History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 2, Part 10

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 836

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 2 > Part 10

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

in, carrying a club sufficient to fell an ox with. He proceeded, without uttering a word, to exam- ine the trundle-bed where the younger children lay, and, with a glance toward the bed where Mrs. Elsbre lay with a two-weeks-old child, he wheeled toward the ladder and attempted to mount to the loft. This was too much for Elsbre's equanimity. He had repeatedly asked the meaning of the demonstration, but got no answer, and, seizing his gun from its place, he ordered the intruder to come down, or he "would put him on the coon- board in a minute." The rifle was unloaded, but, like the old lady in the story, he saw the flight- ful hole in the end, and came down to parley. Matters had rather changed base in the mean- while, and Mr. Elsbre chose his own place for further talk. Still theatening with his gun, he drove the ruffian out of the cabin and the inclos- ure, to where his assistants awaited him. The negro boys who had been sleeping up-stairs, be- coming aroused, took the first opportunity of escaping through a back window. Assured of their escape, Mr. Elsbre satisfied the hunters that there was nothing there belonging to them, when they left, not to disturb him again. In the year 1854, some thirty freed negroes were sent from North Carolina to the Patterson neighborhood to find homes. Their mistress had freed them in her will, and directed her executor to send them here. On their arrival, the friends of the anti- slavery movement were called together, and homes provided for all. They settled down in that neighborhood and stayed until, in the course of natural changes, the most of them have been lost sight of.

One of the pleasantest facts in the history of Orange Township is the prominent place which the public school occupies from first to last. Hardly had the first settlers rolled up their cabins, and cleared enough space to raise subsistence for their families, before the schoolhouse makes its appear- ance. The first settler barely reached this town- ship in 1807, and eight years later we find the settlers drawing on their scanty means to give their children the beginnings of an education. In 1815, Jane Mather, the daughter of an early settler and the widow of a soldier of 1812, opened a school in the cabin of John Wimsett on the State road. Here she drew together a few of the settler's chil- dren, the beginning of District No. 1. As the at- tendance increased, a small log cabin was put on the east side of the road near where Mr. Dickerson lives. This cabin, if it could be produced now,

would be a subject of more interest than the seven wonders. The cabin inclosed a space of about twelve by fourteen feet. The cracks between the logs were " chinked " and plastered with mud, save where for the purpose of light they were en- larged and covered with greased paper. Split logs provided with legs stood about the sides of the room, on which the drowsy school-boy of ye olden time conned his book. The school-books were the result of the provident care of the mothers, who thoughtfully packed them when starting from the East, and were not remarkable for uniformity of series. Who was Jane Mather's successor tradi- tion saith not, but the old schoolhouse stood until about 1827, when it was destroyed by fire. It was replaced by a hewed-log house, provided with windows, a long inclined board along the side for a desk, and seats containing less timber. In 1822. Chester Campbell taught a school a little south of where Samuel Ferson now lives, but further than the bare fact, the historian has been unable to dis- cover anything. Three years later a Mr. Curtis taught a singing school there. The date of the first frame schoolhouse is not known, but it cannot be far from 1850. It was located in Mr. Ferson's neighborhood, and for some years was the especial pride of that district and the envy of others less favored. The first brick schoolhouse was erected in 1868, in District No. 4, and cost when com- pleted for use about $1,000. Seven of the eight districts in the township are thus provided. Black- boards and school furniture of the most approved pattern are found in each, marking an advanced position in this matter. The average attendance at each school throughout the township is about twenty pupils. The average price paid teachers per month is $23, the teachers providing their own board. The lowness of this price is explained by the fact that most of the teachers are ladies employed both summer and winter. There is also one special school district in Lewis Center. Here a school of two departments is maintained in the winter, and of a single department in the summer.

The town-house was built of brick, in the cen- ter of the township, at a cost of $825, in 1871. As is frequently the case, the question of its loca- tion was a vexed one. The people of Lewis Cen- ter naturally desired to bring every possible attrac- tion to that point, and others preferred to have it centrally located. Trustees were nominated with the understanding that the building should be put as a majority of the votes should indicate. For

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

sufficient reasons, doubtless, it was thought best to ignore this stipulation, and a movement was made to build it at the Center. An injunction was in- terposed, and another election had, which resulted in placing it where it now stands.

In noticing the public institutions of the town- ship, it will be in place to mention one it almost had, but failed to get. Bishop Chase, the uncle of a renowned nephew, for some time a resident of Worthington, where he taught school in his own house, was greatly interested in educational mat- 'ters. In connection with another minister of the Episcopal Church, he conceived the idea of found-

ing a college under the auspices of that denomina- tion. He selected a spot on the farm of Mr. David Bale, in the southeastern part of the township, as the site for his proposed college. He interested the settlers in his project, and one day in the year of 1818, or thereabouts, they got together and cleared about ten acres. Shortly afterward he went to England to solicit subscriptions to put his college on its feet. Here he met with considerable suc- cess, but he never returned to Orange Township. His proposed college was built at Gambier, and called Kenyon for the lady who contributed a large amount to its construction.

CHAPTER XVIII .*

SCIOTO TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES-EARLY SETTLEMENTS-CHURCHES-EDUCA- TIONAL - POLITICS-THE VILLAGES.

"Neither locks had they to their doors, nor bars to their windows;

But their dwellings were open as day, and the hearts of the owners ;

There the richest were poor, and the poorest lived in abundance."

-Longfellow.

S' 1CIOTO is a township that reflects credit on the good county of Delaware, and stands well in the sisterhood of townships. It originally lay wholly west of the Scioto River, and was composed en- tirely of Old Virginia military land. It was formed into a separate township December 7, 1814, by the granting of a petition by the County Com- missioners, praying for a new township to be estab- lished in said county by the name and title of Scioto, which was to comprehend all west of the Scioto River, in what was then Radnor, and to run south to the mouth of Mill Creek. In 1821, after the formation of Concord Township, the bounda- ries were more expressly defined, and they were to begin on the west bank of Scioto River, at Dil- saver's Ford; thence west to the Union County line; thence south with said line to the middle of Mill Creek ; thence eastwardly with the north line of Concord Township, to the Scioto River; thence up said river with the meander thereof to the place of beginning, and was bounded as follows : On the north by Thompson, on the east by the Scioto River, on the south by Concord Township and Union County, and on the west by Union *Contributed by II. L. S. Vaile.

County. About the year 1852, Scioto Township was allowed two school districts east of the Scioto River, the land so annexed was taken from the northern portion of Concord Township, thus in- terposing between Concord and Radnor, and ex- tending to the western line of Delaware Township. Some few years later, another portion of Concord Township, situated directly west of the Mill Creek settlement, occupying the bend of Mill Creek south of it, was attached to Scioto for the conven- ience of those living on that tract, it being in close proximity to the voting place, and the school facilities afforded by the town of Ostrander. The present boundaries are as follows: On the north by Thompson and Radnor Townships, on the east by Radnor, Delaware and Concord Townships, on the south by Concord Township and Union County, and on the west by Union County. Scioto Township takes its name from the river Scioto, which is a corruption of the In- dian Scionto, a name given to it by the Wyandots. The Scioto River flows through a portion of the township. Since the change made in the eastern boundary line, along its entire course through the township, the geological features presented are those of a bed of solid limestone rock, shut in by cliffs of the same material. In many places the river has forsaken its ancient channel, compelled to take a new course by the immense deposits of drift made by the melting glaciers which choked up the channel. Where this is the case, the water

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

seems to have washed the alluvial soil into the old channel and upon the bottom. On every hand are marks of the glaciers. Immense granite bowlders are seen in the fields, and in the bed of the Scioto, brought, no doubt, from the North during the drift period. The tributaries of the Scioto River, which flow into it on its way through the town- ship, are Arthur's Run and Boke's Creek. The latter, named from an Indian chief of the Wyan- dot nation, is of considerable size, and has its source in the northeastern section of Logan County, and, flowing southeast through Union County, strikes Scioto Township in the northern portion, and thence from a northeastern to a southeastern course, flows into the Scioto River about two miles above Millville, receiving on its way the waters of Smith's Run, which flows into it about one mile and a half from its mouth. Mill Creek flows north from Union County into the southern part of the township, and leaves it at the northwestern corner of Concord Township.

The land near the Scioto River is rolling, and in many places deeply cut by the action of sur- face water, the result of heavy rains, and nu- merous rivulets formed from springs. The soil is rich, and with the "Scioto Bottoms" forms some of the finest farming lands in Delaware County. Back from the river, the land be- comes more level, and is well adapted for graz- ing. Clay knobs are met with here and there through the township, from which excellent brick and tile are made. The lowlands of the interior have been well drained. At an early day, there were a few elm swamps, but these have in most instances been drained, and are now improved. The draining of the Burnt Pond situated on A. J. Robinson's farm, and said at one time to be the head-waters of Arthur's Run, is an instance of the improvements that have been made as regards the lowlands and swamps. This pond, which at one time was of considerable extent, has been thor- oughly drained, and is now one of the richest por- tions of the above-named gentleman's farm. It was named from the fact that after it had been drained, it was set on fire, and the vegetable matter which had been accumulating for years burned with great persistency, and it was a long time before the fire could be extinguished.

The township is traversed by fine gravel roads from each side of which may be seen stretching away, fields rich with corn and waving grain in its season, together with fine orchards of apple and other fruit. The old Springfield, Mount Vernon

& Pittsburgh Railroad, now known as the Short Line Branch of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cin- cinnati & Indianapolis, crosses the southern portion of the township, in direction south and west. Boke's Creek is the historical stream of Scioto Township. Upon its banks and near its mouth were placed the cabins of the first set- tlers. It is said that when the whites first came to the locality, they found the Indians friend- ly, and gained from them information which in those days was very valuable, namely, the loca- tion of the Salt Licks, the fords in the river, and the haunts of the water-fowl and deer, but no longer is the Indian seen in the forests, or in his birch canoe, skimming the waters of the Scioto. He has gone, and a few squalid savages wander- ing over the Western Plains are all that remain of the great Wyandot Nation. The common neces- saries of life were difficult to procure. A journey of forty and fifty miles to find a market for their skins, and in exchange get a few things that were necessary for their comfort was no uncommon thing. It must be remembered too, that these routes were not over graded pikes and bridges, which to-day make even a journey of necessity one of pleasure and interest. But they journeyed on pack-horses, over Indian trails, thanking a kind Providence when the fords of the river were passable, and for their safe arrival at their desti- nation.

In September, 1805, Richard Hoskins and his family, consisting of four boys and three girls, came over, in a packet-ship, from Wales, and, im- mediately upon their arrival, set out for the frontier. At that time there were no roads lead- ing to the great Northwestern Territory, excepting a few that followed Indian trails and led to the forts on the border. These roads were used for the purpose of transporting to the forts supplies of food and munitions of war. and for miles, were cut through dense forests. Over these roads, with pack-horses, Richard Hoskins determined to brave everything for home and happiness. He struck out, and, after a long and tedious journey, arrived in Franklinton, Ohio, in December, 1805 .. In the following May (1806), he again " broke camp " and started north, on the Sandusky Military Road ; reached the mouth of Boke's Creek, and settled there. There are none left of the original family, all having died, although there are several distant relatives living in Ostrander and in Marys- ville. At about the same time, and so close, in fact, that priority of date of settlement remains

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. .

somewhat in doubt, there came and settled on land near Hoskins, Zachariah Stephens, and, from the best information that can now be obtained, it is probable that he settled in June of the same year, 1806. Immediately upon his arrival, Stephens set to work and built a log cabin, finish- ing it a short time before Hoskins had completed his, and so has the honor of having built the first log cabin in this township. In the following year, assisted by Richard Hoskins and James McCune, together with help from the town of Franklinton, he put up the first saw-mill in Scioto Township, at the mouth of the creek. In November, 1807, Richard Hoskins went to Franklinton for supplies, and, on his return, was accompanied by James McCune and his family, who settled on a farm near Hoskins, in the latter part of November, 1807. James McCune and his family came from Ireland, and, hearing glowing accounts of the then Western country, turned his face in that direction, arriving in Franklinton in 1805. Growing dis- couraged at what he considered a poor opening in that vicinity, he was induced by Hoskins to move up the Scioto to Boke's Creek, settle on a fine piece of land and clear up a farm. His wife, who at present survives him, still lives on the old homestead, and, in her energy, is to be found a representative pioneer woman. Stewart Smith, an Irishman, whose father was in the rebellion of 1798, "left his home in Ireland, and, in August, 1808, came to Ohio and settled on Boke's Creek, near the run that bears his name. In the year 1809, three families came to the vicinity, Joseph Shrupe, Jacob North and Zachariah Williams. Shrupe came from Pennsylvania and settled on the bank of the creek opposite the mouth of Smith's Run. North came from the East and settled near the creek. Zachariah Williams and his family also settled on the creek. Williams had barely gotten his cabin up when he died, and was buried on the bank of Boke's Creek This being the first death in the township. Phillip Horshaw came to the settlement in 1809, and immediately upon his arrival put up a grist-mill, the first in the township. This mill was situated at Millville, on the site now occupied by the mill owned by Fred- erick Decker. In 1815, finding that milling did not pay, he began the manufacture of liquor in a small still-house near where Millville now stands. He continued in this business until 1822, when he sold out to Thomas Jones. Jones remained in the business for a number of years, and, at last, re- tired by selling out his interest to Joseph Dunlap,

who continued to manufacture until 1836, when the entire business died out.

Richard and Evans Carr came into the town- ship in the following year-1811. Tyler did not live in the township, but, when he first came, worked in Hoskins' mill. After working in the mill some few years, he bought the land upon which his son now resides, and upon which he lived until his death-October 23, 1855. Evans Carr settled near the town of Ostrander, where he still resides. John Sherman (not the present Secretary of the United States Treasury), came to the township from the State of Kentucky in 1814. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Vincent, his son, settled down near the Union and Dela- ware County line, where he died in 1862. His wife came to the township from the Blue Grass State in 1822, and still lives with her son, P. J. Sherman, on the old farm.

John Lawrence came to Scioto Township in 1814, and at once began to clear a farm at Edin- burg (formerly known as Fairview), in close proximity to the farm of Mr. James Dodds. In the following year he died, and was the first one buried in the cemetery at that place. In the same year that Lawrence came to this locality, John Cratty cut his way through the woods, and settled on a farm near the present site of Ostrander. He was born January 23, 1792, and came from Butler County, Penn., in 1813.

When the town of Ostrander began to assume a prominent aspect, he moved into it, and made his home with his son, D. G. Cratty. He is a man who, throughout his life, has identified him- self with the growth and advancement of the best interests of the township, and is highly respected by the citizens of Ostrander. He is one of the few survivors of the war of 1812, and a man whose hair is "silvered o'er with the snows of many winters." For over sixty years, he has been upon the roll of the surviving soldiers of the war of 1812. The Dodds were natives of Pennsylvania, and, in the year 1813, came to Ohio. Over the mountains with their dan. gerous roads, and across the rivers, whose fords were almost impassable, journeying with tireless zeal and indefatigable energy, overcoming all difficulties, they at last reached Derby Plain, where they remained until 1815, when they moved to this township. Ou the 15th day of March of that year, they settled on Little Mill Creek, near the present hamlet of Edinburg. The mother of this family-Polly Dodds-died in

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

1815, a short time after they came, and was the second one buried in the cemetery at Edinburg, where, in the northeast corner, her gravestone, covered with moss, is still to be seen. The father -Andrew-died in 1820. When they settled in this locality, there were no roads in the town- ship excepting the old military road, which passed north on the west bank of the Scioto River to . Sandusky. In 1819, Joseph Dunlap began the survey of the first east and west road through the township, and James Dodds-a son of Andrew- carried the chain, which he now speaks of with great satisfaction. He was born in 1794, and lives in the hamlet of Edinburg-a hale old man of eighty-four. His wife still stands by his side, as she did fifty years ago, a help and a blessing. Joseph Dodds-another son three years older than James-enlisted in the war of 1812, and served several months. He died on his brother's farm in January, 1879, aged eighty-seven.

James Liggett came to this locality from Vir- ginia in 1817, and settled right in the woods, upon land now comprised within the incorporated town of Ostrander. He was a man of great en- ergy, and intensely interested in the growth and prosperity of the township. Quite a pleasant anecdote is related of him, which shows his political tendencies. He was at one time acting as a juror in Delaware, and, by a strange coincidence, there happened to be a gentleman from another portion of the county by the same name acting also in a similar capacity. Of course, after meeting each other, they began to look up relationship. "You spell your name the same as myself, I believe," said James Liggett. " Yes," said the gentleman. "You were originally from Virginia." " Yes," said the man. "You surely must be a relative of mine- but, by the way, what are your politics ?" " I am a Whig," said the juror. "Oh, the d-l, you are no relative of mine! . I never saw a Liggett that was not a Democrat," and they parted forever.

Asa Robinson, father of A. W. Robinson, set- tled on the Scioto River, near the mouth of Big Mill Creek, in 1815. He was a native of Massa- chusetts, and his wife was from Pennsylvania. They came to Franklin County in 1807. He died in 1866, but his wife is still living, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. In the following year, 1816, William Ramsey and H. G. Smith entered the township. Ramsey was born in the State of Kentucky on January 18, 1780. He located on the bank of Mill Creek. His father, John Ram- sey, served as a soldier through the entire war of

1812. William died in March, 1878, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-eight. Smith came from Massachusetts. He took an active part in the late war, and was a Captain in the Delaware artillery.

Solomon Carr came from Germany to Virginia in 1815, and from there to Ohio in 1817, settling upon the farm owned at present by his son, G. S. Carr, which is a part of the land comprised within the limits of Ostrander. George Bean was a native of Hardy County, Va., and came to Ohio from the Old Dominion in 1817, settling in Ross County, where he remained until 1819, when he removed to Scioto Township, and cleared a farm on Mill Creek. His son, Benjamin, now owns the farm. Although a large and spacious farmhouse is now the home of the latter, still the old cabin that his father first built, and in which he lived, has been allowed to remain, and stands just north of the residence, a fitting landmark of the past. Mr. Bean was one of the first Justices of the Peace in this township.

The Deans came into the State from Pennsyl- vania before it was admitted into the Union but it was not until 1829 that they settled in this town- ship, near the present town of Ostrander. About thirteen years ago, the father dying, the family moved into what is now the village of Ostrander, where Samuel D. Dean, the son, at present resides. W. C. Winget, one of the most honored and respected citizens of Scioto Township, came in 1827. In 1853, Mr. Winget started the first store in the present town of Ostrander, which at that time did not contain a half a dozen houses. He still occu- pies the same old building, where he can always be found, waiting upon the good people of the town. Among those who came at a later date are William Loveless, who came from Mary- land and settled in 1828, and who is now follow- ing his occupation as a farmer, just beyond White Sulphur Spring Station, and W. G. McFarlin, who settled at White Sulphur Station in 1837, and fol- lowed the occupation of mason for a number of years. His mother, sisters and brothers came here with him. The family came to this locality from Stark County, but were originally from Maryland. J. P. Owen settled in the township in 1834, and is a native of Wales.

The first marriage in the township was that of Robert Perry, who wooed and won the fair Sarah Hoskins. The ceremony took place in the log cabin of Richard Hoskins in 1808, and was per- formed by the Rev. Cloud, a Methodist minister, who had traveled all the way from Franklinton for

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

that purpose. In the fall of the same year, Isaac Smart took unto himself pretty Margaret Smith. The first birth that took place was that of Hugh Stevens, a son of Zachariah Stevens, and the sec- ond birth was that of James McCune. The first death was that of Z. Williams, who died in 1809, and was the first one buried in the old cemetery on Boke's Creek. The second death was that of John Lawrence, who died at Fairview in 1815, and was buried in the cemetery at that place. The Rev. Mr. Cloud, who married Robert Perry and Sarah Hoskins in 1808, was most likely the first minister to enter the township, but whether he - preached on that occasion is not certain, though quite probable. However, the first minister that came into the township for the purpose of preach -. ing, was the Rev. Hughes, who held meetings at the cabin of Zachariah Stevens. To whom belongs the honor of being the first physician to practice in Scioto is not now certain, but it lies between Dr. Skinner, of Darby Plains, and Dr. Lamb, of Delaware. The country was so sparsely settled that there was no resident physician in the town- ship, and the sick were attended by those from Delaware and other towns. The first store opened was at Millville by Benjamin Powers and Joseph Dunlap ; Mr. Riggers was also interested in it. The first goods offered for sale were brought in by traders for the purpose of trafficking with the set- tlers and Indians. They generally put up a little shanty, and remained for a month or two, taking away with them furs and skins in large quantities. The first postmaster was Harry Riggers, who kept tavern at what was then known as "Riggers' Ford," on the Scioto, at the point where the Riggers' bridge was afterward built, and where the covered bridge on the Marysville pike is now situated. The mail was brought at first by mes- sengers on horseback, then by the stage coach, over the old Sandusky Military Road. This tavern was a famous resort for travelers. It was the second one opened in Scioto Township, the first being by James Flannigan.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 2, Part 10

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 836

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 836