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 81

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 81

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).

7. No policies are issued on risks, nor to per- sons not personally known to the management.

8. All policies are issued, and indorsements made thereon, at the home office in Shelby.

The Buckeye Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany was organized September 23. 1873. The Board of Directors consists of S. S. Bloom, President ; H. E. McMillen, Vice President ;

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

S. Wheeler, Treasurer; F. Stambaugh, Secre- tary ; M. M. Barber, R. D. Stober, J. L. Barga- heiser, D. W. Stover, F. Brucker, A. J. Mack, Leroy Parsons, W. H. Gilmore. The Company issued its first policy January 17, 1874. It had considerable difficulty in obtaining the requisite number of notes, as the law required that they should have $50,000 of premium notes, and $10,000 in cash before the Insurance Department would issue a certificate. S. F. Stambaugh and R. J. Butter were authorized to canvass for notes and appli- cations for insurance. At a meeting of the Company, December 25, 1873, they re- ported that sufficient means were received to comply with the laws, and the Com- pany commenced business. It has had a steady, healthy growth until it has over $400,000 capital in notes, and a grow- ing business. It would not be doing the Company justice to omit mentioningits management. Hon. S. S. Bloom, President, and author to a great ex- tent of the Ohio Insurance Laws, is a man of large experience in the insurance business. He is a careful, conservative man, and is well known in insurance circles. H. E. McMillen, Vice Pres- ident, is a business man, and is well qualified for the position he holds. I. S. Wheeler, Treas- urer, is a farmer. He has been a member of the Company since its organization. He is a man of means, and keeps a vigilant eye over

1879

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK, SHELBY.

the financial affairs of the Company. S. F. Stambaugh, Secretary, is one of the original organizers of the Company. He solicited a large share of the notes. He has an extensive knowledge of insurance, and is an active busi- ness man. The other members of the Board are all well and favorably known as business men. The Company is well officered, and is a credit to the enterprise of Shelby.

Shelby did not amount to much until the Mansfield & San- dusky Railroad came through in 1846. when it became an excellent grain and produce market. Robt. Mickey erected the first warehouse in 1846, which is yet standing and is used in part for a depot. The next warehouse was erected by Henry Leyman in 1847, op- posite Mr. Mickey's warehouse. Mr. Mickey afterward, in 1850, erected a ware- house on the west side of town, on the Cleveland, Columbus. Cincinnati & Indian- apolis Railroad, at present occupied by Messrs. H. Davis & Co .. who yearly ship from this warehouse alone about one hundred thousand bushels of wheat, fifty thousand bushels of oats, and large quan- tities of other produce.

From three to four hundred thousand bushels of grain are marketed at Shelby yearly. The market for many years was much larger than at the present time, the building of new rail- roads serving to create other markets in various

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

places around Shelby, thus drawing away the business of that place.

The town was incorporated about 1853, and its growth has been steady, the population being now about two thousand. Regarding the busi- ness, there are at present three drug stores, four dry-goods, seven grocery, two hardware, four clothing, three boot and shoe, two jewelry, two furniture and three stove and tin stores ; one bank, (The First National), two newspapers, one woolen-mill, one sash and blind factory, two hotels, two carriage factories, one wholesale liquor store, nine milliners and dressmakers, one furniture factory, one foundry and one tannery, beside a host of lesser industries.

Shelby has the reputation of being a good business town, and much wealth has been ac-

cumulated there. The society is excellent, and it is generally enjoying the advantages of a highi state of what is called "civiliza- tion."

The only town in the township besides Shelby- is Vernon, a small station at the junction of thie Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan, and the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianap- olis Railways. It can hardly be called a town, as no plat of it appears on record. It was started soon after the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan road was completed, Mr. Sager, of Shelby. erecting a very good hotel there. In addition to this, there are two small stores. four or five dwellings and the depot building. A post office is established and is kept in the liotel.

CHAPTER LVIII.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

LOCATION-ORGANIZATION-NAME-SPRINGS -LIMITS -PHYSICAL FEATURES -AGRICULTURE AND TIMBER -SET- TLERS AND SETTLEMENTS-THIE FINNEY AND ROE FAMILIES AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY-CHURCHES AND SABBATH SCHOOLS-SCHOOLS-SAW-MILLS AND GRIST- MILLS-VILLAGES-POPULATION.

THIS was originally part of Madison Town- ship, and now lies directly west of and joins it. It was organized in 1816, at which time it was twelve miles long from east to west, and six miles wide, and included what is now Sandusky Township, and part of Polk and Jack- son Townships in Crawford County. In Febru- ary, 1818, it was cut in two in the center, leaving it in its present shape-six miles square. Its name was suggested by Mrs. Coffinberry. one of earliest settlers. on account of the numerous the springs within its limits, some of which are very beautiful and valuable. Perhaps the most noted of these is the Palmer Spring, one and a half miles north of the village of Ontario. It produces a large volume of pure water. and supplies the little city of Crestline, being con- veyed to that place in pipes. The spring is

about one hundred and twenty-three feet higher than Crestline. The Sandusky River has its source here. One mile east of the Palmer Spring is the Preston Spring, near which one of the first grist-mills in the township was built. It was known as the Purdy Mill, and was built by the father of Mr. James Purdy, of Mansfield. This spring furnished the water for this mill many years. Further east is the Condon Spring. which, in connection with another at Spring Mills, has for more than sixty years furnished water for a mill at that place.

Originally the entire township was covered with a dense growth of timber, and the hardy pioneers who first came to it followed np the Indian traces, located their farms, and literally hewed their homes out of the woods. No prominent landmarks exist in the township-

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

It is generally level, or rolling, with a ridge of sufficient elevation, running northeast and south- west, a little north of the center of the town- ship, to divide its waters; those south of the ridge finding their way through the Clear Fork, Mohican, Walhonding and Muskingum to the Ohio, and those north, through the Sandusky River to Sandusky Bay.

Agriculturally considered, the land is gener- ally excellent, the timber presenting the usual variety in Ohio-beach, hard (sugar) and soft maple, many varieties of ash and oak, and nearly all varieties of hard wood. Such timber speaks well for the quality of the land. The black walnut is already rapidly disappearing here, as well as all over the State, under the pressure of continual demand. The land pro- duces the usual variety of cereals produced in the Northern States.

The people of the township are made up largely of New Englanders and Pennsylvanians -perhaps the latter predominate. There are very few foreigners, and no colored person seems to have obtained a permanent residence here until after the war of the rebellion. The first settlers struck the northeast corner of the town- ship, for the reason, most likely, that in those days Indian trails were the only highways, and settlements grew up along these first. One of these trails passed Mill Springs on its way from the headwaters of Rocky Fork to those of the Sandusky River. It was much used by the Wyandots, Delawares and Shawanees in their trading and scalping expeditions to the Ohio. This trace was followed by Col. William Craw- ford and his command in 1782, and, so far as is certainly known, these were the first white men that set foot on the soil of Springfield Township, though there is little doubt that white hunters or prisoners among the Indians, or white ren- agades, like Simon Girty, had passed through before this period.

Among those who followed up this Indian trace, and became the first settlers of the town-

ship, was George Coffinberry, who, in 1814, set- tled on the southeast quarter of Section 1. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and came from Virginia. He had five sons-George, Jacob, Wright L., Salathiel and Abram B., all of them men of more than ordinary ability. The next year, 1815. Richard Condon, from New Jersey, built his cabin on the northeast quarter of Section 2. He came to Mansfield in 1814, from Warren County, Ohio. He had six chil- dren-Richard, Elizabeth, John, Nancy, Mar- garet and Elisha. About this time, the Welches also settled on Section 1. Joseph Welch came from Lancaster County, Penn. He had a family of five children-John, James, Jane, A. C. and Joseph. He built the third cabin in the town- ship on the northwest quarter of Section 1. He also, in 1818, built the first brick house in the township. Jesse Edgerton (Section 17) and Uriah Matson came in this year. In 1816, came Alexander Welch, John and Nathan Casebar (Section 12), Thomas Williams, Edward Barren and Charles Stewart. The township was now organized, and an election held the 15th of April, 1816. at which about twenty-five votes were polled. Richard Condon, the first Justice of the Peace, was chosen at this election. For several years, township officers were not in de- mand ; there was little for them to do. From this time forward settlers came in rapidly, set- tling first in the neighborhood of the springs. and along the valley of the Clear Fork. On the 10th of April, 1820, Robert 'Finney came from Harrison County, Ohio, and built his cabin on the southeast quarter of Section 11. He was originally from Fayette County, Penn., and his descendants are now numerous and influential. He had six children-John, James, William, Martha, Mary and Jane. of which only John and James are now living ; the former on the old homestead, and well known to all the coun- try as " Uncle John Finney." He is now in his eightieth year, and, having been always act- ive and strong mentally and physically, his mind

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

is well stored with interesting reminiscences. A man of strong convictions, he has always been, as was his father before him, a strong advocate of the Christian religion, and especially energetic in carrying out his ideas of Christian duty. He early espoused the cause of temperance, and made speeches upon that subject at the public meetings then held in the log houses and barns of his neighbors, and was one of that small band of heroes who early proclaimed their hatred of slavery, and were branded " Aboli- tionists," a term by no means popular in those days ; but, having lived to see his ideas triumph- ant, considers himself well paid for his suffer- ings and persecutions. He considered it a re- ligious duty to assist in the escape of fugitive slaves, and was for many years, with his neigh- bor Joseph Roc, prominently connected with the " underground railway," his house being al- ways open, and his services freely given to this cause. During the twenty-five years he was en- gaged in this, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of fugitive slaves were assisted on their way to Canada. They came from different points of the compass to his house, which seemed to be a crossing-place and 'rendezvous. Many came from the Gass settlement and McCluer's in Troy Township, others from the Quaker settlement in Morrow County, and many from Iberia, and were often carried in wagons from one point to another ; at first, generally at night, but later, in daylight, unless danger of recapture was apprehended. When the noted Randolph, of Virginia, freed his slaves, which he did from conscientious motives, he established them in Mercer County, Ohio, and this soon became a famous resort for the fugitives, and from this settlement large numbers were brought to Mr. Finney. It is asserted by Mr. Finney, that thousands of slaves escaped the bloodhounds by rubbing the juice of an onion on the soles of their shoes ; that the hounds would never follow a slave after getting a scent of the onion ; and he relates an instance in which the negro

himself watched the hounds upon his track, and saw them turn back when they came to the spot where he had applied the onion juice.

Mr. Finney usually kept the fugitives at his house over night, and often for several days. then taking them in his wagon to Savannah. Ashland County, or to Oberlin, Ohio. He usu- ally left his home early in the morning, passing Mansfield (which did not look with favor upon his business) before daylight, arriving in Ober- lin by sundown. Oberlin was then, as it has ever remained, a great friend to the colored man. Having reached this point, they were generally safe. as public opinion was such that the odious fugitive-slave law could not be en- forced. He relates the case of a Mr. Greene who stopped at his house several days. Greene's father, who lived in Tennessee, made a will re- leasing all his slaves. After his death, the two boys could not agree in carrying out the terms of the will, one wishing to detain the blacks as slaves. The other, however, determined they should be free. and. although compelled to hide for his life, he remained in the neighborhood until he saw his father's former slaves all safely off to Canada, and then came to Ohio with his wife and six children in destitute circumstan- ces. In Ohio. Greene and his family were hunted and driven from place to place, living sometimes in deserted cabins and swamps, and finally sought safety in Canada. assisted on their way by Mr. Finney. As an instance of the honesty of the colored people, and the hard- ships they endured for freedom, Mr. Finney re- lates that two men with their wives once came to him in midwinter, nearly frozen. They had taken their master's horses, crossed the Ohio on the ice, after which they returned the horses to their owner and came on afoot. They were kept several days, clothed. fed and taken on their way to a colder region. Mr. Robbins and Mr. Joseph Roe, his neighbors, living five and seven miles away, were Mr. Finney's right-hand men in this business. Mr. Roc is still living a

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

short distance west of Ontario, an aged and re- spected citizen. The penalty for assisting in the escape of fugitive slaves was very severe, and these men were, therefore, continually on the "ragged edge," and several times came very near having serious trouble. At one time, Ben- jamin Gass brought to Mr. Finney five colored men with five or six women and children. He lodged the females in the upper part of his dwelling-house and the men in his granary in the barn. Six men, armed with revolvers, who had been in pursuit, came up with them here. Learning they were secreted about the prem- ises, they made a demand of Mr. Finney for their restitution. He was clearly caught, but determined not to give up the fugitives without a struggle. He demanded their warrant. They could not produce this, but sent three of their number to Mansfield to procure the warrant, while the other three remained to watch. Mr. Finney had dispatched word to some of his particular friends in Mansfield, and his object now was to gain time ; meanwhile he armed the darkies in the barn with pitchforks. Rep- resenting to the three men that the fugitives were locked in his granary (which was true) and would not probably escape, he invited them into his house, gave them breakfast, and consumed as much time as possible in various ways. While this was passing, the fugitives found an opening in the barn and escaped to the woods. When the warrant arrived, no darkies were to be found-the presence of those up-stairs in his house not being suspected by the pursuers. It is hardly possible, however. that these slaves could have been recaptured without a fight, as Mr. Finney's friends began to arrive from Mansfield, all armed and expect- ing trouble. Among those who first came to his assistance were Dr. Miller, Thomas Thaker and Mathias Day. The pursuers, finding the fugitives had escaped, began a search of the neighborhood, and, as soon as he could with safety, Mr. Finney transferred the females to

the house of his friend Joseph Roe. Mr. Roe, being notorious in this cause, and well knowing his house would soon be searched, contrived to get them away to his neighbor, James Wood, which he had no sooner done, than the pursu- ers appeared to search his premises. Mr. Roe pleaded ignorance, and, fearing they would go on to Mr. Wood's house, contrived to throw them off the scent by offering to assist in the recapt- ure of the fugitives, and leading them off in the opposite direction, back to Mr. Finney's, and then to Mansfield; meanwhile, Mrs. Roe sent word to Mr. Wood, and the fugitives were conveyed to the Smith settlement, in what is now Washington Township, and from there to other points, and escaped. The men were gathered up here and there in the woods, and all got safely away.

Mr. Joseph Roe, before mentioned, gives an excellent historical and political review of mat- ters in Springfield, from which the following notes are taken :

When he came to the township in 1835, it was largely Democratic and controlled by preju- dice and superstition. It was supposed that a negro had no soul, and no rights a white man was bound to respect. An Abolitionist was considered much beneath a horse-thief and coun- terfeiter. The Democratic idea was, that Ab- olitionists carried negroes to Canada, and re- ceived a compensation from the Canadian Gov- ernment, and that, should a war arise between the two countries, these negroes would improve the occasion to murder the people of Ohio and other States ; and further, if slavery should be abolished, our country would be completely ruined and society much demoralized, if not destroyed. Hence the intense feeling against the Abolitionists. The matter was carried into the pulpit, and many churches divided. Mr. Roe resolved not to support any minister who sanctioned slavery. He was thoroughly Anti- slavery, and entered heartily into the under- ground railway business. In the spring of

PHOTO - END. CON.Y.

Eg Potter

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

1841, three colored persons came to his house on their way to freedom-a woman and her two daughters. His brother-in-law, William Woods, and himself took them to Mansfield, and left them with Mr. Emminger a few hours, while they attempted to get other friends of the cause to help them along. In this they were not successful, and not willing to leave them where their ene- mies might discover them, they resorted to the device of buying a load of flour of a Mr. Ba- sore, who lived near Lucas, stipulating that the flour was to be delivered in Oberlin. They paid Mr. Basore $3 to carry their "chattels " to Oberlin on his load. He would not take them from the Wiler House, being Democratic in his views, but received them at the covered bridge outside of town, and delivered both flour and negroes at Oberlin in due time. The flour was sold at a net profit of $5, and after paying Mr. Basore, the Abolitionists pocketed $2 clear profit.

As the Antislavery movement continued, men began to read, think and hear lectures on the subject. In 1842, Leicester King was candi- date for Governor of Ohio. He received four votes in Springfield Township. These were cast by Andrew Wood, Sr., Mathew Mitchell, Henry Crabbs and Joseph Roe.

In 1844, James G. Burney received several votes in the township for President. In the spring of 1845, a minister came into the neigh- borhood and preached in a schoolhouse, taking for his text the remark made by Joseph when in prison to the butler and baker, requesting them to remember him when they should be restored : "For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into a dungeon." As was the custom of those days, church members were anxious to put down heresies, and this sermon being considered of that character, certain persons were inclined to mob the preacher and his audience. They made · a great noise about the church, and used their

knives freely on the saddles and bridles of the worshipers. A young man by the name of Basset-a tinner in Ontario-went to Mansfield and procured a warrant of Squire Wise, for the arrest of one of the deacons of the Presbyter- ian Church of Pleasant Hill; also a member and his son, belonging to the same church. Before the case was called, Mr. Roe visited. and stated the facts to, Squire Wise, and soon after, the deacon also called on the Squire and asked if he was an Abolitionist.

" No," says the Squire.

"Well, then," said the deacon, "all I am sorry for is, that we did not egg them well."

The trial lasted two days ; I. J. Allen being counsel for the State, and Hon. Columbus Delano, of Mount Vernon, for the defense, It was hotly contested. Delano said he hoped God would permit such preachers to preach on until all the North became convinced of the great evil, and put it out of existence-that it was a low, mean act of his clients, but not a viola- tion of the statute, and they could not be fined.

A minister was present at the trial, and such was the feeling, that whenever any slur was cast on the Abolitionists, he cheered with the majority. After two days' hard fighting, the three were fined. Mr. Allen charged nothing for his services in this case, but a purse was raised for him. Mr. Delano's course elevated him very much in the estimation of Mr. Roe and others holding the same views.

Many slaves availed themselves of the very low fare on the underground railway. They were furnished transportation free, and clothing also, if needed. Uncle John Finney is a large man ; and when he was thoroughly aroused and left the Whig party, it lost a host in him- self. llis account of the enemy's attempt to storm his battery in July, 1848, and of the assistance he received from friends of the cause. is truly graphic.

In January, 1858, a colored man came from New Orleans. The weather was extremely cold.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

especially for one coming from a warm climate. Mr. Roe urged him to remain until warmer weather. He did so, and told his story. He was raised in Kentucky ; had been sold eleven times-several times because he could read. It was thought, for this reason. he would not make a safe and reliable servant. Mr. Roe became interested in him, and determined to have him make a public statement of his connection with slavery. The meeting was held at the United Presbyterian Church in Ontario, and before a good audience, the darkey was introduced and told his story. It made a good impression, a purse was raised for him, and he went on toward the north star rejoicing. Thus rapidly were the people being educated to the great work that began in earnest in 1861.

In 1860, three colored boys came to Iberia for the purpose of getting an education. They had been there a year or two, and had pro- gressed very well, but the bloodhounds were upon their track. As the train neared Iberia one evening, the bell-rope was pulled, the train slackened. and a party of slave-hunters with a Deputy Marshal at their head, sprang off. The boys were at different places, and one or two of them were captured. This caused intense excitement, as a great many more people than formerly were opposed to the execution of the fugitive-slave law. They collected rapidly. caught the Marshal and his slave-hunters, and after a consultation, allowed the darkies to " cut their hair and use beech sprouts on them," to such an extent as was deemed necessary. The citizens engaged in this affair expected trouble, and sent two of their number after Mr. Roe to go to Cleveland for an eminent lawyer to en- gage in their defense. He secured the services of Mr. Parsons, a man who had the year before been elected to Congress. When told that he would be expected to manage the case for a small compensation, he promised to do all in his power, and, if necessary, would employ an attorney in Northern Ohio to assist him. He

not only agreed to do the work gratuitously, but said if they were fined, he would help pay it. Rev. George Gordon, President of the col- lege at Iberia, was the man the slave-power de- termined to humble. He was indicted, tried, convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of $300. and to suffer imprisonment for six months. His name will go down as one of the martyrs in the cause of human freedom. Mr. Roe mentions as a coincidence, that while Mr. Gordon was in jail. a man of the same name was hung in Bos- ton, Mass. for being engaged in the slave trade.

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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