USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 28
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
His first location was in New Jersey. He spent his first season in America with Dr. David Jones, a Baptist minister of wide reputation, and a chaplain in the Revolutionary army. With his efficient aid he prosecuted his studies together with Dr. Jones' son, the Rev. Horatio G. Jones, who was also at that time preparing for the ministry under the instruction of his father.
Even while a young man, Thomas G. Jones viewed mankind from a stand- point of cool, keen judgment, and generally set the right value on men. Broad- cloth and beaver, velvet and jewels, did not constitute the gentry in his clear, un- biased eyes, but innate refinement and education of heart, before brain.
His life was consistent with his avowed opinions. The poorest of his parish- ioners was greeted with as hearty respect as the wealthiest. The golden calf re- ceived no worship from him, such as in this idolatrous day, when even the clergy condescend to bend the knee. Perhaps the homage is rendered conscientiously, hoping thereby to advance the interest of the church by an influx of wealth, but even receiving it through such a charitable medium one can not but be convinced that it detracts from the minister's influence. Within a year one heard his minis- ter boast that "his church was made up of wealthy men." The poor are crowded out of our elegant churches, with their rented pews. It is "doing evil that good may come." Thomas G. Jones held such policy in infinite scorn.
His second season was spent in the companionship and under the tuition of Dr. Stoughton, an eminently successful minister, justly celebrated for his eloquence, profound scholarship and universal philanthrophy.
In 1801, Thomas Griffith Jones took to wife Susan Jones, daughter of Mr. Enoch Jones, who resided on what is generally known as the Welsh tract in Dela- ware. She was the niece of Dr. David Jones, and cousin to his first American friend, the Rev. H. G. Jones. She was a woman of unusual beauty and high men- tal and moral culture, and it has been said by cotemporaries, that " seldom was a handsomer couple seen than the young Welsh minister and his bride."
About two years after his marriage, he was ordained by a council convened for
342
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
that purpose. After this, he preached in various places with marked success. He supplied one church in Cumberland county, New Jersey, for about two years.
In the summer of 1804, is recorded his first visit to the West. So we read, that in 1804, he went out West and preached at Warren and Garrettsville, Ohio, and Sharon, Pa. On the third of September, in the same year, the Baptist church at Sharon gave him a call to become their pastor. He was then living in Shiloh, Cumberland county, Pa. In the following spring the church at Sharon sent a brother "to bring him over the mountains to the West," it is quaintly recorded.
He arrived at Sharon the 20th of April, and on the 22d of June following he united with said church. On the same day the membership renewed the call; he, however, suspended the acceptance, under a year; providing, that if, at the expira- tion of that time, they were mutually satisfied, to remain. During the trial year, pastor and people became greatly attached; and at its termination, he was fully recognized as pastor. This relation he sustained to that church, and to the Baptist church in Warren, until 1812, laboring alternately in each, and residing part of the time within the bounds of one and part in the other.
Nine years after he had been in America, he laid aside his allegiance as an En- glish subject. Long before he came to the United States, he had entertained the most ardent admiration for our Republican form of Government; that grand inde- pendence by which men determined to govern themselves, struck an answering chord in his proud Welsh spirit. The tyrannons rigor of British rule he had felt before he left his native place. Being subject to conscription during the war be- tween England and France, he obtained a substitute, who was shot dead upon the battle field. Thus one life was sacrified for another.
In 1809, having been nine years an alien, he was naturalized ; the crisp, yellow bit of parchment, with its ancient look, which we hold in our hand, bearing testi- mony thereto, having the following on its folded side : " Admission of Thomas G. Jones as a citizen of the United States of America."
Two years after this, we find him raising his voice in making the laws of his State. In his legislative capacity, he was ardent and faithful ; socially as well as publicly, he wielded a mighty influence ; he had rare conversational ability, and an inexhaustible fund of anecdote.
He was among the early abolitionists, and was often heard to say, that, "Slavery was a blot on our National escutcheon." The cause of the oppressed al- ways met the quick impulse of redress in his great kind heart.
In 1812 he went to Wooster, at that time a small western village, with a mere handful of inhabitants. He found a few Baptists among them; they organized a church, meeting for that purpose in the Block-House, 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. They gave the church the expressive appellation, " Bethany " (house of obedience). He became its pastor, and sustained that rela- tion until 1839, a period of twenty-seven years. During this time, however, he was absent one or two years, laboring as a missionary. The church was blessed under this ministry.
He was not really popular as the minister, but beloved as the pastor. He was kind, earnest and sympathetic-generous, too, and hospitable. The stranger was always welcome to a seat at his board. It might be said of him as of Sir Walter Scott, " He entertained half Scotland."
He was charitable and benevolent, and threw all the energy and force of his strong nature into whatever work he undertook. He was one of the earliest friends
343
WOOSTER-SKETCHES.
of education in the State of Ohio. He took a very prominent part in the formation of the O. B. Education Society, organized at Youngstown, in 1816.
He was one of the first agents of Granville College. He visited most of the churches of Northern Ohio to present its claims, and solicit aid on its behalf.
In addition to the important trusts which we have already mentioned, Thomas G. Jones held, for a short period, the office of Associate Judge of Wayne county, and was, also, for some time President of the Wooster Bank. He was also, for some years a part of the time quite extensively engaged in the mercantile business.
We have said he was pastor of the church at Wooster twenty-seven years. He resigned the charge in 1839, being at that time sixty-one years of age. His portrait, at about this period of life, done in crayon, is before us. He is clad in clerical black; the vest buttoned closely up to the chin, a white tie knotted carelessly at the throat. The figure large and fleshy, the face still the face of his youth unchanged, save where time and trouble had left their traces ; the brown hair a silver grey ; the eyes kind and earnest, but with a certain tinge of sadness in them, rendered the more marked by tense lines across the grave smooth brow ; the mouth showing the increased strength of character, which the years had developed, but yet retain- ing its curves of humor, which his oft repeated chin, when he laughed, intensified ; whilst about all rest a certain grandeur of bearing, and dignity of thoughtfulness, that causes one, all unconsciously, to repeat to one's self, " Kings and Priests unto God "-and again, "A royal priesthood."
After his resignation, he by no means ceased working in his Savior's cause. He continued to preach constantly in the surrounding country. We have looked over some of his sermons. They are mere diagrams of thought, to be filled extem- poraneously. The Savior's love was the burden of his theme. That story of the Cross, so old, yet ever new, he portrayed with most touching pathos, and most thrilling eloquence.
He was a great historian ; his sermons were graphic in historical allusions and illustrations which made them valuable, both for the practical lessons they imparted and the rare gems of historic lore they contained.
He was a great admirer of Bunyan's " Pilgrim's Progress," that book. so grand in its earnest simplicity, and often drew on its infinite resources in delineating the Christian's journey heavenward.
In disposition he was kind, and though oftentimes quick, was ready to acknowl- edge his faults, both to God and man. As a friend he was faithful. He was hon- est and frank in his likes and dislikes, hating dissimulation, and discarding conven- tional hypocrisy.
The first Sabbath in May, 1845, he administered the Lord's Supper, and preached in his old church-taking for his text:
"Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and the Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
At its close, his appeal to the unconverted was touching and pathetic. He said-
"This I feel will be the last time that I may address you in such a meeting. O be entreated to lay down the weapons of your rebellion, that you may become Kings and Priests unto God."
On the last Sabbath in the June following, Priest Jones, accompanied by his youngest daughter, went to visit the Baptist church at Fredericksburg. Here he preached for the last time. On their way home they were overtaken by a heavy
344
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
shower. Then death, that true marksman, bent his bow. A few days after he reached home the wound from the fatal arrow was palpable. He faced the great enemy of mankind without agitation. He knew "in whom he had trusted." Christ had never forsaken him ; he did not now. A little before he died he called his wife to him and said, " My dear, I have not a splendid fortune to leave you ; but.trust in the Lord, keep close to the Lord." Soon after a neighbor present asked him-" Do you feel willing to put your confidence in that God you have just recommended to Mrs. Jones ?" He replied-"O yes, to me He is all in all."
Just as he was dying a friend said, referring to his favorite-" Pilgrim's Pro- gress "-" Brother Jones, you are now passing over that river you have so often de- scribed to your people-do you feel the support so needful to you at this time?" He answered, as he stepped unfearingly into the dark cold stream, now light with effulgence emanating from Deity-
"O yes ! I am passing over; bless the Lord, my feet are on the Rock." A few minutes after he died. Can we doubt he reached the hither side and " entered into the joy of his Lord?" Thus ended his earthly career-July 10, 1845, being sixty-seven years of age.
SAMUEL QUINBY.
Samuel Quinby was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1794, and died February 4, 1874, at Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio. His father, Judge Ephraim Quinby, removed with his family to the site of Warren as early as 1798, two years before the county of Trumbull was organized, and five years before the State was ad- mitted into the Union. Upon his arrival, or soon thereafter, in Trumbull county, he bought 400 acres of land, lying on both sides of the Mahoning river. After his emigration, and for sev- eral years, he lived on the tract lying on the east side of the river, and during his residence there, and in 1801, he laid out the town of War- ren, and named it in honor of Moses Warren, of Lyme. Here he en- gaged in mercantile business, his store-room being located upon the banks of the river. In 1808-9 he removed to the west side, although he had as early as 1807-8, erected a grist mill and card- ing machine on the west side, directly opposite to the present town of Warren. In 1812 he also built a grist mill and carding machine, on the Mahoning, in Liberty township, 12 miles south of Warren. Carding machines in those days were concomitants of grist mills.
Howe, in his Historical Collections of Ohio, says :
The plat of Warren, in September, 1800, contained but two log cabins, one of which was occupied by Capt. Ephraim Quinby, who was proprietor of the town, and afterwards Judge of the court. He built his cabin in 1799. The other was occupied by Wm. Fenton, who built his in 1798. On the 27th of this month Cor-
Eng 2 by Geo. E Perine, N York
Demue Junby
345
WOOSTER-SKETCHES.
nelius Feather and Davison Fenton arrived from Washington county, Pa. At this time, Quinby's cabin consisted of three apartments, a kitchen, bed-room and jail, although but one prisoner was ever confined in it, viz : Perger Shehigh, for threat- ening the life of Judge Young, of Youngstown.
He was a member of the first Legislature of the State of Ohio in 1803, and was afterwards chosen Associate Judge, which posi- tion he ably filled for ten years. He was one of the prominent, enterprising and influential citizens of his county, and one of the founders of the Baptist Church in Warren. The Indians of that section entertained for him a great regard, and treated him as a friend. He inclined to cover the fierce nature, savage habits and untutored ways of the Red Man with the broad mantle of a generous and sympathetic charity.
He was Captain of a military company, and in his history of Ohio John S. C. Abbott speaks of him: "There was at Warren an excellent man, mild and judicious, by the name of Captain Quinby. He was familiarly acquainted with the Indians, for they had often stopped at his house, which was a great resort. His honorable treatment of them had won their confidence and affec- tion."
But if he was distinguished for his genial, glowing hospitality, he was equally conspicuous for his placid determination and calm but unquailing courage. We may be allowed to introduce a single incident recorded by Howe to illustrate this, a serious difficulty having occurred with the Indians in the summer of 1800, and which cast a shadow over the peaceful prospects of the new and scattered settlements of the whites:
Joseph McMahon, who lived near the Indian settlement at the Salt Springs, and whose family had suffered considerable abuse at different times from the Indians in his absence, was at work with one Richard Story on an old Indian plantation near Warren. On Friday of this week, during his absence, the Indians coming down the creek to have a drunken frolic, called in at McMahon's and abused the family, and finally Captain George, their chief, struck one of the children a severe blow with the tomahawk, and the Indians threatened to kill the whole family. Mrs. McMahon, although alarmed, was unable to get word to her husband before noon the next day.
McMahon and Story at first resolved to go immediately to the Indian camp and kill the whole tribe, but, on a little reflection, they desisted from this rash pur- pose, and concluded to go to Warren, and consult with Captain Ephraim Quinby, as he was a mild, judicious man.
By the advice of Quinby, all the persons capable of bearing arms were mus- tered on Sunday morning, consisting of fourteen men and two boys, under the com- mand of Lieutenant John Lane, who proceeded towards the Indian camp, deter- mined to make war or peace, as circumstances dictated.
346
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
When within half a mile of the camp, Quinby proposed a halt, and as he was well acquainted with most of the Indians, they having dealt frequently with him, it was resolved that he should proceed alone to the camp, and inquire into the cause of their outrageous conduct, and ascertain whether they were for peace or war. Quinby started alone, leaving the rest behind, and giving direction to Lane that if he did not return in half an hour, he might expect that the savages had killed him, and that he should then march his company and engage in battle. Quinby not returning at the appointed time, they rapidly marched to camp. On emerging from the woods, they discovered Quinby in close conversation with Cap- tain George. He informed his party that they had threatened to kill McMahon and his family, and Story and his family, for it seems the latter had inflicted chas- tisement on the Indians for stealing his liquor, particularly on one ugly-looking, ill- tempered fellow, named Spotted John, from having his face spotted all over with hair moles. Captain George had also declared, if the whites had come the Indians were ready to fight them.
The whites marched directly up to the camp, McMahon first and Story next to him. The chief, Captain George, snatched his tomahawk, which was sticking in a tree, and flourishing it in the air, walked up to McMahon, saying: " If you kill me, I will lie here-if I kill you, you shall lie there !" and then ordered his men to prime and tree. Instantly, as the tomahawk was about to give the deadly blow, McMahon sprang back, raised his gun, already cocked, pulled the trigger, and Cap- tain George fell dead. Story took for his mark the ugly savage, Spotted John, who was at that moment placing his family behind a tree, and shot him dead, the same ball passing through his squaw's neck, and the shoulders of his oldest papoose, a girl of about thirteen.
Hereupon the Indians fled, with horrid yells; the whites hotly pursued for some distance, firing as fast as possible, yet without effect, while the women and children screamed and screeched piteously. The party then gave up the pursuit, returned and buried the dead Indians, and proceeded to Warren to consult for their safety.
Judge Quinby died in June, 1850.
Samuel Quinby, son of Judge Quinby, throughout a long, active and honorable public career, continued to maintain the enviable name and reputation established by his father. He was, at an early age, appointed Assistant Postmaster at Warren, by General Simon Perkins, the first Postmaster of the territory. He was clerk in his father's store from 1814 to 1817, aud during the last named year he became one of the proprietors of the Western Reserve Chronicle, one of the oldest journals on the Reserve, and which po- sition he held till 1819.
Upon the election of the late John Sloane to Congress from the Sixth District of Ohio, he was appointed, by President Mon- roe, to succeed Mr. Sloane in the office of Receiver of Public Moneys of the United States Land Office, for the district of lands subject to sale at Wooster, Ohio, removing hither in May, 1819.
During his residence in Wooster he was nominated by the Whig
347
WOOSTER-SKETCHES.
party for Congress, and although it was a hopeless contest, he ran far in advance of his ticket. He held the office of Receiver of Public Moneys until the year 1835, and that of Treasurer of Wayne county from the year 1822 to 1838.
In 1840 he returned to Warren, where he lived until his death. During most of his life political discussions were unusually stormy and turbulent. In the election of 1828 he supported John Quincy Adams for President, and when the political tempest which over- whelmed his administration for its alleged extravagance and cor- ruption broke upon the country and defeated his re-election, and elected General Jackson in his stead, the triumphant party did not succeed in displacing Mr. Quinby, as was the case generally of others, though great efforts were made for that purpose. During the administration of General Jackson he continued to hold the office of Receiver of Public Moneys at Wooster, his ability, integ- rity and purity of character, and the high esteem in which he was held as a faithful public officer, at home and at Washington, having insured him against removal from office. His well known hostility to slavery transferred his allegiance from the Whig to the Repub- lican party, of which he continued an esteemed and influential member to the close of his life. He was twice elected to the Senate from Trumbull county, serving full terms-the first in 1844 and the second in 1861. He was for many years a director of the Western Reserve Bank, and the associate of Perkins, Parsons, Freeman, and others, who gave the institution its good name and reputation.
The twenty years, principally of official life, spent by Samuel Quinby in Wayne county defines an era in its history. Having but few predecessors, he inaugurated the Augustan age of public and private virtue. He left an example of official purity and per- sonal integrity worthy of emulation for all time. He was not a politician, according to the construction of that term in these days of corruption, misrule and mal-administration. When elevated to positions of honor and public trust he was chosen because of his signal fitness for the place, and he discharged its duties with punc- tilious fidelity and scrupulous regard to his conscientious as well as his official obligations. No temptation or illicit motive swayed or swerved the inflexible bent and purpose of his aim. His offi- cial reputation is without a stain. His public records are models of methodical system, aptness and exactness. His penmanship is in the perfection of the art, each word a lithograph, and as sym-
348
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
metrical as the scrivener's of old, who, after a long life of devo- tion to his art, died with the King's syllables upon his pen. A promise with him was equivalent to its fulfillment. Honesty was inscribed upon his shield; it was the rule of his life, and the as- surance of that possession by the humblest citizen entitled him to Mr. Quinby's consideration.
The surviving pioneers of the county bring united testimony to his noble impulses and generous disposition. He appeared at a crisis in their midst when they sorely needed a counselor and when substantial assistance became one of the unforgotten boons. As Treasurer of the county for many years he had opportunity of knowing the financial distresses of the toiling, moneyless settlers. They had entered, or purchased their lands, had brought on their families and were bravely fighting the battle of life amid untold hardship and suffering. They could produce corn and wheat, oats, &c., it is true, but they brought little or no money. The home market was a fable; its moral was disappointment. The inevitable tax-day came around, and many a struggling, industrious, frugal land-owner was found penniless. Some could sell the one or two hogs they had fattened for the winter's meat; some, more fortun- ate, could meet the collector's demand ; others could send to friends in the East and procure the scant remittance, and others again beheld the grim tax-gatherer coming with sick and aching hearts.
With this latter class is where Mr. Quinby rose to the dignity of the pioneer's true friend. We have it from the lips of old men yet living in Wayne county that upon a candid and truthful repre- sentation of their financial condition, he voluntarily paid their taxes for years, never exacting a cent of interest, and only asking back what he paid, and affording any reasonable time to pay it in. To those who spoke regretfully of leaving comfortable homes in other States, and talked of selling out and returning, he addressed words of encouragement, saying, "This is a great country, let us make it ours and our children's." A decided affirmative answer to the question, "Will you stay with us and help fight our battles?" re- lieved the heavy heart of many a penniless tax-payer.
His name is to-day laden with a fragrance in the memory of the pioneers, and they revert to his manifold kindnesses with sighs and sadness.
Such a man, in such times of trial rises to the majesty of a ben- efactor, and such a life leaves more than a transient impression upon the age and period where its activities are displayed.
349
WOOSTER-SKETCHES.
He was a prominent and respected member of the Baptist church in Warren, and in his daily life and conversation illustrated the virtues of the Christian gentleman. He was twice married- first, to Lucy Potter, daughter of Rev. Lyman Potter, of Steuben- ville, Ohio, who died in 1833. He was married a second time, in 1847, to Mrs. Emma Brown, of Hartford, Trumbull county, Ohio, who survived him.
Of the six children by the first marriage, two only, and of the five by the second, one only, survived him. He was an older brother of Ephraim Quinby, Jr., a biographical sketch of whom appears in this work.
It is emphatically evident that the Quinby family was an envi- ably prominent one. In their successful operations for the devel- opment of the resources of the country, they have demonstrated a high order of business ability and commercial integrity. Their personal example and laudable endeavors to elevate the moral and religious tone of the communities in which they moved, celebrate their virtues and the excellencies of their lives. The unstained and unimpeachable characters they maintained in the various posi- tions of responsibility and honor entrusted to them by the people constitute an enduring monument.
LEVI COX.
Judge Cox, as he was familiarly known for a quarter of a cen- tury, removed from the State of Pennsylvania to Wayne county as early as 1815, and may with propriety be classed with the pioneer attorneys of Wooster.
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.