USA > Ohio > Wood County > Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1 > Part 87
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From Buffalo we came to Cleveland in an oid stranter. "William Penn." that might have been built before the Revolution, and condemned as unfit for use. There was one incident happened in coming up the lake which I can never forget. A German woman, the mother of a large family. while drawing a bucket of water from the lake, fell overboard and was drowned. The rascally captain did not try to stop. the boat, which he could have done, and perhaps have saved the woman's life, but the heartless wretch actually wanted to . know if the pail had been lost also. He seemed more for- cerned for the bucket than for the woman's life. What be- came of the poor orphan children Inever learned, but ther pitiful cries haunt my ears to this day.
At Cleveland we chartered a small schooner called the " Rain Bow of Avon," not finished or painted. One of ti .. sailors, an old man, had oned been up the Maumee river: all of the others knew no raore about Perrysburg and the navi. gation of the Maumee than they knew of the course of the Nile. We sailed around half a day hunting to get min the mouth of the river. Finally we got to where Toledo now is it was then Vistula and Port Lawrence. Between Foiedo and Perrysburg, we were localmed for one day, all of us be. ing anxious to get to Perrysburg. Robert Stewart's father. who was a carpenter by trade, suggested the idea that we go ashore to the woods opposite, where is now Toledo, and it superintend the making of large vars or sweeps. This was
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carried out, and 1 think this was the first vessel ever pro- pelled up the Maumee river by the strong armns of a lot of sturdy Scotchmen. We arrived at Perrysburg. Now "a friend in need is a friend indeed," and this friend we found in honest Shibnah Spink, who always had a kind heart for the stranger. He befriended us in every possible way, but no house could be found in Perrysburg to rent. David Ladd had a log house with the walls up and the place for windows cut out, but no floor in or door on. With a few boards to put our chests on, four large families of us spent our first night in Perrysburg, in this shelter, on the 26th day of June, 1834. 1 We got work in a brickyard owned by James .Stafford. had worked nine days when I was taken with fever and ague. Irecollect how terrified we were; not knowing any- thing of ague, they thought I had a fit of palsy. Robert Stewart says that one time he went into the house I have just mentioned, and saw thirteen shaking with the ague at one time; it was nigh nine months before I got better.
After being in Perrysburg a few weeks, we had to think of getting homes for ourselves. My father and the father of Robert Stewart, and the father of Robert Davidson, went into Michigan to hunt land; it must have been near where Adrian now is. In going through openings and swamps on the road they got parted from one another, and each had to find his way home as best he could, one having to stay out all night. The father of Robert and Walter Davidson was restless, and was bound to find a home soon for his family; hearing of good land to be bought cheap in western Pennsylvania, he deter- mined to go and see it. So he and the father of Robert Stewart, started on foor, saw land that suited, and bought, in Erie county, Penn. They returned on foot; the weather was very warm, and they were anxious to get back to their fam- ilies yet in Perrysburg. When a few miles west of Lower Sandusky, they went to a house to get some water, and, being very warm and thirsty, drank freely and hastily. Davidson fell dead in the yard; now imagine Mr. Stewart's feelings; his comrade and friend, who a few moments before was a strong, healthy man, yet in so short a time laying a lifeless corpse. But now to get the remains to his family; he had to get a rude box and hire a team to get to Perrysburg, and over the then almost impassable road, and as Davidson was in the prime of life, decomposition set in very quickly. I shall never forget that awful solemn evening, between daylight and dark, when a wagon drove up to the house through the brush with the remains of Mr. Davidson, I shall not at- tempt to describe that sorrowful scene. Mrs. Davidson's situation and feelings, with a family of small children, and in a land of strangers, can better be imagined than described.
Not very long after, my father and Robert Stewart's father went to hunt land out the Mccutchenville road, which had been underbrushed out the winter before, William Muir, Sr., being one of the party, and living in tents while cutting the road, as far as the Portage river, now Householder's Cor- ners: They cameto where Levi Loomis had just started in the woods and had made a small opening. He was a man who had a good knowledge of the woods and where the section lines were, the land having been but a short time before surveyed. Mr. Loomis showed my father and Mr. Stewart the land where Hugh Stewart now lives, and adjoining the farm that David Main now lives on, eighty acres each. Mr. Loomis gave them a description of the land, and the men had to go to Bucyrus to the land office to enter it at $1.25 per acre. The difficulty they went through in getting to and from Bu- cyrus would take too long to tell. They got lost in what was known as the Indian Reserve, and had much trouble. In going through Rome (now part of Fostoria) they called in at Foster's little grocery store, and got some crackers and cheese, and some whisky to wash it down with. For many years Mr. Stewart's house was the only one between Perrys- burg and the Portare river.
We, as foreigners, had many difficulties to encounter that Americans had not, having no knowledge of chopping; but it was not long till some of the Scotchmen could be num- bered with the best choppers in the county. But one other incident to discourage us was in the fall of 1834 Hugh Stewart's grandfather lived in a house on the farm of Thompson, near the Parks place, three miles from Perrys-
burg; he used no come in the morning and go back home in the evening, over a trail, known as the Hughy trail, till not inany years ago. One evening in going home he got be- nighted, and had to stay in the woods, on a wet, cold night, caught cold and died not long after. That same winter Hugh Stewart moved all his household stuff on a hand-sled. Many a time I think how poorly clad we were to go through the cold winters, and some times our provisions very scanty, and at the same time I cannot but think what a merry lot we were. There was a lot of ns boys just getting to be men; girls just growing into womanhood, and we used to have lots of shindigs in the winter. I have known them as often as four in one week, and in those days, some of the grandmoth- ers and grandfathers in Webster used to trip it of night. Not long after we came to the woods, some of the Scotch boys got married to some of the Scotch girls, and every- thing had to be done in old Scotch style, that was, the lad went to the home of the girl's parents and there got married, and in almost every instance the wedding party would go a-foot to the home provided for himself and wife. Robert Davidson married a daughter of grandmother Forrester, hiv- ing near Householder's Corners, and he had a house pre- pared to live in at Perrysburg, which was nearly twelve miles. The Scotch boys and girls traveled those twelve miles on foot, and a more merry lot has not gone over the road to this day, and plenty of whisky, too, in the bargain, "and danced all night till broad daylight, and went home with the gals in the morning." This is a sample of the many Scotch weddings that we had among us.
Our nearest mill was either Waterville or Bank's mill, near Woodville, and the greatest difficulty was in getting to the mill. It was for a long time we had no team, and those we had were oxen, and in winter it was one continued sheet of ice, so that oxen not shod would slip, so we could not go. I recollect nearly all one winter we had to live wholly on potatoes, and as we had for many years no wheat, the rest of our living was corn meal, and that meal made from frost. bitten corn. Sometimes our hogs used to be gone from us for months, and sometimes we had big times hunting them. I and my brothers have many a time gone to the woods with a little sack of parched corn, to use when hungry. My father had heard that a man by the name of Painter, in Portage township, made hand-mills to grind corn. He went and got one, and hired a man and yoke of oxen to goafter it. There never was anyone so glad to see the finest piano come into the house, as we were to see that hand-mill. Every morning we had to grind one peck of corn; there were two watches of us-father and brother James, one: my brother John and myself, the other. We earned hard all the meal we got, but we ground it at home. The mill-stones are at the old house to-day. I think sometime I will bring the null to the Pioneer meeting to show young America how things have improved. There was an Indian camp not far from us. on the Bellville Ridge, not far from the village of Dowhenz. on the T. & 1. railroad. Many a night the Indians used to sleep by our fireplace. After getting some clearing done. and putting in corn, we used to be greatly troubled with the raccoons eating it up for us. We had a good coon dog, and nearly every night we had to watch, or we would have had no corn left. In the fall, when the fur began to get good, as a matter of necessity we had to hunt nearly every night, and I have known us to catch from one to three coons of an even- ing. This money we used to buy our winter clothing with.
Before going farther I will refer to the particular inci- cent or cause which brought this little band of the sons of Scotia to this particular part of God's vineyard. In 1852. just two years prior to the date which begins this story, Henry Food, Sr., with his wife and daughter, Jane, and two sons, John and Henry; also John Muir, Sr., and wife, with his sons, William, James, Samuel and John, and daughters, Jean (now Mrs. Robert Dumpace, of Webster), Maggie now Mrs. John Fenton, of Fulton, and Fanme mnow deceased. landed at Quebec, Canada. The cholera was raging, and they all left and went to Buffalo, scarcely knowing whither they would go. Here they accidentally met that well-known lake navigator, Capt. David Wilkinson, of Perrysburg, then in command of the schooner " Eagle," who induced them to
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wo with him to Perrysburg. They liked the location so well, and wrote back so encouragingly to their neighbors in Scot- find, that our journey hither was the result. The heads of families who followed in 1833 and 34 are as follows: Alex. Thompson, Robert Davidson, John Fenton, Hugh Stewart, Within Muir, Thomas Forrester, William Hadda (re- moved to Cleveland), Robert Reed, William Dunipace, Peter shanks, James Shanks. William Weddell and Alexander Vass, of Perrysburg.
What was originally called the Perrysburg Scotch Set- tement, where our little colony squatted for a time, some of them several years perhaps, was on land just above Perrys- burg, on what is now the Michael Hayes place, not far from the present cemetery, and possibly yet indicated by an old well dug there at the time.
As before stated, we had many discouragements. Death canie among us to claim one of our band quite often. Be- sides Davidson's and Stewart's death, before alluded to, Duni- pace died suddenly of bilious fever the same fall we came; and about the same time William Muir walked over to Ralph Keeler's on the prairie to see his nephews, who were there, and on the road on his return, when near his home, he fell down to rise no more. The next year Thomas Forrester died, and so it was our ranks were decimated. In 1836. Mrs. Stewart, Hugh's mother, who died the past spring, had her cabin and her little store of worldly effects all burned, and herself and children were without shelter.
While the beasts of the forest, such as the coon, deer and turkeys, were a great blessing. to us, we found the sneaking, prowling wolves a great pest. They were very bold at times, and their dismal howling at night was terrify- ing to the uninitiated. Mrs. Robert Davidson had a fine heifer dragged down and killed by them. One night, when my father was gone, they came near the house, where two calves were penned up. The cows on the outside of the in- closure were nearly frantic. and beilowed until between wolves, calves and cows, there was a pandemonium of noises. The dog whined piteously at the door to get in; my mother expected every moment that the calves would be attacked, and she scarcely dared open the door. Finally she opened it a little and fired off the gun. The dog bounced in and went under the bed, and the wolves left. Shortly after Carter, the wolf hunter, came over and killed three wolves, and the Howards killed three more. This was near where Fenton post office now is. Afterward an Irishman named Tom Flynn killed a full-grown wolf with an ox-bow. ile got the wolf cornered in an old cabin or near a high fence, and knocked its brains out. Wild honey was quite plenty, but the plentiest thing in the season was gnats and mosquitoes.
One year-my old Webster friends will remember it very well-porcupines were unusually plenty. It seemed as if, like the squirrels, they were migrating. Near the end of our cabin stood an old salt barrel, and every night there was a continuous grating, rooping noise there. My sister, now Mrs. Robert Stewart, who was not as timid as some girls are, got up one night, and, seizing a hoe, sallied out. Just as she turned the corner she saw a dark, clumsy animal spring past her and into the open cabin door behind her. She heard the uneasy animal under the bed, and by a dim light she run him out and dispatched him. He was a large, old fellow, and the quills and blood on the floor next morning showed that he had not died without a desperate struggle for his life. I don't think there are many of the Wood county belles of to-day who would, barefooted, care to en- counter an old " porky" in the night time.
Deer and turkey were so plenty that we often had a bountiful supply for the table. William Davidson, while threshing oats with a Hail in a field one day, noticed a deer, followed by a swarm of mosquitoes, go into a little clump of brush near by and lie down. Hle approached cautiously, and as it sprang out, broke its back with his Hail. My wife, formerly Miss Ellen Forrester, one winter, at our place, trapped twenty-five wild turkeys, and Robert Davidson killed three deer and one turkey in his little clearing near the house one day. I mention these instances to show how plenty game was then.
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At the time of the death of Mr. Loomis, which was at a very early day, roads were nearly impassable, and the set- tlement was without material with which to make a coffin for his burial. In this emergency, Alex. Vass, of Perrys- burg, a carpenter by trade, cnt a straight green oak tree, split out slabs, dressed them nicely, and made a coffin. It was so heavy that it took the united strength of all the men present to handle the coffa after the body was in it. Such were the rude devices which necessity forced us to. Still, we were happy, since we were all on about a common level. and the exigencies of the situation made us alert, active and energetic. We had to be up and doing, and we rather seemed to enjoy it.
The Zimmerman settlement forms an im- portant part of the early history of Webster. Adam Householder and his family, and William Zimmerman, with his wife, Isabella House- holder, and three children, came from Virginia in 1834. arriving at the Forks of the Portage, No- vember 2, that year. Householder located in Center township. The little party of pioneers made immediate preparations for building a cabin, which was completed in a few days. Both families became the occupants of the none too spacious room until such time as Mr. Zim- merman could erect a cabin for himself on lands which he had selected a short distance farther up the river, and within the bounds of what was then Center township. This was completed in January following, the family moving in when there was neither floor nor windows. This be- came his future home, and year by year wit- nessed the steady inroads upon the forest; the little patch for "garden truck" widened into broad fields which waved with golden grain or rustled with the yellow corn. In common with all others, they had to endure many privations and hardships incident to frontier life. The pio- neer died in April, 1884, leaving the partner of his life to tell the story of their settlement in the wilderness.
The cemetery of Scotch Ridge speaks in mar- ble and granite of the end of many of the pio- neers. Of others, who went forth into the wide world outside Webster township. many are re- ferred to in the pages devoted to Biography. and a few names are recorded in the Military chapter.
Cemeteries .- The old cemetery of Scotch' Ridge is the most historic spot in the county. Many monuments, not a few of them works of art, remind the visitor of the pioneers, and tell plainly how their children respect their memory. Among the old settlers btnied there are Thomas Forrester, who died in 1833; Levi Loomis. 1836: died on the road near the Ten Mile House: Ellen S. Davidson, 1841; And Anderson, 1844: James Waugh, 1845; Philinda D. Sneeden and Mary Dunipace, 1846; William Waugh, 1847: Mar- garet and William Stewart, and Roswell Can-
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field, 1848; James Corbett, 1850; Samuel Muir's child, 1851; Daniel Hathaway, Lewis Zimmer- man, Jean Addie Forrest and Hugh Stewart, 1852 ; Robert Reed, Christina Burke, Adam Householder, 1853; Jane E. Newville, Horatio N. Merrill, William Cummins, Laura E. Carr, Jaines Dunipace, Francis M. Davidson, and Henry J. Sieple, 1854: Christopher Sieple, 1855; Nathan H. Merrill, Andrew Merkle and David Merkle, 1856; James Shanks, who was killed under a falling tree, James M. Davidson, R. F. Austin's son, and Mary Muir, 1857. West of this cemetery, about a quarter of a mile, is an older burying ground, in which James Shanks, who was killed by his team, was buried. A Miss Mell, William Muir, who died in 1851, and an infant child of James Muir, who died in 1840, were buried in that ground. In the new ceme- try lies Solomon Van Gilder, a soldier of 1812, who died in 1883.
FENTON.
Where the village of Fenton now stands, was known to Harrison's soldiers, in 1813, as the " Devil's Hole Prairie." One of his scouts, who became lost in that portion of the wilder- ness, being interrogated about his delay, said he strolled into the veritable home of Satan. From IS30 to 1869, it was the rendezvous of thieves. In the fall and winter of 1872, George Roiter and P. D. Nuel built a mill on C. V. Black's farm, and the notorious characters, who haunted the locality, disappeared before this emblem of progress, leaving the farmers in peace.
The first postmaster was John Fenton, ap- pointed about 1857. David Main, who came in 1848, remembers the establishment of this office, and thinks the date given is correct. Hugh Stewart held the office after the war, John Grei- ner followed him, then came Thomas Harring- ton, and, lastly, Isaac Dent, who has been postmaster since 1886.
The post office is near the south line of one of the richest agricultural districts in Wood county. Large farin houses and well-fenced farms speak of the character of the men who developed it.
Fenton School .- John Ewing taught the school at Fenton in a room ( from which a hand- mill was removed ) between Mrs. Robert David- son's and Mrs. Hugh Stewart's house. Among the pupils were John and William Fenton; Thomas and Margaret Davidson, and Hugh, Janette, Robert, John and Margaret Stewart.
For four months, in 1844 or 1845, Mr. Ewing taught here; he then became a phrenologist, set out for California, in 1849, and died en route. Delia Spink taught a school, in 1846, in a log- house near Fenton. Then Deacon Brown's daughter taught for two terms; Mary Nutt came next; Eliza Bruce and Ann Vass followed, while Martha Scott, who married Lewis Householder, taught one of the early schools.
The railroad villages of Dowling and Dun- bridge have usurped the proud position once held by Fenton, and destroyed its prestige as a trading point.
TEN MILE HOUSE.
The Ten Mile House is one of the oldest land-marks in the township. Long before the present hamlet of Scotch Ridge was recognized, this was an important stopping place, and the post office of a wide district. In the "fifties." and from the organization of the township, the trustees assembled here to transact business, the electors to cast their votes, and the disciples of Terpsichore to dance. The church was only d short distance southeast, and the burial ground near the church, so that the funeral, marriage, dance and Sabbath meeting insured for the Ten Mile House an ebb and flow of visitors which the other settlements did not experience. The place lost its glories long years ago, when the post office was removed to the Loomis store. West of it is the United Brethren church building; south of it, the pleasant hamlet of Scotch Ridge; and, round it, fertile farms and the homes of practical, ambitious agriculturists.
The Webster United Brethren Church (Lib- eral) was organized March 11, 1887, with A. Philo, D. A. Pope, Joshiel Thompson, G. W. Loomis and Clarence Greiner, trustees. All were mein- bers except G. W. Loomis, Stephen Cupp and wife, Laura Pope, and about five others. In the spring of 1887 a building fund of $1,000 was col- lected, and the present building in Sec. 36, T. 6, R. 11, was dedicated August 20, IS8;, by Rev. T. J. Harbaugh, P. E., and Joseph Crim, pas- tor. Rev. L. Moore succeeded Mr. Crim, then Messrs. Tussing. Wells. Fletcher, Ingalls, and then Rev. J. W. Hicks of Fostoria, who was ap- pointed in 1894. The Webster, Center. Maple Grove, Dowling, and the Davenport in Perry's- burg township, are all in this circuit. The mem- bership of the Webster Church is about one hun- dred. A. Philo is superintendent of the Sunday- school. The present trustees are A. Philo, Myron Chamberlain, M. Meisters, Henry Wei-
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Mind and D. A. Pope, with Mr. Pope. secretary, since 1889 (succeeding George Housekeeper), ex- cept in 1894, when Thomas Cross filled the . fice.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, of Luckey, was organized within the Walker school house a number of years ago, and continued in existence there until 1882, when headquarters were estab- lished at Luckey.
SCOTCH RIDGE.
This hamlet on the banks of the Portage may be considered the successor of Ten Mile House. und Loomis Store, as the commercial Mecca of Webster. John Myers built the " Householder House, " a smaller building where is now the Davidson store, the cottage where William Fen- ton lives, and Hanson's cottage .. He was the creator of the hamlet. Walter Davidson built a mercantile house on the southeast corner of the cross-roads, about twenty years ago, where busi- ness was carried on until 1882, when the present Davidson building was erected. A few pioneers such as " Uncle Robert" and Mr. Fenton reside within the hamlet's limits, while scarcely a day passes without a visit from others, such as " Aunt Margaret " and one or two other survivors of pioneer days.
The post office known as " Ten Mile House," was established long before the war, with Charles Beaupret master. During or immediately after the war, George Loomis had the office removed to his store, near the United Presbyterian's building. John Myers was postmaster for almost quarter of a century, or until Dr. L. L. Loomis succeeded him. Robert S. Davidson was the next incumbent, followed by James Rogers, who served during President Cleveland's first admin- istration, and, in 1885, was again appointed to succeed Robert S. Davidson.
The United Presbyterian Church of Scotch Ridge, was organized in 1841, by Rev. James A. Woodbury. John Muir, James Waugh. Sr., and Alexander Vass were elected elders, and James Waugh, clerk. The members at that time were Peter Shanks, John Fenton, Hugh Stewart. Robert Dunipace. Robert Stewart, James Muir, Walter Davidson, Robert Davidson, John Fenton, Jr., Robert Forrester, Alex. Vass, lohn Mnir, Sr., Lewis Forrest, James Waugh, Thomas Adams, John McDowell, and their vives, with James Waugh, Jr., Forrester, Sam- el and John (Jr. ) Muir, Robert Milk, Margaret, William and James Davidson, and Mrs. Smith.
Mr. Woodbury was succeeded, in 1843, by Rev. John Bonner, and he, in 1845, by Rev. James Miller, who with others supplied the pulpit until Rev. Jackson Duff came in 1852. Ten years later, in 1862, the present frame building took the place of tlie old log house.
The record book of this Church, in possession of Miss Davidson, of New Rochester, dates back to January, 1862, Rev. Jackson Duff being then pastor, and James Davidson, clerk, vice John Muir, who held the office from 1847 to 1861. There were eighty-six members, including two inembers of the Vass family, nine of the David- son, eight of the Dunipace, four of the Weddell, six of the Muir, one of the Galloway, one of the Kelly, five of the Forrester, one of the Waugli, five of the Fenton, three of the Forrest, one of the Main, two of the Lamont, four of the Dodd, one of the Smith, Alvin Carey, Margaret John- ston, Catherine Banks, four of the Stewarts. two of the Philos, six of the Shanks, three of the Merkles, Margaret Gregg, two of the Kassons, three of the Eatons, Charles and Elizabeth Roper, David Main, Elset Christie, William and Mar- garet Donald, Isaac and Eliza J. Kelly, Sarah J. Weddell and William Bandeen. Of the number, forty-tive died prior to the close of 1894, while a number removed or were dismissed to other Churches. In 1864, a collection amounting to $9.65 was taken up for the Freedmen's mission at Nashville. In 1865, there were seventy-eight communicants who subscribed $475.60 for the support of pastor and Church, and other sums for foreign missions. In April, 1869. Rev. Wright preached here, and declared the pulpit vacant. Rev. S. C. Hubbell was installed pastor in 1869; David Main and George Weddell were elected elders in January, 1872, and they administered the Church affairs until 1877, when Rev. J. C. Murch was called as pastor. In 1879, Rev. J. T. Caldwell preached here, and continued for a few years. Revs. John Williamson, J. K. Black, H. H. Thompson, Rev. Levy, a Jew, T. W. Monteith, and others preached here down to July. 1882, but Mr. Thompson was prominent in Church work. Mr. Caldwell was the pastor down to 1893, when Rev. E. H. Huston was called.
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