History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c., Part 58

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c. > Part 58

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).

The Methodist Church of Rome was erected about 1840. The society was first organized some years earlier in the Stoner settlement, and the early meetings held in the old log schoolhouse north of Rome. The first members were the Stoners, the Clausen family, Solomon Madden, John Wolph, John Woods and other.s

The first church was a frame, and was used until 1875, when the present neat, substantial brick was erected at a cost of $2,800. A Sun- day school was organized many years ago, and is yet continued, the membership being now about thirty.

About the time of the erection of the Meth- odist Church of Rome, a frame church was

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

erected in Trucksville, which is yet standing, a large, square, squatty, unpainted, ugly thing, and is, to-day, the only church building in that somewhat dilapidated and demoralized. town. It was erected by people of different denomi- nations, and has always been free to all denom- inations "except the Universalists," but is not extensively used for religious purposes ; it is allowed to "rest" most of the time, and its appearance is in perfect harmony with its sur- roundings.

About 1859, a German Reformed Society was organized in Ganges. and this organization is the only one, at present, holding regular service in the church.

Among the first members of this organization were the Lybargers, Landers, Beechers, Lasers, Kunkelmans and others.

The Union Church, near Shenandoah, was erected about 1849, principally by the Pres- byterians. the German Reformed, Methodists, and Church of God. Jacob Cline gave one acre of ground for the church and grave- yard. The principal movers in the erection of the church were Christian Urick. David Miller, Tobias Fox, George Burgoyne, Charles Saviers, Peter Secrist, William Foulks, Daniel Quinn, and Henry Young. Ministers of every denom- ination are allowed to occupy the pulpit. It is a large, active church, more than one hundred members of the different denominations wor- shiping here. The Sunday school is also large and active, with a membership of an average of eighty or more pupils.

Near it stands the Disciples' Church of Shen- andoah, organized in March, 1876. This society, for years, worshiped in the Union Church. but finally grew strong enough to erect a building of its own, in 1879. The principal members are Doctor Starr, Frank Morris, David Miller, John Mercer, Henry Cline, Milo Starr, Alanson Martin and I. P. Morris. This is a neat frame building, and cost about $3,000. Rev. John Lowe was their first and also the

present minister. The membership is about one hundred, and the Sunday school is active, with a membership of fifty or more.

The United Brethern Church, located in the northeast part of the township, on Section 3, was erected about 1860. It was organized by Rev. Hill. The principal members were William McUmber, Joseph Walker, Samuel Rickard and John Kensil. The building is frame, and cost about $600 ; the membership is about forty. A Sabbath school is supported during the summer.

Three villages have an existence within the limits of this township, neither of which can lay claim to great attractions to the fortune seeker. or lover of the beautiful.

The oldest of these is Ganges, formerly called Trucksville, laid out by Wm. Trucks and Daniel Ayres, in the spring of 1815. It was laid out in a square, with a public square in the center.

In a very early day, a road had been opened from Mount Vernon north to the lake, for the purpose of gaining an outlet for grain and other produce. The Truckses and Ayerses fol- lowed this then very new road. and located their land on the bank of the Black Fork, in what afterward proved to be the southwestern corner of Blooming Grove Township. Here, where this road crossed the Black Fork, they conceived to be a good place for a town. Mr. Trucks immediately erected a cabin for his own use upon the land he had entered, and this be- came the first cabin in the new town. He also erected a mill, on the low ground along the stream, referred to elsewhere. The Ayerses also erected cabins on their land, and were men of families and influence in that part of the township. Daniel Ayers was probably the first Justice of the Peace in the township, and held court at his cabin several years. His brother James erected a hotel on the town site, and im- mediately did a thriving business. The little town started forward with bright prospects, the road upon which it was located becoming soon a great and important highway, over

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

which hundreds of wagons, loaded with grain from the older counties south, passed every week.

The first post office in the township was lo- cated here; and the first orchard planted in the township was by Messrs. Trucks and Ayers, they having procured the young trees from the famous Johnny Appleseed. The village grew rapidly, and at one time it aspired to the position of county seat, with fair prospects of getting it. So great was the hotel business that a sec- ond building was erected for that purpose. C. R. Hooker, now of Mansfield, was one of the early proprietors of this hotel. In addition to the hotels, four stores were in operation at one time, other business being equally active. Trucksville appeared on the high road to pros- perity. The first of these stores was started by Francis Graham, who enjoyed daily oppor- tunities of sending to the lake for his goods, and forwarding his produce to that market.

It was a sad, solemn day for Trucksville when the iron horse came down through the woods, on the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Railroad. The whistle of the locomotive was the death-knell of the village, as it was of other villages. It began to decline from that day. The great wagon trains of produce soon disappeared entirely-the cars carried the grain so much cheaper and quicker. For many years the town has been comparatively dead. There may be 100 people there to-day, living in di- lapidated houses, many of them unpainted, and the general appearance is one of decay. One or two small stores constitute about the only business of importance. Even the mill erected by George Weaver, after the Trucks mill dis- appeared, has ceased its labors.

The next attempt to build a city in the town- ship was on the northwest quarter of Section 8. Here Alfred Foulks laid out a town which he called Rome. It is situated on " Beall's Trail." It was platted on both sides of the road and be- came the largest of the three villages. Its growth was, at first, more healthy than that of

Trucksville, depending on the surrounding country, and was less liable to be injured by a passing railroad. It was laid out May 9, 1832.

George Foulks came here in an early day, and having a large family, entered several quar- ter-sections of land in the vicinity-one-quarter for each of his children. He, and his son-in- law, Jessie Davidson, erected the first houses, the former bringing on a stock of goods and starting the first store, and the latter starting the first hotel. At one time, the place con- tained three stores, carrying a general stock, and a proportionate amount of other business was transacted. The place, at present, straggles along on either side of the road for a quarter of a mile, and has a dilapidated, sleepy look. The wonder is, what all its people-two or three hundred in number-do for a living. Jacob Rarick keeps the only store in the place. The first schoolhouse was erected about 1840 ; Geo. W. Cline being the first teacher. The present large frame building was erected about 1855.

Shenandoah was laid out on " Beall's Trail." in the southeast part of the township, by Will- iam and George Altorfer, on the southeast quarter of Section 34, in June, 1844. The Altorfers purchased the land of Robert Cum- mings, who entered it. The first building erected was of hewed logs, and is yet standing, forming a part of the hotel now kept by Stand- ard Cline. Jacob Bushey erected the second house, and John Valentine the third. These men were shoemakers. Jolm Ninan started a blacksmith-shop and William Hisey, a pottery. John Sanker erected a wagon-shop, and still continues the business. Edward Hall came from Rome, and started the first store and post office. The store has changed hands several times, and is now conducted by I. P. Morris. The Altorfers were from the Shenandoah Val- ley, Va., hence the name of the village. At present, there are seventeen dwelling-houses in the place ; a rake and handle factory, wagon- shop, store and two churches.

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

401

CHAPTER XLII.

BUTLER TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-TOPOGRAPHY-EARLY SETTLERS-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS-LA FAYETTE-MILLS-THE GRANGE-A WOLF HUNT. .

B UTLER TOWNSHIP was formed March 5, 1849, by taking the eastern half, which had, prior to the erection of Ashland County, been a part of Clear Creek Township, and a strip two miles in width from the eastern part of Blooming Grove, and uniting them into a new township four miles in width and six miles in length. It is thus equal in size with all others in the north part of the county. having twenty- four square miles of territory.

The surface of Butler Township is flat. No other township in Richland County is so level. It is drained by the Whetstone, the head-waters of which find their sources in the northwest part of the township. In early times, it was wet and uninviting to the settlers, if that part is excepted on the Whetstone, and, conse- quently, it settled slowly. But since the coun- try became opened to the sun, and the fallen timber all removed, which obstructed the drain- age of the surface, it has developed into a fine agricultural district, with a rich, productive soil, well adapted for grass and stock-raising. The timber is chiefly beech, sugar, hickory, black walnut, cherry and oak, with a few syca- mores lifting their long arms in the air. In its topographical features, it does not present the same variety of hill and dale as some other townships. With the exception of the Whet- stone, but little running water is found within its boundaries ; but good water is obtained at a convenient depth by digging.

Jacob Foulks settled in Butler Township in the year 1815, and entered land on the Whet- stone. His son Ransom was born in 1816,

being the first white child born in the township. The first death, that of his daughter Nancy, also took place at his house in 1818. His son, Henry Foulks, laid out the village of La Fayette in 1838, and kept the first store. The old homestead farm was sold to E. T. Kirk. Some of the descendants are yet in the neighborhood. James Kirk, son of E. T. Kirk, occupies the premises at present.

The first Justice of the Peace was Cyrus Evarts, who was Justice here before Ashland County was made. He was a resident for some time, of the township.

Robert Houston entered 160 acres of land on the Whetstone in 1818. He came from Delaware. In the year 1824, he was married to Sarah Owens, being the first marriage in the township. Their son, John Houston, is now living in La Fayette. He is running a steam saw-mill, and doing a large business. The first saw-mill put in operation in the township was on the site of this mill, by a Mr. Fairchild, in the year 1839.

Abraham Claberg came to Butler in the year 1815. His nearest neighbor was Jacob Foulks. Only two or three other families were in the township at the time. Occasionally, Indians were seen. His house stood on the banks of the Whetstone. He had two sons. Jacob and Isaac. Jacob still lives two miles north of La Fayette, and is one of the Com- missioners of this county.

John Owens was born in Ireland, and emi- grated to the United States in the year 1806, and settled in Pennsylvania ; moved to Richland

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

County in the year 1814,'and settled two miles be- low Ashland, and, after living there five years, came up to Butler Township, and entered a quar- ter of land on the Whetstone, two miles north of Olivesburg, in 1819, where he planted a large orchard, raising the first apples in the neighbor- hood. He assisted in building the first Pres- byterian Church in Olivesburg ; was active in organizing the first school in Butler Township. He had five sons and five daughters ; Archi- bald was the oldest son, and still lives at La Fayette, and is nearly eighty years of age. The youngest daughter married the late Mr. Charles Anderson. and is living at La Fayette. Mr. Owens died in the year 1842, aged seventy-six. James Laughlin, one of his nearest neighbors, was associated with him in early church and school enterprises. The first school organized in the township was on Mr. Laughlin's land, and was taught by Joseph Ward. Sr., of Weller Township.

John Wolf settled in the west part of town- ship, in 1816. The Starrs were his nearest neighbors for some time. Mrs. Starr is still living on the old farm, where she has resided about sixty-five years. Her son, Mitchel Starr, is a practicing physician. Mr. Wolf was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. His house was, for a long time, one of the " backwoods chapels," where itinerant preach- ers held religious service, long before commo- dious churches were built. The Rev. Mr. Boardman was their first preacher. Mr. Wolf was an officer in the M. E. Church till the close of his useful and self-denying life. One of his daughters married the Rev. Jacob Fegtly, of the North Ohio Conference. The entire family removed to Iowa about the year 1857.

The first religious society at La Fayette was formed in 1842, and was composed of eight members, viz .: Joshua Ford, Elizabeth Ford, Edward T. Kirk, Mary Kirk, Samuel Robinson and wife, Mrs. George Dancer and John Free- man. For a time, they held their meetings in

a log schoolhouse. In 1844, they built their first church, a frame building, at a cost of $500. The Trustees of this church were Joshua Ford and Edward T. Kirk. Edward T. Kirk and wife made a deed, and donated, in fee simple, one acre of ground for church and graveyard. The Rev. John Quigley was the Pastor, and dedicated the church; John H. Power was the Presiding Elder. In 1857, the old church edi- fice gave way to a more commodious building, of modern style. The contract was given to James O. Hagerman, of Weller Township, for the sum of $1.200. The Trustees were Joshua Ford, E. T. Kirk, Michael Kirk, Daniel Free- man ; the Pastor, Silas Seymour.

A powerful revival followed the building of this church, and the society has continued to prosper. Only one of the original members is yet connected with the society - Mrs. E. T. Kirk. A Sunday school was organized when the new church was built, and is yet in success- ful operation. The present Superintendent is John Kirk.

There are seven common schools and school- houses, in the township, and three churches, viz., Methodist, Disciple and "Church of God."

The Disciple Church is situated in the north- west part of the township. It was built about the year 1870. Is a commodious structure, 40x50 feet in size. Its principal members are Charles Thompson, Peter Davidson, Thomas Tucker, George Garrow, Abram Crabbs, David Enzor and John Davidson. The Pastor is Rev. Mr. Cline. A successful Sabbath school is con- nected with the church. The Winebrenarians have a small society in the southeast part of the township.

There is no grist-mill in the township; two saw- mills are in operation, owned by Morris & Sechrist and John Houston. The country is well adapted to stock-raising. The Messrs. Kirk have large stock-farms near La Fayette. A farmers' grange was organized here in 1874, and holds regular meetings. The citizens seem to take a laudable

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

interest in guarding the morals of the com- munity. All liquor-selling is prohibited, and other nuisances banished, as far as practicable. Not a drunkard is to be seen in the community.

No railroad at present touches the township. A tile factory, near Shenandoah, worked by Messrs. Whisler & Starr, is doing a good bus- iness.

Butler Grange was organized in April, 1874. Its officers are : Master, John Kirk ; Overseer, William Garrow; Steward. J. Richardson ; As- sistant Steward, George Robinson ; Lecturer, Henry Yockey; Chaplain, R. T. Brokaw ; Sec- retary, D. V. Tucker ; Treasurer, Cyrus Evarts ; Business Agent, G. B. Barnes ; Ceres, Mrs. M. Barnes ; Gatekeeper, D. S. Dancer; Assistant Steward, Mrs. J. Brokaw ; Flora, Mary Kirk ; Pomona, Maggie Anderson ; Gatekeeper, David Dancer.

The Grange owns and occupies a commodious hall in the village of La Fayette. It meets every two weeks, reads essays. collects statistics, discusses agricultural questions of interest, and keeps on hand a small stock of groceries. The Grange is said to be in a prosperous condition.

In the year 1828, a grand union wolf-hunt was organized by the citizens of this and ad- joining townships. There were but few wolves, but there were at that time deer, wild turkeys, and other wild game. A central point was pre- viously marked out in a little "neck of woods," the trees blazed conspicuously all round to form a "dead line." Marshals were appointed to manage the incoming lines, fill up vacancies,

and prevent the escape of game through the lines. The "center " was near where the village of La Fayette now stands. The lines were formed about two or three miles back from the center, about 10 o'clock in the morning. Hun- dreds of people were on the lines in waiting, with guns, tin bugles, dogs, pitchforks, butcher- knives. etc. At a given signal, the lines ad- vanced toward the center, every man and boy did his "level best " to make the biggest noise, and, as the advancing columns approached each other, the affrighted game, with heads aloft, would rush from side to side, seeking some avenue of escape. A number of wild turkeys rose on wing and sailed out over the lines in regular turkey triumph.

When the lines had come within sight of each other and the game was seen flying to and fro, the excitement in the crowd was in- describable. The officers lost control of the men, who commenced firing before the proper time. While in range of the opposite lines, one man had the bark of a tree knocked in his face by a passing bullet. In the center was a little knoll that protected opposite parties. A num- ber of deer and turkeys were killed, but no wolves. The writer of these pages partook of a turkey killed by Archibald Owens on that day. After gathering up the wounded and the slain, a grand carnival was held, and, when the hunters separated for their homes, it was, no doubt, with the impression that it was the greatest and the grandest day since the days of Nimrod.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLIII.

CASS TOWNSHIP.

ITS ERECTION, BOUNDARIES AND PHYSICAL FEATURES-SETTLEMENTS-INDIANS-FIRST METHODIST CHURCH- SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS - TOWNS-OLD SALEM - LONDON-PLANKTOWN -SHILOH - ITS EARLY SETTLERS, BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-THE SHILOH REVIEW.

C ASS belongs to the northern tier of town- ships, with Plymouth on the west, Bloom- ing Grove on the east, and Jackson on the south. It was named after the Democratic candidate for President in 1848. It was erected out of the east half of Plymouth Township, December 12, 1849, and the name of Cass was at that time a prominent one in political his- tory. Its length, from north to south, is six miles : width, four miles.

It is generally level, very fertile, and an ex- cellent fruit-growing district. The southern part is well watered by the Black Fork and tributaries, and the northern part by the tribu- taries of the Huron River, the dividing ridge running near the village of Shiloh.

The first settlement of this township was made near the head-waters of the Black Fork, in 1815, on Sections 13 and 24. John Long, from Knox County, formerly from Pennsyl- vania, settled on the former, and John McCart on the latter. Both families came about the same time, but McCart built the first cabin in the township, and Long the second. Other set- tlements were rapidly made. Among those who came in that and the year following, may be mentioned John Morris, who settled on Section 4; Daniel Gonsales, Section 9; Asa Murphy and family, including a son. Asa, from Vir- ginia, Section 1; Daniel Prosser, Section 21. Robert Greene came in 1816, from Hampshire County, Va., and [Thomas McBride in 1817, settling on Section 3. The following persons settled near the present site of the vil-

lage of Shiloh, from 1816 to 1825: Frank Carmichael, Levi Bodley, William Bodley. Theson Richardson, Cornelius Brink, John and Aaron Pettit, Ephraim Vail, Richard Thew, John and Isaac Murphy, Reason Barnes, Thomas James, Benjamin Young, William Got- ton, Peter Hall, John Long, Jr., Thomas Hamil- ton and James Long. The settlement of this township began after the war of 1812, when there was a good deal of excitement about, and quite a rush for, Ohio lands ; consequently, it filled up rapidly, a majority of the settlers being from Western Pennsylvania and Virginia, a few, from New Jersey and the New England States. The early history of the township is meager. It does not differ from the general history of other townships in early days, except perhaps it was more quiet. no Indians of consequence being encamped within the limits of the town- ship, except a small band of Wyandots or Dela- wares (probably a part of Armstrong's band of Greentown Indians). who had a permanent camp on the head-waters of the Black Fork. The settlers were never molested by them. There is the usual supply of bear and deer hunting stories, but none of sufficient im- portance for preservation. The entire town- ship was heavily timbered with beech, oak, sugar, hickory, ash, and all other varieties of hard wood. It is quite probable that none of the early settlers found sufficient room to build their cabins without first cutting away the trees and brush. Thus the pioneers hewed out the homes for those who now enjoy them. A few

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

407

of them yet remain, grayhaired and bending with the weight of years, living monuments of days that are fast fading, and can scarcely be comprehended by the generations of to-day.

The Methodists seem to have been the pio- neer religious body in this township. About 1816 or 1817, Bennajah Boardman held the first religious services, in the cabin house of John Long, on the site of the village of Planktown, or Richland. He was a missionary, and continued preaching among the settlers several years before any church was erected. Money to build churches, or for any other pur- pose, was scarce, and the meetings were held in private houses, barns, and in the open air. In 1828, through the Rev. Boardman's influ- ence, a log church-the first one in the town- ship-was erected on the southeast quarter of Section 1, where a town was laid out which they called Salem, and the church received the name of Salem Church. The settlers came together and built this church by their united labors. Its first members were John. Cathar- ine, Nancy, Betsy and Sarah Long; Asa Mur- phy, who was considered a leader in the congregation ; Peter and Annie Maring, John and Hannah Bell. This church was of hewed logs, and about fifty feet long by forty wide, with rude puncheon benches for seats. Follow- ing Bennajah Boardman, the ministers were Erastus Felton, the Revs. Chase and Goddard. Adam Poe, a nephew of the famous Indian- fighter, also preached here occasionally. Board- man was, finally, the local preacher; settled here, and died in 1858. The log church was used until 1852, when it was torn down and a frame erected which cost $1,625. When the railroad (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis) came through the township in 1850, and the town of Shiloh began to grow, the Methodists proposed building a church in that place, and the old one was neglected. It was finally sold, in 1874, to Wesley McLaugh- lin, for $300, who, in turn, sold it to the Dunk-

ards, by whom it is now occupied. This is the only church in the township outside the towns.

As in other townships, the first schools were " subscription " schools, and were taught in private houses, there being no public funds for school purposes. The first schoolhouse was built in 1819, on Section 9; and the first teacher was A. D. Bodley. Bennajah Board- man, the Methodist preacher, also taught one of the first schools, before any schoolhouse was erected, in a cabin built for a dwelling, across the road, south of old Salem Church, on the land now owned by David Long. This cabin had been occupied by a family of colored people-the first in the township. In this same cabin, Boardman also preached for some time before the log church was built. John Armstrong and an Englishman by the name of Simpson, also taught in this cabin. After sey- eral years, a hewed-log schoolhouse, which must have been the second one in the town- ship, was built on the present site of the town of Shiloh, and the old cabin at Salem was de- serted, the scholars all gathering at this house. Armstrong and Bodley also taught in this house. Some of the scholars were Levi Brink, Enos, Sophia and Rebecca Dayhuff, Newton Osterhant, Thomas Vail, Thomas, James and Alexander Pettit, Caleb Boardman, Eli Murphy, and Polly and Mary James.

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Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968