History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 122

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 122

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John Ernst was born in Pennsylvania in 1833. In 1860 he married Hester Noble, also a native of Pennsylvania. In 1865 they came to Ohio and settled in Scott township. Their family consists of seven children-Lillie Amanda(Homerer), Susannah, Savilla, Arabella, Ara, Hettie May, and an infant daughter. By trade Mr. Ernst is a carpenter.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

On the 4th of March, 1833, there were more than twenty voters in Scott, as is shown by a petition presented to the com- missioners on that date praying for the erection of a new township, to be named and known as Scott, and to comprise the territory included in the original surveyed township number four, range thirteen. This petition was presented by Lewis Jennings, at whose house the first election was held on the first Monday of April of that year.

At this election Lewis Jennings was elected clerk, and C. C. Barney justice of the peace. S. D. Palmer and Samuel Bickerstaff were two of the three first trustees. Lewis Jennings, at the next election, became justice, and held the office a number of years. There are but two of the voters at the first election liv- ing-Jacob Plantz and Samuel Bicker- staff-the former being the only one living in the township.

CHURCHES.

The United Brethren were the first to establish their form of worship in this township. In most parts of Ohio, Method- ist missionaries first preached in the rural and new settlements, but here the prize of vigilance belongs to the United Brethren.

Canaan class is the oldest. Meetings were held in the south part of the town-

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

ship as early as 1834, the first preachers being Revs. Beaver, Moore, and Davis, the last being known as "John Davis, the hatter." Daniel Long and David Solo- mon organized the first class, David Solo- mon being class leader for more than thirty years. A meeting-house was built in 1867. The present membership is thirty.

The Evangelicals organized a class at an early period of the settlement. Among the first members were John Roush, John Harpster, John Orwig, Isaac Miller, Mr. Hartman, and perhaps a few others. Meetings were held in school-houses until 1870, when a church was built by public subscription. There are about thirty mem- 'bers.

Sandusky class, United Brethren, was formed about 1845, by D. P. Hulbert, and was composed of Henry Orwig, L. M. Smith, and David Vandersall, with their families. The class is at present com- posed of twenty-two members. Meetings are held in school-houses and in resi- dences.

Methodism has had an existence in the township for a great many years. Mount Zion class was formed, and a meeting- house was built, in 1872, near Greenes- burg.

The Congregational church at Rollers- ville was formed in 1842, through the ef- forts of Rev. M. P. Fay, who continued to minister to the congregation until 1878. The first members were: John Miller and wife, Philip Miller and wife, Mr. Jewett, Sylvester Merrick and wife, James Merrick and wife, Angus Campbell and wife, Mrs. Reuben McDaniels, George N. Snyder and wife, Williston Merrick and wife, and Mr. Harrison and wife. Of these first members, Mrs. McDaniels is the only one yet living in the community. Rev. Mr. Hadley succeeded Mr. Fay to the pastor- ate. In 1880 Rev. Mr. Preston became

pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Thompson. The house of worship in Rollersville was built in 1860.

There are a number of families belong- ing to the Disciple church who meet for worship at residences and school-houses, and are ministered to by itinerant preach- ers. They are not a regularly organized body.

GREENESBURG.

This village is one of the oldest west of the Sandusky River. It was laid out by John L. Green, who, in partnership with Ryder, opened the first store in 1836. About this time a road was built to Fre- mont, and the village was supposed to have a future. But the fondest hopes of the wisest men are often never realized. Certain it is that the reality of the village of Greenesburg has never been realized except on paper. But a surveyor is un- able to make a town. Natural advantages, business tact, and enterprise are required. The projectors of several towns will find this out, if they have not already learned it. Millersville is an example to the point.

John L. Green failed in business in 1840 and then began the study of law. His career is noticed in the chapter relat- ing to the Bar.

The first postmaster at Greenesburg was James Russel. He was succeeded by D. G. Tinney, and he in turn by Martin Wright, who held the office until 1873, when an . office was established at Millersville and the office &: Greenesburg cancelled.

Martin Wright has been the store-keeper for more than twenty years.

ROLLERSVILLE.

Rollersville is situated on the township line between Madison and Scott. The Scott side was laid out by Henry Roller and Wilson Teeters ; the north part, lying in Madison, was laid out by William Whit- ford and Luther Chase. James Evans proposed the name which was adopted as

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

a compliment to the oldest of the four pro- prietors.

Jeremiah N. King opened the first store, but the woodland village consisted chiefly of taverns. Jonathan Fought built the first one. This was a log house one and one-half stories high and eighteen by twenty-four feet in the clear. It stood on lot sixty-three.

The second tavern was built by Alvin Ballard. It was a two-story log house of commodious size. .

The third tavern was built by Barringer, and stood on the lot now occupied by the Congregational church. It was one story high, contained one room and was sixteen by twenty feet in size. How would you like to stay all night in that house? The whisky trade gave spirit to village life in those days of hard work and unrestrained revelry. The average consumption of whisky per week was one barrel. Con- sidering the fact that the population was then comparatively sparse, we must con- clude that there were some hard drinkers in that community.

An idea of the value of property in those days of cheap whiskey can be formed from the following incidents: Barringer met Sheriff Crow riding in the streets of Fremont one day, and proposed to trade his tavern stand for the horse. Crow knowing the infirmities of the horse, ac- cepted the proposition, and a few days after visited his purchase. He was some- what disappointed, however, when he found that he had been under a misappre- hension, supposing that Barringer occupied the two-story house. But log houses at that time were of little value.

The first building in the village was built by William Whitford.

The first postmaster was David Smith. Dr. Thomson was postmaster from 1847 till 1862; Daniel Baker till 1874; William Herriff till 1875; S. P. Hathaway till 1876,

and D. B. Baker has filled the position since that time.

D. B. Baker conducts the only general store. There are two saloons, a black- smith shop and wagonmaker's shop, a church, school-house, and about twenty dwellings. The hotels have gone down.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician in Scott was Dr. William Durbin. He located in Rollers- ville in 1834, and continued in practice three years. He is a graduate of Penn- sylvania Medical College and is now prac- ticing in Mahoning county, Ohio.

· John B. Chamberlain, a graduate of Quebec Medical College, was the next local doctor; he had been previously lo- cated in Fremont. He had been a sur- geon in the War of 1812. He left Scott about 1848 and went to St. Clair, Michi- gan, where he died in 1852.

J. C. Thomson, with one exception, is the oldest active practitioner in the coun- ty. His father, John Thomson, was born in Ireland. He studied medicine' in Washington, Pennsylvania, and began practice in New Lisbon, Ohio, in 1807. He married a daughter of Joseph Patter- son, a Presbyterian clergyman, of Penn- sylvania. Dr. Thomson was in Congress ten years, being elected first during Jack- son's administration. He represented Columbiana county in the Legislature sixteen years. Dr. J. C. Thomson was born in 1822. In 1839 he entered a drug store in New Lisbon, Ohio, and two years later began the study of medicine at Mansfield, Ohio, which he pursued three years, including a course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania. He be- gan practice in Scott, in 1844. His ex- tensive practice and the confidence of the public are sufficient testimonials of his worth. His standing as a citizen is shown by repeated elections to local trusts. He was justice of the peace from 1853 for a

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY:

period of twenty-seven years. Dr. Thom- son married, in 1845, Jane Roller, who died in 1847. In 1848 he married for his second wife Avis P. Hathaway, daughter of N. P. Hathaway. Three children are living-Anna P. (Inman), John, and Helen M. Dr. Thomson holds membership in Masonry in Tiffin com- mandery, Fremont chapter, and Brainard lodge; in Oddfellowship, in Helena lodge, Thomson encampment, and Rebecca lodge; Knights of Honor, in William Whitford lodge. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from Charity Hospital Medical College, Cleveland, in 1869.

Dr. Charles A. Roush had an office at Rollersville, and practiced from 1848 till 1854. He is now practicing in Toledo.

Dr. John B. Ginn was a physician of worth at Greenesburg. He had a large practice. He died at Greenesburg in 1856.

SOCIETY.

William Whitford lodge, Knights of Honor, No. 948, was instituted by H. R. Shomo, March 11, 1878. The name was conferred as a compliment to one of the original proprietors of the village. The charter members were: Dr. J. C. Thom- son, Dr. E. R. Sage, R. A. Foregrave, William H. Aldrich, Edwin Aldrich, W. H. Campbell, J. E. Dean, Adam Bair, G. D. Evans, Josiah Fairbank, J. M. Garn, Theodore Munz, L. A. Mitchell, William Peck, S. R. Heberling, H. C. Green, John Hutchinson, G. D. Hathaway, Charles D. Inman, H. W. King, Joseph M. Jones, George W. Miller, and R. C. Thomas.

The past dictators, in their order, have been: Dr. J. C. Thomson, E. R. Sage, J. M. Garn, George N. Miller, Charles D. Inman, J Fairbank, W. H. Campbell, and R. A. Foregrave. The lodge is in a pros- perous condition. all the members taking an enthusiastic part in its business, and cheerfully meeting its demands. Dr J.

C. Thomson took the lead in the organi- zation, and infused into it his characteristic enthusiasm.

EARLY FUNERALS.

Life is a frost of cold felicitie, And death the thaw of all our vanitie.

[T. B., 1580.

The sacredness of the tomb commands a reverent approach to a description of early funeral customs. The mention of death brings a crowd of the saddest but sweetest recollections. The sight of a grave refreshes mournful memories of some dear friend's departing.

Of all the truly simple usages imposed upon the pioneer of this region by natural conditions, none more solemnly impres- sive ever existed than their funeral cus- toms. The scene of a woodland funeral at fifty years distance is picturesque, even poetical. We can only give the outlines, the imagination must supply the coloring of the picture.

In this part of the county underbrush and marsh gras: covered the ground, shaded by large trees, making it difficult for even a footman to find a way through, except where nature had thrown up ridges and seemingly provided passage-ways. Along these ridges, densely timbered, ran "cowpaths," no roads having yet been cut out. The first burial in Scott took place at a very early period of the settle- ment. The deceased had been a veteran of the Revolution, and lived about two miles west of the line, in Wood county. A path led from the house of mourning across the marsh and prairie, and along the ridge, to an elevated spot on the tract now known as the Minkly farm, in Scott. The few settlers for miles around all gathered at the house and performed the funeral rites. Then six strong men volunteered to consign the body to the elements from which it had come. The path leading to the burial place was, at places, so narrow that two men could not walk abreast.

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

Single and alone, they started on the mournful journey, bearing. upon their shoulders all that was mortal of him whose spirit had gone to the home of the brave and honest. One man going before ex- plored the path, four bore the precious load, while the sixth followed ready to af- ford relief. Thus the sad, silent company moved along over swamps bridged with logs, between impenetrable growths of underbrush, and into a more accessible upland forest. At last the open grave was reached. Overshadowed by oak, and elm, and maple, this silent, lone grave was bathed in the perfume of wild flowers and shrubs, and a choir of wild birds pensively chanted while the earth was swallowing its own. Cold clay, unsoftened by the loving tears of mourners, rattled against the rough box coffin. Soon this gap in the earth's fair bosom was closed. The burial com- pany scattered to their homes, and even the name of the brave soldier who im- perilled his life for our liberties, is now for- gotten. A man's faults fare better than his name, for they die and are buried with his body, but his name, after a time, sinks into obscurity, and at last perishes without the rights of Christian funeral. This grave was the beginning of a public cemetery.

The largest cemetery in the township is located on the Metzger farm in the eastern part. The Vernon family's were the first graves here. No roads led to this lot for a number of years, the bodies being car- ried to the grave through the woods. It was, indeed, a task to be a pall-bearer in those days. Neither was it an easy task to dig a grave, for roots seemed to be- grudge enough ground. It will be infer- red that muddy roads, scanty food, un- comfortable houses, severe labor, and the torture of wolves howling, and musquitoes biting did not complete the catalogue of pioneer hardships. Even ( Christian burial was accomplished with great difficulty

MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS.

One of the settlers on the prairie at an early date· was a good fellow on general principles, but he had a keen eye for busi- ness, and was not burdened with over- sensitive susceptibilities. The Senecas made a custom of camping annually on the ridge, just south of the prairie in Seneca county. One season a squaw died during the encampment, and was buried after the manner of the Senecas. The Indians, out of respect, at once abandoned their sports at the place of burial, having first invoked the blessing of the Great Spirit. But the prairie settler was not the man to allow reverence for lifeless bodies to stand in the way of making a few dol- lars. The shades of night had no sooner enveloped the grave than with pick and shovel he was at work. Log after log which had been carefully laid to protect the body from contact with profane earth, was removed until at last the body, dressed in a fancy hunting skirt, could be removed. The shrine formed by savage but ® con- scientious hands, and blessed by pagan rituals, was desecrated and robbed of its own. Taking the body on his back, the grave pilferer started for his cabin through the still and black forest, carrying the stiff, cold, clammy body on his back. After travelling a mile shut off from all the world by dense woods, he emerged into the moon-lighted prairie, through which lay the remainder of the journey. Pain- ful ending, indeed, it was. In full view were the glassy eyes half closed in death, and ghastly features of his stolen burden. But a hard heart assisted him to the end, where the corpse was boxed, taken to Lower Sandusky and sold.

In a few years after, the central figure of this strange affair sold his farm and left the township

The first school-house in the township was built near Greenesburg in 1834. The

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

second school was on the farm now owned by Mrs. Charles Long. Jacob Sprout was the first teacher in this part of the township.

Considerable excitement was caused in the north part of the township by the find- ing of the remains of the body of a man, torn to pieces by wolves. A pair of boots were found on a tree near by, which were supposed to belong to a man who had been in the country a few days looking for land. His sudden disappearance con- firmed this opinion, but the circumstances of his death were involved in mystery, and gave rise to considerable suspicion.

The reader is charged against forming an opinion prejudicial to the fair fame of Scott township. It is a community of en- terprising, law-abiding citizens. The early settlers were generally a good class of peo- ple, but a few were not ; but these, like pomace from cider, have been worked off, and the quality improved by their presence. There used to be a good deal of stealing going on in this part of the county. Hams and wheat were in especial danger. An old wheat thief once gave his experience to a highly esteemed citizen of the town- ship, under promise never to reveal the name. Thieves are proverbially smart, and these country thieves were no excep tion to the rule, as is shown by the strate- gic methods adopted. The retired thief to whom we have referred said in sub- stance :

A dark night was always selected. Let me tell you: never try to steal near home. Go where you are not known. We always took a team hitched to a wagon, and drove eight or ten miles. The party generally consisted of two men and one woman, or a man .dressed in woman's clothes. We chose a place close to the road. It is much safer than a place back from the road, for, you see, the plan won't work back from the road. Well, when we came to the place, we drive as close to the house as the road will take us, there stop. Leaving the woman in the wagon to hold the horses, we go to the barn and sack the grain. If any body comes out or noise is made, there the woman is in the wagon, and no-

body is so dumb or impolite as to ask her any ques- tions. We get the wheat sacked, load it in the wagon, and drive off. That is the last of it till next morning, when the wheat is gone, and we are away off. Oh, it's no danger to steal if you work it right.

The old man is probably right in his last statement. This is a unique method, however, and seems to have been pecul- iarly the property of Sandusky and Wood counties.

THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.

That the love of money is the root of sin, is a doctrine as old as the Bible. Another old axiom is, "The way to make money is to make it." The history of Scott township shows that this doctrine was literally believed in by a coterie of sharp and ambitious men. No event ever occurred in the western part of the county which created such general excite- ment and so much anxiety as the arrest of Jacob Weaver, in 1840, on a warrant charging him with coining counterfeit money. His supposed associates were prominent men ir the community, but Weaver was the only person proved guilty by legal processes, and in consequence will have to stand the brunt of our de- scription of the whole affair. This, too, is in harmony with the actual facts of the case, for, in reality, he was the willing tool of abler and shrewder men.

A fire in the woods often attracted the attention of settlers late at night, but for a time nothing was thought of what the phenomenon meant. But after a time peo- ple began to grow suspicious and watched. Certain individuals were found often absent from home and "what was going on down in the woods" became a question which honest folks asked each other in whispers. One day fragments of metal and a molder's ladle were found near the pile of ashes. The discovery of several quarter and half dollar pieces of suspicious composition began to define conjecture, and inceased, but quiet vigilance followed.

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

At last sufficient evidence was accumu- lated to justify legal proceedings. Noah Jennings placed in the hands of Sheriff Everett a warrant for the arrest of Jacob Weaver. The day was disagreeable and steady rain set in toward evening. The utmost quiet was prerequisite to the suc- cess of the enterprise. Sheriff Everett · chose as deputies Noah Jennings, who knew every crook and turn of the roads; Levi Parish, a brave, muscular young fel- low of more than average size and strength, and two other young men. These four constituted the sheriff's body guard. They planned to reach the house of their victim just after daylight in the morning, that hour being the only certain time of finding him in the house and at the same time affording no possibility of escape in the darkness of the earlier hours of the night. The sheriff and his depu- ties quietly left Lower Sandusky just after dark. Rain was falling thick and fast; the roads were a sheet of water and mud; ebony blackness seemed to oppress the earth, indeed everything conspired to make the expedition successful.

Jennings took the lead, the others fol- lowing single file in close succession to prevent being lost in the darkness. The south road, then a mere path through the woods, was chosen for secrecy. The horses carried their speechless riders, keep- ing time in their pace with the long-drawn hours of that awful night. Toward morn- ing the rain ceased. The eastern sky gave signs of approaching day just as the officers came in sight of the house wherein the miserable tool of that wicked conspir- acy was peacefully sleeping, little dreaming that such a night would be chosen by the officers of the law for his arrest. The

sheriff, with his deputies, tarried in the woods till light dispelled the darkness which had completely concealed their well- timed ride. The time for action came. A man stood on guard at each corner of the house while the sheriff roused the family, entered the house, and quietly made the arrest of the unsuspecting victim of his warrant. A diligent search fol- lowed for the wicked tools, which proved fruitless until the boards of the barn floor were overturned, where was found a large leathern bag filled with pieces of metal carefully worked to the size of the larger silver coins in general circulation. These were exhibited to the jury at the trial of the case.

Weaver was tried, convicted of coining counterfeit money, and sentenced to the penitentiary. There was no direct evi- dence against any one else, but one who claims to know says the facts would show even more to have been implicated than were suspected. But it is better to cover up faults rather than parade them; consequently we close the chapter against suspicions.

The method of manufacturing these spurious coins has come to light. The metal was moulded to the exact size of some common piece-quarter dollar, half dollar, or dollar. A dic was then set on each side and pressed into the metal by means of screws resting against trees for resistance.

The money was passed in considerable quantities, and could scarcely be detected by the inexperienced from genuine coin. In some parts of Scott farmers even yet occasionally plow up a piece of the bogus money. From this circumstance Scott has been named "the bogus township."

MISCELLANEOUS BIOGRAPHIES .*

ALFRED H. RICE.

This prominent and promising member of Sandusky county Bar was born at Fre- mont on the 23d day of September, 1840. He is a son of Dr. Robert S. Rice, one of the early settlers of Lower Sandusky, and brother of Hon. John B. Rice, member- elect of Congress from this Congressional district. Alfred H. Rice was educated at the common schools of Fremont. After leaving school he went into the mercantile business with his brother, William A., in Fremont, and spent a number of years in the business as a partner, performing the duties of salesman behind the counter, and also performing the duties of book- keeper for the establishment. Their store did a large and successful business, and Alfred H. acquired there those business habits and that knowledge of men which are so essential to a good attorney. He had, however, aspirations for something more intellectual, and finally quitted the mercantile business, and, after studying law with John M. Lemmon and John T. Garver, he was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio, at Columbus, on the 3d day of January, 1878, and at once commenced prac- tice in Fremont. Not long after com- mencing practice Mr. Rice became a member of the firm of Lemmon, Wilson & Rice, who opened an office in Fremont, and is now engaged in practice as a mem- ber of the firm. He married Miss Mary James, at Marion, Ohio, with whom he is

* NOTE .- The following biographies were received too late from Mr Everett for insertion in the proper place.

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still living. When the country called for help, in 1861, Mr. Rice volunteered as a private in the Seventy-second Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and in the same year was promoted to first lieutenant.

Mr. Rice has good faculties and is studious, and, although not yet old in the practice, his prudence and industry will carry him upward in his profession. With large social and business influences to back him and furnish him ample employ- ment, he is bound to succeed.

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History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 122

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040