USA > Ohio > Hardin County > The history of Hardin county, Ohio > Part 53
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With Mr. Furney came James Gillispie, a son of the Register of Lands
Mr. Gilbert
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
at Bucyrus; also Henry Garrett, his brother-in-law, with a wife and two children. In the winter of 1833-34, Mr. Gillispie married Elsie Gardner, and this was doubtless the first marriage that occurred in Kenton. He re- mained here about three years, then went back to Bucyrus. Mr. Garrett built a cabin south of Furney's, but soon removed to a farm north of town, whence, in 1862, he went to Minnesota.
The next to locate in Kenton was John W. Williams and family. He was a native of Woodsboro, Md., born April 20, 1800, and his parentage, on both sides, took an active part in the Revolutionary war. One of his sons, J. W. F. Williams, an employe in one of the Government depart- ments at Washington, D. C., writes us the following account regarding his father's settlement at Kenton: "My father emigrated from Tuscarawas County, Ohio, arriving at the new county seat of Hardin County ten days before the first sale of lots, October 15 and 16, 1833. The town site bad just been surveyed, but the lots were not yet sold. They were often com- pelled to go ahead with axes and clear a road for the wagons, especially as they neared their destination. There was here and there a settler, with small patches cleared. The town site was a dense wood, and there was not 'a stick amiss' on your beautiful court house square. They camped in the woods, as I have heard him say, about the spot your court house now stands on. They slept in the wagons, and in a small log camp erected on the square, and cooked by the side of a large fallen tree. Here they remained until a lot could be bought and house built. The roads to the different settle- ments, on Eagle Creek, in Hancock County and the Hog Creek marsh, also to Round Head settlement and Upper Sandusky, were but little more than blazed bridle paths. Game was in abundance; deer, turkey and an oc- casional bear could be seen. He and others of the party killed deer within five hundred yards of the public square. One morning, a herd was dis- covered almost within shooting range. He crept a short distance, not going off the square, and shot a large, fat doe. The others ran back into the woods, leaving a half-grown fawn, which stood near its dead mother until he're-loaded and fired, when it wheeled and followed the herd, which, he discovered had only ran about two hundred yards into the thick brush, but now fled again. A few days afterward they were attracted to a spot less than half a mile distant by the howling and fighting of wolves. Going there, the fawn was found partly eaten by the ravenous animals. It had been fatally wounded, and ran that far. When cooking, in the late even- ing, the scent of roasting venison would often attract large packs of snarl- ing wolves very close, and they could be heard almost every night. Two bears, one day, closely pursued by some hunters from the north, were re- ported to be passing on the river bottom near by. All hands joined the chase. One was killed about a mile west of the public square, having been previously wounded in one of its hind feet. The other escaped to the Scioto marsh, but had almost killed one of the dogs that had caught up and attacked it.
" He purchased several choice lots facing the public square, and among them the corner lot on the southwest corner of Detroit and Franklin streets, afterward known as the David Goodin corner. Upon this lot, after clearing off the heavy timber, he erected a large hewed-log house, the first of that kind built in your beautiful city. After the logs had been hewed, all of which were cut on that and adjoining lots and in the street, raising day came. A sufficient number of hands could not be obtained there to shove up the heavy logs and 'take up' the corners, so he was compelled to ride
0
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY. 1
around a couple of days, following the blazed bridle-paths, to the several settlements, and invite the settlers to the raising. The shingles, I have heard him say, were all made from a large oak tree that stood in the street in front of the house on the north. The house was chinked and daubed, the most of it being laid with a puncheon floor. As soon as the family could move in, he began to 'keep tavern.' Several other houses were by this time under way. In connection with the tavern, he sold a few goods, his trade being mostly powder, lead and flints, gun caps not being in gen- eral use. Other parties soon built and opened stores, when he abandoned that pursuit. Money being scarce, the articles he dealt in were often ex- changed for peltry. In four months, the winter of 1834-35, he and travel- ing buyers took in at his tavern 1,500 deer skins, and thousands of raccoon, . muskrat and occasionally a beaver skin. Deer were so plenty, that their hides brought more than the meat. The first courts held in Kenton, and up to the completion of the court house in 1835, were held in his house. Up to the spring of 1836, there was but one house between Kenton and the location of Williamstown, fourteen miles north.
" The seat of government of Hardin County having been established at Kenton, he was awarded the contract to build a court house, which he began in May, 1834. From a 'C. H. day book,' in which he kept all the transac- tions in connection with the contract, as well as other. matters, I find that his superintendent in the erection of the building was John H. Houser. July 21, 1834, is this entry: 'Boston Shawver commenced to mold, set and burn 100,000 brick for the C. H.' The same person is credited with laying up the walls. Benjamin Faught was paid $1.75 for 'clearing the timber off the brick yard.' Robert Smith made the molds. Michael Johnson hewed the sleepers, joists and rafters. A. Dinwiddie aided in burning the brick at 50 cents per day, night the same. Obed Taylor wit- nessed the payments of money by the county on the contract. Josiah Robey ' shaved the shingles.' The following persons worked upon the brick yard or court house: Lemuel Wilmoth, Daniel Barron, James Dwiggans, Joseph Shaw, Hays Badly, William Heckathorn, Joshua Smith, William William- son, John C. Dille, William Pearson and S. Lee. His brother, Ezra I. Williams, now living in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, did the 'house-carpen- ter work.' The building was finished in October, 1835. His daily trans- actions being minutely kept in his day book, it is authority for the wages paid for labor, and price of boarding and 'tavern bills' in Kenton half a century ago. For 'chopping, clearing, rolling logs, chopping kiln-wood, sawing shingle timber, digging mud, hauling, tending mason,' etc., was universally 50 cents per day; boarding, $1.25 per week, until the fall of 1835, when a few entries are made '$1.75 per week;' single meals to all, except regular travelers, was 6} cents; Travelers who 'put up' at the tavern, including land-hunters, were charged, for a footman, supper, bed and breakfast, 31} cents; single meals to travelers, 122 cents; bed, 64 cents; man and horse, supper, bed and breakfast for each, 56 cents; man and two horses, 75 cents. A number of settlers are charged with night's lodgings, single meals or beds. Now and then an entry is made when they were expected to pay the bill. One reads, 'Jacob Berger, to two nights' lodgings and dinner, 75 cents;' with this note, 'lives on Tymochtee, will pay when he brings in his coon skins next week.' Another, 'Thomas Atler and a big Dutchman, two dinners, 25 cents; three flints, 18& cents; lives on other side of marsh; will send the money by Mr. Stevenson.' It being reported and believed that the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad would locate its line six
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
miles to the east of Kenton, and the county seat be moved to a place known as ' Wheeler's,' he sold all of his property in Kenton, had the town site of Williamstown surveyed, and moved there in the winter of 1835-36. He died at Williamstown in September, 1874.
" Ezra I. Williams, who did the ' house-carpenter' work on the first court house in Kenton, now resides at Westchester, Ohio. Another brother, Joseph, who landed with him at Kenton, died at Columbia, Iowa, in 1880. His brother Vachel was also an early settler in Kenton, but, getting scared at the prevalence of 'milk sick,' left, and traveled on foot to Cincinnati. Landing with a shilling, he has since amassed a large fortune there by early investments in real estate. His brother-in-law, Wright Ferguson, did much of the clearing of timber off the court house square and adjoin- ing lots. He went to Kentucky in 1835."
William Cary was born in New Jersey August 19, 1811, whence he came to Ohio. In the fall of 1833, he brought a small amount of mer- candise from Marseilles, Ohio, to Kenton, and for a short time occupied a log cabin built by George H. Houser on the north bank of the Scioto River, near where the brewery now stands, south of Young's lumber yard. He soon removed his stock of goods to a small room on the west end of William Furney's log house, which stood on the southwest corner of the Reese House lot. The room had been built and previously occupied by Mr. Furney as a gun and blacksmith shop. Upon the sale of lots, Mr. Cary purchased a lot on Detroit street, opposite the square, about where Merriman's tin store now is, and erected thereon a small frame store room. He sold goods in that building some three or four years, or until his return to Marseilles. He was married, July 7, 1841, to Sarah Dudley, a daughter of Moses and Jane (Patterson) Dudley, natives of Maine, who were the first settlers of Dudley Township, and after whom that subdivision was named. About 1847-48, Mr. Cary again came to Kenton, and engaged in merchandising; but, in 1853, he began the banking business, which he carried on till 1875, when, like many other first-class business men, he was compelled to sus- pend. In June, 1854, he was appointed Director of Kenton, to succeed Charles W. Stevenson. He died March 12, 1877, leaving a family consist- ing of his wife and eight children, only five of whom, with the widow, are now living.
Eri Strong and wife came to Kenton from Union County, Ohio, in 1833. Soon after coming, they had born to them a son, whom they named Kenton, because he was the first child born in the town. Mr. Strong was a man of good education, and one of the pioneer school teachers of this locality. He served, also, as a Justice of the Peace, and was the Deputy Postmaster for some time, the office being in his cabin, which stood on Ohio street, close to Main. In a few years he returned to Union County, whence he had come.
Alexander Thomson, a native of Scotland, settled in Hardin County about 1831-32. Upon the organization of the county, he was appointed Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, and held that office till early in 1839. He located in Kenton in the winter of 1833-34; was twice married and the father of the following children, viz .: William, Alexander, Janet, Eva- line, and one daughter now residing near Bucyrus, whose name is not re- membered. Mr. Thomson removed to Crawford County, Ohio, but again came to Kenton and here died. His widow is residing with one of her daughters at Leavenworth, Kan.
During the winter of 1833-34, Joseph Nichols and family came to Ken-
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
ton, and built a cabin north of Carroll street, west of the railroad. He was one of the pioneer teamsters, and his house was often used by the Meth- odists of this locality as a place of worship. Mr. Nichols and wife were members of that church, and though he could neither read nor write, he was a noted local exhorter, and an enthusiastic disciple of the religious methods then in vogue among the followers of Wesley, who were the pioneers of the faith in Ohio. About 1841, he removed to Wisconsin, and there died a short time past.
John Wheeler came from Bellefontaine, Ohio, early in 1834, and began selling goods in a cabin that stood on the site of the Democrat office, near the corner of Main and Franklin streets. He soon returned to Bellefon- taine, and subsequently became a Methodist preacher.
In March, 1834, Obed Taylor opened a store in a small log building which was erected in November, 1833, on Detroit street, the site of G. R. Moore's hardware house. He was a native of Franklin County, Penn., and removed with his parents to Franklin County, Ohio; thence to Delaware County, coming to Kenton with his wife, Elizabeth C., at the date mentioned. Here he passed the greater part of his life, but subse- quently settled in Buck Township, where he died January 21, 1870. His widow survived him, and died at the home of their adopted son, David Stanford, May 25, 1879. Mr. Taylor served as Treasurer and also Sheriff of Hardin County during the pioneer days, and his name will be found identified with its growth and progress up to the time of his death.
Daniel Barron was born in Somerset County, Penn., June 26, 1804; emigrated to Holmes County, Ohio, in 1830, and March 25, 1834, came to Kenton. Being a tanner by trade, he began the work of fixing up a tan- yard, on the northast corner of Detroit and Ohio streets, but abandoned the project and engaged as a clerk in the store of Obed Taylor. Mr. Barron soon became prominent in the civil and religious interests of the county and town. He served twelve years as Recorder and two years as Treasurer of Hardin County, besides filling many other minor offices of trust and respon- sibility, among which we might mention that he was a Justice of the Peace for nine years. In fact, every worthy object found in him a friend, and he always gave willingly and liberally toward the building of churches and public works of utility. He was married to Elizabeth Dever September 22, 1852, who has borne him two sons-Everett and Clifton. Mr. Barron has now been a resident of Kenton for more than forty-nine years, and his life has been marked by industry, usefulness and integrity of character; but from too much kindness and generosity, accommodating many who proved unworthy of the confidence reposed in them, he met with financial losses which, in his old age, have reduced him to comparative poverty. His memory goes back to the time when Kenton was not, to those pioneer days when one vast forest covered this whole region; and his well-balanced mind has retained, in a wonderful degree, the knowledge gained through the passing years; so that to him we are indebted for much valuable in- formation contained in this work. .
In April, 1834, John H. Wear opened a store in a room of William Furney's building, on the northwest corner of Detroit and Franklin streets. He came here from Highland County, Ohio, and after selling goods here for some eight or ten years, returned to his early home.
Emi P. Hurd, a blacksmith, came from Marseilles, Ohio, in 1834, and started a blacksmith shop on North Detroit street, the site of William Gil- more's residence. He carried on business at that point till his death, January
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
19, 1846, leaving a wife and two children. His wife's maiden name was Margaret Musser, and she came to Kenton with William Furney. They were married by George H. Houser, a Justice of the Peace, previously spoken of. On the 6th of October following Mr. Hurd's death, his widow also died, and the children were taken by their grandparents, who lived at Marseilles.
Robert Smith, a carpenter, came from Richland County, Ohio, in 1834, and was engaged in the erection of the first court house, which was commenced in May of that year. In a few years, he removed to a farm north of Kenton, where he subsequently died, and where his widow still resides.
Andrew Barnes came to Kenton in 1834, and started a tailor shop in a cabin which stood on the southwest corner of Main and Carroll streets. He remained only a few years, but during his stay married the daughter of a settler in Taylor Creek Township. Mr. Barnes was the pioneer tailor of Kenton, and as such deserves mention in its history.
Late in 1834, or early in the following year, James Elam and John Brown came from Greene County, Ohio, and engaged in merchandising in the room previously occupied by John Wheeler, on East Franklin street. Elam also carried on a cabinet shop, which he sold to James Faught and Emanuel Shoard, about 1836-37, who continued the business. After selling goods several years, Elain went to Logan County, Ohio, and Brown to Illinois.
.Luther Damon, a native of New Hampshire, came from Massachusetts in May, 1835, and started a cabinet shop on North Main street, the site of his son Warren's residence. He carried on this business until his death in 1859, and his son still continues the manufacture of furniture, owning one of the largest retail houses in this part of the State.
Robert B. Truman, a native of Watertown, N. Y., came from Knox County. Ohio, in 1835, and opened a small boot and shoe shop on Franklin street, immediately west of John W. Williams' tavern. He subsequently removed to Utica, Ohio, and represented Licking County in the Ohio Leg- islature.
Robert and James Johnson came from Richland County, Ohio, in 1835. The former was a blacksmith, but opened a store in a log cabin that stood on the east side of North Detroit street, the site of D. J. Littleton's resi- dence. In four or five years, he went back to Richland County; thence to Bellefontaine, where he carried on a blacksmith shop and spent the balance of his life. James Johnson was a carpenter, who worked at his trade in Kenton, but he also returned to Richland County, from where he went to Iowa. James Moffat, a carpenter, came with the Johnsons, and also re- turned with them to his early home in Richland County, Ohio.
In 1834-35, Jacob Pine came to Kenton, and opened a brick yard south- west of where the Dugan House now stands. He built his cabin about the site of the railroad turn-table, and the hollow is yet visible that was made in getting out the clay. It is said that Pine, having no machinery, utilized his family in tramping the clay and preparing it for the molds. He re- mained here only a few years, then moved on toward the setting sun.
Samuel Mentzer opened a general store in the Furney building, on De- troit street, as early as 1836. He subsequently removed to a farm in Buck Township, where he died in 1882. Mr. Mentzer was one of the leading citizens of Hardin County, and succeeded Charles W. Stevenson as Auditor, which position he filled to the entire satisfaction of the people.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Another settler of this year was James Scott, a carpenter. He remained working at his trade in Kenton until about 1845, when he removed to Buck Township, where he resided till his death.
David Goodin was born in Somerset County, Penn., May 31, 1805, and came with his parents to Perry County, Ohio, in early childhood, where he grew to maturity. In December, 1825, he married Sarah Kishler, a native of Mifflin County, Penn., born October 11, 1804, who also emigrated with her parents to Perry County, Ohio, during her girlhood days. In Decem ber, 1835, Mr. Goodin came to Kenton, and bought the tavern then owned and occupied by John W. Williams. On the 1st of January, 1836, he took possession of the hotel, having brought his family from Tiffin, where he had been residing for a short period. In 1840, he was elected Associate Judge, and served seven years on the bench. His hotel life extended over a period of fourteen years, since which time he has been engaged in looking after his property interests here and elsewhere. To them were born ten children, only five of whom survive, and now, after a married life of nearly fifty-eight years, both bid fair to be left for many a day in the enjoyment of each other's society, as a comfort and a solace in their declining old age.
Early in the spring of 1837, William Ferguson, wife and six children emigrated from Harrison County, Ohio, and settled in Kenton. He opened a tanyard near the southeast corner of Main and Columbus streets, which he operated for several years, this being the first establishment of the sort in the town. Some of his descendants are yet residents of Hardin County, one of his daughters -- Mrs. Campbell-living close to Kenton.
Hugh Letson, wife and one son came to Kenton in July, 1837, and started a tailor shop on Main street, opposite the square and immediately south of the old court house. He was a native of Warren County, N. J., and, in 1835, married Rebecca W. Hayes, who still survives him. Through- out the first years of the county's history, he followed the tailoring busi- ness, finally branching off into the dry goods and ready-made clothing trade. Mr. Letson served as Justice of the Peace twelve years, and one term as Probate Judge. He was a man of considerable influence and a highly respected citizen until the time of his death, which occurred February 1, 1878. His sons now occupy leading positions in the commer- cial and business interests of Kenton.
In April, 1837, John Kaiser came from Cincinnati to Kenton, where he carried on the hatting business for fourteen years. He had emigrated from Germany to Cincinnati in 1834; thence to this town three years later. About 1850, he located on a farm west of Kentor, where he has since been engaged in tilling the soil.
Samuel Campbell, a native of Virginia, came to Kenton in 1835, and purchased a lot on the rorth side of East Franklin street. He then re- turned to Southern Ohio, and, in 1838, again came to Kenton, this time bringing his family, and erected a log cabin on his lot. He opened a shoe shop at his house, subsequently removing to a room on the square, and car- ried on business until burnt out in 1875. Mr. Campbell is still a resident of the town, though in very feeble health, being one of the few whose memories go back to the time when the site of Kenton was a wilderness.
POST OFFICE AND POSTMASTERS.
Through the kindness of Gen. J. S. Robinson, we have been enabled to obtain from J. W. F. Williams, of Washington, D. C., the following postal history of the Kenton office. He says: " The first application for a post
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office in Hardin County was made in 1833, to be called McArthur. The following is the record made upon the books of the Post Office Department: ' Citizens ask for an office at this place, the temporary seat of justice of the county, and appointment of Robert McCloud as Postmaster. On route 1,617, once a week, on horseback. Granted.' The papers for the establish- ment were sent in care of Bellefontaine, that being the nearest office. The office was, therefore, established, and Robert McCloud appointed Postmas- ter, July 18, 1833.
" The next record is as follows:
1
" ' March 6, 1834, Robert McCloud, Postmaster, resigns, and with citizens recommends the change of name and site of this office to Kenton, now the county seat, three miles distant, and appointment of Alexander Thomson as Postmaster. Hon. Mr. Vance concurs.' The name and site were accord- ingly changed, March 6, 1834, and the names and dates of appointments of Postmasters at Kenton down to the present date are as follows:
" Alexander Thomson, March 6, 1834; Robert B. Truman, January 19, 1838; Lewis A. Miller, August 25, 1841; Obed Taylor, January 23, 1843; John P. Gordon, April 22, 1843; John F. Aukeney, September 16, 1846; Daniel Barron, February 26, 1849; James S. Robinson, May 15, 1849; Albert Zugschwert, February 28, 1853; Augustus Traeger, April 8, 1861.
" The office increased, and became third class in March, 1865, when the appointment of a Postmaster became vested in the President, and Augustus Traeger was re-appointed March 17, 1865, and again by the President and Senate, July 26, 1866; Peter Grubb was appointed by the President Octo- ber 8, 1869, and again by the President and Senate, January 24, 1870; Herman Sagebiel was appointed by the President and Senate, March 23, 1873, again appointed by the President, April 17, 1877, again appointed by the President and Senate, November 8, 1877, and again by the President and Senate, December 20, 1881, and is the present incumbent."
REMINISCENCES OF KENTON IN 1857.
The following notices of Kenton were copied from the Hardin County Republican, of July and September, 1857. The first is from the pen of Stilla Powell, who had previously lived here, but was then engaged on t e Bellefontaine Republican. He thus chronicles his observations:
" Being in Kenton the other day, we were considerably pleased, and not a little surprised, on witnessing the steady, 'slow, but sure,' strides that clever town is making in the 'march of improvement.' The school build- ing, which promises to be one of the best in the State, is, we should judge from what we saw of the job, in the hands of builders who will 'speedily, neatly and substantially' finish their well-begun work. Another noteworthy improvement now in progress is the grading, paving and foresting of the public square. Prominent among the instances of private enterprise, finished and in course of erection, are the improvements of Messrs. Goodin, Kinnear, Kishlar, Brunson, Robinson and others we might name. What of Kenton has been finished is being rejuvenated, and nice fences, hand- some gardens, graveled walks and other pleasant appurtenances make it, and we hope may always keep it, a 'camp ground,' whereon 'you, and I, and all of us' may 'pitch our tents' in safety, at least 'for a few days.'"
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