History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 89

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854

USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881 > Part 89

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Thomas Johnson, one of the earliest settlers of the township, was among the most prominent men of the county in his day. He was born in the parish of Glentubert, Monaghan county, Ire- land, on the 16th of March, 1783. Early in youth he manifested a great desire to go to America, and urged his father to emigrate. He, being a very quiet, unobtrusive man, with quite a family of young children, could not think of bringing them to the wilds of America. Thomas remained with his father till he was twenty-four years of age and had brothers grown up. He then told his father he was determined to go to the new world, and urged his suit with so much ardor that his parents could no longer withhold their consent. He left Ireland in 1806, and landed in New York with but one sovereign in his pocket. He there met with Joseph T. Baldwin, of New- ark, New Jersey, who offered to employ him. Ile remained with Mr. Baldwin for three years. In 1808 he married Sarah Parker. About this time his parents, his three brothers, Richard, William and Robert, and his only sister, Margaret, joined him in Newark. Thomas then determined that Newark was not the place for his father's family to settle, and in 1809 they came to Coshocton county, and located in Linton township. Thomas bought from Esaias Baker the northeast quarter of section 10, where now stands the village of Plainfiekl. Richard settled on the southwest quarter of the same section. Robert entered the northeast quarter of section 17, and William the northwest quarter of section 15, adjoining.

Thomas and Richard both served in the war of 1812, the latter dying a year or two after his re- turn. Thomas was perhaps the first justice of the peace in the townshp. His first docket, still preserved, in the possession of his son, J. R. Johnson, bears date April 7, 1814. The first entry, of that date, records a suit brought by John Lawrence against Jacob Mapal, to recover ten dollars. The entry shows that bail was given by the defendant for the full amount and the costs. In 1818, he was commissioned associate judge of Coshocton county, a postion which he held till the time of his death. He was probably the first foreigner naturalized in Coschocton county, his certificate being dated December 16, 1814. Mr. Johnson possessed business qualifications of a high order. His name is connected with many enterprises of his township and county, both public and private. He died August 20, 1840, after a protracted sickness. His widow survived him almost twenty-two years, dying at the old homestead, March 29, 1862. His father also sur- vived him eighteen days, dying September 7, 1840, in the eighty-first year of his age.

Five residents of the township had served in the revolutionary war, namely, John McCune, William Williams, Fought Shaffer, Amos Stack- house and Israel Buker. The following carried arms in the war of 1812: Richard Fowler, Wil- liam R. Clark, Laken Wells, Francis Smith, Richard Johnson, Thomas Johnson, John Glenn, James Laurie, James R. Williams, William Hud- son, Robert Platt, John Portmess, George Mag- ness, Duga Patterson, Robert Harbison, Sr., Rezin Baker, James McCune, Basil Baker, Sam- uel Banks, Eli O. H. Shyhock, Peter Rambo, Abraham Marlatt. There may have been others whose names can not now be ascertained. R. W. McClain and Robert Harbison were soldiers in the Mexican war.

Dr. Thomas HIeship was among the first phy- sicians. Drs. Collins, Hawkins and Heslip Wil- liams also practiced the healing art here quite early.

The first windmill in use was made by John Vernon and owned first by Basil Baker, after- ward by Edward Wiggins. . It was a rude affair, | having wooden cogs. Before the introduction of

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

windmills the process of cleaning wheat was very laborious and was often performed in Linton township after this fashion, the necessary instru- ments being a sheet and a half-bushel measure. The sheet would be tied to a stake at one end, and hell at the other by a person whose office it was to maneuver the sheet in such a way as to produce an artificial wind storm strong enough to blow away the chaff while the wheat was being slowly poured from the measure upon the floor. This operation performed several times would usually make the wheat sufficiently clean.

A few rods below the entrance ol Wills creek into Linton township, is a place called Limestone Falls. Before the Linton dam was built, there was a miniature caseade here, the water falling two or three feet, but since the building of the snill at Linton, two miles below, the falls are con- cealed from sight. These are the only falls in the course of the creek in the township. It is ex- tremely sluggish in its movements and, as a nav- igable stream, played an important part in the history of Linton township at a time when all its inhabitants were back-woodsmen. . The limited commercial relations of the pioneers with the out- side world were maintained mainly through its instrumentality. Whatever products could be spared by the settlers were borne to other locali- ties upon its bosom. In early times trading keel boats, thirty or forty feet in length, would ascend the ereek from Zanesville loaded with crockery and, in fact, all kinds of wares. These the traders would dispose of to the settlers along the creek, stopping at the different farm houses along the route and announcing their arrival by a blast from a tin trumpet. Taking in exchange for their goods chickens, eggs, or almost any com- modity, they were able to compete successfully with the few little country stores then in opera- tion, for these would generally demand the ready cash for their staples, and money was a rare ar- tiele in those days.

A great amount of lumber used to be rafted from the banks of Wills ercek. It found a ready market in Zanesville and could be taken there during high waters, at comparatively trifling ex- pense. The lumber was lashed together into rafts of about twenty-five logs each. Two days were usually required to reach Zanesville. White oak

and poplar were the varieties generally shipped ; occasionally walnut or cherry. Seventy-five rafts a year would be a moderate estimate of the ex- tent of this industry.

When the mills along the ercek were put into operation. much of the flour made was exported by flat-boats to various points below. Thomas Johnson was extensively engaged in boating flour and whisky to a southern market. His flat-boats touched nearly every point of importance in the Mississippi valley, a ten ton boat of whisky being poled up the Tennessee river once as far as Florence, Alabama. Perhaps the largest boat constructed for the purpose, was one 100 feet long and eighteen feet wide. It was built by J. V. Heslip, and partially loaded with 500 barrels of flour at Linton mills. At Zanesville its cargo was completed, and from thence conveyed safely to New Orleans.

Wills creek is fordable in several places ordina- rily, but it is impassible during high waters. Bo- fore the county was sufficiently developed to build bridges, some means of transportation for tavel- er's afoot, and for teams as well, sometimes, be- came necessary. This led to the establishment of ferries. Benjamin Wiggins kept the first ferry-boat in the township. It was near okl Plain- field, about 1812. Peter Rambo was ferryman there at a later period. Joseph Heslip performed this office for a while on the site of Linton mills.

The first attempt at bridge building in Linton township terminated disastrously. The project was to spann Wills creek, at old Plainfield, with a wooden bridge. It was begun auspiciously, and partially erected with great labor on the part of the settlers in the vicinity, when it was swept away during a freshet. The next attempt was more successful, resulting in the construction of a bridge at Jacobsport in 1834, mainly through the efforts of Thomas Johnson. Owing to the high banks and mud bottoms there was a dithi- eulty in crossing Wills ereek at his mills, and the commissioners being unwilling or unable to as- sist in bridging the stream, he petitioned the legis- lature, in 183-4, to authorize him to build a bridge and collect toll. He was assisted to some extent by the subscriptions of his neighbors. By the contribution of a certain amount he would grant a right to the free use of the bridge. Some twenty

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

years later the bridge was given by Johnson's son to the county commissioners, they agreeing to keep it in repair. The second bridge was built at Linton, in 1847, by Joseph and John V. Heship, the county commissioners contributing seventy- five dollars for the purpose. The bridge about a mile farther up the creek was built in 1870, and the one on the Otsego road, several years ago.

When the first settlers came into the township, the nearest mill was at Zanesville, twenty miles or more away, and accessible only by a winding trail. In 1809, Andrew Ferier built a little mill on the present site of Plainfield, about fifty rods above where Parker's mill now stands, but it was soon after swept away by a freshet and never re- built. Milling was again thrown twenty miles away and the inconvenience seriously felt; con- sequently, when John Loos, in 1816, proposed erecting a mill on Bacon run, the neighbors turned out en masse, and, by their voluntary labor, made a race for the mill some eighty rods long, and for many years kept the same in repair. A saw-mill was operated in conjunction with the grist-mill. Years afterward it was converted into a carding mill, which was conducted first by Samuel Shaffer, afterwards by Stephen Ives; it has long since been abandoned.

Thomas Johnson and Jacob Waggoner, about 1824, built a large mill, of four run of buhrs, where Parker's mill now stands. It was the first mill of any note and did a flourishing business In 1829 Johnson assumed sole control and owned it till his death. Since then it has been owned successively by John M. Johnson, Joseph John- son, Isaiah Rinaman, Samuel Sibley, Alonzo Sibley, William Heskett and Parker Brothers. The present owners, the Parkers, run a saw-mill and a planing-mill in connection with it. The Linton mills were built, in 1847, by J. V. Heship. In 1870, a steam saw and planing-mill was built in Plainfield by Wolfe & Williams. In IS78, a grist-mill was added. It is now operated by Wil- liam Wolfe.

The manufacture of whisky was one of the main industries of pioneer times. Alexander and William Love inaugurated its manufacture in Linton township. Their still-house, of modest size, was located on Irish run, near the western line of seetion 9. The process of distillation was

begun here about 1812. The Loves subsequently sold out to Andrew Ferguson, who removed the still to Bacon run, where Mrs. J. B. Fowler now lives. Thomas Johnson erected a large distillery, subsequently, on his homestead, and for many years manufactured spirits on a large scale. In 1816, at the laying out of Plainfield, he removed it there, and about 1825 back to its original place. Besides these, John Heslip's was the only distil- lery in the township. It was erected shortly after Linton was laid out and run for a few years only.

The manufacture of salt was another industry in the early times that must not be overlooked. In the southwestern part of the township, Wil- liam MeCleeary and Judge Fulton were engaged in it for many years. The wells had to be sunk several hundred feet before the water impreg- nated with salt was reached. In spring time it would rise to the top of the well, but at other seasons pumping was necessary. About sixty gallons of water must usually be evaporated to produce a bushel of salt. One hundred and fifty bushels were made per week at the two wells. Some was brought to Coshocton, but it was used largely by the farming community in this part of the county. Jacob Waggoner also manufactured a little at Plainfield. The boring of his well here, discovered a vein of coal, seven feet in thickness, forty-seven feet below the surface.

Linton township's first tannery was started in ISIS, in the village of Plainfield, by Benjamin Chambers, from New York. The bark for this tannery was prepared by erushing it beneath a ponderous stone wheel seven or eight feet in diameter, an axle passing through the center of the wheel acting as a pivot, and was turned around one extremity by a horse hitched to the other. The bark was constantly stirred in the track of the wheel as it made its little cireuit.

Thomas Johnson built the next tannery in East Plainfield, about 1838; after his death it was run by his son Joseph awhile, and then diseon- tinued. George Latham started one about twenty years ago, in the same village. Lewis Carhartt afterwards owned it, and in October, 1879, Mrs. Elizabeth Sibley purchased it; her son William Sibley, now has charge of it. Henry Franks owns and runs a little tannery situated about two miles west of Plainfield.

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

The first building erected for educational pur- poses was a rude log-cabin. It was built, prob- ably, in the year 1809, by the united labor of the surrounding settlers, on the southeast quarter of section 1, near its southern line, on property then owned by a teuton, named Dumm. After several terms had been taught, Dumm resolved to appropriate the building to his own use. The citizens thereabouts became indignant at this, and remonstrated, but in vain. Seeking legal advice they learned that Dumm possessed the right of property. The lawyer, unprofessionally of course, advised them to steal the building. Acting on this suggestion, one night a willing band of workers silently conveyed it, log by log, across the road to Thomas Johnson's land, where it stood for years, the only school-house in the township. Children were sent to school here from as far up Bacon's run as Richard Fowler's, and equally as far from other directions. They had to walk through narrow bridle paths to reach it, many of them in constant fear of wild ani- mals, that still lodged in the woods. Walter Truat is said to be the first teacher. He could spell a little, but his literary attainments were not sufficient to enable him to read, and he was not retained long. Israel H. Baker, Alpha Bu- ker, Thomas Fitch, Benjamin Norman, Francis Carroll and a Mr. Thompson, were among the earliest teachers of this school. The building was used as a church and voting place. Militia musters were also held here.

A school was taught in a log cabin on MeCune's place, about 1821, by a Mr. McConnell, a well edu- cated young man of dyspeptic tendencies, front the East, who came West to recuperate. He as- sumed the pedagogue's role to replenish his słender purse. He was succeeded by a Mr. Wil- liams, a crusty, crabbed fellow, who taught three months only. Eli Shrihock also taught here. He was an easy-going, good-natured kind of a man, brother-in-law to James Miskimen. When his children had beeome old enough to need in- struction, Mr. Miskimen built a school-house on his place. In the military section, about 1825, Joseph Heslip, John Lawrence and George Phil- lips built a school-cabin. It stood about a half mile east of the present village of Linton. Messrs. Blair and Hunt were among the first teachers.

Hunt did not believe in intellectual straining, for every little while he would tell the pupils to "rest their eyes." Another early school-house stood close to the road in the western part of sec- tion 20, near Mrs. Heslip Williams' residence. Mr. Hunt and Caleb Baker swayed the ferule here primarily.

Linton township contains five churches; the Methodist Episcopal, two Methodist Protestants, the Presbyterian and the Catholic. The Method- ist Episcopal is the oldest .. In 1812, Rev. John Mitchell organized a class near where Plainfield now is. The first members included Thomas Johnson, Robert Johnson, William Johnson, Hes- ter McClain, her son James; Richard Williams and wife, Esaias Baker, Charles Baker, Sr., Wil- liam Jeffers, Conrad Powelson and Frank Smith. The school-house on Johnson's farm served as the meeting-house for many years. About 1830, the " radical split," as it was commonly called, occur- red. This rupture was produced originally by the question of lay delegation, and led to the formation of the Methodist Protestant church. Nearly the entire congregation of Plainfield " seceded," leaving only seven or eight members in the old organization. These were Thomas Johnson and wife, Robert Johnson and wife, Wil- liam Johnson and wife and Susan Baker (her husband, Charles Baker, Sr., being among the seceders). This feeble remnant, however, was determined and active, as the erection of a house of worship a few years later will testify .. It was a large log building and stood across the creek from Jacobsport, on land donated by Thomas Johnson, who was the prime and main mover. The present church building, located in Plain- field, was erected about 1860. In 1875, it was somewhat enlarged and greatly improved. The present membership includes about 150 names. A flourishing Sunday-school has been connected with the church for fifty years. It is superin- tended by C. F. Sangster.

At the time of the separation of the Methodist Protestant from the Methodist Episcopal church, there was some difference of opinion as to the proper place for holding meetings, but Bacon run was finally agreed upon. The first meetings were held in a school-house at that time on Mrs. Brels-

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

ford's place. Several years later a log meeting- house, called Pleasant Bethel church, was erected in the same locality. Rev. Cornelius Springer was the minister who introduced Protestant Methodism in this community. Among the se- ceders were Edmund Duling, Gabriel Evans, John and Franeis Smith, Esaias Baker, William G. Dean, Jarris Gardner, John Dean, Jacob Waggoner, John R. Williams, Richard Williams, Rebecca Platt and William R. Clark. In the list is included the names of several of the original members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

A few years later a society of the same denon- ination was formed in Jacobsport. Rezin Baker, Jacob Waggoner, John Loos, Sr., and Harry Lin- der were among its first members. Services were first held in Robert Platt's cabinet shop, afterward in the school-house. About 1842, the Jacobsport and Pleasant Bethel churches consolidated, and in 1847 the present church edifice in East Plain- field was erected.

Another society had been formed about 1831, in the Powelson school-house, through the instru- mentality of Conrad Powelson. Soon after a building was raised on John R. Williams' place. It was known as the Covenant church. It finally fused with the Plainfield church. The present pastor is John Murphy, who serves a congrega- tion in Plainfield of nearly 200 members.

The Methodist Protestant church at Linton was organized about 1857, in the brick school- house, which now forms a part of John Heslip's hotel, by Revs. Robinson and Samuel Lancaster. Isaac Thompson, George Welker, C. T. Gaumer, John Miskimen, Aaron Ransopher, James Dean and William Lawrence were among the men who gave it being. Services were held in the brick school-house, and the school-house which succeeded it, until 1870. Then the present com- modious frame, with its sky-pointing steeple, was erected. About a hundred members worship here. This and the Plainfiekl church belong to the same circuit. The children in this vicinity have congregated every summer Sabbath for many years in the church to receive religious instruction.

The Presbyterian church is located near the northern line of the township, on the Lafayette

road. The first sermon was preached August 15. 1833, by Rev. James B. Morrow, of the Richland Presbytery. The next day the church was or- ganized with a membership of fifteen, and Alex- ander Matthews, Sr., and Alexander Matthews, Jr., were ordained elders. The original members were as follows: Alexander Matthews, Sr., and Hannah, his wife; Alexander Matthews, Jr., Pru- dence, his wife, and daughters, Sarah, Maria and Amy; Margaret Potter, Maria Roberts, Lydia Ann Butler, Thomas B. and Mary Barton, John and Jane Glenn, and Martha McCune. The first ten were received on certificate, the last five on examination. The earliest meetings were held in the school-house at Plainfield. The first com- munion was celebrated June 8, 1834.

In 1847, an old wagonmaker's shop, on the site of the present church, was purchased and con- verted into a house of worship. Services were held in it till the present church was built, in 1867. It was dedicated, free of debt, in June of that year. Its cost was $1,800. The church was supplied for nearly nineteen years by Revs. N. Conklin, N. Cobb, J. Matthews, D. Washburn, S. Hanna, William Lumsden and Robert Robe. Rev. R. W. Marquis was the first settled pastor, from 1852 to 1859. Then followed Rev. J. B. Akey (supply); Rev. John Moore, D. D., two years; George W. Fisher, seven years; James B. Stevenson, one year; J. J. Gridley (supply); W. B. Scarborough, eight years, and A. B. Wilson, the present pastor. The present session consists of A. Shaffer, John L. Glenn, Jr., Robert Dougherty and Joseph Love. The membership is seventy-two Rev. Marquis, its first pastor, is buried in the church cemetery. Mr. John Gundy, residing at Snow Hill, Maryland, but owning land in the vicinity of this church, left it a legacy of $1,000. in 1874.

The Saint Mary's Catholic church, located in the western part of the township, was organized during or near the year 1840, by Father Gallaher, Quite a number of persons hokling allegiance to this church had moved into this neighborhood previously. Among them were the following, who assisted in establishing the church here: Michael Hiser, Adam Mortine, David and John Wendel, Martin Henricks, Jacob Cline, Jacob

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

Shearer, John H. Baker, and David Borden- kircher. The organization was effected and first services held at the residence of David Borden- kircher. A log church was erected very soon afterwards, which continued to be the house of worship, till 1867, when the neat little frame where they now hold service was built. The earliest ministers came principally from Zanes- ville, to administer to their spiritual welfare. They were Fathers Gallaher, William Burgess and William Diters. Father Bender, who suc- ceeded, was from Newark. Since the organiza- tion of the Catholic church at Coshocton, the pastors of it have supplied this charge. The membership amounts to about sixty.

About the year 1858, a society of the United Brethren persuasion was organized about a half mile northeast from the Catholic church. John Michael, William Snites and John Stough were its main supporters. It was feeble in point of numbers from the start, and became still more so by the subsequent removal of some of its men- bers from this vicinity. It ceased to exist in 1867. The frame meeting-house, erected in 1859, still stands in moumental memory of its prior existence.

The first village laid out in the township was called Plainfield. It was located about a mile south of the present village of Plainfield, on the west bank of Wills creek, and platted October 10, 1816. Thomas Johnson, as executor of the estate of Richard Johnson, and Edward Wiggins were the joint proprietors, part of the village platted lying on Wiggin's land, the northwest quarter of section 17, and part on Richard Johnson's, the southwest quarter of section 10. The road divid- ing the two sections was dubbed Coshocton street, and twelve lots were laid off from each section facing this street. The road running north from this along the creek was called Water street, and nine lots belonging to Johnson's land fronted on it. The first house was built by Thomas Johnson for a tavern, in 1816. It was a two-story, log- hewed building, and is still standing. Plainfield was then on the road between Zanesville and Philadelphia; the road was traveled a great deal. Mr. Johnson kept a small stock of goods at his

tavern stand, and the following year (1817) a store, owned by Dwight Hutchinson, of Cam- bridge, was opened and managed by Joseph White, also of Cambridge. It was removed the next year and Mr. Luccock became the village storekeeper. The same year Benjamin Chambers started his tannery, as mentioned elsewhere in this chapter, and Mr. Johnson brought his distil- lery here. In 1817, John Vernon built a frame house in the village, the first of the kind built in the township. He was a carpenter and cabinet- maker by trade, and emigrated from New York. He died of consumption a few years later. Thomas Johnson became the first postmaster in the town- ship here, his appointment dating November 27, 1819. The postoffice was afterward removed to East Plainfield. The little village, for some rea- son, was not a success. At no time did it contain many more than half a dozen houses. It was named, doubtless, from the plains surrounding it.

Jacobsport was laid out in August. 1836, by Ja- cob Waggoner and named after him. He was the owner at that time of the northwest quarter of section 6, range 4. All the land lay east of Wills creek except a small piece in a bend of that stream. Deeming it a fine location for a vil- lage he laid it out into lots. At the time, there was a single log hut on this ground, one which had been occupied by Andrew Ferier when his mill was in operation. Thomas Platt erected the first dwelling house, a comfortable frame build- ing. Butler & Shook owned the first store, opened about 1839. Several years previous to this Thomas Johnson had opened a store on his land adjoining Jacobsport, and in 1840 had a number of lots laid off contiguous to Jacobsport. Several years later his son John M. Johnson increased the number of lots and recorded the plat, calling the village East Plainfield. Though forming but one village, in reality each part retained its original name. Jacobsport was entirely hemmed in by the creek and East Plainfield and consequently had little chance to extend its limits. East Plain- field on the contrary had a whole quarter section before it and grew slowly but surely. In March, 1878, the whole was incorporated as one village under the name of Plainfield. Its first officers, elected April, 1878, were as follows: J. A. May- hugh, mayor; David Duling, clerk; John Famil-

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History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 89

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 854

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854