History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 96

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 96

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in winter, when the ground was thickly covered with snow, a large animal leaped out of the bushes near him, and bounded off through the woods, as though possessed by the spirit that once took refuge in a herd of swine. It gave a piercing scream at every bound, and, when off at a considerable distance, Hazlett plucked up enough courage to answer it, whereupon the animal ceased its cries and came rapidly back toward the hunter. Hazlett could hear it treading on the snow near him, and occasionally a sniffling or wheezing sound was heard. He was too much of a hunter not to know what the sound meant. The animal was a panther, and at the thought his blood ran in icy currents through his veins, and, as related by himself, his hair stood erect on his head, so that the weight of his cap could no longer be felt. He involuntarily placed his hand on his head to see if it bore its accustomed wearing apparel, which was found to be in its proper place, which fact in a measure re-assured the hunter. He was terribly frightened. and, scarcely knowing what he did, he called out at the top of his voice for it to come on, as he was ready for it. But the animal seemingly declined his invita- tion, as it turned, and was soon out of sound and sight. Very early the following morning, Samuel Gregg, who had just butchered, was roused from his bed by the same sniffling sound that had frightened Hazlett. He took his gun and went out, when a large animal ran out of a small shed in which the meat was hung, and bounded off through the woods. It was undoubtedly the same animal that had disturbed the nocturnal ramblings of Hazlett. Other interesting and exciting incidents are re- lated by several of the earliest settlers yet liv- ing in the township. One is related of Robert Clark, who had just come from the East, and who was a novice in all the ways of pioneer life. His cabin was built and entered, though it had no door except a blanket suspended from above. It is said that one night, soon after their

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

arrival, the family became terribly scared by strange cries around the cabin. Surmising that some dangerous animals were meditating an attack upon them, Mr. Clark hurried his wife and children into the loft, while he, with ax in hand, stood guard all night at the door, ready to brain any animal that attempted to enter. It was afterward learned that the family were frightened by the screechings of the owls. At another time, Washington Duncan, who lived in a cabin much like the one owned by Clark, was aroused from his sleep one night by an un- usnal noise in the room. A few dying embers in the fire-place cast a faint glare over the sleep- ing inmates, and revealed to the apprehensive Duncan what appeared to be a large bear, standing in the shade on the opposite side of the room. He whispered to a companion lying near him, "Lie still, John, till I get the gun." He reached for the rifle which stood in one cor- ner of the room, and was on the point of firing at the supposed animal, when it suddenly arose to an erect position and called out in alarm, " Heah, Massa Wash, what yo' doin' ?" The supposed bear proved to be nothing but a negro, who was thought to be sleeping in the loft above, but who, getting cold, had come down and stretched himself out on a bench, covering himself with a heavy coat, the sleeves of which, hanging down, caused the fancied re- semblance to a bear. The negro was greatly scared and rolled his eyes in fright, when he was informed of his narrow escape from being shot.

Isaac Miller built a saw-mill in 1836 on Syca- more Creek. about half a mile southwest of Benton. It continued in operation about eight years, but was finally washed away by a freshet, and was not afterward rebuilt. James Long- well also built one on the same creek in 1837, which was perhaps the most valuable ever in the township. It was a rude shed concern with an old-fashioned " flutter " wheel, but it had the capacity of turning out a large amount of

first-class work. The stream where the dam was built gave excellent water-power, and, though the mill could run but four months of the year, it sawed day and night while the water lasted. Logs of all kinds and sizes were sawed, either on shares, one-half being taken by the sawyer, or at the rate of about 40 cents per 100 feet. After this mill had been in operation a number of years, the proprietor entered into partnership with Uriah Wooster, for the purpose of erecting and operating a grist-mill. The building erected was three stories high, and, together with the milling machinery placed therein, cost about $1,400. This mill is yet in operation, and since its erection has been of the greatest value to the township and the surrounding country. It has changed ownership many times, and has been improved and enlarged ; but, under the control of almost every miller, it has furnished an excellent grade of flour and meal. Mr. Wooster was one Sunday operating the mill after it had been erected a number of years. One set of buhrs gave him considerable trouble, as the upper stone, by the force of friction, would spring up several inches from the lower, only to settle back again for a repetition of the annoyance. This continued for some time until at last, under a heavier pressure of steam, the upper stone was given such a wrench by the sudden and unusual friction, that it burst into a half-dozen pieces, one of which struck Wooster on the head with such force as to crush his skull, causing instant death. The Longwell Saw-mill was operated about twenty-five years, and was finally permitted to run down. The grist-mill is in a prosperous condition, and for a number of years has been owned and con- dneted by Michael Snyder, an efficient miller. In about 1848, Martin Holman sunk four vats and began dressing skins. The enterprise failed to yield the desired profits, the leather being barely sufficient to supply the demand at Benton, and, at the expiration of five years, the tanyard was transformed into a barnyard

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and Holman turned his attention to farming. The children of early settlers were often lost in the woods, and frequently several days elapsed before they were recovered. Holman's children were thus lost and the whole neighbor- hood turned out with bells, guns and horns, to hunt the wanderers. After remaining in the woods all day, they were discovered by a neighbor, who conducted them home. The lost ones were not always children. Often men and women who had resided in the woods for years became "bewildered when out alone, and after passing several days and nights in the forest, perhaps within half a mile of home, sud- denly presented themselves at their own cabin or that of some near neighbor, inquiring who lived there and asking where Mr. So-and-so lived, mentioning their own names. A person bewildered in the woods strangely loses every iota of sagacity and judgment, and squarely re- fuses to recognize landmarks which he has seen a hundred times, often passing within a few yards of his own door without noticing a single familiar sign. This is hard to account for from any other fact than the psychological one, that the different faculties of observation, used in unusual degrees of intensity, see well- known objects through new characteristics and refuse to recognize those that are familiar. It is related that George Bender, who had lived in the woods for years, became bewildered within half a mile from home, and after wan- dering mostly in a circle for two nights and a day, finally stumbled, as it were, upon the cabin of a neighbor, whereupon his senses re- turned.

On the 24th of August, 1841, John Hazlett and George Bender, on land owned by them- selves, laid out fifty-one lots from the northern part of the southeast quarter of Section 26, Township 1, Range 15 east, and named the vil- lage Benton. What induced the proprietors to bestow upon their town the name it now bears, has not been satisfactorily explained. One fact

is known, however, that the village was named in honor of Senator Benton, of Missouri. It is likely that there were but two or three cabins on the present site of the village before it was laid out. Daniel Beal, a blacksmith by trade, erected and occupied a small frame building as early as 1835. He also built a small shanty- shop, and began working at his trade at the same time. This man, perhaps, more than any other, created the desire among the citizens for a village and a post office. His shop became a resort, at which the farmers gathered on rainy days to pitch horseshoes and gossip about neighboring affairs The prominence of these circumstances, in the minds of Hazlett and Bender, led them to lay out the town. The lots were sold rapidly, and, within ten years, the village had more than 100 inhabitants ; and soon afterward, the population had attained such magnitude that a petition for incorporation was presented to the County Commissioners by the villagers. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and Alvin Williams was elected the first Mayor of Benton. As far as known, the second dwelling in the town was built by John Leigh in either 1836 or 1837 ; but these were probably the only ones until after the town had been laid out. Immediately after that event, two more small dwellings were erected, and, in 1842, John Hazlett built a frame structure on the site of the present hotel. Leigh was also a blacksmith, and began work- ing at his trade, though he found but little to do. This constituted the growth of the village until after the creation of the township in 1845. The laws of Ohio were such that Texas, with its twelve sections, could not form a separate township, unless it contained, at least, one in- corporated village. This led the citizens to build up the town very rapidly after 1845. un- til its population reached the legal limits neces- sary to those desiring incorporation. Alvin Williams was the first one to open a store in the village. However, the stock of goods,

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valued at about $500, was owned by the part- nership, Williams & Westover, and was placed in a small storeroom built for that purpose. For some unknown reason, they closed out their stock at the end of four years, and retired from the business. Williams owned an ashery at the same time, which was conducted quite extensively while the store was open, and for a number of years afterward. It is likely that the store was opened as a sort of an auxiliary to the more important ashery. Immediately after this store closed, J. W. Saltzerman placed $1.000 worth of goods in a large room in a private dwelling ; but, after dealing two or three years with the Texans, he likewise closed out his stock. William Sigler, in 1844, purchased the building erected by Hazlett, and opened it as a tavern, placing in one apartment $3,000 worth of goods ; but, after conducting the two enterprises for two years, he removed his goods to C'ary, Ohio, and sold the tavern to Daniel Tuttle. This man, in connection with his hotel, began selling liquor and groceries, and con- tinned thus for nearly twenty years, when he sold out to other parties. Tuttle enlarged the building, while owned by him, until it reached its present size and shape. The tavern has changed hands several times since, but each landlord has sold liquor. Chapman & Shepard also sold goods in the town for several years, about the time it was incorporated. their store- room being the one now occupied by Winters & Longwell. These partners sold their stock to a Mr. Groff, who closed out within a year. Winters & Temple then began with several thousand dollars' worth of goods, and, for a number of years, did an excellent business ; but the death of Mr. Temple complicated affairs, until Mr. Longwell purchased the share owned by Temple's heirs. This firm, Winters & Long- well. is at present driving quite a brisk trade in the village. Alvin Williams kept the first saloon, and the village has had an abundance of liquor since. Mr. Van Fleet also kept a

stock of goods at an early day. Robert Martin, who built one of the first few dwellings in the town, was the first resident carpenter, and many of the buildings yet standing in town and sur- rounding country, were built by him. Erastus Reynolds also followed the same occupation. David Rank sunk six vats in 1845, and began tanning skins of all kinds, an occupation he followed quite extensively for twelve years. He did a good work, and much of his leather was made into boots and shoes by resident shoemakers, the remainder finding a ready sale at Bucyrus and other towns. Dr. Yates was the first practicing physician in the village. He was succeeded by Dr. Alvord, who resided in Benton twenty years. and practiced exten- sively throughout the neighboring country. He was followed by Dr. Bland and afterward by Drs. Kryder and Swahn, who are at present prescribing for the bodily ills of the Texans. The population of the town has not exceeded 300, and is at present about 230. Daniel Tuttle did as much as any other man to build up and improve the village. This strange man, who is yet living in the town, deserves more than a passing notice. As far back as known, he has been an openly avowed Infidel ; and, as said by himself, has fought all Christian denominations with an intolerable hatred, spar- ing neither money, time nor labor.

In 1850, he issued the first number of The Divinity Physician, a paper to be published " semi-occasionally," which had for its motto the following well-known sentence from Thomas Paine : " I will go any length for truth, but not one step for popularity at the expense of truth." The paper was satirical in its tendency, and was designed to burlesque the cardinal doctrines of the Christian denominations. Some years, several numbers appeared ; at other times, two or three or more years clapsed with no issue. The sheet is a small folio, and the last number appeared in 1876. But little return has been received in the way of subscription

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for the cost of publication by the publisher, who, on the contrary, has been prosecuted several times in the County Courts for libel at a great cost to himself. He makes no scruple about having his views known by every one ; on the contrary, he glories in the name of Infi- delity, and deems it his duty to do all he can to obstruct the progress of Christianity. He has expended several thousand dollars in the publication of his paper without any return, except continued insult and contempt.

The first schoolhouse in the township was a square, round-log structure, erected as early as 1828, on Dodridge Paul's farm. It was built a number of years before the township was di- vided into school districts, and very likely be- fore, or about the time, Sycamore Township, of which Texas formed a part, was created. The country all along the course of the Sandusky River, in Seneca County, and in the vicinity of Melmore, was quite thickly settled at that time, and numerous mills, taverns, schools and churches had been established. But the ear- liest settlers in Northern Texas saw elearly that it was out of the question for their chil- dren to traverse the long distance through the woods to attend those schools. Church-going people could travel the distance easily, and did largely for many years. even after churches were organized in Texas Township. In order that their children might get at least the rudi- ments of an education, the early settlers assem- bled and erected the large school-cabin referred to, designing it for all public purposes, the prin- cipal being those of school. church and town- ship. It was a quaint structure, with clapboard roof and floor. having a large chimney, built of stone and earth. and extending down to within six feet of the floor, and having a large funnel- shaped opening to insure sufficient draft to carry off the smoke of the fire, built upon a broad stone hearth directly underneath. Around this central fire-place, rude clapboard benches were placed, and in one corner was a small

black walnut table, which served as a pulpit when the cabin was used as a church. The chimney was so low that tall men, unless they were cautious, often bumped their heads, and then the usual exclamations under such cir- cumstances were uttered. One day a minister from Bucyrus, who was to preach there, came hastily in, and, without noticing the chimney, struck his head against it, but no language of less dignity than "my stars " escaped his lips. That was perhaps the most appropriate expres- sion that could be made under the circum- stances. This building was deserted after 1833, when a new and better school building was erected a short distance south. The new house was frame, and was used until the township was redistricted in 1845, when the change was made in the territory of the county. A log school- house was also built in the southern part about half a mile west of Benton as early as 1830. This building is remembered to have been there that year. and was very likely built the year before. It was also used as a church even more extensively than the Paul Schoolhouse. It was in this schoolhouse. one Sunday morning before the minister. Rev. Mr. Oliver, or the con- gregation had arrived, that Daniel Tuttle, or " Bishop " Tuttle, as he was afterward called, wrote with a piece of charcoal upon the wall :

" Oliver, Bender and Gillim Have caught the devil. And are going to kill 'im."

This was taken as a text by the minister, who. as if to verify the declaration of the rhymer, preached with great potency for nearly two hours. This building was used until about 1839, when a frame schoolhouse was built in the western part of what is now Benton. It was likewise used as a meeting-house, and its walls resounded "many a time and oft " with the loud acclamations of warm-hearted and enthusiastic Christian people. In 1858. a new schoolhouse was built in the village, which is yet devoted to educational purposes. At the

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time of the creation of the township, in 1845, it was divided into four school districts, each of the northern two comprising four square miles, and each of the southern two, two square miles. This is the present division, and each district has a comfortable schoolhouse. But little attention was paid to the boundary lines of school districts in early years. Schol- ars attended the nearest schoolhouse, even though it was in another township. And then, again, the greater number of the earliest schools were taught by subscription, and with- out any regard to districts, townships or coun- ties.

Churches were not built in the township as early as the schoolhouses, from the fact that the settlers experienced no serious difficulty in attending those in Seneca County. Many were members of those churches, and even to this day the Seneca churches have a large member- ship in Texas Township. The early settlers were few, and, inasmuch as the schoolhouses could be used for religious purposes, it was not deemed necessary or advisable to erect church- es until the township had become quite thickly populated. Rev. Robert Lee, father of Judge Lee, of Bucyrus, organized the first Presby-

terian Church in Texas Township, in 1838, and Robert Clark, William Marquis and William Jackson were appointed Elders. In 1839, the society secured the services of Rev. William Hutchinson, a minister of the Richland Pres- bytery, then living in Bucyrus, who was en- gaged to conduct religious exercises in the northern part on every alternate Sunday. The meetings were held in the old log schoolhouse, and Rev. Hutchinson was very likely the min- ister whose head came so abruptly in contact with the chimney, as related above. After a number of years, the society built a small church, which was used many years, and which was located just across the line in Wyandot County. Church societies were organized in the southern part as early as 1830, but it was not until about 1851 that a church building was erected. This was built in Benton by the United Brethren Church, at a cost of about $1,500. Ten years ago, the Methodists crected a large church in the village, which cost nearly $3,000. These churches have quite a large membership, much of which comes from Wy- andot County. Rev. Mr. McKillipp was instru- mental in organizing the last-named church.

CHAPTER XXVII .*

DALLAS TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHICAL-EARLY TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-INDIANS-THE PIONEERS. FRONTIER LIFE-EPIDEMICS -- RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL.

A BOUT the township of Dallas, there clus- ters much that must ever awaken an in- terest in the minds of the present generation, and that will be valuable to the future " lords of the manor." In its configuration, none in the county, and few in the State, are more irregular. This irregularity is due to the change of the original boundary line of this county, which is mentioned more at length in another part of this work.

Previous to 1844, some considerable pressure was brought to bear upon the Commissioners, to have the county seat removed from Bucyrus to a more central location. Those in authority succeeded in obviating this by effecting some radical changes in the southern and western boundary lines of the county. Upon the south- west, a strip of territory, six miles in length east and west, and two miles north and south- including Sections 1-12, in Range 16, was taken from Scott Township, Marion County.

* Contributed by F. S. Monnett.

The F Johnston

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 35 and 36, of Range 15, were taken from Grand Prairie Township, Ma- rion County, and Sections 23-25, from the Wy- andot Reservation ; all combined, were incorpo- rated into one township in 1845, and christened Dallas, in honor of the newly elected Vice President, George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania. Why a township with a strong Whig majority, should have chosen as her namesake one of opposite political faith, we were unable to learn, unless the newly-born child was named by the Archons, at Crawford's capital.

Dallas has for her present boundary, Todd and Bucyrus on the north, Bucyrus and Whet- stone on the east, Scott on the south, and An- trim on the west. This portion of territory was originally surveyed in 1819, by Deputy Surveyor Gen. Sylvanus Bourse, assisted by Samuel Holmes, for whom Holmes Township was named. It lies wholly in the celebrated Sandusky Plains, a tract of exceedingly level and rich land, extending east and west through Marion and Wyandot Counties a distance of fifty miles, with a width north and south of an average of twenty miles. No more fertile or productive soil in the entire extent of these plains exists, than is found in the southern por- tion of Dallas Township. It has been variously denominated by early writers, as one of “ Na- ture's most beautiful meadows ; " " The blue- grass region of Ohio," etc., which appellations would be more appropriate at the present writ- ing than in pioneer days. For in the first quarter of this century, these now measured meadows, were fenceless fields, all overgrown with the rank sedge grass and " yellow-blos- somed weeds," with many a broad parterre of the purple iron-weed-of such luxuriant growth that men mounted on horseback could not be observed a few rods distant. Instead of the " lowing herd that now winds slowly o'er the lea," there were but the few domestic " bosses " that made known their presence by the tinkling bell. By an efficient system of drainage and

cultivation, this over-growth of rank weeds and wild grasses-exponents of an exhaustless soil -now return a royal revenue to their opulent owners.

Dallas is favored in having two of the prin- cipal rivers of the State pass through its territory-the Sandusky, with its two sources, in the eastern part of the county, enters the northeast corner of this township three-fourths of a mile from the Todd line, passing diagonally across the western portion of its territory in a southwesterly direction, crossing the Wyandot County line at the center of the western bound- ary of the township. The bed of this portion of the Sandusky is composed of a coarse wash- gravel, that is used in repairing the neighbor- ing roads. This gravel bottom and these ex- tended sand-bars make this part of the river favorable for the hatching of minnows, which have often been noticed by myriads in the sum- mer season. The beautiful banks and solid bed of the Sandusky River made it an attractive rendezvous of the Wyandot Indians. Many interesting reminiscences were related by the Wyandot chiefs concerning the " Sahunduskie," as they termed it-signifying "clear water." " Sahunduskie " was the facetious appellation the Wyandots gave to their ardent beverage- " fire-water. When one of the men would be- come so exuberant from the contents of his leathern bottle, that he could not restrain him- self in the presence of his dusky mate ; instead of grasping the happy idea of the " Christian pale-face," and tell her he had been to the " club-house, chatting with the boys "-he would gruffly exense himself for the evening by say- ing " Drink much Sahunduskie."

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 96

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