History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 15

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 15

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).

Spanish and questioned Riley and wanted to know where Rais-bel-Cossin was, and Riley told him he was at Santa Cruz. Sidi Hamet wanted to know where Sheik Ali was, where- upon Riley informed him that he was satisfied they had left him in Santa Cruz in company with Rais-bel-Cossin and Muley Ibrahim, and said that Sheik .Ali was a bad man and did not fear God. Seid also pretended to be much re- joiced that the slaves were on the road to Mag- adore, but Riley thought that he could discover that he was trying to play a deep game of art ul duplicity. But old Sidi Mohammed was truly glad to find them in the Emperor's dominions.

Having now been absolutely delivered over to Bel Mooden, the Moor who had charge of the money paid it over to Sidi Hamet. Bel Mooden and his charges proceeded toward Swearah and Sidi Hamet went on to Santa Cruz. They had proceeded in this way until about 10 o'clock, when they were joined by Rais-bel-Cossin, Sidi Hamet, Seid and Sidi Mohammed. Riley now inquired what had Le- come of Muley Ibrahim and Sheik Ali, an I their attendants, and was told that they had set out for their respective homes. Rais-bel-Cos- sin told Riley that when his friend told him the Sheik's plan, "I stole away softly and sent you away. without the Sheik's knowledge, but Muley Ibrahim was in the secret and remained with the Sheik to prevent alarm if he should awake in the night." Rais-bel-Cossin said that as soon as Riley and his party were on their way, he laid down across the door so that the Sheik could not pass without awakening him. The Sheik awoke in the morning and, waking Rais-bel-Cossin, told him that they had better call upon the governor, which Rias consented to do, but wanted to see the slaves first so as to have some coffee made. This was assented to. but when they came to where they had slept and found none there nor their drivers. Rais

Digitized by Google

126

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

broke out into a violent passion and accused the Sheik with having robbed him of his slaves during the night, and said he would instantly have him seized and delivered up to the gover- nor, to be punished according to the Moorish law.

Muley Ibrahim, who knew the whole affair. joined with Rais, protesting he could no longer hold friendship with a man who was capable of committing such an act which he considered to be one of the worst breaches of faith that ever disgraced a man of the Sheik's high character. Sheik Ali was thunderstruck by this unex- pected event, declared in the most solemn man- ner that he knew nothing about the slaves' es- cape, and begged that he might not be delivered up to the governor. He acknowledged he had laid a plan the preceding evening for the deten- tion of the slaves and asked Rais to leave the governor a small present and proceed on the road toward Magadore in the hope of finding his slaves, saying, "They must have gone that way, as the gates were shut on the other side, and there was no possibility of turning back by any other route." The Sheik added, "I am in your power and will go on with you and my friend Muley Ibrahim, without any attendants to prove to you that I am innocent, and that I place greatest confidence in your friendship." Thus they agreed to pursue and endeavor to overtake the supposed runaways. But soon after they had mounted the hills north of Santa Cruz, meeting Sidi Hamet and Seid, with Bel Mooden and Sidi Mohammed, who had the slaves as before mentioned, they stopped and talked over their affairs. Sheik Ali insisted that Sidi Hamet had treated him very ill; that he and Seid owed him 400 dollars, which they were to pay him on their return from the desert. but that they had passed by his lands a three days' journey with their slaves without even calling on him to eat bread. He added he would

have gone with them himself and with an artred force through Sidi Ishem's country to prevent that chief taking their property. "But you wished to cheat me of my money as you did of my daughter," said he, addressing him- self to Sidi Hamet. Sidi Hamet, whose voice had been very high before, now lowered his tone and said it was better to settle their dis- putes than to quarrel. So he acknowledged he owed his father-in-law 360 dollars for goods. but asserted that they were not worth half the money. He would, however, pay the principal but no interest, which would have swelled the debt to more than 500 dollars. The Sheik agreed to accept the principal which was counted out in silver dollars, for he would not take gold doubloons as he did not know their value. He then delivered up Sidi Hamet's bond and said he would return to his tribe.

Rais-bel-Cossin gave Muley Ibrahim a present in cash and they separated, having first vowed everlasting friendship and joined prayers for the success of their several jour- neys.

Riley and the party traveled on without in- cident until about 8 o'clock, the third day. when mounting the side of one of the sand hills through which they had been traveling. Swearah broke suddenly on their view, with the island of Magadore forming a harbor. in which was a brig riding at anchor with the English colors flying. "Take courage, Cap- tain," said the good Rais, "there is Swearah," pointing toward the town, "and there is a ves- sel to carry you to your country and family: if God please, you will soon see the noble Will- shire, who will relieve you from all your mis- ery. I thank God your sufferings are nearly at an end, and that I have been found worthy to be an instrument in the hands of the Omnip- otent to redeem you from slavery." He next returned thanks to the Almighty in Arabic

Digitized by Google

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

127

with all the fevor and devotion so peculiar to Mohammedans and then ejaculated in Spanish, "May it please Almighty God to have pre- served the lives of Riley's wife and children."

They now proceeded down the sand hills toward the city, but very slowly. Sidi Hamet had now been missing for some time. He had gone forward to be the first to carry the news to Willshire of the approach of the captives. And now Bel Mooden and Sidi Mohammed left Riley and his men for the same purpose and made their way toward the city. The var- ious emotions that filled the minds of Riley and his men can only be conjectured. Near the western angle of Swearah or Magadore, they were taken off the mules and seated on the green grass near a stream of pure water. They now beheld the American flag floating over a part of the distant city. Willshire, who had been informed of their. arrival, had caused the American flag to be hoisted as a signal and had mounted his horse and ridden out of the city and come to where they were seated. As they approached, Rais said in Spanish, "Alla cstom," ("There they are"). At the sound they looked up and beheld their deliverer, who had at that instant turned his eyes upon them. He started back one step in surprise. His blood seemed to leave his face for a mo- ment, but recovering himself he rushed for- ward, clasping Riley to his breast, saying, "Welcome to my arms. My dear sir, this is truly a happy moment. He next took each of the others by the hand and welcomed them to their liberty while tears ran down his cheeks. Then turning his eyes toward heaven he said, "I thank the great Author of my be- ing for Thy mercy to these my brothers."

Rais-bel-Cossin was so much affected that he hid himself behind the wall to conceal his tears, for the Moors as well as Arabs hold shedding of tears to be a degrading weakness.

After this interview, they were escorted to Mr. Willshire's house by a squad of soldiers that were necessary to keep the rabble from doing them violence. They were then ordered before the bashaw, who was a Moor of about 60 years. He was sitting crosslegged on a mat spread on the floor. His dress was a haick (blanket). He asked Riley (through an interpreter) of what country he was? Where their vessel was wrecked? How many men there were in all and if the remainder were alive. How long they had been slaves and if the Arab, their last master, had been kind to them? He wanted to know how much money from the vessel fell into the hands of the Arabs? And what other cargo she had on board?

Having satisfied his inquiries, he said they were now free and he would write to the Em- peror respecting Riley and his men and hoped he would give them leave to go home to their country. He then dismissed them.

Upon arrival at Mr. Willshire's house, some Jews were ready to shave off their beards. Their heads were also in an unpleasant condi- tion, being literally filled with vermin. As their beards and heads underwent the opera- tion of the scissors and razors, their bodies were cleansed with soap and water, and their sores rubbed with sweet oil. Riley's mind that had withstood all his trials and hardships now for a time gave way, but it returned as he gained in strength.

Mr. Willshire was untiring in his care tor Riley and his men, sparing no expense that would contribute to their comfort. Clark and Burns were mere skeletons, and Savage and Horace nearly as much reduced. At the re- quest of Mr. Willshire, Riley was weighed and fell short of 90 pounds, although his normal weight had been 240 pounds.

Shortly after their arrival at Magadore,

Digitized by Google

128

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

Riley received by courier from Consul General Simpson at Tangier to Mr. Willshire, the fol- lowing letter.

GIBRALTAR, 13th November, 1815. My Dear Riley :

I will not waste a moment by unnecessary pre- amble. I wrote to Mr. Willshire that your draft on me for twelve hundred dollars or more shall be duly paid for the obtainment of your liberty and those with you. I have sent him two double-barreled guns to meet his promise to the Moor. In a short time after the receipt of this, I hope to have the happiness to take you by the hand under my own roof again. You will come here by the way of Tangier.

Your assured friend, HORATIO SPRAGUE.

On the 4th day of January, 1816, Savage, Burns, Clark, and Horace shipped for Gibral- tar on a Genoese schooner sailing under the English flag, and Riley started overland for Tangier to visit the American consul general residing at that place, in order to make effec- tual arrangements for the redemption of the remainder of the unfortunate crew, should they yet be alive. The company consisted of young Zagury, an old Jew named David, a Jew servant, two Moors, who were the muleteers, and an imperial soldier for their guide.

On the evening of the 19th of January, Ri- ley arrived at Tangiers, where he was conduct- ed before the governor, who ordered him to be escorted to the American counsul's house, where he soon arrived, and was received by the American consul general, James Simpson.

On the 29th of January, Riley left the home of Mr. Simpson and sailed for Gibraltar, where he arrived the same evening but too late to land until the next morning, when he met his friend Horatio Sprague, who had so cheerfully paid his drafts from Magadore. On the 2nd of February, 1816, they set sail for New York in the ship "Rapid," Capt. Robert Williams, and arrived at New York March 20, 1816. He

hastened to Middletown, where he found his family in good health. He only spent one week with them, when he hastened to Washington and called upon Hon. Samuel W. Dana, United States Senator, who introduced him to Hon. James Monroe, Secretary of State.

The administration paid from the treas- ury his and his crew's ransom, amounting to $1,852.45. The Secretary and many members of Congress advised him to publish a narrative of his experience. He resolved to abandon the sea and spend the remainder of his life in his native country. The next two or three years were spent in preparation for the profession of a civil engineer, and in June, 1819, he was appointed a deputy surveyor by Edward Tiffin, Surveyor Guard of the United States. The appointment was subject to the pleasure of the Surveyor General.

In July, 1819, Captain Riley reached St. Marys and commenced surveying the lands purchased from the Indians in 1818, at the treaty of St. Marys. In the winter he returned to Washington, where he spent the winter. In the spring of 1820, he moved his family from Middlesex county, Connecticut, to Chillicothe, Ohio, in a two-horse wagon, by way of New York City and thence through New Jersey, to Cumberland, Pennsylvania, then following the National Road to Ohio. They were six weeks on the way. He left his family at Chillicothe until 1821, where he removed them in January to what the Indians called "the rapids", at Will- shire.

In 1820, Captain Riley surveyed the land between the Auglaize and the Maumee rivers. In 1821 the whole family were taken down with chills and not one was able to wait on the other. On the arrival of James Watson Riley with a surveying party, they were placed on beds on wagons and hauled to Piqua, 60 miles distant, to receive medical treatment. Captain Riley

Digitized by Google

129

AND REPI ESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

was elected a member of the Legislature in 1823, from the district composed of Darke, Shelby, Mercer, Van Wert, Paulding and Wil- liams counties.

In 1824 the surveying of Ohio lands was completed and Captain Riley gave his atten- tion to his mill and other interests until Janu- ary, 1826, when he was attacked by an affec- tion of the head and neck and was taken to Fort Wayne for treatment, and thence to Detroit on a bed arranged in a boat, and from there in the same manner on a vessel on Lake Erie, to Buffalo, and thence on the Erie Canal to New York. In 1830 he was so far recovered that he returned to the ocean, the object of his first love. In 1831 he visited Magadore to see his benefactor, Mr. Willshire, and established a trade there, making nine voyages to that coun- try. The winter of 1839-40 he spent in Maga- dore and the city of Morocco. In March, 1840, he left New York in his brig "William Tell," for St. Thomas, in the West Indies, and died when 13 days out and was buried at sea.

His town at that early day bid fair to make a thriving town, but railroads and canals drew the settlers to other centers.

ANSEL BLOSSOM

Was among the very early settlers of the county. He was the first justice of the peace elected in the county and served as the first to the Board of County Commissioners.

He came from Maine, where he had taught a school. On his arrival in the town of Will- shire he worked for. Captain Riley at $1 a day and board until there was due him $100, with which he entered 80 acres of land. He erected a log cabin, moved upon the property in the fall and commenced clearing. He was particular to have his clearing exactly square and not get-

ting his field square he would not plow it in the spring.

He imagined himself a second Benjamin Franklin, and imitated him even to sticking his thumbs in his waistcoat arm-holes; on no account would he go faster that a walk, even to escape a sudden thunder shower, as it was undignified to run.

He had a wife named Mercy and a large family. To make sure that his sons should bear great names, the eldest was named Horatio Gates; the next Edward Preble; then Ira Allen, Benjamin Franklin, Smith Mathias, James Monroe, and John Quincy Adams. Ben- jamin Franklin worked for Captain Riley, while the rest of the great men were clearing up the Blossom farm.

The first wedding in Van Wert County was that of Philip Froutner and Miss Bolenbaugh. About a week before that time Mr. Blossom was elected justice of the peace by his own vote and was entitled to perform the marriage cere- mony. Philip had postponed his wedding rather than go to St. Marys or Fort Wayne. But one morning the squire on going to his milk house saw a pole cat quietly drinking milk from a milk pan. He very deliberately went into the house and asked Mercy to hand him the fire shovel, to her inquiry, "What do you want it for," replying, "You will be addressed presently." Finding the animal with its head over the pan, he brought the shovel down upon its neck cramming its head into the milk with the intention of drowning it, but the animal gave him such a sprinkling as to render him blind for a time and to perfume his clothes, including his only white shirt with a high col- lar, which he wore on great occasions, starched so that it had the appearance of holding his bald head up by the ears. He instantly called for Mercy to help him into the house, changed

Digitized by Google

130

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

his clothes as soon as possible and buried them to get rid of the offensive odor. This made poor Phil put off his wedding. After two weeks, thinking that the Squire's garments were in condition to be worn on such ar occa- sion as intended, Phil presented himself at the Squire's for the purpose of engaging his ser- vices; seeing that he had on his hickory shirt, he was about to depart but finally mustered up courage and said, "Squire Blossom have you a clean white shirt to put on?" To which with becoming dignity the Squire asked, "Why?" "Wall, if you have, I want you to come out to Peter Bolenbaugh's and marry me to his sister, I got the license of Riley in my pocket." "Mercy are my best shirts ironed?" Being answered that they would be ironed in time, all were invited to the wedding and of course all went, great and small. A sumptuous supper was served and thus ended the first wedding in Van Wert County, which took place in the fall of 1822.

The first well dug in the county was put down by Captain Riley. It was dug down to the level of the rock in the river, was walled up with limestone and was a good well of water.

This determined Ansel Blossom to dig him a well. But as the stone for walling had to be hauled for over half a mile and he had no team and considering himself a great genius, he con- cluded to give his well such a start like a fun- nel that it would not need to be walled, particu- larly as he found a solid mass of blue clay. He dug a hole about 10 feet in diameter, and expecting to reach water in 30 feet gave it the proper slope to have it, when done, not over two feet in diameter at the bottom, where he ex- pected to find solid rock like in the Riley well. All told him to have a wooden curb and stone on hand ready to curb and wall it up as soon as he struck water. But all to no purpose. When he had dug about 30 feet. he came to hard-

pan. He dreamed that he struck a crowbar down and struck water. He did so: lost his crowbar and sure enough the water gushed up so fast that he had barely time to climb out on the ladder he had used for carrying up the dirt. when it began to cave in. Before night the water rose to the top and ran over and he was obliged to fill it up as it was near his house.

He concluded to try again. About six rods east of his house there was a very large and thrifty beech tree not less than three feet in diameter. He philosophised upon the matter and came to the conclusion that so thrifty a tree must have a large body of water under it. into which its tap roots penetrated and that he would not have to dig so deep by at least 10 feet. This time he had his stone hauled and a wooden curb to put down to keep out the quick- sand. He commenced by cutting down the tree in the usual way two or three feet above the ground. Instead of digging out the stump and getting it out of the way, he dug all around it, only leaving the "tap roots" as he called them. When he had got a large hole some six feet deep, he cut off the bottom roots without taking any means to prevent the stump from falling over, which it did. Then he found that with all his boys he could not move the stump. He borrowed a yoke of oxen and chain, hitched the chain to the stump but the angle was too great, and the stump was only pulled against the side. He and his boys worked half a day and finally the chain broke and the cattle started for home, but as his dignity (being squire) would not let him run a few steps to stop them, they got into a full run. As the chain was broken, the hands at the mill feared that something dreadful had happened. In about half an hour the Squire very deliberately walked into the sawmill, with his thumbs in the arm-holes of his vest and his fingers meet- ing over his chest, and made known the diffi-

Digitized by Google

131

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

culty. The men took both yoke of cattle and more log chain, placed some sticks down the side of the stump and, making one end of the chain fast above the ground and passing the other around the stump, taking what they called a "rolling hitch," rolled it out in five minutes.

Then he was ready for the windlass to haul up the dirt and was offered the one used at the Riley well, but he said it required too much work to work the windlass and he had a plan that would save all that work, and his two sons, Benjamin Franklin and Edward Preble, could do it all so the other boys could farm and clear land. To accomplish this, he had an old- fashioned well-sweep erected; each side of the heavy end he erected two poles some 25 feet long. like two ladders; they were fastened to- gether at the top and had holes bored through them both ways about a foot apart, rounds put in the side to use as a ladder and holes through across about a foot apart into which a pin could be fitted, so that when Ben wanted to go down Ed got astride the butt end of the sweep, pulled out the pin that was through the poles above and Ben, being the older and heavier, came down and Ed went up. When down Ben called to Ed to put in the pin; then when the bucket was full Ed pulled out the pin that held the sweep up, which let it down and brought the bucket up. Then he emptied it and lowered it, and Ben held it until Ed climbed up his lad- der and inserted the pin beneath the sweep until the bucket was filled. It was a very slow process, but the boys persevered and had gone about 25 feet, which was the height of his lad- der. when a new one 30 feet in length had to be erected. After much delay and labor the work progressed a few feet more, when one morning Benjamin Franklin stepped into the tub to go down without seeing that Edward Preble was astride and without the latter's

counterbalance he dropped to the bottom, which was composed of sand, and broke through into water. Not being much hurt and believing that Edward Preble had been astride and that he must have been thrown into the air like a stone from an ancient catapult, he screamed out "Ed!" just as Ed called out "Ben!" This soon brought out the whole family. They found water coming in very fast. Ed climbed his lad- der, mounted his teeter and soon had Ben to the surface. Horatio Gates was dispatched to the mill for hands to help, who were promptly on the ground and the wall was finished before night.

Ansel Blossom was peculiar even in his manner of shaking with the ague. Instead of wrapping up in more clothes, he would take off his coat and vest, have his shake and when the fever came on put on his coat. He was very proud of being bald-headed, as he thought it was a sign of great intellect. He said, "Cap- tain Riley, have you noticed most all great men were bald-headed? I remember many were; Julius Caesar of old, our John Quincy Adams and also our Benjamin Franklin, decidedly great men, were bald. Did you ever notice that I am bald."

The first celebration of the Fourth of July held in Willshire was in 1825. The table was spread under the giants of the forests. The meats for that occasion comprised bear, veni- son, wild turkey, with a good supply of fish of the finest quality. The oration was by Cap- tain Riley and was grand and patriotic, but as so much space has been given to the account of his life it will be omitted.

The first religious services were held at the house of Captain Riley. One of the mission- aries was a Mr. Antrem. He was a large and powerful man and was considered a revivalist. He called the excitement and shouting the work

Digitized by Google

132

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

of the Holy Spirit, and when the excitement was at its height he would exhort them telling them that hell was raging just beneath them with fire and brimstone. "Yes," said Freshour, "I know it is just under Shane's Prairie, cause I dug a well last week and the water was so full of brimstone and sulphur that they couldn't use it, and it turned everything black and caved in. I don't believe but hell is right under there." The minister would quote from the Bible, from Dante, Bunyan and Milton.

The first school was taught by Ansel Blos- som in a one-story log house used for a post- office, afterward for Court House and jail. The school opened January 1, 1836, with six pupils, two Majors, two McManuses and two Reichards.

The first dry goods store was opened by Henry Reichard in 1836. In the spring of 1837 Charles Mount came to Willshire with a small stock of goods and was the leading mer- chant for many years.

The first hotel was built by William Case and kept by him until 1839, being then rented to a man by the name of Alsap, a Winebren- nerian preacher. He did love wine and it is said that when not too full he could preach a good sermon.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 15

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 870

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870