History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 66

Author: Hill, George William, b. 1823; Williams Bros
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: [Cleveland] Williams
Number of Pages: 896

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The inmates of the block-houses succeeded in culti- vating vegetables and small fields of corn in 1813, while several families returned to their cabins and were undis- turbed. Indeed, the danger was probably considerably exaggerated from the beginning. The treachery of the Indians and the disasters that befell our army in the northwest kept the border settlements constantly in a state of anxiety. By the aid of hominy-blocks and hand- mills the pioneers were enabled to provide, by the ex- penditure of considerable labor, for their families.

Upon the declaration of peace, the tide of emigration again set in, and hundreds of families pressed forward in search of homes in the wilderness. The woodman's axe re-echoed through the forests, and cabins sprang up in cvery quarter. A glance at the method of raising cabins, and the geniality of the pioneers may not be inappropri- ate. The first cabins were generally made of round logs, which were cut in suitable lengths and dragged by oxen to the spot selected for the erection of a house. The pioneers for miles around, gathered with cx-teams and hauled the logs as the axe-men cut them in proper lengths. While this was being done others were riving clapboards for the roof. A good axe-man was placed at each corner to notch the logs as the hands shoved them into posi- tion. When the main building had been erected the roof was rapidly constructed. A section of logs was cut out for a chimney, a door, and a small window, the floor being of huge puncheons or the ground. Having brought a lunch along, cach band exerted himself until the com- pletion of the cabin, and then all congratulated the owner on his new home and dispersed. In such rude cabins hundreds of those present to-day lived fifty or sixty years ago. They were warm-hearted, whole-souled people, and though some of them possessed rough exteriors, they were noted for their hospitality and manhood. The log- rollings, corn-huskings, flax-pullings, road-making, ancient militia musters, bear and deer hunting need no detail at my hands. They will never be forgotten.

While the sturdy pioneer was thus cutting away the forest, and opening and fitting for culture a homestead, how were the mothers, wives and daughters of the pio- neers employed? They, too, toiled, and were not clothed in costly garments. Wooll.ns, calicoes, cottons, 'and other goods of eastern manufacture, were scarce and expensive. The deficiency was supplied by home industry. Attention was given to the coloring proper- ties of roots, bart's and berries, combined with alum, copperas, soda, and other alkalies used in dyeing fax and wool for domestic manufacture. Flax was exten- sively cultivated, and the hum of the spinning-wheel was heard in almost every cabin. When woven into linen, it was much used for shirting, pantaloons, sheet- ing, and other uses. When combined with wool, it was called "linsey-woolsey," and was very generally worn by both sexes. What were known as hunting shirts, with a cape and belt, and beautifully fringed around the edges. were worn by the men. Almost every housewife of that era could spin and weave. The "bang, bang," of the ancient loom, and the magic shuttle shot to and fro un der the threads of the warp, as the stout fabric grew under

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

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skilful hands, instead of the piano, made music for the cabin. These good mothers have long since gone to rest. Monuments and gratitude should preserve their memories.

The food of the early settlers was exceedingly plain, and consisted, for the first year or two, of hominy, corn- meal, and wild meat. The majority of the pioneers pos- sessed one or two cows which fed on sedge-grass and browse. Milk was abundant, but sometimes tainted with wild onions and the buckeye. Mush and pone were the standard food. Almost every cabin was adorned by the primitive hominy block ; the prepartion of food by such instruments was tedious and quite laborious. The hand- mill, constructed of a bowlder, after the fashion of a coffee-mill, came into extensive use. The hopper was an inverted cone, with a cylinder of the same material exactly fitting the hopper, perforated by a shaft and reg- ularly grooved, was placed on a pivot and propelled by the aid of a lever by one or two hands ; this was a slow process. Horse-mills soon followed, and then water- mills, and, at a later period, the steani grist-mill. The first water-mill was built by Benjamin Cuppy, near Ash- land, in the spring of 1816. The next mill was built by Martin Mason (now Leidigh's), in March, 1816; the next by John Raver, near the present site of Rowsburgh, in 1817; the next by Constance Lake, on what is now Goudy's run, in Vermillion township, in the fall of 1817. Prior to the erection of these mills, the pioneers ob- tained grists at Shrimplin's mill, on Owl creek, and at Stibbs', one or two miles below Wooster. The trip, by the Indian paths, was difficult and attended with danger, as several streams had to be forded, and the forests abounded with wolves, panthers, and other wild animals. The trip consumed from two to four days, and had to be made on the pack-saddle. Many of the mill-boys of sixty years ago are here to-day. How great the change in a single generation !

Organization seems to be the highest characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon. Wherever enough adventurers or pio- neers are found to locate, the first prominent idea is to call a meeting and organize for self-government. In the midst of the war-like excitements of 1812-15, the pio. neers of the branches of the Mohican, failed not to re- member that self-government was the boon for which their revolutionary fathers contended. As rapidly as the population would permit, they began to organize town- ships and elect magistrates to enforce the laws and pre- Serve order. In range fifteen, Lake township was organ- ized in 1814, Mohican in 1812, Perry in 1814, and Jackson in 1819. In range sixteen, Hanover was organ- ized in 1818, Green in 1812, Vermillion in 1814, Mont- gomery in 1816, and Orange in 1818. In range seven- teen, Mifflin was organized in 18:5, Milton in 1816, and Clearercek in 18:S. Of the Reserve townships, Raggles was organized in 1826, Sullivan in IS19, and Troy in 1835. The earlier settlers after the war, on the north half of range fifteen were: John Carr, John Ewing, Joseph Chandler, Aaron Cory, John Raver, Benjamin Limons, James Scott, Richard Smalley. Henry Woist, Arthur Campbell, Cornelius Dorland, Noah Long, John Chileote, Isaac Lyons, John Jackson, John Davault,

Charles, Hoy, Jacob Berry, Thomas and Andrew Cole, John A. Dinsmore, J. H. Gierhardt, Josiah Lee, Jesse Matthews, Michael and Matthias Rickel, John and Wil- liam Hamilton. On range sixteen, north of Green, James Wallace, Robert Finley, Samuel Bolter, Jonathan Palmer, George McClure, William Harper, Willian Reed, William Ryland, Joseph Workman, George Eck- ley, Ezra Warner, John Scott, William Montgomery, Jacob Shaffer, Elias Slocum, Daniel Carter, John Springer, Jacob Figley, George W. Urie, George W. Pal- mer, Alanson Andrews, Samuel Urie, Joseph Sheets, David Markley, Henry Gamble, Joel Luther, Jacob Crouse, William Latta, Peter Swineford, Richard Beer, Michael Riddle, Vachtel Metcalf, Amos Norris, Jacob Young, Patrick Murray, Martin Mason, Lott Todd, Joseph and John Bishop, Christian Fast, Solomon Urie, Thomas Green, Mordecai Chilcote, Philip Fluke, Jacob Hitfner, Peter Biddinger, Rudolph Branderberry, and James Clark. In Hanover, Stephen Butler, William Barwell, Thomas Taylor, Robert Dawson, William Webb, Abner Winters, Abel Strong, John Burwell, George W. Bull, and Nathaniel Haskell. On range seventeen, John Lam- light, David Braden, Leonard Croninger, Michael Cul- ler, Daniel Harlaw, George Thomas, Jacob Keever, Alexander Reed, Robert Nelson, James Andrews, Peter Brubaker, John Clay, Frederick Sultzer, Henry Keever, Abraham Doty, Thomas Smith, Joseph Bechtel, Andrew Burns, John Hazlett, Andrew Stevenson, Joseph Charles, John Woodburn, J. Crawford, Robert McBeth, David Burns, John Richards, W. Freeborn, James Haney, William Shaw, Abraham Huffman, Peter Van Ordstrand, Isaac Van Meter, Patrick Elliott, Abel Bailey, John Bryte, and many others.

'The earliest settlers in Ruggles, Troy and Sullivan were: Bradford Sturtevant, Daniel Beach, James Poag, Harvey Sackett, Aldrich Carver, Norman Carter, Reuben Fox, Jacob Roorback, Perry Durfee, joseph Parker, Nathaniel Clark, Benjamin Moore, Christian Bash, Da- vid Mason, Ralph Phelps, Sanford Peck, Nicholas Fast, Philip Biddinger, Ashael Parmely, Jesse Chamberlin, Abijah Chamberlain, Thomas Rice, James Palmer, and one or two other families.

Next to the organiz tion of townships came the found- ing of villages. The order of their survey and plat is as follows: Loudonville by James Loudon Priest, in 1814; Perrysville, by Thomas Coulter, in 1813; Jeromeville, by Christian Deardorf and William Vaughn, in : $ : 5 : Union- town, now Ashland, by William Montgomery, in 18:5; Petersburgh, now Mifflin, by William B. James and Peter Deardorf, in 1816; Savannah, by John Haney, in 1818; Orange, by Amos Norris and John Chilcote, in 1828 ;. Hayesville, by Thomas Cox and Linus Hayes, in' 1830; Perrysburgh, by Josiah Lee, in 1830; Mohican- ville, by Simeon Beall and Henry Sherradden, in 1833 : Sullivan, by Sylvanus Parmely, Joseph Palmer, Ira Palmer, and Joseph Carlton, in 1836; Rowsburch, by Michael D. Row, in 1835: Lafayette, by Widm Ham. ilton and John Zinimerman, in 1835; Poli, by John Kuhn, in 1849; Troy Center, by Dr. Norris, in :851, and Ruggles Center in t800.

270

HISTORY OF ASULAND COUNTY, OHIO.

In the first settlement of this county, the interests of education were not forgotten. The earlier schools were taught in log cabins, and teachers paid by subscription. . They received low wages for their services. Many of the pioneers, owing to the sparscness of the settlements, instructed their own children. The first school-houses were of the most primitive character. They had large fire-places, rude benches, and light was reflected through oiled paper, instead of glass. The carlier teachers were generally from New York, Pennsylvania, New England, and Ireland ; the reading books were few, and spelling, reading, writing, geography and arithmetic constituted the coursc. Rigid rules were adopted and enforced, sometimes by birch. On the approach of the holidays, boys and girls expected to be treated by the teacher, and the expectation was generally gratified. Elizabeth Rice, subsequently Mrs. Jolin Coulter, is believed to have taught the first school, near Perrysville, in 1814. She now resides at Congress, Wayne county. Asa Brown taught in 1816. Mis. Nancy Elliott taught in Clear- creek, in 1S17. Robert Nelson taught in Milton and Clearcreek, in 1817; Rev. John Hazard, in Montgomery township, in 18r8 ; John Swaggart and Sage Kellogg, in Orange, in 1819; John G. Mosier, in Perry, in 1820; L. Parker, in Lake, in 1820; John Bryte, in Clearcreek, in 1823; William Irvin, in Vermillion, in 1823; Therygood Smith, in Ashland, in 1824; Chandler Foot, in 1825. and Daniel Austin, in Sullivan. Up to that period, all schools were paid by subscription. At a later day, a fund was collected by taxation, for the erection of school- houses, and to pay tuition; since which, school-houses and schools have kept pace with modern improvements.

In 1839 an academy was founded at Ashland and successfully conducted until about 1850, when it was merged into the union school system. It acquired an extended reputation under the management of the late lamented president, Lorin Andrews, than whom Ohio never produced an abler educator nor a more estimable citizen.

In 1845, Vermillion institute, at Hayesville, was char- tered and authorized to confer degrees. It originated through the efforts of Rev. Lewis Granger, J. L. McLain and the citizens of the town. It has had. thus far, a career of varied success. It is handsomely situated and should command a liberal support.

In 1858 an academy was established at Savannah. It hos had able teachers, and has sent forth many young men and ladies, who have made their mark, in various localities, as instructors.

In 1871 an academy was established at Perrysville, under the management of Professor J. C. Sample, an able educator. It is in a prosperous condition.

Believing that integrity, uprightness, comage, intelli- gence and morality should constitute the foundation of society, as weti as the State, our fathers failed not, in their new homes, to inculcate those ideas. An occa sional minister from the elder settlements preached in the cabins of the pioneers or to people assembled in the forest. Religious societies were organized, and howed log churches erected by the voluntary contribations of

labor, prepared timber, and other materials. The first church was created in the northeast part of Vermillion township in 1817, and was known as "Eckley's." I was free to all Protestan: ministers, but was chiefly used by the Methodists. The Presbyterians, of Milton, or- ganized in 1816, and erected "Old Hopewell" one mile west of Ashland, in 1819. "Hopewell" and " Eckly's," formed the nucleus from which Presbyterianism and Methodism radiated in this county. The German Re- forined and Evangelica! Lutherans began to organize congregations as early as 1825-30. The Baptisis in 1824, the Disciples in 1830; the German Baptists in 1845, the United Brethren in 1848, the German Meth- odists in 1832, and the Congregationalists in 1838.

The leading ininisters have been: Joshua Beer, Wil- liam Matthews, Robert Lee, James Robinson, Robert Fulton, Samuel Moody, John Robinson, Thomas Beer, Samuel Baldridge, William Hughes, William Colmary, S. Diefendorf, T. B. Van Eminon, F. A. Shearer, W. C. Kniffin, A. Scott, J. R. Mclain, J. Y. Ashenhust, W. T. Adams, S. T. Boyd, John Hazard, Fathers Goff and McIntire, H. O. Sheldon, Elmer Yocum, Elijah Yocum, Russell Bigelow. W. B. Christie, Edward Thompson, Thomas Barkdale, John H. Power, Adam Poe, J. Mc- Mahan, David Gray, John Mitchell, Jesse Warner, !!. M. Shaffer, Rolla H. Chubb, P. B. Stroupe, A. T. Your- tee, W. J. Sloan, William Galbraith, E. Eastman, J. J. Hoffman, W. A. G. Emerson, S. Ritz, Isaac Culler, .1. HI. Myers, W. J. Swick, M. L. Wilhelin, Francis Ruth, M. Hartsbarger, John Risser, D. R. Moore, H. H. San- ders, S. E. Matzinger, Richard D. Emerson, John Rig- don, Solomon Neoff, I. N. Carman, Mr. Tulloss, Mr. Wiley, Mr. Eddy, B. Y Sigfried, John Cox, Lewis Granger, S. Stanley, Andrew Burns, James Porter, John Reed, Judson Benedict, L. Norton, S. F. Pearree, john Lowe, N. P. Lawrence, Jobn Bryte, David Sprinkle, D. H. Rosenburg, E. B. Crouse, and E. F. Woodruff.

The healing art is the custodian of the highest inter- osts of the people, and the educated physician, properly devoted to his profession, has it within his power to con- tribute largely to the health and clevation of society, for healthy min.ds must come from healthy bodies. Dis- eased bodies rarely contain muinds that are not affected with eccentricities, depression, and melancholy; and so long as people place more value upon a horse or a cow than upon the life of a human being, mentai deficiencies and bodily frailties will be transmitted. For the Best sis or eight years after these valleys began to be seated, the nearest physicians were at Mt. Vernon, Mansfield, and Wooster. The prevailing diseases were agues and bilious fevers, caused by the exhalations of decaying veget ble matter in marshes and ponds, during the summer and autumnal months. Theyrarely proved fatal. Butternut pills, bitters of wild cherry bark, boneset ten, and Mary alder, were freely used. "Bloot-letting" was deened a sovereign termedy for many ils. "Turkeys" and the lancet were used by the surgically included pi with the caller physicians were: Joel Luther, Joseph b. Chili Harrison Armstrong, F. B. Fuller, Themay- Mayo . W. iam Deming, Abraham Ecker, Moses Owens Tina's

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271

Eagle, J. S. Irwin, Robert Irwin, John Hanna, George W. Paddock, Gustavus Oesterlin, W. C. Moore, O. C. McCarty, William Mead, William B. Young, J. L. Mc- Cully, Joseph Hildreth, and Constance Lake. The leading physicians of a later date are : Willard Slocum, N. S. Sampsel, Bela B. Clark, J. W. Kinnimam, I. L. Crane, J. P. Cowan, D. S. Sampsel, David Armstrong, Andrew J. Scott, James Yocum, Samuel Glass, John In- gram, John Lambert, S. Z. Davis, Amos B. Fuller, J. W. Griffith, J. Chandler, H. Buchanan, O. L. Andrews, George Weedman, George Gregg, A. B. Sampson, and many others.

The legislative act creating this county was passed February 24, 1846. It was formed of the territory of Richland, Huron, Lorain and Wayne counties. The fractional townships of Mifflin, Milton and Clearcreek, and the full townships, of Hanover, Green, Vermillion, Montgomery and Orange were from Richland county; while Ruggles was from Huron; and Sullivan and Troy, from Lorain; and the fractional townships of Jackson, Perry, Mohican and Lake, were from Wayne county. On the first Monday of April, 18.46, the county-scat was lo- cated at Ashland by a vote of the electors. In 1847-8 the present jail was erected by O. S. Kinney, architect, and cost the county about fourteen thousand dollars. An old stone church, purchased on the site of the grounds selected for the erection of county buildings, was occu- pied some seven years as a court house. In 1851 the present court house was commenced by O. S. Kinney, architect, and completed in 1853. It cost about twenty thousand dollars. In 1849 Sylvester Alger and George W. Urie, architects, constructed the county infirmary in Vermillion township. It cost about four thousand del- lars. Topographically, this county is admirably situated. It contains two principal slopes of water-sheds, one-half of the streams flowing north and the other south. The uplands, south of the dividing ridge, slope gently to the south, presenting fine views for residences, and are most desirable lands for culture. At many points a landscape of eight or ten miles sweeps before the vision, giving as lovely a view of valley, stream and gentle slope, dotted with farms and villages, as can be found on the globe. The soil is of clay, second bottom loam, and rich alluvi- um along the streams, giving every variety of soil. North of the dividing slope the lands are of stiff clay, and bet- ter adapted to grazing and stock ; and many fine cattle are produced for the eastern market. It is also noted for its fine dairies, butter and cheese. The people north arc from New England; south, from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Germany.

In 1812 the land constituting this county was valued at about three hundred and thirty thousand dollars. In 1876 the same lands, with their improvements, are valued at about seventeen million dollars.

In 1812 the chattle property would not exceed the meagre sum of six thousand dollars. In 1876 the chat- the property of this county, appraised at fis money valuc, will reach six million dollars.

In 1812 the population, as near as can now be ascer tained, was about one hundred and fifty souls. In 1376

the entire population is estimated at twenty-six thousand five hundred and forty.

In the constitutional convention of 1851, delegates were elected by Ashland and Wayne counties as a dis. trict. Ashland county clected John J. Hoetman; and Wayne, Ezra Wilson and Dr. Leander Firestone, and upon his resignation, John Larwill.

In the constitutional convention of 1873, each county elected the number of delegates to which it was entitled in the house of representatives. Dr. George W. Hil! represented Ashland county.

The legal profession of Ashland county will compare favorably with the younger counties of the State: Our people are not noted for a tendency to litigation. l'heir occupation is mostly agricultural, and calculated to con- ciliate and encourage integrity and uprightness in deal- ing. Crime has been quite limited, and but one execu !- tion for a capital offence has taken place since the organization of the county -- that of Charles Steingraver, for murder. The attorneys who have practiced at the Ashland bar are: Nicholas M. Donaldson, James i. Smith, Erastus N. Gates. John S. Fulton, Bolivar W. Kellogg, John H. McCombs, William A. Hunter, Jon- athan Maffett, James Sloan, John W. Rankin, John Clark, H. H. Johnson, O. F. Jones, Willard Slocum, William Osborn, S. W. Shaw, J. Vincent, A. M. Fulton, A. I .. Curtis, Alexander Porter, Thomas J. Kenny. George W. Geddes, William Henry. Thomas J. Bull, Amos Norris, George W. Carey, John J. Gurley, William Cowan, Francis Kenyon, N. Huber, John Scott, Williamn B. Allison, George W. Hill, G. HI. Parker, William B. McCarty, Robert Beer, John J. Jacobs, Robert M. Camp- bel!, William T. Johnson, George B. Smith, H. S. See. H. S. Knapp, J. P Devor, J. D. Jones, John McCray, Henry McCray, D. S. Sampsel, J. Hahn, William O. Porter, Peter S. Grosscup, Byron Stilwell, and Charles Dorland.

The bulwark of liberty is an enlightened press. Nei- ther tyrants, venality, nor the frowns of the ambitious can put down an independent, high-toned journal. It is the vanguard of progress and civilization. It is the foe of corruption. the friend of truth and of science. . 1s long as we have an ncorruptible press, the rights of mankind will be safe.

The newspapers of this county have been the Mohlay Advocate and Journal, at Loudonville, established in 1834, by Mr. Rogers; its career was brief. The Ashland Herald appeared in 18344, and was published by J C. Gilkison; it lived about eight months. The Ohio Giet, by Joshua H. Ruth, appeared in 1836. It was a Van Buren organ, and survived about one year. The Hist- ern Phenix, by Thomas White and Samuel Mcclure,' appeared in iSpo. It was a Harrison organ. It lived about ten months. The Ashland Standard, by R. V. Kennedy, appeared in 1849. It was for paper moi., and lived about two years. The Ashland Burdeet, by W. A. Hunter and Jonathan Maffet, appeared in 15.11. H. S. Knapp succeeded as editor of the Den, hat in ISIS, and purchased and merged the Demonet and Standard into the Oki, Union. He was succeeded by

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272

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

John Sheridan, he by Collins D. Bushnell, he again by HI. S. Knapp, he by John J. Jacobs, he by J. M. & J. H. Landis, they by George W. Hill, and he by Benjamin F. Nelson and William H. Gates. The paper in the meantime having changed in name to States and Union, and the Ashland Press. The Ashlander, by William B. McCarty, appeared in 1850. It was a Whig journal. In 1852 it passed into the possession of L. J. Sprengle, and the name was subsequently changed to the Ashland Times. Mr. Sprengle was publisher and William Osborn editor. Mr. Osborn retired in 1855, and Josiah Locke became editor. In :857 he retired, since which Mr. Sprengle remained editor and proprietor until November, 1875, when he sold the paper to J. D. Stubbs & Co .. with J. E. Stubbs as editor. The Independent of Lou- donville, by Robert Lockhart, appeared as a temperance organ in 1867, and ceased to exist in 1874. The Lou- doncille Advocate, by Joshua H. Ruth, appeared in 1872. It is neutral in politics. The Hayesville Journal, by J. B. Paine and E. T. Fairchild, appeared in 1875. It is also neutral in politics.

Of the brave soldiers of the Revolution, John Tilton, Jacob Hiffner, Jacob Shaffer, Frederick Sultzer, John . Davis, and Adam Link, were citizens of this county. John Wheeler was killed in Orange township about 1819. Abraham Decker, of Milton township, died about 182S.

Of the soldiers of the war of 1812, who have resided in this county the following still survive: James Clark, James Compbell, Joseph Parker, Nathaniel Clark, Abra ham Armentrout, Jacob Shopbell, R. D. Emerson, Fran- cis Graham, James Kilgore, and E. Halstead. The bal. ance of the list, one hundred and ten, have been gath- ered to their place of rest.

My friends, let us preserve these memorials while we may. Ere long the last of the pioneers will have been garnered by the relentless reaper. Even now they are rapidly departing, and soon the village bell will have tolled the knell of the last tottering frontiersman. The red men who met and welcomed them to these fertile valleys have long since gone to the great hunting-grounds, or now roam, old and feeble, toward the setting sun. Of the teeming millions that people this vast continent, not one will see the grand display of the centennial anniver- sary of 1976. At least three generations of man will have come and gone before the close of the second con- tury of our independence. In the first, how grand has been our march in the paths of prosperity and greatness. Nothing but national suicide can arrest our onward ca. reer in all that renders a people free and happy With pleasing emotions we look forward to the period when the Republic shall stretch ali over the continent, and our banner wave triumphantly over one hundred capitals.

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History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 66

Author: Hill, George William, b. 1823; Williams Bros Publication date: 1880 Publisher: [Cleveland] Williams Number of Pages: 896

Author: Hill, George William, b. 1823; Williams Bros
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: [Cleveland] Williams
Number of Pages: 896