History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 12

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207

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A Mr. Martin, probably a native of Pennsylvania, settled in the township about 1812. The following were his children : George, Rachel, William, Benjamin, Susan and John. They lived here for several years and then removed to Champaign county, Ohio. A Mr. Richey, of Irish descent, settled on land later owned by the Wilsons, about 1816-18. Joseph and Isaac Bidwell settled about the same date. Among other early settlers of whom it is impossible to learn any important history, were David Harris, Paul Alder, a brother of Jonathan, Christian Adams, Joseph Loyd, John Johnson, David Ellis, J. Phelps and Patrick Johnson.

EARLY MILLS.

We have already seen how Uri Beach built the first saw-mill in Canaan township about 1820, on what was then known as Finch run. This mill was situated on the south bank, west of the Plain City pike, on the brow of the hill. Traces of the old mill race can still. be seen, but of the mill itself the last vestige has long since been removed. This " mill sawed all the lumber for the first frame buildings in this portion of the county and for the bridges across Big and Little Darby creeks on the National road. This saw-mill and the one later built further below on the Darby at the grist-mill by Isaac Fuller have been the principal water-power saw-mills of the township: since their time, there have been several portable steam-mills that have. as occasion demanded it, been transported to various portions of the township.

In about 1814-15 Isaac Fuller, having located on the east bank of the Big Darby,

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about two miles south of Amity, erected a grist-mill which was one of the first in this part of the country, right opposite on the west bank of the stream. Mr. Fuller ran this mill for over thirty years, when he was succeeded by Mr. Byers; he died and was followed by John Acton in the ownership of the mill.

A little below the Beach saw-mill, spoken of above, the same Uri Beach, soon after erecting his saw-mill, built a large, two-story frame building, with a basement, which was quite an imposing structure for the day. The basement was where the power for driving the machinery was placed. The power made use of was unique and the wonder of the age: though very cumbersome, it fully met the owner's expectations. It consisted of what was called "tread power." A large tread-wheel was placed in a horizontal position, or rather at an angle or incline of about ten degrees, and this, by its revolutions, com- municated motion to a smaller cog-wheel fitting into it. which, by an upright, communi- cated motion to the machinery above. Then, upon this inclined tread-wheel were placed a yoke of oxen, which were tied in position and, the wheel tending to move downward by the weight of the oxen, to the lowest point of the wheel, the oxen were made to keep walking up the incline of the wheel, which kept it in motion. The stopping of the machinery, at the will of the operator, was effected by means of a heavy friction brake, let down by lever power upon the tread wheel. The entire arrangement was a curious devise, but, nevertheless, effectual and powerful, propelling a large amount of machinery. This factory was in use for about fifteen years, employed about forty hands, and was a great benefit to the people of the then new settlement. It was succeeded by a mill built by his three brothers just below Amity. As has already been pointed out, this was declared a public nuisance a few years later, and the dam was torn away and the mill became useless.

SURFACE, SOIL AND STREAMS.

The one principal stream of Canaan township is Big Darby creek, which enters the township from the north about one and a half mile west of its eastern boundary, flows southward until it reaches the Franklin county line, and continues its southerly course, forming the boundary line between Franklin county and this township, until it reaches the southern limits of Canaan township. In the north part of the township it receives a tributary known as Mammoth run, which, in spite of its name, is a very small stream. It follows a general easterly course entirely through the township before it empties into Big Darby. In the south part of the township Big Darby creek receives Three-Mile run. which takes its rise in the southwest part of the township, flows almost due east until it mixes its waters with those of the Big Darby.

The surface of the country along the Big Darby is somewhat uneven and broken, but almost the entire township west of the Big Darby is an extended plain, very level. and originally. as the first settlers found it, consisted of oak openings and prairie, much of which was covered with water several months during the year.

CEMETERIES.

A list of the early burying-grounds of the first families would include the one on the Joseph Atkinson farm; one on the Nugent farm, just below Amity; one on the banks of Big Darby, further down the stream, near the Henry Convers farm; and one still further down the same stream on the old Millikin farm. About 1860 the trustees of the township purchased of Luther Lane ground for a cemetery, situated just in the rear of the Baptist church, and which was dedicated to use by the reception of the mortal remains of Thurza Reece the same year. This land was fenced in and fitted up as a permanent cemetery for use of the residents of the township. In 1882 a nice brick rault was erected and placed under the charge of a board of trustees.

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CHAPTER V. DARBY TOWNSHIP.

Darby was among the first townships settled in Madison county, its history dating as far back as 1795. The first white man to locate within this township was Jonathan Alder, who was discovered by Benjamin Springer living on the banks of Big Darby creek with his Indian wife in 1796. Alder was born in New Jersey, about eight miles from Philadelphia, September 17, 1773. His parents were Bartholomew and Hannah Alder. When Jonathan was about seven years old, the family moved to Wythe county, Virginia, where the father soon afterward died. In 1782 he and his brother were captured by a band of prowling Indians, his brother being killed but he being held a prisoner. He was adopted by the tribe and became, in practically every sense, an Indian. He married an Indian woman and made his liying by hunting and farming through the country now covered by Madison county.

In 1796, as mentioned above, Benjamin Springer, with his wife and two sons, Silas and Thomas, also his son-in-law, Usual Osborn, and wife, settled on Big Darby creek. They were natives of Pennsylvania, and built their cabin on land later owned by John Taylor, close to the north line of Canaan township and just within the limits of the same. But their names are mentioned here because of their close proximity and close relations with the early pioneers of Darby township. In 1798, the Ewing brothers, James and Joshua, emigrated from Kentucky to present Darby township and settled a short distance northeast of the site of Plain City. They bought farms lying on both sides of Big Darby creek. One reason for making their purchases on both sides of the stream was that they might have ready access to the prairie grazing lands, and at the same time have tillable lands on the elevated bottoms along the creek. They supposed, as did many others, that the open prairie land would afford them pasturage for many years to come. In this, how- ever, they were mistaken, for they were in time owned by industrious farmers and inclosed with good fences.

Financially, James Ewing was more favored than the average pioneers and was known in the neighborhood as a rich man. He was one of the directors of the Franklin Bank, of Franklintown, Ohio, and this connection made him useful to the community in which he resided. The person in need of capital, by getting Mr. Ewing's recommendation as to the financial safety of his note, could always get ready cash. For many years the only postoffice in that region of the country was kept by him for the accommodation of his neighbors, and in connection with it he handled dry-goods, groceries, notions, etc., in such quantities as would meet the pressing demands of those early people.

Joshua Ewing died during the "sickly season" of 1822-23. He was a surveyor and made many of the early surveys of Madison county. Upon the erection of Union county, in 1820, the property of the Ewing brothers was thrown into the new county.

The Taylor brothers, John, Daniel and Richard, natives of New York state, emigrated to Kentucky in 1795 and settled on land they purchased near Lexington. They became discouraged and disgusted because of the constant litigations over titles, and determined to seek new lands. John Taylor, going to the man from whom he had made his purchase, made a trade with him for lands in the then territory of Ohio. By this exchange he became the owner of three hundred acres of land on the banks of Big Derby, now in Union

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county. He moved to his new farm in 1800, sold his first purchase to Frederick Sager, and bought another about one mile south of Plain City, on both sides of Big Darby creek, from John Graham. Here he erected a log cabin, stable and outbuildings, and soon afterward, probably about the year 1804, he married a widow Mccullough, sister of Judge Mitchell. Two children blessed this union, a daughter and a son. The daughter died in infancy, but the son, John Taylor, Jr., lived on the old homestead for many years, and is still remembered by the older residents of Darby to vnship.

The other Taylor brothers followed John from Kentucky about 1803. They had lost much of their property in the bogus land titles of Kentucky, and were, like most of the early pioneers, comparatively poor. Daniel Taylor, with his family, went directly to the Indian village above Plain City, where Jonathan Alder was at this time living. Alder surrendered the use of his hut to Taylor and his wife, and they immediately. took pos- session. He, however, soon afterward built another beside this one, the former being used for a kitchen and the latter for bed, parlor and sitting room. There the children of Mr. Taylor and those of the Indians became intimately associated in their plays.

All of the Taylor brothers settled on or near Big Darby, and, by industry and economy, they secured a generous competence.

Another early pioneer of this township was James Norton, who came here with his family in about 1810 or 1812, purchased a farm on Sugar run, east of Big Darby, and lived there until his death, in 1836. With him came his two sons, John and Solomon Norton. John Norton, in 1820, married Sarah Taylor, daughter of Daniel Taylor.

In the year 1814 Jeremiah Converse, a Revolutionary soldier, and Rhoda Converse, his wife, emigrated with their family to this township. Converse was born in New Hampshire in 1760. He emigrated with his father to the state of Vermont prior to the Revolutionary War. Before the close of this conflict he enlisted in the American cause. During his service he was severely wounded, and was discharged. He subsequently became a traveling minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. On his arrival in Darby township he and most of his sons bought land in close proximity to each other and about three miles west of Big Darby creek, on what was then known as the Darby Plains The Rev. Mr. Converse was the first pioneer minister in this portion of the county. He always lived on the farm he first purchased, where he died in 1837, at the ripe age of seventy-eight years. His eldest son, Sanford Converse, settled in Licking county, Ohio, but the following sons settled near their father : Parley, Squire, Lathrop, Jeremiah, Jr,. Silas and Charles Converse.

Parley Converse was a farmer and mechanic. He was an exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal church for over forty years. He was also elected a justice of the peace and filled that office with great credit to himself and justice to the persons he met officially. On his retirement from his farm he moved to Plain City, where he died in 1866. He was the father of two sons, Caleb, and Parley, Jr., who were both for many years residents of Union county. Squire Converse was also a farmer, settled on the plains and died during one of the sickly seasons. He was the father of Jasper R. and Edwin Asa Converse. Jasper R., the eldest, was a large farmer on the plains and made a specialty of breeding thoroughbred sheep. He died.in 1859. He was the father of Augustin Converse. Lathrop Converse, a son of Rev. Jeremiah Converse, lived on the plains until his death, in 1822. one of the sickly periods. He had three sons, two of whom were Darius and Joel N. Orinda, daughter of the Rev. Jeremiah Converse, married Samuel Sherwood, who lived in Canaan township.

Jeremiah Converse, Jr., son of the Rev. Jeremiah Converse and a native of Vermont. was born in 1790. In 1813 he married Malinda Derby, a descendant of the titled family of Derbys in England. He emigrated with his and his father's families to Darby township

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in 1814. He was the father of a large family, and, like others, suffered many privations incident to the life of the pioneer and early settler. He bought a small farm of Walter Dun, for one dollar and a quarter an acre, and even at this low price it took him nine years to complete his payments. He was a drum major in the militia regiment of this county under the then existing military laws of the state. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over thirty years. He died in 1849. He was the father of C. D., Jeremiah and L. D. Converse. The eldest son, C. D. Converse, became the owner of one of the finest farms in the township and was a resident of the township for many years. Doctor Jeremiah, the second son, practiced medicine in Darby township for years. L. D. Converse, the youngest son, also became a farmer and spent his life in Darby township.

Silas Converse, another son of Rev. Jeremiah Converse, came as a young man with his father to this township in 1814. He was married four times. Charles Converse, the youngest child of the Rev. Mr. Converse, was a mere child when they emigrated to this state. During his childhood he was subject to terrible attacks of inflammatory rheuma- tism, which left him a cripple the rest of his life, necessitating the use of crutches in walking. He became a prominent stock raiser in the township. He died in 1869. He was the father of three sons, James N., R. B. and Charles Converse.

Later in the same year that the Converse family came (1814) Abner Newton, Sr., emigrated from the state of Vermont to this township and purchased a farm in the Con- verse settlement. He was a wheelwright and chair manufacturer. The demand of the times for that class of articles made him rather prominent in the affairs of the township. His wheels were unsurpassed for workmanship and were a necessary article in almost every family. The chairs he made were less in demand, but were purchased as the people became able to afford such luxuries. The more common seats used were long benches. or three-legged stools. Prior to and after Mr. Newton's death, his youngest son, Abner Jr., continued to manufacture the above articles as long as they were in demand or until machinery supplied their place. He later became quite an extensive manufacturer of boots and shoes, and partly in connection with it, or soon after, he dealt in dry-goods, groceries, etc. His health later broke down and he was forced to retire.

The pioneer millwright of this portion of the county was Daniel Bowers, who came to Darby township in 1814. He settled near the present village of Amity, being a single man at the time of his emigration, but within a few years thereafter he married Diadam Phiney, a young lady who came with Abel Beach and family in the same year. He was early employed by Frederick Sager to put up the building and make all the necessary machinery for a water-power grist-mill. This was the first mill of the kind ever put up in this part of the county and was situated about one mile north of Plain City, on Big Darby, which at that time was in Darby township. but now in Union county. The grinding-stone used in this mill was made from a great boulder taken from the farm of John Taylor, being worked and dressed into proper shape by Mr. Sager himself. This part of the machinery was used for many years, being almost equal to the French buhr. He was later employed by Uri Beach to build a saw-mill, and, soon afterward, a carding- machine. This latter was run by horse-power. The nature of the tread power used was a great novelty, consisting of a great wheel, perhaps twenty feet in diameter, with a strong center shaft and iron journals and bearings Into this shaft strong arms were framed. extending about ten feet from the center and well braced underneath. and the whole was covered with a tight floor. The wheel was then set inclined, one side much lower than the other. The horses were harnessed, taken upon the floor and hitched to a stationary post or beam; hence their weight and the act of walking revolved the wheel beneath their feet, and thus set the machinery into motion. This was considered a wonderful achievement over the former method of carding all the wool for clothing by

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hand. In the settlement by the government of some Indian reservations, Mr. Bowers was employed by the agency as an interpreter, being the only person here who understood the Wyandot language. His trade being insufficient for the support of himself and his family, he purchased a farm in the Converse settlement, where he lived until his death, in 1834. There were three children in this family, two sons and a daughter. The eldest, John P. Bowers, resided for many years on the old home estate as a farmer. He became a man of great promise in the township, being several times elected to the office of trustee, also as township assessor, real estate assessor, and held the place of justice of the peace for twenty-seven years. The youngest son, S. W. Bowers, likewise became prominent in agricultural circles of this part of the county.

Charles Warner also came to the Plains in the year 1814 and purchased a farm that was to become known many years later as the I. W. Converse farm. Here he made farm- ing his business and, as a side line, took up distilling. He erected a distillery, where he made whiskey and peach brandy for the market. He usually kept three or four yoke of cattle, which were used in wagoning the products of. his still to the chief trading points -- Chillicothe, Sandusky and Zanesville-taking, in exchange, salt, glass and such other articles as were in demand among the pioneer families. During the spring of the year he turned his heavy ox teams to good account by breaking large quantities of the prairie sod, which was too tough for the ordinary horse team to plow. He died quite early in the history of the township and left no descendants.

Also in the year of 1814 came Charles McCloud, Sr., to Darby township, buying a farm and settling near the post road. Here he supported his family and made an honest living out of his farm. He died at his son-in-law's in 1844. He was the father of two sons, Curtis and Charles McCloud.

Charles McCloud, the youngest of these two sons, lived and worked on the farm of his father until of age, when his inclination and desire for a profession induced him to select the science of medicine as being the most congenial to his nature. He went to Granville, Ohio, where he studied in the office of Dr. Alpheus Bigelow. On completing his studies, he returned and settled in Amity, and for many years, by close application and undivided attention, he was not only a successful physician, but a leader in the profession. But, like many others in a new country, as this was at that time, with almost impassable roads at times, he became weary of the hardships incident to the profession, and longed for a more retired and less responsible life. With this end in view, he, in company with Wesley Carpenter, purchased quite an extensive tract of land below Amity, with a view of making stock-raising and farming a specialty; but, by a few years' experience in this new enterprise, he was convinced of the fact that bone and muscle, especially in those days, were among the essential features of success. He, therefore, sold his interest in the farm to Mr. Carpenter, and immediately purchased a large stock of dry-goods and groceries and entered the general merchandise business in Amity. Here he remained until after that place was visited by the Asiatic cholera. He subsequently sold his property and purchased in Plain City, where he engaged largely in the mercantile business. In 1844 he was elected a member of the Ohio Legislature and filled that position with credit to himself and his constituents. During the campaign of 1840, he had taken a very active part in county politics. He made quite a reputation for himself as a public speaker and so favorably impressed the people in this and subsequent campaigns that when the call came for delegates to the constitutional convention of 1852 he was the people's choice. He died at his home in Plain City in the year 1860, survived by his widow and two sons, R. C. and Newton McCloud.

Early in the history of the township came Titus Dort, who purchased a farm about one mile south of Plain City. As he was a blacksmith by trade very little of his time could be taken up on his farm. At this time good blacksmiths were very scarce, but very

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necessary, as the people were dependent upon them for most of their farm implements, such as trace chains, hoes, axes, plows, and many necessary and indispensable articles.

In the year 1818 Samuel Smith and family came from the state of Vermont and settled in this township. He purchased avlarge tract of land, containing about six hundred acres. On this farm he built the first brick house on the plains. The roof of this house was made by pine shingles, purchased in Cincinnati, from the dairy products, and wagoned through an almost trackless forest, requiring two weeks or more to make the round trip.

Simeon Hager, who was born in 1766, emigrated to Ohio and settled in this township in 1814. Soon afterward he purchased a farm near Plain City and spent the remainder of his life in its management. He died at his home in 1843. He was the father of Simeon, Jr., Baldwin and Aurelius Hager.

In the year 1817 Isaac Bigelow came to this part of Ohio with the idea in mind of opening up a great stock farm, and purchased land now covering, in part, the site of the village of Plain City. But the tide of emigration seemed toward the central portion of Ohio. The chief trading points of Zanesville, Chillicothe, Cincinnati and Sandusky were so distant that Mr. Bigelow conceived that idea of platting a new town for the convenience of the future settlers, where they might make their necessary purchases of nails, glass, salt, etc., and so planned to lay out a new town. Accordingly, in 1818, the original town plat of Plain City was laid out by him, but a more comprehensive sketch of the founding of Plain City will be found in the history of that village. Mr. Bigelow was a physician by profession and for many years enjoyed a wide practice in this and neighboring townships.

Israel Bigelow, his father, came to the township in 1828 and purchased property in . the village of Plain City. He was also a practicing physician and for several years followed his profession in Plain City and the surrounding country. He died in Plain City in 1838.

Dr. Daniel Bigelow, a son of Israel and a brother of Isaac Bigelow, settled in the township in 1831, and likewise spent his life in the active labors of a medical practitioner. He was ever ready to attend all calls in his profession, and his greatest delight was embodied in his efforts to mitigate the sufferings of his fellow creatures. He was sociable, pleasing and winning in his manner; his presence in the sick room dispersed the gloom of his patients, and, in a word, cheerfulness was traceable in every lineament of his features.

Another settler who arrived in the year 1818 was Eber McDowell, who purchased a farm about two miles west of the Converse settlement. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. With others, he experienced many of the hard struggles incident to pioneer life. Though the price of land was seemingly very low, yet all the farm products were corre- spondingly reduced in price, and, in order to make the last payment on his farm, he sold and delivered two hundred bushels of corn to a Mr. Wright, of Dublin, Franklin county, for ten cents per bushel. This delivery was made by hauling the corn, with a heavy pair of cattle, a distance of fifteen miles, requiring two days to make the round trip. The oxen were also sold to the same person for twenty-seven dollars. The money thus obtained enabled him to procure a deed for the farm, on which he spent his days. He died at the advanced age of ninety-dix.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 12

Author: Chester E. Bryan Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1207

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207