Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 67

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 67

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The same years that brought to Brown Township the pioneers we have already men- tioned, witnessed the arrival of others, who, at

the same land sales, purchased homes, among them, we may mention Andrew Finley. J. Fleming. Zenas Leonard, James, George, Ralph and E. Longwell, S. Harlow, Charles Cowgill, John Kensill and others. With such an influx of immigration the township rapidly settled up. Among those that came at a later date were John Walker and William Finley. Walker came from Virginia in 1832, but was a native of Ireland. Finley was a son-in-law of Walker, and settled first in Kingston Town- ship, but after a few years moved into Brown. The same year of Walker's settlement, a young man named Charles Neil, later known as "Uncle Charlie Neil," came in. Ile was also from Virginia, and also married a daugh- ter of Mr. Walker. Mr. Neil carried on an ashery, and taught school for some ten years, when he was elected county surveyor. This office was given to him by the people of Dela- ware County from 1842 to 1864 without any solicitation on his part. In the latter year, unknown to him, he was nominated, and afterward, elected to the office of county audi- tor, which office he held for two terms. Dur- ing his second term as auditor he was elected mayor of the city of Delaware by an over- whelming majority. A short time after the settlement of the Thurstons. Eatons and others already mentioned, Hugh Cunningham came from Pennsylvania and located on what was later known as the Hann farm. In 1827 Hugh Lee located in Brown Township, on what was then called the Peter Baker farm." He was a branch of the illustrious Lee family. His son John Calvin Lee was born on this place, rose to the rank of brigadier-general during the civil war. and after its close, was twice elevated to the position of lieutenant governor of the State, on the same ticket that made Rutherford B. Hayes governor. Dr. Lyman Potter, a native of New York, settled in Peru Township in 1821, and in 1844 moved into Brown. When somewhat advanced in life, he began the study of medicine with old Dr. Carney. of Berkshire, one of the early practitioners of the county. After practicing some years, Dr. Potter attended lectures at the Starling Medical College. from which he

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graduated in 1850. He then returned to his old location, the village of Eden, and contin- ued practice some years, later retiring to a farm, and giving up his practice except in the inimediate neighborhood. Israel Potter, a brother of the Doctor, settled in the same neighborhood and at the same time.

The first marriage in this pioneer settle- ment occurred in 1818, when a daughter of Daniel Thurston was united to Israel Wood. He had emigrated from the old home of the Thurstons in New York. The first death was that of the infant child of James Longwell in 1828, and was the first burial in the old graveyard just north of Eden village. The law had its first representative in Daniel Thurston, who was elected Justice of the Peace i11 1821, an office he held three years. Old Dr. Carney, of Berkshire, was the first practicing physician. From 1817 to 1842, he and Dr. Loofbourrow were the doctors for this section. The County Infirmary is located in this town- ship. Its history will be found in the chapter devoted to the institutions of the county. The first railroad built through Delaware County passed through the western part of this town- ship. It is now a part of the "Big Four" sys- tem. Leonardsburg. or Eden station, is the principal shipping point, and is located near the north line, six miles from Delaware. It was laid out by S. G. Caulkins in 1852, and was called Leonardsburg for A. Leonard, the first merchant.

The village of Eden was surveyed and laid out by Isaac Eaton, for the proprietors, Daniel G. Thurston and Isaac Leonard, who owned the land. The location chosen at the crossing of the road running east and west, and the one running north and south along the Creek, as an eligible site for a prosperous village. The first house in the village was a log cabin built by John Finley ; the first frame dwelling was put up by William Williams soon after his removal to the neighborhood. Joseph Leonard was the first merchant. He had the trade all to himself until 1838, when Williams & Loof- bourrow opened a store, and thus created com- petition. About 1829 or 1830, a blacksmith- shop was opened by C. Thrall. In 1838, the

Government commissioned C. M. Thrall the first postmaster at the village of Eden, and called the office Kilbourn. A little later a tavern was opened by Seymour Scott, the first in the place. The town hall was built by sub- scription, and is used for all public meetings.

The public officials for Brown Township for the year 1908, as reported to the county auditor, are as follows :

Henry R. Smith and John Reed, justices of the peace; Henry Kunze, S. T. Sheets, and J. A. Waldron, trustees; Charles Leonard, clerk; F. A. Stickney, treasurer ; Frank Hein- len, assessor; F. E. Mayfield and Harry Haney, constables.

CONCORD TOWNSHIP.

Lying in the southwest corner of Delaware County, Concord is one of the county's most interesting townships in point of historical heppenings and incidents of pioneer life. The derivation of its name is unknown, but the popular belief exists that it was named from the town of Concord, Massachusetts, of Revo- lutionary fame. Delaware was set off from Franklin County in 1808, and three townships established in the new county, of which Lib- erty was made to include what is now Concord. When Union Township was created June 16, 1809, it included that part of Concord lying west of the Scioto River. April 20, 1819, Concord Township came into being, its boundaries being fixed in the following man- ner: "Beginning at the county line between Franklin and Delaware Counties, on the east bank of the Scioto River, and running up the river to where the range line between 19 and 20 strikes the river ; thence north on said range line to the southeast corner of fourth quarter. fifth township, and twentieth range; thence west to the Scioto River, thence up said river to where the State Road from Delaware to Derby crosses the same; thence westward along the south line of said road until it strikes the westerly line of survey, and extra No. 2,994; thence southwardly on said line and on the west line of survey Nos. 2.993. 2,989, 2,998, 3.006, 3,005 and 2,991, to 'Franklin

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County line : thence east to the place of be- ginning." Very irregular in outline, it was taken from and added to so frequently in early days, it became a matter of jest as to whether those who resided near the border, would awaken in the morning in the same township in which they had sough repose the night be- fore. About 1852. Scioto Township was al- lowed one school district from that portion of Concord lying east of Scioto River, extending north, between the river and Delaware Town- ship, to the south line of Radnor. A few years later, on petition of the voters affected a school district was added from the southwest part of Delaware Township, for political reasons, it is thought ; and still later a small triangular part of the southwestern part of Liberty Township was added, but in a few years restored to that township. A school district lying in the bend of Mill Creek, in the northwest part of Concord, was segre- gated and annexed to Scioto. This was the last of the many changes. That part of the township lying west of the Scioto River, or- iginally formed a part of the old Virginia Military Lands, and the farms were laid out by the claimants' surveyors to suit them. being extended one direction to include a desirable building spot, another direction to take in a valuable spring, and so on as their fancy led them, without regard to sections or section lines. This land was heavily timbered with oak, walnut, hickory, sycamore and maple, and east of the river, between Bellepoint and Dela- ware Township, there was a vast swamp, con- sidered valueless in the early days. It was many years before there was a road to Dela- ware through this swamp, the settlers going to that city, either by the old pack-horse trail two miles south, or by Rigger's Ford, where the covered bridge on the Marysville Pike crossed the Scioto, and the State Road. After the surrounding forest had been cleared away and an effective system of drainage instituted. the swamp land was reclaimed and became very valuable as it was exceedingly fertile. Scioto River, Mill Creek, Big Run and Deer Lick Run are the streams of Concord Town- ship, and the first named, affording excellent

rafting in the days before the construction of many dams, drew many of the early residents who were thus placed within easy reach of Columbus and other river towns. The busi- ness of rafting was carried on extensively, trips down the river being made, sometimes, as far as the Ohio River. Mill Creek excelled in its water power, not showing the effect of the dry seasons as early as did the Scioto.

The first white settler of Concord was George Hill, an old Revolutionary soldier. who. in 1811, made his way from Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania, on pack horses. and settled two miles south of Bellpoint on the banks of the river. He built a log cabin on the site of the old Hill home, which he built of stone in 1823, and there with his family lived among the Indians, who were his only neighbors for a short time. His brother-in- law, Christopher Freshwater, followed him shortly to Delaware County, making the jour- ney from Pennsylvania, afoot, being handi- capped in his travel by a gun and broad-ax which he carried on his shoulder. He bought fifty acres adjoining Mr. Hill's, and for many years followed liis trade of carpentering. Many of his descendants still reside in the county. Joel Marsh, the third settler in point of time. located near Hill and Freshwater, and his marriage to a daughter of the former, was the first in the township. George Freshwater, son of Christopher, was the first white child born there, and Mrs. Hill. mother of George Hill, was the first who died in the township, as well as the first buried in Hill Cemetery. She was eighty years old when the journey was made from Pennsylvania, and died in 1821, aged ninety years. John Day. Sr., a negro slave. the property of George Hill, was brought here in 1811 and immediately upon arrival was granted his freedom. After living there some years he moved to Delaware. Among others of the name linked with Concord's early his- tory, may be mentioned those of William Car- son, who came in 1821; George Oller, who located on the east bank of the Scioto: James Kooken, the original proprietor of Bellepoint. who had been a man of prominence prior to locating in Concord in 1835: J. E. Hughes,

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step-son of James Kooken; John Robinson ; William Jackson, who was a child when his father brought him to the vicinity of White Sulphur Springs; D. W. C. Lugenbeel, who for more than half a century taught school with- out missing a term; John Cutler, first township treasurer and owner of 800 acres of land ; Daniel Creamer ; Francis Marley, the pioneer blacksmith; Joel Liggitt ; Gilbert Smith ; Jacob Wolford; John Black; Daniel Gardner; Wil- liam Stone; John Jones; Aaron Gillett; John Artz; Thomas Bryson ; and A. Depp, a colored resident whose coming dates back to 1834, when he purchased a tract of 400 acres. The last named was the organizer of the old col- ored Baptist Church, long since abandoned and torn down, which stood on his property and was known as "Depp's Church." Dr. Samuel White, another colored citizen, came in 1836 and for many years was a practicing physician near the Industrial Home. Among the first to locate in the Mill Creek Settlement was Colonel Seburn Hinton, who bought and settled upon 1,000 acres of land. There he built the first saw and grist mill of the town- ship, which afterward was enlarged and for many years did a flourishing business. In connection, he conducted a store at his mill. Others of Mill Creek settlers were William Smart, who came from Pennsylvania; Presley The first bridge in the township was built over Said: Daniel Robbins; and Randall Murphy. Mill Creek by the people of the neighborhood and was located on the line of the old San- dusky Millitary Road.

The White Sulphur Springs, or Fountain, as it is sometimes called, is the home of one of the State's most important institutions, The Girl's Industrial Home, one in which the county and state take a just pride. The history of the Springs date back to the time the firm of Davis & Richards made borings for salt, but instead of that article struck a great flow of sulphur water at a depth of 460 feet. They left off operations in discouragement, and the well remained in an unfinished state until 1842, when Nathaniel Hart conceived the idea of establishing a watering place for pleasure and health seekers. Purchasing the property

of its owner, Christopher Freshwater, he erec- ted a large building and several cottages for the accommodation of guests. His success was not such as anticipated and in time Mr. Hart sold to Andrew Wilson, Jr., who continued the place as a resort until 1865. At that date a transfer of the property was made to John Ferry, who remodeled, enlarged and refurn- ished the house at a considerable expense. He carried on the business with but little success until 1869, then sold the property to the State of Ohio, which established thereon the State Reform School for Girls, which project was the result of a petition to the Legislature by some of the benevolently inclined citizens of Delaware county. The name of the institution was changed in 1872 by special enactment of the Legislature to "The Girls Industrial Home."

The village of Bellepoint, situated in the angle formed at the junction of Mill Creek and Scioto River, was laid out by James Kooken in 1835, and wild speculation followed for a time, the value of lots going steadily up- ward on the strength of a plan to slack the Scioto River and fit it for steamboat naviga- tion. It was soon demonstrated that slack water navigation was impracticable, owing to the fall of the river between Bellepoint and Columbus, and choice lots in the new town be- came, suddenly, almost worthless. Its founder and a few others still strove to build up the town, but their efforts met with failure. A post office was established there in 1836-37, with Walter Borgan as postmaster. \ tavern, con- ducted by Josiah Reece, the blacksmith shop of Francis Marley, a church and school house, together with a few dwellings, was the extent of Bellepoint's claim to classification as a vil- lage.

Concord Township, peopled with an intel- ligent, refined and law-abiding class of citi- zens, was rudely awakened from its peaceful pursuits on September 8, 1838, when the news spread that a cold-blooded murder had been committed on the camp-meeting grounds, near Rigger's Ford. An Irishman, a stranger in the community, had been killed by Levi Bowersmith as the result of an argument over

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money matters. The Irishman had engaged the Bowersmith brothers, Isaac and Levi, to haul some goods from Columbus to the camp- meeting grounds, and the job completed, it is said the latter demanded a larger sum of money than that agreed upon. Hot words were passed and the two brothers left the cabin in a rage. but Levi soon returned and with a elub struck the Irishman on the back of the head, erushing his skull. The victim of this assault died soon after in the cabin of Protus Lyman. In the trial which followed. Isaac Bowersmith was ac- quitted. and Levi was found guilty, being sen- tenced to one year of imprisonment.

The officers of Concord Township for the year 1908. as reported to the county auditor, are :

A. Bean and N. Chambers, justices of the peace : J. N. Ropp, F. V. Staley and G. D. Freshwater, trustees: O. C. Ilutchisson, clerk : H. O. Moore, treasurer: O. Robinson, as- sessor : S. W. Clover and J. J. Chambers, con- stables : L. Jones, A. Ayers, and W. W. Sands, cemetery trustees.

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.

Delaware was originally set off as one of the divisions of the newly formed county of Delaware, on June 16, 1808, and included the whole of Township 5 and the northern halt of Township 4 of the United States Military Survey; Station 3 of Brown, and Section 2 of Berlin. In 1816 Troy was formed, taking off the northern half of Township 5, and on January 8, 1820, the Berlin Seetion was taken off. Brown was organized in 1826. leaving Delaware in regular shape and five miles square, though composed of parts of two Congressional Townships. In 1852 e piece of territory a mile square was taken from the southwest corner of the township and annexed to Concord in compensation for the surrender of certain territory to Scioto, leaving Delaware in its present shape. It is bounded on the north by Troy, on the east by Brown and Berlin, on the south by Liberty and Con- cord, and on the west by Concord, Scioto and Radnor.

The township is watered by the Olentangy River and its tributaries, which stream enters near the center of its northern boundry and runs in a general southerly direction, with a slight eastern trend. The principal tribut- taries are Delaware, Rocky, and Slate Runs, which, together with the main stream, affords ample drainage for the greater part of the township.

In former days, according to fairly re- liable tradition, the Delaware Indians had a village on the west side of the Olentangy, on the north side of the run, about where Monnett Hall of the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity now stands. The land along this western bank is high rolling ground, extending toward the northwest. Along the east bank are the rich lands known as "second bottoms," which consist of a fine gravelly loam, admirably suited to agricultural purposes. This changes to clay as the high lands farther back are reached.

Most of this district was formerly well timbered, especially along the banks of the Olentangy, which was fringed with a heavy growth of oak and maple, save for occasional clearings made by the Indians. South of Delaware Run there were also a number of elm swamps, while the black-ash and the burr- oak abounded and, indeed, may still be found. "The site of Delaware City was cov- ered with a tall growth of prairie grass, with a fringe of plum trees along the run, with here and there a scrub oak or thorn apple."

Some years after Wayne's great victory over the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Tim- ber, or about 1802, the Delawares reluct- antly tore themselves away from the land of their forefathers, never to tread its soil again as lords and owners. The vanguard of white settlers followed close upon the heels of the retreating redskins ; the sound of the axe was soon heard in the forests, and the log cabin of the hardy pioneer, surrounded by the usual clearing, here and there gave evidence of the new era of civilization and progress that ar- rived, and that the long centuries of primitive savagery- of barbarism in war and idleness in peace-had passed away forever.

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The site of the present city of Delaware was early recognized as an admirable loca- tion for settlement. The main tide of emi- gration in the county, as has been pointed out by a previous historian, had made its way up the valley of Alum Creek, following the main Indian trail, "along the fertile banks of the Scioto, and by the old Granville Road, forming settlements in Radnor, on the forks of the Whetstone, in Berkshire, and in Berlin. The first colony did, indeed, follow the Olentangy, but it stopped at Liberty, leaving Delaware an. 'undiscovered country.' Thus, while the forests all about were ringing with the blows of the pioneer's axe, the township of the great- est future political importance stood desolate amid the ruins of her early habitations."

In their excursions through the woods the first settlers here found growing in a tangled mass of tall grass and thickets an abundance of wild cherries, plums and grapes, and the neighborhood soon became the scene of many a frolic and pleasure excursion. In more re- cent years stock-raising has proved a profit- able industry, and some of the finest specimens of blooded horses, cattle and sheep to be found in the State may be seen here. While the progenitors of much of this stock were im- ported from England and other countries, many specimens, the result of local breeding, have been exported and have brought fancy prices abroad. More detailed information con- cerning this important industry may be found in other parts of this work.

The story of the rise and growth of Dela- ware City will be found given in a special chapter devoted to that subject, while an ac- count of its leading industries, its churches, banks, public institutions, etc., pertaining to the city proper may be found in separate chap- ters devoted to those special subjects, and therefore need not be enlarged upon here.

From an early period the settlement of Delaware evinced so sturdy a growth as pre- cluded the probability of anything like rival villages within the limits of the township.

Still. notwithstanding, two places were. platted and achieved a healthy though moder- ate growth. Prospect Hill, situated on the

high land east of the river and just north of Sugar Creek, was laid out as a town, in 1852, by Dr. Ralph Hills, and has since become a part of the city. Stratford on the Olentangy was laid out in 1850 by Hon. Hosea Williams and H. G. Andrews, and consisted of seventeen lots on the west bank of the river fronting on Sandusky Street. The chief object of this set- tlement was to furnish homes for the hands employed in the mills at this point, a number of which have at different times been estab- lished here. The first mill was built as early as 1808 and afterwards became the property of Colonel Meeker, who rebuilt and enlarged it, in 1829 adding facilities for carding and fulling.

In 1838 the old flouring mill, with the privileges and property, were bought by Judge Hosea Williams and Caleb Howard for the purpose of establishing a paper-mill. A new dam was erected and the mill commenced op- erations, October 1. 1839. It was John Hoyt, the first superintendent, who gave the classi- cal name of Stratford to the place. In Oc- tober, 1840, the building was damaged by fire, but the damage was shortly repaired and the building improved, and in the fall of 1844, Mr. Howard sold his interest to H. G. An- drews. In 1849 the old flouring-mill was fitted up for the manufacture of wrapping- paper and turned out about half a ton per day. In February, 1857, the mills were to- tally destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $25,- 000, with an insurance of about $10,000. In the following November a two-story stone building, 50 x 80 feet, with several additions was built at a cost of about $30,000. Among those who have been associated in this busi- ness are J. H. Mendenhall, who became a partner in 1871, and V. T. and C. Hills. An artesian well was sunk 210 feet through solid limestone rock to furnish the water for puri- fying purposes.

The first purchase of land in Delaware Township was made by Abraham Baldwin and consisted of 8,000 acres, including the third section of Brown and the northeast section of Delaware. The patents were dated December 24, 1800, and were signed by John Adams.

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President of the United States of America. Mr. Baldwin came from a well known Con- necticut family numbering many distinguished iren among its members. He was born in New Haven and was graduated at Yale College in 1772. He served in the Revolutionary army. and after the war, having studied law, set- tled in Savannah, Georgia, being soon after chosen a member of the Legislature of that State. He was the originator, and for some time president, of the University of Georgia. He was a member of the Connecticut Congress from 1785 to 1788, and a member of the con- vention that framed the constitution of the United States. From 1789 to 1799 he was a representative in Congress, and from 1799 . to 1807 he was a member of the United States Senate, of which for a part of the time hie was president pro tem. He was a man of large wealth and owned considerable land in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Iowa. In Ohio he had 16,000 acres in Licking County. March 1. 1801. he sold 500 acres of the original pur- chase to William Wells, one-half to be lo- cated on the northeast corner of Delaware Township, and the other on the northeast cor- ner of Section 3, in Brown.

Mr. Baldwin never married and at his death, which occurred March 4, 1807, it was found that he had devised the remainder of this property to his three half-brothers and two half- sisters. The heirs being widely separated in point of residence, the property soon passed by power of attorney or purchase into the control of one of them-Henry Baldwin, a lawyer of Pittsburg. Henry Baldwin was subsequently approached by Colonel Byxbe and between them some arrangement was made which re- sulted in the founding of the city of Delaware. The further history of the platting of the town will be found elsewhere in this work.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 67

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