The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 64

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

heads, etc., etc., and in one of these banks there were several skeletons found, lying in close proximity to each other, and by the side of each was found a piece of yellow ochre as large as a cocoa unt, supposed to have been placed there under the superstitious idea that it would be required as a war paint in fighting the battles of the other world. There is one peculiar freak that is comprised in the drift formation of the western portion of this town- ship, that has quite recently been unearthed. In cutting an artificial drain through the only prairie lying west of the natural water-shed, and east of Little Darby, which is about two miles in length, quite broad at the upper end, but going down the prairie it is gradually contracted by the elevated lands and the timber until the latter finally closes in, obliterating the prairie and forming a dense body of timber. In cutting this drain at that point where the timber came together, and for some distance below. large quanti- ties of white limestone were found in blocks, scattered here and there, some- times singly, and at others in close proximity, or lying one upon another; but, to convey a correct idea. they lay scattered in a promiscuous mass. These blocks were irregular in shape, but uniformly flat on either side, varying in thickness from three to ten or twelve inches. They were very soft and easily cut, when first removed, but soon hardened upon exposure. They were found from six inches under the soil, to as deep as the drain was made. Therefore, the extent of this deposit is not definitely known. Like many other portions of the county, there are those old, time-worn bowlders, scattered here and there as monuments or reminders that it was once said, " the fountains of the great deep were broken up." They are not, however, as numerous here as in many other places, except at a few points on each side of Big Darby and near Sugar Run, where they have been deposited in considerable numbers.

The subsoil of the township is generally composed of clay and lime- stone gravel, sufficiently porous to admit of deep underdraining, and yet at the same time holding in solution, ready for plant food, the application of home or commercial fertilizers. In conclusion, be it remembered that when all the facts that have been elicited in the preceding pages are once thor- oughly understood and practically applied by the agriculturist, taking into consideration the altitude, climate, soil and subsoil, may we not safely vent- ure a prediction that, in the near future, these Darby plains will rank first among the wheat-producing portions of the State?

PIONEERS.

Darby was among the first townships settled in the county, her history dating back as early as 1795. But those emigrants were generally poor. Therefore, it was a long time before there was any perceptible improvement, either in their condition or facilities for making money; but all alike were subjected to the privations incident to pioneer life. Consequently, justice and courtesy would require that all emigration prior to and including the year 1821 should be chronicled among the list of pioneers. One other im- portant reason for making so much time pioneer years, is, that in the two succeeding ones, disease and death nearly depopulated this part of the county. The terrible sufferings and privations experienced by them make it therefore fitting that the names of those noble men and women should be held in high esteem and cherished in the memories of a grateful people. The first white men to locate in this township were Jonathan Alder, who was discovered by Benjamin Springer, in 1796. living on the banks of Big Darby with his Indian wife; James and Joshua Ewing, Samuel and David

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Mitchell, with their families. and a few others, whose records will be found in the general history. to which we refer the reader for further information of those men.

John, Daniel and Richard Taylor, natives of the State of New York. emigrated to Kentucky in the year 1795. and purchased lands near Lexing- ton. From an unsettled condition of titles, they became discouraged and disgusted by constant litigations and losses. The former of these brothers, John Taylor. a young man, became alarmed at the prospective loss of his farm, went to Mr. Sullivant, of whom he made his purchase, and stated to him the uncertain condition of his title, whereupon Mr. Sullivant proposed to trade him lands in the Territory (now State) of Ohio for his Kentucky farm. This Mr. Taylor readily acceded to. By this exchange, he became the owner of about 300 acres of land on the banks of Big Darby, now in Union County. In the year 1800, this man emigrated to Darby Township. sold his former purchase to Frederick Sager, and bought another of John Graham. This latter purchase is situated about one mile south of Plain City, on both sides of Big Darby. Here he erected a log cabin, stable and other necessary outbuildings, and shortly after, about the year 1804, he married a widow McCollough, sister of Judge Mitchell, whose early life is recorded in the general county history. From this union they had two children, a daughter and a son. The former died in infancy, but the latter. John Taylor, Jr., is still living on the old homestead. At this time the Indians were very numerous, and their camping-grounds were only about one mile up Big Darby from Mr. Taylor's residence. On one occasion, by some means, they had purchased or stolen a quantity of whisky, and were having a " general drunk." Always. with such events. the squaws, under- standing the savage nature of their liege lords. would, if possible, secure all their guns, tomahawks and hunting-knives and hide them to prevent general disaster and bloodshed. One morning, when Mr. Taylor ascended his loft to get feed for his horse, he discovered a great number of toma- hawks and hunting-knives sticking in the logs and guns standing in the corners. At this he was horrified, but he soon, however, learned the nature of this strange stacking of arms. Mr. Taylor was quite wealthy and was generous withal. Therefore, it served the double purpose of not only mak- ing himself and family comfortable, but also in employing the poor pio- neers, and thus assisting them to many of the necessary comforts of life.

In the year 1803, the other brothers emigrated to Darby. They had lost much of their property in the bogus land-titles of Kentucky: therefore. they were like most of the pioneers, comparatively poor. Daniel, with his family, went directly to this Indian village, or camping-ground, where at this time Jonathan Alder was living with his squaw wife, who proposed to surrender to Mr. Taylor the use of his hut as a shelter to his family. This highly distinguished favor was gladly accepted, and he immediately took possession. He, however, soon after built another by the side of this one, the former being used for a kitchen and the latter for bed, parlor and sit- ting room. There the children of Mr. Taylor and those of the Indians be- came intimately associated in their plays and childish frivolities. Among these children there was one little girl by the name of Sarah Taylor, now living, who afterward became the wife of John H. Norton, of whom we shall have occasion to speak in another place.

The Taylor brothers all settled near Big Darby, and, by industry and economy, they secured a competency that relieved them from pressing cares in the evening of their lives. Among their descendants now living here

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may be mentioned John Taylor, son of John Taylor. Sr .. who was born in 1806, has always been a resident of this township and always lived at the old homestead. In his early life, he was particularly fond of good horses, and, with a view of improving this kind of stock, he purchased a few very fine blooded horses, mostly from Kentucky, and were therefore of that pecu- liar blood and style of which a Kentuckian boasts. The most of his life, however, has been devoted to the raising of cattle, sheep and hogs. He was among the first to introduce the Colmbing wools into this township. He is a progressive farmer. keeping pace with the demands and improvements of the age. Samuel Taylor, son of Richard. lives about one-half mile east of Plain City, the owner of an excellent farm, extensively engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, his farm being well adapted to the growing of all the cereals of this climate. His attention is also directed in the channel of stock-raising, and at this time he is the owner of several very fine imported Clydes-dale draft horses, which compare favorably with the best importa- tion made to this country.

James Norton, with his family, came to this township in the year 1810 or 1812, purchased a farm on Sugar Run, east of Big Darby, and lived there until his death, in 1836. His two sons, John and Solomon Norton, came with him. The former of these, in the year 1820, married Miss Sarah Taylor. daughter of Daniel, and one of the little girls mentioned in the pre- ceding lines as being a playmate with the Indian children in the Wyandot village. Mr. Norton became the owner of the greater portion of his father's farm, where he spent his days. He was an exemplary man, morally, a Jus- tice of the Peace, Trustee of the township, Assessor, and some other minor offices were held by him. He died in 1880. Solomon Norton lived in this part of the township for several years, but nothing very definite is known of his history.

Jeremiah Converse was born in New Hampshire in 1760. He emigrated with his father to the State of Vermont prior to the Revolutionary war. Before the close of this conflict, he enlisted as a private in the cause of free- dom. On one occasion, he, with his company, was sent out as a scouting party to ascertain the strength and position of a marauding band of Indians. They had traveled many miles along the banks of the Muskingum River, when, toward evening of the second day, they found themselves confronted by about four hundred savages, secreted behind fallen timber, trees, under- brush, etc. The deadly fire from the first volley laid half, and more, of their company in the dust. The surviving ones stood bravely the galling fire from their hidden foe, until the Indian war-whoop and rush of savages re- minded them that their only safety was in retreat. In this desperate struggle for life, Mr. Converse was pursued by a single warrior, with gun in hand and uplifted tomahawk, ready to inflict the deadly blow. But being out-distanced by his fleeing foe, the savage halted and shot him through the shoulder. His gun instantly dropped from his hand thus made powerless, reeling and bennmbed by the shock; but he soon rallied and made good his escape by fording the river and secreting himself in the thick underbrush that grew upon the opposite bank. On the third day, he, with three others, arrived in camp, being all that was left to tell the sad story. His wound disabled him for life, therefore he was soon after discharged from the mili- tary service. He subsequently became a traveling minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In the year 1814, this Revolutionary soldier, and Rhoda Converse, his wife, with their family, emigrated to Darby Township. He and most of

Won D. Ballinger M.

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his sons bought homes adjacent to or in near proximity to each other, about three miles west of Big Darby, upon what was then known as Darby Plains. The Rev. Mr. Converse was the first pioneer minister in this portion of the county. Therefore, he was generally known and equally esteemed for his uprightuess and zeal for the cause he espoused. He always lived upon the farm of his first purchase, where he also died, in the year 1837, aged seventy- seven. His oldest son, Sanford Converse, settled in Licking County, being grandfather to the Hon. George L. Converse, of Columbus, Ohio. Those sons of the Rev. Mr. Converse that made purchases and lived on the Darby Plains were Parley, Squire, Lathrop, Jeremiah, Jr., Silas and Charles Con- verse.

Parley Converse was a farmer and mechanic. He was elected to the office of Justice, which he filled with credit to himself and justice to those he officially dealt with. He was an exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years or more. After he became unable to labor upon the farm or at his trade, he moved to Plain City, where he died in 1866. His sons now living are Caleb and Parley, Jr., both residents of Union County. Squire Converse was a farmer, settled on the plains, and died in one of the sickly seasons. He had three sons. The oldest of these, Jasper R. Con- verse, owned a large farm in the prairie lands and was a dealer in stock, but made a specialty in growing thoroughbred sheep. He died in 1859. His only son living, Augustin Converse, a resident of Columbus, is very wealthy, a real estate dealer and owning stock in the Wassal Fire Clay Company. Edwin Converse died many years ago, and his descendants are quite numerous in Union County. Asa Converse was a farmer, which busi- ness he followed for several years. At present, he is a resident of Plain City, and doing an extensive mercantile business. He is also the owner of a beautiful farm on the plains, upon which his son is now living. Lathrop Converse lived on the plains until his death, in 1822, one of the sickly sea- sons. He had three sous. The oldest of these, Darius Converse, was a resident of the township for many years. Prior to his death, he removed to Union City, Ind. His second son. Joel N. Converse, was a practicing physician in this and Union Counties. He located in Union City and there became connected with a railroad enterprise and is now a resident of Lin- coln, Neb. Orinda, daughter of Rev. Mr. Converse, married Samuel Sher- wood, who lived in Canaan Township until his death, which took place quite early in the history of that township. He has one son living-A. H. Sherwood, a resident of Plain City. Here several of the descendants of this family are living, some of whom are prominent business men of the place.

Jeremiah Converse, Jr., a native of Vermont, and son of the Rev. Mr. Converse, was born in 1790; married Malinda Derby, a descendant of the titled family of Derbys in England, in 1813. Here was born to them one son. He emigrated with his and his father's family to Darby Township in 1814. This journey, a distance of nearly one thousand miles, required eight weeks to accomplish. This was truly a trying and difficult, as well as dangerous, undertaking. But then a place, a home to call their own, the thoughts of which instilled new life at each returning day. Thus, day after day, they toiled on to their journey's end. For several years some of these lived to enjoy "home." with all its endearments. Others again, in a few brief years, fell victims to disease and death. This man was the father of a large family. and, like others of his day, suffered many privations in - cident to pioneer life. He bought a small farm of Walter Dun, for $1.25

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per acre, and even at this price it took him nine years to complete his pay- ments. He was Drum Major in the militia regiment of this county, under the then existing military laws of the State. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty years or more. His motto was hon- esty and Christian integrity. He died in 1819. His oldest son, C. D. Cou- verse, was born in 1814. Until within a few years, he has always been a resident of this township. Through industry and economy a competency has been saved to relieve him from the pressing care of his declining years. He is now the owner of a beautiful farm in Deer Creek Township, upon which he resides

Jeremiah Converse, better known as Dr. J. Converse, was born in Darby Township in the year 1822 upon the same farm which he now owns in part. He married Miss Hortense S. Hemenway, a native of Vermont, in 10++, practiced medicine for twenty-five years, and, with the exception of four or five years, has always been a resident of this township. His complete biog- raphy will appear in another part of this work. L. D. Converse, the youngest son, was born in 1826. He is living about two miles from Plain City. His farm is beautifully situated and his surroundings inviting: the soil is fertile and productive, well adapted to mixed agriculture. The leading business of his life has been the production of wool. His biography will appear in another place.

Silas Converse was a young man when he emigrated with his father, in 1814. to Darby, with whom he lived for several years thereafter. He mar- ried four wives. In his first and second marriage there were no child: 11. His third wife was a Gorham, by whom he had a son and daughter; the former is a resident of Hardin County, and the latter of Union. For his fourth wife, he married the widow of Daniel Bowers, who was the mother of John P. and S. W. Bowers, of this township. From this union there was one son, Sanford Converse, a resident of Plain City, and doing business in a livery, feed and sale stable. This pioneer father was not a member of any church, but for veracity, uprightness and charity. he had no superior. The hungry were. fed, the naked clothed, the sick cared for, indeed, the " latch-string of his door " always hung out. He died at the ripe age of eighty-six years.

Charles Converse, the youngest son of the Rev. Mr. Converse, was quite young when they came to Darby. When but a child, the effects of inflammatory rheumatism made him a cripple for life, requiring the use of crutches in walking Soon after his marriage. he purchased a farm on the plains, which was successfully managed. Stock-raising was his principal business, the profits of which were carefully husbanded, and at death he had a competency for his family. He died in 1869. Of his three sons, James N. Converse is a resident of Canaan. R. B. Converse is a resident of Dar- by, and living at the home of his childhood. having made some important additions thereto. He is a practical and successful farmer. His biography will appear elsewhere. Charles Converse, Jr .. the youngest son, enlisted in the war of the rebellion, on the first call for three months' men; served his time, came home, raised a company for three years' service, and was elected First Lieutenant, and afterward promoted to Captain of Company D, For- tieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in several engagements, among them the hard-fought battle of Chickamauga, and was killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., which took place June 30, 1864.

Abner Newton. Sr., with his family. emigrated from the State of Ver- mont to this township in the year 1814. and purchased a farm in the Con-

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verse settlement. He was a wheelwright and chair manufacturer. The de. mand of the times for that class of articles made him prominent in this part of the country. His wheels, both great and small, were unsurpassed. They were a necessary article in almost every family. On these wheels the women spun their tow and linen, as well as the woolen yarns, from which all the clothing was made. He also manufactured hand looms, by which these yarns were converted into cloth. The clothing for summer wear, for both men and women, consisted of tow and linen, and for winter, linsey and woolen. The chairs manufactured by him were, perhaps, in less demand and were purchased as the people became able. The more common seat used was a long bench, or three-legged stools. Prior to and after the death of Mr. Newton, his youngest son, Abner Newton, Jr., continued to manu- facture the above articles so long as they were in demand, or until machin- ery supplied their place. After the demand for these articles had ceased, he became quite an extensive manufacturer of boots and shoes, and partly in connection with it. or soon thereafter, he dealt in dry goods, groceries, etc. This traffic was continued for a few years, and finally, he physically broke down and retired from all business. He is still living at the old home, his farm being managed by his son-in-law.

Albert Newton, the eldest of these sons, married a sister of Dr. Charles McCloud. He settled in the same neighborhood. and, by industry and fru- gality, he became quite wealthy. He was an exemplary man, strictly honest, and a zealous worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a member for many years. He died as he lived, a firm believer in the truth of his convictions. His only child, a daughter, married Thomas Jones, for- merly one of the Directors of the Plain City Bank, but now.a resident of Delaware County.

Daniel Bowers came to this township in the year 1814. He first set- tled near the present village of Amity, being a single man at the time of his emigration, but within a few years thereafter he married Diadama Phiney. a young lady that came with Abel Beach and family in the same year. Mr. Bowers was a millwright and was employed by Frederick Sager to put up the building and make all the necessary machinery for a water-power grist- mill. This was the first mill of the kind ever put up in this part of the county. It was situated about one mile north of Plain City, on Big Darby, which at the time was in this township, but now in Union County. The grinding-stone made use of in this mill was a bowlder taken from the farm of John Taylor, being worked and dressed into proper shape by Mr. Sager himself. This part of the machinery was used for many years, being almost equal to the French buhr. He was afterward employed by Uri Beach to build a saw-mill, and soon after a carding-machine. This latter was run by horse-power. The nature of the tread-power used was truly a novelty. It consisted of a large wheel, perhaps twenty feet in diameter, with a strong center shaft and iron journals and bearings. Into this shaft strong arms were framed, extending about ten feet from the center, and well braced un derneath, and the whole covered with a tight floor. The wheel was then set inclined on one side much lower than the other. The horses were har- nessed, taken upon the floor and hitched to a stationery post or beam; hence the act of pulling revolved the wheel beneath their feet, and thus the ma- chinery was set in motion. This was a wonderful achievement over the former method of carding all the wool for their clothing by hand. In the settlement by the Government of some of the Indian reservations, Mr. Bow- ers was employed by the agency as an interpreter, being the only person

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here that understood the Wyandot language. He therefore spent consid - erable time in the settlement of these claims. His trade being insufficient for the support of himself and family, he purchased a farm in the Converse settlement, where he lived until his death, in 1834. There were three children of this family-two sons and a daughter -the oldest of these, John P. Bowers, is residing at the home of his youth. He is a man of prominence, and has held many positions of trust in the gift of the people. He has been elected to the office of Trustee many times at different intervals; also Township Assessor, Real Estate Assessor, and to the office of Justice of the Peace for twenty-seven years. His educational advantages were very limit- ed, but a retentive memory and good judgment have given him prominence among the people. His biography will appear in the proper place. S. W. Bowers, the youngest of these sons, owns a farm on the plains, beautifully situated, rich and fertile. He is industrious and economical, and carefully husbanded his yearly profits. His home is inviting and tasty, and, but for the ruthless hand of death, his declining years would have been pillowed on the bosom of happiness and ease.

In the year 1814, Charles Warner moved to the plains and purchased the farm now owned by I. A. Converse. Here Mr. Warner followed the agricultural pursuits. In connection with his farming operations he had a distillery, where he manufactured whisky and peach brandy for the market. The principal trading points were Chillicothe. Sandusky, Zanesville and a few others of less importance. He usually kept three or four yoke of cat tle, which were used in wagoning the products of his still to these points, taking in exchange salt, glass and such other articles as were in demand. In the spring of the year, with his ox team, he broke large quantities of prairie sod for the farmers, which was very difficult to plow with an ordi- nary team. He died quite early in the history of the township. There are none of his descendants in this county. Charles Adams, a step-son of Mr. Warner, accompanied him to this county and purchased a farm adjoining, where he lived until about the year 1836. He then moved to Union County, where he died. His descendants are residents of that county. In the vear 1810, David Clement emigrated to this township and purchased a farm on the plains. He made the agricultural pursuits the means of supporting himself and family, and was the first to introduce the propriety of sowing down the cultivated fields in tame grass. He therefore procured a small quantity of red-top seed, which was sown on a piece of corn land. Its luxuriant growth and beautiful appearance was the wonder and admiration of the farming community. The oldest son living is a resident of Colum- bus, Ohio.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 64

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180