The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 110

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Ohio > Union County > The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record; > Part 110

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Not many years after the Ewings arrived, and before the war of 1812 commenced, " Bill" Taylor, the son of Isaac Taylor, who settled on Darby, near the northern limits of Madison County rushed to his father's cabin one day, and, with a frightened look, related that he had overheard an Indian con- versation near the creek, in which it was said that the Indians were to fall upon the white settlers that night and exterminate them, if possible. The news, as it was conveyed from cabin to cabin, created the utmost consternation. Only a few families had yet settled on Darby, and the Indians greatly out- numbered them. It was agreed that all the settlers should congregate that night, with their families, at the cabin of Daniel Taylor, on the south bank of Darby, in Jerome Township, as his cabin was the largest and best adapted to repel invasion. As nightfall approached, the Ewings, Careys, Taylors and other families hurried to the rendezvous, and preparations for defense were made. The doors were barred, and cleats nailed at the sides and top. All night long the men watched and waited, guns in hand. The house was crowded with women and children, but fear drove sleep from their aching eyes. Morning came, but the threatened attack was not made. Thinking that the Indians had feared to attack the improvised fort, so strongly guaded, the set- tlers dared not remain at home the following night, but again assembled, and spent the weary hours in dreadful suspense and anticipation of attack, but all was quiet, and nowhere were there any indications of Indians in the vicinity. Doubts of the correctness of the rumor then began to be entertained, and Bill Taylor was closely interrogated concerning the alleged conversation he had overheard. The cross examination was too rigid for him, and he finally con- fessed it was all a hoax. He had seen no Indians. The more than ordinary depravity of his composition had suggested to him the story.

Amicable relations were generally maintained with the Indians, who sel-

264

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

dom gave cause for difficulties. These, however, would occasionally occur. Daniel Taylor, who was one of the foremost pioneers, brought with him a mare and colt. A party of Indians were once visiting at his house, and one of them espied and greatly admired the mare; he wished to buy her, but Taylor was unwilling to make the sale, as it would break his team, and another horse could not be procured nearer than Chillicothe. Jonathan Alder, who was pres- ent, and observed the Indian's eagerness, advised Mr. Taylor to sell "the critter," but this he would not consent to do. Not many days later the horse was stolen and never recovered, and the trip to Chillicothe Mr. Taylor was obliged to make.

James Ewing brought the first sheep to this county. He kept them con- fined within a high inclosure, through fear of the wolves. Several Indians, who had been hunting, called at his cabin soon after. Their dogs jumped over the fence and attacked the sheep. Mr. Ewing, in his anger, seized his rifle and shot one of the dogs. This act enraged the Indians, and a breach of the friendship between them and Mr. Ewing was imminent. Jonathan Alder was present, and interposed. His efforts at peace-making at length restored good feeling.

During the war of 1812, there were several rumors of threatened Indian descents on the Darby settlements, but all proved unfounded. At " the falls" of Sugar Run, two Indian hunting parties, during the hostilities, were to meet by agreement. One of them arrived, and after waiting for the other some time, a member of the party discovered, cut in the bark of a beech tree, the picture of a horse, a gun and a symbol indicating direction. The interpreta- tion of this, to the Indian mind, was that the other party had stolen a horse and were pursued, the direction they had gone being indicated. They waited no longer, but at once took sudden departure.

Indians were not the only objects of apprehension to the pioneers. Panthers and other wild and dangerous animals frequented the forests, and the only safeguard against them was a trusty rifle. Samuel Taylor, the son of Daniel Taylor, was coming home one evening, down the Darby from the Mitch- ell settlement, on horseback, when he saw a coon run up a tree. He climbed the tree and dispatched the coon with a club, then mounted his horse with his game and again proceeded homeward. His horse was very restive, and to as- certain the cause the boy looked around. He saw a large panther, which sprang out into the path behind him just as he started. The boy lost no time in reaching his father's cabin, for the panther kept even pace behind him all the way. Mrs Elizabeth Ewing, the wife of Joshua Ewing, one day visited Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, who lived below Amity. On her return she carried in her arms the infant daughter of Mrs. Taylor, of which she was very fond, in- tending to return with it the next day. After going some distance, she was startled to see a large panther crouching in the path. a short distance ahead of her. She was greatly frightened, and stopped, but looked the animal steadily in the eyes for a few minutes. It then arose and entered the bushes on one side. She proceeded, and reached home in safety. Though often encoun- tered in this way, it is not known that any one was attacked by these wild denizens of the wilderness.

It was only a short time after the first settlers came that the woods were filled with wild hogs. Most of the early settlers brought a few hogs with them, and as the mast of the forest was amply sufficient for their sustenance, they were allowed to run at large. Each settler branded his hogs with a pri- vate ear mark, and could thus identify his own property. Many of these swine were lost; they multiplied rapidly, and a breed of wild. vicious hogs was the result. They would attack dogs, and sometimes men, when the branches of a tree would be the only retreat.

265

JEROME TOWNSHIP.

For many years it was customary for the settlers to allow their hogs to run at large during the fall, and when winter approached it was often extreme- ly difficult to get them back within inclosures. Good hog-drivers were in great demand, and received high wages. The unruly animals were usually driven in large droves by men on horseback, assisted by dogs, into an inclosed field, where they were assorted and their ownership determined by the ear marks. Sometimes wide circuits, miles in extent, must be made before they could be secured. Those belonging to widows were always brought in free by the neighbors.

Wolves were plenty at first, but the bounty of $4 a scalp paid by the county made them much sought after by hunters, and the forests were cleared of them before other large game disappeared.

Near the present residence of John Curry, on Sugar Run, Survey 5,132, was a " deer lick," where in early times many deer were killed. The spring is sulphury, and at night the deer would frequent the place. A chair was fastened in the branches of a tree, which commanded a view of the path lead- ing to the spring, and in this chair the hunter would sit and await the ap- proach of his game. Although it was so dark that he could scarcely discern the outlines of the deer, he rarely failed in bringing it down. Cattle and horses still drink the water of this spring with great avidity. In its vicinity Mr. Curry has found almost an innumerable number of flint arrows and stone axes. indicating that the red men, too, were wont to hunt on this spot.

JONATHAN ALDER.

In a previous chapter of this volume are given the outlines of the life of Jonathan Alder, whose history is closely linked with each of the two races of pioneer times. When he was captured by the Indians, he believed his life was spared because his hair was dark, and because he smiled at the savage who had raised his tomahawk to kill him. He saw his little bright-haired brother slain and believed all the family except himself had been killed. He lived within the bounds of Jerome Township at the time he abandoned his Indian life and returned to his home. With other Indian braves, he dwelt on the west banks of Big Darby just above Plain City. His cabin stood on the high bank above the grist mill, and only a few rods from the present residence of George At- kins. When he came to this place is unknown, but he was living there with his squaw wife when the first settlers arrived. Until 1795, when the Indian treaty restored peace, he was engaged with his Indian comrades in various dep- redations and hostile excursions and it was probably very soon after this that he settled on Darby. As the pioneers arrived, he mingled with them and re- learned the English language, which he had almost forgotten. His squaw cultivated a little patch of corn in the bottoms and Jonathan dealt to some ex- tent. in stock. The land he occupied belonged to the tract Daniel Taylor had purchased, and, when the latter arrived about 1803, Jonathan kindly surren- dered to him the cabin he had built and occupied, and with his squaw built

and removed to a bark hut close by. His association with white men created a strong desire to follow their habits and abandon his Indian life. His squaw still clung to Indian ways and their diverging tastes became more and more marked. Jonathan no longer went with his Indian brethren on their "big hunts." From a settler, he received the information that his mother was still liv- ing, and he resolved to return to her. Richard Taylor made him a suit of clothes which he donned in place of his Indian garments. He told his squaw his intention and they divided their effects. The wild life he had led had not wholly obliterated the instincts to accumulate, for he had saved a few hundred silver dollars, and had besides a number of ponies. The former he gave his

266

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

wife after some parleying and also equally divided the latter with her. He bade her adieu; she went northward to her own people and he turned his face toward Virginia, the State of his birth and boy hood. This was in 1805, and his departure terminated his connection with Jerome Township. He found his relatives in Virginia, there married Mary Blont and returned with her to Ohio, settling in Madison County. By this marriage he had twelve children. He lived, died and was buried in Madison County. His tombstone bears this inscription : "Jonathan Alder. born September 17, 1773. Taken by the In- dians 1781. Returned to his mother in 1805. Died January 30, 1849, aged about 76 years."

His squaw wife had separated from him unwillingly, for in spite of his proclivities for the fashions of the pale face, she was deeply attached to him. It is said she had threatened to kill his wife should he ever marry again, and that he feared her on this account. For some time after his return, he would not permit his wife to remain alone in their cabin. When he went to the fields to work, she must accompany him. On their return one day from a trading expedition to a neighboring town, they found the tin ware bent and cut. the iron ware broken in pieces by an ax and Mrs. Alder's dresses slashed and cut in shreds. Though the squaw was not seen, the mischief was attributed to her hands. Mr. Alder's long life with the red men had bred in him Indian traits

and manners, which clung to him through life. Though he possessed good business talent, he disliked hard work, and confined his farm labors principally to stock-raising. He was dark hued and bore some resemblance to the Indian race. He was a large, tall man and could move about almost noiselessly. While living in Jerome Township, he was the friend of the white men, and whenever occasion offered acted as peacemaker between them and the Indians Mr. Adler related the following hunting incident, which occurred while camp- ing on Darby, in Jerome Township: "One day about noon I saw a large bear in the top of a big, white oak tree, picking off and eating acorns. I sat down on the ground about 100 yards off to watch its motions. I did not wish to kill it, as bears were not yet fat, and fur was not yet good, or rather not of full growth. I sat there amusing myself with its motions for some time. It was really funny to see it get about in the very top branches, while the whole tree

shook with its enormous weight at every motion. All at once it ceased to gather in the branches and slid down and commenced picking the acorns that had fallen to the ground. In a few moments, without the least warning, it started in the direction I was, as rapidly as it could pace. I had my gun resting in my lap and saw it would run right over me. I had no time to get up and get out of its way, so I raised my gun and fired as soon as possible, when it was within a few yards of me. I shot it through the brain and it fell right across my lap. I was badly scared, for I did not know that I had killed it. I kicked and struggled to get from beneath it, but it was so heavy that it took some time before I could get out. I had shot it so dead that it never kicked, but laid like a log upon me, all of which, had I not been so frightened, I might have observed. When I finally got out, I was so much exhausted from the fright and effort I could hardly stand."

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

To Joshua and James Ewing, two brothers, belong the honor of making the first settlement in what is now Union County and in Jerome Township. Accounts all agree that they settled permanently on Big Darby in the year 1798, but it is also said that two or three years prior to this date, these two young men, then both unmarried, had been West, probably in the Indian serv- ice, and having determined on settling in this wild and unoccupied country,

267

JEROME TOWNSHIP.

cast their eyes about for a favorable location. They traveled with one horse and a small, two-wheeled cart, cutting their way through the tangled brush- wood and sleeping in a tent, which they carried with them. They encamped on a spot in southeastern Jerome, which afterward became the James Ewing homestead, there cleared a small patch of ground and planted it in corn, chopping holes in the ground with an ax and then covering the hill with the fork of a stick. Peace with the Indians had just been declared, and the smoke of war had scarcely yet risen from the land. Surrounded on all sides by the Indians, who had scarcely yet washed the war-paint from their faces, the youthful adventurers felt the solitude and dangers of their position, and with- out waiting for their little patch of corn to ripen, they packed their few goods and turned their faces eastward, concluding to wait several years before re- turning. The two boys were the sons of Mascol Ewing, whose home was in New Jersey. They were cousins to Gen. Thomas Ewing, formerly of Lancas- ter, Ohio. They possessed great force of character, and in point of intelli- gence and education, they ranked among the highest class of pioneers.

In 1798, when they made the permanent settlement, each brought his household effects by team the entire distance from New Jersey. Joshua, the elder, had recently married Margaret Scott, and he brought his young wife with him. James was accompanied by his aged mother, Cynthia, and his two sisters, Betsy and Mrs. Eunice Donaldson. The latter was a widow, and her only child, Ewing Donaldson, came with her. Joshua purchased a lot in the newly platted town of North Liberty, in Darby Township, and there erected his cabin. Both families lived here for a short time, but the town did not improve any and very soon after the Ewings both settled in Jerome Township, near its southwest corner on the south side of Big Darby. Of this early family no descendants are now left in Union County.

Joshua Ewing was a surveyor and in addition to his labors on the farm he devoted considerable time to this occupation. He made a great many of the early surveys in Madison and Union Counties. He was the first Auditor of Union County and it is thought died while serving his first term. His death occurred about 1822, it is supposed from the fatal fever which swept over Darby Plains in that year. His children were Eliza, born in May, 1800, who removed to Adair County, Iowa, and died there, unmarried, August 28, 1881; George, who emigrated to near Attica, Ind., aud died there; Polly, married to David Chapman, and removed to Adair County, Iowa, where both died; Joshua Green, who died in Jerome Township, leaving seven children, all of whom went to Iowa; Cynthia, who died unmarried on the home farm; Har- riet, who married William Allen and died a few years since in Plain City; Martha, Peggy and William Scott. all of whom died in Jerome Township.

James Ewing, was one of the best and foremost citizens of Union County during the first thirty years of its existence. His old homestead in Jerome was in Survey 12,125, where he lived to the time of his death. He was elected and served as the first Sheriff of Union County. In religious belief, he was a Presbyterian and a firm member, and for many years a Ruling Elder of Lower Liberty Church. In politics, he was an unflinching Whig. In 1810, Mr. Ewing purchased a stock of goods at Chillicothe, brought them to his farm and opened a country store, thereby becoming the first merchant in what is now Union County. Through his efforts, a post office was secured and he was ap- pointed the first Postmaster. He operated the store for about ten years, and then withdrew for a time from mercantile business. In 1833, he erected a large frame store room adjoining his dwelling, and filled it with an extensive stock of goods. He continued in business this latter time only two years. In 1835, his younger son, David, to whom he was deeply attached, met with an

268

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

untimely death just as he was entering upon a life of brilliant promise, and under his sense of loss Mr. Ewing retired permanently from business. He had been the possessor of some means when he came to Ohio, and by his stern, honorable business qualities he accumulated considerable property. He was one of the first trustees of the Franklin County Bank. He was scrupulously hon- est in all his dealings, and his word passed current for almost any amount. Small currency was very scarce, and in order to meet the demand for this kind of money and facilitate trade, he issued what was termed in those days " shin plasters, " payable on demand. They were considered by the people as good as coin and were never dishonored by their maker. James Ewing possessed

strong convictions and was always true to them. He lived in his little log- cabin till the day of his death, which occurred August 26, 1850. It was too closely associated with his earliest struggles, when the country was wild and unoccupied, to be forsaken for the more modern spacious frame that stood by its side. He was married about 1807 to Elizabeth, daughter of Calvin Cary, of Madison County. Their children were several daughters who died young, and two sons, Thomas M. and David C. The latter was an intelligent, promising young man, who graduated at South Hanover College, Indiana, in 1835, and was just entering upon the study of law, when he fell a victim of typhoid · fever. Thomas M. was a well-known resident of Jerome.

Elizabeth, the sister of James Ewing, married David Cary during the war of 1812. He died six months later in camp at Franklinton. She after- ward married a widower, Andrew Gill, and had two children, Mason and Susan, both of whom married and died in Darby Township. Mrs. Eunice Donaldson, soon after emigrating here, returned East. Her son, Ewing re- mained with his uncle, James Ewing; became a farmer and died a few years since near the Scioto River, not far from Dublin, leaving a large family.

The Taylors were among the foremost pioneers of Big Darby in Jerome Township. There were five brothers by this name, Richard, Daniel, Isaac William and John, all of whom settled on the Creek in close proximity to each other, but the last three in Madison County. They came in 1800 or 1802. They were Virginians. who had settled in Kentucky, but not liking the country there emigrated to Ohio.

Richard Taylor was born in Virginia, learned the tailors trade in that State and removed to Kentucky. He there married Mary Murray, near Cyn- thiana, and followed farming and tailoring until he came with his family to Darby Creek about 1802. He purchased and settled on the land in Survey 5,238, located on the west banks of Big Darby, about one-half mile north of Plain City, and now known as the Jones farm. Only a few families were then living on the creek. His nearest neighbor was Jonathan Alder, who lived in a little cabin a little farther down the stream. Mr. Taylor's family was troubled with ague, owing to the low, wet lands in the vicinity, and in a few years he disposed of his place and returned to near Cynthiana, Ky. He there bought land, but in a few years the validity of his title was questioned, and under the fear that it might prove defective, hearing encouraging reports from his friends in Ohio, he abandoned his land and returned to Darby. He purchased a farm situated immediately east of the site of Plain City, and lo- cated partly in Union and partly in Madison County. His cabin, however, was built in Madison, and he lived there to the day of his death. He was a Whig, and a member of the Christian and New Light Church. Of his six children, two died young. Two sons, William and Jeptha, live in Jerome Township. The former has occupied his present farm since 1831. Of the two daughters, Susanna, the elder, is deceased; Nancy, who was born in Union County in 1803, married Samuel Mason, and now lives in Madison County.

6 Mood

٠٠٠

271

JEROME TOWNSHIP.

Daniel Taylor was born in Virginia March 13, 1774; came to Jerome Town- ship about 1802, and died February 29, 1852. He married Miss Mary Brown in Virginia, and had eleven children, three of whom died young. Samuel, Rhoda (Hager), Mary (Knapp), and Moses died in Madison County; Jane was the wife of Moses Mitchell, of Darby Township, and John was a farmer of Je- rome; Sarah, wife of John Norton, and Levi still live at Plain City. Mr. Tay- lor had lived in Kentucky before coming here. He settled on thirty-two acres in Survey 5,128, just north of Plain City and west of the creek, but in a few years bought 150 acres across Big Darby, off the southern part of Survey 3,686, and lived there till his death. He was a Democrat through life and a zealous member of the Baptist Church, of which he was for many years a Deacon.

John Taylor, a young unmarried man, accompanied his brother, Richard, to Darby when he first removed here from Kentucky and made his home with him in Jerome Township for several years. He married Mrs. Elizabeth Mc- Cullough, the widow of Samuel Mccullough, Sr., and settled in Madison County.

Another of the earliest settlers on Big Darby in Jerome was Andrew Note- man. No record has been kept of the date of his settlement and the time cannot be definitely determined. The date of his deed is 1802, and it was probably about that year or soon after that he arrived. He was born June 1. 1773, near Harper's Ferry, Md. When he first came to Ohio, he located in Ross County, and remained there till he purchased from John Taylor and settled on the 100 acre farm where his son Zachariah now lives, about a half-mile north of Plain City. The farm was then in its native wildness, with no clearing upon it. Mr. Noteman built his cabin on the site of his son's present residence, and lived there, clearing and cultivating his land till, his

death at a venerable age. He had been twice married. His first wife died before his emigration to Jerome, leaving one child, Jinsey, who accompanied her father here, and afterward married John Taylor, of Madison County. Mr. Noteman's second wife was Mrs. Elizabeth (Brown), McCune, whom he mar- ried near Chillicothe. She was a widow, and John, William, Jane and Susan McCune, her children by her first marriage, came with them to their frontier habitation. By this second marriage there were two children, both born in Jerome Township-Polly (who afterward became the wife of Otway Curry), in 1807, and Zachariah, now in possession of the old homestead, in 1811. Mr. Noteman was a prominent and earnest Methodist and a Whig. He was a farm- er, judicious, economical, living within his means, kind, benevolent and interested in the welfare of others."

John McCune married Polly, daughter of Simeon Hager, and settled in Madison County near Plain City. Afterward he removed to a farm in Jerome, on Sugar Run, and lived there till his death. His children were Chauncey, of Illinois, David, John, Mrs. Jane Green and Mrs. Mary Green.

The Sagers were also among the earliest settlers and occupied some of the best land in the township. The larger part of this family settled in Darby Township; but Henry, Frederick and Abraham located in Jerome.

Henry Sager purchased the farm just north of Big Darby, now owned by J. T. Mccullough, in Survey 3,686, and settled there shortly after the begin- ning of this century. His first cabin stood back from the road quite a distance, but it was built before public roads had any existence in his locality, and after the highway was opened he built his second cabin near the present rosi- dence of Mr. Mccullough. He was a blacksmith, and was occupied with the labors of his trade when not clearing or tilling his land. Mr. Sager was a genial, good-natured citizen. In his day, the customers usually furnished the metals with which to fashion the various implements they desired; and iron

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 110

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1254

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254