History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 64

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 64

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

place to place, and in some instances men were lost. A man by the name of Samuel Dany went into the woods to shoot a deer; he soon became lost, and wandered round and round un- til he was perfectly confused. At last he came in sight of a cabin, and a woman standing in the door; he walked up to the fence, and in- quired of her where Samuel Dany lived. She laughingly told him he might come in and see. He was overjoyed to discover that it was his own wife and his own home. Mr. Dunlap, Owen Tuttle and James Auten went to the southeast corner of Polk one time, and in less than two hours killed five deer on two acres of ground. In an early day, a gentleman trav- eling on his way west, passed through Galion on a fine gray Canadian stallion. Some days after, the horse was found tied to a sapling on the Beltz farm; he had the appearance of having been there for several days, but no owner was ever found for horse, saddle or bri- dle; the traveler could never be traced beyond that place. A few years ago, while the roads were being worked, some human bones were turned up by a seraper on the hill at the end of the bridge over Whetstone Creek, just be- low Mr. Hosford's mill. This spot was not far from the trail traveled between Bucyrus and Galion at the time of the supposed mur- der.

In connection with this supposed murder, we will give an account of one that did occur, and one that chilled the hearts of early set- tlers with horror. With all the hardihood of the white men in Polk Township, murder never entered their thoughts, and this occur- rence cast a gloom over the settlement that was evident for years after. Mr. John Hammer and his brother-in-law, Bender, walked from Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn., across the Alleghany Mountains, and journeyed on foot to Wooster, Ohio, which, at that day (1836), was considered near the border. Ham-

431

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

mer had with him $200 to buy land, besides spending-money. Bender had from $30 to $40 also, but no money for land, as he went along only for company and to see the West. They went to the bank in Wooster and had the cashier examine their money, to see if it was all good; here they were discovered by two robbers, who followed them at a distance and unobserved. At Galion, they entered a grocery store, where Hammer and Bender were, and made their acquaintance; they cas- ually asked them where they were bound for, when the men, suspecting nothing, replied that they were out looking over the Western country for some land to buy for a farm. The strangers stated that they were going that way, too, and could bear them company. They went on west together, till near the western boundary of Polk; one of the robbers secured a stout stick, and soon after they all sat on a log and talked awhile; when they arose, Bender and Hammer took separate paths, running parallel, and the robbers each followed one of the men. One then placed his pistol to the back of Bender's head and shot him; Hammer heard the crack of the pistol, but, before he could turn, he was struck over the head by a

heavy green stick. He was terribly bruised and beaten, and but for the splintered condi- tion of the club, would certainly have been killed. While Hammer was being pounded so unmercifully, his comrade was having his pockets rifled; his handkerchief was torn from his neck and his watch taken, but his money was securely hid in his vest. Col. Sweeny was at that time very near, getting out logs for a saw-mill. Just after the crack of the pistol, one of the men employed yelled in a loud man- ner to the oxen. This frightened the robbers and they fled through the woods. Nothing reliable was ever heard from them after.

A stranger coming from Galion the next day, on horseback, discovered the dead man

lying on his back in the mud, and yelled at the top of his voice for help. Mr. Sweeny and his men heard him, and immediately came up to the scene of the murder. Hammer was terrified, and ran in a southwesterly direction, until he came upon a man plowing in a field, whose name was Goodale; Hammer could speak no English, but the farmer saw plainly that the man had been badly injured. He begged to have his brother-in-law brought to him before burial, which was done. An in- quest was held in the woods where the mur- der was committed. Abraham Hahn was the Coroner. The next day the body was buried in the Campbell graveyard. Mr. Hammer re- covered, and in a couple of months, bought a farm near Bucyrus, and paid down his $200. He returned to Pennsylvania, sold out his in- terests there, and, in two years' time. moved on to his farm. Many years after, the papers had an account of the execution of a murderer, who at the last moment confessed that he had killed Bender near the Olentangy, in Craw- ford County, Ohio, and also a man in the Sherer neighborhood.

While searching the records in the different offices in Bucyrus, we came across a book, in which were recorded a great many descrip- tions of "marks." Mr. Asa Hosford informed us that these books were kept in each township by the Clerk, and that each owner of stock was obliged to lay claim to some mark for his cattle, and have it recorded in this book. The cattle were marked in accordance with the rec- ord, and was prima facie evidence of his prop- erty. There were left crops, right crops, long crops and short crops, whole crops and half crops, and dumb-bells in profusion and con- fusion. Besides the natural game in the woods, many hogs had a proclivity for going deep into the woods for mast, on which they fattened readily. Eventually they would breed in the forest, and the woods became full

432

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

of wild hogs without a mark upon them. In many places, the hunters would shoot these down with impunity, and without fear of be- ing called to account. The great number of hogs in the forest was always a temptation to bears. These animals have a special liking for honey and pork. As bee-trees and wild hogs were generally to be found in the vicinity of settlers, so the bear was seen, perhaps, more often about settlements than deeper in the for- est. Bruin would sometimes make bold to at- tack a pig in his own domicile; the peculiar cry made by the hog was generally recognized by the settlers, and they rushed out at once to "save their bacon." Sometimes men would steal to the woods and mark young cattle be- fore the owner had an opportunity, and these were the pests of settlers. It was in these times that those who had no need of whole- some laws and legal restrictions, were neces- sarily often annoyed by lawless and disorderly persons. There was no absolute security for persons and property; personal courage and independent action were the greatest safe- guards, and the moral law was predominant in its sway over the masses. The plea of self- defense was more often heard than would be consistent in these times with a law-abiding people.

As the settlers cleared up the lands, they began to sow some wheat. They had no near market, and there was not much induce- ment to raise more than was needed for home consumption. Up to 1825, there was much of the produce hauled to Mansfield; for wheat at this time, they generally received 25 cents per bushel, in goods. Common sheeting or calico, was worth by the yard a bushel of wheat. The women would often go to market with a crock of butter in each end of a bag, thrown across a horse, and a basket of eggs on her lap. There they received 6 cents a pound for the butter, and 3 cents a dozen for the eggs.

Hearing that a better market existed at the lake, some of the settlers made the venture of hauling some grain there. The neighbors, hearing of the return of the adventurers, flocked in to inquire about the facilities of trading at Sandusky, market prices, roads, etc. At the new market they received 55 cents per bushel for their wheat, purchased salt for $5 a barrel, and other articles in proportion. The news soon spread, and the market was turned to the north. Asa Hosford was influ- ential in getting the Columbus and Portland road to pass through Galion, which became the highway for all traffic to the lake for many years after. He came into Polk Township on the 19th day of September, 1819, on foot, in company with his brother Horace. This was on Saturday, and Mr. Hosford determined to pass the Sabbath in quiet, and rest himself from his weary journey. He stopped with Benjamin Leveredge, for there was no hotel in all that country, and the settlers were glad to receive any one who could bring them news and talk to them of the outside world. On Sunday forenoon, Mr. Hosford observed the arrival at the cabin of ten or twelve men and a few women; they took seats in the cabin, and he conversed with them concerning the land and such topics as bore upon the times and place; finally a tall, rawboned man appeared, dressed in linsey-woolsey shirt, wamus and pantaloons, moccasins on his feet, over his shoulder powder-horn and bullet-pouch, and around his waist a belt with a large knife sus- pended by his side. On his arm he carried a long rifle. Mr. Hosford was passing his first Sabbath in a frontier town; he had no con- ception of what would happen; he asked no questions and quietly awaited developments. The tall man deposited his accouterments in a corner and took a seat; all was hushed for a few moments, when Benjamin Sharrock, for he it was, arose, and sung an old hymn; then

433

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

he knelt and prayed, after which he stood up and exhorted after the Methodist fashion. Mr. Hosford was agreeably surprised, and this meeting made a lasting impression upon his mind. Mr. Sharrock had bought out the Mr. Hauck who had come from Cincinnati to start a mill, in 1822. He erected a saw and grist mill on the Olentangy. Many of his old ac- couterments are in the possession of his de- scendants, who value them highly, and prize them as worthy of preservation among the ar- chives of the family. Mr. Sharrock remained on his farm for many years, until his death, within the present year (1880). This remark- able man was as old. if not older, than our republic, for he believed himself to be one hundred and five years old at the time of his death. He has numerous descendants through- out the county, and his name will ever be prominent among the pioneers of Polk Town- ship and vicinity.

When the first settlers came to Polk, they found a village of Wyandot Indians on the south side of the Olentangy, on ground that now forms the northern part of Galion. They were peaceful and well disposed toward the white settlers, and rendered them valuable assistance in the erection of their cabins, and at log-rollings. At one time, Mr. Hosford had employed a number of them to assist in a log-rolling; in the evening, when the day's work was done, they all assembled in Mr. Hosford's kitchen; being slightly intoxicated, they were in humor for some demonstration of their pent-up spirits. Mr. Hosford, think- ing to amuse all present, and desiring to wit- ness some of their ceremonies, proposed that the Indians should give an exhibition of their war-dance. They readily acceded to his re- quest, and immediately placed one of their number, by name "Buckwheat," in the center of the room, and commenced a horrible dance around him. Hideous as they were of them-

selves, they added to their repulsiveness con- tortions of body and countenance. They whooped and yelled and grew fiercer in their actions, till finally they dragged Buckwheat roughly from his seat and threw him violently upon the floor. One of the braves placed his foot upon Buckwheat's neck and went through the pantomime of scalping him; while others represented themselves as plunging their knives into the quivering victim. Buckwheat played his part well; he was personifying a white man in captivity; so realistic was this tableau, that a white man present became enraged at the apparent fear and trembling of Buck- wheat, and it almost required the personal re- straint of Mr. Hosford to prevent Buckwheat being killed. Mr. Hosford had reason to con- gratulate himself that before the exhibition commenced all arms and weapons had been concealed. This mimic dance and death of a white man at this period, made a lasting im- pression on those who saw it, and it brought vividly to their memories the horrible atroci- ties perpetrated in this near neighborhood but a comparatively few years before.

As we have before stated, from Mr. Hos- ford's first appearance in the township, new life and energy were infused into the settle- ment. He at once became the leading spirit of progress and advancement; he was intrust- ed with many positions of responsibility, and engaged in many projects that were of per manent benefit to both Polk Township and Galion; he circulated petitions for, and was influential in, obtaining the two roads that cross at the Reisinger Corners. The importance of these roads, in the development of the town- ship at that time, can hardly be estimated; comparatively it could only be equaled by the crossing of railroads in modern times. The first road opened was from Mansfield to Upper Sandusky; Main street in Galion was formed of that portion which passes through the cor-

434

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

poration. The road has been changed some- what from its former course; originally, it angled northeast at the intersection of Main and Columbus streets, and followed the mean- derings of the Whetstone. This change was made over fifty years ago, which gives to Main street a due east-and-west bearing. This road was a stage route, and hotels soon lined the wayside. After this came the road from Columbus to Sandusky; this road was surveyed by Col. Kilborne, of Bucyrus, and was origi- mally known as the Columbus and Portland road, and many old deeds of land whose bound- aries touched this road will be found to bear the above name.

The tendency of a market on the lake was to make this road one of importance. The trip could be made in from five to seven days. Unless loaded coming back, the return trip was shortened. The farmers from the south, one hundred miles from the lake, all about Delaware and surrounding country, used this road as a highway for their produce. Hotels sprang up every three or four miles along the route, and some of them have kept a hun- dred and fifty teams and men over night. A tavern, on the farm of Hon. James Robinson, frequently kept forty, and yet a majority of the farmers carried along their bread and food for themselves and horses, sleeping in their wagons. When they had passed over half the journey, they would hang up in a tree a por- tion of the horse-feed to be consumed on their return. Wheat was seldom more than 50 cents a bushel, and they were obliged to econo- mize, or their produce would be absorbed by their expenses. We know of two men in Polk Township who marketed their grain in San- dusky and returned home at an expense of 6 cents each. These 6 cents purchased whisky, which was 3 cents a drink. Besides the traffic on these roads, the county began to be full of strangers; many men were hunting up lands,

some for the purpose of settling and some for the purpose of speculation. So numerous were these travelers that hotel-keeping became one of the most honorable and lucrative occu- pations that one could engage in. So great was this spirit of speculation, so wild and reck- less were the people, that it was almost univers ally indulged in by those who were capable. Poverty was all that debarred any one from the privileges. Polk Township being com- paratively poor, but few were caught in the ruins of the crash; many plunged deeply in debt for land, supposing that the great num- ber of broad acres they carried could, in the near future, be unloaded with immense profit. With 1837 came the inevitable ruin that fol- lows speculation and high prices; business of all kinds was stagnated, manufacturing ceased, and markets were almost closed. The Ohio Legislature went promptly at work, enacted measures of relief and stay-laws; the United States had a surplus of money idle in the Treasury; this was divided among the States and subdivided in the counties according to population; it was then loaned out to farmers and others in sums of $100, taking as security a mortgage on real estate for five or ten years, with S per cent interest. This humane act was the means of averting hardship and suf- fering from many homes, and was of the ut- most good to those who were really poor.

Mr. Hosford, seeing the travel that was likely to exist on the two roads that crossed west of Galion-one road of which was a stage route, and the other a highway to the nearest market-opened a double log tavern at the Corners. The settlement had never been regularly christened, but was known as " Moc- casion," "Hardscrabble, " "Spangtown," " Go- shen," etc. In 1824, in answer to a petition by the citizens, for a post office by the name of Goshen, the Postmaster General replied that there already existed more than one town

435

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

by that name, and suggested the name of Galion. This was accepted, and Horace Hos- ford became the Postmaster of the Corners.

James Nail says that he never heard any preaching in his life till long after his arrival in Polk Township. The first sermon he heard was preached south of his mill, in a house belonging to a Mr. Straw, by Elder Jackson,L. the grandfather of Judge Jackson. There was a great turn-out of the settlers for miles in every direction.

In 1826, the Methodists formed a circuit through the neighborhood, and Russel Bigelow appeared to preach the word of life, without money or without price. He was a good speaker, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures. He was large and muscular, had a voice like a lion, sharp, piercing eyes that when they became excited, seemed almost to burn like fire. All things combined to make him a very successful preacher; he was also a very exemplary Christian in his deportment, and had great influence with the people gen- erally. An old minister preached in the neigh- borhood of Polk Township many years ago. His name was John Rhinehart, and was born in the glades of Pennsylvania; he moved to Ohio when it was a Territory; his home was in what is now Jefferson County; it is not known at exactly what period he was here, but it is stated that John Rhinehart, of Bloom- ing Grove, and his twin sister, the widow Winn, of Cleveland, were born while he was preaching in this vicinity in the log cabins of the settlers. He entered, at the land office in Wooster, the land now owned by Thomas Rhinehart and Peter Zimmerman. This early pioneer is the father of Mrs. Dr. Coyle, of Galion. Many of his descendants are living in this vicinity.

Mr. Hibner, as we have stated, erected the first grist-mill in the township; the mill was located east of town, where the old timbers

may yet be seen jutting out from the bank at the railroad bridge on John Burgener's farm. Mr. Hibner had entered considerable land in the neighborhood. The buhr-stone of to-day was not procurable, and "nigger-heads" were substituted. It may easily be conceived that these primitive mills had no great capacity, and yet the settlers were very thankful to have their grain ground for domestic use. There is a story, handed down by the Hibners, of an occurrence that took place while this family was living on the farm upon which the mill was located. Their log cabin was like all others at the time, and had the usual wall of stones back of the fire-place, with the huge chimney occupying one end of the cabin. Mr. Hibner was away from the cabin, attending his work, and Mrs. Hibner was quietly attend- ing to her household duties; but a short time before, she had placed the baby on a blanket on the floor, near the fire-place. Some time before, one of the stones forming the back wall of the fire-place, had been loosened, and jostled from its place. Hearing some unusual noise, she looked up hastily and saw with hor- ror that a great black bear had thrust his paw through the crevice, and was making desperate efforts to reach the baby. Happily, the bear could not reach the child, and the mother quickly removed the little one from the vicinity of the fire-place, when the bear hastily betook himself to the woods.

Among those who should not be forgotten was Mrs. Brown, the wife of Samuel Brown, who had owned the northeast quarter of land that Mr. Ruhl had bought, and which now forms the northeast portion of Galion. The land was entered by Mr. Cracraft and sold to Samuel Brown. Mrs. Brown was known and beloved by all the families in the settlement. She spun and wove, and helped many families with their supplies of cloths, linen and yarn; many families never wove any, nor even pos-

436

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

sessed the machinery. Mrs. Brown generally took in such work for many miles around, and had an enviable reputation for good, clean work. She is reputed to have done the first weaving in Polk Township, and for many years the only weaving. Buckskin was a common article of wear; wool was very scarce, and cot- ton high. It was very difficult to keep sheep, on account of the wolves, and in many old accounts the article of wolves' scalps appears, for which the State paid a generous bounty. This bounty figures in accounts up to near the year 1840.

Many other old settlers than we have named cleared land in Polk, and labored to conquer the wilderness, but we have given something of each one, as far as we could learn, and shall finish with Disberry Johnson. He was from Vir- ginia, and was born about the year 1764. He was twelve years old at the breaking-out of the war of the Revolution, and remembered many incidents connected therewith that he was fond of relating during his latter days. He started with his family to Kentucky, about the year 1812, but was obliged to take refuge near Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh. During the year, he went down the Ohio River, and took refuge in the block-house at Booneville till the war was over and peace declared. As soon as he was safe in doing so, he removed to Harrison County, Ohio; here his first wife died, and he married a widow lady by the name by Cooper. Mr. Johnson had six children by his first wife, the widow had six by her first: husband, and the couple were blessed by six more. As near as can be ascertained, Mr. Johnson removed to Polk Township in the year 1817. He took up the northwest quarter of Section 26, where he lived for many years. He was a Justice of the Peace in early days, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. His second wife was the grandmother of James P. Throckmorton, of Galion, and a numerous

progeny have descended from their eighteen children. The old windfall, already spoken of, destroyed all the timber on their farm, and it was upon Johnson's land that five head of cattle were imprisoned among the fallen tim- bers. Mr. Johnson had two brothers captured by the Indians while lads, but by their own bravery they made their escape by quietly arising at night and tomahawking their two captors. Mr. Johnson died in the year 1868, and was buried in the cemetery at Galion. Many families throughout the country are de- scended from this old Virginia stock.

A large bear was caught in a trap by Sam- uel Johnson; he found the trap down, and pieces of hair and fur attached to splinters of the trap, as also such evidence of scratching and clawing as only a bear could do. It was a mystery as to what had become of the bear, until one day soon after, while Asa Hosford, Mr. Johnson, Nat Story, James Nail and some others were working at a building, the subject was brought up. Mr. Hosford at once told the men present that, for several days, some Indians had been carrying bears' meat along a trail near his house. He had noticed that they had a bear's head, but no pelt. It was proposed that the whole party should start from the Corners that night, follow the trail till they came to where the Indians were en- camped, and secure the bear's pelt. James Nail was elected Captain of the squad, and they agreed to stand by his orders. The first adventure that they met with was just east of the Corners, where the water from the springs crossed Main street. In the center of the road the water was three feet deep, and Nail ex- claimed that, as he had been elected captain, they must follow and obey him. He plunged through the water, while the rest followed after. It was quite dark, and they were wet on the first start, but this did not dampen their ardor, as they had already taken an antidote

437

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

against the dew. They suspected that the Indians were encamped a few miles east of Galion. They fired off their guns, and as they approached the Indian camp, they heard a general scrambling and also heard the dogs barking from the bushes in the woods, whither the Indians had fled in their fear and conster- nation. The party entered the cabin and dis- covered by the crackling of the coals that the Indians had taken the precaution to pour water over their fire before they took flight, hoping thereby that the intruders might think the cabin unoccupied and pass it by unmolested. Some of the men thought that the Indians might have taken the pelt with them; Mr. Hosford, however, took down a pole which hung across the cabin, covered with numerous deer hides, coon-skins, mink, etc., and, rapidly throwing them aside, he soon came to a fresh bear-skin, which he knew by the long shaggy hair; they took the bear-skin and returned home in triumph. They shot several volleys, whooped and yelled much after the Indian fashion, thereby creating considerable alarm along the route. They disposed of the pelt for about $5 worth of whisky; this beverage cost, gen- erally, 25 cents per gallon.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 64

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034