USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 67
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The voice of duty and the demands of patriotism could no longer be stifled or ignored, and so our young hero, then but nineteen years of age, volunteered in the ranks of the United States army. Without a commission or hope of promotion, with a musket on his shoulder, he encountered the dangers and vicissi- tudes of the north-western frontier, the Black swamp perils, serv- ing faithfully the period of his enlistment, and being honorably discharged at the expiration of his term. He then returned to Zanesville, where he had volunteered. Here he did not long re- main, for in the autumn of 1813, in company with his brother Thomas, sallied forth on horseback to discover, if possible, a suita- ble location for business. Visiting Wooster, and being favorably impressed with it, and satisfied with its promising advantages, they jointly purchased property with an eye to permanent settlement. Their first investment was in a block of lots on the north-west cor- ner of Buckeye and North streets, establishing there what was long and popularly known as Robison's tannery. Here, and in active application to his trade, he continued until the year 1837, when, with his family, he removed to what was formerly known as Mad- ison Hill, the original seat of justice of the county.
Bruyne Jones
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WOOSTER TOWNSHIP.
In 1832 he built what for a quarter of a century was known as Robison's mill, now Wooster mill, which, considering cost and ca- pacity, at that time was considered an enterprise of magnitude. He was largely interested in merchandising from the time he re- moved to his farm in 1837 to 1848, not only in Wooster, but in Fredericksburg, Jeromeville, Rowsburg and Ashland. He was identified with the early banking interests of the county, and was one of the incorporators of the Wayne county branch of the State Bank of Ohio, acting as its President for a period of fifteen years, and until he had made disposition of his interests in the same.
He was married June 5, 1821, to Miss Elizabeth McConnell, a native of the same county and State of that of her husband, where she was born May 8, 1797. To this marriage union of over half a century, were brought six sons, William H., John M., James N., David, Joseph and Lyman. James N. died in Wooster June 23, 1867, and Joseph in Dubuque, Iowa, April 6, 1863. William H. and John M. now live in the city of Dubuque, Iowa, David and Lyman in Toledo, Ohio.
He united with the Presbyterian church in 1842. He could not well have been inclined to membership in any less orthodox religious body than the Presbyterian church, for his early spiritual tutelage was in the laminated faith of the Scotch Seceders; and, moreover, it was in grateful consonance with the inclinations and convictions of the faithful partner of his lengthened years, who in early life espoused this church, and who to-day is a worthy and ex- emplary member. He compassed in his enterprises the interests of the community; had enlarged views of business; was clear- headed, penetrative and emphatically practical in all his enter- prises and transactions. His deliberations proceeded from a sound and reliable judgment ; he took no steps in the dark, for his sharp perception of situations was "a light to his feet." He had the ability to analyze things, and feel forward and lay his hand upon the hem of results. Hence his investments were made with great care, and, as a consequence, they were accompanied with gratify- ing and substantial realizations. His life illustrated many solid virtues. It was a scene of activity and unostentatious, energetic enterprise, rounded in its decline with comforts and crowned with worldly competence. He died March 1, 1870.
Benjamin Jones was born in Winchester, Frederick county, Va., April 13, 1787. He had eight brothers and one sister, John, Sam-
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
uel, Elias, Isaiah, Erasmus, Nathan, William, Thomas and Sarah. From Frederick county the family removed to Washington county, Pa., when the subject of this sketch was but seven years of age. They lived about a mile from the village of Washington, where his mother died and was buried in the Baptist churchyard there, his father dying when he was between seven and twelve years old.
At an early age he was, by the terms of an indenture, put to the trade of cabinet-maker, in Washington, for seven years, which time he faithfully and diligently served. Many, indeed, were the privations and cruel, stinging hardships he endured during those seven years of worse than Hebrew bondage. His personal wants were sadly supplied, frequently not getting enough to eat, and he was fourteen years of age before he ever wore a new shoe upon his feet. After his release from the indenture he worked journeyman's work in the village for some time, when he removed to Sharon, Ohio, and built a shop and engaged in business for himself. A misfortune, however, soon visited him in the shape of a, to him, disastrous fire, which completely used him up, and by which he lost all his tools and effects. He was consequently compelled to renew journeyman's work, when he abandoned Sharon and went to Yankee Run, in Trumbull county. After a short period, an oppor- tunity was afforded him to enter into commercial business with Thomas G. Jones (Priest Jones), which he embraced, and which they prosecuted until just prior to the war of 1812.
In 18II he was dispatched by the " Priest " on a tour of obser- vation, with a view to the selection of a place to locate. He went as far west as and beyond Mansfield, on horseback, through a dense forest, inhabited by Indians, over unbridged and swollen streams, with perils to right of him and perils to left. On this equestrian scout he first saw Wooster, was favorably impressed with the country, and resolved to locate there. On his return to Yankee Run, he spoke so flatteringly of the place, that Priest Jones and family, a Mr. Young and family, Betty Scott and himself, all emi- grated hither without delay.
They brought goods to Wooster and started a store, Constant Lake, father of Constant Lake, of Wooster, hauling a load for them. This was in the winter of 1812-13, and was the first store of importance in Wooster. It was opened in a wooden building erected by Robert McClarran, near, or where Samuel Geitgey now conducts business.
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WOOSTER TOWNSHIP.
After establishing himself in his new quarters he returned to Brookfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, where he married Hannah Vanemmon, April 1, 1813, the ceremony of marriage being per- formed by Rev. A. Bentley, Baptist minister, and brother of Ben- jamin Bentley. Mrs. Jones was a native of New Jersey, where she was born on Christmas day, 1794. Her mother died when she was three years old, and her father when she was eight, when she was adopted into the family of Constant Lake, Sr., with whom she removed to Trumbull county, and in whose family she continued a member until her marriage in 1813.
After their marriage in April his wife went to New Lisbon and he returned to Wooster, soon thereafter going to Pittsburg to purchase goods, which trips he made on horseback. He made two of these excursions after he was married, going and coming, passing New Lisbon, where his wife was, without stopping, until, on his return from the third trip, he stopped for her, and was accompanied by George Hull and his family and Francis Foltz and his family, arriving at Wooster on the 4th of July, 1813.
The house that Mr. Jones and wife moved into was occupied by seven families, and besides contained a doctor's office-that of Dr. Thomas Townsend. It was a two-story brick, built in 1810 by John Bever, on the Bissell corner, and the first brick house built in the county. "Priest" Jones and family, Joseph Barkdull and family, a Mr. Richardson, a tailor, and others, besides Dr. Townsend and Benjamin Jones and his wife, who had two rooms up stairs, and where they lived two years, were the occupants. Mr. Jones soon afterwards built what was called the "Stump House," so called because they sawed off trees and erected the building upon the stumps. It stood on the site of the old Arca- dome, and the surrounding country was a forest, there being then less than a dozen houses in the town. In this stump house D. K. Jones, of Shreve, the oldest son of Benjamin Jones, was born, and who, as his mother informed us, "was the smallest child ever born, that lived, in Wayne county." Here, also, Eleanor Jones was born.
In 1817 Mr. Jones removed to the lot on Beaver street, be- tween East Liberty and South streets, known in later years as the McKeal property. There he lived until 1824, and there Isaac N. and Ohio F. Jones were born. In 1824 he removed to the prop- erty that was known, and will be recollected as the Wooster Hotel, remaining in charge of the same until the fall of 1828, and here
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Charles Carroll, Joseph R. and Quinby Jones were born. In the autumn of 1828 he removed to a frame building that stood on the grounds of what is now known as the Metropolitan Boarding House, remaining there until the spring of 1829, when he re-occupied the property on Beaver street, where B. J. Jones was born, April 4, 1834. March 17, 1836, he removed to his farm, where he lived until his death, which occurred from disease of the heart, after a short illness, April 24, 1861. His fine brick residence upon the old homestead, was built by Henry Lozier, in 1840.
A glance at the records of Wayne county forcibly asserts the value of the life and public services of Benjamin Jones. With its solid and material improvements his name is closely identified. There was neither flash, dash, brilliancy nor poetry in his composi- tion. His mind was practical, and when he came into the new country, he addressed himself to substantial enterprises. He com- prehended the wants and necessities of the pioneers and their in- convenient situations, and early directed his energies toward reliev- ing and promoting their best interests. There were no roads opened up with the exception of the one running from Canton, the streams were unbridged, society had not yet thrown around it the restraints and protection of law, and the question of sustenance was even a problem with the people.
He Navigates Killbuck .- In 1814 he went on horseback to Coshocton, accompa- nied by William Totten, brother of Michael Totten, of Wooster, to buy flour, bacon, salt, dried fruits, etc., for the early settlement, which he placed on a pirogue, and with the assistance of a few stout men paddled the rude boat to the waters of the Killbuck, and up through the drift of that sluggish stream to the mouth of Apple creek, and thence up that stream to where the covered bridge now stands, near the old Robison mill, in the corporation of Wooster. This exploit of inland navigation was heralded with acclamation by the inhabitants of Wooster, who rushed to the boat to obtain their supplies.
He built the first bridge that was ever laid across the Muddy Fork, and constructed the road extending from Reedsburg across the trembling quagmire to what, in past days, was known as " the French Miller" property. He had sixteen men employed on the contract, and at night one-half the number guarded the other half while they slept. During this work one of his laborers, named Jones, was killed and literally mangled by the Indians. There were at this time but three houses be- tween Wooster and Jeromeville. Several weeks were employed upon this contract, Mr. Jones doing the cooking for his men in the woods, and performing his culinary duties with true aboriginal skill.
He constructed the first bridge across Killbuck on what is known as the Colum bus avenue road. He aided in procuring the charter for the turnpike running from Wooster to Cleveland, and was a director and stockholder in it. He exerted him- self both in the Legislature and out of it in behalf of the choice of the Killbuck route for the Ohio canal.
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WOOSTER TOWNSHIP.
In 1816-17 he built the first jail of the county, constructing it chiefly of the old logs of the Block-honse erected by Captain George Stidger, in 1812.
On the 4th of July, 1824, Mr. Jones and wife, then keeping the " Wooster Ho- tel," roasted an ox and prepared a grand dinner for the occasion, Mr. Samuel Van- emmon, brother of Mrs. Jones, superintending the roast. The tickets to the banquet were fifty cents apiece, and over three hundred were sold. The ox was roasted among the elders and brush, to the rear of Lindol Sprague's residence. On this occasion Congressman John Sloane, Brigadier General Reasin Beall, Judge Ezra Dean, and many other prominent citizens, were present. John Hemperly carved the ox. Twelve pigs were also roasted. After the dinner was over and the cere- monies concluded, Mr. Jones invited the children of the town to a free entertain- ment.
He is Chased by Wolves .- He went to " Morgan's,"' on one occasion, down Kill- buck about eight miles, for provisions, and among other things, Mrs. Morgan gave him some fresh meat, which she put in a large gourd, of the capacity of half a bushel. The wolves, scenting the meat, pursued bim with fierceness and angry demonstra- tions, when several times he thought he would have to throw everything away and try to save himself.
He Captures three Bears .- While traveling on horseback, up the Killbuck bot- tom, south of Wooster, he captured three cub black bears, and put them in a sack over the saddle. They proved, however, to be heavier than he had calculated, and hearing the mother of the cubs approaching, he considered it wisdom's better part to throw one of them out of the sack, which he did. The remaining two he kept awhile, finally giving one away and selling the other.
He carried the mail from Canton to Mansfield on horseback. He aided actively in organizing the Agricultural Society, and a colt in his possession took a premium at the first fair. In 1815 he was elected Justice of the Peace of Wooster township, and subse- quently filled the office of Trustee of the township. In 1818 he was elected Commissioner of Wayne county, and served in that capacity for three years. In 1821 he was elected a Representative for the county of Wayne in the General Assembly of the State of Ohio. In 1824 he was placed on the Jackson electoral ticket as one of the District electors. He was always an ardent admirer and warm supporter of the gallant old hero of New Orleans, with whom he enjoyed most friendly personal relations.
He represented Wayne county in the Ohio Senate from De- cember 7, 1829, to December 3, 1832, having been re-elected in 1830. In 1832 he was elected a member of Congress, and re- elected in 1834. He was President of the first Jacksonian meeting held in Wooster, and publicly discussed national topics with Gen- eral Spink in 1840. There was a genial goodness, sunshiny humor, playful, but caustic wit, and broad hospitality about him that attracted and fascinated. He entertained the first Methodist
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
preacher that visited Wooster, and his house was proverbial for the generosities it dispensed.
His honesty of purpose and rectitude of conduct in the dis- charge of his official duties in all the various offices he filled, gained him the esteem and approbation of his constituents. He was a patriot, and warmly attached to the civil and political insti- tutions of our country. So ardent were his feelings for the happi- ness, prosperity and glory of his native land, that in a conversation with his family a few days before his decease, in remarking upon the situation of our country, he observed that he had lived to see the adoption of the Constitution, which bound the States in union with each other-and under the influence of its sacred provisions this nation had become great and prosperous, and had protected the rights and secured civil and religious liberty to all her subjects ; and that before he should be called to witness a dissolution of the Union, he hoped that God in his providence would dissolve his existence.
Joseph Eichar .- Among the early pioneer settlers in Ohio was Joseph Eichar, the second son of Peter and Nancy Eichar, who was born and raised at Greensburg, Pa. In the year 1809 he im- migrated with his family to Ohio, when he bought a farm near Canton, Stark county, where they remained five years, and then removed to Wooster, arriving there on the 14th day of April, 1814.
Soon after Mr. Eichar came to Wooster to live the " Madison Tract," or first county seat, was offered for sale, and he bought it. The year after the heads of three families by the name of Rice, from near Greensburg, Pa., bought of him the three farms of which the Madison tract consisted. The price they paid made Mr. Eichar what was considered rich in those days. He then bought the quarter section joining the north side of Wooster, on a part of which the University now stands, and another quarter section, with the famous Salt Spring on it, two and a half miles west of Wooster ; also a half section, in Cedar valley, and a half sec- tion on Little Killbuck, together with several quarter sections en- tered at the Government Land Office, and several lots in the town of Wooster. March 5, 1815, he commenced boring for salt, in which enterprise he invested and sank thousands of dollars.
He next engaged in the produce trade from Pittsburg down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, which, also, proved disastrous. Again he turned westward, and removed with his family to San-
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dusky, September 17, 1821, with many hopeful anticipations. But scarcely had they settled in their new home, when Mr. Eichar was taken with typhoid fever and died on the 17th of October, 1821, aged 47 years. Joseph Eichar, who now resides on the Killbuck farm, west of Wooster, is his son.
Hugh Culbertson was born in Franklin county, Pa. His father removed to Westmoreland county, in that State, when Hugh was but four years of age, and settled on a farm. In the fall of 1809, in company with Major Wilson and his uncle William Culbert- son, he made a trip on horseback to Ohio. They first went to Trumbull county, and thence to Canton, then having but a few houses. Here they procured the services of a man named New- man to pilot them further west, starting out with provisions to last them a week. Before returning they respectively selected a quar- ter-section of land. Mr. Culbertson chose a quarter immediately south of the present site of Wooster, Major Wilson selecting the quarter-section that Mr. Culbertson subsequently settled on, and now owned by his son, Hugh Culbertson.
Prior to his permanent removal to Wayne county, Mr. Cul- bertson made it many visits. In the war of 1812 he was drafted, and received the appointment of Quartermaster of the regiment. The detachment was organized to operate under Harrison in the West, but Mr. Culbertson was soon thereafter taken sick and com- pelled to return home. In the winter of 1822-3 he resolved to move to Ohio, and on the Ist day of April abandoned the old homestead in Westmoreland, Pa. On the 23d of April he landed on the banks of Killbuck. During that summer they lived in a little log cabin at the foot of the hill, where the road crossed the Killbuck, on the land then of the widow of Joseph Eichar, Sr. In the fall they erected a house upon their own farm. In 1824 Mr. Culbert- son bought of Peter Lanterman what was known as the "old Yankee Smith " place, a David Smith having settled on it in 1810- II; and to guard against disaster from any Smith claimant, or title-holding Smith, had all the Smiths in the county sign the deed. His farm being of a character best suited to that purpose, Mr. Culbertson at once devoted himself to the production of corn, and cattle and hog-raising.
In politics Mr. Culbertson was a Jackson Democrat. He was elected Associate Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Wayne
47
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
county in 1833, a position which he creditably and honorably filled.
Judge Culbertson was married about 1802, to Miss Jane Welch, of Lancaster county, Pa., by which marriage there resulted twelve children-six sons and six daughters. She had long been a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, to which her husband also be- longed, and was an estimable Christian woman. Her death occur- red in June, 1850. For the ten years preceding his death, Judge Culbertson made his home with his son Hugh, and died there De- cember 20, 1860, aged eighty-one years.
His son, Hugh Culbertson, of Wooster township, was born August 14, 1818, in Westmoreland county, Pa. He accompanied his father to Wayne county in the spring of 1823. He was raised on the farm, and under the direction and management of his father acquired business habits which insured success in his daily transactions.
Stephen Henry, Sr., was born in Cecil county, Md., November 23, 1761. His ancestors came from the north of Ireland, and were second cousins of Patrick Henry, of Virginia .* From Maryland he removed to Westmoreland county, Pa., in a two-wheel cart, where he remained some years, when, with his wife and eight children, he turned his attention westward, and reached Wayne county in the spring of 1815-16, settling east of Wooster about a mile, and just east of Mr. Rich's brewery. There he lived until 1831, when he sold out to David Hess, and removed two miles farther east, to the location of the Henry mill, previously erected. After some other changes in his residence, he died on the mill property, August 24, 1850, his wife dying September 25, 1836. He had eight children-Stephen, Joseph, Ann, Stephen, Johnson, Mary, Elisha and Elizabeth. None of this family are living, and all who came to Wayne county are buried in the graveyard east of the mill, except Elisha, who died in California, October 28, 1862. His sons Joseph, Stephen and Johnson Henry, were the projectors and builders, in 1833, of what was long known as the "Henry mill," and was situated on the main Apple creek and on the State road leading from Wooster to Canton. James Smith, one of the pioneers of Wayne county, settled near the mill in 1810, and built the old grist-mill half a mile south.
* Stephen M. Henry, of Franklin township, imparted this fact.
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WOOSTER TOWNSHIP.
Jacob B. Espy was born in Bucks county, Pa., December 4, 1790. His father was a Lutheran minister and physician, and re- ceived his education in Germany. He was the surgeon of an Ohio regiment in the war of 1812, joining the regiment at New Phila- delphia, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Colonel Robert Bay, of Wash- ington county, Pa., commanding the regiment. The subject of this sketch accompanied his father as surgeon's mate. He was at Sandusky, Malden and Detroit, at which latter place he was dis- charged. Mr. Espy removed from Tuscarawas to Wayne county in 1819, and has since resided here. He lives at present about two miles west of the extreme south portion of Wooster, and is one of the worthy pensioners of 1812. He has been a member of the Lutheran church for sixty years. He was married October 10, 1816, to Catharine Tarr, who died November 17, 1872, and had six children, four boys and two girls, and all except one are living. Isaac Tarr, living in the family of Mr. Espy, was born March 3, 1801, and immigrated to Wayne county in 1818.
Christian Lawrence was born in Lancaster county, Pa., January 25, 1778, and came to Wooster township, Wayne county, May 24, 1823, settling two miles west of the city on the State road, which farm was entered by Andrew McMonigal from the Government. He was married March 8, 1801, to Magdalena Ettela, of Dauphin county, Pa., where she was born February 22, 1781. By this mar- riage there resulted the following children : Peter, Catharine, John, Philip, Elizabeth, Jacob, George, Samuel and Daniel. John, George, Philip and Daniel are at present residents of Wayne county. After a residence of forty-three years in Wooster township the subject of this sketch died on the farm where he first located, October 3, 1866, his wife dying July 27, 1858.
John A. Lawrence, son of Christian Lawrence, was born in Middletown, Pa., January 18, 1808, and when but fifteen years of age removed to Wayne county with his father, where in Plain and Wooster townships he has since continued to live. He was married to Sarah Rouch September 20, 1827, the issue of which union is here recorded :
Mary A., married William Mowry, and lives in Indiana ; George W., married E. Ann Mowry, and lives in Indiana; Malinda, mar- ried Samuel Rouch, died in Indiana, March 31, 1874; Sarah E., married Joseph D. Wagner, and lives in Wooster township; Mar- garet, married James E. Kelley, and lives in Wisconsin ; Priscilla,
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
married Austin McMannis, and lives in Michigan; John F., mar- ried Eliza J. Penland, and lives in Indiana; Henry H., married Eunice Maurer, and lives in Indiana; Lehanna, married Elmer McMannis, and lives in Plain township; Isaiah, married Corinda Casner, and lives in Columbia City, Indiana; Levi A., married Mary C. Biers, and lives in Indiana.
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