History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 82

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

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The principal reason why Harrison and Lima townships were so late in filling up with people, was the fact that much of the land was held by non-residents and was not brought into market.

The Rathburn section in Union township, within two miles of Granville, held by Lawyer Downer, of Zanesville, was not offered for sale until the National road was in process of construction in 1832 or 1833. So it was with the Hogg section in this

township and the Frisbie section in Lima. As soon as they were offered, P. Atkinson, from New Hamp- shire, A. Miller, from western Pennsylvania, and William and Joseph Baird, from western Virginia, came on and purchased land at five dollars per acre, or less.

It was in this township that the famous wolf hunt of 1823 occurred, a brief account of which may be interesting, and worthy of preservation. The pioneers were much annoyed by depredations on their sheep folds and pig-pens by wild beasts of the forest. Among these, wolves were the most de- structive. Who was the originator of this wolf hunt does not appear on record; but in 1823 the people of the county determined upon a combined effort to extinguish this animal, and to make the experiment as effectual as possible, they determined to surround a specified territory in a methodical and thorough manner, and by marching toward a com- mon center, bring them within range of their rifles. For this purpose James Holmes, surveyor of the county, was employed to survey in the western part of the county, a tract of land four miles square. The most of this tract, if not the whole, was in this township. The east line was the road running north from Kirkersville, and the south line passed a little north of Isaac White's dwelling house. This territory was selected on account of its embracing most of "Gibbon's deadening," be- fore mentioned. There were some fifteen hundred acres in this deadening, and no part of it yet cleared for cultivation. It had been deadened some fifteen or sixteen years, and the second growth of timber was in the very best condition to make the deadening a complete harbor for wild animals. So dense was the brush and undergrowth that it was with difficulty men could pass through it on foot. A day was appointed and notice given in all parts of the county, for men to meet at sunrise, and be ready to occupy every part of the surveyed line, which Mr. Holmes had caused to be plainly marked by blazed trees. He had also run diagonal lines through from corner to corner, so as to prevent confusion or mistake in finding the common cen- ter. Mr. Holmes was also, more than any other man, zealous in spreading the news and arousing the country. He told all whom he met to be on the ground promptly and bring their dinners, but

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no whiskey. "No whiskey," said he, "is to be al- lowed on the ground."

At sunrise, on the appointed day, a vast crowd gathered at the old Ward place, since better known as the "cheese farm," four miles west of Granville, on the Columbus road. This company was to form the east line.

Before separating and being placed on the lines, hornsmen were appointed who were stationed at equal distances around the square, and when the lines were filled on every side, the hornsmen were to sound their trumpets, commencing at a given point, thus conveying the news all around the square that the lines were full. A second sound- ing of the trumpets was the signal for all to march. These arrangements were nicely carried out. The lines had advanced but a short distance when frightened deer made their appearance, running parallel with the lines, seeking a place of exit. The rifles now began to crack along the line. Those passing through the deadening, could scarcely prevent the game from escaping through the line, as the bushes and trees were so thick that it could not be seen until very near, and it was difficult shooting. Deer would come bounding to- ward the line, and nearly penetrate it before dis- covering it, then they would turn quickly and fly in the opposite direction unless stopped by a rifle ball. The wolves kept at a greater distance from the line; they were not seen on the east line until the men were out of the deadening and in more open woods, then they were seen at intervals run- ning parallel with the lines, but so far from them that the best shots failed to bring them down. When the lines began to double up a good deal and surround a piece of open woods, the deer ap- peared in droves, and the rattle of fire arms sounded like a young battle. As the deer passed along the line, the firing would be continuous for minutes in succession. Thus the day passed, and few indeed were the intervals when the guns could not be heard in some direction. Just as the east line was emerging from the thick undergrowth of the deadening, a large black bear was dis- covered, making his way in a lazy gallop toward the southeast corner of the enclosure. No gun was fired at him until he was within twenty or thirty yards of the line; then simultaneously fifteen

or twenty guns were fired, and bruin fell to rise no more.

Continuously, from the commencement of the march, wild turkeys were seen flying over the lines like flocks of pigeons. The march was continued until lines were reached indicating a fourth of a mile square. It had been anticipated that it might become necessary to halt before reaching the center, and so it was. This one-fourth of a mile line had been surveyed, and the trees blazed. With all the shooting no wolf had yet been killed, and at least, three of these animals had been seen : they had become cowed, and were skulking behind the logs and under the banks of the stream that meandered through the center of the square. This stream was Grass Lick run, or one of its branches, the hunt culminating on the farm now owned by J. C. Alwood. To kill wolves was now the grand object; the best marksmen were therefore selected at this halting place, and sent in to do that work. The men stood shoulder to shoulder, and no one on the lines was allowed to shoot. Mr. Leverett, Mr. Butler and Captain Timothy Spellman were among those who went in.

An incident occurred while dispatching the wolves. Mr. Butler took his brother Henry with him to carry the hatchet. Mr. Butler shot at a wolf and it fell, his brother sprang forward, strad- dled the wolf and struck it three blows between the ears, but being greatly excited, struck with the edge instead of the head of the hatchet. The wolf escaped from him but was shot by Mr Lev- erett. Three marks made by the edge of the hatchet were discovered between its ears. The skin of this animal being dressed with the hair on, was afterward used by General Munson as a sad- dle cloth.

When it was announced that there was no more game to kill, all marched to the center. Perfect order was observed, and not a single person ap- peared intoxicated, a very remarkable thing for that time, but it went to show that the settlers had cheerfully obeyed the order to take no ardent spir- its to the hunt. The management of the whole matter was admirable, and no serious casualty occurred. The game had been brought along as it was killed, and when it was all piled up in the center, it presented a sight never before seen in

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Licking county, and never can be again. There were the large black bear, three wolves, forty-nine deer, sixty or seventy turkeys, and one owl.

The next thing was to prepare the spoils for distribution. The bear and the deer were skinned and cut up into pieces weighing about four pounds each. The number of pieces being ascertained it was found that about every third man would get a piece. The men were, therefore, formed into three companies, and cast lots to see which should have all. This arrangement was satisfactory, and at sunset the company dispersed. General Mun- son drew the bear skin, and wrapped it around him, fleshy side inward, over a new broadcloth coat. Thus ended one of the greatest hunts Lick- ing county ever witnessed or ever will witness. It does not appear that the number of wolves killed was dangerously large, and the probabilities are that the hunt was indulged in more for the "fun of the thing," than for any especial benefit to be derived from the destruction of wolves.

Squirrel hunts were indulged in in early times, both as an amusement and as a means of protect- ing the corn crop. These hunts were frequently indulged in as late as 1840 or 1850, and perhaps later. The little destructive creatures sometimes became very numerous, and were sometimes man's most formidable enemy, so that it was indispen- sable that he should be checked in his depreda- tions; and this could be most effectually done by the combined efforts of the people. The time and place of meeting having been agreed upon before- hand, the squirrel hunters met, divided themselves into two companies, elected a captain for each company and then proceeded to their day's work. On coming together in the evening, and reporting results, it was no unusual thing to find the number of squirrels killed that day by the two companies to number many hundreds, and the number not unfrequently ran into thousands. The squirrels were not brought in, only their scalps. Whenever a squirrel was killed the scalp, containing the two ears of the animal went into the pocket of the hunter, and the body was thrown away. These scalps were counted at night, and generally the winning side-those who could show the most scalps-were treated to an excellent supper by the losers, and not unfrequently both parties were

treated to much beside the supper, and possibly the squirrel hunt might end in a grand carouse, which was continued into the small hours of the night.

The National road was the means of building up many towns along its route, and among others Kirkersville, in this township; and, in fact, it is the only village in the township except Kirkersville station. It was laid out in 1832, by Dr. Williamf C. Kirker, who owned some fine land at this point on South fork, at the mouth of Bloody run. He, probably, built the first dwelling in the place. Thomas Youmans was, probably, the first man 'of family to settle there; he erected a building and kept a "tavern," as these were in great demand along that road, both while it was in course of construction, for the purpose of feeding the work- men, and for many years after, for the traveling public.

· Mr. Bazalleel Brown started the first store, soon after the town was laid out; he also erected a saw- mill, and the town grew rapidly for some time, but the advent of railroads checked the growth, by taking the business away from the National road.

Some time before Kirkersville was laid out a mill for the manufacture of castor-oil from the bean, had been established, half a mile north of the site of the town on land now owned by I. W. White, on Grass Lick creek. It never accom- plished much, and was destroyed by fire. .

Kirkersville is now a village of three hundred and forty-nine inhabitants by the census of 1880, and contains three or four stores, a hotel, three churches, a planing-mill and the usual number of shops and tradesmen. It probably reached its full growth years ago, and is at present a beauti- ful village.

Particular attention has been paid to education, and it is doubtful whether Licking county can pre- sent an edifice for public school purposes, equal in external beauty and internal convenience to the building erected a few years ago for such purpose, chiefly under the superintendence of Mr. Freder- ick Schofield, a merchant in the village.

When the railroad was constructed through the township, it passed two and a half miles north of the village, and Kirkersville station was estab -. lished. This, at present, contains a post office

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called "Outville," a telegraph office, depot build_ ing, two stores and a few dwellings.

There are at present but three churches within the limits of this township, all located at Kirkers- ville-the Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal and Baptist.

The first church organization in this township, however, was near its northern line, and was known as the Welsh Congregational church of Harrison.

Nearly half a century ago a number of Welsh families settled on both sides of the line, between the townships of St. Albans and Harrison, and soon formed themselves into a religious organiza- tion known as the Welsh Congregational church of Harrison township. Without unnecessary de- lay they erected a church building, in which for many years they maintained public worship in the Welsh language. After the generation that erected the church had nearly all passed away, and the succeeding generation all speaking the English language, they gradually became absorbed by the surrounding English churches, and public services in Welsh could no longer be sustained. Under these circumstances the organization be- came extinct.

Revs. John Powell, Jenkin Jenkins, David R. Jenkins and John Williams were pastors of this church at different times, and perhaps about in the order named. The church building was sold some years since, and is now private property.

Revs. Thomas W. Evans and William Parry also ministered to this church occasionally, and a Sunday-school was connected with it.

The descendants of Theophilus Rees were among the original members of this church.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF KIRKERSVILLE: -Rev. Jacob Tuttle came from New Jersey in 1832, and commenced preaching in Lima, Harri- son and Etna townships in the spring of 1833, and continued to do so more or less regularly until the spring of 1837. He was highly esteemed, and his memory is cherished by his neighbors and friends. The first Presbyterian minister who preached in Kirkersville was Rev. Jonathan Cable, at the time supplying the church in Hebron, which has ceased to exist. His diary states that he preached three times in Kirkersville in 1834, and once in January, 1835.

March 17, 1836, Rev. C. M. Putnam preached in Kirkersville, and assisted in organizing a Pres- byterian congregation. He preached at Kirkers- ville once a month, from April 9, 1837, until the following October.

In July, 1837, a protracted meeting was held in Mr. Joseph Baird's barn, in Harrison township. conducted by Revs. Henry Little and Jonathan Cable. A large number were converted, and on the eleventh of November following, a Presbyterian church was organized at the log school-house in Lima township. During the following year there was preaching only occasionally to the Kirkersville congregation, in a school-house in the village. In the summer of 1838, Revs. Hugh Carlisle and Francis Bartlett preached occasionally for these churches.

October 14, 1838, Rev. T. W. Howe preached for these Presbyterian congregations, the meetings of the Harrison township congregation being held in a frame school house at the northwest corner of Kirkersville.

In the fall of 1839, a subscription was started for the purpose of building a church in Kirkers- ville. The building progressed slowly and was not used until 1842, and not finished and dedica- ted until March, 1845. A bell was procured, cost- ing about two hundred dollars. The people of Granville gave one hundred and fifty dollars to- ward building this church.

In 1852, forty-four persons, living more conven- ient to the Kirkersville church, joined that church by letter, and organized the First Presbyterian church of Kirkersville. This church employed Rev. H. C. McBride to preach for them one-half his time. He supplied them two years. Rev. Jesse Schlosser followed, and supplied them until the spring of 1858. From the spring of 1858 to January 1, 1870, Rev. T. W. Howe preached for them every alternate Sabbath. Mr. Howe was succeeded by Rev. Reuben Hahn. The church is without a regular pastor at present. The member- ship is about one hundred.

The Methodist Episcopal church in Kirkersville originated at "Fletcher's chapel," in Fairfield county, its original members belonging to that church.

Sometime after Kirkersville was laid out, the

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members living near the town organized a class, and held meetings some time in the Presbyterian church, but in a few years erected the present frame building.

The Baptist church at Kirkersville also origin- ated in Fairfield county, its first members being

regular attendants at what is known as the "Refu- gee" church. Their first meetings were also held in the Presbyterian church.

Both of these societies are active and well sus- tained.

CHAPTER LVI.

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.

FLINT RIDGE, ITS SITUATION, TOPOGRAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY-MOUND BUILDERS, INDIANS, AND WILD ANIMAL.S. - ARCH.A .- OLOGY OF FLINT RIDGE-LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE TOWNSHIP-FIRST SETTLERS -- ORGANIZATION -- JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-VILLAGES-CHURCHES-POSTMASTERS- - AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

"Alone on this desolate border, On this ruggedest rimm'd frontier, Where the hills huddle up in disorder, Like a fold in mortal fear ;

Where the mountains are out at the elbow In their yellow coats, seedy and sere,

Where the river runs sullen and yellow, Through all the days of the year." -- Joaquin Miller.

THERE is much interesting and valuable his- tory within the limits of this township. That the Mound Builders once occupied its terri- tory, their still existing works afford ample proof. These works consist of mounds and other earth- works ; also of numerous wells, of various depths, ranging from two to twenty feet.

The Flint ridge, a region of much interest to the scientist and antiquarian, is . mostly in this township. What follows in regard to this interest- ing region, is from the pen of Hon. Isaac Smucker:

"Flint ridge is situated on both sides of the line that divides Hopewell township, Muskingum county, from Hopewell town- ship, Licking county, Ohio. It is an elevated locality of from eight to nine miles in length, from east to west, and has an aver- age breadth from north to south of more than two miles, not 'inciuding the many short spurs that branch out from it. The castern termination of Flint ridge, which slopes off gradually, is several miles east of the west line of Hopewell township, Muskingum county, being about eight miles west of Zanesville, and extends westward eight miles or more, across Hopewell township, Licking county, and continues nearly a mile and a half into Franklin township, of the last named county, termi- nating at a point eight miles southeast of Newark, the county- seat of Licking county. All around the outer edges, or exterior

boundaries of the Flint ridge are numerous short spurs diverg- ing from it. These gradually sloping projections or juts of land, of short but unequal lengths, extend at irregular intervals or distances into the more level and less rugged surrounding country. Flint ridge is situated within the United States mili- tary lands, and in the southern tier of townships of said lands, which border on the Refugee tract, and is distant from the northern boundary line of said Refugee tract but little more than a mile. Hopewell township, Muskingum county, it may be observed, extends two miles and a half into the Refugee tract. To recapitulate, in a word, Flint ridge is, in round num- bers, over eight miles long and more than two miles wide, sev- eral miles of its eastern portion being in Hopewell township, Muskingum county, five miles of it in Hopewell township, Licking county, and over a mile (its western part) in Franklin township, of the last named county.

"Flint ridge is an elevated locality of varying height and uneven surface. The maximum altitude of its summit is stated by Professor E. B. Andrews, in the "Preliminary Geological Survey of Ohio," issued in 1869, to be one hundred and seventy feet above the surrounding country ; two hundred and twenty feet above Newark ; three hundred and seventy-four feet above Zanesville ; four hundred and ninety feet above Marietta, and seven hundred and twenty-nine feet above Cincinnati. The general aspect of the scenery of Flint ridge, when first settled by white men, early in the present century, was of a decidedly wild, rugged character. Its steep hill sides, its high peaks, its deep, dark glens, its huge rocks, its craggy cliffs, its cavernous dells, its abrupt acclivities, its coverings of hornstone or crystal quartz, its drift boulders found even upon its summit, so sug- gestive of the glacier theory, or the great ice age, its abundant buhr-stone or calcareous-silicious rock, also called flint or chert, with which its surface was so abundantly supplied, while also its tall and heavy growth of chestnut and several varieties of oak and poplar, and some hickory, all over-run by the luxuriant grape-vine and other creepers, as well as its prolific and dense undergrowth, in great part of scrub-oak, stunted shrubs and creeping vines, all tended to present to the eye of the pioneer

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landscapes of a kind, unquestionably mountain-like, and of natural scenery, romantic, wild and grandly picturesque.

"The rain that falls on the north half of Flint ridge finds its way to the Licking river by way of the Clay lick, Bear run and Brushy fork streams, and thence by way of the Licking river into the Muskingum, at Zanesville ; and that which falls on the south side of the ridge flows into the Muskingum river, by way of some rivulets and Jonathan's creek (in carly times known as Moxahala), which empties into the Muskingum several miles below the mouth of the Licking river, whose mouth is opposite Zanesville, as already stated.

"The Mound Builders were once occupants of the flint ridge and erected works upon it, some of which still remain. And that the Indians, too, in pre-historic times, and later, also roamed over its rugged surface and occupied it after their vagrant, sav- age manner, there can be no doubt. They, probably, like their predecessors, also sought the flint for manufacture into knives and spear and arrow heads. This I will endeavor to make ap- parent when I come to present the archaeological aspects of the ridge.

"On the north of Flint ridge and along the Licking river, both above and below the Narrows, settlements by white men were first made in the year 1798-south of the ridge, at the Little Bowling Green, a settlement by white men was effected in 1802 -west of it, on a tributary of Hog run, the first white settle- ment was made in 1805, and about the same time the country east of the ridge was first occupied by white settlers. And it was only a year or two later when the flint ridge attracted set- tlers to it who were seeking homes. It was a locality which, in its natural state, was peculiarly favorable to the subsistence and increase of the wild animals and birds of prey usually found in our forests, in primitive times, such as panthers, wildcats, bears, catamounts, wolves and others more or less annoying and for- midable as man's enemies, also hawks, owls, eagles, vultures and other birds characterized by marauding, thievish and de- structive proclivities. The flint ridge was most admirably adapt- ed to their growth, preservation and multiplication, affording them ample subsistence and comparatively secure coverts or hiding places. The conditions on the ridge being thus favorable to them, in fact, inviting their presence, they quite naturally be- came more numerous, and were enabled, by their numbers, to be all the more annoying and destructive, while thus jointly with the pioneers, occupying that locality, and were also ena- bled to remain longer to indulge in their predatory habits, be- cause of the favorable conditions that environed them.

"The buffalo and the elk were not occupants of the Flint ridge contemporaneously with the Anglo-Saxon. They proba- bly disappeared simultaneously with the red men, or more likely before the latter finally retired before the advancing hosts of the white race. That they were formerly here in numerous herds does not admit of a doubt-in fact, it is of authentic historical record. The last time a herd of wild buffaloes appeared in the Muskingum valley, was in 1803. It consisted of only six or eight that had strayed away from their accustomed haunts west of the Scioto river, and were pursued by some hunters to the valley of Wills creek, east of the Muskingum river. The buf- falo occupied these forests some years later than the elk, and the panther and catamount retired a few years after the buffalo.

"The Flint ridge is now apparently as densely populated as the neighboring country, probably not more than half of it re- maining in forest; but it is not my purpose to speak of its agri- cultural products, except to say in general terms, that in kind

and quality they are not unlike those of the adjacent lands produced, it may be, in somewhat, diminished quantities par acre. Neither do I intend to present its recent history, nor even relate any of the weird legendary tales, or probably fabo- lous stories, of however romantic interest they might be, with which the flint ridge has been connected, nor of the old-time traditions which identified this locality with the early races, Dor give currency, by recital with pen, to stories of wild adventures. by Indian, hunter, or pioneer, of which it was the scene.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 82

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