History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 35

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 35

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Dallas township is drained by two principal streams-the Sandusky or, as called by the Indians, "Sa-un-dus-tee" (clear water), and the eastern branch of the Scioto, known as the Little Scioto, original Wyandot name "Sci-on- to." The former enters the township near its northeast corner and meanders in a south- westerly direction until it enters Wyandot county. Its bed consists of a coarse wash- gravel, diversified with sand bars that make the river a favorite resort of minnows. The gravel is also much used for making road

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repairs. The gravelly bed and picturesque aspect of the stream made it in former days a favorite resort of the Wyandot Indians whose camps might often have been observed on its banks.

The other stream referred to-the Little Scioto-enters Dallas a quarter of a mile east of the Marion road, and, like the Sandusky, also flows in a general southwesterly direction, passing into Marion couty about a mile and a half east of the Wyandot county line. This river furnishes a constant supply of water to the stock farms that lie along its banks.

Mud Run, now a partly artificial stream cuts Dallas township close to the Whetstone town- ship line, flowing south into Marion county, and empties into the Whetstone. During the spring freshets it is sometimes swollen to a considerable width. A small tributary of the Sandusky, which passes through the Hoover farm and is known by the somewhat imposing title of "The Outlet of the Plains," had its origin in a dug ditch, but, on account of the fall of the land, which gives it a swift cur- rent, and what man began nature has com- pleted by cutting a gully fifteen to eighteen feet deep, giving passage to a perennial flow of water. The original ditch, man made, was there long before the first pioneer settled in this section, and it was believed to be the con- necting lines between the Sandusky and the Scioto used by the French and Indians two hundred years ago on their way by boats from Lake Erie to the Ohio river.

Dallas township contains a considerable va- riety of timber, much of which is of recent growth, in particular the picturesque clumps of jack-oak trees. Much of the earlier timber was destroyed by the Indians-not that they were accustomed to exercise themselves by felling it, but in their "ring-hunts" they used to fire the grass in order to drive the game to a center, and in dry and windy weather the fire sometimes got beyond their control, thus de- stroying the young growth of timber. Upon the ridges, or so-called "islands," where the grass was not so long and rank, the timber sometimes escaped, and these spots accordingly were the best-wooded portions of the township. One of the most common trees in the southern and western parts of Dallas was and still is the "shellbark" or nut-bearing hickory. A

generation ago it was customary for large nut- ting parties to be formed at the proper season, large numbers of people going in wagons and picnicing in the groves. As some of these people had little regard for property rights, they trespassed where they would, broke down fences and damaged the property of the farm- ers generally, besides disturbing the peace and quietness of the Sabbath, Sunday being a favorite day with them for this kind of recre- ation. The nuisance was finally abated by leg- islation. Along the rivers some fine walnut timber may be found, while in the northern part the maple gives rise to family sugar camps. Timber useful for building purposes, such as the ash, also occur, while among other trees or shubbery may be mentioned hazel, ironwood, buckeye, dogwood and sassafras.

The southern part of Dallas township is favored with a deep black soil, peculiarly adapted to corn, and also, since it has been drained and tamed by cultivation, very suit- able to wheat, though it was formerly too rich for that cereal. Oats and rye may also be raised in abundance. In the northern portion the soil is more of a clay loam. On the "white ridges" it is thinner and of a less rich quality, but when artificially enriched produces good wheat crops. Excellent grazing is found throughout Dallas township and the raising of cattle was formerly extensively carried on, though owing to the formidable competition of the large western ranches, it has been partly abandoned, the farmers, as in other parts of the county, still raising cattle, and the graz- ing remains an important industry. Sheep and hogs are raised to some extent. For many years Mr. John Monnett was a leading breeder of short-horn cattle, importing many choice animals into Crawford county from Kentucky. He removed in 1873 to Iroquois county, Ill. Ephraim Monnett was also noted as a large dealer in the Durham thoroughbreds.

Sheep raising was attended with many diffi- culties in pioneer days, these animals being particularly liable to attacks from wolves, which made great ravages in the flocks, unless the latter were well protected. They had to be closely watched and at night were kept in high-built pens. The pork trade was also an uncertain business of doubtful profit, as the hogs usually ran wild among the timber and

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owing to their roaming nature, were frequently the subject of litigation. Among those who devoted their attention largely to the sheep and hog trade in early days were David and Simon Bryant, who about 1829 took possession of what later became the Ephraim Monnett farm. Madison Welsh at an early day estab- lished a packing-house on the Marion road, on land that was later known as the George Welsh place.

The first white settlers in Dallas township were men of a low and more or less worthless if not criminal character, who squatted on land in the vicinity of the watercourses. They usually built a rude cabin and cleared a small patch of ground, on which they raised such necessary vegetables as could be cultivated with the minimum of physical exertion. Their rifles procured them plenty of game, and fish could be had in the streams for the catching. Their instincts were predatory and in many cases, at least, their conduct was governed by the motto: "When you see what you want, take it," which they did when they were able or when they could do so undetected. With the advent of a better class of settlers, how- ever, who came to found permanent homes, these gentry found the moral atmosphere getting uncongenial to them, and so they gradually departed to wilder scenes, turning their faces to the setting sun and following close in the wake of the retreating red man, much to the relief of the better-ordered por- tion of the community.

One of the earliest permanent settlers was George Walton, described as "a middle-aged man," of large family, who moved into Dallas from the Pike-Whole-Prairie, in Pickaway county, in the fall of 1820. Taking possession of an abandoned squatter cabin, located near the site of the subsequent residence of Maj. Matthew Carmean, he repaired and enlarged it and made it suitable for habitation. Here he reared an enterprising family the members of which became useful and industrious men and women. Here also the first Methodist meetings in the township were held, and min- isters of that faith-to which he himself be- longed-entertained. After having seen his children comfortably settled in life as farmers, or engaged in other vocations, he removed to the state of Iowa, where he died in 1857. An-

other Pickaway county man, Mr. Van Horne, came to Dallas in 1821, and developed a farm consisting of two 80-acre lots. He had three sons and the family remained here until the death of the elder Van Horne, after which they appear to have moved away.

Christian Hoover settled here in 1822, be- ing accompanied by his son William, then aged six years. His daughter Hannah was mar- ried Nov. 25, 1830, by Zalmon Rowse, Esq. to Charles Wesley White, theirs being one of the first weddings in Dallas.

Charles W. White was a son of Charles White, who served in the Patriot army dur- ing the Revolutionary war. The latter on the death of his father inherited a number of slaves in Virginia. He subsequently removed to Kentucky, where he liberated his slaves, and in 1821 removed from there to Ross county, Ohio. Two sons of Charles-Samuel and George-fought in the War of 1812, Charles W. being then only ten years old. The latter came to Crawford in 1820 and was em- ployed for some time at the old Indian mill on the Sandusky near the present town of Upper Sandusky. He was also employed by the Gov- ernment as Indian agent, his assistant being Charles Garrett. He worked at the mill three years and then bought 207 acres in Dallas township. He continued his investments in land until he eventually owned 1,300 acres. His wife died in 1851 and he never married again. His son, W. T. White, and grandson, Leo, followed him on the original farm. In his latter years he spent his winters at the home of his son-in-law, J. J. Fisher of Bucyrus.

In 1830 Christian Hoover bought out the heirs of William Johnson the land he then acquired subsequently becoming the property of Christian Hoover, Jr. In addition to the daughter Hannah, above mentioned, his son, William, who was a boy of six years when he first came to this county was one of the larg- est wheat growers in the township. He was a progressive man and as early as 1835 pur- chased a threshing machine, which, though not equal to the thrashers of the present day, was a novelty at that time and a great improve- ment on the flail, the implement usually used for the purpose. Mr. Hoover, Sr., died in 1849 at the age of 60 years. His wife sur- vived him but a short time, passing away in

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the following year. The son William came to Bucyrus in the sixties, and became engaged in manufacturing, and later retired from all active business, his sons and grandsons still being prosperous farmers.

John Mason, a widower with three sons, John, Thomas and Joseph, came to America from England in 1825 and subsequently found their way to Dallas township, this county, where they followed ditching for an avoca- tion. They lived in a cabin on a forty-acre lot, which Mr. Mason purchased, and which sub- sequently came into possession of his son John, and from the latter into that of his widow. Old Mr. Mason, it seems, was an excellent cook and his skill in bread making was greatly admired by the housewives for miles around. He died in 1876. Samuel Coulter came to Dallas in 1832 from Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He first leased a piece of land from Mr. Van Horne, which he afterwards purchased, and it subsequently became the property of his youngest son, George. He de- voted his main energies to the raising of grain, and gradually enlarged his holdings, buying out his neighbors, John and Daniel Reecer, and acquiring other 40 and 80 acre lots until he was one of the heaviest land holders in the township. He also put up a large barn, built in the Pennsylvania style, which was something of a novelty at that period and which is still standing. He lived to a ripe old age. His maiden sister, Miss Sarah Coulter also lived well into her eighties, being the old- est person in Dallas at the time of her death.

One of the most successful stock dealers of Dallas in the first half of the last century was Robert Griffith, generally known as "Bob" Griffith, who came from Ross county in 1832. He first took care of some land owned by Linus Ross, a resident of that county and af- terwards bought this land from Mr. Ross, add- ing to it 200 acres more. In 1842, seeking a still larger field for his operations, he moved to Iowa, where he prospered and became a heavy shipper of cattle to the Chicago markets.

One of the earliest taverns in Dallas which was located on the Wyandot and Bucyrus road, on the county line, was kept by David Bibler, who conducted it for many years. In 1826 Mr. Bibler took up his residence near what has since been known as the "Bibler Spring,"

the land having been entered a few years pre- viously by Christian Stahley. This tavern was one of the welcome stops on the old stage road, and was doubtless the scene of many a hasty but substantial repast in old stage-coach days, of which, alas, the glory hath now de- parted. In connection with his tavern Mr. Bibler also ran a still-house on the south bank of the Sandusky, and, not satisfied with these activities, conducted a sawmill, cultivated a farm and dealt in live stock. The year 1856 was an unfortunate one for him, as he lost his first wife, who died in December; also a son, who committed suicide, and a daughter, Susan. He subsequently contracted a second marriage, but his second wife dying within a few years, he removed to Hardin county. The Bibler Spring near which his tavern was located was of the purest of water, and was visited from miles around, and it was this water that was used in the running of the still. The site was also historical as it was at this point Col. Craw- ford and his army passed their last night, be- fore their engagement with the Indians on June 2, 1782.

In the year 1826 Thomas F. Johnston and family, accompanied by Benjamin Warner ar- rived in Dallas. Mr. Johnston, who subse- quently became one of the foremost citizens of the township, was then a young man, hav- ing been born in Lycoming county, Pa., in 1800. He was a cabinet maker by trade. With his wife and infant child and with Benjamin War- ner, his wife and infant son, he started in the fall of 1825 for the capital of Ohio, intend- ing to stop on their way at the home of a relative, George Walton, who had settled at Dallas a few years previous. After journeying for three weeks, the approach of winter and the badness of the roads compelled them to stop for the winter in the eastern part of the state. Resuming their journey early in the spring, they were again brought to a halt on the eastern border of the county by their wagon becoming badly mired. Leaving the wagon, the men went ahead with their rifles, the women and children following on horse- back, and, being guided by a settler with torches, arrived at two o'clock in the morning at Mr. Walton's, where they found the eldest Walton daughter, Miss "Tishy" still awake, being engaged in entertaining a beau, a son of

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their neighbor Van Horne. Naturally their un- expected arrival at that hour caused some ex- citement, under cover of which Miss "Tishy's" amorous beau effected a masterly retreat. Re- freshments were at once the order of the day -- or rather, of the night, while discussing which the travelers entertained their hospitable hosts and relatives, with the story of their ad- ventures. The next day, with the assistance of a team of oxen, the wagon was rescued, and a few days later the party were following the Claridon blazed road to Bucyrus. Near the Sandusky they found the country largely under water. Mr. Johnston took up a tem- porary abode at Bucyrus in a deserted cabin, but after a short stay in this neighborhood, he resolved to proceed to Columbus. Having been offered by his neighbors, however, a free gift of land in a choice of two forty-acre lots, now a part of the Jacob Herr farm, in Whet- stone township, he accepted the offer on con- dition that wheat could be raised on the land. This condition was fulfilled, though many dis- couragements were met with in the swarms of birds, which devoured the grain in the ear, the distance to the nearest mill, which re- quired a journey of two days and a night to reach, and the poor quality of the flour when ground. But a still greater drawback was the impure quality of the water in the neighbor- hood, and this finally induced Mr. Johnson to remove to Ft. Findlay, where he purchased a quarter section of land, and was promptly elected to a county office to induce him to re- main in Hancock county. But later he re- turned to Crawford county, where he found improved conditions, with an increased popu- lation. He accordingly bought a 40-acre lot about half a mile west of his first homestead and subsequently added to it by further pur- chase. Here, about 1857, he erected a hand- some Gothic residence designed by Mr. Cullis- ton, which long continued to be one of the finest houses in the county. He was an ac- curate shot with the rifle-an accomplishment that counted for more in those days than it does today- and he derived the title of Major from his connection with the Marion county militia, Dallas township at that time being a part of Scott township, Marion county.

Two of the early settlers were Samuel and Rachel Line who came to Crawford county in

1820. The same year George H. Bushy and Peter Longwell came with their families and entered land.

Robert Kerr, was one of the prominent land owners of Dallas. He was born in Mifflin county, Pa., Oct. 27, 1807, son of James and Betsy (Arbuckle) Kerr. Both grandparents were natives of Ireland. Robert remained with his parents until 19 years of age, receiv- ing scarcely any educational advantages. His. father had a farm of 160 acres in Knox county.ª In 1826 young Robert began learning the tanner's trade at Meartinsburg, Ohio, and completed his apprenticeship in two years and five months. At the end of this time he hired out to drive hogs through to Baltimore, Md., at three shillings a day and board, excepting dinner, which he was to furnish himself or go without. On his return to Ohio he found general work around a sawmill at $1 1 a month. While employed in the following harvest, he was prostrated by a fever. This sickness, with the expense of it, soon took the greater part of his earnings. On his recovery, and some time thereafter, he followed the business of clearing up land for different parties, at from $2.50 to $3.00 per acre. His part of the contract was complete when everything was cleared up within 12 inches of the ground. Over 100 acres of land was cleared up by him in this manner. While clearing this land he cut 1,000 cords of wood at 20c per cord, and many hundreds of rails at 50c per hundred. He then bought two 80 acre tracts in Dallas township (then Scott township, Marion county. ) For the first 80 he paid $100, and for the second 80 he paid $200. Aug. 29, 1833, he married Matilda Swaggert, daughter of Daniel and Betsey (Coonrod) Swaggert, and at once commenced keeping house on his 160 acres. From this time on he devoted his attention to farming, the first year clearing $100. About 1836 he purchased 360 acres for $1,500, on five years' time at 6 per cent, to pay $300 each year. He stocked this land with sheep, and made enough to pay the notes as they fell due. The first year he sold his wool at 211/2c. He was an extensive wool grower when wool brought 80 cents a pound. When it declined to 50 cents and showed there was a constant tendency downward he dis- posed of his sheep. He was also a heavy

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dealer in cattle. He constantly added to his land, and had at one time 2,573 acres in Ma- rion county, 1,059 in Crawford, and 443 in Wyandot, making over 4,000 acres all free of encumbrance. He started banks and built ho- tels, the Kerr house at Marion costing $60,000 and the one at Nevada $18,000. He made va- rious liberal donations, one of about $53,000 to Hiram college, and $23,000 to Bethany col- lege of Virginia. He was at one time a mem- ber of the Disciple church; he remained a member for a number of years, but for what he considered unchristian conduct on the part of some of the members he withdrew from that church and never united with any other. Two of his sons, Stephen and John, became residents of Bucyrus. On January 1, 1883, while walking down the street in Caledonia, which was very icy, he slipped and fell caus- ing a fracture or dislocation of the hip joint on the left side, and he was forever after badly crippled in his walk. He lived on his original farm in Dallas township until about 1877, when he moved across the line into his new house in Marion county, and made his home at one of his hotels until his death a dozen years ago.

Another prominent stock dealer and land owner was Abraham Monnett. Abraham Mon- nett, Sr., moved from Virginia to near Chil- licothe in 1800 with his family. of six sons and two daughters. One son, Jeremiah, re- turned to Virginia where he married Miss Alice Slagle. In 1814, Jeremiah Monnett who was an ordained minister, came to Pickaway. county with his family, one of the children being Abraham Monnett. The trip was at- tended with many difficulties and probably would not have been undertaken but for the timely assistance of a widow named Jones who accompanied them to the state. Upon arriving at his destination in Pickaway county, Mr. Jeremiah Monnett had only $5 in money, his team and some household goods. In 1835 he came to Crawford, settling on the farm on the Pike, four miles south of Bucyrus, where he lived until his death, Sept. 1863. Abraham Monnett came with his father to Crawford county in 1835. He was born in Virginia, Oct. 12, 1811. He purchased his first 40 acres in Marion county, Scott town- ship. In 1836 returned to Pickaway county

where he married Miss Catherine Brougher, an orphan. When starting for himself his father gave him $120; on his marriage his wife brought with her $2,500. Outside of these sums the fortune accumulated by Mr. Monnett was due to his individual work. In 1838 he commenced the handling of cattle, sometimes driving them from as far as Illinois, grazing them on the plains, and then selling them to eastern purchasers, who drove them to New York for consumption. The trip from Illi- nois sometimes took 35 days. As Mr. Mon- nett increased his stock he was also increasing his land purchases, until finally he had 11,000 acres of the choicest land in Crawford and Marion counties. He went into banking, started the Farmers Bank at Marion, and the Monnett Bank at Bucyrus, practically all the stock being owned by him and his sons. Later he started the Crawford County Bank, which became the Second National. Of his twelve children, all but two made Crawford their home. Ephraim B., who settled in Dallas township, succeeded his father as president of the Monnett Bank, coming to Bucyrus; Martha married G. H. Wright, who settled on a farm south of Bucyrus, just north of the original farm of her grandfather; Wright was in the stock business for a number of years and moved to Marion; Oliver is a farmer on Marion road in Dallas township; Augustus, a farmer in Bucyrus township; Alcy, wife of James Malcolm, a farmer in Bucyrus town- ship, later a stock dealer, at Bucyrus; Mervin J., a farmer and stock dealer in Dallas, was later president of the Second National Bank and a mine owner, is now a banker at Los An- geles, and a millionaire; Mary J., became the wife of G. W. Hull, banker at Mt. Gilead and Findlay, then president of the Crawford county bank and Second National; Madison W,. became cashier of the Monnett Bank, and was also in the Crawford County Bank; then went west; Amina J. married James C. Tobias, and came to Bucyrus; Kate married Linus Ross, settled on the Pike, just south of the original purchase of her grandfather. The other two children remained in Marion county, John T. in Grand Prairie township, and Mel- vin on the old homestead in Scott township. Mrs. Monnett died Feb. 8, 1875, and on May 30, 1877, Mr. Monnett married Mrs. Jane L.

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Johnston, widow of Henry L. Johnston, a daughter of Samuel Ludwig. He was early identified with the M. E. church, and gave liberally to the erection of new churches all over his section. In 1850 he made a liberal donation to the Ohio Wesleyan Female Semi- nary at Delaware, and in 1853 to the Ohio Wesleyan University, both of which had much to do in placing those institutions on their feet, and making the combined institution the prominent seat of learning it is today in Ohio. He died at his home in Bucyrus, March 7, 1881.

John Rosencrans who came to Bucyrus in 1882, was born Oct. 14, 1808, in Luzerne county, Pa. His grandparents came from Holland, the grandfather being a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He married Margaret Fairchild, in Pennsylvania. He was elected school director of his township, and when 29 years of age was elected Auditor of Luzerne county. His home was in Newport township, Pa., and a postoffice was established there, he being appointed postmaster by Andrew Jack- son, and served six years, the office being in his house. He was also township assessor, land appraiser, and filled any other office that needed a man who would do the work. Hav- ing held about all the offices, he concluded to give others a chance and came west, and in 1847 settled on 160 acres just west of Latim- berville. He was too influential a man and too good a citizen to be left quietly to his farm- ing, for the very next year, 1848, they elected him justice of the peace, a position to which he was constantly re-elected for eleven terms -33 years-and the only reason he did not die in the office was that he removed to Bucy- rus, thus compelling them to select some one else. As justice of the peace he "filled the office with such impartiality and good judg- ment that he was continued in the position by the unanimous votes of the people for thirty-three years, and, what is unprecedented. only one case was ever carried up to a superior court that came before his court." Other odd jobs to fill in his time were as member of the school board thirty-five years; land appraiser two terms; assessor two terms; county com- missioner of Marion county six years; and member of the Legislature two years-1866 to 1868, Thomas Beer being the member from Crawford at that time. He was also post-

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 35

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1302

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302