History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 65

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 65

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Fred'k. Carey,

Prospher Rick,

John Ruff,

John Kaebler,

Jacob Siler,

Jacob Swales,

Wm. Bevans,

T. Burr,

John Wilson :

Rezin Yates,

William Roberts

This humble petition the honorable court set aside, denying the prayer of the petitioners. This state of things was not to be endured; so some fif- teen of the disappointed petitioners, among whom was the late Hosmer Curtis, then prosecuting attor- ney, resolved to take the matter into their own hands. Meeting on the public square, they faced west, locked arms, and started on their march to secure justice for themselves. As they came to an obstruction they began levelling the fences to the ground, scattering rails hither and thither with all the glee of schoolboys bent on mischief. From one obstruction to another the "regulators" marched. A tornado could not have made more havoc in its route than did the "laughing and shouting fifteen." This work created considerable com- motion in the community. Some took sides with the "raiders," while others condemned their action as lawlessness against the peace and harmony of the town. Mr. Banning entered complaint against the fifteen for riot and trespass, and the case came be- fore the court. As the prosecuting attorney, Hos- mer Curtis, was one of those against whom the pros- ecution was commenced, his honor the judge, appointed the late Charles R. Sherman, special pros- ecuting attorney. The trial caused considerable ex- citement, and no little amusement, as the argument of Mr. Sherman was principally aimed against the "tall prosecuting attorney," Mr. Curtis, who had laid aside the dignity of his office, and, for once, assumed that of a "raider" against the fences of the prosecutor, Mr. Banning. The result of the suit was a finding of "guilty" against the whole, and a fine of "one dol- lar and cost" rendered against each of the defend- ants. Thus ended one of the most amusing cases ever brought before the Knox county court.

Another relic of the past, filed away in the clerk's office, is entitled "Samuel Geddes' Indenture to William Smith," and shows some peculiarities of the past that are now obsolete. Samuel Geddes

desired to learn the hatter's trade, or at least his father thought that Samuel would make a good hatter, so forthwith the following indenture was drawn up and signed by the respective parties.

This indenture, made the fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, wit- nesseth: That Samuel Geddes, aged eighteen years against the twenty-first day of November next, by and with the consent of the said John Geddes, of Knox county and State of Ohio, his father, hath of his free and voluntary will placed and bound him- self apprentice to William Smith, of the town of Mt. Vernon, county and State aforesaid, to learn the trade, mystery or occu- pation of a hatter, which he, the said Smith, in company with Adam Glaze, jr., now useth, and with him as an apprentice to dwell, continue and serve from the day of the date hereof, until the end and term of three years, three months and sixteen days from thence next ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended, during all of which term the said apprentice his master shall well and faithfully serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands gladly do and obey; hurt to his said master he shall not do, nor wilfully suffer it to be done by others; but of the same shall to the utmost of his power forthwith give notice to his master; the goods of the said Smith he shall not embezzle or waste, nor them lend without his consent. At cards, dice, or any other games he shall not play; taverns and ale houses he shall not fre- quent; fornication he shall not commit; matrimony he shall not contract; from the service of the said Smith he shall not at any time depart or absent himself without consent of said Smith, but in all things as a good and faithful apprentice, shall and will demean himself towards the said Smith and all his, during the said term. And the said Smith his said apprentice in the trade, mystery and occupation of a hatter with all things thereunto belonging shall and will cause to be well and sufficiently taught and instructed after the best way and manner he can; and shall and will also find and allow his said apprentice meat, drink, washing, lodging and apparel (both linen and woollen), and all other necessaries fit and convenient for such an apprentice, dur- ing the term aforesaid. And, also, at the expiration of said term, the said William Smith shall give the said apprentice a good freedom suit worth thirty dollars. As witness our hands and seals the year and day first above writtten.

SEAL

SAMUEL GEDDES, JOHN GEDDES, WILLIAM SMITH.

Witnesses present: G. BROWNING, ADAM GLAZE, JR. Entered on record by H. B. Curtis, recorder.

Such were the custom and practice of fifty years ago. In 1848 only two hatter shops were among the trades of Mt. Vernon, viz : the shop of the late Samuel F. Voorhies, and that of the venerable William L. King. The jolly old William B. Hen- derson was an artisan in the shop of Mr. King, and Meigs Campbell, now of Ashland, Ohio, was a workman in the shop of Mr. Voorhies. The shop of Mr. Voorhies is still in existence, but its glory has departed-it has become the dwelling place for

George Low, Waitsell Hastings, Wm. L. Brooke, Michael Click,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

horses, and can be pointed out in the alley in rear of the store of James M. Andrews.

The following extracts from Mr. Norton's history, published in 1862, continue the pictures of the early days of Mt. Vernon:

The first election Ben. Butler recollects of attending, the neighbors and himself went down to Dresden and voted in 1803 or 1804. Another election he recollects was held at Bill Douglass'. David Johnson wanted to be constable, and 'lec- tioneered hard, and agreed to take, on executions and for fees raccoon skins, if he was elected. But when the votes were counted, he was beaten by Dimmick. This was the first time he (Butler) voted a ticket. In old Virginia it had always been the custom to vote by singing out the name of the candidate voted for.

One of the greatest fights of that early date was between Ben. Butler and Jim Craig, in which Craig was badly whipped. Butler's hand had been tied up from a hurt, but he took off the poultice and gave him a severe thrashing. The next day Jim and Ben. met together and took a drink over it; the quarrel was dropped, as Jim said he deserved the whipping and would not fight it over again.

When Ben. bought his land of Captain Walker he had no thoughts of laying out a town, nor had Walker. He gave two dollars an acre for it.

Ben. helped dig the first grave, that of Mrs. Thomas Bell Patterson, the first person that died in Mt. Vernon. He says that Colonel Patterson was a very smart man, much smarter than any in the town now.

The old school house stood near where the market house stands, and the public well, with a sweep or pole, was north of it, nearly in the centre of High street. He helped wall the old well.

Gilman Bryant said when he came to the county in 1807, and landed in Mt. Vernon from his pirogue in March, there were only three families living within the then limits of the town, viz: Ben. Butler, who then kept a sort of tavern; James Craig, who kept some sort of refreshments and whiskey, on the corner, east side of Mulberry and north of Wood street; and another family, who lived south of Craig's on the opposite side of the street. These buildings were all log. On the west side of Mulberry was a little pole shanty, put up by Jo. Walker, a gunsmith, who had a little pair of bellows in one corner, and tinkered gun-locks for the Indians. Further west, on what is now Gambier street, and beyond the town plat, stood the building occupied by Walker, also a log. There was also at that time a small log house with a roof, but the gable ends not yet filled, standing on the west side of Main street, between the present market house and where the court house stood in 1849, which should be in High street. There was at the time living in the neighborhood, and recollected by Mr. Bryant Colville, on his farm east of town, Bob. Thompson, where Stilley now lives; Andrew Craig, at or near the old Indian fields (on Centre run, above Turner's mill); old Mr. Walker, near Banning's mill, on the left hand side of the road; and old Mr. Hains, south of town. Mr. Bryant brought eight barrels of whiskey by water to Shrimplin's mill on Owl creek, and from thence had it hauled by Nathaniel Critchfield's team, Joe driving, to Mt. Vernon. Tradition says that the first log shelter occupied by old man Walker was made of little round

poles by Casper Fitting in 1802, but we can find nothing to sus- tain a claim to its erection at so early a period. Fitting, doubt- less, was the builder, we should think about 1804, though it may have been in 1803; however, as our own recollection does not extend quite that far back, we give it as it has been told to us.

Joseph Walker, sr., of whom we have been speaking, emi- grated to this county from Pennsylvania about 1804, and settled near where we now write. Philip, Joe, Alexander, James, Robert and John were his sons, and he had two daughters-Sally, who married Stephen Chapman, and lives three miles south of this town, and Polly, who married Solomon Geller, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, who was one of the early settlers of Mt. Vernon, and subsequently moved into what is now Morrow county. Joseph Walker, sr., and his wife both died many years ago, and their bodies were buried in the Clinton graveyard, with no stone to mark the spot where they lie, and this record, it is hoped, may serve to perpetuate their memory. From all accounts they were worthy pioneers.

James Craig, one of the three men living in Mt. Vernon in the spring of 1807, was grit to the back bone, and was constantly harrassed by peace officers. It became almost an everyday occurrence with him to have a fight; and, if no newcomer ap- peared to give his fighting life variety, he would, "just to keep his hand in," scrape up a fight with his neighbors or have a quarrel with his wife-all for the love of the thing, for "Jamie was the broth of a boy." He had as high as four fights in one day with Joe Walker, who was also a game chicken. When arraigned before court for assault, etc., he would always put on his most pleasing smile, and say to the judge: "Now, will yer honor jist please be good to the boy, for he can't help it."

We have been told by an early settler of a little incident, il- lustrating the sports of pioneers in 1807, at James Craig's house, after he had moved ont to the log cabin, erected and yet leaning, not standing, on D. S. Norton's farm, south of High street extension, on the Delaware road. Craig had tended a few acres in corn, and had the only corn for sale in that part of the county. Mrs. Rachel Richardson sent her son Isaac to buy some for bread, and after spending a short time in the vil- lage, he went out to Craig's, got his corn, and stayed all night. The family had just got to sleep, lying down on the floor, when the wild fellows of the town came in to the doors and fired a volley over their heads. Craig at once sprang out of his bed in his night-shirt, grappled with one of them, and in a short time all present were engaged in a lively little fight, just for the fun of the thing. "Knuck Harris," a "cul'ed gem'man," the first one ever in Mt. Vernon, and Joe Walker, are recollected as having been among the parties.

One of the most noted fights that ever came off in this county was between James Craig and his son-in-law, Jack Strain, and two of the Georges of Chester township. It occurred in this way: Old Jim was, as he said, in fighting humor, when, in com- pany with Jack, coming along the road home on foot, they met the Georges near Clinton riding sprucely on horseback, and re- quired that they should get off their horses and fight them. Parson George explained that they were in a hurry to go home, and had neither time nor disposition for a fight. But Jim swore that they must get off and fight; and there being no way of getting past them, as they held possession of the road, they reluctantly got off their horses and pitched in. Jack soon whipped his man, but it puzzled Jim to make his fight out, and the conclusion arrived at was that they had taken too large a contract when they undertook to whip the Georges. Jim, in

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

after years, would revert to this one fight with regret, as it was entirely uncalled for, and only provoked by his own"determina- tion for a trial of strength.

After the marriage of Jack Strain into his family, old Jim counted himself almost invincible. Jack was a very powerful and active man, unsurpassed for thews and sinews, bone and muscle.

The great fight of the county might, with propriety, be called that of Strain with Roof. The county pretty much en masse witnessed it. It was a regular set-to-a prize fight not inferior, in the public estimation, to that of Heenan and Say- ers. Jack fought with great spirit; he fought, if not for his life, for his wife; for old Jim swore that he (Strain) should never sleep again with his daughter if he didn't whip him.

When Craig was indicted the [last time for fightirg he told Judge Wilson "not to forget to be easy with him, as he was one of the best customers the court had."

In wrestling with Tucker Jim had his leg broken, which he often regretted, as he couldn't stand on his forks right. He was not a big, stout man, but struck an awful blow, and was well skilled in parrying off blows. He called his striking a man giving him a "blizzard." He was a backwoodsman from Western Virginia, but of Irish extraction-fond of grog, fond of company, fond of fighting, fun and frolic-kind-hearted, except when aroused by passion, and then a very devil. He fought usually as a pastime, and not from great malice. His wife was an excellent, hospitable and clever woman. We have heard very many anecdotes of Craig, but have space for only one more. One of the last kind acts of the old settler was his endeavor to treat Bishop Chase when he first visited our town. Jim having heard much said of him as a preacher and a distinguished man, met him on the street, and, desiring to do the clever thing by the bishop, accosted him with an invitation to drink. The bishop was somewhat nettled at the offer, but declined going to a grocery with him, whereupon Jim puiled a flask from his pocket and insisted upon his taking a drink there. The bishop indignantly refused, and Jim apologized, if the bishop considered it an insult. "Bless your soul, bishop, I think well of you, and have no other way to show that I am glad you have come to our county but by inviting you to drink. Don't think hard of me."

Craig's family consisted of eight girls, and he often regretted that he had no boys to learn how to fight. If the girls did not fight, they did run, and run well, too. One of them, we recol- lect, was very fleet; many a time did she run races in the old lane, between Norton's and Bevans', and beat William Petti- grew and other of the early boys, notwithstanding the scanti- ness of her dresses, which then were made of about one-third the stuff it takes for a pattern in these fashionable days of r862.

At one time old Jim was singing to a crowd, when a smart young man, in sport, winked to those present and kicked his shins. The wink having been observed by him, he instantly drew back his fist and drove it plum between his eyes, felling him to the ground, at the same time exclaiming : There, take that, d-n you, and don't you ever attempt again to impose on 'old stiffer !'"

The indomitable will of Samuel H. Smith and his associates from New England, among whom we may' mention the Nyes, Ichabod, captain of the troop of horse, and his brother Samuel; Henry Smith, Samuel's nephew; Dr. Timothy Burr, the Bar- neys, Alexander Enos, and others, kept the county in com-

motion about the seat of justice. No stone was left unturned, no effort untried, to bring about its transfer to Clinton. Peti- tions were drawn up and runners traversed the country for signers. From the official record we give the following exhibit of the disposition made of them :

"December 26, 1808, Mr. Holden presented to the house sundry petions from a number of inhabitants of Knox county, setting forth that they feel much aggrieved in consequence of the ineligible and very unhealthy situation of the present seat of justice of said county, and for various other reasons therein stated, praying that the commissioners may be appointed to fix the seat of justice for the said county of Knox in some more eligible and healthy situation; which said petitions were read and referred to a committee of Mr. Holden, Mr. Owings, of Fair- field, and Mr. Blair, of Franklin and Delaware, to report their opinion thereupon by bill or otherwise."

Mr. Merwin (Elijah B.) of Fairfield, presented on the next day, a remonstrance from sundry citizens of Knox county against action as prayed for in above named petitions.

The cunning old fox managing the Clinton claim, devised an additional scheme whereby to bring about such increase of territory northward as would throw Mount Vernon farther from the centre than Clinton, and accordingly we find that Mr. Holden presented to the house petitions signed by sun- dry inhabitants of Knox county, setting forth that it will be greatly to their advantage, and to the advantage of the public in general, to have the county extended so far north as to take in one tier of townships. as it will be perceived, by the map of the State, that the county lying north of them, known by the name of Richland, is much larger than Knox, and by attaching one tier of townships to said county of Knox there will be given a more equal number of square miles to each county than there is at present; which was received and read, and referred to the same committee to whom was committed, on the twenty-sixth inst., the petitions, remonstrances, etc., on the subject of the seat of justice of Knox county .- House Journal, page 93, De- cember 30, 1808.

On the thirtieth of December, on motion of Mr. Thomas Morris, of Clermont, and seconded, Ordered, that Mr. George Clark, of Columbiana and Stark, be added to the committee ap- pointed on the the twenty-sixth inst., on the subject of the seat of justice of Knox county, and the matters to them from time to time referred.

On the twelfth of January, 1809, on motion, and leave being granted, Mr. Holden presented at the clerk's table two remon- strances, of the same purport, from sundry inhabitants of Knox county, remonstrating against petitions presented to this house, praying for a review of the seat of justice of said county, and a removal of it from Mt. Vernon to some more eligible and healthy situation. The remonstrants therein set forth that they are fully of opinion that, unless a fraud or neglect be made to appear against the first viewers appointed by the legislature at the last session for the purpose of permanently fixing the seat of justice of said county, that your honorable body will not grant a view barely for the purpose of gratifying self-interest; that, in consequence of the seat of justice being established at Mt. Ver- non, a number of lots have been purchased and improved, and also that upwards of four hundred dollars have been appropria- ted for the building of a jail, and for other reasons, by the afore- said remonstrants set forth, more particularly praying that the said petition praying for the removal of the seat of justice afore- said may be rejected; and the same being received and read,

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were referred to the committee upon that subject appointed on the twenty-sixth ultimo.

On page 145, House Journal, January 14th, 1809, the follow- ing entry stands: On motion, and by leave of the house. Mr. Holden, from the committee appointed on the twenty-sixth ultimo, presented at the elerk's table a report, as follows: "The committe to whom was referred the petition of sundry in- habitants of the county of Knox, praying that one tier of town- ships lying south of Richland county be attached to the said county of Knox; also sundry petitions from the inhabitants of said county, praying that commissioners be appointed to re- view and fix the seat of justice of said county in some more healthy and eligible situation than Mt. Vernon; have, according to order, had under their consideration the said petitions, and are of opinion that the prayer of the said petitions is unreasona- ble, and ought not to be granted."

Monday, January 16th, said report came up, and it was Or- dered, that it be committed to a committee of the whole house, and made the order of the day for Saturday next.

On the twenty-fifth of January (House Journal, page 181), Mr. Merwin moved for the order of the day, whereupon the house, according to order, resolved itself into a committee of the whole house, and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Jewett reported that the committee, according to order, had under their consideration a report of the select committee, inade on the fourteenth inst., on the petitions of sundry inhabitants of Knox county, and had agreed to the said report; and the same being read was agreed to by the house, viz: that the petitions aforesaid are unreason- able, and ought not to be granted.

At the ninth session of the general assembly, held at Zanes- ville, December 3, 1810, the subject of removal of the county seat from Mt. Vernon was again agitated. By the Senate Jonrnal, page 163, we find that Mr. Trimble presented a batch of petitions, praying a review, which was referred to a commit- tee. On page 166, we find Mr. Trimble, from committee, re- ported that, in their opinion, commissioners ought to be ap- pointed to examine and make report to the next legislature the place they think proper for the seat of justice of Knox county. The said report was read. A motion was made that said report be committed to a committee of the whole senate, and made the order of this day; and on the question thereon it was decided in the negative. On motion, Ordered, that the further consider- ation of said report be postponed till the first Monday in De- cember next.

At the next session it received its final quietus. Mt. Vernon had improved in the intermediate time very much, and thence- forth its star was in the ascendant. Clinton continued but a few years longer as a business place, and after the departure of its chief worker to other parts, its people moved to Mt. Vernon, Fredericktown, and elsewhere, and not one of the old inhabi- tants remains to tell that Clinton has been an important town in the history of Knox county.

The following regarding the early days of Mt. Vernon has been gathered from the living pioneers of the city, among whom are N. N. Hill, Isaac Hadley, Dr. J. N. Burr and others.

When Mr. Hill came, about 1813, there was but few houses on what is now Main street; the larger

part of the town was on West Gambier street, be- tween Main street and the railroad. Here the busi- ness of the town was carried on, and down near the end of the street lived Joseph Walker, in a large two-story, yellow painted, frame house-the best house in the town. The first brick building in the town was the school-house, which stood on Mul- berry street, east side, a little south of the present high school building. It was taken away only a short time ago. Mr. Hill made sugar one spring in the lower part of town, there being quite a sugar grove in the western part of the plat below Chest- nut street.

The first tavern, Benjamin Butler's, stood on or near the corner of Gambier and Main, about where Jenning's store now is. This building, during the war of 1812, was converted into a block-house, and used as a place of refuge and safety for citizens. The building stood upon a bank, the door being reached by several steps. It was again used as a tavern after the war, and was known as the "war office" many years on account of the many fights that occurred there.

The Indian chief, Armstrong, from Greentown, came frequently to town and often got drunk at Butler's tavern. On one occasion, while "Abe" Emmett was drilling his company of militia, Arm- strong got in his way and annoyed him very much. After telling the chief many times to keep out of his way without effect, Emmett finally knocked him down. This had the desired effect, but the chief never forgot it. Sometime after this, Armstrong, accompanied by three other Indians, met Emmett and Riverius Newell in the woods, when Arm- strong asked, "Is your name Emmis?" "Yes sir, my name is Emmett." "What for you fight In- dian?" said the chief. "Because you kept getting in my way." "You fight Indian now?" said the chief, making a motion to draw his tomahawk. "Yes!" said Emmett, with an oath, and immedi- ately drew his tomahawk, while Newell cocked his gun and brought it to bear upon one of the other Indians. This determined attitude not being rel- ished by the Indians, a truce was called and the parties separated.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 65

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096