History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 76

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

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The first farm house was built by Deacon, after- ward Judge, Timothy Rose, in the winter of 1806-7. and stood where Judge Bancroft afterward resided. The first (forty by fifty) frame barn built in the

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county was erected in this township in the spring of 1807. The boards enclosing it were nailed on with Newgate nails, made in the Connecticut State prison. Most of the boards and nails are yet in their places.

The first male child born in the Granville colony was a son of Levi and Polly Rose, who became the well known Deacon William Rose.

The first female child was the daughter of Justin and Adah Hillyer, afterward the wife of Deacon E. C. Wright.

May 12, 1807, the first marriage was celebrated. The parties were Samuel Bancroft and Clarissa, eldest daughter of Judge Rose.

It was the frequent remark of strangers and visitors to Granville in those early days, that no pioneer settlement in the west could boast of so many marriageable and desirable young ladies as could Granville.

In 1807 an epidemic swept away a large number of young folks.

A burying-ground was laid out in the company's first survey. The first death and burial was that of an infant son of Ethan Bancroft, who died April 6, 1806. On the twenty-second of August of the same year, Gideon Cromwell died, aged forty-five, and was the first interment of an adult person in this graveyard.

The pioneers of Granville early paid attention to the cultivation of music, both vocal and instru- mental. Singing schools, to learn church music, were held as early as the fall of 1806; and at all their social parties singing was part of the enter- tainment. As early as 1808, a band for instru- mental music was organized; it consisted of eleven performers; three clarionets, three hautboys, three bassoons, one bass drum and cymbal. This was the first band west of Pittsburgh, if not of the Alleghanies. It was the band of Cass' regiment in the War of 1812, and was in Hull's surrender at Detroit.

In the formation of the Granville colony an effort was made to have the professional and mechanical pursuits represented as far as possible, so that among these pioneers men were found for almost any work or duty required, and they were, therefore, better fitted in all respects to enjoy life than the majority of western pioneers, and their

progress was, therefore, more rapid toward the ac- cumulation of material and intellectual wealth.

In the spring of 1807 Dr. Lee settled in Granville, the first physician in this part of the county. He mar- ried Sabina, eldest daughter of Job Case, and subse- quently removed to Coshocton. He was followed by Drs. Richards and Eager, men of general edu- cation and professional skill. One of these was a regular graduate of Dartmouth and the other of a literary institution in Rhode Island. Granville has hever been without medical men who would adorn that profession in any age or community.

The first court ever held in the county was held on Centerville street, in this township, in a house that stood on the corner of Levi Rose's garden. The grand jury held its inquest under a tree that stood near the guide post that points to Hebron.

Mr. William Wing was a resident of Granville township from 1818 to 1827, and has furnished some valuable history of early times here. He died in Columbus, Ohio, February 13, 1878, in his seventy-ninth year. He came to Licking county from Windsor, Connecticut, settling in Granville in 1818, where he married Electa Spell- man in 1822. He was a merchant, a canal con- tractor and, later in life, engaged in railroad busi- ness. He was well acquainted with the pioneer history of central Ohio, and was often called upon to address pioneer gatherings. A few extracts fol- lowing are taken from the few of these addresses which appear in print:

"From 1818 to 1822 money was exceedingly scarce and pro- duce low. The inhabitants had to live chlefly on what they were able to raise and manufacture themselves. Business of most kinds was conducted by exchanging one article for another. It was next to impossible to get money to pay debts. About this time a stay law was enacted by the legislature which virtu- ally suspended the forced collections of debt for some time. Pro- duce would scarcely pay enough for transportation to any market that was accessible. As an instance of this a company was formed at Granville, about the year 1820, called the "Licking Exporting Company," for the purpose of sending produce, especially pork, to market. The hogs were put into control of the company by the farmers, driven to Sandusky, there slaught- ered, packed and shipped in the spring to Montreal. Mr. C. Humphrey supervised the shipment, and went to Canada and made sales. About one dollar and twenty-five cents per hun- dred was realized for the pork, and the operations of the com- pany were not repeated.

"The prices of some articles of produce, about that time, were about as follows: Wheat, twenty-five to thirty-seven and one-half cents per bushel; oats and corn, from twelve and one-

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half to twenty cents ; flour, from one dollar to one dollar and twenty-five cents per hundred weight ; pork, one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars ; chickens, thirty-seven and one-half to fifty cents per dozen, butter, six to eight cents per pound ; eggs, three to four cents per dozen ; country sugar, six to eight cents per pound ; country molasses fifty cents per gallon (no foreign sugar or molasses to be had); coffee, when obtainable, about fifty cents, and tea two dollars and fifty cents to three dollars per pound. Salt retailed for three dollars and fifty cents per bushel ; whiskey, twenty-five cents per gallon ; potatoes and tur- nips, twelve and one-half to sixteen cents per bushel, and other articles in proportion. Even at these prices money could not be obtained freely for them, there being no other than a home market. Merchandise and goods of all kinds could be obtained only with great difficulty. The stores were bare of the real necessaries for the people, and all had to depend on their own resources.

"From 1822 to 1825, there was a gradual improvement, mer- chants at Granville purchased the farmers' hogs and cattle, drove them to an eastern market and returning furnished the people with merchandise suitable to their wants. From that time the inhabitants were better accommodated, and the par- ties engaged in the business were benefitted and eminently suc- cessful. The working of the Granville furnace by the same parties successfully, afforded a market for considerable of the produce raised by the farmers.

"Beginning work on the Ohio canal in 1825, gave an im- petus to business, furnishing a home market for much of the surplus labor and produce of the county. Great advances and changes soon took place. The people of Granville felt much interest in that work, expecting to derive much benefit from the proposed side cut, or feeder. Meetings of rejoicing were had upon the passage of the law, speeches were made, toasts of- fered and good feeling prevailed. A toast given by Judge Alexander Holmes, of Newark, was as follows: 'The Licking summit-we are indebted to her depression for this day's eleva- tion.' A well known citizen, Chauncey Humphrey, in the height of his joy made this remark in relation to the prospects of Granville : 'We shall be a second Utica.'

"But the expectation of advantages to be derived from the side cut to Granville, does not appear to have been realized, as it has been useless for purposes of navigation many years. However, the people were generally benefited by the prosecution of the work.,

"From the day of the beginning of the canal (July 4, 1825, ) we may date the rapid advancement of the county and State in wealth, prosperity and all the material elements which go to make a happy and prosperous people.

"The Newark Advocate, published by Mr. Briggs, at New- ark, was commenced in the year 1820. A good subscription list was obtained for the paper at Granville; the papers were sent to a depository there by a carrier, for the subscribers. To fill up his columns the publisher commenced publishing the life of Patrick Henry in weekly installments. Some of the sub- scribers became dissatisfied. About this time Augustine Mun- son was a candidate for the legislature; some one was sent to the Advocate office to get tickets printed with Munson's name on them. Mr. Briggs, not favoring Munson's election it was thought, declined to print them, assigning as a reason that he had so much printing on hand he could not do it in time. Of course the parties were not pleased, and having been dissatis- fied with his paper before, a number of the subscribers and oth-

ers, collected together, went to the depository where considerable accumulations of them were, and gathering them up, formed a procession, and with muffled drums and fife marched to a cross street in the east part of the town and buried them. Shortly after a number of subscribers took produce of various kinds to Newark to pay their subscriptions and stop the paper. Briggs published in his next issue an article in regard to the matter. attempting to ridicule the people, and there the matter ended; but the Advocate, after that time, never had much circulation there while he conducted it.

"After this a press was obtained by Mr. Sereno Wright, who was a practical printer, and the publication of a newspaper was commenced by himself, called the Wanderer. 'Uncle Sereno,' as he was familiarly called, was considered a very honest, up- right man, but somewhat eccentric in character. Many stories used to be told of his peculiar ways in dealing with his custom- ers in his store, which he kept about this time. It is probable they were not true, or if they were, they were not to his preju- dice, but only illustrative of his eccentricities. He afterward served as county treasurer a number of years with great accep- tability. The Jackson party finally became dominant in the county and he was obliged to give way."

The Wanderer spoken of by Mr. Wing, was es- tablished in 1822, and was the second paper start- ed in the county. It was devoted to news, adver- tising, and the interests of the little village in which it was published. It was small in size, con- tained little reading matter, and was issued by "Uncle Sereno," and one of his boys. The latter fell down stairs one day, seriously injuring himself, which circumstance led to the suspension of the Wanderer. This was about two years after it started. Newspapers were not in great demand in this county in the days of the Wanderer.

Probably the next paper started in Granville was the Granville Intelligencer in 1847, by D. Hunt and H. C. Blackman. Mr. James Taylor may also have been connected with the Intelligencer before its name was changed to the Licking Be in 1851, as it was afterward.

These papers were devoted to the interests of Granville, were well conducted, well printed and exerted a good influence. The Bee advocated the Maine Law in 1853, and was always strongly for temperance. Both of these papers were indepen- dent in politics.

The Denisonian, a literary periodical, conducted by the students of the Denison university, was commenced in 1857. Henry Fulton, H. E. Jones, J. B. Shaff, I. M. Clemens, J. H. Sedwick and J. B. Jones appear as editors, at different times. It was a clever publication, but died in 1859, and was

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buried with literary honors, J. B. Jones delivering the funeral oration.

The Herbarium was a literary periodical issued in Granville, in the interest of one of the literary institutions of that place. It was the cotemporary of the Denisonian, and lived as long at least, per- haps longer. It was conducted, probably, by the young ladies of Mr. Kerr's seminary.

The Collegian, a magazine of thirty-two pages, was started by the members of the Calliopean Literary society of Denison university, in July, 1867, with Thomas Ewart, F Catworthy, and F. Austin Drew as editors, and H. A. Rogers and C. M. Rupe publishers. It was published by this society two years. In 1869, the Franklin Literary society united with the Calliopeans in its publica- tion, and from the commencement of the third volume it was issued as the Denison Collegian, and under the auspices of these societies it is ably conducted.

The Granville Times, a weekly Republican paper, was established in June, 1880, by Harry A. Church, the first number appearing on Friday, June II. The paper is a five column folio, and is principally devoted to the interests of Granville township. It has been placed upon a paying basis, and is a welcome sheet to almost every family in the town- ship. Although supporting the principles of the Republican party, it is liberally encouraged by men of both parties, Rev. A. Y. Yale, of Alexandria, now prints a periodical in the Times office. It is noticed in the chapter on St. Albans township.

Mr. Wing's paper is again quoted:

"Of the first pioneers who were living in 1818, Joseph Lin- nel, sr., Levi Rose, Deacon Levi Hayes, Roswell Graves, Job Case, Samuel and Azariah Bancroft, Justin Hillyer, sr., Timo- thy Spellman, Elias Gilman, Silas Winchel, William Gavit, Amos Carpenter, and Hiram Rose, are remembered-all now dead.

"Of the descendants of the first settlers and others residing there at the time are recollected the following : Augustine, Jere- miah R. and Jesse Munson, Spencer Wright, Elkanah Linnel, Grove Case, Curtis, Amara, and Daniel Howe, Benjamin and Ja- cob Cook, Oren and Ralph Granger, David and Campbell Mes- senger, A. P. Pritchard, Elias Fassett, Willard Warner, Hiram and Samuel Boardman, Jacob Apollos Griffin, the Mower fam- ily (father and sons), and many others whose names are not now recalled.

"The first postmaster at Granville was Judge Rose; the next, William Gavit. Sereno Wright succeeded him and was post- master there in 1818, and so remained many years.

"The physicians in practice were W. S. Richards and a Dr.

Moulton. Dr. Sylvester Spellman settled there about 1820, and was in practice many years. Some other physicians came there but did not remain long.

"At an early period an act of the legislature incorporated the Granville Alexandrian society. It was supposed the law con- ferred banking powers, accordingly a bank was established about 1814 or 1815.

"The banking house was a one-story stone building, and stood at the southeast corner of Broad street and the public square. It issued circulating notes and did a general banking business. I am not certain who its first directors and officers were, but believe Elias Gilman, Silas Winchel, and Timothy Spellman, residents of Granville, were of the board, wiih Alex- ander Holmes, of Newark, as president, and R. R. Roach, as cashier. Subsequently G. Swan was cashier, and he was suc- ceeded by Elisha S. Gilman. This was, no doubt, the first banking institution in the county.

"In 1817, in common with other banks in the State, such as the Owl Creek bank of Mt. Vernon, and others, the bank failed to redeem its notes, and, suspended payment, when its notes greatly depreciated. In 1836 the bank was revived, principally by Buffalo parties. Henry Roop was made president, and A. G. Hammond cashier. Mr. Hammond did not continue long, and A. J. Smith succeeded him. Mr. Roop retired from the presidency after a time, when his place was supplied by some person interested in the bank in Granville. The public did not have great confidence in this bank, its issues not being in much favor, and it suspended payment in 1841. Its business was wound up by order of the court, and, I believe, some of its stockholders were made individually liable for its outstanding notes.

"The Granville furnace was built in 1816, by J. R. and A. Munson. It was supposed that ore could be obtained about four miles west of Granville. This proved to be a mistake, and the ore had to be transported by wagon from Mary Ann town- ship, and other places, distant twelve or sixteen miles. After the completion of the canal ore was obtained from Zoar, in Tuscarawas county. The operations of the furnace were not successful until it passed into the hands of L. D. Mower and his associates in 1822 or 1823, when it became profitable. In 1825 Elias Fassett purchased the interest of L. D. Mower & Co., and carried on the business some years. From 1830 to 1838 the persons interested in it were Elias Fassett, Alfred Avery, P. W. Taylor, Elizur Abbott, Simeon Reed, D. L. Cook, and D. D. Jewett. It was finally abandoned in 1838.

"A forge was built by A. Munson on Raccoon creek, two miles from town, and worked for a time with partial success; it was built about the time the furnace was erected. Colonel A. Jewett worked it in 1824 and 1825, but was unsuccessful. A. Munson had a grist and saw-mill on the site of the forge; Grove Case had a grist-mill on Clear run, adjoining the town on the east.

"Distilleries were common. The parties operating them were Joseph Fassett, Royal Marsh, Silas Winchell, and another name not recollected, about a mile and a half west of town.

"The Ohio canal opened a market for much of the whiskey manufactured; price twelve and a half cents per gallon by the barrel.

"A saw-mill was carried on by Captain John Phelps, about three-fourths of a mile southeast of town. He will be remem- bered by some of the older residents as going by the name of "Captain Put." He became partially deranged about 1824,

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travelled about from place to place, and when he came into a town he would call his roll, naming persons whose names he had obtained. I recollect hearing him call it one day in Granville. What became of him I do not know, but have the impression that he wandered off to the State of New York, or some of the New England States, from whence he came, and died.

"An oil-mill was built at an early day on Clear run, north of town, near the Welsh Hills road. It was run for a time but soon discontinued. Two tanneries were in operation in 1818, one carried on by Spencer Wright, near Clear run, east of town, and the other by George Donnovan on a lot afterward occupied by Harvey Bragg, near the spring.

"A salt well was sunk some hundreds of feet, about three- fourths of a mile southwest of town at an old deer-lick. Salt water was reached and a furnace erected to make salt, but on testing the water, two bushels of salt per day was all that could be made, and the enterprise was abandoned. Another well was commenced on Moat's run, in St. Albans township, but did not come to anything. I think these enterprises were undertaken in 1822 or 1823.

"There were four ponds of standing water on the town plat; one at the junction of Broad street and the Columbus road, one on the north side of the public square; one in the street fronting the house occupied by Rev. Mr. Little, and the other north of Broad street, and west of the street leading north toward Mt. Vernon. By voluntary labor contributed by the people in town and country, they were filled up and drained in 1826, and the unsightly nuisances abated.

"The old burying ground south of town, containing some twelve or fifteen acres, was first surrounded with a wooden fence, which became decayed. In 1820 the inhabitants turned out and built a good, substantial wall around the lot, which still remains. A new cemetery has been established and dedica- ted in the past few years, southeast of the town plat.

""There were two or three woollen factories in the township at an early day. The original proprietors were William Paige, Horace Wolcott, James Mead, and Linus G. Thrall; there may have been others whose names are not remembered.

"The people of the township and county were supplied with plows made at Granville. The first manufactured was the "bull plow," so called; the woodwork made by the Blanchards, and the iron (all wrought) by Colonel Alpheus Jewett, and afterwards by Allen Sinnet, Hugh Kelley and others. The Blanchards and Woodbury also built wagons, carts and other things.

"In 1831 a Mr. Bunker, from Troy, New York, started, on the site of the old forge referred to, an extensive manufactory of plows, of the "Wood's patent." They were of cast iron, so far as iron was used. These plows came into general use; had a wide market, and gave great satisfaction.

"A very considerable business was carried on from 1820 to 1825, in quarrying and cutting stone for building purposes, also grave stones, by Josiah Taylor, P. W. Taylor, and others. Several teams were kept running in the country peddling grave stones, and it is supposed that those engaged in the business did well.

"The first lodge of Free Masons in Licking county was in- stituted at Granville, called "Center Star." It had members from all parts of the county, and had a Royal Arch chapter. I believe it still continues in working order.

"The people were foremost in the county in the formation of a temperance society iu 1828.

"Linnel, French & Brace had a clock factory five miles wes of Granville, and had several men in their employ. In 1825 : 1826, Franklin county was a part of the congressional district and Lyne Starling, of Columbus, was a candidate for Congress. He came to Granville on an electioneering excursion, and wa introduced to the people as a candidate to represent thea Hearing of the clock factory he wished me to go there with him, which I did. After spending some time with the prin :- pals, as we were about leaving, he inquired the price of : clock, and directed them to send him one; it was sent to r .. care and forwarded to him at Columbus. He paid for th clock, but whether he received the votes of the parties or the employes I do not know, but he was not elected. The cod factory was afterward removed to Granville, and stood nor. of the building now occupied by the First National bank x Granville, and carried on by French & Brace, Mr. Linnel having withdrawn.

"The kind of clock manufactured by them was the old fasb- ioned Yankee clock.

"From 1818 to 1828 the attention of the people was called :: military matters, Regimental and company musters were rege- larly kept up. There were three uniformed companies, one di infantry, one of artillery and one of cavalry, commanded tt spectively by Captains Timothy Spellman, jr., Willard Ware: and P. W. Taylor. There were also two companies of militu ('flood-woods' and 'barefoots'), one in the south part of the township, commanded by Captain Myron Phelps, and one I the north part commanded by Captain Alpheus Jewett, wt. afterward became colonel of the regiment. The writer had nut much military taste, but was appointed pay master of the reg- ment, and was mustered as such, but is not aware that any money came into his hands, wherewith to make any payment-

"The first and only cannon ever made in the county was cas at the Granville furnace, for the artillery company, and bored out in a stable near where the clock factory stood, and mounted for the company. It was used at the celebration at Licking Summit in 1825, at the beginning of the Ohio canal.

"In 1818 Griffin & Humphrey had a stock of goods in the store next east of the old bank building. Mr. Humphrey sok his interest to Elisha S. Gilman, the firm then being Griffin & Gilman. They did not replenish the stock, and soon gave Ep the business. Matthew Adams, jr., had a stock of goods in 1819, or 1820, but I do not recollect who was concerned with. him. His store was next west of R. Granger's tavern; but i was not successful, and the business was closed up. Fitch & King opened a stock of goods, and, I believe, Matthew Adams jr., assisted them; but they did not remain long. Sereno Wright kept some articles of merchandise in part of his dwelling, south- west corner of the public square; and the post office was kept there, he being postmaster.

"Charles Sawyer came to Granville in 1817. He was a sad- dler by trade, and carried on the business in a small, red build- ing, on the lot now occupied by Doctor Spellman's dwelling house. In 1819 or 1820 he began keeping some articles of mer- chandise, and from small beginnings and close attention to business, he had accumulated considerable property by the year 1830. At or about this time he became a zealous member of the Baptist church, and felt it his duty to contribute liberally of his means towards the enterprises of his church, one of which was the building of a female seminary, with a spacious boarding house attached. The buildings were located in the northwester part of town. The seminary was occupied and well patronized

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Mr. Sawyer having contributed so freely of his own means, be- came embarrassed and was obliged to take the building and its surroundings in payment of his advances on account of it, and to relieve himself was obliged to sell it to the Episcopal church, but did not realize near what he had paid out. He removed to Newark soon after, in 1850 to Columbus, and from thence to Springfield, Illinois.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 76

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