USA > Ohio > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 1 > Part 30
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And we have another string to our bow to shoot your cash from you; that is, we can raise vast stocks of cattle and swine. The drovers will already give $3 per hundred for hogs, alive, to supply your markets with, and them that follow such busi- ness must bring their cash back to give to us farmers for more cattle and hogs.
Our summer last year was very prosperous, both in wheat and Indian corn. We have had a mild winter, but a backward, dry, cold spring; we had some frost the morning of this, the fifth month.
As to politics, there are contests In this State as well as other States. Our Goy- ernor, Tiffin, has submitted to serve ns the present three years, but requests to be released at the end thereof, to attend to his private concerns. . You may groan under the tyranny of MeKain another three years, then he will go out of office triumphant, consistent with your State Constitution.
I have received no letters from your quarter, except thine, for a long time. By letters from brother Daniel and Hezekiah Linton, I think likely they will both immi- grate here erelong, and David Linton has " past meeting," and married some months ago.
To wish much good will, I conclude a scribble.
SAMUEL LINTON. EATON TOWNSHIP, WARREN COUNTY, STATE 1
OF OHIO, YE 12TH OF THE 3RD MO., 1808.
RESPECTED FRIEND, JOSEPH SATERTHWAITE-I at length am about to reply to thy letter that I received last spring, and inform thee we are blessed with health and peace at present, and that the summer of 1807 was extremely wet until some time after harvest, followed by an extremely dry fall. and our winter has been middling- not much snow. "The great quantity of rain we had last summer damaged our wheat much, and our corn suffered with having too much wet. And these may inform thee Nathan Linton has been married more than a twelvemonth, and has a young daugh- ter, and my girls say they are waiting to hear tell of thy getting married.
In regard to negroes: I have seen but two since I crossed the Ohio-one man, that lives many miles up the State, and a black virgin that lives at Waynesville; but I suppose there is a small number in this State, but I have been informed our law enjoins negroes to give freehold security, to the amount of $500, for their good behav- ior and not becoming chargeable, which law, if put in practice, makes heavy against their becoming numerous.
Thee mentioned in thy letter thee thought we could do but little towant snp- plying other countries with produce. Thee is not aware of the vast quantities that goes down the Ohio in ships and ark-boats. We, who have been farmers so short a time, sent off above three thousand pounds of pork last fall, and, if the last summer had not been so uncommonly wet, we might have had many bushels of wheat to spare.
David Linton left me near two years ago, and lives on my possessions at Waynesville, and follows merchandising with his wife's father; and Nathan is so much employed in other business, he does but httle at farming, so I am slack a man from my family. I follow weaving at times; I have wove about twenty-four hun- dred yards of different kinds of cloth since [ have been in this country, notwith- standing all of which, I expect there will be near sixty acres of corn planted on my farm this coming spring, by tenants mostly, who work the ground to the shares.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
There are thirty-five individuals living on my farm-a great improvement in the space of three years.
Thee queries in thy letter if there is no curse on this land, as well as other countries. I answer, yes. In the first place, there is much labor in improving a new country-" In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread;" and, secondly, "Thorns and thistles shall it bring unto thee." Thorns we have not much reason to complain of, but thistles and nettles we have in abundance. My wheat last summer was, much of it, lodged by rains and a rank soil, and a prodigious crop of thistles and net- tles grew up amongst it; but I hope for better times when the ground is subdued by working it. I thus conclude this letter, and subscribe myself
Thy friend,
SAMUEL LINTON.
TO JOSEPH SATERTHWAITE.
Better times camo indeed, and the descendants of the most worthy pioneers are to-day reaping the benefits accruing from the toil of their ancestors.
The following document was found by Jesse H. Kirk, of Liberty, among his old papers, and is a good sample of the forms of marriage certificates in uso among the Friends of this region fifty-two years ago:
WHEREAS, Mahlon Kirk, of the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, son of Ezekiel Kirk, deceased, and Hannah, his wife, of the county and State aforesaid, and Sarah Hines, daughter of Anthony Stanley, and Hannah, his wife, of the county of Vermilion,t and State of Illinois, having declared their intentions of marriage with each other before a monthly meeting of the religious Society of Friends, held at Cen- ter, according to the good order used amongst them, and having "concent" of parents, their said "proposial" of marriage was allowed by said meeting. Now these are to cer- tify whom it may concern that for the full accomplishment of their said intentions, this, the first day of the twelfth month, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, they, the said Mahlon Kirk and Sarah Hines, appeared in a pub- lic meeting of the said people, held at Center, and the said Mahlon Kirk, taking the said Sarah Hines by the hand, declared that he took her, the said Sarah Hines, to be his wife, promising, with Divine assistance, to be unto her a loving and faithful husband until death should separate them ; and then, in the same assembly, the said Sarah Hines did, in like manner, declare that she took him, the said Mahlon Kirk, to be her hus- band, promising, with Divine assistance, to be unto him a loving and faithful wife until death should separate them. And, moreover, they, the said Mahlon Kirk and Sarah Hines, she, according to the custom of marriage, adopting the name of her Imsband, did, as a further confirmation thereof, then and there, to these presents set their hands.
MAHLON KIRK. SARAH KIRK.
And we, whose names are also hereunto subscribed, being present at the sol- emnization of said marriage and subscription, here, as witnesses thereunto, set our hands the day and date above written.
Martha Walker, Daniel Bailey,
Eliza Doan, Joseph Dillon,
James Kirk,* John Morris,*
Sarah Kirk,
Azariah Wall,*
Ezekiel Kırk.
Hannah Lamar,
Edith Vestal,
William Kirk,
Phebe F. Walker,
Rebecca Wall,
Samuel Dillon,
Ruth Kinsey,
Isabella Adsit,
Hannah Kirk,
Daniel Kester, Charlotte Lundy,*
Delilah Kirby,*
Ruth Morris,
Susanna Farquhar, Joseph Doan, Jr.,
Mary Kinsey, Am Kirk,
Alice Green,*
Newton McMillan, Joseph Wickersham,
Sarah Wickersham,*
David MeMillan, Jr.,
James Wickersham,
Susannah Lundy,
Samuel Hollingsworth,
Joseph Whinery,*
Mary Stanbrough,
Abigail Lundy (?),
Robert Wickersham,*
Tabitha Stanbrough,
Jacob and Ann Taylor,
Richard HI. Dillon,
Sarah Kirk,
Olive Ballard, William Lundy,
Henry Smith, James Lundy,
James Wickersham .*
The persons whose names appear as witnesses nearly all resided in the neighborhood of Centre Meeting.House, in Union Township, and it will be
Sarah Kirby,*
Emily Kirk, Margaret Smith,
+Now Iroquois County, formerly a part of Vermilion.
*Still living.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
seen by the reference marks after certain of the names that but eleven of the number are now living.
The first deod recorded in Clinton County was made April 20, 1810, and was from Conrad Haws and Fanny, his wife, to Conrad Haws, Jr., all residents of the county. It conveyed 150 acres of land in John Roberts' Survey, No. 2687, consideration, $50. Walter Craig and Abraham Haws were witnesses to the deed, which was recorded in Book A of Deeds, page 5, August 13, 1810, by Robert Eachus, Recorder of Clinton County. The document had been acknowledged before Thomas Hinkson Justice of the Peace.
The first mortgage was from Israel and Catharine Johns, of Clinton County, to Soboston Stingley, of same, on Lot No. 100, in the Wilmington town plat, for $448. Acknowledged before Bebeo Treusdell, Jastico of the Peace, and recorded in Book A of Mortgages, page 1; date, December 31, 1835, by Amos T. Sewoll, Recorder of Clinton County.
The following poem was written by Joseph Whinery and printed by Gad- dis & Abrams, at Wilmington, in 1816. The incident upon which it was writ- ten-"The Death of Caleb, Son of Isaac and Phenia Perkins," as the title page has it-occurred in 1809, at which date Mr. Whinery was not in the place. The occurrence was related to him several years later upon his arrival, and he wrote his "poem " upon it. The production is deemed too good to be lost, and is therefore here reproduced:
THE DEATH OF CALEB PERKINS.
"Give ear, fond youth, while I to you repeat The doleful news which I have heard of late. Let all draw near and hear a stranger tell The sad disaster which of late befell
My neighbor-Isaac Perkins is his name- Who, some years past, from Carolina came To where Miam rolls its crystal flood, And near its waters settled in the wood- Where then fierce savages, with hideous yell, Assumed, in sport, the human blood to spill; And near his cottage, too, the wolf and bear The harmless lamb, without reluctance, tear. But now his flocks can feed without surprise; Green meads appear and stately structures rise. With six young children, and a loving wife, To soothe the cares and share the joys of life,- Two hopeful sons this man did hither bring. And daughters four like blossoms in the spring. Here jocund Plenty seemed with him to smile, And bounteous Ceres recompensed his toil, Till eighteen years had marked their nick on time . And brought young Caleb nearly to his prime. "Iwas autumn now, when all the corn-clad fields Their golden treasure to the farmer yields. On hunting bent, young Caleb early rose And waked his brother from his sweet repose Ere larks with songs had hailed the sprightly morn, Or golden Phebus did the east adorn. No mourning dove had told her artless tale, Nor mourned her absent mate along the vale; The ghmmering day-star shining in the east The approaching morn was near at hand expressed; The boding owls detest the coming day, And wolves and bears forsake their mangled prey, And each to covert takes their wonted way: With her pale lamp yet shining in the west, Cynthia prepared to give her chariot rest. They both went forth; each winds his vocal horn; The hounds all join to answer in return ;
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David. L. Hadley
1 Abigail J. Hadley
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
295
Now all convened and by their masters stand, While they, with joy, did give them strict command. Like trusty servants they did them obey, And through the fields all bent their eager way. Caleb and John somewhat behind remain, And hand-and-hand they walked the fertile plain In social converse that to hunting tend, As they from home their lengthening course did bend.
And soon the hounds with cries "a chase " maintain- The beast for safety scuds across the plain ;
The hounds with eager haste their game pursue-
Their watchful masters to their succor flew ;
The beast, perched on a tree, did listening wait, While they beneath in council did debate On means that should complete his destined fate. They soon agreed that one of them should run To Richard Henderson's and bring the gun. With joy, in haste he to his neighbor goes And waked the household from their sweet repose. His neighbor, soon equipt, back with him sped, Each forming plans to lay the plunderer dead. They soon arrive, and aim with good intent, But soon they found their ammunition spent.
Quick-sighted Fancy, then, their wish to crown,
Bid them in haste the tree for to cut down.
The task was Henderson's, and when the tree
Assumed to fall the beast prepared to flee; Caleb, to stop his flight, did ready stand, And held a weapon in his wavering hand.
Crash went the tree, and spread its branches round
Where Caleb stood-it crushed him to the ground.
My tongue doth fail, nor can I language find
To paint the experience of the neighbor's mind-
While John, with screams and cries, did homeward run
To bear the news and tell them what was done.
When he arrived, his faltering tongue did fail
To tell the horrors that did him assail.
Ile pointed to the place, but could not tell
The sad disaster which had there befell.
"Caleb is gone," he cried ; " Caleb is dead! " The family in great confusion fled. His father heard the news with mind distressed,
And in great haste did far outstrip the rest; Came to the place, and almost out of breath, Where Caleb lay in all the pangs of death,
While Henderson, in sorrow almost drowned,
Aids the fond father t' raise him from the ground,
His mother, now with grief so overcome, Swooned by the way when hastening to her son. Resigned like Job, she in her heart did say,
""Tis God that gives and Him that takes away." No painter sure could e'er with pencil trace Or mark the color paler than her face. Sully and Peale can wonders sure design,
But can they paint this melancholy scene ?
Her affrighted daughters raised her from the ground,
While their cries the echoing vales resound.
At length a spark of life in her they found ; Her they supported to the awful place
Where they some signs of life in Caleb traced.
The news went forth ; the neighbors crowded round ;
Their lamentations made the woods resound. While they in sympathy did there convene, Phoebus arose, a witness of the scene.
To see his mangled form and hear him groan-
'Twas enough to melt all hearts but those of stone. The mournful dove sat on the branches near, Her plaintive notes her sympathy declare ;
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
The soaring lark might well forget to sing And hail the rising morning on the wing. Now, when the flood of tears was somewhat spent, They Caleb bore and homeward sorrowing went. In tears and lamentations all seemed lost ; Their hope was gone-their joy, their early boast. Mangled and broke, he yet survived in pain.
And measured back his steps to earth again,
And for near cleven months did thus remain. While he thus lay beneath affliction's rod, Most ardent prayers he offered up to God ;
And when the racking pain through him did run,
Ile " Gracious Father" cried, " Thy will be done !"
While his fond parents did extend their care And wet his pillow with a pearly tear. His sisters, too, did each with one accord,
His grief t' assuage, their aid to him afford ; ITis generous father kept an open gate
At which acceptance many a stranger met, And servants of the Lord were hither brought
That in this sequestered land the Gospel tanght.
They preached the Gospel, sonts from sin to save, And for the sheep that's gone astray a blessing erave. One matron came whose name was Charity ; In fervent prayer she bent the humble knee ; The family likewise, with one accord,
Him to relieve, the God of Heaven implored ; Caleb, as willing, plied to lend his aid.
In words like these the worthy matron prayed : " Thee, Heavenly Father, we bescech to hear our feeble prayer, Once more look with pity on Thy servants in despair ;
Be pleased to heal with Gilead's balm their bleeding wounds, And from affliction's iron bands relieve their son that moans, Cut short, in mercy, gracious Lord, Thy works in righteousness ; Relieve his soul from bondage-free this brother in distress, And if it be Thy gracious will, to bid his spirit rise, And leave this fragile house of clay for mansions in the skies." And when from the house she homeward did depart, She bid him adieu with sorrow in her heart. Four weeks from then he lingering did remain, And bore with fortitude his racking pain. That time expired, he did resign his breath, And calmly rested in the arms of Death. Four years and somewhat more are past and gone, And yet Phenia mourns her first-born son. The tyrant Death, with unrelenting knife, Cut Caleb off in opening scenes of life; A lovely youth, just in the bloom of age, Has fell a victim to the monster's rage. And when his sisters to the fatal spot repair, With heavy hearts they shed a willing tear, And view the branch which laid their brother low,
Through crystal tears that in succession flow. His aged parents, in the depth of grief, Bewail their son in tears without relief. But let a stranger's words your sorrows reconcile, While beams of consolation bid you smile.
The stranger bids you from this mournful theme depart,
Which rends, unnecessarily, your aching hearts.
Why would you wish him back on earth again, Amidst this scene of sorrow, sin and pain- Where fierce Belona stains with crimson blood The Maumee's banks and Raisin's crystal flood ; Where blood of Freedom's sons do float the plains, And rivers swell with blood from heroes' veins; Where thirsty savages, with scalping-knife, Have slain the loving husband and the wife; Where drums and guns and thund'rons cannons roar, Assail our cars, and shake the distant shore;
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Where many a mother now laments her sons, And many a father for his children mourns, And see their sons and daughters captives led, Condemned no more their native soil to tread. Some that escaped, returning home have fell; What I can't witness, Wheeling's turf can tell. Nay, be yo thankful to the God of heaven, That you have now this consolation given, That you to him could aid and comfort be While he beneath his great affliction lay ; That you have seen him decently interred In place and manner which you most preferred ; That you can trust he lives in high renown, For, as he lived to wear the eross, he died to wear the crown. As an offering for the Lord is on the altar laid,
ITe was laid on the humble bier, and to the grave conveyed.
For such an offering, sure the Lord would worlds of shi despise, Rivers of oil, or bullocks slain, or lambs for sacrifice. To free his worthy name from black oblivion's deep, I fain would write an epitaph in memory to keep.
Yon aged beech, although unknown to fame, .
Yet bears the initials of young Caleb's name.
EPITAPH.
Here Caleb Perkins lies in moldering dust -- Isaacand Phenia's son, their joy and early boast.
Although his body lies cold in the clay,
We trust his spirit rests in endless day,
Where he no more the pains of death shall feel,
Where moth cannot corrupt, nor thief break through and steal ; But where the Lamb His welcome guests to living waters leads IIe wipes the tear from every eye and every cause shall plead.
As relating to carly railroad matters in the county, the following article is insorted. . It was published some years since under the hoading, " An Effort to Secure a Railroad:"
" At the session of the Ohio Legislaturo, which convened on the first Mon- day of December, 1835, a bill was introduced in the Senate by John W. Allen, a member from Cuyahoga County, to incorporate a company to make and oper- ate a railroad from Cleveland to Cincinnati. The only intermediate point be- tween these cities named in the bill, it is believed, was Columbus. Informa- tion of this important measure was obtained in some way at Wilmington at an early day, and attracted general attention. It was thought that as the town was in almost a direct line between Columbus and Cincinnati, and, as the route was shorter and the grades easier than upon rival routes, the road could be secured for our town and county, if early and proper efforts should be made for that purpose. Some one drow up a call for a meeting to be held on the following Saturday, inviting all railroad men to come together for consultation, which appeared in imposing headlines in the next number of the newspaper. On the day appointed, a large number of our most substantial men were in at- tendance. The old court house was full of earnest and energetic people, com- posed 'of the leading property holders, farmers and business men of the town and country adjacent. A deep interest was manifested in the prospective road. For once the orators stayed away or wore silent. At any rate, no speeches were made, so that the meeting was not long in session. A Chairman and Sec- retary for the meeting were chosen. There was no division or diversity of opinion in the meeting. It resolved in favor of securing the road if it could be done. A resolution was passed instructing our Representative in the Legis- lature to use his vote and influence to have the act amended so as to make Wil- mington a point in the road. A motion was also adopted to send four dele- gates to Columbus to act as a sort of lobby and assist, if need bo, in procuring
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
the insertion of Wilmington in the charter of the road. The delegates selected were instructed to go at once on their mission. These were Isaiah Morris, Na- than Linton, William Hadley, of Springfield, and the writer of this commu- nication. The three delegates first named were all men of wealth, worth, good sound sense, knowledge of men and business experience, leading men at home and were known by many members of the Legislature from this section of the State. They are all now dead, but hundreds still live who knew them well, and could bear witness to their fitness for the business on which they were sent.
" After the adjournment of the meeting, the delegates conferred together as to the best mode of reaching Columbus, and as to the time of starting. The conclusion was to take a carriage in which all should take seats. Carriages were not at that time as often met with as now, but William Hadley had one, with a capacity for seating four; this, with a horse, was tendered to the dele- gates for their use, and either Nathan Linton or Mr. Morris offered the use of a second horse. The next Monday morning was agreed upon for starting. On that morning, promptly on time, Nathan Linton and William Hadley were at the appointed place for starting and ready to move; some delay, however, oc- curred which was turned to good account. These few minutes of waiting were employed by some of the citizens in calling upon Samuel H. Hale, then a citi. zen of Wilmington, and soliciting him to accompany the delegation to Colum- bus and unite his efforts and influence with theirs to secure the proposed im- provement to our long-neglected section of the State. In this request. the dele- gates heartily joined. Mr. Hale in that day was a man of wealth, was of the same politics as the dominant party in both branches of the Legislature, had thereto- fore served through three sessions in the House and three in the Senate of Ohio, and would be almost as a matter of course acquainted with members then serving in the Legislature. Mr. Hale yielded at once to the general wish, but how was he to travel? Certainly not in the carriage, which would only seat four, especially when two such large men as Isaiah Morris and William Hadley, both then in fine health and weighing in the aggregate over 500 pounds, held pre-emption claims to soats, and two medium-sized men as were Nathan Linton and the writer. The difficulty was but momentary and soon removed. Mr. Hale, after consenting to go, was not a man likely to be kept at home for want of an easy mode to travel. Though not accustomed to horse- back riding, not having been in the saddle twice, it may be, in twenty years, he soon had a famous gray horse, fully rigged out and brought to the door,
and a moment later he was in the saddle. By this time, the carriage being ready, and all the passengers seated in it, the entire party took the road to- gether and continued together to the end. In this day, when bands of Irish, English and American rifle-shooters are called teams, our company, united to- gether to promote the making of a railroad, would be called a Clinton County Railroad Team.
" The roads were almost impassable on account of mud, but the weather bad now turned cold, and, on the higher lands, the crust on the road would, in general, bear the weight of the carriage and its load; but in the lowlands, and in the deep ruts and mad holes the crust would break and the wheels of the carriage and the legs of the horses would find the bottom. The car- riage was tossed to and fro. Sometimes it would surge violently to one side, and then with equal violence to the other; the fore wheels would frequently drop into a deep depression, called by the old-style wagoners a 'chuck-hole.' We would be thrown almost against the dash, and then, as they would rise out of the sink to the firm ground, the hind wheels would be thrown into the depression, throwing us with violence against the back of the
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
carriage. Then a great deal of the road, especially between here and Wash- ington, was corduro , and in very bad repair. Of course, traveling was slow, and, in fact, painful. The blood of the passengers was kept flowing in rapid currents by the surging and tossing of the carriage. Fortunately, no bones were broken. When we arrived at Washington, daylight was about gone, and we had traveled twenty-two miles that day. We all put up at the Stockdale House for the night. On comparing notes, it was found that the traveling ex- perience of the gentleman who rode the gray horse had been far more pleasant than that of the gentlemen who had taken passage in the carriage. The next morning, wo took the road early, that we might reach and cross Big Darby (then not bridged) before daylight should be gone. And the road for this day, though by no means good, being better than the day before, we effected our purpose. Ten or twolvo miles' travel from Washington brought us to the rosi. denco of Gen. Bethuel Harrison. As all were cold, and some of the company acquainted with him, wo stopped in part to warm ourselves, but more to pay our respects to the old hero himself. Wo warmed and had quite a pleasant interview with him. A hero ho was in the highest sense of that word. He was in command of a company on our northern border in the war of 1812. In some one of these battles (I think Lundy's Lane), he occupied an exposed and closely contested position in the American line. To the right and left of Har-
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