Morrow County, Ohio - Chapter 22, 1880

LINCOLN originally formed a part of Harmony Township, and, with the latter, shared its dominion over the tract of country directly north of their combined territory to the north line of Crawford County. It was by far the most attractive part of old Harmony Township, and was early settled. Later, as the lands within the present limits of Harmony were taken up and settlements began to multiply, there was a movement for a separation, and on March 3, 1828, the Commissioners of Delaware County erected the new township from " that part of Harmony and

Westfield Townships, beginning on the north line of the county, in Westfield Township, one mile east of the line between the 17th and 18th Ranges ; thence south on lot line to south line of Westfield Township, and the line between the 6th and 7th Townships ; thence east one mile beyond the west line of the 16th Range ; thence north through Harmony Township to north line of the county ; thence west along the north line of the county to place of beginning. A glance at the map will show that the best of the land in the old township was set ofi" in the newly formed member of the county. Tlie ea.stern IioihUt of tlie townsliip i.s a natural boundary, the land risint;" so as to form a dividing Hue between the waters of Big Wahmt and Alum Creek. Just west of this ridge, the latter stream takes its rise in two branches in the low land in the northern part of the township, uni^Mig on the property of A. G. Emery, and flowing in a southerly course through the township. Along the upper branches of this stream is found some bottom land, though of no great extent, save on the farm of J. T. Buck. Below the forks of this stream, the banks, though not high, are abrupt, the clay formation coming in contact with the water. In the western part of Lincoln, the West Branch of Alum Creek takes its rise, and, flowing in a southwesterly course, passes through a part of Westfield, and, changing its course,unites with the other branch in the .southwest corner of Peru. The upjier end of this branch has been widened, and is known as the Williams Ditch, and thus serves to drain considerable territory, which was before inade(|uately provided for. The Avestern part of the towuship is low, and bears such timber as sugar, burr oak, birch and hickory. On the high land in the eastern part is found white oak, maple and beech, while on the bottoms originally grew black walnuts of mammoth size. The streams afford but little drainage. The banks are Ioav, and the fall is so slight that the surplus water occasioned by heavy rains, floods the fields to a considerable extent, while in other parts large ditches and extensive underdraining are necessary to the proper cultivation of the land. The predominant characteristic of the soil is that of a yellow clay on the higher ground, a good strong soil for grass, corn, and, when well flirmed, for wheat. On the bottoms is found a rich black soil, which yields large crops, and is easily renewed. The ordinary style of farming - raising corn, oats, rye and wheat, with a little stock - is the occupation of most of the residents of Lincoln, though the present season is to witness the first experimenting in dairying. A cheese factory has been established in the township, joining on the north, and. owing to the few cows kept by the farmers, a long distance has to be traversed to get enough together to secure the highest advantages. The raising of pedigree stock has received quite an impetus in the town, during the past year ; Collins Buck and Sidney Smith making a specialty of dealing in fine-wooled merino sheep, and Gardner and James in short-horned cattle.

The early organization of the township bounded it on the north by Gilead, on the east by Harmony, on the south by Bennington and Perry, and on the west by Westfield. Subse(|uent changes to accommodate the growing village of Cardington took a piece a mile square out of the northwest corner, and later six lots were taken oft" the northeastern part, and attached to Gilead, to maintain the balance of power between the rival villages and their townshi})S. This was originally Fnited States military lands, and was surveyed by Jesse Spenser, in 1807. The third quarter, however, was surveyed as early as 1803 by the same civil engineer. The original notes rate the quality of th«^ land as third rate, and its appearance before the cultivating hand of the pioneer had wrought its changes doubtless warranted this estimate.

The settlement of this country was due principally to the Quakt'r coldny that settled in what is now called Peru. This community ct)ntinued to receive accessions from the East, who, finding the farms pretty well taken up, resorted to lands further north. Others came single, and, marrying, sought a home in the lands of Lincoln. The first settler was Benjamin Collins, a native of I\lu)do Island, but emigrating from Junius, in the State of New York, to this township. He was a man considerably advanced in years, and brought with him an only child, a married daughter, with a largo family. He bought a cabin situated on the banks of Alum Creek, just northeast of Pearsons brick house. This cabin was built in 1814, by Ednmnd Buck and Amos Earl. After coming to Peru, they struck out in the lands to the north, and, assuming a squatters I'ight, built the cabin and kept " bachelors hall"' for some six UKinths. Three venerable apple-trees mark the spot where the cabin stood. Three years later, William Steiner came. He was a native of Maryland, and, emigrating to Ohio, had stopped a few years in Fairfield County, but the ague seized him here and drove him out in search of a better situation. He was attracted by the prospect in Lincoln, and built his cabin on the Sunburyrcad, a little south of where the Cardington and Chesterville pike crosses this road, boarding in the mean while at Mr. Collins'. After selUng out to Collins, Edmund Buck went some two miles up the river, and, buying land now owned by his son J. T. Buck, built his cabin on the Sunbury road, just north of the pike. Buck's mother was a widow, and related to the Benedicts, and was induced to emigrate from New York State to give her boys an opportunity to get a start in the world. She came with friends in 1812 to the settlement in Peru, Edmund making the journey on foot with a cousin by the name of Earl. It was not considered so much of an undertaking then as it would be now, but it taxed the undeveloped powers of the young man to their full extent. It is related that at the end of the first day's tramp they stopped at a farmer's house all night, and Buck arose the next morning so stiftened that he had to slide down stairs.

In a few years, he won the oldest daughter of Mrs. Hubbell, the daughter of Mr. Collins, and was married somewhere about 1815 or 1816, which was the first occasion of the kind in the township. He built a cabin in Peru and made a small improvement, but in 1817, having sold this land, he went into Lincoln to find a farm. He rode u]) to where the Sunbury road and pike cross, and, looking the farm all over, decided to purchase it if he could find the owner. (Jn his return, however, he met a stranger, and, as was the custom in those days, stopped to exchange news, and soon learned that he was the man he sought. His name was David Finley, and, going over the property together, they concluded the sale. Buck turning in his horse as part of the purchase price. The land was originally one of three lots granted to John

Montour, a son and heir of Montgomery Montour, who served in the Revolutionary army as captain. The original warrant, signed by Thomas JeflPersou as President, and James Madison, Secretary of State of the United States, is in the possession of J. T. Buck. While Steiner is credited with the second cabin, Buck really made the second settlement, the former not bringing his family on until about a year later. There was an earlier cabin than those built by either Steiner or Buck, erected in the northern part of the township by a Mr. Beadle, but it was not occupied until 1818, when Asa Mozier sheltered his family temporarily in it while he built his own cabin in Gilead Township. Closely following the preceding families came Joseph Kingman and Noah White, from Clinton County, N. Y. Kingman came West with his father-in-law. to Peru. He had just been married, and, having accumulated but little property, made the journey on foot, Mr. Wood bringing his wife and household goods on his wagon. For this transportation, he paid his father-in-law 122 cents per pound. Fortunately for his slender purse, his wife weighed only about a hundred pounds, and the rest of his baggage was light, but aggregated to the amount of two hundred i^ounds, costing him $25. White was a nephew of Mr. Wood, and came with the party, a young man, to try the fortunes of the West. Kingman and White both bought land in Lincoln, locating opposite each other on the Sunbury road, just above Buck's cabin, on land now owned by V. T. Kingman. White married in Bennington, and finally, in 1823, selling out to Kingman, went to Cardington, where he lived and died. Kingman's father, Alexander, an old Revolutionary soldier, came about "the same time to Lincoln and settled just north of Steiner. North of Kingman, Stephen Westcoat made his home, and Alanson Piatt just north of him, and just west of the latter Paul White built his cabin.

He worked a year, and, luiving aecuinulatcd a little tarin of fifty-two acres, married and moved on to his land. It was situated in the northern part of the township, and is now owned by Christian Stdvenaur. This farm was subsequently bought by Christian Stovenaur Sr., and Dillingham bought, and improved somewhat, the property now owned by L. M. Cunard. In 1820, Marquis Gardner, Josepli Philbric and Steplien Doty, Sr., with a son of the same name, came into Lincoln, (lardner had come to Peru in 181G with his father, Jolin Gardner, from Virginia. The head of the family was a Scotchman, and came over as one of the British troops in the war of the Revolution, and was with Cornwallis at the surrender of Yorktown. Pleased with the country, he determined to make it his home, and did not return to his native land. He settled in Virginia and afterward emigrated to Peru, where he died. About 1820, Joseph Philbric, a native of Maine, came into this township and bought some two hundred acres of land in the southern part of the township ; soon after, Marquis Gardner, who was related to Philbric by marriage, came to the latter's place, and, later, bought the property, where his son Kobert now lives. This part of the township at that time was sparsely settled, and it is related that the Gardners were obliged to invite the settlers living within a radius of eight miles about, to raise their buildings. Doty was a native of Maine, and first "squatted" on the school lands in Harmony, but in a sliort time bought the land now owned by Collins Buck. Appleton Snell, from Maine, and James McConica, an Irishman, came into the settlement, and, marrying daughters of Mrs. Hubbell, built cabins and became members of the little community. The Pompey section, as it is called, was settled, about 1828, by a number of families that came originally from Pompey, X. \ . i'rominent among these were the fiimilies of Leander Benson and his brothers Darius and Alnieran ; Job Davenjiort. Ephraim Davenport, John II. Warner, Lyman Wheeler and Jol) Liggefct. A little later, in the southeastern })art of

The organization of the township of Lincoln in 1828, was mainly due to the eflPorts of Collins Buck, Steiner and Shadrack Hubbell, who had come to maturity, married, and settle J down in a cabin on the site of Pearsons brick house. The first election was held on the first Monday in April, 1828, at Hubbell s cabin, and resulted in the election of Kdmund Buck as Justice of the Peace, and each one of the voters to one or more offices, as there were but seventeen men to fill twenty-four positions. Mr. Buck seems to have been thought well fitted for the ofiice of Justice, as he held the office a large part of his life after coming to maturity. He was first elected befn'e he was married, under the regime of the old Kingston Township, and then after the erection of Harmony, after a few intervening years, he was re-elected to that position. The summary sort of justice administered when occasion demanded, is set forth in a ludicrous light by^ an incident in which Mr. Scott figured as the Justice of the Peace. One day, in company with Abner Barras and James McConica, he went to Mount Gilead with an ox-team. While there, as was the custom in those days, the two latter took a little too much whisky, and got into a quarrel going home. The Justice commanded peace and threatened them with all the terrors of the law, but they paid him but little attention. Tired of expostulation, the irate Justice took the ox-gad and belabored them until they felt disposed to separate.

The author of the name is not clearly known, but it was suggested by some student of Kevolutionary history in honor of Gen. Lincoln, who bore so noble a part in that struggle. The community of that time was not isolated from the outside world and the ordinary privileges of older, settlements as were the first pioneers, and yet stores and mills were reached only after traveling through miles of woods and fording unbridged streams, guided only by the blazed trees. Kdmund Buck had sold his horse in the purchase of his land, and for a time was obliged to do without a team, carrying his grain on his shoulder to the mill at Sunbury, and bringing the grist back again in the same way. Stores M'ere to be found at Berkshire, Delaware and Fredericktown, where powder, lead, coffee, tea and a few pieces of calico could be bought at fabulous prices.

In 1818, Alexander Edgar came to Peru and put up a store and distillery. This was then the nearest store, and absorbed the greater part of Lincoln trade until the business at Chesterville and Cardington divided it. The nearness of these places of business and the lack of any good water-power in the township had the effect of discouraging the undertaking of similar enterprises in Lincoln. A saw-mill was built very early on Edmund Buck's place, near one of the branches of Alum Creek, by Shadrack Hubbell. This afterward passed into the hands of Buck, and later into the possession of Stephen Doty, Jr. After Stephen Doty, Sr., bought the Collins Buck place, his son, George W., built, in ISHO, a small saw-mill on the stream as it passes through that property. A tannery was early established on the Fulton farm by Steven Corwin, which supplied the neighborhood material for shoes, clothing and harness. About 1850, Thomas Roby established another tannery on the Ashbrook farm, but it did not prove a very permanent affair.

Game was found here in great abundance. Deer, turkeys and wolves thronged the woods at an early day, and bears of the largest size were frequently killed by the early settlers. Kingman and his father-in-law, Wood, were peculiarly successful in hunting the latter kind of game. They had two or three powerful dogs that were well trained to the sport, and the hunters, profiting by their experience in Northern New York, rendered themselves famous by their success. Marquis Gardner was another pioneer who gained some local fame as a hunter, killing on one occasion a bear weighing nine hundred pounds. Isaac Bunker was quite a noted hunter in Peru, and one of his adventures in Lincoln came near ending grew so weak that he had to return before he had gone a hundred yards. Notwithstanding this, he sent for his horse, that was kept at a neighbor's, and, mounting him, he started out. taking his gun, to get some game. He soongot sight of a deer, and, getting off to shoot, he held the end of the bridle on his hand. The report of the gun caused his horse to pull away, which, dashing off through the woods, was soon lost sight of This was a serious matter with him in his condition, with several inches of snow on the ground. He at once recognized the importance of getting home, and started out to follow his horse's track. Thinking he would lead off to the neighbor's where he was kept, Mr. Bunker struck off from the trail along a little run, supposing it would take him toward home. He discovered too late that he had made a mistake in this supposition, and losing his reckoning, wandered aimlessly about. He shot a turkey while on his travels, and, throwing it over his shoulder, faced the situation. In his way, he crossed a trail that led to Peru, but did not recognize it. Some neighbors passing soon after noticed his tracks, and, recognizing the trail from the peculiar size of the foot - he having a pair of large carpet shoes over his moccasins - said "if Uncle Isaac was not sick in bed, they would declare that it was his track." Sure that it could not be his, they went on their way without further thought on the subject. They got home about dark and found the Bunker family alarmed at his failure to return. The horse was afterward found at the neighbor's where it was kept, and the conclusion was at once formed, that he had fainted and fallen off. A hunt was at once organized, and, going back to where the trail was seen, they proceeded to follow it up. It was nearly morning before they came upon him lying on a log trying to rest. He had lain down once, but, fearing to go to sleep, he had aroused himself and gone on, in the hope of reaching some point which he would recognize. He still retained his turkey and rifle, and was by no means discouraged at his unsuccessful attempt to regain his home. He was taken over to Collins' cabin, near where he

The Indians were a prominent feature of the early settlement in Lincoln. They had left their favorite haunts further south in the county with great reluctance, and, finding the settlements hud not disturbed the native quiet of this locality, they had settled down in the vain belief that they could rest here the balance of their days. They were chiefly of the Wyandot and Pottawatomie tribes, and were very friendly in their intercourse with the whites. They were soon awakened from their delusion, but continued to retain their camps along Alum Creek as late as 1 833. A fovorite location was on the ftxrm of Marquis Gardner, where there was a large camp. They built bark wigwams and dug holes in the gro nd in the center to put their fire, and traces of these holes are yet to be found in their favorite place along the creek. The whites frequently hunted and shot at a mark with them, but it is related that they showed no greater skill than the white man. At an early date of the settlements here, there were occasionally some difficulties with the savages growing out of their propensities to pilfer, which was sometimes carried to the extent of stealing horses. It is related that Edmund Buck one morning went out as soon as he rose in the morning, as was his custom, to listen for the bells on his horses. Not hearing the familiar sound, he concluded they had strayed away, and immediately after breakfast he started in search of them. It was some time before he got any trace of them, and he noticed, as he followed the trail across a low, wet spot, that there were moccasin tracks going the same way. He at once concluded that the Indians had taken them, and returning he armed, got two of his neighbors, and started in pursuit. Tracking the thieves was slow business, and the day was far gone before they started, but just after nightfall they came upon the Indians encamped near the Long Swamp in Harmony. A consultation was held, and it was decided to wait until morning before making a descent upon the camp. At daybreak, Mr. Buck, who had considerable at stake, proposed to go in and take his horses. His companions were rather disposed to give up the undertaking, but Buck told them that he intended to take his horses if he had to go alone. This decision brought the wavering ones to their senses, and they determined not to let him go alone. The Indians were taken by surprise, and, when Buck demanded his horses, they explained by signs that they found his horses galloping off, and added, " Me catch ! me catch !" The marauders had seventeen horses with them, most of which they had probably stolen. They were all spanceled with rawhide thongs, and the settlers put the Indians into considerable excitement when they proposed to cut them off their horses rather than untie them.

The settlers were frequent visitors at the Indian camps, and were always ready to take a rough-andtumble wrestle with the braves, or a trial of skill at the target ; but there was a part of their offered hospitality that they could not accept, i. e., their food. They seemed to have no delicacy of taste, and cooked everything without cleaning or discrimination. A party of young men out hunting came on a wigwam as the meal was preparing. Some woodchucks barely skinned were cooking in the pot, with their feet sticking out in sight, to which were added the entrails of a freshly killed deer without any previous preparation, save a perfunctory shake. The Indian pressed the young men to partake of his dish, but they one after the other pleaded sickness, which was probably near the truth, and the hospitable red man was forced to enjoy his meal alone, after expressing his disgust in his nearest approach to civilization, " Humph ! heap dam sick." The relics of this race are found in large numbers within this township, and a beautiful collection of these has been made by Edmund S. Buck. Arrow and spear heads, skin dressers, axes, tomahawks, pipes, whistles and the thousand articles that the natives so ingeniously worked out of stone are all represented in this collection, which would honor the collection of any college in the country.

The earliest roads^lere were laid out about 1823, The State road, west of Alum Creek, was originally the famous Indian trail, which led up from Pickaway County along this stream. This trail was fitted for the passage of wagons by the settlers, and there are frequently found, on the unused portions even yet, some mementoes of the travelers who once used this road. The State engineers straightened the angles of this road, and it serves the same purpose it did in years gone by. The Sunbury road, east of the creek, was blazed out at a very early date, and was the one principally used by the earlier Lincoln settlement. It was laid out in 1824. The Westfield, Cardington and Chesterfield pike was projected by J. H. Benson, John Andrews, Dr. I. H. Pennock, M. P. Brooks, J. T. Buck, J. B. Trimble, Lester Bartlett and others. It was surveyed by J. T. Buck, and was built to Windsor Corners, where it connects with the Ashley and Delhi pike. It was constructed east only about four miles and a half, and then stopped, because it was found that further expenditure would not be warranted. Toll has been collected until recently, but it has never resulted in an income sufficient to keep up the repairs on the road, and it is now abandoned.

The settlement in Lincoln, growing out of the Quaker community in the adjoining township, would naturally be an early supporter of church influences. The first families were intimately related to the Quakers, or joined their society, and all attended their meetings. There were other denominations firmly established in the communities settled not far away, and they were fortunate in having such able evangelists as Russell Bigelow, Leroy Swampsted. Henry Greorge and others. These men, fired with a holy zeal for that religion which promises to the meek an earthly inheritance, and to the pure in heart, a heavenly kingdom, forgot the privations of self-imposed poverty, and brought salvation to the people a free gift.

It is difficult to determine what denomination came first to share the work and responsibilities of the Quakers in Lincoln. Russell Bigelow was here early, and preached at the cabin of William Steiner, and a society was formed very early here. A log church was built about eighty rods south of where " Steiner's Corner" now is, Alexander and Joseph Kingman and William Steiner being the principal movers in this project. This was the first place of worship erected in the township. Russell Bigelow preached the first sermon within the bounds of the township, but that was before the township was organized. He traveled the Columbus Circuit in 1819, and one of his appointments was at Butter's, some twelve miles south of Steiner's. He completed the circuit once in six weeks. Stopping one day at Steiner's for refreshments, and pleased with the cordial welcome he received, he appointed a meeting six weeks from that date at his host's cabin. The preacher and the people came at the appointed hour, and among the rest a mother had brought her rather mischievous boy. The lad disturbed the great preacher, and, turning on him, Bigelow shouted at him, telling him to get under the bed and keep still. The boy was taken by surprise, and obeyed with considerable promptness. The culprit has since grown into one of Lincoln's most prominent citizens. P]dmund Buck gave a site for this denomination, and a frame building was erected on the Sunbury road, just north of the pike, about 1850. The first members are not known, but Mr. Kingman was very active in the organization of the society, and in securing a place of worship. An acre of ground was bought by this society, in 1857, for cemetery purposes, on the northeast corner of Lot 36, in Section 2, and two or three years ago the church building was moved on to this property. It is known as the Ashbury Church, and numbers in its membership thirtyeight persons. The present Pastor is Rev.Yourtee. Just across from this cemetery is a private cemetery of the Buck family, where lie some of the older members of that family.

The Lincoln Christian Churdi was early organized by Kov. William Ashley. Among the members of the first class, about 1843, were Leander Benson, Nelson Wheeler, Jehu Maun, J. H. Warner, and their wives. Meetings were held in log cabins and the schoolhouse until about 1858, when the present frame building was erected, at a cost of about S500. The membership reaches about thirty at present, over whom presides as Pastor, Rev. William R. Fuller.

The Center United Brethren Church was organized with but a few members ; meetings were held in the log schoolhouse until 1853. A neat fra^e building was put up at that time, at a cost of some S800. A steeple has recently been added, and other repairs, at a cost of §600, making it a very attractive edifice. The membersliip is large, reaching about one hundred. Rev. Mr. Smith is Pastor ; Sunday school is maintained through the summer, and preaching and prayer meeting alternate as services on Sunday.

The schoolhouse followed close in the wake of the church, and was established about 1819. The first structure for this purpose was built of logs, 16x19 feet, on Lot 37, Section 2, the property now owned by J. T. Buck. The first teacher was Nathan Randolph, and thus was inaugurated an institution that has sent forth some of the most prominent citizens of the township ; among the early schoolhouses was one near the east toll-";ale. This was about twenty-four feet square, and ^as built in 1839 ; it was lathed and plastered, Samuel p]mery picking up the limestone about the fields and burning them in a brush-heap to get the lime for the mortar. The last log schoolhouse gave way in 1857. There are now seven districts in all, in which, save District No. 1, there are wooden buildings. In District No. 1, there is a brick house and improved furniture ; in both respects it is an exception to the larger number. The school statistics for the last year are as follows :

Teachers employed - gents, 7; ladies, 10, total 17 Average wages per month, gents, $32, ladies, $15 Enrollment of scholars - boys, 141 ; girl.'*, 106,

The change in the number of school children is quite remarkable. In 1838, the enumeration was 104 males, and the number of girls was 219; it reaches now 263 all told. The town hall was built in 1872, and combines with it a schoolhouse. It is situated near the center of the township, and cost $1,000 when completed.