History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 103

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio > Part 103

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Huldah Fairchild. The first Pastor was the Rev. John H. Biggs. The present Pastor is Elder Lyman B. Hanover.

The first mill built in this township was run by hand, and the second mill was run by horse- power, and built in 1815 or 1816. Soon after these mills were built, John Budd, Sr., built the first grist-mill that was run by water power, and at the same time built a saw-mill. Benjamin M. Fairchild built a grist and saw mill. These mills are located on Duncan Run. Benajah Cook at an early day, built a saw-mill on Duncan Run. Col. D. Keeler on Spencer Run erected a saw-mill at an early day. For many years after this township was first settled, the nearest mills for grinding wheat were at Chillicothe. There is now a good steam grist-mill at Centerville.

The first post office in Harlem was at Budd- town or Harlem. It was established in 1816, and the first Postmaster was Col. William Budd.

The first death in the township was that of a Mr. Harris, but the circumstances of his death are not recorded, and there is now no one living who knows the particulars. He was probably a stranger in the township.

The Indian trails of seventy years ago have been superseded by broad public highways, traversing the township in every direction. There are roads running east and west, and north and south on the section lines, and crossing at right angles at the center of the township.

The first schoolhouse built in the township was built near the close of the war of 1812, and the first

teacher was David Gregory, of Berkshire. The house was a log cabin, with holes cut through the logs, and greased paper pasted on the logs over the windows to let the light into the interior. This house was located on the site of Harlem Chapel. The first school teacher, Mr. Gregory, subsequently became a prominent citizen of Delaware County- was a Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner, Representative in the State Legislature, Director of the State Prison at Columbus, and was a man of much more than ordinary ability. Soon after the commencement of the war of the rebellion, he emigrated to the State of California, where he died several years ago. This rude schoolhouse in the wilderness where the children of the pioneer received a scanty education, has multiplied to about eight times its numbers. The public schools are supported on an average half a year at the public expense, and taught by competent teachers.

This township contains but two towns or vil- lages. Centerville is situated at the center of the township, and was laid out in 1848. The pro- prietors of this village were Edward Hartrain and Ben Roberts. Harlem Village was laid out in 1849, and the proprietors were Amos Washburn and James Budd. Centerville contains two stores, two blacksmiths, the M. E. Church, an apothe- cary's office, one wagon-maker's shop, and some other mechanics, and in all, about one hundred and fifty inhabitants. Harlem Village is not so large. It has one store and several mechanics, and not to exceed fifty inhabitants.

CHAPTER XXX .*

GENOA TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHICAL-SETTLEMENT-RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL-MILLS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS-POST OFFICES.

" Where is the patriarch you are so kindly greeting ? Not unfamiliar to my ear his name,

Nor yet unknown to many a joyous meeting In days long vanished-is he still the same?" -Holmes.

G Y ENOA TOWNSHIP, named by Elisha Ben- nett from the town of Genoa, in Italy, is situ- ated south of the township of Berkshire, in Range 17, and is known as Township 3. The western half of Genoa formerly belonged to the old township of Berkshire, while the eastern half was in the town-

*Contributed by H. L. S. Vaile.

ship of Sunbury. When Harlem was formed, it took in all of what is now Genoa, which latter was set off from the former June 4, 1816, and, at present, is bounded as follows: On the north by Berkshire; on the east by Harlem; on the south by Franklin County, and on the west by Orange Township. In is composed entirely of United States military lands, and is a full town- ship, being five miles square. The principal stream which enters the township is the Big Wal- nut, called in some sections the Gehenna, and Big | Belly. It received the name of Big Walnut in

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

this township, from the fact that its banks and bottoms were covered with a dense growth of black-walnut trees, which have long since, in a large degree, disappeared, and now, when black- walnut lumber commands a high price, and finds a ready sale both in this country and in Europe, we are not surprised that the farmers and old set- tlers speak in a regretful manner, of the loss sus- tained by the lavish use of this timber for fence rails, at an early day. Thousands of rails have been split, and old dug-out canoes made from logs that to-day would be worth hundreds of dollars. The doors, floors and sometimes even the walls of the cabins were made from this wood, and it is related, that, in clearing the land along the banks of the Big Walnut, the early settlers used to chop the tree in such a manner that it would fall into the creek and thus be carried away by the cur- rent. The Big Walnut flows through Genoa Township from north to south, just east of the central part, with a very winding course, receiving from both the east and west a number of small tributaries. In the early settlement, the waters were alive with fish. Game of every description was found in the forest that lined its banks, and the Indians held this locality in high favor, and expressed many regrets when called upon by the whites to vacate the land which had been bought from them, and, when removed beyond the treaty line, would avail themselves of every opportunity to come down and hunt. The soil is quite rich. In a few localities there are deposits of sand and gravel ; beds of clay are frequently met with which have been utilized in many instances by the farmers, as the fine brick houses scattered throughout the township will abundantly testify. Along the course of the Big Walnut occasionally are to be found rich bottoms which bear abund- antly, but which are frequently overflowed by the spring and winter freshets, although these inunda- tions tend in some instances to make the raising of a crop a hazardous undertaking. However, the mud deposited by this overflow is an excellent fer- tilizer, thus compensating by an increased yield for the occasional loss of a crop. One of the greatest freshets experienced in this locality took place in September, 1866, at which time the bot- toms were flooded. Shecp, hogs and cattle were drowned; haystacks and parts of buildings were seen going down stream.

About the same distance west of the central portion of the township is what is called the Ridge, a high piece of land forming the " divide " between

the waters of Alum Creek, in Orange Township, and the Big Walnut. On either side of this water-shed the land becomes comparatively level. However, along the course of the Walnut on the west, it is badly broken; east of the same, it is rolling. The land is naturally well drained, although in some localities and especially on the bottom lands, artificial drainage is absolutely necessary. In its geological aspect, the township presents some interesting features. Along the west bank of the Big Walnut, about two miles below the town of Galona are seen a wonderful shale deposit. Here in one place, the road called Yankee street makes a curve, and, rising with a hill, follows along the very edge of the highest shale cliffs to be found in Delaware County. For fifty, and, in some instan- ces as high as sixty feet, the cliffs rise almost per- pendicularly from the bed of the Big Walnut. The view from the top of the cliff is very fine, but the danger to be met with sometimes, as the fol- lowing incident will show, detracts very materially from the romance of the scenery. Ira Bennett, who lived in the township, was traveling home- ward one dark night, riding a blind horse, and when he had reached the locality where the road is so near the edge of the precipice, his horse lost the track, and walked off the cliff. Bennett in his descent grasped a bush, and finally succeeded in reaching the top of the cliff, more frightened than hurt. His horse was found dead the next morning at the base of the cliff. At another time, Lewis McLeod was but little more fortunate. While riding along near the same spot, the night being dark and his horse blind in the eye next to the precipice, the horse saw a light from the other side of the road, when he shicd and went over the cliff. McLeod sprang from the horse's back just in time to save himself from going over, but his horse fell to the bottom. The next day, a party upon going to the spot where the accident happened, to their great surprise found the horse alive at the bottom of the cliff, although somewhat bruised. They succeeded in getting him home, and in a few days he was apparently ready to try it again. In some places along the Big Walnut, there is an outcrop- ping of Waverly sandstone, which is excellent for building purposes, although the quarries in Trenton and Berkshire are more generally worked, and the stone is said to be of rather a superior quality. In some places in the beds of shale, there is found a thin layer of limestone of inferior grade. On ac- count of the ease with which it can be quarried, however, it is sometimes used for building

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poses, but one trial is sufficient for the most venturesome house-builder. After being taken from the bed and exposed to the air, heat and frost, it begins to crumble, and the builder soon finds that his house is liable to come tumbling down.

The first settler in what is now Genoa Town- ship was Jeremiah Curtis. He started from his home, in Hartford, Conn., with his family, July 9, 1804. His conveyance was a three-horse team, and, after seven weeks of travel, he arrived at the town of Worthington. In 1805, moved to Berk- shire, where he built a cabin and planted a nur- sery-the first in the county-from seed brought from Connecticut. He had been here but a short time, when he bought of Col. Byxbe a section of land on Yankee street, and, about the year 1806, moved on to this land, situated on the Big Walnut, near the oxbow head of the creek. At this early date, there was no mill nearer than Chillicothe, and the wheaten flour that he brought back with him from a trip to that place, was the first in the locality. Soon after he located, he built a grist and saw mill, and a still-house. Salt was $5 per bushel and Zanesville the nearest place to get it. In 1811, fearing the effect of the war, which was soon to take place, he, for the protection of his family, moved-to Marietta. He lived but a short time after moving to that place, dying of spotted fever June 21, 1813. He was a man of indomit- able energy and perseverance, as well as sound judgment. After his death, his son, afterward the Hon. John Curtis, moved the family back to the farm on the Big Walnut. John was ten years old when his father came to Ohio and had to bear his share of the trials of a pioneer life. He ultimately became a man of great influence and held a number of positions of trust and honor.

In the winter of 1806-07, John Williams, a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, came to this locality and erected a cabin on the hill near where the covered bridge crosses the Big Walnut, at what was known as Williams' Ford. It was not until the summer of 1807 that he moved his family, consisting of his wife and ten children, into their new home. He found this country almost an unbroken wilderness, and, like a true, earnest pioneer, worked as well as prayed. In the daytime, the blows of his ax could be heard resounding through the woods, while in the even- ing he gathered his family about him and held a service of prayer. When Sunday came, he would

repair to the home of one of the early settlers, and deliver a sermon to those who had assembled. His first sermon was preached in the cabin of Joseph Latshaw, on the farm now occupied by John Roberts. Mr. Williams was the first min- ister in the neighborhood, but lived only five years after he had erected his cabin. His son William remained with him until 1812. In that year, he joined a detachment of the army which was on its way to Fort Meigs, and was under Harrison when that fort was besieged by the British and Indians. After the war, he returned to his father's, and lo- cated in the immediate vicinity. He died a num- ber of years ago. Thomas, another son, settled near by, on the creek. His oldest son, James, was the first white child born in the township. Thomas is dead, although his descendants still live in the old brick house on Yankee street. Joseph Latshaw came here about 1807, from New England, and at first entered Berkshire, where he remained but a short time, when he moved into Genoa, and located upon the land now owned by John Roberts. This settlement was in the northern part of the township, southwest from the town of Galena. Here he erected his cabin and immediately cleared about four acres on the bottom opposite. At that time, this bottom was covered with driftwood, which served as a convenient source from which to gather his fuel. He remained on this farm until 1810. In the spring of that year, Hezekiah Roberts came to Genoa, from Luzerne County, Penn., bought Latshaw out, and began planting corn in the bottom land that had been cleared. The supplies he had brought with him had given out, and it became necessary to procure an addi- tional stock. In the mean time, a child had been born to him, and it was necessary to obtain some luxuries for the mother. So he started through the woods, and, by following the Indian trail, reached the town of Zanesville, where he succeeded in getting what supplies he could carry, and re- turned home to his wife, who was anxiously await- ing his arrival. He madeanother trip to Zanesville soon after, and while there purchased a number of young apple-trees, which he set ont on the land opposite his cabin. Roberts was a blacksmith, and immediately put up a small log shop just east of his cabin, the first of the kind in this section. In this shop he worked until his son was large enough to take his place. Roberts assisted to erect the old Custis mill, the first in the township, and was one of the first men who raised a crop of flax. He bought the old Copeland mill, and, moving it

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

to the west side of the creek, ran it for several years. His son, " Long " John Roberts, so called on account of his great height, was the second white child born in this township. When his father ceased to work at the blacksmithing trade, John took his place and worked continually for forty years. At present, he is obliged to relax his accustomed labors on account of ill health. The house he occupies was built in 1813, and he has lived in it since that time. David Weeks entered the township in the latter part of 1807. He was from Saratoga County, N. Y., and located on land now occupied by Shoaf, 'south from the present village of Galena. Weeks has been dead for a number of years. William Cox came into the settlement the same year that Weeks put up his cabin. He was from Pennsylvania, and in his passage over the mountains had to undergo many hardships, nearly freezing to death one night in the great forest west of the Alleghanies. After countless difficulties, he succeeded in reaching Worthington, from which place he soon after entered Genoa Township, and settled on the Big Walnut, in the " Ox Bow" hend of that creek. He immediately put up his cabin, and ontinued to livec upon and improve his land until his death. Marcus Curtis, a brother of Jeremiah Curtis, and Elisha Newell, with their families, both from Connecticut, arrived in the settlement in 1808. The former purchased a tract of 681 acres of land on Yankee street, in the north- east part of the township. He it was who accom- panied his brother to Chillicothe, and helped bring back the first supply of wheaten flour seen in this locality. Marcus, not long after his arrival, began the manufacture of brick from clay found on his farm, and built the first brick structure in the township. The house is still standing on Yankee street, a short distance below Jay Dyer's. He was the first, also, to introduce the Durham breed of cattle into the township. Newell located his family on Yankee street, in close proximity to the Curtises. A few years after, he purchased the saw and grist mill which Jeremiah Curtis had erected, and began running both mills, but not being very successful, he sold out in about a year to Hezekiah Roberts, after which he confined himself to farming. Alexander Smith, whose sons and relatives are at present prominent members of the community, came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1808. He settled upon land sit- uated nearly in the central part of the township, and was a man prominently identified with its

interests, both agriculturally and politically. For many years, he was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church.

Fulrad Seebring, grandfather of William and Washington Seebring, came into this section in 1810, and set to work at once reclaiming his grant from the great forest trees. This land was located on the east side of the Big Walnut, near C. Rob- erts, and the first clearing that he made was on a rich "bottom " of the creek. His cabin was sit- uated near Big Walnut, and thus an abundant supply of water for stock and other purposes was afforded. Ary Hendricks came in 1810, and located on land southwest of Galena. He took an aotive part in the early settlement of the township, and was one of the first officials. Thomas Harris and his son-in-law, Henry Bennett, came to this township in 1810. They were originally from Pennsylvania and emigrated from that State to Hocking County in 1805, where they remained until 1808, when they followed the Indian trail north and entered what is now Harlem Township, but which, at that time, was included in the town- ship of Sunbury. They remained here two years, then in 1810 sold their land, upon which some improvements had been made, "forded " the Big Walnut near the covered bridge, which spans it where the road that leads to Harlem crosses, came to what is now Genoa Township. They at once set to work and raised comfortable log cabins. Bennett's cabin was situated near Yankee street, on the farm upon which his son, H. Bennett, resides. After he had been in this locality for some time, he erected a substantial frame house, which is still stand- ing. Thomas Harris, the old pioneer, died at the advanced age of one hundred years and six months. His son, Samuel Harris, was frozen to death in his wagon, on his return from hauling provisions to the soldiers at the North. Some thought that he was killed and robbed by two men who were with him on his return, but this is not generally con- sidered the fact. Elizabeth Harris Bennett, widow of Henry Bennett, is the oldest living person in Delaware County, and one of the first women that came to this locality. She was born in New Jersey, on the 10th of May, 1778, and is at present one hundred and two years of age. 'She was married to Henry Bennett on the 22d of February, 1794, in Pennsylvania, and accompanied her husband, and her father, Thomas Harris, to Ohio, and took part in all their movements preliminary to the perma- nent settlement made in Genoa in 1810. For a woman of her age she is wonderfully preserved,

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having all her faculties intact and seeing without the aid of glasses.

Byxbe Rogers was an old Revolutionary soldier, and served under Washington and other com- manders seven years. He was with the " Father of his Country " when he made his famous crossing of the Delaware River to attack the Hessians at Trenton in 1777. Rogers came to Ohio from the State of Pennsylvania about 1809, and settled for a short period in Knox County. Having disposed of his property in that locality, for a large grant of land in this section, he moved up here in 1810 and located the farm now occupied by Henderson. For the first few years, he was actively engaged in clearing his land. His influence contributed largely to the formation of the new township of Genoa. He died in 1825. Jacob Clauson came from Luzerne County, Penn., in 1810. He was induced to emigrate from the latter State by Hez- ekiah Roberts and accompanied him hither. He was a shoemaker by trade and the first one of that calling that came to this settlement. When Rob- erts bought his farm and cabin from Latshaw, Clauson purchased a small piece of ground from him and, erecting a little cabin, commenced his occupation of shoemaking. After remain- ing here a short time, he found that the busi- ness did not warrant his remaining and he closed up his shop and journeyed to Franklinton for the purpose of getting work. While looking for work in that town, he assisted in raising the first log cabin upon the site where now stands the city of Columbus. Finding that work of his trade was as scarce in Franklinton as where he had just left, he returned to his former place of residence, and began to clear a piece of ground, and continued to occupy himself as a farmer until his death.

Elisha Bennett, one of the earliest settlers, came here from Pennsylvania, by way of Harlem, as early as 1809. His glory lies in the fact that when it was decided to organize and erect a separate township from Harlem, and the project was carried into ex- ecution, he had the honor of naming the same. When he came to Genoa, he settled on land near the Maxwell Corners, and died there a number of years ago. Jonas Carter settled here, and was from New England, at an early date, and located his grant on the Big Walnut, which is the farm now owned and occupied by Jay Dyer. He erected his cabin on the rising ground just east of the creek, and began clearing a small lot on the " bottom," but becoming discouraged from some reason or other, he sold out to Jonathan Dyer,

and moved into the State of Indiana, where he died. Dyer lived upon the land until his death. Johnson Pelton and Sylvester Hough settled here in 1812. They were from the East, and entered the present limits of this township by way of Berkshire, settling on land just south of Galena. They have passed away, with a majority of those of that day. Mitchum started for this township from New England, with his family, and while on his way, took sick at the town of Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio, and died there. The rest of the fam- ily continued on, and reached this locality where they settled. In connection with his son, Hines Mitchum, a very interesting story is related. He was a very religious man, and used to journey to great distances, for the purpose of participating in the church exercises. Moreover, he was an excel- lent singer, and his presence was often sought, and always appreciated. There was a quarterly meet- ing (it will be seen by this that he was a good Methodist) to be held at the little town of West- erville, in Franklin County, on a certain evening, and as the meeting was to close with singing and other appropriate exercises, he was cordially in- vited to attend, and, on the afternoon preceding the evening of the day on which it was to be held, he started for Westerville. At that time, a dense wood stretched away for miles in every direction, and there was not even an Indian trail leading from the settlement on the Big Walnut, in Genoa Township, to the town of Westerville. But Mitchum, trusting in his knowledge of the woods, started in the direction of the town. Dusk found him quite a distance from his point of destination, and he was plodding along, unmindful of the shadows that were creeping down upon him, when he was startled by a long howl, which sent the blood curdling to his very heart. He knew that sound too well to be mistaken. It was the hungry, famished cry of the gray wolf. Soon he heard the same cry at the north, then at the south, and then from every direction. He knew that he was surrounded, that he had not a moment to lose, so, selecting a tree that stood near, he was soon hid among its branches, and none too soon, for scarcely had he seated himself on one of the limbs, than, with a mighty bound, a huge wolf sprang upon the spot he had just vacated. In a short time, the entire pack assembled at the bottom of the tree, and expressed their disappoint- ment in howls of baffled rage. Mitchum appreci- ated the fact that he was in rather an uncomforta- ble position. Night was fast approaching, and the

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

idea of remaining in that tree until the next morning was anything but pleasant. Suddenly the thought struck him, that he would sing. The idea was certainly a novel one, but worth the at- tempt, so, striking up one of his familiar airs, he ponred forth the notes in his most melodious strains. He had sung but a short time, when he was surprised to find that the wolves had ceased howling, and thus encouraged, he continued singing, while they all sneaked off. Whether they left in disgust, or felt the overpowering influence of his voice, he never said, but it is related that when he arrived at . Westerville, just after the meeting closed, he gave an account of his experi- ence by saying that he had just come from a praise meeting, where the voices were naturally strong, but needed cultivation.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 103

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818