USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 72
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
CHURCHES.
The first church organized in Canaan township was hy the Presbyterians, in Jackson, May 25, 1827, with sixteen members, who were Nathan Hall and Parme- lia, his wife, Betsey Jones, William and Mary Maloney, Mary Gibbon, Keziah Smith, Trophina White, Elizabeth Hosington, Benjamin Hays, David Hosington, Sylvanus Jones, Thomas and Eleanor Hays and Samuel Slemmons. Nathan Hall and Thomas Hays were chosen Ruling Elders. In 1838 the congregation called its first and last regular pastor, the late Thomas H. Barr, who served it nearly forty years. The Elders in this church, since the first two already named, have been Samuel Coulter, Samuel Slemmons, Zenas Z. Crane, Andrew Elliott, Ed- mund Barnes, Thomas Elliott, John Cunningham, John Snell, Isaac Notestine, Cy- rus Ewing and John Stine. The second house of worship was built in 1837, and the present one in 1854. Present membership, 155.
Bend Church .- A house of worship bearing this name was erected in 1831-32, though Dr. Barnes, a minister of that denomination, had preached there as early as 1815. The earliest attendants upon this church were the Weeds, Plumers, Strat- tons, and others; and after them the Karnes, Thrapps, Bowmans, Zuvers, Hills. The church became extinct some twenty years ago, yet the " Bend Methodists" left their impression upon the community.
The Canaan or Kopp's meeting-house was built in 1830, by the German Re- formed and Lutheran denominations, the first German Reformed minister being Charles Zwisler, and the first Lutherans being Rev. A. Kuhn, H. H. Hoffman, Schuh and Weygandt. In 1870 these congregations dissolved. Among the early members of these churches were the Sommers, Kopps, Lehrs, Reiters, Bowersocks, Kochenhours, Ollers, Whonsettlers, Hewitts and Hendricks.
The Bethel Church was built by the English Lutherans in 1844, the congrega- tions being organized by Rev. S. Ritz, in 1841. Among its members were the Notestines, Heckerts, Barnards, Ridenhours, Rickets, Hotchkiss, Snavelys. It was finally sold to the Lutheran congregation, formerly worshipping with the Re- formed in the Kopp house. The present church was built in 1870.
The Reformed Church, after their separation from the Lutherans, in 1870, erected a house in 1872, their ministers since then being Rev. E. G. Miller, J. F. Sponsler and Joseph Schaltz.
The Methodist Episcopal Church erected a church edifice in Windsor in 1850-51, which they continued to occupy until 1874, when they constructed the present one. Among its members are the Strattons, Notestines, Wiles, Van Doorens, Haskins, Stephensons, Haws, and others.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canaan was built in 1870, and has a mem- bership of 71. Present paster is Rev. G. Weber; Elders, J. Snell, Michael Miller.
Rev. Thomas Barr, a native of Derry, Westmoreland county, Pa., was born April 2, 1775. When about three years old his father, Colonel Alexander Barr, was called to serve in the Revolutionary war, and took his family to his wife's father's, near Fort Loudon, Franklin county, Pa. Here Mr. Barr was sent to school. At the close of the war Colonel Barr returned with his family again to
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CANAAN TOWNSHIP.
Westmoreland county, Pa., but in 1785 going on an expedition down the Ohio, with others, to negotiate, if possible, with some hostile Indians, he was lost. The only intelligence ever received of him came from the Indians, who afterward sold what was judged to be his scalp. It was Colonel Barr's request, expressed before his departure, that should he never return, his oldest son, Thomas, might be sent to college to receive a classical education. Although he left means sufficient to accomplish this purpose, it was defeated by the fears of a considerate guardian as to the de- moralizing influences of colleges in those days. The substitute fixed upon for a collegiate education was an apprenticeship of five and one-half years to learn the carpenter and joiner trade.
He was married in the spring of 1797 to Susannah Welch, and the following spring removed to Youngstown on the Reserve, and soon thereafter, through the pious influences of a Christian wife, he made a profession of religion. Having determined to enter the ministry, he removed to Greensburg, Beaver county, Pa., where was a small Academy, under the superintendence of Rev. T. E. Hughes, designed especially for the benefit of those having the ministry in view. After spending three years in preparatory study, he was licensed to preach by the Hartford Presbytery in Brookfield, Trumbull county, September, 1809. He received a call and settled in Euclid, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he re- moved in June, 1810. Half of his time was given to his work, and the balance was devoted to missionary labor, under the patron- age of the Connecticut Missionary Society. On October 9, 1812, his wife died, leaving an infant son seven days old,
In 1816 he was married again to A. E. Baldwin, who survived him, and died in Fairfield, Iowa, October 9, 1854. Being now released from his charge in Euclid, Mr. Barr removed, in February, 1820, to Wooster, taking charge of the churches of Wooster and Applecreek, over which he was installed by the Presbytery of Richland, May 24, 1820, and where he remained for nine years, when the pastoral relation was dissolved upon his own suggestion. March 6, 1832, he was dismissed by the Presbytery of Rich- land, to that of Cincinnati, and moved to Butler county with his family that spring. Here he remained but a little over a year, when he removed to Rushville, Indiana, where he labored for about eighteen months, when he died, August 28, 1835.
Rev. Thomas H. Barr, D. D., son of Rev. Thomas Barr, was
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
born in Beaver county, Pa., November, 19, 1807, and twelve years thereafter his father and family settled near Wooster. At the age of fourteen he was placed at work in Stibbs' woollen factory, and afterwards taught school for several terms. In 1828 he entered the preparatory class of Western Reserve College, and in 1835 graduated with the first honors; then went to Princeton College, New Jersey, where he studied for three years. He was licensed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, in 1838, and in the same year came to Canaan township, settling in the village of Jackson, where he took charge of the Jackson, Greene and Wayne Presby- terian churches. He was ordained in 1842, and moved to Canaan Center in 1844. He preached one year at Greene, when he left that church, and for six years devoted his whole time to the Jack- son and Wayne churches, when the former, requiring all his labors, the latter was dropped and he remained pastor of the Jackson con- gregation up to the time of his death, November 29, 1877, a period of about forty years. In September, 1839, he was married to Miss Caroline M. Metcalf, daughter of Dr. Metcalf, of Hudson, Ohio, by which union were the following children: Emily M. (wife of Lieutenant B. F. Heckert), Augusta H. (a teacher in Cleveland), Joseph H. (dead), Mary E. (now a missionary in China), and Ida L.
In a sketch published in the Presbyterian, December 15, 1877, President Taylor, of the Wooster University, thus speaks:
The cause of religion in this region has just met with a severe loss in the re- moval of a good and great man, the Rev. Thomas Hughes Barr, D. D., of this county, being seventy years of age. It is not only from sincere respect for this be- beloved father that his memory is here commemorated; but also because we find herein represented a peculiar type of the ministry, that is everywhere to be exalted and honored. For more than forty years, and during his whole ministry, Dr. Barr has labored in one field. Here he laid down liis life in the Presbytery by which he was ordained, never having been separated from it. He was buried from one of the churches over which he was installed at his ordination. Being frequently tempted to more prominent fields, with offers of twice or thrice his salary, he inva- riably resisted all importunity, remarking that God had sent him to his country charge, and he could not remove.
Dr. Barr was distinguished for the combination of deep wisdom with an al- most unmatched modesty. So retiring and humble he seemed, that he might have been judged of little worth, until some intricate question or delicate situation drew fortb an expression of penetrating discernment and keen comprehension of truth and duty. Yet to the simplicity of a child he added very unusual intellectual strength. He was noted for the wonderful lucidity with which his views were ex- pressed. He penetrated the depths of theology and its philosophical relations, and was a master of all the systems, seeming to have them at his tongue's end.
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Dr. Barr was little known outside of the county, perhaps, except to appreci- ative ministerial brethren, and to those who emigrated from his charge. Yet over the whole county, for more than a third of a century, his name has stood as an ar- gument for pure and sincere religion, and his voice has uttered clearly the gospel truth that has impressed multitudes of hearts. Is not this better than frequent change, with its loss of powers and labor to build up influence anew in a new com- munity ? May our church, in her future, find a more goodly number of her minis- try abiding faithful to their tasks, even unto three-score years and ten, and falling in the end in the very tracks in which they stood when they began to preach.
John Naftzger, father of J. R. Naftzger, of Wooster, was born March 8, 1780, in Lebanon county, Pa., and in 1804 was married to Elizabeth Rider. In 1811 or 1812 he removed to Chester town- ship, and built a grist-mill on the farm now owned by Mr. Mow- ery. In 1818 he moved into the north-east part of Congress town- ship, and built a grist- and saw-mill on Killbuck; and in 1827 another saw-mill, and in 1828 a fourth grist-mill. His was the first mill on Killbuck. He was twice married, and the father of twelve children. He died in August, 1866.
Daniel Blocher was born in Lancaster county, Pa., married Susan Wagner in 1800, and immigrated to Wayne county in 1816, first locating in Greene township, from there removing to Canaan. township, where he died in September, 1865. He had two sons and six daughters.
Thomas Armstrong was born in Northumberland county, Pa., August 22, 1776, and married Jane Cook, about 1801, in Colum- biana county, Ohio, and lived there until the breaking out of the war of 1812. After Hull's surrender he volunteered and was com- missioned Captain, and came to Wooster under General Beall. After the excitement subsided, he returned to Columbiana county, and in the spring of 1815 removed to Wayne county with his wife and children, settling first on Clear creek, but afterwards removed to Canaan, on the farm now owned by his grandson, Thomas, son of William Armstrong, which farm he had entered from the Gov- ernment in 1811, and where he lived until his death, March 2, 1842, his wife following him April 14, 1856. They had six sons and four daughters, viz : William, John, Thomas, Harrison, Eliza, Juliana, Hannah, David, Jane and Calvin.
Jonas Notestine immigrated to Wayne county from Jefferson county, Ohio, although he was born in Pennsylvania June 3, 1787, and lived in Virginia until eighteen years of age. September 27,
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
1814, he was married in Washington county, Pa., to Miss Eliza- beth Sommers, then removed to Jefferson county, where he fol- lowed blacksmithing until 1825, in the spring of which year he came to Wayne county, and settled on a quarter of section 20, en- tered by his father-in-law, Abraham Sommers. On this farm he lived until his death, October 23, 1869, his wife still surviving him. He had six children, as follows: Mary, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Elizabeth, Jacob L. He was an honorable, public-spirited and Christian man, a zealous member of the English Lutheran church, of which his wife is also a member.
William Ewing was born in Sherman's Valley, Pa., November 7, 1775, his wife Agnes being born December 8, of the same year. By this marriage they had a family of eleven children, to wit: William Ewing, born January 16, 1796; Susannah Ewing, born February 14, 1798 ; James Ewing, born May 13, 1801; Jane Ew- ing, born June 28, 1803 ; Samuel Ewing, born May 11, 1805 ; John Ewing, born May 29, 1807; Alexander Ewing, born August 24, 1809; Joseph Ewing, born February 4, 1812; Mary Ewing, born May 3, 1814; Simon Ewing, born May 19, 1816; Hiram Ewing, born May 7, 1819.
William Ewing and his son William and daughter Susannah (wife of Hon. Michael Totten) removed from Stark to Wayne county in 1812, and upon his arrival entered eight or ten quarters of land in Canaan and Congress townships. His daughter, then but fourteen years of age, accompanied him, to cook for him and her older brother. He settled on the farm now owned by his son, Simon Ewing, who was the second white child born 'in Canaan town- ship. Shortly after their settlement in the new county, the news of Hull's surrender swept over the country, creating panic and alarm wherever it was conveyed. Mr. Ewing, being a fearless and resolute man, gave little heed to the intelligence, or probably he may not have heard it, as George Clark, of Wooster, knowing of his presence in the woods, north of the town, rushed to inform him of the surrender and the imminent danger that menaced the settlers upon the border, assuring him "that the British and In- dians were coming,"
Considering " discretion the better part of valor," he abandoned his cabin and returned to Stark county, where he remained a year, coming back to Wayne county the following season, and living for a year on the old Thomas Cox farm, near Stibbs' woolen factory,
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CANAAN TOWNSHIP.
which was afterward known as the Christopher Bair property. In the spring of 1814 he returned to Canaan township, where he lived until his death, which occurred in June, 1856, his wife dying twelve years prior to this time. Three of his sons-Samuel, Alex- ander and Simon-and his three daughters, are yet living.
He was a man of great moral and physical courage in all his relations, characterized by plain, undeviating, straight-forward hon- esty and rigid adherence to the right. Like many of the old and bold pioneers, he inclined much to the hunt and chase, and it is said of him that among his trophies he could count more deer- horns than any of his cotemporaries. At an early date he entered his lands at Canton, coming through the wilderness on horseback, tying the legs of his animals together with straps during the night as he slept in the recesses of the woods.
He was an excellent type of the backwoodsman, and in his cos- tume, habits and ways, illustrated the simplicity and commonness of life. He was one of the first Elders in the Seceder church, of Wooster, of which we have failed to procure a history, observing its forms, practicing its precepts, complying faithfully with its many and rigorous faiths and beliefs.
Isaac Notestine was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, March 24, 1822, and removed to Wayne county, where he remained until he was twenty-two years of age. At the age of eighteen years he went to Edinburg Academy, then under the management of Rev. Andrews. He continued going to school and teaching during the winter seasons, attending the first session of the Canaan Academy, commencing in December, 1843, C. C. Bombarger being the first Principal.
In 1847 Mr. Notestine assumed charge of this academy, re- taining its management and control until 1862, with the exception of probably one year of time. He has taught 36 academy terms, one term of select and six terms of district school. Since 1862, with a single exception, he has abandoned the school-room, during which year he removed to the farm.
He was married June I, 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Frank, a highly intelligent and refined lady, and has five children, all of whom are living.
Mr. Notestine has had a remarkable experience in the school- room, and we deem it appropriate to classify him with such vet- erans in the service as Brinkerhoff and Downing. He is an excel-
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
lent scholar, a man of strong natural qualities of brain, possessed of a methodical and mathematical mind, and of sterling and de- cided character.
Burbank was incorporated in 1868, when the name was changed from Bridge- port. It contains three churches-the Methodist Episcopal, United Brethren and Evangelical. The first was organized in the beginning of the village, and the sec- ond about the same time, and the third in 1860. The Burbank Academy was or- ganized in 1873, the present Principal being Professor Rosseter. The follow- ing are the village officers since the date of its incorporation :
1869. Councilmen for one year-Amos Idleman, David Ecker, Fred Shreffler, A. Hall, Henry Kerns ; Mayor- John Reed; Clerk-G. W. Holloway ; Treasurer- David Ecker; Marshal-J. A. McBride.
1870. Councilmen-H. Kerns, George Spangler, E. A. Palmer, A. H. Idle- man, D. Ecker, A. Hall; Mayor-John Reed; Clerk-G. H. Holloway ; Treas- urer-David Ecker ; Marshal-John Aukerman.
1871. Councilmen-A. H. Idleman, C. A. Slater, John Reed; Mayor-David Ecker.
1872. Councilmen-David Ecker, E. A. Palmer, C. W. Wesier; Mayor- Daniel Pickard ; Clerk-G. W. Holloway ; Treasurer-N. Miller.
1873. Councilmen-John Reed, A. H. Idleman, Reuben Reed.
1874. Councilmen-David Ecker, E. P. Frarey, B. D. Over ; Mayor-Daniel Pickard; Clerk-G. W. Holloway ; Treasurer-N. Miller; Marshal-S. C. Frary. 1876. Councilmen-G. N. Shoup, D. Whealand, N. Lewis; Mayor-E. A. Palmer; Clerk-M. H. Dodd; Treasurer-N. Miller ; Marshal-M. S. Reed.
1877. Councilmen-John Reed, Joshua Biddle, Cyrus Young; Mayor-Sam- uel Glass.
783.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XXXII.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
THIS township was named in honor of Governor De Witt Clin- ton, and was organized June 7, 1825. Its population in 1870 was 1,502. The following is the list of officers of the township, as appears upon the official record :
1841. Trustees-H. Beall, N. Chase, R. Newkirk ; Clerk-Thomas F. Jones; Treasurer-Tobias M. Gibbon.
1842. Trustees-Samuel Powers, James Aylesworth, Thomas Battles; Clerk- James Keys ; Treasurer-Tobias Gibbon.
1843. Trustees-Thomas Shreve, Thomas F. Jones, Robert Pocock; Clerk- James Keys ; Treasurer-Tobias M. Gibbon.
1844. Trustees-Thomas Shreve, Thomas F. Jones, Robert Pocock; Clerk- James Keys; Treasurer-Tobias M. Gibbon.
1845. Trustees-Thomas Shreve, William Beall, James Newkirk; Clerk-A. G. Beall; Treasurer-Tobias M. Gibbon.
1846. Trustees-Thomas Shreve, William Beall, Robert Pocock; Clerk-W. H. Keys; Treasurer-L. J. Jones.
1847 and 1848. Trustees-Thomas Shreve, James Aylesworth, William Beall; Clerk-W. H. Keys; Treasurer-L. J. Jones.
1849. Trustees -Samuel Powers, John Robinson, William Aber; Clerk- Henry Shreve; Treasurer-L. J. Jones.
1850. Trustees-W. W. Brown, John Robinson, Thomas Shreve; Clerk- Henry Shreve; Treasurer-L. J. Jones.
1851. Trustees-James Aylesworth, Timothy Baker, W. W. Brown; Clerk- J. H. Lee; Treasurer-Henry Shreve.
1852. Trustees-John Shearer, James Moore, John Rainey; Clerk-L. D. Odell; Treasurer-Henry Shreve.
1853. Trustees-John Rainey, John Harper, John Coble; Clerk-L. D. Odell; Treasurer-Benjamin Lyda.
1854. Trustees-Robert Filby, John Harper, Aaron Lehr; Clerk-James Rai- ney; Treasurer-Benjamin Lyda.
1855. Trustees-William Beall, Silas Funk, J. W. Newkirk; Clerk-J. E. Yocum; Treasurer-T. M. Gibbon.
1856. Trustees- Silas Funk, W. D. Fouch, J. W. Newkirk; Clerk-P. New- kirk; Treasurer-J. H. Lee.
1857. Trustees-Silas Funk, W. H. Keys, J. W. Newkirk; Clerk-P. New- kirk ; Treasurer-J. H. Lee.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
1858. Trustees-T. M. Gibbon, W. H. Keys, Moses Lockhart; Clerk-J. E. Yocum ; Treasurer-Irvin Keys.
1859. Trustees-T. M. Gibbon, Emmet Eddy, Moses Lockhart ; Clerk-J. E. Yocum; Treasurer-Irvin Keys.
1860. Trustees-H. H. Reinhart, Phil Troutman, George Fike; Clerk-W. J. Bertolett ; Treasurer-Robert Manly.
1861. Trustees-W. W. Brown, A, Keister, George Strock; Clerk-A. Tid- ball ; Treasurer-W. H. Keys.
1862. Trustees-John Rainey, George Carl, Z. Lovett; Clerk-Isaiah Jones ; Treasurer-Robert Manly.
1863. Trustees-John Rainey, George Carl, Z. Lovett; Clerk-T. G. Odell; Treasurer-Robert Manly.
1864. Trustees-W. W. Brown, H. Hinkle, John Shearer ; Clerk-J. E. Yocum ; Treasurer-W. H. Keys.
1865. Trustees-W. W. Brown, H. Hinkle, John Shearer; Clerk-Henry Shreve ; Treasurer-D. K. Jones.
1866. Trustees-John Rainey, John Jones, J. Moore; Clerk-Henry Shreve; Treasurer-D. K. Jones.
1867. Trustees-John Rainey, J. W. Newkirk, W. W. Brown; Clerk-W. M. Knox ; Treasurer-Henry Hinkle.
1868. Trustees-John Aylesworth, William Aber, J. W. Moore; Clerk-J. B. Odell ; Treasurer-Robert Manly.
1869. Trustees-J. W. Newkirk, John Aylesworth, Warren Aylesworth ; Clerk-J. H. Hunter ; Treasurer-Robert Manly.
1870. Trustees-Robert Pocock, W. H. Keys, Warren Aylesworth; Clerk- Thomas Hall; Treasurer-S. B. Prowell.
1871. Trustees-J. W. Moore, Henry Snyder, John Rainey ; Clerk-William W. Wise; Treasurer-Z. Lovett.
1872. Trustees-S. B. Prowell, J. W. Moore, A. K. Eddy; Clerk-Thomas Hall; Treasurer-W. J. Bertolett.
1873. Trustees-James W- Moore, Abner Eddy, Isaac Brown; Clerk-Thomas Hall; Treasurer-W. J. Bertolett ; Assessor-John Hughes.
1874. Trustees-Isaac Brown, Henry Snyder, Alexander Carl ; Clerk-Thomas Hall; Treasurer-John Jones; Assessor-Joseph Tribbey.
1875. Trustees-Henry Snyder, Alexander Carl, John Aylesworth; Clerk- Samuel Pomeroy ; Treasurer-John Jones; Assessor-Joseph Tribbey.
1876. Trustees-A. W. Shearer, P. W. Moulter, David Foltz; Clerk-Samuel Pomeroy ; Treasurer-C. V. Vaniman ; Assessor-Alexander Carl.
1877. Trustees-A. W. Shearer, P. W. Moulter, F. M. Barton ; Clerk-C. M. Lovett; Treasurer-C. V. Vaniman ; Assessor-R. S. Newkirk.
Justices of the Peace-C. Spafford, April 23, 1831 ; Aaron Lytle, June 14, 1832; C. Spafford, May 6, 1834; William Jewell, May 30, 1835; Chester Spafford, October 20, 1836; L. D. Odell, April 28, 1837; Thomas McConkey, July 3, 1839 ; L. D. Odell, April 16, 1840; Thomas McConkey, July 16, 1842; L. D. Odell, April 13, 1843; W. W. Brown, July 23, 1845; T. M. Gibbon, April 21, 1846; W. W. Brown, April 12, 1848; T. M. Gibbon, April 12, 1849; W. W. Brown, October 29, 1851 ; James Aylesworth, April 21, 1852: W. W. Brown, October 21, 1854; James Aylesworth, April 17, 1855; W. W. Brown, October 30, 1857; James Ayles- worth, April 14, 1858 ; James Taylor, October 25, 1860; James Aylesworth, April 13, 1861 ; James Aylesworth, April 15, 1864; John Robison, April 13, 1866; James Aylesworth, April 8, 1867; E. G. Oldroyd, April 13, 1869; James Aylesworth,
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CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
April 12, 1870; E. G. Oldroyd, April 9, 1872; James Aylesworth, April 15, 1873 ; E. G. Oldroyd, April 12, 1875 ; John B. Odell, April 13, 1876.
Reminiscences of Hon. Lorenzo D. Odell .- My father, Nathan G. Odell, was born in Queen Anne county, Maryland, November 4, 1772. He was a farmer and miller, and had nine children. His ancestors were Irish, but had removed to England, from whence they immigrated to America. For a number of years he lived in Virginia, and was married in Berkeley county. In 1800 he removed with his family to Adams county, Ohio, and thence to Wayne county, April 16, 1811, remaining there until the fall of 1830.
When he arrived, there was not a white inhabitant living in what is now Clin- ton township, his nearest neighbor living on the Perrysville road, near the resi- dence of the late John Pile, in Plain township. The Finleys, Hellars, Eagles and Burns were living near Tylertown. He first entered the south half of section 19, and afterwards half of section 29, now in Holmes county, and his land was the first entered in the township. His improvements were the first made in the township, and they were erected in 1810 by him, the year prior to his removal. He cut wild hay the year after he came, and kept his stock on this dried wild grass. The site of this cabin was about 20 rods south of the house of the late Isaac Newkirk. He found what is known as the Big Prairie covered with wild, and sedge grass, some of which would grow to the hight of ten feet, and was most difficult to suppress and con- quer; the timber was scarce and principally oak and hickory. Father soon began the construction of a grist-mill, which was located about four rods north-west and close to the bridge spanning the stream near the late Isaac Newkirk's barn, and on the road from Big Prairie to Lakeville. This mill was 25x25, two stories high, hewed logs, shingled roof, breast-wheel, puncheon floor. The burrs were made from nigger-heads, gathered upon section 18, in Clinton township, on the farm owned by Ira H. Aylesworth. The hopper was made of split cherry. There was not a sawed board or sawed stick of timber in the mill, and was built by A. Trux, of Richland county, Ohio. It was originally intended for grinding corn, but a small bolt was added for the manufacture of flour, which was turned by hand. This mill stood until 1822, and was called " the old corn-cracker." In 1825 he built the mill near the residence of the late Joseph Newkirk; but prior to this, and as early as 1814, the first mill was erected here, some Indians helping to raise it. These red scalpers were quite numerous, and a block-house was constructed on a slight eminence north of the late Isaac Newkirk's barn. Here the people would assemble at night and sleep. A small stockade stood also where John Rainey now lives. Father removed to St. Joseph, Michigan, and died October 25, 1835.
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