History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 89

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

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smoothly as of yore, until one winter's day the brothers, with their horses and sleigh, went to the mill at Delaware to have some corn ground ; while returning, they, from some cause or other, quar- reled and both got out, when Fred, taking up an ax, split the sleigh into halves, and each leading his horse and carrying his share of meal, started for home. Fred, soon after this, left his brother's home and built himself a cabin. It is told of Pe- ter that, after being married a number of years and having several children, he determined to have them baptized, and upon his invitation a minister by the name of Hinkle came up from Columbus for the purpose of performing the ceremony. His arrival at the cabin created a great consternation among the children, and they all took to the wood. Upon Hinkle asking Peter how they could be caught and brought into the house, Peter said he didn't know, unless he let his hounds loose and caught them in that way. He was about to carry this plan into execution, when he was stopped by Hinkle. The brothers are both dead, and Peter's family is scattered. Ezekiel Van Horn, another old settler, who did much to improve the township, was a member of the first grand jury. Quite a number came in during 1815 and 1816. Among them were Elisha Bishop, Adin Winsor, Joseph Bishop, Isaac Stratton, Henry Coldren, Elisha Williams, George Jefferies, Thomas Rogers and L. H. Hall.

William Brundige was the first minister in the township, and preached in the cabins of the first settlers. Drs. Spaulding and Lamb, of Delaware, were the first physicians that entered the settle- ment in a professional capacity. The first birth was William, son of Nathaniel Brundige, and took place December 3, 1808, and the first death was Ruth Wyatt, daughter of Nathaniel Wyatt. The first marriage was that of John Brundige to Phobe Drake, daughter of the Captain, and occurred in 1811. The first school teacher was Robert Louther. A man by the name of Case, who was a son-in-law of Col. Kilbourn, and lived in Worthington, offered the first goods for sale in the township. He opened up in Norton and remain there until he had closed out his stock. Nathaniel Wyatt was the first Justice of the Peace, and the honesty and integrity with which he decided all his cases is well known even to the present day in this sec- tion of the country. Thomas Jefferies was the first Postmaster, and kept his office at Norton. The introduction of apple-trees into this township was brought about in rather a curious manner.

520

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

One day, Nathaniel Brundige and wife, having left the children alone in the cabin for a short time, an old Indian came to the cabin door, throwing the children at once into a state of great fear. The Indian, in his rude way, gave them to understand that he was a friend, and, putting his hand underneath his mantle, brought forth four apples and gave them to the children, telling them to save and plant the seeds. This was done, and from those seeds sprang up the first apple-trees in Marlborough Township, a few of which can be seen at this day on the farm of Mrs. Mary Wyatt. The apples are known as fall pippins.

The first road located through the township was the old State or military road. It ran along the west bank of the river, and cut the town of Norton east of where the present pike runs through. The old road was abandoned when the Columbus & Sandusky pike road was given a charter, but can still be seen in many places where it is used as a lane by the farmers. The old road, although used by the military authorities, was, nevertheless, built by order of the County Commissioners, and, on leaving Norton, took a northerly direction, pass- ing the cabin home of Nathaniel Brundige and winding around the knoll on which stood Fort Morrow, continued to Lower Sandusky. The first official record in Delaware County bears date June 15, 1808, and was the granting of a petition headed by Nathaniel Wyatt and others for open- ing this road. When the Columbus & San- dusky Pike Road Company obtained a charter, they ran the road a little west of the old military road, about where the present free pike road runs. The first bridge built in Marlborough Township spanned the Olentangy on the line which now separates the township from Marion County. The bridge was built by James Norris. After it had served its time, the present covered wooden struct- ure occupying the same spot was built. This bridge was put up by a man named Sherman. The new wooden-covered bridge which spans the river at Kline's mill was built about the year 1874.

The oldest mill erected in this township is the old saw-mill, which, to-day, stands just in the rear of Kline's grist-mill, formerly known as Cone's woolen factory. This mill is situated on the Whetstone River, in the southeastern part of the township, and was built as early as 1820, by Rob- ert Campbell, of Philadelphia. The mill is still in good order, and is said to be the best water saw-mill upon the river. About 1846, Luther

· Cone, brother to J. W. Cone, of Thompson Town- ship, built the woolen-mill which stands just north of the saw-mill. This mill was run successfully for a number of years, and then purchased by Cline, who has recently remodeled it for the pur- poses of a grist-mill.

The old Baptist Church situated in what is now Troy Township, was the first to organize in Marl- borough. Its history will necessarily fall within the historical limits of Troy. The Lutheran Church is situated just across the Olentangy River, east about a mile from Norton. The congrega- tion used to worship in an old log schoolhouse, near where the present church now stands. Just when the organization took place cannot be ascer- tained, but the name of the first minister was Henry Cline, and it must have been at an early date. In the year 1852, from some cause a revolt occurred on the part of some of the members, the result being the organization of the German Re- form Church. The Lutherans immediately set to work and built a new frame church, which was dedicated by Prof. Loy. in the year 1853, and the German Reform congregation, not to be outdone, put forth their energy and, in 1855, also succeed- ed in building for themselves a frame church ad- joining the Lutherans. It was dedicated the same year by J. G. Ruhl, who took charge as their Pas- tor, while the first minister in the new Lutheran Church was a man by the name of Gast. The little cemetery in the same lot in which the two churches stand is used conjointly by both congre- gations. The first interment in it was a man by the name of Snarr, who was buried there in 1835. He was poor and a stranger. The Baptist Church is situated in the village of Norton. The society was an offshoot from the Old Marlborough Baptist Church. The present building is a substantial frame structure, and was erected in 1859 and cost $1,200. It was dedicated in 1860 by James Harvey, who used to preach at Delaware. The following are the names of the ministers since its foundation : James Harvey, Thomas Jenkins, Mr. Weiter, C. King, Thomas Deal, Thomas Griffith. The Methodist Episcopal Church is a frame struct- ure situated in the village of Norton, and was built in 1855, and dedicated by the Rev. Pilcher. There was an organization in existence some two years previous to this date, originated by the Rev. Plumer, and the class used to worship in school- houses and other convenient places. The church cost $1,200. The pulpit has been supplied of late years quite frequently by students from the uni-

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

521

versity at Delaware. The present Pastor is the Rev. Jonathan Look. The Wyatt Cemetery is the historical burying-place of this vicinity. It is situated across the line in Marion County, being located in that part of Marlborough set off to that county in 1848, and the white marble slabs mark the resting-place of the earliest settlers of Marl- borough Township. Here lie the Wyatts, Drakes, Brundiges, and others whose names are familiar to the reader. The cemetery is pleasantly situated on a knoll near where the old fort once stood, and in sight of the military road. The occasion of the first burial in this cemetery cannot be ascertained, as a number of the soldiers of 1812 found their last resting-place amidst the evergreens that adorned its surface. Among the number was Capt. Flynn, who, after serving at different parts of the border, had been assigned to Fort Stephenson, then com- manded by Col. Croghan. Soon after the repulse of the British and Indians by the brave defenders of that fort, the Captain received his discharge and accompanied by Maj. Daniels, who had also fought nobly, started in a hired conveyance to join their families in Chillicothe. While on their way and when near the present town of Marion, they were fired upon by the Indians, and Capt. Flynn was killed and Maj. Daniels badly wounded. The teamster succeeded in reaching Fort Morrow, and there in the Wyatt Cemetery, the Captain was bur- ied. Maj. Daniels ultimately recovered and car- ried the news of Capt. Flynn's death to his family. Two soldiers, while on their way home from Lower Sandusky, were also fired upon and both killed by the Indians. When the bodies were found, the heart of one had been cut out and laid upon his breast. They were both scalped and otherwise horribly mutilated. Their bodies were taken to this cemetery and interred. Three sol- diers of the war of 1812 died at the cabin of Na- thaniel Brundige and were interred in the cemetery. A Capt. Yarnold, who was in Perry's victory on Lake Erie, is also buried in this cemetery.

The first school was opened by Robert Louther in a small log house east of the Olentangy River from Norton. Within the walls of this rude structure, the children of the pioneers gaincd their knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic, which was limited, as the advantages were meager. Many an old citizen of these primitive times well remembers the trials he had to undergo in getting a little "learning," of the long tramps through the deep snow and through dark woods, where lurked the panther and bear. All these hardships come

before the vision with peculiar brightness as the contrast with the present condition of things is appreciated. To-day the township is dotted with schoolhouses located in convenient places, and the farmer boy can easily gain the information that his father worked so hard and tramped so far to attain. The following are the school statistics of the town- ship :

Money on hand September 1, 1878. $ 503 22 Total amount of money received in year end-

ing September 1, 1879. 1,592 09

Total expenditures during year. 1,000 32

Number of districts or subdistricts 5 Whole number of schoolhouses. 5

Value of school property. $3,000 00

Number of teachers employed during year -- gents, 4 ; ladies, 6- total. 10

Average wages of teachers per month-Gents Ladies

$29 00

Average number of weeks of session.

25 00 29

Number of pupils enrolled within the year-

boys, 112 ; girls, 108- total. 220

Average daily attendance-boys, 68; girls, 58 126

By these statistics it will be seen that although Marlborough is only half a township in area, it will compare favorably with its sister townships in educational matters.

Several of the old pioneers that came and settled in this township had been in the war of the Revo- lution. Capt. Wilcox has been mentioned pre- viously as having gained his title in that struggle. The Wyatts, Brundiges, Coles, Reeds, Drakes, Trindle, Hannaman, Dix, Sharp, Hinton, Foust and White, are some of the names of those that participated in the 1812 war. The same heroic spirit that actuated the fathers in the old wars was to be seen, in a striking manner, in their sons, when the call for troops was made in the great re- bellion. The Twenty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, seems to have drawn more than any other from this township, although the follow- ing regiments contained men from this locality ; The Ninety-sixth Regiment, Fourth Regiment, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, Eighty- second Regiment, Twentieth Regiment, Forty -. eighth Regiment, Thirty-second Regiment, Sixty- sixth Regiment, Fifth Regiment; United States Army, and the President's Light Guards. Hugh Worline, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regi- ment, died in Danville Prison; G. Worline, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, died in hospital. J. Weiser, Company D, Eighty- second Regiment, was taken prisoner at Get- tysburg; exchanged in 1864, wounded at Atlanta,

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

and died on reaching home. D. Helford, Com- pany B, Forty-eighth Regiment, died in hos- pital at Memphis. A. G. Taylor, Company G, Twenty sixth Regiment, and V. B. Thompson, Company C, Twenty-sixth Regiment, were both captured at Chickamauga, and were starved to death in Andersonville Prison. A. Sales, Com- pany B, Forty-eighth Regiment, was killed at Shiloh. Henry Houseworth, Company C, Twenty- sixth Regiment, missing at Chickamauga. O. .Lyman, Company A, Eighteenth Regiment, United States Infantry, captured at Chickamauga, starved to death at Andersonville. Of the two forts or block-houses in Delaware County, for the protection of the settlers, the one near Norton, called Fort Morrow, was by far the largest and most interesting. It stood near the Greenville treaty line, in the midst of the forest, which was unbroken for miles in every direction save by, now and then, a small clearing, upon which stood the lone cabin of a settler. The old military road wound round the knoll upon which the fort was built, and continued on its way north to Sandusky. The fort consisted of two block-houses situated at a short distance from each other, in direction northeast by southwest. Between the two was the brick tavern of Nathaniel Wyatt. The whole was surrounded by a palisade of strong oaken timbers substantially set into the ground and then sharpened on the top. One of the block-houses was built by the citizens of round logs. The first story was run up to a height of about eight feet, and the second was made to project over that of the first about four fect. The floor of this projection had small openings or port-holes ; thus enabled those inside to better defend against a close attack or attempt to set the structure on fire by the besieg- ing party. The upper story contained embrasures so arranged that rifles could be discharged in any direction. The door was composed of three-inch plank, double barred across and upright. To test it, a volley was fired into it at-short range. In the story below slept the children, and above the grown people stood sentry. The other was built by the Government, and did not differ materially from that built by the citizens, except that the logs were hewn and the structure more compactly built. From this fort sallied forth that gallant command, who, with banners and bandannas streaming in the wind, went to the relief of Lower Sandusky, under Drake. Not a vestige of the fort remains, but there are several old settlers remaining who still remember its formidable appearance, and the

great red letters, " Fort Morrow," painted on one of the logs in the southwest corner.

This is the only village in Marlborough Town- ship, and is a very small place, celebrated chiefly for its antiquity. It is situated just south of the boundary line between Marion and Delaware Counties, the line running just along the northern portion of the town. The following is a transcript taken from the books in the Auditor of State's office. The record is in Book C. The exact date of its platting cannot be ascertained ; when the plat was recorded, the date of recording the same was never put down, but the record just before bears date 1806, and the one after it 1807, so it is safe to conclude that it must have been recorded in 1806 or 1807. The following is the record :

" We, the subscribers, proprietors of the town of Norton, do certify that this is a true plat of the lots and public ways laid out of and established in said town. The in-lots are numbered in red, and the out-lots in black. The in-lot marked A is given for a space whereon to erect public buildings, either for the State, County or Town, and the in-lot marked B, is given for the use of the first religious society which shall he formed in said town, for their meeting-house, and for a green walk around said meeting-house. In-lot 46 is given for the use and benefit of a school in said town, and in-lot No. 49 for the use and benefit of said relig- ious society forever. Said town all south of Spice street is in Range 19, Township 6, Section 2, of the Congress Military District, and the balance a part in Range 19, Township 7, Section 3, and a part in Range 19, Township 7, Section 4, in Franklin County.

Signed JAMES KILBOURN, SAMUEL H. SMITH,

For himself, and as agent for WILLIAM C. SCBENCK, JOHN CUMMINGS, JOHN BARNETT.

When first laid out in 1806 or 1807, there was not a settler in the town, at which time it was within the limits of Franklin County, Delaware County not having been organized until two years afterward. The old military road as originally laid out passed directly through the town, and formed the main street. The Marion pike cuts the town diagonally through the center. The town was laid out in rectangular form, and con- sisted of ninety-four lots. The first man to put up his cabin in the town of Norton was William Reed. The first church in the town was the Baptist Church, and the first goods sold in the town was by Case; at this town was established the first post office, and in later years the first edifice that could be called a store. To-day, Norton consists of a few frame and one or two brick houses, two churches, one or two stores, blacksmith-shop, a

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

523

schoolhouse and town house. This last, in which public meetings are held, and in which the town- ship records are kept, is situated just east of the more central portion of the town, near the Olen- tangy River. The building is a frame structure, and formerly was occupied by the United Breth- ren as a meeting-house, but this organization dying

soon after the church was built, it was sold to the township. The town of Norton at an early date had a State reputation. It is older than Delaware, and its situation being so close to the Indian boundary line and contiguous to Fort Morrow, gave it a wide reputation.

CHAPTER XXII.

TROY TOWNSHIP-DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRAPHY-EARLY TIMES-SETTLEMENTS-THE MAIN SETTLEMENT- EARLY FACTS AND INCIDENTS -RELIGION AND EDUCATIONAL- ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC .- WAR AND POLITICS-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

" Their history is written In their race, and like the stars They quietly fulfill their destiny."

TROY TOWNSHIP was organized from Marl- borough and Delaware Townships on the 24th of December, 1816, as the following record will show. "The commissioners have this day granted the petition of a number of the inhabitants of Marlborough and Delaware Townships, pray- ing for a new township of the following bounda- ries, to wit : Beginning at the range line between Ranges 19 and 20, thence east on the line in the center of the sixth township to the line between Ranges 18 and 19, thence south to the center line of the fifth township, thence west to the line between Ranges 19 and 20, thence north to the place of beginning. The same is hereby erected into a new township by the name of Troy." It is situated north of the central portion of the county in Range 19, Towns 5 and 6, and is composed en- tirely of what is known as United States military lands, and is part of the tract which was set apart by act of Congress, passed June 1, 1796, to satisfy the claims of officers and men who participated in the war of the Revolution. In area, the township is five miles square, and comprises four sections of four thousand acres each. Moses Byxbe, Sr., who took an active part in opening up Delaware County, owned large tracts of the bottom lands of this township, which he sold to the early settlers at prices varying from $2.50 to $4 per acre.

Troy Township is bounded on the north by Marlborough, on the east by Oxford and Brown, on the south by Delaware, and on the west by

Radnor. The Olentangy River flows south through the township, a short distance east of the central part, receiving from the east its largest branch, called the " Horseshoe," from the fact that it flows into the Olentangy at what is known as the " Horseshoe " bend of that river. From the west it receives the waters of Wild Cat Creek, Norris Creek and Clear Run. The river has a winding course, with angles and curves almost innumerable. The geological formations are identical with those of Marlborough Township. On the west the cor- niferous limestone; the Hamilton group following the course of the river, and the Huron shale out- cropping on the eastern bank. The land near the river, and in localities where it has been broken by the smaller streams, is rolling, but in the west it becomes level. The soil on the river bottom is a rich loam, and a long narrow strip of land of the same character is met with in the western part of the township bordering on Radnor. The soil on the uplands is a yellow clay, which produces well, and is held in high favor as wheat lands. The surface is rolling enough to drain well, and artifi- cial drainage is little used. The farms are under good cultivation and well stocked. The timber is valuable, consisting of oak, sugar maple, elm, ash, walnut and hickory. This township, lying as it does near the city of Delaware, possesses an excel- lent market for its productions, and its good pike roads leading to the city give it an advantage in this particular over some of its neighbors. In many other respects, however, it is less fortunate. Not a city, town, village, nor even a post office is to be found within its territory, and the people are compelled to go to Delaware, Eden Station, Delhi, Norton and even to Ashley for their mail. There

* Contributed by H. L. S. Vaile.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY ..

is not a mill, excepting perhaps a portable saw-mill, nor a store of any kind within its boundaries.

It has been said that the pioneer of to-day, hastening to the rich prairies of the Far West in the easy railroad car, turning the soil with the steel plow, building his cabin from lumber bought at a flourishing railroad station near his claim ; locating, in many instances, on land of the Govern- ment, which requires only that he shall live upon it to be his; gathering his crops and sowing his seed by means of labor-saving and improved agri- cultural machinery, knows absolutely nothing of the great obstacles which were met and overcome by the pioneer of this wooded country in the be- ginning of the present century. The early settler of Troy found the Indians in full possession of the soil. Game of almost every description was to be found in abundance. The waters of the rivers and creeks teemed with fish, and these, together with other favorable surroundings, rendered the locality especially attractive to them. At " Horse Shoe Bend," in this township, the Mingoes had a large village. To this tribe belonged Logan, who immortalized his name by his wonderful eloquence, and by his magnanmity toward the white prison- ers that fell into his hands during the Indian wars of his time. Other tribes, once powerful like the Mingoes, were to be found at times in the Scioto Valley and upon the banks of the Olen- tangy, but war, pestilence and famine had reduced them in numbers until they were but remnants of their former greatness. Still the settlers had enough cause of fear, as is shown by the following incident. The Delawares and Wyandots, who fre- quented the locality at one time, joined forces and sent a war party into Pennsylvania to depredate upon the inhabitants. After several skirmishes, in which a number of prisoners were taken, among them a young white girl, the Indians started for their camp, situated on Clear Run, in this town- ship. They were pursued, however, by a party of whites, among whom were two brothers of the captive girl. They traced the band to the Olen- tangy, but ou arriving at a place near where the old stone mill is situated, just north of Delaware, they lost all trace of them and were about to re- turn, when one of the party noticed smoke ascend- ing above the trees, a mile or two toward the north. The rescuing party cautiously advanced, and, coming upon the Indians unexpectedly, drove them into the woods and rescued the girl unharmed.

As already stated, Troy Township was formed in part from the township of Marlborough. Many

of the early settlers of the one are entitled also to the same honor in the other. Therefore, if some of them find themselves in their neighbor's log cabin instead of their own, they will bear in mind the diffi- culty of keeping within proper geographical limits, when boundaries have been so often changed. The line which separates Troy and Marlborough territori- ally, crosses the Olentangy just north of the old Marlborough Baptist Church, and can easily be located, but the line that separates the old settlers of the two townships is as tortuous as the Olen- tangy itself. The Wyatts and Brundiges had settled in the northern part of Marlborough Town- ship as early as 1806, and Foust and Drake com- ing in shortly after, and others, there were soon a number of cabins where the town of Norton now stands, but the lands which are now comprised within the limits of Troy Township were not settled to any great extent for several years after. In 1814, when James Norris and his family came to the county, there were only seven families in the township, viz., William Reed, Levi Hinton, Duval, William Hinton, David Dix, Joseph Cole and Duncan. For a few years after the creation of Troy Township, emigrants came in considerable numbers, and the lands were rapidly taken up.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 89

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