History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 97

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 97

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About the year 1820 the west half of the south- west quarter of the township, owned by Celladon Symms, was surveyed and divided into twenty lots of various sizes and shapes. About this time he disposed of the south part of his section containing one thousand acres, to Harrison & Shorts; this being in the southwest corner of the township. This land was offered for sale in the spring of 1821 by Stanbery & Brice, agents.

In 1821 Frederick Myers, a Dutchman, from Vir- ginia, purchased lot fourteen, being the first lot purchased in the south half of the township. Soon after this John Myers purchased lot thirteen. They reared large families, and quite a number of their descendants now reside in the township. They have been very honest and industrious citizens. George Myers, a son of Frederick Myers, now re- sides on the old homestead purchased by his father in 1821.

In the same year Eli Ford purchased lot eleven, where he now resides, and Joseph Morey, from Vermont, purchased lot twenty; several of his de- scendants now reside in the towhship.

In 1822 - Poppleton purchased lot eighteen; Sylvanus Mitchell, from Massachusetts, purchased lot nineteen, and his son, Almon, is now a citizen of the township. Patrick Webster purchased lots fifteen and sixteen; he was a Methodist preacher, and a man of good intellect. Adam Stults pur- chased lot seventeen, and Samuel . Woods lot twelve.

About the year 1833 Celladon Symms offered

the remainder of his section for sale, and the fol- lowing were the first purchasers: In 1834, Levi Debolt lot six, Ephrain Platt lot nine; in 1835, Moses Cummins lot eight, Thomas Warrick lot five. About 1842 Spencer Mitchell purchased lot one, and about 1845 James Debolt purchased lot ten, this being the last lot in the Symms section.

About 1826 - Burnet divided the east half of the southwest quarter of the township into lots of one hundred acres each, and offered them for sale. Between this time and 1834 these lots were all sold. Among the first purchasers were Elijah Dowell, lot one; Joseph Evans, lot ten; Samuel Patch, lots eleven and twenty; David Jagger, lot two; John Brown, lot nine; Solomon Freeman, lot nineteen; John Redman, lot eighteen; John Wil- son, lots eight and thirteen; John Dunn, lot four; Stephen Humphrey, lot fifteen. About 1830 James Parker divided the fourth, or southeast quarter of the township into thirty-four lots, and offered them for sale. Between this time and 1838 these lots were all sold. Among the first purchasers were the following : Phineas Taft, from Vermont, lot six; Thomas Larimore, from Virginia, lot fifteen; (his son Henry now owns this same lot); Gideon Hall, lots thirty-two and thirty-three, (his son is now liv- ing on lot twenty-nine); Peter Turst, lot nineteen, (his daughter, Mrs. George Neible, is now living in the township); Joseph Montonya, lot seven; Philip Rimer, lot twenty-two; Joseph Postleweight, lot twenty-three; Crisley Kratzer, lot thirty; Jacob Smith, lot twenty-nine; Lemuel Jones, lot twenty- one; Joseph Mott, lot sixteen ; William Orme, lot one; Thomas Vanasdel, lot two; John Vanasdel, lot three; James Knox, lots eleven and twelve; Ed- ward Potter, lot seventeen; Naham Butcher, lot twenty-eight. Not one of these families or their descendants are now living in the township. Wil- liam Speelman purchased lot thirteen, where he now resides.

About the year 1838 Isaac Dripps bought lot twenty-seven, and George Myers lot thirty-four, be- ing the last two lots sold in the Parker section. This completes the first settlement of Milford township. The population in 1830 was four hun- dred and ninety-eight; in 1840, one thousand one hundred and fifty-seven; in 1850, one thousand three hundred and forty-nine; in 1860, one thou-

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

sand and eighty-four; in 1870, one thousand and twenty-four; in 1880, eight hundred and seventy- four.

The early settlers of Milford were honest, indus- trious, intelligent, and social. The price of land varied from one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre for Congress land, to four dollars per acre for the choice military land, and but few of the early pioneers possessed more than a sufficient sum of money to purchase a quarter section or lot of land, so that the early pioneers were very nearly on an equality, and each one had enough to do to attend to his own business.

The dense forest, the hooting owl, and the howl- ing wolf, have nearly all passed away with the log cabin, the ox team, the spinning wheel, and the hand loom.

At the time of the settlement of this country, grey wolves were quite numerous, and continually committing depredations against the settlers, by killing sheep: and sometimes pigs and calves would fall a prey to their ravenous appetites.

For the purpose of assisting in the extermination of these animals the commissioners would pay from the county treasury a bounty of three dollars each for wolf-scalps, the wolf to be killed within the limits of Knox county.

In the winter of 1824-5, a grand wolf hunt was planned and carried into execution. About the tenth of February, 1825, was the time fixed for a great slaughter of the wolves. The plan was to form a circle around a large territory, and march toward the centre. For the purpose of making this hunt a success, three lines or circles were plainly designated, one within the other. The outer circle, with headquarters at Bryant's mill, now Knox county infirmary, extended in a south- east direction along the Utica road, to the Gran- ville road, about one mile north of Brandon, in Miller township; thence south along the Granville road to Burlington, now Homer; thence west along the road to the southwest corner of Milford; thence north along the west line of Milford, to the Colum- bus road; thence down this road to the place of beginning-inclosing all of Milford, about one- half of Miller, and some other territory. The sec- ond line enclosed several hundred acres in the cen- tre of the outer circle; this second line was plainly

marked. The third line enclosed some one hun- dred and fifty acres, in the centre of the second circle. The circumference of this outer circle was about twenty-five miles, divided into twenty-five sections, twenty-five captains being selected, and each captain required to procure a company of at least sixteen men, and to take charge of the partic- ular section designated for his company. The pro- gramme was published throughout this section of the country, and many old hunters and young men from the surrounding country came to join in the sport. The captains found no difficulty in procur- ing the number of men required, and most com- panies had twice the required number.

The day arrived, and at early dawn old men, young men, and boys, armed with guns, axes, and pitchforks, were hurrying to their places in the circle. Each captain, armed with a tin horn and a bottle of whiskey, was at his post. A few minutes after sunrise the first signal horn was blown at Bry- ant's mill, and the sound was repeated by the cap- tains to the left, around the entire circle. This signal indicated that the line was complete.

After this thirty minutes were allowed for the captains to complete the lines, at the expiration of wnich time the horn was blown. a second time at the headquarters and repeated by the captains both right and left around the entire circle; this was the signal to advance. About eleven o'clock the line had reached the second circle; here they halted for the purpose of distributing the men around the entire circle and making any other ar- rangements necessary. At this time deer could be seen running in every direction. About twelve o'clock orders were given to march to the inner circle. The deer became frightened and collected in groups of from twenty to fifty, and in their fright many escaped through the lines. When the inner circle was reached the deer that remained in the circle had all collected in one large group and ran around in the circle about one hundred yards from the lines, thus giving the gunners time to load their pieces and to be ready each time they came around. A continual sound of the rifle was heard along the line for more than an hour, and during that time many of the deer escaped through the lines and many were killed. The wolves were no where to be found-not one wolf was killed. The re-

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

sults of the labors of the day were one man, by the name of Pratt, wounded in the hip by a rifle ball; some four score of deer were killed, many wounded, and perhaps one barrel of whiskey drank. The next night the wolves were howling as if nothing had transpired to disturb their quiet repose.

The first public road established in this township was the Columbus road located in 1808, which passes across the extreme northwest corner of the township. The second was the Sycamore road running east and west through the township near the centre; this road was located and established in December, 1818. About the year 1819 the Johnstown road was located. These three were the first highways established in the township.

From the time of the first settlement of Milford down to the present time agriculture has been the leading occupation of its citizens. Since about 1855 wool growing has been one of the leading agricultural pursuits, and Milford now ranks as one of the best wool producing townships in Knox county.

Among the former and present citizens, the fol- lowing appear somewhat prominent :

Dr. William Hayes, from Baltimore, Maryland, came to Milford about 1830. He was at that time a young man, a physician by profession, in some- what destitute circumstances, and lived for several years with Judson Lamson. He became a success- ful physician and a minister of the gospel. He preached several years for the Christian church, then several years for the Disciple church, and was also a successful farmer. Having purchased some four hundred acres of land he made wool growing the leading branch of his agricultural pursuits. He now resides in the State of New York.

Major Nathan Bostwick, at the age of twenty- one years was in destitute circumstances. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, but by industry and economy became one of the well-to-do farmers. At the commencement of the war of the Rebel- lion he enlisted in the Twentieth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and before the close of the war was promoted to the office of major of the same regiment. He now resides in Newark, Ohio.

Isaac Hawkins has been a very successful farmer and stock dealer. Thomas Larimore was for several years a successful farmer. His son Henry

is now one of the intelligent and successful farmers. Philip Rimer and Isaac Larimore were for several years among the thrifty farmers. David Staggers and Smith Bishop each had purchased several hundred acres of land. They are both dead.

Among the early settlers was a man by the name of Amzie Stevens who was remarkable for his quaint proportions. He was a blacksmith by trade and lived in the north part of the township. It is said that his foot measured sixteen inches in length, and that his limbs and frame were of the same gigantic proportions. For the purpose of perpetuating the fact of his existence, and also to show to future generations, the fact that giants lived in those days among the early settlers, he sold his body to Dr. Maxfield, for his museum, but the doctor died long before Amzie gave up the ghost; therefore, when Amzie died he was buried the same as other mortals. He was buried in Morris township, but the exact spot is not known.

From 1838 to 1844 this township was especially blessed with a martial band, for general or com- pany musters, fourth of July celebrations, and other occasions when their services were required. The members were Harris Hawkins, jr., Noble Bostwick, and J. D. Hooker, tenor drummers; Charles Hawkins, bass drummer, and Joseph Haw- kins, Nathan Bostwick, and Albert G. Simons, fifers. They had an excellent reputation and were often invited to considerable distances on fourth of July and general training occasions.

The citizens of Milford have always had their full share of patriotism. About 1841 a company of volunteer infantry was organized under the then existing laws of Ohio. Platt G. Beardslee was the first captain, and served a short time in that ca- pacity, when Ephraim Hawkins was chosen cap- tain. This company made quite a soldierly ap- pearance, and for several years was one of the in- stitutions of the township.

About the year 1851 the Pittsburgh, Mt. Vernon & Springfield Railroad company was organized for the purpose building a railroad from Pittsburgh, by way of Mt. Vernon, to Springfield, Ohio. This proposed road was to be located along near the north line of Milford, on the same line now occu- pied by the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

railroad. For the purpose of obtaining large sub- scriptions from the citizens along the line of this road, the company offered many inducements. No stockholder was to be required to pay more than the interest on the amount subscribed for twenty years. Each stockholder was required to give a bond, payable in twenty years, with interest payable annually, and the payment of each bond, with the interest thereon, was secured to the company by first mortgage on real estate.

This road, by representation and on paper, was to be the most important road on this continent, and as soon as completed the stockholders were to receive large dividends. It was represented that all the subscribers would be required to pay would be the interest on their bonds, for a few years, un- til the road should be completed, when the stock would become a very valuable investment. The company obtained bonds from the citizens along the line of this proposed road in Knox county to the amount of ninety-five thousand dollars, which bonds were secured by mortgage on real estate probably worth four hundred thousand dollars.

The road was never completed, but the stock- holders had to pay the full amount of their bonds with the interest thereon. This caused much em- barrassment to many of the best farmers along the line of the proposed road.

Later about the same operation was repeated in the case of the road fromn Mt. Vernon to Colum- bus. Many of the farmers mortgaged their farms, and were compelled to pay. The roadbed was only partially made when the company broke up. The road was subsequently finished by another company.

A history of Milford would not be complete with- out particular reference to the record made by the citizens during the war of the Rebellion. They were always ready to contribute their full share for the purpose of maintaining the Government. One cir- cumstance-the building of the soldiers' monument at Mt. Vernon-will suffice to show their patriotism.

About the first of July, 1866, a subscription was circulated among the citizens of Milford by Major Nathan Bostwick and P. G. Beardsley for the pur- pose of procuring funds for the erection of the monument. By the tenth of July one hundred and nineteen persons had contributed the sum of

nine hundred dollars. The following are the names of the subscribers and amount subscribed :

N. Bostwick .$25

Mrs. A. Bostwick. .$IO

G. F. Bostwick 5 P. G. Beardslee. 25

Mrs P. G. Beardslee 10 William S. Burns. 20

G. L. Benedict.

P. Beach. IO

Mrs. Beach. 5

J. W. Beach 5

A. Bishop. sr.

William Bishop IO

D. Bishop

A. Bishop, jr. 5

S. Bishop

B. F. Bishop 5

C. Bishop 5

H. A. Bishop.

G. D. Bishop 3

D. J. Burgoon.

L. Brollier 5 G. F. Beardslee. IO

S. Callihan

IO J. W. Callihan

S. Crego.

M. Crego 5

William Coe.

Mrs. William Coe

D. Coe.

T. D. Coe

B. Crisman 5

B. A. Disney

D. V. Disney. 5

William A. Disney 15

Mrs. William A. Disney

Miss A. Disney

G. R. Disney I

L. L. Ellis

S. Elder. IO

J. E. Fisher.

J. Graham IO

Miss C. Hayes 5

Rev. William Hayes. IO

J. H. Hayes. 5

I. Hawkins 50

J. Hildreth 10

W. Hildreth 16

Mrs. W. Hildreth

Aaron Hill, jr.

S. B. Hawkins, I

D. W. Hawkins.

William H. Hawkins. 5

E. Hawkins. 5

J. H. Hull.

Dr. William H. Hayes 5

Mrs. A. Jagger.

5 A. Jagger 15

S. Jagger

5 H. S. Jagger

A. Jennings

William Kinsey 5

J. I. Kinsey

J. Lamson 5

Mrs. J. Lamson 5

G. J. Lamson

T. Larimore 20

Captain H. Larimore 20

N. Letts 15

William C. Manson 5

William Mckinney 5

A. Mitchell. 20

S. Mitchell 15

Mrs. S. Mitchell

J. Morey 5

J. McMannis:

D. Myres 5

William Niebel. 5

Rev. J. Pitkin. IO

Miss E. H. Pitkin

Miss S. F. Pitkin

T. Pitkın. .

L. Pickering . IO

C. O. Poland.

C. L. Poland. 10

J. Poland. 5

L. F. Poland.

Esquire D. Patterson

T. Ross. IO

P. Rimer

Mrs. P. Rimer

Mrs. R. Rimer

J. K. Rimer

F. Rimer 2

S. F. Redman 5

P. Smith. 25

Mrs. P. Smith 5

Captain B. C. Smith 5

S. Smith

J. W. Spelman.

D. H. Spelman.

W. P. Simons

Uzziel Stevens 2

E. Stevens.

A. H. Stevens. 3

M. Thomas.

S. Teegarden.

Mrs. S. Teegarden 5

S. Thatcher. 10

D. P. Weaver 8 C. R. Weaver IC

Mrs. C. R. Weaver 5 S. C. Wilson 5

L, E. Mahan. 5

J. Niebel. IO

Mrs. William Niebel. 5

William Spelman. IO

L. H. Spelman

Mrs. H. Disney 5

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

Politically the vote of Milford has been very evenly divided for several years between Republi- cans and Democrats. . But few, if any, elections have been held for the purpose of electing town- ship officers, within the last ten years, in which either party has elected its entire ticket.

At the State and Presidential elections in 1880, the Republicans had the largest majority that either party has had for several years.

One of the prominent places in the township is known as the Five Corners, situated near its centre. At this place are two churches and a school-house., About 1843 a post-office was established here called Milfordton; Emor Hawkins was the first postmaster. James Rice, the present postmaster, has held the office several years.

The most prominent place in the township is the village of Lock, situate on its south line. In 1836 Isham Abbot purchased the south part of lot ten in the Burnet section, and engaged in the bus- iness of making potash. In 1837 he laid out a part of his purchase into town lots, and named the place Lock. Isham Abbot was the first merchant that sold goods in the place.

In 1839 a post-office was established, Isham Ab- bot being the first postmaster; Peter Eddy was the second, Edwin Horton third, Eber Smith fourth, James Stearnes fifth, and Washington Hildreth the sixth, and present incumbent, and has held the office since 1860.

The village at this time has two dry goods stores, one school-house, three churches, one black- smith shop, one harness shop, one cooper shop, one wagon shop, one boot and shoe shop.

On the twenty-fifth of November, 1871, a so- ciety of Good Templars was organized here, and has been in a prosperous conditon to the present time. Regular meetings are held in Hildreth's hall every Saturday evening.

On the twenty-fourth of June, 1875, the Knights of Honor organized a society at this place. They met in Hildreth's hall once in two weeks, on Tues- day evenings.

A cornet band organized June, 1879, consists of thirteen members, and has an excellent reputation, both for its professional ability and the intelligent and moral character of its members.

The first school in this township was taught by

Frederick Carey, In a cabin on the northwest quar- ter of section two. As in other townships the first schools were "subscription" schools, and were taught in private cabins, there being no public funds for school purposes.

The first school-house, making any pretensions to respectability, was built on the extreme north part of the southwest quarter of section nine, and near the Johnstown road, about 1829. It was a substantial hewed log about twenty-two feet square, with a large fire-place and a brick chimney. This same house was frequently used for religious meet- ings, singing-schools, etc. Previous to 1830 schools were supported entirely by subscription. About this time the legislature passed an act appropriating a small fund for the support of common schools, and also made it the duty of the trustees to divide their respective townships into school districts. As the population increased it became necessary to form new districts, and make other necessary changes; many changes being thus made between 1830 and 1850.

In 1853 the legislature passed a school law, which in substance is the present school law. This law created the township board of education, and made all common schools free schools. The school-houses, with puncheon floors and flat seats, have all disappeared-and in their places are com- fortable frame school-houses, with the most ap- proved modern desks, and other suitable school apparatus.

At the present time Milford has nine school- houses conveniently located, to accommodate all the youth in the township. The schools are small -and competent teachers are employed, which gives to all the young an opportunity to obtain a good common school education.

James Smith, of the Christian denomination, preached the first sermon, and organized the first church in the township. The date of the organ- ization of this church is uncertain, but probably occurred about the year 1824. In a few years it disbanded.

In 1833 Henry Ashley organized a Christian church at the school-house near the Five corners. This church was in a prosperous condition several years. Among the members were Harris Hawkins, Steven Hawkins and John Stevens. This denom-

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

ination has had no church organization in this town- ship since 1839.

In 1835 the first Methodist church was organ- ized in the south part of the township, by Rev. Saxby. This church then consisted of seventeen members, among whom were Silas Jagger, Samuel Dowell, John Brown and Rachel Brown. In 1836 this church built a house for public worship, called the Dowell meeting house, and in 1845 a new meeting-house in the village of Lock, where the church is located at the present time, being the oldest church organization now in the township. Rev. Craven is present pastor. Among the present members are Jacob Lambert, Albert Ponnel, Har- vey Spitzer and Henry Disney. In 1835 a Meth- odist church was organized at the school-house near the Five corners, by Rev. Lynch. Among the members were Frederick Disney, Preserve Smith, and Job Beardslee. In 1838 this church built a small log house on the present cemetery ground, near the Five corners, where they held their meet- ings until 1848, when meetings were held in the school-house, and continued there until 1869, when the church disbanded, part of the members joining the church at Brandon, and others at Lock.

On the thirteenth day of May, 1844, the Baptists held a meeting at the Dowell meeting-house, for the purpose of organizing a church. Elder Daniel Wal- don and Elder James Seymore were present. At this time and place the Baptist church was organized, and consisted of some twenty members, among whom were Joseph Mantonya, Joseph Jacobs, Benjamin Quick, and John Wilson. Elder James Seymour was the first pastor, and Thomas Larimore the first delegate to the Baptist associa- tion. In the year 1874 this church built a house for public worship in the village of Lock.

The Congregationalists have a church organiza- tiyn at the village of Lock. Among the original members of this church were Peter Eddy, Potwin Stoughton, and Nathaniel Stoughton. In 1844 the church built a house for public worship. Rev. Mr. McKeen is their pastor at the present time.

In 1839 Rev. John Pitkin, of the Presbyterian denomination, organized a church in the school- house at the Five corners. The elders of this church were Cicero Camp, Martin Beach, and

Nathaniel Jackson. In 1848 a house for public worship was erected at the Five corners, and for several years was very prosperous. About 1855 it began to decline, and about 1870 the organization was abandoned. Rev. John Pitkin preached in this township, and for this church thirty-two years. He was formerly from Vermont; and preached for the Presbyterisn churches forty-four years. He now resides in Milford, and is very active for a man who has lived to see eighty-seven years.

In 1845 Rev. William Hayes organized a Disciple church at the school-house in the southwest part of the township. This church has been known as the First Milford Congregational (or Simmons) church. Soon after this church was organized a log meeting house was built where meetings were held until 1853, when the house was destroyed by fire. In 1854 this congregation built a new house. George Litzenburg, David Weaver, David Pattison, Benjamin Compston, and -- Cook were among the original members. This church from the time of its organization to the present has been the most prosperous of any church in the township. At the present time it numbers one hundred and thirty members, among whom are Timothy Ross, John Litzenburg, James Scott, Levi Fadeley, and William Moreland. (). W. Kyle is the present pastor.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 97

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