History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 99

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 99

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Previous to the purchase of the Reserve in 1842, by the United States, the citizens of what was formerly Crawford would come in from the western townships to the county seat upon this

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trail, to pay taxes-Indians and white men in one long, single file, not infrequently reaching seventy or eighty in a company. The scenes along this trail a century ago were familiar to the valorous Pipe and the warrior Wingenund. More than 120 years ago the unresisting Mora- vian convert traveled this highway of his savage neighbors. Upon it the infamous Simon Girty and his painted companions have frequently ridden to the council house and car- ried welcome news of massacre to Captain Pipe from the eastern settlements.

The first blazed road was that known as the " Claridon " in 1822, leading from Bucyrus to Claridon, passing through the extreme east of Dallas. The Wyandot and Bucyrus road was, for the first five years, followed by the blazed trees, but as early as 1825 it became a tolerably well-known route. The main road that passes through Dallas is the Columbus and Sandusky Pike. That which was of the most local interest to the boys of Dallas was the Chapman Toll-gate. This gate crossed the pike about a half-mile south of the old Crawford County line, near to the present residence of Henry Linn. The turnpike was held by a joint-stock company, which gave bonds to build either a stone or wooden pike. The charter granted the company power to establish toll-gates on the above condition. The company faithfully ful- filled one part of the contract that was to put up the toll-gates, but never finished more than the dirt-bed preparatory for the stone. The citizens endured the mud roads for ten or twelve years, and paid their tolls until they sus- pected the company of bad faith. When the roads received no further attention in repairs, the wheat haulers were not always in a humor to pay the demanded stipend. Capt. Chapman, the keeper, sometimes found it inconvenient to enforce his "tariff' bill" upon a company of teamsters, who would occasionally attach sev- eral teams to a chain having such a peculiar relation to the gate, that great damage would

be done to the latter. Johnny Van Vorhis was one of the first men that demanded a " change " in this toll-gate system. In the following year, 1842, when no one could be made to pay but children and feeble men, it was completely de- molished and burned by James Arbuckle and Robert Hill. This event led to an overthrow of the toll-gate system. After considerable litigation carried on by Capt. Gideon Chapman in the interest of the company, the case was decided in favor of the "incendiaries." This road has since been annually repaired by the special land tax. and a poll tax being applied under the direction of a District Supervisor. Several attempts have been made, in late years, to macadamize this, the main road of the county. The limited supply of gravel and stone along this section of the road, however, will probably delay the project indefinitely.

There were no church buildings erected in Dallas previous to 1875. As is customary in most rural regions, divine service was held for many years in the schoolhouses. In the sum- mer seasons, the ministers would address well- filled pews in " God's first temples." In later years, there have been churches established on every side of this township-the farthest not exceeding a mile, and several within that dis- tance. On the eastern boundary, services have long been held at Winchester and "Sixteen Chapel." At Latimberville on the south, the Methodist Episcopal and Disciple Churches have members from this township. Likewise the Methodist and Presbyterian on the west. A quarter of a mile north of the Dallas line, in Bucyrus Township, is the Monnett Chapel, whose membership was for many years largely in Dallas.

In 1875, Messrs. Bell, Shearer, Rexroth, Eph- raim Oliver, Mervin Monnett, George Welsh and others, organized Scioto society, and built the first church edifice in Dallas, upon land do- nated for the purpose by Ephraim Monnett. This structure, which in finish and furnishing is

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not excelled by any country church in the county, was dedicated as "Scioto Chapel," by Rev. T. H. Wilson, of the Central Ohio Con- ference. Zachariah Welsh was a resident of Wyandot, and was one of the first to lead in church work. In the long intervals of minis- terial preaching, he would exhort the members to be faithful and zealous in good works. Meetings for prayer and praise were held at his cabin long before schoolhonses were erected. The wonderful man of God, Rev. James Gilruth, a pioneer preacher of this section, deserves more than a passing notice. He was a worthy imi- tator of the founder of his church, and a man of powerful physique. One old gentleman says of him : "When preacher Gilruth ap- peared upon the camp-meeting ground, the row- dies ceased their disturbances. He could make himself be heard a mile." Rev. Mr. Gilruth was a prototype of the pioneer minister. Being an officer, a captain, in the war of 1812, he had learned to brave some of the hardships of the soldier. Although a man remembered for his kind and considerate heart, yet he never fully lost that commanding air that made him such a terror to the "rowdies " who seemed to be a necessary adjunct of all the carly religious efforts. An anecdote is related of him that illustrates the great strength and physical development he had. At Franklin, the former county seat of Franklin County, a number of youths were practicing throwing a sledge in the court house yard. After Mr. Gilruth had easily excelled in throwing the sledge to a great distance, he astonished the bystanders by taking up a four-pound ax, which he hurled over the court house steeple. The circuit of Mr. Gilruth in 1823-24, was one of four weeks' travel. Three of his Sabbath appointments were in the neighboring villages of Delaware, Kenton and Bucyrus. He had intermediate appointments in the lesser villages and country chapels, occupying every afternoon and evening of the week, excepting Saturdays, his only day

of rest. Ilis meetings were held in this part of the county in the cabins of some of the mem- bers, usually Mr. Welsh's. He was, in after years, twice returned to this circuit. No one man seems to have left more of an impression upon the minds and morals of our citizens, than did Rev. James Gilruth. He was transferred to an Iowa Conference in 1840, and is still liv- ing.

The' immediate successor of Mr. Gilruth, in 1824, was Rev. Mr. Cadwallader. The citi- zens of the western part of Crawford were fre- quently spiritually feasted by a quarterly meeting sermon from Rev. James B. Finley, who was Superintendent of the Wyandot Mission in 1827. They were occasionally treated, also, to discourses from the celebrated Russell Bigelow, stationed at the Sandusky mission in the same year. The present territory of Dallas was included in the Portland District, Ohio Confer- ence, which included in its bounds the State of Michigan. The Rev. James McMahon was the Presiding Elder of this district in the years 1826-30. Another of their early preaching points was in the Welsh barn, a building yet in fair repair, situated opposite the Scioto Chapel. Rev. John Gilbert Bruce is especially remembered as a revivalist in this corner of the moral heritage. In the winter of 1836-37 protracted meetings were conducted by this divine, assisted by Rev. Jeremiah Monnett. Rev. S. P. Shaw, founder of Shaw University, of Tennessee, was also one of the early work- ers in the vineyard. Rev. Mr. Shaw was a man of wide observation, and remarkably well versed in sacred and profane history. In his views he was uncompromising, and awakened earnest religious convictions in the minds and hearts of his auditors. Many of his quaint and forcible aphorisms are yet remembered by his converts. He was ordained Deacon in the Ohio Conference in the fall of 1827. Others, remembered for their good works, are Revs. Adam Poe, Presiding Elder, in 1836, of Port-

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land District, and William Runnels, Presiding Elder in 1840.

As already stated, Dallas had no churches previous to 1875. This, in itself, might imply that the opposite party held sway, which really seemed to be the case at one time. In the midst of the township, and on this side of the river Scioto, lies the " Devil's Half-Acre." For an account of the origin of this significant title, we are indebted to Charles Raemer. His account, in substance, is as follows : There was, previous to 1830, a log cabin standing south of this hard-named place, which was used for school and church purposes. In 1830 to 1832, a log schoolhouse was erected at the pres- ent site of the new school building, its imme- diate successor. The United Brethren Church attempted to organize and establish a society here, but failed. In a few winters, Rev. Will- iam Mathews, a Methodist, held revival services and toiled hard in the vineyard, and met with some considerable success, but the good im- pressions soon faded. The Presbyterian denom- ination made the next attempt under Rev. Mr Hutchinson, of Bucyrus. "Many were called, under his preaching, but few were chosen," so that the field was left clear for the Meth- odists, but they failed to keep the flock be- yond the traditional probationary period. Next, the United Brethren Church again ral- lied her forces and opened the gates of the fold, but the flock came out as it entered, with no desire to make it an abiding-place. Then followed a Disciple minister from Latim- berville, to establish his faith in the hearts of the recalcitrants, but, like the others, produced no good results. When this denomination failed, Amos McMullen declared he believed this spot in possession of the devil, from which it was immediately christened by the diabolical title of " Devil's Half-Acre." Since this queer appellation has been bestowed on the place, other attempts have been made, alternately by the Methodist Episcopal and United Brethren

Churches, but no permanent society has ever been organized.

The first "seminary of learning" in Dallas was a subscription school held in a vacated log dwelling, north of David Bibler's cabin, on the Sandusky River. Miss Clara Drake, daughter of Capt. Drake, taught for the first two years, 1827 and 1828, at $1.25 per week. Her attend- ance of twelve pupils were from the families of Welsh, Bibler and Hoover. Miss Drake after- ward removed to Clinton County, Ill., where she died last summer, at the age of eighty-four years. About the same time, or a little later, a subscription school was held in a new cabin erected for that purpose by a few of the early neighbors, opposite Maj. Carmean's present res- idence. Osborn Monnett and George Walton were the principal agitators of this enterprise, and it was afterward designated the "Monnett Schoolhouse." Mr. Haney was the first teacher in this school building, at the advanced wages of $10 per month. Miss Chapman taught the first summer school in the same place. This academy, with its puncheon floor and greased paper windows, with its hewn slabs for benches and writing-desks, did not long remain sacred to the cause of learning. After its successor, in the Huntly Schoolhouse, in 1830, the former was removed by Maj. Carmean, and appropri- ated to the sheltering of animals of a lower order in creation.

The first frame school-building was erected by Rev. Jackson Doeling and John Cooper, in the fall of 1838, upon his "Satanic Majesty's" premises. John Bevington was the first ped- agogue, at a salary of $15 per month.

These schools, in 1840 to 1860, numbered from forty to sixty pupils, which number has gradually decreased until, at present, four of them do not have an average of fifteen students, or about the number in attendance in 1830. The township, however, is well supplied with educational facilities, as compared to the pio- neer times, when the first schools were tanght

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by " subscription." Commodious houses, filled with modern furniture, and competent teachers

are some of the benefits the present generation enjoys over that which preceded it.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

LYKENS TOWNSHIP-SOIL AND DRAINAGE-ORGANIZATION AND FIRST OFFICERS-INCIDENTS OF EARLY SETTLEMENT- GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT- VILLAGE OF LYKENS-EDUCATION AND RELIGION.

N O portion of the county of equal extent, except Chatfield, remained as long un- settled as Lykens Township. This was not be- cause the extreme humidity of the soil was a serions objection to the early settlement, or be- canse its land was seemingly beyond all efforts of being reclaimed from dampness and appar- ent sterility. It was for the reason, that, when the first settlers came to Ohio, instead of going far out into the wilderness, where no neighbors were to be found within twenty miles or more, they kept locating just beyond the rapidly ad- vancing line of settlement. Then, as the tide of settlement rolled westward from the eastern boundary of the State and southward from Lake Erie, it occurred that the two divisions of the tide met in Lykens Township, and the settler from the North discovered that his neighbor was from the East. The western and northwestern portions were settled about five years before the castern and southern portions. Pioneers from the old settlements on Sandusky River, in Seneca County, came into the north- ern part as early as 1825, while no im- provement was made in the eastern part until about five years later. It was natural and customary for settlers to select land that would repay them for the labor of clearing with an immediate and abundant crop. Afterward, the lower lands, which comprise almost the whole of the eastern and southern portions, was en- tered and improved. The soil of the township is predominantly alluvial, there being but little surface clay or sand. Several of the first set-

tlers who are yet living tell almost incredible tales as to how the township in early years was almost wholly under water. It does not seem possible that the farms, now so nicely drained and improved, were so miry as to be almost impassable, when the pioneer first arrived. And yet observation teaches that timber, when found in heavy bodies, almost doubles the quantity of rain falling per annum ; and even small groves, scattered at intervals over coun- try which previously was prairie, increase in a noticeable degree the amount of rain. In the western part of Nebraska and Kansas, where the soil is almost wholly sand, and where, for- merly, no crops-not even grass-could grow, since the enterprising pioneer has appeared and planted innumerable groves throughout the broad expanse, the fall of rain has increased to such a degree that the sandy plain, once so dry and barren of vegetation, is quite thickly over- grown with grass; and, although corn and wheat are often left without sufficient moisture, from the fact that the time of rain-falls and the amount falling are yet unsettled, varying greatly with different seasons, a sufficient quan- tity falls during the greater number of seasons to supply the growing grain with abundant moisture. If timber is thus the means of at- tracting rain clouds, and, by so doing, increasing the rain-fall, when a country is cleared of tim- ber it must necessarily follow that the quantity of rain falling is greatly decreased. Obser- vation teaches that this is true throughout Ohio, where formerly almost every foot of land

Rudolph Brause

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was covered with a heavy forest, which has been largely cleared away to make room for the agriculturist. This is one reason why the soil in almost every locality is much drier, at present, than formerly. Another reason is, that since the forests have disappeared, the action of the sun is unchecked, thus effecting a more rapid evaporation of the moisture than when the country was covered with woods. And, correlatively, the sandy plains of the West, exposed to the blazing heat of the summer's sun in former years, could retain moisture but a few days, even if six inches of water fell at one time. It thus appears that the rain cloud can be imperfectly controlled, and the supply of rain in any section of country can be varied through a period of years necessary for the growth of timber, for the benefit of tillers of the soil, and, consequently, for all humanity. Thus the answer to the prayer of the Kaffir is realized through the observation of intelligent men. The soil of Lykens is not surpassed in richness by that of any other township in the county. It is peculiarly adapted for corn, and large crops of this valuable grain are raised year after year on the same piece of land without any appreciable decrease in the quanti- ty produced. This is true in the eastern and southeastern parts, where a deep, black soil prevails ; while the western part is better adapted to wheat and kindred grains, from the fact that more sand and clay are found, these portions of the soil being highly essential to the proper growth of the smaller grains. Along the course of the winding Sycamore Creek, corniferous limestone is found out-cropping, sufficient in amount to furnish the country for miles around with building stone. It is found in large quantities on Section 16, where the stone is covered with earth varying in thick- ness from six inches to eight feet. The stone is blue, and contains more impurities than that obtained at the more extensive quarries in Holmes and Todd Townships. It contains the

casts of crinoidal stems and numerous cephalo- pods and trilobites. It is coarse, though exceed- ingly durable. The quarries have been but little worked, and many of the beds remain un- opened.

The central and western portions of the town- ship are well drained. Sycamore Creek, a small, shallow stream, flows across the central part, entering the township on Section 11, and flowing across Sections 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 30. It has many small branches, one of the principal rising in the flat land near the southeastern corner and flowing northwest, uniting with the main stream on Section 30. This stream, called Little Sycamore Creek, has but little fall and is sluggish in its movements. The northeastern part is level, and, in former years, was almost bottomless. These streams give the township an imperfect drainage.

Lykens was for several years attached to Sycamore Township, of which the present Texas Township was a part until 1845. But, in 1831 (or possibly 1830), a sufficient number of set- tlers had arrived as to make it advisable to have a separate township organization. Up to this time Lykens was known only by its number and range ; but, as soon as the propriety of a sepa- rate organization was apparent, the few settlers were called upon to suggest a name for the township to be presented in their petition to the County Commissioners, praying that the town- ship have a separate organization. Jacob Foy wanted the township named "Fayette," but he could not command sufficient influence, much to his disappointment, to accomplish that result. Finally, Jacob Lintner, a prominent German who had just settled with several of his coun- trymen near Portersville, suggested the name Lykens. The Germans had come from a town of that name in Pennsylvania, and, after some discussion, the name was presented in the peti- tion to the Commissioners, who accordingly bestowed it upon the township. An election of officers was ordered to be held at the residence

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of Jacob Foy during one of the spring months of 1832. There were living in the township at that time barely sufficient men to fill the va- rious offices ; but, pursuant to the order of the Commissioners, they assembled at Mr. Foy's cabin and elected the following officers, as re- membered by Joseph Hall : Benjamin Huddle, Justice of the Peace ; Levi Gifford, Constable ; John Elliott, Clerk ; Jacob Lintner, Treasurer ; Joseph Hall, Joseph Muchler and Robert Knott, Trustees ; and two others elected as Fence Viewers. This list of the first officers is given from memory by Mr. Hall, and may not be absolutely correct. However, the probability is that the list is correct. Almost every settler in the township was honored with an office. At that time the township, with the exception of a portion of Sections 31, 32 and 33, which be- longed to the Wyandot Reservation, comprised its present territory, and, in addition, the west- ern tier of sections in Chatfield Township. In 1835, all that portion of the township belong- ing to the Wyandot Reservation was annexed to Lykens, as is shown by the following extract taken from the records of the County Commis- sioners : " All that part of the originally sur- veyed Township 1, Range 16 east, lying in said (Wyandot) Reservation shall be attached to Lykens, and shall constitute a part of said township." After this action no change was made in the boundary or territory of the town- ship until 1845, when the eastern tier of sec- tions was attached to Chatfield, leaving Lykens thirty sections. the number it yet retains. For several years after the creation of the township, elections continued to be held in the cabin of Jacob Foy ; but, when the first schoolhouse was built, they were held there.

The first settlers were of English descent, and first came to Seneca County ; but upon their arrival they discovered that the more val- uable portions of land had been entered, so they journeyed on south into northern Craw- ford County. It was not until about 1830 that

the first settlers located in the southern part. The real emigration into the southern part, however, did not begin until 1832, when large numbers of Germans, directly from the old country, arrived in a body, and entered all the land in the southern part, within three or four years. Many of them had entered the land at the land offices, without first having seen whether it suited them or not. The conse- quence was that many of their farms were found to be almost wholly under water, and the disappointed Germans were compelled, by the fiat of events, to make the most of what they had. They were not easily discouraged by the floods of water, but went to work to clear and drain their land, and, in time, they were abundantly rewarded. The important question as to who was the first settler is a dif- ficult one to answer with any certainty. It is quite likely that the first settler to build a cabin in the township remained but a few years, going back to Seneca County, whence he came. This knowledge is gained from Arthur An- drews, one of the oldest settlers living in Texas Township, and from his recollection it seems highly probable that Seneca County furnished the first settlers for Lykens Township. The following men were established in the township in rude log cabins as early as 1828: John El- liott, Jacob Foy, Jacob Lintner, Joseph Trask, Gottleib Hoss, Christopher Keggy, Joseph Hall, Jacob Miller and several others whose names are forgotten. In 1829 and 1830, there also came in James Ferguson, Benjamin Hud- dle, Levi Gifford, Samuel Spittler, James Wickam, Robert Mays, Robert Knott, Joseph Muchler and a few others. After 1830, and prior to 1836, there appeared Nelson Holt, Daniel Coon, John Babcock, Ira Cory, Daniel Pratt, Barnaby Harper, Adam Baden, Solomon Seery, David Albaugh, Nathan Coran, William Swalley, Adam and Lucas Shock, Otto Feltner, John Apple, Jacob Oberlander, John Aupt, Reu- ben Keran, Ira G. Allen, Milton Waller, Eli

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Winter, Sr., William Burgett, Joseph Ken- nedy, Samuel and Timothy Parks, Joseph Dil- linger, John Shoulter, Solomon Babcock, and many others. It was during this period that nearly all the land in the township was taken up, and many interesting incidents are related as to the maneuvers made by the settlers to secure the best land. Circumstances seem to in- dicate that Christopher Keggy was the first settler in the township. This man came from Fairfield County, first locating in Seneca County ; but afterward, in 1825, he came to Lykens Township, and built a small log cabin in the northwestern corner. Indications seem to point to his not owning any land, having been a squatter, and having located there to hunt and trap. He remained in the township until 1830, when he sold what interest he had in the farm to Reuben Keran, and returned to Fairfield County. Keggy was a noted hunter, and had come to Ohio before the war of 1812. His life was a succession of adventures with wild animals and with Indians. What became of him is unknown. Jacob Miller came to the township as early as 1827, locating in the northwestern part. This setter was also a hunter of distinguished reputation. Joseph Trask was the third settler, but, in 1831, he sold his farm to another settler, and returned to Seneca County, whence he came. Jacob Foy was the first permanent settler, and was an influential man in early years. He served many terms as Justice of the Peace, and always impartially administered the laws as he understood them. Robert Mays and Levi Gifford served as Jus- tices of the Peace between 1830 and 1840. For several years the settlers had been grievously damaged and annoyed by having their swine stolen by some thief or thieves in the neighbor- hood, until, finally, they resolved, if possible, to put a stop to it. One day a man named Pratt, who had been fined several times for stealing, was detected in the act of killing a hog belonging to one of his neighbers. Pratt

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 99

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