USA > Ohio > Noble County > History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 47
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server, and a man of excellent mem- ory. He served as justice of the peace several years in Barnesville, and has been notary public for twenty-two years in Noble County. His daughter Mary was one of the six ladies that were commissioned notaries public in 1880, and held the office one term. The law under which she was appointed was afterward de- clared unconstitutional, but she con- tinues to do the work for her father. The family are Methodists.
Patrick Bates was born in Seneca Township, Guernsey County, in 1841. He remained at home until 1861, when he enlisted in Company D, Forty second Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served three years, being mustered out with the company. He was in engagements at Middle Creek, Chickasaw Mountain, the Vicksburg campaign, and back to Vicksburg with Banks in his Red River expedition. In 1867 he mar- ried Mary E. Hughes, of this county, and by her had two children, both deceased. Ilis wife died in 1870, and in 1881 he married Mary Morris. They have had three children, two of whom are living - Amanda and Maggie.
Ezekiel Farley was born in Greene County, Pa., in the year 1810, came to this State with his father, in the year 1815, who settled about three miles south of Summerfield. On the 17th of September, 1861, he volun- teered in Captain James H. Riggs' company, under the leadership of its gallant colonel, J. A. Garfield. He was with the regiment in its battles and marches one year, when his health
failed him and he was honorably discharged from the service on the 17th day of September, 1862. He returned home, but his health was so broken that he died in a few years. He had two noble boys that lost their lives in the service-Henry and Sylvanus.
George Gregg was born in Vir- ginia, in 1800, came to Ohio at an early date and settled in Beaver Township, then Guernsey County, and afterward married Sarah Trip- lett, of Belmont County. Of their seven children five are living, three in this county : Ellen J. (Cline), Isaac and William. Mrs. George Gregg died in 1880; Mr. Gregg in 1885. William Gregg, born in Beaver Township in 1832, came to Marion Township in 1867, and is one of the prominent farmers. Ile was married in 1855 to Isabel Walker.
An amusing incident of the early days was a trial held before 'Squire Rownd, soon after he became a jus- tice. A family settled near Summer- field whose nationality was unknown, and whose ways of getting a living did not favorably impress their honest neighbors. The family were called by the settlers "Dutch Indians," on account of their swarthy complex- ions. They were low, ignorant and thievish. Their presence became obnoxious, and the boys of Summer- field determined to drive them away. One night several of them went, and after shouting, singing and making considerable noise around the shanty of the "Dutch Indian," tore down part of his stable, leaving his old horse inside with a beam stretching
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
across from one side to the other, upon his back, so that he could neither go forward nor backward. . Lemmax bought a corner lot of half While performing the mischief the boys imitated the voices of Eli Cur- tis and his sons Asahel and Liberty (one of whom had an impediment in his speech). The Curtises, though entirely innocent, were arrested. The boys who had been engaged in the scrape went to the trial to see fair play, having determined to confess their guilt if the case went against the Curtises. The trial lasted a long while, and the broken and unintelli- gible English of the " Dutch Indians" excited much merriment. The Cur- . tises were cleared without the aid of the real culprits, but the story after- . began dealing in Baltimore, to ward leaked out. One of those who was foremost among the mischief- , quantities of tobacco. About 1853 makers has since been a presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal church in Northern Ohio. The " Dutch Indians" left the neighbor- hood soon after the trial took place.
Freedom (Whigville P. O.) is a small village about four miles from Summerfield, in a northwesterly direction. About the year 1841 An- drew Somers, an itinerant shoemaker from Massachusetts, came into the neighborhood and worked from house to house, carrying his kit of tools with him. In 1843 he purchased a lot from Samuel Large, upon which he erected a small one-story frame house, in one corner of which he had his shop. Ile was an honest Christian man and reared a respectable family - nine children.
Freedom was laid out in 1846 on
the lands of William Leeper and Samuel and Henry Large. John an acre and built a frame store and dwelling, intending to engage in the mercantile business with Charles Ilare as his partner. But, investing in tobacco, he lost all his capital (8560), and abandoned the business for two years and went to work at his trade as carpenter. Then the firm of Lemmax & Franklin began business in a small way, hauling a few groceries and notions from ; Zanesville to their store in a two- horse wagon. In the next year they began purchasing their stock in Pittsburgh. About 1850 they which place they also shipped large a company was formed among the wealthier Irish farmers of the neighborhood, and a store started. After the stock had been subscribed, the projector declined to act as man- ager and Henry Taylor was put in charge. The business was not suc- cessful and lasted only a few years. Lemmax & Franklin continued bus- iness until 1868, when they sold out to John E. Gulick, the present owner. Lemmax still continued in the buy- ing and shipping of stock for several years with success and profit.
William Rice, a blacksmith, set up a shop near the site of Freedom about 1832. Hle was an excellent work- ; man in both iron and steel, and made hoes, axes and other tools which were considered the very best. Such a reputation did he gain that he and his two sons were kept constantly
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busy in their shop. Reuben Wood, his son-in-law, came at the same time. He was a carpenter, but not finding much work in that line- log cabins being the style of dwelling most in use - he turned his attention to farm- ing with poor success. (Rice died here and the family sold out and removed.)
About 1839 Rev. William Leeper, of Irish parentage, a Methodist preacher, bought the Rice farm. IIe was regarded as eccentric in both actions and doctrine, and after a time it was seen that he was insane. Ile died in the asylum.
Many of the early settlers came to the township, attracted by the cheap lands, after living several years in Belmont County. The business of raising tobacco was introduced by Marylanders and Virginians in Bel- mont County, and was brought hither from Belmont. In early years tobacco was a most profitable crop, and was one of the industries that enabled the farmers to obtain money to pay for improvements, and also their store bills.
Barnesville was the principal trad- ing-point for the early settlers. Zanesville, Wheeling and Marietta also were occasionally visited. Zanes- ville was the principal grain market until the completion of the Central Ohio Railroad in 1853, after which wheat was shipped from Spencer's Station.
William Earhart came to Summer- field from Barnesville in 1833 to take charge of the horse-mill and carding- mill of William Philpot. In 1840 he and his brother began building a
steam grist-mill at the place since known as Steamtown. Afterward Samuel Rownd bought the interest of one of the Earharts. The mill was enlarged and machinery added for carding and spinning wool. After this Joseph Davidson and John Franklin began blacksmithing and making axes, acquiring a reputation as excellent workmen. The place began to take on the appearance of a village. Later Dr. R. P. Summers practiced medicine a few years. Ile next started a store. Steamtown flourished for a period, producing jeans and other woolen goods, but it went into a decline, and now neither mill, store nor shop remains to mark the place.
In 1870-71 an expensive but val- uable improvement was made in the township - the construction of a macadamized road from Summerfield to the county line, near the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. It was built under a law levying a tax on real estate for two miles on each side of the road. It was bitterly opposed, but finally carried through. The turnpike cost over $100,000. About thirteen miles of the road is in Noble County. This part is a toll-road. The remainder, leading to Quaker City, was built by Guernsey County.
Thaddeus Shepherd, one of the later settlers of the township, located here in 1876. He was born in Bel- mont County in 1853, and in 1876 married Nancy Elizabeth Danford; three children : Emmet E., Emma L. and Ray D. Mr. and Mrs. Shep: herd are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
SUMMERFIELD.
The town site of Summerfield is the highest land occupied by a town. in the State; and it is said that the eminence northwest of the town is as high as any land in Ohio. The location commands a view of some of the most beautiful scenery in this section, and is in all respects as pleasant and healthful a spot as can be found in Noble County.
The town was laid out in 1827, on the land of Moses Horton, and was named in honor of Rev. John Sum- merfield, a noted pioneer Methodist preacher.
Moses Horton, the founder of the town, emigrated to America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1817. After a journey of six months they arrived at the present site of Summerfield, then Seneca Township, Monroe County. Mr. Horton entered four hundred acres of land, stretching across the divide between Will's Creek and Duck Creek, built a cabin on the Duck Creek slope, and entered upon the work of a pioneer settler. There were then in the neighborhood, or arrived within a year. Dr. Joshua Craig, Nathaniel Capell, Thomas Cochran, Hugh ('Neill, William Cal- land, and Samuel and James Osborn. Joseph, father of Robert Calland, arrived from Scotland in 1819. These families comprised most of the set- tlers living near the headwaters of the two creeks.
James W. Shankland was the first. settler and the first merchant in the village. He came here on the 27th of March, 1827. IIe erected the first dwelling in the place, in connection
with his brother-in-law, Charles W. Moseley, both of whom married Rownds, and the house was occupied by the two families. Later, Moseley. who was a bricklayer by trade, erected another house. Captain W. L. Moseley, now of Enoch Township, was the first male child born in Sum- merfield. Shankland and Moseley built a grist-mill and a carding-mill just back of where J. H. Philpot's house now stands, which were run by horse-power, and furnished meal and rolls to the neighborhood. A part of the machinery for the card- ing-mill was taken from a disused mill formerly run by Moses Horton.
During the same year William Lingo erected the second house in the place. He was for a time J. W. Shankland's partner in the store. In 1828 Samuel Rownd settled in the place, and started a tanvard and saddler's shop. He followed this business until 1858. He then sold out to Stephen Wilson, of Barnes- ville, and removed to Iowa. Rownd was elected justice of the peace, soon after his arrival in Summerfield, in the following novel manner: All the older men in the village having refused to be candidates, the young men drew lots to see who should be elected. The lot fell on William Calland, but as he refused to serve, Rownd was prevailed upon to permit his name to be used, and was accord- ingly elected.
David West opened and kept the first hotel in 1828, in a log house on the southwest corner of Cross street. In the same year Obadiah Lloyd built a log house and a shop and
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began business as a blacksmith. Jesse Moseley came to the town and erected a house in the same year. Soon afterward Pemberton Bevan opened a hotel on the southeast cor- ner of the square.
In the spring of 1830 William Philpot bought out James W. Shank- land and took possession of the store, grist-mill and carding-mill.
S. B. Philpot came to Summer- field in May, 1830. According to his recollection, the inhabitants of the place then were as follows: Charles W. Moseley, proprietor of a carding-mill; Leonidas Hescott, his assistant ; Samuel H. Rownd, tanner; John P. Bevan kept a house of enter- tainment; David West, now of Fair- view, Guernsey County, shoemaker; William IIeiddleston, now living in Jefferson Township, teamster; Rev. John Miner, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church ; Peter Barnes, cab- inet-maker; William Philpot, mer- chant, succeeding James W. Shank- land. The houses were log buildings, among them several cabins of round logs. What is now the rear portion of Mr. Philpot's store was erected by his father in the fall of 1830, and was the first brick building in the place.
William Philpot followed the mer- cantile business from 1830 to 1847. S. B. Philpot took an interest in the business in 1843, and has since fol- lowed it. He is the oldest merchant in the town and probably the oldest in the county.
Charles Hare engaged in the mer- cantile business in this town in 1834, and soon became successful and
prominent. He represented Noble County in the legislature two terms. In 1844 John M. Rownd engaged in the mercantile business, in which he continued until nearly the time of his death in 1884. The three estab- lishments of Philpot, Hare and Rownd were for many years the most important in the town.
Moses Horton, the founder of Sum- merfield, died in 1863. Of his sons, William was a successful physician for many years ; he removed to the West in 1871. Thomas was a con- ductor on the Underground railroad in ante-bellum days. Richard, who died in 1878, was a prominent min- ister of the Wesleyan Methodist church.
In 1830 the population of Summer- field was fifty-two. In 1847 the "Ohio Gazetteer" estimated the population at eighty. At that time the place consisted of three stores and about twenty dwelling houses, clustered about the two cross streets. The village grew slowly until 1883, when the completion of the Narrow- gauge railroad - which enterprise was largely aided by Summerfield men - gave an impetus to its in- crease in population and business. In 1870 the town had 470 inhabitants ; in 1880, 435.
Summerfield was formerly an im- portant point for the tobacco indus- try, and large quantities of leaf tobacco were bought, packed and shipped every season.
Summerfield was one of the most wide-awake and patriotic villages in this part of Ohio in the time of the late war. Company I, Twenty-fifth
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the first company that was mustered into the service from Noble County, in 1861, was organized in the town. The town and township were never required to submit to a draft, but on the contrary their citizens were always found active and ready to raise their quotas and prepare the troops for the field, also to provide for the comfort and support of the wives and children of the gallant volunteers.
The village has always manifested commendable interest in educational matters. The first school-house, a log structure of the typical pioneer fash- ion, was erected in 1828. This re- mained in use until 1848, when a brick building was erected on the hill, which was used until 1875. The town, having been constituted a sepa- rate school district in 1872, erected in 1875 a fine, large school-house, which was then the best in the county, and is now excelled only by the Caldwell school building. Nor- mal schools, in charge of experienced teachers, have usually been main- tained during a portion of each year since 1860. The first was taught in the fall of that year by William Wheeler and J. C. Clark, both of whom afterward enlisted in the War of the Rebellion.
Since Summerfield came into Noble County the town plat has been en- larged by the following additions : William Horton's first addition, 1855; Moses Horton's third addition, sur- veyed 1849, recorded 1856; William Ilorton's second addition (lots 60 to 65), surveyed in 1857; ditto, third
addition (lots 65 to 73), 1858; Rich- ard Ilorton's addition (lots 73 to 78), 1858; Thomas Gibson's addition (five lots and one outlot), 1860; ditto, sec- ond addition (three lots), 1862; Will- iam Ilorton's third addition (lots 78 to 87), 1863; John M. Rownd's addi- tion (eighteen lots), 1870; north side addition, by Stephen Wilson, 1874.
The business interests of Summer- field, at the beginning of the year 1887, were as follows:
General merchants : S. B. Philpot & Co., Rownd & Paull, Faber & Danford.
Druggists: John T. Dew, Dr. Sam- uel Brown.
Grocer: John H. Philpot.
. Boots and Shoes: Frank Meek. Hardware: R. W. Calland.
Hotels : Cleveland Hotel, F. G. Cleveland ; Summerfield House, Nel- son Kean.
Harness-maker and Tanner: Ste- phen Wilson.
Harness maker: William J. Em- mons.
Blacksmiths : William H. Wilson, Kirk Brumle.
Shoemakers : A. B. Foster, John Robinson.
Cabinet-maker: John Williamson.
Wagon-makers : Samuel Osborn, Clay Bishop.
Tinsmith : T. H. Bircher.
Steam flouring-mill: James Buell. Planing-mill : R. F. O'Neill.
Physicians: A. A. Staats, W. R. Taylor.
Dentist : J. R. McGinnis.
Population, over five hundred.
Summerfield is a neat, well-built,
pleasant village, and its people are enterprising and wide-awake.
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SOCIETIES.
Masmic .- After working about a year under dispensation, Summer- field Lodge, No. 425, F. & A. M., was chartered October 20, 1869, with the following officers and charter members : George W. Mason, W. M .; Stephen Wilson, S. W .; John A. Franklin, J. W .; William Danford, John C. Barr, Wyndham Sparling, Charles Craig, William Collins, Washington Brown, John Bramhall, Henry W. IIeiddlesheimer, John Kirk. The lodge now has fifty-one members, owns a good and conven- ient hall, and is in good condition. The present officers are: A. A. Staats, W. M .; J. R. Barnes, S. W .; Reed Williams, J. W .; John Will- iams, treasurer; C. W. Farley, sec- retary.
Summerfield Chapter, No. 122, R. A. M., was chartered September 14, 1870. Following are the names of the charter members and first officers : J. B. Williams, II. P .; Ste- phen Wilson, K .; R. P. Summers, S .; William Gibson, James Parker, Isaac Abmver, G. G. Waters, J. R. Barnes, William Danford, Wyndham Sparling, J. A. Franklin, Benjamin Dotson, Charles Hare, Richard Gib- son. The chapter has now over fifty members, and is prosperous. The present officers are : John Will- iamson, II. P .; A. A. Staats, K .; B. Dotson, S.
Grand Army .- John Brown Post,* No. 504, G. A. R., was chartered
January 21, 1885. The charter mem- bers were William R. Paull, W. J. Emmons, J. II. Shankland, A. R. Phillips, Thomas K. Amos, J. R. Barnes, J. II. Wilson, Arthur Whar- ton, R. W. Calland, R. G. Bell, J. S. Rownd, Charles W. Farley, J. S. Prettyman, I. C. Phillips, Otho Barnes, A. J. Lucas, F. G. Cleveland, Carey Hupp, and William Craig. Arthur Wharton was the first com- mander, and still holds the office. The other officers in November, 1886, were as follows: J. H. Shankland, S. V. C .; W. II. Wharton, J. V. C .; J. R. Barnes, adjutant ; J. S. Pretty- man, Q. M .; Dr. A. A. Staats, sur- geon ; C. W. Farley, chaplain ; Will- iam J. Emmons, O. D .; Otho Barnes, O. G .; A. J. Lucas, S. M .; T. K. Amos, Q. M. S. The present mem- bership is fifty-three.
CHURCHES.
Summerfield Methodist Episcopal Church. - A Methodist class was organized as early as 1819 in a school-house which stood on land now owned by Fawcett Craig. Philip Green was the first preacher and Nathaniel Capell the first class- leader. Among the early members were the Callands, Cochrans, Capells, Craigs, Osborns, Rownds, Shank- lands, Hortons, Philpots, and others, in fact nearly all of the early set- tlers. When a school-house had been erected in Summerfield that became the meeting place, and so continued until about 1830, when a small brick church was erected. In 1832 came a great revival, and the Methodist church gained a hold which it has
* Named in honor of Captain John Brown, of the Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who went from Summerfield, was wounded, and died from his injuries.
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HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
never lost in Summerfield and vicin- ity. In 1855 the present church building replaced the old brick meeting-house. The church now has over 125 members.
The Wesleyan Methodists organ- ized and built a church on the hill about 1846. The building was torn down about 1862, the congregation having disbanded. The Free Meth- odist society was organized by Rev. Travis, an Englishman, about 1867, and erected a church on South Main street. J. M. Rownd was among the most active in this movement.
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Following are the names of some of the pioneers of that part of the township taken from Monroe County, who have no representatives in the township at this time :
Sandford Rhodes, John R. Stone, John Wolfe, George Brown, Anthony Kelroy, Nathaniel Wakefield, F. Rhodes, Robert Crawford, Archelaus Lingo, Syranus Baldwin, Annias Banum, Nathaniel Capell, Cruntirn Fearns, Geo. Acred, Win. Rice, Wm. Alexander, Thos. Cochran, Robt. Devorell, John and Hugh Waybrant.
A FOREST ROMANCE.
"This narrative possesses a strong local interest, inasmuch as some of its scenes are laid in the country about the headwaters of Will's Creek, and therefore in Marion Township, Noble County. The hero and heroine of the story are Albert Maywood and Rose Forester, or the 'Forest Rose,' the names of course being fictitious. Lewis Wetzel is one of the most prom- inent personages in the drama.
" According to this narrative, the May wood family, in which Rose For-
ester was an adopted daughter, set- tled near the southeastern corner of Belmont County, on Captina Creek, as early as 1789. In the spring of 1792 the Indians burned the May- wood cabin, killed all the Maywood family except Albert, who was absent at the time, engaged in his favorite pursuit, hunting, and took the For- est Rose prisoner. The young man chanced to fall in with Lewis Wetzel in the woods, and the two, returning together, made the horrible discovery. Albert's father, mother, brothers and sister were killed and scalped, and Rose, his betrothed, was stolen away ! Wetzel and Maywood at once entered upon the pursuit of the Indians, de- termined to avenge the murder and rescue Rose.
"They found and followed the trail, but in the vicinity of where Summerfield now is, as the descrip- tion would seem to indicate, all trace was lost. Wetzel searched the creek, but discovered no tracks, owing to its limestone bottom. But, on search- ing farther down, he found tracks, where the bottom of the stream was muddy, but leading up the creek. instead of down. This puzzled him greatly, until at length he discovered the imprint of a knee on the muddy bottom. This mark showed to his practiced eve that the Indians were backing down the stream, and that one had stumbled over some obstacle. A little more search revealed the camp of the Indians.
"The captors of Rose were three Ilurons and a white renegade. The locality of the camp is traditionally said to be a hillock or mound on the
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Widow Martin's farm. It was now almost evening. and during the night Albert resolved to make known his presence to Rose, who was tied to a stake, and looked weary and fa- tigued. Wetzel tried to dissuade him, but the lover was determined. Creeping near, he cautiously made the noise of a whip-poor-will. At the first sound an Indian raised his head, but was deceived, and went to sleep again. At the second call Rose raised her head, and at the third nodded, for she well knew the sound which they had often used as a signal when playing together as children.
"Daylight next morning was agreed upon as the time for an attack by Wetzel and Maywood. They fired together; one Indian and the white renegade fell; the remaining Indians took to cover, where they both soon fell victims to Wetzel's rifle. Rose was rescued and happy in the arms of her lover; but not for long. A party of twenty or more savages capt- ured both the lovers as they were eating a meal of venison shot and cooked by Albert. The latter was soon rescued by Wetzel's ingenuity, cutting the thongs which bound him to a stake by means of a knife fast- ened on a long pole. But Rose was lost, and a long and vain search failed to reveal any trace of her. But, after undergoing countless perils and dangers, Albert and Wetzel recovered her after a desperate battle at Stand- ing Stone, in the locking Valley. She had been adopted into the tribe. and was in their garb when found, but her heart was still true to Albert, and they soon were happily wedded."
REMINISCENCES OF SLAVERY DAYS. CONTRIBUTED BY JOHN LEMMAX.
In 1838 the discussion of the evils of slavery began to attract general attention. The settlers in the vicin- ity of Summerfield held meetings in school-houses, and debating societies discussed the topic. The term abo- litionist was at that time regarded as most opprobrious by a large por- tion of the people. At a meeting in Carlisle the resolution, "Slavery is an evil and should be abolished," was discussed, and the debate at- tracted so much attention that one of the inhabitants of that locality challenged the Irish of Summerfield and vicinity to meet and discuss the question with the citizens of Carlisle and others from Woodsfield, whose opinions were pro-slavery. The Irish, who were largely abolitionists, accepted, and named Summerfield as the place of meeting. Carlisle ob- jected on account of distance, and finally New Lexington school- house was settled upon as being the most convenient intermediate point. The disputants were Richard Hor- ton, William Horton, William Capell and John Lemmax, in the affirma- .tive; and Lawyer Archibald, Guth- rie, Walton, and Congressman Mor- ris in the negative. Three judges were appointed to decide upon the merits of the argument, two of whom were known to be of pro-sla- very sentiments. Of course the debate attracted great attention. It began early in the evening and lasted until between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning. The debate was earnest and animated, and at its con-
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