The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 47

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 47

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The following members of Company E were killed; James Criswell (Ser- geant), Allen Reeves (Sergeant), Jacob Gnagy and Henry W. Miller, at the Wilderness, May 6, 1864; George W. Aerion, John H. Meyers and Daniel Zigler, at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864; John McNeal, at Opequan, Septem- ber 19, 1864; A. H. Dillon, October 19, 1864: Philip D. Jenkins, at Flint Hill, September 21, 1864; Josiah Speiher, at Monocacy, July 9. 1864; Ireneous King, Elias B. Wollick and Robert Wright died of wounds in 1864. John H. Buchele died in rebel prison August 9, 1864: William Craig, March 12, 1865; William Shock, October 12, 1864.

The following died of disease: Thomas H. Davey, at Martinsburg, Va .. February 22, 1863; William Forney, at Little York, Penn., February 6, 1865; Daniel Heider, July 25, 1864; Lewis McCartney, at Annapolis, December 21, 1864; David Resler, at Martinsburg, March 4, 1863; James K. Ross. Aguust, 1864; Josiah Stephens, at Martinsburg, February 16, 1863; Ephraim Sheline, at Martinsburg, April 10, 1863; George Winter, at Martinsburg. January 30, 1863; David Zimmerman, at Brandy Station, Va., March 23, 1864.

The following of Company G were killed in action: John Criter (Ser- geant), Melvin Carpenter, Gottlieb Reiser and Matthias Weaver, at the Wil- derness, May 6, 1864; Otto Cold, at Opequon, September 9, 1864; Enos Rob- inson, at Fisher Hill, September 22, 1864.

The following died of wounds received at the Wilderness: Abraham D. Black, May 9, 1864; Valentine Eckert, May 10, 1864; Joseph Murphy, May 17, 1864; James H. Renick, May 9, 1864; John Trump, May 13, 1863; and David Moses, May 15, 1864, of wounds received at Spottsylvania; Jesse Corn August 9, 1864, of wounds received at Monocacy.

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The following died in rebel prisons; Henry Devins, July 31, 1964; Jacob Garrett, November 27, 1864; William Jewell, August 31, 1864; Thomas E. Taylor, September 16, 1864; Arthur L. Van Vleck, December 20, 1863.

Other deaths in the company during service were Benjamin H. Lacey, at Charleston, September 17, 1864; Thomas J. Perrick, at Annapolis, July 16, 1863; Joseph Boger, January 26, 1865; John Domer, at Martinsburg, Janu- ary 31, 1863; John Fleckner, August 20, 1864; John L. Griffith, March 20, 1863; James Huff, January 16, 1863; and Joseph James H. Papham, January 21, 1863, at Martinsburg; James Robinson, September 16, 1863.

Company B, of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, was from Tuscarawas. Charles Mitchener had been its Captain, but when the regiment was formed he was commissioned Major, and Andrew Davis, originally the First Lieutenant, was promoted to Captain. Albert J. Beebout, the first Second Lieutenant, was promoted to the vacancy caused by the pro- motion of Davis, and George W. Bowers was commissioned Second Lieuten- ant. Lieut. Beebout was honorably discharged November 14, 1863, and Lieut. Bowers was promoted to his place, whereupon Lewis J. Scott was made Second Lieutenant.

The regiment was organized at Camp Taylor near Cleveland, Ohio, Au. gust 10, 1863, and was mustered in for a term of six months. Nearly all the officers and a large portion of the men had already seen considerable service.

It started for Camp Nelson, Ky., August 10, and ten days later left that camp for Cumberland Gap, which was invested by the National forces, and capitulated without a struggle; 2,200 prisoners were taken, fourteen pieces of artillery and a large amount of war materiel of all kinds. The One Hundred and Twenty-ninth performed garrison duty here until December 1, when it was ordered to move at daylight, at two hours' notice. It marched to Clinch River and there participated in a sharp engagement with a division of Long- street's men. During the month of December, the regiment was kept con- stantly moving along the line of the river, watching the enemy and occasion- ally skirmishing. The winter was severe and the hardships experienced were terrible. The men and officers alike had left the Gap without baggage. The men were almost out of clothes, and their rations were of the poorest quality and smallest quantity. The country here had already been foraged by both armies, and the inhabitants themselves were reduced to abject want. About the last of December, the regiment fell back to Tazewell, where it was isolated from the main army and left to depend on its own resources. The cold was intense; the enemy near and active, so that distant foraging was impossible; consequently a great deal of suffering was endured, though the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth fared better than some other regiments. From Tazewell, the regiment returned to the Gap, where it remained until early in February, when it started for Camp Nelson, 130 miles distant. Thence it was moved to Cleveland, and there mustered out in March, 1864.

The following members of Company B died in service: William M. John- son, October 15, 1863; Robert Himell, November 10, 1863; Zachary Fertig,

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December 2, 1863, all at Cumberland Gap, Ky .; Francis Dugan, January 8, 1864, at Tazewell, Tenn .; and O. P. Huston.

The regimental officers of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio National Guards, who were from Tuscarawas County, were Oliver P. Taylor, Colonel; Martin Hagan, Surgeon; Henry C. Tucker, Assistant Surgeon; William A. Bovey, Adjutant.

Four companies were from Tuscarawas-A, D, E and F.

Company A was raised at Gnadenhutten, and was officered by Jesse Blick- ensderfer, Captain; Lewis B. Winsch, First Lieutenant; Sylvester S. Demuth, Second Lieutenant.

Company D was from New Philadelphia. Its officers were John H. Col- lier, Captain; Peter Swick, First Lieutenant; William B. Winsch, Second Lieutenant.

Company E had enlisted at Uhrichsville. Laffer Caples was Captain; William McCollum, First Lieutenant; Josiah Welch, Second Lieutenant.

Company F belonged to Trenton. John D. Cunning was Captain; John H. Minnich, First Lieutenant; and Robert T. Benner, Second Lieutenant.

These four companies had formed the Seventieth Battalion. Besides them, the One Hundred and Sixty-first contained the Forty-third Battalion from Morgan County, the Ninety-third Battalion from Noble County, and a com- pany of the Fifty eighth Battalion from Hancock County, all National Guards. The regiment was mustered into the United States service for 100 days at Camp Chase, May 9, 1864, with 850 men. It was at once ordered to Cum- berland, reaching it May 12. On the 28th, the regiment moved to Martins- burg, W. Va, and June 4 Companies A, B, D, F and H, with other troops, were sent up the Shenandoah Valley with a supply train for Hunter's army, then supposed to be near Staunton. On reaching that place, it was found that Hun- ter had advanced, but they finally overtook him at Lexington on the 11th. They remained with the army until it arrived near Lynchburg, when, having turned over the supplies, they were ordered back to Martinsburg. Encum- bered by many sick and wounded, by a train of over 150 wagons and ambu- lances, by 150 prisoners and by several hundred contrabands, they left the army on the 17th, and, with three days' rations of crackers, started on the re- turn march through a hostile and mountainous country. They reached Bev- erly on the 28th, and after resting two days proceeded to Webster, the entire distance marched being nearly 500 miles. From Webster they returned by rail to Martinsburg, arriving July 2, and marched to Hainesville, where the remainder of the regiment was encamped, in charge of a corral of 125 teams and wagons. They arrived in camp about 8 o'clock in the evening, and be- fore supper could be prepared orders were received for the regiment to return to Martinsburg. It reached that place about daylight, and after remaining in line of battle till 11 o'clock A. M., it fell back through Shepherdstown and Sharpsburg to Maryland Heights. Early on the 6th, skirmishing commenced and continued for two days, the One Hundred and Sixty-first taking an active part all the time, after which it went into position in Stone Fort. Subse-

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quently it assisted in defending Maryland Heights until the rebels were driven from the Shenandoah. August 25, it was ordered to Ohio, and September 2, 1864, was mustered out at Camp Chase.

In the One Hundred and Sixty-first, Company A, Samnel Schweitzer, Jr., died of wounds received at Maryland Heights, July 7, 1864; of Company D, Alfred Goodbarn.died at Frederick City, Md., July 6, 1864; of Company F, Oliver Brainerd died of typhoid fever at Cumberland, Md., May 28, 1864.

The One Hundred and Seventy-Eighth regiment was one of the series recruited for one year's service in the fall of 1864. Company H was raised at Uhrichsville. The regiment was organized at Camp Chase, near Columbus, September, 29, and was at once dispatched to Nashville with orders to report to Gen. Thomas. It performed guard "duty at Nashville two weeks, and was then sent to Tullahoma, Tenn., where it composed part of the post command. This post was evacuated in the winter of 1864, and the One Hundred and Seventy eighth was then sent to Murfreesboro. Frequent sorties were made in force from the fort for foraging purposes, under command of Gen. Milroy, with severe fighting The One Hundred and Seventy-eighth was closely engaged under Col. Stafford. In one of these engagements, it lost both its color-bearers. In the affair at Wil- kerson's Pike, the force under Gen. Milroy, including the One Hundred and Seventy- Eighth, captured two fine twelve-pounder Napoleons, and 200 pris- oners. After the defeat of Hood at Nashville, the regiment was brigaded in the First Division, Third Brigade, Twenty-third Army Corps, and ordered to North Carolina. It landed at Moorehead City.and a few days thereafter participated in asmart skirmish with the enemy under Gen. Johnston, at Wise's Fork. This was the last engagement of the regiment. Gen. Sherman's army was met and joined by the Twenty-third Army Corps at Goldsboro, N. C., and together an advance was made to Raleigh. After Johnston's surrender, the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth was ordered to Charlotte, N. C., where it performed garri- son duty till mustered out of the service June 29, 1865. It was finally paid and discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, July 10, 1865.

Of Company H, Daniel Keller died at Louisville, Ky., January 31, 1865; Isaac Vail, at Jeffersonville, Ind., February 9, 1865; Harrison Williams, at Moorehead City, N. C., February 28, 1865; Sylvester C. Meek, at Charlotte, N. C., May 17, 1865.

Company A, of the One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, contained about forty men from Tuscarawas. George W. Bowers, of New Philadelphia, was its Captain, and Patrick H. Copeland, of Tuscarawas Coun- ty, its Second Lieutenant. The regiment was organized at Camp Chase for ons year's service, February 26, 1865, with an aggregate of 1,006 men, one half of whom were veterans. It left Camp Chase, February 27, under orders to report to Gen. Thomas at Nashville, but was detained at Louisville by Gen. Palmer, who applied to Gen. Thomas and obtained permission to retain the regiment in Kentucky. Headquarters were established at Eminence, Ky., and the companies were scattered through the State from Owensboro to Cum-

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berland Gap on garrison duty. Little opportunity was afforded for drill. but duties were performed efficiently, and its discipline was such that no com- plaint was ever made of the conduct of the men. It had no opportunity of showing its fighting qualities, as the war closed soon after it entered the serv- ice. September 26, the regiment was mustered out at Lexington, Ky., with an aggregate of 889 men. It repaired to Camp Chase and was discharged October 2, 1865.

Company I, of the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, contained a detachment of sol- diers from Tuscarawas County. The Twelfth recruited from nearly every coun - ty in the State; was mustered into service November 24, 1863, near Cleveland, Ohio. It was mounted and equipped at Camp Dennison, proceeded to Ken- tucky and became a portion of Gen. Burbridge's command on the first Saltville raid. The Twelfth pursued John Morgan, and after severe marching arrived at Mount Sterling June 9, 1864, where it was closely engaged with the rebels. It again overtook Morgan at Cynthiana, fought and scattered his forces and pursued them three days. September 20, it started in Gen. Burbridge's com- mand, on a second expedition to Saltville. The salt works were reached and the regiment engaged for half a day in hard fighting. With its brigade, it charged up a hill and drove the enemy from a battery posted there. Head- quarters were established at Lexington, the companies being scattered through different counties. Another Saltville expedition was determined on, and Gen. Burbridge left Crab Orchard with his division, November 22, during a se- vere snow storm. The Twelfth did its full share of duty under Gen. Stone- man at Bristol, at Abingdon, at Marion, and thence as support of Gen. Gillam in his pursuit of Vaughn: then back again to Marion, where Gen. Stoneman engaged Breckinridge for forty hours and finally defeated him. In this en- gagement, all of the Twelfth bearing sabers participated in a grand charge, driving back the enemy's cavalry. The regiment behaved gallantly through- out the fight, and received the praises of Gens. Burbridge and Stoneman. Saltville was captured December 21, and the forces returned to Richmond, Ky. As the result of this raid, four boats were captured. 150 miles of rail - road, thirteen trains and locomotives, lead mines, salt works, iron foundries and an immense quantity of stores were completely destroyed. March 6, 1865, the regiment reached Nashville; thence it moved to Murfreesboro, and to Knoxville, where it again formed part of a raiding expedition under Gen. Stoneman. They penetrated North Carolina; then, by an angular movement. reached Christiansburg, Va., and destroyed thirty miles of the Lynchburg & East Tennessee Railroad; they next cut the Danville & Charlotte Rail- road at Greensboro, N. C. This drew the garrison from Salisbury, and cut- ting the road again between them and Salisbury, that place with its stores and the Union prisoners confined there fell into our hands April 12. Moving south, they destroyed the railroads to Morgantown and Rutherford and the Danville & Columbia road south of Charlotte. They then aided in the capt- ure of Jefferson Davis, moving through South Carolina, Georgia and Ala- bama, capturing Gens. Bragg and Wheeler, and reaching Bridgeport, Ala.,

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after being sixty seven days in the saddle. Thence the regiment went to Lenoir, Tenn., remaining three months; thence to Pulaski, where regimental head- quarters were established and the companies scattered through several coun. ties, enforcing law and order. The Twelfth finally rendezvoused at Nash- ville, and was mustered ont November 14. 1865. It proceeded to Columbus where it was paid and discharged on the 22d and 23d of the same month.

Of Company I, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry. Henry Crossland, of New Philadel- phia, died at Johnson's Island, Ohio, February, 1864; and Vincent Patterson, of Dover, was killed in action at Mount Sterling, Ky., June 9, 1864.

QUANTRILL, THE REBEL GUERRILLA.

William Clark Quantrill, the noted rebel guerrilla, whose name spread ter- ror wherever it was known in the Southwest, was a native of Tuscarawas County and of Dover. He was born in 1837. His father, a native of Ha- gerstown, Md., emigrated to Dover, and for awhile operated a tin shop, then became Superintendent of the Public Schools, in which position he died. Young Quantrill, at the age of sixteen, became a teacher in one of the lower grades of his father's schools. A year later, he attended school at Fort Wayne, Ind., studying Latin and the higher mathematics, returning to Dover in 1856. The following spring, with two companions, he started for Kansas, and there acquired his fame as an outlaw. He taught a term of school in Stanton, Kan. During the spring of 1860, with three others, he went to Independence, Mo., for the purpose of robbing a rich farmer, who lived near Blue Springs, ten miles distant. Preliminaries were arranged, and the party rode to the house, where they were met by an armed force and Quantrill's three companions were killed. It was claimed that he betrayed them. He then taught school at or near Santa Fe until the breaking-out of the rebellion. He placed himself under the banner of Gov. Price, and was put in command of 100 desperadoes, including the notorious James and Young brothers. With this band. he pil- laged and burned towns " and reddened the prairies of Kansas with the blood of defensless women and children until the world shuddered." Soon after the organization of his force, Quantrill visited Richmond, and it is believed was commissioned a Colonel in the Confederate service, for he assumed that title. His principal devastations were committed in Missouri and Kansas, his per- manent quarters and hiding place being in Jackson County, Mo. Charles F. Taylor, of Joplin, Mo., who was for some time Quantrill's Lieutenant, says of him: " Quantrill was humane and kind, as some can testify at Lawrence, where he saved a great many. Kansas was the State he preferred to fight in. He was not half strict enough with his men. His success lay in his men, who were all made desperate by one cause or another, and who were always anx- ious to fight. He was of a jealous disposition, and frequently bad trouble with his officers, a number of whom left his command and became 'operators' on their own account. He would occasionally divide his band and send small squads off in all directions, directing those in command to strike in the name of Quantrill, and thus it appeared that he was in three or four different

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sections at the same time." He received his death wounds March 1, 1865, near Fairfield, Ky., while on his way to Richmond to join Lee. Taking shel- ter, with fifteen of his men, in a barn during a rain, it was surrounded by Capt. Edward Terrill and forty-five Federal bush whackers, and as Quantrill was trying to escape, he was twice shot. He was removed soon after to a hospital in Louisville, where he died a few weeks later and was buried in a Catholic cemetery. When captured, he gave his name as Capt. Clark, but after his death his men acknowledged his identity.

The people about Dover who knew Quantrill in his youth, speak of him only in kindness. He then resembled other boys in tastes and disposition, was fond of hunting and fishing, and a fine shot with the rifle, and had always been civil and quiet. His venerable mother, a highly respected lady. still resides at Dover, and, except her son Thomas, living somewhere in the West, is the sole survivor of her once large and happy family.

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PART IV.

TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.

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CHAPTER I.

NEW PHILADELPHIA AND GOSHEN TOWNSHIP.

LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT-ITS FOUNDATION-EARLY SETTLERS-THE VIL- LAGE IN 1820-ADDITIONS-INCORPORATION-PUBLIC BUILDINGS-SCHOOLS- CHURCHES-CEMETERY-SOCIETIES-THE PRESS-PHYSICIANS-MEDICAL SOCIETY-BANKS-INDUSTRIES-HOTELS-GOSHEN TOWNSHIP-ITS EARLY HISTORY-SURFACE FEATURES-FIRST SETTLERS- THE GOSHEN INDIANS-LOCKPORT-PIKE RUN-ON-

TARIO MILLS-MOOREVILLE-CHURCHES-SALT WORKS-JUSTICES.

N EW PHILADELPHIA, the county seat of Tuscarawas County, is a beautiful, quiet little city of 3,500 people, situated on the spreading plains above the Tuscarawas River, in the western part of Goshen Township. Its streets are broad, level and finely shaded; its lots are large and are gener- ally occupied by spacious residences and cozy cottages, which gives an air of comfort and plenty to the place and bespeak the thrift and prosperity of the inhabitants; its public buildings would be creditable structures to any county of the State. The newly-built court house, overlooking the center of trade and traffic, is a model of solid and imposing workmanship. The schoolhouse, located in a retired part of the town, is ample in size and conveniences to ac- commodate the pupils of the growing population for many years to come. The city hall, churches and industrial buildings scattered in various portions of the county seat are further indices of wealth and prosperity.

The village was laid out in 1804, and its proprietor, John Knisely, from the systematic structure and size of its plat at that time, evidently expected it to become an important city. Four years later, upon the erection of Tusca- rawas County, New Philadelphia was selected as its county seat by a commit- tee appointed for this purpose by the State Legislature. The early records of the county show that Elijah Wadsworth and Eli Baldwin received $32 from the county for locating the seat of justice. Dover, which was laid out in 1807, contested unavailingly for the prize. The growth of New Philadelphia has been commensurate with the progress of the county. Its population, as given in as many of the census reports as are now accessible, has been as fol- lows: In 1820, 236; in 1840, 531; in 1850, 1,414; in 1860, 2,360; in 1870, 3,143; in 1880, 3,070. The apparent decrease during the last decade is not real, for in 1870 the population of Lockport, amounting to several hundred, was included in the returns of New Philadelphia, while in 1880 it was enu- merated separately.

The first settlement in the county seat, occurring nearly eighty years ago, is involved in some obscurity. When laid out, the site of the village was

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covered with brush and trees, and the lots and streets indicated only by small stakes. Broadway and High streets were first cleared, and for years were the only thoroughfares. One log cabin rose slowly after another as time rolled on, and were gradually displaced by larger and more substantial dwellings. Mr. Knisely, the proprietor, did not build him a cabin within the limits of the town, but dwelt a short distance east of it. John Hull, who accompanied Knisely from Pennsylvania, is said to have built the first honse in New Phil- adelphia; he remained a resident but a short time.

In the spring of 1808, the population of the town consisted of four fam- ilies. Peter Cribbs had built his cabin and potter-kiln on the east side of Broadway, between Front and High, and conducted the pottery business there for many years. George Leininger had erected a large, rude cabin, which he used as a tavern, on the southwest corner of Broadway and Front streets. Christian Stout lived in a house on Water street, and followed carpentering. He came from Washington County, Penn., and his son Joseph is said to have been the first child born in New Philadelphia. The year of his birth was 1807. Henry Laffer was also here. He was a Pennsylvanian, had assisted in surveying the lands of Ohio, and in 1809 opened a tavern at his dwelling house in New Philadelphia and kept it for several years. He was Sheriff of the county from 1810 to 1813, and soon after founded Sandyville and removed thither.

In May, 1808, a party of five persons, consisting of David Fiscus, old Mr. Geiger and son, Daniel Williams and Peter Williams started afoot from Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn., with New Philadelphia as their objec. tive point. A few days' traveling along indistinct trails or paths blazed by the woodman's ax, brought them to their destination. John Knisely lived on his farm adjoining the town on the east, across Beaver Dam, and his house was the stopping-place of all new-comers. After resting from their tiresome journey, the party was conducted by Mr. Knicely to the town. Reaching the forks of the road at the east and, where now the roads to New Cumberland and Cadiz separate, he told them that they were now in town, but only an ex. panse of bushes and small trees met their vision. At what is now High street. a mere foot-path wound along, and around the bushes and saplings to the next square, where the enthusiasitc proprietor informed them the court house was destined to be built. A few trees had been cleared from the square, and Broadway, crossing it, was the only street that was partially cleared.

Several days later, Gabriel Cryder arrived with several teams, on his way to settle in what is now Dover Township. Besides his household effects, he had an assortment of goods which he had received in exchange for a house and lot in Pennsylvania Having no house or barn yet erected, and finding no room at the village where he could store them, Mr. Cryder was desirous of selling the goods. The settlers in and about New Philadelphia were anxious to have a store started here, Gnadenhutten being then the nearest trading point, but there was no one to buy them. When the Greensburg party were making preparations to return, Mr. Cryder was informed that Peter Williams had clerked for several years in a store. Cryder and several others urged young Williams, who was then but sixteen years of age, to purchase the stock. He possessed no means, but two men agreed to become his security for the amount, and Williams was induced to remain. One of the men afterward de. clined to assume the responsibility, and the goods were given to the lad for his own notes. Peter Cribbs offered half his little cabin, and in it a store room was rudely fitted up. The goods were rapidly sold, and replenished. and the first mercantile venture thus resulted in the establishment of a store which was carried on successfully for many years.

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The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 47

Author: Warner, Beers & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017