History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 80

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 80

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have a church in which they are wont to assemble. Prior to four or five years ago, their church was about half a mile south of town. They have quite a strong membership. Dr. Frank Duff was the first physician in the town. Several others have practiced the pro- fession. C. R. Sheckler is the only resident physician at present. There are butcher, shoe and other shops, and the village is slowly increasing in population.

A school cabin was built just south of the Campbell farm during the spring of 1828. It was a large rough-log structure, with one door hung on wooden hinges, and two windows, each containing two or three panes of glass. Eliza- beth Bear taught the first term in this cabin during the succeeding summer, and had between fifteen and twenty scholars enrolled. It was while this school was in session, that the great- est storm ever in the county, since the coming of the pioneer, passed across the township. It occurred about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of a June day that had been extremely hot, and en- tered the township southwest of New Winches- ter, taking a northeasterly course, and leaving from Section 25. Those old settlers who recol- leet seeing the storm, describe it as wonderfully grand and awe-inspiring. Before its coming, all nature was hushed in ominous silence. Not a leaf rustled, and the birds ceased their songs and sought the seclusion of the deepest woods. The few cattle gathered in herds in sheltered spots, and quietly awaited the coming of the storm. Great banks of black clouds appeared, almost touching the earth, and the vivid light- ning and startling thunder awoke the echoes of the forest, and added wildness and sublimity to the scene. The roar was frightful, and the rain fell in torrents, accompanied with hail as large as hen's eggs. The path of the cyclone was from one to two miles wide, and wherever the circling cloud struck, everything was leveled before it, like grain before the reaper. Large trees were uprooted ; others were snapped off

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like willow branches, and carried aloft in the air. Not a tree was left standing in its path ; but, strange to say, though stock and a few cabins were in its way, not one is remembered to have been injured. One man's cow was in its course, and, when found, was hemmed in so securely by fallen trees, that a clearing had to be made to release her. The schoolhouse was on the edge of its course, but was uninjured, though the teacher and scholars were greatly frightened when large limbs, covered with ice, evidently frozen on while high in the air, struck the build- ing. Its course across the township is known to this day as the " windfall."

Henry Remson taught the second term in the Campbell school cabin the following winter. Like many of the early teachers, he made a specialty of penmanship, and was himself an excellent scribe. He was a severe disciplin- arian, never hesitating on account of the size of the scholar. One day, he gave John Hamil- ton a severe whipping with a large hickory stick, for coupling the teacher's name with a "good, round oath," while on the play-ground. " Round " oaths went out of fashion thenceforth. The attendance at this schoolhouse became so large that the school was divided, part of the scholars going for three or four years to a va- cant cabin, located a mile and a half northwest of New Winchester. Remson taught two or three terms in this cabin. In 1840, a larger schoolhouse was built a short distance east of Mr. Campbell's residence, to take the place of the other, which had become too small to ac- commodate all the scholars. It was a large building, and was used as a meeting-house for all denominations of Christians. Conflicting opinions often wrought disturbance, though all serious outbreaks were happily averted. The present schoolhouse of the Campbell District was built in 1860, at a cost of $500. About six years after the carly Campbell school cabin was built, another was erected across the Olentangy, on the Snyder farm. This answered the purpose

until 1855. when the present one was erected, at a cost of nearly $500. The Snyder and Campbell schools were not the earliest, how- ever. The intelligent and enterprising settlers in the northern part began holding schools as early as 1824, in the cabins of the settlers. Suitable clapboard furniture, or, at least, that which answered the purpose, was placed in one end of the cabin, sufficient in amount to supply the few scholars with seats aud desks. The other end of the cabin was occupied by the culinary department, and was tabooed ground to the urchins during moments of intermission. The housewife would not brook the nuisance of having the children interfering in her domes- tic affairs. So far as known, the first school was taught in John Beckwith's cabin, dur- ing the winter of 1824-25. Who taught it will, doubtless, ever remain part of the unwrit- ten history of Whetstone Township. School was taught here continuously until the winter of 1826-27, when the first session was held in a round-log schoolhouse, that had been erected the summer before, on Joseph Young's farm. A teacher from Bucyrus, named Moses Arden, taught one of the early terms here, and some say he taught the first. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, Mr. Arden should be accorded the honor. When teachers were wanted in early years, Bucyrus responded to the call, and could usually furnish the desired number and sex. In the fall of 1828, another log schoolhouse was built on the Ludwig farm. But little is known concerning the schools taught here, though two of the early teachers were Elizabeth Bear and Jonas Scott. The schoolhouse was so near Bucyrus, that the larger scholars preferred going to the latter place, though school was still taught in the schoolhouse for the benefit of the smaller chil- dren, who were unable to walk through the bad roads, during the winter months, to the village school. It was not long before the town- ship was divided into school districts, and soon

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

afterward each could boast of the historical log schoolhouse.

The most important school in Whetstone at present is the one at New Winchester. The first school in the village, like all the early schools, was taught in a log schoolhouse. The building was erected in 1835, near the northern limits, and was used for about fifteen years, when another was built in the eastern part. The latter was a frame structure, having a shin- gle roof, and was sided with poplar lumber, ob- tained at the saw-mill in Osceola. This build- ing was used about ten years, when another took its place, the latter lasting until two years ago, when the present fine, brick structure was erected at a cost of $1,700. The school is graded, and has an average attendance of about ninety- five scholars. It is one of the largest school edifices in the county outside the three largest towns, and reflects great credit on the citizens of southern Whetstone for interest in educa- tional affairs.

The citizens of Whetstone early felt the need of churches, and, as early as 1824, meetings were held around at the cabins by the more prominent church denominations. The churches of the county were many years a part of what was known as the Richland Circuit, and many of the earlier ministers came from the vicinity of Mansfield, where churches had been founded several years before the war of 1812. It is dif- ficult to realize the trials under which the early church people labored. The circuit-rider has passed into history in Ohio, although farther west on the frontier, where the first settlements are being made, that well-known character meets with a hearty welcome at the fireside, where the Bible is often read, and where its precepts are taught and followed. Crawford County remained for many years a part of the Richland Circuit, and hence the preachers who first appeared in Whetstone Township came from Mansfield. John O. Blowers and his brother William, residents of Liberty Town-

ship, became known throughout the county as preachers of considerable power. They were Methodists, and were full of magnetic force, and were among the most successful of the early revivalists. They were the first to con- duct meetings in Whetstone. Solomon Myneer was a prominent Methodist circuit-rider, who traveled for months at a time. A circnit-rider that could collect from his congregations $40, during a year of incessant traveling and preach- ing, was deemed lucky by his less fortunate fellow-ministers. Having preached in a cabin or a schoolhouse one night, the rider would travel the following day to another neighbor- hood, where he would again preach. Rev. Myneer traveled over Delaware, Monroe, Craw- ford, Richland, Hardin and Morrow Counties, and was almost two months in making the round. The Campbell Schoolhouse was used as a church, or, rather, it was built as a com- bined church and schoolhouse. It was used by different denominations, and, while it was thus used, conflicting opinions often arose as to what denominations should or should not occupy it. In about 1852, the Whetstone Disciple Church was built, at a cost of $500. The society soon became quite strong, but the members soon found that Bucyrus, with its fine churches, was too near, many of the citizens who would other- wise have joined it preferring to attend those in the town. This fact became a serious draw- back to the growth of the society. The build- ing was occupied, however, until four years ago, when it was abandoned, and, during the past year, has been sold to private parties. The Methodists built a church in the northern part as early as 1832. Cornwallis Reece was a prominent man in this society for many years, and was one of the men to organize it. Robert Reed was the Class-leader through a long series of years.

The German Reformers organized a church in the vicinity of New Winchester at an early day. No church was built, however, until

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

1847, when a building was erected about thirty rods west of the village at a cost of some $900. Rev. James Keller was the first ofliciat- ing minister. He did more than any other man to arouse enthusiasm in the church, and to increase its membership by the addition of intelligent Christian people. He was a fine scholar, and preached in either the German or the English language. The church soon had a strong membership ; Sunday schools were or- ganized, and much interest was manifested. Two years ago, the church was remodeled and improved. The building is at present owned by the United Brethren, and the minister in charge is Rev. J. V. Potts. The German Re- formers, living about a mile and a half north of the village, built a church as early as 1835, in the yard of which they began burying their dead. Many costly monuments are standing in memoriam of loved ones. The building was

used until 1859, when a large brick structure was erected to take its place. This church is called "The Reformed St. John's Church." There is but one finer church in the township. The most of the Reformers, living in the vicinity of New Winchester, who formerly belonged to the church there, are at present members of the St. John's Church. A United Brethren Church society was organized quite early in the vicinity of North Robinson. A church was built about half a mile south of the village ; but, after the town was laid out, the building was moved there. The finest church in the township, one that would be no discredit to a city, was built a few years ago in the village by the English Lutherans. The building cost several thousand dollars, and its arrangement on the interior is elegant and costly. It has a large congrega- tion, and is among the best churches in the county.

CHAPTER XIX .*

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP-DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRAPHY-EARLY SETTLEMENTS-EARLY PRIVA- TIONS AND INDUSTRIES-SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES-CHURCHES-THE VILLAGE.

L IBERTY TOWNSHIP is situated in the center of Crawford County, and the geo- graphical center of the county lies in Liberty Township, about one mile southwest of the township center. In the survey made by the Government, Liberty is known as Township 2, of Range 17 east, and its limits at the present time are the same as when it was laid off by the Government surveyors. In 1835, the County Commissioners, at their June session, formed two townships from the territory em- braced at that time within the limits of San- dusky, and to the northern township, which bore the original name, they attached the eastern fractional sections of Liberty, viz., 1. 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36. These fractional sec- *Contributed by Thomas Ilopley.

tions continued as a part of Sandusky several years, when they were again permanently at- tached to Liberty Township, which is at the present time six miles in extent from north to south, and nearly five and one-half miles from east to west; containing a few acres less than thirty-two and three-fourths square miles of territory. Liberty is bounded on the north by Chatfield and Cranberry, on the east by a small portion of Cranberry and Sandusky, on the south by Whetstone, and on the west by Holmes. The Sandusky River enters the township near the southeastern corner, and winds along toward the west, bearing to the south until it leaves Liberty at the southwest- ern corner. The Broken Sword Creek, which rises in this township, flows through the north-

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

ern portion. Bull Run, a smaller stream, which aids in forming the Broken Sword, is the natural water-course of the eastern and central lands of Liberty, while many of the farms of the western part are drained by Bran- dywine Creek before it enters Holmes Town- ship. The Sandusky River and these small creeks form the water-course by which the township is drained. When Liberty was first settled, the lands were covered by a dense for- est, which contained a luxuriant growth of underbrush, weeds and wild grass, and the lands were wet most of the year. The indus- trious and energetic race who have occupied the township during the past sixty years, and cleared away the forests, cut down the under- brush and improved the farms, have also perfected the natural water-course by construct- ing numerous ditches, and, at the present time, Liberty is one of the best-tilled and most productive townships of Ohio.

The eastern boundary of Liberty is the boundary line of the New Purchase, and the lands embraced in the township comprise a small portion of the immense tract purchased by the United States Government from the Indians in 1817. Thousands of the early set- tlers of the New Purchase, in journeying to their new homes, passed through Crawford County, and, of the vast multitude, a number turned aside and visited the forests and glades and glens of Liberty. It is not surprising then that many of these remained, and, in a few years, all the Government land in the township was entered, and most of it by actual settlers. The first families were generally from New England and the Western Reserve, and they entered land along the Sandusky River bottom. Shortly afterward came the descend- ants of the Pennsylvania Dutch and emigrants from Germany. These settled upon the lands in the central and northern portions of the township. Some of these pioneer settlers who first entered the lands at the Government office

sold out and left for the West, but the greater portion of them remained, and their descendants are to-day occupying these same farms, and reap- ing the harvest their ancestors sowed a half-cent- ury ago in toil and hardship. Liberty, in 1820 an unbroken forest, without a single white in- habitant, contained, in 1830, by the United States census, 655 persons. The population of the township at each decade since that time was as follows : 1840, 1,469; 1850, 1,782; 1860, 1,788; 1870, 1,597; 1880, 1,685. These fig- ures prove that there are less people in Liberty at the present time than in 1850 or 1860. The reason for this decrease in population is, that, from 1860 to several years after 1870, many of the smaller land-holders sold out to their more fortunate neighbors and moved to the West.

Dr. J. B. Squires, in his pioneer sketch, makes the following statements in regard to the char- acter of the country and the hardships of the early settlers : "Sixty years ago the territory of which this township is composed, was one unbroken wilderness, traversed by roving bands of red men who used it as an occasional hunt- ing-ground, though they had no fixed habita- tions here. No Indian village or cluster of wigwams relieve the unbroken density of the forest. The deer, the wild turkey and other species of game, was abundant then. Numer- ous packs of wolves made night hideous with their discordant howls, and an occasional black bear was seen by the Indian hunter and early settler. The whole land was covered by a forest of huge trees, so dense and similar every- where in appearance that the early settler was obliged to mark his excursions from home by blazing trees, that is, cutting a strip of bark off the opposite sides of a tree and in sight of that tree blaze another, and so on, to mark his course in order to find his way home, or be able to travel in the same direction at another time. In physical comforts, the pioneers suffered pri- vations of which those who know nothing of them can form no adequate conception. Fre-

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

quently, when the corn-meal was all gone, the mother would be compelled to grate enough for the supper she wished to prepare for her family. Occasionally there was a little wheat flour in the house, and then short-cake would be made for breakfast on Sunday morning. Nevertheless, they were quite often treated to luxuries which would be enjoyed in this day. A lucky shot brought down a fat deer or wild turkey, and they feasted thereon and pro- nounced it good, and especially after the cut- ting down of a bee-tree the fare was deemed excellent for a few days. Mortars were con- structed for bruising corn into coarse meal, and hand-mills were built. When the McMichael mill got to grinding, it was a great accommoda- tion to the settlers, yet the river was so low that it was impossible to grind with it much of the year, and horse-mills were constructed in various parts of the country. Isaac Rise, a comparatively early settler, built one of these on the farm where he now resides, which was often thronged both night and day by people waiting their turn to hitch on their teams, some times a yoke of oxen, and grind their grists, for they were all anxious to get started for home. There were mills running at Mansfield and on the Mohican, but these were too far off to visit frequently at that early day when there were no roads. However some of the settlers would occasionally patronize them, but it gen- erally took two whole days to go to and return from the Mansfield mills. The grist was placed on the back of a horse, and the man or boy walked and led the faithful animal. Fruit- trees were early planted, and soon peaches be- came abundant, but apple-trees took a longer time to come into bearing. Sheep and cattle became plenty after a few years, and milk, but- ter, beef and mutton, as well as fruit, were added to the material comforts of life."

Several years previous to the settlement of Liberty Township, Johnny Appleseed had visited the southwestern portion, and planted

one of his numerous nursersies on the farm afterward entered by the first settler ; but the first cabin built in Liberty as a home for the white man, the nucleus of civilization, the first breaking of ground in that savage wilder- ness of nature, was in 1820 by Daniel Mc- Michael, who settled upon the 160 acres of land comprising the southwest quarter of Sec- tion 32. This farm is now owned and occupied by Nathan Cooper.

Daniel McMichael was born in Ireland, and near the close of the eighteenth century, when he was sixteen years old, his parents emigrated to America and settled in Westmoreland County, Penn. In a few years, McMichael formed the acquaintance of a "Scotch lassie," and they were married. The following seven children were the result of their union : David, born November 30, 1806 ; Mathew, November, 1808; William, December 17, 1810 ; Martha, January 23, 1813; Mary, February 22, 1815 ; Daniel, March 18, 1817; Allen, July 14, 1819. In 1820, McMichael removed with his wife and family to Crawford County, and settled for a few weeks on what is now the northern part of Bucyrus corporation. He desired to engage in the milling business, and finding a more suita- ble location about four miles up the Sandusky River, removed his family to the land he first entered in Liberty Township. In a few months, he commenced work on this new enterprise, which was the first mill erected in what was then Crawford County. Until it was built, the settlers in the neighborhood were compelled to visit the Hosford Mill, near what is now Galion -that is, if they desired grinding without going over a score of miles. McMichael soon found he could not depend upon the Sandusky River for water-power to keep the machinery run- ning twelve months each year ; the outlook was not promising, and, about 1823, he rented the establishment to Nehemiah Squires and re- moved to Bucyrus, where he died some two years afterward, in 1825.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

In the fall of 1820, Ralph Bacon arrived in the new country with his wife and nine chil- dren. Bacon was of Massachusetts descent, and had formerly resided in that portion of Geauga County which is at the present time within the limits of Lake. The family removed from Northeastern Ohio to their new home in wagons drawn by oxen, and on November 13, 1820, they arrived at what is now Bucyrus, The first night they stayed with Marshall Bea- dle, who lived at that time on the land now oc- cupied by the residence of Silas Bowers. The next day the Bacons moved into a vacant shanty, which had been erected upon the land now owned by Thomas Hall, in the northeast- ern part of Bucyrus, and they occupied this un- til Bacon had constructed a round-log cabin upon his land in Liberty Township. In about two weeks, their rude home was finished, and early in December they removed to it. "The exact site of this cabin is now unoccupied by any building to mark the spot where it stood, In going west from the present residence of James H. Kemmis till you cross a bridge and ascend a long hill, the first level ground on the top of the hill, at the left hand side road of the may be recognized as its location." The land entered by Bacon was the eighty acres com- prised in the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 33, of Liberty Township, and this farm is at present owned by his son Martin. Mr. Bacon also purchased from the Government at the same time 160 acres in Whetstone Town- ship, and many years later he erected upon this a more satisfactory residence than a log cabin, which he occupied until he died, on June 14. 1850, having been a resident of Crawford County a few months less than thirty years. He was the father of thirteen children, viz., Charles, Sarah, Mary, Martin, Emeline, Minerva. Clarissa, Emily, Ralph, Dexter, Caroline, Eliza and William. Ralph, the ninth child, was only four months old when the family removed to the township, and about seventeen months aft-

erward Dexter, the tenth child, was born, on May 6, 1822. He was the first white male child born in Liberty, and is living at the present time on the land just west of the eighty acres purchased by his father in 1820. In September, 1822, Sarah Bacon married Phil- ander Odell, and they were the first couple married in the township. Bacon's thirteen children all lived until they reached maturity ; most of them were married and raised large families, and the second settler of Liberty was the ancestor of many of the enterprising and energetic citizens of this township and Craw- ford County.

The third settler to purchase land and erect a cabin was Auer Umberfield, who came with the Bacons in 1820. He drove one of their ox teams from Geauga County, and brought with him $100 in gold. Land was worth only $1.25 per acre, and the amount he had was sufficient to purchase eighty acres. The tract he entered lies west of the present home of Dexter Bacon, and it is now owned by Mrs. Diana Blowers. During the winter, Umberfield boarded with the Bacons, but he soon grew tired of being the only bachelor of the neighborhood, and married one of the daughters of James Scott, who re- sided at that time in Whetstone Township. This was possibly the first marriage ceremony performed in Crawford County. Umberfield did not remain in the township many years, but, in 1835, sold out to Samuel Plants, and left for the West. Plants was the father of Judge Jo- siah S. Plants, who resided in Liberty a few years while he was a young man. In the spring of 1821, Thomas McClure settled upon the 160 acres now owned by George Donnenwirth, and built a cabin just south of the Sandusky River, but he only lived in the township a few years, and, in 1833, sold out to Michael Nigh, and re- moved to Richland County. John Maxfield also settled in Liberty during the spring or summer of 1821. He purchased 160 acres of land, eighty between Umberfield's and McClure's

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 80

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