History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 96

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 96

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CHAPTER XXVI .*

KINGSTON TOWNSHIP-EARLY SETTLEMENT-SCENES OF THE PIONEER DAYS-CHURCHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS-POLITICS. ETC.

" Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Lie in three words-health, peace and competence. But health consists with temperance alone And peace, O Virtue! peace is all thine own." -Pope.

SAN MARINO, one of the most ancient and limited republics of Europe, consists of a craggy mountain, 2,200 feet in height, situated amidst the lesser ranges of the Appennines, and encircled by provinces that formerly belonged to the Pontifical States. Amidst the mutations and revolutions of empires and kingdoms for a period of more than 700 years, this little republic and its free institutions and government have stood unchanged and undisturbed by the surrounding nations of Europe. The great Napoleon in his

Italian campaign in 1796, sent a special ambassa- dor to San Marino to assure the government that the rights of the republic should be scrupulously respected. It possesses a total area of twenty-one miles, and contains about 8,000 inhabitants. They are noted for their sobriety, industry, morality and genial hospitality. Kingston Township is the San Marino of Delaware County. Its inhabitants are likewise noted for their morality, industry and hospitality. There is not now, and never has been, with but one exception, a store, grocery or any place where intoxicating drinks or liquors were bought or sold in any quantity whatever. It was said, a small contraband, underground distillery was for a short time run by one Walter Bump, near the close of the war, in a very quiet way. But he soon fell into the clutches of the Government officials

* Contributed by Hon. J. R. Hubbell.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

who put an end to his occupation. Vice and im- morality do not thrive and flourish in the presence of schoolhouses and churches.

In its native or original state, there was noth- ing in Kingston Township to especially attract attention. It possessed no mineral wealth, and its water privileges for hydraulic purposes were lim- ited, although favored with springs of good water, and spring-runs and small streams, which afford an abundance of most excellent water for stock. The principal stream is Alum Creek, which strikes the north line of the township about one-half mile from the west line, or northwest corner, and at the junction of the West Branch, and thence runs in a southwesterly direction about one mile before it crosses the west line of the township. Below the junction of the two branches, Alum Creek is quite a large stream, and, at an early day, much more than now, contained a large volume of water. But the channel was confined to that part of the town- ship known as the Todd Section, which was not brought into the market until about twenty years ago, at which time, most everywhere, steam had taken the place of water-power. Next in size and in importance is Little Walnut Creek, with numer- ous tributaries and branches running in a south- erly direction, and near the center of the town- ship. West, and running nearly parallel with this, is Butler Run, which heads in the Butler Swamp, near the center of the township, north and south. In the northeast part is Indigo Run, and in the southeast part is Taylor Run, and a number of small streams flow into Alum Creek in the northwest part, all of which afford an abun- dance of good water for farm purposes. The sur- face of the land is generally quite level, but the northern and eastern portion is more undulating, but perhaps there is not an acre of waste land in the township. Butler Swamp took its name from a Mr. Butler, who settled near it in 1807. It was supposed this land would never be fit for farming purposes ; but clearing it up and drainage has demonstrated the fact that it is, or can be made, tillable and highly productive. The best lands for farming purposes are along the streams, and in the eastern part of the township. Wheat, corn and oats are profitable crops, but the adaptation is bet- ter for grass and grazing than farming. The tim- ber in the original forest was various. Along the streams, and especially along the Little Walnut and its tributaries, there was much black and some white walnut ; also black and red cherry ; in the swamp and on the lowlands there was an

abundance of burr oak, black ash and white elm. The rolling and dry land was covered with the beech, sugar maple, white oak, hickory and white ash. The sycamore skirted the banks of the streams. The rich and alluvial lands were cov- ered with the spice bush, black haws and papaw underbrush, which by the early settlers was regarded as an unmistakable proof of a fertile soil. Wild plums and grapes on the rich bottom lands grew spontaneously in great abundance, and were the only fruits the first settlers could obtain, except the wild crab apple. These fruits were used in various ways and for various purposes ; sometimes dried, and thus kept over until another year. Sometimes they were preserved in maple sugar, the only sweetening to be had, except the wild honey. But these were enough to supply the hardy and enterprising pioneer with such luxuries as he needed and, in most cases, desired. On the lowlands and swails, there was an abundance of wild grass, sufficient to supply stock with pastur- age, and in the summer it was mowed and cured for winter use. Very frequently young horses and cattle were wintered in these swails, and by browsing, without grain or dry feed. The swine of the early pioneers were allowed to run at large, without brands or ear marks, wintering and grow- ing fat on acorn and beech-nut mast. So rapid was the increase of these animals that in a few years the woods were filled with wild hogs, and the back woodsman soon regarded them as public property. For years, many families supplied themselves with pork from this source, and the rightful owner, if there was any, made no com- plaint. This species of nutritious food, so much needed at the time for the swine, as well as for the sustenance and support of the first inhabitants in Delaware County, was called by the expressive term, "shack." Thousands of hogs fattened upon it, and, without any corn feeding, were gathered from the woods in the fall or winter, sold to the drover and driven over the mount- ains to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore markets. For the purpose of grazing and agri- culture, together with its water-courses, the quality of its timber and the original fertility of soil, this township is quite up to the average of the county.

Kingston Township is situated in Range 17, in the United States military lands, and is desig- nated as Number 5 in the original survey. It was created as a township, June 8, 1813, and has had no changes made in its boundary lines since its

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

organization. It is a square, containing 16,000 acres of land, or an area of twenty-five miles, and is bounded on the north by Morrow County, on the east by Porter Township, on the south by Berkshire, and on the west by Brown. There are no towns or villages in the township, nor even a grist-mill. About forty six or eight years ago, however, a storehouse was built at what was known as Stark's Corners, near the east line of the town- ship, and about the center, north and south, by a man of the name of James Moore, who sold goods for some years, and was succeeded by James N. Stark. But after a few years, he discontinued the business. There has never been but two water saw-mills in the township. One was built by Leonard Lott, about the year 1819, and the other some years afterward, by Peter Van Sickle, per- haps about the year 1830. These mills were both on the Little Walnut. They answered a good purpose in their day, but long since rotted down and were abandoned. The valuable timber destroyed, or wasted for want of mills to saw it into lumber, and facilities to ship it to market, would pay, twice over, at present prices, the origi- nal cost of all the lands in the township. Perhaps the walnut timber alone that then was standing, at its present high value, would amount to the price paid by the patentees of these lands. It will be remembered that these lands were given to the soldiers of the war of the Revolution, for their services. In the first place, warrants for 100 acres were, under an act of Congress, issued to the private soldiers. These warrants were made transferable, and could only be located in tracts of four thousand acres. This unjust and unwise provision compelled the soldier, who, in most cases, was poor, to sell his warrant to some heartless speculator, for whatever he could get. In many instances, the soldiers turned over their land war- ants to the landlord, or tavern keeper, to pay the bar bill, and in that way, that which was intended to be a bounty from the Government was turned into a curse. Some years later, under the influ- ence of Gen. William Henry Harrison, who was himself a soldier, and the soldier's friend, and a member of Congress, a change was made in that provision of the law, so that land warrants could be located by the soldiers, in tracts of 100 acres. It was in this way the four United States military sections, each containing 4,000 acres, which con- stitutes Kingston, or the fifth township in the Seventeenth range of the United States military lands, originated.

In most cases, the early settlers purchased their lands before they left their homes in the East, and without any personal knowledge of their character or value, moved their families on to them, and whether they were satisfied or not, they were com- pelled to submit to their lot. Many would have been glad to have returned to their old homes in the East, but their means would not permit it, and the " yoke was made easy that had to be worn."

The first settlement in Kingston was made some time about the year 1807, but just where cannot be definitely settled. It was made in the south- eastern part of the township, and on or near the Little Walnut Creek. As near as can be ascer- tained, John Phipps was the first settler, but of him little is known. Shortly after building his cabin and moving his family into it, he sold out and returned East to his old home. Mr. George Hess came into this township from Bucks County, in the State of Pennsylvania, in the same year, and settled near Phipps ; these first pioneers were probably from the same neighborhood, and old ac- quaintances. Hess cleared up his farm and lived on it until his death, which occurred in 1835. As his name would imply, he was a German either by birth or descent, and spoke the English language very imperfectly. Industrious and unobtrusive, he lived a quiet life and received the respect of bis neighbors for his many virtues. While living, he had but few acquaintances, and they were his friends. He was married, but had no children. His wife survived him, but died many years ago. She, too, was of German extraction, and well suited to wear with her husband the marriage yoke. He is remembered as one of the pioneers who passed through the perils and dark days of the war of 1812. The old Hess farm, its quaint. residence, Pennsylvanian barn, with its thatched roof, will long be remembered by the young, who knew nothing personally of its proprietor. In front of his barn, and at the side of the high- way, he placed a large trough, which was sup- plied with water from a spring near by, for the ac- commodation of the traveling community. The old farm is now owned by Ceptor Stark. In the same season, and but a few weeks subsequently, two brothers, Abraham and James Anway, also from Pennsylvania, built cabins and settled near Mr. Hess. These brothers were building their cabins when Hess moved on his farm. They raised large families, and encountered all the pri- vations and hardships of a frontier life. The first generation died long since, and their children and

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

descendants are scattered ; perhaps there are now none living in the township. Still later, in the year 1812, Peter Van Sickle came into the town- ship from the State of New Jersey, with a young family. He located in the wilderness on a farm or tract of land lying on the west side of Little Walnut Creek, and adjoining the south line of the township, nearly two miles in a south westerly di- rection from those who preceded him-Mr. Hess and the two Anway brothers. His family con- sisted of two sons, William G. and Asa Van Sickle, and four daughters, all of whom lived to manhood and womanhood, and were married. The entire family are now dead, except Mrs. Lott, wife of Mr. R. J. Lott, the youngest daughter, and Elizabeth, who married Mr. James R. Stark, now deceased. The oldest daughter married an older brother of James R. Stark, the Hon. Almon Stark, an intelligent an industrious farmer, who was an Associate Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Delaware County for several years. Both Judge Stark and his wife are now dead. Judge Stark settled, over fifty years ago, on a farm (in the southeast corner of the township) of about two hundred acres, improved it with fine buildings, which he sold not long before the war of the rebel- lion, and moved to Columbus, where he died. Peter Van Sickle was a very industrious man, helped his children pecuniarily in starting out in the world, and, at his death, left them quite a large estate. His old farm of 350 acres is now owned by the Hon. O. D. Hough, of Berkshire.

Three years subsequently, a family by the same name, and distant relatives of Peter Van Sickle, settled in the eastern part of the township, about one mile and a half north of George Hess' farm. This family, too, emigrated from the State of New Jersey. Mr. John Van Sickle, like his cousin, Peter, came well prepared with goods and money to encounter the hardships of life in a new country, and at this time the two families of Peter and John Van Sickle were the wealthiest people in the part of the county in which they lived, and they were a great help to their less fortunate neighbors. John Van Sickle was an enterprising and intelligent farmer, and an exemplary Chris- tian. He was born in Sussex County, in the State of New Jersey, in the year 1791, and in the year 1814, he was married to Miss Susannah Wicker, a native of the same county, and born in the year 1796. Mr. Van Sickle died about the year 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Van Sickle raised eight children, all of whom were

married and raised families. David, the old- est son, is a farmer, and lives in Kingston, his native township, about two miles northwest from the old homestead. Peter, who settled on a farm in Porter Township, adjoining, died several years ago. William W. lives in Delaware. Elizabeth, who was married to George Blaney, lives in Porter. Mary married Charles Wilcox, and lived and died in Porter. Esther married a Mr. Knox; and lived and died in Trenton Township. Drusilla married Dr. H. Besse, and lives in Delaware. Jane married Mr. Lewis Buck, and now lives in Morrow County. Mr. Van Sickle owned a large farm of several hundred acres of valuable land, and carried on farming on a large scale. On ar- riving at maturity, he gave to each of his chidren 100 acres of land, and at his death, he left a good estate to be divided among his heirs. When the county was quite new, and the country wild, his public spirit and enterprise led him to employ hands and build a dam and a grist and saw mill on Big Walnut Creek, near Sunbury. The mill- ing business he carried on in connection with his farming, for many years. The history of this mill will be found in the history of Trenton Township. From early life, he was a devout Christian and an exemplary member of the Pres- byterian Church, and his lifelong enterprise in building-up and sustaining the church of his early choice was equal to his enterprise in the business affairs of life. For many years, he was the main stay and support for what was then and still is known as the old Blue Church. But, when the great question of slavery became a dividing prin- ciple in this denomination, he, with the late Charles M. Fowler, and a few others, verified their Christian principles by leaving the Old School Presbyterians and forming a New School Pres- byterian Church; and they erected a house for worship at East Liberty, in Porter Township. Here he continued his connection until the time of his death. When the weight of years and hard work had enfeebled his once strong consti- tution, he sold his land and moved to the village of East Liberty, where he had built himself a comfortable home. Here he passed the remain- der of his days, reverenced by all who knew him, for his strong will, earnest Christian char- acter, and his unswerving integrity. He gave liberally to the church while living, and, at his death, he left an endowment for the church, and his home for a parsonage so long as it remained a Presbyterian Church. The year before Mr. Van

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Sickle settled in this township, and being early in the year 1814, two brothers of the name of Rich- ard and Charles Hodgden emigrated to Dela- ware County from the State of Connecticut and settled in Kingston Township. Both were unmar- ried. They built themselves a log cabin, lived by themselves, did their own cooking and washing . for some time, cleared up their lands and estab- lished for themselves comfortable homes. Both became profoundly impressed with the divine sentiment " that it was not good for man to be alone," and they married wives. Richard married a Miss Place ; Charles married a Miss Blackman, and, after her death, married for his second wife a Miss Brockover. Richard died on his old homestead, a few years ago, and Charles afterward moved to Union County, where he died.

In 1815, Benjamin Benedict immigrated to Kingston Township from the same State as the Hodgdens, and located on Little Walnut Creek, about one mile south of the center of the town- ship, where he cleared up a farm of 150 acres. Upon this farm he lived to the great age of eighty- eight years, and died in the year 1877. He was an upright and industrious man, lived in peace with his neighbors, and was greatly respected by all who knew him. Soon after he came to Kings- ton, he married a Miss White, who had an ex- tensive family connection, among the early pio- neers. She is still living. The fruit of this union were two sons, the older of whom, Nelson, was twenty years the senior of the younger brother, and died several years ago. The younger son, whose name is Sturgis, is living upon the old home- stead. Mr. Benedict had a younger brother by the name of Kirby, who subsequently made his home with him and taught school, studied law, immigrated to the State of Illinois, and established himself in the practice of his profession in Deca- tur. He was successful in business, and repre- sented his county in the State Legislature several years. During the administration of, Franklin Pierce in 1854, he was offered and accepted the appointment of Territorial Judge for New Mexico. He subsequently was appointed Chief Justice of New Mexico, by President Lincoln, who was an early personal friend. Judge Benedict had been a Democrat, but he was patriotic, and a strong Union man, and, during the war, gave Mr. Lin- coln's administration an earnest support. He was a good lawyer, scholarly and made a good Judge. His wife was a Miss Curtis, whose father was one of the early pioneers of the township. She sur-

vives her husband and is now living in Decatur, Ill. A younger sister of Mr. Benedict married James P. Crawford, of Berkshire, by whom she raised a family; they are both now dead. Their oldest daughter is married to Mr. William Frost, of Berkshire Township.

Just previous to the war of 1812, Solomon Steward immigrated to Delaware County from the Green Mountains of Vermont. His father, William Steward, was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war. In 1815, he was married to Miss Nancy White, sister of Mrs. Benjamin Benedict, and soon after their marriage, they settled in Porter. Both are now dead.

In 1809, James Stark, John Rosecrans and his four sons, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joho, Daniel Rosecrans and his four sons, Nathaniel, Jacob, Purlemas and Crandall, and Joseph Pat- rick and his wife Sarah (who was a Miss Taylor), and her father, Daniel Taylor, immigrated to Kingston from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsyl- vania, and settled in different parts of the township. James Stark settled on the east part, on a farm of about two hundred acres, which he improved with good buildings, and for many years kept a house of entertainment for travelers, which was the only hotel ever kept in the township. The north and south road, called the Sunbury road, and the Mansfield road, cross on this farm, thus forming Stark's Corners. Mr. Stark's wife was a Miss Wilcox, whose family connection was very numer- ous, and he, having a very wide acquaintance, with the confidence of all who knew him, exer- cised great influence in an early day among the pioneers. His letters to his old acquaintances in Pennsylvania induced a large immigration to Delaware County. By a former marriage, Mr. Stark had three daughters, all of whom were married and raised families. One married a Mr. Perfect, a farmer of Trenton ; one, Dr. Bigelow, of Galena; and one, Mr. Benjamin Carpenter, also of Galena. They and their husbands are now all deceased. By his second wife he had one' son, James N. Stark, now owner of the old home- stead, but he does not occupy it. For many years, the son was extensively engaged in farming and mercantile pursuits. At one time he owned about two thousand acres of farming land in Kingston and Porter Township, but losses and shrinkage in values compelled him to part with a large portion of his landed property, and to greatly contract his commercial pursuits. The senior James Stark, who died many years ago, was a

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

good example of an old-school country gentleman. Oliver Stark, nephew of James Stark, was a native of Luzerne County, Pepn., where he was born in 1801. He came to Kingston in 1825, settled on a good farm adjoining his uncle's on the south, cleared it up, and put it in a fine state of cultiva- tion, with excellent buildings. In 1829, he mar- ried Miss Eliza Patrick, daughter of Joseph Pat- rick, and the first white child born in Kingston. Mr. Stark was a thrifty farmer ; was a Justice of the Peace for twenty-one years, and a County Commissioner from 1846 to 1849. He died sev- eral years ago, leaving several children, and a large estate to his heirs. Cepter Stark, the largest landholder in the township, is his oldest son. Almon Stark, to whom reference has already been made, was a relative. Both Oliver Stark and his uncle James were exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and did much to promote the cause of religion. Joseph Patrick, one of the immigrant party of 1809, was a very remarkable man. His intellectual endowments were of a high order. He was unfortunate in having an impediment in his speech. His histor- ical reading was as extensive as his memory was remarkable. He was a good business man, accum- ulated a large fortune for his day and generation, held many positions of trust, was County Treas- urer, and an honest man. He removed from Kingston to Berkshire at an early day, and, some years ago, at an advanced age, died, leaving a large family of children and grandchildren, many of whom are living in the eastern part of the connty. Mr. Daniel Taylor, the father of Mr. Joseph Patrick, and grandfather of Mrs. Stark, settled in the southeast part of the township, on Taylor's Run. The " run " took its name from Mr. Taylor. He was an unobtrusive man, and died many years ago. Some of his children, and their descendants, are living in Kingston.

Dr. Daniel Rosecrans first settled on Little Walnut Creek, and was the first Justice of the Peace in the township. The farm on which he settled about the year 1813, he sold to John Brown, and it is now owned by John W. Hall and Mr. Frank Owens. Dr. Rosecrans purchased lands further south on Taylor Run, now owned by the heirs of John Rosecrans. The doctor died many years ago. His son, Crandall, married Miss Jemima Hopkins, who was of the family of Stephen Hop- kins, one of the signers of the Declaration of In- dependence. There were three sons born of this union, the oldest of whom was Maj. Gen. William

Stark Rosecrans, whose great name and fame will be transmitted throughout the endless circles of time. He will be remembered in history as one of the most successful and skillful Generals in the Union army in the war of the great rebell- ion .. Gen. Rosecrans was born on Taylor Run in Kingston on the 6th day of September, 1819. Soon after his birth, his father moved to Homer, Licking Co., where he engaged in the occupation of farming, and keeping hotel. In the year 1838, he obtained a cadetship for his son William at the military school at West Point. His attainments as a scholar were at this time of a high order, and he readily passed the necessary examination, and four years afterward he gradu- ated, and was a professor at the school where he graduated (for some years), of civil engineering, with distinction, but he resigned his commission in the army, and engaged in private pursuits. He volunteered his services to his country at the com- mencement of the rebellion, and was appointed by Gov. Dennison Colonel of the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was soon afterward made Brigadier General of volunteers, and a little later Major General. He was conspicuous in the cam- paign in West Virginia, early in the first year of the war, and at the battle of Cheat Mountain ; the bloody fields of Stone River, Iuka, Corinth and Chickamauga, furnish ample proof of his skill as military commander, and his courage and patriot- ism have never been questioned. After the close of of the war, he was made a Brigadier General in the regular army, but he resigned. his commission soon afterward. In 1869, the Democratic State Convention at Columbus nominated him for Gov- ernor of Ohio, an honor he declined to accept. Gen. McClellan, when Commander-in-Chief of the army, pronounced Gen. Rosecrans the best scholar in the American army. Indeed, old Kingston has reason to feel proud of her distinguished son and great General. Another son of Crandall Rose- crans, .Sylvester, was scarcely less distinguished than his brother. He was eight years younger than the General, and born in Licking County. Through the influence of the General, a military warrant was obtained for him to a cadetship at West Point, and, after a regular course, he gradu- ated at that institution. He joined the Roman Catholic Church, and commenced a regular course of theological studies. He was sent to Rome and educated at the Vatican under the Holy Father, Pio Nono, or Pins IX, for the priesthood. About twenty years ago, he was commissioned a Bishop

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 96

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