Perry County, Ohio - Chapter 20: Miscellaneous Subjects, 1883

Chapter 20: Miscellaneous Subjects

THE ZANESVILLE AND MaysvitLeE Turnpiket. - This public improvement was made .in 1839-40, and, though the road passed only through the townships of Reading, Madison and Hopewell, merely touching the latter, the improvement was regarded as one of considerable note at the time, and the splendid line of coaches, which rolled over it, from Zanesville to Lancaster, and vice versa, was the pride of the county in those days, prior to the advent of the railroad. the fe the pike passed only through one end of the county, it was, in some degree, a benefit to all; for the grain-haulers from the southern end of the county, were accustomed to strike the pike at either Uniontown or Rushville on their way either to Zanesville or Lancaster. The greatest drawback for a long time was six miles of unfinished road west of Somerset, but, in course of time, this was completed, making a continuous line of pike through the county, and from Zanesville to Lancaster and beyond.

CuyuRCHES AND SABBATH ScHoo_s. - Religious worship came in with the first pioneers, or quite soon after them; and no matter of what denomination, the circumstances and surroundings were very much the same. First, there would be preaching at private houses, in double log cabins and in barns; then the old style log church went up, where the people, on stated occasions, were accustomed to assemble. At.a later day came the frame and brick church edifice, with tower and steeple reaching and pointing heavenwards, and with bell to call the people to the house of God.

Sabbath-schools came later, and they are as compared with the churches, of modern origin. Somerset and Rehoboth were the pionter Sabbath schools of the county. There is not much difference, in point of time, between their establishment in the two places. Other villages and communities organized their schools in course of time. A wonderful change and improvement have been made in Sabbath-schools, since their first introduction in the county, and almost every church has such a school connected with it.

robably the greatest membership. This denomination has churches in every township in the county. The Catholics probably rank next in pein of numbers. They have strong churches in Reading, Jackson, ike, Harrison, Pleasant, Monroe, Saltlick and Coal. The Lutherans proven come next in order of numbers, and have churches in Thorn, Topewell, Reading, Jackson, Monday Creek and Pike. The Baptist,

Presbyterian, Reform and United Brethren denominations, are something nearly equal in churches and numerical strength. The Baptists have churches in Thorn, Pike, Hopewell, Pleasant, Monday Creek, Saltlick and Coal; the Presbyterians in Clayton, Pike, Harrison, Pleasant, Bearfield, Madison and Saltlick ; the Reform in Reading, Thorn and Hopewell, and the United Brethren in Reading, Jackson, Pike, Monday Creek, Harrison and Monroe. The Methodist Protestants, Disciples of Christ, Bible Christians and Dunkards, (German Baptists, ) also have one or more churches. There are two colored churches, one Baptist, the other Methodist. Both are at Rendville. A more detailed account of churches is given in the history of townships.

ScHoots AND TEACHERS' INstiTuTES. - The pioneer schools are all very much of the same character. A roving ''Master'' of the old style would come along, go around and obtain a few pupils for a short term of school, and on a given day begin work. The school would probably be held in an old abandoned cabin, with the roughest kind of a puncheon floor. Then came the old log school houses with immense fire-places, and long windows filled with greased white paper. Then, still later, came a coal or wood stove and glass panes tor the windows. This made the school room now almost a paradise, compared with the old way. Then, in course of time, came the frame and brick school houses, and a better kind of school-room furniture. Teachers also gradually improved in knowledge and methods of teaching. As time rolled on it ceased to be regarded as masculine, or out of her sphere for a girl to be seen with a slate and pencil. This prejudice, however, wore away slowly. After many more years came the uniform school books, and graded schools for the larger towns and villages; and the general public school system, as it exists at present. The old log school houses have disappeared, and brick or frame edifices have taken their places, most of them with something like fair surroundings. Applicants for certificates are required to pass a tolerably rigid examination in all the common branches, and United States History, and also in the theory and practice of teaching. ~~ "'eachers' Institutes are of comparatively modern origin. They were organized in Perry county about 1868-69, but did not make any great progress, or become generally attended by teachers and students, until 1874-75. Since this date the Institutes have been numerously attended and generally regarded as successful, though not always coming up to the full expectation of teachers and spectators. Nevertheless, jt is unquestionable that the Institutes, of late years, have been highly

Patrons or Huspanpry. - This order, a few years since, had Granges éstablished in most of the townships of the county, and in some of thém two or three. They flourished for a season, and interesting public meetings and parades of the order were had at New Lexington. Somerset, Thornville and other places, but the Granges have not been kept up, except in a few instances, and the order has consequently died out. While in active operation, the Grange meetings were reported to be of much interest, and the source of considerable information to the farming community. Farmers' Clubs, not connected with the Patrons of Husbandry, have been organized at several points, and flourished for a season, but none of them proved to be very long-lived. Farmers' Institutes are now agitated, and are looked upon with considerable favor by the tarming communinty.

Lycgeums anp LireraAry SocretTies. - These organizations have received more than ordinary attention in this county. New Lexington, Somerset, Rehoboth. Oakfield, Maxville, and most of the villages and country school districts, have had their societies of this kind. New Lexington had a very large and flourishing one, especially from 1842 until the beginning of the war,in 1861. The ''graduates" of this institution were very numerous, and they are scattered far and wide over the earth. Several of the participants in the village and country Lyceums, have since held high positions in church and State. Many Lyceums are now existing, but they are mostly confined to the country school districts and smaller villages. They do not appear to prosper in the atmosphere of the larger towns. i

THe GREAT SNow Storm. - The memorable snow fall of 1833 was altogether unprecedented in this section of country. It came unheralded and unexpected, in the night season, and fell to the depth of three feet. There was no wind, and the snow did not drift, but lay as level as a floor, and was almost as smooth as a pane of glass. The inhabitants necessarily kept within doors the next day, and it was several days before the roads were much broken. Men went out on horseback breaking the roads so they could be traveled. The snow was soft and wet, and the big boys of 1833 tunneled along under it like a ground mole, though not breaking or disturbing the surface of the snow. It is difficult to see where the fun consisted, nevertheless many snow tunnels were made in the manner herein described. This was the deepest snow ever experienced in Perry county since its first permanent settlement by the white people.

_ Tue Names or StreamMs. - Rush Creek is generally believed to have been named from the numerous bulrush swamps that existed along its banks at the time the county was first settled. It was probably first named below the junction at Bremen, and, accordingly, above that place the two forks took the names respectively of East- Rush Creek and West Rush Creek. Several men by the name of Rush were pioneer settlers in the neighborhood of this stream, but it is said that the creek was known by the name of Rush Creek when these men came to the country.

Sunday Creek and Monday Creek are said to have received their names in this wise: 'An expedition, sent out by the authority of the Virginia Colony to treat with the Indians on the Pickaway Plains, encamped one Sunday evening on the banks of a Jarge creek, which the commander of the expedition wrote down in his journal as Sunda 'Creek. The woods were dense, the members of ,the expedition did not travel fast, and the next night tents were pitched upon the banks of another large stream, and it was in like manner named Monday Creek.

The expedition referred to, doubtless, passed through south of the present border of Perry, but the circumstances alluded to gave the names to the creeks, both of which have their sources in Perry county. Sunday Creek, in the southern part of the county, has several branches nearly equal in size, and they are all called Sunday Creek. This condition of things has led to some confusion. Monday Creek has conditions somewhat similar, but the two principal branches of it are known as Big Monday and Little Monday.

Buckeye Creek was named from the buckeye trees that grew along its banks. McLuney Creek is said to have derived its name from a roving explorer or hunter, who at a very early day made it his abiding Rene Nothing else appears to be known of him, except that he gave iis name to the stream, where he hunted, fished and had his temporary abode. Bear Run was named from the fact that it was once the well known habitation of this animal. The early setllers often racked or chased bears into the dark and lonely region of Bear Run. Bear Wallow, a tributary of Rush Creek, was also named from the fact that it was a bear haunt. Turkey Run was so named because in early times it was famous for the wild turkeys that clucked, gobbled and roosted in the neighborhood of its banks. Honey Creek, a tributary of the Reservoir, was so named for the reason that it was long a disputed question whether the bee-trees adjacent to it were the property of the bears or the pioneer settler. Oxawoosie, a tributary of Rush Creck, and running through the town of New Lexington, was so named by some person, but is often called Fowler's or Skinner's Run, from carly settlers who lived near it. A great many of the smaller streams are named after early settlers.

Moxahala was named by the Indians. The name signilies, in Indian language, '' Elk's Horn." The aborigines had followed it from the Maskincusi river to its forks, and up both of them to their source, no doubt, and thus learned that the creek and branches resembled an elk's horn. The creek, especially the northern branca, has also received the name of Jonathan's Creek, and this name is accounted for in this way. 'The late Rev. Cornelius Springer of Muskingum county, relates that in his young days he conversed with men who related that they were on a hunting expedition in what is now Licking and Muskingum counties, about the year 1792. 'The name of one of the hunters was Jonathan Evans. The hunters separated during the day, and returned to their camp at night. One evening Evans was missing, and could nowhere be found when night'set in. Vhe search for him was continued the following day, and he was at last discovered encamped on a high hill near the north bank of the Moxahala, not far from where it flows into the Muskingum. Rev. Springer says, that from this circumstance the stream became known as Jonathan's (Evans) Creck.

There is also another story as to the origin of the name, which tradition or legend, has been duly celebrated by the poet, Charles edgar Spencer of Somerset, Ohio, in his '' Legend of the Moxabala," published by the house of J. B. Lippencott & Co., Philadelphia. Spencer's story, in brief, is this: A man, whose Christian name was Jonathan, was born and bread in the East. He wooed and won a beautifil and winsome maiden, whom he made his wife. Jonathan was brought up a

Christian, and was a farmer, hunter, fisherman and much of a lover. He-built a cottage near the shore of Otsego Lake, to which he took his wife; there they lived, and loved, and there their children were born. One night Jonathan was attacked by an overwhelming Indian force, his wife and children were butchered, his cottage burned, himself badly wounded and left for dead, but the sharp blade of the tomahawk had not penetrated deep enough to accomplish its deadly mission. After Jonathan had regained his health and strength, which required a long while, with an awful vow he turned his face to the West, made a long journey, stopping at last on the northern branch of the Moxahala, in what is now Madison township, Perry county, Ohio. There he sought out the rockiest, wildest place he could find, and built a rude hut near a cavern of rocks. Here, with only his gun and faithful dog, he made his permanent abode His mission wasto slay all the Indians he could, for this was the wretched man's strange vow. He wreaked his vengeance, and scores of Indians fell beneath his rifle's unerring aim. But Jonathan could not forever conceal himself, and at last his red enemies hunted and tracked him to his labyrinthian abode. Let the poet, in his own words, relate the story of ; '©THE LAST CONFLICT."

Flow'd gurgling 'neath the gloom of night; And, 'tween the leaves that rippled light, Look'd, trembling, here and there a lean Of starlight on the dimpling stream.

With piercing glance and noiseless tread, Quick from his hut the hunter fled, (While Don, as stealthful, keeping nigh Glared fiercely round with savage yeh, For, having crose'd the woody vale,

He mentally burned him at the stake For many a murder'd warrior's sake. The red men, feeling sure the prey Was in his fastness brought to bay, Closed round the hut on every side; And some the firey brand applied, While others, yelling, turn'd to bind The dreadful foe they thought to find And rush'd within with tiger-bound - But, lo! no captive there they found.

Hark! ringing on the midnight breeze Afar 'neath labyriuthian trees, : A rifle 'shrieks with sulphurous breath Sending its message dire of death -

The hordes that at vour back pursued. Ah, hark! they come with sounding tread And whoops that echo wild and dread! * i # * Dewy, and eserans breath'd and pale, Came morn, with wakening voice of bird And _ hee, and cool leat- stirring ale,

Where ivy wild and grapevines clung To drooping shrubs that overhung The lichen'd rocks and shady ground, Beneath the ledge a possage wound, That, to a cavern dark and small, Led through a jagged, verrow hall. There Jonathan the night before escaped the Indians in his flight; Ie scem'd to vanish - be no more! And they, with awe and sore affright Aud superstitious fancy franght Deeni'd 'twas a demon they had fought,

INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OCTOGENARIAN PRINTER. - ohn M. Laird, now editor of the Greensburg (Penn.) Argus, and one of the earliest printers and newspaper men in Perry county, wrote not long ago the following recollections to the New Lexington Tribune:

'¢JIn the Spring of 1822, Mr. James Patterson, a merchant of Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, came to Pittsburgh to purchase a supply of goods. He was also empowered to purchase materials for a printing office. He called on John'M. Snowden, Esq., who then published the Mercury, a prominent and influential Democratic paper, with a view of purchasing type and other materials to equip a printing office. Mr. Snowden was agent for Johnson's Type Foundry in Philadelphia. Mr. Patterson purchased one hundred and twenty pounds of long primer and about forty pounds of English job type, and a font of canon for head-lines for posters. Mr. Patterson asked Mr. Snowden to assist him in securing a practical printer to manage the paper... Mr. S. recommended (me) his nephew, who had graduated in his office the previous fall. JI was notin the city, but after corresponding with Mr. Patterson, I left Pittsburgh, for Somerset, Ohio, on the first week of May, 1822. Itook the stage (a rough two horse wagon )by way of W ashington and Wheeling - there were no turnpikes in those days. The roads were muddy and the passengers had to walk a great part of the way, and frequently to confiscate rails from neighboring fences to pry the wagon out of mud holes. We were to be landed in Somerset on Saturday noon, but owing to the bad roads we did not get there till a bath afternoon, when I landed at Eaton's Hotel, ichere I remained 2 boarder for eighteen months. On Monday morning I called on a Patterson, and found that he had no more idea of the material necessary for a printing office than a child. He had provided but a small font of long primer, a small font of job type, and an old dilapidated Ramage press, and two bundles of paper, royal size. We gathered up three old cases, and set up outside matter. Found that the new tvpe was not sufficient to set up one side. John Lidey and Rev. Andrew Henkle, a Lutheran Minister, who was also a pretty good engraver. had purchased some type at the sales of the Scorpion and Peattlesi:ake papers, came to the rescue, and I was enabled to get out the first number of the Perry Fecord, without having a single subscriber. The citizens of Somerset and adjoining neighborhood generally subscribed, with the full understanding that the paper was to be free from the influence of any of the factions by which the community was distracted. The friends of the enterprise assured all timid persons that the reason for procuring a stranger to manage the paper was that he might be impartial to all factions. I concluded, in this state of affairs, to accept '"'wages"' instead of partnership, or becoming sole proprietor.

'There were only three post oflices in the county. One in Thornville, Somerset and New Lexington. There were some post offices at or near the lines of adjoining counties. An exciting Congressional election took place, in which D. Chambers of 1 Muskingum, General Mc- Connell of Morgan and W. W. Irvin and Lyman Beecher of Lancaster, were candidates. Beecher was successful. Jacob Catlin, and some one in one of the other counties in the district, were candidates for Senator. Catlin was elected. A Presidential election was approach- ing. Jackson, Clay, Adams and Crawford, were the candidates. 'The voters of Perry county were chiefly divided between Jackson and Clay. There were but two lawyers in the county - John B. Orton and Peter Odlin, the latter now of Dayton, Ohio. 'Orton was a warm Cla® man. Odlin and a merchant named Hanna, were the only supporters of Adams inthe county. The excitement on this national question, in a great measure, overshadowed all local issues.

Isupported Jackson. The only Jackson papers in the State were the Cincinnati /eepudlican, Cincinnati Advertiscr by Moses Dawson, the Batavia Sux, by Sam Medary, the New Lisbon Patr7o/, by W. D. Leaper, and my paper. John Harmen published an English and German paper in Lancaster, Ohio. The English paper was of demi size. and although a Jacksonian, took no part in the contest except to publish the official proceedings of all parties. I was made chairman of the Jackson county committee. The State Committee raised funds and sent each week to the chairman of County Committees from two to four hundred copies of the two Cincinnati papers, and the Jackson party in Pennsylvania sent me large packages of the Columbia Odserver, published in Philadelphia, by Simpson & Conrad. My postage on these documents was from two to four dollars per weck. The packages of the two last weeks befbre the election did not arrive until after the election, when I refused.to pay the postage, amounting to eight dollars. Perry county gave Jackson a majority of four hundred or five hundred.» Clay carried the State by less than one thousand. One town-

_ship in Perry county voted one week too late, casting the entire vote for Jackson. Atter being in Somerset about one year, | took typhus fever, 'in May, and was not in the office until October, Go We O Harr. of Coshocton, conducted while I was confined by sickness. The paper was never remunerative.

The people of Perry county, in that day, were proverbially hospitable, My sojourn among them was most pleasant. I found many Westimorelanders among the earlier settlers - the Trouts, the Bowmans, Mechlings, Bughs, and others. There were many Pennsylvanians from other counties.» Jonathan Babb was sheriff, then Benjamin Ream, -

. Harper was Presiding Judge and John Trout and C. C. Hood, Associates; J. Lidey. Auditor; and John Beckwith, Clerk. © Mr. Odlin removed to Daytou: "Mr. Orton married Matilda Reynolds. Le is long since dead. "The Reynolds, Yost, Spencer, Skinner and Ream families were numerous and highly respectable. After remaining in Somerset about three years, I was solicited by my friends in Pennsylvania to join another party in establishing a Democratic paper 19 Steubenville, which I accepted, and left Somerset with many regrets."

Tur Rescur or trun Wurre Squaw.- - This section of Ohio was, from 1750 to 1800, the theater of many of the most thrilling incidents and some of the most interesting romances that the world ever witnessed. White men, women and children, were frequently captured along the frontier in Pennsylvania and Virginia, and carried to the homes of the Indian tribes along the Muskingum and Hocking rivers. Where the captives were children or young people, they were taught the ways of Indians, and brought up'as nearly like savages as possible. Most of these captives, however, longegl to escape trom captivity and return to the East. The footsteps of scores of these captives were familiar sounds here, long before the land surveyors lighted their camp fires, or the boldest pioneer blazed his way into these primeval solitudes.

The case of the rescue of a white girl from captivity among the Indians, is here related and illustrated, because the principal scene is not far from the border of Perry, and there isa tradition,upon what evidence is not known, thatthe captive girl and deliverers rowed in a dug-out canoe across ** Big Lake," while making their escape from the hostile Indians who were in pursuil.

Cold Spring Rescue

The girl was a captive at the Indian town then existing on the present site of Lancaster. The Indians were at the time all hostile, and two noted scouts, for some unknown purpose, came up the Hocking, and from a place of concealment on "Standing Stone." (Mount Pleasant) watched the movements of the Indians on the plain below. The white scouts were compelled to come down to a place called 'Cold Spring" to procure water to drink. © On one occasion, while one of the scouts was after water, he suddenly came upon two squaws at the spring or pool, and instantly comprehending his danger, if they were permitted to escape,he seized the two women. with the intention of thrusting their heads under water until they were drowned. One of the squaws, who was young and active, struggled seveerly, and, to the surprise of the scout, pathetically addressed him in English. The scout made sure of the death of the old Indian squaw, and then he and the white girl captive, hastened to the hiding place on Mount Pleasant. The prolonged absence of the two squaws was observed by the Indians, search was made, the lifeless body of the squaw was discovered in the pool, after which there was an unusual commotion in the Itttle Indian town on the the plain, among the Indian braves. 'The retreat of the scouts and the rescued girl were at length discovered, and finally, in the night season, there was an attempt made to storm the heights; but the intrepid scouts, with their unerring rifles, picked off Indian after Indian, as the red warriors advanced up the narrow defiles, whereupon the remainder of them prudently concluded to try and starve out the enemy above. There was a possibility of doing this, of course, but the vigilant scouts watched their 'opportunity, and favored one night by great darkness effected their escape at an unexpected point, taking the rescued white girl with them.

This is the substance of the story, as related by the late General Sanderson, of Lancaster, in a lecture before a Literary Institute, in 1844. Sanderson-was acquainted with the earliest pioneers, and with manyof the Indians as well, and he considered the story authentic. It is also stated, upon what appears to be good authority, that the rescued girl had a sister in captivity, who was also restored to her friends at a subsequent time, afterwards married, and that some of her descendants yet reside in Fairfield county The fact has already been referred to, that the adventures of the rescued captives have in some way been connected with "Big Lake" (Reservoir), but upon what authority cannot at present be ascertained.

As marvelous as the foregoing story may appear, it is nol more so than scores of others, well authenticated, connected with this section of Ohio during the latter partof the last century.