History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 31

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

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feats. In mild weather their wigwams were pitched wherever night found them, one fav- orite camping ground being not far from a famous spring near the present residence of P. B. Cupp. This spring was probably known to the Indians for ages before our arrival and when discovered by the white pioneers was cunningly concealed with a covering of bark. For a considerable time it furnished the early settlers their principal water supply, and was used until the construction of the Jackson street sewer tapped its source, when the foun- tain dried up forever.

Good wells, however, in those early days were easily dug anywhere along the Sugar Ridge only a few feet in depth. Off the ridge it was necessary to dig the wells deeper, but rarely was it necessary to go more than 40 feet and seldom more than 20, to obtain a good supply of water. Pumps were made of logs bored in sections of convenient length and joined together, the most noted pump-makers being Peter and John Frysinger, of Willshire township. A majority of the wells were fitted with a pole and sweep or a windlass to draw the water. Bricks were seldom used for wall- ing wells, a frame curb, surrounded with pun- cheons, all being split out of trees in proper form, being the most common method of pre- venting the wells from caving in, besides fur- nishing a convenient mode of descent when necessary to enter the well.

Thomas R. Mott conducted the first gen- eral store, I think, in Robert Gilliland's log building, east of Market street. Mott was very tall and thin and a general favorite with all. His brother Samuel, of St. Marys, often visit- ed him here, coming as a lawyer to attend court. He always came with his pockets full of peanuts for the rising generation, and with them at least became no less popular than his

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brother Tom. A son of his of the same name became colonel of an Ohio regiment in the War of the Rebellion, I believe.

Tom Mott only remained in the village a few years when he sold, I believe, to Walter Buckingham, who built where the Davies Block now stands and conducted a general store for many years.

A few rods to the eastward of Bucking- ham's store, where the Hotel Marsh now stands, an ancient Indian mound was discov- ered, containing the bones of many warriors, who, perhaps, had fallen in battle long before, as the bones were crumbling to dust when unearthed. An Indian grave, enclosed with logs, was visible on the west side of the creek between the Newcomer and Gleason lots for several years, and 1 do not remember that it was ever opened. Many arrow-heads, stone axes and knives, gun flints, etc., could be picked up on the vil- lage site, showing that it had at least been a favorite resort for Indians, if not a village at some time in the distant past.

My father became acquainted with quite a number of the Wyandot tribe and generally found them honorable and trustworthy, but, as I have said before, if allowed liquor to more than a very moderate extent they became devils incarnate, as many of their white brethren do at the present day. In those days liquors was sold at nearly all hotel bars, exclusively under a license system, but while, during many years of hotel-keeping, my father sold hundreds of barrels over the counter, there was seldom a case of intoxication through his fault. He rarely tasted it himself and did not allow his family to do so. The Indians knew better than to ask "Joe" for a second dram.

One of the conspicuous characters often seen on our village streets was John Heath, then a man of declining age but quite vigorous

withal, who lived near the Mercer County line. He was seldom known in the village by his own name, being called "Gunsmith" by old and young, although he was no mechanic whatever. Being of a jovial, devil-may-care disposition, he became a great favorite in the village, and always made everybody he met as good natured as himself. I remember seeing him often stand at the bar telling his stories with his glass of whiskey untouched before him (unless some of the bystanders managed to inveigle him out of it, which was a not unusual incident), keep- ing his audience in a roar with his odd ex- pressions and grimances. He had a fashion of licking his lips with his tongue that was very comical when accompanied by sundry winks as he made some droll remark. When at home, however, it was said he became as dignified as aný gentleman of the old school. A relative of mine once by invitation accompanied him home after one of his periodical visits, which usually lasted several days. On the way home le was full of his jokes as usual, pointing out all interesting objects on the way, each of which had a story connected with it. When nearing home, as they came in sight of the house, my uncle remarked, "So there is where "Gunsmith" lives, it it?" Straightening him- self up, with the greatest dignity his com- panion replied, "No sir. That is the residence of Mr. John Heath." And from that moment all levity was banished as long as my uncle remained, which was several days, no one pre- suming to call him "Gunsmith" about home, and none could surpass in decorum "Mr. John Heath." But the next time he visited the county seat and as long afterward as he con- tinued his visits, all dignity and decorum were for the nonce laid aside and he was "Gunsmith" again, as full of pranks as any over-grown boy.

Outside the village limits the most desir-

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able land lay along the Bucyrus and Fort Wayne road, as it had the best natural drain- age, which in those days was a great desider- atum; hence from Lacy's on the Little Au- glaize to Stevenson's on Flat Rock, there was almost a continuous chain of improvements, which soon helped greatly to supply the needs ot the villagers, most of whom also cultivated more or less land within and adjacent to the corporate limits, so that the community soon became largely self-sustaining and necessities at least quite moderate in price.

Corn was no less a king in those days than at present, being much easier of cultivation than wheat for primitive farmers, and the re- turns less disappointing generally. The wheat that was grown had to be taken to distant mills for manufacture into flour, while the corn was frequently ground in hand-mills on the farm or in horse-power mills of very rude and cheap construction.

Van Wert's first industrial venture was a water saw and grist-mill erected by Samuel M. Clark on a site now partly covered by the Cincinnati Northern Railroad shops, the power being obtained by throwing a dam across the creek just below the site of the old spoke fac- tory, from which dam a ditch or race was con- structed across the bend of the creek to a basin near the mill site. But the venture was not a success owing to the insufficient water supply. Then steam power was tried, which was also a failure. Clark invested all of his means, which were at most limited, without getting much return, so he gave up the struggle when he saw financial ruin inevitable.

A few years later Luke D. Stage, from Seneca County, bought a farm a half mile be- low and again dammed the "Jordan." His. success, however, was no better than Clark's. It was said that when Stage(who was some- what given to profanity) was ruined by his

dam, he spelled it by adding an "n." There was one good result, however: the mill dam made for several seasons a capital fishing and swimming pond for the town boys, which was highly appreciated by them at their Saturday vacations, and the backwater extending to the village limits afforded good skating in the winter season for all.

The first building erected for school pur- poses was built about the year 1842 on a lot adjoining the Wayne Hotel on the east and was constructed of hewn logs with a single room about 20 feet square. The floor and ceil- ing were of matched lumber and altogether it was as well planned for comfort and conven- ience as such a building could be. Long desks extended on three sides, behind which the more advanced pupils were seated, while benches in front of the desks provided seats for the younger one and recitation benches for classes. Water was carried in buckets from the village spring not far distant and only a few additional steps were necessary to reach a never-failing supply of willows along the creek bottom, from which "rods of correction" were freely drawn. Among the earlier teachers, some of them teaching several terms, were William McDon- ald, J. C. Parkinson, George Strother, Rhoda Parkinson and Caleb Roberts, to all of whom the writer went in turn. This building served the village well until increasing population de- manded greater facilities for education and resulted in the building of two frame two- story schoolhouses at opposite ends of town on Harrison and Lynn streets, respectively. Prior to the erection of the East and West school buildings, however, a west side school was conducted one or two winters in a va- cant log building between Shannon and Wall streets, north of Jackson, the creek being the dividing line east and west. This school was taught by William McDonald and was little

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inferior in attendance to J. C. Parkinson's, east of the creek, being made up partly of children from the country nearby, many of whom were nearly grown.

A good natured rivalry naturally existed between the East and West schools, and spell- ing schools in one or the other sub-dis- dricts were of frequent occurrence, as well as athletic contests. One winter in particular, being rather open, was at- tended with a heavy snowfall, of which the West side "Canadians" took advantage by con- structing a snow fort about midway between the two schoolhouses on their side of the creek, and then challenged the "Yankees" to come and take it. The creek being low was frozen cver so that crossing could be effected easily and the challenge was promptly accepted, a roon hour being agreed upon as a suitable time when the snow could be easily molded into balls. Both sides prepared a goodly supply of ammunition and lunch being over a signal was given for the assault. As I remember we "Yankees" were too much for the "Canucks" and took the fort, although not without stub- born resistance from our whilom foes, several black eyes and bruised noses attesting the valor of both sides, when school was called at the close of the battle.

In those days as well as the present it was an unwritten law of schools generally that at least one day's vacation should be had when Christmas fell on a school day, but it was not always observed, unless by some hook or crook the teacher could be circumvented. The usual device resorted to both in town and country was that of "barring out the school- master," which was often effectual in keeping him out of the schoolhouse so that he had to consent to the vacation. Such an attempt was made by some of the older pupils of Parkin- son's school, when Christmas came and it was

announced that there would be no vacation. Early on Christmas morning, the key having been secured previously, a vigorous hammer- ing was heard at the schoolhouse, and the smaller pupils who were not in the plot were amazed upon reaching the building to find the door locked and the windows fastened down securely. When the teacher appeared, he de- inanded admittance, which was refused; where- upon, being a resolute man, he went to a neigh- boring workshop and securing a chisel soon opened a window and gaining admission com- pelled the garrison to surrender. A neighbor who remonstrated was told to go about his business, and at one time the quarrel nearly resulted in blows, the teacher throwing off his coat in such haste that he tore it nearly in twain. But peace finally prevailed and the teacher, having gained ingress, called the school to order and all was forgiven and ap- parently forgotten. To restore good feeling, a few pounds of candy were sent for, and acted as a wonderful panacea to our feelings at be- ing deprived of the Christmas holiday.

On such occasionsas Christmas much license was taken by Young America that would not be thought of now-a-days. No sooner than the first "peep o' day" appeared, than, stockings laving been duly invoiced as to their contents, notes were compared with neighboring urchins. After a goodly number had congregated, all fell into line for a Christmas raid through the village, visiting every house, which in those days were not numerous, and clamoring for Christmas gifts, until capitulation was made or a point blank refusal received, which was rare indeed. On one raid of that description. we met the village doctor (Lenox), who be- ing a good deal of a wag took the crowd into Cook's grocery and ordered that they be given all the cider they wanted. As the cider was well fermented, the result was quite a number

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of boozy kids who never forgot that Christ- mas treat.

Physicians of that early period were "few and far between" and instead of the rodern automobiles or storm-proof phaetons, now so common, they were forced to ride horseback in making distant calls, which frequently took them to all parts of the county and to almost inaccessible places. Dr. Philip John Hines was par excellence the pioneer of his profession and must have had wonderful vitality to en- dure the hardships as long as he did. I re- member that at one time it was thought he would not long survive, but a period of rest and recuperation soon restored him. Dr. John Lenox then came from Sidney and formed a partnership with Dr. Hines and both had plenty to do, Lenox finally breaking down com- pletely, and going to an untimely grave as a result of the professional hardships he under- went. In those early days doctors were not as numerous as now, and not all who practiced were able to show their diplomas, and would properly be called "quacks."

About the year 1842 a man by the name of John F. Gabby arrived in the village, and be- 11:g a tanner by trade started a tanyard, about where is now the Anderson piano factory, con- structing several vats; but he failed to make a success of the undertaking and was forced to · abandon the business, moving away soon after- ward. The next venture of the kind was made by Thomas Uncapher, who was the owner of a considerable tract of land outside the present city limits at the intersection of the Willshire and Rockford roads. It was conducted by him a number of years until his death. About 1856 Brittson & Ginter established a tannery where is now Rupright's tile and hay yard, and soon afterward Clippenger & McKim started one on South Walnut street. Both did con- siderable business, but were finally abandoned,

as outside competition became much too strong.

The first steam sawmill in Van Wert was built by William Parkinson about 1845 west of the old Van Wert cemetery on the lot occupied now by W. M. Smith's residence. A year or two later Joseph Gleason and Thomas R. Kear built one on West Jackson street, near the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway bridge, to which was later added a grist-mill, when Kear became owner, but lack of capital prevented its completion and he sold it to Dr. William Smith, who later formed a partner- ship with William Gaskill and for a few years operated both industries. The Ziegler brothers next built a sawmill north of the old Van Wert Lumber Company's plant.

The first brick-yard was established by Samuel M. Clark where now stands the Cin- cinnati Northern shops, but it was only oper- ated two or three years, owing to the difficulty of getting the right kind of clay for the pur- pose. The next yard was started by Jacob C. Parkinson on South Walnut street, which sup- plied brick for the greater part of the county for several years, after which Thomas L. Lehew started one near the Oil Well Supply Company's sheds on Center street, afterward removing to South Shannon street, and later to a site south of the Fair Grounds, where 'Rupright Brothers bought and continued the business. A yard was also started in "Kear- town" by the Steinmetzes and brick were gen- erally made at tile works all over the county, while every village that sprang up had its brick-yard, several farmers burning their own brick at home when requiring large quantities.

A tile-yard was first started by John and Aaron Tucker on South Shannon street, and what is now known as Leeson avenue was for years called the "Tile Factory road" or "Tile street" from the old tile works located near its intersection with Shannon street. Rupright

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VIEW IN THIRD WARD PARK. VAN WERT

RESIDENCE OF W. T. HUGHES, VAN WERT

RESIDENCE OF T. S. GILLILAND, VAN WERT

EMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH. HARRISON TOWNSHIP

RESIDENCE OF S. B. HERTZ, VAN WERT

TRINITY M. E. CHURCH, DELPHOS

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Brothers next bought the old Malick tannery and converted it into a tile mill where their present city yard is. As the demand for tile soon became enormous, yards were soon estab- lished all through the county, it being demon- strated that nearly all soil in the county was greatly benefited by underground drainage, the exception being a comparatively narrow strip running through the county, east and west, known as the Sugar Ridge, which possesses a gravelly subsoil. Prior to the introduction of tile, various shifts were resorted to, many using timber for under-drains, and some a subsoil or mole plow, which opened in the clay subsoil a channel for drainage that lasted until closed finally by deep freezing. All such makeshifts were abandoned soon after the manufacture of drain tile began. Thousands of dollars worth are now buried beneath the soil of Van Wert County, but they return rich dividends to the investor, who thereby greatly increases his chances in raising crops.

The first settler west of town was Daniel Cook, who had built the house my father had purchased, and who, after having sold out, had built a cabin outside of the corporate limits, on the site of the Burt residence on West Main street, where he continued to reside until his death, although conducting a grocery for some time on the northwest corner of Main and Washington streets. A brother-in-law of Cook's, George McManima, took up land north of Cook, his cabin standing on Burt street near where the Samuel Miller residence is situated. Later on, David Fisher. another brother-in-law, built on a tract west of Cook where the Dix residence now stands, afterwards erecting the frame residence now owned by James Fost- naught. Elias Evers had opened a farm after- ward owned by Esquire Hough. while Peter, John and Samuel Maddox owned farms farther west along the Fort Wayne road. the last

named settler living for some time where now stands the Wells homestead, on the west bank of the creek which once bore his name. but which is now known as Hoaglin Creek. while the next stream east is called Maddox Creek. Evers had a good-sized hand-mill to grind corn into meal, and when not needed for the use of his large family the mill was kept busy by his neighbors far and near, there being but few mills in the county at that time.

My uncle, Stephen Gleason, who lived near the southwest corner of Pleasant township in the woods, used to tell of the task he had soon after the Gleason families settled there. when the teams had been sent back to Perrysburg, then the head of navigation on the Maumee. for the household goods. which had been shipped! by lake vessels. Having for breadstuff a goodly store of corn, it had to be taken to the Evers hand-mill, about four miles distant, to be ground. This he had to do by packing it on his shoulders, and there being four families to supply it took a trip every day.

North of town, where Brough Johnson now resides, lived William Thorn, a brother of Jacob, Benjamin and Sally Thorn, and a few miles further north were a few scattered set- tlers, among whom I recall the Taylors. Shaf- fers, Hagermans, Barleens, Speelers and Bea- mers. Many of the early settlers had to eke out a livelihood by hunting and trapping. as well as protect their domestic animals from the ravages of wild beasts. I remember that the wolves often howled in the outskirts of the then village where now stands some of the city's most pretentious residences. One day William Thorn caught one in a steel trap, and brought it to town alive for exhibition. William Thorn, like most of the pio- neer settlers, opened a sugar camp near where the pumping station now stands and his successor. William Jones, worked

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it also for a number of years, maple sugar and syrup being staple articles and much lower in price than now, although inferior in quality, but indispensable withal. Southwest of town a couple of miles William Johns opened the farm now owned by M. Woodruff, Jacob Johns also settling near his cousin about the same time, while Lyman S. Wells lived on the next place west along the Willshire road, Solomon Farnam and William Davis and Elisha Wells living still further west, the last three owning tracts of land cornering at the intersection of the Willshire and Decatur roads, while about two miles further on the Willshire road was the Gleason settlement.

South of town about four miles, on what was called the Shanesville road, Thomas Thorn, another brother of those previously named, opened what is now the Joseph Custer farm, while about two miles east along Town Creek, where is now Stump's Crossing, Daniel Hipshire lived with his numerous family. William Cavett was the nearest settler on the Greenville road and Thomas Gilliland on the Jennings, most of these families sending their older children to village schools, which were then not overcrowded. Among those who thus attended the Van Wert schools during winter terms, I remember that Thomas and Charles Gilliland, Ira Cavett, Augustus Bron- son and Smith Miller, all of whom that are liv- ing being now grandfathers or great-grandfath- ers presumably, in those days thought little of walking two or three miles night and morn- ing to get the rudiments of education. Spell- ing contests were frequent during the long win- ter evenings and were eagerly participated in by pupils of all ages in town and countryside alike. I recall my great elation in one of these spelling schools, when I downed the village doctor (Hines) on "squirrel," which he spelled in the most ridiculous way imaginable, when he

and I were the last to stand up. The teacher at that time was the Doctor's future wife, Re- lief Morse, who was one of the earliest teach- ers; her brother, John G. Morse, owned a farm 10 miles west on the Ridge road in Tully town- ship. About the best known of the country school teachers' was my father's sister, Clarissa Gleason, who like Miss Morse had grown up in New York State, was well educated in com- mon branches, and was much in demand in all the country neighborhoods of the county, both winter and summer. No collegiate course was needed in those days to qualify teachers for the backwoods, a knowledge of the "Three R's" being all they were expected to impart, while the salaries were most meagre, the country teacher being expected to "board 'round" among the patrons of the school and some- times had to accept various commodities in pay- ment of her salary. I remember one instance in particular, when my aunt was induced to ac- cept a rifle as at least a part of her compensa- tion, and she had considerable difficulty in find- ing a purchaser for it afterward.

John C. Richey, a tailor by trade, came to Van Wert in the early '40's and built a frame house near where the Pennsylvania passenger station now stands, where he followed his oc- cupation successfully for some years, finally removing to Iowa. He had three children- two sons, named Samuel and Joshua, and a daughter Martha-who were schoolmates of mine for a period. It was said of the youngest boy "Josh," that one day he was found dig- ging near a stable very intently and apparently too busy to reply to a query as to his object. It being noticed that his cheeks bulged out in an unusual manner, he was asked what he had in his mouth; with a laborious effort he impa- tiently mumbled out "Wurms fo' bait," and went on with his digging. When out of school in the summer time, the village lads would line

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the edges of the long corduroy road from Jef- ferson street to the Town Creek bridge, fishing for sunfish in various excavations which were generally full of water, and angle worms were at a premium. From the interstices between the logs, water snakes often emerged to sun themselves and were a terror to barefoot boys, although no one was ever known to have been bitten by them. The favorite fishing place, however, was the "Old Fishing Hole," which was located near the north end of Shannon street, and was resorted to by young and old for fishing and bathing purposes, being the deepest hole known along Town Creek. While no one was known to have been drowned it it, parents were generally afraid to allow very young boys to bathe in it unless older boys were present. and I remember one time when two good- sized lads, who were unable to swim, got in beyond their depth and had to be helped out by an older boy. Many a nice string of fish have I drawn from the "Old Fishing Hole," now only a memory (but a blessed one). When I accomplished the feat of swimming across it in my first attempts as a swimmer, I was proud indeed.

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 31

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

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