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 79
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The early settlers who arrived after those named were Mordecai Harding, Section 36 ; Daniel Riblet, came in 1831 and settled on Sec- tion 25 ; John Brookwalter, Section 26; Chris- topher Pletcher, Section 25; Jacob Hatlich, 1828, Section 24; George Johnson, Section 13, 1820 ; - - Carson, Section 13; Andrew Tay- lor, Section 1 : Rev. Culler, Section 13; George Walters, Section 12. The Hardings and Sny- dlers were among the first settlers in the south- ern part of the township. Daniel Riblet was a prominent man in the township and county ; was Justice of the Peace eighteen years and served two terms in the Legislature-from 1840 to 1844. He was from Union County, Penn., and died November 6, 1865. For many years, he kept what was well known as the Riblet House, at a point on the Mansfield & Bucyrus road, about half-way between Ontario and Galion. This was a stopping-place for the stages. The house was first built of logs, after- ward a frame was added. It is yet standing and is occupied as a dwelling. A post office was established here while the stages were run- ning-one of the first, if not the first, in the town- ship; and the militia musters frequently occurred here, making it altogether an important point.
The Snyder family were somewhat remarka- ble for longevity, Christian dying at ninety-
eight, and his wife, Mary M., at one hundred and seven. An Indian trail ran across the township, east and west, very close to their house. Mr. Snyder says it was about the width of a sheep-path, and many times he has seen parties of Wyandots on this trail, pass- ing along in single file, and while thus on the march. he never knew them to speak a word to each other, or make the slightest noise. They never disturbed the new settlers, but often di- vided their venison with them. The Indians and white settlers both made large quantities of maple sugar every year.
Among the early settlers, also, was a family by the name of Hibner, and the bear story, handed down by this family, is illustrative of the condition of the township in those early days. They lived, as did everybody in those times, in a log house, with an immense chim- ney occupying most of one end. One day, while Mr. Hibner was away from home and Mrs. H. was busy about her work, she heard a noise near the chimney, and, looking around, was horrified to see the great black paw of a bear, reaching through an opening beside the chimney. The opening was caused by one of the chimney stones having become loosened and rolled to one side. She had placed her babe upon the floor, on a blanket, near the fire, and the bear was endeavoring to reach it. For -. tunately it was beyond its reach, and the mother was very quick to remove it still further away. Finding his chances for a dinner had disap- peared, bruin moved away. Many such stories are remembered by these early pioneers, but space forbids the mention of them. It is not the paws of a bear that troubles the mother of to-day, but croup and kindred diseases, that must have come with civilization, for they were not known in those early days.
The township was organized February 12, 1818, and at that time was twelve miles long from north to south, and six miles wide, and included Vernon, Jackson, Polk (the two last in
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
Crawford County), and what is now left of it. It remained in that shape until March 9, 1845, when it was divided, and the north half called Vernon, leaving Sandusky six miles square, in which shape it should have been allowed to re- main ; but when the rage for county seats grew to an uncontrollable extent, and Crawford County was formed, February 3, 1845, four tiers of sec- tions from the west side of this township were cut off and handed over to Crawford, leaving a strip two miles wide remaining of Sandusky. In their cutting and slashing to get the new county, two sections immediately south of San- dusky were left unprovided for, and these were consequently attached to the southern end of it, making the township seven miles long from north to south, and two miles wide, in which condition it has ever since remained. The only town in it is East Crestline. It has three rail- roads, the Atlantic & Great Western passing through near its center, and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago, and Cleveland, Colum- bus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis, through the northern part. The land is generally gently rolling, all tillable, and very fertile. It was once densely wooded with all species of hard wood, but now contains beautiful and well cul- tivated farms. There are no streams of size within its limits, though Clear Fork near its sources passes through the southern portion, and the headwaters of the Sandusky River, through the northern part. There is not suffi- cient water-power in these for milling purposes, consequently there were no water-mills in the township in an early day; the settlers going to Bellville for their grinding. Later, two horse- mills were erected, one by McQuade, in the southern part, and one by Snyder further north. Hominy blocks were in general use before this.
The first election was held in Mr. Mozier's house, twelve votes being cast, and John Will- iams elected Justice of the Peace.
Several years elapsed before any school or schoolhouse was established. Jacob Dorne was
said to have been the first teacher. He taught a " subscription " school of about a dozen scholars. He was an ignorant German, and did little good. Russell's schoolhouse, south of the present village of Crestline, was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, in the township.
Mr. Snyder says the third year of their resi- dence in the woods, a terrific windstorm blew down their house and barn, and destroyed their growing crops, besides making great havoc in the timber.
Two churches have at present an organized existence within the limits of the township. The first one of these was erected by the Free-Will Baptists, about 1850, on Section 36, in the Harding settlement. It is a small frame church. Harvey Day, Samuel Nestle- rode, Mr. Reese and some others were among the first organizers and influential members. This organization went to pieces for some rea- son, and the church remained unoccupied for some years. In 1877, it was taken possession of by the " Albrights," who organized a church of which Jacob Lohr, Phillip Corman, John Morton and others were the organizers. Rev. Hawks was their first minister. A Sabbath school is connected with the church, which is kept up the entire year.
The other church, called Riblet's Chapel, was erected near the old Riblet Tavern, about or before 1860. It is a Methodist Episcopal, and cost about $800.
It was erected by the Lutherans, and during the first years of its existence was used by all denominations. In later years, however, it be- came exclusively the property of the Method- ists. Rev. Coon was one of its first Pastors, and a few of its early influential members were Daniel Riblet, Jacob Haflich and John Wein. The Methodists organized about January, 1876. The present Pastor is J. H. Johnson ; member- ship, about thirty. A Sunday school was or- ganized in 1876. John Riblet is Superintendent, with a membership of fifty.
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
It looks as if Sandusky should follow the lead of townships north of her and take a slice from Springfield on the east, to compensate her for loss of territory and make her equal in ex- tent to the others. The name Sandusky comes from the Wyandots-their Sah-un-dus-kee mean- ing "clear water ;" or their Sun-doos-tee, "at the cold water ;" and their Sa-uudustee, "water
within water pools." The latter signification is peculiarly applicable to Sandusky Bay and the extensive marshes on its borders, which are intersected in many directions by pools and channels of open water. The French traders, who were on the banks of the Sandusky River years before any other white men, called it Sandusquet.
CHAPTER LVII.
SHARON TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION, WATER, SOIL AND TIMBER-INDIAN OCCUPATION-ROADS-FIRST SETTLERS-AN INDIAN DANCE, AND OTHER REMINISCENCES-FIRST ELECTION-INDIAN TRAILS-MILLS-SHELBY, ITS ESTABLISHMENT AND EARLY HISTORY- SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS - CHURCHES-THE PRESS OF SHELBY - INSURANCE COMPANIES-BUSINESS OF SHELBY-VERNON STATION.
S YHARON TOWNSHIP was created out of Blooming Grove, February 9, 1819, and in- cluded one-half the territory now within the boundaries of Jackson Township. In the rage for county seats, which reduced Richland County to its present limits, Sharon was reduced to its present size, four by six miles, in the western and northern part of the county.
Next to Madison, it contains the largest town in the county, Shelby. The land is all tillable and of fine quality. The eastern portion is well watered by the Black Fork and its tributaries, which traverse its entire length. from south to north ; and Paramour Run, which passes from east to west across the southwest corner.
Near its center, running north and south, the land is elevated. forming the dividing ridge between the head-waters of the Muskingum and those of the Sandusky River. The larger part of the township slopes gently to the north.
The surface is generally level or gently roll- ing, and in its primitive state, was covered with a dense growth of hard wood.
Two railroads, the Cleveland, Columbus, Cin- cinnati & Indianapolis, and the Mansfield, Cold-
water & Lake Michigan pass diagonally across it ; crossing each other near its center.
A well-worn Indian trail passed across the township, its general direction being northeast, in the direction of Lower Sandusky (Fremont). The Delaware, Wyandot and Seneca Indians generally used this territory as a hunting ground ; and a portion of one of these tribes had a permanent camp on a branch of the Black Fork, about two miles, a little west of south of the present town of Shelby. This camp, con- sisting of ten or a dozen Indians, under the lead of Johnnycake, remained here until about the year 1828, when they left, never to return. A trail passed through this encampment, from Mansfield to a Delaware camp (probably Wing- enund's) on the head-waters of the Sandusky River, near Leesville. So far as known, this was the only permanent Indian camp within the limits of the township, though evidence exists, here and there. of temporary camps for hunting purposes. The great wave of the sea of civilization has long since blotted out all external evidences of Indian occupation, except here and there the-plow yet turns up some
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
curiously shaped stone implement, which speaks, in its silent way, of " that exiled race."
Probably the first road opened by white men into the wilderness of Sharon, followed this Indian trail from Mansfield, and was cut by Uriah Matson and the Currans, who were among the first settlers in what is now Jackson Town- ship. However, about the same time, or soon after, a road was cut from Beall's trail to Gan- ges, and from there into the northern part of Sharon, where Shelby was afterward established. It was by these two roads that the first settlers entered the township, about the year 1818.
It appears that the first settlement occurred on the present site of the town of Shelby.
The following, regarding the early settlement, appeared some years ago in the Shelby News, written, it is understood, by Mr. Rockwell, of that place :
" The first settlers within the present limits of Sharon Township were Eli Wilson, Henry Whitney and Stephen Marvin, who came in the fall of 1818. Mr. Wilson's cabin was erected on the east side of South Gamble street, on the second lot south from the west side of the pub- lic square. It is perhaps the highest point of land in Shelby, with a gentle slope toward the Black Fork, that immediately south sweeps around to the east, before turning on its north- ward course through Shelby.
"Mr. Marvin erected his cabin on the same day, near the present Marvin mansion, at the crossing of the Cleveland, Columbus & Indiana Central Railroad, at Gamble street. Between the two, on the west side of Gamble street, and near the northwest corner of Gamble and Mill streets, Mr. Whitney erected his cabin.
" These three pioneers came from the vicinity of Norwalk, Conn., and had a long and tedious journey hither.
" The country was then a wilderness-heavily timbered, with thick underbrush, beneath which, in springtime, magnificent wild flowers bloomed, giving the forest a delightful appearance.
" At this time-1818-there were no settle- ments west of Shelby, and beyond lay the Wyandot Reservation, on which the Indians roamed at will. The Wyandots, Delawares, Senecas, Mohicans, and other Indian tribes, in- habited the region to the west of these hardy settlers, and paid them frequent friendly visits.
"At one time, while these families were en- joying the hospitalities of Giles Swan, a still ear- lier pioneer, residing within the bounds of what is now Jackson Township, before they had been enabled to clear away enough of the forest on which to erect their respective cabins. a band of ten or twelve Indians came to the residence of Mr. Swan, several of whom were well known to him. One was named "Jacob," and another of them " Williams," the latter being quite intelligent, speaking English quite well.
" The Indians had been well supplied with ' fire-water,' as were also all those early settlers. After the usual greetings were exchanged, and the bottle passed, both whites and Indians drinking therefrom, and getting a little warmed up, it was proposed that the Indians give an exhibition of the war dance. At first, they ob- jected, alleging a want of preparation, paint, feathers, etc., but finally consented. A fire was kindled in the open space before the cabin. One old Indian took a seat on a log. and being furnished with a clapboard, which he placed on his knees, he commenced a song in the Indian language, keeping time on the clapboard with his knife and hatchet, while the others ranged themselves around the fire, commenced the war dance, yelling like demons, gesticulating furi- ously, and leaping around in the most grotesque and violent manner.
" The subject of the Indian song. as he in- formed the settlers, was the ancient exploits of his tribe in war, and their triumphs over their enemies. It was, in fact, an epic poem in the Indian vernacular, and, although no doubt far below our standard in point of merit, yet it is
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
said this rude song had some striking and beau- tiful passages.
" After the Indians had concluded their dance, they proposed that the whites should dance in their fashion, and they would join. Accord- ingly the whites formed ' on the floor,' to dance the ' French four.' Two Indians daneed, one with Miss Moyer, the mother of the late Mrs. Stephen Marvin, and the other with Mrs. Swan. The Indians unexpectedly proved to be very graceful daneers. After each dance, the bottle was freely passed around, and the dance was kept up until the wee sma' hours of morning. The music was furnished by the white women, who sang the tunes.
" This incident occurred at a cabin near the cross-roads, two miles east of Shelby, and is here given as an illustration of early times in the history of our pioneers, and was vouched for as entirely correct, by some of those who were witnesses to it.
" The forest abounded in game of all kinds, especially deer and turkeys. The Indians were constantly passing and repassing, on the 'trail' leading from an Indian town on the lower Black Fork to Lower Sandusky, and on smaller trails from the cabins of settlers, to the road leading from Ganges to Mansfield. They traded with the early settlers for venison and furs, taking blacksmith work and 'necessaries' in exchange therefor.
" The Indians also engaged in other amuse- ments with the whites, such as running foot- races with them, locking fingers and pulling to see which could hold out the longest. The whites could usually outrun the Indians for a short distance, but the latter could hold out the longest, while the whites invariably proved the strongest in their fingers. No murders were committed by the Indians in this vicinity.
"When John Gamble came, he erected a horse-mill on the corner where the Kerr & Marvin Block now stands. Levi Bargaheiser, the late Jay Smiley and others soon followed."
Though the early settlers of Sharon, as well as the larger part of Richland County, came mostly from Western Pennsylvania, yet a small " sprinkling " were New England people. The " Reserve " in Northern Ohio, at that time owned by the State of Connecticut, was the means of bringing large numbers of Connecticut " Yan- kees," with their peculiar ways and indomitable push and energy, passion for money-getting and enterprise, to Ohio. These people did not all settle on Connecticut lands, but pushed on into the northern townships of Richland County. and the northern part of Sharon received a small portion of them. The Whitneys, Mar- vins, Swans, Wilsons, Smileys, and probably the Rockwells, Hunters and others, were all from New England, and were among the earliest settlers. These people were intelligent, gen- erally well educated, and formed a valuable in- gredient in the first settlement of the township.
Among the early settlers were Christopher Wetz, John Rice, Joseph Cox and John Kerr, the latter of whom erected the first blacksmith- shop in the township in 1826, and later erected two of the first mills.
When the township was organized, in 1819. all the residents met at the house of Mrs. Rockwell, which stood on the farm now owned by M. M. Barber. Fourteen persons were pres- ent, and after the petition was duly signed they appointed Mr. Henry Taylor to present it to the Commissioners at Mansfield. The petition was granted and the new township named Sha- ron, after some town in Connecticut. At the election held in April, 1823, fourteen voters were present, viz .: Giles H. Swan, John B. Taylor. Joseph Curran, Eli Wilson, Almon Hayes, Har- vey Camp, Henry Whitney, Mathew Curran, James Smith, Adam Swan, James Kerr, James Rockwell, Levi Bargaheiser and De Lanson Roekwell, most of whom resided within the present limits of Jackson Township. From these fourteen persons, seventeen officers were chosen. Two Democratic, or, as then called,
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
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Republican, votes were polled, and twelve Fed- eralist.
The elections were originally held for Sharon as they are now for Jackson, at Taylor's Cor- ners. Henry Taylor's house was the place of public meetings, elections and militia trainings. In an early day, long before the town of Shelby was thought of. the trail before mentioned was cut from Mansfield along the Indian trail, which followed up the Rocky Fork, and diverging near Spring Mill, crossed to the head-waters of the Black Fork, up which it followed to where Shelby is now located, and continuing on north, connected with Beall's trail at Plymouth. About 1815 or a little later. a road was also cut by the early settlers. diverging from Beall's trail near Shenandoah. passing through Trucks- ville, to the present site of Shelby. This road probably followed an Indian trail part of the way. This Indian trail was a branch of the main trail (the "trunk line,"), which followed the general course of the Black Fork for a short distance, and was the great highway of the In- dians between their villages on the Sandusky River and Plains to Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh). This branch trail left the main trail near the northern line of Franklin Township, and taking a course a little south of west, passed through the present site of Shelby, and on to the Delaware town on the head-waters of the Sandusky River, near Leesville. The crossing of these two roads at Shelby probably had an influence in determining its location. Along this trail came the early settlers of the north- ern part of Jackson and Franklin Townships, and also the Marvins, Wilsons and Whitneys, who settled in the northern part of Sharon. Other settlers from Western Pennsylvania came along the road from Mansfield, hence at the point on the Black Fork where Shelby now stands, these Western emigrants met, and here a settlement sprang up.
John Gamble came from New York State, and erected the first mill in the township. on
the corner now occupied by Kerr & Marvin's drug store. Dr. Bushnell, of Mansfield, says he was often called to attend the pioneers in the vicinity of Shelby, in their sickness, and long before any town was laid out the place was known as "Gamble's Mill." The mill was built of logs and run by horse-power. Those who brought grists to this mill usually ground it themselves. They would hitch their horses or oxen to the sweep, grind their grist, and bolt it by hand. Gamble purchased the land upon which he erected his mill and cabin. of Eli Wilson, who had entered it. The Gambles were intelligent people and good citizens. Hugh Gam- ble, a brother of John, is yet living near Shelby. at an advanced age. He was a member of the Legislature, and a man of strength and influ- ence. Among the earliest settlers gathered about Gamble's Mill. were Mr. Raymond, Leonard May, Rev. Hubbard Du Bois, and a family by the name of Gump.
Gen. Wilson erected the first saw-mill on the Black Fork, about the time Gamble erected his grist-mill. This saw-mill was in operation many years.
John Kerr came to Sharon in 1826. settling on Section 29. where. in 1829. he erected a grist-mill. and afterward. in 1833. a saw-mill. David Kerr was the first miller in the grist- mill. It was destroyed by fire in 1875.
Joseph Coltman, who settled in Sharon at an carly day, and came from Martinsburg, Va .. was something of a mill builder.
He first erected a horse-mill in the south- eastern part of the township, and afterward two water-mills, one of which was located on what is now the Post farm. These mills were in operation a number of years.
In 1839, John A. Duncan erected a grist-mill on the Black Fork, at Shelby. It was pro- pelled by water at first. but steam was after- ward added. It ran only about ten or twelve years. The same building is now used as a carriage factory by Sheffler & Barkdall.
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
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Heath Brothers' mill, yet running, was erected about 1844, by McMillen & Lowery. It is pro- pelled by steam, and always did a large business and excellent work. Its capacity is two to three hundred bushels of wheat per day.
The "Junction Mill," one of the largest in Northern Ohio, was erected about 1870, and is located at the junction of the two railroads, about one-half mile north of the town. The mill was erected by Morse, Anderson & Co. It is now conducted by Messrs. Fish & Storer, and has a capacity of more than one thousand bush- els of wheat per day. The quality of flour pro- duced by this mill, is not, probably, excelled by any in the country, and the mill is continually run to its fullest capacity.
Hon. S. S. Bloom thus writes regarding the early history of Shelby, and of the public schools: " The town of Shelby was laid out by John Gamble, in June, 1834, as appears from the original plat on file. The lots laid out by him were all south of Main street-number one being that on which the Mickey Block now stands. Afterward, Henry Whitney laid out that part of the town north of Main and south of Mill streets. About twenty years later, Mr. Eli Wilson laid out "East Shelby " in part, to which additions were made until it reached its present proportions.
" Mr. Whitney, who was a blacksmith, had his shop in front of his residence or cabin, on the lot now occupied by the residence of Dr. William R. Bricker.
" A post office was established in 1828, and Jolin Gamble was the first Postmaster. It was called at first Gamble's Mills. At what partic- ular time the name was changed to Shelby, the writer does not know, but not far from the year 1840. The town was called Shelby in honor of Gov. Shelby. of Kentucky, who had rendered valuable services in the Indian wars preceding the first settlement of the whites. It was sug- gested by Mr. Charles C. Post, who then resided within the village.
" The first building in Shelby, after it was laid out, was erected by a Dr. Byers, on Lot No. 1, where the Mickey Block now stands. It was a hewed-log cabin, about 16x24 feet, and was used by him as a doctor's office. The next was a schoolhouse, mentioned elsewhere, on the opposite side of the street, north; while the next was on the east side of Gamble street, where the ' Union Block,' now stands, erected by John A. Duncan, and was occupied as a 'tavern.' Thus were the west side 'Four Cor- ners ' first occupied. 'Four Corners,' was the name by which the embryo village was known for miles around.
" A part of this old building is still stand- ing just east of the Union Block.
" During the three years succeeding the first settlement, the influx of new settlers continued, so that a school was needed. The schoolhouse was accordingly erected in 1821, over the run, as it was then called, and somewhere near the present residence of Mr. F. Dennis, in ' Texas.' It was a log-cabin schoolhouse, as were all the buildings then erected. Miss Debby Moyer, the grandmother of Hiram Marvin, now resid- ing in Shelby, was the teacher. The terms fixed were '9 shillings per week and board herself.' During the second term of the school, the cabin was burned, and a new site was selected, on the northwest corner of Main and Gamble streets, opposite the Mickey Block. The building erected lere, like its predecessor, was a log cabin, and not a pretentious one either, but it served the purpose until 1831, when it, too, became the victim of fire. The third and last one of the log-cabin series was on the spot where now stands the barn of Mrs. Benjamin Arten. During those years, the Black Fork Settlement had taken the name of 'Gamble's Mills,' after the name of the post office estab- lished in the mean time.
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