USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vo. I > Part 14
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"Sweeping westward like an army, American pioneers have built cities and founded commonwealths on remote plains, and along the shores of the western ocean. Instead of throwing its protection around nine million six hundred and thirty-eight thou- sand people, the republic now shields forty-one million free men with the panoply of her benign authority. summoning thirty-seven states and nine territories, instead of twenty-two states and two territories, to the work of federal legislation.
"The hardships and privations of the early comers to this county, though almost forgotten, must excite our sympathy. and their patient heroism, surpassing warrier courage, commands our admiration. It is difficult to realize the great changes wrought in the material conditions, the social habits. the modes of living and in domestic comforts, since our fathers brought the arts of industry to these borders. Though poor and dwelling in log cabins, they were rich and happy in the practice and contempla- tion of integrity and the noble virtues of true living. They in- dulged in social intercourse. Society was not then degraded to a mere exhibition of personal adornments and formal civilities; but its greetings were sincere, not cold and mercenary. They visited. We call !
"The entire afternoon and evening was spent around blazing winter fires, and the children around the hearth-stone listened eagerly to the genial conversation between matrons, maids, and woodsmen. The visit culminated in a supper of wild game, hot
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biscuit, pumpkin pie, and preserved wild fruits. Such visits are now novelties, and our social gatherings are called parties, to which mothers hasten. leaving children and fretting babies at home, and maids and men gather at the fashionable hour of 10:00 p. m., for mere dress parade. After an hour spent on exhibition, refreshments come at a 'present arms' and an hour is devoted to dainties which engender effeminacy. Then at 2:00 a. m. the languid throng reach home to toss on restless pillows and rise next morning stupefied with the previous night's excesses.
"The sexes confided in each other and marriage was honorable. Children obeyed their parents and respected them; and whilst none denounced Christian marriage a tryanny, to be dissolved at will, divorces were seldom sought. Our mothers and elder sisters
chanted their songs and hymns. amid the prattle of children, the thump of looms, the clatter of the shuttle, and the hum of the spinning wheels. The good old days of cabin raisin's, loggin's and huskin's, flax-pullin's and apple parin's with the simple hospitalities, of pioneer settlements have passed into history- everything now is done by machinery. It is essential to our wor- ship ! Stirring hymns of sincere praise once filled the pioneer church or resounded sublimely around the old camp ground, in- spiring the logie of McIntyre, embellishing the winning oratory of Ragen, and making resistless the eloquence of Bigelow. But now our devotions are breathed through organ keys and chosen perform- ers, conspicuous in gorgeous temples elaborate with decorations of art, who execute hymns and anthems according to exact science, whilst rising from cushioned seats, the auditors stand and with bated breath-still stand until the-'note book' closes.
"Instead of charts and library half-full of dime novels and softly-carpeted halls. the early Sabbath schools assembled in log school houses with no library, save the New Testament and an occasional tract from the saddle bags of the itinerant. Then, people walked, rode on horseback, or in stanch wagons drawn by oxen or cheap horses, and often the anxious beau escorted his lady-love on a pleasure ride, perched behind him on his prancing steed. Those were good old times.
"Now, we have four thousand pleasure carriages in this coun- ty, worth five hundred thousand dollars, of which Thompson town- ship claims a tenth, and plated housings worth one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for thousands of horses that would have graced the stables of Saladin. These afford the motive power that whirls us along the smooth highways in a style more sumptuous than an Oriental prince housed in Sedan chairs and borne on the shoulders of menial subjects.
"Those of us who have passed two score and five years, were educated in log school houses with the puncheon floors and back- Vol. 1-8
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less seats, with fireplaces capacious enough to receive "back-logs" and "fore-sticks" twelve feet long. Thousands of those who listened to me today, never saw one of those early seats of learning, and few know what a backlog or fore-stick is. Now, one hundred and fifty-two brick and frame buildings, costing one hundred and sixty-three thousand dollars, on hilltops and at crossroads, tender free and advanced education to our 11,690 youth receiving instruc- tion from 136 male and 178 female teachers who receive $38,000 for their services annually. We annually expend $65,000 in support of our free schools in this county or an average of $12 for each pupil, and offer the free use of 3,300 volumes to our youth.
"The old singing master has yielded to the professor of music, and none sing unless they are 'stars.' The drum, fife and fiddle were the musical instruments of our fathers, the one lending spirit to dance, and the others enkindling that martial spirit which has so frequently saved the republic by deeds of heroism on six hundred bloody fields.
"Now, music from 220 pianos, costing $150,000, lend attrac- tion to home, and accomplished performers on brazen instruments enliven our multitudes whilst stringed instruments touched ex- quisitely by artists, inspire and direct the merry dance. Those who prepared for us this goodly heritage dwelt in log cabins, and their kitchen, dining room and bed room were E Pluribus Unum; they had no moth-eaten carpets, no stoves to be cracked by care- less usage, little furniture to be scratched by heedless children, and no pantries or cupboards to be locked against Bridget and her beau. Today, along every highway. beautiful farm houses, sur- rounded with orchards. shrubbery. exquisite parterres, of flowers, and evidences of cultivated taste greet the eve. In them are spa- cious apartments, filled with all that can minister to comfort, and render home and family what they should be-the most beautiful and sacred retreat of earth.
"Within the memory of many of us, our highways were mere bridle paths, and to guide our ox-teams among the stumps and trees, and to drive them through the fathomless mud, tested the Christian patience of the most considerate, and often called forth expressions more emphatic than polite. Buggies we had none. If we got to mill without breaking an axle or tongue, we were ex- ceedingly fortunate. The usual method of milling was to balance three bushels of grain on the back of a horse, and mount a boy as a supercargo. Boys learned farming and were anxious to learn trades, whilst the noble young women were willing to marry labor- ing men. Now, it seems to be the anxiety of our boys to abandon the farm and the workshops and find something easy, and honor- able ; and our daughters, in town and country, appear to be anxious to become the wives of 'nice' fellows, who have smooth, white
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hands, and a 'holy horror' of toil. Young men are rushing to the professions, commerce and speculation, and already our lands are neglected from the want of tillers. The agricultural population of our county has decreased within the past ten years. This ten- dency should cause alarm and receive the attention of all con- cerned. It is surprising ! It is unfortunate !
"When open for settlement, pioneers invaded our country by a score of dimly marked and winding paths-building their cabins and campfires along the streams, until in 1830 our population reached 5,148, while resounding axes and blazing clearing gave token of vigorous battle waged against grim forests rooted deep in earth and towering to the clouds. One log church and fifteen school houses embraced all our temples for moral and intellectual culture. And not ten dwellings, outside of villages, were frame or brick.
"In 1840 we had an increase of 13,128, and the battle waged against the wilderness, so heroically begun eighteen years before, was pressed with increasing vigor. Opened farms and homes of comfort gemmed the county, and the Pennsylvanians in Thomp- son township, had indicated the fertility of the barrens while the big spring, long shunned as a swail, now swarmed with frugal Germans, who found freedom and country homes within our coun- ty borders. In 1850 we counted. 27,104, and beautiful homes, on well cultivated farms along a hundred highways, testified to the thrift and opulence of our people.
"In 1860, we numbered 30,868, and a glorious transformation had been wrought in the farm improvements and in all that gives comfort and elegance to home.
"The drudgery of farm labor has been mitigated and rendered agreeable by improved implements and machinery. In earlier days, corn was cultivated with the hoe, on fields, bridged by inter- lacing roots. Now the roots are gone, and perfected instruments supplant the hoe. Grain once sown from bags, on aching should- ers, is scattered now by horse power, with well adjusted drills. Equipped with sickle or cradle. the muscles were once taxed to cut the ripened grain. Now, riding on cushioned seats, farmers urge spirited teams through fields of waving grain and it falls without a fatiguing blow. Bending over provoking dull scythes is some- thing of the far past. and matched horses before whistling drivers, do our mowing. In place of using hand rakes and forks, grass is now gathered by horse rakes from the Tiffin Agricultural Works.
"The clatter of flails and tramp of horses are hushed by the rattling thresher, that separates our seeds and grain more rapidly than seventy men could accomplish it forty years ago.
"With a clumsy mold-board implement, drawn by stubborn oxen, we formerly scratched among stumps, constantly tempted to
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profanity, and went home to doctor shins skinned by spiteful roots. Today merry plow boys whistle along furrows long drawn by patient horses, before Loomis and Nyman's best.
"As we look upon the tiny inhabitants and the broad, smooth fields, in the county and consider the independence and comfort of the intelligent farmer, we must be astonished that so many quit the field for the vexations of the professions and mercantile pur- suits, where failure is the rule, and success the exception. Our, 3,043 farms require more laborers and should be increased in number.
"Ninety out of every hundred merchants and traders become bankrupt, and not one in ten in any profession, except teaching, ever acquire either fortune or eminence. In town and in the coun- try, idle, aimless, and nerveless young men are wasting precious years, instead of going to work to sustain a manly part in the grand movements of the age.
"The idle youth is not to be respected. I care not what may be his or her education, or family connection. Let society ordain that those only are of God's true nobility who toil in field, work -. shop, kitchen, or in any legitimate business. As a rule, consider- · able wealth to a child is a calamity. Not one in twenty retains
It rarely descends to the it, nor uses it in the interest of society. third or even to the second generation. The men of prominence and wealth in this country, have achieved position and property by individual industry and frugality. None should despond because they are poor. The grand possibilities of life are open to all, and they who toil shall win. Not that all can, or should be statesmen, soldiers, poets or authors ; but that all may and should be men and women, honoring the Creator and enriching the earth by the beauty and devotion of their lives. The policies of wealth shall come in a few brief years to new possessors, rising from among the up- right, intelligent boys, who have left the pinchings of poverty ; and the genial spirit that shall bring new order to the kitchen, and increased accomplishments to the drawing room, shall be from among the little girls who now trip to school, rudely clad, and do the housework when at home.
"Life is full of its compensations. It appears as an order of Providence that each one in life shall experience the humiliations of the manger and struggle to the porch of the temple."
General Gibson was an ardent advocate of anything in which he was interested, and of any cause that he might espouse. In that he was admired by his opponents. But he was never bigoted especially may this be said of his later years. This was never more strongly demonstrated than in a speech he made in Columbus when he told a story of how some folks may modify their opinions when they know more about what they think. He was giving a
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description of certain care given to himself at one time by an orderly, who always prayed for him at night when he said his paternoster. From this he went into a description of what he thought to be the truest evidence of "a fellow having religion :"
"I can't say I go very much on creeds." said the General, "but I do go a good deal on a fellow's having religion. Some have it, and some haven't got it when they are telling how good they are. Now, that orderly had religion, and I knew it. IIe was a good man, but never but once did he say a word to me about relig- ion. He asked me, if he was killed, to write to his old mother in Indiana that he died with the cross over his heart. I did write that old mother, for that orderly was killed at Stone river. I saw religion on the battle fields, and if it is good there, I tell you that no flaws will be found in it when the man who has it comes to pass in his checks. If a fellow can be a good man, a religious
man in camp, he'll do for almost anywhere. We had them down there and they were true blue; we had our religious meetings, but there was a good deal of religion that didn't get into the meetings. There's many a good thing said about women being religious. And I believe that's so. Now, men can be religious, when they have a mind to be. But the best specimen of what people will do for their religion that I ever saw on a battlefield, was displayed by a woman.
"When I was a young fellow, I had pictures in my mind as to what sort of a place heaven was going to be. It was to be a big, fine palace-a grand, gorgeous, stately palace, because it was to be the dwelling palace of the King of kings, the Lord of lords, as well as of all good Protestants.
"Of course, I discovered no reserved seats for Catholics. In my opinion, they had no business there. Well, the cry, 'To Arms!' rang out and we all got off to war. I had the honor of command- ing a regiment. We managed to get into several bad scraps, and some of our boys went up to glory from the places where we were fighting. At last we came to Stone river. There we had all the fighting we wanted to do. We had been repulsed by the enemy, and then driven them back. I was commanding a brigade. My headquarters were on a little hill, and there were scrub trees where I stood and a partial clearing where we had been fighting; but through my glass I could see figures moving in the twilight about among the dead, yet we could not make out what they were after. I ordered my aid-de-camp to make a reconnaissance and discover what they were up to down there.
"In a little while he came back and reported : 'Colonel, I have the honor to report that those figures you saw are women, dressed in black, and they are going from one to another of the wounded soldiers, both Rebel and Union, and giving them water.' I shouted 'come on !' and down that hill we galloped, and through the scrubby
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jack oak trees we rode and came to where the women, those black- robed Sisters of Charity, were performing acts of love that would touch a heart of stone. We did not have to ride far before we came to one of those black robed figures. She lay with her head close up to a tree, with her arm across her face as if asleep. I spoke to her, then got down. and what was my horror. She was dead. A bullet had sent her spirit flying to God. There she lay-heroine'of heroines. She was not on Uncle Sam's pay roll : no pecuniary help had been given her. She was there for Christ's sake; and who doubts her title up vonder? There were her two companions, only a little way off. They carried lanterns as they moved about. And what were they doing ? Succoring the wounded and dying! Yes, and every man bared his head to those noble women. That night I thanked God for opening my eyes; these were Catholics. Those noble women did not ask what church the dying soldier belonged to; they did not ask them on what side they were fighting. they did not stop to think to what race they be- longed, and black and white. Rebel and Federal, were treated alike. They were simply on their God-sent mission, and truly demon- strated that 'woman has this quality with the angels, that those who suffer belong to her.' I met these women in our hospitals after that, at Nashville and in other cities, and they were the same quiet, patient. cheerful spirits I met on Stone river's bloody field- not the same black robed figures, but black robed figures who braved all dangers, and feared no contagious disease, and brought glad- ness into the hearts of the poor, sick boys, who had no mother or sister to give them courage to live. My idea of heaven changed. I saw heaven as I shall die believing it to be; in it, good Catholics and good Protestants. When I get to heaven I am going to hunt up that Sister of Charity, the heroine of Stone river, and thank her for her kindness to our boys. for she died without anyone telling her how brave and good she was. And she didn't expect any praise for her heroism; but she was rewarded with better things than praise of men. And she did more than that, she knocked out of me every particle of bigotry that I ever had and that ought to make her angel-life shine with a brighter luster."
THE BLACK HORSE TAVERN.
The father of Seneca county's great orator, the late General William H. Gibson, ere he located in Seneca county, erected a build- ing at the crossing of the stage routes east of Dennison, in Tusca- rawas county, this state. The building was used as a tavern "to afford a halting place for the dust-begrimed travelers who were carried by stage coaches." It is said that the stages carried pas- sengers then as "first-class freight, a certain rate per pound, each passenger weighed and billed through to his destination."
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During the drive made by the editor of this work, a few years since, he noticed ruins a mile or two east of Dennison, which seemed to him suggestive of a history. Calling at the first house after passing the ruins, inquiry was made about the place.
"Oh, that's where the Black Horse tavern stood," was the reply. Upon further inquiry and investigation the following story was learned :
The Black Horse tavern, at the time of the story, was kept by one James Boyd, an Irishman, who conducted the hostelry for a number of years. Boyd's patronage consisted mainly of tran- sient trade but after the tavern began to do a thriving business two permanent guests made their headquarters with him. They were dark eyed strangers who said they hailed from Philadelphia. This much information the two men volunteered, but in the many months they stopped at the Black Horse tavern little more was known of their life or history. They were gamblers and thereby made their living. Night after night, week after week, and month after month found them at the gaming table in the tavern bar, where they played the coming and going teamsters and other travelers for the highest stakes that could be made.
The gamblers dressed well, talked well and played well, but drank little. At first Boyd rather looked upon them with dis- favor, but as they paid their bills promptly and were lavish in spending their money, their greater multitude of sins were covered in the eyes of the dollar-grabbing landlord. Despite the fact that none of the guests could cope with them at the card table, they nevertheless found numerous victims and the hard earned wages of many a guest was left at the Black Horse tavern to swell the fund of the two gamesters.
Early in the winter of 1822, there arrived at the tavern a young Virginian, the son of a planter. He rode a powerfully- built coal black horse and carried with him an air of refinement and culture. It was learned by those about the inn that he had come into Onio with a view to buying up an extensive tract of timber land which at that time could be purchased for a song. He told Bord that his name was Richard Wentworth and by that name he was known while he remained. The young Virginian was taciturn. He volunteered little information and made few friends. . The two card men tried to lure him into a friendly game, but he courteously yet firmly declined. Wentworth spent much of his time astride his black steed prospecting for many miles in all direc- tions from the tavern in questof timbered lands suited to his pur- pose. On all of these excursions he carried with him a set of leather saddle bags, which were securely strapped to his horse. About the inn he carried those on his arm and slept with them under his pillow at night. It was the general belief that these
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saddle bags were filled with bank notes and gold. The semi- weekly stage that passed the tavern southbound, carried away each trip a letter from Wentworth to his sweetheart back in Alexander and as regularly letters came from her to him. With some degree of pride Wentworth on one occasion showed her picture (an old daguerreotype) to Boyd, when the latter one day slyly suggested that "th' lass back east was a favoured lady, anywa', t' be remem- bered by so many letters." Boyd. in speaking of the picture episode afterward declared that "she had th'e bonniest face i' all th' world." On another occasion afterward, when Boyd was ad- miring Wentworth's horse, the latter spoke of his sweetheart again and said she was a splendid horsewoman and that she also rode a coal black steed which he had presented to her and which was a mate to his own.
After Wentworth had been a guest at the hotel a little more than a week he left as usual one morning on his black horse on an excursion several miles to the westward to be gone all day. Shortly after his departure the two gamblers, each riding one of Boyd's horses, also set out on a hunt, so they said. Each carried a rifle and they traveled eastward.
In the middle of the afternoon Wentworth's black horse ran riderless into the inclosure surrounding the inn, where it stood flecked with foam and trembling with fright. The saddle re- mained on the animal's back while the bridle reins dragged at his feet. An examination showed a hole as if made by a bullet in the fleshy part of the horse's neck. The excited throng about the inn at once organized a searching party and started out to scour the country in search of Wentworth. Night came on shortly and the unsuccessful quest was abandoned. At twilight the two gamblers returned to the inn and seemed greatly surprised and grieved upon learning of the disappearance of Wentworth, for whom they declared they had formed a strong attachment. The following morning the searchers, accompanied by the two game- sters, again started out, spreading their ranks in all directions. As night approached two of the seachers came upon Wentworth's hat near the east bank of the Tuscarawas river, several miles north of New Philadelphia, and a little distance away in the brush by the roadside they found the saddle bags cut open and empty. That Wentworth had been murdered and robbed there was no doubt, but most diligent search failed to find any traces of his body, the whereabouts of which always remained a mystery.
The next day after the finding of Wentworth's hat and saddle bags a letter came from the Virginian's sweetheart. Boyd prompt- ly returned it to her, and with it a letter stating the facts of her lover's disappearance, the finding of his hat and saddle bags and expressing the belief that he had been murdered and robbed. The
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proprietor asked what he should do with Wentworth's black horse, still in his care, which had only been slightly injured.
To Boyd's inquiry no answer came, but at dusk, ten days after Wentworth's disappearance, a traveler rode up to the tavern on a black horse and, dismounting, asked for lodging. The new arrival was slight and gracefully built, well groomed and well booted with a face as fair as a girl's and a voice that was full of music. When Boyd beheld the traveler's coal black steed he stood aghast at its resemblance to Wentworth's horse. As Boyd led the animal toward the stable, still turning this coincidence over in his mind, Wentworth's horse from the stable gave utterance to an impatient neigh. The animal Boyd was leading stopped in its tracks threw up its head and plainly gave an answering whinny of recognition. This dumfounded the proprietor all the more, but when he placed the two horses in adjoining stalls the manner in which they rubbed their noses together and caressed one another left no further doubts that they were old friends and had known each other elsewhere than at the tavern stables. The resemblance of the two black horses was commented on about the inn, but Boyd for some reason of his own, withheld his opinion in the matter and waited for further developments, meanwhile keeping his eyes on the late stranger.
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