USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. I > Part 45
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The shop started with a force of about twenty-five, which was increased until the pay roll for five years averaged about fifty men. The town grew and increased and the people prospered and were happy.
William Moore was a born mechanic, and was competent to capably fill the place of the most skilled workman in any department of the shop. He was an inventor and draughtsman as well as a skilled mechanic. In addition to these he was a business man of marked ability, with a foresight of the needs of the country and of the possibilities of the future, at least so far as farmers' supplies were concerned. He knew that thereafter grain would be threshed by machines, instead of being pounded out with flails; that the wooden mold- board plow would be supplanted by one of cast-iron, and that the lug-poles and trample hooks of the pioneer days had served their time, and that cooking was thereafter to be done on stoves. He saw that the country was in a state of
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transition from the old to a new order of things, and took the tide at its flow. His mind could grasp what was needed, and his inventive genius could supply the article. His inventions were not only numerous, but covered a wider scope than those of any other man perhaps in the world, and were made at a period when inventions were but "few and far between."
Salesmen canvassed the country for the sale of Moore's machinery, farmi implements and the other products of his foundries, and wagons conveyed the same to the farmers' homes.
But when the plant was on the highway to a still greater success, one night flames were seen to shoot from the foundry up through the dark pall that hung ominously over the village, and the people were aroused by the cry of "Fire! Fire! Moore's foundry is on fire !" But the flames had spread through- out the building to such an extent that it could not be saved, nor its contents taken out. And thus went out in smoke and in flames one of the earliest and most promising manufacturing plants of Richland county. The factory was never rebuilt for want of means. And with the destruction of the foundry, "Othello's occupation," so far as Bangorville was concerned, was gone, and the town went into decadence, and now barely holds a place upon the map of the county. "What would have been if things had been otherwise," is often asked, but an answer can only come from the speculative realms of fancy.
A new condition of affairs came on soon after the Moore plant was destroyed that would of itself have operated against building at Bangorville. A railroad was built-was extended from Mansfield to Newark, and, like the priest and the Levite, it went by on the other side-left Bangorville five miles away on the uplands to the west.
Mr. Moore removed to Mt. Vernon, where he later connected with the Cooper works, and contributed much to the success of that firm. He is now dead, but his inventions place him in the list of a benefactor of the period in which he lived.
PLYMOUTH.
Plymouth was first settled in 1815, but the town was not platted until May 17, 1825. The village was first called Paris, but at its incorporation in 1838 the name was changed to Plymouth.
Plymouth has the distinction of being in two counties-the main street running east and west, being the line between Richland and Huron counties. The postoffice is on the Richland county side of the line; the town is therefore always referred to as being in Richland county.
Plymouth became a village without the premeditation, plan or scheme of any land owner. After the close of the War of 1812 people came from the east to locate in Ohio. and quite a number came along the Beall trail and set- tled in the northern part of Richland county, and among them was one Abraham Trux, who erected a cabin on the headwaters of the Huron river, and became the first settler upon what later became the town site of Plymouth. Other cabins were soon thereafter erected near Trux's for the convenience of neighborly associations, and thus without design a town was founded.
A reference to the close of the War of 1812 suggests the difference in both the methods and the time required in transmitting and receiving news in 1815
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with our facilities of today. The treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain was signed at Ghent, December 24, 1814, but the news of the same was not received here until a month later, and in the meantime the battle of New Orleans was fought, where General Jackson won his victory over the British. How different now, with telegraph wires and cables spanning continents and encircling the globe.
At the time Plymouth was platted there were sixteen houses, all of them log buildings, on the town site and occupied severally by Abraham Trux, Patrick Lynch, Benjamin Wooley, James Young, Enos Rose, Abner Harkness, A. D. W. Bodley, Haslo, John and Henry Barney, Christian Culp, B. F. Taylor, William C. Enos and Lemuel Powers. The travel through the village caused taverns to be opened in accordance with the law of demand and supply. Like other taverns of that period, three of the principal articles on the bill of fare were "hog, hominy and whisky." If these suited the guests, the present generation can be excused from registering a complaint now about what their forefathers ate four-fifths of a century ago.
Patrick Lynch was the first blacksmith in Plymouth; William C. Enos the first lawyer; Dr. Lemuel Powers the first doctor; Mr. Howe the first school teacher; Mr. Curtis the first tailor; W. V. B. Moore and John Skinner the first shoemakers; Hugh Long the first tanner; Robert Moorfoot the first bricklayer and plasterer; A. D. W. Bodley the first wheelright; Anthony Mclaughlin the first cooper; James Drennan the first cabinet maker; James Dickson, William Crall and Mr. Gilcrease the first carpenters; G. C. Graham, Mathero McKelvey and Wilson brothers the first merchants. The first mayor of the village was Daniel Colekglazier; the second, Ensign Benschoter; the third, Robert Wilson.
Mr. McKelvey, who had a number of daughters, erected a two-room frame building in 1831, started an educational institution called a seminary. with competent teachers, which was successfully conducted for several years.
The first bank was started by a Mr. Barker in 1839, in connection with his mercantile trade. After Mr. Barker's death in 1859 the business was continued by Robert McDonough and S. M. Robinson until 1870, when Mr. McDonough opened a regular bank of discount and deposit, which was continued until his death in 1873. After that the First National Bank was organized, with Josiah Brinkerhoff as president.
Banker Barker was the father of Frank Barker, who was killed in Mansfield by his brother-in-law, Robert Mercer Bowland, about sundown on the evening of June 18, 1846. The tragedy took place near the northwest corner of Main street and Park avenue west. A broken-shaft monument in the Plymouth cemetery marks Frank Barker's grave.
Plymouth always had able representatives in the legal profession. In the past there were Downing H. Young, D. M. Stambaugh, W. W. Drennan, Sherman Culp, S. M. Young and others.
Religious services were held at Plymouth at an early day, and church organizations effected. The Rev. Wolfe, a Presbyterian ; the Rev. Arbuthnot, Covenanter, and the Rev. McIntire, Methodist, were early missionaries there. The Rev. Benjamin Wooley settled there and was a local minister of the
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Methodist church. Nearly all the early ministers in the county preached in Plymouth at times. Among the number were Bigelow, Boardman, Conger and Harry O. Sheldon. The religious interests awakened in the little village of Paris in the long ago has ever since been maintained, and the churches of Plymouth today are an honor to the town.
The change of name from Paris to Plymouth was a felicitous one. "What's in a name!" exclaimed the Bard of Avon. There is much in a name. Paris is suggestive of revolutions and of the guillotine; Plymouth, of the Mayflower and of the Pilgrims. Names in both poetry and prose appeal to the imagination. The title of a poem or story may induce its reading and conduce to its popularity. Poetry and song contributed to the rapid settlement of Ohio on account of its name. A stanza drops in here as a matter of history. It is from one of the songs that were sung "down cast" at parties where kissing came in the games played by young people, many of whom later became settlers in Ohio:
"Arise, my true love, and present me your hand, And we'll march in procession for a far distant land; When the girls will card and spin, And the boys will plow and sow, And we'll settle on the banks of the pleasant Ohio."
Another song widely sung was "The Hills of Ohio," given as follows:
"The hills of Ohio, how sweetly they rise, In the beauty of nature to blend with the skies; With fair azure outline, and tall ancient trees, Ohio, my country, I love thee for these.
"The homes of Ohio, free, fortuned and fair, Full many hearts treasure a sister's love there ; E'en more than thy hillsides or streamlets they please, Ohio, my country, I love thee for these.
"God shield thec, Ohio, dear land of my birth, And thy children that wander afar o'er the earth ; My country thou art, where'er my lot's cast, Take thou to thy bosom my ashes at last."
This song was very popular in the past and its singing should be revived. The song is from Alexander Auld's "Key of the West." He was the author of what was called the "patent-note" system, a change from the "four-note" scale of the "Missouri Harmony." How dear to the memory of the older class of people are the text books of half century ago! They were Webster's "Elementary Spelling Book," "McGuffey's Readers," "Ray's Arithmetics" and Harvey's and Pinneo's grammars. These books were studied under pedagogical instruction by the pupils of that period, but to recount those old school days would be interesting only to those who served under the old system of the "rod and ferulo" rule, and to those who have been touched by the historical passion.
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From the "Old Red" school house of the pioneer period, Plymouth advanced upon educational lines even more than it did in material growth. In 1834 the town was divided into two school districts, but in 1849 they were reunited and organized under what was known as the Akron law. Previous to 1835 special school laws were often passed for particular localities. This was permissible under the old constitution. The Akron law, enacted in 1847, made the town one school district, created a school board, authorized a suitable number of primary schools and one grammar school and conferred power to levy taxes sufficient to meet the expense of the system. This law was also enacted for other towns, Plymouth among the number. The state school law of 1853 was little more than an amplification of the Akron law. In 1875 a school building was erected in Plymouth at a cost of $25,000. This has since been improved and the town today takes no second place in the educational march of the age.
A newspaper called the Journal was started in Plymouth in 1851. Two years later the name was changed to the Advertiser, under which title it has been published for fifty years.
Plymouth has two railroads-the Baltimore & Ohio and the Northern Ohio.
Among the early settlers in Plymouth were the Brinkerhoffs, of Knicker- bocker, and the Beviers, of Huguenot descent. The Brinkerhoffs and the Beviers are related by marriage.
The Hon. Daniel Brewer, one of the distinguished citizens of Plymouth in the past, represented Richland county in the legislature in 1847-49. He was a fluent speaker and was an effective campaigner for "Buck, Breck and the Union" in 1856. The shibboleth of the other party in that campaign was "Fremont, Free Speech and Free Kansas." Mr. Brewer is now deceased.
Since the founding of Plymouth many changes have taken place -- changes wrought by American genius. Genius is power. The power that grasps in the universe, that soars out into space, and overcomes all obstacles. Genius cannot be suppressed.
"You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops, and to make no noise When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven,"
as to hush the voice of genius. Genius loves toil, impediment and poverty, for from these it gains its strength, throws off the shadows and lifts its proud head to fame.
LEXINGTON.
Lexington has always been noted for the culture and social standing of its people. The village is beautifully situated upon an elevation of gentle slope and the Clearfork of the Mohican laves its eastern boundary.
The town was named for historic Lexington, where the first battle for political freedom on the American continent was fought, April 19, 1775- a battle that put an end to the long dispute between the colonies and Great Britain, and inaugurated the war of the revolution.
Lexington was laid out in 1812 on land owned by Amariah Watson,
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who built the first house-a log cabin-in the place, in the spring of 1812, soon after the town was platted. The second house was built by Jacob Cook. The first cabins had port-holes for purposes of defense against the Indians.
Grist and saw mills were erected on the Clearfork at Lexington within the year and contributed to the development of prosperity of the new town. A tannery was built and stores of general merchandise opened and Lexington soon had several hundred inhabitants.
About this time a very important event took place-the log school house was built. It was built of unhewed logs and covered with boards or shakes; the seats were of the ancient make-a slab with pegs for legs constituted the seats-counters ranged along the walls were the desks whereon to write and cipher.
Tempus fugit and years went by and in 1850 the "iron horse" came puffing along the valley. A railroad may make or unmake a town, but it did neither in this case-it simply let the village remain as it found it, which status it still maintains.
It is difficult to write of Lexington-a town with such a conservative history; of a well-balanced people, free from eccentricities and vagaries, such as make towns notorious. No people ever treaded the paths of peace with more willing feet, and the law of love has been the rule of their action and the light by which they interpreted events. Envy knocks. in vain at the door of their hearts. The people are not jealous of their neighboring towns, but peace and good-will have a perfect habitation in the village's unruffled breast.
When Lexington was founded this was the western border. Since then civilization has marched westward with rapid strides, across the Mississippi, over the Rocky mountains and out to the isles of the Pacific, and will soon meet a similar column advancing from the East and ere long will engirdle the earth. Then the "border" will be obliterated and previous conditions changed.
Civilization is peregrinatic and capricious, and coming centuries may verify the prediction of Macaulay that New Zealanders shall sit upon the ruins of Westminster Abbey and gaze upon the crumbling ashes of forgotten London.
It is claimed there was an advanced civilization in China before Babylon was founded, and before Jerusalem existed, even in prophecy. Yet we now speak of the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire as "heathen Chinee" and call them "barbarians." What the future of American civilization may be, time alone can disclose.
Amariah Watson was instrumental in many ways in furthering the interests of the Lexington settlement, in founding its industries and in developing the country, and his name is interwoven with the early history of that part of Richland county. The Rev. Orville E. Watson-a descendant of pioneer Watson-is a priest of the Episcopal Church, and holds the position of canon in Trinity Cathedral at Cleveland.
The Lexington Seminary was a continuation of Monroe Seminary, situated in Monroe township, and was opened in 1851 by Rev. R. Gailey. The recitations were for a time conducted in a church, yet the school drew
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to itself a large share of patronage. Mansfield and Wooster sent many pupils to the school. In 1860 the school was removed to Lexington. A sub- stantial brick building was erected by a stock company and devoted to school purposes. Some trouble arose in 1866 between the seminary and the public. The trustees offered the house for sale at fifty per cent of its normal value. Rev. Gailey purchased the house and furnished it, making some improve- ments. He sold the house the following year to the United Brethren Church. They paid off all claims against the property and furnished it comfortably. They occupied the upper room for a house of worship and gave the lower room to Miss Gailey for a school room. The school was a private enterprise, in no sense denominational. The enrollment in the fall of 1865 was eighty; in 1866, one hundred and nine; in 1867, one hundred and twenty-six. The school declined in members for several years, so that only ninety-four were enrolled in 1878. Rev. Gailey after spending twenty-four years in the inter- ests of the school, died in 1875, and was succeeded by his daughter, Miss Jane Gailey, who continued the school until the close of the spring term of 1880, when she was married to Rev. Mr. Dysart. This event closed the Lexington Seminary.
The cemetery lies northeast of the village on the opposite side of the river on a gentle elevation. It is well cared for.
Lexington had several school teachers in the olden time who afterward became noted men in both state and nation. One of these was the late Hon. Columbus Delano, and Judge Kennon was another.
It is the custom of writers of history to dilate upon how railroads have affected certain towns, favorably or unfavorably, as it is often necessary to show cause for the prosperity or decadence of the same. But Lexington has been but little, if any, affected, pro or con, by the railroad that skirts its northern border. The town was not platted with the expectation that it would ever make a great city. It was founded to be a country town for the convenience of country people, and as such it is a successful village, whose inhabitants have always been reputable among their fellow men. Even during the Civil War times at mass gatherings, where social probity was at times somewhat lax, the statement that a certain group of ladies were from Lexington was to them both passport and shield. Such women give tone and character to any community.
Amariah Watson and Elisha Robins settled at Lexington in 1812. Then came William Gass, Calvin Culver and Francis Mitchell. "Uncle" Noah Cook came in 1814. Mr. Cook was a Presbyterian and conducted the first prayer meeting in the township. An account of this service has been given before, but as a good story, especially one of far-reaching benificent results, will bear a brief repetition here. The meeting had been announced for the school house of that neighborhood, and at the appointed hour "Uncle" Cook was the only person present, He hesitated only for a few moments, then opened a service of worship and sang and prayed and read a lesson from the scriptures and then preached a sermon. It is not on record whether he stated, "I take my text," etc., as some preachers do now, thinking, it seems, that the matter is not entirely clear that the extract of the scriptures read is intended
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for that purpose, but such doubts did not trouble Mr. Cook, for he had no congregation. But he had an unseen hearer for a part of the service. A passer-by, hearing the singing, did some eaves-dropping-pardonable in this case-and left at the close of the service, without making his presence known. But he told of the appointment and induced a number of his friends to attend, which resulted in a fair sized audience for the next meeting, and from that humble beginning the religious interest of the settlement advanced, even until this day.
The Lexington of today is a cosy village with a surrounding country of beautiful landscape views and of productive farms. The town has stores and shops to meet the wants of trade, and there are school buildings wherein the children can be instructed, and churches at whose altars the people may worship.
VILLAGE OF BUTLER.
Butler is a thriving village in Worthington township, nineteen miles south of Mansfield, on the B. & O. railroad. The town was originally called "Independence," but was changed to "Butler" some years ago, to agree with the name of the postoffice named after General William O. Butler, of Ken- tucky, who was a hero of the Mexican war, and the candidate for vice- president on the ticket with General Lewis Cass in 1848. The postoffice was established before the town was laid out and was kept at the residence of 'Squire T. B. Andrews, the first postmaster.
Independence was laid out on the northwest quarter of section 20, January 12, 1848, by Daniel Spohn. The place was familiarly called Spohntown for a number of years by the people of that vicinity.
The extension of the Mansfield & Sandusky City railroad to Newark caused Independence to be laid out on its line, and as the business men of Bellville were jealous of having a rival town spring up within the limits of their trade, T. B. Andrews suggested that the new town be called "Independ- ence," in defiance of the. attitude of Bellville. The town was therefore christened according to 'Squire Andrews' suggestion, and was called Independence over forty years ere it was changed to Butler.
The Spohn land upon which Butler stands was entered by William Simmons May 13, 1820. The town was surveyed by Joseph Hastings.
The first business place in the town was started by William Lamley, who kept groceries and "wet goods," the latter being very much in demand during the construction of the railroad. The grocery was situate near where William Shively now lives. Lamley afterward put up a larger structure farther up the railroad, where he conducted a grocery and hotel for a number of years. The first public house was erected by Joseph Geary; the building has since been enlarged and is now kept by Mr. Wise.
In 1850 General G. A. Jones and others, of Mt. Vernon, erected a ware- house, bought grain and conducted a general merchandise for several years, making Independence a grain market. The name of the firm was Robinson, Jones & Co.
Pearce & Severns succeeded Robinson & Jones and conducted the busi- ness for a number of years. The warehouse was destroyed by fire some years
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ago, and a handsome two-story business building now occupies the old warehouse site.
Downing & Son have a dry goods store in the Lamley building, and Mr. Downing is one of the old residents of the place.
Daniel Garber was the first shoemaker in the town; John Diltz the first carpenter; John Daugherty the first wagon maker, and Daniel Loose the first cabinet maker. Garber and Loose married daughters of Richard Oldfield, who was an early settler and prominent resident of Jefferson township.
'Squire Andrews was county commissioner two terms and was a justice of the peace for many years.
David Taylor and John Ramsey were county commissioners, and the latter was a justice of the peace. They were not residents of the village, but lived upon farms near by and were identified with the place. The Craig and Phipps families were also prominent people in that community.
D. J. Rummel built the Rummel grist mill on the Clearfork below the town in about 1850 and it is still in operation, and is one of the most success- ful country mills in the county. The same can be said of the Kanaga mills (now Plank's), a mile above the town.
Among the recent acquisitions is a bank, in its own substantial brick building, on a corner of two of the principal streets. And the people also "point with pride" to the new depot recently erected.
Butler is well represented in all lines of business and trade, and her fine school and church buildings speak well for the village.
There are many worthy people and features of the town-too many to mention them all.
Worthington township was named for Thomas Worthington, who was governor of Ohio in 1814-16. The surface is broken and hilly, especially along the Clearfork, where in many places the scenery is picturesque and beautiful. Two tributaries enter the Clearfork near Butler-Andrews' run from the southwest and Gold run from the southeast.
Butler is situate at the great bend of the B. & O. road, where a number of railroad accidents have occurred, the most notable of which was the terrible collision in September, 1872, during the first state fair at Mansfield.
BELLVILLE.
The second settlement within the present limits of Richland county was made by James McCluer in 1808, where Bellville now stands.
Although James McCluer was the first settler where Bellville now stands and the locality was called the McCluer settlement, the town of Bellville was founded by Robert Bell, for whom it was named.
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