Knox County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 11 of those read), 1862

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 11 of those read)

Richland county during her tutelage. - Divided into two townships. - The earliest settljijrs. - Voters. - Officers and matters worth remembering.

In pursuance of our purpose, as expressed on j)age 26, we devote a few pages of our Mstory to the earliest matters of record on our journals in regard to Richland county. The Commissioners of Knox, on the 8th of June, 1809, declared the entire county of Richland a separate township, which shall be called and known by the name of Madison. At the present time a township of this name exists, and Mansfield, the flourishing county seat of Richland, stands therein. At the election of 1809, that whole region polled but 17 votes, and in the year following there were but 19 votes. The vote in October, 1811, for Representative, stood, Jeremiah R. Munson 11, "Wm. Gass 3; Sherifi", Ichabod Xye, 17; Commissioner, John Kerr, 17; Coroner, Dr. Timothy Burr, 17. The Judges of election in 1810 were James Copus, "Wm. Gardner, John Eoglesong; Clerks, John C. Gilkison, James Cunningham. In 1811, Winn Winship and John C. Gilkison, clerks, certify as to the full vote of Richland. Among the names of these early settlers will be found several with whom our readers were acquainted in the olden time ; we give them - Moses Adzet, George Ackley, the Baughmans,

Jacob and Jolin Coon, Andrew Craig, Thomas Coulter, James Black, Hugh and James Cunningham, John Crossen, the Gilkisons, the Gardners, the Hulls, Moses Eountain, the Lewisses, the Mc- Clures, the Murphys, the Newmans, Pearces, Olivers, Wm. Lockard, Jacob Shaffer, Joshua Rush, Sam. Martin, the Slaters, Zimmer^ans, John Wallace, Joseph Middlcton, James Hedges and Rollin Weldon.

The first Justices of the Peace were Archibald Gardner, elected in May, 1809 ; Henry McCart, in 1810 ; George Coffinbery and Peter Kinney, in 1812 ; James McClure and Andrew Coffinbery, in 1811. The whole return on the tax duplicate, in 1811, was 73 horses, 121 cattle and one stallion, valued at $150, and taxed at $35.

A rib is taken out of the side of Richland on the 7th of January, 1812, as the following entiy on the Journal of the Commissioners explains : " Ordered, that Madison township be divided as follows, to wit : The division line of the township should be one mile east of the center of the 17th range, in the lower township, and shall be known and designated by the name of Greene." Brief entry that - is it not, for the formation of a township within the lines of which we now find the better part of Ashland county and some of the best lands in Richland. Whether it was named after the Rev. John Green, who had just been licensed to marry, '' this deponent saith not," as the books show not, but we presume, as our people were eminently patriotic, that it was named after General IS'athaniel Greene, one of the heroes of our revolutionary war. The

Moliican river passes through this township on its way to the Gulf of Mexico via the Walhonding, Muskingum, Ohio and Mississippi rivers. In the olden time men did navigate this route, if we are to put imj)licit confidence in traditions of the dead past. We have a work published several score years ago which asserts that "it is na^igal^le (excej)t being obstructed by dams) most seasons of tlie year." Beaver dams, it is presumed, or some other dams, usually obstruct. The Judges at the first election were Melzar Tanneyhill, Isaac Pierce, Samuel Lewis, and the clerks Peter Kenny and Thomas Coulter. Melzar Tanneyhill received a $6 county order for listing this township. At the election April 6, 1812, at the house of Abraham Baughman, jr., Philip Seymour, Henry Seymour and Martin Bufner, whose adventures with Indians have since been so widely known, were among the voters. John Murphy, Henry Xaugh, John Pool, Wm. Slater, John Totten and Ebenezar Bice were other voters. Among the settlers, in 1814, were Josiah L. Hill, Trew Petee, Wm. Brown, John Shehan, Ahira Hill, Asa Brown, Jeremiah Conine, Lewis Crossen, Stephen Yanscoyos, l^oah Custard, David Hill, Moses Jones, Silvester Pisher, John Crossen, H. W. Cotton, Lewis Pierce and Adam Crossen. The poll-book for the township of Greene, in the county of Knox, October 13, 1812, " shows 41 voters, but the names of Seymour and Bufner are lacking. The 14th of March, 1812, Knox Common Pleas Court allowed Greene township three Justices. Perry ville was the principal business point, and the Browns W. & A. were the first mer-

On the 10th of Ax)ril, 1812, a petition of citizens of Kichland was presented to the Commissioners of Knox for " a road beginning at the honse of James McOlnre in said county, and run the nearest way to a mill seat belonging to Amoriah Watson ; the same be granted, and Jacob Xewman, George Coffinbery and Wm. Gass were appointed Viewers, and W. Y. Earquhar Surveyor of the same."

In February, 1813, Thomas Coulter, Wm. Gass and Peter Kinney were elected Associate Judges by the Legislature. Winn Winship, the first Clerk of the Court of Hichland county, wrote an excellent hand, and was a quick business man. Several of his certificates are on file in our Clerk's oflSlce, containing election returns, &c., with a hole cut through a piece of paper showing a wafer, the county having no seal. The entire vote of Kichland, October 12, 1813, for Kepresentative was : Wm. Gass, 31 ; Sam. Kratzer, 14.

Mansfield was determined upon as the seat of justice of the county, Aiu'il 2d, 1809, by Jno. Heckewelder, John M. Council and Moses Ross, Commissioners. Winn Winship was the first Postmaster at the town ; and among the early tavern keepers known to our citizens was Capt. Sam. Williams. Jabez Beers was appointed lister of this county in 1812. Until after the war of 1812, there was not much improvement in the county. A very large proportion of the early settlers were from Knox, and throughout our history the people

We have much material that we would like to present ; but as the history of our sister county and its affairs do not, from the period to Avhich we have carried this sketch, properly belong to our enterj)rise, we close by giving a view of the Mansfield Eemale Seminary, whereof Eev. 0. S. Doolittle, A.M., and J. Lindly, A.M., are Principals ; and inasmuch as the former is a native of Knox, and a son of one of our ^Id teachers, it will not be thought out of place to say that here young ladies can acquire an accomplished education upon very reasonable terms.

Chaptee Xxty

The territory of Kuox remained entire, notwithstanding extraordinary efforts had been made time and again to erect new counties, taking a part of her territory, until, at the session of the Legislature in 1848, Morrow was created - taking from Knox Chester, Eranklin and Bloomfield townships.

Chester Township, the oldest of the three, was laid off by order of the Commissioners at their session April 10th, 1812. The first election was held at the house of Wm. Johnson, on the 25th of that month. The Judges of election this year were Josei)h Duncan, Henry George, Evan Holt ; Clerks, Wm. Johnson and Samuel Johnson. Rufus Dodd, first lister of taxable property, received a $3 county order for Ms services this year. In addition to the above-named, we find other early settlers to have been Ensley Johnson, John Walker, David Miller, John Parcels, Enos Miles, Robert Dalrymple, Isaac Norton, James and George Irwin, Joseph Howard, Bartlet Norton, and Daniel Kimbel. Moses Morris, Henry George and a few other Welch families, were among the number of the best citizens of this township, and many of their countrymen located

In 1813, at the October election, there were fifteen voters ; among them were Joseph, William and Uriah Denman, Sam'l Shaw and Ohism May. The vote stood, for Eepresentative, Gass 15 ; Commissioner, Peter Wolf 9 ; Sheriff, John Hawn, Jr. 13, Wm. Mitchel 2.

The forks of Owl Creek passing through this townshij) afford several good mill-seats a durable power, and furnish the people with facilities for getting breadstuffs at their own doors. Their lands are generally rolling and very productive. The citizens have ever been distinguished for industry and thrifty management. In 1830, the poiiulation was 778 ; in 1810, it was 1,297 ; and in 1850, 1,620.

For many years the i)ost-office went by the name of Miles's X Koads, and the good tavernkeeper's name seemed for a long time likely to absorb the other. It was on the main thoroughfare from Mt. Vernon to Mt. Gilead, and on the old State road from Johnstown to Paris and ]N^ew Haven ; distant from Mt. Yernon 14 miles, from Predericktown 8, from Mt. Gilead 10, from Johnstown 23, and 30 from Paris. In 1830, it contained 250 inhabitants, 40 dwellings, 5 stores, 1 tavern, 1 flour-mill, 1 sawmill, 1 tannery, 1 church, and several mechanic shops. This village has ever been distinguished for the attention paid to schools, chui-ches, etc., and the general morality of its citizens ; of whom we may name the Shurs, the Bartletts, and Hance,

Evan Holt, as a revolutionary soldier, served six years ; was a native of Chester, Pa., emigrated to this county in 1808, and lived for 39 years on land received for his services. He also was a pensioner until his death, in his 84th year, leaving a large family married and settled around him. Evan, Jr. was a great tighter - possessed of bone, muscle and ];)luck ; he fought in Morris township, about 35 years ago, a fist fight Avith John Magoogin, where he displayed uncommon skill. They had a difficulty at a camp-meeting over the creek, on James Smith's farm, and then made up this fight, to come oif at the first big muster at the Cross Roads, by Wm. Mitchell's. A great crowd witnessed it. Magoogin was a stout and brisk man of much courage ; he died a soldier in the Mexican war. The fight was conducted fairly, and Magoogin carried the palm.

The poll-book of Chester in April, 1824, concludes as follows : - " We certify that John StiUey had 26 votes for Justice, Wm. W. Evans 26. Decided by draught in favor of John Stilley. John De Witt, John Beebee, Jas. McCracken, Judges ; Enos Miles, Jas. E. Clapp, Clerks. We therefore do certify that John Stilley from Ai'rangements was duly elected a justice of the peace for Chester township, this 1st Monday, AprO, A. D. 1821."

Successive Justices Of The Peace

FranMin, the most extreme townsliip in the north-west corner of "old Knox," before she was shorn of her fair proportions by the erection of Morrow, was first known December 3d, 1823, by being created and named after the philosopher, statesman and printer, Benjamin Franklin. The first election came off on the first Monday of April, 1823, at the house of Thomas Axtell. The principal place of business is Pulaskiville.

Jamestown was many years ago a famous business place, projected by Allen Kelly, Esq., who emigrated from Northumberland county. Pa., at a very early day, and has ever been a prominent stock raiser and farmer. David Peoples, David Shaw, Wm. T. Campbell, Washington Strong, the Petersons, Hickmans, Blairs and Van Buskirks were among the early settlers. Of these Abraham Blair, of Perth Amboy, K. J., settled in 1811 upon the farm on which he died, in his 90th year, on the

2d of October, 1846. He served as a minute man during the Revolutionary War, and participated in the battles of Trenton and Monmouth. , He was a good citizen, and much respected. Qii^^^^t^^

David Shaw served his fellow-citizens over twenty-one years as a Justice of the Peace, and was also Commissioner of the County nine years. He was a very clever, quaint old gentleman, whose name is ever associated Avith Eranklin township affairs.

Colonel Strong was noted as a military character, and a democrat. His patriotic party ardor sustained Mm in walking all tlie way from home t^ the State Conventions at Columbus, and back again. And speaking of democracy reminds us of the zeal of Joshua Bickford, who, for many years, was one of the shining lights of Eranklin. One little incident is worthy of note. He was selected once upon a time as Chairman of a County Convention, and among other business was the appointment of delegates to a district convention to be held at Johnstown to nominate a candidate for Congress. One of the legal gentlemen of the j)arty arose, and moved the appointment of a committee to select delegates to the Congressional Convention, &c. President Bickford j^ut the question - " Gentlemen, all you in favor of the motion just made about delegates to the Congregational Convention will say aye." The gentleman who made the motion sprang to his feet somewhat excited, exclaiming, "The Congressional Convention," I said. " Exactly," said the President; "You've heard the motion, Gentlemen : the Congregational Convention I said, said, and what we all want - we want democrats to congregate at Johnstown, and it is a Conf/regaUonal Convention." Joshua was in earnest in whatever he undertook, and seconded by the efforts of Lieut. Bernard Eields usually carried his points. He was noted as tavern-keeper, merchant and horse-trader, and was always " bobbing around."

In addition to the prominent citizens enumerated as having held official positions, we may mention the Swingleys, from Hagerstown, Md., Sam. Livingston, Henry Weatherby, Anson Prouty, Wm. Paris, Wm. Gordon, Benjamin Corwin, Alex. Wilson, Jonathan Olin, Wm. Lavering, Caleb Barton, H. P. Eldrige, C. Sapp, Wm. Linn, B. O. Pitman, David Ewers, Ebenezer Hartwell, B. and E. Lyon, Ben. Hathaway and Thomas Morrison.

In 1830, Eranklin had over 16,000 acres of land upon the tax list, and the census then showed only 800 inhabitants. In 1810, the inhabitants numbered 1,343, and in 1850, 1,456.

Upon the organization of this township, Wm. Van Buskirk, a Justice of the Peace within the territory, v*^ho had been re-elected in 1822, continued the functions until again elected in 1821. In 1821, John Truax was elected. In 1827, David Shaw was elected, and subsequently re-elected over and over again; and when the township was carried into Morrow county, it took the old Justice along to keep it straight. H. W. Strong was elected in 1831, and re-elected in 1837. Wm. Yan Buskirk was elected in 1810, re-elected in 1843, and

Bloomfield Toicnship was created June 23d, 1817, and received its name in this wise : Several of the settlers were at the house of Sheldon Clark early in the Spring, talking about the new township, when John Blinn called attention to the coming of flowers upon the beautiful mound that they stood upon, and suggested that, as the field was in bloom, it should be called Bloomfield, which was accordingly done.

Benjamin H. Taylor was the first lister of property for taxation and made his return June, 1818, receiving an order for $5 for his services.

The family of Artemas Swetland emigrated to this State in 1808, and in 1812 located in this part of the county, where their name has ever since existed.

The next earliest settlers were the Clarks, Walker Lyon, Preston Hubbell, Seth N^ash, John Helt, Wm. Ayres, John Blinn, Dr. Bliss, Samuel Whit-- ney, LuciusjFrench, Stephen Marvin, Samuel Mead, Lemuel Potter - all industrious and substantial men. The Clarks - Boswell, Sheldon and Marshal, were sons of Daniel Clark, of Kew Haven co., Ot. Lyon, Hubbell, Kash, Whitney, Prencli, Marvin and Mead, were also from that county. Helt and Ap*es were from Washington co., Pa.

The first post office established was called Clark's H Boads, at the intersection of the road from Johnstown to New Haven with the road from Mt. Yernon to Delaware - a central point - being 13 miles from Berkshire, Mt. Yernon, Chestervijle

The next was Sparta, upon the old State road from Mansfield via Frederick to Sunbury and Columbus. It is considerable of a blading point. From 1840 to 1850 much mechanical and manufacturing was carried on. Benjamin Chase erected quite a large woolen manufactory and ran it for several years ; upon his death the works stoj)ped. Charles Osborne was the last at the business ; he moved to Mt. Gilead and has since gone west, somewhere. Elisha Cook now operates a steam saw and grist mill in the old factory buildings.

Of the first settlers Sheldon and Eos well Clark, Walker Lyon, Stephen Marvin, Samuel Mead, A. W. and Giles and E. M. Swetland are yet living.

Roswell Clark came to the country in 1816, with his wife. They have had three children - Daniel, now in Xenia ; Eliza man-ied John Barr, in Bloomfield ; Rev. Wesley died at West Liberty, two years ago, aged 46 years. He was a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a man of much worth ; his widow and children live in Bloomfield. Sheldon Clark was married when he emigrated, in 1819, and has two daughters - Yictorine P., married Eloyd Sears ; and Rebecca Jane, C. B. Jackson. Preston Hubbell is dead, and his three children are in the west. Lucius French is dead ; his son, Andrew, and daughter, Emeline,live in Bloomfield.

Jolin Helt survives witli two children - Casper, a son, in Bloomfield ; and Lafayette, a soldier in the army. Wm. Ayres is dead, and left no children. Walker Lyon, in his 73d year, is in Bloomfield with his son. Smith. He has two daughters living - Harriet, wife of Rowland Rogers ; and Sally Jane, wife of James Howe, of rredericktown. Samuel AYliitney died leaving two children - Wheeler, in Bloomfield ; and Samuel, near Berkshire. Seth Nash is dead, and his children, three in number, are in the west. Artemas Swetland is dead ; his three boys - Augustus W., Puller M., and Seth, and his daughter, Mrs. Wm. Shurr, are living. Lemuel Potter moved into Bloomfield in 1819 from southern Ohio ; he is dead, and left eight cliildren - Cassandra lives in Bloomfield, Lemuel, jr., in Urbana, and two of the boys are doctors in Wayne.

Among the early items of this township was the separation of a man and wife, by public notice given, as folloAvs : "By mutual consent James C. and Rebecca Wilson, of Bloomfield township, Knox county, have this day (Oct. 21st) agreed to dissolve as being man and wife."

The first brick house in this township was built in 1823, by Roswell Clark, a two story building in which he has so long resided. The first frame house was the two story frame in which Sheldon Clark resides, built in 1828. Prior to these houses they, like other settlers, lived in log cabins. The

Olarks burnt the first lime in this township on logheaps. The price then was fifty cents per bushel unslackcd - just double the present rate. Since that they have burnt many kilns, and made their support and fortunes. Eor many years they furnished the greater part of the lime used at Mount Yernon for building and other purposes.

Among the objects of sympathy, at an early day, was Samuel Collinfare, a poor little hunchback and ricketed spinner, who traveled from house to house and spun for the citizens. He was a native of the Isle of Man, and made his first appearance about 1819. The dwarf never would work for wages, but for clothes and food - was good society - -well informed, and ever cheerfully greeted where he called. A few years since E. W. Cotton, obeying the prompting of a generous heart, erected a monument in the burying ground to mark the spot where his mortal remains were laid.

The first churcli in this township was the Methodist Episcopal, at Bloomfield, on Clark street, as it is called ; it was erected in 1839. The next Methodist Episcopal Church was built at Sparta in 1846.

In 1816 the Cliristian Church was put up in Sparta. These churches are frame buildings. The first preacher in the township was Thomas Kerr, Methodist. A good man - long since departed.

In 1850 the Wesleyan Methodists erected a small church about one and a half miles west of Sparta, at which the noted Edward Smith preached until he died at Harmony in 1859 ; his body was interred in the Bloomfield burying ground. The present preachers are John T. Kellum and Wm. Conant, Methodist Episcopal ; Rev. Bainam, Wesleyan Methodist. The last Christian minister was the Rev. J. W. Marvin.

Bloomfield deserves more than a passing notice for the respect shown to the dead. The cemetery is a sacred spot - neat and tastily kept. It is one mile north of Clark street, and contains many neat and costly monuments.

The other parties selling goods at Sparta are Chase & Co., the brothers Wm., John & E. Byron, L. Swetland, and Antipas Dexter ; and a stock of goods is kept at Bloomfield by Mann Lyon.

Among the residents of Bloomfield are the Conways. Widow Charlotte Conway, who . died in 1859, moved from Eauquier co., Ya., with her sons Joseph, Wm. and John. Joseph married a daughter of Wm. Sanford in 1842 ; Wm. lives near Mt. Liberty, and John in Knox co., Missouri. The Manvilles, the Barrs, the Sanfords, Lovelands, Sheldons, Burkholders, Searses, Ashleys, Craigs, Throckmortons and Higginses, are also among the well known names.

The Cottons were among the early settlers and as such deserving of notice at our hands, more especially since the name continues in the county and is familiar to our people. Harris W. Cotton, one of the commissioners of Eayette co., Pa., entered a section of land in Bloomfield, and upon his return home, while preparing to move, died. His sons, Emmet W. and Harris, brought out the mother and family. The old lady died in Union county in June, 1851, of cancer. The children were ^^ancy, wife of James Thompson, in Milford; Mary, wife of Michael Cramer, in Union county ; Painelia, wife of Elijah Crable, in Liberty ; John W. in West Brownsville, Pa. ; Harris W. who died in Liberty in 1835, Emmet W. in Mt. Yernon ; Louisa, wife of Thomas Merrill, who died about 1852 in Columbus, 111. ; Charlotte, wife of Bobert Butler, who also died in Hlinois ; and Elizabeth, first wife of M. Cramer, who died in Clinton township about 1833. The main dependence for errands and chores of the family, in early times, was Emmet, who has often carried two bushels of wheat on horseback to Mt. Yernon and exchanged it for one pound of

Idon Y. Ball, born in Brownsville, Pa., in 1^05, married Catharine Woods, of that place ; moved to Bloomfield in Sept., 1841, and settled on the place he has since resided upon. He has had one daughter and eight sons ; six of his boys now survive. Eor twenty years he has been engaged in farming and entertaining the public. Many a wayfaring man has fared sumptuously at his stand, and many have been the happy parties of pleasureseekers from Mt. Yernon and other points, who have been liospitably entertained by Mr. Ball and his excellent lady.

William McKinstry and John Brocaw are among the prominent farmers of Bloomfield, both from Hunterton county, New Jersey, and came to Knox county with the family of Matthias McKinstry, in 1831.

John Lineweavcr came in 1827, and still lives in it, with a considerable family. Harvey Lounsbery is another old settler. Antipas and Chauncey Dexter, good millwrights, are also among the present inhabitants.

Thomas Osborne and his wife Olive, emigrated from Rhode Island in 1818. He died in 1853, in his 74th year ; she is at the old homestead, in her 74th year. They had nine children. Those now living are all in Bloomfield, but Orilla, wife of Jesse Severe, in Liberty. John H. married Kancy Severe ; James M., Sopliia Thatcher ; Amanda is the wife of David Oovle ; Sarah Ann the wife of John Diistin; Wm. I^. married Harriet Dustin, and George E., Purilla Eoberts. The old gentleman had been a sailor and soldier, and did good service in his day and generation.

Samuel Westbrook was a good rough carpenter and joiner; he moved to Michigan, and is now dead. Tlie Westbrooks were among the old settlers of this township ; none of the name now live in Knox county.

An aeronaut, by the name of E. H. Westbrook, met with a terrible end on the 4th of July, 1862; There was a large concourse of people at Sparta, in commemoration of the national anniversary, who were addressed by Rev. Mills Harrod, W. L. Bane, and A. Banning Norton, and at 5 o'clock P. M., as previously announced, a balloon went up with Westbrook to the distance of perhaps live hundred feet, when it burst in pieces and fell to the earth, killing the reckless navigator. It was a miserable rotten old fabric, and was the most foolhardy operation we have ever witnessed. About three thousand people were estimated to have been present, witnessing the sad termination to an otherwise joyful occasion. What a sudden transition from life to death ! Within five minutes of the time he ascended, waving his hat amid the hurrahs and shouts of the peojile, he fell a corpse, leaving a wife and several children to mourn his exit. For their benefit B. L. Swetland at once

June 23d, 1817, the Court of Common Pleas allowed Bloomfield one justice, to be elected at tl e house of Timothy Smith, and Matthew Marvin was chosen in 1818.