USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 25
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In 1820 he was elected Justice of the Peace for Wooster town- ship, holding said office a period of six years. At the end of his term, the docket was cleared, all collections closed up, constables all paid off, an appeal from judgment having been taken but in one instance. During his official career he married sixty-two couples. In 1824, he attended the first Democratic Convention ever held in the State of Ohio, at Columbus, in the month of July, William McFall and Hon. Benjamin Jones being the other two delegates. The convention was composed of seventeen delegates, who formed the electoral ticket for Jackson, all of whom are dead but Mr. Lar- will. On motion of Mr. Larwill, Benjamin Jones was nominated as elector of this Congressional district. In 1832, he was chosen as elector to Baltimore, when General Lewis Cass was a candidate for the Presidency. He was elected to the Legislature in the au- tumn of 1841, during the great currency excitement, but was de- feated for re-election by a Mr. Willoz, because he was opposed to a re-chartering of the bank of Wooster. He was elected member of the Constitutional Convention in 1850, from Wayne county, engaging in the animating discussions of that session and serving acceptably, both his constituents and the State.
The active, prominent and forward movement taken by Mr. Larwill, in the location and construction of the Pittsburg, Fort
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Wayne & Chicago railroad to the city of Wooster, is fresh in the memory of the people. His intimate relation to that colossal scheme ; the commotions that threatened it and shook it; the op- position he encountered and the ultimate victory that he achieved, are all fully set forth in another chapter of this work. In public life Mr. Larwill adopted the independent course ; in fact it would have been difficult for him to have done anything else, in view of his strong convictions, positiveness of character, and native dislike of all speciousness and pretention. He is a ready talker, and his public speeches are characterized by sterling common sense, point- edness of expression, and impressive energy. He never addresses himself to expectation, and has that other facility, so rare among men, "dares to displease." His conversation is agreeable and in- structive, interspersed often with flashes of humor, and again with whole salvos of sarcasm. When aroused, his denunciations are " caustic as frozen mercury." When he assails an adversary, it is not with a penknife, but with a sword. His intellect is clear, in- cisive and quick.
A severe dignity and rigid decorum characterize the man. He despises the glitter which invests the summits of society, detests nonsense, sensationalism, all vaporing, pretense and sham. Do- mesticity, and a warm. fraternal feeling toward his family, are exemplified in him. His page of life, now nearly written to the edge, enshrines many a worthy and virtuous deed. Although ad- vanced to his eighty-second year, he possesses considerable mus- cular energy, and retains to a remarkable degree his mental strength.
He was married January 31, 1826, to Miss Ann Straughan, of Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio, by "Parson Jones," who rode horse-back from Wooster to perform the ceremony. He is the father of seven children, three boys and four girls, one of the for- mer dying in infancy, and another in his third year. John S., his only surviving son, is located in Fort Wayne, Ind., and is a part- ner in the Perkins Engine Works of that city. He is an accom- plished business man, a fine scholar, and graduate of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
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Mr. Larwill is living in tranquil retirement, in the city of Wooster-his permanent home for over sixty years-with his aged wife, and three daughters, in the enjoyment of
"All that should accompany old age, As honor, love, obedience."
ROBERT McCLARRAN.
Robert McClarran was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and re- moved from Westmoreland county to Wooster, Ohio, in 1811. He was then a young man, energetic and industrious, and was a carpenter by trade. Many of the first houses in the town of Wooster were built by him, some of which are still standing, and are solid, substantial dwellings.
In 1812 he was married to Grace Cook, of Columbiana county, Ohio, who accompanied him to his new home, to share with him the privations as well as the romance of life in the wilderness.
He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and after its close he pur- chased a large tract of land adjoining Wooster on the south, on which he moved, built a saw-mill and made improvements.
He was the first Justice of the Peace elected in Wooster or Wayne county, and as such married the first couple ever married in Wayne county, and solemnized the majority of the first mar- riages. He was elected to the Ohio Legislature December I, serving therein from December 1, 1823, to December 6, 1824. He held various positions of public trust, the duties of which he discharged with ability and to the satisfaction of the entire com- munity. He was the father of Roswell and Clinton McClarran, the former of the city of Wooster, the latter of Wayne township. He died March 7, 1831.
Many are the stories handed down of the fun and frolic the settlers had in Mc- Clarran's days. The following is an instance : At the north of town stood the old block-house, in which lived an old lady the men had nicknamed " Widow Block- house." Suddenly she surprised the little community by announcing that she had concluded to doff her mourning and take to herself another husband in the person of an old fellow who had neither money nor home. This was fun for the " boys "
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of that period, and they made Widow Blockhouse's marriage an extra event that passes into history. All the jovial spirits of the settlement were present on the evening of the wedding. It was a lively occasion ; 'Squire McClarran, an inveter- ate joker, performing the ceremony with the greatest humorous solemnity. In the beginning, after a few remarks on matrimony in general and this case in particu- lar, he asked if there was any one present who had objections to this lovely couple "renewing their bearts" in marriage; whereupon a gentleman impressively arose, and in a complimentary speech withdrew all his claims upon the affections of the bride. Then another arose, and another, until every man present had made re- marks and given his consent to the marriage, it being made very evident from their words that they felt they had a sort of personal claim upon the affections of the charming widow, but felt forced to give way to a more favored suitor. The cere- mony concluded, the 'Squire ordered every man in the company to kiss the bride. This was complied with by all, until it came to the turn of the last, a gentleman who is yet a citizen of Wooster, who emphatically refused, saying he "would be --- if that was not asking too much !"
ANDREW McMONIGAL AND FAMILY.
Amongst the earliest settlers in Wayne county was Andrew McMonigal, who visited this section with his father, in 1807, fol- lowing the Indian trail from the Ohio river, prospecting for land. He, however, after a short stay, returned to Pennsylvania, where, in Carlisle, on April 21, 1814, he married Miss Sarah Glenden- ning.
In May, the following year, 1815, Mr. and Mrs. McMonigal emigrated to Wayne county, coming in a four-horse wagon, via Pittsburg, and settled two miles west of Wooster, on what is now known as the Lawrence farm, which land McMonigal entered from the Government.
They lived there, farming, for three years, then moved into the Wooster settlement, and kept a " general store," Mrs. McMonigal waiting on customers jointly with her husband. Their business place was where John Taylor's brick grocery store building now stands, on West Liberty street, and their residence was on South Buckeye street, opposite Farnham's present livery stable, and was the only house at that time erected on the street.
In 1821 they quit merchandising and again resumed farming,
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removing two miles south-west of town, where he had entered a tract of land. On this place, called the " Old Homestead," which they wrested from the wilderness and wild prairie, and which property still remains in the family, they lived and reared their children until 1839, in which year they moved back to Wooster, where Mr. McMonigal died May 9, 1846, aged fifty-five years, leaving a large estate. His remains were interred in the Seceder church-yard, on Buckeye street, but were afterwards removed to Wooster Cemetery. Mrs. McMonigal is still living, and in pos- session of excellent health for one of her years.
Andrew McMonigal was born in Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, April 22, 1791. His father was born in County Derry, Ire- land ; his mother American born; her maiden name, Nancy Mahattan. Mrs. McMonigal was born near the town of Fintona, in County Tyrone, Ireland, November 11, 1793, and emigrated to America in 1801.
Their children were nine -Nancy, who married John Black ; James, married to Sarah E. Hall; Jane, married to John P. Jef- fries ; Sarah, married first to John R. Wilson, and second to John Copland ; Martha, married to Henry G. Saunders; Mary, married to William C. Rice ; Eliza, married to Elias Cosper ; William, mar- ried to Kate Carr; and Andrew, married to Mary Hess. Of these, Nancy died in 1835; Mary, 1843; Sarah's first husband, 1853; James, 1865; Martha, 1868; Andrew's wife, 1872. The rest are still living.
Andrew McMonigal was an active business man, and ever recognized as of the strictest integrity. He was one of the found- ers of the Seceder Church in Wooster, of which he was an exem- plary member for many years and until his death.
JOHN MCCLELLAN, SEN.
John McClellan, Sen., was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., March 3, 1785, his father being a native of Ireland. Nancy Elder, his wife, was born in Franklin county, same State, December 4,
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1787. They were married in Beaver county, Pa., September 22, 1806, by Rev. D. Emery, at which time they there resided.
In 1813 Mr. McClellan and wife emigrated to Wooster, Wayne county, with their two children, John and Rebecca. He remained in Wooster, making it his home until 1824, when he re- moved to a farm five miles south of Wooster, where he lived until 1831, then removing to Greene county, near Xenia, where he died March 1, 1867.
Besides John and Rebecca, already named, Mr. McClellan had six children born in Wayne county, to wit: James, Jane, Clark Beveridge, William E., Mary Ann and Harvey Robert.
He was one of the pioneers of Wayne county, and one of the earliest members of the old Seceder church.
John McClellan, his oldest son, was born June 2, 1810, near Greensburg, Beaver county, Pa., and came to Wooster with his father when a child. His first entrance upon business was at the age of eighteen years, when he commenced clerking in the dry goods store of Hon. Benjamin Jones, with whom he served for one year. He next engaged with J. P. Coulter, M. D., who was then in the drug business, with whom he acted in the capacity of clerk until 1831, when he negotiated partnership relations with him. In 1842 he began the sale of goods on his own account in Freder- icksburg, where he continued until 1853, when he removed to his farm, four miles south of Wooster, remaining there four years.
He was married November 14, 1837, by the Rev. Samuel Ir- vine, of the Seceder church, to Maria M. Mitchell, daughter of Samuel Mitchell, of Franklin township, one of the pioneers of that section.
He has a family of five children, three girls and two boys. His eldest daughter married J. B. Moderwell, a druggist of Gene- seo, Illinois.
JOSEPH STIBBS.
Joseph Stibbs was born in Washington county, Pa., November, 2, 1779, and both on the paternal and maternal side, descends
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from old English stock. His father was a merchant tailor in Lon- don, and at an early period immigrated to America, and settled in Washington county, Pa., where he died about 1786.
Joseph Stibbs, the subject of this notice, left Pennsylvania about the year 1803 and went to New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio, where he went into business with William Hogg, of Browns- ville, Mr. Stibbs, however, remaining in Lisbon. He continued the partnership with this gentleman in the dry goods business un- til the spring of 1813, when he removed to Wayne county, settling across the race and west of what is now called Naftzger's mill, hav- ing been out in 1809 and built the grist mill * and a cabin.
He now took possession of the mill which he had constructed four years before, superintending it personally, and as it was the only one then in the county its patronage came from all quarters. Soon after his arrival, and in about 1816, he added a carding ma- chine to his mill property, having made the necessary arrangements for this addition. This was the first carding machine constructed in the county.
James Miles was the first carder, and frequently would face- tiously offer Mr. Stibbs six and a quarter cents to pick packages of wild thorns to pin up the rolls.
He next erected a woolen factory on the site of the one which was burned, and which was subsequently re-built by his son, Thomas Stibbs.
After the building of the woolen factory he built an oil mill for the manufacture of linseed oil. A grist mill was also run in con- nection with the oil mill, and he had an interest in the old Plank grist mill.
He was married September 21, 1809, to Elizabeth, daughter of Reasin and Rebecca Beall. He died, August 19, 1841, after a brief illness. At the time of his death he owned 1,200 acres of land on Apple Creek, the principal part of which was in Wooster township. Mr. Stibbs was an active, enterprising and useful citi-
# This is the mill at which the powder explosion occurred, killing Michael Switzer, etc.
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zen, and his various public improvements were of incalculable value to the early settlers. He lived a consistent Christian life, and died in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which he had long been a member.
His sons, Reasin, Joseph and Thomas, are dead. Reasin B. Stibbs was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, September 12, 1812, and was married to Miss Sprague, sister of Lindoll Sprague, of Wooster. He led an active business life, engaged in numerous public enterprises, and had various banking connections. He was a moral, earnest working man of most agreeable and fascinating manner, a member of the Presbyterian church, whose life was exemplary, and whose death was the occasion of a general sor- row.
JOSEPH S. LAKE.
Mr. Lake was a native of the State of New Jersey, and was born at Salem, on the 30th day of June, 1800. His parents, Con- stant and Ann Lake, both being consistent members of the Baptist church in that place, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Ho- ratio G. Jones, a great and good man. Hence it may be inferred that their son Joseph had, from his earliest years, the example of right living set before him.
In the spring of 1815 Mr. Constant Lake, with his family, took up his residence in Wooster, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch began his active business life. By close application and persevering industry, he became prosperous and acquired an hon- orable reputation as a merchant. One of the old and well known energetic firms in Wooster was that of Jones & Lake. It was a step in the right direction for Joseph S. Lake, in the beginning of his business career, that he became associated with Mr. Benjamin Jones, a man of good judgment, and correct principles, kind and liberal. His generosity was not often seen in the highways; but his helping hand was opened and help bestowed where worthily needed, unknown and unseen by the public.
Mr. Lake was married the 18th day of April, 1822, to Eleanor
Hugound, by Uso. E. Panna, N Yies
dos. I. Lake
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Eichar, daughter of Joseph Eichar. His wife and five of his child- ren still survive him, three of his children preceding him to the "Spirit land."
During his long residence in Ohio, Mr. Lake was frequently called on to fill positions of trust and responsibility. He was ap- pointed by President Jackson Register of the land office at Woos- ter, which office he held until the land belonging to the Government was nearly all sold, and the office at Wooster closed.
Subsequently he was chosen one of the Fund Commissioners for the State of Ohio, General McCracken, of Lancaster, and Kil- gore, of Cadiz, being his colleagues. During his term of office he was distinguished for his activity, integrity and efficiency as a busi- ness man. He was among the foremost workers in establishing the Bank of Wooster, and nearly succeeded in carrying it through the most perilous times for banking in Ohio that ever tried men's souls.
In the year 1841, Mr. Lake removed with his family to Cleve- land, Ohio, and in 1845 he removed to the city of New York, commencing the banking business in Wall street, and in 1846 be- came a member of the New York Stock Exchange Board, and remained a member thereof until his death. During his connec- tion with the Board he experienced both prosperity and reverses. It might truly be said of him, that he made two or three fortunes in Wall street, if he could have known the right time to retire. He was ever conscientious in regard to keeping within the legiti- mate bounds of business. One who knew him well from the be- ginning to the close of his business in Wall street, said of him at his departure, "Mr. Lake was transparent as glass, yet solid as marble."
But he is gone ! and the places that once knew him will know him no more, forever.
He died suddenly, on Tuesday evening, March 26, 1867, of paralysis, at his residence, No. 38 East 29th street, in the 67th year of his age.
Such was the announcement of the daily morning papers. Allow me yet to make a quotation from the Cleveland Herald :
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"We hear that Mr. Joseph S. Lake died suddenly, on last Tues- day, of apoplexy, in New York city. Mr. Lake, some years since, was a political and financial power in the State of Ohio. Belong- ing, in those days, to the Democratic party, Mr. Lake was, per- haps, the most influential politician in Ohio. He was not an office-seeking politician, but he wielded an influence over the poli- tics and legislation of the State of Ohio that was well nigh omnip- otent in the party to which he belonged. He was largely inter- ested in the banking business at Wooster twenty-five or thirty years ago, and no man's name in the State was more prominent in financial circles than his. Since he left Cleveland he has been re- siding in the city of New York, more retired from public notice. He was a man of great energy of character-having a remarkable character for controlling men ; his personal sympathies were warm, he was genial, and his generous hospitality was proverbial. His death will be a severe blow to his family, and deeply regretted by large numbers who formerly knew him, when in the hight of his prosperity and power."
In the winter of 1854, Mr. Lake being in Galveston, Texas, he became interested in "the one thing needful," and gave his heart to his Savior, and was immersed in the Gulf of Mexico by the Rev. James Huchins, pastor of the First Baptist church in Galveston. He lived and died a consistent member of the Baptist faith, a pious believer in Christ, and when the call came he was ready. The chariot had come, and he went up without a fare- well ! while his wife and son stood, as it were, stunned beside him.
REMINISCENCES OF WOOSTER, BY MRS. JOSEPH LAKE, OF NEW YORK CITY.
We arrived at Wooster, April 15, 1814. Levi Cox and Carlos Von Julius Hickox were the editors of the Ohio Spectator, the first newspaper published in Wooster. It never wanted contributors to its columns, and called out a great amount of talent, so that, by general consent, it was conceded that Wooster was the " Athens" of Northern Ohio.
Joseph Christmas was perhaps the most distinguished of the poets, who com-
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posed a very interesting poem, entitled, "The Artist," in which many of the old masters had honorable mention. I remember but these four lines :
" Rembrandt, to whom the rules of art were vain, Too proud to mingle in the imitating train, Like some bright meteor of the northern skies, To amaze the vulgar and confound the wise," etc.
Then Mr. William Robison (no relative of Mr. David Robison) was consid- ered a very gifted poet. He wrote some pleasant little verses on Mr. Joseph Stibbs' mill, the first one in the county, only one verse of which I can recall :
1
" God's blessing on Joe Stibbs' mill, The hopper and the stones, For it puts meat upon our backs, And marrow in our bones."
Mr. Robison was a tanner by trade, his tannery being near the residence of Mr. Quinby. Upon one occasion he put a dunning notice in the paper, the follow- ing lines of which I remember :
" Come, you that owe, and pay what 's due, Or give your notes, or we will sue, Or something else that's equal-still Bring slaughtered hides to our bark-mill- Still buy of us in usual manner, But mind to pay the needy tanner."
Mr. William Larwill, father of the then young men, Joseph H., William and John, was a good writer in both prose and poetry. Upon two occasions-1817 and 1818-he wrote the Carrier's Address for the Ohio Spectator. I can well remember several other contributions, and one or two Fourth of July orations, of which Wooster might be proud to-day.
Dr. Thomas Townsend was also a writer in prose and poetry, and some of the best political articles in the paper were from his pen.
Ithamar Spink was a splendid poetical genius, gifted by nature and education. Occasionally he stirred the whole town, especially when he wrote on politics, or the suffering Greeks. On this subject we all believed he wrote about as well as John Randolph of Roanoke.
Permit me here to give an invitation to a thanksgiving dinner more than fifty years ago, in Wooster, about the time when Turkey was oppressing Greece:
" Dear Mr. and Mrs. A-
" Much sympathy is felt for the struggling Greeks, while little has been done by any part of the civilized world. We have concluded to make an expedition against Turkey, on next Thursday. General B- is expected to make an attack on
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the main body, at one o'clock; the right wing is assigned to your wife, the left to mine. Gravy, a well-known ally of Grease, will be with us, from whose presence the most sangnine expectations may be anticipated. Come! Come! B."
This is a very small part of what should be recorded of the early times of Woos- ter; and yet, it is enough to carry you down the stream of time to Greece-and to Rome, also. The school girls, when they spoke of the junior editor of the Ohio Spectator, always called him Carlos Von Julius Caesar Augustus Pompey Hickox.
About this time there was living in Wooster, Xenophon Christmas, who was a charming little boy, and when we wished to speak to him in honeyed words, we called him " Xennie Lycurgus Eichar," but he seemed too good for earth, and was called to the spirit land in 1821.
Solon Spink was a lovely child, who died in early life, and after the death of these two children, Mrs. Nailor, a very intelligent and pions woman, was heard to remark to a friend, " that this looked to her like a judgment upon the parents of these dear children for giving them heathen names."
Ithamar Spink wrote some humorous rhymes, of which I re- member but the following :
" Wooster ! Wooster ! come assemble in your might, Like honest, bold Republicans,
Each in his native right, To choose the States a President
Of wisdom and of fame, As Steubenville of late has done,
And tell the world his name. And soon the hall was circled round
With townsmen shy and keen, And many a daring combatant,
Amid the crowd was seen. First up rose Major Do Do, proud,
With cheeks, like cherries, plump, A man of width, but not of length- Faint emblem of a stump. A long and learned eulogium
He offered to the chair, Which sounded high the shell-bark name, And did his deeds declare."
COLONEL JOHN SLOANE.
Pre-eminent, conspicuous and foremost among the brilliant pi- oneers of Wayne county, distinguished for his superior intellect
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and abilities, and the recognition of them by his contemporaries and the Government of the United States, was Hon. John Sloane.
He was a native of York county, Pa., but at a very early period emigrated, with his father's family, to Washington county, in the same State. From there he removed to Jefferson county, Ohio, before the admission of Ohio into the Union, and afterwards changed his residence to Columbiana county.
Upon the admission of Ohio into the Federal Union, Colonel Sloane, though a young man, attracted public attention, and soon achieved the reputation of a gentleman of decided talent and intel- ligence. In 1804, he was elected a member of the lower house of the General Assembly, and was re-elected in the fall of 1805-6. In the winter of 1807-8, while still a member of the Legislature, President Jefferson appointed him Receiver of Public Moneys of the new land office, soon to be opened at Canton, and which was probably opened in May of that year. From about this pe- riod, in charge of the Receiver's office, he made Canton his resi- dence until April 1, 1816, when he, in conjunction with General Beall, under instructions from the Government, removed the land office to Wooster, where Colonel Sloane continued to reside, unless when absent upon public business.
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