History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 69

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

USA > Ohio > Licking County > History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present > Part 69

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"The foot of the reaper moved slow on the lawn, And the sickle cut down the yellow corn ; The mower sung loud by the meadow side,

Where the mists of the evening were spreading wide ; And the voice of the herdsman came up the lea, And the dance went round by the greenwood tree." -Longfellow.

DOWLING GREEN township was organized in B 1808. It is eight miles long from east to west, and two and a half miles wide, lying wholly within the Refugee tract. Perry county is on the south, Muskingum on the east, Hopewell and Franklin townships on the north, and Licking on the west.

The Mound Builders left a few samples of their works within its limits; enough to indicate that it was once the home of the lost race. There is a stone mound two and a half miles southeast of Linnville, of medium size, and one earth mound near it, both being near the center of the town- ship, east and west. There is also a mound at Amsterdam of no very great dimensions; and an earth mound on the farm of John Hamilton, ad- joining Brownsville on the northeast, of oblong form, eighty-five yards in circumference at its base and fifteen feet high.

The township has no authentic Indian history, but there is plenty of evidence that the Indians roamed freely over it in the pre-historic times, and probably had a more or less permanent occupancy of it. Tradition and the general belief locate the red man on all sides of it, and without doubt it was used extensively as a hunting ground by the Delawares and other nations and tribes that once held undisputed possession here.

Agriculturally and topographically considered the township is rolling, or somewhat hilly, although it has some level or bottom lands, very fertile, par- ticularly along the little streams which flow through it, southwardly, towards Jonathan's creek, or the Moxahala, as the Indians called it, whose tributa- ries they are. It was originally well timbered, the growth being principally oak, hickory and walnut. It is generally fertile, producing corn and the cere- als and grass bountifully. There is little, if any, land in the township that is not tillable. All the rain that falls upon its surface flows into the Mus- kingum river through the Moxahala.

The first settlement of Bowling Green township was made in 1802, at what is called "Little Bowling Green," about a mile south of Linnville, on a trib- utary of Jonathan's creek, by some frontiersmen from Western Virginia, whose names were Michael Thorn, Frederick Myers, and Henry Neff.

John Harris and Andrew Myers, also Virgini- ans, settled here in 1803, and William Harris, Moses Meeks, Adam and John Myers, and Charles How .. ard in 1804. The latter was a school-teacher by profession, and taught the first school in the town- ship.

Those who came after 1804, were Edward Tay- lor, William Taylor, Joseph Taylor, Jacob Storts, Henry Alexander, John Berry, Joseph McMullin, Rev. Levi Shinn, Nathan Shipps, Elijah Nichols, George Moyer, James Clark, Robert Orr, Landon Warfield, William Chapman, Samuel Parr, Henry Bickell, Alexander McClelland, Walter Roberts, John Weedman, Mr. Mervin, Willis Lake, sr.,

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Jacob and Adam Brown, and John Dickinson.

Mr. William Harris came to this township in 1804, and, though he lived a while in Franklin township, probably resided more years in this township than any other person.

Mr. Solomon Myers was the son of Andrew Myers, one of the immigrants of 1803, and was brought to the "Little Bowling Green" from near Morgantown, Monongalia county, western Vir- ginia, where he was born in 1788.

Settlers continued to flock into the township rapidly, locating themselves in different neighbor- hoods, so that when the county was organized in 1808, it was deemed advisable by the county com- missioners to organize the people of these several settlements into a separate township.

It was the fourth township organized in order of time, and the second after the county was organ- ized-Hanover, only, preceding it. Licking and Granville had been some time organized as town- ships in Fairfield county.

The little prairie a mile south of Linnville was called "Little Bowling Green," from its resem- blance to the Bowling Green on the Licking, four miles below Newark. It gave name to the stream running through it, and thus, also, furnished a name, ultimately, for the township.

Samuel Parr, and many other settlers who came to this township before the year 1815, were from the State of Pennsylvania, mostly from Fayette county.

The National road runs through the township from east to west along the northern boundary. It was surveyed, located and constructed between the years 1825 to 1833. The towns of Brownsville and Linnville were laid out soon after the final location of the road; the former by Adam Brown, who named it after himself, and the latter by Samuel Parr, who named it after Adam Linn, who was then about to establish himself there as its first mer- chant. Brownsville grew rapidly at first, but has been about stationary in later years. It is a post town of about four hundred and fifty inhabitants. Linnville is a post town of about one hundred in- habitants.

Amsterdam, half of which is in Bowling Green township, was also brought into existence after the location and during the construction of the Na-

tional road, Abraham Boring and George Bare being its proprietors.

The National road for twenty years attracted much travel to it, both of emigrants and general travelers, which gave the villages located upon : an appearance of considerable life and thritt. Re ;. ular lines of daily four-horse stages were run It those days, and sometimes they had an additiona' opposition line, carrying on a very vigorous corr petition with the regular mail line, which added greatly to the liveliness of the villages along the road. A daily "Pony Express line," also passed over the National road during a portion of the years 1836 and 1837, which, for the time beir ... increased the excitement and the interest in the villages along the road, and tended to vary the monotony of village life. This pony express w.s established by Hon. Amos Kendall, the energetk postmaster general, for the purpose of carrying valuable letters, drafts, small packages and impor- tant newspaper slips. Its speed was more than ter miles per hour, being twice that of the mail stage. the schedule time from Zanesville to Columbr. (fifty-four miles) being five hours, and the postage on matter carried by it was enormously high. Mr Smucker remembers receiving a newspaper slip. brought by it, containing President Van Buren's in- augural address, in March, 1837, on which the postage was seventy-five cents. Such a paper br regular mail would cost two cents. The express ponies were ridden by boys, and put through on a fast gallop, or "half-run," the relays being five miles apart. The small saddle-bags which con- tained the express matter were fastened to the sad- dle, and, at the end of each run, the saddle and bags were almost instantly transferred from the exhausted, foaming pony, to a fresh one, the rider mounted upon him, and rode away at full speed. with a delay of not more than a minute. The stations in Licking county were Brownsville, Linn- vilie, Etniers, Luray, and Etna.

A former citizen of Newark, H. S. Manon, and 2 Mr. Jones, were pony express contractors from Zanesville to Columbus, and Mr. A. B. Dumm, of Newark, then a lad living in Brownsville, rode from Zanesville to Ftniers, near Jacksontown. He said that he once, in an emergency, rode from Zanes- ville to Columbus in three hours and forty five

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minutes, the rider from Etniers to Columbus be- ing sick. Once when behind time he rode from Etniers to Zanesville (twenty-six miles) in less than an hour and a half. There were five relays of horses on his route. The enterprise proving un- profitable, was abandoned in 1837. A short time before the Union and Central Pacific railroads were constructed, the pony express was used with success in carrying the mail from the States across the plains and over the mountains to California; and even yet, where the railroad has not penetrated, these pony express lines are used with much ben- efit and profit, in the western territories and States.

Old settlers look back with a sigh of regret at those stage-coach days, which have passed away forever. When the railroads came into use emi- grants, travelers and four-horse coaches, aban- doned the pike, and the little towns along the road became dull and ceased to grow.

The first religious society organized in Bowling Green township was effected by the Methodists about sixty years ago, at the house of Samuel Parr. Revs. Jesse Stoneman and Levi Shinn preached occasionally, before the organization of this society, at the house of Mr. James Clarke, who lived in the southern part of the township, where, also, a class was formed at an early day. Revs. Asa Shinn, Robert Manley, Ralph Lotspeitch and James Quinn are believed to have preached at Mr. Clarke's in early times. In 1807 Rev. Jesse Stoneman preached a funeral discourse in Bowling Green- probably the first funeral sermon preached in the township.

In 1821 the society formed at the house of Mr. Parr, made an effort to build a hewed log church, which, however, was never completed, and little, i at all, used as a church. About the year 1832 this society erected a small but neat frame church in Linnville, which, after a number of years, theyf sold to the Catholics. In the year 1839 they erected, on a lot adjoining Linnville, the frame structure they yet occupy. The membership is half a hundred or more, and a live Sabbath-school is connected with the church

The Methodist Episcopal church in Brownsville is one of the earlier societies. It was first organ- ized in 1816 at the residence of Widow Dickinson, one and a half miles north of Brownsville, in Hope-

well township, by Rev. James Quinn, where, in 1818, they built a hewed log church which they oc- cupied until 1830, when the society was transferred to Brownsville, where they erected a small, brick church. This church was occupied until about thirty-five years ago, when the society erected a large, fine frame edifice, yet occupied. The mem- bership numbers something less than one hundred; and the same may be said of the active and flour- ishing Sabbath-school.

The Protestant Methodist church, of Browns- ville, was organized about 1830, and soon there- after built a small frame church. In 1847 they erected a still larger church edifice, which is still occupied. It has very generally been a flourishing and influential church. A large and active Sun- day-school is connected with it, and the member- ship of the church is something less than one hun- dred.

About 1840 the Roman Catholics organized a church in Linnville, and bought the small edifice re- cently vacated by the Methodist society, who had just completed their new church west of and adjoin- ing the town. This Catholic society, after some years, was dissolved, and the church diverted from sacred to secular uses.

The Presbyterian church in Brownsville was or- ganized by Rev. W. M. Robinson, in 1845, with eleven members. The present church edifice, a good brick building, was erected in 1846. Robert Hamilton and William Black were first elders. · Mr. Robinson continued preaching several years in this church. At first there were but three or four Presbyterian families, and he received, at this place, less than fifty dollars a year support, yet it soon became more encouraging, and before he re- signed the charge in 1855, he received three hun- dred dollars per annum from this congregation which had increased to eighty-four members. Mr. Robinson was succeeded by Revs. W. B. Tidball, H. R. Peairs,. Alexander R. Hamilton, L. B. W. Shryock, M. M. Travis, Mr. White, and others. A Sabbath-school has been connected with the church since its organization.

There is a Baptist church about half a mile east of Linnville, erected in 1848, which is part of, or an appendage to the Friendship, or Old School Baptist church at Hog run, in Licking

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township, whose history is given in the history of that township.

The United Brethren have a small church in Amsterdam, which stands on the line between Franklin and this township. The society is small, many of the members having united with the society at Jacksont own.

The Christian Union denomination organized a society in 1865, holding its meeting in a school- house in Linnville. The ministers have been Revs. A. S. Biddison, William Henslee, Benjamin Green and Mr. Underwood. They sustain a Sab- bath school and pulpit ministrations, with a good degree of regularity. Isaac Orr, James Brown, James Lamp, John P. Switzer, George Clark and John Dusthimer, were among the original mem- bers of this church.

In addition to the pioneer preachers of Bowling Green already named, are the following: Revs. J. W. Patterson, Jacob Young, Charles Waddle, Mr. McElroy, Abner Goff, Jacob Myers, Joseph Car- per, Martin Fate, Mr. McCracken, W. B. Evans, C. Springer, George Brown, George Debolt, James Hooper, Jacob Hooper, Samuel Hamilton, Leroy Swormsted and J. Gilruth.

The early-time justices of the peace in this township, were Moses Meeks, Adam Winegardner, John Bartholomew, Alexander Morrison, William Taylor, Charles Bradford, Joseph McMullen, Will. iam Armstrong, Samuel Parr and Baltus Emory, who served about in the order named.

The township is divided into six school districts, each having a good school building. It is also united with Franklin township in a fractional dis- trict.

There are but two post offices in the township- Brownsville and Linnville. The office in each place was established about fifty-years ago, and the postmasters were as follows, about in the order named : Brownsville -- Moses Brotherlin, John F. Bane, George H. Hood, John Oldham, John F. Bane, Alexander Flowers, O. M. Hamilton, John Oldham, George L. Buckingham, O. M. Hamil- ton, C. A. Roberts, C. F. Prior and John H. Bell, the present incumbent. Linnville-Adam Linn, William Tracy, William Orr, David Gilland, Thomas Lonon, David Harris, Summerfield Tip- pett, D. C. Harris and W. C. Orr. The number

of inhabitants in this township in 1830, was 1,768; in 1840, 1,464; in 1850, 1,538; in 1860, 1,213; ir. 1880, 926.

The large population in 1830 was owing to the fact that many families, who were then engaged in the construction of the National road, had but a temporary residence, and were gone when the cen- sus of 1840 was taken; however it will be seen there has been a gradual falling off in population at every census, in which fact lies food for thought

The township vote in presidential elections has been as follows: In 1856, for James Buchanan 145; for J. C. Fremont, 106; Milliard Filmore, 2. In 1860, Stephen A. Douglas, 138; Abraham Lin- coln, 90; J. C. Breckenridge, 15; John Bell, 2. In 1864, George B. McClellan, 147; Abraham Lincoln, 66. In 1868, Horatio Seymour, 162: General Grant, 80. In 1876, Samuel J. Tilden. 164; R. B. Hayes, 69. The totals were, 253, 245, 213; 242, 233.

John Yontz and Dr. Walter B. Morris, were among the most conspicuous and influential poli- ticians in the township, and both attained to the distinction of representatives in the State legisla- ture-the former in 1835-'36-'37; and the latter in 1839-'40-'41. They were not early settlers and did not remain in the county many years. The former was identified with the oppositon stage in- terest, which kept up such a lively competition with the regular Neil and Moore Ohio mail stage company, for quite a length of time on the Na- tional road. His gentlemanly bearing, fine ad- dress, remarkable sauvity of manners, affabk deportment, and attractive presence, made him exceedingly popular, and gave him great power over his fellows. He died two years ago in California. Dr. Morris moved to Missour. Bowling Green has, also, furnished a representa- tive in the legislature in the person of William. Parr, a native of the township.

A good degree of thrift and prosperity, the re- sult of industry and frugality, have marked the history of the people of Bowling Green township Their schools and churches, as will be seen, are numerous and well sustained, and the people could not well fail to reach the average standard, in the practice of the higher virtues and Christian graces.

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CHAPTER XI.V.

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION AND LOCATION-ORIGIN OF THE NAME-TOPOGRAPHY-WORKS OF THE MOUND BUILDERS-PRE-HISTORIC REMAINS-THE BURLINGTON STORM-THE PIONEERS-HOMER-THE CHURCHES-NOTABLE PEOPLE.

THIS township was organized in 1817. It lies on the northern border, adjoining Knox county, between Bennington on the west, Washington on the east, and Mckean on the south.

It is said that Colonel Wait Wright treated the "boys" to two gallons of whiskey for the privilege of naming the township, and thereupon called it after his native place in Vermont.

It is well watered-Otter creek and the North fork, about equal in size, uniting a little above the residence of Justus Taylor, near the vil- lage of Homer, the latter taking an easterly course to Washington township. Lake fork rises in Bennington and flows east nearly through the center of Burlington. The surface is gently undulating, except in the district known as "Egypt," in the southeast, which is somewhat hilly. The soil of the larger portion partakes of yellow clay, and is adapted to the growth of wheat and other small grains, which, taken in connection with the alluvial, corn producing bottom land, skirting the streams, creates that variety of soil calculated to invite the agriculturalist. No portion of it is so broken as to prevent cultivation. Within the limits of Burlington are, or were, seven or more of those mysterious mounds for which the county is noted, and which continue to puzzle the antiquarian. One is on the farm formerly owned by Robert Fulton, one mile west of Homer; another on the farm owned by the heirs of John Butcher; and two on the farm formerly owned by Robert Hunter. Mr. Hunter is dead, and the farm is now owned by Jacob Yocum. There were three mounds here, but one of them was plowed away and leveled in the preparation of the ground upon which to build the house, so that two only remain upon this place.

Under the center of one of these was discovered, some years since, a circular building of stone, about ten feet in diameter and three feet in height, regularly built, dome shaped, and having on the top as a keystone a large stone familiarly known as a "nigger head." Much curiosity was excited as to its contents, but when opened it was found to contain nothing of value. There is another mound on the farm formerly owned by McKnight, one mile west of Utica, which is eight or ten feet in height and twenty-five or thirty feet in diameter at the base. The farm upon which it is located is now owned by James Hanger; but the largest and most entire is at the village of Homer, on the farm and close to the residence of Edwin Will- iams, esq .; this has recently been measured and found to be about thirty rods in circumference at the base, and nearly thirty feet in height, having, as is usual, a hollow place at the summit, about twen- ty-five feet across. Perhaps fifty years ago, a party of five or six settlers agreed to examine this mound in search of curiosities. They dug down about fifteen feet, but found nothing of value.

A mound of ordinary size not long ago had an existence on the farm of Mr. Woodruff, three- fourths of a mile west of Homer. This mound has been graded down, but near it yet remains the depression or "sink" from which it is believed the dirt was taken for this mound. This place is over- grown with bushes, and is sometimes filled with water.

The soil in the vicinity of Homer seems to have been favorable for the works of the Mound Build- ers, being somewhat sandy.

In 1824, near an old fort, the outlines of which are still visible, on the bank of the creek adjoining

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the Homer cemetery, a very large human skeleton was found. It is stated that the jaw-bone would go over the face of the largest man present, with two hands placed between. This might have been some pre-historical Indian chief, and if he wielded influence and power in proportion to his size, he was a mighty man among the red men.

In 1815, while digging a mill-race on the western line of the township, some enormous bones were unearthed; among others, a rib over five feet in length; another bone as large around as a wagon hub, and a tooth two and one-half inches broad, one and a half inches thick, and five or six inches in length, doubtless the remains of some antediluvian animal. Mr. William Spencer, speak- ing in 1876, of the earthwork last mentioned, says it is on the farm of Mr. Joseph Conard, and is a regular circle about eighty-five feet in diameter, with the ditch on the inside of the embankment. It is only twelve or fifteen inches in height, with a gate, or entrance, twelve feet wide, facing the east. The mound in the center of this embankment is at least thirty feet in diameter, thirty inches high, and seems to have always been higher than the circular wall. A few oak trees stand on the embankment, from eighteen inches to two and a half feet in di- ameter. No other works are connected with this, so far as can be seen. This earthwork evidently belongs to the same class of works as the "Old Fort" near Newark, and known as "Sacred Inclo- sures."

One of the most important events in the history of this county was the occurrence of what is known as "The Burlington Storm." Its effects were more severely felt in this township than any other, hence its name; and its history may properly be written here. It occurred on the eighteenth of May, 1825, and was one of the most violent tor- nadoes ever known in Ohio. The following description of it is from "Howe's Historical Col- lections," and the account is believed to be authentic.

"It commenced between the hours of one and two P. M., in the southeast part of Delaware county. After passing a few miles upon the surface of the ground, in an casterly direction, it appeared to rise so high from the earth that the tallest trees were not affected. It then again descended to the earth, and with greatly increased violence and force, proceeded through the townships of Bennington and Burlington, in Licking county,

then passed into Knox, and thence into Coshocton county. "It crossed the road from Newark to Mt. Vernon, a short distance above Utica, where its violence was such as to pros- trate nearly all the trees, large and small, that stood in its track, which was several hundred yards wide. Its general course was a little north of east. For force and violence of wind this storm has rarely been surpassed in any country in the same latitude. Forests and orchards were completely uprooted and leveled; buildings blown down, scattered in every direction, and carried by the force of the wind many miles distant; cattle were taken from the ground and carried one hundred rods or more. The creek, which had been swollen by recent rains, had but little water in its bed after the storm passed. The roads and fields recently plowed were quite muddy from recent rains; but, after the storm passed by, both roads and fields were clean and dry. Its track through Licking county was from one-third to three-fifths of a mile wide, but became wider as it advanced to the eastward. Those who were so fortunate as to be wit- nesses of its progress, without being victims of its fury, repre- sent the appearance of fragments of trees, buildings and limbs, high in the air, to resemble large numbers of birds, such as buzzards and ravens.

"The ground also seemed to tremble, as is asserted by many credible persons, who were at the time a mile from the track of the tornado. The roar of the wind, the trembling of the ground, and the crash of falling timbers and buildings, are represented by all who were witnesses as being peculiarly dreadful."

Colonel Wright, and others who witnessed its progress, think it advanced at the rate of a mile per minute, aud did not last more than a minute and a half or two minutes. The cloud was ex- ceedingly black, and sometimes bore hard upon the ground, and at others seemed to rise a little above the surface. One peculiarity was that the fallen timber lay in every direction, so that the course of the storm could not be determined from the position of the fallen trees.

Many incidents are related by the inhabitants, calculated to illustrate the power and terrors of the storm. A chain, three or four feet long, of the size of a plow-chain, was taken from the ground near the house of John McClintock, carried about half a mile, and lodged in the top of a sugar-tree stub about twenty-five feet from the ground.

An ox belonging to Colonel Wait Wright, was carried about eighty rods, and left unhurt, although surrounded by fallen timber so that it required several hours chopping to release him. A cow, also, was taken from the same field, carried about forty rods, and lodged in the top of a tree, which was blown down, and when found, was dead, and about eight feet from the ground. Whether the cow was blown against the tree-top after it fell, or

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 69

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