Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 71

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 71

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The village of Norton was laid out by Colonel Kilbourn and the plat filed in 1806 or 1807 and is situated just south of the bom- dary line between Marion and Delaware Coun- ties. The old Military Road passed directly through the town, forming the main street, and at the present time the Marion Pike cuts diagonally through. The first building erected was the cabin of William Reed, the pioneer

settler of the village. Thomas Jefferies was the first postmaster of Norton, as well as of the township. The first schoolhouse of the township was located in Norton and was a log structure of the most primitive type.

The old Baptist Church of Troy Township was the first organized in Marlborough Town- ship, and of this Elder William Brundige was pastor. The first church organized within the present limits of the township was the Luth- eran Church, on the east side of the Olentangy and a mile east of Norton. The congregation first held services in the log school in that vi- cinity at a very early date, and Henry Cline was the first preacher. In 1852, a revolt in the church led to the organization of a new con- gregation formed partly from the old church, the new church being the German Reformed. The Lutherans immediately erected a new church, and in a spirit of rivalry the new con- gregation built an edifice adjoining, in 1855. Both churches use the old cemetery, which stands in the same lot as do the church edifices. Rev. J. G. Ruthl was first pastor of the German Reformed Church. The Baptist Church of Norton is an offshoot of the old Marlborough Baptist Church of Troy, and in 1859 the build- ing it now occupies was built at a cost of $1,- 200. It was dedicated in 1860, by James Har- vey, its first pastor. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Norton was built in 1855, although for a few years previous to that time the con- gregation had existed, services being held in school rooms and houses, led by Rev. Plumer. The churchi cost $1,200 in its construction and was dedicated by Rev. Pilcher. The Wyatt Cemetery is the historic burying ground of this section of the State, and for more than forty years was part of Marlborough Township. It is now just across the line in Marion County. The earliest settlers of the community, in- cluding the Wyatts, Brundiges and Drakes, found there a final resting place, and it is a fact worthy of mention that the defenders of the United States, in all the wars in which this country has engaged, have representation in this little cemetery.

The officials of Marlborough Township for 1908 are as follows: J. F. Camp. justice of the peace: S. Il. Cleveland, W. I. Sutton, and

472

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

Henry Ashbrook, trustees; Charles Sutton, clerk; S. J. Downing, treasurer : Frank Strat- ton, assessor ; Jacob Freese, constable.

ORANGE TOWNSHIP.

Scarcely any record exists of the early set- tlers of this township, and even after availing ourselves of the labors of those who have preceded us in the field of historical research, there is a paucity of material which is deplor- able. The early settlers who came out here to make for themselves homes in the wilderness were too busy doing with their might what their hands found to do-and there was plenty to be done-to realize that a record of them- selves and what they accomplished would be of interest to those vet unborn; to them, sut- ficient unto the day was the evil thereof. This township is bounded on the north by Berlin Township; on the south by Franklin County; on the east by Genoa and on the west by Lib- erty Township. Originally it was known as Township 3. Range 18 of the United States Military Lands, and when the first settlers came here, they found Sections 2 and 3 to be a part of Liberty Township, and Sections I and 4 were a part of Berkshire Township. On September 3, 1816, the county commissioners granted a petition to set off the original survey of Township 3. Range 18. as a separate town- ship. The prime mover in this matter was Alpha Frisbey. The township was to be called by the classic name of Virgil, but this was too much for the simple-minded folk of those days, and a petition was presented to the commis- sioners to change the name to Orange. This was granted on September 9th, just six days later. A glance at the map will show that what would naturally be the southwestern cor- ner of the township, on the west side of the Olentangy River, is really in Liberty Town- ship. As a matter of fact, this was originally a part of Orange, and its annexation to Lib- erty Township was brought about in the fol- lowing manner : Ebenezer Goodrich, who lived on this corner, was elected justice of the peace by the people of Liberty Township, about 1824. It did not occur to him, or to anyone

else, that he was not a citizen of Liberty, and therefore, not eligible to the office. This fact finally was brought to light, and it became apparent to all that all the official business transacted up to that time was, consequently. void. How to remedy this state of affairs was a perplexing problem, until it was sug- gested that the General Assembly be petitioned to make this tract of land a part of Liberty Township; so in 1826, the Olentangy River was made the boundary of the township across that corner.

The ridge along which run the tracks of the "Big Four" and Pennsylvania Railroads forms the water-shed between the Olentangy River and Alum Creek. The river bottoms are rich, and the ridges, which rise immedi- ately back of these bottoms were originally covered with beech trees, indicating a clayey formation. The same is to a large extent true of the southern central part of the township. Extensive elm swamps were originally found in the northern portions of the township. but these have been redeemed by clearing and tilling. the rich black soil producing fine crops.

In 1807. Joab Norton, for whom the town of Norton, in Marlborough Township was named, was the first settler in Orange Town- ship. He built his cabin in Section 2, then a part of Liberty Township. He was influenced in coming here by his wife, who wanted to be near her father. John Goodrich, who purposed coming to Worthington, Franklin County, where many of his former neighbors in Berlin, Connecticut, had already settled. They reached Worthington in November, having been on the road since September. Norton was a tanner and currier by trade, and, not content to be idle, he sunk vats and prepared to engage in the business, which the promises and prospects held out to him before he left the East led him to believe was waiting only to be claimed. Skins and hides were not to be had, and so he started north, and purchased the 150 acres of land where he settled in this township. After he had provided a home for his family, Mr. Norton sunk vats, so as to be prepared to do a little tanning during the in-

473

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

tervals in his work of clearing the land. He could not content himself with the frontier life, and so, in 1808, he took a trip East on horse- back. Upon his return in the fall, he was at- tracted by the prospects of business in the new town of Delaware, which Colonel Byxbe was developing, and so he purchased a house on the hill-side just north of where the Edward's gymnasium of Ohio Wesleyan University now stands. The details of his experience in this venture are covered in the chapter devoted to the manufacturing industries of the county.

Joab Norton and others made application as early as 1809 for permission to form a rifle company. This was granted on June 24th of that year, and Norton became third ser- geant of the company, which was composed of about forty officers and privates, mostly from Liberty Township. Apparently, Norton had a taste and talent for military affairs, and was popular with the members of the company, as well, for his promotions were rapid. We find that on September 12th of the same year he was commissioned sergeant major, and two years later, on September 6th, he became lieu- tenant. It was not long before he was made captain of the company.

The company was called out in June, 1812, by Gov. Meigs, to defend the frontier settle- ments against any hostile incursions. Capt. Norton afterward proceeded with his com- mand to Sandusky, where he was engaged in building a block-house, of which he expected to be given command. He was here when Hull surrendered Detroit. For some reason the Captain was not placed in command of the block-house, and he returned home with his company. While at Sandusky, the germs of the malarial disease, which finally caused his untimely death on July 17, 1813, were un- doubtedly implanted in his system. He was a man of large executive ability, a devout Chris- tian. and of cheerful disposition. He was buried with Masonic honors in the first ceme- tery laid out in the city of Delaware. He had been commissioned a justice of the peace on January 28, 1812. Besides a widow, he leit four children-Desdemona, who afterwards became Mrs. Colflesh ; Edward; Matilda, who

married C. P. Elsbre, and Minerva, who moved to Wisconsin.

In 1808, Eliphalet Ludington came from Connecticut, and purchased land adjoining Norton's. Others who came that year were William and Joseph Higgins, with their fami- lies, and their mother, who brought the younger members of her family, viz .: Josiah, Elisha, Irving, David and two daughters. The older boys had enjoyed unusual educational advantages for their day. Joseph had excep- tional skill as a penman, and he was so clever in imitating the hand-writing of other people, that he was suspected of having signed the counterfeit bills which were issued for the South. Apparently, there was no just ground for the suspicion, and the family continued to retain the respect of the community. Later, however, the family left the community under a cloud. Before the family left Vermont, the father of the boys ran off to Canada with a younger, if not a handsomer, woman than his wife. He came to Orange about 1812, with the intention of "making up." However, he brought his paramour with him as far as Berkshire, so that in case his overtures were not favorably received, he would not be left alone. He knew his wife's weak points, and sent a messenger with his pocket-book to his wife, with the simple instruction, to "hand it to the old woman." The result was a recon- ciliation which brought disaster to the family. Changes in the habits and actions of the fam- ily soon aroused the suspicion of the commun- ity, and finally, the father and the three younger sons, Josiah, Elisha and Irving, were arrested for counterfeiting. A large amount of counterfeit coin, some paper money, to- gether with dies and metal were captured. The boys escaped by means of some technicality, and later, the old man, too, escaped much merited punishment. The family left the township at once, and have never since been heard of.

In 1810. the wife of Eliphalet Ludington (lied, leaving an infant boy a few weeks' old. This was the first birth and death in the settle- ment. Soon after Mr. Ludington took the baby and returned to Connecticut. The fami-

474

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

lies of Nahum King and Louis Eaton came into the township that year. The next year James McCumber with his third wife and two sons by his former marriages came into the township. Collins P. Elsbre, who was then a boy of eleven years of age, accompanied his mother and step-father. Their first actual resi- dence was in the cabin which had been aban- doned by Mr. Ludington. They purchased 150 acres of land adoining Norton from James Kilbourn and immediately began to make a clearing. A log cabin 12 by 18 feet was erect- ed and occupied in the fall. In 1825, young Elsbre married Matilda, the third child of Captain Norton. Elsbre lived until February 16. 1880, when he was gored to death by a bull. Other early settlers who came into the township prior to the War of 1812, were the Arnolds, Stewarts and Asa and John Gard- ner. With the exception of the Gardners, these people remained in the township but a short time. Soon after the war. Lee Hurl- burt settled on the west bank of Alum Creek. Hurlburt went to the War of 1812 as a sub- situte for his father, who came into the town- ship with him, bringing his family of twenty- three children. The first settler on Alum Creek was probably Samuel Ferson, who came from Pennsylvania and settled here about 1819. His brothers, James, Paul and John, his sister Sallie, and Margaret Patterson, whom John afterwards married, came with him. In 1824. David Patterson, Cyrus Chambers, Thomas McCloud and Nelson Skeels settled on the west bank of the creek. The following year Samuel Patterson, with his father and mother and two sisters, located on the east side of the creek.

At different times, there has been consid- erable competition between the different vil- lages in the township, each seeking to become the leading village, in which would be cen- tered the chief interests of the township. These were Williamsville, on the Columbus and San- dusky Pike, being located at the four corners just west of the present village of Orange ; the latter place was the second aspirant for dis- tinction, and Lewis Center, which is today the recognized metropolis of the township. Af-

rica is a settlement that has not been without its influence upon the community. It was given this name by Leo Hurlburt, who was strongly in favor of slavery, though he took 110 action to oppose the operations of his neigh- bors, the Pattersons, who were prominently active in the service of the "Underground Railway." Much quiet assistance was given to fugitive slaves, but no pursuers ever came to this part of the township. In 1854, about thirty negroes, having been freed by the will of their deceased mistress, were sent from North Carolina to the Patterson neighbor- hood to find homes. Upon their arrival, the friends of the anti-slavery movement pro- vided them with homes. The negroes remained in this neighborhood, some of them for many years, though the negro settlement has in the course of time disappeared. One of the Elsbre family in the west part of the township had an interesting experience in connection with a hunt for some runaway slaves. About Christ- mas time in the year 1834, a negro boy calling himself John Quincy Adams, came to his cabin, and remained until the following sum- mer. One day while he was working on the pike, he was recognized by two negroes who had run away from the same neighborhoo 1 he came from. Realizing that they would be pursued, and fearing that he too would be re- captured, he fled that night and was never heard from again. The pursuers were put on the trail of the boys by a neighbor, Mark Coles, who had previously known their master, and one bright, September night, as Mr. Els- bre sat with his little family enjoying a social chat with a neighbor, the door of his cabin was rudely opened, and a burly six-footer strode in, carrying a club big enough to use in killing an ox. Without saying a word, he pro- ceeded to examine the trundle-bed in which the younger children lay. and, with a glance toward the bed where Mrs. Elsbre lay with a two-weeks-old baby, he started up the ladder toward the loft. This was too much for Mr. Elsbre's equanimity. He had repeatedly asked the meaning of the demonstration, but got 110 answer, and, seizing his gun from its place, he ordered the intruder to come down, or he

475

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

would 'put him on the coon-board in a min- ute.' The rifle was unloaded, but the tres- passer saw the frightful hole in the end, and deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, he came down. Still threatening with his gun. Mr. Elsbre drove the ruffian out of the cabin and the enclosure where his com- panions were waiting. Of course the negro boys who were sleeping upstairs were awak- ened. and made their escape through a back window. When Mr. Elsbre was satisfied that the boys had gone. he satisfied the pursuers that the slaves they were seeking were not there, and he was not disturbed again.

In 1835. Anson Williams bought 1,000 acres of land in Section No. 3. At first he set- tled in the southeastern part of the tract, but the following year he moved to the site ot Williamsville, and in December, 1836, he laid out what he expected would soon develop into a thriving village. There were already two settlers here besides Mr. Williams-William Dutcher, and Mr. William's son-in-law, Isaac Bovee. Williams built a large frame house to be used as a hotel. in one part of which he opened a place of business, for the sale of gen- eral merchandise and liquor. That Mr. Wil- liams' plans were visionary is plain, from the fact that there was already a good hotel far- ther north, where the stage changed horses, and which continued to do the bulk of the tavern business. This was a brick structure that had been erected in 1827 by George Good- ing. It is said that a Mr. Saulsbury, who lived nearby, and who was a carpenter by trade, having an eye to business. to say the least, did nothing to discourage Mr. Williams in his ambition. Mr. Saulsbury served as jus- tice of the peace, and established the first manufactory in the township. He formed a partnership with Squire Truman Case, and secured permission from the State Penitentiary authorities, who had a monopoly of the busi- ness, to manufacture grain cradles. They made a snath with an artificial bend, which at that time was quite a novelty, and it is said their product was of a high grade.

Lewis Center dates its birth from the com- pletion of the railroad through that point in 1850. John Johnson, who built his cabin here

in 1823, was the first settler at this point. The spot is marked by a well he sank. At that time the locality was a swamp. The name was given to the place by William L. Lewis. Mc- Coy Sellers kept the first store, which stood near the railroad track when it was put through. The building of the C .. D. & M. Railway placed the people of this township within easy reach of Delaware or Co- lumbus, but considerable business is still transacted here. The leading business men of Lewis Center at the present day are: Bert Slack, blacksmith: C. A. DeWitt and A. C. Barrows, geenral store proprietors; John O. Gooding, grain and implements; E. R. Case. hardware and groceries: Frank Slack, glove manufacturer : P. W. Willey, physician.

Orange station probably would never have had any existence, had not Mr. Lewis for a time objected to the location of the railroad station, so that the company abandoned the site. Mr. Lewis was afterward influenced by friends to withdraw his objection, but in the meantime, the senior George Gooding had of- fered the company the use of ten acres of land so long as they would keep a station on the tract. The company accepted the proposition and kept a station there as well as at Lewis Center, until 1879. For a time a postoffice was maintained here.

The question of locating the Town-house caused a good deal of discussion, there being many conflicting interests. Some wanted to have it located at the center of the township: the citizens of Lewis Center wanted it built in their village. Finally, it was built of brick. in its present location at the center of the township, in the year 1871. at a cost of $825.

The Orange township officials for 1908, as reported to the county auditor. are: Andrew Bagley and J. S. Gooding, justices of the peace : C. C. Ballenger. C. D. Lehman and F. E. Smith, trustees: Frank B. Ferson, clerk : E. L. Grove, treasurer: W. B. Crumb, as- sessor.

OXFORD TOWNSHIP.

It was not until 1847 that the present boundaries of Oxford Township were fixed.

476

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

It is bounded on the north by Westfield Town- ship, Morrow County; on the east by Peru Township, in the same county; on the south by Brown Township. Delaware County and on the west by Troy and Marlborough Town- ships. Originally, Oxford was a part of Marl- borough Township, which exercised domin- ion clear to the shore of the lake. Seven years later, on March 6, 1815, a petition was granted by the county commissioners, erecting Oxford into a separate township. John Shaw is cred- ited with being the chief promoter of this movement. At that time the boundaries were fixed as follows: "Beginning at the south- east corner of the sixth township, Range IS, United States Military Lands, and running thence north on the east line of Range 18 to the Indian boundary line; thence westerly on said line to the east line of Range 19: thence south on said Range line to the south line of the sixth township ; thence east on said line to the place of beginning." In 1818, all that part of Radnor Township which was due north of Oxford, and north of the Indian boundary line, was annexed to Oxford Township. When Westfield Township was formed in 1822, the territory was taken from Oxford and in 1847. when Morrow County was established, a strip one mile wide and five miles long was taken from the north side of Oxford and added to Westfield.

The east branch of the Olentangy River 1tinis across the northwest corner of the town- ship, and in this region the surface of the ground is more or less broken. Along the west branch of Alum Creek, which flows from north to south through the eastern quarter of the township, the surface is similarly broken ; otherwise, the surface of the township is gen- erally level. In the rolling lands, the soil is clayey, but most of the land in the township is a rich black loam. In the early days this was so wet and swampy that the settlers al- most despaired of ever using it. Much of this land had been reclaimed by ditching and tiling and has proven very productive. Grains are all raised profitably, and much attention has been given and still is given to stock-raising.

On May 3. 1900, President Adams signed a patent for 4,000 acres of land in Section 3,

the southwest quarter of the township, which was issued to John Rathbone, of New York. It was nearly half a century, however, before this land was placed on the market. The first settlers in the township were Ezra Oldls and his wife, Comfort. In 1810, they located in the northwest corner of the township, at what was afterwards called Windsor's Corners. In the same year a settlement was started in the southeastern part of the township, which later became known as the Alum Creek District. The first pioneer here was, Andrew Murphy who, in a short time, was joined by James Mc- Williams, Hugh Waters, Henry Riley and Henry Wolf. In the fall of 1810 or spring of the next year, Henry Foust settled on a farm a short distance east of the Olds farm. He mar- ried Mary Olds in 1812. A couple of years later, William T. Sharp, who came as far as Norton with Harrison's army, decided to make his home here, and for some time lived in the family of Henry Foust. David Kyrk came into this part of the township soon after the war of 1812. Elijah Smith and Calvin Cole came into the township about 1815. About two years after that Robert Brown settled in that part of the township where Ashley is now located. A year later. Ralph Slack came up from Berkshire, and settled where the south- eastern part of the village is built. His brother John Slack settled on the next farm to the east, across the creek. Adam Shoemaker set- tled a little north of the present village of Ash- ley in 1819, but a few years later moved to a farm just east of the village. He had a large family of boys, and has numerous descendants still living in Ashley. In 1823, Amos Spur- geon settled on the farm now occupied by the northwestern quarter of Ashley, and in 1826, Thomas Barton settled on the farm next north- west. In 1842, the land purchased by John Rathbone was placed on the market by his grandson, Hiram G. Andrews, of Delaware. It was divided up into sections of 100 acres each. Griffith Thomas was the first purchaser in 1843. Others who bought lots soon after were Evan McCreary, Isaac Clark, George House- worth and N. E. Gale. They paid from three to cight dollars per acre. This territory was for many years known as the "great south

477

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

woods." because it was so heavily timbered. The land was so wet that it took many years of hard work ditching and tiling before it was in condition to till. but today there is no better farming land in the county than this. Seth Slack built the first brick house in this section.

The first justice of the peace was Andrew Murphy. He was succeeded by Ezra Olds. who filled the office for thirty years. The first brick house in the township was built by Aden Windsor in 1832. He also built the first frame barn a few years later. The first frame dwell- ing was built in 1840 by a carpenter by the name of Harkness, for Henry Foust. The first death in the township was that of a child of Comfort Olds, in 1812. Interment was made in the cemetery at Norton. Job Foust was the first white child born in the township. The mills, schools, religious development and mili- tary history of the township are treated in other chapters of the work.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 71

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