USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 24
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
After this disaster the remnant of the regiment retreated with Banks' forces to Morganza, Louisiana, where it was consolidated with the One Hun- dred and Fourteenth Ohio Regiment. This ended the career of the gallant regiment as a regimental organization. It was a good behaved regiment, but was overwhelmed with a series of disasters.
234
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT.
This regiment was organized under the call of President Lincoln for three hundred thousand more men for three-year service. Three companies were enlisted in Wayne county, respectively by Captains John W. Stout, Jonas D. Elliott and James E. Robinson. The field officers of the regiment were : Colonel, William Given ; lieutenant-colonel, Abraham Baker; major, George H. Toping; William H. McMonigal was adjutant. Recruiting com- menced in July, 1862, and in August the Wayne county companies moved to Camp Mansfield. September 4th the regiment left for Kentucky, crossing the Ohio river at Cincinnati on the morning of the 5th. It was mustered into service the next day at Covington. September 22d it was transported in boats to Louisville, and was present at the battle of Perryville, but not en- gaged. From there it was sent to Crab Orchard, and from thence to Bowling Green, Kentucky, arriving on the 30th of October. December 19th the regi- ment moved to Russellville, and from there to Clarksville, Tennessee, reaching that point on Christmas night, where it remained nine months.
October 30, 1863, the regiment went into winter quarters at Nashville. It was transferred to Tullahoma, Tennessee, where it was occupied guarding a railroad from Normandy to Dochera. June 6th the regiment marched across the Cumberland mountains to Alabama, the left wing of the regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, being stationed at Dodson- ville. The regiment was now engaged in defending the line of the Tennessee river from Stevenson to the foot of Seven Mile Island, a distance of fifty miles. As security against attack, twelve block houses were erected along the line. In defense of the line the regiment performed invaluable service and had frequent encounters with the enemy. Having been relieved from the duty. the regiment was engaged next in 'patrolling the Tennessee and Ala- bama railroad from Decatur.
Colonel Given, commandant of the post, September 23d was directed to send a detachment of four hundred men to reinforce Fort Athens. The de- tachment was composed of soldiers from the Eighteenth Michigan and the One Hundred and Second Ohio, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, of the latter regiment. The command encountered the Confederate General Forest near Athens, where it was surrounded and overwhelmed by superior forces and forced to surrender. Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott received a mortal wound in this action. The officers were taken to Selma and the men to Cahaba, Alabama. The men were finally paroled and placed on
235
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
board the "Sultana," at Vicksburg. During the passage up the river the boat was blown up, April 28, 1865, and, as nearly as can be ascertained, eighty-one of the regiment lost their lives by the disaster.
The regiment was in Decatur at the time of the siege by Hood, and was highly complimented for its behavior. June 30, 1865, the regiment was mustered out of service at Nashville, Tennessee. It then proceeded to Colum- bus, Ohio, and was discharged July 8, 1865. This regiment was made up of excellent men, and displayed great bravery and skill whenever it was called upon to engage the enemy:
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Capt. Gustave Buecking's company of the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry was raised chiefly in Wooster. from among the patriotic Germans of the city. Recruiting for it commenced in the lat- ter part of July, 1862. and the company was soon filled to its maximum. In August it was ordered to Cleveland, where it was incorporated with the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment, whose field officers were: Colonel, Sera- phim Meyer; lieutenant-colonel, Charles Mueller; major, George Arnold. Soon after its organization, this regiment was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac. Its first important battle was at Chancellorsville. The regi- ment belonged to Howard's Eleventh Corps, which was so terribly handled by Stonewall Jackson, and lost two hundred and twenty men killed and wounded. Its next general engagement was at famous Gettysburg, where the regiment was almost annihilated, losing over four hundred men in killed, wounded and prisoners, out of five hundred and fifty that entered the battle.
August 1, 1863, the regiment sailed to Folly Island, South Carolina, and performed picket duty there until January, 1864. After the resignation of Col. Seraphim Meyer the discipline of the regiment steadily improved. From Folly Island the regiment was taken to Jacksonville, Florida, where it had several skirmishes with the Rebels. It returned to South Carolina on the 23d of March, 1865, and met a detachment of the enemy, defeating him, cap- turing three pieces of artillery, six horses and fifteen prisoners.
The regiment did provost duty in Charleston. South Carolina, during the balance of its service until July 10, 1865, when it was mustered out and sent home to Cleveland, Ohio, where it was discharged. This command was made up largely of Germans. It was a fine body of men, its members displaying their earnest patriotism and heroic valor on many occasions.
236
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
NINTH OHIO CAVALRY REGIMENT.
Wayne county furnished nearly a hundred men for cavalry service under Capt. William Henderson. These were enlisted in December, 1863, and January, 1864. They served with Sherman on his celebrated "March to the Sea." being under General Kilpatrick. The Wayne county company was with that illustrious general when his camp was raided by Humphrey's cavalry. They were at the battle of Averysboro and Bentonville, North Carolina. At the close of the war they were mustered out and returned home.
MISCELLANEOUS DETACHMENTS FROM WAYNE COUNTY.
A detachment of cavalry was recruited in Wayne county in October, 1861, by Lieut. Benjamin Lake, for Mclaughlin's squadron, joining the squadron at Mansfield the latter part of the month. In November it left for eastern Kentucky, where it engaged in campaigning for nearly two years, taking part in the battles of Middle Creek, Pikeville and Round Gap. In August. 1863, the squadron left eastern Kentucky and joined the Twenty- third Army Corps, under General Hartsuff, marching to Knoxville, where it remained until January, 1864, then re-enlisting as veterans. It filled up its ranks and then joined General Stoneman's command in the raid on Macon. In this raid it suffered heavy losses. It next operated on Sherman's flank in the movement against Atlanta, and afterwards was placed under Kilpatrick's command, going with Sherman on his "March to the Sea"; thence from Savannah with the national forces through South and North Carolina. It was mustered out of service at Camp Chase, Ohio, November 17, 1865.
Another detachment from this county was made up of about thirty men enlisted under Lieut. Joseph C. Plummer, for the three-months service, in the Eighty-Fifth Ohio Regiment, which guarded the prisoners at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio.
Three companies of the Ohio National Guards, under Captains Henry C. Shirk, William K. Boone and Abraham Gift, were raised in Wayne county, for one hundred days' service, and joined the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment of National Guards, of which J. H. Carr was lieutenant-colonel. This regiment was organized at Cleveland, May 19, 1864, and was imme- diately ordered to Washington, where it participated in the defeat of Early's army, and did garrison duty in Fort Ethan Allen. So proficient did the regi- ment become in tactics, that General DuRussy declared it was equal to any
237
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
three-year regiment in his command. During its four months' service the regiment suffered severely from sickness, nearly two hundred men dying or becoming permanently disabled by disease. It was mustered out September 4, 1864.
IN MEMORIAM.
Wayne county has reason to be proud of her record in the great civil conflict from 1861 to 1866. Her soldiers participated in every great battle, and her dead lie buried in every Southern state-once slave states, but which now, through the blood and sacrifice of the loyal men of the country, have become free.
THE FIRST SOLDIER WOUNDED FROM WAYNE COUNTY.
As time passes along, there is among the generation just succeeding to that great struggle more and more interest in the casualties of the great Civil war. It is with this in view that there is here given the following biography of John F. Barrett, still living in Wooster, and who was the first victim to receive Confederate lead in his body from among the brave men who went forth from this county; he is still a daily sufferer, though more than forty years have passed since the wound was received. He has the unalloyed re- spect and sympathy of all within Wayne county who carry a drop of loyal blood in their veins. The following was penned concerning this soldier in 1878 :
"John F. Barrett was born March 6, 1836, in Wayne county. Ohio He volunteered in the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 16, 1861-four days after Fort Sumter was fired upon-in Company E, Capt. James Mc- Millen's company, and was among the first men to put his name down in Wayne county (Jacob Shultz being the first). He went with the regiment to Camp Dennison, followed it to West Virginia, and, along with the boys, smelled the breath of battle at Rich Mountain.
"The way in which Mr. Barrett was wounded was as follows: The Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry had been attacked at New Creek, whereupon they sent to Fort Pendleton for reinforcements. The Fourth Regiment pro- ceeded to their relief, marching thirty-five miles to New Creek, assaulting Rom- ney at 1 :30 P. M., fighting the enemy that night, and capturing the town the next morning. Company E of the regiment having been sent to the east end
238
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
of the town to protect a gun about to be charged upon by the enemy, between the hours of one and two o'clock P. M., Mr. Barrett was wounded, receiving a desperate bullet shot from a sharpshooter. For two years he had to walk on crutches. Surgical science has exerted itself in vain to extricate the bul- let, and Mr. Barrett is doomed to carry the enemy's lead in his body to his grave.
"Mr. Barrett was married September 18, 1863, to Laura Nimons, of Wooster, by Rev. Jesse Durbin, of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member since 1856. We make mention of the wounding of Mr. Barrett, not because he was braver than his fellow-soldiers, or more patriotic than his comrades in arms, but because he was the first soldier from Wayne county shot in the war of the Rebellion. He was a gallant soldier and it is a record of which he may well be proud. He is an honorable busi- ness man and a worthy, upright citizen."
It may be added that today, September 23, 1909, he still walks with two crutches, has been in the hospital many weeks, and has no hope of recovery- the ball cannot be removed.
SOLDIERS OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
Wayne county, true to the spirit of her patriotism, furnished her full quota of men to put down the war with Spain, growing out of the oppression that country had for centuries exerted over the island of Cuba, but which was brought to an issue with the United States government when, in the spring of 1898, the United States gunboat "Maine" was sunk by the explosion of tor- pedoes in Havana harbor by the Spaniards, as the trial finally proved. War was at once levied by this government, President William McKinley ordering an army raised, which was accomplished within a short time.
About the close of the struggle, which was of short duration, a roster of the Ohio volunteers for this war was published, and while it was full of de- fects, it is the only information at hand, giving a list of the officers and men who went from this county, and is here extracted from. There may be a few omissions, but in the main it will be found correct, as it was authorized by the adjutant general of Ohio. There were ten regiments sent from Ohio to this war in the infantry service and one of cavalry ; also a regiment of light artillery. The regiment represented from Wayne county and Wooster, chiefly, was the Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and the greater portion of the Wooster men participated in the war as members of Company D.
·
239
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
OFFICERS.
The officers of the Eighth Regiment were: Curtis V. Hard, colonel; Charles W. F. Dick, lieutenant-colonel; Edward Vollrath, Frederick C. Bryan and Charles C. Weybrecht, majors; Alexander W. Maynes, adjutant ; Emmer C. Farquhar, surgeon; George H. Wuchter and Allen V. Smith, assistant sur- geons; Herman L. Kuhns, quartermaster; Charles F. Schaber, George M. Wright and Andrew Weybrecht, battalion adjutants; Isaac N. Kieffer, who died June 23, 1898, James O. Campbell, vice Chaplain Kieffer, chaplains.
The officers of Company D were: Captain, Frank C. Gerlach : first lieu- tenant, William E. Barnard; second lieutenant, Gustave W. Unger. The non-commissioned officers were as follows: W. A. Conrad, artificer; David H. Drushal, musician ; Charles A. Heater, musician ; Lloyd A. Naftzger, wag- oner ; Harry P. Eaby, sergeant ; George S. Limb, sergeant; Louis E. Gasche. sergeant : Franklin B. Horn, sergeant ; Horace W. Miller, sergeant ; Webster D. Horn, corporal: Charles R. Scott, corporal; George M. Swartz, corporal; Harry D. Woolman, corporal.
The privates credited from Wooster in the adjutant's report were as fol- lows, and only represent the original muster roll, and none of the later re- cruits are named :
Barnes, John R.
Dice, Arch H.
Barnhart, Charles W.
Frazier, Charles W.
Baughman, William H.
Funk. Sterling R.
Blake, George.
Glenn, Joseph S.
Boyd, William H.
Gravath, Quintin W.
Braustetter, Harry P.
Greist, James E.
Brown, George W.
Grossenbach, Cary W.
Brown, Thomas P.
Hughes, William H.
Johnson, Merton R.
Burg, George. Cameron, Nathaniel C.
Jolliff. Harvey F.
· Christine, Louis W.
Kinkler, Harry.
Clark, Jerome E. Clay, Alvin B. ' Conrad, Edward D.
Langell, Clement.
Laufzenheiser, Irvin.
Laufzenheiser. Perrine.
Leopold. Frederick J.
Lerch, William G.
Critchfield, Lyman, Jr. Cumberland, Charles E. Cumberland, La Verne C. Curry, Will R.
Mahaney, Edward.
Maize, Percy M.
2.40
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Mckinney, Charles H.
McKinney, Frederick S.
Miller, Harry C.
Oltmanns, Antoin.
Reider, Edmond S. Schurch, Fred A. Schuck, William.
Stevens, Thomas R.
Stotsbery, William A.
Unger, Charles E.
Webb, Charles B.
Winebrenner, Calvin A. Yoder, Ephraim.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CHURCHES OF WAYNE COUNTY.
While the pioneers of Wayne county, Ohio, came to the wild woods to carve out homes for themselves and their families, and were men of the world in a sense, who followed the chase and loved amusement, there was also in them a sentiment of true respect for all sacred things and not a few were devout Christians when they settled this county. This element at a very early day sought to establish the teachings of the Man of Galilee, and were much interested in securing missionaries, being liberal in their support of the founding and maintaining of the church of their choice, though scant was their means at first.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The earliest church formed in Wayne county was of the Baptist denom- ination, and at Wooster. It is known as Bethany church and has a history as old as the city itself. Although the society was not formed until 1812. some of its charter members were among the first settlers of the place. From the sermon delivered by the pastor, Rev. J. B. T. Patterson, in 1876. we draw the following facts concerning the history of Bethany church of Wooster :
In 1812 a block house, for the protection of the people against the In- dians, who had allied themselves with the British in the war then just begun, was built on the premises of Col. John Sloan. In this block house and in the same year, the Baptist church was formed and has kept its organization alive and active ever since-a period of ninety-seven years.
The first Baptists who settled in Wooster included David and Lydia Kimpton and Philip B. Griffith, who effected their settlement here in 1810. The following year came Ezekial Jones and family, and others of the Baptist faith settled in this township about the same time. To this faithful band of believers Elder Kimpton preached here in the wilderness, but he did not suc- ceed in organizing a church. It was July 25, 1812, when a meeting was held
(16)
242
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
"to take into consideration the propriety of organizing a church in this new country." The following named persons were present: David and Lydia Kimpton, Ezekial and Hannah Jones, Oliver Jones, William Robison, John Robison, Ann Robison, Catherine Kirkendall, Thomas G. Jones and Philip B. Griffith. The record adds that "several of the brethren prayed." It was voted that the organization take place on the first Lord's day in August, and that El- der T. G. Jones should write the constitution and present it at the next meet- ing, on Friday before the first Lord's day in August. July 31, 1812, this consti- tution was adopted and also provided that a business meeting be held on a Sat- urday in each month, alternately in Wooster and at Brother Kimpton's settle- ment. Mr. Kimpton was appointed moderator of the church.
On August 2d, being the Lord's day, the brethren convened in the block house, and whilst "a body of men, armed with guns, stood guard about the building, to give warning and protect them in case of an attack from the Indians," the church constitution and the covenant, known as the "Philadel- phia Confession of Faith," was formally and solemnly ratified, and the church constituted.
Up to April 17, 1813, the records are kept up in due form, and then a break in the minutes occurs, which is thus accounted for :
"There seems to be a vacuum in the minutes, which was occasioned by the war of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, as many were afraid of the Indians and their allies, by reason of which some fled and the church became luke-warm, by reason of the war, as that was almost the uni- versal topic. and the event of it was of much importance to this country."
Meetings were at first held in private houses, but in 1814 a frame build- ing was erected in the rear of the lot on which the Reformed church was after- wards erected. It was situated within convenient distance of the block house, which overlooked it. The worshipers sometimes carried their guns with them to the meeting house, though it does not appear that the settlement was ever disturbed by the Indians.
This house being the only church in the settlement, it was generally used by visiting ministers of other denominations, and at times also as a school house. One entry in the records of this church states that previous to 1819 there was "cash paid for meeting house $125.00." This did not include the frame work, weatherboarding. roofing nor chimney, but mentions the flooring, and among other items, hair and hickory brooms. This building was later sold and removed to the east side of Buckeye street, turned end for end, the doors and windows altered, and converted into the Wooster City Tannery, where it still stood and was thus labeled as late as 1878.
243
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Brother Kimpton was moderator, or overseer, but never a pastor. The first pastor was Elder Thomas G. Jones. The church, however, had in its membership several preachers, who, in connection with the pastor, not only preached to the church, but also engaged in missionary work, making tours to the surrounding settlements.
This church was very careful in the reception of its members, holding firmly to the New Testament principle that the churches of Jesus Christ are to be composed only of converted persons. July 1, 1815, is found the fol- lowing in the minutes : "Motion by Brother Thomas G. Jones, that the mem- bers absent from church meeting should not enjoy the privileges of the next communion, except they render satisfactory reasons for such absence, to the church or deacons."
The annual growth in membership during the earlier years of this church is not known, as the books of record are silent on the questions of member- ship and baptisms. The first list of members, as found appended to the min- utes, and dated November 4, 1815, shows that there were one hundred and fifteen, who had been added by baptism and letter, to the original eleven or possibly twelve which made up the charter membership. After the first three years the growth of the society was slow but solid. In 1816 this church had a call and responded in sending their minister and other brethren to consti- tute the Baptists at Mohican into a church, and to ordain their minister, Alpheus French. This was the first Mohican church. The land on which the first church was built was donated by William Robison. October 4. 1817, the church resolved to have a weekly prayer meeting.
Another account says: "In 1819 all the Baptist churches in Pennsyl- vania west of the Allegheny river, and all the churches in Ohio, east of Wooster and as far north as the lake, were included in the Beaver associa- tion." This association was organized in 1809, by twenty-five delegates. representing ten churches. Five of these delegates were ministers. In 1819 the Mohican association was formed from the Beaver association. The Wooster church assisted in forming that body, and remained a member of it until 1840. In 1818 the Beaver association held its meeting in the Wooster church.
In 1827, a schism was produced in the body by the introduction of the sentiments of Alexander Campbell, at which time some eighteen members seceded and went over to the "Disciples." It was a number of years before the church at Wooster recovered from this shock,
March 5, 1831, it was resolved to build a new meeting house and the minutes show that the congregation had great trouble in raising sufficient
244
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
funds with which to complete the new church, it not being completed until 1839. The house was floored and plastered through the efforts of the ladies of the church. Sister Cynthia Van Ostern promised to pay forty dollars (a large sum those days) and while she knew not where the money was to come from. she pledged it, and by industry and economy, she was enabled to raise the money and redeem her pledge. In that building there was a gallery extending around the sides and end of the building, but later this was removed and in 1865 the house was all remodeled.
Wooster association was formed in 1837 and was composed of Massil- lon, East Union, Warren, Wooster, Salt Creek, Sugar Creek, Sandyville, or Magnolia, Mohican, Canal Dover, Green township and Clark township churches, eleven in all, with each an ordained minister. There were four hundred and fifty-three communicants.
Elder Jones served the Wooster church for twenty-seven years and in 1839-40 was succeeded by Rev. Charles Morton.
In December, 1845, the subject of instrumental music was brought up, but was indefinitely postponed. In October, 1846, a resolution "to continue the choir" was passed. In January, 1847, a special meeting in regard to in- strumental music was held, and the following resolution adopted : "Resolved, that instrumental music be prohibited from coming into this church hence- forth." In December of that year a motion was passed, that "members at evening service be allowed to conduct the singing as suited to themselves."
In 1851 the membership was two hundred and forty-eight.
In March, 1853, a committee was appointed to build a vestry and bap- tistry.
In March, 1855, a number of persons were dismissed by letter to form a church at Millbrook.
In August, 1875, the Wooster association met at the Wooster church.
In 1876 the lecture room was completed, the same having been erected through a legacy bestowed by Mary B. Larwill. The baptistry was also re- modeled, deepened and a heater connected with it, the funds for this coming from Mrs. Joseph H. Larwill.
The present membership is one hundred and eighty-eight. A comfort- able parsonage of eight rooms was built in 1896. Nearly two thousand dol- lars was expended during the pastorate of Rev. H. D. Allen in repairing and decorating the church and parsonage. The church is now in a flourishing condition and looks forward to the celebration of its centennial in 1912. The following have served as pastors since the organization :
245
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
1810, David Kimpton (overseer) ; 1812, Thomas G. Jones: 1819. Thomas Hand; 1832, Frederick Freeman; 1839, Charles Morton; 1845, S. B. Page; 1850, E. T. Brown; 1856, T. J. Penny ; 1861, John Bolton; 1862, P. M. Weddell; 1868, no pastor; 1869, G. M. Preston; 1871, no pastor; 1873, Alex. McFarlane; 1874, Hugh A. Marshall; 1875, J. B. T. Patterson ; 1879, Alexander McFarlane; 1881, S. M. Cramblett; 1883, W. F. Slocum; 1888, Albert H. Jessup; 1893, E. A. Read; 1897, C. V. Northrop; 1898, E. Chesney, Ph. D .; 1902, J. M. Lockhart ; 1905, H. D. Allen, Th. D.
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.