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 75

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 75

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).

come up as far as the present site of Charles' mill in the Copus settlement.

In 1875, the Dunkards built a frame church on Section 17, on land donated by Christian Coffman, who, with Henry Hoover and son, were the principal founders. Rev. Benjamin preaches there at present. The membership is about thirty.

In the same year, a Sunday school was or- ganized at the Lewis Schoolhouse in District No. 3. Washington McBride was the first, and is the present, Superintendent. The member- ship is about twenty-five.

Mifflin exhibited such excellent facilities for water-power, that the settlers early began the erection of mills. The first grist-mill was erected on Section 8, on a tributary of the Black Fork. It was called Flemming's mill, and was de- stroyed by a flood. In 1819, a grist-mill and a saw-mill were erected near each other on Black Fork, about one mile above Petersburg on Sec- tion 10. The grist-mill was the second built in the township, and is still in operation. Several dwelling-houses have gathered around it, and a tanyard is in operation, owned by Mr. Augus- tine, of Mansfield, but the place is yet name- less. The mill has changed hands many times. It was built by Andrew Newman, and run by him until 1825, when it was sold to Jacob Sta- man, who, in 1828, transferred it to Benjamin Hershey. This gentleman tore down the log structure, and built the mill in its present form, and afterward sold it to Jacob Staman & Bro- thers. It was at different times transferred successively to Benjamin Staman, John Staman, Joseph Gougwer, and in 1871, to John Zehner, its present owner. It has long been known as the Staman Mill.

In 1831, Benjamin Staman built a saw-mill near his residence, on Section 14, which is still under his supervision. A grist-mill was also built on Section 35, three miles below Peters- burg, on the Black Fork, in the Copus settle- ment.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

The first was a log structure, built by John Hershey, and by him transferred to Charles Lewis, who owned it when destroyed by fire. In 1854, the present mill was built by Daniel Coffman. It contains two run of stone, and grinds about two thousand bushels of wheat in a year. In 1859, it was purchased by its pres- ent owner, John Charles, and is known as the Charles Mill.

'A fourth mill is on Zimmer's run, a branch of the Black Fork, on the southwest quarter of Section 24. It was built by James Neely, and is at present owned by James Mathews. A fifth mill is on Section 22. It was built in 1835 by John Staman, and is called the Twin Spring Mill, from the fact that it is built near two beautiful springs, which produce a large volume of clear water, which flows into the Black Fork. Nearly, or quite all, the mills have a saw-mill in connection, owned and run by the same per- son.

Mifflin is the oldest of the two towns in the township. It is located on the southeast quar- ter of Section 16, and was laid out on the 28th of June, 1816, by William B. James, Peter Deardoff and Samuel Lewis. It was named Petersburg, from the given name of one of its founders, but, by an act of the Legislature, was changed to Mifflin, though it is still generally known by its first name. It is on the east side of Black Fork, half a mile from that stream. Its location was determined by two very large springs, which furnish the purest and best of water for all its people. The water is conveyed to places convenient for general use. Early travelers across the State claimed for the Pe- tersburg springs the best water in the State.

The first store was kept by a Mr. McFadden in a log hut. In 1833, John Scott, William Lemon and John McCroy started the second store. The census returns of 1830 showed a population in the town of thirty-five. This was the only instance in which the census of the town was taken separately from the town-

ship. It never had a corporate existence. In 1839, William Lemon died, and his brother John took his place in the store, buying out Scott. In 1844, John bought out McCroy, and has continued the business, with his sons, ever since. He was originally from Paisley, Scot- land, and came to Haysville in 1818. His son James now runs the store. They carry a gen- eral stock of about $6,000 value.

The first hotel was kept by a Mr. Thomas in a log house ; the second by Jacob Will, on the corner where Lemon's store building now stands. These two being discontinued, the present building was erected in 1840 by James Hartman. The first blacksmith-shop was erected by a Mr. McKinsey.

The town has grown steadily, until the pop- ulation numbers about 250. At present. there are two groceries, kept by Charles Engle and James Budd ; a hotel, by Cyrus Keffer ; three blacksmith-shops, by John Baker, Nicholas Mathews and Isaac Mathews ; one saddler's shop, by Paul Keightley ; three shoe-shops. by William Batchelor, Jacob Black and Jolin Pitts ; two wagon-shops, by Hiram Sweet and Nathan- iel Keightley ; a butcher-shop, by Frederick Dale and Frank Hershey. There are two doc- tors, I. F. Markel and C. D. Sackett. The lat- ter has in his possession an interesting relie of olden times. It is a wooden clock, which was found secreted in the woods after the Zimmer and Copus massacre. The people at that time fled to the forts for safety, secreting their most valuable possessions in the woods.

The Evangelical Lutherans are the most nu- merous religious denomination in the vicinity of Petersburg. Until 1851, they worshiped in the log churches before mentioned. That year, they built a church in Petersburg. It was de- stroyed by fire in 1863, and afterward rebuilt. The several families of Cullers, residing in the vicinity, have always been influential in matters connected with this church, and have contribut- ed freely of their means to its support. A

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Presbyterian church was organized, under the name of "Mifflin," in 1851. Rev. W. T. Adams was the first Pastor. James Rowland, of Mans- field. also preached in this church. They wor- shiped in what is called the Union Church, built in 1851, through the influence of John Lemon, Luke Silby and Jonas Balliett, who were appointed trustees. This church is free to all denominations, and has been used by the Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists and Al- brights. The latter occupied it for a Sunday school several years, but finally consolidated with the Lutheran Sunday school, organized in 1853, and is still in a flourishing condition. The first Superintendent was Elias Troutman, of Mans- field. The present Superintendent is C. C. Sta- man, and the membership about three hundred. The present minister of this church is Rev. J. A. Hall. The Union Church is at present un- occupied.

The town of West Windsor was laid out March 21. 1837, by Joseph, Henry and A. T. Page, and Roger Moses. It is six miles from Mansfield, on the road to Ashland and Olives- burg. The Pages came from Windsor County, Vt .. hence the name of the village. Joseph Page purchased the land on which Windsor is situated, of Archibald Gardner, who settled here, as before stated, in 1811. He (Page) had five children-Thomas, Henry, Alanson T., Mary and Febe. Alanson T., in company with John Conn (who afterward went to Van Wert. Ohio), started the first store in 1839. It was in a frame building, which is yet standing on the

Windsor Run, a tributary of the Black Fork. The place never grew up the expectations of its founders, and when the Atlantic & Great Wes- tern Railroad passed within three-fourths of a mile of it in 1864, part of the business went over to the station, and the little village took a Rip Van Winkle sleep. At present, there is a grocery, kept by John Baker, two shoe-shops by Phillip Heiserman and Peter Broach, a blacksmith-shop by Charles Barr, and a wagon- shop by Jacob Marti. There are about seventy inhabitants.

A Baptist church was built here in 1840. Mr. Page gave the lot on which it stands. The original members were Mrs. Kagey, Mrs. Irvin, Jonas Balliett and wife, Joseph Page, wife and son, and Jolin Woodhouse. The latter is still living in one of the oldest, if not the oldest, brick house in the township.

The first minister was Rev. Mr. Thorp, fol- lowed by Justus Taylor and Henry Brown. The Baptist attendance having failed, the Methodists organized a church in 1869. The present min- ister is the Rev. Mr. Hoydon ; the membership is about twenty. Three years ago, a Sunday school was started, with Allen Haverfield as Superintendent. The present membership is about twenty-five.

In 1820, the population of the township was 467 ; in 1830, 1,118; in 1840, 1,800; in 1850, 1,997 ; in 1860, 1,790, and in 1870, 1,679. It remains for the census of 1880 to show whether there is an increase or decrease.

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

537

CHAPTER LIII.

MONROE TOWNSHIP.

BOUNDARIES AND PHYSICAL FEATURES -PIPE'S CLIFF -CAPT. PIPE- EARLY SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS - SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS - PIONEERS AND THEIR REMINISCENCES - BEARS, WILD CATS AND WILD TURKEYS-NAMES OF SETTLERS IN 1819-ELECTION-CHURCHES-MILLS-PINHOOK-LUCAS-POPULATION.

HIS township was organized February 11, 1817, out of the north half of Worthington. It contains thirty-six square miles, and corners with the southeast corner of Madison, having Washington on the west, Worthington on the south, and Mifflin on the north. Part of the north and all of the east line joins Ashland County. Its general surface is broken, and in places even hilly, but the land is generally fer- tile, producing large crops of everything raised from the soil of Ohio. It is well wa- tered with numerous springs and running streams. The beautiful Clear Fork crosses the southeast corner ; it only gives Monroe a short call. Switzer's Run, a tributary of the Clear Fork, crosses the southwestern portion of the township, and Rocky Fork and its tributaries and a portion of the Black Fork water all the northern part. The Rocky and Black Forks of the Mohican unite in the eastern part of the township. The Pennsylvania Central Railroad enters the township on its eastern line with the Black Fork, follows that stream to its junction with the Rocky Fork and continues up the lat- ter stream to Lucas; thence it turns north, leaving the township near its northwest corner.

There is much beautiful natural scenery in. this township, although in that respect it may not quite equal Mifflin, but the country along Switzer's Run, and the valleys of the Clear and Black Forks, are lovely to look upon, and were thoroughly occupied and appreciated by the Indians, as they now are by a more cultivated race. Among the landmarks worth mention-

ing, is Pipe's Cliff. This romantic ledge of rocks is situated in the southern part of the township, near the center of Section 28, about two hundred yards northeast of the residence of J. J. Douglas. The Lexington & Perry- ville road eurves around the base of the rocks, but a fair view of them cannot be had from the road ; to appreciate the beauty and pictur- esqueness of the spot, one must climb up among them. They derive their name from old Capt. Pike, the noted Indian chieftain, who figured prominently in the early Indian wars, and was for many years an inveterate enemy of the white race, until finding further resist- ance useless, he buried the hatchet, signed the treaty of Greenville, and was ever after a firm friend of the whites. In the war of 1812, when the British attempted to secure the serv- ices of this chieftain, he nobly replied : "When I signed the treaty of Greenville, it was understood that I was not again to take up the hatchet while the trees grow and the water runs;" and he kept his word. Mrs. Swigart, still living in Lucas at the age of eighty-three, remembers Capt. Pipe very well, and says, the last time she saw him, he told her he was about one hundred years old. It is said that a scouting party under Capt. Broad- head, or belonging to his expedition, while passing through this section, discovered a party of Indians seated upon some portions of the rocks belonging to Pipe's Cliff, and unobserved by them, approached within shooting distance and fired upon the party, killing a sister of

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Capt. Pipe, who happened to be among them ; and that this tragedy gave the place its name, but there is a doubt as to the correctness of this story. Aside from any Indian traditions, however, these rocks are well worth a visit. At the eastern extremity of Pipe's Cliff a pro- jecting rock rises full one hundred feet above the valley below, and affords a magnificent view of the surrounding country. The summit of this rock is about forty feet in diameter, is con- nected with the main cliff on the north, and can be reached from either side. From the west, a narrow pathway winds np along the brow of the main cliff's until it reaches a height of some fifty feet, when it enters a narrow gorge in the rocks, turns abruptly to the north and pushes boldly to the summit. To the cast, the ground slopes gradually to the plain. To the south lies the lovely valley of Switzer's Run. The summit itself is a bare rock, with the exception of here and there a bush. Near the center of the summit is a singular rock, some six feet in diameter and two feet high, resembling in many respects, a rude altar. Tradition points out this as the place where Capt. Pipe came annually to offer up a sacrifice in behalf of his murdered sister. Near the western extremity of the cliff's, is a cavernous opening called the Dragon's Mouth. The upper jaw is formed by a ledge of rocks, which pro- ject into the air some fifteen or twenty feet, and at an angle of about thirty-five degrees, the lower jaw being formed by the sloping earth. Viewed from the west, this cavern bears a striking resemblance to a huge mouth.

To the right of the Dragon's Mouth is a per- pendicular rock some thirty or forty feet in height, and entirely detached from the main cliff. Its sides are indented and furrowed by the beating storms of past ages ; its summit is crowned with shrubs and clambering vines. The solitary rock, thus standing in monumental loneliness, has been appropriately named. in commemoration of the murdered sister of Capt.

Pike, " Onalaska's Tower." There are several other points along these cliffs worthy of notice, such, for instance, as the "Hanging Rock," " The Porch," the "Frowning Cliff," etc.

This township, like most others in the county, was heavily timbered with hard wood, and, in making their homes, the settlers were compelled to encounter this forest, as well as the bears, wolves, wildcats, and other animals that abounded. Indians were plenty, but it does not appear that they committed any depreda- tions in this township, though generally keep- ing the settlers in continual dread.

The first settlers followed up the Black Fork in 1809. When they came to the junction of the Black Fork and Rocky Fork, some of them continued up the former and settled in Mifflin. Among the latter were the Copuses, the Zim- mers, some of the Hills, Andrew Craig and others mentioned in the history of Mifflin. Others continued up the Rocky Fork, and set- tled first in the neighborhood of the present village of Lucas. Among these early settlers, David Hill has the honor of being the first, and of building the first cabin in Monroe Town- ship. It was erected on the farm for many years occupied by John Swigart, adjoining the village of Lucas. The place is now owned by Ursula Kerr. It stood on the north side of and near the railroad, on the bank of a little spring brook. The following is a list of the earliest settlers of the township, so far as known : David Hill, Section 9; Frederick Bo- nenberg, Section 10; John G. Peterson, Sec- tion 1; John Lambright, Section 2; Mordecai Williams, Section 9; William Slater, Section 35 ; Adam Wolfe, Section 19 ; Robert and Will- iam Stewart. Those who settled on Section S, were William McLauglin, William Ray, Will- iam Ferguson, Thomas Rigdon and Thomas McBride. Jeremiah Smart, Section 4; An- drew Richey ; Michael Huffman and Eben- ezer Smith settled on Section 6; Thomas Pope and David Balliett, Section 9; John Iler

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

and Melzer Coulter, Section 19: David and Charles Sehrack, Section 34; David Ellis, Sec- tion 17; Frederick Cromer and David Craw- ford, Section 26; Abraham Baughman, who came in 1812 or 1814, Section 25; Christian Good, Section 3; John Douglas, Section 28 ; Frederick Switzer, Section 13; and Solomon Gladden, who came in 1817. Mr. Switzer came in 1817, and Mr. Douglas in 1818.

Of the settlers above named, a few came in 1809, with David Hill ; others followed in 1810 and 1811, and all of them were here by 1818. Adam Wolfe came in 1816, and William Mc- Danel in 1819, both settling on Section 26. The majority settled along the Rocky Fork and Switzer's Run. These, and perhaps others whose names are not recorded, were the men who laid the foundation upon which rests the prosperity and happiness of the people of Monroe. They came mostly from Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. A few were from Virginia. They were a hardy people, inured to hardships and dangers before they came here, and were men of sterling integrity and worth, and of strong convictions. In re- ligious belief, they were generally Lutherans. It is somewhat remarkable that, of the five churches in the township, four are Lutheran. As in other parts of the country, wherever a few settled near each other, they organized a school and a religious society in their cabins.

The first schoolhouse was located on the farm afterward owned by R. Oldfield, near Lucas : now owned by Josiah Rummel. One of the earliest schoolhouses was located on Section 26. It was of hewed logs, covered with a clapboard roof, etc., as was usual in that day. Some of the teachers in this house were John Clark, John Tucker, William Wigton and Joseph Wolfe. This district embraced a large part of the township, children coming several miles through the woods to school. The same house was frequently used for religious meet- ings, singing schools, etc. One of the first

schools was also opened in the northern part of the township, near the Mount Zion Church. The school was first kept in private houses, and afterward in the log church.

One of the earliest schools was located on Michael Shinnebarger's land, and one also near what is now called the Hastings Post Office. This post office was established in 1829, being the first one established in the township. John Tucker was one of the early school teachers. He was a New Hampshire Yankee, and was one of Johnny Appleseed's converts, and also a doctor.

The Rev. Michael Schuh, one of the founders of the Mount Zion Church, was a very learned man-a German scholar, and for a long time kept a select school in the old log church, which he was instrumental in erecting, on the site of Mount Zion Church. It was a high school or seminary, and was started about 1820. Many of the influential men of the township were partially educated there. Mrs. John Swigart, before mentioned, came from Washington County, Penn., and settled near New Lisbon in 1804 ; and in what was then called the Twenty- second Township, now Orange Township. Ash- land County, in 1814. She removed from there to Monroe in 1821. Solomon Gladden, John Lambright and Adam Wininger were her neigh- bors then. Mr. Gladden came to the township in 1816, but did not settle permanently until 1817. He was a very excellent, well-informed and prominent man ; serving many years as Justice of the Peace, and one term in the Legis- lature. He was also something of a military man, commanding the Perryville rifle regiment, and serving with credit in the war of 1812.

Mrs. Swigart says that thirteen soldiers were buried on the bank of the Rocky Fork, near where the first settlement in the county was made, at Beam's Mill. These soldiers died while they were in eamp near the spring there, and before the block-house was erected. They were buried on the point of the hill, above the

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

present mill. There is nothing to mark their grave, and the spot could now be pointed out with difficulty. These soldiers cleared off a little field there. John Swigart was for many years a Trustee of the township, and Jacob Mason was one of the first Justices of the Peace. At one time, a young couple came to him to have the marriage ceremony performed. Money was a scarce article in those days, and the would- be husband had not the wherewith to pay for getting the knot tied. A happy thought, how- ever, came to his relief, and he offered the Justice a pup, which, under the circumstances, was kindly accepted and the ceremony per- formed. This would not seem, in the light of to-day, a sufficient compensation for a marriage ceremony, but in those days of wild animals, a good pup represented a money value not to be overlooked. Mr. Swigart served in the war of 1812, in the same company with Gladden. They were in the battle of Mackinaw. Gen. Brooks cut the first road through the township, when he advanced to the seat of war in 1812. He passed the present site of Lucas, encamped there for a short time, and cleared off a little ground about where the village stands. Mrs. Swigart says Brooks had about one hundred wagons, cach of which were drawn by six horses. One wagon was loaded with specie, with which to pay the army about Fort Meigs. The money was put up in little iron-hooped kegs. Mrs. Swigart was married in what is now Orange Township, Ashland County, her husband being the first school teacher in that township. The advent- ures of the early settlers of Monroe with the wild animals were numerous and interesting, but space forbids more than a glance at them. The Williams family were among the earliest settlers, Mordecai Williams arriving in the county in 1810, and settling on the Rocky Fork of the Mohican, west of the present site of Lucas, in 1815. Mr. Williams and his wife lived more than eighty years, and raised a large fam- ily of children. One of his sons, Joseph, re-

lates being chased by wolves, and barely escaped into the cabin. The following bear story was re- lated to Gen. Brinkerhoff, by Solomon Gladden : Washington Chew, a son of William Chew, when a boy of ten years, went out to hunt the cows. In passing along the creek bottom, on the McBride farm, he came suddenly upon a black bear. As the bear refused to run, he turned and beat a hasty retreat, the bear following. Finding he could not escape, the boy climbed a small dog- wood tree. The bear came up and, after con- sidering the matter, commenced gnawing at the roots of the tree. He continued to gnaw until the tree began to tremble and the boy gave himself up for lost, when, fortunately, a hog came grunting along, and the bear ran away after that, leaving young Chew to escape. A few days after this, Mrs. Isaac Applegate dis- covered a bear among their hogs, and went for assistance to her neighbor, David Crawford. Mr. Crawford took his gun and dog, went over to the cabin of Solomon Gladden, who also took his gun and dog, and the two men went on a bear hunt. They struck the trail, and after a long chase treed the bear. As it was now night, they camped at the foot of the tree, having been joined by Joseph Applegate, Hugh and Samuel Reed. Bruin was kept up the tree during the night, and in the morning Mr. Crawford fired at him. The bear fell, but did not appear to be hurt. and ran away, notwithstanding the efforts of the dogs and hunters. The chase was now a very exciting one, and the bear was soon brought to bay by the dogs. Mr. Gladden, be- ing fleet on foot, was rather ahead of the others, and attempted to get a shot at the bear, a difficult matter, surrounded as it was by the dogs. In his haste and excitement, he fell over a log, his gun discharging itself into the ground. The bear retreated again, with the dogs hanging to, and snapping at it. As his gun was useless, Mr. Gladden caught up a club, and followed up beating the bear over the head as it turned at bay. This continued a long dis-

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

541

tance, until dogs, man and bear were nearly ex- hansted. At length, Mr. Applegate came up with a gun, but was too tired and worried to shoot, and handed the gun to Gladden, who placed the muzzle against the bear and fired, killing it and putting an end to the chase.

Mr. Gladden brought a pack of hounds from Jefferson County at one time for the purpose of hunting wild-cats, and killed about thirty of these animals altogether. During the time these wild-cats were so plenty, Mr. David Craw- ford, who was troubled a great deal with them, secured a young dog, which he was anxious should be trained to hunt them, and desired to try him on a live cat, which he was unable to do. But Solomon Gladden thought he could secure one. Taking his hounds one bright September morning, he entered the woods, and had not proceeded far before the hounds struck a trail and soon treed a cat. The tree was a small one, and Gladden determined, if possible, to take it alive. He succeeded in clubbing the cat from the tree, and, after the dogs had wor- ried it sufficiently, he seized it by the hind legs, drove off the dogs, placed his foot on its neck and attempted to manage it alone, but found he had caught a tartar. He could neither let go nor hold on with safety. After much maneuvering, he succeeded in getting off his suspenders, with which he tied the " var- mint," and in this way carried it to Crawford's house. Mr. Gladden was full of stories like these, that picture these woods as the paradise of hunters.

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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