USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 69
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 69
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In the north-west part of Belmont county (then Jefferson) and on the head waters of Big Stillwater, between Morristown and Freeport, he started his first nursery in Ohio. After sow- the seed and enelosing the ground with a brush fence he con- tinued further west.
From 1801 to 1806, we hear but little of Johnny Appleseed's operations in Ohio. In 1806 he again stopped to see his old friend living near the Ohio river, and whose hospitalities, John- ny enjoyed for the night. He was on his way down the river, with two canoes lashed together, laden with apple seeds, a few cooking utensils and some implements, necessary for carrying on his nursery business in the new purchase, whither he was going.
The following account of this peculiar man is from the pen of Miss Rosella Rice, of Perrysville, Ashland county, Ohio, at whose father's house Johnny was a frequent and welcome visitor :
"No one knows why Johnny was so eccentric ; some people thought he had been crossed in love, and others, that his passion for growing fruit trees and planting orchards in those early and perilous times had absorbed all the tender and domestic feelings natural to mankind. An old uncle of ours tells us, the first time he ever saw Johnny was in 1806, in Jefferson county, Ohio. He had two canoes lashed together and was taking a lot of ap- ple seeds down the Ohio river. About that time he planted six- teen bushels of seeds on one acre of that grand old farm on the Walhonding river, known as the Butler farm.
"All up and down the Ohio and Muskingum, and their then wild and pretty tributaries, did poor Johnny glide along, alone, with his rich freight of seeds, stopping here and there to plant nurseries. He always selected rich, secluded spots of ground.
One of them we remember now, and even still it is pictur- esque, beautiful and primal. He cleared the ground himself, a quiet nook over which the tall sycamores reached out their bony arms as if in protection. Those who are nurserymen now, should compare their facilities with those of poor Johnny, going about with a load in a canoe, and, when occasion demanded, a great load on his back. To those who could afford to bny, he always sold on very fair terms ; to those who couldn't, he always gave or made some accommodating trade, or took a note paya- ble-some time-and rarely did that time ever come.
"Among his many eccentricities was one of bearing pain like an undaunted Indian warrior. He gloried in suffering. Very often he would thrust pins and needles into his flesh without a tremor or a quiver ; and if he had a cut or a sore, the first thing he did was to sear it with a hot iron, and then treat it as a burn.
"He hardly ever wore shoes, except in winter, but, if travel- ing in summer time, and the roads hurt his feet, he would wear sandals, and a big hat that he made himself, with one side very large and wide and bent down to keep the heat from his face. No matter how oddly he was dressed, or how funny he looked, we children never laughed at him, because our parents all loved and revered him as a good old man, a friend and a benefactor.
"Almost the first thing he would do when he entered a house, and was weary, was to lie down on the floor, with his knapsack for a pillow, and his head towards the light of the door or win- dow, when he would say : 'Will you have some fresh news right from Heaven?' and carefully take out his old worn books, a Testament, and two or three others, the exponents of the beau- tiful religion that Johnny so zealously lived out-the Sweden- borgian doctrine. We can hear him read now, just as he did that summer day when we were busy quilting up stairs, and he lay near the door, his voice rising denunciatory and thrilling- strong and loud as the roar of the waves and winds, then soft and soothing as the balmy airs that stirred the morning-glory leaves about his gray head. His was a strange, deep eloquence at times, His language was good and well chosen, and he was undoubtedly a man of genius.
"Sometimes in speaking of fruits, his eyes would sparkle, and his countenance grow animated and really beautiful, and if he . was at table his knife and fork would be forgotten. In describ- ing apples, we could see them just as he, the word-painter, pic- tured them -large, lush, creamy-tinted ones, or rich, fragrant and yellow, with a peachy tint on the sunshiny side, or crimson red, with the cool juice ready to burst through the tender rind."
Thomas S. Humerickhouse, a prominent nurseryman and po- mologist, of Coshocton, Ohio, in an article published in Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture for 1846, speaks of Johnny Appleseed as a scientific, as well as early producer of apple trees, and from which we extract :
"Obscure and illiterate though he was, in some respects he was another Dr. Van Mons, and must have been endued with the instinct of his theory. His usual practice was to gather his seeds from seedling trees, and to take them from as many dif- ferent trees as were to be found within the range of his yearly autumnal rambles, and from those particular seedling trees af- fording the highest evidence in their fruit that the process of amelioration was begun and was going on in them. At first his visits necessarily extended to the seedling orchards upon the Ohio and Monongahela rivers, in what were called the settle- ments ; but when the orchards of his own planting began to bear, his wanderings, for the purpose of collecting seed, became more and more narrowed in their extent, till the time of his de- parture further westward.
"Still true, however, to the instinct which first drew him to the Van Mons theory for the production of new ameliorated va- rieties of the apple, he has continued occasionally to return in the autumn to his beloved orchards hereabouts, for the double purpose of contemplating and ruminating upon the results of his labors, and of gathering seeds from his own seedling trees, to take with him, and carry on, by their means, reproduction at the west."
There seems to be little knowledge to be obtained as to what became of his nursery in Belmont county. The tide of emigra- tion seemed to push him westward step by step. His greatest nursery was in the valley of the Walbonding, in Coshocton county, but he proceeded on up the Mohican, and at one time had several nurseries in the counties of Knox, Ashland and Richland. Later, he again pushed further west, to the Maumee valley, and still continued his operations in his old age. He died near Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the spring of 1845, aged 72 years.
193
HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.
MILITARY RECORD OF BELMONT COUNTY.
WAR OF 1812.
President Madison issued his proclamation declaring war with Great Britain on the 18th day of July, 1872. Belmont county had at that time less than 13,000 inhabitants. The tidings of war spread rapidly, and the excitement, which always follows such a cry, grew intense.
The following, obtained from Colonel James F. Charlesworth, of St. Clairsville, shows the names of the Captains having com- panies in the service from this county, during that conflict. In the First Regiment, of which DeLong was Colonel, there ap- pears to have been six companies.
FIRST OHIO REGIMENT.
Captain John Howell's company.
Captain James Campbell's company.
Captain Joseph Holmes' company.
Captain William Stephens' company.
Captain Jobn Hall's company.
Captain Daniel Conner's company.
THIRD OHIO REGIMENT-COL. L. CASS.
Captain Robert Morrison's company.
FOURTH OHIO REGIMENT.
Captain Solomon Bentley's company.
OTHER COMPANIES.
Captain Joseph Kirkwood, (regiment unknown.) Captain William Williams, (regiment unknown.)
OHIO MILITIA.
Captain Robert Irwin's company.
Captain Absalom Martin's company.
Captain John McElroy's (Independent company.)
As will be observed by the above list Belmont county fur- nished over a regiment of volunteers and drafted men in the war of 1812. At so late a day it is difficult to ascertain any facts in relation to these companies, and all that can be found is most- ly traditional. Only one muster-roll, we believe, is extant in the county.
Captain Robert Morrison's company was the first one mus- tered into service. From Indian Springs, Belmont county, where it was encamped and partly recruited, it marched to Zanesville, where the men received their coat of arms. This company was in Hull's surrender, August 16, 1812. Captain Morrison was promoted to Major during his service, Wm. Gill succeeded him as captain, and W. Warner, First Lieutenant.
On the 3d of September, 1813, Capt, John Howell's company met at St. Clairsville and marched through Barnesville, Zanes- ville and Newark to Columbus, where they were fully equipped. Most of this company were from about Captina and McMahon's creeks. The company belonged to the First Regiment, under Col. DeLong. From Columbus they marched to the mouth of Sandusky river, and from that point were taken to Put-in-Bay Island. This company assisted in the guarding of the Detroit and Queen Charlotte, two of the vessels captured in Perry's vic- tory, September 10, 1813. At that time the British called the American vessels the "Musket Fleet."
Captain McElroy's company was an independent rifle com- pany, and was ordered into the United States service on the 19th day of October, 1812.
Captain Solomon Bentley was promoted to the position of Major whilst in service. This company belonged to the Fourth Regiment O. M.
An incident is given concerning one of these companies which is worthy of notice. Major Thompson says a company from Belmont county was stationed in a fort at a certain point on the Sandusky river, where a slight skirmish took place between it and the British forces. The enemy loaded one of their heavy guns with a piece of a log chain and shot it into the fort. One of the company, a brave, daring sort of a fellow, named John Guddarl, mounted the wall of the fort immediately after this 25-B. & J. Cos.
shot was fired, and looking over toward the enemy, at the same time yelling at the top of his voice: "Lookont, boys! lookout ! The next thing you will find coming. from their cannons will be a yoke of oxen." This was said in a ludicrous manner. He had scarcely uttered these words, when, simultaneously with the report of the enemy's gun, he fell back from the wall, sev- ered in halves by a second log chain sent from the mouth of one of their cannons.
The following is copied from an old book kept by McElroy, captain of the volunteer company recruited about St. Clairs- ville, and which left for the service October 20th, 1812. This company was out only a short time, and rendezvoused near Mansfield most of the time :
OFFICERS.
John McElroy, Captain. Anthony Weyer, Lieutenant. David Work, Ensign.
PRIVATES.
Stephen Shipman,
John Duff,
Anthony Smith,
John Sharp,
Robert Hardesty, David McClelland,
James Henderson,
William Graham,
Samuel Hardesty, Alexander Smiley,
Robert Robertson,
George Wilson,
James Nellands,
William Ranason,
Alexander Work,
Benjamin Dean,
John Logan,
David Duff, Peter Ault,
Isaac Buskirk,
Charles Vanwey,
Charles Baker,
Messor Ward, Jacob Grubb,
James Taggart,
Aaron Dean,
Samuel Cuclar,
Thomas Garly,
James Hughes,
John Ranason,
Daniel Dean,
Samuel Marker,
Joseph Russle,
John Zimmerman.
"Marched from St. Clairsville on the 20th of October, 1812 and encamped at Washington Springs, 2 miles from St. Clairs- ville, and continued in camp for three days. On Saturday, 24th, marched to Morristown, and encamped in the suburbs of the same.
Sunday, 25th .- Struck our tents and marched before Duncan Morrison's door and dressed in a line, and was handsomely ad- dressed from the porch by the Rev. Joseph Anderson, entreat- ing us to observe the Sabbath day, &c., &c., &c. We marched from thence to Mr. -. Huffinan's.
Monday, 26th .- Marched from thence to Cambridge and lodged with Mr. T. Stewart. Met with J. Russel and gave him a fur- longh.
Tuesday, 27th .- Marched from thence to Mr. John Brown's.
Wednesday, 28th .- Marched from thence to Zanesville; arrived about 12 o'clock. Raining on us about one day. Marched to the court house and halted, and then to the barrack at the sign of the Lamb.
Thursday, 29th .- Continned in the barracks, and drew and receipted nine ovens and stew-kettles with two lids.
Friday, 30th .- Continued in the barracks and drew nine blankets and five pair of shoes at one dollar and seventy-five cents. The blankets, three of them at four dollars and fifty cents each, and six at three dollars and fifty cents each.
The following is the way the poor soldiers had to receipt for what they got, and if the government didn't pay for their cloth- ing they did out of their wages.
" Received of Captain John McElroy one blanket, for which I promise to pay out of my wages while in the United States ser- vice, unless paid for by the government. The price being four dollars and fifty cents. ROBERT ROBERTSON,"
" Received of Captain John McElroy, one blanket, for which I promise to pay out of my wages while in the United States service, unless payed for by the government. The price being three dollars and fifty cents.
His
"JAMESM HUGHES. Mark.
"Test: ROBERT ROBERTSON."
" Received of Captain John McElroy, one pair of shoes, for which I promise to pay out of my wages, while in the service of the United States. The price being one dollar and seventy-five cents.
GEORGE WILSON."
194
HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.
Saturday, 31st .-- Continued in barracks and gave an account of the cost of tent, clothing, &c., -amounts to 874.15 cents,
Sunday, 1st November .- March from Zanesville about 11 o'clock A. M., to Licking Camp, about three miles from Zanesville.
Monday 2d .- Struck onr tents and marched, passing the fur- nace and forge about 12 miles from our camp, and continned on march to the Greentree, 9 ntiles.
Tuesday, 3d .- Struck onr tents and marched 132 miles to Newark.
Wednesday, 4th .- Struck our tents and marched fifteen miles to Davises and encamped in the woods, before his door, and it rained all night on us.
Thursday. 5th .- Struck our tents and marched through the mud, ten miles to Mount Vernon and crossed Owl creek, just at the town.
Friday, 6th .- Struck our tents and marched through the mnd to Mr. Filton, 10 miles, and met Captain Bemer's company and Captain Martin's and exchanged wagons with Captain Martin, &c.'
Owing to the mutilated pages there occurs an omission of Sun- day. From one line still remaining it is to be seen that they "drew nothing to eat but some potatoes. The men growled very much."
Monday, 9th .- Continued in camp and drew some potatoes and nothing else. The men almost ready to go home. Hard living on potatoes and nothing else, and very disagreeable weather- raining. Here I must mention the commissaries' names, Henry Laffer, Clark and Deardnff.
Tuesday, 10th .- Continned in camp. I went to Greentown carly in the morning and met the cavalry crossing the Black Fork of Mohican. Crossed the creek and went up to where the town was and found 2,250 Pennsylvania troops.
*
Saturday, 14th .- Continued in camp. William Ranason con- tinued unwell, and some men went to Mansfield.
Sunday, 15th .- Continued in camp; and I. Brown and Dr. Moore came in camp, and fetched a number of letters for us. Got three from my wife and one from my father and one from Col. G. Paull.
Monday, 16th .- Continned in camp. A. Weyer, I. Brown and Dr. Moore left camp for St. Clairsville, and Capt. James Flogg and myself and others went to Mansfield-came home in the evening. Wm. Ranason continued sick.
Tuesday, 17th .- Continued in camp. Seut A. Smiley and WVm. Grimes to the Pennsylvania camp for Dr. Hursey to come and see Win. Ranason. They returned with Dr. Sutton, who left some medicine for him and then left camp. We then took Wm. Ranason to Mr. Newell and left John with him and at- tended him myself till evening and then went to camp.
Wednesday, 18th .-- Continued in camp, and James Taggart and John Logan were sent to meet the wagon about four miles to get one-half pint of whisky for Wm. Ranason to mix medicine in. They returned. I went to see him and found him getting better and returned to the camp.
Thursday, 19th .- Continued in camp. Ranason getting better, but complains of pain in his breast. Dr. Sutton came to see him and then I returned to camp, and Dr. Sutton to his camp. The Pennsylvanians came with their artillery-about 24 pieces ; five of them eighteen pounders; five inches diameter in the lob, weighing 2,900 lbs. ; five of this size and the remainder 12 and 6 pounders. They occupied 24 wagons.
Friday, 20th .- Continued in camp. Wm. Ranason got some better. Pennsylvanians started for Mansfield about 8 o'clock ; three well equipped companies.
Saturday, 21st .- Continued in camp. Wm. Ranason getting better. Nothing else particular.
Sunday, 22d .- Continned in camp. Unpleasant day.
Monday, 23d .- Continued in camp. Raining and blustering ; very disagreeable. Ranason better.
Tuesday, 24th .- Continued in camp. This night it snowed about one inch deep, and made nice hunting. D. Work and my- self went a hunting and D. W. killed a fine doc, about three miles southeast from our camp.
Wednesday, 25th .- Continued in camp; went a hunting, and a very cold day. Nothing particular this day.
Thursday, 26th. Continued in camp; went a hunting and in the evening shot a fine doc, and followed it with four others about four miles southwest from the camp, till it got so dark I could not see to shoot and came home.
Friday, 27th .- Continued in camp. It rained this evening and the snow went off.
Saturday, 28th .- Continued in camp. Wm. Ranason came to camp and is getting well.
Sunday, 29th .- Continued in camp, Had a very severe storm this morning ; raining and blustering, and a tree fell across two of the Pennsylvanians' tent and killed one man, and five or six badly hurt. Not expected to recover.
Monday, 30th .- Continued in camp, Nothing particular hap- pened this day.
Tuesday, December 1st .- Continued in camp.
Wednesday, 2d .-- Continued in camp.
Thursday, 3d. - Continued in camp.
Friday, 4th .- Continned in camp.
Saturday, 5th .- Continued in camp. A very cold winter day ; wind blowing.
Sunday, 6th .- Continned in camp, and six of our men went home on furlough, and Captain Flogg and five of his men. They went on board the Mohican packet about three-quarters of a mile below the camp, and started down. Three cheers were given by the boys on the bank, which was answered by three from the packet, and then we returned to camp.
Monday, 7th .- Continued in camp. * This day snowing all day, and Anthony Weyer came to camp and brought many things for the company from home. Grubb and Hardesty messes moved to a small cabin down and over the creek, and ours and Smiley's messes up the creek to a small cabin. So ends the chapter.
Tuesday, Sth .- We continued in the cabin and began to build a hut at the east end of the block house.
Wednesday, 9th .- Continued in the cabin. This is a very cold morning. Finished our cabin.
Thursday, 10th .- Continued in the cabin, and went to the block house and found our hut down to the ground.
Friday, 11th .- Continued in the cabin. Very cold weather. Done nothing to the hut.
Saturday, 12th .- Continned in the cabin. A. Weyer and my- self went to Mansfield and settled with Dr. Sutton for services done William Ranason.
Sunday, 13th .- Continued in the cabin. By my permission, together with the orders of Samnel Connell, Mayor, the bearer, John Zimmerman, is on furlough for six days from this date.
Monday, 14th .-- Continued in the cabin. This morning D. Work and William Grimes went up the Clear Fork a hunting. Nothing particular this day.
Tuesday, 15th .- Continued in the cabin. Nothing particular this day.
Wednesday, 16th .- Continued in the cabin, and D. Work and William Grimes came home.
Thursday, 17th .- Continued in the cabin. Nothing happened this day,
Friday, 18th,-Continued in the cabin. This morning we had a bit of a "tiderrei," and it was performed by G. W. flogging Martin Neal. But this afternoon some of our men went to Mansfield and saw the remains of Major Wilson laid away in that strict, solemn and military way, and then returned home.
Saturday, 19th .- Continued in the cabin. Nothing particular happened this day.
Sunday, 20th .- Continued in the cabin, This day makes two months since we left home. Major Connell came to the cabin and informed me that he had received orders from the govern- ment to dismiss us, and gave a furlough to James Taggart and Samuel Hardesty, and they started home on Monday morning before day.
Monday, 21st .- Continued in the cabin, and B. and D. Dean, J. Sharp and S. Cuclar went home, and I moved to a little cabin near the block house.
Tuesday, 22nd .-- This morning D. Work, A. Work, D. Mc- Clelland, G. Wilson, William Grimes, C. Baker, J. Nellands, A. Smith, I. and D. Duff, J. and William Ranason left the cabin about 2 o'clock P. M., and left A. Smiley and myself in the cabin. We had a fine breakfast of pancakes and sweet milk, &c. This is a fine day. * *. * David Newell came to the cabin to get A. Smiley and myself to help him to clean some wheat that evening. Calculated to go a hunting the next morning.
Wednesday, 23rd .- Got up in the morning, and A. Smiley and myself was cleaning our guns at the door, when Newell's dogs began barking about half a mile off towards our camp, Newell started; I loaded up and started. likewise. When I came up the dogs had treed a grey fox, which I shot, and then returned to the house, got our breakfast, and prepared to go over the Black Fork. Got about half a mile and saw two deers, but could not get a shot. We then proceeded and came into the state road abont half a mile from the Black Fork; thence pro-
195
HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.
ceeded along the road that led from Mansfield to Wooster about one mile, and came to the Black Fork; crossed it on a bridge that the Pennsylvanians made, and then down the creek, on the northeast side about two miles, and came to the Mohican lake. This is a handsome little lake; is about 170 yards wide and about 250 yards loug. It is said that in the middle it cannot be fathomed, and is very good for fish. We crossed on the ice, and then proceeded down the creek about one mile, and there I shot a fine buck, and then we proceeded up the run to the house where four people were killed by the Indians-the father, mother and daughter and a Mr. Rufner. This is a fine place, but looked very desolate. We went into the house and saw their blood on the floor. Such a sight makes men feel. It is said the mother and daughter were found lying before the fire clasped hand in hand. We examined the house, and then went to where they were buried, all in one grave. We then pro- ceeded home. A. Smiley and D. Newell carried the deer, and I its skin and some other articles about three miles, and then they got tired and hung up the deer. We waded the Black Fork . about sundown. It was very late, and we were about seven miles from home. We then proceeded and came to Mr. Newell's about 8 o'clock at night. We had a hard tramp.
Thursday, 24th .- We returned to our little cabin. To-day is snowing and frozen. *
Wagons have come for us from James' block house.
This company only number thirty-seven, according to the roll appearing on Capt. McElroy's minutes.
ANOTHER RELIC OF THE WAR OF '12.
James Campbell, M. C., to Judge John Patterson, St. Clairsville, O .: WASHINGTON, 28th January, 1815.
DEAR SIR :- We have just received the disagreeable, though certain information of the capture of the President frigate after an action of more than four hours with four British frigates. Three Lieutenants and ninety men were killed on board of the President. Among the former was a son of Mr. Anderson, a member of this house. Decatur remains unhurt. This informa- tion comes from one of the surviving officers of the President. I am, sir, yours in haste, JAMES CALDWELL.
The following is copied from the original discharge now in the possession of Col. Charlesworth, of St. Clairsville. There were very few discharges granted in that war, and differs great- ly from those issued in later wars.
DISCHARGE. CAMP WOOD, Oct. 18, 1812.
This is to certify that John Hauthorn, a Sergeant in Capt, Holmes' company is discharged from Military Duty for this Tour. Given under my hand this day and date above men- tioned.
JOHN ANDREWS, Lt. Col. Commandant.
I believe Mr. Hanthorn, of your company unable to perform this present tour of duty.
THOMAS CAMPBELL, Sergeon 1st Reg't, 1st Brig., 4th Div. O. M.
THE MEXICAN WAR,
It had been predicted by many of the people that in case Tex- as was annexed to the United States it would cause an imme- diate rupture between this government and Mexico. The latter claimed Texas as a part of its territory, notwithstanding its in- dependence had been acknowledged by other governments.
On the 6th of March, 1845, Congress adopted the joint resolu- tion for the admission of that State into the Union. The Mexi- can Minister at Washington, Gen. Almonte, strongly protested against that measure and demanded his passports. Gen. IIer- rera, President of Mexico, issued a proclamation, the 4th of June following, in which he declared the rights of that government and his determination to defend them. That and other things which occurred prior to this gave rise to hostilities. At this time James K. Polk was President of the United States. War was declared by Congress May 11, 1846. After the appearance of the President's proclamation and reiterated by Gov. M. Bart- ley, of Ohio, a meeting of the citizens of Belmont county was called, for the purpose of raising volunteers for the Mexican war, On the 30th a partial company was recruited in the county, made up principally of young men,
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