USA > Ohio > Logan County > History of Logan County and Ohio > Part 30
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180
HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
the Clydesdale. It had the same general characteristics, but not in quite so perfect a form.
The Morgan strain came about this time into the county and brought a style of horse that was greatly needed. The general bent of horse-breeders seems to have been toward the heavy "general purpose " horse. The Morgan brought speed, action, and remarka- ble endurance, and became at once a general favorite. This class of horses are yet referred to as the ideal horse, and the wish is often expressed that the old strain with its former characteristics were back here again. The Normans were introduced about 1858, by Andrew Hlerd. The horse was sired by "Nonesuch," " Lonis Napoleon," or "Ok Bob," as he was variously known. This horse is really what is strictly classified as the Perch- cron, but is known in the books and among dealers as a Percheron-Norman. "Old Bob " was the first horse of the kind ever brought west of the Alleghany Mountains. IIe was bought by Charles Fullington and brought to Union County in 1851, and some time after became the property of Louis Lec, of Dela- ware. These horses originate in the prov- inces of La Perche and Normandy, in France, and are noted for their doeility, excellent health, and a hardy, clastic temperament. They are possessed of great bone, muscle, tendon and hoof, which gives them immense strength and value as draft horses. Their color is a fine silver-gray, which is regarded as the best adapted to withstand the burning rays of the sun in the field or on the high- way. The chief value of this class of horses in this county, however, is their availability for market purposes. They mature early and sell readily for from $250 to $300 when three years old. But few of these horses are kept for use in the county, as most of the farmers are unwilling to put so much money in a horse, and the active demand for them ren-
dering them a cash article proves too great a temptation to part with them. The Clydes- dale strain was introduced a few years car- lier. " Lord Clyde," a fine black animal of this strain, was exhibited in Urbana about 1852, and attracted considerable attention from horsemen. The horse belonged to the Union County Importing Company, and made a season in Champaign County that year. Many in the south part of Logan bred to him, getting some fine colts, and this stock is yet to be found in that part of the county. Among the latest horses is "Harry Clay," imported from Kentucky by Wellwood in 1813. He is a fine, black horse, with good speed, action, and endurance. There are colts of his getting in the county seven years okl, and this stock is rapidly growing in the public esteem as roadsters. The branch of stock-raising is rapidly taking on larger pro- portions, some of the best farmers giving it special attention. The result is that in blood, size, fine style, symmetry of form, and the enduring qualities of the horse, Logan County is excelled but by few counties in the State. It is estimated by competent judges that the average horse is fifteen and a half hands high and weighs about 1.200 pounds. This is a good average, and it is but natural that the county should be the resort of buy- ers for other markets. Large numbers are sold every year, and yet the numbers do not seem to decrease.
The mule seems to have made friends in Logan County comparatively early. Soon after 1835 the donkey was introduced and was bred some for foreign markets. In 1842, Zachias Brown introduced the first Spanish jack, an importation from Kentucky, and overcame the objection to these animals by selecting mares and engaging to buy the foal at the age of four or five months. Considerable interest was excited in this new departure, and among others, J. M. Dickinson became
!
181
HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
prominently identified in the enterprise. In 1856, he had a jack sixteen hands high and weighing 1,200 pounds, and in the follow- ing year had 180 mules on his farm. There was at that time a brisk trade in these ani- mals with the East and West Indies, and con- siderable money was engaged in the traffic. The introduction of the large breed of horses put an end to this industry. The horses were just as easily raised, less trouble on the farm, more docile and reliable, and add to these qualities that of being just as marketable, and the explanation of the cause of their superceding the mule is complete. A large number of these animals are still found in the county in use as teams, and are found for the ordinary purposes of the farm as valuable as horses, and bring nearly as good a price.
The introduction of cattle into the county was as early as the coming of the first settlers. Cows were a necessary part of the pioneer's outfit, without which his chances for obtain- ing a reasonably comfortable existence were very poor indeed, and few families were with- out them. But once here, it required all the care and diligence of the settler to protect them against the ravages of wild beasts and disease. The wolves took off the yearlings, and frequently made successful attacks upon the cow; the murrain, a little later, took off scores of these animals, and long journeys were frequently undertaken to replace the animals thus lost. Then the marshes and the rank vegetation took their quota, so that, in spite of the employment of all the available children of the settlement as herders, and the dosing of cattle with alum, soot and soft soap, hundreds fell victims to the snares of a new country. Under such circumstances the effort was narrowed down to a struggle to maintain rather than to improve the breed. The "Ohio Importing Company" made their first impor- tation of Short-horn Durhams in 1834, and exhibited the animals at the State Fair of that
year. The result of that enterprise was to turn the attention of the whole farming com- munity to that class of cattle. It was not until 1838 that the first Short-horn Durham stock was brought into this county. In that year Joshua Folsom and Samuel McCulloch introduced this class of cattle, which rapidly grew in public favor. Farmers thus had an opportunity of comparing improved breeds with the native cattle, and were not slow to fall in with the popular tide that was then making toward the Short-horns. The "Dev- ons " were introduced about the same time, but they failed to enlist any strong attach- ment, and the breed soon became extinct here. During the last four or five years the " Alderneys" have been introduced as milk stock, and are being tried pretty extensively for a new experiment. Among those who have this kind of stock are Bissell, Allen, Roberts and Staymate. The latter has eight cows, all registered stock, but the experiment is so new here that no judgment has been formed in regard to them by the public. The interest in the registered and fine grade stock of the Short-horn breed of cattle has suffered no decrease by this competition. This class of cattle is very widely diffused through the county, and quite a number of fine herds are found here. Among these the more impor- tant are those of Green Brothers, consisting of thirty head, and Dickinson Brothers. The latter herd is now reduced to fourteen head, with the Duke of Pleasant Run, No. 18, as their breeding animal. Others who are interested in this stock, and have small herds, are James Smith, James Easton, William Mckinnon and John Kizer.
Sheep were introduced among the first set- tlers, but the boldness and numbers of the wolves made sheep-raising a burden upon their resources that taxed them to the utter- most. The bounty offered by the State and county authorities for wolf scalps stimulated
IS2
IHISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
the hunters in the destruction of these trouble- some animals, and sheep began to multiply during the second decade of the settlement here. Almost every family during this period kopt a few sheep, in order to be supplied with wool for clothing. The wool was carded " by hand," spun in the " cabin," and not unfre- quently dyed and wove, as well as shaped
into garments, and worn there, too. The car- liest attempt at improving these native flocks was about 1835. In this year considerable interest was manifested in this enterprise, and the first flock by A. Williams attracted wide attention among the farmers of Logan County. The following list, compiled in 1862, gives the status of the flocks at that time:
Names and post-office address of theiz owner of the flock.
Bucks.
Ewes.
Quality of sheep.
Who commenced the When and where pa- flock.
rents were obtained.
James Mel'lure, Belle Centre.
164 Three fourthsMerino 10 y. ago. J. Met. Jones, Vermont.
James Forsythe. . .
of
١١
10 4
J. F.
M. L. Anderson,
34 Seven-eighths.
J. K. Mitchel,
46 Ilalt
David Wallace, Iluntsville.
I
40 Three-fourths. D. W
Massachusetts.
lohn Pollock,
I
60 Full
J. 1'
Washington Co., Pa.
Nathan Watkins, Zanesfield.
5
1856, R. Watkins
1856, Addison, Vt.
Elith Williams, Pickerelton.
5 125
1836, A. Williams, ...
E. S. Mann, East Liberty
3
127 Five-eighths
John Outland,
4
100 Full
Daniel Skidmore, “
08,Seven-eighths
Willinto Skidmore, “
135
Isaac Skidmore,
135
Joshua Sidmore.
3
4 4
Among the names of those who introduced the Spanish Merino sheep should be mentioned Cook, Dean, Beal, Fisher and Dickenson. In 1850 the Merino sheep interest had a decided set-back. Parties hailing from Vermont brought a flock of sheep through the county, and sold the sheep in small parcels at high prices. In a short time exposure to the weather proved that the sheep were only common sheep, that had been ingeniously colored, and had been easily passed off upon the unskilled and suspecting farmers. The high prices of 1860, however, revived this industry, and the Merinos sprang into a popularity that they have maintained since. About three-fourths of the sheep in the coun- ty to-day are registered or good grade Meri- nos, which yield a fleece averaging from six to nine pounds in weight. Among the Merino flocks in Logan County that of Fisher
Brothers is the most important. Other ilocks are owned by Moot, Ray, J. C. Smith, John Outland, and his brothers, Ezra and "Nan," M. C. Smith and J. M. Dickerman. The latter controls about 1,000 head of these sheep, from forty to sixty of which only are regis- tered. Cotswolds and Southdowns have been introduced but they have been allowed to deteriorate until there are few full-blooded sheep of this kind in the county.
The Woods breed of hogs is extinct in this county, and where it used to take two years to make a two hundred pound hog, a three and four hundred pound hog can be made in nine to twelve months. The principal breeds are the Chester White, Berkshire, Magie and Harkreeder. The Chester White was introduced in 1840. The Berkshire was introduced later and proved a rough, coarse-boned hog, and was soon
Originally Vermont.
Joseph P. James,
1110 Three-fourths to full 1862.
183
IIISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
abandoned. A cross between these two breeds produced a good animal for mar- ket purposes. Soon after the Berkshires the Berks, or Baldfaces as they were popular- ly known, were introduced. They were a black hog with a white face, and were for a time were highly prized. The Magie, Poland China and Harkreeder are a later introduc- tion, and crosses representing several of these breeds may be called the present stock. Large numbers are annually sold, and the trade forms one of the more important sources of revenue.
A noticeable and favorable feature of the agriculture of the county is the modest size of the average farm. There are a number of large landholders in the county, but the prop- erty is divided into small divisions and occupied by tenants, so that the average farm is not over eighty acres. These farms are generally well tilled, the buildings well im- proved, and a general well-to-do air of neat- ness and comfort prevails everywhere through- out the farming community. Improved ma- chinery is being generally introduced, and some of the latest inventions have found a demand that the dealers have been unable to supply.
The number of important villages and the excellent railroad facilities furnish an excel- lent market for all the farmer has to sell. Maple sugar, wheat, wools and pork are the chief productions of the county, and large quantities are bought by the merchants and dealers in Bellefontaine and West Liberty. These dealers have established their trade for these exports in Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, and the East, and are ready to take all that is brought in. In the matter of publie roads the county is in advance of most of its sister counties. There are over 200 miles of grav- eled pike that make muddy roads a thing unknown in this county. This applies to all the main thoroughfares in the county, but in
the matter of cross-roads the district super- visors have caught the spirit of enterprise and are hauling the gravel, which is found every- where in abundance, upon these roads, and are making them second only to the pikes. The latter are let by contract an deost from $1,500 to $3,000 per mile. The bridging of the county is not an important expense. The principal streams are the Mad and Miami Rivers. These are generally spanned by the old covered wooden bridges, save where they have been renewed within the past five years. Iron bridges are now being introdueed, and the more important crossings will probably, before many years, be spanned by iron struc- tures.
The Logan County Fair Association is a marked feature of the agricultural interests of this county and has done much to incite a healthy emulation among the farmers. It was organized in 1851 by the adoption of a constitution signed by some fifty citizens of the county, and electing the following officers: Luther Smith, of Jefferson Township, Presi- dent; John Ilogue, of Washington Township, Vice President; N. R. Usher, of Lake Town- ship, Secretary; B. S. Brown, Treasurer, and J. M. Glover, of Liberty Township, Jacob Smith, of Monroe, William Boggs, of Miami, William Z. Schwyhart, of Bokes Creek and Elijah Beal, of Harrison, managers. The first fair was held by the Association on what are now the out-lots of McCulloek's addition to Bellefontaine, southeast of the village. There was no enclosure nor entrance fees, and most of the entries of horses were made by taking them from the teams that had brought the people to the fair. It was wet weather and the poorly-drained fields were trodden into one mass of mud. On this ac- count the domestic manufactures were exhib- ited in the court house. Among the pre- miums paid we find the following received the highest awards:
HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
T. W. Baird-General purpose stallion. $4.00
E. Bailey-Stallion for saddle ..
4.00
Theophilus Fulk-Mare and colt. 1.00
Peter Smock-3 year colt ... 2.00
R. S. Roberts-2 year colt .. 2.00
John Horn-Sucking colt ... 2,00
James R. Milner-Draft horse. 2.00
L. Smith and Z. Brown-Jack.
4.00
James A. Jones-Pair mules. 2.00
Smith and Brown-Sucking mule
2.00
William Kiser-3 year bull.
-1.00
R S. Roberts --- Yearling ball.
2.00
Wm. Boggs-Bull calf.
9.00
John Poisell-Milch cow-1280 1b.
2.00
John Denny-2 year heifer.
2.00
Win. Boggs-Yearling heifer.
2.00
Win. Kiser-Sucking heifer calf.
2.00
Win. Boggs-Working cattle, 8 year.
8.00
Milligan and Wallace-Fine wool Luck.
3.00
Buck for all purpose ..... 2.00
Three fine wool ewes. 3.00
Win. Kiser-Bonr, coarse made ..
2.00
Beside these entries were an excellent lot of fine wooled, buck and ewes exhibited by Luther Smith, and an Irish Grazier hog by Win. Collins. In the exhibition at the court house were carpets of wool, cotton and rags, flannel, fancy work and quilts, and "one ex- quisitely wrought enameled shell casket in- wrought with a tempting bunch of grapes." AAmong the few fruit exhibits was a basket of Catawba grapes and two samples of apples. Of the premiums on field crops, James Elliot got the first premium on an acre of corn, which yielded one hundred bushels. In regard to Jacob Horn who claimed a yield 103 bushels and fifteen quarts of corn from an acro, the re- cord adds: "which two persons certify to, but there being a lack of affidavits debar the man- agers the pleasure of awarding to him the premium." James Brown received the prem- jum on the oat cron, the yield on nine aeres averaging sixty bushels and sixteen pounds per acre. Zachias Brown cut the prem- ium arre of grass, getting 6,1:6 pounds of timothy. In potatoes M. Anderson took the premium for a quarter of an acre which yielded seventy three and one half
bushels. In regard to this season the record says: "The society agreeably to arrange- ments, held its first annual fair, October 29 and 30, and although the weather was ex- ceedingly bad, it was conceded by all very creditable to the county." In the following Vear seven acres of land lying on the Zanes- field road, east of Bellefontaine was pur- chased. This was enclosed and the fairs held here until 1859. The early history of the society was not that of a vigorous institution. Most of the managers were farmers, who were not well adapted, per- haps, to the duties which the new enter- prise devolved upon them, and the affairs languished for some years. In 1856 a change was made in the business management and a more vigorous administration came into power. The whole business was systemitized, speakers were secured to deliver addresses, and a generous expenditure devoted to ad- vertising. The result was at once apparent. The receipts ran up from about $300 annual income to some $1,100, and the ground soon proved too small to accommodate the people who gathered each year. In 1859, twenty- five acres were secured south of town on the West Liberty pike, where the fairs are now held. Here five halls have been erected, the largest of which is forty by eighty feet, and a line trotting track laid out a third of a mile long. There are about 2,400 entries drawing about $2,500 in premiums. The attendance is remarkable for a county fair, 15,000 people fre- quently attending in a single day. It is strictly a county fair save two races which are free for all. In the trotting race of this character a purse of $300 is offered which has been suc- cessful in attracting some good horses and a considerable increase in the attendance.
185
HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
CHAPTER II.
PREHISTORIC RACES-THE MOUND BUILDERS-INDIAN TRIBES-EARLY WARS WITH THE WHITES -LEWISTOWN RESERVATION-PROMINENT CHARACTERS DURING THE INDIAN DOMINATION.
THE earliest history of Logan County, in common with that of the State, is veiled in mystery, and what share it had in the pre- historie times can only be conjectured. It is the opinion of antiquarians that three distinct races have inhabited North America prior to the coming of the present inhabitants. Of these, the builders of those magnificent cities, the ruins of which strew for miles the plains of Central America were the first. "The mind is startled," says an eminent writer on this subject, "at the remoteness of their an- tiquity, when we consider the vast sweep of time necessary to crect such colossal struct- ures of masonry, and afterward convert them into the present utter wreck. Comparing their complete desolation with the ruins of Baalbec, Palmyra, Thebes and Memphis, they must have been old when the latter were be- ing built." Of this race, no trace has been found within the limits of this country, and whether Ohio ever shook under the step of their marching, or its wilds ever echoed to their cries, is still an open question. "The second race," continues the same writer, "as determined by the character of their civiliza- tion, were the Mound Builders, the remains of whose works constitute the most interesting class of antiquities found within the limits of the United States. Like the ruins of Central America, they antedate the most ancient rec- ords; tradition can find no account of them, and their character can only be partially gleaned from the internal evidences which they themselves afford. They consist of the remains of what were, apparently, villages, al-
tars, temples, idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, fortifications, etc. The farthest relic of this kind, ever discovered in a northeast- ern direction, was near Black River, on the south side of Lake Ontario; thence they ex- tend in a southwestern direction by way of the Ohio, the Mississippi, Mexican Gulf, Tex- as, New Mexico and Yucatan, into South America. Some of the most interesting and extensive of these works are found in Ohio. At the mouth of the Muskingum, or Licking River, near Newark, at Circleville on the Scioto, and on Paint Creek near Chillicothe, are found some of the most elaborate of these mounds, stored with some of the most impor- tant relics ever discovered. But with all the discoveries and investigations made thus far, but little progress has been made toward a knowledge of their origin, civilization or des- tiny. They existed here, and built the works over which the archaeologists spend their efforts in vain. Col. Whittlesey, writing of this race, says : "There is no evidence that they had alphabetical characters, picture writ- ing or hieroglyphics, though they must have had some mode of recording events. Neither is there any proof that they used domestic animals for tilling the soil, or for the purpose of erecting the imposing earthworks they have left. A very coarse cloth of hemp, flax or net- tles, has been found on their burial hearths, and around skeletons not consumed by fire." The more important of these mounds being found in the southern part of the State, it is con- jectured that the remains found in the north- ern part may have been built by portions of
150
HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
the race not cotemporary with the builders of the southern structures. The difference in the extent and importance of these northern remains seems to indicate a people far less in numbers as well as in industry, and whose principal occupation was to war among them- selves or against their neighbors. Along the water-shed in this State, which lies along the southern line of Wyandot and Crawford Coun- tics, and through the middle of Hardin, extend- ing irregularly east and west, there is a space where but few of these ancient earth works ap- pear. It is conjectured, therefore, that this spare was the "debatable ground" of the war-like tribes of the Mound Builders, and that the works found on either side of this line were the outposts of opposing forces. What- ever the truth may be in regard to these fan- ciful theories, the fact that this county was the scene of the busy activities of this strange people seems to be well substantiated. No remains, however, indicating that this people ever had a permanent residence in this coun- ty are found within the present limits of Logan county. Important earthworks, built in all probability by this race of giants, are found in Hardin county on the north, and in Champaign on the south, and large numbers of implements, weapons and ornaments have been found here, clearly indicating that this territory was frequently traversed, and was the seene of their temporary habitation, at least. Along the valley of Rush Creek, in the town- ship of the same name, are found low mounds of gravel, Leaped up some right or ten fort in height and measuring some forty or fifty feet in diameter. The soil all about is of an en- tirely different nature and it has been supposed by some that these were remains of that an- cient people. Other mounds of similar con- struction, have been found elsewhere in the county, but an intelligent examination into their structure reveals the fact that they must have been deposited by an ice-the during the
glacial period. Of the stone relies, large num- bers have been found, and several fine collec- tions have been made in the county. A round-ended ax is said to have been discover- ed, similar to those found among the remains of the Swiss Lake Builders, weighing some- thing over one hundred pounds. A fine col- leetion of these relics was made by Franklin C. Hlill, who made the geological survey of the county for the State, and in his communi- cation to the Assistant Geologist of the State, he described the collection as follows: " It is almost impossible to describe these relics without drawings, nor is it easy to classify them, as the dividing lines between axes, hatchets, and hammers, and between arrows and spear heads, etc., are by no means sharp and clear. They may, however, be roughly divided as follows:
Grooved axes 11|Rolling Pin 1
Ungrooved axes 12 Grindstone. 1
liammers .. 3 Slate ornaments (?).
Spear and arrow heads $4 |Flint fragments. 14
l'estles. Total 101
By far the finest and best among the axes is a large one of polished black gneiss. It measures seven inches by four, with a cutting edge two and five-eighths inches long, and for symmetry of form and finish of workmanship will rank with the best of its kind, though not with the largest. It weighs but five pounds, while one in Cincinnati weighs fourteen, and we have an account of one weighing eighteen pounds. The next in point of size is an ax of pale bluish slate, as remarkable for eccen- tricity of shape as the other for symmetry. Cut obliquely to the stratification of the stone, its edge is thrown to one side as if for hewing to a line, and the body is curiously twisted, so that the edge makes a decided angle with the poll, as if to produc > the effect of the bent helve of the broadax. But this is probably accidental rather than intentional, and is due
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