USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 24
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We propose to give some history of the graveyard's silent occu- pants, so far as the time-worn tombstones and our memory will serve us. The rows of lots on the west side were first taken, as the entrance was from that side. Here we find the Cook family.
Capt. Thomas Cook, of the Revolutionary war, settled early in the history of Ohio, on the old Wheeling road, three miles east of Cam- bridge, on two hundred acres of soldier bounty land, now the Winfield Scott farm at the crooked bridge, over Cook's run, thus giving the run its name. We suggest here that there is much unwritten history in the runs of Guernsey county, as their names are taken from the early set- tlers, or from some local incident occurring along them. Your itemizers might trace the history of some of the runs in their localities. The Talbert family, Nathaniel Talbert, known as Yankee Talbert, was a sort of wizzard, a pow-wow over sick horses and a sort of "yerb doctor," peeling the bark up for an emetic and down for a cathartic.
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The Tingle family, John and George R. Tingle, one of the early tavern keepers, and the head of the Tingle family of Cambridge. The Beatty family, Capt. C. P. Beatty, of the war of 1812, and the first clerk of court of Guernsey county. The Talbot family, Lloyd Talbot, a prominent character and official in the early history of the county.
The Ferguson family is marked by two stones, one to the memory of John Ferguson, senior, the other to Jane and Washington Ferguson. In the northwest corner and perhaps in the part thrown out into the alley, was the grave of a child of James Oldham, which was the first to be buried in the graveyard. In this corner is a stone to Oren Crego. In the southwest corner Moman Morgan, the colored barber, was buried. "Fobe" Beatty and "Dick" O'Ferrell, slaves, brought from Vir- ginia with these families, were also buried in this corner. "Tobe" Beatty was the first colored person to live in Cambridge. There is to the south a stone marked for John Brown. Between these marked graves are a number unmarked. The original plan of the graveyard seems to have been a double row of lots, with a space for a walk between, and as some of the stones face to the east and to the west in the same row, and being unevenly set, it is difficult to trace the exact original plan.
In this first row is a stone to Robert Bell, age one hundred and seven years, and to a son Robert, aged fifty-four years. The Bell and Ferguson plots are side by side. These were early settlers and connected by inter- marriage. In this row and in an unmarked grave lies Francis Donsonchet, a French soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte, and father of Dr. Francis Donsonchet, an eccentric character in the early history of Cambridge. In this row are buried two who died from unnatural causes, Nelson Talbot, son of Lloyd Talbot, was drowned in Wills creek. William Tingle, son of George R. Tingle, was bitten by a poisonous spider, and died from its effect. Near the Ferguson and Lofland plots is a large sycamore tree, planted long years ago by some one of these families.
In the next row is the Col. Z. A. Beatty square. There is no mark except a stone erected to the memory of Margery Louisa, child of John P. Beatty and Rachel Sarchet. Next to this is the Gomber square. The old stones are so time-worn as to be almost illegible. In this is a stone erected to the memory of Maria Gomber, wife of James B. Moore. Next to this square are some stones, but the traces of the letters are gone. They mark the resting place of some of the Thomas Metcalf family. The next in the row is a monument erected to the memory of Col. Gor- don Lofland and Sarah P. Lofland, his wife, and to Thomnas Metcalf,
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the first husband of Sarah P. Lofland and to the deceased children of these marriages. Sarah P. Lofland was a daughter of Jacob Gomber. In our history of the town we did not reach Colonel Lofland, as his residence was outside the original plat. It is now known as the old Lofland house. This, in the days of Colonel Lofland, on the large and beautiful farm which covered all that part north of Steubenville avenue, and west of Fifth street, to Wills creek, was a cozy place, and but a short walk from town. It was the scene of many a jolly merry-making of the young people of its day. Colonel Lofland was prominent in the militia days, and during the late war, but was not a successful business man.
Northwood cemetery, the latest one established near Cambridge, contains forty acres of high, dry and beautifully situated land to the north of the city, on North Eighth street. It was platted in 1899. It is under a board of control, now consisting of Messrs. R. M. Allison, S. E. Boden and J. B. Gregg, the latter serving as director of public safety. These grounds are now well improved and have already many graves and fine monuments and tombs erected to the departed dead of the community. The old city burying-ground has become well filled and un- fit for modern use. There rest many of the departed pioneers and their graves are visited frequently by children and grandchildren.
The City cemetery, lying on the brow of the hill overlooking the valley, in the southeast part of the city, was opened for use about 1858-59 and contains about seven acres. The present superintendent is C. W. Campbell. It has not been used much since the opening of the new bury- ing-ground-Northwood. It is only used by those whose family lot has not already been filled. It is tastily cared for and contains many fine tombstones and monuments erected to the silent sleepers, who comprise many of Cambridge's best known old settlers.
RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.
The first place of religious worship in Cambridge was at the house of Thomas Sarchet, where those Guernsey people held what was called "French meeting." William Ogier was an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Thomas Sarchet, a licensed exhorter, who in turn conducted the exercises. From the nucleus of these Guern- sey men sprang the Methodist Episcopal congregation. This society was soon attached to the Zanesville circuit. The circuit as then traveled was bounded as follows: Beginning at Zanesville, up the Muskingum to
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the mouth of the Tuscarawas, up the Tuscarawas to the mouth of big Stillwater, up big Stillwater to the old Wheeling road, and west on said road to Zanesville, comprising as much territory in its bounds as is in the Cambridge district. The first traveling preacher of any denomina- tion that preached in Cambridge was James Watts of the Methodist Episcopal church. It is worthy to be noted that this charge has been filled by such eminent ministers as Bishop Morris, who lived here about the year 1817, James B. Findley, John P. Durbin, Leroy Swarmstead, S. R. Brockunier, Jacob and David Young, and Doctor Whiteman, pio- neers of western Methodism. All the religious societies that have places of public worship now in Cambridge, except the Protestant Methodist, were represented by members among the first settlers that I have named; but, except the Methodist Episcopal society, none had regular services for many years.
After the erection of the court house the Methodists had religious services every Sabbath in the grand jury room. In this room the great Lorenzo Dow once preached, as he was traveling to the West.
The first church building erected was by the Seceders, about the year 1826, on the Captain Anderson lot ; but on account of some defect in construction was soon pronounced unsafe, and had to be abandoned. Services were then held in the lower room of the "old lodge." It is said that two of the members would not "leave the house of God and go to the house of Baal," but demanded their papers, shook the dust from off their feet, and joined a congregation far away from the contaminating influences of "secret oath-bound societies."
(For a detailed history of the Cambridge churches see general chap- ters, where all denominations of the county appear under proper heads.)
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENTS.
In 1842 Washingtonian temperance societies were at high tide throughout the country, and Ohio, that had just emerged from the hard- cider campaign of 1840, took her place as one of the foremost among the states in favor of teetotalism. The annual meeting of the Cambridge Washingtonian Temperance Society was held in the Presbyterian church on January 22, 1842. The sober second thought of the people was work- ing wonders and rapidly spreading and extending the great work of reformation. This meeting was addressed by Gen. David Tallmage, of Lancaster, and Napoleon B. Guille, of Zanesville. General Tallmage was
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the proprietor of the great stage line "Good Intent" in Ohio and he had sent out circular letters all along his lines, requiring the discharge of all drivers who had not signed the teetotal pledge. Niel, Moore & Com- pany, proprietors of the great "Ohio Stage Company," had sent out sim- ilar circulars. There was to be no more upsetting of coaches or drunken drivers.
In 1843 the Cambridge Washingtonian Temperance Society resolved to make a grand temperance display and parade on July 4th with a free public dinner, to which the temperance societies of the county were invited. The tables were to be spread in the beech grove in the old mill bottom a short distance east of the old Morton house. It was to be and was a grand gala day in the cause of temperance, as well as an Independ- ence day celebration.
The order of march from the public square to the grove, as given in the program, was as follows: "Under the direction of Col. Gordon Lofland, chief marshal, assisted by Maj. Nathan Evans, John Clark and Jacob G. Metcalf; Fairview military company, Capt. Isaac Pumphrey ; Cambridge Mozart Band; officers of temperance societies and temper- ance men; Cambridge Sabbath schools; county officials and lawyers; citizens and visitors, men and women.
The line of march was down the old mill road. At the grove a large stand had been erected near the long dinner tables, that had been con- structed with forks and boards. Around great log heaps the meats were being roasted and boiled and kettles of coffee were steaming. Piles of bread and pies were stacked up around the trees in huge conical forms.
The exercises at the grand stand were opened with prayer by Rev. William Ross, the Methodist Protestant minister; John Hersch, Esq., made an introductory address and read the Declaration of Independence ; an oration was delivered by Thomas Brown, Esq .; temperance addresses by Mathew Gaston, Esq., and Rev. George Clancy. This closed the ex- ercises of the forenoon.
IMPORTANT EVENTS.
Black Hawk, the noted Indian chief, passed through Cambridge in the spring of 1833, in charge of some United States officers. The party stopped some time at the Hutchison tavern, where the stage team was changed. The word soon spread through town, and a large number of citizens, men, women and children, hurried to the tavern to see the great Indian chieftain.
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On Monday, November 26, 1849, General Tom Thumb, the world famous dwarf, then in his seventeenth year, and weighing but fifteen pounds, appeared in Cambridge, and was on exhibition at the court house from two-thirty to four o'clock in the afternoon, and from seven to eight-thirty in the evening. This remarkable specimen of humanity, twenty-eight inches in height, gave a street parade, having a curious miniature equipage of two of the smallest horses in the world, a diminu- tive coachman, and a carriage proportionately tiny. Tom Thumb, or, to call him by his real name, Charles S. Stratton, was accompanied by his parents and attendants, in all, eleven persons. The price of admission was twenty-five cents, children under ten years, half-price.
A small band of Mormonites passed through this place a few days since, on their way to the "New Jersalem," located somewhere in the state of Missouri. While here, they encamped on a bank of Wills creek, in the rear of the town .- Guernsey Times, July 20. 1833.
The Guernsey Times of July 6. 1833, contains the following : "Daniel Webster, in company with his lady and daughter, passed through this place on Saturday morning last, on his return home from a visit to the western part of the state."
At the election in Cambridge December 27, 1897, two issues were up for solution-the voting of water works bonds and that for a new ceme- tery. The votes stood: For cemetery, 254; against, 154. For water works, 260; against, 136. The majority not being two-thirds, both issues failed of carrying.
When Queen Victoria of England was crowned in 1837, the Cam- bridge Academy held a service in which they, too, went through the mock ceremony of crowning her. It was a high-toned affair, attended by many of the best citizens. The then boy of nine summers-Mr. Sarchet, supervising editor of this work-lived to write of the good Queen's death in 1901. The occasion in Cambridge enlisted the best talent of the Academy ; a young lady, who later was well known in the city, was made queen and the maids of service and honor were not a few. The queen's long dress train was carried by the girls in real court style. But with all that was English, there were some American features, too. "America," "Hail Columbia" and other national airs were rendered, while the folds of "Old Glory" were floating in the breeze.
The high water mark of March, 1907, at Cambridge, excelled that of 1884 by almost one foot and beat all previous records since the settle- ment of the county.
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The first cars were run on the electric line between Cambridge and Byesville in the autumn of 1903 (October 21) over the Cambridge Con- solidated Company's line, later styled the Cambridge Power, Light & Traction Company, but at this time known as the Midland Power & Traction Company. The road was opened up to the Byesville limit five weeks earlier than that date, but not clear to Byesville.
A society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, known as the Guernsey County Humane Society, was formed at Cambridge in the spring of 1907. Its first president was A. M. Baxter; secretary, John P. Turner; treasurer, Mrs. J. M. Ferguson. The first person made humane officer was U. G. Henderson. It is now doing much good in the county.
Cambridge has more slate roofed buildings-business and residences -than any city of its population in Ohio, according to the statement of 1910 contractors.
In the autumn of 1874 the county and city were greatly enthused over the Woman's Temperance Crusade, and in the fall of 1877 the great Francis Murphy temperance wave struck the county and made Cam- bridge its headquarters and by it many were rescued from the demon drink.
The first electric street cars were operated at Cambridge April 24, 1902, by the Consolidated Company.
The Electric park was thrown open to the public in the summer of 1907.
LORENZO DOW IN CAMBRIDGE.
Lorenzo Dow preached twice in Cambridge; the first time in 1826, the second in 1832. On his first visit his wife, Peggy, was with him. They were traveling horseback. At the time of his second visit, the writer was a small boy, but retains a very distinct recollection of the event, and of the appearance of the strange, eccentric preacher, as he stood on a stump, his horse standing beside him.
The news of his approach had been brought by the stage driven from the east, some hours in advance of his arrival. It was noised abroad. Those who had heard him on his first visit were anxious to hear him again, and there were many citizens of the town and vicinity who had never heard him. All were on the alert, and when they arrived at the public square a large crowd of men, women and children were there awaiting his coming. We were led by our grandfather, and what we relate is rather hearsay than recollection we could have of his discourse. He began the services by singing :
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"Hark! From the tombs a doleful sound, Mine ears attend the cry, Ye living men, come view the ground, Where you must shortly lie."
With all his eccentricities, he aimed to do good. No one will ques- tion that he did good. The biography of Lorenzo is in every way curious and useful. He regarded the world as all going wrong, and that he was born to set it right. He printed books and tracts, which he sold or gave away on his travels through the western wilderness.
His subject was: "The Clay in the Hands of the Potter." The political contest between Gen. Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay was in full blast and his first sentence was, "I suppose you are all for Clay." He then continued as indicated by the hymn and Scripture quotation. After preaching, he mounted his horse and rode on eastward, spending the night at Norwich. There he preached to a crowded house in the Methodist Episcopal church.
In the assemby were two men, who were disposed to ask him ques- tions. As they asked questions, he inquired their names. One gave his name as Bush, the other Grubb. Bush had said: "You are talking about Heaven ; tell us how it looks." Dow turned his grave face and long gray locks toward his questioners, and said with great gravity: "Heaven, friends, is a vast extent of rich, smooth territory. There is not a Bush nor a Grubb in it, and never will be."
He was the oddest kind of an oddity. His manners and sayings during the years that he traveled in almost every state and town of this country were given as widespread publicity by the newspapers as those of the celebrated Rowland Hill .- From Col. C. P. B. Sarchet's writings.
GEN. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON HERE.
Gen. William Henry Harrison passed through Cambridge twice be- fore he was the candidate of the Whig party in 1840. The first time he was traveling to the east in a private coach, and stopped at the Judge Metcalf tavern. The word was soon passed around that he was in town and would hold a levee at the court house. The women and children flocked to the court house to await his coming. The men, more impa- tient, hurried to the tavern to greet him. From the tavern he was escorted up the street on either side by General Bell and Major Dunlap,
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followed by a long line of citizens, many of whom were old soldiers of the war of 1812. Among these was old Sol Kinney, colored. He had a string of buttons and a pair of bones, which he rattled and clapped, being at the head of the line. At the court house General Harrison shook hands with the women and children, and kissed all the babies. After an hour of pleasant social greetings to all, irrespective of party, the coach drove up in front of the court house, and the General, taking a seat on top with the driver, moved off amid the cheers of the gathered multitude. His second visit to Cambridge was after he had received the votes of the Whig party for President in 1836. He was traveling to the west by private coach, and stopped at the old Hutchison tavern. As word had been sent on in advance that he was to pass through Cambridge, the people from the country flocked into town. He had passed the night east of Cambridge, and was followed from the east by a great train of carriages and horsemen. He was received at the head of Wheeling avenue by the great crowd gathered to await his coming, and passed down the street to the Hutchison tavern, the coach being surrounded by the rejoicing and vociferous Whigs. The coach was gaily trimmed with flags and bunting, and on the top a drum corps filled the air with strains of martial music. A large number of Whigs of Cambridge had inade ready to escort him to Zanesville. After dinner the great caval- cade moved down through the street, which was lined on either side by the citizens, men, women and children, cheering for "Old Tip." This was the beginning of what three years later was to be the most memor- able political campaign in the nation's history. General Harrison did not visit Cambridge in 1840, neither did Tom Corwin, to make a speech. He was prevented from being at the great '40 meeting by sickness, but he was represented at the great joint rally of Guernsey and Belmont counties at Fairview. At this meeting an old Democrat had made the declaration that he was going to tell Tom Corwin that he was a dema- gogue. So the old fellow took a position near the speaker's stand, and when the opportune time came he looked up at Corwin, and said, "You are nothing but a demagogue." Corwin turned and looked at him for a moment, and said: "If you were wrapped with willows you would be a demijolin."-C. P. B. Sarchet, in Cambridge Herald, 1897.
LONG-AGO CAMBRIDGE INCIDENTS.
The first house in what is now Gaston's addition was built by "Katy" Whetzel, who built a cabin on the north end of the J. C. Beckett lot. She
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lived for a long time with Judge Spears, in Adams township, in the old tavern on the old Wheeling road. She was said to be a relative of Lewis Whetzel, the great Indian fighter, "whose gun was always loaded." This cabin, and the first Methodist church, that was on the Simons' foundry lot, and the first Methodist Protestant church on the present site were all the houses in this part of town sixty years ago. Over the creek all was woods, except a small field known as "Beatty's meadow." In the corner of this, about the site of Mrs. Long's residence, were two cabins, in one of which lived General Jack- son, father of the late Samuel Jackson. He was one of the old road team- sters, before and after the building of the National road. In the other lived old Tom Lawrence. Two of his sons were makers of history, connected with the courts of Guernsey county. Andy was sent to the penitentiary at Colum- bus for stabbing with intent to kill, and was among the first to be confined in the first brick jail of the county. He was a teamster while at the penitentiary, and engaged in hauling the stone at the beginning of the erection of the pres- ent state capitol. John had an altercation with Jerry Nubia, a colored Quaker. Jerry, forgetting the teachings of peace, went home, and "with malice afore- thought," armed himself with a gun and went out gaming after Lawrence. He shot at him from the now McIlyar corner, toward the Davis corner, Law- rence at the time making toward Nubia with a stone in his hand. Nubia used a shot gun. One shot took effect, entering Lawrence's eye. The writer and others were standing on the then McCracken corner. The shots and slugs flew around us, rattling against the sides of the building, and came near enough for us to know that we were in the line of fire. Nubia was sent to the penitentiary for a term of years. Lawrence suffered the loss of an eye. We had an opportunity of knowing the Lawrence family well, and as far back as we can remember we heard of a great fortune that was awaiting claimants in connection with this family. We think that not long ago we saw an item to the effect that some of this family, living in the northern part of Guernsey county, had struck a fresh trail leading toward this hidden treasure. It has been more than two hundred years since Captain William Kidd, the re- nowned free-booter and buccaneer, sailed from Plymouth, England. bearing a commission signed by the king, to prey upon the French commerce upon the high seas. He exceeded his authority, and became a great pirate, instead of the "trusty and well-behaved Captain Kidd." He was executed in London in 1701. His name became famous, and was known in the ballad : "My Name is Captain Kidd, as I Sailed, as I Sailed." He was said to have buried a large treasure on the coast bordering on Long Island sound, the reward of his buc- caneering. The search for it has been repeated off and on for all these years,
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and yet the "Kidd treasures" are an unknown quantity. And the Lawrence treasure is still waiting, but it is with somebody behind the screen drawing every now and again a fee, and the treasure, like Kidd's, is still hidden away. Better to find the treasure, then buy the field.
On the east end of Wheeling avenue, in a small log house, where the Hutchison house now is, old Mrs. Williams lived, like the "old woman who lived under the hill, kept cakes and whisky to sell." This house was called the "light house," as a light could be seen at all hours of the night. It was a place for drinking and carousal, "which even to name would be unlawful." Opposite; across Leatherwood creek, was the "Dixon sugar camp." All around was a dense forest. One sugar season, old Harvey, living in town, was running the sugar camp. He used for the back wall of his fire a large poplar tree that had fallen out of root. The kettles were suspended over the fire by means of poles and forks. One morning, after Harvey had started up his fire, and was busily engaged in gathering in the water, he was surprised to see a large bear drinking his syrup from one of the kettles. The bear had taken up quarters in the log, and the fire roused him out a little in advance of the close of the hibernating season. He was now disposed to take the camp, Harvey and all, and for a time was master of the situation, for Harvey retreated for town as fast as he could. He reported to old John Dixon that the bear had taken possession, and was eating all the sugar and drinking the syrup. Dixon was an old hunter. He hurried over to the camp and shot bruin, as he was standing up at one of the kettles, trying to get out the foam- ing syrup. This bear was of large size, and Harvey and Dixon made up their loss in syrup and sugar by the sale of the meat and the skin. We have eaten bear meat once, but not of this one.
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