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 85

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 85

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).

labored under immense disadvantages and erushing embarrassments. When the scanty supply of flour or meal ran out, he must drop his ax or plow, and travel perhaps ten or twenty miles to a mill, or five to a blacksmith-shop. When his salt ran out, he must go or send sev- enty miles, and pay $10 a barrel for it. Instead of the shapely plank to lay his cabin-floor, he must split np huge trees and hew puncheons for a floor. Then rushing waters must be bridged, swamps must be corduroyed, before travel was possible. Under such difficulties, it would be wonderful if education was not neg- lected-schoolhouses dispensed with for some time. Yet, considering these disadvantages, our fathers exhibited a praiseworthy energy in that direction, and schools were inaugurated in rude log cabins, and the most erudite of the settlers chosen as a teacher.

Among the first enterprises was the manu- facture of whisky ; corn, being very low in price, could be made into whisky and sold at 25 cents a gallon. It constituted the chief article of commerce in those days. considerable being sent to Michigan, and was considered "legal tender " in any kind of trade. A few yards from where Windsor Station now stands, a dis- tillery was run by a Deacon Williamson, who came from Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1817. The good Deacon, who was indeed a worthy man, would, after putting his buzzing, seething enginery in operation, take his seat at the place where the precious fluid made its exit, and, rub- bing his hands together, would begin to sing-

" Come, Thou fount of every blessing."

There was one or two more in the township, one of which was run by Jacob Osbun, near the infirmary, but was soon abandoned. The state of public sentiment changing on that mat- ter, as soon as the temperance agitation com- menced, yet how harmless, comparatively speak- ing, was the liquor manufactured then to the poisonous " rot-gut " sent out by the millions of gallons at the present day.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Among the first settlers of Weller Township may be named the following : Benjamin Mont- gomery, Elijah Charles, Jacob Osbun, 1814 ; A. A. Webster, Levi Stevenson, George Hall, James Mahon, James Haverfield, William Hol- son, Peter Pittenger. Francis Porter, Henry Wikoff, John Dixon, John and James Feguson, 1815 ; from 1816 to 1819, came Moses Modie, James Grimes, Charles Stewart, John and Charles Palmer, Joseph Ward and Simon Mor- gan.

The first grist-mill built in the township was on the Whetstone, at Olivesburg, by Benjamin Montgomery, in 1817. The first saw-mill was built by Elijah Charles, on the Black Fork, in 1818, and it is worthy of note here, that it is, perhaps, the only saw-mill built in that early day that is in operation at this date over sixty years, and is now owned by David Lind. In the year 1816, Benjamin Montgomery was elected Justice of the Peace, and the same year a small log schoolhouse was built on the west side of the Big Hill, and a small school im- provised with James Mahon as teacher. The schoolhouse was on Levi Stevenson's land. Mr. Stevenson taught one term in the same house.

From 1814 to 1822, wild beasts made occa- sional depredations on the stock of citizens. In 1820, Mr. Hall had some sheep killed by wolves, and as late as 1822, Joseph Ward, Sr., had fourteen sheep killed in one night in the woods, a mile from the house ; some others were killed in other parts of the township. but the names of the parties are forgotten.

In 1819, John E. Palmer settled on the south side of the hill. where there were three or four fine springs of water bursting out of the side of the hill. In the fall of 1820, Mrs. Palmer stepped out of the house into the wood-yard for some fuel. She had placed some chips in her apron, and was turning to go into the house when she discovered a huge black bear just a few yards from her. Uttering a scream, she sprang for the door, when a very fine, large New-

foundland dog, that Mr. Palmer had brought from London with him, whom he called Lord Nelson, sprang out of his kennel and made for the bear, which immediately broke for the chap- paral on the hill-side, and " Lord Nelson " very discreetly contented himself with making a very vigorous demonstration in his rear.

Some excitement was produced in the sum- mer of 1825, by the story of a Mrs. Church, that she had been pursued by a panther. She lived on the east bank of the Black Fork. On the south was an extensive swamp, stretching toward the Webster farm. She was returning home from a neighbor's in the dusk of the evening, and heard, or thought she heard, a panther scream behind her. She started to run and scream herself, the panther answering. She soon reached the Black Fork, which she crossed on a fallen tree, and there the chase ended. The story was not generally credited ; many thought the screams alluded to proceeded from a huge night-owl that was in the habit of making noc- turnal visits in the neighborhood. At all events, people who had boys to send to the woods to hunt cows were anxious to have them take that view of the matter. Black and gray squirrels were the most numerous and abundant of all other wild animals, and, while they were a little annoying to the farmers, yet they furnished them with thousands of meals of the most deli- cious meat.

During the war of 1812, Jacob Osbun was a soldier, and with a company of men from Jef- ferson County was sent out to fight the Indians on the Sandusky Plains and the Maumee. On their way out, he passed over Section 35, and being impressed with the beauty of the location. timber, etc., took occasion to mark with a hatchet a number of trees, with a view to future operations. On his return, he made the entry sometime in December. His son. William, owns and lives on the same farm now.

In February, 1815, Samuel Osbun, Jacob's father, came out and built a cabin on the same

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

land. He was born in New York, was of En- glish descent, and lived some time in Washing- ton County. Penn .; moved to the Pan-Handle, Va. thence to Jefferson County, Ohio, and came to Richland in 1814. He was ninety years old when he died. Religious services were frequently held in his house in early times. His son, Judge Osbun, settled in Mansfield in 1815, was elected Justice of the Peace. and was for several years Associate Judge. He moved to his farm in this township in 1824.

Elijah Charles came from Beaver County, Penn., to this township, in 1814, and built a saw-mill on the Black Fork, in 1818, which was of great service to the people. He went to Pittsburgh with a wagon, for the irons. He died shortly after the mill was set in operation, leaving a large family, who carried on the mill- ing and farming business with great success, the oldest son, Isaac, adding a valuable grist- mill to the property in 1835. He was soon after elected Justice of the Peace, serving two terms. In 1868. he moved to Bluffton, Allen County. Ohio, where he is supposed to have been murdered by his youngest son, Isaac, who is now in the State prison for life-a truly tragic ending of a useful life. All the male members of the the original family are now dead. Eli- jah, the fourth son of old Elijah Charles, died at the same age, and singularly enough, of the same disease, as his father. William Taggart married the third daughter. He was Commis- sioner of the county two terms, and subse- quently made two trips to California, in the gold-digging enterprise.

Indians were lingering around some time after the introduction of the white settlers. Sometimes they were troublesome, even after the close of the war, often intruding themselves into the cabins, with their characteristic "Ugh ! me heap hungry ; Indian want some bread, some hominy, some powder." The Charles family were annoyed two or three years by them, as they were a great terror to children.

They seldom, however, did any serious harm, and were soon after confined to their reserve, in what is now Wyandot County.

In 1820, the Rev. Mr. Lee came from West- moreland County, Penn., and bought a quarter- section of land east of the Charles mill. He had a large family, of which John A. Lee, late of Mansfield, was the youngest boy. In a short time, the entire family was prostrated with fever and ague, and his oldest daughter, a very amiable young lady of seventeen summers. died of bilious fever. The rest of the family all recovered, only to be stricken down again the next autumn.

Between Mr. Lee's farm and the Charles mill was an extensive marsh, over which the waters of the Black Fork flowed at every succeeding freshet. Of course the miasma arising there- from in autumn was fearful. Mr. Lee attributed much of the trouble to the mill-dam obstruct- ing the channel, and thus throwing the water over the banks into the marsh, and proceeded to inaugurate a suit for damages, or effect a removal of the nuisance. A long, bitter and expensive litigation followed, the courts finally deciding against Mr. Lee, but compelling the mill-owners to cut a foot off their dam, which at that time backed the water three miles. Mr. Lee, disheartened and disgusted, sold his farm at a great sacrifice, and moved to Crawford County, Ohio.

In 1821, a local preacher, Joseph Curtis, came from England, and settled on the south side of the Big Hill. He was a good carpenter and farmer, and also filled the place of an un- dertaker, thus making himself doubly useful. for while he attended to the duties of an under- taker, he could, at the same time and place, preach an acceptable funeral sermon.

Mr. Curtis married Mary Woodhouse near Windsor, and raised a large family, one of whom (Benny) enlisted in the army, and was killed at the battle of Chickamauga. A marble monument at Milton graveyard bears his image,

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

taken from a photograph, but his body was never recovered-it sleeps on the blood-stained field of Chickamauga. William Curtis, the sec- ond son, was elected Captain of Company C. One Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was sent to Virginia, Fort Reno, in the 100-days service. Quite a number of his company was made up of recruits from this township-Joseph H. Brown, Second Lieu- tenant ; Peter Sterritt, First Lieutenant ; Jacob Rohrer, First Orderly Sergeant ; James Hughes, Orderly ; David Berry, Levi Nelson. Allen Haverfield, Ben Egner, Chief Artificer : Isaac Connelly, Third Sergeant ; William Houston, Winfield Houston, Benjamin Crabbs, Thomas Hughes, Joe Balderson, Amos Jump. M. Ozier. Marvin Seaton. J. W. Tueker. privates.

After his return from the service. he married the youngest daughter of John E. Palmer, and on the death of his father, which took place in 1864, he inherited the old homestead, which he sold, and moved to Illinois. Ile was not con- sidered a very efficient officer, and was very un- popular with his men.

In addition to the company raised for the 100-days service above mentioned. most of which were from this township, quite a number of volunteers went into other companies. Jacob Ward went in the Fifteenth. and was killed at the battle of Chickamauga : Joseph W. Palmer, John Fickes, Bent Martin. Joseph Haverfield, Steven Clifford and J. Miller were in the cavalry service-the former three in MeLaughlin's squadron. Clifford re-enlisted, and went into the Ohio Battery. H. O. Pittenger, Milton Charles, Newton Charles went into the One Hundred and Second : Martin Taggart. in the One Hundred and Twentieth ; was taken pris- oner, and confined nineteen months ; Elmer Nel- son was in the Fifteenth ; was taken prisoner and confined in Libby Prison and Anderson- ville ; Franklin Osbun, Lemuel Pittenger, 1. Pittenger, Freeman Osbun, Melvin Osbun, James Weagly, James Mason were in the One Hun-

dred and Sixty-third. Gaylord Ozier and his brother, Kemp Ozier, were taken prisoners, and kept in Andersonville ten months.

Henry Newman settled on the quarter section on which the Franklin M. E. Church stands in 1822, and donated the church one aere of ground, when that edifice was built. He was the oldest son of Jacob Newman, of Mansfield, one of the proprietors of that town ; came with his father before the war, when a boy, to where Mansfield now stands, and, with others at that day, encountered many difficulties and dangers from Indians and other sources. He taught school several terms when young. In the spring of 1822. he commenced opening up his farm, and soon after married Miss Jane Ward. He had three sons and four daughters ; all his boys went into the service. Capt. Jacob New- man (the oldest) was shot through the body at the battle of Shiloh ; the surgeon, considering his case hopeless, refused to dress his wound for twenty-four hours after the battle. He was sent to Pittsburgh on the boat, where his mother met him, and nursed him into life, and he re- turned to service. Joseph, the second son, was mortally wounded at the battle of Mission Ridge, and died soon after. He was for some time attached to the staff of Gen. Williams.

Capt. Andrew Newman, the third son. went through the entire service ; at the battle of Jonesboro, behind Atlanta, half his regi- ment fell. After the close of the war, he en- tered college and studied law, but his constitu- tion was shattered, and he broke down, and slowly sank to rest.

William Houston. of Olivesburg, eame from the State of Delaware in 1815, and entered a half-section of land adjoining what is now the village of Olivesburg. He had five sons- Jonathan, Richard, Joseph. William and Robert. He was chiefly instrumental in the building of the first Presbyterian Church, and also the first schoolhouse. He furnished all the siding for the church, and hauled it with his team from

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

John Stewart's mill, south of Mansfield. He died on the same farm in 1842. Robert inherits the old homestead.

James Mahon came from Harrison County, Ohio, in 1815, and entered half a section of land on the "Big Hill." He taught the first school in the township in the log schoolhouse on Levi Stevenson's farm in 1816. He died in 1820 or 1821.

One of the most prominent and useful fam- ilies of early times were the Halls. They came from Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1815. Mr. Hall had five sons and three daughters, all members of the Presbyterian Church. He entered three quarter-sections of land on the Black Fork, in the southeast corner of the township, in 1815, and, having a strong force of muscular and industrious young men, soon opened up a fine farm. The oldest son married a Miss Ralston, of Plymouth. Mr. Maxwell, late of Mansfield, married the oldest danghter, though rumor has it that it was a runaway match, but proved to be a most felicitous one. Judge Lee, of Bucyrus, married the youngest. daughter. The entire family have all passed away-the last member died more than ten years ago. The first sermon preached by a Presbyterian minister in this neighborhood was in Mr. Hall's house, by Rev. James Rowland. Mr. Hall was fond of a good horse, and was re- mark able for keeping the finest lot of fat horses in the township.

In connection with Mr. Hall's history, it would be proper to make mention of a terrific whirlwind that swept over his farm in the year 1824, and the only one of that character that has visited this township in sixty years. It threw down every fence on the farm, carrying fence-rails through the air.

The best barn in the township, at that time. was on this farm. It lifted the heavy, new shingled roof off as if it had been a cobweb, and, what was most remarkable, a hewed log. lying in the lane, half buried in mud, was taken

up out of its bed and thrown eight or ten rods.

The next day, fifty men collected on the farm to gather up the debris, and collect what materials were available for further use, and bring order out of chaos.

The year 1859 was memorable on account of the unprecedented heavy frost of that year. The preceding winter had been favorable for the protection of winter wheat, and, when spring opened, the wheat was unusually fine, and the prospect for an abundant harvest was never more cheering in the entire history of this township. Some fields of corn on favorable ground was nearly knee-high by the 5th of June. Although slight frosts had occurred during the months of April and May, no ma- terial damage had been done ; all kinds of fruit were doing well ; apples were as large as hick- ory-nuts, and wheat was all out in head and in much of it the grain was partly formed. About the 1st of June a light rain fell, after which it turned colder. The weather continued cloudy and cold for two or three days, and on the 4th it snowed a little during the day.

At 10 o'clock A. M. of the 4th. the ther- mometer stood just at the freezing point, a strong breeze blowing from the north.

At sunset, the wind dropped ; the sun setting clear. By 9 o'clock P. M., the mercury was falling very fast : the stars were unusually brill- iant; not a sound was heard in the air; no whip-poor-will raised his night-song ; no chirp- ing cricket lifted its unmusical voice ; all was silent as the house of death-and the house of death indeed it was. for the " destroying angel " was abroad in the land. sweeping down tens of thousands of acres of the finest grain-fields that ever waved before the breeze, or delighted the eve of the husbandman.

The morning sun rose on a scene of inde- seribable grandeur and desolation. The mead- ows, the wheat-fields, corn-fields and gardens were thiekly covered over with frost-crystals

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

glistening and dancing in the morning sun- light. The work of destruction was complete ; everything was frozen stiff. Under the power- ful re-action from the rays of the morning sun, the corn wilted and soon fell to the earth, the ground being frozen down to the roots of the corn. On a farm on the Black Fork, a large iron kettle, half filled with water, was so frozen over, that a heavy man got on it with both feet and tried in vain to break it. It is worthy of note here, that there was a frost in every month in the year of 1859.

There was great sympathy manifested in those days for each other, and when one neighbor became distressed, the others would rush to his assistance with a perfect fervor. Mr. Hall died about the year 1832, regretted and respected by all his neighbors. Ilis son Robert inherited the farm, and married a very amiable lady by the name of Walker, but died in four years after, of consumption. leaving one child.

Abel A. Webster came from the State of Connecticut in the fall of 1814, and settled on the Black Fork, one mile north of the Hall farm. He was the only man from the State of Connecticut in the township. He was a man of means, and was soon able to clear out a fine farm, so that when later settlers came in. about 1819-20, he had produce to sell them at his own figures. He was skeptical in his views. and although the wealthiest man in the neigh- borhood, he never could be induced to con- tribute a dollar to build a church, college, rail- road or any other enterprise of the day. He sold his farm in 1859 to Mr. Minster, who mar- ried his daughter and now resides on the farm. He soon after removed to Cleveland, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.

John Dickson came to this township in 1815. He entered the quarter of land joining Elijah Charles on the south, and married the oldest daughter of Mr. Charles in 1818. In 1830, he formed a partnership with William Taggart. and built a grist-mill on a spring rising out of

the Big Hill side. and. two years after, built another grist-mill about forty rods below the other, on the same stream. He was a man of great physical strength and endurance, an ex- cellent workman and hunter: had very black hair and black eyes. His entire face and bosom were so thickly covered with hair as to hide the skin. Hle was generons in his impulses, honest in his dealings, and an accommodating neighbor. In the days of " corn-huskings," he was first choice in a race ; he would become so excited sometimes in an exciting race as to leave marks of blood on the corn-husks from his lacerated fingers. These simple facts are given simply to exhibit faithfully the spirit of the times half a century ago, and the habits of our fathers. The last days of this good citizen were shrouded in melancholy and gloom. A dark shadow had fallen over the threshold of his domestic relations, and the cloud never lifted from his brow, or the load from his heart. Hle became a wreck, mentally and physically, and never did the weary heart look forward with deeper longings for the grave that should cover it. or the spirit with earnest yearnings for the brighter and better land. than did his.

Samuel Pittenger came to this township with his father. Peter. in the year 1815. landing on the 17th day of February of that year. The family made the entire journey from Harrison County on sleds. Samuel was the oldest son, and became the "Nimrod" of the family. sup- plying them with venison for several years, until stock could be raised. He killed his first (leer on the " Big Hill," soon after landing, and has killed as high as twenty-eight deer in four- teen consecutive days. He was married in 1819 to Elizabeth Kent. and settled on the northwest corner of his father's farm. where he lived seven years, and removed to Greene Town- ship, where he resided six years, and then returned to his present location, where he cele- brated the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding, a few months ago. He is now in his eighty-fifth

D.MORIARTY

HOME OF H. O. PITTENGER.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

year, and Mrs. Pittenger in her eightieth. There is a eabin that he assisted in building, in the year 1817, still standing on the farm now owned by H. G. Palmer. It is the oldest cabin known in the township. It was built and owned by a man by the name of Ensign, who was at that time a Swedenborg preacher. but subsequently became a Methodist, as his name appears on the minutes as an exhorter in 1829, in the official records of the M. E. Church. Mansfield Circuit.

Levi Stevenson came from Beaver County, Penn., in the year 1815, and settled on the sec- tion northwest of the Big Hill. He was a good mathematician, and was employed in the year 1818 to teach school in a little log cabin, built on the southeast corner of his land. It was in the days of " barring out," and a number of the young men attached to the school gathered be- fore daylight on Christmas morning and barred " the master" out to make him " treat." Uncle Levi coolly surveyed the premises, and think- ing no doubt that it was a long lane that had no turn in it, proceeded to climb the corner of the domicile, and without further ceremony jumped down the chimney, although there was a roaring fire of hickory logs, ten feet long, to receive him. The insurgents "took in the sit- uation," and surrendered at discretion. Uncle Levi could not say that he came out without the smell of fire on him, but no serious damage resulted ; but never was a pair of buckskin breeches in more serviceable demand than on that memorable occasion. He had four sons, William S., John, Andrew and Samuel. The last named still lives on the old homestead.

John E. Palmer came from the city of Lon -. don, England, to this township in the year 1819. He bought half a section of land of William Holson, and commenced making improvements in the fall of the same year. His brother, Charles Palmer, and himself, brought a small stock of dry-goods, chiefly calicoes, with them, which sold for high prices at that day. They brought

these goods in a light wagon from Philadelphia, crossing the mountains by way of Pittsburgh.

The following year, the two brothers married the two eldest daughters of Joseph Ward, who accompanied them from England.

Mr. Palmer engaged actively in all the moral enterprises of the day, such as the temperance movement. the antislavery question, etc. He assisted in the organization of the first Congre- gational Church in Mansfield. of which he was one of the first Deacons. For many years, he was connected with the underground railroad, and never was happier than when rolling away a wagon load of quivering fugitives by the pale light of the stars toward the Canada shore.

Jolın Crabbs settled half a mile west of Olivesburg in 1817. He came from Jefferson County. He married Polly Montgomery in 1818, and is now living on the same farm with the same wife ; they celebrated their golden wedding two years ago. A large fatty tumor has been growing on his shoulder for twenty years. In November. 1879, Dr. Craig, of Mans- field. assisted by Dr. Crabbs, of Olivesburg, suc- cessfully removed the tumor. He remained unconscious three weeks after the operation. but is recovering slowly. He is now in his eighty-fifth year.

Thomas Robinson emigrated to this town- ship from England in the year 1821. He bought a quarter-section of Isaac Hanly, and afterward sixty acres of Israel Graham. There was a small improvement on each place, situat- ed on the "Big Hill." Robinson was a man of singular notions and habits of life. He had plenty of money to do what he took in his head, and he conceived the idea of grubbing up all before him, when he cleared land. taking out trees three or four feet over. As a matter of course, it was a losing business financially, but it gave employment to poor men, and scattered his guineas round the neighborhood, where they were badly needed at that time. After staying two or three years, he returned to England, as

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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