History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 40

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 40

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signed by D. O. Castle as chairman ; Benjamin Heckart, secretary; William McKean and 414 others. The prayer of the petitioners was granted and the western five miles were formed into a new township which was named Jeffer- son, after the third president of the United States, leaving the eastern two miles as Jack- son township.

Of what is now Jefferson township, the east- ern two miles, prior to 1845, were a part of Sandusky township, Richland county, and was surveyed by Maxfield Ludlow in 1807. When Crawford was erected in 1820, the present Crawford county west of Richland county was one township called Sandusky; later townships were organized from this territory, and San- dusky was left three miles wide and twelve deep, comprising the present Sandusky town- ship and the western three miles of Jefferson and. Polk. This was so inconvenient to the settlers that in 1835 it was divided, and San- dusky county practically created as at present, while the southern half, three miles wide and six deep was called Jackson, and although Jackson was then president of the United States, the Commissioners' Journal shows the name of the new township, entered in all the importance of capital letters "JACSON." This new township of Jackson included the western three miles of the present Jefferson. In 1845 when Crawford received four miles from Richland county what is now Jefferson, Jackson and Polk was divided north and south, the western three miles being Jackson town- ship, the eastern four miles, being the part

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taken from Richland county. Jackson was now three miles wide and seven deep, but as both townships preferred an east and west division, it was divided east and west, and the northern part, seven miles wide and four deep was given the name of Jackson, and the south- ern section, seven miles wide and three deep was called Polk.

When the white man first came to this sec- tion, two Indian trails passed through the township, one of which led from the present site of New Philadelphia in Tuscarawas county to the Indian town in Wyandot. On this trail at the time of Crawford's campaign was lo- cated the camp of the War Chief Wingenund. At a later date there was an Indian trail lead- ing east and west from Mansfield to Bucyrus, and passing through the site of the village of Middletown. Roads constructed by the pio- neers were usually crooked, as they aimed to follow the high places as much as possible, avoiding swamps and streams, and thus ob- viating the necessity of bridges. The first state highway, known as the Columbus and Cleve- land road, was laid out in 1830, and passed through Leesville, West Liberty, nine miles of it being constructed by the citizens of those places without cost to the state. Another state road and mail route led from Mansfield to Bucyrus, passing through Middletown. Fords were used almost exclusively in early days, instead of bridges. The first bridge in the township was built over the Sandusky at Lees- ville and was a crude structure, which has long since been replaced by a fine stone arch bridge.

Jefferson township contains historical ground, especially in relation to the ill-fated Col. Crawford expedition. It was through this township his army moved, and it was at the mouth of Allen Run, where it empties into the Sandusky, the troops stopped for a brief rest at I o'clock on June 2, 1782. In reaching this resting place they had passed unknowingly not over a mile back, half a mile to the south of the camp of Wingenund, a Delaware chief. His camp was on the banks of the Sandusky, just north of the Bucyrus and Crestline road, a mile east of Leesville, on the southwest quar- ter of section 5, the land now owned by Se- bastian Brown and W. S. and C. E. Brown. After a short rest the troops followed along the south bank of the Sandusky until the 15

stream turned to the north, when they left the river, and after going through the woods to- ward the southwest for about two miles, went into camp for the night in the southwestern part of the township. On their return, after the battle of Olentangy, they camped on the night of June 6, about where Leesville now stands, near the mouth of Allen's Run, the savages also camping on the bank of the San- dusky, a mile further down the stream. It was at this latter point Crawford arrived about three that afternoon in making his escape from the battlefield. He and his companions fol- lowed the river until they came to just east of the present site of Leesville, when he and Dr. Knight were captured by Wingenund and his men, and taken to Wingenund's camp and from there Crawford was taken to the place of his death on the Tymochtee.

The Sandusky river, rising in the borders of Richland county, flows through Jefferson in a northwesterly direction and, with its trib- utaries, furnishes ample drainage. Among the latter may be mentioned Allen's Run, which, rising in the eastern part of the township, flows into the Sandusky east of Leesville; Spring Run, originating in certain springs south of Middletown, which flows north and empties into the Sandusky near Leesville, and a small stream rising on the Snyder farm, which also flows north until it joins the San- dusky. In various parts of the township are found other small streams which contribute to the natural drainage of the land, some of which, together with the larger ones, were utilized in early days for water-power.

The land in the eastern part of Jefferson is of a rolling character and in the vicinity of Leesville are some knolls or ridges composed of gravel and stone, one of which, somewhat more extensive than the others, is known lo- cally as the "Hog's Back." These elevations are found chiefly along the banks of the San- dusky and Spring Run, the channels of which streams are in many places cut through solid masses of rock. In section I the banks of the river rise precipitously to a height of 68 feet 6 inches from the surface of the stream, 35 feet of this ascent being composed of solid rock, belonging to the Waverly sandstone for- mation. The gravel in this ridge has been utilized for many years by the Pittsburg, Ft.

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Wayne & Chicago and the Cleveland, Colum- bus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroads in the construction and repair of their respective roadbeds.

Jefferson township is favored with a good soil, consisting largely of clay, mingled in some places with gravel and sand and, with proper cultivation, well adapted to farming, particu- larly for the raising of wheat and corn. The timber-more abundant in former days than now-consists chiefly of oak, beech, maple, walnut, ash and elm. A large portion of it was destroyed in 1820 by a terrific cyclone, which was long remembered as "the windfall," so completely did it level the forest in its path. It was, however, subsequently replaced by a new growth.

In 1816 there came to Ohio a man named Jacob Fisher, a native of Pennsylvania, who settled in what was then Richland county, but which is now Jefferson township, at a point just south of the gravel ridge. Here he bought a considerable tract of land, which cost him $1.25 per acre. His cabin of round logs, 18 x 20 feet, built to accommodate a family which numbered eight children, was probably the first civilized residence erected within the present limits of Jefferson. But if the residence was civilized, the man was not, or hardly so, for, though industrious and hardworking, he was sometimes quite dissipated and always of a ma- lignant disposition, which he showed by com- mitting vicious assaults on those who offended him, or damaging their property. It is said that a favorite amusement of his was to make a present to some woman-the wife of a pio- neer-of a pound of tea to excite the jealousy of her neighbors, and then promise another pound to some other woman if she would fight and whip her and then watch the hair-pulling contest with the greatest enjoyment. He nat- urally had trouble with most if not all his neighbors, and finally left for Missouri.

In 1817 Christian Snyder, with his wife and eleven children, came to the township from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and settled near the eastern boundary line, in sec- tion 17, where he purchased 160 acres of land from Jacob Fisher, paying for it $3 an acre. He made the journey from Pennsyl- vania in a two-horse wagon, also bringing with him some twenty head of cattle, a drove

of swine, a yoke of oxen and an extra team of horses. His sons had to cut a road from a few miles west of Mansfield to their desti- nation, and this occupied them a month. They expected to find a cabin already prepared for them, as Jacob Snyder had gone on ahead for that purpose, but when they arrived they found that only a foundation had been laid and a rude puncheon floor constructed. They had no recourse but to lie down on the floor with no roof but the vast expanse of heaven above them, and for walls the dark and gloomy for- est which surrounded them on all sides, whence issued every now and then the hoarse cry of some beast or bird of prey. In the morning they awoke to find themselves covered by some six inches of snow. But the Snyders were not the sort of people to be easily discouraged. They set resolutely to work to complete the cabin, in which they were aided by the neigh- boring Indians, who, scenting "firewater," or perhaps really taking pity on them in their try- ing situation, also kept them supplied with game and other food. In a short time the cabin was finished and their worst troubles were over. The Snyders became prominent residents of the township, and descendants of Mr. Snyder are still living in the county. Jacob Snyder at one time owned the ground on which Leesville now stands. He constructed the first house in . the town after it was founded and also started the first blacksmith shop in the township.

Soon after the arrival of the Snyder family, John Adrain came here from France. He was a man of great strength but dissipated. He lived for a number of years on the quarter- section now owned by William Freese, and here he started a distillery, where he made an inferior grade of whiskey. Mr. Adrian's liquor had one good characteristic, however, it is said, in that it took a great deal of it to make a man drunk.

The prominent settler of Jefferson township was Westell Ridgely who, in 1817 settled where the Leesville and Bucyrus road crosses the Sandusky river. He was accompanied by his family, consisting of four sons and as many daughters, the latter of whom, being very at- tractive young ladies, excited matrimonial de- signs in the breasts of the eligible young bache- lors for miles around. The marriage of Lucy, one of these daughters, in the summer of 1822

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was the second marriage solemnized in the township, and was a great social event, long to be remembered and talked about, particularly by the feminine portion of the community, who no doubt took scrutinizing notice both of the manners and costume of the bride on so important an occasion. She married John Bear, of Liberty township, but no account is given of him. Doubtless he was well enough as young men went in those days. Evidently Miss Lucy thought so and it is to be hoped her opinion was justified.

About the same time that Mr. Ridgely thus started the ball of civilization rolling in Jeffer- son township there appeared two other settlers, Thomas Ferguson and J. S. Griswell. Some time after came Peter Bebout, who settled im- mediately below them. Ferguson in some man- ner gained the confidence of the Indians, who had great respect for him and called him Gov- ernor, and he was often instrumental in set- tling differences that arose between them and the whites.

Arrivals now became more common and the population rapidly increased. In 1818 came Daniel Miller from Pennsylvania, settling on what later became the Simon Snyder farm. Miller was a great hunter and loved the for- est. He lived long in the township, dying here in the early seventies of the last century. Another Pennsylvanian, who came in 1819, or thereabouts, from Westmoreland county, that state, was Henry Hershner, who settled near Middletown, of which place he was the founder. He was an intelligent Christian man, and took a prominent part in organizing the United Brethren church. He opened the first store in Middletown, of which his son John afterward took charge.

Lewis Leibarger came in 1819, and about the same time his future brother-in-law, James Nail. In 1820 Eli Foglesong settled in the township, and in 1821, the Wordens, Ben- jamin, Benjamin F. and Nathan. David Dorn came in 1824, as did John Hise, the latter later removing to Liberty township where his son was Justice of the Peace many years. Jacob Weaver arrived in 1824, and the next year Samuel Freese. In 1826 came the Werts, Peter, Daniel and Joseph; Peter being probably the most prominent man in the county in later

years in assisting escaping slaves to a refuge in Canada.

The first child born in Jefferson township was in 1819 in the family of Jacob Fisher. The first marriage was Eli Foglesong, who came in 1820, and promptly decided it was not good that man should live alone and the following year, 1821, married Hannah Snyder, a daughter of Christian Snyder. The event was attended by the settlers from miles around and the young couple were escorted to their new home, a log cabin in the woods erected by the young husband and the neighbors.

It is in Jefferson township that what is known as the "Windfall" is best traced. This was the most destructive windstorm that ever passed through the county, and occurred on May 17, 1820. It swept across the southeast corner of Whetstone township, went north- west through the present Jefferson, through Vernon, but its greatest destruction was through Jefferson, where the line of its fury is still easily traced after a lapse of nearly a hundred years. The best account of it is handed down by Peter Snyder, who died a few years ago at his home at Crestline. He was a son of Christian Snyder and at the time of the storm was a boy sixteen. He was in the field plowing when he beheld in the west a heavy black cloud, which threatened coming danger. The wind kept increasing in fury, and he hurriedly unhitched the team and put it in the barn, and by the time the horses were housed the wind had increased to a hurricane, and he could hear the falling of the trees and feel the swaying of the barn. It was danger- ous to go outside, and fearing the barn might fall upon him he clambered up the joists of the barn, and no sooner felt himself secure in that position when the entire roof was torn away. He climbed down to the floor, and the entire barn was swept away, and he was pinned under a falling beam, and received a scar which he carried to the day of his death. The violence of the storm left everything in dark- ness, and after he had extricated himself from the falling timbers, and it became light enough to see, he looked in the direction of the house and found that it was in ruins. A severe rain followed the hurricane which came down in torrents for half an hour. When the

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storm subsided he reached the house, and found the family all safe, but in a drenched condi- tion and badly scared. All along the track of the storm, trees were uprooted, crops de- stroyed, houses and barns blown away, and stock killed. Where once was promised crops and prosperity was now destruction and utter desolation. The settlers had escaped with their lives, but all else was lost. Their provi- sions were destroyed and starvation stared them in the face. Young Snyder traveled on foot through the woods to Coshocton, over sixty miles away, the nearest point at which he could obtain food, and here he was for- tunate enough to secure two bushels of corn at $4 a bushel, the bulk of which was pounded into meal for food, and the balance used for planting.

Another incident which caused great ex- citement in the early days was the Weaver murder of which the following account is given in the Crawford County History of 1880:

"Still another affair which caused consider- able excitement at the time, was the supposed murder of a man named Weaver, by Ridgely, who employed him as stiller in his whisky establishment. There had been a quar- rel between Weaver and his employer, and it is supposed that he became engaged in a broil with Ridgely, and, during the melee, Weaver was killed. Nothing, however, was certainly

known concerning it, although many of the early settlers considered Ridgely the criminal. Several of them pretended, or actually be- lieved, that Weaver's ghost had actually ap- peared to them, and had told them in detail the whole affair. From these mythical stories it appears that Weaver was in the still-house with Ridgely one evening after dark, and that in some manner their quarrel was renewed, when angry words followed and Rigdely be- came greatly incensed. In his hasty madness he seized a heavy club and struck Weaver over the head a fatal blow. He then, horrified to see what he had done, dragged the body to an out-of-the-way place, and covering it with leaves left it, and told it around that Weaver had quit his employ. The body of the mur- dered man was found, but every attempt to find the criminal was futile, and no one was ever brought to justice."

Such is the story which was the first sensa-

tion in Crawford county. It is probable it does not do justice to Westell Ridgely. When he came to the county in 1817, he was above the average of the early pioneers; on account of his daughters his house was a headquarters for all the young men for miles around. His own character and influence were so unques- tioned that in 1821 he was one of the two men selected for Justice of the Peace of the new territory, which then embraced nearly all of the present Crawford county, Joseph Young, of near Bucyrus being his colleague. The first commissioners elected in 1826 were Magers, McClure and Poe; the next man elected to that office was Westell Ridgely, about 1828. This was after the alleged murder, and in those days it would have been a practical im- possibility to elect a man to the office of county commissioner on whom any shadow of sus- picion rested. Ridgely's distillery was located on the Sandusky river on the quarter section now occupied by the farm of Leopold Long and Peter F. Huber. He ran it for some years and one night it was destroyed by fire, under such suspicious circumstances that it was believed to be the work of an incendiary, some attrib- uting the act to Jacob Fisher, but there was no proof of this except the quarrelsome disposi- tion of Fisher, his frequent threats against many of the citizens, and especially Ridgely, against whom he always was very hostile.

At the time of the death of Weaver, Benja- min and William Bowers had a distillery on Loss Creek just above where that creek emp- ties into the Sandusky, about two and a half miles north of the Ridgely distillery. It was in Loss Creek near this mill the body of Weaver was found, and there were no marks of violence on the body. Near where the body was found a log crossed the stream, and the general belief was that Weaver had attempted to cross by the log bridge, fell into the water and was drowned. The first recorded case in Crawford county was probably the result of the Weaver death. On the finding of the body, Fisher had circulated a report accusing Ridgely of the crime. Others probably re- peated the same story. At the term of court held at Marion, in April, 1825, the first civil case tried before a jury was that of Westell Ridgely against Isaac Dorland of Liberty township for slander. The plaintiff claimed

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$500 damages and the jury awarded him $75. On that first jury of twelve men, several Craw- ford county men were drawn: George Poe of Whetstone, Amos Clark of Bucyrus, John Maxfield of Liberty, Peter Beabout and George Luke of Sandusky.

Jefferson township had a station on the "Underground Railway," which was kept by a man named Peter Wert, a wagon maker of Leesville, who was commonly known as "Black Pete." He aided many runaway slaves on their way to Canada and freedom.

The first tannery was started in the town- ship near Leesville by a man named Jonas Hassinger. Robert Lee, Jr., kept the first tavern, at Leesville, later selling it to Elisha Allen, who conducted it for several years. An- other early tavern keeper was Henry Hersh- ner, who kept a place at Middletown for the accommodation of the traveling public. Mid- dletown being where the Columbus and San- dusky road crossed an important road from Mansfield to Bucyrus. Christian Snyder owned the first grist-mill, which was a horse- mill located just east of Middletown. In the absence of horses, oxen were sometimes used to turn the sweep. The flour made was coarse and uninviting in appearance, the settlers be- ing obliged to bolt it by hand, but in spite of this the mill did a good business. Westell Ridgely also had a grist-mill connected with his distillery.

Jacob Snyder built a saw-mill to the east of Leesville, but sold it a short time after to Robert Lee, Sr., who added to it a grist-mill, a fulling-mill and a carding machine, and con- ducted them for many years, being assisted by his sons.

Adam Beck, who came in 1829, two years later built a saw-mill which was run by him and his sons for over half a century.

John J. McClure came to the township in 1829, and was the township clerk for many years.

Another prominent arrival was William Robinson in 1831. He settled on the land where North Robinson now is, purchasing it for $1.25 per acre. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and for eighteen years was elected Justice of the Peace of the township. The family came from Washington county, Pa., and on the trip his son James walked

the entire distance, driving the cows. The son James also held office. He was elected clerk of the township in 1839, was elected recorded of the county in 1846 and re-elected in 1849, and again elected in 1857 and ten years later represented the county for two terms in the Legislature. He took an active hand in mili- tary affairs under the old militia laws of the state, and attained the rank of Major, by which title he was always known.

About 1833 an influx of Germans came to the township, among them the Becks, Shumak- ers and Laughbaums. One was John Franz, who took an active hand in affairs. He served nine years as Justice of the Peace, was sheriff of the county for two terms and also treasurer for two terms, and in 1862 was Lieutenant Colonel of the IOIst Ohio, serving four months.

The first Justice of the Peace from Jefferson township was Westell Ridgely in 1821, by ap- pointment of the Delaware county Commis- sioners. The first election took place on May 15, 1824, when Matthias Markley and Ichabod Smith were elected. John Cox and Disberry Johnson were also justices, while the present Jefferson was a part of Sandusky township. From 1835 to 1873 Jefferson was a part of Jackson township, but since that time the fol- lowing have been the Justices :

Isaac W. Smith, 1873; James Robinson, 1873; Samuel R. Goshorn, 1873-76; D. O. Cas- tle, 1876; James Seanor, 1877-80-86-88-91; Benjamin F. Warden, 1879; A. D. Littler, 1881; L. C. Orr, 1881; W. P. Deam, 1882; J. P. Flick, 1882; J. W. Littler, 1886-89-92 ; A. A. Pfeifer, 1895-98-01-II, and J. R. John- ston, 1906-10.

In 1828, Rev. Robert Lee came to what is now Leesville and bought 160 acres of Jacob Snyder, the northeast quarter of section 7. It was on the banks of the Sandusky located on high ground, and here the following year- 1829-he laid out the town of Leesville, which he named Leesburg. It has three streets, the Bucyrus and Leesville road was the prin- cipal street and was called Main street, while north of it was Wood street. There was but one north and south street, which was the Portland road, and was called Liberty street. The lots sold for a good price, bringing from $25 to $50 each. Lee induced several mechanics to

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come to the place and open shops, and his son Robert Lee, Jr., opened the first general store, which he ran successfully for many years. Alexander Cannon located in the town and started a chair factory with Rickson Lewis as the painter. Dr. John McKean was the first physician, coming about 1830 and remaining for many years, after which he removed to Crestline. Fifty years after Dr. Mckean, Dr. T. H. B. Clutter was the physician of the vil- lage, and he also removed to Crestline. John Lewis kept a tavern. Elijah Castle was the first shoemaker and Peter Wirt was the first blacksmith and wagonmaker. John Teel started a blacksmith shop and later ran the first saloon. The first merchants were Rob- ert and Porter Lee, who kept a general store. Nearly all the smaller branches of the trade were established in the village and it was in a fair way of becoming a place of importance when the Ohio and Indiana road was built, and passed a mile to the south, and Leesville would have followed similar villages, and gone into a decline, but just east of the village on the farm of John Neuman, one of the finest stone quarries in the state was opened, a spur was built to the Pittsburg road and for years the output of the quarries was constantly in- creased. The original quarries were operated by Heckert & Rupp, and they finally were pur- chased by a company composed of Bucyrus and Leesville men and were known as the Leesville stone company. For a dozen years this was one of the profitable industries of the county, and at times the force numbered 100 men. This was Leesville's era of pros- perity and a large brick schoolhouse was built on a scale that showed the confidence the peo- ple had in the future of the village. Two churches are in the village. It was made a postoffice in 1839, the office being called Lees- ville X Roads, and Robert Lee, Jr., was ap- pointed the first postmaster by President Van Buren. In its palmy days Leesville boasted a population of nearly three hundred people; it had two stores; two taverns, three saloons, and a dozen small shops, but the quarries failed to prove profitable; they were no longer re- munerative, and the census of 1900 and 1910 shows too sadly the general decline of the vil- lage. The handsome schoolhouse, once the

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 40

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