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 60

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 60

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).

Jacob Cline erected a distillery near his cabin, on a spring. This gave the earliest set- tlers a market for their corn and smaller grain, which Mr. Cline purchased and made into whisky, sending part of it to the lake, but dis- posing of most of it to the settlers at 15 or 18 cents per gallon. This was not the poison now retailed by saloons and drug stores, but honest whisky, which would make a man drunk, but would not murder him.

The forests of Franklin Township were filled with wild game of every description, and was a paradise for the white as well as the red hunter. It is said that the Indians were in the habit of going down to what is termed the "Big Hill " for their lead for hunting purposes. It is a little strange that this lead-mine has never been discovered. The old settlers of to-day can, many of them, remember the little chunks of lead, in its crude state, they frequently saw in the hands of the Indians. The Indians guarded their secret with jealous care, and would never

reveal the place of this lead deposit ; the set- tlers, however, were under the impression that it was in the vicinity of the Big Hill. It is stated that, whenever white men were taken to the vicinity of this mine, they were " blind- folded."

Many black bears lived in the swamps and "windfalls" of Franklin. Their cubs were frequently captured by the settlers and re- tained as pets. Many a hunt was made by the settlers, with guns and dogs, after the black- wooled depredators, who had, the night before, disturbed the peace of the pig-pen or tres- passed among the tender vines of the garden.

In the winter of 1817, a light snow being on the ground, Peter Pittenger, James Furgeson and his sons came upon the track of a bear near the present site of Wolford's Schoolhouse. They followed it eastward until the trail stopped at the foot of a hollow tree by Pal- mer's swamp. They began cutting, and, when the tree was half cut down, bruin, doubtless taking the hint, came suddenly down among the dogs and men and ran away along the edge of a swamp. The dogs soon overtook him, and Tige and Jowler made demonstrations in front, while Trip and Penny proceeded to attack the enemy's works in the rear. The men came up quickly, but in the excitement had left their guns behind and found them- selves upon the battle-field where bruin was standing on the defensive, fighting the dogs, with no weapons except an ax and hatchet. These they were unable to use lest a blow at the bear might be equally disastrous to a dog.

When the men came up, the bear again attempted a retreat, when Peter Pittenger seized it by the rump and gave it three deep cuts in the back with his tomahawk. He was compelled, however, to release his hold. and the wounded animal continued the retreat two miles further, but was finally overtaken on the Page farm near Windsor, and shot.

416

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

It is related that late one evening in Novem- ber, an Indian hunter, whom the whites called "Greasy," concluded he would try "shining" on the Black Fork for deer. Placing fire in one end of his bark canoe and seating himself in the other, gun in hand, he dropped quietly down the stream, the fire lighting up either bank. After going half a mile, the hunter saw in the bushes two bright eyes gazing at his beacon light. When he fired, the eyes disap- peared, but a wounded deer struck the water so near the canoe as to upset it, putting out the light and leaving "Greasy " to exercise his swimming powers in the darkness to reach the bank. He soon came shivering back to camp minus canoe. gun. deer and temper.

Blacksnakes and rattlesnakes were quite numerous here as well as elsewhere in early days. Illustrative of this unpleasant fact in pioneer life, Mr. Isaac Charles relates that an Indian named Cornstalk came to his cabin one evening in the fall of 1816, and, taking a seat with a solemn, despondent look, remarked, "Injin tired. Injin hunt all day on hill for deer." "Did you kill any ?" asked Mr. Charles. " Me no kill any deer. Too shy ! Me hunt for bear. Me no kill bear. Injin hungry! Injin tired. After a short pause he continued : " Injin bad scared to-day." "What seared you ?" asked Mr. Charles. "Me look in rocks for bear sign. Ugh! Snake, big! Me turn round, ugh ! Snake there too ; me look on this side, on that side ; snake here, snake there, snake all around. Ugh! Injin scared. Injin run fast." They afterward hunted up this spot, a deep ravine called the "snake den," where hun- dreds of these reptiles were killed.

The township settled up quite rapidly after the war of 1812; many of the soldiers who passed through the county with the army, after- ward returned and settled permanently in these northern townships of the county.

One of the oldest voting-places in the north- ern part of the county was in a cabin on the

farm now owned by Samuel Graham. This cabin, afterward abandoned, served many years as a voting-place for settlers. William Holister and Jacob Cline were the first Justices of the Peace. A short time after his election, a hard case coming before Mr. Cline, he resigned, and Jacob Osbun was elected in his place. The people then, as now, were not politicians, and for several years, the elections went by default. They would forget about election day, and the consequence was they were occasionally with- out either a Justice of the Peace or Constable. They did not feel in particular need of these officers.

The early settlers were compelled to go great distances to get their milling done, water-power being scarce within the limits of the township.

The Spring Mill, in Springfield Township, was patronized by them after its erection, but before that they were compelled to go to Beam's and to Fredericktown. Beam's mill, they said, was so overrun with business in these early days, that they were often compelled to wait three or four days for a grist, and often were not able to get it at all. Nearly all the early mills were primitive affairs, and could not meet promptly the wants of the settlers. Water was not wanting in Franklin, but it was stagnant water and could not be made to fur- nish power. A few saw-mills were erected, but even these could only run occasionally ; a flood would fill up the mill-races with earth and de- bris, and block the mill. A great deal of labor and expense was required to keep them clear. The first of these saw-mills was erected by Jolin Ross, on Brubaker Run, on Section 21. Jacob Whisler afterward owned and conducted this mill several years. About 1840. John Ralston also erected a saw-mill on Brubaker Run, on Section 22, which he conducted eight or ten years. Several other saw-mills were erected in an early day, but all have long since disap- peared. As the country was cleared and drained, the ruins of these old mills were left

417

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

high and dry. About 1865, David Bushey erected a steam saw-mill on the old State road. This mill is yet in operation, and is owned by Theodore Forbes. The only grist-mill within the limits of the township was erected on the Black Fork, about 1840, by Christopher Urick. This mill is yet standing at a point on the Black Fork where the road, running directly north from Mansfield, crosses that stream. It does a local business, and is owned by John Bell. A saw-mill was connected with it many years, but has long since disappeared.

The people are generally a church-going people, five churches having, at present, an organized existence. Before churches were erected, the people held services in their cabins and in the log schoolhouses, which, soon after the first settlement, made their appearance. These first schoolhouses were erected along the first road-the " Old State Road "-one being on Section 8, in the neighborhood of Inks' " tavern," and another in the southern part of the township, near the Long " tavern," and near the present site of the Lutheran Church. These two points were prominent in the early settle- ments. The schoolhouse near Long's tavern was the first one erected, and stood on the farm then owned by Joseph Flora (now by H. Koh- ler), and was erected in 1821. Thomas Taylor was the first teacher, and, afterward, James McCluer taught two terms ; and was followed by Mr. Plummer, who taught several terms. This house burned down one night after a spelling-school, and, for some years after, rooms in private dwellings were used for school pur- poses in this neighborhood. A second house was erected in 1837, on the land now owned by Mr. Kohler.

It was in this schoolhouse, near Long's tavern, that the first church in the township was organized. Here the German Reformed and Lutheran societies were organized about the year 1825. After several years, these organ- izations united for the purpose of erecting a

church. Land was donated for this purpose by John Zeiters, and a log building erected, which, from that day to this, has retained the name of "Zeiters' Church." The deed for this ground is dated December 30, 1834; “from John Zeiters and wife to George Wolford and Jacob Clay, Trustees of the German Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed congregations of Zeiter's Church, and their successors in office." This deed is witnessed by Henry Pit- tenger and John Zeiters, Jr. One of the first graveyards in the township was established here, and the first burial was that of Henry Wainbranner, who died in 1833, aged sixty-two years. On the weather-beaten stone above this grave, appears the following well-worn legend:

" Remember friends, as you pass by, As you are now, so once was I ; As I am now, so you must be ; Prepare for death, and follow me."

Some irreverent wag has written, in pencil, under the above :

" To follow you I can't consent Unless I know which way you went."

The following are the names of some of the first members of this church : Jacob Kunkle- man, Abraham Harnaker, John Zeiters, Jr., J. Henry, Samuel Saltzgaver, John Stoutzenberg, Jacob Zeiters, Jacob Clein, J. W. Sturgeon. Elias Keller, Jacob Heck, George Throne, Michael Throne, Jacob Fisher, John Kendall, William Wolf, Daniel Wolf, Peter Goldman, John Blecker, George Wolford, John Zeiters, Sr., Joel Keller, William Cloud, George Cassel, Thomas Russell and Jacob Bringman.

The old log church answered the purpose until 1861, when the present comfortable brick was erected.

The early ministers were George and Samuel Leiter and the Rev. Francis J. Ruth, of Galion, who yet preaches every two weeks for the con- gregation of Lutherans.

The German Reformed society has disap- peared, and the church is now occupied only by the Lutherans.

418

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

About the year 1840, a division occurred in' this church, a portion of the members, under the leadership of Jacob Clay, withdrawing and erecting a new church for themselves, a mile or more west of the parent church, on Section 32. Mr. Clay gave the ground for this church, and it is generally known as the "Clay Church." It was also erected by the united efforts of the Lutherans and German Reformed people. A few of the Lutherans who partici- pated in this organization were Peter Miller and wife, Jacob Kohler and wife, Jacob Keiser, Thomas Rutledge and wife, Robert and Thomas Hall and John Bringman and wife. Of the German Reformed. there were John Clay and wife, John Fisher and wife, John Marks and wife and Michael Thorne and wife. Of these people, only Peter Miller and John Marks are now living.

The early Lutheran ministers were George Leiter, J. Huffman and F. J. Ruth, the latter of whom yet officiates.

The early German Reformed ministers were Samuel Leiter and Rev. Stump.

Both of these churches support a Sunday school in summer, with forty or fifty members each. Solomon Weaver organized the first Sunday school in the Clay Church, about the year 1852.

It is said that the first religious services ever held in this part of the county was at the house of Peter Pittenger, in 1815. The sery- ices were conducted by Rev. John Clingan, who organized a Methodist society, with about twelve members.

In a very early day, a Universalist Church was erected in the northern part of the town- ship. This church was log, and may have antedated the Zeiter Church. The Ayerses and Truckses were influential in the erection of this church. Adam, John and Lewis Keith and the Crums were members of this church, and early settlers.

In 1852, a Baptist Church was erected on Section 22. These people had been attending

the Baptist Church at Windsor. Rev. Taylor was instrumental in its organization, and the early members were Isaiah Boyce and family, John Jackson and daughter, Charles Copeland and family, Robert Jump and daughter, William Bohler and wife, Roger Moses and John D. Boyce and wife. The present Pastor is J. D. Goff, and the present membership about seventy-five.

A Sunday school was organized in 1851, Abraham Troup being first Superintendent.

Between the years 1830 and 1840, the Tun- kers organized a society, and held meetings at the houses of Jacob Whisler, Henry Worst and others and in the schoolhouse. In 1858, they erected the present frame church, on Section 20. The early members were Henry and Jacob Worst, Jacob Whisler, Christian Ritten- house, Samuel and Jacob Landes and their wives, and Joseph Rittenhouse and wife. The early leaders were James Tracy, Elias Dickey, H. Showalter and others.

Michael Keith and John Kendall gave the ground upon which the church and cemetery were established. The present membership is about one hundred.

The Harmony Baptist Church was organ- ized at Ganges September 3, 1865, by Elder A. Morthland, the first members being David Bushey, Michael Hissel, Joshua Baker, Elder A. Morthland, George Wells, Rowland Boyce, Mrs. David Bushey, Mrs. Joshua Baker and others.

The first meetings were held in schoolhouses, barns and private residences. In 1866, they erected the present church, on Section 20, at a cost of $2,000.

Elder A. Morthland preached for this con- gregation until his death, which occurred Janu- ary 22. 1876. He was followed by Elder T. W. Dye, who died recently, and who occupied the pulpit until his death. The present mem- bership is seventy-seven.

A Sunday school was organized in 1866, and now contains 110 members. David Morth- land is Superintendent.

419

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLV.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-NAME-TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES-HUNTING GROUNDS-ARCHEOLOGICAL-FIRST SETTLEMENTS- JUDGE MCCLUER -FIRST ROAD - URIAH MATSON - FIRST CABIN-WHITE HUNTERS - EARLY SETTLERS -MILLS-PUBLIC MEETINGS-TOWN HALL-SCHOOLS -- CHURCHES.

TACKSON was among the last townships organized in the county, belonging to Sharon until March 2, 1847, the date of its organiza- tion. Its early history is, therefore, connected with that of Sharon. The first election of Sharon was held April 7, 1819, within the pres- ent limits of Jackson, at the house of Mrs. Rockwell. Giles Swan, John Bennett Tay- lor and James Rockwell were elected Trustees ; Almon Hayes, Clerk, and Giles Swan, Justice of the Peace. Upon its erection into a sepa- rate township, an election was ordered by the Commissioners, April 3, 1847, at which Anthony Hershiser, Robert Leach and John Leppo were chosen Trustees ; Abraham Bushey, Treasurer ; Alexander Barr, Assessor ; Samuel Roekwell, Town Clerk, and Delanson Rockwell and David MeKinney, Constables. May 3,1847, Abraham Bushey and John Ackerman were elected first Justices of the Peace.

Robert Cairns claims the honor of suggesting the name, calling it after that much-abused idol of the Democracy, Gen. Jackson. .

Topographically, it is four by six miles in extent, generally level or gently rolling ; was once densely covered with timber of a sturdy and vig- orous growth, and, before white man set foot on the soil, was partially covered with swamps. Since its cultivation and drainage, it proves to be among the best townships of land in the county for agricultural purposes. It is well- watered, and yet there are no streams of any considerable importance within its limits. The

head-waters of the Black Fork pass across the southwest corner, flowing west; and a tributary of the Black Fork, Bear's Run, rises in the cen- tral part, flowing north, and leaving the town- ship near the northwest corner of Section 3. These are the principal streams, but several brooks are found in various parts. Three small tributaries of the Black Fork-Leatherwood Run, Liek Run and Richland Run, water the eastern and northeastern part.

The Mansfield, Coldwater, & Lake Michi- gan and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroads pass across its southwestern part. It is now well- settled with a mixture of Connecticut Yankees and Pennsylvania Germans.

In its primitive condition, it contributed its full share to the extensive hunting-grounds of the Northwestern tribes. No permanent Indian villages appear to have been located within its limits, but their camps, for hunting purposes, were frequently located on the higher grounds in various places. That it was extensively oc- cupied for this purpose is evident, from the quantity of Indian relics, such as arrow points, stone axes and wedges, and various other imple- ments of war and the chase, as well as domes- tic implements, known to have been used by the Indians for various purposes, found in dif- ferent parts. John S. B. Matson, a son of one of the first settlers of the county, Uriah Matson, has a large and valuable collection of these relics.

The first settlers in Jaekson came from two directions-those settling in the northern part

420

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

entering by way of "Beall's trail " and Trucks- ville, through Blooming Grove Township, and were mostly New Englanders ; those settling in the southern part coming from the direction of Zanesville, Mount Vernon and Mansfield. After leaving Beall's trail, these northern set- tlers were compelled to cut their own road through to the lands they had entered. No roads of any kind then existed in the township. It is said that one or two Indian trails crossed it, which was probably the case, but their location cannot be defined at present. Settlers from the south came by way of the McCluer settlement, at Bellville, and Judge McCluer, being well acquainted with the country, was in the habit of acting as guide to these immigrants, and fre- quently accompanied them to different parts of the county, to show them choice quarters of land. It is said that McCluer, during these ex- cursions, frequently selected lands for himself, and thus became the proprietor of many valu- able quarter-sections of land, in various places. It thus happened that McCher entered, just after the war of 1812, several quarter-sections of land on the Black Fork, in the southern part of Jackson Township, which were ever afterward known as " McCluer's mill seat," probably from the fact that he expressed his intention of erecting a mill there, which, however, he never did. It is believed, the first road in the town- ship was cut from Mansfield to "McCluer's mill seat," and this road was afterward extended on, north, to the present site of Shelby, where Gamble's mills were located. Two of Jackson Township's earliest settlers, Uriah Matson and Joseph Curran, assisted in cutting this road, and entered their land in the township as early as 1814 or 1815, though they did not return for permanent settlement until 1816.

At a meeting of the pioneers of the county, in 1858, at which a number of axes were pre- sented to the oldest pioneers, Uriah Matson says, in a letter to the committee : "I would inform you, that I came to this county the 4th

day of August, 1815, and from that time to October, 1822, I followed chopping exclusively, during which time I chopped about one hun- dred and ninety acres of land, and did a large amount of other chopping, such as mak- ing rails, sawing timber for frames, getting bark for tanners, etc. Since 1822, I have chopped and cleared upward of eighty acres, on the farm I now occupy. I think I have done more chopping, assisted in raising more cabins and rolling more logs, than any other man now living in the county. When I came to the county, there were about four families living in Springfield Township, to wit, Coffen- berry, Condon, Edington and Thomas Adams ; and but four more families in all the northwest part of the county, to wit, Pettijohn, in Au- burn, McCher, Widow Trux and son-in-law, in Plymouth Township."

Mr. Matson was presented an ax, in consid- eration of the amount of land cleared by him.

In the spring of this year (1816), Mathew and Joseph Curran came, and erected a cabin upon Mathew's land, the southwest quarter of Section 36. This is said to have been the first cabin in the township, and stood upon the farm now owned by Robert Cairns, of Mansfield. Joseph Curran had entered the southeast quarter of the same section, and soon after erected the second cabin. It is related that settlers came from several miles south to help erect this cabin for Mathew Curran and family, among the number being Mr. Calvin Clark, yet living and a resident of the town- ship. The time and circumstances are vividly impressed upon Mr. Clark's mind, from the fact that an accident happened at the raising. The Curran family had encamped near where they intended erecting the cabin, and were cooking dinner for the workmen, by the side of a large log, in the open air. One of Mr. Curran's chil- dren, a little boy, attempted to walk this log, in sport, and, making a misstep, fell into a large kettle of boiling coffee, scalding him to such an

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. 421

extent that he died the following day. This was the first death of a white person in the town- ship so far as known.

A few white people, it is ascertained, fre- quented this territory before the Currans came, but they cannot be called settlers ; they were trappers and hunters-backwoodsmen in the full sense of the word-and they remained just long enoughi after other white occupation to have their names preserved in history, and then disappeared, to perish, probably, at their perilous calling, alone in the great forest,

" Unwept, unhonored and unknown."

Their names were James Champion and a Mr. Girard. It is said, also, that a Mr. Brubaker. and some other hunters whose names are not remembered, frequented this excellent hunting and trapping ground at a very early day. Two men named Eben Bolt and - Brown are said to have commenced a settlement by clear- ing off a little patel of ground, but they disap- peared, and were not heard of afterward.

It is a mooted question as to whether the Currans were the first actual settlers, as some of those who settled in the northern part of the township came about the same time. It has been stated that the Currans came in 1815. If this be true, they were, probably, the first settlers ; but the weight of evidence seems to bring them here in the spring of 1816, at which time their cabin was erected ; and this same year, probably in the spring, John Bennett Taylor and Robert Henry came, and made a settlement in the northern part of the township, as before stated. These two were soon after (it is believed the same year) followed by Adam and Giles Swan, and Joseph Rockwell .. John B. Taylor settled on Section 14, the Swans on Section 10, and Mr. Rockwell on Sec- tion 23. These were followed within the next two years by Henry Taylor, who settled on Section 14; Isaac Marvin, Section 10; Wilson Rockwell, Section 14; James Smith, Section 14, and Charles Taylor, Section 15. Walter

Taylor came in 1819, settling on Section 12, and Almon Hayes in 1820, settling on Section 15. The early settlers who came a little later were John Drake, Section. 15; Calvin Clark, Section 16; Thomas Mclaughlin, Section 9; George, Hugh and Robert Fulton, Section 16; Adam and Peter Miller, Section 16; Carson Craig, David Funk. John Craiglow and John Rice, the latter mentioned in another chapter as being with Commodore Perry in the battle on Lake Erie.

The people who settled in the northern part of the township were sharp, shrewd, live, go- ahead Yankees from Connecticut, and. in addi- tion to their enterprise and thrift, were well- educated, the two Swans being graduates from Yale College. They came here to make money, and most of them succeeded. The Taylors erected a carding-mill, propelled by horse- power. It was of logs, and certainly a primi- tive affair, but answered the purpose several years. Henry Crum now occupies the farm where the mill stood. In addition to this, the Taylors brought on a small stoek of goods. suitable for traffic among the Indians and early settlers, consisting mostly of hardware, cutlery, groceries, etc. Henry, who was induced to come by his brother Bennett, and came in 1817, brought this stock with him, and managed this branch of the business. He was the first mer- chant in this part of the country, and kept his goods in his cabin. He did not, however, re- plenish his stock, and soon sold out. He was also a blacksmith, and erected the first shop of that kind in the township, working at his trade while closing out his stock, and making for the Indians, knives, tomahawks, etc .. and repairing their guns. He was an ingenious and skillful workman, and was the father of Mrs. W. R. Brieker, of Shelby. Hayes was also a black- smith, and erected the second shop. He relates that while working in his shop one day, he was visited by half a dozen Indians, who, upon leaving. and after getting a short distance away,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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