History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794, Part 16

Author: Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A., Columbus, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [Columbus, O.] : F.J. Everhart & Co.
Number of Pages: 600

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 16

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ALVAH BUCKINGHAM.

FROM a work entitled "The Buckingham Family, or the Descendants of Thomas Buckingham," one of the first settlers of Milford, Connecticut, (compiled at the request of William A. Buckingham, of Nor- wich, Connecticut, by Rev. F. W. Chapman, A.M., author of "The Chapman Family," etc., etc., etc. Hartford, Connecticut : Press of Case, Lockwood & Brainard, 1872) the following compilation is derived:

Alvah Buckingham, son of Ebenezer and Esther (Bradley) Buckingham, was born at Ballston Springs, New York, March 20, 1791. In 1794 his parents removed to Cooperstown, New York. In 1797 his elder brothers, Stephen and Ebenezer, left home to see the wild west of the Alleghany Moun- tains and Ohio river. In the fall of 1799 they re- turned with such glowing accounts of this new land that their parents, with their numerous children, except two married daughters, left Coop- erstown for the western wilderness. They located at first at a point between the Whitewoman and Tuscarawas, two streams forming the Muskingum river, near their confluence. This was almost the first settlement made in that region, and was about two miles above the present town of Coshocton. The nearest white settlement was Zanesville, some thirty miles south, on the Muskingum river.

While the elder members of the family traded with the Indians for furs, robes, etc., the younger ones joined in their sports and learned their strange language. And this was never entirely forgotten, as fifty years later counting in the Indian tongue was a source of great entertainment to a de- lighted circle of little auditors. Their amusements were "throwing the tomahawk," "shooting with bow and arrow," " tossing up chips for old Indians to fire at," (in which they were very expert), and other athletic sports. In the spring of 1802, find- ing this location unhealthy, the family removed to Carthage township, in the southeastern part of Athens county, Ohio, on the Hock Hocking river. Here the subject of this article, Alvah Buckingham, had the inestimable privilege of attending school; though it was four miles distant from his home to the school house, he walked thereto daily. Out of school he assisted on the farm or indulged in hunt- ing. This latter was his favorite passtime, as at that early date game was plenty. The woods were infested with bear, deer, panther, raccoon, opossum, and wild turkey. Near the farm was quite a cele- brated deer lick, where, on moonlight nights, he was accustomed to station his watch. and many a victim rewarded his unerring rifle. It was in one of these lonely watches that his quickness of thought and rapidity of action saved his life, and brought down a huge panther, poised just above him, and ready for the spring.

At the age of seventeen he met with a severe ac- cident. Hunting in the woods one day, his horse became frightened, reared and fell back on his rider. Stunned by the fall, he yet recovered to find his right leg broken both above and below the knee, himself distant from the nearest house, which was his own home, over three miles away, and no aid for his rescue but his own mother wit. With a courageous spirit, and by dint of crawling on his two hands and one knee, he reached the river, which, fortunately, was low enough to enable him to cross, holding his mouth just above the water, and thus reached home just as his sinking strength gave way. The limb was splintered as best could be in a country home, but a weary years' confine- ment was the result, and, ever after, a slight lame- ness.

In 1804, the older brother, Ebenezer Bucking- ham, moved to Putnam, opposite Zanesville, Ohio, and, to assist him in business, Alvah followed in 1810, leaving his parents still at the Hocking farm. In 1813, Stephen, an older brother, died, and Alvah was called upon to take charge of his business, which he did for two years In April, 1816, Solo- mon Sturges and himself, having married sisters- the Misses Hale, of Glastonbury, Connecticut- formed a mercantile partnership, one fourth each, with their older brother, Ebenezer Buckingham, under the firm name of E. Buckingham & Co., a firm widely known in their then pioneer life. Ebenezer married Eunice Hale, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, and, returning to the West, brought the two sisters-in-law, Anna and Lucy Hale, the whole party crossing the Alleghany Mountains on horseback, as at that time there were no roads for carriages or wagons. In 1818 Anna Hale returned to her Eastern home, but, as it proved, only for a time. As leader in the church choir, she sat in her accustomed place on the last Sunday of September, 1819, in the old church at Glastonbury. Glancing below, her eyes met the well known figure of her Western friend. An interview, a hurried proposal, and a hurried marriage on the following Sabbath evening, left our young couple free to start on their homeward westward route, and on horseback again, as in her previous trip, the wife of Alvah Bucking- ham was escorted to her pioneer home. Returning to Putnam, they purchased, on the banks of the Muskingum river, a very modest homestead of one room; and there, in 1820, set up their household goods. In 1821, they built a two story brick house, to which they subsequently added, in 1834, a more commodious addition. This was the old homestead in which all their children were born, and is now occupied by their youngest son, James Bucking- ham.

In October, 1824, Ebenezer Buckingham, Sr., the father of Alvah, died, at the old farm house in Carthage, Athens county, and his wife, Esther, then removed to the home of her son, Ebenezer, Jr., in Putnam, where she died June 25th, 1827. In August, 1832, the firm of E. Buckingham, Jr., & Co., was dissolved by the sudden and painful death of Ebenezer Buckingham, and the business was continued under the new firm name of "A. Buck- ingham & Co.," and, the following year, another brother, Milton, was induced to give up the old farm at Carthage and join the firm, taking one-half of Alvah's share; while at the same time Solomon Sturges, Alvah's partner, persuaded his brother, Hezekiah, to remove from Fairfield, Connecticut, and share in his share.

At this time there was a great need felt of good schools, and in 1835, a charter for a seminary was recorded, to be called the Putnam Classical Insti- tute, to be located in Putnam. Mrs. Eunice Hale Buckingham, wife of Ebenezer, Alvah Bucking- ham, Solomon Sturges, Julius C. Guthrie, and Austin A. Guthrie, furnished the funds, and the seminary was established, which, through all its vicissitudes of time, still continues worthy of pat- ronage.

It 1843, Milton Buckingham removed to Spring- field, Ohio, and Alvah could thus admit his oldest son, Benjamin, to a partnership. In 1845, the firm name of A. Buckingham & Co. was dissolved, and a new firm name (Buckingham & Sturges) estab- lished, composed of Benjamin H. Buckingham and William Sturges, the two oldest sons of the two former partners. In 1850, R. P. Burlingame, a friend, was sent to Chicago, Illinois, to open up a lumber trade there, the funds being furnished by Alvah Buckingham. The next year the two built the first grain elevator in the city of Chicago. It was built of wood, holding some 75,000 bushels of grain-at that time a great wonder. It was called the Fulton Elevator. In 1851, Alvah Buckingham established branch houses in New York City and Toledo, Ohio, for his two oldest sons, Benjamin and Philo, buying the Pendleton Elevator, the first one built in Toledo. They soon built a second elevator, and here, in the press and excitement of a too ex- tended business, Philo, the second son, lost his health and died quite suddenly, April 6th, 1853, in the homestead at Putnam.

In 1854, Alvah Buckingham sold a third interest in his Chicago Fulton Elevator to his partner, Solomon Sturges, and shortly after they concluded a contract with the Illinois Central Railroad to do all their grain warehousing business for ten years. In 1856, they built and opened the two large ware- houses called "A" and "B," in the city of Chicago, holding some 800,000 bushels of grain, the marvels of the day. After this date of 1855, Alvah Buck- ingham spent most of his time in Chicago, and

three years later moved his family there. His oldest son, Benjamin, removed to Chicago also, but died in 1864, at Madison, New Jersey, while on a visit to his father-in-law, Mr. John S. Potwin. Benjamin Buckingham was singularly sincere and just in his dealings with man ; of great Christian purity and behavior, a man of unblemished char- acter and fine financial knowledge and ability. Philo, the second son, many will recall with mel- ancholy pleasure. He was a large hearted, gen- erous man ; had a full faith, too great, in human nature ; generous to a fault; fond of out-door life, agriculture and stock raising being his special de- light. The surviving brother, James, seems to have combined the qualities of both his brothers in business and occupation.

In April, 1865, Mr. Alvah Buckingham removed to New York City, where, with his daughters, he resided at No. 13 East Twelfth street, until his death. His daughter, Julia A., had married the Hon. Samuel S. Cox, of Ohio, and the other daughter, Elizabeth, had married John A. Harden- bargh, of New York. In the spring of 1866, hav- ing occasion to locate some lands in the West, Alvah Buckingham took his youngest son, James, as a companion, and traveled through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas; and though much of this was accomplished in a spring wagon, over rough roads, and at the age of seventy-five, it was without any apparent fatigue.

In the spring of 1867, he made a second pilgrim- age to the West, this time traveling through Iowa and Nebraska, and passing over the line of the Pacific Railroad as far as it was then finished. He was ambitious to be on the first train through to the Pacific Ocean; but this anticipation was not to be realized.

The summer of 1867 was spent with his family and two daughters, Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Hardenbargh, at Saratoga, ending in a most pleasurable trip to the White Mountains. Returning to his New York home, his wife was taken sick with pneumonia, and died September 24th, 1867, and her remains were taken to their first home, Putnam, Ohio. In a week Mr. Buckingham was stricken down, and eleven days after his remains reposed by the side of his wife, in Woodlawn Cemetery, Putnam, Ohio. He died October 4th, 1867.

Mr. Alvah Buckingham was distinguished as a conscientious man, courteous, just, business-like, and although economic, was a speculative merchant. He had also a rare genius for building bridges, elevators, and houses. He was an affectionate husband and indulgent father. He married Anna Hale, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, October 3d, 1819, who died September 24th, 1867, at No. 13 East Twelfth strect, New York. Their children were Benjamin Halc, Philo, Elizabeth, Julia Ann, James, and Elizabeth (the second.)

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

"Business meant business," the Dr. said, to whom the event became one of the pleasant reminiscences of his life. He associated with him Levi Whipple, who, together with General Putnam, who afterwards became a partner. They were the original proprietors of the "town of Springfield," named from the spring known as "Lovers' Fountain," which sends its silver purling stream down the rocky bank of yonder hill that now so proudly overlooks the city, and whose summit is adorned by "Putnam Park." The town was subsequently named Putnam, af- ter General Rufus Putnam. (See Rev. Addison Kingsbury's "History Resume"). In 1801 Levi Whipple built his cabin at the mouth of the Lick- ing, and about the 25th of October of that year moved his family into it. He followed survey- ing until 1804 when he engaged in the milling business. . He was the first Justice of the Peace elected in Springfield ; was subsequently Coro- ner and then acting Sheriff. During this year Robert Whipple built his cabin in Putnam, and in December, 1801, Joseph F. Monroe com- pleted a two-story log house on the site known as the southeast corner of Second and Main streets, the first two-story log house built in Zanestown. And during this year Isaac Zane built a log cabin on the site now known as 98 West Main street. This cabin was completed about Christmas and, as usual, was dedicated with a dance, "Black Mess" furnishing the music.

According to E. H. Church, Ebenezer Buck- ingham, Sen., came in 1801, or perhaps 1800. He was a bricklayer and stone mason by trade, a conscientious Christian and gentleman. He became a State Senator, was one of the first Fund Commissioners of Ohio after the adoption of the canal policy 1825, and was, in his public career, of great value to the State. He con- ducted his large business interests on the Put- nam side of the river. When the turbid waters of the Muskingum closed over Ebenezer Buck- ingham the half completed career of an honest heart ceased to beat ; a heroic pioneer's life went out ; an incorruptible legislator and unimpeach- able public officer ceased to be."

Early in the spring of 1802, came Jeffrey Price, with a young daughter. They boarded with John McIntire. Price kept a store in a log cabin on the site now known as the southeast corner of Fountain alley and Fifth street. He sold out to John Mathews, and in 1806 became postmaster at Zanestown. And about this time came James Herron, and began to make brick, the first work of the kind in Zanestown. His brother, David, a hatter, came soon after, and James associated with him in that business. About this time came Jacob Funk, a blacksmith. His shop was on the site now the northeast cor- ner of Main street and Court Alley. And in the spring of 1803 Christian Spangler, black- smith, came, and built a shop on the site now the northwest corner of Main street and Sewer alley. At the time of the formation of Mus- kingum county he was elected a member of the

Board of County Commissioners. He was sub- sequently a Justice of the Peace, and then Coun- ty Treasurer.

In 1804 came Spencer Lehew, Peter Mills, Paul Hahn, and - Creighton. Lehew built his cabin where Colonel Goddard's office now is. Mills built his cabin, and kept a general store, a little west of the market-house. Hahn built a one and a half story double cabin on the site now the northwest corner of Fourth and Canal streets ; it was used as a place for amusements.

General Lewis Cass located in Zanestown in 1804, and was soon after elected to the Legisla- ture, where he distinguished himself by his ef- forts to arrest the progress of the celebrated ex- pedition of Aaron Burr. He was appointed Marshal of Ohio, by President Jackson, in 1807, and afterwards served as Prosecuting Attorney of Muskingum county. In order to repel Indian aggressions he entered the Army, and in 1812 raised the Third Ohio Regiment, which he com- manded. He subsequently was made a Major General, and in 1813 became Governor of the territory of Michigan, and continued in that posi- tion until called to the War Department by Gen- eral Jackson, in 1831. From 1836 to 1842 he was Minister to France, and afterward was twice elected to the United States Senate, and subse- quently was Secretary of State of the United States.

In 1804 Samuel Thompson kept grocery on the southeast corner of Main and Fifth streets, and continued the business a number of years.

Samuel Goff, wife, and three children, came in 1805, from Philadelphia, and built his cabin. a hewed, double log house, where Jones & Ab- bott's foundry is. He was a stonemason, and a decided acquisition to the builders. The same year Samuel Frazey came to Zanestown. He was the first to engage in harness making. He built the first brick house, which was his dwell- ing and shop.

In 1804 came also Elijah Ross and Peter Mills. Mr. Ross prospected through the Muskingum and Miami Valleys, and returned to Zanesville .- He was a gunsmith, and the first in this section to engage in the business. His dwelling and shop was built on what is now the northeast cor- ner of Locust Alley and Second street. In 1812 he was drafted into the United States military service, and detailed to remain at home and re- pair guns and accoutrements for soldiers. In 1816 he sold his property and removed to West Zanesville, where he carried on the business of a gunsmith until 1823, when he returned to the east side of the river, and lived for some years on South Sixth street, and subsequently on Main, above Seventh. He bored his own gun barrels, and made the first blowpipes for blowing glass, and sometimes helped the glass-blowers, being "a handy man at anything." George Hahn, Grant Scott. Neil Wilkins, and "Lem" Owens. were among the Zanesville boys who served ap- prenticeship with him. Lem Owens was the noted "Colonel Pluck" of the Fantasticals, else- where described.

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

Mr. Ross was fond of fox hunting, and seemed never happier than when following his hounds over the Muskingum hills. He was of a genial nature, and a total abstainer from intoxicants. He was the father of twelve children : "Betsy," Theodore, "A. C.," Ann, Margaret, George, James, Ruth, Jane, Thomas, Harriet, and Elvira.

Mr. Ross was of Scotch descent. He married Mary (commonly called "Polly") Coffman. They came from Washington, Pa. Elijah Ross died November 30, 1864, in the 79th year of his age, universally respected for his industry and honesty.

James Culbertson arrived in the spring of 1805. Being a hatter, he pursued that calling. His was the second hat shop in the now promising town. His place of business was where the southwest corner of Fifth and Market streets now is. There he continued until he died, Septem- ber 3, 1836, in the 57th year of his age, In this year also came Noyce Stone, a carpenter. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff and Jailer in 1816 ; also, Samuel Goff and wife, from England. Mrs. Goff, having been well educated in Eng- land, taught school. They had three children : Thomas, William, and Betsy.

Among the more prominent settlers in 1805 were: Daniel Stilwell, who, with his wife and five children, came from Bucks county, Pa. His daughter Anna married John C. Stogden, March 31, 1811 ; his son John married Anna M. Adams, September 26, 1844 ; his other daughter became a Mrs. - - Smith. Daniel Stilwell and a granddaughter were drowned in attempt- ing to cross the river in a buggy in 1846; their bodies were not recovered for several days.

Isaac Van Horne, Senr., came in company with his unele Gen. Isaac Van Horne, from Bucks county, Pa. Mr. Van Horne was a car- penter. In 1810 he built a two story frame house on what is the northeast corner of Potter alley and Main street. July 11, 1811, he mar- ried Patience Hanson. He died September 12, 1824, leaving five daughters and one son.

William Craig, a carpenter, came the same year : purchased a lot at the crossing of Fourth and Market streets, and there built a hewed log house. In 1806 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and in 1814 was elected Mayor of the town. He was a candidate for Governor of Ohio in 1814, and, though defeated, received the appellation of " Governor " Craig. In 1817 the County Commissioners apppointed him collector of taxes. Governor Craig gave bond in the sum of $8,354.08 ; his sureties were James Mc- Guire. James Hampson, James Herron and Jacob Linder. He collected the taxes and ran away with the money. The Commissioners brought suit against his bondsmen for something over two thousand dollars. Jas. McGuire was compelled to sell nearly all his property, making him almost a bankrupt. James Linder had to sell his farm and stock ; he was entirely broken up. Hampson and Herron paid their quota without much inconvenience. The Governor left his wife behind when he departed, but she

followed him ; they settled in St. Louis, Missouri.

During this year also came Elijah Hart, hav- ing a letter of introduction from his old friend Jeremiah Morrow to his friend Wyllys Silliman, Register of the Land Office at Jamestown, re- questing his aid in selecting a farm in the vicin- ity. Mr. Silliman gave him a letter to Joseph Vernon, who owned a large and valuable tract of land in Washington township, afterwards owned by Moses Robertson. Mr. Hart selected the farm to the northeast of this tract, and in November, 1806, returned with wife and children, four sons and five daughters. Arriving in Jamestown, he rented a cabin near the foot of Main street, opposite Daniel Convers, from Robert Spear. Mr. Hart died March 17, 1807.

Gen. Isaac Van Horne (whose ancestors were from Holland), came from Bucks county, Pa. In 1806 he purchased a lot where the Zane House stands, and upon it built a two story frame house which was used as a hotel. In 1807 he erected another frame house on the northwest corner of Main and Fourth streets, which was known for many years as the Wickham Hotel. Gen. Van Horne served through the Revolutionary war, was acquainted with Gen. Washington, a friend of LaFayette, and met them in Masonic convo- cations. While in Philadelphia he received a portrait of Gen. LaFayette. He died in Zanes- ville, Feb. 2, 1834, in the 82d year of his age.

.David J. Marpole, from Bucks county, Pa., a carpenter, took much interest in the welfare of his adopted home. Was a member of the town council, and for three years, closing with 1810, represented Muskingum and Guernsey counties in the Legislature. In 1819 he was cashier of the old Muskingum Bank ; appropriated money to his private use, and gave up his property to satisfy the deficit, turning it over to Ebenezer Buckingham, president of the bank; but not being sufficient, his bondsmen had to, make up the remaining sum. In 1822 Mr. Marpole built a trading boat and left for Texas with a load of produce. He never returned ; probably died there.

Col. George Jackson came from Clarksburgh, Va. ; he was elected to the Legislature in 1809-10, and 1817-18 as a State Senator. Among his children by his first wife were George W. Jack- son, William, and a daughter (who became the wife of Return J. Meigs, Ohio's Governor in 1812). His second wife was Mrs. Armisted Adams (married November 16, 1814), by whom he had one son and three daughters. Jackson bought a frame house that stood where the Ma- sonic Temple now is. He died in 1829.

Gen. Samuel Herrick, lawyer, in 1809 built a substantial frame dwelling on the southwest cor- ner of Third and Fountain alley, where he re- sided a number of years, and removed to his farm in Wayne township, but practiced his pro- fession in the city, going in and out as occasion required. In 1810 he was elected by the Demo- cratic party to the General Assembly. And the same year Governor Huntington appointed him collector of taxes for Muskingum and five other

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

counties. In 1830 he resigned a public office, gave up his profession, was baptized into the Baptist Church by Rev. George Sedgwick ; he sold his farm and removed to the city and lived on the corner of Orchard and Underwood streets, when he died, March 1, 1852, in the 74th year of his age.

William Langley, cooper, and Richard Brook- over lived with their families in a cabin in the rear of the Zane House; built a log cabin one and a half stories high on the northeast corner of Fountain alley and Second street, and fol- lowed his trade of coopering there for many x-John Alter, Sr., arrived in 1806. He was a years. Subsequently he built on the northeast' corner of Fountain alley and Fifth street. Mr. Langley had four daughters and six sons.

Richard Brookover's cabin was in Fountain alley, in the rear of the present "Courier" office. In 1806 he moved into a cabin on the site now occupied by Jones & Abbott's foundry ; thence to a log house on the site of the "Regulator " building."

James Herron, James McGuire and Wm. Stinson, influenced by . Robert Taylor, came soon after. McGuire moved from town to his farm on the Marietta road, and opened a coal bank. Stinson engaged in freighting, and died in 1838.

Joseph Beard, a calico printer, native of Eng- land, came from Marietta. His son, Wm. H., became Private Secretary to Governor Meigs ; who, when appointed Postmaster General, took young Beard with him to Washington and gave him an important position. While there he mar-

ried Harriet B. Weston. At the close of the war with Great Britian he was chosen to convey the glad tidings to Gen. Harrison, then in com- mand of the Army of the West, with headquar- ters at Chillicothe, then the capital of the State. In 1821 he had the contract for carrying . the mail between Zanesville and Lancaster. In 1833 he retired to a farm, but died in Zanesville December 8, 1870, in the 87th year of his age. Mrs. Beard died February 4, 1869. They had lived together fifty-four years.

Hugh and Isaac Hazlett: Hugh was born in Ireland, and while a mere lad came to America with his parents. After his arrival in Zanesville he engaged in merchandising, but subsequently removed to Newark, Ohio ; he returned, however, to Zanesville in 1838 and re-embarked in mer- chandising, and also engaged in the manufacture of white lead, which he conducted for a number of years. He died October 9th, 1868, aged 84 years.

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History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794, Part 16

Author: Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A., Columbus, Ohio, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: [Columbus, O.] : F.J. Everhart & Co. Number of Pages: 600

Author: Everhart, J. F; Graham, A. A., Columbus, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [Columbus, O.] : F.J. Everhart & Co.
Number of Pages: 600