USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 27
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
He came to Wooster, July 5, 1827, making the trip hither on horseback, his horse dying in five days after his arrival. Here he practiced his profession for several months, when he went to Je- romeville, and where he married Miss Maria Stibbs Beall, March 20, 1830. He continued practice for some time thereafter in Jeromeville, when he returned to Washington county, Pa., where he devoted himself to professional pursuits until 1848, when his determination again impelled him to Wooster, where he re-establish- ed himself in practice. His wife died June 20, 1846, of typhoid fever, and is buried in Washington county, Pa. His family consists of four children, all of whom are living. He became a member of Dr. Brown's church at an early age, and joined the Presbyterian congregation at Wooster on his arrival, then under the pastoral
332
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
care of Dr. Barr. Drs. H. Bissell, Hoyt, Day, and probably Shaf- fer, were his professional competitors when he came to Wooster. Judges Edward Avery, Levi Cox and Ezra Dean were the princi- pal if not the only lawyers. The area of Wooster was then quite diminutive, as contrasted with now, as the doctor says there was but one house built at that time east of the present residence of Samuel Woods, Esq. It was a boarding-house (since burnt down), kept by Mrs. John Wilson and a Mrs. McMillen, where Messrs. Avery, Cox, Bissell, the Hacketts, etc., were handsomely entertained.
Dr. Cunningham is an affable, worthy, intelligent citizen, a good and exemplary Christian, of excellent qualities of mind and disposition. Near three-score years of his life have been conse- crated to the service of his Master,
" Who guides below and rules above, The great Disposer and the mighty King."
GENERAL CYRUS SPINK.
General Cyrus Spink was born in Berkshire county, Mass., March 24, 1793. Both on his father's and mother's side he came of Revolutionary stock. His father, Shibuah Spink, served through a large part of the Revolutionary war, and was at the bloody struggle known as the Battle of Long Island, and passed through the memorable scenes of suffering, privation and patriot- ism of the winter encampment at Valley Forge, 1777-8. His mother, Delight Spink, had a brother in the American army at Valley Forge, and he died during that terrible winter. The parents of General Spink were of the Quaker denomination, and his father was one of the few of that belief who took up arms in defense of the rights of his country. One of General Spink's sis- ters ultimately became a preacher among the Quakers. Shibuah Spink and family removed from Berkshire county, Mass., to Chautauque county, New York, somewhere about 1800. From thence General Spink set out to seek his fortune in Ohio in the spring of 1815. He made some excursions through the State, but for the time being engaged in teaching school at Kendal, in Stark county, he then being 22 years of age. Hon. Joseph H. Larwill, who was County Surveyor of Wayne county, in the fall of 1815 came across General Spink at Kendal, and without any acquaint- ance, other than perhaps a kindly word from Judge Wm. Henry,
Hammereten fre- Sin Podpis TELEGRAF
Cyprus Spink
1
333
WOOSTER-SKETCHES.
subsequently an honored citizen of Wooster, at once appointed him Deputy County Surveyor. The appointment and oath of office bear date October 18, 1815, and he continued to act as Deputy Surveyor under Mr. Larwill until December, 1816. All the recorded surveys during that period, or nearly all of them, are in his hand, and were made by him.
In December 1816 he was appointed County Surveyor, and continued to fill that post until December, 1821. During a part of this latter period he was also District Surveyor. In the mean- time, from September 26, 1820, to October 15, 1821, he performed the duties of County Auditor for more than a year, and for such service received pay for 72 days' labor at $1.75 per day, or $126 for the whole period. The contrast between the expense of the Auditor's office then and now is very suggestive. He was married to his surviving companion, then Nancy Campbell Beall, daughter of General Reasin Beall, February 19, 1819, fifty-nine years ago. In the fall of 1821 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the Ohio Legislature, and faithfully served in that capacity during the winter of 1821-2. During a portion of the time from 1816 to 1822 General Spink was clerk in the Land Office, then located at Wooster, either under Colonel Sloane, in the Receiver's office, or General Beall, in the Register's office. From 1822 to 1824 he was with General Beall in the Register's office, and on the resignation of General Beall, in 1824, he was appointed his successor. His first commission as Register was issued by President James Monroe, and bears date January 14, 1824.
He was reappointed by President J. Q. Adams for four years, by commission dated January 28, 1828. He was removed by President Jackson in 1829. He was one of the Presidential Elec- tors for Ohio in 1844, and met with the College of Electors to cast the vote of Ohio for Henry Clay.
He was a member of the State Board of Equalization for this Senatorial District in 1846, and attended the sessions of the Board at Columbus in the fall of that year. He was a delegate to the Baltimore Whig Convention of 1852, which nominated General Scott for the Presidency, though he never endorsed the platform of that Convention. In 1856 he was appointed by Governor Chase one of the directors of the Ohio penitentiary, but resigned his office in the summer of 1858. In the fall of 1858 he was nominated at Lo- di in Medina county for Congress, and triumphantly elected. For a period of 44 years he was intimately connected with the interests,
334
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
progress and the prosperity of Wayne county. He came to when a young man, and spent the fire of youth, as well as Wooster the years of manhood there. He faithfully performed every duty imposed upon him, and from early manhood to the day of his death he secured the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. He shared the toils of the early settlers, slept with them in their cabins, and camped with them in the dim old woods. From 1815 to 1821 he traversed the county more and become more intimately acquainted with the settlers than, perhaps, any other man of his time. There are a few survivors yet whose memories recall most vividly the wilderness camp-fire and the night bivouac with General Spink in the solemn woods. But they are fast passing away.
He was a man of fixed principles and settled convictions, and through his whole life sought to do no violence to them. He read extensively, thought much and had an exceedingly reten- tive memory. Opposed to change he tended to conserva- ism, but when convinced that wrong would be perpetrated or extended by conservatism, he was a radical. He was slow in forming attachments, but true as steel to them when once formed. He was a devout believer in the Christian religion, and for twenty years of his life he was an exemplary and honored member of the Baptist church. Few men possessed as extensive and correct stores of information on political matters as did General Spink. He was an acute observer, and for the last thirty years of his life he preserved, in some shape, a record of what transpired of impor- tance in the political world. General Spink died in Wooster on the 31st day of May, 1859, in the 67th year of his age. He was the father of six children. Lieutenant Reasin B. Spink, who served gallantly in the war of the rebellion, to whom we are in- debted for the data of this sketch, was his youngest son.
Although elected he was never permitted to take his seat in the council of the nation, for in the sound maturity of advanced manhood and enriched intellect, he was summoned to the high as- semblage of purified spirits, and that loftier Congress constituted and chosen of God.
His death was announced in Congress by Mr. Blake, his suc- cessor from this district, when the following resolutions were adopted :
Resolved, That the members of this house, from a sincere desire of showing every mark of respect due to the memory of Hon. Cyrus Spink, deceased, late a
335
WOOSTER-SKETCHES.
Representative from the State of Ohio, will go into mourning by wearing crape on the left arm for 30 days.
Resolved, That the proceedings in relation to the death of Hon. Cyrus Spink, be forwarded by the Clerk of this House to the widow of the deceased.
Resolved, That as a further mark of respect for the memory of the deceased this House do now adjourn.
Resolved, That the Clerk communicate a copy of the foregoing proceedings to the Senate.
Hon. John Sherman, of Ohio, said :
I have known General Spink from my boyhood. His manly form is now be- fore me, as distinct in my memory as you, sir, or any of our associates around me, is distinct to my view. He was not a great man in the sense in which that term is used. The flashes of genius did not disturb his judgment, nor the fierce energy of ambition consume his strength, or consign his name to the adulation of friends, or the hate of foes. * * Trained in the early days of Ohio, when the life of a pioneer was a continual war with uncultivated nature, he lived to see the forest give way before the labor of a hardy race; the rude log hut superseded by the comfortable mansion, and scattered settlements, commenced in a wilderness, rising into cities, towns and villages. In this contest of civilization he was not an idle spectator; he performed a part. If he did not conquer a land flowing with milk and honey, he, and those like him, made one. His conversation was a local history. Added to the information he acquired by his intercourse with men, he had read much and communicated his information with a genial humor that always made him a favorite, especially with young men. If he had lived to add the personal acquaintance of his fellow members to the testimony of his friends, the death of but few of our number would have caused more personal grief. He would have been true to his party associates, and yet kind and forbear- ing to all. He commenced his political career as a supporter of President Monroe ; was attached to the Whig party during its existence, and at his death was an ear-
nest Republican. * * But he has been called to that mysterious realm, through whose darkening gloom reason can not guide us ; but he has left to his colleagues and friends an example of rectitude and Christian purity, demanding our respect and worthy of our emulation.
THOMAS TOWNSEND, M. D.
Thomas Townsend, the pioneer physician of Wooster, was of Quaker parentage, and a native of Pennsylvania. He removed to Wooster in 1810-II, remained there about thirty years, when he went to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he died. He owned the property now in possession, and built what is now the frame por- tion, of Mr. Sprague's residence, in which he lived and had his office. Dr. Townsend was a man of marked ability in his profes- sion, and performed a conspicuous part in the civil organization of the town and county. He held different positions of official re-
336
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
sponsibility, prominent among which was an Associate Judgeship in 1819.
DANIEL McPHAIL, M. D.
Daniel McPhail was one of the pioneer physicians of Wooster, settling there as early as 1818. He was born and educated in Scotland ; was a man of unusual acquirements, and a splendid chem- ist. He practiced his profession in Wooster eleven or twelve years, but prejudice rose against him and he was sued for mal- practice. Judge Charles Sherman, father of General Sherman, defended him, and Judge Edward Avery conducted the prosecu- tion. In the trial Dr. McPhail vanquished his persecutors and was triumphantly vindicated. Desiring to avoid other hostile combi- nations, he removed to Tennessee and thence to New Orleans. He subsequently returned to Tennessee, where he acquired a vast practice, and where he died, having achieved great reputation.
THOMAS ROBISON.
April 8, 1791, Thomas Robison, father of Dr. J. D. Robison, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, within six miles of Chambersburg, near Rocky Springs. His father came from York county to Franklin, where he died. Thomas left Franklin county in 1806, removing to Columbiana county, Ohio, and remained there until the spring of 1807, when he went to Zanesville, and remained there until the following December. He then went back to his native county in Pennsylvania, and learned the cabinet- making trade in Chambersburg, working as an apprentice for three years. He then returned west, and landed in Wooster, November 15, 1813, in company with his brother, David Robison, Sen. On their arrival, David and Thomas bought a tan-yard from a man named John Smith, who subsequently, in 1824, became Sheriff of Wayne county. The tannery is the one located on North Buck- eye street, and now owned by George Seigenthaler. Thomas, at the same time, started a cabinet-shop on North Buckeye street, where Shively's barn now is, he running that branch of business and David the tannery. In a few years the brothers dissolved partnership.
In the fall of 1816 he went to Westmoreland county, Pa., where he was married, on the 12th of November, to Jemima Dickey, at
337
WOOSTER-SKETCHES.
the residence of Alexander Robison, returning with his bride to Wooster, December 20, 1816.
He sold out his cabinet establishment along about 1830, when he joined in mercantile pursuits with Moses Culbertson, on the north-east corner of the Public Square, now occupied by J. S. Bis- sell & Brother. After being a while in trade they sold their store to Jacob Eberman. Several years afterward, say in 1839, Mr. Robison again engaged in merchandizing with Wm. Jacobs, brother of James Jacobs, and after a successful career retired from commercial pursuits.
He was one of the most popular men in the community. Soon after marriage he was elected Justice of the Peace, and thereafter was the choice of the people for several offices. He was Sheriff of the county from 1828 to 1832; member of the State Senate from December 3, 1832, to December 5, 1836, having been re- elected in 1834; was chosen one of the Associate Judges of Com- mon Pleas Court in 1848, besides filling several other less import- ant offices, such as Director and Superintendent of the Wooster and Cleveland Turnpike, etc. In religion he was a Presbyterian, and was Moderator of one of the earliest Presbyteries held in Wooster, proving himself by success to be one of the most zeal- ous members in efforts to procure subscriptions and money to build the old brick Presbyterian church on West Liberty street.
He died suddenly in Wooster of neuralgia of the heart, on the 14th of September, 1857, his wife surviving him until March 10, 1869.
Thomas Robison was an exceedingly popular and enterprising citizen, and held in universal esteem by all who knew him. He was full of good humor, and was kind, benevolent and cordial. In his positions of public trust he sustained a reputation for honesty, fairness, fidelity and integrity.
He was conscientious and sincere in purpose ; of magnani- mous and indulgent disposition ; an unassuming, buoyant-minded, hopeful, earnest, Christian gentleman.
BISHOP EDWARD THOMSON.
Edward Thomson, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Maria Thom- son, was born on the 12th of October, 1810, at Portsea, England, being a remote relative of James Thomson, the author of "The Seasons." In the year 1818 the family removed to America, and
22
338
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
after tarrying briefly in New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburg, they located early in 1820 in Wooster, Ohio. The family being in easy circumstances, Edward had good opportunities, as times then were, for education, which he improved with the avidity of a susceptible and eager nature. His father being a druggist, he was early inclined to the study of medicine, and having attended lec- tures in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, he received his medical diploma when nineteen years old. He practiced in Jeromeville and in Wooster. Medical study, and per- haps youthful associations, developed in him a bias toward skepti- cism. A labored effort which he made to disprove Christianity, revealed to him the weakness of his cause, and he surrendered to the authority of truth. After his admission of the truth of Christ- ianity some time elapsed before he accepted its saving power in his heart. His first public acknowledgement of the reality of Christ- ianity was made at a class meeting at C. Eyster's, of Wooster. In less than one week, at a prayer meeting in Wooster, he gave his hand to Rev. H. O. Sheldon, his counselor, and his name to the church. When he consecrated himself to the church he said, "They are a people who make a business of religion."
His parents were Baptists, and his father consented with reluc- tance to his becoming a Methodist. He was baptized on the 29th of April, 1832, and was licensed to exhort the next day. On the Ist of July, 1832, he was licensed to preach, and the conference at Dayton, Ohio, September 19, 1832, admitted him on trial. He preached his first sermon in Dalton. 1844-46, he was editor of the Ladies' Repository ; 1846-60, President of the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity ; 1860-64, editor of the Western Christian Advocate and Jour- nal; 1864-70, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He soon displayed intense zeal in the cause, and from the in- ception of his ministry, his labors were blessed with the most grat- ifying and abundant success. At a two days' meeting, soon after his assumption of the sacerdotal office, and following his sermon, sixty-five penitents appeared at the altar, of whom forty-six united with the church in probationary membership. In Detroit his ser- vices gave evidences of a rare gift of eloquence, accompanied with a power purely spiritual to a degree seldom realized in the labors of the ablest divines. During his pastorate in Detroit he was married, July 4, 1837, in Mansfield, Ohio, by Rev. Adam Poe, to Miss M. L. Bartley, daughter of Hon. Mordecai Bartley. Her
339
WOOSTER-SKETCHES.
death occurred December 31, 1863, in New York. Perhaps the highest achievements of Dr. Thomson were in the department of education. Here he seemed a prince in his native domain. He ruled by the charms of personal goodness and by the magic spell of an inimitable character. He taught with facility and made every topic luminous by fertility and aptness of illustration.
Many of the men who have given character to the N. O. Con- ference were educated partly or wholly at the Norwalk Seminary during his principate. The names of Ward, Cooper, Goodfellow, and others, which are either in our presence, or our memories, are all of them monumental honors to the Bishop. While yet at the head of Norwalk Seminary he was invited to the Presidency of the nascent Ohio Wesleyan University.
That University was chartered by the Legislature of Ohio in March, 1842. The Board of Trustees was organized at Hamilton, the then seat of the Ohio Conference, on the first day of October, 1842. Dr. Thomson was then elected President, to be called into service by the Board at a later date. The University classes were preparing under the charge of Rev. Dr. Howard, now President of the Ohio University. This arrangement continued until 1844, when Thomson was, by the General Conference, elected editor of the Ladies' Repository. The Trustees of the University met that year in Delaware, Ohio, 25th of September, and Dr. Thomson sent in his resignation of the Presidency. This was accepted, and he was immediately re-elected President. At a meeting of the Trustees in Cincinnati, 5th of September, 1845, Dr. Thomson said, that if the Ohio and North Ohio Conferences would advise him to leave the Repository for the University he would do it. Each of those Conferences did pass a resolution, not advising the course suggested, but expressing their gratification if he should see fit to take such a course. He resigned his editorial chair and assumed the duties of the Presidency about the first of June, 1860.
In July following he delivered his first baccalaureate, and the same day his inaugural address. He was married a second time May 9, 1866, to Miss Annie E. Howe, well known for her piety and eminent poetic genius.
Bishop Thomson died of pneumonia on the 22d of March, 1870, 10:30 A. M., in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia, and was buried in Delaware, Ohio, 26th of March.
His record as President of the University is known to the world. His success as editor of the Christian Advocate and Journal
340
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
is admitted. His faithful labors as Bishop endeared him to the church. Though exalted to the Episcopate, he never forgot his friends and associates.
"PRIEST JONES."
The following is extracted from a biography of this early Bap- tist divine, published in the Wayne County Democrat, 1873:
Thomas, son of Griffith Jones by Annie, his wife, baptized May 3, 1778 .- Parish Register, South Wales, county of Rednor.
So is it recorded. On earth, they simply said that a man child was born, but in Heaven, in the great Book of Life, the angel noted, in letters of light, the crea- tion of an immortal soul.
Of his early life we know little, save his two births; the first, as we have noted ; the second, his spiritual birth at the age of seventeen. With the thought- fulness characteristic of strong natures, he thus early became absorbed in the great mystery and the great truths of life. At that time religion, theoretically, was at high tide, practically, at its lowest ebb. In England, intolerance, with sword in hand, mocked at that religion which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated; whilst in France the Reign of Terror was at its hight, the Christian religion suppressed, the Sabbath abolished, and, by the passing of a decree, the only French deities from henceforth were declared to be Liberty, Equality and Rea- son. A mind vigorous and expansive and thirsting for knowledge could not fail to be absorbed with these momentous subjects of controversy. The strong defense of the Christians on the one side, going boldly to the root of the whole matter, main- taining their position with arguments trenchant as steel, and sharper than any two- edged sword ; on the other side, the scoffs and sneers of the atheists, with the still more dangerous, because more subtle, influence of this keen, cold philosophy. Not content to be swayed by the opinion of others, he determined to know for himself this truth which maketh free from all doubt and all fear, thus searched the Scriptures, quaffing deeply of the fountain of life. The plan of salvation to him was lucid and complete ; with characteristic decision he accepted it joyously, gladly, and the church books tell us that, like the church of old, "he straightway went down into the water and was baptized," becoming a member of the Baptist church at Dolan, in his native county, Rednor. This was one of the ancient churches of the principality of Wales. It had passed through a series of bitter persecutions. Surrounded and beset by the cruel enormities of religious intolerance which marked the reign of Charles I., it could at first boast no place of worship, saving such as nature provided. The green concealment of the woods, with the wide- spreading, intervening branches of the trees, forming the Gothic roof of their tem- ple; their only choir nature's grand orchestra of birds, they not daring to praise their God in song, lest it should discover them to their enemies. But these very persecutions served to develop the strong Christian character which, even at the present day, marks the Welsh Baptist.
In such a school as this, Thomas Grffith Jones learned the great lesson of life, solved the problem of existence, and deduced his own conclusion. His desire to become a minister of the gospel becoming known to the church, they encouraged him to use his gifts on various occasions, until becoming satisfied that it was the
341
WOOSTER-SKETCHES.
will of God, he received their approbation to go " into all the world," and tell this "wondrous story of the Cross," which he did, with all that pleading earnestness which constitutes the thrilling eloquence for which the Welsh are justly noted.
We learn through the written testimony of one who was a cotemporary member of the church at Dolan, that " Thomas Griffith Jones was regarded by the church and his friends generally, at that time, as a young man whose youth was full of great promise, possessing gifts and talents which, with God's grace, would make him eminently distinguished."
He made vigorous efforts to acquire the literary and theological qualifications so essential to the ministry, and at this time studied with a clergyman of the Church of England.
During these years the spirit of emigration was running wild. The glories of the land beyond the sea were on every tongue, until America, looming up above the mists and spray of the ocean, in all its western splendor and wealth of natural endowments, seemed to the care-worn denizens of the old world an Arcadia of love and promise; a Canaan, flowing with milk and honey; an Elysium of peace and rest ; a Paradise, having its tree of life without its serpent. His impressible mind, eager for progress and enlargement, became impregnated with the pervading enthusi- asm, and thinking to find broader, richer fields in which to gather grain "white already to the harvest" of his Lord, he took a last farewell of the land of his nativ- ity and sailed to the United States in 1800. He brought with him testimonials of his high Christian bearing, and ministerial character.
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.