History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 95

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 95

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

a large tree and is still flourishing. He returned to Hardy county, Virginia, married in 1804, and returned to the wilderness with his bride.

When Mr. Wilson settled on the North fork everything about him was in its primitive state, and his cabin was in perfect keeping with his wild surroundings-

"Wooden-barred the door, and the roof was covered with rushes,

Latticed the windows were, and the window-panes were of paper,

Oiled to admit the light, while the wind and rain were ex- cluded.

There, too, he dug a well, and around it planted an orchard ; Still may be seen to this day some trace of the well and the orchard."

Savages were still lingering in a scattered condi- tion, feeble, small in numbers, by no means desir- able as neighbors.

Birds of prey, venomous serpents, marauding animals, and ferocious beasts of the forest abounded.

One morning in the autumn of 1805, Mr. Wil- son was suddenly called to his cabin door by a great noise and commotion among his pigs, one of which had been seized for a breakfast by a pan- ther. The noisy demonstrations of the pig had promptly drawn the attention of the hogs, and they attacked the panther successfully, and not only released the pig, but treed the panther. Just at this crisis the pioneer-hunter reached his cabin door, and instantly comprehended the situation; the dogs and hogs were holding the animal in check. Taking his rifle from its hooks, he stepped out and fired, the animal falling among his dogs at the foot of the tree.

Maurice Newman was one of the principal set- tlers in Newark in 1804. He was acting justice of the peace after Squire Wright, and the third tavern-keeper, as before mentioned.

John Van Buskirk was also a settler in this year, in Newark. He rebuilt the Petticord and Belt grist- and saw-mill, which he run persistently until his death in 1840.

David Heron, David Hatfield and Archibald Wilson, jr., came in 1805. Mr. Wilson was one of the first-if not the first merchant in Newark, but was soon followed by Bradley Buckingham and David Moore. Mr. Wilson's biography states that

he kept store in Newark in 1804. This may be true, and if so, there is little doubt that he was the first merchant. The Wilson family was a large and influential one, and in some respects the most important one among the early settlers. Archibald Wilson, sr., was on the first board of commission- ers of this county. He was born in the Shenar- doah valley, Virginia.

David Moore was born in Adams county, Pem- sylvania, April 9, 1774; came to this county 1808, and died April 30, 1868.

One of the "queer" characters around Newart in an early day was John Sparks. He was gener- ally seen barefooted, walking along the streets and alleys with a fishing-pole on his shoulder, for be was a true disciple of Izaac Walton. He had ar overpowering repugnance to labor, and irresistabk: vagabondizing proclivities. He was born on the South branch of the Potomac in 1758, and wher in 1803, President Jefferson organized an explor- ing expedition to cross the continent, he joined # and thus became a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition; from this fact, alone, he acquired his importance. The expedition started in the spring of 1804, and from their next winter's quarters, on the Missouri river, sent John Sparks back to Washington with dispatches, where he arrived late in the summer, and was honorably discharged.

Sparks was vigorous, robust, and adapted to a life of hardship and adventure. He had no fam- ily, and lived a sort of haphazard, precarious, hard life, dying in 1846.

James Hendricks was one of the pioneers of this county. He came from Brooke county, Virginia, set- tling on land which he purchased from his brother- in-law, John Van Buskirk. He remained there a few years and removed to Newark, where he died in 1855, at an advanced age.

Mr. John Johnston, who died in Newark, March 4, 1875, aged seventy-three years, was the oldest inhabitant of the city at the time. His father re- moved with his family from Washington county. Pennsylvania, to Newark in 1802, and never changed his residence.

Hon. Frederick Dent, father of Mrs. General Grant, was about 1812 a merchant in Newark. He died in Washington city, aged eighty-eight years.

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Mr. J. Cass Little was born in Newark August 22, 1812, and lived here until. his death, which occurred August 21, 1876.

Among the later prominent and respected citi- zens of Newark were Hugh McMullen and C. A Darlington. The former was born in York coun- y, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1811, and came with his Father's family (the late George McMullen) to this county in 1819. He died in Chicago, Illinois, at in advanced age.

Carey A. Darlington was a resident of Newark :en or twelve years, engaged in the mercantile business, beginning in 1823. On account of his health, he gave up merchandising, and became a Farmer and stock-raiser in Marion county. He died April 3, 1874.

One of the first celebrations of American inde- pendence, perhaps the very first that took place in Licking county, was that of 1807. It was held on the north side of the public square, the dinner be- ng the joint production of Maurice Newman and Abraham Johnson, two of the tavern-keepers of Newark. A hog, sheep and deer, well roasted, graced the table. The hog had an ear of corn in its mouth, and was trimmed with lettuce; the sheep had a bunch of fennel in its mouth, and was rimmed with parsley; and the deer, killed for the occasion by Hananiah Pugh, was decorated with eaves, vines and flowers from the forest. Captain Archibald Wilson, sr., was president of the day; Rev. John Emmett, a Methodist preacher, was chaplain of the occasion, and Dr. John J. Brice read the Declaration of Independence. The ora- ion was prepared by Archibald Wilson, jr., but was read by Dr. John J. Brice, owing to the sick- ness of the author. The military, under the com- nand of Captain John Spencer, were present in orce, and fired volleys in response to the toasts. The best of feeling characterized the occasion, which was finally brought to a close by a ball at night.

There was a marked difference between those pioneer gatherings and the pablic meetings of to- day. Like the grasp of a pioneer's hand, there was an honest earnestness in them.

The following, taken from a copy of the Advo- ate of July, 1824, is worthy of preservation as showing the manner of nominating a President:

"Pursuant to public notice, a great number of citizens of Licking county met at the court house in Newark (Ohio) to nominate a suitable candidate for President of the United States. After the meeting was organized by the appointment of Dr. John J. Brice chairman, and B. Briggs secretary, the following preamble and resolutions were almost unanimously adopted:

"WHEREAS, It being well known by every intelligent citizen that roads and canals are indispensable to the prosperity of the United States, and particularly to the western country; and it being well known that the western part of the United States has not had a proportionate share of expenditure of the public moneys for these and other purposes; and

"WHEREAS, Henry Clay, a Representative in Congress from the State of Kentucky, has signalized himself by his zeal and industry to promote these great national objects, there- fore

"Resolved, That we will use all honorable means to promote his election to the Presidency, for the reason above stated, and for his uniform adherence to republican principles, and support of the cause of liberty throughout the world.

"Resolved, That William Wilson, Stephen C. Smith and James Holmes be a committee of correspondence, to corres- pond with other committees "throughout the State favorable to the election of Henry Clay, on the subject of the Presiden- tial election.

"Resolved, That this meeting do now adjourn sine die."

It will be observed from the above that the manner of nominating a President differed very materially from the present method; and that the issues that then seemed of overwhelming impor- tance have been lost to view, and appear almost frivolous, as the political issues of to-day may ap- pear fifty years hence. It was a very simple way these pioneers had of doing things. Since that, railroads and the telegraph have revolutionized things somewhat. These were the days of stage coaches, when the world "and the rest of man- kind" moved slowly; and were, perhaps, better for it. News then traveled slowly; post office facili- ties were in a primitive condition. Probably the first mail brought to Newark was over the very rough, narrow road from Zanesville to Newark, Granville and Columbus, or perhaps Worthington. Maurice Newman was probably the first acting post- master in Newark, though not regularly appointed by the Postmaster General and kept the office at his hotel, about the year 1805; and it is now somewhat astonishing to think that the stage-coach was the principal means of mail and passenger transporta- tion to and from Newark for nearly fifty years. The canal came earlier, it is true, but it did not probably affect the business of the stage lines to a great extent. It is found that, in 1825, "Mr.

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Giles C. Harrington, of this place, will commence running his stage twice a week from Zanesville to Columbus, after the first of July next." It may be fair to conclude from this that but one stage per week had been on the road between these points before the time mentioned. Newark had then been in existence for twenty-three years.

The following is a list of Newark postmasters from the year 1809 up to the present time, with the date of their appointment: David Moore, February 19, 1809; Amos H. Caffee, February 6, 1818; Peter Schmucker, June 8, 1829; Benjamin Briggs, April 30, 1833; Mahlon M. Caffee, June 10, 1841; Levi J. Haughey, January 19, 1843; Jonathan Taylor, August 2, 1847; Daniel Hum- phreys, April 17, 1848; George P. Conrad, April 1I, 1849; William Richards, March 6, 1851; Will- iam P. Morrison, April 6, 1853; William Parr, March 20, 1854; Edmund J. Ellis, January 10, 1855; William Bell, jr., July 24, 1855; James E. Lewis, October 21, 1858; Charles B. Giffin, March 28, 1861 ; Thomas J. Anderson, August I, 1866; James R. Stanbery, March 28, 1867; Apple- ton B. Clarke, April 5, 1869; William C. Lyon, May 17, 1877, and who is the present incumbent. Mr. William Wing says:

"The mail first carried in a stage or hack from Newark to Columbus via Granville, was by Giles C. Harrington in 1822. He was succeeded by Willard Warner, I think, till 1828, when Neil, Moore & Co., run their stages through from Jacksontown, on the pike, via Newark and Granville to Columbus, until the National road was completed to Columbus in 1832 or 1833; after that Warner carried the mail from Jacksontown to New- ark and Granville, and run a two-horse stage."

A daily mail was established from Newark to Mt. Vernon in the month of December, 1835. The National road coming into the county about the same time with the Ohio canal, gave a great impetus to emigration, and Newark took a great step forward. It began to assume the appearance of a lively business town. It became a grain market, which necessitated the building of ware- houses. The first of these warehouses was erected by George Baker & Co., on the canal between Fourth and Fifth streets; others were erected be- tween Second and Third streets, and Mr. Sher- wood, in 1831, erected one near the corner of Canal and Second streets, on the east side of Second. The canal gave an outlet to produce of

all kinds, thus creating a market and advanciy prices with astonishing rapidity. Wheat went fro twenty-five cents to seventy-five cents and one dal- lar per bushel; other products of the soil and the woods, as corn, oats, whiskey, pork, furs, peltry. etc., were correspondingly advanced. In openir; up the new country these agencies took the phar of the railroads of to-day, and were equally s effective though working with less rapidity.

The editor of the Advocate, Mr. B. Brigs thus writes at that time:

"Already we see the effects of the canal on our town. Ty price of property has risen fifty per cent. Five brick klas w:' be burnt in the environs of Newark, during the present LL :- gust, 1825,) and three succeeding months, and some of the brick will go through the hands of the brick-layers during that time., The change that has taken place in the appearance .. the place since it was expected the canal would pass by it = very striking. Before that time there were but three of ft brick buildings in it, exclusive of the public ones; the balax were all dilapidated logs and frames. Now there are sever. good brick houses erected, and the foundations of two or they more are laid.

"It is true, the grass continues to grow in our streets. 23. the sheep to feed in the public square, but when it is know: that the former are very wide, and the latter large enough fr a farm, these things will not be considered as unfavente omens.

"While on this subject, our thoughts naturally turn to the bad state of the meeting-house, about which we have often tad unpleasant reflections. It might be wrong, however, in cs :: say anything about it in the paper, since we never approprizte: anything toward building it. Still we will venture merely !: call the attention of our seniors to it, and recommend the ader- tion of measures for its repair or demolition. The Turks, se verily believe, have no mosque that makes so wretched an ap- pearance as does the brick meeting-house in Newark."

Mr. Briggs refers here to the brick church erected by the Presbyterians in the park, west side. which was poorly constructed, and was taken down after a few years service, the people fearing it would fall upon them. It was the first church building erected in Newark. October Ist, of the same year (1825), a meeting of those interested was held in this house, at which Messrs. Stephen C. Smith, S. S. Miles and Moses Moore, were ap pointed a committee to draft a plan for a new "meeting-house" and take other preliminary steps toward erecting it.

Here is what Hon. Isaac Smucker, in his "Rec- ollections," says of Newark and vicinity, in an early day:

"In 1825, the writer arrived in Newark after a journey across

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he Alleghanies, of four hundred miles, performed on foot, hich, at that time, was the usual mode of travel with men of ery limited funds. Those of more , means traveled on horse- ack, while those more liberally supplied with cash took the amily carriage or the public stage.

"The then very small village of Newark was reached about ine o'clock at night. It was a very pleasant starlight or moon- ight night, just light enough to indicate to a weary traveler, who had safely crossed the rickety old bridge across the North ork, and reached the western termination of East Main street, nd there taken his position just between the 'Cully' and Green House' taverns, deliberately viewing the situation from his point of observation, that the 'public square' was too ex- ensively dotted with ponds of large and small proportions, to ender it altogether a safe operation to venture forward with- out a guide. Accordingly a dime was invested on a small lad, on condition that he should 'safely guide the foot-sore, water- bound traveler along the winding track among the ponds, across the square to the residence of the father of the belated foot- man, who, at that time, domiciled at the southwest corner of West Main and Fourth streets.

"The most important event to Newark and Licking county in that year was the celebration of the Fourth of July at ' Licking Summit,' four miles south of Newark, on the Ohio canal. An immense throng gathered to see Governor De Witt Clinton, of New York, throw out the first shovel of dirt in the construction of the canal. Governor Worthington and nu- merous celebrities of this and other States were present. The occasion was characterized by an immense display of military toggery, such as brass buttons, cockades, plumes, sashes, epau- lettes and many other fancy trappings that profusely orna- mented the outer garments of the military chieftains present.

"There was also a great display of independent military companies, called volunteers, who also appeared in their best uniforms. General Edward King, of Chillicothe, and General Sanderson, of Lancaster, were among the most conspicuous military commanders on that celebrated occasion. Our late friends and fellow-citizens, Captains Merideth Darlington and Major Warren, the former of Newark, and the latter of Gran- ville, commanded the local or home troops on the occasion. This was the heroic age of Ohio-the age of military glory. Hon. Thomas Ewing, then in the full enjoyment of his great intellectual powers, was the orator of the day, and, in the judg- ment of the great crowd who heard him, he acquitted himself splendidly.

"Governor Clinton threw out the first shovelfull of earth in the construction of the eanal. He had been the projector of the Erie canal, and had employed his great talents and influence to put the Empire State on the highway to prosperity and wealth by procuring the adoption of a liberal ' internal improve- ment policy. This same policy he urged upon Ohio, and in consequence thereof he became very popular among its friends here; hence the position of honor assigned him. Hon. William Stanbery ably advocated our canal policy in the senate of Ohio. Gov. Worthington, the most influential statesman in Ohio, held the same views.

"The next most important event in 1825 was the abortive at- tempt to hang a fellow by the name ot Peter Dimond, a miner at Mary Ann furnace, who had been convicted of the murder of Mitchell, a fellow ore-digger. This man, while intoxicated and in a fit of passion, struck Mitchell (with whom he was quarreling) a Blow with a gun-barrel across the head, from the

effects of which he died. The absence of delibration and pre- meditation made it a crime of a lower grade than murder in the first degree, and he should have been convicted of the second grade of homicide. Hon. Thomas Ewing and William Stanbery defended him with great zeal and ability, but he was nevertheless found guilty and sentenced to be hung. The gal- lows was erected, the grave dug, the coffin made, so was the shroud, and the culprit put inside of it; the crowd collected from far and near; the military were marshaled in large num- bers to prevent the escape or rescue of Peter, and to give eclat to the interesting occasion. The sermon was preached, the doctors were on hand to determine when Dimond's pulse ceased its beatings by reason of the strangling process, and, in short, al things were ready to swing the culprit into eternity, when a dashing horseman came up crying at the top of his voice that he had a message from the Governor of the State of Ohio. This proved to be Isaac Cool, who knew well how to act such a part with a flourish. The commander of the troops cleared the way for him, when he, with due regard to style, passed the document with the Great Seal of the State of Ohio attached, to the sheriff, which proved to be a respite or suspension of the sentence. This respite resulted at last in a commutation to ten years' service, for the hero of the day, in the penitentiary.

"This respite arrangement of our good old governor was promptly acceded to by Peter, much to the disgust of a well- sold and greatly befooled crowd, who had at some expense and at the neglect of their business and crops at a very busy season of the year, gathered here in force to witness the death agonies of a fellow being on the gallows, and they could not brook the idea of a disappointment.

"This is, however, true of only the more brutal of the spec- tators; the better portion were thrilled with joy at the manner of its termination. This performance came off between Locust and Church, and Third and Fifth streets. The gallows stood about midway between Locust and Church streets, on Fourth street, or a little east of it.

"Dimond's counsel, after the death penalty had been pro- nounced, prepared and laid before Governor Morrow, the facts in the case, who saw at once that he had been illegally and un- justly convicted and sentenced; he therefore decided to give him the proper punishment for his offence. As he had com- mitted a great crime, he thought best to give him ten years in prison, and in addition put him through the pangs of antici- pated hanging. He kept the terrors of an ignominious death hanging over him to the last moment.

"The horse racing of 1825 was also an event of no small magnitude, in the estimation of manv. The race-course was bounded on the north by the southern portion of the town, on the south by South fork, on the east by Fourth street, and on the west by Raccoon creek. An immense crowd of people, of all colors, sexes and conditions, had collected. They came from adjacent counties and also from remote parts of the State, as well as our own county. One main race for sweepstakes was run by three horses, named Ground Hog, Red Fox, and Prai- rie Mule. The first named was a large grey horse owned in Muskingum, I believe, and was the winner. The Red Fox was a small sorrel, and came in second best. The race was a mile, or perhaps more, to be repeated. Many other races were run. The accompaniments were a large consumption of whiskey and similar fluids; an overloading of many stomachs with Bentley's ginger cakes; a considerable number of fisticuffs, much excite- ment, quarreling and profanity; extensive thimble-rigging and

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sweat-cloth gambling; pocket-picking and stealing, and various other groveling aud villainous practices that were intensely dis- gusting to decent people.

"I close my recollections of 1825 with a brief reference to the elections of that year. When I arrived in Newark, a vigorous contest was going on for a seat in the legislature between Bradley Buckingham and Stephen C. Smith. The Newark Advocate, edited by the late Benjamin Briggs, the only paper printed in the county, was full of spirited communications on the subject, pro and con. Henry Shurtz was fighting Mr. Buckingham vigorously, charging him in the Advocate with get- ting some advantage of him in a whiskey trade. Whiskey was at that time an article of extensive trade and commerce; indeed, it came near being a legal tender in payment of debts. Mr. Buckingham was a prosperous and wealthy merchant of New- ark, and known to almost everybody in the county. He came to Newark at an early day, and had kept himself in communi- cation constantly by his extensive business operations, and to a limited extent was a public officer. His reputation was good, character excellent, and he was withal a gentleman of rather pleasant, popular manners.

"Mr. Smith was a more recent settler. He came originally from New Jersey to Marietta in 1806, and from there in 1809 to Muskingum county, where he was several times honored with elections to the legislature, and to the associate judgeship of the common pleas court. He had, moreover, been actively patriotic in the War of 1812, having rendered efficient services as adjutant of the regiment commanded by Lewis C'ass. He came to Licking county in 1818, and was a member of the leg- islature in 1824. He was a man of liberal mental endowments, extensive reading and information. He had one of the best libraries in our county, and we had few men of more extensive intelligence on a great variety of subjects. He was without re- proach, and lived and died an honest man.

"Mr. Buckingham was the successful candidate, but by a very small majority --- ten votes. I think. The next year they were again competitors, and Mr. Smith was successful by a meagre majority. Messrs. Buckingham and Smith retired upon their legislative laurels, the former in 1826, and the latter in 1827, neither of them again holding any public office."

Newark became an incorporated town by act of the general assembly, in February, 1826, and on the sixteenth of the following month an election . was held which resulted in the choice of Lucius Smith for mayor; C. W. Searle, recorder, and Robert Davidson, William W. Gault, Bradley Buckingham, John J. Brice, and John Cunning- ham, for trustees, or councilmen. Thus Newark came into existence as a town, and thereafter en- joyed the privileges of a government of its own. The mayors of this town are as follows, with the dates of their service:

Lucius Smith, 1826; Robert Davidson, 1827; Peter Schmucker, 1828; Corrington W. Searle, 1829; Carey A. Darlington, 1830; Benjamin Briggs, 1831; Benjamin Briggs, 1832; Samuel M.

Browning, 1833; Joshua Mathiot, 1834; M. M. Caffee, 1835; S. M. Browning, 1836; Israel Dille. 1837; Israel Dille, 1838; George M. Young, 1839: George M. Young, 1840; George M. Young, 1841: George M. Young, 1842; M. M. Caffee, 1843: B. W. Brice, jr., 1844; B. W. Brice, jr., 1845; B. W. Brice, jr., 1846; A. H. Caffee, 1847; A. H. Caffee, 1848; A. H. Caffee, 1849; Edward Stan- bery, 1850; Daniel Humphrey, 1851; Daniel Humphrey, 1852; Daniel Humphrey, 1853; Dan- iel Humphrey, 1854; Daniel Hamphrey, 1855; William B Woods, 1856; William B. Woods, 1857; Charles H. Kibler, 1858; Charles H. Kib- ler, 1859. Mr. Kibler was the last mayor of the town of Newark. Having now a population of over five thousand it was incorporated as a city of the second class, March 2, 1860. First mayor, Gibson Atherton, 1860. Mr. Atherton continued to hold this office two terms, or including 1863: John W. Brice followed one term including 1865: Joel M. Dennis, one term, including 1867; John W. Brice, again one term, including 1869; George M. Grasser, one term, including 1871; James White, one term, including 1873; D. C. Wine- garner, two terms, including 1877, and the present mayor, Isaac W. Bigelow, has served since the latter date.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 95

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