USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 85
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
Judges-Jesse Chandler, Benjamin Sloan, and Isaac Van Horne.
Overseers of the Poor-John Leavens and Ja- cob Dunn.
Supervisors of Roads-Asher Hart, Isaac Van Horne, E. Buckingham, William Organ, John Matthews, and Henry Lear.
Constable-John Miser.
Treasurer-Dr. Increase Matthews.
No account of the election of a Justice of the Peace has been found, but March 11, 1809, the following entry in the township record appears :
" The Trustees met agreeably to adjournment, and settled the account of Levi Whipple on his docket, as per fines assessed since last settle- ment."
July 1, 1809, "William H. Moore, Esq., pro- duced his commission as a Justice of the Peace, to Levi Whipple, Town Clerk, and was qualified to that office by Abel Lewis, Clerk of Muskin- gum County, June 20, 1809."
John Springer was Justice of the Peace soon after this time, but no date is found.
BOUNDARY OF TOWNSHIP.
The original boundary of the township was as follows : Beginning at the mouth of the Licking river, on the south side ; thence, up said river, to a point where it intersects the "base or military line ;" thence, west, along said line, six miles from the place of beginning (bounded on the north by Falls township and a small portion of Hopewell township) ; thence, south, three and three-quarter miles (bounded on the west by Hopewell and a small portion of Newton town- ship) ; thence, east, six miles, south one-half mile, and east one mile, to the Muskingum river (being bounded on the south by Newton and a small portion of Brush Creek township) ; thence, up the Muskingum river, to the place of begin- ning.
The surface of this township is generally roll- ing, with beautiful and fertile valleys along the streams. The soil of the valleys is denominated a sandy loam, with a clay subsoil, in general, and well adapted to produce wheat, corn, oats, rye, clover, timothy and other grasses, and veg- etables. The slopes and uplands are well adapt- ed to horticulture.
The native trees are white oak, black oak, chestnut, hickory, ash, beech, black walnut, and sugar maple.
The topographical features, now so much ad- mired, had a special attraction in an early day, also, for the red man, who found the gently slo- ping hills and tortuous valleys peculiarly fitted for the haunts of game, and possessed of a weird
charm, for their nomadic habits and fancies. And the pioneer white man was lured hither by the abundance of game, of which the elk was king of the forest, and, on that account, the French traders at Detroit named this region "The Kingdom of the Moose," which, among the hunters, was transposed into Moose-king- dom, and thence, corrupted into Muskingum- vide Loskiel. This is corroborated to this day, by the existence of such succulent grasses and plants as the moose-deer is known to be partic- ularly fond of; and also, in conjunction, the abundance of small streams of pure water, mak- ing it a Paradise for such animals.
Among the noted water courses, are Thomp- son's run and its tributaries, permeating the northwest portion, and passing out about the center of the south boundary, into Newton town- ship, and subsequently emptying into Jonathan's creek-so called, because Jonathan Zane. being lost, camped on that stream. near its mouth. and which his friends named "Jonathan's creek," to commemorate the event.
Chapman's run, which rises near the center of the township, runs in a northerly direction, and empties into the Licking river.
Jonathan's creek, the largest stream in the township, passes across the southeast corner, and empties into the Muskingum river.
Shawnee run rises in the western portion of section fourteen, runs three miles in a southeast- erly direction, and empties into Jonathan's creek.
Early in the spring of 1799. David Stokely came up the Muskingum river, and, resolving to make his home on the Congress land that em- braced the present site of Putnam. built his cab- in near the site of the Putnam foundry, and pre- pared a small field. in which he planted and cultivated corn. When the corn was "laid by." he returned to his late residence. and on the third of July, of that year, married Miss Abigail Hurlbut. and. on the sixth day, introduced his bride to her new domicile, they having made the trip through the trackless forest in three days -- she on horseback, with her trousseau, and he on foot. Among her first duties in putting her house in order, was grubbing the small stumps from the earth floor, that it might become smooth by use. This being completed, two stakes were driven into the ground. near the wall. in a corner, and a few cross sticks added, on which rushes were laid, and the primitive bed was made ; and doubtless was a source of comfort, where, 'mid the visions of "love's young dreams," they wooed the goddess of happiness, with "none to molest or make them afraid."
Mr. Stokely continued to occupy the premises with his wife, until the lands were sold, when, being unable to purchase so large a tract, it was bought by Dr. Increase Mathews, who associated with him his cousin, as elsewhere related. These gentlemen permitted him to remain on the land three years longer, as a compensation for the clearing he had done. Much of the town site was cleared by Stokely and George Mathews. In 1805, Mr. Stokely removed to a place south of
Residence of SAMUEL HEWITT, Perry Township.
-
385
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
Jonathan's creek, and there remained until his death, a period of more than forty years.
According to Rev. Addison Kingsbury's nar- rative, the following persons came into the town- ship soon after the town of Springfield was laid out :
Adam France, in 1802, settled just outside the village.
John Springer, from West Virginia, in 1806, settled on section sixteen, about four miles west of Zanesville.
Dr. J. Rodman, William Hibbs, John Fogles, and Cornelius Kirk, between 1806 and 1810, set- tled near together. Jacob Reese settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Solo- mon Reese. In 1807, he built a hewed log house-quite a fine home for those days-and in 1815, erected a frame barn, the first in the town- ship. Jacob Reese is remembered as a consist- ent Christian. He died in 1863, aged eighty- seven years.
CHRONOLOGICAL.
The details of many events that follow, being, unfortunately, very brief, their chronological or- der, rather than a classified arrangement, will be followed.
THE FIRST GRIST MILL.
The first grist mill was inaugurated in the sum- mer of 1799, by John and George Mathews, and situated on a platform supported by two boats, so adjusted as to support a wheel between them, and moored where the water ran swiftest, and was thus furnished with water power for grind- ing. It was generally anchored a short distance above what was, and is, the west end of Putnam bridge. "Once upon a time," when the river was high, the waters captured this mill and took it down the stream as far as Taylorsville, but it was afterwards brought back, and tradition fur- ther says, rendered efficient service.
THE FIRST SAW MILL.
The Spring Hill Company, December Ist, 1801, by contract with John Sharp, built a saw mill, with one upright saw, which was run by the long paddle wheel. A peculiarity of the contract, said to be customary in " ve olden time," was that the builder was to be furnished with three gills of whiskey each day, until the work was finished.
Levi Whipple built a saw mill in 1802, and in 1804, built a flour mill, just above the site now occupied by the woolen mill. These mills stood near together, and were destroyed when the bridge burned in 1845. Mr. Whipple was a public spirited, christian gentleman ; his name is associated with the public enterprises and acts of benevolence of his time.
Beaumont & Hollingsworth rebuilt the flour mnill just alluded to, and did a large business at home, besides shipping much flour.
The one known as the Levi Whipple Flour Mill, in Putnam, was built by the Spring Hill Company, in 1803. By the division of property in 1806, it passed into the hands of Levi Whip-
ple. It was an undershot water wheel power, one stone, at first. This being before the Mus- kingum Improvement, Mr. Whipple was obliged to build a wing dam, and keep it in repair ; and according to the rules governing in such matters. he was not allowed to build it so high that it would hold the water back and interfere with other mills, yet to get the proper amount of water, this was often done, and as often by the owners of the mills above. " The Jackson" and " Granger Mills," would send men over and punch holes in his dam and let the water out. Mr. Whipple operated this mill until about 1820. when he sold it to Joseph R. Thomas, who. about 1843, sold it to Beaumont & Hollings- worth, and it was burned in May, 1845.
The mills of to-day have so little in common with those of which we have just spoken, that the miller of our time may well be considered a scientist of the highest order, as compared with such men as John and George Mathews, with their floating mill of 1799. The miller of to-day must not only be a machinist, comprehending the specific purposes of machinery. but with the skill of the manufacturer, he must be able to re- pair any defect or loss by wear, that may occur. and keep the mill in running order: which ar- gues a high state of skill. as perhaps no class of machinery has undergone more changes than those used in milling, certainly within the last fifty years. This requirment involves a prac- tical application of chemistry, too, that per sc necessitates a clear comprehension of the prin- ciples involved, in order to secure success : and again, the form and composition of a single grain of wheat is also a matter of importance. that a proper discrimination may be had. to sep- arate the different qualities, and convert them in- to the flour they are adapted to making. Some parts of the wheat, also, are only fit for feed. while others yield the highest grade of flour. That these qualifications were attained by the inventor of the present improved machinery. of course, will not be questioned ; and it is perhaps owing to the mastery of the principles by the inventor. that the necessity of at least as high a qualifica- tion on the part of the miller exists. For ex- ample: Before the introduction of the " new process of making flour, it was thought only necessary to clean the wheat reasonably well. grind it fine, and also make as few middlings as possible : separate the flour, middlings and bran. by bolting, re-grind the middlings, together with all the impurities, such as fine bran, germ of the wheat, dust and fuzz from the crease in the wheat grain and its fuzz ends, the whole ground up. making a low grade of flour. and. consequently . the whole life was killed by too close grinding. and. of course, resulting in a flour that almost invariably made heavy bread. The exceeding fine grinding destroyed the cells in the wheat. and thus destroyed the rising quality. The new process demonstrates that the best flour is included in the middlings, which, in the old way. was made into the lowest grade, because mived with the impurities, as described above. To
52
386
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
purify the middlings, therefore, challenged in- ventive talent of the highest order, since the ma- chine must produce a mechanical and chemical result. This demand has been met by a multi- tude of devices, so that the miller finds himself supplied with a copious literature, setting forth their various advantages. Among these, the blast or suction of wind from a revolving fan, and the size of mesh in the bolting cloth, which separates the fine particles of bran, fluff and other impurities from the middlings, leaving them sharp, resembling pure white sand, is in use. From the middlings thus purified, the flour so much prized by all who have used what is known as patent flour is made ; grinding it with buhrs, and bolting through fine cloth. The use of the purifier is a change for the better, also, by allow- ing the miller to grind higher, as he terms it, i. e., with the stones at a greater distance apart, with- out fear of losing in yield, and increasing the proportion of low grade flour; and thus, too, avoiding the danger of getting just a little too close in grinding, which, as we have seen, de- stroys the cells in the wheat, rendering it unfit for bread. It is found that the higher the grind- ing, the larger the quantum of middlings, of which the highest grade of patent flour is made, and the flour from the first bolting (wheat-flour, or clear flour) is more granular, whiter and bet- ter. But the high grinding produces a heavy bran, leaving too large a quantity of flour ad- hering to the bran, and hence the necessity of a machine to.get it off. Some grind the bran over on buhrs, and others use machines for knocking or threshing it off ; but the most successful ma- chine at present, seems to be the sharp corru- gated roller ; so arranged, that one roller goes faster than the other, and accomplishes the de- sired result. The brush-scourer, for cleaning wheat, is a superior device, in general use, but this article does not admit of giving the minutia of the numerous machines, as it is not intended to be cyclopedic.
The wheat heater, used to warm the wheat in cold weather, to a temperature known to facili- tate grinding, is used to advantage, as manifestly frozen wheat would not yield good results. The speed of running, too, is important ; formerly it was thought necessary to run four foot stones, from one hundred and eighty to two hundred and ten revolutions per minute, and grind from twelve to eighteen bushels of wheat per hour ; now the mills that have the best repu- tation only run from one" hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty-five revolutions per minute, and grind from four to six bushels per hour, to the run of stone ; thus avoiding undue heating of the chops, and leaving the flour, when bolted, free from injury by overheating, and re- taining all the life peculiar to healthy, perfect grain, and therefore affording the highest amount of healthy bread.
CROOKS' TAVERN.
In 1804, Andrew Crooks opened a wagon road, along the " Zane Trace," from Zanesville, about
nine miles, to where it crosses Jonathan's Creek, in Newton township, and opened a public house, that for many years was known as "Crooks' Tavern."
LINE OF STAGES.
In 1821, William Beard put a line of stages on this road (opened by Crooks) : the first drivers were William Griffy, and Samuel Murdock. They made connection with the stages, on the road, from Wheeling to Chillicothe, a route that was in operation in 1817. by John S. Dugan.
FLOURING MILL ON JONATHAN'S CREEK.
In 1806, John Mathews built a large flouring mill, on Jonathan's Creek, about half a mile from where it empties into the Muskingum river. And about the same time he erected a saw mill, near by.
DISTILLERY.
In 1810, John Mathews erected a distillery, also, near by. He was assisted in the manufac- ture of whiskey by Ira Belknap. Mr. Mathews erected quite a number of dwellings. for the men in his employ ; they were located near the mill, and the settlement was soon after known as " Moxahala."
The first brick kiln, as near as can be ascer- tained, was located. on the north side of the Cooper Mill Road, near the present Fair Grounds, and was inaugurated by William Sim- mons, in 1807.
ABORIGINES.
In 1812, a number of Shawnee Indians camped near a large spring, which the pioneers called " Shawnee," from this circumstance. When these red men of the forest first appeared in this locality, the pale faces were suspicious, and fearful, lest their visit might mean a threat- ening danger ; but, as they manifested a friendly spirit, and offered for sale. or exchange, furs, moccasins, and trinkets, they were soon only re- garded with curiosity : many visiting their camp to gratify their desire to know what manner of people they were. and how they lived. £ long they tarried, we are not informed. How
They were remnants of a people, Sweeping westward, wild and woeful, Like the cloud-rack of a tempest, Like the withered leaves in autumn; They are gone-'tis hoped they're blest, With rest among their people, With the joys they e'er were hopeful As they prized their ancestral token.
M'KENDREE M. E. CHURCH.
McKendree M. E. Church is situated about four miles from the city, in a southwest direction. The society was organized about the year 1815. The first members were John Springer, and wife, Cornelius Springer, Philip Russell, and wife, Joseph Rodman, and family, John Johnson, Mrs. William Bisant, Widow Smith, Franklin Bisant, and wife, David Oliver, and wife.
The first class leaders were John Springer,
387
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
Joseph Rodman, David Oliver, and J. Huff.
The first preachers, who served in the order following, were Rev. J. B. Finley, John Goshen. The local preacher was David Olive.
The subsequent members were : Thomas Wilber, and family, Ichabod Wilber, and family, Richard Reed, and family, Joseph Butler, and family, Samuel Simmons, and family, Joshua Huff, and wife; the following were members of the congregation : Richard Dickinson, and family, James Williams, and family, Robert Canon, and family.
Their first meeting house was built of logs, and also served for a school house.
Their present brick church was built in 1842, and is about sixty by forty feet.
The society has a cemetery, containing about one acre of ground, near the church. The first person buried there was a Mr. Graham, in 1828.
FINE WOOLED SHEEP.
Dr. Increase Mathews was the first, in this township, to engage in growing fine wooled sheep. This was about 1820. He obtained his start, in this stock, from Vermont, and was very successful, although he did not continue in the business many years. In 1843, he, in company with William Baldwin, of Putnam, employed Sanford Howard, to go to Massachusetts, and purchase short horned Durham cattle. male and female, also Herefords.
Mrs. Merriam, relict of Cyrus Merriam, and grand daughter of Gen'l. Rufus Putnam, nar- rates that her husband came to Springfield, when about twenty-one years old, and engaged in the mercantile business. He subsequently bought a fruit farm, about two miles southwest of town, about 1826, and resided there at the time of his death, in November 1873. In 1828, he purchased a flock of sheep, from Dr. Mathews, and for a few years gave attention to wool growing.
DISTILLERY.
In 1820, Jacob Reese built a distillery, on his own farm, where he lived.
The first farm implements were home made, or nearly so. Plows had wooden mould boards ; harrow teeth were made of wood ; hay forks of the same, constituted by splitting the end of a piece of wood, adapted for a handle, and thus making two prongs which were smoothed and pointed. The first improvement in hay forks was made by blacksmiths, and was a notable event. This improvement, and the patent, or cast iron mould-board for plows, was brought into use in 1825. Harrow teeth were made of iron somewhat earlier, perhaps as early as 1810.
THE SPRINGFIELD CHAPEL.
A society of Methodist Protestants was organ- ized in 1827, and, before building a place of wor- ship, held meetings in a log house that had been used by Solomon Wylie as a dwelling. They first built on a piece of ground owned by Ligget Gray, and leased by Solomon Wylie, whose son.
Abraham, dubbed the meeting house "Solomon's Temple," because his father was instrmental in organizing the society, and many of the old set- tlers-and younger ones, too, for that matter- continue to call it "The Temple," or "Solomon's Temple." This edifice was built about the year 1835, and was a frame building, thirty by forty feet.
About the year 1855, the present church, also a frame building, forty by sixty feet, was erected.
The first members were : Joseph Rodman and wife, Ligget Gray and wife, Samuel Johnson and wife, John Johnson and wife, John Springer and wife.
The first preachers were : William Ivans and Cornelius Springer.
A Sabbath School was organized by this soci- ety, in 1838. At that time there were twenty-five scholars : at this time the average attendance is ninety. The present Superintendent is William Hibbs. The number of church members is about one hundred. Regular services and preaching every two weeks.
HIGHWAYS -- PIKES.
The National road, from Washington City, D. C., to St. Louis, Missouri, was built across the northeast corner of Springfield township, in 1828. Neil, Moore & Co., "put a line of stages" on this part of the road in 1831. William Lloyd was the first driver.
The Zanesville and Maysville pike was built through the southeastern part of the township in 1838-9.
PATASKALA MILLS.
In the year 1830, Isaac. Dillon erected a large mill'in the northeastern part of the township, at the mouth of the Licking river, and called it the Pataskala Mill. It contained one pair of buhrs, and the necessary additional machinery for the manufacture of wheat and buckwheat flour and corn meal. The mill has received important ad- ditions since that date, and does a large business.
ASSOCIATION FOR THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN HORSES.
February 23d, 1833, Jacob Reese, Edward Rex. Anthony Smith, Samuel Seamans, and John Fo- gle formed a society, under the name of the " Springfield Association for the Recovery of Stolen Horses, and the Detection of the Thief or Thieves." They evidently regarded this as an important matter, which should be governed by fixed rules and regulations, for they adopted a constitution, with rules and regulations, for their government, in which the duties of the members and officers were specifically defined, and all with the evident intention of being not only law abiding, but, under the construction of the rights. privileges and duties of American citizenship. they were to enforce the laws insuring the safety of their property and the suppression of crime.
The constitution and by-laws were signed by Jacob Rees, President : Edward Rex. Treasurer ; Anthony Smith, Samuel Seamans, and John Fogle.
X
388
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
No other names appear as members, although it is supposed there were many.
Section 3 of the constitution provides : "Every member who shall go in pursuit of stolen horses, shall keep a regular account of all his routes and expenses, which accounts he shall hand to the Treasurer within ten days after his return."
Section 4 says : " Any member being notified to go in pursuit of stolen horses, if he has not suf- ficient money by him, may borrow any amount up to five dollars upon the credit of this company, and all such loans the society bind themselves to pay. and if, after paying his expenses, he shall have a balance left, he shall hand it over to the Treasurer. with his accounts, for settlement, and if, upon examination of the accounts, there shall still be a balance in favor of the company, he shall pay the same upon being demanded by the Treasurer, and if he shall refuse or neglect to pay the same. the Treasurer shall collect it by law, in the same manner as debts under five dollars are collected."
"The Western Recorder" was the only paper ever published in Springfield township. This paper was published by Rev. Cornelius Spring- er, at his home -.. Meadow Farm"-about six miles west of the city of Zanesville, July 18th, 1833. In 1845, it passed into the hands of A. HI. Bassett, who removed it to Putnam, and con- tinued to publish it until 1855, when it was trans- ferred to the Methodist Protestant Church, it being devoted to expounding the doctrines and usages of that church. Mr. Bassett received for the establishment the sum of $1,250.
In September. 1855, the establishment was re- moved to Springfield. Clark county, Ohio. The paper. from this time, was called the "Western Methodist Protestant." Mr. Bassett continued to edit and publish the paper until November, 1860. when, by act of the Convention of the church. held at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the editorial and business departments of the paper were put into separate hands, and Dr. George Brown was elected editor and A. H. Bassett made the publishing agent.
In November. 1862. Dr. Brown was succeed- ed in the editorial department, by Dennis B. Dorsey. Jr., who, in October, 1864, resigned, and was succeeded by John Scott. At the Gen- eral conference, held at Alleghany, Pennsylva- nia, in 1866. a union of the Methodist Protestant Church. and the Wesleyans was effected, under the name of the .Methodist Church," and the name of the paper was changed to that of " Methodist Recorder." At a meeting of the Board of Publication, at Springfield, in May, 1870, Mr. Scott tendered his resignation, to take effect September Ist. 1870, and Alexander Clark was elected to succeed him.
At a session of the General Conference, held at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May, 1871, it was decided to transfer the paper and "the book concern" to that place. The last issue of the ·· Methodist Recorder." at Springfield, was Oc- tober 25th. 1871. The first issue at Pittsburgh.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.