Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 34

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 34

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At the time of his advent at Zanesville there were about a score of cabins and something in excess of one hundred inhabitants, among whom were two lawyers, Wyllys Silliman and Lewis Cass, and as the county was scarcely a year old his professional services were not in great de- mand. A school teacher was needed and he en- gaged in that capacity, and as there was no build- ing for the purpose the citizens united in erecting for him the first school house in the settlement, which stood upon the site of the later Market street academy, at the northeast corner of Market street and Potter alley, on land donated by the proprietors of the town site. The building was of rough logs, one of which was cut out for light and the opening covered with greased paper to exclude wind and admit light : the ground served as floor and split logs with wooden pegs, as legs, served as benches for the pupils, while boards fastened along the side walls provided the writing desks ; in the center of the room a stump was left as a dunce block, or stool of repentance for the mischievous, and those boys who were accustomed to make their exit to liberty from the master's rule, by crawling under the bottom log of the building, occupied the central stump when discovered. Mr. Herrick is described as a rigid disciplinarian, and conformed strictly to the doctrine that sparing the rod spoiled the child, and kept that article of discipline near his desk and employed it whenever the occasion demanded. He taught school between the sessions of court until his practice grew to such proportions that he could relinquish the pedagogue's desk.

In later years he related that the first cabin he occupied as a residence at Zanesville was in such uninhabitable condition that when it rained it was necessary to place his clothing and household goods on his bed and shield them with an um- brella. In 1808 or 'og he erected a frame dwelling at the southwest corner of Third street and Foun- tain alley, where he resided many years until his

removal to a brick residence upon a farm, "Hill Top," in Wayne township, about three miles from the city, where he lived a number of years, coming to the city every morning ; he raised large flocks of sheep and manufactured the wool into cloth.

He was one of the leading members of the Mus- kingum bar, the peer of his associates, an elo- quent advocate, and understood how to influence a jury ; he was an active politician of the demo- cratic school, and a worshiper of Jackson. In 1810, although a resident of Muskingum, he was appointed prosecuting attorney of Guernsey county, and in the same year was named United States District Attorney, and when Cass went to the war, in 1812, succeeded him as prosecutor of Muskingum county, holding all three positions at one time : in 1814 he was made prosecuting at- torney of Licking county, although a resident of Muskingum, and in May of that year was com- missioned Brigadier General of the Fourth Bri- gade of the Third Division of Ohio militia. He was representative to Congress from 1817 to 1821, and in 1829 was again appointed District Attor- ney of the United States in Ohio. June 30, 1830, he resigned all offices and the practice of law, and when he became feeble from age, sold his farm and removed to Zanesville, and lived at Or- chard and Underwood streets until his death, March 1, 1852.

CHARLES COOK HILDRETH

was the son of the Ohio historian, S. P. Hil- dreth, M. D., of Marietta, where he was born April 28. 1811 ; he was educated at Marietta Col- lege and Ohio University, at Athens, and re- ceived the degrees of A. B. and A. M. : in March, 1833, he graduated as physician and settled at Zanesville, where the high order of his profes- sional skill was demonstrated, and in surgery his reputation was especially distinguished and widely recognized ; he contributed frequent and valuable papers to medical journals, and was an active member of several medical societies. While taking an active interest in the industries of the city he never permitted their attractions to inter- fere with his professional labor, which was closed only with his death, August 11, 1880.

DR. ROBERT HILLIER

had been a surgeon in the British army for sev- eral years, and his wife had been reared and edu- cated by wealthy parents, who objected to her marriage at so tender an age; the couple eloped and were married, and started for America, the doctor purposing locating at New York, and practicing his profession. During the passage they formed the acquaintance of emigrants for the west, and the doctor abandoned his original plans

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and purchased two horses and a wagon, and joined his newly formed acquaintances in the journey to the west. After passing the winter at St. Clairsville he reached Zanesville in the spring of 1805, and at once began practice as a surgeon. For a long time he was the only surgeon and his practice was extensive. Fighting was common, and of a rough character ; rules were unknown, and the best man was often a brute ; biting, gouging and kicking were as legitimate methods as striking, and mayhem was frequent.

Upon one occasion Dr. Hillier was called to replace a nose which had been bitten off and hung by some shreds of flesh; having dressed the wound and placed the organ in proper position, he fastened it with silver pins, brought from Eng- land ; the wound healed rapidly, and when he thought the pins could be removed. the man sud- denly disappeared with the pins, and without pay- ing for the service. The doctor was furious, as the appliances could not be replaced except at considerable expense and inconvenience.

About 1809 he removed to a farm about fifteen miles from Mt. Vernon, where he died in 1813. He was very eccentric and had an aversion for the Indians, and his dying request was to be buried in the public highway that the Indians might not secure his scalp.

J. G. F. HOLSTON.

The name of Holston is likely to appear con- tinuously among the physicians of Zanesville for a full century ; the first of the name was the son of a physician, and his son and grandson are practicing the same profession.

John G. F. Holston was born at Hamburg, Ger- manv, in 1809. and his desire to pursue his fa- ther's profession was so strongly opposed by his parents that he left home at an carly age, and se- cured employment in a chemical works, in Eng- land. From there he sailed to Louisiana and after a year's residence, took passage for the East In- dies, and visitcd China and other Asiatic coun- tries : returning to the United States he landed at Philadelphia during an epidemic of cholcra, and volunteered as a hospital nurse. By severe la- bor and rigid cconomy, and after a checkered experience, he graduated from a medical college, at Cleveland, and with the coveted diploma, soon took a prominent position in his profession, es- pecially in surgery ; he located at Zanesville about 1841, and in 1857 accepted a professorship in the National Medical College, at Washington, which he relinquished at the commencement of the Civl war, to enter the army as surgeon, and soon after was promoted to Medical Director on the staff of Gen. U. S. Grant : during his military experience he was accustomed, after toiling to relieve the suffering's of men in the hospitals, to ride over the battlefield, at midnight, in search of men who might have been overlooked by others.

After the close of the war he resumed the prac- tice of his profession at Zanesville, but upon the inauguration of Gen. Grant, as President, he re- turned to Washington as physician to the Presi- dent, and was appointed to the chair of surgery in the Georgetown Medical College.

Dr. Holston's home was often a hospital to the poor, homeless, and unfortunate, and his whole life was molded, from sentiments of humanity and not religion, to merit the approval of Him who said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these. my brethren, ye have done it unto me." After a long and painful illness, he died May 1, 1874, and his remains were returned to and interred at Zanesville, with Masonic rites, and attended by hundreds who had been recipi- ents of his kindness.

DR. INCREASE MATHEWS

was born at New Braintree. Massachusetts, De- cember 22, 1772, a nephew of Gen. Rufus Putnam and brother to one of the original Marietta pil- grims of 1788. . In 1798 he came to Marietta to prospect and visit friends, and October 4, 1800. returned with his wife and infant child, to become a citizen of the new country. In the spring of 1801 he came to Zanesville, and with his brother John opened the first store in the settlement, at the northwest corner of Main and Third streets, were dry-goods, groceries, hardware, stationery, liquors, clothing, notions, drugs and everything needed by the pioneers were displayed. Their first day-book is extant, and is dated March 31. 1801 ; upon becoming one of the proprietors of Putnam, Dr. Mathews removed to that settle- ment, and built his cabin at the southwest cor- ner of Putnam and Muskingum avenues, and his storc room on Muskingum avenue, a structure still standing, and so long known as Dr. Nve's place. The business was opened at Putnam Jan- uary 1, 1803. and was conducted in connection with his professional work : he was a regular phy- sician and the first to locate at Zanesville and put- nam: the pioneers were hardy, and physicians were not much in demand, and as there was not much reward for such service the doctor was pleased when another relieved him of the labor.

June 14, 1802, his wife died, the first person to be buried in the settlement, but March 23. 1803. he married again, and when smallpox became ep- idemic at Putnam, in 1809, he secured some vac- cine virus, and vaccinated himself and family : the people had no confidence in the operation and would not subinit to it, and to assure them of its efficacy he took his two young daughters to the bedside of a patient who was very ill with a virulent type : as the children were not affected. the immunity which his family enjoyed while the neighbors were generally inoculated, caused many to believe in the theory.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

His large landed interests and a preference for agricultural pursuits caused him to relinquish his profession, as other physicians located, and he devoted his attention to his estate; he intro- duced full blooded Merino sheep to Ohio, and in all his business affairs exhibited more than the usual amount of energy and perseverance so prominent in the pioneer character ; he was a polished gentleman of the old school, an entertain- ing conversationalist, skillful performer on the violoncello and possessed many other accomplish- ments, but withal was a man of simple habits, and lived a pure life.

JOHN MCINTIRE

was born at Alexandria, Virginia, October 15, 1759. and was taught the trade of shoemaker, in which capacity he wandered to the frontier settle- ment at Wheeling. In those days such craftsmen were itinerants and went from house to house doing such work as was required and boarding with the family. In shoemaking, the necessities of the father and mother were first supplied, in respect to both repairs and new foot gear, and the childrens' wants were attended to in the order of seniority.

During one of these nomadic excursions McIn- tire came to the home of Ebenezer Zane, who had a family of twelve children, and his stay was ac- cordingly prolonged : among the children was a daughter, Sarah M., between whom and McIntire an acquaintance ripened into affection, and the cobbler asked for the daughter's hand, and was peremptorily refused ; the family was furious and opposed the union with all their influence, but the daughter so persistently plead her own and lover's cause that the father gave a reluctant ac- quiescence, and the couple were married in De- cember. 1789. Displeased at the wedding, Zane did not encourage his son-in-law, who made a home some distance away and once the father saw the daughter cutting fire wood and remarked it was good for her, and that if she had remained at home she would not have been obliged to per- form such menial service. Time reconciled the father and daughter, and when the engagement was undertaken to cut out the road from Wheel- ing to Maysville, Kentucky, McIntire became one of the party, and later one of the proprietors of Zanesville, as his compensation for the work.

In 1799 McIntire began the erection of a dou- ble log cabin, with puncheon floor and brick chim- ney, in a beautiful maple grove, opposite the ford at the head of the falls, at the foot of Market street. The cabin stood at what is now the southwest corner of Market and Second streets, facing the river, was one and one-half stories in height, with a one story kitchen at the southeast corner, the whole covered with a cabin roof. The logs were all hewn square, and a passage

twelve feet wide was under cover, in which were hung saddles, harness, etc. The rooms were large and comfortable, and as the only accommodations afforded travelers were in grog shops, where coarse meals and a bed on the floor, on a blanket or bear skin with feet to the fire, were provided, McIntire in- tended his cabin to serve as a hotel, and it was the first house of public entertainment in the em- bryo city. Only three cabins preceded it in the settlement : McCulloch's, at the foot of Main street : one on Silliman street, at the head of Main street, on the Zane trail near the present St. Nicholas church ; and the third on Main street where the Richards' block is erected, east of Cypress alley.

McIntire's family came from Wheeling in a flat boat about May 1, 1800, accompanied by two runaway slaves, Mess Johnson and Sam ; many famous and prominent men were entertained in the hostelry, among them being Louis Phillippe, king of France, about 1802 ; public entertainment was extended until Harvey erected the fifth tavern in Zanesville, at the southwest corner of Main and third streets.

The cabin was in existence until 1857, when its dilapidated condition persuaded the Zanesville Ca- nal and Manufacturing Company, as administra- tors of the will of McIntire to remove it, and July 31. Gen. Charles B. Goddard, president, and Adam Peters, vice president, requested William Culbertson, a chronicler of the city, to remove the cabin and preserve some of the timbers that they might be worked into a building they were contemplating erecting to carry out the provis- ions of the McIntire will. Mr. Culbertson faith- fully performed his trust, retained the timber, and January 6, 1880, the Directors of the Z. C. & M. Company resolved :

"That the committee on the building of the McIntire Children's Home be, and they are hereby instructed to introduce into the finish of the walls of some suitable room of the new building, one or more of the timbers of John McIntire's log cabin preserved by William Culbertson."

Thanks were also extended to Mr. Culbertson for the fidelity with which he had preserved the relics, and he was authorized to use such of them as were not required to carry out the above men- tioned action.

Mr. McIntire erected a large two-story stone dwelling, with a one-story stone addition, on the northwest corner of Second street and Fountain alley, fronting the river ; it was a commodious and handsome structure with large fire places, and elaborately hand carved mantels, broad stairway, large windows and deep window seats. No in- formation exists about the time of its erection, and for many years preceding its removal it was occupied as general offices by the Central Ohio,

JOHN MCINTIRE'S RESIDENCE.

Northwest corner Second Street and Fountain Alley.

The date of the erection of this famous stone dwelling is unknown, but was perhaps about 1810; it fronted upon the Muskingum and the view above is of the rear, the one story portion being the dining room and kitchen. The porch at the west entrance was in ruin while the building was occupied as railroad offices, and the entrance was through the door shown in the main building.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Baltimore and Ohio and Cincinnati and Muskin- gum Valley railroad companies. The building was sold January 1, 1887, and razed to make room for warehouses for the glass works.

It is related that shortly after the county of Muskingum was formed, and before the jail of 1807 was erected, two men were arrested on the charge of counterfeiting, and as there was no place of confinement nearer than Marietta, and it was impracticable to place the prisoners tempo- rarily seventy miles away, it was decided by Mc- Intire and Daniel Convers to place the men under guard until the court convened, as if they were released others would be encouraged to imitate them. McIntire and Convers pledged themselves as hostages for the accused, and they were con- ducted to a cabin and fettered, and with an ax in hand McIntire stood at the door and addressed them: "Now, boys, there is your bed." pointing to the blankets provided for the purpose. "With your guilt or innocence we have nothing to do ; you shall have plenty to eat and drink ; but if vou attempt to escape, damn you, I'll kill you!" Day and night he and his neighbors sat by the door until court convened, when they were tried and convicted : one confessed and revealed the location of the outfit on the Licking, and it was found and produced in court ; one was sentenced to receive twenty-five and the other thirty-nine lashes, which were inflicted, and both were committed until the costs were paid. Continuance of guard duty was not desirable, and the men's paroles were taken but during the first night they disappeared and the "incident was closed."

Mr. McIntire was a little below medium height, inclined to corpulency, full faced without beard, blue eyes, light brown hair and rather high fore- head ; weighed about 150 to 160 pounds, and was crippled from an accident which occurred while blazing the road from Zanesville to Maysville : while loading a gun the stock slipped on a root and the charge passed through his right hand. He was fond of sports and possessed a jolly, pleas- ant disposition, but would fight quickly if of- fended ; his word was immaculate, and his faith and zeal in the city was limitless. During the long evenings of the fall and winter he gave danc- ing parties at his home, where his wife, who was a good dancer, led in the festivities.

Mr. McIntire was not a mere land proprietor and promoter of industries for personal profit. but shared everything with his neighbors, and treated them as partners rather than competitors. When the settlement needed anything he gave liberally from what he most possessed-land ; he constructed mills and dams, was active in securing the location of the temporary capital, and helped generously with his wealth in every enterprise ; promoted the canal past the Muskingum rapids, took an active interest in the amusements as well

as the sober business concerns of the town, rep- resented the section in the convention to frame a state constitution, and left his estate "for the use and support of a poor school" for "the poor children of said town, the children who are to be the objects of this institution are to be fixed upon by the president and directors" of the Zanes- ville Canal and Manufacturing Company, and that there might be perpetual succession of execu- tors he selected a corporation of his own crea- tion for the purpose.

He died July 29, 1815, after a short illness, in his stone residence, and was buried July 31 in the graveyard at the head of Main street, opposite St. Nicholas church. A sandstone was erected over the grave shortly after interment, upon which was inscribed the following, written by Ebenezer Granger :

"Sacred to the memory of John McIntire, who departed this life July 29, 1815, aged 56 years. He was born at Alexandria, Virginia ; laid out the town of Zanesville in 1800-of which he was Pa- tron and Father. He was a member of the con- vention which formed the Constitution of Ohio, a kind husband, an obliging neighbor, punctual to his engagements, of liberal mind, and benevo- lent disposition, his death was sincerely lamented."

"As o'er this stone you throw a careless eye,

(When drawn perchance to this sad, solemn place).

Reader, remember .- 'tis your lot to die,

You, too, the gloomy realms of death must trace.

When yonder winding stream shall cease to flow,

Old Ocean's waves no longer lash the shore, When warring tempests shall forget to blow. And these surrounding hills exist no more, This sleeping dust, reanimate, shall rise, Bursting to life, at the last trumpet's sound, Shall bear a part in Nature's grand assize,

When sun, and stars, and time no more are found."

The original marker had suffered from the ac- tion of the elements and in 1868 the Probate Court allowed an expenditure from the estate to erect a new tomb, when a marble sarcophagus, about two feet high was placed over the grave ; the ends were paneled and the name "John MeIn- tire" inscribed in both : upon the slab forming the cover was a shield on which was engraved

JOHN MCINTYRE. 1759-1815.

The inscription on the original marker was reproduced on the slab of the sarcophagus, and the whole enclosed by an elliptical stone wall, with a heavy limestone coping, supporting a high iron picket fence, which was completed in 1868 at a

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

cost of $797.21. Requests upon the city authorities for the care of the grave were not complied with, and the executors having learned that the grave of McIntire's only daughter, in Wheeling, was neg- lected. her remains were brought to Zanesville, and December 31, 1889, were reinterred with those of her father, side by side, near the southern foot of the hill, upon which stands McIntire's monument-The JOHN McINTIRE CHIL- DREN'S HOME-the sarcophagus and fence be- ing re-erected to enclose and protect both father and daughter.

MRS. MCINTIRE.

Sarah M. McIntire was daughter to Ebenezer and Elizabeth Zane, and was born at Wheeling, February 22, 1773: in the Zanesville settlement, she was noted as one of the most accomplished cooks and neatest housekeepers; a genial hostess and graceful dancer ; kind hearted especially to the sick and afflicted, and went among the settlers cheering and sympathizing with them in their troubles, and administering to their wants. Her larder always contained substantials and dainties for the sick to eat and drink, and when herbs were needed she always had an abundance, and dis- pensed them without stint : no one was ever de- nied, whatever their habits or standing, and she was universally loved and respected.

She was neither sycophant or coward, and it is related that one day she was standing in the front door, overlooking the ford at the head of the falls, at the foot of Market street, and observed a tall. robust Indian wading across, carrying his bow, arrows and blankets, while his small, fragile squaw followed carrying the papoose, blanket and cooking utensils, and struggling under the load against the swift current. When the Indian came up and asked for food she grabbed a stick and ap- plied it to his swarthy body and denounced him as a lazy dog, and refused him nourishment, but spread a generous meal for the squaw and papoose.

During the summer of 1814, before the Meth- odists had finished their frame meeting house, it was announced that a Methodist would preach at the court house at 2 p. m. on a certain Sunday. The Presbyterians held services in the building. morning and evening, and when the people gath- ered for the Methodist service the doors were found fastened, and no provision had been made to open them. "Aunty McIntire," as she was af- fectionately called, became indignant and ordered her colored servant to bring an ax, and some one hurried to McIntire to inform him of his wife's purpose, and requested him to hurry to the scene. He replied, "Go back, Sally will make her way through." The sexton soon appeared and violence was avoided, but as there was some misunder- standings between the two denominations, the in-

cident was regarded as not altogether accidental. Mrs. McIntire remained a widow only a short time, and was married to David Young, August 15, 1816, and died at Zanesville, March 8, 1854.

BLACK MESS

was a noted character in the early days and an essential person at all festivities, as the leader, and often the sole member of the "orchestra ;" he was good natured, ever alert for a frolic, and a general favorite, a genuine, old-time, faithful, devoted negro servant and friend, a type which has almost disappeared.

He ran away from slavery in Maryland, and in 1799 hired to McIntire to assist him in mov- ing his family from Wheeling to the Muskin- gum, where Mess arrived in May, 1800. His master traced him to Zanesville and came after him, but Mess saw him and escaped to the woods ; McIntire explained the difficulty of finding him, and finally offered the owner $150 for him, and was given a bill of sale, but as the institution was forbidden in the territory the sale was a virtual purchase of Mess' freedom ; he was Mc- Intire's trusted servant for a long time and his "master" bought for him the upper ferry, where- upon Mess located on River street (Linden ave- nue), in West Zanesville, where he died in 1840. McIntire remembered him in his will with an an- nuity of $50.

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Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 34

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 898

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898