History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 91

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 91

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Postmaster. The office continued but a short time, and the citizens were compelled to receive their mail through offices situated in other town- ships. The first dam was the " brush " dam at Cole's mills.

About the year 1806, a tornado passed over a portion of Delaware County, which, on account of its strength and destruction was designated as "the Great Windfall." Many of the early settlers remember windfalls which did consider- able damage, but this was the most devastating of which they have any recollections. It struck Scioto and Thompson Townships, and with a curve swept across the northwest corner of Delaware Township into Troy. Here, in some cases for a mile wide, the great trees were prostrated, and it seemed as if a mighty scythe had cut a swath through the forest. For many years after, the path could be discerned by means of the smaller timber and the decaying logs.

The first church built in this township, and around which clusters the most historic interest, is the old Marlborough Baptist Church. The records from which we take the accompanying sketch are very full and complete, and appear to have been made a short time previous to July 14, 1810, and show the causes of organization. They run as fol- lows, no attempt being made to change their dic- tion : " It pleased God in His good providence to remove a number of His people to this part of the world, and we were from different parts of the country, and strangers to each other. We became acquainted in the love of Jesus Christ and the profession of our faith in God, and Brother Joseph Cole gave them permission for meetings to be held at his house, and also did a number of other peo- ple open doors likewise, and it pleased God to cause Elder Brundige's lot to fall amongst us, and we are to be constituted into a church July 14, 1810, by Elder William Brundige and Elder Jacob Drake."

The first meeting of the Baptist Church at Marlborough took place the Saturday before the third Lord's Day, July 14, 1810, and the follow- ing are the minutes of the first meeting :

" The church proceeded to renew covenant and found a union, and Joseph Cole was chosen Deacon on trial, and David Dix, Clerk.

"The church voted to give Eider William Brun- dige a call to the pastoral chair of the church, and the clerk was instructed to write a letter to Liberty Baptist Church. requesting a dismission for him from that church, and to lay the letter be-

fore the church for inspection at our next church meeting, which is to be held at the cabin of Brother Joseph Cole." After the first meeting the letter was written to Liberty Church, and after being approved was sent to Liberty Church.

August 19, 1810. The church met at Brother Joseph Cole's cabin on Saturday before the third Lord's Day in August. Elder Wyatt was chosen Moderator. The church proceeded to renew covenant and found a union. The following is a copy of the letter sent to William Brundige from the church in Liberty.

Elder William Brundige living a member in full communion with us now living in the bounds of a sis- ter church of the same faith and order, and being de- sirous of a letter of dismission from us so that he may join them, and applying now by the mouth of Elder Wyatt for a letter, we now give him a letter as a min- ister of the Gospel and recommend him as such, and be- ing in good standing with us at this time, and as soon as he is joined to another church of the same faith and order, he will be considered as fully dismissed from us. This letter is given at Delaware town hy order of the Baptist Church of Liberty.

JOSEPH EATON, Clerk, August 10, 1810. (Signed)

Elder William Brundige came forward to join the church, and gave in his letter of dismissal from the pastoral charge of Liberty Church, and was appointed to the pastoral chair of the church.

In 1810 occurred the first withdrawal, Pierce Main severing his connection with the church.

The meeting on the Saturday before the third Lord's Day in April, 1811, was interrupted by the male members of the church being called to military training.

May 16, 1813. No meeting of the church, as the men were called to the field against the enemy.

The meeting in June, 1813, postponed on ac- count of the men being under arms to repel a threatened attack of the British and Indians.

The meetings in August and September also postponed on account of a threatened invasion of the enemy.

In March, 1814, Pierce Main came forward, and, after confessing his fault, was re-admitted into the church. The following is a copy of the letter of dismissal of Nathaniel Wyett, the first settler in this section of the county, from the Liberty Church.

The Baptist Church, called Liberty Church, in Del- aware County, State of Ohio, holding the doctrine of unconditional election, justification by Jesus Christ, justification by the spirit of grace, the resurrection of dead, both of the just and the unjust, etc. To whom it may concern : That our Elder Nathaniel Wyett has

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

requested a letter of dismissal from this church as his local situation, and the helps we are blessed with in the church justify his request. We do now dismiss him as being in full fellowship with us, and as such we recom- mend him to the other churches of the same faith and order.

Done on July 8, 1815. JOSEPH EATON, Clerk.

Saturday before the third Lord's day in December, 1815. The meeting was opened by prayer and praise. The Church proceeded to business. Joseph Cole was chosen moderator, and the church proceeded to renew covenant and found a union. The church took up the request from the members in Radnor Township, which was laid into the church at our meeting in November, praying that they might be constituted into a separate church. It was acted upon, and voted that they might be constituted into a church, separate and distinct by themselves.

DAVID DIX, Clerk.

It was not until about 1819 that the society built their first church. It was constructed of hewn logs, from Joseph Cole's land. The sit- uation was the same as now occupied by the new church, which overlooks the river in the extreme northern and eastern part of the township.

In 1836, they tore down the old log church. Joseph Cole bought it and moved it to his farm and placed it opposite his house, where it can be seen at the present time. It is now used as a hay barn. A frame one was then built, which they occupied until 1873, when it was replaced with a new one. The present church is an elegant structure, large and commodious, and is built of brick and freestone, at a cost of $3,300. The first minister that preached to the society was William Brundige.

The first Methodist organization in Troy Town- ship was the Windfall Class. It took its name from the fact that it worshiped in a small school- house on the southwest corner of Hiram Welch's farm, which was situated in the path taken by the " Great Windfall," of 1806. This organization had an existeuce as early as 1834, and continued for a number of years, but had no church build- ing.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, situated just above Judge Norris' farm, first came out as an or- ganization and at first worshiped in the school- house situated near where the present structure stands. The first frame structure was built upon the site of the present brick church, and was a very cheap affair. Soon after it was put up, they were joined by the " Windfall Class," and wor- ship was continued for some time. At last their building becoming so poor and dilapidated as to seriously inconvenience those worshiping in it, the

services were discontinued, and in 1867, finding all efforts to rebuild it unavailing, it was sold to J. B. Jackson for $25, and moved by him to his farm near by, where it can still be seen. It was not until 1872 that the organization again showed signs of life and activity. In that year, the con- gregation built a fine brick structure, at a cost of $2,200, which was dedicated the same year, by D. D. Mather.

The Baptist Church, which is situated in the eastern part of the township, near the " Horse Shoe," owes its origiu to the revolt of Elder Biggs and other members, in 1856, from the old Marl- borough Baptist Church. The church is a frame structure.

The Grange Society have quite a fine hall in this township. It is situated nearly in the center of the township, opposite the brick M. E. Church. The building is a frame costing $600 and was built by Robert Jones. The land was donated by Judge Norris. The society was or- ganized in the summer of 1874. The first of- ficers being : J. B. Jackson, W. M .; B. F. Fry, O., and Richard Wallace, Secretary. The pres- ent officers are as follows : J. B. Jackson, W. M .; W. H. Pool, O .; Miss Joan Norris, Secretary.

The first school was taught in 1814 by Miss Electa Wilcox, in a log cabin, that stood in a sugar-maple grove, and had been used as a camp by Mr. Cole. After Miss Wilcox had taught a few winters, a subscription was raised, and a log schoolhouse built. The following description from a pioneer will give perhaps an idea of the proba- ble style of this structure. " It was one story high, built of logs, the cracks being filled with clay mud. The windows were made by cutting out a section of a log and pasting a greased paper over the aperture, thus supplying both frame and glass. The fire-place and chimney were formed by cutting a huge opening through one end of the cabin, thus building out and around it with clay, mud and sticks, and extending this crude structure to the ridge pole. In the cold days of winter, it required the services of about three boys to sup- ply wood for the fire, and three to bring water to keep the schoolhouse from burning down. For seats, they either had a section of a log, or else sat on a three-legged stool." This contrast with the school buildings and their facilities of to-day, is in keeping with the present condition, in all else that goes to refine and elevate, as compared with the surroundings of primitive times. Now large and commodious school buildings with modern

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

appliances are to be met with in convenient places throughout the township. A corps of competent instructors are maintained, leaving no excuse for not securing a good education. The following school statistics will be found of some interest :

Amount of money on hand Sept. 1, 1878 .. ..

$716.79

Total amount of money received during the year ending Sept. 1, 1879. 2,581.20 Am't paid teachers during the year, primary 1,416.90

Fuel and other contingent expenses. 207.49

Total expenditures. 1,624.39

Number of sub-districts and districts 8

Whole number of schoolhouses. 8 Total value of school property $3,200

Number of teachers employed at different times during the year, gents 5, ladies 10 15

Average wages of teachers per month. $31.20

Average number of weeks the school was in session. 26

Number of pupils enrolled during the year, boys 137, girls 136. 273

Average daily attendance, boys 80, girls 72, 152

At present, the schools are in an excellent con- dition, and in many instances are being taught by young men from the Ohio Wesleyan University who are compelled to teach to procure funds to carry them through to graduation.

The section of what was at one time so famil- iarly known to the earlier settlers of Troy Town- ship as the United States Military Road, but which at the present time is rarely spoken of in the township, from the fact of its having been long since obliterated, was the result of the following petition, the first official record of Delaware County.

June 8, 1808. " A petition for a county road on west side of Whetstone (Olentangy), beginning at the Indian boundary line, thence to Delaware, thence to south line of the county, as near the river as ground and river angles will admit. Pe- tition granted, and Moses Byxbe, Nathaniel Wyatt and Josiah Mckinney appointed Viewers, and Azariah Root, Surveyor." This road was imme- diately surveyed and laid out, and at the southern boundary line of Delaware County it connected with the Columbus road, and at the Indian boun- dary line it joined with the road north to Lower Sandusky. Soon after it was laid out, it was used by the military authorities as a channel for sup- plying the northern forts with war materials, and hence derived its name, although the part in Del- aware County was built by order of the Commis- sioners, on the petition of private individuals. The road between the old Marlborough Baptist Church and the town of Delhi in Radnor Town- ship was first laid out in the following unique

manner. Joseph Cole had long appreciated the fact that a road ought to be cut through the woods between the two points, so that the members of the Baptist congregation living in Delhi could conveniently reach the church. One day, Mr. Cole, accompanied by several men, went out to locate and open the road. James Norris, Jr., being one of the number, was told to proceed two or three miles in advance, in the direction which the road was to take, and, climbing a tree or stand- ing on the roof of a cabin, to blow the large horn which he had in his possession. He did as di- rected, and the chopping party, following in the direction of the sound, opened the road through to where Norris was found astride the roof of a cabin. Again he was sent in advance, and by repeating the operation, the entire road was opened between the two points. The " Horseshoe " road was lo- cated about 1828, and lies east of the Olentangy. It opens up the Horseshoe bottoms. This road is what is known as a mud road, the pure signifi- cance of which can only be appreciated after a thaw in winter, or a hard rain in spring. The Columbus & Sandusky Turnpike was built as early as 1833, and runs north and south through the township, a short distance west of the old mili- tary road and of the Olentangy River. It was half dirt and half plank, and in some localities, where the land was low and marshy, trees were felled across the road-bed and a sort of corduroy formed. An incident which happened in connec- tion with a toll-gate on this road in Troy may be of interest. It seems that just before the charter was revoked, the Company allowed the road to run down until it was a miserable affair, and at the same time exacted a heavy toll. The citi- zens became very much dissatisfied, and one night a mob came up from Worthington and began tearing down the gate which was situa- ted about five miles from the city of Delaware. The gate-keeper, Thomas F. Case, fired upon the party, and wounded a man by the name of Ingham quite seriously. The parties went to law, and for many weeks the case attracted a great deal of at- tention. About 1842, the charter of this company was recalled by the Legislature, and, in 1869, the Delaware & Troy Pike Company received a charter which was virtually a continuance of the other. This Company located the present road, which, with a few alterations, represents the course of the old Sandusky road. A toll was collected on this road for a few years after it was established, but, on petition of the citizens of Troy and vicin-

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

535

ity, it was made free. The pike road which con- nects Delhi, in Radnor Township, with Ashley is also free, and passes in almost a direct line east and west through the northern part. It was built in 1870. The old road to Ashley was blazed through sixty years ago.

The first bridge in Troy Township was built over the Olentangy, near Joseph Cole's, by Joseph Alexander, in 1840, and served its purpose for nine years. About the year 1850, its place was supplied by a new structure which stood for ten years. This bridge was built by James Bishop, Christian Black and Elihu Clark. The present one, a covered bridge, was built about the year 1860, by a man named Landon, who lived in Sun- bury. There is a new covered bridge which spans the Olentangy River just southeast of Judge Norris' farm. It rests on two strong abutments of limestone, and serves as a great convenience, as, heretofore, in the case of high water, the trav- eling public have been necessitated to either go up the river to Joseph C. Cole's, or down to the stone mill near Delaware, for the purpose of cross- ing. Previous mention has been made of the fact that the first mills built in Troy Township were put up by Joseph Cole. They comprised a saw-mill and a grist-mill, and were situated just north of the covered bridge that crosses the river near the old Marlborough Church. To-day, a few of the old timbers which composed the dam may be seen in the river near the place. All other traces of the mills have disappeared, and even the location is known but to a few. The saw-mill was put up about the year 1820, and was built of hewn logs. The grist-mill was built about three years later, of sawn timbers. The stones that were first used in this mill, were made from a granite bowlder gotten out along the bank of the river. They were dressed and put in position by Henry James. The first meal that was ground was used in powdering the hair of Newman

Haven, the millwright. The dam was situated just above the mills, and was known in those days as a brush dam. It was constructed of brush, dirt and stones, with a few logs, and was a crude affair. Subsequently, during a freshet, it suc- cumbed to the pressure, going down stream with the foaming water, and, in its stead, a more sub- stantial one was built. Some time after the com- pletion of the latter, an accident occurred in its connection, which came very near closing the career of Mr. Cole. Its seems that the water had forced its way through a weak place in the dam,

gradually increasing the crevice until it had washed out a large hole in the bottom, through which the water was pouring with a fearful ve- locity. Mr. Cole, seeing the danger that threat- ened the rest of the dam, immediately got a corps of workmen and hegan repairing the break. While standing, looking down into the hole, super- intending the filling, he lost his balance and fell into the boiling, foaming vortex. In an instant he was swept through the dam into the deep water beyond. Hugh Cole was engaged in hauling logs to help repair the dam, and was just returning with one when he saw his father fall into the hole. The next moment he saw him struggling in the branches of a submerged sycamore-tree which had floated over the dam a few days previous, into which the current had carried him. He sprang to the ground, and, cutting the hame-string, took one of the horses out, jumped upon his back, swam him across the river to where a " dug-out " was tied, and, pushing that into the stream, pad- dled to where his father was and brought him to the shore. It was found upon examination, that Mr. Cole's right arm was dislocated, and that he was otherwise badly bruised. He told his son that in three minutes more he would have been compelled to release his hold, and in all probabil- ity, he would have been drowned. It may not be out of place to give another instance connected with this dam, that resulted more fatally to one party at least. In 1832, Thomas Willey and Nathaniel Cozard attempted to cross the river just above the dam, in an old " dug-out." It seems that neither one of the men had had much experience with that kind of craft, and, as the river was high and the current swift, they were carried over the dam. By a strange coincidence, Hugh Cole was riding along the bank and saw the men pass over. Dashing his horse into the angry waters just below the dam, he seized Willey by the hair as he was going down the last time, and brought him safely to shore. Cozard was carried down stream and drowned. His body was found soon after about a mile below the dam.

In the year 1832, Lyman Main put up a saw- mill on the " Horseshoe Creek," built a dam and ran the mill for a number of years. The mill las long since disappeared together with the dam, leaviog the waters of the creek to flow unim- peded to the Olentangy. ' About the years 1834 or 1835, Timothy Main built a saw-mill on Horse- shoe Creek, near the edge of Oxford and Troy Townships. It was used for a number of years,

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and then disappeared with the demand that called it forth.

" Audaces fortuna juvat." This old saying, which now has become almost a proverb, seems very expressive of the people of this township, and, as they behold the records of the past in war and in peace, they can well exclaim " Fortune fa- vors the brave." Many of the early settlers of Troy Township had been officers and soldiers in the Revolutionary war, to whom a grateful and bankrupt Congress gave the only compensation they could, namely, a liberal donation of its West- ern land. The war of 1812 came, and the settlers and their sons again left the plow in the furrow, and the ripe grain standing uncut in the field, to hasten to the relief of Fort Meigs and Lower Sandusky. There were a number in this town- ship who went with Drake, and were with him in his glorious campaign. The Mexican war did not take many from this township, but the war of the rebellion called every man from his field or fire- side to do for the Union. The names of the brave sons of Troy will long be remembered, and the many incidents of their camp life told anew, for no matter what the political cast of the township, it entered heart and soul into the grand object of preserving the Union. As far as politics is con- cerned, this township can, we think, hold the ban- ner as being the most evenly divided township in the county, or in the State, for that matter. The following statistics will give an idea of the strength of both parties :

Governor-Charles Foster, Republican, 107 ; Thomas Ewing, Democrat, 108. Lieutenant

Governor-A. Heckenlooper, Republican, 107; M. V. Rice, Democrat, 108. State Senate- Thomas Joy, Republican, 112; F. M. Marriott, 104. Representative-John Jones, 109; D. H. Elliott, 107. The Supreme Judges, Auditors of State, Attorney General and County Commissioner each had 108 votes.

The early record of the township officers is missing from the Clerk's books, and the earliest record which can be found bears date April 4, 1823, and is as follows :

" At the election held for the purpose of elect- ing township officers, the following were elected to their respective offices :

Trustees-Timothy Main, Peris Main, Jonas Main ; Constables, Sabeers Main, Elijah Williams ; Treasurer, David Tarboss ; Supervisors-Solomon Aldrich, Henry Cline, David Tarboss, John Main ; House Appraisers, Timothy Main, Sabeers Main ; Overseers of the Poor, David Dix, David Carter (killed) ; Fence Viewers, David Dix (John Wil- son), Samuel Wilson ; Clerk, John Wilson.

Present officers are as follows :

Trustees-John Downing, John Shaffner, Hen- ry Main ; Constable, James Main ; Treasurer, John D. Williams ; Assessor, John Barber ; Land Appraiser, Ephraim Willey ; Clerk, S. Willey ; Justices of the Peace, Charles Blymyer, William Pool ; Supervisors-Wilbert Main, Madison Main, Cornelius Marsh, William Pool, David Williams, John Barrett, Henry Ward, James Miller, H. A. Silverwood, David Dix, Jr., Samuel Willey, Ezrah Darst, Anthony Smith, James Landers, William Downing, Albert Shultz, John Coufer.

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

537

CHAPTER XXIII .*

OXFORD TOWNSHIP-ORGANIZATION - EARLY FAMILIES-PIONEER ENTERPRISES-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

"So centuries passed hy, and still the woods Blossomed in spring, and reddened when the year Grew chill, and glistened in the frozen rains Of winter, till the white man swung the ax Within them-signal of a mighty change."-Bryant.

XFORD, like some other political organiza- tions that have passed into history, has had ) its rise and decline. Its earliest organization was a part of Marlborough and with it extended its authority to the lake shore. After some seven years of this subordinate rule, a petition was pre- sented to the County Commissioners by John Shaw and others, praying for the erection of Oxford into a separate township, which was granted March 6, 1815, with boundaries as fol- lows: " Beginning at the southeast corner of the sixth township, Range 18, United States mili- tary lands, and running thence north on the east line of Range 18 to the Indian boundary line ; thence westerly on said line to the east line of Range 19; thence south on said range line to the south line of the sixth township ; thence east on said line to the place of beginning." Three years later, all that part of Radnor Township which was situated due north of Oxford, and north of the Indian boundary line, was attached to this town- ship. In 1822, on the formation of Westfield Township, Oxford furnished the territory, and in 1847, when Morrow County was formed, a strip one mile wide and five miles long was taken from the north side and added to Westfield Township. Oxford at present is five miles long east and west, and four miles wide north and south, and bounded on the north by Westfield, on the east by Perry, both townships in Morrow County; on the south by Brown, and on the west by Troy and Marl- borough. The surface of the township is gener- ally level, though somewhat broken in the north- west corner along the Olentangy River which passes through that corner of the township. Along the west branch of Alum Creek, which passes almost the entire width of the township from north to south about a half a mile from the

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 91

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