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 14
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After the conquest of Wales by Edward I, in 1282, the name was given to one of the twelve counties of the principality. The Welsh name of the county was "Maesyfed," signfying "the field of drinking." " Maes," a field, "yfed," to drink. Tradition and the songs of the ancient bards say that part of the country was so called because in a great battle the earth was saturated with the blood of the slain.
In July, 1804, Mr. Pugh sold, for $150, 100 acres of his estate to Henry Perry. This was the first land sold to an actual settler in the township. The same year, Mr. Pugh sold, in lots of 100 acres each, at the same price, to Richard Tibbott, John Watkins, John Jones (emigrants from Wales), Hugh Kyle and David Marks (from Pennsyl- vania). In 1805, the following families from Wales, Evan Jenkins, David Davids, Richard Hoskins and David Davies; and John Minter, from Pennsylvania, bought land and settled in Radnor.
David Pugh visited his native land in 1806, and, in 1807, returned to Radnor, accompanied by his sisters Mary and Hannah, with their husbands, David Penry and John Philips, welcome addi- tions to the new settlement. The same vear, Eleanor Lodwig with her children, Thomas, John and Letitia ( her husband David had died in Frank- linton), made Radnor their home. The following year, Benjamin Kepler, Elijah Adams, Thomas, Warren, John Foos and their families were added to the settlement. These original settlers encoun- tered many difficulties and endured great bard- ships, but they struggled manfully and successfully, and are worthy of especial honor and grateful remembrance.
During the war of 1812, Radnor was a frontier settlement. A block-house of heavy logs, 18x20 feet, was built, and several times the settlers found protection within its walls. At one time, the dan- ger of attack from hostile Indians was so alarming that the people abandoned their homes and fled for safety to a fort near Franklinton. After the war was over and peace was restored to the coun- try, the flow of immigration brought many settlers to Radnor, among them Mrs. Wasson and sons, Joseph Dunlap, Samuel Cooper, Robert and John Mckinney, Obed Taylor, James and Matthew Fleming, from Pennsylvania and Maryland. John Jones ( Penlan ), Walter Penry, Sr .. with his sons Walter, William, Edward and Roger; Thomas Jones, with his sons John A. and Thomas ; Ellis Jones, David E. Jones, Edward Evans ( Ned Bach ),
In 1804, David Pugh again visited the West and surveyed his land into 100-acre lots; laid out a town near its center which he named New Balt- imore. Mr. Pugh. in honor of his native county in Wales, called the township " Radnor." It is, however, of English and not of Welsh origin. i John Owens, Roger Watkins, Watkin Watkins,
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
William Watkins, John and Humphrey Hump- hreys, Benjamin Herbert, Morgan D. Morgans, blacksmith ; J. R. Jones, weaver ; J. Jones, mason ; John Cadwalader, Rev. David Cadwalader, David Lloyd, John Davies, cooper ; Mrs. Mary Chidlaw, Robert and Stephen Thomas and others from Wales. From 1821 to 1831. a large number of families from Wales and different parts of our own coun- try found homes in Radnor Township, and during this period, nearly all the land within its limits was purchased by actual settlers.
The unsettled life of the pioneers, and the dan- gers to which they were often exposed, are aptly illustrated by the following incident, which actually occurred in Radnor. In the early history of the township, the Wyandot and Shawanee Indians from the Sandusky reservation would frequently visit the settlement, and trade venison, moccasins and fur for corn or other produce which the in- habitants had to barter. The Indians were always well disposed and friendly ; but, on one occasion, a number of the "redskins." in passing through the settlement, entered a cabin and stole a ban- danna silk handkerchief. When the theft was discovered. two or three of the settlers went in pursuit of the Indians. They were mounted, using deerskins or blankets for saddles, and on a little stream, afterward called " Battle Run." they found the Indian camp. The squaws were there, but the men were out hunting. The stolen prop- erty was found, and the owner claimed and took it, the women remonstrating and yelling at the top of their voices. The captors mounted their steeds and beat a hasty retreat. Soon, as they were dashing through the woods. they heard the crack of the riffe. This note of warning increased their speed, and, as they were passing the cabin of Hugh Kyle, he saw Evan Jenkins in the lead and his blanket dragging the ground, as he excitedly spurred on his flying charger. Kyle called out to Jenkins to hold on to his blanket, but the fugitive returned the answer, " Let her go and be hanged; better lose the blanket than get cold lead." The next day, the Indians came to the settlement and invited the inhabitants to a council. They met at the cabin of David Marks, smoked the pipe of peace with assurances of mutual friendship, and that henceforth the rights of property would be sacred, and Evan Jenkins avowed that he would never again take a bandanna from the grip of a squaw.
When the county was organized in 1808, it was divided into three townships or districts, for the i
purpose of holding its first election. One of these townships was called Radnor, and comprised nearly one-third of the county. On the 15th of June, 1808, the County Commissioners, at their first meeting, created the township of Marlborough out of the original territory of Radnor, as was Thomp- son and Troy, some years later. Thus Radoor was cut and slashed, in the making of new town- ships, until brought down to its present dimen- sion, which, in extent, is about ten miles from north to south, and from three to five miles in width from east to west. It is bounded on the north by Marion County ; on the east by Marlbor- ough. Troy and Delaware Township ; on the south by Scioto Township, and on the west, the Scioto River forms the boundary line between it and Scioto and Thompson Townships. Radnor is one of the finest farming districts in Delaware County. Grain is very extensively cultivated. especially wheat, which is the main crop, though corn and oats receive due attention. Considerable stock is also raised, and a large number of fat hogs are annually shipped from the township.
For several years, amid privations and hard- ships, toils and dangers, the families of the early pioneers were wonderfully preserved from serious sickness and from death. The first death in the settlement was the mother of Hugh Kyle. By the aid of the "broad-ax" and the "drawing- knife," a coffin was made, and her remains were laid in the first grave dug for a white person in Radnor Township. As the first funeral in the settlement, it called out the genuine sympathy of all the inhabitants. They met at the house of their esteemed neighbor. and, with solemn trend, followed the humble bier through the forest to the sacred spot, where, with loving and sorrowful hearts, they deposited her remains in the grave. to rest in hope till the day of immortal awakening, when " they that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." This was the first fruit of the harvest of death gathered into the old cemetery in Rad- nor. The oldest marked grave in this burying- ground is that of " David Davids, aged 48 years. who died September 10," 1810. During the war of 1812-14, a company of soldiers were encamped in Radnor, and several of them died and were buried in the cemetery, and their graves are still recognized, but unmarked.
The early settlers of Radnor. for many years, had neither a doctor nor a drug store. In their sickness, they relied on remedies found in the woods or fields, and good nursing by kind neigh-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
bors. The wild lobelia, the bark of the dogwood and wild cherry, and burdock root, were the remedies employed, and with encouraging suc- cess.
As we have seen, a large number of the early settlers of Radnor Township were natives of Wales. And from the time when the original pioneer, Henry Perry, and his heroic boys, Levi and Ebenezer, used their mother tongue in their first home there, the Welsh language, grand in structure, forcible in expression and euphonions in sound, has been extensively used in the township. In social life, in the marts of trade and in the religious life of the people, the old and honored vernacular was the language of the early settlers, and is still used in the family, around the domestic altar, and in the public worship of God. The Welsh language, the Welsh Bible and the Welsh preacher have left an impress on thought and life in Radnor more enduring than burnished brass or polished marble. Beneficent, elevating and pure, these influences have developed and nurtured the elements that produce true manliness and real suc- cess in life and destiny. The Welsh emigrants Americanized readily and thoroughly in all that pertains to good citizenship, yet they naturally cling, with justifiable tenacity, to the old vernacu- lar, "yr hen Gymraeg. iaith fy Mam" (the old Celtic, the sweet language of my mother). The history of the Welsh language is remarkable in its origin ; it dates to a very remote antiquity, and is, to-day, one of the oldest living languages. When Julius Caesar invaded Britain, the " Cymraeg" was the language of the heroic Britons that suc- cessfully resisted the Roman legions and compelled an ignoble retreat. After the conquest of Britain by the Romans, the Welsh retained their language in its purity. The Norman and Saxon, the Pict and the Dane, depriving the Welsh of the best portion of their country, failed to destroy their language. Through successive ages, it has sur- vived, and is now the language of more than one and a half millions of people in the principality of Wales, in the United States and Australia. In regard to the antiquity of the Welsh language, it may be truly said that it was gray with age when the English was born. and is now richer in its lit- erature and more cultivated than ever before. Taliesin, a renowned bard of medieval time, has said :
" Ei Nef a folant. Ei iaith a gadivant, En grolad a gollant Ond, gwyllt Walia,"
a prediction that the Britons would serve and wor- ship God and preserve their language, but would lose their country, except the mountains in the West. The condition of the Welsh people to-day affords a verification of the prophecy of the old bard. The mountains of Wales, the land of their fathers, they fondly call their home. Their Welsh Bibles and their religious life are loved and cher- ished with absorbing fidelity, honoring their godly ancestry and the God of their fathers.
[The editor finds the following matter in the County Atlas, published in 1875, which he deems of historic value, and is unwilling to omit in the history of the township, although it has been overlooked by Mr. Chidlaw : . David Pugh, who built a cabin, in 1804, upon the site of his pros- pective town of New Baltimore, cleared a piece of ground, some three acres in extent, near by. which he sowed in " Welsh clover." The seed of this clover he brought from Wales, and found that it grew well and afforded most excellent pasturage. Perry Jones and David Marks. upon their settle- ment in the township, planted some apple-seeds. and, in time, the trees matured and furnished a supply of fruit. This was the first effort at fruit- growing in this section of the county. Mr. Marks was a prominent man, and afterward became one of the Associate Judges of the court. Elijah Adams, mentioned in the list of early settlers: was the first Justice of the Peace in Radnor, and held the office for many years. Thomas Warren opened the first tavern in 1811. This " ancient hostelry" was kept in a log building 20x32 feet. and two stories high. The tanning, which was as common then as milling. was done mostly at Delaware. and the milling itself was done, for years, at Meeker's. on the Olentangy, south of the town of Delaware. There were no mills built in Radnor for a number of years, except hominy mills, which were in com- mon use. The first child born in the settlement was David Perry. Jr .. and the second was Mary Jones ( Mrs. Mary Warren ), in the spring of 1807. Among the early marriages may be chronicled those of the two sisters, Margaret and Sarah War- ren, to David Cryder and Montgomery Evaus, respectively, in 1811. Mr. Chidlaw mentions. in a beautiful manner. the first death which occurred. ]
The pioneers of Radnor were the friends of ed- ucation. and when their children became of suit- able age, they united together, built a log-cabin schoolhouse, and employed a teacher. No record or tradition points out the spot on which the cabin schoolhouse was built, and by whom the first
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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school was taught. Before the day of school laws in Ohio, the people of Radnor were a law unto themselves, and educational interests were cher- ished accordingly. In 1821, there were three log schoolhouses in the township -- one on the farm of John Phillips in the southern part, another on the farm of Ralph Dildine, in the center, and another, in the northern part, near where the old block-house stood on the farm of Benjamin Kepler. The school term embraced three or four months during the inclement season. The teachers re- ceived from 89 to $12 a month, and boarded around. Their pay was largely in trade, produce, and goods manufactured with the help of the spin- ning-wheel, and the domestic loom in the skillful hands of the mothers and daughters that honored and blessed the early homes of Radnor.
One of the early teachers, who taught about 1818, was Roger Penry, a native of South Wales. 1 He was a fair scholar, especially in arithmetic and grammar, and in general knowledge. He was in advance of the age, therefore his services among : the youth of Radnor were not fully appreciated. Small scholars, both as it regards age and pro-, ficiency in letters were not his delight. But his disciples in Pike's Arithmetic and Murray's Gram- mar were greatly benefited by his instruction. Another cotemporary was Christopher Moore, whose specialties in teaching were orthography and chirography, and in these branches of learning he was a genuine enthusiast. In Webster's Spelling- book he was at home, and in writing copies he was unexcelled. His spelling schools and matches were always great occasions, and attracted crowded houses. Gathered on a winter evening on the puncheon floor of the log schoolhouse, Master Moore with a radiant face, comfortably seated on his three-legged stool, and his scholars on split-log benches ; in the blazing light of a capacious and well-filled fire-place, the work of the evening would commence. The master knew the text-book by heart ; with closed eyes, smiling face, and quick ear he gave out the words. It required about four hours to spell from " ba-ker" through the hard words in the pictures and the solid columns of proper names at the end of the book. In a word, the earnest, interested teacher had scholars like-minded, spelling was a great business, and en- chained the attention of all concerned.
sion, brimful of fun and cheer, the contest on proper names began and continued until three trials were finished, and the winning side crowned with the laurels of triumph. The night was dark, our hickory-bark torches were lighted, and we left for our homes. A jovial youngster in his teens and bent on fun. carried our torch and led the way through the woods. We had to pass through a swamp, trees had been felled over the deepest water, and on these round logs we must walk. Our guide and torch-bearer, nearly safe on the other side, and the rest of us boys and girls strung along the log, commenced jumping on the log (the boy did), and produced such a motion that we lost our bal- ance and fell in the water waist-deep. Wading for the shore, some were frightened, others jubi- lant, some crying, others laughing, but we all reached dry land in safety. Our torch was out, and the night was dark, and no road. We were in the woods, and at our wits' end. We groped our way as best we could, and erelong reached a fence, then we found our way home, amused with the adventure in the swamp, and the trick of our guide.
The following statisties will show the advance- ment made in education in Radnor in the last fifty years : Number of school districts S, with a com- fortable schoolhouse in each, seven of which are brick and one frame; estimated value approximat- ing $7,000. Number of pupils enrolled, 261; number of children enumerated in township, 323; number of teachers employed within the year, 12 ; amount paid teachers during the year, $1,946.
Nearly all the pioneers of Radnor were religious people, and the history of religion in the town- ship is coeval with its first settlement. For sev- eral years the people had neither a church nor a school, but any itinerant minister of the Gospel was kindly received into the cabins, and they gladly heard the Gospel from his lips.
The Baptist was the first religious society or- ganized-in the township. It was constituted May 4. 1816, in a log schoolhouse, on land owned by William Lawrence, Esq. The council consisted of Elder Henry George. of Knox County; Elder William Brundage, and Brethren Cole, Dix. Bush and Wilcox, of Marlborough Church, and Elder Drake, and Brethren Monroe and Phelps. of Lib- erty Church. The constituting members were John Philips and Hanual, his wife, William David, Thomas Walling, David Penry and his
One of these spelling-schools is well remembered by the writer. Master Moore was in his best trim. I The first part of the evening was spent on words of wife, Mary; James Gallant, Eleanor Lodwig, three and four syllables. After a short intermis- i Daniel Bell, Reuben Stephens and his wife. Eliz-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
beth; eleven in all. They had no Pastor for two years; Elders Drake, George and Brundage sup- plied the church with preaching once a month. From, 1818 to 1824, Elder Drake served the church as Pastor, and his labors were greatly blessed. In 1827, the church called the Rev. Jesse Jones, at a salary of $100 a year, one-fourth in money, the rest in trade. He was an able preacher in Welsh and English, a scholar and a faithful Pastor. He served the church accept- ably for two years. and returned to Oneida County, N. Y., where he died, an old man and full of years, honored and beloved by all that knew him. In 1830, Elder Thomas Stephen, recently from Wales, an eloquent and earnest preacher, was called to the pastorate and served the church for six years. He is now living in Oregon, enjoying the eventide of a long and useful life. Rev. William Terrer and Rev. Thomas Hughes preached for several years in the Welsh language. In 1836, Elder Elias George was called aud labored suc- cessfully until 1842. Since that time, the follow- ing ministers have labored in the service of the church : Rev. James Frey, Rev. F. V. Thomas, Rev. D. Pritchard, Rev. T. R. Griffith, Rev. R. Evans, Rev. R. R. Williams, Rev. E. B. Smith, Rev. C. King, Rev. F. Dyall and Rev. William Leet, the present Pastor.
The first Deacons chosen at the organization of the church in 1816 were John Philips and David Davies. The first house of worship was built of logs, 20x22 feet, and located near the graveyard. The settlers, without regard to denomination, were glad to help build the house of the Lord. Each one brought a few logs already hewed, and assisted in the raising and completing of the tabernacle of the Most High. The memory of that old log church is yet fragrant. and cherished by the de- scendants of those whose piety and zeal secured its " erection. In 1833, the congregation built, near the site of the log chapel, a neat stone edifice 30x40 feet, and, in 1867, the present house of worship, of brick. was built at the cost of $4,500. This venerable church of Christ, now numerically strong, and spiritually prosperous, in the sixty- three years of its existence, welcomed into its fellowship and communion over five hundred mem- bers; ordained four ministers, and sent out five of her sons to preach the Gospel, one of whom, Rev. W. Williams, is a very successful missionary in India ; another, Rev. C. D. Morris, is the es- ! teemed Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio.
The Methodist Episcopal Church had its repre- sentatives in Radnor at an early day. Tradition informs us that, in an early period of our religious history, an itinerant preacher found his way to the settlement and preached unto the people the word of the Lord. The cabin of Henry Perry, who was a Wesleyan, afforded a house for the faithful herald of the Cross, and there the first Gospel sermon was preached in the township- probably as early as 1808. Several years after- ward, the cabin of Elijah Adams became a regular preaching place, and a class was formed. Among the first members were Henry Perry and wife, Elijah Adams and wife, Robert Perry and John Hoskins. In 1827, the writer attended a quar- terly meeting held in the double log barn on the farm of Elijah Adams. With other boys, he sat in the hay-mow, for the crowd filled the barn floor and stable to their full capacity. The seraphic Russell Bigelow was the preacher. His text was, " Which things the angels desire to look into." -- 1 Peter, i. 12; and his theme, "The marvels of redemption." On the mind of a boy seventeen years old, instructed in the teachings of the Bible concerning the redeeming work of Christ, and in full sympathy with the eloquent preacher and his theme, the effect of this discourse was powerful and enduring. In 1838, a frame meeting-house was built, and the congregation supplied with preaching regularly. A Sunday school was estab- lished about this time, with Robert Perry as Su- perintendent. Beside the persons already named as the early Methodists of Radnor, may be en- rolled George Wolfley, Duncan Campbell, David and Ebenezer Williams, John Owens, David Lewis, and families. In 1855, the brick meeting- house was erected-evidence of the growth and prosperity of the church.
The Radnor Welsh Congregational Church was another of the early established churches in this township. From 1818, when a large accession was made to the Welsh population of Radnor, meetings for prayer and religious conference were held in the . Welsh language. These services were held in the cabin homes of the settlers, and sometimes in the log chapel, through the courtesy of the Baptist Church. In 1820, Rev. James Davies, of Aber- haferp, North Wales, organized a Congregational Church at the cabin of John Jones ( Penlan). The original members were William Penry and his wife, Mary ( who died in 1878. aged ninety-two years), John JJones ( Penlan ), and Mary, his wife, Margaret i Morgan, D. Morgans and wife, John A. Jones and
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
wife. J. Jones (Penlan), and Walter Penry were chosen Deacons. Mr. Davies, the Pastor of this little flock in the wilderness, was a good scholar, educated in the Theological Seminary in North Wales, and an eloquent preacher. In 1822, he received a call to the city of New York, and labored there until 1828, when he returned to Rad- nor and served the church for five years. In 1825, Rev. James Perregrin, from Domgay, North Wales, came to Radnor and preached with acceptance for two years. In 1827, Rev. Thomas Stephens, from Oneida County, N. Y., accepted a call and labored with success for one year. In 1838, Rev. Rees Powell, from South Wales, became Pastor of the church, and continued until 1852. Under his labors the church increased. In 1841, the frame meeting-house, 30x40 feet, was built. At the the time, this was a great undertaking, but the people had a heart to work and to give, so that in 1842 the dedication services were held-a mem- orable and interesting occasion. In 1853. Rev. Evan Evans was called, and served the church for three years, preaching in Welsh and English with encouraging results. In 1857, Rev. Rees Powell was recalled, and labored successfully for five years. He still labors with acceptance in the neighboring Welsh churches of Troedrhiwdalar and Delaware, enjoying in his old age a warm place in the hearts of his numerous friends at home and in all the Welsh churches in Ohio. In 1863, Rev. James Davies, formerly from Hanfair, North Wales, but for several years the efficient Pastor of the Welsh Church at Gomer, Allen County, Ohio, was called. During his pastorate, the brick meeting-house was built at a cost of $3,000. From the subscription paper, we find that the following contributions were given : John Humphreys, 8300; Robert Powell, 8200 ; David Griffith. 8100 ; James Thomas. $100 ; David Jones, $100 ; E. T. Jones, $100 ; Rees T. Jones, $100, and the following, $50 each : R. T. Jones, D. R. Griffith, Sarah Jones, John James, Owen Thomas, Evan Price, John P. Jones and W. P. Jones. On the 7th of April. 1867, twenty-three members were received into the church on profession of faith in Christ, the fruits of a gracious revival. The same year, the useful and venerated Pastor died, aged seventy-one years. His grave is in the midst of his people in the old cemetery, honored by a beau- tiful monument placed there by his sons. James and Benjamin Davies. In 1870, Rov. Thomas Jenkins, of Johnstown, Penn., was called, and his useful pastorate continued eight years. His suc-
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