Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 4

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 4

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

and doesn't wear out. A little wind or sun easily gets the snow oway from the little black cones, and gives the trees a safe and com- fortable appearance. I have not lost a tree since we began using cinders. We tried wire screen, which, perhaps looks more plausible than are many of the things suggested and used, but this was not satisfactory. After placing it around the tree and pressing it in the ground a little, it looked all right, but was heaved up by the frost an inch or more- just right for the mice to get in their work. I cannot emphasize too much the use of cin- ders. If I were not within hauling distance, I would have it shipped in by the carload. It costs but a trifle. Rabbits have done us but little harm. They seem to be contented with cutting some of the tips from low branches of bearing trees. We never pasture with any stock whatever ; it cannot be done without dam- age to the orchard.

"As to the results of the grass mulch sys- tem, it must be apparent that the ground is becoming richer all the time, with the best natural fertilizer, I will call it, for the welfare of the orchard. We have a reservoir of humus all over the orchard, but more especially under the trees, from the slow decomposition of the mulch on the under side. Here. especially, is where the bacteria delight most to put in their good work, where it is always moist.

"Our orchard land is underlaid with shale, but quite deep : has a good depth of rich loam by nature, with a brash red clay sub-soil (no gravel). Yet it has become so porous that practically all the rainfall is absorbed in the ground. 1 am very sure that the water never runs out from the mulch under the trees, not even on the side hills. How different it is with dust mulch, especially after drouths in the summer, when rain is so much needed. It frequently comes in torrents: the ground is puddled in an instant, and the water runs off almost as slick as from a goose's back ; and. if the land is hilly or rolling (as usually the best orchard land is), cuts out gullies, and washes much of the best soil into the valleys and streams. In the next place the tempera-

ture is in a measure equalized : the ground under the mulch trees is never so hot in the summer and never freezes much in winter. It is quite possible for the roots to be injured by very hard freezing. Some time since, I tested the temperature of the ground in the heat of summer, under the trees, with thermometers. Under one, the ground was perfectly clean ; the other was mulched. In each case, the bot- tom of the thermometer rested on the ground, and both in the shade of the trees. I watched them for several days, at 6 o'clock A. M., I o'clock P. M., and 6 in the evening ; the tem- perature did not run quite even, but the aver- age was two and one-half to three degrees cooler under the mulched tree. I was quite satisfied with this experiment. Extreme tem- peratures are not best, and the escape of hu- midity is prevented. These conditions also hold good in spring time; the ground warms up slower under the mulch and the bloom is retarded several days.

"Things of less importance-apples that drop are clean, and are not usually bruised. Even the leaves are caught up in the mulch in the fall. and are where they will do the most good. It is quite generally conceded now, that apples color better and keep better where mulch is used. If this be the case, and I think it is, they are of better quality also, and I verily believe the trees are longer lived. "1 'got onto' this system from my pio- neer days-clearing up primitive forest. The leaves, bark, rotten branches, etc., were eight to twelve inches deep, and are added to each year, while decomposition is going on under- neath. A better mulch could not be provided for the timber by any artificial means. Here Nature has done her own plowing for thou- sands of years. I have never forgotten how hard it was to walk on this mulch in the winter time-being heaved up by the little needles of ice and fine earth, honeycomb fashion, under- nenth. The ground was always moist and rich under this mulch. It seemed to me this would be an ideal condition to have under my trees. Nature is certainly a wonderful teacher, and never weans her children. I think it is Shakes-

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

peare who says that the student of nature may find

'Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything.'

I have learned most from the voiceless tongues of the trees.

"I am very sure with this system it is pos- sible for the trees to ripen annual crops, an.l form fruit buds for the next year. Under other conditions, the trees frequently suffer so severely from drouths that the crop is not well matured, and fruit buds are not formed for the following season. Failure of crops very seldom comes from freezing-out in spring- time. It is for want of bloom and vigorous trees. It has been proved that well grown ap- ples contain over ninety per cent. of water. I am glad that it is possible to retain it in the ground ; otherwise we would not have so much water to haul out at harvest time. In the fall of 1906, we harvested our eleventh or twelfth consecutive paying crop annually since 1893 or 1894. I can't recall the season, but one year, our apples, when as large as big marbles, were frozen, in June, as hard as rocks. No human being can prevent a calamity of that kind. This section of the orchard that is twenty years old this spring ( 1908), and vields ten to twenty bushels per tree-sorted in the orchard, all handled in crates of one to one-half bushels (a tree can easily be mea- sured), hauled in every day and stacked up in our cold storage.

"Some trees of my own planting in the sec- tion of the old orchard forty-five years old. have harvested forty-five bushels and over per tree. These old friends do not bear such uni- form crops any more. They can afford in their declining years to take a little more rest.

" A few weeks ago, looking over the or- chard, I saw plenty of fruit buds, as I thought. and cut small branches of different varieties. and set them up in a jardiniere filled with water in a warm room. Now they are in bloom, and I am reminded of when the 'apple trees are in blossom and the bobolinks are singin'.'

"In conclusion, it seems to me quite pos- sible to have the orchard in such a condition. by supplying its every want, as to overcome sufficiently the unfavorable elements, so as to have a crop annually."

Joseph H. Cunningham, florist, Delaware. is the only one in this county who is engaged in this business on a scale of any importance. He learned the business with the late George W. Campbell, who was one of the foremost Ohio horticulturalists of his day. In 1890. Mr. Cunningham established himself at his present location on West William Street, with a greenhouse 72 × 20 feet in dimensions. His business has grown steadily, and he now has 10,000 feet of glass. He does a general flor- ist's business, and a glance at his shipping re- ceipts for almost any day will show shipments going to points as widely separated as Phila- delphia and San Francisco, and New Orleans and St. Paul, Minnesota.

The difficulty the early settlers met with in acquiring stock can hardly be appreciated at this day. Sheep were unknown and horses were only less unfamiliar. Cattle and hogs were easily kept, so far as feeding was con- cerned, but another difficulty involved them. The woods abounded with wolves and bears which soon learned the toothsome qualities of beef and pork. Endless devices were invented to protect these valuable adjuncts of the early settlement from these wild marauders, but with limited success. Time and again were the early settlers aroused from their sleep to find the hope of a winter's supply in the clutches of a bear or hopelessly destroyed by wolves. Hogs were allowed to breed wild in the woods. Occasionally they were brought into a pen for the purpose of marking them by sundry slits in the ears. Such occasions were frequently the scene of extreme personal danger, and called forth all the intrepid daring inculcated by a life in the woods. The animals, more than half wild, charged upon their tormentors. and then it was expected that the young man would quickly jump aside, fling himself upon the back of the infuriated beast, and, seizing him by the ears, hold him still enough to make the necessary marking. These hogs were sold

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

to itinerant buyers, who collected them in droves, taking them to Zanesville, swimming the Muskingum on the way. The shrewd set- tler always sold his hogs with the understand- ing that the buyer was to deliver them him- self. This often proved the larger part of the bargain, and the dealer, wearied out and dis- gusted, would be glad to compromise the mat- ter by leaving the hogs and a good part of the purchase-price with the settler. A hog turn- ing 200 pounds was considered a heavy-weight, and a drove averaging this would be the pride of a dealer and the envy of his fellows. At an early day Stephen Bennett and David and Jo- seph Prince of Berkshire Township followed the business of driving hogs to Baltimore. The task of driving such herds of swine as they took to market can hardly be appreciated at this day. On account of their wildness they were likely to stampede at the first opportunity. and numbers of hogs were lost on every trip. At an early time Stephen Bennett brought sheep from Kentucky and traded them for hogs, and it took a good hog in those days to buy a sheep.

This is a good corn country, and raising and feeding all kinds of live stock has always been a profitable and popular occupation with the farmer. The first blooded cattle were brought to Delaware County about 1826 by Judge Hosea Williams and Wilder Joy. These were bought in Pickaway County, and among them was a dark roan short-horn bull that was a fine animal for that day. most of the fine breeds in this section having been crossed un- til the stock was deteriorating. Gilbert Van Horn brought some Durhams into the county about 1836, and a few years later a few were purchased by a Mr. Jones of Radnor ( which one of the very numerous citizens of that name we have been unable to learn), from M. S. Sullivant of Columbus, From that time to the present the grade of the cattle bred in the county has constantly been improving, owing to the efforts of a few men in different sec- tions who have maintained fine herds. Among those of the earlier day we may mention T. F. Joy. N. Leonard, Norman Perfect. T. C. Jones and Chauncy Hills. The latter gentle-

man. in 1854. purchased a small farm in Troy Township, which he named "Crystal Spring Farm." By subsequent purchases he increased the size of this farm until it included some 400 acres. This place has ever since been fa- mous as the home of the best of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle. Shropshire sheep and York- shire hogs. The foundation for this reputation was laid at that time by the purchase of the fine young shorthorn bull, Master Miller, 693. and the beautiful young Rose of Sharon heifer. Fanny Fern by Prince Charles the 2nd "32113," from the Messrs. Renick. At this time, and for the next six years, T. C. Jones was associated with Mr. Hills, the firm name being Hills & Jones. In 1862 the herd was divided. Mr. Hills's success as a breeder of short-horns was well attested many years ago by the choice of numbers of his herd for ex- port to Great Britain, where they graced the pastures of Lord Dunmore at Stirling, and produced descendants that were most success- ful in the show-ring. Two animals that Mr. Hills bred were shipped to England by the purchaser and sold for about $7,500. For many years F. P. Vergon was successful as a breeder of short-horn cattle. Among others. we' may mention John Worline, of Marlbor- ough, who is one of the oldest short-horn breeders in the county, and keeps a herd of perhaps twenty-five registered cattle. The breeding business established by T. C. Jones was continued by his son. Arthur H., until about 1902. when he sold the herd at auction. At that time Hough Bros., of Berkshire Town- ship, purchased some of the Jones stock, and since that time have been breeding short-horn and polled Durham cattle. They now have about eighty head, of which thirty are regis- tered. Some of their fine animals have been imported from Canada. Price & Hills, of Radnor Township, also have a herd of these cattle. For many years, T. R. Smith, of Berlin Township, was a breeder of Devonshire cattle. M. B. Shoemaker and Son bred thoroughbred Hereford cattle for a number of years prior to 1900. Their farm was near Ashley, and they had a bull and a small herd of cows. There are many other farmers who

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

have smaller herds of fine stock. In the south- ern part of the county dairying seems to be growing in favor. The facilities for shipping milk to Columbus where the demand is con- stant, and the close proximity of good cream- eries, has given an impetus to this department of agriculture.

Undoubtedly Capt. V. T. Hills as a breeder of Red Polled cattle has made Delaware County more widely known among cattle breeders in the United States than any other individual. It is claimed by breeders of these cattle that they combine the capacity of milk and beef production in the same individual to an equal if not to a greater degree than any other breed. In 1887 Capt. Hills purchased eight cows and one bull-the best that were to be had in England. By the time the herd reached Delaware County, it numbered seven- teen. The Bull Pando, 1254, proved to be a very valuable animal, leaving his impress on many of his get. He was one of the very great bulls of the breed. The cows of this importation were a useful lot. Chic was never heaten in the show ring: she was first at the World's Columbian Exposition, and champion cow over all breeds in the "General Purpose" class, twenty-seven prize cows of all breeds competing. Other importations were made from time to time, the last, in 1900, compris- ing eighteen cows and two bulls. For ten or twelve years, beginning with the year 1890. Capt. Hills exhibited at leading fairs all over the country, taking over 400 honors. Two of the five cows ( Tryste, No. 5169, aged thirteen years, and Mayflower 2nd. No. 8025. eight years) representing this breed in the official milk test conducted in the Model Dairy at the Pan-American Exposition, in 1901. were owned by Capt. Hills, and were it not for the energy and personal work of Capt. Hills, who was prevailed upon by the earnest solicitation of the committee appointed by the Red Polled Cattle Club of America, to select these five cows, the breed would not have been repre- sented at the test. There were ten breeds, represented by five cows each, in the test- Jerseys, Guernseys. Ayrshires. Holsteins. Polled Jerseys, Shorthorns, Brown Swiss.

French Canadians, Dutch Belted and Red Polls. Experienced men, furnished by the various breeders' associations, spent months in making selections of representative cows of the several breeds, with the result that the Ayrshires, Jerseys, Holsteins, Shorthorns and French Canadians were said by competent au- thority to be "the finest lot of cattle of these breeds ever seen together." With these five herds the Canadian Government sent at its own expense, one general superintendent, and with each of the herds was a manager, expert in compounding rations, as well as an ex- perienced feeder or care taker. The Red Polls were in charge of a herdsman only. Mr. R. E. Krider, who had never compounded a balanced ration in his life. Capt. Hills's cow, May- flower 2nd, won second place in butter profit out of the fifty cows tested. excelling all the Jerseys, all the Ayrshires, all the Holsteins and four of the five Guernseys. In writing the foregoing, we have made free use of a pam- phlet issued by the Red Polled Cattle Club of America, in 1903.

In fat stock shows, steers from Capt. Hills's herd have been shown with credit. Of one shown in 1900, the expert of the Breed- er's Gasette said, in speaking of the slaughter test : "Star presented one of the most beauti- ful and profitable carcasses on the hooks. He had roasts of equal thickness of the cham- pion's, and much better marbled, and he had no more excess of fat. His rounds were not so well filled, however, down in the lower parts where the meat is cheap."

In October. 1902, Capt. Hills sold the larger part of his herd at public auction in Chicago. There were eiglity females, four- teen bulls and fifteen calves at foot, and the prices paid at this sale made an average price of $283 per head for all ages. Capt. Hills still maintains a small herd at his farm in Scioto Township. A herd of these cattle is also kept by Mr. James Raney, of Baltimore, on his farm in Scioto Township.

The breeding of fine sheep has long been an important industry in this county. Many years ago, Miner Tone, of Liberty Township. owned one of the finest herds of sheep in the

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

State. This flock passed into the possession of R. K. Willis, who for many years gave the most careful and intelligent attention to sheep breeding. Thomas Jones, of Delaware Town- ship, also bred fine sheep. Wesley Bishop, of Troy Township, has been engaged in the Me- rino sheep industry since 1880 on Pleasant Hill Farm. He has the largest flock of pure bred Merino sheep in Delaware County, and has done much toward raising the sheep standard in this section. One of the best known Merino collections in the country is owned by C. H. Bell, of Ashley. The flock was founded more than forty years ago by the father of the present owner, and for the past twenty years has been making fame by its winnings at the big State and international shows. In 1888, the Bell flock won all the firsts and seconds at the Ohio Centennial show, and the younger Bell has kept the flock up to the high standard established by his father. Many of the rams bred here bring from $roo to $200 each. In 1904. R. D. Mc- Gonigle & Sons started in the Merino busi- ness with upwards of thirty fine sheep. They have established a notable flock, from which they have sent prize winners to State fairs in Ohio, Virginia, Illinois, Michigan and New York. J. C. Wood, of Delaware, proprietor of Wood's Big Walnut Farm in Porter Town- ship, started his flock about eleven years ago, and has some of the best-bred sheep in the State. Mr. Wood is one of the active and in- fluential members of the Delaine Merino As- sociation. William E. Gallant, of Delaware Township, also has a flock of these sheep. In March, 1905, there came to Delaware Town- ship one of the best-known sheep breeders in the United States, S. M. Cleaver. A recent issue of the American Sheep Breeder says the coming of Mr. Cleaver will bring Delaware more in the eye of the Merino sheep public than any other spot in America. The same paper also says: "As a judge and critic of Merino sheep he is the best man of his time, and has no equal in the mating of sire and dam." Maplewood Stock Farm, the present scene of Mr. Cleaver's labors, is located in the southern part of Delaware Township, where the C. D.

& M. interurban line crosses Sandusky Street. Mr. Cleaver has always been prominent in organizing the different associations of Me- rino breeders, in several of which he has held official position. In 1905, he helped organize the Consolidated Association of Merino Breed- ers, and has been its secretary since that time. He is also secretary of the American Delaine Merino Sheep Association of Delaware. Mr. Cleaver ceased exhibiting a number of years ago, and since that time he has supplied many exhibitors with prize-winning stock. He owns some of the most noted rams in the country- Gold Standard, Fortune, Improver and Oil King having a reputation with breeders every- where.

The Shropshire flock, which was started at Crystal Spring Farm in 1876 and is now kept by Mr. F. P. Hills on Oakland Farm, Peru Township, Morrow County, is the oldest in the State of Ohio. The foundation stock was imported from several of the most dis- tinguished breeders in Great Britain, and nu- merous additions were afterward made from the flocks of Joseph Beach, J. Pulley. J. Bowen Jones, H. Lovatt, Thomas Fenn, T. S. Minton. Messrs. Evans & Everell, W. Ward and others who rank high as breeders of this popular breed in their native home. The strongest point in their favor in this country is their great value for crossing upon other breeds lacking in mutton qualities-notably the Com- mon Merino, which compose probably ninety to ninety-five per cent. of all the sheep in the United States. The half-bloods make good feeders and command the highest prices in our markets, being largely purchased for exporta- tion to England, there being no embargo upon them, and sell from three to five cents more than our beef. Shropshires clip about eight pounds of medium combing-wool, which sells higher than any other sort. Rams weigh from 150 to 250 pounds, and ewes from 150 to 200 pounds, when in good condition. They are prolific, and mature early.

T. R. Smith raises sheep on an extensive scale, and there are many others who have fair- sized flocks of high-grade sheep, raised and fed for wool and mutton, among which we

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

may mention Lester Peet and Coridon McAl- lister, of Thompson Township.

Among the large and important flocks of Merino sheep in the county, is that of H. P. Miller, of Sunbury, which has been established over forty years. Mr. Miller's Delaine rams are registered in either the Standard or the Improved Delaine Association. They present a strong combination of desirable features. rather than any one single feature.

There are many fine herds of swine in the county, the favorite breeds being Duroc, Po- land China, Chester White. Many years ago Chauncy Hills introduced Yorkshire hogs, and more recently the firm of Price & Hills, of Radnor, have introduced the Hampshire breed. Charles Davis also has a herd of this breed.

For upwards of forty years the breeding of fine draft horses has received considerable attention. The most popular breed, because it may possibly be best adapted to this section. is the Percheron or Percheron-Norman, named for Le Perche and Normandy, in France. where they are extensively bred and whence they are imported into the United States. The first horse of this breed was brought into Ohio by Thomas Jones, who later, in 1879, came to Delaware Township and settled on a farmi on the Radnor Pike, which he named "Alder- brook." Among the early importers of these horses to this county. we may mention Covell Brothers, of Delaware, who were also inter- ested in the Radnor Importing Company and the Delaware Importing Company. These concerns sent representatives to France at dif- ferent times, to purchase horses for importa- tion. Among other individuals who were in- terested in importing. breeding or dealing in this breed at that time were W. H. Case, John and Edward Thompson, Capt. Solomon Wei- ser. Stephen Thomas of Radnor, Dr. John M. Rapp, and others. Some of the present day breeders and dealers are F. P. Hills. W. W. Ferguson, H. Domigan. Lewis Slack and Hough Brothers.

Welsh Mountain Ponies. This breed of ponies has existed in the mountainous districts

of Wales for centuries, and is a pure and dis- tinct variety of the horse. Their distinguish- ing characteristics are beauty of form, docility and hardihood; in all qualities which make ponies valuable, it is thought they have no equal. In England, where ponies are much used, they are very popular-no other breed more so, and frequently sell as high as $200 a head. Two head of these ponies were im- ported by the late Thomas Jones of Delaware from Liverpool in August, 1885, who selected them in person in the breeding district of Wałes. From that time to the present these ponies have been bred at Alderbrook Farm, which has been managed by Mr. Jones's daughter, Miss Winnifred Jones, since 1899. when advancing years compelled her father to retire from active business life. For about ten years F. P. Hills engaged in breeding these animals of which he had some splendid repre- sentatives. Among those who are now breed- ing Welsh ponies in this county are David Dyer and John Gregg in Berkshire Township. and R. J. Pumphrey of Delaware.

Shetland ponies. In 1887. Corrington Gavitt, better known by the familiar sobriquet of "Cobb" Gavitt, of the firm of Cobb Gavitt & Company, proprietors of Evergreen Park Shetland Pony Farm, near Ashley, imported the foundation stock of his present herd. They were purchased from the Marquis of London- derry. Bressy. Shetland Isle, who has the largest and best herd in the world. About seventy-five of these ponies are always to be found at Evergreen Park. whence they are shipped all over the country. Twenty-seven Shetland ponies were raised here in 1907. Thomas Jones. of Delaware Township, also im- ported and bred Shetlands. Tom Thumb, which he brought to this country, died in 1905 at the age of thirty-six years. In 1898. Livingston Brothers, of Leonardsburg, purchased from Mr. Jones two mares by Tom Thumb, and since that time they have been engaged in breeding. They now have eleven ponies on their place.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 4

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926