History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 75

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 75

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so early the next morning he started out. He had an old flint-lock rifle, that had evidently seen any amount of service, as the parts were tied together in many places with bands of tow. But the gun proved very effective in the hands of the experienced Byers, who, during that eventful day, killed seven deer, all of which were brought in. according to agree- ment, by Mr. Morse, except one, which had been mortally wounded, and had been followed and killed about eight miles east of the town- ship. The approach of darkness prevented Mr. Morse from bringing this animal in, and he therefore failed to live up to his part of the agreement. Fawns were often captured alive, and after a few days had elapsed they would follow members of the family around like dogs. Almost every cabin had its pet deer or fawn. Bells were hung about their necks to prevent them from getting lost in the woods. Mr. Baker owned one of these pets, which was prized very highly by the members of his family. One day, while it was feeding near the cabin, Mr. Tyndal, who was hunting in the woods, possibly thinking it was a wild one. shot and killed it. He also killed several others abont the neighborhood, when the in- dignant owners came to the conclusion that it was preposterous to look any longer upon the act as a mistake. Enoch Baker became qnite an expert hunter, and is yet living in the township, on the farm purchased by his father in 1826. On one occasion, when returning late at night, or rather early in the morning, from " sparking" a neighbor's daughter, he barely escaped being devoured by wolves. He had left the cabin of his sweetheart and was walking along through the forest, swinging his cane and whistling, as boys do yet when return- ing on similar occasions, when the distant howl of a wolf was borne to his ears. The howl was repeated, and soon the woods were filled with a chorus of the terrifying sounds.

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The boy was terribly frightened, and, as he had several miles to go before reaching home, he started rapidly on the run, hoping to reach his father's cabin before the wolves closed upon him. He ran on as swiftly as his feet would carry him; but soon the foremost wolves were seen bonnding along at his right and left. He swung his club aloft and shouted, and the wolves fell back a short distance, only to again approach nearer than before. But the panting boy was almost home. He strug- gled on, with the wolves about him, and finally ran into the clearing around his father's cabin, when the animals fell back, and were soon out of sight in the dark forest. This was a lesson to the youth; but it did no good, for the next Sunday night he was out late again for the same reason.

came by the hundreds into corn-fields, and dug up and destroyed the growing grain. Hunts were frequently organized to rid the forest of these pests, and, often, on such occa- sions, hundreds were killed, and for days afterward the hunter's families were provided with an abundant supply of choice meat. A hunt of this character was projected one day by a party of the settlers, among whom were Thomas Cooker and Enoch Baker. When night came, and the hunters assembled to see who had been most successful, it was found that almost 200 squirrels had been killed. As each hunter brought into the room the squir- rels he had killed, Baker, to the astonishment of all, lugged in a large catamount as the result of his day's hunt. It was conceded by all that he had done the best day's work. Mr.

On another occasion, William Johns, a Baker is among the oldest and most respected neighbor, having lost several pigs through the citizens in the township. He lives upon the old farm, and the rise of ground where his dwelling stands is the site of an extensive Indian cemetery. Indian remains were first- discovered in 1833, when Mr. Baker, in dig- ging a well, having reached a depth of about eighteen inches, came upon four skeletons, lying side by side, two with heads toward the east and two toward the west, the heads of each couple lying near the lower extremities of the other couple. No articles of clothing or implements of war were found, and the more fragile portions of the skeletons soon crumbled into dust. One of the Indians must have been a Hercules, as the inferior maxil- lary, or jaw-bone, was large enough to pass entirely over the jaw of an ordinary man; and the upper bone of the arm, the humerus, was four inches longer than in the average man, and had a corresponding thickness. Subse- quently, more than fifteen skeletons have been plowed up near the house, all of them being buried within from a foot to eighteen inches of the surface, and all being in an agency of some wild animal that carried them off one by one on successive nights, offered Mr. Baker a dollar if he would kill the ani- mal. Baker accordingly established himself with his dog in the cabin of Johns, to watch for the animal during the night. About 12 o'clock, the swine were heard squealing, and Baker opened the door and told the eager dog to go. Away it went after some large animal, that bounded off into the woods and ran up a tree.» Baker followed, and saw by the light of the moon a catamount crouched on a large limb above his head. He fired, and the ani- mal fell to the ground dead. The death of the catamount stoppel the destruction of the swine: but Baker refused to take the dollar he had earned, being satisfied with the skin of the animal. At another time, when return- ing from a neighbor's, his dogs treed two catamounts. After a lively skirmish, during which he experienced considerable personal danger, he succeeded in killing them both. The woods were filled with squirrels, which

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advanced state of decomposition. No war or other implements have been found with any of the skeletons, a very unusual circumstance where Indian remains are unearthed. In 1866, while digging a cellar, Mr. Baker and his workmen disclosed nine of these skeletons, reposing side by side, some of the skulls to the east, and some to the west. As many as thirty skeletons have been unearthed on the farm since 1833, and those discovered in late years have been apparently no further decom- posed than those found in early years, proving that the bodies were buried scores of years before the coming of the pioneer. The future will reveal many more of these skeletons.

At another time, William Cole, then a boy about sixteen years old, called the dogs one evening, and started in search of the cows. The dogs left his side, and he soon heard them barking furiously at some animal that had turned at bay. He hurried forward, and saw them standing guard over a large hollow log, and, from their cautious movements, he knew they were confronted by an animal of which they were afraid. He stole cautiously for- ward from the rear, and, peering under the log, saw the huge paws of a bear. The boy was without a gun; but, determining to attack the bear at all hazards, he armed himself with a heavy club, and resolutely approached the log. While the attention of the bear was diverted to the dogs, which, emboldened by the approach of the boy. had renewed the attack with great fury, he seized it by the hind leg and pulled it from the log. Before the animal could recover its feet, the boy dealt it a terrible blow across the head, repeat- ing the act again and again until life was ex- tinct. When the excited boy returned home without the cows and related his adventure, his story was not believed until the dead bear was seen. William's brother Daniel re- mained one night at the cabin of a relative

near West Liberty, and early the next morn- ing, before daybreak. started for home. He was accompanied by a large bull-dog, belong- ing to Enoch Baker, and, after going a short distance, he was startled by seeing several wolves running along in the woods on either side of and behind him. He started forward. but had not gone ten paces before a pack of eleven wolves, with open mouths, bounded toward him from behind. A large one, the leader of the pack, was almost upon him. when it was seized by the throat by the dog, and pinned to the ground. The others fell back. giving the boy time to ascend a small iron-wood tree, and, after a short fight. the wolf escaped the hold of the dog, and together the whole pack turned and disappeared in the woods. The boy had been saved by the dog from a horrible death. One day, Seth Hawks, hearing one of his hogs squealing loudly in the woods about a quarter of a mile from his cabin, hastened out to see what could be the matter. A large log lay upon the ground between him and the squealing hog, and notli- ing could be seen by the settler until he reached the log and peered over. There lay his swine upon the ground, while, standing over it, with their sharp teeth and claws in its flesh, were two large bears. The animals instantly perceived the intruder, and turned upon him furiously; but he ran to a small tree, and. exerting himself. sprang into the lower branches just in time to escape the claws of the larger bear, which had swiftly pursued him. The furious animal began making des- perate efforts to reach the settler. It at first endeavored to climb the tree: but. failing in this, it retired a short distance, and, turning. ran toward the tree with the apparent inten- tion of leaping into the lower branches. The terrified Mr. Hawks sat on a limb above, and regarded with no little concern the efforts of the bear. He began hallooing loudly for assist-

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ance, and the bear increased its efforts to reach its enemy. It soon wore quite a path in running to the tree, and would leap high enough to seize one of the limbs in its teeth. After about half an hour, Rodolphus Morse, who had been apprised by Mrs. Hawks of the dangerous situation of her husband, appeared upon the scene; whereupon the bears, whose fury had spent itself, apparently realizing that it was no longer wise to dispute against such odds about the ownership of the hog, shambled off through the woods as fast as their feet could carry them. Many other in- teresting anecdotes of a similar nature are related by the old settlers.

As was previously stated, immediately after the war of 1812, the first settlers began to appear in Auburn Township. William Green, a native of Massachusetts, came in 1815, and purchased 160 acres of land in the southeast- ern part. After clearing a few acres and erect- ing a rude log cabin, he returned to Licking County, Ohio, where he had left his family, remaining there until December, 1816, when he moved out to the farm. He was the first substantial settler, and with his coming began the rapid growth and improvement of the township. Subsequently, he increased his farm until he owned a section of fine land. His sons, Samuel S. and Walter, are yet liv- ing in Auburn at advanced ages. Samuel Hanna entered a quarter-section of land in 1815, but did not locate thereon until 1819. A man named Deardorff entered a quarter-sec- tion of land in 1815, upon which he lived two or three years, after which he sold out and moved to some other locality. In 1817, Charles Morrow and William Cole came to the town- ship. But little is remembered of Charles Morrow, who remained in the township a few years, and then sold out and moved away. William Cole, however, remained in Auburn until his death. He was an intelligent man,

and did much in early years to render the township a desirable place in which to locate. His descendants are among the prominent citizens. In 1818, there came in James Coy- kendall, Charles Dewitt, John Bodley, David Cummins, and possibly three or four others. Nothing, comparatively, is known of the lives of these men, although many of their descend- ants are scattered throughout Northern Ohio. Coykendall became quite an expert hunter, and, like his brother Nimrods, avoided, as far as practicable, the irksome duties of clearing up and improving his farm, preferring to rove the forest in quest of adventure. He killed several bears and catamounts, and his advice and skill were in demand when hunting top- ics were discussed, or when hunts were on the tapis. In 1819, there came Rodolphus Morse, Samuel Hanna, Adam Aumend, Resolved White, John Webber, and several others. Mr. Morse became one of the most prominent of the early settlers. He took an active part in educational advancement, was instrumental in organizing many of the early schools, a number of which he taught, and did perhaps as much as any other man to hasten the tardy move- ments of education. It was due to his influence, more than to any other, that the establishment of a post office was secured in the township as early as 1824, and perhaps earlier. This was one of the first, if not the first, post offices of the kind in the county. Mr. Morse received the appointment as Postmaster, and the office was established in his cabin, where it remained many years. He was a native of Berkshire County, Mass., and first came to Huron, Ohio, in June, 1818. He had served with distinction in the war of 1812, and after coming to the township was elected Clerk for many successive terms. His son Amos has for years been one of the most influential of Auburn's citizens. He has served twenty-four terms as Justice of the Peace, and was also

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Postmaster for a number of years before the location of the office at Tiro. Mr. Morrow served many years as Postmaster, succeeding the elder Morse. It is no longer remembered who were the first township officers, except that James Coykendall was the first Justice of the Peace. While holding this office, he married, as early as 1821, Harvey Hoadley to Elizabeth Blair, the marriage being one of the first in the township. The early settlers, almost without exception, were of English de- scent, many of whom came from the Bay State immediately after the war of 1812, first locating in one of the Eastern counties. The most of them had served in the war, and Au- burn Township was settled by a greater num- ber of these ex-soldiers than any other town- ship in the county. Resolved White, a lineal descendant of Peregrine White, the child born in the Mayflower on its journey across the Atlantic, purchased a quarter-section in 1819 of a Mr. Langherty, who had located on the land the year previously, and had erected a small log cabin and made some improvements. Mr. White returned to New York, where he married, and, in 1821, came with his wife to their wilderness home. His daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth (White) Daugherty, is yet living in the township. Adam Aumend was a shoe- maker by trade, an occupation he followed to some extent after coming to the township. He purchased 320 acres in the northern part, near the cranberry marsh. of Henry Rief, pay- ing $2.50 per acre. How long Mr. Rief had lived there is unknown or forgotten. Mr. Aumend's son Adam was the first Assessor in the township, assessing Vernon, and perhaps other townships at the same time. Within two or three years after 1819, there came in John Blair, George Hammond. John Sheckler, Erastus Sawyer. Jesse Ladow, Nelson S. Howe, Daniel Bunker, Jacob Bevard, Richard Tuck- er, Seth Hawks and several others. Abel C.

Ross arrived in 1825, and Joseph Baker came the following year. George Hammond was a native of the Nutmeg State, and came to Au- burn early in 1822. He purchased a quarter- section of a man named Clark, there being a small cabin upon the place and a few acres cleared. His son is yet living on the same farm. John Sheckler came from Pennsylva- nia in 1821, and became a prominent citizen. He was skillful with the rifle, and on one occasion, in company with Mr. Pettigon, he killed three wild-cats, remaining all night in the woods. Joseph Baker, a native of the Old Dominion, arrived in 1826. He also was one of the brave soldiers in the war of 1812. His son Enoch gathered cranberries in the neighboring marshes for sixteen consecutive years. This pursuit was largely followed by almost all the early settlers, many of whom made sufficient money thereby to purchase the fine farms their descendants now own. Many interesting anecdotes are related concerning adventures in these marshes. The men who finally purchased the marshes experienced great difficulty in preventing their neighbors from gathering berries without due authority. Personal encounters occasionally took place, and several law-suits were instituted to compel the trespasser to make proper return for the berries he had unlawfully taken. John Blair came from New York in 1821. entered a small tract of land, and erected thereon a round-log cabin, which at first had no floor, but which. after a few years, was furnished with one made of puncheons. He brought with him two horses, two cows and eight sheep. seven of the latter being subsequently killed by the wolves. His son Ira lives on the old place. The early settlers of the township were tem- perate for that day, drunken men being rarely seen. No liqnor. except wine from grapes. has ever been manufactured in the township. The settlers usually observed Sunday, although

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an instance is related by Mr. Morse where the Scriptural injunction of one of the Ten Com- mandments was disobeyed. One Sunday, Rodolphus Morse heard Seth Hawks, who was a strict Presbyterian, repeatedly shouting to his oxen, which he seemed to be driving; and, not understanding the meaning of such bois- terous conduct from such a source on the Sab- bath, he went across to his neighbor's to see what it meant. There was Mr. Hawks busily engaged in driving his oxen round and round upon a puncheon floor, laid down in the open air, upon which was a heavy spread of grain yet in the stalk. He was threshing his wheat, and was so intent on his business as to be unaware of the approach of Mr. Morse. He was asked what he meant by working on Sun- day, to which he replied that the day was Sat- urday. Thereupon explanations followed, much to the discomfiture of Mr. Hawks, who became convinced that he had violated the commandment, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." The oxen were unhitched. and Mr. Hawks retired to the seclusion of his cabin to meditate at leisure over his mistake.

In about 1827, David Cummins built a saw-mill on Honey Creek, near the center of the township. It was a small frame structure, and was run by water-power, the water being secured in the usual manner by means of a race. It was run until about 1855, having a change of owners, among whom were a Mr. Irving and a Mr. Brown. The former pur chased it of Cummins in about 1845, and, after a few years, sold it to the latter, under whose management it stopped. This was the first mill of the kind in the township. Prior to its erection. sawed lumber was obtained east toward Mansfield, or north on the Huron River. There was no great demand for lum- ber, as the early dwellings were built of logs, and many of the floors were of puncheons. Nothing of the kind was required for fences,

barns or outhouses, and even after the lapse of twenty years the demand had not increased to any great extent, from the fact that many dwellings were constructed of nicely hewed logs, which were considered peculiarly fitted to make as fine a dwelling as need be desired. Two or three years after the erection of the Cummins mill, Thomas Millard built another a short distance below on the same creek. This was also frame, and was run by water- power. It became a valuable mill in after years, and furnished large quantities of lum- ber for the citizens. The building was large, and in one apartment was placed a set of "nigger-head" stones, for the purpose of grinding wheat, corn, rye, etc. Mr. Millard operated the combined mills for about twelve years, when both were rented to Enoch Baker, with the understanding that the latter was to have half the profits. But the frequent break- ing of the dam prevented steady and profita- ble work, and, at the end of a year, Mr. Baker concluded to sever his connection with the mills. It is said that the grist-mill furnished an excellent article of flour. Shortly after this, Rufus Page purchased the mills of Mr. Millard; but, while they were under his own- ership, the grist-mill was abandoned as un- profitable, though the saw-mill was operated with renewed vigor. A short distance above the site of these mills, the water of Honey Creek has been changed for more than a mile from the original channel. This was done by Mr. Baker. on his farm, at a cost of more than $1,000, exclusive of his own labor and time. The object was to prevent the fre- quent overflowing of the land, and to reclaim the valley of the creek, which, from the zigzag course of the stream across the farm and the shallowness of the bed, was covered a large portion of the year with water. Since the construction of this artificial channel, the increase in the crops raised in the valley has

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returned the outlay several times. Extensive systems of drainage for the cranberry marshes have been adopted, and ere many years these rich alluvial basins will be reclaimed. They are so dry at present that the peat which they contain in great quantity often catches fire, causing much trouble before the fire is extin- guished. The peat is not of sufficient purity, however, to be utilized as fuel, even if wood and coal did not abound.

The village of Waynesburg, named in honor of Gen. Anthony Wayne, was laid out and platted in 1833, Aaron Cory and Richard Millar being the owners and proprietors. Twenty-six lots were surveyed, to which no additions have been made. The lots were offered for sale at public auction, and several of the citizens invested, paying some $8 or $10 per lot. Enoch Baker, possibly thinking that the village was destined to become met- ropolitan, bid $10 for a choice corner lot, which was "knocked down" to him at that price. Nothing further was done, however, to complete the purchase, and, after several years had elapsed, Mr. Baker signified his readiness to pay the $10 for the lot. But Mr. Cory refused to take the money, saying that the lots had risen in value, and that the corner one was worth $20. Baker refused to pay the price demanded, and hence failed to buy the lot. This was the only effort Mr. Baker ever made to own real estate in a town, and his aspirations in that line died out with the failure. Soon after the sale of the lots, Reuben Frisbee brought a small stock of goods to the town. He placed in a small room, built for the purpose, $560 worth of a general assort- ment of merchandise, and also began dealing in provisions. He was a close, shrewd finan- cier, and at the end of eight years was worth $6,000. He had borrowed $500 of his orig- inal capital of his brother. This was returned, with interest, at the end of the eight years,

leaving Mr. Frisbee a balance of over $5,000 as a return for his $60 of invested capital. He was extremely close in all his business transactions, and always carefully scrutinized butter, eggs, etc., before venturing to pur- chase. It is said that he had a small hole bored in the counter, and that he ate only those eggs which could pass through. This story was intended to convey the idea that Mr. Frisbee ate but few eggs. One day he went coon-hunting with Enoch Baker to the cran- berry marsh. The hunters intended to be gone three days, and took enough provisions with them to last that length of time. In order that nothing might be wasted, Frisbee counted the meals required by the two while away, and then carefully measured and cut off the necessary slices of ham, of equal size and thickness, to last until their return. The bread and provisions were measured in a sim- ilar manner, and, when all was ready, they started. But, for some cause, the hunters remained away but one night, catching four coons in the meantime. It soon became ap- parent that Frisbee was in trouble. He looked dejected, and sorrowfully remarked to Baker that the food so carefully prepared was des- tined to become stale before it could be con- sumed. Baker tendered his sympathy. but it afforded no relief. The pelts of the coons were equally divided, and Mr. Baker sold his two for $1 each. Three or four years after Frisbee opened his store, Anderson & Moore placed $2,500 worth of goods in another building. They made considerable money during a period of about four years, when, finding that Frisbee was rapidly gaining the advantage in trade, they sold their stock to Rufus Page. Shortly afterward, Frisbee went out of business, leaving a clear field to build up an excellent country trade. After continuing eight or ten years, Page sold his stock to Baker & Sims. At the expiration of

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eighteen months, Baker sold his interest to his partner, whereupon the partnership of Sims & Son was formed. This firm continued for about four years, when the trade became so reduced that it was thought best to retire from the business, which was accordingly done. It was about this time that Bear & Graffmiller ventured to engage in the mercantile pursuit in the village, and soon afterward Enoch Baker began selling goods on commission. After about a year, Baker deemed it advisable to purchase the stock he was selling; and he also soon afterward bought out Bear, who was then alone, having purchased his partner's interest. Baker closed out his stock at the end of a year, having cleared, during that period, $1,200. Joseph Kerr kept a small grocery for a few years, beginning about 1858. Sev- eral others have engaged for short periods in the mercantile pursuit in the village. Soon after the town was laid out, a petition was circulated for signers, praying for the location of a post office at Waynesburg. The office was secured, and James K. Davis received the appointment as first Postmaster. Wellers- burg was the name bestowed upon the new office. Martin Clark erected a small tavern, which was thrown open for public reception in 1850. The village, in early years, was a lively trading-point; but, after the advent of railroads in the county, and the subsequent growth of villages along its line, the business prosperity of Waynesburg steadily declined, until the present finds it almost " without a habitation and a name."

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 75

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