USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 60
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COL. ELIAS LANGIIAM.
Col. Elias Langham and Lieut. Samuel Baskerville. life-long friends, lie side by side in the little family graveyard on the old Samuel Baskerville farm, now owned by John Crawford, of London. Colonel Langham's early history is somewhat obscure. He was born in Virginia. He enlisted, February 19, 1777. under Lieut. Richard C. Waters, First Continental Regiment, Virginia ; Col. Charles Harrison, commanding. . He was a private. He went into Capt. Drury Ragsdale's company and served part of the time under Capt. Anthony Singleton, of the Second Regiment. 'and for a part of the time under Capt. John Dandridge. He was bombardier-sergeant. quartermaster-sergeant and conductor of military stores. He was appointed lieutenant of the artillery by Gen. Nathaniel Greene, by a letter which is still preserved on file with his application for a pension. He last served in Capt. Ambrose Bohennan's company. After the war he received five years' full pay in lieu of one-half pay for life.
Colonel Langham received a diploma in the Society of Cincinnatus, signed by his illustrious chief. George Washington. He applied for a pension under the act of March 18. 1818, and made oath of his declaration before Samuel Baskerville, associate justice of Madison county. He gave an inventory of what he possessed as one horse, saddle and bridle, twenty-five dollars, and all other property, ten dollars. He stated that his occupation was that of a surveyor, but he was unable to follow it. He also stated that had six children, but none were living with him. To the second statement he made oath on May 11, 1821.
Colonel Langham made the town plat of Alexander and is supposed to have made the town plat of Portsmouth. He surveyed all the Congressional lands in Scioto county ; that is, all east of the Scioto river. He was a member of the territorial Legislature, 1799-1801, 1801-02. In 1802 he was a candidate for the constitutional convention from Ross county, but was defeated by Edward Tiffin. In 1803 he was one of the four can- didates for Congress, but was defeated. In 1803. 1805-06. 1806-07 he was a member of the Legislature from Ross county and was speaker of the House in 1803-04. While living in Ross county he was United States surveyor of Congressional lands.
Colonel Langham's title was probably secured by his connection with the Ohio militia during the War of 1812. He probably came to Madison county about 1807 or 1808, and was a figure in the early history of the county. Samuel N. Kerr was appointed on the application of Col. W. Swan as administrator of his estate and his personal belongings were sold on December 11. 1830. amounting to only thirty dollars. In order
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to dispose of a small parcel of land, the administrator caused a legal notice to be pub- lished in the Ohio Statesman, giving notice to the heirs of Langham of his intention. This shows that the five children were Betsy Ann Rector (wife of William Rector), Mary Langham, Jane Lewis Langham. Angus Langham and John Langham. It appears that Colonel Langham never moved his family here, as he lived alone or boarded.
Colonel Langham was a judge of the first election held in Union township ( Lon- don). which was on the first Monday in April, 1810. and was clerk in the annual elec- tion the following October. In July, of that year. he was licensed to keep a tavern at his home in Union township. He was given the contract to build the first county jail, on the organization of the county in 1810. In his declining years Colonel Langham made his home with Judge Samuel Baskerville, south of London, where he died on April 3. 1830. and where he was buried in the burial ground of that family.
LIEUT. SAMUEL BASKERVILLE.
It is shown by the records of the adjutant-general's office at Washington that Sam- uel Baskerville-one of the first associate justices of the county-served as an officer of the Tenth (also known as the Sixth) Virginia Regiment, Revolutionary War, com- manded successively by Col. Edward Stevens, Maj. Samuel Hawes, Col. William Rus- sell and Col. John Green. He is reported commissioned ensign, December 3, 1776; sec- ond lieutenant, January 2. 1778, in Capt. Jolm Mountjoy's company. and first lieutenant, September 14. 1778, in Capt. Hughes Woodson's company. The record also shows him commissioned first lieutenant, April 5, 1778. The records further show that this officer served as quartermaster of the regiment from May to November, 1779, and his name appears on a return dated January 10, 1786, with the remark : "Deranged, 1st January, 1783. but proved to be in service." Heitman's "Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army." an unofficial publication worthy of credit, shows this officer taken prisoner at Charleston. May 12. 1780: exchanged, July 1781, and retired, January 1, 1783. but paid to November 15. 1783. Ileitman also reports him "died 29th August. 1830." He was buried on the farm which he received by a Virginia military land grant, in the family burial ground. by the side of his friend. Col. Elias Langham. Lieutenant Baskerville was twice married. his first wife being the mother of two children. Mary K. and John. His second wife, Nancy Miller Baskerville, was the mother of the following children : Samuel. Richard, James, William, George, Edward, Judith. Rebecca and Nancy. Of these children only one ever married. Nancy, whose husband was
MAJOR PETER HELPENSTINE.
Heitman's "Historical Register of the Officers of the Continental Army" has the following entry : "Helpenstine. Peter (Va.). Major Sth Virginia, 1st March, 1776." In a publication called the "Honse List of Private Claims," second session, twenty- fifth Congress, it is shown that the heirs of Major Peter Helpenstine were granted half- . pay for the Revolutionary services of this officer, by act of June 12, 1838. Major Hel- penstine was born in Virginia. He started for Ohio in 1805. He settled in Paint town- ship in 1806 and is believed to have been the second settler of that township. (See chap- ter on history of Paint township.) He was buried on his farm, but later his remains were transferred to the Paint township cemetery, where they rest at present.
PHILIP HELPENSTINE.
Philip Helpenstine, son of Major Peter Helpenstine. served as a private from Octo- ber, 1775. to May, 1776, in Capt. Morgan Alexander's company of Colonel Woodford's Virginia regiment. and from May. 1776. to November. 1777, as a private. in Capt. Jona- than Clark's company in Colonel Muhlenberg's Virginia regiment. In his pension peti-
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tion he stated that by request of his father, Peter Helpenstine, who was major of Colonel, Muhlenburg's regiment. he left Colonel Woodford's regiment and joined the former- that from 1777 to 1781 he served several times in the 'militia. that after the surrender of Cornwallis he was appointed a conductor in the French army, and so served until, September 28, 1782. He took part in the battles of Green Bridge, Ft. Moultrie and many skirmishes. At the time of his enlistment he lived at Winchester, Virginia. He applied for a pension on November 2. 1819. when sixty-six years of age, and was at that time a resident of Fleming county, Kentucky. His claim was allowed. He married Rebecca: Wolf. June 16, 1776. in Frederick county, Virginia : died on October 19, 1830. and she was pensioned as his widow. He was buried in the family burial grounds with his father, and later his remains were also removed to the Paint township cemetery.
Tradition tells us that David Watson, who settled in Paint townsip at about the same time as did Peter Helpenstine, and who married the latter's daughter. Mary Hel- penstine, served as a drummer-boy in the Continental army. There is no official record to substantiate this tradition, but it is quite probable that such was the case.
ANDREW SIFRIT.
Andrew Sifrit enlisted in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1775. as a private in Capt. Andrew Waggoner's company. Col. James Woods's Twelfth Regiment of Virginia troops of the Continental line. He served in several campaigns in the Northern army, was in the battles of Brandywine. Germantown. Monmouth. Stony Point and Paulus Hook, and was taken prisoner at the siege of Charleston, and exchanged at Jamestown, Virginia (length of captivity not known) : was at the surrender of Cornwallis and marched under Capt. Alexander Parker to Richmond, Virginia, and served there. He was on the water for eighteen months. For his services he was given two hundred and forty acres of land in Paint township. Madison county. Ohio, to which he emigrated. and is described elsewhere as one of the pioneers of that township. Reference to his land grant is made in the widows' file No. 25468. bureau of pensions. Washington. D. C. Andrew Sifrit was allowed a pension on an application, executed on April 6. 1812. He was born in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. March 16, 1755. and died in Madison county, Ohio, October 16. 1847, and was buried in the Paint township cemetery. He was twice married, his first wife having been Susanna Shrock, whom he married abont 1786 and by whom he had nine children, of whom Mary, Catherine. John. Elizabeth and James came with him to this township. His second wife was Hannah Morrils, a native of Virginia, by whom he had twelve children. he thus having been the father of twenty-one children.
OBIL BEACH.
Obil Beach was born in Goshen, Connecticut. He was reluctantly permitted by his father. on account of his age. to enlist in the Continental army under Captain Chap- man and Colonel Swift. He enlisted in 1777 and served three years, being a member of General Gates's army that witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York. He was a pensioner. He married Elizabeth Kilbourne, of Litchfield, Connecticut, and moved to Canaan township, Madison county. in 1817, where he died in September. 1846, at the age of eighty-eight years. His children were: Susannah. Amos and Marva, born in Poultney, Vermont ; Uri. Ambrose, Rhoda. Sarah. Lorenzo. Roswell and Irene, born in New Haven, Vermont : and Obil Oren and Oren Obil, twins. All these children came to Madison county and settled in Darby and Canaan townships, as is told in the his- tories of those townships elsewhere in this volume.
WILLIAM SMITH.
William Smith emigrated from Donegal. Ireland, and immediately on arrival joined the Continental army, as a private, at Dover. Delaware. He enlisted in June. 1776, for (27)
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one year. mider Capt. Joseph Stedham and Colonel Hazlett. He applied for a pension on April 29, 1818, at which time he was a resident of Lieking county, Ohio, and sixty- four years of age. He married Elizabeth Campbell. He moved to Madison county with his son and is buried either in the Oak Hill or the Glade cemetery.
FRONTIER WARS.
The first military experiences of the actual residents of this comty were experienced during the wars of the frontier. While peace nominally existed, the hardy pioneer was always prepared for war whenever it should come. The climax of this frontier tension was probably reached in 1811. At that time it is thought there were no Indians living in the county, but the events leading to the battle of Tippecanoe and the killing of an Indian named Nicholas Monhem, by Tobias Bright. in 1810, incensed the roving bands of savages and kept the settlements in a feverish state of anxiety. In the eastern por- tion of the county several families left their homes and repaired to a stockade that was built on the east side of Little Darby creek, across from the present site of the town of Jefferson, where they remained until after Gen. William Henry Harrison gave the Indians their crushing defeat at the battle of Tippecanoe on November 7, 1811. When the news of this great victory reached the county the fears of the people greatly subsided and those in the fort returned to their cabin homes. The example set by these people of the eastern portion of the county was followed in many other parts of the county. Several exceptionally strong cabins were built as places of general rendezvous whenever an outbreak seemed imminent.
THE WAR OF 1812.
On June 18. 1812. the I'nited States, by resolution forced through Congress by Henry Clay, declared war on Great Britain, and a few days later Governor Meigs, of Ohio. issued a call for troops, designating Franklinton, Urbana and Dayton as general places of rendezvous for this portion of Ohio. Capt. John Moore and Capt. Elias Lang- ham were appointed to open a recruiting office in London. A company of seventy men was raised in this neighborhood and sent to Mill creek, in what is now the southern part of Union county. where a block-honse was built on the north bank of the stream and general preparation was made to defend the county against the Indians-the allies of the English. Jonathan Alder, elsewhere described as the first settler in the neigh- borhood of Darby township, was in this company and the story is still told of how he. getting tired of being pened np in the fort and believing there was no danger inne- diate, concocted a scheme with John Johnson to break up the camp and so return to their homes. These two men were sent on a sconting expedition, and after covering the ground about a mud-hole with moccasin tracks, returned to the camp and reported that Indian signs were mmerons, at the same time offering to condnet a squad to the place to investigate the matter. This bit of news created consternation among the men. Alder, Johnson and Andrew Clerno were detailed for picket duty that night. Clerno was' "let' in" on the scheme, and. about eleven o'clock. while the camp was asleep, all three fired their guns at an imaginary enemy in the bush, and rushed into the fort. The result was a general stampede, the men running like as many frightened cattle. pell-mell, in every direction through the forest. The shouts of the officers in their efforts to rally them proved fruitless. Many ludicrous scenes took place. as well as a few accidents through coming into violent contact with trees: while two brave lads plunged into Mill creek. The rise was successful. for about ten o'clock the following morning all the men were discharged and sent to their homes. Much sport was made of this event, and many of the worthy pioneer fathers of the county were the butt of the jokers thronghont their lives because of their participation in this first campaign.
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TREATY OF PEACE.
On June 21, 1813. a great council was held with the Indians at Franklinton by Gen- eral Harrison, at which the Indians solemnly agreed to remain at peace with the set- tlers, thus ratifying the spirit of all former treaties. An excellent memorial of this council has been found, which is herewith reproduced :
"The Delaware, Shawnee, Wyandot and Senaca tribes were represented by about fifty warriors. General Harrison represented the government, and with him were his staff and a brilliant array of officers in full uniform. Behind them was an attachment of soldiers. In his front were the Indians. Around all were the inhabitants of this region, far and near. The object was to induce these tribes, who had heretofore remained neutral in the war, to take an active part in the ensuing campaign for the United States, or at least give a guarantee of their peaceful intention by remaining with their families within the settlements.
"The general began to speak in calm and measured tones, befitting the grave occasion, bnt an undefined depression seemed to hold all in suspense, as with silent and ahost breathless attention, they awaited the effect of the general's words. These seemed to fall on dull ears, as the Indians sat with unmoved countenances, and smoked on in stolid silence. At length the persuasive voice of the great commander struck a responsive cord, and Tarhe. or the Crane. the great Wyandot chief, slowly rose to his feet. Standing for a moment in a graceful and commanding attitude. he made a brief reply. When he, with others, passed forward to grasp the hand of Harrison, in token not only of amity, but in agreement to stand as a barrier on onr exposed frontier. a terrible doubt and apprehension was lifted from the hearts of all. Jubilant shouts rent the air, women wept for joy, and stalwart men thrilled with pleasure as they thought of the assured safety of their wives and children from a cruel and stealthy foe. They prepared at once, with alacrity, to go forth to the impending battles." The Indians remained faithful to this agreement and the settlements were spared a re-enactment of their early bloody scenes. At that time the Indian frontier stretched in a long line from the lakes to lower Illinois, diagonally across the state not more than sixty miles away, so it is readily seen what a relief it must have been to husbands and fathers.
THE "GENERAL MUSTER."
In May, 1813, during the siege of Ft. Meigs, runners were sent to all parts of the state. calling on the male inhabitants to assemble at once and to march to the relief of that fortress .. The militia from Madison county was hurriedly sent to Urbana where a large force was organized under the command of Col. Dimcan McArthur. It started for Ft. Meigs, but after a four-days forced march through the forests, was met by William Oliver. John McAdams and Captain John, the Shawnee chief, who informed them that the siege had been abandoned. The troops returned to Urbana and were discharged. Major David Gwynne. one of the Gwynne brothers, who settled in Deer Creek township, was then a paymaster in the regular army, with headquarters at Urbana.
Soon afterward the militia was again called out and marched. this time, to Sandusky, where they remained but a short time. At a special term of the court of common pleas, held October 4. 1813, a number of military fines were remitted. They had been assessed by the county board of military officers, for neglect of duty in the prosecution of the war, then being waged against England. It seems to be impossible at this late date to attempt to give the names of the volunteers from Madison county who saw service during the War of 1812.
When peace once more prevailed. after 1815, Congress passed a law reorganizing the militia and making it obligatory for all males, between the ages of eighteen and forty- five, to perform military duty. These men were required to perform military duty for
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seven years in time of peace, which, complied with, exempted them from poll tax. This county was divided into military divisions, and certain points designated in each for the militia to meet and receive instruction in the art of war. These assemblages of the militia were known as the "general muster," The militia could not draw military equipment from the goverment. but at these musters armed themselves with rifles, shot guns, broom-handles, sticks, or any implement by which they could be put through the mannal of exercises. The law also provided that if any company would furnish their own uniforms, and otherwise comply with the law, the state should supply them with arms and ammunitions. Several companies of this class were organized in Madison county. The muster days were looked upon by all classes with much favor, as they were days of recreation, social joys and friendly greetings,
THE MEXICAN WAR.
The Mexican War created no great stir in this county, though the progress of the victorious American troops was followed with the general enthusiasm characteristic of the rest of the country. The Whig leaders railed against the war as an effort toward the further extension of slavery, but the impression they made was not deep. Only the unmes of the following can be given as Madison county boys who served during this war: no doubt there were more, but it is almost impossible to determine who they were : Joel H. Worthington, Edward Hill, Samnel Cramer. Oscar McCormack, George W. Athey Lewis Dun, William Justice, William Frost, Adam Bidwell, Este Bidwell. Sanmel Arm. strong. Edward Sager and Mortimer A. Garlick.
THE CIVIL WAR.
The first step taken in London. the county sent of Madison county, after President Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand volunteers on April 15, 1861. was on the second day after the fall of Ft. Sumter, when a mass meeting of the citizens of the town was held in the town hall, which meeting was organized by the calling of H. W. Smith to the chair and the appointing of A. Downing as secretary. Patriotic and stirring speeches were made by H. W. Smith, Dr. A. Toland. Col. P. W. Taylor, William Jones, George Lincoln, W. H. Squires, John MeGaffey and many other citizens. Richard Cowling, Doctor Toland and William Jones were appointed as a committee to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. Colonel Taylor read his orders from the adjuntant-general to proceed to enroll a company of volunteers, and also the general orders from the same officer. A call was made for volunteers, but none answered at that time. A. Downing was anthorized to enroll all volunteers who should subsequently make application. The committee reported the following resolutions:
"WHEREAS, the flag.of our country having been dishonored by traitors, we deem it our duty to defend that flag at the risk of our lives; therefore,
"Resolved, that the citizens of Madison county. as innch as they deplore the strife and disunion in our land, will still cling to the union of these states, and by every honor- able means in their power endeavor to maintain their integrity.
"Resolred. that they will try to sustain the general government in maintaining its anthority in enforcing the laws and upholding the flag of the Union."
These resolutions were speedily adopted and the meeting was adjourned with three hearty cheers for the country's flag.
"THE EAGLE GUARDS."
A flag was raised over the court house on Monday. April 16. A flag, which the ladies of London had made, was raised over the academy building on Wednesday, with speeches by J. S. Burnham. J. D. Stine, Emery Smith, and others. Other flags floated from the Toland warehouse, Peter Weber's, Van Wagner & Athey's grocery. from the Cowling
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House, and from many other points. About twenty young men had taken the required oath by April 18. A requisition was made by the governor for seventy-five men from Colonel Taylor's volunteers, to be in readiness on Wednesday. April 28. Men rallied to the cause, political differences were forgotten, and squads of men were drilling on the streets, while the hotels were thronged with recruits. The first company enrolled in accordance with Governor Dennison's call was christened by Colonel Taylor, "The Eagle Guards." They were commanded by Capt. Thomas Acton, and left for Lancaster, Ohio, April 27, 1861. Before leaving camp they were presented, by the ladies of London, with a beautiful flag and one hundred tlannel shirts made by them from material furnished by the town council. The flag was presented by Neal Clark. later Mrs. Neal Clark Mitchell. in behalf of the ladies. This flag was carried by this company all through its period of service and in turn by Company C of the Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, three years' service, of which Thomas Acton was also captain. Captain Acton sent the flag, tattered and torn, home to his wife, Missouri Lewis Acton, in a chest, a short time before he was killed on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1863, in the battle of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. At the death of his widow. the flag came into the pos- session of her sister, Minerva Lewis Acton, who gave it in turn to her son, Elias Acton. He in turn placed it in the charge of Capt. John Locke, of London, who presented it, to be preserved, to the Woman's Relief Corps, which still has it in its possession and it hangs, carefully enclosed in a wooden case with a glass cover, in the hall of the Grand Army of the Republic, in London.
MILITARY COMMITTEE FOR MADISON COUNTY.
At once steps were taken for the raising of funds for the use of the volunteers and the care of their dependent ones. Peter Buffenburgh subscribed one thousand dollars toward the volunteer fund. In May, 1863. Col. Peter W. Taylor deeded sixteen hundred acres of Missouri land to H. W. Smith, B. F. Clark, Jacob Peethey, M. Lemen and James Kinney, to be held in trust for the benefit of disabled soldiers from Madison county.
The ladies of the county did not neglect to do their part and the Ladies' Hospital Relief Society of Madison County was soon organized and its efforts were unceasing during the continuance of the war. The ladies were constantly sending to the hospitals of Ohio regiments boxes of fruit and other delicacies, with large supplies of woolen blankets, socks, underwear, sheets, pillow cases, books and papers, magazines,-in fact, everything to contribute to the comfort and happiness of the soldiers: while also supply- ing their loved ones at home with the necessaries of life.
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