USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc > Part 38
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another officer. The remaining officers of the Fifty-eighth Battalion, who were thus knocked out of their positions, either returned home or went into the ranks, except Rev. Jacob B. Dunn, who was appointed chaplain of the regiment. Considerable feeling was manifested at the time, and much dis- satisfaction afterward existed among the companies from this county be- cause of their separation; but they were forced to submit to the orders of the higher authorities, and soon became reconciled to their position.
The One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment (O. N. G.) was mustered in at Camp Chase, May 6, 1864, and immediately ordered into West Vir- ginia, where it remained on duty till June 7, when it proceeded to Wash- ington, D. C., and thence to .Bermuda Hundred. On the 17th of July the regiment embarked for Fort Powhattan, on the James River. Here it was employed in various important duties until August 10, when it returned to Washington, and thence to Camp Chase, where it was mustered out of service August 20, 1864.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
The One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment (O. N. G.) was mustered into the service at Camp Chase, May 6, 1864, and the next day moved for Cumberland, Va. On the 6th of June it started to Washington, D. C., and thence proceeded to White House, on the Pamunkey River, but on its arrival was at once ordered to City Point. The regiment had its first and only engagement with the rebels at Port Walthall during the assault on Petersburg, where the men displayed admirable coolness under fire. For seventy days the regiment formed a portion of the advanced lines operating on Richmond, and was engaged in intrenching and picket duty. Its term of service having expired, it returned to Camp Chase, where it was mus- tered out August 31, 1864.
The One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment (O. N. G.) was mustered into the service at Camp Chase, May 9, 1864, and left on the same day for Cumberland, Md. It soon afterward moved to Martinsburg, W. Va., and early in June a part of the regiment was sent up to the Shenandoah Valley with the supply train to Hunter's army. After turning over the supplies the detachment returned to Martinsburg, bringing back safely a long wagon train, many sick and wounded from the army, and several hundred prisoners and contrabands, the entire distance marched being nearly 500 miles. From Martinsburg the regiment fell back to Maryland Heights, where skirmishing with the enemy commenced and continued two days. It assisted in defending the Heights until the rebels were driven from the Shenandoah Valley. On the 25th of August, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Ohio, and mustered out at Camp Chase on the 2d of Septem- ber following.
The One Hundred and Ninety-Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Chase, March 10, 1865. Moses Louthan and Jefferson H. Darrah, of Hancock County, having each recruited in this county nearly a company of men for the One Hundred and Ninety-second, were re- spectively elected captain of Company H and I. On the 12th of March, 1865, the regiment left for the front and were first stationed near Harper's Ferry, Va. The regiment was engaged in picket duty near Harper's Ferry and on the Shenandoah River, subsequently moving to the vicinity of Win- chester, Va. Upon the surrender of Lee the regiment moved to Stevenson Station; thence to Jordan Springs, and afterward encamped at Reed's Hill, above Winchester, until ordered to be mustered out, which occurred at Winchester, September 1, 1865. It arrived at Columbus, Ohio, two days afterward, and on the 6th of September was paid and discharged at Camp Chase. Though the end of the war, coming soon after this regiment took the field, cut it off from much active service, it nevertheless stood high for drill, discipline and efficiency, and many of its men were scarred veterans who had faced the enemy on many a well contested battle-field.
The foregoing commands are those wherein the soldiers from Hancock County mainly served; but several additional regiments from Ohio and other States contained some Hancock County boys. In fact she was repre- sented in every arm of the service, and her gallant sons did honor to their country on many a bloody field. Among others from Hancock, who served as commissioned officers in commands not previously mentioned, were the following: Dr. Samuel S. Mills, surgeon of the Fourth Michigan Artillery; Lieut. John T. Carlin served in the Eighty-second Regiment, and also on Gen. Sigel's staff; Abraham F. McCurdy and. Nat W. Filkin, each served
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
as captain and major of the Tenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, which also con- tained a few men from this county: But it is not the intention here to follow the fortunes of these outside commands, as the history of Hancock County in the war is set forth in the sketches of those regiments wherein the great majority of her soldiers fought-hundreds of them laying down their lives that a free and united nation might live.
Up to September 1, 1862, the number of volunteers from this county by townships, as returned by the assessors, was as follows: Allen, 65; Amanda, 16; Big Lick, 47; Blanchard, 100; Cass, 46; Delaware, 74; Eagle, 50; Findlay, 247; Jackson, 51; Liberty, 63; Madison, 59; Marion, 44; Orange, 61; Pleasant 70; Portage, 42; Union, 93; Van Buren, 31; Wash- ington, 101; total, 1,260. Under all of the subsequent calls each town- ship had to furnish a certain designated number of men, and the county always filled her quota, though the draft had finally to be resorted to dur- ing the later stages of the war, as men were then so scarce that even large bounties failed to fill up the quotas of the several townships. Including every branch of the service, Hancock County furnished to the Union cause nearly 3,000 as brave men as ever carried a musket, and about two-thirds of that number served throughout the greater portion of the war. Her sol- diers displayed a spirit of valor unsurpassed in history, while their courage, fortitude and self-sacrifice were worthy of the glorious cause for which they fought.
From 1861 to 1865 the local work at home of encouraging enlistments and assisting the families of soldiers went steadily on. In June, 1862, the county commissioners passed an act allowing each dependent wife or parent of volunteers $8 per month, and each child under fifteen years of age $2 per month. The following September the monthly allowance of wife or parent was fixed at $4. Relief was afforded only to the families of non- commissioned officers and privates, and then only in cases of actual neces- sity. In February, 1862, the General Assembly passed an act for the relief of families of volunteers, by which a tax was levied on all taxable property, and a larger, more thorough and systematic relief was afforded. Under this act $38,070 were expended by the county among the families of soldiers dur- ing the years 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865; and from that time until February, 1868, when the last order was redeemed, $8,503 additional were paid out.
In October, 1861, a "Military Committee" was appointed in this county, consisting of Edson Goit, James A. Bope, J. S. Patterson. J. B. Roth- child and J. F. Perkey. A thorough military organization of the county was effected, and sub-committees appointed in each township to aid and en- courage volunteering, and solicit contributions of underclothing, etc., for the "boys" in the field. The military committee appointed in this county in 1862, was Edson Goit, James A. Bope, W. G. Baker and Joel Markle; and in 1864 it was Henry Brown, Edson Goit, J. B. Rothchild, J. S. Patterson and J. F. Perkey. In every county of the State these committees did a noble work, and for their untiring efforts to sustain the Government and comfort its brave soldiers during the darkest period of the war deserve the highest praise. The soldiers' aid societies were among the most popular and efficient local institutions of the county, and the ladies of these societies did a great deal of good in gathering and forwarding sanitary supplies to hos- pital and camp. In fact the patriotic women of the county did their full share toward crushing the. mightiest rebellion in the history of the world.
Eli. S. Phillips
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
When the news that Richmond was captured spread over the county, it created the most intense excitement, but it was one of joy. Bell-ringing, hand-shaking and congratulations were the order of the day. The citizens turned out en masse; bonfires were lighted in every town and village, and an undercurrent of deep thankfulness pervaded the entire community. All hailed the good news as a harbinger of peace, and happiness filled every loyal heart. With the fall of the rebel capital the war was comparatively at an end; and, though Lee struggled bravely to save his army from the iron grasp of Grant, its fate was sealed. On the 9th of April, 1865, he surren- dered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, and nine days afterward John- ston gave up his army to Sherman. Throughout the North the news of these glorious successes of the Union arms was received with unbounded enthu- siasm, and heartfelt prayers were offered to the God of battles, who in His infinite mercy had vouchsafed such a brilliant ending to the long turmoil of civil strife. After four years of bloody war-after the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of gallant men and millions of treasure, the great rebellion was at an end, the Government preserved, and freedom perpetuated.
The following poem, found by the writer, uncredited, in one of the local papers of Findlay, aptly illustrates the feeling of the people at the close of the war:
VICTORY.
When God gave us Richmond, and victory o'er Lee, The dark clouds of war, like a scroll, rolled away; Peace shed her bright halo o'er land and o'er sea, And ushered the glory of freedom's glad day.
Thrill the heart with such joy as the ransomed may feel! Fling aloft the proud flag in its radiant light, From steeple and turret, from mountain top, peal The tidings of victory, the triumph of right.
But there steals through the sound of thanksgiving and praise, A low wail of anguish for brave hearts at rest; Their blood was the purchase that Liberty gave, That this may henceforth be the land of the blest.
Lift the flag of the free to the azure above, Let the nation rejoice in the victory won; Bear the message, ye angels, on swift wings of love, A Republic redeemed by the blood of her sons.
According to previous announcement a grand celebration was held at Findlay, April 14, 1865, to rejoice over the dawn of a glorious peace. The day was bright and cheerful, and nature seemed to smile on the exalted happiness of the people. The exercises commenced at 6 o'clock in the morn- ing with the ringing of bells, and the firing of a salute of thirty-six guns. As the day wore on crowds of people came pouring into Findlay. At 10 o'clock services were held in several of the churches, and shortly after noon a large audience gathered at the Court House where appropriate addresses were delivered by Revs. Rose and Wykes. In the evening there was a fine dis- play of fireworks, and every business house, as well as many of the private dwellings, was brilliantly illuminated. This joy, however, was destined to be short-lived, and suddenly changed to deep mourning. About 10 o'clock on the following morning the news of President Lincoln's assassination reached Findlay, and fell like a pall on the hearts of its citizens. Every one was horror-stricken at the awful deed, and never was there so much
19
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
feeling manifested by the true and loyal hearts of Hancock County. In a short time all of the business houses were closed and draped in mourning, and the flags dressed in crape and raised at half mast. In the afternoon a public meeting was held at the Court House to express the sentiments of the people on the assassination of the President, and deep gloom filled every honest heart. The Jeffersonian fully expressed in the following poem the deep feeling of the people throughout the county at that time:
APRIL 15, 1865.
Toll the slow bells ! fire the minute guns! Let rain-drenched flags at half-mast droop! This grief a nation's great heart stuns, Beneath this burden strong men stoop.
Hang mourning emblems o'er the walls So lately winged with banners gay! He saved our flag from treason's thralls, Who slain by traitors lies to-day.
Let wailing fife and muffled drum Make moan as for a hero dead! But, oh! our deepest grief is dumb, Our bitterest tears congeal unshed.
We loved him; and the traitors live Who forged the bolt that struck him down! 'Tis not for us to say, "Forgive," When Lincoln's blood cries from the ground.
Lincoln, who stood so far above These war-clouds that his great heart felt Even for the South a yearning love, Which must at least e'en rebels melt.
Oh! by the love he bore our land, By these four years of toil for us, By all he was, so good, so grand, Our hearts cry out for vengeance just.
Soon after the war ended, the Union armies were discharged and re- turned to their homes, and once more joy reigned supreme around hundreds of firesides in Hancock County. Orators, journalists and historians have re- corded the numerous well-contested battles, campaigns and marches of these great armies, and their wonderful achievements are enshrined upon the choicest pages of American poetry and eloquence. The spirit of patriotism that caused them to enlist, that sustained them through the trials and perils of the war, now pervades and radiates from all the institutions of the land, and is felt in every patriotic heart. To the survivors has been vouchsafed the blessing to witness the grand results of all their sacrifices, in a re- united country pursuing a common destiny under a government offering equal rights to all, while the name and fame of those who have fallen either on the battlefield or in the line of duty, have been commemorated through the pages of history and on the beautiful monuments of marble and bronze prominent in city, town and village all over this broad land.
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ALLEN TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER X.
ALLEN TOWNSHIP.
ERECTION, NAME, AREA, POPULATION AND BOUNDARIES-WILDCAT THICKET- STREAMS, TOPOGRAPHY AND SOIL - PIONEERS- FIRST MARRIAGE AND DEATII-THE BURMAN AND ENSMINGER MILLS -- KILLING OF JOHN GILCHRIST AND SON-FIRST ELECTORS-JUSTICES-EARLY SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-VIL- LAGES-VAN BUREN AND STUARTVILLE.
T THIS township was the last one organized in Hancock County, being erected in June. 1850, from territory previously embraced in Cass and Portage Townships, taking twelve sections from each. It was named in honor of Gen. Ethan Allen, of revolutionary fame, and contains an area of twenty-four square miles, or 15,360 acres. The official census of 1850 gave Allen a population of 869; 1860, 1,009; 1870, 969, and 1880, 1,025. The west half of the township lies in Township 2 north, Range 10, and the east half in Range 11. Allen is bounded on the north by Wood County, on the east by Cass Township, on the south by Findlay Township, and on the west by Portage Township.
When the first settlers built their cabins in this portion of the county, the original forest was unbroken by a single clearing, unless the almost im- penetrable tract called "Wildcat Thicket" could be so named. This was a strip of fallen timber extending across the township from west to east, and covered with a dense undergrowth, where wild animals of every sort took refuge. The forest had evidently been blown down by a hurricane from the west long prior to the coming of the whites, and bushes and vines of every sort covered the decaying timber like a perfect network of defense.
The Middle Branch of Portage River flows in from Cass, and winds across the northwest portion of Allen Township; while the east fork of Ten Mile Creek drains the southwest corner westward into Portage. The southeast corner of the township is drained by a small branch of the Blanch- ard. Along the Middle Branch the surface is somewhat broken, and back from that stream may be termed elevated and rolling. The " Wildcat Thicket" was originally low and wet, but the removal of the fallen trees and judicious drainage has reclaimed the greater part of this tract. A sand and gravel belt, known as Sugar Ridge, crosses the north half of the town- ship in a southwest direction, Van Buren being on the summit of the ridge.' South of this ridge the soil is generally a mixture of sand and clay, while north of it a black, sandy loam prevails.
Pioneers .- Nathan Frakes was the first settler in this township. In 1827 he purchased of John Gardner the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 13, Township 2 north, Range 10 (entered by the latter in 1826), upon which he at once erected a small log-cabin. Frakes settled in Madi- son County, Ohio, prior to the organization of that county in 1810. He was there known as one of the "fighting men" of the county, and his name
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
figures in one or more assault and battery cases at nearly every term of court held during the first years of that county's history. He subsequently removed to Logan County, where he bore the same reputation, and kept it up after settling in Hancock, voting and fighting at the first county elec- tion, in April, 1828. As a good illustration of his character at this period, the following anecdote is told by one of the pioneers who knew him well: "A man named Enochs, who lived in Logan County, was one of the con- tractors in opening the Bellefontaine road, and Frakes worked for him. Enochs became afflicted with a strange and apparently incurable malady. He was not a good man by any means, and one night, believing his end was nigh, and possessing little of that religious spirit necessary on such oc- casions, requested Frakes to pray for him. Nathan swore he could not pray for himself, and roughly told Enochs to do his own praying. The lat- ter finally concluded to make the attempt, and in a self-important manner began: 'Oh! Lord, what have I done that Thou persecutest me so?' when Frakes, looking at him in unfeigned disgust, blurted out, 'That's a d-d nice way to pray! What the h -- Il is it that you haint done, I would like to know!' "
Frakes sold his improvement in Section 13 to Isaac Miller December 13, 1828, and in June, 1829, entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 12, upon which he had previously erected a cabin, with the in- tention of entering the land. On the 11th of June, 1830, he sold this tract to Elias L. Bryan, and removed to a farm of 115 acres in the south- east quarter of Section 10, Township 1 north, Range 10, now a part of the Infirmary Farm, which he had bought of Joseph Eversole, of Fairfield County, in January, 1830. Here he resided till his death, he dying about five years afterward, leaving a large family of children. His wife, Susannah, was an ardent Methodist, and constantly deplored her husband's combat- iveness. Finally Frakes met his match, being badly worsted in a rough- and-tumble fight with Josiah Elder, of Delaware Township. Going home considerably crestfallen over his defeat, he exclaimed: "Susy! Nathan has been whipped; I'll now join a temperance society, and also the church!" He kept his word, and ever afterward was a very peaceably inclined citizen. He was a large, muscular man, and bore the marks of many a savage en- counter, possessing not a perfect finger on either hand.
Isaac Miller was the second pioneer of what is now Allen Township, coming in the fall of 1828. In December, 1828, he purchased the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 13, of Nathan Frakes, who had bought it of John Gardner. Miller died here early in 1830, and his family soon removed from the county.
Elias L. Bryan came in 1829, and built his cabin on the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 12, which he entered November 9th, of that year. In June, 1830, he bought out Nathan Frakes, who removed to his farm on the Blanchard, Bryan taking possession of the Frakes cabin. Bryan subsequently read medicine under Dr. Fisher, of Arcadia, and prac- ticed the healing art in this township. He finally left the county, but at what time or where he went is not remembered. The cabins of Frakes, Miller and Bryan stood but a short distance apart, and there are few now liv- ing who personally remember their locations.
The sons of John Trout claim that he came to Hancock County in the summer of 1828, selected land and built a double-log cabin on the site of
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Van Buren, and then returned to Perry County for his family, whom he brought out in December, 1828. The book of entries shows that John Trout entered the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 13, Town 2 north, Range 10, September 1, 1829, and the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 7, Town 2 north, Range 11, June 2, 1830. It is therefore opined that Mr. Trout did not settle on the site of Van Buren until December, 1829, as his first entry in this county was not made till Septem- ber of that year. He was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Perry County, Ohio, where he married Miss Eleanor Skinner. Leaving Somerset November 12th, the family did not reach the little settlement on the Middle Branch of Portage River till December 14, 1829, and on the fol- lowing day Mr. Trout took possession of his cabin. The trip was long and arduous, and well calculated to discourage the stoutest heart. Fording swamp, stream and river, and being compelled at times to cut their way through forest and thicket, the sturdy parents with their five children, Eliza, Ephraim, John S., George W. and Philip, trudged many a weary mile ere reaching their destination. Eliza afterward married Elisha Beeson, which was the first marriage in the settlement; while the first death was that of Cornelius, her youngest brother. Mr. Trout served in the war of 1812, and in early life followed the potter's trade. In 1833 he and George Ensminger laid out the village of Van Buren upon their land. Both he and his wife died in this township, and of their children but two survive: Ephraim, the oldest living pioneer of Allen, and John S., a resident of Liberty Township.
John Burman settled in Section 17, in April, 1831, and there resided till his death April 7, 1864, his widow surviving him until February 4, 1871. Mr. Burman was born in Northampton County, Penn., April 8, 1784. Re- moving to Fairfield County, Ohio, he was there married in 1813, to Miss Catherine Fisher, a native of Berks County, Penn., born November 16, 1796. He served in the war of 1812, and followed the gunsmith trade until coming to this county. In 1835-36 he erected a grist-mill on Portage Creek, but on account of low water it ran only at intervals. Mr. Burman was a worthy citizen of the county for thirty-three years, and left a family of seven sons and two daughters, only one of whom, Adam, resides in this county, he being now proprietor of the hotel at Van Buren.
Christian and Rebecca (Skinner) Barnd, with four sons (Jacob, Adna F., Elijah and Gamaliel C.) and four daughters, came from Perry County, Ohio, in 1831, and took possession of the cabin in Section 13 previously occupied by Isaac Miller. Mr. Barnd was a native of Germany, and his wife of Pennsylvania. They were married in Somerset County, Penn., and subse- quently removed to Perry County, Ohio, whence they came to this township. On the 27th of June, 1831, he entered the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 13, and the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 18, now mostly owned by his son, John. In 1832 Christian Barnd and family removed to Findlay, where he and his wife spent the balance of their lives. He was a saddler and tanner, and carried on a tannery in Findlay for many years. He also served as sheriff of Hancock County for two terms, and was one of the progressive men of his day. Three of his sons have filled county offices. Jacob was prosecuting attorney a short period, and recorder two terms; Elijah was auditor two terms; while Gamaliel C. served three years as asso- ciate judge, and two terms as probate judge. The eldest son, John, has filled the office of justice of the peace in Allen Township for thirty years.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
It will thus be seen that this pioneer family has been pretty well honored by their adopted county.
The year 1832 brought in quite a large number of settlers, among whom we find John Barnd, George Ensminger, Michael Ensminger, Charles Baker, Hugh Gilchrist and Peter Hockenberry. Mr. Barnd was born in Somerset County, Penn .. December 30, 1808, removed to Perry County, Ohio, with his parents, there grew to manhood and married Miss Sarah Garlinger, and in 1832 came to this township. He located on the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 13, where he has ever since resided. Mr. Barnd was the first justice elected for Allen Township, and served con- tinuously in that office from 1850 to 1880. He reared a family of eleven children, ten of whom are living. His wife died March 29, 1884, after a happy married life of more than half a century. Squire Barnd is one of the few living pioneers to whom the writer is indebted for much important information relating to early events in this portion of the State.
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