USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 77
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As a co-worker in the cause of education, Dr. Warner has dis- tinguished himself for his activity, earnestness and zeal. He has delivered twenty different addresses upon the subject in Wayne and adjoining counties, which have been published and received the most favorable indorsement of the press.
His style is aggressive, vigorous and fresh, his suggestions val- uable, solid, practical and felicitous, his reasoning cogent and con- clusive, his subject matter thoroughly digested and ingeniously arranged.
To the duties of his profession he addresses himself with the strictest attention and devotion. With him to restore order to de- ranged constitutions is the consummation of professional wisdom and skill. Life, which " the scratch of a bare bodkin," or "the sputter of a pistol-shot " will rend assunder, is a sacred trust with which to be invested. He is not an experimentalist, a theorizer, a system-maker, or a builder of logical card-castles.
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He has made the pilgrimage of the best authors of the school and practicalized their thoughts and methods in the dispositions and treatment of disease. He has been, and is a student, and a scholar in his profession. He possesses in an eminent degree the mainsprings of prosperity and success-rigid integrity, economy and industry. With his splendid personal appearance, facility of acquaintance, ease and grace of manner, fine scholarship, modesty and refinement of culture, it is not difficult to interpret the secret of his popularity and influence.
He is a man of many social and domestic virtues, and is a hos- pitable, courteous and considerate gentleman. He is not only self-taught, but self-poised and self-dependent, flatters no patron, foments no professional disputes, and pierces no victim. He aims to take care of himself, adheres to and performs the right, and cares not if the question is asked, " Who did it ?"
Solomon Warner was born December 6, 1807, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and removed to Wayne county with his father, Peter Warner, in 1816, who died November 14, 1824. Peter had seven children, to wit: Peter, Mary, Jonathan, Martha, David, Salome and Solomon. Of this family, but Jonathan, Martha, wife of James Reed, deceased, Mary, who lives with Jonathan, and Solo- mon, are alive. Jonathan Warner was born August 27, 1798, in Northampton county, Pa., and was married to Lorainne Pettit, of Washington county, Pa., and has ten children, all of whom are living.
Solomon Warner is unmarried, and lives in Congress village. He was a soldier in Company F, 16th Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was in the charge of Chickasaw; captured September 29, 1862; held a prisoner 75 days, exchanged, sent to Camp Chase, and then ordered to New Orleans and discharged, February 2, 1864. Mr. Warner is possessed of great accuracy of memory, and is an ob- servant, worthy and intelligent man.
Philip J. Brown was born in Somerset county, Pa., October 14, 1827. Being left an orphan in early childhood, he was obliged to live among strangers, and at the age of fourteen he was "bound out," in accordance with the custom of the times, for seven years as an indentured apprentice to a blacksmith, of which time, how- ever, he only served five years. From Pennsylvania he made his way to Virginia, where he followed his trade several years, noted as a skillful mechanic. January 14, 1850, he was married to
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Miss Margaret, daughter of John King, of Preston county, West Virginia. A few years later he adopted the dental profes- sion, which he has successfully pursued for a quarter of a century. In the spring of 1864, with his wife and two sons, he removed to Wayne county and settled in Congress village, where he still re- sides. Dr. Brown speaks several languages with fluency, and being, also, a minister of the Gospel in the German Baptist church, he has formed a wide acquaintance, and his superior intelligence, cordiality and upright character have gained him the friendship and confidence of a large portion of the citizens of Wayne and ad- joining counties.
West Salem was laid out by Peter and John Rickel, June 14, 1834, and surveyed by George Emery. Plat and certificate re- corded June 17, 1834, Vol. 2, page 443, County Recorder's office. The following is the line of officers since its incorporation, and from 1868 :
1868. Mayor-D. H. Ambrose; Trustees-D. Eshleman, D. Gable, J. Geor- get, J. J. Shank, W. R. Huber; Recorder-E. Fritzinger; Treasurer-John Zehner.
1869. Mayor-David Mitchel; Trustees-John Myers, Ed. Elgin, Dan. Eshleman, O. G. Franks, John Shellhart; Recorder-Edward Fritzinger ; Treasurer -John Zehner.
1870. Mayor-E. McFadden; Councilmen-John Myers, Dan. Gable, J. W. Read, E. Elgin, D. Baker, P. Bahl; Treasurer-John Zehner; Clerk-E. Fritz- inger ; Marshal-G. W. Saltsman.
1871. Mayor-John Shank; Councilmen-W. D. Humiston, David Jacobs, John Hosler.
1873. Mayor-John Shank; Councilmen-C. C. Stouffer, J. P. Bush, Henry W. Morr; Clerk-Allen Greely.
1874. Mayor-John W. Read; Clerk-Daniel Eckerman ; Treasurer-William R. Mcclellan ; Marshal-William E. Straight; Councilmen-James Cronemiller, A. Hoff, John Shellhart.
1875. Mayor-John W. Read; Clerk-Allen Greely ; Councilmen-A. J. Gerhart, David Herr, Henry Berry; To fill vacancies-John Barret.
1876. Mayor-James Jeffry ; Clerk-Allen Greely ; Treasurer-John Zehner ; Marshal-Joel Berry ; Councilmen-John Hosler, G. W. Burns, E. Northrop, Henry Berry, A. J. Gerhart.
Reminiscences of Mrs. Peter Rickel .- It was fifty-five years ago yesterday (Octo- ber 10, 1877), when Peter and I landed here with our two children, coming from Bedford county, Pa., where he was a farmer. We settled in the woods near where I now live, built a cabin with puncheon floor and stick chimney. My first neigh- bors were Rev. John Hazzard, Mr. Ford and Charles Crile. Peter, however, had been out here two years before we moved, and entered a quarter of land, on which West Salem is now largely built. There were no roads then around here, and we
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had a hard time getting the two-horse wagon through. Peter was born in Virginia Jannary 30, 1794, and died October 7, 1865. My maiden name was Nancy Rickel, and I was born in old Lancaster, Pa., May 1, 1803. We had seven boys and two girls, by name, Sophia, Joseph, Michael, Levi, Matthias, George Wesley, Catha- rine, William and Alexander. I used to work in the fields, and fainted in the field once while husking corn. Folks had to work then indeed, and I used to help haul logs, and such things, and now would like to live again in the woods instead of in town, for then I could hear the wild birds sing as in the old days. John Rickel, who, with Peter, laid out West Salem, was a brother of mine. He was a native of old Lancaster, Pa., and came to Wayne county three years before we did, and some of the town is built upon lands he settled on at that time. John was an Albright preacher, and was married to Rebecca Swaysgood. He had nine children, and died in February, 1860.
Joseph Harbangh put up the first house in West Salem after it was laid out, building it on the spot where McVicker's tavern now stands. It was an old-fash- ioned frame, and he paid ten or fifteen dollars for the lot. Jacob Hyatt first rented it, and died in it three months after he moved in. James Houston kept tavern in the house afterwards, and his was the first tavern in Salem. John Reasor put up the second house, building it where Zehner's store now is. Cass and Emerson were among the first doctors. William Cass started the first store, without any counter save a bench. He bought eggs, butter, etc. Rev. Beer was an early preacher.
Orrin G. Franks, the oldest son and child of Abraham Franks, was born in Chippewa township, April 8, 1826, and worked on the farm until sixteen, when he went into the dry goods store of A. & A. Franks, in Doylestown, where he continued until the disso- lution of the partnership in 1849, at which time he became a part- ner of his father, and continued as such until 1861. He then re- moved to a farm. In the spring of 1868 he came to West Salem and entered into the dry goods business, continuing there for two years, after which he went into the stock trade, and then engaged in the boot and shoe business for two years. He next purchased a half interest in his present business-Bush & Franks, wholesale dealers in butter, eggs, dried fruit, etc., at the same time having an interest in the flax mill. He was married May 31, 1855, to Anna C. Musser, of Norton, Summit county, and has five sons and four daughters. Mr. Franks is a representative business man of the county, always on the alert and full of go ahead energy. He is a prominent Democrat, and held several offices in his native town- ship, where all the great Franks family rank high for capacity and worth.
Mahlon Moyers is a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., where he was born April 18, 1807. He immigrated with his father, John Moyers, to Wayne county in April, 1819, settling in Plain town- ship, south of Reedsburg, and lived with him until twenty-one,
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
when he branched out for himself, and purchased a farm about one mile south-west of West Salem, Congress township, where he has since continued to live. He has been twice married, and is the father of fourteen children, ten of whom are living. His father, who died in 1847, introduced the nursery business, and was the first person in Wayne county to grow grafted fruit, a business Mahlon successfully followed until within the last four years.
The West Salem Press .-- The first printing press introduced in West Salem was by Dr. Justin Georget, in December, 1866, who issued a monthly paper called the West Salem Review, devoted to science, literature and local news. It was published about a year, then changed to Medical Review, which was continued another year, when, owing to his professional engagements, the Doctor suspended it. The next paper was the West Salem Journal, in 1868, a weekly, neutral in politics, and de- voted to general news, edited by John Wicks, of Medina county, the publication of which was continued two years. He was succeeded by J. P. Hutton and S. B. McCain, who carried on the paper for two or three months, when the office was sold to John A. Wolbach, who removed the material to Orrville.
In 1869 F. G. McCauley commenced the publication of a weekly paper named The True Citizen, which he suspended after three months. On January 1, 1871, Mr. McCauley re-appeared with another paper under the title of the Agricultural Commonwealth. This was conducted a year, when the name was changed to Buckeye Farmer, an exclusively agricultural paper, which was afterwards changed to the West Salem Monitor, devoted to general and local news, neutral in politics. In June, 1875, Mr. McCauley sold the Monitor to! Messrs. Brenizer & Atkinson, who ran it until June 25, 1877, at which date Mr. McCauley bought it back, and is now publishing the paper with good success.
Mr. McCauley has made considerable reputation as a young man of ability. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., January 18, 1846, and came to Ohio with his father, David McCauley, in 1854. October 7, 1868, he was married to Miss Adeline Sherrod, of Congress township, and has three children.
Reminiscences by J. R. Henney .- Adam Henney was born in Center county, Pa., in 1776, and immigrated to Ohio about 1810, and was the third settler in the " mile strip," in what was then known as Jackson township, located on the Muddy Fork, about two miles north of Salem with his brother Peter, and on this place he lived until his death, which occurred February 9, 1862. In 1853 Peter went to Henry county, Illinois, where he purchased land and settled his children. In the winter of 1872 he came back on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Christena Hines, where he suddenly died, at the advanced age of seventy-six. Adam and Peter were both members of the Evangelical Association from their boyhood-the former for ten or fifteen years filling the position of circuit preacher.
The small creek that puts into Muddy Fork near where Myers' mill now stands, was named after Captain Wolf, an Indian who frequently visited the house of Mr. Henney. Near the creek on the north side of Wolf run, on the north line of Peter Henney's farm, now known as Naftzger's, a child of Captain Wolf is buried.
J. R. Henney, son of Adam Henney, was born in Congress township, Wayne county, Ohio, August 19, 1826, and remained with his father until he was 21 years old. The first few years of
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his life after arriving at manhood were devoted to teaching school, after which he went to the western part of the State and took a position in the dry goods store of R. W. Shawhan, of Tiffin. Here he remained two years, when, on the 27th of May, 1852, he was married to Miss Lucy A. Clay, and in the spring of 1853, with his wife, immigrated to Henry county, Illinois, where he re- mained about one year, when he returned to West Salem, and where, after various experiences in mercantile pursuits, he was, on the completion of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, ap- pointed ticket agent at that place, serving in this position about five years. In 1869 he was appointed postmaster, and has held the position ever since. Has served several terms as Justice of the Peace. Mr. Henney has in his possession two German Bibles- one printed at Basel in the year 1736, formerly the property of Abraham Bechtel. The other was published by Christopher Fro- shoer, in the city of Zurich, in 1556-321 years old.
Abraham Plank, of the great family of millers, was born in Mifflin county, Pa., March 28, 1807. His father, Jacob Plank, came to Wayne county with his wife and eleven children in the spring of 1821, settling in Wayne township at the mill property built by Jacob Garver in 1815, from whom, with the mill, which was a small affair, only 30x40 feet, he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land. Old Jacob and his wife died at his son-in- law's, John Kurtz, two miles west of where he settled when he first came into the county. The following are the names of their children: John, Christian, Jacob, David, Jeptha, Abraham, Bar- bara, Mary, Fannie, Rebecca and Sarah, of whom only Christian, John, Abraham, Mary and Fannie are living.
Abraham, the subject of this sketch, is a miller by trade, and began milling at the time his father came to Wayne county, and followed that pursuit with great success for forty-five years. He married Nancy King, of Half-Moon Valley, Pa., and had fourteen children, ten of whom are living: Benjamin, Samuel, Hiram, Da- vid, Albert, Jemima, Melissa, Ellen, Abraham and Levi. The sons are all millers except David, who is a blacksmith, in Bryan, Ohio.
The Planks are a remarkable family, more identified with the milling interests and running more mills in Wayne county than any other. Among the earliest in that pursuit, they have handed it down from generation to generation, the business born and bred
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
in them, until "Plank's mills" are household words, and their brand of flour always commands the highest figures in the market.
Silver Lodge Knights of Honor, No. 123, was organized June 19, 1875, the fol- lowing being the charter members : E. Fritzinger, John Zehner, C. C. Stouffer, M. D., J. S. Cole, M. D., Uriah Clouse, Z. B. Allee, W. R. Mcclellan, R. L. Lashels, L. H. Plank, George Musser, A. J. Gearhart, A. Plank, Jr., H. E. Lind, F. M. Atterholt, Robert Mckibbens, H. N. Neal, J. K. Saltsman, Ben Meyers, J. A. Case, J. N. McHose-41 members. The following are its present officers: R. L. Lash- els, Dictator ; J. T. Hazzard, Vice Dictator ; F. M. Atterholt, Past Dictator; A. P. Neal, Assisstant Dictator ; Allen Greeley, Treasurer ; A. F. Dunlap, Financial Re- porter ; J. S. Cole, M. D., Reporter ; D. Mitchell, Chaplain ; Uriah Clouse, Guide; O. Chacey, Guardian ; Robert Mckibbens, Sentinel.
West Salem Masonic Lodge, No. 398 .- This Lodge was organized under a dis- pensation granted petitioners, November 21, 1866. Its charter members were, HI. P. Sage, Edwin Fritzinger, C. C. Clay, M. H. Dodd, David Ambrose, J. B. Houk, D. F. Young, Enoch Moore, S. W. Signs, Jacob McGlenen, Josiah Buffett, J. H. Morrison, Isaac Harbaugh, Israel Moyer and James Lowe. Its first officers were H. P. Sage, W. M .; J. H. Morrison, Treasurer ; M. H. Dodd, Secretary ; J. Buffett, S. D .; S. Signs, J. D .; Jacob McGlenen, Tyler. Present membership, 73.
West Salem Lodge No. 442, I. O. O. F .- This Lodge was instituted June 10, 1870, with the following as charter members : John S. Addleman, M. H, Huffman, W. H. Fishack, J. S. Carmack, W. C. Baker, John Keeler and Neal Patterson. Its first officers were, J. S. Addleman, N. G .; M. H. Huffman, V. G .; W. C. Baker, Sec., and W. H. Fishack, Treas. The present officers are : S. A. Aikens, N. G .; J. R. Drushal, V. G .; Amos Best, Sec .; A. P. Meal, Treas., and T. A. Linn, Chaplain.
Agricultural Society of West Salem .- This organization was effected in 1867, when forms and by-laws for its government were adopted and first officers elected, as follows: William Buchanan, President ; John Wicks, Secretary ; D. Eshleman, Treasurer, and John Zehner, Peter Stair, and Captain Mitchell, Directors. Its present officers are H. M. Huffman, President; B. Yoxheimer, Vice-President ; J. R. Henney, Secretary ; John Zehner, Treasurer ; John Berry, Marshal ; D. Jacobs, Chief Police.
Rev. John Hazzard .- This pioneer Methodist divine was born in Connecticut, June 29, 1778. When fourteen years of age his parents removed to near Albany, New York, where he acquired a good common school education, and in early manhood was con- verted and began to preach. He came to Wayne county in 1818, and first lived in Plain township, in a little log school-house near the residence of the late Daniel Silvers, four miles west of Wooster. In March following he removed to his own cabin in Congress township, and soon became known throughout the county as preacher, school teacher, farmer and best of men. As a Christian he was distinguished for his faith, and his transparent character
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and guileless life made him a model. As a preacher he was both scriptural and logical. He traveled far and near, and was ever a welcome visitor and friend. He died near West Salem January 7, 1869, aged ninety years. Death to him was without dread, and among his last exhortations in West Salem he used the words: "I am soon to leave earth, and am glad of it; all of my early as- sociates have passed on before, but, thank God, I am hard after them!" His wife was an amiable woman, possessed of rare intelli- gence, teaching school in the early days, and there are yet living in Wayne and Ashland counties old men and women who received their education from her. Her piety was of the quality of her husband's, and her life a genuine Christian's life. They reared an interesting family, who have proved useful members of society.
West Salem School Building .- This was completed in 1877, at a cost of $35,000, and is decidedly the finest school building in Wayne county, outside of Wooster. The structure is brick and stone, 102 feet long, by 75 wide, and 40 feet high, with additional steep roof and tower. It contains eleven rooms, which for convenience and beauty of arrangement can not be excelled, all filled with modern school-furni- ture and desk-seats for 350 pupils ; also a large hall having capacity for 700 persons ; a library, founded in 1874, containing four hundred choice volumes. The building is situated on an eminence in the eastern part of town, in a lot containing four acres, which is tastefully adorned with many varieties of evergreen and forest trees.
Prof. F. W. Atterholt, who for the last four years has had charge of the above schools, is a native of Columbiana county, where he was born December 19, 1848. He graduated at Mt. Union College, in the summer of 1870, and that fall was made Superintendent of the Columbiana schools, where he served for three years. In the autumn of 1871 he was one of the proprietors and the editor of the Independent Register, of Columbiana, Ohio.
He was married December 31, 1872, to Miss Mary E. Beard, of Columbiana, a lady of culture, refinement and education, and at that time a teacher in the public schools of that place. He taught one year in the Medina Normal school, when he was chosen Superintendent of the West Salem public schools, which, under his management, have made marked progress, and now rank with the best in the county. Mr. Atterbolt is a ripe scholar, a man of fine personal appearance, and a polished gentleman.
Justin Georget, M. D., was born in Mountusaine, in the north of France, June 23, 1830, and with his father, in 1840, immigrated to America, and then removed to Canton, Ohio, where he died. After various peregrinations he entered the United States army, remaining one year at Governor's Island, when he was transferred to West Point Military Academy, where he continued four years.
He read medicine with J. P. Bairick, of Massillon, graduated, and, after a series of removals, came to Congress village, and
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thence to West Salem, in the winter of 1866, where he is now en- gaged in practice. Dr. Georget is a man of thorough education, both in and out of his profession, a man of intellect, and emphat- ically a man of ability, force and originality.
J. S. Cole, M. D., is a native of Allegheny City, Pa., born February 19, 1836, and attended Vermillion Institute, at Haysville, Ashland county, Ohio; afterward read medicine with Dr. Glass, and graduated from Cleveland Medical College. He began prac- tice in Reedsburg, Ashland county, and moved to West Salem in 1873. He is married to Ruth A. Smith, daughter of James B. Smith, of Ashland. Dr. Cole is an efficient man in his profession, and is a skillful and successful practitioner.
ADAM POE, THE INDIAN FIGHTER.
" The dusk and swarthy foeman felt the terror of his might." " The forest aisles are full of story."
Adam Poe, whose name is familiar the world over with every reader of Ameri- can border warfare, was born in Washington county, Pa., in the year 1745, and died September 23, 1838, in Stark county, four miles west of Massillon, at the residence of his son, Andrew Poe. He was twice married, and by the first union had but one child, a daughter, named Barbara, who married a Mr. Cochrane, of Pennsyl- vania. His second marriage was to Betsey Matthews, a widow lady, and a native of Ireland, who came to America when but twelve years of age. She had a brother named William Matthews who was a Presbyterian preacher. They were married in a fort in Western Pennsylvania. His second wife died December 27, 1844. By this second marriage Adam and Betsey Poe had ten children, to wit: George, An- drew, Thomas, Isaac, John, Barney, Adam, David, Catharine and Sarah.
George Poe, eldest son of Adam Poe, came to Wayne county in 1812, bringing with him his wife and children. He lived in Wooster three years and removed to Congress township in 1815, locating one-half mile south of the present village of Congress. Prior to his removal there he had entered a half section of land, which he improved and cultivated several years, but sold it to John Yocum, father of Rev. Elmer Yocum. He was the first Justice of the Peace in Congress township. He then went to Crawford county, Ohio, near Bucyrus, where his wife died, her maiden name being Betsey Roberts. There he was married a second time to Letta Campbell, a former acquaintance in Columbiana county, Ohio, after which he removed to Michigan and died.
Isaac Poe came to Wayne county in the spring of 1812, with his brother George, stopping in Wooster for a few years, and removing to Congress township April 1, 1815. He had previously entered a quarter section of land, upon which a portion of the village of Congress now stands, where he lived three years, and then sold his farm to David Garver and Lawrence Rix. He then bought the John Law- rence farm, in Plain township, from Hon. Benjamin Jones, lived there a year, and sold it back to Mr. Jones, who sold it to Christian, father of John Lawrence, Esq., of Wooster township. From the Lawrence place he emigrated to Kentucky, thence
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to near St. Louis, on the American Bottom, in Illinois, where he died. He was married in 1804, to Jane Totten, sister of Hon. Michael Totten, of Wooster, at Adam Poe's house, on the west fork of the Beaver, in Columbiana county, Ohio. They had five children.
David Williamson Poe came to Wayne county with his father, Adam Poe, when a boy, and with him removed to Congress township. He started the first tannery ever established in Congress, which occupation he followed for several years, when he purchased a small farm not far from Cleveland. He afterwards, in company with one of his sons, went to Kansas to look at land, and by means of exposure, or accident, both were frozen to death. Hon. Joseph Poe, member of the Ohio Legis- lature, from Cleveland, is his son. Thomas Poe resided for a time four miles north of Congress Village, in Wayne county, but returned to Pennsylvania. His sons live in Georgetown, Beaver county, Pa., and are said to be owners of vessels plying the Ohio river, and very wealthy. Catharine Poe was married to Jacob Matthews, of Wooster, a partner of Robert McClarran, one of the first carpenters, and the first Justice of the Peace of the county. She died in Congress, and is buried in the graveyard there.
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