History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 102

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

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The Rocky fork crosses the southwestern corner of the township, and a tributary of this stream crosses the northwestern corner; while the main Wakatomika creek passes across a small portion of the northwestern corner. The Bald Hills are seemingly devoid of water-courses.

The first settler within the limits of Perry was Samuel Hickerson. In 1810 he erected a cabin and began a clearing near what afterward became the residence of Milton Montgomery, on a small tributary of the Brushy fork. For more than ten months he remained the solitary inhabitant of this wilderness, and pushed his improvements forward with considerable success.

In the following year James Thrap and Allen Hall came into this territory, and soon after they were followed by John Frost, Stephen Cooper and others who settled on the Brushy fork. . After that settlers came in rapidly.

It is impossible to obtain from the township records the names of its first officers or their suc- cessors; for until as late as 1866, the records were kept on loose sheets and slips of paper, which were destroyed or lost after immediate use.

The first trustees were Allen Hall, Samuel Hick- erson and James Somerville; clerk, Jordan Hall.

Two villages have an existence in this township, the most important of which is Elizabethtown. It was laid out in 1831, by Mrs. Elizabeth Lemert, from whom it received its name. The first settlers in the village were Samuel Hickerson and Daniel Helenus. It contains at present something more than one hundred inhabitants, and the business consists of two stores, kept by Anson P. Winter- mute and J. S. Seward; a wagon shop by Thomas Holman; two blacksmith shops; a saw-mill, card- ing-mill and planing-mill, the three last owned by Messrs. Thomas and Lugenbeel. A post office was established there at an early day called "Per- ryton," and probably Mr. Green was the first post- master. He was succeeded by Mr. Hugh Flem- ming, who has retained the office ever since.

Denman's cross-roads was surveyed into lots and regularly laid out, but has not prospered, and contains half a dozen families, more or less. The business is comprised in a store, kept by Mr. L. V. Hoyt, a blacksmith shop and a shoe shop.

In this township, as in perhaps a great portion of the Northwest territory, that preeminently mis- sionary society, the Methodist, was the first to carry the consolations of religion to the destitute pioneers.

The first sermon preached within the limits of this territory was by the well known pioneer preach- er, Rev. Joseph Thrap, in 1811. From that time to the present this denomination has been the lead- ing one in the township.

The first travelling minister to preach in Perry was Rev. Michael Ellis, who formed a class at the house of James Thrap in 1813. The society has grown and prospered since that time and is now large and powerful. This society has a fine church edifice at Elizabethtown.

The above account of early Methodism in Perry township is taken from the historical sketch of this township by C. B. Woodward; it differs somewhat from the following, from the pen of S. M. Wells, of Delaware, Ohio. He says:

"In the year 1813, Phillip Denman built a hewed-log house, the first in that part of Perry township in which he lived. The building was eighteen by twenty-eight, and, at the time, the largest dwelling in the township.

"John Livingston, a near neighbor and a land-holder, sug- gested that a preaching place in their neighborhood would be an inducement for respectable people to come in and settle,

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and would enhance the value of their land, and said: 'Den- man, you must throw open your new house for that purpose.' "Denman consented if Livingston would find the preacher, and a few days after the latter met, as he was going to Newark, what was unmistakably a Methodist preacher, known in those days by their peculiar dress, and stopping him related that they had decided to have religious services in their neighborhood, and had a house suitable for that purpose, and asked him to make an appointment. This the minister agreed to do on his return from a visit to his parents in Virginia, whither he was then going, and told him to give out an appointment four weeks from the following Sunday.

" Livingston neglected to ascertain his name, but on his re- turn home spread far and wide the word that there would be preaching in Phillip Denman's new house on such a date by the 'third angel.' The oddity of such an announcement brought together a crowd, many through curiosity to see who would represent the 'third angel.'

"The preacher, who was John Cobler, the first minister sent by a Methodist conference west of the Ohio river, was on hand promptly, and satisfied his congregation, and on his return to conference reported Denman's as a preaching place, and it con- tinued to be a week day appointment every two weeks unti, 1828. This was the beginning of Methodism in Perry town ship."

The writer of the above extract is probably mis. taken about this being the "beginning of Method. ism in Perry," as Rev. Joseph Thrap moved into the adjoining township, Hanover, as early as 1805, and as he preached frequently in different parts of the county, it is reasonable to assert that he did so within the limits of Perry before 1813.

At present there is but one Methodist church in the township, this being the Episcopal Methodist at Elizabethtown. Regular services are held and an active Sunday-school maintained.

The Disciples were late in introducing their pe- culiar form of faith, yet they have a strong hold in Perry. The first preaching was in 1829 or 1830, by James Porter and John Secrest, in the bouse of Mrs. Elizabeth Lemert, and through the zeal and indomitable energy of this excellent woman the first church edifice was erected on her premises in Elizabethtown, about 1831. It was constructed of hewed logs; and in this a society was organized about 1833. John Dodson was appointed elder and sustained that relation to this church for six- teen years, until he removed to Brushy fork. Since that time Abner Lemert, Beverly Lemert, Hezekiah Shacklet, William Brown and William Phillips have been elders.

The first organization of this church consisted of the following members: Mrs. Elizabeth I.em-

ert, Joseph Leatherman and wife, Minerva and Abner Lemert, Leroy Lemert and wife, William Adams, wife and two daughters, Archibald and David Mercer, Rachel Reed, Moses and Jacob Priest, and Daniel Lauthlin and wife.

In 1846 or 1847, a frame church edifice was erected, much better than the hewed log, but not ir. an eligible situation, nor in such a manner as to be conducive to health or comfort. It, however, ar- swered the purpose until 1869, when a very credit- able building was erected in a suitable place. It was dedicated the third Sabbath in June of that year. the sermon being delivered by J. H. Jones. The church is strong and active at present, the men- bership being about eighty. It also maintains a fine Sabbath-school.

The Baptist church was constituted in 184; M that zealous and efficient missionary preacher, John Fry, who was the first to introduce the doctrines of this church into this territory. He was assisted by John Crabtree and Joseph Sperry, and the first organization consisted of seven persons-three males and four females.

The first deacon was James Holmes, and the first clerk, Ezra Sperry. In 1864, John Bilby and William Clagett were installed deacons, and James Holmes clerk. John Fry remained pastor urti 1853, and was followed by Stephen C. Smith John Pritchard, Johnson VanHorn, William Be :- ler, and John Pritchard, the present pastor. Ther church building at Pleasant Hill is a respectable one, and the society is in a flourishing condition the present membership being about fifty.

The Protestant Methodists early formed a soc .. ety in Perry, and for many years prospered, bc: the building in which they worshipped at Eliza- bethtown being weakly built, soon fell into ruins, and they have not been able to erect another . consequently the society is not at present in exis ence.

Education received early attention, though the sparseness of the population prevented the estab- lishment of schools as early as was desirable.

In 1822 a school-house was built on the farm now owned by Daniel Wagstaff. It was a rude log structure, and in it Miss Elmira Lewis gathered a few scholars, and began a "subscription " school She was quite popular, and the pioneers were

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much pleased with the success of their first effort. Unable to secure the services of Miss Lewis for a second term, a Miss Nelson was installed as teacher. In 1827 a second school was started in a house similar to the first, built on the Furnace land. Isaac Schneider and Daniel Beardley were the teachers at that time. Subscription schools were continued until the present system took their place.

Perhaps the most noteworthy person in the pio- neer history of Perry was Samuel Montgomery, a local Methodist preacher. He came early into the township from Virginia, and during his long stay no man was more respected or influential than he. A blameless life, an earnest zeal for re- ligion and the preservation of public morals, com- mended him more to the good opinion of the peo- ple than any display of oratory. His preaching was always listened to by many and appreciative hearers. On funeral occasions "Uncle Sammy', generally officiated, and at marriages he was sel. dom absent.

John Livingston was among the first pioneers, and was a noted hunter. The greater part of his time was spent in the pursuit of wild game. His success exceeded that of all others in the community; and many tales are yet told of his wonderful exploits. Once, while returning from a hunting excursion, fatigued by excessive exertion, and walking slowly through the woods, a panther that had probably been crouching upon the limb of a tree waiting for a victim, suddenly sprang upon his back, tearing off two hunting shirts, and raking his back with its terrible claws, on its way to the ground. The hunter turned instantly and fired without aim, but the attack had been so sud- den and unexpected that he was greatly excited and missed. He now realized that he stood face to face with one of the most formidable and fero- cious beasts of the forests, with an empty gun in his hand and no other weapon of defence. The panther was crouching for a spring, and remem- bering that wild beasts are sometimes held at bay when their eyes are caught by that of a human be- ing, Livingston looked steadily at the beast and began reloading his gun. Keeping his eye fixed upon that of the panther, he emptied the contents of his powder-horn into the gun, without thinking

of what he was doing, and dropped in a bullet, without the usual patching and ramming. It was quickly done, and placing the muzzle within a foot of the panther's head, he fired. The result was a bursted gun, a lacerated hand and a pan- ther's head blown to atoms. He now felt the effects of the scratches on his back, the loss of blood and the relaxation from terrible excitement, and it was with difficulty that he dragged himself to a neighboring cabin, where he was cared for. It was a long time before he recovered from the ef- fects of this encounter. Mr. Livingston had many encounters with wild beasts of this vicinity, during his long life as a hunter, but this was probably the most terrible, and the one in which he came the nearest to losing his life.

The Denmans, as before stated, were among the earliest pioneers, and were also largely engaged in hunting. Several descendants are yet living in the vicinity of Denman's cross roads. A bear story in connection with this family is worth pre- serving.

One morning the wife of Hathaway Denman, while attending to her household duties, Mr. Den- man being absent at work in the woods, was startled by the cries of her two-year old son, who had been playing near the cabin under the watch- ful care of the large house dog. Simultaneously with the screaming of the child came the fierce barking of the dog; it was that peculiar savage bark that dogs always give when close upon the enemy. Mrs. Denman rushed out of the cabin, and was horrified to find her little boy running to- ward her, while a black bear, which had been closely pursued by the dog, was just mounting upon the "bench" of the chimney, four or five feet from the ground. Here the bear was held at bay by the dog, while Mrs. Denman, seizing the child, ran toward the spot where her husband was at work. The faithful dog kept bruin perched upon the chimney until Mr. Denman came and shot him.

The pioneers of this township were mostly from Virginia, though many came from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They are industrious, temper- ate and economical. They are moral, religious, and take a deep interest in educational matters.

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CHAPTER LXXII. ST. ALBANS TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-ANCIENT WORKS-TOPOGRAPHY-THE PIONEERS-FIRST SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS-MILLS, DISTILLERIE! SHOPS, ETC .- ALEXANDRIA-CHURCHES-CLOCK FACTORY.

"The hills were brown, the heavens were blue, A woodpecker pounded a pine-top shell, While a partridge whistled the whole day through For a rabbit to dance in the chaparral,

And a gray grouse drumm'd . All's well, all's well."

F RIOR to the organization of this township, which occurred in 1813, it was a part of Granville township, and at the date of its organization em- braced also Jersey township.

So far as recorded, there are but four mounds in this township. One is on what is known as the "Gailor farm," now owned by Thomas Jones, near the Kirkersville road, and south of the Gaffeld meeting-house; another on the hill upon which stands the residence of J. Davis, one-half mile east of Alexandria, and north of the road leading to Newark; and a third further west, upon the farm of John Reed known as the "Thrall farm," but the largest is probably the one on the land of E. R. Cornell, about twenty rods south of the Dela- ware road. It is said to have been eighteen feet in height within the memory of the older citizens, but from various causes it is now considerably lower. About 1830 Dr. Fassett, Archibald Cornell and Israel Peck excavated to its center, on a level with the original earth, and found human bones of more than one skeleton and some polished stones.

In addition to these works of the Mound Build- ers, there are two inclosures; one the shape of an egg, inclosing about six acres on the farm of Abner Lyman, known as the Phillips or Follett farm. The Delaware road passes through it, leaving the larger part on the south side, but from years of cultiva- tion it is hardly discernible.

The second one is on the Thrall farm, lying between the wall mentioned, and the Cornell mound.

A third earthwork is located on the farm of D.

W. Lewis, in the southern part of the township about three miles south of Alexandria, and a mile west of the Wesleyan Methodist church.

The township lies wholly within the United States military lands, and is well watered by Rac- coon fork of Licking river and its tributaries. Rar- coon passes through in a southeasterly direction, the following streams emptying into it from the south Cornell run, the two Pettee runs, and Mootz run Those coming in from the north ate the Drake or Carpenter, and Lobdell runs.

Some of these runs furnish sufficient water for milling purposes. There are numerous springs throughout the township.

The names of the tributaries of the Raccoon were derived from the early settlers along their banks, with one exception, Mootz run, which is supposed to have taken its name from the name of "J. Mootz," cut at an early day on a beech tree which stood near the Gilbert mills, and east of the stream. The name was found there by the earliest settlers in that locality, and is supposed to have been cut by some one belonging to a surveying party, as the name had the appearance of being cut with irons used by surveyors to mark the trees along the lines run.

The soil of the township is among the best fer farming purposes. The wide, rich bottom lands along the Raccoon were originally covered with very large trees of every variety of hard wood known to this climate. These have long since dis- appeared, and in their place are well cultivate; farms. The second bottom land is excellent fo: wheat, and the upland has, perhaps, no superior for grasses.

The first settler upon this territory was John Cooke Herron, who was born in Pennsylvania, and

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.me with his father to Newark. They were among e first families to settle in that place. He married liss Catharine Ward, whose father lived on the rm now known as a dairy farm, in Harrison town- lip.

They were married in 1807, and the same year ected their cabin on the farm afterward owned / Noah Morrow, in the southern part of the wnship. He made the first clearing in the spring 1808, being assisted in his log-rolling by Deacon utler'of Harrison township. His son, Samuel, orn in December of the same year, was the first hite child born in the township; and a daughter, atharine, born in September 1811, was probably le first female born in the township.

After remaining a short time on his farm Herron :moved to Newark, but soon returned to his farm, here he remained until his death, which occurred 1 January, 1815.

The next family to become identified with the istory of the township was Cornell. In the win- er of 1807-8, Gideon, Sylvanus and Archibald fornell, with their sisters, moved temporarily into le township to work at clearing land for a Mr. Vaters, who then owned the lands afterward occu- ied as farms by J. L. Tyler, N. W. Clafflin, Swain Williams and David Charles; the Cornells to ave a certain amount of land for clearing certain number of acres-thought to be one undred for clearing fifty. This Mr. Waters as a pioneer, but being unmarried, in poor ealth, unable to do manual labor, dying at an arly day, and never having made this township is permanent home, his name, in all probability, could never have found its way into this history, ut for this contract with the Cornells. The clear- ig made by the Cornells was known as the Waters learing. Mr. Waters died in the village of Gran- ille November 5, 1809. Gideon Cornell died in October, 1857, aged seventy-three; Sylvanus died 1 October, 1865, aged seventy-six; and Archi- Id died in August, 1856, aged sixty-three.

The next settler was Joshua Lobdell, from Mc- Connellstown, Pennsylvania. He may be said to ave been the second settler who came for a per- hanent settlement. He arrived in the spring of 808, his father, David Lobdell, accompanying nd making his home with him. He settled on

the farm afterward known as the Atwood or Fitch farm, subsequently the residence of William Green. The settlement of Mr. Lobdell upon this particular piece of land was accidental. It is stated that "a weary, footsore traveler, who had been to the west, came along, stopping at their residence in Pennsylvania, and offered to sell his farm west of the Ohio for a horse, saddle and bri- dle." The family had been thinking of moving west, and this offer was accepted by Mrs. Lobdell, who, it appears, did the trading, and thus the farm came into their possession. It would appear from the above statement that this "weary, foot-sore trav- eler" had been in this township, probably, prior to its first settlement.

Joshua Lobdell set out the first orchard in the township in 1809; the trees being brought from Muskingum county. He and his father were among the number that organized the Baptist church on the Welsh hills in September, 1808. Joshua was the first elder of the church. The death of David Lobdell, which occurred in 1809, when he was seventy, was the first in the township. He was buried on the Drake farm, nearly one mile west of Alexandria, on the bluff overlooking Raccoon, between the Delaware and Columbus roads. Joshua was the first carpenter in the town- ship, and did not long survive his father, dying in 1812, aged forty-six. His only son, Samuel, lost his life in the war of 1812.

In the spring of 1809 came Thomas Owens, a widower, from the Welsh hills, with a family of nearly grown-up children. He lived on the Wa- ters farm, but only remained a short time ; having married a daughter of Thomas Phillips, who lived on the Welsh hills, to which place Mr. Owens moved his family in the winter or early spring o 1811.

Samuel Carpenter, sr., from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, also settled with his family in this township in the spring of 1809. He came in 1805 to Rush creek, Fairfield county, where he re- mained until he settled here.

The first church was organized and the first ser- mod preached in the cabin of Mr. Carpenter, by Mr. Bacon, a minister traveling through the coun- try on foot, carrying his saddle-bags on his arm, in 1810 or 1811. He remained over night with the

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Carpenters, and preached this sermon to a small gathering of settlers. Rev. J. B. Finley, however, says, in his history of Methodism, that he preached the first sermon in that township, at the cabin of S. Carpenter, sr., late in 1810 or early in the fol- lowing year. If he did so, he failed to make the same impression on the younger members of his congregation as was made by Mr. Bacon.

Mr. Carpenter erected the first brick house in the township, in 1821; and died in March, 1834, aged eighty-one. His son, Rev. Samuel Carpen- ter, settled on the farm adjoining his father's, and erected a brick residence in 1827, the oldest brick building now standing in the township. He was married to Mercy Cornell, December 21, 1809, by Rev. T. Harris, of Granville; and had they been married in the township, would have been the first; but, though both had been living in the township, and shortly after the marriage made this their home, they were married at the house of the bride's mother in Granville; hence the marriage of Gideon Cornell to Miss Julia Lobdell, July 17, 1810, was the first marriage ceremony performed in the township. Rev. S. Carpenter died in Au- gust, 1851, aged seventy-eight years.

The settlers in 1810 were William Pettee, his son True, and a carpenter by the name of Noble Landon. They came together from Vermont, and settled on the farm afterward owned by George Shaw. Upon the organization of the township in 1813, Landon was elected its first justice of the peace. Pettee was a cooper, and the first in the township, he was also a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church.

In the spring of 1811 Samuel Clark, one of the Granville company, settled on the Worthington road, near the eastern line of the township, where he worked at his trade, being the first blacksmith, and a good mechanic. He remained here until his death, in 1824. During this year David Drake came. He was a brother-in-law of Joshua Lob- dell, and from the same neighborhood in Pennsyl- vania. He was the first wagon-maker in the town- ship, and died in 1867, aged ninety-four years. A Mr. Murdock also erected a cabin on what is known as the Barnes' farm, but he was not long a resident of the township.

Mr. West came from Maine and settled in the

southeast corner of the township, on the More- house King farm. He employed L. Butler, of Harrison township, to build his cabin, which he did for the sum of thirty dollars. This family, also, moved away in a short time. The Witherell family were the last to arrive during this year (1811). They came from Connecticut and settled on the farm afterward owned by L. B. Stark. There were three boys, all young men, Luther, Comfort and Daniel, the mother and three other children. They came from their old home in a wagon entirely of their own make, even to the tire, which was of wood. When the tire wore off they were compelled to stop and re-tire. In this wagon they carried all their household goods, and other earthly possessions, besides the younger members of the family when tired of walking; and this wagon was drawn by hand from Connecticut to the wilds of Ohio. Probably the wagon tire was less trouble than the family tire, and was not so often retired. They soon returned to Connect- icut, but came back again to St. Albans, where the mother died, and was the second person buried in the Gaffield burying ground-Lucy A. McCreary. who died June 8, 1821, being the first interment.

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The settlers in this township in 1812 were Peter Stephens and his son Justice, with their families; Isaiah Beaumont, sr., and family, and Elijah Fox and brother. The three first arrived in January, from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. Stephens and son had visited the township the previous summer and put in crops. They settled on the farm since owned by Joseph Bowman, bet moved in a few years to Monroe township, where some of the family yet live. Beaumont settled on the farm that yet bears his name, and remained there until his death, in 1837, at the age of eighty- one. He was a great hunter, and looked upon as the Nimrod of the township. The Foxes were bachelors and settled upon land since owned by Thomas Jones, on the Jersey road. They were frontiersmen, and only remained about two years. when they sold out to John Lockwood.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 102

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826