ancient mounds and other monuments of the unknown races that inhabited this continent before the Indian tribes. The name tobacco is supposed to be derived from the Indian tobaccos, given by the Caribs to the pipe in which they smoked the plant. Others, however, derive it from Tobacco, a province of Mexico, and others from Tobacco in the gulf of Florida, while others still claim its origin from the Island of Tobago, one of the Caribbees. The name of the genus is de- rived from that of the French ambassador to Portugal, Jean Nicot, who brought iu 1560, some tobacco from Lisbon to France. Its uso was probably introduced into England, by Sir Walter Raleigh, who was a man of style and fashion, and smoked it in London, on his return form America to the great metropolis. A ship load of disheartened colonists returning in one of Sir Francis Drake's sbips in 1685, carried some of the seed with them that introduced its cultivation into England, from whence its growth has extended to every quarter of the globe, until it now grows wild in some parts of Asia and Africa. Although the English Government looked upon its introduction with distavor, and took measures to suppress its use. James 1, then King of England, wrote a Phillipie against it called "Counter Blast,' yet its use has continued to increase and extend. nutil it has now become an article of general use among all nations and all people in every quarter of the globe, and its cultivation, one of the great industries of the world. It grows in a wide range of latitude. To give some idea of the vast amount raised we will. briefly state that
Produces Annually.
Germany.
40,000 tons.
Austria and llungary.
45,000 :
Belgium
8,000
France.
14,009 ..
Algeria
7,000
llolland and her colonies. ..
-12,000
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