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 23
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
and has always been an active member of it. He has produced some able papers before the society on different subjects, and is considered a deep thinker and forcible writer. He says that the only public position he has ever held, of which he feels proud, was that of Treasurer of the Bounty Fund during the late war. This position he held from his first election until the close of the war relieved the county of the necessity for such a fund. Israel Potter, a brother of the doctor, settled in the same neighborhood and at the same time. He is still living, a prosperous farmer, and devotes considerable attention to wool-growing, and owns quite a number of very fine sheep.
In this age of plenty, it is somewhat difficult to realize what straits the pioneers were sometimes subjected to. They often had to pay 60 cents a pound for coffee, and when cash was short, parched corn or burnt potatoes served as a substitute for Rio and Java. Calico was 40 and 50 cents a yard, and if the wife and daughters were able to obtain one calico dress a year they deemed them- selves peculiarly fortunate, and robed (except on state occasions), in linsey-woolsey, produced by their fair though strong hands. Sugar was manu- factured from their own " camps," and, when sold, brought from 4 to 6 cents per pound. Joseph Thurston, his father, the Longwells, Loofbour- rows, Thralls, and a few others, raised a little wheat. All that was not required for home con- sumption found a ready market at Zanesville, seventy-five miles to the southeast, where it was sold at from 37 to 50 cents a bushel. This was mostly taken in trade, barely enough money being received to pay taxes. When this market broke up, they found a better one at Sandusky, on Lake Erie, a distance of about 100 miles. This market, though farther off, was better, as here they received $1 per bushel for wheat, and other surplus produce found as ready a sale. But this has all passed away. The building of railroads has brought markets to our homes; the age of progress has done away with the pioneer cabin, and left, in its stead, the commodious farmhouse of the thrifty granger, and the ladies, bless 'em ! can have as many new dresses as their hearts de- sire and their means will allow.
Politically, Brown Township has been one of the stalwart Republican strongholds, ever since the organization of that party, aud, prior to its organization, was quite as Whiggish as it is now Republican. These principles were introduced by the early settlers, who were from sections of the
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Union where such ideas predominated among the masses of the people. They came here thoroughly imbued with their political sentiments-sentiments which they did not fail to instill into the minds of their children. Their fathers and grandfathers were soldiers of the Revolution, and had fought for liberty, and thus came honestly by their Re- publican sentiments and principles. Upon the dismemberment of the old Whig party, the trans- ition to a party claiming much the same political ideas, was quite natural. Thus the large majority of the people in this township drifted into the newly formed Republican party, and so it has re- mained to the present day. The patriotism of Brown is as lofty as any portion of Delaware County. Most of the early settlers were descended from Revolutionary stock, and in the war of 1812 and the Indian wars of the times, many of its citizens bore an honorable part. In the Mexican war, too, Brown Township was well represented. The names of these Mexican warriors, however, could not be obtained. But, when the alarm sounded in 1861, and war became inevitable, then it was that the old Revolutionary fire blazed out and the patriotic principles of the people shone bright as the summer sky. Regardless of party bias or political prejudices, her sons were found at the recruiting office to " enlist for three years, or during the war." In soldier graves some of them are sleeping to-day. Our space will not permit the mention of all who went from this township, and hence we will not undertake it. A few of those who fell in the fight are noticed as their names occur to us : Perry Wigton, lost his life in Arkansas; Robert Bell came home and died ; John and Alexander McCay and J. K. White were killed on the Red River expedition; Elmer Thurston, John Ashburn and James Porter were killed at Chattanooga, Tenn., also William Hume and F. Wigton.
"Not forever have they left us. Those for whom we shed our tears; Not forever shall our mourning, Darken long and weary years."
Going back to the early history of the township, we find that the first marriage in this pioneer set- tlement was a daughter of Daniel Thurston, who married Israel Wood in 1818. He had emigrated from the old home of the Thurstons in New York, and was married to Miss Thurston by a minister of the Gospel, in the log cabin of her father. We may appropriately mention in this place, that Mr. Thurston's large family of girls were noted far and
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
wide for their great beauty, as well as their indus- try and economy. From this, or some other cause equally cogent, the venerable parents were soon left daughterless, but their loss was invariably . the gain of somebody else.
Some ten years after settlements commenced in the township, the messenger of death entered its precincts, to warn its denizens of their mortality, and that sooner or later they " must render up an account of the deeds done in the body." The first death was an infant child of James Longwell. It died in 1828, and was the first burial in the old graveyard, just north of Eden Village. This ceme- tery was laid out by Isaac Eaton the same year that this interment was made. It has been pretty well populated since that time. The law had its first representative in Daniel Thurston, who was elected Justice of the Peace in 1821, an office he held three terms. Old Dr. Carney, of Berkshire, was the first practicing physician who adminis- tered to the physical wants of the people of Brown. From 1817 to 1842, he and Dr. Loofbourrow, who lived near Alum Creek, were the doctors for this section. About 1842-43, Dr. Howell settled in the township and practiced about a year. Then Dr. Lyman Potter came in. The Drs. Carothers practiced here also, and Benton and Gosler, and later, Thurston, Willis and Ross. . And, lastly, Dr. J. H. Smith, who is now an active physician in the township.
The early training of the pioneers of Brown Township soon made itself felt after their settle- ment in the wilderness. Though their trials and cares were heavy, they found time to read a chap- ter from the old Bible, and return thanks to God for preservation and protection. The first society formed in the neighborhood was in 1828, and of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. It was organized at Mr. Thurston's, and consisted of him- self and wife, Joseph Thurston and wife, Zenas Leonard and wife, and Phobe Thrall. Once a week they would meet together, and, as they were without a shepherd, prayer meetings only were held. Scon after the Methodists got well into the harness, the Presbyterians commenced work. They organized a society at Mr. Thurston's, as his cabin seems to have been a kind of religious head- quarters. For a number of years, these two socie- ties continued their meetings under these limited circumstances. At length, a society of the New School Presbyterians was formed, with the follow- ing members: John Hestwood and wife, Hugh Lee and wife, Robert Kinkaid and wife, James
Kinkaid and wife. They built a church of hewed logs, in which they worshiped for several years ; the Methodists also occupied, it on special occasions. In 1841, a frame church building was erected by the congregation near the same spot. But they allowed their imagination to run away with them, and laid their foundation on such an extensive scale, that they were unable to complete the building. Finally they tore it down, and of the material erected a smaller one upon the same site. This building was superseded by a more pretentious one in 1855, and the old church con- verted into a residence, which is now occupied by Norton T. Longwell. The first Pastor of this congregation was Rev. Mr. Jenks, who had charge of a church in Kingston Township at the same time.
There were others who took an active part in the formation of a Free-Will Baptist Church, and, in 1836, built a log church near the site of the Presbyterian Church. The original members were John Moore, Thomas Cowgill and wife, Isaac Eaton and wife, Orlando Root and wife, Zenas Root and wife, Thomas Agard and wife, Spofford Root and wife, Nathaniel Arnold and wife, and Isaac Thurston and wife. Rev. Isaac Eaton was the Pastor, assisted occasionally by Rev. S. Wyatt. In 1848, some twelve years after its organization -years of more or less usefulness-it was discon- tinued as a society. The next year, after the dis- banding of this society, the Baptists and Metho- dists, together with Charles Neil, O. D. Hough, Vinal and Norton Thurston, and Thomas Har- graves, with their families, built the church in the village of Eden. Rev. William Godman, a son of Lawyer Godman, of Marion, was the preacher in charge of the circuit at the time the church was built. He was a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and a minister of considerable merit.
About the time that church influences began to be felt and recognized in the community, steps were also taken looking to the education of the rising generation. Several years had elapsed since the first settlement had been made in the township, and, as yet, the youth had only been instructed at home in the simplest rudiments. So, in 1830, Mr. Thurston, and his son Joseph, Isaac Eaton. Longwell, Loofbourrow and a few others met together, and, after a short discussion of the subject, sought out a favorable spot on the banks of Alum Creek, near an ever-flowing spring of pure water. and proceeded to creet a log school- house. This temple of learning, the first in the
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
township, was in the vicinity of the churches, and just north of Eden. In this primitive structure, the children met for the first time to feast from the storehouse of knowledge. Mr. Griffith was the first teacher. He had moved to the settle- ment a few years before from New England. His wife soon succeeded him as teacher, and filled the postion until they decided to return to their Eastern home. Isaac Eaton was the next teacher. As the population increased, more extensive school facilities were demanded, until, at the pres- ent time, there are in the township ten school dis- tricts, in each of which is a comfortable school building. The average attendance at school is as follows: Males, 90; females, 63; State tax, $1,105.79 ; county tax, $425.39. In the early time, if each neighborhood could get a three- months school during the winter season, it was as much as they dared expect. Now the school term is from six to nine months annually.
The county infirmary, or poor house, is located in Brown Township. An institution of this kind did not become necessary until quite a late date. When such a necessity did arise, about 1852, a purchase of 113} acres of land was made of Joseph Blain. This land lies half a mile east of Eden, five and a half miles east of Delaware, and is very near the center of the township. In 1854, a large and substantial brick building was erected, 40x140 in dimensions. The yard is large, and a little rivulet winding through it renders it quite picturesque. As yet there are very few shrubs or trees to adorn it, aside from a thrifty young orchard planted in the rear of the buildings. In 1856, an addition was built to the infirmary as an asylum for the insane. This building was small and uncomfortable, and, in 1874-75, another was built, much larger and more commodious, and comprising all the modern improvements usually found in such buildings. In 1870, it became evident that the farm was too small, and 105 acres additional were purchased from John L. Thurston, which, with the original tract, makes a large and splendid farm. The in- stitution is in an excellent condition, and, under the present administration, everything moves on like clockwork. The first Superintendent was Eli Jackson ; the present is Mr. Glass ; the at- tending physician is Dr. J. H. Smith, of Eden, who does all the professional business for $200 per annum-the medicines furnished by the county. The last report of the institution showed the num- ber of inmates to be 84; adult males, 31; adult
females, 25; children, males, 22; children, females, 6. The products of the farm last year were 3,000 bushels of corn ; 500 bushels of wheat ; 1,000 bushels of oats, and 800 bushels of pota- toes. A more extended history of the infirmary is given in another chapter, and hence little can be said here without repetition.
The township. has the benefit of one railroad, the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis, or Bee Line, which passes through the western part, and is the first railroad built through Dela- ware County. It has been of considerable bene- fit to the township in bringing the best markets to the very doors of its citizens. Leonardsburg, or Eden Station, is the principal shipping-point, and is located near the north line, six miles from Del- aware. It was laid out by S. G. Caulkins in 1852, and was called Leonardsburg for, A. Leon- ard, the first merchant. He opened a store in the place the first year it was laid out as a village, and, soon after, built a grain warehouse. Mr. Leonard was also the first Postmaster. He was succeeded a few years later in the Post Office De- partment by A. R. Livingston, the present in- cumbent. The business of the store and ware- house is carried on by Livingston Brothers, who, for a number of years, have done a large shipping business in grain, wool and other farm products. The Grangers also have a store in the village which has a large trade, with that fraternity at least. A further improvement in the little town was the erection of a church in 1861, by the Methodists. It is a frame edifice, and cost about $1,200, and was built under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Gow- dry. The church has a membership at present of twenty-four, under the pastoral charge of Rev S. L. Yourtree, of Delaware. A flourishing Sabbath school, under the superintendence of William Jewell, is connected with the church, and main- tained the year round, with an average attendance of about twenty-five pupils.
The village of Eden was surveyed and laid out by Isaac Eaton, for the proprietors, Daniel G. Thurston and Isaac Leonard, who owned the land. The loca .. tion was chosen at the crossing of the road run- ning east and west, and the one running north and south along the creek, as an eligible site for a prosperous village. The first house in the village was a log cabin built by John Finley; the first frame dwelling was put up by William Williams, soon after his removal to the neigborhood. This extravagance of architecture created quite a stir among the people, and stimulated others to make
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
similar improvements, and soon the little town could boast of several imposing frame buildings. Joseph Leonard was the first merchant in Eden. Hitherto the people had been going to Delaware to buy the few goods required to satisfy their limited wants ; but Leonard now accommodated them nearer home. He had the trade all to himself until 1838, when Williams & Loofbour- row opened a store, and thus created competition. A large and handsome schoolhouse was erected in 1840, to accommodate the growing population, and is still in use, though having been in the mean- time thoroughly renovated and remodeled.
In 1830, Ezekiel Longwell built a saw-mill on Alum Creek, within the limits of the village. Lumber had been rather scarce, before the build- ing of this mill, and rather difficult to obtain. The demand for lumber thus created was supplied by Longwell's mill. Several years previous, a small saw-mill had been erected some three miles up the creek, but had never amounted to much as a lumber manufactory. It has been abandoned for some time, but the remains of it are still stand- ing-a landmark of early times. As Longwell's mill began to show signs of age and rough usage, it was repaired by William K. Thrall, who also built a grist-mill in connection with it, which is
yet in active operation. About 1829-30, a black- smith-shop was opened by C. Thrall. It was twenty-one years after the first settlement before there was a post office in the township. The citi- zens received their mail at Berkshire and Dela- ware. In 1838, the Government commissioned C. M. Thrall, Postmaster at the village of Eden, and called the office Kilbourn. A little later, a tavern was opened by Seymour Scott, the first in the place, and for a number of years he furnished "accommodation to man and beast." Alum Creek, in this section, being too deep to cross in safety, on horseback or with teams, for a large por- tion of the year, led to the construction of a bridge at a very early day. The first effort was a rough wooden structure, and was built by John Elliott. It was used until condemned as unsafe, when it was replaced by a more durable one. This last one was built by James Landon, and is still in use. B. F. Loofbourrow (now of Dela- ware) at one time, operated a carding machine in the village. He sold it to S. Scott, who added a spinning jack, and for several years carried on a spinning and carding factory. The present town hall of Eden was built by subscription, and is used for all public meetings.
CHAPTER XXVI .*
KINGSTON TOWNSHIP-EARLY SETTLEMENT-SCENES OF THE PIONEER DAYS-CHURCHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS-POLITICS. ETC.
" Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Lie in three words -health, peace and competence. But health consists with temperance alone And peace, O Virtue! peace is all thine own." --- Pope.
S
YAN MARINO, one of the most ancient and limited republics of Europe, consists of a craggy mountain, 2,200 feet in height, situated amidst the lesser ranges of the Appennines, and encircled by provinces that formerly belonged to the Pontifical States. Amidst the mutations and revolutions of empires and kingdoms for a period of more than 700 years, this little republic and its free institutions and government have stood unchanged and undisturbed by the surrounding nations of Europe. The great Napoleon in his
Italian campaign in 1796, sent a special ambassa- dor to San Marino to assure the government that the rights of the republic should be scrupulously respected. It possesses a total area of twenty-one miles, and contains about 8,000 inhabitants. They are noted for their sobriety, industry, morality and genial hospitality. Kingston Township is the San Marino of Delaware County. Its inhabitants are likewise noted for their morality. industry and hospitality. There is not now, and never has been, with but one exception, a store, grocery or any place where intoxicating drinks or liquors were bought or sold in any quantity whatever. It was said, a small contraband, underground distillery was for a short time run by one Walter Bump, near the close of the war, in a very quiet way. But he soon fell into the clutches of the Government officials
* Contributed by Hon. J. R. Hubbell.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
who put an end to his occupation. Vice and im- morality do not thrive and flourish in the presence of schoolhouses and churches ..
In its native or original state, there was noth- ing in Kingston Township to especially attract attention. It possessed no mineral wealth, and its water privileges for hydraulic purposes were lim- ited, although favored with springs of good water, and spring-runs and small streams, which afford an abundance of most excellent water for stock. The principal stream is Alum Creek, which strikes the north line of the township about one-half mile from the west line, or northwest corner, and at the junction of the West Branch, and thence runs in a southwesterly direction about one mile before it crosses the west line of the township. Below the junction of the two branches, Alum Creek is quite a large stream, and, at an early day, much more than now, contained a large volume of water. But the channel was confined to that part of the town- ship known as the Todd Section, which was not brought into the market until about twenty years ago, at which time, most everywhere, steam had taken the place of water-power. Next in size and in importance is Little Walnut Creek, with numer- ous tributaries and branches running in a south- erly direction, and near the center of the town- ship. West, and running nearly parallel with this, is Butler Run, which heads in the Butler Swamp, near the center of the township, north and south. In the northeast part is Indigo Run, and in the southeast part is Taylor Run, and a number of small streams flow into Alum Creek in the northwest part, all of which afford an abun- dance of good water for farm purposes. The sur- face of the land is generally quite level, but the northern and eastern portion is more undulating, but perhaps there is not an acre of waste land in the township. Butler Swamp took its name from a" Mr. Butler, who settled near it in 1807. It was supposed this land would never be fit for farming purposes ; but clearing it up and drainage has demonstrated the fact that it is, or can be made, tillable and highly productive. The best lands for farming purposes are along the streams, and in the eastern part of the township. Wheat, corn and oats are profitable crops, but the adaptation is bet- ter for grass and grazing than farming. The tim- ber in the original forest was various. Along the streams, and especially along the Little Walnut and its tributaries, there was much black and some white walnut; also black and red cherry; in the swamp and on the lowlands there was an"
abundance of burr oak, black ash and white elm. The rolling and dry land was covered with the beech, sugar maple, white oak, hickory and white ash. The sycamore skirted the banks of the streams. The rich and alluvial lands were cov- ered with the spice bush, black haws and papaw underbrush, which by the early settlers was regarded as an, unmistakable proof of a fertile soil. Wild plums and grapes on the rich bottom lands grew spontaneously in great abundance, and were the only fruits the first settlers could obtain, except the wild crab apple. These fruits were used in various ways and for various purposes ; sometimes dried, and thus kept over until another year. Sometimes they were preserved in maple sugar, the only sweetening to be had, except the wild honey. But these were enough to supply the hardy and enterprising pioneer with such luxuries as he needed and, in most cases, desired. On the lowlands and swails, there was an abundance of wild grass, sufficient to supply stock with pastur- age, and in the summer it was mowed and cured for winter use. Very frequently young horses and cattle were wintered in these swails, and by browsing, without grain or dry feed. The swine of the early pioneers were allowed to run at large, without brands or ear marks, wintering and grow- ing fat on acorn and beech-nut mast. So rapid. was the increase of these animals that in a few years the woods were filled with wild hogs, and the back woodsman soon regarded them as public property. For years, many families supplied themselves with pork from this source, and the rightful owner, if there was any, made no com- plaint. This species of nutritious food, so much needed at the time for the swine, as well as for the sustenance and support of the first inhabitants in Delaware County, was called by the expressive term, "shack." Thousands of hogs fattened upon it, and, without any corn feeding, were gathered from the woods in the fall or winter, sold to the drover and driven over the mount- ains to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore markets. For the purpose of grazing and agri- culture, together with its water-courses, the quality of its timber and the original fertility of soil, this township is quite up to the average of the county.
Kingston Township is situated in Range 17, in the United States military lands, and is desig- nated as Number 5 in the original survey. It was created as a township, June 8, 1813, and has had no changes made in its boundary lines since its
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
organization. It is a square, containing 16,000 acres of land, or an area of twenty-five miles, and is bounded on the north by Morrow County, on the east by Porter Township, on the south by Berkshire, and on the west by Brown. There are no towns or villages in the township, nor even a grist-mill. About forty six or eight years ago, however, a storehouse was built at what was known as Stark's Corners, near the east line of the town- ship, and about the center, north and south, by a man of the name of James Moore, who sold goods for some years, and was succeeded by James N. Stark. But after a few years, he discontinued the business. There has never been but two water saw-mills in the township. One was built by Leonard Lott, about the year 1819, and the other some years afterward, by Peter Van Sickle, per- haps about the year 1830. These milis were both on the Little Walnut. They answered a good purpose in their day, but long since rotted down and were abandoned. The valuable timber destroyed, or wasted for want of mills to saw it into lumber, and facilities to ship it to market, would pay, twice over, at present prices, the origi- nal cost of all the lands in the township. Perhaps the walnut timber alone that then was standing, at its present high value, would amount to the. price paid by the patentees of these lands. It will be remembered that these lands were given to the soldiers of the war of the Revolution, for their services. In the first place, warrants for 100 acres were, under an act of Congress, issued to the private soldiers. These warrants were made transferable, and could only be located in tracts of four thousand acres. This unjust and unwise provision compelled the soldier, who, in most cases, was poor, to sell his warrant to some heartless speculator, for whatever he could get. In many instances, the soldiers turned over their land war- ants to the landlord, or tavern keeper, to pay the bar bill, and in that way, that which was intended to be a bounty from the Government was turned into a curse. Some years later, under the influ- ence of Gen. William Henry Harrison, who was himself a soldier, and the soldier's friend, and a member of Congress, a change was made in that provision of the law, so that land warrants could be located by the soldiers, in tracts of 100 acres. It was in this way the four United States military sections, each containing 4,000 acres, which con- stitutes Kingston, or the fifth township in the seventeenth range of the United States military lands, originated.
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