USA > Ohio > Portage County > History of Portage County, Ohio > Part 29
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The swine of the early settlers, compared with those they now possess, pre- sent a very wide contrast, for whatever the breed may have been called, run- ning wild, as was customary, the special breed was soon lost in the mixed swine of the country. They were long and slim, long-snouted and long-legged, with an arched back, and bristles erect from the back of the head to the tail, slab- sided, active and healthy; the "sapling-splitter" or "razor back," as he was called, was ever in the search of food, and quick to take alarm. He was capa- ble of making a heavy hog, but required two or more years to mature, and until a short time before butchering or marketing was suffered to run at large, subsisting mainly as a forager, and in the fall fattening on the "mast" of the forest. Yet this was the hog for a new country, whose nearest and best markets were Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, to which points they were driven on foot. Almost every farmer raised a few hogs for market, which were gath- ered up by drovers and dealers during the fall and winter seasons. In no stock of the farm have greater changes been effected than in the hog. From the long-legged, long-snouted, slab-sided, roach-backed, tall, long, active, wild, fierce and muscular, it has been bred to be almost as square as a store- box and quiet as a sheep, taking on 250 pounds of flesh in ten months. They are now ranked into distinctive breeds, the Berkshire and Chester White being more extensively bred in Portage County than any other kind.
The following statistics, compiled from the Secretary of State's reports, will furnish a good idea of the growth of the stock interests in Portage County for the past forty-five years:
In 1840 the county contained 4,205 horses and mules, 25,308 cattle, 37, 240 sheep and 11,074 hogs. In 1852, 4, 795 horses, 27,526 cattle, 70,852 sheep, 5,537 hogs and 45 mules. From 1858 to 1864 inclusive, the annual average was 8,063 horses, 33,927 cattle, 86,692 sheep, 7,875 hogs and 75 mules. In 1867 there were 7,439 horses, 27,823 cattle, 125,545 sheep, 7, 769 hogs and 87 mules. In 1870, 6,373 horses, 26,696 cattle, 45,386 sheep, 6,421 hogs and 56 mules. In 1873, 7,887 horses, 34,706 cattle, 44,365 sheep, 5,565 hogs and 73 mules. In 1875, 8,359 horses, 26,466 cattle, 34,609 sheep, 4,648 hogs and 75 mules. In 1878, 7,886 horses, 29,968 cattle, 41,394 sheep, 9,162 hogs and 75 mules. In 1880, 7,557 horses, 28,702 cattle, 51,622 sheep, 6,895 hogs and 74
mules. In 1884 there were reported 9,327 horses, 30,049 cattle, 13,746 sheep, 29,185 hogs and 267 mules. The greatest noticeable changes will be found in the sheep reports. From 1840 to 1867 there was a rapid increase of this stock, numbering in the latter year 125,545 head, but from that date up to 1884 there was a varying decrease in numbers, until the difference between 1867 and 1884 was over 100,000. While the number of horses and cattle
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varied a few thousand back and forth, there were more than three times as many hogs reported in 1883 and 1884 as in any other year since 1852. This would indicate that hogs are rapidly taking the place of sheep on the farms of Portage County, the raising of the latter having been almost abandoned because of the rapid decline in the price of wool, caused by the reduction of the tariff on that staple.
The leading staple crops of Portage County are wheat, corn, oats and hay. From 1850 to 1864 inclusive, the annual average wheat and corn product was, respectively, 149,084 and 358,094 bushels. The annual average product of oats from 1858 to 1864 inclusive, was 240,233 bushels, while the annual hay product for the same period was 44,711 tons. In 1866 there were raised in this county 81,922 bushels of wheat, 456,667 bushels of corn, 309,381 bushels of oats, and 49,913 tons of hay and clover. In 1870, 108,324 bushels of wheat, 540,862 bushels of corn, 386,257 bushels of oats and 44,612 tons of hay and clover. In 1875, 176,866 bushels of wheat, 736,112 bushels of corn, 502,288 bushels of oats and 33,914 tons of hay and clover. In 1880, 460,894 bushels of wheat, 450,822 bushels of corn, 429,735 bushels of oats and 40,138 tons of hay and clover. In 1883 (the last report published), there were raised 318,261 bushels of wheat, 159,751 bushels of corn (shelled), 540, 464 bushels of oats and 58,694 tons of hay and clover. The total annual average wheat-pro- duct of this county from 1878 to 1882 inclusive was 352,251 bushels, and of corn for the same period, 568,503 bushels.
The official valuation of property in Portage County, by decades, as returned for taxation, will illustrate its steady increase in wealth and general prosperity. In 1850 the total valuation was $5,926, 727; 1860, $10,854,965; 1870, $14,228,943; 1880, $16,100,010.
Portage County Agricultural Societies .- There has been no agency that has accomplished so much good for the farming interests of this county as the several agricultural societies of the past and present. Their influence began sixty years ago, when, on the 9th of May, 1825, the " Portage County Agricult- ural Society " was organized at the Court House in Ravenna, by the election of the following officers: Joshua Woodward, President; Elias Harmon, First Vice-President; Owen Brown, Second Vice-President; Frederick Wadsworth, Corresponding Secretary; Samuel D. Harris, Recording Secretary; William Coolman, Jr., Treasurer; Jonathan Sloane, Auditor. The society held its first " agricultural fair and cattle show " at Ravenna, October 18, 1825. Among the premiums we find one of $3, awarded to Seth Harmon for the best crop of corn, he having raised one hundred bushels and one peck from one acre of land. Fairs were held annually by the society at Ravenna until 1830, when, although officers were elected, no fair was held, and the society went out of existence.
On the 12th of March, 1839, the Ohio Assembly passed " an act to author- ize and encourage the establishment of agricultural societies in the several counties in this State, and to regulate the same;" and June 20, 1839, in pursuance of notice given by the County Auditor, a meeting was held at the Court House in Ravenna, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society in Portage County. William Wetmore was Chairman, and George Y. Wallace, Secretary. It was resolved by the meeting to call the new institution the " Portage County Agricultural Society," and the following officers were chosen : William Wetmore, President; Lorin Bigelow, Vice-President; George Y. Wallace, Recording Secretary; Joseph Lyman, Corresponding Secretary; John B. Clark, William Milliken and Oliver C. Dickinson, Executive Committee. Their first fair was held at the Court House October 20 and 21, 1841, and was
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HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.
quite a success. Successful fairs were also held at the same place in 1842, 1843 and 1844, but on account of a long drouth and consequent failure of crops, none was held in 1845.
On the 27th of February, 1846, the Legislature passed " an act for the encouragement of agriculture;" and April 1 and 2, 1846, the State Board of Agriculture met at Columbus, Ohio, and adopted rules and regulations for the government of county societies legally organized in harmony with this law. A meeting was held at the Court House in Ravenna, for the purpose of organ- izing a society under those rules, and to obtain the financial assistance from the State, which the act promised. Greenbury Keen was called to the chair, and Richard J. Thompson chosen Secretary. Enoch Johnson, Friend Cook, Ralph Day, William Stedman and Richard J. Thompson were appointed a committee to prepare a constitution for the society, which was subsequently presented and adopted. The following officers were then elected: Richard J. Thompson, President; J. G. Foley, Vice-President; Archibald Servoss, Secre. tary; Enos P. Brainerd, Treasurer; William Stedman, Albert Austin, Charles Button, William Milliken and Daniel W. Jennings, Executive Committee. The thanks of the meeting were extended to Hon. William Wetmore, of the Senate, and to Hons. David McIntosh and Thomas C. Shreve, of the House, for their exertions to procure the passage of the law for the promotion of agriculture. Gen. McIntosh was afterward President of the society for several years, and in August, 1853, he and wife were presented by the society with a massive silver salver, as an appropriate token of its appreciation of the efforts both had always put forth to build up the interests of the institution.
The first fair of the new society was held at Ravenna, September 30 and October 1, 1846, and though not so largely attended as expected, was never- theless a very creditable exhibition. For several years the society held its annual fairs in Ravenna, with no permanent grounds, but in 1859 it rented about twenty acres of land east of Ravenna, and immediately south of the present grounds, which were fitted up and used for twenty years. Prior to 1870 the financial affairs of the society had reached a low ebb, and the fair of 1869 was regarded as a failure in every sense. Many predicted that the soci- ety would go under, and on the strength of this feeling an agricultural soci- ety was organized at Garrettsville, with the expectation of taking its place. But in the meantime Horace Y. Beebe, and a few other enterprising citizens, " put their shoulders to the wheel," raised a subscription, paid off the debts and got the institution once more " upon its legs," where it has since remained. The lease of the old grounds expired in 1879, and the society obtained a twenty years' lease of its present grounds, owned and previously fitted up by the Ravenna Park Association, a coterie of horsemen who held annual races and thus sought to encourage the growth of fine horses. On these grounds, which contain twenty-two acres and a good half-mile track, the agricultural society has erected a fine exhibition hall, offices, and cattle and sheep sheds, besides having the right, under its lease, to the use of the stables, grand stand, and other buildings of the Park Association, with exclusive control of the grounds during the fair. It is generally admitted that the present pros- perous condition of the society is largely due to the efforts of Horace Y. Beebe, who has spared neither time nor labor to make the annual fairs a suc- cess, and whose energy and business capacity, together with the earnest sup- port of the Board and friends of the society, have enabled him to accomplish what few men would have cared to undertake. Besides the annual fair at Gar- rettsville, several other townships in the county hold township fairs, and while any effort in that direction is laudable, it is, nevertheless, a positive fact that
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HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.
those township societies detract much from the interest and usefulness of the county organization, and had, therefore, better be abolished. The membership of the society is now about 600, and its present officers are N. S. Olin, Presi- dent; R. S. Elkins, Vice-President; E. R. Wait, Treasurer; K. S. Wing, Sec- retary; C. C. Gardner, William Bergen, S N. Andrews, W. W. Stevens, Simon Perkins, A. N. Farr, Franklin Willard, F. R. Coit, H. O. Hine and Smith Sanford, Directors.
The Portage County Horticultural Society was organized in February, 1879, with fourteen charter members, most of whom were men who put their hands to the plow without any intention of looking back. The society has experi- enced unexpected prosperity, and contains at this writing 250 members, who pay an annual fee of $1. It has never failed to hold its regular monthly meeting, and the attendance has always been encouraging and generally large. The social feature of the meetings, which are held at the residences of the members, is good remuneration for the expense and trouble incurred, while the interest stimulated in horticulture has been rapidly increasing, as is plainly evident throughout the county in improved yards, orchards and gardens. The present officers of the society are Horace Y. Beebe, President; R. S. Elkins, Vice-President; Andrew Willson, Secretary; C. L. Bartlett, Treasurer; C. C. Gardner, A. J. Jennings and John Meharg, Executive Committee. The same President and Secretary have held those positions since the organization of the society. The officers and members of the Agricultural Society recog- nize the aid of the Horticultural Society in reviving the county fairs, and making them truly successful. In many ways the society is exerting a whole- some influence. The members feel that what has been done is but a prophecy of what may be accomplished, and are generally anxious to make the society as helpful to the purpose of its organization as is possible.
CHAPTER VI.
FIRST MILITARY ORGANIZATION ON THE WESTERN RESERVE-WAR OF 1812 AND FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-JOHN HARMON'S RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WAR -SECOND REGIMENT OHIO MILITIA-CAPT. JOHN CAMPBELL'S COMPANY OF VOLUNTEERS-CAMP ON BARREL RUN-MARCH TO CLEVELAND, AND EMBARK- ATION FOR LOWER SANDUSKY-DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP AND ARRIVAL- INCIDENTS AT THE FORT, AND SICKNESS AMONG THE SOLDIERS -DEPARTURE FOR THE RIVER RAISIN-HULL'S SURRENDER-START FOR MALDEN, AND ARRIVAL AT THAT POINT-PAROLED PRISONERS-RETURN HOME OF THE SICK AND PAROLED MEN-DEATHIS IN THE COMMAND-ALARM CAUSED BY THE SURRENDER-REGIMENTAL RECORD OF THE SECOND REGIMENT-RESPONSE TO A CALL FOR TROOPS IN 1813-MR. HARMON'S CONCLUDING REMARKS-THE INHABITANTS OF PORTAGE COUNTY FEAR AN INDIAN INVASION-DISTRESSING INCIDENT OF THE WAR-RE-ORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA-MUSTER DAYS AND SHAM FIGHTS.
THE first military organization on the Western Reserve was effected under the general militia law of Ohio, passed at the Legislative session of 1803-04. The State was divided into four divisions, the Fourth Division embracing the whole eastern portion thereof, from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Elijah Wadsworth was elected Major-General of that division, and issued his first order April 6, 1804. His division was divided into two brigades and five regiments. The First Brigade, Ohio militia, comprised the
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HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.
male inhabitants of military age inside the limits of Trumbull County, which then embraced the territory now in Portage, as well as all the country west of this county to the western limits of the Reserve. The brigade was divided into the First and Second Regiments, the north line of Township 5 being the dividing line between those forming the respective commands. The Second Regiment was divided into two battalions, and the Second Battalion into four companies.
The First Company included the present townships of Berlin and Milton, Mahoning County, and Deerfield, Palmyra, Paris, Charlestown, Edinburg and Atwater Townships, Portage County, and was called the "Deerfield Com- pany." The Second Company included the present townships of Randolph, Rootstown, Ravenna, Franklin, Brimfield and Suffield, and was called the "Rootstown Company." The Third Company included the present town- ships of Windham, Nelson, Garrettsville, Hiram, Freedom, Shalersville, Man- tua, Aurora and Streetsboro, and the Fourth Company included all of the remaining territory of the Reserve west of the present western boundary of Portage County. On the 7th of May, 1804, elections for officers were held in the four companies, resulting as follows: First Company-Henry Rogers, Captain; John Diver, Lieutenant; John Campbell, Ensign. Second Company -Thomas Wright, Captain; William Chard, Lieutenant; David Morse, Ensign. Third Company-Ezra Wyatt, Captain; Gersham Judson, Lieuten- ant; Thomas Kennedy, Ensign. Fourth Company -- John Oviatt, Captain; Aaron Norton, Lieutenant; James Walker, Ensign. On the 24th of Septem- ber following, Henry Rogers, Captain of the First Company, was elected Major of the battalion. The names of most of the officers of those four com- panies will be recognized as those of leading pioneers of Portage County, but as elections were held annually their places were subsequently filled by others. who are equally well remembered as prominent early settlers of this section of the State.
With the rapid growth of population and the organization of new counties, among which was Portage, in 1808, some changes occurred in the boundaries of the territory from which the Second Regiment was originally raised, while the number of brigades in the Fourth Division was increased to four, and other regiments formed from the additional brigades. A few years passed by and the sound wisdom of these militia organizations became very apparent. The war of 1812 was brought on by the arrogant claims of the English Gov- ernment, and the citizen soldiers of Portage County were among the first to. respond to their country's call. In response to a call from Gov. Meigs for sol- diers to defend the frontier, Capt. John Campbell's company of riflemen was organized May 23, 1812, of volunteers from the Second Regiment, Ohio Mili- tia. Soon after the declaration of war, June 18, 1812, this company received orders to meet at the house of Capt. Campbell, July 1, and on that day pitched their tents of homespun linen sheets on the bank of Barrel Run, near the home of Capt. Campbell. The command had no uniforms, but each man was "armed to the teeth" with a rifle, a tomahawk, and a large knife. It soon afterward started for the frontier, and was encamped on the River Raisin at the time of Hull's surrender, and therefore included in that disgraceful and cowardly capitulation.
Fifteen years ago the late John Harmon, Esq., of Ravenna, who was a member of this company, compiled an article entitled "Recollections of the War of 1812, " which was published in the Portage County Democrat, March 2, 1870. The writer deems this historic sketch of sufficient importance to be worthy of preservation in the pages of this work. Mr. Harmon rendered . the present and future generations a great service by rescuing from oblivion
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and placing on record important events connected with a very interesting period of our national history; but more especially are these reminiscences invaluable to the people of Portage County. None of the pioneers of this county who participated in the war of 1812 are left to tell the story of their trials and hardships, and without these reminiscences, so fortunately prepared by Mr. Harmon, it would be utterly impossible at this late day to obtain any reliable data treating of military events in this portion of Ohio during that momentous period.
Recollections of the War of 1812 .*- In compliance with the expressed wishes of some valued friends, and more particularly at the recent solicitation of the officers of the Western Reserve Historical Society, I will endeavor to write for publication some account of the campaign of Capt. Campbell's Volunteer Company of 1812, of which I was an humble member. To aid me in this task, I have a brief diary journal, kept at that time, and a brief record of our organization in the book of Regimental Records of the regiment from which our company was raised. But for much that I have to record, I have to rely on memory, and I fear my task, performed at my time of life, and after a lapse of more than fifty-seven years from the time the events occurred of which I write, will not be acceptably recorded. But, as few of the actors of those days now remain to tell their tales, and fewer still are disposed to transmit our his- tory to the present young, and the coming generations, I have been induced to commence the task, and present the record first to the people of the locality where our company was best known, and through the medium of the local press of Portage County.
In 1812 the able bodied white male inhabitants between the ages of eight- een and forty-five, residing on the three eastern tiers of townships of the present county of Portage, and subject to military duty, constituted the Sec- ond Regiment, Fourth Brigade, Fourth Division, Ohio Militia, and were com- manded by Col. John Campbell, then residing on the corners of the four town- ships of Ravenna, Rootstown, Charlestown and Edinburg, a place since called Campbellsport. This regiment consisted of two battalions, of four militia companies each. Those residing in Mantua constituted the First Company, First Battalion. Nelson, Hiram and Windham constituted the Second Com- pany, First Battalion. Ravenna and Charlestown constituted the Third Com- pany, First Battalion. Shalersville constituted the Fourth Company, First
Battalion. Deerfield and Atwater constituted the First Company, Second Battalion. Rootstown constituted the Second Company, Second Battalion. Palmyra and Paris constituted the Third Company, Second Battalion. Ran- dolph constituted the Fourth Company, Second Battalion.
It appears that about the middle of May, 1812, Col. Campbell received orders from Gov. Meigs to raise soldiers from his regiment for the defense of the frontiers; but the number to be raised does not appear on record, but, on the Military Record Book, page 26, we find the following:
" At a special meeting of the officers of the Second Regiment, Fourth Bri- gade, Fourth Division, of Ohio Militia, holden at Ravenna, the 19th day of May, 1812, for raising soldiers.
" Officers present. - Col. John Campbell, Maj. Stephen Mason, Maj. Thad- deus Andrews.
" Captains .- Alva Day, Joshua Woodward, Asa K. Burroughs.
"Lieut. Isaac Merriman, for Capt. Timothy Culver's Company.
"Lieut. John Redden, for Capt. Delaun Mills' Company.
* By the late John Harmon, Esq.
.
James Corton
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HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.
"Commandants of Companies .- Lieut. Oliver Snow, Lieut. John Caris, Lieut. Charles Gilbert.
"Ordered-That the regiment meet at Ravenna on the 23d inst., at 10 o'clock A. M.
"Orders given to Majors Mason and Andrews."
Then follow on the record several pages of "class rolls" of the regi- ment, with the name and class, as it purports, of every man of the regiment subject to military duty, comprising all able-bodied white males between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, residing in the bounds of the regiment, which we omit at present. At this time, and previous, Robert Campbell was Clerk of the regiment, but much of the records appear to be in the hand writing of the late Col. Stephen Mason. On page 30 is recorded the appointment of Charles Curtis, of Charlestown, as Quartermaster of the regiment, and Fred- erick Wadsworth, Clerk of the regiment, dated 26th of May, 1812. I find no record of the mustering of the regiment "to raise soldiers," and here have to tax my memory.
According to orders the regiment met at Ravenna, May 23, and on being paraded in line, the Colonel informed us that he had orders from the Governor to raise soldiers from this regiment for the defense of the frontiers, and that unless a company of fifty would volunteer, a draft must be made; that if fifty men would volunteer, they could by law elect their own officers; but if a draft had to be made, they would be commanded probably by strangers. He advised us to volunteer, and urged in a short speech, and Charles Shaler, then a young lawyer, since Judge Shaler, of Pittsburgh, a son of Nathaniel Shaler, of Middletown, Conn., the proprietor of Shalersville, being present, entertained us with a patriotic speech.
It was then announced, as the musicians stepped out before the regiment, that all who would volunteer should step forward and follow the music. Immediately volunteers began to show themselves, stepping to the front, to the music of the drum and fife. Among the first were Col Campbell, Capt. Alva Day, Lieut. John Caris and Samuel Redfield. The last-mentioned was, I believe, the first to follow the music. The little squad thus formed continued passing to and fro before the regiment, its members constantly accumulating, until it was announced that the fifty were on hand, and one more. During the suspense before the required number were on hand, some one announced that he saw a star in our horizon, a star of promise, may be, on which George Grant Redden, of Hiram, declared if he could see the star, he too would volunteer, and on it being shown him he immediately volunteered. As it was a clear day, numbers of us saw the bright star. We were then marched to the south side of the Court House, and our names were taken by one of our number, Ralph Buckland-father of Hon. Ralph P. Buckland, late a member of Congress from the Ninth (Fremont) District, Ohio. This done, we were fully engaged, and it was debated when and where we would elect our company officers, and determined to proceed immediately, same evening, at the house of William Tappan, which we accordingly did. That house, one of the first frame structures built in Ravenna, was burned a few years ago. It stood on the ground now occupied by the Phoenix Block, north- east of the Court House square. The same room where the votes were taken was afterward used as a printing office, from which, in 1834-35, The Western Courier was issued.
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