USA > Ohio > Ross County > Pioneer record and reminiscences of the early settlers and settlement of Ross County, Ohio > Part 8
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In this township are many old relics of the past, such as Indian graves, where charcoal, parched corn, fish bones, deer and dog bones, and whole human skeletons are found in the same mound, with plenty of broken earthenware, arrows, and pipes; and near the town at least a peck of large leaden balls have been picked up, and pieces of gun-barrels are also found, showing-as some suppose-the severe fighting old De Soto had, when on his way to Canada, with the aborigines. The old In- dian trail, from Kanawha to Chillicothe, passes here, going by way of the salt works at Poplar Row, now called Jackson. Mr. Rittenour says he has seen at least one hundred squaws, with their pappooses fastened to boards, resting or camping half a mile from town.
This township was at one time famous for hunting, game of all kinds being in abundance, and occasionally, to this day, a deer runs through the town; and the season is counted poor if we do not kill at least a dozen rattlesnakes in the township.
Mr. John Griffis, an old settler, who carries on the tannery which was erected in 1825, is now seventy-one or seventy-two years of age. He has been a resident of this place fifty years.
95
Jefferson Township.
Besides other things, we claim to have the tallest man in the county, Mr. J. A. Stancliff, whose hight is six feet seven and a half inches. In the first settlement of this township, we had the social evil in the shape of still-houses. We had three in town, and nine within a mile of the place. My informant says he has seen nine fights in half an hour, where the blows fell fast and furious; when all was over the parties would scramble up with mashed noses and black eyes, repair to the first dog- gery, and drink friends until the next meeting. With all this we have had but one person sent from this township to the pen- itentiary, and none hung as yet.
In this township, between the years of 1821 and 1847, there were twelve deaths by drowning, to-wit: Captain Levi Hicks, two names unknown, Lorenzo Moffitt, a Mr. Dawson, John Hagans, a Mr. Martin, Peter Burr, two children of J. Tomlin- . son, Anson Graves, and Daniel Bailey.
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
Deerfield Township.
Deerfield township is noted for its large and extended plains, and rich and fertile bottoms on the Scioto and Deer creek, the ancient park for the elk and deer. Clarksburg, in this township, derives its name from Colonel William Clark, a vet- eran of the war of 1812, who resided on Hays creek.
Township Officers.
J. W. Timmons and A. S. Holloway, Justices ; James Temp- lin, Clerk ; E. W. Templin, Treasurer ; Samuel Cochran, Peter Baker, and J. W. Hurst, Trustees ; O. M. Hinson, Assessor ; James Templin, Jr., Land Appraiser.
Early Settlers.
Captain Clement Brown emigrated, in 1802, from Delaware. In 1803 he married Miss Rachel White, and permanently set- tled on the land which he had purchased on the rich bottoms of Deer creek. Mrs. Rachel Brown, his mother, came out that year, with the rest of her family-White, Henrietta, Kethura, Zaccheus, and Mary. John Wiley, who afterward married Hen- rietta, came out with them. Captain Brown cleared his land and cultivated it until 1812, when he and his company went to Fort Seneca, under Colonel Clark. On his return he continued the cultivation of his farm. He died at the age of eighty years, and such had been the increase in the value of land, that that which had cost him but little, was, at the time of his death, considered worth $200,000. He left a son and a daughter, Thomas W. and Sarah. Thomas W. Brown lives on his farm of two hundred acres at Mount Pleasant. He owns, beside, two thousand acres
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Deerfield Township.
at other places. He has served his township in various capaci- ties, as trustee, assessor, etc. His family consists of Richard N., N. W., Ambrose, Sina, Rebecca, Richard P., Rachel, Elmore, and Kate W.
White Brown erected the first mill in the township. He was an exemplary man, a class leader in the Methodist Episco- pal Church for many years, and the father of Methodism in Deerfield township. He died, much lamented, in 1841, aged ninety-one years. His family consisted of Rebecca, Lucian, Amelia, Elizabeth, Anna, Margaret, Nelson, Mary, William, Sarah, Francis, and Priscilla.
Edward Tiffin, a relative of Governor Tiffin, emigrated to Deerfield in 1803, and located on the Scioto. He served in the war of 1812. He married a daughter of White Brown, and they had the following children : Mary Ann, Milton, Martha, Cynthia, Margaret, and Edward; by his second wife he had three children-Newton, James, and Isabella.
Rev. Lorenzo Dow preached in White Brown's barn in 1828. Rev. Stephen Timmons, who emigrated to Deerfield in 1802, was the first Methodist preacher on Deer creek. He served several terms as justice of the peace, and was an early advocate of anti-slavery. He raised a large and respectable family. Abraham Shanton emigrated in 1803, and was in the war of 1812. Nathan Hide was a man of some note and popu- larity in the county. He was representative in 1865, and held, at various times, important township offices. He moved to Illinois. Colonel Hegler was in the war of 1812, as was also George Hill, a farmer and hunter. Samuel Clark was a son of Colonel William Clark. William Bryant, C. P. Davis, H. Ran- som, P. H. Potts, and William Goldsberg were farmers ; Wil- liam Stagg, a noted panther hunter ; Abram Payne, a singular man, but good company. William Haggard, who died at the age of eighty-three years, and M. Bragg, a farmer, were in the war of 1812. Jacob Switzer, Jacob Robinson, Daniel Counts, Len. Counts, Isaac Fleming, and James Miner were in Captain Brown's company in 1813. Levi Noble emigrated in 1800.
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
He was a noted hunter, and was in the war of 1812. His father served in the Revolutionary war. Abram Alter, Jacob Lister, E. Hide (who served thirty-three years as justice), and Thomas Hardy, were all in the war of 1812. J. H. Hervey, Ives Wagill, . and William Kerkendall were early emigrants-about 1801.
Colonel William Clark, a farmer and tanner, was an early settler in Deerfield. He commanded a regiment of militia sev- eral years, and was at Hull's surrender. William Lister was an early pioneer ; he served in the war of 1812; is now ninety- seven years of age, and voted at the last election. Joseph Tim- mons, son of the Rev. Stephen Timmons, the old pioneer preacher, is a man of ability and influence ; he is now a justice of the peace. John Foster came to Deerfield in 1802, and was the first school teacher in the township. His sons were Charles, John, Andrew, and James. John and James Tuttle owned large farms on Deer creek ; were men of influence and wealth, and early settlers in the township. David Jones was chaplain to General Wayne, in 1793-95, and Andrew Jones was one of his spies. Colonel Evans was in the Revolutionary war ; came here in 1796. John McNeil. J. Wise; died aged one hundred years. Frederick Bray, Indian killer, died aged ninety-one years. Persal Smith. Joseph Conrad ; had at one time three wives ; died aged ninety-nine years. Byron and Baron Lef- fenwell were soldiers in the war of 1812. William Pennell was a fife-major under Colonel Clark. Thomas Carney and S. Howell were pioneers in 1801. Henry Mallow, George Smith, M. Stites, B. Thomas, Henry Lawrence, Robert Taylor, and El- well Brown were mechanics, farmers, and merchants, useful citizens, and early emigrants. Benjamin Grimes, Curtis Wil- liams, James Tender, Thomas Junk, David Hagar, John Mc- Carthy, M. P. Junk, Amos Seropes, William Jones, Michael Bush, John Bush, S. Mangold, John Farlow, David Plilly, Ed- ward Young, C. Stratton, Martin Peterson, John Holloway, G. Vincent, John Junk, Henry Colsten, J. Clemens, Aaron Beaton- ham, Lemuel Holloway, Thomas Carney, S. Chester, and Rufus Betts were all early pioneers, and nearly all in the war of 1812.
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Deerfield Township.
James Templin, Sen., emigrated from Kentucky to this township in 1795. His family consisted of Solomon, Robert, Jeremiah, Isaac, Margaret, and John. He landed at Ports- mouth, and came up the Scioto to the station. He bought his land from General Massie. Old Town was then the headquarters of the Indians. He and his brother John were in Colonel Clark's regiment in the war of 1812, and helped build Fort Meigs. At the close of the war he resumed the cultivation of his farm. He was twice married, and had fourteen children. He is now eighty-one years of age and rather feeble. His children are scattered, most of them being in the West.
The following pioneer names were handed in by Captain Hoddy : Lieutenant John Jackson ; James Huffman ; Noah Downs, fifer in Captain Brown's company ; James Baker, drum- mer ; Rev. P. Baker, first Baptist preacher and father of Peter Baker; Edward and Thomas Noland, Stephen Emory, and Uriah Betts. The above were all farmers, and were in Colonel Clark's regiment.
Colonel William Clark's staff, in 1812, were : Robert Hod- dy, Adjutant ; Benjamin Grimes, Chaplain ; James Miner, Pay- master; William Clawson, Quartermaster; John Clark, Ser- geant-major; M. E. Peterson, Lieutenant-colonel ; and Major Calloway.
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
Colerain Township.
Township Officers.
Washington Jennings, Andrew Hinton, and Samuel Haris- inger, Justices of the Peace ; Jacob Boustoer, S. Pontious, and Andrew Hinton, Trustees; John May, Clerk; A. Rose, Treasurer; J. Throgmorton, Assessor ; Andrew Wiggins and A. G. Betzer, Constables ; David Jones, Land Appraiser.
Colerain township, in early days, was a noted place for game of every kind. Walnut and Salt creeks were headquarters for all the hunters in the neighborhood ; their high and craggy banks were the hiding places of bears, panthers, and wolves. The township is watered by the head waters of Walnut, Salt, and Kinikinick creeks. The face of the country is part rolling and part level; the soil is rich, and every acre can be tilled.
Adelpha is the principal town in the township, and is one of the oldest towns in the State. It has several stores, churches, etc.
Old Settlers.
Hon. Daniel Kershner was the first pioneer settler in this township, having come in 1796. He had quite a large farm, and was a man of some prominence. He served as captain in the war of 1812, and represented the county in the legislature in 1836. He died in 1844, at the age of eighty-four years. He had three sons-Daniel, John, and Elisha. Daniel, Jr., married and settled at the head waters of Walnut creek. He was captain of the militia, served two terms as county commissioner, and held several township offices. He is now seventy-two years of age, in good health, and much respected. John, the second son, is owner of the old stone fort and a farm on Salt creek.
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Colerain Township.
He married a daughter of the late Colonel Spangler ; has held several township trusts. There are several mounds and one old fort circle on his farm. Elisha, the third son, lives near John ; a good farmer and excellent neighbor. John Kershner, Jr., is a bachelor, a great land speculator and stock dealer. The Kershners are all great land owners, men of wealth and influence.
Hon. Elias Henton was one of the earliest pioneers. Prior to leaving Virginia he had been elected judge. He was a noted hunter as early as 1796. The last panthers and bears he killed were in 1805, on the waters of Walnut creek. He held the office of justice for twenty-one years, and has served his township in other capacities. He is still living, much respected by his numerous friends and relatives. Aaron Jones has taken a great interest in improvements; is a man of sterling principles and sound sense. He was justice of the peace many years. Moses Jones was an early pioneer; entered his land in the forest, and made it a fine farm; held several civil and military offices, and was a man of character and highly respected. Martin Dresback was a pioneer of 1798. He was a soldier in General Harmar's campaign of 1791 and a noted hunter. He died at the age of ninety-six years. John Bookwalter was an early settler in Salt creek valley ; a good hunter. He served as spy from 1783 to 1795, in the campaigns against the Indians. He died at the age of ninety-five years, and his wife, Barbara, at the age of ninety-eight. Joseph, Aaron, and William Bookwalter were among the early pioneers, who cleared their farms in the forest wilderness and braved all the dangers of frontier life. They were men of worth and enterprise. William is still living on his farm, a useful citizen. John May was a pioneer of 1799. He was a great hunter, and served in the wars of 1791 and 1812. Frederick Pontious was an early settler ; a good man, who had much influence in society. He served several terms as justice. Washington Jennings was an early emigrant, a good farmer, and quite popular. He was a justice for many years. Joseph Poland, Henry Strauser, Isaac Harper, Isaac Larich, George
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
Flanagan, Jacob Boucher, and Conrad Rudy were all early pio- neers, and came at the same time. Captain John Patterson was one of the first settlers of Colerain, a brave, energetic man. His father was a major in the Revolution. He served as a captain in the war of 1812, and was several terms justice of the peace. He died eighty years of age. Major Engle, a brave and kind man, and a good farmer, earned his title in the war of 1812. John Dunn was a farmer and justice; a noted man. Saml. Harisinger emigrated at an early day; a farmer; has served several years as justice and postmaster at Adelpha. David Kershner built the first distillery in the township. John Beach was the first innkeeper, and Alexander Smith the first shoemaker. Peter Marshall established the first boot and shoe store in the town- ship. John Stelinger was the first carpenter, Martin Nungester the next; Barton O'Neil, the first blacksmith and carpenter. Flanagan Merriman, an early settler in Colerain, is yet living, at the age of eighty-one years. Nathaniel Throgmorton, an early pioneer, has a large farm ; a man of sound sense, in whose opinion his neighbors place great confidence. He is one of our best citizens, and has raised a large and respectable family. Peter Goodman, a great stock dealer, David Holderman, Conrad Betzer, John Brown, Peter Strauser, Anthony Betzner, and John Strawner were all early pioneers. Samuel Dresback, an early settler, a man of influence, and full of enterprise, has held several township offices, and is much esteemed. John Alena- ther, Henry Hickel, T. W. Hickel, Frederick Haynes, Andrew Haynes ; George Gower, an English soldier under Dunmore, from whom Fort Gower took its name; Moses Dawson, David Dawson, Thomas Arnstow, William Hoover, J. D. Smith, D. Jones, Ja- cob Strouse, Thomas Nutter, Thomas Patton, Jacob Alexander Jacob Grawutt, N. Justin, Peter White, Peter Nicol, and Noah Clark were all early pioneers-all dead but three, and their descendants scattered over the West. David C. Bolous, the hermit, was an Indian killer and bear hunter. He came to the Hocking caves, from the Kanawha region, in Virginia, in 1789. He was never married, having been disappointed. Here he lived
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Colerain Township.
alone in the dense forest, and hunted game, which was in abundance. He would take the skins, furs, and venison to the Ohio, and sell to the traders. In 1791 he shifted his quarters to near Fort Harmar, and from there went, as a spy, to the Maumee, with General St. Clair, and was taken prisoner by the Indians, and lived with them until Wayne's treaty in 1795. He came to old Daniel Kershner's in 1797, and stayed there till the fall of 1799, when he went to the old earth fort on Salt creek, and built a cabin there, in which he lived till the time of his death in 1802. He had killed, in his time, ninety-six bears, seventy-three wolves, and forty-three panthers.
Ancient Mounds, etc.
On John Kershner, Jr.'s, farm is a model mound, thirty-five feet high; and on the west bank of Salt creek, an earth fort, in the shape of a half-moon; one large gateway, and a circular earthwork, extending from the half-moon to the ancient earth fort.
(according to ale Menange account, he Robinson, was mortally wounded They however carried him on a litter a day and a half before he died he frequently requesting them to kill him to put him out of two suffer
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
Union Township.
11 In Union township the face of the country is rather un- even. The bottom lands on the Scioto and Paint and Deer creeks are rich, and produce corn and grain of the best quality. Deer creek divides the township into North and South Union. The streams running through South Union are Mad Robinson's run, Anderson's run, Acton's run, Menary run, and
North Fork of Musselman's run, all emptying into Paint creek. The follow- ing streams empty into Deer creek : Yellow run, Dry run, and Hay run.
Early Settlers. By John Robinson, President of the Ross County Pioneer Association.
His father, Joshua Robinson, emigrated to the Scioto Valley in 1795, in company with General Nathaniel Massie and his surveyors. On arriving at the station near where Chillicothe now is, they proceeded up the main Paint creek. Following the Indian trail at Reeves' Crossings, they came suddenly upon a party of Indians encamped. A battle ensued, which soon ended in favor of the whites. The Indians retreated through the woods, carrying off everything but their guns. Joshua Robinson was shot through the body and died immediately. The body was interred near the mouth of Rocky fork, at the head of the rapids. A white man, who had been prisoner with the Indians, made his escape during the fight. The party re- treated to the Three Islands. William Robinson, brother of Joshua, was also in this fight. He bought six hundred and forty acres from General Massie in South Union, four miles south of Chilli- cothe. He moved to his purchase in 1800, and erected the first cabin in the vicinity, and soon cleared a fine farm. When the war was declared in 1812, he was one of the first to volunteer, although over age. He died at the age of seventy years. John Robinson, on the death of his father, was adopted by his uncle
Mad Run
Jos clark Roby
mes
John Robinson
Kein Menar
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Union Township.
William, and lived with him till he was of age. He was cor poral in Captain Alexander Menary's/ company, of Colonel Clark's regiment, and marched to Sandusky. When the war was over, the regiment was disbanded at Chillicothe, and Mr. Robinson settled on the land on which he still lives, eighty- pied three years of age, in the enjoyment of good health. He had at 94. three sons, James, John, Jr., and Joshua-the latter dead-and Four
two daughters. He furnishes us with the following names of early settlers: William Wilcox, William Cochran, Richard Bradley, Alexander McClintock, B. Johnston, M. Yates, M. Dolly, M. Robertson, Alexander Robertson, and J. Clark, who all served in Colonel Wm. Clark's regiment in the war of 1812.
# Call 1800
John Acton, a man well advanced in years, came to Ross county in 1810, with his family, viz: Richard, John, William, Jeremiah, Sarah, and Benjamin, and settled in South Union. Richard and John were noted hunters. They died in 1810, aged respectively eighty-nine and eighty-eight years. William was in Captain Menary's company during the war of 1812. After it was over he settled on Colonel Evans' land. He is now living on his farm on the north fork of Paint creek, eighty- two years of age, and in good health and spirits. He furnishes the following names of early settlers : James Weaver, who is the father of ten sons, all farmers; Jacob Shedy, James Augus- tus, Oliver Michael, James Anderson, James Pool, Michael Mus- selman, William Rogers, James Duncan, Jr .; General James Menary, who served in the war of 1812, and one term in the legislature; Richard Atherton, L. H. Atherton, Henry Ather- ton, and John Anderson, who was in the war of 1812.
Names of Early Settlers, furnished by Major James Weaver.
William Pool, Jacob Sharer, S. Organ, Oliver Nichols, Revs. Joseph and James Nichols, Addison Nichols, Stephen Ryan, Daniel Beard, George Steel, T. Anderson, Charles Binns, John Guster, James Steel; Richard Barrett, blacksmith; T. Arthur, first merchant and preacher; H. Rouse, Wmn. Fulton, Wm. Noble, and S. Day, who were all farmers.
Joseph Clark and tranne Meloneany South Union Juk R. 1798 ming from Martre Jof Lancaster Cara an farms found John Robinsons and menarys
W.E. mºc.
of So Robinson and Grandfather mea
"Menany Farm" adjoining the fa
Colour of one of the other Regiments
Great Grand-fattur. liver a the time of his death on the
ella garet
106
Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
Names and Records, by John N. Hurst.
His father, Levi Hurst, and family emigrated to Ross county, from Maryland, in 1801. They came in one-horse carts to Wheeling, where he purchased a flat-boat, in which he floated his effects to Portsmouth, except the horses, which were sent by land. Here he hitched up his carts again, and in nine days reached Chillicothe, in the month of June. He moved into the woods the September following. Wild game was very plenty, and the Indians were hunting in great numbers that fall, so that clearing progressed very slowly. Mr. Hurst was the father of eight children. His sons' names were James, William, Harper, Samuel, Thomas, and John N. The latter occupies the beautiful homestead on Dry run. He has served his township as justice, clerk, assessor, etc. They are all Methodists. General Hurst, who served in the late war, and is now United States revenue collector, is a relative of'Squire Hurst. When Captain Harrod was killed by the Indians, a company was raised and pursued them as far as Old Town. In return- ing they indulged in firing at game, which so alarmed the settlers that they all left their cabins, and the whole thirteen families collected at Levi Hurst's, expecting an attack. Mrs. Hubbard stood during the night near the window, with an ax, saying that she would kill the first Indian that would attempt to get in. Mr. Levi Hurst built the first hewed log- house in the township. He was born in 1770, and died in 1861. He and his wife had lived together seventy years.
f John Rogers, one of the pioneers, helped to build the first cabin in Chillicothe. He was in the valley three months prior to the arrival of the first white woman, and drove the first cattle from Kentucky to Chillicothe. His old cabin is still standing. Judge James Armstrong served as judge one term.
+ He was a man of ability. Joseph Clark, James and Hamilton 4 Rogers were early settlers. Judge Joshua Robinson died in 1862, aged eighty-eight years. Thomas, John, and Joseph + McCoy were the first settlers on Dry run. Thomas Earl was
all Carne af from Kentucky in 1796 and Settled near Chillicothe. all the Fanatic bem Presbyterians belonging to the old Union Of
107
Union Township.
an early settler and good man; served as justice several terms. David Augustus was in the war of 1812. Joseph Counts, John Russell, Henry Davis, and William Harvey were the first school teachers. Rev. Benj. Young was the first preacher. Rev. H. Smith organized the first Methodist Church in 1800. The first camp meeting was held in 1803, on Thomas Watts' farm. Eben Timmons, Thomas Hicks, Thomas Willis, Robert Harvey, T. Tootte, N. Adams, Isaac Cook ; James Dunlap, who was a mem- ber of the State legislature; Colonel Evans, a man of great enterprise and a large land owner, who came from Kentucky ; Philip Miner, Jacob Mace, Joshua Clark, Joseph Counts, Asa Hawkins, Jacob Crispin, Levi Warner, Abram Winder, Charles Fryson, John Hinder, Milton Anderson, Thomas Thompson, Mr. Williams, David Corbit, Michael Baily, William Fulton, and Daniel Beard, who was in the war of 1812.
John Dunlap, father of James and all the other Dunlaps in this region, emigrated to Union township in 1796, and was so much pleased with the Scioto Valley that he bought a large body of land on the west bank of the Scioto, for which he gave nineteen cents an acre. This land is now owned by his sons, and is worth one hundred dollars per acre. His wife was a granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. His sons were Robert, Rufus, James, John, Major, and Lorenzo.
Casper Smith came to the Scioto Valley in 1796. His father was a captain during the Revolutionary war. Casper was in the war of 1812, and died in 1845. Henry and Thomas Bowdell and James Fish came in 1800. Rachel Buckworth is yet living, and has raised a large family. Thomas Vinsant. Mr. McCarfity, an early settler, was in the war of 1812. The latter was a kind man and good neighbor. His widow is yet living at Chillicothe, and still owns the old farm. John Huber, Sen., John Huber, Jr., and Henry Russell, all farmers, with large families. John Robinson, Thomas Littleton, Joseph Charge, Henry Cook, John Davis, Thomas Earl, Caleb Leland, and John James came in 1799; all farmers.
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