USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > Pioneer period and pioneer people of Fairfield County, Ohio > Part 2
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Pioneer Period and Pioncer People
country. And if these pages should chance to meet the eyes of any of those, who, like the writer, have passed many a pleasant hour under the roof of this uneducated but truly worthy and respectable man, he trusts they will unite in this tribute to his memory."
MR. AND MRS. McINTIRE.
Written by MRS. HELENE LOUISA SULLIVAN, niece of Col. Zane, March 17, 1892, Zanesville Ohio.
1 AM not acquainted with the date of Mr. McIn- tire's coming to Wheeling, Virginia; but it must have been somewhere near the close of the last century, as he lived there some years prior to locat- ing the government section of land and laying out the present city of Zanesville in 1799.
"He was born at Alexandria, Virginia, in 1759, of Scotch parentage. Nothing further is known of his family to my knowledge, no relative ever having visited him, or come to claim his wealth. At Wheeling, he followed the humble occupation of intinerant shoe- maker, going from house to house as his services were required - according to the custom of the times in frontier settlements. The wealthy proprietor of Wheeling, Col. Ebenezer Zane, having a large family and a plantation of slaves, employed much of John McIntire's time as shoemaker, and he made good use of his opportunities as resident Crispin by gaining the affections of Col. Zane's second daughter, a girl of fifteen. Being a handsome man, of fine natural abil- ties and address, this was probably a natural conse- quence. In so sparsely inhabited a village as Wheeling was at the time, he could have had but few, if any rivals, and the romance natural to the youth of the young lady was all in his favor.
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Pioneer Period and Pioneer People
MR. McINTIRE'S MARRIAGE
"The first act in the drama of life that brought the young adventurer into notice was his marriage. The girl of fifteen summers, showing the pluck that dis- tinguished her in after life, could not be induced to give up her handsome lover, notwithstanding the vio- lent opposition of the hitherto unsuspecting parents, especially Mrs. Col. Zane. She could not brook such mesalliance for her daughter. But John McIntire, be- ing many years her senior, had unbounded influence over Miss Sarah, and marry they would.
"Col. Zane, of Quaker proclivities and of peaceful disposition, when he found neither persuasion nor threats availed anything, gave orders that the marriage should take place in the house. Then, taking his gun, hid his chagrin in the depths of the forest-not return- ing for three days-while the mother nursed her wrath in a distant part of the house. Mrs. McIntire in after years often told the story of her marriage, to the writer of this sketch, never for a moment seeming to realize that she was the transgressor.
"No sooner was the bridegroom out of the way, than the outraged mother gave vent to her feelings by taking off her slipper and applying it vigorously over the shoulders of the child bride, in reproof of her disobedience. During the recital Mrs. McIntire, by her manner, plainly showed she still felt the indignity of such treatment and never quite forgave her mother. She always closed by saying with evident pride, 'Mr. Mac. became the favorite son-in-law and mother took more pleasure in visiting my house, than any of her other daughters.'
"Such being the state of affairs, the young couple
Ne ..
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
could not remain under the paternal roof. They made themselves a home on the banks of the Ohio river, in a little cabin, where they remained until they removed to Ohio. Both being ambitious they, by industry and thrift, prospered-gaining the respect and esteem of the community. Although Col. Zane at the time owned houses and land, and gold guineas by the 'hat full,' he left the young people to work out their own start in life-until, finding John McIntire a man of integ- rity and business qualifications, he, in the course of a few years, sent him in charge of a company to locate a road from Wheeling, Virginia, through Ohio to Mays- vile, Kentucky, rewarding his services, and partly as his wife's dower, by granting him the tract of land now occupied by the city of Zanesville and surround- ing country.
FOUNDING OF ZANESVILLE
"He was the patron and father of the city of Zanes- ville, taking great pride in its development - using every effort to attract first-class citizens, and to further its interests, leading a life of great activity for many years. He established a ferry where the 'Y' bridge now stands. Two canoes lashed together was the prim- itive conveyance for foot passengers across the river. Considering the Muskingum river his property, he ex- acted tribute of fishermen and others using the stream, wishing to turn an honest penny where he could. But he readily relinquished his claim when aware of his mistake. He was a member of the convention which formed the Constitution of Ohio, fully adopting the new state as his future home.
4.
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Pioneer Period and Pioneer People
MR. McINTIRE'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
"The following description of John McIntire's per- sonal appearance at this time was given me by Mr. John Sullivan, who, in his youth, saw him daily. He was of medium height - corpulent in person, florid complex- ion, auburn hair and blue eyes, a man of great dignity of manners, eminently a gentleman, demanding the respect due his position. His habitual costume was a suit of blue broadcloth, knee breeches, shadbelly coat, cocked hat and ruffled shirt. A notable figure, who would have attracted attention in any community. Having been cast upon his own resources at an early age, his education of course was limited, which was a source of great regret and mortification to him, he feeling daily the disadvantage under which he was placed. This was the reason of his bequest, wishing to benefit others similarly situated ; for poor boys especi- ally were his sympathies enlisted, being a man of great benevolence of heart.
No greater encomium on the kindly nature of the man could be written, than his high-spirited wife fully forgave his one, great dereliction. She adopted Amelia McIntire and raised her as her own daughter. Amelia was early sent to a seminary for young ladies at Bethle- hem, Pennsylvania, where she was educated in all the accomplishments of the day designed to fit her for her future station in life. Samples of her fine embroid- ery are now in the McIntire Children's Home. She was always delicate in health, but was tenderly cared for by her foster mother. After her return from board- ing school she entered into gay life with a zest-at- tending balls and parties, keeping late hours, fond of dress, receiving much attention from gentlemen. After Mrs. McIntire married Rev. David Young, his strict
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
religious views interfered with her gaiety. She would not be controlled, and left her once happy home- boarding first in Zanesville, and as her health failed, going to distant relatives in Wheeling. But missing the fostering care she had been accustomed to, she rap- idly sank a victim to consumption and died at an early age.
MRS. McINTIRE
"John McIntire owed his success in life largely to his wife, who was a woman of strong character, a help- mate indeed, making circumstances yield to her in- dominatable will, and, as as far as she could, keeping him up to a high standard. Had she lived in this day of woman's rights, she would not have been relegated to obscurity.
" Having decided to make their future home at the Falls of the Muskingum river, John McIntire erected the double log cabin near where the C. & M. V. depot now stands, then in the edge of a forest on the bank of the river. Mrs. McIntire, having held herself in readiness, joined her husband in the fall of 1800. She, with her escorts, goods and chattels, came by the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, their means of transportation being dug out boats of solid logs. At night, the emi- grants landed and camped on the banks of the river. The forest was full of wild animals, and perhaps an Indian might be seen lurking among the trees. But Mrs. McIntire was equal to the emergency, rather enjoying the adventure. She brought with her the side-board and "chest of drawers," now in the John McIntire Children's Home. The furniture was made by her brother-in-law, John Burkhart, a resident of Wheeling, formerly of Baltimore, Maryland, an artist in this line of business.
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Pioneer Period and Pioneer People
"Having established themselves in their forest home, they dispensed hospitality with a liberal hand, all being welcome to their table within the sound of the dinner horn. Mrs. McIntire was a notable housewife and splendid cook. They were forced to entertain strangers passing through the new settlement to the east until a hotel was established. They had the honor of entertain- ing Louis Philippe, when an exile, traveling through the wilds of the United States. So impressed was he with Mrs. McIntire's personality and surroundings that, after he became King of France, he inquired of an American traveler about the lady who entertained him so royally in the forest of America. Mrs. McIn- tire was active in establishing the first Methodist church in Zanesville, which she sustained with means and influence. Foremost in all good works, as long as strength would permit, she was not only a mother in Is- real but a mother indeed to the homeless and friendless. Having no family of her own she adopted into her heart and home not less than twelve children, training them for useful lives, morally and religiously, sur- rounding them with every comfort of a happy home, and sending them forth fully equipped to fill honor- able positions in the world.
"As means increased the log cabin gave place to the stone mansion, which was erected near the cabin, on a small bluff. This was demolished a few years since to give place to the march of improvement and the iron horse.
CONCLUSION.
"John McIntire's short and eventful life of fifty- six years, spent in honorable activity, marks him a man of ability, with noble aspirations, justifying the respect
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
and esteem in which his memory is held as donor of the munificent charity which bears his name.
' 'Of a social and convivial disposition, his position led him into temptation. He formed habits which shortened a life promising great usefulness. His early death was much regretted by the community, the citi- zens feeling the new settlement had lost its leading spirit.
"It is well, also, to put on record in this connection that it was Mrs. McIntire's money that erected and ex- clusively built two of Zanesville's most prominent churches-being the Second Street and South Street M. E. Churches. I make mention of this fact because it is not generally understood or known."
5
EARLY HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO.
AIRFIELD County, Ohio, was the eighth county in order of time, formed out of territory now within the bounds of Ohio. Governor St. Clair issued his proclamation for the organization dated December 9, 1800, and named New Lancaster as the county seat. It was formed out of a portion of Ross and Washington. The northern boundary was the In- dian treaty line, which ran from Fort Laurens on the Tuscarawas river to Ft. Recovery on the Wabash. The present counties of Perry, Licking, Knox, Dela- ware and Franklin were within its borders. The people of Licking County paid taxes at Lancaster as late as I806.
The first session of the Court of quarter sessions, the county, was held in Lancaster, January 12, 1801, in a log house. Emanuel Carpenter Sr., was the pre- siding judge and Nathaniel Wilson Sr., Samuel Car- penter and Daniel Van Metre were his associates, Sanı- uel Kratzer was the sheriff.
There were two attorneys who were sworn and au- thorized to appear before the Court, William Creighton and Alexander White. Creighton achieved distinction and White died in a year or two. General Sanderson states that he was a man of ability.
The first county commissioners appointed by this Court were Nathaniel Wilson Jr., James Denny, and Jacob Van Metre.
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
October 12, 1802, Emanuel Carpenter Sr., and Henry Abrams were chosen to represent Fairfield County in the Constitutional Convention.
The first Common Pleas Judge to hold court in Fairfield County after the adoption of the State Consti- tution was, Wyllis Silliman, a man of ability and high character. This was in 1803. Hugh Boyle was ap- pointed clerk of the Court. William Creighton, Alex- ander White, Philemon Beecher, William W. Irvin and Robert F. Slaughter appeared as attorneys.
A brick court house was built in 1806, General John Williamson and his partner Hampson were the con- tractors.
Robert F. Slaughter succeeded Silliman to the Common Pleas bench in 1805. He was a good lawyer and a good judge, but it has been told of him, that he would adjourn court for a good horse race. He was a Virginia gentleman, and, no doubt, had a taste for that favorite sport.
Dr. William Irwin, Henry Abrams, Jacob Burton and Robert Cloud and Elnathan Scofield were early associate judges of the Common Pleas Court, also Emanuel Carpenter appointed in 1809. David Swayze and John Augustus. Hon. Leven Belt succeeded Judge Slaughter, March 1807.
At the May term in 1803, the first Common Pleas Court, Hugh Boyle was appointed clerk. This position he held for thirty years. A license was granted Peter Reber to keep hotel or tavern in Lancaster, one to Will- iam Trimble to keep tavern on Zane's trace east of Lancaster, one to James Black and one to Samuel Ham- mil, to keep tavern in Newark, Ohio.
For the January term 1804, there were forty-three cases on the docket.
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Pioneer Period and Pioneer People
For the year 1805, there were on the docket 136 civil cases. The docket does not show the names of counsel. In the early courts the indictments were chiefly for retailing liquor without license, or for as- sault and battery.
The civil suits were seldom for large amounts and much of the time of the Court was taken up with guardianships and estates. This latter business was often attended to by the associate judges.
The records of the Common Pleas Court of Fair- field County show some matters of unusual interest and new to this generation. At the March term a prisoner was tried upon an indictment. procured at the January term, 1807, Judge Levin Belt on the bench.
It was the State of Ohio vs. Susan Pealt.
She was tried by a jury of good men, viz: Jacob Beery, Joseph Hunter, Christian Crumley, David Rees, Jeremiah Conway, Edward Strode, Abraham Heistand, David Arnold, John Beery, George W. Selby, Peter Fetter and Christian Foglesong.
The defendent was found guilty, and a motion made for arrest of judgment, which was overruled, the Court sentenced the defendent to receive "eight stripes on her naked back," and pay the costs of prose- cution. This conviction was under an old territorial law that was still in force.
Judge William Wilson succeeded Judge Belt as Common Pleas Judge in 1808, and served continuously until 1820, when he was succeeded by John A. Mc- Dowell, who served four years.
Gustavus Swan was on the bench from 1824 to 1829. Frederick Grimke succeeded Swan in 1830. A H. Keith succeeded Grimke in 1837.
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
Robert F. Slaughter, John B. Orton of Perry County, Richard Douglas of Ross County were early prosecuting attorneys of Fairfield County. Thomas Ewing was appointed in 1817 and served until 1830. He was succeeded by Hocking H. Hunter, who served until 1837, without an exception, they became able and distinguished lawyers. Judges Silliman, Belt, Grimke and Keith lived in Chillicothe, Judges Swan and Mc- Dowel in Columbus, and Judge Wilson in Newark.
In 1806, there were within the bounds of Fairfield County, one thousand five hundred and fifty-one tax payers. The presumption is that they were nearly all voters. In that year Edward Tiffin was voted for for governor and received 327 votes in Fairfield County. A very small vote for so many tax payers. In 1808 Samuel Huntington received 973 votes, Thomas Worth- ington 192, and Thomas Kirker 3 votes. Opposition seems to have brought out the vote.
David Reece, William Trimble, Philemon Beecher, William W. Irvin, E. B. Merwin, Thomas Ijams, Richard Hooker Sr., Nathaniel Wilson Sr., Emanuel Carpenter Jr., John Leist, Ben. Smith, Jacob Clay- pool, Valentine Reber, George Sanderson, Jacob Bur- ton, Robert F. Slaughter and Elnathan Scofield, repre- sented Fairfield County, in its early history, in the Gen- eral Assembly of Ohio.
Philemon Beecher and William W. Irvin, became members of Congress - Irvin first serving as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio,
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Pioneer Period and Pioneer People
CHURCHES
The first meeting houses in the county according to the best information obtainable were built in the town- ships of Richland, Rush Creek and Bloom.
There may be some question as to priority. There is little doubt however, but that Richland Chapel, a hewed log structure was built as early, if not before 1807. This building stood on the land of Daniel Ste- venson and it was built by the Methodists. A camp meeting was held in the grove, in that year, near the church, which was attended by Bishop Asbury. He had preached in the cabins of that neighborhood in 1803 and formed a society. The Presbyterians built a hewed log church in the same year on Rush Creek south of the present town of West Rushville. Rev. John Wright of Lancaster had previously preached in the neighborhood.
The Glick church was built in an early day and was the first in Bloom township. It was built by the Evan- gelical Lutherans. The Methodists society of New Salem, built a hewed log meeting house in 1822, the preachers called it Lewis' Chapel in honor of Tilman Lewis, who gave the land on which it was built.
The first religious society formed in Fairfield County, Ohio, or in the country before it was a county, was composed of Methodists who had emigrated from near Baltimore, Maryland. The members were Ed- ward Teal, the class leader, and wife, Jesse Spurgeon and wife, Ishmael Dew and wife, Nimrod Bright and wife and Elijah Spurgeon and wife, ten in all.
Rev. James Quinn visited this little band of Chris- · tians, in December, 1799, and preached in their cabins, spending one week with them. This settlement was
1
THE FIRST MILL IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY.
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
three miles east of Lancaster on Pleasant Run, where Amos Webb now lives.
1164606
The first Methodist quarterly meeting was held at the house of John Murphey, one mile west of West Rushville. Bishop Asbury and Daniel Hitt were pres- ent. To-day in every township of the county there are numerous Methodist churches.
The first funeral in the county was that of William Green, May, 1798, one month after Captain Hunter's settlement. Nathaniel Wilson and his sons had just arrived in the new sttlement and Colonel Robert Wil- son was at the funeral.
The Predestinarian Baptist Church of Pleasant Run was organized in 1806. Abraham Hite, Rev. John Hite, Aaron Ashbrook, Emanuel Ruffner, Rev. Lewis Sites, Martin Coffman, Eli Ashbrook and Christian Coffman were prominent members. The society at Walnut Creek was organized in 1816.
Turkey Run has been a small but respectable society for many years. The early preachers of this denom- ination were, Rev. George DeBolt, Rev. John Hite, Rev. Lewis Sites, Rev. Eli Ashbrook, Rev. Cave and Rev. Tunis Peters.
The Evangelical Association is quite strong in Fair- field County. The churches must exceed twenty in number, all well attended. Frederick Shower a mis- sionary of this society came to the county in 1816. He labored with more or less success, but it was not until 1830 that the first church was built. This was built on the farm of John Bright, on Poplar Creek, in Liberty township.
The first mill in the county was built by Joseph Loveland and Hezekiah Smith, at the upper falls of Hockhocking in 1799. It was a grist and saw mill
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Pioneer Period and Pioneer People
combined. They came from New England and for twenty years were enterprising men of Fairfield County. Tradition says that they kept a small store at their mill and that the goods were brought on pack horses from Detroit. They also made and sold whisky, charging one dollar per quart. They traded with the Indians and their place was often the scene of a drunken row. Joseph Loveland, so tradition has it, married a Miss Shallenberger, of Berne township. They were succeeded in the business by Orren Abbott.
The next mill built in the county was by the Car- penters, one mile below the present city of Lancaster, and where the mill of Abraham Deeds now stands. The next in order was built by Jacob Eckert, who married Sallie Shallenberger. This was followed by one built by Abraham Ream in 1804. These mills were all located on the Hockhocking.
The first tan-yard in the county was owned by Jonathan Lynch, on the Baldwin farm. This was in 1799. Gen. Lynch was the first tanner to locate in Lancaster.
David and Henry Shallenberger built a mill about the time the Carpenter mill was built. Water mills soon became numerous upon every stream in the county - most of them have gone to decay and steam has taken the place of water. It is believed that the first steam mill was built by Capt. A. F. Witte, a German, two miles west of Lancaster. This was built in 1830, a distillery being a part of the equipment.
Distilleries, small in capacity, were numerous in every township of the county during the first twenty- five years of its history.
In a later period the most noted establishments of this kind were owned by Judge Chaney, Capt. Joshua
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
Clarke, Capt. A. F. Witte, J. M. Ashbrook, Jerry Miller and Rodepouch. They made high wines which were shipped by canal to be rectified elsewhere.
The great temperance reform, inaugurated in 1842, created such a public sentiment that the small ones still in existence closed up and in a very few years the larger ones cither failed or voluntarily closed up. The Mithoff distillery of Lockville was the last to wind up-this was in 1862. The stock on hand made them a small fortune.
Thomas Cessna, who lived on what is now the Weaver farm, one mile west of Lancaster, was the first to introduce fine wooled sheep into Fairfield County. This was as early as 1815.
Darius Tallmadge was the first to introduce fine blooded horses and Durham cattle. He owned a large farm near town and took great pride in its manage- ment and the breeding of fine stock. John T. Brasee, David Huber and Reber & Kutz a few years later brought Shorthorn cattle from Kentucky.
Reber and Kutz and John Van Pearse brought fine thoroughbred horses to Lancaster, Trustee belonging to Van Pearse, was a fine animal.
Reber & Kutz purchased old Fashion, the famous four-mile mare, Lady Canton, and imported Monarch. With this stock they started a breeding stable. John Reber soon became the sole owner and purchased Bon- nie Scotland, the most famous imported horse of his time.
He imported Hurrah and Kyrl Daly, both great horses. The work of the gentlemen named gave Fair- field County a fine reputation among stock men and breeders of the country. After the death of Mr. Re-
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Pioneer Period and Pioneer People
ber his horses sold at auction for the handsome sum of $28,000, cash.
One of the first steam power flouring mills erected in Lancaster was that of R. W. Denning and Joseph Parker. It stood west of the canal and south of the Main street crossing. It was destroyed by fire in 1853.
About the year 1818 George Ring, a Vermonter, built at the foot of Broad Street a large brick woolen mill. It was operated by water power, drawn from the Hockhocking at a point where Zane's trace crossed the stream. There are still traces of the old mill race.
Steam has long since taken the place of water and the old mill is still one of the manufacturing institu- tions of Lancaster. In 1825 the Grand Duke of Saxe Weimar spent one week in Lancaster, and among other places of interest he visited Ring & Rice, and compli- mented the product of the factory. There were card- ing and fulling mills at other points in the county, but Ring & Rice were the only manufacturers of cloth. For forty years Lancaster was full of small shops of every conceivable kind, but nothing more important than a foundry and machine shop of Joel Smith. Powder was manufactured in the county upon a small scale. This plant was located where Abbott's store now stand in Madison township.
PREHISTORIC.
There are several ancient fortifications in Fairfield County, once distinct and handsome, but now de- spoiled by the plow.
The most noted one is on the summit of the hill at the upper falls of the Hockhocking. It is 420 feet square with two circles at the gates; one 210 feet in diameter, and the other 125 feet. The small one con-
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
tains a mound from the top of which a view can be had of the fort and all approaches and of the country to the east for many miles. The walls were very light and at this time can barely be traced. The hill is high and a part of the great sandstone ridge which crops out and ends a mile or two beyond, near the Waverly formation. The old work is remarkable as being the only perfectly square fortification found and described by Squire and Davis.
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