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 29
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The first church society organized in Trenton, we believe, was that of the Presbyterians about 1835-36. Among the original members were Sim- eon Condit, Silas Ogden, A. P. Condit, Robert Lewis, Squire Wheaton, Elizabeth Condit, Elizabeth Leak, Magdalene Van Dorn, Maria Condit, Merey Wheaton, Mary Condit, Jane Ogden and Andrew Herrons and wife. The facts leading to the organ- ization of this church were something as follows : After holding a meeting in June, 1835, with refer- ence to the formation of a society, Messrs. A. P. and J. S. Condit were sent to Alexandria to con- fer with the minister of that place, but receiving no encouragement from him, they next visited the Presbyterian Church in Genoa Township. From Mr. Ransom. the Pastor of that church, they re-" ceived but little more encouragement than at Alex- The new building of the Presbyterians cost $1,009 and was dedicated by Revs. Warren Jenkins and John W. Thompson. This served the congrega- May 25, 1879, by Rev. Nathan S. Smith, of Del- andria. He prevailed on them, however, to unite with the Genoa Church. In the September follow- ing these visits, a gloom was cast over the com- ; tion until a few years ago, when a new church munity by the death of J. S. Condit. Mr. Ran- , was erected at a cost of $3,000, and was dedicated som being called upon to preach his funeral ser-
mon, took occasion to refer to the visit of Mr. Condit and the object of his mission to him some tirae before. He said upon further reflection, he bad come to the conclusion that he had done wrong in discouraging their project, and believed the time had come for them to organize a church in their neighborhood. Accordingly, a meeting was called at the Ogden Schoolhouse to consider the propriety of at once organizing a society. At that meeting. A. P. Condit was appointed to present the matter to the presbytery, which body decided in favor of the movement, and Rev. Mr. Ransom was directed to establish a church. Ile was the first Pastor and preached to them for one year, for which he received the sum of $18.50, all that could be rai-ed by the members. The second preacher was Pev. Mr. Allen for one year; the third, Rev. Ezra .G. Johnson ; the fourth. Rev. Ahah Jenks " But," adds our informant, "he being a farmer, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Only a part of his time could be given to the church."
At a meeting held February 21, 1837, the prac. ticability of building a church edifice was discussed. and finally a resolution was passed to proceed at once with the undertaking. Soon after, their first building was put up, which served them as temple of worship until 1855. The following is a tran- script of the proceedings of a meeting held Feb- ruary 5, of this year : " At a meeting of the mem- bers of the First Presbyterian Church, of Trenton Township, Delaware County, a motion was adopted that a committee be appointed to circulate a sub- scription paper for the purpose of building a new meeting-house, and if a sufficient amount for the purpose is secured, they are authorized to act as a building committee, and to select a site and build the house." A. P. Condit, John E. Ketcham and E. M. Condit were appointed the committee, and the further duty imposed upon them of sell- ing the old church building. This they accom- plished April 1, 1875, selling it for the sum of $100, to the United Brethren Church, for a house of worship. Mr. Miles and Mr. Skinner gave their obligations for the payment of the amount. and also agreed to either move the house or secure the lot upon which it stood for the benefit of their society.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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aware, assisted by Rev. Carson, of Westerville. : is Rev. D. R. Moore. A Sunday school is main- This church is in a flourishing condition, and has exercised a wide-spread influence in the entire community.
The Methodist Episcopal Church dates back al- most to the organization of the Presbyterian Church. Sometime between 1835 and 1840, a society of this denomination was formed in a schoolhouse, em- bracing in its original membership many of the early settlers of the township. The first minister who preached to the congregation in the little school- house was Rev. Curtis Godhard. Another of the
tained most of the time. This church has been productive of much good in the neighborhood, and many souls, through its influence, have been brought home to Christ.
The Old School Presbyterians organized a society and built a church in this township. but did not exist any great length of time. In 1850, they built their church, but, after awhile, became lukewarm and sold out to the Methodists. This society moved over into Porter Township, and established what is known there as the Mount Pleas-
pioneer preachers of this society was Rev. Mr. . ant Methodist Episcopal Church. It is more McDowell. The present church was built in fully noticed, however, in the history of that 1855, and was dedicated by Rev. Samuel Lynch. township. The ministers who have officiated since that time The United Brethren, we believe, have an organized society in the township, and a church building, but of it we failed to learn any particu- lars, and must pass it with this limited notice. are as follows, viz., Revs. John Mitchell, William Morrow and Alexander Blamfield. The church cost originally about $700. The present Pastor
CHAPTER XXIX.
HARLEM TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHICAL-MILITARY LANDS-SETTLEMENT-A DESPERATE CHAR- ACTER-CHURCHES-A MURDER -- PIONEER IMPROVEMENTS-SCHOOLS-VILLAGES.
"Happy is that nation whose annals are not tire- some." -- Montesquieu.
T THIS township was organized in September, 1810, from territory that at that time be- longed to Sunbury Township. The name of " Harlem" is the name of an opulent city in the Netherlands, in Europe, of great antiquity, and from its vicinity there was, in the latter part of the seventeenth century, a great flow of emigra- tion to America. These immigrants established the first colony on the island of Manhattan, and gradually took possession of the Hudson and Mo- hawk Rivers, in the Empire State. This name is applied to a locality in the suburbs of the city of New York called the " Harlem Heights." Since the white population took possession of this township, Har- lem furnishes but little material for the historian. The major part of the history of all nations, both in the Old and the New Worlds, seems to be made up of recitals of wars and commotions, earthquakes and inundations, floods and fires. These calamities Harlem Township has escaped. Indeed, most happy is that nation, or that coun- *Contributed by Hon. J. R. Hubbell.
try, whose annals are brief. A prosperous and contented people pass peacefully along the seques- tered vale of life, but little observed. The first families, who commenced in the wilderness nearly three-quarters of a century ago, and about whom more in detail will be written further along in this chapter, were noted for their industry, intelligence and morality, and they brought with them from their old homes habits of sobriety, and were a God-fearing people, deeply impressed with the convictions that to be good citizens, they must respect law and order. Their lives were so regu- lar and orderly, they furnish but little to condemn, but much to approve.
Of the four principal tributaries to the main trunk of the Scioto River, running north and south, through Delaware County, not one touches this township. The Big Walnut Creek runs west of the west line a distance of from one-half to one mile, through Genoa Township. Nevertheless, for most purposes, this township is well watered. Large ruus and brooks, supplied by springs and spring runs, flow from the east line of the town- ship, in a southwesterly direction, to Big Walnut
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Creek. The first of these, to be noted in geo- graphical order, is the Spruce Run, with its north and south branches. The north branch beads not far from the northwest corner of the township, and runs west, bearing slightly to the south, a dis- tance of about four miles, to its confluence with the south branch, in Genoa Township, about one- half mile from the township line. The south branch heads farther south. near the east line of the township, and runs meanderingly through the township, until it intersects the north branch, at the point already named. These streams are well sup- plied with springs that flow the year round, from never-failing fountains. A few rods distant from the north line and about one mile and a half from the northwest corner of the township, is located a sulphur spring, on a farm that was formerly owned by Mr. Nathan Dustin, and is known, or has been known, as the " Dustin farm." . It is now owned by Mr. John Edwards. The character and quality of the water of this spring have been tested by competent chemists, and it is said to be strongly impregnated with sulphur and magnesia, and other minerals, and is very similar in quality to the water of the White Sulphur Springs on the Scioto River, and the sul- phur springs at Delaware. The water from this spring flows to the north branch of the Spruce Run. The name "Spruce," is applied to this stream for the reason that its banks are skirted with spruce timber, and are quite noted for their picturesque scenery. Farther south is Spring Run, which flows in a westerly direction, and emp- ties into the the Big Walnut Creek. . By far the largest and most important stream in this township is Duncan Run. It has various tributaries and two important branches, both of which rise near the east line of the township, but in Licking County. It traverses a distance, with its meanders, of about seven miles, and passes out of the town- ship about one-half mile from the southwest cor- ner, and empties into the Big Walnut Creek. This stream is well fed with springs and spring runs. The name it bears is taken from the origi- nal proprietor of Section 3 in this township, through which it runs. Rattlesnake Run, which heads in Licking County, runs in a northwesterly direction, through the extreme northeastern part of Harlem.
The land in this township is almost uniformly level. Near the mouth of the Duncan Run and the mouth of the Spruce, there is some rolling land ; but of the eighteen townships of Delaware County this in the character of the soil is the most
uniform. The soil is a deep black loam, and very productive, and the general yield of all the pro- ductions, cereal and vegetable, in this township, is much above the average, compared with other townships in the county. There is no waste land in the township, and scarcely an acre in it that is not tillable. The timber in its native forest was very luxuriant and heavy, and a uniform sameness over the township. Upon the high and rolling land there is some white oak, ash, sugar maple, hickory and beech, but the level and most part is. or was, covered with the burr oak, white elm and black ash. While the land in this township is tillable and produces wheat, corn, oats, rye and barley, the corn crop seems to be the most profit- able. and the soil best adapted to its production. The land is well adapted to grazing and stock- growing. All the grasses grown in this latitude do well, especially clover, timothy and red-top. The farms are owned in large tracts and the owners have large flocks and herds of sheep and cattle. but hogs, as well as sheep and cattle, are bred and fattened for the foreign market, with profit to the farmer. The largest landholder in the township is C. B. Paul, Esq., who owns about twelve huu- dred acres in a body. Mr. John Edmonds owLs about nine hundred acres, and John Cook, Esq., owns about six hundred acres. These large land- holders are extensively engaged in stock-raising. Almost the entire population of the township is engaged in the occupation of farming. There is no manufacturing to speak of. There are no mines, no canals, navigable streams or railroads, nor towns of much size. Along and near the lower part of Duncan Run there are extensive stone quarries. The stone these quarries produce is the Waverly stone of the very first quality, and these quarries are inexhaustible, but they are so remote from the large towns and cities, and there being no railroad transportation at present they are not valuable to their owners. By reference to the map of Ohio, the reader will perceive that this township is situated very near the geographical center of the State. It is also situated near the center of population of the State. This township contains even sixteen thousand acres of land, and is known and designated upon the map of the United States military lands as Township No. 3. and Range 16. It is bounded as follows: On the north by Trenton Township, on the east by Lick- ing County, on the south by Franklin County. and on the west by Genoa Township. These lands being situated in the United States military
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
district, the reader is supposed to understand their origin. They were set apart by act of Congress to satisfy warrants issued by the Government for military service. One incident may be of local interest with reference to the second section in this township, being the northwest quarter. Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame, and the most skillful and popular general in that eventful period of our history, next to Washing- ton, was a native of New England, where he re- sided until the close of the war. He then, with his family, emigrated and settled in the State of Georgia on the Savannah. where he died in the year 1786. The heirs of this renowned general and soldier became the owners of one thousand acres of land in this section. The parties in interest were so remote, the land was neglected and sold for taxes, but about thirty years ago the sur- viving heirs conveyed their interest to different parties, among others to the Hon. T. W. Powell, of Delaware. Mr. Powell's title was contested by other parties in the Common Pleas and Supreme Courts, but, after a protracted litigation. Mr. Powell's title was comfirmed by the decree of the court, and it is on this part of this section the sul- phur spring, already described, is located. It may be gratifying to the vanity of some of the landed proprietors of Harlem to know they derive their titles from so distinguished a personage.
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posed, to make the purchase. The terms of sale were cash in hand. He was compelled to keep this money upon his person, to be ready to make the purchase, in case he became the lucky bidder : and then again, he was to go among strangers and he was liable to be robbed. He dressed himself, for his own protection, in old clothes covered with patches and rags, permitted his beard to grow long, and put on a dirtier shirt than usual; in short, he presented a picture of wretchedness and prov- erty. Beneath his rags and patches he con- cealed his treasure. No one suspected that he had any money or was any other than a beggar, and when he commenced to bid, the rival bidders ceased their competition. They supposed his bidding was a farce, and that he could not pay for the land if it were struck off to him. In this shrewd transaction, he illustrated the true Yankee character, to the amusement of those he had outwitted. He paid the Sheriff the purchase money and obtained his deed. and im- mediately, by way of Berkshire, moved on to his new purchase. Of this tract he retained 500 acres, and the residue he conveyed to Col. Moses Byxbe. He was the first settler in this town- ship, and when he moved upon his claim, there was not even a cabin upon it, and his family. until one could be built, were compelled to occupy an In- dian shanty. This was in the year 1807, and Mr. Cook, for all time, will be honored and his memory revered as the founder of another white colony in the wilderness of America. This pioneer was born in the State of " steady habits." and, as we have already stated, he died in the year 1839. The family was of good stock, and his ancestors emigrated from England to America soon after the Pilgrims on the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock.
With reference to the early settlers in this town- ship, there seems to be more certainty than almost any township in the county. So far as there is any history to be obtained, either from public or pri- vate records, as well as from tradition, it concurs with reference to the name of the first pioneer, also to the date of the first permanent settler in Harlem. A man by the name of Duncan purchased in the year 1803, from the patentee, Section 3, but fail- ! ing to make payment of the purchase money in Mr. Cook was the first Justice of the Peace of the township, and held other official positions with honor and credit. Calvin Tracy Cook was the first white child born in this township. He was born in the year 1808, and died in the year 1831. The oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Cook was. Benajah S. Cook, born in Connecticut in the year 1794, and was brought by his father to Har- lem, where he married, and settled on a large farm near his father's old homestead. As a hunter, he was pronounced the modern Nimurod. ! Desire "the year 1807, the Sheriff of Franklin County sold, at publie auction, the entire 4,000 acres, at the door of the court house, in Franklinton, to Benjamin Cook, Esq., for 42 cents per acre. An amusing incident, illustrating the shrewdness and caution of this early pioneer, is quite appropriate in this connection. Among the New England families, who emigrated to Ohio in 1805-06, was Mr. Cook. In 1805, he, with family, moved to Granville, from the State of Connecticut, and while living there, he ascertained that this tract Cook died in Connecticut. Celina Cook died near Columbus. Miss Cassandra Cook married Mr. Converse, and died in the year 1873. The Hon. of land was to be sold to the highest bidder by the Sheriff. He immediately prepared himself with the necessary amount of funds, as he sup- ; George W. Converse, now ( 1880) a Representative
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
in Congress from the capital district in Ohio, is their son. Previous to his election to Con- gress, he served several terms in the State Legis- lature, and served one term as Speaker of the House of Representatives. James Barton Cook died in 1827. Lucy Cook is still living. John Cook, the only surviving male member of this family, now owns and lives on the old homestead farm of the family. He owns a large and well-im- proved farm, is an unobtrusive gentleman of good judgment, and for his many amiable qualities is highly respected by his neighbors.
In order of time, the next settler in this town- ship was Stephen Thompson, who settled as a squatter, in the year 1808, on land now owned by Mr. Adams. He was a native of Ireland, and brought by his parents to this country when quite young, before the American Revolution. The family settled in the State of Pennsylvania. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was a drum-major. About forty years ago, he was found dead, under circumstances painfully distressing to his family and friends. He retained the habits of a soldier, but was regarded by his neighbors as a peaceable and harmless man. He was unfortunate in his family, and had a son who gave him in his lifetime great trouble, and at his death was charged with being guilty of his mur- der. The name of the son was Jonathan, and the grand jury of the county immediately upon his father's death (so suspicious were the circum- stances) found an indictment against him, charg- ing him with murder in the first degree. Upon this indictment he was put upon trial. His coun- sel made a vigorous defense. In addition to the plea of " not guilty," the defense of insanity was made. The witnesses were divided in their opin- ions, and the jury gave the prisoner the benefit of the doubt, which the law in its mercy gives every criminal, and he was acquitted. Soon after his acquittal, he was again arrested, to- gether with a notorious character by the name of Sam Black, on a charge of committing an assault upon Col. Budd, with intent to kill. Upon this About this time, a number of families immi- grated to Delaware County from the same part of the State of Pennsylvania-the Wyoming Val- ley. The Rev. Daniel Bennett, with his family, settled in Harlem, in the year 1809, on a farm near the center of the township. He was a local preacher, and lived an exemplary Christian life, and died about twenty-five years ago, upon the farm he had helped to clear up more than forty charge he was indieted by the grand jury, tried, found guilty, and sent to the penitentiary for three years. He served out the term of his sentence, and was discharged. In 1846, he was again ar- rested, on the complaint of his brother, Stephen Thompson, upon a charge of committing an as- sault and battery on him, with intent to kill. Upon this charge he was again indicted by the grand jury, and put upon trial. He pleaded to | years before. His wife was a Miss Adams, the
this indictment " not guilty," and his counsel made the further defense of insanity. He had now acquired such a notorious reputation as a desperate and dangerous character that he had be- come a terror in the entire community where he lived. He was never married, and had his home, when out of prison, with an imbecile sister living in Harlem. The family connections and neigh- bors feared him as they would a wild tiger un- caged. His counsel made the best defense that could be made for him. The weight of evidence, undoubtedly, was that he was insane, and on his first trial the jury disagreed. Upon the second trial, the same defense was made, but such were the fears and prejudices of the jurors and wit- nesses that he was again found guilty, and sen- tenced to three years' imprisonment in the peni- tentiary. After serving out the full term of his sentence, and receiving his discharge, he was al- most immediately arrested upon a charge of out- raging his imbecile sister, with whom he lived. He was ably defended by Judge Powell and other counsel, but the defense made for him upon the charge of committing this unnatural and two- fold crime proved unavailing, and he wasagain found guilty, and again, and for the third time. sent to the penitentiary, where, in a few years, the troubled spirit of this most unfortunate man was permitted to return to that God who sent it into this world upon its sad and dreary pilgrimage. The author of this chapter, then a very young lawyer, was as- signed by the court to defend him when charged with the assault upon his brother. Profoundly impressed with the weight of his responsibility, he frequently conversed with him in his cell, and became satisfied that Jonathan Thompson was an insane man, and should be sent to the asylum in- stead of the penitentiary. His voice in its in- tonations was as innocent as a child's, and seeming- ly he was as meek as Moses-" as mild a mannered man as ever cut a throat or scuttled a ship." The brother, Stephen. Jr., is still living, and is a quiet and peaceable citizen.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
sister of Squire Elijah Adams and Mr. John Adams. His oldest daughter married B. Rob- erts, a farmer, who settled in Harlem, at the "Center," forty years ago. He and his amiable wife are now both deceased. Their oldest daughter was the wife of C. B. Paul, Esq., now the Presi- dent of the First National Bank of Delaware, the largest landholder in the county, except one, and the largest landholder in Harlem Township. Mr. Paul has filled several township and county offices with both credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. Before the rebellion, he filled the office of County Commissioner, and the first year of the war, he was elected by a very large major- ity to the office of County Treasurer, which office he held by re-election for a term of four years. Mrs. Paul, of the third generation of Father Ben- nett's family in Harlem Township, died many years ago. Her husband has shown a tender regard for her memory by refusing further matrimonial alliance. Another daughter of Mr. Bennett mar- ried Jacob R. Fetters, a farmer in Harlem. He had two sons, Daniel, Jr., and the Rev. Russell B. Bennett, a Chaplain in the Union army in the late war. The family connection by marriage and otherwise was very extensive, and this wide circle of kindred and friends was greatly blessed by the Christian example and precept of this aged patriarch.
Elijah Adams and his brother John came to Harlem in the year 1809. John purchased of Stephen Thompson his cabin, situated on the west of the farm on which Mr. Bennett settled, where he resided until his. death, which occurred more than thirty years ago. . His wife was Miss Desire Cook, the daughter of Benajah Cook, Esq .; she died a few years ago at a great age. They raised a large family. Mr. Adams was a very industri- ous and worthy man, highly respected by neigh- bors and friends. His oldest son, Abraham Adams, Esq., was a lawyer by profession, resided in Columbus, but soon after he was admitted to the bar, he died of pulmonary disease, leaving a young wife, who still remains his widow. Another son, Elijah B. Adams, was a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, just previous to the war, and on the breaking-out of the rebellion, he entered the army as a private, but soon rose, by his brave and gallant conduct, to the rank and title of Cap- tain. Early in the rebellion he was severely wounded and crippled for life by a fierce encounter with a rebel officer. All his fingers on his right hand were cut off by a saber, which compelled
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