History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 36

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 36

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master at Latimberville (Kirkpatrick) under President Taylor.

The first public boarding house in Dallas was a double log building known as the Half- Way House, or "Ramey Tavern," which was located on the east side of the Marion and Bucyrus road, about half way between the two towns. Here the stage horses were exchanged and fed. Mr. Ramey dying in 1835, the tavern was afterward conducted by Mr. Knapp of Marion until 1840, when, the stage line being abandoned the building, which had been en- larged and improved by Mr. Ramey, became a private residence. This tavern always had a good reputation. On the opposite side of the same road was another hostelry, first owned by James Carmean, and afterwards by Fay Muhlinger, into whose possession it came about 1836 and who conducted it for several years on a somewhat smaller scale. The third tavern- the Bibler House on the Wyandot road. Bibler also had a sawmill there. It was a water mill, built on the Sandusky, close to the Wyandot county line. It began oper- ation about 1827 but some ten years later was sold to Mr. Longacre. It afterwards became the property of Mr. Rumble, who converted it into a grist-mill, running two sets of buhrs. Mr. Vail, a later proprietor, repaired it and put in a steam engine. The property being at- tached, the machinery was sent back to Cleve- land. It was then operated again as a water- mill by a Mr. Rex, but gradually fell into dis- use.

The first roads in Crawford county, as throughout the frontier regions generally, fol- lowed the old Indian trails, of which one of the best known and most used was that lead- ing from Capt. Pipe's town, near Little San- dusky, in Wyandot county east toward the present site of Leesville. This was the route followed by the Wyandot and Delaware In- dians southwest of Bucyrus in traveling to and from Bucyrus. Along this trail came also the white settlers from the southwestern town- ships of what was then Crawford county to pay their taxes at the county seat. They often traveled in large companies of 70 or 80 in single file, both Indians and white men. Upon it doubtless there often passed the renegade Simon Girty on his way to take part in some deed of blood and slaughter with his savage

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allies or to carry the news of such a success- ful expedition to Chief Pipe. In the earliest days this route was marked by blazed trees but by 1825 it had become so well known that these mute guides were no longer needed. The main road passing through the township is the Columbus and Sandusky pike, a fuller ac- count of which may be found in the chapter on Transportation.

The first known death and funeral in Dallas township took place in the spring of 1827 and was that of a young man, who died in the cabin of Jacob Synder. The body was en- closed in a rude coffin and buried near the Mervin Monnett place, without any stone or mark of identification. In the same year the first interment was made in the White grave- yard in the central part of the township, about a mile east of the village of Wyandot, the de- ceased being a man named McClary, who re- sided near the village. The second burial in this cemetery took place when Charles Parish died in 1829 on the farm west of Ephraim Monnett's. A few years later-in the fall of 1833-a severe epidemic of "milk sickness" broke out which caused a number of deaths. This disease, which at times proved very fatal to the pioneer settlers, was caused, it is thought, by drinking the milk of cattle that had fed on a certain kind of poisonous weed, and the doc- tors of that day seem to have known no ef- fective method of treatment. Among those who died at this time were three members of the Wood family-Elizabeth, Henry and James, whose deaths all took place within a few days.

At about the same time several people died from Asiatic cholera in the southern part of the township. This latter scourge again at- tacked the settlement in the summer of 1854, being introduced by John Norris, who, against the warnings of his wife, had gone to Marion to get some strong drink, the disease at that time being prevalent there. He was taken sick soon after his return and died August 29th, within little more than two days after he had thus rashly exposed himself to gratify a per- nicious appetite. On Sept. Ist Mrs. Norris was attacked and died within twenty hours. Their two adopted children fled to the woods, where they were fed by the neighbors, who left food and bed clothing for them upon a

stump, and where they remained for, some days. They escaped the plague and lived for many years afterward. Doctor Fulton, of Bucyrus who had attended Mrs. Norris, also took the disease, but recovered.

In 1827 a subscription school was started in Dallas township in a log house on the San- dusky river, a short distance north of David Bibler's cabin. The first teacher was Miss Clara Drake, daughter of Capt. Drake, who taught there for two years, being paid $1.25 per week. She had about twelve pupils. Not long after, or perhaps about the same time, another school was opened opposite the loca- tion afterward occupied by Maj. Carmean's residence. This school, which was due to the enterprise of Osborn Monnett and George Walton, was later known as the "Monnett Schoolhouse." Mr. Haney was engaged as the first teacher at a salary of $10 per month. In the summer the school was taught by Miss Chapman. After the Huntly schoolhouse was established in 1830 it was discontinued and the building appropriated to other purposes. In the fall of 1838 a frame schoolhouse was erected by Rev. Jackson Doeling and John Cooper, John Bevington being the first teacher at a salary of $15 per month. The township is now well equipped with educational facili- ties, there being a sufficiency of commodious houses, provided with modern furniture and presided over by competent, well trained teachers.

As was customary in all the frontier settle- ments religious services in Dallas were at first held in schoolhouses or in the cabins of the settlers. Indeed there were no church build- ings erected previous to 1875. In the sum- mer services were often held in the open air, than which, perhaps, no better place could have been found, for what more fitting than the God of Nature should have been worship- ped in His own temple. Later services were held at Winchester and "Sixteen Chapel," on the eastern boundary.

The Methodist Episcopal and Disciple churches at Latimberville, on the south, drew a part of their membership from Dallas town- ship, likewise the Methodist and Presbyterian churches on the west. Many Dallas citizens with their families also attended the Monnett Chapel in Bucyrus township and later Scioto

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chapel erected just north of the township line. One of the most zealous workers in this church was Zachariah Welsh of Wyandot, at whose cabin religious exercises of prayer and praise were frequently held before the school- houses were utilized for that purpose. One of the most noted among the early Methodists was the Rev. James Gilruth. He was a man of powerful frame and with a voice to corres- pond, and a commanding air that awed even the turbulent element or "rowdies" one of whose favorite amusements it was to attend church for the express purpose of disturbing the meeting. His physical prowess was well known to this unruly class and there was little trouble from them when he occupied the pul- pit. In 1823-24 he traveled a four weeks' cir- cuit, which took in the neighboring villages of Delaware, Kenton and Bucyrus, with interme- diate appoinments in the lesser villages. He often preached in Mr. Welsh's cabin and in those of some of the other settlers. In 1840 he was transferred to an Iowa conference, after having twice been returned to this cir- cuit. He was followed in 1824 by Rev. Mr. Cadwallader. Once every three months the western part of the county was visited by Rev. James B. Finley, who, as early as 1817 was superintendent of the Wyandot Mission. The celebrated Russell Bigelow who was stationed at the Sandusky Mission in 1827, also preached occasionally in this district, to the great edification of the settlers, who came from miles around to hear him. Dallas was then part of the Portland District, Ohio Con- ference, which included in its bounds the state of Michigan. In the winter of 1836-37 Rev. John Gilbert Bruce conducted revival meet- ings, being assisted by Rev. Jeremiah Monnett. The presiding elder of Portland District from 1826 to 1830 was Rev. James McMahon, in 1836, Rev. Adam Poe, and in 1840, Rev. Wil- liam Runnels.

One of the most able divines who minis- tered to the spiritual needs of the early set- tlers was Rev. S. P. Shaw, founder of Shaw University, Tennessee. He was a highly edu- cated man and an earnest and powerful preacher. He was ordained deacon in the Ohio conference in 1827.

The "Devil's Half-Acre" is the name given to a locality in the midst of Dallas township,

this side of the Scioto, which has been the scene of many unsuccessful efforts to estab- lish a church. A log cabin stood on the spot previous to 1830, which was used for school and church purposes, and which after that date was replaced by another log building, which stood on the site of the present school building. Here efforts were first made to es- tablish a society by the United Brethren, but without success. The Methodists made two attempts, under the Rev. William Mathews and others, but succeeded in making only a few nominal converts, who soon relapsed into the ways of sin. The Presbyterians tried under Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, but also failed. The United Brethren made a second attempt and were followed by the Disciples, with like results. It was then that Amos McMullen declared that he believed the spot was in pos- session of the Devil, which remark, becoming known, led to its being called the "Devil's Half Acre," which name it has since retained.

Prior to 1845 the eastern six miles of Dal- las township were a part of Marion county, Scott township, while still another part be- longed to Grand Prairie township in the same county. Among the citizens who resided in the Crawford county part, and were justices of the peace in the early days were Zachariah Welsh in 1824, Daniel Swigert in 1827, and Jacob Shaffer in 1828. The Crawford county records show many marriage ceremonies per- formed by Alanson Packard; he lived near Latimberville, in the Marion county part of the township, and was justice for many years. He was poetically inclined, as one of the entries on the record is as follows, the parties being in the Marion county section of the township :

"Marriage license was granted to Norton B. Royce and Eunice M. Dexter, March 14, 1832.

"I certify-that is to say,

This present March, the 18th day,

Eunice Dexter, Norton Royce,

As did your license authorize-

An awkward, ungainly, long-legged pair-

By me in marriage joined were. By sages wise, it has been said That matches all above are made.

If so, these ones in heaven have been :

God knows they'll never go again."

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Alanson Packard, himself, married Nancy Fickle in June, 1824, and there is little doubt she was related to the Fickles who settled in the southern part of Bucyrus township in 1823, a daughter of Daniel Fickle, who came here from Marion county.

Since 1845 the following have been the justices of the peace of Dallas township: Andre Corn, 1845; William Hoover, 1847-50; Daniel Swigart, 1848; Ezra Huntly, 1850; Isaac N. Munson, 1851; Samuel P. Shaw, 1852; James Hufty, 1854-57; S. D. Welsh, 1860-63; Henry Martin, 1863-66; William H. Churchill, 1866; Caleb McHenry, 1869- 72-74-77-92-95; R. H. Rogers, 1869; E. B. Monnett, 1872; John Monnett, 1873; Barn- hart Sayler, 1876-79; A. M. Zook, 1880-83; Otis Brooks, 1882-86; H. Q. Johnston, 1886; George Whiteamire, 1888-91; Marcel- lus Hoover, 1888-89; William Petry, 1889-98- OI; J. M. Quaintance, 1894; Isaac Shearer,

1897; Ira E. Quaintance, 1902-03-06-09; and P. S. Hinkel, 1905-09.

In 1892, when the Columbus, Shawnee and Hocking railroad was built it passed through the center of Dallas township, and a town was laid out by Mervin J. Monnett, and named after himself and the many representatives of the Monnett family who had been and were prominent in that section. The little village started well. A large elevator was erected by Mr. Monnett; a store was started, and on October 25, 1893, William A. Heinlen was appointed the first postmaster; he has been succeeded by the following : G. J. Feltis, No- vember 30, 1897; D. L. Parcher, December 23, 1901; William Monnett, June 5, 1906; F. G. Smith, April 5, 1910; C. S. Wert, June 23, 19II.

Three quarters of a mile west of Monnett is the Bucyrus and Marion electric road, with a station to accommodate the people of that village.

CHAPTER XIII

HOLMES TOWNSHIP

Location and Erection-Drainage and Topography-Burnt Swamp-Limestone Opera- tions- Mysterious Mounds-First Settlers-First Elections-Justices-German Immi- gration-An Early Tragedy-Joseph Newell's Town-Wingert's Corners-Conflict Over a Name-Brokensword Postmasters-Early Industries-Saloons and Taverns-Interest- ing Anecdotes-The Underground Railroad-Schools and Churches-Sunday Schools- Stone Quarries-Spore Post Office.

Let other lands exulting glean The apple from the pine," The orange from its glossy green The cluster from the vine; We better love the hardy gift Our rugged vales bestow, To cheer us, when the storm shall drift Our harvest fields with snow. -WHITTIER'S CORN SONG.

This township lies wholly on the northern slope of the Ohio watershed and is drained by tributaries of the Sandusky river. One of the most attractive and wealthy townships in Crawford county, it was organized by the commissioners in March, 1828, and was named after Deputy Surveyor General Samuel Holmes, who originally surgeyed this section, and who was authorized to make a resurvey of its territory in 1836 as the western sections were a part of the Indian reservation purchased about that time from the Indians. The larg- est stream is Brokensword Creek, which en- ters the township in the northeastern portion and runs in a southwesterly direction into Tod township. The banks of this stream in some places rise into a series of low bluffs, that were in early days covered with a heavy for- est of poplar. Grass Run, a small branch of the Sandusky, meanders in a southwesterly di- rection across the southern portion. Brandy- wine Creek, entering Holmes from Liberty township, flows into Brokensword at a point in section 9. The southeastern part of Holmes township is the most level and in early days

was wet and muddy throughout the year. The outflow of the water was retarded by fallen logs, which lay thickly scattered over this en- tire district, so that the settlers in traversing this portion were obliged to wade ankle-deep through mud and water. These logs and fallen trees were often used as stepping stones, being so close together that it was sometimes possible to go quite a distance by jumping from one to another. The other parts of the township have more of a rolling character and in the northern and western parts there are small hills both long and steep.

In the western part there is an area of about fifty acres which, from the earliest times has been known as the "Burnt Swamp." It de- rives its name from the circumstance that or- iginally it was covered thickly with willows and tall weeds, and one of those fires that were often lighted by Indians or settlers to dis- lodge game, swept over it, destroying all the vegetation. In the southeastern part of the township the soil consists of a black alluvial earth overlaid with decaying vegetable matter, and when properly drained, as it is today, is very productive.

It was not until after 1820 that the white settlers were able to purchase land in Holmes township, and the western part remained in possession of the Wyandot Indians up to 1836, at which time the eastern side of their reserva- tion was purchased by the government and

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sold at public auction, the land adjoining Holmes township becoming a part of that township. This newly acquired portion was something more than two sections wide and proved a source of wealth to some of the citi- zens, owing to the large and numerous beds of excellent limestone it contained. This lime- stone brought from $1 to $2 per load and was used for the foundation of houses and barns and for the walls of wells. Among those who engaged extensively in taking out this stone were Nicholas Pool, Adam Gearhart and Christian Reiff. Lime has been burned in con- siderable quantities in this district ever since 1838 or 1840.

In the vicinity of Brokensword creek are some nearly obliterated mounds, which are re- garded as relics of that mysterious aboriginal people usually denominated as the "Mound Builders," and whose origin and history have been the cause of much speculation among scientists. Many interesting works have been written upon this subject, but the entire truth about them will never be known, for they left no written records, nor have their successors, the Indians, by whom they were probably driven out or exterminated, retained any but very vague and uncertain traditions concern- ing them. Though they built extensive earth- works and have left behind the numerous ar- ticles of pottery inscribed with more or less picturesque designs, they were probably of no high order of civilization and were certainly inferior to the Red races in the art of self preservation, though they may possibly have been in some way related to the latter.

A man named Heaman, who is supposed to have come from some eastern township, or from Bucyrus, is said to have been the first settler in Holmes. He settled on the Pike north of Bucyrus, but little more is known about him. He was soon followed by a settler named William Flake, who built a log cabin and began a clearing on the old farm of Joseph Quaintance. This man was of a very pecu- liar character. He was kind and charitable and freely gave away his property, but as readily appropriated the property of others to his own uses, finally carrying his communistic tendencies so far as to break open a store in Bucyrus, for which he was sentenced to serve some years in the penitentiary. He died soon

after his release and none of his descendants, so far as known, are now living in the county. The first settlers came about 1823.

Two years later a man named Daniel Sny- der, known as "Indian Snyder," built a round- log cabin in the eastern part of the township, into which he moved his family, consisting of a wife and some half dozen children, the latter all about the same size. He was a famous hunter, spending most of his time in the woods and was often paid $1 per day by the settlers to furnish them with venison. He understood the Indian tongue and invaded the Redmen's lands in pursuit of game with apparent im- punity. He was also often called upon to act as interpreter between the white settlers and the Indians. Many swine belonging to the pioneers were shot by the savages and found their way into an Indian stew-kettle. The swine usually ran wild in the woods and those that had no earmarks were regarded as the property of the finder. Many possessing the requisite marks, however, were stolen and shipped to the Sandusky market.

Joseph Lones came to Holmes, township from Columbiana county in 1828, having prac- tically no money or property at the time. He was accompanied by his father-in-law, John Boeman, who brought his family in a wagon drawn by five horses, while Lones drove the sixth horse to a small empty Dearborn wagon. The journey was rendered extremely difficult from the depth of the mud and the great quantity of fallen timber that obstructed the route; yet in spite of this they made about ten miles a day. It was often necessary to use the axe to cut a way through the natural ob- structions, and for that purpose the men pre- ceded the wagon on foot, walking almost the entire distance with axes on their shoulders. Mr. Lones built a cabin on land adjoining the Quaintance farm and found work on the Col- umbus and Sandusky pike, then in process of construction. He continued thus occupied for about two years, receiving $10 per month for his services, out of which money he paid for most of his land. He lived to an advanced age and in his declining years was surrounded by the comforts of wealth, the result of his early industry and self denial.

In 1828 William Flake lived in a round-log cabin on land that today is the farm of Joseph

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Quaintance; of this land he cleared about ten acres. At this date there were in the township, besides those already mentioned, John Bretz, Abraham and Isaac Ditty, Henry Fralic, Chris- tian Haish, John Hussey, Samuel Hemminger, Martin Holman, Joseph Lones, Jacob Lint- ner, David Moore, Joseph Newell, Daniel Potter, Michael Shupp, Isaac Williams, David Brown, Samuel Miller, William Spitzer, James Martin, Jacob Andrews, Joel Glover and Jacob King. J. P. Black owned the farm that was originally the property of Timothy Kirk. Mr. Spitzer settled on the farm later owned by Charles Lehman. Mr. Glover was on the farm where George Lapp is living. Jacob Andrews was on a farm east of the Pike, where he lived for over half a century. Eli Quaintance was on the Tiffin road, near the farm now owned by Eli Lones. Martin Holman was on the Pike, and in 1830 John McCulloch on the farm now owned by R. V. Sears. Jacob King in 1828, was living in a little log cabin on Broken- sword creek, on the farm later owned by Sam- uel Slapp, south of Brokensword. James Mar- tin, a sort of local minister, came to Holmes township at an early day from England and settled on the farm now known as the Gebhart farm. He was accompanied by a young man named Thomas Alsoph, a son of an English nobleman. This young man was an interest- ing character. He was refined and well edu- cated but to some extent was mentally afflicted, though rational on most ordinary subjects. Some said that his mental infirmity was due to a disappointment in love, though why he came, or had been shipped so far from home to be- come a backwoodsman, was what nobody knew or could understand. He taught some of the early schools and became a general favorite, and after a residence in the township of quite a number of years he returned to England.

The annexing of that part of the Wyandot Reservation to which reference has already been made, gave Holmes a township of 36 square miles. The first election was held at the cabin of John Hussey, in the spring after the township had been organized and nine votes were polled. Joseph Newell was elected clerk and Jacob Andrews was the first justice of the peace. At the second election Joseph Lones was elected constable, having no competitors for this office. Indeed the office was not much

sought after in early days, for the remunera- tion was small, and hardships and danger had sometimes to be encountered in the pursuit of fugitives from justice, the serving of writs, etc., which frequently militated against the popularity of the incumbent. Constable Lones had but one annoying experience, however, during his term of office. He was called upon to levy on the personal property of one Thomas Williams, and while reading the war- rant Williams suddenly snatched it out of his hand and refused to give it up. Mr. Lones thereupon procured another execution from the Squire and going to Williams' cabin in his absence, accompanied by a deputy with an ox- sled, he seized the furniture in spite of the protests of Mrs. Williams and carried it to the cabin of Squire Andrews, who advertised it for sale. This brought the rebellious Williams to terms, and he accordingly paid the charges, about $15, and was allowed to take his prop- erty home.

The following are the Justices of the Peace of Holmes township since its organization:

Jacob Andrews, 1832; Joseph S. Newell, 1832; David Brown, 1835-38; John McBride, 1835-38; John Pittman, 1843-44-53; Jedediah Cobb, 1843-44-47; Samuel Shaffner, 1847; Daniel Fralick, 1850-53-56-59-70; Thomas Menaigh, 1850; John P. Black, 1855; Enoch Knable, 1858-61 ; Reason Eaton, 1862; Charles H. Tisley, 1863-66; John Holman, 1865-68- 71-74-77-82-86-89; Jasper W. Taylor, 1867; Horace Flickinger, 1874; Samuel Flick- inger, 1876; David Bair, 1879; Rufus Aurand, 1880-86-89; J. E. Ferrall, 1892-93; J. C. Lich- tenwalter, 1893; William Lahman, 1894-97; J. N. Taylor, 1895-98; A. M. Vore, 1901; A. L. Whitmyer, 1900-03-06; A. L. Gallinger, 1904; John I. Wentz, 1906-07; George H. Orthwein, 1906-07; W. L. Fralick, 1908-10; W. J. Cosgrove, 1911, and Jacob Campbell, IQII.

The southern part of Holmes township wit- nessed an influx of new settlers about 1830, among those who came at this time being Samuel Shaffner, John McCulloch, William Roberts, Thomas Minich, Thomas Williams. John Hussey, Jacob Mollenkopf, Abraham Cary, Moses Spahr and John Lichtenwalter. As their names indicate, some of these settlers were German. Two distinct settlements were

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 36

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